save that the Commissioners were forced to confess That the King for The King 's rare Wisdom they were commanded by their Masters to treat with no Body but his Majesty alone did excel in Sharpness of Wit in most accurate Vnderstanding of Things and in Quickness of Judgment That he also heard the contrary Objections and Arguments with unimitable Patience Unhappy only in this That he attributed more to the Advice of others than his own Opinion The Parliament had long since seized upon all the King's Castles Forts Arms Governments Ships Revenues Treasure and Ornament But to shew their Intentions for Peace they Denounce War with an Oath declaring They will not lay down Arms as long as the King had an Army under whose Protection Papists that is Royallists and such who were obnoxious to the Law might find Sanctuary Nay they came to that pitch of Boldness that they presumed by their own Authority to summon a National-Synod Where rejecting the ancient Forms of Councils they impower this composed of Presbyterian and Independant Clero-Layicks to establish Religion and the Forms for Government in the Church They also falsified the Great Seal by making another instead of that which was with the King and use it publickly Thus this Pacifick Tribe seeks for Peace and immolates to injured Majesty by rendering as much as in them lay the Differences irreconcileable But this Counterfeiting of the Great Seal was voted Treason by the Parliament at Oxford some time after The Earl of Newcastle in the North During these Traverses the Earl of New-Castle raised an Army in the North to whom the Earl of Cumberland joined himself On the other Side the Two Fairfaxes Father and Son were for the Parliament The first material Encounter they had was at Tadcaster where the Rebels were beaten the Royallists having forced them out of Town after which they also took Bradford But the Fairfaxes being afterwards recruited they took Leeds and Colonel Cholmley and Boynton routted and took Colonel Slingsby at Gisburg The Younger Fairfax gained also a notable Victory at Wakefield against part of Newcastle's Army but he did not enjoy the Sweets of it long for his Forces were afterwards quite broken by the Marquiss's who over-spreading the Country with his Power Victorious and having received great Stores of Arms Cannon and other Military Utensils with the Colonels Goring and King from Holland drove the Rebels quite out of the Field and shut up the Lord Fairfax Besiegeth Hull and his Remnants in Hull where he besieged him This was a fatal Oversight for if he had carried the War into the associated Eastern Counties humanely spoke he had not only added those Rich Provinces to his Victories but by intercepting the Contributions of Money and Men which those Rich Countries perpetually furnished the Rebels with put an End to the War it self and that without Blood The Queen Lands at Burlington Early in the Spring the Queen landed at Burlington with many Officers and Commanders of Note as also great Stores of Arms and Provisions for War In this Place and in her Quarters her Majesty underwent no less hazard than at Sea for an English Man of War coming then into the Bay fired into the Town with so much Fury that she was forced to abandon her Lodging and seek for shelter behind the Hedges But being received magnificently by Newcastle and with Honours due to so great a Princess she was attended by him to York Goes to York into which City she entered in Triumph her self being the most pompous part of the Show The Earl of Montross eminent for his Youth and Nobility and of high Esteem in his Country having deserted the Covenanters because he found them designing to Ruine the Church and Monarchy came accompanied with the Lord Ogelby and One hundred and Twenty Horse to wait upon the Queen at York where he informed her Majesty of the Covenanters Preparations in Scotland and that they would in a very little Time Invade England with a great Army Hamilton came thither also to salute the Queen and with his known Arts refuting Montross's Assertions prayed her to give no Credit to One so Young and Vain which she unhappily inclined to Sir Hugh Cholmley Governour of Scarborough with Three hundred Men came also in at the same Time returning to his Obedience to his Sovereign Which the Two Hothams seemed also to attempt though unfortunately so dangerous Rebellion is that it often Ruines those who would return to their Duty again The Marquiss of Hartford having Command of the Western Counties and assisted by the Lord Pawlet Sir Ralph Hopton Sir Bevil Greenville Sir John Stowell and others all eminent for Courage and Loyalty performed many great Actions On the other Side Major General Chudley and the Earl of Stamford were very Active But Hopton not to be named without an Epithet of Honour harassed these in several Encounters He routed Chudley at Lanceston beat him at Chafford and defeated both him and Stamford in a great Fight at Stratton Hopton defeats the Rebels at Stratton He took here One thousand and Seven hundred Prisoners besides many slain Thirteen Brass Cannon Seventy Barrels of Powder c. This Victory restored the Neighbouring Provinces to their Duty to the King and Hopton himself for his eminent Services was created Baron of Stratton where he had fought so bravely The Rebel-Chieftains fled to Exeter where they were besieged and forced afterwards to surrender to Prince Maurice Hopton after his Victory marched into Somersetshire encountring Sir William Waller a famed Champion of the Rebellion Fights Waller at Landsdowne at Landsdowne near Bath The Fight was brave contested with equal Valour and Obstinateness and continued till late in the Night The Enemy at length drew off into the Town leaving lighted Matches in the Hedges and Walls to amuse the Royallists behind them The Enemies greatest Loss was in their Foot and ours in that of the Noble Sir Bevil Greenville who with a Stand of Pikes had sustained the reiterated Charges of the Roundheads and repelled them He was a Person of no less Loyalty than Courage which made him equally lamented by the Brave as well as the Good The Rebels Loss was greater than ours as well in Officers as Souldiers though abundantly compensated by the Death of the said Greenville and the blowing up of our Powder fired as was believed by One of the Prisoners The General himself was much endangered being hurt by the Flame of it the which together with the Want it occasioned obliged him to shut himself up in the Devizes until he could be recruited with new Stores Waller intent upon Opportunities followed him close and block'd him up in the said Town where they were forced to use their Bed-cords for want of Match But the Siege lasted not long for the King admonish'd by the Danger these brave Men were in sent the Lord Willmott to whom was joined Prince Maurice the Earl of Carnarven
aloud Stop pierced the Throng and having whispered a while Sir Phelim answered aloud in the hearing of several Hundreds of Spectators I thank the Lieutenant General for his intended Mercy but I declare good People before God and his Holy Angels and all of you that hear me that I never had any Commission from the King for what I have done in levying or prosecuting of this War Nor was it only with him but with several other Prisoners that they most impiously endeavoured by Promises of Life Liberty and Estates and no less abominable Artifices to sooth them to Confessions that might entitle the King to this nefarious Rebellion 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And 't was thus the Enemy did with exquisite Malice to use the King 's own Expressions in his Divine Meditations mix the Gall and Vinegar of Falsity and Contempt with the Cup of his Affliction charging him not only with Vntruths but such as wherein he had the greatest Share of Loss and Dishonour by what was committed Whereas in all Policy Reason and Religion having least cause to give the least Consent and most grounds of utter Detestation he might be represented by them to the World the more inhumane and barbarous Dublin surrendred to the Parliament The Treaty being concluded with the Committee of Parliament the City was surrendred into their Hands Ormond stipulating amongst other Things a Liberty of going to the King to give him an Accompt of the Progress of that War He found his Majesty in Hampton-Court in the Hands of the Army but seeing how Affairs were carried he withdrew himself into France where he continued until the Confederate Irish terrified with the Preparations made in England to destroy them by their humble Addresses to the Queen and Prince of Wales obtained his Return But it is now time to return into England where upon Essex his being laid aside the Command of the Army was as we have already related given to Sir Thomas Fairfax who with great Industry and Toil modell'd and formed the divers Forces that were dispersed under several Chieftains into one entire Body This being effected he marched from Windsor his head Quarters in the Beginning of May by Orders of the Committee of both Kingdoms to the Relief of Taunton Fairfax marches to the Relief of Taunton which had been long besieged and reduced to great Extremity In the mean Time Cromwell had been sent from Windsor with a strong Party to disturb the King's Preparations about Oxford He defeated two Thousand Horse at Islip-Bridge killing several and taking Four Hundred Horses as also Two Hundred Prisoners with the Queen's Standard Some Runnaways had taken Sanctuary in Blechingdon House where being followed and the Place summoned the unfortunate Governour to gratifie the Fears of his Lady tamely surrendred it which cost him his Life by being shot to Death by the Sentence of a Court-Marshal Sir Willam Vaughan sent with some Foot to Radcot-Bridge was likewise with Two Hundred of his Party intercepted by him Fierce with these Successes and strengthened with Six Hundred Foot from Abington he assaulted Faringdon but not without Loss being bravely received by Sir George Lisle the Governour At the same Time General Goring being sent for by the King to Oxford fell upon Five Hundred of Cromwell's Men under the Command of Whaley near Faringdon where Bethel who led the Van was taken and the rest routed with the Loss of Three Colours But Goring having Intelligence of Fairfax's march Westward returned with all imaginable Haste to oppose his Attempts upon Taunton In the mean time the King taking the Opportunity of Fairfax's Absence sent for his Horse under the Command of his Nephews Rupert and Maurice and marching himself with his Cannon out of Oxford joined them notwithstanding Cromwell and Browne's Endeavour who were commanded to observe him to the contrary His Forces being united for Gerrard having vanquished Langhorne in South-Wales was also come up he grew so formidable the Rebels Army being absent that he was greatly apprehended especially in the associated Counties and neighbouring Countries Fairfax was recalled upon these Apprehensions And though advanced as far as Blainford he there received Counter-Orders commanding his Return which he obeyed sending Col. Welden with betwixt Six and Seven Thousand Men to the succouring of Taunton whilst he himself strengthened with the Addition of Cromwell Browne and some other Chiefs of the Party marches to Oxford and lays Siege to it Besieges Oxford The Royallists at Taunton upon the Approach of Welden supposing the whole Army to be there removed from the Town but perceiving their mistake Goring Hopton and Greenville joining their Forces fight and beat Welden and besiege the Town more closely than before The King relieves Chester The King having united his Forces moved with quick Marches towards Chester one of the Loyallest and Chief Cities of his Party then besieged by Sir William Brereton who drew off upon Report of his Majesty's Advance The King thereupon wheeling about flies to Liecester and by Summons commands the Town to be surrendred to him The Place lying in a fertile Country was also well stored with Ammunition and Provision The Committee of the Shire was then there and consulting with the Townsmen about the Summons told the Messenger they would return an Answer next Morning But that being refused and but one Hour's Space granted for Consultation by a Drum sent on purpose whilst they delayed the Cannon began to play which together with the small Shot they continued to do without Intermission that Evening and the following Night The next Morning the Town was assaulted in many Places at once Leicester taken and after a stout Defence forced The Garrison embodied again upon the Market-Place and continued the Fight with great Resolution till being oppressed with Numbers they were defeated with a great Slaughter The Plunder of the Place followed which was great the Governour * Colonel Gray and the Committee with several other Officers and Gentlemen being made Prisoners The King's Affairs much heightned with this Victory were judged by most Men not inferiour to the Enemies And he himself thought no less when he writ to the Queen in these Terms I may without being too sanguine affirm That since this Rebellion my Affairs were never in so hopeful a Way The Men at Westminster terrified with the Greatness of the Danger and in no less Disquiet by reason of the Diffidence and Dissensions amongst themselves which every Success on the King's Side would improve dispatch'd sudden Commands to Fairfax who had thus long trifled at the Siege of Oxford That be should forthwith follow the King and having overtaken him fight him if possible and so decide the controversie by Battel This City seated in the middle of the Kingdom was a great Eye-sore to the Faction Besides it extreamly incommoded London and being the Royal-Seat of the King and head of the contrary Party it seemed great to attempt it Nor
returned to Cologn he found his Brother the Duke of Gloucester there lately arrived from France The King had been informed now he had been thrust out of England by the Regicides which they had done to save the Expence of his Maintenance and to Ship-wrack his Religion Besides it was supposed that Cromwell had designed his Removal for that some in his Council had moved his Assumption to the Crown as no ways obnoxious or prejudiced by reason of his Youth as is already mentioned 'T is scarce imaginable with what Constancy he defended his Religion however very young In so much that armed with Instructions from the Lord Hatton and Doctor Cousens he eluded the Assaults of Abbot Montague and the Marquess of Plessis the one employed by the Queen-Regent of France and the other by the Queen of England Neither the charming Pleasures of the French Court nor the Purple Dignities of the Church of Rome nor yet the extream Severities of the Queen his Mother who did not only refuse him his ordinary Sustenance but denied him the Solace of her Benediction were of strength to shake his Faith Which they yet would endeavour to force by shutting him up in the Jesuits Colledge if the King his Brother displeased with these Novelties had not sent the Marquess of Ormond to his Rescue and to bring him to Cologn to him which he did though not without Difficulty But nothing was impossible for this Great Man After this the King went to Franckfort famous for its Marts And in his Progress saluted the Queen Christina of Sweden at Koningsteyn Where after a Reception worthy Two such great Princes and some private Discourses the Duke of Gloucester and his Royal Sister did the same The Marquess of Ormond Earl of Norwich Lord Newburgh and others of His Majesty's Train being also admitted paid that great Princess the Respects due to her Highness The Queen continued her Journey to Insprug where after a splendid Reception from the Arch-Duke she made Public Profession of the Roman Religion The King leaving Franckfort with the universal Acclamations of the People and thundring of their Cannon went to Ments whither he had been invited by that Elector where his Reception was truly Royal. And after three Days Treat parting with the same Magnificence returned to Cologn Nor did his Majesty spend the Time idly whilst the Regicides triumphed in England He had already sent Embassies to all the Princes of Europe to desire their Assistance against his Rebels But with little success though the Cause were Common The French flourishing in Promises made a League with the Regicides The Spaniards though they seemed to grieve at the Murther of the King were yet the first that acknowledged and owned this rising Common-wealth The Grand Seignior corrupted with English Gold delivered Sir Henry Hyde the King's Embassadour at that Court against the Law of Nations into the Hands of the Parricides who Murthered him by cutting off his Head before the Exchange Swedeland was then in an unsetled Condition Portugal unable being attacked both by the Spaniard and Dutch in the Indies Poland was worried with her own Domestick Distractions Denmark was exhausted with the Treasure formerly lent to Charles I. Others indeed restified their good-wills by their Contributions as the Great Duke of Muscovy the Count of Oldenburg the Electors of Mentz and Brandenburg and some other Princes of Germany by the Earl of Rochester's negoriating at Ratisbone But what could this import to make a new and great War Whereas it scarce sufficed to defray the Charges of the Embassies The King then seeing no Hopes of his Restauration from abroad wisely sought a Remedy where the Wound was received from the Benevolence and Loyalty of his Subjects which the Eminence of his Vertues could not in Justice refuse him Neither was he any way wanting to himself but most intent upon all Occasions leaving nothing unattempted whereby he might raise his sinking Affairs He kept constant Correspondence with his Friends in England Caus'd great Disturbances to the Rebels on every side and exposing himself to the Danger did more than once incite the People to arm against the Usurpers He now kept his Court at Bruges in Flanders nearer hand having been invited by the Spaniards repenting their too early Compliments to the Regicides and supplied with 9000 l. per annum which Money was punctually repaid upon His Majesty's Restitution The Duke in the mean Time having recalled all the Kings Subjects in the French Service joyning them with those in the Spanish Low-Countries composed a considerable Body which he commanded with no less Honour than he had done in France although they were well nigh destroyed by the fatal Valour of the English Rebels at Mardike and the Battle of Dunkirk The Duke more illustrious by Misfortunes did not only for some time resist but retard the Progress of the Victors until oppressed by multitudes as is already said he was necessitated to comply with the Fate of the vanquished Cromwell dying soon after however a way seemed thereby to be opened to the Kings Restauration his Majesty received the News of it with remarkable Constancy and Calmness of Mind in no ways insulting though he saw his most Mortal Enemy extinguished in the Person of this Vsurper Cardinal Mazarin however averse to King Charles did at the same time congratulate the Queen his Mother upon the Hopes of her Sons Restauration since he was by the Death of that Tyrant delivered from his most implacable and successful Enemy The sudden Change in England followed by the Deposing of Richard and the Resurrection of the Rump and the other Innovations already mentioned which followed as they augmented the Hopes of the King at Home so they varied the Counsels of Princes abroad Which his Majesty applyed in as much as was possible to his own Use by Negotiations and Embassies But there being now a Treaty in Agitation betwixt France and Spain he would himself be present at it For if a Peace were concluded which was more than probable betwixt these great Princes it was but reasonable to suppose that they might spare some of their numerous Forces to assist an injured King their Ally by Blood and Common Interest And yet the King would rather reduce his Rebel-Subjects to Obedience by the Appearance of his Power than by the Use of his Forces In the mean time accompanied with the Duke of York his Brother and the Marquess of Ormond he hasted Incognito through France having saluted the Queen his Mother at Paris in his way to St. John De Luz where the Great Ministers of the Two Crowns were then in Treaty Don Louis de Haro upon Notice of the Kings Approach went to met and receive him Which he did alighting from his Horse and Embracing and kissing his Knees with as much Honour and Splendour as if he had been his Master the King of Spain The next Day his Majesty was visited by Cardinal Mazarin the other great Plenipotentiary who was
being husht up by the Treaty of Breda The Plague did devour our People no more its Poison being extinct And the City lately of Wood was now by the King's Munificence rebuilt of Brick and Stone When one Titus Oates who had had his Education and Orders in the Reformea Church of England being afterwards reconciled to that of Rome passed over first into Flanders and thence into Spain Where under pretence of Religion and his Zeal for it he gained so much Favour with the Priests and Jesuits that he had Opportunities as he pretended to penetrate into their most secret Councils This new Proselyte changing Parties again returned into England where he informs the King of a Design of the Papists against his Life against the Reformed Religion and the present Government And naming several Lords as Bellasis Powis Peters Arundel Castelmain Stafford and other Men of Quality as prime Conspirators in this Treason gained so much Credit with the Parliament that the accused were all imprisoned the Papists commanded to remove Ten Miles from the City and all of them to be cashier'd out of all Employments both Military and Civil The mysterious Death of Godfrey inflamed the Parliaments Credulity to Vote That there was a Plot execrable and Hellish as they termed it Insomuch as the King at their instant Desires past a Bill to disable all Popish Peers or other Members so affected to fit in either Houses of Parliament Offering further to comply with any Expedient they should propose for the Security of the Protestant Religion so as they tended not to impeach the Right of Succession Coleman Ireland Pickering Groves Fenwick Whitebread Langhorn Staley Green Berry and Hill condemned by the Testimony of Oates and others of his Associates solemnly attested their Innocence at their Death Nor did so great Effusion of Blood suffice to remove the Jealousies they had of the Papists so that the Houses of Parliament to whom the King had granted all things for the security of Religion not contented with these Concessions proceeded so far as to press the King to remove the Duke of York from his Presence and Councils To this they added the Imprisonment of his Secretary Williamson without his Knowledge Which did so far irritate his Majesty that he dissolved this Parliament after it had continued Seventeen Years Fanaticism which had lurk'd for some Time under a Protestant Mask and infused its Contagion into the Parliament began now under Pretence of Godliness to appear more openly The King having dissolved the Parliament as is said had summon'd another from which he hoped for more good than he had hitherto experimented And lest the Presence of his Brother might prove any Obstacle he commanded him to retire until the Heat of the Faction did a little cool Which he obeyed without Repugnancy that he might in no wise occasion any the least Dissension betwixt the King his Brother and the Parliament But the King's Indulgence and the Duke's Observance were equally valu'd Nor could all his Concessions with those Limitations not meddle with the Succession or his Prerogatives satisfy their Contumacy year 1679 Nay he had dismissed his Privy Council as being ill look'd upon by the Parliament surrogating others in their rooms not so obnoxious to the Faction making the Earl of Shaftsbury President But all this was to no purpose for the Parliament omitting those Things which they were to have treated of and postponing the King's Demands of Subsidies they again attacked the Duke of York absent then in Flanders the Commons voting his Exclusion from the Succession But the King seeing the contumacious Animosity of the Party and not obscurely perceiving that he himself was aimed at through the Duke's Sides July 10. Octob. 17. dissolving this present Parliament commanded another to convene in October following Whilst these things are in Agitation in England the Tumults in Scotland flew higher Dr. Sharp the Arch-bishop of St. Andrews was most inhumanly murthered in his Coach by a Party of the barbarous Covenanters Which done the Rebellion they designed was by the Concourse of those Multitudes that flockt together suddainly formed into a considerable Army consisting of Sixteen Hundred Horse and above Four Thousand Foot Nor were the Royallists less active the King having sent the Duke of Monmouth thither as General who joying with the Scots Nobility they raised such a Force that fighting the Rebels at Bothwel-Bridge chey defeated them The Slaughter was not great for the Enemies Horse not being prest or pursued by the Connivance if not Command of Monmouth for he himself had other Designs as it afterwards appeared retreated in a Body at least Twelve Miles from the Place they had fought in and separating there dispersed themselves some of the Foot being slain A few of the Prisoners were punished for their improsperous Treason After this the King fell sick of a Fever at Windsor which was so violent that the Physitians despaired of his Recovery Upon News whereof the Duke hastened from Brussels to Court But it seemed otherwise good to the Almighty who was pleased to prolong his Life until he could leave the Kingdom agitated at present with so many Distractions settled and composed to his Successor Being restored to his Health the Joy of it was celebrated by the Universality at least the Good Part of the Nation the City also sending their Lord Mayor and Aldermen with a great Train with Thirty Coaches and a Troop of a Hundred Horse for their Convoy to Windsor to congratulate his Hapyy Recovery But Monmouth however illegitimate blinded with Ambition and not content with those great Honours and Places he enjoyed aspired to the Crown it self inviting and alluring with the Baits of Employments and Rewards some of the most interested to his Party But this caballing was discovered to the King by the Earl of Oxford who abhorring the Treason preferr'd his Loyalty before all the Offers of Ambition and Greatness The King being justly incensed against the Ingratitude and Vanity of the Pretender divested him of all those Dignities and Offices which he enjoyed and banished him the Kingdom Moreover to prevent the Chymerical Delusions which the Report of his being married or contracted to the said Duke's Mother might occasion his Majesty by repeated Declarations publickly emitted as also by Writings under his own Hand declared Vpon the Faith of a Christian and the Word of a King that he never Married nor gave any Contract to any Woman whatsoever but to Queen Katharine his Wife This the King did with so much Solemnity to prevent the Peoples being abused by these false and malitious Reports and lest the Factious might thereby mislead them to disturb the Publick Peace or violate the Rights of Succession Whereby also the vain Pretences of Monmouth and the ridiculous Machinations of the Seditious might be disappointed The Parliament 1679. 1680. which the King had summoned to meet in October being delayed by several Motogatives did not come together before the October
That he had resigned what Right he could pretend to it by that very Concession which they urged with so much Violence that forgeting the Rules of Modesty the King was forced to Dissolve them and to punish some of the most Factious of that Seditious Convention But the Causes of these Heats must be further sought In the Reign of Queen Mary a great Number of People withdrew themselves out of England whereof many Some pretended Causes of Sedition infected with the Discipline of Geneva upon Queen Elizabeth's Assumption to the Crown returning brought that uneasie Preciseness with them which suddenly grew to that height by the Carlessness or Pusillanimity of the Magistrates under King James that it did not only insinuate it self under the veil of Piety amongst the People but even into the Court and Parliaments where joining it self to those of Anti-Monarchic Principles it endeavoured to diminish the Prerogative and subject the King to those Necessities which might force him to unusual Ways of supplying them Which also happened for being pressed by the indispensible Exigence of his Affairs and perceiving no hopes of Subsidies from Parliaments he began to have an Aversion for them so Constituted and search for Refuge in his Prerogative And yet he had so much Reverence for the Laws that he would act nothing contrary to them as appears in Ship-Money which Tax however it were imposed to vindicate the Honour of the Sea against Pyrates and our Potent Neighbours he would not exact it till it was adjudged to him by all the Judges of Westminster and that under their Hands But the Common People despising the Moderation of their Prince and instigated by those who desired a Change crying out That their Laws and Liberties were endangered mutinied attributing all the Errors and Misfortunes in the Government for the Undertakings Abroad had not been very successful to his Counsellors that they might transversly smite him and blast his Reputation To this the exuberant Power of the Clergy that pretended Exemption from the Jurisdiction of the Laicks did not please The unusual Introduction of Ceremonies as they cried out and the placing of the Communion-Table at the East-End of the Church with the more severe Imposition of Rites however indifferent except in the Command did trouble them and were the occasion of very great Tumults in many Parishes But nothing did equally move their Choler and Pity as the Punishment of some Seditious Scriblers against Ceremonies and the Bishops their Authors by Incarceration and cutting off their Ears who however Guilty and deserving what the Rigour of Justice could inflict were yet thought to be hardly dealt with considering the serene Tranquillity of those Halcion Days And truly Peace and its Concomitant Plenty flourish'd amongst us to the Envy of our Neighbours continuing to the Fourth Lustre of the King's Reign The Flourishing Condition of the Nation which might have been perpetual being inexpugnable from Abroad if it had not been destroyed by the more than Civil Rage of our Mischievous Dissenters Nothing seemed wanting to our Felicity before it was disturbed by these nefarious Tumults and our People if they could have seen their own Happiness were considering the inexhaustible affluence of all Things the Liberty of Commerce and the free Enjoyment of what they had acquired the happiest of any Subjects under any known Government in the World But our Luxury encreasing with our Abundance we grew wanton and fell into such a Surfeit that nothing but a violent Bleeding could effect a Cure The true Cause of these Evils had its Rise from the noxious Indulgence of our Physicians who neglecting to stifle the Factious Humours of the Puritans in their Infancy gave such force and boldness to this Contagion that it unhappily Infected the whole Body Politick to the Ruine of Hierarchy the best of Spiritual and Monarchy the best of Temporal Governments 'T is scarce conceivable that there were found any in so happy a State that should seem to desire a Change And yet such there were amongst which Who they were who desired a Change the chief Ring-leaders were the Presbyterians who had their Missionaries and Lecturers in all the Quarters of the Kingdom and those swarms of Sectaries their Brood who contended for an equal Liberty in Civil as well as Sacred Things The Catholicks wished for the Dominion of Rome in Spirituals But the Gentry and Lesser Nobility which composed the House of Commons out of Contemplation of their own Greatness whilst they sate there preferred Democracy before all other In the mean time this disguised Impiety grew up under the plausible pretence of Sanctity seducing the Vulgar with a Shew of Religion into a Reverence of it It is not imaginable how far this Sacred Novelty prevailed by the seditious Fury of its Preachers and their uncontrouled railing against the received Rites of the Church and the lawful Power of the King It had bewitch'd the Town the Country and Private Families into an Opinion of it nor were the great Representatives of the Kingdom exempted from its Contagion which the King had abundantly Experimented in all the Parliaments he had summoned For in them the Novellists and Democraticks pretending the Liberty and Defence of Religion against the Designs of the Court and Popery oppressed the Prerogative to advance their own endeavouring to raise the Authority of the People whose Vicegerents they were upon the Ruines of the King To this they branded with the Odious Title of Papists all that opposed them by which means they deceived the People who are still the more addicted to their Superiors by how much they observe them the more Zealous for the Advancement of Religion And truly the depravedness of the Age was so great that whatever was said in behalf of the King and his Ministers against Popery had no Credit but on the contrary whatever was affirmed to perswade the People that the Court did Favour Superstition was greedily swallowed down without any regard to Reasons of State which sometimes obliged to a Compliance with the Desires of Foreign Princes and Embassadors But the true Source of our Miseries came from Scotland this Embryo of Rebellion gathering Strength from Foreigners upon this Occasion The Nobility in the Infancy of King JAMES had by the Connivance of Murrey the Governour The Scots Tumults usurped the Lands and Possessions belonging to the Cathedrals and Monasteries of that Kingdom which they also enjoyed untill King Charles pressed with foreign Wars and but ill supplied from Scotland resolved by the Advice of his Council there to reunite the said Possessions to the Crown again which he did by an Act of Revocation with a Commission of Surrend'ries of Superiorities and Tithes But those Nobles resolved to turn all upside down rather than part with their Usurpations and be deprived of the Vassalage of the Ministers and Land-owners And so conspiring against the King himself designed to oppose his Authority both Sacred and Civil in the next
Parliament he should call Moreover there were some other Malecontents who by reason of their Disaffection had been denied such Titles and Honours as they pretended to at his Majesties Coronation who all joyned together and because there are no Pretences more specious than those of Religion nor more charming Bates to ensnare the Vulgar it was thought most proper to be insisted on Nor was it long before the Depravedness of the times furnished them with Opportunities to manifest their Resentments The pious King was pleased to send the Liturgy and Book of Common-Prayers signed with the Blood of the first Reformers of our Church The King sends the Liturgy into Scotland to the Kirk of Scotland for he desired to unite in the same Opinion in Spirituals those People who were subject to the same Empire in Temporals King JAMES had formerly proposed the same thing to his Countrymen at Aberdeen who willingly assented to it and having framed it there and adapted it to the Church of Scotland it was sent into England where it lay till by the Advice of the Privy Council at Edenburgh and perswasion of some others nearer him though very unseasonably his Majesty returned it to them with Command to have it used in all the Churches and Chapels of Scotland This Advice however laudable was ill timed for the growing Factions took thence an Occasion to rebel and 't is scarce credible with what contumacious Fury the Presbyterians who would sooner sin against Religion its self than its Rites did oppose it crying out that the King introduced Superstition and prophane Forms of Worship into the Church Rumours were also spread abroad by the dissatisfied Nobles before-mentioned who abhorred nothing equal with the Restitution of what they had usurped as also by others of the Cabal who longed for a Change of reducing Scotland into a Province So that the People thinking their Civil as well as Sacred Liberty were in danger became obnoxious to the Artifices of every Faction And this occasioned the Sedition of Edenburgh and the zealous Madness of the Rabble against the Liturgy The Sedition of Edenburgh Jul. 23. 1637. The Dean that officiated as also the Bishop who should have preached had much to do to escape with their Lives their wild Auditors throwing their Books Stools and whatever else their Fury could seize on at their Heads Nor did they stick here for the prime Conspirators who had thus infatuated the lowest of the People and incensed them against the Liturgy engaged them also the better sort now consorting with them in a Covenant under pretext of vindicating their Religion to abolish it and gaping after the Church-Revenues to extirpate the Hierarchy of Bishops Moreover they took up Arms being instigated thereto by the Puritans of England whom they had cajoled with a Declaration as they call'd it to vindicate their Actions and Intentions and renouncing their Duty and Allegiance they seized upon the King's Castles and Revenues for their Use and Support in the War Having raised an Army but distrusting their own Strength they courted Assistance from the French and writing an humble Letter to Lewis XIII of that Name implored the Assistance of a foreign Prince The Scots implore Assistance from the French King Car. Richlieu against their own whom they had so cruelly offended And thus a great Mystery was discovered teaching the World how to extirpate the Religion of Rome by consulting with a Roman Cardinal and by joining Forces with a Catholick Monarch The King had sent Duke Hamilton to allay these Troubles but he acted so remissly that he seemed rather to encourage than suppress their fury which is no wonder if what is reported of him be true that their first Motions had been secretly directed by his Counsels The King therefore incited by the Insolence of his Subjects resolved Mar. 27-1639 The King marches towards Scotland seeing his clemency was neglected to chastise them by force and raising a great Army marches towards Scotland But there was nothing performed in this Expedition worthy such extraordinary Preparations For many both of the Nobility and Gentry would hardly be perswaded to invade Scotland which likewise cooled the Soldiers Nor is it to be wondered at since their chief Officers as Essex who was Lieutenant-General and Holland General of the Horse with others proved afterwards to be the prime Heads of the Rebellion in England They had forgot the Animosities of old betwixt these Neighbour-Nations fearing as had been suggested to them That Scotland being conquered the Forces that served to subdue it might in process of Time be made use of to enslave England But the remoteness of this Project renders it very Chimerical However the King warned by the Perfidy of his own Men Makes Peace was necessitated to consent to a Peace with the Rebels upon no equal Terms Which he the rather did as being sensible That nothing can happen more pernicious to a Prince than Civil Discord But the Scots quickly violated the Peace they had procured for they did not disband according to the Articles of the Treaty but kept all their Officers in pay Neither did they demolish the Fortifications of Leith as they should have done but adding Infidelity to their Rebellion did also publish a Libel entituled Conditions of his Majesty's Treaty with his Subjects of Scotland which for its Falseness by inserting Articles never assented to was burnt by the hands of the Common Hangman The Scots break it and invade England High with their late Success and looking upon the King's Indulgence as an Argument of his Easiness not his Goodness being also instigated to it by the English Puritans they arm a Second Time and sleighting the Sanctions of the Treaty rush into England and unexpectedly possess the Towns of New-Castle and Durham They had sent their Declaration before them intimating That what they undertook was for the Glory of God and that their Arms were onely Defensive and not intended against England but against the Canterbury Faction and to endeavour to unite both Nations in one as to Religion The King seeing his Clemency abused and his Authority prostituted by the Rebels in Scotland and to repress the Insolency of his Subjects who had by Leagues Oaths and the Seisure of his Castles and Forts and the like conspired against him and also that the Decrees of Parliament might not be rescinded by those of the Assembly nor the Three States be mutilated by the abolishing of Episcopacy seriously resolved to vindicate his offended Majesty and reduce his so often Rebelling Subjects to their Duty again The Little Parliament He therefore summon'd a Parliament to meet at London which he had deferred for some Years past to give those boisterous Spirits leasure to cool And now he acquaints them with the Invasion of the Scots and their Indignities towards him and very earnestly demands Moneys of them to carry on the War assuring them that if they would liberally comply with his
and threw Pieces of Pipes as he walked along at his Feet And lest he might not be like his Saviour in his Sufferings he was mocked and had his Reverend Countenance defiled with Spittle which he wiped off with no other Reproaches than That Christ had suffered more for his sake He spent the Rest of his Time in preparing himself for his Last Hour however disturbed with the Questions Cavils Scoffings and Petulancy of the Enthusiastick Souldiers All which he either repressed by Arguments or eluded by neglecting them Nor did he say any thing however provoked by Arrogancies unusual to Princes or unworthy his former Magnanimity Dr. Juxton the Reverend Bishop of London was at length admitted to wait upon the King to whom by reason of his Holiness of Life and the Consolation he brought him he was exceedingly welcome But coming later than he was expected the King said to him That you are not come sooner is I know none of your Fault and now seeing these Rogues will shed my Blood you and I must consider how I may best part with it The Faction had offered some of their own Fanatick Levites whom the King had rejected as miserable Comforters He would not pray with them who had always pray'd against him but they might pray for him if they pleased Having then the Benefit of his own Chaplain he prepared himself for Death so well that he overcame the Terrors of it before it appeared Amongst these Preludes of Death some of the Prime Officers of the Army came to the King offering him certain Propositions with Promise of Life and some Shadow of Royalty if he would sign them Of these one was That the Army consisting of Forty Thousand Men should be perpetuated under the Present General and Officers and that the Council of War should be impow'red to supply Vacancies from time to time He rejects the Souldiers impious Propositions tho' to save his Life as occasion should happen and settle Taxes for the Pay of the Army to be levied by the Souldiers c. But the King having read some of these Tyrannous Proposals threw them away with much Indignation saying That he would rather become a Sacrifice for his People than thus betray their Laws Liberties Lives and Estates with the Church the Common wealth and Honour of the Crown to so intolerable a Bondage of an Armed Faction Preferring with his usual Greatness of Mind a Glorious Cross before an ignominious Life Nor did he only prefer the Public Good before his own Particular but would not expose private Friends to inevitable Danger to save himself Which abundantly appeared at his being at Bagshot where when the Lord Newburg and his Noble Lady had demonstrated to His Majesty Means whereby he might elude his bloody Keepers who led him to the Slaughter His Children come to him His instructions to thâ—m he waved their Proposals saying If I should escape they would cut you to Pieces It was some Solace to the King in his Streights that his Children were permitted to see him The Lady Elizabeth and the Duke of Gloucester very Young were only left in the Power of the Faction the Duke of York having as is already mentioned escaped their Bloody Hands To these Princes of rare Endowments and Hopes the King gave in Charge That they should consider Charles not as their Brother but as their King That they should forgive their Enemies Love one another and all of them be Obedient to their Mother He told them also what * Hooker 's Eccl. Pol. Bish Andr. Sermons Laud against Fisher Books they should read to confirm them in their Religion and giving them his Blessing dismissed them in a Deluge of Tears The Prince Elector and the Duke of Richmond had also obtained Permission to visit the King though His Majesty now intent only upon his Meditations would not admit them how dear soever to him And now the Fatal Day the 30th of January being come the King being guarded from St. James's through the Park on Foot he spake to the Souldiers to go faster saving That he now went before them to strive for a Heavenly Crown with less solicitude The King prepares for his End than he had often encouraged his Souldiers to Fight for an Earthly Diadem Being come to White-Hall he spent most of his time there in his Devotions And having received the Blessed Communion he was much raised by the reading of the History of the Passion of our Saviour described by the Evangelist St. Mathew and more particularly when he knew it was not done upon Design but prescribed by the Rubrick for the Service of the Day Being brought through the Banquetting-House to the Stage covered with Black the Block the Axe and the masqued Executioners presented themselves to his Sight Which did not so much dismay his Heart fortified with Innocence and Piety but that his Care for the Living seemed no less than his Solicitude for Dying He therefore lest he might seem to submit to the Guilt as well as the Punishment in Vindication of his Innocency demonstrated That it was not He but the Two-Houses that began the War He acknowledges God 's Justice in punishing one Unjust Sentence with another He not only forgiveth his most bitter Enemies but prayes also that God will Pardon them Being solicitous for Peace he warns them not to seek it by Conquest but to give God the King and People their due God by setling the Church the King according to Law and the People by such a Government whereby their Lives and Goods might be most their own Finally he told them He dyed the Peoples Martyr and a Christian according to the Profession of the Church of England After some short Prayers he submitted his Head to the Axe an unheard of and surprizing Example of Human Fragility It is wonderful with how much Constancy and Christian Fortitude He his Murthered he laid down his Head used to wear Crowns and with what Meekness who by all Laws Divine and Human was exempt from the Penalties of any Perhaps insulting in that he was to change this Earthly Crown however splendid yet heavy for that of Immortal Glory As he seemed to intimate in that prophetick Anagram composed by himself the Day preceding his Martyrdom CAROLUS REX Cras ero Lux. And truly as there was never any Parricide except that of our Saviour so detestable as this so never any Man was equally lamented as this best of Princes No Sex nor Age nor Order of Men was found that did not mourn this universal Loss Children how little soever sensible of the Public dissolved in Tears could hardly be appeased Those who were more advanced in Years could scarce bear their Sorrow Whilst the Weaker not able to support their Grief as Thunder-struck sunk under it And Breeding-Women laboured with Untimely Births and like her who when the Glory was departed from Israel would admit of no Consolation And truly not only his own Subjects but
Prince of Wales made an Act prohibiting the proclaiming of the Prince of Wales without consent of Parliament and that under pain of High Treason This Decree being dispatched by swift Messengers into all Counties the High Sheriffs had likewise Orders sent them to see the same publisht with all Expedition which was likewise done Their next care was to disable the Secluded Members from being admitted to sit for the future which was performed by voting them quite out of the House as desiring no more sharers in their Oligarchy The House of Lords came next under consideration These had sent a Message to the Commons for a Committee to settle the Kingdom which upon no great Debate was refused Admittance They abolish the House of Lords and a Vote pass'd that the House of Peers in Parliament is useless and dangerous and ought to be abolished and consequently was laid aside being the less pittyed because they had so unnaturally abandoned their Sovereign Only they had this Comfort left that they might sit in the Lower House if they had the luck to be elected which some did as Pembrooke Salisbury Escreek This is in no wise mentioned to reflect upon those honoured Peers who attended the King in all his Fortunes those we honour for their eminent Courage and Loyalty but upon that hated Juncto that continued their Session even to this Moment And yet they will not separate without a Protestation against these Tyrannical Proceedings of the Commoners affirming And Monarchical Government their Treason and Insolencies exceeded those of the Malignants that is the Loyal Party And now the Kingly Government was likewise abolished under pretence that it was chargeable useless and dangerous And that Monarchy which had continued from the Beginning of Times changed into a detestable and many-headed Tyranny under the Chymerical Title of a Free State This being done the Pseudo-Parliament for they still abused the reverend Title of Parliament by assurning it as most grateful to the People to ease themselves of part of the Government choose a Councel of State upon which they transfer the Execution Part of the same Choose a Council of State These were Forty in Number chief Officers of the Army and other principal Sticklers of the party sufficiently infamous in their own Persons tho they had not chosen that execrable Parricide Bradshaw for their President whom they also gratify with the Donation of 2000 l. per Annum The City seemed all this while uneasie which put our Usurpers upon diminishing their Greatness which they did Reynoldson the Lord Mayor had refused to publish their Act for abolishing Monarchy which enraged them to that Height that they cast him into the Tower fine him 2000 l. and also put him from his Employment electing Alderman Andrews Displace and fine the Lord Mayor for refusing to proclaim the Act for abolishing Kingly Government one of the Regicides in his place They further empower any Ten of the Common Council which was modelled to their Design by new choice of young needy enthusiastick Fellows in stead of the grave and wealthy Citizens whom they had elected to convent this City-Senate where they pleased tho the Lord Mayor should not consent to it But as they had displeased some they would content others especially the Populace which they did by rescinding the old Laws against Heresy and Schism which opening a vast Door to Libertinism procured them very many Proselytes Abrogate Laws against Schism and Hereâ—y This Religious Indulgence in opinions strangely distracted the Common-wealth insomuch that they burst out into infinite Errors and Schisms being mainly animated by the Hystrionick preaching of their Itinerant Teachers industriously displaying the Doctrine of the Democraticks and holding forth a Liberty in Holy Things But upon more serious consideration lest these Concessions of Liberty might terminate in Confusion it was thought fit at least seemingly to countenance Presbytery as most popular but with a strict inhibition For these busy Ministers were curbed by an Act wherein according to the method of the Low Countries they were forbid under severe Penalties to meddle with any Affairs of State They moreover endeavour Allow of Presbytery to draw these Dissenters to their Fold promising generally to all their Preachers Settlements out of the Kings Revenue Nay further they tell these that differing from the King in Civil Interest puts them at a greater Distance from him than any Contests about Religion could do They add that the Presbyterians first raised War against him subdued him and delivered him to the Independants to be put to Death That his Successor therefore would consider them as equally noxious and criminal and therefore insinuate that they ought in Prudence for their own preservation to joyn with them in their common Defence Declare they will maintain he Fundamental Laws However they will flatter the People by declaring that they were fully resolved to maintain the Fundamental Laws of the Nation as to the preservation of the Lives Liberties and Properties of the Subject saving those Alterations concerning the King and House of Lords already made And yet at this very time they levyed Taxes by Souldiers permitting them free Quarters and contrary to all Laws erect a pretended High Court of Justice with the same bloody President But erect a High Court of Justice who being gorged with Royal Blood would not stick at any other Sacrifice how Sanguineous soever And now as they had subverted Monarchy the most excellent Form of Government by murthering their Prince so they will lay the Foundation of their new Republick in the Blood of his Nobles Hamilton Holland and Capel condemned and murthered by iâ— Duke Hamilton by the Title of Earl of Cambridge was the first that ascended this Fatal Tribunal of whom it was doubted whether his Ambition or Infidelity were greater The Earl of Holland the most ungrateful of Men followed him yet both deserving our Sentiments of Pity in this that when they would have been good they could not Both had pleaded Quarter but in vain tho Hamilton had offered vast Sums for his Ransom and Holland urged the many Sâ—â—vices he had formerly done for the Parliament The generous Lord Capell was the third in this Scene of Blood involved in the same Fate with the other but lamented with more real Sorrow because of his eminent Loyalty and Vertues He had not been wanting in his defence with those unmerciful Judges who had already resolved his Death chiefly insisting upon the Quarter given at Colchester but to no purpose Fairfax then in Court no less impiously than unsouldierly interpreting that the said Quarter regarded only the Military not the Civil Power His Colleagues had argued much in extenuation of the Crimes objected against them But he being brought to the Scaffold behaving himself with a most Christian Bravery looking upon the People with Assurance told them amongst other Things That he was brought thither for obeying the Fifth Commandment written by
Capell condemned by it and murthered Several Acts of State The Scots proclaim Charles II. Some Actions of the Levellers The King leaves Holland and goes by Brussels into France The Duke of Gloucester banished Continuance of the History of Ireland The King at Jersey Prince Rupert Sails from Kinsale to Portugal Loseth his Brother Prince Maurice by a Hurrycane The King at Breda Treats and Concludes with the Scots Montrosse's unfortunate End Fairfax routed and Cromwell General His Actions in Scotland The Scots barbarous Vsage of the King They are defeated at Dunbar The King crowned at Schone He enters England The Battle of Worcester The King 's miraculous Escape 109 110. BOOK II. Cromwell enters London Triumphantly Continuation of the Irish Affairs Ormond leaves Ireland and Clanrickard his Deputy there Ireton dyes of the Plague Monk takes Sterling Dundee and Subjugates Scotland The Isles of Scilly Barbadoes Garnsey Jersey and that of Man surrendered to the Regicides Their Greatness They are courted by the Neighbouring Kings and States They send a solemn Embassy into Holland Cromwell Cabals Turns out the Mock-Parliament Chooses another Is chosen Protector The Wars with the United Provinces The various Sea-Fights betwixt the Two States Cromwell makes a Peace with them and a League with France The Expedition of San Domingo and Jamaica Blake's success at Tunis and Santa Cruz. Dunkirk taken The Death of Oliver Cromwell His Character 249. BOOK III. Richard succeeds his Father in the Protectorate He is deposed by the Army The Rump restored Lambert defeats Sir George Booth Montague returns with the Fleet out of Denmark Lambert turns out the Rump Monk dissents and declares for the Rump Lambert marches against him Being deluded by Treaties he is deserted by his Army The Committee of Safety routed and the Rump yet again restored Monk marches to London Readmits the Secluded Members The Parliament dissolv'd by its own Act. An Abstract of the King's Actions and Motions abroad He is proclaimed by the Parliament Returns into England His glorious Reception The End of our Troubles 278. PART III. BOOK I. The REBELLION breaks into new Flames Some Millenaries secur'd Venner's Insurrection and End The Presbyterians stickle for new Elections Several Seditious Tumults detected and punished The Plague consumes the People The Conflagration of the City Tumults in Scotland Oate's Plot. The Parliament insist upon removing the Duke from the King's Presence and Councils It is dissolved Another Parliament call'd The Duke retires from Court A new Council chosen The Parliament refuse the King Money and insist upon the Bill of Exclusion It is also dissolved another being Summon'd A new Rebellion in Scotland The Arch-bishop of St. Andrew's inhumanly butchered The Rebels are defeated at Bothwel-Bridge The King sick He recovers The Duke returns to Court Monmouth Cabals and is outed of his Employments The Lord Stafford beheaded The Parliament dissolv'd and succeeded by another at Oxford which is likewise dismiss'd College is hang'd and Shaftsbury try'd The strange Encrease of the Fanaticks Their Insolence and Power in the City They form a Conspiracy The Council of Six The Plot to Murther the King and Duke The Providential Fire at New-Market Keeling discovers the Conspiracy Russel and Sidney are executed Monmouth absconds but upon his Submission is pardoned He again transgresses and is banished The King dyes of an Apoplexy The Duke succeeds 312. BOOK II. The Rebellion breaks out in Scotland under Argile in England under Monmouth Both are vanquished taken and executed The Final Ruin and End of the Rebellion 336. COMMENTARIES ON THE REBELLION OF England Scotland and Ireland PART I. BOOK I. The Vnion of the Kingdoms of Great Britain The State of Affairs in England The Scots Tumults and their Causes They Rebel and Arm. The King Marches against them but concludes a Peace They break it and enter England with an Army The Little Parliament call'd and dissolved The Treaty at Rippon referred to the Parliament which met in November 1640. The Preludes to their ensuing Rebellion Strafford Impeach'd and Beheaded The Fatal Act of Continuance The Scots dismissed The King follows them into Scotland The Irish Rebellion breaks out The King upon his Return is pompously received by the Londoners The King enters the House of Commons The Bishops accused of High Treason The King forced by Tumults retreats Northward Contests about the Militia His Majesty is repulsed at Hull THE Kingdoms of Great Britain being United under the Dominion of one Prince and the Animosities and Emulations which usually disorder Neighbour-Nations thereby removed gave a sudden Rise to a very great and formidable Power which could not be destroyed but by it self The Moderator of this vast Empire was JAMES VI. King of Scotland and First Monarch of Great Britain undoubted Heir to both as well by Right of Succession from Margaret the only Daughter of Edgar Atheling the last of the Saxon Princes as by that of Force derived to him from the Norman Conqueror This Wise and Learned Prince Charles I. succeeds to the Crown being gathered to his Fathers the loss which his Dominions suffered by it however great was abundantly repaired by the Succession of his Son CHARLES who being truly Heir to his Father's Greatness and Vertues as well as Scepters did excel all his Predecessors in the more severe Disquisition of what was Fit and Just so that our Tragedies will scarce find Credit with Posterity whilst the Ages to come mistrusting the Reports of such enormous Villainies will look upon our unheard-of Vicissitudes but as the Fancies of Poetry and the Decoration of Theatres For how is it possible to believe that the Best of Princes should meet with the Worst of Subjects on whom he had conferred more Graces than the whole Series of his Ancestors and that he who valued his Kingdoms and Life at a lower Rate than the Happiness of his People should by a Judicial Parricide be sacrificed to the ambitious Violence of a prevailing Faction in their Representative and that under the pretence of Usurpation and Tyranny But these things happened an everlasting Reproach to the Nation and not to be atoned for by any Resentment or Hecatombs of Victims King James left a flourishing Kingdom behind him but an empty Treasury and his Successor engaged in a War with Spain and what was worse the Parliament that oblig'd the Father to Arm abandoned the Son when they had exposed him Nor were the succeeding Parliaments more Obsequious or forward in supplying his Necessities how great soever either in recovering the Palatinate or rescuing the French Protestants though undertaken in Defence of the Reformed Religion 'T is true his Third Parliament voted him Five Subsidies but we must own also The Petition of Right that the Petition of Right being a Condescension even to Supererogation deserv'd their best Acknowledgements for raised with that Grant they that very Session questioned the Tribute of Tonnage and Poundage though perpetually enjoyed by his Predecessors Kings of England affirming
Command of Essex pretending Danger from I know not what Ambushes and Conspiracies But the King though he shewed the Vanity of these imaginary Terrors and offered his own Person Bayl for their Security was not heard Nay he offered them Two Hundred of the City Militia under the Command of the Lord Chamberlain whose Province it was to take care of the Parliament which they rejected ordering Two Companies under Skippon a Slave to the Faction to attend them whilst an infinite Number of the enraged Rabble as it were assaulting Whitehall and Westminster crying No Bishop Down with Antichrist c. forced the King's Friends who would have entered the House to retire And these Fellows being for the most part such whose Domestick Affairs were either inconsiderable or desperate and consequently as usual most busie and most concerned for the Publick exclude and force away the Bishops knowing them to be immoveable in their Loyalty and Obedience to the King and Government Twelve Bishops committed to the Tower And when this Sacred Order had protested against this Violence the Houses enraged at it sent Twelve of them whom they had voted Guilty of High-Treason to the Tower whereby they secured themselves from their Votes destroying afterwards as much as in them lay their very Function Nor did these Miscreants forbear to vomit their Gall against the Sacred Person of the King himself by villainous and licentious Speeches some of them crying out That he was the Traytor others That the Young Prince would govern better and a prime Leader yell'd out That the King was not fit to live Insomuch that his Majesty perceiving their unbridled Rage which was cherished by those Sons of Violence in the Houses and having though in vain attempted all ways to appease their Fury he removed with his Queen and Children to Hampton-Court After some Stay there his Majesty and the Queen went to Dover with the Princess Mary married some Time since to the Prince of Orange from whence the Queen passed into Holland The Queen goes to Holland under Pretext of conveying her Daughter to her Husband but truly to secure her Person which was not meanly threatned upon Account of her Religion and Conjugal Affection At Canterbury being every where importuned by Messages from the Parliament he was perswaded though much against his Will to Sign a Bill for taking away the Bishops Votes in Parliament But no Concession could satisfie Unreasonable Men insomuch that his Majesty being returned to Greenwich he went thence with the Prince and Duke of York to Theobalds and so Northwards This Conduct as it happened proved Fatal to the King And some prudent Men did then wonder that his Majesty would leave the City the Seat of his Kingdom which had been also that of his Predecessors filled with Multitudes of his Friends abounding in Riches and all Military Provisions and the only proper place both for Peace and War The King leaves Whitehall and withdraw himself into the Country where all these Advantages were wanting But the Terrors wherewith his Followers and particularly the Royal Family were agitated and the Apprehensions his Majesty had entertained upon their Account as also the Hopes that these Animosities and Heats in the Lower House might cool in Time seem to excuse his Retreat Nor was the King so abandoned by his People but that many honest and brave Men as well of their own Accord as very many more by Gurney the Lord Mayor's Procurement mingled themselves with the Rabble with design to defend the King 's Sacred Person from the Insults and Violence of the Crowd if they should presume to attempt any thing against him Nay the whole Society of Grays-Inn which shewed That the Law as well as Reason was for him coming to Whitehall in order offered themselves to guard his Majesty which seasonable profession of Duty drew from the King both his Acknowledgements and Thanks though he otherwise waved the offer supposing those popular Heats and Insurrections might be best allayed by removing and yielding and lest also he might be thought to meditate a War But the Parliament to add Credit at least Colour to the Terrors they had imbued the People with gave Power to the Sheriffs and Justices of Peace in the Counties to suppress all seditious and suspected Assemblies and seize upon all Arms and Instruments of War and secure the same Amongst other terrible Triflings it was affirmed That the Lord Digby and Colonel Lunsford had appeared in Arms at Kingstone with great Numbers though their Cavalry amounted but to a hired Coach with Six Horses which they ordered to be suppressed and the Colonel was taken and sent to the Tower After this they follow the King to Royston with an insolent Petition and goes Northward wherein they demanded the Tower the Fortresses and Militia of the Kingdom to be delivered to them But these being inseparable Flowers of the Crown were not to be parted with to any and his Majesty being again pressed to it continued immoveable telling them in short That their Fears and Doubts and Jealousies which he looked upon as wild and irregular were such as he would take time to satisfie the World of but that his own were not trivial occasioned by the many scandalous Pamphlets seditious Sermons sundry publick Tumults hitherto uninquired into and unpunished But the Faction seeing the Constancy of the King formed a Declaration wherein after a nauseous Enumeration of Grievances Fears and Jealousies they again peremptorily demand the disposal of the Militia and being again refused resolved to extort it from their King with all their Force Nor was it absurd in them for being conscious of their Crimes and Deserts they could not imagine how to secure themselves from the Punishment due to their Guilt but by asserting the Power of the Sword in their own Hands They therefore passed their Ordinance for the Militia though with solemn protesting That they had not the least Intention or Purpose of any War with the King but how falsly which made it swallowed the easier They then seized upon the Fleet The Parliament arm and the King is excluded at Hull appointing the Earl of Warwick their Admiral and possessed themselves of Hull lest the King should secure the Magazine there by whose Governour his Majesty when he would have entered the Town was shut out by an unheard-of Insolence and manifest Disobedience And this is that Hotham the unhappy Monument of improsperous Infidelity who falling from one Inconstancy to another suffered at length Punishment together with his Eldest Son who to aggravate his Misery was executed before him due to so flagitious a Crime being beheaded by those for whose Sake he had so desperately rebelled The Dye of War being thus cast at Hull the Parties flew out into open Action but lest they should not pretend Justice the Cause was defended on both Sides with Declarations Apologies and other publick Writings which because they are extant I will only add That
certain of Impunity But the King resolved at length to stem this growing Evil. Which he did by restoring the Free Election of the Sheriffs according to the antient Custom and taking the Forfeiture of the City-Charter adjudged so by Law into his own Hands These means however proper for the Common-wealth had like to have destroyed both For when so many Criminals and Wicked-doers saw the Magistrates especially the Sheriffs changed and honest Men put into their Places and considering that there was no Evasion from the Law under pretence of it they resolve upon a high Attempt and worthy their Hellish Conspiracy which was to subvert the King and Kingdom and involve them in the same Ruin Shaftsbury being conscious of his Guilt and not ignorant of the Injustice of the Sentence by which he escaped terrified with the unexpected Change and seeing himself obnoxious to that Justice which he had frustrated and eluded moved with the greater Precipitation he terrifies his Associates with the Greatness of the Danger encourages some to rise others to Parricide resolving to hazard all rather than tamely betray himself into the Hands of his Enemies He therefore exhorts his Companions To vindicate their Liberty Property Religion the old Cant still against Popery Tyranny Superstition Idolatry Oppression Murther and the other growing Evils of Servitude With these kind of Orations they incense the furious So that what they could not effect by Fraud and pretended Sanctity they resolve to compass by the way of Arms. To this End they advise about raising of Forces But Shaftsbury thinking they moved not swiftly enough in it impatient of every Delay and fearing for every Noise alarm'd him of being intercepted as he had already withdrawn himself from his own Dwelling exagitated with his own Guilt he fled the Kingdom and retreated into Holland Where this most torbulent of Men being neglected found that Repose in Death which the impetuous Desire of Ruling had deprived him of here The Conspirators however troubled at the loss of so eminent a Patron and not ignorant that they were advanced beyond a Retreat constitute a Supream Council of Six to manage their Affairs Besides this they had another more Inferiour Court who consulted how to remove the King and the Duke by Assassination or otherwise and to solicite the Revolt of the Commonalty in Order to a War which they resolve to carry on against the King and the Common-wealth The Scots under the Conduct of Arguile were invited to joyn and act in this nefarious Rebellion Who had also their Commissioners at London who together with the English Conspirators should move by consent And it was concerted amongst them that they should break out into open Hostility in both Kingdoms at the same Time They resolve to secure London the Head of their Design by the same Methods it had been circumvented in the former Rebellion They further divide the City into Twenty Parts which they distributed under the Conduct of so many Commanders Some were to seize the Tower and the principal Posts in the City others White-hall and particularly the Guards which were to be surprized and cut off They had a Hundred of Cromwell's Officers at hand ready to head the People upon their Insurrection being abundantly provided with Money and Arms by voluntary Contributions from the Chiefs of their Party The Country was no less addicted to them especially those Parts which Monmouth who was returned from his Banishment without Permission had visited in his Progresses Whilst they thus prepare for War the Design to Murther the King and Duke kept pace with them Hone another Godly Joyner proposed to have them shot from Bow steeple as they passed with Cross-Bows Rumbald the Maltster would have the Play-House blown up with Gun-powder when they were present declaring further That he he had laid a Design Ten Years ago to have slain them as they returned from New-Market if they had not by accident taken another way whereby they escaped the Danger Some designed to attempt them as they walked in St. James's Park which they frequently did with no great Train Some fancied it easie to sink them in the River when they took the Air by Water in their Barge by shocking them with a greater Vessel There were again others who would have them pistol'd in the Play-House whilst intent upon the Comedy or kill'd as they came thence along Bedford-wall Other places betwixt Windsor and Hampton-Court about Winchester and Red-Lyon Fields if they should come there were judged proper enough for this black Parricide But these all as subject to too much Hazard and Danger were laid aside upon mature Deliberation of the more convenient Situation of the Rye a House belonging to the aforesaid Rumbald seated in the Way to New-Market Eighteen Miles from London in the County of Hartford This Place being Moated about and the Passage near it narrow and strongly fenced and wall'd was judged the most proper of any for the Purpose Rumbald himself the Designer of this Wickedness offering in Person to undertake it with Forty more Associates and at once to destroy both the Royal Brothers Which he had probably effected if God the Protector of Kings had not wrought a Miracle in their Favour The Conspirators full of Hopes and Assurance seemed in nowise to question the Success of their so well laid Enterprize when the Divine Providence disappointed in a moment all their Contrivances and Plots by a Fire undoubtedly sent from Heaven which burnt a great part of New-Market The Conflagration was so terrible that the Flames of it approaching the King's Pallace forced him thence to another part of the Town further off Where by reason of the Commodiousness of his Lodgings he proposed to pass some days more in Hunting and the other usual Diversions of the Place But he had no sooner resolved it but the Wind conducted by some Invisible Agent suddenly changing fills his new Lodgings in a moment with Smoke and Cynders Which obliged the King seeing no other convenience for his Reception to declare That he would immediately return to White hall which he also did before he was expected or that the Conspirators Preparations were in a Readiness The Noise of so unexpected an Accident was diversly received by the Parricides Some believed That so unusual Burnings could not happen without the Direction of Providence Walcot profess'd that he thence conjectured That God did not approve of their Design Whilst Ferguson without any the least Horror of so hellish an Undertaking did dare to affirm That he plainly saw that God had reserved the King for his own Judgment And yet one of these Conspirators Keeling by Name a Schismatic greatly addicted to the Faction and number'd amongst the Forty Murtherers perceiving the Averseness of Heaven and agitated with the Terrors and Storms of a Guilty Conscience after many Combats in his Soul resolved at length to disburthen himself by discovering this Tartareous Secret to the King At first the Monstrousness of so
Bog where having lost their Horses and Baggage the Foot dispersed into small Parties whereupon Dunbarton likewise divided the King's Forces to pursue them Argile seeing all lost returned towards Clyde and was fallen upon by two of Greenock's Servants but would not yield firing at them when they called to him He received a Wound in the Head upon which not trusting his Horse he alighted and ran into the Water The Noise brought out a Country-man who ran into the Water after him where he was almost up to the Neck He presented his Pistol to the Country-man but it missed Fire whereupon the Country-man gave him a Wound in the Head which stunn'd him so that he fell and in falling cry'd out Vnfortunate Argile Before he recovered they took him and carried him to their Commander from whence he was brought to Glascow and thence to Edinburgh entering the City with his Hands bound behind him bare-headed with the Hang-man going before him A sad tho deserved Spectacle of unfortunate Disloyalty The Rest of the Rebels being totally defeated Rumbald the Malister who fought desperately was taken and Colonel Ayloff who after he was a Prisoner ript up his own Belly with a Pen-knife but recovered to be hanged in England as the other had been in Scotland his Wounds not permitting his Transport into his own Country June 30. Argile closed the Scene of this Rebellion being beheaded which could not yet expiate for so much Blood and Confusion which he had occasioned by his Ambition and desire of Revenge Nor was Monmouth more successful in England whose Enterprizes being carried on with more Noise and Hopes may require a more particular Relation The Duke of Monmouth having hired a Ship at Amsterdam of Two and Thirty Guns with a Hundred and Fifty Men in it of several Nations and paid for it in Person was by the States General at the Solicitation of the King's Envoy with them ordered to be arrested which notwithstanding got to Sea and in it the Duke of Monmouth and not long after Two small Vessels more upon Accompt of the Rebels With this Fleet 1685. June 11. he sailed Westward and landed at Lime in Dorsetshire about Seven a Clock in the Evening He was accompanied with the Lord G. a Person daring and desparate and about Two Hundred more well appointed all appearing as Officers and each with a Carabine and Two Pistols by his side With this Equipage did this bold Rebel dare to attempt the Crown of England Having possessed himself of the Town he likewise took Possession of an Old neglected Fort in which were Seven Guns And setting up his Standard which was Blew he invited all Men to his Assistance for the Protestant Religion against the Duke of York Nor were there wanting such who abused by his Pretences came in to him his Emissaries being dispatched into the Neighbouring Towns and Villages to incite the People to an open Rebellion against his Majesty Their Numbers being in few Days encreased they sent a Party of Horse and Foot to Bridg. Port where they surprizâ—d some Gentlemen whom they inhumanly murthered as Mr. Strangewayes Coaker and others But the rest getting to their Arms escaped to a Party who maintained a Post not far off whither the Rebels still pursuing them were beaten off with the Loss of Seven of their Men and several Arms and Prisoners which they left behind them The King upon Notice of this Invasion caused Monmouth and all his Accomplices and Companions to be proclaimed Traytors and a Reward of Five Thousand Pounds to any who should bring the said Monmouth in alive or dead Monmouth on the other side dispersed a Declaration fraught with Treason and Imposture against the King under the Title of Duke of York Which upon consideration of the infamous Calumnies it contained was condemned by the Two Houses of Parliament to be publickly burnt by the Hands of the Hang man which was done accordingly The Duke of Albemarle the Day of Monmouth's landing had mustered the Militia of Devonshire whereof he was Lord-Lieutenant and keeping them in a Body he much impeded the Resort of Novellists and Fanaticks to the Enemy And yet it was not safe for him to fight them being scarce secure of his own Men. For the changing Rabble attentive upon Novelties seemed to prefer great Incertainties before their present Enjoyments The Duke of Beaufort on the other side secured Bristol with his Presence and Forces whilst the King's Troops hasten to meet from all Parts The Lord Churchil with his Dragoons came first and disturbed the Rebels with various Skirmishings and was followed by the Earl of Feversham with greater Force who also was appointed General for the Expedition The Duke of Grafton marched to the Rendezvouz with Eighteen Hundred of the Guards whereof he was Colonel And Eighteen Field-Peices with all their Accoutrements weâ—e sent to the Camp under the Convoy of some old Companies of Dunbarton's Regiment To these new Levies were suddainly made of Eight Regiments of Foot and several Troops of Horse Also the Six Regiments of Britains which were in the Service of the Vnited Provinces were recalled Three whereof being Scots were sent against Argile but he being defeated they returned into England On the other side Monmouth having left Lime marched to Taunton an old and obstinate Receptacle of Fanaticism where his numbers encreasing tho no one of Quality came in to him he usurpt the Title of King But the Reign of this Ephemerous Prince was neither propitious nor long What he could not effect under pretence of the Protestant Religion for those who are truely Protestants of the Church of England do detest nothing more than Rebellion he resolved to attempt by assuming the Title of Prince but no less impiously than foolishly For the Chief of his Party hated Monarchy since they could not all be Kings and seemed mainly to contend for a Common-wealth What Argile oppressed by his adverse Fortune did pathetically express in this Case deserves to be mentioned here His Expressions against those of Amsterdam first were That they having made a Collection among Four Hundred of them to set him out had failed in carrying on the Vndertaking But against Monmouth As one who had broke Faith both with God and Man With Man when taking him by the Hand at parting he promised to be in England as soon as he in Scotland and with God in that he had upon the Sacrament declared at Amsterdam that he would never pretend to the Crown Nor must we omit a Saying of Rumbold's at his Execution being moved when he heard that Monmouth had taken upon him to be King for it seems they were all for a Commonwealth We have said he a better than he that is called so already Monmouth left Taunton again accompanied with a Multitude of sorry Fellows scarce half armed for they had left most of their Equipage of War at Lime where the King's Ships seized upon a Pink and a Dogger with Forty
Finally he hoped to live to shew how Zealous he should ever be for his Majesty's Service And could he say but one word in this Letter he would be convinced of it but it was of that Consequence that he durst not do it and therefore he beg'd once more that he might speak with him For then he would be convinced he should ever be his Majesty's most humble and dutiful Monmouth Being brought to the Tower he did not long survive his Misfortunes July 14. 1685. For being Attainted of High-Treason by An Act of Parliament he was beheaded on a Scaffold for that purpose erected on Tower-Hill He had delivered this following Paper before he mounted the last Stage of his Life referring himself to it in all the Discourses he held upon the Scaffold Which I thought fit to subjoyn I Declare that the Title of King was forced upon me and that it was very much contrary to my Opinion when I was Proclaimed For the Satisfaction of the World I do declare that the late King told me he was never Married to my Mother Having said this I hope that the King who is now will not let my Children suffer on this Accompt And to this I put my Hand this 15th day of July 1685. Monmouth His Actions sufficiently declare his Character And his Body being inhumed by Order in the Chappel of the Tower put an End to his Chimerical Principality and this REBELLION FINIS Books Printed for Thomas Newborough at the Golden-Ball in St. Paul's Church-Yard SEveral Chyrurgical Treatises by R. Wiseman Serjeant Surgeon to his Majesty Fol. New Travels of Monsieur Thevenot into the Levant viz. Into Turkey Persia and the East-Indies Fol. A New and Easy Method to the Art of Dialling Containing all Horizontals all upright Reflecting Dyals and Dyals without Centres Nocturnal and upright Declining Dyals without knowing the Declination of the Plane 2. The most natural and easie way of describing the Currelines of the Sun's Declination on any Plane By Thomas Strode Esq Quarto A New History of China containing a Description of the Politick Government Towns Manners and Customs of the People c. 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