Here valiant Cromwel as always being punctual in the observation of Articles and being informed that some of his Souldiers had been faulty therein no sooner was the complaint made but the redress was provided for hanging up one to the terrour of others he sent the rest of the offenders to Oxford to be there punished at the discretion of the Governour Sir Thomas Glemham who returned them to him again with an acknowledgement of his great Nobleness in being so punctual with his enemy His tenderness in this respect had great influence on others that had a disposition to yeeld But now we come to Basing-house in Hantshire a place that knew not what it was to yeeld It was the Mansion of the Marquess of Winchester standing on a rising ground encompassed with a Brick Rampart and that lined with earth a deep dry ditch environing all The House being situate and built as if for Royalry had this Motto Aymez Loyalte Here the Marquess stands upon his Guard assisted onely at first with his own family and an hundred Musquetiers from Oxford but was recruited afterwards by the King from time to time as occasion served This Garison had been several times assaulted but to little purpose first by Colonel Norton and Colonel Harvey next by Sir William Waller with seven thousand Horse and Foot who although he were by many in those days surnamed The Conqueror did little more then heighten the courage of the besieged who made frequent desperate Sallies upon him Thus out-braving all Assailants for some years the place began to be esteemed impregnable but Cromwel soon evinced the contrary for having seen Sir Will. Ogle the late Governour of Winchester march out according to Articles and setled the affairs of that Garison for the Parliament he the next day marches for Basing whither he no sooner comes but he falls to the work in good earnest placing a strong Battery against it that soon made it assaultable which perceiving for he had an excellent faculty in discerning advantages he orders the several Posts to prepare for a Storm And although the danger and difficulty of the work were great even enough to take off the edge of an ordinary resolution having to deal with so valiant an enemy who had often manifested their high courage and great skill in withstanding several former Assailants yet he accounting any designe the more honourable by how much the more difficult to accomplish gives the Onset and that to so good purpose that the besieged saw themselves in no capacity to withstand him Thus was Basing subdued a service so much the more acceptable by how much the more good redounded to the Country even to the whole Nation thereby in opening a way for Commerce and Correspence betwixt the West of England and other parts which before had been so long obstructed by this Garison Langford-House neer Salisbury was visited next by Cromwel but they within having head what he had done at Basing despairing of any better success then that Garison yeelded at the first Summons From hence he marches towards the main Body of the Army who were then upon a march towards Exeter to block up that place But that designe being for the present waved they suddenly fall upon Dartmouth and take it Which being done they encounter the Lord Hopton at Torrington where he was defeated and upon pursuit received as he was formerly assistant in giving a Cornish Hug and thereupon enforced to disband Whereupon followed the rendition of Exeter There remained onely now in the West Pendennis Castle which being blockt up by Col. Fortescue was soon yeelded Thus Fairfax and Cromwel having thorowly scowred the West and onely Newark remaining in the North the hopes of the King and his party were very low yet not quite dead for they had still a Party commanded by that gallant old Souldier Sir Jacob Ashley but these hopes soon vanish for he being encountred by Col. Morgan neer Stow on the Woulds was utterly overthrown himself and 1600 becoming prisoners to the Victors And now that black cloud which had so impetuously showred upon other places began to gather about Oxford it self the Kings Head-quarters and place of his residence it being already blocked up by Fleetwood and Ireton and every day in expectation of a close Siege Here Art her self had contributed her utmost assistance to make the place impregnable it being encompassed with regular Fortifications furnished with a strong Garison of stout souldiers stored with abundance of all kinde of provisions and which is more then all the rest governed by one that had given sufficient proof of his valour and faithfulness formerly in holding out two other Garisons Carlisle and York to the utmost extremity But all this avails not Oxford must yeeld And the unfortunate King who had for some time past received no other News but Job-like one messenger of ill tidings at the heels of another having no field-Field-Army left nor scarce a Garison to flee to began now to consider the danger of his person and to cast about which way to secure himself and at last resolves to personate a Serving-man and by the Conduct of Ashburnham to escape to the Scotish Army before Newark The Parliament receiving intelligence of his being there they demand the King the Scots refuse to deliver him whereupon grew a great Contest betwixt the two Nations concerning their propriety in the person of the King But the Scots calling to minde that 200000 l. was behinde of what the Parliament had formerly hired them for thought they had now an opportunity to hedge it in and therefore like the Ape that made use of the Cats foot to take the Apple out of the fire they vvave further dispute and having gotten their money deliver up the King Being in the hands of the English he is conveyed to Holmby-House in Northamptonshire a Princely Mansion where we shall leave him at present and come to speak briefly of some transactions in Parliament City and Army Wars are not onely carried on by Swords and Guns but Tongues and Pens are co-instrumental which as they had been too much employed formerly were not idle now The distinguishing terms of approbry formerly used viz. Cavalier and Roundhead were now transmuted unto those of Presbyterian and Independent who at this time clash with a high hand The Presbyterians endeavour to carry on the interest of the Covenant but they are not herein countenanced by the Army who shew their dislike thereof by the impeachment of eleven Members of Parliament Hollis Stapleton Waller Massey c. vvho are its abettors they thereupon making a voluntary secession Great disputes also arose in the two Houses at this time concerning the King some pleading his coming to London with freedom safety and honour to treat with his Parliament others urged that no more Addresses might be made to him The City closeth with that party in the Parliament which was for the Kings return and were so hot upon it that in
a tumultuous vvay they vvould needs compel them to alter their Militia and bring home the King The contrary Party in the House seeing violence offered them they vvith the Speaker betake themselves to the protection of the Army vvho being thus countenanced by Authority and thereby encouraged resolve upon a March for London to restore the Members of Parliament to their places and Authorities Upon the Armies approach the Citizens vvho before had made some semblance of resistance raising Forces to that purpose under Massey desire a Truce which vvas granted upon these Conditions 1. That they should desert the Parliament then sitting and the eleven impeached Members 2. That they should recal their Declaration 3. That they should relinquish the present Militia 4. That they should deliver up the Forts together vvith the Tower 5. That they should disband their Forces VVhich things being performed the Army made a triumphant passage thorow the City of London To return again to the King vve finde him not to continue long at Holmby ere Cornet Joyce vvith a Party of Horse seiseth on his Person and carries him away to the Head-quarters The Army having him now in their custody remove him from one place to another as to Royston Hatfield Causam an House of the Lord Cravens one that hath had a deep share in the sufferings of the Nobility here the Kings Children came to him vvhere they dined together But here he continued not long neither before his remove to Hampton Court vvhere being terrified vvith an Apparition of Agitators he left that place and unfortunately renders himself to Col. Hamond in the Isle of Wight vvhere he vvas secured in Carisbrook-Castle Propositions are sent to him from the Parliament but vvith little effect Provoked herewith the Houses past their Votes of Non-addresses to his Majesty and take the Government upon themselves vvhich vvas followed vvith a Declaration from the Army to stand in defence of those Votes These Actions so far discontented the people that in every place nothing could be heard but bad vvishes and vvorse threats from vvhence many did prognosticate the ensuing Summer vvould be a hot one in respect of VVars And now the Subjects of both Kingdoms vvhich before had joyned in Arms against the King begin to look upon his Estate and condition vvith commiseration blaming themselves for being instruments in bringing him into the condition he then vvas and now they petition the Parliament after the same manner that some years before they had the King in a tumultuous manner and impatient to have the grant of their desires delaid they press the Houses for a speedy redress of their present Grievances but could have no other answer but vvhat vvas delivered by the Souldiers guarding the Parliament and a Troop of Horse from the Mews these disswaded the Surry-men vvith feelling arguments from coming there any more These things made those that before seemed passive to be active the sable cloud of VVar blown by the fury of the people had now over-spread our Hemisphere vvhich Alarms the Army in all their Quarters First a considerable part of the Navy vvith Captain Batten sometimes Vice-Admiral to the Earl of Warwick desert the Parliament and put themselves under the power of Prince Charles Next the Kentish-men rise in Arms under pretence of Petitioning Laughorn Poyer and Powel seised on some strong Towns and Castles in South-Wales and declared against them Yet this vvas not all there blew a Northern blast that made many men shake Duke Hamilton a man vvho had received much of the King but deserved little rusheth in vvith an Army of Scots and joynes himself to Langdale Glemham and others of the Kings Party in the North. Upon these Risings the Parliament considers how to conjure these evil spirits down againe the Valour of their Souldiers had been tried in many Fights and Sieges before their former good successes made them confident that Victory was settled in their Scabbards and that they should no sooner draw their Swords but their enemies would fly To manage these Wars Fairfax was sent into Kent Lambert into the North there to stop as much as could be the over-flowing Torrent of Hamiltons Army who wasted the Country at pleasure wheresoever they came for Wales victorious Cromwel was designed before him as forlorn marches Col. Horton with 3000 who engaged Laughorns 8000 raw Welchmen and routed them Cromwel himself soon follows after with two Regiments of Horse and three of Foot Now we see him in the Field again to accomplish great undertakings which he did with so much facility that it rather seemed a Recreation then labour Caesar's Veni Vidi Vici may well be attributed to him who no sooner came neer an Enemy and beheld him but he overcame him and indeed his quick Marches furious Onsets and victorious Conquests came very neer Casars Atchievements The first place we finde him at in his march was Chepstow-Castle which he resolved to besiege but himself hastning to Pembrook he leaves Col. Eyre to dispatch this piece of service who accomplished it in fifteen days Cromwel on the twentieth of May comes to Pembrook Poyer being Governour of it who relying much upon the strength of the place refuseth all Conditions that are proffered to him Cromwel not being accustomed to despair of any thing that is possible applies himself to the Siege at Land Sir George Ayscough in the mean time with a Squadren of Ships cast Anchor in the Roade to forbid any succours to be carried in by Sea and as occasion served to furnish the Leaguer with great Guns and other provisions necessary Cromwel having taken a full view of the Castle and considering the strength of it makes his way by approaches and with his great Guns summons them to yeeld This course he thought the safest upon these considerations First for that by certain intelligence he was informed of the small Magazine of Provision that they had in the Town and Castle so that of necessity they must yeeld their bodies being weakned for want of sustenance would bring down their stout Stomacks Then Divisions among themselves which grew to that height at last that the Souldiers began to mutiny against their Commanders And lastly though he had Men enough to enforce them yet considering this was not the last service his Forces must go upon he would not be too prodigal of pretious blood knowing that Victory to be the cheapest which is won without blows Having thus considered of the matter he causes strict guard to be kept in his Trenches that so they might be kept in from running away This order was not long observed before Hunger had so battered down their Bellies and therewith so quell'd their courage that they desired a Parly and willingly yeelded up the Town and Castle upon quarter as to the common Souldiery but Laughorn Poyer and Powel with some other of the prime Commanders render themselves prisoners at mercy which some of them found but others were afterwards made
dispatched away Blake their noble General by sea with a Fleet of Men of War who being joyned with Sir George Ascue immediately prevented the Dutch by reducing that Island under obedience The Parliament of England having seriously considered the unhandsome actions of these their neer Neighbours how refractory they were upon all Treaties of Amity which was seen by their refusing those Propositions which were sent to them and how those honourable Persons that carried them to Holland were dayly so ill treated at the Hague by some insolent persons that the Parliament lest their Embassadors should again be Dorislaus'd called them home Reinfecta Presently upon this they were forc'd to take up a resolution to maintain the Right of their Jurisdiction on the British Seas and therefore sent abroad an Act for incouraging Navigation and increase of shipping This very much heightned the spirits of the English Sea-men and gave them hopes of being one day even with the Dutch for eating the bread out of their mouthes as they had long before done by bringing all Commodities into England at cheaper rates then they could be sent for by reason they were in Amity with most Nations and could send out ships with no more men then what served to sail them whilst in the mean time the English having Wars with most of their Neighbours were inforc't to be at great charges in double manning out their Merchant Men for security of the ships lading But to proceed This noble Act being arrived at Holland very strangely changed the constitution of that People from a Flegmatick to a perfect Sanguine Complection for now they saw it was time to look about them being like to be deprived of that sweet profit which before they did enjoy This animated them on to try conclusions in denying the English their undoubted Right of Dominion in the British seas At first it was put in practise by some particular men of War to see if the English would relinquish that old complement of striking the Top-sail but in this they met with sharp rebukes far surpassing imagination so that many times present Ruine did befal them that in wilful refusal durst deny this ancient Custom Thus by degrees one Quarrel begetting another the fire no longer smothered but broak forth into a dreadful combustion all preceding ages since the Creation never having produced such terrible Sea-fights which ever light heavy on the Dutch shoulders and made them know That although Holland was the elder State yet was it impossible for them to make England a younger Brother But in the midst of all these high undertakings the Lord General perceiving the Parliaments intentions were to perpetuate their sitting as appeared by their delatory proceeding in the Bill for successive Representatives therefore knowing that as standing water would breed corruption and grow offensive if it were not sometimes changed so Parliaments perpetual were offensive to the Peoples Priviledges but when pro tempore pleasant to their sight He having well weighed the matter and deliberately debated the business with his Council of Officers it was at last agreed by them to serve the Parliament with a Writ of Ease and make them understand the meaning of Exit This resolution being taken up the Lord General Cromwel went into the House attended by some of the prime Officers of the Army where he delivered certain Reasons for a present Dissolution of the Parliament which were no sooner heard but all the Members in obedience avoyded the place and every one betook himself to his particular habitation Thus this mighty Parliament was dissolved who first of all were called through the importunity of the people and afterwards upheld by the zealous devotion of the City of London whose inhabitants through their abundant affections made them a free-will offering of all their Ear-rings Bodkins Thimbles and Jewels to carry on the weighty great work of routing Popery beating down of Antichrist suppressing Superstition and out of all to raise up a Glorious Structure of Reformation To answer expectations this Senate began the work with the Kings evil Council and having lopped them off drove on to such great Actions that the faith of after-Ages will be much puzzled to believe and rather look upon them as Romances then Realities But now their time being come after twelve years sitting they were annihilated and the power transferred into the hands of others Presently upon this the Lord General Cromwel and his Council of Officers published a Declaration shewing the Reasons of the Parliaments Dissolution the substance whereof was this THat after God was pleased marvellously to appear for his People in reducing Ireland and Scotland to so great a degree of Peace and England to perfect quiet whereby the Parliament had opportunity to give the People the harvest of all their Labour Blood and Treasure and to settle a due Liberty in reference to Civil and Spiritual things whereunto they were obliged by their duty engagements and those great and wonderful things God hath wrought for them But they made so little progress therein that it was matter of much grief to the good people of the Land who there upon applyed themselves to the Army expecting redress by their means who though unwilling to meddle with the Civil Authority agreed that such Officers as were Members of Parliament should move them to proceed vigorously in reforming what was amiss in the Commonwealth and in setling it upon a foundation of Justice and Righteousness which being done it was hoped the Parliament would have answered their expectations But finding the contrary they renewed their desires by an humble Petition in August 1652. which produced no considerable effect nor was any such progress made therein as might imply their real intentions to accomplish what was petitioned for but rather an aversness to the things themselves with much bitterness and opposition to the People of God and his Spirit acting in them insomuch that the Godly Party in Parliament were rendered of no further use then to countenance the ends of a corrupt Party for effecting their desires of perpetuating themselves in the Supreme Government For obviating these evils the Officers of the Army obtained several meetings with some of the Parliament to consider what Remedy might be applyed to prevent the same but such endeavours proving ineffectual it became evident that this Parliament through the corruption of some the jealousie of others the non-attendance of many would never answer those ends which God his People and the whole Nation expected from them But that this Cause which God had so greatly blessed must needs languish under their hands and by degrees be lost and the Lives Liberties and Comforts of his people be delivered into their enemies hands All which being sadly and seriously considered by the honest people of the Nation as well as by the Army it seemed a Duty incumbent upon us who had seen so much of the power and presence of God to consider of some effectual means whereby to
summons to the Town which at first was slighted but they taking a resolution to storm Commissioners were sent to treat who agreed upon Articles to deliver up the Town and march away with their Arms. The taking of this place much refreshed the Army who were tired with tempestuous weather Yet here they tarried not long but removed to Callyne a Garison of the Enemy about six miles from Kilkenny where they joyned with Ireton Reynolds and Zankey making up in all a considerable Body The chief strength of Callyne consisted in three Castles that were in the Town these the Souldiers stormed one after another and carryed them all putting all to the Sword they met with this so terrified those that kept a House about a Musquet-shot from the Town that immediately they sent to desire liberty to march away to Kilkenny which was granted When the Souldiers had sufficiently recruited their Knapsacks with the provisions taken in the Town they marched back again to Featherd by the way the two Castles of Knoctover and Bullynard were reduced presently after fell in Kiltennon Arfennon Coher and Dyndrum very considerable places in taking the latter Col. Zanckey received a shot through the hands The Lord Governour Cromwel had now wholly subjugated all places of advantage except Limerick Waterford Clonmel Galloway and Kilkenny these were strong and required much time however he resolves upon the last but considering that the strength he had would not be sufficient to carry on the designe he sent for Col. Huson to march speedily up to him with his Forces which he did and by the way took the Castle of Loughin afterwards he joyns with the Lord-Governours Army near Goram a populous Town strengthned by a strong Castle which was commanded by Col. Hammond a Kentish man to him was sent an invitation to deliver up the Castle but he trusting to the Valour of his men which were Ormonds own Regiment returned a very resolute answer thereupon the great Guns quickly roared out their perswasions which made him beat a Parley when 't was too late for no other conditions could now be obtained but these That the common Souldiers should have their lives and the Officers be disposed of as should be thought fit These sharp conditions being yeelded unto the next day Hammond his Major and the rest of the Commission-Officers all but one were shot to death and the Priest that vvas Chaplain to the Catholicks in the Regiment hanged This place being thus vvon preparations were made for the besieging of the City of Kilkenny This Garison required a more then ordinary Force to master it for besides the Souldiers of the ordinary Garison there to it had resorted all those that had yeelded upon Articles the small Castles and Towns in that County Yet this did not at all discourage Cromwel vvhose imaginations comprehended all things that vvere not impossible and he scorning that this one place though never so strong should be a dam to stop the current of his Victories March 22 1650. he dislodged the Army sending first of all a small party of Horse before upon discovery quickly after came up the Body vvithin a mile of the City there he made a stand and sent the Governour Sir Walter Butler and the Corporation a summons to deliver up the City for the use of the Parliament of England The next day an answer vvas returned but not satisfactory thereupon the approaches vvere made neer to the Wall and a Battery of three Guns planted to play upon the best place that could be to annoy the besieged and vvithal to open an entrance to the Besiegers All this vvhile they vvithin vvere not idle but perceiving where the Lord Cromwel bent his greatest strength they provide there to make the greatest opposition by raising two Retrenchments on the inside strongly pallisadoing them and placing some pieces that might play to the best advantage but above all there vvas a crew of choice men that promised much Cromwel hating delay vvhen his business required dispatch caused the Guns to play vvhich had not made fully one hundred shot before a breach vvas opened VVhile this vvas in doing Col. Ewers vvith 1000 Foot vvas ordered to endeavour the possession of one part of the City called Irish Town and the better to facilitate the enterprise Cromwel gave the signe for the Souldiers to fall into the breach which they had no sooner done but they were beaten out again with loss and so disheartned by it that the storm was left off yet for all that Col. Ewers carried the Irish Town with small loss which made satisfaction for this affront There being on the other side of the River another small Town or Suburbs to the main City it was thought fit to send eight companies of Foot to possess it which was done without any opposition The gaining of this encouraged them to endeavour to force a passage over the Bridg into the City but it proved to the same effect as at the breach before But these desperate attempts made the Governour reflect upon his condition and the rather because the Garison in Cantwel Castle whom Butler had sent for desired Passes of the Lord Cromwel to go beyond Sea to serve forraigne Princes ingaging to act nothing prejudicial to the Parliament of England which was granted them That was one thing that discouraged him but chiefly this that he must not onely defend himself but withal must be his own relief there being no Army in the field sufficient to do it and withal the longer he held out the worse it would be for him These things considered made him hearken to a Treaty which being once commenced they soon concluded to deliver up the City and Castle upon these terms 1. To deliver up the City and Castle to the Lord Cromwel with all the Arms Ammunition and publick store 2. The Inhabitants of Kilkenny to be protected in their Persons Goods and Estates from the violence of the Souldiery and they that were desirous of removal to have liberty three Months after the date of the Articles 3. The Governour Officers and Souldiers to march away with bag and baggage 4. The City to pay 2000 pounds as a gratuity to his Excellency the Lord Cromwels Army Thus was the City of Kilkenny which had been the seat of the supream Councel and the Centre where the lines of all their pernicious devices met the productions whereof had so malevolent an influence upon poor Ireland brought under obedience in six days time for no longer the Siege lasted chiefly by the industry and indefatigable pains of the Lord Cromwel who ever was a partaker with his Souldiers in their hardships and never flincht from them at any time when need required his personal valour insomuch that at many places he laid by the dignity of a great Commander to act the part of a private Souldier Here he tarried no longer a time then was requisite to settle the Affairs of the City which having done he then marched
they went about to starve him Even so these State-Doctors dieted this poor Prince for some time feeding him with hopes and expectations of his desire and then at last give him no more but onely a Nut without the Kernel a Crown without a Kingdom so that his Commands were presently countermanded by a stronger and made invalid by General Cromwels sword who never left hunting him from place to place till at last he was forc'd to flee into Flanders for shelter where he now remains The Lord General Cromwel having given this deadly blow at Worcester September 3. 1651. which laid the Scots hopes low in the dust and thereby raised to himself a full assurance of the security of all his former Conquests tarried no longer in that City then to see the Walls of it levelled to the ground and the Dikes fill'd with Earth that so the disaffection of the inhabitants might be bridled from attempting to secure any future Enemy And now leaving this Golgotha he hastened away to offer his victorious Palms at the Parliaments feet Accordingly September 12. approaching neer to London the Speaker with the Members of Parliament and the Lord President of the Council of State with the Lord Mayor Aldermen and some hundreds more of Quality met him with demonstrations of extream affection to congratulate all his Noble Atchievements and Worthy Exploits here they comment on his Valour making large notes on his Victories the more because he had done much in a small time bringing that about in fifteen Months which was rather judged to be the work of so many years having in this time quite dispelled those Vapours fearful to the Parliament which were exhaled by the Rayes of Regality and once more made the serenity of Peace to shine in our Hemisphere Thus the Lord General was received in Triumph having before sent his Trophies the Scotch Prisoners with great acclamations and conducted to his house neer White-hall And after some small repose there he and his valiant Lieutenant-General went to take up their places in the Parliament where the Speaker in a congratulatory Oration acknowledged the Obligation of the State to them for their indefatigable industry The same day the Lord Mayor of London to compleat the rejoycing and shew his gratitude in behalf of the City feasted the General and his chief Officers This being ended with mutual returns of thanks the Lord General took his leave and returned back again to consider what was farther to be done for the settlement of the nation This is his next Work And what he did in order to the accomplishing thereof we now come to shew The End of His Personal Wars HIS ACTIONS In the PROTECTORSHIP THE English Nation having by a Civil War banished Monarchy with an Exit Tyrannus presently institute an Oligarchy which to give them their due acted in their Infancy like Hercules in the Cradle stifling all those Serpents that offered to hiss against their Authority and with such vigor prosecuted they their designes that both Ireland and Scotland were inforc't to yeild obedience to their commands The Authority of this Power being thus miraculously extended it grew at length dreadful to the neighbouring Nations especially the Dutch a people who of all others were most sensible of the growing greatness of the English Commonwealth they knowing full well that two neighbouring States of equal greatness could never long agree being still jealous of each others actions which jealousie causing misconstruction would at last break forth into open hostility Examples are frequent in this kinde Rome and Carthage so long contended till the one was ended They first fell out about the Island of Sicily and so by degrees this fewd extended it self through all those Nations where either side had any dominion But at last a peace being patched up it continued until the second Punick War wherein Carthage was made a Puny indeed and brought under subjection to Rome Another Example we have in that most noble Republick Venice whose first Founders being hunted by the barbarous Huns out of Italy were fain to shelter themselves by flying unto some little barren Islands which lay in the Adriatick Gulph where necessity putting an edge upon industry caused these people to begin an admirable Structure which since hath been increased to such a magnitude and splendor that it may well be termed The Worlds Wonder for the excellent Architecture multitude of Bridges rare Arsenal or Magazine but above all the Policie of this State far surpasseth all others in Government and may well be a pattern for direction and imitation to any people in the world Venice thus gradually ascending to eminency grew so great as to challenge the superiority over all the watry Element about it as well it might being situate therein and therefore Neptunes Minion This City being on one side of Italy on the other side lay Genoa situate neer the feet of the Apennine Hills a Commonwealth too and therefore aspiring high grew emulous of the Venetians greatness which made those two Republikes grow at enmity The first occasion of their falling out was about a Church allowed them both for exercise of Divine Service in Ptolemais commonly called Acoe in Syria this Church being too little to hold both people of such great spirits there grew a hot Dispute whose it should be which came to this issue That it must be theirs that could get possession which prov'd to be the Genoeses who to maintain their Mass armed the Church with Fortifications not for example to after-Ages and so kept it wholly to their own Use Thus began the Quarrel which continued for many years chiefly by Sea till at last the Genoeses received such dangerous shot betwixt winde and water that they were fain to cry Quarter and ever since vail to Venice acknowledging it their superiour Even so was it between these two mighty Republikes England and the United Provinces The Dutch fearing that current of Traffick would be stopped which they had so long enjoyed by reason of Englands Domestick and Forreign Wars themselves mean while having Peace with all Nations except Portugal whereby they increasing their Trade by an un-interrupted fishing in the British Seas and still greedy in their unsatiable appetite of ingrossing all to themselves without either Right or Reason grew at last highly conceited of their own abilities both as to Policy and Power Their Policy was seen in giving assistance to the Enemies of the English Parliament whilst in the mean time their Embassadors tickled the Council of State and Parliament into a belief of their Masters real affections and hearty wishes for their prosperity But these unworthy actions being privately suspected it was not long before they were publikely detected This put the Dutch to their Trumps and made them arm out a considerable Navy to execute a designe upon the Isle of Scilly which then was in possession of the Scotch Kings Forces But the Council of State in England having timely notice of this project
importance and might much conduce to the taking in of Dunkirk it self as afterwards it proved The French and English having beleaguered this strong place did not lie long before they reduced it to a surrender upon Composition so that it was delivered up wholly into the possession of the English But presently after the French being withdrawn into winter-Quarters came a strong body of Spaniards and made a fierce Camisado upon the Fort hoping to give the English little joy in their new Conquest but it fell out quite otherwise for the assailants were stoutly repulsed and inforc't to flee having lost in the attempt several brave Commanders The Protectors forraign affairs standing in a posture answerable to his desires his domestick designes at the same time did likewise very well correspond thereunto for the Parliament having sate near nine Months had in this time past many Acts which crowned the Protectors hopes so fully that more could not have been desired by him nor well granted by them For first out of a deep sence of his loss should such a design as bold Syndercomb's take effect they made provisions for the security of his Highness Person wherein it was Enacted High Treason for any to attempt compass or imagine the Protectors death This Act having pared the claws of cholerick humours at home in three whoops more the Title of Charls Stuart c. was utterly defunct And besides this to answer the end for which they were called round sums of money were granted to carry on the Spanish War notwithstanding his Highness late Conquests in the Indies that so the Protector might with more facility bang the legs of that long-limb'd Enemy The Acts made for this purpose were these that follow  Per Mens An Act for an Assesment upon England for three Months at the rate of 60000 l. On Scotland for three Months at 05000 l. On Ireland for three Months at 05000 l. On England Scotland and Ireland for three years   England to pay 35000 l. Scotland 06000 l. Ireland 09000 l. An Act for continuing of Tunnage and Poundage   An Act for preventing the multiplicity of buildings in and about the Suburbs of London and within ten miles thereof a whole years Revenue to be presently payd for dwelling or out-Houses that had been reared upon new Foundations since the year 1620.   An Act for Excise of merchandize imported Hobby-Horses Childrens Rattles and old shirts not exempted   These with many more being at once presented to the Protector for his consent were by him passed at which time he made this short Speech to the Parliaments Speaker I perceive that among these many Acts of Parliament there hath been a very great care had by the Parliament to provide for the just and necessary support of the Commonwealth by these Bills for levying of money now brought to me which I have given my consent unto and understanding it hath been the practice of those who have been chief Governours to acknowledge with thanks to the Commons their care and regard of the Publike I do very heartily and thankefully acknowledge their kindness herein The Protectors thanks for this could do no less then animate the Parliament to compleat the great work they were about for settlement of the Nation This business had been dayly debated and was almost brought to perfection when on a sudden a Petition was ushered into the House by a worthy Citizen of London to have his Highness one Tittle higher in his Title Hereupon the great Machine of Englands Government called the Petition and Advice was hastened away to the Protectors view with a desire that his Highness would be pleased to magnifie himself with the Title of KING Alas what thing more averse to his nature could be presented to him then this It was not to sit in high places that made him undertake the Government but rather to be a Servant to his Countrey Monarchie he knew was as odious to the Army as according to the proverb comparisons among the people and therefore he could not look upon this otherways then as a Temptation to try the strength of his resolution against that which before had like to have wrackt the peoples Liberties which said he undoubtedly had fallen out had not he stept into the sea of bloud and with invincible Arms preserved the Ship of State from those Piratical inchroachers that were ready to board her Yet to do nothing unadvisedly nor without mature deliberation his Highness took time to return the Parliament this positive answer to their liquorish desire which he with much meekness gave them in the Painted Chamber in these words That he could not undertake the Government with the Title of King Upon this the Parliament voted that Protector should be the stile of the chief Magistrate All things being now brought to maturity in the Petition and Advice and nothing wanting to make it a Law but onely the Protectors condescention a Committee was sent to desire a Conference with his Highness which he granted and appointed the place of meeting to be in the Painted Chamber May 25. 1657. his Highness attended by his chief Officers came accordingly and there the Speaker Sir Thomas Widdrington presented him with the Parliaments Petition and Advice the substance whereof was as followeth 1. That his Highness under the Title of Lord Protector would be pleased to exercise the office of chief Magistrate over England c. and to govern according to all things in this Petition and Advice also that in his life-time he would appoint the Person that should succeed in the Government after his death 2. That he would call Parliaments consisting of two Houses once in three years at farthest 3. That those Persons who are legally chosen by a free election of the people to serve in Parliament may not be excluded from doing their duties but by consent of that House whereof they are Members 4. In the fourth was shewn the qualifications of Parliament-Members 5. In the fifth the Power of the other House 6. That the Lawes and Statutes of the Land be observed and kept and no Laws altered suspended abrogated repealed or new Law made but by Act of Parliament 7. For a constant yearly revenue ten hundred thousand pounds to be settled for maintenance of the Navy and Army and three hundred thousand pounds for support of the Government besides other temporary supplies as the Commons in Parliament shall see the necessities of the Nations to require 8. That the number of the Protectors Council shall not be above one and twenty whereof the Quorum to be seven and not under 9. The chief Officers of State as Chancellors Keepers of the great Seal c. to be approved of by Parliament 10. That his Highness would encourage a Godly Minstery in these Nations and that such as do revile or disturb them in the Worship of God may be punished according to Law and where the Lawes are defective new
by six Horses in black Velvet The Streets from Somerset-House to Westminster-Abby were guarded by Souldiers in new Red Coats and black Buttons with their Ensigns wrapt in Cypres which made a Lane to keep off Spectators from crouding the Actors For the Procession In the first place went a Marshal attended by his deputy and thirteen more on horseback to clear the way after him followed the poor men of Westminster by two and two in Mourning Gowns and Hoods next to them the servants of those Persons of quality that attended the Funeral These were followed by the Protectors late domestick servants with his Barge-men and Water-men Then came the servants of the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs of London Following them were Gentlemen Attendants on Forraign Ambassadors and publike Ministers After marched the poor Knights of Windsor in Gowns and Hoods then the Clerks Secretaries and Officers of the Army Admiralty Treasury Navie and Exchequer next the Commissioners of the Excise of the Army and Committee of the Navie Then the Commissioners for approbation of Preachers behinde these followed all the Officers Messengers and Clerks belonging to the Privie-Council and both Houses of Parliament Next in order followed The Protectors Physitians The Head-Officers of the Army The Officers and Aldermen of London The Masters of Chancery and his Highness Council at Law The Judges of Admiralty Judges in Wales and Master of Requests The Barons of the Exchequer Judges of both Benches and Lord Mayor of London The Persons Allied in Blood to the Protector and the Members of the other House The publike Ministers of Forraign Princes The Holland Ambassador alone having his Train held up by four Gentlemen Then the Portugal Ambassador and the French Ambassador in like manner The Lords Commissioners of the Great Seal The Commissioners of the Treasury The Lords of his Highness Privie-Council All the Grandees were in close Mourning the rest but in ordinary The whole Assembly passing along in divisions were distinguished by Drums Trumpets Banners and Horses whereof there were eleven in all four being coverd with black Cloath and seven in Velvet These passing in comely order at length came the Chariot with the Effigies on each side of which were six Banner Rols twelve in all born by several Persons And likewise several Pieces of the Protectors Armor carried by eight Officers of the Army attended by the Heralds Next went Garter Principal King of Armes attended by a Gentleman on each hand bare-headed Now came the chief Mourner And to conclude all came the Horse of Honour in very rich Trappings imbroydered on Crimson-Velvet and adorned with white red and yellow Plumes of Feathers being led by the Master of the Horse The Rear of this brave Shew was brought up by the Protectors Guard of Halberdiers the Warders of the Tower and a Troop of Horse The Essigies in this manner being brought to the West-Gate of the Abby-Church of Westminster it was taken from the Chariot by ten Gentlemen who carried it to the East-end of the Church and there placed the Picture in a most Magnificent Structure built in the same Form as one before had been on the like occasion for King James but much more Stately Thus much for the History of O. Cromwel Now follows His Character WE finde him in the beginning of England's Distractions a most active Instrument to carry on the Cause for King and Parliament this pretence holding water and proving prosperous he then became the main stickler for Liberty of Conscience without any limitation This toleration became his master-piece in Politicks for it procured him a party that stuck close in all Cases of necessity These Libertines in general being divided into several particular Fractions as Independents Anabaptists Socinians Millenaries Antisabbatarians Ranters Quakers Seekers and God knows how many more did all of them serve as steps to mount our Protector to the highest pitch of Preferment After he had made use of all that could augment his Interest then Humility condescended to look thorow his fingers at a Crown but still waving the ayrie Title of King he rather chose to accept the substantial Power of Protector The Primum mobile of his desires herein being somewhat satisfied then Parliaments were rallied and by him as familiarly routed wherein he shewed himself to be in Policie as far above the Peoples Capacities as Saul in Stature was above the Israelites In his governing of England Scotland and Ireland it is obvious to all he studied Men more then Books so that his turn was served in all Offices parts advanced few but he that would never question Commands but act freely his Interests was sufficiently qualified for preferment Yet this he would do when Embassadours were to be made or Forces sent into Forraign parts then sutable spirits fitting the Imployments were always cal'd out to serve as the Lord Lockhart for France and Reynolds for Flanders the first going in quality of Embassadour the other as General In the choyce of his Privie Council much cunning might be seen yet he never relyed so much on their Counsels as to have it said England was governed by a Council and Protector for he made the world know it was by Protector and Council In his rise he never cut down one step before another was built to support him this was seen in his levelling the Long Parliament and present spring of the next Little One then they being dissolved in comes an Instrument for his own Government In all these changes he took time by the foretop not suffering such an Interregnum as might encourage the Peoples minds to work him any mischief His Speeches were for the most part ambiguous especially in publike meetings wherein he rather left others to pick out the meaning then did it himself But when Offenders came under his own examination then would he speak plain English and declare his power unto them in a ranting stile Secrecie in carrying on Designs is the principal part of a Prince at this he was excellent both in Military and Civil Affairs insomuch that few actions ever miscarried under his hands except that grand one of Sancta Domingo They that go about to diminish his Valour do little less then rob him of his right for in the Camp his Armor deprest fear and made him stand in defiance of all Guns under the Demie-Cannon but at Court his courage was somewhat quailed with a new light sprung up called Killing no Murther The Pride and Ambition which some say he was guilty of may be easily excused as an original sin inherent in nature and we all know That which is born in the bone will never out of the flesh To conclude he carryed his Design clear and hit the mark he aim'd at notwithstanding the Parliament Triplo-Heath and Dunbars Ingagements which shews that Policy and Piety may both lie in a bed and yet not touch one another But now we mention Pietie His Religion must not pass my Pen in this he was zealous not
Marston-Moor and there draws up his Army in Battalia to the best advantage the ground would permit Lesley was in the mean time marching with his Army toward Tadcaster after the Prince but hearing what he had done he wheels about to give him Battel The Prince having possest himself of all the advantages that might be keeps his ground The Generals Lesley Manchester and Fairfax having drawn up their Army in as good form as the time would permit placing most of Lesleys and Fairfax his Horse in the Right Wing Manchester's with other of the Scotch Horse made the Left commanded by Cromwel who had that Charge committed to him for the day the Foot made up the Main Body Both Armies standing in this posture Prince Rupert's Left Wing making the first Charge dissipates the Parliaments Right prosecuting their Charge with such fury and vigour that in a trice destruction was everywhere seen Cromwel in the Left wing not knowing what had befaln the Right couragiously charges Rupert's Right wing which soon turned the scale before inclining toward the Prince the advantage he got here by his wise improvement thereof soon redounded to the whole Army for although many for fear disbanded themselves and fled yet the rest as many as could be got together being led on by the Noble Earl of Manchester and Sir Thomas Fairfax the last of whom received in his face that day a Mark of Honour joyning with victorious Cromwel made the day clearly theirs This Fight was the most bloudy of any in all the Civil wars wherein was great slaughter on both sides judged by spectators to be little less then ten thousand men Prince Rupert and his helpers being thus discomfited they fall out and lay the blame of the miscarriage one upon the other the Earl of Newcastle and others of quality leaving the Kingdom thereupon This impediment being removed the Siege of York was renewed which City though governed by valiant Glemham being hopeless of new succours was soon yeelded Many other examples of Cromwels great Atchievements both North and west might be given even whilst he was in a lower capacitie but studying brevity we shall pass over many things and come to speak of him as under the New Establishment in which he received a greater Command The Parliament seeing the war to be tedious and finding that notwithstanding the daily great effusion of bloud and vast expence of treasure small progress was made in the Kingdoms resettlement they resolve on a new course by new-modeling the old Army and to prevent the just offence of any of their Members who might be displaced thereby they pass an Ordinance commonly called The self-denying Ordinance that no Member of Parliament should serve in the Army but wholly attend the service of the House unless they had the Houses license for so doing Then they recruit the Army which had been much wasted by Sickness and a late defeat in the West to One and twenty thousand viz. Fourteen thousand Foot Six thousand Horse and One thousand Dragoons commissioning Sir Thomas Fairfax their General Cromwel being then in the West and receiving intelligence of the new Establishment and of the self-denying Ordinance though he were a great and victorious Commander yet he had not forgotten to obey but immediately disposing of those under his Command he posts towards London to attend his service in Parliament according to their late Ordinance aforesaid and understanding that the General was then at Windsor he took that in his way and went to kiss his Excellencies hand and take leave of him But the Parliament being sufficiently sensible of his worth and how excellent an instrument he might be in carrying on the War they would not suffer him to desert his Military employment and the next morning before he came forth of his chamber a Commission was sent him by the Committee of both Kingdoms whereby he was made Lieutenant-General of Horse to the whole Army Upon this new Establishment the Kings party were very much heightned thinking it an easie matter now to subdue the Parliaments Army being thus chopt and changed and many eminent Commanders laid aside and discontented But they found the contrary for as a fractur'd bone well set becomes the stronger so this broken Army being skilfully handled became so well knit that it was thereby rendred far more vigorous and effective But to proceed Cromwel having accepted of this new Command he immediately applies himself to action For the Kings main Mid-land Forces under the Command of Prince Rupert lying then about Worcester and the borders of Wales intending to take the Field they sent a Convoy of two thousand Horse to Oxford to fetch off the King with the Train of Artillery and to procure Recruits for the Army Fairfax having intelligence hereof sent Cromwel with a party of Horse and Dragoons to impede their passage No sooner was order given but he was at the work for with incredible swiftness marching to seek his enemy he found them at Islip-Bridge and there encountred them and that with so much gallantry that he took 500 Horse and 200 Prisoners among whom were many persons of quality here he took also besides many other Trophies of Honour the Queens Standard And knowing it to little purpose to gain a Victory and not to prosecute it he therefore pursued the remnant that escaped to Blechington-House where Colonel Windebank kept a Garison for the King he summons the place requiring a speedy rendition giving its Governour to understand that otherwise they must expect the effects of the fury of an enraged Souldiery The Governour being terrified by the late defeat it seems despairing of relief from Oxford and doubting his own strength delivers up the House with all the Arms and Ammunition therein marching to Oxford where he was shot to death for his pains So that here were two Victories the well improvement of the first procuring the second But letting pass many of his more inconsiderable actions if any of his in this kinde may be so termed we proceed to give an account of his carriage in that remarkable and fatal Battel of Naseby onely mentioning that feat at Bampton-Bush where he took Sir William Vaughan Lieutenant-Colonel Littleton with divers other Officers and 200 common souldiers This Battel of Naseby brings to minde the saying of that learned man Hugo Grotius viz. When people fight for their liberties the Princes Crown lies at stake which was verified upon the King in the effects thereof for the scale of his affairs was thereby so turned that in short time after he both lost his Crown and became subject to the will of his enemy being never after favour'd with one successful attempt This Battel was fought on the 14 day of June 1645. neer Naseby The Kings Army lying in and about Harborough where Prince Rupert's Head-quarters were they had resolved the night before to fight Fairfax knowing themselves to be much stronger then he especially in Horse They were not more forward
to engage then the other were willing and thus being both agreed in the extremity of Disagreement they both draw into a large field by the Town side about a mile and a quarter broad This was the ample stage whereon that bloudy Tragedie was acted sad to behold and so much the more sad when we consider that it was English bloud shed by English hands here Relations were forgotten friendship relinquished yea he that perhaps but lately would have laid down his own to preserve the life of his friend doth now use all possible industry to destroy it and this upon no other ground but the common Feud that was then risen Behold the effects of a Civil War The Kings Front was made up of a gallant Body of Horse the Foot made a second Body the Right Wing was commanded by the brother-Princes Rupert and Maurice the left by Sir Jacob Ashley other Commanders of great quality and long experience in Martial affairs beyond the Seas taking their places in the field Thus being drawn out with Reserves to second the main Body they took up the whole bredth of the field The Parliaments Foot made a firm Body in the midst commanded by Major-General Skippon whose actions that day deserve an honourable mention winged with Horse on either side the Right Wing was commanded by the valiant Cromwel who to the great joy of the whole Army came in to their assistance the night before out of the Associated Counties with 600 Horse and Dragoons the Left was commanded by Ireton Rupert gave the first Charge which he did with such violence upon Ireton in the Parliaments Left Wing that notwithstanding their strenuous resistance he was routed and his men put to flight the Prince pursuing them thorow the Town but having more minde to the spoil then to the thorow-performance of his work he leaves the pursuit and assaults the Waggons where being repulsed he trifled out so much time that Cromwel in the Right wing assisted by Colonel Rossiter had in the mean time quite disordered the Kings Left wing and as it were raked the field before him separating the Horse from the Foot and thereby rendering them helpless one to the other Being reduced to this exigent the Horse fled toward Leicester in pursuit of whom Cromwel considering that though there had been a Rout there might be a Rally and not onely to prevent after-claps but also to secure what was already won sent some few Troops knowing that small force might do great execution on a flying enemy Himself in the interim joyning with their own Foot so encompassed the Kings Infantry that notwithstanding they shewed much gallantry and valour that day even to the admiration of their enemies being tired out and despairing of succour beholding nothing but death and destruction which way soever they looked they threw down their Arms and submitted to mercy The Kings loss hereby will appear the greater if we consider it in these two respects 1. He lost a gallant Army which was newly flush'd and heightned in their courage by the late good success they had in the storming of Leicester presently after which the King writ thus to the Queen That without being sanguine he could report his actions to stand in a better condition then at any time since the War began 2. Not onely was an Army lost but all possibility of raising another so vigorously did the Victors husband and prosecute what they had begun and gotten No sooner had the Parliaments Army broken down this bank but like a Torrent they soon overflowed the whole Kingdom bearing down and subduing all opposers Leicester was immediately regained from thence they haste to the relief of Taunton which had been long besieged by Goring's Army and held cut to admiration Upon their approach Goring draws off they follow him and overtake him neer Lamport where they engage him and here Cromwel shewed much prudence as well as courage for the Enemy being put to flight he would not suffer part of the Horse to pursue but caused them to forbear till they were all come up together and then himself led them on doing the work so effectually that he took almost all their Foot and Ordnance Thence they stept to Bridgewater a very considerable place which though obstinately defended was soon taken by storm In those days there was a sort of people called Club-men who pretending Neutrality would admit of no Armies within their Bounds and so confident were they as to capitulate with the General as if they intended to cudgel him out of their Country notwithstanding his late great successes thinking to keep their Clubs in their hands when so many gallant men had been forced to part with their swords But Cromwel not knowing what might be the issue of such tumultuous assemblings resolves to curb them betimes and to crush them in the egge to which purpose having notice of their Rendezvous he marcheth toward them with a party of Horse They were four thousand strong and had encamped themselves on the top of a hill promising much resolution in one of their Ensignes which had this Motto If ye offer to plunder or take our cattel Be you assur'd we 'll give you battel But this vapour soon vanished for Cromwel giving but one Charge up the hill routed and dispersed them all taking 400 prisoners whom he carried to Sherborn that Castle governed by Sir Lewes Dives for the King being then beleaguered by Fairfax and soon after reduced by storm Hence the Army marcheth toward Bristol a place of very great importance lying on the confines of Gloucester Wilts Dorset and Somerset-shires Prince Rupert was in it with about four or five thousand Horse and Foot who being too much addicted to Plunder made the circumjacent Country desire to be rid of such injurious neighbours At the Armies first arrival it was advised by Cromwel and some other chief Officers that they should storm part of the City which accordingly was put in practice so effectually that Prince Ruport durst not run the hazard of a second assault but immediately delivers up that great and well-fortified City having liberty to march to Oxford This great service being thus performed Cromwel without the least delay or intermission taking with him a Brigad consisting of four Regiments hastes to the reducement of that strong Castle of the Devizes whose natural strength was much increased by the ingenuity of its Governour Sir Charles Lloyd who being sensible thereof and confident therein returns no other Answer to the first Summons but Win it and wear it But as if neither Art or Nature could sufficiently fence a place against the Stratagems and Assaults of this invincible Conquerour whose very name began now to be terrible to the stoutest adversary he soon brought the Governour to terms and compelled him to yeeld upon Composition Winchester was soon reduced to the same pass after the Governours stomack had been a little brought down by the Battery of great Guns and Mortar-pieces
by reason of their long continuance from their Callings could not possibly set themselves to work and therefore must use their Swords to the best advantage either upon some new employment or exercise arms on the High-way Our new State being very sensible of this as they were not onely vigilant to see but careful in preventing all inconveniences that might happen found out a way to divert these ill Humours that lay lurking in the Body of the Nation by sending them to Ireland where they might do GOD and their Country good service in subduing the Rebels that now were grown so powerful that no place but London-derry and Dublin it self were able to withstand them nor they neither without speedy succours from England This Rebellion the most barbarous and bloody of any that ever broke out in any part of the world acted by Devils in humane shape rather then by men murthering no less then 200000 Protestants in two Months time without any regard either to Age or Sex was put in practise on the 23 day of October 1641. which though it had been contrived with such privacie and acted with such violence yet Divine Providence did wonderfully preserve Dublin to be a Refuge for such as escaped thither from other places to avoid the fury of their bloody Persecutors Now Ireland lying in this sad condition weltring in blood and overwhelmed in the greatest Misery that Fire and Sword could inflict many of the poor Protestants get into England hoping there to finde shelter from the persecuting Enemy but this proved little comfort to those distressed Souls for here they finde to the great Augmentation of their Grief that England prepares on all sides to act the same upon one another vvhich had been done against them in Ireland But although the difference between the King and Parliament grew vvider every day then other they endeavouring rather to get advantages then compose differences yet 't was so agreed that some Regiments should be sent over into Ireland to stop the proceedings of the Rebels vvhich in effect vvas but as a Bucket of vvater cast on a flaming House that could do little to the quenching of it After some time the King in England finding his strength every day more and more decrease and the Parliament to get ground of him in most places did not onely send for those Forces out of Ireland again but many of the Rebels themselves came to his assistance so that Ireland by this vvas in a vvorse condition then ever forsaken of all and left to be vvorried by those Blood-thirsty Wolves vvorse by a thousand degrees then the ravenous brood vvhich their Country produceth yet vvhen their condition was at the worst it pleased GOD vvho never fails his People in distress but makes their necessity his opportunity to stir up the Parliament in England vvith Bowels of compassion to look on the distresses of their Brethren Long had they fasted and prayed for them but did not add to it their helping hand one vvithout the other can never do much good but joyned together a small Force is sufficient to accomplish great Designes A desperate disease requires a desperate Cure The State-Physitians of England having now quite purged out Monarchy vvith all its Appendants and verified the words of Bishop Laud No Bishop no King the first with the Ceremonies of the Church being fallen quickly after came the other down also they resolve to send the same sharp medicine to cure the Bleeding VVounds of Ireland which they thought had cured England and to that end they send over an Army under the Command of Valiant Cromwel vvhose Actions there vve now come to HIS WARS IN IRELAND A General ought to have these four Properties to make him Victorious 1. A good Cause 2. Strict Discipline 3. Valour and Resolution 4. Lastly Celerity For the first none but the Papists will deny it for the rest no man in the world could shew more Valour and Resolution nor Prudence to govern it then General Cromwel A strict Discipline he ever observed which is the Life of an Army sparing none that transgrest against the Articles of War which were instituted for their better conduct His Souldiers carriage and behaviour through their Generals care won more then his Sword A Designe being once resolved upon usually himself was the Messenger to bring the Enemy tidings thereof and then he would hardly give them leave to Arm before he assaulted them either by Storm or Battel This made the old Emperour of Germany say to some of his Courtiers upon his hearing of News from England That he thought Cromwel by transmigration was possest with the Spirit of Gustavus his old Enemy so neer did their actings in the Wars agree Ireland to speak of its condition a little before he undertook his expedition thither was in a manner wholly reduced by Ormond formerly made Lord-Deputy by the Queen who having joyned his Forces to the Rebels and Inchequeen himself being now fallen off from that cause which before he stoutly defended no visible Force remained in the Field to oppose the Enemy who had the Kingdom wholly at their devotion except London-derry which was governed by Sir Charles Coot and Dublin the chief City wherein was Col. Michael Jones with no great Force and that which made it less was the suspition he had of his own Souldiers fidelity who many times deserted their Colours The Enemy with a numerous Army lay under the VValls of it with many menacing Summons requiring of them a speedy rendition yet through the vigilancy of the Governour Valiant Jones it held out to the confusion of the Besiegers But his present danger made him reiterate his Calls to the Parliament in England for speedy Aid of Men and Provisions alleadging that else all would be lost and they being sensible of his condition expedite their Assistance appointing Com. Gen. Ireton Col. Scroop Col. Horton Major Gen. Lambert with their four Regiments of Horse Col. Ewers Col. Cook Col. Huson and Col. Dean with theirs of Foot and five Troops of Dragoons all old Souldiers of the English Army whose Valour had often been tried in many sharp Encounters and found not to fear the countenance of the fiercest Enemy Besides these other Regiments were raised by beat of Drum to make up the number sufficient to carry on the VVork effectually The Souldiers being in readiness and nothing wanting but a General the Parliament having had experience of Cromwels great worth and valour knowing no man more fitting for the Employment desired him to accept of it who received it with a great deal of chearfulness expressing how ready he was to serve in this Employment above any in the world not doubting but GOD would make of him an Instrument to execute Vengeance upon the Rebellious Irish This answer was so highly resented by the Parliament that immediately they constitute him General of all their Forces in that Kingdom and Lord Governour both as to Civil and Military Affairs in
the Nation Col. Jones they commissionated Lieutenant-General of the Horse This being done the Souldiers march with great speed not resting above one night in a place to the Randezvous near Milford in Wales there to expect the Lord Deputy Cromwel who having dispatched his business with the Parliament began his Journey Tuesday July 10 1649. leaving London he set forward in great state himself drawn in a Coach with six Flanders Mares attended by many Members of the Parliament and Councel of State with the chiefest Officers of the Army his Life-guard consisting of eighty men which had been formerly Commanders bravely mounted and accouter'd both themselves and Servants Thus he rid to Branford where those Gentlemen that accompanied him took leave wishing a successful issue to this designe which was answered again with great respect Away he posts for Bristol to take order for the Traine of Artillery and many other businesses needful for the hastning his men on Ship-board From thence he takes his way to Wales having before sent three Regiments viz. Col. Reynolds of Horse Col. Venables and Col. Muncks of Foot these as the Vaunt-Coureurs to the Army were ship'd from Chester and the Ports thereabout who being favoured with a prosperous Gale soon arrived at the Port of Dublin where they were received with unspeakable Joy and Gladness the Citizens spared for nothing that might be a comfort to the Sea-sick Souldiers hoping that the recovery of their Health might be an enlargement of their Liberties vvho now vvere vvholly confined within the narrow compass of their City-walls They were not at all deceived in their expectation Jones his courage being much heightned by the arrival of these men novv scorned the Enemies Bravadoes and resolves upon the first opportunity by Gods blessing to remove them farther off which it was not long before he performed as appears by what follows On Tuesday August 2. 1649. the Enemy confidently draws down vvith a party of 1500 Foot besides Horse to Baggotsrold a place within one quarter of a Mile Eastward of the City upon the Sea hence they intended to run their trenches towards the City-works and thereby secure those Forts which were intended to be made towards the water to hinder the landing of supplies and succours expected from England But Jones and Reynolds with those other Commanders in the City observing the intent of the Enemy saw a necessity to interrupt them in their designe and therefore speedily drawing out twelve hundred Horse and four thousand Foot they with these quickly enter the works which the Enemy had newly raised and fell upon them with so much courage that they routed their Horse at the first charge the greatest part of the Foot were soon after cut in pieces and most of the rest taken prisoners This success so heated Jones his Men that they followed the chase to Rathmines where Ormond's Camp was and there they engaged his whole Army consisting of 19000 Men. The report of this bold Attempt quickly reached the General Ormond's Ears who then like a doughty Commander was valiantly playing at Tables in his own Tent and being told the news wished the Rebels as he called them would come that so he might have sport with them His wish he had but not the wished effect for the Tables are soon turned the sport proving very bad and bloody to Ormonds whole Army who were totally routed with a very great slaughter 4000 killed in the fight and chase 2517 prisoners taken most of them men of quality amongst the rest Ormonds own Brother All their great Guns Ammunition Provision they left behind them and withall a rich Camp to reward the valiant Souldiers who with the spoil thereof quickly clothed themselves in rich Habits and so marched into the City as it were incognito for many of the Officers knew not their own Souldiers they were grown so fine This Victory was obtained with the loss of few the number not exceeding twenty The News of this great Victory quickly reached the Lord Governour Cromwel at Milford Haven who was then shipping himself and Army August the 13 he set sail from thence with thirty two ships wherein vvas the Van of the Army on the 15 day Major-General Ireton followed after vvith the Body shipped in forty two sail Mr. Hugh Peters brought up the Reare in about twenty sail The Winds being favourable quickly brought them to Dublin where they were received vvith all the signes of Joy imaginable the great Guns ecchoed forth their vvelcome and the peoples Acclamations resounded in every street When Cromwel the now Lord Governour vvas come into the City the concourse of people being very great to see him vvhom before they had heard so much of at a convenient place he made a stand and in an humble posture having his Hat in his Hand he speaks thus to the people That as God had brought him thither in safety so he doubted not but by his Divine Providence to restore them all to their just Liberties and Proprieties and that all those whose hearts affections were real for the carrying on of the great work against the barbarom and bloody-thirsty Irish and the rest of their Adherents and Confederates for the propagating of the Gospel of Christ the establishing of Truth and Peace and restoring that bleeding Nation to its former happiness and tranquillitie should finde favour and protection from the Parliament of England and himself and withal should receive such endowments and gratuities as should be answerable to their Merits This Speech was highly applauded by the people and answer returned by many hundreds That they would live and dye with him The Army being all vvafted over the General knowing that vvithout Gods blessing his labour vvould be in vain therefore to obtain it he published a Proclamation strictly forbidding all persons under his Command to use the frequent practise of swearing cursing and drunkenness declaring a full resolution to punish with the greatest severity that the Law could inflict all those that should neglect or contemn the same This vvrought a great Reformation many taking vvarning by the punishment of some The Army being now refreshed and the Lord-Governour having settled the Affairs of the City both Military and Civil he draws the Army out of Dublin to a general Muster vvhere appeared a compleat Body of 15000 Horse and Foot out of these were drawn twelve Regiments containing in number between 9 or 1000 stout resolute Men for the present Expedition This Army being provided vvith all things necessary either for Offence or Defence drawing along vvith them a gallant traine of Artillery four vvhole Cannon and five Demy-cannons besides other Pieces useful either for a Siege or the field the Lord-Governour marches them away and quickly seats himself under the Walls of Tredagh Here he finds a most resolute enemy that vvould sooner break then bend the Governour of the Town vvas Sir Arthur Ashton vvho had formerly been Governour of Reading and Oxford in England for the King a
with him a strong Garison and to make all sure Ormond Castlehaven and the Lord of Ards in their own Persons caused 1500 men more to be boated over to reinforce it Of this the Army were Spectators but could do nothing to impede their Entrance The Lord Governour no sooner approached it but he sent the Governour a Summons to this effect That since his coming into Ireland he ever avoided the effusion of blood having been before no place where he did not first send them such terms as might be for their preservation and to continue the like course he summons them to deliver up the town to the Parliament of England To this no answer at present was returned until three great Guns planted before it began to play then the Governour fearing to fall into the same Praemuniri that other Garisons had done before was content to treat which they did and came to this issue That the Town be delivered up and they within march away with bag and baggage Whilst these things were in doing Kingsale Cork Youghal Bandon-bridge and other Garisons voluntarily declared came under obedience In the North Sir Charles Coot and Col. Venables were very successful the Lord Braughal and Col. Huson in other places did very good service I should here particularize some of them but that my whole designe is to march along with the main Body of the Army Ross being now in Cromwels Possession he caused a Bridge of Boats to be laid over the River Barrow and the Army to sit down before Duncannon a strong Fort commanded by Col. Woggen who had formerly served the King in England This place was so well provided with all things that upon consideration at a Councel of War it was looked upon to be time lost in tarrying long before it therefore the Army speedily rise and march away into the County of Kilkenny where Ormond having joyned his Forces with Inchequeen gave out that he would fight whatever came of it His Army was strong both in Horse and Foot far out-passing Cromwel's who was weakned by continual duty hard marches the Flux and other sicknesses raging amongst them occasioned by wants and unseasonable weather commonly quartering in the field yet for all this Ormond that Ignis fatuus upon the approach of the Army whose weaknesses at that time required rather an Hospital to cure their distempers then an Enemy to make fresh wounds vanished away without giving one stroke Whereupon Col. Abbot reduced Enisteoge a little walled Town about five miles from Ross and Col. Reynolds with twelve Troops of Horse and three Troops of Dragoons marching up to Carrick having divided his men into two parts whilst they were amused with the one party he entered a gate with the other taking about one hundred Officers and Souldiers without the loss of one man The news of this place no sooner arrives at Ross but the Lord-Governour Cromwel who for some time had lain there sick marched away immediately to reduce the City of Waterford hoping to gain that important place before the Army should draw into Winter-Quarters No sooner was he come before it but a Regiment of Horse and three Troops of Dragoons were dispatched away to reduce Passage-Fort this party soon made them desire quarter and deliver up the Fort and Castle in it were five great Guns and much Arms and Ammunition These Garisons now in the hands of those that could make good use of them were of great importance to the reducement of Munster and consequently of all Ireland The Lord-Governour being now before Waterford and seeing the City resolved to stand upon their own defence it being now December the weather also very wet and his Forces weak he draws them off into VVinter-quarters that they might be refreshed against the Spring to finish the work so prosperously begun Their quarters were at Bandon-Bridge Col. Ewer and his Regiment at Kingsale Col. Stubber at Cork Col. Phaier and Col. Cook at Wexford and Youghal the Head-quarters in other places convenient for a quick conjunction if occasion should serve the Army was placed Now the Souldiery are taking their rest we may look back a little upon some Actions which fell out since their leaving Waterford No sooner was the Army marched away but Passage-Fort was besieged by a party from Waterford and another from Duncannon joyned together but Col. Zanckey setting upon them routed the whole party killing a great many and carrying away 350 prisoners Many other Skirmishes were maintained with the like success yet little comfort could be had in them when the loss of Lieutenant-General Jones vvas reflected upon he died of a violent Fever at Dungarven December 20 1649. He was a man real to that trust which was reposed in him a daring man yet governing his Valour with discretion which makes a good Souldier not rash but advised in all his attempts a great loss he was to the Army yet not all for quickly after followed Col. Wolf and Scout-Master-General Roe the Army had their share of this mortality if the Commanders fall how can it be expected the common Souldiers should escape free But to salve up the business continual supplies were sent by the Parliament from England which made them as it were immortal so that though many men were lost their number was not diminished Whilst the Army lay in their quarters Cromwel was not idle he visited all the Garisons that were in his possession in Munster and ordered all Affairs both Military and Civil Coming to Kingsale the Maior as in other places presented him with the Mace and Keys which he kept not returning them again and conferred the Office upon another This was looked upon the more because it had not been used by the Lord Governour but the Maior being an Irish-man and withal a Papist it was not thought fit to trust such a one with the Government of so considerable a place Now Cromwel knowing that he which intends to do much business must rise betimes and lose no opportunity his Souldiers had not breathed in their Winter-quarters fully two months before he marched out of Youghal with about 3000 to enlarge his quarters when they were in the field he divided them into two parties himself took one the other was led by Ireton who marched away to Carrick there to reinforce himself by the conjunction of Col. Reynolds These were to march into the Enemies quarters two several ways and to meet together at a Rondezvous near Kilkenny in order to this designe Cromwel takes vvith him one party and marches away over the Blackwater towards the Counties of Limerick and Tipperary The first place he took in was a Castle called Kilkenny upon the edge of the County of Limerick afterwards in his march fell in Clogheen-House and Roghil-Castle here he passed the River Sewer with much difficulty and immediately marched away to Featherd a Garison-Town governed by one Butler about ten at night they got into the Suburbs and sent a Trumpet with a
in the bud and prevent their further increase 4. It was necessary to have a special regard to and warchful eye upon Scotland because by reason of its contiguity no Enemy could be so obnoxious to England as it and how ready they have been to lay hold on all opportunities to disturb the peace of England frequent examples testifie both of former and later times And unless that back-door were pin'd up as great mischiefs were like to be let in thereby now as ever In order therefore to their former Resolutions the Parliament provide for a war they order the Army to march Northwards to sit upon the skirts of the Scots But Sir Tho. Fairfax their General at that time being it seems not satisfied in the thing as many others likewise were not desired to be excused and laid down his Commission VVhich action of his bred consternation in most and several descants were given thereupon the Plebeian rout whose tribunal nothing of moment can pass judged the reason to be that he durst not venture to abide the gust of those Northern blasts But wise men know how much vulgar bruits are to be heeded and that notwithstanding what was said then or can be said now the trumpet of his fame shall not be put to silence nor shall Time it self be able to wipe his name into oblivion The Parliament being thus disappointed are to seek for a General to command their Army but for that they need not go far since they had then amongst them the most renowned Cromwel of whose prowess and faithfulness they had had manifold experience and who upon their request did accept of the Charge upon which they give him a Commission thereby impowering him to command all the Forces raised and to be raised in the Commonwealth of England annulling all Commissions formerly granted to the Lord Fairfax Cromwel being thus invested with power presently addresses to the vvork and in order thereunto he took his journey towards the Army in the North June 28. 1650. As he passed great demonstrations of respect were given him by the generality of the people July 4. he arrived at York attended by many great Officers of the Army No sooner vvas he entred that City but the Lord Maior Aldermen and Sheriffs gave him an invitation to a stately Dinner expressing how much they joyed in the presence of so renowned an Hero But he remembring that it was Fighting and not Feasting that he came about tarried there no longer then to order supplies for the Army and expedite their Rendezvous By this time the Committee of Estates in Scotland was alarmed insomuch that they were frighted into an Expostulation with the Parliament thinking thereby to protract time till their Levies were perfected to that end they sent a Letter to the Speaker by Col. Grey to this effect That they wondered at the report of the English Armies advance towards their Nation and that many of their Ships were seized and secured by the English contrary to the Act of Pacification in the large Treaty which provided that no acts of Hostility should be used against each other without three months warning beforehand and that those Forces which they were raising were onely for their own defence and therefore they desired to know if the Forces of England now on their march Northward were intended for Offence or Defence to guard their own borders or invade Scotland Papers of like import were also sent to the Governour of Newcastle Major Gen. Lambert and the Lord General Cromwel The Parliament answered them by a Declaration shewing the Grounds and Reasons of their Armies advance vvith the equity and necessity thereof Their Grounds and Reasons vvere these 1. For that the Scots endeavoured to seduce the people of the Commonwealth of England from their affection and duty to the Parliament and to promote the Interest of the late King under pretence of the Covenant 2. In that they took Berwick and Carlisle and put Garisons into them in the year 1648. contrary to the large Treaty in 1640. and this done by the Parliament of Scotland even whilst English Commissioners were at Edinburgh offering to endeavour the composing of all differences betwixt the Nations by a Treaty which they refused But forasmuch as every quarrel that is lawful is not necessary for in some cases injuries are to be passed by or at least to be composed by Treaty therefore they proceed to declare the Necessity also of their present Expedition which they thus grounded All reparations of the damages done by the Scots in their late Invasion have been denied to be given in a fair way by their Parliament vvhereby they have owned the vvrongs done thereby That they have a designe again to invade us which appears thus 1. In that upon the English their demanding a Treaty for satisfaction of the injuries done in their late Invasion they in express terms declared themselves enemies to this Commonwealth 2. In that although they could not claim to themselves any Authority or Dominion over us yet in Scotland they proclaimed Charles Stuart to be King of England and Ireland and since that promised to assist him against this Commonwealth 3. In that vvhen upon preparation in Scotland for Hamiltons Invasion of England the Parliament of England sent Commissioners to treat of an Accommodation to prevent effusion of bloud they declined the Treaty and in stead thereof an Army speedily marcheth into England 4. In that they declared against the English Parliament and Army as Sectaries ranking them vvith Malignants and Papists These provocations being intolerable and no satisfaction being to be had but vvhat the Sword must procure the Parliament resolve upon that course vvhereby seeing no other expedient could effect it to vindicate the Nations honour and to secure it against the like insolencies for the time to come This Declaration was quickly seconded by another from the Lord General and his Army which they directed to the well-affected in Scotland and was to this effect That they being to advance into Scotland for the ends expressed in the Parliaments Declaration of June 26. they considering the practices of some in that Kingdom whose designes are by unjust reproaches and false slanders to make the Army odious and render them to be rather monsters then men Therefore to clear themselves they could do no otherwise then re-minde them of their behaviour when they were before in Scotland what injury or wrong was then done either to the persons houses or goods of any considering this it was hoped that such their former demeanour would not be forgotten nor the present reports affright the people from their habitations To satisfie them further the Lord General and the Army declared from the integrity of their hearts That such of the Gentry and Commonalty as inhabit where the Army may come they being none of those who by their counsels laid the foundation of a second Invasion or closed with him who hath endeavoured to engage forraign Princes against
number of 1500. all armed with Backs Brests Head-pieces Pistols Swords and Lances as if they had intended to inflict some strange new-fashion'd deaths upon the English July 30. about three or four in the morning Straughan gave a furious Camisado on a Body of the English in their quarters which being sudden did somewhat disorder a Regiment of Horse but the Alarm being given raised so many English spirits that soon frighted away the Scots pursuing them to their own homes In this encounter were killed and taken about 200 with seven Officers ' of quality Straughan himself because he could manage his horse no better was fain to trip it on foot to Edinburgh with shame enough Here the Lord General to let the Scots see what a generous Enemy they had to deal withal discharged the chiefest of the prisoners taken and sent them to Edinburgh in his own Coach which not onely begot him great applause but tended much to the rectification of those who had harboured so much prejudice against him by reason of those strange reports broached of his pretended cruelty Now the Armies provisions being welnigh spent they retire again to Dunbar there to renew their supplies from the Ships attending for that purpose by order from the English Parliament vvho knowing victuals to be the life of VVar money being onely the sinews took care to provide a continued course of Recruits After convenient supply and refreshment returned immediately towards Edinburgh to accompany the Scots in their Rejoycing they being then very seriously keeping a solemn Thanksgiving for their supposed great deliverance imagining that the English Army was quite gone as if they had come onely to see how they did or whether Edinburgh stood where it did when they were there last This unexpected visit spoiled their sport and made them change their none notwithstanding the presence of their King then but newly come thither from St. Johnstons who although he had been lately crowned had not a Crown in his pocket the Kirk it seems thinking him not yet fit to be trusted with money till he had more amply lamented the sins of his father and put on those Yokes they were preparing for him which he fearing would not prove very easie made no haste to take upon him About this time the General Assembly with David Lesley their General sent to the Lord General Cromwel a Declaration as Lesley call'd it containing the state of the Quarrel in which they were to fight as if they had such a minde to it desiring that this their Declaration might be publikely known Whether their request were fulfill'd then or no I know not I shall so far gratifie them now as to endeavour the same by reciting it briefly as followeth THat the General Assembly considering there might be just grounds of stumbling from the Kings Majesties refusing to subscribe the Declaration concerning his former carriage and resolutions for the future in reference to the Cause of God the enemies and friends thereof doth therefore declare that the Kirk and Kingdom will not own any Malignant party their quarrel or interest but that they will fight upon their former Principles for the Cause of God and their Kingdom and therefore as they disclaim all the sin and guilt of the King and his House so they will not own him nor his Interest any further then he shall disclaim his and his fathers opposition to the work of God and the enemies thereof And withal that they would with convenient speed consider of the Papers sent to them from Oliver Cromwel and vindicate themselves from the falshoods contained therein Very short but not very sweet it carries a sting in its tayl The imputation of falshood might much more justly and properly have been kept at home all things considered The Lord General Cromwel returns them this Answer THat the Army continued the same they had profest themselves to the honest people of Scotland wishing to them as to their own souls it being no part of their business to hinder them in the VVorship of God according to their Consciences as by his Word they ought And that they should be ready to perform what obligation lay upon them by the Covenant But that under the pretence of the Covenant mistaken a King should be taken in by them and imposed on the English and this called The Cause of God and the Kingdom and this done upon the satisfaction of Gods people in both Nations as alleadged together with a disowning of Malignants although the Head of them be received who at this very instant hath a party fighting in Ireland and Prince Rupert at Sea on a Malignant account the French and Irish ships daily making depredations upon the English coasts and all by vertue of his Commissions and therefore the Army cannot believe that whilst Malignants fighting and plotting against them on the one side and the Scots declaring for him on the other should not be an espousing of a Malignant Interest or Quarrel but a meer fighting on former Grounds and Principles If the state of the Quarrel be thus and you say you resolve to fight the Army you will have oportunity to do that else what means our abode here And our hope is in the Lord c. Thus the cause of the VVar was stated as if the Scots had been ignorant of the grounds and reasons of the English Armies coming into their Country Now there remains nothing but fighting and how well they quit themselves therein is next to be shewn The Lord General seeing that by no means he could provoke the Enemy to an engagement having sufficiently victualled his men at Muscleborough Aug. 17. 1650 he advanced and pitched his Camp on Pencland Hills In this march the Scots drew forth several Bodies of Horse and faced the English but they were so wary as to keep out of harms way not coming within Gun-shot The Army having taken up their Quarters on the hills two Troops of Dragoons are sent out to dispossess the Enemy of Collington-House About this time a Serjeant of Colonel Cox his Regiment with three others his associates was called to account for plundering a house and stealing a Cloak which being proved the Serjeant was condemned to be hang'd and notwithstanding the scarcity of trees in those parts the Sentence was executed on him for an example to others The other three Souldiers found mercy and obtained pardon So careful was the General to preserve the Country according as he had promis'd them before in his Declaration Then the Scots drew forth on the west side of Edinburgh between the river Leith and the Sea to the number of two or three thousand Horse conceiving that the Army intended to possess a pass over the said River Which the Lord General seeing he drew forth a Forlorn to engage them himself in person leading to shew the Scots his readiness to fight them Approaching near to their Body one that knew the Lord General fired a Carbine at him but timerously
English as would wash them out of their Country if not out of the world and to make sure work imagining they had them now in a Pound they being well acquainted with the Country set a strong Guard upon the Pass at Copperspeith a place where ten stout men may obstruct the passage of fourty thereby to intercept or hinder all provisions or relief from Berwick or perhaps to hinder the English from running away lest any thing should be wanting to compleat their imagined neer approaching Victory For as a late ingenious * R H. his discourse of England Author hath it writing upon this subject The Scots from those high hills that encompassed this sickly remnant and which they had possessed themselves of look down on the English as their sure prey But as the same Author goes on how much better had they done had they levelled those mountains which surrounded their wretched enemies and which proved such sleight defences against a vertue backt with necessity and so made them an easier passage to their homâ—… by reason of their sickness did very â—…ant it And no marvel the Scots were thus confident For besides that they were stout and hearty in their own Country and upon advantageous ground in all which respects the English were at a loss they doubled the English in number they being 6000 Horse 16000 Foot whereas the other were but 7500 Foot 3500 Horse Two to one is great oddes and yet as the case then stood they must either fight manfully or tamely give up themselves a prey to their insulting Enemy which the English not having been accustomed to do knew not how to begin now Neither did all these straights difficulties and disadvantages in the least dismay the Lord General who as a Rock remained immoveable in this Sea of dangers and who considering that the present necessity required more then an ordinary courage and that this must be his Master piece or Misfortune after he had well view'd the Enemy and found that they had drawn down about two thirds of their Left wing of Horse to the Right causing them to edge down toward the Sea shogging also their Foot and Train to the Right a posture not well to be understood unless it were by this means to make short work and to catch the English as it were in a Purse-net saw that it was no time to use many words and that small debates must produce great actions and therefore after a short consultation had with his chief Officers it was concluded to take such a course as might let the Enemy see it was in vain for them to go about to abridge them of their liberty by any power or policie that they could use The better to do this the Lord General drew forth six Regiments of Horse with three Regiments and a half of Foot to march in the Van the Horse were commanded by Major-General Lambert and Lieutenant-General Fleetwood the Foot by Commissary-General Whalley and Colonel Monk To second these were Colonel Pride's Brigade and Colonel Overton's Brigade Two Regiments of Horse moreover brought up the Rere with the Cannon All things being thus in a readiness the Souldiers desired nothing more then the coming of the time when they should fall on that so they might shew their Valour to purpose It was resolved Sept. 3. to fall on by break of day but by reason of some impediments it was delayed till six of the clock at which time Major-General Lambert Lieutenant-General Fleetwood Commissary Whalley and Colonel Twisleton all stout resolute Commanders gave a furious charge upon the Scots Army who stoutly sustained the same and gallantly disputed the business at the swords point The English Foot in the mean time fired roundly upon the Enemies Foot but with more courage then success for being over-powred they were forc'd into some disorder notwithstanding they soon recovered their ground being reinforc'd by the Generals own Regiment And now the Fight grew hot on all sides The English Horse flew about like Furies doing wonderful execution insomuch that the place soon became an Aceldama or field of bloud The Foot were not behinde in their capacities for the Pikes gallantly sustained the push of their Enemies and the Muskets seemed by their often firings to have a designe to alter the property of the Climate from the Frigid to the Torrid Zone Neither were the English more free of their Powder then the Scots especially Lawyers Regiment of Highlanders were of their Bullets until their Horse being totally dispers'd and enforc'd to quit the Field left the Foot exposed to all dangers which they seeing began to shift for themselves as well as they could throwing away their Arms and betaking themselves to their heels a poor shift it being better to fight a day then run an hour To be short the English at last so far prevailed as to give a compleat Overthrow by the utter routing of that Army which had but lately triumphed in a confident assurance of Victory This was the work of one hour but it ended not here for the Rout begetting a Run the fugitives were pursued eight miles from the place Of the Enemy were slain in all about 3000 many prisoners of quality taken besides 10000 private souldiers with 15000 Arms all their Train of Artillery great and small the Leather-Guns not excepted and for standing Trophies of this great Victory 200 of their Colours were sent up to the Parliament at London who caused them to be hung up in Westminster-Hall where they remain till this day As Sea-sick passengers in a boisterous Ocean receive as it were new life and spirit upon safe arrival at their desired Port so the English Army who had been tossed up and down in a strange Country and almost spent by hard duty and the unsutableness of the Climate were now revived by this miraculous Victory And the Lord General seeing their courage to be up resolved it should not flat for want of exercise and therefore the better also to improve this Victory and to secure what he had gotten he dispatches away Lambert with six Regiments of Horse and nine of Foot to attaque Edinburgh the Metropolis of Scotland and secure Leith that so the English ships might thence readily and without obstruction yeeld necessary supplies to the Army The Lord General himself remained some small time at Dunbar to dispose of prisoners and to order other matters as the occasion required And the prisoners being so numerous that it seemed to be as much trouble to retain them as it was to take them the Lord General discharged neer upon 5000 of them most sick and wounded the rest much about the same number being conveyed to Berwick by four Troops of Colonel Hacker's Horse Having given this account of the captives a word or two of those that escaped by flight Their General it seems was one of that number and none of those that made the least haste neither or else he could not have been
Action was that which chiefly corresponded to his Nature yet the sharpness of the season made him continue in his Winter-quarters for some small time longer in which time parties were sent abroad to enlarge their Quarters and clear the passage between England and Edinburgh Timptallon-Castle was a place which many times had cut off passengers and much molested the Country by frequent excursions for the reducing of which Colonel Monk that gallant Commander was sent with about three Regiments of Horse and Foot When first he came before it finding the Scots very refractory he caused the Mortar-pieces to play for 48 hours which did them little hurt until that six battering Guns being planted they played their parts so well that the Governour was enforst to yeild seeing no other conditions would be granted to Mercy and all those that were with him The Scots King having now got some power into his hands used his utmost endeavours to gain reputation amongst his Subjects by visiting all the Garisons in Fife and putting them in a posture to hinder the English from landing on that side the Frith But having experience of the Lord Generals courage and knowing that Forts would prove weak withstanders of his Forces should they make an attempt therefore he drew from Sterling those Horse and Foot which could be well spared and joyning with them the new-raised souldiers he quartered them all along the VVater-side for better security After this business was ended away rides he to the High-lands to compose differences for that place was not free from dissentions perswade those rough-hewn Fellows to rise unanimously in defence of their craggy habitations This progress vvas no sooner ended but the sitting of the Scotch Parliament at St. Johnstons vvas begun vvhere the chief consideration vvas still to recruit their Army vvith new supplies of men This Meeting produced an Act Ordinance or great Gun to terrifie those that should slip away from their Colours vvithout leave from their Captains and vvas followed by the Clergie to shew how ready they were to promote these designes with an exhortatory Declaration stufft with raising rhetorick against the English which was sent into Fife and the High-lands perswading all to rise at this time of need This produced little for the common people must not stir unless their Lords or Leards beat the Drum But these Grandees were now busily snarling one at another about superiority in the Army every one endeavoring to be in the chiefest place of command and if any one were advanced he that came next behind pulled him by the skirts to hinder his preferment By this means the Scots great undertakings went on but slowly But to return and make an inspection into the English Affairs We find the Army in and about Edinburgh under a cloud of sorrow mourning for the Eclipse of that great Luminary which erst while had shined so bright in their Hemisphere whose influence had many times melted the waxen Whings of his ambitious Enemies but now as all men are subject to be so this great General by sickness was confined to his Chamber and utterly dis-abled for the present to act in person with the Army should any new occasion call them forth of their Winter-Quarters This did not so much depress the spirits of the English Souldiery who were exceeding sensible of their unspeakable loss should Cromwel their fortunate Leader be now snach't away from them in the midst of their hopes as it heightned the Scots who were very much elevated with the fancy of his death believing the slightest report of it to be real truths because it corresponded with their desires imagining to themselves assurance of Victory and sufficient Revenge when death had conquered him who many times before had made them feel the force of his Steel This conceit was so deeply grounded in their imaginations that no report to the contrary could supplant it but it must be so because so they would have it so apt are men to believe any thing that serves for their purpose according to that saying Quod volumus facile credimus But this Chimaera soon vanished into nothing for a Scotch Trumpeter being sent out of Fife to Edinburgh about the restoration of a Ship laden with Goods which the English Frigats had taken sailing from Brunt-Island to Fife after his message was delivered he very confidently aver'd to the Souldiers That their General was dead and that they did well in hiding it but all the world should never make him believe otherwise This report was much wondered at and the more because the Reporter did it with abundance of confidence endeavouring to perswade all to chirp after his note But he could not long persist in his opinion for this Novelty being handed about from one to another at last it came to the Lord Generals ear who much admired such a thing should be and he not know it therefore to dispossess the Trumpeter of that conceit he caused him to be brought into his presence where coming he now saw that although sickness had for some time sorely handled this noble General yet now his recovery was so far advanced and that Nature had now gotten so much mastery over his distemper that in all probability he would walk forth in a small time to take the air and visit his neighbours at Sterling if not in Fife At the return of the Trumpeter to those that sent him he quickly blew away this false report which went so currantly in the Scotch Army and assured the falsity of it The Parliament in England having ever a watchful eye on the Affairs in Scotland with singular providence provided sufficient supplies both of Men Money and Provisions of all sorts for Horse and Man dispatching them away continually to the Army so that it might be said That never was an Army better provided for then this nor ever did Souldiers better deserve encouragement then these About this time arrived at Leith Admiral Dean one of the English Generals at Sea with large supplies from London amongst other conveniences he brought 27 great flat-bottom'd Boats which were for transportation of the Army over into Fife that so thereby a quick dispatch might be made of this work so far advanced already But the time of year would not admit of much action for although it was April here yet the Rays of the Sun were not of force sufficient to penetrate the congealed Clouds and raise any verdure on the ground so that the Cavalry could not march unless they carried their fields behind them or else in Carts But this which hindered the English furthered the Scotch and gave them leasure to scrape together as many men as possibly could be got Out of the High-lands marcht Middleton with a considerable Force of Horse and Foot and the Town of Dundee out of a great respect to their King and to shew their forwardness in prosecuting the cause advanced for the service a brave Regiment of Horse at their own charges and
sent them with a stately Tent and six fair Brass Ordnance for a Present to the King then at Sterling where all being joyned their Army consisted of 20000 men most raw or else but parboil'd having seen no Wars but what their own Country produced and being more acquainted with their fields then fights knew better how to handle a Spade then a Speare But though many of them were thus especially the new-raised Forces yet all were not so for Scotland being always numerous in people supplyed the neighbour-Nations with auxiliarie Forces so that many Regiments of them were always in the service of the Swede French Dutch and other Nations But now upon report of Wars in Scotland they repaired home to serve in their own Nation at this time against the English The Scotch Army being grown numerous was still augmented by Forces newly raised in all parts of the Nation where the King and States had any command yet more were desired to that purpose the Earl of Eglington an eminent person was sent into the VVest with some other Commanders to raise Forces these coming to Dunbarton began to put their Commissions in execution but Colonel Lilburn having notice of it sent them a party of Horse which suddainly snapt the Earl himself his Son Colonel James Mountgomery Lieutenant-Colonel Colborn c. whom they carried away prisoners to Edinburgh The Lord General Cromwel had now got strength to walk abroad notwithstanding the relapse he fell into after his first sickness and had it not been that he was of an extraordinary strong constitution the Ague which last of all seised upon him might have shook him into the grave But the Parliament in England seeing how frequent these distempers were upon their General and doubting the air of Scotland might be the cause of it the Council of State first of all sent him two eminent Doctors Dr. Wright and Dr. Bates to use their utmost skill in his recovery and presently after dispatched an Order into Scotland which gave him liberty to leave the business of the Army and repair into England until his health and strength was recovered Upon receipt of this he made a return of thanks by a Letter to the Lord President of the Council which ran thus My Lord I Having received yours of the 27 of May with an Order of the Parliament for my liberty to return into England for change of ayr that thereby I might the better recover my health all which came unto me whiles Dr. VVright and Dr. Bates whom your Lordship sent down were with me I shall not need to repeat the extremity of my last sickness it was so violent that indeed my nature was not able to bear the weight thereof but the Lord was pleased to deliver me beyond expectations and to give me cause to say once more He hath plucked me out of the Grave My Lord the indulgence of the Parliament expressed by their Order is a very high and undeserved favour which although it be fit I keep a thankful remembrance yet I judge it would be too much presumption in me not to return a particular acknowledgement I beseech you give me the boldness to return my humble thankfulness to the Council for sending two such worthy persons so great a journey to visit me from whom I have received much encouragement and good direction for recovery of health and strength which I finde by the goodness of God growing towards such a state as may yet if it be his good will render me useful according to my poor ability in the station wherein he hath set me I wish more steadiness in your Affairs here then to depend in the least upon so frail a thing as I am indeed they do not nor own any Instrument this Cause is of God and it must prosper Oh that all that have any hand therein being so perswaded would gird up the loyns of their minds and endeavour in all things to walk worthy of the Lord So prays My Lord Your most humble Servant O. CROMWEL Edinburgh June 3. Although sickness had a long time kept under the body of this noble General yet his courage was no way diminished by it for no sooner was he able to stir abroad but with eager desire of action he consults with the chief Officers of the Army to carry on the War The result of these Councils was to contract the Army by drawing in the out-guards or petty Garisons which were of little force and onely served for Perdues to give notice of the Enemies motions To Hamilton marcht Commissary-General Whally with eight Regiments of Horse and brought off a Troop of Dragoons and 60 Foot which were there placed afterward several other places were deserted by the Forces that kept them The Army being thus drawn into one body were supplyed with 33 Waggons and Carriages for the Train from Barwick and near upon the same time arrived by Sea Captain Butler in the Success a stout ship formerly taken from the French this was the Ship that wafted along the Golden Fleece and safely swom into Leith with a rich Cargazon of about 80000 l for to pay the Souldiers This money was presently distributed out to the Horse and Foot which mightily elevated their resolution to the present Expedition All things being now ready for this Champaigne the Lord General Cromwel ordered the Armies advance to Red-hall which was cheerfully done on June 24. 1651. At this place they onely tarried until the Souldiers had wholly quitted their Quarters and then marched off to Pencland hills a place which was well known to the English ever since the first enterance of the Army into Scotland when they took the confidence from thence to look big on the City of Edenburgh but now being in a braver condition then they were before having cut through the greatest difficulties of the VVar and advanced their Blood-red Cross on the top of the most impregnable places that durst withstand their invincible Force having made a breakfast of the South of Scotland they intended the North for a Dinner Therefore to make hast now their stomacks were up the Lord General Cromwel caused the whole Army to pitch their Camp on Pencland hills in such a comely Order and admirable Figure so that Julius Caesar himself could he have kept death off at the swords point and thereby survived to this Age might have turned Scholar and learnt the Rudiments of Modern Discipline by the Example of this excellent Commander How amiable was it to behold the towring Tents of the superiour Officers in various Figures and spreading Colours overlooking the Huts of the inferiour Souldiers like so many Pinacles in a well-built City that aspire over the humble Cottages administring a pleasant object to the delighted Traveller Here Military Discipline resembled the Civil Power all knowing their Duty and performing their Parts whilst General Cromwel the Head observed the Actions of every Member in this great Body with one hand stretched forth to reward the sober
the Scots desired Articles to depart in peace which Lambert though a man of War quickly condescended to and so the place was yeilded upon these Conditions 1. That the Souldiers in Garison who were about five hundred should march away with flying Colours 2. That the Towns People should have what belonged to them 3. That all provisions for War together with all Guns and shipping of War should be delivered up for the use of the Common-Wealth of England This place was of great concernment for besides the strength of it it was a most commodious Harbour and in many respects better then that at Leith and from thence the Army in the progress of their Conquests might have constant supplies of all necessaries The Lord General having dispatched his Affairs at Leith made no stay but immediatly crost the Frith to his Army then at Brunt Island where he finds all things governed by Lambert with much Prudence and Policie the Souldiers couragious and Commissary General Whalley with a strong Party of Horse abroad scouring the Sea-side of Fife having some Men of War by Sea attending his Motion The Activity of this excellent Commander was very eminent who quickly subjugated many small Forts and possest himself of all their Artillery with the Ships and Pinaces that lay near them for security Having now brought his Affairs to a very hopeful condition the Lord General placed Colonel Wests Regiment in Brunt Island and with the rest of the Army and Train of Artillery July 30. 1651. he marched away to reduce St. Johnstons thereby to stop the High-landers from offering to send any Supplies to Sterling either of Men or Provisions The swiftness of this March was such that in two dayes the English Army came within sight of the Town and no sooner had they faced the same but intelligence informed the Lord General what small resistance he was like to meet withal which news was no way unwelcome but most acceptable for now 't was hoped to obtain possession by words not by swords and therefore this Summons was sent in That being informed the Town was void of a Garison save the inhabitants and some few Country men he thought fit to send to them to deliver the same to him immediately and that he did thereby promise to secure their Persons from violence and their goods from plunder This Message was immediately sent away by a Trumpeter who as it was conceived would blow open the Gates and make a free entrance for the whole Army but it fell out contrary to expectation for this Messenger of Peace approaching one of the Gates he was denyed admittance and returned back again by the Towns-men with a short Reply That they were not in a capacity to receive any Letters This slighting of Peace had like to have made them uncapable of Mercy but that a speedy excuse from the Magistrates of the Town was sent forth to mend the matter which declared That the Kings Majesty had sent a very strong Party able to maintain the Town and over-power them with a Governour But alwayes to observe civility with his Lordship they had obtained leave from the Governour to excuse themselves by shewing how unable they were to treat This was strange but not so strange as true For the day before the Lord Dafferes had entered the town with 1300 souldiers and therefore General Cromwel once more resolved to try the strength of his pen in a new Summons to this new Governour before they felt the fury of his sword But this was to little purpose for Dafferes would not return the least line or word in answer This sullen silence caused the General to give a speedy Order for drawing away the Water out of the Moats round about the Town whilst three Regiments of Foot Col. Prides Reads and Maliverers boldly advanced and planted four great Guns which plaid furiously into the Town this continued for one night but the Governour next day finding himself in an Errour was unwilling to persist any longer in it for fear of being brought to the stool of Repentance and therefore sent out to desire a Treaty which being concluded upon it was there agreed to deliver up the Town to the Lord General Thus the English Army run on in a continued Series of Successes making all places that offered to withstand their invincible force bow in obedience and come under their command and all this without the least opposition from the Scots grand Army commanded by the King himself which had lain long in and about Sterling strongly intrenched as if their onely design had been to defend themselves fearing as 't was thought to offend their Enemies and therefore continued their station to no other purpose then to bring up the Rear in Cromwel's Triumphs But it fell out otherwayes for the English Army having advanced as far Northwards as St. Johnstons the King thought good to make use of the present opportunity seeing his Affairs in Scotland were reduced to a desperate condition and fearing the fate that hung over that Nation would inevitably fall upon his own head did not he prevent it by some extraordinary means therefore knowing a desperate Disease requires a desperate Cure and that being in a house ready to fall it would be the safest course by a sudden departure to save himself by seeking a better Habitation he presently took that course To which end first of all casting up his force he found it extended to about 16000 strong with these and hopes of farther help from Friends he resolves to venter for England it self not doubting if his success answered his desires to hook in both Scotland and Ireland into the Bargain This Resolution he resolves to put in execution and therefore hastens his souldiers to drive on the design Thursday July 31. 1651. all things being in readiness the Scotch Army began their march from Sterling and the sixth day after entered England by the way of Carlisle The noyse of this Irruption made a terrible Eccho through all the Nation especially in the ears of the Parliament at Westminster who were much startled with the suddenness of the Action But they like vigilant Statists doubting such a thing would happen had beforehand provided to welcome these new-come Guests and first of all Major General Harrison attended by 3000 Horse and Dragoons joyning himself with Colonel Rich and some other great Commanders marched away to salute them upon their entrance into England Then an Act was issued forth and sent into all the Counties of the Nation to raise up the Militia into a present posture of Defence and besides to make all sure another Act was presently sent abroad which prohibited correspondency with Charles Stuart or any of his Party wherein it was enacted and declared That no person whatsoever should presume to hold any correspondencie with the said Charles Stuart or with his Party or with any of them nor give any intelligence to them nor countenance encourage abet adhere to or assist
any of them nor voluntarily afford or cause to be afforded or delivered to any of them any Victuals Provisions Ammunition Arms Horses Plate Money Men or any other Relief whatsoever under pain of High Treason And that all persons should use their utmost endeavours to hinder and stop their March Yet for all this the Scots went on in prosecution of their present designe bending their course by a swift March for the west of England where we will leave them making more hast then good speed and return back again to the Lord Gen. Cromwel He having notice at St. Johnstons that the Scots Army were gone to take up new Quarters in England did immediately settle the Affairs of Scotland in a posture sufficient to secure what was already won and leaving six thousand Horse and Foot more with Lieutenant General Mork to reduce the rest he causes Major General Lambert with five Regiments of Horse and Dragoons to fly away with all possible speed to get into the Rear of the Scots Army whilst Harison was in their Front so to impede their March until himself could get up unto them This being done with the remainder of the Army consisting of eight Regiments of Foot two of Horse and eight great Guns this victorious General marched away leaving Scotland but not the remembrance of his being there and on August 12. he with his Army crossed Tine With this swift March being quite tired out he caused the Army to pitch their Tents on Ryson Haugh upon the brink of Tine himself in the mean time quartering at Stelly House neer unto his Souldiers The Mayor of New-Castle having notice of the Armies being thus neer the Town immediately went forth with the rest of the Magistrates to congratulate the Generals arrival into England And to make themselves welcome to the Souldiers they carried along with them for supply of the Army Bread Cheese Biscet and Beer these Provisions were a great refreshing and inabled the Souldiers with cheerfulness to undertake the future march In the mean time the Scots with their King marched on towards Warrington Bridge where Maj. Gen. Harison resolved to make opposition against them and if possible to hinder their passage over but before they could break down the Bridge the Scots by a swift March from Charley came up and being necessarily engaged they maintained a notable combate with those that offered to withstand them here they had a small brush but could very well afford it for the loss was their gain and so both sides were satisfied with the ingagement for though some of their men fell in the fight yet they had their desire which was to pass over the bridge And now it was the great Question of all whither they intended to bend their course most believed for London being that was the Metropolis of the English Nation a populous City well furnished with a great Magazine of Men and Money the first being the Wheels of War the last the Oyl which makes them turn nimbly about But it seems the Scots looked upon this as too hazardous or else intended onely to take the dimensions of the Land and when that was done to return home again to their own Kingdom However they marched on towards the West shewing all civility to the people as they past along and with such strict Discipline were they governed that as their Army marched through Shropshire a private Souldier for offering to enter an Orchard was by his Officer immediately disbanded with a Bullet By this severity their rough-hewn natures were so polished that if Necessity drove any private Souldier to a door he durst speak no other Language then A Drink of Water But now at last their Peregrination ends at Worcester for coming thither weak and weary with constant duty and hard labour having expected much out finding little they here resolve to take up their Quarters hoping Massey's former services in Gloucestershire and those parts was not quite buried in the Grave of Oblivion But in this they found it otherwise for although they might love his person well yet seeing his parts ingaged against the Grain of the Times it quite alienated the affections of those that otherwise might wish him well The Scotch King with his Army having thus entered Worcester on Friday August the 23. 1651. resolved being he could go no further to tarry there and abide the brunt And therefore in the first place because he would not be wanting in any thing that might conduce to the preservation of himself and forces he caused works to be raised for better security Then he sent forth his Letters Mandatory to Colonel Mackworth Governout of Shrewsbury and likewise to Sir Thomas Middleton to perswade them to raise Forces for him but this proved fruitless so that being now got as it were in a pound there was no way but to make the best of a bad bargain And now the black and dismal clouds began to gather about Worcester which portended a dreadful storm would quickly follow as presently after it did For victorious Cromwel who by delaies never contributed to approaching dangers having refreshed his men neer New-Castle marched away without the least delay or loss of time until he came to joyn with the rest of the Parliaments Forces commanded by Lieutenant General Fleetwood Major General Desborough the Lord Gray of Groby Major General Lambert Major General Harison and besides all these the Militia Forces out of every County were commanded to march away and surround those wretched men at Worcester that so a quick dispatch might be put to the work Never was it known before in England that such great Forces were gathered together in so small a time for the standing Army with the rest of those Forces newly raised by Act of Parliament upon this occasion could not amount to less then eighty thousand But now the Lord General Cromwel being come up and having observed the posture that the Scoth Army lay in began his work with an attempt upon Vpton Bridge there intending if it was possible to pass over his Army this designe was left to Major General Fleetwoods management who presently sent away a small party of Horse and Dragoons to discover how feasible the attempt might be this Party though small proved daring in a desperate attempt for finding the bridge broken down and nothing remaining but onely a Beam of Timber that reached from one Arch to another which through negligence had been left by the Scots these bold Fellows made no more ado but dismounting their Horses one after another rid over on this Wooden Pegasus and presently after having now recovered the other side run themselves into a Church neer to the bridge for security Major General Massey being all this while in Vpton with about 60 Dragoons and 200 Horse lying secure without the least dread of an Enemy imagining it impossible for any to come at him at that time was upon the sudden report of this Exploit so alarmed that in
great consusion he with his men gave a camisado on the Church but that valiant Commander Lambert highly prizing the worth of his men immediately came in with a new supply of Horse to their rescue Massey now seeing that to fight would be meer folly being much over-matched thought a timely retreat the onely way to secure his men which he performed with so much bravery that sometimes facing then fighting and so falling off himself brought up the Rear and never left his station until his men were got farther off into safety This encounter at last fell heavy on himself for he not fearing his flesh and despising the force of his Enemies rencountered great difficulty in getting away having received a shot in his hand The Bridge being thus won all imaginable industry was imployed to make it up so that in a small time Lieutenant General Fleetwoods Army marched over which still pressing forward they laid a Bridge of Boats over the River Teame on the west side of Severn which gliding along at last emptieth it self thereinto about a mile beneath Worcester General Cromwel in the mean time caused another Bridge to be laid over the Severn on his side that so the Enemy might be the more straitned Upon this the Scots having taken the alarm rise from their Leaguer at St. Jones and with the greatest part of their Horse and Foot marched on to oppose the Lieut. Generals passage The Lord General seeing this resolves to draw off the Enemy and so divert his design or else inforce him to fight on great disadvantage therefore himself in person led over the River on that side of Worcester which he had undertook to attaque two Regiments of Foot Colonel Hookers of Horse and his own Life-Guard In the mean time Fleetwood with the assistance of Colonel Goff's and Major General Dean's Regiments of Foot marched on to a hedg-fight for the Scots looking upon this as the safest way had lined the hedges thick with Musqueteers so that the Bushes must first be beaten before these Birds could be taken This was not long in doing for the English falling on perform'd a brave fight from hedge to hedge the Scots on the other side not losing any thing that could be kept but manfully maintaining their ground until Colonel Blake Gibbons and Marshes Regiments came in to lay more load on their shoulders then they retreated to Pawick Bridge where again they were ingaged with Col. Hayns Col. Cobbets and Col. Matthew's Regiments in another hot dispute but at length seeing they could not prevail they provided for their own security by running into Worcester And now desperation animating their courage knowing that to continue in this pound would make them in a pitiful pickle therefore having already tried their fortune with Lieutenant General Fleetwood they imagining him to have commanded the greater force they hoped to make a more fortunate sally against General Cromwel therefore upon the sudden they sallied out against him with all the Horse and Foot they could but as it proved with sad success for though at first they shewed such activity in their Arms that General Cromwels men were forced alittle to retire yet presently the multitudes of fresh men coming in so turned the scales that the Scots were wholly routed flying away in great confusion to save themselves the Horse flew amain back again towards the North but the Foot not able to keep company ran into Worcester with some of the Victors at their heels Whilst in the mean time General Cromwel to make sure work with a few Regiments of Foot ran up to the Royal Fort and being ready to storm his clemencie was seen in venturing his person through the showers of shot and offering the Scots quarter if they would presently yield But they being infatuated refused the profer which caused their too late repentance for the Lord General falling on quickly possest the Fort and all the Artillery that was therein The City being now won the souldiers suriously fly through all the streets doing such execution that nothing could be seen for some time but blood and slaughter until at last the sack of the Town and plunder of Prisoners having satisfied their appetites they fall to securing of Prisoners which both in fight and flight amounted to about 10000 the Ilain neer 3000. so that neer all was lost onely some few Horse excepted which escaped out of the Battel but these found their flight to stand them in little stead for Major General Harison with a fresh party fiercely pursued in their Rear whilst the Country people fronted and flanked them like little Beagles which when a Mastiff is once beaten will not let him pass without a snarle at his tail and fiercely pursue him whom before they durst not look in the face This Battle put a period to the Good Fortune of the Stuarts Family and on the other side crowned General Cromwels Atchievements with an absolute security of all his former Conquests the influence whereof though acted in England was great in Scotland their chief Nobility Gentry and private souldiers being thus cut off that Nation could no longer be able to hold up its head but quickly after must needs be brought under obedience to the Commonwealth of England as it fell out soon after The Parliament at London having speedy notice of this prosperous success received it with grateful acceptation But that which abated somewhat of their Triumphs was That the King could not be numbred among the Captives nor found among the Slain but was slip'd away into some by-place for he seeing that all the Enemies aim was onely to smite him and that they did not fight so much against small or great as against the King of Scots finding the battel to go hard on his side he left caring for others to provide for himself knowing full well that should he be taken his Quarter would be Quartering and that without the help of an Astrologer it might easily be prognosticated what Death he should die Therefore trusting more to horse then men and fear adding wings to his flight he hastened with all speed towards Lancashire but by the way doubting that much company would do him little good but rather be a means to cause his sooner discovery leaving the Road he wandered for some time about England till at last finding a fit opportunity he returned back again into France Thus this object of worldly Mutability having ventured at all could enjoy no more then the heavy Load of his own Misfortunes having been onely Tantalized with the Golden Apples of sweet Soveraignty but never suffered to satisfie his appetite with their fruition for coming into Scotland his Government was cut out to him by shreds as pleased the Kirk and States of that Kingdom and being a stranger he must be carved to not suffered to serve himself for fear of surfeits like Zancha Panza's Doctors that slipt away the dishes out of respect to his health whilst in the mean time
establish Righteousness and Peace in these Nations And after much debate it was judged necessary that the Supreme Government should be by the Parliament devolved upon known persons fearing God and of approved integrity for a time as the most hopeful way to countenance all Gods people reform the Law and administer Justice impartially hoping thereby the people might forget Monarchy and understand their true interest in the Election of successive Parliaments that so the Government might be settled upon a right Basis without hazard to this glorious Cause or necessitating to keep up Armies for the defence of the same And being still resolved to use all means possibly to avoid extraordinary courses we prevailed with about twenty Members of Parliament to give us a conference with whom we plainly debated the necessity and justness of our Proposals The which found no acceptance but instead thereof it was offered That the way was to continue still this Parliament as being that from which we might probably expect all good things This being vehemently insisted on did much confirm us in our apprehensions That not any love to a Representative but the making use thereof to recruit and so to perpetuate themselves was their aim in the Act they had then under consideration For preventing the consummating whereof and all the sad and evil consequences which upon the grounds aforesaid must have ensued and whereby at one blow the interest of all honest men and of this glorious Cause had been endangered to be laid in the dust and these Nations embroyled in new troubles at a time when our Enemies abroad are watching all advantages against and some of them actually engaged in War with us we have been necessitated though with much reluctancy to put an end to this Parliament This Declaration being sent abroad into all the Dominions of the Common-wealth was readily assented to by most of the chief Officers both by Land and Sea But for farther satisfaction to the Civil Power in the Nation whereby a right understanding might be had and that every one might still notwithstanding this sudden change observe his Duty the former Declaration was seconded by this ensuing WHereas the Parliament being dissolved persons of approved fidelity and honesty are according to the late Declaration of the 22 of April last to be called from the several parts of this Commonwealth to the supreme Authority and although effectual proceedings are and have been had for perfecting those resolutions yet some convenient time being required for the assembling of those persons it hath been found necessary for preventing the Mischiefs and Inconveniencies which may arise in the mean while to the publike Affairs that a Council of State be constituted to take care of and intend the peace safety and present management of the Affairs of this Commonwealth which being setled accordingly the same is hereby declared and published to the end all persons may take notice thereof and in their several places and stations demean themselves peaceably giving obedience to the Laws of the Nation as heretofore in the exercise and administration whereof as indeavours shall be used that no oppression or wrong be done to the people so a strict accompt will be required of all such as shall do any thing to indanger the publick peace and quiet upon any pretence whatsoever O. CROMWEL April 30 1653. These wonderful Revolutions mightily heightned the Resolutions of the Dutch who were wholly possest with Chimaera's of their own inventions imagining their work would be very easie if the English should happen to fall together by the ears amongst themselves But GOD by his Providence had so ordered it that the Nation continued in a peaceable posture not any offering in the least to resist the Commands of their Superious The like was seen amongst the Naval Forces at Sea whose vivacity was now as great as ever both Officers Sea-men and Souldiers minding nothing more then how to gain honour to their Country by repressing the insolencies of their Enemies whose indeavours at this time were to rob England of her Right But now the Lord General having taken upon himself to weild both the Sword and the Scepter the first remarkable passage that befel him was at Sea between the two mighty Antagonists The Dutch having ready in their Harbours a very great Fleet of Merchant men outward bound for France Spain and other Ports all things being fitted and prepared for the Sea those High and Mighty States added ninety men of War to secure them from those dangerous Fellows the English This Fleet being all ready they hoist up sail bidding amain for the North of Scotland it seems rather chusing to make a long and sure Voyage that way then a short and dangerous one through St. George his chanel which had many times proved fatal to their Fleets notwith standing the protection of their best Commanders Trump having according to his Commission conducted his charge so far that they feared no other enemy then the winds and waves immediately tacked about for the Sound from whence he brought away a great Fleet of East-Land Merchant-men from Russia Denmark Dantzicks and other Parts to which was joyned a Fleet from France laden with Wine Salt and other Commodities of that Country having in safety brought all these home he entered the Ports of Holland and Zealand with so much Bravery and so great a Flourish that those persons that knew not the matter might have thought him dragging the English Generals at the Stern of his Ship in Triumph This good Fortune being seconded with a report of the English Fleet being gone Northward under the Command of General Monk and Dean so highly animated Minhere Martin Harper that with all his Men of War he presently set sail for the Downs to act that in the absence of the English Fleet which he durst not do in their presence Being come into the Downs May 25. the Dutch Fleet consisting of 108 Ships ranged themselves before Dover where they expressed a great deal of small valour in beating down with great shot the chimnies of that Town and with so much resolution and spirit did they perform this worthy exploit that not any of their ships offered to run away all the while This Action of Trump's was looked upon by all to savour more of Arrogance then Valour for a gallant souldier will scorn to meddle with him that is incapable of defence but rather measure weapons with his Enemy before the fight neither should a General content himself with making a few Tiles fly from the tops of Houses in a poor Town which can be but small credit to himself and not much damage to his Enemie But we shall see that Van Trump will meet with such a match as will give him opportunity enough to exercise his courage to the utmost for the two Generals Monk and Dean upon the sudden returned from the North into Yarmouth-Road where they joyned with that Fortress of his Country General Blake having 18
Hands by this Resignation made use of them to his best advantage First of all he called a Council of Officers and joyning with them certain other persons to advise it was by them not without abundant seeking of God and speaking from several places of Scripture which lay much upon the spirits of many in this Assembly resolved to have a Commonwealth in a Single Person which person should be the Lord General Cromwel under the Title and Dignity of Lord Protector of England Scotland and Ireland and the Dominions and Territories thereunto belonging To him was assigned a Council consisting of One and twenty to be assistants in the Government But because there can be no Superstructure without a Basis an Instrument was framed to be the Foundation of this present Government which chiefly was made up of these following Heads 1. The Protector should call a Parliament every three years 2. That the first should assemble on the third of September 1654. 3. That he should not dissolve the Parliament till it had sate five moneths 4. That such Bills as they offered to him he not passing them in twenty days should pass without him 5. That he should have a select Council not exceeding one and twenty nor under thirteen 6. That immediately after his death the Council should chuse another Protector before they rose 7. That no Protector after him should be General of the Army 8. That the Protector should have power to make Peace or War 9. That in the Intervals of Parliament he and his Council might make Laws that should be binding to the Subject c. But now to make these things binding to the Conscience of this Grand Magistrate December 16. 1653. he in great state went from White-hall to Westminster where in the Chancery Court before the Judges Maior and Aldermen of London with the chiefest Officers of the Nation he did solemnly swear To accept of the Government and promised in the presence of God not to violate or infringe the matters and things contained in the Instrument but to observe and cause the same to be observed and in all things to the best of his understanding govern the Nations according to the Laws Statutes and Customs seek their peace causing Justice and Law to be equally administred This Oath being publickly known the Ceremony concluded with great Acclamations of certain Souldiers Presently after this following Proclamation by the Council was published through England Scotland and Ireland WHereas the late Parliament dissolved themselves and resigning their Powers and Authorities the Government of the Common-wealth of England Scotland and Ireland by a Lord Protector and successive triennial Parliaments is now established And whereas Oliver Cromwel Captain-General of all the Forces of this Commonwealth is declared Lord Protector of the said Nations and hath accepted thereof We have therefore thought it necessary as we hereby do to make Publication of the Premises and strictly to charge and command all and every Person and Persons of what quality and condition soever in any of the said three Nations to take notice hereof and to conform and submit themselves to the Government so established And all Sheriffs Maiors Bailiffs c. are required to publish this Proclamation to the end none may have cause to pretend ignorance in this behalf Nothing could satisfie Caesars Ambition but a perpetual Dictatorship nor Alexander's but to have more worlds to conquer and why then should our Cromwel having the same aspiration and inspiration above them be satisfied with less then a perpetual Protectorship Ambition is of such a Nature that to be first in a Village pleases better then the second place in a City but to satisfie an ambitious Appetite sufficiently with honour is impossible unless he can clime so high that none dares ask how he came to that height To this Elevation is the Subject of our Discourse come that his thoughts can rise no higher then how to keep in Peace what he hath got by Policy The City of London as there can be no great change without its Concurrence presently invites the Protector to a great Feast at Grocers-Hall where his Entertainment was more suitable to the former Splendor then present Exigence of that once-flourishing City Immediately after some Paper-kites flew out of the Country to Court from particular persons making Demonstration of Congratulation and real Obedience These bore in the Front the Title of Addresses from all the good people in the Nation when it was well known that those whose Blood had purchas'd them Liberty from under one Person would never subscribe themselves Slaves to another The Protector began his Reign with seeming Serenity insomuch that many expected Halcyon days such Sanctity appeared in the Countenance of this Governour his Tongue on all occasions was tipt with Lamentations at the Effusion of Christian Blood and customarily would bemoan the Animosities amongst the people caused by diversity in Religion Yet for all that when any Overtures were made to him tending to a Settlement and Conformity in Religion then his power was no greater in the Nation then a Constable's who is to keep peace and quietness amongst all parties Thus he behaved himself towards the Ecclesiasticks But now we come to his first grand Action of State the Negotiation of the Dutch Peace This War had been gallantly maintained by the long Parliament who in many Fights filled our Harbours with Prizes which weakened much the united Provinces but every bout augmented the Valour and Resolution of the English Sea-men so that in a little while the dread of this Adversary was turned into contempt I will not yet in the least derogate from the worth of this brave Enemy for in all Encounters their endeavours were good might have been better if Sobriety among the Sea-men had been well observed but 't is sad fighting when the Can charged with Brandy must be a Gun to conquer an Enemy these weapons usually conquered themselves and made way to their own destruction But now to shew in part the Dutch Ingratitude it will not be much amiss to remember what England hath done for them Time was when the High and Mighty States of Holland not able to help themselves implored as poor and distressed Queen Elizabeths assistance she readily condescending sent them over a well-furnished Army commanded by the Earl of Leicester These were but the forlorn to greater Bodies which after were transsported under the Conduct of those brave Commanders Norris Vere Sidney and many more whose blood laid the Foundation of that Commonwealth These were the Men that cut the Spanish Yoak from off their Necks and never offered to sheath their Swords until the Dutch were fully possest of their Liberties But O Ingratitude this was no sooner done but the Deed forgotten For in King James his time many Depredations were secretly committed on the English by them It may suffiice if we mention no more but onely the business of Amboyna which sufficiently witnesseth how far their Will
ones to be made in that behalf 11. That the Protestant Christian Religion as it is contained in the Old and New Testaments be asserted and held forth for the publike profession of these Nations and no other and that a Confession of Faith be agreed upon and recommended to the people of these Nations and none be permitted by words or writings to revile or reproach the said Confession of Faith c. This is the sum of the most material matters contained in the Parliaments Advice which the Protector liked very well and was resolved to follow yet with much reluctancy in himself considering the great burthen that was to be borne upon his shoulders which he had rather any man should bear then himself but being it was the pleasure of Parliament that none but he must be the buckler to defend Englands Priviledges he past their Petition and declared unto the whole Assembly as followeth That he came thither that day not as to a Triumph but with the most serious thoughts that ever he had in all his Life being to undertake one of the greatest burthens that ever was laid upon the back of any humane creature so that without the support of the Almighty he must sinke under the weight of it to the damage and prejudice of these Nations This being so he must ask help of the Parliament and of those that fear God that by their prayers he might receive assistance from God for nothing else could enable him to the discharge of so great a duty and trust That seeing this is but an Introduction to the carrying on of the Government of these Nations and there being many things which cannot be supplied without the assistance of Parliament it was his duty to ask their help in them not that he doubted for the same Spirit that had led the Parliament to this would easily suggest the same to them For his part nothing would have induced him to take this unsupportable burthen to flesh and blood but that he had seen in the Parliament a great care in doing those things which might really answer the ends that we have engaged for and make clearly for the liberty of the Nations and of the Interest and preservation of all such as fear God under various Forms And if these Nations be not thankful to them for their care therein it will fall as a sin on their heads Yet there are some things wanting that tend to reformation to the discountenancing vice the encouragement of vertue but he spake not this as in the least doubting their progress but as one that doth heartily desire to the end God may Crown their work that in their own time and with what speed they judge fit these things may be provided for This Speech being ended the Members returned again to the House and in few dayes after the Speaker received a Letter from the Protector desiring the Parliament to adjourn their sitting till further time Hereupon the speedy Inauguration of his Highness was concluded upon Accordingly June 26. 1657. all things being prepared in Westminster Hall for this great solemnity the Protector about two of the clock in the after-noon went by water to the Lords House and after some short retirement into a room near the Painted Chamber he came forth attended by the chief Grandees of his Court all these being marshalled into Ranks and Files marched away with his Highness to the place appointed in Westminster-Hall where the Protector having taken his standing under a cloath of Estate the Speaker Sir Thomas Widdrington in the name of the Parliament presented to him a Robe of Purple-Velvet lined with Ermines a Bible a Sword and a Scepter all which were precious tokens of the Parliaments favor at the delivery of these things the Speaker made a short Comment upon them to the Protector which he divided into four parts as folfolloweth 1. The Robe of Purple this is an embleme of Magistracy and imports Righteousness and Justice When you have put on this Vestment I may say you are a Gown-man This Robe is of a mixt colour to shew the mixture of Justice and Mercy Indeed a Magistrate must have two hands Plectentem amplectentem 2. The Bible is a Book that contains the Holy Scriptures in which you have the happiness to be well vers'd This Book of Life consists of two Testaments the Old and New the first is Christum Velatum in the second is Christum Revelatum it is a Book of Books and doth contain both Precepts and Examples for good Government 3. Here is a Scepter not unlike a staff for you are to be a staff to the weak and poor it is of antient use in this kind It 's said in Scripture that the Scepter shall not depart from Judah It was of like use in other Kingdoms Homer the Greeke Poet calls Kings and Princes Scepter-Bearers 4. The last thing is a Sword not a Military but Civil Sword it is a Sword rather of defence then offence not to defend yourself onely but others also If I might presume to fix a Motto upon this Sword it should be this Ego sum domini Protectoris ad protegendum populum meum This Speech being ended the Speaker took the Bible and gave the Protector his Oath afterwards Mr. Manton made a prayer wherein he recommended the Protector Parliament Council the Forces by Land and Sea Government and people of the three Nations to the Protection of God Which being ended the Heralds by sound of Trumpet proclaimed his Highness Protector of England Scotland and Ireland and the Dominions thereunto belonging requiring all persons to yeeld him due obedience At the end of all the Protector with his Train returned a joyful man no doubt to White-Hall and the Members to the Parliament-House where they prorogued their sitting to the next January There is no humane joy free from the mixture of some sorrow yea many times it falleth out to be equivalent to if not superabounding the joy it self So it fell out here for though the Protector might rejoyce at this acquisition of a Scepter yet the death of General Blake like a dish of cold water cast into the boyling Pot of his rising fortunes could do no less then mitigate the heat of it and cover the Courts countenance with a Cypress Vail This noble Blake in the beginning of Englands distractions sufficiently testified a high resolution in his almost miraculous defending of Lime and Taunton against the furie of Prince Maurice and the Lord Gorings Armies Afterwards the worth of this inestimable great Commander being taken notice of in Parliament they resolved it should not long lie hid at home but shew it self abroad and therefore he was advanced to be one of their Generals at Sea At his enterance into this Office he pent up Prince Rupert in the chief Port of Portugal and hunted him from Sea to Sea till he had reduced those ships with him which before had revolted from the Parliament This was but
petty Play to after-Labours For no sooner did the quarrel begin between the two Re-publikes England and the United Provinces but Blake was the first that resisted their arrogancie in the Downs and ever after continued a fortunate Vindicator of his Countreys Priviledges from the incroachments of insulting Neighbours The last part he ever acted in a Sea of blood was against the Spaniards at Sancta Cruz here with 25 Sail he fought as it were in a ring with seven Forts a Castle and 16 ships many of them being of greater force then most of those ships Blake carryed in against them yet in spite of opposition he soon calcined the Enemy and brought his Fleet back again to the Coast of Spain full fraught with honour But what Commander is able to repel the stroaks of Death This is he that doth conquer the Conquerours and level the Honours of the mightiest Monarchs with the meanest Captains there is no withstanding his force for all must fall Blake himself is compel'd to strike the top-sail and yeeld now death hath got the weather-gage of his crasie body so that being no longer able to hold out he expired at the entrance into Plymouth He was a man wholly devoted to his Countreys Service resolute in his undertakings and most faithful in the performance with him valour seldom mist its reward nor cowardize its punishment When news was brought him of a metamorphosis in the State at home he would then incourage the Sea-men to be most vigilant abroad for said he 'T is not our duty to minde State-Affairs but to keep Forreigners from fooling us In all his Expeditions the wind seldom deceived him but most an end stood his friend especially in his last undertaking at the Canary Islands To his last he lived a single life never being espoused to any but his Countreys quarrels As he lived bravely he dyed gloriously and was buryed in Henry the Seventh's Chappel yet enjoying at this time no other Monument but what is reared by his Valour which Time it self can hardly deface The Lord Protector having now ensured his own Greatness he thought it good to confer Titles of Honour upon his Children and to that purpose sent his Son Henry into Ireland with the Title of Lord Deputy This young Gentleman in his Government ruled with so much discretion that in small time he had brought that disordered Nation into the most hopeful condition of a flourishing State But a grand Catastrophe afterwards falling upon the Cromwels Government his Authority reverted into the hands of a subsequent Parliament The time of the prorogation of the present Parliament being expired the Members appeared again at Westminster the 20th of January 1657. and did presently receive into the House their fellow-Members which the Protector had before secluded from sitting in the first Session of this Parliament This they did upon the fourth Article of the Petition and Advice by which no Members legally chosen should be excluded from performance of their duty but by consent of Parliament In this interval of the Parliaments sitting the Protector had provided his Peers which were to make up the other House who accordingly took Seats in the Lords House but with so much regret to the House of Commons whose complexion was quite changed from what it had been formerly that now they would not own the work of their creation but looked upon it as a by-blow a thing by chance or a Pageant Parliament set up on purpose to mock them In this surly humour the Protector let them run on for near a fortnight together till at last they made his Highness wince with handling his Prerogative-Royal which he being not able to endure in a fume flew from White-Hall to the House of Lords and having sent for the Commons before him he told them That it concerned his interest as much as the Publike Peace and Tranquillity to terminate this Parliament and therefore he did now put an end to their sitting Thus he blew them away with a sudden puff of winde from his mouth But now comes into play a terrible Plot no less place then London was to be fired and in the hurly-burly of confusion that it would make must the Tower be taken the Mews seized and all the Souldiers about the City be sacrificed to the fury of The Protector being well acquainted with these kinde of machinations knew very well how to stifle them in the birth and therefore he sent presently for the Mayor Aldermen and Common-Councel of the City of London to forewarne them of the approaching danger and to Commissionate their Militia to raise Forces for security of the City and by their vigilancy to counter-plot these Plotters Upon this many persons were apprehended a High Court of Justice erected and Sir Henry Slingsby Dr. Hewyt Mr. Mordant and many inferiour fellows who were to have been Commanders in the execution of this design were brought to Trial. Sir Henry Slingsby and the Doctor were both condemned to loose their Heads upon Tower-Hill and six others of the meaner sort were adjudged to be hanged drawn and quartered but of these onely three suffered one in Tower-Street another in Cheapside and the third before the Exchange in London For the procuring of Sir Henry Slingsby and Dr. Hewyts Pardon great endeavors were used the Ministers of London petitioned the Protector for the Doctors life and many great persons for the Knights But the Protectors ears were deaf to all intreaties made in their behalf so that nothing could satisfy his anger but the lives of those two considerable persons Prodigies in nature as they are seldom seen so when they happen are sure presages and fore-tokens of alterations that shall fall out in the place where they do appear At this time June 2. 1658. arrived an ominous Whale in the River of Thames not to do Homage to his Highness this was a fond conceit as one would have it but rather to forewarn him of his end which not long after happened This fish contrary to its nature which is to return to Sea when it sents the fresh water came swimming up the River against the tide as far as Greenwich where it was taken and found to be fifty eight foot in length and every way proportionable Flanders being the Scoene of War wherein the united Forces of England and France did intend this Champaign to act mighty matters in the beginning of May D'Aumont a French Marshal hoping to get a good bargain turns Merchant and trucks for Ostend Mony as it over-turns all things was at this time made use of to corrupt the Noble blood of the Souldiers of that Garison and make them turn Traytors to this their trust but the sequel will shew how far honesty is above treachery The Chief Factor that drove on this bargain was one Colonel Spindeler he having acquainted the Governour of Calice that Ostend was to be sold this Monsieurs mouth presently watered at the motion and therefore acquaints the Court how