Religion and take away the Laws and Liberties of the People and many other the like seditious delusions the People so much as their misery will give them leave have now found out the way to laugh at either came from the Parlament party or were cherished and turned into advantages by them For they had found the way and lost nothing by it to be ever jealous of the King And whil'st he did all he could to shew them that there was no cause for it they who were jealous without a cause could be so cunning as to make all the hast they could to weaken him and strengthen themselvs by such kind of artifices But he that could not choose but take notice that there were secret ties and combinations betwixt his English and Scortish Subjects the latter of whom the Earl of Essex and Sir Thomas Fairfax themselves understood to be no better then Rebells and therefore served in places of Command in his Majesties Army against them That Sir Arthur Haselrig had brought in a Bill in Parlament to take the Militia by Sea and Land away from him saw himselfe not long after by a printed Remonstrance or Declaration made to the People of all they could but imagine to be errors in his Government arraigned and little less then deposed The Bishops and divers great Lords driven from the Parlament by tumults Was inforced to keep his gates at Whitehall shut and procure divers Captains and Commanders to lodge there and to allow them a Table to be a guard for him and had been fully informed of many Traiterous Speeches used by some seditious Mechanicks of London as that it was pity he should Raign and that The Prince would make a better King was yet so far from being jealous or solicitous to defend himselfe by the Sword and power which God had intrusted him with as when he had need and reason enough to do it he still granted them that he might not seem to deny what might but seem to be for the good of his people every thing they could reasonably ask of him or he could but reasonably tell how to part with though he could not be ignorant but an ill use might be made of them against himself As the putting down of the Star-Chamber and high Commission Court the Courts of Honour and of the North and Welch Marches Commissions for the making of Gun-powder allowing them approbation or nomination of the Lievtenant of the Tower and did all and more then all his predecessors put together to remove their jealousies And when that would not do it He stood still and saw the game plaid on further many Tumults raised many Libells and scandalous Pamphlets publickly printed against his person and Government and when he complained of it in Parlament so little care was taken to redress it as that the peoples coming to Westminster in a Tumultuous manner set on and invited by Pennington and Ven two of the most active Mechanick Sectaries of the House of Commons it was excused and called a liberty of Petitioning And as for the Libells and Pamphlets the Licensing of Books before they should be printed and all other restraint of the Printing Press were taken away and complaints being made against Pamphlets and seditious Books some of the Members of the house of Commons were heard to say the work would not be done without them and complaints being also made to Mr. Pym against some wicked men which were ill affected to the Government He answered It was not now a time to discourage their friends but to make use of them And here being as many Jealousies and fears as could possibly be raised or fancied without a ground on the one side against all the endeavours could be used on the other side to remove them We shall in the next place take a view of the matter of Fact that followed upon them and bring before you CHAP. II. The Proceedings betwixt the King and the Parlament from the Tumultuous and Seditious coming of the People to the Parlament and White-Hall till the 13. of September 1642. being 18. days after the King had set up his Standard at Nottingham WHen all the King could do to bring the Parlament to a better understanding of him did as they were pleased to make their advantage of it but make them seem to be the more unsatisfied that they might the better mis-represent him to the People and petition out of his hands as much power as they could tell how to perswade him to grant them and that he had proofs enough of what hath been since written in the blood and hearts of his People that the five Members and Kimbolton intended to root out Him and His Posterity subvert the Laws and alter the Religion and Covernment of the Kingdom and had therefore sent his Serjeant at Arms to demand their persons and Justice to be done upon them instead of obedience to it an order was made That every man might rescue them and apprehend the Serjeant at Arms for doing it which Parlament Records would blush at And Queen Elizabeth who was wont to answer her better composed Parlaments upon lesser occasions with a Cavete ne patientiam Principis laedatis and caused Parry a Doctor of the Civill Laws and a Member of the house of Commons by the judgement and advice of as sage and learned a privy Councill and Judges as any Prince in Christendom ever had to be hang'd drawn and quartered for Treason in the old Palace of Westminster when the Parlament was sitting would have wondred at And 4. of January 1641. desiring onely to bring them to a Legall tryall and examination went in person to demand them and found that his own peaceable behaviour and fewer attendants then the two Speakers of the Parlament had afterwards when they brought a whole Army at their heels to charge and fright away eleven of their fellow members had all manner of evil constructions put upon it and that the Houses of Parlament had adjourned into London and occasioned such a sedition amongst the people as all the train bands of London must guard them by Land when there was no need of it and many Boats and Lighters armed with Sea-men and murdering pieces by water and that unless he should have adventured the mischief and murder hath been since committed upon him by those which at that time intended as much as they have done since it was high time to think of his own safety and of so many others were concerned in it having left London but the day before upon a greater cause of fear then the Speakers of both Houses of Parlament in July 1647. to go to the Army retires with the Prince his Son whom the Parlament laboured to seize and take into their custody in his company towards York 8. January 1641. A Committee of the House of Commons sitting in London resolved upon the question That the Actions of the City of London for the
to which On Sunday the 23. of October 1642. for they thought it better to rob God of his Sabbath than lose an opportunity of murthering their Soveraign the Earl of Essex and Parliament-Army powring in from all quarters of the Kingdom upon him had compassed him in on all sides and before the King could put his men in Battel-Array many of whom being young Country fellows had no better armes than clubs and staves in their hands cut out of the hedges and put his two young Sons the Prince of Wales and the Duke of York in the guard of a Troop of horse at the further end of the field and had finished a short prayer a bullet of the Earl of Essex's Cannon grazed at his heels as he was kneeling at his prayers on the side of a bank for Blague a villain in in the Kings Army having a great pension allowed him for it had given notice in what part of the field the King stood that they might the better know how to shoot at him But God having a greater care of his Anointed than of their Rebellious pretences so ordered the hands of those that fought for the King as the Earl of Essex was so loaden with Victories as he left five of his men for one of Kings dead behind him lost his Baggage and Artillery retired back to Warwick and left the King to bless God in the field where he supped with such victuals as the more loyal and better natur'd neighbours sent him when the worser sort refused to do it and lying there all night sent warrants out the next day to the neighbour Parishes to bury the dead drew off his Ordnance and marched to Banbury and yet he could not forget to pity those were at such paines and hazard the day before to murther Him but before he went out of the field sent Sir William Leâ—neve Clarencieux King of Armes to Warwick whither the Earl of Essex was fled with a Proclamation of pardon to all that would lay down armes which though they scornfully received and the Herald threatned to be hanged if he did not depart the sooner cannot perswade Him from sending a Declaration or Message to the Parliament to offer them all that could be requested by Subjects but all the use they made of it was to make the City of London believe they were in greater danger than ever if they sent them not more moneys and recruited the Earl of Essex his broken Army and to cosen and put the people on the more to seek their own misery a day of Thanksgiving was publiquely kept for the great Victory obtained against the King And Stephen Marshall a Factious bloody Minister though he confessed he was so carried on in the crowd of those that fled from the battel as he knew not where he was till he came to a Market-Town which was some miles from Edge-hill where the Battel was fought preaches to the people too little believing the Word of God and too much believing him that to his knowledge there was not above 200. men lost on the Parliaments side that he picked up bullets in his black velvet cap and that a very small supply would now serve to reduce the King and bring him to his Parliament And here ye may see Janus Temple wide open though the doors of it were not lift off the hinges or broken open at once but pickt open by those either knew not the misery of the War or knowing it will prove to be the more guilty promoters of it That we may the better therefore find out though the matter of Fact already represented may be evidence enough of it self who it was that let out the fury and rage of War upon us we shall consider CHAP. II. Whether a Prince or other Magistrate labouring to suppress or punish a Rebellion of the People be tied to those rules are necessary for the justifying of a War if it were made between equals WAr was first brought in by necessity where the determining of controversies between two strange Princes of equal Power could not be had because they have no superiour A Rebel therefore cannot properly be called an enemy for Hostis nomen notat aequalitatem and when any such Arms are borne against Rebels it is not to be called a War but an Exercise of Jurisdiction upon trayterous and dissoyal Persons atque est ratio manifesta saith Albericus Gentilis qui enim jure judex est superior non jure cogitur ad subeundas partes partis aequalis non est bellum cum latronibus praedonibus aut piratis quanquam magnos habeant excercitus proinde nec ulla cum illis belli jura saith Besoldus The Romans who were so exact and curious in their publick denouncing of War and sending Ambassadors before they made War against any other Nation did not do it in cases of Rebellion and defection and therefore Fidenatibus Campanis non denunciant Romani And Cicero that was of opinion that nullum bellum justum haberi videtur nisi nunciatum nisi indictum nisi repetitis rebus stood not upon those solemnities in the Cataline conspiracy for the rules of justifying a War against an enemy or equals as demanding restitution denunciation and the like are not requisite in that of punishing Rebels Pompey justifies tbe War maintained by the Senate against Caesar not then their Soveraign with neque enim vocari praelia justa decent c. Cicero did not think it convenient to send Ambassadors to Anthony nor intreat him by faire words but that it was meet to inforce him by arms to raise his siege from Mutina for he said They had not to do with Hambal an enemy to the Commonwealth but with a rebellious Citizen The resisting of the Kings Authority when the Sheriff of a County goes with the posse Comitatus to execute it was never yet so much as called a War but Rebellion and Insurrection or Commotion were the best terms bestowed upon it such attempts are not called Wars but Robberies of which the Law taketh no other care of but to punish them The haste that all our Kings and Princes in England have made in suppressing Rebellions as that of the Barons Wars by Henry the 3. and his sending his Sonne the Prince to besiege Warren Earl of Surrey in his Castle of Rygate for affronting the Kings Justices saying That he would hold his Lands by the Sword That which Rich. 2. made to suppress Wat. Tiler H. 6. Jack Cade H. 8. Ket and the Norfolk Rebels and Queen Elizabeth to suppress the Earls of Northumber-land and Westmerland may tell us that they understood it no otherwise than all the Kings and Magistrates of the world have ever practised it by the Laws of England if Englishmen that are Traytors go into France and confederate with Altens or Frenchmen and come afterwards and make a War in England and be taken prisoners the strangers may be ransomed
came over and submitted to their good pleasure And now the cunning Rump the better that they might secure themselfs take into their own hands the absolute command of the whole Army consâ—stituting the Speaker General in the name of the Parliament appointing the several Officers to receive now Comissions from them and now the foundations of government being thus overturn'd there appeared a generall discontent throughout the whole Kingdome in the end a Secret combination was laid for a generall rising in all Counties Sir George Booth in Cheshire and Middleton in Shropshlre raised a considerable Army in the defence of King and Parliament Other Counties failing to come into their assistance Sir George Booth and his party are totally routed by Lambert himselfe taken in a disguised â—abit and was sent Prisoner to the Tower of London This successe revived his antient credit with the Army and now he begins to plot their destruction whose lately had taken him into favour and that he might the better bring about his own ambitious designes 13 October 1659. he forced them to a dissolution 〈◊〉 keeping their Speaker and the rest of their Members from the House Thus was those once flourishing Kingdomes â—urried into changes of Government and Aâ—archiâ—â—â—â— confusions by mean persons who only studied to advance their own base ends and interests Fleetwood and Lambert and the rest of the Officers of the Army have now the sole authority of the Nations and because they have the longest Sword make their wil their Law but a little to satisfie the people that they might think themselvs not under the power of the sword these Officers chose a certain number of choice persons fit for their own turn to whom they give full authority over the people and Christen them a Committee of Safety This Goverment is the scorn and derision of the whole Nation and now though the Rump had hung its tail betwixt it's legs for about 3. months In December it began to wag it while the safety of the Committee of Safety was marched into the North under its Father Lambert the churlish Rump stole into the House again by night seven times a Devil worse then before where now they ride triumphant make whâ—â— Laws they list send their Jâ—â—â—â—ary 〈◊〉 coats into the City take away the Citizens money pretending it was gathered for the King they fill the prisons about London with those persons that are for a full and a free Parliament But yet the eyes of all the good are fixed upon our renowned Generall Monck who is ordered to march up to London with what force he thinks fit in the way he was courted with addresses from the Gentry in every County Being come to Lond. he was received with much joy now instead of being their Moses to deliver them from their Egyptian bondage he was suspected to be worse then Pharaoh himself On Thursday Feb. 9. 1659. by Commandment from the Rump he enters the City with his whole Army imprisons many of the Common Counsell Diggs up their posts breaks down the Gates of the City and none dares open their mouth This being done Saturday 11 of February 1659. a day never to be forgotten The Noble Generall enters the City with his Army refusing to obey the Rumps Command and shortly after admitts the Secluded Members of the House of Commons which were kept out by the Army 1648 Those Gentlemen take their places provide for the safety of the Nation and at last disolve themselves Issue out Writs for a free and full Parliament to meet at Westminster Aprill 25. 1660 But to return to his Majestie in Flanders of whose Itineracy life I have given you some small account already May the first the Parliament consisting of Lords and Commons in their Coachs assisted with divers Noblemen Gentlemen Citizens Souldiers c. Proclaimed his Sacred Majesty King of England Scotland and Ireland Defendor of the Faith at Westminister and London in great pomp and solemnity this being done they send Commissioners to his Royal Majesty then at Breda to acquaint his Majesty what his Parliament in Eâ—g had done entreating his Majesty to make what hast conveniently he can to his Parliament the City of London also send their Commissioners to wait on his Majesty The Ministers also of London send their Deputies to congratulate him his Majesty conferred the honour of Knight hood on the Citizens with the Lord Gerrards Sword The States General during his Majesties abode with them entertained him with as great expressions of joy as it he had been theirs not Englands Soveraign they had several times audience of his Majesty who delivered themselves in French and his Majesty answered them in the same language The States of Holland supped bare with his Majesty where they supped his Majesty sat at the upper end of the Table the Queen of Bohemia on the right hand the Princess Royal on the left the Duke of York at the right hand of the side of the Table the Duke of Glocester at the left hand and next him the Prince of Orange one of the Courses was served up all in Gold which was afterward presented to his Majesty valued at 60000. l. they also gave him a Bed which cost 7000 l. and Table linnen to the value of 1000. and 600000. Guldens the Illustrious Duke of York as high Admiral of England gives order to the Fleet for his Majesties Reception and Transportation of his retinue His Sacred Majesty the Queen of Bohemia the Princess Royal the most Illustrious Duke of York and Duke of Glocester and Prince of Orange went aboard General Montague in the good ship formerly called the Naseby but now christened by his Majesty the Royal Charles Where after Re-past the Queen of Bohemia the Princess Royal and the Prince of Orange having taken leave of his Majesty they set sail for England the Duke of York in the Lond. the Duke of Glocester in the James Not long after they arrived at Dover where he was received with great demonstrations of joy the General so soon as ever he saw his Majesty fell on his knees but his Majesty taking him up and kissing him and embracing him all parties were well satisfied His Majesty put on the George on his Excellency the Lord General Monck the Duke of York and Glocester put on his Garter he also made him one of the Lords of his honourable Privy Councel and Master of his Horse On Tuesday May 29. 1660. being the same day of the week on which his Royal Father was murdered and the same day of the month on which he was born being just 30. years age the same day it also pleased God to bring him in peace to the enjoyment of his Crown and Dignities Never was any Prince received with more Triumphs All the streets being richly hanged with Tapestry and a lane made by the Militia Forces to London Bridge from London Bridge to Temple Bar by the Trained bands on the one side and the several Companies in their Liveryes and the streamers of each Company on the other side in their Railes from Temple Barr to Westminster by the Militia forces and Regiments of the Army Thus was his Majesty conducted to his Royal Pallace at Whitehal the solemnity of the day was concluded with infinite of Bonfires among the rest a very costly one was made in Westminster where the Effiges of old Oliver Cromwel that grand Traytor was set upon a high post with the Arms of the Commonwealth which having been exposed a while to publick view with Torches lighted that every one might the better take notice of them were at last burnt together And thus having traced his most Sacred Majesty even from his lowest condition through all his sufferings persecutions We shall now leave him invested with his Royal Crown and Dignity and pray long may his Majesty live a support to his friends a Terrour to his Enemies an Honour to his Nation an Example to Kings of Piety Justice Prudence and Power that this Prophetical saying may be verifyed in his Majesty King Charles the II. shall be greater then ever was the greatest of that Name God save the King FINIS Camden Annalls Eliz. 99. 103. Ibidem p. 391. 394. 395. Vide the vote in M. Vicars Book entituled God in the moun p. 78 Collect. of Parl. and Decl. and Kings Mes and Decl. p. 50. Ibid. 51. Ibid. 52. Ibid. 53. Ibid. 77. 78. Vide the Petition of some Holderness men to the King 6. July 164â— Ibid. 153. Ibm. 169. 170. Collect. Par. Decl. 183 Ibm. 29. Ibidem p. 297. 298 Ibid. 301. Ibid. 305. Collect. of Par. Mes and Dec. 370. 370. Ibm. 346. 348. Ibid. 349. 350. Ibid. 350. Ibid. 356. 357. Collect. Par. Decl. 373. 374. Ibid. 376. Ibid. 442. Ibid. 449. Ibid. 450. Ibid. 453. Ibid. 459. Ibid. 452. Ibid. 457. Ibid. 457. Ibid. 465. 483. Ihm. 614. Alber. Gentil 223. Besoldus in dissert de â—ure Belli 77 78. Lib. Alber. 23. Lucan li. 2. Cicero Phiâ— lipic 5. 2 Sam 15. 2 Sam. 20. Bodm page 736. H. Grotius de jure paâ—is belli Collect. of MessR â— mon st and Declar. 15. Iom 45. c. Besoldus in dissert philolog p. 58. Besoldus dissert pâ—î log pa 88. Can. quid culpatur 23. Da. D. Bocer de bâ—llâ— cap. 5. Besoldus de juribus Majestati cap. 6. 7 Edw. 1. Besoldus Ibid. 95. Du. picart observat decad 10. colle 2. Facius axiom bell 10. Cic. 1. de offic Jov. lib. 1. Polidor 13. 20. Albericus Gentilis Cap. 3. Jerom. Ep. 47. Cicero pro Milone Baldus 3. consid 485 confid 3 Alberic Genti lib. 1. Dec. 25. Bald. 5. Cons pa. 439. Gen. 14. Judg. 20. 1 Sam. 30. 2 Sam. 6. 1 Reg. 20 1 Macc. 3. v. 43. 8 June 1644. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cap. 28. History of the Marque Montrosse his actions in Scotland Weavers Funcral Monu ments pag. 605. The government of the Kindoms â— changed K. Proclain Ireland Marquess of Ormonds Army defeated be Siege of Lon. -Derry raised by Sir Charles Coot Crom-lands with an Army in Ireland Prince Ruperts fleet blockt up at Kings sale Sentence in Parliament Treaty concluded Preparat for his Maj. His Maje proclaimed K. Edinbur Cross Edinburgh Castle sur to the Eâ—gl * Whereof but three suffered
and a Regiment of the train-bands of Foot to be for a guard unto him caused the oath of Allegiance to be administred unto them But the Parliament thereupon Vote that it appeared the King seduced by wicked Counsell intended to make a war against them and til then if their own Votes should be true must acquitt him from any thing more then an intention as they call it to do it And whosoever should assist him are Traitors by the fundamentall Laws of the Kingdom The Earl of Essex Lord Chamberlain of the Kings Houshould and all other of the Kings Houshould Servants forbid to go to him and the Kings putting some of them out and others in their places Voted to be an injury to the Parliament Messengers were sent for the apprehending of some Earls and Barons about him and some of his Bed-Chamber as if they had been Fellons The Lord Keepers going to him with the great Seal when he sent for him Voted to be a breach of priviledge and pursued with a warrant directed to all Mayors Bayliffs to apprehend him Cause the Kings Rents and Revenues to be brought in to them and forbid any to be paid him Many of his Officers and Servants put out of their places for being Loyall unto him and those that were ill affected to him put in their Rooms and many of his own Servants tempted and procured by rewards and maintenance to tarry with them and be false and active against him The twenty sixt day of May 1642. a Declaration is sent to the King but printed and published before he could receive it That Whatsoever they should Vote is not by Law to bee questioned either by the King or Subjects No precedent can limit or bound their proceedings A Parliament may dispose of any thing wherein the King or peopl have any right The Soveraign power resides in both Houses of Parlament The King hath no Negative voyce The levying of Warre against the personall commands of the King though accompanied with his presence is not a levying of Warre against the King but a levying War against his Laws and authority which they have power to Declare is levying of War against the King Treason cannot be committed against his person otherwise then as he was intrusted They have power to judge whether he discharge his trust or not that if they should follow the highest precedents of other Parliaments Paterns there would be no cause to complain of want of modesty or duty in them and that it belonged only to them to judge of the Law 27 Of May The King by his Proclamation forbids all his Subjects and trayned bands of the Kingdom to Rise March or Muster But the Parliament on the same day Command all Sheriffs Justices of the Peace and Constables within one hundred 50 miles of York to seize and make stay of all Armes and Amunition going thither And Declaring the said Proclamation to bee voyd in Law Command all men to Rise Muster and March and not to Muster or March by any other Authority or Commission and the Sheriffs of all Counties the morrow after Commanded with the posse Comitatus to suppress any of the Kings Subjects that should be drawn thither by his Command Secure and seize upon the Magazines of the Counties Protect all that are Delinquents against him make all to be Delinquents that attend him and censure and put out of the House of Peers nine Lords at once for obeying the Kings summons and going to him 3 June 1642. The King summoning the Ministers Gentry and Free-holders of the County of York declared to them the reasons of providing himselfe a guard and that he had no intention to make a War and the morrow after forbad the Lord Willoughby of Parham to Muster and train the County of Lincolne who under colour of an Ordinance of Parlament for the Militia had began to do it 10. June 1642. The Parlament by a Declaration signifying That the King intended to make a War against his Parlament invited the Citizens of London and all others well affected as they pleased to miscall them within eighty miles of the City to bring money and plate into the Guild-Hall London and to subscribe for Men Horses and Arms to maintain the Protestant Religion the Kings Person and Authority free course of Justice Laws of the Land and priviledges of Parlament and the morrow after send 19 propositions to the King That the great affairs of the Kingdom and Militia may be mannaged by consent and approbation of Parlament all the great Officers of Estate Privy Councell Ambassadors and Ministers of State and Judges to be chosen by them that the Government Education and Marriage of the Kings Children be by their consent and approbation and all the Forts and Castles of the Kingdome under the Command and Custody of such as they should approve of and that no Peers to be made hereafter should sit or vote in Parliament without the consent of Parliament with several other demands which if the King should have granted would at once in effect not onely have undone and put his subjects out of his protection but have deposed both himself and his posterity and then they would proceed to regulate his Revenue and deliver up the Town of Hull into such hands as the King by consent and approbation of Parliament should appoint But the King having the same day before those goodly demands came to his hands being a greater breach of his former priviledges then his demanding of the five Members and Kimbolton it it had not been lawfull for him so to doe could be of theirs granted a Commission of Array for the County of Leicester to the Earl of Huntington and by a letter sent along with it directed it for the present onely to Muster and Array the Trained Bands And 13. June 1642. Declared to the Lords attending him at York That he would not engage them in any War against the Parliament unless it were for his necessary defence whereupon the L. Keeper Littleton who a little before had either been affrighted or seduced by the Parliament to vote their new Militia The Duke of Richmond Marquess Hartford Earl of Salisbury Lord Gray of Ruthen now Earl of Kent and divers Earls and Barons engaged not to obey any Order or Ordinance concerning the Militia had not the Royal assent to it And fourteenth of June 1642. Being informed That the Parliament endeavoured to borrow great summs of money of the City of London and that there was great labour used to perswade his Subjects to furnish horse and money upon pretence of providing a guard for the Parliament By his letter to the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Sheriffs of London disavowing any purpose of making a War declared That He had not the least thought of raising or using of Forces unless he should be compelled to doe it for his own defence and forbiddeth therefore the lending of money or raising
of horses And within two dayes after the Lord Keeper Duke of Richmond Marquiss Hartford Earl of Salisbury Lord Gray of Ruthen with 17 Earls and 14 Barons the Lord Chief Justice Bancks and sundry others of eminent quality and reputation attest His Majesties Declaration and profession that He had no intention to make a War but abhorred it and That they perceived no Councels or preparations tending to any such designe and sent it with His Majesties Declaration to the Parliament In the mean time the Committee of Parliament appointed to make the propositions to the City of of London for the raising of Horse viz. 15. June 1642. Made report to the House of Commons That the Citizens did very cheerfully accept the same there being for indeed there had been some design and resolulution a year before concerning the melting of plate to raise monies already great store of plate and monies brought into Guild-Hall for that purpose and an Ordinance of Parlament was made for the Earl of Warwick to be Lord Admirall and keep the Navy though the King had commanded him on pain of treason to deliver up the Ships to him And the Lord Brook sent down into Warwick-Shire to settle the Militia 17. June 1642. Committee of both Houses was appointed to go to the City of London to enquire what store of Horse Monies and Plate were already raised upon the Propositions 18. June 1642. The King by his Proclamation Disclaiming any intention to make War against his Parlament forbiddeth all levies of Forces without his Majesties express pleasure signified under his Great Seal And 20. June 1642. Informing all his Subjects by his Proclamation of the Lawfulness of his Commissions of Aray That besides many other Warrants and Authorities of the Law Judge Hutton and Judge Crooke in their Arguments against the Ship-money agreed them to be Lawfull and the Earle of Essex himself had in the beginning of this Parlament accepted of one for the County of York Gave his people to understand That he had awarded the like Commissions into all the Counties of England and Dominion of Wales to provide for and secure them in a legall way left under a pretence of danger and want of Authority from his Majesty to put them into a Military posture they should he drawn and engaged in any opposition against him or his just Authority But 21. June 1642. The Lords and Commons in Parlament Declaring The designe of their Propositions of raising Horse and Moneys was to maintain the Protestant Religion and the Kings Authority and Person and that the Forces already attending his Majestie and his preparations at first coloured under the pretence of a guard being not so great a guard as they themselvs had constantly for 6 months before did evidently appear to be intended for some great and extraordinary designe so as at this time also they do not charge the King with any manner of action of War or any thing done in a way or course of war against them and gave just caufe of fear and jealousie to the Parlament being never yet by any Law of God or man accounted to be a sufficient cause or ground for Subjects to make War against their Soveraign did forbid all Mayors Sheriffs Bayliffs and other Officers to publish His Majesties said Letter to the City of London And Declare that if He should use any force for the recovery of Hull or suppressing of their Ordinance for the Militia it should be held a levying Warr against the Parlament and all this done before His Majesty had granted any Commission for the levying or raising of a man and lest the King should have any manner of provision of War to defend himself when their Army or Sir John Hotham should come to assault him Powder and Armes were every whera seized on and Cutlers Gun-Smiths Sadlers and all Warlike Trades ordered not to send any to York but to give a weekly account what was made or sold by them And an Order made the 24 of June 1642. That the Horses which should be sant in for the service os the Parlament when they came to the number of 60. should be trained and so still as the number increased 4. July 1642. The King by his letter under his signe Manuall commanded all the Judges of England in their Circuits to use all means to suppress Popery Riots and unlawfull assemblies and to give the people to understand his resolution to maintain the Protestant Religion and the Laws of the Kingdom and not to govern by any arbitrary way and that if any should give the King or them to understand of any thing wherein they held themselves grieved and desired a just reformation He would speedily give them such an answer as they shall have cause to thank him for his Justice and favour But the same day a Declaration was published by both Houses of Parlament commanding that no Sheriff Mayor Bayliff Parson Vicar Curate or other Sir Richard Gurney the Lord Mayor of London not many days before having been imprisoned for proclaiming the Kings Proclamation against the bringing in of Plate c. should publish or proclaim any Proclamation Declaration or other paper in the Kings name which should be contrary to any Order Ordinance or Declaration of both the houses of Parlament or the proceedings thereof and Order that in case any force should be brought out of one County into another to disturb the peace thereof they should be suppressed by the Train Bands and Voluntiers of the adjacent Counties Shortly after Sir John Hotham fortifieth the Town of Hull whilst the King is at York seizeth on a Ship coming to him with provisions for his Houshold takes Mr. Ashburnham one of the Kings servants prisoner intercepts Letters sent from the Queen to the King and drowneth part of the Countrey round about the Town which the Parlament allows of and promise satisfaction to the owners 5. July 1642. They order a subscription of Plate and Horse to be made in every County and list the Horse under Commanders and the morrow after Order 2000 men should be sent to relieve Sir John Hotham in case the King should besiege him to which purpose Drums were bear up in London and the adjacent parts to Hull The Earl of Warwick Ordered to send Ships to Humber to his assistance instructions drawn up to be sent to the Deputy-Lievtenants of the severall Counties to tender the Propositions for the raising of Horses Plate and Money Mr. Hastings and divers of the Kings Commissioners of Array impeached for supposed high Crimes and misdemeanours and a Committee of five Lords and ten of the House of Commons ordered to meet every morning for the laying out of ten thousand pounds of the Guild-Hall moneys for the buying of 700 Horse and that 10000. Foot to be raised in London and the Country be imployed by direction of the Parlament and the Lord Brook is furnished with 6. pieces of
Ordinance out of the Tower of London to fortifie the Castle of Warwick And 9. July 1642. Order That in case the Earl of Northampton should come into that County with a Commission of Array they should raise the Militia to suppress him And that the Common Counsell of London should consider of a way for the speedy raising of the 10000 Foot and that they should be listed and put in pay within four days after 11. July 1642. The King sends to the Parlament to cause the Town of Hull to be delivered unto him and desires to have their answer by the 15 of that month and as then had used no force against it But the morrow after before that message could come unto them they resolve upon the Question That an Army shall be forthwith raised for the defence of the Kings person and both houses of Parlament and those who have obeyed their Orders and Commands in preserving the true Religion the Laws Liberties and the Peace of the Kingdom and that they would live and dye with the Earl of Essex whom they nominate Generall in that cause And 12. July 1642. Declare that they will protect all that shal be imployed in their assistance and Militia And 16 July 1642. Petition the King to forbear any preparations or actiōs of War and to dismiss his extraordinary guards to come nearer to them and hearken to their advice but before the Petition could be answered wherein the King offered when the Town of Hull should bee delivered to Him he would no longer have an Army before it and should be assured that the some pretence which took Hull from him may not put a Garison into Newcastle into which after the Parlaments surprise of Hull He was inforced to place a Governour and a small Garrison He would also remove that Garrison and so as his Magazine and Navy might be delivered unto him all Armies and Levies made by the Parlament laid down the pretended Ordinance for the Militia disavowed and the Parlament adjourned to a secure place he would lay down Arms and repair to them and desired all differences might be freely debated in a Parlamentary way whereby the Law might recover its due reverence the Subject his just Liberty Parlaments their ful vigour and estimation and the whole Kingdom a blessed Peace and Prosperity and requiring their answer by the 27. of that July promised til then not to make any attempt of force upon Hull had armed their General with power against him given him a Commission to kill and slay all that should oppose him in the execution of it and chosen their General of the Horse 8. August 1642. Upon information that some of the Town of Portsmouth had revolted to Colonell Goring being but sent thither with a message from the King and Declared for his Majestie Order forces to be sent thither speedily to beleaguer it by Land and the Earle of Warwick to send thither 5. Ships of the Navy to prevent any forraign forces coming to their assistance and upon Intelligence that the Earle of Northampton appeared with great strength at Banbury to hinder the Lo. Brooks for carrying the picces of Ordnance to Warwick Ordered 5000 Horse and Foot to be sent to assist him 9. August 1642. Upon information that the Marquis of Hartford and divers others were in Somerset-shire demanding obedience to the Kings Commission of Array to have the Magazine of the Connty to be delivered unto them Gave power to the Earl of Essex their Lord Generall the Lord Brook and others to apprehend the Marquis of Hartford and Earl of Northampton and their complices and to kill and slay all that should oppose them And the day following gave the Earle of Stamford a Commission to raise forces for the Suppressing of any should attempt for the King in Leicester-shire or the adjacent Counties And on the eleventh of August 1642. Upon the Kings Proclamation two days before declaring the Earl of Essex and all that should adhere unto him in the levying of Forces and not come in and yield to His Majesty within six days to be Travtors◠vote the said Proclamation to be against the fundamental Laws of the Kingdom Declare their resolutions to maintain and assist the Earl of Essex and resolve to spend no more time in Declarations and Petitions but to endeavour by raising of Forces to suppress the Kings Party though all that the Kings loyal Subjects did at that time for Him was but to execute the Commission of Array in the old legal way of the Militia and within a day or two after ordered the Earl of Essex their Lord General to set forth with his Army of Horse upon the Monday following but not so much as an Answer would be afforded to the Kings Message sent from Hull where whilst He with patience and hope forbore any action or attempt of force according to His promise Sir John Hotham sallied out in the night and murdered many of his fellow-subjects 12 Angust 1642. The King though He might well understand the great leavies of Men and Arms ready to march against Him by a Declaration published to all his Subjects assures them as in the presence of God That all the Acts passed by Him in this parliament should be as equally observed as those which most of all concerned His own interest and rights and that his quarrel was not against the Parliament but particular men and therefore desired That the Lord Kimbolton Mr. Hollis Sir Hen Ludlow Sir Arthur Hasilrig Mr. Strode Mr. Martin Mr. Hampden Alderman Pennington and Captain Venne might be delivered into the hands of Justice to be tried by their Peers according to the known Laws of the Land and against the Earls of Essex Warwick Stamford Lord Brooks Sir John Hotham Major General Skippon and those who should exercise the Militia by vertue of the Ordinance he would cause Indictments to be drawn of high Treason upon the Statute of 25 Edw. 3. and if they submit to trial and plead the Ordinance would rest satisfied if they should be acquitted But when this produced as little effect as all other endeavours He had used for peace He that saw the Hydra in the mud and slime of Sedition in its Embrio birth and growth and finds him now erected ready to devour him must now though very unwilling to cast off His beloved Robe of Peace forsake an abused patience and believe no more in the hopes of other remedies had so often deceived Him but if He will give any account to the Watchman of Israel of the People committed to his charge or to the people of his protection of them or any manner of satisfaction to his own judgment and discretion betake Himself to the Sword which God had intrusted Him with and therefore makes the best use He could of those few friends were about Him and with the money which the Queen had not long before borrowed and the small supplies He had obtained of His
and the names of the refusers to be certified Mr. May one of the Pages to the King comes to the Lords House in Parlîament with a Message from Him bearing date but two dayes before That although He had used all wayes and me anes to prevent the present distractions and dangers of the Kingdome all his labours have been fruitless that not so much as a Treaty earnestly desired by him can be obtained though he disclaimed all his Proclamations and Declarations and the erecting of his Standard as against his Parliament unless he should denude himself of all force to defend him from a visible strength marching against him That now he had nothing left in his power but to express the deep sense he had of the publick misery of the Kingdome and to apply himself to a necessary defence wherein he wholly relied upon the providence of God and the affection of his good People and was so far from put ting them out of his protection as when the Parliament should desire a Treaty he would piously remember whose blood is to be spilt in this quarrel and cheerfully embrace it But this must also leave them as it sound them in their ungodly purposes for the morrow after being the 14. day of September 1642. Mr. Hampden one of the sive Members by this time a Colonel of the Army brings letters to the House of Commons from the Parliaments Lord General that he was at Northampton in a very good posture and that great numbers of the Countrey thereabouts came in daily unto him and offered to march under him and that so soon as all his forces that are about London shal come up unto him which he desires may be hastened he intended to advance towards his Majesty and it was the same day voted That all things sealed by the Kings Seal since it was carried away by the Lord Keeper Littleton should be Null and of no force in the Law and that a new Seal should be provided The King therefore seeing what he must trust to 19. September 1642. being at Wellington in Shrop-shire in the head of such small forces and friends as he could get together for the Parlament that very day had received letters That the King but the week before having a muster at Nottingham there appeared but about 3000 foot and 2000. horse and 1500 dragoona and thaâ— a great part of his men were not provided with arms made his Protestation and promise as in the presence of Almighty God and as He hoped for his blessing and protection to maintain to the utmost of his power the true reformed Protestant Religion established in the Church of England and that he desired to govern by the known Laws of the Land and that the Liberty and property of the Subject should bee preserved with the same care as his own just rights and to observe inviolably the Laws consented to by him in this Parlament and promised as in the sight of Almighty God if He would please by his blessing upon that Army raised for his necessary defence to preserve him from that rebellion to maintain the just priviledges and freedom of Parlament and govern by the known Laws of the Land In the mean while if this time of War and the necessity and straights he was driven to should beget any violation of them he hoped it would be imputed by God and man to the Authors of the War and not to him who had so earnestly desired and laboured for the peace of the Kingdome and preservation thereof and that when He should fail in any of those particulars He would exâ—est no aid or relief from any man or protection from Heaven And now that the stage of War seems to be made ready and the Parliament party being the better furnished had not seldome shewed themselves and made severall traverses over it for indeed the King having so many necessities upon him and so out of power and provision for it might in that regard only if He had not been so unwilling to have any hurtcome to his people by his own defending of himself be backward unwillingly drawn unto it we may do well to stand by and observe who cometh first to act upon it 22. Of September 1642. The Earl of Essex writeth from Warwick that he was upon his march after the King and before the 6. of October following had written to the County of Warwick with all speed to raise their Trained bands and Voluntiers to resist his Forces if they should come that way and to the three Counties of Northampton Leicester and Derby to gather head and resist him if he should retire into those parts and by all that can bee judged of a matter of fact so truly and faithfully represented must needs be acknowledged to have great advantages of the King by the City and Tower of London Navy Shipping Armes Ammunition the Kings Magazine all the strong Towns of the Kingdom most of the Kingdoms plate and money the Parliaments credit and high esteem which at that time the people Idolized the fiery Zeal of a seditious Clergy to preach the people into a Rebellion and the people head-longly running into the witchcraft of it When the King on the other side had little more to help him theâ— the Laws and Religion of the Land which at that time every man began to â—iâ—construe and pull in pieces had neither men horse arms ammunition ships places of strength nor money not any of his party or followers after the Parliament had as it were proclamed a War against him could come single or in small numbers through any Town or Village but were either openly assaulted or secretly betrayed no man could advenâ—ure to serve or own him but must expose himself and his Estate to be ruined either by the Parliament or people or such as for malice or profit would inform against him All the gains and places of preferment were on the Parliaments part and nothing but losses and misfortunes on the Kings No man was afraid to goe openly to the Parliaments side and no man duâ—st openly so much as take acquaintance of his Sâ—veraign but if he had done a quarter of 〈◊〉 which Ziba did to David when he 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 â—â—â—ves of bread or old Barzillâ—◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Gutite when he went along with him when hiâ— Son Absalom rebelled against him They should never have escaped so well as they did but have been sure to be undone and sequestred for it So much of the affections of the people had the Parliament cosened and stoln from them so much profit and preferment had they to perswade it and so much power to enforce those that otherwise had not a mind to it to fight against him Who thus every way encompassed about with dangers and like a Partridge hunted upon the Mountains marcheth from Shrewsbury towards Banbury perswading and picking up what help and assistance his better sort of Subjects durst adventure to afford him in the way
out of prison and causing the Souldiers not onely to cut and kill divers of the County of Surrey in the very act of Petitioning the Parliament for a Treaty of Peace with the King and sequester many of them for putting their hands to it with disabling the Citizens of London for bearing any office in the City or Common wealth for but putting their hands to the petition for the Treaty though Cromwel himself had not long before set on som to petition for it and the ruine undoing of 2 parts of 3 in the Kingdome very many of whom did nothing actually in the Wars but were onely sacrificed to their pretended reasons and jealousies of State do sufficiently proclame and remain the woful Registers to after-generations of this lamentable assertion If the King could have gotten but so much leave of his mercy and a tenderheartednesse to his people as to have used but the five-hundredth part of the Parliaments jealousies and sharp and merciless authority in the managing of this Warre so much of his Kingdomes and people had not been undone and ruined nor the Parliament put to so much labour to coyn faults and scandals against him nor to wrest the Lawes to non-sense and the Scriptures to Blasphemy to justifie their most horrid act of murthering him but for seeking to preserve the Lawes and Liberties of his people who are now clearly cheated out of them And here our misery tells us we must leave them and in the next place shall remember for indeed it is so plain it needs no enquiry CHAP. VI. Who most desired Peace and offered fairliest for it TH'bundant satisfaction the King had offered them from his first summoning of the late Parliament to their dissolving of themselves by dissolving him who gave them all their Life and Being That which he did and all which he would have done so many Declarations Answers and Messages penned by himself intending as much as his words could signifie and were believed and understood by all at that time that were not interessed or engaged against him and by many of the eagrest of them also that had no hand or look't to have any profit in the murthering of him for a Trial of a King without either warrant or colour of Scripture or the Lawes of the Kingdome or the consent of the major part of the people if that could have authorized it cannot nay will not by all the world and after-ages be otherwise interpreted unlesse we shall say Ravillac might have justified his killing Henry the Fourth of France if he had but had the wit to have framed or fancied a Supreme Court of Justice and have Sentenced him before he had done it will be as pillars and lasting Monuments of this Truth The King was the onely desirer of Peace and laboured and tugged harder for it than ever Prince or King Heathen or Christian fince Almighty God did his first dayes work did ever doe with Superiors Equals or Subjects and it will be no wrong certainly to David whose sufferings are so much remembred in all Christian Churches complaining so bitterly that he sought peace with those that refused it and in the mean time prepared for War against him To say the King did suffer more and offer more and oftner for peace than ever he did for any thing is extant or appearing to us for surely so many Messages of Peace as one and twenty in two years space from the 5. of December 1645. to the 25. of Decem. 1647. sent to the Parliament after so many affronts and discouragements must needs excuse him that offered all could be imagined to be for the good and safety of his people and condemn those that not onely from time to time refused it but adhered so much to their first intentions as all the blood and ruine of the people could not perswade them to depart with the least punctillio of it though the King before the Isle of Wight-Treaty offered so much for the Olive-branch as to part with the Militia for term of his life and in a manner to un-king himself and was afterwards content to doe all that his Coronation-Oath Honour and Conscience could possibly permit him to do and to purchase a peace for his people was content to have born the shame reproach of what his enemies were onely guilty of insomuch as the Lord Say himself and most of his ever-craving never safe enough Disciples confessed the King had offered so much as nothing more could be demanded of him They therefore that can but tell how to divide or put a difference betwixt white and black night and day and the plainest contraries must needs also acknowledge the King offered all and the Parliament refused all The King was willing to part almost with every thing and the Parliament would never part with any thing The King was willing for the good of his people to give away almost every thing of his own but the Parliament would never yield to part with any thing was not their own And thus may the account be quickly cast up between the King and Parliament who would have saved the people from misery and who was most unwilling to make an end of it But that we may not too hastily give the sentence to try the businesse aâ— they use to do at the Councel of War or the new invented way of Justice sitting with their Will or the Sword onely in one hand and no Ballance at all in the other We shall in the next place examine CHAP. VII Who laboured to shorten the War and who to lengthen it THe odds was so great betwixt what the Parliament laboured to get and the King to keepe as that which sways the balance in most mens actions will be argument enough to conclude they were more likely to lose by a peace than a war therefore the more willing to continue it and if their own Interests would not put them so far upon it their vain-glory and ambition would be forward enough to perswade them to it and if not that the success of their arms or miscalled providence would make them look as experience tells us they did upon any tenders of peace as Alexander the Great did upon Darius his offer oâ— half his Kingdom and if not that their feares and jealousies now grown greater by wronging of the King than ever they were when they suspected him could never think it safe to let an inraged Lion into his Denne they had so long kept out of it But the King could not fight for his own but he must adventure the undoing of his own and could not but know that so much as was lost of his Subjects would be so much lost of a King and therefore doth all he can to preserve a People had no minde to preserve themselves and before He had gathered up the Bayes He won at Edge-hill sends a Proclamation of pardon to those that the day before did all they could to kill him and in
People and the Parliament to quarrell for as they were much behind in thankfulness for what they had got of him already Or if any other causes or provocations should be imagined as misusing the Parliaments Messengers or the like we know the King unlesse it were by his patience and often Messages for peace was guilty of no provocations but on the contrary though hee had all manner of scornes and reproaches cast upon him and his messengers evil entreated by them could never be brought to return or retaliate it to any of theirs But nothing as yet serving to excuse them It will not be amiss to examine the causes as they are set down by themselves to justifie their war and so we may well suppose there are no other A war against the King for safety of his own Person was needless and then it comes within that rule of war and law of Nations Ne leves sint causae beâ—li not to make a warre unnecessary for the King would look to that himself and as they were his Subjects they as well as every honest Subject were bound to defend and assist him but not whether he would or no and in such a way of defence as would tend to his ruâ—ne rather then his safety For â—urely should any stranger of another Kingdom or Nation have casually passed by Edge-hill when the Kings and the Parliaments 〈◊〉 were in fight and have been told that the King shot at them for the safety of his own Person and that they also shot against hiâ— for the safety of his own Person and being aâ—ked which of the two parties hee believe did really or most of all intend the safety of it we cannot tell how to think any man such a stranger to nature reason or understanding as to think the King should not fight as the Dictates of nature perswaded him to or that the King could tell how to fight against those that fought for him or that if he should be so hugely mistaken in that one year or Battell he should be in severall â—â—her years and Battells after To 〈…〉 the deâ—ence of the Religion establishâ—d as they made also the people believe that was as needless when the King offered to do every thing might help to promote it and they are so little also to be credited in that pretence as we know they did all they could from the beginning to ruine it took away Episcopacy the hedge and bounds of it brought in Presbytery to preach up and aid their Rebellion and when their own turnes were served encouraged Conventicles and Tub Preachers to â—ud down the Presbytery And being demanded at the Treaty at Vxbridge by the Kings Commissioners what Religion they would have the King to establish were so unprovided of an answer as they could not resolve what to nominate nor in any of their propositions afterwards sent to the King though often urged and complained oâ— oy the Scottish Commissioners could ever find the way to doe it but have now set up an Independent extemporary enthusiastick kind of worshiping God if there were any such thing in it or rather a religious Chaos or gallimaufry of all manner of heresie errours blasphemies and opinions put together not any of the owners of which we can be confident will subscribe to that opinion that Wars may be made for Religion or that Conscience ought to be forced by it As for the restrictive part of the Lawes to keep the people in subjection we can very well perswade our selves no such War was ever made yet in the world nor any people ever found that would engage in a War for that they obeyed but against their wills And for that part of the law that gives them the Kings protection priviledges immunities and certainties of deciding controversies which are more fitly to be called the Liberâ—ies of tbe people than to have 45. of the house of Commons or a Faction to make daily and hourly Lawes and Religion and Government and vote their estates in and out to pay an Army to force their obedience to it if we had not outlived the Parliaments disguises and pretences saw them now tearing up by the roots that there may be no hope of their growing up again and setting up their own as well as the ignorant and illiterate fancies of Mechanicks and Souldiers in stead of them we might have said that also had been needless when the King had done abundantly enough already and offered to grant any thing more could in reason be demanded of him And as touching their priviledges of Parliament they that understand but any thing of the Lawes of England or have but looked into the Records and Journals of Parliament can tell that all priviledges of Parliament as King James said were at first bestowed upon them by the Kings and Princes of this Kingdom That priviledges of Parliament extended not to Treason or Felony or breach of the Peace That 32 Hen. 6. Sir Thomas Thorp Speaker of the House of Commons being arrested in execution in the time of the prorogation of the Parliament the Commons demanded he might be set at liberty according to their priviledges wherupon the Judges being asked their Councel therein made answer That general supersedeas of Parliament there was none but special supersedeas there was in which case of special supersedeas every member of the House of Com-of Commons ought to enjoy the same unles in causes of Treason Felony or breach of the Peace or for a CondeÌ„mnation before the Parliament After which answer it was determined that the said Sir Thomas Thorp should lie in execution and the Commons were required on the behalf of the King to choose a new Speaker which they did and presented to the King accordingly That Queen Elizabeth was assured by her Judges that she might commit any of her Parliament during the Parliament for any offence committed against her Crown and Dignity and they shewed her precedents for it and that primo tertio Caroli Regis upon search of precedents in the several great cases of the Earls of Arundel and Bristol very much insisted and stood upon the House of Peers in Parliament allowed of the exception of Treason Felony and breach of the Peace For indeed it is as impossible to think there can be any priviledge to commit Treason as to think that a King should priviledge all his Nobility and every one of his Subjects that could get to be elected into the House of Commons in Parliament to commit Treason and to take away his life in the time of Parliament whensoever their revenge or malice or interest should finde the opportunity to do it or that if it could be so any King or Prince would ever call or summon a Parliament to expose himself to such a latitude of danger or give them leave to sit as long as they would to breed it or that priviledges of Treason can be consistent with the name or being of a Parliament to
consult or advise with the King for the defence of Him and his Kingdome or that when Felony and breach of Peace are excepted out of their priviledge Treason that is of a far higher nature consequence and punishment should be allowed them or if there could have been any such priviledge and a meaner man than their Soveraign had broke it a small understanding may inform them they could not without breach of the Peace have fought for it against a fellow-subject and then also could not their priviledges have reached to it but the King might have punished them for it and if they cannot upon a breach of priviledge as it was adjudged in Halls case without the Kings Writ and the cause first certified in Chancery deliver one of their own setvants arrested It is not likely any warrant can be found in Law to inforce the King to reparation though he himself should have broken it but to petition the King for an allowance of that or any other priviledge as well in the middle as any other time of their sitting in Parliament as they alwayes doe at the presenting of their Speaker in the beginning of it Wherefore certainly the people never gave the Parliament Commission if they could have given a Commission to make a War against their Soveraign to claim that was never due to them or to fight for that was never yet fought for by any of their Fore-fathers nor ever understood to be taken from them much less for their ayrie innovated pretences rather than priviledges which have since eaten up all the peoples Lawes and Liberties as well as a good part of their lives and estates with it and are now become to be every thing their Representatives will and and arbitrary power have a mind to make it who have so driven away their old legal priviledges by setting up illegal and fantastick kind of Priviledges as they are pleased to call them instead of them as there is nothing left of the Parliament like a Parliament neither matter nor form nor any thing at all remaining of it For the upper and lower Houses have driven away and fought against the King who was their Head the the lower after that have driven away the upper and 45. of the House of Commons whereof eleven are great Officers and Commanders of the Army have after that imprisoned and driven away four hundred of their fellow-members And from degenerate and distemperate piece of a Parliament brought themselves to be but a representative or journey-men-voters to a Councel of their own mercenary and mechanick Army and may sit another eight yeares before ever they shall be able to find a reason to satisfie any man is not a fool or a mad man or a fellow-sharer in the spoiles of an abused and deluded Nation Why the Kings demanding of the five Members and Kimbolton by undeniable warrant of the land and the Records and precedents of their own houses upon a charge or accusation of Treason for endeavouring amongst 〈◊〉 other pieces of Treason to alter the Government and subvert the fundamental Lawes of the Kingdome which the Parliament and they themselves that were accused have more than once declared to be Treason should be taken to be so great a breach of priviledge in the King their Soveraign when the forcing and over a wing the Houses of Parliament by the Army their servants and hirelings demanding the eleven Members and imprisoning and banishing some of them upon imaginary and fantastical offences committed against themselves or they could not tell whom shall be reckoned to be no breach at all of priviledge and the forcing of the Houses by the same Army within a year afterwards by setting guards upon them violently pulling two of the Members of the House of Commons out of the House and imprisoning them and 39 more of their fellow-members all night in an Alehouse and leading them afterwards to several prisons with guards set upon them as if they had been common malefactors can be called mercies and deliverances and a purging and taking away rotten Members out of the House of Commons But now that we can find nothing to make a defensive or lawful nor so much as a necessary War on the Parliaments part for causa belli saith Besoldus correspondere debet damno periculo the Parliament feares and jealousies were not of weight enough to put the people into a misery far beyond the utmost of what their feares and jealousies to them did amount unto we shall do well to examine by the rules and laws of War and Nations the ways and means they used in it Injustum censetur bellum si non ejus penes quem est Majestas authoritate moveatur a war cannot be just if it be not made by a lawful authority Armorum delatio prohibitio ad Principem spectat It belongs to the Prince to raise or forbid Arms and the Records of the Parliament which we take to be a better sense of the House then their own purposes can inform them that the Prelates Earls Barons and Commonalty of the Realm did in the seventh year of the reign of King Edw. the First declare to the King That it belongeth and his part is through His Royal Signorie streightly to defend force of Armour and of Armour and all other force against his Peace when it shall please him and to punish them which shall do the contrary according to the Laws and usages of the Realm and that thereunto they were bound to aid their Soveraign Lord the King at all seasons when need shall be How much ado then will they have to make a War against their Soveraign to bee Lawfull or if by any Warrant of Laws Divine or Humane they could but tell how to absolve themselvs from their oaths of Supremacy Allegiance and their very many protestations and acknowledgements of Subjection to the King find a Supream authority to be in the People at the same time they not only stiled themselves but all those they represented to be his Subjects Or how will they bee able to produce a warrant from the People their now pretended Soveraigns till they shall be able sufficiently to enslave them to authorize them to make a War to undo them when they elected them but to consent to such things as should be treated of by the King and his Kingdom Or how could a tenth part of the people give warrant to them to fight against the King and the other nine parts of the people Or can that bee a good warrant when some of them were cheated and the other by plunderings and sequestrations forced to yield to it Or could the pretence of a War for defence of the Kings person and to maintain the Religion Laws and Liberties of the people be a warrant to the Parliament which never sought any for the King and People but to take away the Soveraignty from the one and the Liberties of the other to do every thing was
advantage or colour to take away his Life for confessing himself guilty of it by allowing of the preamble in this unparallel'd demand never before stood upon By Subjects to their Prince or Conquerours to their Captives Nero himself was so far short of it as though he had cunning enough when he set Rome on fire to lay the fault upon the Christians had not Villany enough to torture and seek to draw them to a confession that they did it The King after Protestation that he could not without manifest injury to the Truth and a violation of his Honour and Conscience take upon him a guilt could no way be charged upon him or those that appeared in his defence was yet for peace sake and his peoples sake content to say It will be a great self-denial to take this supposition of a guilt upon my selfe and a Christian vertue to undergoe any affliction that may be for the good of my People and I am confident those that have adventured so much for me will be content to share with me for so good a purpose in the suffering for it I shall therefore conditionally consent to the Preamble so as there follow a conclusion upon the whole matter in Treaty and Propositions betwixt us otherwise it is but sub modo and conditional as it is alwaies to be understood in this Treaty that nothing agreed in part betwixt us shall be binding unless there be a conclusion upon the whole And here let the Truth be judge if the King did not abundantly endeavour to save his People and if the Parliament had not need of a Justification when they used all manner of force and shifts to have the King take the fault upon him they therefore that shall consider that the King was a close prisoner robbed and bereaved of all he had but his Honour and Conscience and a great measure of knowledge and understanding and the hearts of his Loyal Subjects was debarred of all friends and comforts pent up and used with all manner of hardship and extremities and every day like to be murdered that conditions adimpleri debent priusquam sequatur effectus are but inserted or added in casum incertum qui potest tendere ad esse aut non esse and depend on subsequencies or following effects which not hapning or coming to be performed according to the intent of the conditions makes them to vanish and expire as if there no such matter at all had been acknowledged or expressed in them That Cooke his accuser who when he comes to be hanged for it will never be able to prove that the People substituted or gave him warrant for to accuse him And Bradshaw who sate higher in the pageant of Justice and the rest of his fellow-murderers took the Kings conditional consenting to the Preamble to be so little for their purpose as they never so much as mentioned it must not onely acquit him of any confession or guilt to be inferred from his conditional yeelding to that Ambuscado Preamble but dissolve into wonder and admiration that he who in his Royal Meditations and Conference with death upon the Parliaments Votes of non address and his closer imprisonment at Carisbrook-Castle had clearness of Conscience enough to say for as for his judgement we hope it cannot be suspected when Mr. Carill the Independent and Mr. Vines a Presbyterian Minister could say he was a second Solomon and the Parliaments Commissioners at the Isle of Wight report him to be the master of the greatest wisdome and understanding That he had the feast of a good Conscience and the brazen wall of a judicious integrity and Conscience doubted not but his Innocency would finde God to be his protector rejoyced in the comfort of imitating Christs example in suffering for Righteousness sake and thanked God he could pray for them that God would not impute his Blood to them further than to convince them what need they had of Christs Blood to wash their Souls from the guilt of shedding His And was afterwards in the face and view of Death and his Murderers heard to say upon the Scaffold He never did begin a War with the two Houses of Parliament and called God to his witness to whom he was shortly to make an account he never intended to incroach upon their priviledges but they began upon him It was the Militia they began upon though they confest it was his and that any that would looke into the date of their Commissions and his might clearly see that they began these unhappy troubles and hoped God would clear him of it Could be so much more than a man and so great a protector of his People as not onely to be content to be robbed and dispoiled of all that he had for their sakes but to save the Lives and Estates of his People when there was no other way to do it deliver up himself so as a Peace and Agreement might have followed upon the Treaty to the unjust Censure of Robbing and Spoiling those that had robbed and undone him But now that we have hunted this Parliament Proteus through all his disguises of Parliament priviledges and pretences and are lamentably assured a great and accursed thing is committed in our Israel and the anger of the Lord is kindled against us it may be labour well bestowed though here is sure enough already said and prov'd that the King was in the defensive and justifiable part of the War to send into Achan's tent and search and see what is there to be found concerning this matter and here we finde the Lord Say the Lord Brooks and their complices had not long before the King had summoned them to that which is now called the Parliament settled and conveyed their estates to prevent any dangers might happen upon their intended enterprises Peard the pragmatique Parliament-man was heard to say a little before this holy War began to break out That the Government of the Kingdom would within a year or two be altered A little before the second Scottish Invasion Hinderson the Scotch firebrand confesses the Covenanters of both Kingdoms were unanimously agreed to bring the King to their lure before they laid down Arms the joint Declaration of both Kingdoms in January 1643. professes they will never lay down Armes till the pretended reformation be accomplished many Declarations and Remonstrances of the Parliament if they may be so called and the Army mention the original power and Soveraignty to be in the people the common Rights and Freedome of the Nation and the opportunities God hath put into their hands An Ordinance of Parliament 20 October 1645. concerning Rules and Directions for Triers and Judges of the ability of Elders declare it was the wonderfull providence of God in calling them which he never did by force of Arms Hypocrisie Treason Rebellion and usurping of Regal Authority to the great and difficult work of reformation and purging the Church The Lord Fairfax and his General Council
all his actions of War afterward behaved himself rather like a weeping Father defending himself against the strokes and violence of disobedient children Had the Parliament accepted of his offers before he came to Beverley or besieged Hull he had never set up his Standard at Notsingham or had they loved his People but half so much as he did their Armies had never seen his Banners dispâ—aid aâ— Edge-hill Had they hearkned to his many endeavours for Peace after that Battel and not sought to surround or ruine him when he came so near as to their very doors to intreat for it they had never been troubled to frame an Accusation against him for defending himself at Brainford Had his Treaty at Oxford been proceeded in with the same desires of Peace he brought to it the blood that was shed at â—â—versham-bridge had been kept for better purposes had he sought his own advantages he had not besieged Glocester or had he not been so unwilling to put the People in it to the hazard of a storm might have taken it had they not sent their General to assault him at Glocester whil'st he was as David besieging the strong Hold of the Jebusites that withheld it from his obedience and sought to ruine and undoe Him aswell as his Loyal Subjects he had not fought with them afterwards at Newbery had not his Olive-branches been flung in the fire by those He sent them unto he had not been put to defend himself at Cropredy-bridge Had any thing been able to prevail with the Parliament to pitty their fellow-Subjects he had not taken such a tedious and dangerous march to relieve those they would have ruined at Bodmin in Cornwall Had the Treaty at Vxbridge taken effect he needed not afterwards have adventured so much to defend himself at Newbery Had not the new-modell'd Army after so many tenders of Peace refused by their masters beene sent out to destroy him he had not been put to the trouble of taking Leicester for his security And had not he been surrounded and almost surprised by them might have reserved himself to a better success and advantage than he had at Naseby Had his voluntary resigning up of the remainder of his Armies and Garisons been able to perswade any thing with them there had not been so much as a relique of War left in the Kingdom or could so many Messages for Peace and so many Petitions of the People for it have made but any impression on the Parliament so many divisions parties and insurrections had not since broken the Harps of the Children of Israel nor should the drummes have out gone the voice of the Turtle He that could not bring himself to the common actions of War to hang a Spie insomuch as when one of them was hanged before he was told he was taken he was intreating the Governour of Oxford to spare him He that when he had John Lilburne one of the most factious that were against him Wingate and Darley Parliament-men Colonel Ludlow an actor of that Treason his Father had not long before spoken against him and Dr. Bastwiek one of the bellows and principal factors of this horrid Rebellion did no more than imprison some of them and giving the rest a legal Trial shewed them what the law they made filly People believe they took up arms to maintain would judge of them and suffered them to be exchanged to do what they could afterwards against him He that when he had taken 400 prentice-boys in the fight at Brainford did but dismiss and pitty them and when he had compelled the Earl of Essex the Parliament-General at Lestithiel in Cornwall to flie away by Sea in a Cock-boat and leave all the Artillery and Foot of his Army to his mercy did no more but disarm them and take an oath of them never more to serve against him and being then in the height of his prosperity sent a Message and Offer of Peace to the Parliament who were low enough at that time if their designs would have given them leave to have received it He that could say he should be more afraid to take away any mans life unjustly than to lose his own was not likely to be guilty of blood-seeking or the shedding of it He that had experience enough how much his Life and Crown were sought for yet to shew them the way to peace and to take off all pretences to hinder it could sheath his own Sword and put himself into the hands of those he had so little reason to trust as he knew them to be the great contrivers of the War against him caused the Marquess of Montrosse one of his mighty men of War to disband when he was master of a strong and not long before fortunate Army in Scotland commanded Newark Oxford Wallingford and Worcester very strong and almost impregnable Towns and Garrisons in England to be delivered up and all acts of hostility by Sea and Land and all the preparations his friends could make either in foraign parts or at home to cease He that could endure five yeares Ballading Libelling and Preaching against him and such heaps of numberless affronts and injuries of all kinds done unto him and two years imprisonment afterwards yet so long as he enjoy'd but the liberty of Pen and Ink or a Messenger to carry it did so tire them with Messages and Offers of Peace as they voted it to be Treason for any to bring any Message from him and notwithstanding all that made shift to throw a Message or Declaration to his People made up like a ball out of the place of his close Imprisonment at Carisbrook was not like to desire the lengthening that war he did all he could to avoid and offered so much to make an end of but on the contrary if we take into our consideration the more than Gothish unheard of inhumane crucities acted and done by the Parliament against their better fellow-Subjects their Plunderings Sequestrations and racking of every mans estate they pleased to call Delinquents severities in all their actions standing upon every punctilio or word or superscription of a Letter and not abating a tittle of their demands as if they had been the Decalogue or some other place of Scripture though rivolets of blood hundred thousands of ruined families and thronged Hospitals of sick and wounded men Widows and Fatherless cried aloud to them for Peace and their killing and murdering those that but petitioned for it and a foundation laid of a new war may last as long as that of the Netherlands and Germany There will be enough and enough again to insure us of this most clear and evident truth the King did all he could and more than any man else would have done to obtain Peace and the Faction of Parliament all they could to avoid it for certainly if there be any rules of Learning Truth or Reason left us to judge by he must be sequestred of all his brains that can but
endeavour to make a doubt whether the King did not more resemble the true mother of the Child in the case before Solomon who did so much and offered to part with so much to save the life of it than the Parliament that would have it more than divided and to be cut and torn all to bits and pieces and would do nothing at all to save but every thing to destroy it And now we have seen a King undone and imprisoned for his endeavours to protect his People and bring againe beloved Peace to those that would not entertain it and heard the report of his murther for most of the Peoples eyes have not seen it nor have their hearts acted in it we shall as most men do after they have lost a good offer or opportunity enquire CHAP. VIII Whether the Conditions offered by the King would not have been more profitable if they had been accepted and what the people have got instead of them IN order to which though so wofull and over-and-over-bitterly Tasted Seen Felt Heard and Vnderstood Experiences of the miseries have come unto us by the Parliaments not accepting the gracious offers and conditions the King made unto them may make it to be as needless to enquire of them as for a man to ask where to finde Pauls Steeple in London when he is in Pauls Church-yard or to enquire for the Sun in the dog-days when he and every man else may see or feele the effects of it we shall be content to consider what the King offered and what the Parliament would have had him to grant What the King would have done and what the Parliament have done and by that see which would have been the better bargain The King like a pater patriae offered over and over to grant all manner of Laws and Liberties which might be good and wholsome for his People and onely denied to grant those things the granting whereof as he said himselfe would alter the fundamental Laws and endanger the very foundation upon which the publick happiness and welfare of his People was founded and constituted or to give them stones in stead of bread or Scorpions in stead of fishes But the Parliament meaning to feed the People neither with bread nor fishes ask the Royal Sword Crown and Scepter Coronation Oath and Conscience and an Arbitrary Power to governe and domineer over their fellow Subjects and to enslave those that trusted them And though the King had already granted enough to preserve the Laws Lives Religion and Liberty of the People and was so willing almost at any rate to purchase a peace for himself and his people as he was content to part with his Sword and Militia and divers other parts of his Regality during his life Yet that would not serve the turn 't was Naboths Vine-yard not Ahabs Fast made all the businesse the Parliament that pretended so much to deny themselves and to dote upon the people doe notwithstanding all they can to continue the War and to cozen force the peoples blood estate and conscience out of them and they must never give over paying of Taxes fighting and fooling till they enable them to imprison their King and not onely murther him but thousands and many ten thousands of their fellow-subjects and the Lawes Religion and Liberties of the people And now that they have done more than the men of the Gun-powder-treason intended to do all England are becom like sheep without a Shepherd wandring on the mountains thousands of Wolves by Votes Ordinances miscalled Acts of Parliament appointed to feed them four or five yeares sad experience in the Wars of the Parliament against the King and almost as much more time spent in setling and subduing the people making them like Camels to kneel down to take up their burdens labour and travel hard and endure hunger and thirst under them yet yield up their veines to be prick'd for blood to enable their drivers to furnish them with a new supply of burdens when they shall be discharged of what they have laid upon them may easily shew us a difference as big as a mountain betwixt our old good Lawes and Liberties enjoyed under a gracious King who had an estate of inheritance large enough of his own besides an oath to oblige him to protect us and a Hell upon Earth and the most Slavish of all the Governments were ever yet put upon a Nation by men of as little wit and estates as they have honesty having no other obligations upon them but their own abominable designs interests For which of the people unless those that have traded in their neighbours blood and ruine but hath made their complaints of their undoing The Religion of the Kingdome once so glorious is now cut into fancies and blasphemies the Churches where God was wont to be worshipped either defaced or pulled down or made stables for horses the Lawes of the Kingdom that were consonant to the Word of God and had in them the Quintessence of all could be found to be extant in the Lawes of Nature Nations Civil Laws or rectified Reason and whatsoever the wisedome and care of all former Kings in Parliament or the usage and customs of this or any other neighbouring Nations could bring to its perfection and were wont to nourish preserve peace and property among us voted out or into that sense or toâ—â—er interest to that every thing or nothing or to that non-sense according as the Lawlesse Unlimited Unjust and Ignorant will of fellow-subjects shall please to misuse them in the Voting house or place of bandying aies or noes For a Parliament which in its legal and primitive Institution consisting of King Lords and Commons and the right use of it is so venerable as no man as our Lawes say ought so much as to speak or think dishonourably of it we cannot without violence to the Lawes and our reason and understanding call it where puâ—lique orders are made without hearing of all or any parties interessed a piece of a cause heard by some and none at aâ—l of it by others votes and parties made and packed and lent to one another before-hand and the best of the Faction and Juglers carry all the businesse as they have a mind to it A way of Justice worse than that â—f there were any in it of a lawlesse Court said to be kept yearly on a Hil betwixt Raleigh and Rochford in Eeslx the wednesday afterevery Michaelmas day where the Steward or Judge sitteth in the night after the first Cock-crowing without any light or candle and calleth all that are bouâ—â—â— to attend the Court with as low a voice as possibly he may write orders with a coal and they that answer not are deeply amerced For that being a particular punishment long agoe inflicted upon the Tenants of certain Manner in Raleigh hundred for a conspiracy against the King is but once a yeare some shift or chance or mercy of
King The Lord Jermyn made Governour of the Island under whom Sir George Carteret was constituted Deputy Governour Guernsey being possessed by the Parliaments forces a Declaration was sent thither inviting the Governour and people to submit to his Majesties obedience But this invitation did little avail By this time the severall Transactions that were between his Majesty his Kingdom of Scotland had brought forth a Treaty at Breda in the Netherlands a Town of speciall note belonging to the Prince of Orange And Master Windram Lord of Libeton is sent Commissioner from the States of Scotland to Treat with his Majesty who being safely arrived presents his Royall Majesty with the desires and offers of the States of Scotland which were to this effect 1. That hee would sign the solemn League and Covenant 2. That he would pass divers Acts of the Parliament of Scotland 3. That he would put away all Papists from about him and let none but known Protestants be of his Counsell That he would give a speedy answer to their desires Besides this his Majesty hath great hopes of raising a sufficient force in England among the friends to his Royall Interest Upon this design severall are sent from Jersey into the West of England amongst whom two Principal men Sir John Berkley and Col. Slingsby who went up and down to their confederates earnestly stirring them up to take up Arms for his Majesty but these were discovered by a Country fellow and are taken by Cap. Rochwich and are sent Prisoners to Truro in Cornwall After many consultations and gracious condiscentions of his Majesty The Treaty is at last concluded and now the Kingdom of Scotland make great preparations for his reception to this end two rich houses in Edinburgh are richly furnished and the Parliament take into consideration the nominating of Officers for his house About the beginning of June 1650. his Majesty hasts from Breda to the Hague Thence to Scheveling where he took Shiping and at last in despight of fowâ— weather and the English King Fishers that lay there to intercept him he landed at Spey in the North of Scotland In the mean time the Parliament of Scotland bend their consultations for the raising of an Army for the use of his Majesty the Earl of Leven is made Generall of the Foot and Holborun Major General David Lasley Lievtenant Generall of the Horse Mountgomery Major Generall The Supream command of the whole Army is reserved for the Kings most excellent Majesty himself whom at his Arrivall they entertained with high complements and much acclamation and seemed to congratulate his coming with much demonstrations of joy and affection And on the 15. July following solemnly proclaim him King at Edinburgh Crosse About this time the English send a complaint to the King of Spain about the death of one Ascam who wassent thither as Agent from our new Common-wealth who the first night he came to Madrid sitting at dinner with his Interpreter Segnior Riba six black Devills in the shape of men knockt at the door had easy access and being entred Master Ascham rose up to salute them whereupon the formost stabbed him in the head his interpreter endeavouring to escape was also stabbed in the belly The Republick of England receiving good intelligence that his Majesty and the Kingdom of Scotland were agreed After a serious and solemn debate Voted that Thomas Lord Fairfax with an Army under his command should march Northwards But that noble and truly valiant Commander could not be entreated to fight against his sacred Majesty and our Brethren of Scotland and hereupon laid down his Commission Which was forthwith conferred upon the Archest of Traitors Oliver Cromwell who presently after arrived out of Ireland leaving Ireton his son in Law as Lord Deputy in his room Accordingly Orders were issued forth for the speedy advance of the Army in Scotland who had no sooner taken their march but the Scots take the Alarm and send two or three papers to Sir Arthur Hasilrig then Governour of Newcastle to expostulate the case about the sudden approach of the English Army alledging the Covenant or large Treaty of Union betwixt the two Kingdoms and other circumstances of the like nature but all proved fruitless The Parliament then publish a declaration shewing the reason of their Armies advance towards Scotland The English Army is now at last at Dunbar where the Scots have the English at a great disadvantage nevertheless the Generall and his Officers finding the Army unfit for further delays resolved the next morning to fall upon the Scots who being imbattlled by break of day the word of the English was the Lord of Hostes and that of the Scotts was the Covenant after an hours dispute the Scots were wholly routed there was slain 3000 the Lord Libberton Colonell Lumsden mortally wounded 1000. taken together with Sir James Lumsden Lievtenant Generall of the Foot And about 260 other Officers 200 Colours 15000 Armes and 30. pieces of Ordnance At London was apprehended condemned and executed Colonell Eusebius Andrews who being taken with a Commission from his Majesty was beheaded at Tower Hill September 8. That most excellent Princesse Elizabeth daughter to our late Soveraign dyed at Carisbrook Castle in the Isle of Wight Upon these sad disasters his Majesty went secretly away to the North of Scotland upon which the Committee of Estates are much troubled chiefly for that they feared hee would join with Middleton they send Major Generall Mountgomery with a party of Horse to endeavour by earnest supplications to bring him back to Saint Johnstons which at the first he utterly refuseth but at last condescended to retire with Montgomery about the later end of October the Prince of Orange departed this life whose death was much lamented by his most gracious Majesty having received from him many high Testimonies of friendship and good will about ten days after the Princesse of Orange was delivered of a Son which did in part mitigate her griefe for the Princes death After three months siege the Castle of Edinburgh was surrendred up to Cromwell December 24. 1650. with all the Ordnances Armes Magazine and furniture of War thereunto belonging Notwithstanding the hard fortune his Majesties forces hitherto had undergone severall designes were set on foot At this time there was one Benson executed at Tiburn for acting by virtue of a Commission from his Majesty upon the same account there rose a great number in the County of Norfolk but were soon dispersed and taken About this time Sir Henry Hide being Commissionated by his Majesty Ambassador to the grand senior at Constantinople stood in competition with Sir Thomas Bendish whereupon they had a hearing before the Vizier Bassa The result whereof was that Sir Thomas Bendish should dispose of Sir Henry Hide as he thought good who was straight way sent to Smyrna thence into England and there condemned and executed as a Traytor before the Royall Exchange London The War
the beginning of December General Blake himself engaging with the whole Fleet of the Dutch came of with the worst loosing the Garland and Bonaventure and some other Ships About the ending of February the Dutch were miserably overthrown by the English between Portland and the Ifle of Wight In the mean time arrived an Extraordinary Ambassador from the King of Portugal to the Parliament which after many Addresses and Treaties concludes a peace with Obligation to satisfy the English Marchants From France also the English were courted by two partyes by an Agent from the King of France desiring a release of those Ships taken going to the reliefe of Dunkirk by 4. Deputies from the Prince of Conde craving aid against the Cardinal and his Creatures who had straitly besieged the City of Bourdeaux but they both proved ineffectual And now happened a very strange Alteration in the Scene of Affairs in England Cromwel whose ambition was now ripe and who knew he might take a very fit opportunity to usurp that that power he had so long gaped for the people of these Nations being weary of the actions of this Parliament and there dilatory proceedings and apparent intentions of perpetuating themselfs and to defraud the people of their ancient and undoubted Liberties of equal and successive representatives * entered the Parliament-House attended with some of his principal Officers and there delivered certain reasons why a Period ought to be put to that Parliament which was presently done the Speaker with the rest of the Members some by force some through fear and some murmuring departed the House the better to satisfy the wiser sort of people Cromwel and his Officers publish a large Declaration shewing the reasons of his dissolving that Parliament Thus that part of the Parliament who had basely murdered their King and Usurped an Authority over these Nations are turned out of Doors to the scorne and derision of the whole Nation by their Servant Oliver Cromwel Thus that part of the House of Commons which then sat afterwards better known by the name of the Rump being dissolved their power was wholly devolved into the hands of their aspiring General who least the Magistrates and other publique Ministers of the nation should be startled at this so suddain change This following Declaration was published WHere as the Parliament being dissolved persons of approved fidelity and honesty are according to the late Declar-tion of the 22 of April last to be called from the severall parts of this Commonwealth to the supreme Authority and although effectuall proceedings are and have been had for perfecting those resolutions yet some convenient time being required for the assembling those persons it hath been sound necessary for the preventing the mischiefs and inconveniences which may arise in the mean while to the publickaffairs that a Councill of State be constituted to take care of and intend the peace and safety and present management of the affairs of the Commonwealth which being settled acoordingly the same is hereby declared and published to the end all persons way take notice hereof and in their severall places and stations demean themselves peaceably giving obedience to the Laws of the Nation as heretofore and in the exercise and administration whereof as endeavours shall be used that no oppression or wrong be done to the people so a strict account will be required of all such as shall do any thing to endanger the publick peace and quiet upon any pretence whatsoever O. CROMWELL Aprill 30. 1653. These domestick Revolutions did in some measure heighten the spirits of the Dutch for they thought some eminent distractions and commotions would certainly ensue thereupon June 2. The English Fleet being at Anchor without the South-head of the Gober discover about 100 sail of Dutch men of Warre lying two Leagues to Lee-ward the English presently made sail after them after a sharp dispute they take of the Dutch 11. men of war two water-hoyes 6. Captaynes 1500 prisoners and sunck 6. men of War more had not the night prevented the rest of the Dutch-Fleet would in all probabillity have been cut off in this engagement General Dean one of our Admiralls was slain In the mean time Cromwell and his Confederates consult on fit persons on whom the Legislative power of the Nation should be committed to which end the grand Tyrant issueth out warrants under his own hand to a certain number of persons chosen by himself whom he thought would serve his interest to appear at the Counsell Chamber at White-Hall July 4. 1653. Where being accordingly met Cromwell being attended with several Officers of the Army maketh them a short speech and delivereth unto them a writing under his hand and Seal impowering them to be the supreme Legislative Authority of the three Nations from thence they repair to the Parliament house and choose for their Speaker Mr Rouse they begin to debate what they shall call themselves at last they conclude to call themselves the Parliament having sat about four moneths their consultations are chiefly for the taking away of Tythes at last it was moved by some of them that their further sitting would not prove for the peace of the Nation therefore they attend the General and according to command resigned their power into his hands again who presently after assumes to himself the Title of Lord Protector of the Common-wealth of England Scotland and Ireland takes unto himself a Council of twenty one persons by whose assistance all things are carried on during the intervals of Parliament Things being thus translated in England his Royal Majesty not having any further means left him for the regaining of his dominions is constrained to take up his Residence in the kingdom of France where notwithstanding his low condition he lived with great honour and respect with the King Queen and Nobles of France During his abode here in this Court a match was propounded to him viZ. the Duke of Orleances daughter as likewise to his illustrious Brother the noble Duke of York the Duke of Longevills daughter But the troublesome estate of the kingdom of France and his Royal Majesties ill posture of affairs in his own kingdoms soon put a period to this transaction Whilest these things were in agitation happened a difference betwixt the the Prince of Conde and Cardinal MaZarine most of the Princes of the blood side with the first the King of France who now was newly come to age to sway the Scepter with the latter the cause of the quarrel was Cardinal MaZarine his inordinate power and other grand miscarriages of state the people also generally murmure against him the Princes and Parliament of Paris and Bourdeaux are against him as also the Duke of Louraine then in service of the Spaniard things arrived at such a height that nothing but a Civil war was likely to ensue to compose and end these differances his sacred Majesty of England useth his utmost endeavours telling them from his own experience the
of Commons whereupon in a great rage perceiving his right as he supposed to be infringed notwithstanding all diswasions to the contrary he leaving his Council hasts to the Parliament-House swearing by the Living God he would dissolve them which accordingly was done about the latter end of the year dyed his Son in Law Mr. Robert Rich and not long after his Grand-father the Earl of Warwick And now about the 12 th of March a terrible plot is discovered the City of London was to be fired and the Tower and Mows fiered and all the Souldiers about the City sacrifized to the fury of the Royal interest and therefore he presently sends for the Lord Major Aldermen and common Council of the City of London to warne them of the approaching danger tells them how the Marquess of Ormond had lately been in London for 3. weeks together promoting the affairs of his Master that our most dread Soveraign lay ready with 8000. men quartered on the Sea Coasts of Flanders and 22. hyred Ships to transport them thereupon he recommended unto their care the setling of the Militia upon the many persons were apprehended an high Court of Justice erected Dr. Hewet Sir Henry Slingsby and Mr. Mordant were brought to tryal Sir Henry and the Doctor were both condemned to loose their heads on Tower-Hill and 6. others of meaner sort were adjudged to be hanged drawn and quartered great endeavours were used the Ministers of London Petition for the Doctors life and many great persons for the Knight but all avail nothing About the month of June 1658. arrived an ominous Whale in the River of Thames which was taken at Greenwich and found to be 58. foot in length and every way proportionable In Flanders successes came in with a full Garriâ—â— presently after the taking of Mardike Fort Dunkirk was straitly besieged by the joynt Forces of the English and French and after a sharp battle the Marquis of Leda Governour of Dunkirk being now more streitly then ever environed both by Land and Seas resolved upon a desperate sally in which he was mortally wounded and shortly after dyed the Governours death wrought so upon the besieged that on the 25 th day of June Dunkirk was surrendered into the hands of the French and afterwards consigned to the English August 6. Dyed Mrs. Elizabeth Claypoole a Daughter to Oliver Cromwel not long after her dyed the Earl of Mulgrave one of the privy Counsellors to his Highnes so called And now cometh death it self to act his part on this our noble Tyrant Cromwel himself must also dye who by force and fraud had from a mean beginning raised himself to the arbitrary Government of these 3. Kingdomes And that which is very remarkable on the same day on which he had gained two such signal victories against his Majesties forces viz. at Dunbar and Worcester viz. September 3. the night that ushered in the day of his death there arose such a horrible tempest the like hath hardly been seen in our age Trees both of a large and smaller size are torn out of the earth by the roots Having as he thought certainly secured the government of these three Kingdomes to himself being at the point of death he nominates for his successor his eldest son Richard who the next day after his Fathers death was in the presence of old Olivers privy Councill and the chief Officers of the Army Proclaimed Lord Protector of England Scotland and Ireland and had addresses unto him from most parts of the 3. Nations professing their zeal and affection to his government which how little they availed him time hath since sufficiently shewed us And now after the Advancement of Richard to the supream power and dignity of these Nations Principall care is taken for the enterment of his Fathers Corps with all the solemnity and state accustomed at Kings and Princes Funeralls and to this end search is made into old Records to see what was expended at the Funeral of King James of happy memory that the same nay much more cost might be bestowed on this his Corps being now enbalmed and wrapt in Lead was conveyed from Whitehal to Somerset-House there tolye in regal pompe and State a Spectacle for all Commers and now his Funeral pompe being ended great preparations there are for the sending out of naval supplyes to the King of Sweden But now want of moneys and other necessities of State enforce Richard and his Councel to summon a Parliament which accordingly meet Jan. 27. This Parliament consisted as the other in his Fathers time did of two Houses the Commons and the other House which now was called the Upper-house and now the great thing under debate was the Recognition of the Government and now the Protectorians and the Commonwealths-men for so the House was devided spend there time in large Speeches till on a sudden Behold A Remarkable and an unexpected change which was occasioned through some ambitious Spirits of some in the Army and particularly Major General Lambert who thought to make himself Lord Protector of the 3 Nations as his Master Cromwel had done before him joynes with his silly kindred Fleetwood Disborow and others and partly out of fear enforce Richard to dissolve the Parliament then sitting And so suffered himself to be devested of that power and authority which he was invested in returning to the condition of a private Person was now honest Dick again And now all men were in a maze wondring into what hands the chief power would next be devolved the generality of the people did now again according to their bounden duty not only desire but endeavour that his Sacred Majesty our most dread Soveraign might be introduced into his own Kingdoms full well knowing there could be no settlement without his Royal person But now the Members of the old Parliament and the Counsel of Officers of the Army meet and it was agreed that those Members of the old Parliament who sat in 1653. and were interrupted by their late aspiring General from sitting should be invited to their freedome and right of sitting and the exercise of their trust by a Declaration presented from the Army to the old Speaker William Lenthal and several of the Members at the Rolls in Chancery-lane This Juncto being thus Re-called from the grave of Ignominy and reproach for they were the very scorne of the people Being the Men that Murthered our Royal Soveraign and basely enslaved the people for so many years on the 7. of May they began to set again and first they appoint a Committee to attend Richard Cromwel to know his mind concerning his acquiescence in the present Government they receive from him a writing to this effect that he could freely acquiesce in the present Government that he held himself obliged as he expected from it so to demean himself peaceably under it Not long after they send for his Brother Henry who had ruled in Ireland under the title of Lord Lieutenant who