amongst others is chiefly to be observed That the King having given secret orders to the Army then on foot which at his own charge he had raised against the Scots though after the Truce they were payed by the Parliament to march to London that he might more conveniently repress the Tumults and Insolencies of the People it was by the Factious charged upon him as a Crime But though he might lawfully do it yet they examined many Officers and Souldiers about the matter and finding none privy to it they made it their chief care by laying all the blame at the Kings door to incense the People more against him Now the Parliament has leisure the Power being in their hands to send the Scots home to their own Country who having received a promise of three hundred thousand pounds English to be paid within three years and being loaded with Thanks Pay and Booty of which they were not so free to the English Army they departed both the English and Irish Armies being at the same time disbanded Nay it was hotly disputed which of the Armies should first be dismissed this or that till at length with much ado it past in Parliament that both should be disbanded together The King followed the Scots into Scotland where having called a Parliament and having granted and confirmed by Law whatever Avarice Ambition and Wantonness could devise to his own loss he reconciles all Parties and for that time heals up all wounds of War and Dissention But the Parliament dogs the King with Commissioners as spies over all his actions who under pretext of cementing a stricter Union with their Friends and dear Brethren might break off their friendship to the King and indeed by tales whispers and crafty insinuations they had very near spoiled all the Kings business at that time The Parliament of England also during this space was by the Votes of both Houses prorogued to a certain day The King upon his return was received with applause in London and with the Queen and Royal Issue magnificently feasted by the City which the Parliamentarians and some others took ill lest the Kings Majesty being elevated by those Congratulations of the Citizens might think the people had received sufficient satisfaction or that his own affairs were setled to advantage And the King having sent for the Lord Mayor and chief Citizens to Hampton-Court gave them in recompence a sumptuous and Princely Treat which grated upon the Factious who were resolved to mingle sorrows with their joys After some days they congratulate his return with a Declaration or rather an infamous Libel In it the Parliamentarians mustered up all the grievances of the State or rather the murmurings of insolent and wanton men aggravating with the utmost spight and malice whatever had been committed by the Courtiers Courts Magistrates or Kings Officers what calamities or misfortunes had happened during his whole reign yea and those things also which being reformed ought justly to have been buried in silence and at the same time cause it to be printed and published This was forged during the Kings absence being moved under other pretexts by the chief Sticklers of the House and having been debated from three in the afternoon all night long until ten next morning and many wise men in the mean time through age and infirmity and others which is far worse through fear and cowardise withdrawing it was at last with much ado approved by the plurality of eleven voices The King finding fault that they had made it publick without expecting his Answer a few days after published another Declaration in refutation of it This was in a manner the first Declaration of War For though the King endeavoured a Cure by somentations and mollifying Remedies yet the Sore festered and was not to be cured without Fire and Sword The Rabble again broke out into Tumults under colour of the Ceremonies Liturgie and Church-government The Factious whisper that the power of the Militia must be taken out of the Kings hands which they intended immediately to seize By which it clearly appeared that the boldness of the disaffected and the ways of sedition were rather encouraged than conquered by patience and that the Troubles were no less raised by the consent than by the artifice and machination of the Factious the King having discovered some of them to have been accessary to the Scottish Invasion That the King therefore might not always suffer things to go on but obviate and timely stifle the growing Rebellion in the bud he accuses five Commoners and one of the Peers of High-Treason and desires them to be brought to a fair tryal according to Law before the Judges of the Kingdom But the Faction growing now more powerful and numerous in the Parliament many good men also being over sollicitous lest the Priviledges of Parliament might be in the least infringed the House of Commons which durst never before own the defence of any who were accused of Felony Murder or Treason takes them into protection and so far from complying with the King who undertook the prosecution himself they rather accuse him as invading the Priviledges of Parliament and will not suffer any Member to be brought to the Bar or taken off by accusations from the care of the Publick or that the Judges and Arbitrators of the Affairs of the Kingdom should be disgraced by criminal Processes The King being provoked at this by the advice of some of his Privy-Council who were themselves Members of the House went to Westminster-hall attended with about an hundred Noblemen and Gentlemen with their Servants and commands that no body else be suffered to come up stairs and that they should not upon any provocation offer the least affront to any man Entering the House of Commons accompanied onely by the Prince Palatine of the Rhyne he demands the Incendiaries to be delivered up to him and promises to proceed against them according to the known Laws They being warned as it was reported by means of the Earl of H. and of a Lady who was now willing to set off her wit as formerly she had done her beauty the gifts of different Ages amongst the Parliament-men had withdrawn themselves Wherefore the King having accused the Abscondents returned without any hurt or injury done to any man But when he perceived that the Members were in a chaff and highly displeased he mildly remitted the Suit and that he might soften the angry minds of the men he retracted what he had done and in a manner begg'd pardon for his fault Nevertheless they who lay continually at the catch to blow the Coals of Jealousies and Offences taking hold of this opportunity of inveighing against the King set the minds of the ignorant agog and scattered abroad in all places such sparks of Division as were enough to put the whole Kingdom in a flame The Rabble of the neighbouring
difficulty also the Fleet under the command of the Earl of Warwick is divided but all this still without any fighting There was much skirmishing indeed on both sides by Apologies and Manifesto's but after that the King in the judgment of most men had got the better on 't at the Pen at length they come to try the matter by Armies and the Sword It was easie for the Parliament to raise an Army in London a City abounding with swarms of seditious and restless men where so many Arms so great quantity of Provision and Ammunition so much Money and so many thousand pieces of Ordnance were ready at hand Where by the publick Declarations of so many specious Causes for which it might seem even honourable to die and the plausible Motto's in their Colours they inflamed the minds of the deluded Rabble more than with the sound of the Trumpet or Drum pretending forsooth That they took Arms for the defence of the Kings Person and to remove evil Counsellors from him for maintaining the Priviledges of Parliament and the preservation of the Reformed Religion for asserting the Laws and ancient Government of England nay and for securing their Religion Lives and Estates and therefore inviting all to their assistance By which Artifices the Preachers being bewitched who were desirous of a change in the Church-government and somewhat tickled with the hopes which the Rebels had roundly promised that the Livings of the Loyal Clergy and the fat Benefices of the Bishops Deans and Chapters would fall to their share in the Dividend they sound the Trumpet to Rebellion from the Pulpit from whence they ought to have preached the Gospel of Peace The People upon this spurred on with other hopes of a future Golden Age and of the temporal reign of the Messias comes flocking from all quarters the men bringing a vast quantity of Money and Plate and the women their Wedding-Rings Thimbles and Bodkins and without any regard to their Families by a strange kind of a phrenzy casting them into the publick Stock or Treasury The men strove who should be first to list themselves in this holy War whence in a short time there was an Army of about twenty thousand men got together before the King had levied five hundred for his defence and they also having more Cannon than he had Muskets in his possession For raising Pay for their Army besides the profuse Contributions and Benevolences of the People they seize the Goods of the Nobility and Gentry whom they knew to be of the Kings Party they fall also upon the Revenues of the Bishops Prince Queen and of the King himself by way of sequestration so that the Kings Majesty was forced to complain That they had not left him enough to live on And now they thought there was no more to be done but to march and seize the person of the King who was overcome and in a manner taken in a toyl which they doubted not to promise themselves to be done within the space of a month But the Will of God was otherwise for the Juggles of the Rebels had not so blinded the understanding of the English but that most part of the Lords and Peers of the Vpper House and almost an equal number of the Lower who for Estates and Quality far exceeded the rest went over to the Kings Party Many also of those who tarried at London favoured the Royal Cause in secret and in all Counties of the Kingdom there were many Gentlemen and common people that stood for the interest of the King By the assistance of these and the Royal Authority which like the Sun in an eclipse drew together a crowd of Spectators and by a certain pity and commiseration of some men who were ashamed to behold the Head of the Kingdom depressed into such a condition as to be forced to flie from the Imperial City to York from York to Nottingham from Nottingham into Shropshire and the borders of Wales after he had wandered up and down above four months long and in vain imploring the help and assistance of his Subjects the King at length got together a kind of a small Army which afterwards increased to greater Forces the people the more readily flocking to the King because with him they thought the Government must stand or fall Many of the Nobility and Gentry also brought what Forces they could to the Kings Party amongst whom not to rob any of the Honour due to them the Loyalty and Interest of the two Marquesses of Hertford and Newcastle was eminently conspicuous of whom the first brought with him a considerable Body of Dutch and the other almost at his own charge raised no inconsiderable Army in the North the Queen also sending over Moneys and Arms which by pawning her Jewels she had raised for which dutiful office to her Husband the Rebels accuse her of Treason Whilst these Clouds overcast the Sky at home a dismal Tempest thunders from abroad upon the heads of the English which because it was of no small moment as to our affairs that I may not wholly pass by in silence the Reader must cross the Sea with me into Ireland The Irish who always bore impatiently the Yoke of the English Government out of a natural aversion heightened by the emulation of different Religions watched for an opportunity to shake off the one and to assert the other I mean the Roman Catholick Religion did now attempt the Enterprize which long before they had formed in their minds For the whole Nation of a sudden and which was strange by a clandestine and concealed Conspiracy fell upon the English scattered over Ireland who were secure and expected no such thing turn them out of house and hold and without distinction of Age or Sex without respect to Affinity or Relation barbarously butcher many thousands like so many humane Sacrifices to their Superstition And had not the Conspiracy been detected at Dublin and in other places the more cautious running to Arms had not withstood their fury the English name was in a fair way of being totally extinguished in Ireland The good luck was that the very day before the intended Insurrection the mystery of the Plot was discovered at Dublin by an Irish Footman belonging to Sir John Clotwaithie who having refused to act the part that was put upon him in the Conspiracy opened the whole Intrigue to his Master who presently informed the Privy-Council of it Though many of the Conspirators fled yet two of the chief Incendiaries and Promoters of the Rebellion who had also undertaken to surprize Dublin-Castle I mean the Lord Macquire and Macmahon were apprehended Being committed to Prison they were afterwards conveyed to London where having long suffered the incommodities of a Prison that we may at once make an end of them they made their escape but being by another Irish-man betrayed in the absence of the King who was then inevitably engaged
treacherous discovery of a certain Earl they understood was by the Captain of the Guard with full authority to be brought to London and having done so they endeavour to please him with officious and flattering promises of greater liberty and freedom and more dutiful usage pretending to lament his condition as being by the severity of the Parliament in a manner buried alive within his own Palace as in a Prison deprived of the company of his Friends and Servants Professing which to them was more than an Oath that they would never lay down their Arms until they had put the Scepter into his hands and procured better Conditions for his Friends They allow him the assistance of his Chaplains the exercise of his Religion and a free correspondence with the Queen by Messengers and Letters without any examination His Royal Children were likewise suffered to visit him that so far at least he might seem to be at home and to enioy the dearest part of his Kingdom In so much that the Camp seemed to be transformed into the Court whilst his Majesties domestick Servants return with joy to their Master and Courtiers increase daily in number And that they may seem to be serious in treating with the King about the setling of affairs they frame Propositions whereby they gave it out That things were contrived to the best for the interest of his Majesty of themselves and of the Publick to which if the King would condescend they engage on their parts immediately to restore him to the height of Royal Majesty When afterwards the King liked them not as they were proposed by their Commissioners they soften them and made as if they had almost accommodated them to the intentions of the King nay one or two of his Majesties Servants whensoever they had a mind to it were permitted to be present in their Councils of War In the mean time they publish Declarations and Remonstrances to the dishonour of the Parliament accuse them of Covetousness Selfishness Ambition Injustice Cruelty and Tyranny demand their Arrears accuse eleven able Commoners and as many Peers of the contrary Faction of High-Treason and having brought frivolous Articles against them they urge that being excluded the House they may be brought to a Tryal They desire nay command that the present Parliament be within a prefixed time dissolved foreseeing that to be the onely way whereby they might hope to gratifie the People and that a new and better Parliament should be called in place of it thereby to flatter the hopes of wretched Sufferers It is not to be denied but that they proposed many useful things that they might cajole the people wherein they never forgot sometimes obliquely and sometimes also directly to speak in favour of the King and that to this purpose That the King Queen and Royal Family be restored to their just Rights without which they cry no solid Peace can be expected Yet for the most part they play fast and loose by Conditions annexed or ambiguous words so that afterward they might easily extricate themselves from these Promises provided they had the luck to get the better of the Presbyterians But when the Parliament thought it neither honourable nor safe to comply with these military demands the Army inverting now the Cause declare for the King and People and march against the Parliament On the other hand the Parliament with the Londoners prepare for a defence and vote that the King should be invited to London the people in a manner forcing them to it who with importunate Petitions and Clamours thundred tumultuously in Westminster-hall In the mean time the Speakers of both Houses with about fifty Members partly Aristocraticks and partly Democraticks privily flie from London and betake themselves to the Camp in great consternation pretending violence offered unto them by their fellow-Members Citizens and some disbanded Souldiers and demand reparation by Arms yet all this while they left others of their own stamp behind them in the Parliament that might blow the Coals and disappoint the Councils of the rest The Citizens who like men in an Ague after a burning heat fall presently into a shaking cold were easily appeased by the fair promises of the Army That the King should be restored which was their onely desire the Parliament dissolved and publick Peace and Justice setled But the Country-people who heretofore were in a readiness to flock to the assistance of London were now equally disgusted both with the Citizens and Parliament as those who having first kindled the War were still unwilling to put out the flame and seemed to be the onely men that shut their Gates against Peace that was ready to return into the Kingdom What 's now to be done The Parliament desponds and the officious Citizens who were for the Army and Faction open the Gates and without any previous Articles tamely deliver up the City to the mercy of the Souldiers Upon this the fugitive Members are with no small pomp instantly restored to their places The accused Presbyterians flie and some as it is usual temporizing strike in with the victorious Party and the rest lose courage From that time forward the History of the Evils they had done is to be read in those they suffer Some of the Members of the House of Commons the Mayor also and many chief Citizens being committed to the Tower smart for their late fear and cowardise in abandoning the safety of their fellow-Citizens and their former obstinacy and insolence against the King Seven or eight Lords accused of Treason are cast into Prison but afterward the heat of Emulation by little and little cooling and being almost quite over the Prisoners without any Indictments brought against them are discharged from their loathsome Prisons to be an example to others not to presume hereafter to resist Nor could this satisfie them unless also to shew their strength and the continence and discipline of the Souldiers the Commanders of the Army led their men with Artillery and Ammunition as in triumph over the Citizens through the chief streets of London When the Army had now mastered the two strong Forts of the Kingdom the Parliament and the City of London being doubly victorious over their friends and enemies there remained no more to be done but how they might at their leisure settle and confirm themselves in the Power which now they had obtained The Lieutenant and Garrison of the Tower of London are chosen out of the dregs of the Citizens but such as had nobilitated themselves by being Slaves to the Faction the old Lieutenant with the accustomed Garrison being turned out for no other fault but that he favoured the Presbyterians The Commissioners who had the power of ordering the whole Army as also the Colonels Captains and other Officers are forced to turn out to make way for men of a new mould But some may think that it was overdoing that when
commanding him to refrain from the execution of his power so long as the Conference and any hopes of Peace continued Whilst the Conference lasted the King that he might not still suffer so hard usage and that he might try how the Members of Parliament were affected towards him gave some very just and useful Proposals to be sent to the Parliament First he desires That he may have leave to repair forthwith to Westminster or any of his houses near London where he may treat with his Parliament at nearer distance with honour safety and freedom Which desire the Parliament having felt the pulse of the City and being encouraged under the hands of the most part and best of the Citizens promised so soon as the Propositions were granted should be allowed him Secondly the King demands That he may be restored to the possession of the Lands and Revenues of the Crown Thirdly That he may have compensation for his lawful Rights which the Parliament have thought fit to abolish To these also the Parliament willingly consent Fourthly That by an Act of Oblivion the memory of all things that had been done in time of the War might be abolished To this Proposal they did not consent but with cautions and limitations that gave liberty to the Parliamentarians to bring Actions against any almost of the Kings Party Matters being near composed beyond all mens expectation though perhaps not so as every one desired the Commissioners for Pacification full of thoughts of Peace promised the same to the King though in that they were false Prophets for they thought as well they might that the Parliament would in some measure abate in their rigid demands when the King to mollifie them had stript himself of the Government both of England and Ireland Nay the glad hopes of Concord begun to cherish the drooping minds of all people which without doubt would have followed had not factious and rebellious men who by clandestine arts had already driven us into a War now openly and with force of Arms disappointed the desired fruit of the Conference and the Peace that was ready to be concluded Now in what manner they accomplished that it will be necessary I should with all possible sincerity relate In the heat of the Conference that part of the Army which had prospered in the War and was returned home victorious commanded by Fairfax whom Ireton as a bad Genius haunted was encamped so near London that in half a days time they might march thither and suppress their unprovided Adversaries if any sudden occasion required In the mean time Fairfax Ireton and the rest of the Colonels behaved themselves very submissively in publick pretend that they will always obey the Ordinances of Parliament and that publick Peace will be to them of all men most acceptable that so being eased from the fatigues and labours of War they may mind their own affairs and after so much toil and danger at length enjoy rest and peace But privately having consulted with the Members of Parliament of their own Faction they suffer Consults to be held amongst the inferiour Officers and private Souldiers of the Army and at the instigation of their Emissaries Petitions to be framed wherein it was desired that the Treaty with the King should be broken up and all the Enemies of the Commonwealth indifferently thereby craftily glancing at the person of the King brought to condign punishment These also they caused to be printed and published that they might feel the pulse of the people Nor was it doubted but that the chief Commanders and Colonels were the Authors of those Petitions and that by their Emissaries and particularly by Hugh Peters a Renegado from and the reproach of the Ministery an impudent saucy fellow they were dispersed into all places whereby they wheadled the Souldiers who in their own nature were sufficiently prone to Booty and Innovations In the mean while the Country-people whom we mentioned before to have made some stirs being dispersed and Garrisons and Governours placed in the several Counties all the Souldiers of the Kingdom are commanded to repair to Fairfax's Camp who in great numbers many following the prevailing Party flocked together victorious and triumphant Ireton upon a rumour spread abroad amongst the people of a difference betwixt him and Fairfax lurking privately in Windsor-Castle and having called some of his Consorts of the Lower House publishes a Remonstrance with great ostentation of words and affected eloquence wherein in name of the Army by captious quirks and subtilties he argues against the Peace made with the King and the Remonstrance of his Majesty nay and desires Justice against the King himself That those Members who the year before had been impeached of High-Treason by the Army might be brought to tryal and that all who staid in Parliament heretofore when the Speakers and rest of the Members of their Faction fled to the Army should be excluded That the Souldiers Arrears should be paid out of the Kings Revenue and the Deans and Chapters Lands to be distributed for this use especially and also for other publick charges That the present Parliament should be dissolved and a better course taken for the future that the people should chuse a Representative which should have the supreme administration of the Government These and several other things of that nature he very imperiously demands The end of the Conference now approaching which the Republicans of both sorts in the Parliament endeavoured by all Arts to stave off and protract that the Army might more conveniently joyn the Commanders of the Army being informed from the Isle of Wight of the progress of affairs and of the opportunities that were proper for their turn call a Field-Council wherein all the Colonels and inferiour Officers meet and there they give themselves to fasting and prayer For we must know that these Sons of the Earth had great intimacy and correspondence with Heaven as they pretended and when they were about to act any thing contrary to the Law of Nature the Light of Reason or the Laws of God and man they used to begin the work with Prayers to Almighty God in a doubtful manner proposing the case and the matter being first discussed between the Majesty of Heaven and themselves they then by turning and winding their Prayers shape an Answer to their designes which like a divine Oracle rendered to the praying inquirers they impose upon the common Souldiers as an Article of Faith though the matter had been long before hatched in their thoughts nor durst any man gainsay it who had not a mind to have his name dasht out of the Roll of the Saints And hence it was that the people dreaded their Fasts and Prayers as ominous Prodigies The Pageantry of their Devotion being over Ireton's Remonstrance was read and applauded too by the Souldiers as if it dropt from Heaven they prefix to it the formidable title
triumphant march he advanced amidst the Applause and Congratulation of all men and everywhere was met by the people who to the grief of the Commissioners petitioned him for a full and free Parliament as the onely Remedy to their Evils The same the Commissioners from the City of London desired upon their meeting the General at Harborough At Northampton he met with the like And most part of the neighbouring and more remote Counties of England sent him Deputies and Petitions to the same effect all which Monk that kept his own counsel civilly received but cautiously answered Now was Monk arrived at St. Albans within twenty miles of London wholly intent upon his entering the City Therefore by Colonel Lidcolt he prudently wrote to the Rump to acquaint them with his approach And that seeing he had brought with him an Army true to the Parliament and most observant of Discipline he intimated to them that it would be unsafe to mingle his honest and faithful Souldiers with the treacherous Forces in London who were so lately endeavouring changes and their fierceness not as yet wholly laid aside that therefore for the safety of the Parliament he earnestly intreats them that sending forthwith Fleetwood 's Forces out of Town they would order them Quarters to be appointed by the Quarter-Master-General This was the reason alleadged in publick but in secret there was another The Rump consented to Monk's desire whether cordially or rather out of fear I shall not determine And therefore Fleetwood's men are ordered to leave the City and to go and quarter in the Country at a distance But the Pretorian Bands being long pampered in London angrily and with a threatning carriage left the City rage being mingled with their obedience and the hatred of the Parties still remaining after the War Monk in the mean time came from St. Albans to Barnet and the day following being the third of February marched into London in order He himself in military pomp lead the Horse through the streets of London and not without a presage took his Lodgings in Whitehall The Parliament had been so often garbl'd and curtail'd that it was then by the People in derision called the Rump But these Senatorian Conspirators the shame and scorn of all honest men being of insolent tempers and now the third time got into power blown up with prosperity began more and more daily to insult over the Publick and being in fear on both hands from their friends as well as foes and knowing that their strength consisted more in Fame than in Force they resolved to establish their Tyranny by a new Oath and that the desperation of all Pardon might adde strength to this Bond of Iniquity to compel the People to swear not onely that they should bear Faith and true Allegiance to the Commonwealth of England and the present Parliament but that they should also renounce and abjure all Allegiance to Charles the Second and the whole Royal Family Which was the last effort of their expiring Fortune In the mean time the Rumpers being themselves employed in perpetrating the highest Crimes let those of Booth's Party and of the revolting Regiments pass unpunished as below their notice And now the Council of State consisting of the most villanous Republicans renders the Oath to Monk which he as taking time rather to consider than refusing it prudently avoided The third day after Monk had entred the City being attended by Scot and Robinson he went to the House where the Speaker Lenthall a mighty man at words and nothing else having commended his fidelity and good services rendred to the Parliament in restoring them by his Arms to their Authority gave him the publick Thanks of the House And now what Speech he again made to the Rump I shall in his own words relate Mr. Speaker AMongst the many Mercies of God to these poor Nations your peaceable Restitution is not the least it is as you sad his work alone and to him belongs the glory of it And I esteem it as a great effect of his goodness to me that he was pleased to make me amongst many worthier in your service some way instrumental in it I did nothing but my duty and deserve not to receive so great an honour and respect as you are pleased to give me at this time and place which I shall ever acknowledge as a high mark of your favour to me Sir I shall not now trouble you with large Narratives onely give me leave to acquaint you That as I marched out of Scotland hither I observed the People in most Counties in great and earnest expectations of a Settlement and several Applications were made to me with numerous Subscriptions to them The chiefest heads of their Desires were for a free and full Parliament and that you would determine your sitting a Gospel-Ministry encouragement of Learning and Vniversities and for admittance of the Members secluded before the year 1648. without any previous Oath or Engagement To which I commonly answered That you are now in a free Parliament and if there be any force remaining upon you I would endeavour to remove it and that you had voted to fill up your House and then you would be a full Parliament also and that you had already determined your sitting and for the Ministry their maintenance the Laws and Vniversities you had largely declared concerning them in your last Declaration and I was confident you would adhere to it But as for those Gentlemen secluded in the year 1648. I told them you had given judgment in it and all people ought to acquiesce in that judgment but to admit any Members to sit in Parliament without a previous Oath or Engagement to serve the Government in being it was never done in England But although I said it not to them I must say with pardon to you That the less Oaths and Engagements are imposed with respect had to the security of the common Cause your settlement will be the sooner attained to I am the more particular in these matters to let you see how grateful your present Consultations about these matters will be to the people I know all the sober Gentry will close with you if they may be tenderly and gently used and I am sure you will so use them as knowing it to be the common concern to accomplish and not lessen our interest and to be careful that neither the Cavalier nor the Fanatick Party have yet a share in your Civil or Military Power of the last whose impatience to Government you have lately had so severe experience of I should say something of Ireland and Scotland indeed Ireland is in an ill settled condition and made worse by your interruptions which prevented the passing an Act for the settlement of the Estates of Adventurers and Souldiers there which I heard you intended to have done in a few days and I presume it will be now quickly done being so necessary
and the Officers of the Army to the Mayor and Common-Council of London and to Montague Admiral of the Fleet. Which were received with so universal a Joy and Applause that the Parliament forthwith ordained him to be proclaimed KING in the City and all over England with the accustomed Solemnities having made a Proclamation to this purpose Although it can no way be doubted but that his Majesties Right and Title to these Crowns and Kingdoms is and was every way compleat by the death of his most Royal Father of glorious memory without the ceremony or solemnity of a Proclamation yet since Proclamations in such cases have been always used to the end that all good Subjects might upon this occasion testifie their duty and respect and since the armed violence and other the Calamities of many years last past have hitherto deprived us of any opportunity wherein we might express our Loyalty and Allegiance to his Majesty We therefore the Lords and Commons now assembled in Parliament together with the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Common-Council of the City of London and other Freemen of this Kingdom now present do according to our Duty and Allegiance heartily joyfully and unanimously acknowledge and proclaim That immediately upon the decease of our late Soveraign King CHARLES the First the Imperial Crown of the Realm of England and of all the Kingdoms Dominions and Rights belonging to the same did by inherent Birth-right and lawful undoubted Succession descend and come to his most Excellent Majesty King CHARLES the Second as being lineally justly and lawfully next Heir of the Bloud-Royal of this Realm and that by the goodness and providence of Almighty God he is of England Scotland and Ireland the most potent mighty and undoubted King And thereunto we most humbly and faithfully do submit and oblige our selves our Heirs and Posterities The King being proclaimed throughout the City with the joyful shouts and acclamations of all and all things being prepared for his reception both Houses of Parliament appointed an honourable body of Commissioners to be sent to the King with their Letters all men of great Quality and Birth Obery Earl of Oxford Charles Earl of Warwick Lionel Earl of Middlesex and Hereford Viscount of Leicester the Lords Berkley and Brooks for the Lords The House of Commons chose Fairfax Bruce Falkland Castletown Herbert Mandiville all Lords Ashley-Cooper Townsend Booth Holland Chumley and Hollis Knights Who besides Letters carried Instructions with them humbly to beg that his Majesty would be pleased to hasten his long wished-for return into England And because they knew that the Exchequer of their exiled King could not be very full they order them to carry him a Present of fifty thousand Pieces of Gold and also ten thousand to the Duke of York and five to the Duke of Gloucester Clerges a person in great favour with the King carried General Monk's and the Armies Submission and Letters The City of London also sent twenty Commissioners chosen out of the Flower of the Citizens and the wealthy Citizens present the King and his Illustrious Brothers with twelve thousand pounds All things now succeeding beyond expectation Monk was secure in his fortune having so dexterously managed things with such innocent and harmless Arts defeated the Snares and Arms of the Parricides and procured the publick safety without bloud that the same Virtue of the General was both hated and admired whilst the praying Sectaries in vain called upon God who was not certainly the Lord of their Hosts now The Eleventh of May the Commissioners set sail from England and with all dutifulness waited upon the Kings Majesty at the Hague where they were gladly and kindly received by him Clarges had been with him before whom the King having first knighted sent back into England as a Messenger of his coming and having sent Letters to Monk full of expressions of good will and gratitude towards the General and Army he designed Dover for his place of landing In the mean time by the Kings command Admiral Montague since Earl of Sandwich came with the Fleet upon the Coast of Holland and waited for the King before Scheveling And now all things being in a readiness for his departure the best of Kings with the Dukes of York and Gloucester came on board the Admiral Thither they were attended by the Queen of Bohemia their Aunt their Sister the Princess of Orange and the young Prince their Nephew where after they had taken a glad Farewel with a joyful Huzza of the Sea-men they set sail Charles the Second now in possession of his Fleet the first Pledge of his Government which was speedily to waft him over to that of his Kingdoms with a prosperous Gale directs his course to Dover Monk having received Letters by Clarges accompanied with a numerous train of Nobility and Gentry hastened thither to welcome him on the shore and to pay Honour to that Virtue at home which he had reverenced at so great distance abroad So soon as the Fleet with full sail came in sight innumerable crouds of over-spied Spectators flocked to the shore and Sea-coast and to every other place from whence they might have any prospect being desirous to see and congratulate their restored Prince The Troubles of England Composed by his Majesties happy Restauration On the 25th of May amidst the roaring of all the Canon in the Fleet ecchoed and answered from the Castle and shore and which was a more glorious sound amidst the joyful and louder Acclamations of his Subjects AVGVST CHARLES landed at Dover with so much Piety Gravity and Gracefulness in his Countenance that he seemed to be come to pay his Vows to God the Protector of the Government His department shew'd no Vanity nor Pride but a mind rather above the reach of them yet capable of any fortune and so great was his Majesty in all his actions that he seemed more to deserve than to desire a Crown Here Monk falling upon his knees to welcome the King was by his Majesty embraced kissed and raised from the ground the rest of the Nobility having also performed their duty the same night the best of Kings advanced to Canterbury and next morning created Monk Knight of the honourable Order of the Garter the most illustrious Princes the Dukes of York and Gloucester putting the George about his neck Here the King spent Sunday and restored the service of the Church in the Metropolitan Church of England Setting forward from hence he lodged all night at Rochester and next day upon Black heath he viewed the Forces drawn up with much military pomp and splendour Forces heretofore onely brave in shedding of Civil Bloud whose Trophies and Triumphs were then disgraced with horrid Crimes but now upon the return of Charles loyally and deservedly triumphant The Regiments drawn up in a most lovely order made an Army worthy of King Charles The King having by the
security of his Kingdom and therefore communicating his intentions to the Parliament he addressed himself to the most Illustrious Catharine Daughter of Portugal descended from the ancient Race of the Family of Braganza with the universal Applause and Congratulation of the Estates And a Fleet was sent to Portugal to bring over the Royal Bride who having had a favourable passage to the English Coast was by his Royal Highness the Duke of York met and saluted with Naval Solemnities at the Isle of Wight The King received his Bride at Portsmouth and was with great Solemnity in presence of many Nobles there married the Office of Matrimony having been performed by Gilbert Sheldon Bishop of London The King from thence conducted his Royal Consort to Whitehall where after the reiterated festivity of the Royal Nuptials the dutiful Complements of the Great men and the Presents of the Lord Mayor and chief Citizens of London slighting the wanton Pleasures of a Court by the innocence of her Manners and an exemplary Piety of Life she consecrated the trancient Delights of a Palace to the severer Sanctity of a Monastery A Queen that wanted nothing to render her self and us happy had she been as fruitful as good On the second of June the last of the Traytors Sir Henry Vane after a two years imprisonment is brought at length to the Bar where after he had defended himself by shifts and strained querks of Law rather than by any colourable Plea he is found guilty of High-Treason The first advance he made in the career of his Villany was in the death of the Earl of Strafford afterwards being a great Incendiary in the Civil Wars and equally ungrateful and perfidious to Charles the Martyr he cherished and strengthened the Party of the Traytors and though more cautiously than innocently he was not present at the Condemnation of the King yet after the Murder of Charles he was very active in changing the Monarchy into a Commonwealth and in abolishing for ever the Government of Kings But at length when Cromwel got into the Supreme Power being ill-affected and envious against all Government by a single Person he was neglected and laid aside But when the Rump came again into play with the pretences of a Brutus or Cassius he stept again to the Helm of Government and was one of the Committee of Safety He was as to Religion a man of an inconstant and unsetled mind who professedly hating the name of a King was treacherous to Charles the First and envious to Charles the Second January the fourteenth being brought to a Scaffold on Tower-hill with a most affected shew of a composed and sedate mind as the rest of the Traytors had already done he insisted upon the Supreme Authority of Parliament and spake much of the Presbyterian Covenant the Engine of all our Evils which heretofore when he was a far more refined Heretick he had so often despised and laughed at And whilst he still persisted in asserting his own innocence not without reproaching his Judges Sir John Robinson Lieutenant of the Tower wanting patience to hear any more interrupted him Being vexed at this like a mad man he tore the written Speech that he had in his hand and though he had never shew'd great resolution amongst his Party yet resolutely or rather ragingly he submitted to the blow of the Executioner and fell a Sacrifice to the Ghost of the Great Strafford and to the Subverted Monarchy But Lambert who stood indicted with Vane had better luck and behaved himself with so much modesty in his looks and words at his tryal that though he suffered the Sentence of Death as deserving the utmost Rigour yet he tasted the Kings Mercy and ransomed his Life by a perpetual Imprisonment About the middle of Summer the Duke of Ormond went over to Ireland as Lord Deputy of that Kingdom there to give as great instances of Civil Prudence as heretofore he had erected Trophies of Military Glory during the Irish War The Parliament now sitting the Convocation of the Clergie sate also and the Licentiousness of Fanatical Sects increasing made the distressed Church look to the King and Parliament for relief It was therefore enacted by the King in Parliament That the Sacraments of Baptism and the Lords Supper and the publick Prayers and Liturgie of the Church should be celebrated after the ancient manner of the Reformed Church of England the Fanaticks on all hands crying out against it and refusing to conform For though they enjoyed Impunity with the rewards of their Crimes yet no gracious condescensions of the King could oblige them The Clemency of the Prince was maliciously interpreted by the Sects and the Power of this indulging Monarch was grievous to these Fanaticks Nor had the King granted so much to Traytors but that they still thought they might take to themselves more and the brazen-faced Sectarists demand of the Son the same liberty of Religion which had undone the Father And without any respect or reverence to Majesty and the Laws frequent Conventicles of seditious men were kept Meetings were to be found everywere in Towns and Villages and the Insolence of the Rabble growing greater by the boldness of their Preachers and the Lenity of the King there was nothing but a mustering of Parties boasting of strength and polling of heads amongst the Factious all which seemed to threaten imminent Dangers The year before the Fifth-monarchy-men under Venner raised the first Stirs amongst the Preaching Rout but their Fury like the thundering Rage of Marius of old was confined within the City and there expired the fiercest of the Traytors being killed upon the spot and others at length brought to the Gallows But this year a darker and therefore more dangerous Conspiracy was hatched the same being the cause of this as of all other Plots to wit a loose and obstinate licentiousness in Religion Many of all Sects were concerned in it several Officers of Cromwel's late disbanded Army Members of the late rump-Rump-Parliament and many who were turned out of the Kings and Churches Lands which they had heretofore sacrilegiously purchased And a secret Committee at London had the direction of all their Councils and Actings The chief designe of their Villany was to kill the King and Duke of York murder the Duke of Albemarle set fire to the City seize the Tower of London rifle the Exchequer and through the Bowels of the Nation drive on a new Fanatical Government In the mean time to make way to the bold Attempts of these Rascals it was resolved that impudent Libels should be scattered about but the Papers being seized at the Press the Printer was hanged and payed dear for his officious medling But the licentiousness and boldness of the Conventiclers growing greater and greater daily the Parl. made an Act to put a stop to the seditiousness of the People commanding the doors of the Meeting-houses to be
them and at length march Northward against their Brethren Nor durst the English Presbyterians who favoured the Scots say much to the contrary lest they should seem more concerned for the insolence of a foreign Nation than the honour of their Country-men At length after long Debates the Scots pretending that it was contrary to the Laws of Nations and Hospitality to deliver up the King who of his own accord put himself under their protection into the hands of the Parliamentarians our Republican Rebels on the other hand urging in the name of the Parliament That the Scots serving and receiving pay in England ought not to have received the King into their Army and much less keep him there against the will of the Parliament but after some formal previous Treaties that might serve to enhaunce the price it was resolved that the King should be delivered up to the Parliamentarian-Rebels And that they might have a specious colour for so horrid an action They urge the King to take the Covenant pretending that without that they could not lawfully take him with them into Scotland The King promises to take that Oath provided he were satisfied in some scruples of Conscience concerning Church-government which Province was committed to the Minister Heuderson the then Oracle of the Kirk who weakly and unsuccessfully attempted it for in their disputes the King in the judgment of all had the better on 't but money prevailed The Scots having received an hundred thousand pounds English in ready money and the promise of an hundred thousand more to be paid within a year draw out of England leaving the King to the mercy of the Parliament but with this condition That no injury should be offered to his Majesties person and that he might be received in one of his houses in or about London with honour safety and freedom that so he might be prevailed with by Arguments from both Nations to confirm and approve their Propositions The King being received at Newcastle by the Parliament-Commissioners four Lords and eight Commoners was with a guard of Souldiers conducted to Holmeby house in Northamptonshire where he suffered a splendid indeed but close imprisonment all who had either actually been or suspected to be of his Party being removed from him nay and his domestick Chaplains also whose assistance he had often desired of the Parliament The Conquerours now in striving for the Booty and Government did no longer dissemble their opinions but divide themselves into various Sects and Names which hitherto we called by the common name of Factious or Rebels but shall now divide them into their several Classes and Forms as likewise shewing by what cunning and degrees they who got into power advanced to the Supremacy Which that we may the more clearly do it will not be amiss to look into some past Ages It is not to be denied but that the seeds of Faction were sow'd in England from the very beginning of the Reformation Nor are the Roman Catholicks to be proud of this since they have given the examples to others by subjecting the Crowns and Scepters of Kings to the Mitre of the Pope and Keys of St. Peter and are no less dangerous to Kings whom they have pulled from their Thrones and exposed to the Daggers of Assassinates From that time some but in no great number are for shaking off Rome in every thing and not leaving the least monument of the ancient Church-government or Liturgie But the greater number and those the wiser thinking it enough to retrench what was superfluous and superstitious are for retaining Episcopal government and a publick reformed Liturgie the one because it suited well with Monarchical government and civil interest of the State and the other because it seemed pious and adapted to the publick Worship of God Both these as being consonant to primitive Constitutions Kings and Parliaments wisely to prevent the inconveniencies that happen from skipping from one extreme to another thought fit to establish by Laws and to inflict severe Penalties upon Dissenters This at first gave ground to heart-burnings afterwards to reasonings about the matter and the licentious humour of disputing prevailing to more bitter Controversies so that at length as it usually happens amongst Brethren who differ in points of Religion they fell to Contentions and invective Disputations the common enemy egging them on on both sides And thus the Quarrel being managed with mutual hatred and animosity the Anti-Episcopal Party or the Jesuits in their name defame the established Church with Reproaches and scandalous Libels which forced from the Bishops and Ecclesiastical Courts Suspensions Deprivations Imprisonments and Banishments But that severity though executed according to the prescript of Law drew hatred upon the Prelates and made the Anti-Episcoparians to be pitied and the rather that they seemed to suffer for Conscience-sake and the purity of Gospel-worship being otherwise in appearance men of strict lives and conversations zealous Preachers fervent in Prayer ready to do pious Offices and in a word in all things else very good men And this made many Towns Noblemen and Gentlemen take them into protection make very much of them and at length joyns with them in opinion and conspire together against the Hierarchy or Church-government Who despairing to procure the abolition of it from the Kings they hope to compass it by Parliament and therefore they endeavour to lessen the Royal Authority by magnifying a Parliamentary power wherein being assisted by all the other Sects of Fanaticks the seditious and turbulent off-scourings of Christians and Subjects they begin to make a distinction betwixt and divide the Royal Prerogative from the Liberty of the People two things that are very consistent together that laying hold on that pretext they might set up for publick-spirited men and be thought the Patriots of the Nation Having by this means at length raised their Authority amongst the common People so as to be chosen Members of Parliament they set all their Engines at work for accomplishing their intended Project there is nothing in their mouths but the Rights of the People Priviledges of Parliament and the publick Liberty they lay open to the quick the faults of the Magistrates and Courtiers in scandalous Pamphlets they inveigh against Episcopacy and the established government of the Church censure the Manners and Pluralities of Church-men they expose the administration of publick government and make it their care and study in all things to weaken the Kings Power and lessen his Reputation To these their cunning contrivances a commodious occasion happened Whilst in the Reign of King James Frederick Prince Palatine of the Rhyne the Kings Son-in-law having been engaged in the German War was with his whole Family by the Imperial Forces driven out of his Territories To defend the Cause of the Protestant Religion which seemed to be in danger and to restore this banished Prince so nearly allied to the King
Treasurers at Wars of the Kingdom of Ireland be nominated by both Houses of the Parliament of England to continue Quam diu se bene gesserint and in the intervals of Parliament by the afore-mentioned Committees to be approved or disallowed by both Houses at their next sitting The like for the Kingdom of Scotland concerning the nomination of the Lords of the Privy-Council Lords of Session and Exchequer Officers of State and Justice-General in such manner as the Estates of Parliament there shall think fit That the Militia of the City of London and Liberties thereof may be in the ordering and government of the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Commons in Common Council assembled or such as they shall from time to time appoint whereof the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs for the time being to be three to be employed and directed from time to time in such manner as shall be agreed on and appointed by both Houses of Parliament That no Citizen of the City of London nor any of the Forces of the said City shall be drawn forth or compelled to go out of the said City or Liberties thereof for Military service without their own free consent That an Act be passed for the granting and confirming of the Charters Customs Liberties and Franchises of the City of London notwithstanding any Nonuser Misuser or Abuser That the Tower of London may be in the government of the City of London and the chief Officer and Governour thereof from time to time be nominated and removeable by the Common Council And for prevention of inconveniencies which may happen by the long intermission of Common Councils it is desired that there may be an Act that all by-Laws and Ordinances already made or hereafter to be made by the Council assembled touching the calling continuing directing and regulating the same Common Councils shall be as effectual in the Law to all intents and purposes as if the same were particularly enacted by the Authority of Parliament And that the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Commons in Common Council may adde to or repeal the said Ordinances from time to time as they shall see cause That such other Propositions as shall be made for the City for their further safety welfare and government and shall be approved of by both Houses of Parliament may be granted and confirmed by Act of Parliament That all Grants Commissions Presentations Writs Process proceedings and other things passed under the Great Seal of England in the custody of the Lords and other Commissioners appointed by both Houses of Parliament for the custody thereof be and by Act of Parliament with the Royal assent shall be declared and enacted to be of like full force and effect to all intents and purposes as the same or like Grants Commissions Presentations Writs Process Proceedings and other things under any Great Seal of England in any time heretofore were or have been And that for time to come the said Great Seal now remaining in custody of the said Commissioners continue and be used for the Great Seal of England And that all Grants Commissions Presentations Writs Process Proceedings and other things whatsoever passed under or by any authority of any other Great Seal since the 22th day of May Anno Dom. 1642. or hereafter to be passed be Invalid and of no effect to all intents and purposes Except such Writs Process and Commissions as being passed under any other Great Seal than the said Great Seal in the custody of the Commissioners aforesaid on or after the said 22th day of May and before the 28th day of November Anno Dom. 1643. were afterward proceeded upon returned into or put in ure in any the Kings Courts at Westminster And except the Grant to Mr. Justice Bacon to be one of the Justices of the Kings-Bench And except all Acts and proceedings by virtue of any such Commissions of Goal-delivery Assize and Nisi prius or Oyer and Terminer passed under any other Great Seal than the Seal aforesaid in custody of the said Commissioners before the first of October 1642. And that all Grants of Offices Lands Tenements or Hereditaments made or passed under the Great Seal of Ireland unto any person or persons Bodies politick or corporate since the Cessation made in Ireland the fifteenth day of September 1643. shall be null and void And that all Honours and Titles conferred upon any person or persons in the said Kingdom of Ireland since the said Cessation shall be null and void That the several Ordinances the one intituled An Ordinance of Parliament for abolishing of Archbishops and Bishops within the Kingdom of England and Dominion of Wales and for seâ—ing of their Lands and Possessions upon Trustees for the use of the Common-wealth the other intituled An Ordinance of the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament for appointing the sale of Bishops Lands for the use of the Commonwealth be confirmed by Acts of Parliament These were the Conditions of Peace proposed by the Parliament as the subject matter of that Conference which all passionately wished and a great many fought for They were the very same that had been heretofore sent to the King when he was at Hampton-Court and not onely rejected by his Majesty but by the Army also as being too unreasonable they onely differed in this that in those last there was no mention made of the Scots In the mean time the Pacificators are invested with no other authority but that of answering the Royal Arguments and of returning Reasons to induce the King to assent they had no power of softening any Proposition or altering the least word nay nor so much as of omitting the Preface Their Instructions likewise bear that they are to acquaint the Parliament with the Kings Concessions and the whole progress of the Negotiation to treat altogether in writing nay and to debate the Propositions as they lay in order not descending to a new Proposition until the former was adjusted Nor was it thought enough that the Conditions and Commissioners were so strictly limited they confine the Conference also to the Town of Newport in the Isle of Wight and the continuance of it to the space of forty days The King also who was to be present at the Conference was so far well treated as to be permitted to come out of his Prison and have that Island allowed him for a larger confinement but upon promise given that he would not depart out the Island within forty days after the conclusion of the Conference and the sly Oligarchick and Democratick Republicans who had a hand in the Councils were the Authors of those scruples and restrictions With great caution the Parliament permitted some of his Majesties necessary Servants by name some Lawyers Divines and a Secretary to be present but not to be admitted into the Conference onely to be without behind the Curtain in the Lobby So that the King alone was singly to sustain the person of a Politician and Divine against the
of the Army as an Act and Deed approved by all and order it to be presented to the Parliament in the name of the Army and People of England who if they had been called to give their votes scarcely one of a thousand would have consented to it and all the rest could not but have cursed the perfidious Author of the villany with all his Adherents as the Bane and plague of mankind But the Lower House making a virtue of the necessity of the times take the courage to lay aside for some time that Remonstrance and to apply themselves to the examining and discussing of the Royal Concessions which then lay before them The Commanders of the Army taking it very ill to be thus slighted by them who ought to have thanked them for all the honour and dignity they enjoyed sent some Troops into the Isle of Wight who having seized the King removed him out of the Island and clapt him up prisoner in Hurst-Castle opposite to the Island on the main-land-side a narrow nasty and unwholsome place by reason it is incompassed by the Sea At the same time they march to London and put Garrisons into the Kings Palace and the Noblemens houses adjoyning the Palace-yard and Houses of Parliament having posted the Army in the neighbouring places about The Souldiers hoped that this beginning would put the dissenting Members into such a fear that they would hide in holes and corners which had been very usual with them and that men of their own Faction being sole Masters of the Parliament they might do what they pleased under the cloak of the Authority of Parliament which would justifie their Violence and make what Laws soever might conduce to their profit and advantage But the event answered not their expectations for most part of the Members as if at that time they had been assisted by divine inspiration not at all terrified by the muttering and anger of the Souldiers nor the clashing of Arms thinking themselves sufficiently secure by their character of Parliament-men meet to consult in a greater number than ordinary Both that day and the following the Lower House debated hotly about the Kings Concessions whilst in the mean time the Republicans of both sorts raise scruples jangle make parties and with long Speeches protract the time about Presbytery and the Covenant neither of which they liked amongst whom no man was so fierce as Sir Henry Vane who in the Isle of Wight had perswaded the King to grant no more seeing he had already yielded so many and so great Priviledges to the Parliament as he thought it neither lawful for them to expect nor take which he promised also publickly to assert This man I say inveighed bitterly against the Conditions of Peace as if under the mask of Concessions and the shew of setling Peace Danger lay hid and that his Majesty laid a Snare for subverting the publick Liberty of Parliament and People and all this that he might gain time for the whole Army to post themselves in the City At length a Vote is passed That the Kings Concessions were a sufficient ground for Peace This past by the voices of two hundred hardly threescore opposing it The Lords having next day assented to it in the same terms the Parliament was adjourned for a week till that Commotion might be somewhat appeased Commissioners are forthwith sent from the House of Commons to acquaint Fairfax and the Commanders of the Army with the matter This so incensed the Oligarchick Rebels that the Speaker of the House of Commons who had already greedily swallowed down their poyson or at least temporized and turned to either side as the Faction prevailed threatned forthwith publickly in the House That they would never be suffered any more to meet in Parliament if they obstinately persisted in that opinion And indeed the day appointed for the next Session some Colonels guarded by a Regiment or two of Foot and a Regiment of Horse beset all the avenues to the House of Commons apprehend forty Members of the more resolute and wise who dissented from them debar about one hundred and fifty more from entering the House and suffer none to go in but such as they knew to be devoted to their Faction Some had slipt in undiscovered by a Note they call out under pretext of speaking with some Friend or Client at the door and though they alleadged the authority and priviledge of Parliament yet they seize and hurry them away in the very Court The captive Members being many ways tossed and abused are exposed to derision and the miseries of a long and nasty imprisonment amongst whom were many who having asserted the Parliament-Cause as Generals Governours and Colonels were thus thanked for their good services Nay and William Prynn a fierce Asserter of the Opinions he once entertained that indefatigable Author of voluminous Writings for the Parliament stuck fast in the same mire with the rest the Spectators every where admiring the inscrutable Judgments of God who suffered them to be so unworthily treated by their Slaves and Servants who themselves were the Subjects that first took up Arms against their King and audaciously laid hands on him All this was done under the honest and specious colour of purging and reforming the House Thus the Lower House is reduced to a Junto of a few men to wit the eighth part of the just number and these wholly enslaved to the Army whose Commanders coming as freely into the House as the Rumpers went into the Camp they daily conferred Notes together and it is first resolved in a Council of War what was to be proposed to be enacted in Parliament which then served under the Army and lent them Authority to palliate their Machinations Of so many hundred Members there scarcely remained forty in the House a number unfit to bear the name of the Commons of England and these not onely the least but the most part consisting of a remnant of the dregs of the House and many of them Commanders in the Army So that there remained nothing of a Parliament but the name the rest abominating such horrid wickedness and shunning their company and conversation amongst whom were some who being deluded with the sham of Conscience had espoused the Party of the Republicans Thus a few fellows about twenty of them for the most part continually dissenting blush not to usurp to themselves alone the supreme power of ordering the affairs of England of bringing the King to a tryal making and abrogating the Laws of their Country and overturning the ancient and fundamental Government of the Nation They confirm the Vote for Non Addresses which had been craftily and surreptitiously made and afterwards repealed by both Houses in full number But the other Votes for having a Conference with the King and especially that which declared the Kings Concessions to be a sufficient ground for a Peace they rescind
is now by the bounty of the King Knighted He undertook in the space of thirteen Months to measure all Ireland in respect of forfeited Lands Geometrically and to allow every one their several Portions and indeed performed it For having got several expert Artists for making his Instruments he divided the work of Surveying into five or six parts assigning each part fit and proper Instruments and taught ingenious Men how they should set about their several Provinces whilst he himself sitting at home could upon their reports calculate and compare the whole By this means he measured five millions or more of English Acres and by the help of a Chain and other Instruments he ran over an hundred thousand Miles five times the circumference of the World So is all Ireland divided into parts and every one has his share by lot Now do the Sectarian Vultures from all parts come flocking to the rich Spoiles of Ireland as to a fat Carcass and like Locusts devour all the Provinces of which Cromwell having had notice least such a confluence of People might occasion Sedition especially seeing he perceived the Anabaptists and Sectarians always skrewing themselves into profitable places both Civil and Military who being for the most part Democratical would not fail to oppose that Sublimity and Pre-eminence to which he aspired that he might crush the Serpent in the Egg and baffle their Power as if he minded other Affairs he recalls from Ireland his Son in Law Fleetwood upon pretext of using his Council at home but in reallity that he might have an eye over the designs and motions of the Man and by taking off the Head and Patron disappoint the Practices and Councils of the Democraticks Therefore in place of Fleetwood he sends Henry the younger of his two Sons into Ireland but not as his Successour only with the Title of a Commissioner and Major General of the Army And having for two years space made a tryal of his Juvenile Prudence he raised him to a higher degree Henry took it ill at first to be denied the Honour of a Title when he had the Power given him and being instigated by the whisperings of Flatterers he desired of his Father that he might Govern Ireland with the Name of Deputy But Cromwell not without a check denying it that unseasonable Ambition was stifled in the bud But whil'st he alone sat at the Helm two other Commissioners or rather Privy-Counsellors Hammond and Goodwin are added He made it his chief business in the first place to restore the Worship of God tho not to its ancient Beauty yet to some better Order by degrees giving back the Churches and Pulpits which were wholly possessed by the Anabaptists to the Ministers Nay he caused his own Child to be publickly Baptized in the Cathedral-Church a rare thing at that time and made a Christening Feast And farther he protected the Preachers from all Affronts and the troublesome interruptions of the Sectaries in time of Divine Service Now does the Colledge of Dublin which had been long neglected raise its head out of Obscurity Henry himself being chosen the Chancellour or Patron thereof nay School-Exercises but after the Presbyterian way and Degrees in Arts and Professions are instituted and which was most acceptable to the Scholars at his own Charges he bought the Library of Vsher Archbishop of Armagh not to be named but with Honour and made a present of it to the Colledge Nor was he less careful of the Civil than Ecclesiastical affairs for Justice in the Courts began now to shew it self as much as it could under a Tyrannical and Violent Government Stately Houses were built in the Cities and the Country abounded in Pasture and Corn. Trade began also to flourish in exporting to all places Tallow Hides Salt Flesh and Fish and Ambergrise Henry moreover allowed a free access to all and liberty of petitioning nay and illustrated his Bounty with some kind beams towards the Royalists by easing those who had been forfeited and sequestrated remitting one half of the Money that had been imposed upon them giving gracious words liberty of playing with him and many times admitting them to his Table Steel at the Sollicitation of Fleetwood is made Chancellour of Ireland which rouzed a little the drooping Minds of the Sectaries but which was soon dashed by the advancement of Berry to the place of Baron of the Exchequer and of Pepis to that of Lord Chief Justice who both stuck close to Henry In Council he made use of Broghill Coot and Hill and of the same with Morgan and some others in the Army governing the Common-wealth very well according to the present state of Affairs About that time a Parliament is called at London to consist of Members of the three Kingdoms thirty being nominated for Ireland In it the Irish Papists accused of Treason are declared Rebels and therefore their Estates and Inheritances are forfeited for discovering of whom a strict Oath of Abjuration of Popery is imposed upon all suspected Persons in the execution whereof Henry shewed himself merciful and very seldom put any to that Tryal But the division and distribution of the Lands which was heretofore appointed and begun is now brought to an issue The transplanting of all the Irish into Connaght is again brought upon the Stage being the invention of one Spencer who by way of Dialogue wrote of the affairs of Ireland and afterwards insisted upon by Ireton who by all means commended the practice thereof Now are all commanded to pack up bag and baggage change their Habitation and to remove into that Province where Lands were to be assigned to them in Inheritance according to the pleasure of Commissioners the Forts Cities Towns and Passages being only reserved for the use of the English with all the Sea-coast within a Mile of the Sea For that Province being for the most part surrounded by the River Shannon vast Lakes and the Collough Mountains and so divided from the rest cut off from them all hopes and power of rising any more against the English None are spared but the labouring men and some whom favour and popular necessity procured a permission to stay If Ireton had lived to these times he would have made it absolutely necessary to have brought over Husband-men and Trades-People from England who are payed much dearer for their work and labour than the Irish are But Good God! How many cunning Tricks frauds and inventions did the Irish find out for avoiding the sting of that Order So that it reached none but the simpler and honester sort of People Nay I am ashamed to divulge the horrid oppression and covetuousness of our Factors who when they met with the more innocent and plain they impose upon them with tricks and juggling and so tire them out until they got their Lands from them for little or nothing which they sell dear unto others
and the suspicion of a sudden Insurrection again amongst the Irish because they parted so easily with their Inheritances is laid at their door as a ruine We purposely pass by matters of less importance least what we are about by the by should swell up to too vast a bulk The Officers of the Army what by craft and what by force turning Richard out of the Supream Power and the rump-Rump-Parliament after five years interment being raised again from the dead the eyes of all are fixed upon Henry It was thought by some that he would defend his own Authority and vindicate that of his Brother Others hoped that he would favour the Royal Cause and so make his interest with the King the Navy especially giving no obscure marks of their inclination and the Army and Kingdom of Ireland being ready enough to promote such an Enterprize Nor dare I swear that he entertain'd no such Projects But the Lord Broghill and Coot deserting him in dubious Affairs and Steel and Tomlinson old Commissioners managing and Waller and Corbet new ones continually solliciting him he at length resigns himself to the Will and Pleasure of the Rump-Parliament and returns into England there to give an account of his administration Hitherto we have dwelt in Ireland that without interruption we might give the Reader an account of the Affairs of that Kingdom Now bringing our discourse back to former years we must return to the Democratical Republicans who after the murder of the King swayed Affairs in England under the Olygarchicks These being upstarts promoted for the most part men of their own Edition to places of honour and profit Which the Londoners took so ill that the Mayor and Aldermen came and petitioned the Rump-Parliament that the cheif Citizens or that some of them at least might be again admitted into the common Council of the City These were about three hundred whom either age or wealth at least recommended But the year before the Rump-Parliament had turned a great many of them out and judged them unworthy of carrying any office in the City for no other reason but because they had signed the Petition making Peace with the King which the greater and sounder part of the Parliament were also for But that desire of the Mayor and Aldermen though they seriously alledged the want of ingenious and honest men of moderate Estates for discharging the offices of the City is rejected with contempt nor would they have any but the Riff Raff and inconsiderable rable to manage Publick Affairs as being such who measured good and evil according to the will and pleasure of their Masters Whil'st these things are carried on at London CHARLES the Second was not asleep nor did he neglect his Affairs though the Regicides carried all before them in England but moves every stone and leaves nothing unessayd that the wit and power of man could devise or execrate for resetling the undone Nations asserting the publick Liberty and the Regicide being revenged recovering his ancient Inheritance He implores the assistance of Foreign Kings and Princes who are all equally concerned according to the Supream Power they have received from God and their common duty to give Sanctuary to the oppressed but especially to Kings whom above all men living they ought to protect not only upon the account of Kindred and Cognation but also for fear of Contagion least the horrid example of Rebellion might have an influence upon their own Subjects that if perchance they should be reduced to the like streights they might likewise obtain the like help and assistance He sends Ambassadours to the Emperour and German Princes to the Grand Signior the great Duke of Moscovie the Kings of Poland Denmark and Sweden to the republick of Venice and the States General of the united Provinces He sends into Spain from whence he had the greatest expectation the Lord Edward Hide who had formerly been Lord cheif Baron of the Exchequer and was afterwards Lord Chancellor and Earl of Clarendon whose Iuvenile and vegete wit might put life into the aged head of Cottington In France besides a particular Ambassadour the Queen Mother and Duke of York were there and the King himself to sollicite his own affairs But alass almost every where unsuccessfully the distance of place hindering the aid of some and either the want of money domestick seditions or dangers from neigbours obstructing the assistances of others None are touched with the sence or pity of the Calamities of another The Ottoman Court dealt barbarously in that for a little money they delivered up the Ambassadour Henry Hide a most accomplished Gentleman into the hands of the rump-Rump-Parliament who being brought over into England for his unshaken Loyalty without any pretext of ancient Law he was beheaded before the Royal Exchange in London France with promises gives hope of large assistance so long as they could procure any help from the Subjects of the King of England especially from James Duke of YORK who commanding the English and Irish that served the French in Flanders had given many Noble and Illustrious proofs of his Heroick Valour and Courage Until that Blake had beaten the French Fleet under the Command of the Duke of Vendosme which came to the relief of Dunkirk at that time besieged by the Spaniards Then they sent Burdex to treat of peace at London whil'st the Regicides expected no less than a declaration of War And having afterwards entred into a strict allyance they inwardly rejoyced that the Kings Majesty was deluded and no small stop put to the fury of the Rebels The Spaniard seemed to be grieved at the Kings Murder but excused himself that it did not belong to him to determine about the controversies of England nor did he take pleasure to meddle in other Peoples Affairs out of his own Terrritories but that in the mean time he should be ready to do the King all the kindness he could within his Countries Nevertheless not long after Ascham being killed which I shall shortly relate he was the first King who Commanded his Hedge Ambassadour Don Alonso de Cardenas to Worship the rising sun of the Common-wealth wish the Parrcides all happiness intreat the continuance of Friendship and good Correspondence betwixt his Kingdomes and the New Common-wealth and promised severely to punish the Wicked Murderers of Ascham Now there are some not obscure Reasons why the great Mind of so Wise a King was by so unexpected a change that rather discovered than altered his Inclinations brought over to the contrary side For besides Ancient and Paternal enmities with Queen Elizabeth Philip himself had particular Quarrels against Charles It wounded him deep that his Sister being courted in Marriage even so far as to have had an interview and conference with her she should afterwards be slighted for a Daughter of France though a Princess of extraordinary Worth Besides the old offence
place standing in the middle of the Forth leaving behind them sixteen piece of Cannon and Blackness Brantiland also on the other side of the Frith over against Leeth surrenders no less disgracefully delivering up the Guns Ammunition and Ships Cromwell being informed of these successes would not lose time by waiting the motions of the King's Army Wherefore he passed over to Brantiland whence sending Whaley to take in the smaller Garrisons which lay upon the Coast of Fiffe he himself marches towards St. Johnston which the King had entrusted to the defence of the Lord Duffus with twelve hundred men though to no purpose For Cromwell having drained the water out of the Mote and Ditches and battering the Walls with his Cannon forces a surrender of the place Cromwell being now at a great distance from Sterling and wholely taken up about these matters the King having given the best Orders he could about the Affairs of Scotland sets out upon his march into England that in that Kingdom of his he might try his fate which had been very cross to him in the other Therefore on the last of July one thousand six hundred fifty one at Carlisle he enters England with about fourteen thousand men Horse and Foot But the Soldiers march with so much hardship and so severe discipline that hardly any Age hath seen the like so that from Carlisle to Worcester about two hundred Miles distant from one another no man much less any house received the least injury if you 'l except the breaking of one Orchard and the taking of four or five Apples for which notwithstanding the Soldier that committed it was presently shot to Death In all places on their march the Garrisons are summoned in the Kings name to surrender but without any success And in the more eminent places by Heralds CHARLES the Second is proclaimed King of England Scotland France and Ireland the people in the mean while being in great Consternation So soon as the news of this expedition was by Post brought to the rump-Rump-Parliament and the report flying that the King having mounted his Soldiers on Horses which he found upon the Rode hastened his March towards London as it is common to fear to make dangers far greater than they are such Horror and Consternation invaded the minds of the Parricides and Rebels that in despair they began to cast about for lurking holes and places of escape and accused Cromwell of rashness and precipitancy Until they had notice that the King had diverted to Worcester and received fresh comforts from Cromwell's Letters who bad them be of good cheer and use their utmost force to obviat that last danger and wholely destroy the Enemy Harrison on the left hand with three thousand Horse waited the motion of the King's Army being for that end left behind on the Borders of England after followed Lambert with two thousand both as occasion offered harassing and hindering them in their March At Warrington Bridge they made the chiefest attempt to hinder the King's Forces to pass it But before the Bridge could be cut Lambert's men being engaged and forced to retreat the Scots get over And now leaving London Rode they resolve to rest at Worcester a City scituated upon the Savern from whence they hoped to receive succours from Wales and make great levies in Glocester and Oxford shires by the means of Muffey who heretofore had with reputation been Governour of Glocester for the Parliament Thither therefore they march and having met with one repulse from some of the Paliament Souldiers that were there by chance they possess the City but were much weakened and impaired in strength by the tediousness and length of the march From hence the Kings Majesty by Letters invites the Lord Mayor and Common-Council of London to Arm for his Defence and for their own just Liberties promising Pardon to all for what was past except the Murderers of his Father But these Letters are burnt at the Royal Exchange by the Hand of the Common Hangman a Copie of them is also burnt by the Hand of the Speaker Lental at a general Muster of the Trained-bands of London in Moor-fields The King presently after his arrival in Pitchford-field near Worcester by Proclamation Commands all from sixteen to sixty years of Age according to the Ancient Laws of the Kingdom to come to his Assistance In obedience to that Proclamation shortly after Francis Lord Talbot eldest Son of the Earl of Shreusbury with sixty Horse Thomas Hornihold with fourty John Mashburn with fourty John Parkinton Walter Blunt Ralph Clair and many more both Knights and Esquires besides two thousand common People come in this desperate State of Affairs to hazard their Lives in the Kings Service The conjunction of these makes in all fourteen thousand two thousand Scots either for fear or because of the tediousness of the March having dropt off by the way Why more did not come into the Kings Camp any Man may guess at the reason of it to wit That the late suppression of the Insurrection of the Welsh Londoners and Norfolk and Suffolk Men and the cruelty of the Rump-Parliament in punishing the fruitless attempts of rising run in all Peoples Minds Besides the sudden and unexpected coming of the King gave no truce to the well affected of animating one another and of associating for his Service Nor lastly could the injuries done by the Scots not long before in England be got out of the Minds of the English it seeming much the same to them whether they suffered Bondage under the Tyranny of their Countrey-men or the Insolence of the Scots And above all we are to consider the great diligence of the Republicans of both sorts in stirring up the Countries encreasing their Forces and in observing and suppressing those who were Loyal to the King Cromwell who left Monck in Scotland with Eight thousand Men to carry on his Victories there being now come back into England animates with new Vigour the Forces of the Rebel-Parricides and presently joyning his Men with Lambert Harrison Gray and Fleetwood and those who from all parts came flocking in partly voluntarily and partly by compulsion he made up an Army if some be not mistaken in their reckoning of fourscore thousand Men and more whom he posts round the City of Worcester But the brave though unfortunate attempts of the Earl of Derby which happened about that time are not to be past over in silence He with a small handful of two hundred and fifty Men from his own Isle of Man arrived at a little Town in Lancashire and in that Countrey raised almost fifâ—n hundred Men with whom he marches to â—chester there to joyn five hundred more bâ— to his misfortune he met with Lilburn a Colonel of the Rump-Parliament Forces with sixteen hundred Men. For coming presently to blow up the Town of Wigan after a smart conflict the
prejudice to his Person or Interest which they would not make ample and sufficient amends for Richard then thought it enough in imitation of his Father to look big threaten chide and roar However they are not terrified but rather provoked to greater rage by that blunt Thunderbolt nor do they onely scoff and make mouths at him but slight him as an Ass and attempt greater matters against him From hence forward those that formerly wished best to him abandon him in Counsel and every way nor do they think it worth the while to meddle in his Affairs whom God had so infatuated as to make him neglect his own Interest Therefore they bequeath their Labour and Studies to the Cause of the King as being clearly convinced at length that that was the onely Interest that could justly and lawfully be maintained But the Officers seeing their Proposals tending to maturity frame a Remonstrance wherein they turn the fury of their engines aganst the Name of Malignants complaining That the Good Old Cause was forgot that the Asserters of it were every where vil fied the great Patrons and Patriots of it the Kings Judges put into Printed Lists and marked for destruction with the ruin of all the Godly and the Cause together that many Cavaliers came daily from beyond Sea and in presence of the People asserted the Kings Cause and Consulted together with much more of this Nature They pray that these things may speedily be redressed giving no obscure marks of their Inclination of bringing in a Democracy again This they desire Richard to represent to the Parliament scaring him thus with Lightning before the Thunderclap But the Parliament some true Republicans being amongst them out of design as some thought that he might have the Army against him pass a very imperious Vote Prohibiting any number of Officers and Soldiers to meet together for holding of Consults until the Parliament should determine about these Affairs Which Richard delivering both in his own and in Name of the Parliament and commanding their Consults to cease in a full meeting of the Officers Desborough takes him up for it so that the Officers becoming fiercer and more angry they apply themselves to the Lieutenancy of the Militia of London and allure them to a consent and to joyn with them that being involved in the same guilt with them they might not boggle to desire the same things of the Parliament This by means of Ireton the Brother of the late Ireton the Commander then Lord Mayor and of other Leading Men they easily obtained After these Prelimnaries the Officers of the Army drawing together their Forces before Day beset Whitehall where the Protector lived sending in in the mean time Desborough and Fleetwood earnestly to beseech him that he would presently dissolve the Parliament and to acquaint him That if it were not speedily done the Officers would cause Fire to be set to the House and all that resisted to be slain Richard terrified with these threats having in vain implored the Assistance of the City without either Guards or Soldiers to stand by him and his Bed-chamber Men and other Servants being frightned at length Signs a Proclamation to be published for Dissolving the Parliament After this some few days being allowed him to repent for what he had done and to take new Counsels there were a great many who prognosticated all evils to him nay affirmed them to be hanging over his Head seeing now the inveterate Enemies of his Family swoln with Pride and Malice who never kept Faith to any Man were got into Power again That perhaps they would sooth and slatter him at present till under pretence of his Authority they might rob him of the Assistance and Protection of his Friends and then having exposed him to hatred and derision try him for his Life and that under colour of a Law formerly made whereby to aspire to or introduce Monarchy is declared Treason It was moreover represented to him That he had still a safe refuge under the Mercy of the King if he would expiate his Fathers Crime by his own Allegiance that it was the part of a King to keep his Word that the Lord Petcombe the Danish Resident had promised to send over Letters safe to the Soundt that a Messenger might be more securely sent afterward to the Admiral to acquaint him with these Affairs and that he would likewise give security on the Kings part that the Articles should be fulfilled That that was no such difficult thing to be done since the Fleet was as yet free from Contagion the Admiral ready to serve the King and both hating and hated by the Parricides that besides Portsmouth and other strong Holds would joyn with him in a strict Confederacy that most part of the People also for the sake of the King and to revenge the injuries done to himself and the Parliament abruptly dissolved would rise in Arms and lastly that all Ireland was as yet subject to his Government Being sollicited by these and such like Arguments he was in suspence not knowing what to do he was tossed betwixt hope and fear having missed or abused the occasion of doing his business sometimes preferring the Counsels of some and by and by again of others and sometimes ready to run for it till at length being advised by Fleetwood and other Republicans whose Opinions he had privately asked That it would be much safer for him to enjoy certain and sure Priviledges than dangerously make tryal of new Experiments with fear and astonishment he keeps in Whitehall In the mean time a Council being called the Officers that had stood for Richard Ingoldsby Coff Whaley Falâ—onberge and Howard are â—asheered the old Republican Colonels whom his Father had formerly turned out Lambert Harrison Rich Parker Okâ—y and others being again brought into play Then the Officers of the Army with some five or six Members of the Musty Old Rump meeting together in the House of the Old Speaker Lenthall require him that he would reassume his Chair after a long intermission in Parliament and again sit at the Helm of the Government Which at first he refused alledging invincible Arguments to the contrary but afterwards partly through the threats and desires of Vane and chiefly of Lambert partly through his own Pusillanimity and partly through his own ambitious desire of Rule he is prevailed upon and condescends The Officers having acknowledged the injury they had done to the Rump and having publickly declared their sorrow for it and the Members obliging themselves of new by mutual engagements the Speaker with his Mace before him enters the House of Commons being attended by as many as could be got together out of the Streets Ale-houses Taverns even the Army and Prisons which nevertheless being computed hardly made up two and fourty Men by so small a Thread the Affairs of England then hung Yet these Varlets made no scruple to represent three
States make and unmake Laws Prosâ—ribe Forfeit and take to themselves the absolute Power over the Lives and Fortunes of all The Articles or Engagements that they entered in were to this purpose That all should enjoy their Liberties and Properties That there be a fixed and determinate proceeding in Law That all Crimes relating to the change of Government be abolished That all Statutes and Ordinances remain in force until the contrary be Enacted That Publick Debts be punctually paid That no Man believing in the Father Son and Holy Ghost and acknowledging the Holy Bible for the Word of God be debarred from the profession of his Religion except Episcopal-Men and Papists That a Zealous and Powerful Ministry be by all means cherished That Colledges and Schools be reformed That at present Fleetwood have the chief Command of the Forces both by Sea and Land That for the future the Parliament have the Legislative Power and the Council of State the Executive That the Protectors Debts be paid and that he have a Liberal Pension of Ten thousand pounds yearly during Life and ten thousand more in Inheritance And that his Mother also during Life have eight thousand pounds yearly out of the Exchequer The Parricides being bound to these Articles take their Seats again in the Parliament-House but how much they valued them they make it quickly manifest In the mean time many of the old Members to the number of above three hundred who had been secluded heretofore by the Officers of the Army though they believed the Parliament to be dissolved by the Death of Charles the First and the Abrogation of the House of Lords yet that they might avoid other Inconveniencies desiring to be readmitted are carefully kept out Some few Days after they send Commissioners to Richard to ask him the Question How he liked the change of Government and what Debts he owed that wheadling him with the hopes of kind usage they might draw from him a voluntary renunciation of the Authority He makes answer That he thought it reasonable that he should submit to their Authority from whom he must expect protection that his Steward should give them an account of his Debts But nothing but a formal and express resignation would please them to which he seemed chearfully to give his assent And now at length he is commanded to deliver up all the Goods and Houshold Furniture not so much as reserving to himself any Gold or Silver Jewels or Hangings Linnen or any other Goods that might have been pack'd up in a small bulk all are adjudged to the Exchequer Thus stript of all he is commanded to depart out of Whitehall liable to the Actions of all his Creditors and perhaps to have been tried for his Life had they not had other Fish to fry Behold the perfidiousness of Mortal Men and a wonderful instance of Divine Providence which presides over and alters Humane Affairs and Governments as it seemeth Good to the Amighty He who just now swayed the Scepter of three Kingdoms forced by the Calamities of a tedious Civil War to truckle under his Vicegerents three old Commanders to wit his Brother Brother-in-law and a third whom Cromwell had obliged by many and great Favours he I say in the short space of one year is craftily turned out of all and now stript of his borrowed Plumes he becomes the object of the Raillery of Poets and Painters and being sufficiently lasht with the giibes and reproaches both of the Parricides and Rabble as of old the Dictator was called from the Plough so now the Protector is sent back to the Plough A Chronological Table FOR THE SECOND PART MDCXLIX DOrislaus by some Scots killed in Holland The Marquess of Ormond Lieutenant of Ireland makes a Truce with the Irish Having raised an Army he besieges Dublin Jones routs his Forces and raises the Siege Cromwell General of the Rebels in Ireland arrives at Dublin Cromwell takes Drogheda cruelly abusing his Victory MDCL Cromwell takes Kilkenny the Seat of the Irish Council by a Surrender Leaving Ireton his Son-in-Law in Ireland he returns to England Ascham Embassador from the Regicides is killed at Madrid The Marquess of Montross Commissioner of Scotland overcome in Battel is betrayed and taken And basely used by the Scots is put to death at Edinburgh King CHARLES having Articled with the Scots sails into Scotland Fairfax laying down his Comission Cromwell is declared General of all the Forces in England Scotland and Ireland Cromwell leads an Army into Scotland Eusebius Andrews is beheaded at London Cromwell defeats the Scots in a bloody Battel at Dunbar William Prince of Orange dies MDCL LI CHARLES the Second is Crowned in Scotland He enters England with an Army of Scots Easily possesses himself of Worcester James Earl of Derby is by Lilburn routed at Wiggan The Scots being beat by Cromwell at Worcester the King escapes Cromwell in triumph enters London The King after many dangers at length arives in Normandy The Isle of Jersey reduced by Haines James Earl of Derby Lord of Mann is put to death His Lady Carlotta generously but in vain defends the Isle of Mann Henry Ireton Son-in-law to Cromwell dies at Limerick in Ireland MDCLI LII Aiskew takes the Island of Barbadoes by surrender An Act of Oblivion is past in the Rump Parliament St. Johns and Strickland are sent to Holland The first fight at Sea between Blake and Trump Aiskew beats the Dutch at Sea near Plimouth Blake beats the Dutch again MDCLII LIII The English and Dutch fight in the Streights Cromwell dissolves the Rump Parliament after twelve years Tyrannical Vsurpation Yet he calls a new one to which he commits the Government The Dutch send four Embassadours into England to treat of Peace Monck in a great Sea-engagement beats the Dutch Trump being slain Some Portuguese commit a Riot in the New Exchange in the Strand The Mock Parliament resigns up the Government to Cromwell Oliver Cromwell with the Title of Protector takes upon him the Administration of the Government MDCLIV Cromwell makes Peace with the Dutch Don Pantaleon Sa brother to the Portugal Embassadour and John Gerard are beheaded Cromwell calls a Mock Parliament which meets at Westminster Cromwell makes the Members swear Fealty to him King CHARLES leaving France goes to Colen He sends for his Brother Henry Duke of Glocester MDCLIV LV. Cromwell dissolves his mock-Mock-Parliament The Cavaliers stir but in vain in several places of England Wagstaff possesses himself of Salisbury Penruddock and Groves are beheaded at Exeter Henry Cromwells younger Son made Deputy of Ireland The Marquess of Leda the Spanish Embassadour comes to London Pen and Venables Commanders of the Fleet and Army take the Island
of Jamaica Ten Major Generals are set over the Provinces Cromwell makes Peace with the French The Jews sue for liberty to come and live in England MDCLVI Cromwell makes Peace with the Portuguese The Swedish Embassadour is feasted by Comwell at Hampton-Court Blake and Montague beat eight Spanish Ships and take two of them richly laden A mock-Mock-Parliament of the three Nations England Scotland and Ireland is held at Westminster James Naylor a false Christ enters Bristol MDCLVI LVII Sundercome who conspired Cromwells death is condemned He is found dead in his Bed in the Tower of London Harrison Lawson and others are committed to Prison Blake burns the Spanish Fleet in the very Harbour of Santa-cruce Cromwell refuses the Title of King offered him by the Parliament He is solemnly inaugurated Protector And the Parliament is adjourned for six Months Richard Son to Cromwell is made Chancellour of Oxford Jepson is sent to Sweden and Medows into Denmark Mardike-Fort taken by the English and French The Vicecount Falconberge marries Mary Daugh-to Cromwell MDCLVII LVIII A Parliament is again held consisting of two Houses Suddenly dissolved by Cromwell Slingsby and Hewet are beheaded Dunkirk is yielded to the French Cleypole Cromwell's Daughter dies at Hampton-Court Oliver Cromwell Protector dies in Whitehall Richard Cromwell publickly declared Protector Oliver is buried in Westminster MDCLVIII LIX Richard calls a Mock-Parliament which is held at Westminster Overton is recalled from his Banishment The Lower-house vote Richard to be Recognised Protector of England Scotland and Ireland And Vote also a present Conference with those of the Other House about Publick Affairs The Officers of the Army present a Remonstrance to Richard and he to the Parliament The Parliament make an Ordinance That the Officers of the Army meet not to hold Consults The Officers beset Whitehall and Richard by Proclamation dissolves the Parliament Richard being turned out the Rump-Parliament is again revived FINIS A TABLE To the Second Part. A. ADdresses and gratulatory Petitions to Cromwel pag. 190 Ascham the Rebel Embassadour in Spain killed there 72 B. Blake his Death and Character 228 C. Cavaliers conspire to rise for the King but disappointed 182 225 Church of England her Ministers persecuted 5 Cromwel Oliver 6 98. He procures a kind of Amnesty to be past by the Rump 156. Turns out the Rump 161. Is made Protector 165 166. The Instrument 166. His Arts and Cunning 184. Calls a House of Commons under the name of a Parliament 186. But cannot work 'em to his will 189. The manner of his Government in some matters 190 191 192. His fears and mistrust 198. Enters into a League with France 210. Treats with the Jews about a Toleration 210 211. Calls a pickt Assembly of the three Nations 212. The point debated whether he should take the Title of King 214 215. The manner how he was inaugurated Protector and the Speech thereat 218. Falls sick 233. Dies 236. His Character 237. His Funeral 341. Cromwel Richard 217 223. He becomes Protector 240. Callâ— a Sham-Parliament 243. Dissolves it 246. He is advised to be for the King but refuses the advice 247. Turn'd out of his Protectorship by the Rump 250. D. Dorislaus sent by the Regicides into Holland 2. Is killed there 3. Dunbar defeat 106 Dunkirk taken by the English 231 Dutch War 171 G. Gloucester Duke sent for to Cologn by the King 197 H. Hereticks in Gromwel's time 219 Hewet Dr. 225 High Court of Justice another erected 79. And does a world of mischief 80. inf I. Jamaica taken by the English 209 Jersey subdued 155 Ireland Expedition thither under Cromwel 6. inf Subdued 55. Juries endeavoured to be abolished by Cromwel 203 K. King Charles I. the state of Affairs after his death 1 King Charles II. seeks help from foreign Princes 67. Proclaimed in Scotland 83. Crowned there 117. His march into England 120. His Escape from Worcester 128. inf Arrives in France 150. Removes to Cologn 180. His Restoration foretold by an Astrologer 198. L. Lambert John his Character 55 Lane Jane 136 Lords of Cromwel 's making 222 Love 's Conspiracy 115 M. Major-Generals and their Tyranny 200 Man-Island subdued 156 Marriages by Justices of Peace 164 Montross the noble Marquiss his Story 90 N. Nayler James his Pranks 220 P. The Pendrils 128 Petty Sir William 61 Portugal Embassadour's Brother beheaded 178 R. Rump-Parliament and Army disagree 156 Turned out by Cromwel 161 Brought again into play 249 S. Scotland Expedition thither under Cromwel 98 Subdued 152 Slingsby Sir Henry 183 225 Sundercome and the Republicans conspire against Cromwel 220 221 V. Van Trump kill'd 176 Vowel a condemn'd Royalist cites Cromwel and his Judges to appear before the Judgment-seat of God 179 W. War against the Spaniards in America 206 Between the Danes and Swedes 228 Worcester-Fight 125 Part the Third OR THE HISTORY OF THE Composing the Affairs of England By the Restauration of King CHARLES II. And the Punishment of the Regicides And the Settlement of the Church and State as they were before the Rebellion THE Civil War of England begun by a pernicious and fatal Parliament raged for the space of eight years with various successes of Battels till the Royalists being in all parts worsted and not able to keep the Field Charles the First the best of Kings a Prince of most exalted but persecuted Virtue to avoid the victorious Arms of the English Independants moved by ill fate or bad counsel cast himself into the arms of the Presbyterian Scots by whom he was for a round sum of money treacherously delivered up into the hands of English Traytors Nor was it long before he was a sad instance that the Prisons of Kings are but little distant from their Graves For what the flagitiousness of past Ages never attempted and future Will hardly believe the unfortunate Prince to make way for the Usurpation of the Traytor Cromwel was forced by a scenical and mock-form of Law and Justice to lay down his sacred head to be struck off upon a Block The boldest Villany that ever any Nation saw and a Parricide that all the World was astonished at But this Villany succeeding so prosperously and Britain at length and Ireland being subdued by victorious Rebels as the Forces of Charles the Second were entirely routed by the defeats at Dumbar and Worcester Cromwel the Traytor delayed no longer the execution of his long-projected Wickedness He knew full well that the name of the Parliament was grown odious to the people through the uneasiness of their flagitious and usurped Dominion Turning therefore his Arms against his hauty Masters he turned them out of the House as Objects first of his own contempt and then of the peoples scorn The onely grateful action he did to the Kingdom And now
would produce a durable obedience The Colonels of Fleetwood's Army at London despising the Authority of the Rump more haughtily demanded the same thing But the cunninger Members smelt afar off these Camp-designes of the Officers well foreseeing what these Councils drove at at long run And this made them fret rage and threaten Haselrigg a hot-headed man and a great Stickler formerly in the War now no less concerned in the Faction of the Democraticks lays it out confidently That the Authority of the Parliament was a precacious thing that Lambert following Cromwel 's steps endeavoured alterations and that his modesty at long run would prove but a Decoy to easie Fleetwood or to this purpose In the mean time the Army was divided into two Factions The far greater part were for giving Laws to the Parliament though the rest submitted to their Authority And this so netled the Members that they could not endure the insolence of the Souldiers but come on 't what would they resolved to vindicate their supreme Authority and not to suffer any Power in the Army above their own Thus venturing upon a revenge whilst the Scales were as yet a turning if the Colonels intended to use force they resolved to leave the Traytors a poor Game to play and discharge the publick from paying any Taxations by passing a Vote That no money shall be raised without consent of the Parliament and that he who did to the contrary should be guilty of High-Treason against the Commonwealth And this seeing the Army wanted money was the neck-break of the Colonels Nor could any thing content the discontented Rump but the debarting of some of the boldest Colonels disbanded to wit Lambert Desborough Berry Kelsey Ashfield Cobbet Crede Packer and Barrow In the mean time the Rump appoints a Supreme Council of War over the Army without any name of a General consisting of Fleetwood Monk Haselrigg Ludlow Walton Morley and Overton the Souldiers in the mean time laughing in their sleeve at the vain and impotent anger of the Members For Lambert and the rest of the cashered Colonels upon mature deliberation resolved That seeing their interest and authority was still in force in the Army they would take the Field persist in their Resolutions and if it came to a push try the fidelity of the Souldiers And because they found by experience that Richard lost all by delaying they resolved to hasten their Undertaking The Rump in the mean time had intelligence of the violent designs of the Colonels and seeing hands were more necessary than heads Moss and Morley's Regiments are ordered next day to keep guard in Westminster The same morning Lambert with undaunted boldness and a strong body pickt out of the Forces that were best affected towards him hastens into the old Palace-yard and before the Members were come set Guards upon all the entries into the House Lambert stops the Speaker Lenthall coming out of his Coach and attended by a Troop of Guards and presently changing the Captain sends him back again into the City more like a Prisoner than a Speaker of the House and so with little ado he terrified and dispersed the rest of the Knaves And now Moss and Morley's Regiments guarding the silent and empty House are themselves beset by Lambert Both Parties looked big and seemed ready to come to blows but the night approaching they drew off without bloud whilst the Rump and Colonels full of anger and hatred mutually reproached each other and justly too with Treachery Villany and Tyranny But the Rump being now sent packing and the Parliament-doors shut the Officers of the Army became no less inconstant Masters and Ficklers in ruling than they had been in obeying Next morning a great confluence of Colonels met in Wallingford-house to consult about setling the Government and having first modelled the Army as being more considerable than the Commonwealth by unanimous consent they appoint Fleetwood to be General Lambert Lieutenant-General and Desborough heretofore a blunt Country-clown Major-General of the Horse The Supreme Power in Civil Affairs was committed to three and twenty Vane Fleetwood Ludlow and the rest of that odious Crew too long to be named whom they were pleased by a new and unheard-of Title to call the Committee of Safety Thus having erected a new Scheme of Government at London they disperse themselves into all places endeavouring to secure themselves by associated Villany Barrow they send to Ireland Cobbet to Scotland allure the Forces abroad into their Party but all in vain For the Army in Ireland whilst Ludlow was at London declared for the Rump Parliament Monk in the mean time writing to Fleetwood and Lambert sharply taxes the Army in England with Treachery and Ambition of governing and professes also that for the future he 'll stand by the Parliament refuses to admit of Cobbet as an Embassadour but commits him to custody as a Traytor Monk in the mean time being as yet uncertain what to do had many anxious thoughts He foresaw indeed greater security under the Rump but if the Army in England had the better on 't inevitable ruine having long ago had experience of the hatred of Lambert and Fleetwood though disguised in their looks And besides the usual competition in rule they were also looked upon as men of different humours and manners Monk was for a plain and modest Religion but they turbulent and violent in their pernicious Heresie Wherefore seriously weighing with himself the strength of the English Army on the one hand and on the other the weakness of his own Forces the perfidiousness of many of the Officers and the fickleness of the Souldiers he thought still that he might do better in War than in Peace and so having resolved against the worst he hastened his march into England When he had consulted about these things with his most intimate Friends at Delkeith he goes to Edinborough and there in a full Council of Colonels he represents the new Troubles of England How that the Parliament was turned out of doors by the Officers in England without any provocation but through levity and an ambition of governing That the London Colonels having attempted many bad things resolved not onely to bear rule over their own but the Forces abroad also That it would be disgraceful to them to submit to the Commands of another Army That he himself was a General neither inferiour to Fleetwood nor Lambert nor was the Army of Scotland that had outlived so many Battels less to be accounted than that of England That therefore he was firmly resolved to march into England to revenge the Right and Honour of the Parliament that the Authority might remain in their hands who gave them their Pay and Rewards When with much authority and greatness of mind which do better than eloquence in a Souldier he had spoken to this purpose the Souldiers were inflamed with Zeal and Resolution
at this time when the wants of the Commonwealth call for supplies and people will unwillingly pay Taxes for those Estates of which they have no legal assurance I need not tell you how much you were abused in the nomination of the Officers of your Armies there their malice that deceived you hath been sufficiently manifested I do affirm that those now who have declared for you will continue faithful and thereby convince that as well there as here it is the sober interest must establish Dominion As for Scotland the People of that Nation deserve to be cherished much and I believe your late Declaration will much glad their spirits for nothing was more dreadful to them than a fear to be over-run with Fanatick Notions I humbly recommend them to your affection and esteem and desire the intended Vnion may be prosecuted and their Taxes made proportionably to those in England for which I am engaged in promise to become a Suiter to you And truly Sir I must ask leave to entreat you to make a speedy provision for their Civil Government there of which they have been destitute near a year to the ruine of many Families and except Commissioners for managing of the Government and Judges to sit in Courts of Judicature be speedily appointed that Country will be very miserable I directed Mr. Gumble whom I lately sent to you to give you an account of the affairs of the Scottish Army and to make certain Proposals in their names to present some persons to you both for Commissioners and Judges which he did but by reason of your great affairs they were not dispatched but I humbly now offer them to your consideration If what the General spake was unpremeditated certainly it was well his upon but how the Rump were satisfied with his Speech the sequel will make it appear Besides his declining to take the Oath of Abjuration the day before the freedom of his speech mightily netled the Rump-Abjurors who looked upon him as a Dictator rather than an Orator commanding rather than petitioning and who had seemed as much dissatisfied with the treachery of Fanaticks as the contumacy of the Cavaliers The Abjurors in the mean time those Piles in the Rump who had the sole power in carrying of things began to have jealousies of the sincerity of Monk's intentions and of the extraordinary affection of the people towards him and having found an opportunity they delayed no longer to make a tryal of his thoughts and hidden designes The Government of this Rump-Parliament was grown so contemptible and loathsome to the Londoners that an Order past in Common Council That unless they had a free and full Parliament they would not pay one farthing of Taxes which so startled and incensed the guilty and timerous minds of the Members that Monk hath forthwith severe orders to march into the City commit twelve of the more sawcy Citizens to the Tower of London and by pulling down the City-Posts and Chains Gates and Portcullices in a military manner quell the boldness of the People which if he did then the disgrace and hatred would equally fall upon all and that by that means they would prove Monk's friendship as if he refused they might conclude him an Enemy Though Monk abhorred those cruel Orders of these Rulers yet he marched into the City with armed Forces and contrary to his own inclination puts in execution the hateful Orders of the Rump This unexpected Aggression of Monk astonished the City and the People were in consternation at it appearing first by a profound silence then secret murmurings and amazed looks but there was more sadness than fury in the case and the Town seemed rather surrendred than stormed In the mean time the Souldiers had the chief command slighting the Authority of the Mayor and Dignity of the City Et nullos Comitatu est Purpura fasces And no Scarlet nor Gold-Chain appeared Now did the Londoners bewail their own credulity and the false hopes they had conceived of Monk and desparing of humane assistance they directed their eyes to Heaven presaging no less than a perpetual Bondage to the City This odious obedience performed by Monk to the Rump put the Spectators to a plunge and suffered various interpretations But for what he so far hazarded his own Reputation in obeying the Rumpers after this manner or why by so sudden a change of counsel and conduct he endeavoured to regain their favour again I shall not venture to determine The truth is being either conscious to himself of the injury and affront done to the City or having too much experienced the Arts and Treachery of the Rump and being no less prevailed upon by the Prayers of his Friends and the Complaints of all he was sensible that his too great compliance with the Rumpers reflected upon his own Honour and that the Indignity offered to the City had raised him too much Envy The same night being come back to Whitehall and casting about what was to be done in this ticklish state of affairs he called to Council privately some of the Officers who were his greatest Confidents and privy to his secret designes and having formed a Letter he therein angrily complaining of several things to the Rump as That his services done to the House were slighted whilst the late Traytors who were not much less Enemies to them than to the Commonwealth had with them now much more credit and esteem than he From whence else proceed your new kindness to Lambert and Vane and your new offences against me If the perfidy of the Fanaticks had still displeased you why did you with so much respect receive yesterday that Leering Heretick Barebones and the insolent Rabble of Sectarians which lewdly in his company approached you with a dishonest Petition This kindness of the House shewn to a Rabble of Hereticks is not simple sincere It is the common desire of the whole Commonwealth the general request of the People Citizens Souldiers of every one and all That the number of the Members being fill'd up within a week and then your sitting determined you should give place to a new Parliament These Letters he sent the next morning by Lidcot and Clobery two Colonels to the House In the mean time he himself hastens into the City that he might make amends for his fault and wipe off the infamy of the foregoing day Having sent a Messenger before to acquaint the Lord Mayor with his coming and mustered his Army in Finsbury-fields he is entertained at a splendid Dinner in the Lord Mayor's house After Dinner the Mayor conducted the General to the Common-Council of the City where in a full Assembly of the Citizens in their formalities He declared to them his trouble to see what affronts were offered to them by Orders from the Council of State which he obeyed yet disliked that he was necessitated to comply with those Commands but with a resolution always to run through
the Duke of Ormond with unanimous consent of the Heads Fellows and Students of Colledges is chosen Chancellour of the University of Oxford and so being taken off from the care and troubles of the Irish affairs he had the direction of the softer and more peaceful Muses About the beginning of September Mary the Queen Mother of England having for two and twenty years in Banishment and Widowhood lived without the enjoyment of the King her Husband and with the comfort of a flourishing Off-spring having beheld her Son setled in the Throne died at Paris in France full of years and of glory in all the changes of humane condition About the end of this and beginning of next year the Duke of Albemarle also finished his course And being now to speak the last of a man born for the publick good famous in a high and famous in a lower degree I shall take a short review of his Birth Manners and Fortune George Monk the Son of a Knight was born in Devonshire in the West of England in the year One thousand six hundred and eight He had an elder Brother who inherited his Fathers Estate and Honour and a younger who being bred a Scholar after the Restauration of the King was made Bishop of Hereford George the middlemost pushing his Fortune in the Camp followed the Wars wherein he was first initiated in his youth at Cadis against the Spaniards and shortly after in an Expedition against the French at the Isle of Ré both unfortunate in their issue but with better success he served under the Earl of Oxford in Holland The Civil Wars afterwards breaking out occasioned first by the accursed madness of the Scottish Presbyterians he returned into England and listed himself under Charles the First who then marched against the Scots and next year after was made a Colonel in the Army against the Irish Rebels But the Civil War of England raging more furiously afterwards whilst the Parliament called in the Scots their Brethren in Iniquity to their assistance the King on the other hand having made a Truce with the Irish Rebels called over his Forces from Ireland for his own defence at home and Monk being one of the Commanders of that Army with the rest joyned the King at at Oxford but whilst by orders from the King he mustered the Irish Forces in the Camp he was unexpectedly surprized and taken by Fairfax who served the Parliament and being carried to London lay there almost four years Prisoner in the Tower Whilst he was there shut up and in distress the King sent him secretly an hundred Pieces of Gold which considering the streights his Majesty was then put to was no small Argument of his Royal Affection towards him But being at length tired out with an irksome imprisonment and for the sake of liberty changing sides he took in with the Parliament and went again over into Ireland where he did many brave actions against the Irish Rebels not without Presages of becoming sometime a great General as being the onely person who seemed to have carried with him Honesty and Civility to the Civil War Here it was that first of all he gained the good esteem of Cromwel who then commanded the Parliament-Forces in Ireland having performed an action more advantageous to his General than honourable to himself The Irish War being ended the Summer following he marched with Cromwel against the Scots and did not a little contribute to his fortunate Successes in Scotland Having been so often victorious at Land and now an old Commander he tried his fortune at Sea and under the Rump-Parliament was very successful against the Dutch having in two Engagements beaten them and put them to flight At length when Cromwel got into Supreme Power he was made Governour of Scotland which Trust with equal reputation of Equity and Prudence he discharged during the space of almost five years until Quarrels and Animosities happening at London betwixt the Rumpers and Colonels of the Army he laid hold on the occasion for restoring of the King But at what time first he framed the designe of restoring Charles to the Throne I shall hardly presume to determine Cavillers and those that make the worst of things gave it out that his dutiful services to the King were but fortuitous but they who judge impartially affirm that it was a designe laid many years before Certainly the best of Kings more mindful of the effects of his Loyalty than of its beginning received the duty of Albemarle as extraordinary and kind services and honourably and liberally rewarded them The year before his death he fell into a Dropsie and being weary of the ordinary methods and advice of Physicians he made use of a certain Quack-Medicine which in appearance recovered him but his body being opened after his death a great deal of Water was found in his Bowels and much congealed Bloud in both the Ventricles of his Heart and other neighbouring Vessels For the motion both of the Heart and Bloud being weakened by an inveterate Dropsie gave occasion to the stagnating of the chylous juyce about the Heart which stopping the Fountain of the circulating Bloud put at length a stop to his last breathings for life The Marriage of his onely Son was in a manner the last thing he minded in this life who a few days before his death was married to the Daughter of the Earl of Ogle and Grand-daughter to the Duke of Newcastle thereby to settle as well as honour his Family by an Alliance with so Noble a House After he had seen Britain rejoycing in Triumphs beheld Charles confirmed in the Throne by ten years happy Reign and after he had administred the greatest Offices of Trust under the King both in Peace and War being upwards of sixty years of age he yielded to Destiny which he willingly and undauntedly submitted unto that after the Trophies of a past Life he might at length triumph over Death He left but one onely Son the Illustrious Inheritour of his Fathers Fame hopeful to the State and cherished by the King as his own Charles who had often visited and condoled with him in his sickness was with him to the last and expressed the same affection for dying Albemarle that he had testified to him during his life From Somerset-house where he had lain in state he was with a splendid pomp of solemn Funerals at the Kings charges conveyed to Westminster-Abbey and there amidst the Tears and Condolings of all good men interred amongst the August Monuments of Kings being the last Triumph due to his memory They who are curious to have a description of the shapes and countenance of so great a man may know that he was a person more graceful than beautiful of a middle stature strong and well comparted with a comely presence and of a composed rather than severe or stern aspect He may easily be reckoned a
most valiant General in War not onely to be compared to the chief Commanders of his own age but to the most renowned Warriours of elder times and of so great reputation he was in Military affairs that the modestest do acknowledge too great a Courage in Albemarle He spent almost his whole life in Arms and at length growing old amidst Victories he became gray-headed under a Helmet In Britain and Ireland by Sea and by Land so happy was Albemarle that Fortune traced out for him Honour Renown and Titles He had indeed a hidden and a silent kind of Sagacity in the management of affairs and improved almost all the Arts of Prudence by Silence He had a Modesty that set off all the other Virtues of his Mind nor was he ever heard to brag of what he had done or deserved The Fame of so great a man doubtless inferiour to no other Mortal will propagate it self to Posterity who without Pride or Ostentation gratified a banished Prince with so signal Services and onely rejoyced in the conscientious performance of his Duty and Obedience Nor after the Restauration of Charles did he behave himself as a Colleague in the Government as Mucianus was of old reported to have done to Vespasian but as a Servant neither did he ever boast that having the Power in his own hands he had bestowed it upon another whereby he burned to his glory the Arrogance of the Rump and the Impudence of Cromwel his Loyalty inclining him more to give up than his Ambition to retain the Government We may moreover reckon Albemarle happy not onely in the greatness of the Action but also in the seasonableness of the Service That he brought back the Government to a Prince of so just and good a temper who put so true an estimate upon his Loyalty and under whom it would never be unsafe nor dangerous to deserve the most For good Offices are acceptable especially to Kings so long as the obliged think they may be able to requite them but when they are too great to be rewarded instead of Thanks they procure Hatred And it is rare and almost unusual for Princes to think themselves obliged or if they think so to love their Benefactors Peace being now established at home and Janus his Temple shut Albemarle departed the more joyfully out of this life that when he left no Troubles in Britain yet he left behind him a Love for himself in the hearts of all good men so much the more wanted that he had taken care that nothing should be wanting having left nothing in the State but his own death to be bewailed the King flourishing in his Government and the Loyalty of the Parliament as yet vieing with the modesty of the Prince Every one enjoyed the happiness they desired at home and Peace with all Nations abroad till the League-breaking Dutch again provoked the English Arms. But the Actions of that War the steddy Fortune of the British Nation and the future Triumphs of CHARLES I have set aside as a subject for my more advanced years FINIS A Table to the Third Part. A. ALbemarle vid. Monk Army disbanded 52 B. Bishops restored 51 Booth Sir George his Insurrection 8 C. Committee of Safety 13 Commissioners from the Parliament wait on the King at Breda 44 Conventicles supprest 73 Covenant burnt by the Hangman 66 Cowley Abraham 99 D. De Wit 76 Dutch War beginning and occasion 74. The first Engagement 81. The second 87. The third 88. the fourth 90. The fifth 92. Their Attempt at Chatham 98. Peace concluded 98. F. Fanaticks rise but are supprest 72 G. Gloucester Duke dies 52 K. King Charles 2. Comes to Breda 42. Lands at Dover 46 Enters London 47. His Coronation 61. Marries the Infanta of Portugal 69. L. Lambert proclaimed a Traytor 40. Committed to the Tower 41. Condemn'd but obtains mercy 71. Libels 73 The Liturgie and Ceremonies of the Church confirm'd and establish'd by Act of Parliament 71 London the great Plague there 84. The great Fire there 94. Rebuilt 99 100. M. Monk Sir George 6 13 inf His famous march into England 25. Enters London 28. Admits the secluded Members 36. Receives Letters from the King 37. Created Duke of Albemarle 51. A short account of his Life and Death 102 inf His Character 105. O. Oblivion Act 52 Great Officers upon the Kings Restoration 51 Orange Princess dies in England 60 Oxford the Court and Term there 85. The new Theatre there built 101. P. Parliament the long one dissolved 41. A new one meet 42. A new one call'd by the King 66. Physicians Colledge visited by the King 78 Q. Queen-Mother dies 101 R. Recapitulation of things past 1 Regicides brought to Tryal 53. Their several Characters 54 55 56 57 58 67 68 70. Rump-Government 5. inf Rump and Army at variance 10. S. Solemn League and Covenant burnt by the Hangman 66 V. Uly-Island and Ships there burnt by the English 93 Y. York Duke made Lord High Admiral 50. His great Victory at Sea 81. The Right of Kings in England In the person of a Monarch for above a thousand years And he hereditary And never dying To him all swear Allegiance and Supremacy The Prerogatives of the K. or chief marks of Majesty and the Regalia belong onely to the King So that all Estates and Possessions are derived from him and to him return at last He hath the care of Pupils and Lunaticks The power of coyning Money He confers all Honours and Offices Which are to be administred in his name alone His power in matters of War Also in Ecclesiastical affairs He moderates the rigour of Laws And judges in undecided cases He chuses his own Counsellors He that mounts the Throne is never to be brought to the Bar since the Law says he cannot die Nor can he err or do wrong But as he offends by his Ministers so is he punished The Heir of the Crown is by the death of his Predecessor ipso facto cleared from all guilt Yet it is not lawful to rule arbitrarily VVhat Rights belong to Parliaments To make and repeal Laws Impose Taxes Legitimate Bastards Enact the VVorship of God Set Rates on VVeights and Measures VVhat the Parliament of England is The Vpper House of it The Lower The time and place appointed by the King They are called by VVrits The manner of meeting The King declares the causes of their meeting in the Vpper House All and every one of the Members of the House of Commons take the Oath of Allegiance to the King And of Supremacy They chuse a Speaker whom they accompany to the King beseeching his Majesty to approve their Election And not to be offended with their freedom in speech ☞ All may petition but by the mediation of Deputies The way of debating and communicating opinions betwixt both Houses By the Kings consent the Bills are made Laws Or otherwise rejected Religious matters aâ—â—ommitâ—ed by the Kiâ—g to
3. Octob. 24. January 1. August 7. August 20. August 25. Septemb. 3. Septem 12. October 2. Oct. Dec. Octob. 15. October November Novem. 26. Januar. 12. Feb. 24. March 11. May 19. August 16. Septem 28. March 4. April 20. July 4. June August 2. Novem. 22. Decem. 12. Decem. 16. April 5. July 10. Septemb. 3. Septem 12. Octob. 18. November Januar. 22. March 11. May 16. June May 5. May 7. Octob. 25. November July 10. July 25. Septem 10. Septem 17. Octob. 24. Februar 9. Feb. 13. April 10. April 20. May 8. June 26. July 29. August Octob. 23. Novem. 19. Januar. 20. February 4. June 8. June 15. August 6. Septemb. 3. Septemb. 4. Novem. 24. Januar. 27. February 3. Febr. 14. March 28. April 8. April 18. April 22. May 7. A Recapitulation of things past January 30. 1648. September 3. 1650. and Sept. 3. 1651. April 20. 1653. Cromw takes upon him the Protectorship He dies Sep 3. 1658. Richard succeeds Vnfit for the dignity He is despised by the Democratical Colonels Richard's Relations combine with them Lambert c. returns to the Army The rump-Rump-Parliament is restored by the Colonels To be turned out again iâ— time Which deposes Richard Then exposes him And excludes many of the Members May 8. The Rump prevents the power of the Colonels Henry Cromwel Deputy of Ireland submits to the Rump And Monk Governour of Scotland and the Fleet under Lauson Fleetwood's temper Lambert's ambition The deplorable state of the Commonwealth Through the perfidiousness of the Souldiers And madness of the People 1659. The dangers of the Nobility and of good men From the confusion of things the Royalists take hopes Their Enterprizes Booth's Insurrection in Cheshire By whom assisted The Rump is terrified Prepares to fight Lambert is sent against Booth Booth is defeated And flies He is taken Aug. 20. The confidence of the Rump upon Booth's overthrow And the arrogance of Lambert and his souldiers Jealousies arising betwixt the Parliament-men the Colonels Sept. 16. October 5. Lambert's ambition is taken noting of by Haselrigg The Army divided The Parl. mad Discharges the Country from Taxations October 10. And disbands some stubborn Colonels Octob. 11. No General now but a Council of War The Colonels conspire against the Rump The Rum orders their Friends to guard them Lambert besets the Rump And despises them Octob. 13 The Colonels having turned out the Rump consult about the Government They appoint a Committee of Safety Octob. 23. They invite the Forces of Scotland and Ireland into their Party Monk refuses Octob. 28. At Edinburrough Monk harangues the souldiers Octob. 18. He secures the Garrisons of Scotland Changes the Officers and prepares for War Fleetwood the Colonels desires a Pacification Octob. last They sent Commissioners into Scotland Monk admits of a Pacification Monk sends Commissioners to London The Pacificators meet in Wallingford-house Lambert enters York Sends â—organ to Monk as a Mediator of Peace Monk invites the Nobility of Scotland to a Council Decemb. 13. The Scots offer assistance Monk considers of it The Commissioners signe the Pacification Novemb. 15. Monk is angry Clarges informs Monk of the affairs of London Whereupon he prorogues the Pacification And demands a new place of Treaty Fleetwood Lambert condescend Lambert posses himself of Newcastle Monk goes to Caldstream Octob. 8. The number of Monk's Army Tumults in the mean while in London And Grievances The tumult of the London-Prentices Is suppressed by Hewson Decemb. 3. The Garrison of Portsmouth rises for the Rump The Navy endeavours the same Fleetwood yields to the Rump The Committee of Safety wavers Fleetwood's souldiers make defection to the Rump The Committee of Safety is dissolved Monk breaks off the Conference of Pacification The Rump restored to the Government Decemb. 6. Recals Lambert's Army The treachery of Lambert's men towards him 1659 60. Monk marches into England January 1. 1659 60. At Morpet he receives Letters from the Mayor of London He comes to Newcastle Jan. 4. Jan. 5. He enters York Monk meets with Fairfax at York He sends part of his Army under Morgan back into Scotland Monk meets Clarges at Nottingham Jan. 19. The Commissioners of the Rump meet Monk at Leicester Jan. 22. The people everywhere petition Monk for a new Parliament From St. Albans he sends to the Rump Jan. 28. Desiring Fleetwood's Forces to be sent out of Town The Rump consented Fleetwood's men march angrily out Feb. 2. Monk enters London The Rump by Oath abjures Monarchy The Council of State offers Monk the Oath He delays He goes to the Rump Feb. 6. Monk's Speech suspected by the Members The Londoners refuse to pay Taxes Monk is sent into the City in Arms. Feb. 9. To which he offers violence The action of Monk is variously interpreted And is presently displeased with himself for it He sends an angry Letter to the Rump Feb. 11. Monk returns into the City Feb. 12. Makes a Speech to the Citizens And promises a new Parliament The Citizens rejoyce And honour Monk Reproaching the Rump Which was offended at Monk's Letter The Rump weakens Monk's authority He takes it in indignation And sends the secluded Members to the house Feb. 21. The Abjurators depart The Votes of the fuller Parliament Monk acquaints the distant Forces with the restauration of the Parliam Feb. 21. They consent to him And take an Oath to be true to the Parliament Monk quarters at S James's Here he receives Letters from the King by the hands of Greenvile March 18. A new Conspiracy of the Traytors 1660. Lambert escapes out of Prison April 9. He gathers together an Army Lambert is proclaimed a Traytor Ingoldsby is sent against Lambert Both prepare to fight And do fight Lambert is overcome And taken Is carried a Prisoner to the Tower of London The dissolution of the Long Parliament March 17. A new one met April 25. The People desire a King Thâ— King comes to Breda From whence he sends Letters to the Parliament c. April 14. The Parliaments Proclamation Commissioners from the Lords to the King Commissioners from the Commons The K. Dukes of York and Gloucester have Presents sent them from the Parliament The Londoners send Commissioners and Presents The Traytors with astonishment beheld the Revolution The Commissioners sail from England May 11. and wait upon the K. at the Hague May 16. Sir Thomas Clerges the first Messenger of the Kings coming The K. went on board May 23. Monk hastens to Dover There the King lands May 25. Monk receives the King upon his knees at his landing The King hastens to Canterbury There he made Monk Knight of the Garter May 27. May 28. He came to Rochester The K. views the Army upon the Road and praises them The King is welcomed by the Lord Mayor and Citizens of London He enters London May 29. By Tyber Euphrates and Tygris are meant the Roman Persian and Assyrian Empires and their Triumphs The Pomp of his entry And Attendants
Lord Bishop of Winchester the Worthy Nicholas Oudart Secretary and Counsellour to the Prince of Orange by Sir John Wederburn Knight by Dr. Richard Owen Professor of Divinity and Rector of St. Swithins in London by Dr. George Ent heretofore Physician to Charles the First and now to the present King and also by Fabian Philips an Attorney who was my Assistant in searching the Rolls Offices and Monuments of the Law that I may not mention Dugard who printed it men above all exceptions although there is an insolent Defamer who pretends I have fathered another mans Work whose Calumnies I neither value nor fear This Passage is inserted by him onely to prove he was the Author of it but is at the same time a strong proof of his integrity for it is very well known these Persons were not all of one side in our late Distractions The first Part of this Piece was first printed about the year 1651 without his name for the information of Strangers and therefore he premiseth a short account of the Prerogatives of the Crown and the Priviledges of Parliament and Liberties of the Subject here which had been so abominably misrepresented to Forreigners that they stood generally in great doubt on which side the right lay and considering the time when it came out first nothing could be of greater use and benefit to the then-oppressed interest of our late Soveraign Nor was it onely useful abroad but at home also for the People of England were then so distracted by the Contradictions betwixt the Royal and the Rebel Party that they at least many of them did as little know on which side to give their Verdict as the Neighbour Nations Hence the Learned and Ingenuous Mr. Henry Foulis in his Preface to his History of the wicked Plots of our pretended Saints gives us this Account of himself As for the Author saith he whilst a School-boy he was too much sway'd to Presbytery and delighting in the Stories of our Times had none to peruse but May Vicars Ricraft and such-like partial Relators by which means believing with the ignorant all things in print to be true he was perswaded to encline to the wrong side But a little before his going to theVniversity lighting by chance upon Dr. Bates 's judicious Book Elenchus Motuum he found the Laws and true Government to be opposite to his former Readings and therein the Knavery and Jugling of their Opposers strange things which he had never heard of before Which with some other assistance so far prevail'd with him that in a short time he threw off Father Schism and ever since like little Loyal John in the Epitaph For the King and Church and Bloud-Royal He went as true as any Sun-Dial There are some others who have acknowledged to the World in print the benefit they and the Government received from this first Part. The Second Part was added by Dr. Bates after his late Majesties Restitution to inform the World of the manner of his Majesties Escape from Worcester and how things were carried till the deposition of Richard Cromwel wherein is an excellent account of the bloudy War in Ireland and the just Judgment of God upon the Scotch Covenanters for joyning with our English Parliamentarians upon pretence of setting up Presbytery here but indeed to inrich themselves the second time with the Spoils of England the effect of which was that Presbytery was ruined even in Scotland by O. C. and his victorious Independant Army and they lost at the same time all their Civil Priviledges and were treated till the Kings return as a conquered People by their fellow-Rebels The Third Part was written by one Dr. Tho. Skynner another Learned Physician to continue and bring down the Story and shew the Joy of our Nation at the Restitution of his late Majesty It is in the Original written in a florid stile and full of curious and ingenuous Reflections The Translations of all these have been managed with great care to make them both true to the Originals and delightful to the Reader onely the Translator thought fit to supply some Papers which are but hinted at or wholly omitted in the Author as the Treaty of the Isle of Wight in the First Part the Coronation-Oath in the Third and others And also when there are any Papers or Expressions mentioned to publish the original Papers and words when he could find them but when not he hath humoured the Translation as near the Latin as the sence of the Author and idiome of the two Languages would permit There is great hope that this short account of our late horrible Confusions here in England which is so acceptable in the Original to all Forreigners and Learned English-men may now translated be no less acceptable to all those who either cannot read the Latin or care not to give themselves so much trouble and that it may contribute something to the interest of the Government by forewarning men how they betake themselves to those courses again which produced such dreadful Effects heretofore A TABLE To the First Part. A. ACcusations against the Lord Keeper and Judges pag. 24 Army fall off from the Parliament and seize the King out of their possession 82. Seem to comply with the King ibid. but relapse 87. The Assembly set up Presbytery 57 B. Beginning of the Troubles 17 Bishops accused 24. Their Lands sold 59 C. Covenant and Solemn League 60. Its fruits 62 Courts several abrogated 28 Cromwel Oliver 77 E. Episcopacy abrogated 56 F. Fairfax Sir Thomas 77 Fasts the noted fore-runners of some mischief 134 H. High Court of Justice falsely so called its beginning and proceedings 139. and inf Hotham Sir John 38 I. Independents 61 71. and inf work the Presbyterians out of power 76 79 Intercessions for the King 142 Ireton's Remonstrance 133 Irish Rebellion its beginning 45 The Junto or Rump of the House of Commons 138 K. King Charles the First goes into Scotland 31. Goes to the House of Commons 34. Withdraws to Windsor and thence towards York 35. Goes to the Scots Army 65. Designed to be murdered 88. Escapes to the Isle of Wight 91. He is murdered 158. His excellent Character 161. Keepers of the Liberties or Council of Forty 166 L. Laud Archbishop 23 Lords House in Parliament abolished 163 M. Militia 33 36 41 Monarchy of England and the Rights thereof 1. Abolished by the Rebels 163. O. Oxford-Parliament 63 P. Parliaments what their Power and Customs 5. and inf Parliament-Factions 22. To sit as long as they please 30. Their scandalous Declaration 32. Their unreasonable Demands 39. Modelled by the Army 137. Peters Hugh 133 143 Prerogative abated 29 The Presbyterian Model 57 Prynn William 137 Q. Queen goes into Holland 35 R. Religion the pretence of the Rebellion 43 S. Scots Rebellion 20. They come into England 62. The King puts himself into their hands 65. They sell him 67. Take up Arms for the Kings deliverance 100. Are defeated 101. Sects and Sectaries
onely for conveniency but even for Ostentation and Luxury Trade increasing dayly both in compass and profit had already enlarged it self to both the Indies onely unhappy in this that with the Wealth of Strangers foreign Vices were also imported Arts of all sorts never look'd gayer in Colledges Courts and Shops nor were the wealthy Inhabitants ever prouder Justice was administred according to Law nor was any man deprived of Life or Goods but by the lawful Verdict of a Jury of his Country-men to whom these things ought to be of highest value all the parts of Government were so administred that they seemed to conspire together for the publick good save onely in this that they could not repress the insolency and wantonness that sprung from so great prosperity and which is not to be dissembled being long unaccustomed to War we had been unfortunate in some foreign expeditions and the people were incensed at some impositions at home which though very moderate and countenanced by publick necessity and good reason in Law yet gave occasion to the people to pretend that the Right and Property of the Subject was opprest and to outcries of Injustice and also the imprisonment and lopping off the ears of four or five seditious persons sentenced by the Judges of the Star-Chamber seemed to be punishments too severe for those halcyon days of Peace and Tranquillity To this may be added that the Jurisdiction and Censures of Spiritual Courts wrought pity in some and indignation in others Besides the muster of Malecontents was made greater by some scrupulous Puritans who interpreted the enjoyning of Ceremonies and things indifferent in the Worship of God in the Canons of the Church to be the Fore-runners of Popery We may also take along with us the Zeal of the Archbishop in exempting the Clergie from the Suits and Injuries of Laicks and preferring them to civil employments which drew a great deal of envy and ill will not onely upon himself but upon all the Church-men also as also his endeavouring to bring into the Church of Scotland the use of the Service-book of England which though his designe was laudable that these three neighbouring Nations being under the government of one and the same King might also be joyned in an uniform manner of Worship was yet unseasonable and ill timed as we shall a little more fully relate Matters in Scotland were then ripe for a Rebellion for many took it ill that the King denied them the Honours and Titles to which they aspired others were vexed that they were forced to part with some portion of the Tythes though but moderate which they had upon the dissolution of the Monasteries in the minority of King James obtained from the Crown for making a competent Stipend for Ministers who then served the Cures at what easie rates the Patrons were pleased to allow them but most could not digest that the absolute Authority which they had for a long time usurped over their Vassals and Tenants should be taken from them and annexed to the Crown These chusing rather to shake the State than quit their hold those again rather to get Titles of Honour by the seditious Acclamations of the Mobile than to want them took occasion of the Liturgie and Ceremonies to buz the people in the ear that the reformed Religion was to be overturned to make way for Popery so that having taken up Arms and born down all that were of a contrary opinion they new model Church and State according to their own humour The King resolving to reduce those by Arms whom he could not reclaim by the milder causes of admonition being accompanied by the Flower of the Youth and Nobility of England who voluntarily and at their own charge set out upon the expedition marches to the borders but having by clemency and concessions brought them over to obedience which he preferred before Hostility and Arms he condescended to Articles of Peace and disbanded his Army The Scots afterward insisting upon Articles different from those that were agreed upon occasion new Broils and Dissensions which when neither Commissioners Messengers nor mutual Letters could compose both sides prepare afresh for a new War On the Kings side the Earl of Strafford then Deputy of Ireland raised an Army of eight thousand men with the assistance of the Parliament of Ireland being to be paid by them and being come over again into England bestirs himself in raising another Army here A Parliament is called wherein a certain Courtier making bad use of his instructions did purposely as most believed that he might confound affairs and increase Animosities betwixt the King and Parliament somewhat haughtily demand twelve Subsidies when the House of Commons had offered six in lieu of the Ship-money and this raised new discontents and grievances for putting a stop to which in those troublesome times the Parliament was sooner dissolved than many could have wished In the mean time the Scots whose Forces were not so dispersed but that they might be speedily drawn together into a body nicking the opportunity and by Agents entring into a Combination with the factious of England under pretext of petitioning the King came in a hostile manner into England and having beat some Troops that guarded the passage of the River Tine put all into fear and consternation took Newcastle and other Towns unprovided for defence and fortified them And though Strafford with the new-raised Army under his command had undertaken to drive them out of the Kingdom yet the most merciful King chose rather to refer the matter to a Parliament than without publick consent to pollute the Kingdom with bloud and slaughter A Truce was therefore made whereby the Scots were allowed a free Trade and Commerce with liberty to raise Contributions in the Counties where they lay and so a Parliament was called by whose prudence and Loyalty it was hoped all roots and Fibres of Animosities might be extirpated The Parliament being met the Factious who in great numbers had got into the House of Commons trusting now to the Patronage of the Scots and the Disorders of the times set about their business manfully they represent Grievances both publick and private accuse Courtiers and Magistrates and dart obliquely reproaches against the King himself exaggerating all with the highest strains of their Rhetorick Under pretext of reforming these Abuses they labour to overturn both Church and State and in imitation of the Scots to new-model the Government and that by these steps If in the first place they could deprive the King of the Counsels and Assistance of his most faithful Subjects and by loading him with Reproaches and false Crimes render him odious to the People and strip him of all Power and Authority they would next screw themselves into publick Offices and the power of the Militia and then with absolute dominion give Laws both to the King and People The Earl of Strafford and
Archbishop of Canterbury are accused of High-Treason both the English and Scots impeaching them Against Strafford also out of Ireland where the greatest matter of accusation was to be pickt up both Witnesses and Accusers are brought For whilst he was Deputy of Ireland he had by some severities which though perhaps they could not stand the test of the punctilio's and niceties of Law yet were necessary for the publick raised the indignation of the Inhabitants in that he endeavoured to reclaim the native Irish from their wonted Barbarity to Industry Civility and better Manners and to enure them to the Customs and Practices of the English Whence in a short time he had been so successful in this that having setled Trades Husbandry and Commerce amongst those lazy and stubborn people they began to flourish more than in all Ages before and to bring money into the Exchequer of England which by Rebellions they had so often exhausted before From amongst these though they were Roman Catholicks and sworn enemies to the English Government and even then plotting a Conspiracy against it Accusers in name of the Kingdom of Ireland and Witnesses were sent for who being prone enough of themselves to the work that they might the more securely attempt the Rebellion which then they hatched in their minds the wise Deputy being taken off were by all civilities and kind offices caressed by the Factious that by accumulated crimes they might overwhelm Strafford The Lord Keeper Finch was also accused and all the Judges who being sworn had after long deliberation declared in favour of the King as to the lawfulness of Ship-money Twelve Bishops also who by the riotous Rabble having been barred from coming into the House of Lords protested against all Laws that should be made as invalid until all that were concerned in the Council of the Kingdom might safely be present Others withdrew to avoid the impendent storm The Judges scared with this Parliamentary Thunderclap and taught to obey their Lords and Masters are at last all freely discharged and some of them continued in their places or promoted to higher The Bishops having lost their power of voting in the Lords House by a Law made in their absence being likewise set at liberty Canterbury is reserved for a future Sacrifice All the Storm at present fell upon the head of the Earl of Strafford whose Tragedy since it lay heavy upon the King during his whole life and at his death and that he by the Rebels was reckoned the most guilty I shall more fully relate that by the instance of one judgment may be made of the rest what kind of men they were who were so hated by the Parliament With great pomp he is accused by the Commons of twenty eight Articles of High Treason before the House of Lords all the Commons were present of whom six of the most violent were his Prosecutors or Managers of the Tryal the King also Queen and Prince being there privately behind the Curtain The weight of his Impeachment lay in this That in Ireland he had acted many things arbitrarily contrary to Law That in time of Peace he had raised Money of the Inhabitants against their wills by Military Exactions That he had advised the King to force the Subjects of England to obedience by foreign Arms and to make War against Scotland The Tryal lasted many days during which the Earl with great presence of mind and judgment defending himself so refuted the Arguments of his Prosecutors that amongst so many Articles there was not one even in the judgment of his enemies that could amount to Treason nor could all put together be constructed an acumulative Treason which inraged the House of Commons so far that having no colour of Law to take his life they make a new Law ex post facto whereby he is made guilty of High-Treason with a clause therein That it should not be made a Precedent in other Courts But this past not without great debate and opposition many speaking and arguing to the contrary and fifty nine of the chief Members of the House dissenting whose names were posted up in publick places that being exposed to the view and fury of the Mobile they might learn to vote with the Factious for the future if they had not rather be torn in pieces alive This Bill was in two days time past and engrossed in the House of Commons and carried up to the Lords for their consent but a matter of such moment was more seriously deliberated about there The Factious impatient of this delay stir up the Rabble and Dregs of the People who armed with Staves and Clubs and what Weapons Rage put into their hands came rushing to the Parliament-house roaring out Justice Justice and growing dayly more and more insolent morning and evening persisted in their riotous Clamours These Blades besetting the House of Lords lay hands upon what Lords and Bishops they please and tossing them to and fro hinder them from entering and threaten them worse if they obstinately refused to comply with the Commons Next they break in into Westminster-Abbey pull down the Organs rob the Vestments and sacred Furniture of the Church and then with furious clamours run to White-hall the Kings own house Nay they proceeded to that impudence as to dare to affront the King by sawcy and insolent Answers when his Majesty from a Balcony told them as they passed by White-hall that they should keep at home and mind their business Whilst some of the Justices of Peace according to their Oath and duty imprison those of that Rabble whom they could catch to be kept there for condign punishment they themselves are clapt up by the factious House of Commons pretending that it was free for all to come and petition the Parliament though they had caused the Gates of London to be shut against the men of Kent who came to petition the contrary and frightened others who intended to have done the like And when some discreet and good men had desired the Factious that they would at length lay the Devils whom they had raised they made answer That they ought rather to thank their Friends Nay so far was the Parliamentary Dignity debased that many times Members of the House of Commons came to the Clubs of Apprentices where they consulted about related and examined the affairs that past in Parliament what was designed to be done what parts they themselves were to act and when Hence their Tumults became by this kind of schooling in a manner to be regular being distributed into proper Classes and Fraternities as of Porters Watermen Taylors c. who under pretext of petitioning at the least hint from their Demagogues flocked together into bodies And that once for all we may lay open the nature of this Sore if any difficult knot occurred which by other arts they could not unty they presently betook themselves
complains and demands reparation for the affront But the House of Commons approve Sir John Hotham's Fact and vote that the King had violated the Priviledges of Parliament in proclaiming a Member of the House guilty of Treason Before he was heard in their House they give Orders to the Earl of Warwick to send some Souldiers from on board into the Town and to transport the Magazine from thence to London But Sir John Hotham repenting too late when he perceived that these Sparks had put the whole Country into a flame having afterwards obtained pardon and being about to deliver up the Town to the King was taken and payed to the Parliament what he owed to the King both he and his Son being beheaded Amongst these preludes to War there is some mention and hopes of peace for after some months the Parliament send an Answer to the King's Proposals which he made at Windsor upon his departure for the North in nineteen Articles or Demands of which this is the sum 1. That all the King's Privy-Council great Officers and Ministers of State may be put out excepting such as the Parliament shall approve and to assigne them an Oath 2. That all affairs of State be managed by the Parliament except such matters as are transferred by them to the Privy-Council and to be concluded by the major part of the Nobility under their hands the full number not to exceed 25 nor under 15 and if any place fall void in the interval of Parliament then the major part of the Council to chuse one to be confirmed at the next Session of Parliament 3. That all the great Officers of the Kingdom shall be chosen with approbation of Parliament c. as before said 4. The government and education of the King's Children by Parliament c. ut supra 5. Their Marriages to be treated and concluded by Parliament c. 6. The Laws against Papists Priests and others be executed without Toleration or Dispensation except by Parliament 7. No Popish Lord or Peer to have vote in Parliament and their children to be educated in the Protestant Faith 8. To Reform Church-government as the Parliament shall advise 9. To settle the Militia as the Parliament have ordered and for the King to recal all his Declarations published against their Ordinances therein 10. All Privy-Counsellers and Judges to take Oath for maintenance of the Petition of Right and other Statutes which shall be made this Parliament 11. All Officers placed by Parliament to hold their places quam diu bene se gesserint 12. All Members of Parliament put out during this time be restored again 13. The Justice of Parliament to pass upon all Delinquents and they to appear or abide their censure 14. The general Pardon to pass with Exceptions as the Parliament shall advise 15. All Forts and Castles of the Kingdom to be disposed of by Parliament ut supra 16. The King to discharge all his Guards and Forces now in being and not to raise any other but in case of actual Rebellion 17. The King to enter into a strict Alliance with all Reformed States for their assistance to recover the Rights of his Royal Sister and her Princely Issue to those Dignities and Dominions which belong unto them 18. To clear the Lord Kimbolton and the five Members by Act of Parliament 19. No Peer hereafter to be made shall sit in Parliament without their consent And these Articles being confirmed the Parliament engage to make him a happy Prince To these Commands rather than Articles of Peace being such as were more proper to move Indignation than to gain an Assent the King sends an Answer by two noble and discreet Lords the Marquess of Hertford and the Earl of Southampton who were enjoyned to treat on more equal terms in the House of Lords But they not being admitted the Treaty came to nothing And because in this place we have made mention of Peace and Proposals we are to take notice that afterwards in the heat of the War at the instance of the King Propositions of Peace being mutually sent and Commissioners on both sides twice meeting to treat about it nothing could be effected and mostly by the Parliaments fault For seeing they proposed such severe Conditions on their own parts and which tended onely to their own advantages and the King on the other hand such just and equitable Terms more favourable to the Parliament and State than to himself and Family the People began to be enraged and to fall off dayly from the Parliament The King of France also how sincerely I shall not judge and the States of the Vnited Provinces interposed for accommodating the differences but were rejected by the Parliament and the Scots who likewise offered to mediate were refused by the King as partial But farewel Peace Bellona is now at the doors The People being in the disposition we mentioned before Deputies were sent with Commissions into all the Counties and the Parliamentarian Rebels by force and their own authority invade the Militia which they could not obtain from the King by petitioning The King on the contrary commands them to desist upon pain of Treason citing the Act of the 25 Edw. 3. whereby To contrive the death of the King Queen or Prince to violate the Queen or the Wife of the Prince to take up Arms against the King to assist the Kings enemies within or without the Kingdom to counterfeit the great Seal or Kings Coyn are for the future declared to be Treason having also alleadged other Acts whereby it is declared That the power of the Militia and taking up of Arms belongs onely to the King But they make answer That the Letter of the Law is for the King but the mind of it for them That it is not forbidden to take up Arms against the Kings Person but against his Authority which being in all Courts of Judicature was most eminently in the Parliament To this the King replies That that distinction was condemned above three hundred years since when the Spencers under that cover carrying on Sedition were condemned to death by the Parliament That besides the present Parliament was not free but the better part of the Members being excluded the rest were slaves to the Faction These courses taking no effect the King also sends Deputies into all Counties with authority from his Majesty to array and arm the Subjects and to have fit men in readiness if necessity should require for suppressing Rebellions and Seditions And from this we may date our Sorrows and Calamities whilst the King endeavouring to maintain his ancient Rights and they again to invade them War breaks out in the Kingdom But the Match was unequal on what side soever the Right stood The Parliament superiour in strength prevails and in most Counties usurps the Government the Royal Cause being very weak and in a few Counties struggling for life With no greater
after the Victory that the goodness of the Cause made them not doubt of distributed amongst the Purchasers and many thousand English listed themselves for the service Nevertheless such was the misery of this Nation that that which is wont to procure some short Peace at least amongst those who are at greatest variance served onely to inflame our Broils On the one hand they who were altogether given to changes buzzing I know not what fears and jealousies into the ears of those who were but too prone to make the worst of things obtain in Parliament that the War be not carried on in the name of the King nor that any Souldier who had shew'd his Loyalty to the King or had served in the Scottish Expedition should be admitted into this War And for managing the War they also prefer factious men and such as were ungrateful to the King On the other hand the King intended to lead the Army against the Rebels in person urging and insisting That he might use the right and power of War which the Laws and Customs of the Kingdom entrusted him with The King at length desiring to overcome his Competitors by courtesie and yielding if he could not by power and strength consents that the War be carried on in his own and the Parliaments name and that the Commissions should run in the name of the King and Parliament granting the Parliament the power of levying and arming the Army and of chusing the Generals and Commanders and the King reserving to himself no liberty of making Peace or pardoning the Rebels without the consent of Parliament Yet neither so did the swellings of the Parliament abate for not long after the Civil War breaking out in England the Parliament make use of an hundred thousand pound raised for the Irish War and two or three Regiments of men that were to be sent over for suppressing that Rebellion for oppressing of the King here at home Nay and they make no scruple to employ the money that was charitably collected for the relief of the poor distressed Protestants and for building of Churches in paying their own Souldiers On the other side the King's Souldiers seize the Ammunition sent by the Parliament towards Chester which so soon as they gave it out that it was designed for the War in Ireland the King commanded to be restored The Parliament that by putting indignities upon the King they might raise their own Reputation alleadging some silly slight suspicions are not ashamed to impute the Irish Rebellion to the King as the Author of it But as the truth was his Majesty retorts the crime and infamy of it with far better reasons upon the factious Members of Parliament Yet these things hinder not but that our Auxiliary forces bâ—at the Irish Rebels and put them to flight in all places kill plunder burn and destroy many thousands of the Natives and by a great slaughter revenge the murder of their Country-men But at the same time they lay all the Country waste and desolate which at length was no less prejudicial to themselves than to the Natives for the War increasing in England the Souldiers wanting Corn Ammunition Clothes Pay and indeed all things necessary and at length being unable to support their wants it is hardly to be exprest what miseries and calamities our Country-men suffered in Ireland and having long struggled with these difficulties and with all importunity but in vain begg'd assistance from the Parliament The Privy-Council of the Kingdom Commanders of the Army and the Souldiers themselves write to the King earnestly begging to be disbanded or employed in other service where they might have any Enemy but Hunger to fight with The King at length seeing the Scots were coming with assistance to the Parliament-forces being too weak to make head against the Rebellion moved on the one hand by his own necessities and on the other by the importunate Prayers of his Subjects commands a Truce to be made with the Irish for a year that in the mean time if it were possible he might make Peace upon good terms A Truce being made with the Irish and Forces being left sufficient for maintaining the Garrisons the Souldiers return from Ireland to the assistance of the King whose fortune against the Parliament at home manifestly declined But the Scots who inhabited the greatest part of Vlster supplied with Pay and Ammunition by the Parliament refuse the Truce as also some English in Connaught and Vlster who lived in good correspondence with the Scots A little after the Lord Inchiqueen who commanded the Munster-Forces having brought over some thousands of men to the Kings assistance when he thought himself not treated according to his dignity and merit flying over secretly into Ireland tampers first with those of Cork and then with all such of the Province of Munster as were on the English side and having drawn them over to the Parliament he rejects the Truce and is presently assisted by the Scottish Forces and supplied with Money Provisions and Ammunition from the Parliament Ireland being now delivered from the English Souldiers the Natives lay hold on the opportunity of recovering the whole Kingdom under the command of Owen Ro General of the Rebels and having broken the truce which they had solemnly made and arming of a sudden they had surprized and seized the Marquess of Ormond not dreaming of any such thing had he not being informed of it a little before by by-ways mays made his escape to Dublin Having afterward joyned their Forces those who were willing to keep the Truce being instigated to the contrary by the Nuncio who produced the Popes Bull they all together besiege the City of Dublin by Land whilst at the same time the Parliament-Ships shut up the Haven The Marquess being overmatched by the Forces of three Nations acquaints the King with his condition who sends him instructions that if he could not defend the City he should rather deliver it up to the Parliament than suffer it to fall into the hands of the Irish Having therefore agreed upon Articles amongst which it was one That he should have liberty to go to the King that he might give his Majesty an account of all the affairs of Ireland the Marquess returned into England and found the King at Hampton-Court environed by the Parliaments Rebel-Souldiers where being informed that he was to be apprehended by Order of Parliament he secretly withdrew into France that he might escape their Snares Not long after when the King was committed to Prison in the Isle of Wight and that the Rebels had cut off all hopes of restoring Peace and Liberty by their Vote of no more addressing to the King of which more hereafter having received new instruction he returned in quality of Lord-Lieutenant into Ireland where he endeavoured with all care to make the best Peace he could and to unite the English Scots and Irish for
rob their Parents Fathers their Children Servants their Masters Wives their Husbands so that the mutual Offices to which men are bound in society were denied to those that differed from them in opinion For these reasons many contrary to the Dictates of Conscience run into the noose of the Covenant and at length whether that they thought themselves obnoxious to the Kings Laws or really bound in conscience by their Oath they seriously espoused the Party of the Parliament Against this many learned and pious men took up the Cudgels and in several Treatises amongst which was the Judgment of the University of Oxford an unanswerable piece in Latin confuted it as contrary to the Laws both of God and man the Covenanters in the mean time making no answer but with force and the sharper Arguments of the Sword The Scots who faithfully promised the King to give him no trouble in his affairs in England having by those previous artifices cleared their way into that Kingdom with twenty thousand men come to the assistance of the Parliament But first for forms sake they send Commissioners to the King to perswade him being inclinable enough of himself to make peace with the Parliament and to offer themselves as Mediators of the Controversie but the King having rejected them as unjust and partial Judges and commanded them to mind their own affairs at home they call a Parliament against all Law in the Kings name and then declare War The King foreseeing the Storm that was like to fall upon himself and Party had provided against it as well as possibly he could The Lords and Members of the House of Commons who though they were excluded the Houses thought it their duty still to stand by the Publick came over to the Kings side and the former to the number of forty with the Lord Keeper of the great Seal and the latter above two hundred transfer the Parliament to Oxford where being called to Council before they were admitted to take Arms by the King they held a Session of Parliament by the Kings authority nothing being wanting to the power and dignity of a Parliament but Walls and the place appointed by the Kings Writ To these the King gave strictly in charge that they would do what lay in their power to avert the Storm or at least consult how they might be able to resist it This Parliament wrote to the Scots that they would not in an hostile manner invade the King and Kingdom of England nor violate the Pacification formerly made They declare it Treason to take up Arms against the King or without his consent to call a foreign Nation into the Kingdom and that therefore the Rump-Parliament sitting at Westminster were upon both accounts guilty of High-Treason They also pass an Act for raising as much money as could reasonably be expected from the exhausted Counties and Towns which still continued in obedience to the King for defraying the charges of a double War now approaching The King also by Letters earnestly dehorted the Scots from that unlawful attempt and prohibits them by Proclamation That being his Subjects and obliged by so many bonds they would not come to the assistance of Rebels But this being signed by the hands of nineteen Lords the prevailing Rebels of Scotland with matchless insolence in Subjects cause it publickly to be burnt by the common Hangman The Marquess of Hamilton is commanded to keep the Scots at home that they might not meddle in the affairs of another Kingdom who being discovered to have unfaithfully discharged that Office having under pretext of danger fled out of Scotland to the King was afterward committed to Prison The Marquess of Montross being made General and Commissioner of Scotland is dispatched thither that by giving them a diversion at home they might be kept from invading England This Commission was valiantly discharged by the Marquess having with a handful of men and those raw and undisciplined put whole Armies to flight and every-where wasted the Country However the Scots pursuing their point left not England before by the help of Fairfax they had routed no small part of the Kings Army which they had long diverted from quelling the Parliamentarians elsewhere taken Newcastle and other strong places and handed on the Victory into the more Southern parts Henceforward the Kings affairs do dayly decline and were at length totally ruin'd Victory everywhere smiling upon the Rebels The Republican Rebels having obtained many Victories began to vent their hatred and indignation against the Lords and especially after the last Newberry-Fight they grew sick of the Earl of Manchester For he in a Council of War giving his opinion and exhorting them to Peace which he judged more expedient to the State seemed not so thorough-paced and fierce upon the War as they could have desired and being therefore in a long Speech accused by Cromwel in the Lower House he defends himself in the Vpper retorting the accusation So that both Houses thought it more convenient to compose the difference betwixt them than to enter into the merits of the Cause The Kings Forces being at length scattered and broken by the Scots on the one hand and the Parliament-Rebels on the other Pay and Provisions being wanting and Factions arising betwixt the Commanders of the Army and the Lords that all things might conspire to draw down Judgments upon us His Majesty had in his mind first to come to London and trust himself in the hands of the Parliament next to cast himself into the arms of the English Army but being rejected by both and his affairs in a very doubtful condition he ventured to betake himself to the Scots the French Embassadour who then was in the Scottish Army and some Scottish Commanders having obtained from them promises of honour safety and freedom for his Majesties person This revived former Grudges betwixt the English and Scottish Rebels which had almost broken out into a War It was likewise given out that the Earl of Essex who from a General was now become a private person would joyn with the Lords and Commons that conspired for their ruine in new Articles and Resolutions with the Scots but his sudden death occasioned by lying on the ground when he was all in a sweat after hunting dissipated all those rumours Nevertheless the Rebels thought fit at publick cost to humour him with magnificent Funerals as being more for their interest to shew gratitude to a dead friend than to have him perhaps a living enemy Upon this they began to deny the Scots their Pay put a necessity upon them of exacting Money and free Quarters from the Counties where they lay expose them to hatred extenuate their merits undervalue the courage of the Nation call them mercenary Souldiers of fortune whilst they in the mean time paid them onely with Reproaches threaten to drive them out of the Kingdom by force of Arms publickly provoke
an opportunity did not trifle away their time but were busie in all places running up and down exhorting and sometimes preaching to the Souldiers that they might gain their affection by whose favourable assistance they make way for themselves to be elected into the vacant places in the House of Commons For when the Freeholders and Inhabitants of Corporations were about by a free election to chuse new Burgesses in place of the dead or excluded Members with Souldiers in Arms they were forced through fear to chuse the Officers of the Army or such at least as they approved of So that in a short time many of these being admitted into the Parliament-house and the Self-denying Ordinance being laid aside all Offices and Affairs both Civil and Military were managed by the self-same persons And that popular applause and fame might not be wanting to celebrate their excellent undertakings hackney Presses and mercenary Scriblers are set a work to publish all their actions with wonderful Encomiums and Elegies which in weekly Mercuries and Peny Diaries are exposed to the perusal of the News-greedy people and every line swollen with the praises of Cromwel So soon as they perceived the Royal interest almost reduced to a pinch and the Parliament-Rebels in a manner secure of victory they bend their designs against the Presbyterians their rival Faction which though predominant in number of Voices yet began to totter and shake They endeavour to lessen their Reputation and by degrees to weaken their Force publish Libels to disgrace and ridicule the Church-Discipline enveighing against the right of Tythes and the avarice pride and severity of the Preachers Nay and that they might heap more hatred upon their heads they charge them who of their own accords too officiously hastened to bring all into confusion and disorder with the more rigid parts of Reformation that were most ungrateful to the people such as to press their Covenant with rigour upon those that refused to take it exact Fines squeeze money from the people and that they might entail infamy upon them to Posterity under colour of visiting Colledges to banish the most learned men out of the Vniversities Upon pretext of friendship they steal into all the Presbyterian Cabals that by raising scruples and delays their Consultations might turn to Smoak and themselves be exposed to publick Derision Having pretty well succeeded in this they resolve to go thorough-stitch with it by turning out of the government of Garrison-towns and Forts all those who declared for Presbytery They likewise cause all the Forces that were almost in every County though but in small numbers to be disbanded except the Army commanded by Fairfax They send the Scots home out of England by bribes or fear they draw over the leading-men amongst the Presbyterians that they would either openly own their Cause or secretly under the name and badge of Presbyterians diving into their secrets usefully and securely serve the ends of the Republicans amongst whom the two chief were Philip Skippon and Stephen Marshal the first Major-General of the Army and the other a Minister and the Oracle of the Presbyterians both cunning Knaves who under pretext of moderating and reconciling differences minded their own advantages fooled the Presbyterians and not a little promoted the affairs of the Independents The Presbyterians having made sure of Victory and which is more of the King and being as yet more numerous in both Houses are now in greater fear from their own Servants the Army in pay than heretofore from the enemy and being sollicitous how to rid themselves from that Yoke after much debate they appoint That for easing the Country of charges twelve thousand of them should be sent over into Ireland the rest to be disbanded except six thousand Horse two thousand Dragoons and six thousand Foot These to be carried over by Skippon into Ireland and those under the command of Fairfax to be divided into the several Counties of the Kingdom with intent as they said They might be in a readiness to stifle all Tumults in the bud and that they themselves being in a body together might not attempt any Innovations Many Officers and all the private Souldiers that were Sectarians smelling a far off that by that trick they would be wormed out of the power which they had got and the Military authority fall wholly into the hands of the Presbyterians put the rest of the Souldiers in fear that they were to be disbanded without their Pay or all transported into Ireland there to be consumed with labour sickness hunger and nakedness Hence the Souldiers began to mutiny object their little Reasons to the contrary and at length to break out into Sedition The Officers in the mean time pretended in shew to be angry at these things to repress and by all means resist the mutinous common Souldiers but secretly they encourage them in the business and industriously foment their fury And the Sedition succeeding according to their wishes they lay aside the Mask withdraw from London to head the Mutineers in the Camp and all together enter into a Confederacy against the Parliament amongst whom Cromwel was the chief who lately calling God to witness had professed That he was certain the Souldiers would at the first word of command throw down their Arms at the Parliaments feet and had solemnly sworn That he rather wished himself and whole Family burnt than that the Army should break out into Sedition And so they turn out of place about an hundred Captains and Officers who chose rather to be true to the Parliament than to enter into that Confederacy The private Souldiers had opportunity to begin this attempt by means of the Adjutators These by connivance of the Officers were chosen two out of every Regiment of Horse and Foot and had power from their fellow-Souldiers to keep Councils judge what was fit to be done for the common good and by Spies dispersed through all quarters and Garrisons inform the rest These Adjutators at length usurp the authority of Colonels not thinking it enough to have meetings amongst themselves but in Councils of War challenge place amongst the principal Officers nor barely concerning themselves in the interest of the private Souldiers they meddle in the ordering and government of the whole Army and not onely so but bestir themselves also in the affairs of the whole People as well of England as Ireland and in reforming the government of both the chief Officers till the Parliament was by their mutual Conspiracy ruined scarcely mustering against it These men have nothing in their mouths but the Liberty and Power of the People and professedly labour to erect a Democracy giving being birth and name to a popular Commonwealth another sort of Republick The Souldiers grown thus insolent and bold stand not in awe to seize and carry away the King out of the Parliaments custody who upon the
the Citizens had long ago laid aside their Arms and their resolution yet the Works and Fortifications of the City should be demolished under pretext that the Kingdom was now in Peace and then the Posts and Chains in the streets removed that the Horse might have freer passage into all the corners of the Town and no hold left to the Citizens and the women from which they might in probability kick Moreover that they might establish their Government both by Sea and Land Rainsborough the Bell-weather of the Republicans is set over the Fleet. Fairfax is appointed General of the Forces not onely in England but in Ireland also that that Country might the more speedily be succoured The Army has the thanks not onely of the Parliament and of the Ministers from the Pulpit but likewise of the honest Citizens who now entertain and feast in their houses the very men whom a little before they intended to drive from their Walls A months Pay besides as a token of kindness is appointed for the Souldiers for their good services to the Parliament It was for a long time hotly disputed to which side the Parliament should adhere whether the Acts of the Army or Parliament ought to be annulled since both of them according to the different number of Voices had by turns been resciended and being uncertain how to get out of that Labyrinth that the Parliament might not seem to be interrupted or force put upon them whereby their authority would be weakened or that they might seem to approve the right of changing sides which they had long ago condemned in the Members that followed the King They are now for both by and by again for either of the two and of a sudden again for neither However they resolve that the separation of the flying Members and their conjunction with the Army is altogether to be approved as being lawfully done for the publick good By which successes the Commanders of the Army and Ring leaders of the Faction were so puft up that they quite forgot their old Friends and fellow-Souldiers There was no more mention now of dissolving the Parliament calling a new one nor of the Promises whereby they had so often imposed upon the King and People All their care is to mind their own advantage and how to settle that Oligarchy which now they seemed to be in possession of But the Adjutators and all the popular Republicans are no less busie and sollicitous to have that Parliament dissolved and a new one under the name of a Representative by the free election of the People called with a limitation of their power and time of sitting that so they might introduce a Democraty Both Parties being out of dread of the Presbyterians equally conspire the ruine of the King and Monarchy It had been long before privately proposed amongst some to assassinate the King whilst he was in the Scottish Army that they might at the same time glut their malice and throw the odium of the fact upon the Scots Afterwards one Rolf a Shoemaker instigated by some armed himself for the Regicide That Fellow being informed that the King intended to make his escape out of a window when he was in the Isle of Wight lay in wait with a Musket several nights that he might shoot him as by accident But now several fiercely urge that he should be forthwith and secretly dispatched or at least that being condemned by a Council of War he should be beheaded But it seemed more generous and safe to the leading Rebels to protract time and manage the matter gradually by wiles and crafty fetches until being countenanced by a colour of Authority they might under a sham of satisfying publick Justice perpetrate the matchless Villany And thus they ordered it Conditions of Peace were to be proposed to the King but such as if he consented to them he himself would renounce the Crown and if he refused he would be deposed by the Votes of others and so be over and above reckoned obstinate by the people which would give them a more specious pretext for accomplishing their designe For this end it is contrived and obtained that the Parliament should again send to the King Propositions but such as were rather imperious and hard Commands than Conditions of Peace to be treated about which being granted he would pluck off his Crown with his own hands To which though the Commanders of the Army and Cromwel in the first place had given their Votes in the Parliament yet in the Camp they advised the King not to condescend to them promising that they would either obtain or command more reasonable Conditions for him and seemed to detest those as proceeding from the hautiness and severity of the Presbyterians His Majesty being deluded by that artifice makes answer to this purpose That the Propositions were such as he could not in honour and conscience consent to them being such as could not reconcile all interests nor settle a lasting Peace in the Kingdom He appeals rather to the Proposals of the Army as much more conducing to the satisfaction of all interests and a fit subject for a personal conference betwixt himself and the two Houses which he earnestly desired for which cause his Majesty would have Commissioners from the Army admitted Cromwel and the rest of the Commanders of the Army were extreamly well satisfied with this Answer as if the King himself gave greater honour to the Army than to the Parliament and therefore on their parts they promise all good Offices to his Majesty In the mean time they take all courses to incense the rest against the King pretending themselves much ashamed that they could not perform all they promised and excuse themselves sometimes because of the reverence that was due to the Parliament and sometimes again because of the peremptoriness of the Adjutators at length they began to juggle and quite fall off to give a contrary sence to their promises and to suggest apprehensions to the King as if the Adjutators and Republicans designed his Majesties death whose insolent attempts they could not moderate nor at present repress mingling with all promises that if they could cut the combs of the Adjutators and restore the lost Discipline of the Army they would without delay perform what they had undertaken With which his Majesty being moved seeing it was worse to distrust than to be deceived he privately made his escape from the Army and as sate would have it fled to the Isle of Wight the government of which as it seems probable was just before put into the hands of Colonel Hammond a dear friend to Cromwel that there he might play his part in this business To this mans protection the King commits himself running of his own accord into the Snare which the Rebels had long ago laid for him But that he might not be wanting to the
publick whilst the Parliament were at a stand wondering whither he might have fled his Majesty wrote to them sending therewith Concessions that were too easie and great to be expected or indeed to be wished for by any adding thereto invincible Arguments why he could not consent to the Proposals lately sent him by the Parliament He proposes his own Concessions and the Demands of the Army as a fit subject for a personal Treaty and for the sake of the People and Kingdom earnestly desires it being willing on his own part to condescend to any thing that by any means he might procure Peace and Tranquillity to his languishing Kingdoms The Republicans of both sorts as well they that were for a few as for a many-headed Commonwealth endeavouring by all means to put a stop to the Peace proposed and offered by the King take hereby occasion to oppose to his Majesties most just desires four unreasonable Demands as preliminary cautions which if his Majesty would consent to they promise to treat about the rest I. That the Parliament should have power to raise settle and maintain the Forces by Sea and Land within the Kingdoms of England and Ireland c. without the Kings consent it being declared High-Treason for any others to the number of thirty to meet together without the authority of Parliament II. That it should be lawful to the two Houses to sit and adjourn themselves when and where they pleased III. That all Oaths Declarations Proclamations and other proceedings against either House of Parliament during the War should be declared void and null IV. That all Titles and Honour of Peerage conferred on any by the King since his Majesty left the Parliament and since the great Seal was carried away should he declared void All these things they demand that the King would consent might be past into Law if not that things must remain as they were In the mean time the Scottish Commissioners who were then at London give in their Reasons in writing against these Demands and when nevertheless they saw that they were sent to the King they protest against them in his Majesties presence as being flatly opposite to Religion the Crown and the Agreements made betwixt the Kingdoms of England and Scotland What can the King do to get out of these streights If he grant the Demands he voluntarily resignes up the Government and if he refuse he must be deposed with the ignominious brand of Obstinacy The King though wanted neither greatness of Soul nor Wisdom and therefore sends presently back an Answer That the necessity of complying with all engaged interests in these great distempers for a perfect settlement of Peace his Majesty finds to be none of the least difficulties he hath met with since the time of his afflictions which is too visible when at the same time that the two Houses of the English Parliament do present to his Majesty several Bills and Propositions for his consent the Commissioners for Scotland do openly protest against them so that were nothing in the case but the consideration of that difference his Majesty cannot imagine how to give such an answer to what is now proposed as thereby to promise himself his great end A Perfect Peace And when his Majesty farther considers how impossible it is in the condition he now stands to fulfil the desires of his two Houses since the onely ancient and known ways of passing Laws are either by his Majesties personal assent in the House of Peers or by Commission under his great Seal of England he cannot but wonder at such failings in the manner of address which is now made unto him unless his two Houses intend that his Majesty shall allow of a great Seal made without his authority before there be any consideration had thereupon in a Treaty which as it may hereafter hazard the security it self so for the present it seems very unreasonable to his Majesty And though his Majesty is willing to believe that the intention of very many of both Houses in sending those Bills before a Treaty was onely to obtain a Trust from him and not to take any advantage by passing them to force other things from him which are either against his conscience or honour yet his Majesty believes it's clear to all understandings that these Bills contain as they are now penned not onely the divesting himself of all Soveraignty and that without possibility of recovering it either to him or his Successors except by repeal of these Bills but also the making his Concessions guilty of the greatest pressures that can be made upon the Subject as in other particulars so by giving an arbitrary and unlimited power to the two Houses for ever to raise and levy for Land and Sea-service of what persons without distinction and quality and to what numbers they please and likewise for the payment of the Arrears to levy what moneys in such sort and by such ways and means and by consequence upon the Estates of whatsoever persons as they shall think fit and appoint which is utterly inconsistent with the Liberty and Property of the Subject and his Majesties trust in protecting them so that if the major part of both Houses shall think it necessary to put the rest of the Propositions into Bills his Majesty leaves the world to judge how unsafe it would be for him to consent thereunto and if not what a strange condition after passing those four Bills his Majesty and all his Subjects would be cast into And here his Majesty thinks it not unfit to wish his two Houses to consider well of the manner of their proceeding that when his Majesty desires a personal Treaty with them for the setling of a Peace they in answer propose the very subject matter of the most essential part thereof to be first granted a thing which will be hardly credible to Posterity Wherefore his Majesty declares that neither the desire of being freed from this tedious and irksome condition of life his Majesty hath so long suffered nor the apprehension of what shall befal him in case his two Houses shall not afford him a personal Treaty shall make him change his resolution of not consenting to any Act till the whole be concluded Yet then he intends not onely to give full and reasonable satisfaction in the particulars presented to him but also to make good all other Concessions mentioned in his Message of the 16th of Novemb. last which he thought would have produced better effects than what he finds in the Bills and Propositions now presented unto him And yet his Majesty cannot give over but now again earnestly presseth for a personal Treaty so passionately is he affected with the advantages which Peace will bring to his Majesty and all his Subjects of which he will not at all despair there being no other visible way to obtain a well-grounded Peace However his Majesty is very much at ease within himself for having fulfilled the offices
both of a Christian and a King and will patiently wait the good pleasure of Almighty God to incline the hearts of his two Houses to consider their King and compassionate their fellow-Subjects miseries The King having delivered this Answer sealed up to be carried to the Parliament the Earl of D. who hankered too much after the Oligarchick Republicans desired it to be opened again that the Commissioners might be acquainted with what they brought back as he said was fitting they being Commissioners and not Posts or Couriers though no such thing was contained in their publick instructions he having past his promise that no prejudice should therefrom accrew to the King But so soon as the King to satisfie them had read over his Answer himself without any respect had to their faith and promise they confine the best of Princes to closer imprisonment in â—arisborough-Castle where then he was They put from him all his Servants except some new comers and enemies whom they placed about his person rather in derision and as a Guard than for attending and serving him And that he might not have the use of the least bit of Paper secretly conveyed to him by any Messenger they set Sentinels at all the entries at the doors and windows of his Chamber The Oligarchick Rebels Cromwel and the other Commanders of the Army being resolved to pursue their designe the Kings Answer wrought no good effect in the Parliament yet the emulation of the Democratick Republicans and of the Adjutators for some time put a stop to their proceedings That they might suppress this Party of whom they had now enough a general muster of the Forces is appointed amongst whom one whole Regiment having got the Democratical Proposals which they termed the Ordinance of the People put into writing they carried the Paper as a signal in their hats the Oligarchick Republicans by their sollicitations had gained one or two Regiments and the rest of the Army consisted of both Parties promiscuously jumbled together The chief Commanders who were of the first as the inferiour were of the other Party drawing together into a ring they command the private Souldiers to throw away their Paper-signals which when they refused to do according as they had laid the designe they break in amongst them and pulling out some of the more sawcy fellows of the Regiment they cause them presently to be shot to death which made the rest throw away their Badges and submit to the pleasure of the Generals This danger being over they began to publish the villany they had so long concealed to rail openly against the King in the House make Speeches exhort the other Members and to contrive four Interdicts rather than Votes whereby 1. It is resolved That the Lords and Commons do declare that they will make no further Addresses or Applications to the King 2. That no Application or Address be made to the King by any person whatsoever without leave of both Houses 3. That the person or persons that shall make breach of this Order shall incur the penalties of High-Treason 4. That the Lords and Commons do declare that they will receive no more any Message from the King to both or either Houses of Parliament or to any other person But neither were these carried in the House of Commons without tricks and the usual artifices For before any mention was made of these Propositions in the House fourty or fifty leading-men who for the most part would have withstood those attempts are sent into their several Counties upon pretext of raising money to pay off the Souldiers that by their absence fewer opposing and the greater part of the House being packt the matter might be easily carried Nevertheless this execrable motion made to the scandal of mankind of abjuring their King was debated to and again from ten in the morning until seven at night and had not after all found the Votes rather tired out than perswaded unless the chief of the Oligarchick Party had given them hopes that they would attempt nothing worse against the King The three last Votes past in the space of half an hour with much precipitation whilst the Factious got into the places of the dissenting Members who had withdrawn out of the House to take a little refreshment However the Vpper House was more hardly brought over to an assent for there the Debate lasted many days until Commissioners coming from the Army upon pretext of thanking the Lower House for those Votes and protesting the Army would protect the Commons therein threatned the Lords if they persisted to oppose them and shortly after whilst they still delayed forced them out of fear to consent two Regiments of Souldiers being sent into Westminster-hall under colour of a Guard to the Lower House but in reality to awe the dissenting Lords This having terrified the three or four Lords that met who at that time often usurped to themselves the authority of the Upper House many stealing out of the way they agree to the Votes of the House of Commons And then Commissioners were likewise sent from the Army to thank the Lords for that good service done to the Kingdom and solemnly to assure them in name of the whole Army That they would maintain and defend the Rights and Priviledges of the Vpper House The Reader may be pleased to observe what Cloak Cromwel used for this perfidiousness This Blade whilst he was praying that Almighty God would be pleased to prosper his endeavours in raising again the King to the Throne and Majesty of his Ancestors here the words stuck between his teeth so that he could not utter one word more which he interpreting as a signe of Gods displeasure concluded the King to be rejected of God But to others he roundly expressed himself That it was lawful to circumvent a wicked deceiver by craft and deceit After this comes out a Proclamation by authority of the House of Commons wherein the sticklers both for Oligarchy and Democracy who agreed very well together against the King declare the Reasons that enclined them to pass those Votes of none Addresses to his Majesty This they stuff with all the Calumnies that were raised against the King by the Clubs and Conferences of his lewdest enemies or by uncertain Rumours spread abroad by themselves to which they adde other Aspersions which though they had been bawled over and over again in the House yet were found not to have had the least shadow of truth and were onely invented and exaggerated to create greater hatred They cause this infamous Libel to be sent about into all the Parishes of the Kingdom being secure that no body durst or indeed could undergo the danger of answering it since all the Presses were narrowly watched The Ministers are commanded to read it to the people in the Church and to preach as well as they could in praise of it And that they might be the
more willing to serve the end it was at the same time voted in the House of Commons That the Tythes and Dean and Chapters Rents should be paid to the Preachers seeming to be very sollicitous for the Cause of God and Religion when in reality they intended to cheat the Church of them and to convert them to profane use Nay the Justices of Peace are everywhere enjoyned to force the Laicks who refused to pay them They likewise hoped to stir up the people by Emissaries and Souldiers everywhere dispersed by Anabaptists Schismaticks and Hereticks who were most diligent in propagating their affairs to approve what the Parliament had done by congratulatory Addresses and to demand some severer punishment to be inflicted upon the King But it happened contrariwise for three Answers and Apologies at least came out within a short time one of which was written with the Kings own hand wherein his Majesty was most clearly acquitted from those reproachful Imputations and the Accusations retorted upon the Faction it self which was proved to be guilty of all the crimes that it maliciously and falsly fastened upon the King and that with so great evidence and perspicuity that no man durst offer so much as to mutter against it In the mean time the Ministers coldly obey their commands and some few gratulatory Addresses by the industry of Sectarians are with much ado extorted from a few Counties and signed but with the hands of some obscure and notoriously malicious Villains Now the people began to grumble and fret to accuse the Sectarians and especially the Souldiers of juggling and imposture and to curse them all Afterwards came Petitions from a great many Counties and those also which always were for the Parliament earnestly intreating that a personal Treaty might be had with the King that the Army might be paid and disbanded that assistance in the mean time should be sent over into Ireland that England might be eased from Oppressions and from contributing to the charges of an unnecessary Army which it was no longer able to bear At length it came to that that a great many of these humble Petitions signed with the hands of infinite numbers of men had almost confounded the repugnancy of the Parliament the Commanders of the Army in the several Counties and the Parliament Commissioners who for the most part did all now comply with the victorious Party in vain using all their endeavours by threats of sequestrations imprisonments banishment and death and now and then by flattery and golden promises to make them desist and be silent Nor can we pass over without a remark the changing Tides of Divine Vengeance or of Popular Inconstancy whilst the very same Parliament from which the first tumults of petitioning against the King had their rise does now complain that the dignity of the Members are endangered by an undesired confluence of Petitioners The first that led the van in petitioning were the Essex-men in numbers unusual before these times who were so many that they might have compelled those whom they came to supplicate Next came the Surrey-men who being unarmed were upon a slight occasion barbarously treated by the Souldiers near the very door of the Parliament-house being severely beaten forced to flie some killed more wounded all plundered and that by order of the House and command of the Officers nay the Rioters had the thanks of the Lower House and rewards for the fact that so the people might for the future beware of licentious petitioning which heretofore was judged a part of their Right But all they get by their Tyranny in labouring to stifle the Grievances and Complaints of the opprest people was to incense the other Counties to ply them more frequently with Petitions who seeing they could procure no remedy by complaining from Prayers and Petitions they betake themselves to Arms. The liberty of the King and People which heretofore the deluded Rabble thought to be inconsistent are again born in colours by the men of Kent Essex Suffolk Norfolk York-shire and other Northern Counties South and North Wales also and at length of Surrey who were inflamed with a greater desire of vengeance many Nobles the Earl of Holland Wiot and Duke of Buckingham c. who were unluckily discovered to have entered into a Conspiracy at London joyning them too hastily The Sea-men also being carried with the same tyde of Commiseration towards the King fall off and seventeen men of War having put the Republican Admiral Rainsborough on shore come over to Prince Charles The Scots also by order of their Parliament take up Arms for delivering the King out of Prison wherein he was basely detained and make an Irruption into the Northern parts of England with a numerous army under the command of Hamilton being joyned by Sir Marmaduke Langdale with a considerable body of English But whether it was the wonted ill fortune of the King or of Hamilton himself or rather the decree and purpose of Almighty God the English first by intervals and one after another were routed and killed by the enemy for it was a matter of small difficulty for an old Army provided with Ammunition and all other necessaries of War commanded by vigilant and expert Generals and Officers to defeat and put to flight a tumultuary body of raw Country-men rather than Souldiers destitute of Arms and warlike provisions and for most part without Commanders whilst they come to engage by Parties one after another Nevertheless Colchester in Essex and Pembrooke the chief Town of that County in Wales though they were unprovided for a Siege gave the Rebels no little work to do Nor did Pontfract-Castle fall dishonourably into their hands out of which about thirty Horsemen breaking through the Forces that besieged the place pulled Rainsborough lately Admiral and now General of the Northern Army who had brought some thousands of Auxiliary Troops to make an end of the Siege out of his Bed in Duncaster a fortified Tower twelve miles distant from Pontfract and because he refused to be carried away with them as a Prisoner killed him Nay the Garrison being reduced to the utmost extremity all had free liberty to depart to their own houses except two Souldiers to whom it was permitted even by Articles either to die in the Bed of Honour fighting or to arm themselves and strive to break through the enemy Which both of them watching their opportunity got on horseback and performed almost without a wound The Scots through the unskilfulness and cowardise of their Generals or which I am not willing to suspect their treachery leading the Army in two bodies forty miles distant one from another are without any trouble routed by Cromwel who unexpectedly falling upon the main body put it to flight and all the rest into consternation many being killed and taken amongst whom was Hamilton the General The rest he pursued into Scotland where
Argile with the Forces he had raised being no less an Army at home than Cromwel was abroad reduced them in a short time to such streights that the Army which had been raised by order of Parliament was forced to lay down Arms and submit to the discretion of Argile's Faction Then was a new Parliament called all being excluded who had taken up Arms or voted for engaging in a War for the delivery of the King In this the Acts of the last Parliament were recinded the War declared to have been unlawful Cromwel had the publick thanks and Argile privately engaged as Cromwel himself boasted that he would concur with the Oligarchicks of England and root out Monarchy when occasion offered in Scotland as well as in England Besides many Ships the Tyde turning according to the innate levine of Seamen prepare to make defection from the Prince casting themselves into the protection of the Earl of Warwick who had won their hearts by frequent Largesses and who was set over a new Fleet for a time that he might draw over the Seamen again to the obedience of the Parliament but being beset with the Spies Of the Oligarchick Rebels and having done their job he justly received the usual Reward from these Masters that is he was turned out and laid aside Whilst the Army is busied in these Wars the Members of Parliament being a little rid of the yoak of the Army and Cromwel that were now at a distance and seriously considering how ill all the People of the Kingdom would resent the injuries done to the King and how ticklish their own affairs stood they begin to think of Peace and growing wise behind hand against the advice of the Oligarchick Republicans they rescind the Votes of None Addresses by the unanimous consent of both Houses They appoint a Conference with the King for composing Differences but by Commissioners and that in the Isle of Wight For this purpose they commissionate five Lords for the Vpper House and ten Commoners for the Lower The Propositions to be debated in that Conference are prescribed to the Commissioners ¶ That the Translator relates all which verbatim though it be contrary to the designe of this Work and of the Author who hath onely entred the short Articles marked with the numbers I. II.III I hope the Reader will not dislike since the Articles at large contain so excellent a description of the Changes that were then intended to be made in the Government of England that it is thought very fit to publish them according to the perfect Copy printed by order of both Houses the 29th of August 1648. May it please your Majesty WE the Lords and Commons assembled in the Parliament of England in the name and on the behalf of the Kingdoms of England and Ireland and the Commissioners of the Parliament of Scotland in the name and on the behalf of the Kingdom of Scotland Do humbly present unto your Majesty the humble desires and Propositions for a safe and well-grounded Peace agreed upon by the Parliaments of both Kingdoms respectively unto which we do pray your Majesties Assent And that they and all such Bills as shall be tendered to your Majesty in pursuance of them or any of them may be Established and Enacted for Statutes and Acts of Parliament by your Majesties Royal Assent in the Parliaments of both Kingdoms respectively I. WHereas both Houses of the Parliament of England have been necessitated to undertake a War in their just and lawful defence and afterwards both Kingdoms of England and Scotland joyned in Solemn League and Covenant were engaged to prosecute the same That by Act of Parliament in each Kingdom respectively all Oaths Declarations and Proclamations heretofore had or hereafter to be had against both or either of the Houses of the Parliament of England the Parliament of the Kingdom of Scotland and the late Convention of Estates in Scotland or Committees flowing from the Parliament or Convention in Scotland or their Ordinances and Proceedings or against any for adhering unto them or for doing or executing any Office Place or Charge by any Authority derived from them and all Judgments Indictments Outlawries Attainders and Inquisitions in any the said Causes and all Grants thereupon made or had or to be made or had be declared Null suppressed and forbidden And that this be publickly intimated in all Parish-Churches within his Majesties Dominions and all other places needful II. That his Majesty according to the laudable example of his Royal Father of happy memory may be pleased to swear and signe the late Solemn League and Covenant and that an Act of Parliament be passed in both Kingdoms respectively for enjoyning the taking thereof by all the Subjects of the three Kingdoms and the Ordinances concerning the manner of taking the same in both Kingdoms be confirmed by Acts of Parliament respectively with such Penalties as by mutual advice of both Kingdoms shall be agreed upon III. That a Bill be passed for the utter abolishing and taking away of all Archbishops Bishops their Chancellors and Commissaries Deans and Sub-Deans Deans and Chapters Arch-Deacons Canons and Prebendaries and all Chaunters Chancellors Treasurers Sub-Treasurers Succentors and Sacrists all Vicars Choril and Choresters old Vicars and new Vicars of any Cathedral or Collegiate-Church and all other their under-Officers out of the Church of England and Dominion of Wales and out of the Church of Ireland with such alterations concerning the Estates of Prelates as shall agree with the Articles of the late Treaty of the date at Edenburgh 29 November 1643. and joynt Declaration of both Kingdoms IV. That the Ordinances concerning the calling and sitting of the Assembly of Divines be confirmed by Act of Parliament V. That Reformation of Religion according to the Covenant be setled by Act of Parliament in such manner as both Houses have agreed or shall agree upon after consultation had with the Assembly of Divines For as much as both Kingdoms are mutually obliged by the same Covenant to endeavour the nearest Conjunction and Uniformity in matters of Religion That such Unity and Uniformity in Religion according to the Covenant as after consultation had with the Divines of both Kingdoms now assembled is or shall be joyntly agreed upon by both Houses of the Parliament of England and by the Church and Kingdom of Scotland be confirmed by Acts of Parliament of both Kingdoms respectively VI. That for the more effectual disabling Jesuits Priests Papists and Popish Recusants from disturbing the State and deluding the Laws and for the better discovering and speedy conviction of Popish Recusants an Oath be established by Act of Parliament to be administred to them wherein they shall abjure and renounce the Popes Supremacy the Doctrine of Transubstantiation Purgatory worshipping of the Consecrated Hoast Crucifixes and Images and all other Popish Superstitions and Errours and refusing the said Oath being tendred in such manner as shall be appointed by the said Act to
some time prevail with them to delay the execution of the Villany Nor was Bradshaw the bloudy President secure from violent hands for one Burghill armed with sword and pistol watched him one night behind Gray's Inn-gate when he was to come home late but missing of his designe that night because Bradshaw did not come home next day being betrayed by one Cooke to whom he had discovered the matter he was brought before the Parricides However his Guards being drunk finding an occasion of an escape he saved his own life having onely laid in wait for another mans But all was in vain for the Rebels slighting these things pretend Gods providence and the motions of the Holy Ghost for their warrant and security Peters a brazen-faced Hypocrite who being disgracefully whipt out of Cambridge ever after that clove close to the Schismaticks bids them from the Pulpit Go on and prosper that now was the time When the Saints should bind Princes in chains and their Nobles with fetters of iron so lewdly did that profane Knave interpret holy Scripture telling them That they need not question but this Prophecy was to be fulfilled by them and in the Sermon he addresses himself to the holy Judges the title he thought fit to give them and protests that he was certain there were in the Army five thousand men no less Saints than those that conversed with God himself in Heaven Then kneeling in the Pulpit with flouds of forced tears and lifted up hands he earnestly begs in the name of the People of England That they would do Justice against CHARLES and not suffer Benhadad the enemy to escape Nay he most insolently inveighed against Monarchy it self and straining his virulent wit he relates the History How the Trees chusing a King and the Vine and Olive-tree refusing the office they submitted themselves to the sharper government of the bramble and compared Kingly government to briars By such kind of Arguments he stirs up and confirms those new Judges who of their own nature were already but too much enraged and fiercely bent against the King There was another besides Peters the Preacher an Herald one Serjeant Dendy also employed who being environed with a Guard of Horse for fear of being stoned by sound of Trumpet cited all those to appear who had any crime to object against the King and this he did first in Westminster-hall and then in the most publick places of the City Before these Judges of the new Court the most August Charles already stript of three most flourishing Kingdoms by the Rebels and having now no more but Life to be deprived of is brought without the least signe in his countenance of any discomposure of mind His indictment is read wherein he is accused In the name of the People of England of Treason Tyranny Murders and of all Rapines that were occasioned by the War with the highest aggravations of the Crimes But the whole stress of the Indictment lay in this That he had made War against the Parliament which the Army under the Parliaments pay had long ago trampled under foot scarcely any shadow of it remaining Great was the company of Spectators who with groans sighs and tears lamented the condition of the best of Princes Nor without injustice can I pass over the brave action of the heroick Lady Fairfax Daughter to the Lord Vere who out of a Belcony that lookt into the Court cried out publickly That that was a lye that the tenth part of the People was not guilty of that Villany but that it was a contrivance of the Traytor Cromwel And this she did with great danger of her life The King having heard this Indictment with a majesty in his looks and words that cannot be exprest puts the question to those new Judges By what Authority they brought their King to the Bar contrary to the publick Faith which was very lately made to him when he entered into a Conference with the Members of both Houses By what lawful Authority said he emphatically He knew indeed there were many unlawful and powerful Combinations of men in the world as of Thieves and Robbers by the High-ways He desires they would tell him by what Authority they had taken that Power such as it was upon them and he would be willing to answer but if they could not he bids them think well upon it before they go farther from one sin to a greater That he had a Trust committed to him by God by an ancient and lawful Descent and that he would not betray it by answering to a new and unlawful Authority The President replying That he was brought to answer in the name of the People of England of which he was elected King The King made answer That England was never an Elective Kingdom but an Hereditary Kingdom for near these thousand years That he did stand more for the liberty of the People by rejecting their usurped Power than any of them that came to be his pretended Judges did by supporting it That he did not come there as submitting to the Court That he would stand as much for the Priviledge of the House of Commons as any man there whatsoever but that he saw no House of Lords there that might together with a King constitute a Parliament That if they would shew him a legal authority warranted by the Word of God the Scriptures or warranted by the Constitutions of the Kingdom he would answer for that he did avow that it was as great a sin to withstand lawful Authority as it is to submit to a tyrannical or any ways unlawful Authority The President in the mean time often interrupted him and at length commanding him to be carried back to Prison Yet was the good King a second and a third time brought before the Bar of the Common People where the President puts him in mind of his Indictment and commands him to answer to the Articles brought against him or otherways to listen to his sentence But the King still protested against the Authority of the Court affirming That his life was not so dear to him as his Honour Conscience the Laws and the Liberties of the People which that they might not perish all at once there were great reasons why he could not make his defence before those Judges nor acknowledge a new form of Judicature for what power had ever Subjects or by what Laws was it granted them to erect a Court against their King That it could not be warranted by Gods Laws which on the contrary command obedience to Princes not by the Laws of the Land since by them no Impeachment can lie against the King they all going in his name nor do they allow the House of Commons the power of judging the meanest Subject of England And that lastly that pretended Power could not flow from any Authority or Commission from the People since they had never asked the question of the
and France as being divided at home and many of them had the confidence openly to glory that they would break that Yoke wherewith the Kings of the Earth oppress the People Nor truly could any man have told where the fierceness of this Scourge would have ended and where that Floud would have spent it self unless the divine Majesty which hath hollowed a channel for the Sea set bounds and limits to it and said Hither shalt thou come and no further had not opposed the over-swelling pride of these Waters and commanded his Angel to sound the Retreat A Chronological INDEX FOR This First Part. Old Stile MDCXXV KIng James being dead CHARLES the First succeeds King of Great Britain He marries Henrietta Maria Sister to Louis XIII King of France MDCXXV VI VII VIII The King calls three Parliaments and little or nothing done as often dissolves them MDCXXX Prince CHARLES is born MDCXXXIII James Duke of York is born MDCXXXVII Prin Burton Bastwick having lost their ears are put in prison The Scots grow rebellious MDCXXXIX The King meets the Scots intending to invade England but having made a Pacification disbands his Army MDCXL The Stirs of the Scots occasioned the Kings calling of a Parliament at Westminster which was dissolved without any success So the Scots invade England and take Newcastle The King marches against them but having made a Truce calls a Parliament at Westminster The Parliament meets and under pretext of Reformation put all into Confusion Thomas Wentworth Earl of Strafford Deputy of Ireland and William Laud Archbishop of Canterbury are accused MDCXI The Deputy of Ireland condemned by a Law made for the purpose is beheaded The King also by Act of Parliament grants That the Parliament shall not be dissolved without the consent of both Houses William of Nassaw Son to Frederick Prince of Orange is married to Mary Daughter to K. Charles The Scots full of money return into their own Country The King follows them into Scotland The Irish conspire against the English and cruelly fall upon them The King returns to London from Scotland A Remonstrance of the Lower House offered to the King MDCXLI MDCXLII The King accuses five Commoners and one Lord of High-Treason The King goes into the House of Commons The King withdraws from London Sends a Pacificatory Letter to the Parliament Sends the Queen into Holland with her Daughter He himself goes towards York Sir John Hotham shuts the Gates of Hull against the King Vnjust Propositions of Peace are made by the Parliament to the King The Parliament raising an Army the King at length sets up his Standard at Nottingham Both Armies engage at Edge-hill and both challenge the Victory MDCXLIII A Treaty of Peace appointed at Oxford comes to nothing The Earl of Newcastle gets the better of Fairsax Commander of the Rebels in the North. In the West Waller a Commander of the Rebels is routed by the Kings Party Prince Rupert taketh Bristol Maurice his Brother takes Exeter In the mean time the King himself besieges Gloucester Essex General of the Rebels relieves Gloucester The King meets Essex upon his return and fights him at Nubury The English Rebels put to a streight call in the Scots and take the Covenant The King therefore makes a Truce with the Irish for a year MDCXLIII IV. James Marquess of Hamilton is committed to prison The Scots again enter England The King holds a Parliament at Oxford The Earl of Montross is sent Commissioner into Scotland Essex and Waller Generals of the Rebels march towards Oxford The King defeats Waller at Cropredian-bridge Then pursues Essex into the West The Scots in the mean time joyned with the English defeat the Cavaliers at Marston-moore And then take York by surrender In the West the King breaks all Essex his Forces Vpon his return he is met by Manchester at Newbury where they fight a second time Alexander Carey is beheaded MDCXLIV V. Hotham the Father and Son are beheaded William Laud Archbishop of Canterbury is beheaded Macquire an Irish Lord is hanged The Treaty of Peace at Uxbridge comes to nothing Fairfax General of the Parliament Forces defeats the King at Naseby Henceforward all by degrees fell into the hands of the Parliament MDCXLVI The King having in vain tried the English departing privately from Oxford commits himself into the hands of the Scots Fairfax takes Oxford by composition Robert Earl of Essex dies MDCXLVI VII The Scots sell the King to the English and return fraighted with Money The King is made close Prisoner in Holdenby-Castle The Marquess of Ormond Lord Lieutenant of Ireland delivers up Dublin to the English The Army take the King out of Prison And march against the Parliament The Speakers of both Houses with fifty other Members flie to the Camp The Souldiers attend the Members that fled to West-minster Vnjust Conditions of Peace are proposed to the King at Hampton-court The King makes his escape to the Isle of Wight From thence writing Pacificatory Letters they propose to him four Demands as preliminary to a Conference The King is made close Prisoner MDCXLVII VIII The Parliament votes no more Addresses to the King The Counties everywhere stir the Kentish Essex-men and some others take up Arms. The Duke of Buckingham Francis his Brother and Earl of Holland in vain take up Arms. The Fleet comes over to the Prince of Wales The Scots commanded by Duke Hamilton advance into England They are defeated by Cromwel and Hamilton taken Fairfax takes Colchester upon surrender Rainsborough a Commander of the Parliament Army killed at Duncaster A Conference appointed with the King in the Isle of Wight The Marquess of Ormond returns Lord Lieutenant into Ireland The Remonstrance of Ireton is approved in a Council of War And is presented to the Parliament in name of the Army and People of England The King is carried from the Isle of Wight to Hurst-Castle Nevertheless the Parliament votes That the Kings Concessions are a sufficient ground for a Peace Many Parliament-men are made Prisoners by the Souldiers MDCXLVIII IX The rest amongst other and unheard things vote That all Power is originally in the People Then That the King himself is to be brought to a tryal The King therefore is brought to the Bar. The King is brought a fourth time and condemned CHARLES the best of Kings by unparallel'd Villany is beheaded James Duke of Hamilton Henry Earl of Holland and the generous Arthur Lord Capel are beheaded Lastly Monarchy it felf is abolished by the Regicides The Act is proclaimed by the mock-Mayor of London
The Democratical Republicans stirring in Arms are routed Solemn Thanksgivings appointed for the Victory and the Conquerours feasted by the Londoners MDCL The Lady Elizabeth Daughter of Charles the Martyr dies in her Fathers Prison FINIS A short HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE Rise and Progress OF THE Late Troubles IN ENGLAND AND ALSO Of the KING's Miraculous Escape after the Battel at Worcester The Second Part. NOW are the Cruel Regicides Masters of England but of England alone The Scots were in suspence not being as yet fully resolved whether they should settle Charles the Second in his Fathers Throne or usurping the Soveraignty should Govern Scotland as a Common-wealth themselves Ireland almost entirely for the King was ready utterly to shake off the Yoke of the Mock Parliament The Islands belonging to England not only the adjacent as Jersey Man and Silly but the more remote also in America to wit Bermudos the Caribbe Islands Virginia and New-England upon the Continent which had been heretofore planted with English Colonies refuse to obey the Usurpers Ireland was to be the first Seat of War shortly to be subdued whilst the Scots were for some time left to themselves They think it enough at present to discharge all Trading with the Islands and Plantations that no Sugar Indico Tobacco and Cotton should be from thence imported into England nor any Cloaths and other necessary Provisions for Life be transported from England thither hoping by this Fetch that either being glutted with their own Commodities or at least pinched through the want of ours they would be forced to comply Nor was it doubted but some time or other as occasion offered they would bring them under the Yoke Now there was one thing mainly necessary for their future Designs which as they were pleased to flatter themselves was easie to be obtained The Friendship and Alliance of no Nation nor People seemed more commodious and necessary to them than that of the Dutch both in respect of Neighbourhood and Situation of the Country and of the Humour and Inclination of the People nor did they want a pretext of making application to them For Strikland who from the beginning of the Troubles had been Ambassadour or Envoy with the States of the Vnited Provinces being kindly treated by them They thought fit to send over Dorislaus who had had a chief hand in framing the Kings Indictment as their Ambassadour to Complement and Thank them in their Name assure them of mutual good Offices justifie to them by Reasons their Proceedings against the King and to colour the Villany by the specious Authority of what Laws he could scrape together Besides he had it in Instructions if he found it convenient to let fall some mention of a Coalition or Conjunction and to offer and press it seeing if it could be effected by the Consent of both Nations they might laugh at all Designs and Attempts of Foreigners and share betwixt themselves the Trade of the whole World But that Negotiation proved unsuccessful the Prince of Orange being Stat-holder and the People detested the Murder of the King Some Scots also who though at a distance had speedy notice of his Arrival entering his Lodgings before he had had Audience with many Wounds killed Dorislaus and made their escape before they could be apprehended Thus the shedding of Royal Blood is punished by Bloody hands and by the just Judgment of God whatever may be the Injustice of Men the Crime is brought home to the Author The Regicides often demanded of the States Reparation for the Fact but without any success But the Democratical Party in England managing things now somewhat more cautiously laid not aside their discontents Walwin Prince Lilburn Overton and others of that Gang prefer a Petition to the Rump Parliament wherein they propose many good things which might be useful to the Publick mingling with them Reproaches that were not altogether false For which they were committed to Prison there to lye by it till the fierceness of their tempers were allayed Nevertheless the private Souldiers of Ingoldsby's Regiment grow Seditious at Oxford under pretence of Petitioning That the Rump-Parliament might be dissolved a lawful Representative chosen in place of it that the Laws might be rendered into the vulgar Language and those that were superfluous abolished that there might be a Register kept of all Mens Lands and Estates that every one might know what Title they had to what they possessed that the Excise and all unlawful Exactions might be abolished To which they added over and above to increase their Party not that they repented for the Kings Murder that Charles the Second might be chief Magistrate of the Kingdom But the Collonel hastening thither and having caused some few to be shot to death by a timely remedy stifled the Tumult in the Birth Yet from these Embers a new Flame broke out for some Officers in Fairfax his Army present a smarter Petition to the same purpose though in different words To the former they add That the Tithes being abolished or converted to another use the Ministers might have more certain Stipends that the publick Money might be more sparingly distributed amongst the Parliament Men and that the Souldiers should have their pay The Rump-Parliament durst not slight this but gives them good words and being conscious to themselves how often they by Declarations had promised and how many times they had been reproached with unfaithfulness and breach of Promise they set apart a day weekly for deliberating about these Proposals First Concerning the Government and Representative where having examined and considered the Nature of all States and Republicks from that of Rome even to Ragusa they pretend to search out a kind of Government which might be best and most suitable for England But they could find none that was exquisit enough nor that seemed adapted to the Genius of this People And so like Penelope weaving and unweaving their Web they put off the time until the matter might be forgotten or something of greater moment intervene I know not whether it be worth the while here to mention the Prohibition made by the French at that time of any Trade with us in Wollen and Linen Manufacture which drew from the Regicides a reciprocal Prohibition that no Wine nor Silk Stuffs should from thence be Imported into England It was likewise to our advantage Ordered in Flanders that no Ships nor Goods taken by Privateers should be Condemned or Sold in their Harbours But it is worth taking notice of that a severer Inquisition was appointed against the Ministers all England over under pretext of Reforming the Church and introducing the Orthodox Religion and all were cruelly persecuted not only they who stuck close to the Doctrine and Discipline of the Church of England but even they who wished well to it or had any Conversation with Men of
now at length sued for pardon But the hatred and animosities betwixt the Rump and the Soldiers the Seeds whereof had been long ago sown though during the common danger they appeared not began now to show themselves and after long and mutual grudges to break out into Flames and to devour one another So rare a thing it is for Thieves and Robbers to agree long together The Soldiers object that these men did for ever appropriate to themselves and their Friends all places of Honour and Command barring all others from any share with them and that under colour of the publick good they divided amongst themselves all profitable Offices without any regard to the Publick For what end had they taken Arms against the King exposed their lives to so many dangers ript up the bowels of their Country-men and friends Did they bring the King to the Block for in that execrable Villany they triumphed that they might only settle them in their Seats so as they might securely live at their ease for ever and right or wrong domineer over all without any distinction and Murder and Sacrifice to their own private Lust or Revenge as many Subjects as they pleased Away with it say they it were better to return to the old way of Government Raise King CHARLES from the Dead and submit to his Rule seeing it was known that he followed the Laws and accordingly squared the administration of his Government They therefore earnestly desire That at length an end might be put to the Parliament a new and fair Representative chosen by the good people and that the Laws might be reformed besides the many other things which had already so often cloyed them with Petitions The goodly Warriours made these specious demands not out of a pure zeal for the Publick good but that having baulked them by determining their Authority they themselves might have their turn in the Government hoping that by branding them with these reproachful Characters they would at length be fain to put the Power into their hands On the other hand the Rump-Members Magisterially grave by a long possession of Authority bid the Soldiers mind their own Affairs look to their Arms and obey Orders that they to whom the care of the Common-wealth was committed and the business of settling a new Government having long laboured in the Affair with no small Progress would at length by the help of God bring it to perfection They bid them have a care in the mean time that they make no Tumults seeing they who had pulled a King from his Throne wanted neither Resolution nor Force to reduce into order licentious Souldiers though milder courses were more pleasant to them But the Soldiers disdaining that they should be thought pragmatical and medlers in Affairs that did not belong unto them answer those State-Advisers That they were not Mercenary Soldiers nor had not taken up Arms only in Prospect of pay but for maintenance of the Publick Liberty neither would they lay them down till they found the common Fruit of their endeavours That they ought not to boast of putting the King to Death so they mutually gloried in that Horrid Villany since they onely stood by as in Disguise and Masquerade but that they by their Valour and at their own Peril accomplished the thing at the mention of which they would have started had they not been encouraged and set on by men of the Sword The Rump therefore being now more afraid of their Servants and idle Soldiers than formerly of the Royal Enemy endeavour by all ways to reduce them to Obedience or at least fairly to dismiss and disband them but still under another pretence alledging that the Commonwealth was not able to entertain so many idle and lazy Soldiers Wherefore under colour of lessening the Charges of the Publick they pass an Act for Disbanding part of the Army and the rest to have but half pay and to be divided and separated in several Countries that at once they might secure themselves against the attempts of the Cavaliers and take from their own Souldiers all opportunity of making Innovations The Soldiers smell out the design and it prickt them to the heart that they were now to be cast down from that height from whence they received plentiful incomes and almost shared in the Government They take it very ill to be cut short of their pay of their domineering after their accustomed manner in the Countries and of making their own advantages in suppressing the beginnings of Sedition Therefore the Officers refuse to be disbanded reciprocally pretending the Publick good They also frame a Petition such as they had formerly presented with proposals much to the same effect and desire a speedier answer nor would they lay down their Arms before the remnant of the old Parliament being abolish'd a Representative were lawfully chosen and that for the greater expedition some of the Officers of the Army as Commissioners should be admitted into the House or at least sit and debate about the Proposals with the Members of Parliament The Rump condescending to this twelve of each party meet and consult in common Where Oliver St Johns more skilful than the rest in the Common Law raising scruples and perplexing matters that were clear in themselves so confounded the Rude Soldiers that about one word they spent above two Months These Proposals were also debated in the Rump but since it would be tedious to mention all of them I shall briefly onely relate with what sharpness and quite opposite Opinions they clashed about the Representative Some were for shaping it after this manner some after another and some after none at all The Presbyterians who were but few in number are for having it conform to the Solemn League and Covenant a strict and previous Inquisition being made into the Manners and Religion of the men The Vtopians dreamt of I know not what Olygarchy made up of the Godlier Party winnowed and sifted to the highest Purity Others were for a kind of Circulation that every one successively and in course might have their turns in the Government Besides there was no less strife about the Time Some thought it very dangerous nay without doubt fatal to assign any day of dissolution and to introduce a new Representative Others would have no such change to be made but every third fourth or fifth year But those who were in Power think it safest that new Members should be chosen in place of those that died or were turned out And most Votes agreed in this which they forthwith enacted though the night before they had privately promised the contrary to the Officers to wit that they would model a new Representative So soon as Cromwell heard of that he hastens to the Parliament House ordering ten or twelve Soldiers to follow him and stay for him at the door He himself accompanied only with Fleetwood entring in To this
Fellow-Subjects some of them who had more sense upon a day appointed went with their Speaker to attend him earnestly beseeching him to take upon himself the Supreme Authority now again fallen at his Feet Cromwell made a shew of wonder denying utterly and rejecting it but at length with much ado suffered himself to be prevailed upon but with this Condition That an Instrument or Form of the Thing under Hand and Seal should be given him This being done though the Inferiour Officers of the Army and the Republicans were against it who promised to themselves profitable Places under that Government and a Licencious Liberty of domineering or at least constant and standing Commands in the Army yet Lambert who at present promised himself the Second Place in the Government and afterterwards the First hiding a proud Ambition under a Cloke of Humility by Words and by his Example persuaded the other Officers not onely to comply with that Monarchy but also to stickle for and desire it So now the Name of a Commonwealth stinks and the Popular State which heretofore they gloried in is despised The Single Government of One Person onely pleases them and what heretofore they had cursed with so many private and publick Imprecations after a Consultation with the Officers is declared to be the Government of this Nation Yet Cromwell would not accept of it by the Title of KING though he was persuaded to it by many lest he might seem to make Shipwrack of all Modesty and too openly to prevaricate But joyning together a Common-wealth and Single Government which formerly were inconsistent under the Title of Protector he takes into his Hands the Reins of Government modelled according to the Conditions of an Instrument which here we shall insert THE Instrument of Government THat the Supreme Legislative Authority should be in a Single Person and the People in Parliament but the Administration thereof to be left to the Lord Protector and to his Council whereof the Number was not to be above Twenty and one That all Charters Patents Writs and Commissions should be passed by the Protector All Power of Magistracy Honours and Titles to be deriv'd from him Likewise the Pardon of all Offences excepting Treason and Murder He also to have the Administration of all things with the Advice of his Council and according to the Tenor of this Instrument That the Militia sitting the Parliament should be in the disposal of the Protector and the Parliament but in the Intervals in the Protector and his Council The Power also of making Peace and War with Foreign Princes to be in the Protector and his Council but he to have no Authority of Repealing or Making any Laws without the Consent of Parliament That the Parliament should be called before the end of Six Months then next ensuing and afterwards once in Three years or oftner if need require and that it should not be in the Protector 's Power to Dissolve the same for the first Five Months without the Consent of the House That the Number of Members for England should consist of full Four hundred Elected according to an equal Distribution for Scotland Thirty and for Ireland the like Number the Number for each County and City to be also assigned That the Calling of such Parliament should be under the Seal of the Commonwealth by Writs to the Sheriff in the Protector 's Name But if the Protector should not call the same within the times limited the Chancellor then to do it under the Penalty of High Treason and if he should fail therein then that the Sheriffs should peform it And after such Election should be made to be transmitted by the Chief Magistrate by Indenture to the Chancellor signed with his Hand Twenty days before the Sitting of the same Parliament Also if the Sheriff or Mayor should make a false Return that he be fined in Two thousand Marks That none should be capable to Elect who had ever born Arms against the Parliament or been Actors in the Irish Rebellion Nor that any Papist should ever be capable to give his Voice And that all Elections against these Rules should be void and the Transgressors fined at Two years Value of their Revenues and a third part of their Goods That no Person under the age of One and twenty years should be capable of being Elected nor any other than of known Credit fearing God and of good Behaviour No Man likewise to have Power of Electing whose Estate should not be worth 20 l. per An. Sterling That the Return of the Persons Elected should be transmitted by Prothonotary in Chancery unto the Council of State within two days after they should come to his Hands to the end that Judgment might be made of the Persons if any Question should arise touching the Lawfulness of the Choice That Sixty Members should be accounted a Parliament in case the rest be absent Nevertheless that it should be lawful to the Protector to call a Parliament when he shall see cause That the Bills agreed on in Parliament should be presented to the Protector for his Assent thereto and if he should not give his Assent to them within Twenty days that then they should have the force of Laws without it That if any Counsellor of State should die or be outed of his Place for Corruption in the Intervals of Parliament the Protector with the rest of the Council to substitute another in his stead That a certain Annual Tax should be made throughout the Three Commonwealths for the Maintenance of Ten thousand Horse and Fifteen thousand Foot which Tax should also supply the Charge of the Navy And that this Rate should not be lessened or altered by the Parliament without the Consent of the Protector and his Council But if it should not be thought necessary hereafter that any Army should be maintained then whatsoever Surplusage of this Tax should be to be kept in the Treasury for sudden Emergencies That if there might happen to be occasion of making extraordinary Choices and to raise new Forces it should not be done without Consent of Parliament but that in the Intervals of Parliament it should be lawful for the Protector and his said Council both to make new Laws and to raise Monies for the present Exigencies That all the Lands Forests and Jurisdictions not then sold by the Parliament whether they had belonged to the King Queen Prince Bishops or any Delinquents whatsoever should thenceforth remain to the Protector That the Office of Protector should thenceforth be Elective but that none of the King's Line should be ever capable thereof and that the Election should belong to the Council That for the present Oliver Cromwell should be Protector That the Great Offices of the Commonwealth viz. Chancellor Keeper of the Seal Governour of Ireland Admiral Treasurer in case they should become void in Parliament-time to be filled up by the approbation of Parliament and in the Intervals by the like approbation
than the Lawful Government of the King joyn in the same Resolution namely Overton who heretofore had been Governour of Scotland and Wildman both Leading Men. They had hopes that the Republicans and Royalists being associated together they might either overcome or at least force Cromwell to come to better Terms and that then turning their Arms against the Royalists they might easily subdue them For the report was That 2000 Horse and vast numbers of Foot all Republicans had listed themselves for that Service The Governours of Towns and Forts give also hopes of joyning in the Confederacy Cannon are likewise provided and one day first then another and a third are appointed for the Insurrection that rising at the same time in all Counties they might every way divert and divide the Enemy and in this uncertainty what Course to take overcome him But Cromwell is not ignorant of these Contrivances he employs all his Arts and Might to get a clear discovery of the Scheme and Series of the whole Business to bring to light the Plotters and especially that he might detect the Lords and Chief Persons of Quality break their Measures and by a false Insurrection spoil their true Rising By that means he suppressed the Conspiracy of the Cornish and Shropshire Men by stirring them up to precipitate their Rising At Hessen-Moor also in Yorkshire a numerous Meeting is appointed to be amongst whom Fairfax himself was reported to have given hopes of appearing But he being beset by the Craft and Artifices of Cromwell abstained from Action There the Earl of Rochester whom we have often mentioned by the Name of the Lord Wilmot and Sir Nicholas Armorer met at the appointed time that they might Head the rest But both of them few appearing and most part falling off for fear betook themselves presently to flight and being taken at Ailsbury by the Rebels with much ado made their escape Sir Henry Slingsby and Sir Richard Maleverer being with others taken are committed to Prison A great many People appeared that night also in Sherwood-Forest near Nottingham But being partly betrayed and partly smitten with fear and divided about the Choice of a Commander they all fly of which a great many being apprehended suffer a tedious Imprisonment for it At the same time about Three hundred Wiltshire Men rising under the Command of Wagstaff Major-General of the Army broke into Salisbury where two Judges of the Kingdom were then holding the Assizes whom they seised but afterwards civilly dismissed From thence for some days they wander up and down in vain expecting Auxiliary Forces till at length many of them disappeared and the rest were defeated in their Quarters by Crook's Regiment Wagstaff escaping safe in the dark London Kent and the other Counties taking warning from the Misfortunes of their Brethren forbore at present to make any Disturbance but yet they could not escape the Intelligence of Cromwell The Earl of Oxford Lords Willoughby of Parham Newport and Compton Littleton Peyton Packington Ashburnham Russel Legg Philips Halsey and many others whom I shall not name being seised are committed to a long and irksom Imprisonment and some transported to the Plantations The Republicans also Wildman Overton and much about the same time Vane are made Prisoners All the Prisoners who were clearly convicted of the Fact are severely punished Many shed their generous Blood some being beheaded at Salisbury and some at Exeter as Penruddock Groves Lucas and others died upon a Gibbet who ought to have had their Memories eternized in Statues But not many of the rest were put to death as not being taken in the Fact or escaping in the Crowd of so many concerned or lastly not any one accusing another Now the Reader is to know how Cromwell came to the knowledge of the matter He had given power to the publick Postmasters who were all at his devotion to stop suspected People open and secretly read their Letters and if they appeared to insinuate any thing tending to an Insurrection to give him an account of them if there were any thing found ambiguously written to write it down till he might have an opportunity either of seising or branding the Parties with pregnant suspicion He narrowly observed all Posts and Messengers caused them sometimes to be stopp'd and carefully searched from Head to Foot terrifying them with Threats and Imprisonments and plying them with Wine and other Engines of Discovery he found out the most hidden Secrets He therefore hired and dispersed about many Spies and Eve-droppers nay and some clandestine ones amongst the Cavaliers themselves who openly stood up for the King and Royal Cause but Men of no Estates nor Honesty who prying into all the Secrets they could gave intelligence of them But these Men did but little Service being accustomed to detect things that were publickly known and sometimes contradictory He gained a considerable and topping Traytor one Manning whose Father died in defence of the Royal Cause as he himself had formerly served the King and received a Wound in the Foot being a Gentleman of a good Family and by Religion a Roman Catholick who notwithstanding that he might be the more acceptable and make way for his future Treachery daring in a manner to mock God took the Sacrament after the manner of the Church of England Cromwell by Craft and Allurements wholly debauched this Man into his Party who insinuated himself into the King's Service and the Society of the Courtiers under pretext of raising amongst the Royalists Six thousand pounds English a year for the Use of His Majesty Cromwell in the mean time privately paying the Money Under this specious colour he securely dived into the Counsels of the King and of His Friends and weekly sends an Account of them till at length as no Treason can be long concealed the Rat discovered himself and being guilty of the Death of so many Brave Men by his own Blood which was all he could do he expiated his Crime But a Parliament is now called at London though not after the ancient manner The Commons are onely called to sit and consult in Parliament nor these neither freely elected by all the People But before they were suffered to enter the House Cromwell spake to them to this purpose That some years ago none would have thought of such a Door of Hope that he knew there were yet many Humours and Interests and that Humours were above Interest that the Condition of England was like Israel in the Wilderness that this was a Healing Day there was neither Nobleman nor Gentleman nor Yeoman before known by any Distinction we had not any that bore Rule or Authority but a great Contempt of Magistracy and Christ's Ordinances That the Fifth Monarchy was highly cried up by Persons who would assume the Government but that desired thing wanted greater manifestation than appeared for such Men to change the Authority by He desired
this Honourable Assembly to remedy all these Disorders shewed That the Wars with Portugal France and the Dutch do and did eat up the Assessments That swarms of Jesuits are crept in to make Divisions which were grown so wide that nothing but his Government could remedy them And let Men say what they will he could speak it with comfort before a Greater than any of them Then he shewed what he had done during his Government First his Endeavours of reforming the Laws having joyned all Parties to assist in that great Work Next his filling the Benches with the Ablest Lawyers Then his Regulation of the Court of Chancery and his Darling Ordinance for the Approbation of Ministers which hindred all that list from invading the Ministry by Men of both Persuasions Presbyterians and Independents c. And lastly his being Instrumental to call a Free Parliament which he valued and would keep it so above his Life Then he shewed the Advantage of the Peace with the Dutch Dane and Suede and the Protestant Interest which he would have them improve and intend chiefly That they were now upon the Edge of Canaan That he spoke not as their Lord but their Fellow-servant And then bad them go and chuse their Speaker Cromwell having spoken to this effect the Members without returning him Thanks as is usual went to the House Lenthall being again chosen Speaker they fall first upon the New Instrument of Government all the Clauses and Articles whereof they thorowly sift and examine The Officers of the Army who were Privy-Counsellors and all who depended on Cromwell vigorusly oppose that saying That that Instrument was to be taken for the Basis and Foundation of the Government no ways to be called in question since by the Authority thereof the Parliament met and that it would be contrary to the Dictates of Natural Reason to bring it to a Trial. Nay many and particularly Lambert threaten That if the Parliament did not approve and confirm it they themselves would call another nay a third and a fourth till it should be at length established by Publick Consent But the Republicans stood stiff to the contrary making answer That the Government was usurped by Craft and Force not procured by Right nor confirmed by the Free Votes of the People that it laid Snares for the Liberty of the Commonwealth and made way for a most grievous Tyranny One amongst the rest in the heat of the Debate was so bold as to say That since they were approaching so near to Monarchy it were better to call one of the Royal Family to the Government than that Cromwell should usurp the Scepter and Crown Cromwell being informed of these Debates comes in great rage to the Parliament and tells them to this effect That they were not called together that they might confound and turn all things again into the former Chaos but that they should build upon the Foundation and Ground-work already laid down and not to be altered That his Authority could not be called in question unless at the same time they invalidated their own Power since the present Parliament was called by him and by him had liberty to consult That he alone had the Right of setling Fundamentals upon which they had power to raise and beautifie Superstructures That he was resolved to maintain the Government and Supreme Power in a Single Person to call a Parliament once in Three years not to sit above Five months without his Consent c. That to violate or innovate these things should neither be in the Power of the Protector nor Parliament That in other things they might consult and enact as they pleased for the Publick Good But because Admonition might not be sufficient he thinks fit to apply Force Next day a Guard of Soldiers being set before the Door of the House no Man was suffered to enter unless he signed the following Recognition I shall be faithful to the Lord Protector and shall not endeavour to change the Government of a Single Person Many who could not swallow that Bit are debarred from the Privilege of Sitting Nevertheless so many Republicans took the Recognition as made the Cromwellian Faction and Republican almost equal some who underhand favoured the King joyning themselves to each Side enflaming Animosities and as much as might be setting the Parties who seriously treated these Affairs at greater variance Insomuch that after five Months continual jangling and debate Cromwell was not able to bring his Affairs to any good issue in this Parliament Nor do the Republican Spirits onely prevail in the Parliament but also in the Army For these consult and plot together how they might apprehend Cromwell and bring him before the Parliament to be accused and condemned of Treason thinking with themselves that if they could lay Hands upon him and make him Prisoner there would be a sudden change of Affairs and that his Favourers and Adherents being thereby baulked would sculk and shift for themselves The truth is the Officers of Three thousand Horse and of no inconsiderable number of Foot frequently met in Somerset-house and elsewhere about the contriving and carrying on of that Design But before the Matter came to maturity by the Treachery of Pride it came to Cromwell's Ears who by a hasty Dissolution of the Parliament prevented all those Machinations and disbanded those Officers In the mean time Cromwell having received a splendid Embassie from Sueden with equal Magnificence he concluded a Peace with that Crown and dismissed the Embassadors with hopes of a nearer Alliance He makes Peace also with France and promises to send over Assistance thither if the Affairs of England would permit him But all this while the specious Pretext of Supreme Authority was wanting to these Attempts The Parliament had denied their Collective Votes to make that up therefore it remains that the Distributive Votes of all the People be had and that the Officers break the Ice Wherefore Gratulatory Petitions or Addresses are sent by the Commanders of the several Regiments of the Army in Scotland whereby they thank the Lord Protector for having changed the Form of Publick Government to the better They pray him to go on in the discharge of that Province which by Providence he hath undertaken promising with their Lives and Fortunes to maintain and defend him in all difficulties But amongst the English Officers there was a necessity of a wheadling Pretext to wit That the Malignants and Enemies of the Country now triumphed as if the Army breaking into Discords and Divisions would presently renounce their General Cromwell That therefore a Petition of that nature must needs be framed wherein by applauding the Protector they would convince those that were of a contrary Opinion With much ado he obtained that amongst the Republicans but at length some refusing to sign it as venturing rather Cromwell's Displeasure and Revenge than by a sneaking Compliance to betray the
Officers of the Army were again conjured from Hell a new and unheard-of Generation of Quakers sprung up of whom the Parliament brought before them a considerable Ring-leader that I shall now briefly discourse of James Naylor was the Man who had heretofore served under Lambert and now had the impudence to personate Jesus Christ imitating his Words Looks and Carriage And to so great madness he grew that his Boldness encreasing through the Applauses of some and the Admiration of others he would represent him in all things For mounting a Horses Colt he came riding towards the City of Bristol those of his Sect strewing the Way with Leaves and Boughs of Trees and crying Hosanna Hosanna Blessed is he that cometh in the Name of the Lord. But the Madness stops not here neither for the distracted Fellow affects Divine Honours as if he could raise the Dead heal the Sick and fast after the Example of Christ At length the Parliament tired out with the continued Clamours of Accusers having cited him to appear before them sentence him to be publickly Whipp'd Pilloried and committed to perpetual Imprisonment But the Parliament being dissolved this Monster of Mankind was set at liberty by an Order of the Rump-Parliament when it revived again About that time Cromwell's Life was in danger from one Sundercome a Republican It was said that he was suborned by Alonso de Cardenas formerly Embassadour in England from the King of Spain and then living in Flanders to kill him He had often taken a House fit for committing the Fact but his Hopes always failing him he got him a Blunderbuss that could discharge twelve Bullets at a time resolving with that out of an Arbor upon the side of the Rode where the Way grows narrow at Hammersmith near London to shoot Cromwell as he past in his Coach to Hampton-Court and forthwith mounting a fleet Horse make his Escape on the opposite side But because there was a necessity of having another privy to the Design when the time that he was to go drew near one Toop belonging to the Guards is engaged in the Plot. But one Assassine betrays another Toop Sundercome who that he might be the first that suffered for Treason under this Government by a new Statute is arraigned and condemned for conspiring the Death of the Protector However some few hours before the time of his designed Execution he was found dead in his Bed though his Body appeared found there being no Marks of Violence either inwardly or outwardly to be discovered Of which thing according to the diversity of Humours People might severally judge as they pleased In the mean while the fiercer Fifth-Monarchy-men and Republicans making all the Preparations they could for a sudden Insurrection against the new Monarchy in the Bud are discovered and presently seised amongst other things a Standard being taken bearing a Lion Couchant with this Inscription Quis suscitabit eum Who shall rouse him This Rising then being wholly defeated Lawson a Sea-Commander Colonel Harrison Rich and several Officers of the Army with Danvers and others who could not endure the Regal Authority of Cromwell are clapp'd up in Prison Lambert also when he perceived that all his Hopes of Succession were cut off by an Ordinance of Parliament began to tack about and strike in with the Republicans Which so soon as Cromwell had notice of he presently recalled his Commission and disbanded him appointing Fleetwood to be next to himself in Power for he thought it neither safe nor fit that he should have the Chief Command in the Army who professed himself an open Enemy to the Civil Government Cromwell in the mean time that he might by fair and gentle means draw over more of the Republicans and endear them to himself promoted many of them into the House of Lords that they might seem to share with himself in the Government but such mean Fellows of no Birth nor Merit raised out of the Dregs of the Rabble who were contemptible and ridiculous to the real Lords and Peers could neither give nor receive any Splendour or Nobility Would ye have a List of some of them Let Pride then lead the Dance a most abject Rascal who had served a Brewer and that he might now with greater security cheat the Publick he purchases a Grant for Brewing Beer for the Protector 's Family and for serving the Fleet at Sea Huson was another who not long before cobbled old Shoes in a Stall Berkstead who heretofore sold Needles Bodkins and Thimbles and would have run on an Errand any where for a little Money but who now by Cromwell was preferred to the Honourable Charge of Lieutenant of the Tower of London Cooper who had been a Haberdasher of Small-wares in Southwark Berry a Woodmonger and Whaley a broken Clothier who had removed into Scotland until the breaking out of the Wars I shall name no more of them that I may not turn the Readers Stomach In the mean time he joyns to them for Companions five or six of the Ancient Nobility and gives them place in the House of Lords who nevertheless refuse to herd with the rest and all refrain the House that they might not pollute their Blood by such a Contagion Others called out of the House of Commons to this Other House prefer their own Seats and will not be reckoned amongst those Peers The two Sons and one Son-in-Law of Cromwell are brought into this House For it is to be observed that he had lately married his two younger Daughters the eldest having formerly married to Cleypole the one to Mr. Rich Nephew to the then Earl of Warwick who lived not long after and the other to the Lord Falconberge of whom now we speak Henry Cromwell his younger Son whom he made Deputy of Ireland and Richard the elder of whom since I am to mention him in the Sequel it will be fit I speak a little at present before I leave this House of Lords That Cromwell might remove all suspicion of arrogating to himself and Family the Supreme Authority he sends his eldest Son Richard into the Country to take his Pleasure in Hunting and Hawking Where he a Man of a good Nature courteous and affable far from the Tricks of his Father receiving the Common People hospitably diverting himself with the Gentry and behaving himself civilly to all besides many good Offices that he did at Court and elsewhere not onely gained the Applause of the People but obliged a great many Persons of Note and Quality But at length his Father took him off of these Toys and by degrees inured him to Publick Business ordering him first to sit in the Committee of Trade then in the House of Commons and now at last having called him as we have just now said up to the House of Lords Besides he made him Chancellor of the University of Oxford one of his Privy-Council and a Colonel of the
Army that he might shew him not onely to the People but to the Soldiers and that he might insinuate with all and as much as he could make himself Friends by Conversation And now the day was come when the whole Parliament was to meet as well the Republicans who in the beginning of the Parliament had been excluded by Cromwell for refusing to subscribe to the Condition required as the Lords or Peers who by Oliver's Writ filled the Upper House But the Reader cannot but wonder how disdainfully the Members of the Lower House looked upon those new Lords asking them with scorn By what Authority they sate to what end and for what purpose were they called hither Nay they could not refrain from ridiculing and scoffing at them nor be induced to have any thing to do or consult in common with these Men. On the contrary the Lords as they were instructed by Cromwell fawned complied wheadled and courted their Friendship leaving no means unessayed whereby they might soften and make them more gentle But they continue to be morose untractable and refractory to every thing Which Cromwell observing and especially because he understood that the Cavaliers were hatching new Designs that the King was in a readiness with I know not how many thousand Men to invade England and that the Marquess of Ormond was really in the Land secretly labouring to raise the Country for these Reasons he forthwith dissolved that fictitious and as I may say Comical Parliament It was not long before the Stirs began more clearly to appear one Corkar a Parson in Sussex who nevertheless had heretofore had a hand in killing Rainsborough at Doncaster Sir Richard Willis and many others who had served and been well rewarded by the King and had opportunity of passing to and again betwixt Cromwell and His Majesty and discovering all secret Intrigues having basely betrayed the Design A General Insurrection was designed almost all over England especially in Hull London Sussex Surrey and many other Places which the King himself with Foreign Forces commanded by Marsin intended to Head But all proved in vain the Matter as we have said having been discovered to Cromwell by treacherous and clandestine Spies The Marquess of Ormond with much ado made his Escape having by the Assistance of Doctor Quarterman procured a Boat in Sussex And now a vast number of Persons apprehended are loaded with the suspicion of guilt and therefore the High Court of Justice a true Object of Derision had it not been polluted with Blood is again appointed Lisle being President Before this Court are brought Mordant Son to the Earl of Peterborough two Stapleys Woodcock Sir Henry Slingsby Hewet Doctor of Divinity Mallory Rivers Dyke and many more Hewet is condemned for Contumacy in not acknowledging the Authority of the Court Slingsby because being formerly a Prisoner in Hull he had treated with Waters about the Delivery of Hull-Fort into the hands of the King Mordant is absolved by the Majority onely of one Voice when within a quarter of an hour after Pride came in who would certainly have voted to the contrary so near he seemed to the very Jaws of Death Woodcock defended himself so ingeniously that he came off The rest were either not found Guilty or obtained Cromwell's Pardon for accusing of others or in short were condemned of High Treason Hewet and Slingsby were both beheaded But four others were drawn hanged and quartered their Privy Members and Bowels burnt their Heads set up upon London-Bridge and their Quarters upon four Gates of the City The Common sort being safe by their Number after a long Imprisonment at length denying the Fact upon Oath are dismissed Thus they who for attempting to slay a Tyrant deserved a Triumphal Arch and highest Honours falling into the bloody Hands of their Enemies suffer a cruel and ignominious Death But that he might provide against such Stirs for the future and more securely settle his ill-got and unsafe Government besides the Soldiers of the Army he levies Troops of Horse in the several Counties which for the most part were made up of Voluntiers whom either ambition of domineering hope of Preferment prospect of Booty or at least the tediousness of an idle and lazy Life allured into the Service Of these he gave the Command to some of his Relations and fast Friends Though at present their Pay was but small Eight pound a year yet by getting into profitable Places and plundring the Cavaliers upon all occasions they were in good hopes of feathering their Nests Their Duty was to watch over the Counties to be present at Publick Fairs and other numerous Meetings to hinder private Assemblies and Concourses of People to exact the Taxes from those who were either slow or unwilling to pay them by Free-Quarters and Fines imposed upon them to seise besides suspected Persons search their Houses take from them the Arms which they might have for defending themselves against Thieves in the Night-time and in a word to suppress instantly all Stirs if any hapned in the bud Blake is again but now the last time to appear upon the Stage He being this year sent to cruise in the Atlantick Ocean had Intelligence that the Spanish Fleet richly laden with Silver and Plate had out of fear put into the Island of Tenariff resolving to keep in the Port of Sancta Cruce until Blake should be forced to return home either by the Winter Weather or the want of Victuals and Provisions Wherefore steering his Course thither he found the Harbour in shape of a Crescent defended by seven Forts lying round it and two Castles placed at the Points with seventeen Ships riding therein their Heads standing towards the Mouth of the Harbour that they might fire with greater certainty upon those that offered to enter nor could the Governour forbear to jear and slout at the English Blake therefore entring the Mouth of the Harbour with his Frigats thunders Broadsides and small Shot against the Castles till the Soldiers flying from thence he Manned his Boats with Seamen and sent them in who destroyed and burnt all the Spanish Ships that were there Which being done he made use of a favourable Wind which as it had brought him thither so carried him off again more satisfied with his Revenge than Booty But farewell to Blake who in that Expedition died of a Scurvey and Dropsie A Man deserving Praise even from an Enemy who having heretofore diligently plied his Studies took his Degree of Master of Arts in Wadham-College in Oxford and lived long a quiet and Country-life in Somersetshire till afterward the Civil War breaking out he was engaged into the Service by some Parliamentarians and defended Lime and Taunton even to a Miracle against the King Then being advanced to a Command at Sea he subdued the Isles of Silly at home after which being honoured with the Title and Place of Admiral he became famous by many Actions abroad For he
Cromwel being Master and impatient of a slow progress to Usurpation grasps the Scepter with the lofty Title of Protector In the mean time he ruled more arbitrarily than a King though he seemed to refuse the Title which he passionately aspired to Whether he was more remarkable for Falshood or Valour the Reader may judge since Courage he had by turns and intervals but was never without Hypocrisie and native Treachery When for the space of five years he had filled all places with Slaughter and Bloud with Banishments Robberies and all sorts of Cruelty being implacable to his Enemies false to his Friends despised abroad grievous to others uneasie to himself amidst the Pulpit-Juggles of foolish idle men the hidden stings lashes of a most guilty Conscience with a distracted mind and enthusiastical madness he ended his wicked days on the very day which being formerly joyful to him because of the two bloudy Overthrows of Britain becomes now festival to three Nations Richard succeeds to his villanous Usurpation a Son in all things unlike to his Father and unfit for daring Resolutions His judgment and actions were managed by the direction and suggestions of others and was so easily imposed upon by their knavery that by what followed shortly after it appeared that onely the late Cromwel had a mind able to support such a weight For the Colonels of the Democratical Faction heretofore turned out who were more addicted to the government of the Parliament than to that of a Protector when they perceived the turn of Affairs and their old hopes revived revenged by the ruine of the Son the injuries they had received from the Father And abusing the easiness of Richard to insolence and contempt they industriously set about the changing again of the Protectordom into a Commonwealth Whether the Relations and Counsellors of Richard were privy to the Plot or deluded I cannot say but at length they fatally deluded him And being Complices of the Treachery of the Democraticks they were made a Cloak for the Ambition of others Richard therefore being advised by his Friends to dissolve the Parliament which he had lately called the onely support of his own hopes and terrour of the Rebel-Colonels too late he was sensible of the treachery or ignorance of his Friends and too late condemned his own credulity Richard's affairs being then in their declension and his Relations Fleetwood and Desborough seduced either by vanity or knavery The power of Lambert formerly laid aside became now paramount and by joynt Councils in appearance they managed the Affairs of the Government with equal care though different designes but what Fleetwood more openly Lambert more cunningly carried on And now the Officers whom old Cromwel had heretofore turned out of the Army being restored they invaded the Forces as before they did the government of Richard But that the matter might be brought about in the usual forms they appoint Prayers the common prelude of Traytors to be made in St. James's where many Independant Preachers of great note in their long-winded Prayers call upon God as a Witness of their Treachery And the very same who lately prayed for the health of Cromwel on his Death-bed now basely and craftily consult about the exclusion of his Son But whilst they hastned the execution of their late designes they gave a remarkable and foul instance of their inconstancy by restoring to Supreme Power the Rump-Parliament which Cromwel by their own hands six years before had dragg'd out of the House that sink of ill men I mean who were infamous by the Spoils of the publick foully stained with all sort of Knavery Impudence and Avarice and for their Crimes so universally hated of the People that it was a very easie matter to have raised or depressed again these Phantoms of Government by the like wantonness of the giddy Mobile And now these Parliament-Robbers being again admitted to the Government they take their known places and being above all things mindful of Cromwel's Treachery they turn out Richard wavering as yet and tottering in his Throne and lay the quaking Protestoral Youth flat upon the ground As if by turning the infamy upon the Cromwels they might thereby wipe off their own Reproach They demand an account of the Funeral-charges of his dead Father wherein that prodigal Villain had outdone the burials of Kings and of his own Creditors but with no designe in the mean while to pay his Debts onely to expose him to contempt because of his Poverty or to scorn for his Luxury The Members of Parliament that were more innocent than themselves or more adverse to bad Councils by Guards set at the door they exclude out of the House and presently declare the Secret and Mystery of the Government which with no less vanity than impudence they stiled THE GOOD OLD CAVSE From the meeting of this fatal Rump again I shall begin my work The first thing they now do is to consult how they may secure themselves and undo the Publick That they had been formerly thrust out by the Souldiers struck deep in their minds and that they might therefore prevent future Snares from the Colonels they reserve to themselves the Supreme Authority in the Army making their Speaker Lenthal General in the Chair And having turned out the Officers of the Army that were for a Protectoral Dignity they create new ones out of the Sink of Democraticks But before I proceed any farther it will be necessary both for my self and the Reader to give a more accurate account of the state of the English Affairs at that time The fate of the Cromwels was now come for Richard being laid aside at London his Brother Henry whom his Father had made Deputy of Ireland imitating his Brothers weakness at the command of the Rump delivers up the Army and Government to Colonel Ludlow a stern man and trusty to the Faction who succeeded him Monk Governour of Scotland a man often to be mentioned in our Annals promised to be true to the rump-Rump-Parliament as also did the Fleet and Vice-Admiral Lauson Fleetwood also and Lambert slighting the Oath that had been taken to the Cromwels made the English Forces and Trainbands of the City swear to be true to the Rump Fleetwood was old Cromwel's Son-in-law of little or no reputation in the War but a stout Preacher and Prayer He hoped to have been Successour in the Government after the death of his Father-in-law but being disappointed by crafty Oliver if he was not because of that glad he was not at all displeased at the overthrow of his Brother-in-law Richard Lambert followed another conduct under an affected modesty disguising a proud spirit and aspiring to nothing less than supreme Government He had heretofore possessed a great share in the friendship of Cromwel but whether for his own or his Wife's sake I shall not determine Nor was he thought to be displeased with
the old man so long as he hoped for a Successour out of his Family and to be adopted in the Army where his reputation was great He secretly despised Cromwel's Relations as too low and unfit for Principality thinking that he alone remained worthy to be advanced to Supremacy Which afterwards more secretly but not more justly he attempted rather than obtained The awe of Cromwel whilst alive gave some check such as it was to the dissembled madness of the Democratical Republicans But the Family of the Cromwels being ruined the British affairs were in that state that amongst the Regicides no faith love judgment nor truth was to be found The furious unsetled Colonels without sense or honesty laying aside all care of Reputation or Justice softened and fed their private hopes The Power of the Rulers was mutually suspected and the Honour of the Nation wholly slighted And the same Army of Cromwel abandoning the Family of their General perfidiously abolished the Protectordom which by perjuries they had established as a brave and memorable Constitution The Rabble also were so inclined that many desired and all accustomed to the Yoke of Bondage suffered the rump-Rump-Parliament though of old notorious for flagitiousness and now for buoying up the aspiring Colonels In the mean time all things were carried according to the pleasure of the Rump and the dictates of Fanaticks the terrour of the present and presages of future evils But the turns of the Government were no less odious than the vices of the Parricides to those who any ways concerned themselves for the Publick In the mean time they were not free from danger whom Quality the suspicion of Loyalty to the King Wealth or eminent Parts rendred obnoxious to the Jealousies of the Rulers The old Souldiers of the King and such as were devoted to Charles the Second in the mean while who had hearts to do and suffer any thing rejoyced in secret having without the loss of reputation or degenerating from the ancient care they were sprung from endured the calamities of Adversity the long insulting and many Rapines of Robbers and all the shams of Fortune with an honest and patient Poverty Though the settlement of Cromwel in the government and the unshaken fidelity of his Adherents had so often defeated all their endeavours of restoring the King yet they carefully eyed the dissensions and distractions of the Fanaticks and the turns and revolutions of the Government And now the mutual clashings of the Rebels gave courage to the Loyal Nobility secretly to contrive the restauration of their Liberty and under pretence of a free and full Parliament the recovery of the just Rights of King CHARLES For that end they made use of the assistance of some Presbyterians an inflexible sort of men a bad presage of a certain overthrow since they are a kind of people that make use of good fortune rather for the subversion than the establishment of Kings Thus a framed Conspiracy all over England produced both glory and danger to the illustrious Undertakers Sir George Booth now Lord Delamere appeared first in the Insurrection in Cheshire He was assisted with the advice and hands by the Earls of Derby and Kilmurry Sir Thomas Middleton Major-General Egerton and many others of less note who having incited their Country-men to take up Arms and having formed an Army they put a Garrison in Chester an ancient City washed by the River Dee Booth himself in the mean time with 2000 Horse and Foot took the Field expecting the aid of all good men throughout England in so illustrious an Undertaking but with more Loyalty than Fortune At the news of so sudden an Eruption the Rump was terrified and being doubtful of their New Government startled at the present Commotions apprehensive of future and conscious of the greatness of their own Crimes they were in fear of all men And so much the more that they knew that Booth was not the sole Head of the Party but that there were many more besides him who hatched the same designes The Parricides had no other hopes of safety but in daring boldly wherefore arming with expedition the fiercest of the Sectarian Rout doubling their Guards and sending flying parties of the old Forces into all Counties and Towns they no sooner smelt out but they prevented the designes of the Royalists In the mean time Lambert is ordered with a body of Horse and Foot to march in all haste against Booth But the guilty Parricides could not think themselves secure unless they were re-enforced with Souldiers from Scotland and the Garrison of Dunkerk and with two Regiments called from Ireland commanded by Zanchie and Axtell After that Booth had in vain endeavoured to hinder their conjunction both Armies come in view one of another near Norwich but the River that runs by the Town hindred the Enemy from approaching Booth had set a strong Guard to defend the Bridge over the River and had drawn up his men beyond it but still inferiour both in number and fortune For Lambert having gained the Bridge charged Booth's Forces so warmly that the raw and unexperienced Country-Rout were not able to endure the shock of the old and expert Souldiers Lambert having put all of them to flight Chester is surrendered unto him Booth after his overthrow hunting about for a safe retreat was discovered in disguise at Newport and taken from whence being carried to London he was clapt up in the Tower His whole Estate which was pretty considerable being seized his head had likewise gone had not a greater destiny preserved him from the imminent cruelty of the Rump For the shortness of their government seems to be the cause that the punishment of Booth's Party was rather deferred than remitted The short-lived Rump in the mean time were not a little proud of the overthrow of their enemies and emboldened by this auspicious beginning of their New Government And the Cheshire-Insurrection was so convenient for Lambert's interest that he reckoned it amongst the favours of his prosperous fortune For having thereby attained which he so much desired to the pre-eminence of a General he intended to triumph not so much over Booth as over the conquered Rump and indeed the mutual confidence of the Knaves was not durable for the Rump was jealous of the Army and the Army of the Rump Lambert in the mean time who had a vast power in the Army exceeding all bounds of a private condition so wheadled the Officers and Souldiers that upon their return they drew up and signed a Petition at Derby wherein after they had alleadged many ridiculous falshood of their dutifulness towards the Rump their affection to the Publick and Liberty of the People they saucily desire the House that the Command of the Army should be put into the hands of Fleetwood and Lambert as the onely means of uniting the Forces in faithfulness and concord which
and under the command of so great a General desire the signal to march Having now confirmed the Souldiers and the Garrison of Edinburough-Castle he put the command of Berwick Leeth Air St. Johnston and other Castles and Citadels into the hands of trusty Officers He turned out in the mean time all suspected Sectarians especially the Anabaptists the Plague of Mankind whilst many of his Horse addicted to the errour or humours of the English Army of their own accord desert him and leave the Foot and the rest who were truer to their Trust He remaintained in their places many of his own Officers who had been lately casheered by the London Council of War which gained him their affection and Fleetwood and Lambert their hatred The report of this Storm coming from the North was quickly brought to London and all things made greater as it is usual at such a distance than really they were This distracted the Councils of the Rulers and put them into no little anxiety However they arm against Monk and appoint Lambert elevated by the overthrow of Booth's Party General of the War and Head of their Faction who was now to engage in another kind of a War and with anothergets General But seeing they stood much in awe of the prouess and conduct of Monk and had him in great admiration they thought fit first to essay him by Treaty Wherefore Fleetwood sent unto him Clarges nearly allied to him and Colonel Talbot who served in the Scottish Army and in great favour with the General to mediate a Peace and Reconciliation With the same purpose of Pacification Colonel Goff and Colonel Whaley followed after with Carril and Barker the great Oracles of the Independents that the Artifices of Preachers might not be wanting in laying of Snares Monk received them all civilly He had many secret Conferences with Clarges To the rest he publickly professed that he had no Quarrel with the Colonels commanding in England about Religion That his whole designe was to revenge the Indignity done to the Parliament and to proceed no farther That if they had rather take up the matter at London without bloud he was willing to allow time for Conferences The Ministers with affected flattery preached up the advantages of Peace presaging from more than one instance that the divisions of fellow-Souldiers would be pernicious to themselves and very advantageous to the publick Enemy intimating the King and indeed their Presage proved afterward to be true But the mercenary and canting Tongues of those preaching Mediators wrought no effect upon an old Souldier who was so well acquainted with their juggling tricks He civilly sends back these Agents of Peace with the same security as they came Clarges in the mean time was before gone to London with more secret Instructions And though Monk now perceived that all Agreement with the Colonels of the English Army would prove fallacious and unsafe yet all things not being as yet sufficiently ordered for securing the more remote Garrisons of Scotland he made his advantage of what was cast in his way by chance and labours for the convenience of his own affairs to protract the time of Treaty He therefore dispatches to London Wilks Knight and Cloberry as Commissioners for the Treaty from the Army in Scotland with Instructions how to delay time where for some time we 'll leave them in Wallingford-house with more complement than freedom debating with Fleetwood's Officers though I am not apt to believe that the desire of Pacification was sincere on both sides Lambert marching against Monk was already got as far as York with twelve Regiments of men he was weak in Foot but strong in Horse Here he found Morgan Major-General of Monk's Army recovering out of a fit of the Gout a man that at that time was judged inferiour to none in Military skill Lambert who was his old friend and knew him to be dear to Monk sent him into Scotland to promote the business of Peace He having followed Monk to Edinburrough in a military manner declared his business and what he was come about but preferring Monk's cause and honesty he took command under him when because of the many Commanders lately turned out and others that had deserted he was made very welcome Monk in the mean time having pretty well composed the affairs of his Army invites the Scottish Nobility to Council first at Edinburrough and then at Berwick where he discovered his designes unto them beseeching them for the sake of their Country and of himself that they would keep Scotland in peace and raise moneys to pay the Army that now was upon the march into England The Scottish Nobility very readily promised him money nay and to assist him with men and Arms in the expedition which was an accession to Monk's good fortune that when he might have made use of so great assistance from Scotland he did not stand in need of it For being a man of a sharp wit he was not willing that Scotland should come under the power of another the Inhabitans being armed nor that they accompanying him into England might render his coming ungrateful at home Trusty Officers being left to command the Garrisons of Scotland the Souldiers rightly modelled and all things in a readiness for the expedition of a sudden news is brought to Edinburrough that the Peace was confirmed but upon so hard and uneasie terms that Monk with anger in his looks severely checked the Authors of the hateful Reconciliation upon their return telling them That if the honesty of some certainly the prudence of all of them was to be suspected and committed Wilks to prison for transgressing his Commission The truth was Monk's Commissioners being by Fleetwood's Officers with a shew of honour narrowly observed and in a manner confined ignorant of the Stirs abroad and imposed upon by false reports of the diminution of Monk's Forces with more haste than judgment had clapt up an unjust Peace In the mean time Monk having had certain intelligence from Clarges a faithful man that Fleetwood was daily more and more despised at London that at York Lambert 's Army was divided and full of Faction judging a delay more convenient for himself than for the Enemy industriously protracted the Treaty Having therefore sent Letters to Fleetwood he acquainted him That the news of a Pacification was very acceptable to him but that he found some things doubtful in the Conditions and other matters not rightly transacted by his Commissioners that therefore that the agreement might be more solid all Officers being removed he desires the number of Commissioners to be increased and Newcastle as a more proper place for their meeting Fleetwood condescended more out of fear than choice but Lambert whose whole ability consisted in charging an Enemy rashly and fatally deluded to his own ruine accepted also of the delays of Treaty Lambert in
the greatest dangers to serve them That he had not forgot their kind Letter at Morpeth wherein he affectionately concurred but was forced to retire backwards like a Fencer to make the better ground and the more advantageous assault That he had sent to the House that morning that they should issue Writs for a full Parliament and to this end he was come to stay with them and see his desires fulfilled and that they should put a period to their sitting by the sixth of May. Monk's Speech was with delight and universal applause heard by the Citizens and the name of a New Parliament so pleased the minds of the People that the City which appeared desolate and dejected in the morning seemed transported with joy at night by the ringing of Bells and Bonefires Now was Monk in every bodies mouth and the Multitude not able to contain their secret joys proclaimed him the Honour and Deliverer of their Country praying for and blessing him in all places Then was the Rump loaded with the Reproaches and Imprecations of all with so much freedom that it seemed to be the first step to their Liberty thus to despise their Oppressors Nor was this night revelling of the over-joyed People less boundless than the Rage of the Rumpers was before upon the reading of Monk's Letter They in great indignation complain that the violence of old offered by Cromwel and more lately by Lambert was not more grievous than the present-imperious boldness of Monk in prefixing a day to their dissolution But the old Commissioners Scot and Robinson being sent into the City to the General they offered him the hypocritical Thanks of the Rump for his quelling of the City and concealing their displeasure at his Letter they promise a fuller Parliament and that their dissimulation might be the more specious they invite Monk again to Westminster to assist them with his counsel The General and his Friends gave them a doubtful answer as well knowing that the civility of the proud Rumpers was not for nought However it was the interest of both Parties to continue their dissimulation But the Commissioners upon their return having brought advice of the joyful familiarity that was betwixt the General and the Citizens the Rump smelt out Monk's designe and were distracted in their thoughts Wherefore they forthwith set about the lessening of his power in the Army appointing a Committee of five for ordering the affairs of the Forces which if they could have gone through with the English Army being altogether averse from Monk they had certainly ruined his fortune So soon as Monk heard that he was made one of five Generals being unaccustomed to affronts and equally slighting the baseness and treachery of the Rumpers he took greater care of his affairs And that he might not make use of the counsel of Enemies and Traytors onely he desires a Conference with the old secluded Members upon whose sense and inclinations when he found there was more to be grounded and perceived them to be fit men for qualifying matters and not averse from his own designes in time he sent them to the Parliament attended by a guard of Souldiers The secluded Members in the mean time entring the House again the baser and viler sort of the Abjurors being now in despair left the House The rest being more moderate continued to joyn with their restored fellow-Members in the administration of the affairs of the Publick The Parliament being now increased in number and the Vote of their own exclusion being in the first place repealed they appoint Monk General of all the Forces in Britain and Ireland and order money streight to be levied for the Pay of the Souldiers They appoint Montague Admiral of the Fleet give liberty to Booth's Prisoners and the Captive Citizens in whose place Lambert was afterwards clapt up in the Tower Whilst the Parliament was busied in the affairs of the Commonwealth Monk in the mean time wholly taken up about the care of the Forces having called a Council of his Colonels dispatched Letters to all the Regiments of the Army and their Officers that were quartered up and down Britain and Ireland to certifie them of the reason of the readmission of the Members with large assurances of their constancy to their old Profession and Principles and that without this Expedient there was no way to satisfie the Nation or raise money for the subsistance of the Army or Navy The distant Regiments in the mean time wanting Money and Necessaries and having tried the experience of both fortunes chose rather to comply and have their certain Pay than to stand it out and trust to uncertainties But Monk to make sure of the Forces made them all take a new Oath to be true to the Parliament which the Colonels and Officers of his own Army and many of the English Forces willingly did but those who refused or scrupuled he disarmed and casheered And now Monk had the sole power over both Armies and received all Souldiers as bound by the same Oath under the same General Monk before this had removed his Quarters from Whitehall to St. James's There amongst others William Morrice was a chief Confident of the General 's a man of great solidity and prudence as the times went By his means Greenvile a Knight being introduced to Monk and all company being removed he privately delivered him Letters from King CHARLES Having read them he makes an answer suitable to the times and the doubtful state of affairs resolving neither to say too much nor to conceal all his mind and so tempered his expressions that he might seem to reserve a fuller answer in his actions And this was the first step to the restoring the Government to Charles the Second Greenvile returned to Brussels to the King with the joyful and expected news of Monk's good inclinations towards his Majesty But by how much the Parliament and Monk seriously applied themselves to the setling of affairs by so much the more the bloudy Parricides used all their Arts and Treachery by sowing Sedition in the Camp and raising Tumults amongst the Sectarians in the City to stir up new Commotions nor did Treachery end with the War For the Abjurors having no more opportunity of doing mischief in the Parliament-house kept Cabals and secret Conferences with the lately-disbanded Officers of the English Army and being crushed in the head stung with the tail As to what may be gathered from the present actings of the Parliament and the secret inclinations of Monk say they the restauration of the Government of Charles Steuart is not far off That therefore they thought to consider in time that their affairs were in a slippery condition and that without their ruine and overthrow Charles would not mount the Throne That the Trophies of so many Wars the glorying in the assistance and protection of God and the actions of so many years would
Church Those Bishops who had survived the fury of the Hereticks he restored to their Sees and chose others conspicuous for Primitive Piety Learning and a good Life in place of those that were dead who with the same Piety and Humility that they had suffered the Reproaches of Sectarians and born the Calamities of a Civil War now in their old age carried the Miter and governed the Church of God The King made Juxon Archbishop of Canterbury and primate of all England a Prelate of Primitive Piety venerable both in his books and words heretofore Confessor to Charles the Martyr and his Assistent to the last whilst amidst the fury and reproaches of bloudy Traytors he took his leave of this world Et nullo gemitu consensit ad ictum Despexitque nefas When without sighing he received that Blow And bravely scorn'd the Villanies below And now it was no small comfort to many that they to whom the Parricides had formerly been liberal were as poor as those whom they had robbed but it was fit that Clemency should usher in the new Administration of the Government and therefore Charles imitating God Almighty in mercifulness past in Parliament an Act of Indemnity and Oblivion for all his Subjects except those who had embrewed their hands in his Fathers Bloud the rest of the guilty Rebels being wonderfully pardoned but whether with greater Policy or Mercy let Posterity judge The King now secure in his own Majesty and the Loyalty of his Subjects resolved to disband the Army which for so many years had been the Burden and Grievance of the Nation for the paying of which a Tax by way of Poll was imposed on every head in England The Souldiers had also a Donative bestowed upon them and many of the Officers were rewarded according to their merit Amidst the Joys wherewith the first three months of his Majesties government was blessed Henry Duke of Gloucester fell sick and was fatally too soon snatched out of this world by the Small Pox so much the more lamented by the King his Brother and by the Kingdom that at twenty years of age he had given such sublime proofs of his Princely Accomplishments And this alone may seem an Eclipse of the Glory of Charles that almost in his own triumph he beheld the Funeral of his dear Brother Manibus date Lilia plenis Purpureos spargam flores Bring plenty of white Lillies to his Herse Whilst sad there the purple Rose disperse The affairs of England being setled Scotland and Ireland were to be taken care of The King therefore appointed Privy-Councils of the most Loyal Subjects of both Kingdoms to manage the Government till he might advise about calling a Parliament in Scotland and sending over a Lord Lieutenant into Ireland After the dutiful Addresses of his Subjects at home the neighbouring Kings of France Sweden Denmark and many Princes of Germany by honourable Embassies congratulate the Kings happy Restauration all which were outdone by the pompous and splendid train of the Prince Ligny Embassadour from the Catholick King And now it was time to bring the Murderers of Charles the Martyr to their Tryals many of whom were before clapt up in Prison others fled away secretly and wandered in foraign and distant Countries and some trusting to the hopes of a Pardon obeyed the Kings Proclamation and freely surrendred themselves Therefore on the tenth of October Harrison Carew Clements Jones Scot and Scroop who had been of the number of the Judges that condemned the King Cooke Attorney-General the famous infamous Peters Chaplain to the Traytors Axiell and Hacker Commanders of the Guards were brought to the Bar not before an accursed and new-made High Court of Justice but according to the ancient Laws of the Kingdom before the chief Justices and the rest of the Kings Justices to be tryed by a Jury of Twelve men after the usual manner of England They were chiefly charged by the Attorney-General and the Kings Council That they the aforesaid Traytors and others guilty of High-Treason conspiring with an accursed Army of Fanaticks had carried away to Prison King Charles securely treating a Peace with the two Houses of Parliament which was almost concluded in the Isle of Wight So that the House of Lords being abrogated and the founder Members of the Commons six and forty Villains that remained took to themselves the name of a Parliament invaded the Government and decreed to bring the King to a Tryal By whose authority these Parricides an High Court of Justice being impudently constituted had condemned and caused to be put to death the King of England who was above the Laws contrary to the will and to the great grief of the People To their Indictment rightly laid and fully proved having made many false and frivolous Answers concerning the supreme authority of the Parliament which indeed in this case had no authority at all they were by the Verdict of a Jury of Twelve men found guilty of and condemned for High-Treason The same Verdict past also upon nineteen other of the Kings Judges but with a different event as shall be mentioned in the proper place On the third of October a Gibbet was set up at Charing-cross near Whitehall whither in the morning Harrison being brought the first of the surviving Regicides both in guilt and punishment with the same madness and obstinacy as he had behaved himself at his tryal the cruel Traytor affecting an undauntedness at his death was hang'd and quarter'd as he well deserved CAROLE tuis jam Victima mittitur umbris Nec satis hoc fortuna putat procul absit ut ista Vindictae sit summa tui Great CHARLES a Victim to thy Ghost does fall And yet thy Fates are not appeas'd no all That just Revenge is not yet paid that shall Harrison rather of a base than low Birth was the Son of a Butcher bred at first a Pettifogging Country-Attorney but in the heat of the Civil Wars when the onely way to get into Power was Fanaticism and Treason he fled to the Rebellious Army and there turning a furious Anabaptist and advanced to be a Colonel he grew very intimate with Cromwel and his Competitor in Villany But being a proud and haughty fellow and a most desperate Republican he fell out and was highly displeased with Oliver when he was made Protector not that he hated the Tyrant Cromwel but disdained to be outstripped and to submit to one who from a fellow-Souldier was become his Prince Carew came next and suffered the like death but his Relations who had served the King in the Wars obtained as a mark of favour the liberty of burying his body which was the same night obscurely performed The day following Cook and Peters in the same place suffered the same punishment where Peters by a drunken and base death disgraced his infamous life Cook was an obscure ragged beggarly Lawyer and ambitious to get a
for the deceased or sung their Praises in hanging Elegies his Poetry surpassing his Oratory especially when he treated of such monstrous subjects Strangers may perhaps wonder and no less our Posterity at home that such base and contemptible fellows many of them Brewers others who drank as they had brewed and spent their Estates and some again whose ignominious Poverty was a scandal to the Nation should overturn the flourishing state of England and get to the top of Authority and Government Would we know the cause of it These were the Spoils and these the Trophies of Heresie which taking its rise from the Sermonizing Presbyterian Ministers increased by the Independants hurried on by the Kennel of all the Sectarians and by a kind of flying Contagion spread over all the Forces could not be stopt till they had shed the Royal Bloud subverted the Parliament and made one ruinous heap of all good Subjects Some time before September the twenty third the Princess of Orange was come into her Native Country more fatal to her than a foreign Land to congratulate his Majesties return but falling sick of the Small Pox at London on Christmas-Eve she died being snatched away amidst the Triumphs and fresh Lawrels of her Brother Charles she onely shared in the adverse fortune of her Family and renewed the Mourning wherein the Court still was for the untimely death of the Duke of Gloucester I shall begin the year with the Solemnities of the Coronation of King Charles On the two and twentieth of May the King from the Tower of London as the custom is at the Coronation of our Kings passed through the City where in honour of so great a Solemnity the Citizens of London in the more eminent places of the streets erected four Triumphal Arches of a vast height and bigness elaborate Pieces of Art and exquisite Engines of Pomp bearing Inscriptions and Devices and adorned with Painting and gilding The first Arch bore in its Frontispice the Triumph of Charles upon his return To CHARLES the II. By the grace of G. K. of G. Brit. To the Best and Greatest And ever most Venerable Ever most August The most Happy most Pious Who was born for our Good Who of his Native Britain And of Mankind in general Has deserved most To the Father of our Country The Extinguisher of Tyranny The Restorer of our Liberty The Founder of our Quiet In memory of his happy And long-desired Restitution We Willingly and Joyfully Have placed this S. P. Q. L. CAROLO II. D. G. Britanniarum Imp. Optim Maxim Vbique Venerando Semper Aug. Beatissimo Piissimo Bono Reip. Nato De Avitâ Britan. De omnium Hominum genere Meritissimo P. P. Extinctori Tyrannidis Restitutori Libertatis Fundatori Quietis Ob Faelicem Reditum Ex voto L. M. P. S. P. Q. L. The second being a Naval bore this Inscription To the British Neptune CHARLES the II. By whose Authority The Sea Is free or restrain'd NEPTVNO Britannico CAROLO II. Cujus Arbitrio Mare Vel Liberum vel Clausum The third placed in the middle of the City represented the Temple of Concord with this Inscription The Temple of CONCORD Erected in honour of the best of Princes By whose return The British Sea and Land being appeas'd and By its ancient Laws reform'd He has restored Enlarged and adorned it S. P. Q. L. Aedem CONCORDIAE In Honorem Optimi Principis Cujus Adventu Britannia Terrâ Marique Pacata Et Priscis Legibus Reformata est Ampliorem Splendidioremque Restituit S. P. Q. L. The last exhibited the Garden of Plenty and Cornucopia's with the Statues of Bacâ—bus Ceres Flora and Pomana with this Inscription To Plenty and to Augustus The fire of Civil War Being Extinguished And the Temple of War shut This Lofty Altar Was built by the S. A. P. O. L. VBERTATI Aug. Extincto Belli Civilis Incendio Clausoque Jani Templo Aram Celsiss Construxit S. P. Q. L. Under all these the King rode on horse-back streight to his Palace in a triumphant manner with Trumpets Musick and the joyful Acclamations of the People being attended by the Nobility his Majesties Ministers and Servants the Heralds Kings at Arms the Kings Judges and Knights of the Bath The solemnity of this day though it was not so great in the number of Attendents yet in richness and splendour of Cloaths and Arms it surpassed the triumphant Entry of the King upon his return Next morning the King was in great pomp conducted to Westminster-Abbey where in his Imperial Robes the Prelates in their Myters and the Nobles in their Parliament-Robes conducted him to his Throne and the Archbishop of Canterbury anointed him with the sacred Oyl Afterwards all the ancient and usual Ceremonies upon such occasions were performed ¶ The Author of this History designing the utmost brevity hath not mentioned any of these Ceremonies but Mr. Philips in his Continuation of Dr. Richard Baker's Chronicle has very exactly set forth all the Rituals then used but hath omitted the Coronation-Oath and onely given an Epitom of it and there having of late years been strange Pretences raised upon the account of this Oath it is thought fit to insert the same here from Mr. Sanderson's History of Charles the First with that variety of Circumstances which were used in the Coronation here mentioned expressed by Mr. Philips Coronation-Oath SIR said the Bishop of London will you grant and keep and by your Oath confirm to the People of England the Laws and Customs to them granted by the Kings of England your Lawful and Religious Predecessors and namely the Laws Customs and Franchises granted to the Clergie by the Glorious King St. Edward your Predecessor according to the Laws of God the true Profession of the Gospel established in this Kingdom agreeable to the Prerogative of the Kings thereof and the ancient Customs of the Realm The King's Answer I grant and promise to keep them Bishop Sir Will you keep Peace and goodly Agreement according to your power both to God the holy Church the Clergie and the People King I will keep it Bishop Sir Will you to your power cause Law Justice and Discretion with Mercy and Truth to be executed to your Judgment King I will Bishop Sir Will you grant to hold and keep the Laws and rightful Customs which the Commonalty of this Kingdom have and will you defend and uphold them to the honour of God so much as in you lieth King I grant and promise so to do Then the Bishop of Rochester read this Admonition to the King before the People with a loud voice Our Lord and King we beseech you to pardon and to grant and to preserve unto us and to the Churches committed to your charge all Canonical Priviledges and do Law and Justice and that you would protect and defend us as every good King to his Kingdoms ought to be Protector and Defender of the Bishops and the
Churches under their government The King answered With a willing and devout heart I promise and grant my Pardon and that I will preserve and maintain to you and the Churches committed to your charge all Canonical Priviledges and due Law and Justice and that I will be your Protector and Defender to my power by the assistance of God as every good King in his Kingdom in right ought to protect and defend the Bishops and Churches under their government Then the King arose and was led by the Bishops of Duresme and Bath and Wells to the Communion-Table where he made a solemn Oath in sight of all the People to observe the Premises and laying his hand upon the Bible said The OATH The things which I have here promised I shall perform and keep So help me God and the Contents of this Book On the eighth of May a new Parliament met which continued many years Since the year before the Regicides had been brought to condign punishment the three Estates of Parliament now condemned to the flames the Solemn League and Covenant the Bond of the English and Scottish Conspiracy and Sacrament of the Presbyterian Villany The same was done by the Parliament of Scotland and Ireland and that which had raised a Civil Combustion and propagated the same all over Britain and Ireland is now burnt by the hand of the Hangman and by its own ashes expiated at length the wickedness of three Nations This year was concluded or the new begun by the further punishment of Regicides For by Order of Parliament Mouson an upstart Lord Sir Henry Mildmay heretofore Keeper of the Jewels to the late King and therefore the more criminal and Robert Wallop on the seven and twentieth of January the day whereon the blessed King had been condemned were in Hurdles with Halters about their necks dragged to Tyburn and back again to Town being sentenced to perpetual imprisonment It was sufficiently made out that they had been Members of that execrable High Court of Justice but because they had not signed the Warrant for the Kings execution they were onely punished by Bonds and Imprisonment Hazelrigg in the mean time one of the bitterest of all the Traytors being sentenced to the same punishment pined away with anger and grief and unable to bare his disgrace prevented the dishonour and his captivity by a timely death in the Tower of London The same punishment was inflicted upon the Traytors who as we said before came in upon the Kings Proclamation For being brought to the Bar because waving all defence they humbly acknowledged their Crime and that they were a Crew most part of them of silly seduced Rascals drawn in either by the arts or threatnings of Cromwel they redeemed their necks from the Gallows which they had so often deserved by a perpetual imprisonment to which being closely confined they lived to see their Villany punished by Infamy But fortune was more favourable to the Traytors that came in at home than to those who fled abroad for about that time Sir George Downing being Embassadour in Holland had intelligence that three of the Fugitive Regicides Barkstead Okey and Corbet being come back out of Germany lurked in Delf He therefore having obtained a Warrant from the States General seized them and sent them over to England where being brought to a tryal they were condemned for High-Treason and April the nineteenth executed at Tyburn They went all to death with a fanatical ostentation of Piety But Barkstead and Corbet approaching to their end after many ugly delays and cups of Strong-waters unwillingly put their trembling necks into the Halter which quickly put an end to the Wretches half dead already for fear But Okey being a man of an undaunted mind and making use of his courage to the last went off with the bravoury of a Souldier and not undecently had he so died for his Country Corbet was heretofore an inspired prating Lawyer more skilful in the Principles of Fanaticks than in the Laws he got to be a Member of that long and black Parliament and no man was more professedly an implacable Enemy to the King The low extraction of Okey is buried in obscurity Being a Tallow-chandler in London and weary of his poor condition he followed the profitable Wars of the Parliament where his daringness advanced him to the place of a Colonel and at length to be one of the chief Judges in trying and sentencing the King Barkstead was heretofore a whifling Goldsmith in London and had raised himself upon the Ruines of his Country But those who knew the cunning of Oliver in chusing his Magistrates wondered that he preferred so silly and idle a fellow even to be a Colonel and Lieutenant of the Tower of London besides other Offices But that kind of stupid fierceness was more useful to Cromwel than the cunninger knavery of others for the Tyrant himself for the most part looked another way and commanded the Villanies which he would not behold so that this fellow no doubt was privy to the furious Councils of Cromwel and a trusty Minister of his Protectoral Cruelty And so long as he was chief Jaylor to Oliver the barbarous Villain was never startled at the sight of the Murders and Imprisonments of so many Nobles and worthy Subjects His head was set upon a Gate of the Tower whereof heretofore he had been Governour that upon the same Stage where he acted his greatest Crimes he might suffer his greatest Punishment The first Prodigy of the Regicides was their matchless impudence in putting to death the King and their next their obstinacy to the last For when they had murdered the best of Kings to the shame of Christianity the infamy of the Reformation and the universal reproach and malediction of Fanatick Zeal these godly Regicides were ashamed when Treason stuck in their breasts to confess their hypocritical pretending Religion even at the last gasp Nay their Godliness made them so impudent as rather to know themselves guilty and deny it to save their reputation amongst their Brethren than humbly and modestly to acknowledge their Crimes The Authority of Parliament was the onely thing that all of them alleadged to justifie their Parricide as if a Gang of fifty Robbers who had so often violated that Authority had been worthy of that name when there was neither the colour nor resemblance of a House of Commons left Nec color Imperii nec frons fuit illa Senatûs But since they could live no longer to do mischief their whole care was at their death to harden the minds of their Party by a fanatical assertation of dying good men when it was rather the highest Judgment of an offended God to let them fill up the Cup of their bold Indignities by a desperate end It was time now for the King who was a Batchelour to think of Marriage that he might leave a Posterity for the future
Fortifying an old Castle near the Walls The Counsel took But the work not as yet finished Jones unexpectedly fall in upon thâ—m And having defeated all the Forces of the besiegers obtains a great Victory Part of the Kings Souldiers fly to Drogheda The Lord Lieutenant to Kilkenny And thâ—n to Drogheda And delivers it from the fear of Jones And also Fortifies other places In the mean time Cromwell slighting Munster arrives aâ— Dublin With fifteen thousand old Souldiers Of whom he marches wâ—th ten thousand to Drogheda Which was defended by Sir Arthur Aston and the Flower of the Kings Army Cromwell forthwith batters the Walls He himself commanding the attack makes his way into the Town and kills all he meets The sad spectacle of the Town taken The number of the slain The Garrisons about either deserted or easily surrendred The Lord Lieutenant is deserted by many of the English Souldiers But yet not by all The Irish ill affected towards him Yet he raises an Army Huson put into the Government of Dublin Cromwell marches to Wexford Summons it to render Then making an attack he first takes the Castle And then the Town Thence he marches to Ross with an Army sick and much weakened Of which Taff was Governour having just received a supply of fifteen hundâ—ed men Yet upon the first attempt he surrenders the Town and marches to Kilkenny with fifteen hundred men Peace betwixt the Lord Lieutenant and Oaen Who shortly after dies The Princes Rupert and Maurice with six Ships hover upon the Irish Coast and Blake pursuing them they fly to Kingsale Being blockt up there they escape through the Enemies Fleet and set Sail for Portugal Estionege being taken Cromwell makes a Bridge of Boats over the Barrow He takes Carick and Passage He attempts Waterford but in vain Now at length he bethinks himself of Winter Quarters All Munster revolts The Treachery long ago â—ssâ—ied at Youghal Is now accomplished at Cork Where Inchiqueen's Lady and Children are imprisoned And Cromwell puts his Men into Winter Quarters Jones dies The Lord Lieutenant calls a general Council and persuades Dissenters to Vnion Which they all pretend He endeavouors to recover Passage by Farell Who by Zankie is intercepted and put to flight In vain imploring the assistance of the Waterfordians Inchiqueen being about to recover Wexford is hindered by Nelson Cromwell having received Recruits from England divides his Forces and marches against the Enemy He easily takes a great many Garrisons Calls Huson with his Pâ—ers to joyn him They jointly take Gora Then they march to Kilkenny the place where the Committee of the Estates met Which having made a brave Resistance at length yields upon Condition The Siege of Clonmel Reynolds is sâ—nt to hinder the Lord Lieutenants Levies With good success Broghill takes the Bishop of Ross coming to the relief of Clonmell and hangs him up The Garrison forsake Clonmel and make their escape by night Whom Cromwell in vain pursues He easily subdues several smal places The Exploits of the Elder Coot in Ulster Who takes the Bishop of Cloger the General of an Army and hangs him up Husons Victories Cromwell Ireland being almost subdued within the space of a year is recalled for the Scottish expedition He leaves his Son in Law Ireton General in Ireland to whom Waterford being Besieged yields upon Conditions And in the same manner Carlow and Duncannon The Papist Clergy basely affected towards the Lord Lieutenant From whom they endeavour to alienate the mind of Inchiqueen As also the Lord Lieutenant from Inchiqueen The Lord Lieutenant exhorts to Concord and Obedience Being ready to renounce the Government for the Publick good The Irish at present seem sorrowful But presently again fall to Calumniating Thuamensis Clonfertensis And declare his Government void He thâ—refore yields and appâ—ints Clanricard his Deputy Who having made new Levies Goes on prosperously Till Axtel who upon the first encounter had retreated that he might procure Recruits Beat him out of his Camp fortified by two Lakes and put him to flight Why the Irish so Cowardly They are compared with the English Souldiers A treaty with the Duke of Lorrain But fruitless Clanricard stops all the passages for the enemy into Connaght Yet Coot by stratagem having past the Collough mountains got into it Ireton passes the river Shannon at three places Athalone with other Garrisons are presently taken Farell being forced to retreat Coot attacks Galloway Ireton besieges Limmerick Which upon Artiâ—les agreed upon but not signed is surrendered to him He causes the Bishop of Ferne and some others to be hanged The death and character of Ireton Galloway prest Coot Is taken And also consumed by the Plague Ireland being now totally subdued is governed by four Commissioners Who first suppress the Tories Publick enemies It is consulted about a Successor to the late Ireton Lambert is chosen Deputy of Ireland Whose Commission whilst He is commanded to supply onely the place of a Commissioner Lambert refusing Fleetwood is sent His Character The broken remnant of the Irish forces yield to Broghill And Ludlow Having first obtained liberty to go beyond Sea The first Authors of the Rebellion are brought to Tryal Especially Phi-Oneal and Luke-O-Tool Who at their death acquitted the King from a false and scandal◠〈◊〉 report The Plague rages in Ireland Especially at Dublin And a grievous Famine also Both English and Irish are burdened with Taxes The Souldiers in the mean time live at their ease and the Commanders grow rich All Law in a manner Arbitrary Some Forts surprised by the Rebells are recovered by Reynolds The distribution of the Irish Lands as a punishment for their Rebellion Many of the Kings Party fall under the same censure The Popish Nobles are condemned of Treason The Neutrals are fined in a fifth part of their Estates Strife betwixt the new and old Souldiers about dividing the Spoil Is at length composed The way of measuring the Lands invented by Sir William Petty a Doctor of Physick The Sectarians flocking together in Troops Cromwell calls home Fleetwood from Ireland As being too favourable to them And sends his Son Henry at first as his Substitute Who in the first place takes upon him the care of Religion Of the Preachers And of the Colledge As also of Civil affairs of Justice And Trade The Royalists being received more mildly His Assistants and Counsellers Cromwell calls a Parliament at London The Irish are commanded to Abjure Popery Henry's clemency as to that particular The Irish are enjoyned to transplant themselves into Connaght And what was the cause of it Yet it is by many cunningly evaded Henry neglecting both his own and brothers interest Delivers up the Government to the revived rump-Rump-Parliament A Petition of the Magistrates of London to the Rump-Parliament for their Citizens turned out of the common Council Is rejected with contempt The attempts of King Charles the Second for himself and his Subjects By asking help from Foreign Princes By
several Ambassadours especially of the Spaniard by Hide afterwards Chancelour of England and Earl of Clarendon And the French in person But with little success every where The Turk delivering up the Ambassadour Hide brother to the Chancelour into the hands of the rump-Rump-Parliament who being brought to London is beheaded The French flattering with vain hopes And at length making a league with the Regicides The Spaniard declining to meddle in other peoples business And being the fiâ—st of all that owned and complemented the Common-wealth of England For what Reasons chiefly instigated thereunto The King of Portugal being able to do little And Sueden fickle The Duke of Holstein brought some succours The Dane indigent of money The Pole engaged in domestick troubles Others benevolent but not much to the purpose The King 's chief hope in his own Subjects Of whom a great many extreamly well affected but very weak in strength Ascham who he was An envoy from the Rump-Parliament to the King of Spain He is privately killed with his Interpreter One of the Murderers taken making his escape suffers for it The King of Portugal offends the Regicides because he would not force Prince Rupert and Prince Maurice cut of his Harbours when Blake desired to fight them Blake therefore takes some Porteguese Ships laden with Suger and sends them into England The Princes hardly escaping sail to America Where Maurice was unhappily cast away Rupert returning back to the Coast of France The Portuguese Ships are restored Strickland the Ambassadour being slighted in Holland returns home The Dutch Ambassadour is commanded to depart England To whom another presently succeeds from Amsterdam St. Jones and Strickland are sent into Holland with great Equipage Who nevertheless being fooled by the States And exposed to continual dangers They return without doing of any thing This enraged the Parricides And made them give out Letters of Reprisal Whitlock Sails to Sweden with a splendid Embassy for the Queâ—n Who resigning the Crown the King sends ovâ—r Bond Ambassadour to Cromwell An expedition for reducing the Isles of Silly Of which two after a conflict of three houres continuance are taken The rest at length surrender upon articles As also upon Barbadoes an Island in America A high Court of Justice is again erected and that a standing Court. A lively description of the sad faee of affairs Informers swarm in all places Nothing secure from Spies Who had a thousand tricks to do mischief A New set of Trapans come in play Who amongst others are fatal to Colonel Andrews By the craft of these the Lord Craven is forfeited And others brought into the danger of their lives Whilst the accursed authors are secure As being put upon these tricks by the Regicides The Scots consent to Monarchy and that in the person of Charles the Second those that were of a contrary opinion not daring to resist Yet they disagree about the conditions At length CHARLES the Second is proclaimed King of Scotland England and Ireland And Windram is sent to the King from the Convention of Estates That he might inform him upon what conditions he was to be admitted Which were to this purpose The King having read the Letters writes back to the Scots by Fleeming Afterwards by the same Windram And appoints Breda in Holland for a Treaty Then deliberates with his Friends Of whom some dread all concord with the Scots Others perswade him to listen to the Scots As the Queen-Mother also did ☞ The King acquaints Montross with the Treaty to be held with the Scots at Breda And presently leaves the Isle of Jersey The convention of the Estates of Scotland chuse Commissioners And agree upon Articles to be sent to the King Which proposed at Breda And presently after a few more by other Commissioners especially against Montross The deplorable fate of that Excellent Hero is related Who wâ—th a small handful of men arrives too soon in Scotland He is sadly disappointed of his hopes the Nation being now worn out with troubles and inclinable to peace He takes Dumbeath And hastens to pâ—ssess himself of a Pass But Straughan was at hand with three hundred Horse Who perceiving his opportunity falls upon him easily routs and puts his men to flight Montross betakes himself to flight and being spent with three days fasting confiding in a treacherous man is brought to Leslie And from thence into the Jaws of his Enemies and is basely used at Edinburrough Next day he is in Parliament accused of hainous Crimes Which he shortly answered and refuted Nevertheless he is Condemned by Chancellour Loudon to suffer in a most horrid manner Next day he suffered a barbarous and inhumane death The King was extreamly grieved at this misfortune and expostulates with Murrey Yet he conceals his Anger The Scots labour to soften and appease the King Who at length consents to their Articles And together with the Commissioners that in different Ships he puts out to Sea by whom he is on Board plied with new Proposals about the Solemn League and Covenant Which with reluctancy he subcribes in presence of Witnesses And at length after many dangers arrives in the Spey With the general applause of the People He is splendidly entertained at Aberdeen And at Dundee also And when he came to Edinburrough he was solemnly proclaimed King of Scotland England and Ireland There he is managed at the pleasure of Commissioners and continually vexed by the Ministers By the Laicks also almost divested of his Royal Power The Regicides informed of all that past look to themselves Therefore passing by Fairfax who favoured the Sâ—ots Cromwell is recalled from Ireland who with much solemnity and applause returns to London And is presently declared Captain General of the Forces in place of Fairfax for an immediate Invasion of Scotland The Scots send Dehortatory Letters To which the English Officers answer ☜ Cromwell also wheadles the common people of Scotland with sweet words But in vain seeing all fled leaving no victuals behind them Cromwell having entered Scotland The Scots encamp betwixt Leeth and Edenburrough Cromwell shews himsâ—lf and provokes them to Battel Then thinks of falling in upon their Camp but thinks it safer to march back to Musselbrough to refâ—esh his Souldiers Lambert beats back the enemy in pursuit of the English Straughan offers great matters relying not only on the Prayers but also the Horse of the Clergy He falls upon the English But is beat off and loses his Horse The King reduces the terrified Souldiers into order For which the Souldiers shew him very great Honouâ— The Commanders are angry The Ministers pray him to withdraw To whom with much ado he at length listens The Prisoners are sent home in Cromwells Coach Cromwell returns to Dunbar And from thence suddenly marching back again disturbs the joys of the Scots The Kirk and States renounce the defence of Malignants Cromwell takes two Forts in view of the Scots Who budg not for all that And to wash off the
Royalists whom he spoils of the tenth part of their Goods Withot any distinction He sets Major Generals over Provinces Who had great power given them over suspected persons Especially over Ministers turned out of their Livings who are not permitted so much as to teach little Children At length their Exorbitant Power being suspected to Cromwell himself they are wholly abolished Some Imprisoned for the Royal Cause For a Murder afterward committed are brought to a Tryal and acquitted by a Jury After the same manner Lilburn escaped Death and Stawell thrice The Tyrant objects against the Ancient Custom of a Jury of twelve Men. This wholesom Custom is justied Cromwell assists the Protestants oppressed by the Duke of Savoy An Expedition into the Mediterranean Sea under Blake Who easily agreeing with the Algerines He chastises the Pride of those of Tunis by burning their Ships in the very Harbour Another greater into America The first reason of it The second The third The fourth The fifth Penn Admiral at Sea and Venables General at Land The Spaniard being afraid They arrive first at Barbadoes Afterwards they saile to Hispaniola with a design to proceed to Carthagena after they had taken St. Domingo But they are first overcome by the heat and thirst Then by the Inhabitants And at length by a Plague in Jamaica whither they had betaken themselves The Spaniard declaring War Cromwell assists the French upon these Conditions King CHARLES and the Duke of York being invited go into Flanders Where the Duke serves the Spaniard Manasses Ben Israel a Jew desires liberty for his Nation to live and Trade in England To which Cromwell listens in hopes of gain But having first consulted Divines Of whom some contrary to his expectation are of a contrary Opinion The English Fleet Commanded by Montague and Blake Defeats eight Spanish Ships richly laden whereof two were taken A second Parliament câ—nsisting onely of Coâ—moners wherein Scots and Irish are admitted Suits better with Cromwells Interests Since they would have made him King Alledging these Reasons for it To which he answering They strongly reply The chief Argument Who they were that would have had him take the Title of King And who on the other hand as fiercely opposed it The Cavaliers for several reasons were for the first Advice Cromwell rejecting the Crown which be so earnestly coveted With much ado he obtained from the Parliament the Title of Protector And is solemnly Inaugurated by the Speaker The sink of Hereticks of these times Of whom Naylor had the impudence to give himself out for Jesus Christ Vntil he was Whipt and Imprisoned who deserved a thousand times to be put to Death Sundercome a Republican plots against Cromwell Who being betray'd by another Conspirator is brought to a Tryal and condemned But he prevented the Executioner by a sudden Death The Republicans rising are apprehended Lambert being Disbanded Fleetwood is put in his place Cromwells Lords of the very dregs of the People Some of the Nobility being mingled with them who disdain such companions Falconberge also his Son-in-law and both his own Sons Of whom he sends Richard to lead a Countrey Life Who at length is made Chancellour of the Vniversity of Oxford and one of his Fatherâ—s Privy Council A Parliament of two Houses who agree ill betwixt themselves the Bastard Peers being despised by the Lower-House And therefore that Parliament is dissolved New Designs of the Cavaliers are disappointed by Cromwell they being discovered by secret Spies Many are brought to Trial for their Life Two of the more remarkable are beheaded Four others drawn hanged and quartered Cromwell for greater security levies new Troops of Hâ—rse consisting of Voluntiers Blake with unparallell'd boldness burns the Spanish Fleet in the very Harbour of Sancta Cruce His Death Character and Actions The Dane makes War against the Swede â—ow victorious in Poland The Swede hastning his return invades Denmark revenges himself on the Dane and reduces him to extremity Afterward he demands Assistance from the English and the Dane from the Dutch Cromwell sends thither a Fleet and two Mediators The Dutch likewise assist the Dane having fought the Swedes at Sea The French by the assistance of the English take Montmidy and presently after Mardyke Fort which is given to the English to be defended The Duke of York in vain attempts it Graveling being taken Dunkirk is Besieged For the relief of which Don John of Austria comes The French fight and overcome Shortly after the Governour being shot the Town is takâ—n And given to the Engllsh as a Reward for their Service Cromwel began to be sick first in Mind For the Death of his dearest Daughter And the Republicans that grew daily grew stronger Presently after being taken with a slight Fever Which at length confined him to his Bed Though he was secure of recovering Trusting rashly to his silly Ministers and Flatterers Who feed the Dying-man with vain hopes and mock God himself with their Thanks-givings From Hampton-Court he is brought to London The Disease growing more dangerous He is advised by his Counsellors to name his Successour And so his Son Richard nominated shortly after he died Sept. 3. 1658. The Spleen of all other parts of his Body when opened being most affected Cromwells Character His Birth Childish Enthusiasms And Scurrility His youthful Luxury and Repentance His Penury and Want His Prejudice against the King He advises the Parliamentarians His Military Discipline His Command and Rule His way of Ruling Richard takes into his Hands the Reins of Government Not so much out of his own Ambition as indeed by the Allurements of others Cromwells expensive Funeral And Enterment amongst Royal Ashes The 〈…〉 â—ill 〈◊〉 tâ—rds Richaâ—d â—y endâ—avour 〈◊〉 Fâ—twood and him together by the Ears The Soldiers challenge to themselves extravagant Priviledges A Parliament is called wherein much time is spent in jangling without any fâ—uit Yet they are reconciled The Instrument of Government is sifted They recall Overton from Banishment They accuse Berkstead and Butler of Treason The Commanders of the Army urging their Proposals Richard is wanting to himself And is forsaken of his Friends The Officers publish a Remonstrance And are by the Parliament discharged to keep Consults This made them draw into the Conspiracy the Lâ—eutenancy and Officers of the Militia of Londâ—n Presently they beset Whitehall And Richard being overcone by their Prayers and Threatnings dissolves the Parliament He being sâ—rrounded with these dangers Is perswaded to espouse the Kings Cause â—eetwood diâ—wading him The Officers agan raise the Rump from the Dead And what sort of Men they were And bound to these Articles Send them into the Parliament-house Richard out of fear having resigned up his Authority Stript of all departs out of Whitehall And being made a laughing stock betakes himself again to a Country Life May 3. June 21. August 2. August Sept. 11. June June June April 29. May 1. May 21. June June 26. July 22. August 22. Septemb.
The two Houses come to congratulate the King The night-joys of the Citizens A happy revolution of affairs from the Kings Restauration The King appoints a Privy Council and Ministers of State The Duke of York made Admiral The Earl of Clarendon Chancellor The Earl of Southampton Treasurer The D. of Ormond Steward of the K.'s Houshold The E. of Manchester Chamberlain Nicholas and Morrice Secretaries of State Monk Master of the Horse and Duke of Albemarle Bishops restored in the Church Will. Juxon Archbishop of Canterbury An Act of Oblivion is past The Army receives their Pay and is disbanded The Duke of Gloucester dies Sept. 13. The King takes into consideration the Government of England and Ireland Congratulatory Embassies from neighbouring Princes to the King The Kings Murderers brought to tryal Octob. 10. What they were accused of They make an idle base defence And are condemned Harrison hang'd and quarter'd Octob. 3. Carew is hang'd Octob. 15. The death of Cook and Peters Octob. 16. Clements Scot Jones and Scroop executed Octob. 17. Hacker and Axtell hang'd at Tyburn Octob. 19. The punishment of the fugitive Regicides The bones of the deceased raised and buried under Tyburn Jan. 30. 1660 61. Ireton 's Character Of Pride And Bradshaw The Original of Cromwel And his Manners Catalin luxuria primum hinc conflata egestas in nefaria concilia opprimendae Patriae compulêre Flor. l. 4. Tacit. Annab l. 1. p. 4. In vitâ Agricolae Milton Mary Princess of Orange came into England Sept. 23. She died at London Dec. 24. 1661. The Solemnities of the K.'s Coronation Triumphal Arches The First The Second The Third The Fourth The King crowned at Westminster April 23. A new Parl. May 8. The traiterous Solemn League and Covenant is condemned burnt The punishment of Mouson Mildmay and Wallop Jan. 27. 1661 62. The Traytors that came in 1662. Hard. Waller â—eveningham Marten Jam. Temple Wayte Tichburn Lilburn Downs Penningt Smith Garland Geo. Fleetwood Roe Millingt Meyn Peter Temple Harvey Potter Barkstead Okey and Corbet taken Were hanged at Tyburn April 19. Corbet 's Character Okey ' s. And Barkstead ' s. The vanity of the Regicides even to the last And the cause of it The K. Thinkâ— of Marriage He marries Catharine at Portsmouth May 22. Sir Hen. Vane brought to tryal June 2. His Character 1663. Beheaded Jan. 14. 1662 63. Lambert is condemned But obtains Mercy from the King The Duke of Ormond goes Lord Deputy into Ireland July 9. The Ceremonies and Rites of the Church confirmed by Parl. May 29. The licentiousness of Fanaticks The attempt of Vennet the Cooper Flor. Infamous Libels are found Twine the Printer hang'd Feb. 24. 1663 64. Conventicles forbidden by Act of Parl. 1664. Complaints of the injuries of the Dutch What were the injuries of the Dutch They injure And provoke Holmes They falsly accuse him The Parl. is moved at the injuries of the Dutch and address to the King The King demands Reparation by his Embassadour But in vain De Ruyter 's action at Guiny The contumelious sauciness of the Dutch De Wit the Dutch Dictator His Character and Arts. The confidence of the Dutch and why Alan's action The K. visits the Colledge of Physicians of London April 15. 1665. 1665. The Royal Fleet ready to put to Sea about the end of April The chief Commanders And Flag-Officers Volunteers The number of Ships and men in the Royal Fleet. They set saiâ— April 22. The Royal Fleet blocks up the Coast And the Enemy delaying to come out returns back to the English Coast The Dutch Fleet comes out The number Commanders of it They take the English Hamborough Fleet. A Sea-fight June 3. Opdam's ship blown up The Dutch put to flight Dutch Ships burnt The Commanders of the Dutch Fleet killed Volunteers killed in the English Fâ—eet Lawson dies De Ruyter is abroad at Piracy Attempts Barbadoes April 20. Spoils New-found-land Is made Admiral The Earl of Sandwich braves the Dutch The Royal Fleet attacks the Dutch East India Fleet in Bergen A Plague breaks out in London And then rages over England The K. went to Oxford The K. returned to London Feb. 1. 1665 66. War proclaimed in London against the French Feb. 10. 1666. Prince Rupert and the D. of Albemarle Commanders of the Fleet. The Prince is sent against the French Fleet. May 29. In the mean time the Dutch Fleet offers Albemarle an Engagement And they fight June 1. The Fight is renewed June 2. The Royal Fleet thinks of retreating June 3. Prince Rupert opportunely rejoyns the Fleet. The Fight is again renewed June 4. The Dutch Fleet flies The Royal Fleet puts into Harbour June 6. The Dutch dare the Royal Fleet. The Royal Fleet sets out to engage them July 17. And engages the Dutch July 25. The Dutch flie The Royal Fleet blocks up Holland Holmes sails to the Uly And there burn 150 ships The Dutch Fleet sails for France Aug. 16. The Fire of London Sept. 2. The fire is put out Sept. 4. The Fictions of Fanaticks concerning the Fire Liv. l. 5. The Fleets put into Harbour 1667. The K. keeps his Fleet at home And secures the Coasts and Harbours Neighbouring Kings mediate a Peace The Dutch by surprize fall upon the Kings Fleet. June 10. Embassadours meet on both sides And conclude a Peace July 9. The building of London is taken into consideration The Royal Exchange founded Octob. 23. The death of Abraham Couley 1668. All hands are set to work in the rebuilding of London Liv. l. 26. The Monument of the dreadful Fire The Theatre of Oxford founded in the year 1664. is finished 1669. The Lord Roberts Deputy of Ireland Sept. 20. The D. of Ormond made Chancellour of the Vniversity of Oxford The Queen Mother dies in France The death of the Duke of Albemarle Jan. 2. 1669 70. His Birth and Extraction He followed the Wars in his youth Vnder Charles the First he served in the Scottish War In Ireland also 1669 70. He joyns the K. at Oxford Is taken by the Parliament and made prisoner in the Tower of London He takes on with the Parliament And goes to Ireland He marches with Cromwel into Scotland He fights against the Dutch under the Rump-Parliament Is by Cromwel made Governour of Scotland The Solemnity of his Funerals His Courage His Prudence And Modesty Tacit. Hist l. 3. Tacit. Annal. lib. 4. Plin. Panegyr A Catalogue of some Books printed for and to be sold by Abel Swalle DR Comber's Companion to the Temple or Help to Devotion in 4 parts fol. Dr. Allestry's Forty Sermons whereof Twenty one now first published The Works of Mr. Abraham Cowley The Eighth Edition The second part of the Works of Mr. Abraham Cowley being what was written in his younger years The Fifth Edition The Case of Resistance of the Supreme Powers Stated and Resolved by Dr. Sherlock in 8 o Dr. Sherlock's Vindication of the Rights of Ecclesiastical Authority being an Answer to the first part of the Protestant Reconciler 8 o Pet. Dan. Huetii de Interpret Lib. 2 o quarum prior est de Optimo Genere Interpret Alter de Claris Interpret c. in 8 o L. Coelii Lactantii Firmiani Opera quae extant ad fidem MSS. recognita Commenturiis Illustrata à Tho. Spark Oxon è Theat Sheld The Case of Compelling Men to the Sacrament of the Lords Supper considered By the Author of the Charge of Scandal A Sermon preached before the King at White-hall Nov. 23. by Gilb. Ironfide D.D. A Discourse concerning the Object of Religious Worship or a Scripture-proof of the unlawfulness of giving any Religious Worship to any other Being beside the one Supreme God Part 1. A Discourse about the Charge of Novelty upon the Reformed Church of England made by the Papists asking of us this Question Where was our Religion before Luther A Discourse about Tradition shewing what is meant by it and what Tradition is to be Received and what Tradition is to be Rejected The Protestant Resolution of Faith being an Answer to three Questions c. A Discourse concerning a Guide in Matters of Faith A Discourse concerning the Unity of the Catholick Church maintained in the Church of England A Discourse concerning Invocation of Saints A Discourse concerning Auricular Confession as it is prescribed by the Council of Trent and practis'd in the Church of Rome There is now in the Press and will speedily be published Philosophia Vetus Nova ad usum Scholoe accommodata in Regia Burgundia olim pertractata 2 Vol. Duodecim According to the Edition printed at Paris 1684. in 2 vol. 4 o
mutual Answers and Replies but after much affectation of Words they still fell upon the same Heads again There was no less to do with the private Addresses of different Parties most of the Pettyfogging Lawyers the Commissioners for the Great Seal the Judges and some of the Officers of the Army relying upon the former Reasons entreat urge and earnestly importune him That he would consent to take upon him the Name of King On the other hand the Anabaptists Sectarians and Democratical Republicans by Letters Conferences and Monitory Petitions wearied him with their importunities to the contrary Many also of the Soldiers and inferiour Officers laying their Heads together frame a Petition to the same purpose But he during the whole transaction dismisses all with the same uncertainty and doubts however he severely chid the Soldiers biding them mind their own business for what had they to do with the Resolutions of Parliament that they should look to their Arms and keep themselves modestly within their own bounds not medling in Civil Affairs but that if they did forget their Duty and Obedience neither God Almighty nor he himself would be wanting to reduce them into order The Cavaliers are Tooth and Nail for his complying with the first Advice as being a Matter which they thought would not a little contribute to the reviving of their Cause whilst continual jangling and and dissentions would thereby arise betwixt the Republicans and Cromwell and the Office of King being again introduced the onely Quarrel would then be betwixt two Families which of the two had the better Title the one having it by undoubted right and the other by none at all And besides thereby it would be made manifest for what cause the War was in a great part begun to wit the sole Ambition of Cromwell But he having taken time to weigh with himself all their Opinions thought it more modest and suitable to his Interest to retain his more than Regal Authority circumscribed by no Laws under the submissive Title of Protector than by coveting an August Name render himself ridiculous to the World At length having called the Parliament unto him He tells them That at present he durst not take upon him the Administration of the Government with the Title of King though he was resolved in future Parliaments to introduce it by degrees how humbly soever at present he carried himself and utterly rejected the same I cannot tell whether or not it be worth the mentioning what many interpreted as a bad presage Whilst the Members of Parliament were going up to the Banqueting-House in Whitehall to have the last Debate with Cromwell about that Affair his eldest Son Richard being in company with them the old Stairs by which they mounted being overcharged with weight broke with them so that many fell to the ground of whom not a few had bruises in their Legs and Arms and amongst the rest Richard being grievously wounded lay by it a long time But since Cromwell refused the Title of King the Parliament by the superiority of two Voices onely confirmed to him that of Protector which he had taken before and that they might not seem to have done nothing at all they agreed about reforming the Instrument of Government and added a House of Peers or Lords to be chosen by him That these Men might as occasion offered be a check sometimes to the Commons when they proceeded too hastily They give him likewise Power of appointing his Successour or next Heir That no Man however lawfully elected according to the above-mentioned Conditions should under any pretext whatsoever be excluded from sitting in Parliament On a day appointed the Members march to Westminster-hall there solemnly to Inaugurate Cromwell and to receive his consent So soon as he had mounted a Stage erected for that purpose round which the Members of Parliament sat Widdrington the Speaker reaching to him the Ensigns of Majesty to wit a long Purple Robe lined wtth Ermin the Holy Bible a Sword and Scepter thus he speaks to him standing near him under a Canopy of State This Robe of Purple is an Emblem of Magistracy and imports Righteousness and Justice when you have put on this Vestment I may say you are a Gown-man This Robe is of a mixt Colour to shew the mixture of Justice and Mercy Indeed a Magistrate must have two Hands Plectentem Amplectentem to cherish and to punish The Bible is a Book that contains the Holy Scriptures in which you have the happiness to be well versed This Book of Life consists of two Testaments's the Old and New The first shews Christum Velatum the second Christum Revelatum Christ Vailed and Revealed It is a Book of Books and doth contain both Precepts and Examples for good Government Here is a Scepter not unlike a Staff for you are to be a Staff to the weak and poor It is of Ancient use in this kind It 's said in Scripture That the Scepter shall not depart from Judah It was of like use in other Kingdoms Homer the Greeek Poet calls Kings and Princes Scepter-bearers The last thing is a Sword not a Military but Civil Sword it is a Sword rather of Defence than Offence not to defend your self onely but your People also If I might presume to fix a Motto upon this Sword as the Valiant Lord Talbot had upon his it should be this Ego sum Domini Protectoris ad protegendum Populum I am the Protectors to protect his People Then having given him his Oath and read over the Articles of Government with sound of Trumpet he is Proclaimed Protector of the Commonwealth of England Scotland and Ireland c. but with faint Acclamations from the People Hence you may understand what and how great things the Power of a Tyrant counterfeit Virtue Lawyers fetches fawning hope anxious fear love of novelty and specious pretexts could against all right and reason bring to pass amongst Men in all things else for most part very Prudent and Wise That in the like case I may use the Words of another These things being thus performed the Parliament shortly after were dismissed for three or four Months and Cromwell has time to make choice of his Peers for the other House But we must not omit to take notice in this place of that unbridled licentiousness of Hereticks which grew greater and greater daily Besides Arrianism against the Divinity of our Saviour Jesus Christ and other abominable Errours which one Biddle profanely and yet safely maintained before the Parliament the Blasphemies also of Copps against the Holy Name of God and Fry who heretofore scattred his Poisons in the Parliament-House besides Erbury who as with impunity he sowed the monstrous Seeds of Heresies amongst the Souldiers and in the City whilst he was in health so dying he breathed out his last in Blasphemy Saltmarsh also and other Sectarians whose Fanatical Errours by the Enthusiasm of Cromwell and the other
for money and that the Souldiers might be paid by the spoils of the State Lambert's forces are imperiously commanded back to their Garrisons and forthwith to leave the Field upon pain of disobeying the Supreme Power and forfeiting their Duty And at the same time news was brought to Monk's Camp that the Committee of Safety was broken and the Rump again in power What could Lambert now between hawk and buzzard do he was forsaken by Fortune deluded by Fleetwood's confidence over-reached by Monk under a colour of Peace and despised by the Rump Should he return to London it was a long and difficult march and perhaps as late for the succour of his friends as dangerous to himself having such an Enemy in the rear Should he engage Monk in a Country improper for Horse the ground being covered over with Ice and Snow it would be very uncertain if not in vain since in the dead of Winter his Horse could do no feats What to do he could not tell Nor were Lambert's men truer to their Trust than Fleetwood's had been at London for so soon as they heard of the defection of the London-Regiments basely without consulting their General nay and slighting his authority they submit to the Rump Few now were to be seen at Lambert's door and fewer within nothing but silence and seldom any Guards He was no more General nor cause of the War but where he hoped for Laurel and Triumph he was fain to search a hiding place so that without any attendance he speedily and secretly betook himself to London So fallacious and uncertain a thing is Power when it is too great A certain kind of Triumviral Power now exerted it self in Britain under Monk Fleetwood and Lambert not much unlike to that Roman Triumvirat of Caesar Pompey and Crassus With almost the same gallantry Monk behaved himself in Scotland as Caesar heretofore governed in Gallia but out of their Governments Monk out-did Caesar for the Roman being come into the City offered violence to the Senate and unjustly usurped the Dictatorship The other entering London under colour of restoring the Parliament by a rare instance of Loyalty and Modesty restored the King Nor were the emulous and competing Crassus and Pompey more sollicitous in drawing in Caesar than Fleetwood and Lambert were in endeavouring to associate Monk into the Government for though they contributed their mutual assistance in overturning the Rump-Parliament yet it is certain they hardly conspired in any thing but in the fear that both of them had of Monk Fleetwood was jealous of Lambert's ambition and Lambert could not brook Fleetwood's authority the one could not admit of an Equal nor the other of a Superiour Monk therefore was courted by Letters from both as having it in his power to give the Government to what Party he pleased Nor could Fleetwood have expected better Conditions from Lambert had he prevailed against Monk which those who favoured Fleetwood in his Army perceiving avoiding all opportunity of fighting with Monk lest Lambert perchance getting the victory might turn out his Rival Fleetwood Lambert can hardly be compared to Pompey unless it be in boundless ambition and the unhappy issue thereof and Fleetwood not at all to Crassus But without doubt it was the interest of the Publick that both were undone seeing Monk getting the better restored at length Britain to it self Lambert's Forces in all places having either run away or submitted Monk divides his Army and under his own and Morgan's conduct marches streight to London a march that will be famous in all future Ages and memorable to Posterity On New-years-day having sent before the Foot he moved from Caldstream and the day after he himself followed with the Horse and took his Quarters at Wellar the next day when he was come to Morpet he received Letters from the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen of London sent by the City Sword-bearer wherein they earnestly entreat him That according to the great Trust and Power he had having now found an occasion than which Providence had never offered a greater he would relieve the distressed State and call a new and full Parliament as the onely support of their tottering Country freely offering him the assistance and concurrence of the City in the affair And now on the fourth of January Monk having marched his Army over desert Mountains in deep Winter-Snow arrived at Newcastle and the day following sets forward to Durham from thence directing his march to York near Allerton he was honourably received by the Sheriff of the County Being next day come to York he was met by a multitude of Citizens and Persons of Quality and by them splendidly conducted into the City Having performed so great a march in so short a time he rested here five days either that he might let the news of his coming flie before him to London or that having allowed some time he might by his Agents of whom he had a great many in the City be early informed of the Councils of the Rump and inclinations of the Citizens Here Monk met with Fairfax a famous Souldier and his old Companion in the Wars who now following his own humour had risen in Arms against Lambert and was with no contemptible Forces but far greater reputation come over to the right side being now with more honour an Enemy than he had heretofore been General of the same Army During this stay at York Monk received into his service some Regiments of Lambert's Army having changed the Colonels and Officers and no Enemy now appearing anywhere he mustered his Army and sent back part of it under the command of Morgan into Scotland He himself with four thousand Foot and eighteen hundred Horse marches forwards towards London Such was the Army of Monk the least and yet most renowned body of men that ever marched through England which being hardly a third part in number to the enemy buoyed up the fate of tottering Britain and the fortune of Charles the Second The Army marching from hence and being come to Nottingham he was met by Clarges who came post from London a man deservedly of great interest and authority with him He secretly informed him of the designes of the Rump the strength of the City-Forces the suspicions and jealousies of the Sectarians and that the hopes of the Citizens depended wholly on him Upon his march he was met at Leicester and congratulated by Scot and Robinson Commissioners from the Rump upon pretext of doing honour to the General and civilly waiting upon him in his march but in reality as Spies to dive into his secrets and diligently to observe his words and actions Nor was Monk less circumspect but being a great concealer of his thoughts and sparing in words accommodating all his discourse to occasion and shewing the Commissioners all imaginable respect in the Army he confirmed them in the opinion of his sincerity In this long and
not now avail them That it was madness after the slaughter of so many Royalists the killing of so many Nobles and the unparallel'd Crime of the Murder of Charles the First to expect from a young banished man and exasperated by a long Exile a Pardon which God Almighty would hardly give for so many Villanies That there remained then no remedy for them but a daring boldness whilst as yet neither the Authority of the Parliament in the House nor that of Monk in both the Armies was firmly enough setled Let us therefore dare say they and re-attempt Murders Rapines Disturbances of State and all those Villanies that for twenty years past have so well succeeded with us rather than tamely and cowardly deliver up our Liberty purchased by our blouds into the power of an Enemy who will the more cruelly be revenged upon us that he hath been so often baffled and defeated by us Let us either by greater Crimes justifie the past or bury our misfortunes with our lives in the ruine of the Common-wealth Trahere omnia secum Mersa juvat gentesque suae miscere ruinae If we must sink we 'll drown the State And involve Nations in our Fate Having thus concerted a Conspiracy there wanted onely an opportune Leader but then Lambert being the person of greatest reputation amongst the Fanaticks was thought the fittest to undertake that Charge Having therefore corrupted his Keepers he made his escape out of the Tower by night then lurking privily in the City and consulting with the Ring-leaders of the Party they concluded amongst themselves O damnable madness by corrupting the English Regiments and raising Sedition in the Army to renew a Civil War And so Lambert secretly posts to Warwick the place appointed for their meeting Thither came Axtell Okey Cobbet Crede and other bloudy Traytors where being joyned by Turncoats and the disbanded Souldiers of the English Regiments whom they had allured into their Party they suddenly make up an Army and so the unhappy General is once more in command The first that gave Monk intelligence of Lambert's Insurrection was Colonel Streater who was with a Regiment of Foot quartered in Northampton The Council of State hearing of the escape of the Conspirators proclaim Lambert and his Adherents Traytors Monk in the mean time lest leaving the City of London he might bring the publick safety in danger resolved to reserve his main Force for greater occasions and to send in all haste some Horse after Lambert to crush the designe in its Infancy Richard Ingoldsbey acquitted himself like a brave man retrieving by a bold attempt the faults that being a Colonel under both the Cromwels he had formerly committed He having Orders from Monk with a body of Horse hastened to joyn Streater's Foot at Northampton and on the two and twentieth of April being Easter-day within two miles of Daventry came in sight of the Enemy in an open Country fit for a Horse-fight and no less for flight Lambert before his Forces were ripe for Action being thus unexpectedly beset for a last proof of his Valour drew up his men in order to fight leaving the rest that was not in his power to destiny and Ingoldsbey did the like both for some hours mutually expecting the charge Whilst thus they delayed to engage it was reported that Lambert made some overtures of restoring Richard Cromwel whom he knew Ingoldsbey to have been much affected to that so he might save Stakes But he disdaining to see the force of that scenical Prince plaid again they must come to blows Providence appeared in the engagement for hardly had they begun to skirmish but that many of Lambert's Horse turned to Ingoldsbey's side the rest either daunted at the desertion of their Companions or the force of the Enemy took quarters and yielded Which when the Commanders perceived they began to think of running Ingoldsbey charging then home put Lambert hard to it who far below the great fame that he had acquired in Arms his Courage sinking with his Cause and forgetting his former Reputation tamely yielded himself Prisoner With Lambert Cobbet and Crede were taken but Axtell and Okey making their escape delayed but avoided not their deserved punishments And now again Lambert forsaken of his Friends and a Prisoner became sensible of his fortune Yet this fresh madness of Rebels had it not been seasonably quelled by Ingoldsbey and Streater would have again embrewed the Nation in Bloud and Slaughter and turned all things into new Disorders The very day that Monk mustered the Militia of London Ingoldsbey brought his Prisoners to Town who were now led in triumph where they had so often triumphed by their Villanies passing disarmed through armed Souldiers And thus the Civil Wars had an end Not long before March the 17th the Long and Black Parliament dissolved themselves a Parliament infamous for such havock made in the State so many impudent and unwarrantable Undertakings and for the murder of Charles the Martyr being twice garbl'd twice turned out twice restored and at length much more happily ended than begun And now on the five and twentieth of April a new and more auspicuous Parliament assembled being made up according to the ancient English custom of Lords and Commons The Earl of Manchester was Speaker of the House of Lords and Sir Harbotle Grimstone of the Commons And this conjunction of both Houses seemed a natural Prelude to the Kings Restauration For the English accustomed to Kingly government cried that there remained no other way of remedying the publick Distempers but a submission to the rightful government of Charles the Second So was it ordered above that God and man should concur in recalling the King to his Throne And so great was the fame of the Virtues and Accomplishments of this August young Prince that though by reason of a long Exile he was by face almost unknown to all and though he had not had a lawful and hereditary Title to the Crown yet they would have courted him to accept of the Government Nor was he less desirable when compared and put into the balance with those bloudy Vsurpers Nay the compassionate sense of his adverse Fortune and tedious Exile kindled also in his Subjects an affectionate desire of recalling him to his Right And the inconsiderate mistakes of the imperious Traytors at length came to this That the Common-wealth no less desired the King than the King the Government and the languishing condition of the Publick made it as if not more necessary for the English to have a Prince than for him to have a People While these things were a doing Charles wholly intent upon the motions of England leaving Brussels a Town under the Spanish dominion came to Breda which belongs to his Nephew the Prince of Orange from whence he dispatched Sir John Greenvile with Royal Letters to both Houses of Parliament and Letters also to General Monk