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A43206 A chronicle of the late intestine war in the three kingdoms of England, Scotland and Ireland with the intervening affairs of treaties and other occurrences relating thereunto : as also the several usurpations, forreign wars, differences and interests depending upon it, to the happy restitution of our sacred soveraign, K. Charles II : in four parts, viz. the commons war, democracie, protectorate, restitution / by James Heath ... ; to which is added a continuation to this present year 1675 : being a brief account of the most memorable transactions in England, Scotland and Ireland, and forreign parts / by J.P. Heath, James, 1629-1664.; Phillips, John. A brief account of the most memorable transactions in England, Scotland and Ireland, and forein parts, from the year 1662 to the year 1675. 1676 (1676) Wing H1321; ESTC R31529 921,693 648

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Bishoprick and Deanery but he was of too great a spirit to relinquish either of them as being places conferred on him by Patent from his bountiful Master King Iames and so chose to pay the aforesaid fine which upon a new score was soon after doubled These harsh proceedings against him so exasperated his mind that in the troubles ensuing he openly sided with the Parliament In effect this whole years revolution as to matters of importance was concerned in Episcopacy But this smoak and smother in England concerning Ceremonies broke out into fire in Scotland these petty and particular discontents here being blown up there into a National dislike and abhorrence of them so that this here was but the forerunner of that conflagration there which afterwards laid waste Three Kingdoms And because of the remarkable and strange eruption and effects of it I think fit to give those Scotish Troubles their particular Narrative connext and intire together Which here follows The Troubles and Tumult in Scotland about the Service-Book Book of Canons High-Commission and Episcopacy THe great and long designed Union of the two Kingdoms of England and Scotland had taken its desired effect by the assumption of King Iames the Sixth to this Crown and the National feud between the two people thereof well allayed if not wholly extinguished being both as one body under one supream Head and Governour That King at his departing from that his Native Kingdom had left it in a very flourishing condition as ever it boasted of the State well provided for by wholsom Laws and the management thereof committed to the prudentest and most honourable of the Nobility the Church-Regiment under a godly and a learned Orthodox Episcopacy reverenced and well accepted by the people All things both in Church and State being well ordered supported and maintained by that accession of power and greatness to their Soveraign in this Kingdom that Nation continued in a firm and unvariable quiet till about the middle of the Reign of King Charles the first of blessed memory by whom as also by his Royal Father several endeavours were used for the better strengthning and perpetuating the Union a●oresaid by conforming the Discipline of that Church to the pattern of this Religion being the most sure and indissolvable tie and mutual security In the time of King Iames those memorable Five-Articles were made by the Assembly at Perth whereby the High-Commission the Book of Canons and other Rites and Ceremonies were introduced and established By King Charles the First the Book of Service or Common-Prayer was endeavoured likewise to be brought in it having constantly been used for twenty years before in his Majesties own Royal Chappel in that Kingdom before his Majesties Ministers of State and the Nobility and Gentry attending them And now all things appeared Retro sublapsa referri to precipitate into Confusion and Disorder the period of that peace was come which had so long blest that Kingdom Not that really and singularly that Book was the cause of those Commotions but accidentally ministring the male-contents of that Kingdom an occasion of revolt and disloyalty For the seeds of that Sedition were sown by the Plotters of the Covenant which was afterwards so magnified under the pretence of Religion long before any of the grievances or pretended innovations in Religion complained of by them were ever heard amongst them The true Original of these Tumults was a Revocation made by King Charles the first of such things as had passed away in prejudice of the Crown especially by some of the late Princes in their minorites by this course some of the principal Contrivers of this Covenant found their Estates within the danger of the Laws And though the King to rectifie that proceeding of his had made appear his clemency in waving all the advantages which the Laws afforded him not one of his Subjects being damnified by the said Revocation yet for all this the principal persons laboured a disaffection to the Government laying the envy of procuring that Revocation upon the Prelates who in this were as innocent as the thing it self onely because they hoped that the very name of Church-men or Religious persons should in the point of Faction have that operation with their followers which they conceived the Church or Religion it self might have had if they could have seen how to have perswaded them that by this Revocation either of them had been endangered Other things there were relating to the Ministers themselves the Gentry and their Farmers who paid the Tythes to the Nobility being the burthen of Impropriations This the King thought to remedy by granting out a Commission to a great number of the prime of all estates and degrees to relieve if they should see cause both the Ministers and others who suffered by that grievance This Commission was called The Commission of Superiority and Tythes which effected as to the agrieved its intended effect and for which all possible thanks were rendred to his Majesty Nor were the most of the Nobility unsensible of the advantage by this means to matter of profit but they fretted privately for being robbed of that Lordliness over the Clergy and Laity which by right of Tythe they enjoyed and therefore had recourse to the former fetch of making the Bishops when indeed it was obtained by the importunity of Clergy and Laity the Procurers also of this Commission The last ingredient to this bitter Cup which was prepared in Scotland for the three Nations was matter of Honour and Title For the King going to his Coronation there in 1631. a Parliament being called to honour the same wherein an Act passed that gave his Majesty power to appoint such Vestures for Church-men which he should hold most decent and another for ratifying all Acts heretofore made concerning the established Religion and the liberties and priviledges of the Church his Majesty finding some principal men who were suitors at the same time for the Dignities aforesaid dissenters to the confirmation and allowance of the said Acts did not confer such expected Honours but passed those by and justly advanced more Loyal persons at which they then muttered but mutined not till his Majesties departure Then they with Seditious private Libels taxed this Parliament with prevarication and obliquity in their proceedings as if it had been pack'd and also that the voyces were not truly numbred but that some Acts were past without plurality of Votes This being sifted by the Kings Privy Council there the Author was known who fled but the principal engager the Lord Balmerino was apprehended His Father had been raised by King Iames to his Barony and Fortune but for the most ungrateful of Treasons was condemned by his Peers His Son at his time fell into the same crime and condemnation but both by their Majesties favour and clemency restored to Life Honour Liberty and Estate But all these devices could not serve
framed by themselves having rejected that of the Kings own appointment and drawn by his Council though not a word in answer against it to satisfie him excluding all persons named by the King in his draught and committed the trust and power thereof for two years to such in whom they confided Soon after they seized upon Sir Richard Gurney Lord Mayor of London whom for an example to other Loyal Magistrates they sent to the Tower of London not long after which usage he deceased Sir Iohn Hotham is also impowered by the Parliament to Summon the Trayned Bands of the County to his assistance which through the factiousness of others and his own menaces he compass●d and having them within his reach to prevent the King of any supply of Arms thereabout he disarms the Country-men and dismisseth them Her●upon the King Summoned the Gentry and Free-holders of the County of York to whom he complains of all those lawless proceedings of the Parliament and Hotham to the danger of his person which he thinks fit to secure by a guard from among them reiterates his Protestation to the Lords then that w●re with him some of whom were sent from the Parliament and continued there that he intended not to raise a War or embroyl the Kingdom but since he had so lately received such an indignity so neer his residence it could not be interpreted other than an Act of Prudence to provide this way for his safety that being the onely end in this designe Which publike Declaration was attested by all the Lords to be his Majesties intention Now had the Parliament the occasion they waited for no Salvo's or Protestations on the Kings part would serve turn but it was taken for granted ●hat the King intended War and therefore they proceeded presently to put the peo-into a posture of War by vertue of their late Ordinance of the Militia to rescue the King from his evil Counsel who had engaged him in a War against his Parliament I will not wade further in this Question Who began it because his Majesty on his dying Royal word hath asserted it by this undeniable proof Who gave the first Commissions In order to this open Hostility intended they prohibit all resort to the King save of those in his special service and Command the respective Sheriffs to seize all other than such as the disturbers of the peace and to raise the County-power against them who were so divided in themselves by contrary commands that no difficulty remained to the near ensuing rupture sides being taken and avowed every man on his guard waiting for the first blow and prepared to return it as his judgment or fancy led him To b●ow up this animosity into fire and fury next comes out another Remonstrance from the Parliament the Daughter of that which was presented to the King at Hampton-Court that taxed the male-administration of the Government till the calling of the Parliament this recited all their complaints from the very first day of their sitting to the date thereof their dispute of the Militia the business of the five Members c. and so brought the state of their quarrel into one entire body that their Partisans by such a heap of grievances i● not by the weight of them might without more scrutiny own them and stand by their Caus● This miss'd not of a plenary and satisfactory Answer from the King but Hands had no Ears the Faction was busie and employed in arming themselves like Caesars write and fight together solliciting also in the mean time their dear Brethren the Scots to their party whom though the King so lately had obliged and vouchsafed them a particular account of his intentions throughout all these unhappy transactions summed up in a Letter to his Privy Counsel in that Kingdom which after communication begot a Protestation from that Kingdom of all the Loyalty and affection imaginable with many serious expressions of their thanks and gratitude to his Majesty whose Royal word in the concerns both of Church and State they deemed a grievous sin to doubt or question Yet nevertheless presently after they declared themselves in favour of the Parliament in a large manifestation of their most cordial affection to them with as many more good words as they had received Pounds and in conclusion order the said Privy Council not to meddle with any verbal or real engagement for the King against the Parliament of England but to keep close to their Covenant and their English brethren For all which kindness the Parliament claw them again and returned them thanks by their Commissioners resident in London But this Remonstrance did not reach all the matter therefore out comes a third comprehensive enough which the King likewise answered It will be tedious to recite them because little new matter in them only more passionately written as bordering betwixt the Gown and the Sword which was as good as half drawn already As the last essay for an Accommodation that the people might see the Parliament would leave no way untryed Nineteen Propositions are sent to the King at York which in strict terms comprised the licentiousness of all their former Papers To these if the King assented as they withal Petition him to do they promise to make him a glorious Prince For the Answer to these by the King I refer the Reader to the Kings book where the vncivility and unreasonableness thereof is justly censured though the reply he made to them presently after their tender was so argumentative and honest that it stumbled many of their friends and confirmed the Kings good Subjects in their Loyal integrity All hopes being now lost of this Paper-scuffle the King addresses himself to the Gentry and Commonalty of the County of York the populacy being those on whom the Parliamentary pretences so greatly operated and declares to them the same resolutions he had formerly made desiring to undeceive them of those opinions the Parliament had instilled every where and chuseth out of them a guard of Horse and a Regiment of the Trained Bands as a guard to his person which they cheerfully undertook and did Duty in that quality Here he also found an addition of many worthy Gentlemen and Nobles ready for his service The City of London was likewise as affectionate for the Parliament having profered their service which was accepted to secure the two Houses This caused the King to send a Letter to the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen forbidding them either to levy Arms or raise money upon that account But seeing them to persist in the same courses he first sends out his Commissions of Array to the respective Lord-Lieutenants and their assistants according to the Statute of 5 H. 4. and other subsequent Records which by the Parliament on the question were resolved to be against Law and the liberty of the Subject c. And then summons his Lords and Privy
be made for the freedom of such Elections 6. That the Parliament onely have Power to direct further as to Parliaments and for those two ends expressed before their Orders there to pass for Laws 7. That there be a Liberty for Entring Dissents in the House of Commons and no man further censurable for what he shall say in the House exclusion by c. from that Trust and that by the House it self 8. That the Iudicial Power in the Lords and Commons without further Appeal may be cleared The King not to be capable to forgive persons adjudged by them without their consent 9. That the Peers have no Iurisdiction against the Commons without the concurring Iudgment of the House of Commons as also may be vindicated from any other Iudgement c. than that of their equals 10. That Grand Iury-men be chosen by several parts or divisions of each County respectively not left to the discretion of any Vnder-Sheriff which Grand Iury-men at each Assize shall present the names of persons to be made Iustices of the Peace and at the Summer-Assizes the names of three out of which the King may prick one for Sheriff Secondly being another principle For the future security to Parliaments and the Militia in general in order thereunto That it be provided by Act of Parliament 1. That the power of the Militia by Land and Sea during the space of ten years shall be disposed by the Lords and Commons Assembled in Parliament or persons they shall nominate 2. That it shall not be exercised by the King nor any from him during the said space nor afterwards but by advice of the Parliament or Council of State or such Committees in the Interval 3. That the said Lords and Commons c. raise and dispose of Money for the Forces thought necessary and for payment of publike debts and uses of the Kingdom 4. That these ten years security may be the firmer It be provided That none that have been in hostility against the Parliament in the late War shall be capable of any Office or Trust for five years without consent of Parliament nor to sit as Members thereof till the second Biennial Parliament be past Thirdly For the ordering of the peace and safety of this Kingdom and Ireland 1. That there be Commissioners for the Admiralty an Admiral and Vice-Admiral now agree on with power to execute amply the said Offices and pay provided for the service 2. That there be a Lord-General for the Forces that are to be in pay 3. That there be Commissioners for the standing Militia in every County consisting of Trained Bands and Auxiliaries not in pay to discipline them 4. A Council of State to surperintend the powers given those Commissioners 5. That the said Council have the same power with the Kings Privy Council but not make War or Peace without consent of Parliament 6. That that Council consist of trusty and able persons to continue si bene se gesserint but not above seven years 7. That a sufficient Establishment be provided for the pay of the standing Forces the Establishment to continue till two months after the meeting of the first Biennial Parliament or Saint Tibs Eve Fourthly That an Act be passed for disposing the great Offices for ten years by the Lords and Commons in Parliament and by the Committees in the Intervals with submission to the approbation of the next Parliament and after that time they to name three and the King out of them to appoint one for the succession upon a vacancie Fifthly For disabling the Peers made by the King since the Great Seal was carried away May 21. 1642. to sit and Vote in Parliament Sixthly An Act to make void all the Acts Declarations c. against the Parliament and their Adherents and that the Ordinances for Indempnity be confirmed Seventhly An Act to make void all Grants passed under the said Seal since May 1642. and to confirm and make those valid that passed under the Great Seal made by Authority of Parliament Eighthly An Act for Confirmation of Treaties between England and Scotland and constituting Conservators of the Peace between them Ninthly That the Ordinance for taking away the Court of Wards and Liveries be confirmed by Act but the Kings Revenue made up another way and the Officers thereof to have reparation Tenthly An Act declaring void the Cessation of Ireland leaving that War to the prosecution of the Parliament Eleventhly An Act to take away all Coercive Power Authority and Iurisdiction of Bishops and other Ecclesiastical Officers whatsoever extending to civil Penalties upon any and to repeal all Laws whereby the Civil Magistracie hath been or is bound upon any Ecclesiastical Censure to proceed ex O●●icio unto any Civil Penalties against any persons so censured Mark here is not a word of abolishing Episcopacy or confirming the sale of their Lands in which they knew the Presbyterians were entangled but the King extreamly gratified who abominated Sacriledge and so was the likelier never to comply with the Parliament who made it one of their principal demands which Cromwel designed Twelfthly That there be a repeal of penal Acts or Clauses enjoyning the Common-Prayer and imposing Penalties for not coming to Church some provision to be made for discovering of Recusancie Thirteenthly That the taking of the Covenant be not inforced upon any c. but that all Ordinances enjoyning that be repealed Fourteenthly That the things before proposed being provided for his Majestie his Queen and Royal Issue may be restored to a condition of Safetie Honour and Freedom in this Nation without diminution to their personal Rights or further limitation to the exercise of their Power than according to the particulars aforegoing Fifteenthly For the matter of Compositions 1. That a less number out of the persons excepted in the two first qualifications not exceeding five for the English being nominated particularly by the Parliament besides the Irish Rebels may be reserved to the Iudgment of the Parliament c. And many more good morrows in favourable restrictions of the Parliament's severity to poor Cavaliers whom they reserved for their more ravenous jaws thinking by these wiles first to betray and then devour them and therefore now the Tyger is become a mediator to the Wolf to spare the innocent sheep that 's encompassed between them The rest of this batch was for particular redresses of the Law and abuses of the Lawyers concerning Imprisonments for Debts Regulating Assessements and remedies against the contentious Suits of Tythes for asserting the peoples right in Petitioning against Forrest-Lands and almost all particular grievances especially the Excise and Monopolies against Corporation-Oaths as grievous to tender Consciences being too long to enumerate The drift of all being to please all sorts of people one or other hitting the humour of every man but chiefly gratifying the Fanaticks and miserable Vulgar who were to be deluded and then used as a bridge to their own slavery
Edmund Fowel in Com. Devon Kt. created Baronet May 1. Iohn Cropley in Com. Middlesex Esq. created Baronet May 7. William Smith in Com. Bucks Esq. created Baronet May 10. George Cook in Com. York Esq. created Baronet M●● 10. Charles Lloyd in Com. Montgomery Esq. created Baronet May 10. Nathaniel Powel in Com. Sussex Esq. created Baronet May 14. Denny Ashburnham in Com. Sussex Esq. created Baronet May 15. Sir Hugh Smith in Com. Somerset Kt. created Baronet May 16. And so we have glided through this Sphere of Glory in which the ancient honour of the Government is refixed and gives us the full and compleat fight of this wonderful Revolu●●on each Luminary shining in its proper Orb and in its Degree the Soveraign Nobility Clergy and Gentry recovered to their former and distinct Lustre and to say no more the whole community of English Freemen whose state and condition no Nation can parallel from being the servants of servants are become their own Masters and are arrived by this Change to be again the envy that were but lately the scorn and derision of the World In this Consistency the King was desirous to meet this Illustrious Body in Parliament to close those distances and separations and redintegrate the mutual affections endearments and natural kindnesses which the unnaturalness and perverse malignity of the times had by our Divisions abrupted and hitherto discontinued the King had promised so much at the Dissolution of the late Free-Parliament or Convention and accordingly issued out His Writ soon after for their sitting down the Eighth of May a little before which several Musters had been made in England of the Militia and a General Train in London in Hide-Park of Horse and Foot Fourteen Regiments whereof the King was pleased to view there In these Elections it appeared how much a Commonwealth or those Actions which were pretended to be done by the People in Parliament by a few modulers thereof were ever approved for not such a man had a Voyce and the Election of the Free Parliament gave little Encouragement to stand for it the main stickling was between the Episcopal and Presbyterian Parties and even that numerous Party as was said by themselves found how much they were mistaken in the Suffrages of the Kingdome when under no awe nor in the phrensy of misguised Zeal several Letters were intercepted from the chief Ministers of that Perswasion exhorting their Correspondents to do their utmost for favourable Elections to their Discipline and that very confidently after the choyce made at London of persons the most of them of their way But nevertheless that there might not the least remain of the Government be left unjustified and unreared it so happened that far the major part of this House of Commons were not better affected to the Peace of the Kingdome than to the Restauration and Settlement of the Church To this Parliament the King with his Nobles according to the splendid custome of opening these grand Assemblies rode in State and Triumph but because so full a Narrative of such Glory hath already preceded I will not further dazile the Reader The House being met the King sent for the Commons into the House of Lords where most obligingly he declared His content in meeting them most of them being known to him that he was as confident as of any thing whatsoever that it would be a happy Parliament and in conclusion acquainted them with his Resolution of marrying the Infanta of Portugal which Match he said he had proposed to his Privy Council and they had every one highly approved it that he thought none of them would willingly have him live and dye a Batchelour and therefore he had newly made and signed a Treaty with the King of Portugal by his Ambassadour Don Francisco De Mello here Resident and now upon departure with the same Treaty in which this Article of Marriage was inserted And then my Lord Chancellour by His Order gave the Parliament a further Account of His Majesties calling them Sir Edward Turner the Dukes Attourney General was chosen Speaker for the House of Commons who in his Speech to the King expressed the hopes of the Commons that as His Majesty had manifested his great Indulgence to that Adopted so that he had a Blessing left for this his Natural Parliament These Ceremonies being over wherein the dutiful respects of the Houses answered the favour and affection of the King the Parliament proceeded to the Affairs of the Kingdome Near that very time a Parliament began in Ireland after a like happy Convention had been by his Majesties Order from their Adjournment upon his Restitution reassembled in that quality Sir Audly Mervin being chosen Speaker The Convocation of the English Clergy all eminent and most learned pious Persons met on the sixteenth of May at Westminster And the Queen of Bohemia his Majesties Aunt from a long absence of forty eight years returned to White-Hall where She was Married in One thousand six hundred and twelve to the Prince Elector Palatine He return was further signalized by the reviviscency of the memory of the most renowned Marquess of Montross whose Limbs having been set upon the Gates of four distant Cities by the Kirk and Argyles party there were taken down and in State and in all fit Solemnity and with the same Honour brought together and by his Majesties Order whose love and memory of his Servants is one of his many other Princely vertues and great evidence of the sweetness of his Nature and the resolution of the Parliament Interred with a Funeral becoming his Family and as far as such too late evidences and expressions of Grief and Honour could reach his merit his own personal Renown and Glory so much the more indeed conspicuous by the Death and deserved Execution of the Marquess of Argyle who was this Hero's mortal and spightful Enemy that now expiated by a juster Sentence those barbarous violencies he had done to Montross he cunningly defended himself and Pleaded the Kings Pardon and the Treaties in One thousand six hundred and fifty and One thousand six hundred fifty one but there were Crimes of a later date besides the never-to-be-forgotten Treachery of Selling King Charles the first to the English which Condemned him He seemed at his Death to be resolved enough and justified the Covenant and had his Head taken off with the Maiden so is the Axe called in Scotland Near the same time Mr. Iames Guthery one of the Remonstrators and a violent Adversary of the Marquess of Montross and all the Loyal party together with Captain Giffan a ●eneg●do to Cromwel by Sentence and Decree of Parliament were Hanged in Edenburgh so far the Laws and a suffering-sense of the Miseries and Reproaches that Nation lay under by these men and their Partizans guilt did now prevail against the Dominion of the Kirk which had Inslaved and Inchanted the whole mass of that people And for a final blow as these
it 340. Dumb one meets 362. Another pretended Parliament 382. Memberr excluded ibid. In a full House with the Other House 398 399. Dissolved 401. One called by Richard their Transacting with him and the Other House and the Army 413 to 418. The Long one dissolved 439. Most gladly and reverendly reecive the Kings Letters 445. Their resolves thereupon 446. Their affairs before the King's return 453. They say hold on his Majesties Declaration from Breda 454. Dissolved 470. Another meet by the Kings Writ 496 Parliament 519.520 Prorogued 523 527. Meet 530. Prorogued 532. Meet at Oxford 542. Prorogued 543. Their Thanks to the Vniversity ibid. Prorogued 545 549. Meet 555. Vote a supply ibid. Prorogue● and meet 563. Adjourn 564. Meet 566. Adjourn 568. Adjourn ibid. Prorogued 569. Meet and Prorogued 574. Meet 576. Adjourned 577. Prorogued 580. They make an address about English Manufactures 580. Prorogued 581. Adjourned 587. Meet 589. Adjourned 590. Meet and prorogued 591. Meet 602. Prorogued ibid. Meet again ibid. Parliament of Scotlaud 524 526. Proceed against Nonconformists 545. Meet at Edinburgh 574. Pass the Act for a Treaty of Vnion 577 Parliament in Ireland 545 Patrick Pursel Irish Maj. Gen. his treachery and cowardise 241 Pauw Embassador from Holland 227. Dies 324 Piercy James pretends to the Earldom of Northumberland 590 Piercy Capt. Executed 578 Pembroke Siege 172 Pen Sea-Capt. 293. Sea-General 369 376 Pennington and Pym 36. Pym dieth 56 Pen●e●●is-castle 111 Pendruddock's Insurrection c. 367. Tried and Beheaded 372 Perth in Scotland five Articles 3 Petitions from Essex Surrey c. for peace 172 Petition and Advice 393 Phanatick Plots 500 512 Phelim O Neal Irish General 21 Phenix lost 328. Regained 330 Philips Young Stubs Baker and two Gibs Executed 513 Piedmont story of a Massacre 373 ●●ague in the Loyal-Irish Provinces 242 〈◊〉 ships taken by Sir Richard Stainer 383 〈…〉 tentiaries of the Rumpin the Sound 462 〈…〉 tentiaries return from Cologne 599 Plot pretended against the Protector 358. Another started 403. vide Cavalier Plot in Ireland 520. Plotters Executed 545 Plot in England 520. Plotters tryed 521. Executed ibid. More Plotters 549. Condemned and Executed 550 Pontefract-Castle 72. D●livered 131 Poland King his ill success 545. Polanders revolt 546 549. Make peace with the Tartars 568. The King resignes 571. Several pretend to the Crown ibid. New King Elected 577. New dissentions there 590. King dies 596. Defeats the Turks ibid. Popham Sea-General dies 303 Pope and King of France quarrel 524. Agree 525. Popes Iustice 571. Dies 577. A new one chosen 579 596 Popish Priests Banished 578 599. Orders against popish Priests ibid Porta Ferina Fight 374 Porto Longone fight between the Dutch and Capt. Badily 328 Portsmouth taken 39 Portugueze murthered 522 Portugal Embassador to the new English States 277. Concludes a peace 332. Concludes a League ibid. His Brother D●n Pontaleon Sa Beheaded for what 361. That King dies 383 Portugal Match declared by the King 497 Portugal routs the Spaniard 526. Victory 533 546. Invade Spain 547. At peace with Spain 570. Prince of Portugal made Regent 572 Potter Condemned 290 Powel and Laughorn saved ibid. Power onely in the people 225 Poyntz Col. 89 91 139 143. Poyer Col. shot to death 231 Prentices Tumult 568 Presbyterian Government established for three years 125. Ministers own not the Parliament 255. Seized by the Council of State 290 Presbytery tending to an establishment 439 Presbyterians endeavour a Toleration 511 Pride and Hewson and Sir Hardress Waller force the Houses 192 Private Bills pass'd by the King 509 Prizes taken from the Dutch 322 Proclamation of the King 's Privy Council slighted in Scotland 5 7. Of the King for the Kings Iudges to render themselves 454 Of twenty miles to Rump Officers 511. Against Papists 565 Propositions to the King at Colbrook on his march to London 41. Made for tryal of the King by the Iuncto 194 195. Protestants in Savoy 526 Pryn writes agaidst Bishops and Ceremonies put in the Pillory for it 2. Meets the Rump 420 Publick Faith 37 Putten Van his fall 589 Q Qualifications made by the Rump of all such to bold Offices 421 Quarter free 156 Quarrel the state of it between the Scots and Cromwel 271 Queen-Mother Mary de Medicis coming to England taken for Ominous why 9 Queen with the Princess of Aurange for Holland carries the Crown-Iewels 27. Lands in Burlington-Bay 42. Endangered by shot proclaimed Traitor 44. Meets the King at Edg●● hill 43. Goes for security from Oxford to Exeter 57. From thence to France 58 Queen-mother arri●●s 〈◊〉 England 469. Departs Returns 4●● Returns for France 539. Dies 573. Queen of Bohemia likewise dies 504 Queen Catherine ●mbarkes from Lisbon 507. Arrives a● ●●●●●mouth 508. At Hampton-court 509. To White-hall ibid. R Ragland-Castle 109 110 111. Duke of Richmond with the King 132 147 Rainsborough tur 〈…〉 of the Navy by the Sea-men 〈…〉 at Doncaster 193 Ramsey Col● 42 Rea Lord defeat●● 〈◊〉 ●●otland 233 Re●●●ng besieged and rendred 43 〈…〉 in Ireland 20 to 25. The Rebels proclaimed Traitors 26 Recognition-Act and expedient for it the Army jar-with Richard 414 Red-house stormed 272 Remedies proper against late troubles 508 Remonstrance a second of the Parliament worse than the former 35 Armies villa●●● Remonstrance first against the King 185 186. The Module of our ruine 136 Remonstrance of the Western Scots 280 Remonstrants their folly 304 Repeal of Act against Bishops 501 Resolution of Parliament in answer to the Kings Declaration 51● Restitution of King and Kingdom 444 Revocation and Impropriation-Act in Scotland original of those troubles ●●4 Reynolds Commissary-General in ●reland his actions 310 Reynolds Col. Knighted 373. Meets the Duke of York 397. Sent for by Cromwel there upon and cast away ibid. Reynoldson Lord-mayor refuseth to proclaim the Act against Kingly Government fined Imprisoned and degraded 231 Richard Protector 409. his advice and Councellors ibid. Proclaimed a story of his guards 413. Calls a Parliament ibid. Offered terms by the King his suspence 417. Consents to a Commission and Proclamation to dissolve the Parliament 317. Layd aside by the Army in danger of arrest and hides himself 418. Gives a transcript of his debts resolveth and promiseth to acquiesce under the Rump 422 Richlieu intermeddles with the Scotch War 9 Riches Regiment of Horse mutiny at Bury 438 Richmond Duke di●s 589 Riot at Lambeth-house Ri●ers rescued 12 13 Roberts Lord for the Parliament Deputy of Ireland 573 De la Roche taken 5●● Roch David defeated vide Broughil ●●● Rochester Earl at Ratisbone Diet in Ger●●●ny 329 Rolf treacherously intends to murther 〈◊〉 King 16● Rosa Canonized at Rome 57● Ross in Ireland yielded by Luke Taaff ●● Cromwel 2●● Rothes Earl L. Commissioner in Scotland 5●● Rous Francis Speaker to the little Parl. 349 Rudyard Sir Benjamin a Patriot ●36 De Ruyter at mouth of Channel 326 Ruines of St. Pauls ●●4 Rump 419. Debar the secluded Me 〈…〉 Derivation of the Rump
of General Lesly Earl of Leven an old Souldier in the Swedish Wars better armed intelligenced and provided than the last year on the 27th of August Lesly desired leave of my Lord Conway for his whole Army to pass to the King with their Petition which he as before avowed to be the hones●est loyallest and innocent thing in the World but was refused and stopped Thereupon three hundred Scotch Horse attempted to cross the River and were therein repelled by the shot of the English Musquetiers who were placed under the shelter of a Breast-work This was no sooner done but the Scots with nine pieces of Ordinance which they had placed on the side of the River and blinded them with bushes plaid upon those breast-works which so affrighted the English Infantry being raw Souldiers and not used to the noise and execution of Canon that they presently forsook their Posts cast down their Arms and fled Instantly the Scotch Horse with their General himself advanced but were handsomely welcomed by Commissary-General Wilmot who with the Cavalry which consisted mostly of Gentlemen very stoutly stood to it till they were over-born by number and galled with great Bullets and so forced into a disorderly retreat Here were slain two or three Gentlemen of Quality among which was Cornet Porter Son to Endymeon Porter of the Bed-chamber with some fourscore and odd of common Souldiers The Lord Conway after this defeat carried himself the first news of it to the King that it might not be told by others to his prejudice and Sir Iacob Ashley Governour of Newcastle knowing the place not tenable deserted it sinking the Ordnance in the River so that upon Lesleys approach both that Town and Durham rendred themselves into his hands These losses accelerated the Earl of Strafford into those parts who having the supreme Command of the Army therefore conferred upon him and knowing his Honour and Reputation to be embarqued in this business resolved to put it to the decision of the Sword which he was as well able to manage as his Pen Challengeth the Lord Conway for the disaster at Newborn before the King as if his ill conduct had occasioned it who as stoutly denied it laying the fault as indeed it ought upon the rawness of his Souldiers In Scotland the Earl of Haddington who commanded as Major-General the Forces raised and to be raised in Lothian having recovered from the Souldiers of Berwick Garrison the pieces of Ordnance which Lesley had left behind him at Dunslo and brought them to Dunglass was the next day slain with twenty more Knights and Gentlemen in the midst of his Court by the stones that flew from the Vault neer adjoyning which was then blown up with the Magazine that lay in it Though the Earl of Strafford was so eagerly and intensly bent on fighting with the Scots yet with the King who was loth to run that hazard not knowing how to recruit himself if he were worsted unless he should condescend as much or more to his English Subjects in Parliament those Martial resolutions soon abated to the regret of that Noble Earl whose safety as well as glory consisted in driving the Scots out of this Kingdom So that though the King had declared them to be Rebels and Traytors by Proclamation and commanded that publick Prayers should be put up against them in all Churches and had set up his Royal Standard at York yet now he was contented to treat with them and to that end received from them a Petition stuft with their grievances to which he returned answer by his Secretary of Scotland the Earl of Lanerick That he expected their particular demands which were tendered to him within three days after and imported his Majesties calling a Parliament in England without which there could be no satisfying redress for them Thay had likewise published sometime before their marching into England a Declaration intituled The intentions of the Army which signified that they would not lay down their Armes till the reformed Religion were setled in both Nations upon sure grounds and the causers and abetters of their present grievances and troubles were brought to publique Justice and that in Parliament In order to the speedy accommodation therefore of this quarrel Twelve of the Nobility who were there with the King by name Hertford Essex Bedford Warwick Mulgrave Bristol Bullingbrook Say Mandevil Howard Paget and Brook drew up a Petition to the King and had it delivered after which others of the same contents were brought from London and other places of the Kingdom which unanimously agreed in this That nothing could satisfie the people nor relieve their grievances and pressures but a Parliament This the King willingly assented to and in part condescended to other of the Scots demands and for the present summoned the Lords of England to appear at York where accordingly they met and on the first day of their sitting in Council it was agreed that a Parliament should be called to convene the third of November next And in reference to the Scotch business and the poor oppressed Northern Counties where both the Armies that Summer had quartered the Bishoprick of Durham being then taxed by the Scots at three hundred and fifty pound the Country of Northumberland at three hundred pound a day it was also resolved that a Treaty should be had and thereupon sixteen English Lords whereof eight were Earls the other Barons should meet with so many of the Scotch Nobility and the place was assigned at York which was refused as not safe enough for the Scotch Commissioners by reason of the presence of the Lord Deputy Strafford who had proclaimed them Traytors in Ireland and against whom they had matters of high Complaint And so it was resolved it should begin at Rippon The first thing the English insisted on was a present Cessation but the Scots objected against that and said that other things were more expedient to be first considered For as they would obey the Kings command in advancing no further so would they not go back again till they had accomplisht the business they came for and therefore propounded four Praeliminaries to be resolved on which were concluded on and agreed to At the first of these That the Scotch Army should be paid and maintained out of the English purse the Earl of Strafford was highly incensed and enraged being so dishonourable a thing to the Nation and therefore would have perswaded the King to give him leave to fight them no way doubting but that he should be able to drive them presently into Scotland again though accounted then far superiour in Discipline and Souldiery to the English Army But the affair of the Treaty was so far advanced for the reasons aforesaid that there was no fair way of receding if the King had been powerful enough to have combated them as some made no scruple so that on the 16 th of October the English Commanders
Answer to their Petition for it and wishes them in the sence of those to apply themselves to the Parliament for the good of All. The King was now resolved since he saw how slowly the Irish business proceeded for the dispatch of that Rebellion to pass over thither and to that purpose sent a Message to the Parliament from York From which expedition they disswade the King and in lieu of using the Magazine of Hull for that service desire it may be sent to the Tower of London to supply that almost exhausted guessing indeed that the King intended to possess himself of it but they prevented him by Sir Iohn Hothams admittance into the Town standing affected to their Cause before the coming of my Lord Newcastle to the same purpose Thereupon they again petition the King in the matter of the Militia as to his Forts and Magazins inserting the old standing matter of Popery in relation to some Jesuits whom the King had reprieved To this Petition the Kings Answer was that he wondred why a Garison was put into Hull without his consent and Souldiers billeted without Law contrary to the Petition of right and that they could mention to him the transferring of his Magazine without reason or judgement he would know why he might not be thought sufficient to impower and intrust any person of unquestionable honour and worth with the custody of a Fort Town or Magazine of his own when they were so confident as to commit it without his knowledge or consent to Sir Iohn Hotham though he doubts not but it will be rendred to him when he shall demand it Hopes that they will not do in this case as they have done in the Militia petition him and make themselves the Carvers and tells them that if they attempt any thing herein without his consent he will hold it as an act of violence against him and so declare it to all the world For the Priests he refers them to the Law and their Sentence the time of his Reprieve granted them being expired But in that answer to his expedition into Ireland they court him there with a Compliment of their fear of the danger of his person besides the interruption of the proceedings of Parliament Though to the first they were more afraid of that force he should raise to accompany and attend his person and as to the second the distance lay onely in their averseness to an Accommodation until they were nearer in duty and affection the proximity of his person availed not but they would in no wise endure to hear of being governed by Commissioners in his Majesties absence because it was presumed there were more then enough of themselves already that looked like such things in his presence if not more Soveraign and imperious than such could be To this Reply the King rejoyns that he looks upon them as his great Council with great respect but also upon himself as not d●prived of his understanding or devested of any right he had before the Parliament assembled he called them by his Writ and authority to give him counsel but did not resign his interest and freedom nor will subject himself to their determinations nor hath he dissented at any time without his reasons given with candour and conscience and though a Major part may bind them in their consultations and opinions yet he holds himself free to dissent from them Anno Dom. 1642. NOw this great controversie of the Militia came to be decided and what had been bandyed with so many words to be summed up and stated in the case of Hull and the Magazine there which the King as before had refused to be translated any otherwhere than for his own accommodation in the service of Ireland besides the County of York added their instances to the Kings resolution requesting him as well for his own as the publike safety it might be continued where it was Therefore to end the dispute and ascertain the matter without any further contest the King resolved to go and possess himself thereof taking with him a Guard onely for his person which consisted of his menial servants and the Gentry adjacent thereabout On the 23 of April his Majesty came before the Town when contrary to all expectation especially of the King the enterance was denyed him the gates being shut against him as Sir Iohn Hotham then upon the Walls of the said Town peremptorily told him by Authority of Parliament by whose trust he kept it nor by any means after a long Parley and perswasion would admit the King into the Town unless under certain disloyal and undutiful limitations which the King so abhor'd that moved with just indignation he caused Hotham instantly and before his face to be proclaimed Traytor a name that stuck to him or all sides and was his Sentence long before his Execution and which in such very heynous matters not usual reached the life of his eldest Son also But because his late Majesties own Sacred Pen hath so compassionately delivered his story it will be rudeness to that blessed Prince and barbarity to Sir Iohn Hotham to rake further in his ashes than what we shall have occasion for in the depositing them after Execution The Duke of York and the Prince Elector Palatine were gone into the Town the day before and were now after some deliberation suffered to go out again who came to the King then in a very great discontent retreated to Beverly whence he sent Letters to the Mayor of Hull which signified to him his Majesties displeasure and resentment of the affront done him thereby also warning him and the Garrison which consist●d of a thousand men not to partake with Hotham but to lay down their arms and receive the King who would rather enlarge than lessen and diminish their Charter and Priviledges After this Message he likewise dispatched another to the Parliament requiring the Town and Magazine to be delivered to him and that his honour be repaired by some signal and remarkable Justice upon Hotham that injury so closely ●ying at his breast that till satisfaction be given him therein he can intend no other business whatsoever as portending those undutiful actions which afterwards succeeded This is saith he to make me worse in condition than the meanest Subject since I cannot enjoy my own 't is time therefore to examine how he lost them and to try all possible ways by the help of God the Laws and his good Subjects to recover them and vindicate himself concluding that if he fail in the reducing of the place he is the first Prince in Christendom that hath done so and prays God to bless him in these resolutions This was answered no otherways but by a Command to their Lord Lieutenant of the County of Lincoln to suppress all Forces that should be gathered and raised against the said Town of Hull and presently expedite the Ordinances of the Militia
had faced Petworth and entred Midhurst and at last was clapt down before Aundel-castle the extremest parts of Sussex whose shore before we leave we must conjoyn a short account of the Isle of Iersey which by Sir Peter Osburn was now delivered to Sir Iohn Pennington still Vice-Admiral for the King in the narrow Seas in exchange of which good fortune the Garrison of Pool had received a very great success in an Expedition into the Country and the Earl of Warwick had joyned at Warcham with Col. Earl upon a designe against C●rf-castle but that succeeded not Monsieur le Prince de Harcourt came hither a while before as Ambassador Extraordinary to offer the French Kings interposition and arbitrement of the differences between King and Parliament and was convoyed and splendidly received at Oxford but his Coach and Pacquet searched as he passed the London-Fortifications which he highly complained of to the Parliament who to evade his Peace-making errand would not own him as an Ambassador Extraordinary He was followed upon the same account to Oxford whence he went and came twice with a Duch Ambassador but all to no purpose For the Parliament had now two fresh Armies asoot raised by the City and a third the Scots now upon their march though a little before they earnestly be●ought an Accommodation It is time here to remember other memorable things which happened a little before the first was that of the two Hothams Sir Iohn and his Son these persons eminent more especially the Father for adherence to the Parliament having first of all men denied the King admittance into his Towns and Magazines by putting themselves into Hull and keeping it by vertue of a power from the Lords and Commons now either touched in conscience for the unlawfulness and the undutifulness of that action or else not so highly regarded and considered as that important and leading piece of service might justly challenge from the Parliament the Queen being also newly arrived in those parts who probably might have dealt with Sir Iohn in the matter he began to falter from that firmness he had professed for the Parliament which being guessed at by some strict observers of him he not being reserved enough in a thing of that consequence a party was made against him in his own Garrison and he too late endeavouring to have secured Hull for the King was in the bustle knockt down in the streets secured with his Son and both sent up prisoners to the Tower whence not long after they were brought to tryal and execution At the same time also returned Sir Hugh Cholmly a Member likewise of the House of Commons and who had secured Scarborough for them which as before was afterwards put into the Kings hands by Brown Bushel The other thing remarkable was the death of Mr. Iohn Pym the great stickler against the King and his Prerogative the Speech-maker of the House of Commons that could wiredraw money with every word he uttered to the City He died when the Kingdom was in a flame which he had chiefly blown up not likely to be extinguished Nothing is reported of his end certainly and though there was a fable of his body being full of Lice sure we may be it was full of worms afterward and let judgment be left to God whether he engaged in the Times and Quarrel out of a misguided or a reclaiming Conscience Insert we here also as matters of State not War that upon the carrying the Great Seal to Oxford by the Lord Keeper Littleton a new great Seal was made by the Parliament which the King declared to be treasonable and soon after sent a Messenger to London one Daniel Kniveton to forbid the holding of the Term by any colour of the said Seal and did therewith adjourn the said Term but the Parliament were so far from giving heed to that Message of the Kings which was according to his duty delivered to the Judges in Westminster hall by the said Kniveton that by a Council of War held at Essex-House they sentenced him to be hanged for a Spy which was accordingly executed upon him at the old Exchange London on 27 November Add we also that in February the King convened the Members of both Houses who had deserted them at Westminster as a Parliament in Oxford They met in the Schools accordingly and proceeded to several Consultations but within a year totally disappeared To conclude this year with Military affairs in Ianuary the Scotch Forces according to compact entred England with a well-accomplisht Army and in February cross'd Tine And to sum up the rendition of places on both sides take this account Scarborough Brimingham Litchfield Howley-house Burton upon Trent Bradford Hallifax Bristol Gainsborough Dorchester Portland Weymouth Melcomb Beverly Bidiford Appleford Barnstable Exeter Dartmouth Howarden-Castle Arundel-Castle taken by the Lord Hopton Beeston-Castle Lapley-House Crew-House Hopton-Castle Warder-Castle regained Sturton-Castle and Newark relieved for the King where Prince Rupert gained a compleat victory against Sir Iohn Meldrum who commanded there with 7000 men against the Town The Parliamentarians were beaten from their entrenchments into a House called the Spittle or Exeter-House where they came to a surrender upon capitulation leaving their Arms and Bag and Bagage behind them and a thousand men slain on their side Reading Wardour-Castle Monmouth Taunton and Bridge-Water Tamworth-Castle Burley-House Glocester relieved Lyn yeilded to the Earl of Manchester Grafton-House and Arundel-House taken by Sir William Waller again being again recruited with a fresh Army and a new Commission given him to be a Major-General of the four Counties of Kent Surry Sussex and Hamp-shire which leads this Chronicle next to some remarkable actions of his which were much in expectation in the ensuing year Anno Dom. 1644. SIr William Waller after his reducement of Arundel-Castle Marched to find out the Lord Hopton to cry quits with him for his defeat at Roundway-Down Both Armies were near one another a good space for his Lordship hovered about Winchester and those parts and at Brandon-Heath near Alsford was drawn up having a little before in his intended March to the relief of Arundel beaten Colonel Norton into Chichester who endeavoured to impede him and stood ready to receive Sir William who had taken the advantage of a Hill from which the Royalists with fury beat him and drove him to another where under the shelter of some Bushes and Trees he so galled the Kings Horse that they were forced in some disorder to retreat to their Foot There was a hollow betwixt both bodies which each endeavouring to gain many men found it for their Graves on both sides The Lord Hopton therefore seeing the slaughter that was made and likely to continue upon his men timely drew off his Artillery and Cannon towards Winchester and then wheeling about Marched for Basing and so presently to Oxford In this fight was killed on the Kings
that the King was well rewarded for his lenity and sparing of blood which was at this place plenteously drawn from his own Army Of which of men of note were slain fewer than in any Battel whatsoever there being reckoned but three Colonel Sir William St. Leger Lieutenant-Colonel Topping and Lieutenant-Colonel Leak There were wounded Sir Iohn Greenvile the General the Earl of Brainford in the head and Sir Richard Campfield Colonel of the Queens Regiment of Horse of Common Souldiers a greater quantity than of the Parliaments neer three thousand But of their side not any person of note above a Captain and some five and twenty hundred killed The Earl of Essex had indubitably the honour as he had the pillage of the Field on which he lay all that night and having buried the Dead marched to Besiege Demington-castle where the Kings Artillery was secured by the care of the aforesaid Colonel Boys who intended not to part with them at any Rates though encompassed with so great and powerful an Army which after three several Summons three several days together assaulted it The King having marched his Army through Oxford on the thirtieth of the same month on the sixth of October Rendezvouzed them on Burlington-Green within a Mile Eastward of Oxford and so marched by Dorchester to Wallingford and forward for the relief of Dennington-castle which yet stifly defended it self Upon his approach and some resolute attempts upon their out-Guards over-night which passed with sundry Skirmishes the Enemy drew off next day and departed although they were two for one Hereabout and in this matter appears the first dissatisfaction of the Parliament as to the good management of their Arms the Earl of Essex being now suspected as careless or discontent And therefore they fell to debate concerning the Army in the House For Colonel Norton had writ a Letter to them that he had received a Warrant from a chief Commander in the Army to withdraw from Basing which was a thing to him unexpected but yet he obeyed and besides the commands of the Committee of both Kingdoms to the Army were lately much neglected and complained of This debate flew so high as it came to this question How chance the Parliament-forces permitted the Enemy to relieve Dennington-castle when they were two for one and why the Town of Newbery was quitted before the Enemy was marched away as the pretence of not fighting was because they would not quit Newbery It seems it was first resolved by the Council of State that Essex his Forces should not quit Newbery or draw out into the Field lest the King should take it for Winter-quarters but when the King should retreat from the relief of Dennington to fall upon his Rear But no such matter was prosecuted for the King possest himself of that Town as a good covert and quarter for his Army while the Parliaments Forces lay in the open Fields who being by the Kings approach to them at Hungerford and one thousand Horse sent under the same Colonel Gage from thence hastily dislodged also from the Siege of Basing where Manchester and his whole Army had shewed themselves onely departed to their Winter-quarters in Reading Henly Abington and Farnham and the King 's to Basing Odiam Newbery Blewbury and Marlborough Whilst they thus are lodged in their quarters there will be respite to look upon the Counsels and debates of the Parliament and the consultations of the King and the debates likewise in his Court and Parliament at Oxford And first the Earl of Manchester made his relation concerning the management of the business at Dennington-castle of great length in Writing which was in the nature of a Charge against his Lieutenant-General Cromwel who had fought so Fortunately for the Parliament He thereupon made answer to several particulars therein mentioned and pleaded first point of Priviledge because of the transmitting of that business from the Lords before any Charge was brought into the House of Commons This private Quarrel was presently quashed but the Publike disgusts were not so soon laid For the Independent Faction began now to appear and to be powerful in the House of Commons so that a suspicion was raised and somented by them that the Earl of Essex was more Royal than the Parliament ever intended when they gave him his Commission Upon this pretence and after several discourses it came at last to a debate wherein it was resolved to new model their Army and so by degrees to quit themselves of their General and to bethink of a new one that should not be of that dangerous greatness and honour who might not well be disputed with but to chuse one of a middle Estate betwixt the Peers and the People and so to be at last rid of all the Lords which afterwards they brought to pass To this end they began with a subtle Order That no Member of either House shall during this War enjoy and execute any Office or Command military or civil which hath been granted or conferred on any Member of either House or by any Authority derived from either House The Reasons published for this Order were these fine ones That all Commissions to Parliament-men being void the new modeling the Army may be carried on with the less exception when all are concerned alike That Military differences among the great Commanders being Parliament-men which might retard the work will hereby cease Those that shall be new elected Officers being of lesser quality and sooner subject to question and punishment and the Army also maintained at a lesser charge Forty days were limited from this Order by which all such Commissions and Commands were in the Army declared void with a resolution nevertheless expressed to pay off their Arrears which was meanly performed and at the same rate that the Earl of Essex had the Ten thousand pounds a year assigned him for the good service he had done the State out of the Lands of the Lord Capel whose Heirs now have his Honour and other Delinquents punctually paid him This Ordinance for new modelling the Army met notwithstanding with great opposition and as much after it was received into the House of alteration The Lords being instructed to soresee the evil consequences nor would they plenarily consent before the old trick of Petitions from City and Country compelled them to pass it The Title whereof was An Ordinance for the raising and maintaining of Forces for the defence of the Kingdom under the comand of Sir Thomas Fairfax He thereupon is sent for and privately comes out of the North and on the nineteenth of February was brought by four Members into the House of Commons where a Chair was set and he desired to sit therein the Speaker telling him of the great confidence and trust the Kingdom had put upon him in the Command of this Army from a sence of his Valour and Fidelity for the defence of the Laws and
themselves if dissov'd belong unto the Crown For Ireland the King should annul the Cessation and leave the management of that Kingdome to the Scots And for the Militia that it should be managed altogether by such Commissioners as they should appoint so that the King should not have the least power of his own to assist his Neighbours and Allies or defend himself at home They had also so obstructed any hopes of a conclusion by limiting the time of the Treaty to twenty days and trying up the Commissioners with such limitations that the good effect thereof was despaired at the entrance into it Much perswasion was used by the Kings side to the Parliaments Commissioners that they would gain longer time and that the Treaty might be revived but all to no purpose And to this matter notable is that of one Mr. Love who by some private means or other was admitted to Preach before the said Commissioners there where he said It was as possible for Heaven and Hell as the King and Parliament to agree strange words to be uttered in such a juncture and in such a place and before such an Assembly but the end of that man shewed him the folly and wickedness of that expression So after two and twenty dayes Conference the Treaty ended in vain The Kings Commissioners complained of this Love but answer was made he was none of their train but the Parliament should be informed of him who would do justice upon him but the business was husht In the interim the Lord Macguire and one Colonel Mac Mahon who were as was said before seized in Dublin the night of the breaking forth of the Rebellion in Ireland and had been Prisoners in the Tower ever since and some while before broke out from thence and wading over the Moat escaped away being found in Drury-Lane London at a private house were brought to the Kings-Bench-Bar though Macguire pleaded his Priviledge of Peerage and insisted peremptorily on it while over-ruled by the Court and Parliament together and there after a Tryal both sentenced for their Treason to be hang'd drawn and quartered which they underwent with a great deal of stoutness and their way of Piety clearing the King from any privity to that Rebellion Shrewsbury a most important and strong Garrison for the King was by some treachery not yet brought to light betrayed just at the conclusion of the Treaty aforesaid to Major General Mitton for the Parliament It seems the Parliament rather tampered under-hand than dealt fair above-board and openly during the time thereof For this good service the said Major-General Mitton being a Member of the House of Commons at his coming thither had the thanks of the same given him by Mr. Speaker Abundance of Persons of Quality were surprized in this place as thinking it one of the securest Retreats in these parts the List of whom I find after this sort Eight Knights and Baronets forty Colonels Majors and Captains 200 private Souldiers some few slain About this time also Scarborough and Weymouth were taken for the Parliament and Plymouth-Siege for a while raised and a day of Thanksgiving therefore set apart Sir Marmaduke Langdale an eminent man for the King in the North was sent from Oxford to relieve Ponfract-Castle in York-shire Besieged by the Forces of the Lord Fairfax This Expedition he so prudently and valiantly underwent that in his way thither he routed Colonel Rossiter who opposed him at Melton-Mowbray and passed forward and with resolution though twice inferiour in number so charged the Besiegers that after a sharp conflict he beat them from the Siege and having relieved the Castle departed back again to the assistance of the King then threatned with a fresh and potent Army from London For the Earls of Essex Manchester and Denbigh had resigned their Commissions in the House of Peers few of their Officers also continuing in their service for whom the General Essex in a Speech when he laid down his said Commission desired that the Parliament would take care of their Debentures which they abundantly promised but performed thinly leaving them the unsatisfied name of Reformado's Their General himself having lost the opportunity of Blessing the Kingdom with a Peace when it lay in his power to which he was courted by the King a while before at Lestithiel seeing how the Pulse of the times beat and what Counsels were likely to prevail withdrew himself in a Discontent to Eltham-House in Kent where not long after he deceased as in due time shall be declared At that same time that Shrewsbury was thus surprised the Kings Forces had a Success for the handsomness though not for the consequence of it very Notable The Kings Forces had Garrisoned a repayred Castle at the Devises and Colonel Devereux had a Garrison at Roudon-House between Malmsbury and that which therefore for its inconvenience was Besieged Colonel Stephens of Glocester-shire came to its Relief with 200 Horse and as many Foot from Malmsbury and forced his passage with provision into the House While he stayed to take further order for the security of the place the Royalists surround the House again cast up a Work where he entred and keep him in and Sir Iacob Ashley comes to second the Siege with 3000 men Massey understanding this did what he could to draw off Sir Iacob by facing Cyrencester and sending a Party of Horse from Glocester which were to joyn with a like number from Malmsbury again but all in vain the besieged were compelled at last to render themselves upon very hard terms and conditions About this time there was a kind of Faction in the Kings Court at Oxford and some altercations betwixt the parties concerning the Kings Council so that some Lords Savil Percy and Andover were confined and the Parliament that this the Members of the same Houses at Westminster who adhered to the King who by the Kings Order were the year before convened at Oxford were for some Reasons and Discontents arisen about the Army Adjourned till the 10 of October But that Parliament signified nothing The House of Commons Voted that in their new Generals Commission the words For preservation of his Majesties Person should be left out and accordingly they were so And so ended the year 1644. the last of the Kings Felicity Anno Dom. 1645. WE will begin this year though we post-date the time that we may recite all the exploits in Scotland together with the actions of the renowned and ever-glorious Marquess of Montross appointed Governour of that Kingdom The year before he came into Scotland attended onely by two Mr. William Rollock and Mr. Sibbalds in whose company he came at last to his Cousin Mr. Patrick Graham in the Sheriffdom of Perth with whom he staid a while disguised till he had sent to discover the State of the Kingdom He had all along given the King information of the Scots Rebellions and siding
Army he had done enough in giving them at Westminster for the Parliament sounded no more at the Head-quarters an account of Him But of this presently at large Most certain it is that this designe was laid solely by Cromwel and Ireton and personated by the Agitatours suspected many of them and that rationally for Jesuits who were as good at wicked Plots and Contrivances as either of those Catilines but most accomplished for execution having such Lawless yet most powerful Indemnity not onely to protect them but to shroud their other Conspiracies for themselves against this Church and State It is strange indeed to consider how many several interests were driven on among the Belials of this Army as then under the appearance of honest and most just ends the same pretence whereof served and was accommodate to each particular combinating against the Publike as so many lines tending to one Center with all which Cromwel wisely temporized giving secret encouragement to them all professing to intend the same things and to be of the Party but that for a while there was a necessity of concealing his resolutions To this purpose cares●ing the Papists upon all addresses or discourses with him as also familiarizing himself with the Levellers as the men indeed that were to do his business and were right of his complexion for the spoyl of the Kingdom to be compassed any manner of way but by setting up a Government or Laws for their projected Democracy was but a more exact method or Rule of Thievery of all which they most abominated Monarchy as the most regular and strict whose awful Authority could solely restrain their loose and licentious practises and keep the mad vulgar within their bounds from invading all propriety secured by the ancient Tenure of all Lands and Inheritances from the Crown and the Laws which their devilish intention was to abrogate and abolish and by a Wild parity lay all things in Common But for fuller satisfaction what this Intrigue or designe meant it will be requisite to consult the King's and the General 's or rather the Armies account thereof just as it was done and first from the Actors the General and Council of War Sir Thomas Fairfax his Letter MAster Speaker yesterday the King was taken from Holdenby by some Souldiers who brought him thence by his consent the Commissioners going along with Him That his Majesty lay that night at Colonel Mountagues after Earl of Sandwich and would be at New market next day That the ground of the removing the King was from an apprehension of some strength gathered to force the King from them whereupon he sent Colonel Whaley with his Regiment to meet the King and the Commissioners and to return them back again but they refused and were come to Sir John Cuts neer Cambridge Professing That this remove was without his consent or his Officers about him or the body of the Army or without their desire or Privity and that he will secure the King's person from danger Further assuring the Parliament that the whole Army endeavours Peace will not oppose Presbytery nor affect Independency or to hold a licentious freedom in Religion or interest in any particular party but will leave all to the Parliament Tiberius Letters about Sejanus were not half so mystical as these nor was there ever so daring braving an attempt done in the face of the Sun to the face and person of a Prince so covered and concealed under such obscurities and pretended ignorances which rendred the impudence of the action more dangerously fearful by how much the less it was conjecturable what it portended nor could the King himself at present well resolve himself or his two Houses in this juncture as we shall see in his acquainting of the Parliament with it by the Earl of Dunfermling where he saith contrary to what Fairfax before That he was unwillingly taken away by a strong party of Horse and desired of the Parliament to maintain the Laws of the Land and that though he might signe to many things in this condition yet he would not have them believed till further notice given by him to his two Houses The King imagined they would make use of his Authority by forcing his consent to some Proposals and designes of Government but they onely made a stalking Horse of his person keeping his interest by pretences of respect to him on foot meerly to countenance their own and outvy and awe the Presbyterian party At the news of it in London both Parliament and City were in such confusion and so distracted that they might well be excused from rightly judging of the fact therefore they first bethink of remedy the Houses order the Committee of Safety to sit all night and provide ne quid detrimenti accipiat respublica and dispatch a Messenger to the General requesting him not to come neerer London than twenty five miles for news was brought them they were upon a speedy March for the City who at the same time shut up their shops run to their Arms and make a fearful hurry for a while and then resolve to send Commissioners likewise and attend the Issue in peace in such a maze did this accident put them In the mean while the King is caressed by the Army and shown in state to the people who with great joy every where receive him and applaud the Army who to carry their business the fairer suffer some of his Majesties old Friends to have access to his person as the Duke of Richmond the two Doctors Sheldon and Hammond his Chaplains who Officiated with him in publike according to the Church of England and divers others of lesser note At this the Parliament take exceptions and send again to the General expostulating the matter and desiring him to re-deliver the King to the Commissioners aforesaid to be brought to Richmond and there to be guarded by Colonel Rossiters Regiment of Horse In Answer to this the Army declare and require after their like manner of expostulation about the Irish Expedition and Transporting the Army thither that it was against former Declarations of the Parliament the precedent case of the Kingdom of Scotland and the liberty and freedom of the People That the Houses may speedily be purged of such as ought not to sit there That such who abused the Parliament and Army and endanger the Kingdom may speedily be disabled from doing the like or worse That some determinate period of time may be set to this and future Parliaments according to the intent of the Bill for Triennial Parliaments That provision be made that they be not adjournable and dissolvable by any power but their own consent during their Respective period and then to determine themselves That the freedom of the people to present Grievances by Petition to the Parliament may be vindicated That the exorbitant powers of Country-Committees may be taken away That the Kingdom may be satisfied of the
having worried one another in this despiteful manner they fly as freely as if there had been no such quarrel His Majesty after several removes by direction of the Council of Officers was brought to Hampton-Court whither on the 7 of September the Houses having hammered out the same substance of the former Propositions into a new but stranger shape sent Commissioners to whom were joyned some Scots in the like quality from that Kingdom The names of both were as followeth the Earls of Pembroke and Lauderdale Sir Iohn Holland Sir Charles Erskin Sir Iohn Cook Sir Iames Harrington Major-General Brown Mr. Hugh Kenedy and Mr. Robert Berkley The preface to which Propositions omitting themselves as recited before was this May it please your Majesty We the Lords and Commons Assembled in the Parliament of England in the name and in the behalf of the Kingdoms of England and Ireland and the Commissioners of the Parliament of Scotland c. Do humbly present unto your Majesty the humble Desires and Propositions for a safe and well-grounded Peace agreed upon by the Parliaments of both Kingdoms respectively unto which we pray your Majesties Assent and that they and all such Bills as shall be tendred to your Majesty in pursuance of them or of any of them may be Established and Enacted for Statutes and Acts of Parliament by your Majesties Royal Assent in the Parliaments of both Kingdoms respectively And never a good word after To these his Majesty being accustomed to the unreasonableness of the men in two days returns this Answer For the SPEAKER of the House of Lords c. C. R. HIs Majesty cannot chuse but be passionately sensible as he believes all his good Subjects are of the late great distractions and still languishing and unsetled state of this Kingdom And he calls God to witness and is willing to give Testimony to all the World of his readiness to contribute his utmost endeavours for restoring it to a happy and flourishing condition His Majesty having perused the Propositions now brought to him finds them the same in effect which were offered to him at Newcastle To some of which as he could not then consent without violation of his Honour and Conscience so neither can he agree to others now concerning them in many respects more disagreeable to the present condition of his Majesty than when they were formerly presented to him as being destructive to the main principal interests of the Army and of all those whose affections concur with them And his Majesty having seen the Proposals of the Army to the Commi●sioners from his two Houses residing with them therewith then to be Treated on in order to the clearing and securing the Rights and Liberties of the Kingdom and the settling of a just and lasting Peace to which Proposals as he conceives his two Houses are not strangers so he believes they will think with him that they much more conduce to the satisfaction of all interests and may be a fitter Foundation for a lasting Peace than the Propositions which at this time are tendered unto him He therefore Propounds as the best way in his judgement in order to Peace that his two Houses would instantly take into consideration those Proposals upon which there may be a personal Treaty with his Majesty and upon such other Propositions as his Majesty shall make hoping that the said Proposals may be so moderated in the said Treaty as to render them the more capable of his Majesties fu●l Concession wherein he resolves to give full satisfaction unto his People for whatsoever shall concern the settling of the Protestant Profession with Liberty to tender Consciences and the securing of the Laws Liberties and Properties of all his Subjects and the just Priviledges of Parliament for the future And likewise by his present Deportment in this Treaty He will make the world clearly judge of his intentions in matter of future Government In which Treaty his Majesty will be well pleased if it be thought ●it that Commissioners from the Army whose the Proposals are may likewise be admitted His Majesty therefore conjures his two Houses of Parliament by the Duty they owe to God and his Majesty their King and by the Bowels of compassion they have to their fellow-Subjects both for the relief of their present sufferings and to prevent future miseries That they will forthwith accept of this his Majesties offer that hereby the joyful news of Peace may be restered to this distressed Kingdom And for what concerns the Kingdom of Scotland mentioned in the Propositions his Majesty will very willingly Treat upon those particulars with the Scotch Commissioners and doubts not but to give reasonable satisfaction to that his Kingdom The Kings h●rping upon those Proposals of the Army acknowledging a greater equity and just mensuration and comprehensiveness of them and that they did much more conduce to the satisfaction of all interests and were a fitter foundation for a lasting Peace than the Propositions seemed very pleasing to Cromwel who complemented the King with the Armies glad sense of his preferring their ways and method to Peace before the Parliament's which would no doubt credit them likewise to the People not sticking to upbraid the Members with their disloyal and peevish carriage toward the King and yet secretly He enraged the Vulgar against him The Traytor yet knew that the King did but shew them Art for Art for that it was impossible to produce any thing out of that Chaos of their Proposals without a Divine Fiat which being made to serve onely as a temporary shift a bone of contention could not beyond the purpose of the Contrivers be durable it will be requisite therefore to take a short view of them that posterity may see what curious Legislators these Souldiers were and how well capacitated for Government Bless us from the Goblin this idaea of STRATOCRACY The first principle is the dissolution of the Parliament a preposterous beginning where Nature ends but yet not intended by them till they had served their own ends lust and ambition from whence these structures 1. That there be Biennial Parliaments and at more certainty than these 2. Each Biennial Parliament to sit 120 days certain afterwards adjournable or dissolvable by the King 3. This Biennial Parliament to appoint Committees to continue during the interval for such purposes afore mentioned in the Proposals 4. That the King upon the advice of the Council of State in the Intervals call a Parliament extraordinary with limitation of meeting and dissolving that the course of the Biennial one may never be interrupted 5. That a better rule of proportion may be observed in Electing all Coun●ies to have a number of Parliament-Members competent to their charges as they are rated to the publike that no poor Boroughs have any more Elections and that an addition of Members may be allowed great Counties that have now less than their due proportion and that effectual provision
The conclusion of them was to tye the hands of the Militia of the Trained-Bands by regulating the Commissioners and Officers from their former Arbitrariness that so the Souldiers might be under no Command and unable to offend them To which was subjoyned a demand of their Arrears to the utmost penny and the publike Faith to be satisfied and relieved And then they have more particulars to offer if any body that knew their jugling should take them now at their word which they would rather eat their Swords than perform Signed by the appointment of his Excellency Sir Tho. Fairfax and the Council of War Ioh. Rushworth Secretary This Hodgpodg or Alchoran containing Jewish Turkish and some Christian sentences some of the Parliaments and some of their own and some of the Kings Condescentions too were far more tolerable than those Heathenish and Pagan Institutes of the Parliaments sent to the King in the name of Propositions which He having declined did hope to effect his and his Kingdoms Peace and restitution at easier terms from the Army and therefore was instant with Cromwel and other Grandees of the Army who were evermore at his Elbow to appoint Commissioners to Treat with him of those Proposals His Majesty not doubting but so to temper them as to come to a right understanding which if it should happen it would be the Glory and Honour of the Army that they had laid such a platform and expedient for the good quiet Peace and happiness of their King and Country But Cromwel began to turn a deaf ear to those Charms to ●alter in his Addresses to the King to be full of uncertainties and scruples and at last to tell his Majesty that He did not rightly understand them and so interpret their words otherwise than they were spoken and that they had forgotten they had promised him any such things He excused himself at another time for not performing of their Engagements from a reverence to the Parliament whom as yet they durst not so openly oppose as to take up his Quarrel And lastly as the main artifice he acquaints Him with the boldness and malice of the Agitators and Levellers who Conspired his Murth●r and that for the present he could not mitigate their violent and wicked Counsels but when the Discipline of the Army should be recovered he would make good what he had undertook to perform And so from time to time courted the King till the Plot which he might well forespeak was ready for execution of which by and by The King was kept at Hampton-Court in very great State as usually in times of Peace his Chaplains and Friends about him all people permitted to see him Liberty of Hunting with the Duke of Richmond and others of the Loyal Nobility allowed him together so that great was the concourse thither and most men that judged by the outside and fine appearance of things concluded all things would do well and that the Army would prove honest and Loyal Others contrarily thought that the Army had some designe in this pompous and open Treatment of the King who thereby imagining himself in his Regality and proper Orb would keep and maintain the greater distance from the bold approaches of the Parliament upon his Soveraignty as all men in prosperity are naturally more elated more jealous of affronts and less ductile than in an adverse condition These came nearest the Mark and yet the Kings constancy to himself not disputed nothing being able to make him recede from those his two great principles of Honour and Conscience which yet may admit of a magis and minus in the accidental and circumstantial defence of them sometimes more magnanimously and sometimes more warily This concourse to the King which shewed the love the people especially the Citizens of London bare him began to be no way pleasing to the Faction less to Cromwel and his party who feared a surprize of his person out of his hands to London and then his designes and wits were at an end He resolved therefore speedily to be rid of that fear and though he had deliberated whether it were more conducing to his purpose to assassinate the King there and invade the Government by a sudden and impetuous violence when all men should have been in a consternation at the atrocity of the Fact and would save all those tedious arts to be practised in a solemn way of Regicide yet more slower Counsels prevailed the image and fright of Death should serve turn at present To this purpose Colonel Whaley is ordered to tell the King that the Adjutators were grown to that height of violence as that they had combined to Murther Him and therefore as his duty was besides his particular affection for his Majesty he could not but acquaint him desiring him to consult for his own Safety it being also as he said the advice of the chief of the Army who were loath he should be Murdered while they helplesly looked on The designe of this parricide had purposely been muttered up and down the Court and so came to the ear of the Kings Friends by whom he was near the same time acquainted with it The King therefore called to him Sir Iohn Berkley and Mr. Iohn Ashburnham then attending him and advised with them concerning his Escape where between them they unfortunately and upon deceitful grounds concluded to fly to the Isle of Wight the Government whereof was newly conf●rred upon Colonel Hammond Brother to that Reverend Doctor Henry Hamond the Kings beloved Chaplain whom the crafty Traytor did forecast the King in such a perplexity would chuse to trust from that Relation Horses being therefore laid ready on the other side of the Water the King leaves his Chamber November the 11. in a very dark and tempestuous night with his Cloak spread in the floor thereof and by the back-stayrs descends to the Vault and so ever the Thames to his Company who were the same of his Counsel and by Farnham after much tedious straying in the night out of the way in that bad weather came to the Sea-side neer Southampton where missing of a passage the Boat ●ailing the prefixed time he was conveyed to the Countess Dowager of Southampton at Tedworth where he lay that night while Sir Iohn Berkley and Colonel Ashburnham passed over to the Isle of Wight to the said Governour concerning the entertainment of him where we rest this relation and return to Hampton-Court About 9 a clock at night the King was missed but no doubt to the little wonder less trouble of his Guardians for the Centries had been on purpose drawn off to give him free passage and it had been discoursed in the Army some while before that He would ere long be in the Isle of Wight No more ado therefore was made of it but onely a Letter with a bare account of his flight sent to the Parliament and the watchful Guard remanded to the body of the
load upon the Parliament through their neglect of paying them when indeed the supernumeraries with which Cromwel daily recruited the Army without any Authority far beyond the pay or number established was the cause of the Arrears and this oppression of Free-quarter for upon complaints thereof made in the House the Army being quartered in several Brigades supernumeraries have been disbanded in one Brigade their Arms taken by their Officers and shortly after they have been listed again in another Brigade and their Arms sold again to the State after a while to new arm them By which means Cromwel had amassed a Magazine of such which being lodged in the City and rumoured by some zealots to be for arming some Reformadoes were now upon examination found to belong unto Him and so the business was husht up which if they could have fastned upon the other Party should have been noised for horrid Treason By this grievance of Free-quarter they were doubly and trebly payed taking it in one place and Composition for it in another perhaps in three or four places at once by false Billets yet nevertheless though by these tricks they owed money to the State they demanded and compelled an Ordinance from the Parliament to secure their Arrears of the 24 of December whereby they had the two thirds of Delinquents Estates mentioned or comprehended in the three first qualifications of them in the Propositions sent to the King at the Isle of Wight and all the money arising out of the remaining part of Bishops Lands appointed to be sold by former Ordinances and the sum of 600000 l. charged on the receipt of EXCISE with the Forrest-Lands and other incomes for the securing of the said Arrears to be issued out to the Treasurers at War to such and such persons for the uses aforesaid in such manner as the Committee of Lords and Commons for the Army or any five of them under their hands would limit and appoint which was by way of Audit and Debentures sold not long after upon doublings on purchases of the Crown and other forfeited Lands for Half a Crown in the pound besides innumerable cheats by counterfeit hands but more to the talk than trouble of the Kingdom whose general Note was Caveat Emptor Wonderful it is since we have now mentioned that Dutch Devil as it was called the Excise what vast sums of money the Parliament had raised by it amounting as by their Ordinance of the 28 of August this year appears to that time from its Commencement some three years before to One million three hundred thirty four thousand five hundred thirty two pounds ten shillings and eleven pence half peny clear and deducted of all charges in the levying of it which defalked not above two shillings in the pound No wonder therefore they did so carefully enjoy and uphold this Tax which had supported and enabled them in all their atchievements and upon this score they made it over to the Souldiers several Uproars and Tumults happening in the refusal of payment particularly at Smithfield-bars London where the Butchers who then paid Excise for the Flesh sold at two shillings in the pound rose and fired the Excise-house neer adjoyning with all the Papers of Books of Account for which several of them were tryed but acquitted thereafter that Duty upon Cattle as likewise upon all Salt made in the Kingdom was wholly laid aside But a most severe injunction was now made for the continuance of the rest and the refractory threatned with exemplary punishments So that while Cromwel could finde Men and Arms at such a rate and the Parliament such heaps of Money by several Revenues it was in vain to think of a Peace when such visible powerful advantages subserved to those wicked designes of inthralling King Parliament City and Kingdom now mainly prosecuted by the Adjutators but so lendly and unseasonably that Cromwel to palliate his secret impiety abandoned one of the Ringleaders one White to his Execution at Ware by a Sentence of a Council of War for mutinous speeches and Papers of the Levelling principle but suspected also to aim at himself among the Common Souldiers Neer the same time one Tompson of the same Crue was seized on in the Lobby of the House of Commons supposed to be ready with some Impeachment or Articles against him and condemned in the same manner by a Council of War They cryed out of the King as useless and had got a Stork of their own making ten times more dangerous who durst crush them to Ruine in the very rise of his Ambition These misdoings and no Government highly displeased and incensed the people who too late Sero sapiunt Phryges saw how they had fool'd themselves into slavery the resentments whereof became so publike and so fearlesly Voyced that the Parliament was constrained to humour it and to personate a serious study to an Accommodation Hereupon the same 24 day of December on which they had Voted Security for the Armies Arrears an ill Omen of what Kindness they had for the King whom they would not bate an ace of their demands their Commissioners present to the King at Carisbrook-Castle four Bills to be Passed as Acts of Parliament with divers other Proposals such or worse than those at Hampton-Court before any Treaty might be admitted The first was an Act with this Title Concerning the raising setling and maintaining Forces by Sea and by Land within the Kingdoms of England and Ireland and Dominion of Wales the Isles of Gernsey and Jersey and the Town of Berwick upon Tweed whereby it was to be Declared That the Lords and Commons then Assembled in Parliament or whom they should appoint that was a Council of State of Pickt Grandees should for twenty years have the Militia in their disposal against the King His Heirs and Successors for that term and after that term the same Power to be exercised by the King but with the consent of the Parliament if they shall declare the safety of the Kingdom to be concerned and the Moneys raised for that purpose to be imployed by the same persons in the like manner Which was in effect to take away the Kings Negative Voyce from him and His Heirs for ever Besides it grants an unlimited Power to the two Houses to raise what Forces and of what persons they please and to raise money in what sort and as much and of whom as they shall think fit without any restriction or exception The second was An Act for Iustifying the Proceedings of Parliament in the late War and for Declaring all Oaths Declarations Proclamations and other proceedings against it to be Void whereby they were to b● declared to have stood upon the Defensive part their Conscience prickt them with their Blood-guiltiness and they would fain throw it off and by adding more Guilt to it load it upon the Innocent a wicked shift and be Indempnified still they are tormented for all their past
Petitioned against it but in vain the Sectaries had packt a new common-Common-council by Authority from the Juncto who constituted a●y 40 of them a Court and supreme to the Mayor whose first work was the framing a Petition for Justice against the King and other Capital Offenders which was afterwards delivered by Titchburn and had the thanks of the mock-Mock-Parliament for their pains who now entred a Protestation against that satisfactory Vote of the 5th of December aforesaid and pursue the Dictates and Directions of the Army A little while before this Colonel Rainsborough was slain at Doncaster by a party of Royalists that ●allied out of Pomfract then besieged by Sir Edward Rhodes and the County-Forces as he was in his Inn and his Souldiers about him under a pretence of delivering him a Letter from Crowel They would have only taken him prisoner and carried him through his own Leaguer into their Castle but he refusing they pistoled him in his Chamber and departed untoucht A strange yet brave Adventure Scarbrough-Castle now likewise yielded to the Parliament whom we will leave and see the Armies like violence and outrages upon the King Colonel Ewres was appointed by the Parliament to this Service who assisted by Colonel Cobbet on the first of Decemb. according to Command received from Hammond the person of the King and hurried him out of that Isle away prisoner to Hurst-Castle within the term of those 20 days after the Treaty in which he was to remain according to the Houses Declaration in Honour Safety and Freedom This Castle stands a mile and a half in the Sea upon a Breach full of mud and stinking oaze upon low Tides having no fresh water within two or three miles of it so cold foggy and noysome that the Guards cannot endure it without shifting Quarters Here they frayed the King a while till Harrison was on his way to receive him who brought him to Winchester where the Mayor and Inhabitants caused the Bells to ring and at the Towns-end as was due and usual in the middle of the mire presented his Majesty with the Keys of the City and the Mace but in the very Ceremony were tumbled in the same mire by the Horse at the Command of Harrison The next day the King came to Farnham and so to Windsor where he kept his sorrowful and last Christmass being pent up in a corner of the Castle no man besides his Guards to come to him and all respect and reverence to his Person forborn while by Order of the Juncto he was sent for up to his Palace of St. Iames's Harrison impudently riding covered in the same Coach with him and his Myrmidons wounding any that shewed their Loyal Compassion and lamented this miserable condition of their beloved Sovereign In which we must leave him and return to our Grandees These offals of a Parliament having by an Ordinance taken away the Oaths of Supremacie and Allegeance usually administred to Freemen c. thereby to free themselves from those ties of Duty upon them and to make way for their ensuing Trayterous designe in order whereunto the Council of War had forbid any Ceremony or State to be used to the King and his Attendants lessened now proceeded roundly to their Army Journey-work for on the 28 of December Thomas Scot brought in the Ordinance for Trial of the King it was read and recommitted three several times and the Commissioners names of all sorts to engage the whole Body of the Kingdom in this Treason inserted and to give it a Foundation these Votes passed That the Lords and Commons Assembled in Parliament d● Declare and Adjudge that by the Fundamental Laws of the Realm it is Treason in the King of England for the time to come to Levy War against the Parliament and Kingdom of England With this Declaratory Vote the said Ordinance was carried up to the Lords by the Lord Gray of Grooby Ianuary 2. 1648. The Lords being 16 in number met that day and received it promising to send an Answer by Messengers of their own The first Question started by some Lords who had rather had a thinner House was Whether it should be presently debated which was affirmed The first Debate was upon the Declaratory Vote to which the Earl of Manchester said That the Parliament of England by the Fundamental Laws consisted of three Estates King Lords and Commons whereof the King is the first and chiefest He Calls and Dissolves Parliaments and without him there can be no Parliament and therefore it 's absurd to say the King can be a Traytor against the Parliament Then the Earl of Northumberland added That the greatest part at least twenty to one of the people of England were not yet satisfied whether the King Levied War first against the Houses or the Houses against him And if the King did Levy War first against the Houses there is no Law to make it Treason in him And for them to declare Treason by an Ordinance when the matter of Fact is not proved nor any Law extant to judge it by is very unreasonable The Earls of Pembroke and Denbigh said they would be torn in pieces before they would assent with the Commons so the Lords cast off the Debate and cast out the Ordinance and adjourned for seven days This netled the Commons who thereupon resolved to rid their hands of King Lords and their Fellow-Commons together by a leading Vote That all Members of Committees should proceed and act in any Ordinance wherein the Lords were joyned though the Peers should not Sit nor concur with them And added thereunto three other Democratical Resolves Ian. 4. 1648. 1. That the People are under God the Original of all just Power 2. That the Commons of England in Parliament Assembled chosen by and Representing the People have the Supreme Power of the Nation 3. That whatsoever is enacted or declared for Law by the House of Commons Assembled in Parliament hath the force of Law Which passed without one Negative Voice which shewed at whose beck they were And thus first they hatcht this Monster called An Act for the Trial of the King c. which is here transcribed transferring the names of the Commissioners to their ensuing Character An Act of Parliament of the House of Commons for Trial of Charles Stuart King of England WHereas it is notorious that Charles Stuart the now King of England not content with the many Encroachments which his Predecessors had made upon the People in their Rights and Freedom hath had a wicked designe to subvert the Antient and Fundamental Laws and Liberties of this Nation and in their place to introduce an Arbitrary and Tyrannical Government and that besides all other evil ways to bring his designe to pass he hath prosecuted it with Fire and Sword levied and maintained a Civil War in the Land against the Parliament and Kingdom whereby this Country hath been miserably
Croxton yet held out the Castle and had it presently delivered from thence to Leverpool which was yielded likewise by Colonel Ireland while in the mean time Colonel Zanchy and Axtel took in Chirk-castle delivered by young Mr. Middleton upon terms of having two Months time to make Addresses to the Parliament the rest were to be Prisoners of War and among them was Colonel since Sir Edward Broughton Harding-Castle was yielded likewise upon the like Capitulations Sir George Booth had made his escape out of the Field and got away accompanied with four of his Servants in a Womans Disguise but at his Inne in Newport-pagnel was discovered and being guarded and secured one Gibbons a Minister posted to give the Parliament account of it and was rewarded by them as were no less than three several Messengers sent before from Lambert with the particulars of the Cheshire-defeat Upon his bringing to London Fleetwood was ordered to send a Guard and meet him at Highgate and secure him to the Tower whither the next day Sir Henry Vane and Sir Arthur Haslerig were sent to Examine him It hath since been plainly confirmed that General Monke was engaged with him in the same designe under pretence of a Free-Parliament and that the Marquess of Ormond in the Habit of a Pedlar was seen ab●●● his House at Dalkeith but it was so secretly carried that nothing appeared at this time nor would Sir George be drawn to accuse any man Most certain it is the Kings Restitution was the bottome of this Designe for before the appearance of it he had withdrawn privately from Brussels and lay ready upon the Coast of Britany about St. Malo's and those places to take shipping for England upon the first good event of those his Loyal Friends and Subjects but Kent or Sussex was the place intended for his Landing Turenne the French General having engaged to wait upon him if he would oblige it But this unhappy account reaching him there he resolved to give over the prosecution of his right by the Sword at present seeing the almost-impossibility of recovering it by his English Subjects against these standing Armies and pass to St. Iean de Luz where the Treaty betwixt the two Crowns was then begun and whither Lockhart upon the arrival of a French Embassador hither was ordered to Travel where after several affronts done him while the Ministers of the King not to mention the Grandeurs of the Honours done to himself by the Cardinal and Don Lewis de Haro and during his short stay in the Realm of Spain who were first the Lord Iermyn his Plenipotentiary at that Treaty the Earl of Bristol the Lord Chancellor Sir Henry Bennet the Kings Resident at the Court of Spain after Secretary of State and others he was better advised to return and be gone with more hast than he came His Master's Concerns being wholly rejected and his Majesty's most affectionately undertaken by both those Potentates in private distinct Articles agreed between them As those Iuncto-men or Rumpers would have been taken into this affair of the Peace between France and Spain so they thrust themselves into the difference between the two Northern Kingdoms of Denmark and Sweden sending Mr. Sidney and Sir Thomas Honeywood Sir Henry Vane's Brother-in-law their Plenipotentiaries to those Crowns who having s●aid there to no purpose returned some time after to as much their Masters at home being lurcht before they had order to proceed in the same method and as far as the French or Dutch whose project of the Peace framed at the Hague being humbly tendered here by their Embassador was approved and these Commissioners to act according to that Module General Montague returned September the 24 about their coming thither and having given an account not of all he knew or did there concerning the War there to the Council of State was dismissed having given the King very good assurance of his readiness and affection to his service The Parliament now were consulting what more standing Forces to keep in the Kingdom and to keep in with the Sects and Quakers now numerous they repealed the Act of Iohn Lilburn's Banishment and released Iames Naylor as aforesaid out of Bridewel then against the last Royalists caused a new Sequestration-Act to be presently passed and Commissioners Names expedited Thus brisk they were always upon the Atchievement and accomplishment of every success which when it tickled them to arrogance and confidence scratched them soon after to their trouble and vexation for Lambert having done the Feat for them was now upon his progress in the Country to his own House at Craven in York-shire caressing the people having used his Victory very civilly although he was heard to say upon his setting forth questionless to make him more acceptable and less suspect to the Rump That he would not leave a Cavalier to Piss against the Wall or words to that effect Especially he made much of his Officers having invited them to his House aforesaid where their entertainment was concluded with a Draught of another Advice stiled A Petition to the Parliament General Monke in the mean time the better to conceal his affection to the King caused most of the Scotch Nobility to be seized on a sudden and upon the refusal of the Engagement secured them in Castles Very many yea most of them refused besides the Earl of Glencarn the General 's Confident and Privado as appeared not long after Lambert was Voted a Jewel of 1000 l. for a gratuity from the Parliament for his Cheshire-service but his ambition aimed at a higher Gem he therefore desired the Parliament that they would think of paying off the Militia who had deserved well as also the Irish Brigades and the Widows and relicts of such whose Husbands were drowned passing from thence to their assistance which they readily promised sitting brooding continually upon Acts of Sale and Forfeitures of such Estates whose last moities upon purchase had not been paid as also in sifting out all the persons engaged with Sir George and had traced it so close by their Beagles as to bring Sir Anthony Ashley Cooper one of their Council of State into suspicion as really he was a principal in the Plot having been of the Cabal and had kept intelligence with Sir George and had a party in Dorset shire which timely dispersed themselves but the great opinion they had of him stop'd the mouth of his Accusers and he knew well enough how to defend himself at their Bar. They had likewise got one of the King's Letters dated the 16 of May and other Papers which with the several Examinations were read in the House and a Thanksgiving-day thereupon appointed for this their great preservation They likewise Voted the Charter of the City of Chester void and that it should be no longer a County of it self but lie in Common as also the Ejection of the whole Ministry as Malignant and received soon after
with matters of Religion the Militia Qualifications and Writs for Elections and in the interim endeavours were used more especially at Hull by Major Gen. Overton to debauch part of the Army at York and the same tricks also at Chester with the Irish Brigades but were Defeated and came to nothing Therefore Col. Lambert refusing to put in security of Twenty thousand pounds was now at last Committed to the Tower to prevent any future danger from the unsatisfied part of the Souldiery About this time died Carolus Gustavus King of Sweden The Engagement made by the remnant of the Parliament Viz. I do declare and promise that I will be true and faithful c. was now ordered to be expunged out of the Journal-book of the House of Commons which made the Phanaticks begin to fear their unjust Possessions Hull was now delivered to Col. Fairfax according to the Generals Order The Inscription under the Statue of King Charles the first in the Exchange London Exit Tyrannus was expunged and blotted out by a private hand According to the Parliament resolves to Dissolve themselves and being pressed by the General whose well-governed impatience of the Kings return permitted not the least delay in that dangerous place Writs were ordered to be issued out for the Election of Members in the ensuing Parliament in the name of The Keepers of the Liberty of England by Authority of Parliament and the Bill of their Dissolution being read and passed leaving a power in the Council of State in the interval of Parliament to govern the Nations they broke up and so this long-lasting Parliament which hath done and suffered so many strange things came with fair expectations to a peaceable conclusion but shall never want the Elegies and the doleful complaints of the three Kingdoms The Parliament being thus Dissolved the first thing the Council of State acted was the emitting of a Proclamation forbidding all Persons whatsoever to make applications to any of the Officers and Souldiers in the Army in the way of Agitating declaring that pernitious course was the ruine of the King and Kingdome in the years 1647 and 48. This actuated with a diligent eye upon some suspected persons and securing of others happily retained the Army in their duty and obedience to the bringing about his Majesties Restitution which was every day more visible The Council of State were hammering a Proclamation requiring such qualifications as were intended by Parliament for the Election of Members to be strictly observed whereby Cavaliers were to be excluded but there were enow Royallists besides to do that great and happy work which was soon after accomplisht and yet in the mean while made Addresses to the King some Letters passing from them to him being unhappily delayed by the death of Mr. Annesley Brother to the now Earl of Anglesey who was drowned as he was taking Boat to proceed in his Voyage for the delivery of them to the King Mr. Barebone and Mr. Scot signed an Engagement wherein they promised to live peaceably but divers others of that Faction for agitating and other misdemeanors were secured and committed to prison the Elections in the interim went hopefully on and the Militia was every where well established A Letter was sent by the Council to the Bassa of Algier for releasing the Lord Inchequeen and his Son who were lately taken by a Turkish Pirate neer the Port of Lisbon and carried to Algier Colonel Massey appeared in Gloucestershire with an intention to stand for an Election there free- he was ordered to appear before the Council which he did and was afterwards unanimously chosen one of the Burgesses for that City as Major-General Brown who sate with the secluded Members before with the Recorder Sir William Wilde and Sir Iohn Robinson with whom the General constantly conversed in the suspence of his declaring himself but was riddled to the Royallists by the Company he kept were Elected for London both these eminent Captains were very active and instrumental in the King's Restauration The City of London emitted a Declaration wherein they clear themselves of the Guilt of the King's Death and the Crimes of the Usurpation their Counsels being under a force of a desperate Juncto put upon them and as a signet of the Revolution ensuing suffered the same Tumults to the Restitution which it had fomented and cherished in the beginning of the Wars to the ruine and overthrow of the Kingdoms Anno Dom. 1660. WE begin this mirabilis Annus the wonderful year of 1660 which by the old Philosophical Axiome of twenty years revolution was to return all things in statu quo to wit the same condition with an occurrence of no seeming tendencie or aspect to the product thereof viz. The Proclamation from the Council of State against Election of any to this Parliament that had served his Majesty in the late Wars which proceeded from the unreconciled Results of those secluded Members who yet retained some grudge of their first Quarrel and would fain do away the imputation of their unjust Arming themselves and the people against their Soveraign by a Vote passed this last sitting wherein they again declared That the late King began the War with the two Houses and this was now for a subsequent confirmation of that fallacious Maxime of the Rebellion Mr. Saint Iohn that was of this Council of State now opened and discovered himself in the solution of his former actions by his suspicions and fears of the approaching Revolution He stickled first for the Qualifications which the Parliament through the General 's designed importunity had left unestablished and undetermined and that being thus decreed though the Gentry found means to Elude this Paper-scare-crow foreseeing the necessity and absolute combination of all things to the King's Return he laboured to clog that also with limitations and conditions but to less purpose than he had straightned this Free Convention ensuing which was very unlike to prove so if such designes had taken effect For to the Honour and everlasting entire Felicity of this unparallelled Rovolution and the noble General 's Loyal and most generous and obliging Prudence beyond all Parliamentory Engagements and Terms whatsoever his Majesties Rights and undoubted Prerogative were left and returned to him most free and inviolate A Convention was held in Ireland in nature of a Parliament till such time as one might be conveniently and rightly called for to provide for the Peace and Safety of that Kingdom from whence the L. Shannon Sir Iohn Clothworthy and Major Aston were sent as Commissioners to the Council During the Election of Members it was wonderful to see the general chearfulness that possessed the minds and looks of all men and the no less stupid consternation of the Phanatick party which term they likewise obtained from a Letter of the General 's from Scotland a little while before so that it was plainly seen God had disarmed their spirits of that violence that had
so ●ong possessed them even to their personating a concurrent Contentment in this strange mutation of affairs Only the vexed Rump and furious Sir Arthur Hazelrig were most outragiously disturbed by finding themselves so out-witted and to have made all this stir with Lambert for no other purpose but to undo themselves they recollected now what Idiots and desperate Fools they were in rejecting a Letter from the King which was presented by Henry Nevil as casually put into his hand and their Voting of it not to be read or opened in the House full of all Princely tenderness to their monstrous Crimes and Treasons which being now on their part in exorable and unexpiable but in their deserved punishment they resolved on another Essay and device like the Foxes tyed by the Tayls with fire at them to offer at another attempt which though it would not revenge them would if it succeeded indempnate and impunifie them For while all things thus seemed to forward and further his Majesties Return into these Kingdoms an Address being signed by the whole Army wherein they vehemently testified their acquiescence in whatever the Counsels of the ensuing Parliament should produce and their abhorrence of former practices by intruding into the Government and interposing themselves against all Reason and Duty in civil Matters Colonel Lambert as the last dying effort of those monstrous Violences which had so long prevailed against the bars of Law and Authority broke out from his imprisonment in the Tower notice whereof being given a Proclamation was sent after him requiring him to render himself within 24 hours at his utmost Peril and prohibiting any to conceal him declaring likewise that whosoever should take him should have 100 l. for his pains This Escape was thought to have been effected by the connivence or permission of Colonel Morley Lieutenant of the Tower whereupon the General sent four Companies of Foot under Major Nicholas of whose faith he had experience to command there and presently gave order for Forces to march in order to the reducing and re-taking of the said Colonel Lambert to which service most of the Gentry and Nobility in Town presently offered themselves as also in the Country especially in Warwick-shire under the Lords Brook and Conway where the first intelligence of him was had He appeared first about Tocester with a small company of Horse from thence to Naseby where Major Creed joyned with one hundred more intending for Edge-hill but within two miles of Daventry Colonel Ingoldsby met him augmented to four Troops and some Foot making neer seven hundred but if he had stood two or three days would have encreased to a formidable power the Phanaticks of the Army marching from all parts of the Kingdom to this Rendezvouze one whereof was Captain Haselrig's who being surprized by Ingoldsby's Forlorn promised upon his Liberty to bring over his Troop which accordingly was done Upon this Lambert desired a Parley thinking so to work upon the Souldiery and there offered as a security to all Interests the re-admission of Richard to be Protector this being waived as a stale device and Lambert seeing Colonel Ingoldsby ready to fall on and that another Troop was revolted from him he presently betook himself to flight losing there the name of that Valour especially among his enraged Phanaticks which he had purchased throughout the War crying out twice Pray my Lord let me escape what good will my life or perpetual imprisonment do you he divined well which though mounted on a Barb being on Plow-lands he could not effect but was taken by Colonel Ingoldsby's own hands Creed Axtel and Cobbet escaped though pursued some miles Being thus secured he was sent up in a Coach to the Tower and came by Hide-park on Tuesday April the 24 the day before the opening of the Parliament when the City-forces exceeding for gallantry and number all former shows Mustred there before the General and the Council of State the field resounding with the cry of King Charles the second free- Now at last our Right and desires so long contended for prevailed for April the 25. the Free-Parliament sate down in two Houses they met first at Saint Margare●s Church Westminster where Doctor Reynolds Preached before them The Lords chose the Earl of Manchester for their Speaker and the House of Commons Sir Harbottle Grimston Mr. Brown Clerk to the former Mr. Iessop to the latter I may not omit that the Lord General was chosen Knight of his own County of Devon and also by the University of Cambridge and not above four Rumpers were returned Scot made a bustle for his new Election at Wickham against Major-Gen Brown's Eldest Son but stood not to it for he fled to Bruxels where he was known though he relyed on the Protection of the Spanish-Ambassador here formerly and was taken and sent hither back again not long after The first thing of note done by the Parliament was an appointment of a Thanksgiving-day to God for raising up his Excellency and other eminent persons and making them instrumental in delivering the Kingdome from Thraldom and Misery and ordered that the said General should have the acknowledgment and hearty thanks of the Parliament for the eminent and unparallel'd Services done these Nations in freeing them from Slavery which was accordingly performed Thanks also were given afterwards to Col. Ingoldsby for his retaking of Lambert Several persons Officers of the Army and other ill-affected people were apprehended and secured in several places for the strengthning and establishing the peace and happiness of the Kingdom so forwardly and so happily begun and advanced for now at last we were arrived at the brink and to the prospect of our ancient Government and to the hopeful confirmation of our Peace after which we had so long laboured in vain and here our Troubles cease to whom in this alluding rapture we bid farewel Hunc Finem Belli quod res commiscuit omnes Non Gladii non Saxa dabant non tela sed ille Perfidiae vindex tanti sanguinis Ultor MONKIUS Hic murus abeneus esto Thus ends the War which overwhelm'd the State Suffering a weaponless and bloodless Fate MONK'S conquering Prudence did Revenge and cease Murder and Treason HE our Wall of Peace A CHRONICLE OF THE CIVIL WARS OF ENGLAND SCOTLAND and IRELAND THE FOURTH PART BEING The Restitution THE suspence and stilness which ensued so many tempestuous Agitations was so far from becalming the Passions of Men and entertaining the Nation in the present felicity and acquiscence of things as is usual in the complacency of such unexpected and impatienced blessings that it transported them at the same instant to more vigorous and active Resolutions in pursuance of that happy Auspicium which so faitly directed to a plenary and compleat Establishment It was enviously fresh in the minds of all Loyal and good men with what scorn and contemptuous derision the Enemies of the Kingdoms peace and the brood
Loyalty the Bonfires continuing till day-break fed by a constant supply of Wood and maintained with an equal excess of gladness and fewel Thus far this memorable and miraculous Affair hath carried me not willing to break off the gladsome speculation and review of his glory and happy Influences I must now a little retrospect to what passed at home in the Parliament and Kingdome Several Acts were in agitation one for removing and preventing all questions and disputes concerning the Sitting and Assembling of this present Parliament as also that of Oblivion and Indempnity and another for Sales and Purchases and in the mean while it was ordered by the Lords That a stop be put to the demolishing defacing or committing wast in any Houses or Lands belonging to his Majesty and that no Wood nor Timber should be felled and the like done in the Lands belonging to the Duke of Buckingham the Lord Craven and Sir Iohn Stawel The Commons ordered Ten thousand pounds to be sent as a present to the Duke of York also that the Scotch Colours taken at Preston Dunbar and Worcester and hung up in Westminster-hall should be taken down which was accordingly executed and the Kings Arms placed in the Courts of Judicature Col. Harrison one of the Kings most malicious Judges was apprehended in Staffordshire and brought up to London and by his Excellencies Order Committed to the Tower while Whitehall was then a preparing for his Majesty The House of Commons taking into consideration the business of the Piedmont-Collection-money declared their detestation and abhorrence of the diversion of the said Money from the charitable uses to which pretendedly it was designed The King was Proclaimed with great joy throughout the Nation while divers of the Kings Judges out of consciousness of their guilt escaped beyond Sea In Ireland also the King was by the Convention there Assembled Proclaimed with the usual Ceremonies Several of the eminentest of that Nation were also ordered to be sent to his Majesty in the name of that Kingdome with a present of Four thousand pound to the Duke of York so sympathetically did the Irish Harp move with the same touches on the English The most Illustrious Princes the Dukes of York and Gloucester went to the House of Lords and there took their places whither the next day came the King himself by Water in the Brigandine which brought him aboard the Charles from Holland the Yeomen of the Guard making a lane the Heralds at Arms in their rich Coats the Maces and the Lord General Bare-headed before him being seated the Commons were called to whom the King in a Speech pressed very much the Act of Oblivion and Signed some Bills viz. One for Confirmation of the Parliament Another for the Tax of Seventy thousand pounds per Mensem for three Moneths from the 24 of Iune A third for continuance of Process and Judicial Proceedings and then returned to Whitehall where he chose the Lords of his Privy Council among whom were several of the Long Parliament His Majesty also graciously and judiciously provided for the Benches and Courts of Judicature for the Chancery the Lord Chancellour Hide for the Rolls the Lord Culpepper who soon after dyed and the place was by the Kings favour bestowed on Sir Harbottle Grimstone for the Kings Bench Sir Robert Foster Justice Mallet and Sir Thomas Twisden in the Common-Pleas Justice Atkins and in the Exchequer Sir Orlando Bridgeman Sir Ieoffry Palmer Attorney and Sir Heneage Finch Sollicitor-General Mr. Iohn Heath son of Sir Robert Atturney to the Dutchy But of this a fuller account Several Persons guilty of the Murther of King Charles the First making their escapes beyond Sea a Proclamation drawn up by the Parliament was published by his Majesty summoning the persons therein named who sate gave Judgment and Assisted in that horrid and detestable Fact to render themselves within Fourteen days after the Publication of that His Majesties Royal Proclamation to the Speaker or Speakers of the Parliament or to the Lord Mayor of London or to the respective Sheriffs of the Counties of England and Wales and that no person should presume to conceal or harbour them under misprision of Treason whereupon divers came in and submitted and were secured in the Tower Several Addresses were made to the King from the Nobility and Gentry of all the Counties congratulating his Majesties Restitution to his Throne and Kingdoms and testifying their exceeding joy and willingness to maintain his Majesties Royal Person and Authority Divers eminent persons for their service and affection to his Majesty were honoured with Knighthood The House of Commons ordered that others besides the Actual Judges of the King should be excepted out of the Act of Oblivion which was now very far proceeded in as namely Andrew Broughton Phelps Iohn Cook Hugh Peters and Edward Denby This so affrighted others who had a hand in that execrable business that Colonel Iohn Hutchinson a Member in this Parliament and Colonel Francis Lassells Petitioned the House confessing their guilt and withal the Artifices that were used to draw them in and by this submission obtained Pardon upon some forfeitures Hugh Peters was taken about this time in Southwarke at first he denyed his Name but being brought before Sir Iohn Robinson then made Lieutenant of the Tower he was known and acknowledged himself and was there secured The Parliament thought not themselves nor the people of England freed from that guilt and punishment which our unhappy times had contracted unless they laid hold on his Majesties Grace mentioned in his Declaration from Breda and therefore Resolved That the House doth declare that they do in the Name of themselves and all the Commons of England lay hold on his Majesties gracious Pardon mentioned in his Declaration with reference to the excepting of such as shall be excepted in an Act of Pardon and accordingly a Declaration was made and presented to the King by Master Denzill Hellis His Majesty was graciously pleased to signifie his readiness and willingness to comply with that his Royal Word and gave direction for a Proclamation to that purpose In the mean while several of the eminentest in Offices under the Usurpation to make sure of this Grace offered from Breda got their particular Pardons exemplified under the Great Seal of England as they were well advised by the notoriety of their Guilt and their distrustful Consciences to secure and discharge which trouble the King was more than ordinary pressing for a speedy Passing of the Act of Oblivion as on the other side his Sentiments of those services to his Restitution gave him the immediate resolutions of dignifying those Illustrious Personages who most instrumentally and principally did accomplish it And therefore on the 12 of Iuly he honoured the most noble General Monck with the Titles of Duke of Albemarle which Dutchy formerly was appropriate to the Blood Royal and was extinct in the Reign of Henry the
disaffection to the Government but not many they were that were upon this account outed and discharged By virtue of the Allyance and Treaty with the Crown of Portugal several Forces were sent hence to Assist that Kingdome against the prevailing Power of the Spaniard who just at the Majority of that King and his taking the Government into his own hands had made a formidable Invasion and Progress into those Dominions These Forces most of them immediately set Sayl from Dunkirke some Troops and Companies Landing there from Leith all Commanded in chief by his Excellency the Earl of Inchiqueen the famous Souldier in Ireland Colonel Morgan late Governour of Scotland being his Major-General they arrived well and in good health there on the Twenty ninth of Iune and after a little refreshment and being prohibited to eat the Fruit of the Countrey for fear of Fevours and other Distempers advanced towards the Campania but the Spaniard having notice thereof thought it not advisable to Fight with them in their strength and vigour but to waste them with the usual incommodities of those Climates to us and retreated back again immediately into Spain In Iuly following the Duke of Ormond Lord Lieutenant of Ireland His Majesty having given him a very Honourable and friendly farewel and having received the like civilities from the whole Court set forwards in his Journey and Voyage to that Kingdome where he Arrived three weeks after and was most Magnificently received into the City of Dublin and congratulated and welcomed by the whole Body of that People in Parliament to whom in their Assembly he delivered himself in a most Excellent Speech There was mention made before of the Commissioners for Regulating Corporations for the securing of the peace of the Kingdome by these Gentlemen named for each County City and Borrough it was ordered besides the displacing of Officers that the Walls of the respective Cities and Towns of Gloucester and Coventry Northampton Taunton and Leicester and other places which had Bulworks and Garrisons and maintained them throughout the War against the King and were the Reception of and maintenance the Rebellion should be demolished as Examples and Security to successive times the County-Troops and respective Trained Band-Regiments guarded these places when they were Demolished Dr. Gauden the Bishop of Exeter died about this time September as also William Lenthal the Speaker of the Long Parliament very penitently The Town of Dunkirk taken from the Spaniard in One thousand six hundred fifty eight and kept ever since at a vast and great charge was by advice of the Lords of his Majesties Privy Councel as being never annexed by Act of Parliament to the Crown of England returned to the French King who upon surrender of it in the year aforesaid delivered it unto us Now for the sum of Five hundred Thousand pounds fully paid that Fortress was delivered into the Possession of the French under the Government of the Count d'E●irades and his Deputy the Marquess of Montpear two English Companies with the Governour only Guarding the Gates at their entrance and delivering the Keys of the same Town The Honourable Sir Edward Nicholas having served his Majesty and his Father as Secretary of State for many years obtained his Quietus est from the King who would have dignified his Merit with a Barrony which Sir Edward modestly declined because His Majesty should not increase the Nobility and Sir Henry Bennet late the Kings Resident in Spain a very excellent Person was named to that Preferment Among these and the like Honours conferred by the King upon his Faithful and Loyal Servants and Subjects which the purport of this Chronicle obliged me to take notice off and be their Herauld this time challenged my observance of a Dignity conferred on that eminent and worthy Personage Dr. Iohn Berkenhead Knighted with a Testimony from his Majesty that he had done his Father and himself very signal and great services during the last twenty years Revolution and there is scarce any Honest man in the Three Kingdoms who will not say Amen to this his Majesties EVGE There had been suspition of a Plot and the City Trained Bands had watched and warded every Night for the most part of the Summer ever since the Kings departure to meet the Queen but now the Design appeared the first named was one Captain Baker a New-England-man an acquaintance of Hugh Peters there and preferred to be one of Olivers Band of Pensioners this Fellow acquaints one Hill the Son of a Phanatick or Independant Preacher in the Street and tells him of a Designe and brings him acquainted at several Meetings of divers of the Conspiracy which he having good information of revealed with the names of the Conspirators to Sir Richard Brown Some of those engaged thus only met and heard and reported their discourses of Arms and other preparations to their own gang but approved the Treason so well that they never discovered it This Plot was against the Sacred Life of the King the Duke of York the noble Duke of Albemarle and Sir Richard Brown and generally the Bishops Nobility Gentry and Commonalty that were not of their Opinions and Assisted them not and they had ready prepared a draught of their Government their Councels were carried on by six who never sate twice in a Place nor could be known to any two their Commander in chief was Ludlow Colonel Danvers Mr. Nye Mr. Lockyer and one Lieutenant Strange the Captains Spencer and Taverner were favourable to the Design and would surprize Deal Castle in Kent as Windsor was certain to be theirs and the Word the Night they were to fall on which after several put offs was appointed the last of October was to be given them by George Phillips a Serjeant in the Colonels Company of the White Regiment For this the Eleventh of December the said George Phillips Thomas Tongue a Distiller of Strong Waters Francis Stubs being a Cheesmonger Iames Hind Gunner Iohn Sellers Compass-maker and Nathanael Gibs Felt-maker were Convicted by Evidence of their fellow-Conspirators Edward Rigge Bradley and others only Hind Pleaded Guilty and craved the King's Mercy they alledged they never Acted such Trayterous intentions but the Design was proved to have been communicated and laid open to them after their full Defence they were all found Guilty and on the Twenty second of December Phillips Tongue Gibs and Stubs were Executed according to Sentence but His Majesty was graciou●ly pleased to give their Quarters to be buried but their Heads to be set up upon several Poles two on each Tower-Hill the nearest place to the Tower On the Twenty sixth of December his Majesty to satisfie the Kingdome of his intents in reference to the unsatisfiedness of Dissenters to the Established Settlement of the Church expressed his Indulgence to their Consciences so far as such Liberty would not Disturb the Publick Peace nor entrench upon the Orthodox Religion professed and that he
to attend him Cromwel the chief conspirator in seizing the King Cromwel sets up the Levellers They designe to lay all things in common Sir Thomas Fairfax his Leter to the Parliament The Kings Message concerning it The perplexed thoughts of the Parliament and City about it The Duke of Richmond Dr. Sheldon and Dr. Hammond suffered to have access to the King The Army declare The Parliament demur to the suspending of their Members They forbeare sitting of themselves The Army quote th● Cases of the Earl of Strafford Arch●B of Canterbury and Ld. Keeper Finch The King and Parliament over-aw●d by Cromwel his remarkable expression His Majesties Meditation on the designes of the several factions His Majesty desires his Childrens company Sir Thomas Fairfax his Letter to the Parliament concerning the Kings desire of seeing his Children A Letter from the King to the Duke of York inclosed The King enjoy his Children company two days His Nephew the Prince Elector Palatine visits him The Armies designe upon the City of London The Citizens Petition the Lord Mayor in behalf of the King and the Army The solemn ●n●agement of the City A Declaration of the Lords and Commons forbidding subscriptions to the Engagement The rashness and precipetancy of the City The Pre●tices and R●●●le Tumult the Parliament-House The Parl. 〈…〉 Speak●rs The former Speaker to the Commons m●naced by Cromwel Both the old Speakers go to the Army The Lord Grey of Wark ch●●en Speaker to the Lords Mr. Hen. Pelham Speaker for the Commons The Parl. Vote the re-admission of the 11 Membe●s The Committee of Safety set up Tumults in London about listing of Forces The Army approach within 10 miles of London The Kings Declaration clearing himself of any design● of war He as a Neuter attends the Issue of Divine Providence 〈◊〉 Fugitive Members sit in Council with the Army The Armies Declaration Fairfax sends warrants for the Trained-Bands to march against the City The City submits on dishonourable Conditions The Fugitive Members reseated Aug. 6. and the former Speakers placed by the General The Parl. appoint a day of Thanksgiving for their re●settlement The Army feas●ed by the City Sir Thomas Fairfax made Generalissimo and Constable of the Tower The Souldiers ordered a months gratuity The 11 im●each●d Memb●rs with●ra● One of them viz. Mr. Nichols s●ized on by Cromwel and ab●●ed Sir Philip Stapleton passeth over to Calice and dyes miserabl● All Votes Ord●●s an● O●●inances passed in the 〈◊〉 of the Speakers a●togate● The Sollicitour-General St. John Hazelrigg Sir Hen. Vane Junior Tho. Scot Cornelius Holland Prideaux Gourdon Sir John Evelin ●unior and Henry Mildway all Regicides and busie contrivers of the Armies designes The Ordinance of Null and Void passed August 20. 〈…〉 Citizens of London impeache● and com●●●t●d The impeachment 〈◊〉 by Sir John Evelin junior and Miles Corbet Poyntz and Massey 〈◊〉 to Holland The King brought to Hampton Court Commissioners sent to him from the Parliament with Propositions The Preface thereunto His Majesties Answer to them Sept. 9. Those Prop●si●ti●●s 〈…〉 with 〈…〉 a Newcastle His Majesty 〈◊〉 the Army Proposa● Cromwel i●g●gl●s with his Majesty A abstract of the Armies Proposals Money enough be sure this they intended for a Law no doubt and might have been put first the other being meerly sub●●rvient to it They indulge the King in not abrogating the Common-Prayer and claw with the Papist Life to the Royalist and death to the Presbyter The rarest Article in the Pack Divers pretences in favour of the Cavaliers Cromwel designes to please all Parties by Proposing to regulate the Law and Assesstments Asserting the people● rights in Pe●●●ioning ag●●●st Forrest-Lands Excise Monopolies c. Cromwel and other Grandees of the Army frequently with the King Cromwel hasfleth with the King and is discovered The King still kept at Hampton Court with the publike use of Common-prayer in great State his friends and Chaplains about him The Faction and Cromwel suspect and fear ●he Kings neerness to London Colonel Whaley pretends to the King that the Adjutators designe to Murther him They fright the King from Hampton Court who by the advice of Sir John Berkley and Mr. John Ashburnham escapes to the Isle of Wight Colonel Hammond Governour thereof 〈…〉 Dowagers of South-hampton Nov. 11. The King is misled Whaley takes ●he Kings ●apers left behind him in his Chamber The First directed to the Lord Mountague The second to Colonel Whaley His Majesties Message left behinde Him at Hampton-Court to both Houses of Parliament The King seized by Col. Hamond in the Isle of Wight and conveyed to Carlsbrook Castle Nove. 14. The Parl. make it High Treason for any to conceal the King They command Col. Hamond to send the Kings attendants up to London he refuseth The King pleads in their behalf The Parliament vote that no Cavalier or Papists be admitted into the Island The Gen. hath the command of his person The King allowed 5000 l. for the ●xpences of his Court. The Kings Message to the Parliament from his inprisonment in Carisbrook-Castle He professeth as he is a Christian and a King to defend the Government of the Church by Arch-bishops Bishops c. Their Order being placed in the Church by the Apostles And he and His Predecessors having Sworn to maintain it B●t agrees that their Power may be so limited as not to be grievous to tender Consciences The King cons●nts that the power of the Militia both by Land and Sea shall be ordered by the Parliament during his Raign He promiseth to pay the Army their Arrears Consenteth that the great Offices of State and naming of Privy Counsellors shall be in the Power of the two Houses during his raign He 〈…〉 at London with 〈…〉 Several scurrilous Pamphlets published to defame His Majesty Especially Needham's ●atitul●d a Hue and Cry after the King Iudge Jenkins sloutly vindicates the King's Cause and Party Iudge Jenkins imprisoned and enlarged at the Restauration of King Charles the second The burden of Free-quarter Cromwel and his supernumeraries the cause thereof Vast sums of money raised for the Souldiery Debentures sold. The Excise an excessive Tax and carefully upheld Several refuse to pay it and tumults happen The Butchers at Smithfield-bars London fire the Excise-house several of them tryed but acqitted White a Leveller Executed at Ware And Thompson condemned by a Council of War The Parliament constrained to humour a Treaty Four Bills tendred to the King at the Isle of Wight before the Treaty should begin Their Proposals to the King The Scotch Commissioners declare their dissent from the Proposals and Bills His Majesties Answer to the Bills c. His Majesty again presseth for a personal Treaty Sir Thomas Wroth flies high and inveighs against the King in the House of Commons * The History of Ind●pendency p. 70. He is seconded by Commisary Ireton And both of them backed by Cromwel Who laid his Hand upon his Sword not long before baffled by Sir Philip
Elections for the Free-Parliament St. John stickles in the Council of State for Propositions and Terms with the King A Convention in Ireland A Letter sent to the Rump by the King Lambert escapes from the the Tower April 11. Defeated and taken Apr. 22. Lambert proposeth the restoring of Rich. Protector Lambert dismayed and taken Apr. 22. A free-Free-Parliament April 22. The Restitution of the King and Kingdom The renowned General the happy instrument of the Restitution The Duke of Ormond the next The King the great Agent All the Loyal Nobility and Gentry And of some formerly engaged against it The King departs to Breda from Brussels Complemented upon his departure Dispatches the L. Mordaunt and Sir John Greenvil from Breda His Majesty's Letter and Declaration was brought Contents of the Declaration Received most ho●ourably by the Parliament Parliament resolves thereupon Sir John Greenvil rewarded with a 500 l. Iewel The City of London express the like The Army the same The Fleet also and Dunkirk The Rump's Arms defaced Parliament Resolves towards the King's Restitution Commissioners arrived at the Hague The King prepares to d●part King Charles the Second Solemnly Proclaimed The Dutch magnificent Treatment of the King Sir Samuel Moreland and Sir George Downing Duke of York aboard the Fleet. The King departs for England The Speech of the States thereupon The King departs and embarques The King Embarques for England May 23. Lands at Dover May 25. The General meets him at his arrival The King rides to Canterbury The King rides to Canterbury To Rochester at Col. Gibbons To Dartford receives the Declaration of the Army The manner of His Majesties entrance into London The Earl of Manchester's Speech to the King The joy of the City Affairs 〈◊〉 home And in Ireland The King and the Dukes to the House of Lords The King comes to the Parliament and passeth several Acts. A Proclamation for the King's Iudges to render themselves Other persons excepted out of the Act of Oblivion Hutchinson and Lassels crave Pardon Parliament lay hold on his Majesties Declaration from Breda The General dignified with the Title of D. of Albemarle Several Dignities and Offices conferred Fee-farm rents resigned Lord Jermyn Earl of St. Albans Embassador into France Prince de Ligne Count de Soissons Embassador hither Act o● Oblivion passed Duke of Gloucester dies Sept. 13. Princess of Orange arrives Sept. Episcopacy re-established The Kings Iudges brought to Tryal Oct. 9. Harrison Waller Heveningham with Adrian Scroop c. Harrison tried Oct. 11. Sir Heneage Finch opens the Indictment The Sentence Col. Adrian Scroop Carew tryed Scot tryed Octob. 12. Gregory Clement Colonel Iones Cook October ●3 Peters Octob. 13. Dani●l Axtel Colonel Hacker William Hewlet Daniel Harvey Isaac Pennington Henry Marten Gilbert Millington Alderman Tichburn Owen Roe Robert Lilburn Mr. Smith Downs Potter Garland c. Vincent Potter August Garland Simon Meyn James and Peter Temple Tho. Wayt. Sir Hardress Waller Harrison Executed Carew Executed John Cook Hugh Peters Executed Thomas Scot Gregory Clement Adrian Scroop and John Jones Executed Francis Hacker and Daniel Axtel Executed To● dye impinitent as to the Fact * Cook the Solicitor Hugh Peters 's stupidity Prisoners that came in upon Proclamation respited Queen Mother arrives in England The Parliament re-assemble Argyle committed Princess of Aurange dies Decemb 24. Parliament Dissolved Princess of Aurange her Funeral Decemb. 26. Sejanus ducitur unco spectandus gaudent omnes quae labra quis illis vultus erat Cromwel Ireton and Bradshaw dig'd up and hang'd c. Venner 's Insurrection There were two Executed in Cheap-side the same day Prichard the Cow-keeper and another of them Sir Arthur Hazelrig dies Mr. Crofton committed The King●s passage through London to his Coronation The Oath of the Knights of the Bath Creation of Earls and Barons at the same time The Kings procession to the Abbey The Dukes of Norfolk and Somerset were restored by Act of Parliament 12 year Caroli Secundi * James Butler Duke of Ormond was Created Earl of Brecnock Baron Butler of Lawthy A new Parliament May 8. Portugal Match mentioned by the King to the Parliament The Queen of Bohemia returns into England The Marquess of Montross enterred in State May 11. Arguile beheaded May a● and Guthrey and Giff●n Hang'd June 1 Plots and Designes laid by the Fanaticks Sir Charles Lucas re-interred with Solemnity Jun. 7. Several Laws confirmed and made c. Mr. Pryn questioned c. Mr. Pryn questioned by the House Acts against Bishops repealed Lord Munson Sir Henry Mildmay and Wallop sentenced Parliament adjourned July 30 to Nov. 02. The King is entertained at the Inner Temple by Sir Heneage Finch The Lords Spiritual restored Regicides before the House of Lords November John James Hanged and Quartered Novemb. 27. Sir Charles Coot died December A Council of the Principality of Wales re-established at Ludlow Episcopacy established in Scotland The King reflects on the ruine of St. Pauls London Fatality among the Clergy Another Fleet for Portugal and Tangier Queen of Bohemia dies Feb. 13. A Storm Feb. 18. An unfortunate Accident happened to the Lord Buckhurst and others Lambert and Vane ordered to Tryal The General honoured c. Miles Corbet Colonel Okey and Barkstead taken in Holland sent over to the Tower Sentenced and Executed Ap. 2. Col. Okey 's body gi●en to his Friends Acts of Parliament passed An account of the Marriage of the King c. The Queen reReimbarques April 13. The Duke of York at Sea to attend the Queens Arrival with the Duke o● Osmond c. Queen Arrives May 13. The King stays to give his consent to Bills Preparing The Nature of several private Bills King at Portsmouth Queen at Hampton-Court Lord Lorn pardoned by the King Tangiers condition Sir Henry Vane and Colonel Lambert Condemned Sir Henry Vane Executed June 1● A Proclamation for Twenty miles againt Rump Officers Presbyterians endeavours for Toleration Forces sent under the Earl of Inchequeen to Assist the King of Portugal Duke of Ormond arrived in Ireland Gloucester Walls c. Demolished Dunkirk returned to the French King October Dr. John Berkerhead Knighted A Plot discovered Philips Tongue Gibs and Stubs Executed December 22. Embassadors with Presents from Russia Mr. Calamy Committed Lord Warreston in the Tower Declaration of the King and Resolutions of the Parliament Parliament begins esuits banish Campeach tak●● Irish Plot. Earl of ●ot●es Commissioner in Scotland Bills passed by Commission Mr. Rycaut comes from Constantinople Jersey a new 〈◊〉 Northern Plot discovered Plotters ●ri'd Executed Turner tryed and hanged A Printer tried and executed Others Pillori'd and Fined A remarkable provi●ence A barbarous murther committed by a Portugueze Servant upon his Master The Lord Holles Embassador to the French King June Iudge Mallet by reason of his age dispenced with and Sir John Keeling sworn in his place Dr. Bramhal departs this life Gayland assaults Tangier Re●reats with 〈◊〉 Makes another Attack but is forc'd to
uncertainty of the Kings intentions in the matters declared The Marquess Hamilton being arrived at London gave the King an account of the whole business and according to his new instructions returned back again by their appointed time the 15 th of August 1638. and entred presently into a Treaty with them about the manner of calling the General Assembly which they would not hear of but that a General Assembly should be immediately called and of the due Elections thereto when they were met themselves should be the judge For otherwise there would of necessity be some prelimitations which the freedom thereof might not suffer Upon this Emergency all things growing worse and worse the Marquess was forced upon another journey to consult the King the Covenanters concluding that if he returned not before the 21 of September they would of themselves Indict this Convention who concluded of giving that Kingdom the utmost satisfaction and with a Commission to summon this Assembly returned But the day after the Covenanters contrary to promise made an Election in one of the Presbyteries Adjacent of themselves whereas throughout the Kingdom according to the directions of the Tables Lay-Elders and Ministers were chosen together a thing never seen before in that Kingdom This Assembly the Source of those calamities which afterwards embroyl'd and enslaved that Nation was held at the City and University of Glasgow in November 1638. in which they so carried and packt the Elections that there was scarce one Dissenter from those Resolutions they had profest in their Covenant The Bishops were Totally excluded from sitting or voting therein but were cited to compeer as offenders and answer their charge Against these proceedings and the illegality of the constitution of this Assembly they first protested and tendered their reasons but they would not be admitted for such so that the Lord Commissioner seeing no hope of Justice Law or Reason or Loyalty taking place there at seven days end dissolved them by a Proclamation which they took no further notice of then only by opposing another Protestation wherein they declared that the Assembly ought not to be nor was as dissolved until such time as those ends so often before expressed were fully attained and so proceeded in their Session Strange and desperate was the Pride of this Assembly far beyond the Popes infallible Councils taking upon them to be the Supreme Judicatory on earth above all Laws and Parliaments and King himself as Christs Council and that if the Judges and other Ministers of State should not obey their Commandment they might proceed to sentence of Excommunication against them Which was effectually put in practice afterwards against the Bishops and their adherents before they armed themselves otherwise against their Soveraign Yet notwithstanding they did pretend that the King should he be satisfied of the equity and lenity of their proceedings would no doubt comply with them in the matters they Petitioned for which more exasperated his Majesty than all the Violations and Usurpations of his Authority The Earl of Arguile who had hitherto kept fair with the King and was one of his Privy Council there now owned the Covenanters and professed his adherence to their cause It is believed he was one of the first that stirred in this unfortunate business and that therefore the better to satisfie him the King after the first Pacification made him a Marquess More certain it is he was the last that suffered in it as in the conclusion of this Chronicle will appear I have insisted the longer on this story because the general Commotions that followed it ran almost the same parallel in their respective commencements in the three Kingdoms and to shew that neither prudence nor arms both which were seasonably applyed could stop or prevent those judgements of Confusion and Ruine which soon after ensued this Tragical Prologue in a miserable catastrophe For the Scots presently began to arm having first sent to the French King craving his aid and assistance which was readily proffered them by Cardinal Richlieu his chief Minister of State who was supposed to have fomented the quarrel from the very beginning to quit scores with the King of England for siding with the Rochellers in the beginning of his Raign But before any blood was drawn came over the Queen-Mother whom the generality of the people took for a Prognostick or ill Omen of a War or some Rupture approaching Many scandals were raised against the King for her admission hither but all things were gone too far beyond the contribution of her advice to make her guilty of our troubles However she seemed the Comet that did portend and foretel them the like Commotions having happened for some years past in the places of her residence The Scots towards the end of the year 1638 had gotten together a competent Army raised by the Authority and Ordinance of the aforesaid Assembly for the pretended defence of the Kingdom its Religion and Laws Nor did the King neglect the affairs of that Kingdom but was arming here in England with all the speed his Purse would afford which was then in a low ebb Yet by the Loans of the Nobility Gentry and Clergy he had raised a gallant Army with which he marched towards the borders Over this Army the Earl of Arundel was made General the Earl of Essex Lieutenant-General of the Foot and the Earl of Holland Lieutenant-General of the horse A Fleet also was rigged and well manned and set to Sea under the command of the aforesaid Marquess Hamilton which soon after came to an Anchor in the Frith neer Edinburgh The King being thus in readiness Emitted another Declaration wherein he taxed the Scots with several rebellious Libels for their Protestations against his commands for usurping his Authority and for refusing the Oath of Allegiance and Supremacy upon account of their having taken the Covenant reiterates his resolutions of maintaining Episcopacy in that Kingdom and lays the blood if any were spilt in that quarrel upon themselves as Rebels whom he ought not longer to suffer to proceed in those undutiful and destructive courses but hoped to reduce to their former and due Obedience To which the 22 of March the said Assembly reply by an Ordinance wherein after expostulating the Kings Declaration they curse themselves if they intend any harm to England concluding their War to be meerly defensive and grounded upon the natural and Civil Law Anno Dom. 1639. THe King set forward with his Army and in April came to York and in May to Barwick where both Armies came in view one of another When the King was at York the Earls of Roxborough and Traquair two formerly of his Council and Officers of State came to him as Commissioners from the Covenanters under pretence of Treating with the King who wanting their due Commission and being suspected to have been sent on an errand purposely to tamper with the
English Lords and to perswade them of the honest intentions of the Scotch Nation were therefore for a while committed but soon after set at liberty having in part effected their errand and insinuated a good opinion of their proceedings withal begot an intelligence and correspondence with some of the Peers who before were well inclined to their cause This appeared soon after in the English Councils of War where the first Gallantry and Resolutions of the Principal Commanders were seen to flag and abate and dissolve into more soft and pliable dispositions to peace The English Army being far superiour in Arms men and bravery was encamped near Barwick and the Scots at Dunslo when by mediation of the persons aforesaid a Treaty was begun which ended presently in a short-lived Peace upon several Articles which being not performed on the Scots part are needless here to repeat In the mean time the Parliament of Scotland according to the Kings Proclamation when he also summoned their Assembly met on the appointed 15th of May and was prorogued till the last of August at which time they sate four days and therein formed four demands for the King The Assembly also sate a little before and abolisht Episcopacie the Liturgy and the Book of Canons with the High Commission c. These things coming to the Kings knowledge together with a Pamphlet prevaricating the conditions of the late Treaty their Letters to the King of France for aid their new Provisions for Arms their levying of Taxes of ten marks per Centum and continuing their Officers and Fortifications induced him by his new Commissioner the Earl of Traquair to command the Adjournment of the Parliament until the second of Iune next ensuing upon pain of Treason Against which Command the Covenanters declare and send a Remonstrance to the King by the Earl of Dumfermling and the Lord Loudon the Chancellour of that Kingdom afterwards who coming without Warrant from the Kings Commissioner Traquair were sent back again Whereupon Traquair a person suspected to have abused his trust comes himself and advising with Hamilton they both propound to the Council the affairs of Scotland being so desperate whether it were not more expedient the King should go himself in person into Scotland than to reduce them by Arms which after many politique considerations was Resolved in the Affirmative That nothing could reclaim them to their duty but force of Arms. This again brought the Earl of Dumfermling and the Lord Loudon to London with two other Commissioners where before the King again they insisted upon the justification of their innocence and withal desired that the King would ratifie and confirm their proceedings and that their Parliament might proceed to determine of all Articles or Bills brought to them to the establishing of Religion and Peace But instead of an Answer to their requests the King charged them with the aforementioned Libel and their Letters and Intelligence held with the French King which then came to English light and were known by the Characters to be the writing of the Lord Loudon who was thereupon committed for a short time but released upon the mediation of the Marquess Hamilton After his release he and Dumfermling presented their Assemblies and Parliaments Remonstrance to the King and the Commissioner returned also and gave a full account of the state of that Kingdom All three of them being admitted unto the Council together the matter was there managed with so much anger and sharpness that the King and the Scots were more exasperated against one another than before The Prince Elector Palatine the Kings Nephew by the Queen of Bohemia about this time came into England having utterly lost his interest in the Palatinate by the late defeat given him there by Count Hatsfield the Emperours General where Prince Rupert so famous afterwards in our Wars and the Lord Craven were taken he staid not long here but departed again and was taken at Lions by the French having past so far undiscovered he was soon after released and returned into England where by the Parliament he had 8000 l. a year assigned him out of his Uncles the Kings Revenue till after His Murther he departed home upon the Articles of Munster-Treaty by which he was restored to his Dignities and Sovereignty being conveyed hence in 1649. in a man of War to the Brill in Holland This year was signalized also by a famous Sea-fight between the Flemings and the Spaniards in the Downs Don Antonio Ocquendo was Admiral of the Spanish Fleet which consisted of seventy Sail of great Ships and Gallions on which were put aboard as the report went twenty five thousand men designed for the service of the Spaniard against the Dutch of the one side and the French on the other and were ordered to be landed at Dunkirk with money for the paying of his Armies then afoot On the 17th of September they were met by the Vice-Admiral of the Holland-Fleet who engaging them in the Chanel was worsted but getting to windward kept near them continuing firing to give Van Trump then before Dunkirk notice of their approach Betwixt Dover and Calice the two Dutch Fleets joyn and attaque the Spaniard the English Fleet under the Command of Sir Iohn Pennington looking on the while who being sore bruised was forced to the English Coast where the Spanish Ambassadour desired they might be protected for two Tides by the Kings Ships but that could not be allowed for the Kings Neutrality between both Whereupon in the night some part with the most of the Treasure and fourteen Ships got safe to Dunkirk the rest Van Trump being recruited with an hundred Ships in an instant almost of time set upon and dispersed sinking and taking and stranding very many so that few escaped home This was the second luckless Armado of the Spaniard on which the malecontents of this and the Kingdom of Scotland grounded many false and scandalous surmises against the King To return again to Scotland where I may not omit one fatal passage On the 19th day of November being the Anniversary of his Majesties Birth part of the Walls of the strong Castle of Edenburgh fell down which was likewise interpreted for an ill Omen such another though more unhappily and nearly significant was that of the fall of the head of his staff at his Tryal before the pretended High Court of Justice For the repairing of these ruines the King sent the Lord Estrich Col. Ruthen and others who were resisted by the Covenanters as men not qualified for the service No hopes for these and other reasons being conceivable of treating and perswading the Scots to obedience a Resolution was taken vigorously to prosecute the War commenced the year before to which purpose it was debated at a cabinet-Cabinet-Council where none were present but the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury the Earl of Strafford and Hamilton and there agreed that a Parliament
departed a contented King from a contented people The Parliament at Westminster had scarce yet sat in a full House from their Adjournment curiously prying into the Errors and male-Administration of the Government here but the fearful news came of a horrid Rebellion broke forth in Ireland It seems no sooner that careful diligent eye of the Earl of Strafford was first distorted by the Scotch affairs and after put out and extinguished by the English envy but the Irish resumed their wonted desires after liberty which they never yet attempted upon a less foundation than a total Massacre and utter extirpation of the English in that Kingdom so that in effect however the Parliament threw the odium of that Rebellion there upon the King Questionless it can be no where imputable ab extra from without but from their unwarrantable proceeding against the said Earl whose name and presence alone would have been sufficient to have prevented it or his wisdom and power able to have suppressed it This affrighting news when the Kingdom was already in a trepidation labouring with its own fears and pretended dangers soon brought the King from Scotland with all possible haste to London where notwithstanding those troubles he was most welcomly and as magnificently entertained the Citizens on Horseback with Gold-chains and in their several Liveries in Rayles placed along the streets chearfully receiving him the sober part of the Nation not valuing the Irish troubles if the King and his Parliament should but happily agree if the breaches could be but closed here there was no doubt of stanching the wound there But it was otherwise meant by the faction who added that conflagration as fuel to this suggesting to the multitude that what was acted against the Protestants there was likewise intended to be put in Execution here the Authors of one being also so of the other sinisterly traducing the King as inclining to Popery which they point-blank charged upon the Archbishop of Canterbury which imputation diffused it self afterwards upon the whole Order This torrent of the multitude was swelled so high even at this reception of the King that one Walker an Iron-monger as his Majesty passed from Guild-Hall where he was most sumptuously feasted at the City-charge Sir Richard Gurney being then Mayor threw into his Coach a scandalous Libel Intituled To your Tents O Israel which indignity the King complained of and thereupon Walker was put in Prison yet afterwards he Libelled a great deal worse both in Press and Pulpit But since the settlement of the Church he procured a lawful Ordination I mention this man as the shame of that zealotry which so furiously commenced this unnatural War The first business transacted with the King by the two Houses was an account of the Irish Rebellion the King having acquainted them in a short Speech of his composure of the Scotch troubles and soon after conjuring them to joyn with him in the speedy suppressing of the Irish whose dangers grew every day greater Iobs Messengers perpetually bringing over worser and worser news from that Kingdom where most of the Nobility were confederated in that horrid revolt having made Sir Phelim Oneal the chief of the family of Tyrone the late famous Rebel there in the latter part of the Raign of Queen Elizabeth and bred in Lincolns-Inn and then a Protestant but turned a bloody Papist though a most sneaking and silly Coward the supreme Commander of their Forces which then were raised in great numbers throughout all the Provinces Deep waters run stillest and with the least noise so was it with this Plot. It was very strange that a designe of such vastness of so great mischief and horrour should be concealed among a multitude that were concerned in it But this devilish secrecy was imputable onely to the ancient irreconciliable malice of the Irish against the English whose yoke sundry times they had attempted to shake off not for any oppression they were under but out of a natural desire of being Lords and Masters of their own liberty But nevertheless it pleased God that it came in the very nick of the execution of their Plot to be revealed by one of that Nation or otherwise that Kingdom had been in danger to be lost as Sicily was from the French by a sudden massacre The chief Instrument in carrying on this horrible Plot was one Roger Moor descended of an ancient Irish family but allyed to most of the Gentlemen of the English Pale He made several journeys into all the four Provinces of this Kingdom communicating his intelligences from forrain Popish Courts and the transactions of their Priests and Fryars there to the encouragement of this Revolt Another of the greatest confidents and complices in this designe was the Lord Viscount Gormanston of the English Pale which generally sided with the Rebels as being inoculated into Irish stocks and were Papists generally though against all opinion of the Council for that they had been such enemies to the Earl of Tyrone in his grand Rebellion But the menacing speeches and denunciations of the English Parliament against Papists in both Kingdoms especially in this where they threatned a total extirpation cannot be denyed to be one if not the principal cause why they made this defection from their Country and Allegiance The 23 of October was the day pitcht upon for the general rising and the Lord Macguire Col. Mac Mahon Col. Plunket and Capt. Fox Hugh Birn and Roger Moor were appointed for the seizure of Dublin-Castle which would at once have done their work those persons with a competent number of men to their assistance came one day before to Town and had conference together at the Lyon-Tavern near Copper-Ally where one Owen O Conally an Irish Gentleman but a retainer to Sir Iohn Clotworthy was admitted and by Mac Mahon informed of the conspiracy After a large drinking to their next mornings success O Conally privily repaired to the Lord Justice Parsons to whom and Sir Iohn Borlace the other Justice the Government was committed after my Lord Straffords death The Lord Dillon was likewise named and constituted but to avoid the jealousie and grudgings thereat the King had disauthorized him and very disturbedly and confusedly by reason of the drink and his horrour at the story revealed the chiefest part of it It was thereupon advised by the said Lord Justice for a fuller and certainer account to send him back again to the said Mac Mahon commanding him to return that night again to him which he did from the said Tavern and company who would have kept him there all night by pretending to ease himself and thence leaping over a wall and a set of pales into the streets In the mean time the Lord Justice Parsons went to the Lord Borlaces house and there assembled a Council by the coming of Sir Thomas Rotheram and Sir Robert Meredith who resolved first to attend the return of O Conally who in his
Council attending him at York and declares that he will not require any obedience from them but by the Laws of the Land charging them not to yeild obedience to any commands illegally imposed by others and that he will defend them and all others from the Votes of Parliament Lastly that he will not engage them in any War against the Parliament except for necessary defence against such as invade him or them Then came out his general Declaration where after he had fully unmasqued the pretences of the Parliament in their project of Liberty and Religion he excites all his loving subjects according to their Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy to contribute their aid and assistance for the opposing and suppressing those Trayterous attempts of such persons as would destroy his Person Honour and Estate and engage the Kingdom in a Civil War D●claring that whoever shall bring unto him Money or Ammunition Horse and Arms for his or the publique defence shall receive 8 l. per centum interest to be assured out of his Forrest-Lands Parks and Houses And then issues out a Proclamation shewing the Legality of his Commissions of Array To all these the Parliament respectively answer justifie their proceedings and promise to use the money advanced for the Irish service according to the first designation of it though herein they failed abundantly converting the most part of it to their own use and necessities Though the Parliament was intent on the business of levying Arms yet several Patriots of both Houses did what they could to perswade to an accommodation amongst whom Sir Benjamin Rudyard was one of the chief who all along warned them of the miseries of a Civil War and what a shame it would be to them in after-times and so consequently to all Parliaments if when the King had condescended so far they should proceed to the effusion of blood upon so unnecessary a quarrel He dyed soon after the first blood was drawn and that speech of his on his death-bed is very remarkable Mr. Pym and Mr. Hambden the Grandees of the then Faction told me saith he That they thought the King so ill beloved by his Subjects that he could never be able to raise an Army to oppose them Which mistake of theirs cost many thousand lives On the contrary also many elaborate vehement Speeches were made by Mr. Pym and other Grandees to encourage the Citizens to stand fast to the interest of the Parliament and the City was not wayward to such councels Isaac Penington was Mayor a busie stickler of the Faction and many of the Court of Aldermen were little better affected the Common Council were generally of the same temper and indeed the greatest number of the people inhabiting the said City were alike disposed Now the Militia was on foot every where the Parliaments Cause had the precedency of affection their Ordinances being obeyed like Acts wherefore the King prohibited by Proclamation any Levi●s or Musters of his Subjects any where in England without his command and sets on foot his Commission of Array which the Parliament likewise inhibit to be obeyed any where but neither of them signified any thing to those that were bent and inclined to each Cause so that the preparations for War both of Men Horse Money and Arms went on very fast especially on the Parliaments side at London where all persons of all ages and Sexes contribute so excessively to the furtherance of the War that the sum which it amounted unto is almost incredible This money was borrowed upon the credit of the PVBLIQVE FAITH by an Ordinance of Parliament a name much adored then and as much contemned and hated afterwards The King finding how the pulse of these distracted Kingdoms did beat giving symptoms of some violent disease and distemper approaching redoubled his instances to the Houses for peace adjuring them to prevent that blood-sh●d now so threatning and imminen● and they reg●st the like entreaties and ●●●●●stations upon him but not bating an ace or receding a tittle from the●r 〈◊〉 Demands so that there was no hopes or likelihood of a Pacification Nor wanted there Artifices to uphold and maintain this Credit and Autho● 〈◊〉 which the Parliament had gained over the City their Purses and Affections they were told and that in solemn Assemblies that the evil Counsellors about the King intended the abrogation of their Cities Charter and if they prevailed would expose their Wives and Children to Rapine Violence and Villany and the wealth and riches of the City a prey to desperate and necessitous persons All which while they continued in the Parliaments protection they should have no cause to fear With these preparatory discourses and incentives the War was presently ushered in nay the Citizens were ready to court it as the certainest way of safety Add we also the encouragements of the Ministers of London to the other incitations who were so violent in their crying up the Cause that even meer Children became Volunteers forsook their Parents and followed the Camp Thither also are we now come For from the Kings leaving his Court at York with an intent to encourage his party in the Commission of Array and stitle the Ordinance of the Militia we cannot call his removes a Progress but Expedition and indeed it was a perfect War levyed though at such distances that the twilight of peace was preserved only by his hovering neer the Solstice of his Kingdom the midland without engaging the confines of their Association which if he had done speedily it is probable we had not seen that night of confusion that followed in his setting and declination His Majesty therefore having again called the Gentry of York together at rendezvous protested his unwillingless as well as unprovidedness for a War desiring if he should be thereunto compelled their assistance in the maintaining his most just Cause and then departed for Lincolnshire to Newark whither he had sent before his Letters Mandatory to my Lord Willoughby of Parham charging him to desist from raising levying or exercising any forces within that County by vertue of his Commission from the Parliament wherein nevertheless he had proceeded Here the King convened the Gentlemen of this County and made to them the like Protestations and having received some small supplies returned back again to York At the same time the Parliament were listing men apace and appointing their General and the Superior Officers of the Army His Majesty about this time meeting with some oppositions from the Earl of Stamford Lord-Lieutenant of Leicestershire for the Parliament was pleased to proclaim the said Earl and his adherents Traytors to the great dissatisfaction of the Parliament On the other side Insurrections happening in Essex the Parliament send down Sir Thomas Barrington and Mr. Grymstone to quell their Tumults where they seize Sir Iohn Lucas and his Lady at Colchester commit them to the Goale send his
their expert General to boyl and beat their Bed-cords to make Match of it But long they were not surrounded in that untenable place before Prince Maurice the Earl of Carnarvan the Lord Wilmot and Lord Biron with 1500 choyce Horse came to their rescue and presented themselves on the 13 of the same Month by break of day to the Enemies Leaguer and having given a signe to their Friends within fell with much valour on their Enemies and routed them on Round-way-down Which Onset being seconded from the Foot within proved a total rout to the Enemy whose Curassiers under Sir Arthur Hazlerig made some resistance but being once broken became the ruine of the Infantry who presently submitted and had quarter given them Here were slayn 800 besides what fell in the pursuit which was continued ten miles an end with great Fury but then their tired Horses began to lag And so Sir William and Sir Arthur came first to Bristol thence to Farnham and from thence with expedition to London There were taken two Thousand Prisoners four Brass Guns with their Ammunition and Baggage eight and twenty Colours and nine Corners Upon this fortunate day the Queen with the King from Edge-Hill made her joyful Entry into Oxford and not long after the Earl of Lindsey who was taken Prisoner when his Father was killed at Edge-Hill was welcomed to the Court there from his restraint This loss soon reduced Bristol into the Kings hands being delivered by Colonel Fiennes after three days siege to Prince Rupert for which surrender he had like to have lost his head These successes drew the King into the West where Dorchester Portland Weymouth and Melcomb submitted themselves Bidiford Appleford and Barnstable surrendred and after a little dispute before Exeter and some Granadoes thrown in and firing part of the Suburbs the great Sconce being taken in storm that City was delivered to Prince Maurice and Sir Iohn Berkly made Governour We must retrospect a little lest the hurrying of the War carry us from other remarkables The Marquess of New-Castle a little before Fryday Iune 30 obtained a victory over the Lord Fairfax at Adderton-Heath where he routed the Parliamentarians gained their five pieces of Cannon and so amazed them that they fled to Leeds which way was precluded and obstructed then to Bradford in their flight whither he took and killed two thousand while Fairfax hardly escaped to Leeds with the Convoy of one Troop of Horse The next day the said Earl came before Bradford which after the Battering of forty great Shot he took with two thousand more of the same party the next morning with all their Arms and Ammunition Hereupon Hallifax was quitted by the Parliamentarians and Sir Hugh Cholmley took Beverley The Lady Aubigney Wife to that Noble Lord who dyed of his wounds at Edge-Hill had brought to London according to the intelligence and desires of some Citizens of London from the King a Commission of Array the designe whereof was that they should seize into their custody the Kings Children some Members of Parliament the Lord Mayor and Committee of the Militia all the City Outworks and Forts the Tower of London and all the Magazines Then to let in the Kings Army to surprize the City to destroy all opposers and this grounded upon refusal of paying of Taxes imposed without Authority The Plot however came to be discovered and great noise was made about it The principal men were Mr. Edward Waller a Parliament-man who with much ado and great friends came off with the fine of ten thousand pounds Some Lords were suspected to favour the business also Mr. Tompkins Clerk of the Queens Council Mr. Chaloner a Linen-Draper Mr. Hasel Mr. Blinkborn Mr. White and others These were all Arraigned before a Council of War at Guild-Hall where four of the last were sentenced to be hanged and two of them suffered accordingly leaving sad and mournful Widows behind them for their Loyalty and affection to their Soveraign The Parliament now set a Fine of twenty thousand pounds upon Judge Berkley who had been a long time Prisoner for encouraging the designe of Ship-money he is likewise voted incapable of any Office or Dignity in the Commonwealth and to remain in Prison during pleasure By the King it was concluded to set upon Glocester being the only considerable place that held out for the Parliament in the West and lay very inconvenient hindering the intercourse betwixt Wales and the West-Countries In order whereunto his Majesty on the tenth of August came from Oxford in Person before it with a Royal Army while it was hardly imaginable where the Parliament could raise another Army and that done to march for London which proved a Fatal mistake to the King for if he had gone directly for London there was no opposition in readiness against him nor any place to stay him The King being resolved to gain Glocester after Prince Rupert had summoned it at a distance having close begirt it and being displeased that such a forlorn City should stand out against him yet desirous to gain it without blood and loss of time which seemed then precious in his Career of victory sent in this honourable Summons by two Heraulds CHARLES REX OVt of Our tender compassion to Our City of Glocester and that it may not receive any prejudice by Our Army which We cannot prevent if We be compelled to assault it We are therefore personally come before it to require the same and are graciously pleased to let all the Inhabitants of and all other persons within that City as well Souldiers as others know that if they shall immediately submit themselves and deliver this City to Vs We are contented freely and absolutely to pardon every one of them without exception and do assure them on the Word of a King that they nor any of them shall receive the least damage or prejudice by Our Army in their persons and estates but that We will appoint such a Governour and a moderate Garrison to reside there as shall be both for the ease and security of that City and the whole Country But if they shall neglect this offer of Grace and Favour and compel Vs by the power of Our Army to reduce that place which by the help of God We shall easily and shortly be able to do they must thank themselves for all the calamities and miseries which shall befall them To this Message We expect a clear and positive answer within two hours after the publishing hereof and by these presents do give leave to any persons safely to repair to and return from Vs whom that City shall desire to employ unto Vs in that business And We do require all the Officers and Souldiers of Our Army quietly to suffer them to pass accordingly To this Summons an Answer was returned in Writing delivered by Major Pudsey and a Citizen in these Words WE the Inhabitants
of those Tumultuaries before they could be quiet and were scarce returned to their seats before they had notice of the approach of the Army who in scorn of the Parliaments Commands of keeping at 30 miles distance were approached to 10 and had appointed a Rendezvouz on Hounsloe-heath This Alarm begot strange and different passions in the Citizens the wealthier sort began to flinch from those resolutions of adhering to their Engagement to save their bags nothing being more vogued among the people than that the City would be plundered as it was given out by some of the Grandees of the Army but the Milita●●●●en and those of meaner fortunes seemed to take courage from the nearness of the danger offering to meet it and if the pusillanimity of the Court of Aldermen had not hindred Massey would have given the Army then quartering part of it on this side Braynford a salute or Camisado by that means to make Rupture wide and past the cure of a reconciliation Nevertheless the defensive part from their own concerns they undertook guarding the Works and Fortifications round the City quartering several reserves in whole Regiments in the fields more particularly those parts nearest the Army out of dread of another Wat Tyler or Iack Cade with his Rebel-rout a judgement this famous City hath been more subject to than any City in the World most of which have often suffered by their own intestine divisions but were in fine glad to seek Peace betrayed at their own doors by one Hardwick Colonel of the Southwark Regiment and who then guarded the Works on that side which were opened to Colonel Hewsin by their Commissioners Fouk Gibs and Estwick acceptable men to the Army for they durst not for fear of a dismission re infecta send others then attending the General at Hounsloe The King hears this and to avoid the Scandal of these Uproars which he in prudence did see primarily concern others though they would right or wrong be Loaded upon him emitted this Paper to clear himself from them THere having been many Rumours spread and Informations given which may have induced many to believe that We intend to make War against Our Parliament We profess before God and declare to all the World That We always have and do abhor all such designes and desire all our Nobility and Commoners who are here upon the place to declare whether they have not been witnesses of as frequent and earnest Declarations and Professions to this purpose whether they see any colour of pr●parations and Counsels that might reasonably beget a belief of any such designe and whether they be not fully perswaded that We have no such intention but that all Our endeavours according to Our many Professions tend to the firm and constant Settlement of the true Protestant Religion the just Priviledges of Parliament the Liberty of the Subject the Law Peace and Prosperity of this Kingdom This even course of the Kings and constancy to himself so well known to the Army made them speak less to the Kings prejudice in the altercation about the priviledges of Parliament of which they now forsooth were the main assertors so that the King as he got nothing lost as little by this brangle between both Parties neither of them having whereon to fasten any cavil on the King in this matter who without medling with their differences further than his own private descants upon them awaited the Issue of Divine Providence The Army therefore the better to proceed and countenance their Rebellion His Majesty and Parliament being made a meer Cypher invite and engage the two Speakers and Fugitive Members to sit in consultation and pass Votes promiscuously with the Council of War in the nature of a Parliament and to Signe an Engagement dated the 4 of August to live and dye with Sir Thomas Fairfax and the Parliament and Army both under his Command affirming therein that generally throughout their sense agrees with the Declaration of Sir Thomas Fairfax and his Council of War which shewed the grounds of their present advance towards the City of London In this Declaration the Council of the Army took upon them also to be the Supream Judges of the Parliament discriminating whom of the two Houses they held for persons in whom the publike trust of the King remained and by whose advice they meant to govern themselves in managing the weighty affairs of the Kingdom They highly resent the late choice of a new Speaker by those Gentlem●n at Westminster and say that as things now stand there is no free nor legal Parliament sitting such being through the violence of the 26 of Iuly suspended That the Orders and Votes c. passed the 29 of Iuly last and all such as shall pass in this Assembly of Lords and Gentlemen at Westminster are void and null and ought not to be submitted unto This Remonstrance was the second to a Letter to the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen upbraiding them with the late Tumult as Enemies to the Peace of the Kingdom Treacherous to the Parliament and uitable to secure that or themselves and therefore demanding the City to be put into their hands to which purpose they were then on their way And to brave the City to a surrender their General sends out Warrants to raise the Trained-Bands of the near Counties to march with him against the City and both Houses although such Bands were not under pay of the Parliament and so not under any Command of the General by any Order or Ordinance But armed violence was not to be stopt with Lawyers niceties A Bumkin in a Leather-doublet must be a Red-coat by the same rule that Foxes have Horns This brought the City to the expected submission by which they obtained and thank you too these most dishonourable Conditions That they should yield to desert the Impeached Members call in their Declaration newly published relinquish their Militia deliver up all their Forts and Line of Communication to the Army together with the Tower of London which they had so clamorously and impudently extorted out of the Kings disposal and all the Magazines and Arms therein disband all their Forces and turn all the Reformadoes out of the Line withdraw ail their guards from the Parliament and receive such guards of Horse and Foot within the Line as the Army should appoint to guard them demolish their Works and suffer the whole Army to ma●ch through their City all which were suddenly and dishonourably yielded to and insolently executed the Souldiers marching in Triumph with Bays in their Hats through all the principal streets of the City boasting of their civil march as a great courtesy when there was men enough if they had offered to Plunder to have ●aten them This envious disdainful Triumph being over the next work was to reseat the Fugitive Members whom the General himself brought to both Houses with a strong party the two Palaces filled with
performance of such Agreements as shall be made in order to Peace his Majesty will consent to an Act of Parliament that the whole Power of the Militia both by Land and Sea for and during his whole Raign shall be ordered and disposed by his two Houses of Parliament or by such persons as they shall appoint with Powers limited for suppressing of Forces within this Kingdom to the disturbance of the Publike Peace and against Forain Invasion and that they shall have Power during his said Raign to raise money for the present purposes aforesaid and that neither his Majesty that now is or any other by his Authority derived onely from him shall execute any of the said Powers during his Majesties said Raign but such as shall act by the consent and approbation of the two Houses of Parliament Nevertheless His Majesty intends that all Patents Commissions and other Acts concerning the Militia be made and acted as formerly and that after His Majesties Raign all the Power of the Militia shall return entirely to the Crown as it was in the times of Queen Elizabeth and King Iames of Blessed Memory After this head of the Militia the consideration of the Arrears due to the Army is not improper to follow for the payment whereof and the ease of his people His Majesty is willing to concur in any thing that can be done without the violation of His Conscience and Honour Wherefore if His two Houses shall consent to remit unto Him such benefit out of Sequestrations from Michaelmas last and out of Compositions that shall be made before the concluding of the Peace and the Arrears of such as have been already made the assistance of the Clergy and the Arrears of such Rents of His own Revenue as His two Houses shall not have received before the concluding of the Peace His Majesty will undertake within the space of eighteen months the payment of 400000 l. for the satisfaction of the Army And if those means shall not be sufficient His Majesty intends to give way to the sale of Forrest-Lands for that purpose this being the publike debt which in His Majesties judgment is first to be satisfied And for other publike debts already contracted upon Church-Lands or any other Engagements His Majesty will give His consent to such Act or Acts for raising of moneys for payment thereof as both Houses shall hereafter agree upon so as they be equally laid whereby His People already too heavily burthened by these late distempers may have no more pressures upon them than this absolute necessity requires And for the further securing all Fears His Majesty will consent that an Act of Parliament be Passed for the disposing of the great Offices of State and naming of Privy Counsellours for the whole term of his Raign by the two Houses of Parliament their Patents and Commissions being taken from His Majesty and after to return to the Crown as is exprest in the Article of the Militia For the Court of Wards and Liveries His Majesty very well knows the consequence of taking that away by turning of all Tenures into common Soccage as well in point of Revenue to the Crown as in the protection of many of His Subjects being Infants Nevertheless if the continuance thereof seem grievous to His Subjects rather than he will fail on His part in giving satisfaction He will consent to an Act for taking of it away so as a full recompence be settled upon his Majesty and His Successors in perpetuity and that the Arrears now d●● be reserved unto Him towards the payment of the Arrears of the Army And that the memory of these late distractions may be wholly wiped away His Majesty will consent to an Act of Parliament for the Suppressing and making Null Oaths Declarations and Proclamations against both or either House of Parliament and of all Indictments and other Proceedings against any persons for adhering unto them And His M●jesty proposeth as the best expedient to take away all seeds of future differences that there be an Act of Oblivion to extend to all His Subjects As for Ireland the Cessation there is long since determined but for the future all other things being fully agreed His Majesty will give full satisfaction to His Houses concerning that Kingdom And although His Majesty cannot consent in Honour and Iustice to avoid all His own Acts and Grants past under His Great Seal since the 22 of May 1642. or to the confirming all the Acts and Grants passed under that made by the two Houses yet His Majesty is confident that upon perusal of particulars He shall give full satisfaction to His two Houses to what may be reasonably desired in that particular And now his Majesty conceives that by these his Offers which he is ready to make good upon the settlement of a Peace he hath clearly manifested his intentions to give full security and satisfaction to all Interests for what can justly be desired in order to the future happiness of his people And for the perfecting of these Concessions as also for such other things as may be proposed by the two Houses and for such just and reasonable demands as his Majesty shall finde necessary to propose on his part he earnestly desireth a Personal Treaty at London with his two Houses in Honour Freedom and safety it being in his Iudgment the most proper and indeed only means to a firm and settled Peace and impossible without it to reconcile former or to avoid future misunderstandings All these things being by Treaty perfected his Majesty believes his two Houses will think it reasonable that the Proposals of the Army concerning the Succession of Parliaments and their due Election should be taken into consideration As for what concerns the Kingdom of Scotland his Majesty will very readily apply himself to give all reasonable satisfaction when the desires of the two Houses of Parliament on their behalf or of the Commissioners of that Kingdom or of both joyned together shall be made known unto him This Answer was full and apportioned to all interests and shewed the incomparable prudence as well as invincible constancy of the King at which the Parliament shewed themselves much offended and communicated this their displeasure to the Scots Commissioners who participated seemingly with them therein but made no Reply to the King their custom being to set other Pens on work to discant upon them and pick out some jealous Observations to keep the people still to their party by bold assertions of His Majesties preva●ications and injustices in all his Papers and Messages to the Parliament some of them writ meanly scurrilously and impudently among the rest a most execrable and blasphemous Paper called a Hue and Cry after the King upon his flight from Hampton by one Needham that writ afterward the News-Book for them in others more modestly and politely with a fine but false edge which yet served to wound His Majesties Reputation
actions therein The third was An Act whereby all Titles and Honour of Peerage conferred on any since the 20 of May 1642. being the day that the Lord Keeper Littleton deserted the Parliament and carried away the Seal were Declared Void And it was further to be Enacted that no person that shall hereafter be made a Peer or his Heirs shall sit or Vote in the Parliament of England without the consent of both Houses of Parliament The fourth was An Act concerning the Adjournment of both Houses of Parliament whereby it was Declared that when and wither the two Houses shall think fit to Adjourn themselves the said Adjournments shall at all times be valid and good and shall not be judged or deemed to end or determine the Session of this Parliament The Proposals were 1. That the new Seal be Confirmed and the old Great Seal and all things passed under it since May 1642. be made Void 2. That Acts be Passed for raising moneys to pay publike Debts 3. That Members of both Houses put from their places by the King be restored 4. That the Cessation in Ireland be made Void and the War left to both Houses 5. That An Act of Indempuity be passed 6. That the Court of Wards be taken away and such Tenures turned into common Soccage 7. That the Treaties between England and Scotland be confirmed and Conservators of the Peace and Vnion appointed 8. That ●he Arrears of the Army be paid out of Bishops Lands Forfeited Estates and Forrests 9. That An Act be passed for abolishing Bishops and all appendants to them 10. That the Ordinance of disposing Bishops Lands be confirmed by Act. 11. That An Act be passed for the sale of Church-lands 12. That Delinquents be proceeded against and their Estates disposed of according to their several Qualifications 13. That an Act be passed for discharge of publike Debts 14. That Acts be passed for set●ling the Presbyterian Government and Directory F●urteen of the 39 Articles revised by the Assembly of Divines Rules and Directions concerning suspension from the Lords-Supper 15. That the chief Officers in England and Ireland be named by both Houses 16. That an Act be passed for the conviction of Popish Recusants 17. That an Act be passed for the Education of the Children of Papists by Protestants 18. and 19. Against Papists for levying penalties and prohibiting the hearing of Mass. 20. An Act be passed for Observation of the Lords-day 21. A Bill for Suppressing Innovations 22. And Advancement of Preaching 23. And against Pluralities and Non-residencie With●l The Commissioners were to desire His Majesty to give His Royal Assent to those four Bills by His Letters Patents under the Great Seal of England Signed by His Hand and Notified to the Lords and Commons Assembled together in the House of Peers it not standing then with the safety of the Kingdom for His Majesty to do it otherwise to wit at London and a Bill to be drawn for such Letters Patents to be presented Him and then a Warrant to Edward Earl of Manchester c. whereupon a Committee shall be sent to the Isle of Wight to Treat with Him only It was not intended to shew these shapeless abortions of Laws but that they should have been buried in their Chaos yet being the though unprepared matter of this beautiful Form of the Kings Answer the darkness of the one occasioning and preceding the light of the other they are here represented in this unreasonable lump an● 〈◊〉 Nothing indeed shews them better or it may be said worse so that they 〈…〉 Paraphrase or Comment Give me leave only to insert th● Scots sense of 〈◊〉 Bills and Proposals The Commissioners of Scotlan● having understood the proceeding of the Parliament in the business now 〈◊〉 publikely protested against it here and immediately followed the Commissio●ers to the Isle of Wight where they likewise presented His Majesty with this Paper There is nothing which we have more constantly endeavoured and do more earnestly desire than a good Agreement and happy Vnion between Your Majesty and your Parliaments of both Kingdoms neither have we left any means unessayed that by united Councils with the Parliament of England and making joynt applications to Your Majesty there might be a composition of all differences But the new Propositions communicated to us by the two Houses and the Bills therewith presented to Your Majesty are so prejudicial to Religion the Crown the Vnion and Interest of the Kingdoms and so far different from the former proceedings and engagements betwixt the Kingdoms as we cannot concur therein Therefore we do in the name of the Kingdom of Scotland dissent from these Proposals and Bills tendred to Your Majesty Lowden Lauderdale Charles Erskin Kennedy Berclay This was the first equal and good Office meant the King though they had greater concerns of their own but it something served to justifie the King to His people in His refusal to Sign them The Kings Answer was as followeth For the Speaker of the Lords House pro tempore to be Communicated c. CHARLES REX THe necessity of complying with all engaged Interests in these great distempers for a perfect Settlement of Peace His Majesty finds to be none of the least difficulties he hath met with since the time of His afflictions which is too visible when at the same time that the two Houses of the English Parliament do present to His Majesty several Bills and Propositions for His Consent the Commissioners for Scotland do openly protest against them so that were nothing in the case but the consideration of that difference His Majesty cannot imagine how to give such an Answer to what is now proposed as thereby to promise himself his great End A Perfect Peace And when his Majesty further considers how impossible it is in the condition he now stands to fulfil the desires of his two Houses since the onely ancient and known ways of passing Laws are either by his Majesties personal Assent in the House of Peers or by Commission under his Great Seal of England He cannot but wonder at such failings in the manner of Address which is now made unto him unless his two Houses intend that his Majesty shall allow of a Great Seal made without his Authority before there be any consideration had thereupon in a Treaty which as it may hereafter hazard the security it self so for the present it seems very unreasonable to his Majesty And though his Majesty is willing to believe that the intention of very many in both Houses in sending those Bills before a Treaty was onely to obtain a Trust from him and not to take any advantage by passing them to force other things from him which are either against his Conscience or Honour yet his Majesty believes it's clear to all understandings that these Bills contain as they are now Penned not onely the devesting himself of all Soveraignty and that without possibility of recovering it either to him or his
Cromwel and his Complices and out of commiseration to those Noble persons that suffered this persecution who though perhaps the Commonwealth may recover this loss by timely recruits of Literature do no doubt irremediably rue this their violent Revulsion out of that Bosome where they might and ought to have been cherished to a competent vigour enabling them to serve the Commonwealth and their own thus enforced necessities Sed quo vehor By these and the like distempers and pains in every part of it England began now to be Heart-sick and those ambulatory running Humours which spread through the whole mass of the people to Center at last in the Metropolis the City of London which had more successfully broke out but for the opposition it met with from the then Lord Mayor Alderman Warner Pennington's own second a Factious and Seditious person who discountenanced it by the Authority of his place appearing at the first hubbub thereof openly against it The manner was as followeth On the 9 of April being the Lords-day a number of Apprentices as was usual were playing in Moor-fields in the afternoon for the Parliament had abrogated all H●lydays and by a venerable Order had appointed one day in every Month for their Recreation in lieu of those Festivals after much coil and many elaborate Petitions and reference to and reports from Committees of both Houses concerning them which being told to a Company of Trained-Bands then upon the Guards whose Officers were some precise Schismaticks they came into the Fields and commanded them to depart which they refusing or delaying they fired some Pieces at them whereupon the Boys incensed took up Stones and couragiously fell upon them and routed them taking from them their Ensign which in a tumultuous and childish bravery they marched with into the City and being increased with additions like themselves affronted the Mayor and made him hastily retire to his own House for Sanctuary whither they followed him and seized on one of the Drakes he had planted for his defence and thence marched to the several Gates which they likewise secured more especially Ludgate which lay neerest their Enemy the Army who were then quartered at White-Hall and the Mews they guarded with the same Drake The City remaining the rest of that day and night in great terrour and confusion the Rabblé crying out for God and King Charles but no Person of Quality undertaking their Conduct or to bring them into Order and Discipline In the mean while the Army-Guards take the Alarm and conceiving it dangerous to venture into the City by night kept themselves in a readiness for the morning when Sir Thomas Fairfax himself entred by Aldersgate with Horse and Foot who fell a scouring the Streets and driving this unarmed and ungoverned Multitude before them wounding and killing divers innocent persons Men Women and Children in a cruel and hostile manner until they came to Leaden-hall where the Apprentices entred and endeavoured to maintain it But the avenues thereof being found defenceless and themselves not strong enough besides want of necessaries requisite thereunto they wisely and more prudently than any thing they did before slipt away and shifted for themselves few or none falling into the Armies hand but some upon enquiry afterward in the beginning of the Commonwealth were discovered and arrained of High Treason for levying War c. Two of whom a Vintner and a Meal-man Kensey and Matthews were convicted and condemned but by the mediation of Alderman Tichborn one of the best deeds likewise he ever did were reprieved and by the same means at last pardoned and assumed by him for a demonstration of his goodness to be the guard to his person on publike Trayning days This Insurrection or Riot rather was quickly noised to the uttermost parts of the Nation where it was reported and received with great advantage as we usually fancy and credit what we expect to the encouraging of all honest people to rise now and follow this example and redeem and rescue their Religion Laws Lives and Liberties now at stake for neither the several nor united practices of Parliament and Army Presbyterian nor Independents could impose upon them any longer Nor was there an easie belief given to this check of that Tumult but was supposed an Artifice and one of their old Lies with which they stuffed their News-Books since the whole Nation saw how they had irritated the City by their insolent carriage towards them in changing their Militia c. so that it was undoubtable they would embrace and improve the first opportunity Whereupon as the next Scene of this years Tragedy Colonel Laughorn Poyer and Powel who had done notable service for the Parliament in Wales rose in Pembroke-shire and Flint-shire to neer the number of 8000 men They had been by the Council of the Army which was Authorized always by the Parliament ordered to disband as being men of better and surer principles than they durst confide in in order to their subsequent designs which they understanding the drift of refused and flew to their Arms and for the strengthening of their Party Declare for the settlement of the King and Kingdom and gave notice to the Prince who then issued out Commissions as General for his Father of their intentions and present posture having secured ●enby-Castle and the Town and Castle of Pembroke to the same end This sudden and threatning defection put the Juncto at Derby-house to their dumps when another Express brought news that the like effects were to be looked for from North-Wales where Sir Iohn Owen was risen with a Force and had def●ated and taken Prisoner the High-Sheriff that opposed him and that Sir Nicholas Kemish an eminent Cavalier had likewise surprized Chepstow-Castle so tha● all Wales was like to be lost without a blow strucken from the late Conquerors who therefore hastened away Forces to re-establish their Dominion and suppress these dangerous beginnings Over these Colonel Horton was now Commissioned for the reducing those new and old Royalists Cromwel being if occasion should require preparing to second him Horton with the Stafford and Worcester-Forces and part of the Army quartering thereabouts advanceth against Laughorne his whole power consisting of not above 3000 men with whom making more hast than good speed a party thereof being under the Command of Colonel Fleming fell unawares into an Ambuscado and were most of them cut off the rest sheltring themselves in a neighbouring Church were forced to render at discretion which Fleming seeing and despairing that he should be able to answer this oversight at a Council of War or for some other cause laid violent hands upon himself and so dyed Horton no way daunted with this inauspicious entrance marched up and faced the Enemy who shewed themselves upon the hills and places of advantage making their Hubbubs to call the Country to their assistance In their descent whence into more even ground the Parliamentarians
Lords and Commons c. That they are not satisfied in the Propositions made by his Majesty in his Letter and that a Letter be sent to the Commissioners in the Isle of Wight to acquaint them that the Houses do well approve of their proceedings and do give them thanks c. requiring them still to proceed punctually according to their Instructions The Sum of His Majesties Propositions was this He expressed his Consent to the Proemial or first Proposition of acknowledging his beginning the War that he might not by denying it be refused Peace but that his Consent not to be valid till all was concluded in the Treaty Concerning the Church he will Consent that the Calling and Sitting of the Assembly of Divines at Westminster be confirmed for three years by Act of Parliament and will by Act of Parliament confirm likewise the Directory for 3 years in England Ireland and Wales and the Form of Government by Presbyters for the same term Provided that his Majesty and those of his judgment and others who cannot in Conscience submit thereunto he not obliged to comply with it And that a free Consultation may be had with the Assembly of Divines in the mean time twenty of his Majesties nomination being added to them whereby it may be determined how after the said term by his Majesty and the Parliament the said Church Government and Publique Worship may be setled and the Articles of Christian Religion now delivered him may then be considered of and care taken for tender Consciences Concerning the Bishops Lands and Revenues and to the Contracts and Purchases of them His Majesty will Consent to an Act or Acts of Parliament for their satisfaction whereby the Legal Estates for Lives or for Years at their choice not exceeding ninety nine years shall be made of those Lands at the old or some more moderate rents which if it will not satisfie his Majesty will propound and consent to some other way Provided that the Propriety and Inheritance of those Lands do still remain in the Church according to the pious intentions of the Donors and the rest that shall be reserved to be for their maintenance His Majesty will give Consent for a Reformation viz. Observation of the Lords-day and such other things in these their Propositions as they have desired as also Consents to those Propositions against Papists But as to the Covenant his Majesty is not therein satisfied that he can either Signe or Swear it or Consent to impose it on the Consciences of others nor conceives it proper or useful at this time to be insisted on Touching the Militia his Majesty conceives that their Propositions demand a far larger Power over the persons of his Subjects than hath ever hitherto been warranted by the Laws and Statutes of the Realm yet considering the present distractions require more and trusting in his two Houses of Parliament that they will not abuse the Power hereby granted his Majesty will consent to an Act of Parliament wherein it shall be declared That for the space of ten years or during his Majesties whole Reign if they shall think it more satisfactory the two Houses shall have the sole disposal of the Militia and raise Mony as in their Propositions And that neither the King his Heirs or Successors or any other but such as shall act by the Authority or Approbation of the Lords and Commons shall during the space of ten years exercise any of the Powers aforesaid nor after that term without the Advice of the Lords and Commons And Consents to the entrusting the Militia into the Cities hands according to their Propositions Provided That all Patents Commissions and other Acts concerning the Premises be made and acted in his Majesties Name by Warrant signified by the Lords and Commons or such other as they shall authorize for that purpose Touching Ireland his Majesty leaves it to the Determination of his two Houses and will give his Consent as is herein hereafter expressed Touching Publick Debts his Majesty will give his Consent to such an Act for raising of Monies by general and equal Taxations for the payment and satisfying the Arrears of the Army and Publique Engagementss of the Kingdom as shall be agreed on by both Houses of Parliament and shall be ordered by them or their appointment within the space of one year after passing an Act for the same His Majesty will give Consent that all the Great Officers of State and Iudges for the said term of ten years be nominated by the Parliament to continue quamdiu se bene gesserint and in the intervals of Parliament to be nominated by such as they shall authorize His Majesty will Consent That the Militia of the City and Liberties thereof during the space of ten years may be in the ordering and Government of the Lord Mayor Aldermen and common-Common-Council assembled or such as they shall appoint whereof the Lord Major and the Sheriffs for the time being to be three to be employed and directed from time to time by the Parliament And that no Citizen shall be drawn forth into the Field without his own consent And an Act be passed for granting and confirming the Charters Customs c thereof And that during the said ten years the Tower of London may be in the Government of the City of London and the Chief Officers thereof during the said space to be nominated and removeable by the common-Common-Council as was desired in the Propositions His Majesty having thus far expressed his Consent for the present satisfaction and securing of his two Houses of Parliament and those that have adhered unto them touching the four first Propositions and other the particulars before-specified as to all the rest of the Propositions delivered to him at Hampton-Court not referring to those ●eads and to that of the Court of Wards since delivered as also to the remaining Propositions concerning Ireland His Majesty desires only when he shall come to Westminster personally to advise with his two Houses and to deliver his Opinion and Reasons of it which being done he will leave the whole matter of those remaining Propositions to the determination of his two Houses which shall prevail with him for his Consent accordingly And his Majesty doth for his own particular only propose that he may have liberty to repair forthwith to Westminster and be restored to a condition of absolute Freedom and Safety a thing which he shall never deny to any of his Subjects and to the possession of his Lands and Revenues and that an Act of Oblivion and Indemnity may pass to extend to all persons for all matters relating to the late unhappy differences which being agreed by his two Houses of Parliament his Majesty will be ready to make these his Concessions binding by giving them the force of Laws by his Royal assent Though these Condescentions nor indeed if they had been to the very letter of the
State-affairs to the settlement of the Nation and their Message to that purpose they had scornfully rejected not looking upon them as a part of the people but at one blow and with the breath of one Vote which imported that the House of Lords were useless and dangerous and so ought to be abolished they laid them aside having given order for an Act to be drawn up accordingly yet so far indulging their Honours the favour of any mean Subjects priviledge to be Elected either Knight or Burgess to serve in their House Against this civil and political Execution came forthwith likewise a Declaration and Protestation dated February the 8. in the name of the Nobility braving them with their illegal Trayterous Barbarous and bold saucy Usurpation with other arguments mingled with threats menaces invectives which will be too tedious to recite And indeed it was to little purpose then for it was too late to argue with or to Vapour against those men who were so Fortified in their new Empire by a so numerous and potent and well-paid Army Something might have been done when this Cockatrice was a hatching but now its angry looks were enough to kill those that enviously beheld it And to let them see how little they valued and how slightly they thought of the injury the Peers so highly urged they with the same easie demolition of Kingly-Government by a Vote that it is unnecessary burdensome and dangerous overwhelm the whole Fabrick together bidding them seek a place to erect their Monumental Lordships and Honour was never yet so neer a shaddow Now that they were thus possest of the whole entire Power and Authority for the better-exercise thereof and the speedier fruition of the sweets thereof they agree to part and divide the Province the Government among them To this end they concluded to erect an Athenian Tyranny of some 40 of them under the Name and Title of a Council of State to whom the Executive part of their Power should be committed while the Parliament as they called their Worships should exercise onely the Judicatory part thereof and so between them make quick work of their business in confounding and ruining the Kingdom And that they might likewise appear to the people as great preservers of the Laws and to study their weal in the due aministration of Justice their next care was for drawing up Commissions for the Judges which ran in the new stile of the Keepers of the Liberties of England by Authority of Parliament and to that purpose a Conference was had by a Committee with the Judges about it six whereof agreed to hold upon a Proviso to be made by an Act of the House of Commons that the Fundamental Laws should not be abolished a very weak security but that it met with strong and prepared confidence these were Lord Chief Justice Rolls and Justice Iermyn of the Kings-Bench Chief Justice Saint-Iohn and Justice Pheasant of the Common-Pleas and Chief Justice Wilde how he was made so Captain Burleigh tells us and Baron Yates the other six refused as knowing the Laws and the present Anarchy were incompatible and incapable of any expedient to sute them together But the one half was very fair and served to keep the Lawyers in practice and from dashing at their illegal Authority In pursuance of that promise made to those Judges that held and to deceive and cologne the people they Passed a Declaration That they were fully resolved to maintain and would uphold and maintain preserve and keep the Fundamental Laws of the Nation as to the preservation of the Lives Liberties and Properties of the People with all things incident thereunto saving those alterations concerning the King and House of Lords already made And yet notwithstanding they at the same time were Erecting High Courts of Justice impressed Sea-men and levied illegal Taxes by Souldiers and many other Enormities But it seems those Judges were content with the preservation of the litigious part of the Law extending this Proviso no further than to the private disputes of Meum Tuum whilst this publike Monster swallowed all Having thus establisht themselves in the Civil Power with some face of a Democratical Authority they proceeded to other Acts of State to give reputation to themselves and strength to their Government the first whereof was their Voting a New stamp for Coyn whereby their Soveraignty might be notified to all the world in the Trade and traffique thereof Next designing several Agents and Envoys to go to the Courts of Forrain Princes and there by their specious challenges and shews of Liberty and publike good the pretence of the Law of Nations peculiarly the Municipal Laws of this to palliate over the Justifie their unparallell'd proceedings against the King of which Messengers we shall presently speak And so we shall for a while leave these Usurpers amidst the several Complements given them by way of Salutation from the Army and Sectarian party under the yet-continued Notion of the Godly who forsooth highly magnified their Justice in this and urged them in their Addresses to extend it further About this time the Parliament Nulled the Monthly Fast on Wednesday which had continued through all the War thinking to impose upon the people as if God had answered all their prayers in that Murther of the King and that the work of Reformation was now accomplished It was high time therefore for such of the Kings party as were in their hands to look about them for besides the rise and most certain rumour of a general Massacre intended against the whole which was debated at a Council of War and carried but by two Votes they had special information of proceedings to be had against them in the same way of Tryal before a High Court of Justice First therefore Colonel Massey escapes away from Saint Iames's just upon the Kings Death next Sir Lewis Dives and Master Holden being brought to White-hall upon examination pretending to ease themselves got down the Common-shore to the Water-side and escaped leaving their Warders in the lurch and to a vain research after them The Lord Capel likewise made a handsome escape out of the Tower but passing by Water to Lambeth in the Boat of one Davis a Water-man and unhappily and fatally casting out some words by way of enquiry of the said Lord the wicked villain suspecting the truth seized him at Lambeth from whence he was re-conveyed to the same Prison in order to his speedy Tryal his Betrayer being preferred by the Parliament became the scorn and contempt of every body and lived afterward in shame and misery And the Lord of Loughborough Brother to Ferdinando then Earl of Huntingdon famous for several Loyal Services but most maligned by the Parliament for the last effort thereof at Colchester gave them also the slip from Windsor-Castle where he and the Colonels Tuke Hamond and Francis Heath newly at liberty upon his parole to
Enemy was now retired into his Garrisons that the weather was bitter and unfit for action the Winter being now come on or if it were not so that he had neither Meat nor Money wherewith to keep his men any longer together having since the Revolt of Munster which deprived him of the greatest share of his Contributions and Provisions been a long time already forced to live upon the spoil of the rest of the Country he concluded upon dispersing his Army into Quarters also which because the Principal Towns refused to admit them in he was fain to scatter over all the Kingdom The greatest part of the Vlster-Forces were sent into their own Province there to chuse a new General according as their conditions allowed them for Owen O Neal was dead and Luke Taafe with his men were sent back into Connaght to the Lord of Clanrickard The Lord Inchiqueen with the remainder of such as belonged unto him went over into the County of Clare the Lord Dillon with his into Meath and towards Athlone all the rest were scattered several ways onely Major-General Hugh O Neal was admitted with about 1600 Vlster-men into Clonmell as Governour and Kilkenny received also a competent Garrison to secure them against so ill Neighbours as both Rosse and Carrick were Here you may behold a summary of what past in the field since the Army first set forth until their going to their Winter-quarters in all which time how ill soever the success hath been nothing can with any colour of reason be laid to the Lord-Lieutenants charge except the not punishing those many Failings Treacheries and Disorders that were committed during this Summers Expedition Yet as to the disobedience and neglects in the Siege of Dublin I gave you Reasons why that was past over before and those that were committed since were for the most part by men of that condition and interest that it was neither safe nor fit all things considered to call them to an account As for Treacheries most of the Authors of them took care to secure themselves and in time get out of reach onely Crosby that betrayed Kingsale after he was designed to dye by the Lord-Lieutenant upon the Lord Inchiqueens coming to Town was I know not for what considerations reprieved and saved The want of money to pay the Souldiers and the exigences they were for the most part in after the mischance at Dublin did so much Authorize their disorders in the Country that if they had not been past by and connived at there had been no means of keeping them together So that I have many reasons to believe that notwithstanding the defeat at Dublin and success upon Drogheda Cromwel with all his great Army his Fleet and store of Money had been lost and sunk to nothing if the Castles of Wexford and Carrick had not been so foully given up nay and after that too if those Towns and Forces in Munster had not so treacherously Revolted Thus did the knavery and malice of a few steal away the Hearts of the generality of that undiscerning simple people from the Lord-Lieutenant few of them being able to judge at all of the Prudence and Integrity of his Conduct or to consider that the Army that was in the Field the foregoing Summer would have required four times the Contribution that was raised without leaving any surplus either to be hoarded up or sent beyond Seas From which his Excellency was so far that on the other side he frequently offered to engage at a very low rate all that remained Unmorgaged of his Princely Estate for the support of the Army The Surrender of Dublin truly had been made unto the people of Ireland by the arts of those that were at that time in Government amongst them a most odious thing though those very persons knew well enough it was themselves and not the Lord-Lieutenant that was in the fault by twice foully violating their Publike Faith with him First in breaking a Peace made and solemnly published both at Dublin and Kilkenny the Respective seats of the Kings Lieutenant and the Council of the Confederates and in seconding that Act after having imprisoned the Lord Muskery Sir Robert Talbott Sir Lucas Dillon Master Brown Master Belings and the rest of their Supreme Council that had made the Peace and still stood honestly to what they had done with bringing their Armies before Dublin where having caused the burning and destruction of those quarters the Town it self must have been lost unto them it upon overture of a Treaty with the Parliament they had not sent Men and Supplies to rescue it And next in the breach of that solemn Engagement made between them and the Marquess of Clanrickard as soon as upon belief of their resolution to return unto their Duty the Treaty was broke off and the Forces of the Parliament sent home again Could it be expected that after two such acts as these any wise man would trust or treat with the Irish any more whilst the Government was still in the same mens hands who after all this wrought the whole Assembly to declare they would never have any Protestant Governour more and namely not the Lord-Lieutenant and who were not ashamed at the same time both to annul the Peace and yet acknowledge that the forementioned Gentlemen that had been makers of it and suffered in justification of it had neither exceeded their instructions nor done any thing misbecoming honest men His Excellency was now at Kilkenny where having in vain endeavoured to qualifie the universal discontents and observing how fast notwithstanding the admonitory Declaration of all the Bishops from Clonmacnosse to the contrary the people being alienated with the ravaging and disorder of their own Armies and allured with the successes and smooth invitations of Cromwel run headlong in to him for Protection and under Contribution as also how great numbers of the Irish Souldiers some frighted with the Plague which now began to spread into the other Provinces of the Kingdom and others for want of livelihood as having neither meat nor pay flockt in unto the Enemy He went into Connaght to confer about carrying on of the publike business and the remedy of those disorders with the Marquess of Clanrickard at his Castle of Portumna about the end of Christmas who being a person of that eminent Merit towards our King and Nation and deserving so much Honour from all honest men I must I believe do a thing very displeasing to you not to give you a due Character of him here Upon his coming to Portumna the Lord-Lieutenant meets with Sir George Monro who was posted thither out of the North to make some Proposals in order to the reduction of Vlster to his Excellency and the Lord Clanrickard who had the Summer before assisted him towards his Vlster Expedition with a Regiment of Foot 100 Horse and 1000 pounds in money out of the Province of Counaght and in case
Redeemer and therefore if you will not joyn with me in prayer my reiterating it again will be both Scandalous to you and me So closing his eyes and holding up his hands he stood a good space at his inward Devotions being perceived to be inwardly moved all the while when he had done he called for the Executioner and gave him money who having brought unto him hanging in a Cord his Declaration and History hanged them about his Neck when he said Though it hath pleased his Sacred Majesty that now is to make him one of the Knights of the most Honourable Order of the Garter yet he did not think himself more honoured by the Garter than by that Cord and Book which he would embrace about his Neck with as much joy and content as ever he did the Garter or a Chain of Gold and therefore desired them to be tied unto him as they pleased When this was done and his arms tied he asked the Officers If they had any more Dishonour as they conceived it to put upon him he was ready to accept it And so with an undaunted Courage and Gravity suffered according to the Sentence past upon him Thus fell that Heroical Person by a most malicious and barbarous sort of cruelty but Sequitur ultor à tergo Deus there is a Fury at hand ready with a Whip of Snakes to punish this Viperous Brood of men For Cromwel having been secretly called for over from Ireland to amuse all parties both the Irish who trembled at his presence and made no considerable resistance against him and his fortune and the General himself at home who expected not such his sudden rivalship to his Command which gave him no time for mature consideration of the designe the Scots who though allarmed by frequent rumours of an English Invasion yet were not so forward in their Levies as having assurance of Fairfax's dissatisfaction was now wasted over into England preventing his Letters he had sent to the States to know their express pleasure for his departing that Kingdom which before we leave we must insert some omissions Colonel Hamond a Kentish Gentleman and firm Royallist who was a Colchestrian and had been imprisoned at Windsor being by the mutiny of his Souldiers the Marquess of Ormonds Regiment which he Commanded forced to render himself and Officers at discretion the Garrison being the Castle before mentioned of Gowran accepting of life from Cromwel and refusing to fight was immediately shot to death one Lieutenant only escaping The like fate suffered a Dutch Colonel one Major Syms and another Lieutenant-Colonel of the Lord Inchiqueens Loyal Party that yet adhered to him being worsted by the Lord Broghil where in fight they lost 600 men near Bandon-bridge Colonel Wogan that noble person who had been so constant a terrour to them having corrupted or converted his Keeper Colonel Phair's Marshal escaped with him to his old friends being reserv'd to the same death by Cromwel but by Providence to be a further plague to them in that another Kingdom place as we shall see in the continuation of this Chronicle About the same time with Cromwel arrived here from Holland the Lord Ioachimi in quality of Embassador from the States General sent on purpose to understand the condition of affairs here what stability this Common-wealth was yet grounded upon or like to obtain and report it to his Superiors Further yet in Ireland After the departure of Cromwel in the Province of Vlster where the Bishop of Cloghor Emir Mac Mahon was Generalissimo the Irish not being to be satisfied till the Conduct of Affairs was wholly left to themselves having gathered an Army of 5000 Foot and 600 Horse was ranging that Country at his pleasure having so ordered and interposed his Forces that Sir Charles Coot the President of Connaught and Colonel Venables who Commanded in Chief in Vlster for the Parliament could not joyn Forces and though other additions had been made to Coot with which they had faced Finagh and that part of that Province some while before yet durst they not engage till Iune on the second of which Month Cloghor being incamped on a boggy ground within half a mile of Sir Charles his Leaguer who was about 800 Horse and as many Foot stood and faced him for almost four hours and then drew over a Pass wherein Coot fell upon his Rear with 250 Horse and charged through two Divisions of Foot and had routed them but that their Horse came in to their rescue and repelled that Party but Colonel Richard Coot likewise advancing both came off with even hand and so the enemy over Faggots passed another way This was but a Trial of Skill but on the 18 of Iune Colonel Fenwick with 1000 having joyned with Sir Charles the matter came to a final decision Cloghor was encamped strongly on a side of a Hill to which Coot approached the Irish courageously descended to Battle but were so most resolutely received that in an hours time this Mitred General was defeated himself mortally wounded and taken with his Lieutenant-General Henry O Neale together with most of the Officers all of them Irish to the total loss of that Province and the utter ruine and destruction of that Rebel-Party that began the War and continued it when it might have expired by the closing with the Marquess of Ormond to the taking of Dublin and London-Derry The remaining Irish War was meerly defensive and of such weak dying efforts that all was given over there for desperate and lost and who cannot must not here acknowledge the unerring certainty of Divine Justice upon that bloody and pitiless people Now appeared in Print as the weekly Champion of the new Common-wealth and to bespatter the King with the basest of scurrilous raillery one Marchamount Needham under the name of Politicus a Iack of all sides transcendently gifted in opprobrious and treasonable Droll and hired therefore by Bradshaw to act the second part to his starcht and more solemn Treason who began his first Diurnal with an Invective against Monarchy and the Presbyterian Scotch Kirk and ended it with an Hosanna to Oliver Cromwel who in the beginning of Iune returned by the way of Bristol from Ireland to London and was welcomed by Fairfax the General many Members of Parliament and Council of State at Hounslo-heath and more fully complemented at his Lodgings and in Parliament by the Thanks of the House and the like significant address of the Lord Mayor c. of London being lookt upon as the only Person to the Eclipse and diminution of his Generals Honour whom we shall presently see paramount in the same supreme Command Prince Rupert was yet in the Harbor of Lisbon whither the Parliament had sent a Fleet to fight him and reduce those Ships to their service which the Prince declining and the King of Portugal refusing to suffer Blake to fall on in his Port
of Orkney and Colonel Fitch's Regiment marched towards Innerness The Dutch had rankled with spleen at the successes of this State as no way compatible with but surmounting those indifferent equal Proposals and Overtures made before the accomplishment thereof and perceiving how regardless and cool the Parliament was now as to any further transaction of a League but that on the contrary their Fishing was molested in these Seas upon the old Title of Soveraignty and that upon any the least pretences of French Goods and Lading their Merchant-ships were searched stayed and sometimes adjudged Prize thought it advisable to send over Embassadors as well to obtain reparation for those damages as to provide for future security against the like by a Treaty and in case they perceived the aversness or untowardness of the State thereto to fully inform themselves what Naval preparation there was in hand and in what readiness and how the Nation stood affected to or would yet endure the Government as by a Copy of their Instructions since appeared The Embassadors Myn heeren Catz Schaep and Vande Perre of Zealand as of custome and right one of that Province must be in the Embassie hither were ordered to be gone with all speed upon the notice of the Act for the encouragem●nt of the English-Navigation c. But the Wind blowing at Southwest from the very day of the date of the said Act neither they nor other ships bound thence from England with East and West-India Commodities Spice and such-like could stir out of their Ports to the great exasperation of that people who when they see the day elapsed being the first of December and had notice that the Parliament would not allow a day longer even to the English themselves upon any account whatsoever though to the breaking of several Merchants whose Estates were coming over in such Goods thence procured the Lords to make an Arrest and Imbargo upon all English ships then in the Texel but which the States were willing soon after to recal and make shew of good Correspondence and Friendship as in this and other occasions they yet testified The Embassadors with the first opportunity the rather to prevent Monsieur Speering then at the Hague and Commissioned by the Queen of Sweden for her Embassador into England as unwilling to be the last should own this Common-wealth put to Sea and arrived here about the middle of Ianuary and for the greater credit of the sincerity of their intentions to Peace and Amity they brought over their Families by which it might appear they intended to stay till that great affair was finished by them being also men for their particular persons very acceptable to the State here Soon after their Reception they had Audience in the Parliament-house and a Committee appointed to confer with them by whom they were at the entrance of their business choaked with our claim to and their dues for the Herring-fishing with the old story of bloody Amboyna and a demand of a Free-trade in the Schelde from Middleburgh to Antwerpe where the English had a good Trade once within 100 years then the most famous Mart of the Low-countries yea of Europe but by the Hollanders seizing of Flushing and building the Fort Lillo opon that River in their Wars against the Spaniard the Merchants and Inhabitants disaffected otherwise to the King of Spain in the beginning of that War betook themselves to Amsterdam which by the sudden breaking in of the Sea and breaking down of Dams became a most convenient and capacious Harbour and consequently a great Mart as lying most opportune for the Trade of the East and North-East Seas Monsieur Speering arrived here likewise and was well received a short while after and laid a foundation of that Treaty which was afterwards concluded by the Lord Whitlock with that Queen but he deceasing here soon after Monsieur Appleboom Resident also at the Hague was substituted to his Embassie in like manner The 24 of February came out their Act of Oblivion whereout Sir Iohn Webster of Amsterdam was totally excluded together with the Executors of the Arch-bishop of Canterbury the slayers of Dorislaus and Ascham the Viscount Mansfield and Lord Goring and General George Lord Goring and Charles his Sons which particulars out of a multitude of publike exceptions as H. Martin discanted on it I thought fit to give the Reader a hint of that such a precious Record of their absolute greatness as the taking upon them to pardon when they needed it onely themselves might not totally be lost the Preface and Induction to it being a fallacy a non concesso that because the generality of the Nation had shewed themselves ready to suppress the late Scotch Invasion at Worcester therefore the Parliament out of meer grace c. but all this favour to be of no benefit to any one without taking the Engagement Their Committee for Regulation of the Law had likewise proceeded so far as to take an account of all Courts and Offices concerning their Fees and to see they did Execution of Justice for corruption wherein Iohn Lilburn and Iosiah Primate having taxed their Commissioners at Haberdashers-hall about a Cole-pit Primate pretended to but Sir Arthur Haslerig had possession of by vertue of one Colonel Wray's Delinquency the said Lilburn was banished on the 30 day of Ianuary and Primate fined 4000 l. to the said Commissioners and Sir Arthur and committed to the Fleet but upon submission Released In Ireland the War was almost at an end nothing considerable but Galloway and some few Castles holding out and some loose parties forraging the Country whereupon the Lord ●lanrickard then in Galloway about the beginning of March sent a Letter to Lieutenant-General Ludlow to desire of him that in order to a composure and conclusion of that bloody wasting War in that Kingdom he or the Commissioners would give safe-conduct for the chief persons of the Irish out of every County to meet and to agree of terms about a Peace not doubting as he expressed if it should be refused but that they were able to maintain themselves till supplies from abroad and courage at home and their wants and discouragements from England should alter the case To this was answered by Ludlow That the Commissioners could not nor would allow such a thing as a Council of the Irish to settle the Kingdom but that if they would submit they should have such Articles and Conditions as was fit for them For that the Parliament whose that Kingdom was would have the ordering and Government of it and that it was not for those in Arms against their Authority to think of such an absurd condescention This Answer being returned to two or three offers of surrender took not effect yet prevailed on several parties as the Lord Muskerry's Fitz Patrick's and the Odwyr's to come in and submit with liberty of transporting their Forces into the service of the King of Spain or to abide
Windward from us who made sail and went towards Dover We wanted two of our Ships who were in the Rear of our Fleet the Captains Tuynman's of Middleburgh and Siphe Fook's of Amsterdam both ships of the Direction whereof we found that of Captain Siphe Fook's about noon floating without Masts The Skipper and the Officers declared unto us that they were taken by three ships of the Parliament two hours after Sun-set who took from aboard the Captain and Lieutenant with 14 or 15 men more and put instead of them many of the English but they fearing that the ship would sink they took the flight after they had plundered all in hostile manner They declared also that they see the said Tuynman's being with them in the Rear of our Fleet an hour before he was taken We intend with this Easterly wind to cross to and fro that we may finde out the said Streight vaerders if it be possible and with all other Ships with whom we may meet to bring them safe in our Country So ending was Subscribed M. Harp Trump Dated the 30 of May 1652. from aboard the Ship The Lords Embassadors Paper Exhibited ●3 3 Iune 1652. To the Council of State of the Commonwealth of England Most Illustrious Lords Even as both by word of mouth and also by Writing we have signified to this Council on the 3 and 6 days of this Month taking God the searcher of Mens Hearts to witness that the most unhappy Fight of the Ships of both Commonwealths did happen against the knowledge and will of the Lords States General of the Vnited Netherlands so also are we daily more and more assured both by Messages and Letters witnessing the most sincere hearts of our said Lords and that with Grief and astonishment they received the Fatal News of that unhappy rash Action and that upon what we thereupon presently sent them word of they did consult and endeavour to finde out what Remedy chiefly may be applied to mitigate that raw and Bloody Wound To which end they have written out for to gather a solemn Meeting or Parliament of all the Provinces whereby we do not doubt but there will be provided for these Troubles by Gods favour such a Cure and present help whereby not onely the outward cause of all further Evil may be taken away but also by an Int●rn comfort the mindes may be redressed and reduced again to a better hope of our Treaty in hand which thing being now most earnestly agitated by our Lords for the common good of both Nations to shun that detestable shedding of Christian Blood so much desired and would be dearly bought by their common Enemies of both Nations and of the Reformed Religion We again do crave of this most Honourable Council and beseech you by the Pledges both of the common Religion and Liberty mean while to suffer nothing to be done out of too much heat that afterwards may prove neither revocable nor repairable by too late idle Vows and Wishes but rather that you would let us receive a kinde Answer without further delay upon our last Request Which we do again and again desire so much the more because we understand that the Ships of our Lords and of our Skippers both on the broad-sea as in the Ports of this Commonwealth some by force some by Fighting are taken by your men and kept Given at Chelsey 13 3 Iune 1652. Signed I. Cats G. Schaep P. Vanderperre The Answer of the Parliament of the Commonwealth of England to the Papers presented to them by the Council of State from the Embassadors Extraordinary of the Lords the States General of the United Provinces The first whereof was dated the 3 of June the second the 6 of June and the last dated the 13 of June 1652. new Stile upon occasion of the late Fight between the Fleets The Parliament of the Commonwealth of England calling to minde with what continued Demonstrations of Friendship and sincere Affections from the very beginning of their Intestine Troubles they have proceeded towards their Neighbours of the Vnited Provinces omitting nothing on their part that might conduce to a good Correspondence with them and to a growing up into a more neer and strict Union than formerly do finde themselves much surprized with the unsutable Returns that have been made thereunto and especially at the Acts of Hostility lately committed in the very Roads of England upon the Fleet of this Commonwealth the matter of Fact whereof stated in clear Proofs is hereunto annexed upon serious and deliberate consideration of all and of the several Papers delivered in by our Excellencies to the Council of State the Parliament thinks fit to give this Answer to those Papers The Parliament as they would be willing to make a charitable Construction of the Expressions used in the said Papers endeavouring to represent the late Engagement of the Fleets to have happened without the knowledge and against the minde of Your Superiours So when they consider how disagreeable to that profession the Resolutions and Actions of Your State and their Ministers at Sea have been even in the midst of a Treaty offered by themselves and managed here by Your Excellencies the extraordinary preparations of 150 Sail of Men of War without any visible occasion but what doth now appear a just ground of jealousie in your own Judgements when Your Lordships pretended to excuse it and the Instructions themselves given by Your said Superiours to their Commanders at Sea do finde too much cause to believe That the Lords the States General of the Vnited Provinces have an intention by Force to Usurp the known Rights of England in the Seas to destroy the Fleets that are under God their Walls and Bulworks and thereby expose this Common-wealth to Invasion at their pleasure as by their late Action they have attempted to do Whereupon the Parliament conceive they are obliged to endeavour with Gods assistance as they shall have opportunity to seek Reparation of the Wrongs already suffered and Security that the like be not attempted for the future Nevertheless with this minde and desire That all Differences betwixt the Nations may if possibly be peaceably and friendly composed as God by his Providence shall open a way thereunto and Circumstances shall be conducing to render such Endeavours less delatory and more effectual than those of this kinde heretofore-used have been This Answer Insinuating the intention of a War being Communicated to the States General they ordered their remaining Embassador to insist upon and demand a Categorick-Answer so was it called to their Proposals in the Treaty positively off or on which being made The House took into debate the business of the Embassador Extraordinary from the States General of the Vnited Provinces and thereupon Passed these Resolutions to be sent to the Embassador in Answer to his fourth and last Paper 1. That the Lords the States General of the United Provinces do pay and satisfie unto this Commonwealth the Charges and
very desperate Captain Gibbons with 100 men staid in Kerry where the Irish out of fear and distrust of any preservation or favour from the English rose in Arms again there remained too the Island of Enisbuffin whose Forces had in December to the number of 500 in Boats fallen down upon the Isles of Arran Garrisoned by an English company of 150 under a Captain who upon the first Summons rendred the Fort in that Island upon leave to depart for which he was condemned to dye and the Officers under him Cashiered To recover this Isle being of consequence to the peace of the Neighbouring Country Commissary-General Reynolds was sent with a sufficient Force and likewise to reduce Enisbuffin At his approach to Arran it rendred to him upon the first Summons as before it was lost on the 15 of Ianuary where he left some ships for the better securing of it their absence being the occasion of the loss of it before and so marched to Enisbuffin but with more hast than good speed 300 of the Van of his Forces being cut off but the Island being blockt up Colonel C●sack the Governour accepted of the usual Articles for Transportation and Surrendered that place Never were any Christian people or Nation in such a wretched condition as those Irish who from a vain conceit of obtaining their Liberty and shaking off the English Yo●k by their Rebellion now found i● set closer and harder on suffering the very extremity of Revenge and the dregs of Rage from a merciless Conquering Enemy to whom first the crying Sin of their barbarous Massacres and then their contempt of the Kings Authority when received among them and lastly their fatal divisions among themselves caused by their Fryers and the Nuncio-party had given them over As to the Priests they were by Proclamation upon pain of Death Banished for ever out of the Kingdom as the like had been done lately before in England and many of them had already been snapt by the Irish High Court of Iustice. The Parliament were no way insensible of the Damage and disgrace they had suffered from the Dutch in the Downs and to minde them the more of it Cromwel and his Officers kept a Fast by themselves upon that occasion but added other causes viz. the delay of the new Representative according to the old strain and therefore thinking the meanness of their Pay might dishearten the Seamen from serving in the Fleet they raised their Wages from 19 to 24 shillings a month and 20 Nobles for every Gun in any ship they should take from the Enemy with other advantages as to the shares of the Prizes and the better to defray this allowance they ordered the Sale of Somerset-house Windsor-Castle Greenwich Hampton Court Va●●● hall in Lambeth Cornbury-Park For the invitation to which purchases and all other Forf●i●●d Lands they had abated the interest of Moneys from eight to six per cent that the advantages of laying out their Money with them might appear to the Usurer who by such Bargains could not get less than 50 l. per cent provided it would last and the Lands continue in their possession Those Houses notwithstanding escaped by the hinderance and artful delays of Oliver Cromwel who designed them for his own greatness and State in his projected Supremacy He was now debating in Council with his Bashaws about the very same matter and the Parliament fell presently upon the Bill to prevent him and his Armies desires for the same Representative and offered fair Ianuary the fifth The Danish Embassadors had in the beginning of October departed England and by the way visited Holland and continued their Journey by Land home where upon their arrival that King had declared himself for the Hollander yet the Parliament hoping to reclaim him and the want of those Merchandizes he had seized urging them to it sent Bradshaw a bold fellow like his Kinsman who preferred him to Copenhagen from Hamburgh where he resided with that City as their Agent He came to the Court before Christmas but was delayed Audience till after the Holy-daies and when he had it granted it was to so little purpose and of so great danger to him at his return he being besides affronted highly in the streets that he wisht himself quit of his Employment and at home again At his request for a Guard to convey him back and his payment of them and passing by-ways and over several Waters he at last in much fear being certainly way-laid recovered Hamburgh whence he sent the Parliament an account of his fruitless Negotiation for the goods were unladen and sold and the Merchants Books of Accompt seized and in the Kings hands desiring also the repayment of those Moneys he had disbursed for the carrying the Masters and Seamen of those ships to Lubeck and those parts being not able to stay in Denmark any longer where a Comet newly appeared the effects whereof were very visible in those calamities that presently began in this and the Swedish War in which that King was desperately Engaged The Dutch had been Commanded to Sea from Porto Longone some while before by the Spanish Governour so that the English ships were at liberty and Badiley was now at Leghorn of whom the Great Duke demanded the Phoenix to be restored to the Dutch at their instance to him as taken in his Port which being refused he commanded that those English ships that then lay within the Mole being six in number should put to Sea within ten daies the debate had lasted a good while before this resolution which the Duke said he could not in justice and by the Law of Nations deny to the Hollander the event of which we will presently relate At home the Dutch were still far perter Songs and by words and Pictures made of this English defeat the names of the ships discanted upon that were taken as ominous to us having lost the Garland c. and the like devices this the Vulgar the Great ones were consulting of sending a Fleet to seize all our America-Isles and to Lord it there as their Ships did in the Streights and de Wit was also now almost ready to put to Sea with another F●eet of 40 ships and Van Trump was ordered to come away speedily with such Merchant-men as were r●●dy to set Sail and Anchor at the Thames mouth and block up General Blake and the Fleet that was there ready but he came too late to effect it for on the 8 of February from Quinborough the General set sail with about 60 men of War intending to joyn with 20 more from Portsmouth such a Force and of so sudden a rise that the Dutch found themselves much deceived in their designe abroad and Conclusions at home On the 11 of February the Portsmouth-Fleet the Wind blowing Eastward joyned with the General at Beechy head and thence sailed over against Portland where they lay a cross the Channel half Sea over to
that it was turned to a Ballad in the most scummy and vilest Language conceivable and this so all of an instant and sudden that the Portugal Embassador who then attended them here said That his Masters assumption to that Crown in 1640 was very speedy and miraculous but this Revolution did far exceed it both as to the bloodlessness and stilness of it it seeming to be done as in a dream so pitifully and abjectly did these petty Princes behave themselves in this rencounter which happened on the 20 of April in this manner Oliver himself attended by Major-General Lambert Harrison and some 8 more Officers having after several conferences with their Committees who shewed him the danger of calling a new Representative as the case then stood with the Commonwealth for that no Qualifications could sufficiently secure the Interest thereof and that the onely way was to recruit the House which could judge of such Elections by their own Authority received no satisfaction entred the House some Members being made privy to his designe before especially Sir Gilbert Pickering who had held consultation the night before with him and was up armed in his Chamber till the very time and after a Speech therein shewed the reasons and necessity of their Dissolution did declare it to be so and desired them to depart and presently Major-General Harrison peremptorily bid the Speaker to leave the Chair which he refusing to do without the Order of the House and till he was pulled out Harrison desired him to lend him his Hand and gently heaved him out Cromwel also commanded that Bauble as he called the Mace to be taken away and to be carried no more in State before him and so having turned them out of Doors lockt them up and clapt Guards before them and about all the Avenues of the Palace to keep these Spirits out from possessing it again The news of this Luciferian fall was quickly spread throughout the City and from thence into the Kingdom being related and received with all imaginable gladness while the Members slunk away muttering to themselves the affront they had received and laying their Heads together how to retrieve themselves for loath they were to suffer this violence or acknowledge their Dissolution which they would by no means hear of But what ever they fancied to the contrary raving at this boldness and audaciousness of their Servant as they stiled Cromwel he minded it not but went on in his work The Government such as it was was now lodged in the Council of Officers of his own making and preferring and the first thing done by them after this new Model was the emitting of a Declaration from him and his Officers shewing the grounds and reasons of this Dissolution of the Parliament with an account of their Intentions as to the present and future Government of the Nation which that it may appear by how slender a Thread the Sword of this Lawless Commander hung over the Heads of those Parliament-Tyrants is very requisite to be inserted it holding forth the present intrigues of Cromwel's designes and method of Ambition OVr intention is not to give an account at this time of the grounds which first moved us to take up Arms and engage our Lives and all that was dear unto us in this Cause nor to minde in this Declaration the various Dispensations through which Divine Providence hath led us or the witness the Lord hath born and the many signal Testimonies of acceptance which he hath given to the sincere endeavours of his unworthy servants whilst they were contesting with the many and great difficulties as well in the Wars as other transactions in the three Nations being necessitated for the defence of the same Cause they first asserted to have recourse unto extraordinary actions the same being evident by former Declarations published on that behalf After it had pleased God not onely to reduce Ireland and give in Scotland but so marvelously to appear for his people at Worcester that these Nations were reduced to a great degree of Peace and England to perfect quiet and thereby the Parliament had opportunity to give the people the Harvest of all their Labour Blood and Treasure and to settle a due Liberty both in reference to Civil and Spiritual things whereunto they were obliged by their Duty their Engagements as also the great wonderful things which God hath wrought for them it was matter of much grief to the good and well-affected of the Land to observe the little progress which was made therein who thereupon applied to the Army expecting redress by their means notwithstanding which the Army being unwilling to meddle with the civil Authority in matters so properly appertaining to it it was agreed that his Excellency and Officers of the Army which were Members of Parliament should be desired to move the Parliament to proceed vigorously in reforming what was amiss in Government and to the setling of the Commonwealth upon a foundation of justice and righteousness which having done we hoped that the Parliament would seasonably have answered our expectations But finding to our grief delays therein we renewed our desires in an humble Petition to them which was presented in August last and although they at that time signifying their good acceptance thereof returned us thanks and referred the particulars thereof to a Committee of the House yet no considerable effect was produced nor any such progress made as might imply their real intentions to accomplish what was petitioned for but on the contrary there more and more appeared amongst them an aversion to the things themselves with much bitterness and opposition to the people of God and his Spirit acting in them which grew so prevalent that those persons of Honour and Integrity amongst them who had eminently appeared for God and the Publick good both before and throughout this War were rendred of no further use in Parliament than by meeting with a corrupt party to give them countenance to carry on their ends and for effecting the desire they had of perpetuating themselves in the supream Government For which purpose the said party long opposed and frequently declared themselves against having a new Representative and when they saw themselves necessitated to take that Bill into Consideration they resolved to make use of it to recruit the House with persons of the same Spirit and Temper thereby to perpetuate their own sitting Which Intention divers of the activest amongst them did manifest labouring to perswade others to a consent therein And the better to effect this divers Petitions preparing from several Counties for the continuance of this Parliament were encouraged if not set on foot by many of them For obviating these evils the Officers of the Army obtained several Meetings with some of the Parliament to consider what fitting means and remedy might be applied to prevent the same But such endeavours proving altogether ineffectual it became most evident to the Army as they doubt not
them as fully as when the Parliament was sitting Signed in the Name and by the Appointment of his Excellency the Lord-General and his Council of Officers William Malyn Secret White hall the 22 of April 1653. The next thing they published was an Injunction to all the Officers and Souldiers in the Army forbidding them to make any disturbance in Churches or affronting of Ministers and people in Congregations which was done to gain them an opinion of Religious Piety and Zeal for the Worship and Service of God now frequently profaned by the Sectarian Principles of Anabaptism Quaking and Ranting the two later whereof began to spread about this time and be very infectious in the Army and their Quarters which were licensed among the Souldiery who were every where drawn together to Rendezvouzes to subscribe Addresses to their General declaring their approbation of what he had done to the Government and promising to assist him in his undertakings with their Lives with their hopeful expectation of the great and glorious Work to be accomplished by him to the building up of Sion c. The like he received from the Fleet upon the news of the Change communicated to them who resolved with the same courage to proceed against the common Enemy the Dutch Vice-Admiral Pen being now in the Downs with seventy sail of ●●out Men of War and General Monke and Dean expected with some more of the Western squadron with which they now Anchored at Saint Hellen's Point The first Forrain Address that was made to this DICTATOR for such another Regiment was that of Lucius Scylla and C. Marius amongst the Romans for by that term of Authority he is b●●t distinguished was from the Agents of the Rebel-City of Bourdeaux then maintained by the Prince of Conti against the French King while his Embassador Bourdeaux was here for a Peace whose offering a more advantageous Treaty to the Interest of Cromwel was one occasion of crushing that transaction and Cromwel besides was ready to Prince it himself and those Examples were no way to be encouraged by him The Dictator having held the Supreme Power some few days devolved it by a Declaration to a Council of State his ignorant conceited Officers soaring such flights and such their extravagant notions of Government and their pertness in them that made him quickly weary of such Counsellors or Companions these were partly the greatest Officers in the Army as Lambert Dean Harrison and partly Members of the late Parliament among whom the Lord Fairfax was by name now listed into this Juncto and some other new Gamesters of Cromwel's Cabinet Counsel At the latter end of this Declaration he limited the time of their power till the persons of known Fidelity and Honesty should meet according to the nomination appointment of his Council to take upon them the Supream Authority and in the interim to this Council all obedience upon Peril was required and all Justices and Sheriffs and other Officers were ordered to continue in their respective Commissions and places and Writs to run in the same stile of the Keepers of the Liberties of England The first work this Council did was the publishing of an Ordinance for six months Assessment from the 24 of Iune and was obeyed in all points like an Act of Parliament and better welcomed than any of the late ones for its decrease of the Tax to a considerable fall another Artifice to gain the people but the Treasuries were now reasonable full by the Providence of all Parliament The Town of Marlborough was reduced almost to Ashes April 28 an ominous Commencement of this Incendiaries Usurpation whose red and fiery Nose was the burden of many a Cavalier-Song This turn and Translation of the Government was very acceptable news to the King at Paris his Friends and Counsellors saluting and complementing him with the infallible hopes of his Restitution by those means and much Jollity and Gladness there was concerning it and many Treatments given the King The Earl of Bristol late Lord Digby was now honoured with the Order of the Garter at Paris and great expectation there was of a successful Issue of the Earl of Rochester's Negotiation at the Diet at ●atisbone and of potent assistance from other Princes His Allies and Confederates among whom the Dutch were now reckoned not the least considerable General Middleton being on his Journey thither to Treat with them about furnishing an Expedition into Scotland where he was to Command in chief but the Dutch having offered a Treaty at any neutral place which was now refused by Cromwel except at London they would not presently Engage till that Issue was known The King of Denmark now also published his Manifesto against the English and declared a War and Rigged his Fleet and secured and strengthned his Castles against any attempt of their Fleets if they should approach so neer as they had done when Captain Ball commanded a Squadron thither the end of last Summer In Ireland the main of the Forces of Vlster under the Command of the Lord Iniskellin Colonel O Rely and Mac Mahon and Mac Guire yielded and put an end to that War May 18 upon the old Articles for Transportation On the 4 of May Trump with 80 Men of War set sail again from the Texel to meet a Fleet of 200 sail from Nants and other parts in France coming round about by Ireland and to secure other ships from the Eastland laden with Cordage and other Ship-materials and necessaries which the Nants Fleet being ready for him he nimbly effected missing of our English Navy who having Rendezvouzed at Humber-mouth sailed to Aberdeen and so to Shetland and thence passed over to the Danish Shore where they had intelligence that Trump had dispatcht his errand by that lucky meeting of his Nants Fleet and had returned for Holland whereupon they presently steered for England but before their arrival in any Port Van Trump having quitted his Merchant-men and delivered them sate to the great rejoycing of the Dutch came instantly into the Downs with a resolution to fire and seize all such Ships as were before Dover there being no Guard nor protection neer them and on the 26 of May missing of his aim rantingly battered Dover with his whole Fleet all that day to the Alarming of all the Coast adjacent while the English Fleet having visited the Coast of Holland put them into no less consternation and wonder how we were able to Equip and Man 100 sail of War-ships in so short a time and in such a distracted condition of State Next day Trump having laid his Scouts abroad to get intelligence of the English Fleet as also to intercept all Trade and ships coming into the Downs and River Anchored on the back of the Goodwyn Generals Monke and Dean being in Yarmouth-Road and General Blake fitting himself to joyn with them for Trump stayed in his Station On the second of Iune in the Morning
Dwarfish Politicians being admitted into the number Those Hogens of the Council did all the business transacted with Forrain States kept the Wheels of Government on going here and abroad received Embassadors particularly the Spanish Dutch and French Residents and a new one from the Great Duke of Florence and other Princes and put upon the Parliament all their Intrigues and ill-looked necessities of Money so that this Convention at first dash ran the Tax up again to 120000 l. per mensem for six Months as if Pluto kept Court there again and that like possessed men they could speak nothing else but that and Excise now continued and an additional Act for sales of Fee-farm Rents Forrest-lands and more Delinquents Estates for the finishing of that whole affair The Lord Whitlock between whom and the Lord Lisle the Embassie of Sweden was in dispute for a while till Cromwel had made sure of Whitlock was now recommended to the Parliament for their Approbation and Commission to proceed in his Voyage with all hast to pursue those designes of Agreement which had been layd by that Queens Embassadors here that Kingdom labouring with such another Change in some manner as we did here and accordingly he was dispatcht and his Instructions as all other things of designe and consequence referred to the Council of State He departed about the beginning of November in the Phoenix and Elizabeth Frigats and arrived the 15 at Go●tenburgh in that Kingdom with a Retinue of 100 persons very gallant with a suitable state of Furniture and travelled from thence in very ugly way and base Accommodation no Beds being to be had for Money to Vpsal an University where the Queen then resided because of the Plague at Stockholme the chief City and Metropolis of that Kingdom General Blake Monke Desborough and Pen were commended likewise to be Generals at Sea for the next year a suitable Change with that inconstant Element and approved of And lastly that they might in all things be like a Parliament and alike odious to all people and that the Cavaliers might have recent cause to hate them a High Court of Iustice was Enacted again and Lisle made President for Bradshaw as a great Commonwealths-man and Enemy to a Single Person was quite lain aside This is the sum of what these Sages and men of Fidelity did during their Session besides their Prayers and Preachments in the House so that from the something Honourable Stile of a Convention it raised not it self above the Reputation of a Conventicle and in effect the Parliament was but a Sub-committee that truckled under the Council of State and Oliver for their occasions and Feake's a great Fifth-Monarchy-Preacher Congregation held at Black-fryers this H●y of the Commonwealth being betwixt S●ylla and Charybdis who cut out every days work for the House the very last knack of their Legislative-power being a Bill formed in Paper and ready drawn to the last Clause and would have presently passed for the perpetual meetings of Parliament one upon the Dissolution of another the very Coloquintida of their Counsels to Oliver and that the people should be judged by Committees and no Courts remain at Westminster but the Mosaical Law should take place Magistracy and Ministry both being to be abolished that the Saints of the Earth might Rule in all things But see the Evil Spirit laid by their own artful Conjurer On the 12 of December as it had been directed by the Council of State the Parliament being sate some of the Members stood up one after another and made a motion for a Dissolution thereof for that it would not be for the good of the Nations to continue it longer this Court-Air almost Blasted the Men of Fidelity and Committee-Blades who had scarce warmed their Fingers ends in the Government and were newly setling themselves and their Friends in a thriving way as they had done in their Offices they had passed before and thereupon they began one after another to make Perorations of the Cause of God and the Godly people committed to their charge which they could not tell how to answer to Him if so easily they should give it up and leave the Commonwealth in such a distraction as would inevitably ensue and Major-General Harrison and Arthur Squib the great Sequestrator of Haberdashers Hall were very copiously zealous in defence of their Authority but the Military or Court-party being the Major part not thinking them worthy of a dispute or longer Debate the Speaker being of their side rose and left the House and them sitting in it where to Prayers they went and then resolved to continue ●itting In the mean time Rous the Speaker with the Mace before him and his followers came to White-hall and there resigned the Instrument he gave them by which they were constituted a Parliament and gave him likewise to understand and how they had left their Fellows Their Surrender was kindely received by Oliver and they thanked for the pains they had taken in the service of the Commonwealth however he and they had missed of their intentions of the good should thereby have come to the Commonwealth which a strange spirit and perverse principle in some of the Members had solely hindered And as to them yet sitting in the Parliament-house he dispatcht away Lieutenant-Colonel White a confident of his to dislodge them who accordingly with a guard of Red-coats came thither and entring the House Commanded them in the Name of the General to depart for that the Parliament was Dissolved who replying to the contrary and telling him they were upon Business and ought not to be thus disturbed he asked What Business they answered We are seeking of God P●gh saith he is that all that 's to no purpose for God hath not been within these Walls these twelve years And so fairly compelled them out muttering with the same wrath and sorrowful look-backs as those that had sate 30 times the same term and could almost have pleaded prescription Thus was the Power emptied from one Vessel to another as the Scribes and Chaplains of the Grandees phrased it and could finde settlement till Oliver was called to it by his Council of Officers to supply this Gap in Government And now a Single Person with a Council is the onely expedient for the safety of the People for that there is no Trust nor Truth in Parliaments as their often aberrations and failures had sufficiently declared and it was dis●cursed by the Abettors of this Change that 't was not Monarchy which was quarrelled at but the corruptions and abuses of it in its unlimited unbounded Prerogative all which would be avoided by the circumscription of it in a Protector by his Council and a new Instrument of Government and the Supreme power of a Trie●nial Parliament in whom during their Session the Soveraign Authority should reside So they said and so they did for after four days time in which Feak and his Freaking Partisans were
almost run from their Wits in rage and madness Cromwel was Appointed and Declared for Protector of this Infant-Commonwealth and it was a tedious interval to him the Chancery-Court at Westminster-hall being prepared for the Ceremony of the Instalment in this manner after the usual seeking of God by the Officers of the Army The Protector about one of the clock in the afternoon came from White hall to Westminster to the Chancery-Court attended by the Lords Commissioners of the Great Seal of England Barons of the Exch●quer and Judges in their Robes after them the Council of the Commonwealth and the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Recorder of the City of London in their Scarlet Gowns then came the Protector attended with many of the chief Officers of the Army A Chair of State being set in the said Court of Chancery the Protector stood on the left hand thereof uncovered till a large Writing in Parchment in the manner of an Oath was read there being the power with which the Protector was Invested and how the Protector is to Govern the three Nations which the Protector accepted of and subscribed in the face of the Court and immediately hereupon sate down covered in the Chair The Lords Commissioners then delivered up the Great Seal of England to the Protector and the Lord Mayor his Sword and Cap of Maintenance all which the Protector returned immediately to them again The Court then rose and the Protector was attended back as aforesaid to the Banqueting-house in White-hall the Lord Mayor himself uncovered carrying the Sword before the Protector all the way and coming into the Banqueting-house an Exhortation was made by Mr. Lockyer after which the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Judges departed The Instrument or Module framed to be the Foundation of this present Government was chiefly made up of these following Heads 1. The Protector should call a Parliament every three years 2. That the first should Assemble on the third of September 1654. 3. That he would not Dissolve the Parliament till it had sat five Months 4. That such Bills as they offered to him he not Passing them in twenty days should Pass without him 5. That he should have a select Council not exceeding one and twenty nor under thirteen 6. That immediately after his Death the Council should chuse another Protector before they rose 7. That no Protector after him should be General of the Army 8. That the Protector should have power to make Peace or War 9. That in the Intervals of Parliament he and his Council might make Laws that should be binding to the Subjects c. With some other popular Lurdes and common incidencies of Government not worth the recital which were confirmed and strenuously validated by this his Oath I Promise in the presence of God not to violate or infringe the matters and things contained in the Instrument but to observe and cause the same to be observed and in all things to the best of my understanding govern the Nations according to the Laws Statutes and Customs to seek their Peace and cause Justice and Law to be equally administred The Feat needed no more security as good altogether as its Authority in this fo●lowing Proclamation which was published throughout England Scotland and Ireland in these words Whereas the late Parliament Dissolved themselves and resigning their Powers Authorities the Government of the Commonwealth of England Scotland and Ireland in a Lord Protector and successive Triennial Parliaments is now established And whereas Oliver Cromwel Captain-General of all the Forces of this Common-wealth is declared Lord Protector of the said Nations and hath accepted thereof We have therefore thought it necessary as we hereby do to make publication of the Premises and strictly to charge and command all and every person or persons of what quality and condition soever in any of the said three Nations to take notice hereof and to conform and submit themselves to the Government so established And all Sheriffs Mayors Bayliffs c. are required to publish this Proclamation to the end none may have cause to pretend Ignorance in this behalf Great shooting off Guns at night and Vollies of acclamations were given at the close of this mock-solemnity by Cromwel's Janizaries while the Royalists were more joyfully disposed at the hopes of the King's Affairs but no body of any account giving the Usurper a good word or miskiditchee with his Greatness save what was uttered in Fur by the Lord Mayor and the Complices in this Fact who tickled his Ears with the Eccho of the Proclamation done with the usual Formalities These Triumphs so disgusted Harrison as also Colonel Rich that he withdrew himself from the Gang and turned publick Preacher or Railer against his Comrade Oliver who was glad to be rid of such a busie and impertinent Assistant in the moduling of Government So Cromwel had now two Commonwealth contra-divided Factions against him the old and the new Parliaments and therefore it neerly concerned him to make much of the Anabaptist and Sectary which now succeeded Independency as the Religion maintained and favoured above all other and Kiffin a great Leader and Teacher was now in great request at the Court at White-hall and contrarily Sir Henry Vane jun. was looked on a-skue as also Sir Ar. Hazilrig and Bradshaw and Scot. And so the Babel-builders were confounded one amongst another The Council appointed by Officers or taken rather by himself by whose advice he was to govern were 14 at first Lord Lambert Lord Viscount Lisle General Desbrow Sir Gilbert Pickering Major-General Skippon Sir Anthony Ashly-Cooper Walter Strickland Esquire Sir Charles Wolsley Colonel Philip Iones Francis Rous Esquire Richard Major Esquire Iohn Lawrence Esquire Colonel Edward Montague Colonel William Sydenham By these another Proclamation came out enabling all Officers Sheriffs and Justices of the Peace to continue in their respective places and Audience and Conference was given to the Dutch Embassadors who besides their last loss by Fight had suffered very greatly by the same storm that endangered our Fleet as De Wit was returning from the Sound which made them ply hard for a Cessation in order to a speedy Peace And General Monke was now riding at St. Hellens-point by the Isle of Wight with a considerable Fleet Colonel Lilburn was likewise ordered to Command in chief the Forces of Scotland who had defeated the Earl of Kinoule and his party and Sir Arthur Forbes another Chieftain of the Royal party was routed neer Dumfrieze and himself desperately wounded while the main Army Quartered in Murrey-land and thence to Elgin Colonel Morgan being sent to attend their motion The Noble Wogan who from France had by the way of Durham and Barwick and through a Fayr in open day marched into Scotland and had joyned with those Scotch Royalists and done excellent service in beating up of Quarters and attempting them in all their marches and advances came now at
for inspecting of Charters and some forward pragmatical Country-Burgesses were very busie to supplicate a renewal of some augmenting of and granting others de novo of this Committee Mr. Gabriel Beck his Highness's Sollicitor was chief who were to report their Consults to the Council Gloucester Cathedral was now very ruinous and the Citizens begg'd it for a School-house and afterwards had it for a Church in some part according to its first pious institution The Spanish War was like to prove too chargeable for Oliver's Purse for all his devices of Decimation Piedmont and Iews and therefore resolved to call another Parliament hoping so to awe the Elections having had time to improve that power he had assumed to himself together with the disappointment the late Parliament had met with and the desire of Settlement which the new acquired Wealth and Estates by the vast purchases of Crown and other Lands vehemently enforced together with the severe penalties on Royalists Electing and Elected and the flagging wearied opposition of striving thus in vain against his uncontroulable will would so propitiate his designes in this Convention that under the pretence of the said Settlement he might establish himself and obtain supplies for carrying on the said War He set up the Major-Generals to force themselves into the peoples trust and abhorence together for as the mad actions of the Little Parliament were on purpose suffered and dictated to them to make the people chuse any Government rather and submit to a Single Person upon his own score So these Major-Generals tyrannical proceedings by vertue of his unknown unlimited Authority would incline men to seek for a Government established by Law to which he and his Officers under him might be thought at least and deemed accountable and he was in a fair way to a Monarchical Form and nothing wanting but a good Title or the peoples Assent These were his aims upon this Convention for suffrages wherein his party and all that he could make to his side were no less sedulous and industrious and if they failed in the major voice he could but use the same trick of Seclusion The Major-Generals had pretty well prepared the way by aspersing many seizing others and threatning the rest of the Gentry by displacing Burgesses and disfranchising one sort and admitting another to Freedoms and at the day of Election which was the 20 of August attending at the places with Foot and Horse and got themselves returned by this means with others of their nomination Thus Berkstead got himself with Kiffin the Anabaptist returned Knights for Middlesex And when such persons were chosen in the very face of the Kingdom little other choice could be expected in obscure and remoter parts A rout was brought down for Kiffin who together with Red-coats that were onely the good people and had most right to chuse bawled scuffled and jugled away the fair Election of young Mr. Chute his Father difficultly carrying it And worse Jugling there was in Scotland and Ireland of which 60 there could not be said to be any choice at all further than the nomination of the respective Councils of both Kingdoms To facilitate the effect of this project Sir Henry Vane and Feak upon the Commonwealth and Little Parliaments account and Colonel Russel and other Royalists upon the Cavalier-account were seized and sent to Prison and a Proclamation of 20 miles again the 12 of September During this Cabal and the serious carrying of it on a Freak or Crotchet took Mr. Robert Villiers next related to the Lord Purbeck in the Head of changing his Name by Patent of Cromwel to Danvers having Married the Daughter of Sir Iohn Danvers Brother to the Earl of Danby the last of that Family being another of the Kings Judges as was observed in Sir William Constable The reason he alledged was the many disservices his Name had done the Commonwealth and he intended to become a probationer for a Parliament-mans place and a Protectorian-Consider but it was said some Natural not Political reasons induced him to this alteration On the 17 of September the Members met at the Abbey-Church in Westminster whither came Cromwel with his Guard and Gentlemen and heard a Sermon Preached by Dr. Owen Dean of Christ-Church upon these words in Isaiah What shall one then answer to the Messengers of the Land That the Lord hath founded Zion and the poor of his people shall rejoyce A Sermon calculated to the device of the Settlement and for which next day by Sir Iohn Berkstead Knighted a little before and Mr. Maidstone the Protector 's Steward of his house he had the Thanks of the Parliament At the entrance whereunto after this Preachment the Members found a Guard and an Officer standing with a List in his Hand and demanding the Names of every of them and such as were marked for non-admittance were turned back for notwithstanding all this diligence and foul play far the major part of the House were against the Single Person especially against Oliver whom the Republicans hated more than ever they did the Kingship in our Soveraign those within nevertheless stood not to ask what was become of their Fellows without but proceeded and appointed a Fast and to prevent application of the Secluded to them as of right they turned them over by an Order to the Protector 's Council for approbation which most of the Country-Gentlemen disdaining quickly departed home which others seeing that were admitted not thinking the most of this remnant fit company for men of honesty or fashion they also absented themselves that their Names might not be abused by continuing with them to countenance their proceedings Cromwel saw the Test of a Recognition would not serve turn for they had learnt his own Art of time-serving Engagements and therefore went this illegal bold way to work contenting himself with this pickt Juncto which made a shew of a Parliament but quota portio faecis Achaeae Sir Thomas Widdrington was chosen Speaker These fell to his business and first of all to make room for the Olivarian Title a Bill was brought in for annulling the pretended Title of the King by the Name of Charles Stuart another ●or the Security of the Protector 's his Highnesses Person pursued with a Vote that the Parliament declared the War against the Spaniard to be undertaken upon just grounds and that they will assist h●s Highness therein and Voted the manner of the supply to be taken into consideration with all speed And for their better encouragement the first news they had since their Sitting was of a success of the English Fleet lying upon the Coast of Spain in expectation of the Plate-flee● coming in or their Convoy of 40 Men of War going out from Cadiz one of which the Spaniard feared in earnest and the other he threatned in a Bravado It happened thus the Generals Blake and Montague being gone to the Bay of Wyers to
his leave to depart the Harbour For said he I am very sure Blake will presently be amongst you To this the resolute Don made no other reply but Get you gone if you will and let Blake come if he dares They that knew Blake's Courage could not but know it needless to dare him to an Engagement All things being ordered for fight a Squadron of ships was drawn out of the whole Fleet to make the first onset these were Commanded by Captain Stainer in the Speaker-Frigat who no sooner had received Orders but immediately he flew into the Bay with his Canvas Wings and by eight in the Morning fell pell-mell upon the Spanish Fleet without the least regard to the Forts that spent their shot prodigally upon him No sooner were these entered into the Bay but Blake following after placed certain ships to pour Broad-sides into the Castle and Forts these played their parts so well that after some time the Spaniards found their Forts too hot to be held In the mean time Blake strikes in with Stainer and bravely fought the Spanish ships which were not much inferiour in number to the English but in Men they were far the superiour Here we see a resolute bravery many times may carry the day and make number lie by the Lee this was manifest for by two of the clock in the afternoon the English had beaten their Enemies out of their ships Now Blake seeing an impossibility of carrying them away he ordered his men to fire their Prizes which was done so effectually that all the Spanish Fleet were reduced to Ashes except two ships that sunk downright nothing remaining of them above water but some part of their Masts The English having now got a compleat Victory were put to another difficulty by the Wind which blew so strong into the Bay that many despaired of getting out again But Gods Providence was miraculously seen in causing the Wind upon the sudden to Vere about to the South-West a thing not known in many years before which brought Blake and his Fleet safe to Sea again notwithstanding the Spaniards from the Castle played their Great Guns perpetually upon them as they passed by The Wind as it proved a Friend to bring the English forth so it continued to carry them back again to their former station near to Cadiz This noble Service made Blake as terrible as Drake to the Spaniard there being less difference betwixt the Fame and report of their Actions and Exploits than in the sound of their Names and it was accordingly resented here by all parties Cromwel whom it most concerned sent his Secretary to acquaint the House with the particulars who ordered a Thanksgiving and 500 l. to buy the General a Jewel as a testimony of his Countries Gratitude and the honour they bore him One hundred pound to the Captain that brought the Tidings and Thanks to all the Officers and Souldiers and shortly after the Speaker returning home being so bruised and torn in the late Engagement that she was unfit for further service till repaired the Captain of her Richard Stainer was Knighted who indeed deserved that Honour from a better Hand nor did his merit miss of it This was atchieved on Munday the 20th of April The Protector having refused the Title of King awaiting a more opportune time and advantage to reach that top and height of his Ambition which inwardly tormented him was now by the Parliament to be confirmed in his former Dignity and a Committee called of the Settlement was ordered to prepare an Explanatory part to the Humble Petition and Advice in respect of the Protector 's Oath his Councils the Members of Parliament the other House which was to consist of sixty and odd Lords of Cromwel's Election of which in their place we shall give an account all which being prepared and finished the Lord Craven thought it a fit time for him to offer his Case to the Parliament by whom a day was no sooner set for Hearing and the Protector 's Council ordered to attend but he sends a Letter directed to Our Trusty and Well-beloved Sir Thomas Widdrington Speaker of the Parliament to Adjourn but understanding the main business of the Assessment was not yet finished he sent another to forbid his former but desired them to make it their sole Affair Whereupon the Lord Craven was referred to the first day of their Access after the Adjournment When all the Acts were ready for Signing the Protector came to the Painted-Chamber and sent for the Parliament where the Speaker tendered him these Acts of State besides others relating to Trade c. 1. An Act for Assessment of 60000 l. a Month for three Months from March for the three Kingdoms Another Money-Act for 50000 l. for three years at 35000 l. for England 6000 l. for Scotland and 9000 l. for Ireland An Act for preventing multiplicity of Buildings in and about the Suburbs of London and within ten miles thereof and a whole years Revenue to be paid for every Dwelling or House built upon any new Foundation since 1620. and this was the reason and soul of that Law An Act for punishing such as live at High Rates and have no visible Estates And lastly for the observation of the Lords day There was a Bill brought in for ascertaining and satisfying the Publick Faith that these Patriots might seem to intend the ease of the people but it was but once read and committed and resumed afterwards to as much purpose very briskly by the Council of this Protector At the signing of these Cromwel made this short Speech I perceive that among these many Acts of Parliament there hath been a very great care had by the Parliament to provide for the just and necessary support of the Commonwealth by these Bills for Levying of Money now brought to me which I have given my consent unto and understanding it hath been the practise of those who have been chief Governours to acknowledge with thanks to the Commons their care and regard of the Publick I do very heartily and thankfully acknowledge their kindeness herein The principal substance of the Humble Petition c. was this 1. That his Highness under the Title of Lord Protector would be pleased to exercise the Office of Chief Magistrate over England c. and to Govern according to all things in this Petition and Advice also that in his Life-time he would appoint the person that should Succeed in the Government after his Death 2. That he would call Parliaments consisting of two Houses once in three years at farthest 3. That those persons who are Legally chosen by a Free Election of the people to serve in Parliament may not be excluded from doing their Duties but by consent of that House whereof they are Members 4. In the fourth was shown the qualifications of Parliament-Members 5. In the fifth the power of the other House 6. That the Laws and Statutes of the
Land be observed and kept and no Laws altered Suspended Abrogated Repealed or new Laws made but by Act of Parliament 7. For a constant yearly Revenue ten hundred thousand pounds to be setled for maintenance of the Navy and Army and three hundred thousand pounds for support of the Government besides other Temporary supplies as the Commons in Parliament shall see the necessities of the Nations to require 8. That the number of the Protector 's Council shall not be above one and twenty whereof the Quorum to be seven and not under 9. The Chief Officers of State as Chancellors Keepers of the Great Seal c. to be approved of by Parliament 10. That his Highness would encourage a Godly Ministry in these Nations and that such as do revile or disturb them in the Worship of God may be punished according to Law and where the Laws are defective new ones to be made in that behalf 11. That the Protestant Christian Religion as it is contained in the Old and New Testaments be asserted and held forth for the publick profession of these Nations and no other and that a Confession of Faith be agreed upon and recommended to the People of these Nations and none be permitted by Words or Writings to revile or reproach the said Confession of Faith c. Which he having Signed declared his acceptance in these Words That he came thither that day not as to a Triumph but with the most serious thoughts that ever he had in all his life being to undertake one of the greatest Burthens that ever was laid upon the back of any Humane Creature so that without the support of the Almighty he must sink under the weight of it to the damage and prejudice of these Nations This being so he must ask help of the Parliament and of those that fear God that by their Prayers he might re●●ive assistance from God For nothing else could enable him to the discharge of so great a Duty and Trust. That seeing this is but an Introduction to the carrying on of the Government of these Nations and there being many things which cannot be supplied without the assistance of the Parliament it was his duty to ask their help in them not that he doubted for the same Spirit that had led the Parliament to this would easily suggest the same to them For his part nothing would have induced him to take this unsupportable Burthen to Flesh and Blood but that he had seen in the Parliament a great care in doing those things which might really answer the ends that were engaged for and make clearly for the Liberty of the Nations and for the Interest and Preservation of all such as fear God under various Forms And if these Nations be not thankful to them for their care therein it will fall as a Sin on their Heads Yet there are some things wanting that tend to Reformation to the discountenancing Vice and encouragement of Vertue but he spake not this as in the least doubting their progress but as one that doth heartily desire to the end God may Crown their Work that in their own time and with what speed they judge fit these things may be provided for There remained onely the solemnity of the Inauguration or Investiture which being agreed upon by the Committee and the Protector was by the Parliament appointed to be performed in Westminster-hall where at the upper end thereof there was an ascent raised where a Chair and Canopy of State was set and a Table with another Chair for the Speaker with Seats built Scaffold-wise for the Parliament on both sides and places below for the Aldermen of London and the like All which being in a readiness the Protector came out of a Room adjoyning to the Lords House and in this order proceeded into the Hall First went his Gentlemen then a Herald next the Aldermen another Herald the Attorney-General then the Judges of whom Serjeant Hill was one being made a Baron of the Exchequer Iune 16. then Norroy the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury and the Seal carried by Commissioner Fiennes then Garter and after him the Earl of Warwick with the Sword born before the Protector Bare-headed the Lord Mayor Titchborn carrying the City-Sword by the special Coaks of the Protector by his left Hand Being seated in his Chair on the left hand thereof stood the said Titchborn and the Dutch Embassador the French Embassador and the Earl of Warwick on the Right next behinde him stood his Son Richard Fleetwood Claypool and the Privy Council upon a lower descent stood the Lord Viscount Lisle Lords Montague and Whitlock with drawn Swords Then the Speaker Sir Thomas Widdrington in the Name of the Parliament presented to him a Robe of Purple-Velvet a Bible a Sword and a Scepter all which were precious Tokens of the Parliaments favour At the delivery of these things the Speaker made a short Comment upon them to the Protector which he divided into four parts as followeth 1. The Robe of Purple this is an Emblem of Magistracy and imports Righteousness and Iustice. When you have put on this Vestment I may say you are a Gown-man This Robe is of a mixt colour to shew the mixture of Iustice and Mercy Indeed a Magistrate must have two bands Plectentem amplectentem to cherish and to punish 2. The Bible is a Book that contains the Holy Scriptures in which you have the happiness to be well vers'd This Book of Life consists of two Testaments the Old and New the first shews Christum Velatum the second Christum Revelatum Christ Vailed and Revealed it is a Book of Books and doth contain both Precepts and Examples for good Government 3. Here is a Scepter not unlike a Staff for you are to be a Staff to the Weak and Poor it is of antient use in this kinde It 's said in Scripture that the Scepter shall not depart from Iudah It was of the like use in other Kingdoms Homer the Greek Poet calls Kings and Princes Scepter-bearers 4. The last thing is a Sword not a Military but Civil Sword it is a Sword rather of defence than offence not to defend your self onely but your People also If I might presume to fix a Motto upon this Sword as the Valiant Lord Talbot had upon his it should be this Ego sum Domini Protectoris ad protegendum populum meum I am the Protector to protect my People This Speech being ended the Speaker took the Bible and gave the Protector his Oath afterwards Mr. Manton made a Prayer wherein he recommended the Protector Parliament Council the Forces by Land and Sea Government and People of the three Nations to the protection of God Which being ended the Heralds by sound of Trumpet Proclaimed his Highness Protector of England Scotland and Ireland and the Dominions thereunto belonging requiring all persons to yield him due obedience At the end of all the Protector with his Train carried up by
were present in the business and the King our Soveraign and the Duke of Gloucester had conveyed themselves to Dunkirk to see the management of this attempt On the 22 of October at night some 4000 English Scotch and Irish and some Spaniards about ten a clock at night began the Storm with Hand-Granadoes and all sorts of Assaulting Engines and were got into the Trenches and mounted their Scaling-ladders but the English within being in a readiness and Reynolds Morgan and Lillingstone being at that same time there the Assailants were with great slaughter repelled and beaten down the Great Guns from the English Fleet riding at the Splinter firing their Broad-sides being directed by four great Links set up in the Corners of the Fort how to miss it nevertheless about four a clock the Duke commanded the Assault to be renewed again which was done with greater fury but to as little advantage which event with the approaching day-light caused a retreat the Dead being most of them carried off in Waggons There were some hundreds guessed to be slain but the number is uncertain This was a rude accost and greeting of Country-men which used to be the most obliging in Forrain Countries but Rebellion is a Witch as they are compared with a pejoration of the former in Scripture that had transformed the Military part of the Nation Often have we fought on both sides but were never opposed in any Battle one against another much less to fight an home-bred quarrel of our own in Out-landish ground The Noble Duke therefore thinking the Hearts of the Leaders of this Garrison if they had any true English Worth or Honour suitable to their Commands might be touched with the unnaturalness of the Fact and a sense of their Allegiance and respect to their Rightful Soveraign and himself the next Prince of the Blood against whom they indirectly and collaterally militated as being now out of the Reach Influence and Awe of the Usurper sought therefore by fair means to win this Party which would highly and sufficiently conduce to his Majesties Service to their obedience In order to this by the means of a Scotch Knight whose Name slips our present use well acquainted with Colonel Reynolds he was prevailed upon to give the Duke a meeting in the mid-way betwixt Dunkirk and Mardike which are distant about two miles with a party of Horse on either side Reynolds at the approach of the Duke did the reverence which was redevable to his Highness and shewed himself in all respects as became him towards such an Illustrious Personage and with the same handsome demeanour departed to the Fort. What conference they had was never perfectly related for it was private but the very news of the meeting in that amicable respectful manner being conveyed with speed to Cromwel caused in him such jealousies and distrusts that inflamed with anger at this his great Confident and Favourite he presently dispatcht away a Messenger to Command him for London which he and Colonel White with one Mr. Devaux the Secretary to Reynolds readily obeying and taking the first ship was ready and that would venture to go off which was a Dutch Pink of 10 Guns in a stormy night the 12 of December a Frigat offering to wait on him next Morning he was cast away the same night on the back of the Goodwyn-sands his Chest Sword and Belt being found thereabouts and thereby saved the ungrateful excuse of his duty and prevented the prejudiced revenge of his Master Oliver Morgan Commanded in his place till the arrival of Marshal D' Aumont who brought with him Monsieur Mancini the Cardinal's Nephew desirous out of curiosity to see this vicissitudinary Fortress who had the supreme Command but devolved the exercise and trust thereof to the same hand as before Here Marshal D' Aumont was furnished with some ships of ours for a designe upon Ostend which he had thought he had surely purchased but of this hereafter As to other Forrain News there was great discourse about the right to the Vicariat or Vicarship of the Empire which now happened by the Death of the Emperour Ferdinand the 4 of Austria his Son the King of the Romans being dead some while before It did indisputably belong to the Prince Elector Palatine but upon the quarrel for the Crown of Bohemia he was proscribed and degraded and the Duke of Bavaria a descendant of the younger House did now assert and maintain that right as lately confirmed on him by the Emperour against the Palatine and so it remained sub judice The Protector the War growing hot betwixt the two Northern Kings the Dane having attaqued Bremerwarden a very strong place and soon after Mastered it dispatcht away two Envoys Extraordinary viz. Sir Philip Medows Knighted by himself afterwards by that King with the Order of the Elephant to the King of Denmark and since by our Soveraign being the same Gentleman that was employed before to the King of Portugal and Colonel Iephson to the King of Sweden then journeying Post out of Poland to encounter this new Enemy They were both well received the first at Copenhagen the other by the way of Lubeck at Wismar whither the Swede was arrived to whom during this offered Mediation betwixt both Cromwel sent supplies of 2000 Men and Arms from London Yarmouth and Hull in several ships so radicated was his Hate against the most offenceless and distant Allies and Relations of the Crown as the Dane was which he took all occasions how villanous and base soever to render of feared and damnifying consequence and dangerous prejudices to all the neighbouring States and Princes A Declaration of another Massacre of the Protestants in Poland upon the return of that King into those hinder parts of the Kingdom which had submitted to the Swede and were now by him deserted but the designe of the other of Piedmont was yet recent and rank and so it took not At home Cromwel was now Swearing his privy-Privy-Council over according to one of the Articles of the Humble Petition and Advice and the Earl of Mulgrave was made one of them and because the Parliament had declared the next succession into his Dignity should be at the appointment of himself by Act or publick Declaration he thought it time to produce his Son Richard and to train him in the Government He was therefore made another Lord of the Council and the Chancellorship of Oxford which the Protector had resigned was bestowed on him and a solemn Instalment of him by Dr. Owen the Vice-Chancellor was acted with all the Formalities at White-hall The course of his life before this calling to the State spent it self in the pleasures and divertisements of the Country where he appeared in a medium of privacy and greatness tempering one another to the estimate of a civil and noble disposition manifested in several kindnesses obtained at his Fathers hands for the Loyal Gentry to whose Converse and Familiarity he was
NOw did the Usurper feel the Thornes of his unjust Acquists in the restless Fears and Disquiets which measured every moment of his time his sleeps being disturbed with the apprehensions of those dangers the day presented unto him in the approaches of any strange Face whose motion he would most fixedly attend Above all he very carefully observed such whose mind or aspect were featured with any chearful and debonair Lineaments for such he boded were they that would dispatch him to that purpose he always went secretly Armed both offensive and defensive and never stirred without a great Guard In his usual Journey between White-hall and Hampton-Court by several Roads he drove full-speed in the Summer-time making such a dust with his Life-guard part before and part behinde at a convenient distance for fear of choaking him with it that one could hardly see for a quarter of an hour together and always came in some private way or other he likewise never Lodged above twice or thrice in a Room to which there was no passage but by twenty several Locks Sometimes he would pretend to be merry and invite persons of whom he had some suspition to his Cups and then drill out of their opened Hearts such secrets as he fisht for He had freaks also to divert the vexations of his misgiving thoughts calling in by the beat of Drum his Foot-guards like a Kennel of Hounds to snatch away the scraps and reliques of his Table He saw every mans hand was against him and that he ran daily into farther perplexities out of which it was impossible to extricate or secure himself therein without running into further danger so that he began to alter much in the tenour of his former converse and to run and transform into the manners of the ancient Tyrants thinking to please and mitigate his own Tortures with the sufferings of others Thus began the year with a Proclamation of the old relish for Royalists to depart London twenty miles c. and instantly Colonel Russel Sir William Compton Sir William Clayton and other old Prison-guests of that party were Committed to the Tower but many of those against whom the information from the two aforesaid intelligencers was given were Gentlemen and Citizens not in any service or designe before whether out of some reluctancy of conscience they would not ruine their old Comrades or for fear of discovering of his Spies of which he should have perpetual need Cromwel thought not fit to engage and set them upon such face to face they being not otherwise to be decoy'd These fresh-men were some of them Citizens of London as Mr. Manly a Merchant Mr. Carent Mr. Iackson and Mr. Sumner the other principals c. were Mr. Mordant the Earl of Peterburgh's Brother and Dr. Iohn Hewet Preacher then at St. Gregories by Pauls Mr. after Sir Thomas Woodcock Mr. Maunsel both engaged in the Kings escape and shipping out of Sussex from Worcester Mr. Mallory Mr. Stapely Mr. Hartgil Baron and others most of these were taken and kept close Prisoners till such time as some were wrought upon to witness against their fellows and then set at liberty The Designe was laid in Kent Essex Surry and Sussex the King being ready to have passed over as before with an Army under the Conduct of the Count of Marsin the Prince of Conde's General newly honoured with the Order of the Garter but this Treachery frustrated the Designe Which being so well known to Cromwel and that other places as Portsmouth Hull and such Maritime Fortresses were treated for and reckoned into the bargain he set afoot the like practises by his own Emissaries and Trepans viz. upon Sir Henry Slingsby a Prisoner off and on ever since Worcester-fight in Hull some of the Officers whereof insinuating into his acquaintance and casting out some disgustful words against the Protector and mixing some overtures of their good will to the King withal intimating that if he could procure a Commission from his Majesty for them the Town was at his service The old Loyal Gentleman gladly embracing a proffer of such concernment made use of an old Commission he had by him which being the length of their Line these Officers hooked him and sent him up to the same Condemnation a Prisoner in the Tower The Names of these Officers were Major Waterhouse Captain Overton and one Lieutenant Thompson The chief Actors being thus secured Cromwel to Collogue with the City sent for the Mayor and Aldermen and communicated to them the Plot naming several persons and particulars many of which he accommodated to the danger of the City and dressed them for their horrour and resentment telling them that the danger was not over though so happily foreseen taking hereby the advantage of having a new Militia chosen of the most desperate Phanaticks and his party in London c. A general Train was soon after made in Finsbury-fields and Addresses by the Officers testifying their resolutions to adhere to the Protector delivered in very express and humouring Language When he had thus raised the expectation of the story though the chief in the business understanding they were detected and many of their associates in Prison had defisted from any further Attempt on the 16 of May he doubled his Guards and sent an Alarm to the City that that night the Royalists had appointed for their rising and firing the Town and forthwith marched several Forces of Horse and Foot into the Liberties the Drums of the Trained-bands likewise beat and all the 6 Regiments appeared presently and kept Guard that night being employed for the most part in seizing some of those Citizens afore-mentioned with divers others as Mr. Southcot Mr. Hern and some young men and Apprentices whom his Drags had Trepan'd These made work for a High Court of Iustice now founded and erected upon a Law of the late Parliament the Act for security of his Highness's person who restrained the power thereby given with this clause that they should Try none but such as should be named to them by him or his Council for it might be by the same Sophistry as the Parliament fought against the King for the preservation of his Person they might try the Usurper for the security of his Highness Such a strange Judicature was this High Court of Iustice that they that advised framed and established it could not tell how to binde or tye up the Mastiff from tearing his Masters Throat Nec Lex est Iustior ulla Quam necis artifices arte perire sua Certainly haunted the minde of this Tormenter most of the Lords of the other House were Commissioners herein the Earl of Salisbury being named among them Before these Sir Henry Slingsby and Dr. Hewet were first brought and Sir Henry charged that he and one Gardiner never heard of but such another as Iohn Doe did Traiterously Conspire against the Life and Dignity c. and the said Trepans brought as Evidence to
solemnized sutable to the Glory and greatness in which he had left this his Successor No less therefore than 60 thousand pounds was alloted to defray the expence thereof more by one half than was ever used to any King or Queen of England Some said it was advised by none of his Friends the designe being thereby to bring him into debt and so ruine him which in effect it did and those that trusted him with Blacks and other Funeral-Accommodation especially one Walton a Draper who in his failure spoiled several Clothiers whose Goods he had upon his Credit notwithstanding that Colonel after Lord Pride was lately become his Father-in-law and he himself moreover of Kin to the Protector The Funeral because of the great concourse it drew of spectators is here fully described it being one of the chiefest remarques of this short-lived Government whose Exequies soon after followed The Corps presently after his expiration being buried by reason of the stench thereof a Coffin was on the 26 of September about ten at night privately removed from White-hall in a Mourning-herse attended by his Domestick Servants to Somerset-house where it remained in private for some days till all things were in readiness for publick view which being accomplished his Effigies was with great state and magnificence exposed openly multitudes daily flocking to see the sight which appeared in this order The first Room where the Spectators entered was wholly hung with Black at the upper-end whereof was placed a Cloth and Chair of State In the like manner was the second and third all having Scutcheons very thick upon the Walls and Guards of Partizans placed in each Room for people to pass through The fourth Room was compleatly hung with Black-velvet the Cieling being of the same here lay the Effigies with a large Canopy of Black-Velvet Fringed which hung over it The Waxen-Picture lying upon its Back was Apparrell'd in a rich Suit of Velvet robed in a little Robe of Purple-Velvet laced with a rich Gold-lace Furr'd with Ermins upon the Kirtle was a large Robe of Purple-Velvet laced and furr'd as the former with rich Strings and Tassels of Gold The Kirtle was girt with a rich embroidered Belt wherein was a Sword bravely guilt and hatched with Gold which hung by the side of this Fine thing In the Right hand was a Scepter in the Left a Globe upon his Head was placed a Purple-Velvet-Cap furr'd with Ermins sutable to the Robes Behinde the Head was placed a rich Chair of Tissued Gold whereon was placed an Imperial Crown which lay high that the people might behold it The Bed of State whereon he lay was covered with a large Pall of Black-Velvet under which was a Holland-sheet born up by six Stools covered with Cloath of Gold About the Bed was placed a compleat suit of Arms and at the Feet of the Effigies stood his Crest This Bed had fix'd about it an ascent of two steps a little from thence stood eight silver Candlesticks about five foot high with white Wax-tapers standing in them of three foot long All these things were environed with Rails and Ballasters four-square covered with Velvet at each corner whereof there was erected an upright Pillar which bore on their tops Lions and Dragons who held in their Paws Streamers Crowned On both sides of the Bed were set up in Sockets four great Standards of the Protector 's Arms with Banners and Banrols in War painted upon Taffaty About the Bed stood men in Mourning bare-headed and without the Rails others to receive people in and turn them out again When this Show had been seen for many weeks together the Scene was then altered the Effigies being removed into another Room it was there set up standing upon an Ascent under a Cloath of State being vested as it was before lying onely now his Purple-Velvet was changed for a Crown In the same manner as formerly were men waiting upon him bare-headed In this manner he continued until the 23 of November which day was appointed to carry him with all solemnity to Westminster-abbey This great Funeral was performed with very great Majesty in this manner following All things being in readiness the Waxen Picture of the Protector with a Crown on his Head a Sword by his Side a Globe and Scepter in his Hands was taken down from his standing and laid in an open Chariot covered all over with Black-Velvet adorned with Plumes and Scutcheons and drawn by six horses in Black-Velvet The Streets from Somerset-house to Westminster-abbey were guarded by Souldiers in new Red coats and Black-buttons with their Ensignes wrapt in Cypres which made a lane to keep off Spectators from crowding the Actors The Procession In the first place went a Marshal attended by his Deputy and 13 more on Horse-back to clear the way after him followed the Poor of Westminster by two and two in Mourning Gowns and Hoods next to them the Servants of those persons of Quality that attended the Funeral These were followed by the Protector 's late Domestick Servants and his Barge-men and Water-men Then came the Servants of the Lord-Mayor and Sheriffs of London Following them were Gentlemen Attendants on Forrain Embassadors and publick Ministers After marched the poor Knights of Windsor in Gowns and Hoods then the Clerks Secretaries and Officers of the Army Admiralty Treasury Navy and Exchequer Next the Commissioners of the Excise of the Army and Committee of the Navy Then the Commissioners for approbation of Preachers behinde these followed all the Officers Messengers and Clerks belonging to the privy-Privy-Council and both Houses of Parliament Next in order followed his Physitians the head-Officers of the Army the Officers and Aldermen of London The Masters of Chancery and his Highness's Council at Law The Judges of Admiralty Judges of both Benches and Lord Mayor of London The persons Allied in Blood to the Protector and the Members of the other House The publick Ministers of Forrain Princes The Holland-Embassador alone having his Train held up by four Gentlemen Then the Portugal Embassador and the French Embassador in the like manner The Commissioners of the Great Seal The Commissioners of the Treasury The Members of his Privy-Council All the Grandees in close Mourning but it was once advised otherways for fear of a surprize in the Streets the rest but in ordinary The whole Assembly passing along in divisions were distinguished by Drums Trumpets Banners and Horses whereof there were eleven in all four being covered with Black-Cloath and seven in Velvet These passing in fine order at length came the Chariot with the Effigies on each side of which were six Banner-Rolls twelve in all born by several persons and likewise several pieces of the Protector 's Arms carried by eight Officers of the Army attended by the Heralds Next went Garter principal King of Arms attended by a Gentleman on each hand bare-headed Next came the chief Mourner And to conclude all came the Horse of Honour in very rich Trappings embroidered on
and instead of aiding the Swede stood more than neutral upon the Danes side having received the like civilities from that King to the murmur of the Swedes and several intercourses of intelligence a●d friendship and other intrigues betwixt the Dutch Admiral and himself frequently passed But to return to the Parliament Now the Game began out came a Remonstrance from the Army to Richard setting forth in what danger the Good Old Cause was by which term it was cognized ever after That the asserters of it were every where Vilified the great Patriots and Patrons of it the Judges of the King put into Printed Lists and marked for destruction with the ruine of all the Godly and the Cause together the Army was purposely kept from Pay that they might Mutiny and therefore desired be would signifie as much to the Parliament for some speedy redress And in the mean while the Souldiers that kept Guard made bold with his Victuals and would stop it from his Table This Remonstrance was Lambert's and the Republicans project who never left haunting of Fleetwood's house upon pious and Religious pretences soothing him with the complements of his Gifts and Graces and what happiness it were for the Nation if the Government were laid upon his Shoulders as no doubt they urged it was intended by his Father-in-law In the heat of this business died Mr. Chaloner Ch●●e on the 15 of April their Speaker a man fit in every respect for the Chair and of a judgement and resolution as cross to the sway of the Times which he was designed in this place to oppose In pursuance of this Remonstrance Alderman Titchborne being set at work by the same hands that moulded Fleetwood engaged Oliver's Militia-Officers of the last Establishment to make an Address to Fleetwood and the Army whom they promised to stand by in their defence of the same Good Old Cause so that being now back'd with these seconds of the City they resolved on the project of Ruining the Protector though when too late the Officers hurl'd into such confusions that they could neither help themselves nor him by the implacable ambition and revenge of Lambert who had scrued and recovered his interest in the Officers would have made him a kind of Duke of Venice with a Title and a Pension and Parliament together Several advices were given Richard all this while by his Friends Col. Ingoldsby Goffe and Col. Charles Howard made a Viscount by Oliver and he urged by them to seize upon the chief of those Army-Conspirators and dispatch them as the onely sure way to be rid of their Interest in the Army he was likewise sollicited by other hands to embrace the Kings Title and close with his party and there was a report that the Danish Embassador then Resident here had Instructions to treat with him about it to offer him most honourable Terms and to engage his Masters Word for the performance which hath since been confirmed to be true As to the Counsel about seizing the Officers Col. Ingoldsby his Cousen undertook it upon his own score and engaged at his own peril with his order to effect it but such the suspense and pusillanimity that possessed Richard his neer Relation to Fleetwood and Desborough prompting him to expect nor dread any harm from that party where they were chief and he thought himself well enough if he saved his Skin that he could be brought to no resolution and so the fair occasion of crushing that Cockatrice of the Rump which was hatching at Wallingford-house where Fleetwood dwelt and by which House that party was distinguished was totally lo●t The Protector at last beginning when it was too late and but then thinking of securing himself from being surprized with their Complements and stood upon his Guard But the Commons-House as became English-men wisely and courageously resolved to let the Officers know that they took them still to be their Servants though they had for too many years ill deserved their Wages Rebelling and Usurping the Government at their pleasure and intending to try what they meant by the Good Old Cause which as they seemed to represent it smelt of Gunpowder and Ball and whether the Repentance held forth in their said Representation were real or Military passed these Votes on Munday April 18. Resolved That during the Sitting of the Parliament there shall be no General Council or Meeting of the Officers of the Army without direction and Authority of his Highness the Lord Protector and both Houses of Parliament And secondly That no person shall have or continue any Command or Trust in any of the Armies or Nations of England Scotland and Ireland or any the Dominions and Territories thereto belonging who shall refuse to subscribe That he will not disturb or interrupt the free-meetings in Parliament of any the Members of either House of Parliament or their freedom in their Debates and Counsels And the same time to shew their care of the Army and to prevent jealousies they passed these following Votes Resolved That the House do presently take into consideration the ways and means for satisfaction of the Arrears of the Armies and providing present pay for them And secondly That Serjeant Maynard the Attorney-General and Sollicitor-General do forthwith prepare an Act of Indemnity for all such as have acted under the Parliament and Commonwealth While the House spent the rest of their time in considering how to provide Money without laying new Burthens on the people great contests grew between the Protector and the opposite Officers of the Army both sides keeping Guards night and day againct one another the Protector having in pursuance of the Votes of the House forbidden the meetings of the Officers In this divided posture affairs continued till Friday the 22 of April on which Morning early Fleetwood the Protector 's Brother Desborough his Uncle and the rest of the mutinous Officers carrying the greater part of the Army after them and the Protector 's party flinching the Conquest was made without one drop of Blood which was strange in so Ancient Hereditary just and undoubted a Title and the Protector●forced to consent to a Commission and Proclamation ready prepared giving Desborough and others power to Dissolve the Parliament contrary to the best advice and his own Interest and promise And accordingly the same day the Black Rod was sent twice to the House of Commons from Fiennes Speaker of the Other House for them to come thither but they admitted him not in and much scorned the motion having ever looked upon that Mushroom-house as the Lower-house and their own creature the language being to send down to the Other House when they sent the Declaration for a Fast for a trial of transacting with them And therefore understanding there were Guards of Horse and Foot in the Palace-yard after some motion made by Mr. Knightly Sir Arthur Haselrig and others wherein Sir Arthur exceeded That the House should first declare it
an Address from the Leicester-shire Levites of gratulation upon this their success and a disclaiming and renouncing of any hand in that business which was feared would prove most Fatal to the whole Presbytery whose designe this was vogued to be by the insulting Sectary who could not endure to hear of Tithes which the Rump in policy had lately Voted pro tempore But Lambert's ambition interposed betwixt them and danger for a Paper sent to Colonel Ashfield Cobbet and Lieutenant-Colonel Duckenfield from other of Lambert's Officers coming to the notice of the Rump they sent to demand it and having it delivered presently understood the device of it and after a quick debate of this Petition Address and Proposals angrily Voted That to have any more General Officers in the Army than are already setled by the Parliament was unnecessary burdensome and dangerous to the Commonwealth Notwithstanding the Officers met in solemn Council about it Lambert being come to Town and sitting there in person and acting his own designe among them and bidding fair for it among the Rump the ablest of whom he had made sure to himself and What need was there of the other Haslerig who was the most formidable being known to dare and say more than he would do as Cromwel's carriage towards him had sufficiently evidenced At this Council the Petition was concluded on and ordered to be presented to the Parliament on the 4 of October by Major-General Desborough which he accordingly delivered to the Speaker as the sense of the Army which coming in such attendance and the countenance and awe of their Masters made them put on another face and very fairly answer the Sword-Grandee with a Complement of taking it into their first Consideration nothing to intervene save the Dinner the City gave them both Parliament and Army-Officers after a Sermon preached at Christ-Church upon their Thanksgiving October the sixth at Grocers-Hall for the Cheshire-Victory where they eat in spite and would have better become a Fray than a Feast though the Army-friends in London designed this Treat to conciliate the Rump by their surfeiting on the Memory of this day which they owed to Lambert as he that freed them from a worser danger than his whatsoever designements but the result was they fed heartily and thanked the City next day heartily by Members whereof Atkins was one sent to take the other repast and Bottle of this high Entertainment and withal the City obtained the favour of having liberty to chuse a new Lord Mayor which was Sir Thomas Alleyn which had been before denied and Ireton Voted to continue it again so that the City-Cost was well expended An Answer was now again required to be given to this Representation as it was now called and thereupon the Members who had had under their consideration an Act for Assessment of 120000 l. per mensem which they had perfected some while before and let it rest as being informed of this device of Lambert on purpose to leave him Moneyless and without any support to his Ambition very closely and as cunningly applied themselves to the debate of the Representation which consisting of seven or eight immaterial desires concerning maimed Souldiers Widows the Militia-pay Lambert's Officers rewards and such like had this onely substantial Article that the Parliament would Commission a General whom they named viz. Charles Fleetwood The Rump answered readily in the affirmative to the rest but to this Choak-pear they by Resolve stoutly declared That the Army as other Free-men have right to Petition but must take care both in the manner and matter of it and that the Wisdom of the Parliament is to be referred to in all matters and what they had or should decree and this for answer to their demand of a General and withal Voted hereupon as knowing they were betrayed by some of their own selves That it is the duty of every Member to inform to his knowledge of any thing that concerns the publick safety and foreseeing the imminent danger of a force ordered the Council of State to seize all publick Papers whatsoever and at the same instant passed an Act which did the feat that it should be Treason for any person or persons to levy Money without the consent of Parliament Before the whole answer could be framed Lambert not liking a word of that about the General which was the main caused his Representation to be Printed that the equity and justice of it might be publick and justifie his future Actions for though Fleetwood was mentioned to that Supreme Command it was resolved as easie a thing to supplant him as Richard if the Rump had consented to the Proposals This no sooner appeared together with a Letter delivered by Okey a friend to his fellow-Regicides to the House that was sent him from some Officers of the Army to the same purpose but the Rump Voted October the 12 that the several Commissions of Colonels Iohn Lambert Iohn Desborough Iames Berry Thomas Kelsey Richard Ashfield Ralph Cobbet William Packer Robert Barrow and Major Richard Creed who subscribed the same Letter should be vacated Resolved also that the Government of the Army should be managed by Commissioners That an Act be brought in for repealing the Act whereby Fleetwood was constituted Lieutenant-General and Commander in chief and that Fleetwood Ludlow General Monke Haslerig Walton Morly and Overton do execute the powers granted to Fleetwood until the 12 of February four months from the date of this Resolve as also the next Officers in the respective Regiments of these Colonels do succeed in their places Lieutenant-Colonel Campfield to Lambert and so in the rest and the Serjeant at Arms was ordered to attend these Cashiered Officers with these Orders and Resolutions In the mean while Haslerig in a great heat and Herbert Morley his Son-in-law and other the Commissioners then present for the Army by Order sare up all night in the Speakers Chamber adjoyning to the House and issued out several Commands to such Forces and Commanders as they thought would stand by them resolving to oppose Force to Force and be baffled no more with this Legionary Spirit that had haunted and plagued them so often But Lambert was awake also and at the same time marched several Regiments into King-street Westminster and possessed himself of all the avenues to the Palace such Forces as these Commissioners had got to their side being forced to march round St. Iames Wall in the night time and so through Tuttle-street into the Abby and St. Margarets Westminster Church-yard both parties standing upon their Guard till the Morning October 13. at which time about eleven a Clock the Speaker coming to the House in his Coach was stopped neer the Gate that leads into the Palace by Lieutenant Col. Duckenfield and his Coach turned and sent back Lambert on Horseback then faced the Regiment of Morley and Mosse in the said Church-yard and much stiffness and ill looks there passed between
the Officers and some words but never a blow for the Soldiers were resolved not to Fight one against the other for the best Parliament or the best Cause that ever was in England In this posture they continued till Night when the Council of State who umpired the difference between the Red-Coats commanded and ordered them to their several Quarters as good friends as ever It must be remembred that the Rump suspecting of this Juncto of State had privately named another to Act if a dissolution should happen The Army-Officers the next day after this Conquest met at Whitehal and declared Fleetwood for their General They appointed also a select number of the Council of State to consider of fit ways to carry on the Affairs of the Common-wealth and suspended all those Officers that were active on the other side and referred them to a Court Martial for remedy giving power to Fleetwood Ludlow Desborough Lambert Sir Henry Vane and Berry to nominate all Officers and appointed the reviving of the old Laws of Military Discipline and that Fleetwood as before should be owned for General and Lambert and Desborough as Major and Commissary General the latter in England and Scotland too not a syllable mentioned of General Moncks consent to the bargain save that Colonel Cobbet was dispatched thither to inform him of the Passages as Colonel Barrough was sent upon the same errand to Ireland That Committee just before mentioned of which Vane Whitlock Lambert and Berry were chief Fleetwood and Desborough must needs be in begot or gigged themselves into another Committee called a Committee of Safety some few more being added from the City who were to consider of a form of Government and if they thought fit to advise with the General Council of Officers and to bring in a Draught within six weeks their power the same with the former Council of State to which this was added they were to call Delinquets to Tryal and to give Indemnity to all that had acted for the Parliament since 1641. to suppress Rebellious Insurrections to Treat with Forreign Princes to confer Offices and to state the Sales and Compositions of those late Delinquents their Names were as follow viz. Fleetwood Lambert Desborough Steel Whitlock Vane Ludlow Sydenham Salloway Strickland Seven last Members of the Rump Berry Laurence Olivers's President of his Council Sir Iames Harrington another Rumper Warreston a Scotch-man and Henry Brandrith a Cloath-drawer Citizen Cornelius Holland a Member Hewson Clark Bennet and Lilbourn Colonels of the Army These by Letters of Invitation being brought together to consider of a Government which Vane had already Projected the Cement whereof was an intended Marriage betwixt Lamberts's Son and his Daughter the Council of Officers emitted a Declaration shewing the reasons of the late Change and do thereby disanul the pretended Act of Treason Octob. 10. to Levy Money without consent in Parliament as done precipitantly and unduly and not according to the Custome of Parliament declare for Ministry and the maintenance of it by a less vexatious way than Tithes for Liberty and that the Army will not meddle in Civil Affairs but refer the Civil and Executive Power to the Council of State or Safety to provide for the Government and to set up a free State without King single Person or House of Lords And for Conclusion desire the Prayers of the Godly The Judges were nevertheless in this mad state of Affairs perswaded to sit in the several Courts Whitlock officiating the Chancery Sir Thomas Alleyn the Lord Mayor of London was likewise sworn before the Barons of the Exchequer Sir William Waller and others that had been snapt up by the Rump took advantage of it and brought their Habeas Corpus to the Kings Bench. Sir William got his liberty and shortly after the Earl of Northampton Lord Bellasis Faulconbridge Faulkland Castelton Lord Herbert of Ragland Lord Charles Howard were all released upon bail That wretch Bradshaw died at the Lodgings given him in the Deans-house at Westminster the beginning of this Moneth of Novemb. in the same desperate impenitence in which since the Fact he lived saying to a Gentleman on his Death-bed that charitably advised him to examine himself about the matter of the Kings Death That if it were to do again he would be the first man that should do it He was freed by this his Disease which was occasioned by an Ague as Cromwel's from the terrour and fear of the ensuing Change the apprehensions whereof setled in him ever since his Country the Cheshire Design He was grown publiquely confident and had left off his Guards he first kept about him but his privacy was more than usually and all his actions and gestures more reserved He was carried out with a great Funeral and much attendance of the Men of those Times and Interred in the Abby and his Crime published for his Commendation A little before died Edmund Prideaux the Attorney-General throughout the Usurpation by which he got a very vast Estate leaving Sixty Thousand pounds in Gold as credible report went in his Coffers besides Lands of very great demesnes This Change like a nine days wonder was quite over and the Army and Lambert here very brisk and slighting the Rump and all it could do when a Cooling Card came from the North in a Letter from General Monk declaring his unsatisfiedness with those proceedings of the Army which hugely deceived their Expectations because he had so readily concurred with their former mutation and the Officers there were many of them Phanaticks but the Case was altered he resolved to assert the Parliamentary Interest and when Cobbet sent hence came to Berwick he had him secured there and sent with a Guard Prisoner to Edinborough Castle The manner of his declaring for the Parliament was thus On the Eighteenth of October being at Dalkeith he sent for Col. Wilks Governour of Leith Lieutenant-Col Emerson Captain Ethelbert Morgan now made his Lieutenant-Colonel Lieutenant-Col Hubberthorne Cloberry and Miller to come to him whom he acquainted with his Resolution and they engaged to stand by him against the Factious part of the Army as he characterized them On the Nineteenth he come to Edinburgh where his own and Col. Talbot's Regiment with lighted Matches and Ball received him to whom he declared the same and promised them their Arrears at which they loudly shouted then he went to Leith where he was entertained in the like manner and at his departure had Seventeen Guns given him from the Citadel and Volleys from the Regiment Then he turned all the Anabaptist-Officers out of the Regiments and secured them in Timptallon-Castle At the same time upon pretences of consulting with Lieutenant-Col Young of Cobbets Regiment Lieutenant-Col Keyn and Major Kelke of Pearsons Regiment he sent for them to him and upon their coming clapt them up but released Keyn upon his promise of adherence Together with them he had advertisement that
taking Assembly at home having issued out Writs by his own Precept and Authority for convening some of the Nobles and two for every County of Scotland while as yet he lay in the Confines of England with some part of his Army from which parts he sent away a Letter by Col. Markham and Atkins to the City of London of the Tenour of the former intercepted to Devonshire which being read at a Common-Hall was by all means endeavoured to be blasted as fictitious and the Messengers imprisoned The Scotch Convention met the General according to his Summons at Edenburgh where he propounded to them First The security of the Peace in his absence which he said He was constrained to in defence of the Parliament and our Laws in general terms Secondly That they would Assist him if any Troubles should arise And Thirdly That they would raise him some money To this they readily answered being Oracled That as to the first they had no Arms and therefore were in no condition nor capacity to provide against any Insurrections but would endeavour Secondly That it could not be expected nor were it reasonable for them to interest themselves in a War which if prosperous had no assurance of advantage if unhappy would be farther ruinous to them Thirdly That as to moneys they were exhausted already but yet confiding in his Noble and Honourable design they would raise him a Twelve Moneths Assessement which amounted to Sixty thousand pounds and the Revenues of the Excise and Customes besides The Earl of Glencarn had the Chair here one of the General 's Privadoes a former Eminent Royallist and at present deem'd a moderate man having in all things complyed with the General 's Orders This is one of the Curtain-stories which cannot be pryed into as yet as are the other abstruse contrivances of the Kings Restitution it is sufficient to mind the Reader that some great Providence was at hand when a revengeful and most desperate Enemy gratified his Conquerour by the opening of his Heart and his Hands instead of striving with this advantage and arming himself to the recovery of that Peoples Liberty The Committee of Safety for all Vane's curious Modules liked not themselves in this their Government but to free themselves by a Proclamation declared their resolution for another Parliament and that they were upon qualifications and summoning one speedily One Barret sent out of Ireland with a Letter to Gen. Monke from the Army-party there was likewise imprisoned all the whole Force in Scotland were now together to wit the Generals Regiments Wilks's Talbot's Fairfax's Pearson's Read's Smith's and Sawrey's of Foot and His own Col. Twisleton's Morgan's and Saunders's of Horse the latter of whom was detained in a kind of restraint of Coventry nevertheless the General pretended still to an Agreement and therefore declaring not himself fully satisfied desired the addition of two more Commissioners to treat with his other three at Newcastle with five more of Wallingford-house the chief of whom was Col. Clerk who came post to Newcastle where having conferred the General sends for his Commissioners to be fully informed of the transaction before he ratified it because of the late mistake of his Commissioners at London and upon their arrival clapt up Col. Wilks for exceeding his Instructions The General was now at Berwick whence he sent Letters to Fleetwood assuring him that in all this difference there he had no personal quarrel against him but could return into a most firm friendship with him But now his temporizing came to an end for Hazelrig Morley Walton Col. Norton was then also present got into Portsmouth and Whetham the Governour formerly of the Generals Council in Scotland siding with them they presently seized upon such Officers as were thought to favour the Wallingfordians of which were Captain Brown and Captain Peacock and declared for the Parliament which coming to the Ears of the Council of Officers they presently ordered Major Cadwel with a Party of Horse to block them up who accordingly came to Gospur on the other side the water and Riches and Berries Troops were sent to joyn with him who instead thereof being inveagled by Col. Vnton Crook and Major Bremen marched into Portsmouth and joyned with Hazelrig Then began the Tumults in London and instant applications were made to the Lord Mayor and Aldermen to declare against both Army and Rump the last of whom was most abhorred and cryed out against with the general voice of No Rump and a Petition for a Free-Parliament as the only way to preserve the City and Kingdome was preferred for Hands which the Committee of Safety under high Penalties forbid but no regard being had to them nor no application of any person to them but their own Army-folk save that Sir George Booth obtained his Liberty upon Bail from them because of indisposition and for recovery of his health in better Ayr the said Petitions were carried on and high things resolved on Shops being shut up and the Publick only minded people running in clusters in the middle of the Street and hearing and telling of News an threatning or expecting as news came nothing but Destruction These things being posted to Wallingford-house Colonel Hewson with his Regiment was ordered to march into the City and quell these Tumults and Uproars who accordingly came strutting in and seeing some gatherings of Apprentices and others having commanded them to be gone bid his Musquetiers fire who killed two men about the Exchange Horse and Foot were also quartered in the Streets and round about the City Lambert seeing no good was to be expected by this Treaty his Messenger Col. Zanchy being secured at Berwick advanced to Perith having almost spoiled and wasted the Country about Newcastle with his numerous and indeed gallant Army for he had the flower of it with him both for Horse and Men money was wanting and could not be had so that free-quarter on which he was forced to subsist having almost undone himself to supply his incident necessities of the Expedition made him not only odious but disheartned his men which to remedy he concluded to March forward and so came to Perith intending to Fight Nothing in the interim but fears rage desperation revenge private and publick consultations about the redress of these mischiefs filled the City of London and nothing but a Free-Parliament could be thought of as a fit expedient which the Committee of Safety found it high time to personate being already certain that Portsmouth-story would spoil all and therefore to prevent the Rump Proclaimed December 15. a Free-Parliament to sit down the Twenty fourth of Ianuary upon sundry qualifications which were to be formed out of these Seven Fundamentals 1. No King 2. No single Person 3. The Army to be continued 4. Liberty of Conscience 5. No House of Peers 6. Legislative and Executive Power distinct 7. Both Assemblies of the Parliament and Council of State to be chosen by
of Fact will sufficiently shew this Transaction of the General with the several Counties and the Commissioners of the Rump Scot and Robinson appointed to wait on him meerly to sift out and discover his intentions I will give the Reader a bare Journal of the Affairs as they passed But before I proceed the Reader is to take notice That our Soveraign having been highly treated at his return from St. Iean de Luz at Paris by the Duke of Orleans and regarded now as the Monarch of great Britain such assured confidence there was of his Restitution passed in great State publiquely to Brussels where His return was no less magnificently welcomed and there abode till the dissolution of this Parliament the Rump which now as their last Engine and dying Efforts are most vigorous against Monarchy and its fortress of Loyalty had under their consideration an Act for Renuntiation and Abjuration of the Title and Right of the King and the whole Line of King Iames. Oliver had proceeded to the disanulling it this to the damning of the Nation who had sworn to maintain it But rather than sink as they plainly saw the King would at last be too hard for them by the late Commotions and Insurrections in his behalf therefore they bethought themselves of this Italian revenge to ruine the Bodies and Souls together of their Enemies this was afterwards prosecuted while the General was among them and a Petition delivered by Barebones and other Good-Old-Cause-men and Fanaticks and they most abominably thanked for this their love and care of the Common-wealth At the same time Sir Iohn Roll and other Devonshire Gentlemen listed and engaged all that Country upon the account of a Free-Parliament according to the Cabal betwixt the General and him Mr. Morrice now Secretary and others And this strength the General relyed on upon all events as his own Country-men and doubtless this resolution of that County was of very great influence in the ensuing Affairs Scot and Robinson were sent to cajole the General with another Letter of thanks to him as also another was sent to Major-General Morgan Col. Sydenham a Member of the Committee of Safety and of Oliver Cromwels's Council discharged the House A tumult at Exeter about a free-Free-Parliament Commissioners and Judges appointed for the several Courts Alderman Fouk Vincent and Colonel Bromfield ordered by the City to meet and congratulate the General The General at Nottingham came our a Declaration of the Parliament against Kingship but not a word of D●ssolving themselves or filling up the House Sir Robert Pye and Major Fincher for tendring a Declaration of the County of Berk-shire for a Free-Parliament were committed to the Tower which fored a Vote for Qualifications c. The Lady Monck arrived at White-hall the Minerva and great Patroness of this grand design General Monck arrived at Leicester and was met there by Scot and Robinson who sent the Parliament a copy of his Letter to the Devonshire Gentlemen great seeming kindness past between them An Act passed the House being a Bill of Assessment of One hundred thousand pounds a Moneth for six Moneths throughout England Scotland and Ireland they had made it at first for Twelve but it passed at last for Six At Harborough the General was met with the London-Commissioners to whom he speaks fair the High Sheriff of Northamptonshire and the Major of the Town congratulate him The Lord Falkland came thither also with the Oxfordshire Address for a Free-Parliament attended by the Gentry of that County and had a fair reception at Stony Stratford the Gentlemen of Bucks the like at Dunstable and at St. Albans he received more of the same nature from the County of Norfolk by the hands of the Lord Richardson and Sir Horatio Townsend and other places to which he answered ambiguously and fairly giving them all civil and most obliging Reception even to the Apprentices of London who came thither with a Petition of the same nature the General parting with the expressions of his care and endeavour for their and the Cities good and was uncovered all the while Thence he desired the Parliament that the Army in Town for fear of Infection be distributed into the Country to make room for his own Forces about which Tumults arose in the Guards at St. Pauls and more pertinaciously at Somerset-house which caused the General being invited also by the Rump to make extraordinary hast thither Several Reports made to the House concerning Qualifications and Elections On the second of February he Rendezvouzed that morning at Finchly-heath where he drew up his Army having marched from Barnet and by St. Iohns-street and Holborn down Chancery-lane came with his Army into the Strand where at Somerset-house he was met by the Speaker They saluted each other with the Title of Lord-General The General afterwards waited on him to his Coach and then to refresh but he refused White-hall for his Quarters Next day after he was conducted to his audience at the House where he had a Speech made to him by the Speaker being a thankful Commemoration of his services to which he modestly replied refusing to sit in the Chair placed for him by their order declining all the praises given him as he never intended any service for them but desiring them to be very tender of the Gentry of this Kingdom which would prove their Interest and of Oaths and Engagements c. so was with great respects reconducted and attended to his Lodging where he continued in good intelligence with them till their politick Revenge put him upon this Adventure to make a Feud between him and the City for the City refusing to pay the money assessed upon them by the late Act of 100000 l. per mensem the Rump order the Gates and Portcullices to be pulled down by the General and several Citizens to be apprehended viz. Sir William Vincent Sir Thomas Bludworth Sir Laurence Bromfield Sir Richard Ford Major Cox Mr. Penning Lieutenant-colonel Iackson Mr. Spencer Major Chamberlain and Mr. Brown a Grocer in Wood-street and sent to the Tower which the General performed They likewise ordered the discontinuance of the Common Council for that year and proceeded to nominate another and to settle a new Militia The Gates were accordingly pulled down the thumps of the Hammers even piercing the hearts of the Citizens Such an affront and revenge never any of our Princes in his greatest rage did to this place where likewise the Army was perforce Quartered But after the pulling down of the Gates the General sent a Letter to the Parliament acquainting them how grievous and distastful the action was to his nature intimating also the great Merit of the City towards them throughout the War and on Friday after several Conferences managed before him by some of the secluded Members and City and others of the Rump He pretending his desire of satisfaction for their Exclusion of the evidence of danger of their readmission
and inflict the punishment of the Rebellion if they delayed his imbraces In fine it was an Affair in which all the faculties and passions of the Soul Love Fear Hope and Joy were tempered together to a MIRACLE by his skilful hand and art of Government and wherein Reason and Necessity jumpt together and to which the whole frame of Policie officiously humbled and submitted it self at this his Majesties most absolute and uncontroulable disposal of his Empire Tibi numine ab omni Cedetur jurisque tui Natura relinquet Quis Deus esse velis ubi reg●um ponere mundo All the Heavenly powers yield And Nature as thy right and choice doth leave Where thou wilt reign what Realms shall thee receive But besides those of the first Magnitude there were Illustrious persons and others that rendred themselves conspicuous by their conjunction in this Revolution such were the Lord Chancellour the Earls of Southampton Oxford Bristol S. Albans the two Secretaries of State the old Earl of Norwich Ld. Goring a person whose memory is highly ennobled by such grand Events and Occurrences of State as the Spanish Peace with the Low Countries which owes it self to his Transaction and Accommodation the Earl of Manchester the noble Earl of Sandwich whose hand was engaged with his head and was the excellent General 's second in this Affair the faithful and couragious Lord Ashly Cooper who intrepidly engaged himself among the Usurpers and dreaded not their spies and quicksighted sagacious discovery of designes and intelligence against them which he constantly managed the Lord Annesly now Earl of Anglesey Lord Hollis Lord Booth of Delamere who broke the Ice and endangered his Life and Fortunes in the Attempt but was bravely rescued by his Reserve the General who came time enough to preserve him not to omit the Dii minores persons of lesser Rank but Eminent in their Qualities Sir Samuel Moreland Thurlo's Secretary and Cromwel's Resident in Savoy where he was set as Intelligencer which he proved most punctually to his Majesty and countermined all the designes of his Masters and by which means the King came to have intelligence of those disloyal treacherous and ingrate persons formerly of his side whom we have mentioned He came to the King at Breda where his Majesty Knighted him and made him a Baronet and gave him this Testimony That he had done him very signal Services for some years last passed Neither was Sir George Downing unserviceable to the same designe in his station in Holland as his Majesty's Respects to him at his coming to the Hague with recommendation from the General did sufficiently declare To conclude the whole Mass of the people had a hand at the least in it conspiring the same purposes in their wishes and affections with the effect whereof in a compendious Narrative for the Subject grows upon me to a bulk I am next to indulge and pleasure the Reader The King was yet at Brussels in a setled quiet expectation of the sitting down of the Parliament the results of whose Counsels were not thought so quick by the deliberating and slow Spaniard who had allowed the King yearly the sum of 9000 l. besides the pay of his Forces which his Majesty kept there which money was since repayed by the King soon after his return and therefore upon the King's departure from Breda upon assurance that the Parliament would not fail of sitting down at the appointed time he having traversed to and fro back and again to Antwerp the civil Governour of these Countries gave the King his Complement of departure and honourably conveyed him on his way to the City of Antwerp the Road to Breda aforesaid when it was feared by very many that the slye Spaniard would have put some demur or stay upon him in his Dominions He afterwards indeed sent a Complement to him by an Envoy well attended intreating him to return that way and to take shipping at one of the Ports of Flanders for England and acquainted him that for his greater honour and satisfaction he should see his Souldiers payed as he passed but the King civilly refused that kind proffer The King was no sooner come to Breda the Town and Castle whereof belonged to his Nephew the Prince of Aurange but having notice the Parliament was ready to sit he dispatcht away his Letters by Mr. now made Lord Viscount Mordant the Lord Goring having been sent before to the Council of State and General and Sir Iohn Greenvil now Earl of Bath with his Letters to the Parliament in both Houses respectively to the Lord-General and City which were speedily made publick and the Town in a kind of extasie for two days together the Press never ceasing to print them and all persons having no other thing to do but to read them the substance of which Message with the like Declaration to the House of Commons and his gracious Letters enclosed to his Excellencie the Lord General to be communicated to the Officers of the Army with a Letter likewise and Declaration to the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Common Council of the City of London was this His Majesty granted a free and general Pardon to all his Subjects whatsoever that shall within forty days after publication thereof lay hold upon that grace and by any publick Act declare their doing so such onely accepted as the Parliament shall think fit to be excepted which he will confirm upon the word of a King And as to tender Consciences none shall be called in question for differences in opinion which disturb not the peace of the Kingdom For Sales Purchases he will refer himself in all matters to the determination of Parliament that he will consent to an Act or Acts of Parliament for paying off and satisfying the Arrears of the Army and Navy and that they shall be received into his Majesty's service upon as good Pay and Conditions as they then enjoyed This gracious Message with the Letter to his Excellencie and the Declaration were read in the House of Commons with most extraordinary Ceremony and Reverence as if some strange awe had seized upon the minds of the Parliament every man at the Speakers naming of the King rising up and uncovering himself desiring the Letters might be forthwith read the like also was done in the House of Lords In the House of Commons remarkable was that of Mr. Luke Robinson who being a great Commonwealths-man first of all spoke to the Letters and acknowledged his conviction Nor was this Declaration less acceptable to all the people who were overjoyed with the news and the infallible hopes of having their gracious Prince and Soveraign restored to them in Peace and Honour The Parliament resolved That they do own and declare that according to the Ancient and Fundamental Laws of this Kingdom the Government is and ought to be by King Lords and Commons And having a deep sense of the Miseries and Distractions in
great Solemnity advanced some eminent Persons to higher degrees of Dignity to be as Jewels to that Crown which should be placed on his Head they were Twelve in number six Earls and six Barons The Names of whom are as followeth Edward Lord Hide of Hendon Lord high Chancellour of England was created Earl of Clarendon Arthur Lord Capel was created Earl of Essex Thomas Lord Brudenel was created Earl of Cardigan Arthur Viscount Valentia in Ireland was created Earl of Anglesey Sir Iohn Greenvile Gentleman of His Majesties Bed-Chamber and Groom of the Stool was created Earl of Bath Charles Howard of His Majesties Privy Council was created Earl of Carlisle Denzil Hollis Esq was created Lord Hollis of Ifeld Sir Frederick Cornwallis was created Lord Cornwallis of Eye in Suffolk an antient Barony Sir George Booth Baronet was created Lord de-la-Mere Sir Horatio Townsend was created Baron of Lyn-Regis Sir Anthony Ashly Cooper was created Baron of Winterbourn St. Gyles Iohn Crew was created Lord Crew of Stene The Earls at their Creation had two Earls their supporters their Cap and Coronet carried by one their Sword by another and their Mantle by a third The Lords were likewise supported by two Lords their Cap and Mantle in the same manner but no Sword These Peers being thus led up Garter King of Arms attending them to the King upon their several approaches their Patents were presented by Sir William Walker Principal King at Arms which being by the Lord Chamberlain delivered to the King and from him to Secretary Nicholas were by him read and then given by His Majesty to the Respective Nobles who after they were vested with their Robes had their several Caps and Coronets placed upon their Heads by His Majesties own hands as he sate in a Chair of State These likewise were ordered to attend the King at his Coronation which Commenced its glories Monday the Twenty second of April aforesaid it having rained a Moneth together before it pleased God that not one drop fell on this Triumph which appeared in its full Lustre and Grandeur but as soon as the solemnity was past and the King and his Train at Dinner in Westminster-Hall it fell a Thundering Lightning and Raining with the greatest force vehemence and noise that was ever heard or seen at that time of the year The Streets were gravelled all the way and filled with a multitude of Spectators out of the Countrey and some Forreigners who acknowledged themselves never to have seen among all the great M●gnificences of the World any to come near or equal this even the Vaunting French confessed their Pomps of the late Marriage with the Infanta of Spain at their Majesties entrance into Paris to be inferiour in its State Gallantry and Riches unto this most Illustrious Cavalcade Which proceeded on this manner as the NOBILITY and GENTRY were placed within and without the Tower First went the Horse-Guard of his Highness the Duke of York the Messengers of his Majesties Chamber the Esquires of the Knights of the Bath One hundred thirty six in number the Knight Harbenger the Serjeant-Porter the Sewers of the Chamber the Quarter-waiters of the six Clerks of the Chancery the Clerks of the Signet the Clerks of the Privy Seal the Clerks of the Council the Clerks of both Houses of Parliament the Clerks of the Crown the Chaplains in Ordinary having Dignities ten in number the King's Advocate and Remembrancer the Kings learned Counsel at Law the Master of the Chancery the Kings puisne Serjeants the Kings Attorney and Solicitors the King 's eldest Serjeants Secretaries of the French and Latine Tongues the Gentlemen-Ushers daily waiters the Sewers Carvers and Cup-bearers in ordinary the Esquires of the Body the Masters of standing Offices being no Councellors viz. of the Tents Revels Ceremonies Armory Wardrope Ordnance Master of Requests Chamberlain of the Exchequer Barons of the Exchequer and Judges of the Law according to their Dignity the Lord chief Baron the Lord chief Justice of the Common Pleas the Master of the Rolls the Lord chief Justice of England Trumpets the Gentlemen of the Privy-Chamber the Knights of the Bath sixty eight in Number the Knight Marshal the Treasurer of the Chamber Master of the Jewel-house Knights of the Privy Council Comptroller of his Majesties Houshold Treasurer of his Majesties Houshold Two Trumpets and Serjeants Trumpets Two Pursivants at Arms Barons eldest Sons Earls youngest sons Viscounts eldest sons Barons Marquesses younger sons Earls eldests sons Two Pursivants at Arms. Viscounts Dukes younger sons Marquesses eldest sons Two Heraulds Earls Earl Marshal and Lord Chamberlain of the Houshold Dukes eldest sons Serjeants at Arms on both sides the Nobility Clarencieux and Norroy Lord Treasurer Lord Chancellor Lord High Steward Duke of Ormond two persons representing the Duke of Normandy and Aquitain Gentleman-Vsher Garter Lord Mayor Sir Richard Brown The Duke of York alone The Lord High Constable of England Earl of Northumberland Lord Great Chamberlain of England Earl of Lindsey The Sword by the Duke of Richmond The KING Equerries and Footmen next and about his Majesty Gentlemen and Pensioners without them the Master of the Horse Duke of Albemarl leading a spare Horse the Vice-Chamberlain to the King Captain of the Pensioners Captain of the Guard the Guard the Kings Life guard Commanded by my Lord Gerrard the Generals Life-guard by Sir Philip Howard a Troop of Voluntier Horse and a Company of Foot by Sir Iohn Robinson The way from the Tower to Aldgate was guarded by the Hamlets from thence to Temple-Bar by the Trained-Bands of London on one side and lined with the Liveries on the other side with the Banners of each Company The Windows were all along laid with the best Carpets and Tapestry Bands of Musick in several places and the Conduits running with Wine In St. Pauls Church-yard stood the Blew-coat boys of Christ-Church Hospital One in behalf of the rest declared their joy for his Majesties wonderful preservation in his absence and his Arrival thither humbly beseeching his Majesties Gracious favour and indulgence according to the example of his Royal Ancestors and his Father of blessed memory The King was very well pleased with this Speech and after conferred something on the Boy that spoke it In the Strand and through Westminster also the ways were gravelled and rayled being guarded on both sides with the Trained bands of that Liberty and City and his Majesties two Regiments of Foot under the command of his Grace the Duke of Albemarle and Colonel Russel brother to the Earl of Bedford The houses were also richly adorned with the Carpets and Tapestry and Musick particularly a stage of Morice-dancers at the Maypole in the Strand in the several places all along his Majesties passage When his Majesty came through Temple-bar into his Antient and Native City of Westminster the Head-bayliff in a Scarlet Robe and High Constable in Scarlet received his Majesty with loud Musick where alighting off their horses and kneeling down to
and that he did not receive the profits of it But the Emperour denied he knew of his being a Plenipotentiary and that it was not for one of his Subjects to take up Interests contrary to the Interest of his Soveraign and would not hear of his Release During these Treaties the King of France had possess'd himself of a great part of the Palatinate and had put a Garrison into Germerstein of 300 Souldiers yet proffered the Elector if he would stand Neuter to satisfie him for all his Damages and to withdraw his Souldiers out of Gemerstein and put it into the Hands of any Neutral Prince of the Empire which he refus'd upon Caprara's coming to his Succour The Switzers to hinder the King of France from coming into Burgundy offered that Burgundy might stand Neutur proffering themselves security that that Province should punctually observe the Neutrality and that they would guard the Avenues into it against any Forces of the Empire And thus stood Affairs at the end of this year Anno Dom. 1674. PEace being now concluded between the English and the Dutch this Year was not memorable for much at home The first motion of the Court this Moneth was to Windsor where the Earl of Mulgrave was Install'd Knight of the Garter This Moneth also the King by his Embassador the Lord Lockhart offer'd his Mediation between the King of France and the Queen of Spain to compose the differences betwixt them And to the end he might be no way concern'd in their differences by publick Proclamation forbid any of his Subjects to enter into the Service of any forrain Prince He also set forth a Proclamation forbidding the broaching and uttering false and scandalous News as also against any that should talk impertinently of the Government or the Governours In May Sir Lionel Ienkins and Sir Ioseph Williamson return'd to London from Cologne Who were followed into England by the Baron de Reed Van Benninghen and Van Haren Extraordinary Embassadors from the States of Holland In Iune came a strict Proclamation against the Jesuites and Friests Commanding their discovery and apprehension and promising five pounds for every one that should be discovered and taken Toward the beginning of September upon Resignation of the Duke of Buckingham the Duke of M●nmouth was made Chancellor of the University of Cambridge The Ceremony was performed with all its circumstances at Worcester-house in London Not long after the Right Honourable the Earl of St. Albans having resign'd into his Majesty's Hands the Staff of Office of Lord-Chamberlain of his Majesties Houshold his Majesty was pleas'd to give it to the Right Honourable the Earl of Arlington in recompence of his long and faithful Services and particularly for having performed to his Majesties satisfaction for the space of twelve years the Offi●e of Principal Secretary of State which his Majesty was pleas'd to con●er at the same time upon the Right Honourable Sir Ioseph Williamson Knight one of the Clerks then of his Majesties most Honourable Privy-Council for his long and faithful service in the said Office under Sir Edward Nicholas and the Earl of Arlington and in his place Philip Lloyd Esq was sworn one of the Clerks of the privy-Privy-Council Upon the 22 of September his Majesty was pleas'd to cause a Proclamation to be published for the further prorogation of the Parliament from the 10 th of November till the 13 th of April ensuing In the beginning of December the Earls of Ossory and Arlington together with the Heer Odike not long before Extraordinary Embassador in England arrived at the Hagne where they went to pay their Respects to the Prince of Orange About the same time was concluded between his Majesties Commissioners and those of the States General of the Vnited Provinces a Treaty Marine for all parts of the World in pursuance of the 8 th and 9 th Articles of the late Treaty of Peace made at Westminster the February before and was after ratifi'd by the States in the beginning of February following Presently after His Majesty having been graciously pleased to Translate the Right Reverend Father in God Dr. Crew Bishop of Oxford and Clerk of the Closet to his Majesty to the Sea of Durham made choice of the Honourable Dr. Compton Brother to the Right Honourable the Earl of Northampton to succeed in his place Toward the middle of December His Majesty having been pleased at his entertainment at Guild-Hall when Sir Robert Viner was newly Lord-Mayor of the City graciously and freely to condescend to the acceptance of the Freedom of London in the Chamberlains Office from the Hands of Sir Thomas Player Chamberlain beyond the Example of any of his Predecessors The said Sir Robert Viner Lord-Mayor thereupon having first obtained his Majesties leave presented his Majesty in the Name of the City with the Copy of the Freedom in a large square Box of Massie Gold the Seal of the Freedom hanging at it enclosed in a Box of Gold set all over with large Diamonds Toward the beginning of Ianuary Her Royal Highness was brought to Bed of a Daughter Christen'd at St. Iames's by the Bishop of Durham by the Name of Catherina Laura the Duke of Monmouth being God-father and the Lady Mary and the Lady Anne God-mothers The Term begining at the latter end of Ianuary Sir Francis North the King's Attorney-General was sworn Lord Chief-Justice of the Common-Pleas in the room of Sir Iohn Vaughan deceased In the beginning of February his Majesty caused several Orders and Resolutions concerning Papists to be publish'd That the Conviction of Popish Recusants should be encouraged quickned and made Effectual That no Person of what Condition or Quality soever should presume to say Mass in any part of this Kingdom That all Persons born within His Majesties Dominions being in Orders by Authority deriv'd from the Church of Rome should depart the Kingdom by a short time prefix'd That none of His Majesties Subjects should presume to send their Children to be Educated in any Popish Colledges or Seminaries upon a strict Penalty That none of his Majesties Subjects being Popists or so reputed should presume to come into His Majesties Presence into White Hall St. James's or any place where His Majesties Court should be And Lastly That care should be taken for the suppression of Conventicles Forrein Affairs 1674. The first thing that presented it self of most Importance beyond Sea this Year was that the King of France gave order to quit all his Conquests in the Netherlands belonging to the States of Holland except Maestricht The States also to be rid of so great a trouble as the Bishop of Munsteri makes Peace with him the Baron D' Issola signing the Articles on the behalf of the Emperor The chief Articles whereof were That the Bishop should restore all places taken during the War That the Treaty of Cleves should be punctually observ'd And that the King of
chief there 253 266. His cruelty to the English Cavaliers ibid. Arrives in England 267. Made Gen. for Scotch Expedition 268. His Sophistry with the Scots 271. Marcheth for Sterling 275. his progress in Scotland 279. Alarms the Scots 283. At Glascow sick 289. His designe upon the Parliament 324. A Dictator 343. Made Protector and Installed at Westminster 354. The module of Government and his Oath ibid. Proclaimed and gratulated 355. Names his privy-Privy-council ibid. Invited to dinner by the City and dines there 357. Supplies the Courts with able Iudges ibid. Concludes a Peace with the Dutch ibid. His designes to secure himself 358. Falls from the Coach-box in Hide-park 363. Calls a Parliament Sept. 3d. his speech to them and designes 363 364. His designes in the West-Indies 365. His Mother dieth buried in state in Hen. 7th's Chappel 366. His Cabal with the French Cardinal 369. His Conspiracy with the King of Sweden and the Prince of Transilvania 373. Affronted by Coney a Merchant 374. Gives preferments and sends his son Henry to command in Ireland 358. His oppression of the Loyal party 378. His designe in setting up Major-Generals 378. To awe the Parliament new called 381. Treats with the Iews about a Toleration 379. Allows 200 l. towards Bishop Usher's Funeral 380. Excludes divers Members ibid. Congratulated by his Convention on Syndercomb's Plot 385. His designe is motioned to take the Title of a King 386. The danger makes him refuse it 390 Assists the French with 6000 men 391. Confirmed in his former Dignity of Protector 392. Signes several Acts 392. His speech to the Parliament containing Thanks for the Money-Acts 392. His Investiture and Inauguration in the Protectorship 394. Frighted at a Book 395. Sends Embassadors to mediate betwixt the Dane and Swede 397. Advanceth and prefers his Children 398. Swears his privy-Privy-council ibid. Chooseth another House 399. The frame of his Government questioned by the Parliament 401. He dissolves them ibid His policy in discharging Sheriffs of their pences at Assizes 401. In fears and troubled condition 402. Falls sick his Family and himself vainly presumptuous of his recovery Dies 408. His Character ibid. Sixty thousand pound allotted for the expence of his Funerals from 411 to 413 Cromwel Bradshaw and Ireton digged up and hanged at Tybourn 432 Cromwel Henry tamely surrenders Ireland 423 Crosby betrays Kingsale Condemned 248 Cumberland Earl● 44 Cyrencester 42 D Danemark War declared against it 556 Daniel Col. John Articles 252 Davison c. kills a Souldier at St. James's 379 Daws Capt. his courage 560 Davis a Water-man betrays Lord Capel 220 Declaration of the King conecrning the Act of Vniformity 514 Declaration of Cromwel upon dissolution of Parliament 340 to 343. Of the Rump 420 Decimation of Cavaliers 378 Delinquents Capital and otherwise qualified 229 Democracy established in the City 231 Denbigh Earl killed 44 Dennington Castle Besieged and stoutly defended and yielded 98 Denial Self order 67 126 Denmark King 225. Dies 577 Deploration of the loss before Dublin the causes thereof 242 Derby Earl corresponds with the King 234. Discovered ibid. Ioyns with the King in Lancashire 295. Defeated at Wigan and flies to Worcester 296. Taken at Newport Sentenced by a Court-Marshal Beheaded at Bolton 302 303. Derby-house Committee formerly the Committee of Safety 166 De Ruyter sayls for New-found-land 540. Returned to Holland 541. Made Admiral ibid. De Ruyter and Tromp fall out 554. Presented by the Cornish Gentlemen 562 Desborough Col. and others summoned 549 Dean General slain 344 Devizes 46 Digby Lord honoured with the Order of the Garter at Paris 344 Dignities conferred by the King 455 Dillon Lord at Baggot-rath 242 Directory 125 126 Disorders and divisions the ruine of the Irish Army 251 Dives Sir Lewis escapes 220 Divisions among the Scots fomented by Cromwel 271 Dorrington Sir Francis 63 Dorislaus slain at the Hague 236 Downing Sir George 448. Sent into Holland 528 529. Presses for answer to the King's demands 582. Returns ibid. He is Committed ibid. Drogheda besieged and taken by Cromwel and a bloody Massacre there 244 Dublin besieged by the Marq. of Ormond 241. Siege raised and Besiegers routed 242 Duckenfield Lieutenant-Colonel stops the Speakers Coach 429 Dunbarton yielded 308 Dunslo pacification 10 Dundalk taken 23. Retaken 25 Dundee stormed by Gen. Monke 301 Dunferling Earl to London 10 Dumfreize Riot there 557 Dunkirk taken by the Spaniards 325. Siege 405. The Battle there ibid. A defeat given the Spaniard 406. Yielded and put into the English possession 407. Restored to the French 512 Dunotter-Castle yielded 313 Dury's religious Cabal in Germany 377 Dutch Embassadors to Oxford 57. Commerce and Fishing molested at Sea 308. War towards ibid. Send Embassadors to treat ibid. Embassadors extenuate and mediate the Rupture their Papers and our States answer thereunto 320 321. Fleet gives the English a go-by in the North-Seas and comes into the Down● 344. Engage with the English ibid. Defeated 345. Send to England in order to Peace ibid. Trade at a stand 346. Their Embassadors have Audience of the Protector 355. Peace and private Articles of it against the Prince of Orange 357. Magnificently treat the King 448. Surprised by the Turk 524. Complain by the English 525. House resolves therein ibid. King declares himself ibid. Bravado 528. Bourdeaux-fleet taken 529. A Dutch Libel 530. Dutch arrive in Guernsey 530. Their Smyrna-fleet encountered by Captain Allen 536. Reprisals granted against them 531. Dutch War declared ibid. Dutch Libel ibid. Dutch Embassie proves fruitless 531. Dutch Manufactures prohibited 532. Cashire the English Officers 533. Dutch Imbargo in France 534. Dutch ibid. Dutch Libel 535. Ill treated in Russia 536. Dutch lost in China 541. Make peace with the Dane 548. Dutch attempt Brunt-Island 560. Sheerness ibid. Come up the River 561. At Harwich ibid. At Wenbury in Devonshire 562. At Cowland in Cornwal ibid. Dutch lose several Towns 585. Dutch Mutinies 586. Dutch East-Indie-fleet escape the English 587. Dutch Magistrates changed Dutch make peace with the Bishop of Munster 600. Dutch take the Island of Normantier from the French ibid. E Earles of Pembroke and Holland sent with a Declaration of the fears of the Parliament to the King 31. Answered ibid. Earls created 470 Earthquake in Cheshire 395 East-Indie ships Dutch taken 541 Edinburgh entred by Cromwel 275. Castle yielded 280 Elector Prince Palatine comes to London departs taken in France 10 Elections for a free Parliament 440 Elizabeth Princess dies 276 Emperor his Brother dies 146. Makes peace with the Turk 147. Offers to mediate 584. His Forces marched 597 Enfield-chace a Skirmish there 423 Engagement annulled 439 England and the Dominions made a free State by Act 235 English under Lord Marquiss Ormond and Inchiqueen disbanded and dismist by the Irish 252 Eniskillon delivered to Sir Charles Coot 250 Episcopacy re-established here 456. And in Scotland 503 Escapes of divers Cavaliers 227 Escurial burnt 583 Essex Earl Lieutenant-General of Foot against the Scots 9. General
〈…〉 and Lambert fall out 428. Vote away Lambert's and eight more Field-commission Officers ib. Outed by Lambert 429. Reseated 43 〈…〉 ter company added to them 438. Arms defaced 446 Rupert Prince 40 44. And throughout the War Leaves Kingsale and puts to Sea with a Fleet 254. Blockt up at Lisbon 256 267. His Fleet dispersed and some taken 275. From Taulon to Sea 289. Seizeth Spanish ships why 293. In France ●37 General at Sea 550. Divides 〈…〉 yns again and fights 551 Russia Emperor 255. Embassadors Rycaut Paul returns from Constantinople 520 S. Sad condition of the Irish 333 Safety a Committee 429 Sales of the King 's Queen's Prince's D●●ns and Chapters Lands and Houses 256. Of Kings Houses agreed on but avoyded by Cromwel ●●● Salisbury River begun to be made 〈…〉 ●●● Sanzeime Battle 600 Salmasius his Roy●l defence 236 Salters-Hall Commissioners for sale of prisoners Estates stopt 359 Sanderson Bishop dies 514 Saul Major Executed 278 Sandwich Earl keeps the Sea 528. Takes the Dutch East-Indie-fleet 541. He is sent Embassador into Spain 545. Arrives at Madrid 550. Sent to Portugal 569 Scalborough to the King by Brown Bushel 44. Yielded to the Parliament 193 Savoy and Genoa at odds 547 566 590. Saxony Duke installed Knight of the Garter by Proxey 580 Scilly Island rendred by Sir John Greenvile 288 289 Scot Robinson sent to meet Gen. Monk 435 Scotch troubles about English Liturgy and Book of Canons 3. Arm 1638. And desire the King of France's assistance 9. Cunningly agree upon a Pacification abuse the King who is betrayed by his Servants 10. War resumed proclaimed Rebels treated with soon after 15. Peace ratified in Parliament ibid. Favour the Parliaments cause 35. Enter England with an Army for the Covenant 56. At Hereford 87. Iuggle with and sell the King 120. Parliament dispute about the disposal of the King 115 Commissioners sence of the Parliaments Bills and Proposals Presbyters murther s●veral Scotch Gentlemen 164. Prepare a War under Hamilton 165 166. Enter England under Duke Hamilton 177. Defeated 178. Hamilton prisoner ibid. Scotland detests the Murther of the King and proclaims Charles the second at Edinburgh and expostulates with the Regicides at Westminster 232 Scots defeat a Royal party in the North of Scotland 333. Send Commissioners to the King 233. Defeated in Ulster in Ireland by Sir Charles Coot 247. They send Commissioners to the King 257. Their Names Except against Malignants their other terms 257. They endeavour to unite 274 Cavaliers admitted into Trust 282. Pass an Act of Oblivion 290. Encamped in Torwood 292. Noblemen taken at Elliot in Scotland and sent Prisoners to the Tower others of the Nobility submit 302. The reasons 304. Kirk reject the English Vnion 307. Deputies ordered to be chosen by the Commissioners 310. The affairs of the Kingdom ibid. Several Scots Earls and Noblemen taken after Worcester 298 New Great Seal 56. Great Seal broken 128 Sea-fight the first between us and the Dutch in the Downs an account of it 315 to 320 Second Sea-fight between Sir Geo Ayscue and De Ruyter at Plymouth 325 Third Sea-fight between Blake and De Wit in the North-Foreland 326 327. Fourth Sea-fight at Portland 335 Fifth Sea-fight at Leghorn betwixt Captain Appleton and Van Gallen 337 Sixth Sea-fight betwixt Gen. Monke Dean and Blake and Van Tromp behinde the Goodwyn-Sands 345 Seventh Sea-fight betwixt Gen. Monke and Tromp 346 to 349 Sea-men encouraged 534 Secluded Members restored and reseated Sieges and Skirmishes in Ireland 274 Selden John dies 366 Seneffe Battle 601 Serini beats the Turk 52. Is killed 533 Sexby Col. dies 398 Shaftsbury Earl Lord Chancellor 588 Dr. Sheldon Arch-bishop of Canterbury 523 Sheriffs discharged of expenses at Assizes 401 Ship-money voted illegal 17. The nature of it 16 17 Ships blown up neer London-bridge 361 Shrewsbury 38 39 71 Sickness in London 539. Abates 544 Skippon Major-General Articles for the Infantry at Lestithiel 58 Skirmishes Brill Ast-ferry 64 Slanning Sir Nicholas 46 Slingsby Sir Henry decoyed 304. Tryed and Beheaded 404 Smith Sir Jeremy keeps the Mediterranean Seas 544 Soissons Count Embassador hither 456 Sonds Freeman kills his Brother and is hanged 380 Southampton Earl 163 Spalding-Abby fell and killed 23 persons 380 Spaniard owns the English Commonwealth 278 Sprague Sir Edward sent into Flanders 569. Commands in the Streights 578. Destroys the Algerines 581. Returns 583. Spoyls the Dutch fishing 588 Stacy Edmond Executed 404 States of England pretended declare the maintenance of Laws 227. Are guilty of the Irish Rebellion with which they taxed the King 237. Erect a new Council of State 283. Proclaim the King Traitor and are in great fear and dispair at his entring England 294 Stamford Earl 42 Statues of the late King and King James pulled down and the Inscription writ under that at Old Exchange 269 Steel Recorder of London refuseth to be Knighted by Oliver 357. Made Lord-Chancellor of Ireland 366. Made Lord Chief-Baron of England 373 Stawel Sir John ordered for Tryal 229. At High Court of Iustice 279 Sterling-Castle taken 361 Sterry Oliver's Chaplain his Blasphemy 409 Strafford Earl Commander in chief against the Scots 13. Accused to the Parliament 15. To the Black-rod and Tower 16. Tryal 18. His willing resignation his attainder ibid. And de●th 19 St. Germain a Proclamation against him 602 St. John and Strickland Embassadors to the Dutch their business and departure 285 286 287. St. John 357. Stickles in the Council of State for terms with the King 440 Stratton Baron Lord Hopton dies 328 Straughan Col. 280 Stroker 540 Stuart Lord John killed 57. With Sir John Smith Col. Scot and Sandys and Colonel Manning ibid. Stuart Lord Bernard slain 89 Submission of the Irish 324 Sunderland Earl slain 51 Summons for persons of Integrity to take upon them the Government by Council of state 345 Sums of Money raised by the Parliament Supplies to Jamaica 377 Surrenders several 91. As Basing Tiverton Exeter Sheford 91 92 Surrenders in Ireland 270 Surinam 557 Surrey Petitioners assaulted 172 Sweden Queen supplies Montross 255. Complies with our States 358. Receives Whitlock ibid. Gives our Soveraign an interview 376 Sweden King invades Poland 373 Swedes stand firm for England 549. Besiege Bremen 559. Mediations excepted 560. Embassador dies in London 566. Makes peace with the Dutch 567. King presented with the Garter 572. Installed by Proxie 580. Ioyn with the French 597 Sydenham Major slain at Linlithgow 288 Syndercomb's Plot and death 384 385. T Tabaco taken by the English 591 Tables erected in Scotland 7 Tadcaster 42 Taffalette routed and slain 579. Moors beaten 581. Earl of Middleton Governour and makes peace with the Moors 594 Taaff Lord sent against Cromwel 246 Taaff Luke Major-General 248 Tangier 504. Iews expelled 525. Lord Bellasis Governour there 537. Moors beaten there 573 Tartar taken in Germany 526 Taylor the Kings Resident with the Emperour 329 Taxes a mark on them 331 Teviot Earl killed 527 Temple Sir William concludes ● League
by which his Subjects are frighted from coming or sending to him That all men of necessary Professions be admitted to come to him Note That His Majesty had suffered his Beard to overgrow in that solitary restraint of near seven Months so that Compassion wooed where Majesty once awed That the Scots may be invited to send their Propositions The King declaring a tend●r affection for both his Kingdoms The King appoints Newport for the place of Treaty But urgeth the reconveniencies of Treating so far from London His Majesty 〈◊〉 the Delegates to expedite the Treaty by dispatching their Commissioners The Parliament appoint Commissioners five Lords ten Commoners And desire his Majesties Royal Word for his continuance in the Island till 20 days after the Treaty Their Votes of Non-address repealed His Majesty sends the Parliament a List of such Persons he desired might attend him The Treaty began Sept. 18. The Parliament dissatisfied with the Kings Propositions They send thanks to their Commissioners His Majesties Propositions He is willing to confess himself Author of the War rather than the Peace shall be frustrated That the Assembly of Divines shall sit at Westminster 3 years That the Directory shall be confirmed for 3 years c. That Legal Estates for Lives or Years shall be made of Bishops-lands Provided the Propriety remain in the Church That there be a Reformation and concerning Papists * Thrust in by some rigid Presbyterians and maintained there by the Independants because they knew the King would never Assent to it and so no Conclusion That the two Houses shall dispose of the Militia for 10 years or during his Reign That the affairs of Ireland be determined by the Parliam That Taxes he levied for the payment of the Army and publike Debts That all the Chief Officers of State shall be nominated by the Parl. for 10 years That the Militia of the City of London Liberties for ten years may be in the Lord Mayor Aldermen common-Common-Council and Sheriffs thereof With the Tower and Chief Officers thereof His Majesty proposeth his liberty to repair to Westminster and to be restored to his Revenues Proffereth an Act of Oblivion to all persons The Parliament imperious Most of their Commissioners dutiful in their behaviour towards the King The Army's Remonstrance at St. Albans The villanous heads thereof That the King be brought to Iustice. That the Prince of Wales and Duke of York render themselves by a certain day or be proclaimed Traytors That the Revenue of the Crown be sequestred That Capital punishments be inflicted on some Chief Instruments in the Wars That all Delinq●ents come in by a certain day or their Estates be confiscated and they to die without mercy That Fines Compositions and Confiscations be disposed for the payment of the Souldiery That the Parliament set some period to their own Power That the future Government of of the Kingdom may be setled That no King be hereafter admitted but upon Election And he to accord to these Propositions as they shall be established by the Agreement of the people Something near the same stuff except what toucht the King was Signed by nine Regiments of Horse and seven of Foot and afterward promoted in London by Lieutenant-Colonel Lilburne and Mr. Prince by Petition to the Parliament who condemned both Novemb. 1647. and yet the same Moneth next year it revived The Levellers set on by Cromwel to prosecute this designe The Kings Queries to the Remonstrance A strict Guard put upon the King His Majesties Pathetick Expressions to the Parliaments Commissioners at parting His Majesties Declaration concerning the Treaty and his dislike of the Armies proceedings The Presbyterians satisfied with this Declaration and troubled at the proceedings of the Army His Majesties Letter to the Prince his Son our present Sovereign His excellent Advice to him The Army conspire to force the House The Parliament Vote the Kings Answer satisfactory Dec. 5. The Army require that the I●p●a●hed Members and Major-General Brown be secured and brought to Iustice The House guarded Col. Pride Col. Hewson and Sir Hardress Waller seize on several Members Dec. 6. Hugh Peters an Agent for the Army in this Designe The Parliament impri●o●●d Ireton 's insolent expression Major-General Brown sent prisoner to Windsor Note that Skippon thrust in that clause The Iuncto take upon them to act as a Parliament Rainsborough slain at Doncaster Oct. 29. Scarborough Castle yielded to the Parl. The Army seize the King and carry him from the Isle of Wight to Hurst Castle Dec. 1. From thence to Winchester To Farnham To Windsor The King brought to St. James 's Jan 19. Harrison 's insolent behaviour to the King The Ordinance for Trial of the King brought into the Iuncto by Tho. Scot. They Vote it Treason for the King of England to levy War against his Parliament The Vote and Ordinance carried to the Lords by the Lord Gray of Grooby The Lords cast out the Ordinance and adjourned for 7 days The Commons netled they resolve to rid their hands of King Lords and dissenting Commons An Act of the House of Commons for the Tryal of King Charles the First Jan. 9. Serjeant Dendy makes Proclamation that the Commissioners of the High Court of Iustice were to sit the next day and all persons invited to give in Evidence against Charles Stuart Proclaimed in three places Westminster Cheap-side and the Old Exchange The Names and C●aracters of the King's Iudges Cromwel a Native of Huntingdon-shire Ireton his So●-in-law Bradshaw a Cheshire-man died obstinately 1659. He took the Oath of Allegeance but two Terms before the King's death He is rewarded with the Lord Cottington 's Estate and the Dutchy of Lancaster Harrison a Butchers Son at Newcastle in Stafford-shire was executed at Charing-Cross Octob. 1660. John Carew John Cook Sollicitor of the High Court Hugh Peters the shame of the Clergy Thomas Scot a Brewers Clerk his rash wish Gregory Clement a Merchant Adrian Scroop Brother to Sir Adrian John Jones a Serving-man marries Cromwels sister Francis Hacker a Souldier of Fortune Daniel Axtel a Country-Mercer Capt. of the Guard at the Kings Trial. Okey a Chandler near Billingsgate London a daring Commander Miles Corbet of a good Family in Norfolk Burgess for Yarmouth John Berkstead a Goldsmith Lieutenant of the Tower Thom. Pride ● Brewer 〈…〉 Isaac Ewer of 〈…〉 in Yorkshire The Lord Gray of Grooby Son to the Earl of Stamford Sir John Danvers Brother to the Loyal Earl of Danby Sir Tho. Maleverer of a good Family in Yorkshire Sir John Bourchier a diligent Independent Mercenary Col. Purefoy Governour of Coventry John Blakestone a Shop-keeper in Newcastle Sir William Constable of Yorkshire Governour of Gloucester Rich. Dean General at Sea slain by a Cannon shot Fr. Allen a Goldsmith one of the Committees for the sa●e of Kings Lands Peregrine Pelham Governour of Hull John Moor. John Allured Humph. Edwards a Member of the Long-Parl Sir Gregory Norton John Ven a Silkman Governour of
the Sword The Town miserably plundred Aberdeen yielded St. Andrews Fined 500 l. Scotch Nobles taken at Ellet in the Highlands and Sir John Daniel and Col. Douglas taken at Dumfreiz Aug. A New Representative debated of The High Court of Justice pardons Mr. Jenkins and others Cap. Symkins Sir Timothy Fetherstonhaugh and Col. Benbow Executed Oct. The Earl of Derby Beheaded at Bolton Octob. 15. Several other Royalists taken James Hinde the sam'd High-way-man taken and Hang'd drawn and quartered at Worcester The Estates of the Lord Craven and other Royalists exposed to sale General Popham 's Funeral Octob. 24. The Scotch Union projected Commissioners named to go into Scotland Gen. Monke protects the Marq. of Montross his Children and Family Limerick besieged by Deputy Ireton for the Parl. Hugh O Neal G●v●r●our t●ereof Ireton defe●ted before Limerick Limerick 〈◊〉 October 29. Sir Charles Co●t 〈◊〉 a party of Irish. Clare Castle taken by the English Ireton dies of the Plague at Limerick Nov. 25. Edmund Ludlow constituted in his place Ireton lies in state at Summerset house His Character Jersey surrend●●d Nov. and Dec. to the Parliament Mount Orgueil and Elizabeth Castle ●urrendred Isle of Man reduced Dec. Barbadoes reduced by Sir Geo Ayscue Jan. Lord Willoughby Governour thereof St. Christophers the same The Scotch Kirk reject and declare against the Union Monarchy abolished in Scotland Jan. Dumbarton surrendered Jan. 5 by Sir Charles Erskin to the Parliament The Dutch Commerce and Fishing molested at Sea The 1 of Dec. the time limited by t●● Act ●●omacked by the Dutch The Dutch Embassadors t●eat January The Parliament publish an Act of Oblivion John Lilburn Banished Josiah Primate fined 4000 l. Lord Clanrickard sues to Lieu. Gen. Ludlow for a peace His Answer Arguile treats with Commissioners at Dumbarton Blackness Castle ordered to be blown up Moss-Troopers busie and mischievous Several places in Ireland taken by the English An Act for removing obstructions in the sale of Crown-lands Black-monday March 29 predicted by Will. Lilly The King at Paris April The Duke of York Renowned for this Service The King at St. Germains with the Marq. of Ormond and E. of Castlehaven Several parties of the Irish submit Lord Clanrickard takes Ballishannon and Dungal Castle Lord Muskerry yields Galloway surrendered Irelands R●ines Submissions and surrenders Ballishannon retaken and Slego surrendered to the Parliament The affairs of Scotland Dunotter Castle yielded May 28. Citadels built in Scotland The rise of the Dutch War A great Fire at Glascow Congleton Chu●●h in Cheshire fired by Lightning The like Fire in Essex The State-house of Amsterdam burnt S●a-fights seen in the Air. An Encounter between the Forces of England and Holland Capt. Young 's Letter Gen. Blake 's Letter Maj. Bourne 's Relation Admiral Trump 's Letter to the States of Holland The Datch Embassadors Paper to the Council of State The Parliaments Answer thereunto Their Demands Trump in the Downs The English and Dutch Fleets July Encounter They are scattered by a Storm Blake takes several of their Frigats and divers Prisoners De Buyter and Sir Geo Ayscue 's Engagement at Plymouth Au. 16. Sir Geo Ayscue rewarded for h●s service The States of Holland excite several Princes to assist them The Lord Embassador Monsieur Paw dieth of a surfeit by broyld Salmon Marq. Clanrickard lays down Arms. Cromwel 's designe upon the Parliament appears Dunkirk taken by the Spaniard and the French Fleet with relief seized by Ge● Blake A General Assembly in Scotland Dismist by Lieu. Col. Cotterel De Ruyter with a Fleet at the mouth of the Channel De Wit joyns with him De Wit worsted by Blake Marq. of Worcester taken and committed to the Tower Mutiny in Holland Some of their Seamen Executed A Fleet of War sent to the Sound c. Lord Hopton dyes at Bruges in Flanders September The Earl of Rochester to the Diet in Germany Van Trump at Sea with a Fleet. Blake defeated in the Downs by Trump Nov. 29. The Dutch Seamen steal Sheep at Rumney Marsh and come off with loss Trump neer the Isle of Wight The Phoenix regained Nov. 30 by Capt. Cox The Parliaments three Ge●●rals Blake Dean and Monke A Ma●que on the Taxes The Dutch Bravadoes The Duke of Gloucester sent away from Carisbrook to Dunkirk Feb. Conducted into France by the Lords Langdale and Inchiqueen The French Envy M. Bourdeaux owns the State c. December The Portugal Embassador concludes The Dutch forbid any to supply the English with provisions of War Torce of their Hamburgh ships laden with Plate taken A High Court of Iustice in Ireland Iustice Donelan President thereof Several persons Condemned Lord Muskerry taken and committed to Dublin Castle Sir Phelim O Neal the great Rebel hanged c. The Condition of Ireland The Priests Banished Cromwel and his Officers keep a Fast. Seamens Wages raised The Kings Houses of Hampton Court to be sold c. Moneys there●pon at six per cent Agent Bradshaw to Copenhagen He is affronted and in danger English under Blake at Sea Van Trump returns through the Channel Feb. Portland fight Feb. 18 between Dutch and English Stoutly maintained on either side A Fight at Leghorn March 2. The English worsted Prince Maurice drowned in the West-India's Prince Rupert arrives in France Mar. De Wit at sea with another Fleet. The Dutch designe of weakning us by taking our Colliers Sir John Gell and several Scots released from the Tower and others preferred * Twelve Parliament-men for a penny The manner of dissolving the Parliament A Declaration of the General and Council of Officers about the Dissolution c. * An Act for filling up the Parliament Addresses to Cromwel Vice-Admiral Pen in the Downs with a Fleet of 70 sail Cromwel a Dictator A Council of State Marlborough burnt Ap. 28. Lord Digby honoured with the order of the Garter Ulster forces in Ireland submit Trump in the Downs having given the English a go-by Engaged by Gen. Monke and Dean c. June 2 Gen. Dean slain Trump defeated June 2 3. The Dutch hang out a white Flag and send a Messenger to the English in order to a Peace A new Parliament called The Summons New Scotch Troubles The Dutch Trade at a stand The last Dutch Engagement between Gen. Monke and Van Trump on the Coast of Holland July 29. Van Trump slain and the Dutch defeated July 31. Gold Chains and Meddals ordered by the Parl. to be given to the chief Commanders and Officers A Thanksgiving appointed De Wit conveys a great Fleet from the Sound Lord Opdam made Lieutenant-Admiral in place of Van Trump who was Interred at Delf in great State Little Parliament met July 4. Mr. Francis Rouse their Speaker Called Barebone 's Parliament a Leather-sellers Name in Fleetstreet one of the said Convention The Names of the Parliament men Act for Marriages A new Body of the Law to be made An Act for ●●●●h Adventurers and Allotments Whitlock Embassador to Sweden A Summary of what
Providence been pleased to favour the Arms of the Parliament by putting all into their hands they had con●ested for we shall see them putting all that under their feet trampling upon the King his Prerogative the Laws and the Subjects Liberty The City of London their great Magazine from whom th●● had exhausted so much treasure expecting now the replenishing of those veins and to see her Exchange filled straight beheld the whole Trade managed at Goldsmiths and Habordashers-hall Mortgages and Purchases of Land not Traffick and Returns from Sea busying and employing the Usurer Incredible is the mass of Money extorted from Royalists for Composition most barbarous and Italian villany to make them swear illegal Oaths such as the Covenant and Negative Oath directly contrary to that of Allegiance most pertidious and abominable Treachery to deny their Articles and by subornation and Trapans to justifie themselves and not sufficed with that to prosecute the innocent sufferers for their lives also as in the case of Sir Iohn Stawel and others whom they kept first in long durance seized all their estates and lastly arraigned at their pretended Courts of Justice Et quando uberior vitiorum Copia quando Major Avaritiae patuit sinus A heap of these enormities following thick upon the neck of one another will wholly take up the ensuing sheets Nostra haec farrago libeli Juven Sat. Prima This perhaps might be indured by Subjects from their fellows from the consideration of precedents of other the like Commotions especially from such starveling States-men as these but in prudential manners they could not be presumed to be more cruel to their Soveraign He had waged no War for the lust of any Favorite nor exercised any Tyranny over his people but had been defended and ayded in his just quarrel by the Noblest and most considerable of his Subjects not abandoned like Edward the second Richard the second or third but in the decay and decli●ing of his fortune more intently beloved by how much his vertues in such a fiery probation became more conspicuous and relucent But for all this he is treated by his two Houses as one of the worst and most undervalued and slighted of all his predecessors they vouchsafe not a thought of him but what 's scared with the jealousie of publike safety the main thing to be attained it is sufficient for him that he breathes the fresh Ayr theirs is indeed too hot and contagious While they thus neglect him we speak still of the Presbyterian party who had yet the Major part of the House and were sure of the Lords to concur with them the King by an Audacious Policy which puzled most men what to make on it is on the 4 of Iune late at night seized on by a Guard of 1000 men from the Army under one Cornet Ioyce a great Adjutator who being very importunate to speak with the King though at such an unseasonable time was at last admitted where he declared his Arrand was to remove his Majesties person to the Army for his and their security The King told him it was too late for that night but in the Morning he would speak with him Next morning the King arose early and had conference with the Commissioners who were highly troubled with the news but their Guards were not sufficient to maintain them in the resolution of keeping him onely General Brown offered to adventure but 't was concluded to no purpose for 't was not to be doubted that they who durst attempt so dangerous a thing had seconds neer at hand to reinforce them and the House was so guarded that there was no hopes neither of his escape so that the King went down into the Court-Yard and after some few private words with Ioyce asked the Souldiers By whose Authority they came thither They Answered From the Army He was instant if from Sir Thomas Fairfax his Army they continued From the Army His Majesty then replyed What if I should refuse to go with you would you compel me They Answered We hope your Majesty will not refuse but we have command to bring you His Majesty concluded I have these Questions to put to you which if you grant I will go with you First That he might have no violence offered his person To which they all together shouted and cryed None None Secondly He desired that his Trunks and Papers might not be rifled and tumbled here were parcels of his Eik Basil. and some other choice Pieces as was known since They promised to set a guard upon them and that they should not be touched Thirdly He required such servants to attend him against whom there were no just exceptions They Answered He should And Lastly desired that nothing might be imposed on him contrary to his conscience They Answered that it was not their judgment to force any thing against Conscience on any one much less on his Majesty Whereupon his Majesty took horse and was conveyed by them to the Head-quarters at Childersly where he was welcomed by the General but with greater Reverence and expressions of Loyalty received by Cromwel who now plaid his Master-piece of dissimulation professing himself a devoted servant to his Majesties interest and that the strangeness of this action of the Army proceeded of meer care of his person and out of respect to his Authority which they should equally assert with their own rights and the Liberty of the Subject against any persons whatsoever His Majesty then propounded that they would conduct him to Mewmarket the house he had formerly designed to go to there to expect what judgement or resolutions his two Houses would make of his Treasonable enterprise wherein though he dealt as warily with Cromwel as he did fallaciously with his Majesty not seeming to look upon it as so heinous a fact as it was yet he expected the Parliament if they were absolute and not awed which by this means would be experimented to call the principals and complices in it to a severe account and therefore reserved himself to Cromwel till he could thence judge of it hoping if the Army were masterless to make better Terms with them than he had yet hopes of from his two Houses and the Impostor did not stick to declare as much which was more manifest and easier of belief when all persons that were formerly of his side without any distinction were admitted his Chaplains suffered to attend him and the use of the Liturgy and Common Prayer publikely allowed him Upon the Kings first arrival at the Head-quarters the General sent to the Parliament giving them an account thereof but withal clearing himself from any hand in it and saying as much for the Council of Officers And 't is very credible he knew not who it was did it or by whose direction it was done but was informed by his Council of Officers that now it was done 't was very requisitely and oportunely done and it being the sence of the
and to carve to the Grandees the spoils of the Kingdom which were to be secured by these misunderstandings But against these Writers there appeared a Champion of Loyalty Judge Ienkins who out of the Parliaments Wrath with the Earl of Cleveland Sir Lewis Dives Sir Iohn Stawel and others Royalists was Committed to the Tower and being brought to the Chancery-Bar refused to own the Court and the Authority thereof and so was remanded in Order to a Tryal at the Kings-Bench where in the me●n while he fully Answered all those Cavils against the King by Reason Law and from the Parliaments own words and Declarations ridling their nice time-serving distinction of the Kings Person and Authority his Politick and Natural Capacity to be a meer Fiction never heard of before and that their as bold assumption of the Kings Vertual presence in the two Houses was also and alike Treasonable as he cited in the Case of the two Spencers in the 7 of Edward the 2. from their own Oracle Sir Edward Coke in the 7 part of his Reports fol. 11. He then runs over the whole Case and state of the Question and Dispute betwixt the Royalists and Parliamentarians which being published incredible it is how greedily they were bought up and how many honest people undeceived so that His Majesties Cause was every where under the nose of the Faction well spoken of We will for the honour of that Noble person give this short and summary account of it as a Sea-mark to Posterity First The Royalists have aided the King in this War contrary to the Parliaments Negative Oath and Votes warranted by the Statute of 25 Ed. 2. ch 2. They have maintained the Commission of Array by the Kings Command against their Votes by the Statute of the 5 Hen. 4.3 They have maintained Arch-bishops Bishops c. from Magna Charta and many other Statutes 4. They have maintained the Book of Common prayer warranted by five Acts of Parliament in Edw. 6. Queen Eliz. for Libels against which and Church-Government some have been Executed 5. They maintained the Militia of the Kingdom to belong to the King from the Statute of the 7 Edw. 1. and many Statutes since 6. They maintained the Counterfeiting of the Kings Great Seal to be High Treason as likewise the usurpation of the Kings Forts Ports and Shipping c. from the said Statute of 25 Ed. 3. and divers others since and the practice of all times 7. They maintain that the King is the only Supreme Governour in all Cases the Parliament that his Majestie is to be governed by them The former's warrant is the Statute of Queen Eliz. c. 8. They maintain that the King is King by an inherent Birth-right by Nature by Gods Law and by the law of the Land These say that his Kingly Right is an Office upon Trust. Their warrant is the Statute of the 1 of King James and the 5 of Queen Eliz. 9. They maintain that the politick capacity is not to be severed from the natural vide Coke as before their Oracle who hath declared to posterity that it is Damnable Detestable and Execrable Treason 10. They maintain that who aids the King at home or abroad ought not to be molested or questioned for the same These practice the contrary Their warrant is the Statute of 11 Hen. 7. 11. They maintain that the King hath power to disassent to any Bill agreed by the two Houses which these deny Their warrant is the Statute of 2 Hen. 5. the practice of all times the 1 Car. ch 7. and 1 Jam. ch 1. 12. They maintain that Parliaments ought to be holden in grave and peaceable manner without Tumults These abet and keep guards of armed men to wait upon them Their warrant is the Statute of 7 Edw. 2. 13. They maintain that there is no State within this Kingdom but the Kings Majesty and that to adhere to any other State within this Kingdom is High Treason Their warrant is the 3 of King Jam. and 23 Eliz. 14. They maintain that to levy a War to remove Counsellours to alter Religion or any Law established is High Treason These hold to the contrary Their warrant is the resolution of the Iudges Queen Elizabeth and Sir Edward Coke 15. They maintain that no man should be imprisoned put out of his lands but by due Course of Law and that no man ought to be adjudged to Death but by the Law established These have practised the contrary in London Bristol and Kent Their warrant is Magna Charta ch 29. The Petition of Right 3 Car. and divers others 16. They believe what the Laws say that the King can do no wrong that He is Gods Lieutenant and not able to do an unjust thing These charge Him with the spoil and blood of His Subjects which false imputation was like the rest of their actions contrary to all Law Reason Christianity or Humanity This eye-salve made the wilfully blinde more peevish and fuller of smart and anguish so that they were resolved to have hanged him but he had so hedged up their way to it by upbraiding them with their former Illegal and Tyrannical Cruelty that they only kept him in a strict duress which was enlarged by degrees till the time of Restitution 1660 when he was in health and at perfect freedom He was a great stickler likewise in the Feud betwixt the Presbyterian and Independent siding with the Army and doctrinating them with the Principles of Allegiance which they pretended to and animating them against the Parliament by perswading them that all their Ordinances made for their Indemnity and Arrears were insignificant and invalid and were but so many blinds for the present and that their security and satisfaction depended wholly upon the King which designe of his in that juncture of time did operate successfully until the cause of the contention ceasing Cromwel having mastered and surmounted all the rubs to his designe the effect the ruine of both likewise failed Miserable now were the complaints from several parts of the Kingdom by reason of the burden of Free-quarter In the third year of King Charles upon the Expedition for the Isle of Rhee the Lords and Commons in their Petition of Right when not above 2 or 3000 Souldiers were thinly Quartered upon the people but for a Month or two complained thereof to his Majesty as a great grievance contrary to the Laws and Customs of the Realm and humbly prayed as their right according to the Law of the Land that he would remove it which his Majesty presently granted Yet now though the Country was ten times more oppressed no remedy could be had the Army under pretence of Lodging Fire and Candle taking all other necessaries for which if at any time they pretended to offer money yet durst none take it for fear of greater damage the spoiler being only triable by a Council of War This the Souldiers were taught likewise by their Adjutators to
Voted the Courts and the Term to be in as full force as if the Benches were full afterwards they anew constituted all those Serjeants in Oliver's time and Bradshaw Serjeant Terril a Buckingham-shire-Gentleman and one formerly of their party but never in such publick Office before and now making use of it to good purposes and Serjeant Fountain an eminent Royalist formerly at Oxford were made Lords Commissioners of the Great Seal Bradshaw was sick the other two received it at the Hands of the Speaker at the Clerk Thomas St. Nicholas in stead of Scobel his Table and took the old Engagement whither came now a Petition or Address from the Army in prosecution of their condition of dividing the Judicative and Executive power and to that purpose they had couched herein a project of a co-ordinate or select Senate the product of Sir Henry Vane's Wisdome and conveyed into their Heads by Lambert who was Dominus fac totum This was promised to be forthwith considered and the presenters had the Thanks of the House who resolved to new Commissionate the Officers which was done in the same manner as before the Speaker in few words declaring That the Parliament in confidence of their Ability and Fidelity did confer c. and this went throughout the Army one Regiment after another Fleetwood who by another of those by 15 Conditions was to be Commander in Chief by Land and Sea was made Lieutenant-General with the said express Command the Transcript of an Act so Intituled it being so agreed being presented and read and delivered to him at the Clerks Table aforesaid as his Commission Captain Lawson was made Vice-Admiral and to Command the Fleet for the Narrow Seas this Summer This disposal laying aside General Montague who was expected shortly from the Sound as one in whom they had no confidence nor any Interest Addresses likewise came from the Independent and Anabaptist Churches some of whom kept a Thanksgiving and invited all the other Congregations of that Sect to joyn with them in that Voluntary Solemnization of this good providence the chief of these were one Iessey's and Canne's Disciples the prime favourites of this RUMP which Name it now universally obtained And it will not be impertinent to the designe of this Chronicle to give an account of it since it was the frequentest word or by-word of the times This Term was first given them by one Mr. Walker who writ the History of Independency upon their secluding and debarring the House to their Fellow-Members in 1648. when there remained a Fag-end or Tail but was almost abolished by the height and violence of their prosperity nor was heard of again until Richard's Parliament when Major-General Brown repeating the many injuries he had received from that party or Juncto in a scornful Apostrophe branded it with this Note of Infamy The RVMP which now upon their re-admission again was their onely appellation except among their own party To court and oblige the Souldiery about Town and who as their Guards attended them they raised the Foot 's Pay a penny and the Horse three pence a day Colonel Alured and Overton were taken into favour the last made Governour of Hull the other Captain of their Life-guard which now they had established Sir Henry Vane's son being their Cornet Lockhart was also confirmed Governour of Dunkirk from which place they had received Addresses as also an Embassador from France another from the States General from the King of Poland an Evoy from Sweden the like from the Hans Towns from Genoa and Portugal so far had the dread of those inconsiderable persons by their former successes possessed most of the Princes of Europe Spain's friendship they made themselves sure of with whom at their breaking up they were in most perfect friendship and correspondence They had an eye also to Ireland and by Dispatches thither had frighted the Illustrious Lord Harry to a tame surrender of that Government into the hands of the Lord Chancellor Steel and Miles Corbet the Chief-Baron of that Exchequer upon the very first notice of such Orders coming which to oblige them the more he signified by an Express and that he was preparing to follow with all speed to give them an account of that Kingdom which he left in a very good condition and hoped his Successors might reap more content in the Government than he had found He arrived post-hast immediately after and having given his account to the Council of State had liberty granted him of going into the Country or whither he pleased as his Order expresly and indulgently declared To perform on their part with the Army now came out the new Act of Indemnity to all such as had been any way instrumental or active or concerned in the late Mutations of Government from the date of the 22 of April to the 7th of May 1659. with a Proviso of their taking the Engagement Just in the publication of which happened a Fray or skirmish at Enfield forrest the Country who had right of Commons being deprived thereof by certain Enclosures to new-erected Buildings by some Officers of the Army who had purchased the Kings Lands there and kept Guards there to secure this their Trespass and violence but the Country-people mastered them killing one or two and wounded a Serjeant took the rest and got them committed to Newgate for assaulting them as they were throwing down the Ditches and Hedges whence their good Masters ordered them soon after to be bayled being nine in number To the old trade they fell next against the Royal party Priests and Jesuits being joyned with them in the same Condemnation which was that all such as had not compounded or compounded and not paid their Fines should first depart twenty miles and before the first of August leave the Kingdom or else suffer as Traytors notwithstanding the Council of State was impowered upon subscription and security to do as they should see cause in that matter for besides the old grudge they had now information of a Cavalier-plot laid some time before by the same hands that betrayed the last to Cromwel who fearing the quick reward of their Treachery did the same Offices to this Rump Hereupon they began to settle their respective Militia's and being fully satisfied concerning Mr. Mordant's actings for and correspondence with the King they required him by Proclamation to appear before the 17 of August or else his offences should be taken pro confesso the designe still opening by the unwary discourses of the Lady Howard Daughter to the Earl of Berk-shire and the indiscreet conveyance of some Letters whereupon she and Mr. Ernestus Byron and Mrs. Sumner were committed to the Tower as also Mr. Harlow for some reports and stories of their base actions by the Council of State in order to Tryal The Duke of Buckingham who had some while before Married the Lord Fairfax's Daughter and was therefore spighted by Cromwel who had
designed one of his Daughters for him and had been lately released by Richard's Parliament out of Windsor-castle came in now and gave security for his peaceable demeanour Arms were every where privately bought up and on the other side Ireton the then Lord-Mayor a very active person Brother to Ireton deceased raised a Regiment of City-Horse though the City Petitioned against it and the separated Churches raised three Regiments of their Members under Sir Henry Vane Colonel White and Skippon who being through-paced for the Good Old Cause was by them made Major-General of the City and all Horses secured therein Posts came now from several parts of the Kingdom of Stirs and Insurrections the two first whereof were at Tunbridge but a party of Horse the Council of State having right and punctual Information were soon at the appointed place of Rendezvouze so that those that would have met there dispersed themselves some few being taken Prisoners The other at Red-hill in Surrey where appeared some 100 under the Command of the Earl of Litchfield since Duke of Richmond who upon notice of the Armies Horse advancing got timely away young Mr. Sackvile Crow Mr. Penruddock and some others of note among whom was one Captain Elsemere formerly a Captain in Ingoldsby's Regiment being taken and some former Troopers of the same who were afterwards Sentenced Colonel Massey appeared likewise in Gloucester-shire but by the same perfect intelligence at White-hall he was no sooner up but he was seized and taken by some of their Horse and being put behinde one of the Troopers to bring him away as they were marching down a Hill the Horse fell and gave the Colonel an opportunity to shove the Trooper forwards and to make his escape into an adjoyning Wood which was the fourth he made during these troubles Hertford shire and Essex were associated likewise in the same designe now forming and acting but the like discovery prevented it Sir Thomas Leventhorpe and Mr. Thomas Fanshaw hardly escaping a surprize and seizure Major-General Brown was not idle all the while in London several Lists being filled with undertakers of the Kings Quarrel but such was the vigilance of the Council of State who sate day and night and so many defeats and disappointments and so many Prisoners evey day brought in that nothing was done here Lambeth Gate-house was made a Goal and Sir Francis Vincent and Colonel Brown of Surrey concerned in the Earl of Litchfield's attempt were Committed thither But that which look'd indeed formidable was the rising of Sir George Booth in Cheshire who was a secluded Member of the Parliament with him appeared the Lord Kilmorry Mr. Needham Brother to the said Lord Mr. Henry and Mr. Peter Brook a Member likewise Sir William Neil Major-General Randal Egerton an eminent constant Royalist who brought his former Valour upon this Stage and Colonel Robert Werden of the same party which last two were put into that Proclamation wherein Sir George Booth Sir Thomas Middleton with their adherents were Proclaimed Traytors the same Sir Thomas Middleton and his sons who Garrisoned Chirk and Harding Castles the last belonging of Justice Glyn there joyned also with him the Earl of Derby whose Family Interest in that Country with the same magnanimous Loyalty this young Nobleman essayed to resuscitate and gave great demonstration of his personal worth and Gallantry in the ensuing Engagement but I may not be as I ought copious in his praise Nec Deus intersit nisi dignus vindice nodus Colonel Gilbert Ireland who seized Liverpole Mr. Warburton and Mr. Leigh the Lord Cholmondley Mr. Marbury Mr. since Sir Ieoffery Shackerly and others these Rendezvouzed at Routon heath and appeared to the number of 3000 and upwards where a Declaration was read and published shewing that they took up Arms for a Free-Parliament and to unyoak the Nation from the slavery of those men at Westminster To second this the noble Lord Byron with Colonel Charles White with a party from Nottingham Rendezvouzed at Sherwood-forrest with a designe on Belvoyr-castle but were frustrated and so onward to Derby where they published Sir George's Declaration which the Towns-men very well approved of but Forces under Colonel Sanders being on their way thither they were forced to sit still and cry peccavi Colonel White was taken Prisoner Another appearance there was about Shrewsbury but all came to nothing the Lady Littletons's Sons and the Whittingtons were herein engaged As soon as the news of this Sir George Booth's rising was publique a Petition was presented to the Parliament from some pretended Cheshire-men wherein they set forth that to prevent the like Rebellious Insurrections the Parliament should discharge all Tenants of their Tenures from Delinquent Land-lords and that they should hold their Lands thenceforth of the Commonwealth at the same time and straight a Committee was ordered to withdraw and bring in a draught of this devi●e and Major-General Lambert was Commissioned to march with three Regiments of Horse and three of Foot and some Dragoons Militia-forces being to joyn with him in his march and some Forces out of Ireland under Colonel Zanchy and Ax●el ● to the reduction of Sir George and his Forces Colonel Desb rough was likewise sent with the same Command and some Forces into the West Proclamati●n came out at this time against Mr. Mordant the Earl of Litchfield ●●jor-Gen●ral Brown Sir William Compton Sir Thomas Leventhorpe and Mr. Fa●shaw the three last of whom rendered themselves within the time the two first fled and the Major-General awaiting another opportunity absconded himself at Stationers-Hall by the faithful secrecy of Captain Burrough● The Earl of Stamford who was likewise engaged in this business was taken at his House in Arms and carried Prisoner to Leicester which was the condition of many other Gentlemen the Earl of Oxford Prisoner to the Serjeant at Arms the Lords Faulkland and Delaware to the Tower whither not long after was brought the Lord Viscount Falconbridge the Lord Bellasis and Earl of Chesterfield Lord Charles Howard and Lord Castleton Lambert with no great hast marched to the Confines of Chester desirous to make a War of it and to settle himself in the Souldiers affections but such course had been taken by his Masters that very few accessions of strength came in to Sir George more than what were first numbered who nevertheless resolved to abide the fortune of Battle and drew up neer Norwich whither Lambert was advancing in the Meadows adjoyning having the Rivers before them and the Bridges guarded but Lambert's Horse and Foot resolutely fal●●●g on together at the Bridge the Fight was soon over all the defence being made by one Morgan a gallant Gentleman and some Horse of his Troop who presently died of his Wounds There were not above 30 killed in all and some 500 taken Prisoners and most of the Gentlemen and Officers This was August 16. and presently the Army advanced to Chester where Colonel