go in person over to Ireland against those bloody Rebels and therefore intended to raise by his Commission neer Westchester a Guard for his Person when he should come into Ireland of 2000 Foot and 200 Horse whom he would arm from his Magazine at Hull But the Parliament suspecting as well by my Lord Digby his intercepted Letter as by other presumptions That the Kings chief end of going Northward was to seize the Magazine of Hull and arm himself from thence against them sent a Petition to him for leave to remove that Magazine to the Tower of London and accordingly had sent Sir John Hotham thither who prevented the King and kept out the Earl of Newcastle whom the King had sent thither also for the same purpose at which action of theirs the King was much moved On the three and twentieth day of April 1642. the King attended by some Noblemen Gentlemen and Souldiers came at the Wals of Hull and demanded entrance but the Gates were shut and Sir John Hotham appeared upon the Wall and kneeling there entreated the King not to command that which he without breach of Trust could not obey in conclusion the King not getting entrance proclaimed Hotham Traytor and sent a complaining Message to the Parliament concerning that affront The Parliament labored to appease him but justified Hothams act and Declared That proclaiming Sir John Hotham Traytor without due process of Law was against the Liberty of the Subject and Laws of the Land Upon this business of Hull passed in 〈◊〉 short time many Declarations on both sides with Arguments drawn from the Statutes and Laws of England and many commands contrary to each other the Parliament authorizing Sir John Hotham to issue out Warrants to the Constables and other Officers to come with Arms to the defence of Hull and the King on the other side forbiding any such Warrants or Training without authority under his hand The King while the Parliament let him alone in the North daily Summoned the Gentry of those Counties to attend him at York and daily gained some to his party whose proceedings there in every particular are too tedious for this Relation but his frequent Orations to them were in substance That he was in danger of the Parliament and desired a Guard for his person and when the King made Proclamation for all Gentlemen and others to attend him in Arms as a Guard the Parliament at London only declared That such Arming of men to the disturbance of the Kingdoms peace was against the Laws and Liberties of the Kingdoms Thus did Proclamations and Declarations for a long time encounter each other But nothing made the Kingdom fear a War until that great defection of Parliament Members who left their Seats and went to the King at York Which happened about the end of April and continued a great part of May following in which space a great number of the Lords some sent for by the King others for their own discontents fears or ambition quitted their Seats in Parliament and went to him one after another The Lords that left the Parliament were these Duke of Richmond Marquess Hartford the Earls of Lindsey Cumberland Huntington Bath Southampton Dorset Northampton Devonshire Bristol Westmerland Barkshire Monmoth Rivers Newcastle Dover Carnarvan Newport the Lords Matrevers Willoughby of Eresby Rich Howard of Charleton Newark Paget Chandois Falconbridge Paulet Lovelace Savil Coventry Mohun Dunsmore Seymour Gray of Ruthen Capel Within that time also many of the House of Commons did so far break their Trust as to forsake their Seats in Parliament and go to the King This Revolt of so many Members of both Houses was generally looked upon as a thing of most sad consequence and likely to produce no effects but lamentable and wicked as to nourish and encrease the Kings dis-affection to Parliaments to encourage his distance from it and attempts against it to secure the Irish Rebels to subvert the dignity of that high Court and make the King by this diminution of their number as he did in his following Declarations call them a Faction a pretended Parliament and such like names The Parliament continued still Petitioning the King and on the twentieth of May sent to entreat him that he would Disband his Forces and rely for his security as his Predecessors had done upon the Laws and Affections of his people contenting himself with his ordinary Guards declaring that else they held themselves bound in duty to God and the trust reposed in them by the people and by the fundamental Laws to employ their utmost care and power for securing the Parliament and preserving the Kingdoms Peace Upon which these Votes were made in Parliament That it appears that the King seduced by wicked Councel intends to make a War against the Parliament who in all their consultations and actions have proposed no other end to themselves but the care of his Kingdoms and the performance of all duty and loyaltie to his person It was likewise Resolved upon the Question That Whensoever the King maketh War upon the Parliament it is a breach of the Trust reposed in him by his people contrary to his Oath and tending to the dissolution of this Government As also That whosoever shall serve or assist him in such Wars are Traitors by the fundamental Laws of this Kingdom and have been so adjudged in two Acts of Parliament II Richard 2 and 1 Henry 4 and that such Persons ought to suffer as Traitors But those Lords who had forsaken the Parliament continued still with the King in the North wherefore the Parliament by an Order of the thirtieth of May Summoned nine of them who first had gone away to appear at Westminster viz. The Earls of Northampton Devonshire Dover and Monmoth the Lords Howard of Charleton Rich Grey of Ruthen Covenâ—ry and Capel But they refused to come away returning an Answer in writing which the Parliament judged to be a slighting and scornful Letter upon which a Vote was passed against them in the House of Commons and presented on the 15 of June to the Lords by Master Hollis with an Oration concerning the importance of the business Upon the impeachment of the nine Lords the House of Peers about a month after being in their Robes entred into debate of the said impeachment and after divers Speeches made setting forth the greatness of their offence they were Censured 1 Never to sit more as Members of that House 2 To be incapable of the Benefit or Priviledge of Parliament 3 To suffer imprisonment during their pleasure After which Censure it was concluded That the said Lords should be demanded in the behalf of both Houses of Parliament to submit to the said Censure After this another wound was given to the Parliament encouraging the King in his Designs the Great Seal of England was carried away from the Parliament at London to the King at York by the Lord Keeper Littleton a man that had continued some time after the rest were gone
that they and all such Bills as shall be tendred to your Majesty in pursuance of them or any of them may be established and enacted for Statutes and Acts of Parliament by your Majesties Royal Assent in the Parliaments of both Kingdoms respectively The Lords and Commons Commissioners of the Parliament of England staid long with the King at Newcastle humbly entreating him that he would vouchsafe to sign and establish those propositions being not much higher than those which had been offered to his Majesty at Vxbridge when the chance of War was yet doubtful the same thing did the Commissioners of the Parliament in Scotland humbly entreat and the like did others daily who came with renewed supplications to that end from the Parliament sitting at Edenburgh But in vain were the supplications of both Kingdoms the King persisted obstinately in denial of his Assent but daily he seemed to take exceptions at some particulars whereby time was delayed for some moneths and the affairs of both Kingdoms much retarded which happened at an unseasonable time when not onely the dissentions between the two Nations about Garrisons mony and other things were justly feared but also in the Parliament of England and City of London the factions then encreasing between the Presbyterians and Independents from whence the common enemy began to swell with hopes not improbable and this perchance was the cause of the Kings delay But those hopes of the enemy soon vanished and this very aversness of the King did in some measure compose the dissentions of the Parliament insomuch as they began unanimously to consult how they might settle the affairs of both Kingdoms since it could not otherwise be without the King Therefore it was debated in the Parliament of England to pay the Scots for their assistance in this War and at last agreed that the Scots should receive four hundred thousand pounds half of that sum namely two hundred thousand pounds was to be paid in present upon receipt of which the Scots were to deliver up Berwick Carlisle and Newcastle to the Parliament of England according to the compact It was also debated though with much time and difficulty where the Kings person should be disposed in case he did absolutely and utterly deny his Assent to the Propositions at which meeting it was freely granted by the Parliament to the Scots that they might carry the King if they pleased to Edenburgh but that the Scots refused affirming that by his presence in an unsetled Kingdom new commotions might arise they rather desired which was also the Kings desire that he might be carried into the Southern parts of England and live in some of his Palaces neer London which they thought more convenient for treating of a peace as if England were not in the same danger by his presence So that in all that whole debate they seemed to contend not who should have the King but who should not have him Whilest these things were transacting and the King daily was humbly entreated by both Kingdoms to grant his Assent to these Propositions the Earl of London Chancellour of Scotland about the end of August when the Commissioners of both Kingdoms were present made an Oration to the King which because it opens the business in some measure shall be recited YOur Majesty was pleased on Monday last to call the Commissioners of the Parliament of Scotland and imparting the Propositions to them to promise that you would likewise impart your Answer before you sent it but so short is the Commissioners prefixed time and of so great moment either to the safety or ruine of your Crown and Kingdoms is your Majesties Answer that we should be wanting both to God and our own trust if we should not represent to your Majesty how necessary it is in this conjuncture of time That you grant your assent to these Propositions and what an incurable malady and sudden ruine must needs follow upon your denial I shall begin with the disease and speak after of the remedy The differences betwixt your Majesty and Parliament known better to no man than your self are at this time so high that after so many bloudy Battels no composure can be made nor a more certain ruine avoided without a present pacification The Parliament are in possession of your Navy of all the Towns Castles and Forts of England they enjoy besides Sequestrations your Revenue Souldiers and monies are raised by their Authority and after so many Victories and Successes they have a standing strong Army who for their strength are able to act any thing in Church or Common-wealth at their own pleasure Besides there are some so fearful others so unwilling to sumit to your Majesty that they desire neither your self nor any of your Issue to raign over them The People weary of War and groaning under taxes though they desire Peace yet are so much against the pulling down of Monarchy under which they have long flourished that they which are weary of your Government dare not go about to throw it off untill they have once at least offered Proposition of Peace to your Majesty lest the Vulgar without whose concurrence they cannot perfect the Work should fall from them Therefore when the whole People weary of War desire security from pressures and arbitrary rule the most Honourable Houses of Parliament have consented to offer these Propositions to your Majesty without which the greater part of the people do suppose the Kingdom can neither enjoy Peace nor Safety therefore your Majesties friends and the Commissioners of Scotland though not without some reluctation were forced to consent to the sending of these Propositions for else none had been sent or else incur the publick hatred as enemies to peace Now Sir if your Majesty which God forbid should deny to sign these Propositions you would loose all your friends both City and Country and all England as one man would rise up against you it may then be feared all hope of reconciliation being taken away that they may cite you depose you and set up another Government Moreover they will require of us to deliver your Majesty to them to restore their Garrison Towns and carry our Army out of England Lastly if your Majesty persist in denying both Kingdoms will be compelled to agree together for their mutual safety to settle Religion and peace without you which to our unspeakable grief would ruine your Majesty and your Posterity But if your Majesty shall despise the councel of us who wish nothing more upon earth than the establishing of your Majesties Throne and by obstinacy loose England your Majesty will not be suffered to enter Scotland and ruine that Sir We have laid our hands upon our hearts we have prayed to God to direct us and have seriously considered of the remedy for these mischiefs but we can find nothing else as the case now stands which can preserve your Crown and Kingdoms then that your Majesty should sign these Propositions in some things
Thomas May Esq Aetatis Sua. 55. A BREVIARY OF THE HISTORY Of the Parliament Of ENGLAND Expressed in three PARTS 1. The Causes and Beginnings of the Civil War of England 2. A short mention of the Progress of that Civil War 3. A compendious Relation of the Original and Progress of the Second Civil War First written in Latine after done into English By Thomas May Esq The Second Edition LONDON Printed by J. Cottrel for Thomas Brewster at the three Bibles neer the west-West-end of Pauls 1655. The Causes and Beginnings OF The Civil War of England OF the Parliament of England and beginning of that sad War which for so many yeers raged within the bowels of a distressed Kingdom whosoever will write though never so briefly must of necessity premise somewhat touching the Causes according to the state of the affairs and times of assembling that Parliament And though the condition of Scotland and Ireland were during that time no whit happier which being subject to the same King were exposed to the same Calamity our discourse especially shall be of England as the noblest Kingdom and the Royal Seat from whence the distemper might first arise and be derived to the rest And wonderful it may seem how great the distemper of that Government was which ingendered so great a disease how great the malignity of that disease to which a Parliament was not sufficient Medicine Fourty yeers old was King Charles and fifteen yeers had he reigned when this Parliament was called so long had the Laws been violated more then under any King the Liberties of the people invaded and the authority of Parliament by which Laws and Liberties are supported trodden under foot which had by degrees much discontented the English Nation For the King within the first four yeers of his Reign had called three Parliaments and soon dissolved them all before they could any way benefit the Commonwealth or redress the least grievance of the People In the second he granted and signed the Petition of Right but suddenly breaking up that Parliament he acted the same things in violation of Laws which he had done before So that it was manifest that the Peoples Liberties by grant of that Petition were not fortified but utterly overthrown and it appeared neither Laws themselves could give protection nor the Kings Faith security to the People After the dissolution of the third Parliament men were forbidden by Proclamation to speak any more of Parliaments In this Interval the people at home were fleeced by Monopolies and many ways exacted upon by illegal Taxes abroad scarce any Negotiations were made but such as were destructive to Religion and the Commonwealth In the beginning of his Reign an unhappie and dishonorable Expedition was made against the Spaniard to surprise Cales another more sad then that against the French in the following yeer at the Isle of Rhee but that of all other was most destructive to the Protestant Religion that King Charles not long before that time had lent a strong Navie to the King of France by whose force the Protestants Ships through all France were vanquished and scattered and the miserable Town of Rochel subdued by Famine the worst of all Enemies The King in the mean time by many illegal ways raised money through England large sums of money were exacted throughout the whole Kingdom default of Knighthood under the shadow of an absolute Law Tunnage and Poundage were received without the ordinary course of Law and though they were taken under pretence of guarding the Seas yet that great Tax of Ship-money was set on foot under the same colour c. These things were accompanied with the enlargement of Forests contrary to Magna Charta the forcing of Coat and Conduct-money taking away the Arms of the Trained Bands in many Counties c. Nor was there any remedy left for no Courts of Judicature could give redress to the people for these Illegal sufferings whilst Judges were displaced by the King for not complying with his will and so awed that they durst not do their duties for to hold a Rod over them a clause was altered in their Patents By this time all thoughts of ever having a Parliament were quite banished so many Oppressions set on foot so many illegal actions done that the onely way to justifie all was to do that one greater To take away the means which was ordained to redress them the lawful Government of England by Parliaments Whilst the Kingdom was in this condition the serious and just men of England who were not interessed in these Oppressions could not but entertain sad thoughts of what mischief must needs follow so great an injustice But another sort of men especially Lords and Gentlemen by whom the pressures of Government were not much felt did nothing but applaud the happiness of England calling those ingrateful and factious spirits who complained of the breach of Laws and Liberties that the Kingdom abounded with wealth plenty and all kinde of elegancies more then ever and that it was the honour of a people that their Monarch should live splendidly and not be curbed at all in his Prerogative c. The Courtiers would begin to dispute against Parliaments in their ordinary discourse That they were too injurious to the Kings Prerogative some of the greatest States-men and Privie Councellors would ordinarily laugh at the ancient language of England when the word Liberty of the Subject was named Though the Kingdoms Liberties were thus oppressed yet Peace continued and England seemed happie in that tranquillity until the fatal Coal which afterwards was blown into so great a fire through the three Kingdoms began to be kindled in the yeer 1637. by a designe which the King had upon Scotland which was as pretended to make a Conformity of Church-Worship and Ecclesiastical Government between the two Kingdoms of England and Scotland The dignity and pomp of Prelacie had been much of late promoted in England in pursuance whereof many temporal Offices and Honours were conferred upon persons Ecclesiastical many Ceremonies and Innovations brought into the Church and too neer approaches made in some points of Doctrine to the Romish Church and a great contempt thrown upon the other Reformed Churches in Europe Popery seemed to be much countenanced in the Court and by reason of the Queens great power with the King several Nuncio's from the Pope as Panzani Conn and Rosetti had been received with great honour in the Court of England The King had made great preparations for that work in Scotland and bestowed many temporal offices and dignities upon Bishops in that Kingdom In particular 11 of the Scotish Bishops being in all but 14 were made Privie Councellors But this displeased the Scots to whom Episcopacie it self was not acceptable and having been once thrown out of that Kingdom was not restored but by great endeavour and policie of King James A book of Lyturgie was sent by the King into Scotland in the year 1637. with an
strange a thing was the name of a Parliament grown But rational men did not like it that it should be deferred so long and that preparations for a War with Scotland went on in the mean time They were likewise troubled that the Earl of Strafford Deputy of Ireland a man of deep policie but suspected honesty one whom the King then used as a bosom-Councellor was first to go into Ireland and call a Parliament in that Kingdom besides the King at that time had broken up the Parliament in Scotland which the Scots complained of the business of State depending as a great breach of their Liberties and against the Laws of that Kingdom Upon which they sent some Lords into England to intreat the King to grant them a redress of such Injuries as they had received since the Pacification which were That their Parliament was broken off before any business done That Edinburgh-Castle was Garisoned with far more Souldiers then were needful That Dun-Britain-Castle was Garisoned with English Souldiers That the Scots that traded in England and Ireland were enforced to take new Oaths contrary to their Covenant and altogether contrary to the Articles of Pacification The King imprisoned those Lords sending one of them the Earl of Lowden to the Tower and commanded a Charge of Treason to be drawn against him concerning a Letter which the Scotish Covenanters had written to the King of France for his assistance and Lowden had subscribed but the accusation was frivolous easily answered and came to nothing because those Letters were not sent at all and besides it was before the Pacification upon which an Oblivion of all things was agreed although the King at the beginning of the English Parliament produced that Letter against them as a ground of his second War for now on the thirteenth of April the Parliament of England was begun before which time the Earl of Strafford was returned out of Ireland where he had held a Parliament and gotten four Subsidies The King was very urgent with his Parliament to give money to enable him for a War against Scotland and pay that Army and Officers which he had already raised he demanded twelve Subsidies of them for which he promised to release Shipmoney he promised them that he would afterwards redress the Kingdoms grievances but desired money in the first place to go on with his designed War It was answered by many Members of the House in several Speeches that redress of Grievances was the chiefe end of Parliaments and should go before Subsidies That the King asked a great summe of money for releasing of that which he had no title to hold but had taken illegally by power That the people had no reason to pay for a War which they desired not but abhorred a War not for their good but their own ruine that nothing was so just as to punish the contrivers of that wicked War But so strange was the obedience and complyance of that Parliament towards the King that although the money which he asked was against themselves yet they took the Subsidies into consideration but while they were debating the King whatsoever his reasons were whether he thought it a delay or not came into the House on the fifth of May and dissolved the Parliament The people were grieved in an extraordinary manner to see this Parliament so suddenly broken up and as much to see the King break his word so immmediately upon the dissolution of it for he protested in the House at that time that he would rule for the future as legally as if a Parliament were constantly sitting Yet nevertheless he imprisoned some Members the next day after Mr. Belosis Sir John Hotham and M. Crew he commanded the Lord Brookes his Study his Cabinet and pockets to be searched for Letters He Commanded the Convocation of Divines to continue their sitting an unexampled thing who by authority from him made Canons and imposed Oaths upon the people contrary to their Laws and Liberties The King to defray the charges of this War besides the Contribution of the Clergy and Papists issued out again Writs of Shipmoney in a greater proportion then before he seized the Bullion in the Tower and took up Commodities to be sold again at an under-rate and consulted about Coyning of brass-money but that went not forward But the War went on the Earl of Strafford commanding in chiefe the Earl of Northumberland not being in health who had been appointed General but the Scots had not been backward for having been debarred of their trade and lost their ships by seizure they entered into England with an Army expressing their intentions in writing to the English and bringing with them a Petition to the King But the King in this War found a greater want then that of Money which was the hearts of the Souldiers especially the common Souldiers who could not be easily brought to engage against the Scots as hating the Cause many of them mutinying against their Officers and Commanders which might be one cause that the War proved not so bloody and fatal as it was designed some Skirmishes but not very considerable happened at Newburn and at Dunsian not far from Barwick Thus proceeded this unhappie business until some English Peers Earls and Barons about twenty grieved at the dishonour which England suffered by the unhappie actions of the King made a Petition to him declaring in some part their former sufferings by illegal Government the dissolution of the last and other Parliaments the miserable condicion of the Kingdom at present the sad consequence of this wicked War desiring him to summon a Parliament within some convenient time where the Kingdoms Grievances may be redressed this War composed and the Authors of these wicked counsels punished Upon this Petition the King caused all the Lords to meet at York on the 24. of September And there told them his intention of calling a Parliament with all possible speed which was to begin on the 3. of November It was there also consulted and debated how to end this War upon fair termes and after some time spent between Lords chosen out of both Nations the matter was composed according to these Articles 1. A Truce or cessation of Arms was made for two moneths till the 16. of December 2. That 850. li. a day should be paid to the Scots during that Truce 3. That if it were not paid the Scots might force it from the Counties of Northumberland Cumberland Westmerland and Durham 4. That those Counties should be allowed the Scots for their Winter-quarters 5. No new preparations for War to be made 6. That private Injuries should not break the Truce so satisfaction were made upon complaint 7. That Merchants might freely traffique in either Kingdomes without letters of safe conduct but Souldiers without leave might not pass their limits Thus was the state of things altered and that VVar which was intended for an enslavement of both Nations became the bond of Concord between them and
committed The Lords Justices Sir William Parsons and Sir John Burlace taking those Arms which they found in Dublin and arming whom they could on a sudden to defend themselves dispatched Letters to the King in Scotland and the Earl of Leicester then chosen Deputy but staying in England Money was wanting and no supplies neerer then England Owen O Conally the first discoverer of the Plot brought the first Letters to London upon receipt of which they rewarded Owen with a gift of 500.l and an annuity of two hundred pounds per annum and presently both Houses of Parliament met at a Conference and the House of Commons forthwith resolved into a Committee to consider of Irelands relief and also to provide for the safety of England for distractions began then to appear in England the Parliament every day considered of Irelands relief and presently ordered supplies of money to be borrowed of the City of London Victuals and Ammunition for that purpose But all relief could be but slow in such a sudden disease For the Rebellion encreased and spread through all the Kingdom and many Papists and ill-affected fled from Dublin into the Country to joyn with the Rebels whilest the City in their rooms was daily filled with poor spoiled Protestants who came naked and famished thither many of them being past relief and there perished in the City It were an endless thing to relate the pitiful condition of those woful people and what sad stories they there told concerning the bloody rage of those inhumane Irish Rebels and several tortures by which the unhappy English were brought to their ends But the Lords of the Councel and Lords Justices in a short time with those Arms of Dublin had armed many well-affected Gentlemen and sent many active Commanders out of the City to defend places neer against the approach of the Rebels About the middle of November were in Arms Sir Charles Coot Sir Henry Tichburn the Lord Lambert Sir Thomas Lucas Capt. Armstrong Capt. Yarner and the Earl of Ormond came to Dublin with an hundred Horse well armed At which time the Parliament of England till greater sums could be raised sent them over as a present comfort twenty thousand pounds But it was a long time before they could send over any forces to the relief of that bleeding Kingdom the first was a Regiment Commanded by Sir Simon Harcourt who arrived on the last of December 1641. While Ireland was thus miserably distressed the King returned out of Scotland into England and was entertained by the City of London with most pompous solemnity the whole multitude of Citizens distinguished by their several Companies in such costly Equipage as never before was known with Horse and Arms met the King and guarded him through the whole City to his Palace at White-hall Some condemned that costly entertainment of the City at such a sad time others hoped it might gain the Kings dubious affection to his people but it wrought a contrary effect in the King who began now to think he could never lose the love of the City whatsoever he did and was flattered by some with a hope that the City would assist him in curbing of the Parliament it self he grew therefore more disdainful toward the Parliament and to endear the City invited divers of the chief to Hampton Court where he feasted them and Knighted some But the honest Citizens perceiving that no good use was made of their dutiful expressions toward the King but that some bad people did openly say that the City were weary of the Parliament and would joyn with the King against it they framed a Petition to the Parliament wherein the contrary is professed and that they would live and die with the Parliament for the good of the Common-wealth While the King remained at Hampton Court the House of Commons presented him with a Remonstrance wherein the Grievances of the Kingdom are expressed but no fault laid upon himself in plain words but a Malignant party as they call them and evil Counsellors Irelands calamities seemed to be quite forgotten or rather that those inhumane Rebels were countenanced every body wondring that the King would not proclaim them Rebels and some honest Lords advising the King to proclaim them speedily that a better course might be taken against them they desired him to wash off that foul stain from himself by proceeding severely against those wicked villains who reported every where that they had authority from him to seize upon the Holds of the English Protestants that they were the Queens Souldiers and rise to maintain the Kings Prerogative against the Puritan Parliament in England they therefore advised him by all means to purge himself of that crime then which a greater on earth could not be But so strangely were things carried that although the Rebellion brake out upon the twenty third of October the King did not proclaim them Rebels till the first of January and then gave a strict command that no more then forty Copies of that Proclamation should be Printed and that none of them should be published till his Majesties pleasure were further signified so that a few only could take notice of it which made all men extreamly wonder when they observed the late contrary proceedings against the Scots who were in a very quick and sharp manner proclaimed and those Proclamations forthwith dispersed with as much diligence as might be thorow all the Kingdom But before this Proclamation came out the Parliament being somewhat troubled with some speeches of which they had been informed as if a Plot were contrived against them desired the King to allow them a Guard for security of their persons and that the Earl of Essex then Lord Chamberlain of his Majesties Houshold might be Commander of it But the King denied them a Guard giving them many fair promises of his care for their safety and that he would command such a Guard to wait upon them as he would be responsible for to Almighty God Three days after the Proclamation against those Irish Rebels being the fourth of January the King attended with about three hundred Armed Gentlemen came to Westminster and entring in Person into the House of Commons and seating himself in the Speakers Chair demanded five Members of that House to be delivered to him Mr. Hollis Sir Arthur Haslerig Mr. Pym Mr. Hamden and Mr. Strode Those five Members had by command of the House upon information of the Kings intent absented themselves Which the King finding went away after a short Speech delivered concerning them That he intended a fair Trial against them and that he was and would be as careful to maintain the Priviledges of Parliament as ever any King of England was He had the day before demanded them by his Atturney Sir Edward Herbert a Member of the House of Commons pretending a Charge of high Treason against them and with them against the Lord Mandevile a Member of the House of Lords But the Parliament did not think
firm in appearance Voted with them and gave his Voice for setling of the Militia by Ordinance of Parliament But about the end of June one Master Eliot a Courtier was sent closely from York to him who having gotten privacy with the Lord Keeper so far prevailed at last that he got the Great Seal into his hands and rid away with it to the King at York The Lord Keeper Littleton after some serious thoughts with himself not being able to answer it to the Parliament rode away himself next day to the King also The reason which he gave to some friends of his afterwards for so parting with the Seal was this The King when he made him Lord Keeper gave him an Oath in private which he took That whensoever the King should send to him for the Great Seal he should forthwith deliver it This Oath he said he could not dispence with in Conscience but was sorry he had taken the Office with such an Oath The Seal was given him since this Parliament sate which made it appear what intentions the King even then had to the Parliament The King having now gotten the Great Seal issued forth many Proclamations and among other one That no man should obey the Parliaments Warrants about setling the Militia and they on the other side by Ordinances forbad any man to raise Arms by Warrant from the King without the authority of Parliament The Parliament being then intent upon setling the Militia by Land they took care also to seize the Navy into their hands for security of the Kingdom against forreign invasions To that purpose the Earl of Warwick a Nobleman of good experience in Sea-affairs and undoubted fidelity to his Countrey was by an Ordinance of both Houses chosen to be Lord Admiral But the King had chosen Sir John Penington to that place in the room of the Earl of Northumberland and sent a Command to the Earl of Warwick to resign the place to him But the Earl-chose rather to obey the Ordinance of Parliament and with great courage and policy got the Fleet into his hands though many of the Captains stood out against him alleaging they had the Kings Command to obey Sir John Penington but the Earl deprived them of their Commands and possessed himself of the Ships taking shortly after another Ship called the Lion of great import coming out of Holland and laden with Gunpowder which proved a great addition to his strength All men at this time began to despair of the Kings return to his Parliament and therefore on the 10 of June was an Order made in Parliament for bringing in money and plate to raise Arms for the Cause the publick Faith for repayment to them that brought it in was engaged by the Parliament and interest of eight in the hundred Which was accordingly brought in in great abundance by well-affected people as also Horses and Arms for that service The King at that time had received Money and Arms with Ammunition out of Holland upon the pawning of the Crown-Jewels which the Queen had carried over in February before He then sent out his Commissions of Array to Arm the people into all Counties wherein he used the Parliaments own words as in a Jeer of them For the Parliament professed that their receiving of plate and money and levying of Forces was To maintain the Protestant Religion the Kings Person dignity and authority the Laws of the Land the peace of the Kingdom and priviledge of Parliament The Kings words were the same namely To maintain the Protestant Religion his own person and authority the Laws Kingdoms Peace and priviledge of Parliament And whereas the Parliament in their Declarations both then and afterward used to say That they did arm against a malignant party by whom the Kings person was in danger he in his said the like and that for the safety of his own person and people there was an inevitable necessity of putting the Kingdom into a posture of defence using those very words in his Commission of Array which they did in their Ordinance for the Militia And invited people to bring plate and money to him in that language which the Parliament did nor did it prove less effectual for many Lords Gentlemen and others very freely brought in Money and plate to serve the King within a short space In all this heat of preparations the King before those Lords that were with him in the North made a solemn Protestation as before God that he would not engage them in any War against the Parliament but only for his necessary defence that his desire was to maintain the Protestant Religion the liberties of the Subject and priviledge of Parliament Upon which those Lords made a solemn Protestation as before God and subscribed their Names to it That they did believe the Kings intention to be as he said namely That he had no purpose to Levy War against the Parliament and that he endeavored only to maintain the Protestant Religion the Laws Liberties of the Subject and just priviledge of Parliament The King immediately after this took a progress about the Countries adjacent and at divers places made speeches to the Gentlemen and inhabitants full of gracious promises and declaring his intentions to preserve the peoples Liberties and priviledge of Parliament after which he returned to York and having raised an Army of three thousand Foot and one thousand Horse went to Beverly with an intention to besiege Hull making Proclamation beforehand That no man should presume to assist Hull against him or bring any force thither The Parliament on the other side published a Declaration for the preservation and safety of the Kingdom and of the town of Hull with assurance of satisfaction to all those who sustained any loss by their service for the safety of that Town or by overflowing of water upon the grounds there The King was within two hours march of Hull when Sir John Hotham calling a Councel of War by whom it was thought so fit drowned the Countrey about Hull drawing up the Sluce giving the Owners time to remove their Cattel and Goods the Parliament being to satisfie their damages upon the publick Faith Sir John Meldrum an old Souldier was assistant to Hotham who sallying bravely out of the Town with five hundred Townsmen made the Kings party retreat to Beverly some being slain and taken in the Chase Within a short time after when five hundred men sent from London arrived at Hull Sir John Meldrum made a fiercer Sally and forced most of the Leaguer to retire disorderly one and twenty of them being slain and fifteen taken prisoners and following his good success came to Aulby where the Kings Magazine of Arms Ammunition and Fire-balls were kept in a Barn all which he took and fired the Barn Upon which the King calling a Councel of War upon their advice broke up the siege before Hull On the twelfth of July the Parliament Voted that an Army should be raised for the
main Army to Worcester where he made some stay The King at that time with a small Body of Horse went to Shrewsbury to which place he caused a Mint to be brought and Coined his Plate for many Gentlemen about that time had besides Money and Arms brought Plate in unto him At Shrewsbury he grew wonderful in strength so that within three weeks after his coming thither from a small inconsiderable Body of Horse he was grown into an Army consisting of about six thousand Foot and three thousand Horse and two thousand Dragoneirs From Shrewsbury the King marched along by Coventry and came to Southam being but a small distance from the Lord General Essex his Army from whence he struck a terror though so far off into the City of London it self for he was then neerer to London by a dayes march then the General was insomuch as that London made great provisions to Guard it self and the Parliament sent twelve Companies to possess and Guard Windsor-Castle The General thought it his chief work to follow the King's Army for fear he should march toward London and by reason of that haste left behinde him a great part of his Forces and great Artillery The King perceiving that and loath to lose so good an advantage of fighting before the Parliament-Forces were conjoyned turned back against General Essex who was also resolved to give battel A fair Champion Ground there is neer Keynton a Village in Warwickshire and not above twenty furlongs from that Village a great and steep hill upon which the King's Army had spread themselves and at the foot of that Hill a large Plain called The Vale of the Red-Horse here first the battel joyned the Royalists descending cheerfully down the hill and the Parliamentarians from Keynton approaching toward them The fight was begun with great courage and much slaughter on both parts on one side the Earl of Lindsey on the other the Earl of Essex manfully discharging the parts both of Generals and Souldiers But presently after the Battel was begun Prince Rupert who commanded the Horse in the King 's right Wing fell in with so furious a Charge upon the Parliaments left Wing where most of their Horse were placed that immediately he put to flight all those Parliament-Horse whose Foot likewise being left by the Horse betook themselves to flight Prince Rupert following the chase far and greedy of pillage whilest he was busie in seizing the Carriages and Baggage of his Enemies spent so much time therein that the King's Victory which was almost gotten was by that means quite lost for in the King 's left Wing the fortune was nor equal whom Sir William Balfore charged so roundly that he broke the best Foot-Regiments and seized upon the King's Artillery There was a bloody fight in that place the Kings Standard was taken but soon lost again there were slain and taken Prisoners many brave men among whom Lindsey the King's General was taken Prisoner who died within few hours of his wounds Night parted the fight and gave a safe retreat to both sides both sides challenged the Victory to themselves for which thanks were publickly given to God both by the Parliament and the King for on both sides appeared some marks of Victory as Ensigns Canons and Prisoners taken Concerning the number of the slain was no agreement both partyes reporting too falsly but it was thought that of both Armies though more of the King's side then the other were slain in that battel above five thousand General Essex marched to Coventry to refresh his Army the King to Oxford as to his Winter-Quarters Prince Rupert with a Body of Horse flew up and down the Countrey Night and Day plundering and robbing Towns and Villages and made his Excursions so far out of Oxford that he struck a terrour into the City of London it self insomuch as that they desired General Essex who had designed to follow the King that he would bring his Army neerer to London Essex on the seventh Day of November came to Westminster quartering his Forces in the adjacent Villages and was received with great Honour by both Houses of Parliament and was presented with five thousand pounds as a gratuity with a large acknowledgement of his valour and pains undergone for the Commonwealth Before the General departed from London another bloody Battel was fought about Brainford And so happened the occasion the Parliament grieved for this unnatural War desirous to save the Kingdom and recover Ireland had agreed upon a Petition for Accommodation to be presented to the King being then at Colebrook by the Earls of Northumberland and Pembrook the Lord Wainman Master Perpoint and Sir John Ipsley The King gave a fair Answer protesting before God That he was grieved for his peoples sufferings and in order to peace was willing to reside neer London and receive such Propositions as they would send and treat with them As soon as the Commissioners were gone with this Answer the King's Artillery for so all Relations agree advanced forward with the Horse thorow Colebrook after them toward London and taking advantage of a great Mist which happened that Night they marched to Brainford and fell upon the Parliaments Forces that were quartered there which was a broken Regiment of Colonel Hollis's The King's Army killed many of them and had in likelihood utterly destroyed them all if the Lord Brook's and Colonel Hamden's Regiments that were billeted not far off had not come in to their relief who maintained a great and bloody fight against the King's Army till both sides at Night retreated many were slain and taken Prisoners on both sides and both reported themselves Conquerers as before it happened at Keynton Battel News of this unexpected Fight was soon at London where the General was sitting in Parliament whither also the noise of their great Artillery was easily heard he took Horse immediately to get strength together and relieve his engaged men but Night had parted them and the King was retired to his best advantages All that Night Forces came out of London thither so that on the Sunday Morning being the fourteenth of November a wonderful number of armed men were met and had so far encompast the King's Army small in comparison of them that many hoped for an end of the War but God was nor so pleased for the King escaped by reason of this error Three thousand Parliament Souldiers were then at Kingston they were commanded to leave that Town and march speedily thorow Surrey and over London-Bridge so thorow the City to Brainford to stop the Enemies passage to London A reason of that Command was afterwards given because the Lord General was not assured of strength enough to stop the Enemy from going to London nor could he be beforehand sure of so great a Force as he afterwards perceived to be come to him before morning Thus did the enclosed King escape and retreated thorow that Town of Kingston being so abandon'd by the Parliaments souldiers
advice to him concerning the Propositions of Parliament or other business The Parliament were displeased at this thing neither would the Army long suffer it considering that the King had not yet in any thing at all given satisfaction to the Parliament Whereupon those Lords being told of it after two daies stay at Hampton Court returned to their own houses On the seventh day of September Propositions agreed upon by both Houses of Parliament the Commissioners of the Kingdom of Scotland concurring also were sent to the King at Hampton Court To which they did humbly beseech his Majesty that he would give his answer within six dayes The Commissioners appointed for this business of the Parliament of England were the Earl of Pembrook Lord Mountague Sir James Harrington Sir John Cook Sir John Holland and Major General Brown For the Kindom of Scotland the Earl of Louderdale Sir Charls Erskins The King although he denied as before to grant the Propositions wrote notwithstanding an Answer to the Parliament in which he sayes That to some things he can assent namely about establishing Presbytery for 3 years about granting the Militia as it was before offered to him But in the other things he must altogether dissent He affirms that he could rather hearken to the Proposals of the Army for the Army had lately published some proposals in the manner of the Parliament Propositions about setling the peace of the Kingdom and desired the Parliament that they would consider of those Proposals The Parliament not yet deterred by these often denials of the King fell upon debate about making Propositions to him again When the Commissioners of Scotland residing at London after that Louden and Lanerick who came newly out of Scotland had talked privately with the King at Hampton Court sent Letters to the Parliament in which they require that the King may come to London and then personally treat with the parliament about the things controverted those very Scots who not long before both in their Orations and Letters Denied it to be just or convenient for the Common-wealth that the King before he had given satisfaction and security to the People should be admitted to London or to any Personal Treaty with the Parliament Those very Scots who denyed to receive the King into Scotland for fear he might raise commotions in their Country would now have him brought to London a City filled with Malignants and fit for any Tumults in which the Parliament it self without the guard of an Army could not safely sit That which moved them to this demand as they alleaged was because the King had been taken from Holmby against his will and without the consent of Parliament by the violence of Souldiers and still remained under the power of an Army not in that freedom which was thought fit for a King treating about a business of so great moment At the end of their Epistle they seem content that he may stay if London be denied at Hampton Court so he be not under the power of the Army but in such a condition as that the Commissioners of both Parliaments may have a free recourse to him But the Parliament were again framing Propositions with some alterations to be sent to the King when lo on a sudden they were strucken with an unexpected Message That the King was privily fled out of Hampton Court To which purpose Letters came about midnight from Cromwel to the Speaker For on the twelfth day of November whilest the Commissioners of Parliament and Colonel Whaley who commanded the Guard expected when the King should come out of his Chamber to Supper and wondered at his long stay at last about nine of the clock some of them going in and not finding the King they found his cloak left there and a letter written with his own hand to the Commissioners to be by them communicated to both Houses of Parliament in which letter after he had discoursed somewhat about captivity and the sweetness of liberty he protested as before God that he had not taken this design of withdrawing himself to disturb the publike peace or any treaty tending to the establishment thereof but onely to preserve his own safety against which he understood there was a treasonable Conspiracy But toward the end of his Letter he useth these words Now as I cannot deny but that my personal security is the urgent cause of this my retirement so I take God to witness that the publick Peace is no less before mine eyes And I can finde no better way to express this my profession I know not what a wiser man may do then by desiring and urging that all chief interests may be heard to the end each may have just satisfaction as for example The Army for the rest though necessary yet I suppose are not difficult to consent ought in my judgement to enjoy the Liberty of their Consciences and have an Act of Oblivion or Indempnity which should extend to the rest of all my Subjects and that all their Arrears should be speedily and duly paid which I will undertake to do so I may be heard and that I be not hindred from using such lawful and honest means as I shall chuse To conclude let me be heard with freedom honour and safety and I shall instantly break thorow this cloud of retirement and shew my self ready to be Pater Patriae Charles Rex But the Parliament being much at first troubled with this unexpected news of the King's departure at last lest the Kingdomes peace should thereby be disturbed they ordered that men of fidelity should be speedily sent to all the Sea-ports lest the King should pass into any Forreign Country And when tidings though false were brought unto them that the King was concealed within the City of London they ordered That if any man should closely detain the King's Person and not reveal it to the Parliament he should be punished with the loss of his estate and life This Cloud soon dissolved and the Parliament were informed by Col. Hammond who was newly by consent of both Houses made Governor of the Isle of Wight that the King was come into that Island and had delivered himself into his protection Hammond signified himself to be ready to obey the Parliament-commands in all things The Parliament commending Hammond did also command him with all diligence to guard the King but to wait upon him with all respect and honour promising that they would take care that provisions of every kinde should not be wanting nor money to defray the King's expences While the Parliament were again deliberating about Propositions to be sent to the King in the Isle of Wight a Letter of great length from the King superscribed To the Speaker of the Lords House to be communicated also to the House of Commons was read upon the eighteenth day of November In which he delivered his Sense and Opinion concerning many things contained in the former Propositions especially concerning the abolition of
were drawn up and read against them in the House of Commons for in December before when the debate had been concerning Ship-money and the offence of those Judges who had given their extrajudicial opinions for it was examined upon which the Lord Keeper Finch fled the thing was condemned as most illegal Three Judges had been honest Judge Crook Hutton and Baron Denham whose Arguments were very famous the other were examined by sixteen Members of the House of Commons who were appointed to present those particular Charges against every Judge who were Judge Bramston Baron Trever Baron Weston Baron Davenport and Judge Crawley for Judge Barclay was charged with high Treason Of this a certain Gent. spake as followeth The Root of most of our present mischiefs the ruine of all posterity do I hold to be that extrajudicial Judgment I cannot say but rather doom delivered by all the Judges under their hands out of Court yet recorded in all Courts to the subversion of all our Fundamental Lawes Liberties and Annihilation if not Confiscation of our Estates That in case of danger the King may impose upon his subjects that he is the sole Judge of the danger necessity and proportion which in brief is to take what when and where he will which though delivered in the time of a gracious merciful Prince who we hope will not wrest it beyond our abilities yet left to the interpretation of a succeeding Tyrant if ever this Nation be so fortunate to fall into the hands of such It is a Record wherein every man might read himself a slave that reads it having nothing he can call his own all prostitute to the will of another What to do in such a case we are not to seek for precedents our honorable Ancestors taught us in the just and exemplar punishments of chief Justice Tresilian and his Complices for giving their judgments out of Parliament against the established Laws of Parl. how tender they were of us how careful we ought to be to continue those Laws to preserve the Liberty of our Posterity Those Charges were now brought in about the beginning of August but little was afterwards done against any of them or almost any other offendor the King had designed a journey into Scotland and would go though the Houses earnestly entreated his stay for a while longer because the Kingdoms business required his presence the King alledged that the affairs of Scotland did necessarily require his presence and further told them that he would Pass any good Bill which they had for him before he went Which he accordingly did and signed a Commission for passing of Bills in his absence the Commissioners were the Lord-Keeper Littleton the Lord Privy-seal Earl of Manchester the Lord great Chamberlain Earl of Lindsey the Marquess of Harford Earl of Essex Earl of Bath Earl of Dorset The Earl of Essex also by a Bill which the King then signed was made General of all his forces on this side Trent with power to levy Arms in case of necessity But before the King went the Earl of Holland chosen both by him and the Parliament as General for that purpose was gone into the North to disband the English Army there The King departing from London the tenth of August made haste towards Scotland and passed by the Armies as they were disbanding Whether he did under-hand attempt any thing with the Scotish Army as a Scotish writer hath published to engage them against the Parliament of England with large promises of Spoil and offering Jewels of great value in pawn for performance of it I leave as uncertain for the reader to judge by what afterwards fell out But if he did it was a matter of great falsehood having as yet declared no enmity against the English Parliament But what the Kings design was of going into Scotland was not understood in England The same Author saies it was to make sure those Noble men of that Kingdom whom he doubted of as not willing to serve his turn against England And true it is that about September Letters came from Scotland to the standing Committee at Westminster for the two Houses had rejourned themselves from the eighth of September till the twentieth of October and appointed a standing Committee of fifty Members during that time that a Treasonable Plot was discovered there against the lives of some of the greatest Peers in the Kingdom upon which the standing Committee fearing some mischief from the same spring placed strong guards in divers parts of the City of London However the mischiefs might fall out by chance or by design the Kings journey into Scotland was sure to hinder the English business and to retard the cure of all their Grievances which was little less then a plain destruction For after the tenth of August the day of his departure little was done in the Parliament until the recess On the 23 of October whilst the King remained in Scotland broke forth that cursed conspiracy of the Irish Rebels and the inhumane butchery of Protestants through the whole Island more tragical then any effect of a calamitous War in which was put in execution whatsoever could be imagined from the licentious cruelty of a barbarous people so long kept under the English yoke or whatever the dire dictates of superstition or wicked exhortations of Priests could infuse into them It was wonderful that so devilish a design could so long be kept close whereby 200000 Protestants in two months space were murdered and many by exquisite torments and many more despoiled of all their wordly fortunes This divelish design was to be put in execution on the 23 of October upon which day not only the Castle of Dublin the Kingdoms chief Magazine a storehouse of ten thousand Arms at that time but all other Forts and Magazines in that Kingdom were to be surprised and all the English or Protestants that joyned not with them to be murdered The seizure of Dublin Castle to which purpose many of the chief Rebels came to the City the day before was prevented by timely discovery of the Plot to the two Lords Justices by one Owen O Conally a Servant to Sir John Clotworthy which discovery was but the very night before that fatal day and the occasion of it very accidental or rather a strange providence of God by Mac-Mahons unadvised trusting this Owen with some relations concerning it at a Tavern Upon which discovery Mac-Mahon and the Lord Maguire were presently apprehended by the Lords Justices and many Conspirators of great note escaped that night out of Dublin So was Dublin saved that all Ireland might not be lost in one day But the horrid design was past prevention as to the general for the Conspirators were up at the day in all Counties round about and poor English Protestants arrived at Dublin every day robbed and spoiled of all they had relating how their houses were seized how Towns and Villages in all parts were fired and cruel outrages
and after he had plundered the country thereabouts retired safely to his Winter-Quarters at Oxford The Parliament considering this action of the King began to hope little upon any Treaty resolving That the General should speedily pursue the King's Forces and fall upon them and the City of London to encourage the Parliament made a Petition to them wherein they entreated That they would proceed no further in the business of Accommodation because evil counsel was so prevalent with the King that he would but delude them that they had heard his Forces are weak and entreat that his Excellency would follow and fall upon them the City as heretofore being ready to spend with all willingness their lives and fortunes to assist the Parliament For which Petition and Protestation the Parliament returned thanks to the City and according as they desired it was decreed in Parliament FINIS Book II. A Short mention of the Progress of this Civil War THe beginnings of the Civil war together with the Series of causes from whence it sprung as likewise the degrees by which it grew have been already breifly and clearly shewed The things which remain to be unfolded are of so great a weight of so various a nature and of so many peices that scarce any Historian I might say History it self is sufficient to weave fully together so many particulars my intention therefore is to make onely a short mention not a full Narration of that Variety For the War went on with horrid rage in many places at one time and the fire once kindled cast forth through every corner of the land not onely sparks but devouring flames insomuch as the kingdom of England was divided into more Wars than Counties nor had she more fields than skirmishes nor Cities than Sieges and almost all the Palaces of Lords and great Houses were turned every where into Garrisons of War they fought at once by Sea and Land and through all England who could but lament the miseries of his Country sad spectacles were of plundering and firing Villages and the fields otherwise wast and desolate were rich onely and terribly glorious in Camps and Armies The following Summer namely in the year one thousand six hundred forty three proved for a long time fatal to the Parliament and Fortune seemed to have condemned the cause of liberty so exceedingly did the Kings party flourish in successes and Victories and the Parliaments condition every where low so that they were neer to ruine who in the end prevailed In the West Sir William Waller a Parliament-chieftain who had gotten divers Victories and then almost quite vanquished Sir Ralph Hopton was at last namely in July utterly defeated by the Lord Wilmot who came from Oxford with an Army of the Kings and having lost all his Army returned to London and such as the fortune of the Field was was the condition of Towns and Garrisons for immediately after Wallers defeat the two greatest Cities of all the West were yeilded up Bristol to Prince Rupert and Excester to Prince Maurice At the same time in the North of England was the like success where the Lord Fairfax who with his valiant Son had long and prosperously maintained the cause of the Parliament being now over-powred by a puissant Enemy the Earl of Newcastle and almost all his Forces scattered was driven into Hull and there besieged Essex himself the great General at the same time his Army decreasing suddainly some dying of sickness others for want forsaking their colours was constrained to leave the field and return to London quartering the sick and weak remnant of his Army at Kingston and other adjacent places until a Recruit could be made for him The Parliamentarians were now in a desperate condition and their strengths every where broken on the other side the Royalists strong and dreadful in Arms Men and Horses conquerours of all the West of Wales and the North of England as far as the very borders of Scotland One onely Town of Note in the Midland Country Glocester stood out yet faithful and constant to the Parliament and much desired by the King who in great disdain that this Town after Bristol and Excester were yeilded should stand out came in person to besiedge it with a great Army The Queen was now arrived in England and had brought with her great store of Armes bought in Holland with the money which she had raised by pawning the Crown-Jewels there whose coming at this time seemed rather to a Triumph than a War Glocester not onely staid the career of the Kings Victories but made a great change in the Conditions of the sides The City was gallantly defended against a great and flourishing Army wherein Massey the Governour justly gained a wonderful renown so long did he defend the City until General Essex could be recruited with an Army great enough to raise the Siege and march thither from London eighty miles Famous and honourable in the judement of all men was that expedition of General Essex who by solong a March fighting often with great bodies of the Kings Horse by the way brought notwithstanding his whole Army safe to Glocester raised the Siege relieved that Town and in his retreat from thence encountered and vanquished the Kings Army in that memorable Battel of Newberry After this time the parliament revived of whose condition Wise men might justly have doubted if the King leaving Glocester had marched directly with his Victorious Army to London which was then not at all fortified and miserably distracted with factions within it Or besides if the Earl of Newcastle letting alone the besiegâ—ng of Hull which likewise proved fruitless had powred out his numerous forces upon the Eastern associated Counties but it otherwise pleased God who is the onely Lord of Hoasts and by whose providence all things are guided Both sides now by this Victory of Essex seemed to be put into an equal ballance both of strength and reputation and this sad War not onely likely to be continued but extended to a greater latitude on one side the Parliament inviting to their assistance their brethren of Scotland on the other side the King calling in his Irish The Scots by a Covenant to be taken by both Nations for conservation of Religion Laws and Liberties the Irish by a cessation of Armes granted by the King a peace being also promised were drawn in The Scots promised to the Parliament from whom Commissioners were sent to Edinburgh about that business that they would bring into England to their assistance an Army consisting of one and twenty thousand Horse and Foot the Parliament engaged themselves to pay the Scots one hundred thousand pounds toward the charge of raising that Army But the King dealt not so openly with those bloudy Irish in bargaining for their assistance but by a pretence of cessation of Arms for the behoof of the English Protestants in that Kingdom which cessation notwithstanding was for the benefit of the Irish Rebels in lieu of
in any thing for what I would have you do I have already written to your mother to whom I would have you obedient in all things except Religion about which I know she will not trouble you and go no whither without her or my Command write often to me God bless you Your loving Father C. R. This Letter was intercepted going from Newcastte to Jersey in a small Vessel and read in Parliament to their great grief Soon after the surrender of Oxford followed the end of this fierce War for Worcester Wallingford Pendennis and Ragland yeilded also to the Conquerors Peace now seemed to be restored to England but they had no security for the Parliament having vanquished the common Enemy were grievously troubled with Factions among themselves and divided under the unhappy names of Presbyterians and Independents nor was it onely in those things which concerned Church-government but in the transaction of almost all other businesses they debate fiercely and were divided in their Votes The same difference namely of Presbyterian and Independent troubled not onely the Parliament House but the City the Country and some of the Camps seeming a thing that threatned danger and the Parliament feared that Massey's forces which had deserved very well of the Common-wealth being quartered about the Devizes might under that name make a Mutiny wherefore Generall Fairfax was sent from Oxford into the West to disband the War being ended those forces of Massey being two thousand five hundred horse which thing was quietly done within eight dayes and all those Souldiers with ready obedience left their Colours although they were not fully paid at that time for which Massey as for other things was much commended in being careful by advising his souldiers that this business without any difficulty should be so ended The War being now quite finished Fairfax the Victorious Preserver of the English Parliament returned to London about the midst of November All good men longed to see that great Souldier whom they could not but admire by whose valour they were delivered from the worst of evils and were now in expectation of an happy peace The next day after he came to London That he might see the gratitude of the Parliament the House of Peers sent their Speaker Manchester whom the Earls of Northumberland Pembrook and many other Nobles accompanied who congratulated his return and gave him great thanks for his most faithful and happy services to the Common-wealth When the Lords were gone Lenthal the Speaker of the House of Commons with almost 300. Members of that House came to congratulate the General to whom Lenthal made a speech wherein he discoursed of the greatness of his actions extolling them by examples of the most great and famous Heroes of ancient times You said he noble General shall all posterity admire and honour and the people of England since they can give you no thanks equal to your merits do freely confess themselves for ever indebted to you as the happy instrument of God and finisher of our Wars with incredible suceess To which the modest Fairfax made a short reply Acknowledging himself unworthy of so great an honour and giving most humble thanks to the Parliament accounting it his greatest happiness in this world to be made by God instrumental for the good of his Country But the General staid not long at London being presently after sent to carry the money for the Scots into the North of which we shall speak afterwards in the mean time we will return to the King and Scots On the sixth of May 1646. long before the surrender of Oxford when the Parliament of England understood that the King was with the Scots when the Scots also had disobeyed their Orders which were That they should detain the King at Southwel and that Ashburnham with the rest of his followers should be sent to London of which the Scots obeyed neither letting Ashburnham and the rest escape and carrying the King into the North the Parliament after a long debate of both Houses at last Voted That the person of the King should be disposed of by the authority of both Houses of the Parliament of England But the Scots excusing themselves and defying to deliver up the King a great dissention hapned between the two Nations which did much animate the Royalists and seemed dangerous to the two Kingdoms Many complaints were made upon this occasion and many sharp invective Writings on both sides for the space of divers moneths The Scots alleaged that he was no less King of Scotland than of England and that therefore their Kingdom had some right to the disposing of him the English affirmed that his person was to be disposed by the authority of that Kingdom in which he then was but that they set forth as a very strange thing that a Scottish Army paid by the Parliament of England and which by the Compact of both Kingdoms was to be governed by Commissioners of both Kingdoms upon the place should notwithstanding receive the King of England without the consent or knowledge of the English Commissioners and carry him away to Newcastle a Town of England and there keep him without the consent of the Parliament of England In the midst of these great dissentions which notwithstanding the prudence of some men did so well moderate whilest the common enemy and factious spirits sought to aggravate them that they proved not pernitious to the Kingdoms the main business and things necessary for the Common good were unanimously and friendly transacted by the two Nations and among other things concerning the sending of propositions to the King for a firm and well grounded peace it was debated and at last agreed that nineteen Propositions so many therewere should be sent to Newcastle to the King which because they are long and fully recited in a larger History I will not relate in this Epitome These Propositions were sent away to the King upon the fifteenth day of July one thousand six hundred forty six and presented to his hands at Newcastle by the Commissioners of both Houses of Parliament namely the Earl of Pembrooke Earl of Denbigh and the Lord Mountague of the Peers and six of the House of Commons the Commissioners of the Parliament of Scotland being present and consenting to them And that the King might conceive himself dealt withal like a King not a vanquished man and a captive this preface by the consent of Parliaments of both Kingdoms was set before the Propositions May it please your Majesty WE the Lords and Commons assembled in the Parliament of England in the name and on the behalf of the Kingdom of England and Ireland and the Commissioners of the Parliament of Scotland in the name and on the behalf of the Kingdom of Scotland do humbly present unto your Majesty the humble desires and propositions for a safe and well grounded Peace agreed upon by the Parliaments of both Kingdomes respectively unto which we do pray your Majesties assent and
Episcopacy he disputed out of the dictates of his conscience much and gave touches also of the other matters Of all which he hoped that he should satisfie the Parliament with his reasons if he might personally treat with them Therefore he earnestly desired to be admitted with Honour Freedom and Safety to treat personally at London the Commissioners of Scotland with great vehemence also pressed that this desire of the King might be granted The Parliament weighing these things lest they should betray themselves and friends by admitting of a personal Treaty with the King in London so Malignant a City before he had given any satisfaction or security which was before the Scots Opinion after so many mischiefs done to the Commonwealth resolved upon a middle way Therefore after a long debate on the twenty sixth of November they concluded that four Propositions being drawn up into the form of Acts should be sent to the King in the Isle of Wight to sign which when he had signed he should be admitted to a personal Treaty a London that his Majesty giving the Kingdom security by passing these four Propositions there may be a personal Treaty with his Majesty for passing the rest of the Propositions The four were these 1. That a Bill be passed into an Act by his Majesty for setling of the Militia of the Kingdom 2. That a Bill be passed for his Majesties calling in of all Declarations Oaths and Proclamations against the Parliament and those who have adhered to them 3. For passing an Act that those Lords who were made after the Great Seal was carried to Oxford may be made uncapable of sitting in the House of Peers thereby 4. That power may be given to the two Houses of Parliament to adjourn as the two Houses of Parliament shall think fit The Commissioners of Scotland would in no wise give their consent that these four Bills should be sent to the King before he treated at London therefore in a very long Declaration they protested against it Notwithstanding that the Bills were sent by Commissioners of both Houses of Parliament and on the twenty fourth of December presented to the King at Carisbrook-Castle But the King understanding the minde of the Scots and the factions in London absolutely refused to sign those Propositions and the Commissioners with this denial returned to London On the third of January the House of Commons debated of this denial of the King the dispute was sharp vehement and high about the State and Government of the Commonwealth and many plain Speeches made of the King 's obstinate aversness and the peoples too long patience it was there affirmed that the King by this denial had denied his protection to the people of England for which onely subjection is due from them that one being taken away the other falls to the ground That it is very unjust and absurd that the Parliament having so often tried the King's affections should now betray to an implacable Enemy both themselves and all those friends who in a most just cause had valiantly adventured their lives and fortune that nothing was now left for them to do but to take care for the safety of themselves and their friends and settle the Common-wealth since otherwise it could not be without the King Therefore on the 17 of January a Declaration and Votes passed both Houses of Parliament in this manner The Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament after many Addresses to his Majesty for the preventing and ending this unnatural War raised by him against the Parliament and Kingdom having lately sent four Bills to his Majesty which did contain onely matter of safety and security to the Parliament and Kingdom referring the composure of other differences to a personal Treaty with his Majesty and having received an absolute Negative do hold themselves obliged to use their utmost endeavours speedily to settle the present Government in such a way as may bring the greatest security to this Kingdom in the enjoyment of the Laws and Liberties thereof And in Order thereunto and that the Houses may receive no delay nor interruptions in so great and necessary a work they have taken these Resolutions and passed these Votes following viz. The Lords and Commons do declare That they will make no further Addresses or Applications to the King Resolved c. By the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament That no Application or Address be made to the King by any Person whatsoever without the leave of both Houses Resolved c. By the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament that the Person or Persons that shall make breach of this Order shall incur the penalty of High Treason Resolved c. That the Lords and Commons do declare That they will receive no more any Message from the King and do enjoyn That no ` Person whatsoever do presume to receive or bring any Message from the King to both or either of the Houses of Parliament or any other Person Within few dayes after these Votes of Parliament were published a Declaration of the General and general Councel of the Army their Head-Quarters being then at Windsor was made and humbly presented to the Parliament for which Declaration thanks were returned from the Parliament to the General and Councel of the Army which take in the full expression A Declaration from his Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax and the General Councel of the Army of their Resolutions to adhere to the Parliament in their proceedings concerning the King NOtwithstanding the high violations of the Kingdoms Rights and Liberties and the indeavours to swallow up the whole interest of the Kingdom into the power and will of a King which the present King's Reign hath afforded we have observed that the Parliament was through his necessities and against his declared intentions to the contrary called but in a condition of vindicating the Kingdom in those things hath yet enacted with that tenderness towards the King as to any thing of right that might be in him or duty towards him as that in the Protestation Covenant and many Declarations published by them that have held forth a careful regard to the preservation of the King's person and just rights with and in the preservation and vindication of the publick interests and safety of the Kingdom and by the whole service of their actions and their many-fold humble Addresses to him for the preservation and settlement of all they have we conceive abundantly demonstrated the reality and innocency of their intentious towards him in all which we have still understood the sence and intention to be no other then that the preservation of the King's person and particular rights should be so endeavoured as it might be consistent with and not destructive to those great and more obliging publick interests of Religion and the Rights Liberties and safety of the Kingdom and not otherwise And accordingly in the late Declarations and Papers that have occasionally past from this Army as to our desires of
settlement to the Kingdom we have expressed our real wishes that if the King would in things necessary and essential to the clearing setling and securing of those publick interests give his concurrence to put them past future disputes then his Rights should be considered and setled so far as might be consistent with those superior interests of the publick and the security thereof for future And that by an Address to the King upon things so purely essential to those publick ends it might once more come to a clear trial whether we could with the preservation of the King's person and in particular interests have a security to the other hath been our earnest desire our great expectation and our endeavour that we and others might be in a patient waiting for such an issue Now in the Parliaments last Addresses to the King we finde they have insisted onely upon some few things so essential to that interest of the Kingdom which they have hitherto engaged for as that without betraying the safety of the Kingdom and themselves and all that engaged with them in that cause without denying that which God in the issue of the war hath been such a Testimony unto they could not go lower and those things granted they have offered to treat for all the rest Thus we account that great business of a settlement to the Kingdom and security to the publick interest thereof by and with the King's Concurrence to be brought unto so clear a trial as that upon the King's denial of those things we can see no further hopes of settlement or security that way And therefore understanding that upon the consideration of that denial added to so many other the Honourable House of Commons by several Votes upon munday last have resolved not to make any further address or application to the King nor receive any from him nor to suffer either in others We do freely declare for our selves and the Army That we are resolved through the grace of God firmly to adhere with and stand by the Parliament in the things voted last munday concerning the King and in what shall be further necessary for prosecution thereof and for setling and securing of the Parliament and Kingdom without the King and against him or any other that shall hereafter partake with him Windsor Jan. 9. 1647. The Parliament also made a publick Declaration about the beginning of February for satisfaction of all men in general concerning the causes of their Votes in which besides the Kings former misdeeds related before in other Remonstrances they declare how often they had treated with him That although they were never forced to any Treaty yet no less then seven times they had applied themselves to the King with Propositions containing nothing but what was necessary to the peace and security of the Kingdom How they had offered him Propositions at Oxford afterwards at Uxbridge and then after he was quite vanquished in war at Newcastle and lastly after the departure of the Scots at Hampton Court All which hath been perpetually denied by him By such a Declaration did the Parliament endeavour to appease the unquiet mindes of people but no Arguments nor Decrees could serve to asswage their fury nor prevent the storms which were then arising Force onely was required and wise Councel to search out conspiracies and suppress the Tumults which were feared Therefore part of the Army was quartered about Westminster the Mews and other places of the City And the month before these high transactions some Lords and Commons were chosen out of both Houses to be a Committee for the safety of the Commonwealth and sate together at Derby-house in the same place where the Committee of both Kingdoms England and Scotland had sitten before To this Committee power was given to suppress Tumults and Insurrections and to that purpose to raise Forces as they saw occasion The Members of this Committee were seven Lords namely the Earls of Northumberland Kent Warwick and Manchester the-Lords Say Wharton and Roberts and thirteen of the House of Commons Mr. Perpoint Mr. Fines Sir Henry Vane Senior and Junior Sir William Armin Sir Arthur Hazlerig Sir Gilbert Gerrard Sir John Evelin Lieutenant General Cromwel Mr. St. John Mr. Wallop Mr. Crew Mr. Brown The Parliament though victorious though guarded with a gallant Army no forces visibly appearing against it yet was never in more danger All men began in the Spring to prophecy that the Summer would be a hot one in respect of Wars seeing how the Countries were divided in Factions the Scots full of threats the city of London as full of unquietness And more sad things were feared where least was seen rumours every day frightning the people of secret Plots and treasonable meetings From whence every man began to foresee slaughter and war as Mariners use to foresee a rising Tempest Cum longo per multa volumina tractu Aestuat unda minax flatusque incerta futuri Turbida testantur conceptos aequora ventos The threatning waves in tracks voluminous Boil up the Seas by blasts uncertain blown Betoken many windes conception The King's Party began to swell with great hopes and look upon themselves not as vanquish'd but Conquerors nor could they forbear vaunting everywhere but talked of the Kings rising and ruine of the Parliament The same thing seemed to be the wish of those whom they called Presbyterians who were ready to sacrifice themselves and their Cause to their hatred against the Independents who wished that quite undone which themselves could not do and desired that liberty might be quite taken away by the King rather then vindicated by the Independents The King himself though set aside and confined within the Isle of Wight was more formidable this Summer then in any other when he was followed by his strongest Armies The name of King had now a further operation and pity of the Vulgar gave a greater Majesty to his Person Prince Charls also by his absence and the name of banishment was more desireable by those Vulgar people and by his Commissions which his Father privately sent him as if armed with lawful power did easily command those that were willing and by commands under his name was able to raise as will afterward appear not onely Tumults but Wars The beginning was by Tumults and in the City from whence also the following Insurrections in the neer Counties had their original and was by Apprentices and loose young people playing in More-fields upon a Sunday the ninth day of April who dispising the authority of Magistrates set upon a Captain of the trained Bands and with stones beat him out of the fields and taking away his colours with them they marched a disorderly rout gathering up many of the scum of the people as they passed to Westminster crying out as they went that they were for King Charls But they by a Troop of Horse out of the Mews were quickly scattered But running back and getting into London while other
about of that Fleet was committed to the care of Sir George Ayscough nor did the Lord Admiral Warwick know certainly what was become of that Porchmouth-Fleet whether that also were revolted for so the rumonrs were every day in London And certain it is that the Mariners being so ill-affected in general and daily corrupted by the Townsmen in Porchmouth that Fleet had been lost from the Parliament by which means the other could not have subsisted if the discretion of Sir George Ayscough his estimation among the Sea-men and their love to him had not happily for the Parliament then appeared He wisely sounding the affections of them cashiering the worst to prevent the spreading of that contagion did with many endeavours and great difficulty so well prevail at last that he confirmed the whole Fleet in the Parliaments obedience And very successfully sailing by Prince Charles in the night brought all his Ships safe to the Earl of Warwick Who now strengthened by Ayscoughs coming with the Porchmouth Fleet resolved to make toward his Enemies But finding that the Prince for want of Victual was gone back into Holland he followed him not long after with the whole Fleet to Gore upon the Coast Cromwel after he had given that great defeat to Hamilton following his Victory entered into Scotland to help Arguile and Leven against the Forces of Monroe and â—â—nerike Which he effected with great felicity and reduced those Garisons which the Scots and English Malignants had before seized namely Berwick and Carlisle into the Parliaments power Then going into Scotland to consult about the safety of both Kingdoms he was most honourably entertained in the Castle of Edinburgh Many of the Scotish Nobility and Gentry were sent from the Commitee of Estate to meet Cromwel who after congratulatory Orations made conducted him to Edinburgh where Arguile Leven and other Lords entertained him and the rest of the English Commanders with a most magnificent banquet in the Castle Thanks were given by the Ministers to Cromwel who was by them styled the preserver of Scotland under God Such also is the testimony of the Committee of Estate written to the English Parliament concerning Cromwel presently after the forces of Monroe and Lanerike were disbanded and all other forces except fifteen hundred Horse and Foot which were to stand under the Command of Leven untill the Kingdome were setled It was also decreed both by the Committee of Estate and Assembly of the Kirk For preservation of Religion and brotherly amity with the English Nation That no man which had joyned with Hamilton in the late invasion of England should be chosen into the new Parliament which was then called or into the Assembly of the Kirk For the Faction of Hamilton were judged Enemies to Religion and both the Kingdoms It was worthy of noting that that English Army which were by the religious Party of Scotland called A bundle of Sectariés and reviled by all opprobrious names should now be acknowledged by the same Scots to be the Instruments of God and Vindicators both of the Church and Kingdom of Scotland The greatest Peers of Scotland also did ingenuously confess their Rashness and Errour the year before for accusing this Army as Rebellious for acting the very same things in England which now themselves were enforced to act in Scotland for preservation of that Kingdom This great change in the Council of Scotland had been to be wondred at if the change that then happened in the English Parliament had not been a greater Miracle Who would not be amazed at this That Cromwel for vanquishing a Scotish Army by which he delivered England from the worst of Miseries should be acknowledged there the Preserver of Scotland and not here allowed the Preserver of England and that the same Victory of his against Scots should please the Presbyterian Scots for Religions sake and for Religions sake displease the Presbyterians of England Oedipus himself cannot unriddle this especially if he judge according to Reason not according to what Envie Hate and embittering Faction can work The face of the English Parliament was now suddenly changed and the Votes which passed the year before namely of making no more Addresses to the King were annulled and made void those Votes upon which the Parliament as before is said had published a Declaration to inform the World concerning the reason and necessity of their proceedings Their Counsels were now quite changed and new Addresses to the King the formerly impeached members being again restored to their Seats with more submissive earnestness then ever before were resolved on The Houses then fell into a Debate about propositions to be framed and a Treaty to be had with the King before he had given any satisfaction or security to the people personally at London with Honour Freedom and safety But that was not carried Onely a Treaty was Voted to be in the I le of VVight and that the King should choose the place within that Iland Therefore on the fourth of August the Earl of Middlesex with two of the House of CoÌ„mons were sent to the King Who made answer that he was very ready to treat of Peace and named Newport in that Iland to be the place For that business Commissioners were presently chosen out of both Houses Five Peers Northumberland Pembrook Salisbury Middlesex and Say Ten of the Commons Lord VVainman Hollis Perpoint Vane junior Grimstone Pots Brown Crew Glyn and Buckley The King during this treaty found not onely great reverence and observance from the Commissioners of Parliament but was attended with a Prince-like retinue and was allowed what servans he should choose to make up the Splendor of a Court The Duke of Richmond the Marquess of Hartford the Earls Southampton and Lindsey with other Gentlemen of note and a competent number of them waited in his train his own Chaplains and divers of his Lawyers to advise him in the Treaty were allowed there But while this Treaty proceeded and some months were spent in debates concessions and denyals behold another strange alteration happened which threw the King from the heighth of honour into the lowest condition So strangely did one contrary provoke another Whilst some laboured to advance the King into his Throne again upon slender conditions or none at all others weighing what the King had done what the Commonwealth and especially what the Parliaments friends might suffer if he should come to raign again with unchanged affections desired to take him quite away From hence divers and frequent Petitions were presented to the Parliament and some to the General Fairfax That whosoever had offended against the Commonwealth no persons excepted might come to Judgement The first Petition of that kinde was presented to the Parliament upon the eleventh day of September The Title of the Petition was To the most honourable the Commons of England assembled in Parliament The humble Petition of many Thousands of well-affected men in the Cities of London and Westminster in the Borough of Southwark and the neighbouring Villages Inhabitants This Petition which broke the Ice was followed in the space of one month by many other Petitions of the same kinde from divers Counties of England and several Regiments of the Army namely from the County of Oxford on the 30 of September from the County of Leicester on the second of October from many Commanders in the Army on the 4 of October Three other Petitions brought upon one day namely the 10 of October another from Ireton's Regiment on the 18 of October and another from Inglesbies Regiment on the 21 day of the same month The scope of all these Petitions was the same That Justice might be done and that the Chief Authors of so much bloodshed in England and so many calamities to the Nation namely those who had been the raisers of this Second War and were now in the Parliaments custody Hamilton Holland Capel Goring and the rest might be punished But especially they intreat that the King himself the Chief offender the raiser of the whole War and author of Englands calamity might be called to Judgement That the Parliament would give them leave to remember what the Parliament it self had the yeer before decreed and declared against the King and what the Kirk of Scotland in 1646 had declared against the same King That he was guilty besides other horrid Crimes of shedding the blood of many thousands of his best Subjects Which things if they were true and not at all punished nor any satisfaction made it might be feared would provoke by so much injustice the wrath of God who had delivered that King after so bloody a War into their hands They therefore humbly intreat the Parliament that they would not ungratefully throw away so many miraculous deliverances of Almighty God nor betray themselves and their faithful friends by deceitful Treaties to an implacable Enemy This was the sense of all those Petitions which during the Treaty were daily presented to the Parliament and by them laid aside But at last these Desires prevailed especially after that the Remonstrance of the Lord General and the General Council of Officers held at St. Albans the 16 of November 1648. was presented to the Parliament on the 20 of the same November But by what means or what degrees it came at last so far as that the King was brought to trial condemned and beheaded because the full search and enarration of so great a business would make an History by it self it cannot well be brought into this BREVIARY which having passed over so long a time shall here conclude FINIS