Peers as useless inconvenient and an hinderance to the proceedings of Parliament a just reward for so ignoble degenerous spirits And because great Personages like great Trees in a Forrest seldom fall alone to compleat the Tragedie within a few weeks after they impeach Duke Hamilton General of the Scottish Army and the Earl of Holland as also the Lord Capel and Lord Goring taken in Colchester and some others None of these seared to be questioned for their lives till now for they yielding had quarter given them But an high Court of Justice must not be set up for the King alone They mean to go the same way to work with others the Law taking no hold of them they 'l make a Law that shall and therefore the like Court is erected again for the trial of these Lords and others though the same President sate not yet others did that had the same power All that were accused were condemned but Goring being a Gentleman of no great fortune and never before engaged against them found mercy at their hands Capels great estate drove on his ruine Hamilton and Holland are observed to have suffered deservedly because they had played on both parts sometimes for the King and otherwhiles against him as affairs changed The poor spiritness of the rest is observed in cowardly submitting to their pretended authority only the stout Lord Capel so Lilburn cals him would not in the least buckle to acknowledge them a lawful judicatory but after the example of his Royal Master denied their Anthority and when he came to suffer which he and the other did March 9. he took his death with a most resolute and undaunted courage not only to the admiration of all men but even to the very terror of his enemies they that neither loved him nor his cause yet highly commended him for his courage and magnanirnity and as much despised Hamilton for his timerous baseness using all means possible to save his life but all would not do much confidence he reposed in Hugh Peters that Clergy Mountebank who at last betrayd him as himself had formerly betrayed the King After the King was thus put to death and the Government changed into a Commonwealth a new Seal and new Coyn being made this Piece of the Parliament that put the King to death governed the Nation till April 20. 1653. what time they were thrown out forcibly by Cromwel being then their General and his Army Officers to the great content and rejoycing of the People But in the mean time presently after the death of the King the Scots proclaimed the Prince King of Scotland by the Name of Charls the second Ireland was almost all revolted soon after the death of the King year 1649 only the City of Dublin held out for the Parliament But Cromwel going over thither about September 1649. in less then a years time reduces that whole Kingdom to the obedience of the Parliament driving the Natives for the most part out and cooping up the rest in the Western parts of the Kingdom Scotland having as is said before proclaimed the Prince King they received him into that Kingdom and crowned him at Scone the first of January 1649. 1650. whereupon the Parliament having reduced Ireland they resolve to send an Army into Scotland about June 1650. Fairfax upon this layes down his Commission and Cromw ll is made Captain General in his stead He marches into Scotland with a great Army where he lay a long time before he could engage the Scots to fight insomuch as the English were in great distress for provisions and had been famished or forced to return long before had they not encamped near the sea and had the sea free and open to them At length the Scots set upon them at Dunbar but were defeated and routed at least 10000. of them slain and taken upon the place all of the Presbyterian party and such as had formerly engaged in England for the Parliament against the King An hundred Ensigns at least are taken brought up to London and hung up in triumph in Westminister Hall and which is remarkable great numbers of those Souldiers that at their coming into England in 1643. had heathenishly prophaned the Cathedral Church of Durham were now brought prisoners and lodged in the very same Church shut ' up together and fed like swine with roots and other trash so that with hunger and cold and stench lying there a long time most of them perished some of them acknowledging the just hand of God for their sacrilegious prophaness committed in that place this is a certain truth reported by credible persons living near and in that City And thus our Brethren the Scots were in part payd for their brotherly assistance But Cromwel hath not yet done with them he stayes still after the battel of Dunbar and pursues his victory he presently takes Leith and Edenburgh and afterward that strong and impregnable Castle called by the Scots the Maiden Castle because never before conquered Nor can I say it was now conquered by Cromwell He took it not by assault nor yet by hunger but as is credibly reported surrendred by the treachery or cowardize of the Lord _____ that commanded there in chief This Cast e being taken Cromwel enlarges his conquest all over the South of Scotland from Leith and Dunbar on the East to Glasco and Ayre in the West without any great resistance But the City and Castle of Sterling held out for the King together with the Fife the fertilest part of the Kingdom and all the North of Scotland from Endinburgh Frith Northward the Scots being now grown so wise after their beating at Dunbar as to take and call in to their assistance all the Kings party both Scots and English whom formerly they rejected under the notion of Malignants and Cavaleers putting the Earl of Montross most barbarously to death who landed in Scotland a little before the Kings coming thither and whom if they had entertained might possibly by the blessing of God have prevented their being beaten at Dunbar being a man of extraordinary experience conduct and courage in war exceedingly beloved of all the Royallists in Scotland and one that had formerly with an handful of men done incomparable service for the King But the Presbyterian Scots were as bitter against the Kings party as they were against Cromwell and his army and would have the glory wholly to themselves and their Covenant in restoring the King that thereby they might the better advance their Covenant and carry on their pretended work of reformation both in Scotland and England Cromwel and his Army lay long in Scotland year 1651 after Dunbar fight and did little not able to advance any further At length towards the latter end of July he gets over Edenburg Frith and lands his Army or a considerable part of them in the Fife with a great loss and defeat to the Scots who resisted The King soon after quits Sterling and suddenly marches away in
A BRIEF VIEW OF The late troubles and confusions in England begun and occasioned by a prevailing Faction in the Long PARLIAMENT Deduced to the auspicious coming in of GENERAL MONCK And the most glorious and happy Restitution of KING CHARLES the SECOND By WILLIAM YOUNGER Psal 118.22 The same stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the Corner This is the Lords doing and it is marvellous in our eyes London Printed for Robert Gibbs at the golden Ball in Chancery-lane 1660. AN ADVERTISEMENT TO THE Reader THis brief Relation was composed Chiefly out of the Authors own observation of the transactions in these late sad times Many things are purposely omitted especially in the former part for brevity sake which otherwise might have been inserted For his intentions at first were to leave it in the Register book of his Parish in which he first began it for the use of his successors but it growing too big for that design he drew the rest down in papers to the coming in of General Monck and the happy Restitution of King Charles the Second to his Throne He hath endeavoured herein to set down nothing but truth and hopeth he hath not much failed therein However if any errors or mistakes be they are not wilfull and possibly not much material His purpose only is to set forth the stupendious mercy of God in raising up a temporary Saviour such a one he accounts General Monck to be for the deliverance of this sinful Nation from an oppression or slavery as bad as Egyptian and from a confusion no less than Babylonish If God may have the glory by an humble ackowledgement and real thanks to be given him by the people of these Kingdoms it is all the Author expects or desires A Brief View of the late troubles and confusions in England begun and occasioned by a prevailing faction in the Long Parliament ANNO 1640. Novem. 3. began the Parliament called the Long Parliament year 1640 we may truly term it the Black or the Bloody Parliament that involved the three Nations in blood and destroyed the King the Parliament it self and thee Kindoms The King in the beginning of this Parliament had for the security of the Subjects in their Persons Liberties and Estates passed many and several Acts of grace to the no small diminution of his Royal Prerogative more than all his Predecessors Kings of England from the Conquest downward had ever done and all this to remove from them all jealousies and fears After this in May 1641. he gives way at the great and pressing importunity of the House of Commons â—â—â—1 to the Condemnation and Execution of the Earle of Strafford a loyal Subject and a most able and accomplish'd counsellour as any Prince in Christendome ever had The King was very hardly moved to yield either to his attaindor or execution as not being satisfied in conscience of any guilt or crime in him deserving such punishment but yield at length he did though with much reluctancy to satisfie the importunity of the people and indeed at the request of the Earle himself who desired Jonah-like to be cast over-board thereby to appease the violent rage of a tempestuous people The truth is this Nobleman as also the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury afterwards Anno 1644. were meerly sacrificed to the malice and revenge of the Scots In August following the King goes into Scotland to compose differences there between himself and his Subjects of that Kingdom which done he returns again to London and is there received with exceeding joy and triumph of the people in or about the beginning of December The House of Commons to welcome his Majesty home instead of giving him thanks for the many gracious Acts he had lately passed they present him with a Remonstrance Dec. 15. laying open all the miscarriages and misfortunes of his whole Government from the beginning of his Raign even to that present and this they publish contrary to his express desire to the whole Kingdom whereby they gave occasion to the people to conceive jealousies and suspicions of a malignant party about the King still carrying on their own designs both against Religion and the Laws of the Land After the publishing of this Remonstrance fears and jealousies encrease among the people the vulgar rabble in and about London frequently flock down to Westminster with Petitions and clamours against the Bishops and Popish Lords and disaffected Members as they termed them in the House of Commons and no redress could be had again them though the House of Lords and the King himself had moved the House of Commons to declare against them The truth is they were favored and countenanced under hand by some Members of that House The King to avoid the danger of these tumults withdraws from White-hall to Windsor from thence afterwards to Newmarket and so by Cambridge into the Northern parts and thence to York The Parliament soon after his removal from Whitehall petition Him at Newmarket and elsewhere for the Militia to have it put into such hands as the two Houses shall think fit but he denyes them telling them that the Law hath setled it in Him that to divest Himself of the power of the Sword is to bereave Himself of power to protect his people and support the Laws This Petition was much insisted on by the Parliament under pretence of feares and jealousies but the King absolutely and peremptorily denyes it The King by several journeys comes year 1642 to York in the beginning of the year 1642 and there he settles His Court. Soon after his coming into those parts he was denyed enterance into Hull by Sir John Hotham when he offer'd to go into the Town but with twenty persons attending Him The King thereupon fearing lest the same armed force that kept Him out of Hull might surprize His Person at York he entertaines a guard of the Gentry of that County This by the house of Commons is Voted a levying of War against the Parliament though they themselves had long before three times as many of the Trainedbands of the City to guard the houses dayly Many Petitions Answers and Declarations passed between the King and Parliament during his Majesties being at York wherein it is evident to all understanding men that the King had the better cause and was more able to maintain it by the pen and by reasons and arguments than the Parliament was for the truth is his Declarations and Answers to their Messages Petitions and Propositions were unanswerable But words and writings not being sufficient to compose these differences they proceed from words to blows About July they Vote that the King is seduced by evill and Malignant Counsellers and thereupon they Vote an Army to be raised under the Command of Robert Earle of Essex the pretence is for King and Parliament against these Malignant Counsellers but they accuse or name none in particular The same year Aug. 24. the King sets up his Standard at
his rashness quits the place and all his Command and with some others of note leaves the Kingdom York soon after is again besieged and Sir Thomas Glenham undertakes the defence of the place but at length was forced to yield upon honourable terms Anno 1645. year 1645 The beginning of the year the Parliament new moulds their Army By a self-denying Ordinance as they termed it they cast out Essex Manchester and VValler and all others that were Parliament Members both Lords and Commons only Oliver Cromwell one of the Burgesses for Cambridge is dispensed with Sir Thomas Fairfax is made Captain General Cromwell his Lieutenant General Skippon also hath a great command amongst them and many of Cromwels kindred and Relations have great imployment and commands in this new modelled Army most of Essex his Officers being laid aside In May the King marches out of Oxford with a very good Army and takes Leicester by assault about the latter end of the moneth having then also a very considerable Army in the VVest about 15000. as was reported under the command of Goring who at that time besieged Taunton After the taking of Leicester the King was requested by Sir Marmaduke Langdale and the Northern Gentlemen to march Northward for the Relief of Pomsret Castle then straitned by the enemy But receiving intelligence that Fairfax intended to besiege Oxford he marches against him hoping if he could deseat their new model'd Army all other places and forces would easily be reduced At Naseby in Northamptonshire the two Armies meet on Saturday June 14. where at the first encounter the King had much the better his Right Wing of horsemen Defeating and Routing the Left Wing of the Parliaments Army wounding Skippon and taking Ireton Cromwels son in law prisoner But the Left Wing of the Kings Army consisting most of Northern Horsemen and they discontented at the first Encounter were broken turn'd head and ran the King did what possibly could be riding up and down the field to stay their flight and Rally them but all would not do and the Right Wing of Horse were so farre engaged in the pursuit as they could not timely and orderly Retreat to succour the Foot The Horse being thus routed and defeated the Foot were not able to stand but after some little resistance and slaughter yielded themselves prisoners four or five thousand of them The Kings Coach and in it his Cabinet with Letters and Papers taken all Arms Artillery Bagge and Baggage lost the King himself hardly escaping to Leicester and from thence that night to Ashby de la Zouch This was the fatal battel of Naseby for after this the Kings affairs never prospered but Town after Town was taken and in all encounters the Kings party was worsted all the VVest parts by degrees taken in that Sommer and the Queen and Prince forced to flie beyond sea anno 1646. year 1646 Oxford the Kings chiefest Garrison was besieged and much straitned About Ascention time the King in a disguise got out of the City came as far a Downham in Norfolk and from thence went to the Scots Camp lying in siege before Newark and to them his native Subjects he yields himself hoping by their means to make some better terms with the Parliament They used him civilly and respectively gave notice to the Parliament of his yielding himself to them having made use of his Authority for the prâ—sent surrendring of of Newark and from thence carryed him to Newcastle a Garrison then in their possession where he remained all that year and from thence gave Order to several other Garrisons as yet holding out for him to surrender to the Parliaments Forces upon honourable terms At Newcastle he remained all that summer and afterwards upon Treaty between the Parliament and Scots Commissioners the Parliament paying them 200000. l. in hand and securing as much more to be paid And promising as the Scots affirm to treat the King honourably and not to do any violence to his Person they deliver the King up to the Parliament and quitting Newcastle and the rest of the Garrisons they held in England they departed with their Army into Scotland The King from Newcastle was removed to Holdenby year 1647 a house of his own in Northamptonshire there he is kept an honourable Prisoner attended by some Commissioners of Parliament and a slender Guard of souldiers none of his own servants are permitted to wait upon him nor any of his Chaplains or Ministers of his Opinion though he earnestly desired it in a Message to the Parliament but they force upon him Presbyterian Ministers of the Parliaments Opinion and appointment These would not suffer him to celebrate the Feast of Easter as being against their Directory of late established This summer the Wars being finished all Garrisons surrendred and the Kings Forces utterly subdued and forced to compound for their estates taking an Oath never to bear Arms against the Parliament they take a resolution to disband the Army sending some part of it into Ireland against the Papists still in Arms there and only to keep 5000 Horse and Foot in England to preserve the peace of the Kingdome against any risings that might happen The souldiers fearing the Wars would cease and their trade decay began to Mutinie first they pick quarrels against the Parliament and at once impeach eleven of the Members of the House of Commons all rigid Presbyterians as enemies to the Army and desire they may be secluded the House They Act now not as Souldiers but as Commonors and Freemen of the Nation pretending to stand for the Native Rights and Liberties of the people And to carry on their designes the better the common Souldiers who began the work chuse their Agitators as they termed them two or more out of every Regiment to represent their grievances to the General and chief Officers of the Army And in conclusion they peremptorily refuse to disband or to send or go any of them into Ireland till all their grievances were redressed and their desires satisfied But all this ye must know was underhand countenanced if not contrived by Cromwel and some principal Officers of his Faction And because the Parliament had made themselves sufficiently odious by keeping the King under so strict guards denying him the attendance of his Chaplains and the use of the Common-prayer Book and tendering such harsh Propositions to him both in relation to himself and his party that had already suffered so much for his sake The Souldiers to ingratiate themselves to the people pretended much for the King and for his restitution of his Throne and Government upon fairer terms by much than the Parliament would afford him And suddenly by a Party Commanded by one Cornet Joyce they seize upon the King at Holdenby June 4. in the night and bring him into the Armies quarteâ—s then about Newmarket or Cambridge The General would not suffer him to pass through Cambridge lest the Schollers more than ordinarily addicted to him
should make any disturbance but brought him a more private way to his own house at Newmarket There he rested some while and the Gentry and people of all sorts from severtl parts had access to him and many came and were cured of the Kings Evil by him The Souldiers were highly magnified by the people for their civilitie and specious pretences to the King From Newmarket the Army removed to Saint Albones and the King with them his Majestie being lodged at Hatfield house there they pretended great matters for him and Cromwel especially in private gave him great hope of his Restitution From thence June 23. the publish a Remonstrance of their good intentions towards the Kingdom and to the King especiallie Amongst other passages in that Declaration this is one They professe they do not see how there can be any peace to the Kingdom firm and lasting without a due consideration of and provision for the rights quiet and immunity of his Majesties Royal Family and his late partakers And herein say they me think that tender and equitable dealing as supposing their cases had been ours and a spirit of common love and justice diffusing it self to the good and preservation of all will make up the most glorious conquest over their hearts if God in mercy see it good to make them and the whole people of the Land lasting friends These are the verie words in that Declaration and I have noted them the rather to see how quite contrary to these specious professions their after-Actings within a short while were The Armie removes to several quarters and the King along with them They treat him honourably in respect of what the Parliament had done they allow him the attendance of his Chaplains and the use of the Common-Prayer denyed him by the Parliament some Noblemen and Gentlemen of his party are permitted to come to him The General obtains of the Parliament that he may see his children tâ—en under the custody of the Earl of Northumberland upon promise of the General that they shall return again Proposals are made to him by the Army far more moderate than the Propositions lately tendred to him at Newcastle All things are carried by the Army as if they really ment his Restitution upon very reasonable terms And most certain it is that Cromwell gave his Majesty very faithful promises of restoring him upon more moderate terms than either the Parliament or Army proposed But ye must know while these things vvere in agitation about the later end of July there fell a great difference between the Parliament and Army insomuch as the Army were jealous that the Parliament and City would have brought the King to London upon his own terms The occasion was thus The Militia of the City of London had been setled by an Ordinance of May 4. 1647. in the hands of such of the City as the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Common Council had nominated and approved The Army about the 20 of July require of the Parliament that Ordinance may be repealed and the Militia of the City settled in other hands such as the Army might confide in and accordingly in a thin house the Militia was changed without any Objections against the persons formerly intrusted or acquainting the Mayor or Common Council with it to hear what they could alledge in their own behalf The City startled at this sudden and unexpect change of their Militia calling a Common Council they resolve to petition the Parliament for restoring their Militia as formerly settled in a full house and accordingly July 26. the Sheriffs and some Common Council men present their Petition which Petition the same day within a few hours after was seconded by another other of the Apprentices to the same effect and wherein they claimed that the ordering of the Cities Militia was the Birth-right of the City belonging to them by several Charters confirmed by Parliament and about one thousand Apprentices yet without any armes came down with this Petition The House of Lords upon presenting these Petitions were pleased to grant their desires revoking the Ordinance of the 23 of July and reviving that of the fourth of May. The debate stuck longer in the House of Commons but about three of the clock in the Afternoon they passed it The Apprentices staying in and about Westminster-hall and the Parliament door till the Vote was passed and then all or the most part withdrew and went to their homes The Apprentices being departed some disorderly persons instigated thereunto as was probably thought by divers Sectaries and Adherents to the Army to make the business more odious and to give the Army occasion to quarrel with the City flock'd again to the Parliament door and the Speaker having adjourned the House they compelled him again to return to the chaire and there kept both him and the Members in the House till they had passed a Vote that the King should come to London to treat The Mayor and Common Council still assembled hearing of this disorder sent down the Sheriffs immediately with such strength as they could for the present get and pacified the tumult sending the Speaker safe to his house and published Edicts to prevent the like This tumult happened July 26. being Monday The House met again next day being Tuesday sate again and Acted quietly and because the Fast was the next day after they adjourned the House till the Friday following the Lords having formerly adjourned to that day On the Thursday following the day before they were to meet upon the adjournment the Speaker with about fourty of the Members secretly withdrew to the Army then at Windsor complaining of an horrid force put upon the House The rest of the Members at least 140 meeting on the Friday morning according to adjournment finding neither Speaker nor Mace and understanding upon inquiry whither he was gone they chose a New Speaker and get another Mace and set againe and the like did the Lords whose Speaker also was fled upon the same account both as it was conceived either inveigled or threatened by the Army that they might have the better pretence of quarrel against the City and Parliament I have related this passage the more particularly that it may be compared with the force afterward put upon the Parliament by the Army themselves upon the King Tryal These things thus passed as London between the Parliament and City highly incensed the Army who now take upon them to be Supream Umpires over the Nation they entertain and countenance the fugitive Speakers and Members and they and the Council of the Army set together in consultation engaging to support one another in this quarrel against the members as they termed them at Westminister and the City Mean time the Parliament call in the eleven impeached Members secluded hitherto upon the Armies accusation they revive the Committee of Safety they give power to the City by several Orders and Ordinances to list and raise Forces to appoint Officers and
Commanders to issue out Armes and Ammunition for the defence of the Parliament and City against all that should invade them Massey Pointze Birch and other reformadoes that had formerly done great service for the Parliament when Essex was General are now imployed as chief Commanders for the City The Army on the contrary drawing together all their Forces and endeavouring to raise the Trained bands in the adjacent Counties prepare and intend to invade and subdue that Rebellious City The City thus prepared for defence were nevertheless for preventing the effusion of blood willing to have accorded with the Army upon any reasonable terms and to that purpose sent several messages to the Army but all would not do no terms of reconciliation or peace would be granted unless they would submit themselves and the Parliament wholly to the power of the Army which upon the point they did for in conclusion they agree and yield To desert both Houses of Parliament and the impeached Members To recall their Declaration lately published Relinquish their Militia deliver up all their Forts and line of Communication to the Army as also the Tower of London with all Armes and Ammunition therein to disband all their Forces and turn all their new-made Commanders and Reformadoes out of the line to demolish all their works and to suffer the Army to march without opposition through the City These imperious conditions of the Army were calmly submitted to by the tame-spirited Citizens And thereupon the Army brings in the fugitive Speakers and Members and seat them again in their authority Fairfax receives the solemn thanks of the House the common souldiers two months pay for their good service and valour and a day of Thanksgiving is appointed to be solemnly kept for this great deliverance and Fairfax made General of all Forces both in England and Wales and Constable of the Tower of London All this was done Aug. 6. 1647. Soon after the General Lieutenant General and the whole Army with their train of Artillery march in triumph through the City of London And from that day forward both City Parliament and whole Kingdom are subject to the Army Not long after the restitution of these fugitive Members all Votes Orders and Ordinances of Parliament made in their absence are declared null and void The eleven impeached Members of the House of Commons have leave granted them to go beyond Sea and they must think they are favourably dealt with Seven Lords that sate in the upper House in the absence of the fugitive Members viz. The Earls of Suffolk Lincoln and Midlesex the Lords Berkly Willoughby Hunsdon and Maynard are impeached of high Treason and committed to the black Rod for levying of War against the King Parliament and Kingdom The Lord Mayor Aldermen and divers Citizens are likewise impeached of the same crime and committed to the Tower divers members also of the Commons House are under accusation and examination as countenancers and abettors of the late tumult But all these impeachments and accusations in time vanished and came to nothing only the Army Faction was by this means strengthened and encouraged and the other party as much quell'd and discouraged so that thenceforward all Votes propounded were passed or not according to the temper and disposition of the Army The Parliament became wholly subservient to the Armies designs as will plainly appeare in the ensuing Story Meantime the King continues still under the power of the Army removes and passes from place to place as they remove their Quarters But now having made the Parliament wholly for their turn he is removed nearer London to Hampton Court there he had much freedom and abundance of people continually resorted to him At Hampton Court he receives Propositions from the Parliament Septem 7. the same in effect that were tendred to him at Newcastle in July the year before The King in answer desires that the Parliament would take into consideration the Proposals of the Army of August 1. 1647. as more moderate and more conducing to satisfie all interests in the Nation Things thus standing and the King remaining still at Hampton Court a Faction of Seditious people called Levellers sprung up in the City and Army some of the chiefest whereof were Lilburn Overton VVyldman and others people of a turbulent and heady temper These frame a writing called the Agreement of the people tending to the alteration of the whole frame of Government of the Nation They stile the House of Commons in their Petitions the supreme power of the Nation they bitterly declaim and raile against the House of Lords in several Pamphlets These at first receive some check from the House of Commons and one of them a souldier is by the Council of War condemned and shot to death at VVare but yet they increase more and more and grow more insolent every day being as is was probably thought countenanced underhand by some in the Parliament and by some great Officers in the Army to promote their own ambitious designs At length about Novemb 9. or 10. Cromwell sends word to the King by Colonel VVhaley who had the Guard of him that those kind of people were grown very numerous in the Army that he feared they had some malicious design against his Majesties person and he doubted it would not be in the power of the Officers of the Army to protect him and therefore advised him by timely withdrawing himself in private to provide for his own security A Letter of Advertisement also from an unknown person in London to the same purpose was sent and delivered to his Majesty intimating his danger and wishing his Majesty were at his or any Loyal Subjects House in London Whereupon the next day in the Evening Novemb. 11. his Majesty with a Servant or two only conveyed himself secretly from Hampton Court into the Isle of Wight In that Island commanded one Colonel Hamond as Governour there for the Parliament a kinsman he was of Dr. Hamonds that famous Divine and I think the Kings Chaplain insomuch as the King might expect some more then ordinary civility from him Hamond presently gives notice to the Parliament of his Majesties coming thither and upon order from the Parliament takes him into custody at Curesbrook Castle The King also upon his departure from Hampton Court had left upon the Table a Letter or Message to the two Houses of Parliament signifying the cause of his withdrawing himself and also his readiness to concurre with them in all things just and reasonable for the settling of a safe and well-grounded Peace And had further soon after his arrival in the Isle of Wight sent another Message or Declaration to them wherein he offers First Concerning Religion to establish the Presbyterian Government for three years and then afterwards to establish Church-Government in such a manner as shall be concluded upon by the Assembly of Divines with the addition of twenty Divines to be nominated by his Majesty Secondly For the Militia he
offers it them wholly by Land and Sea during his whole Raign so as after that it may return intirely to the Crown Thirdly For the arrears of the Army he will undertake if he may have the benefit of Sequestrations from March last and compositions to be made before the conclusion of the Peace and the Assistance of the Clergy and the arreares of the Rents of his own revenew that were yet behinde to pay 400 thousand pound within eighteen months and if that will not do then to make sale of forrest Lands for raising the rest Fourthly He gives them power to dispose of the great Offices of State as also to nominate and appoint his Privy Counsellours during his raign Fifthly For the Court of Wards if it cannot be regulated without being a grievance to his Subjects he is willing to abolish it for a valuable compensation Sixthly He offers to recall and null all Proclamations and Declarations against the Parliament and all Indictments against any person for adhering to them or acting by their authority and to pass an Act of general pardon and Oblivion to all his Subjects whatsoever Those and some other things he offers by that Massage of Novemb. 17. and for all other things he desires they may be debated and composed in a personal Treaty between himself and the two Houses of Parliament at London Which personal Treaty the Scots Commissioners soon after desired to be assented to and held forth his Majesties offers to be very just and reasonable But to this Massage of his Majesty the two Houses return answer by sending him four Bills to sign and confirm under the great Seal of England 1. To settle the Militia by sea and land both in England and Ireland in the two Houses of Parliament for ever with power to raise what Forces they please as also what moneys they thought good upon the Subjects for support thereof thereby divesting the Court wholly of the power of the Militia 2. To justifie the proceedings of the Parliament in the late War and to make void all Oaths Declarations Proclamations and other proceedings against the Parliament 3. Against all Peeres lately made or to be made without consent of both Houses of Parliament 4. For the adjournment of the Parliament from place to place as the two houses should think fit These Bills being assented to and confirmed by his Majesty they will yield to treat with him concerning the rest of the propositions in the Isle of Wight Which propositions I must further tell you were such as the Scotch Commissioners declared their dissent upon them before they were sent The King apprehending these four Bills especially in the way they were penn'd not only destructive to Monarchy but to the peoples libertie refuses to confirm them yet in a message or writing to the Houses gave his reasons against them Whereupon the House of Commons presently Vote to make no more addresses to him but to settle the Kingdom without him and further by the same Vote they make it high Treason for any person whatfoever to send any Message or Letter to him or to receive any from him without consent of both Houses of Parliament This was about the beginning of January The House of Lords would not be drawn suddenly to pass these Votes divers argued strongly against them and the House was equally divided about the question but within three or four dayes after the Army sending solemn thanks to the House of Commons for their passing these Votes and drawing down some of their Forces to garison Whitehall and the Mewes it turned the Scale in the House of Lords and they also passed those Votes Soon after the passing of these votes of Non-address discontents grew high in all parts of the Kingdom And the common people especially in the parts about London were wonderfully oppressed and even eaten up with Free-quarter The Commissioners of Scotland withdrew and went home and with the assistance of Duke Hamilton formerly imprisoned by the King and lately set free by the Parliament called a Parliament in Scotland wherein they resolve Maugre the Kirk to raise an Army for the delivery of the King The beginning of this year 1648 was full of discontents year 1648 The Welchmen were the first that appear in Arms under the Command of Poyer Ponel and Laugherne formerly for the Parliament holding out Pembrook Castle aâ— gainst the Parliament and defeating a party of 2500 that were sent against them The Lord Inchequen that was President of Munster in Ireland declares against the Parliament and joyns with the Marquess of Ormond for the Kings interest for which the Parliament imprison his son a child of eight or nine years of age that was Borded and went to School at Thistleworth near London Petitions came from many Counties of England and from the City of London requiring a Revocation of those Votes for Non-address and desiring a Personal Treaty with the King and his future settlement These Petitions being slighted and many Surrey Gentlemen wounded by the Souldiers at the Parliament door and in Westminster-hall and some slain outright for presenting their Petition the Kingdom grew into a general flame Tumults arose in many places as at Norwich April 24. where the Committee-House was by accident blown up that part of the City exceedingly shattered and above 100. people slain At Bury in Suffolk â—here the Town was held out some dayes by the meaner sort of people against the Troopers In Huntingtonshire Bedfordshire and other places so that the Troopers were posted from place to place to subdue tumults and as fast as they subdued them in one place they brake out in another The Kentishmen rise up in armes to the number of ten thousand and possess themselves of some strong Castles They in Essex also under the command of Sir Charles Lucas and others second them and seize upon the Committee for the County at Chelmesford Pomfret Castle is taken by stratagem and a great party of the Kings possess it and command the whole Country round about Many if not most part of the Navy revolt and setting Raynsborough their late made Admiral on shore in a Cock-boat they go to the Prince with whom also joyned the Lord Willoughby of Parham and others so as the Prince had a matter of thirty or forty ships one and other under his command at Sea The Scots under D. Hamilton invade the North by the way of Carlisle with an Army of fifteen thousand besides a party of English about 3000 under the command of Sir Marmaduke Langdale All this time the Parliament are consulting about Propositions to be sent to the King as also of the place and manner of a personal treaty with him which was desired by the Londoners and most of the Kingdom to be had at London Thus the time was spun on and the Summer well-nigh spent before they could agree upon termes for a personal treaty and at length it was resolved to be in the Isle of Wight
the beginning oâ— August with an Army of about eleven thousand horse and foot into England by the way of Lancashire and forcing his way at Warrington bridge against a party that opposed he comes by easie marches without resistance to Worcester Massey being with him hoping the Presbyterians in those parts and about Glocester would generally have risen and joyned with the Scots The Parliament upon the first intelligence of his entrance into England arm all that possibly they can against him publishing a Proclamation against him and all his adherents as Rebels and Traitors and forbidding all men upon pain of high Treason to joyn with him or to aid or assist him in the least Cromwel also pursues him out of Scotland with as great a part of his Army as he could well spare at Worcester all forces assembled against him meet there they fought and the Kings party in conclusion is beaten the Scots they say many of them refusing to fight at all The King in a disguize very hardly escapes yet it pleased God that at last he got safely out of England many of the Scottish Nobility and some of the English being taken prisoners and kept long after in the Tower of London This fight at Worcester happened Septemb. 3. 1651. a remarkable day for Cromwels Victories Scotland after this is with little difficulty wholly reduced to the obedience of the Parliament and Garisons maintained in several places even to the utmost Northern Coasts and they who formerly would not be subject to their King are now inforced to submit to Cromwell and his Faction Afterwards in Anno 1652. year 1652 the Parliament falls out with the Hollanders many fierce and bloody battels were fought at Sea with great loss of both sides in one of which Admiral Dean for the English and in another Van-Trump for the Dutch were slaine The Hollanders have the worst in conclusion so that at last they sue for peace and obtain it But some while before this peace was concluded year 1653 Cromwell being now grown great with his Victories in Ireland and Scotland having subdued both these Kingdoms upon the twentieth of April 1653. he suddenly and forcibly turns out the Parliament who had for four years and as much as from January to April since they put the King to death with bloody cruelty and heavy oppression governed the Nation The Parliament being thus turned out Cromwel and his Army Officers take upon them the government of the Nation They presently impose six Months Tax and erect a new Council of State Bradshaw who formerly for his good service was President is now not so much as a Member of the Council Cromwel soon after cals a Convention of about an hundred and twenty persons pickt out by himself out of the several Counties of the Nation most of them inferiour persons and of the Independent and Anabaptistical faction These were summoned by particular Warrants or Tickets in paper under his own hand only to meet at Westminster and consult for t setling the Nation Being met according to their summons Iuly 4. 1653. in the Commons House of Parliament and having chosen them a Chairman or Speaker Cromwel comes in amongst them and puls a writing out of his pocket thereby giving them the supream authority of the Nation upon this they presently vote themselves to be a Parliament and to requite his courtesie they vote him to be a Member of their Parliament Thus being seated in Authority they make an Act for six Months Tax at the old rate of 120000 li. a Month and another Act concerning marriages appointing Justices of Peace to marry and none other marriages to be valid or lawful In the same Act they ordain a Register to be kept in every Parish in which is to be set down all births and burials not so much as mentioning Baptism as a thing in their opinion at least not necessary thus they lessen and diminish the use and authority of Ministers whom they intended by degrees to take wholly away In order whereunto they had a design to take a way Tithes but the Ministers of London being called to alledge what might be said in defence of them by their Counsel learned in the Law and by Arguments out of Scipture they opposed so strongly as that debate was laid aside for the present But that failing they had another device namely by an Act in one day to have unbottomed all Ministers in England and to have lockt up the Church doors as some affirmed and then afterward to have taken in whom they had thought good which may probably be conceived should have been only such as would have renounced their orders if not their baptism Things being carried so high and in such a frantick manner the more moderate among them weary of the work and fearing they should rather bring things into further confusion then settle any thing they repair to Cromwel the General desiring him to take again into his hands his Writing or conveyance of the supream power whereupon he presently dissolves them but some of the Anabaptists refusing to obey and continuing still in the house at their prayers he sent Souldiers who pulled them out and lockt up the doors against them Decemb 12. 1653. This Schismatical Convention called by some the little horn being thus timely and happily outed Cromwel upon the sixteenth day of the same month having by advice of his Army-Officers and Council of State framed an Instrument of Government presently after printed and published consisting of fourty two Articles and therefore by some called his forty two string'd sidle by others the Magna Charta takes upon him the Government of the three Nations as Supream Magistrate under the Title of Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England Scotland and Ireland And sending for the Commissioners of the great Seal the Lord Maior and Aldermen of London with the Judges of Law and the chief Officers of his Army Proclamation thereof being made in London he is solemnly installed in Westminster-hall taking an oath to govern according to that Instrument and the Laws of the Land though nothing could be more repugnant to the Laws then that Instrument was According to that Instrument year 1654 he cals a Parliament to begin Septemb. 3. 1654. though it fell out that year to be Sunday accounting the day auspicious by reason of his two great victories upon that day at Dunbar and Worcester This Parliament was not to be chosen according to the ancient manner two in a County and two in a Corporation but ten eight six more or less in a County according to the proportion of it and the small decayed Corporations as Thelford and Rising in Norfolk and the like elsewhere were wholly left out There were also added to the Parliament Thirty Members for Scotland and as many for Ireland chosen or nominated from thence so as it was a Parliament of the Commonwealth of England Scotland and Ireland whereof as before he had made himself
cals another Parliament year 1656 according to the lade mode ten in a County c. These convene at Westminster Sept. 17. Upon their first meeting many of the Members of several Counties were excluded because they had been somewhat busie and active in the Parliament before This exclusion of Members being noised abroad many that were not yet gone up went not at all lest when they came there they should be excluded and sent home again There were in all about sevenscore or more that absented themselves or were secluded the House by order from the Council of State and yet not any reason alledged against them They represent the injury to the House but find no redress the House dare not offend the Protector by admitting their Fellow-Members This Parliament thus purged and garbled was for the Protectors turn he gave them leave to sit almost two five moneths without dissolving or adjourning About the begining of the next spring year 1657 there is a project set on foot by some in the House for making the Protector King First a petition or remonstrance from many of the City desireing it was presented by an Alderman of London to the Speaker sealed up in a box Afterwards a Bill is prefered for it the House are very forward in the business only the Protectors pleasure is not known They very humbly and solemnly petition his Highness to accept of it as an honor not only merited by himself but much inducing to the settlement of the Nation But he makes strange at it gives them thanks for their good affection towards him and the publick yet desires time to consider of it before they press him to a resolution Mean time the Independents and Factious people fast and pray to avert the judgment that is like to fall upon them in having a King Some great Commanders in the Army and many of the common-souldiers express their dislike of it amongst whom Lambert the Leiutenant-General is the cheif conceiving it a barre to his ambitious hopes It is more then probable the Protector himself thirsted after it and that the designe was first hammered in his own forge for Thurloe his Secretary openly promoted it and as it was said brought in the Bill But when the Parliament made their second address to him he modestly denied it yet he gave them thanks for their good affections to him This Parliament sat from the 17. of September to the 26. of June And then by an Act entituled The humble Petition and advice they constitute him Protector and give him power to nominate his Successor which was all one as to establish the Government in his Family They erect another House of Parliament in place of the Lords for which they could invent no other name but The Other House It was to consist of a number of persons not exceeding seventy nor less then fourty all chosen or nominated by the Protector and to be called particularly by Writs as the House of Peers were wont to be They also ordain some other qualifications for future elections of Parliament men and appoint an Oath to be taken by the Protector and by all successive Protectors and also another Oath by all the Members both of the one and Other House upon their enterance to sit in Parliament Some other things they ordaine in that Petition and advice for setling the future Government All which the Protector ratifies and confirms by giving his solemn assent in those words the Lord Protector doth consent Further in that Act they limit him so far as not to impose any Tax or payment upon the People without their consent in Parliament and in lieu thereof they give him 35000 li. a month by way of Tax for three years to come from June 24. 1657. besides the Excise Tunage and Poundage the Customs all the Crown lands that were unfold and all Forfeitures Penalties and other accidental Emoluments that the Kings of England were wont to have amounting in the whole to Thirteen Hundred Thousand Pounds per annum for so much they promised to settle upon him forthwith as a certaine standing Revenue besides land Taxes This done he does not dissove but only adjourn the Parliament to the 20. of January following But in the mean time soon after their adjournment the Protector Cashiers Lambert his Lieutenant-General and Hacker Colonel of his life-guard and some other Officers of his Army who were conceived to be averse to the business of his Kingship which gave men cause to conclude that he still thirsted after the Kingly dignity as indeed it is more then probable he did And here let me tell you there goeth a story very credibly and confidently reported by some persons knowing and well-affected to the late Protector That he when he was a boy and going to schoole at Huntington where his father dwelt dreamed one night thar he should be King and Ruler over all the Kingdom of England but afterward he should be hanged This dream he tells to his fellow school-boyes and by that meanes it came to his Masters eare who lashed him soundly for it How near the former part of his dream was fulfilled appears by this story and how justly he deserved the latter part I leave it to others to judge Against the meeting of the Parliament by adjournment he sends out his Writ for summoning the Members of his other House Some antient Peers of the Land he summoned as the Earl of Warwick the Earl of Manchester the Lord Say I cannot say whether or no the Earl of Salisbury was one because he seldom wanted a place in the House of Commons Others some of them were Gentlemen of quality in several Counties and of good repute but the most of them were of his Army-men or of his alliance that had married into his Family Amongst his Army-men there were Pride the Dray-man Hewson the Shoomaker Barksted the broken Thimble-maker and others the like all Colonels of his Army and Lambert also to gratifie him is made one of his Peers and Haselrig that was a great stickler against him in all Parliaments is another There is a Catalogue extant of them all and therefore it is needless to repeat them When the time came according to the Adjournment January 20. the Nobility though called disdained to appear Many of the Gentry absented themselves yet some of all sorts except only the Nobility enough to make a competent number appeared Some that were called to his other House were elected for the House of Commons and chose that place rather then the other House Sir Arthur Haselrig always an enemy to the King and no friend to the Protector was one of the number The House of Commons would by no means digest that other House nor own them though some messages were sent to them yet would they not vouchsafe them any answer Besides this there was another business set on foot in the House of Commons that touched the Protector very nearly and that was their tampering with the
being thus restored who had for eleven years and more been kept out from discharging their trust there is great rejoycing and triumphing again both in London and all parts of the Kingdom with Ringing and Bonefires making c. but some of the Rump upon their restoring it is said withdrew and would sit no more Presently after their restoring they vote Monk to be General of all the forces of England Scotland and Ireland Sir William Waller one of the secluded Members to be Leiutenant-General and Rossiter a Lincolnshire Gentleman and one that had formerly served the Parliament to be General of the Horse They constitute Montagu to be Admiral at Sea instead of Lawson and they appoint a new Council of State Soon after they make an Act for setling the Militia of the Kingdom together with some Acts concerning Ministers And taking order for calling of a new Parliament to convene at Westminster April 25. they dissolve themselves on Friday the 16th of March. And thus by Gods great blessing we have lived to see an end of that unhappy long Parliament that hath been the cause of misery and calamity to these three late flourishing Kingdoms for these nineteen years and more last past And all this brought to pass without one drop of bloodshed by the prudent and politick conduct of General Monk who with a small Army an handful of men in comparison not past four thousand foot and eighteen hundred horse and those not very well accommodated marched from Berwick through the heart of England to the City of London without the least opposition and at length gained the power and command of that opulent and potent City Lamberts Army being at least twelve or thirteen thousand men well hors'd and well appointed breaking in pieces and mouldring away in a moment the Troops and Companies marching from place to place where they might find quarter till afterwards most of them their Officers cashierd were received and listed under the command of General Monk Afterwards by degrees he purges his Army putting out all Anabaptists Quakers and other Fanaticks both Officers and common Souldiers as they are or can be discoverd both in the Army and Garisons and placeth others in their steads Overton a fifth Monarchy-man who pretended to hold Hull for the Lord Jesus Christ was yet notwithstanding commanded to surrender it to Mr. Charls Fairfax a Yorkshire Gentleman which accordingly he did and the like was done in all other Garisons the Army-men displaced and Gentlemen of the Country of other confiding persons put in their steads Soon after the putting in of the secluded Members Lambert is committed to the Tower Haselrig Scot and others are under examination but dismissed upon their promise or engagement to demean themselves peaceably Lambert not long after finds means to escape out of the Tower and about the middle of April or soon after appears in Arms about Northampton in the head of a party many of the cashierd Officers and Souldiers of the Fanatick and discontented party being got together And it is generally conceived that all the Anabaptists Quakers and other factious people in all parts of the Kingdom had a design to have risen and joyned with him had he not been timely suppressed But Colonel Ingoldsby being sent against him with a party he surrounds them all being not above five or six hundred whereupon most of the common Souldiers come in and yield themselves and Lambert with some Commanders are taken upon the place without a stroke striking only a scour of Lamberts they say was slain Colonel Okey and some others escaped by flight lambert being thus taken is brought to London together with Colonel Cobbet Major Creed and young Haselrig Sir Arthurs Son These were all brought up in a Coach through Hide Park on Tuesday April 29. what time there was the greatest general Muster of Citizens that ever was seen in or near London Of trained men and Auxiliaries there were at least twenty thousand some say thirty thousand men in Armes Some of the Nobility and many Gentlemen of quality trayling pikes voluntarily amongst them The Prisoners brought through the Army and sufficiently hooted at they afterwards drove the Coach under Tyburn and there made a stand This was done I suppose to minde them of their destiny or at least of their desert and to disgrace them who had so long time insulted and domineered over the Nobility Gentry and Commonalty of the Kingdom A just reward to use them uncivilly who had so barbarously abused both King and People The Parliament according to Appointment began at Westminster April the twenty fifth the House of Commons being elected and called by Writs issuing out in the name of the Keepers of the Liberties of England by authority of Parliament a Title invented presently upon the change of the Government from as Monarchy to a Common-wealth in the year one thousand six hundred forty eight the Lords and Peers of the upper House taking their places by vertue of their birth-rights and ancient dignities Soon after the sitting of the Parliament there arrived at London the Lord Mordant and Sir John Greenvile with a Declaration from his Majesty as also several Letters One to the House of of Pâ—eâ—s another to the House of Commons a third to the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Common Council of the City of London and a fourth to General Monk to be by him communicated to the Council of State and to the Officers of the several Armies under his Command which Declaration and several Letters from his Majesty were presented according to their several directions May the first In his Declaration he offers 1. A general Pardon to all of all sorts excepting only such as the Parliament should think fit to except provided that they sue out their Pardons under the great Seal of England within fourty dayes after the publication thereof 2. He offers a Liberty to tender Consciences for matters of Religion so far forth as the Parliament should think fit and to consent to such an Act as the Parliament for that purpose shall tender to his Majesty 3. For the sales and purchases of Lands made since these late troubles he is willing to leave it to the determination of Parliament whom he presumes best able to provide for the satisfaction of all such as are concerned therein And Lastly he promiseth full satisfaction of Arrears to all Officers and Souldiers of General Monck's Army and to receive them into his service upon as good pay and conditions as they now enjoy This was the sum of his Declaration published at Breda April 14. 1660. in the twelfth year of his Majesties Reign This Declaration together with his several Letters afore-mentioned were highly accepted The Lord Mayor Aldermen and Common Council after the reading of them cried out unanimously God save King Charls and presently took down the Common-wealths Arms that hung in the Guild-hall and as they say brake them in pieces ordering the King Arms to be hung up