in the House tending thereto first by a Proposal of four then five nay six were mention'd and the motion not dislik'd told them peremptorily that it was in vain for them to think of less than twelve in regard he knew under that number would not be accepted And having by that sinister dealing kept such distance betwixt his Majesty and his good Subjects was by some other of the faction so seconded with a hideous representation of their Grievances together with dangerous Innovations in Religion and fears of introducing Superstition besides certain motions as did not without cause put strange apprehensions in the Queen of peril to her person or at least some others very near unto her that his Majesty was constrain'd to dissolve that Parliament And taking consideration of the Scots rebellious Insolencies which every day increased proposed the business of money to his Privy-Council who contributed a considerable sum to his aid his domestic-Servants and Officers making good addition thereto The Earl of Strafford Lord Lieutenant of Ireland speedily hasting into that Kingdom where he call'd a Parliament raised an Army of eight thousand men with money to maintain them and within the space of six weeks return'd into England That the meeting of these Members of Parliament from all parts of the Realm being many of them men of turbulent Spirits and principles totally Antimonarchical gave opportunity for those contrivances which afterwards were put in Action there is nothing more sure For in the first place they took care to infuse Fears and Iealousies into the people every where that the Government was then design'd to be Arbitrary and Popery like to be introduced to promote which Scandals many seditious Preachers took no small pains in their Pulpits especially in and about London Whereupon several tumultuous meetings were made in divers parts of the Suburbs and a Paper set up in the night at the old Exchange animating the Apprentices to sack Lambeth House Which took such effect that two nights following it was beset with above five hundred of the rascal multitude and an attemt made thereon though without success some of them being taken and imprisoned in Southwark But here they rested not for within a few nights after they broke open the White-Lion and King's-bench Prisons and let out their fellows The Scots also having made such preparations for a second Rebellion continued likewise their Parliament according to the Fundamental Laws as their phrase was having enacted a Band to be subscribed by all men before the first of September to maintain it to be a free and lawful Parliament whereupon they form'd another Army and knowing certainly what store of well-wishers they had in this Kingdom as also how easy the work was like to be made through the subtile contrivances of the factious party here from whom they were sufficiently instructed and animated by private Invitations and large promises invaded this Realm passing the Twede at Barwick But the King being slow to believe what they designed was not so forward as to encounter them upon the Borders his Army which he rais'd that Summer lying at that time about New-Castle of which the Earl of Northumberland was made General who alledging himself to be then ill in health staid in London His Majesty therefore having certain advertisement that the Scots were ready to enter Northumberland intended to have made the Earl of Strafford General who declin'd it out of an honoured respect to the Earl of Northumberland but being much pressed in regard of this present occasion desired to serve as Lieutenant general under him and had his Commission accordingly On Thursday the twentieth of Aug. the King set forwards from London towards the North and on Munday following the Earl of Strafford having in that short time fitted himself for his journey posted from London by Coaches and arriving at York the Wednesday after though then much troubled with the Stone rode to Topcliffe on Fryday At that time the Lord Conway was General of the Horse and at Newcastle with the Army Where by reason of the General 's and Lieutenant-General's absence he had the cheif command thereof but made such slender resistance that the Scots forc'd their passage over the River of Tine at Newburne that very Friday and entred Newcastle without opposition himself then retreating with the Army towards York and in some confusion And now that the Scots had thus possess'd themselves of Newcastle they began to strengthen that place and bring all those Northern-parts under contribution Which strange passages made most men amazed scarce any man knowing whom to trust or speak freely to Much labour indeed there was to make the people believe that all this did work for their good and that the Scots were their surest friends this being the certain way to have a Parliament and that the undoubted cure of all things amiss both in Church and State And truly such a burthen was Ship-money then esteem'd to be and some few other extraordinary Impositions so wanton were many grown being surfeited with that plenty which long peace had produc'd that the Scots then had not a few well-wishers in all parts of this Realm their piety and goodness being so cried up by the whole Puritan-party His Majesty therefore in this difficult Labyrinth took resolution to summon a meeting of the Peers at York a course which had anciently been used especially when exigencies were so great that the Convention of a Parliament could not be staid for and at the meeting of this grand Council represented to them the present danger of this Invasion with desire of their advice touching the maintenance of his Army as not safe to be disbanded whilst the Scotish-Forces were on foot as also what course was fittest to be taken to get them out Whereupon without long deliberating a Treaty was determin'd on and for that end sixteen of the Lords then present were assign'd on the King's part to meet with Eleven of the Scots with power to compose and conclude all differences Whereunto the Scots assented upon condition that the King should first revoke his Proclamation whereby he had declared them Traitors COMMISSIONERS Of the English these Francis Earl of Bedford William Earl of Hertford Robert Earl of Essex William Earl of Salisbury Robert Earl of Warwick Iohn Earl of Bristol Henry Earl of Holland Thomas Earl of Berkshire Philip Lord Wharton William Lord Paget Edward Lord Kymbolton Robert Lord Brook Iohn Lord Paulet Edw. L. Howard of Escrick Thomas Lord Savile Francis Lord Dunsmore Of the Scots these Iohn Earl of Rothess Ch. Earl of Dumfermeling Iohn Lord Lowdon Sir Patrick Hepburne of Waughtone Sir Will. Douglas of Cavers William Drummond of Riccarton Iohn Smith Bailiff of Edenborough Alexand Wedderburn Clerk of Dundee Hugh Kennedy Burgess of Aire Alexander Henderson Archibald Iohnstone Which Treaty began at Rippon upon the ninth of October but what good effect it was like to produce we
set forth a new Declaration in the name of both Houses of Parliament shewing the necessity of a present Subscription of Money and Plate for a farther supply of the Army Suggesting that his Majesties Popish-Army would proceed with Fire and Sword to root out their true Religion and all that professed it if there were not a good provision of Treasure to maintain and support the Army rais'd by the Parliament To which new Contributions for the better drawing on of others they themselves also subscrib'd And after ordered that such Citizens as had refused to pay the twentieth part should be removed to several Prisons viz. Yarmouth Colchester Norwich c. giving authority that the Collectors made by their Ordinance of the xxixth of November for Assesments should have power to break open Chests Trunks c. and to sieze Money Goods c. for satisfaction of their Taxes And at the same time appointed a Committee for sequestring the lands and estates of all such persons as had assisted the King in his just defence and preservation according to their duty and allegiance calling it a maintaining a war against the Parliament But all this being as yet not enough they passed an Ordinance to incite the City of London to a free contribution towards the sum of sixty thousand pounds for the service of the Army the Houses declaring that they were in good hopes it would be the last money they should have occasion to desire of the City in that kind And therefore that they might be as good as their words and not come often to them in a borrowing way they passed another Ordinance for imposing a Tax for the maintenance of their Army throughout the whole Kingdom of Thirty three thousand three hundred forty eight pounds a week whereof ten thousand pounds weekly was assessed upon the City of London besides Westminster and the Suburbs And to the end that the well affected who had gone forth in their Army rais'd for the defence of the Parliament Religion Laws and Liberties of the Subjects of England for those are the words of the Preamble should be the better encouraged to continue in their service they passed another Ordinance for assessing of all the Parishes in England to the relief of their maimed Souldiers with the Widows and Fatherless children of such as were or should be slain on their part CHAP. XIV I Now come to the military Actings of this present year 1642. In which I find that the Marquess of Hertford and Sir Ralph Hopton Knight of the Bath afterwards Lord Hopton had rais'd considerable forces on the King's behalf in the West and that the Earl of Newcastle afterwards Marquess in the North Colonel Charles Cavendish brother to the Earl of Devonshire Spenser Earl of Northampton and some other persons of quality had done the like in sundry other parts so that with what strength his Majesty himself then had after the taking up of his Winter-Quarters at Oxford the Royalists had possessed themselves of Banbury-Castle in Oxfordshire of Reading and Farringdon with the Castles of Wallingford and Denington in Berkshire of Chichester and Arundel-Castle in Sussex of Winchester and Basing-house in Hantshire of the Castles of Devises and Wardour in Wiltshire of the Castle of Sherbourne in Dorsetshire of some Port-Towns in Devonshire of the Castle of Pendennis and other places in Cornwall of Taunton and Bridgwater in Somersetshire of Sudley-Castle in Glucestershire of the City of Worcester of the the Town of Shrewsbury in Shropshire of Dudley-Castle and Close of Lichfeild in Staffordshire of Ashby de la Zouch in Leicestershire of the City of Chester of Monmouth in Monmouthshire of Lincoln and Gaynesborough in Lincolnshire of Lynne in Norfolk of the City of York and Castle of Pontfract in Yorkshire of Latham-house in Lancashire and of Newcastle in Northumberland As also that by their activeness there were taken from the Rebels before the entrance of the ensuing year these following places viz. Marlborough in Wiltshire by the Lord Wilmot Colonel Ramsey a Scot and five hundred of his men being there made prisoners Tadcaster in Yorkshire about the same time Liskard and Saltash in Cornwall Belvier-Castle in Lincolnshire Cirencester in Gloucestershire Malmesbury in Wiltshire and Grantham in Lincolnshire Whereunto may be added the safe landing of the Queen 12 Febr. at Burlington in Yorkshire with Arms and Amunition brought from Holland for his Majesties service On the Rebels part I am also to observe that besides the Earl of Essex their Generalissimo they had divers other Petty-Generals viz. Ferdinando Lord Fairfax in the North the Earl of Stanford and Sir William Waller in the West Edward Earl of Manchester Basil Lord Feilding eldest son to the Earl of Denbigh Colonel Brown the Woodmonger Sir William Brereton Baronet Sir Iohn Gell Knight Colonel Massey c. all active men in their respective stations As to the places of strength throughout England besides the Royal Navy given up into their hands by Algernon Earl of Northumberland whom the King had made Admiral of his whole Fleet they had the City and Tower of London all the Eastern-Counties with the Ports and Castles thereto belonging the strong Town of Hull in Yorkshire and in it all his Majesties Magazine of Arms Artillery and Amunition prepared for his Scottish Expedition Manchester in Lancashire in Cheshire Ludlow Bridg-North and Wemme in Shropshire Stafford in Staffordshire the Cities of Bristol and Gloucester the Towns of Leicester and Northampton the City of Coventry with the Castles of Warwick and Kenilworth all in Warwickshire the City of Lincoln the Towns of Notingham and Derby and indeed what not excepting those places I have mention'd wherein the Royalists had first set foot Besides which they took by force the City of Winchester Leedes in Yorkshire the City of Chichester in Sussex about the same time and Sudeley-Castle in Gloucestershire Not much of Action in the Field or otherwise can be expected until the ensuing Spring of the year so that all I find of note was only that at Liskard near Bodmin in Cornwall where Sir Ralph Hopton routed a strong Party of the Rebels in those parts and took above twelve hundred Prisoners Likewise that attempt upon Litchfield-close in Stafford shire made by Robert Lord Brook wherein he lost his life the manner whereof is not a little remarkable which in short was thus This Lord being strangely tainted with fanatic Principles by the influence of one of his near Relations and some Schismatical Preachers though in his own nature a very civil and well homour'd man became thereby so great a zealot against the establish'd Discipline of the Church that no less than the utter extirpation of Episcopacy and abolishing all decent Order in the service of God would satisfy him To which end he became the leader of all the power he could raise for the destruction of the Cathedral
Norfolk Kent Surrey Sussex Cambridg Isle of Ely Huntington Northampton and Rutland and the Cities of Norwich and Canterbury for the better enabling their Brethren of Scotland to assist in the Common-cause of Religion and Liberty Which Ordinance had such a succesful effect that it accelerated the conclusion of the Treaty at Edenborough then on foot betwixt the Commissioners sent into Scotland from the Members sitting at Westminster and the Commissioners of the Convention of the Estates of Scotland for aid from their Brethren of that Kingdom insomuch as upon the xxixth of November the Articles were there signed whereby inter alia in the first place it was agreed that the Covenant represented to the Convention of Estates and general Assembly of Scotland and formerly sent to both Houses of the Parliament of England for by that name those members then sitting at Westminster stiled themselves should be sworn and subscribed by both Kingdoms as a most near Tie and Conjunction between them for their mutual defence against the Papists and Prelatical faction and their adherents in both Kingdoms and for pursuance of the ends expressed in that Covenant And next that an Army to that purpose should be forthwith levyed consisting of eighteen thousand foot two thousand Horse and one thousand Dragoons effective with a sutable Train of Artillery to be ready at some general Rendezvouz near the Borders of England to march into England for the purposes aforesaid with all convenient speed the same Foot and Horse to be well and compleatly armed and provided of Victuals and pay for fourty days In contemplation of which aid from Scotland and that those their Brethren might not want encouragement in that their necessary assistance Mr. William Strode made a motion in the House that all those who would neither contribute nor take the Covenant should have a price put upon them and be sent to Sea that something might be given for them who would give nothing of themselves And shortly after by other Ordinances the Customs upon all Merchandizes were advanc'd to a tenth part under pretence of defending the Towns and Ports of Plymouth St. Nicolas Isle with the Towns of Pâ—ol and Lime and places adjacent As also additional Articles to the Ordinance for the Excise Besides this the sum of three thousand pounds a month was assessed upon the associated Counties of Norfolk Suffolk Cambridgshire c. towards the maintenance of the Lord General 's Army Likewise thirteen hundred pounds toward the support of Sir William Waller's Forces which were raising in Kent And about the same time they made void the places and Offices of all Clerks in any of the Courts at Westminster who had in any sort adher'd to the King But amongst all their Impositions and Taxes there was none came in so amply and insensibly as the Excise wherewith the vulgar were by that time in some sort acquainted And therefore according to Mr. Pym's principle the Houses pass'd another Ordinance for a new Excise upon Flesh Victuals and Salt ever heartning on the people with hopes of ease and now most especially because the Scots Army was ready to march which was represented to be so formidable as that it would put a sudden end to the work Which Army according to a Declaration they then set forth wherein they did cast divers scandals upon his Majesty and justified that most perfidious action invaded this Realm upon the xvth of Ianuary passing the Twede at Barwick notwithstanding their frequent reiterated Oaths Promises and National Covenant viz. that whensoever his Majesties Honour and Interest should be in danger they would as one man obliged by the Laws of God and man apply themselves to his succour and defence CHAP. XVII ANd now that I come to their second Invasion forasmuch as the main end of this Narrative is historically to shew the growth and effects of Presbytery in England which had its chief rise and production from Scotland it will not be improper to take notice that though by their first Invasion in an 1639 they had not only made way for the setting up that Discipline here but before their departure laid a seeming sure foundation for the firm and perfect establishment thereof yet such was the success that the King had against those fiery spirited men that he was then become totally master of the feild throughout the West and many other parts of this Kingdom divers of their strong-Holds being likewise gained and consequently in a very hopeful way to have reduced that perverse Generation to an absolute obedience with whom no fair invitation and condescension on his part though with all earnestness frequently sought could prevail to make them return to their due allegiance by kindness and love But it so fell out that this their second Invasion the first fruit of their solemn League and Covenant with so numerous and powerful an Army raised cheifly by the influence of their Preachers in that Realm and brought in with the Prayers of the Boutefeus here the Pulpits daily ringing with loud cryes and groans for hastening the slow feet of their dear Brethren to their aid became fatal to his Majesty For the Marquess of Newcastle who lay then in Sunderland with his Army consisting of about 7000 men which he had raised in the North being thereupon constrain'd to make his retreat towards York left all those parts to the rapine and spoil of the Scots The Scene being therefore by this means thus unhappily chang'd his Majesty who foresaw the Cloud approaching having by Proclamation dated 22 Dec. called all the Peers of this Realm which had any sense of Honour and likewise all those Members of the House of Commons that upon the Principles of Loyalty and duty had faithfully adhered to him in these his distresses to attend him at Oxford upon the xxiith of Ianuary did there represent unto them this their second Invasion desiring their speedy advice and assistance both what was to be said or done therein as well in reference to This as That Kingdom Whereupon those worthy persons so assembled notwithstanding they saw that many of his Majesties gracious offers of Treaty for peace to the Lords and Commons then sitting at Westminster had been rejected and taking into consideration that those Lords and Commons had upon pain of death prohibited the address of any Letters or Message to them otherwise than by their General the Earl of Essex they did by a special Letter bearing date the 27th of the same month of Ianuary recommend unto him their most earnest desire that he would faithfully and industriously cooperate with them in a right sense of the then past present and more threatning future calamities of this Kingdom by obtaining that some persons might be appointed on either part and a place agreed on to treat for such a peace as might redeem it from desolation Which Letter was signed by the Prince the Duke of
rendred to Prince Rupert by Lieutenant Colonel Russell Subsequent to these I shall onely enumerate the rest in order of time Iames Earl of Northampton routed another stout party of them at Middleton Cheney in Northampton shire And about ten days following Sir Ralph Hopton obtain'd a clear victory over the Dehonshire and Cornish Rebels at Stratton in Cornwall the Earl of Stanford and Major General Chudleigh being Commanders in chief of them In which Battle were taken seventeen hundred Prisoners thirteen brass piece of Ordnance seventy Barrels of powder and store of other provisions by reason whereof the greatest part of the West except Plymouth and some other Port-Towns was reduced to obedience and in consideration of this signal service the said Sir Ralph Hopton soon after viz. 4. Sept. 1643. was advanced to the dignity of Lord Hopton of Stratton aforesaid The next month also ensued Prince Rupert's Victory over the Rebels at Chalgrave-field in Oxfordshire Commanded by Colonell Iohn Hampden who there received his deaths wound that being the very field wherein he first put in Execution the Parliaments Ordinance for the Militia of that County as a president to the rest of England and the Earl of Newcastle taking Howley house in Yorkshire soon after defeated the Lord Fairfax at Adderton Heath in that County At the beginning of Iuly likewise a party of Horse and Dragoons Commanded by Colonel Middleton coming to surprize Sir Charles Lucas in his Quarters at Padbury near Buckingham were by him routed And the Earl of Newcastle valiantly assaulting Bradford in Yorkshire took it by storm Sir Thomas Fairfax who was Governour there fleeing thence by night whereupon Hallifax and Denton house Sir Thomas Fairfax his seat were quitted by the Rebels Burton upon Trent also in Staffordshire was taken by the Lord Iermyn upon the Queens passage from Burlington in Yorkshire towards Oxford Near which time was the great fight at Landsdown in Somerset shire where the Lord Hopton had the better of the Rebels though the Valiant Sir Bevill Grenevill was there slain The Lord Wilmot and Earl of Carnarvon likewise routed Sir William Waller and Sr. Arthur Haselrigg at Roundwaydown in Wiltshire Prince Rupert also having taken Burleigh house in Rutland marcht to Bristol and after a short Siege of that City had a surrender thereof from Colonel Nathaniel Fiennes the then Governour In the next month likewise was Dorchester in Dorset shire rendred to the Earl of Carnarvon and the Isle of Portland reduced to His Majesties obedience Hereupon Weymouth and Melcombe in com Dorset submitted These great successes encouraged the King to come before the City of Gloucester the most considerable Garrison in all that part of the Realm which so startled the Earls of Bedford and Holand and the Lord Paget that they came in to the King but not long after being less apprehensive of danger fell off again to their own party Soon after this Beverley in Yorkshire was taken by the Earl of Newcastle Biddiford◠Appleford and Barnstaple in com Devon were also rendred The City of Exeter was likewise taken by Prince Maurice and Sir William Waller one of their active Generals routed at Winchester Near Auburne also in Wiltshire a strong party of them was worsted by Prince Rupert But soon after this the Earl of Essex with his whole Army met his Majesty near Newbery in Berkshire where after much slaughter neither could boast of the victory though the Earls of Carnarvon and Sunderland with Lucius Viscount Falkland then one of the Kings principal Secretaries of State there lost their lives the noise whereof did not a little avail the Rebels it giving them much reputation with all their party In October the next month Dertmouth in Devon-shire was rendred to Prince Maurice and shortly after Hawarden-Castle in Flint-shire yielded to the King's obedience Arundell-Castle also in Sussex was rendred to the Lord Hopton Beeston castle in Cheshire taken Likewise Lapley house in Stafford-shire Grafton house in Northampton-shire and Crew house in 〈◊〉 shire Towards the end of Ianuary also Sir Thomas fairfax and Colonel Milton were routed by Prince Rupert at Drayton in Shropshire Hopton Castle in Shropshire and Wardour Castle in Wiltshire were likewise taken And upon the relief of Newark in Nottinghamshire besieg'd by Sir Iohn Meldrum a Scot with seven thousand men Gaynesborough Lincolne and Sleford all in Lincolnshire were quitted by the Rebels And Sturton-castle in Staffordshire about this time taken ¶ These being the most remarkable Actions on the King's part for this year 1643. I come now to observe what success the Rebels who were not idle had the same year In April therefore the Earl of Essex came before Reading in Berkshire and soon obtain'd it by surrender Colonel Feilding being then Governour thereof Siege being also laid to Wardour-castle in Wiltshire it was rendred So likewise was Monmouth in Monmouth shire And at Wakefield in Yorkshire His Majesties forces encountring the Rebels were worsted Soon after which Taunton and Bridgwater both in Somersetshire were also delivered up to them But notwithstanding all this they were not without their fears and therefore dispatcht the Lord Grey of Warke together with Mr. Henry Darley and Sir William Armine both trusty Members of their House of Commons by special order into Scotland earnestly to sollicite the dear Brethren of that Realm to their assistance Shortly after this they took Gaynesborough in Lincolnshire and attempted Basing house in Hantshire without effect But in September the Earl of Essex with more help from the zealous Londoners approaching Gloucester with a great strength caused the King to raise the siege which he had laid to that rebellious place In the same month also was Lynne in Norfolk yielded to the Earl of Manchester and shortly after the City of Lincoln taken by him forcibly Arundel-castle in Sussex likewise in Ianuary following yielded to Sir William Waller Whereupon being recruited with more forces he was constituted Major General of Kent Surry Sussex and Hantshire But that which proved to be instar omnium was that grand Invasion of the Scots which on the 22d of Ianuary crossed the River Tine with their numerous Army to the assistance of these Rebels as hath been already observed For at that time all the North of England beyond Trent excepting Hull in York shire and some few inconsiderable places being by the Marquess of Newcastle for so he had been lately made reduced to the King's obedience as also the West by Prince Rupert and Prince Maurice His Majesties Nephews excepting Poole and Lime in Dorset shire and Plymouth in Devonshire the Members sitting at Westminster became so startled that some of the leading-men prepared for quitting the Realm But this great ayd from
Majesties Garrisons In the same month of May Dudley castle in Staffordshire was delivered up to Sir William Brereton by Colonel Leveson and soon after Carnarvon Town and Castle to Major General Mitton and Major General Langhorn the Lord Byron being then Governour there Likewise Ludlow in Shropshire to Sir William Brereton and Borstall house near Oxford Oxford it self also soon followed Sir Thomas Glemham being then Governour As also Farringdon in Berkshire Sir George L'isle being Governour Next Lichfield close in Staffordshire Then the City of Worcester besieg'd by Colonel Whalley and Colonel Raynsborough Colonel Washington being Governour Also Wallingford castle Colonel Blague being Governour Gotherich Castle likewise in Hereford shire and Pendennis-castle in Cornwall whereof Iohn Arrundel of Trerise was Governour Conway Castle in Flintshire being storm'd by Major General Mitton In the next month after a long siege by General Fairfax Sir Trevor Williams and Colonel Langhorn Ragland castle in Monmouth shire was yielded to them And soon after the Isles and Castle of Scilly were given up As also the Castles of Denbigh and Holt Whereupon Generall Fairfax advanced triumphantly towards London And on the first of February next following the Scots having effectually received the whole Sum of two hundred thousand pounds for which they sold the King they marcht over Twede into Scotland His Majestie having thus cast himself upon the loyalty of those touching whose large professions and protestations to him I have already taken notice let us now behold the blessed Fruits of Presbytery by the subsequent Practises of these Zelots which doth amply make good what King Iames long since declared of that Sect viz. that no deserts could oblige nor Oaths or Promises bind them For notwithstanding those their solemn Oaths and Protestations they most perfidiously acted contrary to them hastning thereby that farther ruin which soon afterwards befel the Church of England and at length terminated in the wofull murther of their native Sovereign as is notoriously known to the World carrying on all this under the colour and veile of their Solemn League and Covenant In order whereunto the first thing observable is a plausible Letter directed to the Committee of Estates at that time residing with the Scotch Army wherein they tell them that their earnest desire being to keep a right understanding between the two Kigndomes did move them to acquaint them with that strange providence wherewith they were then surprised together with their carriage and desires thereupon and to endeavour to improve his Majesties being there to the best advantage for promoting the work of Vniformity for setling of Religion and Righteousness and attaining of Peace according to the League and Covenant and Treaty c. affirming that they had a Witness from Heaven and that there was nothing more in their desires than in all their resolutions and proceedings to adhere to the Covenant and Treaty ¶ What hopes this specious Letter might give his Majestie for promoting his earnest endeavours for such an happy peace as he desired is hard to say considering what relation it had to the Solemn League and Covenant but his former assurances in order to his coming to them as I have already observed being such as they were he became so confident thereupon as that shortly after he sent unto the two Houses at Westminster his xi th Message whereby because they had made so great a noyse of setling Religion That together with the Militia and the War of Ireland being the chief things insisted on in their former Propositions he recomended to them the advice therein of those Divines in both Kingdomes whom they had assembled at Westminster And for the Militia offred that he would be content to settle it as they themselves proposed in the Treaty at Uxbridge viz. that all persons who should be trusted therewith might be named by the two Houses of Parliament for the space of seven years and after that time to be regulated as should be agreed on by his Majestie and his two Houses of Parliament And touching Ireland that he would do whatsoever was possible for him to give full satisfaction to them And that if those his free offers would not serve then he desired that al such of their Propositions as were then by them agree'd on might be speedily sent to him he being resolved to comply with them in every thing that might conduce to the happiness of his subjects and removing all unhappy differences which had produced so many sad effects Farther offring that all his forces should be forthwith disbanded and Oxford with the remainder of his other Garrisons rendred into their hands upon honourable conditions and dismantled But to this gracious Message as to his former they turn'd a deaf ear there being then another Game to be play'd which was the getting of the King's person out of the Hands of the Scots suspecting as they had cause that those their dear Brethren would make no little advantage thereof Notwithstanding the Votes at Westminster that he should be disposed of as they should desire and direct Concerning which Votes at Westminster and debates of both Houses thereupon it will not be amiss here to take notice how they alledg'd that the Scottish Army in England was theirs id est under their pay Also that the King ought to be near to his Parliament whereby they might have recourse to him and obtain such things as should be most necessary for the Kingdomes Likewise that by Covenant they were sworn to preserve the Rights and Priviledges of Parliament but to detein the King from his Parliament was altogether inconsistent with the Covenant Of which Votes the Scots seem'd to take little notice but in stead thereof and for diversion amused the Members at Westminster with several Letters which they caused to be written to them one from the general assembly of the Kingdome of Scotland wherein they told them that their success against the Enemy id est the King's Forces did lay a strong obligation upon them to improve the power put into their Hands for the advancement of the Kingdome of Christ and bringing forth the head-stone of his House And therefore did earnestly intreat and beseech them in the Bowels of Christ to give unto him the glory due to his name by a timeous establishment of all his Ordinances in full integrity and power according to the Covenant c. Saying that the Searcher of Hearts knew how they desired to keep their Covenant c. concluding with their desires to the Parliament to endeavour all the ends of the Covenant The other to the Assembly of Divines sitting at Westminster wherein they expressed their Thanks for their constant endeavours and labours in the work of setting up the Ordinances of Christ desiring that they would go on in the sedulous promoting of that blessed work The third was to the Lord Mayor
falling off again as hath already been observed He became so strangely elated that nothing then to be done could give satisfaction to his ambitious and unlimited desires But here I shall also observe that notwithstanding the strong factions into which these men were then divided had begot a perfect hatred of each to other as the many printed pamphlets then spread abroad do sufficiently shew Nevertheless for the utter eradicating of the Religion by Law establish'd in the Church of England which themselves had at first 3. May 1641. solemnly protested to maintain about this time they all agree'd together in framing an Ordinance for the establishing of Presbytery containing a particular form and order of Church-government in their congregational Classical Provincial and National Assemblies In which the Lay Elders constituted at that time in all the Parishes throughout the City of London are expresly nominated with direction for the setling of all others throughout England and Wales and limitation of their powers unto the sharp and rigorous penalties whereof all conscientious and orthodox Protestants of the Church of England were to be subject but the Independent brood consisting of all sorts of Schismaticks and Sectaries under the notion of Godly-men and tender conscienced to be at liberty ¶ And now to proceed As I have already taken notice that a personal Treaty with the King was voted by the Members at Westminster I shall here observe that all things being prepared for the same it began at Newport in the Isle of Wight upon the 18th of September the chief persons permitted to attend his Majesty there being these the Duke of Richmond the Marquess of Hertford the Earl of Lindsey and Earl of Southampton Gentlemen of his Bedchamber the Bishops of London and Salisbury Dr. Sheldon Dr. Hamond Dr. Oldsworth Dr. Sanderson Dr. Turner and Dr. Heywood Chaplains Sir Thomas Gardner Sir Orlando Bridgman Sir Robert Holburne Mr. Gessrey Palmer Mr. Thomas Cooke and Mr. Iohn Vaughan Lawyers The Members at Westminster imploying these the Earls of Northumberland Salisbury Middlesex the Viscount Say the Lord Wenman Denzil Holles and William Pierpont Esquires Sir Henry Vane junior Sir Harbotle Grymston Mr. Samuel Brown Sir Iohn Potts Mr. Crew Serjeant Glyn and Mr. Bulkley These other Divines for the King being afterwards added viz. Dr. Iames Vsher Archbishop of Armagh in Ireland and Dr. Ferne And for the Parliament Mr. Stephen Marshal Mr. Richard Vines Mr. Lazarus Seaman and Mr. Ioseph Caryll But withall as it is now most evident to the world that there was never any real purpose on the part of the Grandees at Westminster that the Treaty formerly at Uxbridge should take any good effect so was there less expectation here the King being then their prisoner and all his forces come to nothing for though they then gave way to this Treaty they were at that very time contriving and framing the formality of his absolute destruction of which the symptoms were visible enough during the whole continuance of that Treaty by sundry Petitions to the Members at Westminster all declaming bitterly against it Which Petitions as 't is well known were first fram'd by the Grandees themselves and then sent amongst the people to be subscribed according to their usual practice In most whereof it was desired that all Delinquents without exception might be brought to condigne punishment one whereof concluding thus from Psalm 149. ver 6 7 8 and 9. Let the high prayses of God be in the mouths of his Saints and a twofold Sword in their Hands to execute vengeance upon the Heathen and punishment upon the people to bind their Kings with chains and their Nobles with fetters of iron to execute upon them the Iudgments written This Honour have all his Saints Besides it is farther to be observ'd that after the destruction of this Scottish-Army at Preston and the reducing of Colchester Cromwell went into Scotland where he not onely laid the plot with the Marquess of Argyle for the destruction of the King and extirpation of Monarchy but by his help in the contrivance of that unparalel'd murther agree'd in the formalities conducing thereto ¶ And now as to this Treaty in the Isle of Wight 't is sufficiently known that it was on His Majestie 's part totally and singly managed by himself against all those subtile persons above-mentioned the Houses at Westminster not permitting him to have any assistant therein either Divines or others Also that it was perform'd by him with so much judgment gravity meekness and curtesie as not onely much astonisht but made converts of some that had been his greatest Enemies and were then his Antagonists there Wherein to manifest his earnest desires for the peace of those distracted Realms he was contented to devest himself totally in effect of his own Regal power for life and to trust those insatiable men with the exercise thereof as is apparently to be seen by the particular Articles then assented to by him viz. 1. As to the Militia he consented thereto as 't was required by their Proposition 2. For Episcopacy though he could not consent to the utter abolishing thereof yet he offered that it might be regulated and reduced to the primative usage and so setled and continued in the Church And in order thereto that it might be enacted that the Bishops should not act without the Council and assistance of the Presbyters in the exercises of Ordination and Iurisdiction and therefore desired the consent of the Houses in the one that he might the more freely give his assent unto the other Offering to lessen the extent or multiply the number of the Diocesses as should be agreed upon by both Houses 3. As to Bishops lands that he could not consent to the alienation of them but offred what he had done before for satisfaction of the Purchasers and Contracters which was for the enjoyment of them for a certain time being therein seconded by the opinion of many Divines who differ in other things that the alienation of them would be no less than Sacriledge 4. That he would confirm their Ordinance for the calling and sitting of the Assembly of Divines 5. That he would confirm the form of Church-government presented to him with the Directory and repeal those Statutes which enjoyn'd the use of Common Prayer and all this for three years provided that a consultation should be had between the Assembly of Divines and twenty of His Majestie 's nomination added to them in the mean time for the farther setling of the Church at the end of those three years and that Himself and His might have the use of the Comâ—â—prayer But for the new Articles of Religion His Majesty haveing not had time sufficient as yet for consideration of so weighty matters as concern Faith and Doctrine desired that that part of the Proposition might for the present be omitted 6. That he would confirm the Ordinance for â—wordsâ— better observation of the Lord's day provided that
solemn Fast. in St. Margarets Church at Westminster four of the most zealous Lords being present thereat and of the House of Commons at least Twenty where their Pulpit Buffoon Hugh Peters Preacht to them of bringing the Children of Israel out of Aegyptian Bondage whereunto he Parallel'd the State of this Kingdom And the better to shew how they should be brought out of this Bondage having put his hands before his eyesâ— and laid his head on the Cushion thence rasing it up again after a while he told them that he had a Revelation how to do it which was by Extirpating of Monarchy both here and in all other places In order whereunto they removed the King to Windsor-Castle where it was concluded on by his Guards that all State and Ceremony towards him should thenceforth be forborn and his attendants lessened At the same time also it was first moved in the House of Commons that they should proceed Capitally with the King Whereupon Oliver Cromwell stood up and said that if any man moved this upon design he should think him the greatest Traytor in the World but since Providence and Necessity had cast them upon it he should pray God to bless their Councils though he was not provided on the sudden to give them Council But no long after he was for being a great Pretender to Enthusiasms and Revelations he told them that as the was praying for a Blessing from God on his undertaking to restore the King to his pristine Majesty his Tongue cleaved to the roof of his mouth that he could not speak one word more which he took as a return of Prayer and that God had rejected him from being King And to others he did impudently assert that it was lawful to circumvent a wicked man with deceit and fraud Whereunto the very next day Mr. Thomas Scott brought in the Ordinance for Tryal of the King which was then read and recommitted three several times and the names of the Commissioners consisting of some Lords some of the House of Commons some Citizens of London and some Officers of the Army added thereto Which Ordinance being soon agreed on and sent up to the House of Lords by the Lord Grey of Groby was by them rejected Whereupon the Commons fell to voting again and declared That all Members of that House and others apointed by order of that House or Ordinances of both Houses of Parliament to act in any Ordinance wherein the Lords were joyned should be impowred and enjoyned to sit and act execute in the said several Committees of themselves notwithstanding the House of Pâ—â—rs should not joyn with them therein Some of then being so fierce against the Lords for this their refusal as that they moved for an Impeachment to be framed against them for thus favouring the grand Delinquent of England And that they might not fall short in imitation of their Parent the Presbyterian which first laid the Foundation of all this mischief they brought upon the Stage such another Prophetess as the Brethren of Scotland produced in order to the carrying on their Blessed work in An. 1638. whereof I have then taken notice viz. a Godly Woman out of Hereford shire the News-book of that Week calls her a Virgin who coming to the General and Council of War at White-hall said she had a Revelation from God whereby she was inâ—ited to encourage them to go on in their designs Of which they made no small advantage approving thereof as most seasonable at that time and accordingly proceeded First Voting that the people were under God the Original of all just power Secondly That the Commons of England in Parliament Assembled being chosen by and representing the people were the supream power of the Nation and Thirdly that what soever is enacted or declared for Law by the House of Commons Assembled in Parliament hath the force of Law In pursuance of which monstrous Votes they fram'd a bloody Ordinance whereby they constituted these Persons whose names I have here inserted or any Twenty or more of them to be Judges for the Hearing Trying and Judging of the Kings Sacred Majesty which were thereby also constituted and called an High Court of Iustice. ¶ Thomas Lord Fairfax General of the Army * Oliver Cromwel Lieutenant General Henry Ireton Commissary General Philip Skipton Major General * Colonel Valentine Walton * Colonel Thomas Harrison * Colonel Edward Whalley * Colonel Thomas Pride * Colonel Isaac Evre * Colonel Richard Ingoldsby * Sir Henry Mildmay Kt. Sir Thomas Honywood Kt. * Thomas Lord Grey of Groby Philip Lord Lisle * William Visc. Castlemaine aliter Lord Munson * Sir Iohn Danvers Kt. * Sir Thomas Maleverer Bar. * Sir Iohn Bourchier Kt. * Sir Iames Harrington Kt. Sir William Brereton Bar. * Robert Wallop Esq * William Heveningham Esq * Isaac Pennington Alderman Thomas Atkins Alderman * Colonel Rowland Wilson Sir Peter wentworth Knight of the Bath * Colonel Henry Martin * Colonel William Puresey Colonel Godfrey Boswell Iohn Trenchard Esq * Colonel Mathew Tomlinson * Iohn Blakeston Esq * Gilbert Millington Esq * Miles Corbet Esq * Sir William Constable Kt. * Colonel Edward Ludlow Colonel Iohn Lambert * Colonel Iohn Hutchenson Sir Arthur Haselrigg Bar. * Sir Michael Livescy Bar. Richard Soloway Esq Humphery Soloway Esq * Colonel Robert Tichburne * Colonel Owen Roe Colonel Robert Manwaring * Colonel Robert Lilburne * Colonel Adrian Scrope * Colonel Richard Deane * Colonel Iohn Okey Colonel Robert Overton Colonel Iohn Harrison Colonel Iohn Desborough * Colonel William Goffe Colonel Robert Duckenfeild * Cornelius Holand Esq * Iohn Carue Esq Sir William Armine Kt. * Colonel Iohn Iones * Miles Corbet Esq * Francis Allen Esq Thomas Lister Esq Benjamin Weston Esq * Peregrine Pelkam Esq Iohn Gourdon Esq Francis Thorpe Serjeant at Law Ihon Nutt Esq Thomas Chaloner Esq Colonel Algernon Sidney * Sir Hardres Waller Kt. * Colonel Iohn Barkstedeâ— Iohn Anlaby Esq * Colonel Iohn Mooreâ— Richard Darley Esq * William Say Esq * Iohn Alured Esq Iohn Fagge Esq Iames Nelthorpe Esq Sir William Roberts Kt. Colonel Francis Lascels Colonel Alexander Rigby * Henry Smith Esq Edmund Wilde Esq Iames Chaloner Esq Iosias Barnes Esq Dennis Bond Esq * Humphrey Edwards Esq * Gregory Clement Esq Iohn Fray Esq * Thomas Wogan Esq * Sir Gregory Norton Kt. * Iohn Bradshaw Serjeant at Law * Colonel Edward Harvey Iohn Dove Esq * Colonel Iohn Venn Iohn Fouke Alderman of London * Thomas Scott * Thomas Andrews Alderman * William Cauley Esq Abraham Burrell Esq * Colonel Anthony Stapeley Roger Gratwick Esq * Iohn Downes Esq * Colonel Thomas Harton * Colonel Thomas Hamond * Colonel Geotge Fenwick Robert Nicholas Serjeant at Law * Colonel Iohn Hewson Robert Reynolds Esq * Iohn Lisle Esq * Nicholas Love Esq * Vâ—cent Potter Sir Gilbert Pickering Kt. Iohn Weaver Esq Iohn Lenthall Esq Sir Edward Bayton Kt. Iohn Corbet Esq Thomas Blount
that all Horses within the City of London and the Suburbs and five miles adjacent should be speedily prest for the service of their Army as also that all Horses in the Tower should be seized on and no Coaches suffered to be kept there except one for the Lieutenant And to puff up their General with such vain apprehensions as might hearten him to persist in that his high imployment in regard he was then somewhat popular they form'd a specious Declaration which they ordered to remain upon Record in the Books of both Houses of Parliament as a mark of Honour to the name and Family of the Earl of Essex for the good service he had done to the Common-wealth in the office of General by the hazard of his life in the battel of Kineton Likewise for a firmer union of their forces they made an Order in the name of both Houses that the Counties of York Lincoln Notingham Derby Stafford Chester Lancaster Northumberland Cumberland Westmorland and Duresme with the Town and County of Newcastle should associate themselves by raising Horse and Foot to suppress and subdue the Popish and malignant Party and that the Lord Fairfax should command in chief throughout those Counties But his Majesty coming safe to Oxford after a short stay there march'd towards London the noise whereof caused the Members at Westminster to bestir themselves for preventing his Majesties coming thither whereupon all the power they could raise was sent out to give him astop the Earl of Essex with part of his Army to Kingston upon Thames and the Lord Brooke's and Mr. Hamden's Regiments to Brainford where the Royalists fell so sharply on them that they took five hundred Prisoners and sunk some of their Ordinance intending to march forward on the next day But having advertisement that Essex had drawn his Forces from Kingston and joining with the London-Auxiliaries lay in his way at Turnham Greene he chose rather to make a safe retreat than hazard his Army by a second Battel and so by Reading came back to Oxford where he took up his Winter-Quarters making it his cheif Garrison The flame of war beginning thus to spread each part strove to possess themselves of what strong Towns and Castles they could as also to fortify such other places as might enable them to have command over the parts adjacent The gaining whereof and other Acts of Hostility on each part in places remote as also the most considerable transactions of the Members at Westminster who calling themselves the Parliament sate there with strong Guards to carry on this Grand Rebellion being not possibly capable of a perfect Narrative in punctual order of time to avoid confusion therefore I have thought it most proper to place what is most remarkable on the military part at the end of each years beginning with this of 1642 in which the war did commence To proceed therefore The Rebels by this time discerning the King to get ground partly by the increase of his Forces in sundry Counties and partly by undeceiving many well-meaning people who had been seasoned by divers Lecturing-Preachers and other corrupt Clergy-men with disloyal principles and now doubting the issue without farther help sent a Declaration and Invitation to the Scots for their assistance granting Letters of Mart to all Merchants that would set forth Ships to guard the Seas and to take all Shipping bringing Arms or other aid from forreign parts to assist the King and to detain the same as their lawful prize Furthermore as London and the Counties adjacent gave example to all other parts of the Realm in the first raising of this grand Rebellion so were they the first over whom their great Masters exercised their power Nor were the deluded people elsewhere who had likewise given the Reines into these men's hands for a few fair words long spared for upon the xxixth of November there issued out an Order from both Houses that Committees should be named throughout all Counties to take care for provisions of Victual for the Army raised by the Parliament as also for seizing on Dragoon-Horses and draught-Horses and for borrowing of Money or Plate to supply the Army upon the public Faith Which Committees had thereby power to send for and take such Provisions Money Plate and Horse as the owners did then neglect to bring in And having formerly order'd that the King 's and Queen's Revenue coming into the Exchequer should be detained and employ'd for the public service they seized on thirteen hundred Quarters of Corn which then were in the King's Stores Also for explanation of their former Ordinance touching the contribution of Horse Money and Plate upon the Propositions they order'd that the Refusers should be distrain'd and in default of Distresses to be found their persons to be imprison'd and their Families no longer to remain in London Westminster or the Counties adjacent Shortly after this likewise they framed more Ordinances of Association for divers other Counties constituting Commanders in chief of new forces to be levyed within those Associations beginning with Buckingham Bedford Rutland Northampton Leicester Derby Notingham and Huntington appointing the Lord Grey of Groby son to the Earl of Stanford Serjeant Major General there planting Garrisons in every Castle and great Town throughout all those parts The like Association for the Shires of Cambridge Norfolk Suffolk Hartford Essex part of the Isle of Ely and City of Norwich William Lord Grey of Warke being made Commander in Chief throughout all those Counties And to put the people in hope that this charge and trouble should not last long they gave out that his majesties Forces were utterly broken and shatter'd and read Letters in the House from their General that he would pursue the King with all vehemency Soon after this also they made an Ordinance for taxing all Malignants and such as had not contributed upon the Propositions for Money Horse and Plate according to their abilities that they should pay the Twenty-fifth part of their Estates Under which name of Malignants they brought in all that were worth any thing if within their reach But in this Ordinance it is to be observed that the Assessors were not to tax any Member of either House Neither could their oppressions at home suffice but they countenanc'd the seizing of a Ship call'd Santa Clara out of the Port of Santo Domingo in the King of Spain's Dominions laden with Plate Cochinele and other Merchandise of great value and by order of the House of Commons set up Bills upon the Exchange for sale thereof And that no part of the Realm might be free from their oppressions they constituted Committees in the Counties of Warwick Stafford and City of Coventry for associating of those Counties and planting of Garrisons there authorizing them to suppress and disarm Enemies and persons ill affected also for raising Horse Money Plate c. And soon after that
the King had the better but Prince Rupert having routed the one Wing of the Rebells Troops follow'd the Chase so far that the Foot being left open to the other were by the conduct of Cromwell put into a total confusion by which means Fairfax became master of the Field and regained Leicester within four days Whereupon he marched to the Relief of Taunton in Somersetshire then besieg'd by General Goring taking Highworth in Wiltshire in his passage To accompany these sad misfortunes Carlisle in Cumberland that great and strong Garison was delivered up to the Scots after two and forty weeks siege And General Goring having Intelligence of Fairfax his advance towards Taunton drew off and was worsted by him near Langport in Somersetshire After which nothing but loss and ruin every day ensued as will appear by these following instances which I have thought fit here briefly to enumerate Pontfract castle delivered to General Poyntz after three months siege that Garison thence marching to Newark Bridgwater taken by General Fairfax after his Victory at Langport Scarborough likewise after a long siege by Sir Matthew Boynton delivered up to him by Sr. Hugh Cholmley upon honourable conditions The City of Bath also within few days following was likewise rendred Soon after this the Scotish Army marching Southwards making miserable spoil in their passage took Canon Frome a Garison of the King 's in Herefordshire and then sate down before Hereford Where having lost many of their men they drew off on the second of September and returned Northwards Sherborne-castle also which had beed stoutly defended by Sir Lewes Dive was taken by storm Nunney-castle in Somersetshire thereupon yielding to Colonel Rainsborough Whithin few days ensuing General Fairfax therefore came before Bristol and on the tenth of September had it delivered up to him In the next month the King's forces at Rowton heath in Cheshire received a great defeat wherein the Lord Bernard Stuart lost his life Hereupon the Lord Digby with the remainder of the Horse was sent towards Scotland there to joyn with the Noble Marquess of Montrosse The Castle of Devises was soon after taken by Cromwell The Castles likewise of Raby in the Bishoprick Skipton and Sandall in Yorkshire were then also delivered up Basing house taken by Sir Hardres Waller and Colonel Mountagu and in it the Marquess of Winchester it being his chief seat Tiverton in Devonshire taken by Fairfax Sir Gilbert Talbot being then Governour there Hereupon though it was winter time the Rebels laid siege to the City of Exeter at a distance that being the chiefest place of strength in all the West About this time also Fairley-castle in Wiltshire and Lacock house were given up Likewise Chepstow castle in Monmouth shire and Berkley-castle in Glocester shire The Lord Digby also marching toward Scotland to joyn with Montrosse was defeated at Sherborne in Yorkshire by Colonel Copley and Colonel Lilburne whereupon he was constrain'd to flee into the Isle of Man and thence into Ireland Soon after this Bolton castle in Yorkshire yielded Likewise Beeston castle in Cheshire Shelford-house also in Notingham-shire was taken by storm Colonel Stanhope son to the Earl of Chesterfield being Governour of it and there slain Lathom house in Lancashire which had stoutly held out two years siege by the magnanimous Countess of Derby was then likewise rendred The City of Hereford was also surprized by Colonel Birch and Colonel Morgan by a Stratagem of a counterfeit Constable coming with Countrymen to break the Ice in the Trenches having an Ambuscado near at hand Wormleighton house in Warwickshire burnt Dertmouth storm'd and taken by General Fairfax Sir Hugh Pallord being then Governour there Belvoir castle yielded to Generall Poyntz Sir Gervase Lucas the Governour and his Officers being conveigh'd to Litchfield The City of Chester which had endured a long siege and thrice attempted to be reliev'd was by the Lord Byron the then Governour yielded upon Articles to Sir William Brereton who commanded in chief as Major general in those parts Whence he went to Litchfield close which also soon after rendred upon the like Articles In the same month of February Torrington in Devonshire was taken by storm Lanceston Saltash and Liskard all in Cornwall quitted Likewise Mount-Edgcombe and Foy. Whereupon the Prince with the Lord Culpeper and other persons of quality set sayle to the Isles of Scilley The Lord Hopton therefore discerning no hope of aid accepted of fair conditions and disbanded his Army St. Maws-castle being as a conclusion given up thereupon Whence with the Lord Wentworth he hasted into Scilley Hereupon Sir Iacob Astley created Lord Astley about two years before with whom being an old and expert souldier the remaining part of the King's foot forces were left marching to joyn with the Horse about Farringdon in Berkshire being set upon near Stow on the woulds in Gloucestershire by Raynsborough Fleetwood and Sir William Brereton was so much overpowered by their conjunct strength that he with all his men after a sharp dispute and some loss were made Prisoners this being the last encounter that the Royallists were able to make with those insolent Rebels Soon after which the Garison of Ashby de la Zouch in Leicester shire was delivered up by the valiant Lord Loughborough which closed up the military Actions for this present year CHAP. XX. I Shall now return to the Grandees at Westminster and take notice of the effects which these their great successes in the Camp did this year produce in their Counsels and further practices In the observation whereof I find that the Presbyterian party thereupon grew so highly elated that nothing less was by them Resolved on than the setting Iesus Christ on his Throne as their phrase was that is to say to make an absolute establishment of their Church Discipline As a preparatory whereto they passed another Ordinance for the publick use of their Directory with a Penalty upon such as should use the Common Prayer and forty shillings forfeiture upon every one each time officiating that did not use that Directory as also that all the Common-Prayer-Books should be carried in to the Committees of each County by them to be disposed of as the Parliament should direct The King therefore discerning the increase of his peoples calamities again endeavoured to remedy them by renewing his desires of Peace and to that end under his own Royal Hand wrote a Letter to the Speaker of their House of Peers desiring a safe-conduct for the Duke of Richmond and some others whom he purposed to send with Propositions to the Members at Westminster and to the Commissioners there from the Parliament of Scotland for the foundation of a happy and well grounded Peace Whereunto obtaining no Answer he added a second Importuning them earnestly to hearken to that
himself in a Chayr of State where he had great Thanks given him by the Speakers of both Houses Which being done a publick day of Thanksgiving was appointed for this happy restoration of them to their old Seats again Sir Thomas Fairfax voted Generalissimo of all the Forces and Forts throughout England and Wales and Constable of the Tower of London and the Common-Souldiers one month's gratuity besides their pay And on the next day following the whole Army marcht triumphantly through London with their Train of Artillery and soon after demolish'd the Lines of Communication environing that great City CHAP. XXV AND now that the Fugitive-members were thus brought again to the House the chief business was to make null and void all that was acted by those that sate in their absence But in debating thereof the Presbytereans held up most stoutly insisting with great courage on the validity of them Insomuch as the Speaker finding it difficult for the Fugitives to carry the Votes by strength of Reason or Number shew'd forth a Letter from the General of the Army accompanied with a Remonstrance full of high language and not without threats against those that sate whilst the two Speakers were with the Army calling them Pretended Members and laying to their charge in general Treason Treachery and breach of Trust and protesting that if they should presume to sit before they had cleared themselves that they did not give their assents to some certain Votes they should sit at their peril and that he would take them as Prisoners of War and try them at a Council of War Which Letter though it did not a little startle the Presbyterean-Members yet were they loath to leave the House having sate there so long as absolute Dictators In order therefore to their continuance within those walls it was earnestly moved by some of them that the Speaker should command a general meeting of the whole House upon the next day and declare that they should be secured from danger as also that no more than the ordinary Guards might then attend the House But these motions were violently opposed with shrewd menaces by the Independent-Members the Speaker also declyning to put any Question therein and adjourning till the morrow so that the Presbytereans were left to come again at their peril Which hazzard of their safety occasion'd a very thin House the next day many of that party absenting themselves and of those which came 't was observ'd that some tackt about to the other side and some sate mute At last a Committee was appointed to bring in an Ordinance of Accommodation as they called it but more properly the Ordinance of Null an Voide which damn'd all the Votes Orders and Ordinances passed in the House from the xxvjth of Iuly that the Apprentices forc't the Members then sitting to vote and do as they required untill the sixth of August that those Members which fled to the Army were brought in Triumph again to the House Which Ordinance within few days was passed And soon after that another wholsome one for establishing of well affected Ministers in sequestred Livings But though this Ordinance of Null and Voide was thus passed the Independent-party thought not themselves secure enough and therefore erected a Committee of Examinations to enquire into and examine who they were that had been active in procuring the City Petition and Engagement to be subscribed or instrumental in that force upon the House on the twenty sixth of Iuly before mentioned or in any other endeavour to raise forces Which Committee hunted so close after them that had been busy therein that Sir Iohn Maynard Knt. of the Bath a Member of the House of Commons Iames Earl of Suffolk Theophilus Earl of Lincoln Iames Earl of Middlesex Iohn Lord Hunsdon George Lord Berkley William Lord Maynard and Francis Lord Willoughby of Parham were all of them impâ—ached of High Treason in the name of the Commons of England for levying war against the King Parliament and Kingdome Sir Iohn Maynard being thereupon committed to the Tower and the Lords to the custody of the usher with the Black-rod And to the end that this now predominant-party might the more engage the Common people to joyn with them upon occasion Agitators were imploy'd into several Counties for getting Subscriptions to Petitions against Tythes Inclosures and Copy-hold-sines which were uncertain ¶ Being thus entring upon one of the last Scenes in this most woful Tragedy I must look back a little and from what hath been said summarily observe first that however specious and plausible the Protestations Vows and Declarations of these monstrous men have otherwise been their chief design originally was to destroy and extirpate Monarchy in all His Majestie 's Realms and Dominions Secondly that when by the assistance of the giddy-multitude deluded and captivated with many glorious promises they had got the sway of all into their Hands they most traiterously murthered the King in his politick capacity setting him totally aside as to Authority and Rule and inhumanely burying him alive by a severe and barbarous imprisonment most insolently tooke the Reynes of Government into their own usurping power Next that as Ambition and Avarice eagerly incited some Grandees of the faction to shoulder out the rest from sharing with them in the spoyl they had got though no less active than themselves in accomplishing the general ruine the like haughty and covetous desires prompted others to be no less solicitous for their own temporal advantage So that as the Reformation of miscarriages and corruptions in Government was at first cryed up by the Presbyterean-Brethren and nothing in sted thereof exercised but oppression and destruction So likewise under as fair and plausible pretences the power was soon wrested from that seeming Holy Generation by the more Seraphick-Saints of the Independent Tribe who captivating the Souldierie at last as the Presbytereans had done the people at first by their splended allurements with an imaginary Happiness got the King by that means into their own cruel Hands and then subjugating the City of London which had been both Mother and Nurse to that Imparallel'd Rebellion made the remainder of their Task the less difficult And as this grand work was originally begun by the Presbytereans under the Popular name of a Blessed-Parliament by which subtile Enchantment the vulgar were at first most cunningly abused and pursued to the utter subversion of the King 's regal power So was it carryed on by the Independent to the last as by and by shall be manifested untill it became thoroughly compleated in the horrid murther of his royal person towards the perpetration of which prodigious Fact I shall now briefly shew by what degrees and steps they did most audaciously proceed CHAP. XXVI HAving thus subjugated the City and purg'd the two Houses at Westminster as is already observed they then put on a Presbyterean-cloak for a while and
Parliament in case they were elected ¶ The next thing of Note that hapned was the Proclaiming of Prince Charles at Edenborough in Scotland to be King of Great Britain France and Ireland his Royal Father being thus destroy'd But 't is to be noted that this Proclamation ran thus Whom all the Subjects of his Kingdom are bound humbly to obey maintain and defend according to the National Covenant betwixt the Two Kingdoms with their Lives and Goods against all deadly And that before he should be admitted to the exercise of His Royal Power he was to give satisfaction to that Kingdom in those things that concern'd the security of Religion the Union betwixt the Kingdoms and the Good and Peace of that Kingdom according to the National Covenant and the Solemn League and Covenant And for Establishing the Dominion of these Bloody Regicides at Weâ—tminâ—â—er the Members there Sitting went on Vigorously First Voting the absolute abolition of the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy Next in devising and appointing A new Stamp for Coyne And by Erecting a Council of State consisting of Thirty Persons viz. the Earles of Densigh Mulgrave Pembroke Salisbury Lord Grey of Warke Lord General Fairfax Lord Grey of Groby Lord L'isle Son to the Earl of Leicester Lord Chief Justice Rolls Lord Chief Justice St. Iohn Lord Chief Baron Wylde Lord President Bradshaw Lord General Cromwell Major General Skippon Sir Gilbert Pickering Sir William Masham Sir Arthur Haselrig Sir Iames Harrington Sir Henry Vane Jun. Sir Iohn Davers Sir William Armyn Sir Henry Mildmay Sir William Constable Alderman Penington Alderman Wilson Bulstrode Whitlock Esq Henry Martin Esq Colonel Ludlow Anthony Stepeley Esq William Heveningham Esq Robert Wallop Esq Iohn Hutchinson Esq Dennis Bond Esq Alexander Popham Esq Valentine Walton Esq Thomas Scot Esq William Purefey Esq Iohn Iones Esq But the Lord Grey of Warke waving that employment Mr. Iohn L'isle of Hantshire Cornelius Holand and Luke Robinson were added to this Number who were called the Committee of Estates appointed by Parliament ¶ It is not unworthy of Observation that as the Scots and this unhappy Long Parliament at the beginning of their desperate Practises against the King did declare that their whole Proceedings then were according to the Fundamental Laws So these wicked Regicides after their Bloody Murther of the King in answer to an Embassy from the Dutch expressed that these their Proceedings against the King were consistent with the Fundamental Laws of this Nation of England which were best known to themselves Nor was the project for their new Church-Discipline less notable as may seem by this following Petition and Advice which was presented to the General of their Army and the Council of War by many Christians as they call'd themselves dispersed abroad throughout the County of Norfolk and City of Norwich in these words That your Petitioners acknowledge themselves unspeakably engaged to the God of Heaven and Earth for his great Mercy to us in giving you Hearts to offer your selves so willingly among the People in the late Great undertaking of the Nation against the Enemies of the Peace thereof and Blessing your Faithful endeavours with such Glorious and wonderful successes whereby as the Lord hath put great Honour upon you Crowning your Valour with Victory and making you the War-like Glory of the World so hath be no less put great Obligations upon you all to exalt him that hath exalted you and to lift up his Glory in the World where he hath given you a name so Great and Glorious c. Therefore our dayly Prayers shall be for your selves and your Noble Army that you may never stumble at the stumbling-stone nor take the honour to your selves that is due to Christ nor be Instrumental for setting up of a meer Natural and Worldly Government like that of Heathen Rome Athens c. To which end we humbly pray that your selves would enter into Serious and Grave consideration and debate the Particulars in the Papers here humbly offered to you and also present them to the Honourably Parliament that they may be improved so far as shall be found agreeable to the will and word of God Which done we doubt not but God shall have much Glory the Godly Party shall be comforted Natural men enjoying their Estates will be at rest also and much satisfied and this Common-wealth will be exalted to be both an Habitation of Iustice and Mountain of Holiness even such a People as God shall Bless An humble Advice concerning the Government of the Kingdom according to the former Platform or Model 1. That you would stir up Godly Ministers and People throughout the Kingdom to Associate or incorporate into Church-Societies and grant them your special Favour Provision and Protection so shall you be Saints Nursing Fathers 2. That you would please to satisfie the Godly-dissenting Brethren both of Presbytery and Independency by such ways and means as your Wisdoms shall think fit how both their Interests may meet herein that so they may concur with one heart in the work 3. That Sister-Churches over-see such Incorporations and Imbodyings that only such as be of approved Godliness may have the Right-hand of Fellowship given to them 4. That such Churches where more of them are thus Collected and imbodyed in any Division Circuit Province c. may choose and send out some Delegates Members and Officers to Meet in one Sessions Lesser-Parliament Presbytery or Assembly for ordering of all such affaires as there occur according to the word if appertaining alone to that division 5. That all such Churches and the Members thereof have voices in Elections of such as are to sit in General Assemblies or Church-Parliaments so often as occasion is and those Elected to Sit there as Christ's Officers and the Churches Representatives and to determine all things by the word as that Law which God will exalt alone and make honourable 6. That you take special care to send out and encourage Godly Preachers that may go into the rest of the Kingdom to Preach the Gospel that so when others are converted and the Son of God makes them Free they may enjoy the former Freedom with the rest of the Saints And in father order to the utter abolishing of Kingly Government they appointed all those Antick and most Venerable Regalia conserved in the Treasury at Westminster and chiefly made use of at the Magnificent Coronations of the Kings of the Realm and solemn Proceedings to Parliament And also the costly Hangings precious Jewels with other of the Kings Goods and rich Furniture for his several Princely Palaces to be sold. And within few days following caused the Heads of Iames Duke of Hamilton Henry Earl of Holand with that truly Noble Arthur Lord Capel to be cut off Touching whose actings against them having already made some brief mention I shall only take notice of their dealing with Duke Hamilton a little before his Execution which was that in order to his discovery
to carry on this great work under the specious Mask of Religion and pretended Revelations those standing him in such stead upon all his attempts as that there were not a few that really believ'd whatever he undertook could not easily miscarry Upon the Twentieth of April therefore attended with strong Guards he entred the Parliament-House with Fleetwood his great Confident commanding some few of his attendants to tarry without Where without moving his Hat or going to any Seat he first addressed his Speech to the Chief Justice St. Iohn telling him that he then came to do that which grieved him to the very Soul and what he had earnestly with Tears pray'd to God against Nay that he had rather be torn in pieces than do it But that there was a Necessity laid upon him therein in order to the Glory of God and the good of this Nation Whereunto St. Iohn answered that he knew not what he meant but did pray that what it was which must be done might have a happy Issue for the General Good Then Cromwel turning towards the Speaker told him how long under colour of Service to the Publick they had sate and acted there and that in stead thereof themselves and their Kindred Engrossing all places of great profit had upon their own Pride and Luxury consum'd the Wealth of the Land Which being said he gave a stamp with his Foot and bad them for shame be gone and give place to honester men Whereupon a Member standing up and modestly saying that it stood not with common Justice to cast so general an aspersion upon them all without any Proof he in wrath taking Sir Henry Vane Junior by the Cloak said thou art a Iugling Fellow and told Allen the Goldsmith that he had inricht himself by Cousening the State for which he should be call'd to account and commanded those of his Guard who at the signal of that stamp were entred the Door immediately to turn them out of the House Colonel Harrison accordingly pulling the Speaker out of his Chair It was observed that as they went out of the House he pointed at Harry Martin and Tom Challoner and said Is it fit that such Fellows as these should sit to Govern Men of vicious Lives the one a noted Whore-Master and the other a Drunkard Nay he boldly upbraided them all with selling the Cavaliers Estates by bundles and said they had kept no Faith with them This as it was one of his greatest Adventures so was it the most grateful to the People of all that ever he did it being no less than the quelling of that many-headed Monster which glutted with unmeasurable Rapine and Innocent Blood had been not a little dreadful to the greatest part of Europe Having therefore so happily remov'd this Block yet still keeping close the main end of his design under the shadow of ruling by a Civil Power after much pretended seeking of God he selected certain Persons to manage the same as a Council of State whose Names were as followeth 1. Himself as General of the Army 2. The Lord L'isle Son to the Earl of Leicester 3. Lieutenant General Fleetwood 4. Major General Lambert 5. Major General Harrison 6. Major General Desborow 7. Sir Gilbert Pickering Kt. 8. Sir Charles Wolfesley Bar. 9. Sir Anthony Ashley Couper Barronet 10. Sir Iames Hope of Scotland 11. Colonel Hewson of Ireland 12. Colonel Norton 13. Colonel Mountagu 14. Colonel Benet 15. Colonel Stapeley 16. Colonel Sydenham 17. Colonel Tomlinson 18. Colonel Iones 19. Alderman Tichburne 20. Mr. Strickland 21. Mr. Carey 22. Mr. Howard 23. Mr. Broughton 24. Mr. Laurence 25. Mr. Holister 26. Mr. Comptney 27. Mr. Major 28. Mr. St. Nicholas 29. Mr. Moyer 30. Mr. Williams of Wales And to the end that there might be the less suspition of his affecting the Rule with the advice of his Officers he made choise of no less than an hundred and four Godly-men unto whom he committed the whole sway of the Realm who were accordingly summon'd by a special Letter to each of them under his Hand Berks. Samuel Dunch Vincent Goddard Thomas Wood. Bedf. Nathaniel Taylor Edward Cater Buck. George Fleetwood George Baldwin Cambr. Iohn Sadler Thomas French Robert Castle Samuel Warner Chesh. Robert Duckenfeild Henry Birkinhead Cumb Northumb. Bishoprick of Durch Westmor Charles Howard Robert Fenwick Henry Dawson Henry Ogle Corâ—w Robert Benet Francis Langdon Anthony Rows Iohn Bowden Derb. Iervas Benet Nathaniel Barton Devon George Monke one of Lanc the Generals at Sea Iohn Carew Thomas Sanders Christopher Martin Iames Erisey Francis Rows Richard Sweet Dorset William Sydenham Iohn Bingham Essex Ioachim Mathews Henry Barington Iohn Brewster Christopher Earle Dudley Tempâ—er Glouc Iohn Crostes Wiliam Neast Robert Holmes South Richard Norton Richard major Iohn Hildesley Hertf. Henry Lawrence William Reeve Heref. Wroth Rogers Iohn Herring Hunt Edward Mountagu Stephen Phesant Kent Lord L'isle Thomas Blount William Kenrick William Cullen Andrew Broughton Lanc. William West Iohn Sawrey Robert Cunliss Leic. Henry Danvers Edward Smith Iohn Prat. Linc. Sir William Brownlow Richard Cust. Barnabas Bowtell Humphrey Walcott William Thompson Midd. Sir William Roberts Augustine Wingfeild Arthur Squib Monm Philip Jones North. Sir Gilbert Pickering Thomas Brooke Norf. Robert Iermy Tobias Freze Ralph Wilmer Henry King William Barton Nott. Iohn Odingsells Edward Clud Oxon. Sir Charles Wolseley Bt. William Draper Dr. Ionathan Godard Rutl. Edward Horseman Salop. William Boterel Thomas Baker Staff George Bellor Iohn Chetwood Suff. Jacob Caley Francis Brewster Robert Dunkon John Clerke Edward Plumsted Somer Robert Blake another of the Generals at Sea John Pyne Dennis Hollyster Henry Henley Surrey Samuel Highland Laurence March Suff. Anthony Stapeley William Spence Nathaniel Studdey Warr. John St. Nicholas Richard Lucie Wilts Sir Anth. Ashley Couper Baronet Nicholas Greene. Thomas Eyre Wigorn. Richard Salway John James Yorksh. George Lord Evre Walter Strickland Francis Lascells John Anlaby Thomas Dickenson Thomas St. Nicholas Roger Cotes Edward Gill. Lond. Robert Tichburne John Ireton Samuel Moyer John Langley John Stone Henry Barton Prais-god Barebone Wales Bushey Mansell James Philips John Williams Hugh Courtney Richard Price John Browne Scotl. Sir James Hope Alexander Bredy John Swinton William Lockart Alexander Jeffreys Ireland Sir Robert King Colonel Iohn Hewson Col. Henry Cromwel Colonel Iohn Clerke Daniel Hutchenson Vincent Gookin Afterwards these following were Elected into them Lord General Cromwel Major General Lambert Major General Harrison Major General Desborough Colonel Matthew Tomlinson Of these many were Illiterate and of mean condition divers Fanatick Sectaries and of that kind the most busie and mischievous yet here and there mixt with confiding men and such whose Interest was firmly trusted with Cromwels Being thus chosen and sent for they first met together in the Council-Chamber at White-Hall Whence after a Grave Speech made to them by Cromwel expressing that he had thus called them together to consult of the great affaires of these Three Kingdoms they adjourned themselves to the
Iohn Lisle Lords Commissioners of the Great Seal Henry Lawrence Lord President of his Privy-Council Charles Fleetwood his Son in Law Robert Earl of Warwick Edmund Earl of Mulgrave Edward Earl of Manchester William Viscount Say and Sele Iohn Cleypole his other Son in Law and Master of his Horse Philip Lord Lisle eldest Son to the Earl of Leicester Charles Howard of Waworth Castle Philip Lord Wharton Thomas Lord Fauconbridg Iohn Desborough Edw. Montagu Admirals 〈◊〉 Sea George Lord Eure. Bulstrod Whitlock Sir Gilbert Pickering Kt. Collonel William Sydenham Sir Charles Wolfesley Baronet Major General Skippon Strickland Collonel Philip Iones Richard Hampden Sir William Strickland Francis Rous Esq Iohn Fiennes Esq Sir Francis Russell Baronet Sir Thomas Honywood Kt. Sir Arthur Haselrigg Baronet Sir Iohn Hobart Sir Richard Onslow Kt. Sir Gilbert Gerard. Sir William Roberts Kt. Iohn Glyn his Chief Justice of the Upper-Bench Oliver St. Iohn his Chief Justice of the Common-Pleas William Pierpont Esq Iohn Iones Esq Iohn Crew Esq Alexander Popham Esq Sir Christoph. Pack Alderman Sir Rob. Tichburne Alderman Made Kts. by Cromwel Edward Whalley one of his Major Generals Sir 〈…〉 but 〈◊〉 sold Thimbles and Bodkins Sir George Fleetwood another of his Knights Sir Thomas Pryde another of his Knights formerly a Dray-man Collonel Richard Ingoldesby Sir Iohn Heuson another of his Knights formerly a Cobler Iames Berrey one of his Major Generals formerly Clerk to a Forge Collonel William Goffe Thomas Cooper Edmund Thomas George Monke then Commander in Chief of his Forces in Scotland David Earl of Cassils in Scotland Sir William Lockart another of his Knights Sir Archib Iohnston a Scotchman William Steele his Lord Chancelour of Ireland The Lord Broghil Brother to the Earl of Corke in Ireland Sir Matthew Tomlinson another of his Knights The Sitting of which House began upon the twentieth of Ianuary at which time likewise those of the Commons who had formerly declined to sign the Recognition were freely admitted But so much were those new Lords despised and scorned by the Honse of Commons that the Protector finding no advantage by their Sitting Dissolved that his Second Parliament Which was not more slow in complying with his advancement than the Royallists were forward in their contrivances for pulling him down But so great was his vigilancy and no less his cost whereby he had allured some Birds of that Feather that the Consultations of his Adversaries were no sooner had than apparently discovered so that when ever he pleased he could take them in his Net as he always did when he thought that examples of severity might be for his advantage It being therefore once more expedient to renew those terrors to the people he caused his bloody Theatre called the High-Court of Iustice to be again erected in Westminster-Hall where for the more formalities sake the persons whom he did design for destruction were brought the one Dr. Iohn Heuit a Reverend Divine the other Sir Henry Slingsby Kt. a Yorkshire Gentleman of great Loyalty and Valour who being charged with High Treason against his Protectorship and stoutly denying the Authority of that Tribunal had Sentence of death soon passed upon them which they did accordingly suffer with great magnanimity though there was no little endeavour used for to save their lives his Daughter Claypole whose interest otherwise with him was beyond expression solliciting for the Doctor with all earnestness that could be But it concerning him at that time so much in point of Policy to sacrifice some for a terror to others neither her incessant Supplication nor Tears could prevail which brought upon her such excessive grief of mind that falling into a sharp fit of sickness wherein crying out against him for Dr. Heuits blood she dyed with the most bitter torments imaginable Which death of hers was the fore-runner to that of this wicked Tyrant for soon after a deep Melancholy seized closely upon him in which the guilt of so much innocent blood as he had spilt might perhaps somewhat touch him But without doubt that which stuck nearest to him was his real consideration that he could never ascend unto such an height of Sovereignty as his ambitious desires had long gaped after For he plainly saw that the Anabaptists and Fifth-Monarchy men whom in order to the destruction of his lawful Sovereign he had so much cherisht then were and were ever like to be as thorns in his sides and blocks in his way thereto And which is more that not only Fleetwood his Son in Law whom privately he had designed to be his Successor in the Government was an especial friend and favourer of those desperate Fanatics but that Desborough Sir Gilbert Pickering Collonel Sydenham and many other of his Council were underhand well-wishers to Lambert and his party who were known enemies to all Monarchick Rule and consequently to that wherein he had so long aimed to be setled Which sorrows and perplexities of his restless mind meeting with some Natural infirmities of his Body struck him into a sharp and Feaverish distemper whereat his Physicians expressing their thoughts he told them that if they supposed him in a dying condition they were utterly mistaken forasmuch as he had been comforted with Revelations to the contrary Nay he was farther so transported with those vain Enthusiasms and had such brain-sick persons about him even those of his Chaplains who were equally possest with such giddy-headed conceipts that they foolishly dreamed and fancyed as much and told it in publick that having sought God by Prayer for the prolongation of his life they received such assurances of his grant to their Petitions that they not only gave out that he effectually recovered but kept a solemn Thanksgiving for the same at Hampton-Court where he then lay Which strange and bold confidence caused forthwith his removal from thence to White-Hall where he had not been from that time many days but his Physician allarm'd them with his near approaching death Which so awakened the best of his Friends that they soon fell to enquiry whom he intended for his Successor But so little sense had he then of that question that he made them an answer no whit to the purpose Whereupon they askt him whether it was not his Son Richard to which he made them some signs of assent But farther enquiring of his last Will and Testament whereby they presumed that he had nominated his Successor he directed them to his Closet and other places for search but all to no purpose for nothing could be found In which discomposure departing this life upon the third of September to the end that the Government might not fall to the ground some few of the Council giving out that Richard was according to the Instrument the Person declared they immediately caused him to be Proclaimed Protector Having thus traced this Monster to his death which happened on the same day of the month whereon he had been twice wonderfully victorious
nineteenth of December giving a Commission for their Adjournment till the eighth of February following the house of Commons made a Protestation wherein they declared for sundry Priviledges of which his Majesty in a Speech at the Council-Table upon the thirtieth of that month took notice that it was unduly gained late at night when not a third part of the House was present and penned in such ambiguous and general words as might serve for future times to invade most of the Rights and Prerogatives annexed to the Imperial Crown And discerning that some Parliament men who had a great influence upon the House rather hinder'd that good progress which he expected they would have made towards the recovery of the Palatinate then further'd the giving of money in order thereto did by unanimous consent of his whole Council dissolve that Parliament by Proclamation upon the sixth of Ianuary following And seeing his hopes of raising moneys by Parliament to be thus frustrate they first endeavoured the restitution of the Palatinate by all good means of Treaty both with the Emperour and King of Spain Which not succeeding he caused Letters to be written by the Lords of the Council to the Justices of the Courts at Westminster and likewise to the Sheriffs of the several Counties and Justices of Peace throughout England as also to the Mayors and Bayliffs of Towns-Corporate to raise moneys by a Benevolent contribution for recovery thereof by force yet still pursued the Spanish match in hope to gain it thereby But after many subtile delays made by the Spaniard that match being not like to take effect His Majesty sent the Lord Kensington into France to try whether a match might there speed which was well accepted Whereupon the King call'd another Parliament which began 19 Febr. 1623. At which time he acquainted them with the ill success of that dilatory Treaty in order to the match with Spain and desired their advice on the behalf of his Son the Count-Palatine and his Children In answer to which they signified that the said Treaty both for the Marriage and the Palatinate could not longer be continued with the honour of his Majesty the safety of his People welfare of his Children and Posterity and assurance of his antient Allies and Confederates Whereunto the King replyed that he should be loath without necessity to imbroil himself in war And manifesting to them his wants for the support of a war desired their advice offering that in case he took a resolution by such their advice to enter into a war they themselves by their own Deputies should have the disposal of the moneys Hereupon the Parliament tendred three Subsidies and three Fifteens to break off both the Treaties viz. that of the match with Spain and that concerning the Palatinate desiring his Majesty that he would be confidently assured they would never fail in a Parliamentary-way to assist him in so royal a design But the King esteeming that too little demanded five Subsidies and two Fifteeens for every Subsidy towards the support of that war and one Subsidy and two Fifteens yearly till his debts were pay'd Nevertheless told them that he would be content to quit that demand for his own debts in case they gave six Subsidies and twelve Fifteens for the war declaring his resolution to dissolve the Treaties whereupon Bonefires were made in London and the Bells rang for joy And farther told them that he did assure himself they would make good what they had said and that what they had advised him unto they would assist him in with their Wisdom and Council as also with Forces if need required Shortly after which Count Mansfeild arriving in England twelve thousand Foot with two hundred Horse were raised to go under his Command for recovery of the Palatinate and in August following the match with France was concluded But this hopeful Army under Count Mansfeild consisting of twelve Regiments was by tedious stay on Ship-board so infected with the Pestilence that scarce a third part thereof came safe to Land a third part likewise mouldring away so that the design came to nothing And upon the seven and twentieth of March following King Iames departed this life Unto whom King Charles the first succeeded who resolving to pursue the recovery of the Palatinate upon the grounds of those great promises so made by the Parliament to his Father did in the beginning of May next ensuing issue out Warrants for the levying of Souldiers to be imploy'd in that Expedition whereof eight thousand to rendezvouz at Plymouth one thousand at Hull to be transported into the Netherlands for the service of the United Provinces and two thousand returned thence for his Majesties present service And having marryed a Daughter of France who arrived at London upon the sixteenth of Iune he began his Parliament at Westminster within two days following Where in his Speech to both Houses he put them in mind how they had engaged his Father in the war for the Palatinate earnestly pressing their speedy assistance And the Lord Keeper added that the principal cause of calling that Parliament besides the beholding his Subjects faces was to mind them of the great Engagement for the recovery of the Palatinate imposed on his Majesty by the King his Father and by themselves who thereupon brake off the two Treaties with Spain as also to let them understand that the Subsidies granted by the preceding Parliament with much more of the King 's own Revenue were already spent in the following Treaties and Alliances upon the Armies sent into the Low-Countries and in repairing of the Forts with the Fortifying of Ireland all which did meet in one center the Palatinate whereof the Account was ready Hereupon the Houses presenting the King with two Subsidies the Lord Conway then one of the Secretaries of State signified his Majesties gracious acceptance thereof yet told them that the necessity of the present affairs were not therein satisfied and therefore required their farther Councils Reminding them that the late King was provoked beyond his nature to undertake a war for recovery of his Childrens antient Patrimony the charges whereof did appear by computation to amount unto seven hundred thousand Pounds a year viz. in supporting the Netherlands in preventing the Emperour's design of concluding with the Princes of Germany for utter excluding the Palsgrave and levying an Army under Count Mansfeild Farther representing to them that the Kings of Denmark and Sweden and Princes of Germany had levyed another That France Savoy and Venice joyn'd together for a war of diversion and that to uphold the Netherlands the charges of Mansfeild's and Denmark's Army must yet continue But the Plague increasing sore in London occasion'd some delay in their Proceedings by an Adjournment to Oxford at which place they met the first of August following Where on the fourth of that month his Majesty in a
speech to both Houses did again put them in mind of their engaging his Father in that war for recovery of the Palatinate upon promise of their assistance in a Parliamentary-way and that they themselves then appointed a Council of war and Treasurers He also acquainted them with the expence of the three Subsidies and three Fifteens then given And further expressed that he had thus reassembled them upon the death of his royal Father to receive their farther advice and aid for proceeding in that wherein by their Councils his Father was engaged as also that they had granted unto him two Subsidies then ungathered which were far short of setting forth the Navy at that time preparing And the Lord Conway and Secretary Cook did then more particularly declare unto the House of Commons the state of Affairs as they at that time stood manifesting that much more then the two Subsidies already given though not paid had been disbursed Moreover that the Fleet was then at Sea hastening to their Rendezvouz the Army at Plymouth expecting their Commanders his Majesties Honour Religion and the Kingdoms safety engaged That the King had certain advice of his Enemies intentions to infest his dominions in Ireland and the English Coasts and of their increase of Shipping in all parts as also that the present charge of his Army and Navy did amount to above four hundred thousand Pounds The Lord Treasurer likewise representing to them the late Kings debts Viz. To the City of London 120000l besides Interest For Denmark and the Palatinate 150000l For his Wardrobe 40000 l. All which did then lye upon his Majesty And that his then Majesty was indebted to the City of London 20000l That he had laid out upon his Navy 20000 l. For Count Mansfeild 20000l For Mourning and his Father's Funeral Expences 42000 l. For Expences concerning the Queen 40000 l. And that the pay of the Navy during the time intended for that present Expedition with the setting forth thereof would amount to 300000 l. But the Commons instead of that calm and temperate Consideration of the present Exigencies which his Majesty expected fell into very high debates and alledg'd that the Treasure was misimploy'd that evil Councils guided the King's designs that his Necessities grew by improvidence that they had need to petition the King for a straight hand and better Council to manage his affairs and that though a former Parliament did engage the King in a war yet if things were managed by contrary designs and the Treasure misimploy'd that Parliament was not bound by another Parliament to be carried blindfold in designs not guided by second Councils Adding that it was not usual to grant Subsidies upon Subsidies in one Parliament and no grievance redressed Notwithstanding which objections it was earnestly pressed by some Members of the House that two Subsidies and two Fifteens might be given his Majesties Honour and the Necessity of Affairs requiring it as it then appeared out of Considerations which had been frequently represented But these motives little avail'd for instead of hearkening thereto the Commons then publish'd a plausible Declaration wherein they solemnly protested and vowed before God and the world with one Heart and Voice that they were all resolv'd and did thereby declare that they would ever continue most loyal and obedient Subjects to their most gracious Sovereign Lord King Charles and that they would be ready in convenient time and in a Parliamentary-way freely and dutifully to do their utmost endeavours to discover and reform the Abuses and Grievances of the Realm and State and in like sort to afford all necessary Supply to his most excellent Majesty upon his present and all other his just Occasions and Designs The King therefore plainly perceiving that the House did not incline to any Supply and that in their debates they reflected upon some great persons near unto him dissolved that Parliament upon the twelfth of August Which done he resolved that the Fleet should speedily put to Sea and entred forthwith into a League with the United Provinces against the Emperour and King of Spain for restoring of the Liberties of Germany But being in great and present Want of moneys he issued out Letters under his Privy-Seal for borrowing to supply those Necessities and summon'd another Parliament to meet upon the sixth of February ensuing which was four days after his solemn Coronation Soon after the sitting of which Parliament the Earl of Pembroke at a Conference of both Houses represented how the affairs of Christendome stood before the breach of the Treaties with Spain and how at that present as also the condition of the Palatinate and likewise the King of Denmark's engagement in the quarrel with the forwardness of the Swedes and contract with the Hollander and that the Fruits of all these would be lost unless a speedy Supply were resolved on But notwithstanding all this the Commons still delay'd the giving of any Supply which occasion'd the King by a Letter to the Speaker to press them again thereunto and to remind them of their promises withall assuring them that he would willingly apply fit and seasonable remedies to such just Grievances as they should present unto him in a dutiful and mannerly way without throwing an ill odour upon the present Government or upon the Government of his Father Unto which Letter they made a specious general answer intimateing that they really intended him Supply and accordingly voted three Subsidies and three Fifteens but gave them not Not long after this His Majesty by the mouth of the Lord Keeper took notice to the House of Commons of a seditious expression made by Mr. Clement Coke one of their members as also of Dr. Turner's unparliamentary carriage in reference to the Duke of Buckingham likewise of suffering his Council of State to be censured and traduced in their House by persons whose Years and Education could not judge of things that forreign business had been entertain'd in the House to the hindrance and disadvantage of his Majesties Negotiations yea that upon the first day of his Inauguration they suffered his Council Governours and Servants to be parallel'd with the times of most Exception that their Committees had also presumed to examine the Letters of his Secretaries of State nay his Majesties own Letters and sent a general Warrant to his Signet Office commanding his Officers there not only to produce and shew the Records but their Books and private Notes which they made for his Majesties service Next he told them that they had been made acquainted with the greatness of his Majesties affairs both at home and abroad with the strong preparations of the Enemy with the Importance of upholding his Allies strengthening and securing both England and Ireland besides the encountring and annoying the Enemy by a powerful Fleet at Sea and the charge of all And that this being calculated unto them they had professed unto his Majesty by the
the same subject which under colour of a desire to search after his death for some Writings in his Study were by certain Clergy-men who stood disaffected to the Discipline of the Church unhappily lurch'd away they did at length gain those very Books into their hands and not long after the beginning of this late unparallel'd Rebellion for the better accomplishing their long studyed ends most shamefully corrupted them in sundry places omitting divers passages which were unsutable to their purposes and instead thereof inserting what they thought might give countenance to their present evil practises amongst which was this in terminis that though the King were singulis major yet he was universis minor and having so done caus'd them to be publish'd in Print By which fallacy divers well meaning people were miserably captivated and drawn to their Party And at length were not ashamed in that Treaty which they had with his Majesty in the Isle of Wight to vouch the authority of this venerable man in derogation of his Supremacy and to place the Soveraign power in the People that great Antimonarchist William late Vicount Say and Sele being the person who boldly urged it Whereunto the good King answered that though those three Books were not allowed to be Mr. Hookers yet he would admit them so to be and consent to what his Lordship endeavoured to prove out of them in case he would assent to the judgment of Mr. Hooker declared in the other five Books which were unquestionably His. But as to these their indirect dealings in thus corrupting the works of that excellent man whose memory for his profound learning singular piety and most exemplary life will be ever precious to succeeding ages and his necessary vindication therein I shall for more full satisfaction to my Reader refer him to that seasonable Historical discourse lately compiled and published with great judgment and integrity by that much deserving person Mr. Isaac Walton containing a perfect Narrative of the life and death of this right worthy person Of which I hold it necessary that special notice should be taken by reason that since the happy Restauration of our present Soveraign K. Charles II. Dr. Gawden then Bishop of Exeter upon the reprinting those five genuine Books of Mr. Hooker together with the other pretended three taking upon him to write a Preface to the whole and therein to give an account of Mr. Hooker's life hath not only with great confidence used divers Arguments to satisfie the world that those three Books were penn'd by Mr. Hooker notwithstanding those poysonous assertions against the Regal power which are to be found therein but much misreported him in the Narrative of his life representing him to have been a single man with many other gross mistakes as whoso compares it with Mr. Walton's History of him may easily see Moreover well knowing that the City of London in respect of its Riches and Populousness must be the principal stage for this Tragic-Action there was no small care taken for fitting all places of Authority therein especially the Common-Council with such active men as might advance this blessed work Wherein having made a fair and succesful progress but discerning that the Sword must at length be made use of they then began to frequent the Artillery-yard and to be diligent Practisers of military Discipline in which they grew in a short time so great Proficients that most of the cheif Officers in that School were men of that stamp and got into their hands the best and choicest Arms. And that they might make the more secure progress in this their long studyed design they laid the Scene at first in Scotland the Subjects of that Realm being most tainted with Presbytery so that in case this their contrivance should speed there they might the more boldly adventure upon the like here The first thing therefore that was made use of towards their Master-piece in Scotland was an exception or rather cavil by divers eminent persons in that Kingdom at his Majesties Revocation of such things as had been passed away in prejudice of that Crown especially by some of his Progenitors in their minorities though not without example This being advised by those that were then his Majesties Privy-Councellers and Officers of State in that Realm whose late Actions have sufficiently manifested what effect they desired it should produce did accordingly occasion much repining by divers principal persons who thereupon infused into his Subjects a distaste of his Government And though the King was pleased to wave his interest therein and to remit as well the Equity as rigour of the Laws in that point the Male-contents would not be satisfyed but still endeavoured to work a disaffection in the people thereto And whereas his Majesty out of his pious care of the Clergy who had been much opprest by the Laity that pay'd Tythes being pleased to grant out Commissions in their behalf had so good issue therein as that both Parties were abundantly satisfyed the maintenance of the Clergy being thereby improv'd and the Laity freed from a dangerous dependance upon Subjects yet the Nobility and Lay-Patrons fretting privately for being rob'd as they conceiv'd of the dependance of the Clergy and Laity bent their envy against the Bishops under pretence that they were the principal causers thereof To quiet therefore these discontents in the year 1633 his Majesty made a progress into Scotland and was there crowned having not been personally there till then since the death of his Royal Father at which time he also held a Parliament in that Realm wherein great suggestions were made of fears that dangerous Innovations in Religion would be attempted as also instead of acceptance of an Act for Ratification of all other Acts concerning the Religion professed and established it was dissented to by divers of the after-chiefest Covenanters And no sooner was he returned back into England but that infinite Libels were disperst abroad to impoyson the People with his Majesties proceedings at that Parliament Of which Libellers amongst others the Lord Balmerino was found guilty by his Peers and accordingly should have receiv'd sentence of death for it nevertheless through his Majesties goodness was not only pardoned but enlarg'd and afterwards became an eminent Covenanter Which Insolency of the Scots did not a little animate and encourage the Puritan-faction here who loudly declaimed against the Discipline of the Church as it then by Law stood establish'd and to beget a greater contempt thereof in the generality of the people represented it to be superstitious and like to usher in Popery dispersing many scandalous seditious and libellous Pamphlets to that purpose infusing likewise into them strange apprehensions that their Liberty and Property were in no little danger and the better to give colour to their pretended fears of these approaching Evils they took ready hold of this following occasion The Soveraignty of the Brittish-Seas by antient right justly appertaining to the Crown
of England having not only been invaded by the Dutch but their bold usupation therein openly justifyed by certain public Writings the King with the advice of his Council-learned did about the same time issue out certain Writs directed as well to all the Inland Counties as to the respective Port-Towns according to the example of his Royal Progenitors to set out a certain number of Ships furnish'd with Mariners Amunition Victual and all other necessaries for defence of the Realm By which means he did not only assert and recover that dominion on the Sea which really belong'd to this Kingdom but much improved Trade and Commerce whereby the generality of his Subjects were not a little enrich'd But this just and rational practise some of the malevolent Members of his former Parliaments and others of that stamp under pretence of standing up for the Rights and Properties of the Subjects did stubbornly oppose though his Majesty had the clear and unanimous opinion of all the grave and learned Judges of his Courts in Westminster-Hall under their hands to justify those his Proceedings Nevertheless waving any arbitrary power he freely gave leave that the Case should be solemnly debated in the Exchequer-Chamber Which being publikly done after divers solid Arguments thereon no less then ten of those twelve Judges fully declared their opinion for the Legality thereof Sr. George Crook and Sr. Richard Hulton only dissenting though they had formerly subscribed thereto This as to the Civil Liberties and what as hath been before observed of the great noise made every where touching the fear of Popery was it whereof not only the factious people here took great advantage but those of that leven in Scotland who thereupon began to set on foot a contrivance whereby they might have the colour of Religion* to help on their work Whereunto the rise they took was a pretended apprehension that the Liturgy sent to them in an 1637 was a meer Popish Service-book and purposely design'd to introduce the Romish worship into both Kingdoms From the ground of which seeming jealousies they fell foul upon the Bishops under colour that they were the framers thereof and the chief Instruments for obtruding it upon them To clear them therefore of this most impious scandal I shall here breifly represent to the world what that so much defam'd Liturgy was and on what occasion it was sent into that Realm King Iames after he came to enjoy the Crown of England well observing the Decency and Uniformity of God's worship here and the Deformity thereof in his own native Kingdom where no set or public form of Prayer was used but oftimes seditious expressions girding at Sovereignty and Authority and stuft with false Reports upon his Progress into Scotland an 1616 an Assembly being then held at Aberdene he proposed to that Convention a public Liturgy to be used in that Realm Which pious motion being then and there well approved of a Liturgy was accordingly framed and in all points properly fitted for that Kirk and after his return into England convey'd to him where it was viewed by some of his Scottish Subjects yet not sent thither whilst that King lived Being thus composed his Son and Successor K. Charles after a review thereof finding it in substance the same with the English Liturgy which his Majesty in point of prudence declin'd to recommend unto them lest they might cavil thereat under colour that it would be look'd upon as a badge of Dependency upon the Church of England then sent it to the Lords of the Privy-Council of that Realm by their advice to be publicly read without the least suspition of any dislike thereof in regard it did so little differ from the English Liturgy wherewith his Scottish Subjects of all sorts were well acquainted by reason of their frequent resort to his Majesties own Chappel and many other Churches in this Realm where it was constantly used as also in his Royal Chappel at Haly-Rood-House whereunto the Nobility Bishops Judges Gentry and people of all degrees did usually come Cathedrals of Scotland and University of St. Andrews and not only so but commended in the Sermons of some of their after principal Covenanters especially Mr. Rollock But Rebellion being the close and underhand design of these great Pretenders to Godliness whereby in case they did prosper they might swallow up the Possessions of the Crown and Church with the Estates of all his Majesties loyal Subjects the contrivance was so laid that the Common people should be possess'd with an opinion that the King having married a Popish Queen did resolve to introduce the Romish Religion first into Scotland and afterwards into the rest of his dominions and to that end first to settle this Liturgy there it being privately whispered that it was the very Mass translated into their Language Which so far incensed the vulgar that upon the reading thereof in the great Church at Edenborough upon the 23 d of Iuly the same year 1637 they made such a tumult as that the Dean who read it and many other persons of note had much adoe to escape thence with their lives Which uproar was so barbarous that the day following the Lords of the Council there set forth a Proclamation* in dislike thereof And the Magistrates of Edenborough to make up the Pageant sent Letters into England to the Archbishop of Canterbury desiring him to recommend to the King's Majesty their zeal and forwardness for setling the peaceable practise thereof Neither would any man of note then seem to own that Tumult but attributed it to the Rogues and base multitude except the zealous Kirkmen who cryed it up in their Pulpits and magnifyed them for the most heroical Sparks that ever God inspired and raised up in this last age of the world and for their happy Mouths and Hands which God was pleas'd to honour that day with the beginning of their new Blessed Reformation and occasioning their celestial Covenant as they call'd it that their memorial should be eternal and all succeeding generations should call them blessed After this about the end of Harvest began a tumultuous conflux of the Nobility Gentry Ministers and others at Edenborough from all parts of the Kingdom howbeit as yet the principal persons in authority there seemed to stand right enough in their loyalty so that his Majesty the less feared the ensuing mischeifs the more to prevent any suspition thereof set forth three Proclamations First that nothing should be treated of at the Council-Table there about Church-business till they saw the times and meeting of his Majesties Subjects more quiet and peaceable The Second for removing the Session or Term from Edenborough to Lithgow for fear of present danger The third for burning a seditious Book dispersed in derogation of the Ecclesiastical Government in England But these Proclamations were for little else then shew the Tumults increasing so that the next day
the Bishop of Galoway and the Lord chief Justice of that Kingdom were assaulted by the multitude and the Lords beset in the Council-house the people in their clamorous noises crying God defend all those who will defend God's cause and God confound the Service-book and all the maintainers thereof And so great were their outrages that they pull'd down the Lord Treasurer took his Hat Cloak and White-Staff from him and set upon the Provost as he was entring his own House These with the like were the beginnings to their intended glorious work of Reformation as they call'd it which they 〈◊〉 God even to a miracle had so graciously prospered in their Hands In which last Tumults none were more forward than two of those who were lately Bayliffs of Edenborough and had subscribed the before-mention'd Letters to the Arch-bishop of Canterbury Subsequent to which Tumults two Petitions were presented to the Lord Chancellour and Council against the Service-book the first in the name of all the Men Women Children and Servants of Edenborough the second by the Noblemen Gentlemen Ministers and Burgesses suggestions being made to the people of the King's inclination to Popery Of which stirs in Scotland the King having advertisement he sent over the Earl of Roxborough Lord Privy-Seal into that Kingdom Whereupon a Proclamation was set forth there by his Majesties appointment for dispersing of the dangerous multitudes got together at Sterlyn But against this Proclamation the Earl of Hume and Lord Lindsey with many others of all ranks made a Protestation which Protestation they published at Lithgow and afterwards at Edenborough forcing the Heraulds that proclaim'd the same to stay and hear the Protestation against it So that 't is observable that the first Tumult was by the name of Rascals and Scum of the people The second by the best sort of Citizens and the third by the Nobility Gentry and Magistrates After which Protestation they erected public Tables of Advice and Council for ordering the affairs of that Kingdom in contempt of his Majesties authority entring into a formal Combination which they call'd a Covenant against all that should oppose them Which Covenant Mr. Andrew Cant in his Sermon at Galsgow told the people he was sent to them with by a Commission from Christ to bid them Subscribe it being Christ's contract and that he himself came as a wooer to them for the Bridegroom and call'd upon them to come to be hand-fasted by subscribing that contract Adding that he would not depart the Town till he got all the names of those who should refuse to subscribe that Contract of whom he promised to complain to his Master The King therefore hearing of the increase of those troubles sent over the Marquess of Hamilton with Commission for composure of them Who on the sixth of Iune following arrived at Dalkeith where the Lords of his Majesties Council of that Kingdom were then assembled for safety as 't was pretended in regard of the combustions at Edenborough which daily increased But the cheif of the Covenanters grew daily more violent in their courses increased the meetings of their Tables subdivided them into several Committees augmented their Provisions of Armes and infusing fears and jealousies into the people by seditious Sermons caused Edenborough-Castle to be girt with strong Guards hindred all persons to go to the Marquess to treat or speak with him in the business for which he was sent giving out that there was a Plot to blow them up with Gunpowder if they should go to Dalkeith and received in two Ships-lading with Armes and Amunition at that time Whereupon at the request of the Citizens of Edenborough the Marquess took his journey from Dalkeith to Haly-Rood-House But before he got thither the Covenanters meeting him on the way with multitudes that made great Exclamations against Popery and Bishops required a General Assembly of the Church and then a Parliament justifying their Covenant as being more available and usefull to them as they said than all the Laws and Acts of Parliament which had been enacted in that Kingdom since the time of Fergus the first King thereof The Peoples fury also growing more hot than ever new Guards were clap'd upon the Castle of Edenborough the Pulpits rung of Libellous Sermons and Prayers yea so insolent they were that they sent a Prohibition against reading the English-Service in the King 's peculiar Chappel where the Marquess his Majesties Commissioner and the Council were to be Which Tumults as 't was said occasioning the Marquess to go back to Dalkeith the Covenanters sent Letters to every one of his Majesties Council requiring their Subscription to the Covenant And understanding that the Marquess did resolve to publish a Declaration of his Majesties forwardness to maintain the Religion professed in that Kingdom and his aversness to Popery disswaded him as he tendred the King's honour his own safety and peace of the Publick from doing it But not withstanding these arguments the Marquess did cause his Majesties Proclamation to be publish'd by Heraulds at the Market-Cross in Edenborough declaring his resolution to maintain the true Protestant-Christian-Religion And for farther clearing of scruples assured them that he would neither then nor thenceforth press the practise of the Canons and Service-Book otherwise than in such a fair and legal way as should satisfy his loving Subjects that he neither intended Innovation in Religion or Laws warning all his good people to beware of disobedience But all this no whit sufficed them for in open affront thereto they caused multitudes of people to fill the streets especially near the Cross in an hostile equipage with Pistols and Swords out of their Belts giving out that if this Proclamation were hearkned unto it would bring undoubted ruine to their Religion Laws and Liberties and upon a Scaffold erected for that purpose they mounted with a Rebellious Protestation in defence of their Covenant which they published openly concluding that if his Majesty would not allow their proceedings they themselves would call a General Assembly justifying all their doings to be most necessary and an orderly means agreeable to the Laws and practise of that Church and Kingdom Whereupon the Marquess returning into England to acquaint the King with what had passed resolving to be back again before the Fifth of August with new instructions they in his absence inform'd the People that he was well satisfied with their Covenant Against which calumny upon his return he publish'd a Manifesto in Print And having direction from his Majesty to indict an Assembly sent to divers of the principal Covenanters concerning some Propositions to be resolv'd upon before the meeting thereof But this Message was receiv'd with so much choler and contempt that they blazed it abroad for a proposition tending to the utter ruine of the Laws and Liberties of that Church and Kingdom Which much startling the Marquess he told them of his resolution to go
back into England and that he could not concur with them but that he had power to grant them a new Assembly which he could not conceive to be free if they should bring in every man to have a voice whom they had a mind to And accordingly went again into England Where having acquainted the King with what had hapned he returned Howbeit before he came back the Covenanters contrary to promise had elected Commissioners for the Assembly Upon which his Return he delivered to his Majesties Council at Haly-Rood-House Letters concerning the Confession of faith of the date at Edenborough Ian. 28. 1580 and signed by King Iames. But the Covenanters hereupon gave out to the people that the News brought by the Marquess did tend to the utter subversion of their Religion and Liberties also that there was a new Covenant to be set on foot by the King to destroy theirs and that if now they resisted not all was lost that they had already done Nevertheless the Marquess caused his Majesties Declaration and Confession of Faith ut supra to be publish'd at the Market-Cross in Edenborough and at the same time not only a Proclamation for indicting a General Assembly at Glasgow the one and twentieth of November ensuing but an Act of the Lords of the Council requiring all his Majesties Subjects to subscribe the said Confession of Faith and Band annexed Which Declaration contain'd a grant for redress of all the particular Grievances desired in their Supplications Remonstrances Protestations Declarations c. and besides all this their own Confession of Faith the ground as they pretended of their Covenant renewed and established But the principal Covenanters having possess'd the People with a prejudicate opinion of this gratious Declaration before they heard it as destructive to the Laws and Liberties of that Church and Kingdom erected a large Scaffold near the Cross where the same was to be published at which divers Earls Lords Gentlemen and others with their Swords in their Hands and Hats on their Heads stood jeering and laughing during the time of the same Declaration and it being ended with Insolent and Rebellious behaviour assisted one Archibald Iohnston in the publishing a most wicked and treasonable Protestation wherein they invoked God's holy name as a witness to many notorious falshoods attributing Infallibility to their Rebellious Covenant affirming that it was approved from Heaven with rare and undeniable instances And the next Sunday after all the Pulpits rang with bitter invectives and Declamations against his Majesties Declaration branding it with the depth and policy of Satan Nevertheless this Declaration and Confession of Faith so sent by his Majesty was very well received in all places except such whereunto the Covenanters from their Tables had prepared their Emissaries to disswade the acknowledgment of it witness the Letter sent to the Marquess dated 24 Sept. from the Provost Bayliffs and Council of Glasgow and the Ministers there And the Assembly at Glasgow being thus indicted they cunningly contrived that the Commissioners should be elected of the most rigidand fanatic spirits that were the Principal Covenanters perswading the People that the King intended no performance of what he promised in his last Proclamation no not the Assembly it self but to gain time until he were ready for their ruine sending likewise for all their party to flock to Edenborough as if then there had been greater danger than ever increasing also their Guards about the Castle their Preachers publishing in the Pulpits that whosoever subscribed his Majesties Confession and Covenant were perjur'd Villains Moreover they caused a most false odious and scandalous Libel to be drawn up against the Archbishops and Bishops and exhibiting it to the Presbytery of Edenborough procured it to be publicly read in the Pulpits Whereupon the Archbishops and Bishops were cited by the Presbytery of Edenborough to appear before the General Assembly to be holden at Glasgow 21 Nov. following And the more to infatuate the giddy-headed multitude they set up such another Impostor as the Holy Maid* of Kent in King Henry the Eighth's time was viz. one Michelson's daughter said to have been long distracted by Fits and then pretended to be inspired with Divination who was cryed up for raving against the Bishops in her mad Fits Rollock one of their fiercest Presbyters giving out that God spake through her her expressions being that it was revealed unto her from God that their Covenant was approved from Heaven And soon after this they indicted an Assembly by their own authority upon the one and twentieth of November following But upon knowledg that the Lord Marquess his Majesties Commissioner was resolv'd to hold the Assembly at the time and place appointed by the King's Proclamation they altered their purpose and sent out Papers for a General meeting at Edenborough upon the twelfth of November and to stay there till they were to go to Glasgow on Saturday the seventeenth of that month Which meeting according to the King's Proclamation being very great after his Majesties Commission read the Marquess exhorted them to a peaceable and moderate carriage giving some touch of the disorders that had passed Whereunto answer being made by a Nobleman a Lay Elder that they had given his Grace satisfaction for all their proceedings they went on to the choice of a Moderator without the approbation and consent of his Majesties Commissioner appointing for that purpose Mr. Alexander Henderson the most rigid Covenanter Against whom when the Marquess protested such was their heady and exorbitant carriage that by the hands of Doctor Hamilton they presented to the Marquess a a Declinator and Protestation against his proceedings in the name of the Bishops Nay so formidable they soon after grew as that the University of Aberdene having been threatned with the loss of their lives for writing against the Covenant durst not send any of their Professors to that Assembly And on the eight and twentieth of October a calumnious Libel against the Bishops was read in all the Churches of Edenborough one Gibson in the Assembly thundring out a verbal Protestation that they would pursue their Libel against the Bishops so long as they had lives and fortunes Which Assembly was form'd of Ministers Commissioners to it chosen by Lay Elders the Lay Elders themselves being likewise present in it 〈◊〉 course so much distasted by several parts of the Kinâ—â—â—â— that they thereupon made Protestations against 〈◊〉 proceedings divers of which were read at the instance of his Majesties Commissioner but the Lord Lowdon hindred the reading of that from Glasgow And as their Elections were wholy undue so were their Actions in the Assembly all being carried by faction and clancular contrivances as appeared by their own Private Papers of Instructions some whereof were discovered by the Marquess neither was any freedom of debate therein but what tended to the advancement of their evil
designs The Marquess therefore shewing a dislike to those their sinister dealings departed from the Assembly at Glasgow Whereupon the Covenanters protested against all that he had said and done there as his Majesties Commissioner And at the same instant the Lord Areskyn and three other mean persons came and beg'd to be admitted into their blessed Covenant Which offer though of purpose contrived was made so good use of by the Moderator that he desired it might be admired as God's approbation and Sealing of their proceedings And it being put to the question whether they should adhere to their Protestation and continue the Assembly notwithstanding the King's Commissioners departure it was voted by most affirmatively Secondly whether the Assembly though dissolv'd by his Majesties Commissioner was competent judge against the Bishops and whether they would go on in their Tryal it passed also affirmatively nemine contradicente And now no sooner was the Marquess thus departed having caused his Majesties Proclamation to be publish'd by Heraulds at the Market-Cross in Glasgow for dissolving the Assembly but that Mr. Archibald Iohnston the then Clerk to the Assembly made a scandalous Protestation against it After which all things were transacted by some few pack'd Committees of the most fierce Covenanters which sate till the thirtieth of December following Which Committees amongst other of their Acts declared six general Assemblies to be Null and void whereof two were then in force by several Acts of Parliament and divers Acts of the other four confirm'd by Parliament They condemned likewise all the Arminian Tenets as they call'd them without defining what those Tenets were They also deprived all the Arch-Bishops and Bishops of that Realm excommunicating many of them without examining any one witness to prove no nor offering to produce any to testify ought against them And next declared Episcopal Government to be inconsistent with the Laws of that Church and Kingdom abolishing it for ever though it then stood confirm'd by many Acts both of Parliament and Assemblies They also depriv'd divers Ministers for Arminianisme without ever questioning them for what Tenets or opinions they held Moreover towards the end of their Assembly they divided themselves into several Committees which after their rising should see all their Acts put in execution And at the conclusion of all the Moderator gave God thanks for their good success congratulating the Nobility for their great pains giving thanks also to the Earl of Argyle for his Presence and Council Which Earl in a long Speech then excused his late declaring himself yet protesting that he was always set that way though he delay'd to profess it so long as he found his close carriage might advantage their Cause but now he must openly adjoyn himself to their Society or prove a Knave as he said Hereupon the Marquess his Majesties Commissioner resolving to ask the King's leave to return for England came first to Edenborough where he found strong Guards put upon the Castle and the people much abused by false Reports viz. that his Majesty had made good nothing at all which was contained in his Declaration at Edenborough upon the two and twentieth of September last whereupon he caused a Proclamation to be published in his Majesties name at the Market-cross there containing the sum of his whole proceedings at Glasgow Which being encountered with a blustering and undutiful Protestation in the name of the general Assembly of the Kirk of Scotland and published at the same time and place he return'd into England Then the Faction proceeded to levy Soldiers impose Taxes and requiring obedience to their Acts menac'd the Refusers raised divers Fortifications in that Kingdom block'd up his Majesties Castles and Forts and took the Castle of Edenborough procuring their Preachers seditiously to teach the People that there was a Necessity of bearing Arms against his Majesty under pain of Perjury and Damnation and caused such an infamous Ballad to be sung up and down against the Bishops as that in hatred of them the people called a Dog with black and white spots a Bishop as he went in the Streets Moreover they procured divers Libels to be scattered in England for justification of their rebellious courses and defamation of Ecclesiastical Government inciting his Majesties Subjects in this Realm to attemt the like Rebellion here refusing to admit such to the Communion who had not subscribed their Covenant and preaching that the Non-subscribers were Atheists Nay one of them in his Sermon exhorted the people never to give over till they had the King in their power and then he should see what good Subjects they were Others preach'd that the Service-Book was fram'd at fome These and many other groundless scandals and falshoods to amuse the People they published in their Pulpits which they call'd the Chairs of truth And to hasten on the Peoples Insurrection endeavoured to perswade them that his Majesty intended an Invasion of that Kingdom and to make it a Province as also to despoil them of their Laws and Liberties and to give them new Laws as if they were a conquer'd Nation And having thus prepared the People and fitted themselves with all Provisions for war they put themselves in Armes and march'd to the Frontiers of England pretending they came as Petitioners The King therefore discerning the danger raised a gallant Army whereof he made Thomas Earl of Arundel his General and on the seven and twentieth of March set forwards towards Scotland having with him the flower of his English-Nobility and Gentry whose cheerfulness then to serve him was very great Yet was the Earl of Essex at that time his Lieutenant-General and the Earl of Holland General of the Horse so much was his Majesty then mistaken in their affections to him who did afterwards sufficiently discover themselves And advancing with his Army encamp'd four miles West from Barwick What correspondence was then held betwixt the Scots and divers of the great ones then in his Majesties Camp considering also who were of his Bed-chamber may easily be guest by the consequences Certain it is that divers of them grew cool in the business so that after the Scots had by a formal Petition expressed that they falling down at his Majesties feet did most humbly supplicate him to appoint some of the Kingdom of England to hear by some of them their humble desires his Majesty assented thereunto and after several meetings thereupon and their demands presented in writing professed that it was their greif that his Majesty had been provoked to wrath against them his most humble and loving Subjects and that it should be their delight upon his gracious assurance of the preservation of their Religion and Laws to give example to all others of all civil and temporal obedience which could be required of loyal Subjects To which his Majesty answered that if their desires were only the enjoying of their Religion and Liberties according to
the Ecclesiastical and Civil Laws of his Kingdom of Scotland he did not only agree to the same but should always protect them to the utmost of his power they yielding him in the mean time such civil and temporal obedience as could be justly required of loyal Subjects Upon this Petition therefore Articles of Pacification were concluded on at Barwick whereby his Majesty was contented not only to confirm whatsoever his Commissioner had promised in his name but that all Ecclesiastical matters should be determined by the Assemblies of the Kirk Likewise matters Civil by the Parliament and other inferior Judicatories establish'd by Law Moreover that for setling the distractions of that Kingdom he was willing to grant a free general Assembly to be kept at Edenborough the sixth of August ensuing and after that a Parliament the twentieth of August for ratifying what should be concluded in the Assembly being graciously pleased to declare that upon disbanding of their Forces dissolving all their pretended Tables restoring his Forts Castles and Amunition c. To his good Subjects their Liberties Lands Goods c. detained since the late pretended general Assembly he would recall his Fleet retire his Land-forces and make restitution to them of their Ships and Goods arrested c. Which Agreement was entertained by them with so much outward acceptance that by the Subscriptions of the chiefest of them it was promised they would ever in all things carry themselves like humble loyal and obedient Subjects But instead of performance of their parts at the very publishing the Articles in their Camp a Protestation was made dishonourable to his Majesties Government to the further encouraging of the People in their disobedient and mutinous ways And at the same time they delivered into the hands of some of the English Nobility and spread among others a scandalous Paper intituled Some conditions of his Majesties Treaty with his Subjects of Scotland wherein were contained such untruths and seditious positions and so contrary to what was concluded in the Articles of Pacification that howsoever they pretended a desire of peace yet they intended nothing less and instead of disbanding their Forces within forty eight hours after publication of those Articles they kept great parts of them together and held in pay almost all their Officers continuing their unlawful meetings and conventicles to the great vexation and trouble of all such his Majesties good Subjects as did not adhere to their rebellious Covenant and Act of the pretended Assembly at Glasgow keeping up all their Fortifications Yea such was the fury of the People animated by that Protestation with divers scandalous Papers and seditious Sermons that they deterred his Majesties good Subjects from going to their dwellings threatning them with loss of their lives if they repaired to their own Houses labouring also to pervert them in the choice of the Commissioners for the general Assembly appointed by anticipating their voices in making them swear to and subscribe the approbation of the same Assembly at Glasgow and Acts thereof deterring others from repairing thereto So that by these new disorders the peace and quiet of his Subjects was greatly disturbed great Insolencies being offer'd to the Earl of Kinnowl his Majesties high Treasurer as also to Sir Iames Hamilton Justice-general and other his Majesties Councellors and good Subjects so that the King sorbore to come to Edenborough such of his Loyal Subjects as attended his Person and adhered to him being branded by them with the vile aspersion of Traitors to God and their Country and threatned to be proceeded against with censures accordingly And lastly shaking off all respect due to sacred Majesty protested that all members of the Colleges of Iustice and Leiges were not to attend the Session and that all Acts Decrees and Sentences therein past against any of them should be null void and ineffectual contrary to the King 's express Warrant for the down-sitting thereof and the heavy damage of his good Subjects who were thereby frustrated of Justice And having laid these insolent and seditious foundations for a Parliament it could not be expected but that the structure must be full of confusion as indeed it proved their Actions and demands favouring of nothing but undutifulness and disloyalty for they stuck not to deny to his Majesty the most essential and inherent Prerogatives of his Crown striving by all means to change and alter the constitutions of the Parliament and frame of Government Likewise to restrain his power in point of coinage custody of Castles grants of Honour and Commissions-Justiciary or Lieutenancy And his Majesty by his Commission having allow'd them the liberty of convening and meeting until a certain day for distributing of their pretended charges amongst such as should willingly condescend thereunto they did not only without Warrant continue their Conventicles and Tables since that Commission expired contrary to the positive Laws of that Kingdom the Act of Pacification and their own acknowledgment in petitioning for the aforesaid Commission but urged that all those his good Subjects who adhered to him in defence of his Royal authority against their rebellious commotions should be made equal if not more liable to the defraying of their pretended charges Which might imply his Majesties countenance and justification of all their Rebellions and Treasons The King therefore discerning their persistance in such unsufferable demands return'd to England signifying to the Earl of Traquier his Commissioner that it did evidently appear unto him that their aim was not now for Religion as they always pretended but rather the alteration of the Government of that Kingdom and withall the total overthrow of Royal authority commanding his said Commissioner to prorogate the parliament till the second of Iune next following Notwithstanding which Prorogation they continued their sitting at Edenborough and sent their Deputies over into this Kingdom to make Remonstrance of their doing without knowledg of his Commissioner Whereupon his Majesties Commissioner came over and acquainting him with those Insolencies also by his command relating them at his Council-board the King there proposed to the consideration of the Lords then present whether it were not more sit to reduce them to their duty by force than give way to their demands so much prejudicial to his Honour and safety Which being unanimously voted in the affirmative his Majesty resolved to call a Parliament soon after In which Interim the Scots lost no time but making fair pretences by their Remonstrance protested against this Act of Prorogation and declared that the same was contrary to the Constitutions and practise of all precedent Parliaments contrary to the liberties of that Kingdom and repugnant to the Articles of the late Pacification and that it was ineffectual and of no force to hinder their proceedings professing that it was never their intention to deny his Majesty any part of that civil and temporal obedience which is due
now plainly see Eleven of those sixteen English Lords which were chosen on his Majesties part being afterwards Actors or Assisters in the late war against him The first demand there made by the Scots Commissioners being no less then forty thousand pounds a month for maintenanne of their Army during the Treaty Which tho not directly granted was so far yielded to as that the Assessment impos'd by them upon the Countie of Northumberland Bishopric of Durham and Town of Newcastle should stand good for the raising of Eight hundred and fifty pounds a day allowance for the space of two months to begin upon the sixteenth of that instant October And that there should be a cessation of Arms the Scots Army to be confin'd on the North part the River Tese and the English to the South thereof CHAP. VII WHich footing thus gotten by the Scots in the North gave no small encouragement to their well-wishers in the South especially in London who in contemplation also of the ensuing Parliament which by his Majesty was summon'd to meet upon the third of November following were not a little animated in divers bold Enterprizes for scandalous papers and Libels were frequently thrown in the streets against the Bishops Yea so bold were the multitude grown by the example of the Scots in an 1637 and through the incitation of many Citizens and others of note who would not then shew themselves that on the 22th of October a rabble of no less than Two thousand Brownists and the like Sectaries entred St. Paul's Cathedral where the high Commission Court then sat tore down all the Benches and cried out No Bishop No High Commission To the consideration of which Parliament begun on the third of November accordingly did the King represent the safety and security of this Realm earnestly desiring that care might be speedily taken for riddance of the Scots which had thus invaded the North and to satisfy their just Grievances promised his hearty concurrence desiring that his Army might not be suffer'd to disband for want of pay before the Rebels for so he then call'd the Scots were put out And that they would lay aside all suspicions to the end it might become a happy Parliament resolving to cast himself wholly upon the love and affection of his English Subjects But the house of Commons consisting of the same or persons worse affected then those in April before the prevalent party purging the House of divers persons whom they concieved would not comply with their destructive enterprises for such they either finding fault with their Elections or making them criminals as to some public Grievances though others of a deeper guilt were not touch'd whose offences might make them obnoxious to their power or obsequious to their designs went slowly on with what his Majesty had proposed to them for the busy-party who were the great Actors in the ensuing Tragedy then fell to contrivance about the accomplishment of their long desired work To which purpose the Treaty at Rippon was soon after remov'd to Westminster to the end that there they might have the Scots Commissioners at hand and the power of the Londoners to assist them for it had been impossible without the conjunction and help of the Prevalent and factious party in that City ever to have accomplish'd the ruine of the establish'd Government and destruction of the King as they afterwards did In order whereunto the first step they made was the entertaining Petitions of Grievances from all parts of the Realm which made such a noise as if the Subjects of England had suffered under the greatest slavery and oppression that had ever been heard of and being devised and framed by themselves were receiv'd with such great acceptance as that the People began to shew no small expressions of Joy in their new Reformers Who to win them the more besides the Impeachment of the Earl of Strafford which was within two days following whom they had made sufficiently odious by representing him to be one of the greatest causes of their oppressions and an especial Enemy to Parliaments expell'd divers Projectors and Monopolists out of the House of Commons impeach'd the Archbishop of Canterbury the Bishop of Ely and Lord Keeper Finch for Treason against the State having in order thereto by libellous Pamphlets and Pictures rendred them hateful to the People Damn'd that hideous Grievance of Ship-money by vote Pass'd a Bill for a Triennial Parliament as also impeach'd Justice Berkley of High Treason for his activeness in the business of Ship-money And to try how safely they might adventure to strike at the establish'd Government of the Church which might make the easier way for ruine of the State they brought Pryn Burton and Bastwick in triumph to London who had been censured in the Star-Chamber for Libels against the Hierarchy countenancing a Petition exhibited to them by Alderman Penington against Episcopacy and Church-Discipline Yet that there might be no doubt of their zeal and dutiful affection to the King they sent a Message to his Majesty to desire leave that they might advance and settle his Revenue offering to make him the richest King in Christendom And having thus gain'd a strong confidence with the people what blessed Patriots they were like to be that they might also seem as zealous for God's cause they exhibited a Remonstrance in the name of both Houses to his Majesty grounded upon divers Petitions which they had subtilly procured from all parts of the Realm of the increase of Popery Also that the danger thereof might the more amaze the world they then began to open their Cabinet of Plots and Conspiracies four of the House of Commons imparting to the Lords a a discovery of an horrid design by many thousands of Papists in England Ireland and Wales Moreover because of the great complaint of Innovation in Religion increase of Popery and growth of Superstition they appointed Commissioners for removing Rails from about all Communion-Tables throughout the Realm Likewise to the end that the Bishops might the better attend their Spiritual functions they voted that none of them should have voice in Parliament nor meddle in temporal affairs And to assure the Scots whose Army they as yet thought not fit to part with till their work was brought to more maturity they gave them three hundred thousand pounds towards a supply of their losses and Necessities Which signal favour got them the stile of Brethren and thanks from the Scotish-Commissioners who seem'd so tender of our good that they desired the Treaty might be accelerated and the Kingdom eased of the burthen of the two Armies by their returning home The next thing wherewith they went in hand was the Trial of the Earl of Strafford for 't was resolv'd he must be cut off being a person of such integrity to the King and known abilities To which purpose
having prepared Westminster Hall with Scaffolds they began his trial upon the two and twentieth of March where they charg'd him with subverting the Fundamental Laws of England and Ireland with threatning to root the Scotch Nation out of Ireland with procuring his Majesty to dissolve the last Parliament as also with betraying Newcastle and the King's Army to the Scots And after many days labour to prove him guilty of Treason by the Law and failing thereof they brought in a special Bill to attaint him wherein they took care to insert a special Clause that it should not be drawn into President thereby to secure themselves from a return of that Injustice upon any of them which they acted on him Which Bill was twice read and voted in one day What course they took with those that concur'd not with them in passing thereof and other their practises I shall briefly mention when I come to their apparent violation of the Privileges of Parliament How multitudes out of the City were brought down to the Parliament-House to cry for Justice Also with what difficulty his Majesty passed that Bill though importun'd by the Earl's own Letter out of hope his death might have satisfied those blood-thirsty men I spare to mention but on the twelfth of May they cut off his Head on Tower Hill Which strange and unjust way of proceeding driven on by those who stood least affected to the Doctrine and Discipline of our Church caused many to fear that which afterwards came to pass Left therefore the People whom under the most specious pretences they were to captivate should have the least suspicion of hazard to the Service of God as it stood here establish'd they cunningly insinuated to the world that by means of a Jesuitical Party the Protestant Religion was in no small danger and therefore as zealous Champions for the same framed a formal Protestation for its sure defence as it then stood establish'd in the Church of England both in Doctrine and Discipline which for farther satisfaction they caused to be solemnly taken by every Member of Parliament and not only so but by a special Order made it public by the Press and sent it to several Counties of this Realm But their grand work being to get the Militia into their power by which means whatever else they had a mind to might be accomplish'd as an Introduction thereunto divers strange Plots and Conspiracies were talk'd of Which Plots not only stood them in stead to amuse and put fears into the people who by a most implicit faith did then believe that all they acted was for their good but to countenance those many unreasonable demands they made from his Majesty so that under the shadow of them they might go through with any thing And therefore it will not be amiss to view by what degrees they themselves with these devices proceeded towards the obtaining those their desired ends The first of these that they broach'd was a conspiracy by divers in the House of Commons to bring in a French Army unto which the Irish and English should be joyned Whereupon a vote was passed that new Fortifications should be rais'd at Portsmouth and the Cinqueports and order taken that one Lord and two of the Commons viz. the Lord Kymbolton Sir Walter Earle and Sir Philip Stapleton should be forthwith dispatch'd thither About the same time also they sent some of their Members to Lambeth House to search for Amunition and Arms as also about the Parliament-House for fear of any Plot. Which pretended fear was much countenanced by a Letter directed to the Lady Shelley and produced by Mr. Pym discovering a design to destroy Then was there a Report in the House of what a Jesuit should say of some great design against this Kingdom As also of a Letter from Calais of many Frenchmen coming for England and of another Jesuits speech of firing the Parliament-House Again of French intended to land here And within a short space after Mr. Nathaniel Fienes made report to the Houses that a Plot to seize the Tower was newly discovered as also to send over the Irish Army and for delivery of Portsmouth to the French and Papists for assistance wherein the Bishops were to raise a thousand Horse And shortly after Mr. Henry Percie Mr. Iermyn Sir Iohn Sucklyn and Mr. Davenant were voted guilty of another Plot to bring up the Army and force the Parliament which wrought to purpose by putting terrible Fears and Iealousies into the People And to make up all a Letter from the Earl of Holland was read of new practises against the State Whereupon at a conference of both Houses a select Committee was appointed to advise of putting the Kingdom into a Posture of Defence Which being done the next artifice they used was to perpetuate the Parliament to the end that the name of that might the more plausibly carry them through in this grand work To effect this therefore they pretended that the great Sums of Money which the Scots were to have could not suddenly be rais'd and that being to be borrow'd for their present riddance Lenders would hardly be found unless they saw a certain way to secure their moneys which the danger of dissolving this Parliament would hazard Whereupon they brought in a Bill to prevent the adjourning or dissolving there of without the consent of both Houses And to carry on the people with all assurance of their future happiness and freedom from oppression by Courts of Arbitrary Jurisdiction they voted and sent up certain Bills for suppressing the Courts of High Commission and Star-Chamber and regulating the Council Table as also for bounding the Forests preventing vexatious proceedings concerning Knighthood and regulating the Clerk of the Market besides that of Tonnage and Poundage All which his Majesty out of his abundant goodness expecting that these unparallel'd Acts of grace would have oblig'd them in a stronger bond of dutiful Allegiance was pleased to pass before his going into Scotland And as a witness to the candor of his intentions admitted divers Lords then most popular but since great Actors in this woful Tragedy to be of his Privy-Council conferring on three of them great Offices of Honour Trust and Benefit And now supposing that he had given them as great a measure of content as their hearts could desire he took his journey into Scotland on the tenth of August there to establish the peace of that Realm in setling whatsoever should be thought meet for the happiness thereof About which time the Armies were disbanded that had been so long delay'd though the continuance of them was no less charge than 80000 l. a month their work before being not brought forward enough Some of the leading-members in plain terms declaring that yet they could not spare them the sons of Zerviah
Kineton against the King And lastly how averse they were to any peace or cessation with them though never so necessary as appears by those earnest and bitter incitements used by their Commissioners in the Treaty at Uxbridge for the prosecution of that war It is likewise farther to be noted that these high provocations met with a concurrent opportunity of those eight thousand disbanded Irish not permitted to be transported into Spain and other parts though desired by that King's Ambassador and assented to by his Majesty who being out of employment were ready for any desperate enterprize As also with the want of a Lieutenant in that Kingdom by reason that the Earl of Strafford was so cut off who had kept them in such exact obedience And lastly what an Example they had from their Neighbours the Scots who sped so well by their own Insurrection that they not only obtained their full demands even to the introducing a new Religion and new moulding the whole form of their Government both in Church and State but when they rebelliously invaded England with an Army were treated as good Subjects had three hundred thousand Pounds given them with an Act of Pacification and Oblivion to boot Whereunto I shall add what a late Writer in his Short view of the life and reign of King Charles the First hath expressed Of this Rebellion saith he for it must be call'd a Rebellion in the Irish though not in the Scots the King gives present notice to the Houses of Parliament requiring their Counsail and assistance for the extinguishing of that flame before it had consumed and wasted that Kingdom But neither the Necessity of the Protestants there nor the King's importunity here could perswade them to levy one man towards the suppression of those Rebels till the King had disclaimed his power of pressing Souldiers by an Act of Parliament and thereby laid himself open to such acts of violence as were then hammering against him Which having done they put an Army of Scots their most assured friends into the Northern parts of Ireland delivering up into their hands the strong Town and Port of Carick-Fergus one of the chief Keys of that Kingdom and afterwards sent a small Body of English to preserve the South Which English Forces having done notable service there against the Rebels were kept so short both in respect of pay and other necessaries by the Houses of Parliament who had made use of the money rais'd for the relief of Ireland to maintain a war against their King that they were forced to come to a Cessation and chearfully returned home again to assist the King in that just war which he had undertaken for his own defence CHAP. IX BUT notwithstanding all these instances forbearing to give any censure therein I shall now proceed and trace them in farther practises for accomplishing their designed ends and give instance in the Militia for obtaining whereof I find my self best guided by their feigned Plots and Conspiracies the first of which was Mr. Pym's Letter delivered to him at the Parliament House by a Porter from a pretended Gentleman on Horseback in a gray Coat which having in it a contagious Plaister taken from a Plague-sore the Letter it self also being full of invectives against Mr. Pym gave occasion for publishing of a Pamphlet intituled The discovery of a damnable Treason by a contagious Plaister c. and afterwards of a Report to the House made by Mr. Pym that there were divers Posts come several by-ways from Scotland and that the Papists had many meetings in Hâ—nt-shire Moreover within few days following one Iohn Davis discovered to the House that the Earl of Worcester had large Stables under ground at Ragland-Castle and a number of Light-Horse in them likewise Arms for an hundred and forty Horse and two thousand men whereof seven hundred were then in pay and Ammunition proportionable And one Thomas Beale of White-Cross-Street declaring that he heard some who were walking late in Moor-fields discourse of their intentions to murther certain Members of the Parliament and amongst others Mr. Pym order was presently given that the Lords and some other Members should have part of the Trained-Band of Middlesex to conduct them to their Lodgings that night Also the next day upon the discovery of another Plot to kill some Noblemen of which one who lay in a ditch pretended to hear two Gentlemen speak it was order'd that the Earl of Worcester's House and Sir Basil Brookes House should be guarded all Papists disarmed Soldiers raised with speed to secure the Isle of Wight and two Lords appointed to raise Forces one beyond â—rent and the other on this side â—rent And within five days after this there was a discovery of another conspiracy by the Papists in Cheshire viz. that certain of them were in Arms at the Lord Chomley's House and had attempted the surprizal of Chester But advertisement being given that the King was upon his journey from Scotland and would be at London within three days the hunting after any farther discovery of Plots was for awhile laid aside and that scandalous Remonstrance beforementioned which was brought in the twelfth of August was read again in the House Against the passing and publishing whereof many worthy Gentlemen freely express'd their minds Nevertheless after long dispute and much ado the factious party prevailed partly by tyring out some for they sate up all night and partly by promises or threats to others insomuch as it was carried by Eleven voices So that though there was the greatest shew of gladness by the Citizens of this his Majesties arrival as that solemn reception of him by the Lord Mayor and Aldermen on Horsback did import who feasted him with the Queen and Prince at Guild-Hall the Companies all standing in their Liveries to congratulate his safe coming home as he rode through the streets yet had he little joy thereof for instead of that happy progress which he expected that the Parliament had made in the great affairs of the Kingdom during his absence he found the people not a little disturb'd with strange apprehensions and Guards set upon the Houses of Parliament Which so astonish'd him that he forthwith sent to the Lords desiring that for the prevention of farther jealousies and fears the Train'd-Bands might be discharged But no sooner did those Citizens take notice of that Message then that great numbers of them in person offer'd to attend the House of Parliament in their Arms. Nay so forward thenceforth were they upon all occasions to act their parts for hast'ning that general confusion which soon after ensued that on Munday following a multitude of them made a hubbub in Westminster-Hall crying Down with Antichrist and the Bishops adding that if they could not then be heard they would have a greater number next day to back them And so they had many of them coming tumultuously to the doors of
the Parliament House crying No Bishops and calling them the limbs of Antichrist And on the same day to accompany so good a work they presented to the King by the hands of the Earl of Holland their grand Remonstrance of the Grievances of the Kingdom which had been ordered to be brought into the House the twelfth of August past thereby to blast all those gracious condescentions which they had obtained from him before Whereunto his Majesty soon after made a full and clear Answer and publish'd his Royal Declaration thereupon for the satisfaction of all his good Subjects to the end they might not be deluded by those undutiful false and scandalous aspersions cast upon his Government by that malicious Libel And soon after for the better prevention of any more such dangerous tumults and uproars at or near the Houses of Parliament he directed his special Writ according to the Statute unto the Sheriffs of London to place a Guard at Westminster But the House of Commons deeming this Guard thus legally placed by the King no way conducing to their Design presently voted it to be a breach of their priviledges and an offence of an high nature and thereupon not only order'd that the said Watch should be discharg'd but that the Justices of Middlesex for their obedience to his Majesties commands herein should be question'd whereupon Justice Long was committed to the Tower That there was a most factious party in the City of London which were great Instruments in raising the ensuing Rebellion is plain enough Nor is it less observable that they acted their parts therein by colour of Authority viz. by outing all the Common-Council which were men of worth and bringing men of desperate fortunes in their rooms Wherein they had such furtherance by the help of the multitude who aim'd at their own advantage by any change of Government that they then introduced Fowkes Ryley the Boddies-maker Perkins the Lord Say's Taylor Normington the Cutler Mills the Brick-layer and divers other such mean fellows instead of Mr. Drake Mr. Roger Clarke Sir George Bynion Mr. Roger Gardner and several other worthy Citizens whose loyalty they well knew could not be corrupted These being the principal agents in all the Tumults which stood them in much stead for accomplishing of their chiefest aims And therefore plain it was to be seen what design they had when they urged the passing of the Bill for not Adjourning or Dissolving of that Parliament without their own consents having such a party in the City to back them upon all occasions Having thus dissolv'd the Guard so appointed by his Majesty there came another Tumult of the Citizens to Westminster Whereupon some Members of the House of Commons making complaint of the danger whereunto they were subject by those riotous people and how that already they had been assaulted and evil intreated by them at the very door of the House desired that some course might be taken for restraining and punishing them for the same But instead thereof divers spoke in justification of them and commended their affections saying they must not discourage their friends this being a time to make use of them all And Mr. Pym added God forbid that the House of Commons should proceed in any sort to dishearten the people for obtaining their just desires in such a way And accordingly there was a paper delivered by some or other to the Minister that preach'd at Christ-Church the Sunday following desiring that Prayer might be made to God to assist the Apprentices with strength to root out Superstition and to extirpate the Innovations of the Bishops and Clergy After which matters were every day carried with a more high hand than before the Tumultuous people having as apparent countenance from the House as before they had private encouragement Insomuch as the Lord Mayor of London came to Whitehall and acquainted the King that he discerned if Sir Thomas Lunsford whom he had newly made Lieutenant of the Tower were not removed the Apprentices would rise and pull him out So that his Majesty to prevent such an insurrection took the Keys from Sir Thomas Lunsford and constituted Sir Thomas Byron in his room with whom the factious Spirits were as ill satisfied tho they knew not well what to object against him till at last Lieutenant Hooker the Aquavitae-man and Nicholson the Chandler complained in the Common-Council that since Sir Iohn Byron came to be Lieutenant of the Tower the Mint to the great prejudice and dishonour of the Kingdom stood still Yea so insolent were these tumultuous people grown that upon the Kings Proclamation grounded upon a Penal Law to dissipate them in contempt thereof they came early the next morning in greater numbers than ever divers of them being arm'd with Swords and Halberts and towards the evening assaulted the great Church at Westminster threatning to pull it down So that the Bishops thenceforth thought it not safe for themselves to come any more to the House The News whereof so pleased those unruly people that on the morrow they came again crying No Bishops notwithstanding another Proclamation issued out by the King to restrain them And in their return making a stand before Whitehall said that they would have no more Porter's Lodge there but would speak with the King when they pleased Which rebellious uproar caused his Majesty forthwith to place a Guard for his own safety at the Court-gates But the main cry of danger was by the House of Commons as if they themselves had been the only men in peril of their lives and therefore to make the greater shew of their own fears they order'd that Halberts should be brought into their House for defence of the Members and then they made a noise of new discoveries of farther dangerous conspiracies one by a Letter from France intimating great intelligence held betwixt England and Rome and no small likelihood of dreadful plots in agitation against this Kingdom Also of another Letter at the same time found in a Jesuit's Study of great troubles which should befall this Realm And the more to amuse the people they adjourn'd to sit in a Committee at Guild-Hall to draw up a Remonstrance of the many dangers this Kingdom had undergone within the space of three years Where being met another Letter pretended to be brought from Italy was read discovering divers Plots by the Papists here Whereupon they consider'd about drawing up of another Remonstrance laying open the peril of the Spanish Fleet the coming over of the Queen-Mother the Pope's Nuncio as also several other Plots in agitation by the Jesuits and a Romish-party Which subtil practices being set on foot by some particular persons of both Houses through whose influence chiefly others were guided caused his Majesty out of a desire to prevent the ensuing calamities which he clearly foresaw must by these means inevitably follow to demand the persons of the Lord
Kymbolton and five of the House of Commons viz. Denzill Hollies Esq. Sir Arthur Haslerig Baronet Iohn Pym Iohn Hampden and William Strode Esquiers and to charge them with High Treason who having private notice thereof kept out of the way But of this action they made such an advantage tho no person then came within the doors of the House except the King himself and the Count Palatine his Nephew having so sure a party in the City to assist them that some of the House of Commons took the boldness the same day to come and discharge his Majesties Guards at White-Hall and the Houses to adjourn themselves and to sit in a grand Committee at Guild-Hall in London Where infusing fears into the people that the King had a design of actual violence upon the City the Sheriffs of London refused to publish his Majesties Proclamation for apprehending those persons And to make farther experiment of the City's readiness to afford them their best assistance upon occasion they caused a false Alarm that the King with fifteen hundred Horse was coming in the night to surprize London Which report wrought so effectually that no less than forty thousand of the inhabitants put themselves in Arms at an instant the women also providing scalding water to throw upon the Cavaliers bringing out Forms Stools and empty Tubs into the Streets to hinder the Horse CHAP. X. HAving thus craftily represented this just endeavour of his Majesty for bringing these Members to a legal trial who had private shelter at that time in the City of London to be so hideous as if it had been for a general massacre they speedily raised an insurrection of many thousand of the Citizens whom together with a numerous rabble of Mariners and other desperate people they brought armed to Westminster on the Tuesday next following both by land and water with divers Sakers and murthering Guns in long Boats and in that sort with Protestations in their Hats and on their Pikes conducted the Lord Kymbolton and the rest of those Members to the Parliament-House And what intention some of them had to the person of the King had he then been at White-Hall may easily be guessed by their rude and desperate entrance thereinto then made had not he upon private adververtisement of their purpose removed to Hampton-Court the precedent Evening Unto which Insurrection to give the fairer countenance they had by their Emissaries sent into the Counties of Buckingham Hartford and Kent whence they procured no small numbers which came the same day to the Houses of Parliament with petitions ready framed on the behalf of the Lord Kymbolton and the five Members At which time they produced two Letters pretended to come from a Romish hand intimating much mischief design'd against the Houses and City And that these Countrymen might upon their return home put their neighbours into strange apprehensions of danger there was at that time a report made in the House that the Lord Digby and Colonel Lunsford were about Kingston upon Thames with three or four hnndred Horse Whereupon order was given that the Sheriffs of Surrey Berkshire and Hantshire should raise the Posse Comitatus of those Counties to stand upon their Guard and apprehend them as also that Skippon Serjeant-Major of the City Trained-Bands should forthwith have the command of certain Guards for to be set upon the Tower of London There is nothing more certain then that this business concerning the Lord Kymbolton and the five Members as 't was managed much promoted their grand design For having by their many pretended plots and other devices prepared the people with strange apprehensions of fears and finding that they had won the Country as well as the City to an implicite belief of their being such blessed Patriots as never had been before they then brought forth a most infamous Declaration hatcht at their former meetings in the City wherein they did imply that his Majesty when he came to the Houses to demand the five Members had a purpose to have cut all their throats and therefore they declared his coming thither to be a traiterous design against the King and Parliament and that his Proclamation issued out for their apprehension was false scandalous and illegal as also that it was lawful for all men to harbour them and that whosoever did so should be under the protection and priviledge of Parliament The King therefore standing not a little amazed at these many and great distractions which threatned inevitable mischief to the whole Realm tho he had by a Message to both Houses of the twelfth of Ianuary for full satisfaction to all that might doubt that his accusation of those Members was not agreeable to the priviledges of Parliament nevertheless intimated that he would for the present wave his proceedings against them and that when the minds of men were more composed he would go on in an unquestionable way assuring his parliment that upon all occasions he would be as careful of their Priviledges as of his Life and Crown And by another Message two days after farther assur'd them that in case any doubt of his breach of their Priviledges did remain he would be willing to clear it and assure those by any reasonable way that his Parliament should advise him to do Likewise in farther manifestation of his earnest and incessant desires for preventing those calamities which he then saw approaching by reason of these distractions he did by a gracious Message of the twentieth of the same month propose to both Houses that they would with all speed fall into a serious consideration of those particulars which they themselves should hold necessary as well for the upholding and maintaining his just Regal Authority and setling his Revenue as for the present and future establishment of their priviledges the free and quiet enjoying of their estates and fortunes the liberties of their persons the security of the true Religion then professed in the Church of England and the setling of Ceremonies in such a manner as might take away all just offences Which when they should have disgested and composed into one intire Body that so himself and they might be able to make the more clear judgment of them it should then appear by what he would do how far he had been from intending or designing any of those things which the too great fears and jealousies of some persons did seem to apprehend and how ready he would be to equal and exceed the greatest Examples of the most indulgent Princes in their acts of Grace and favour to their People Notwithstanding all which upon that very twentieth of Ianuary having received Letters from Sir Iohn Hotham signifying that he had raised Soldiers by their Order for the keeping of Hull but was refused entrance thereinto by the Mayor they forthwith sent another Order to command his reception though the Earl of Newcastle had required admittance thither to take charge of
that place and the Magazine there by his Majesties authority Nay so diligent were they now to lose no time that they procured the Essex-men to deliver a Petition to them setting forth their fears and jealousies with desire that the Tower of London might be committed to safe hands the Arms of the Trained Bands trusted with approved persons and the Priviledge of Parliament asserted Likewise another from Colchester against Bishops and for liberty of Conscience desiring that Church-discipline might be established according to the word of God and their Town better fortified And well knowing how fair a countenance these Petitions thus framed by themselves carried to further their designs they caused more from Devon Somersetshire Middlesex and Hartfordshire for putting the Kingdom into a posture of Defence and the Forts into safe hands excluding Bishops Popish Lords c. As also another from the City of London signifying their inability to lend an hundred thousand pounds desired by the Houses for the service of Ireland by reason that the Cinque Ports were not put into safe hands the Kingdom not put into a posture of Defence the Lieutenant of the Tower not removed Priviledges of Parliament not vindicated Delinquents not punished and the Bishops and Popish Lords not put out of the House of Peers Whereupon it being the same day voted that the Cinque-Ports should be secured and the Tower of London put into such hands as the Parliament might confide in the very next day they brought down the Apprentices and Seamen with the like Petition for putting the whole Kingdom into a Posture And being now resolv'd as by their votes and the drift of these Petitions is manifest to hasten the Militia totally into their own power to the end they might the more plausibly effect their design therein they exhibited to his Majesty a Petition desiring that the Tower of London with the other principal Forts and whole Militia of the Kingdom might be put into the hands of such persons as should be by them recommended suggesting withall that without this sure ground of safety and confidence which he should hereby raise unto them they could not be enabled to discharge their duties in the considering of those important things proposed to them by him in his Message of the 20th of Ianuary Nor be so freed from fears and jealousies as with chearfulness to proceed laying a sure foundation of Honour Greatness and Glory to him and his Royal Posterity and of Happiness and prosperity to his Subjects throughout all his Dominions The chief colour and pretence given out to the people for this Posture of Defence being this that without the power thereof in their own hands to maintain the good Laws enacted there was no expectation but that they would be made fruitless to them by the prevalency of evil Counsellors and a malignant Party Whereunto his Majesty answered that though the nomination of those to whom the custody of the Forts and Castles were to be committed was an inseparable flower of his Crown yet that he would leave them to the Justice of his Parliament if through mis-information he had conferr'd such trust upon any undeserving person And that when any particular course for ordering the Militia should be digested by his Parliament and proposed to him he would return such an answer as should be agreeable to his honour and the safety of his people conjuring them not to be transported with Jealousies To this indeed they replyed that they acknowledged it as a principal and inseparable flower of his Crown to dispose the command of the Forts and Castles of the Kingdom and that by Law the Militia was subject to no command but his authority and what is lawfully derived from him But within two days following a Petition being brought into the House from Suffolk calling upon them to put the kingdom into a Posture and another from many thousands of poor Tradesmen in London as they stiled it urging the like alledging a great decay of Trade whereby they wanted Bread and that they believed not any cause thereof to be in the House of Commons but by reason of the Bishops and Popish Lords voting in the House of Peers it was earnestly moved at a Conference by Mr. Hollies that the Lords would no longer delay but now joyn with them to petition his Majesty that the Kingdom might be put into a Posture By which device the Lords who refused to joyn with them in their Petition of the six and twentieth of Ianuary were now so brought about that they did it And to the end they might not want more popular countenance for their grand work which was now in such forwardness they got more Petitions from several parts for putting the Kingdom into a Posture One from the women about London another from Northamptonshire a third from Kent which was brought by five or six thousand that rode through the City in ranks to the Parliament-House Whereby they gave the Lords thanks for concurring with the Commons in the Bill against the Bishop's votes and putting the Kingdom into a Posture of Defence desiring them to go on with the Commons in a thorough Reformation in Religion and to remove evil Councellors The like had they from the Counties of York Oxford and Lincoln So that having laid such a foundation by ensnaring the people with their own Petitions they made an order to enable some of the Aldermen and Common-Council of London with Serjeant Major Skippon to regulate the Militia of the City voting new Lords-Lieutenants throughout the several Counties of England and Wales And to blow up the people into a perfect Rebellion they appointed weekly Lectures to be generally set up which was accordingly perform'd by the most seditious and turbulent Spirits that could be found procuring more Petitions by multitudes of people from sundry parts setting forth great grievances and desiring that the factious party for so they call'd the most loyal of the Nobility might be expell'd the House of Peers Also that the Divine Worship of God might be no longer prophaned and that they might be better furnished with Arms to oppose forreign power Such also came from Wales Ipswich Warwickshire and Sussex the Sheriff of that County and at least fifteen hundred on Horseback accompanying him therewith And least the pretended great dangers for prevention whereof all this stir was made should be forgot a Letter from Lancashire was produced discovering dangerous Plots by the Papists in that County viz. the finding of ten Barrels of powder to make Balls of Wild-fire wherewith to burn divers chief Towns in this Realm Whereupon another Petition was dispatcht to his Majesty then at Dover for ordering the Militia Whereby they desired such a speedy Answer as might raise in them a confidence to use their own words that they should not be exposed to the practises of those
whose endeavours were to kindle that combustion in England which they had in so great a measure effected in Ireland and which nothing could do as they said but the granting that Petition Which Petition together with an Ordinance of both Houses setting forth a most dangerous and desperate design upon the House of Commons and many discoveries importing fears of rebellious Insurrections by Papists and other ill affected persons in this Kingdom they then exhibited Whose answer thereunto being that for the City of London and other Corporations which by any antient Charters had power of ordering the Militia he conceiv'd it unfit to alter their government but that he could not consent to the indefinite time propounded for this Posture Whereupon they forthwith voted this Answer to be a flat denial and that his Majesties advisers thereto were Enemies to the State and mischeivous Projectors against the defence of the Kingdom Also that this denial was of such dangerous consequence that it would hazard the peace and safety of all his Kingdoms unless some speedy remedy were applyed by the Parliament And immediately dispatch'd another Petition to his Majesty then at Theobalds wherein they protested that if he did not speedily pass his assent to the satisfaction of their desires they should be inforced by authority of both Houses to dispose thereof and that they did accordingly so resolve to do Farther voting that the Kingdom should be forthwith put into a Posture of defence by Authority of both Houses that the Navy should be speedily rigg'd and a Declaration of their just Fears and Jealousies speedily drawn up with the grounds of their former votes for putting the Kingdom into a Posture by authority of both Houses to clear the Parliament of all mistrusts And to carry out all this under colour of the Peoples desires New Petitions were brought from several Counties viz. one from Staffordsh pretending such dread of the Papists rising there that every man was constrain'd to stand upon his Guard not daring to go to Church unarm'd Others from Worcestersh Berksh Norfolk Norwich Lynne Royston Salop all of them earnestly desiring this Posture of Defence And the very next day the Ordinance for ordering the Militia of the Kingdom by authority of both Houses sent to his Majesty 22 Febr. was assented to by the Lords and thereupon new Lieutenants were assign'd throughout all England and Wales And having in a grand Committee at Merchant-Taylers Hall contrived the Declaration mention'd in their Votes of March the second wherein they made a very great noise of a design to alter Religion in this Kingdom and that the wars with Scotland and Ireland were framed to that end they presented the same to his Majesty at Newmarket within few days after voting the King's Commissions of Lieutenancies in the several Counties illegal as also that there was an urgent and inevitable Necessity for putting his Majesties Subjects into a Posture of Defence and that the Ordinances of both Houses for the Militia being obliging to the People ought to be obeyed by the Fundamental Laws of this Kingdom And lastly that the Earl of Warwick should be appointed Vice-Admiral of his Majesties Ships And having now by these their exorbitant courses together with the Tumults so much endangered his Majesties Royal person that he was forced for safety of himself and the Prince to retire into the North they voted that they would go on with their former Votes concerning the Militia Also that when the Lords and Commons in Parliament should declare what the Laws of the Land be to Question it was a high breach of the Privilege of Parliament After this within few days they sent a Petition to York which was there presented to his Majesty by the Lord Willoughby of Parham and others wherein they alledged that his Majesties denial to their petition for disposing the Militia was a great hinderance to their other proceedings and justified the Tumults at Westminster by taxing his Majesty with denial of such a Guard to them as they might confide in aspersing his Government for many continued Acts of violation of Laws c. And to keep the people still awake by allarming them with new dangers they caused Letters to be read in the House which were said to come from Amsterdam intimating intelligence from Denmark of a great Army ready prepared there to be transported for England and to land at Hull upon some dangerous enterprize The like Letter pretended to come from Newmarket then produced and another from France Whereupon having receiv'd a Petition from the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Common-Council of London in which great Thanks was given to the House for ordering the Militia of the City as they had done with their resolutions therein signified to obey the same As also another from the Cinque-Ports desiring that those places might be strongly guarded and fortified and the Kingdom put into a Posture they ordered that every of his Majesties Forts and Castles should be presently fortified with an Hundred men of the Trained Bands next adjoining to them and ten pieces of Ordinance to each place Also that no Forces should be admitted into Hull without the consent of the Lords and Commons and that Instructions should be sent thither for the farther fortifying of that place Likewise upon another pretended discovery made by one Mr. Cartwright and the Speaker of the House of Commons that they were advertised by Letters from France of an Army preparing there to come for England or Ireland the Lords sent a message to the Commons to let them know that they had designed the Earl of Warwick Vice-Admiral of the Fleet. Whereupon both Houses joyn'd in a Message to the King to inform him of the grounds and reasons of their sending out that Earl as Vice-Admiral without his Majesties consent The King therefore discerning that they had got the Royal Navy into their hands thought it high time to make sure of his Magazine which had been laid up at Hull about two years before part for the service of Ireland and the rest for the security of the North and accordingly rode from York thither for the disposal thereof But when he came to the Gates of that Town Sir Iohn Hotham a member of the House of Commons being a confiding man with the factious party there and by their contrivance got privately thither with Souldiers refused him entrance affirming that in so doing he had the authority of Parliament to bear him out For which insolent act he was declared traiterous by his Majesty and by a special Message so signifyed to both Houses with demand of Justice against him according to the Laws But instead thereof they forthwith not only publish'd a bold Declaration with Votes and order of assistance in the name of both Houses of Parliament justifying Hotham therein
Subscription of those Lords and other loyal persons then attending him at York for levying Horse in his own defence as also for safeguard of the two Houses of Parliament and the Protestant Religion they order'd that ten thousand pounds of the money which had been brought in upon the Propositions unto Guild-Hall should be forthwith laid out to buy Horses and that ten thousand Foot should be speedily raised in London and the parts adjacent to be employ'd according to the direction of the Parliament As also that Arms should be taken out of the Tower for their present occasions to be disposed of by authority of Parliament Likewise that the ten thousand men so raised should be forthwith listed under Officers trained entred into pay and march into any part of the Kingdom by direction and authority of Parliament And of this Army thus speedily to be raised they appointed that the Earl of Essex should be General with whom they voted that they would live and dye Likewise to the end that this great affair might yet carry a specious shew to the world they set forth two more Declarations in the name of both Houses Whereby they pretended their whole endeavour to be for his Majesties Honour and Safety the regaining the ancient Laws Rights and Liberties of the Kingdom so much invaded setling the Protestant Religion in peace and purity c. Taxing the King with endeavour of a change in Religion and Government as also with breach of his solemn Protestations and Imprecations and that he had already begun a war against them being seduced by Jesuitical Counsel and Cavaliers who had designed all to slavery and confusion which gave them occasion thus to raise Forces for defence of Religion and Laws And having given authority to the Earl of Warwick to command his Majesties Navy at Sea they made an Order for him to take provisions for the same out of the Kings stores at Chatham notwithstanding his Majesties command to the contrary Likewise for the better increase of their Army they made Orders for encouragement of Voluntiers within this Kingdom and dominion of Wales to exercise and discipline themselves in a military manner which promises of the Authority of both Houses for their indemnity As also that the Earl of Essex should go on to make all speedy preparation for the raising of Forces according to his Commission appointing Commissioners out of the Common-Council of London to assist him in raising Voluntiers within that City and the Liberties thereof And lastly that a Declaration should be published to satisfy the people concerning their proceedings herein as also to stir them up to afford all speedy aid towards the raising of Forces upon the Propositions for the intent aforesaid and for removing the evil Counsellers from his Majesty How forward and active the Londoners were to promote this Rebellion can hardly be imagined people of all sorts pouring out their Treasure as if it had been for the most advantageous purchase in the world thronging in with their Plate and Rings and not sparing their very Thimbles and Bodkins Neither were they backward in the adventure of their lives five thousand of them listing themselves under the Earl of Essex the next day in Moor-Feilds Which with the other Voluntiers then in readiness amounted to near ten thousand men being forthwith committed to Officers and distributed into Regiments were ordered to be daily exercised and to have constant pay But all these Forces and preparations were raised and made for the King's safety and preservation as 't was pretended though at the same time certain Provisions of Wheat and Wine for his Majesties own Table passing by water towards York were seized by Sir Iohn Hotham and that seizure approved of by the Houses at Westminister with encouragement to do the like upon occasion And as they took all care to hinder the King's good Subjects from the sight of his Declarations and Proclamations lest they should continue stedfast in their old obedience to his Majesty and the Laws as is evident from their imprisoning the Lord Mayor of London as also of the Mayors of Salisbury and St. Albans for the publishing of them according to their duties so were they not slack in spreading and divulging their own as is apparent from their frequent dispersing them And therefore though they had often vented the like before yet now again to remind the people of what was in hand they set forth another bitter Declaration whereby they taxed the King with a design to alter the Government both in Church and State and that the time for effecting thereof was then come to ripeness as did appear by the preparation of Arms made by his Majesty as they alleadged Scandalizing him with giving countenance to the Rebellion in Ireland and therefore declared that they were necessitated to take up Arms for the defence of all these which must otherwise perish The King therefore observing that in pursuance of their Votes and Declarations they had thus form'd a powerful Army and that they had already beseig'd the Town of Porstmouth did set forth a Proclamation declaring the Earl of Essex and all his adherents Traitors with pardon to such as should return to their obedience within six days But this gracious offer was so much contemn'd that so soon as it came to their notice they publish'd a Declaration in the name of both Houses of Parliament containing many shameful invectives against his Majesty declaring all such to be Traitors that were Contrivers or Countenancers of this last Proclamation of August the ninth And that if his Majesty would disband his Forces abandon those wicked Counsellers and hearken to the wholsome advice of his great Council they would endeavour to make him and his posterity as great and rich as any Prince that ever sway'd the Scepter CHAP. XII BUt what this specious offer meant the King by woful experience being sufficiently sensible and of all other helps in small hope publish'd another Proclamation declaring his purpose to erect his Standard-royal at Notingham upon the twentieth of August requiring the aid and assistance of all his Subjects on the North of Trent and twenty miles Southwards for suppressing the power of those Rebels which were then on their march against him And therewithall a Declaration setting forth their evil practises and proceedings from the beginning of that Parliament But the Rebels for so I shall now call them having brought their work to this height and for their better support therein having seized on an hundred thousand pounds of the money rais'd by Act of Parliament for the service of Ireland having also deposed Sir Richard Gurney Lord Mayor of London as also committed him to the Tower and by their own authority set up another they sent Forces into several parts of this Realm viz. into Kent putting them into Cotham-House as also into the Block-house
and Sconces at Graves-end and Chatham together with Dover-Castle Into Leicestershire they sent the Earl of Stanford with Horse Foot and Canon Into Warwickshire the Lord Brooke and others with six thousand Horse and Foot and into Dorsetshire the Earl of Bedford with seven thousand Foot six hundred Horse and fourteen pieces of Canon and special direction into other parts that their Lieutenants and Deputy-Lieutenants should speedily execute their Ordinance for the Militia and declare to all men that it had been and should be the endeavour of both Houses of Parliament to provide for his Majesties safety c. But the more to incense the people they issued out other Declaration in the name of the Lords and Commons in Parliament scandalizing the King with laying the foundation of an arbitrary and tyrannical Government and that notwithstanding all his Vows and Protestations to govern by Law which had been dispersed throughout the Kingdom to blind and deceive the people as they alleaged the most mischievous principles of Tyranny had been exercised that ever were invented with promise to all well affected persons as they term'd them that should be prejudiced by the Cavaliers that they should have full reparation of their damages out of the Estates of all such persons as had withdrawn themselves to York to serve his Majesty The King therefore seriously weighing the perillous condition in which himself and the whole Realm were thus miserably plunged through the rage and malice of these desperate men that he might leave nothing unattemted for preventing of those great calamities which he clearly saw approaching after he had thus erected his royal Standard sent a Message from Notingham to those Houses at Westminister by the Earls of Southampton Dorset and others whereby he propounded that for composure of those unhappy differences some fit persons might be enabled to treat on both sides in such manner and with such freedome as might best tend to an happy conclusion of them But this gracious offer was receiv'd by them with so much scorn and insolence they then having a powerful Army on foot with plenty of Money and other accommodations and his Majesty destitute of all these that the substance of their Answer was that if his Majesty would forsake all his Loyal Subjects then with him and return to his Parliament he should find such expressions of their fidelities and duty as might assure him that his safety Honour and Greatness was only to be found in their affections And immediately publish'd a Declaration setting forth that the Arms which they had taken up c. should not be laid down until his Majesty should withdraw his protection from such as had been voted by both Houses to be Delinquents or that should be so voted and should leave them to the justice of the Parliament Things being brought to this height it will not be improper now to take notice how the Scots did behave themselves towards the King in this unhappy Juncture whose gracious condescensions to them had been such as hardly any age can parallel Wherein it is to be considered that they could not but discern what breaches had been made upon his Majesty and his just Rights by those here who sat at Westminister and call'd themselves the Parliament as also to what degree of strength and power they were grown with the artifices whereby they attain'd thereto Moreover that though by a Petition exhibited to the Lords of his Majesties Privy-Council of that Realm upon the last of May an 1642 they had intimated a desire to shun any just occasion that might give offence to their gracious Soveraign as they then call'd him or of Iealousy to their Brethen of England and so seemed to stand only as Spectators yet when they heard that their Friends in England had put themselves in Arms and were so powerful in strength every way and his Majesty so weak they then not only shew'd themselves more open but sent a Form of their Kirk-Government to the Parliament at Westminster as a Pattern for Reformation with desire from the Assembly of that Kirk that the same might be establish'd here and a Declaration of their affections to the Reformation in Kirk and State Wherein they signified their expectation that England would now bestir themselves and extirpate the Prelatical Hierarchy that the remainder of the work might be the more easy offering their assistance for furthering thereof Of which more anon That there was nothing wanting in his Majesty that could be expected from a most pious and gracious Prince for prevention of those miseries which this turbulent Generation afterwards brought upon these Realms doth sufficiently appear by his sundry pathetick Messages to them formerly sent Nevertheless to acquit himself farther to God and the world by another Message of Sept. the eleventh he manifested to them what endeavours he had used by his many offers but could not obtain any Treaty And therefore now declared that being thus left to his necessary defence relying only on the Providence of God the justness of his Cause and the affections of his good people he should yet piously remember the blood that was to be spilt in this Quarrel and chearfully embrace a Treaty when ever they should desire it But to this was returned a most scornful and scandalous Answer taxing him with committing by his Souldiers oppressions rapines and murthers upon his good Subjects saying that they had offered him all Security Honour Service Obedience Support c. and sought nothing but that their Religion Liberty Peace of the Kingdom and Safety of the Parliament might be secured from the open violence and cunning practises of a wicked party who had long plotted their destruction upbraiding him that Irish Traitors and Rebels were admitted to his presence grace and favour and telling him that if he would return to his Parliament without his forces they would secure his royal Person Crown and Dignity Being thus driven to these great Extremities which was either to submit to their mercy and forsake all those his loyal Subjects who had faithfully adhered to him or to expose his royal Person with that small part of an Army he then had to the uncertain chance of war and hearing that the Earl of Essex the Rebell 's General was gone out of London in great State upon the tenth of September the cheif part of his Army being advanced to Northampton before he march'd from Notingham towards Shrewsbury upon the thirteenth of that month with what forces he then had and at the Head of them near Wellington made a solemn Protestation to defend the Protestant Religion establish'd in the Church of England to govern by the known Laws of the Land that the Liberty and Property of the Subject might be by them preserved with the same care as his own just rights Also to maintain the just Priviledges of Parliament And that he would expect no
the Almighty's providence and protection began his march from Shrewsbury upon the xijth of October Which was no sooner known but that they feircely pursued him having order for that purpose from the Houses at Westminster to march against his Majesties Army and fight with them and to rescue the persons of the King Prince and Duke of York So that on Sunday the xxiijth of October being in view of the King's forces they put their Army in order near Kineton in Warwickshire and bid his Majesty Battel by a signal thereof given with their great Ordinance wherewith they made five shot at his Army before any fire was given on the other part But then began a sharp encounter which continued near three hours Wherein God so preserv'd his Majesty that instead of being utterly destroy'd by these violent Rebels who reckoned all their own their invincible Army as they esteem'd it was so bruis'd and shattered that instead of farther pursuing the King it retreated eight miles backwards where the Souldiers secur'd themselves many days by the advantage of the River Avon under the protection of the Town and Castle of Warwick Of which Battel I purposely omit the Description Nor shall I herein make any farther mention of the course of this war it being a work fit to be handled by it self by some more able pen than in a breif Chronologick way to point at the times of the most memorable Battels and Seiges as also to the Towns Castles and other fortified Places first possess'd or afterwards forcibly gained by either party But instead thereof shall observe the wonderful providence of Almighty God whereby notwithstanding these matchless Conspirators who had by so many subtile artifices arrived to that strength and power and made seizure of his Majesties Forts Ports Navy Magazine and Revenue insomuch as the Lord Say in a publick meeting at Oxford of the Gentry and others thither summon'd by him in September preceding told them upon his Honour that the King had neither Money Power nor Credit his Subjects every where being also not a little tainted with the most Antimonarchical principles that by their seditious Preachers or otherwise could possibly be infused into them Yet that in the space of two months he could be enabled to meet them in open Battel having no Amunition but what came to him from Forreign parts through many perillous adventures the Ports being block'd up by his own Royal Navy then under their command nor having Arms or Moneys but what he obtained by extraordinary difficulties From this day forward purposing to make some brief Remarks upon the ensuing practises of these monstrous men in carrying on that barbarous war to the great devastation and spoil of this late flourishing Kingdom And to shew how opposite all their Actions were to those plausible pretences whereby they did at first most subtilly delude and ensnare a multitude of well-meaning people viz. Religion Laws Liberty and property of the Subject as also Priviledge of Parliament CHAP. XIII TO the end therefore that their party might not be disheartened they always took care not only to suppress any bad tidings but to puff up the people with strange imaginations of Victories and Conquests by producing of forged Letters counterfeit Messengers and the like as was manifest by their commitment of sundry persons to prison which came from Kineton-Battel and reported the very truth of the King's success there viz. Captain Wilson Lieutenant Witney and Mr. Banks who were all sent to the Gate-honse to receive punishment by Martial-Law As also one Mr. Iohn Wentworth of Lincolns-Inne and Sir William Fielding Knight giving twenty pounds to one man by order of the House who came and reported that most that were kill'd in the Battel were of the King's side and that the Earl of Essex commanded him to tell his friends that he with his own hands carried away the King's Standard But to undecieve the world as to the number on both sides slain which were then confidently given out to be five thousand most certain it is that upon strict enquiry from the adjacent Inhabitants who buried the Bodies and took particular notice of the distinct numbers put into each Grave it appears that there were not one thousand complete there interred As the remaining part of the Parliament-Army after this Battel finding not themselves in a condition to encounter the King again without new Recruits and therefore made a fair retreat no less than eight miles backward as hath been observed so did some of them before the fight standing doubtful of the success forbear to adventure themselves therein amongst which the afterfamous Oliver Cromwell was one if some of the most eminent persons of his own party who were in the fight bely him not who being Captain of a Troop of Horse in the General 's Regiment came not into the Field but got up into a Steeple within view of the Battel and there discerning by a Prospective-glass the two Wings of their Horse to be utterly routed made such hast to be gone that instead of descending the Stairs by which he came up he swing'd down by a Bell-rope and ran away with his Troop The King soon after holding a soft march towards Oxford Banbury-Castle then garrisoned by the late Earl of Peterborough's Regiment of Foot and Broughton-house the cheif Seat of that great Rebel the Lord Sa yielded upon Summons as he passed But the Rebels that they might not seem to receive a foil in this first great Action the Citizens of London were summon'd to Guild-Hall where the Earls of Pembroke and Holland the Lord Say and Wharton with Mr. Strode made large Speeches to hearten them telling their great Victory at Kineton Battel But the conclusion was to crown their work as their phrase was by farther and speedy Supplies of Men Money and all other assistance To which shadow of their victory to give the better gloss a public Order was made that a gratulatory Present of five hundred pounds should be sent from the Houses to the Earl of Essex for his good service already done in the war And lest any of the deluded people should return to their obedience upon his Majesties gracious Proclamation of pardon they ordered that those Proclamations should not be published But though all these Rebellious forces were hitherto rais'd by voluntary contributions and free offers of many to engage themselves personally in this blessed Cause most of the common sort being really satisfied that they should only go and fetch up the King to his Parliament out of the hands of his Evil Counsellers and a few inconsiderable Cavaliers for by that name they call'd all the Royalists and then return triumphantly without fighting this unexpected brush at Kineton-field could not silence those who had lost their Husbands Children and Friends Seeing therefore their farther Voluntary assistances came in but slowly the Houses at Westminster made an Order
York as also by fourty three Dukes Marquesses Earls Vicounts and Barons of the House of Peers and cxviii members of the House of Commons there present many others by reason of distance of place sickness and imployments elsewhere in his Majesties service and for want of timely notice of that Proclamation of Summons not being then come thither But the effect which this their Letter produced was in the first place to be cryed throughout the Streets of London in scorn as the Petition of the Prince and Duke of York for peace and a meer frivolous answer or Paper in form of a Letter directed to the Earl of Forth then General of the King's forces wherein was inclosed a printed paper called a National Covenant of the Kingdoms of England and Scotland and two other Papers the one called a Declaration of both the Kingdoms and the other a Declaration of the Kingdom of Scotland In that their General 's Letter it was pretended that because there was no address to the two Houses of Parliament nor acknowledgment of them it could not be communicated to them whereas it was notoriously known that he did so far impart it as that a Committee of theirs advised and fram'd the answer Besides it plainly appears by the penning thereof that they all concurr'd in the Resolution therein mention'd whereby 't is clear enough that this was but an excuse or shift to avoid any Treaty And what could that printed Covenant and two Declarations inclosed signifie but to shew that before they would admit of a Treaty all the Lords and Commons assembled at Oxford must join in that Covenant with them for the absolute extirpation of Church-government here without nay tho against the King's consent submit the Lives Liberties and Estates of themselves and all others who according to their allegiance had assisted his Majesty to the mercy of those members then sitting at Westminster as also to admit of and justifie that invasion of the Scots according to the plain sense of their Declaration But notwithstanding all this the Lords and Commons at Oxford continuing still sollicitous for an happy peace for avoiding delay or cavil about Names or Titles or descants upon words humbly besought his Majesty to send Messengers with Instructions to desire a Treaty for peace Whereunto he readily assenting two persons were by him nominated and a Letter written to the Earl of Essex for their safe conduct Which Letter had in substance this Answer viz. that if they would first agree that those Lords and Commons sitting a Westminster were the Parliament and the King 's only Council that those Gentlemen should have a safe conduct This being therefore taken into consideration it was thought fit to desire his Majesty to write his royal Letters to the Earl of Essex himself and therein to inclose a Letter superscribed To the Lords and Commons of Parliament assembled at Westminster Which his Majesty accordingly did and thereby desired that a convenient number of fit persons might be appointed and authorized to meet with all convenient speed at such a place as they should nominate with an equal number of fit persons appointed and authorized by him to treat of the ways and means for setling the present distractions of the Kingdom and procuring a happy peace In answer whereunto they insisted that themselves thus sitting at Westminster were the Parliament convened according to the Fundamental Laws of the Kingdom and that those loyal persons members of the Parliament who were come to his Majesty at Oxford according to his royal Proclamation had deserted their Trust and levyed war against the Parliament and in sum did intimate that what they should do herein must be with the concurrent advice of the Commissioners for the Kingdom of Scotland according to their late solemn League and Covenant calling his Majesties earnest endeavours for Peace but Professions and their own feigned pretences most real intentions letting fall by way of menace that his Majesty could not be the least and last sufferer Hitherto as a consequence of this second Invasion by the Scots I have given a brief touch of his Majesties farther incessant endeavours for obtaining a happy peace with these violent spirited men by an amicable Treaty Which taking no effect by reason they then saw such a likelihood through the aid and assistance of those their dear Brethren to carry all powerfully before them I shall look back a little and take notice not only how their heavy oppressions upon the people by many farther grievous Impositions were carried on but how they proceeded in their advancing the Scepter of Iesus Christ in this Realm for so they called their Presbyterian Discipline Wherein I observe that within six days next after this their Invasion the Members at Westminster passed an Ordinance for regulating the Vniversity of Cambridge by Edward Earl of Manchester then their Chancellour that is to say for turning out all loyal persons from their Headships and Fellowships in any of the Colleges there and for removing scandalous Ministers id est all orthodox men throughout the several associated Counties of Essex Norfolk Suffolk Hertford Cambridge Huntington and Lincoln That the Welch also might be the sooner brought under the yoke they soon after made another Ordinance whereby they impower'd Sir Thomas Middleton Knight to take Subscriptions for raising of Forces in the six Counties of North-wales and give the public faith for such moneys as should be raised to that purpose CHAP. XVIII HAving thus taken notice of the Transactions in their Parliament at Westminster I come now according to my designed method to the Militarie-business of this year 1643. In which I find that the King having gained ground in the North and West his farther success in sundry parts was not unsutable thereto for Sir Hugh Cholmley of Whitby in Yorkshire who at first had been a most confiding man thought it now time to declare for the King So likewise did Captain Brown-Bushell Governour of Scarborough Castle in that County who then delivered it up for his Majestie And within few days after their great Northern Champion Ferdinando Lord Fairfax was routed by the Earls of Newcastle and Cumberland at Bramham-moore in that County which great defeat so startled the Members at Westminster that they forthwith solicited the ayd of their Brethren the Scots In the neck of this also Prince Rupert upon a sharp encounter near Bermicham a seditious and populous Town in Warwick shire with a strong party of the Rebels commanded by Colonel Greaves worsted them with the loss of the Loyal William Earl of Denbigh who there received his deaths wound Soon after that also another party of them commanded by Iohn son and heir to the famous Sir Iohn Hotham their trusty Governour of Hull was routed near Ancaster in Lincolnshire And Litchfield close which they had got after the unsuccessfull attempt thereof by the Lord Brooke was without much adoe
Scotland much revived their drooping Spirits for winter being over they fram'd an Ordinance that Sir William Brereton in Cheshire should have authority to take Subscriptions for raising more forces in that County and soon after imposed a new Excise upon Allom Coperas Monmouth-caps Hats of all sorts Hops Saffron Starch all manner of Silks and Stuffs and on several other commodities made or growing in England not formerly charged And having by their many and great grievous Taxes thus largely provided for welcoming in the Scots those their dear Brethren advanced Southwards and with the Earl of Manchester laid siege to the City of York The loss of all the North being by this means thus in great peril and Prince Rupert coming with the chief of all His Majesties forces to the relief thereof he was encountred with the greatest strength that the English Rebels then had the joynt forces under the command of Ferdinando Lord Fairfax and the Earl of Manchester with the whole Scottish Army commanded by Leslley which drew off from their siege of York whereupon in a bloudy Battle fought at Marston-moore about four miles from that City though at first he utterly routed the Scots and the Earl of Manchester yet following the chase too far presuming the day his own through the onely conduct of Cromwell then Lieutenant General to Manchester with a fresh body of Horse the rest of the royal Army after a valiant and â—harp dispute being much over-powered was totally shattered and vanquisht So that he was constrain'd to quit the field and march Southwards with what Horse he had left exposing York hopeless of relief to the power of the Enemy which by reason thereof was delivered up to Cromwell within few days after But of this fatal Action the King then far remote knowing nothing at present His royal Heart incessantly minding the preservation of his people from further spoil by the wars sent to the Members at Westminster desiring as formerly that they would appoint such and so many persons as they should think fit sufficiently authorized by them to attend him upon safe-conduct given and there to conclude how all things in question might be fully setled Which gracious Message though not then regarded so much were they elated with that their success at Marston-moore yet after that grand defeat of their old General the Earl of Essex in Cornwal which hapned on the first of September next following His Majesty then reminding them of that his Message from Evesham they did vouchsafe within two months following to send him certain propositions but such as did still apparently manifest their confidence to carry on the work by power through the ayd of the Scots with whom they had entred into so firm a combination for assistance by their solemn League and Covenant For by these propositions amongst others they had the boldness to make these following Demands viz. that the King should swear to sign that Instrument called the solemn League and Covenant adding according to the example of His Royal Father of happy memory for so they had the face to say though Mr. Nye had exprest that it was such an Oath as for matter persons and other circumstances was never in any age before And not onely so but that an Act of Parliament might be passed for to injoyne the taking of it by all His Majesties Subjects within His three Kingdomes Next that a Bill should be passed for the utter abolishing of Episcopacy without which Goverment it is well known that no National Church ever was since the Apostles times And that their Ordinance for the calling and sitting of their Assembly of Divines should be confirm'd by Act of Parliament Also that an Act should be passed for confirming their Treaty for bringing in the Scots-Army into England and for establishing that their disloyal Declaration made by themselves and the Scots bearing date 30. Ian. 1643. whereby Prince Rupert and Prince Maurice His Majesties Nephews Iames Earl of Derby William Marquess of Newcastle Iohn Earl of Bristol with divers other of his Nobility the Archbishop of Canterbury and Bishop of Ely then their prisoners with a multitude of other worthy persons both of this Kingdome and of Scotland were excepted as to life and their estates doom'd to pay publick Debts Likewise that a great number more whose names are there exprest together with all those Loyal Members of Parliament which attended his Majesty at Oxford should be removed from His Majesties Councils and never to come within the Verge of the Court but by their permission Then that all Judges Serjeants Councellors Attorneys Doctors Advocates and Proctors in the Law-common or Civil who had adhered to the King should be made uncapable of any practice publick or private and all Clergy-men whatsoever who had also adhered to the King to be incapable of any preferment or imployment in the Church or Common-wealth Moreover that the Forces by Sea and Land for the Kingdomes of England and Scotland should be setled by Act of Parliament in Commissioners nominated by both their Houses of Parliament and that the education and marriage of the King's children as also the making Peace or War with any forreign Princes should be with the advice and consent or Parliament Furthermore that by Act of Parliament the Deputy or chief Governour of Ireland be nominated by both Houses of Parliament and in the Intervals of Parliament by Commissioners to continue during the pleasure of both Houses And that the Lord Chancellour Lord Keeper Lord Treasurer Commissioners of the great Seal or Treasury Lord Warden of the Cinque-ports Chancellour of the Exchequer and Dutchy Secretaries of State Judges of both Benches and Barons of the Exchequer for the Kingdomes of England and Ireland should be nominated by both Houses of Parliament to continue quamdiu se benè gesserint and in the Intervals of Parliament by the before-mention'd Commissioners The like for the Kingdome of Scotland adding the Justice-general and in such manner as the Estates in Parliament there should think fit Divers other Propositions also they then sent no less unreasonable than these which for brevities sake I omit So that in short the summe of all was no less than that His Majesty should condescend to the utter destruction and overthrow of the Religion by Law established in the Church of England which he had sworn to maintain and whereunto all the reverend Clergy of the Realm had likewise subscribed sacrifice the Lives and Estates of divers of his most faithful subjects to the avarice and ambition of these men subject all those loyal persons learned in the Laws Common and Civil to their malice Give up the power of the Sword totally into the hands of his greatest Enemies therewith not onely to oppress his good subjects at home but according to their own pleasure to molest and annoy his Friends and Allies abroad and prostitute the Education of his dear
the better of the day viz. in the Fight at Bramden Heath near Ailesford in Hantshire where Sir William Waller worsted the Lord Hopton the Lord Iohn Stuart being there mortally wounded In the Battle at Marston-moore in Yorkshire the victory was chiefly gain'd by the valour and skilfull conduct of Cromwel Lieutenant general to the Earl of Manchester as hath been already observed with the Earl of Manchester's Horse in the left Wing drawn out of the Eastern association shortly after which the City of York was delivered up to him on honorable terms by Sir Thomas Glemham then Governour there And in October Newcastle after a long siege of many months given up to the Scots In which month happened also the second Battel at Newbery in Berkshire where great slaughter was on both sides In which it was observed that none of the Rebels fought more fiercely than those who at the delivering up their Arms in Cornwal as hath heen already mentioned did then engage never more to fight against the King Upon the ill success of this Battel for so the members at Westminster esteem'd it the Parliament party having double in number to the King it was that the Earl of Essex their General became suspected of carelesness or discontent so that much debate happened amongst them concerning that point The Independent party therefore having a design to be rid of him to make the more specious ostentation that all their Actions wholly tended to the Glory of God and the publick good and nothing to their private Interest being then more predominant than the Presbyterian prevailed in making a Vote that no Member of either House should during that war enjoy or execute any office or command Military or Civil which had been granted or conferred on them by either House or by any authority derived from either House and that an Ordinance should be drawn up accordingly By which device that party did not only lay aside this their great General but outed many eminent Presbyterians from divers beneficiall offices both in the Treasury Garisons and other considerable imployments placing in their stead those of their own party Whereupon Sir Thomas Fairfax was constituted General of all their forces and a new modelling of the Army voted but with no small difficulty the Presbyterians much opposing it so that the Independents were necessitated to make use of their old trick in getting petitions out of several Counties ere their Ordinance to that purpose could pass In pursuance of which vote his Commission but the clause in the solemn League and Covenant for preservation of his Majesties person omitted therein Sir Thomas Fairfax with great formality received Col. Oliver Cromwell though a member of the House of Commons being then made his Lieutenant general with whom they did specially dispense in that point of Self-denial Which being accomplish'd and the whole party not a little elated by this second Invasion of the Scots to their aid they began to cry aloud for Justice upon delinquents whereupon Sir Alexander Carew one of the Knights of the Shire for Cornwall tasted sharply thereof For this Sir Alexander having been a most confiding man and in that respect constituted Governour of Plymouth-fort at length discerning the greatest part of the West reduced to his Majesties obedience began rationally to consult his own safety and to make his peace with the King by the delivering up of that strong hold but his intention therein being discovered before the business could be fully effected he was condemn'd to death by a Council of War held at Guild-Hall in London and on the twenty third of December beheaded on Tower Hill with the very same Ax by which the noble Earl of Strafford lost his life Which notable accident is not fit to pass without a special remark for most certain it is that upon voting the Bill in the House of Commons for putting that great man to death the most Loyal Sir Bevill Grenevile the other Knight for Cornwall sitting by Sir Alexander and much abhorring that unjust procedure against a person whose life the known Laws of the Land could not touch express'd himself thus to Sir Alexander Pray Sir let it never be said that any Member of our County should have a hand in this fatal business and therefore pray ye give your vote against the Bill To whom Sir Alexander instantly replyed If I were sure to be the next man that should suffer upon the same Scaffold with the same Ax I would give my consent to the passing of it How exactly this was verified is sufficiently known Nor is it less worthy of note that about this time also they reckoned with their trusty Governour of Hull Sir Iohn Hothum and likewise with Iohn his eldest son who had been Prisoners in the Tower of London from the month of Iuly 1643. though formerly much magnified for refusing to give the King entrance there as hath been already observed whose great crimes were that when they discern'd the Earl of Newcastle powerfull in the North the Queen also safe landed at Burlinton with Arms and Ammunition and the strength of the Rebels not a little declining in all parts and therefore deeming it best to make their peace with the King in time they privately treated with the Earl of Newcastle or his Agents for the delivery up of that Garison but so unwarily as that their design was discovered whereupon they had sentence of death passed upon them on the seventh of December by the Earl of Manchester and others then sitting at Guild-Hall in London which was accordingly executed on his son upon the first of Ianuary next ensuing and on himself the morrow following And not many days after being thus flesht with bloud they brought the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury to the same block as hath been already observed Soon after which the Tide running swiftly on their side Shrewsbury was surprized by their forces nothing of moment thenceforth being acted by the Royallists other than a defeat which Colonel Massey received by Prince Rupert near Ledbury in Herefordshire and the taking of Leicester by the King which proved fatal to him as we shall see anon all going thenceforth to wrack on his Majesties part For at the very entrance of this year Donington-castle was yielded up to them Soon after which Cromwel having defeated some of the King's forces near Iâ—ip-bridg in Oxford shire and upon summons got Blechington house within few weeks after General Fairfax came with his whole Army before Oxford whereupon Godstow house was quitted by the Royallists Evesham in Worcestershire taken and Gaunt-house in Oxfordshire yieldded up All this while Fairfax continuing before Oxford but hearing that the King was somewhat considerable after the taking of Leicester he raised his siege and march'd towards him Both Armies therefore meeting near Navesby in Northampton shire upon their first encounter
his desire And having no Answer to that neither he sent a third whereby he offered upon engagement for his freedome and safety in going and returning to come himself to London or Westminster for the space of fourty days and there to treat personally with them offering to commit the Militia of this Realm unto certain persons to be nominated by himself and them equally for such a time and with such powers and limitations as were delivered in by a paper upon the Treaty at Uxbridg After which third Message he received their Answer to his second which was the refusal of a safe-conduct to the Duke and those other who were design'd to go saying that they then had certain Propositions and Bills under consideration which they purposed to tender unto his Majestie for the setling of a safe and well grounded peace as they call'd it which after agreement upon them by the Scotch-Commissioners they resolv'd to present unto him The King not satisfied with this sent a fourth Message whereby he earnestly pressed their embracing his offer for a personal Treaty with them at Westminster And after expectance of an Answer thereto for the space of full twenty days and hearing nothing he sent them a fifth Message to the same purpose enlarging his offers for his People's quiet in sundry particulars But whilst this message was upon the way towards them came an answer to his fourth absolutely negative as to his admittance for coming to them still telling him of the Propositions and Bills which they were preparing to send Which Answer being wholly unsatisfactory and apparently manifesting their aversness to peace he sent a sixth Message to them incessantly importuning their speedy Answer to his former and within few days after a seventh wherein he expressed somewhat in confutation of those frivolous Arguments which they had used against his Personal Treaty with them continuing his desires thereof Certain it is that as they grew in strength and power so their Insolence which thus prompted them to decline all good expedients for accommodation increased more and more Nevertheless his Majestie not totally despairing but that by farther condescensions he might move this hard-hearted Generation sent unto them his eighth Message whereby acquitting himself from having any hand in some passages of the Lord Herbert of Ragland then called Earl of Glamorgan in Ireland which he well knew that they would be apt enough to scandalize him with he offer'd that in case they would admit him to come to London in order to a personal Treaty with them he would leave the management of the War in Ireland wholly to themselves as also the nomination of the Persons to be entrusted with the Militia with such power and limitations as were express'd in the Paper delivered by his Commissioners in the Treaty at Uxbridge for the Term of seven years as had been by them desired Likewise the nomination of the Lord Admiral Officers of State and Judges And for Religion to give liberty that all those who were unwilling to communicate with the Church of England in the Service already establisht by Act of Parliament should not be urged thereto provided that all other Protestants behaving themselves peaceably and quietly in and towards the Civil Government should have the free exercise of theirs tendring also unto them a general Act of Pardon and oblivion Which gracious Message so full of condescension produced from them nothing in effect but Scorn and Contempt For though the King caused the Lord Herbert for that his misdemeanor in Ireland to be arrested upon suspicion of Treason and imprisoned they traduced his Majestie with under-hand-compliance therein affirming that he had given that Lord a private Commission with command to manage it with all secrecie and that it contain'd such odious and shamefull things as himself blusht publickly to own or impart to the Marquess of Ormond his Lieutenant there And whereas he had in his said Message most graciously tendred them all that the most wicked and guilty persons could desire or wish viz. Liberty for their Consciences safety for their Persons security for their Estates greatness for their desires and peace to enjoy all nothing would be accepted insomuch as after a full months expectation of some return upon those his offers and hearing nothing by His ninth Message he pressed them for some Answer but all to no purpose For like as a Shadow pursued they still fled from him whereupon after the stay of one month more he sent them His tenth Message wherein taking notice of the duty he owed to God and sense of his peoples miseries that no means might be left unattempted which could conduce to a safe and well-grounded peace he offer'd unto them that in case he might have the Faith of both their Houses of Parliament for the preservation of his Honour Person and Estate and liberty given to all his faithfull Subjects who had adhered to him to go to their own Houses and there enjoy their estates peaceably without compelling to take any Oath that was not enjoyned by the undoubted Laws of the Kingdome or other molestation he would immediately disband all his Forces dismantle his Garrisons return to his two Houses of Parliament pass an Act of Oblivion and free pardon there and doe whatsoever else they should advise him to for the good and peace of the Kingdome But these great Masters who to captivate the people before they had got sufficient power into their hands had by their most solemn Protestations and Declarations which are publisht in Print to the world profess'd in the presence of Almighty God and for the satisfaction of their consciences and discharge of that great Trust which lay upon them as they then exprest made their solemn Protestation and Declaration to this Kingdome and Nation and to the whole World that no private passion or respect no evil intention to His Majesties person no design to the prejudice of His just Honour and Authority engaged them to raise Forces and take up Arms c. And again we profess from our very Hearts and Souls our Loyalty and Obedience to his Crown readiness and resolution to defend his Person and support his Estate with our Lives and Fortunes to the utmost of our power c. Moreover we profess we desire nothing from his Majesty but that he would return in peace to his Parliament And again We profess in the sight of Almighty God which is the strongest obligation that a Christian and the most solemn publick Faith which any such State as a Parliament can give that we would receive him with all Honour yield him all true obedience and subjection and faithfully endeavour to defend his person and estate from all danger and to the utmost of our power to establish to him and his people all the blessings of a most glorious and happy reign Nevertheless so obdurate were their Hearts being then rais'd to an height of confidence that
cleared and those difficulties explained to him which he then conceived to be destructive to his just regal power in case he should give a full consent to those Propositions as they then stood Engaging himself to give his chearful assent to all such Bills as should be really to the good and peace of his people and to prefer the happiness of this Kingdome before his own particular And as a farther means to work a confidence in them of his own sincerity in these things he offered again to trust them with his own person conjuring them as they were Christians and Subjects and as they were men who desired to leave a good name behind them so to receive and make use of that his Answer that all issues of bloud might be stopped and those unhappy distractions peaceably setled But as his former gracious and frequent offers so this could not then find any acceptance at all with them by reason that it tended to the composure of those lamentable distractions which tended to the utter ruine of the King and Realm their aims at first and continued resolutions still being to share the spoyl which by their strength and power they had most unjustly got Nay in stead of any kindness or comfort which he might rationally expect from their many and most solemn promises and protestations they perpetually tormented his pious Soul with incessant importunities to take their hypocritical Covenant and sent for several of their most rigid Preachers to terrify him with their Kirk-censures upon his refusal thereof In which sad and disconsolate condition I shall for a while leave him and take a short view of the transactions betwixt the Members sitting at Westminster and those at Edenborough with their respective Commissioners The principal work being now done here in England by the help of the Scots the Grandees here as well as others began to be weary of their dear Brethren and for the sooner riddance of them passed a Vote that a Message should be sent to the Scottish Army that in regard they were not usefull in this Kingdome for the present and that the payment thereof would be a great burthen thereto they should with all convenient speed return into their Country But the Scots never intending to be loosers by their journey hither knowing full well how to make the best use of those advantages they then had gave their dear Brethren very good words telling them in their answer to the demands made in pursuance of that Vote that their earnest desires were the setling of Religion and Church Government which as it was the principal ground of their engagement in this Cause so would the perfecting of it be their chiefest joy and Glory of both Kingdomes it being the constant resolution of that Kingdome against all opposition to strengthen and cherish the Brotherly kindness between the Kingdomes and Peace setled with Truth and those things performed by the Honourable Houses which by Treaty they were obliged unto to recall their Army with as great alacrity as they were ready to send the same into England for the assistance of their Brethren And in another Letter speaking of the Arrears due to their Army they had these words This Kingdome lyeth under the burthen of great and vast expence in raising and entertaining of Armies and hath with the lives of many precious men set their own Houses on fire to quench the flame of yours And seeing by the seasonable assistance afforded by this Kingdome to you and by the late successes wherewith God hath blessed your Armies you are in a great measure freed of your troubles and are in a far better capacity to pay the moneys due to our Armies in England and Ireland than you were at any time since the beginning of these Wars we demand of the honourable houses to make payment of the summs of money duly owing to this Kingdome ¶ The state of things standing thus made the Game now to be play'd betwixt these great Masters not a little difficult to each the chief business of the then predominant party at Westminster being to gain the person of the King into their own hands and in case he should not upon the matter totally quit his Regal power to them by taking their Covenant and assenting to those their destructive propositions before-mentioned then to keep him close prisoner and exercise the same power without him And the design of the Scots not onely to use the like Regal-power in Scotland but to get a large sum of mony to boot considering that having the King in their hands the Grandees there were able to make their own terms on the behalf of themselves as to Riches and Honours There was therefore no means unessayed by each for accomplishing their respective ends But the Arguments and debates about this business continuing no less than six months before all things were fully agree'd I shall reserve my observations upon them till then and in the mean time take notice of what else did occur that is most remarkable in order to the carrying on their main work and divide the same into two parts the one touching their attempts upon the King in relation to the Covenant and Propositions the other towards the advancement of the Scepter of Iesus Christ for by that title they called their Presbyterean Doctrine and Discipline As to the first About the beginning of September Iames Duke Hamilton Lindsey Earl of Craford the Earl of Cassiles and some others from the Estates of Scotland came to Newcastle to the King and there earnestly solicited him to take the Covenant and sign the Propositions To second which motion there was a petition presented to His Majesty from the general Assembly of the Kirk of Scotland for Reformation of Religion according to the Covenant and uniformity of Church government denouncing God's anger upon him and the hazard to lose the Hearts of his good subjects in case he assented not thereto Soon after which Mr. Andrew Cant Mr. Robert Blayre and Mr. Iames Douglass came thither also to press him to the same purpose To torment him likewise yet more one of these violent men I mean a rigid Presbyterean-preacher besides many rude and uncivil expressions in his Sermon there before the King called for the 52. Psalm to be sung by the congregation which beginneth thus Why do'st thou Tyrant boast abroad thy wicked works to praise Whereupon His Majesty instantly stood up and called for the 56. Psalm beginning thus Have mercy Lord on me I pray for men would me devour Which the people readily sung waving the other Nay the fierceness of these Scottish-presbyters against His Sacred Majesty was such as that upon certain Proposals made to those of them who were Commissioners from the general Assembly viz. If the King shall come into Scotland and that the Kingdome of England shall exclude him of the Government there for his leaving them without granting the Propositions Whether or not
the least to the contrary and imparted to him the substance of what had then passed betwixt them Whereupon the King framing his Answer to those Proposals from the Parliament so brought to him as abovesaid sent it by the same person to Cromwell and Ireton to be perused with liberty to add or alter what they should think fit Which being done by them and returned to His Majesty he wrote it a new and sent it to Westminster But see now the horrid perfidiousness of Cromwell and Ireton No sooner was this candid and gracious Answer from the King Imparted to the House of Commons but that both of them appeared with the highest in their bitter invectives against it The News whereof being forthwith brought to the King he call'd for the person who had been so lately with Cromwell and acquainting him therewith sent him back to Cromwell to require a reason thereof Whose answer was that what he had then said in the House of Commons was to sound the depth of those virulent humours wherewith the Presbytereans whom he knew to be no friends to the King were possess'd with all But after that time he never came more to His Majesty That person therefore whom the King had so imployed to Cromwell observing thus much made it his chief business to find out the Councils and designs of the principal Officers of the Army at Putney and discerning at length how dangerous they were in reference to His Majesty gave him private Advertisement thereof to the end he might consider which way best to preserve himself Whereupon resolving to get privately from Hampton-Court to the City of London the same person so imploy'd as abovesaid undertook to find him out a secure lodging there and accordingly leaving him did provide such a one His Majesty determining that so soon as he should get safe thither to let him have knowledge thereof And now at length being fully sensible of what he had so long feared which was that notwithstanding his own clear and candid dealing with them in all respects and that he did so far rely upon them that he had strictly prohibited all those of his faithful subjects who had served in his Armys that they should not joyn with the Scots in case they should raise any forces in order to his pretended restoration as Cromwell seem'd to suspect that they might though nothing less would have been the effects thereof considering they stuck so close to their solemn League and Covenant he was to expect no better than destruction and ruine to himself and his posterity and absolute slavery to all his good Subjects he caused a Boat to be privately brought to the River-side and upon the eleventh of November about the beginning of the night went alone from the Privy-lodgings through a Door where no Guard stood into the Park and so crossing the Thames landed at Ditton where Sir Iohn Berkley afterwards Lord Berkley Mr. Iohn Ashburnham and Colonel William Legg sometime Groomes of his Bedchamber were placed with Horses But so it hapned that when the King was got on Shore and had stay'd some time for them Mr. Ashburnham diswaded him from going to London and led him into Hantshire where His Majesty demanding of him to what place he intended to conduct him he answered into the Isle of Wight whereof Colonel Hamond was then Governour in whom Mr. Ashburnham had no little confidence To which His Majesty replyed that he would not adventure himself thither unless he might have sufficient assurance under the Governour 's hand for his security from any danger and thereupon sent Mr. Ashburnham and Sir Iohn Berkley into the Isle to treat with Hamond to that purpose staying himself at Lichfield house belonging to the Earl of Southampton with Colonel Legg till they returned strictly charging them that they should not let Hamond know where he was unless he would give him full assurance under his Hand for his freedome and return thence when he pleased But instead of observing these His Majestie 's directions they came back and brought Hamond with them And being come to Lichfield went to the King then in his Bed-chamber leaving Hamond below telling His Majesty what they had done whereat the King being not a little amazed askt them if they had a promise under Hamond's hand for his security and they replying No but thâ—â— he would approve himself a man of Honour He plainly told them that they had betray'd him or words to that purpose concluding then that he was no better than his prisoner Which sharp resentment of his condition 〈…〉 them so neer that they offer'd to kill Hamond 〈◊〉 take some other course for His Majestie 's safety But to this their vain proposal the King did utterly refuse to assent rather choosing to yeild up himself a Sacrifice as he afterwards was made to those bloud-thirsty-men who had resolved his destruction and subversion of the Government than to be guilty of assenting to take away the life of that one Rebel in cold bloud And putting himself thereupon into the hands of that unworthy person was by him kept in no better condition than a prisoner untill he was by his consent taken away by the direction of Cromwell and the rest of those bloudy Regicides who brought him to the Block as we shall see anon But I return At his departure from Hampton-Court he left in his withdrawing-room a Letter directed to the Commissioners which attended him there to be communicated to both Houses of Parliament the effect whereof was to tell them that he had with great patience endured a tedious restraint which he did willingly undergo whilst he had any hopes that it might conduce to the peace of the Kingdoms but then finding by too certain proofs that this his continued patience would not onely turn to his personal ruin but be of much more prejudice than furtherance of the publick good he did conceive that he was bound as well by natural as political obligations to seek his safety by retiring himself for some time from the publick view both of his friends and enemies challenging the judgment of all indifferent men if he had not just cause to free himself from the hands of those who did change their Principles with their condition earnestly urging that all just Interests viz. Presbyterean Independent Army and Scots might be heard together with himself with Honour Freedom and Safety and then that he would instantly break through that cloud of retirement and shew himself to be really Pater patriae In this Letter of his Majestie 's who unparallel'd Sufferings had raised his Observations to an higher pitch than some who have been much magnified for their Wisedom did ever reach it is to be noted that he saw he had just cause to free himself from the Hands of those who did change their principles with their condition Now lest this his expression should be thought to have reference meerly to the Independents in whose power he then
confiding-friends in all parts of the Realm Who acted for them so vigourously as that from Launton a populous corporation in Somersetshire they had very great Thanks for the same So likewise from the Godly-party in Buckinghamshire who also made large promises to adhere to and stand by them in the farther prosecution thereof to the utmost of their abilities against all opposers desiring that they would proceed to a speedy setling of the civil Government in such a way as might best conduce to the freedome and happiness of this Nation and that they would put forth their power for promoting of Religion according to the word of God to give due encouragement to all Godly and able Ministers to cast out such as were scandalous and unfit for the work of the Ministry and to be tender of the Consciences of such whose conversations were as becometh the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For which the Petitioners had not onely thanks thereupon rendred unto them for their constant affections to the Parliament but an order was forthwith made that the Petition should be printed to the end that the world might take notice of the singular affections of the Petitioners and that they might be an example for other Counties of the Kingdome Which transactions here so awakened the Brethren of Scotland that seeing no good could be effected by words they resolv'd to dispute the business otherwise and therefore agreed of raysing an Army But the general Assembly of that Kirk endeavouring to oppose them therein the estates of Parliament there declared that the breaches of the Covenant and Treaties should be represented and reparations sought for the same Next that the War which they were to make with England should be for strengthning the Union betwixt the two Kingdomes and encouraging the Presbytereans and well affected there Moreover that they would declare His Majestie 's concessions concerning Religion not to be satisfactory And that whereas Religion had been and they trusted should be the principal end of all their undertakings so they would be carefull that the then present question to be stated should contain security and assurance to be had from His Majesty by his solemn Oath under his hand and Seal that he should for himself and for his successors give his royal assent to pass Acts of Parliament injoyning the League and Covenant establishing Presbytreal Government the Directory for Worship and Confession of Faith in all his Dominions and that he should never make opposition to any of these nor endeavour any change thereof As also that this security should be had from him before his restitution to the exercise of his royal power All this notwithstanding the Kirk was not one jot satisfied but earnestly urged that the Parliament should declare against His Majestie 's concessions positively without any condition and presently without delay they being as they exprest so prejudicial to the Cause and Covenant And when they discerned that Forces were levying throughout that Kingdome they so much feared that His Majesty and his good Subjects might receive any benefit thereby that they did put up a large Petition to the Parliament there wherein they earnestly desired the Lords as they would answer the contrary at the great day of Judgment that they would not proceed so as to give any encouragement unto the prelatical or malignant party in England nor be any grief to the Presbyterean Party nor to restore the King untill he had resolved the settlement of Presbytery and that what they intended on the King's behalf might be with subordination to those ends exprest in the Covenant Whereupon the Parliament there declared that they would be so far from joyning or associating with the popish prelatical or malignant-party if they should again rise in Arms either to oppose or obstruct all or any of the ends of the Covenant that on the contrary they would oppose and endeavour to suppress them as Enemies to the Cause and Covenant on the other side Likewise that in regard His Majestie 's late concessions and offers concerning Religion were not satisfactory and that the principal ends of all the undertakings of that Nation had been and they hoped should be to see Religion in the first place setled and that as they should endeavour the rescuing of His Majesty from those who malitiously carryed him away from Holdenby-House against his own will and the declared resolutions of both Kingdomes and did still detein him close prisoner to the end he might come with honour freedome and safety to some of his Houses in or about London where both Kingdomes might make their application to him for setling of Religion and a well grounded Peace So they did resolve not to put in His Majestie 's hands or in any other whatsoever such power whereby the ends of the Covenant or any one of them might be obstructed or opposed Religion or Presbyterean-Government endangered but on the contrary that before any Agreement should be made His Majesty should give assurance under his solemn Oath and under his Hand and Seal that he should for himself and his successors give his Royal assent and agreement to such Act or Acts of Parliament of both and either Kingdomes respectively for enjoyning the League and Covenant and fully establishing Presbyterean-Government Directory for Worship and Confession of Faith in all his Dominions and that he should never make opposition to any of these nor endeavour any thing thereof Moreover that if any war should be made as it should be on just and necessary grounds so did they resolve to give the trust and charge of their Armies and Committees to none but such as should be and were of known integrity and against whom there was no just cause of exception Also that the Parliament was willing to subscribe for the grounds of their undertaking an Oath wherein both in the framing of it and otherwise they were willing the Church should have interest as had been in the like case And that the resolutions of the Parliament thereupon might be the more effectual and in regard of the then present condition of affairs it was their opinion that the Kingdome of Scotland should be put in a Posture of Defence as it was in the year 1643. And like as they had drawn that Act of Posture which being allow'd in Parliament and sent to the Shires they thought it fit time to send their demands to the Parliament of England and that some descreet man should be sent with the same and a limited time appointed for his return with answer ¶ I shall not stand here to give instance of such particulars as further happened betwixt the Grandees at Westminster and the Scots upon this business for all those passages were to no other end than by thus fencing with each other to prevent any censure in their respective Actings and consequently to obtain the peoples assistance upon occasion For in short the state of the business stood thus the
a Block-house in the Sea not far from the Isle of Wight where the cold was most sharp and the Air very unwholsome as men inslam'd in this desperate condition they again took courage and held out a stout contest with the Independant-Party for the space of a whole day and night together And notwithstanding the many sharp Menaces which they had from the Sword-men on the other side they then Voted that the King's Answer to the Propositions from both Houses was a ground for them to proceed on to the settlement of the Kingdoms Peace Which put the Army into such a rage that they forthwith sent a Paper to the House by Pride and Hewson two of their Collonels requiring that the formerly impeached Members together with Major General Browne whom they charg'd to have been an Inviter of Duke Hamilton with the Scottish Army might be secured and brought to Iustice. As also that the Ninety and odd Members who refused to Vote against the late Scottish Engagement and all that Voted for recalling the Votes of Non-Addresses and likewise those that Voted for the late Treaty and that the King's concessions therein were a ground for the Houses to proceed to a settlement should be immediately suspended the House And that all such faithful Members as were innocent of those Votes should by protestation acquit themselves from any concurrence in them to the end they might be distinguished And scorning to make any long stay for an Answer to that their Paper they sent the next Morning certain Regiments of Horse and Foot to Westminster who setting Guards upon all the Avenues to the Parliament House seized upon one and Forty of the Members then Sitting viz. Major General Browne Mr. Iohn Buckley Colonel Birch Mr. Thomas Boughton Mr. Francis Buller Sir Iohn Clotworthy Mr. Lionel Copley Mr. Iohn Crew Sir Simonds D'ewes Knight and Baronet Mr. Drake Sir Walter Earle Mr. Nathaniel Fienes Mr. Giles Greene. Sir Gilbert Gerard. Sir Herbottle Grimston Kt. Mr. Francis Gerard. Sir Robert Harley Kt. Colonel Edward Harley Sir Anthony Irby Mr. Iohn Knightley Sir Martin Lyster Colonel Edward Leigh Mr. Lane Sir Samuel Luke Sir William Lewes Major General Massy Sir Iohn Merrick Sir Richard Onslow Mr. Henry Pelham Sir Robert Pye Kt. Mr. William Pryn. Mr. Preistley Sir Benjamin Rudyard Mr. William Strode Sir Thomas Soame Mr. Edward Stephens Mr. Iohn Swinfen Mr. Charles Vaughan Sir William Waller Mr. William Wheeler The Lord Wenman Mr. Clement Walker Of whose Names Mr. Hugh Peters one of their hot-headed Preachers came to take a List and then convey'd them into their great Victualling-house near Westminster-Hall called Hell where they kept them all night without any Beds Whence being driven a Prisoners through Snow and Rain by the Guards to several Inns in the Strand the Souldiers upbraided them in their passage that they were the men who had cousened the State of their Money and kept back the Armies Pay Which signal Act hapned the very day that their great Master Oliver Cromwel return'd from Scotland to Loudon And as they made Prisoners of these so they denyed entrance into the House unto above one hundred and Sixty more Whereupon the rest of the Presbyterian Party being terrified with this usage of their Fellow-Members declin'd the House leaving it to about an hundred and Fifty who for the most part being Officers of the Army perform'd whatsoever the Grandees of that Faction prompted them to do This Exclusion of those Members being call'd Colonel Pride 's Purge ¶ It is very well known to the world that throughout the whole course of this grand Rebellion it was the usual practise of the Presbyterians to make great advantages unto their Party by frequenting of Sermons and performance of other pretended exercises of Religion Amongst which the strict observance of such dayes as were set apart by their Leaders for Seeking of God as they call'd it by Fasting and Prayer and other wayes of Humiliation were not the least In which act of deluding the People they were at length grown to be such excellent Masters that when any transcendent work was to be done it was always ushered in with this sanctified veile under pretence that in the zealous performance of those Duties they did ask Council of the Lord and thereupon by some more than ordinary Illumination were directed to proceed in the business design'd Which notable example the Independants deeming fit to be imitated in order to their own High and Mighty designs they kept a Fast in the House of Commons upon the Eighth of December Where Mr. Stephen Marshall formerly the Great Bell-weather of the Presbyterian Flock Mr. Carrill and Hugh Peters Preacht that day to them under pretence of directing them to humble their Spirits now that God had so signally appeared to them in their great Victory over the Scots at Preston and other eminent manifestations Next to which devout work the remaining Members that sate after this Grand Purge damn'd all the Votes which the Presbyterians had made either in reference to the Treaty or to their secluded Brethren And within few days after divers of the Lords went to the General to express their good affections to him and concurrence with his purposes for the Common God as also to let his Excellency know that they would wave their Priviledges and Titles in case they should be found burthensome to the Liberties of the People And as the Lords had thus manifested their obsequiousness to the Army so did also the most Godly men of the House of Commons by subscribing a Protestation against the late Treaty with the King in the Isle of Wight but especially against that Vote of 5. Dec. allowing His Majesties Answer to the Propositions of Both Houses to be a ground for them to proceed on for a Settlement the names of which worthy Members I have here added Philip Lord Lisle Colonel Boswell Mr. Iohn Gourdon The Lord Grey of Groby Mr. Peregrine Pelham Colonel Iones Colonel Temple Colonel Ven. Sir Thomas Maleverer Sir Thomas Wrothe Sir Iohn Bourcher Colonel Peter Temple Mr. Humphry Edwards Mr. Thomas Chaloner Sir Gregory Norton Michael Old worth Augustine Garland Sir Iohn Danvers Mr. Dove Mr. Henry Smith Mr. Frye Mr. Searle Mr. Nicholas Love Mr. Iohn Lisle Colonel Rigby Mr. Cornelius Holland Colonel Ludlow Gregory Clement Colonel Purefoy Colonel Stapeley Mr. Dunch Mr. Cawley Colonel Downes Mr. Iohn Carey Mr. Iohn Blakeston Mr. Thomas Scott Colonel Hutchinson Sir Henry Mildmay Sir Iames Harington Colonel Edward Harvey Alderman Penington Alderman Atkins Mr. Daniel Blagrave Colonel Moore Colonel Millington Mr. Prideaux Mr. Roger Hill Mr. Dennis Bond. Colonel Harrington Mr. Hodges Mr. Benjamin Valentine The work being therefore thus smoothly carryed on to accomplish their chief design for murthering the King they remov'd him from Hurst-Castle to Winchester and thence to Farâ—ham-Castle in Hantshire And that they might effect their business with the greater Formality they held a
of such Members of Parliament and Citizens of London as had any Hand in calling him in Cromwel took a Journey on purpose to Windsor and there flattered him with fair promises of Life and though he could get nothing out of him nevertheless he caused Bradshaw to carry a favourable countenance towards him upon his Tryal in Westminster-Hall the Lord Grey of Groby Colonel Wayte and Hugh Peters being likewise imploy'd to him upon the like Errand who told him that they would not much obstruct him Pretended Plea of Quarter from Lambert upon Articles Peters also promising him to witness the same for him though Wayte upon his Report to the House of Commons of the manner how he took him had affirmed that he yielded at discretion and that Lambert was not near him Nay honest Hugh seem'd so zealous in his behalf that he Prayed openly for him as his Lord and Patron and fed him with no small hopes in case he would impeach those whom they suspected But Hamilton in stead of complying with them therein expecting otherwise to save his Head did not only offer them an hundred thousand Pounds for his Life intimating what Service he would do them in Scotland but assured them that he would joyn Interests with Argile and be a Servant to them there Whereupon Messengers were sent Post thither to know Argile's mind who resolving that none should share with him in so Glorious a Work refused any conjunction with him The Wind therefore blowing in that Door Bradshaw used him more roughly upon his Farther Tryal than before and Hugh Peters renounc'd what he had formerly testified insomuch as Sentence of Death was given against him Nevertheless that he might still expect Life and not give that Glory to God in this his Judgment and cast Infamy upon them by a Christian acknowledgment of his own and Argile's mutual Practises they soon cut off his Head And immediately after this they passed an Act for discharging all people from their Allegiance to the late King's Issue and abolishing the Kingly Office Likewise for abolishing the House of Peers as useless and dangerous but with favour to some Lords who had demeaned themselves with honour courage and fidelity to the Common-wealth as the words are so that they might be capable of Voting in Parliament if elected Philip Earl of Pembroke being the first which had the benefit of this Act being admitted a Commoner in this new fram'd Parliament and the Lord Howard of Escrick the Second After whom followed William Earl of Salisbury And wisely considering that as the Preachers had been their chief Instruments for infusing such Principles into the Vulgar sort of People by their Seditious Lecturing Sermons as had at last accomplisht their long studied design for the abolishing of Monarchical Government Lest therefore that by the same Engine the like ruine in time might be brought upon themselves they ordered that no Minister in the Pulpit should meddle with any State-Matters therein pursuing the practise of the Netherlanders who had done so before for the prevention of mischief to their own Common-wealth But now to digress a little let us here behold what a Brain-sick Generation in a short space of time sprung up from this precious root of Presbytery About this time there came Six Souldiers into the Parish-Church of Walton upon Thames in Surrey near Twylight in the Evening Mr. Faucet the Preacher there having not till then ended his Sermon one of which number with a Lanthorn in his hand and a Candle burning in it and in the other Hand four Candles not lighted desired the Parishoners to stay a while saying that he had a Message from God unto them and thereupon offered to go up into the Pulpit But the people refusing to give him leave so to do or to stay in the Church he went into the Church-yard and there told them that he had a Vision wherein he had received a command from God to declare his will unto them which he was to deliver and they to receive upon pain of damnation it consisting of Five Lights 1. That the Sabbath was abolisht as unnecessary Iewish and meerly Ceremonial And here quoth he I should put out my first Light but the wind is so high I cannot kindle it 2. That Tithes are abolisht as Iewish and Ceremonial a great Burthen to the Saints of God and a discouragement of Industry and Tillage and here I should put out my Second Light c. 3. That Ministers are abolisht as Antichristian and of no longer use now Christ himself descends into the hearts of his Saints and his Spirit enlighteneth them with Revelations and Inspirations And here I should put out my Third Light c. 4. Magistrates are abolished as useless now that Christ himself is in purity of Spirit come among us and hath erected the Kingdom of the Saints upon Earth Besides they are Tyrants and Oppressors of the Liberty of the Saints and tye them to Laws and Ordinances meer humane Inventions And here I should put out my Fourth Light c. 5. Then putting his Hand into his Pocket and pulling out a little Bible he shewed it open to the People saying Here is a Book you have in great Veneration consisting of Two parts the Old and New Testament I must tell you it is abolished it containeth Beggarly Rudiments Milk for Babes but now Christ is in Glory amongst us and imparts a farther measure of his Spirit to his Saints than this can afford I am commanded to burn it before your Face So taking the Candle out of his Lanthorn he set fire on it Then putting out the Candle he said and here my Fifth Light is extinguished Nay the stream at that time carryed Multitudes so violently this way that the Souldiers fell to Preaching in many places six of them in one day exercising their Gifts in that kind at White-Hall in so much as that Grand Impostor Cromwel subtilly observing the bent of this Tide ascended the Pulpit there himself pretending that he was called up by the Spirit of God and standing a good while with his Eyes lifted up as it were in a Trance his Head inclining to one side he fetcht many deep Groans spent one hour in his Prayer and near two in his Sermon In which Prayer his Humility was such that in imitation of Moses he desired God to take off from his Shoulders the Government of this Mighty People of England as being too heavy for him to bear And so much did he then pretend to Revelations and Inspirations that when any weighty matter was propounded to him he usually retired for a quarter of an hour or more and declared what was revealed to him But to proceed About this time they passed an Act for supporting of their Military Forces by imposing a Tax of Ninety thousand Pound Per Mensem upon the Kingdom And that the people might be totally confounded as to matter of Religion or have any regard
hands in the work of the Lord were desired by many of their Brethren Ministers of the Gospel in Leicestershire to tender that their humble Representation in their and their own names with desire that it might be communicated to the House the Heads whereof were as followeth 1. That they did acknowledg it as the product of Divine Love and Goodness towards the Nation that notwithstanding the many changes of Persons and Government a Godly and Preaching-Ministry had been and still was countenanced protected and maintained by the Parliament and that the Lord had been pleased after so many years interruption to restore them again to their places for the accomplishing of all those just and good things which they formerly prosecuted in order to an happy settlement 2. That as in duty bound they desired with all thankfulness to own the Parliament under God as eminent Instruments thereof looking upon their Piety and Zeal for God therein not only as a strong obligation upon their Spirits to a more faithful and chearful discharge of their duties as Ministers but also to adhere to them 3. That they were the more encouraged thereto when they reflected upon the late Votes for encouragement and maintenance of a Preaching-Ministry and also for the vindication of their just Rights as men and Christians 4. That they doubted not but the same Divine Hand which had begun to lay the foundation of a Righteous settlement of Peace and Truth in this Nation continually blasting the counter-designs of the Common Adversaries would in due time rear the top corner-stone to the comfort of all that did with well to Sion 5. That they could not but with shame and bleeding of heart bewail that Cloud of darkness which had lately overspread divers of their old professed friends who at first deeply engaged with them yet through that mystery of Iniquity which did still work in the Nation had been misled and caused to stumble not only to the hazard of their own Lives and Liberties but to an involving this poor Island in confusion and blood yet the Ruin thereof if God had not stept in for its relief by blessing the Parliaments Counsels and prospering the endeavours of a faithful Army against the enraged malice of the old Common Enemy and the dissatisfactions of such as engaged with them to hinder the designed work of easing their Loads and of settling their Foundations in Peace Truth and Righteousness 6. That they took themselves bound in duty to let the Parliament know that through mercy their souls had not entred into the secret of the late Insurrectors but that they did profess an utter detestation thereof and that the Lord helping them they would not cease crying mightily to him that he would still pour out upon the Parliament a Spirit of Wisdom and of the fear of the Lord to carry them on in their work against all discouragements and oppositions whatsoever the names of the Subscribers being these Iohn Yaxley Minister of the Gospel at Kibworth Samuel Blakesley at Langton William Sheffeild at Ibstoke Maurice Bohem at Halloughton William Grace at Reavesby Richard Muston at Langton Matthew Clarke at Harborow Iosiah Whiston at Norton Benjamin Southwood at Kymcote Samuel Shaw at Long-Whatton Thomas Lawrey at Harborow Henry Pearce at Claybroke George Wright at Congeston Y. Dixey at Margarets in Leicester Samuel Smith at Glooreston George Greene at Thedingworth William Wilson at Foxton Iohn Bennet at Winwick Thomas Smith at Castle-Dunnington William Barton at Martins in Leicester Nicholas Kestyn at Gumley Iohn St. Nicolas at Lutterworth Thomas Langdel at Bowdon Magna Richard Drayton at Shangton Thomas Leadbeter at Hinkley William Cotton at Broughton Henry Watts at Swepston Ambrose Bent at Ashby-Folvile Iohn Shuttlewood at Ravenston Emanuel Bourne at Waltham Christopher Wright at Eastwell Thomas Ienkings at New Kilworth Iohn Pitts at Burbage Iohn Hulls at Stanton-Wivile Paul Bulgay William Black at Suddington Robert Reding at Segrave Samuel Oldershaw at Cole-Orton Which Representation being read they were all called into the House again the Speaker telling them that upon due consideration thereof they found in it a Gospel-Spirit of Meekness Sincerity and Holiness and that they had also considered the Seasonableness of it and that it expressed not only on outward Letter but an inward Spirit c. and so gave them the Thanks of the House Soon after this the House appointed a Committee to prepare somthing in order to the setling of a Government for the better support whereof they Established the laying a Tax of one hundred thousand pounds by the month besides Excise and Customs and the Sequestered Estates of new Delinquents And that such persons as had been assessed to find Horse and Arms by virtue of the Act of Parliament for setling the Militia and had not brought in their Horse and Arms nor paid in lieu thereof the sum of money appointed by the said Act that every such person and persons should under the penalty in that Act mentioned pay after the rate of Ten pounds for an Horse and Arms for such number of Horses and Arms respectively as they had been charged to find And that such person and persons as had been assessed to find Arms for a Foot-Souldier and had not sent in the same or mony in lieu thereof should under the penalty in that Act mentioned pay respectively for every such Foot-Arms such sum of money as the Commissioners should appoint not exceeding twenty five shillings for every such Foot-Arms So that it is plain that mony was it they only aimed at though Horse and Arms were the pretence But amidst these their devices for inriching themselves Lamberts ambition began to be suspected which was no less than to set up himself through the interest he then had with the Souldiery as his old friend Oliver had formerly done Wherefore for prevention of this danger they resolved to trust him no longer with any Command in the Army but cunningly to withdraw him that he might be severed from the Souldiers and to that end sent a seeming courteous invitation to allure him back to London of which he accepted with as fair a shew of Thanks But this stratagem of the Rumpers succeeded not for soon after ensued a Remonstrance from the Army directed thus To the Supream Authority of these Nations the Parliament of the Common-Wealth of England the humble Petition and Proposals of the Officers under the Command of the Right Honourable the Lord Lambert in the late Northern Expedition Which Remonstrance did so much tend to the advantage of the Souldiery and asserting their unlimited power as that the Rumpers forthwith declared that to have any more General Officers in the Army than were already setled by Parliament was needless chargeable and dangerous to the Common-Wealth Thus and in this manner began the first rise of those differences and distractions which at last so happily shattered these grand Hypocrites into pieces But the Army-Officers having not sufficiently ripened
and Poundage contrary to an express Act made also that very Parliament So likewise a new Imposition called Excise upon Victuals and all other Commodities against which they themselves had much declaimed And to countenance these grand Oppressions voted that an Ordinance of Parliament was as binding to the Subject as an Act of Parliament Thereupon ordaining that such Persons as ought to pay any Rents Debts c. due to those who are assessed and refused so to do should be Discharged against the Landlord or Creditor And at length became so bold as that their new Lord Mayor Isaac Pennington chalenging a Sturgeon which was taken above London-Bridge and it being answered that it belonged to the King or Lord Admiral Replyed you Malignant Rogue I would have you to know that there is neither King nor Admiral that hath any Power in London but my self Add thereunto their Ordinance for keeping Michaelmas Terme at Westminster notwithstanding his Majesties Proclamation And another Constituting the Earl of Warwick Governour and Lord Admiral of all the Islands in America Inhabited or Planted by the King's Subjects Another declaring the King's Broad-Seal Invalid and Commanding Obedience to all Writs c. to be issued under a new great Seal made by themselves And Sequestring all Offices of those Clerks in Westminster-Hall which were with the King The authority given to the Earl of Manchester by another Ordinance to deprive and displace all Masters and Fellows of Colledges and Halls in Cambridge and all other Clergy-Men within the Association as he should think convenient The Ordinances for seizing the Kings Queens and Princes Revenew for cutting down their Woods For Commanding all Men to pay nothing to his Majesty the Queen and Prince which was due and ought to have been paid to them for those are the words also the Commitment of Laughern and Vivian to Colchester-Goal for denying to pay two Thousand Pounds which was due to the Prince from them though the Receiver was Plundred of the Money And when it was told Mr. Strode Chair-Man to the Committee for raising Money that no more Money could be advanced their Purses having been so drain'd already he Replyed that they must have no denial for their Money was demanded by the Supream Court of Iudicature adding that those were times of necessity Another of the Members sticking not to say shortly after that if it would advantage their Cause he thought it lawful to unvote whatsoever had passed since the beginning of that Parliament Besides which grievous Impositions upon the Subjects Estates they stuck not at the like to their Persons upon pain of Death restraining all Persons for going from London to the King or Queen And for a farther Testimony of their dealing with the People in point of their Proprietie take their Governour of Abington's Answer viz. Coll. Browne to no less than Seven-score poor People which came thither to him at one time wringing their hands and begging for some small Pittance of what he had caused to be taken from them in the Villages thereabours which was no less than all their Goods even to part of their wearing Apparel which was thus with Tears in his Eyes Alas good People it is not in my Power to help you For if this were done by meet Rudeness of my Souldiers I could say something but you have not lost a Pin but according to the Command of both Houses of Parliament who injoin'd us to spare nothing Therefore said he whispering to one or two of them if you have any thing left 't is your best course to Convey it away quickly for the Parliament hath Commanded me to take all I can carry and burn up the rest before the King comes These and the like as by many Instances might be made apparent have been their Practises in violating the Laws of the Land with the Liberties and Properties of the Subject however Fair and Specious their Promises were otherwise until they had got Power into their hands being at length not ashamed to discover their full Intentions by those Propositions which they tendred to His Majesty at Oxford upon the 23d of November 1644. And whereupon a Treaty was had at Uxbridge Where it was judiciously observ'd by his Majesties Commissioners That after a War of near three Years for which the Defence of the Protestant Religion the Liberty and Property of the Subject and the Priviledges of Parliament were made the cause and Grounds in a Treaty of full twenty days nor indeed in the whole Propositions upon which the Treaty should be there was nothing offered to be treated on concerning the Breach of any Law or of the Liberty or Property of the Subject or Priviledge of Parliament but only Propositions for the altering a Government Established by Law and for the making of new Laws by which all the old were or might be Cancelled there being nothing insisted upon on the part of his Majesties Commissioners which was not Laws or denied by them that the other demanded as due by Law The next and last particular for which they made such great Pretences is the Priviledge of Parliaments Having therefore under that colour justified most of their pernicious Actions let us take notice how consonant to Justice Reason or common Honesty their Practices upon this point have been Did they not soon after the beginning of that Unhappy Parliament without any president found a Close-Committee consisting of eight persons whereof no less than seven were principal Contrivers of the ensuing Rebellion And in the business of the Earl of Strafford was not their Bill for his attainder twice read and voted in one day and fifty-five of the Members Posted for not assenting thereto whose Names to their lasting Honour I have here added 1. George Lord Digby 2. Iames Lord Compton 3. Richard Lord Buckhurst 4. Sr. Robert Hatton 5. Sr. Thomas Fanshaw 6. Sr. Edward Alford 7. Sr. Nicholas Slanyng 8. Sr. Thomas Danby 9. Sr. George Wentworth 10. Sr. Peter Wentworth 11. Sr. Frederick Cornwallis 12. Sr. William Carnaby 13. Sr. Richard Wynn. 14. Sr. Gervace Clifton 15. Sr. William Widdrington 16. Sr. William Pennyman 17. Sr. Patricius Curwen 18. Sr. Richard Lee. 19. Sr. Henry Slingesby 20. Sr. William Portman 21. Mr. Gervase Hollies 22. Mr. Sidney Godolphin 23. Mr. Cooke 24. Mr. Coventrey 25. Mr. Benjamin Weston 26. Mr. William Weston 27. Mr. Selden 28. Mr. Alford 29. Mr. Llhoyd 30. Mr. Herbert 31. Captain Digby 32. Serjeant Hyde 33. Mr. Tailor 34. Mr. Gryffith 35. Mr. Scowen 36. Mr. Bridgman 37. Mr. Fettiplace 38. Dr. Turner 39. Capt. Charles Price 40. Dr. Parry a Civilian 41. Mr. Arundell 42. Mr. Newport 43. Mr. Holburne 44. Mr. Noell 45. Mr. Kirton 46. Mr. Pollard 47. Mr. Price 48. Mr. Trevanion 49. Mr. Iane. 50. Mr. Edgcombe 51. Mr. Chichley 52. Mr. Mallorey 53. Mr. Porter 54. Mr. White Secretary to the Earl of
Dorset 55. Mr. Philip Warwick Likewise after the Lords had passed their Votes therein was not their House called to find out which of them had not given their Votes thereunto And was not Mr. Gervase Hollies Burgess for Grymesby in Lincoln-shire expelled the House for his free Speech against the Scots propositions for the altering of our Church-Government Also the Lord Digby's Speech against the Bill for the Earl of Strafford's Attainder Voted to be burnt by the common Hangman Mr. Taylor Burgess of Windsore Expell'd for speaking his mind against the same and Mr. Geffrey Palmer Burgess of Stamford Committed for speaking against the Printing of that Scandalous Declaration called the Grand-Remonstrance Were not Multitudes brought down to Westminster even to the Doors of the Parliament many of them Weaponed by the Instigation of Captain Venn then a Member of the House of Commons who by Notes under his hand Sollicited them in these expressions That the better sort were like to be over-powred by the worser And did not those tumultuous People cry loud for Iustice against the Earl of Strafford saying down with the Bishops aspersing also divers of the Peers by name for evil and Rotten-hearted Lords And notwithstanding that the Lords by several Messages desired the House of Commons to join with them in a Declaration against those Tumults did not they refuse or neglect to do it Mr. Pym plainly saying in the House God forbid we should dishearten our Friends who came to assist us And when his Majesty by a Legal Writ upon the Statute for Suppressing of Tumults setled a Guard at Westminster was it not Voted a Breach of their Priviledges Moreover was not there a Petition Exhibited to the House of Commons in the Name of many Thousands of poor People in and about the City of London taking notice of a Malignant Faction which made Abortive all their good Motions Desiring that those Noble Worthies of the House of Peers who concurred with them in their happy Votes might be earnestly desired to join with that Honourable House and to sit and Vote together as one entire Body And professing that unless some speedy Remedy were taken for the removing of all such Obstacles as hindred the happy Progress of their great endeavour the Petitioners should not rest in quietness but should be forc'd to lay hold on the next Remedy at hand to remove the Disturbers of their Peace And Want and Necessity breaking the Bounds of Modesty not to leave any means unessayed for their Relief Adding that the cry of the Poor and Needy was that such persons who were the Obstacles of their peace and the hinderers of the happy proceedings of that Parliament might be forthwith publickly declared whose removal would put a period to those Distractions Which Petition being brought up by the House of Commons unto the Lords at a conference a Member of the Commons by a Message pressed the Lords at their Barr to joyn with them in their desire about the Militia expressing That if their desire were not assented to those Lords who were willing to concur would find some means to make themselves known that it might be seen who were against them to the end they might notifie it unto those which sent them To proceed Was not the Duke of Richmond Voted by the Commons an evil Councellor to his Majesty one of the Malignant-Party and not fit to bear Office or place of Trust and that consideration should be had of drawing up a Charge against him and all this for no other than moving in the House of Lords that the Parliament might be Adjorn'd for six Months And Mr. Gamull Burgess for the City of Chester told him that if he left not the Town speedily he should be Committed to the Tower or knockt on the head by the Souldiers And when an Order was reported to be confirm'd by the House hath it not been only put to the Question without any debate thereon and publickly said in the House to those who have taken Exceptions thereat that they were only to Vote and not to Dispute Was not Sir Ralph Hopton Committed to the Tower for speaking against that Declaration of March the Second Also Serjeant Hide Voted to be Expelled and Committed to the Tower for not Publishing the Order of the House as Recorder of Salisbury And Sir Sidney Montague Expelled the House for refusing to take the Protestation to Live and Dye with the Earl of Essex Did they not Impeach and Commit divers Lords to the Tower for not Concurring with them in these their Irrational and most Unjust Doings And when it was moved that they might be Bailed was it not answered That there would be no Sitting for them if those Lords were Released and Restored to the freedom of their Votes again And when the Members of the House of Commons had upon a solemn Debate agreed to join with the Lords in sending Propositions for Peace to his Majesty were there not Printed Papers the next day scattered in the Streets and fixed upon Posts in publick places in the City and Suburbs requiring all Well-Affected persons to rise as one Man and to come to the House of Commons next Morning for that Twenty thousand Irish Rebels were Landed And was not Direction and Information given in the Pulpits by their Seditious-Preachers and in some of those Papers Exprest that the Malignant Party had over-Voted the good and if not prevented there would be Peace The Propositions for Peace the Day before being carried by twenty nine Voices Whereupon multitudes by the Instigation of Alderman Pennington came in a most tumultuous manner with Threats and Menaces to divers of the Members of both Houses and said that their Petition tooke notice of Propositions passed by the Lords for Peace which if allowed would be destructive to Religion Laws and Liberties many of them telling the Members that if they had not a good Answer they would be there the next Day with double the Number Again when it was moved that the two Sir Iohn Evelins should be Discharg'd from Prison being Members of the House and thereupon the House dividing LXXI standing for their Enlargement and LXV against it were not divers called out of the Committee-Chamber who neither heard the Debate nor Vote and because the LXXI Opposed their entrance did not the LXV prohibit the Speaker to pronounce any Order therein Lastly did not the Commons Vote that the Committee of both Kingdoms should proceed as they did for three Months longer though the Lords refused to consent thereto Many more Instances of this nature might be given but I shall for brevities sake pass them by and descend to some where the Lords after they had freely passed their Votes were by the prevalent Party in the House of Commons contrary to all course and usage in Parliament constrain'd to yield unto what they had upon free and serious
Debate resolv'd against In the Case of the Bishops the Lords first Voted that they should retain their Voices in Parliament For taking the Protestation throughout the Kingdom the Lords first cast out the Order And notwithstanding their Order and Declaration for the due Observance of the Book of Common-Prayer the Commons made and set forth a contrary Order thereto appointing it to be dispersed and published in all the Churches throughout the Kingdom Likewise though the Lords refused to joyn with the Commons for Petitioning his Majesty that the Cinque-Ports might be secured Yet were they afterwards by terror constrain'd thereto So Likewise though they refused to join with them in their consent for removing the King's Magazine from Hull yet afterwards through over-awing did it And though they concurr'd not with them in that case of the Militia the House of Commons Voted that they did agree therein Thus we plainly see that the Breach of those antient Priviledges for Freedom of Debate and Vote in Parliament was not made without some difficulty But these subtile Men having by the help of those Tumults from the Londoners opened the gap went afterwards smoothly through with all their unjustifiable Practises which in the end brought Confusion both of Parliament and Kingdome So that by these Devices having effected whatsoever they had a mind to they stuck not to deliver it for a Breach of Priviledge that the Lords should dissent to any thing they had Voted as is manifest from that of the New great Scal wherein the Lords had the same measure put upon themselves as they had offered to the King in joyning with the Commons to Vote his Majesties Dissent to the Bills they tendred to him a Breach of their Priviledges CHAP. XLV BY what hath been already said I doubt not but it is apparent enough that these great pretended Champions for the Protestant-Religion the Laws of the Land the Liberty of the Subject and Priviledges of Parliament made use of those specious pretences for no other end than to Captivate the People and by that means get the Power of the Sword into their Mercyless Hands Now forasmuch as they were not asham'd in the midst of all their Vile Practises to cry out that they sought nothing but that Religion Liberty and Peace of the Kingdom should be preserved Having already shewed how well they regarded Religion and the Peoples Liberties let us see how much they endeavoured that generally wished for Peace Did they not order that the King's Proclamation of Pardon to all that would lay down Arms and return to their Obedience should not be Proclaim'd in London and Westminster And when divers Cittizens met at Guild-Hall to frame a Petition to present to the Members at Westminster for Peace was not there a Troop of Horse sent amongst them which with their Swords drawn and terrible Menaces caused them to Disperse for safeguard of their Lives And afterwards when a Committee of the Petitioners were by appointment attending the Court of Aldermen and Common Council at Guild-Hall did not more than Twenty Souldiers rush in amongst them with drawn Swords Crying On on strike now or never Let us destroy these Malignant Doggs that would have Peace Let us cut the Throats of these Popish Rogues And accordingly fell upon the Petitioners in a cruel manner beating and wounding divers of them And when the Petitioners being many disarm'd those Souldiers and shut up the Hall Doors was not there then a Troop of Horse which Discharg'd their Pistols in at them threatning to kill any that issued out And did they not presently bring two great Guns and plant them against the Doors so that the Petitioners were constrain'd to fly up to the Common-Council Chamber for Protection and beg for their Lives to be dismissed with safety Which being granted and they let out did not many lye in wait for them with drawn Swords who pursued them with bitter Execrations the Multitude kicking and striking at them in their Passage crying Hang them cut their Throats Whereupon divers of them were sore hurt and some drag'd to Prison Did not their House of Lords refuse a Petition for Peace from the Inhabitants of Westminster and the Suburbs And was not there a Constable in Westminster Committed for having a hand in that Petition And when His Majesties Commissioners of Array in Cheshire and the Parliaments Committee in that County for Exercising the Militia out of an earnest regard to prevent the Miseries of War in those parts had made an Agreement against any farther Hostility and to preserve the Peace of the Country did not they at Westminster make a publick Declaration against the same whereby they Renounced that Agreement as prejudicial and dangerous to the whole Kingdom and declared it void And was not Sir William Brereton thereupon sent down in all hast with a Troop of Horse a Regiment of Dragoons and four Field Pieces for raising new Forces in that County to serve the Parliament And was not the like Revocation and Disclaymer made by those Members at Westminster against the Agreement in York-shire by the Earl of Cumberland and others the Commissioners of Array there for His Majesty and the Lord Fairfax and others for the Militia Was not Mr. Nicholls and Prideaux two of their Members ordered to go down to break the like Pacification made by the Gentry and others in the Counties of Devon and Cornwail notwithstanding that the Commissioners had taken a Solemn Prorestation and received the Sacrament for Observation thereof And when His Majesty had sent a Gracious Letter and Declaration to the Sheriffs and City of London with Direction that it should be read in their Common Hall was not there an Order in the Name of both Houses to forbid their meeting for to hear it Read And divâ—â—s Discharg'd by Order of the Houses who met accordingly Likewise when His Majesty sent a Message to them for a Treaty with free Trade did not the Members in the House of Commons signify to the Lords at a Conference that it would prove destructive to the Liberty of the Subject and to the Kingdom And when the Women came in great Numbers to Westminster to cry for Peace were they not beaten and abused and three of them killed Were not there certain Propositions read in their House of Commons which were found in Mr. Salâ—marsh his Trunk near Hull First that all means should be used to keep the King and his People from a suddain Union Secondly to cherish the War under the notion of Popery as the surest means to engage the People Thirdly if the King would not grant their demands then to root him out of the Royal Line and collate the Crown upon some body else How hard a matter it was like to be to obtain Peace from these Men therefore let Stephen Marshall tell you whom Mr. Case
31 Aug. * 4 Sept. * 6 Sept. * 11 Sept. Scob. Coll. p. 54. * 13 Sept. * 25 Sept. The solemn League and Covenant fram'd in Scotland taken by the Members at Westminster Archbishop Laud's life p. 510. * See the Remonstrance of the Army in order to the King's Trial dated at St. Albans 16 Nov. 1648. * Covenant with Narrative p. 12. * 21 Sept. Scob. Coll. p. 54. * 2 Oct. * 5 Oct. * 6 Oct. * 7 Oct. * 18 Oct. * 9 Oct. Scob. Coll. p. 57. * 18 Oct. * Articles of the Treaty at Edenborough for bringing in the Scots Army * 29 Nov. * 20 Nov. * 28 Nov. Scob. Coll. p. 59. * 13 Dec. * 25 Dec. Scob. Coll. p. 60. * 9 Jan. Scob. Coll. p. 60. * See the Letter to his Majesty from the Lord Chancelour and divers Lords of that Realm â—ated at Edenâ—â—rough 1 Julii 1643. wherein they promise not 〈◊〉 raise any â—orces without special warrant from the King * His Majesties Declaration to all his Subjects of Scotland â— Jan. 1643. The Scots second Invasion See the Supplication of the Noblemen Barrons Burgesses c. exhibited to the Marquess of Hamilton his Majesties Commissioner an 1638. Wherein by way of Explication of their National Covenant they acknowledge that the quietness and stability of their Religion and Kirk depends upon the safety of the King's Majesty as God's vice-gerent See the Supplication of the general Assembly at Edenborough 12 Aug. 1639. Whereby it appeareth that the whole Kingdom was sworn with their means and lives to stand to the defence of their dread Sovereign his person and authority in every cause which may concern his Majesties Honour with their friends and followers in quiet manner or in Arms as they shall be required by his Majesty See Act 5. of the second Parliament of King Charles concerning the ratification of the Covenant by which their universal Protestation and promise under a solemn Oath and Hand-writing upon fearful pains and execrations is apparent viz. to defend the King's person and authority with their goods bodies and lives against all Enemies within the Realm or without as they desire God to be a merciful defender to them in the day of their death and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. See the Petition presented to his Majesty Jan. 1642 manifesting the promise of the whole Clergy in their National Assembly to keep the people under their charge in obedience to his Majesty and to his Laws confessing it a duty well-beseeming the Preachers of the Gospel See the Petition of the Nobility Gentry Burroughs Ministers and Commons to the Lords of his Majesties Privy-Council of that Kingdom wherein they acknowledged his Majesties zeal for maintaining the true Religion and that to call in question the same after so many reiterated professions and asseverations could not be but an unchristian distrustfulness and in them the height of disloyalty and ingratitude confessing themselves bound in duty to God by whose great name they had sworn to defend and maintain the person greatness and authority of their dread Soveraign as God's Vicegerent to the utmost of their power with their means and lives in every cause which might concern his Honour professing themselves fully satisfied and perswaded of his Majesties royal zeal and resolution and that malice and detraction could not prevail to make the least impression in their loyal hearts of jealousy and distrust or their intending any thing to the prejudice of that Brotherly and blessed conjunction of the two Nations attesting God the searcher of all hearts of their dutiful intentions towards his Majesty their dread and native King strictly bound thereto by all the ties of Nature Christianity and Gratitude 22 Jan. 27 Jan. * Dated 30 Jan. 3 Martii 9 Martii * 22 Jan. Scob. Coll. p. 61. * 20 Febr. Scob. Coll. ut supra Anno 1643. a 26. March b 29. March c 3. April d 6. May. * 16. May. f 18. June g 22. June h 30. June i 1. July k 2. July l 5. July m 13. July n 24. July o 26. July p 2. Aug. q 5. Aug. r 10. Aug. †20. Aug. t 28. Aug. v 1. 3. Sept. x 4. Sept. y 6. Sept. z 17. Sept. a 20. Sept. b 6. Oct. c 4. Decem. d 9. Decem. * 12. Decem. f 21. Decem. g 25. Decem. h 28. Decem. i 25. Jan. k 13. Feb. l 18. Feb. m 21. Mar. n 21. Mar. o 23. March p 16. April q 26. April r 8. May. †21. May. t 5. June v 6. July x 30. July y 2. Aug. z 10. Septem a 16. Septem b 20. Octob. c 3. Jan. d 22. Jan. The Scots Invasion Anno 1644. * 26. March Scab coll p. 65. f 8. July Ibid. p. 73 g 2. July The Battle at Marston-moore h 13. July i 4. July The King's Message from Evesham k 1. Septemb. l 5. Septemb. from Tavestoke m 23. Nov. f 26. Nov. g 2. Decem. Scob. Coll. p. 75. h 9. Decem. The self-denying Ordinance The Book of Common Prayer Abolisht The Directory Establisht i 4. Jan. k 10. Jan. Arch. Bp. of Canterb. beheaded Treaty at Vxbridge l Impr. Oxon. 1645. m Ibid. p. 31. n Ibid. p. 144. 145. o 3. Apr. p 6. Apr. q 25. May r 27. May †28. May t 12 Iune u 20. June x 30. June y 3. July z 15. August * 1. Septem a 14. Sept. b 25. Octob. c 7. Novem. d 17. Nov. * 23 Febr. f 1. March g 29. March h 2. July i 23. July k 19. Octob. l 27. Octob. The second Battel of Newbery * 9. Decemb. The self-denying Ordinance m 31. Dec. n 31. Dec. o Heath's Chron. p. 68. p Ibid. 23. Decemb. q Ibid. p. 18. * cap. 8. r 1. Jan. See the King's observation thereon in his Eikâ—n Basilike cap. †10. Jan. Anno 1645. a 22. April b 31. May. c 25. March d 24. April * 22. May. f 23. May. g 26. May. h 1. June i 14. June k 18. June l 27. June m 28. June n 21. July o 23. July p 25. July q 31. July r 15. August †17. Aug. t 21. Aug. v 22. Sept. x 26. Sept. y 1. Oct. z 14. Oct. a 15. Octob. b 5. Nov. c 16. Nov. d 4. Decem. * 17. Decem. f 17. Jan. g 19. Jan. h 2. Feb. i 3. Feb. k 16. Feb. l 25. Feb. m 28. Feb. n 29. Feb. o 3. March p 14. March q 21. March p 23. Aug. Scob. Col. p. 97. Message from the King for peace q 5. Decem. r 15. Decem. †26. Decem. t 29. Decem. u 15. Jan. x 17. Jan. y 24. Jan. z 29. Jan. a 26. Feb. b 23. March c 22. Octob. Anno 1642. Anno 1646. d 7. Apr. * 8. Apr. f 13. April g 15. April h 25. April i 26. April d The King's Letter to the Marquess
Children with their disposal in Marriage to the vile affections and humours of this hypocritical Generation ¶ That their confidence likewise in carrying all before them with power and force through the aid of the Scots might the more appear I shall now represent unto you Presbytery Triumphant for a while For within six days after they had sent these insolent propositions to the King they voted down the reverend Liturgy by Law establish'd in the Church of England And for a farther encouragement to those their dear brethren on whose assistance they did so much relie which emboldened them to make those high demands they passed an Ordinance for raising the Sum of sixty six thousand six hundred sixty six pounds thirteen shillings and four pence for their supply by way of Loane from such persons as should not voluntarily or proportionably lend according to their estates Which Loane was to be paid out of the Sequestrations of Delinquents But to make the more specious ostentation to the world that all their Actions wholly tended to the Glory of God the publick good and nothing to their own private interests they farther voted that no member of either House should during that war enjoy or execute any office or command military or civil which had been granted or conferred on them by either House or by any Authority derived from either House and that an Ordinance should be drawn up accordingly Next they passed an Ordinance for the utter abolishing the Pious Liturgy commonly called the Book of Common Prayer complied by divers reverend Divines of which some died Martyrs and for the establishing a Directory as they call'd it for the worship of God in the room thereof whereby every conceited person was left at liberty unto his own frothy fancy in framing certain Prayers whereunto the Congregation were to say Amen a thing so absurd and destructive to the true and real service of God as that there needs no observations upon it And the day following to glorify their doings the more they adorn'd their House of Commons with that whole suit of Hangings which were placed in the Quire of the Collegiate Church at Westminster and some other taken out of the King's wardrobe And having proceeded against the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury whose memory as a stout Champion for the Church of England against her fierce assaylants the Romanists on the one side and Schismaticks on the other and for his many other great and pious works much beseeming a person of that place will be precious to succeeding ages by arraigning him before themselves upon articles of high Treason as they call'd them wherein they charg'd him with labouring to overthrow the Fundamental Laws and Government of this Kingdome subverting the Religion establish'd to set up Papistry and Superstition they did by an Ordinance passed the very same day with that for abolishing the Book of Common Prayer condemn him to suffer death as a Traytor for the quicker dispatch whereof they brought down the Lords to sit with the Commons and afterwards beheaded him on Tower-hill After which they admitted of a Treaty with certain Commissioners nominated by the King upon those Propositions so sent by them as hath been observed Which Treaty being by them limited to twenty days began at Uxbridge on Thursday the 30th of Ianuary To take notice here of the particular passages in this treaty considering that they are so exactly set forth in print will not be needfull The truth is that though these Grandees at Westminster did then make shew to incline unto a happy composure of all things by that amicable expedient to the end that by this plausible pretence they might the more captivate the people they really intended nothing less as may appear not onely by those unjust and insolent demands whereupon they did so stifly insist which amounted to the uter subversion of the Religion by Law establisht getting the power of the sword into their own hands and carrying on the war in Ireland according to their depraved wills and pleasures but by that seditious and impudent Sermon preach'd in Uxbridge Church upon the first day of that Treaty it being the Market-day there by Mr. Christopher Love after executed by themselves on Tower-Hill who besides many passages therein scandalous to the King's person and derogatory to his Honour stirring up the People against the Treaty and sharply incensing them against his Majesties Commissioners said that they came with Hearts full of bloud and that there was as great a distance betwixt that Treaty and peace as betwixt Heaven and Hell For which malicious expression though complaint was made and Justice demanded no redress could be had Besides when the King's Commissioners desired to treat with them concerning his Majesties speedy return to Westminster they utterly refused so to do though they had ever given it out to the world that the sole reason for raising their Armies was to bring the King to his Parliament CHAP. XIX AS to the military passages of this year the chief on the Kings part were these Longford house in Com. Salop. was rendred by the Rebels to Prince Rupert As also Longe-castle in the same County Likewise Stopport in Cheshire Lathom house in Lancashire being besieged by Sir Thomas Fairfax was relieved by Prince Rupert whereupon Leverpoole and Bolton both in that County were soon taken by him Borstall-house in Oxfordshire taken by Colonell Gage Colonell Shuttleworth defeated at Blackburn in Lancashire by Prince Rupert Sir William Waller with his forces routed at Cropredy-bridge in Oxfordshire the Earls of Northampton and Cleveland being both in that action And York after nine weeks siege by the Scots the Lord Fairfax and Earl of Manchester assisting them reliev'd by Prince Rupert In the next month Lestithiel in Cornwall being then taken by the King the Earl of Essex forfook his Foot and fled in a Cock-boat from Foy to Plymouth with the Lord Roberts the foot then under the command of Major general Skippon delivering up their Arms Ammunition and Artillery and engaging themselves thenceforth never to bear Arms against the King Basing house also being again besieged by the Rebells was reliev'd by Colonel Gage The Earl of Northampton likewise rais'd the siege of Banbury-Castle which had continued from the 19th of Iuly And the next month following the King raised the siege of Donington-Castle in Berkshire as also that of Basing But as to further success on the King's part within the compass of this year 1644. I do not find any thing of note saving the defeat given to Colonel Rosseter near Melton Moubray in Leicestershire by Sir Marmaduke Langdale in his passage from Oxford towards Pontfract And his relief of Pontfract-Castle then besieged by the Lord Fairfax ¶ I now come to the Actions on the Rebels part in this year 1644. wherein they had
preamble whereof beginneth thus for asmuch as the Prosperity and Safety of this Nation and the Dommions thereunto belonging very much dependeth under God upon the security and preservation of the person of his Highness c. In which Act several offences were adjudged Treason and certain Commissioners for England and Wales therein nominated for the Tryal of Offenders against the said Act. Which foundation being so laid it was by his Friends and Favourers then thought high time to discover what they would be at and accordingly moved that whereas this Nation had for thirteen hundred years at the least been governed by Kings and though some of them had offended the people yet that Title had never been abolished Also whereas the Government by the said Title was interwoven with the Laws and accommodated to the dispositions of the people that they should humbly Petition and Advise his Highness to take upon him the same Title Which motion took such effect that there was an Instrument soon drawn up by them called the Humble Petition and Advice whereby they besought his Highness so to do Whereunto that he might not seem to have any knowledg of what they were about much less any desire thereof but be still more and more sought to and importuned therein he answered with all shew of modesty that indeed those Arguments which they had used to him were persuasive but not compulsive and that the Title of Protector might be well accommodated to the Laws To which they replyed that the Title ought to be such as was suitable to the Laws and the Laws not be made suitable to the Title urging the Statutes of 9. Edw. IV. and 3. Henr. VII whereby it was provided that no one should suffer for bearing Arms on the behalf of him that was de facto King though he had no just right to the Crown Which Arguments were made use of to him meerly for shew the better to disguise his ambitious aim as though without such strong motives he could not have been won thereto But the plain truth is that after this business came thus in question the Sectaries of all sorts nay a great part of the Souldiery shewed a vehement dislike thereof being privately instigated by Lambert and some other of the Principal Officers who did themselves upon Cromwels death expect to have succeeded him in the Place of Protector it being Elective as is manifest from the Instrument of Government whereby that Tyrant was at first so Constituted whereas had he been advanced to the Title of King the case might have been otherwise So that this crafty Fox discerning no small peril to himself by such divisions as might thereby arise especially in the Army wherein lay his chief strength and support thought it the safest way to decline it and to stick still to that of Protector yet to have the Government setled in a kind of Monarchic manner And so in imitation of that which had formerly been Regal to have a House of Peers But against that also there were great and high oppositions so that though it was with much ado agreed that there should be another House yet it would not be allowed the Title of an House of Peers Whereupon the result was that an Act Intituled The Humble Petition and Advice should pass whereby they ordained what Stile the chief Magistrate should have idest Lord Protector of the Common-Wealth of England Scotland and Ireland and the Dominions and Territories thereto belonging Likewise that Parliaments consisting of two Houses should be called once in three years with qualifications of such as should serve therein And that the number of such as should sit in the other House should be nominated by the Lord Protector and approved by the House of Commons Moreover that he should have power to nominate his Successor And that a Confession of Faith should be agreed on by his Highness and the Parliament according to the Rule and Warrant of the Scriptures Which Act being presented to him accordingly was assented to and passed But that Act being in some sort deficient about a month following they passed another relating thereto and called The Explanatory Petition and Advice Wherein inter alia is this Clause viz. Whereas in the Fourth Article Publick Ministers or Publick Preachers of the Gospel are disabled to the Elected to serve in Parliament it is hereby explained and declared to such Ministers and Preachers only as have maintenance for Preaching or are Pastors or Teachers of Congregations In which Act is also contained the Oaths of the Lord Protector and of his Privy-Council as also the Oaths of the Members of that Parliament Soon after which he was again in WestMinster-Hall standing under a Rich State solemnly invested into his Old Title of Lord Protector and into the Government thus new modelled Where in the presence of the Members of that Parliament Sir Thomas Widdrington their Speaker delivered unto him in the name of them all and as Representatives of all the people in the three Kingdoms a Purple Robe lyned with Ermine as also a Bible Sword and Scepter descanting upon each of them as significant in some respect All which being performed the Instrument of that new Modelled Government called The Humble Petition and Advice was publickly read Whereunto assenting he was then and there Proclaimed Protector of England Scotland and Ireland with sound of 〈◊〉 and afterwards in the City of London So likewise at Dublin in Ireland and Edenburgh in Scotland Which new devised Government so much resembling Monarchy though the Title did not sute thereto did so 〈◊〉 please the Anabaptists and Fifth-Monarchy men that they 〈◊〉 spired his ruin by a sudden Insurrection but their 〈◊〉 being timely discerned came at length to nothing 〈◊〉 reupon for prevention of farther mischief he committed to Prison several persons of no small note whose power with the Souldiery might otherwise have much endangered his safety Viz. Lawson one of his Admirals at Sea Harrison Rich Danvers and some other Colonels Nay Lambert himself being aware that his hopes of succeeding him were then by that new framed Government frustrated began to fall off from him and to incline to the Fanaticks Which so awakened the Protector that he took from him his Commission of Lieutenant General and gave it to Fleetwood who by the Marriage of his Daughter stood more nearly typed to his Interest And that he might the better allure those of the Army and some other which were no great friends to him to conform the more pliantly to this his new setled Dominion he tickled them with the specious Title of Lords by calling them to fit in the other House obliging also many other desperate and mean persons which were Officers of the Army with the like shadows of Honour The names of which persons so called were as followeth viz. Richard Cromwel his eldest Son Henry Cromwel his other Son then Lord Deputy of Ireland Nathaniel Fienes