sent by the Lair Libberton The New Commonwealth in England in the mean time was modell'd thus The House of Peers as I said was voted down the Commons reduc'd to about 100 and a new kind of Senate set up called a Council of State who sate at Whitehall consisting of forty persons these indeed though deriv'd from the Parliament grew to have greater authority then their creators but though the supreme Power seem'd in appearance to be in these two Councils yet it was really in the hands of the Army the chief Officers of which rul'd them that rul'd the Nations Their principall business at Home was to fortify their new Government by making severall Acts of Treason and to terrifie others by putting to death divers of the Nobility as D. Hamilton E. of Holland L. Capel c. and such of the Gentry who had oppos'd their Barbarous and Tyrannicall Proceedings They also employ'd themselves in dividing the Patrimony of the Crown having murder'd the Father and expell'd the Son the same course also they took with many thousands of loyall persons either confiscating and selling their Estates or putting them to redeem the same upon great compositions by this meanes and prodigious Taxes together drawing all the Wealth of the Nation both Money Lands into their own hands and sharing the same among themselves their Lords the Officers of the Army His Majesty had small hopes of doing any good immediately upon England although he had friends enough in it However two noble Gentlemen Sir Iohn Berkly and Col. Slingsby offer'd themselves to serve their Prince in England and accordingly came from Iersey into the VVest and went about stirring up their Correspondents to Armes for their King Country but they were both accidentally discover'd taken The King had sent Ambassadours to severall great Princes and States as the Emperor the King of Spain the Duke of Moscovy the State of Venice the Grand Seignor and others to sollicite their ayd and contribution for the recovery of his Father's Kingdomes But from the most of them he received only complements pretenses of their good will to help him The most considerable Embasse and most probable to take effect was that to his Majesty of Spain by the Lord Cottington who at his Audience remonstrated in the name of his Master That the Parliament of England having been in Armes against his Father had prevailed against him and caused him to be put to dâ—ath That he being Son and heir to the late King was yet kept out of his Kingdomes by the said Parliament And therefore he desired his Aid and Assistance to establish him into his Rights and Dignities in his Kingdomes To this the King of Spain answer'd That he was sorry for his Father 's ill successe wishing he had been more prosperous That he condol'd with him for his Father's death and was much affected with sorrow at the manner of it That concerning the difference between him and the Parliament and the Rights on thâ— one or the other side they being matters out of his Territories and Iurisdiction he could not take cognizance of them nor should he meddle therein But for any thing within his own Dominions he should be ready to do him what lawful favour he could But such is the influence Self Interest has upon the minds even of the greatest Potentates that it many times excludes all considerations of generosity Had the Neighbour-States resented the unjustice done to this King and his Father as they ought I am confident the Spirits of the Iuncto would have soon been broken But the course of the world as I said is otherwise his Majesty of Britain is an Exile his Enemies are great and powerfull and therefore in stead of sending assistance to the unfortunate Prince the King of Spain sends and Embassadour to court the new Common wealth of Rebels to a League The King hearing of a Fleet of Ships preparing by the Parliament for the Island of Iersey thought fit to dispatch his answer to the Committee of Estates of Scotland in order to a Treaty which being drawn up with a Letter directed to the Committee of the Kirk Assembly the Laird Libberton departed with it to Scotland Soon after which his Majesty to avoid all danger went from Iersey back again into France where her resided with his Royal Mother till the time for the Scotch Treaty drew near Before his going thither he writ thus to the Lord Marq. of Montross Most Dear and well beloved Cousin We have received Letters from our Kingdome of Scotland of which you receive herewith a Copy by which our subjects demand of us that we would please to acknowledge for lawfull their Parliament and particularly the two last Sessions of that Assembly Which being obtained of our Grace they offer to send us their Deputies with full Commission to Treat with us of the means to reestablish Peace and obedience in that Kingdome We have made them an Answer That we have made known to their Envoy the place where we desired their Deputies should come to us with all diligence And to the end you should not apprehend that by our Letters or by the Treaty we had any design to hinder the affairs we hâ—ve committed to you we have thought fit to let you know that as we judge the Levies you have made for our service to have been a powerfull motive to oblige them to send their Deputies and to enter into Treaty with us So we also believe that the Progrese you shall make in your generous Designes will dispose them to Treat with the more moderation to the end the whole Realm may again happily return under our obedience We assure you we have not the least thought to derogate from that ample Commission which we have given you nor to diminish that Authority in which we have invested you by our Letters Patents And we doe promise you also if it shall come to passe that we shall enter into any good Intelligence with our subjects we shall have so much care of your proper Interest that all the world shall see how much we esteem your Person what confidence we have in your conduct your Courage whereof not only the late King our Father but Our self also have reciv'd Proofs both by what you have done suffer'd for Us. In the mean time you shall understand that we have qualified the Assembly of our Subjects with the Appellation of the Committee of Estates which we have done onely for this Treary Which if it shall not succeed as we desire As we know already this Qualification of the Privy Signet do's not at all authorise them to be such so we shall then forthwith declare for what we hold them notwithstanding this Title which we have given them both for their own proper satisfaction also to make known to all the World that we desire to bring back our Subjects of the Kingdome of Scotland to their Duty rather by wayes of
he would confirme all Acts of Parliament enjoin the Solemn League and Covenant establish Presbytery the Directory the Confâ—ssion of Faith and Catechisme in the Kingdome of Scotland as they are already approved by the General Assembly of the Kirk and the Parliament and that he would observe the same in his own family and swâ—ar never to oppose or indevour the alteration of the same IV. That he would consent that all Civil matters might be determin'd by the present and subsequent Parliaments in Scotland and all matters Ecclesiasticall by the ensuing generall Kirk Assembly After the reading of these Propositions and the Letters his Majestie being told these were all their instructions answered That he would take these things into consideration and doubted not to give them such a full answer as should give them his Kingdome of Scotland ample satisfaction His Majestie and his Council deliberate very seriously upon these Heads of the Treaty Opinions were divided some persons vehemently disswading him from trusting himself into the hands of the Scots But the Covenant was the main thing the King stuck at and the Commissioners most urg'd In the mean time he withdraw to the Hague to consult with the Queen of Bohemia and the Prince of Orange who was visited by the Commissioners and intreated to be a Mediator between them and his Majestie and some other friends what course was best to resolve on And soon after the Earle of Carnwarth and Mr. Murrey arrive at Breda from the Committee of Estates with further Instructions and Propositions as 1. That his Majesty should raâ—ifie all that had been done in the Parliaments of Scotland in some late Sessions And consent That Montrosse and his Adherents be prohibited accesse into that Kingdome These conditions were sufficiently hard but the posture his Majestie 's affairs then stood in seem'd to most of his Counsellours to afford an invincible argument to perswade him to accept them The Marquis of Montrosse as I said was commission'd by the King to levy what force he could on that side the Sea and to fall into the North of Scotland upon hopes his appearance there might induce the States to more moderation In order to which he had sollicited the Princes of Germany for assistance but he received little more from any but promises and complements Onely from the Duke of Holstein he was supplyed with three or four very fair Vessels well arm'd and amn'd And to expedite his businesse he dispatcht Col. Iohn Ogilby to Amsterdam to intertain such strangers as might be for his purpose But the forgetting his Commission bestow'd both money paines in intertaining himself suffering those who upon any termes would have engag'd to shift for themselves there being a great number who had fled out of England and more who had lately deserted the French or been cashiered the Hollander's service By which neglect those goodly ships provided for service were lost and a limb of the design broken Nor was this the onely miscarriage that hapned in the beginning of the Marquis's enterprise For Col. Cochran likewise who had been sent into Poland to deal with the Scotch Merchants there for assistance having procured very considerable Summes of money upon that score and other provision dispos'd of the money to his own use made sale of the Corn and provision together transportation of it and himself turn'd tail to the quarrell And Generall King whom the Marquis expected out of Sweden with a considerable party of Horse either could not be ready so soon as was expected or else delay'd on purpose However the Marquesse fearing as is suppos'd he should have an expresse command to desist from his purpose because the Treaty betwixt his Majesty and the Scots Commissioners was likely to come to a speedy conclusion whereby himself should be banisht out of that Kingdome fatally resolves to proceed notwithstanding all difficulties So he set forth for the conquest of a Nation settled in a posture of war and forewarn'd of his intentions with about six or seven hundred men at most strangers and all about the tenth of April 1650. He had sent him by the Queen of Swâ—den for the arming such as upon his arrivall should betake themselves to his party fifteen hundred Armes compleat for Horse back brest c. Carbiâ—â—es Pistols and Swords all which after his defeat in Cathanes were taken untoucht Two of his ships with near upon a third part were sent before and directed to steeâ— for the Orcades but by storm of weather which is both frequent and dangerous amongst those Northern Islands they were lost with all the men and Arms nothing sav'd This was another check and a forerunner of the sad event which follow'd However nothing terrifi'd with these unhappy presages he arriv'd himself at the Isle of Orkney having with him severall Scotch Gentlemen resolv'd to partake of his fortune Here he continued a considerable time to raise such forces and recruits as the place would afford which were poor raw untrain'd fellowes making up the shew of an Army but wholly ignorant of war With these he embarques and lands at Cathanes the farthest point to the Northwest of Scotland expecting the coming of two thousand men rais'd in the Earle of Seaforth's Territories His arrival and that with Foreigners immediately struck a terrour into the whole Countrey as far as Edenburth where the Parliament then sitting forthwith order Lieutenant General David Lesley Colonel Straughan and Holborn to march against him with 7000. foot and 3. Troops of Horse In the mean time the Marquesse moves but slowly and to prevent misapprehension since all the world was much astonisht at his Invasion whilst the King was upon a Treaty puts forth a Declaration to make known That his intention was only against some particular persons who had against the Laws of the Kingdome rais'd and maintain'd a war against the King's Father and did now by their subtile practices endeavour to cirâ—umvent and destroy the Son That he intended nothing against the generality of the Kingdome And lastly exhorted all Subjects of that Nation to endeavour to free themselves from the Tyranny of those who for the present ruled the state and from the oppression of the Ministry But the Countrey partly through fear of the danger and partly being over-awed by the Earle of Sunderland did not come to second him as he expected Straughan who commanded a choice party of Horse advances before Lesley's body whilst the Marquesse had effected nothing material besides the taking of Dumbath Castle Upon Straughan's approach a party of 100. were drawn forth who encountred his Forlorn hope and put them to retreat but being immediately seconded by Straughan's whole body who charged upon that of the Marquesse the Islanders threw down their Armes and were dispers'd only the Dutch Forces made an orderly retreat into some shrubs hard by where having very valiantly defended themselves a while they were at last enforced to yield This was a totall Defeat of
to passe that way to Italy whereupon he sent one of his Lords to her to signify his desire to wait upon her Majestie at what place she should be pleased to nominate To which message she return'd thanks for the honour his Majesty intended her and appointed Coningstein a village near Francfurt in the Electorate of Mentz for the place of Interview His Majesty was accordingly received there by her with many expressions of respect and had private conference with her alone for almost an hour after which the Duke of Glocester was admitted to her presence alone and then the Prince Elector Palatine and his Brother Prince Rupert who came thither on purpose and the refst of the great Lords that attended the King The Elector Palatine invited his Majesty to his Court but his Majesty waved his civility and after many complements between these Princes his Majesty returned to Francfurt the Prince Elector and his Brother to Heidleberg and the Queen of Sweden proceeded without stay in her journey to Italy At his Majestie 's returning from Francfurt which was by water the Elector of Mentz having provided magnificent entertainment for his reception came inperson a great part of the way to meet him and conducted him to one of his Palaces where he treated him for four dayes in a most sumptuous and splendid manner after which himself accompanied him for some part of the way to Collen in which City four Burgomasters were appointed by the Magistrate to wait upon his Majesty and the Princes and to testify the satisfaction they took in their return thither And thus we see what respect his Majesty found in a forreign Country and in his lowest fortune the greatnesse of his vertues causing him to be every where extremely valued not for what he injoy'd but for what he truly deserv'd Shortly after the Princesse Royal took leave of his Majesty and the Duke of Glocester and departed for Holland In the mean time in England Cromwel's feares or his malice were restlesse for about Iune most of the Gentry in all parts of the Nation were clapt up by his Major Generals not would any securiry be taken for them but rhey were kept in Inns such like places with guards of Souldiers at an excessive charge and in convenience for many months together Among others the Lord Falkland Lord Willoughby of Parham and the Lord Newport were committed to the Tower upon suspition of Treason but it seems it was rather his own guilt that induc'd him to do thus then any reasonable cause which could he have found no question they had paid their lives for his security There having been this year a barbarous Massacre committed upon the Protestants of the Valleys of Piedmont by the Souldiers of Charles Emanuel Duke of Savoy the Protector testifi'd his resentment of it by appointing a solemn day of Humiliation to be observ'd and a large contribution to be gathered throughout the Nation for their relief The collections came to a vast sum but how well they were pay'd to those for whom they were pretended is not unknown to them that were employ'd about this affair into Savoy Also toward the latter end of this year Proposals were made to Cromwel by Manasseh Ben-Israel a Iew in behalf of the Iewish Nation for their free admission to trade and exercise of their Religion in England They had been excluded for the space of almost 400. hundred years yet Cremwel out of a sense of charity for their conversion and in consideration of 200000 l. was willing to listen to their reentertainment But the designe was so vehemently oppos'd by the Divines aâ—d Merchants that it took no effect In the beginning of the next year 1656. the King of Spain being sensible of Cromwel's perfidiousness solemnly proclaimed Warre against England Whereupon Cromwel enter'd into a strict league both Offensive and Defensive with the King of France who was then at Wars with the King of Spain both in Flanders Italy and Catalonia One of the chief Articles of the Confederacy was that his Majesty with the Dukes of York and Glocester and all his Relations and Adherents saving the Queen Mother should be excluded out of France In which it is to be wondred with what sense of honour that King could consent to so base and ignoble a proposall made by one that had murdered his Uncle and Usurped his Dominions and withall to banish such Princes as were so near of Blood to him and came to him for succour and relief But selt-interest not self-preservation for what could France fear from Cromwel when he was ingag'd with the King of Spain and jealous every day of the people he tyrannis'd over self-interest I say of not of the King of France at least of Cardinal Mazarine the Queen's creature prevail'd above all respects of honour justice and the sense of humane calamities The King wisely withdrew before and the Duke of Glocester not long after there remain'd onely the Duke of York who during his service in the French Army had acquir'd to himself a great renowne and a high command Neverthelesse he had some small time respited for his stay in which he was visited and honourably treated by Marshal Turenne who infinitely esteem'd and lov'd him for his extraordinary courage skill in Martial affairs others of the French Lords as also by the Duke of Modena who was then occasionally in that Kingdome And shortly after he took his leave of the King of France the Queen his Mother and the rest of the Court and departed into Flanders In the mean time the King of Spain partly out of a noble generosity and partly out of consideration that having engag'd in a Warre against Cromwel his Majestie 's interest might be of some advantage to him caused Don Iohn of Austria his Governour in the Low-Countries to invite his Majesty into his Territories which invitation was made by the Count of Fuensaldagne a great Commander and lately Governour of Milan His Majesty accepted of the offer and departed from Colen to Bruges in Flanders where he was received with great expressions of honour and respect Thither also the Duke of York went to his Majesty having taken Bruxels in his way and been extremely caress'd by Don Iohn and his Court who expressed much joy in having the most valiant Prince of his age in the world come to assist personaâ—ly in the war In England Cromwel being much necessitated for money and withall impatient to tarry longer for a confirmation by the people which although he could not obtain of the preceeding Parliament he hoped he might gain of another attempted once more to call a new Representative But remembring the carriage of some in the former he gave private intimation to certain persons in several Counties to obstruct if possible their Election again in the ensuing Session and writ Letters to some Sheriffs to the same purpose Neverthelesse though they were chosen after the new mode 10. in a County and 1. in
his distempers and afterwards attain'd a firmer health When he came to sit in the House of Peers 1640 his first action in publick affairs was the carrying the King's Letter to them in favour of that noble but unfortunate Lord the Earl of Strafford the King hoping that when all other respects could not prevail upon them at least the consideration of the dignity and goodnesse of this Royal Messenger might something move them to reflect upon the hard measure they had determin'd for him But through the cruel fate of this brave man or rather that of these three Kingdomes the heat of I know not what strange zeal had made them so thirsty for his bloud that a day or two's respite of execution of the severest sentence that ever was given was more then could be afforded to the desires of their King though presented by the hands of their Prince This repulse he suffer'd was certainly the beginning if not the cause of all his ensuing sufferings and those of the Nation 's too For soon after hapned that fatall misunderstanding between the King and the Parliament which occasioning the King's withdrawing from London he commanded the Prince to attend him first at Greenwich then at Hampton-Court then at Theobalds the incensed Parliament and City in the mean time regretting his escape out of their hands having design'd to make advantage of his person according as the contingency of their affairs should suggest to them From thence with the Duke of York he accompanies his Father to New-market and from thence into Yorkshire where they all stood before the gates of Hull and were deny'd admission by Sir Iohn Hotham 'till at length the two Princely brothers were by his special favour permitted as children to see the Town At York the Northern Nobility and Gentry offering their service to his Majesty received thanks for it but were not made use of for prevention of jealousie 'till a greater danger induc'd the King to neglect his fafety no longer and accordingly he selected a company of gallant and loyal persons for his Life guard which were commanded by the young Prince His Majesty assuring them they should hazard their lives no further in defence of their Countries Lawes and Liberties then himself and that they should endanger themselves no farther for his person then his own dear Child In this manner he accompanied the King from York to Newark in Nottinghamshire and from thence to Lincoln and Leicester and back again into Yorkshire in which progress the King endeavoured to satisfie the Counties he passed through of the uprightnesse of his intentions for the good of the Nations and evidenc'd to them the desperate courses the Parliament engaging in order to deprive him of the Royalty left him from his Predecessours and this under pretence of Liberty and Religion At his return into Yorkshire the King informes the Gentlemen there of the Parliaments forwardnesse to a War desires them to spare him some Armes and to compleat Prince Charles's Regiment for the guard of his person under the command of the Earle of Cumberland Not long after the King having gather'd a considerable Army was met between Kinton and Edge-hill in Warwickshire by that of the Parliament under the conduct of the Earl of Essex There was the first considerable battle fought of our civill Wars The Prince was then in the field and the Honourable Earle of Lindsey who was the King's Generall and lost his life in the fight looking upon him very attentively a little before the conjunction of the Armies I know not by what Propheticall instinct utter'd these words Ther 's a Child born to end that VVar we now begin Which how miraculously accomplish't we cannot but gratefully acknowledge the civill Wars having continued ever since the Army which had subdued the one Party afterwards turning their swords upon those that first employ'd them and the poor Nations being rul'd by the sword and always in a state of War and groaning under the miseries inflicted on it by armed Oppressours After this the King retir'd with the Prince to Oxford and committed him to the Right Honourable the Marquesse of Hertford then and still Chancellor of that University who provided for him severall worthy persons in the quality of Tutors for his instruction in all such languages and Sciences as were convenient for the accomplishment of a Prince During his residence there it pleased God to visit him with the Meazles and that not without some danger of death which by the Divine mercy and indulgence to these Nations he avoided is respited we hope for many years Here he was very diligent in commendable studies intermix'd with ingenious and innocent pleasures and upon the King 's summoning a Parliament thither which convened the 22 of Ianuary 1644. himself with his noble Brother the Duke of York sate with the rest of the Nobility in the Upper Schooles which were designed for the House of Lords as the Convocation House was to the Commons who were no inconsiderable number there being present at that Assembly besides these two young Princes the Lord Keeper Littleton the Lord Treasurer Cottington the Duke of Richmond the Marquesse of Hertford nineteen Earles three and twenty Barons and a hundred and fourty Knights and Gentlemen The next year the Prince betakes himself into the field being now about fifteen years old his first course was Westward where by his Majesties Order he had attendants appointed him suitable to the grandeur and state of an heir to three Crowns He set up a Royall Court and chose out a Retinue at his own pleasure the King though disapproving the action in a Letter to the Queen yet admiring his discretion in the Election of them scarce inferiour as a great observer affirm'd to that of his deceased Uncle Prince Henry During this time the King of Portugal sends over an Embassadour who amongst severall specious proposals relating to his Majesties present exigencies tenders one for a Marriage between the Daughter of that King and the Prince of Wales which for good reasons the King his father put off with a civill answer importing a deniall of the proposition though as the policy of State-affairs often makes it necessary to do in words expressing no dislike of it After that fatall battle of Naseby which turn'd the scale to the disadvantage of the Royall Interest severall Overtures interven'd between Prince Charles the Lord Goring and the Parliamentarian General Fairfax but the two former alwayes receiv'd the same answer from him which signified nothing viz. That he was but a servant to the Parliament and could not exceed his Commission which impower'd him onely to fight therefore in râ—ference to a Treaty application ought to be mâ—de to his Masters at VVestminster The Prince accordingly writes to him again to grant the Lords Hopton and Culpepper leave to attend the King and mediate with him for a Treaty with the Parliament to which the General upon grave consultation with his Committee of
which put the King upon thoughts of providing for his own safety and therefore on the 13. of April he went out of Oxford in a disguise with Parson Hudson waiting upon Mr. Iohn Ashburnham and upon the 6. os May got to the Scots Army before Newark Soon after which Sir Thomas Glenham surrendred the City of Oxford to General Fairfax upon the 24. of Iune 1646. The Duke of York was carried from thence to Saint Iames's where he met with his Sister the Princesse Henrietta Maria who was sent thither from the surrender of Exceter but was shortly after conveyed from Oatlands over to her Mother in France by her Governesse the Lady Dalkeith From the Island of Scilly the Prince removed to that of Guernsey where he had not long been but an Ordinance is put out against him in the nature of a Ban prohibiting all persons to repair to him or correspond with him by letter or otherwise upon pain of death without mercy Whereupon his abode here being so uncomfortable he betakes himself for France to visit his Mother and that Court there he was received with great demonstration of joy by all parties excepting the dissembling Cardinal Mazarine who though he pretended much respect yet was he inwardly glad to see him in distresse and exile From hence the Queen being willing to comply with the active desires of her Son which inclin'd him to break through these clouds of misery and retirement which seem'd wholly to obscure him writes to the King by Major Bosvil requesting him to permit the Prince to go into the field with his Uncle the Duke of Orleans that summer in the head of a French Army that was then design'd for an expedition into Flanders against the Spaniard To which his Majesty refus'd to condescend partly for that he judg'd it an imployment below a Prince of Great Britain to serve any other King but his own whose pay and orders were once receiv'd by a Roman Caesar and partly because he knew not how soon his service might be necessary for his own Couhtrey and therefore he commands him to wave that design and await his further instructions In the mean time it pleased the King of kings to lay his hand upon him and visit him with an intermitting Fever which continued upon him for the space of some weeks 'till by the divine blessing upon the Physitian 's care he was recover'd to perfect health Soon after which he receiv'd a Commission from his Royal Father to be Generalissimo of all the Loyal forces that survived of the late unsuccessefull battels and garrisons While he is advising about this affair the Kingdom of Scotland out of tendernesse of the Prince's safety honour and conscience move the King That his Son the present hope and future happinesse of these Nations might not be exposed in his youth to the dangers which encompassed him in the French Court particularly in reference to his Religion the perversion of which might have fatal consequences in these three Kingdomes Whereupon his Majesty from Newcastle whether the Scots fearing least General Fairfax should fall upon them and compel them to deliver him up retir'd with him writes to him That he should wait upon his Mother and obey her dutifully in all things Religion only excepted and that he should not stir any whether without his directions The Scots also by their Committee of Estates write themselves to the Prince to invite him thither Professing that none of the late calamities except those that had befallen his Royal Father afflicted them more then his Highnesse's absence And seeing their Forces had entred England to doe their duty to Religion his Majesty and his Highnesse they humbly desire he would please to honour and countenance their pious and loyal endeavours with his gracious presence for whose honour safety and freedome they engage the publick Faith of that Kingdome Signed Crawford Lindsey In Answer to this he desires the Earle of Louderdail to return his acknowledgements to the States of Scotland and assure them he would doe nothing misbecoming a good Prince or unsuitable to their civility But the Prince in pursuance of his instructions negotiating in behalf of his Father's affairs in the French Court by his Mother's assistance whom her nearnesse of bloud great deserts and low condition made powerfull there prevails with the French to advance ten thousand pounds for the Marquesse of Ormond towards the furtherance of his Majestie 's affairs in Ireland as an earnest of greater matters And some remainders of his Cornish Forces getting to a head others upon order marching to him out of Ireland he goes to meet them at the Island of Iersey with such Forces as he had gotten together beyond sea especially in France by his Mother's means and in Holland by the mediation of his young Brother in Law VVilliam of Nassaw Prince of Orange who about this time succeeded his Father Henry in the dignity of General and Admiral of the United Provinces He possessed himself likewise of some Vessels in the Island adding others to them which he hired in France While his Highnesse lay here a Letter is sent to him from the Parliament by the hands of Colonel Russel their Governour of Guernsey which lyes six or seven Leagues distant from Iersey The effect of it was to desire him for his Father's his own and the three Kingdomes sake to return to them where he should find all due respects Subjects could afford or his H ghnesse expect The Design was to get the person of the Prince into their hands as the Scots had that of the King but it took no effect the Prince proceeding to manage his affairs by sea and land to such advantage as might â—nable his Royal Father to stand in the approaching Treaty on such termes as might consist with his Conscience and his Honour On Iuly the 27. following sixteen General Propositions with sundry Qualifications were presented to the King at Newcastle by the Earles of Pembroke Suffolk c. who were limited to ten dayes which the King judging unreasonable refused to consent to and defir'd to come to London and treat personally After which the Scots general Assembly send a Remonstrance to his Majesty desiring him to settle matters in England according to the COVENANT and to signe the Parliaments Propositions And Chancellor Lowdon told him plainly there was no other means for him to close with his Two Houses And moreover if he lost England he should not be admitted to reign in Scotland But the King still persisting in his denyal the Scots who had hitherto some what sharply disputed about the disposall of his Person are content upon the receit of a good summe of Money to depart home and leave the King in the power of the Parliament who voted him to Holmby House and sent Commissioners to receive and convey him thither where he arriv'd on the 17. of February 1646 7. The War was now totally finished and dissentions brake out between the Parliament
issued out of London-Derry and beat off Sir Rob. Stuart and Col. Mervin that besieg'd it And immediately upon this successe Ol. Cromwell landed in Ireland with the Title of Lord Lieutenant and was follow'd by his Son-in-Law Ireton with about 40. ships The Royall Field Army being lost Cromwell falls upon the Garrisons the first place he attaqued was Droghedah or Tredagh which he soon took by storme and with a cruelty unknown since the first rise of Christianity put the Governour Sir Arthur Aston a noble Gentleman that had serv'd the late King in England and all Inhabitants of the Town of all ages and sexes to the Sword Thus was Providence pleas'd to suffer wickednesse to prosper This successe was follow'd with the losse of many considerable Townes and Castles in all parts of Ireland besides serverall Field-battels obtain'd over the Lords Inchequin Ardes and Clanduboys and Lieut. Gen. Farrell by the L. Broghill Sir Ch. Coot Col. Venables Zanchy Renolds and Hewson So that in lesse then the space of this year that Kingdome was wholly lost which in the beginning of it his Majestie lookt upon as so considerably his own that he was almost perswaded to have gone thither in person but waved upon mature advice and went to the Isle of Iersey where he was proclaimed by the Islanders immediately and the L. Iermin Earle of Yarmouth was made Governour and Sir Geo. Carteret his Deputy His retinue at his arrivall in this place amounted to about 300. persons A little before his departue from St. Germains the Duke of York came to him out of Holland was visited by the French King and the Cardinal of whom he humbly implored ayd in behalf of his Brother Mazarini answer'd civilly that he might assure himself of all favour and assistance from the King of France as soon as he had the power and opportunity to serve him In the mean time the Duke is persented with 100000. Crownes From Iersey his Majesty sends his Summons to Guernsey which was wholly the Parliament's saving Cornet Castle to submit to his obedience But it was to no effect It is reported by some his Majesty had some expectation from the Levellers who at that time had revolted from the rest of the Parliament's Army but whatever their designe was they were supprest both in the West and at Burford in Oxfordshire The English Plantations in the West-Indies at this time under the Lord Willoughby of Parham refus'd Obedience and Subjection to the Parliament who thereupon first interdicted them all Traffick Commerce and shortly after reduc'd them with a Fleet sent from England under the Command of Sir Geo. Ayscough The King at Iersey receiving intelligence of these unfortunate successes following one upon the neck of another his chief hopes and expectations lay now in Scotland He understood the severall Factions there and that the Covenanters who were most considerable both for Power and Number sought their own advantage by him and would cause much difficulty in his affairs there wherefore to balance them a little by the honest Royalists who were his and had been his Father's friends and whom the former endevour'd to keep under as also to bring them to more equitable Termes he gives Commission to the noble and valiant Lord Marquis of Montrosse to raise forces for him in Holland and other parts The Marquis in a short time sends some few forces into the Isle of Orkney and some few others landed in the North of Scotland under Sir Ia. Montgomery These the Committee of Estates resolve to oppose though rais'd for the King's service and notwithstanding after long debate and contest between the opposite factions the best of which were infinitely scrupulous at length resolve upon a Letter of Propositions to his Majesty and send it by Mr. Geo. Windram Laird of Libberton upon the 25. of Sept. 1649. Upon the 30. of that moneth he arriv'd at Iersey and presented his Majesty with these Propositions from the States of Scotland 1. That his Majesty would sign the solemn League and Covenant and pass an Act for all persons to take it throughout that Kingdome and ratifie all that had been done concerning the same 2. That he would ratifie divers Acts of Parliament of Scotland made by the two last Sessions viz. 1. For disclaiming D. Hamilton's last expedition 2. For receiving of the severall Acts made by the English for the Militia 3. For the Kings of Scotland to have no Negative voice in their Parliament 3. That his Majâ—stie would recall the late Commissions given to Montrosse c. 4. That he would dismisse all Papists from about him and let none be of his Council but Protestants 5. That he would appoint some place about Holland for a Treaty with their Commissioners whither they intended to send severall Persons of Honour for that purpose and take care for his Entertainment during that time sutable to his Dignity 6. That he would give a speedy answer to their Desires After some time of debate upon these proposalls which were variously entertain'd some upon diffidence of the Scots fidelity disswading his Majesty from complying with them as the Lords Byron Cleveland Gerard c. others on the contrary as the Lords Piercy Wentworth Wilmot and Sir Geo. Carteret counselling him not to put that to the hazard of war which might be obtain'd by Treaty especially his strength being at that time so low if he should resolve onely upon force Letters came to his Majesty from the Queen urging that if the Scots Propositions seem'd at present too severe and unsupportable he might have opportunity hereafter when possess'd of that Kingdome to free himself in some measure from the Inconvenience of them Therefore she judg'd it best to close with them Montrosse also then in Holland writ to the King to the same purpose desiring his Majesty to hearken to the Scots Commissioners so as to admit of an Agreement with them which might settle his Majesty in that Kingdome with safety and Honour adding That as for himself he should be contented to be banished perpetually from his Native Country rather then be the least cause of prejudice to his Majestie 's affaires Thus this incomparable pattern of Loyaltie preferred the Interest of his Prince above all respects of his own But his Majestie was too generous to admit of his offer and therefore answered him That he had such assurance of his fidelity so high a sense of his services perform'd to his late Father and himself that he could not in Iustice or in Honour desert him and therefore desired him to urge him no further to it At length the advice to close with the Scots seem'd most safe and reasonable and proceeding from the greater number of suffrages it was resolv'd to follow it The next thing therefore to be deliberated of was what answer should be return'd to the Propositions which requiring some time Sir VVill. Flemming was dispatcht before hand to Edenb as Agent till it could be compleated
his friends from about him usurping the whole Government of all affairs both Ecclesiastical and Civil into their own hands and placing guards about his Person c. secretly escapes from St. Iohnston's in much discontent in order as some think to going beyond Sea accompanied onely with four Horsemen toward the North of Scotland where the Marquis of Huntkey the Earls of Athol and Seaforth Lords Ogleby and Newburgh with the Gourdons and the men of Athol were ready to appear for him with a considerable force The Committee of Estates at St. Iohnston's were much surpris'd and troubled at this departure of his Majesty especially for that they fear'd he was gone to Mai. Gen. Middleton and the Athol men who were purely for his interest disclaiming the Kirk's authority with that of Parliament and Estates for the appeasing of whom an Act of Indempnity was offer'd them which they contemning and falling upon and worsting Sir Iohn Browes Regiment Lieut. Gen. Lesley is commanded forth against them In the mean time while the Parliament and Committee of Estates are consulting and debating what course to take with the King some propounding That since he had deserted them they should look no more after him but leave him to his own wayes the more moderate judging it fit rather to testifie to his Majesty their sorrow for his departure and desire him graciously to return a different Faction of the Covenanters under the command of Straughan and Kerr in the West set forth a Remonstrance to the Committee of Estates taxing them of imprudence and temerity in hastning to conclude a Treaty with receiving entertaining the King before he had given any convincing evidence of a reall change after his commissioning Montrosse to invade Scotland judging his profession of the Cause the Covenant meerly counterfeit as appear'd by his favouring Scotch and English Malignants as they termed them And for these reasons they absolutely refus'd to submit to his power and authority Of this Faction bisides Kerr and Straughan were the Lord VVarreston lately a Member of our pretended Committee of Safety and Sir Iohn Chiesy An accommodation was endeavoured to be made between them and the Estates at St. Iohnston's but they stood off and declar'd against King and Lords on the one side and the Sectarian English Army on the other Thus was this poor Nation divided among themselves whilst at the same time a mercilesse forraign enemy was ravaging in the bowels of it However the Committee of Estates and Kirk several of whose great sticklers were become very inclinable to his Majestie resolve at length to dispatch Maj. Gen. Montgomery with a party of Horse after him humbly to intreat his return Montgomery upon inquiry understanding that his Majesty was at the L. Dedup's House in the North confines of Fife hastens thither and first surrounding the House enters and upon his knees acquaints the King what desires he brought from the Committee of Estate But he absolutely refus'd at first as not enduring the Subjection they had made him live in The news whereof brought to the Estates set the Kirk Party such as favouâ—'d the English Sectaries a gog again who hereupon were very violent for no more Addresses to be made to him whose motion began to have some influence upon the rest In the mean time his Majestie was urgently solicited by the Marq. of Huntly the Athol men that rose for him in the North to adhere solely to them undertaking to secure him against the Kirk and all others To which invitation he seem'd very prone to hearken so that the Breach betwixt him and the Covenanted Party who brought him in was near become irreconcilable But the consideration of the danger which might redound from the forraign Enemy by occasion of this division the concession of some propositions together with the importunity of Montgomery the industry of some attendants about him induc'd him to returne back with the Maj. Gen. to St. Iohnston's And it was judg'd requisite to unite all parties if possible against the common Enemy to which purpose Huntly and Middleton were treated with who refus'd to submit and marcht up within a mile of St. Iohnston's where they had like to have been engag'd by David Lesley But upon some concessions as to be admitted into places of Trust c. a Treaty was concluded One would have thought now the service against the Common Destroyer of their Country would have been unanimously carried on yet this reconciliation begat another fewd as if the zealots of this Nation had been infatuated purposely for their own ruin The Ministers of Sterling were so farre trom consenting to this Treaty that they past the Sentence of Excommunication upon Middleton in defiance of the Estates at St. Iohnston's and being summon'd thither to a general meeting to be held here consisting of King Lords Barons Burgesses and Assembly of Ministers to consult for the good safety of the King Kingdome and Kirk they refused and advised the Estates to be at a greater distance from the King his Council and rather to come to Sterling But at length with much adoe they were brought to go to St. Iohnston's Much time had been lost in these fatall differences and the publick safety was neglected whilest men minded the satisfaction of their own perverse and malicious humours It was now highly requisite to look about them therefore Middleton was imploy'd with a Commission and Instructions from his Majestie who well enough understood that the safety of himself and that Nation depended wholly on the unanimity of his Subjects to treat with some forces in the Hâ—ghlands who still refused to submit The grand Assembly convene as the first evidences of concord divers Scotch Lords formerly in disfavour with the Kirk were received into the Army or the Parliament as Duke Hamilton the Lords Lauderdale Buchaim Leith Dedup Crawford and of the English Major General Massey was admitted to a command in the Army Col. Ker in the West of Scotland who had stood off from all parties hitherto at length so far comply'd with the Kirk-Grandees that he took Straughan prisoner who by Cromwel's inveglement inclin'd to side with the English a right Scot. But not long after Kerr was defeated and taken by Maj. Gen. Lambert a just reward consequence of his seditious discord About the beginning of October some Gentlemen and others in Norfolk took Armes against the Tyranny of the pretended Parliament declaring for the restitution of the Ancient Government of the Land by a King and the Lawes but the County Militia and some Forces from Lin suddenly dispersed them taking some whom afterwards by a solemn new way of murder first practis'd at VVestminster upon the late King and afterwards in most places of England upon his friends they put to death at Norwich A little before this they likewise executed at Tyburn one Mr. Benson for having been guilty of the same pretended Treason with Col. Eusebius Andrewes formerly
Speaker and was the same day feasted by Iohn Kendrick Mayor of London From whence he never after went forth upon any expedition About the latter end of October the Island of Iersey was reduc'd by Colonel Hain and General Blake from Sea and the Isle of Man was surrender'd to Colonel Duckenfield upon Articles by the Countesse of Derby whose renowned pious and valiant Lord was at Chester adjudgeed to death for engaging with the King at VVorcester by a Council of War after quarter given and beheaded at Bolton in Lancashire on the 15. of October with the teares and lamentations of most of the Spectatours Severall executions were also done upon others by shooting or hanging in divers places for the same cause as on Sir Timothy Fetherstonehaugh Captain Bendbow c. They were tryed upon the pretended Act made after the King 's coming into England viz. Aug. 12. 1651. prohibiting correspondence with his Majesty or his party under the penalty of High Treason His Majesty having upon his arrival at Paris been visited congratulated by the King Queen Nobles of France had a Princely Attendance assigned him and lodgings in the Louvre where he lead a retired life in expectation of some happier opportunity which it might please Providence to present him with for the recovery of his Kingdomes which he had now small hopes to obtain by the assistance of his own Subjects in either of them England being so strictly overaw'd by the numerous Army kept on foot for that purpose and Scotland and Ireland being in a manner wholly subdued by the English Armes Yet in Scotland there were still some small Forces up in the North as the Marquis of Huntley with about 1500. men and the Lord Belcarris The Marquis of Argyle also fortified his houses at Ander-arran and Lorne the Castles in Arran Island and was expected to join with 4000. with the former Moreover the Clergy were still very high against the English But it seemes the designes of the Noble men were onely to make themselves considerable that they might treat upon better termes For shortly after the Marquis of Huntly made his peace the Lord Belcarris divers other Lords came in to the protection of Lieut. Gen. Monck and Argyle having made an attempt to summon a Parliament and shuffled off and on for some moneths at length submitted and afterwards testified under his hand his agreement to the making of Scotland a Commonwealth with England and protested fidelity to it as establisht without King or House of Lords c. Upon which termes he was left at liberty with assurance to enjoy his Estate Had these Lords been cordiall to the Royall interest to which they had so solemnly sworne a little while before they might easily have maintain'd the Highlands against all opposition these places being naturally almost inaccessible and invincible Notwithstanding this low posture of his Majestie 's affairs he was treated with much honour by the Princes and Nobility in France and Madamoiselle de Orleans daughter to the late Duke of that Title being a very rich Princesse worth 60000. per annum and Soveraign Dutchesse of Montpensier shew'd great inclinations towards him in relation to marriage It is also reported that there was a match designed between his Majestie 's Brother the Duke of York and a daughter of the Duke of Longueville a Prince descended from the Royall House of France who was by her mother heire to the rich possessions of the Count of Soissons But the great troubles arising about that time between the King and the Princes of the Blood hinder'd the successe the Duke of Orleans and his Daughter being far ingag'd with the Prince of Conde against the King of France in a civil War occasioned by the imperiousness of Cardinal Mazarine who during the King's minority had by means of his great favour with the Queen ingrossed the whole Government of that Kingdome in a manner into his own hands usurp'd an inordinate power and all the grand offices had committed several enormous miscarriages during the Queen Mother's Regency The Princes of the Blood and generality of the Nation became so incensed against him hereby that an Arrest was passed by the Parliament of Paris for the banishment of the said Cardinal who thereupon retired to Colen and all his goods were confiscated But the Queen having a great inclination to bring him back again into France the Duke of Orleance and Conde vehemently opposed it and when no accommodation could be made the Prince withdrew his forces which he commanded for the King's service against the Spaniard to Stenay a strong Garrison where making great levies he got a considerable power into the field The Cities also of Paris and Bourdeaux owned the Prince's cause and quarrel Whereupon the King rais'd a great Army commanded by Marshal Turein and Count de Harcourt Several encounters pass'd between them the Illustrious Duke of York first serving as a Volunteer and afterwards commanding a Regiment at the siege of Estampes where he behav'd himself extreme honourably in two conflicts The Cardinal in the mean time return'd into France with 6000. men and the Princes on the other side invited the Duke of Lorrain to their assistance who had a mercenary Army of 10000. in the service of the King of Spain His Majesty of Great Britain understanding sufficiently the fatal effects of civill combustions partly out of sincere intentions for the good of France and partly out of the consideration of the advantageousnesse of its peace to his own affairs interceeded as a Mediatour between the King and the discontented Princes and his motion was gratefully accepted of by both Parties and thereupon Deputies were sent severall times by the Princes to represent their grievances but the King of France persisted resolute not to part with the Cardinal though the King of England urg'd him as far as possible to gratifie his incensed subjects if not by dismissing him altogether yet at least by sending him upon some honourable foreign imployment Of all which generous endeavours this noble prudent and Christian Prince obtain'd no other fruit but an extreme hatred from Mazarine At the same time his Majesty imployed himself in reconciling the French King and his subjects upon hopes of those endeavours succeeding he thought fit to deal with the Duke of Lorrain to transport his Army into Ireland where some Garrisons still held out Which affair was so far proceeded in that Articles were drawn up between the Duke of Lorrain and the Lord Taaf on behalf of his Majesty by which it was agreed amongst other things That the Duke should at his own charges land an Army of 10000. for the reducing of Ireland to his Majesty That he should be invested with the Title of Protector Royal of Ireland and have four Towns put into his hands for security for his disbursements with restrictions and cautions But these Articles never came to be signed partly because the Duke was conscious of his
the arrival of Monsieur Boreel their Embassadour to negotiate a League with France to promote the conclusion of it but they had so deeply tasted of the English valour in the Sea war were so impatiently desirous of peace and Trade that all he could gain of them in the end was a Letter of complemental civility And accordingly applications being made to the new pretended Protectour by two Dutch Embassadours the Lords Newport and Yongstall a Peace was concluded between the two States the Articles of which were proclaimed in London April 26. 1654. Nor were his Majestie 's solicitations for a Peace between France and Spain more successefull though he prosecuted it with his utmost ardour as judging it the most important expedient whereby he might obtain assistance from these two Potent Monarchs and other Princes also together with the Pope himself interpos'd for a Reconciliation For the politick reasons of Cardinal Mazarine who knew the peace of the Kingdome of France depended on his removal out of it induc'd him to venture the fortune of war rather then be sacrific'd though deservedly to the tranquillity of that Kingdome And having taken this resolution he judg'd it also his interest in the next place to make a sure friend of the new Protector of England who being an Usurper too he conceiv'd would be more willing to join interests To which purpose all considerations of Honour Generosity yea of affinity chariry set aside by the Cardinals means instructions were sent over to Monsieur de Bordeaux Neufville who had layen here a long time before but had done little by reason of the unsettledness of the Government to treat a League and Confederacy with the pretended Protector Whether the Cardinal had any particular malice towards the King of England as some affirme I cannot determine but this ha's been apparent in all his actions That he will not stick to promote his own ambitious interest by the ruine of that or any other whatsoever being a greater Politician then to stickle at such rules as the sense of Honour goodnesse or justice it self may lay in the way of his proceedings This his Majesty sufficiently understood and foresaw that by naturall consequence the Union of the English Mahomet and this Ecclesiastical Politician would produce his Exclusion out of France Wherefore he thought it more honourable to depart that Kingdome voluntarily then stay till he were dismiss'd by Articles and accordingly on the 1. Iuly 1654. took leave of the King and Queen of France and of his Royall Mother with the French Grandees from whom he receiv'd such dissembling language as that ceremonious Nation uses on all occasions He went first to Chatillon a House belonging to the Prince of Conde being accompanied with his Illustrious Brother the Duke of York and his Cousins the Princes Palatines Rupert and Edward having made some stay here his Royall Brother returned to Paris and from thence to the Army with the Title of Lieutenant General under Marshall de Turenne who then lay with his Forces besieging the Archduke and the Prince of Conde with a numerous Spanish Army in their Trenches before Arras Prince Rupert also here kist his Majestie 's Hand and departed to Heydelberg to his Brother's Court and from thence to that of the Emperour and prince Edward went to Bourbon From Chatillon about the latter end of the same moneth his Majesty went to Cambray and from thence passing through Liege to the Spaw In the mean time Cromwel playes the Tyrant in England at a high rate and on Feb. 18. he sent 11. persons of quality to the Tower for a conspiracy against his Highnesse's person but having no evidence against them besides his own guilty feares which suggested to him that most men wanted the power rather then the will to dispatch him out of his Usurped dignity they were soon after set at liberty The first Act of himself and Council was to repeal the engagement made by the Infamous Parliament against a Single Person which was done by an Ordinance Ian. 19. next the style of publick writings was alter'd from The Keepers c. to Oliver Lord Protector c. Then an Ordinance was pass'd by his Highness and Council declaring Offences of Treason which were made of three sorts 1. Attempting any thing against Cromwel and his Government 2. Corresponding with or promoting the right of his Majesty 3. Declaring that any Parliament was at present in being or had any continuance c. So we see it came about that owning of the Commonwealth interest as they call'd it was now as great an offence as malignancy Moreover to gratify Sectaries he made an Ordinance to eject scandalous Ministers by which many worthy Ministers were deprived of their livings in several Counties and to shew the more exquisite malice such ejected were not to be admitted ever after to any Ecclesiastical preferment nor to teach schole or officiate as Chaplains in the Houses of persons of quality He also set up an Inquisition for approbation of Ministers by whom ignorant Fanaticks were prefer'd before grave and learned Divines the Commission running in termes that they should have especiall regard to such as were indue'd with gifts and graces though they wanted humane learning Of these Inquisitors were Rob. Tichburne Hu. Peters Ph. Nye Th. Goodwin St. Marshal Pet. Sterry Syd Simpson and others of the like stamp And that he might according to the course of Tyrants establish his power in blood by deterring all that lov'd their Country from attempting its deliverance and removing some of those he judg'd loyall and valiant enough to do it upon the 20. of May a Plot was discover'd for which severall persons of quality were apprehended as Sir Gilbert Gerrard and Col. Iohn Gerrard Humphry Bagaley Secretary to the late Earle of Derby Sidney Fotherby Somerset FoxEsq rs Mr. Tuder an Apothecary and Mr. Vowel a Schoolmaster there were also committed to the Tower the Earle of Oxford Maj. Baily Col. Ashburnham and amongst others Sir Richard Willis For the Tryall of these Conspirators a High Court of Iustice was erected by an Ordinance of Cromwel's Iune 13 of which Iohn Lisle was President and Steel Tichburne Sir Will. Roberts and some twenty more right qualifi'd for any murder it pleas'd the Protector to put them upon Commissioners Of the Gentlemen committed onely three were tryed Iune 30. Mr. Gerard Mr. Vowel and Mr. Fox who were adjudged within the new-made Ordinance and guilty of Treason though by no Law of the Land Glyn Prideaux and Ellis like good Instruments of a Tyrant urging the Protectors will for Law Yet the latter of them was repriev'd and the two former suffer'd death with much resolution and courage Mr. Gerard being beheaded on Tower-Hill and Mr. Vowell hanged at Charing Crosse Iuly 10. Scotland was not yet so absolutely subdued but that there appear'd some still in Armes for his Majesty in the Highlands The Earles of Seaforth Athol Glencarne Kinoole the young Marquis of
Majesty who stay'd not long there but removed to the Hague where himself and the English Gentry were splendidly entertain'd at the charge of the States who also presented him with gifts of great value From thence the Queen of Bohemia with the Princesse of Orange and the young Prince accompanied his Majesty and the two Dukes to the Sea-side where they were entertain'd in the Naseby with a magnificent collation and so his Majesty took leave of them and set sail for England At his landing at Dover he was met by the General who immediately kneel'd to kisse his Royal hand but his Majesty embraced him graciously and took him with his two Brothers into his Coach to Dover where after a Treatment by the Magistrates he rid to Canterbury where he was met by the Mayor and Citizens who presented him a golden Cup full of gold and the Ministers who presented him a Bible Having rested there on Sunday the next day he went to Cobham-House and on Tuesday May 29. being his Birth-day he came towards London attended by the Duke of Buckingham the Earles of Northhampton Norwich Shrewsbury Litchfield Cleaveland the Lord Mordant and Sir Iohn Robinson with their several Troops of the chiefest Nobles and gentry of the Kingdome and the General with ten Regiments of his best horse besides innumerable companies of people that flock'd from all the adjacent Counties On Blackheath near Greenwich he was met by Major Generâ—l Brown with a gallant Company of young Citizens and others c. and at Southwark he was met by the Lord Mayor Aldermen 300. Citizens in Velvet Coats and Gold Chaines representing the several Companies and entertain'd with a Collation in a Tent erected on purpose and from thence about 5. a clock in the afternoon he rode into the City between his two Brothers the streets being on one side beset with the several Companies in their Gownes and on the other with Souldiers the windowes adorn'd with Tapistry and other hangings the Conduits running with Wine and the people testifying their joy with incessant shoutings and Acclamations Arriving at White-Hall the Speakers of both Houses congratulated his return in two solemn Speeches to which his Majesty answer'd that the People's acclamation together with his journey though gratefull to him as demonstrations of affection had so disordered him that he could not give such an answer as he desir'd But they should find him a sincere Defender of the Lawes and Liberties of the people and the Parliament should not be more ready to ask his consent to any thing fitting to be done then he would be to grant it After which he retir'd out of the Banquetting House to his Lodgings Thus we have trac'd out all the principal actions of this great King's Life in his Infancy Youth and Manhood to this present as well in his own Territories as beyond the Seas and withall given an account of the most considerable events here in England during the Oligarchy of the late long Parliament and the Tyranny of Ol. Cromwel In all which we have endeavour'd to give an impartiall Relation with as much brevity as the smalness of this Volume containing more strange occurrences then have hapned in some Ages would permit May the God of Heaven who of his infinite and undeserved mercy towards these poor Nations hath restor'd his Majesty to his Dominions long preserve his Sacred Person for the good both of Church and Commonwealth and multiply the years of his Reign in Honour and Prosperity Glory be to God on High and on Earth Peace and good Will towards Men. FINIS ERRATA Pag. 118. l. 11. read greater honour Pag. 273. l. 8. for at Salisbury read at Exeter Pag. 320. l. 24. read Commoners