were adorned with Trophies of Military Honour carved and gilt the pedestalls of the Pillars had Shields and Crowns gilt which compleated the whole work Within the Rails and Ballasters stood eight great Silver Candlesticks or Standarts almost five soot high with Virgin-wax Tapers of three foot long next unto the Candlesticks there were set upright in Sockets the four great Standards of his Higness Arms the Guydons great Banners and Banrolls of war being all of Taffity very richly gilt and painted The Cloth of State which covered the Bed of State and the Effigies had a Majestick Scutcheon and the whole Room was fully and compleatly adorned with Taffity Scutcheons several of his late Highness's Gentlemen attending bare-headed round about the Bed of State in Mourning and other of his Highness's Servants waiting in the other Rooms to give directions to the spectators and to prevent disorders After which his late Highness Effigies was several dayes shown in another Room standing upon an Ascent under a rich Cloth of State vested in royal Robes having a Scepter in one hand and a Globe in the other a Crown on his Head his Armour lying by him at a distance and the Banners Banrolls and Standards being placed round about him together with the other Ensigns of Honour the whole Room which was spacious being adorned in a majestical manner and several of his late Highness's Gentlemen attending about the Effigies bare-headed in which manner the Effigies continued until the solemnization of the Funerals On the three and twentieth day of November in the morning the time appointed for the solemnization of the Funerals of his late Highness the several persons of Honour and quality which were invited to attend the Interment being come to Somerset-house and all things being in a readiness to proceed the Effigies of his late Highness standing under a rich Cloath of State in the manner afore specified was first shown to the company and afterwards removed and placed on a Hearse richly adorned and set forth with Scutcheons and other Ornaments the Effigies it self being vested in Royal Robes a Scepter in one hand a Globe in the other and a Crown on the Head after it had been a while thus placed in the middle of a Room it was carried on the Hearse by ten of his late Highness Gentlemen into the Court-yard where a very rich Canopy of State was born over it by six other of his late Highness Gentlemen till it was brought and placed on the Chariot at each end whereof was a seat wherein sate two of his late Highness's Gentlemen of the Bed-Chamber the one at the Head and the other at the Feet of the Effigies The Pall which was made of Velvet and the white linnen was very large extending on each side of the carriage and was born up by several persons of Honour thereunto appointed The Chariot wherein the Effigies was conveyed was covered with black Velvet adorned with Plumes and Scutcheons and was drawn by six Horses covered with black Velvet and each of them adorned with black Plumes of Feathers From Somerset-house to Westminster the streets were railed in and strawed with Sand the Soldiers being placed on each side of the steeets without the Rails and their Ensigns wrapped up in a Cypress mourning Veil The manner of the proceeding to the Interment was briefly thus First a Knight Martial advanced on Horse-back with his black Truncheon tipt at both ends with Gold attended by his Deputy and thirteen men on Horseback to clear the way After him followed the Poor men of Westminster in mourning Gowns and Hoods marching two and two Next unto them followed the Servants of the several persons of all qualities which attended the Funeral These were followed by all his late Highness's Servants as well inferiour as superiour both within and without the Household as also all his Highness's Barge-men and Water-men Next unto these followed the Servants and Officers belonging to the Lord Major and Sheriffs of the City of London Then came several Gentlemen and attendants on the respective Ambassadors and the other Publique Ministers After those came the poor Knights of Windsor in Gowns and Hoods Then followed the Clerks Secretaries and other Officers belonging to the Army the Admiralty the Treasury the Navy and Exchequer After these came the Officers in Command in the Fleet as also the Officers of the Army Next followed the Commissioners for Excize those of the Army and the Committee of the Navy Then followed the Commissioners for the Approbation of Preachers Then came the Officers Messengers and Clerks belonging to the Privy Councel and the Clerks of both Houses of Parliament Next followed his late Highness Physicians The Head Officers of the Army The Chief Officers and Aldermen of the City of London The Masters of the Chancery with his Highness learned Councel at Law The Judges of the Admiralty the Masters of Request with the Judges in Wales The Barons of the Exchequer the Judges of both Benches and the Lord Major of London Next to these the persons allied in Blood to his late Higness and the Members of the Lords House After them the Publique Ministers of Forreign States and Princes Then the Holland Ambassador alone whose Train was born up by four Gentlemen Next to him the Portugal Ambassador alone whose Train was held up by four Knight of the Order of Christ And thirdly the French Ambassador whose Train was also held up by four persons of quality Then followed the Lords Commissioners of the great Seal The Lords Commissioners of the Treasury The Lords of his late Highness most Honorable Privy Councel After whom followed the chief Mourner and those persons of quality which were his Assistants and bare up his Train All the Nobles were in close Mourning the rest were but in ordinary being disposed in their passage into several Divisions being distinguished by Drums and Trumpets and by a Standard or Banner born by a Person of Honor and his assistant and a Horse of State covered with black Velvet and led by a person of Honor followed by two Grooms Of which Horses there were eleven in all four covered with black Cloth and seven with Velvet These being all passed in order at length the Chariot followed with the Effigies on each side of which were born six Banner Rolls twelve in all by as many persons of Honor The several pieces of his late Highness Armor were born by eight Honorable persons Officers of the Army attended by a Herald and a Gentleman on each side Next followed Garter principal King of Arms attended with a Gentleman on each side bare-headed Then came the chief Mourner together with those Lords and noble personages that were supporters and assistants to the chief Mourner Then followed the Horse of Honor in very rich Trappings embroidered upon Crimson Velvet and adorned with white red and yellow Plumes and was led by the Master of the Horse Finally in the close of all followed his late Highness
this so eminent a charge as that envy it self is constrained to confess that his Fathers wisdome could not have made a better choice Much about this time the Officers at Mardike in whose breasts the rigour of the winter did onely excite the heat of those designs which they had conceived in their souls being desirous to imploy part of that unprofitable season to concourse and consult that Oracle of Prudence who by the conduct of their Heroick Projects did inspire into them the vertue and efficacy to compass their designs and to surmount even the greatest difficulties Sir John Reynolds I say Commander in chief Collonel White and some other Officers being impatient to enjoy the happiness of seeing and consulting his Highness embarqued at Mardike for England but the mischance was that being assailed by a tempest they were unfortunately cast away upon the Goodwin Sands and so frustrated all the world of the expectations of those fair hopes which were conceived of their valours and of so fortunate beginnings On the fourth day of the moneth of February then next ensuing his late Highness repaired to the Lords House then in Parliament and having sent notice thereof to the House of Commons by the Keeper of the Black-Rod the Speaker with the Members came to the Lords House where standing without the Bar and his Highness within under a Cloath of State being animated with his wonted vigour and resolution succinctly told them without many preambles That it concerned his Interest as much as the publike Peace and Tranquility to terminate this Parliament so that he was come thither to dissolve the same which was also immediately performed On the twelfth day of the moneth of March ensuing his late Highness being desirous to oblige the City of London in a particular manner and at the same time to witness unto them the care he took for their preservation and tranquillity he sent for the Lord Major the Aldermen and the other Magistrates of the City and having made them sensible of his tenderness and care for their good he also represented unto them that during the Calm Tempests were most of all to be apprehended so that at such times the requisite Orders and necessary preventions to resist Troubles were to be chiefly minded For to this knowing and vigilant Spirit to whom nothing was dark or hid this penetrating Light who could pry even into mens hearts and who from out of his Cabinet could discover the most secret Plots which were hatching throughout all Europe declared unto them That the Enemies both of the State and of their City did not sleep although it seemed they were quite lulled That their City was great and vaste and like unto a corpulent Body nourished several ill humours That he requested them for their own goods to have a special care and to bear a watchful eye That he relied much upon their Vigilancy and Affection and that all he could contribute thereunto on his behalf was to re-establish the City Militia which had been abolished through the disorder of the foregoing Wars and to desire them to appoint for their Officers persons of Honour and Probity well-wishers and friends to the peace and quietness of the State and publique Good Whereupon the Lord Major and Officers having returned thanks to his Highness for so signal a Mark of his confidence and goodness towards them proceeded to settle the Militia and repayed him with all the Obedience and Fidelity which a Magnanimous Prince could expect from Subjects who were well versed in the duties they owed to a Governour who had rid them of a world of miseries and delivered them from the burthen of a Civil War Nor was this precaution or forewarning of his late Highness without some grounds or foundation for on the twenty fourth of the said Moneth the quiet Serpent which hatched its poison under the green grass unawares let slip a Hiss whereupon an exact search was made throughout all London and Westminster for suspected persons divers of which were secured and imprisoned His late Highness knowing full well that States are maintained as well by Justice as by force of Arms and that those chiefly stand in need of both which through the divisions of Mens mindes touching Spiritual concernments seem to be in a continual apprehension of those revolutions which at all times have been caused in the World by the means of these diversities of opinions His Highness I say through the cause of these apprehensions and the discoveries which were already made as aforesaid caused a High Court of Justice to be erected according as it had been decreed by an Act of Parliament and settled under the great Seal of England and truly it was high time for the Swords of Justice to appear to chastise the Conspirators since the sparkles of their fury had spread themselves abroad through its veil rather by their immoderate heat then their sad looks several persons of quality were imprisoned in the Tower of London and within few dayes afterwards just like unto a River which is ready to disgorge it self into the Sea appears great and violent at its entrance so also the Conspiracy being just ready to break forth appeared the more formidable and assured there were whole Regiments enrolled and in the midnight of May-day they should have set fire on several parts of the City and whilest the confusion and horror thereof had seized all men they should have made a general Massacre of all those who would have opposed their fury His Highness like unto the Sun elevated up to the highest Heaven peirced through all those other Sphears which were darkned to all other Lights but his and dissipated those Fogs and Mists which the darkness of the Furies had spread over the City of London for on the morning of that fatal intended day the Guards were doubled both within and without the City and about five of the Clock in the Evening both Horse and Foot were drawn up in Arms the City Militia likewise keeping strong Guards all that night to prevent and hinder so sad and horrid an attempt Mean while all care was taken to discover the Firebrands before they could enter upon their exploit and as Enterprizes wherein so many persons are engaged cannot remain very secret or hidden about seven of the Clock that Evening about forty of the Conspirators were taken and carried to White-Hall and on the day following several others of all kindes and conditions were also apprehended as Gentlemen Merchants Souldiers and the like many of which were condemned to dye as Traytors but his late Highness was so merciful to pardon the most part of them to the end that like unto a second Augustus he might gain by his Clemency those hearts which would not be mollified by the horror of the undertakings nor the rigour and severity of the punishments On the second day of the moneth of June then next ensuing there arrived a strange accident on
The Most excellent Oliver Cromwell Lord Gen ll of Greate Brittay Chancellor of the Vniversity of Oxford L d Cheife Gover r of Ireland ☜ Claude lib de laud Stil Similem Quae protulit Aelus Consilio vel Marle VIRUM THE HISTORY OF THE Life and Death Of His most Serene Highness O LIVER Late Lord Protector Wherein from his Cradle to his Tomb are impartially transmitted to Posterity the most weighty Transactions Forreign or Domestique that have happened in his Time either in Matters of Law Proceedings in Parliaments or other Affairs in Church or State By S. Carrington Pax quaeritur Bello London Printed for Nath. Brook at the Sign of the Angel in Cornhill 1659. FUIMUS The Right honble Charles Viscount Bruce of Ampthill â—en â— Heir Apparent of Thomas Earl of â—â—â—â—bury Baron Bruce of Whorleton To His most SERENE HIGHNESS RICHARD Lord PROTECTOR OF THE Commonwealth of England Scotland and Ireland and the Dominions and Territories thereunto belonging May it please Your Highness AS nothing can be presented to the Potentates of the World of greater value then the Labours of Famous Historiographers who describe to the life the Examples of such Eminent Personages as were transcendent in preceding Ages and may in their Successours beget both Emulation and Experience so shall I not need to apprehend that this History which in all humility I present unto Your Highness will prove unacceptable since therein You may encounter with such a Model of all kinde of Vertues and Perfections as I hope may take a deeper impression in Your Highnesses Breast in regard that it will be found that Art herein is seconded by Nature And whereas I am under the lash of a severe Castigation for my presumption in profering this History to Your Review as I acknowledge when I seriously consider how You have attracted to Your Self that lively Pourtraiture of his Great Soul that You appear the true Embleme both of his Vertues and Majesty May it please Your most Serene Highness I cannot chuse but address this present Oblation as to Your Self so in other Languages to the rest of the Princes and Potentates of the Earth I bequeath it unto posterity very humbly craving the favourable Protection of Your Highnesses Patronage Nor durst I publish so glorious a Work to the World before I had craved Your Highnesses pardon for my Rashness in adventuring to trace those Vigorous Lineaments in the Alexander whom Your Highness so well resembleth and in whom your Highness beareth so great a part Moreover as a sole Apelles could onely be capable of so great an Enterprize so it will be altogether unnecessary for me to endeavour the Description of that Pourtraiture which so evidently is manifested to all the World both in Your Highnesses Person and Actions Wherefore my Lord I must needs confess that Your Highness is the true Original and mine onely relating to the Out-side of so Great and unalterable an Albionist The truth is I finde not in my self ability to express the Real Worth of His Accomplishments and Hardy Features accompanied with that Vivacity and Lustre which secret Mystery lyeth onely in the Hand of that great Master of Nature and Extant in that very Personage whose Simile is hardly this Day to be found in the whole Vniverse except in Your Inimitable Self Nor doth Art or Humane frailty allow so much to be in the Possession of the best men Therefore those who go about to Pourtraict such like Incomparable Personages cannot avoid one of those extremities which Painters run into when they go about to represent the Sun who either place themselves at so great a distance as that they can onely discover an ineffications and feeble Reflections of its Beams or approach so neer unto it as that being dazled with its Resplendency and overcome with its Heat they are bereaved of their Senses and retain onely their Hearts at liberty to adore and admire that powerful Hand which formed so glorious a Creature To the like Non plus am I reduced who rashly ascend to the very summit of the Throne of Honour thence to contemplate his late Highness Person surrounded by so glorious a Resplendency as no eyes are able to behold nor to be comprehended by the mindes of men so that I must needs sink under the burthen and content my self with the Poets Expression Inopem me copia fecit In which extasie all my Senses being surprized my Heart is onely left free to admire and my Tongue to plead Excuses and offer up good Wishes which I most humbly Dedicate and Devote unto Your most Serene Highness Nor could the Heavens have ever established a more fitting Personage to bear a share in or inclination unto this Work then Your Highness as well as to defend it from Envy it self And if so be History be a second Life Your Highness may judge by the black Attempts which threatned Your Glorious Father how this Work will be assailed and how many Enemies its Authour must resolve to enter into the Lists withall their Rage being thereby renewed and augmented by their perceiving that the Tomb hath onely bereaved us of the least part of this Great Heroe And how malicious soever their Envy may appear in such Stories which possibly may be written in Contradiction hereof it will onely publish from Truth it self to the World their inveterate Spleen which can never pierce through the bright Rayes of his Innocent and Glorious Actions Moreover whereas the Divine Providence hath so often and miraculously preserved the first life of his late Highness against the Attempts both of men and monsters Your most Serene Highness is also engaged as well by Imitation as by the Interest of Your Care and Royal Dignity to watch over the Preservation of his second Life which is in Your Highness by so Lawful a Succession as is devolved upon Your Self The Glorious Course whereof I resolve to trace from this very moment that I may the better publish the Illustrious Transactions thereof in five other Languages which during my Travels I have acquired In which also I intend to publish this present History the French being already perfected and fit for the Press His great Soul expecting proportionable Honours to its Dignity and his vaste Minde requiring number less Elegies which may remain as so many living Monuments not to be defaced by Times Violence nor Envy But I press this Subject too home to Your Highness since You bear so great a share therein and my self dare attribute so little of it to my own incapacity of compassing so great an undertaking Wherefore I shall onely hereby endeavour to attract others and to shew them the Borders and Coast of that vaste Sea into which they ought to lanch so that like to a Forelorn Hope I shall onely first mount the Breach and by diverse Languages animate all the Trumpets of Fame to Celebrate the Glory of his late Highness in those parts of the World where I have conversed for
the space of sixteen or eighteen years past Hoping for the future to write the Heroick Actions of this Nation in unexpugnable Characters to leave unto Posterity as an eye witness the Rehearsal of those Victories which Heaven shall bestow on England under Your Glorious Government that so I may the better satisfie my Zeal and Fidelity to Your Highness and approve my self to be Your Highnesses most Humble most Obedient most Faithful Servant and Loyal Subject S. Carrington The Preface Courteous Reader THat which I do here intend to present you with all is the Life and Death of Oliver Cromwel late Lord Protector of the Common-wealth of England that Grand Personage whose Conduct and Fortune all the world doth admire and who in the space of ten years time did accomplish the work of a whole Age nay more he perfected the work of future Ages having settled England on such good Foundations that if she continues to build thereon she may expect to produce second Edwards and second Henries This Illustrious Personages life is presented unto you in three several Scenes First you will finde him Dormant like unto David midst his Flocks untill the Troubles of his Countrey awake him And that the Almighty was pleased to call upon him to appease them as well as to en crease his glory you may reflect upon the course and progress of his valour by which being elevated almost to the sublimest pitch of his Grandeur he was left to act more absolutely according to his own prudence and was enforced to lay hands on the Reins of the most confused State that ever was Where you will finde his late Highness demeaning himself like unto a well resolved skillful Pilot in a Vessel tossed and tumbled by a tempest bestirring himself amidst the contrariest of Winds and wisely and dexterously avoiding those Rocks Shelves and Quicksands which threatned England with a second Shipwrack This his sage conduct being the more to be admired in that as then he had but a limited Power although the whole was due to his dexterity and prudence yet each one thought they had as great a share as himself in the Sovereign Power which as they supposed they had acquired by the Pen or the Sword either in the Army or in the Parliament so that all this great Politician could as then do was to reconcile those several Opinions then in agitation and to suffer himself to be swayed by the current of those windes and streams which he was neither willing nor well able to withstand at that time Now as there is nothing more dangerous in States then great and sudden changes so nothing more difficult to be managed and this being the Master-piece which a Politician hath to act this ensuing History will discover unto us the chief and several Motions Turnings Windings and Settling of the same His late Highness like unto an expert Physician was first put to read the Temperment of England her former way and manner of actings before the Current of her Humors and the Symptomes of all the Evils and Malignities which threatned her He likewise reflected on the Body Politick which he found as well as the Humane had its Replenishments and Evacuations and Crisis and then observed that as well in the one as the other those sudedn changes which happen are either Destructive or Salutary He observed that these Bodies nourished Choller as well as other Humors and thence deemed War to be the best Rubarb to purge them least otherwise they might evacuate of themselves Moreover he observed these Humors were subject to grow sharp and to rebell and that they oftentimes caused such violent and hot fits as that without the assistance of an expert and accomplished Physician death was like to ensue or which is worst most violent languishing and intollerable diseases So that the thing which is most to be admired at in the conduct of this grand Politician is that he could governe a People and procure a perfect Union and Tranquillity amidst three Nations whose mindes were agitated by several Opinions and whereby they are continually stirred against each other no motion transporting men more impetuously towards civil Dissentions then those which arise from the several Professions in Religion For besides the chief Religions profest in these three Nations viz. that of Geneva the Protestant the Episcopal and some Roman Catholicks there are sprung up throughout all England an infinite number of other Sectaries which like unto so many Hidra's did seem to issue forth from each others neck and whereby the mindes of men were so discomposed and hurried away into such violent Enthusiasmes as they stood in need of a good Guide to conduct and refrain them from a total precipitation And as it would be a difficult task to give you the several Denominations Derivations and Off-springs of all these several Schismaticks I shall therefore pass them by as being numberless Wherefore if we acknowledge as it is most assuredly true that Religion is the chief principal part which doth most of all contribute to the well ordering quiet and peaceable settling and Governing of a People we may easily judge that his late Highness the Lord Protector stood in need of more then ordinary Sagacity Prudence and Conduct to procure that Tranquillity Plenty and Splendour to England wherein he left it and the which without example is hardly to be found in all the other parts of Europe But to come nearer home to my own enterprize the Life of an Historian is the Life of History and his truth the most proper Preface to it Thus much I can safely write for my self that I have entertained no design beyond Truth as I have not made this History subservient either to Flattery or Interest I question not but the prejudice of some may go about to detect but I am so confident of my own integrity as to believe no person can forme a truer Relation of the late disturbed Affairs of these Nations I acknowledge where Originals have failed me and must do others I have conformed to Copies but of so near extraction as that they are but once removed from their Fountain I being so truly acquainted my knowledge so strongly established to trace this History as to discerne how to write so also for the credit of my laborious Industry I can affirme That my Information was not without near approaches as I continually conversed with the most principal Instruments in these admirable Transactions persons Unbiased that had certain and full Intelligence of the highest emergences whether Forreign or Domestick If I have been but as judicious and clear-sighted to perceive and write as I have been honestly unconcerned to transmit this History to posterity I shall not need to fear but stand secure against the most malicious or otherwise impertinent Imputations Having thus discharged my Conscience in these my honest endeavours I have no more to write but to bid thee read and then censure Impartially Farewell Thine S. C. The
during these English Civill Wars I must of necessity compile a whole Volume thereof since nothing worth the taking notice of ever hapned in which he was not a Sharer and wherein he was not alwaies one of the foremost wherfore I shall only insist upon two chief Actions which were of so great Importance that the decision of the whole War depended thereon and wherin the Valour of his late Highness may justly claim the greatest if not the sole share Two of the Parliaments Armies the one commanded by the Lord Fairfax and the other by the Lord Manchester being united to the Scotch Army their Confederates Commanded by the Earl of Livin had joyntly besieged the City of York the Metropolis of that County and whereof the Earl of Newcastle was Governour for the King who over and above his Garison which was very strong had also a brave and gallant Army Prince Rupert was sent by the King to raise that Siege with such considerable Forces as being joyned to those of the Earl of Newcastle did well nigh equallize the Parliaments in number The three Parliament Generals did immediatly raise the Siege to encounter Prince Rupert and the Earl of Newcastle drew forth also his Forces out of the Town and both Armies being drawn up in Battell-Array upon Marston Moore they both fought with a great deal of Fury Animosity and hopes of Victory which at first seemed to incline to the Kings Part the right Wing of the Parliaments Forces Commanded by the Lord Fairfax having the disadvantage of the Ground was over-whelmed by the left Wing of the Kings Party who routed and defeated it But his late Highness who as then was stiled but a Colonel whose after Appellations I shall observe by degrees which Fortune advanced him to who commanded the left Wing and had not the least advantage of the Ground did so violently set upon the right Wing of the Kings Party as that he brake in peeces Prince Ruperts best Regiments and forced them not only to give way but to turn their Backs and suffering only some part of his Men to pursue the Enemy he with the rest made half a turn about and charged the Enemies main Battell in the Rear so vigorously as that putting Life again into the Lord Fairfax's Souldiers he constrained them to face about and thereby so well restored the Success of the Battell as that he obtained and Entire and compleat Victory Two Generals of the Enemies and some of the best mounted of their Officers only making their escapes by their Horses good heels and this Battell was accounted the greatest that ever was fought during these last Wars The same thing likewise hapned in the famous Battell of Naseby neer unto Northampton when as his late Highness ariving in the Camp but on the Evening before the Fight gave such encouragement and joy to the whole Army by reason of his so suddain and unexpected Arivall from so great a distance of place as that it presaged an undoubted Victory The left Wing of the Parliaments Army was quite over borne General Ireton his late Highness Son-in-Law and who afterward governed Ireland in the Quality of Lord Deputy with as much Prudence and Conduct as he shewd Valour and Deserts to merit so considerable an Imployment being the second Person of the Common-wealth was carried off from the Field by two Wounds he received and was taken Prisoner but was relieved again and Prince Rupert pursued his Victory with as much vigour and hopes to gain the Battell as if the day had been his own But his late Highness on his side defeating that Wing which was oposite to him charged them with such force and Courage as that he made the Victory dubious and so it continued for a good while neither inclining to the one side not the other till at last the Kings Horse falling a running left their Foot to shift for themselves which were all cut in pieces and taken Prisoners all the Canon Baggage was likewise taken of a considerable value there was also found a Cabinet of the Kings with his Papers of great Importance The royall Standard and one hundred Colours beside were brought off and his late Highness having pursed the Kings Horse as long as he listed at length returned to the Camp with a great number of Prisoners Should I go about to number up the severall places of consequence which this Conquerour hath taken either by force or by Capitulations I should fill up a whole Volume with the Names of Towns and Fortresses alone besides intending hereby only to give you a Perspective of his glorious Life I will only instance in those worthy Actions of his whereby the Fortunes of the Wars did decide the possession of three Kingdomes Nor may we omit to reckon amongst the rest of his Heroick Atchievements the Victory which he obtained by Preston in Lancashire over Duke Hamilton and Sir Marmaduke Langdale whose united Forces amounted unto 25000 his late Higness having not above 10000 at most notwithstanding which inequallity of Forces he gave them Battell and entirely routed that puissant Army killing 3000 Scotch upon the place and taking 9000 Prisoners chasing the remaining Forces to Warrington about 20 Miles from the place where the Battell was fought and taking Duke Hamilton Prisoner at a place called Vttoxeter whither he was retired with 3000 Horse as also Sir Marmaduke Langdale the one by my Lord Grey and Colonel White and the other by Captain Widmonpoole so that but few Scotch returned to their own Country to cary back the News of so prodigious a Defeat NO sooner were the Civill Wars of England terminated by the discomsiture of all the Kings Armies the taking of his own Person and by his death but the Parliament by a solemn Vote and Ordinance changed the Monarchiall Government into a Common-wealth The Kingdome of Ireland was the first that witnessed a discontent of this Change and all the severall Parties there uniting themselves on the News of this Change they owned the late Kings Son and joyned all their Forces against the Interest of the Common-wealth and on a suddain became so powerfull and formidable as that the chief Places in those Parts submitted to their obedience Dublin only and London Derry excepted the first whereof was immediatly besieged by an Army of 22000 Men Commanded by the Marquis of Ormond and the other by a considerable Party the Natives of the Country The Royallists were as yet in possession of the Isles of Jersey and Man which places although they were adjacent unto England yet they only stood them in stead for a retreat to some Ships which robbed up and down the Seas in those Parts Nor were the Irish Businesses there arrived at the height of perfection whereas they began to decline for 3000 Horse and Foot which the Parliament sent into Ireland as the forerunner only of a more considerable Body being safely landed at Dublin joyned themselves unto the
Besides we may also look upon them as so many seeds sowen to beget those warres which thereon ensued and which were by the late Protector rather by most glorious Treaties whereunto he was sought or by most signal Victories which were obtain'd and brought to a happy period by which the blood of these two Agents so cruelly murdered were retaliated with use But to go on to our History the Treaty of Breda being absolutely concluded and notwithstanding the great Antipathy and animosity between the Royallists and the Presbyterians all their jealousies and grudges were seemingly reconcised so that the Scotch wanted nothing to compleat their design but to enjoy their Kings preserce who immediately coming to the Hague went thence for Schevelinge and embarqued himself for Scotland notwithstanding the dangers and perils of the Sea which were very great and the English Ships which had way-laid him to surprize him As soon as he was landed in Scotland the first thing they propounded unto their King was to take the solemn Oath called the Covenant that burning Torch which the Mother of Paris did see in her frenzies that fatal fire which the Scotch believe descended from Heaven and by which they at their pleasures kindle those warres wherewith they infest England which Covenant as we know was only a superstitious and warlike Prorestation made in the presence of God and Men To maintain the purity of the Religion to preserve the priviledges of Parliament and the people and to re-establish the King in his Ancestors Throne But that which seemed somewhat harsh and rude to this Prince was the terms wherein they caused him to take this Oath quite contrary to Physitians who dip their Pills in Syrrops or Sugar to make them down the glibber yet these Politicians when the whole lay at the stake it seems troubled themselves not much with the wording of the thing for amongst real friends indeed there needs not many complements nor much complacence to be used Therefore the Churches of Scotland made their King swallow this restorative in the following Beverage constraining him to protest That he renounced the sinnes of his Fathers and his own house the Idolatry of his Mothers and that he would adhere unto Gods cause in conformity to the Covenant in the firm establishment of the Church Government as it was expressed in the Directory for that publick worship which is to be rendred to God contained in the Belief and Catechism And this Cup he was forced to drink that he might obtain his Fathers Kingdome which formalities were more then requisite for to establish that Prince in the opinion of the prevailing party which was only then in a condition to help him Howbeit the English knew very well to distinguish between these Artificial fictions and the truth for the Parliament of England being duely informed of the Scots their designs and practises thought it was high time to think of the best means to oppose them and after several consultations upon this businesse it was resolved that the Lord Fairfax should command the Army in chief and with all speed march toward the North of England But he most humbly thanked the Parliament and like unto a second Cincinatus retired himself from the Dictatorship to a Countrey-life excusing himself for not serving them in that Expedition upon his Indisposition at that time The Renown of General Cromwells feats of Arms both as Governour and Conqueror of Ireland admitted of no lesse Proposals then to make him Generalissimo of the Common-wealths Armies in the Lord Fairfax his stead So that he came over again into England whilest his hands were as yet warm and was sent to give a check unto other Enemies in another Climate and under another disguise after he had settled and assured all the Conquests of Ireland and had left the necessary and requisite Orders conducing to a solid peace and establishment of those parts with his sonne-in-Law Henry Ireton so that he returned thence laden with Palms and Laurels as Trophies of his worthy Acts in those parts And scarce was he returned home but he was enforced to march towards those parts whither the glory of Conquering a second Kingdome called upon him Now the Scots who by no means would make any outward shew of the grand designs which they were hatching at the approach of the English Army on their Frontiers seemed to be very much astonished and the whole Countrey took the Allarum moreover the better to colour this their astonishment and seeming surprizal they deputed a Messenger to Sir Arthur Haslerigge as then Governour of Newcastle upon the Borders of England and Scotland to know the reason of that so suddain March of the English Army towards their Frontiers whereunto they joyned several Manifesto's setting forth the Contents of the Leagues and ample Treaties of union between the two Nations and several other particulars which served only to gain time and to make the better preparations to receive their Enemies At the same time of the English Armies advance towards the North the Parliament set forth a Manifest accompanyed by another from the General and chief Officers of the Army whereby both the one and the others declared viz. That the reasons which moved them to this great undertaking was neither the support which they expected from the Arm of flesh nor the consideration or vanity of former successes not the desire they had to compasse any of their own designs But the true assurance they had that their cause was just before God reflecting on the foregoing Revolutions and the successe which had followed them not as the handy-work of Politick men or of Humane force but as the most eminent works of Providence and the power of God thereby to make his good will appear and to shew his pleasure concerning those things which he had decreed in this world That they were obliged not to betray the cause wherein God had so evidently manifested himself after which there was nothing more dear unto them then the preservation of those who feared the Lord and who might greatly suffer either by being mistaken or by not being capable to discern the true tye of a Generall Calamity of which their Christian charity they hoped they had given sufficient proofs at the last time when they were in Scotland with this very Army of which God was pleased to make use for to break in pieces the power of those who oppressed the faithfull in those parts But that the acknowledgements of so signal a favour did but little appear in the Engagement which they had lately made with their new King and that they had not proceeded like unto good Christians in publishing that their Army was but an Army of Sectaries However that they doubted not but that God would give them the grace to forgive them that calumny and to that effect they beseeched him to be so good unto them as to separate the Chaffe from the good Corn concluding in like manner as they
after they had promised quarter to the English they killed three of them and hurt all the rest There was no English Soldiers but had a Prisoner in this Battel there being taken ten thousand most of all which except the Officers were suffered to steal away amidst which there was ten Colonels twelve Lievetenant Colonels nine Majors forty seven Captains seventy two Livetenants and eighty Ensigns and amongst the Prisoners of Quality there was the Lord Libberton and his Son the Lord Cranstone Sir James Lundsdale Livetenant Generall of the Foot and Sir Pickerten Adjutant General all their Baggage and Canon was taken to the number of two and twenty great Guns and severall lesser ones two hundred Colours and Armes for 15000 Men of the English there was but one Officer killed and Major Rooksby who afterwards died of his Wounds as also Captain Sloyd of the Lord Fleetwoods Regiment dangerously wounded His late Highness obtained this memorable Victory on the third day of September 1650 on which day he also obtained another no less famous then this And on this very day God crowned his Labours with a peacefull and resolved quiet death whereby he no less triumphed over the World and the rage of Hell then he did in this last Battel we have related over a most puissant raging Enemy at which time his Army as a man may say brought low by Want and Sicknesses was even Bedrid and at deaths very Door And as the Parliament of England had caused a day of universall Prayers and Fastings to be kept for the good success of their Army in Scotland so likewise did they order a day of generall Thansgiving for this so notable and famous Victory and the General likewise on his part did not faile with the whole Army to acknowledge the good handy work of God who had so visibly gained him and them this Battel And the better to prosecute the said Victory and to reap the fruits thereof On the seventh day of September four Regiments of Foot were sent to possess Lieth a very considerable and advantageous place where seven and thirty piece of Ordnance were found mounted on Plat-forms and a considerable quantity both of Ammunitions of War and Provisions of Victuals And on the same day his late Highness became Master of the City of Edinbrough the Metropolitan of all Scotland and caused his whole Army to march into it without any loss save the Arme of one Soldier which was shot off by a Canon-bullet from the Castle And on the next Lords-day he sent a Trumpeter to the Castle to give notice to such Ministers as had abandoned their Pulpits to come and perform their Duties in their said Callings which they having refused to do he caused English Ministers to Officiate in their places in the mean while all possible diligence was used in the Fortifying of Lieth it being concluded to be the best and most commodious sheltring-place the English could have in Scotland for the Winter Season And after his late Highness had by sound of Trumpet both at Lieth and Edinbrough caused the freedome of Traffick and liberty of Trade to be published and established a sure way for the publick Markets himself on the fourteenth marched toward Nethrife six miles from Edinbrough leaving Major General Overton with his Brigade in Edinborough On the fifteenth the Army adadvanced toward Linlithgo but by reason of the ill Weather they could not pass on forward On the sixteenth they marched toward Falkirk and the next day they came up within one mile of Sterling On the eighteenth the Councel of War being assembled a Letter was drawn up to be sent thither by which the tenderness and affection of the English towards the Scotch Nation was represented alledging that though formerly it had not taken its desired effects Notwithstanding seeing that at present the Fortune and Success of Armes had been so contrary to them they desired them to reflect on those Proposals which had been formerly made unto them and to surrender that place unto them for the use of the Common-wealth of England and a Trumpeter being sent with the aforesaid Letter who coming up almost to the VValls met with a Gentleman on foot with a Pike in his hand who told him he should not be suffered to come into the place and that his Letter should in like manner not be received In the Afternoon that very day those of the Town sent a Trumpeter to demand the Prisoners with a proffer to pay their Ransoms To whom the General made answer That they were not come into Scotland to trade in Men nor to enrich themselves but to do Service to the Common-wealth of England and to settle and establish those Dominions On the same day Orders were issued to draw up the whole Army to the very VValls of the Town and by setting scaling Ladders to the place to give a generall Assault but after it was found that there was but a little appearance to effect the same in regard of the good Condition the Place and Garison was in they changed their resolution and on the nineteenth the Army retired to Linlithgow which was accounted a very fit place to make a Garison of whereby both Sterling and Edinborough might be bridled and curbed and the necessary Orders for the fortifying of the place being given there were five Troops of Horse left in Garison and six Companies of Foot and the Body of the Army returned to Edinborough where on the twenty third of September there was a day of Humiliation celebrated and solemnly kept And much about the same time the Churches of Scotland likewise ordered a solemn Festivall for the ensuing Reasons Viz. I. To humble themselves before God and to crave his pardon for having too much relyed on the Arme of Flesh II. For the wickedness and profaneness of their Armies III. For the Spoils and other Misdemeanours their Soldiers had committed in England IV. For having not sufficiently purged their Armies that is to say For not having put out such persons as were not godly and of their Belief V. For the indirect and sinister Means which their Commissioners made use of in their Treaty with their King and the indirect waies by which they had brought him into Scotland VI. For their not having sufficiently purged the Kings Family VII For the just Grounds they had to believe that his Majesties repentance was not reall nor from his heart The rest of the Month was imployed in the making of the Siege and Approaches against the Castle of Edinborough and in applying the Mines to the VValls And on the thirtieth the English with so much gallantry surprized one of their Bulwarks as they carried thence three hundred Muskets one Ensign and severall other Armes without the loss of one Man On the first of October the Besieged began to make their Salleys to hinder the working of the Miners upon whom they fired incessantly with their great and small Shot yet however they
with the neighbouring States It is a thing worthy of observation and admiration both together that our Protectors Ancestors did alwayes bear this Motto in their Arms Pax quoeritur Bello which seemeth onely to belong to Soveraign Princes as if by a prophetical chance or else rather by a Divine Providence this Family which as it seems was designed to bear the Scepter and to restore and give peace unto England after so bloody a Civil War and so many other forreign broyls had received this glorious Motto as an earnest of its future Grandeur which said Motto doth in substance contain all the mystery of the Politicks and comprehend the two powers which God doth give to those whom he establisheth his Lievetenants upon Earth In effect we may observe that peace which seemed to have embraced our incomparable Oliver and as it were to have been incorporated with him hath ever since grown up with him until such time as its powerful branches which encreased and grew up to an infinite height had spread it felf so far as that this dutiful Daughter of Heaven whose growth is limitted by God being not able to follow him no longer was constrained onely to fix her self to the body of the tree and to suffer the branches to extend themselves to the other sides of the Sea-Coasts for to deprive that Nation of Peace which doth least deserve it having extended the War and her Tyrannies throughout all the inhabitable parts of the World For as soon as his late Highness our dread Protector had attained to the power by the means and force of Arms in England Scotland and Ireland Peace immediately brake forth and resplendently shown throughout all those parts and stopt those floods of Blood which could never have been stanched but by the greatest branches of our illustrious Oliver and not sooner had his Voice a transcendency in and over the Councels but Peace continually accompanied his Oracles Do but with me track the course of his fortunes and you will finde that bright Astrea doth follow or rather doth conduct and lead by the hand this blessed Deity and chains her up to the triumphal Chariot there to humble her and to make her know that this our Oliver was not the work of her hands but rather of her own since it is the end which doth alwayes Crown glorious and magnanimous Actions Now whereas the last Victory which General Blake obtained at Sea had gained a great stock of credit unto his late Highness both at home and abroad the whole English Nation began to witness a desire that he would undertake the Management of Affairs and put himself at the Helme of the Government and likewise all Strangers and Forreigners endeavoured to be in a good understanding with England The King of Portugal sent an extraordinary Ambassadour over into England with a gallant retinue the stateliness whereof savoured of the profusion of Peace which was also immediately granted them on very advantageous Conditions for England And almost at the same time two deputations were admitted from France which Kingdom was again for the second time unfortunately divided by a Civil War The French King by his Deputy demanded the restitution of those Ships which had been taken by the English as they were going to the relief of Dunkirk and on the other part the Prince of Conde sent a Deputy from Bordeaux besieged by the King to demand relief but all the Civility England could shew either of them at that time was not to assent at all to their demands and by that means remove all occasions of jealousie from each party besides that business being too much exasperated between England and France there could not so suddain an occomodation be expected and as to the Bourdelois all men know those French Quarrels are as short as violent In like manner several other forreign Princes and States sent over Deputations into England to endeavour to moderate a Peace between this Commonwealth and the Hollanders as amongst the rest the Queen of Sweeden The Cantons of Switzes the Imperial Hansiatick Towns of Hamborough and Lubeck But at that time there was such a combustion in the minde of the English who were at variance amongst themselves as that there was no appearance of thinking of any peace with strangers and forreigners Affairs being therefore thus embroyled at home his late Highness as then General seeing that in the Parliament the particular Interests overswayed the publick Good and that it was aparent all their drifts tended but to establish themselves into a perpetual Senate contrary to the ancient Customes and Liberties of England which require that Parliaments should have their successions and should onely be convocated from time to time and that therefore the members of the house wiredrawed Affairs by unnecessary Centestations which onely served to publish the designs and to retard the execution of them This our General I say who was designed by the Divine Providence to establish peace and tranquillity in England upon surer more sollid and more glorious Foundations entred the Parliament House accompanied by the Chief Officers of the Army and briefly represented unto them the Reasons why the Parliament ought to be dissolved which was also accordingly done The Speaker with the rest of the Members immediately departing the House some by force some through fear and others not without a great deal of reluctancy and murmuring No one living soul was aggrieved at this action neither was it so much as endeavoured to be questioned or redressed by any one all the world believing that in case the said change should bring no good with it at least it would not put Affairs in a worse predicament then they were so that the sovereign Senate was dissolved as you have heard and the power thereof was transferred into the hands of those who better deserved it since they acquired it by the points of their Swords and that they have since made appear that they knew how to use it with more prudence and moderation Nay the Parliament-men were even made so cheap unto the people that they became their reproach and obliquie and so were a consolation to the unfortunate who saw themselves revenged on them by those from whom they had least cause to suspect or expect it There was not so much as the least questioning nor censuring of the cause of this revolution but every one found it expedient according unto the several satisfactions which he thereby received or hoped for and as the Army was onely looked upon as Souldiers of fortune whom the necessity of the Affairs or the dangerous conjuncture of the times had enforced to take up Armes so that which was past and gone was not laid to their charge and the world could not choose but applaud them for what happened at present but expect from them for the future that generosity which the Millitary profession doth inspire into great courages as to this very day all men do enjoy
and are sensible of the favourable effects which have since been produced However the universal joy which was so evidently to be seen in all their countenances did not hinder but that it was thought fitting for the better satisfaction of the generality and of all men in particular to publish the causes the grounds and reasons of the dissolving of the Parliament which was accordingly ordered by the General and by his Councel consisting of the chief Officers of the Army and was manifested accordingly in a Declaration whereof the following are the chief Heads That after God was pleased marvellously to appear for his people in reducing Ireland and Scotland to so great a degree of peace and England to perfect quiet whereby the Parliament had opportunity to give the people the harvest of all their Labour Blood and Treasure and to settle a due liberty in reference to Civil and Spiritual things whereunto they were obliged by their duty engagements and those great and wonderful things God had wrought for them But they made so little progress that it was matter of much grief to the good people of the Land who thereupon applied themselves to the Army expecting redress by their means who though unwilling to meddle with the Civil Authority agreed that such Officers as were members of Parliament should move them to proceed vigorously in reforming what was amiss in the Common-wealth and in settling it upon a Foundation of Justice and Righteousness which being done it was hoped the Parliament would have answered their expectations But finding the contrary they renewed their desires by an humble Petition in August 1652. which produced no considerable effect nor was any such progress made therein as might imploy their real intentions to accomplish what was petitioned for but rather in aversness to the things themselves with much bitterness and aversion to the people of God and his Spirit acting in them insomuch that the Godly party in the Army were rendred of no other use then to countenance the ends of a corrupt party for effecting their desires in perpetuating themselves in the supreme Government For the obviating of these evils the Officers of the Army obtained several meetings with some of the Parliament to consider what remedy might be applied to prevent the same but such endeavours proving ineffectual it became evident that the Parliament through the corruption of some the jealousie of others and the non-attendance of many would never answer those ends which God his People and the whole Nation expected from them But that this Cause which God had so greatly blessed must need languish under their hands and by degrees be lost and the Lives Liberties and Comforts of his people be delivered into their Enemies hands all which being sadly and seriously considered by the honest people of the Nation as well as by the Army it seemed a duty incumbent upon us who had seen so much of the power and presence of God to consider of some 〈◊〉 means whereby to establish Righteousness and Peace in these Nations And after much debate it was judged necessary That the supreme Government should be by the Parliament devolved upon known persons fearing God and of approved integrity for a time as the most hopeful way to countenance all Gods people reforme the Law and administer Justice impartially hoping thereby the people might forget Monarchy and understand their true interest in the election of successive Parliaments that so the Goverment might be settled upon a Right Basis without hazard to this glorious Cause or necessitating to keep up Armies for the defence of the same And being still resolved to use all means possible to avoid extraordinary courses we prevailed with about twenty Members of Parliament to give us a Conference with whom we plainly debated the necessity and justness of our proposals the which found no acceptance but instead thereof it was offered that the way was to continue still this Parliament as being that from which we probably might expect all good things This being vehemently insisted on did much confirme us in our apprehensions that any love to a Representative but the making use thereof to recrute and so to perpetuate themselves was their aim in the Act they had then under consideration For preventing the consumating whereof and all the sad and evil consequences which upon the grounds aforesaid must have ensued and whereby at one blow the interest of all honest men and of this glorious cause had been endangered to be laid in the dust and these Nations embroiled in new troubles at a time when our Enemies abroad are watching all advantages against and some of them actually engaged in War with us we have been necessitated though with much repugnancy to put an end to this Parliament This Declaration and these proceedings of his late Highness then General and of his Councel of Officers of the Army were backed by the consent of the Generals at Sea and by all the Captains of the Fleet and in like manner by all the other Generals and Officers of the Land forces both in Scotland Ireland and the other Territories But least the Magistrates and other publick Ministers of Justice and Policy suprized at this suddain change should chance to swerve from their duties or that other persons should thereby take occasion to foment disturbances prejudicial to the Common-wealth this ensuing Declaration was published Whereas the Parliament being dissolved persons of approved fidelity and honesty are according to the late Declaration of the two and twentieth of April last past to be called from the several parts of this Common-wealth to the supreme authority and although effectual proceedings are and have been had for perfecting those resolutions yet some convenient time being required for the assembling of those persons It hath been found necessary for preventing the mischiefs and inconveniencies which may arise in the mean while to the publick Affairs that a Council of State be constituted to take care of and intend the peace safety and present management of the Affairs of this Common-wealth which being settled accordingly the same is hereby declared and published to the end that all persons may take notice thereof and in their several places and stations demean themselves peaceably giving obedience to the Laws of the Nation as heretofore in the exercise and administration whereof as endeavours shall be used That no oppression or wrong be done to the people so a strict accompt will be required of all such as shall do any thing to endanger the publick peace and quiet upon any presence whatsoever Dated April the thirtieth 1653. subscribed Oliver Cromwel These domestick revolutions did in a manner put a new life into the Dutch again who thought that they would cause some eminent distractions and disturbances as well on the Seas as by Land But they were very much deceived for the Maratine Affairs of these Lands on which either the good or bad fortune of England depended were carryed on with
so much dexterity diligence and vigour as that they had reason to confess that the change of the Pilot and the entire obedience which is rendered to an absolute Captain who hath the sole power in his hands are but ill signs that the Vessel should be therefore the worse guided and conducted And to give you a proof of the truth the Hollanders having at that time a vast number of Merchant-men in their Harbours ready to set Sail durst not hazard them through the Channel although they had a Fleet of ninety Men of War to conduct them But conducted them by North of Scotland to reach the Sound where they met with another great Fleet of their Merchant-men some coming from Russia some from the East-Indies and others from France all which they carryed home into Holland after which hearing that the English Fleet was steered Northward instead of seeking them out and to take the advantage of the English divisions as they had pretended and bragged they amuzed themselves in making several bravadoes in such places where there was neither honour glory nor benefit to be acquired at length they steered towards the Downs where they carried away two or three despicable Barks and sent some volleys of Cannon into Dover their Hearts and their Sails being equally puffed up with these imaginary successes which savouring something of their old Masters Jack Spaniards Rodomontado's they thought they could not better express them then at that time saying That the English Fleet was to be cryed out by the sound of Trumpets and Horns as if she had been lost But the Winde being as unconstant as the Sea it self and as dangerous quickly tacked about to their confusion and the Old Proverb That all the evil comes from the North was made good to their cost and charges For the English Fleet returning on a suddain from the Northward on the twenty eighth of May came into Yarmouth-Road and on the first of June next ensuing being at an Anchor they discovered two Dutch Galliots to which they gave chase till they came up to the body of the Dutch Fleet. But the weather proving over-covered and dusky they could not joyn with them On the third the English being at Anchor near unto the South-point of the Gober descryed the Enemy about two Leagues to Leeward of them being about one hundred Sail of Ships wherefore without loss of time the English weighed and made up to them The engagement began between eleven and twelve at noon and for some hours the fight was sharp untill about six in the evening the enemy bare right way before the winde and so ended that dayes fight On the next morning both Fleets came in sight of each other but there was so little winde stirring that they could not engage each other till twelve at noon when as they fell to it again for good and all and after four hours fight which proved very disadvantagious to the Hollanders they thought it not fitting to contest any longer but to get away as well as they could However a fresh westerly gale arising very opportunely the English being encouraged by their flight bare in so hard amongst them that they took eleven Men of War and two water Hoyes in which fight one thousand five hundred prisoners were taken and six Captains besides which six Holland Men of War were sunk and all the rest of the Dutch Fleet had according to all probability been cut off had not the night happily closed in for them But the darkness growing on and the English finding themselves near the Flats and necessitated to stay and mend their Sails and Rigging which were much shattered and torne about ten at night they came to an Anchor The greatest loss the English sustained was of General Dean one of their Admirals who was taken off by a great shot in the first dayes ingagement and whose death did sufficiently recompence all the Enemies loss he having been a person of reputed Valour and great experience besides which there was one Captain slain and about one hundred and fifty men and two hundred and forty hurt but not one of the English Ships were lost That which greatly encouraged the English and disheartned the Dutch was the arival of General Blake to their aid and succour with sixteen good Men of War very opportunely Now the Dutch by the favour of the night being gotten off and having retired themselves into the Weilings the 〈…〉 and the Texel the English called a Councel of all the Officers to advise on what would be most expedient to be undertaken to improve this Victorie to the best advantage and it was resolved to advance with the whole Fleet as fast as they could to the Weilings as far as they could possibly approach with safety by reason of the Flats and Shelves and in this wise forrage the whole Dutch Coasts till they came to Texel which being accordingly performed and being arrived at the said height they there remained a pretty while taking every day some prizes more or less to the great prejudice of the Dutch whose Ships could neither get in or out of any of their Ports as long as the English continued there Nor could their Men of War unite and come to a head to make a body to come forth Wherefore leaving them to take breath and to recollect their spirits again and so to think of the best means for their Deliverance we will return for England again with our Fleet and see how squares stands there General Cromwel who alwayes made use of more moderation then power in the Rise of his Fortune being unwilling to deprive England of her ancient Liberties and Priviledges resolved together with the chief Officers of his Army to assemble a Parliament To invest them with the power of administring and exercising the Laws and to appoint them as it were Judges of his Councel and Government And the Warrants requisite thereunto were issued out unto such persons as through England Scotland and Ireland were chosen by himself and his Councel to assist in the said Parliament for them to meet in the Councel-Room at White-Hall on the fourth day of the moneth of July in the year of our Lord. 1653. A forme of which said Warrant you have as followeth viz. For asmuch as upon the dissolution of the late Parliament it became necessary that the Peace Safety and good Government of this Commonwealth should be provided for and in Order thereunto diverse persons fearing God and of approved sidelity and honesty are by my self with the advice of my Councel of Officers nominated to whom the great charge and trust of so weighty Affairs is to be Committed And having good assurance of the love to and courage for God and the interest of his Cause and the good people of this Commonwealth I Oliver Cromwel Captain General and Commander in chief of all the Army and Forces raised and to be raised within this Commonwealth do hereby Summon and
Require you being of the persons nominated personally to be and appear at the Councel-Chamber commonly called or known by the name of the Councel-Chamber at White-Hall within the City of Westminster upon the fourth day of July next ensuing the date hereof then and there to take upon you the said trust to which you are hereby called and appointed to serve as a member for the County of 〈◊〉 and hereof you are not to fail Given under my hand and seal the day of 〈◊〉 July 1653. subscribed Oliver Cromwel And in conformity to this Convocation the nominated for every County did accordingly meet on the fourth of July in the Councel Chamber where the Lord General Cromwel being accompanied with the greatest part of the Officers of the Army delivered himself to the laid members in an excellent Speech in which his Prudence Valour and Piety were at once manifested but chiefly his passionate tenderness for the good of the Commonwealth in General and for the peace and tranquillity of each member in particular so that we may justly attribute unto him the qualities both of a Caesar and of a Moses by reason of his elegant Speech which he prosecuted in this manner By recounting the many wonderful Mercies of God towards this Nation and the continued Series of Providence by which he had appeared in carrying on his Cause and bringing Affairs to that present glorious condition wherein they were He likewise manifested the progress of Affairs since the famous Victory at Worcester as also the actings of the Army thereupon After divers applications to the Parliament and much waiting upon them with the Grounds and necessities of their dissolving the last Parliament which he declared to be for the preservation of this Cause and the Interest of all honest men who had been engaged therein In like manner he set forth the clearness of the Call given to the Members then present to take upon them the Supreme Authority and from the Scriptures exhorted them to their duties and encouraged them therein He further desired them that a tenderness might be used towards all conscientious persons of what Judgement soever Which said Speech was pronounced with such a grate tone and in such excellent manner as it sufficiently manifested that as he himself was throughly perswaded thereof the Spirit of God acted in and by him he had adorned it with no other eloquent phrase save that of Holy Writ The rest was a masculine and convincing stile the comeliness whereof consisted in its plainness without any Rhethorical or Artificial words but single and pure such as proceeded from our Saviours Ministers the which begat the peace tranquillity and glory of all men The Lord Generals Speech being ended he produced an Instrument under his own Hand and Seal whereby he did with the Advice of his Officers devolve and intrust the Supreme Authority and Government of this Common-wealth into the Hands of the persons there met in the manner aforesaid who or any Forty of them were to be held and acknowledged the Supreme Authority of this Nation unto whom all persons within the same and the Territories thereunto belonging were to yield obedience and subjection That they were to sit no longer then the third of November 1654. And that three moneths before their dissolution they were to make choice of other persons to succeed them and whose Powers and Sitting should not exceed twelve Moneths time at the end of which they were likewise to take care for a succession in the Government Which said Instrument having been thus delivered unto them by the Lord General he did again exhort them to take the Business to heart and to set nothing before their eyes save the Glory of God and the Good of Publick Weal promising them that on his part he would neither spare his Goods Life nor his Rest to answer that great Mercy of God which he had shown them in making choice of them to follow those tracks which the Divine Providence had set before them for their good and for the glory and tranquility of these Nations Finally he recommended them to the Almighties protection and so together with his Officers withdrew leaving them to take their places in the former Parliament House and to act accordingly who forthwith named their Speaker and took their places meeting in the House and sitting in due form Upon this change of Government John Lilburne the chief of the Levellers of whom mention was formerly made and who had been banished the Land upon an Act of the foregoing Parliament thought to be protected by this and cast himself upon the Lord General who being unwilling to interpose matters of that nature left him to the Law whence he alwayes freed himself by a most strong fatality of Fortune And whilest this new Parliament is settling it self in England let us look a while back into Scotland and Ireland and see how things have prospered there since we left them Now although the English were possessed of the best strong places and Forteresses of all Scotland and of all the Castles and Forts of value in the Low-lands yet however the High-landers who perceived their inaccessible Fortresses did make continual excursions on the Low-lands being a people hardy and laborious faring hardly used to the cold and rigorousness of those Climates as swift and nimble as Stags and however they have more Valour then Conduct and more Temerity then Discipline yet some of them chose to be commanded by Glencarne Athol the Lord Seafort and others who framing several small Bodies of them would unexpectedly fall in upon and surprize the Inhabitants and English Souldiery without either giving or taking quarter spoiling and murthering all that came in their way and when the English would make shew to charge them and to pursue them in case they found themselves to be the weaker they then betook themselves to their heels with such swiftness and sheltering themselves in such unaccessible Rocks and Holds that it was impossible to pursue or light upon them by which advantages they were emboldned to commit several outrages murthers and had like to have surprized an English Ship which came to an anchor at Leevis Island some of which ships company going on shore to get in fresh water and provisions were detained by the Lord Seafort who also sent a ridiculous Summons to the said ship for its surrender freighted with threats and detestations of the English Government although the said ship the Fortune bearing more sails then their threats could fill laughed at their temerity and got off at will Moreover the state of Affairs in Ireland were much about the same predicament for the English having reduced all the strong Holds of that Countrey and having shipt away all those who had born Arms in the last Wars to be transported into Spain France Flanders and other parts whither themselves would go those onely excepted who during the first Rebellion had a hand in the murthering
great Statesmen untill the very effects of them are ready to appear All which reasons being naturally pondered by the wisest and most zealous persons interessed in the glory of the English Nation the good and wellfare of the Commonwealth and particularly by his excellency the Lord General it was resolved that the Parliament should be dissolved in reference hereunto on the twelfth of December 1653. as soon as the Parliament was met A Member of the said House stood up and moved That the sitting of this Parliament as it was then constituted being not thought proper nor fitting for the good of the Commonwealth It was therefore requisite to deliver up unto the Lord General Cromwel the powers which they had received from him Which motion being seconded by the greatest part of the other Members the House arose and the Speaker accompanied by the major part of the House departed and went to White-Hall where they did by a Writing under their hands being the greater number of the Members sitting in Parliament resign unto his Excellency the Power which they had received from him and the which was by the Speaker presented to his said Excellency accordingly in the Name of the whole House No sooner was the Parliament dissolved and that Affairs of moment and weight came crowding in apace but that there was a necessity during the intervalls of Parliament to form as it is called in forreign parts an upper Councel and to create a superiour dignity to avoid both tediousness and confusion in the dispatch of Affairs which said dignity holding the mid-way between a Monarchial and Democratical might avoid the inconveniencies which these two extremities are subject unto and the thing it self having been well pondered and maturely deliberated the choice of the person on whom this dignity was to be conferred was soon made God having pointed him out unto them by a mark those admirable and uninterrupted Victories which he caused him to gain and by those excellent productions of a minde which had something of supernatural in it and partaked of the Divinity Wherefore the Lord General Cromwel was Elected Declared and Sworn at Westminster in the presence of all the Judges and Justices the Barons of the Exchequer the keepers of the Liberties of England the Lord Major and Aldermen of the City of London with most of the chief Officers of the Army Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England Scotland and Ireland and the Islands and Territories thereunto belonging and at the same time several Articles were presented to the Lord Protector by which he was to govern the people which being red unto him he took a solemn Oath to performe and see them kept in the presence of the whole assembly protesting moreover that he would minde nothing so much as the good of the Commonwealth the Glory of God and the Honour of the English Nation The chief heads of the Articles of Government were as followeth 1. That the Protector should call a Parliament every three years 2. That the first Parliament should assemble on the third of September 1654. 3. That he should not dissolve the Parliament till it had sate five moneths 4. That such Bills as he should not signe within twenty dayes should pass without him 5. That he should have a select Councel to assist him not exceeding one and twenty nor less then thirteen 6. That immediately after his Death the Councel should choose another Protector before they rose 7. That no Protector after him should be General of the Army 8. That the Protector should have Power to make Peace or War 9. That with the consent of his Councel he may make Laws which shall be binding to the Subjects during the intervals of Parliament c. Immediately after which the Lord General Cromwel without the devesting of himself of the Command of the Army which he preferred before all other charges took upon him the title of Highness and the dignity and name of Lord Protector A very fit appellation in regard of the Infantine and as yet growing State of England which the several Factions and Divisions as also the different Opinions in Religion would have exposed to a numberless kinde of unavoidable miseries had not a powerful Genius armed with Force and Judgement protected it from ripping up its Entrails and Bowels by its own hands And immediately after he was proclaimed Lord Protector of England Scotland and Ireland c. First in the Pallace yard at Westminster by the Officers of State and afterwards at the Royal Exchange by the Lord Major and Aldermen in their Scarlet Gowns Some few dayes after the body of the City invited his Highness the Lord Protector to a most splendid feast and gallant entertainment at Grocers-Hall not so much to treat him with their good chear as with the resplendent testimonies of their joy and with the submissive tenders of their devoires His Highness would by no means refuse to give that satisfaction to their evidences of respect and joy and the better to testifie unto them on his behalf the high value he put upon their care and love he set forth towards them in as great a pomp and magnificence as befitted a person invested with so eminent qualities and as one who having reaped so many Laurels had newly restored peace and tranquillity unto three distracted Kingdomes The manner of his Highness going to the City and reception there was on this wise His Highness's Life-guard of Horse marched in the first place after which followed the chief Officers of the Army on Horse-back and some of his Councel of State after them rode two Pages bare headed in sumptuous Apparel after them came twelve Lackeys in velvet Caps and gray Liveries with silk and silver Fringe then followed his Highness seated in a Charet of State drawn by six beautiful Horses richly trapped which by their lofty gate seemed to glory in their drawing so victorious a Hercules triumphing over so many Monsters and his Highness who alwayes preferred the little ornaments of the Soul before those of the Body was onely clad in a dark coloured Suit and Cloak the greatest part of the other Nobility attending in their Coaches and six horses At Temple-Bar his Highness was met and received by the Lord Major and Aldermen and the Recorder of the City saluted him with an excellent Speech containing several expressions of Joy Fidelity and Obeisance and of good Hopes of his prosperous and happy Government His Highness having thanked him alighted from his Chariot and quitting his Cloak put on a rich Riding Coat imbroidered with Gold and got up on Horse-back on a Palfrey richly trapped and was followed by three other led Horses of State By which change of Garments his Highness testified unto them that when as occasions of the States-service should call upon him he would descend from his Triumphal Chariot where the glory of his Conquests had set him in rest and mounting his Horse for Battel would expose
Parliament John Lilburn demands Protection is denied and remitted to the Law The state of Affairs in Scotland The state of Affairs in Ireland An admirable effect of his Highness Prudence and Justice Continuance of the Dutch Affairs Holland Commissioners sent over to treat A notable fight between the Dutch and English during the Treaty The Fight renewed The Dutch Admiral Van-Trump slain The Dutch put to flight The weakness of the new Parliament A motion to dissolve the Parliament The Parliament ment dissolved December 12 1653. The Lord General Cromwel chosen and sworn Lord Protector The Protector Sworn to the ensuing Articles The Lord Protector proclaimed Sir Thomas Viner Knighted A Conspiracy discovered Addresses to his Highness from all parts The Scots frame an Army The Scots defeated by Collonel Morgan Peace with Holland concluded and proclaimed The Affairs of Ireland settled A second conspiracy Mr. Vowel Hanged Mr. Gerrard Beheaded The Portugal Ambassadors Brother Beheaded The Scotch Highlanders rise in Armes General Middleton defeated by General Monk A Parliament assembly September 3. 1654. Parliament dâ—â—â—â—ved January 10. 1655. Several Conspiracies discovered A Rising at Salisbury A Rising in Shropshire A Rising in Montgomery A Rising in Nottinghamshire A Rising framing in Northumberland A rising in York-shire Wagstaff defeated and Penruddock and others executed Royalists sent toforreign Plantations The Insurrections all dissipated A Spanish Ambassador sent over to his Highness Motives inducing his late Highness to a Breach with Spain The Hispaniola expeâ—â—ion Jamaica attempted and carried General Blake demads satisfaction for wrongs sustained General Blake attempts the Turks fortresses and navy A fourth conspiracy suspected A Relief sent to Jamaica in twelve ships General Pen returns to England General Venables also returned Treaty and Peace with Sweden Major Generals constituted France seeks his Highness to perfect a Peace Reasons inducing his late Highness rather to condescend to an alliance with France then Spain A Peace with France Concluded and Proclaimed The defence and good success at Jamaica General Mountegue his victory over the Spaniards at Sea General Blakes destroying the Spanish Fleet at the Canaries May. 4. 1657. The English joyn with the French in Flanders under Sir John Reynolds His Highness Installment in the Protectorship Mardike taken by the English and French The Spaniards repulst at Mardike General Blake dyes in sight of Plimouth The Spaniards repulse again from before Mardike St. Venaut taken by the English The Lord Henry Cromwel made deputy of Ireland Sir John Reynolds and others drowned The Parliament dissolved Febr. 4. 1657 8 The City Militia settled again by his late Highness A Conspiracy discovered A high Court of Justice erected The Plot prevented Several Conspirators taken and sentenced some condemned others pardoned A Whale cast up in the Thames Dunkirk besieged by the English and French The Spaniards attempt to relieve Dunkirk The Spaniard beaten by the English and French Dunkirk taken and possessed by the English The Lady Cleypolls death Graveling taken by the French Mr. E. Waller The remarkable passages which happened on the like dayes in his Highness life His late Highness Corps removed to Somerset-House The manner of his Highness lying in State His late Highness standing in State The Funeral Solemnities performed at his late Highness's Interment The several distinctions observed in the Funeral Solemnities See History and Policy reviewed An example of gratitude and generosity in the Lord Tho. Cromwell The Lord Tho. Cromwels Seed Destiny and end How the Name of Williams came to be changed into that of Cromwell His late Highness descent An example of his late Highness gratitude See History and Police reviewed See History and Policy reviewed Which you may see in two Books viz. Teats of the Indies and the other America Painted to the life