as to breed an open enmity between him and the City thereby to compell him to serve them perpetually by being assured that they were mortall enemies yet not willing since he had gone so farr with success to loose all now by passion he with silence obeyes them readily and thereby cleerly finds the temper of the City to be positively resolute for Liberty and right so that being sensible they might be trusted he hopes shortly to make them an amends which he had an occasion offered to do soonâ—e than he expected Is ungeneâ—all'd for the Parliament had a double design upon him first to weaken him in his interest and credit by an imployment which they knew would so incense the City and then while he is acting their unreasonable commands they are busie in undermining him in his power for when he had done their design as they thought to the enraging of the Citizens and breeding in their hearts revengefull thoughts He joynes with the City he returnes to White-Hall upon Friday the 10th Day of February upon which day his Commission did expire instead of the renewing whereof which he might with much justice have expected as the reward of his merit he is made a Colonel again and only made equal in command with six men more as short of him in desert as in honesty wherewith when he had acquainted the Officers of his Army who were much unsatisfied with such a reward for their late abominated imployment agreed unanimously among themselves that the Parliament intended to lay them aside notwithstanding their former faithfull service to them and to perpetuate the Nations slavery by their datelesness and therefore they resolved to march with their General into the City to joyn with them and declare for a free Parliament to this purpose a conference is had at the Three Tunnes near Guild-hall where the City and Army strike hands at which time his Excellencies Officers remonstrate the resent they had of the violence they were commanded to offer that famous City which was of a stamp unparalleled in the most horrid rage of former ages whose barbarousness even spared that when they harassed the whole Nation beside then give warning of several persons both within and without the City whose tyrannous minds they feared abhorring in an especiall manner a late petition delivered in the house by one Praise-God Barebone being a treasonous libell subversive of all order and Government dangerous to religion both in discipline and worship and destructive to all Lawes Statutes and Customes even in fundamentalls wishing at last the Parliament to think of determining their Session and provide for future Parliaments This being by his Officers I say presented to his Excellency and by him in a letter communicated to the Speaker he marcheth into London and taketh quarters Free P. promised declaring for a free Parliament and this blow was it made Independency stagger for so highly were both City and Country pleased with this Declaration that they did hardly know in what manner to express their joy ringing their bells making bonfires the air resounding nothing but the name and prayses of Monck and the Streets filled with gratefull hearts who on bended knees prayed for blessings on the head of the hoped restorer both of the Church and Common-wealth and in this relolution he persisted notwithstanding all the flatteries threatnings and snares of the house who now studied nothing more than his ruine as in him foreseeing their own nevertheless he waits for the Parliaments answer to his last letters to them but finding they neither minded him nor them and thought of nothing but setling their own interest and continuing themselves in power he procures a conference between some fitting members of the house and some of the honourable Gentlemen and worthy Patriots that were excluded from it at which himself being in person present and weighing judiciously the reasons and arguments formed on both fides which he heard with a deep and reserved silence after all were withdrawn he concluded with himself upon result from the whole that the pretended settlement proposed by the house was of compass too narrow and too weak of foundation to bear up the Nation and repair its breaches Secluded members admitted he resolved therefore to withdraw all manner of force from the house and to admit men of more sober moderate and less byassed judgments whose Spirits being more apt for publick good would establish the Kingdom upon termes comprehensive of every considerable interest therein hereupon on the one and twentyeth day of February meeting the secluded members at White-hall and expressing himself to them in a speech not delivered by himself but by his Secretary wherein he commended to their care 1. Religion that great primum mobile unum necessarium without which to live rather befits beasts than men and this was proposed in the most sober and moderate way imaginable yet neither countenancing errour nor allowing libertinisme 2. He commended to them the State desiring them to be good Physitians to its crazed body by applying suteable Physick which he said he supposed would be a full and a free Parliament upon whose resolves as himself so he doubted not but the whole Nation would acquiesce he told them the house was open for them to enter and prayed for their good success The secluded members being thus admitted How they begin and wherein proceed fall immediately to work where they were abruptly forced to break of in December 1648. Confirming their Vote made then by another now that the concessions of the late King were a sufficient ground to proceed on for setling the peace of the Kingdom hereby not only vindicating themselves but as it were at once disanulling all that had been done as dissonant thereto during the whole time of their recess This began to infuse a new spirit of life into the Kingdom in whom at this springing season of the year began a new to bud and peep out the bloomes of a too long frost-nipped loyalty so that one now might have seen what twenty years before could never shew countenances that lately were dejected through the cruell tyranny of their Aegipitian task masters now gather cheerfull looks and like fresh blown roses yield a fragant savour The Parliament thus sitting freely vote his Excellency Lord Generall of all the forces in England Scotland and Ireland by vertue of which Commission he disarmes all the Phanatick party both in City and Country the Parliament in the mean time providing to secure the Nation by two seasonable Acts the one of Assessment and the other of the Militia the last impowering and arming Gentlemen and Men of worth and power to stand up for their Liberties and Priviledges and put the Country into a posture of defence against all encroaching pretenders whatsoever and the former enabling them to raise moneyes which are the sineues of war for maintaining of the forces so raised to assert their and our rights Thus setling
others be not your selves cast away but in season and out of season labour labour to declare Christ not of contention and strife but sowe the word to effect that fruit may grow thereby And Lastly to the Commons who are tumidum instabile vulgus I shall only wish that they will labour for peace and according to their Royal Princes dictate in his late Declaration concerning Ecclesiasticall affairs acquiesce in his condescentions concerning the differences which have so much disquieted the Sate by which endeavour all good Subjects will by Gods blessing enjoy as great a measure of felicity as this Nation hath ever done which is the earnest prayer of Your c. T. M. No. 2. 1660. THE HISTORY OF Independency The Fourth and Last part THE former parts of this Book having traced the prevalent and strong Factions of Presbyterian and Independent The Proeme through the several devious pathes wherein they marched and with what devillish cunning they did each endeavour to be greatest by surprising or at least undermining the other until at last they unriveted the very foundations of Government by the execrable murther of their undoubtedly lawful Soveraign a crime so abhorred that it is even inexpiable not to be purged with sacrifice for ever I say these things having received so lively a delineation in the former parts shall need no new recitalls I shall then begin at the end thereof which was when the sacred Reliques of betrayed Majesty specie justitiae received a fatal stroke from blood-thirsty hands neither able to protect it self or be a shadow and Asylum for rejected Truth and unspotted Loyalty Thus in an unsetled and confused posture stood poor England when the Sceptre departed from Israel and the Royal Lyon was not only robbed of his prey but his Life which Barbarism once committed what did the Independent Faction now grown chief ever after stick at Having tasted Royal Blood the Blood of Nobles seemed but a small thing to which end and to heighten and perfect their begun villanies they erect another High Court of Justice for the Tryal of James Earl of Cambridge Henry Earl of Holland Lords H H. C. tryed George Lord Goring Arthur Lord Capell and Sir John Owen Knight whereof that Horslecch of Hell John Bradshaw was also President who with sixty two more as honest men as himself by a Warrant under the hands of Luke Robinson Nicholas Love and J. Sarland summoned for that purpose did accordingly appear upon Munday the fifth day of February 1648. for the putting in Execution an Act of Parliament as they called it for the erecting of an High Court of Justice for the trying and adjudging the Earls and Lords aforesaid with whom according to their fore-settled resolution making short work for they would admit of no plea of the five they presently condemned three to lose their heads on a scaffold in the Pallace-yard at Westminster Lords condemned on Friday the ninth day of March which day being come about ten of the clock that Morning Lieutenant Collonel Beecher came with his Order to the several Prisoners at S. James's requiring them to come away from whence they were immediately hurried in Sedans with a strong guard to Sir Thomas Cottons house at Westminster where they continued about two hours spending the whole time in holy devotion and religious exercises After which the Earl of Cambridge preparing first for the Scaffold after mutual embraces and some short parting expressions to and for his fellow-sufferers he took his leave and went along with the Officers attended on by Dr. Sibbalds whom he had chosen for his Comforter in his sad condition Being arrived at the Scaffold and seeing several Regiments both of horse and foot drawn up in the place after he had waited a little while with a fruitless hope and expectation of receiving some comfortable news from the Earl of Denbigh who was his Brother having sent for his Servant who being returned and having delivered his Message to the Earl of Cambridge privately he said So It is done now Hamiltons speech at his death and turning to the front of the Scaffold he spake to this effect That he desired not to speak much but being by providence brought to that place he declared to the Sheriff that the matter he suffered for as being a Traytor to the kingdom of England he was not guilty of having done what he did by the command of the Parliament of his own Countrey whom he durst not disobey they being satisfyed with the justnesse of their procedure and himself by the commands by them laid upon him and acknowledging that he had many wayes deserved a worldly punishment yet he hoped through Christ to obtain remission of his sins That he had from his Infancy professed the same Religion established by Law in the land That whereas he had been aspersed for evil intents towards the King all his actions being hypocritically disguised to advance his own self-interest hereto he protested his innocency professing he had reason to love the King as he was his King and had been his Master with other words to the same effect That as to the matter of invitation into the kingdom he referred himself to the Declaration then in Print and setting forth how ready and willing he was ever to serve the English wishing happinesse and peace to them and praying that his blood might be the last that should be drawn heartily forgiving all saying I carry no rancour along with me to the grave That his Religion was such as he spoke of before whose Tenets he needed not to expresse as being known to all and himself not of a rigid opinion being not troubled with other mens differing judgments with which words and forgiving all that he might have even the greatest animosity against he kneeled down with Dr. Sibbald and prayed with much earnestnesse and devotion which pious exercise performed and some short ejaculations passing between himself and the Doctor the Earl turning to the Executioner said Shall I put on another cap and turn up my hair Which way is it that you would have me lye Sir The Executioner pointing to the front of the Scaffold the Earl replyed What my head this way Then the Undersheriffs son said My Lord the Order is that you lay your head toward the High Court of Justice Then the Earl after some private discourse with his servants kneeled down on the side of the Scaffold and prayed a while to himself afterwards with a smiling and cheerful countenance he embraced the Doctor in his Arms and then his servants saying to them Ye have been very faithful to me and the Lord blesse you then turning to the Executioner said I shall say a very short prayer while I lie down there and when I stretch out my hand my right hand then Sir do your duty and I do freely forgive you and so I do all the World So lying down and having fitted himself Hamilton executed devoutly
praying to himself a short space he stretched out his right hand whereupon the Executioner at one blow severed his head from his body which was received by two of his Servants then kneeling by him into a Crimson Taffeta scarfe and that with the body immediately put into the Coffin brought thither for that purpose and so carried to Sr. John Hambletons house at the Mewes This Execution done the Sheriffs guard went immediately to fetch the Earl of Holland whom they met in the midway where the under Sheriffs son having received him into his charge conducted him to the Scaffold Mr. Bolton passing all the way hand in hand with him Being come upon the same and observing he could not spake aloud enough to be heard by the People by reason of the numerousness of the Souldiery that encompassed him he said Hollands speech on the Scaffold I think it is to no purpose to say any thing then proceeded That his breeding had been in a good family that had ever been faithfull to the true Protestant Religion in which he had ever lived and now resolved by Gods grace to dye That he hoped God would forgive him his sins though he acknowledged his Justice in bringing him thither for punishment of them in this World He observed that he was looked on as one that had ill designs against the State Truly saith he I look upon it as a judgement not having offended the Parliament in any thing save an extreme vanity in serving them very extraordinarily That his affections had been ever known to be faithfull and without wavering where the Parliament wrought changes beyond and against reason and Religion there He left them That he ever sought the peace of the Kingdom and that made him do what he did That he knew not how to judge of the thâ—n present affairs but should pray that the Kingdome might be again governed by the King by the Lords by the Commons and that the People may look upon the Posterity of the King with that affection they owe that they may be called again without bloodshed and admitted into that power and glory that God in their birth intended to them That he wisheth happiness even to the causers of his death praying heartily to God to forgive them And as Chancellor of Cambridge really praying that that University might flourish and be a continuall Nursery both to Learning and Religion Then mentioning again his Religion and family relating something to his own behaviour and his being a great sinner yet that he hoped God would hear his prayers and give him faith to trust in him with his prayers for the People he ended Then turning to the side he prayed for a good space of time after which by the instigation of Mr. Bolton he said That he was the less troubled with his violent death when he remembred how his Saviour suffered for him and again when he considered the King his Master not long before passed the same way with others at this time with himself with a serious and pithy justification of his said Master the late Kings Majesty a short recapitulation of his first speech concerning his Actions Religion breeding and sufferings After all wholly casting himself on the merits and mercies of Jesus christ forgiving his Enemies praying for peace and that their blood might be the last which was shed strangely the tryall being as extraordinary as any thing in the Kingdom but be owned it as Gods hand then having some divine conference with Mr. Bolton for neer a quarter of an hour and spoken to a Souldier that took him prisoner and others he embraced Lievtenant Collonel Beecher and took his leave of him After which he came to Mr. Bolton and having embraced him and returned him many thanks for his great pains and affection to his soul he prepared himself to the block whereupon turning to the Executioner he said here my friend let my Cloaths and my body alone there is ten pounds for thee that is better than my cloaths His behaviour I am sure of it And when you take up my head do not take off my cap then taking his farewell of his Servants he kneeled down and prayed for a pretty space with much earnestness Then going to the front of the Scaffold he said to the People God bless you all God give all happiness to this Kingdom to this People to this Nation Then laying himself down he seemed to pray with much affection for a short space and then lifting up his head seeing the Executioner by him he said stay while I give the signe and presently after stretching out his hand and saying now now just as the words were coming out of his mouth E. of Hâ—â—â— death the Executioner at one blow severed his head from his body The Execution of the Earl of Holland being thus performed the Lord Capell was brought to the Scaffold as the former and as he passed along he put off his hat to the People on both sides looking about him with a very stern countenance when mounting on the Scaffold having before taken his leave of his Chaplain and bidding his Servants that were with him to refrain from weeping coming to the front of the Scaffold Lo. Capell his speech before hiâ— death he spoke to this purpose That he would pray for those that sent him thither and were the cause of his violent Death it being an effect of the Religion he professed being a Protestant with the profession whereof he was very much in love after the manner as it was established in England by the 39. Articles That he abhorred Papistry relying only on Christs merits That he was condemned to dye contrary to the Law that governs all the World that is by the Law of the Sword the Protection whereof he had for his Life yet among Englishmen he an Englishman acknowledged Peer condemned to dye contrary to all the laws of England That he dyed as to the cause he fought in for maintaining the fifth Commandement injoyned by God himself the Father of the Country the King as well as the natural Parent being to be obeyed thereby That he was guilty of Voting against the Earl of Strafford but he hoped God had washed off the guilt of his blood with the more precious blood of his Son That his late Majesty was the most vertuous and sufficient known Prince in the World God preserve the King that now is his Son God send him more fortunate and longer dayes God restore him to this Kingdom that that family may reign till thy Kingdom come that is while all Temporal power is consummated God give much happiness to this your King and to you that in it shall be his subjects That he did again forgive those that were the causers of his coming thither from his very soul so praying again for the King and his restoration and for the peace of the Kingdom he finished his speech Then turning about to the Executioner L.
or the Spirits which God raised up to be instrumentall in that miraculous deliverance let it suffice they have their honour and reward and bless we God who hath made us worthy to be partakers of the inestimable good that hath accrewed thereby invoking Heaven to crown his life with length of dayes and health and to settle his throne by a decree as unalterable as that of the Earth which cannot be moved Thus once more we see Rebellion flourish and applauded for after this the seeds of ambition begin to grow higher in Cromwell it is not enough that his faction is the strongest and he the head of it unless he may as well govern as command The military sword will not satisfie him he must and will also have the civill but as he sees it must not be done rashly or suddenly least he should miscarry so knowing that fair and softly goes farr and festinare lente is the best hast he concludes in his heart either to have all at his own beck or dye in the attempt and the better to moddell his design according to his resolution he comes to the Juncto gives them account of all his transactions and so insinuates into them that he gets his Son Ireton to be made Deputy of Ireland Cromwels policy and power and intrusts Scotland into the hand of L. G. Moncke a revolted Cavalier by which two persons in a short time he so roughly handled both those said Nations that they were reduced to as perfect a slavery as could be imagined Upon consideration of these successes on all hands he begins now more publickly to unmask himself As General he places and displaces Officers in the Army at his pleasure untill he have so fitted them to his own humour that he dares begin to take them into his Councill where the first thing resolved is still to hold up the mask of religion there is no bait so catching to the vulgar religion therefore must be cried up methinks I see Cromwell like Catiline at Rome with all his crew of bankrupt and much worn Officers about him speaking to them thus Surely I need not tell you the great things the Lord hath done for us your selves are witnesses thereunto I confess our actions seem not to agree to our professions but t is no matter let People say what they will so we be still gainers let Governments totter and fall the whole World be made but one Enthusiasme or reduced into its primitive Chaos rather than we shall now loose or hold yet still the mask of zeal must be kept on that we may not appear in our naturall colours villains ab origine By these and the like words is that vicious brood soon instigated to act what his ambition dares command Now was he grown so lofty and imperious that he even growes weary of the Juncto and especially because they were at the present the main barr that hindred his greatness To remove therefore that obstacle on the twentieth of Aprill 1653. Long Parliament turned out early in the morning he seazes the keys of the Parliament house shuts up the doors and tells the Members that they must come no more there having already sate too long meriting rather punishment than applause being no other than an assembly of Whoremasters Drunkards Hypocrites Knaves and Oppressours thus was the pretence of the Parliament taken away and no face of Government visibly appearing Never was the faults of Usurpers with more bitterness laid open than now by him whom we shall shortly as transcendently to out-do them in all acts of Tyrauny and Usurpation as the brightest beams of a midday sun excell the glimmering light of a midnight candle T is true as Seneca saith Nulla tam modesta est faelicitas ut malignitatis dentes vitare possit Sen. ep 3. there ever was and ever will be some murmurers at present Governours but so far were either they or he from being belyed that unless a Man do speak all that may be imagined evill he must needs fall short of their wickedness The Government being thus altered first by laying aside and murthering their lawfull Soveraign then by sifting and purging the Parliament till loosing its originall it either became as nothing or at the best but a Juncto and when it would no longer sute with Cromwells ambitious ends and soaring thoughts by turning it absolutely out of doors At last after much pretended seeking of God by dayes of humiliation Cromwell forsooth is counselled to call together an assembly of men picked out and called as fit for his design These he summons together by a Letter under his hand and seal directed to each single Man Barchones Parlia ment who in their way of canting admiring at the great goodness of God that had put it into the Generalls heart to select them to so great a work as the settlement of the Kingdom and to shew their skill and as an Essay of their zeal they first vote down all Tythes discourage the Ministry abuse the Universities and endeavour to abolish the law and consequently to take away all propriety By which Acts the Nation beginning to be sensible of the Divel where with they were possessed did frown upon them which so disanimated our Fanatick Enthusiasts that at the very first blast they left the helm and like good boyes and well-taught having drawn up formally an instrument under their hands and Seals they repair to Cromwell and according as the design was laid together with the said instrument deliver and resign the Government to him and his Councill They resign to Cromwell who though at first he seemingly denyed yet immediately after with much solemnity he accepts thereof before the Mayor some Aldermen some Judges and the Officers of the Army Having thus far perfected his devillish design and made all his own by modelling the Army under the command of his own Creatures setling the Government of Ireland upon his Son Harry and Scotland reduced to obey and submit to him Cromwels first Parliament do nothing It is now thought fit he should declare himself which to please and gull the people the better he does by abasing himself and calling as he termed it a Parliament to meet on the Third of September 1654. Which it did but the poor animalls not having well conned their lesson before-hand were suspected dull and turned a grazing to get more understanding the very first instant he might lay hold on to do it By which means once more all pretence of Government being utterly abolished he himself playes Rex and by an arbitrary power beyond without Major Gen. set up and against law doeth what he list by Mayor-Generals a name in England unknown oppressing the Country robbing the Gentry spoiling all and murdering many so that none durst say what doest thou A question was converted into a plot and to deny a tax merited decimation It was not enough to have suffered all former rapines imprisonment