upon the old foundation of the Law and that a Title upon a single present constitution as any new Title must be cannot be so firm as a Title built upon the present constitution and upon the old foundation of the Law likewise which the Title of King will be If any inconvenience should ensue upon your acceptance of this Title which the parliament adviseth your Highness's satisfaction will be that they did advise it On the contrary part if any inconvenience should arise upon your Highness refusal of this Title which the parliament hath advised your burthen will be the greater and therefore whatsoever may fall out will be better answered by your Highness complying with your parliament then otherwise the Question is not altogether new some instances have been given of the like to which I shall add two or three The Title of the Kings of England in the Realm of Ireland was Lord of Ireland and the parliament in the 33 year of Hen. 8. relating That inconveniences did arise there by reason of that Title did enact That Hen. 8. should assume the Stile and Title of King of Ireland which in the judgment of the parliament was preferred before the other In the State of Rome new Titles proved fatal to their Liberties their case was not much unlike ours they were wearied with a Civil War and coming to a settlement some would not admit the Title of Rex to be used but were contented to give the Titles of Caesar Perpetual Dictator Prince Senate Emperor So that at length the will of Caesar was their Law who said I am not a King but Caesar The Northern people were more happy among themselves a private Gentleman of a Noble Family took up Arms with his country-men against a Tyrant and by the blessing of God rescued the Native Liberties and Rights of their country from the oppression of that Tyrant This Gentleman had the Title of Marshal given unto him which continued for some years afterward their Parliament judging it best to resume the old Title Elected this Gentleman King and with him was brought in the liberty of Protestant Religion and the establishment of the Civil Rights of that people which have continued in a prosperous condition ever since in Sweden unto this day Sir I shall make no other application but in my prayers to God to direct your Highness and the Parliament as I hope he will to do that which will be most for his honour and the good of his people This speech was made April 26. 1657. but the Protector finding the inclinations of some of the people and especially of many Officers and Souldiers of the Army to be very averse to the Title of King which they had lately renounced and likewise doubting as it was then discours'd that they would fortifie his Title but weaken his Revenue who required Nineteen hundred thousand pound a year for the support of his Government besides the charge of the Spanish War he thereupon sent for the Parliament to the Banquetting-house at White-Hall May 8. following where he gave them his last and positive answer to this purpose Mr. Speaker I am come hither to answer that which was in your last paper to your Committee you sent me which was in relation to the desires which were offered me by the House in that they called their petition I confess that business hath put the Parliament to a great deal of trouble and spent much time I am very sorry that it hath cost me some and some thoughts and because I have been the unhappy occasion of the expence of so much time I shall spend little of st now I have the best I can resolved the whole business in my thoughts and I have said so much already in testimony of the whole that I think I shall not need to repeat any thing that I have said I think it is a Government that the aims of it seek much a settling of the Nation on a good foot in relation to Civil Rights and Liberties which are the Rights of the Nation and I hope I shall never be found to be of them that shall go about to rob the Nation of these Rights but to serve them what I can to the attaining them It hath also exceeding well provided for the safety and security of honest men in that great natural and religious liberty which is Liberty of Conscience These are great fundamentals and I must bear my Testimony to them as I have and shall do still so long as God lets me live in this World that the intentions of the things are very honourable and honest and the product worthy of a Parliament I have only had the unhappiness both in my conferences with your Committees and in the best thoughts I could take to my self not to be convicted of the necessity of that thing that hath been so often insisted upon by you to wit The Title of King as in it self necessary as it seems to be apprehended by your selves and I do with all honour and respect to the judgment of the Parliament testifie that ceteris paribus no private judgment is to lye in the ballance with the judgment of a Parliament but in things that respect particular persons every man that is to give an account to God of his actions he must in some measure be able to prove his own work that is To have an approbation in his own conscience of that he is to do or forbear And whilst you are granting others liberties surely you will not deny me this it being not only a liberty but a duty and such a duty as I cannot without sinning forbear to examine my own heart and thoughts and judgment in every work which I am to set my hand to or to appear in for I must confess therefore that though I do acknowledge all the other yet I must be a little confident in this that what with the circumstances that accompany humane actions whether they be circumstances of time or persons whether circumstances that relate to the whole or private or particular circumstances that compass any person that is to render an account of his own actions I have truly thought and do still think that if I should at the best do any thing on this account to answer your expectation it would be at the best doubtingly and certainly what is so is not of faith whatsoever is not of faith is sin to him that doth it whether it be with relation to the substance of the action about which the consideration is conversant or whether to circumstances about it which make all indifferent actions good or evil to him that doth it I lying under this consideration think it my duty only I could have wished I had done it sooner for your sake for saving time and trouble and indeed for the Committees sake to whom I must acknowledge publickly I have been unseasonably troublesome I say I could have wished I had given it sooner but truly this
thereupon sent Ambassadors to desire it might be repealed but not succeeding herein they began to dispute our ancient right of the Flag in the British Seas by refusing to strike sail to our Men of War which occasioned a breach between the two Republicks for in May 1652. Admiral Trump with about forty two sail of Dutch ships was discovered on the back of the Goodwin Sands bearing toward Dover Road Major Brown being near with a squadron of English ships sent the Grey-hound frigate to speak with them to whom they struck their Topsail saying They came with a message from Admiral Trump to our commander in chief and coming aboard said That the great North winds had forced them farther South than they intended being compelled to ride some days off Dunkirk where they had lost divers Anchors and Cables professing they intended no injury to the English Nation General Blake who was Westward with the rest of the English Fleet having speedy advice of this passage hastened toward them and next morning May 19. saw them at Anchor in Dover Road and being within three Leagues of them they stood Eastward and received an Express from the States upon which they bore directly up to our Fleet Van Trump being headmost whereupon Blake shot three Guns without Ball at his Flag and Trump answered with a Gun on the averse side of the ship signifying a disdain and instead of striking his Topsail hung out a red flag which was the signal for his whole fleet and gave General Blake a broadside The fight continued four hours till Night parted them in which one Dutch ship was funk and another of thirty Guns taken with the Captains of both and about one hundred and fifty prisoners Of the English about ten were slain and forty wounded the English Admiral was much damaged in her Masts Sails Rigging and Hull but the rest of the Fleet had inconsiderable loss This attempt of the Hollanders while we were upon Treaty so incensed the Parliament that all the Addresses and Overtures of their Ambassadors and the sending hither two more could not appease them yea though they by several papers endeavoured to excuse it alledging That the unhappy fight between the ships of both Common-wealths happened without the knowledge and against the wills of the States taking God the searcher of mens hearts to witness the same and that with grief and astonishment they received the fatal News of that unhappy rash action and thereupon consulted about a remedy to this raw and bloody wound by appointing a solemn meeting of all the Provinces whereby they doubted not by Gods favour to remove not only the outward but inward cause of all further differences for the benefit of both Nations and to avoid the detestable shedding of Christian blood so much desired by their Enemies and therefore beseech the Council of State by the pledges of common Religion and Liberty to do nothing out of heat which afterward with vain wishes can never be recalled which they desire the more because their ships of War and Merchandize are detained in the English Ports To this the Parliament replied That calling to mind the demonstrations of friendship and good correspondence which they have always discovered toward the States General during all the troubles in England they are much surprized at such unsuitable returns especially at the acts of Hostility lately committed in the very Roads of England upon the ships of this Common-wealth and though they would willingly believe that the late Engaâ—ements of the Fleets happened without their knowledge or consent yet when they consider how disagreeable the actions of that State and their Officers at Sea have been in the midst of a Treaty offered by themselves and managed here by their Ambassadors and the extraordinary preparation of one hundred and fifty ships without any visible occasion and the Instructions given by the States to their commanders at Sea they have too much cause to believe that the Stares General design by force to Usurp the known Right of England in the Seas to destroy the Fleers that are under God their Walls and Bulwarks and thereby expose the Nation to be Invaded at pleasure as by their late action they have attempted to do Therefore the Parliament think themselves obliged to indeavour by Gods assistance to seek reparations for the wrongs already suffered and security against any such attempts for the future yet still desining that all differences if possible may be peaceably and amicably composed This answer quite broke off the Treatâ— and the Ambassadors having had audience of the Parliament took their leaves and departed And now these mighty States prepare to ingage each other and accordingly General Blake with a gallant Fleet advanced North towards the Isles of Orkney to seize all Vessels that were fishing there who took twelve Dutch Men of War that were guarding the Busses but discharged most of the Busses and Sir George Ayscough with his squadron being left to guard the narrow Seas discovered about thirty Dutch ships between Dover and Calice of which ten were taken and burnt the rest run ashoar on the Coasts of France Many other Dutch and French Prizes were daily taken Thence Sir George Ayscough sailed West to seek out the Dutch Fleer and Convoy home some Merchaur-men from Plymouth and being within seven or eight Leagues of Plymouth he had advice of them whereupon he resolved to stand over to the Coast of France and next day Aug. 16. 1652. had sight of them being about sixty sail of Men of War and thirty Merchant men the English were but thirty eight fail four Fireships and four Advice-ships yet they resolved to ingage the Enemy Sir George Ayscough and six other Frigates charged through the whole Dutch Fleet receiving much damage in their Masts Hulls Sails and Rigging yet they tack'd about and charged them all again till dark Night and had not some English Captains been deficient in their duty they had probably destroyed their whole Navy In this Ingagement some few English were slain and wounded and three Captains a Fireship of theirs was sunk with two other ships but the darkness of the Night concealed their other losses who stood away for the Coasts of France and the English for Plymouth to repair During this fight Blake came from the North into the Downs and took six rich Dutch Prizes sending some Frigates to reinforce Ayscough and soon after Captain Pen with his squadren hovering on the Coasts of France surprized six stout Men of War more now returned from the Venetian service and richly laden Sept. 5. General Blake riding in the Downs had notice of a French Fleet in Calice Road to whom he made up and chased them as far as they durst for the sands of Dunkirk taking most of them being ten Men of War between thirty one and twenty eight Guns and six Fireships This Fleet was to take in provisions at Calice for the relief of Dunkirk then besieged by the Spaniards who being
complain of want of pay of the neglect of Church-Government and the Covenant The Parliament answered That in two years space they had received above two hundred thousand pounds for pay besides a vast sum of money which had been extorted from the weeping Inhabitants of the Northern Counties and that their Army had not answered expectation lying idle the best time of the year and if they were so precise in observation of the Covenant why contrary thereto had they put Garrisons into Newcastle Tinmouth and Carlisle Neither ought they to mention Religion being unsettled since the Parliament were consulting about it being a matter which requires time and mature deliberation From these dissentions the King expected some advantage but yet Oxford was already block'd up by Fleetwood and Ireton and Fairfax was daily expected to come and turn it into a close siege therefore before this should happen the King resolved to go out of the City and consulting with some of his inward Councellors it was concluded he should go to the Scots Camp then lying before Newark the King sent Montruel the French Ambassador before and himself soon after as Coll. Ashburnhams man who had a pass from Fairfax to go out of Oxford about some private business with a Cloak-bag behind him escaped unknown and came to Newark which when the besieged Newarkers had notice of being in great streights they upon conditions surrendred the Town The Scots seemed amazed at the Kings unexpected coming to them and so signified the matter to the English Commissioners then on the place Letters were instantly written to London and Edinburgh and the Parliament at Westminster required the Scots to detain the King at Southwell near Newark but contrary to this Order they carried him to Kelham where a greater part of their Army lay and soon after without further Order removed their Camp Northward and carried him away to Newcastle with them excusing their departure by alledging Newark being yielded no work was left for them but that as the King came to them of his own accord unexpected so he followed their Army neither being intreated nor forbidden by them but they seemed to hasten their departure by reason of a rumour that Cromwel with all his Horse was marching toward them This action much offended the English Parliament and they complain'd both of the Scots and the King In the beginning of May General Fairfax with his whole Army came before Oxford the City was very strong having been fortified according to the most exact rules of Art to make it Impregnable invironed with regular Forts and provided with a potent Garrison of five thousand valiant Souldiers having great stores of all manner of provisions and the Governour Sir Tho. Glemham a person who had sufficiently demonstrated his courage and conduct in holding out York and Carlisle to the last extremity The General disposing his Quarters round about the City summoned the Governour to surrender who returned That he would send to know the Kings mind and then act accordingly This answer was not satisfactory yet Fairfax and his Commanders doubting it would be a tedious Siege were put in hopes by some spies that it could not hold out long by reason of the divisions between the Nobility and Souldiers the first being for treating now and so obtain honourable conditions which they did accordingly and the Parliament decreed That the besieged should have the best conditions rather than waste their Army which might be more useful elsewhere for they designed to send them into Ireland against the Rebels there Thus was Oxford surrendred and the Garrison marched out in sight of Fairfax's Army with great quiet and modesty on both sides The D. of York was honourably conducted to London where two of the Kings Children remained thither also went all the Noble-men neither were any of the besieged denied to go to London but the Princes Rupert and Maurice who being commanded to go out of England prepared for their departure Prince Charles about this time sailed from Scilly with a few of his inward Counsellors to Jersey in order to go to his Mother in France which the King having advice of sent him this short Letter from Newcastle Charles I write to you only that you should know what I am and that I am in health not to direct you at this time in any thing for what I would have you do I have already written to your Mother to whom I would have you obedient in all things except Religion about which I know she will not trouble you and go no whether without her or my command Write often to me God bless you Your loving Father C. R. Soon after the surrender of Oxford followed the end of this fierce War for Worcester Wallingford Pendennis and Ragland yielded to the Victors Peace now seemed to be restored to England but they had no security the Parliament being grievously troubled with factions among themselves and divided under the Names of Presbyterians and Independants not only in matters of Church-Government but often in their Votes and in transacting almost all other business and this humour spread it self into the City Country and Camp and the Parliament doubting Coll. Masseys Forces might muriny upon that account sent Fairfax to Disband them being two thousand five hundred Horse which was quietly done in eight days time though they did not then receive their pay The Scots as you have heard carrying the King into the North the parliament Voted That the person of the King should be disposed of by the Authority of both Houses of the parliament of England But the Scots denied to deliver him up alledging That he was no less King of England than Scotland which caused great dissention between the two Nations But at length upon paying the Scots two hundred thousand pounds they agreed to deliver up Berwick Carlisle and Newcastle to the parliament of England and the Kings person also to the English Commissioners to be carried into the South who was received with great respect and honour by the Earls of Pembroke and Denbigh and the other Commissioners and by them waited on with much observance and an honourable Guard to his palace at Holmby in Northampton-shire But the Civil Wars being ended a dissention more than Civil arose among the Conquerors which still increased under the Names of Presbyterians and Independants and extreamly imbittered the minds of men against each other one party complaining That the Covenant was broken The other That it was not rightly Interpreted by them And on both sides were men of Reputation and several petitions were drawn up against the Army lately so much admired as maintainers of the Independent party who then lay about Saffron-Walden in Essex Yea it was debated in parliament whether they should be Disbanded or not which Cromwel who sided with the Independents having notice of he thereupon with Ireton insinuated into the common Souldiers That the parliament intended to Disband them without their Arrears or else to
with a potent Army Lambert was sent before to suppress Glemham and Langdale who with their Forces being about three thousand retired into Cumberland and Westmoreland expecting to join with the Seets which they did and fell upon Lambert at Appleby forcing him to retire out of the Town but Cromwel having received all necessary supplies from the Parliament came and joined him and observed the motions of D. Hamilton being both but eight thousand six hundred men against the Scots and English Army of twenty one thousand who were marched into England as far as Preston in Lancashire where Cromwel resolved to fight them his forlorn ingaging them first with two hundred Horse and four hundred Foot and he himself leading up the main body in the best posture the place would admit being a dirty lane and inconvenient for Horse where after four hours dispute he put them to the rout whom the Conquerours persued through Preston and having cleared the Streets followed them as far as Warrington about twenty miles killing many in the chase and taking Lieutenant-General Baily prisoner with the greatest part of the Scots Army granting them only Quarter for their Lives Three thousand Scots were slain and ten thousand taken prisoners with above one hundred colours and all their Baggage Duke Hamilton finding the service too warm retreats over the Bridge with a good party of Horse and Foot but Cromwel ordered his men to fall in among them pell-mell with their swords drawn at which desperate courage the Scots being amazed betook themselves to flight and the Duke with a body of Horse got to Utoxâ—â—â—r where he was taken prisoner by the Lord Grey and about three thousand Horse with him Langdale was also taken by a Parliament Captain Conspiracies by land though over the whole Kingdom seemed not enough but the Sea likewise revolted from the Parliament divers of the chief Ships in the Royal Navy in June 1648. set the Vice-Admiral Rainsborough ashoar declaring they would serve the King and P. Charles now coming from Holland with twenty sail of Ships and two thousand men The Parliaments Vice-Admiral joined with them and the D. of York who had made his escape from London being also aboard At which the Parliament were much disturbed and sent to the E of Warwick to command the remaining Navy which he readily undertook but his brother though no souldier by commission from the Prince assembles five hundred Horse and Foot about Kingston-Heath depending on the affections of the Citizens having with him the D. of Buckingham his Brother L. Francis Villiers and the E. of Peterborough but Sir Michael Livesey and others soon dispersed them The L. Francis Villiers was slain and the L. Holland flying with the remainder of his Horse to St. Needs was altogether subdued Dalbeer and some other Gentlemen slain and himself taken prisoner At the same time Rossirer obtained a great Victory over one thousand Horse who were pillaging the Country out of Pomfret-castle About the end of August Warwick was with a good Fleet in the River of Thames when P. Charles with a great Navy of twenty stout Men of War came up the River and commanded him to take down his Flag and yield Obedience to him as chief Admiral by the Kings Commission Warwick refused yet declined fighting in that narrow channel expecting to be joined by the Portsmouth Fleet commanded by Sir G. Ayscough which the Royalists reported was revolted also but though most of the Mariners were inclined to the Prince yet Sir George by his prudent managery at length confirmed them in their Obedience to the Parliament and failing by P. Charles in the Night brought all his Ships safe to the E. of Warwick who now resolved to ingage the Prince but finding he was gone back to Holland for want of provisions he followed him soon after with the whole Fleet to Goree upon that coast Cromwel after he had given that great defeat to Hamilton following his Victory marches toward Scotland to assist Argyle and Levens against the Forces of Monroe and Lanerick and to give them an account what was become of Hamilton but upon his approach without effecting any thing they withdraw their Forces back into Scotland and Cromwel in his way reduced Berwick and Carlisle into the Parliaments power Before he entred Scotland he Rendevouz'd his Army on the banks of the Tweed and caused proclamation to be made at the head of every Regiment That no man upon pain of death should take from the Scots either Cattel or Goods without Order He then marches directly toward Edinburgh to consult about the affairs of both Kingdoms many of the Scots Nobility and Gentry were sent from the Committee of Estates to meet him who after congratulatory Orations made conducted him to Edenburgh where Argyle Leven and other Lords treated him and the rest of the English commanders with a magnificent banquet in the Castle Thanks were given by the Ministers to Cromwel who was by them stiled The preserver of Scotland under God many of these having denounced the wrath of God against that Army of Hamilton which by the success they now thought fulfilled Such also was the Testimony of the Committee of Estates written to the English Parliament concerning Cromwel Presently after the Forces of Monroe and Lanerick were disbanded and all others except fifteen hundred Horse and Foot under the command of Leven for settling the Kingdom It was also decreed by the Committee of Estates and Assembly of the Hirk for preservation of Religion and brotherly love with the English Nation That no man who had joined with Hamilton in the late Invasion of England should be chosen for the new Parliament which was then called or into the Assembly of the Kirk as being enemies to Religion and both the Kingdoms A strange and sudden alteration this was That the English Army which but a year before were by the Kirk party of Scotland called a bundle of Sectaries and reviled by all manner of opprobrious names should now be acknowledged by the same Scots to be the Instruments of God and Vindicators both of the Church and Kingdom of Scotland And this great change in the Council of Scotland had been more to he wondred at if the change that then happened in the English Parliament were not much more surprizing for who can imagine that Cromwel for vanquishing a Scotch Army by which the Nation was delivered from plunder and many other mischiefs should be acknowledged there the preserver of Scotland and that the same Victory of his against the Scots should please the Presbyterian Scots for Religion sake and for Religions sake displease the Presbyterians in England for the face of the English Parliament was now suddenly changed and the Voâ—es that had passed the year before of making no more addresses to the King were annulled and made void upon which they had published a Declaration of the reason and necessity of their proceedings New addresses are now made to the King with more
a Military life could hardly be reduced to their former Imployments Our new States-men to prevent any ill humours that might gather among them resolved to make them serviceable to their Country in the reduction of Ireland all that Kingdom except Dublin and London-derry being in possession of the Irish which neither were able to hold out without speedy assistance from England This Rebellion the most barbarous and bloody that ever happened upon earth acted by Devils in humane shape rather than men butchering two hundred thousand protestants in eight weeks space without the least offence or provocation given or without sparing of age or sex was perpetrated Oct. 23. 1641. and though contrived so secretly and acted so furiously yet was Dublin wonderfully preserved to be a refuge to those poor protestants who escaped the rage of their bloody persecutors Many of them fled to England but found little relief for here all things seemed to forebode the re-acting the same Tragedy yet in the midst of the differences between the King and parliament it was agreed to send some Regiments thither if possible to hinder the progress of those Assassines but this relief was so small that it had no effect for the King finding the parliament prevail against him recalled those Troops from Ireland many of the Rebels coming along with them to his assistance so that this Kingdom lay more exposed to these bloody Wolves than ever and thus they continued for some years But this new state having renounced Monarchy and Episcopacy resolve now to use the same Instruments to recover Ireland and to that end they ordered an Army to be sent thither The Marquess of Ormond was made Lord-Lieutenant by the late King and the Rebels had made a confederacy among themselves and upon condition to have the free Exercise of their Religion and divers other ample priviledges and advantages which the necessity of affairs obliged him to yield to they joined their Forces to his being also assisted by a considerable number of others raised by the Earls of Castlehaven Clanâ—ickand and the Lord Inchiquin so that they were the greatest united strength in that Kingdom but the confederates having broken their Articles with the Lieutenant and being ready to besiege Dublin which he was not able to defend rather than it should fall into the hands of the Irish papists he surrendred it to Collonel Jones for the parliament and came over to the King who was then carried from one place to another by the Army and from thence he went over to Prince Charles then at Paris But the Confederates surprized at the great preparations made against them in England sent Letters to the Prince humbly intreating him to send back the Marquess of Ormond with an absolute promise to submit entirely to the Kings Authority and to obey his Lieutenant At their request he returned into Ireland about a year before Cromwel came over and with their united Forces they had reduced the whole Country except London-derry commanded by Sir Charles Coot and Dublin the principal City wherein was Collonel Jones with no great strength and who was very jealous of the sidelity of his own men that often deserted and went over to the other party The Irish confederates with an Army of twenty two thousand men lay under the very Walls of Dublin and sent divers threatning summons into it requiring a speedy surrender but they had no effect upon the valiant Governour Jones who yet not insensible of the great danger he was in sent many earnest Messages to the parliament of England to aid him with all speed with Men and Ammunition or else all would be quickly lost and they knowing the difficulties of his condition hasten their assistance to him gave order for sending thither Iretons Scroops Hortons and Lamberts Regiments of Horse with Hewsons Deans Ewers and Cooks Regiments of Foot and five Troops of Dragoons all old tried Souldiers that feared no Enemy and led by victorious commanders with some other Regiments new listed to make a number sufficient to effect the business Nothing was now wanting but a General to command this gallant Army which the parliament being sensible of Cromwels conduct and fitness desired him to accept which he readily did declaring at the same time That he did not doubt but God would use him as an Instrument to execute his vengeance upon the bloody Irish with which answer the parliament were so pleased that instantly they give him a commission to be General of all their Forces and Lord Governour both in the Civil and Military affairs of Ireland and Collonel Jones was made Lieutenant-General of the Horse After which they march to their Rendevouz at Milford in Wales and July 10. 1649. Cromwel set forward from London in a Coach and six Horses attended with many of the House of commons council of State and principal Officers of the Army with a Life-Guard of fourscore who had been lately commanders very gallantly accoutred In this state he march'd to Brainford where these Gentlemen took their leaves with wishes for his happy success from thence he rides post to Bristol to put his men and Train of Artillery into the Transport-ships and afterwards goes into Wales having sent Reynolds Regiment of Horse and Venables and Monks Regiments of Foot before from Chester who with a fair wind soon arrived at Dublin to the great joy of the Inhabitants being about three thousand in all who were very careful to recover them from the fatigues of the Sea in hopes by their means to recover their Liberties And in this they found themselves not mistaken for Collonel Jones much animated with these recruits resolved to attack the besiegers with the first opportunity and accordingly Aug. 2 when the Irish with a strong party of Horse and Foot marched with much assurance to Baggor-field a little way Eastward from the city toward the Sea from whence they designed to run their Trenches towards the Works of the city to prevent the landing any more supplies from England the besieged sound a necessity to prevent them and with twelve hundred Horse and four thousand Foot fell upon the Enemies new Works and rout their Horse at the first encounter most of the Foot being also either kill'd or slain consisting of fifteen hundred besides their Horse which so incouraged the English that they pursued their victory to Rathunines where the Marquess of Ormond with his whole Army of nineteen thousand men were Incamped who hearing of it wished they would come that he might have some sport with them he soon had his wish but the sport was somewhat rude for in a short time his Army was utterly put to the rout four thousand being slain upon the spot and in the pursuit and two thousand five hundred and seventeen prisoners most persons of Quality with the Marquesses own brother all their Cannon and Ammunition with a wealthy Camp became the reward of the conquering Souldiers who made themselves Gentlemen with the spoils of the
Protector All the great Offices of the Common-wealth such as Chancellor Keeper of the Seal Governor of Ireland Admiral c. if they become void in parhament time to be supplied by their approbation or in intervals of parliament with the approbation of the Council The Christian Religion as it is contained in the Holy Scriptures to be the publick profession of the Nation and those that administer it to be maintained by the publick but by some way more convenient and less liable to envy than Tythes None are to be compelled to consent to the publick profession by fine or any punishment ever but only by perswasion and arguments None that profess Faith in Jesus Christ are to be prohibited the exercise of their Religion provided he do not quarrel with nor disturb others except the papists and prelatists who are debarr'd that License All Sales of Estates made by parliament to stand good All Articles of War to be made good And lastly the protector and his successor upon entring that charge to swear to procure by all means the peace quiet and welfare of the Common-wealth to observe these Articles and to administer all things in his power according to the Laws Statutes and Customs of England After this Dec. 16. 1653. the protector came from White-Hall to the Chancery Court at Westminster attended by the Lords Commissioners of the Great Seal of England the Barons of the Exchequer and Judges in their Robes the Council of the Common-wealth the L. Mayor Aldermen and Recorder of London in their scarlet Gowns and many of the chief Officers of the Army A Chair of State being set the Protector stood on the left hand thereof uncovered till the Instrument was read which he subscribed in the face of the Court and then swore to perform as follows I promise in the presence of God not to violate or infringe the matters and things contained in the Instrument but to observe and cause the same to be observed and in all things to the best of my understanding will govern these Nations according to the Laws Statutes and Customs and to seek their peace and cause Justice and Law to be equally administred Hereupon he sate down covered in the Chair the Lords Commissioners then delivered him the Great Seal of England and the Lord Mayor his Sword and Can of maintenance which he instantly returned Then the Court rose and the Protector was attended back as before to the Banquetting House at White-Hall the Lord Mayor bare headed carrying the Sword before him where an exhortation being made by Mr. Nicholas Lockier one of his Chaplains the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Judges departed And thus was the Protector confirmed in this high Dignity tho' many of his Officers and former admirers were much discontented thereat but to command obedience the Council emitted the following Proclamation which was published in England Scotland and Ireland Whereas the late Parliament dissolved themselves and resigned their powers and Authorities the Government by a Lord Protector and successive elective parliaments is now established And whereas Oliver Cromwel Captain General of all the Forces of this Common-wealth is declared Lord protector of the said Nations and hath accepted thereof We have therefore thought it necessary as we hereby do to make publication of the premises and strictly to charge and command all and every person and persons of what quality and condition soever in any of the said three Nations totake notice hereof and to conform and subject themselves to the Government so established And all Sheriffs Mayors Bayliffs c. are required to publish this proclamation to the end that none may have cause to pretend Ignorance in this behalf The Protector began his reign with seeming serenity and when the different parties in Religion made their complaints to him against each other he usually told them That his power was no greater in the Nation than a Constables which was to keep peace and quietness among all parties And persuant to the power given him by the new Instrument he supplies the several Courts at Westminster with the ablest Judges and Lawyers and the City of London to shew their concurrence to this great change invite the Protector to Dinner at Grocers-Hall Feb. 8. being Ashwednesday the Streets were railed to Temple-bar the Livery men standing in their Gowns he was met at Temple-bar by Alderman Vyner Lord Mayor who delivered him the Sword and receiving it again bore it on Horseback bare-headed before him all the way After a Noble enterrainment he was served with a Banquet in the conclusion whereof he Knighted Sir Tho. Vyner and would have done the same to the Recorder Steel but he declined it The Hollanders being weary of the Wars which they had maintained with such little success and so great cost send commissioners to treat with the pretector for a peace between both Nations which at length was concluded both with the King of Denmark and the Dutch who were to pay the charge of the War money being very necessary in his new Government and in April following it was proclaimed with great solemnity in London the two Dutch Ambassadors making magnificent Treatments and Fire-works to demonstrate their satisfaction therein The Protector now sends his eldest Son Henry into Ireland of which he was made Lord Deputy soon after and General Monk was sent into Scotland Likewise the Lord Whitlock who was sent Ambassador by the last parliament to the Q. of Sweden had now a new commission sent him from the Lord protector in whose Name he continued the Treaty with that Crown and afterward finished it In March following Monsieur Bordeux was sent Ambassador to England from the French King and Sir Anthony Ashly Cooper Coll. Sydenham and Mr. Strickland were appointed Commissioners by the protector to treat with him so that he was owned abroad as well as at home King Charles was then in the French Court who finding that notwithstanding his own and his Mothers endeavours to the contrary the Treaty between France and England was vigorously prosecuted by Cardinal Mazarine and foreseeing that if the peace were concluded he and his party must be obliged to depart France he thought it more Honourable voluntarily to leave that Kingdom than to stay till he were forced out by a complement so the King with his Brother the Duke of York and his Cousins Prince Rupert and Edward retired to Chattillon a House of the Prince of Condes from whence soon after the King and Prince Rupert went into Germany and indeed it happened as they suspected for one of the Articles of the French King with the protector was That none of the Royal Family of England should reside in the Dominions of France In Feb. 1654. several persons were committed to the Tower about a conspiracy against the protector the chief whereof Sir Gilbert Gerrard Coll. John Gerrard his brother the E. of Oxford Mr. Philip Porter Mr. Vowell a School-master at Islington and in June following an High Court