exemplary No sooner was this considerable place reduced to obedience but Cromwel immediately marcheth Northwards with all speed possible to disperse that black cloud which threatned to send a scotch Mist upon those parts of England Being at Gloucester he acquaints the Parliament with the necessities of the Armie which was no sooner done but immediately supplies were sent to the great encouragement of the Souldiery Cromwel having joyned with Lambert who then attended Hamiltons Motions and retarded his Marches their united Forces made an Army in all of 8600 strong too weak in outward appearance to grapple with 21000 men but considering the courage and resolution of the Souldiers they were sufficient to do the business as it proved at last Cromwel finding an opportunity to correct the Scotch for their insolent rapine resolves to do it and drive them home or die in the attempt At Preston in Lancashire his forlorn consisting of 200 Horse and 400 Foot first engaged after them Cromwel himself brought up the main Battle in as good a posture as the Ground would bear which being inclosure and mirie Ground was inconvenient for Horse he fought them through a durty Lane and forc'd them to seek shelter in the Hedges near at hand which proved but a poor defence against the rage of Cromwels men After four hours dispute they were driven into Preston with the victorious Souldiers at their heels who presently cleared the streets The Duke finding the place too hot for his cold Constitution retreates over the Bridge with as many Horse and Foot as could follow him but his shirking away would not serve the turn they must first give an account of their business before the pass could be granted which at last they had signed sealed and delivered At the Bridge was the greatest piece of service where extraordinary courage was shewn on both sides but especially Cromwel and his Men imitating the Discipline of the ancient English with Swords in hand rushed into the thickest of their Enemies pelting them to death at a distance they looked on rather as a signe of cowardise then courage the Scotch not being well acquainted with that manner of Discipline did not like this rough handling and therefore betake themselves to their heels accounting that the safest way to save their lives but this shift fail'd them for Cromwel was as nimble in pursuit as resolute in fight Lieutenant-General Bayly finding smart blows on his back when he dared not turn his face being driven into Warrington Town there capitulates to deliver himself and four thousand with him prisoners at War which was immediately done VVe should here remember the Exployts of Hamilton himself if he had done any but more like a Duck then a Duke and General of an Army he flees away to Vttoxeter whither being pursued he was there taken prisoner by Col. Waite and about 3000 Horse with him He being soon after brought to London and not long after that to a Tryal for his Invasion this was one of his Plea's to his Charge That he was invited But he found very sorry entertainment for after he had been thus shamefully beaten he with others was adjudged to lose his head This great Battle was very considerable in many respects as to the Victory it self 2000 being slain on the several places and near upon 10000 prisoners taken one hundred Colours with all their bag and baggage then it conduced much to the carrying on the Parliaments Designes at that time and withal left no hope of relief for those stout hearts that so obstinately defended Colchester whose designes although they were against the times yet 't was an Honour for the Nation that it could produce such Men. Cromwel after this Victory being yet reeking hot with the slaughter of the Scots at Preston posts away to acquaint Monro who was then come into England as a reserve to the Duke with a considerable Force what was become of Hamilton and his great Army which was reputed so formidable that it 's very name terrified at a distance Monro having notice of his coming had learnt so much wit in Germany whilst he was in great Gustavus his service as to fight with none but them that were of his match and knowing the English would be too hard for him he withdraws back again into Scotland where presently after he was disbanded Cromwel having thus rid the whole Nation in general of a great fear and eased the North in particular of that sad burden they groaned under by the Plunder and Oppression of the Scots Army prosecutes his Victory to the utmost entring into Scotland it self In his vvay he reduced Barwick and Carlisle to their former obedience both being delivered on composition Before his entrance into Scotland he drew the Army to a Randezvouze on the Banks of Tweede and caused Proclamation to be made at the head of every Regiment of Horse and Foot that on the pain of death no Cattle nor Goods should be forc'd from the Scotch people by any of his Souldiers in their March without an especial order but that in all things they should demean themselves civilly in their March and Quarters not giving offence to any such care had this great Captain to observe the same Discipline in Scotland which before was established in England So taking his way directly for Edinburgh he was met by many of the Scotish Nobility and Gentry from the Committee of Estates with congratulatory Orations in honour of his worthy Atchievements acknowledging that his presence would conduce much to the settlement of their distracted Kingdom Being thus arrived at Edenburgh he was received with great demonstrations of joy and lodged in the Earl of Murray's House to him resorted the Lord Chancellor of that Kingdom the Earls of Leven Arguile Cassil the Lords Burley Wariston and David Lesley with many other persons of honour both of the Nobility and Gentry The Lord Provest with several eminent Citizens came to welcome him thither and present their service to him When these Visits were over he desired the Committee of Estates to seclude out of publick Office all that had any hand in or did in the least promote Hamiltons late Invasion To which the Committee condescended making this request withall being fearful of themselves and doubting new stirs might arise after the departure of the English Army that the General would leave some Forces with them which might be ready to quell any Insurrections promising that when they had raised a Force sufficient for their own defence then they would dismiss them and return them again to their own Country This was yeelded unto and Major General Lambert an experienced Souldier with three Regiments of Horse was appointed for the service Now things standing in this posture to the content of both parties the Scots invited Cromwel and the chief Officers of the Army to the Castle of Edenburgh whither they all went in Coaches and were highly treated at a Banquet prepared for them At their departure the great
at Edinburgh by ten of the clock that morning whereon the Battel was fought outstripping his Lieutenant-General who got not thither till the afternoon But if they had made less haste they might have come before they had been welcom unless they had brought better news the Garison and inhabitants being very much dampt at their report as also those of Leith insomuch that Edinburgh was presently quit by its Garison and Leith resolved to receive the Victors not knowing how to keep them out But though the English had thus possessed the Town of Edinburgh the Castle remained untoucht which being esteemed impregnable and commanding the Town the Scots hoped that the English would soon finde their new quarters too hot to hold them and so much the rather for that the said Castle besides its natural strength was well manned had a considerable Artillery on the walls and store of all sorts of provisions Colonel William Dundass being its Governour However the same day the Scots deserted the Town the English under Lambert took possession of the same as also of Leith in both which places they found several Pieces of Ordnance many Arms and considerable provisions which were too heavie for the Scots to take with them because of their haste But how well the new Garison of Edinburgh agreed with their neighbours in the Castle we shall hear afterwards Upon this the Lord General coming up with the remainder of the Army the Scots were in despair of nestling there again and therefore made Sterling their next refuge whither resorted those that had escaped at Dunbar to help to piece up their shattered Army that so in a second Encounter they might endeavour to recover their lost credit To this purpose also recruits were raised by the Committee of Estates in all places under their power their Officers are likewise new molded new ones being taken in and old ones laid aside according as they saw occasion this change being not in inferiour Officers only but among the great Commanders likewise for old Leven was laid aside albeit David Lesley were continued But this their rallying and recruiting chopping and changing signified little for as if they had been postest with a like spirit with those infatuated Jews in Jerusalem when that City was closely begirt by the Romanes notwithstanding that the English had given them that sore blow at Dunbar driven them from their Metropolis and were still improving those advantages the Scots in stead of joyning heart and hand in defending their Country against so prevailing an adversary split themselves into so many fractions and factions that it would require some curiosity to discriminate them The most notable were these Straughan and Car in the West who declared against the Kings party and were called Remonstrators another party were for King and Kirk as David Lesley Major Gen. Holborn and those in Fife and a third sort were purely for the King these with Middleton keep the High-lands This Kingdom being thus divided was not likely long to stand For animosities growing higher and higher among themselves little care was taken to repress the English who ranged at pleasure about the Country And the Lord General having his Head-quarters at Edinburgh and observing what course the Scots steered lay not idle but having refreshed his men Sept. 14. he drew out the greatest part of his Army for Sterling and faced the Castle having at first some thoughts to storm it but finding that the Horse could not well second the Foot he desisted for that time and returned back to the Head-quarters Whither being come order is given for carrying all the Boats in the Frith to Leith for prevention of the Scots Ferrying over into Fyfe to joyn with the Enemy there And since according to the Proverb of Idleness comes no goodness therefore to keep his men in action and that they may the better acquaint themselves with the Country the Lord General his work going on well before Edinburgh-Castle of which a particular account shall be given in its place marcht away six Regiments of Foot and nine of Horse and Dragoons for Glasgow a City of a pleasant site upon a River navigable for small Boats which usually bring up provisions from Patrickstown ten miles thence where ships of good burden may ride In Glasgow the streets and houses are more neat and clean then those of Edinburgh it being also one of the chiefest Universities in Scotland By the way of Linlithgow the Lord General sent a Paper to the Committee of Estates to try once more what might be done by fair means a copie whereof was likewise at the same time dispatched away to Colonel Car and Straughan to the same end Little else was remarkable in this Expedition then the taking of a small Carison neer Kelsith a place famous for being the Stage whereon somtime the valiant Montross had acted such great things as even shook the foundations of the Kirk and had subverted it if the English had not in time stretched out their hand to support the same This heroick Champion notwithstanding he wrought such great things with small Forces ever encountring considerable Armies with a handful so that not one of his men could be exempted from continual duty yet could not avoid the frowns of adverse fortune wherein nevertheless although his body were captivated his spirit remained free bearing up above the highest affronts of his enraged enemies who loaded him with all the ignominy that Malice it self could invent first inflicting on him a most reproachful death and next mangling his dead body the quarters whereof they caused to be hung up in several places for publike view On the Tolbooth at Glasgow hung one of his legs which the English remembring what he was took down and buried privately Now the Lord General retires to Edinburgh the season admitting of no considerable action but onely what necessity required And a necessary work they went about in suppressing a company of sturdy knaves called Moss-Troopers who daily plaid their pranks with great boldness and by the treachery and connivence of the Country-people murdered many of the English Souldiers especially straglers nay their confidence grew so high as to steal some of the Train-horses belonging to the Army To that end a Proclamation was published by the Lord General to this effect THat finding many of the Army were not onely spoiled and robbed but also others barbarously butchered and slain by a sort of Outlaws not under the discipline of any Army and finding that all tenderness to the Country produced no other effect then their compliance with and protection of such persons therefore considering that it is in the Countries power to detect and discover them and perceiving their motion to be ordinary by their invitation and intelligence of Country-people therefore he declared That where-ever these enormities should be committed for the future life should be required for life and a plenary satisfaction for the goods thus stollen of those Parishes and places where the
Guns and small shot gave them many vollies for a farewel Thus was he welcomed by the Scots hereafter we shall see how he will welcome himself for this is not the last time which he means to visit them his next errand I fear will be less to their content Cromwel having now finished what he came about prepares to depart October the 16 1648. he leaves Edinburgh being conducted some miles on his way by Arguile and some other of the Scotch Nobility at whose parting great demonstrations of affection past betwixt them Cromwel now bends his course directly to Carlisle from thence marches Southerly to compel Col. John Morrice and those bold fellows to yeeld that held out Pontefract Castle This place though not very great was very considerable as to the strength of it but 't was not the Fortification nor Wall of Stones but the Wall of Bones as it were that made it so famous at this time all the Kingdom over The Garison consisted of about 400 Foot and 130 Horse bold desperate Fellows as may be perceived by some of their Actions One day there issued out of the Castle a party of Horse who fetcht in Sir Arthur Ingram and made him pay 1500 l. for his Ransom before he could get from them Again afterwards Captain Clayton and most of his Troop was seized upon by them and made prisoners 200 head of Cattle with many Horses they fetch'd into the Castle whilst Sir Henry Cholmley lay before it with his Forces to keep them in But the boldest trick of all was this One morning before day there sallied out 40 Horse who post away to Doncaster where Col. Rainsborough then quartered who had a Commission to command in chief before the Castle when they were come near the Town three of the party left their Fellows without and confidently marching in enquired for Col. Rainsborough's quarters which when they had notice of they entered pretending to deliver a Letter to him from Lieutenant-General Cromwel The Col. little dreaming that these were the Messengers of death confidently opens his Chamber door to receive the Letter but instead thereof he received that fatal wound into his heart that sent him to his grave And although his Forces were about him and kept guard in the Town yet these confident Fellows got back into the Castle in the middle of the day To curb these insolencies Cromwel immediately after he had setled the Northern Counties in peace and quietness comes to the Leaguer and having ordered the several Posts for a close Siege so that now they could not range abroad he left a strong party before it commanded by Lambert who was come thither out of Scotland Himself marches up to London and takes his place in the Parliament who were sufficiently sensible of the large testimony he had given in Scotland of his prudence in governing his Army whilst they were in that Kingdom and with what civility both Officers and Souldiers behaved themselves together with their care to avoid all causes of offence both in their Quarters and March They thereupon order the hearty thanks of the House of to be given to this worthy Captain which was accordingly done by the Speaker whilst he sate among them he receiving it with great humility after his manner not taking to himself the least of all those great things that were wrought by him but attributing them wholly to GOD who is the Giver of Victories Now the smooth countenance of Peace having once againe appeared over most part of the Nation the Parliament takes into consideration the punishment of the chief abettors and promoters of the late War and looking upon the King as a chief Instrument they resolve to bring him to a speedy Tryal in order whereunto a Charge was drawn up against him consisting of many Heads chiefly That he was the Promoter of the Rebellion in Ireland The Contriver of the Wars in England and what blood soever had been spilt in the Nation in the time of the Wars was put to his Charge as an Actor in and at many ingagements with many other Enormities and Crimes which they said he was guilty of To cary on this work thus begun a high Court of Justice was erected consisting of some Lords many Members of the House of Commons and Officers of the Army over whom was set Serjeant Bradshaw as President of the Court. All things being thus prepared the King was conducted to St. James's from Windsor by a party of Horse and afterward removed to Sir Robert Cottons House in order to his Tryal which lasted three days in fine he was condemned and presently after executed before his Palace of White-hall on Tuesday January the 30 1648. Thus fell King Charles a man indued with singular Vertues temperate he was above all his Predecessors both as to Wine and Women taking no more of the first then might well suffice and cherish Nature and for the last constant to one insomuch that none of all the preceding Kings that arrived to his years except his Royal Father could be compared to him He was a good Theologician not onely in the Theorick but Practis'd what he knew None ever undertook him in dispute but much admired his Parts even those Ministers which the Parliament sent to him in Isle of Wight besides many others the Earl of Worcester and Mr. Hendersen were both silenced with his Arguments He was endued with much Patience Prosperity and Adversity being both one to him working little else in him but onely to shew that he had an absolute command over his Passions and Affections His Actions in the last scene of his Life made many pity him who before had undervaluing thoughts of his Abilities looking upon him as too weak to bear the burden of three Kingdoms on his Shoulders In a word he wanted nothing but less confidence in those about him and more courage and resolution in himself to be a happy King This Tragedy being over the Parliament immediately changed the Government into a Commonwealth voting a King and House of Lords to be unnecessary and chargeable that the Supream Authority should reside in the House of Commons alone without King or Lords and to that effect imposed an Engagement to be taken by all persons before they should receive any benefit by the Law or enjoy any place of publick trust or profit which they could hinder them of This Pill many swallowed but did not like the taste had it not been wrapt about in gold their profit few would have put it to their Mouths The Stomacks of the Clergy most of all nauseated it being point-blank against the Covenant which they had taken not long before and endeavoured still to maintain Affairs of State standing thus the Parliament finde the Nation full of Souldiers that were lately disbanded some by force in the field as the Kings and others the Parliaments formerly in their service but now disbanded for supernumeraries these for the most part were men of Fortune who
by reason of their long continuance from their Callings could not possibly set themselves to work and therefore must use their Swords to the best advantage either upon some new employment or exercise arms on the High-way Our new State being very sensible of this as they were not onely vigilant to see but careful in preventing all inconveniences that might happen found out a way to divert these ill Humours that lay lurking in the Body of the Nation by sending them to Ireland where they might do GOD and their Country good service in subduing the Rebels that now were grown so powerful that no place but London-derry and Dublin it self were able to withstand them nor they neither without speedy succours from England This Rebellion the most barbarous and bloody of any that ever broke out in any part of the world acted by Devils in humane shape rather then by men murthering no less then 200000 Protestants in two Months time without any regard either to Age or Sex was put in practise on the 23 day of October 1641. which though it had been contrived with such privacie and acted with such violence yet Divine Providence did wonderfully preserve Dublin to be a Refuge for such as escaped thither from other places to avoid the fury of their bloody Persecutors Now Ireland lying in this sad condition weltring in blood and overwhelmed in the greatest Misery that Fire and Sword could inflict many of the poor Protestants get into England hoping there to finde shelter from the persecuting Enemy but this proved little comfort to those distressed Souls for here they finde to the great Augmentation of their Grief that England prepares on all sides to act the same upon one another vvhich had been done against them in Ireland But although the difference between the King and Parliament grew vvider every day then other they endeavouring rather to get advantages then compose differences yet 't was so agreed that some Regiments should be sent over into Ireland to stop the proceedings of the Rebels vvhich in effect vvas but as a Bucket of vvater cast on a flaming House that could do little to the quenching of it After some time the King in England finding his strength every day more and more decrease and the Parliament to get ground of him in most places did not onely send for those Forces out of Ireland again but many of the Rebels themselves came to his assistance so that Ireland by this vvas in a vvorse condition then ever forsaken of all and left to be vvorried by those Blood-thirsty Wolves vvorse by a thousand degrees then the ravenous brood vvhich their Country produceth yet vvhen their condition was at the worst it pleased GOD vvho never fails his People in distress but makes their necessity his opportunity to stir up the Parliament in England vvith Bowels of compassion to look on the distresses of their Brethren Long had they fasted and prayed for them but did not add to it their helping hand one vvithout the other can never do much good but joyned together a small Force is sufficient to accomplish great Designes A desperate disease requires a desperate Cure The State-Physitians of England having now quite purged out Monarchy vvith all its Appendants and verified the words of Bishop Laud No Bishop no King the first with the Ceremonies of the Church being fallen quickly after came the other down also they resolve to send the same sharp medicine to cure the Bleeding VVounds of Ireland which they thought had cured England and to that end they send over an Army under the Command of Valiant Cromwel vvhose Actions there vve now come to HIS WARS IN IRELAND A General ought to have these four Properties to make him Victorious 1. A good Cause 2. Strict Discipline 3. Valour and Resolution 4. Lastly Celerity For the first none but the Papists will deny it for the rest no man in the world could shew more Valour and Resolution nor Prudence to govern it then General Cromwel A strict Discipline he ever observed which is the Life of an Army sparing none that transgrest against the Articles of War which were instituted for their better conduct His Souldiers carriage and behaviour through their Generals care won more then his Sword A Designe being once resolved upon usually himself was the Messenger to bring the Enemy tidings thereof and then he would hardly give them leave to Arm before he assaulted them either by Storm or Battel This made the old Emperour of Germany say to some of his Courtiers upon his hearing of News from England That he thought Cromwel by transmigration was possest with the Spirit of Gustavus his old Enemy so neer did their actings in the Wars agree Ireland to speak of its condition a little before he undertook his expedition thither was in a manner wholly reduced by Ormond formerly made Lord-Deputy by the Queen who having joyned his Forces to the Rebels and Inchequeen himself being now fallen off from that cause which before he stoutly defended no visible Force remained in the Field to oppose the Enemy who had the Kingdom wholly at their devotion except London-derry which was governed by Sir Charles Coot and Dublin the chief City wherein was Col. Michael Jones with no great Force and that which made it less was the suspition he had of his own Souldiers fidelity who many times deserted their Colours The Enemy with a numerous Army lay under the VValls of it with many menacing Summons requiring of them a speedy rendition yet through the vigilancy of the Governour Valiant Jones it held out to the confusion of the Besiegers But his present danger made him reiterate his Calls to the Parliament in England for speedy Aid of Men and Provisions alleadging that else all would be lost and they being sensible of his condition expedite their Assistance appointing Com. Gen. Ireton Col. Scroop Col. Horton Major Gen. Lambert with their four Regiments of Horse Col. Ewers Col. Cook Col. Huson and Col. Dean with theirs of Foot and five Troops of Dragoons all old Souldiers of the English Army whose Valour had often been tried in many sharp Encounters and found not to fear the countenance of the fiercest Enemy Besides these other Regiments were raised by beat of Drum to make up the number sufficient to carry on the VVork effectually The Souldiers being in readiness and nothing wanting but a General the Parliament having had experience of Cromwels great worth and valour knowing no man more fitting for the Employment desired him to accept of it who received it with a great deal of chearfulness expressing how ready he was to serve in this Employment above any in the world not doubting but GOD would make of him an Instrument to execute Vengeance upon the Rebellious Irish This answer was so highly resented by the Parliament that immediately they constitute him General of all their Forces in that Kingdom and Lord Governour both as to Civil and Military Affairs in
the Nation Col. Jones they commissionated Lieutenant-General of the Horse This being done the Souldiers march with great speed not resting above one night in a place to the Randezvous near Milford in Wales there to expect the Lord Deputy Cromwel who having dispatched his business with the Parliament began his Journey Tuesday July 10 1649. leaving London he set forward in great state himself drawn in a Coach with six Flanders Mares attended by many Members of the Parliament and Councel of State with the chiefest Officers of the Army his Life-guard consisting of eighty men which had been formerly Commanders bravely mounted and accouter'd both themselves and Servants Thus he rid to Branford where those Gentlemen that accompanied him took leave wishing a successful issue to this designe which was answered again with great respect Away he posts for Bristol to take order for the Traine of Artillery and many other businesses needful for the hastning his men on Ship-board From thence he takes his way to Wales having before sent three Regiments viz. Col. Reynolds of Horse Col. Venables and Col. Muncks of Foot these as the Vaunt-Coureurs to the Army were ship'd from Chester and the Ports thereabout who being favoured with a prosperous Gale soon arrived at the Port of Dublin where they were received with unspeakable Joy and Gladness the Citizens spared for nothing that might be a comfort to the Sea-sick Souldiers hoping that the recovery of their Health might be an enlargement of their Liberties vvho now vvere vvholly confined within the narrow compass of their City-walls They were not at all deceived in their expectation Jones his courage being much heightned by the arrival of these men novv scorned the Enemies Bravadoes and resolves upon the first opportunity by Gods blessing to remove them farther off which it was not long before he performed as appears by what follows On Tuesday August 2. 1649. the Enemy confidently draws down vvith a party of 1500 Foot besides Horse to Baggotsrold a place within one quarter of a Mile Eastward of the City upon the Sea hence they intended to run their trenches towards the City-works and thereby secure those Forts which were intended to be made towards the water to hinder the landing of supplies and succours expected from England But Jones and Reynolds with those other Commanders in the City observing the intent of the Enemy saw a necessity to interrupt them in their designe and therefore speedily drawing out twelve hundred Horse and four thousand Foot they with these quickly enter the works which the Enemy had newly raised and fell upon them with so much courage that they routed their Horse at the first charge the greatest part of the Foot were soon after cut in pieces and most of the rest taken prisoners This success so heated Jones his Men that they followed the chase to Rathmines where Ormond's Camp was and there they engaged his whole Army consisting of 19000 Men. The report of this bold Attempt quickly reached the General Ormond's Ears who then like a doughty Commander was valiantly playing at Tables in his own Tent and being told the news wished the Rebels as he called them would come that so he might have sport with them His wish he had but not the wished effect for the Tables are soon turned the sport proving very bad and bloody to Ormonds whole Army who were totally routed with a very great slaughter 4000 killed in the fight and chase 2517 prisoners taken most of them men of quality amongst the rest Ormonds own Brother All their great Guns Ammunition Provision they left behind them and withall a rich Camp to reward the valiant Souldiers who with the spoil thereof quickly clothed themselves in rich Habits and so marched into the City as it were incognito for many of the Officers knew not their own Souldiers they were grown so fine This Victory was obtained with the loss of few the number not exceeding twenty The News of this great Victory quickly reached the Lord Governour Cromwel at Milford Haven who was then shipping himself and Army August the 13 he set sail from thence with thirty two ships wherein vvas the Van of the Army on the 15 day Major-General Ireton followed after vvith the Body shipped in forty two sail Mr. Hugh Peters brought up the Reare in about twenty sail The Winds being favourable quickly brought them to Dublin where they were received vvith all the signes of Joy imaginable the great Guns ecchoed forth their vvelcome and the peoples Acclamations resounded in every street When Cromwel the now Lord Governour vvas come into the City the concourse of people being very great to see him vvhom before they had heard so much of at a convenient place he made a stand and in an humble posture having his Hat in his Hand he speaks thus to the people That as God had brought him thither in safety so he doubted not but by his Divine Providence to restore them all to their just Liberties and Proprieties and that all those whose hearts affections were real for the carrying on of the great work against the barbarom and bloody-thirsty Irish and the rest of their Adherents and Confederates for the propagating of the Gospel of Christ the establishing of Truth and Peace and restoring that bleeding Nation to its former happiness and tranquillitie should finde favour and protection from the Parliament of England and himself and withal should receive such endowments and gratuities as should be answerable to their Merits This Speech was highly applauded by the people and answer returned by many hundreds That they would live and dye with him The Army being all vvafted over the General knowing that vvithout Gods blessing his labour vvould be in vain therefore to obtain it he published a Proclamation strictly forbidding all persons under his Command to use the frequent practise of swearing cursing and drunkenness declaring a full resolution to punish with the greatest severity that the Law could inflict all those that should neglect or contemn the same This vvrought a great Reformation many taking vvarning by the punishment of some The Army being now refreshed and the Lord-Governour having settled the Affairs of the City both Military and Civil he draws the Army out of Dublin to a general Muster vvhere appeared a compleat Body of 15000 Horse and Foot out of these were drawn twelve Regiments containing in number between 9 or 1000 stout resolute Men for the present Expedition This Army being provided vvith all things necessary either for Offence or Defence drawing along vvith them a gallant traine of Artillery four vvhole Cannon and five Demy-cannons besides other Pieces useful either for a Siege or the field the Lord-Governour marches them away and quickly seats himself under the Walls of Tredagh Here he finds a most resolute enemy that vvould sooner break then bend the Governour of the Town vvas Sir Arthur Ashton vvho had formerly been Governour of Reading and Oxford in England for the King a
fact should be committed unless they did discover and produce the offender Presently after the publishing of this Proclamation Colonel Monk with a commanded party of Foot four Pieces of Ordnance and a Mortar-piece was sent to hunt these Beasts of prey And upon information that Derlton-House near Hadington was one of their Nests Monk and Lambert bent their Force towards it and approaching it an evening by the next day they had planted their Battery whence they plyed the House with great Guns the Mortar-piece also being not unoccupied but all wrought little effect till at last one of the Granadoes falling into the house broke the Iron bar of the inner gate and forced it open throwing the Draw-bridge into the Moat it also killed the Moss-Troopers Lieutenant This rough handling made them cry out for Quarter profering to quit the House so they might save their lives But these beggers not being admitted to be chusers at last submit to mercy Their number was thirty and their Captain one Waite who with two others of the most desperate of them was presently shot to death and the rest made prisoners This place being thus reduced Monk takes with him 600 Foot for Roslane Castle where at first he found opposition but upon second thoughts it was yeelded to mercy From these less considerable atchievements the English proceed to greater For the heat of their courage made them insensible as it were of the coldness of the weather so that in stead of lurking in Winter-quarters as is usual in such a season in warmer climates too they stir abroad to finde out the Enemy And now they draw near to that grand party in the West of Scotland sometimes commanded by Car and Straughan who had withdrawn themselves from the obedience of King Kirk and State publishing a Declaration containing the Reasons of their so doing which was to this purpose THat that which is obvious in the first place among the sins of the Land is the late proceedings with the King That they would distinguish betwixt their duty and their sin their duty was to use all lawful ways for reclaiming the King and to own his interest accordingly as he owned and prosecuted the Cause that it was their sin and the sin of the Kingdom that the King had walked in the ways of his fathers opposition to the work of Reformation and yet that they should receive him notwithstanding his peace made with the Irish the Commission given to James Graham meaning Montross for invasion of Scotland and after all this to assure him by Commissioners the exercise of Royal power upon his bare profession to joyn in the Cause and Covenant without any further proof of his repentance or convincing evidences of the reality of his professions That the Treaty was continued with him after his dealing was discovered in the actual invasion of the Kingdom That the King himself did still continue the Malignant party in the Kingdom cleaving to them and following their counsels and this not done onely in the Kingdom of Scotland but also abroad by keeping correspondence with the Lord of Ormond and the Earl of Newcastle That he refused to signe the Declaration offered to him by the Committee of Estates and General Assembly until it was extorted from him and he of necessity enforced to take it That he still pursued the same designes since the Treaty as before endeavouring to have the Malignants of the Kingdom in power and trust as it appears in his frequent conversing and correspondence with them notwithstanding they were discharged the Court by Act of Parliament By these things it is manifest that the King hath not prosecuted the Cause of God but rather in opposition to the work of God and the Covenant They therefore according to the Declaration of Kirk and State the 13 of August 1650. disclaim all the sin and guilt of the King and his house both old and new and declare that they cannot own him nor his interest in the state of the quarrel betwixt him and the enemy against whom they were to hazard their lives This Remonstrance was sent to the Committee of Estates then at Sterling the 25 of November 1650. where it bred great divisions and dissentings amongst them Much debate there was what to do in it to approve thereof would adde many more fractions to their already-broken State and make all desperate to shew an utter dislike of it would put the Remonstrators upon securing themselves lest if they should fall under the lash of their own Estates they might be worse handled then by being in the power of the English But at last they agreed upon a Declaration which was drawn up and voted to be sent to the Commissioners of the Kirk wherein they declared That the said Remonstrance as it related to the Parliament and Civil Judicatories was scandalous and injurious to his Majesties Person and injurious to his Authority and that it held out seeds of division and was of a dangerous consequence and withal dishonourable to the Kingdom in so far as it tended to a breach of the Treaty with the Kings Majestie at Breda approved by the Parliament and General Assembly that it strengthened the hand of the Enemy giving him wherewithal to justifie his unjust invasion and weakned the hands of many honest men Lastly that through the subtil contrivance thereof many religious Gentlemen Officers and Ministers have been thereby ensnared This was backt by the Assembly of the Kirk who signified their concurrence with the Estates in dislike of the Remonstrance but so nevertheless as if possible to bring Car and his party over by fair means to which end many Papers pass'd betwixt them and all means were used to compose differences The English Lord General observing these Western dissenters to agree with him in many particulars sent them several invitations to come in to him Who being proud of so many courtings from all sides grew so high thereupon as to think themselves strong enough to defend their own Cause against all opposers But as if Divisions had not already sufficiently torn that Nation this Party who had lately made so great a rent therein soon after subdivide themselves Straughan withdrawing himself and in a small time closing with the English So that Car commands all now himself and how he behaved himself in his command we shall presently see Upon this Party the English Lord General had a special eye they quartering near who if they could not be made friends might prove dangerous enemies and bad neighbours At last after many fruitless endeavours used to draw them over to him he resolves notwithstanding the difficulty of marching at that time of the year it being December to force them to it or to do worse Which was strangely effected in a short time after For about the end of November Major-Gen Lambert and Commissary-Gen Whalley with five Regiments of Horse were ordered by the General to march from Peebles to Hamilton on the South-side of
they went about to starve him Even so these State-Doctors dieted this poor Prince for some time feeding him with hopes and expectations of his desire and then at last give him no more but onely a Nut without the Kernel a Crown without a Kingdom so that his Commands were presently countermanded by a stronger and made invalid by General Cromwels sword who never left hunting him from place to place till at last he was forc'd to flee into Flanders for shelter where he now remains The Lord General Cromwel having given this deadly blow at Worcester September 3. 1651. which laid the Scots hopes low in the dust and thereby raised to himself a full assurance of the security of all his former Conquests tarried no longer in that City then to see the Walls of it levelled to the ground and the Dikes fill'd with Earth that so the disaffection of the inhabitants might be bridled from attempting to secure any future Enemy And now leaving this Golgotha he hastened away to offer his victorious Palms at the Parliaments feet Accordingly September 12. approaching neer to London the Speaker with the Members of Parliament and the Lord President of the Council of State with the Lord Mayor Aldermen and some hundreds more of Quality met him with demonstrations of extream affection to congratulate all his Noble Atchievements and Worthy Exploits here they comment on his Valour making large notes on his Victories the more because he had done much in a small time bringing that about in fifteen Months which was rather judged to be the work of so many years having in this time quite dispelled those Vapours fearful to the Parliament which were exhaled by the Rayes of Regality and once more made the serenity of Peace to shine in our Hemisphere Thus the Lord General was received in Triumph having before sent his Trophies the Scotch Prisoners with great acclamations and conducted to his house neer White-hall And after some small repose there he and his valiant Lieutenant-General went to take up their places in the Parliament where the Speaker in a congratulatory Oration acknowledged the Obligation of the State to them for their indefatigable industry The same day the Lord Mayor of London to compleat the rejoycing and shew his gratitude in behalf of the City feasted the General and his chief Officers This being ended with mutual returns of thanks the Lord General took his leave and returned back again to consider what was farther to be done for the settlement of the nation This is his next Work And what he did in order to the accomplishing thereof we now come to shew The End of His Personal Wars HIS ACTIONS In the PROTECTORSHIP THE English Nation having by a Civil War banished Monarchy with an Exit Tyrannus presently institute an Oligarchy which to give them their due acted in their Infancy like Hercules in the Cradle stifling all those Serpents that offered to hiss against their Authority and with such vigor prosecuted they their designes that both Ireland and Scotland were inforc't to yeild obedience to their commands The Authority of this Power being thus miraculously extended it grew at length dreadful to the neighbouring Nations especially the Dutch a people who of all others were most sensible of the growing greatness of the English Commonwealth they knowing full well that two neighbouring States of equal greatness could never long agree being still jealous of each others actions which jealousie causing misconstruction would at last break forth into open hostility Examples are frequent in this kinde Rome and Carthage so long contended till the one was ended They first fell out about the Island of Sicily and so by degrees this fewd extended it self through all those Nations where either side had any dominion But at last a peace being patched up it continued until the second Punick War wherein Carthage was made a Puny indeed and brought under subjection to Rome Another Example we have in that most noble Republick Venice whose first Founders being hunted by the barbarous Huns out of Italy were fain to shelter themselves by flying unto some little barren Islands which lay in the Adriatick Gulph where necessity putting an edge upon industry caused these people to begin an admirable Structure which since hath been increased to such a magnitude and splendor that it may well be termed The Worlds Wonder for the excellent Architecture multitude of Bridges rare Arsenal or Magazine but above all the Policie of this State far surpasseth all others in Government and may well be a pattern for direction and imitation to any people in the world Venice thus gradually ascending to eminency grew so great as to challenge the superiority over all the watry Element about it as well it might being situate therein and therefore Neptunes Minion This City being on one side of Italy on the other side lay Genoa situate neer the feet of the Apennine Hills a Commonwealth too and therefore aspiring high grew emulous of the Venetians greatness which made those two Republikes grow at enmity The first occasion of their falling out was about a Church allowed them both for exercise of Divine Service in Ptolemais commonly called Acoe in Syria this Church being too little to hold both people of such great spirits there grew a hot Dispute whose it should be which came to this issue That it must be theirs that could get possession which prov'd to be the Genoeses who to maintain their Mass armed the Church with Fortifications not for example to after-Ages and so kept it wholly to their own Use Thus began the Quarrel which continued for many years chiefly by Sea till at last the Genoeses received such dangerous shot betwixt winde and water that they were fain to cry Quarter and ever since vail to Venice acknowledging it their superiour Even so was it between these two mighty Republikes England and the United Provinces The Dutch fearing that current of Traffick would be stopped which they had so long enjoyed by reason of Englands Domestick and Forreign Wars themselves mean while having Peace with all Nations except Portugal whereby they increasing their Trade by an un-interrupted fishing in the British Seas and still greedy in their unsatiable appetite of ingrossing all to themselves without either Right or Reason grew at last highly conceited of their own abilities both as to Policy and Power Their Policy was seen in giving assistance to the Enemies of the English Parliament whilst in the mean time their Embassadors tickled the Council of State and Parliament into a belief of their Masters real affections and hearty wishes for their prosperity But these unworthy actions being privately suspected it was not long before they were publikely detected This put the Dutch to their Trumps and made them arm out a considerable Navy to execute a designe upon the Isle of Scilly which then was in possession of the Scotch Kings Forces But the Council of State in England having timely notice of this project