Englands Triumph A MORE EXACT HISTORY OF HIS Majesties Escape After the Battle of WORCESTER WITH A Chronologicall Discourse of His Straits and dangerous Adventures into France and His Removes from place to place till His return into England with the most Remarkable Memorials since to this present SEPTEMBER 1660. LONDON Printed by J.G. for NATHANIEL BROOK and are to be sold at the Angel in Cornhill 1660. THE PREFACE BY WAY OF ARGUMENT NEver did any age in this Nation most especially of all the rest of the Christian world afford more matter for a full and copious History then these 12. last years have done wherein after a Mysterious war waged for and against the King if we look at what was pretended and what was acted the after game was playd by a party not the same with those who at first undertook the businesse for the servants taking it out of the hands of those that hir'd them and set them on work and drawing it on to a far higher pitch of violence then was at first intended brought their King a most Noble and Pious Prince to an untimely death and utterly rejecting and proscribing all the Royall race subverted the ancient government of the Nation and chang'd it into a kind of a Free-State as they call'd it or Common-wealth during which the most remarkable affair that happened was a war with the Dutch and that carried on with no bad success but not many years did this form of government hold for Oliver Cromwell Generall of this new States army having subdued the Scotch Nation and by too unequall strength of arms forced the then heir apparent to the Crown His Now gracious Majesty who came with arms after all fair means used in vain to assert his just claim to quit the Kingdome violently usurped the supream authority into his own hands which having kept with much adoe by a high hand for his own life time he also us'd such means at his death that he procured to have the chief Magistracy of the three Nations transferr'd to his Eldest Son Richard which he held for a little while till the Souldiery wanting other action to divert them or an Oliver to keep them under took an occasion to mutinie and making use of Protector Richards authority to dissolve the Parliament he had called lay'd him aside and invited in again the remnant of the long Parliament which Oliver Cromwell had some years since dissolved to make way for his own advancement to the Supreame Authority The Common wealth interest thus restor'd there seem'd now no other hopes but a Free-State must seize us without any redresse yet neither had this convention sate many months ere Lambert spirited with his success against Sir George Booth who rose in Cheshire for a Free-Parliament and thinking to have traced Olivers steps he took the same course with the Members at Westminster as he had done before that is he turn'd them out of doors and while he March'd into the North against Generall Monck who had declar'd against these proceedings he left affaires to be manag'd by the Council of Officers at Wallingford-house these sitting upon a Modell of Government at length there was fram'd a thing called a Committee of Safety which taking upon it the government of the Nation brought in a great disorder and confusion upon the face of affairs till by a strange turn of fortune all the Army on a suddain deserting Lambert and his party being inveigled thereunto by the policy of some of the late dissolved Members way is made hereby to the admiration of all men for the re-entry of our little Parliament which growing still more and more odious to the people came at length to be generally stiled in derision The Rump Immediately after which Generall Monck hastens out of Scotland with his Army toward London to make room for whose entrance the old Army is order'd to march out and dispers'd into severall quarters the City manifesting discontent and disowning the present authority Monck is commanded to pull down the City gates which he unwillingly performs but at the same time his commission being out and commissioners appointed for the government of the Army and Monck nominated the last he closeth with the City and after a while causeth the old Members who had been secluded by the Army in 1648. to be re-admitted to their seats in Parliament yet limits them to sit onely for a short time and to make preparations for the calling of a Free-Parliament no sooner is this Parliament assembled but they receive a Declaration from His present Majesty King Charles the second which unanimously they own publickly Proclaime Him King and invite Him to a speedy return and exercise of His Royal trust The King immediately comes over is receiv'd with incredible joy and brought in great glory and triumph to His Palace at Whitehall and long may He there raign with peace and tranquility to the Nation and thus you have a brief analysis of all the grand and remarkable revolutions of this Nation in this strange and capricious age which are more at large though with brevity enough deliver'd in this present History and although there are already made publick severall relations of the same nature yet neverthelesse we could not reasonably be discouraged from committing this History to the Press in regard we have a just confidence to promise a more exact and punctuall account in all the most remarkable passages then is to be found in any of the rest as namely for the manner of His Majesties escape from Worcester his transactions during his abode in severall parts beyond the seas his joyfull reception into England and his magnificent entry into his famous City of London with all the materiall passages that have happened since His Majesties restoration to his government And furthermore our chiefest aime in this History is to lay a foundation for the continuing from time to time the relation of all materiall passages that shall happen in this Kingdome for the future which of how generall a concernment it is cannot but be apparent to those who diligently inquire into the advancement of the publick good ENGLAND'S TRIUMPH A MORE EXACT HISTORY OF KING CHARLES the II. AS to the writing the affaires of these late times an Historian never met with more varietie of subjects so for the right understanding and delivery of those events he will find it a matter of much difficulty such strange changes and mutabilities of State of which no other Country can shew a parallel nor England it self produce a president A well ordered Monarchy turned into a confused Anarchy Religion hewed down by the axe of Schisme most horrid villanies acted under Religious pretences Having not onely Priests as in the time of Jeroboam but Princes also of the lowest of the people Wat Tylers Jack a Leydons and Knipper dollings as may appear by their usurping governments which I shall endeavour to deliver unto you in the transactions of England from the
return'd with an answer The Parliament for all their complements being not well satisfy'd in the intentions of Generall Monck send Scot and Robinson under pretence of congratulating with him for the good success God had given to his endeavours to prie into his actions and to make discovery of his proceedings And to curry favour with the Nation in generall they put forth a Declaration wherein they promise to this effect first they declare their resolutions to perfect what they had begun for setling the government of these Nations and the people thereof in the way of a Common-wealth and free State That all proceedings touching the Lives Liberties and Estates of the free people of this Common-wealth should be according to the laws of the Land That they would make effectual provision for countenancing an honest godly ministry and that impropriations and augmentations should be continued That they would uphold all the Schooles and Universities in the land and continue their privileges That they would apply themselves with all speed to such Counsels and means as should be found most proper for the speedy increasing of trade Lastly as to the present burthens that they were very sensible thereof and that it was one of their greatest cares to give the people ease But the people were now grown too wise to believe those who had so oft before deluded them now seeing them fall to their old tyrannies afresh under pretence of restoring them their long enthralled liberties begin to rouse up themselves and to shew their generall hatred towards them To Generall Monck therefore as a person whom they saw to be of a free and ancient English spirit they resolve to make their applications laying before him the infidelity treachery and tyranny of the Rump beseeching him to assert their libertieâ— and promising him to stick by him in the maintenance of their freedome The Devonshire men as being his own Countrimen began the substance of whose addresse and the Generalls answer we shall insert being indeed the full scope of what all demanded and of the answer which all received The substance of the addresse was this That they found their Countrymen groaning under high oppressions and a defect of trade that though there was an alteration in the State affaires by the reassembling of the Long Parliament yet that they found themselves but in part redress'd and that therefore the chief expedient would be to recall those members that were secluded in 48. that they may fill up the vacant places and not be oblig'd to oaths before their sitting for which things they should defend him against all opposers with life and fortunes To this the Generall answers That the government was monarchicall before the warre that since there have been severall interests that these interests are interwoven by marriages and purchases and all engag'd against the King as to Civils and therefore that no government can be good that doth not rationally comprehend the preservation of all the said interests That Monarchy cannot be admitted because its support was taken away and besides that it is exclusive of all the Civil and Spirituall interests now in being which premises being granted to admit of the secluded members as being monarchicall and such as would abolish the laws made since their seclusion would engage the Nation in a new warre upon the account of self-preservation that therefore he thought 't was better to submit to the present Parliament Such doubtfull answers as this as they pleas'd the Rump so they did not dissatisfy the other party but gave cause to both parties to think well of him At Northampton he receiv'd another address from the hands of Sir John Norrice to whom he replies that he was but a servant of the Parliaments with whom he ought not to interpose in matters of Highest concernment On the 28. of January at Night the Generall arrived at Saint Albanes where he had severall addresses made to him from Norfolke Suffolke Buckingham and Leicester being come thither he sends to the Parliament to send their forces out of town and quarter them according to the lists which he had sent them which they readily order'd the Commanders of the army to see performed accordingly Generall Monck being now not far from London those forces quartered in the City were ordered to march from thence to make Room for his Excellencies Souldiers but they having learned of their Masters to be Rebellious refused to goe and having cast off their Officers a considerable party of them engarrisoned themselves at Somerset-house That night also the Apprentices drew themselves into a party in the City intending no doubt to have joyned with the discontented Red-coates which had they done they might have given a shrewd Alarum to the Rump but before their joyning they were dissipated by a part of the Army-horse The Mutiners upon a false Alarum were got out of the Town and having their mouths stopt with a little pay were commanded away leaving the Town quiet and in condition to entertain honester Guests February 3. His Excellency marched in the head of his Army to his Quarters at White-hall On the 6. of the same Month he was by Scot and Robinson Squires of the Rump conducted to that Image of Authority assembled in the House where the Parliament usually sits where he was by their pretended Speaker complemented with a fawning speech candied over with Scripture-phrases to make it the more plausible To which His Excellency returned a more pertinent answer informing them of the severall applications and numerous subscriptions he received from most Counties in his March from Scotland the chiefest Heads of their desires being for a free and full Parliament a Gospell-Ministry incouragement of Learning and Universities admittance of the Members secluded before 1648. and that they would determine their sitting c. But these were matters they loved not to hear of much lesse resolved to practise yet seeing the peoples earnestness was such and that it was in a manner the agreement of the whole Nation they at last most graciously condescended to promise a full Representative but no secluded Members to be admitted nor in effect any other then Phanatiques The supreme Trifle was now come to a forced put monies must be raised to pay the Souldier and the pride of the stubborn Citizens taken down that would not let the Rump to ride them or the Good Old Cause would be totally ruined in order to both out comes a Tax of 100000 l. per mensem this being debated in Common-council they agreed in the Negative which so incensed the Back-side that they adjudged the affront intollerable and immediately poured out their indignation upon the City in these following Resolves Thursday February 9. The House received a report from the Council of State of some Resolutions taken by the Council in relation to the City of London Resolved That the Parliament doth approve of what the Council of State hath done in Ordering that the Commissioners for Government of
the Army do appoint forces to be and continue in the City of London for preserving the peace thereof of the Common-wealth for reducing of the City to the obedience of Parliament Resolved That the Parliament doth approve of what the Council of State have done in ordering that the Commissioners for the Army doe take order that the posts and chaines in the City of London be taken away Resolved That the Gates of the City of London and the Portcullices there be forthwith destroyed Resolved That the Parliament doth approve of what the Council of State and Commissioners of the Army have done in seizing and apprehending of Mr. Vincent Merchant in Bishopsgate-street and Thomas Brown Grocer in Wood-street Daniel Spencer in Friday-street Laurence Brompfield in Tower-street Major Chamberlain Mr. Bludworth and Richard Ford in Seething-lane Major Cox at the Swan in Dowgate Mr Penning in Fanchurch-street and Lieutenant Colonel Jackson Resolved That the present Common-council of the City of London Elected for this year be discontinued and be and are hereby declared to be Null and Void and thâ—t the Lord Mayor of London have notice hereof Ordered That it be referred to a Committee to bring in a Bill for the Choice of another Common-council with such Qualifications as the Parliament shall think fit with order to meet at eight of the Clock in the Speakers Chamber to morrow morning These Resolves they send to the Generall to put in execution intending with this stone to kill two Birds not onely to bring the Citizens in subjection and to make them pay in their money but also to create a hatred betwixt them and the Generall by this odious employment of whose uniting they had more then an ordinary jealousy However his Excellency in obedience to their Commands marches into the City with his whole Army seises on divers of their Common-council and sends them to the Tower digs up their Posts and breaks down their Gates and all done with such a seeming compliance to the Rump that the stupefied Citizens having now fear added to their slavery durst hardly murmur but with sighs and nods bid adieu to their liberty Whilest His Excellency was thus busied in the City the Rump were as busy as Bees at Westminster for notwithstanding the General had so lately preserved them yet they most ungratefully sought his ruine First they enter into a secret combination with the Sectaries who upon their instigation present unto them à representation and addresse wherein was so little of divinity that there was hardly any morality however with much formality it was brought them by Barebone and others of the same gang but this instead of doing good did hurt for the people now plainly descrying the ruinous tenents of these people were rather the more resolved against them then terrified to see the Rump mounting up a faction against them And then also seeking to cast Monck to whoâ— so lately they were so ocurteous out of power they passed a Bill for the Army to be governed by five Commissioners viz. Generall George Monck Sir Arthur Haslerig Col. Herbert Morley Colonel Valentine and Walton Colonel Mathew Allured and that the Quorum of the Commissioners be three Had they brought this to passe they might have had hopes to have held the peoples noses still to the Grindstone But His Excellency abhorring their perfidiousness and seeing their designe was to fix themselves in a perpetual Counsell all their qualifications with which they kept such a stirre tending onely to bring in such as had been the Kings Tryers Excise-men Sequestrators Close-Committee-men Major Generalls Buyers and Sellers of the Church and Crown Lands c. in brief such as lived upon the ruines of the Common-wealth and feared they should goe naked should every Bird claim again his feather so that the peoples Representatives must represent them in all their tyrannies else they were not to be admitted States-men Hereupon Generall Monck having on Friday February 11. perform'd the Votes of the House for breaking down the Gates and pulling up the Posts and being come back to Whitehall upon advise with his Officers thought it fit to return again to the City on Saturday Morning with his whole force but before he went sends a letter to the Parliament signed by himself and his Officers wherein he signified his desires to the Parliament for the speedy filling up the House and for putting a period to their sitting In the afternoon he drew up his forces in Finsbury and repairing after dinner to Guildhall he had a conference with the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen which being ended the conclusion thereof was such as caus'd all the Bells in the City to ring and all the streets to blaze with Bonfires Such a sudden change History cannot tell us of its parallel wise men grew mad upon it and mad men sober The Cryes the Bonfires and the sume of Rosted Rumps did quite take down the Legislative Stomach Both men women and Children Old and Young Rich and Poor all sung forth the destruction of the Long called Parliament the whole City was as it were on fire with Bonfires for joy And now those who formerly threatned the fireing of the City were burnt at every door for all the people cryed out let us burn the Rump let us rost the Rump yea such an odium had they contracted to themselves that they rosted Carrion before the door of the House where they usually sat no lesse then thirty eight Bonfires were made between Fleet-conduit and Temple-barre To be short there was scarce so much as one Alley in the whole City wherein there were not many Bonfires Next day being Sunday all the Churches ecchoed forth praises and thanks to God private devotion not being wanting nor was this joy confined onely within the Walls of the City but since a publique mischeif was removed a publique rejoycing over-spread the whole Kingdome and all the people with one accord shouted clapped hands and poured out joyfull thanks for this great deliverance So the wearied Hare is delighted and cheareth her self when she hath shook off the Bloody Hounds and so a Flock of Sheep are at rest and ease when the Ravenous Wolves have newly left them Yet was not all this enough to put the Rump out of Countenance they met again as formally as ever and acted with a Confidence that might excuse the Common-peoples Jealousy over the Generall Their grand design now was to frustrate the hopes of a Free-Parliament no stone was left unturned in order hereunto The Bolder and more ingenuous sort of honest men were gathered up by flying Troops that they had every where dispersed to hinder a Conjunction threatning Banishment and sequestration to the whole party of declarers Nor did they want their specious pretences to insinuate with the vulgar The House should be immediately fill'd the form of the Writ was already published the Qualifications agreed upon and in fine they would instantly proceed to a settlement of
Majesty as also 10000l to the Duke of Yorke and 5000l to the Duke of Glocester as a testimony of their respects to the Royal Family the City of London likewise ordered a present of 10000l to be sent to His Majesty who is desired to make a speedy return to the exercise of His kingly office and these Honourable persons from the Lords Commons and City ordered to attend him in his journey For the House of Lords The Earl of Oxford Earl of Middlesex Lord Brook Earl of Warwick Lord Viscount Hereford Lord Berkley and Dr. Charleton their Physician For the House of Commons Lord Fairfax Lord Bruce Lord Faulkland Lord C stleton Lord Herbert Lord Mandevil Sir Horatio Townsend Sir Anth. Ashley-Cooper Sir George Booth Denzil Hollis Esq Sir John Holland Sir Henry Cholmley and Mr. Bowles their Physician For the City of London Sir James Bunce Baronet Alderman Langham Alderman Reynardson Alderman Brown Sir Nicholas Crispe Alderman Tomson Alderman Frederick Alderman Adams Recorder Wilde Alderman Robinson Alderman Bateman Alderman Wale Theophilus Biddolph Richard Ford. Will. Vincent Tho. Bludworth Will. Bateman J. Lewes Esq M. Chamberlain Col. Bromfield And now since we were come again under a Regall Government the States Armes were ordered to be taken down in all places and the Kings Armes set up in their room the Standerts Flags and Jacks Colours for the Fleet to be used as before 1648. their carved and painted works altered c. The Statue of His late Royal Majesty that was formerly taken down at the Chappell in Guild-hall yard was set up again Thus was all endeavours used to obliterate as much as could be the very memory of our State-juglers who promising to bring us into a fools Paradise of liberty brought us into a reall bondage and slavery Yet notwithstanding the great hopes of a happy settlement the knipperdoling Fifth-Monarchy-men and others of that loose principled gang would needs have another firke to re-erect their Babell their design was having prepared saddles and armes to have stole the Horses and Mares at grasse about the Town and having mounted their Proselites intended with them to perform wonders but their Conspiracy was rotten before it was riâ—e giving to those that were Loyall this advantage thereby before the Stead was stole to shut the stable door Before I pass any further having discovered a Cheat give me leave to have it pillory'd The Parliament being informed of the sum of seven thousand nine hundred seventy eight pounds eight shillings nine pence heretofore paid into the receiâ—t of the Exchequer of the moneys collected for the relief of the Poor Protestants in Piedmont and Poland but by the Quondam States-men converted to another use they detesting and abhorring the diversion of the said money from the charitable uses to which it was originally intended Ordered the said sum to be paid out of such monies as should come into the said receipt upon the moity of the Excise at the rate of 2000 l. by the month till the whole were satisfied unto Alderman Viner and Alderman Pack Treasurers for the said monies by this we may see the large Conscience of our pretended zealots whose insatiable Covetousness extended so far as even to the robbing of the spittle May the twelfth several goods which were kept at a Fruiterers House in Thames-street were seized on they being found to have belonged formerly to His Majesty While His Majesty resides at Breda with the Dukes of Yorke and Glocester the ministers of Spain and France congratulate him The King of Spain presents him very largely The States Generall also desire audience of His Majesty and being admitted they invited His Majesty to the Hague and present him with 6000l Ster and in further testimony of their kindnesse the States of Holland and Westfriesland order severall Commanders as soon as any publick addresse should be made to the King to signifie their serious and sincere affections to His Majesty and to His Family and their desires to settle a firme and everlasting alliance with him About this time the Army in Ireland send an Humble addresse to the Generall shewing That as they were amazed at the former changes and revolutions so they could not but with joy now observe light breaking out of darkness and order out of confusion That whereas the Parliament had manifested their joyfull sense of His Majesties gracious offers they did also testify their joy and contentment therein and were resolv'd to observe the commands of his Excellency desiring him to improve this reall and cordiall engagement of theirs both with His Majesty and the two Houses But to return to the Commissioners sent to attend His Majesty they having a prosperous wind and smooth sea Eolus in short time arrived at the Hague whither soon after came His Sacred Majesty the Dukes of Yorke and Glocester with the Princesse Royall attended by a Regiment of her Horse being Royally entertained all the way from Breda at the charge of the States Generall The next day the Commissioners had audience the Earl of Oxford delivered the message from the House of Lords Denzill Hollis from the Commons and the Recorder of London from the City His Majesty conferred the Honour of knighthood on all the Citizens sent as Commissioners with the Lord Gerards sword The Ministers of London had some conference with him who received much satisfaction in his Religious discourse The States Generall during His Majesties stay there which by reason of crosse winds was the longer entertained him with a Costly Banquet and Royall presents among the rest they gave him the gold plate wherein the first Course at one of their feasts had been serv'd up valu'd at 60000 l. and table-linnen to the value of 1000 l. also a bed worth 7000 l. and 600000. gilders and as a further addition to the satisfaction of His Majesty they presented to his Nephew the Prince of Orange a full confirmation of all Honours and profits his Father enjoyed At last the weather growing calme he went aboard where taking his leave of the Queen of Bohemia the Princess Royall and Prince of Orange who accompanied him into the ship they set sail for England His Majesty in the Royal Charles formerly the Naseby the Duke of Yorke in the London and the Duke of Glocester in the James before called the Swift-sure The Gods did guide their sail course the winds were at command And Dover was the happy place where first they came oâ— land May 25. they arrived at the Beech near the Peer of Dover whither not above two Hours before was come his Excellency the Lord Cenerall Monck to congratulate His Majesties happy arrivall Now did all persons put themselves into a posture for to observe the meeting of the best of Kings and most deserving of Subjects The admirers of Majesty were jealous on the Kings behalf of too low a condiscention and the lovers of duty on the other side of an ostentation of merit but such an humble prostration
should return to our Royall Soveraign without some Testimony of their respects to your self They have therefore ordered and appointed that 500 l. shall be delivered unto you to buy a Jewell as a Badge of that Honour which is due to a person whom the King hath Honoured to be the messenger of so Gracious a Message and I am commanded in the name of the House to return you their very hearty thanks And as at land such was the affections of the Seamen where Generall Mountague having received two Letters the one from His Ma esty the other from the most Illustrious Duke of Yorke as also those others sent to the House of Commons and his Excellency together with His Majesties Gracious Declaration he immediately caused a great gun to be shot off the usuall summons to call his Officers together who coming aboard he communicated His Majesties Letters unto them which being read with anunamimous consent they declared themselves for His Majesty professing their exact Loyalty to live and die in his defence deâ—â—ring the Generalls of the Fleet humbly to present the lame to His Majesty But no sooner did the under Sea-men hear thereof but their over-joy'd hearts burst forth into loud acclamations of joy this news was more welcome to them then had they taken the wealth of the West Indies for prize And now to expresse their Loyalty the Generall himself fired a great Gun crying God blesse His Majesty Then might you see the Fleet in her pride with Pendants loose Guns roaring Caps flying and loud Vive le Roys ecchoed from one ships Company to another which were answered with the great Guns from Deal and Sandwich Castles The Noble Generall gave two pipes of Canary to the Commanders and Gentlemen in his ship And as at sea so in Ireland was seen the same complyance for the Convention there hearing what was done in England send a Declaration hither wherein they first expresse their disclaime of the sinfull and exemplary force put upon the House iâ— 1648. and whereas also the said persons did presume to erect a high Court of Justice and by an ugly and execrable sentence condemn the King to death they do declare their detestation of the fact and protest against those inhuman unparallell'd and barbaâ—ous actions as being the foulest and highest assassination that ever prot hane or sacred History ever recorded May the 8. 1660. His Majesty was solemnly Proclaimed by the Loâ—ds and Commons the Lord Mayor c. in the Cities of London and Westminster with an universall testification of Loyalty from all degrees of people The manner whereof being so remarkable each â—erson in his proper Sphear contending to out-vy each other in expressions of obedience to His Sacred Majesty take as followeth Between one and two of the Clock the Lords met in the Painted Chamber where they continued till they were placed in order the Earl of Manchester Speaker first then the Duke of Buckingham the Earl of Oxford c. Thus they walked all along with the Heralds before them through the Court of Requests and Westminster-Hall to the Pallace where they staid befoâ—e the Hall gate whither also presently after came the House of Commons Being placed in order both Lords and Coâ—mons stood bare whilest Mr. Bish dictated and Mr. Râ—ley king at Armes with a loud voice Proclaimed Charles the second in these words The Proclamation Although it can no may be doubted but that His Majesties Right and Title to His Crown and Kingâ—omes is and was eâ—ery way compleated by the death of his most Royall 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 testify their duty and respect And since the armed violence and other the Calamities of many years last past have hitherto deprived us of any such opportunity whereby 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 Commons of the City of London and other freemen of this kingdome now present do according to our Duty and Allegiance heartily joyfully and unaminously acknowledge and proclaime That immediately upon the decease of our late Soveraign Lord King Charles the Imperial Crown of the Realme of England and of all the Kingdomes Dominions and Rights belonging to the same did by inherent Birth right and lawfull undoubted succession descend and come to His most Excellent Majesty Charles the second as being lineally justly and lawfully next Heir of the Bloud Royal of this Realme and that by the goodness and providence of Almighty God He is of England Scotland France and Ireland the most potent mighty and undoubted King And thereunto we most Humbly and Faithfully do submit and obliege our selves our Heires and Posterity for ever God save the King The Proclamation being ended the Lords and Commons took their Coaches proceeding to the further solemnity of proclaiming His Sacred Majesty as followeth First the Head Bayliffe of Westminster and his Servants riding with White staves to prepare the way then followed a gallant Troop of Officers of the Army and other Gentlemen with Trumpets before them then the Life-guard very stately mounted and richly clothed after them a Class of six Trumpets and three Heralds then a Herald between the Serjeant to the Commons and the Mace of the Council next Mr. Ryley king at Armes in his rich coat of the Kings Armes between Serjeant Norfolk and Serjeant Middleton after whom came the Usher of the Black Rod and Mr. Bish together These ushering the way in the next place came the Earl of Manchester Speaker to the House of Lords in his Coach and six Horses then the Speaker of the House of Commons in his then his Excellency the Lord Generall in his after which followed both Houses of Lords and Commons in their Coaches and last of all a Troop of Horse In this manner they came to White-hall where they Proclaim'd His Majesty a second time and then in like order proceeded Being come to Arundell-House they made a stand where Mr. Ryley king at Armes taking one of the Heralds and six Trumpets with him advanced forward toward Temple-Bar which according tâ— agreement being shut he came to the gate knocked â—nd demanded entrance being asked who it was that knocked he replyed that if my Lord Mayor would come to the gate he would deliver his Message to him who accordingly coming the Trumpets sounded after which silence being made it was demanded of the king of Armes Who he was and what was his message to which he answered We are the Heralds at Armes Appointed and Commanded by the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled to demand entrance into the famous City of London to proclaime Charles the second King of England Scotland and Ireland and we expect your speedy answer to this demand to this they answered
for being in His way presented with several summes of money the Committee of Estates and Kirk fearing such diet would make Him too unweildy fet forth injunctions that what ever monies people had to bestow they should bring it in unto such Treasuries as should be appointed by them a very neat device not onely to bring gaine unto themselves but to make Him the more conformable to their pleasures However they pretend great matters for His service an army is to â—e raised of 16000. foot and 6000. horse of which the Earl of Leven is made Generall of the foot and Holborne Major Generall David Lesley Leiutenant Generall of the Horse and Montgomery Major Generall His Majesty whom I name last because He had least command had the Title of Generallissimo reserved for Him and indeed onely the Title for He never went into the field with His army Being come to Edenburgh He is received by the Parliament and Committy of Estates and Kirk with infinite expressions of fidelity and affection the Common people like Ecchoes answering their superiours the whole City sounded nothing but VIVE LE ROY In this Condition we will leave Him for a while and cast an eye upon the affairs of England Whose Juncto by the treachery of some that sat in the Parliament of Scotland had certain intelligence of all these proceedings and now seeing things were grown to this height they send for Cromwell out of Ireland making him Generall in the room of Sir Thomas Fairfax who say some refused to engage against the Scots others say his Commission was taken from him to gratifie therewith their Creature Cromwell though this their Idol afterwards prov'd their scourge so just is God that those who would not endure a milde King should suffer under a mereiless Tyrant Having received his Commission he matches into Scotland but upon his approach the Scots in two letters one to himself and another to the Parliament complain of the invasion To which the Parliament in a declaration and Cromwell in a letter much to the same effect replie That the Scots had once already invaded England under Hamilton and were now ready for a second so that the English did now not so much invade as prevent invasion That they had made peace with the Common enemy and had not onely restored Him to their own Kingdome but promised to give Him all assistance as to His restauration to this That they were not content to enjoy their own liberty in Religion but would restrain them from theirs Thus from words they fall to blows and first Cromwell at a place called Muscleborough encountereth with the Scots under the command of Montgomery whom he worsted and afterwards gave them a totall overthrow at Dunbar Sep. 3. 1650. a day very remarkable in the passages of his life having on the same obtained two signall victories was on the same chosen Protector and on the same day died the most fortunate of the foure and deserveth to be Rubrickt with red letters for deliverance from so bloudy a Tyrant Soon after he had a dangerous fit of sickness from which if God had been pleased in mercy to have delivered him by death I believe he had not been guilty of so much perjury bloud and apostacy as afterwards he contracted Sad was the condition of the Scots at this time being not onely perplexed with a forreigne enemy raging in her bowels but were themselves also miserably divided into a Tripartite Schisme one party in the West under Strangham and Ker declared for the Kirk against the King another party in the North under the Command of Huntley Atholl Seaforth c. for the King against the Kirk a third being the Parliament and Committy of Estates and Kirk for the King and Kirk with these last was His Sacred Majesty but so imperious and insolent were they over Him in extorting declarations from Him against His own party and proceedings in usurping the whole government of affaires to themselves and in placing guards of their own Creatures upon His person c. That not able longer to suffer such intollerable affronts he went secretly away from them to the Lord Dedups house in the North Confines of Fife The Parliament and Committy of Estates and Kirk fearing He would have gone to Huntley sent Major General Montgomery after Him to intreat His return again to S. Johnston's which at first He refused but afterwards upon severall Propositions granted Him He returned And now the Common enemy endangering all they unite in affection and a generall meeting is resolved on to be held at S. Johnston's which should consist of King Lords Barons Burgesses and the Assembly of Ministers severall Lords formerly in disfavour with the Kirk are received into command in the Army and have Libeâ—ty to sit in Parliament such as Hamilton Landerdale Leith Bucheim Dedup and Crawford Major Generall Massey of the English was admitted to a Command in the Army Thus did their soares begin to heal their breaches again to be made up and now it was well hoped these clouds of divission being blown over a serene sky would follow and the Sun of prosperity shine upon their proceedings January the first following with as great solemnity as the indigency of their affairs would permit was the King Crowned at Scone the ancient place for the Coronation of the Kings of Scotland to omit the Ceremonies which were not many as not fit to be used in so reformed a place The King having the Crown set on His head endeavours to maintain the same against all opposers in relation whereunto He resolves upon the raising of an Army with all possible speed to which effect he sets up His Standerd at Aberdeen intending to be Generalissimo thereof Himself Duke Hamilton is made Leiutnant Generall of the Army and Sir Thomas Middleton Lieutenant Generall of the Horse The Town of Sterling is ordered to be fortified to which His Majesty went often in progresse to view the works and encourage the Pioners And high time it was for Him to bestirre Himself Cromwell that successefull Rebel having gained all on the other side Fife takes the Earl of Eglington prisoner every day drew nigher and nigher to them whereupon His Majesty removed His Court to Sterling most of the Scotch army quartering about it whither not long after Sir Tho. Middleton brought 8000. men out of the North and more were expected every day from Argile Huntley and Seaforth who were gone to their severall territories to compleat the Kings Levies Cromwell desirous to fight them before they were united used all his endeavours to bring them to a field battle which His Majesty for the reasons aforesaid declined whereupon on a sudden he draws off his army and transports 1600. foot and foure Troops of Horse over into Fife and with an unparallel'd expedition faced again the Royall Army with a râ—solution to fall upon their Rear if they should attempt a motion thitherwards yet could not this make them to stirre In
it was His Majesty for it seems he had seen Him oft before he was a little daunted But afterwards recollecting himself he said he was resolved to Venture hanging for His Majesty to which His Majesty replyed that he need not put himself upon that Venture for that he might go along with Him where he should not want as long as He was able to provide for him thus setting Sale from Shoreham they in a small time came to Land near Havre de Grace in Normandy But to look a little back great was the List of prisoners taken at Woreester and many taken in the pursuit insomuch that the gleanings were almost answerable to the Harvest but more considerable to them who were publickly suffered to make a gain of by felling them beyondsea to perpetuall slavery this made the Sectarian party Cock a hoop and to make it the greater publike days of Thanksgiving are appointed to make God the patronizer of their Villanies Murders Tyrannies and Treasons And now say they were not people blind they might see God himself owning our cause in those wonderfull successes he bestowes upon us an argument scarcely worth the answering yet of great weight amongst their filly Proselites Then might the Turk boast of the purity of his Religion from the largenesse of his Territories and his severall victories over Christian Princes Ovid though a Heathen could have taught them better Divinity then so Careat successibus opto Quisquis ab eventu facta notanda putat May he never speed Who from th' event makes measure of the deed Not long after the Juncto had knowledge how the king escaped whereupon they vowed to make Mrs. Lane exemplary Oh the grievous crime of Loyalty But she having notice of their intentions puts her self into the habit of a Country-maid and so crosses the Country on foot to Yarmouth where she got shipping which conneyed her safe into France His Majesty having notice of her arrivall sent some persons of quality in Coaches to conduct her to Paris Himself with the Queen His Mother and the Dukes of York and Glocester going some part of the way to meet her entertaining her with this gratefull expression Welcome my Life And so taking her into His own Coach conducted her to Paris where she was entertained with the applause and wonder of the whole Court The Juncto in the mean time had sent Souldiers to search after her but missing their prey they in revenge burnt down to the ground that poor Cottage where His Majesty first took shelter after His escape from Worcester Yet one Note more may I conceive be thought not unworthy of our Story Many there were who had got rich prizes in the plunder of the City of Worcester by which they imagined themselves enriched all the dayes of their lifes but this wealth was to them Aurum Tholosanum being not only consumed in a few days but wasted with it the rest of their Estates And for the City it self she quickly exalted her self again and is said to be now in a better condition then she was before But let us at last proceed from the battle to the effects which it produced Cromwell heightned with these successes began to think of putting his ambitious designes in practice and first he turns the Juncto out of doors a thing he knew would be very acceptable to the people as being the originall of all our Calamities but his ambition was to make himself great not to give relief and take away the tyranny therefore in stead of those he puld down he sets up another of his own arbitrary Election who knew what they had to do before they met for having sat a while without doing of any thing considerable they resign up their power to him and by the help of the Officers of the Army and Lamberts instrument make him the Lord protect us Lord Protector The Common-wealth being in its Infancy yet in this were we happy that in his Reign one Tyrant only Lorded it over us but in the Long Parliament many Now though Oliver had often sworn against the government by a single person he could easily dispence with such triviall things as oaths and thought them binding no further then conducible to his own interest and because he could not crave a blessing from God upon such wicked practises he seeks to establish himself by humane policy Being of no Religion he gives a toleration to all so that what was once said of Amsterdam that if a man had lost his Religion there he might find it might now as fitly be applyed to England here being Presbyterians Independents Anabaptists Quakers Ranters Adamites Fift Monarchy men and such a Rabble more that I want a Dictionary to find out their names The two first indeed having not much fault besides their Pride and Ambition of which one writes of them That Pope John in his Chair never thought himself so big as a Cynicall Presbyter amongst his Lay-Elders or as an Independent in a Committee of Tryers c. Neither did Pope Joan in her State over think so well of her self as a sanctified Presbyterians wife drest up in her best attire The Anabaptists are a bloudy people fatall both to Kingdomes and Common-wealths and although England felt not much of their Cruelties being timely prevented by the Divine Providence yet wofull Germany was a long time a Stage for their Tragedies being died red with many horrible murthers and massacres The Quakers are of a sowre Generation who defie all Learning of a crabbed disposition looking rather like Fantasms or furies sent from Hell to deceive the world then Christians Yet grew they extreame potent boasting in their Schismaticall opinions and seducing many poor and ignorant people to their own damnation But should I give you an account of every particular Sect 't would take up an age to describe them No day but produced its Schisme or Heresie no Cobler but would presume to make himself the head of a Sect or Faction glorying in thundring the holy word of God out of his prophane lips to his she-Auditors for so for the most part they were who listen to him as to an Oracle and he presuming his confidence to be knowledge carries himself as proudly as if he were their Ghostly father But to proceed He knew that what was acquested by force must be maintained by violence and therefore he had a care in raising such indigent persons to preferment as might if not for love to him their Governour yet for the preservation of their own interests spend their bloud in opposing any that might make resistance And as he raised vallies so he leveld mountains Great men being like metled Horses if not well look'd to may chance to cast those yong Riders who are scarce setled in the sadle Those who would not acknowledge him to be their Head he made no more to do but cut their heads off to recite all those who suffer'd under him would make a fourth volume to
Foxes Martyrology not any who had the least appearance of Noblenesse and worth but suffered by death or sequestration whilest his own Mushrom'd Gentility sprung up in a Night of Rebellion were the simple nothings then adored His spies of whom he had many were very usefull to him the charges of whom amounted to no lesse then two hundred Thousand pounds per annum These were not onely distributed about all places of England but very conversant in the Courts of most Christian Princes by this silver hook he gained intelligence from most places and seldome are any secrets so close lock't up that a golden key will not open Then for Souldiers he took such a course that he had always enough of them having brought the Commons so low by want of Trade that they must either take up Armes or starve nor would he want occasion to keep up an Army on foot for when he had no cause he could soon create one witness the war he made with Spain Englands fast friend in all the late troubles by which the Trade of England hath been more detrimented then by all the wars we have had since 1638. Having thus tyrannized over England the space of five years he at last made his exit in a most horrible tempest we may well say that God was not in that winde though we have cause to praise his blessed and holy name for that wind-fall As he lived unbeloved so he died unlamented breathing out his soul with the sin of perjury for at his being chosen Protector he called God to witness he was against Englands government being made Hereditary abusing to that purpose the saying of Solomon Ecclesiastes 2.19 Who knoweth whether his son shall be a wise man or a fool Yet at his death he endeavoured all he could to settle it in his posterity leaving his Son Richard Protector of England and his Son Henry Lord Lieutenant of Ireland And though at his death the Common-wealth was indebted some millions of pounds yet never was any King of England buried in that state as was this grand Tyrant the charges of his funerall amounting to no lesse then sixty thousand pounds besides that he was presumptuously interred among His Majesties Ancestors at Westminster in that very place where His Majesty had intended for His own rest as if he had resolved not only to detain Him from His right when He was alive but when He was dead also The Protector being interred among the Kings and Queens at Westminster at a vaster charge then had been used before in the richest times his Son Richard an honest private gentleman well beloved in Hampshire ascended the throne by the invitation and encouragement of Fleotwood Desborough Sydenham the two Jones's Thurlow and others the relations and confidents of his father and by the contrivance of the Court received congratulations prepared at Whitehall from most of the Counties and Cities of England and from the Armies of England Scotland and Ireland with engagements to live and dye with him with addresses from the Independent Churches brought by Goodwin and Nye their Metropolitans This introduction being made to transferre the Government from the line of the Stuarts to the line of the Cromwells it was conceived by some who had proceeded thus far that a Parliament chosen by influences from Court would easily swallow what was so well prepared to their hands Accordingly it was resolved by the Protectors Juncto that a Parliament should be called who being met at the time and place appointed they first declare Richard Cromwell Lord Protector and chief Magistrate of the Common-wealth of England Scotland and Ireland Then they vote after 14. days opposition from the honest party in the house to transact with the new House of Lords Other things they did not so pleasing to the Protector and his party For they order a Committee to look after the accompts of the Nation in order to retrenching and lessening the charge of the Common-wealth They had also by a saving vote asserted their interest in the fleet and had under consideration an act for taking away all Laws Statutes and Ordinances concerning Excise and Tunnage and Poundage after three years Proceeding thus successfully with much satisfaction to the Nation the Protector and the Officers of the Army who before were jealous of one another grew now jealous of the House of Commons and therefore they thought it seasonable to contend for the power before the People should recover it from them both In order hereunto the Officers of the Army keep their Councels at Wallingford-House and the Protector with his party countermin'd them at Whitehall The result of the Officers debates was a Canting Representation written in such an equivocating language that the sting was easily visible through the Honey Hereupon the Protector begins to think of securing himself and forbids their meetings but in vain Wherefore both sides keep guards one against another day and night In this divided posture affairs continued till Friday the 22. of Aprill 59. on which morning early the Protectors brother Fleetwood Disborough his Unkle carrying the greater part of the Army with them and the Protectors party flinching the conquest was obtain'd without one drop of blood and the Protector forc'd to consent to the dissolving of the Parliament contrary to the best advice his own interest and promises Far different was the courage of this young Protector from that of our magnificent Hero Henry the 5. who having hastily taken the Crown from the pillow of his not yet deceased father and being by him with a sad sigh told that God knew how unjustly he had gotten it replyed That since his father had by his sword attained it and being now at his death by Gods Providence devolved on him that therefore his sword should maintain it as his Right against all opposers But our pittifull Protector wanted both his wit and valour for having by fortune gotten a Crown without the effusion of either bloud or treasure yet was loth to do so much as to draw a sword for its preservation thus according to the English Proverb Lightly come lightly go men seldome prizing that which they never sweat for The fathers servants being now grown the Sons Masters allow him some thousands of pounds and order him to retire into the Country but the turning out Richard was not all they had to do his Brother Henry was still possessed of Ireland who was looked upon as a man of a more couragious spirit and doubtless they had found him so would the Officers of the Army have stuck close to him as at first they promised but they according to the course of the world left him when he had most need of them and so made him incapable either of assisting himself or restoring his Brother The Protector being thus devested of all power and authority Lambert comes again upon the stage a person of so large a spirit and undaunted courage that Oliver fearfull of his great endownments had
deprived him of all command in the Army onely making him a member of his pageant house of Lords during whose Protectorship he lived as 't were retired knowing it in vain to struggle against one who had got so setled a power but he being dead and an opportunity given him to present himself again upon the Theatre his ambitious spirit would not let him lie still but attempts to make himself Commander of these three kingdomes as Oliver by his means had done before which design of his in the sequell ruined him and discovered those grand cheates and abuses which that party had put upon the Nation endeavouring to enslave them to their own Arbitrary power whilest they pretended to weare those glorious yet strangely wrested names of Religion and Liberty But to proceed having pulled down one Government they are inforc'd to set up another well knowing the people would not be contented to be ruled by the sword of all Governments the most unjust and arbitrary and since they must have one they resolve to have one like themselves even those men that murthered the King and had for some years enslaved their Native Country This Rump or fag end of a Parliament do they pitch upon So these Tyrants cement and knit together again like a Snakes tail and for colour called themselves the Revivers of the good old case and were as busy as if they had another King and three kingdomes to destroy Thus by Gods permission that old rotten Government which was the fâ—râ—t cause of Englands ruine is new vampt and set up again to bring the people into a far worse then Egyptian bondage and slavery Two things are to be wondered at in this transaction First how the Rump durst credit or give any trust to the army having formerly turned them out of doores and likewise so lately deserted their young Protector And secondly how the Army durst trust them whom they had so grossely abused with a full power over them to place and displace whom they pleased Certainly the Rumpes intention was no lesse then to serve the Army as they had formerly served them but the Army were as cunning as they were crafty and having knowledge of their design inhibited their usurped sitting as you shall hear anon Upon notice of the sitting of the Rump those members who had been secluded by the Army in 1648. for refusing to dip their hands in the bloud of their Prince now demand an equall interest with the others to sit and Vote but as they had formerly been violently thrust out so are they now forcibly kept out by the Officers of the Army This affront is highly resented by them Mr. Pryn one of those secluded members writing strongly against them proving them by several reasons to be no Parliament but onely a tyrannicall and illegall authority they being first dissolved by the death of the King who summoned them he being Principium causa finis Parliamenti Secondly they not being the fourth part of that number which ought to constitute a Parliament the rest of their fellow-members being at severall times turned out of the house according to the pleasure of the factious army so that most Shires and Corporations in England being unjustly deprived of their Burgesses had no power nor interest in the government of the Nation Thirdly their power being again devolved into the people who having by their Votes chosen another did disannul the autherity of this Representative But it was in vain to talk of Law to those who would be ruled by none However for the security of themselves they proceed vigorously to change the Officers of the Army causing them to take commissions from Lenthall whom they made Generall making all the hast they can to settle themselves under the notion of the Good old cause In the mean time the secluded party of the House joyning with the Presbyterian party who were now kept under by the predominant faction of Anabaptists and Independents they combine together and seek to gain by force what by fair means they could not attain and this their design they make almost generall over England that as the ruine threatned the whole Nation so was the whole Nation concerned in the redresse August the first the day appointed by the Rump for the banishing the Cavaliers out of London was the time set for them to rise But by the treachery of some of the Confederates most places of their randevous were discovered and so the design for the most part disappointed Yet Sir George Booth with divers other Gentlemen in Cheshire and Lancashire raised a considerable force and having secured Westchester and some other places declared for a free Parliament and to maintain the rights and priviledges of the people the whole Nation saving onely the Sectaries and such who had raised themselves by the ruines both of Church and State praying for their successe but few or none stirring to their assistance It is a thing to be taken notice of even to admiration that those very people who made their lawfull Soveraignes raising a little ship-money which nevertheless was expended for the benefit and security of the Nation without authority of Parliament one of the chief pleas for their raising wars against him yet could now be contented with such unparalleld impositions and tyrannies as no History can acquaint us with the like The Sicilian Tyrants being but meer shadows to these whom we may justly call the very quintessence of all tyranny and oppression But to return to our purpose the Rump had soon notice of this rising and immediately send out forces to oppose them making Lambert head of the party which gave him as fair an opportunity to put in execution his ambitious designes as possibly could be He in ten dayes marches to them faces fights and overcomes them re-takes those holds which they had possest and so returns again victorious Sir George Booth soon after was taken in a womans apparell at Newport Pagnel and committed prisoner to the Tower of London The Rump in token of their gratitude to Lambert for his good service order him a Thousand pound to buy him a Jewell which he as frankly bestows amongst his Souldiers intending they should require him at a dead lift this lesson he had cond of his Master Oliver to lay an Obligation upon the Souldiery who now were grown altogether mercenary This act of his disâ—leased the Rump who now began to find out his design but were not able to hinder it Whilest Lambert was thus acting in the North the Rump were as busy in consulting all ways for their own secuâ—ity as well from being supplanted by the Army as to suppress the peoples insurrection to this purpose they setle the Trained Bands in London with six Troops of Horse and began to raise the Militia in the Counties appointing such Commanders over them as were fanaticall yet assertors of their interest Those Governours of Garrisons who held for the Army they put out placing others in
their Rooms whom they could confide in and raise three new Regiments composed for the most part of Anabaptists Quakers and fift-Monarchy-men whom they call the Congregationall Brigade and now they hope in short time to be strong enough not onely to keep the people under but in due time to curb the pride of the insolent Army But all their endeavours were to little purpose Lambert heightned with his successe scornes to subject himself to any superiour power and was resolved to leave no stone unturned till he had set up himself and indeed his hopes were great having besides an obliged Army many of the Rumpers themselves his friends the chief of whom was Sir Henry Vane or rather Sir Humerous Vanity a meer Proteus in opinion the chief ring-leader of all the frantick Sectarians of a turbulent spirit and working Braine a strange composition of Choler and Melancholy who having given himself wholly to whimzies in Religion would find out crotchets in State too and those the strangest in the world as well his Modell testifies Which we have thought fit to insert that men may see the danger which the nation hath scaped The first position was That all men being by nature free are equally free from an over-ruling Magistraticall power If there be any excess in the sufferings of a suppressed party they are not to consider what the prevalent party does but what moves them to give them such actions seeing that inconsistency of principles justify a scrupulous severity Where there are two or more parties disagreeing as to the Erection of a government and but one agrees to this determinate forme there the Magistrate hath onely a direct power onely from and over them his power over others is indirect and in order to the safety of those that impowred him That they are onely the people of a Country who upon the Erection of a Government have impowred the Legislators to act being avowedly ready to stand by and uphold them and not every one that either farmes or actually possesses lands therein Those distenting people ought to be onely as the Helots to the Lacedemonians To be in the pay of the State doth not render an army Mercenary or deprive them of their share in being the people That those are most truly the people of this Nation who owned the Parliament in that day of Triall when Sir George Booth was up in Cheshire Neuters in any part and constitution of Government are not to be considered as the people That the Presbyterians are excluded from being the people That the Sectaries are all included both by their previous and subsequent services to the Parliament That there is no Religion which can lead a man to renounce the performances of such actions as render him capable of civill or politicall society That the faithfulnesse of the Sectaries is that whereby the State hath been and must be secured and is sufficient to discharge satisfactorily whom an equall Toleration can make them capable of Silence is not to be taken for consent where a party is under force Good orders doe not secure a Common-wealth wherein the Major or more active part is out-spirited for such a form It is not the making a Common-wealth by force that destroys a Common-wealth but their not making it naturall afterwards To make a Government Naturall the Circumstances of affaires must be so disposed of that they may necessitate to such a posture That those who have adhered to the Army and Parliament in the last conspiracy be every one of them register'd as liberators of their Country and that they be the prime Gentlemen and onely capable of places of power and trust and that their posterity shall claime if of equall abilities preheminence before others That all these be put into a military posture under a faithfull commander and let none else have the use of Armes That the Armies of Scotland and Ireland be included in the number of the Liberators of the Common-wealth of England and registred accordingly That this body of the Militia of England Ireland and Scotland choose a proportion'd number of deputies at their Musters who may elect out of their number some persons who are to make up the select Senate or Conservators of the Liberty of England That this Senate be for life onely that there be determinate number to be inquisitors into the Senate That this Senate be chosen out of the severall parties called Independents Anabaptists Fift-Monarchy-men and Papists That Papists Episcopall men and Presbyterians be excluded That the forces now in being continue for ever as guards to the Parliament Council of State and select Senate This is the Chief part of Sir Henry Vanes Modell by which the Nation may see the massacre which was intended to be made of their ancient Laws and Liberties And indeed as one writes of this Pseudo-Lyeurgus he was the fittest man to advance any interest to the ruine of Government who can but sooth him with the conreit that he is pleased with his Chimeras such an one both Cromwell and Lambert found him and accordingly made him subservient to their designes But to come to the matter Lambert having finished his work in the North in his march back to London begins to set his design on foot and herein he imitates the Ivie which being not able to support it self mounts up by the Oake and at length kills it so he makes use of Fleetwood as a stirrop for his ambition to climbe up withall meaning to pull the staires down when he was gotten up as Oliver before had shown him the way To this purpose the Souldiers by his instigation send up a paper to Fleetwood to be by him or Col. Cobbet presented to the Juncto under the name of the humble Representation of the forces under the command of the Lord Lambert in the late Northern expedition The effect of which Paper was that Fleetwood might be made Captain Generall of all the forces in England Scotland and Ireland that Lambert Desborow and Monke might likewise be made Generall Officers and that Sir George Booth and the rest of his complices might be brought to speedy tryall c. Fleetwood having received the Paper calls a counsell of some officers to consider of it and not sounding the depth of Lamberts designe communicates it to Sir Arthur Haselrig and Sir Henry Vane members of the house Haselrig being a person of a turbulent spirit acquaints the Juncto with it tels them there was some designe hatching by the Army suspects Lamberts ambition to make himself chief in the government of the Land and rashly adviseth to send him to the Tower The Rump netled herewith send to Fleetwood for the Paper he gives them a Copy of it but pretends the Original was in Cobbets hands who being sent for would not be at home when it should be delivered this incenses them more then before therefore to let them know that servants ought not to prescribe rules to their Lords and Masters they
immediately Vote that the making of more Generall officers was needlesse chargable and dangerous to the Common-wealth The Army though angry at the Juncto's votes were yet so wise as to dissemble it and in stead of breaking out into fury in an humble Petition protest their Resolutions to be still true and faithfull to them what ever theirs and the enemies of the publike good might suggest against them desiring them not to believe that they had any intentions to dissolve their power or to the setting up of a single Person which they had so solemnly and freely declared against concluding with severall Propositions pretended for the Nations good and reiterated promises of their fidelity Thus did they strive to out-vie one another in dissimulation yet durst not trust each others fidelity the Army conscious of having wronged their masters especially in so high a degree their guilty consciences fed ever on a fearfull distrust of revenge The Juncto on the other side had to their cost seen by former experience the danger of making a Generall over their Armies who should have full power to give Commissions to their officers and place and displace whom he pleased they knew that from such a preferment there was but one step to a single Person and so by consequence sequence they should be bereaved of their authority Thus did the Cocks of both factions peck at one another and both of them wanting true worth in themselves would make a Ladder of mischief to climbe up to promotion Yet the Juncto receives their Petition with a seeming hearty thanks but gave no credit to what they said well knowing that whatever Oaths or Protestations the Army made if once they opposed their interest they were utterly void therefore to secure themselves they seek to draw to their adherence what part of the Army they could and thought they had assured to themselves two Regiments of Horse and one of Foot which with their Congregationall Brigade the Trained Bands of the City of London and the Militia of the several Counties they hope they shall be able to deal with the Army But by the treachery of Vane and some other false Brethren their whole designes are betraid to the Army who now think they have a just occasion to dissolve them and which might likewise afford a fit plea to the people Yet the Juncto thinking themselves secure doubt not but to frustrate their intentions and make void the Commissions of Fleetwood Lambert and seven other ring-leading officers ordering a Committee for the government of the Army and Vote it High Treason to raise any money but by Act of Parliament c. But the Army in stead of quitting their power to the Juncto resolve that the Juncto shall quit theirs to them and once more from servants intend to turn their Masters And now the game begins to work the Rump gather what force they can about the House a Regiment of Foot and four Troops of Horse appear who are appointed to convenient places adjoyning to it three Troops are sent unto the City to crave their assistance but are denied onely in Southwark they make some appearance The Army on the other side are as quick in their preparations and assemble what force they can about Whitehall they likewise send to the City but in vain it resolving to stand Neuter having great cause to wish the destruction of both and that they might not want wherewithall to doe it the Tower of London supplies them both with Ammunition and now had the Souldiers been true to each side there might have been some bloudy noses amongst them but what Lucan said of old was true of them Nulla fides pietasque c. Nor Faith nor Conscience common souldiers have And first the Rumps own Life-guard desert them upon sight of a pistoll presented to their Captains breast by Lambert and joyning with their enemies force back their Speaker that old Fox William Lenthall who like a spunge hath suck'd up much of the Common-wealths treasure but may we hope in time be squeezed out again The Congregationall Brigade or the trust that is in Sectaries revolt likewise from them and joyn with the Army The speaker Lenthall coming to the House and finding the opposition of the Souldiers commands them as their Generall to return to their obedience to the Parliament as he then call'd it and to acknowledge him their supreme Commander but Lambert riding among them though rather like a Hagler then a Generall and awing them with his presence they return'd him no answer but what he might understand by the Language of Brickbatts Which opposition though he like not well yet he pressed to have gon forward till Lambert coming up to his coach whisper'd him such a word in his ear that he was glad to wheel about and retire back to his own House So that the Rump by such affronts as these taught the weaknesse of their force and the unwillingness of their souldiers to fight were forc'd to pull down their proud Stomacks though utterly averse at first from hearkning to any Composition and to surrender their power into Lamberts hands though to palliate the compulsive cause of their condescension the Council of State seem'd to interpose as mediators and both sides were said to withdraw to their quarters upon their command But their partiality soon appear'd the cause going clearly on Lamberts side so that the poor Rumpers were quite shut out of dores for that bout Thus those men who had but some few months before solemnly protested their deep sorrow for their wicked Apostacy and back-sliding from the Good Old cause as they called it and deviation from the way of God which without doubt they never intended to walk in in the year 1653. when they interrupted the Rump which were so grand Assertors of the peoples liberties had taken such paines and acted such glorious things as they said for the good but indeed inglorious for the bad of the Nation those men who had with such seeming hearty but indeed feigned expressions declared their repentance for their former disturbance and their now Resolutions to be stedfast to them thus soon forgot both th' one and th' other and in so small a time relapsed into what they then acknowledged for an error Those Officers who had assisted the Rump are by the Army suspended from their Commands they likewise by their Declaration disanull all those Votes which were displeasing to them thus did they overthrow all Government which corresponded not with their will and interest And now both Rump and Army put forth their Declarations accusing each other of a great deal of knavery of which they were both sufficiently stored but as it often happens when Thieves fall out true men come by their own so by their appeaching one another they discovered to the world the grand cheats and abuses they had put upon the Nation which made the people to detest their horrid villanies and tyranny and to wish the
Church and State and was not this enough what would they have more The Common-wealth-men they were a Birding too telling their pretty tales of Rome and Venice O the Gallantry of those ancient Romans that banished Tarquin out of Rome In the mean time the Presses are at work by Libells against the King wherein he was sufficiently abus'd particularly by a feigned letter from Brussels by Arguments of interest and by false intelligence to corrupt and deceive the people Yet would not all doe the Country were too sensible of the grosse Abuses and Cheates they had put upon the Nation The Generall willing they should be overcome as well by Argument as Force easily yields to a proposition that both sides might meet and speak what they could for themselves The Rump chose for themselves St. John Haslerig Col. Morley Col. Thomson Sir Ant. Ash Cooper Mr. Weever Col. White Col. Hutchinson Mr. Raleigh Col. Fielder on the part of the secluded members came Col. Popham Sir Will. Lewis Sir John Holland Sir Gil. Gerrard Mr. Knightley Mr. Annestey Mr. Crew Mr. Trevor Col. Harley Col. Norton Sir John Temple Col. Brich These met at Alderman Wales House then the Generalls quarters where they had a long conference together before him but when the Generall came to weigh the reasons on both sides he found those of the Rump much too light for the other partes The Generall being now satisfied in the Justice of the Secluded members cause quits his head-quarters in the City and returns to White-hall February 21. where met him in his Lodging most of the secluded Members in town to whom he spake to this purpose Gentlemen You are not I hope ignorant what care and endeavours have been us'd and means assayd for healing the breaches of our divisions among our selves and that in order thereunto diverse conferences have been procured between you yet having a fuller satisfaction from those Gentlemen that were secluded then formerly I was bold to put you all to the trouble of this meeting that I might open my self to ye all with more freedome then formerly But lest I might be misapprehended or mistaken as of late it befell me I have committed to writing the heads of what I intended to discourse to ye and desire it may be openly read After which a Paper was read to the Members by the Generalls Secretary to this effect That by what he had heard the settlement of the Nation lay in their hands and that he was assured they would become makers up of its wofull breaches in pursuit whereof he would think nothing too dear That he would impose nothing on them but took leave to mind them that the old foundations were so broken that in the eye of reason they could not be restor'd but upon the ruine of the Nation That the interest of London lay in a Common-wealth the only Government capable of making her the bank for the trade of Christendome that he thought a moderate not rigid Presbyterian government most acceptable to the Churches settlement therefore he exhorted them to settle the conduct of the Army and maintenance for the forces by sea and land to summon a New Parliament and make a legal dissolution of this This read the Members took leave and repaired to the House which they found open for them with all freedome above four score appearing at the first sitting They were no sooner entred but fell instantly upon the Nulling of those spurious orders which related to their first seclusion in Decemb. 1648. proceeding thence to the Enlarging and Confirming of the Generalls Commission and the disabling of the Rumps Commissioners for the Government of the Army the discharging of prisoners illegally committed and the appointment of a new Convention April 25. 1660. The Militia's they placed in good hands and empowred a Council of State to govern in the next intervall which being done and provision made for a new Election March the 16. they dissolved themselves Thus by the great blessing of God was the design of the Rump happily prevented who intended to have held the people at gaze in expectation of a further satisfaction till divers Troopes which they had ordered to that purpose should have seised all the considerable persons of the Kingdome Nay they were so impudent as to tempt the Generall himself into a complication with them but his Noble soul was too Generous to be wrought upon to prostitute his Honour his Safety and all to preserve a violent and restless faction Nor were they wanting in other shameless villanies falsifying the Lists of the Militia solliciting Petitions from the City for their Continuance jugling the Army-Officers into a Tumult Employing their instruments to destroy the Generall Mutinying the Army and the City and finally engaging a great part of the Souldiery to remonstrate against the rest of the Nation so desirous they were to have perpetuated their tyranny though all their endeavours proved too little to prevent their dissolution Yet notwithstanding the fruitlesseness of their endeavours their restless spirits were never quiet having their Agitators very busy in the Army though the Council of State put forth a Proclamation against them these cursed fire-brands more fatall to England then Paris was to Ilium having with their Machiavilian doctrine poysoned a considerable party of the Souldiers to Head their faction Lambert by what means I know not makes an escape out of the Tower to which place not long before he had been committed for refusing to sign an Engagement of living peaceably hereupon the Generall placed four companies of his own Regiment in the Tower and the Council of State issued forth a Proclamation against him and his complices requiring all persons whatsoever to be assistant to the suppression of them and that whosoever should bring him in should for his reward receive a hundred pounds the Citizens repaired their Posts and Chaines strengthned their Guards and in short the whole Nation was as vigilant as possible to disappoint the grand Conspiracy of the Phanaticks At last the Hue and Cry overtook the Thief Lambert is heard of with a party near Daventry consisting of four Troops of Horse viz. Colonel Alureds and Major Nelthrops which two Gentlemen were then in London and not in the least acquainted with their Troops defection Captain Haslerig 's and Cap. Clares besides severall Anabaptists Quakers and other Sectaries Colonel Ingoldsby having notice where he was resolves to give him a visit in his way his forlorn hope meeting with Captain Haslerig took him prisoner but upon giving his parol and a promise to send his Troop to them he was dismissed which according to his engagement not long after came in led by the Cornet and Quartermaster The Enemy seeing himself too weak in Armes seeks to gain by Art and desires a parley thinking thereby to increase their party which they being armed against the temptations of the Fiend are not unwilling to admit of the main business they drove at was under pretence of
because the passion and uncharitableness of the times have produced severall opinions in Religion by which men are engaged in parties and animosities against each other which when they shall hereafter unite in a freedome of Conversation will be compossed or better understood We doe Declare a liberty to tender Consciences and that no man shall be disquieted or called in question for differences of opinion in matter of Religion which do not disturbe the Peace of the Kingdome And that We shall be ready to consent to such an Act of Parliament as upon Mature Deliberation shall be offered to Us for the full granting that Indulgence And because in the continued distractions of so many years and so many and great Revolutions many Grants and Purchases of Estates have been made to and by many Officers Souldiers and others who are now possessed of the same and who may be liable to Actions at Law uâ—on severall Titles We are likewise willing that all such differences and all things relating to such Grants Sales and Purchases shall be determined in Parliament which can best provide for the just satisfaction of all men who are concerned And We do further declare that We will be ready to consent to any Act or Acts of Parliament to the purposes aforesaid and for the full satisfaction of all Arrears due to the Officers and Souldiers of the Army under the Command of Generall Monck and that they shall be received into Our service upon as good Pay and Condions as they now injoy Given under Our sign Manual and privy Sgnet At Our Court at Breda this 4 14 day of April 1660. In the twelfth year of Our Reign Never was Letter from absent Lover received with more unfeigned affection then these never was message entertain'd with a more generall consent nor did the House ever more truely appear the peoples full Representatives then at this present The Letters being read with that accustomed Ceremony and Reverence due to Majesty produced these Resolves Nemine contradicente Resolved by the House of Lords That they doe own and declare that according to the Ancient and Fundamentall Laws of this Kingdome the Government is and ought to be by King Lords and Commons Resolved that a Committee of eight Lords do joyn with a Committee of the House of Commons to consider of an answer to His Majesties Gracious Letter and Declaration Resolved by the House of Commons That a Committee be appointed to prepare an answer to His Majesties Letter expressing the great and joyfull sence of this House of His gracious offers and their Humble and Hearty Thanks to His Majesty for the same and with professions of their Loyalty and Duty to His Majesty and that this House will give a speedy answer to His Majesties gracious Proposalls Resolved that the summe of 50000 l. be presented to His Majesty from this House Ordered that the Letter from His Majesty to the House and His Declcration be entred at large in the Journall Book as also that to the Generall to be kept amongst the Records of this House for His Honour This compliance of the Parliament with His Sacred Majesty surcharged the Citizens hearts with joy those beams of Majesty which enliven Trading having been long absent from the City the presence of the Prince being one principall cause of a Cities greatness The Bells and Bonfires made outward expression of those indelible Characters of Loyalty written in their hearts the great guns from the Tower thundred forth Vive le Roys whilst each County in England strived to out-vie one another in expressions of Loyalty The Souldiery who had hitherto made Clubs trump resolve now to enthrone the King of Hearts in their affection expressing their Loyalty to His Sacred Majesty in this following addresse presented to his Excellency the Lord Generall Monck Although we cannot doubt of your Excellencies confidence in our affections and our faithfulness to your Excellency and that discipline which by your good and prudent conduct hath been exercised over us whereby we are instructed to an entire obedience to your Excellency and that Authority which the Lord shall place over us which we hope we have manifested in our last actings under your Excellency against all persons whatsoever in any ways disturbing the peace and settlement of the Nation although some of thom have been our Brethren formerly engaged in the same cause with us as also in our last Remonstrance and addresse to your Excellency wherein as it becomes us in daty we have solemnly declar'd to acquiesce in what the Lord shall bring forth from the consultations of this present Parliament Yet in regard your Excellency hath been pleased to communicate a Letter and a Leclaration from the Kings Majesty full of Gracious expressions we cannot but acknowledge that the matter of it gives a great measure of quiet to our minds and more then ordinary expectations of the enjoyment of much tranquility and happiness under His Majesties government The free and generall Indemnity offered by His Majesty with a liberty to tender Consciences satisfaction of Arrears and his readiness to consent to a confirmation of Sales and other Grants and Purchases of Estates to all persons now in possession of the same is that of which as we cannot doubt of the reall performance being left by His Majesty to the Parliaments determination so we be-believe it is the most probable way to bring the Nations to their desired settlement And we hope to evince to His Majesty and all the world that we and all those that have been engaged in the Parliaments cause are His Majesties best and most reall Subjects and that your Excellency and the Armies under your Command have comply'd with the obligations for which they were first raised for the preservation of the true Protestant Religion the Honour and Dignity of the King the priviledges of Parliament the liberty and property of the Subject and the fundamentall Laws of the Land Sir John Greenvile who brought His Majesties Letters had the thanks of both Houses given him for the same and 500 l. given him as a testimony of their respects to him the Speaker of the House of Commons delivering himself in these pathericall expressions Sir John Greenvile I need not tell you with what gratefull and thankfull hearts the Commons now assembled in Parliament have received His Majesties Gracious Letter Res ipsa loquitur you your self have been Auricularis ocularis testis de rei veritaâ—e Our Bells and our Bonfires have already begun the Proclamation of His Majesties goodnesse and of our joys We have told the people that our King the glory of England is coming home again and they have resounded it back again in our ears that they are ready and their hearts are open to receive him both Parliament and people have cryed aâ—oud in their prayers to the King of Kings Long live King CHARLES the second I am likewise to tell you that the House doth not think fit that you
meeting His Majesty he run to the King and took him by the arme with such an unadvised rudeness to kiss his hand as made His Majesty more severely then ordinary demand who he was but when he reply'd that he was that William that fed His Majesty in the Oake His Majesty was graciously pleas'd to give the Marq. of Ormond charge of him to see him well provided for for something before that in Reference to the setling of the Kings Houshold the Marquess was made Lord high Steward of His Majesties Houshold Other offices were also dispos'd of to others The Earl Manchester was made Lord Chamberlain The Earl of Barkshire one of the Bed-chamber but the treasurie was still let to remain in the hands of Commanders And as the King is now ordering of his houshold so is the Duke of Albemarly making alterations in the Army to His Majesties best advantage the commands of most of the Regiments both of Horse and Foot being conferr'd upon the Nobilitie Col. Smithsons Regiment is given to the Earl of Oxford Col. Faggs to John Viscount Mordant Col. Purys to the Lord Herbert Col. Twistletons to Sir Edward Massey the Lord Fâ—lkenbridge's to his Highness the Duke of Yorke Sir Ralph Knights Regiment to the Duke of Glocester Sir Ralph Knight Commanding as Lieut. Col. under him Col. Streaters Regiment to the Lord Bellasis Col. Gibbons's Regiment is Commanded by the Duke of Buckingham the Lord Ossory Commands another and the Lord Widdrington another Hereby it was provided by the army 's being put into such safe hands that it should no more be subject to the rebellious contrivances of agitators or any others who should seek to stir them up to rebellion or sedition nor was this all for his Excellency not onely alter'd their commanders but strictly charg'd that every souldier should take the oathes of supremacy and allegiance to His Majesty and that none should be new listed or pass the musters that refused it The City about this time calling to mind the injury which the Rump had offered not onely to the person but the effigies of His late most Sacred Majesty which they had taken down from all the publick places in the City where it had been set up caused another statue to be set up in the place of that which was taken down from the Exchange with this Inscription Monarcharum Mag. Brit. Secundus Franciae Hiberniae Rex Martyr ad coelum missus Penultimo Jan. Anno Dom. 1648. The Scepter in his right hand A Church in his left A Globe at his left foot and on his Shield MAGNA CHARTA As also another to be set up representing the pourtraiture of His Sacred Majesty that now is with this Inscription Monarcharum Mag. Brit. Tertius Franciae Hiberniae Rex Aetat suae Anno tricesimo Regni duodecimo Restorationis primo Anno Dom. 1660. The Scepter in his right hand In his left the Globe and on his Shield AMNESTIA Mis Majesty also set forth a Proclamation for recalling all Commissions at sea granted by himself or his Royal Brother before the first of May last willing and commanding every of them to forbear further execution of the said Commissions under such penalties upon disobedience as may be legally inflicted upon pirates and likewise requiring all his Subjects employ'd in sea affaires by any forraigne Prince to repaire home to His Majesties service It was now time seeing His Majesty restor'd to think of restoring him his revenues but the Parliament seeing them so wasted and imbezeled by the devastations of the times are willing to supply that want by grant of that imposition commonly called Tunnage and Poundage which they prepare with all speed together with an Act for Pole-money and continuing the excize till the 20. of August to all which three Acts His Majesty soon after coming to the House gave his Royal assent and confirmation Which as it was their own Act so was His Majesty willing that no other Act of theirs should seem to proceed from force or violence upon them and therefore at length to take away any such suspition the guards were discharg'd from their attendance on the Houses who being now upon the performance of their duty to His Majesty and the honourable service of their Country were not thought to want any other security then the hearts and affections of the people who think they must have an esteem for them who are so ready to serve their Soveraigne from whom they receive such benefits not only in health but in sickness His Majesty having since he came into England touch'd and heald above 2000. persons On the 13. of August severall proclamations were procaim'd one against fighting Duells whereby His Majesty strictly commands all his Subjects that they doe not by themselves or any others either by message word writing or otherwise challenge or cause to be challenged any person or persons to sight in Duell nor to carry accept or conceale any challenge nor actually to sight or be a second to any therein That the offenders shall not onely incur His Majesties displeasure but be incapable of any office or preferment That persons that know and conceal such challenges shall be liable to the same penalties In the conclusion His M jesty doth deny and forbid any intercession to be made for such offenders declaring that his pardon shall not extend to them The second was for the discovery of goods concealed belonging either to his late Father Queen or himself The third for calling in and suppressing of two books written by John Milton the one intituled Joannis Miltoni Angli defensio pro populo Anglicano contra Claudes Anonymi alios Salmasii defensionem regiam the other in Answer to a book intituled The portraicture of His Sacred Majesty in his solitudes and sufferings and also a third book written by John Goodwin called the obstructions of Justice Nor as His Majesty while he is doing justice and settling the government here unmindfull of securing Ireland to which purpose His grace the Duke of Albemarly is constituted Lord Lieutenant His Majesty thinking it no way prejudiciall to entrust the security of one of his Kingdomes in those hands which have been the safety of all three About the 21. of August was publish'd an Act for the continuance of the Excise till the 25. of December Saturday August 25. His Excellency to ease the burthen and charge of the Kingdome did dispatch expresse ordeâ—s to the severall Regiments of the Army to take no more Officers or Souldiers into any place vacant by â—eath or otherwise Upon the eight of August His Majesty went to the Parliament At his coming into the House of Commons the Speaker made a speech to His Majesty wherein he first took notice how great a blessing God had powr'd upon the nation in restoring His Majesty to his Dominions and lawfull inheritance That the eminent vertues excellent qualifications which God had bestowed upon His Majesty to make him every way
Sir if it please you to have a little patience we shall speedily give you an answer to your message After some little conference between the Lord Mayor and Aldermen the Gates were opened and the king at Armes entred with Trumpets sounding before him and was joyfully received by the Lord Mayor in his Crimson Velvet Gown and Hood the Aldermen and Sheriffs in Scarlet and the Officers of the Militia gallantly accoutred on Horse-back Both sides of the streets were guarded by the Mililia forces of London from Temple-Bar to the Old Exchange and stood all with their swords drawn as also the Officers and severall spectators in windows The City Horse fell in next the Life-guard then the Lord Mayor and Aldermen after whom the Herald and the rest as formerly When they came to Chancery-lane end they proclaimed His Majesty a third time where at the word Charles the second in the Proclamation the king at Armes lifting himself up with more then ordinary cheerfulness and expressing it with a very audible voice the people presently took it and on a suddon carried it to the Old Exchange which was pu sued with such shouts that is was near a quarter of an hour before silence could be made to read the rest of the Proclamation After this they went to Cheapside where His Majesty was proclaimed a fourth time the shouts of the people then being so great that though Bow-bells were then ringing yet could not the sound of them be heard Thence they went to the Old Exchange where His Majesty was again proclaimed with the loud shouts and acclamations of the people and so the solemnity ended But to recount the numberless number of Bonfires the ringing of Bells shooting off Guns and the joyfull expressions of the people that attended this gallant and well ordered procession would wear a pen of steel to the stumps and tire the hand of the most unwearied writer But this joy was not confined within the walls of the City the whole Kingdome participating of the benefit so did they also share in the triumph Our Chronicles make mention even to admiration of the solemnities at the Coronation of Richard the first but no History can shew a president of such transcendent joy as was at the proclaiming of Charles the second Take a view of their solemnities at Sherborn in Dorsetshire by which you may give a guesse at the rest On Munday May 14. the Kings Majesty after solemne prayers praises and a seasonable premonition at the Church by Mr. Bampfield to prevent exorbitancie was with high expressions of joy proclaimed by Mr. Birstal Master of the kings School there to whom Sir John Strangways High Steward of Sherborn-Castle did read the Proclamation himself not being able by reason of his age to utter it with so loud and audible voice as was requisite The performance was attended by divers persons of quality viz. Mr. George Digby second Son to the Earl of Bristoll Esquire Fulford Esquire Rogers one of Judge Mallets sons and many other Esquires and Gentlemen who brought with them as many Horse and Foot well armed as together with the Town Forces made up between five and six thousand Besides the melody of divers Consorts of Loud Musick there were the Martiall Noises of many Drums and Trumpets innumerable Volleys of shot the continuall ringing of Bells and loud acclamations of many Thousands of Men Women and Children had that thwack'd the streets so full that thousands of people as well in Armes as others were constrained to stay in the fields for want of room to receive them The very Earth did seem to quake and the Aire to tremble at the mighty rending shouts that were at that irerated On the top of the Tower of the Ancient Cathedrall were four large white flags with red crosses in them displayed on high poles The Conduit that day and the next ran with Claret besides many Hogsheads of March-bear and large Baskets of white loaves set out in the street for the Poor In the close of the day some of the witty wags of the Town did very formally represent an High Court of Justice at the Sessions Bench whither by a formidable guard was brought a grim Judge or Lord President in a Bloud-red Robe and a tire for his Head of the same Hue who being gravely set down in the Chair of Judicature with sundry asseslours the Cryer in the Name of the Supreme Keeper of the Liberties of England did command silence After the appointing of an Attorney Generall a Solliciter Generall and other Officers for the due constituting of so High a Court and the empanneling of a Jury John Bradshaw and Oliver Caomwell whose Effigies were artificially prepared and brought thither by a Guard of Souldiers were indicted of High Treason and murthering of the King commanded to hold up their bloudy-hands which for the purpose were besmeared with bloud They were asked Whether they did own the Authority of the Court which being silent the whole multitude present cryed out Justice my Lord Justice on these bloody Traytors and Murtherers They were asked again whether they owned the Authority of the Court and upon refusall sentence was passed upon them to be dragg'd to the place of Execution to be there hang'd upon two Gibbets forty foot high on both sides the States Armes which had lately been erected by Captain Chasee one of Lamberts Champions which sentence was accordingly executed The Honest Officers that dragg'd them to Execution from the lower part of the Town to the upper had many a blow with Fists Swords Halberts and Pikes which were aimed at the execrable Malefactors As they hung upon the Gibbets they were so hack'd and hew'd so gored and shot through that in a short time little remained besides Cromwells Buffe-coat and Bloudy scarfe that was worth the burning yet would nor the people be satisfied till they had made a fire between the Gibbets and burnt all they could get of their garbage or garments and at last tore down the States Armes to help make up their funerall pile At night besides the multitude of Bonfires there were three huge piles of faggots fired on the brows of three of the Highest Hills about a mile distant from the Town which were visible over all the Marshes of Sommerset-shire in part of Wales and the greatest part of Black-moor This extraordinary joy of the people of this Town might perhaps proceed from the native Genius of the place which having enjoyed formerly the residence of many a King and Bishop and the felicities that attend those Governments in Church and State did cause them to be even transported with joy at the restitution of the one and fair hopes of restauration of the other to these so long harrased Kingdomes and Churches And now the Parliament and City like the men of Israel and Judah when David was forced from Jerusalem by Absalon strive who shall be forwardest to bring the King home The Parliament ordered 50000l to be presented to His