his distempers and afterwards attain'd a firmer health When he came to sit in the House of Peers 1640 his first action in publick affairs was the carrying the King's Letter to them in favour of that noble but unfortunate Lord the Earl of Strafford the King hoping that when all other respects could not prevail upon them at least the consideration of the dignity and goodnesse of this Royal Messenger might something move them to reflect upon the hard measure they had determin'd for him But through the cruel fate of this brave man or rather that of these three Kingdomes the heat of I know not what strange zeal had made them so thirsty for his bloud that a day or two's respite of execution of the severest sentence that ever was given was more then could be afforded to the desires of their King though presented by the hands of their Prince This repulse he suffer'd was certainly the beginning if not the cause of all his ensuing sufferings and those of the Nation 's too For soon after hapned that fatall misunderstanding between the King and the Parliament which occasioning the King's withdrawing from London he commanded the Prince to attend him first at Greenwich then at Hampton-Court then at Theobalds the incensed Parliament and City in the mean time regretting his escape out of their hands having design'd to make advantage of his person according as the contingency of their affairs should suggest to them From thence with the Duke of York he accompanies his Father to New-market and from thence into Yorkshire where they all stood before the gates of Hull and were deny'd admission by Sir Iohn Hotham 'till at length the two Princely brothers were by his special favour permitted as children to see the Town At York the Northern Nobility and Gentry offering their service to his Majesty received thanks for it but were not made use of for prevention of jealousie 'till a greater danger induc'd the King to neglect his fafety no longer and accordingly he selected a company of gallant and loyal persons for his Life guard which were commanded by the young Prince His Majesty assuring them they should hazard their lives no further in defence of their Countries Lawes and Liberties then himself and that they should endanger themselves no farther for his person then his own dear Child In this manner he accompanied the King from York to Newark in Nottinghamshire and from thence to Lincoln and Leicester and back again into Yorkshire in which progress the King endeavoured to satisfie the Counties he passed through of the uprightnesse of his intentions for the good of the Nations and evidenc'd to them the desperate courses the Parliament engaging in order to deprive him of the Royalty left him from his Predecessours and this under pretence of Liberty and Religion At his return into Yorkshire the King informes the Gentlemen there of the Parliaments forwardnesse to a War desires them to spare him some Armes and to compleat Prince Charles's Regiment for the guard of his person under the command of the Earle of Cumberland Not long after the King having gather'd a considerable Army was met between Kinton and Edge-hill in Warwickshire by that of the Parliament under the conduct of the Earl of Essex There was the first considerable battle fought of our civill Wars The Prince was then in the field and the Honourable Earle of Lindsey who was the King's Generall and lost his life in the fight looking upon him very attentively a little before the conjunction of the Armies I know not by what Propheticall instinct utter'd these words Ther 's a Child born to end that VVar we now begin Which how miraculously accomplish't we cannot but gratefully acknowledge the civill Wars having continued ever since the Army which had subdued the one Party afterwards turning their swords upon those that first employ'd them and the poor Nations being rul'd by the sword and always in a state of War and groaning under the miseries inflicted on it by armed Oppressours After this the King retir'd with the Prince to Oxford and committed him to the Right Honourable the Marquesse of Hertford then and still Chancellor of that University who provided for him severall worthy persons in the quality of Tutors for his instruction in all such languages and Sciences as were convenient for the accomplishment of a Prince During his residence there it pleased God to visit him with the Meazles and that not without some danger of death which by the Divine mercy and indulgence to these Nations he avoided is respited we hope for many years Here he was very diligent in commendable studies intermix'd with ingenious and innocent pleasures and upon the King 's summoning a Parliament thither which convened the 22 of Ianuary 1644. himself with his noble Brother the Duke of York sate with the rest of the Nobility in the Upper Schooles which were designed for the House of Lords as the Convocation House was to the Commons who were no inconsiderable number there being present at that Assembly besides these two young Princes the Lord Keeper Littleton the Lord Treasurer Cottington the Duke of Richmond the Marquesse of Hertford nineteen Earles three and twenty Barons and a hundred and fourty Knights and Gentlemen The next year the Prince betakes himself into the field being now about fifteen years old his first course was Westward where by his Majesties Order he had attendants appointed him suitable to the grandeur and state of an heir to three Crowns He set up a Royall Court and chose out a Retinue at his own pleasure the King though disapproving the action in a Letter to the Queen yet admiring his discretion in the Election of them scarce inferiour as a great observer affirm'd to that of his deceased Uncle Prince Henry During this time the King of Portugal sends over an Embassadour who amongst severall specious proposals relating to his Majesties present exigencies tenders one for a Marriage between the Daughter of that King and the Prince of Wales which for good reasons the King his father put off with a civill answer importing a deniall of the proposition though as the policy of State-affairs often makes it necessary to do in words expressing no dislike of it After that fatall battle of Naseby which turn'd the scale to the disadvantage of the Royall Interest severall Overtures interven'd between Prince Charles the Lord Goring and the Parliamentarian General Fairfax but the two former alwayes receiv'd the same answer from him which signified nothing viz. That he was but a servant to the Parliament and could not exceed his Commission which impower'd him onely to fight therefore in râ—ference to a Treaty application ought to be mâ—de to his Masters at VVestminster The Prince accordingly writes to him again to grant the Lords Hopton and Culpepper leave to attend the King and mediate with him for a Treaty with the Parliament to which the General upon grave consultation with his Committee of
and their Army an accommodement of which is undertaken by Commissioners chosen on both sides But the Army judging it would be advantageous for their concernments to get the King into their hands sent Cornet Ioyce to Holmby with 500. Horse upon the fourth of Iune who took the King from thence by night without the privity and consent of the Parliament or the General himself as he profess'd in a Letter to them And now the damnable Mysterie of Iniquity begins to work they march up to S. Albans against the Parliaments order refuse to deliver the King's person to their Commissioners and mongst other insolencies impeach eleven members of the House of Commons The Speaker though he had the day before protested against such a dishonourable Act in the Abbey Church at Westminster flyes to the Army with several Members The City stick to the remaining part of the Parliament for the restoring of the King and declare against the Army Fairfax marches up to London which prepar'd to oppose him enters the City with 20000. Horse and Foot upon the 6. of August re-establishes the Members receives their thanks puts Tichbourn into the Tower of London as Lieutenant takes up his Head-Quarters at Kingston and places the King Hampton Court Within a few dayes after several members of the House are accused of Treason as Sir Iohn Maynard Denzil Hollis Sir William Waller Major General Massey c. Sir Iohn Gayer and four Aldermen Culham Bunce Langham and Adams are committed to the Tower and the Earles of Suffolk Lincoln Middlesex with the Lords Berkley Maynard Hunsdon and VVilloughby of Parham to the Black Rod. All the Works of the City are voted to be cast down upon pretence of bringing in the King but indeed according to the design of the Army sutably to whose pleasure they acted to disable it from resistance Propositions are sent to the King the same in effect with the former of Newcastle Agitators are set up by the Souldiers amongst themselves to carry on their Interests The Scots Commissioners send a Letter to the Speaker of the House of Commons for a personal Treaty between his Majesty and the Commissioners of both Nations But whil'st new Propositions are preparing the King being inform'd of designes against his Life escapes from Hampton-Court with intent to go to the Isle of Iersey where the Prince still lay At his coming to the sea-shoar he found himself disappointed of a ship and therefore goes with Col. Legg to Tedsworth to the Countess Dowager of Southampton's house and sends Sir Iohn Berkley and Mr. Ashburnham which three accompanied him in his escape to the Isle of Wight to L.G. Hammond of whom he had with no great reason entertain'd some hopes Hammond goes with them and fetches the King to Carisbrook Castle Hence he sends a Letter to the Parliament the Scots Commissioners granting all they could desire Whereupon new propositions are sent to him which the Scots protest against as too derogatory to his Honour and therefore they are refused Hereupon the incensed Commons vote no further Addresses to him which presently endears them to the Army again Affairs standing in this ill posture the Prince with the Duke of York who had escaped in woman's apparel from S. Iames's and landed at Dort in Holland by the help of Col. Bampfield sent over purposely on that design by the Queen Prince Rupert the Lords Hopton Wilmot VVilloughby Brainford Culpepper Ruthen Sir Henry Palmer c. in his own ships and those that had revolted in all twenty sail with 2000. men mov'd to and fro in the Downes and upon the southern Coast to lay hold of any opportunity that might present it self for the service of his Father sending forth several Commissions to that purpose to persons of honour and trust who might promote his affairs by land and to the Marq of Ormond the Lord Inchequin and Montgomery in Ireland to the Committee of States in Scotland and their Officers to the Lord Goring in Kent and the Lord Capel in Essex to Sir Thomas Glenham and Sir Marmaduke Langdale in the North to Col. Poyer Laughorn and Powel in Wales as also to Sir Edw. Hales Sir Charles Lucas the Duke of Buckingham the Earles of Holland and Peterborough Letters of correspondency passe mutually between him and the Scots his Father and the City whereof some are intercepted in which the City the Lord and some Commons are intimated ready to contribute all assistance possible For the better satisfaction of the World his Highnesse was pleased to publish a most gracious Declaration which consisted of the ensuing Particulars 1. For the establishment of Religion according to his Majesties agreement of the 26. of December last viz. That Presbytery should be continued for Three yeares and a free debate to be had between the Divines assembled at Westminster and twenty whom his Majesty should appoint about the settlement of Church Government for the future 3. For the performance of the said Agreement and pursuance of the concessions on the King's part which were That the Parliament should dispose of the Militia and have the choice of his privy Counsellors during his Reign c. That the Arrears of the Army be pay'd c. 3. For restoring the King to a personal Treaty 4. For the just Priviledges of Parliament 5. for an Act of Oblivion 6. For the Liberty of the Subject and the abolishing Excise Taxes and Free Quarter c. 7. For disbanding of all Armies and setling of Peace 8. For the defence of the Narrow Seas securing of Trade support of the Navy and Seamen c. This excellent Declaration was seconded with a Letter from his Highnesse to the House of Peers desiring 1. That a Personal Treaty be had in such place and manner as may consist with the King's Honour Safety and Freedome that the Treaty be not blemish'd with any appearance of a restraint 2. That Scotland be included 3. That in the mean time there be a cessation of Armes and an orderly moderate subsistence agreed on for Forces on Foot on both sides by land and sea to the Souldiers content and the Subjcts ease Hereupon within a short time severall attempts were made for the King's service April the 9. 1643. the London Apprentices made an insurrection but were supprest by Fairfax the next day Soon after Colonel Poyer and Major General Laughorn and Powel revolted and reduc'd South-wales to his Majesties service Sir Iohn Owen also got together a party but they were all routed and enforced to surrender the places they had seis'd and themselves prisoners In behalf of the two former the Prince under whose Commission they acted desired Generall Fairfax that they might have the terms and usage of souldiers of war as those had whom the fortune of war had made prisoners to his Highnesse But the General answer'd It was not in his power to act further the Parliament ordering their tryal he dar'd not interpose against their justice So that they were
afterwards tryed as Traytor 's but this favour was extended towards them that they should cast lots for their lives it hapned to be Poyer's fate to suffer and he was shot to death which he took with much resolution The next party we meet with in Armes for the King's deliverance out of a barbarous captivity and admission to a personal Treaty and the settlement of the Nation in peace were the inhabitants of Kent who having seen the Petitions presented to that purpose to the Parliament by the Counties of Essex Surrey and the City of London slighted and some of the Petitioners murder'd resolved not to petition but with their swords in their hands So they assemble together in a considerable body upon Black-heath near Greenwich about the latter end of May 1648. under Sir Edward Hales commissioned from his Highnesse Sir George Lisle Sir Gamaliel Dudley Sir William Compton c. I shall crave leave to be a little more particular in relating the whole management of this and some of the following enterprises then I have adventured to be hitherto because it was carried on by authority deriv'd immediately from the Prince and was of it self one of the most considerable General Fairfax himself with six thousand Foot and two thousand Horse marches forth against the Kentish men who were near ten thousand but unadvisedly parted their Forces and sent away a Brigade to besiege Dover Castle The first intercourse between them was the offer of a Parley to which the General sent this answer Sirs I Received a Message from you for a Passe for some G ntlemen to come and treat according to an Order of Parliament but know no such Order of theirs no Authority of yours to appoint Commissioners for such a purpose And finding you and them in Armes against the Parliament I cannot admit of a Treaty But if ye shall forthwiih lay down your Armes and return home I doubt not of the Parliaments mercy to such as have been deluded into this Rebellion and their exemplary justice upon the chief Actors therein Black heath May 30. 1648 T. FAIRFAX To this harsh answer by directions from the Prince they handsomely reply'd That they had taken Armes in obedience 1. To an universal and perpetual dictate of nature even self-preservation not to invade others right but to secure their own 2. To an undoubted power over us ordained of God we do now obey say they and neither tumult nor rebell 3. To Providence which hath given us that opportunity we dare not neglect and we cannot lay them down without forfeiture of our Reason and our Honour As to the uncertain mercy you hold forth for the deluded many who you think know not why they are come together and the certain justice you threaten their Leaders with Assure your self there is but one soul in this great body which is unanimously resolv'd to stand or fall as one man being not tempted with any hope save that of returning to our ancient Rights Priviledges Governments and Settlements and uncapable of any Fear save only of relapsing again to our former slavery The fair mannage of this businesse sufficiently manifests our inclination to peace Be pleased rather to make this County your Friend then your End And we are Your Servants PHIL. MASILDS EDW. HALES The General being inflexible and they as resolute they meet at a barricado'd bridge between Craiford Heath and Gravesend and dispute the passage very stoutly which at length is gained by the Parliamentarians and another at Northfield whereupon the Kentish retire to Maidstone Fairfax reenforcing his Army to the number of 10000. storms the Town on the 2. of Iune but was twice repulsed with losse The third assault got him entrance when the fight grew more hot upon the Assailants then before as well by the forces in the street as by continuall shot from the houses Nor was the victory accomplish't till after six hours fight and much losse on both sides Presently after this the City of Rochester was also yielded to the General 's mercy The Lord Goring with the remainder of this Defeat marches up in a body towards London and rendezvoused upon Black-heath expecting some assistance from the City which hope failing he cross'd over Greenwich Ferry with five hundred men into Essex where he was met by Sir Charles Lucat and the Lord Capel with two thousand horse and foot and they march together to the Town of Colchester But soon after General Fairfax leaving Colonel Rich and Hewson who had already rais'd the siege of Dover to take in the other places of Kent which stood out crosses over into Essex after the Eenemy and beleagures Colchester with a potent Army The Prince with his Fleet consisting as I said of twenty good men of War and two thousand souldiers some of which were lately revolted with the Parliaments Vice-Admiral Batten who was thereupon Knighted put in at Yarmouth Road and would have landed there buâ— finding no great alacrity in most part of the people to receive him and hearing of Colonel Scroop's coming against him with a strong party of Horse and Foot he sailed from thence to the Downes in Kent seising what Merchants ships and goods he could meet withall Whilst he was here he sent two Letters to the City of London one to the Common-council expressing his Highnesse good affection to peace and to the whole City and his endeavours to vindicate his Father's Liberty and just Prerogative and Rights To restore the people their Laws Liberties and Properties To free them from that bondage under which they were now held like a conquer'd Nation To ease them of Excise and Taxes To settle Religion according to his Father's Agreement made with the Scots and to reduce all things into their ancient and proper Chanell This Letter was accompanied with his Declaration to the same purpose the contents of which we mentioned above The other was to the Merchant Adventurers informing them that he had made stay of three of their ships but without intent to make prize of any of them desiring to borrow 20000. l. of them to be repay'd out of the Customes and requires their speedy Answer The Copies of these two Letters were brought to the House of Parliament by the Sheriffs of London some of the Common Council Upon consideration of them Colonel Harvey first prolixly aggravating many faul s in the King's Government according to the scandalous Remonstrance not long before published against him said The Prince was his Fath rs own son as like him as could be That he had invited the Scots to come in and had declared for them and had been formerly against the Parliament That he was but a Subject And moved the House to declare him a Rebel and a Traytour Sir Peter VVentworth Mr. Knightly and Mr. Blakestone seconded him with much earnestnesse and so did Edward Ash who farther moved That the Common Council and Merchants should give no Answer to his Letters alledging There was no
sent by the Lair Libberton The New Commonwealth in England in the mean time was modell'd thus The House of Peers as I said was voted down the Commons reduc'd to about 100 and a new kind of Senate set up called a Council of State who sate at Whitehall consisting of forty persons these indeed though deriv'd from the Parliament grew to have greater authority then their creators but though the supreme Power seem'd in appearance to be in these two Councils yet it was really in the hands of the Army the chief Officers of which rul'd them that rul'd the Nations Their principall business at Home was to fortify their new Government by making severall Acts of Treason and to terrifie others by putting to death divers of the Nobility as D. Hamilton E. of Holland L. Capel c. and such of the Gentry who had oppos'd their Barbarous and Tyrannicall Proceedings They also employ'd themselves in dividing the Patrimony of the Crown having murder'd the Father and expell'd the Son the same course also they took with many thousands of loyall persons either confiscating and selling their Estates or putting them to redeem the same upon great compositions by this meanes and prodigious Taxes together drawing all the Wealth of the Nation both Money Lands into their own hands and sharing the same among themselves their Lords the Officers of the Army His Majesty had small hopes of doing any good immediately upon England although he had friends enough in it However two noble Gentlemen Sir Iohn Berkly and Col. Slingsby offer'd themselves to serve their Prince in England and accordingly came from Iersey into the VVest and went about stirring up their Correspondents to Armes for their King Country but they were both accidentally discover'd taken The King had sent Ambassadours to severall great Princes and States as the Emperor the King of Spain the Duke of Moscovy the State of Venice the Grand Seignor and others to sollicite their ayd and contribution for the recovery of his Father's Kingdomes But from the most of them he received only complements pretenses of their good will to help him The most considerable Embasse and most probable to take effect was that to his Majesty of Spain by the Lord Cottington who at his Audience remonstrated in the name of his Master That the Parliament of England having been in Armes against his Father had prevailed against him and caused him to be put to dâ—ath That he being Son and heir to the late King was yet kept out of his Kingdomes by the said Parliament And therefore he desired his Aid and Assistance to establish him into his Rights and Dignities in his Kingdomes To this the King of Spain answer'd That he was sorry for his Father 's ill successe wishing he had been more prosperous That he condol'd with him for his Father's death and was much affected with sorrow at the manner of it That concerning the difference between him and the Parliament and the Rights on thâ— one or the other side they being matters out of his Territories and Iurisdiction he could not take cognizance of them nor should he meddle therein But for any thing within his own Dominions he should be ready to do him what lawful favour he could But such is the influence Self Interest has upon the minds even of the greatest Potentates that it many times excludes all considerations of generosity Had the Neighbour-States resented the unjustice done to this King and his Father as they ought I am confident the Spirits of the Iuncto would have soon been broken But the course of the world as I said is otherwise his Majesty of Britain is an Exile his Enemies are great and powerfull and therefore in stead of sending assistance to the unfortunate Prince the King of Spain sends and Embassadour to court the new Common wealth of Rebels to a League The King hearing of a Fleet of Ships preparing by the Parliament for the Island of Iersey thought fit to dispatch his answer to the Committee of Estates of Scotland in order to a Treaty which being drawn up with a Letter directed to the Committee of the Kirk Assembly the Laird Libberton departed with it to Scotland Soon after which his Majesty to avoid all danger went from Iersey back again into France where her resided with his Royal Mother till the time for the Scotch Treaty drew near Before his going thither he writ thus to the Lord Marq. of Montross Most Dear and well beloved Cousin We have received Letters from our Kingdome of Scotland of which you receive herewith a Copy by which our subjects demand of us that we would please to acknowledge for lawfull their Parliament and particularly the two last Sessions of that Assembly Which being obtained of our Grace they offer to send us their Deputies with full Commission to Treat with us of the means to reestablish Peace and obedience in that Kingdome We have made them an Answer That we have made known to their Envoy the place where we desired their Deputies should come to us with all diligence And to the end you should not apprehend that by our Letters or by the Treaty we had any design to hinder the affairs we hâ—ve committed to you we have thought fit to let you know that as we judge the Levies you have made for our service to have been a powerfull motive to oblige them to send their Deputies and to enter into Treaty with us So we also believe that the Progrese you shall make in your generous Designes will dispose them to Treat with the more moderation to the end the whole Realm may again happily return under our obedience We assure you we have not the least thought to derogate from that ample Commission which we have given you nor to diminish that Authority in which we have invested you by our Letters Patents And we doe promise you also if it shall come to passe that we shall enter into any good Intelligence with our subjects we shall have so much care of your proper Interest that all the world shall see how much we esteem your Person what confidence we have in your conduct your Courage whereof not only the late King our Father but Our self also have reciv'd Proofs both by what you have done suffer'd for Us. In the mean time you shall understand that we have qualified the Assembly of our Subjects with the Appellation of the Committee of Estates which we have done onely for this Treary Which if it shall not succeed as we desire As we know already this Qualification of the Privy Signet do's not at all authorise them to be such so we shall then forthwith declare for what we hold them notwithstanding this Title which we have given them both for their own proper satisfaction also to make known to all the World that we desire to bring back our Subjects of the Kingdome of Scotland to their Duty rather by wayes of
sweetness and amitie then by the rigour of our Armes if their Obstinacy and the Injustice of their Demands should constrain us to recover it by force We therefore do hereby give you full Power to proceed vigorously in your Enterprises not doubting but all our Loyall Subjects of Scotland will join themselves with you and by that means all those who are otherwise dispos'd will submit themselves to reason in that Treaty which we we now accept or shall be forc'd thereto by Armes To this we permit you to publish these Presents to communicate them to such as you shall judge fit So we pray God to preserve you most dear Cousin The Laird of Liberton being arriv'd at Edenburgh where he was expected with much impatience and longing assoon as the Committeee of Estates and Assembly of the Kirk were met deliver'd his Majesties Message and Letters to them informing them also by word of Mouth how greatly inclinable he found him to an Agreement to their Desires As 1. That in reference to Ratifying all that the Parliament of Scotland did in their two last Sessions he was willing there should be pass'd a generall Act of Oblivion 2. That such as had serv'd under the Marquesse of Montross and Duke Hamâ—lion in his last Expedition should be uncapable of all publick Charge without conssent of Parliament 3. That he had design'd Breda in Holland for the place of a Solemn Treaty upon the 15. of March next ensuing in order to a perfect Accommodation between himself and his Subjects of Scotland His Majestie 's Letter to the Committee of Estates was in these termes For the Committee of Estates of Scotland CHARLES R. WE have received your Letters lately persented to us by Mr. VVindram Laired of Liberton we accept gratiously all the expressions of Affection Fidelity therein contained to wards us with your tender resentment of our present condition and the just indignation which you professe to have against the execrable murtherers of our Father And we believe that your intentions are full of Candor towards us as we are alwaies have been desirous to settle a clear and right Itelligence between us and our Subjects of our ancient Kingdome of Scotland which may be an assured foundation of their happiness and peace for the time to come and an effectuall means to root out all the seeds of animosity and divisions caused by these late Troubles and also to unite the hearts and affections of our Subjects to one another and of them all to us their King to lawfull Soveraigne To the end that by their obedience to our Royall and just authority we may be put into a condition to maintain them in Peace and Prosperity and to protect them in their Religion and Liberty as it appertains to us according to our Charge and Office of a King And as we have alwaies resolved to contribute whatever is to be done by us to obtain these good Effects and for the just satisfaction of all our Subjects in this Kingdom We have now thought fit upon the returne of Mr. Windram to command and desire you to send unto us Commissioners sufficiently Authorised To treat and agree with us both in Relation to the Interest and just satisfaction of our Subjects there as also concerning the Ayd Assistance which in all reason we may expect from them to bring and reduce the Murtherers of our late Most dear Father of happy memory to condigne punishment and to recover our just Rights in all our Kingdomes And we will that they attend us on the fifteenth day of the month of March at the Town of Breda where we intend to be in order thereunto And in confidence of a Treaty as also to make known to you and all the World that we sincerely desire to be agreed We have resolv'd to address these unto you under the Name Title of a Committee of Estates of our Kingdome of Scotland And will and expect that you use this grace no otherwise for any advantage to the prejudice of us or our Affairs beyond what we have given this Qualification and Title for namely Onely for the Treaty and in order to it Although we have considerations sufficient and very important to disswade and oblige us to doe nothing in this kind antecedently at this time Also we hope the confidence which we declare to have in your cleare and candid intentions towards us will furnish you with strong Arguments to forme in your selves a mutuall confidence in us which by the blessing of God Almighty by your just and prudent moderation and by that great desire that we have to oblige all our Subjects of that Kingdome and by the means of the Treaty which we attend and hope for may be a good foundation of a full and happy peace and and assured security to this Nation for the time to come Which we assure you is wished of us with Pâ—ssion and we shall endevour by all means in our power to effect To the Committee of the Kirk likewise his Majesty writ a Leâ—â—â— much to the same purpose whâ—eâ— assoon as they met was delivered to them Those to the Committee of Estate were first referred to a Subcommittee of nine Lords and Burgesses to present their Opinions thereupon to the Committee of Estates who were to receive their Reports and prepare the matter for the Parliament of Scotland shortly to be conven'd And moreover for the more expedition a Joint Committtee was chosen out of that of the Estates and that of the Kirk by common consent to consider to sending Commissioners and Propositions to the King Much was the debate and great the contestation in this Council the insolent Kirkmen rejecting all other accommodation but such as might render his Majestie in a condition wholly subservient to their pleasure framed higher Propositions then ever Those of the Estates were more moderate in comparison though high enough too and at length became more prevalent So Commissioners were jointly chosen to be sent to his Majesties The Earle of Cassils the Lord Lothian the Laird Burley and the Laird Libberton Sir Io. Smith and Mr. Ieoffries for the Estates and Mr. Broady Lawson and VVood in behalf of the Kirk These arrive at Breda before the King and therefore the next day they went to meet him at Bergheâ—â—â—op Zoom and came together to Breda 16. March 1640. Three dayes after they were conducted to audience by the Lord VVentworth Master of the Ceremonies in the Kings Coach The Earle of Câ—ssills made a short speech as from the Estates and Lawson for the Kirk after which they shew'd their Commissions and deliver'd the Propositions and Letters from the Estates and Kirk of Scotland The Propositions were these I. That all Excommunicate should be forbid the Court. II. That the King would by Solemn Oath and under his Hand and Seal declare his Allowance of the National Covenant of Scotland of the Solemn League Covenant of the three Nations III. That
he would confirme all Acts of Parliament enjoin the Solemn League and Covenant establish Presbytery the Directory the Confâ—ssion of Faith and Catechisme in the Kingdome of Scotland as they are already approved by the General Assembly of the Kirk and the Parliament and that he would observe the same in his own family and swâ—ar never to oppose or indevour the alteration of the same IV. That he would consent that all Civil matters might be determin'd by the present and subsequent Parliaments in Scotland and all matters Ecclesiasticall by the ensuing generall Kirk Assembly After the reading of these Propositions and the Letters his Majestie being told these were all their instructions answered That he would take these things into consideration and doubted not to give them such a full answer as should give them his Kingdome of Scotland ample satisfaction His Majestie and his Council deliberate very seriously upon these Heads of the Treaty Opinions were divided some persons vehemently disswading him from trusting himself into the hands of the Scots But the Covenant was the main thing the King stuck at and the Commissioners most urg'd In the mean time he withdraw to the Hague to consult with the Queen of Bohemia and the Prince of Orange who was visited by the Commissioners and intreated to be a Mediator between them and his Majestie and some other friends what course was best to resolve on And soon after the Earle of Carnwarth and Mr. Murrey arrive at Breda from the Committee of Estates with further Instructions and Propositions as 1. That his Majesty should raâ—ifie all that had been done in the Parliaments of Scotland in some late Sessions And consent That Montrosse and his Adherents be prohibited accesse into that Kingdome These conditions were sufficiently hard but the posture his Majestie 's affairs then stood in seem'd to most of his Counsellours to afford an invincible argument to perswade him to accept them The Marquis of Montrosse as I said was commission'd by the King to levy what force he could on that side the Sea and to fall into the North of Scotland upon hopes his appearance there might induce the States to more moderation In order to which he had sollicited the Princes of Germany for assistance but he received little more from any but promises and complements Onely from the Duke of Holstein he was supplyed with three or four very fair Vessels well arm'd and amn'd And to expedite his businesse he dispatcht Col. Iohn Ogilby to Amsterdam to intertain such strangers as might be for his purpose But the forgetting his Commission bestow'd both money paines in intertaining himself suffering those who upon any termes would have engag'd to shift for themselves there being a great number who had fled out of England and more who had lately deserted the French or been cashiered the Hollander's service By which neglect those goodly ships provided for service were lost and a limb of the design broken Nor was this the onely miscarriage that hapned in the beginning of the Marquis's enterprise For Col. Cochran likewise who had been sent into Poland to deal with the Scotch Merchants there for assistance having procured very considerable Summes of money upon that score and other provision dispos'd of the money to his own use made sale of the Corn and provision together transportation of it and himself turn'd tail to the quarrell And Generall King whom the Marquis expected out of Sweden with a considerable party of Horse either could not be ready so soon as was expected or else delay'd on purpose However the Marquesse fearing as is suppos'd he should have an expresse command to desist from his purpose because the Treaty betwixt his Majesty and the Scots Commissioners was likely to come to a speedy conclusion whereby himself should be banisht out of that Kingdome fatally resolves to proceed notwithstanding all difficulties So he set forth for the conquest of a Nation settled in a posture of war and forewarn'd of his intentions with about six or seven hundred men at most strangers and all about the tenth of April 1650. He had sent him by the Queen of Swâ—den for the arming such as upon his arrivall should betake themselves to his party fifteen hundred Armes compleat for Horse back brest c. Carbiâ—â—es Pistols and Swords all which after his defeat in Cathanes were taken untoucht Two of his ships with near upon a third part were sent before and directed to steeâ— for the Orcades but by storm of weather which is both frequent and dangerous amongst those Northern Islands they were lost with all the men and Arms nothing sav'd This was another check and a forerunner of the sad event which follow'd However nothing terrifi'd with these unhappy presages he arriv'd himself at the Isle of Orkney having with him severall Scotch Gentlemen resolv'd to partake of his fortune Here he continued a considerable time to raise such forces and recruits as the place would afford which were poor raw untrain'd fellowes making up the shew of an Army but wholly ignorant of war With these he embarques and lands at Cathanes the farthest point to the Northwest of Scotland expecting the coming of two thousand men rais'd in the Earle of Seaforth's Territories His arrival and that with Foreigners immediately struck a terrour into the whole Countrey as far as Edenburth where the Parliament then sitting forthwith order Lieutenant General David Lesley Colonel Straughan and Holborn to march against him with 7000. foot and 3. Troops of Horse In the mean time the Marquesse moves but slowly and to prevent misapprehension since all the world was much astonisht at his Invasion whilst the King was upon a Treaty puts forth a Declaration to make known That his intention was only against some particular persons who had against the Laws of the Kingdome rais'd and maintain'd a war against the King's Father and did now by their subtile practices endeavour to cirâ—umvent and destroy the Son That he intended nothing against the generality of the Kingdome And lastly exhorted all Subjects of that Nation to endeavour to free themselves from the Tyranny of those who for the present ruled the state and from the oppression of the Ministry But the Countrey partly through fear of the danger and partly being over-awed by the Earle of Sunderland did not come to second him as he expected Straughan who commanded a choice party of Horse advances before Lesley's body whilst the Marquesse had effected nothing material besides the taking of Dumbath Castle Upon Straughan's approach a party of 100. were drawn forth who encountred his Forlorn hope and put them to retreat but being immediately seconded by Straughan's whole body who charged upon that of the Marquesse the Islanders threw down their Armes and were dispers'd only the Dutch Forces made an orderly retreat into some shrubs hard by where having very valiantly defended themselves a while they were at last enforced to yield This was a totall Defeat of
Governor thereof being slain in a Sally it was surrendred upon Articles and by the King of France and the Cardinal in person put into the hands of the English Iune 25. 1658. While these things were in agitation beyond Sea the pretended Parliament reassembled on Ian. 20. and those Members who had been excluded the last Session were now admitted There was also an assembly of Officers and some few others in the House of Peers summon'd thither by Cromwel as Lords But the Commons being now a full House began to review the late Humble Petition and Advice made by a packt Iunto and refus'd to treat with the Other House as Lords Wherefore Cromw in a great fury hasted to them in a Hackney Coach and having rated them sufficiently dissolved them Feb. 4. yet with this word of consolation to his Other House My Lords ye are Lords and shall be Lords This was the fourth Parliament he dissolved having before violently turn'd out the Long-Parliament the little Parliament the Recognition Parliament this garbled Iunto There goe's a saying concerning the three latter which were summoned by Cromwel himself that the First was called but not chosen the Second did just nothing and the Third did nothing just However Cromwel resolv'd to maintain what he had gotten per fas nefas He had called his eldest Son Richard out of the Country to inure him to a Court life and Publick Affairs and placed his second Henry in Ireland the room of Fleetwood whom he recalled from thence wanting as he said his Presence and Counsel Moreover he had married his two youngest Daughters in the foregoing November one to Mr. Rob. Rich. heir apparent to the Earldome of VVarwick and the other to Thomas Viscount Faulconbridge And having thus settled himself he resolv'd to rule at his pleasure dispairing of ever having the complyance of a full and free chosen Parliament On the twelfth of March he sent for Tichburn then Lord Mayor of London the Aldermen and Common Council and acquainting them with the imminent danger of the Commonwealth by reason of secret Machinations from some Ill-willers to his Government gave them order for settling the Militia Whereupon the guards were doubled and a strict watch was set in all parts of the City Shortly after divers persons were apprehended and imprisoned and among others Doctor Iohn He wet Minister of St. Gregories near Paul's Mr. Iohn Russell brother of the Earle of Bedford Sir VVilliam Compton brother of the Earl of Northampton Mr. Iohn Mordant brother of the Earle of Peterburgh Sir Richard VVillis Sir VVilliam Leighton many more of lesse quality Hereupon follow'd a day of solemn Humiliation and a High-Court of Iustice before which was brought first S. Henry Slingsby of Yorkshire he was accused of Treason by one VVaterhouse and one Overton Officers in the Garrison of Hull for conspiring to seize upon that place for the King Next him was brought to Tryall Dr. Hewet he was impeached of Treason for holding correspondence with the King and delivering his Commissions to several persons for levying Forces against the Government But the Doctor refused to own the authority of the Court The same day Mr. Mordant was also arraigned before the said High-Court for a treasonable design but he made his innocence so apparent against all the evidence that he was acquitted Sir Henry Slingsby and Doctor Hewet received sentence of death pronounced upon them by President Lisle on the 2. of Iune and notwithstanding the intercessions of great friends were beheaded on Tower-Hill on the 5. of the same moneth A few dayes after one Mallery the betrayer of all the rest was try'd pro forma and condemn'd but repriev'd Other persons were also try'd whereof some were acquitt'd some condemned and reprieved but three persons were dealt with in the greatest rigour being hang'd and quarter'd namely Col. Edw. Ashton in Tower-street over against Mark-lane end Iohn Bettely in Cheapside and Edmund Stacy before the old Exchange Iuly 17. These murders were usher'd in with a Fast and concluded with a day of Thanksgiving Sad newes was this to his Sacred Majesty who could not but be infinitely sensible of the sufferings of these loyall persons as well as of the calamitous state his interest was thereby brought into However he gave not himself up to pensivenesse and unprofitable sorrow but repaired for a while to Antwerp with the two Dukes his Brothers and the Princesse his Sister from whence also he went to Bruxels and resided there for a good space being entertain'd there splendidly by Don Iohn of Austria and desired to be present at most consultations for carrying on the War against the French In August Elizabeth Cleypole daughter to Cromwel and wife to one Iohn Cleypole dyed at Hampton-Court much troubled in mind by reason of the bloody actions of her Father as was reported But whether it were so or no this is certain that Cromwel never injoy'd himself after her death and did not survive her a full moneth He lay some while in a very sad condition with extreme torment and pain in his bowels neverthelesse he could not endure to think of dying but said the night before his death That God had revealed to him that he should not dye and that he had a great deal of glorious work for him still to do in these Nations But on Friday Sept. 3. he departed this life or as some say on Aug. 30. at what time was the most furious violent wind that ever hapned in the memory of man Immediately upon his death his Council met and upon the affirmation of Dr. Goodwin that he nominated his son Richard to succeed him or for that they judged it the most expedient course they order'd him to be proclaim'd Protector accordingly Which was done the next day in the City of London and his new Highnesse took an Oath prescrib'd in the Humble Petition and Advice Richard's first care was the Interment of his Father and search was made into the Records to see what had been expended upon the buriall of former Kings to the end greater cost might be bestow'd upon his All the gaudry was not provided till the 23. of Novemb. and then his Image was drawn in great pomp to Westminster Abbey and lay'd in a stately Herse What became of his carcase is not certainly known Thus ended this great Tyrant after almost 5. years usurpation during which he spent vast sums of Treasure to maintain his ill-gotten power and yet his Funeral charges amounting to above 30000 l. are unpaid for at this day Assoon as the ceremonies were over young Cromwel was urg'd by his wants of money and other prâ—ssing occasions to call a Parliament to which end he sent forth writs not according to the Instrument of Government but after the old way two in a County c. In the mean time many congratulatory addresses were made to him from Counties Cityes Burroughs and Regiments of Souldiers full of flattery and profanesse some of