by the Scots Commissioners first because they were not the same with those formerly sent to Oxford and Vxbridge Secondly Because all the additions omissions and alterations made in them are in those things which concern the joynt interest and union of both Kingdomes And thirdly the danger of wholly excluding the King and his Posterity and so the Crown from their right to the Militia which was an alteration of the Fundamental Laws And fourthly the uncertainty of the Religion the Parliament would establish they refusing to give their Brethren the Scots the particulars thereof Presbytery being then piece-meal offered by the Assembly of Divines to the Parliaments consideration In this point the Scots urged how many promises of UNIFORMITY the Parliament had made at their instances to them throughout the War and that this Uniformity might be extensive and become the Discipline of the Reformed Churches every where and so be the Catholick Rule had ordered the Covenant as a Model or Pattern to be printed in most of the Forrain Languages that it should be a sin and shame to England that all sorts of Heresies Sects and Schisms should be so multiplied Liberty of Conscience not onely pleaded for but in place already and all the kindnesses done them so unhandsomly slighted And as to the Presbyterial Government to be established here Exceptions were taken at the subordination of Church-Assemblies to Parliament in the words prescribed lest it should be interpreted as if the Civil Power were not onely conversant about matters of the Church and Religion but were formally Ecclesiastical and to be exercised Ecclesiastically and be counted such a Supremacy in the Church as in the Pope and the late High-Commission of England Next they scrupled their Provincial Commissioners for judging of Scandal there being no such Warrant for such a mixture of Lay with Spiritual Officers which they suppose may be the laying of a New Foundation of the said High-Commission or Episcopacy Thirdly That admitting the Power of calling and convening a National Assembly be in the Civil Magistrates as positive yet they cannot allow it privative or destructive and that therefore such Assemblies may not be restrained to times of Session the safety of the Church being the supreme Law That therefore it should not be left ad libitum to the pleasure of the Civil Power but that fixed times for their meeting might be appointed From this the English perceived that the Scotch Yoak would not fit their necks and though they could be content with their Spirituals there was no enduring of their Temporals which consideration with those Cavils printed and published produced a Declaration of the House of Commons wherein being now in no need of further assistance having no Enemy left but that Army they come to a point and withal thus gird their gude Brethren we shall repeat onely one Paragraph Concerning Church-Government we having so fully declared for Presbyterian Government having spent so much pains taken up so much time for the settling of it passed most of the particulars brought to us from the Assembly of Divines called onely by us to advise of such things as shall be required of them by the Parliament and having published several Ordinances for putting the same in execution because we cannot consent to the granting of an arbitrary and unlimited Power and Jurisdiction to near TEN THOVSAND IVDICATORIES to be erected within this Kingdom and this demanded in a way INCONSISTENT with the FVNDAMENTALS of GOVERNMENT excluding the POWER of PARLIAMENT in the exercise of that IVRISDICTION nor have we resolved yet how a due regard may be had that TENDER CONSCIENCES which differ not in any Fundamentals of Religion may be so provided for as may stand with the word of God and peace of the Kingdom And let it be OBSERVED that we have had the more reason not to part with the Power out of our hands since all by-past Ages manifest that the Reformation and purity of Religion and the preservation and protection of the people hath been by Parliament and the exercise of this power our endeavours being to settle the Reformation in the Kingdoms of England and Ireland in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government according to the Word of God and the example of the best Reformed Churches and according to our COVENANT That 's the burden of the Ditty but how that comes to be set in opposition to the Scotch Model of Presbytery may be left to the distinguishing Expositors between Bell and the Dragon The Poets Fiction concerning Proteus was certainly a meer vaticination and prediction of this variable Monster for the King the Kirk the Parliament the Sectaries for every thing according to its present interest as the Camelion appears in the colours that are neerest it A serious Kirk-fallacy made a Parliament-Riddle Come we now to those long-hammered Propositions sent to the King at Newcastle Iuly 11. as aforesaid which were twenty three in number First That his Majesty would pass an Act for nulling all Declarations and Proclamations against both or either Parliaments of England or Scotland Secondly The King to sign and swear the Covenant and an Act for all persons in the three Kingdoms to do the like Thirdly An Act to take away Bishops c. Fourthly To confirm by Act the Assembly of Divines at Westminster Fifthly To settle Religion as the Parliament shall agree Sixthly In Vnity and Vniformity with Scotland as shall be agreed by both Parliaments Kill Episcopacy point-blank and shoot at Scotch wild-fowl at randome Seventhly An Act to be confirmed against Papists Eighthly Their Children to be educated in the Protestant Religion Ninthly For taking away part of their Estates Tenthly Against saying of Mass in England Eleventhly And the same in Scotland if they please Twelfthly For observation of the Lords day against Pluralities and Non-residents and for Visitations and regulating the Vniversities Thirteenth That the Militia of the three Kingdoms be in the hands of the Parliament for twenty years with power to raise money and suppress all Forces c. Fourteenth That all Honours and Titles and Dignities conferred on any since the great Seal was conveyed from the Parliament May 21 1642. be nulled and that those who hereafter shall be made Peers by the King shall not sit in Parliament without consent of both Houses Fifteenth That an Act be passed to confirm all the Treaties between England and Scotland and a Committee of both Houses to be nominated Conservators of the Peace between both Kingdoms Sixteenth An Act for the establishing the Declaration of both Kingdoms of the THIRTIETH of JANUARY 1643. touching Delinquents with other qualifications added now which were so comprehensive that they seemed accommodated for the fatal prognostick of that days Revolution in 1648. when accumulative treason a word invented by themselves against the Earl of Strafford was extended to other the Kings Friends as to number and in the amassed guilt of all impiety afterwards practised upon
Newcastle what he must trust to if he will not comply with the offers of the Parliament If you refuse to assent you will lose all your friends in Parliament lose the City and all the Country and all England will joyn against you as one man they will process and depose you they will charge us to deliver your Majesty to them to render their Garrisons and to remove our Armies out of England and so both Kingdoms for eithers safety to agree and settle Religion and Peace without you to the Ruine of your Majesty and posterity and if you lose England you will not be admitted to come and Reign in Scotland We confess the Propositions are higher in some things than we approved of but we see no other means of closing with the Parliament And immediately thereupon Instructions are sent them from Scotland concerning the giving over of the King It had been debated in their Parliament and from thence sent to the Assembly for their advice by whom it was remitted in the affirmative and carried but by two voices in the Parliament and was accordingly transacted at Newcastle and London But the Scots were not so willing to be rid of the King as the Northern Counties were to be rid of the Scots of whom besides free quarter that Army had levied 20000 l. a month an unheard-of rate and a most unreasonable Several general complaints had been made but now they made up a charge of particulars with variety of imputation upon them which being also Printed the Scots Commissioners desired the suppression thereof or some other reparation which was as one may think well repaid in the sums of money they received upon this Contract which at first demand was no less than a Million but in consideration of a present round sum abated to 400000 l. whereof 200000 l. to be paid at two payments the first upon quitting Newcastle and marching beyond the River Tine the other upon the delivery of the King and their departure out of England and surrendring Carlile and Berwick to the performance on either part Hostages to be given The Scots insisted upon security for the remaining 200000 l. naming very conscionably and brotherly the sale of Delinquents estates but the Parliament would not so undervalue their credit nor prostitue it to their lustful eye cast upon so fair a partage of their Conquest nor buy the King and sell his friends The money they had was enviously enough bestowed on them being the sacrilegious rapine of Church-Lands then exposed to sale by Ordinance of Parliament but conveyed in pomp to the place of payment in thirty six Waggons six Regiments of the Army by the order of the General going with it for its Convoy and according to the agreement the first 100000 l. was paid at Northallerton in December Not to prosecute this subject further through so many diversities and change of countermines nor to touch on those irreverend Declarations from the Scotch Parliament and Assembly and their Reasons as unmannerly of not admitting the King into that his Kingdom it will suffice to say that at last they acquainted the Parliament having received their money that they were now upon going home and desired to know what service the Parliament would command them to the Parliament of Scotland which the King foreseeing and that he should be thus basely abandoned by them he betakes himself afresh to his sollicitation of his English Parliament wherein he saith That he had endeavoured by his Answer of the 24th of July last to their Propositions delivered him in the Name of both Kingdoms to make his intentions fully known But the more he endeavoured it he more plainly saw that any Answer be could make would be subject to misinformations and misconstructions which upon his own explanations he is most confident will give such satisfaction as to establish a lasting Peace He proposeth therefore again his coming to London upon security of both Houses where by his personal presence he may not onely raise a mutual confidence betwixt him and his people but also have all doubts cleared c. To conclude it is your King who desires to be heard the which if refused to a subject by a King he would be thought a Tyrant for it and to that end which all men did profess to desire Wherefore he conjures them as they desire really to shew themselves what they profess as good Christians or subjects that they accept this his Offer which he is confident God will so blâ—ss as to a happy Settlement c. A Reply was sent to the former by Sir Peter Killigrew one who had been the Parliaments Messenger throughout but none to this the two Houses being taken up with the business of disposal of his person somewhere else which was wholly remitted to them by the Negative Resolves of the Parliament of Scotland upon the Question of the Kings coming into that Kingdom That the Government shall be managed in the same manner and way as it hath been these five years last past and that fresh Assays and all means in the interim shall be used to make the King take the Covenant That if he shall do so yet the taking of it or passing the Propositions will not warrant them to assist him in England nor is the bare taking of it sufficient otherwise That the clause in the Covenant for defence of the Kings person is to be understood of the defence and safety of the Kingdom That if he refuse the Propositions he shall be disposed according to the Covenant and Treaty That he shall execute no power or Authority in Scotland till he do signe them and take the Covenant and that the Vnion be kept between both Nations His Majesty guessing at this their desperate and perfidious desertion of him had sounded their Commissioners then attending him in what condition or estate he was among them whether at Liberty or a Prisoner and put the Dilemma upon them If at liberty why he might not dispose of himself any-whither if in restraint what did they mean by his assenting and signing the Propositions which in no case could be valid or binding if agreed by him while a Prisoner To this the Scots had nothing to say but their Covenant with the English which they might not contravene and that according to the above mentioned Resolves which they now declared he was to be rendred to such hands as the Parliament of England should appoint who were expected every day upon that errand They further excused themselves from their reception and admission of his Majesty into Scotland from the danger and hazard they might incur his party being not yet so disbanded but that by his neer presence and advantage of his person they would resume their Arms and Courages and put that Nation in a worse broyl than before and for conclusion they told him they were in no condition to entertain him in that state and dignity
due to his person the Treasure exhausted and his Revenews eaten up so that there was but one way for his Majesty to turn which he might make hereafter large and convenient enough by a present speedy complyance with his two Houses at Westminster This made the King to look about him and to cast about which way to prevent and eschew this streight in which the baseness of the Scots had thus engaged him A design was therefore thought on of his escape from them but it was presently discovered and the surrender of him the rather expedited for the Scots were such honest dealers that having received their money upon the bargain they would not defeat their Chapmen of their purchase A wretched advantage to either the Scots never thriving after it but being totally at last vassalized and subdued and the Presbyterians in England every day growing less and less till they were swallowed up in the Anarchy and Medly of the following times and benighted in the succeeding confusions and Schisms We will leave the King thus in the Ballance between England and Scotland and cross over to Ireland of which little mention hath been yet made but shall now be remembred in its own series In the first four months of that Rebellion no less than 150000 Men Women and Children were Massacred there by the Irish Rebels an account whereof hath been published taken by the Rebels themselves lest they should have seemed more Cruel and Barbarous than indeed they were Some of these Murders were committed by old English Families Grafted upon Irish stocks and thereby became Roman-Catholicks such as were the Lords of the Pale who openly sided with the Irish and were their Chief Officers and Leaders The Earl of Leicester had been appointed Lord Deputy and he hastned thither but some difficulties intervening he by Commission appointed the Earl afterwards Marquess then Duke of Ormond to be his Lieutenant-General in that service who after many successful Encounters with the Irish whose numbers maintained the War more than their Valour though raised by the greatest incentive imaginable Natural desire of Libertie from the pressing Calamities of the Protestants there and the urgency of his Majesties affairs in England had concluded a Cessation by order of the King in 1643. Notwithstanding the Parliament-party and the Scots still carried on the War And to shew the Irish what they should trust to the Parliament in 1644 had Arraigned Mac Mahon and the Lord Macquire who a little before had broke out of Prison and after a months hiding were taken at the Kings-Bench Bar where Macquire insisted mainly on his Peerage but was over-ruled and both by a Jury of Middlesex-Gentlemen found guilty and sentenced for High-Treason for which soon after they were Executed as Traytors at Tyburn The Lord Inchiquin and the Lord Broughil condescended not likewise to this Treaty but with intermixed success stood out against the whole power of the Rebels and were at last greatly distressed To remedy this the Lord Lisle Son to the Earl of Leicester was now ordered to go for Ireland with an Army of 8000 men the Lord Muskerry was likewise General for the Irish in the Southern parts of the Kingdome who took several places of strength in a short time whereupon the Marquess of Ormond proceeded to make that Cessation a kind of Peace it being judged by the Lords of the Council there not onely an expedient for their safety for the Rebels threatned to besiege Dublin but also to divide them against one another the more moderate of them who had some sence of the Kings condition and had not altogether Renounced their Loyalty being for a composure but the Popes Nuncio and the inveterate Irish such as the Family of Oneal and Masquire and generally the Popish Clergy Opposing themselves thereto Notwithstanding it took some effect for the Marquess perceiving that no good could be done at present with the Parliament of England with whom he had Treated for supplies and assistance and had in lieu of it offered the Surrender of the places he held upon conditions to them and the Forces they should send came to agreement with the Rebels there and though the King had by his Letters from Newcastle ordered him not to proceed farther to any conclusion with them according as the Parliament had desired him yet seeing the necessity of falling into the hands of the Rebels or the Parliament and considering that the King when he writ this was in restraint and so his Commands might be dispensed with and that the Kings intention was to be judged better by them who saw the necessity of it upon the place and so not give way to other mens designs and false representations of it to his Majesty received these Propositions for Peace following being signed in November 1646 from the haughty Irish who thought themselves absolute First That the exercise of the Roman Catholick Religion be in Dublin and Drogheda and in the Kingdom of Ireland as free as in Paris or Brussels Secondly That the Council-Table consist of Members true and faithful to his Majesty and who have been enemies to the Parliament Thirdly That Dublin Drogheda Team Newby Cathirly Carlingford and all Protestant Garrisons be manned by the confederate Catholicks to keep the same for the use of the King and defence of the Kingdom Fourthly That the said Counsellours Generals Commanders and Souldiers do swear and engage to fight against the said Parliament of England and all the Kings Enemies and that they will never come to any agreement with them to the prejudice of his Majesties rights or the Kingdoms Fifthly That both parties according to their Oath of Association shall to the best of their power and cunning defend the Fundamental Laws of the Kingdom the Kings rights and liberties of the Subject These the Irish insisted upon and were held in play that they should be granted with such Provisoes as should become the Kings Honour and Conscience of which if that Loyalty they pretended was any way Real they ought not to be less sollicitous than the Marquess and in the mean while the Peace to be as good as Established which indeed by the said moderate party was thenceforward observed as to his Majesties Interest in that Kingdom The Parliament to stop this Agreement a little before dispatcht away the Lord Lisle who weary of his Journey at his setting out was recalled but part of his Army was Transported with whom was Colonel Monck the after Renowned General who being Tampered with and for his Liberty having endured a long Imprisonment in the Tower for the space of three years undertook an Employment for the Parliament in Ireland The Forces shipped from Chester were neer two thousand accompanied with three Commissioners from the Parliament to the Marquess who having offered Dublin upon some Terms which they were to present to his Majesty for him to signe upon non-performance thereof on their part by keeping the Paper from
mens Fates did usher out what their devices had introduced as great Events never go unattended the Solemn League and Covenant first invented by Arguile and his Complices which had raised such a Combustion in the three Kingdoms was Sacrificed to the Flames by a Vote in Parliament the common Hang-man in ample manner burning it in several places in London which also was done all the Kingdom over with great Acclamations which being omitted hitherto when so often unwelcome occasion hath been given to recite it take it now in this its Mittimus A Solemn League and Covenant for Reformation and Defence of Religion c. WE Noblemen Barons Knights Gentlemen Citizens Burgesses Ministers of the Gospel and Commons of all sorts in the Kingdoms of England Scotland and Ireland by the providence of God living under one King and being of one Reformed Religion having before our eyes the Glory of God and the Advancement of the Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ the Honour and Happiness of the Kings Majesty and his Posterity and the true Publick Liberty Safety and Peace of the Kingdoms wherein every ones private Condition is included And calling to minde the Treacherous and Bloody Plots Conspiracies Attempts and Practises of the Enemies of God against the true Religion and Professors thereof in all places especially in these three Kingdoms ever since the Reformation of Religion and how much their Rage Power and Presumption are of late and at this time encreased and exercised whereof the deplorable Estate of the Church and Kingdom of Ireland the distressed estate of the Church and Kingdom of England and the dangerous Estate of the Church and Kingdom of Scotland are present and publick Testimonies We have now at last after other means of Supplication Remonstrance Protestations and Sufferings for the Preservation of our selves and our Religion from utter Ruine and Destruction according to the commendable practice of these Kingdoms in former times and the example of God's People in other Nations after mature deliberation resolved and determined to enter into a Mutual and Solemn League and Covenant wherein we all subscribe and each one of us for himself with our Hands lifted up to the most High God do Swear 1. THat we shall sincerely really and constantly through the Grace of God endeavour in our several Places and Callings the Preservation of the Reformed Religion in the Church of Scotland in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government against our Common Enemies The Reformation of Religion in the Kingdoms of England and Ireland in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government according to the Word of God and the Example of the best Reformed Churches and shall endeavour to bring the Churches of God in the three Kingdoms to the neerest Conjunction and Vniformity in Religion Confession of Faith Form of Church-Government Directory of Worship and Catechising That we and our Posterity after us may as Brethren live in Faith and Love and the Lord may delight to dwell in the midst of us 2. That we shall in like manner without respect of persons endeavour the extirpation of Popery Prelacy that is Church-Government by Arch-Bishops Bishops their Chancellors and Commissaries Deans Deans and Chapters Arch-Deacons and all other Ecclesiastical Officers depending on that Hierarchy Superstition Heresie Schism Prophaneness and whatsoever shall be found to be contrary to Godliness and sound Doctrine and the power of Godliness left we partake in other mens sins and thereby be in danger to receive of their plagues And that the Lord may be one and his Name one in the three Kingdoms 3. We shall with the same sincerity reality and constancy in our several Vocations endeavour with our Estates and Lives mutually to preserve the Rights and Priviledges of the Parliaments and the Liberties of the Kingdoms and to preserve and defend the Kings Majesties person and Authority in the preservation and defence of the true Religion and Liberties of the Kingdoms That the World may bear Witness with our Consciences of our Loyalty that we have no thoughts or intentions to diminish his Majesties just Power and Greatness 4. We shall also with all faithfulness endeavour the discovery of all such as have been or shall be Incendiaries Malignants or evil Instruments by hindering the Reformation of Religion dividing the King from his people or one of the Kingdoms from another or making any Faction or parties amongst the people contrary to this League and Covenant that they may be brought to publick Trial and receive condigne punishment as the degree of their offences shall require or deserve or the supreme Iudicatories of both Kingdoms respectively or others having power from them for that effect shall judge convenient 5. And whereas the happiness of a blessed Peace between these Kingdoms denied in former times to our Progenitors is by the good providence of God granted unto us and hath been lately concluded and setled by both Parliaments We shall each one of us according to our place and interest endeavour that they may remain conjoyned in a firm Peace and Vnion to all Posterity and that justice may be done upon the wilful opposers thereof in manner expressed in the precedent Article 6. We shall also according to our Places and Callings in this common Cause of Religion Liberty and Peace of the Kingdoms assist and defend all those that enter into this League and Covenant in the maintaining and pursuing thereof and shall not suffer our selves directly or indirectly by whatsoever Combination Perswasion or Terrour to be divided and withdrawn from this blessed Vnion and Conjunction whether to make defection to the contrary part or to give our selves to a detestible indifferency or neutrality in this Cause which so much concerns the Glory of God the good of the Kingdoms and Honour of the King but shall all the daies of our lives zealously and constantly continue therein against all opposition and promote the same according to our power against all Lets and Impediments whatsoever And what we are not able our selves to suppress or overcome we shall reveal or make known that it may be timely prevented or removed All which we shall doe as in the sight of God And because these Kingdoms are guilty of many sins and provocations against God and his Son Iesus Christ as is too manifest by our present distresses and dangers the fruits thereof We profess and declare before God and the World our unfeigned desire to be humbled for our own sins and for the sins of these Kingdoms especially that we have not as we ought valued the inestimable benefit of the Gospel That we have not laboured for the Purity and Power thereof and that we have not endeavoured to receive Christ in our Hearts nor to walk worthy of him in our Live◠which are the Causes of other sins and transgressions so much abounding amongst 〈◊〉 and our true unfaigned purpose desire and endeavour for our selves and all others under our Power and Charge both in publick and
must be called in England and Ireland and that in the mean time for the speedy raising of money the Nobility Gentry and Clergy should subscribe what sums of money they would advance to this service for the present occasion till the King could be otherwise helped by Subsidies To this purpose the Earl of Strafford first subscribed twenty thousand pounds the like did the Duke of Richmond and the Nobility according to the several values of their Estates The Clergy granted four shillings in the pound in their Convocation which presently followed to be paid for six years together only the City of London were refractory and could not be induced to lend one farthing to the carrying on of that War By these Loans however of the Kings Loyally affected Subjects he was again in a formidable posture and the Earl of Strafford besides his own personal disbursments had procured four Subsidies to maintain ten thousand foot and fifteen hundred Horse from the Parliament of Ireland he had newly called for which he was honourably brought into the House of Peers in the Parliament of England whither by his Majesties call from his Lieutenantship of Ireland he was then arrived to assist the King with his prudent Counsels Sir Thomas Coventry Lord Keeper of the Great Seal dieth the tenth of Ianuary after he had for fifteen years behaved himself in that place like a wise and honest man Sir Iohn Finch Chief Justice of the Common Pleas succeeds him of whom more anon Anno. Dom. 1640. THe 13th of April this year being the 16th of the Kings Reign a Parliament was summoned at Westminster at the opening whereof the King acquainted them with the affronts and indignities he had received from his Scotch Subjects whom he spared not to call Rebels which was somewhat resented by the Members of the House of Commons who out of dislike of Episcopacie here did not much favour that War against them which by a nick-name was then called Bellum Episcopale Therefore upon the Kings desires to them for a supply of money by which he might be enabled to reduce the Scots they presently started their old grievances which caused a debate whether the King or the Subjects should be relieved first for so they made the Scotch War the Kings personal and distinct business This alteration and the apparent unwillingness of the House of Commons to advance any mony except their previous desires viz. of clearing the properties of the Subject and the establishing of the true Religion and Priviledges of Parliament were confirmed and granted by the King reduced his Majesty to a present necessity and dilemma either of complying with the Scots or to take mony as he could raise it by his own credit and Authority to subdue them for there was no hopes in the Parliaments delays And this was the true Reason of the dissolving that Parliament which happened May the 5th to the great grief of all good people who were sensible of the Kings difficulties and the approaching evils The Convocation of the Clergy sate at the same time and were continued beyond the Parliaments dissolution though contrary to practice and custom where as before is said they contributed and confirmed the Grant of the fifth part of their Ecclesiastical Livings for six years towards the carrying on of the War against the Scots I may not omit the concession of the King in this affair to the Parliament wherein he offered upon the granting of him some Subsidies to remit and acquit his claim of Ship-mony and other advantages of his Prerogative At this Convocation some new Canons were made with Salvoes and dispensations for some which had been strictly heretofore enjoyned but especially and mainly for Episcopacie and the Doctrine of the Church of England in opposition to Popery was hereby established by the Oath of c. As likewise in opposition to the Scotch Covenant This Convocation ended May 29. none dissenting but Dr. Goodman Bishop of Glocester who since died a Roman Catholique and owned that faith As a testimony of the sincerity of the Arch-bishop of Canterbury in the Protestant Religion I shall here insert therefore a passage relating to these Canons Upon the Bishop of Glocester's refusal thereof the Arch-Bishop would have proceeded to the Censures of the Church immediately and therefore gave him according to the Canons three admonitions one upon the neck of another that he should forthwith subscribe and if he had not been whispered that so weighty a matter required deliberation and distance of time he would there have suspended him from his Dignities and Office This Noble Prelate for these and the like vigorous actings both in Church and State fell into the obloquy of the male contents the Chief of whom were the Nonconformists then called Puritans who abounded in London the most whereof upon a distaste taken from the censure of Mr. Pryn Dr. Bastwick and Mr. Burton did mightily maligne him so that on the ninth of May a Paper was posted upon the Exchange animating Apprentices to rise and sack his house at Lambeth next Monday which they were the more forward to do because it was rumoured that he was the first instigator of the King to dissolve the last Parliament But he had intelligence of their designes and provided to receive them According to their appointed time in the dead of the night they came to the number of five hundred and beset his house and endeavoured to enter but were quickly beaten off and glad to retreat having in some measure vented their anger against him in railing and scandalous language such as the streets were full of before in scattered Libels and breaking his glass-windows The day following many of them upon enquiry were apprehended and imprisoned but three days after forcibly rescued from thence by their Companions who broke open the Prison-doors for which one Bensted a Sea-man was apprehended and hanged afterwards in St. Georges-fields and his head and quarters set upon the several Gates of the City The Scotch Parliament now sat again and were more violent in their proceedings than before for having notice of the discontents in England they presently advanced with their Army thitherwards about the same time that the Queen was delivered of a Son Henry Duke of Glocester of whose decease we shall speak in its place The King to be in a readiness to receive them had also appointed an Army of which he made the Earl of Northumberland General and the Earl of Strafford Lieutenant-General but the Earl of Northumberland falling sick he himself sent away part of the Army under the Command of the Lord Conway and advanced out of London with the remainder and came in person to Northallerton During his March the Lord Conway had but ill success He had drawn about 1200 Horse and 3000 Foot to secure the Passes upon Tine near Newborn So far was the Scotch Army advanced under the Command
hitherto been or how small his hopes considering the high strain of those who deal with his Majesty yet he will not want Fatherly Bowels to his Subjects nor will he forget that God hath appointed him for their King with whom he treats At His Court at Oxford January 17. 1645. This was well resented by the House of Peers but the averse Commons would hear them no more at their Conference than the Kings Messages wherefore the King plies them again with a large Message wherein he shows tha reasonableness and necessity of his desires for a Treaty His Majesty being resolved not to desist though his discouragements be never so many and great from his endeavours after Peace till he see it altogether impossible thinks fit to make this Answer to the Objections of his two Houses in their Answer of the thirteenth instant against his coming to Westminster expecting still a Reply to his Messages of the fifteenth and the seventeenth which he hopes by this time have begotten better thoughts and resolutions in the Members of both Houses And first as to the innocent blood spilt he will not dispute who was the Author of it but rather presseth there should be no more it being no Argument to say There shall be no such Personal Treaty because there have been Wars it being a strong inducement to have such a Treaty to put an end to them As to the next Objection of the assistance he had from some of his Irish Subjects he saith they are Protestants who were formerly sâ—nt thither by the two Houses and impossibilitated to stay there longer by the neglect of those who sent them thither who should have better provided for them And that for Forraign Forces their Armies have swarmed with them when his Majesty had few or none Thirdly to the Princes heading an Army in the West that there are divers Garrisons yet standing for him and Forces likewise in Scotland it must be as much confessed that as yet there is no Peace and therefore is this Treaty required But his Majesty desires it may be remembred how long since he hath pressed the disbanding of all Forces the refusing whereof hath been the Cause of this Objection As to the time of fourty days limited for the Treaty whereupon they infer that he would again return to Hâ—stility his Majesty protesteth the sincerity of those resolutions he bringeth with him for Peace which if they meet with the like inclinations from them will end all these unhappy bloody differences To his requiring those engagements of the City c. for his security whosoever will call to mind the particular occasions that enforced his Majesty to leave his Cities of London and Westminster they will not think his demands unreasonable But he no way conceiveth how the Lord Mayor Aldermen Common Council and Militia of London were either subject or subordinate to their Authority there being neither Law nor practice for it and so not to be parallel'd That the breach of priviledge they mention is more likely to be infringed by hindering his Majesty from this Treaty As for Scotland and their Religion and securing the peace his Majesty conceives it was included in his former Messages particularly that of the fifteenth but his sincere meaning and endeavours are after it as he new expresseth himself for their better satisfaction Lastly he saith that there is but two ways of finally ending these distractions either by Treaty or Conquest The latter of which his Majesty hopes none will have either the impudence or impiety to wish for and for the former no better Expedient can be in the managing thereof than by his Personal assistance in it before which no Propositions can be effectual which will remove all unnecessary delays and make the greatest difficulties easie Wherefore his Majesty who is most concerned in the good of his people doth again desire a speedy Answer Amidst these importunities the King was not less sollicitous and instant at the High Court of Heaven having commanded a general Fast in Oxford upon Fryday weekly according to the laudable example of the Primitive Christians in which devotions another unhappy Cavil was raised against him by the intercepting or discovering of his Commission to the Earl of Glamorgan the Marquess of Worcester's Son impowering him to treat with the Irish for which he was afterwards impeached by the Lord Digby charged on suspicion of high Treason and imprisoned for a while but soon after set at liberty as having concluded a Peace against the Honour and Dignity of his Majesty and to his great scandal with his English Subjects of which said Transactions to wipe off the imputation laid on him thereby he gives this account to his two Houses And the words of this Prince are of such unquâ—stionable credit and veracity that this affair needs no other defencâ— which was this having intermingled therewith and subjoyned his former dâ—sires for a Personal Treaty His Majesty having received infâ—rmation from the Lord-Lieutenant and Council in Ireland that the Earl of Glamorgan hath without his or their directions or privity entred into a Treaty with some Commissioners on the Romane Catholique party there and also agreed unto certain Artiâ—les highly derogatory to his Majesties honour and Royal dignity and prejudicial to the Protestant Religion there whereupon the said Earl is arrested c. hath thought fit to give this relation thereof to shew how contrary it was to his Majesties intention and directions the Earls Commission being onely to raise Forces in that Kingdom and to conduct them into this for his Majesties service and not to treat about any thing else much less about Religion or any propriety belonging to their Church or Laity That what the Earl did there came to his knowledge meerly by accident protesting that until the news of the said Earls restraint he had no notice of any Capitulation with those Rebels so destructive to Church and State and repugnant to his Majesties publique professions That therefore he is so far from considering any of those Articles framed as aforesaid that he doth absolutely disown the said Earl therein having given order to his Lieutenant there the Marquess of Oâ—mond to proceed against the said Earl as one who either out of falseness presumption or folly hath hazarded the blemishing of his Majesties reputation of his own head c. But true it is that for the necessary preservation of his Majesties Protestant Subjects in Ireland whose case was dayly represented unto him to be desperate his Majesty had given a Commission to his Lieutenant to treat and conclude such a Peace there as might be for the safety of that Crown c. And yet if the Houses will admit of a personal Treaty with him at London and will send him a Pass or Safe-Conduct for a Messenger to be sent immediately to Ireland he will dispatch one thither to prevent any accident that may hinder his Majesties Resolution of leaving the Manage of the
least Syllable they wrâ—â—â—â—r uttered in his behalf They desire not to be misunderstood and it is impossible for any man to understand them aright their Language and Actions being so distanced yet so plausible and swimmingly they carried it that no Party was disobliged save the Presbyterian with whom upon any slâ—nder pretenceâ— they desired and had offered to be at open defiance But their conclusion of this Epistle bewrayed all and gave some light to thâ—se designes in the dark behind in that they so voluntarily offered to disband and to take it for an honour to be dismist thoâ—gh with a Reserve of a Settlement when as a more honourable service and a most Christian work of assisting their poor Countrymen in Ireland was with so much indignation and mercilesness upbraided and refused by them But of this enough The Armies now thinking the King securely confident turned their designes upon the City which seeing they could not separate from the Parliament and because the late purge of the 11 Members had not awed them sufficiently though they had patiently enough put it up considering their insolence to the King on his demand of their Five Members the Country being lulled also by their pretences they by a Remonstrance demand the Militia of London to be put into other hands which insolent bravado inâ—â—â—gated this Petition to the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor c. of the City of London being stiled The humble Petition of the Citizens Commanders Souldiers and Officers in the Regiments of Trained-bands and Auxiliaries Apprentices Sea-Commanders Sea-men and Water-men of the same City That your Petitioners taking into serious consideration that their Religion his Majesties Honour and Safety the Priviledges of Parliament and Liberties of the Subject are at present greatly endangered and like to be destroyed and also sadly weighing with our selves what means might likely prove the most effectual to procure a firm and lasting Peace without a further effusion of Christian English-blood We are therefore entred into a solemn Engagement which is hereunto annexed and do humbly desire that this whole City may joyn together by all Lawful and possible means as one man in hearty endeavours for his Majesties present coming up to his two Houses of Parliament with Honour Safety and Freedom and that without the approach of the Army there to confirm such things as he hath granted in his Message of the 12th of May last which was his Answer to the Prâ—positions from Holdenby not inserted because insignificant to that unreasonableness of the Parliament being loth to weary the Reader with the Kings unwearied desirâ—s after Peace to no purpose in Answer to those Propositions of both Kingdoms And that by a personal Treaty with his two Houses of Parliament and the Commissioners of Scotland such things as are yet in difference may be speedily settled and a firm and lasting Peace established All which we desire may be presented to both Houses of Parliament from this Honourable Assembly The Solemn Engagement so was it called run thus Whereas we have entred into a Solemn League and Covenant for Reformation and Defence of Religion the Honour and Happiness of the King the Priviledges of Parliament c. All which we do evidently perceive not onely to be endangered but ready to be destroyed we do therefore in pursuance of our said Covenant Oath of Allegiance Oath of every Free-man and Protestations Solemnly engage our selves and Vow unto Almighty God that we will to the utmost of our power ardently endeavour that his Majesty may speedily come to his 〈◊〉 Houses of Parliament to the end here specified For effecting whereof we do protest and re-oblige our selves as in the presence of God the searcher of all hearts with our Lives and Fortunes to endeavour what in us lies to preserve and defend his Majesties Royal person and Authority the Priviledges c. and the Cities of London and Westminstâ—r and Lines of Communication and all other that shall adhere to us in the said Engagement Nor shall we by any means admit suffer or endure any kind of Neutrality in this common Cause of God the King and Kingdâ—m as we do expect the blessing of God whose help we crave and wholly devolve our selves upon in this our undertaking This was the honestest and most genuine aspect as to the fair pretences of the Covenant Presbyterâ— ever appeared in here being some realities of those many semblances that Party had made before and shewed that there was a sober misled number and that for the major part too who were onely Church-dissenters hurt onely in their opinions not festered or corrupted in their affections to the State the Kings Person and Government For they prosecuted this Confederacy so vigorously and with all manner of diligence openly averring the justice and equity of his Majesties offers listing and encouraging all men to a present undertaking of his quarrel of which more particularly by and by that the Indâ—pendents perceiving the sudden dangerous consequence thereof they prevailed upon the Houses in a Vote which they wire-drawed by arguments of the indignity and affront and breaches of Priviledge of Parliament by such illegal and Tumultuous Combinations and got it digested in a Declaration â—orbidding all subscriptions to the said Engagement See it here transcribed Saturday 14 Iuly 1647. The Lords and Commons having seen a printed Paper entituled A Petition to the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor c. and the names of divers Citizens c. together with a dangerous Engagement of the same persons by Oath and Vow concerning the Kings present coming to the Parliament upon terms far different from those which both Houses after mature deliberation have declared to be necessary for the good and safety of the Kingdom casting reflexions upon the proceedings both of the Parliament and Army and â—â—nding to embroil the Kingdom in a new War And the Lords and Commons taking notice of great endeavours used by divers ill-affected persons to get subscriptions thereunto whereby well-meaning people may be misled do therefore declare That whosoever after publication or notice hereof shall proceed with or promote or set his name to or give consent that his name be set to or any way joyn in the said Engagement shall be deemed and adjudged guilty of high Treason and shall forfeit Life and Estate as in cases of high Treason accustomed Mark how eagerly they fall upon men the very same persons credibly whom at first they had put upon the very same course to commence our Confusions that is now by their Authority high Treason which by their Lawless perswasions then was but the Liberty of the Subject the birth-right of English Free-men A good caution for the Vulgar and for such Democraticks also how they imbibe or how they instil such dangerous and leud suggestions not warranted by Law which every unhappy emergency or displeasing event may retort upon their own heads as was most apparent in the ensuing Tumults which
and to carve to the Grandees the spoils of the Kingdom which were to be secured by these misunderstandings But against these Writers there appeared a Champion of Loyalty Judge Ienkins who out of the Parliaments Wrath with the Earl of Cleveland Sir Lewis Dives Sir Iohn Stawel and others Royalists was Committed to the Tower and being brought to the Chancery-Bar refused to own the Court and the Authority thereof and so was remanded in Order to a Tryal at the Kings-Bench where in the meâ—n while he fully Answered all those Cavils against the King by Reason Law and from the Parliaments own words and Declarations ridling their nice time-serving distinction of the Kings Person and Authority his Politick and Natural Capacity to be a meer Fiction never heard of before and that their as bold assumption of the Kings Vertual presence in the two Houses was also and alike Treasonable as he cited in the Case of the two Spencers in the 7 of Edward the 2. from their own Oracle Sir Edward Coke in the 7 part of his Reports fol. 11. He then runs over the whole Case and state of the Question and Dispute betwixt the Royalists and Parliamentarians which being published incredible it is how greedily they were bought up and how many honest people undeceived so that His Majesties Cause was every where under the nose of the Faction well spoken of We will for the honour of that Noble person give this short and summary account of it as a Sea-mark to Posterity First The Royalists have aided the King in this War contrary to the Parliaments Negative Oath and Votes warranted by the Statute of 25 Ed. 2. ch 2. They have maintained the Commission of Array by the Kings Command against their Votes by the Statute of the 5 Hen. 4.3 They have maintained Arch-bishops Bishops c. from Magna Charta and many other Statutes 4. They have maintained the Book of Common prayer warranted by five Acts of Parliament in Edw. 6. Queen Eliz. for Libels against which and Church-Government some have been Executed 5. They maintained the Militia of the Kingdom to belong to the King from the Statute of the 7 Edw. 1. and many Statutes since 6. They maintained the Counterfeiting of the Kings Great Seal to be High Treason as likewise the usurpation of the Kings Forts Ports and Shipping c. from the said Statute of 25 Ed. 3. and divers others since and the practice of all times 7. They maintain that the King is the only Supreme Governour in all Cases the Parliament that his Majestie is to be governed by them The former's warrant is the Statute of Queen Eliz. c. 8. They maintain that the King is King by an inherent Birth-right by Nature by Gods Law and by the law of the Land These say that his Kingly Right is an Office upon Trust. Their warrant is the Statute of the 1 of King James and the 5 of Queen Eliz. 9. They maintain that the politick capacity is not to be severed from the natural vide Coke as before their Oracle who hath declared to posterity that it is Damnable Detestable and Execrable Treason 10. They maintain that who aids the King at home or abroad ought not to be molested or questioned for the same These practice the contrary Their warrant is the Statute of 11 Hen. 7. 11. They maintain that the King hath power to disassent to any Bill agreed by the two Houses which these deny Their warrant is the Statute of 2 Hen. 5. the practice of all times the 1 Car. ch 7. and 1 Jam. ch 1. 12. They maintain that Parliaments ought to be holden in grave and peaceable manner without Tumults These abet and keep guards of armed men to wait upon them Their warrant is the Statute of 7 Edw. 2. 13. They maintain that there is no State within this Kingdom but the Kings Majesty and that to adhere to any other State within this Kingdom is High Treason Their warrant is the 3 of King Jam. and 23 Eliz. 14. They maintain that to levy a War to remove Counsellours to alter Religion or any Law established is High Treason These hold to the contrary Their warrant is the resolution of the Iudges Queen Elizabeth and Sir Edward Coke 15. They maintain that no man should be imprisoned put out of his lands but by due Course of Law and that no man ought to be adjudged to Death but by the Law established These have practised the contrary in London Bristol and Kent Their warrant is Magna Charta ch 29. The Petition of Right 3 Car. and divers others 16. They believe what the Laws say that the King can do no wrong that He is Gods Lieutenant and not able to do an unjust thing These charge Him with the spoil and blood of His Subjects which false imputation was like the rest of their actions contrary to all Law Reason Christianity or Humanity This eye-salve made the wilfully blinde more peevish and fuller of smart and anguish so that they were resolved to have hanged him but he had so hedged up their way to it by upbraiding them with their former Illegal and Tyrannical Cruelty that they only kept him in a strict duress which was enlarged by degrees till the time of Restitution 1660 when he was in health and at perfect freedom He was a great stickler likewise in the Feud betwixt the Presbyterian and Independent siding with the Army and doctrinating them with the Principles of Allegiance which they pretended to and animating them against the Parliament by perswading them that all their Ordinances made for their Indemnity and Arrears were insignificant and invalid and were but so many blinds for the present and that their security and satisfaction depended wholly upon the King which designe of his in that juncture of time did operate successfully until the cause of the contention ceasing Cromwel having mastered and surmounted all the rubs to his designe the effect the ruine of both likewise failed Miserable now were the complaints from several parts of the Kingdom by reason of the burden of Free-quarter In the third year of King Charles upon the Expedition for the Isle of Rhee the Lords and Commons in their Petition of Right when not above 2 or 3000 Souldiers were thinly Quartered upon the people but for a Month or two complained thereof to his Majesty as a great grievance contrary to the Laws and Customs of the Realm and humbly prayed as their right according to the Law of the Land that he would remove it which his Majesty presently granted Yet now though the Country was ten times more oppressed no remedy could be had the Army under pretence of Lodging Fire and Candle taking all other necessaries for which if at any time they pretended to offer money yet durst none take it for fear of greater damage the spoiler being only triable by a Council of War This the Souldiers were taught likewise by their Adjutators to
actions therein The third was An Act whereby all Titles and Honour of Peerage conferred on any since the 20 of May 1642. being the day that the Lord Keeper Littleton deserted the Parliament and carried away the Seal were Declared Void And it was further to be Enacted that no person that shall hereafter be made a Peer or his Heirs shall sit or Vote in the Parliament of England without the consent of both Houses of Parliament The fourth was An Act concerning the Adjournment of both Houses of Parliament whereby it was Declared that when and wither the two Houses shall think fit to Adjourn themselves the said Adjournments shall at all times be valid and good and shall not be judged or deemed to end or determine the Session of this Parliament The Proposals were 1. That the new Seal be Confirmed and the old Great Seal and all things passed under it since May 1642. be made Void 2. That Acts be Passed for raising moneys to pay publike Debts 3. That Members of both Houses put from their places by the King be restored 4. That the Cessation in Ireland be made Void and the War left to both Houses 5. That An Act of Indempuity be passed 6. That the Court of Wards be taken away and such Tenures turned into common Soccage 7. That the Treaties between England and Scotland be confirmed and Conservators of the Peace and Vnion appointed 8. That â—he Arrears of the Army be paid out of Bishops Lands Forfeited Estates and Forrests 9. That An Act be passed for abolishing Bishops and all appendants to them 10. That the Ordinance of disposing Bishops Lands be confirmed by Act. 11. That An Act be passed for the sale of Church-lands 12. That Delinquents be proceeded against and their Estates disposed of according to their several Qualifications 13. That an Act be passed for discharge of publike Debts 14. That Acts be passed for setâ—ling the Presbyterian Government and Directory Fâ—urteen of the 39 Articles revised by the Assembly of Divines Rules and Directions concerning suspension from the Lords-Supper 15. That the chief Officers in England and Ireland be named by both Houses 16. That an Act be passed for the conviction of Popish Recusants 17. That an Act be passed for the Education of the Children of Papists by Protestants 18. and 19. Against Papists for levying penalties and prohibiting the hearing of Mass. 20. An Act be passed for Observation of the Lords-day 21. A Bill for Suppressing Innovations 22. And Advancement of Preaching 23. And against Pluralities and Non-residencie Withâ—l The Commissioners were to desire His Majesty to give His Royal Assent to those four Bills by His Letters Patents under the Great Seal of England Signed by His Hand and Notified to the Lords and Commons Assembled together in the House of Peers it not standing then with the safety of the Kingdom for His Majesty to do it otherwise to wit at London and a Bill to be drawn for such Letters Patents to be presented Him and then a Warrant to Edward Earl of Manchester c. whereupon a Committee shall be sent to the Isle of Wight to Treat with Him only It was not intended to shew these shapeless abortions of Laws but that they should have been buried in their Chaos yet being the though unprepared matter of this beautiful Form of the Kings Answer the darkness of the one occasioning and preceding the light of the other they are here represented in this unreasonable lump an◠〈◊〉 Nothing indeed shews them better or it may be said worse so that they 〈…〉 Paraphrase or Comment Give me leave only to insert thâ— Scots sense of 〈◊〉 Bills and Proposals The Commissioners of Scotlanâ— having understood the proceeding of the Parliament in the business now 〈◊〉 publikely protested against it here and immediately followed the Commissioâ—ers to the Isle of Wight where they likewise presented His Majesty with this Paper There is nothing which we have more constantly endeavoured and do more earnestly desire than a good Agreement and happy Vnion between Your Majesty and your Parliaments of both Kingdoms neither have we left any means unessayed that by united Councils with the Parliament of England and making joynt applications to Your Majesty there might be a composition of all differences But the new Propositions communicated to us by the two Houses and the Bills therewith presented to Your Majesty are so prejudicial to Religion the Crown the Vnion and Interest of the Kingdoms and so far different from the former proceedings and engagements betwixt the Kingdoms as we cannot concur therein Therefore we do in the name of the Kingdom of Scotland dissent from these Proposals and Bills tendred to Your Majesty Lowden Lauderdale Charles Erskin Kennedy Berclay This was the first equal and good Office meant the King though they had greater concerns of their own but it something served to justifie the King to His people in His refusal to Sign them The Kings Answer was as followeth For the Speaker of the Lords House pro tempore to be Communicated c. CHARLES REX THe necessity of complying with all engaged Interests in these great distempers for a perfect Settlement of Peace His Majesty finds to be none of the least difficulties he hath met with since the time of His afflictions which is too visible when at the same time that the two Houses of the English Parliament do present to His Majesty several Bills and Propositions for His Consent the Commissioners for Scotland do openly protest against them so that were nothing in the case but the consideration of that difference His Majesty cannot imagine how to give such an Answer to what is now proposed as thereby to promise himself his great End A Perfect Peace And when his Majesty further considers how impossible it is in the condition he now stands to fulfil the desires of his two Houses since the onely ancient and known ways of passing Laws are either by his Majesties personal Assent in the House of Peers or by Commission under his Great Seal of England He cannot but wonder at such failings in the manner of Address which is now made unto him unless his two Houses intend that his Majesty shall allow of a Great Seal made without his Authority before there be any consideration had thereupon in a Treaty which as it may hereafter hazard the security it self so for the present it seems very unreasonable to his Majesty And though his Majesty is willing to believe that the intention of very many in both Houses in sending those Bills before a Treaty was onely to obtain a Trust from him and not to take any advantage by passing them to force other things from him which are either against his Conscience or Honour yet his Majesty believes it's clear to all understandings that these Bills contain as they are now Penned not onely the devesting himself of all Soveraignty and that without possibility of recovering it either to him or his
that I may be in the same state of Freedom I was in when I was last at Hampton-Court And indeed less cannot in any reasonable measure make good those offers which you have made me by your Votes For how can I Treat with Honour so long as people are terrified with Votes and Orders against coming to speak or write to me And am I honourably Treated so long as there is none about me except a Barber who came now with the Commissioners that ever I named to wait upon me Or with Freedom until I may call such to me of whose service I shall have use in so great and difficult a work And for Safety I speak not of my Person having no apprehension that way how can I judge to make a safe and well-grounded Peace until I may know without disguise the true present state of all my Dominions and particularly of all those whose Interests are necessarily concerned in the Peace of the Kingdoms Which leads me naturally to the last necessary demand I shall make for the bringing this Treaty to an happy end which is That you alone or you and I joyntly do invite the Scots to send some persons authorized by them to treat upon such Propositions as they shall make For certainly the Publique and Necessary Interest they have in this great Settlement is so clearly plain to all the world that I believe no body will deny the necessity of their concurrence in order to a durable Peace Wherefore I will only say that as I am a King of both Nations so will I yield to none in either Kingdom for being truly and zealously affected for the Good and Honour of both my resolution being never to be partial for either to the prejudice of the other Now as to the place because I conceive it to be rather a circumstantial than a real part of this Treaty I shall not much insist upon it I name Newport in this Isle yet the fervent zeal I have that a speedy end be put to these unhappy distractions doth force me earnestly to desire you to consider what a great loss of time it will be to Treat so far from the Body of my two Houses when every small Debate of which doubtless there will be many must be transmitted to Westminster before they be concluded And really I think though to some it may seem a Paradox that peoples minds will be much more apt to settle seeing me Treat in or near London than in the Isle because so long as I am here it will never be believed by many that I am really so free as before this Treaty begin I expect to be And so I leave and recommend this Point to your serious consideration And thus I have not only fully accepted of the Treaty which you have propounded to me by the Votes of the 3 of this Month but also given it all the furtherance that lies in me by demanding the necessary means for the effectual performance thereof All which are so necessarily implied by though not particularly mentioned in the Votes that I can no way doubt of your ready compliance with me herein I have now no more to say but to conjure you by all that is dear to Christians Honest Men or good Patriots that you will make all the expedition possible to begin this happy Work by hasting down your Commissioners fully authorized and well instructed and by enabling me as I have shewed you to Treat Praying the God of Peace so to bless our endeavours that all my Dominions may speedily enjoy a safe and well-grounded Peace Carisbroke Aug. 10. All which desires of the King were assented to to their full intent and purpose and five Lords and ten Commoners appointed Commissioners for the Treaty whose names were as followeth The Earls of Northumberland Pembroke Salisbury Middlesex and Lord Viscount Say The Lord Wenman Mr. Denzil Hollis Mr. William Pierpoint Sir Henry Vane Junior Sir Harbottle Grimstone Mr. Samuel Brown Sir Iohn Potts Mr. Crew Serjeant Glyn and Mr. Bulkley The Treaty to begin ten days after the Kings Assent to Treat as is agreed and to continue from thence forty days Resolved likewise That His Majesty be desired to Pass his Royal Word to make his constant Residence in the Isle of Wight from the time of his Assenting to Treat until twenty days after the Treaty be ended unless it be otherwise desired by both Houses of Parliament and that after His Royal Word so Passed and his Assent given to Treat as aforesaid from thenceforth the former Instructions of the 16 of Nov. 1647. be vacated and these observed and that Col. Hammond be authorized to receive His Majesties Royal Word Passed to his two Houses of Parliament for his Residence in the Isle of Wight accordingly as is formerly exprest and shall certifie the same to both Houses They likewise Repealed the Votes of Non-address and desired a List from his Majesty of those he would have to attend him Whereupon the King by his Message of the 28 of August not being in the former limitation accepted of the Treaty desiring the expediting of the Commissioners and sent them a List of those persons he desired to be with him First for the Journey into Scotland he desired a Pass for Mr. Parsons one of the Grooms of his Presence-Chamber next the Duke of Richmond Marquess Hartford Earl of Lindsey Earl of Southampton Gentlemen of his Bed-chamber Mr. Kirk Mr. Leviston Mr. Murray Mr. Iohn Ashburnham Mr. Legg Grooms of his said Bed-chamber Mr. Hen Mr. Rogers Mr. Lovet Pages of his Back-stairs Sir Fulk Grevil Captain Titus Captain Burroughs Mr. Cresset Abr. Dowset Firebrace to wait as they did or as he should appoint them The Bishops of London and Salisbury Drs Shelden Hammond Oldsworth Sanderson Turner Heywood Chaplains Davis his Barber Rives Yeoman of the Robes Sir Edward Sidenham Mr. Terwhit Hunsdon Esquires Mrs Wheeler Landress Sir Thomas Gardiner Sir Orlando Bridgeman Sir Robert Holbourn Mr. Ieffrey Palmer Mr. Thomas Cook Mr. Iohn Vaughan Lawyers Sir Edward Walker Mr. Philip Warwick Mr. Nicholas Oudart Mr. Charles Whitaker Clerks and Writers Mr. Clement Kinnersley and Mr. Peter Newton to make ready the House for Treaty To which at the Kings request were after added for the Civil Law the Kings Advocate Dr. Rives Dr. Duck and these Divines the Bishops of Armagh Exeter Rochester and Worcester Dr. Ferne and Dr. Morley The Treaty began the 18th of September which the King so prudentially managed single against all the Commissioners none of his Party being suffered to assist him at the Conferences that there appeared some hopes of a right understanding The Propositions concerning Religion took up the longest time both in discourse and writing whereby he fully evinced the right of Episcopacie which his Answers with his Majesties Propositions on the 2 of Octob. being sent up to the Parliament notwithstanding produced these Votes Resolved by the
Lords and Commons c. That they are not satisfied in the Propositions made by his Majesty in his Letter and that a Letter be sent to the Commissioners in the Isle of Wight to acquaint them that the Houses do well approve of their proceedings and do give them thanks c. requiring them still to proceed punctually according to their Instructions The Sum of His Majesties Propositions was this He expressed his Consent to the Proemial or first Proposition of acknowledging his beginning the War that he might not by denying it be refused Peace but that his Consent not to be valid till all was concluded in the Treaty Concerning the Church he will Consent that the Calling and Sitting of the Assembly of Divines at Westminster be confirmed for three years by Act of Parliament and will by Act of Parliament confirm likewise the Directory for 3 years in England Ireland and Wales and the Form of Government by Presbyters for the same term Provided that his Majesty and those of his judgment and others who cannot in Conscience submit thereunto he not obliged to comply with it And that a free Consultation may be had with the Assembly of Divines in the mean time twenty of his Majesties nomination being added to them whereby it may be determined how after the said term by his Majesty and the Parliament the said Church Government and Publique Worship may be setled and the Articles of Christian Religion now delivered him may then be considered of and care taken for tender Consciences Concerning the Bishops Lands and Revenues and to the Contracts and Purchases of them His Majesty will Consent to an Act or Acts of Parliament for their satisfaction whereby the Legal Estates for Lives or for Years at their choice not exceeding ninety nine years shall be made of those Lands at the old or some more moderate rents which if it will not satisfie his Majesty will propound and consent to some other way Provided that the Propriety and Inheritance of those Lands do still remain in the Church according to the pious intentions of the Donors and the rest that shall be reserved to be for their maintenance His Majesty will give Consent for a Reformation viz. Observation of the Lords-day and such other things in these their Propositions as they have desired as also Consents to those Propositions against Papists But as to the Covenant his Majesty is not therein satisfied that he can either Signe or Swear it or Consent to impose it on the Consciences of others nor conceives it proper or useful at this time to be insisted on Touching the Militia his Majesty conceives that their Propositions demand a far larger Power over the persons of his Subjects than hath ever hitherto been warranted by the Laws and Statutes of the Realm yet considering the present distractions require more and trusting in his two Houses of Parliament that they will not abuse the Power hereby granted his Majesty will consent to an Act of Parliament wherein it shall be declared That for the space of ten years or during his Majesties whole Reign if they shall think it more satisfactory the two Houses shall have the sole disposal of the Militia and raise Mony as in their Propositions And that neither the King his Heirs or Successors or any other but such as shall act by the Authority or Approbation of the Lords and Commons shall during the space of ten years exercise any of the Powers aforesaid nor after that term without the Advice of the Lords and Commons And Consents to the entrusting the Militia into the Cities hands according to their Propositions Provided That all Patents Commissions and other Acts concerning the Premises be made and acted in his Majesties Name by Warrant signified by the Lords and Commons or such other as they shall authorize for that purpose Touching Ireland his Majesty leaves it to the Determination of his two Houses and will give his Consent as is herein hereafter expressed Touching Publick Debts his Majesty will give his Consent to such an Act for raising of Monies by general and equal Taxations for the payment and satisfying the Arrears of the Army and Publique Engagementss of the Kingdom as shall be agreed on by both Houses of Parliament and shall be ordered by them or their appointment within the space of one year after passing an Act for the same His Majesty will give Consent that all the Great Officers of State and Iudges for the said term of ten years be nominated by the Parliament to continue quamdiu se bene gesserint and in the intervals of Parliament to be nominated by such as they shall authorize His Majesty will Consent That the Militia of the City and Liberties thereof during the space of ten years may be in the ordering and Government of the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Common-Council assembled or such as they shall appoint whereof the Lord Major and the Sheriffs for the time being to be three to be employed and directed from time to time by the Parliament And that no Citizen shall be drawn forth into the Field without his own consent And an Act be passed for granting and confirming the Charters Customs c thereof And that during the said ten years the Tower of London may be in the Government of the City of London and the Chief Officers thereof during the said space to be nominated and removeable by the Common-Council as was desired in the Propositions His Majesty having thus far expressed his Consent for the present satisfaction and securing of his two Houses of Parliament and those that have adhered unto them touching the four first Propositions and other the particulars before-specified as to all the rest of the Propositions delivered to him at Hampton-Court not referring to those â—eads and to that of the Court of Wards since delivered as also to the remaining Propositions concerning Ireland His Majesty desires only when he shall come to Westminster personally to advise with his two Houses and to deliver his Opinion and Reasons of it which being done he will leave the whole matter of those remaining Propositions to the determination of his two Houses which shall prevail with him for his Consent accordingly And his Majesty doth for his own particular only propose that he may have liberty to repair forthwith to Westminster and be restored to a condition of absolute Freedom and Safety a thing which he shall never deny to any of his Subjects and to the possession of his Lands and Revenues and that an Act of Oblivion and Indemnity may pass to extend to all persons for all matters relating to the late unhappy differences which being agreed by his two Houses of Parliament his Majesty will be ready to make these his Concessions binding by giving them the force of Laws by his Royal assent Though these Condescentions nor indeed if they had been to the very letter of the
God knows I do not desire to know I pray God forgive them But this is not all my charitie must go further I wish that they may repent for in â—eed they have committed a great sin in that particular I pray God with St. Stephen that this be not laid to their charge And withâ—â— that they may take the way to the Peace of the Kingdom for my charitie commands me not onely to forgive particular men but to endeavour to the last gasp the Peace of the Kingdom So Sirs I do wish with all my soul I see there are some here that will carry it further that they endeavour the Peace of the Kingdom Sirs I must shew you both how you are out of the way and put you in a way First You are out of the way for certainly all the ways you ever had yet as far as I could finde by any thing is in the way of Conquest certainly this is an ill way for Conquest in my Opinion is never just except there be a just and good cause either for matter of wrong or a just Title and then if ye go beyond the first quarrel that ye have that makes it unjust at the end that was just at first for if there be onely matter of Conquest then it is a great Robbery as a Pirate said to Alexander That he was a great Robber himself was but a petty Robber And so Sirs I think for the way that you are in you are much out of the way Now Sirs to put you in the way believe it you shall never go right nor God will never prosper you until you give God his due the King his due that is my Successor and the people their due I am as much for them as any of you You must give God his due by regulating rightly his Church according to the Scripture which is now out of order And to set you in a way particularly now I cannot but onely this A National Synod freely called freely debating among themselves must settle this When every Opinion is freely heard For the King indeed I will not the Laws of the Land will clearly instruct you for that therefore because it concerns mine own particular I onely give you a touch of it For the People truly I desire their Libertie and freedom as much as any body whomsoever But I must tell you that their Libertie and their freedom consist in having Government under those Laws by which their lives and theirs may be most their own it is not in having a share in the Government that is nothing pertaining to them A Subject and a Soveraign are clean different things and therefore until you do that I mean that you put the People into that Libertie as I say certainly they will never enjoy themselves Sirs it was for this that now I am come hither for if I would have given way to an Arbitrary way for to have all Laws changed according to the Power of the Sword I need not have come here and therefore I tell you and I pray God it be not laid to your charge that I am the MARTYR of the people In troath Sirs I shall not hold you any longer I will onely say this to you that I could have desired some little time longer because I would have put this what I have said a little better digested than I have done and therefore I hope you will excuse me I have delivered my Conscience I pray God you take those Courses that are best for the good of the Kingdome and your own Salvation Dr. Juxon Will your Majesty though your Majesties affections may be very well known to Religion yet it may be expected that you should say somewhat for the worlds satisfaction King I thank you very heartily my Lord for that I had almost forgotten it Introath Sirs My Conscience in Religion I think is very well known to all the world and therefore I declare before you all That I die a Christian according to the profession of the Church of England as I found it left me by my Father and this honest man I think will witness it Then turning to the Officers said Sirs excuse me for this same I have a good cause and I have a gracious God I will say no more Then turning to Colonel Hacker he said Take care they do not put me to pain and Sir this and it please you But then a Gentleman coming near the Ax the King said Take heed of the Ax pray take heed of the Ax. Then the King speaking to the Executioner said I shall say but very short prayers and when I thrust out my hands Then the King called to Doctor Iuxon for his Night-cap and having put it on he said to the Executioner Does my hair trouble you who desired him to put it all under his Cap which the King did accordingly by the help of the Executioner and the Bishop Then the King turning to Doctor Iuxon said I have a good Cause and a gracious God on my side Dr. Juxon There is but one Stage more this Stage is turbulent and troublesome it is a short one But you may consider it will soon carry you a very great way it will carry you from Earth to Heaven and there you will finde a great deal of cordial Ioy and Comfort King I go from a corruptible to an incorruptible Crown where no disturbance can be no disturbance in the world Dr. Juxon You are exchanged from a Temporary to an Eternal Crown a good exchange The King then said to the Executioner Is my hair well Then the King took off his Cloak and his George giving his George to Doctor Iuxon saying Remember Then the King put off his Doublet and being in his Wast-coat put his Cloak on again then looking upon the Block said to the Executioner You must set it fast Executioner It is fast Sir King When I put my hands out this way stretching them out then After that having said two or three words as he stood to himself with hands and eyes lift up Immediately stooping down he laid his Neck upon the Block and then the Executioner again putting his hair under his Cap the King thinking he had been going to strike said Stay for the Signe Executioner Yes I will and it please your Majesty And after a very little pause the King stretching forth his Hands the Executioner at one Blow severed his Head from his Body The Head being off the Executioner held it up and shewed it to the people which done it was with the Body put in a Coffin covered with Black Velvet for that purpose and conveyed into his Lodgings there And from thence it was carried to his House at Saint Iames's where his Body was Embalmed and put in a Coffin of Lead and laid there a fortnight to be seen by the people and on the Wednesday sevennight his Corps Embalmed and Coffined in
Conditions some of thâ—se that did being Imprisoned the Court and Camp being sadly affected with this loss The Provost of Edenburgh Sir James Stuart is in Town but keeps private lest the Wives in the streets should abuse him as they did Straughan and Ker at their coming hither the Lord Warreston who came as he pretended for the Records is not yet returned but stays in Town for he cares not to go back He and the rest of that Remonstrant Tribe are Summoned to come to Parliament Colonel Dundass Straughan and Captain Giffan with Abernethy Swinton and Andrews were else to be Excommunicated and Declared Traytors which was done January 14. Mr. James Guthry and the Earl of Lothian and General Holborn were generally suspected with Sir John Chiefly who are every day expected in our Quarters Rutherford and Gillespy are likewise dissenters from the present manage of affairs Ker saith his wound on his right hand is Gods Justice against him for lifting it up against us in such a cause as he maintained And so I will conclude all those Treasonable practices and fomented divisions of that Nation against their common Interest Having first acquainted the Reader with an occurrence of the like nature from the better mannered and necessity-instructed Kirk who yet would fain have been paramount and were most boldly sollicitous with the King to consent to some other Acts mis-becoming the Majesty of a Soveraign and the Honour of His Crown which the King generously and disdainfully refusing there flew such rumours and whispers as if some disloyal and dishonest Counsels were hatching against his Person whereupon the King privately withdrew himself to his Northern Friends and Forces under General Middleton till such time as a right understanding Hostages being given on both sides as to his party and theirs was setled betwixt them which was firmly and absolutely concluded in an unanimous resolve of his immediate Coronation which was solemnly performed on the first of Ianuary in this manner First the Kings Majesty in a Princes Robe was conducted from his Bedchamber by the Constable on his right hand and the Marshal on his left to the Chamber of Presence and there was placed in a Chair under a Cloath of State by the Lord of Angus Chamberlain appointed by the King for that day and there after a little repose the Noblemen with the Commissioners of Barons and Burroughs entred the Hall and presented themselves before His Majesty Thereafter the Lord Chancellor spoke to the King to this purpose Sir your good Subjects desire You may be Crowned as the righteous and Lawful Heir of the Crown of this Kingdom that You would maintain Religion as it is presently professed and established Also that You would be graciously pleased to receive them under Your Highness's Protection to Govern them by the Laws of the Kingdom and to defend them in their Rights and Liberties by Your Royal Power offering themselves in most humble manner to your Majesty with their Vows to bestow Land Life and what else is in their Power for the maintenance of Religion for the safety of Your Majesties sacred Person and maintenance of Your Crown which they intreat Your Majesty to accept and pray Almighty God that for many years You may happily enjoy the same The King made this Answer I do esteem the affections of my good People more than the Crowns of many Kingdoms and shall be ready by Gods assistance to bestow my Life in their defence wishing to live no longer than I may see Religion and this Kingdom flourish in all happiness Thereafter the Commissioners of Borroughs and Barons and the Noblemen accompanied His Majesty to the Kirk of Scoone in order and rank according to their quality two and two The Spurs being carried by the Earl of Eglington Next the Sword by the Earl of Rothes Then the Scepter by the Earl of Crawford and Lindsey And the Crown by the Marquess of Arguile immediately before the King Then came the King with the great Constable on the right hand and the great Marshal on his left his Train being carried by the Lord Ereskine the Lord Montgomery the Lord Newbottle and the Lord Machlelene four Earls Eldest Sons under a Canopy of Crimson-Velvet supported by six Earls Sons to wit the Lord Drummond the Lord Carnegie the Lord Ramsey the Lord Iohnston the Lord Brâ—chin the Lord Yester and the six Carriers supported by six Noblemens Sons Thus the Kings Majesty entred the Kirk The Kirk being fitted and prepared with a Table whereupon the Honours were laid and a Chair set in a fitting place for His Majesty to hear a Sermon over against the Minister and another Chair on the other side where He received the Crown before which there was a Bench decently covered as also for seats about for Noblemen Barons and Burgesses and there being also a Stage in a fit place erected of 24 foot square about four foot high from the ground covered with Carpets with two stairs one from the West another to the East upon which great Stage there was another little Stage erected some two foot high ascending by two steps on which the Throne or Chair of State was set The Kirk thus fittingly prepared the Kings Majesty entred the same accompanied as aforesaid and first set himself in his Chair for hearing of Sermon which was Preached by Mr. Robert Douglas A la mode the Covenant About this time the young Prince of Aurange was Christened at which celebration the States General of Holland of Amsterdam of Delf were his God-fathers and the Queen of Bohemia and the old Princess of Aurange his God-mothers and was named William Frederick Henry But this being over the King intended to march Northward to hasten the said levies by his presence but the Nobility and Gentry of the High-lands promising to effect that affair with all expedition he went no further than Aberdeen having more occasion to continue in the Southern parts to keep the newly re-cemented friendship betwixt both parties entire and from other new Ruptures and to countenance his friends who now were admitted into the chiefest places of Trust and Offices Duke Hamilton being received into the Army Earl of Crawford made Governour of Sterling Middleton Lieutenant-General and other Loyal Scotch Lords in Offices and Commands befitting their quality and to their seats in Parliament which was to set down the 15 of February the King diverting himself in the mean time at his house of Falkland care being taken to secure the Castle of Fife from any Invasion two attempts that way being already made in the beginning of February upon Brunt Island which nevertheless miscarried with a great loss of men but the want of Provisions the English then laboured under and their having hopes of plenty on that â—ide Fife being the fertilest and most abounding place in all Scotland made them every day contrive and venture a landing thereon and flat-bottomed Boats and Sloops were
disaffection to the Government but not many they were that were upon this account outed and discharged By virtue of the Allyance and Treaty with the Crown of Portugal several Forces were sent hence to Assist that Kingdome against the prevailing Power of the Spaniard who just at the Majority of that King and his taking the Government into his own hands had made a formidable Invasion and Progress into those Dominions These Forces most of them immediately set Sayl from Dunkirke some Troops and Companies Landing there from Leith all Commanded in chief by his Excellency the Earl of Inchiqueen the famous Souldier in Ireland Colonel Morgan late Governour of Scotland being his Major-General they arrived well and in good health there on the Twenty ninth of Iune and after a little refreshment and being prohibited to eat the Fruit of the Countrey for fear of Fevours and other Distempers advanced towards the Campania but the Spaniard having notice thereof thought it not advisable to Fight with them in their strength and vigour but to waste them with the usual incommodities of those Climates to us and retreated back again immediately into Spain In Iuly following the Duke of Ormond Lord Lieutenant of Ireland His Majesty having given him a very Honourable and friendly farewel and having received the like civilities from the whole Court set forwards in his Journey and Voyage to that Kingdome where he Arrived three weeks after and was most Magnificently received into the City of Dublin and congratulated and welcomed by the whole Body of that People in Parliament to whom in their Assembly he delivered himself in a most Excellent Speech There was mention made before of the Commissioners for Regulating Corporations for the securing of the peace of the Kingdome by these Gentlemen named for each County City and Borrough it was ordered besides the displacing of Officers that the Walls of the respective Cities and Towns of Gloucester and Coventry Northampton Taunton and Leicester and other places which had Bulworks and Garrisons and maintained them throughout the War against the King and were the Reception of and maintenance the Rebellion should be demolished as Examples and Security to successive times the County-Troops and respective Trained Band-Regiments guarded these places when they were Demolished Dr. Gauden the Bishop of Exeter died about this time September as also William Lenthal the Speaker of the Long Parliament very penitently The Town of Dunkirk taken from the Spaniard in One thousand six hundred fifty eight and kept ever since at a vast and great charge was by advice of the Lords of his Majesties Privy Councel as being never annexed by Act of Parliament to the Crown of England returned to the French King who upon surrender of it in the year aforesaid delivered it unto us Now for the sum of Five hundred Thousand pounds fully paid that Fortress was delivered into the Possession of the French under the Government of the Count d'Eâ—irades and his Deputy the Marquess of Montpear two English Companies with the Governour only Guarding the Gates at their entrance and delivering the Keys of the same Town The Honourable Sir Edward Nicholas having served his Majesty and his Father as Secretary of State for many years obtained his Quietus est from the King who would have dignified his Merit with a Barrony which Sir Edward modestly declined because His Majesty should not increase the Nobility and Sir Henry Bennet late the Kings Resident in Spain a very excellent Person was named to that Preferment Among these and the like Honours conferred by the King upon his Faithful and Loyal Servants and Subjects which the purport of this Chronicle obliged me to take notice off and be their Herauld this time challenged my observance of a Dignity conferred on that eminent and worthy Personage Dr. Iohn Berkenhead Knighted with a Testimony from his Majesty that he had done his Father and himself very signal and great services during the last twenty years Revolution and there is scarce any Honest man in the Three Kingdoms who will not say Amen to this his Majesties EVGE There had been suspition of a Plot and the City Trained Bands had watched and warded every Night for the most part of the Summer ever since the Kings departure to meet the Queen but now the Design appeared the first named was one Captain Baker a New-England-man an acquaintance of Hugh Peters there and preferred to be one of Olivers Band of Pensioners this Fellow acquaints one Hill the Son of a Phanatick or Independant Preacher in the Street and tells him of a Designe and brings him acquainted at several Meetings of divers of the Conspiracy which he having good information of revealed with the names of the Conspirators to Sir Richard Brown Some of those engaged thus only met and heard and reported their discourses of Arms and other preparations to their own gang but approved the Treason so well that they never discovered it This Plot was against the Sacred Life of the King the Duke of York the noble Duke of Albemarle and Sir Richard Brown and generally the Bishops Nobility Gentry and Commonalty that were not of their Opinions and Assisted them not and they had ready prepared a draught of their Government their Councels were carried on by six who never sate twice in a Place nor could be known to any two their Commander in chief was Ludlow Colonel Danvers Mr. Nye Mr. Lockyer and one Lieutenant Strange the Captains Spencer and Taverner were favourable to the Design and would surprize Deal Castle in Kent as Windsor was certain to be theirs and the Word the Night they were to fall on which after several put offs was appointed the last of October was to be given them by George Phillips a Serjeant in the Colonels Company of the White Regiment For this the Eleventh of December the said George Phillips Thomas Tongue a Distiller of Strong Waters Francis Stubs being a Cheesmonger Iames Hind Gunner Iohn Sellers Compass-maker and Nathanael Gibs Felt-maker were Convicted by Evidence of their fellow-Conspirators Edward Rigge Bradley and others only Hind Pleaded Guilty and craved the King's Mercy they alledged they never Acted such Trayterous intentions but the Design was proved to have been communicated and laid open to them after their full Defence they were all found Guilty and on the Twenty second of December Phillips Tongue Gibs and Stubs were Executed according to Sentence but His Majesty was graciouâ—ly pleased to give their Quarters to be buried but their Heads to be set up upon several Poles two on each Tower-Hill the nearest place to the Tower On the Twenty sixth of December his Majesty to satisfie the Kingdome of his intents in reference to the unsatisfiedness of Dissenters to the Established Settlement of the Church expressed his Indulgence to their Consciences so far as such Liberty would not Disturb the Publick Peace nor entrench upon the Orthodox Religion professed and that he
Duke of Ormond who hath so often Governed this Realm hath given the greatest pledges of assurance of an happy Establishment whose beginning I will not trouble with the short-lived rumours of Commotions and Stirs now very frequent and rise by the Arts of our Male-Contents Thus far have I deduced the account of the Three Kingdoms from the most Funest War to a blessed and most promising Peace to us and our Posterity and may there be in the succeeding years of His Majesties and his Royal Progenies Reign which Almighty God derive through innumerable descents no other occasion of our Pens than the gratulatory Records of our undisturbed unalterable Repose Plenty and Tranquillity A BRIEF ACCOUNT Of the most Memorable TRANSACTIONS IN ENGLAND SCOTLAND and IRELAND AND Forein Parts From the Year 1662 to the Year 1675. LONDON Printed by I. C. for T. Basset at the George near Cliffords-Inne in Fleetstreet 1676. A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF TRANSACTIONS IN ENGLAND SCOTLAND and IRELAND c. THere is a justice due to the Memory of Actions as well as the Memory of Men and therefore since the times of Usurpation have had the favour done them as to have the Transactions of those Years publikely recorded though to the shame of those Times that had nothing but Enormity to signalize 'em with more justice may we assay to take a short view of those great and Noble Actions perform'd in the succeeding Years Not that we pretend to a History but in short â—â—â—nals and brief Collections to facilitate the way for those that shall hereafter take a larger and more considerable pains Anno Dom. 1663. THat which the expectations of people were most fix'd upon the beginning of this Year was the Session of Parliament which beginning on the 19 th of February 1662 continued to the 27 th of Iuly 1663. The first thing remarkable was a Petition of both Houses Representing that notwithstanding his Majesties unquestionable zeal and affection to the Protestant Religion manifested by his constant prosession and practice against all temptations whatsoever yet by the great resort of Iesuits and Romish Priests into the Kingdom the Subject was generally much affected with jealousie that the Popish Religion might much encrease and the Church and State be thereby insensibly disturb'd upon which the King set forth a Proclamation Commanding all Iesuits and Irish Scotch and English Priests to depart the Kingdom of England and Dominion of Wales before the 14 th of May then next ensuing upon pain of having the penalty of the Laws inflicted upon them But while they are bringing other Consultations to maturity many other things preceding the Conclusion of their deliberations are to be related In April his Majesty kept the Feast of St. George at Windsor where the Duke of Monmouth and the Prince of Denmark by his Deputy Sir George Carteret Vice-chamberlain were install'd Knights of the Garter Toward the later end of May came News from Iamaica that the English under the Command of Capt. Mymms being about 800 men had made an attempt upon the City of Campeach in the Golden Territories of the King of Spain and that they took the Town though defended with four Forts and 3000 men But the Spaniards having intelligence of their coming had sent away their Women and Riches yet though they miss'd their chief aim they took the Governour brought away 50 pieces of Ordnance and 14 Ships which were in Harbor The beginning of Iune brought News of a Conspiracie of several wicked persons in Ireland who were endeavoring to raise a new Rebellion there by surprizing the Castle of Dublin The Designe was to have been put in execution upon the 21 th of May and the Dâ—ke of Ormond first to be seiz'd To which effect divers persons with Petitions in their hands were to wait in the Castle while 80 Foot in the disguise of Handicrafts-men attended without Their business it was to trifle about for an opportunity to surprize the Guards The Plot was discovered and 500 lib. a head set upon five of the Ringleaders to what persons soever should apprehend them About this time his Majesty caus'd the Earl of Middleton's Commission as Commissioner of Scotland to cease and appointed the Earl of Rothes to succeed him in the same Quality On the third of Iune His Majesty by his Commission under the Great Seal of England to the Lord Chancellor Lord Treasurer Lord Privy Seal Duke of Albemarle Marquess of Dorchester and Lord High Chamberlain pass'd ten Bills which were all private ones but three of which the chiefest was for repair of the High-ways of Huntington Hertford and Cambridge-shires About the beginning of December Mr. Paul Rycaut Secretary to the Earl of Winchelsey came from Constantinople bringing with him the Grand Seigniors Ratifications of the several Treaties made with Argier and as a mark of the Kings satisfaction in the management of his Employment and the Message he brought His Majesty was pleas'd to honour him with a fair gold Chain and a Medal No less mindful was he of the Loyalty of his Island of Iersey and as a reward thereof muâ—â—bout the same time he order'd a stately silver Mace richly gilt to be bestowed upon the Bayliff or Chief Magistrate of the Island to be born ever after before him and his Successors as an honourable Badge of his Majesties affection to them for their constant adhering both to his Father and Himself It was received with all imaginable demonstrations of joy and the first that had the honour to have it born before him was Philip Carteret Esq. Brother to Sir George Vice-Chamberlain to his Majesty But now so loud and so hainous were the rebellious Treasons daily discovered in the North that it was thought convenient to give requitals of another nature and in the depth of winter to send a Commission of Oyer and Terminer to York for trial of the most notorious Offenders in that Conspiracie Seventeen were first arraign'd ten of which appeared to have been actually in arms at Farnley-wood The Plot was excellently open'd to have been a Designe which came from the Bishoprick about a year before and that an Intelligence was settled between the disaffected there and in Yorkshire as also in Ipswich in Suffolk and other Counties an Oath of Secresie taken and Agents employ'd at London and in the West of England for assistance In Iune preceding two Agitators were sent into Scotland to reconcile the Sectaries there who were entertained at one Oldroyd's house in Deusbury commonly known by the name of the Devil of Deusbury and afterwards divers meetings were appointed at a place called Stanh-house in York-shire Whereupon Marshden and Palmer were sent to London as Agitators to the Secret Committee there and at their return brought Orders to rise the 12 th of Octob. with assurance that the Insurrection should be general and Whitehal be attempted Nottingham Glocester and Newcastle were to be seized as Passes
Bishoprick and Deanery but he was of too great a spirit to relinquish either of them as being places conferred on him by Patent from his bountiful Master King Iames and so chose to pay the aforesaid fine which upon a new score was soon after doubled These harsh proceedings against him so exasperated his mind that in the troubles ensuing he openly sided with the Parliament In effect this whole years revolution as to matters of importance was concerned in Episcopacy But this smoak and smother in England concerning Ceremonies broke out into fire in Scotland these petty and particular discontents here being blown up there into a National dislike and abhorrence of them so that this here was but the forerunner of that conflagration there which afterwards laid waste Three Kingdoms And because of the remarkable and strange eruption and effects of it I think fit to give those Scotish Troubles their particular Narrative connext and intire together Which here follows The Troubles and Tumult in Scotland about the Service-Book Book of Canons High-Commission and Episcopacy THe great and long designed Union of the two Kingdoms of England and Scotland had taken its desired effect by the assumption of King Iames the Sixth to this Crown and the National feud between the two people thereof well allayed if not wholly extinguished being both as one body under one supream Head and Governour That King at his departing from that his Native Kingdom had left it in a very flourishing condition as ever it boasted of the State well provided for by wholsom Laws and the management thereof committed to the prudentest and most honourable of the Nobility the Church-Regiment under a godly and a learned Orthodox Episcopacy reverenced and well accepted by the people All things both in Church and State being well ordered supported and maintained by that accession of power and greatness to their Soveraign in this Kingdom that Nation continued in a firm and unvariable quiet till about the middle of the Reign of King Charles the first of blessed memory by whom as also by his Royal Father several endeavours were used for the better strengthning and perpetuating the Union aâ—oresaid by conforming the Discipline of that Church to the pattern of this Religion being the most sure and indissolvable tie and mutual security In the time of King Iames those memorable Five-Articles were made by the Assembly at Perth whereby the High-Commission the Book of Canons and other Rites and Ceremonies were introduced and established By King Charles the First the Book of Service or Common-Prayer was endeavoured likewise to be brought in it having constantly been used for twenty years before in his Majesties own Royal Chappel in that Kingdom before his Majesties Ministers of State and the Nobility and Gentry attending them And now all things appeared Retro sublapsa referri to precipitate into Confusion and Disorder the period of that peace was come which had so long blest that Kingdom Not that really and singularly that Book was the cause of those Commotions but accidentally ministring the male-contents of that Kingdom an occasion of revolt and disloyalty For the seeds of that Sedition were sown by the Plotters of the Covenant which was afterwards so magnified under the pretence of Religion long before any of the grievances or pretended innovations in Religion complained of by them were ever heard amongst them The true Original of these Tumults was a Revocation made by King Charles the first of such things as had passed away in prejudice of the Crown especially by some of the late Princes in their minorites by this course some of the principal Contrivers of this Covenant found their Estates within the danger of the Laws And though the King to rectifie that proceeding of his had made appear his clemency in waving all the advantages which the Laws afforded him not one of his Subjects being damnified by the said Revocation yet for all this the principal persons laboured a disaffection to the Government laying the envy of procuring that Revocation upon the Prelates who in this were as innocent as the thing it self onely because they hoped that the very name of Church-men or Religious persons should in the point of Faction have that operation with their followers which they conceived the Church or Religion it self might have had if they could have seen how to have perswaded them that by this Revocation either of them had been endangered Other things there were relating to the Ministers themselves the Gentry and their Farmers who paid the Tythes to the Nobility being the burthen of Impropriations This the King thought to remedy by granting out a Commission to a great number of the prime of all estates and degrees to relieve if they should see cause both the Ministers and others who suffered by that grievance This Commission was called The Commission of Superiority and Tythes which effected as to the agrieved its intended effect and for which all possible thanks were rendred to his Majesty Nor were the most of the Nobility unsensible of the advantage by this means to matter of profit but they fretted privately for being robbed of that Lordliness over the Clergy and Laity which by right of Tythe they enjoyed and therefore had recourse to the former fetch of making the Bishops when indeed it was obtained by the importunity of Clergy and Laity the Procurers also of this Commission The last ingredient to this bitter Cup which was prepared in Scotland for the three Nations was matter of Honour and Title For the King going to his Coronation there in 1631. a Parliament being called to honour the same wherein an Act passed that gave his Majesty power to appoint such Vestures for Church-men which he should hold most decent and another for ratifying all Acts heretofore made concerning the established Religion and the liberties and priviledges of the Church his Majesty finding some principal men who were suitors at the same time for the Dignities aforesaid dissenters to the confirmation and allowance of the said Acts did not confer such expected Honours but passed those by and justly advanced more Loyal persons at which they then muttered but mutined not till his Majesties departure Then they with Seditious private Libels taxed this Parliament with prevarication and obliquity in their proceedings as if it had been pack'd and also that the voyces were not truly numbred but that some Acts were past without plurality of Votes This being sifted by the Kings Privy Council there the Author was known who fled but the principal engager the Lord Balmerino was apprehended His Father had been raised by King Iames to his Barony and Fortune but for the most ungrateful of Treasons was condemned by his Peers His Son at his time fell into the same crime and condemnation but both by their Majesties favour and clemency restored to Life Honour Liberty and Estate But all these devices could not serve
uncertainty of the Kings intentions in the matters declared The Marquess Hamilton being arrived at London gave the King an account of the whole business and according to his new instructions returned back again by their appointed time the 15 th of August 1638. and entred presently into a Treaty with them about the manner of calling the General Assembly which they would not hear of but that a General Assembly should be immediately called and of the due Elections thereto when they were met themselves should be the judge For otherwise there would of necessity be some prelimitations which the freedom thereof might not suffer Upon this Emergency all things growing worse and worse the Marquess was forced upon another journey to consult the King the Covenanters concluding that if he returned not before the 21 of September they would of themselves Indict this Convention who concluded of giving that Kingdom the utmost satisfaction and with a Commission to summon this Assembly returned But the day after the Covenanters contrary to promise made an Election in one of the Presbyteries Adjacent of themselves whereas throughout the Kingdom according to the directions of the Tables Lay-Elders and Ministers were chosen together a thing never seen before in that Kingdom This Assembly the Source of those calamities which afterwards embroyl'd and enslaved that Nation was held at the City and University of Glasgow in November 1638. in which they so carried and packt the Elections that there was scarce one Dissenter from those Resolutions they had profest in their Covenant The Bishops were Totally excluded from sitting or voting therein but were cited to compeer as offenders and answer their charge Against these proceedings and the illegality of the constitution of this Assembly they first protested and tendered their reasons but they would not be admitted for such so that the Lord Commissioner seeing no hope of Justice Law or Reason or Loyalty taking place there at seven days end dissolved them by a Proclamation which they took no further notice of then only by opposing another Protestation wherein they declared that the Assembly ought not to be nor was as dissolved until such time as those ends so often before expressed were fully attained and so proceeded in their Session Strange and desperate was the Pride of this Assembly far beyond the Popes infallible Councils taking upon them to be the Supreme Judicatory on earth above all Laws and Parliaments and King himself as Christs Council and that if the Judges and other Ministers of State should not obey their Commandment they might proceed to sentence of Excommunication against them Which was effectually put in practice afterwards against the Bishops and their adherents before they armed themselves otherwise against their Soveraign Yet notwithstanding they did pretend that the King should he be satisfied of the equity and lenity of their proceedings would no doubt comply with them in the matters they Petitioned for which more exasperated his Majesty than all the Violations and Usurpations of his Authority The Earl of Arguile who had hitherto kept fair with the King and was one of his Privy Council there now owned the Covenanters and professed his adherence to their cause It is believed he was one of the first that stirred in this unfortunate business and that therefore the better to satisfie him the King after the first Pacification made him a Marquess More certain it is he was the last that suffered in it as in the conclusion of this Chronicle will appear I have insisted the longer on this story because the general Commotions that followed it ran almost the same parallel in their respective commencements in the three Kingdoms and to shew that neither prudence nor arms both which were seasonably applyed could stop or prevent those judgements of Confusion and Ruine which soon after ensued this Tragical Prologue in a miserable catastrophe For the Scots presently began to arm having first sent to the French King craving his aid and assistance which was readily proffered them by Cardinal Richlieu his chief Minister of State who was supposed to have fomented the quarrel from the very beginning to quit scores with the King of England for siding with the Rochellers in the beginning of his Raign But before any blood was drawn came over the Queen-Mother whom the generality of the people took for a Prognostick or ill Omen of a War or some Rupture approaching Many scandals were raised against the King for her admission hither but all things were gone too far beyond the contribution of her advice to make her guilty of our troubles However she seemed the Comet that did portend and foretel them the like Commotions having happened for some years past in the places of her residence The Scots towards the end of the year 1638 had gotten together a competent Army raised by the Authority and Ordinance of the aforesaid Assembly for the pretended defence of the Kingdom its Religion and Laws Nor did the King neglect the affairs of that Kingdom but was arming here in England with all the speed his Purse would afford which was then in a low ebb Yet by the Loans of the Nobility Gentry and Clergy he had raised a gallant Army with which he marched towards the borders Over this Army the Earl of Arundel was made General the Earl of Essex Lieutenant-General of the Foot and the Earl of Holland Lieutenant-General of the horse A Fleet also was rigged and well manned and set to Sea under the command of the aforesaid Marquess Hamilton which soon after came to an Anchor in the Frith neer Edinburgh The King being thus in readiness Emitted another Declaration wherein he taxed the Scots with several rebellious Libels for their Protestations against his commands for usurping his Authority and for refusing the Oath of Allegiance and Supremacy upon account of their having taken the Covenant reiterates his resolutions of maintaining Episcopacy in that Kingdom and lays the blood if any were spilt in that quarrel upon themselves as Rebels whom he ought not longer to suffer to proceed in those undutiful and destructive courses but hoped to reduce to their former and due Obedience To which the 22 of March the said Assembly reply by an Ordinance wherein after expostulating the Kings Declaration they curse themselves if they intend any harm to England concluding their War to be meerly defensive and grounded upon the natural and Civil Law Anno Dom. 1639. THe King set forward with his Army and in April came to York and in May to Barwick where both Armies came in view one of another When the King was at York the Earls of Roxborough and Traquair two formerly of his Council and Officers of State came to him as Commissioners from the Covenanters under pretence of Treating with the King who wanting their due Commission and being suspected to have been sent on an errand purposely to tamper with the
of General Lesly Earl of Leven an old Souldier in the Swedish Wars better armed intelligenced and provided than the last year on the 27th of August Lesly desired leave of my Lord Conway for his whole Army to pass to the King with their Petition which he as before avowed to be the honesâ—est loyallest and innocent thing in the World but was refused and stopped Thereupon three hundred Scotch Horse attempted to cross the River and were therein repelled by the shot of the English Musquetiers who were placed under the shelter of a Breast-work This was no sooner done but the Scots with nine pieces of Ordinance which they had placed on the side of the River and blinded them with bushes plaid upon those breast-works which so affrighted the English Infantry being raw Souldiers and not used to the noise and execution of Canon that they presently forsook their Posts cast down their Arms and fled Instantly the Scotch Horse with their General himself advanced but were handsomely welcomed by Commissary-General Wilmot who with the Cavalry which consisted mostly of Gentlemen very stoutly stood to it till they were over-born by number and galled with great Bullets and so forced into a disorderly retreat Here were slain two or three Gentlemen of Quality among which was Cornet Porter Son to Endymeon Porter of the Bed-chamber with some fourscore and odd of common Souldiers The Lord Conway after this defeat carried himself the first news of it to the King that it might not be told by others to his prejudice and Sir Iacob Ashley Governour of Newcastle knowing the place not tenable deserted it sinking the Ordnance in the River so that upon Lesleys approach both that Town and Durham rendred themselves into his hands These losses accelerated the Earl of Strafford into those parts who having the supreme Command of the Army therefore conferred upon him and knowing his Honour and Reputation to be embarqued in this business resolved to put it to the decision of the Sword which he was as well able to manage as his Pen Challengeth the Lord Conway for the disaster at Newborn before the King as if his ill conduct had occasioned it who as stoutly denied it laying the fault as indeed it ought upon the rawness of his Souldiers In Scotland the Earl of Haddington who commanded as Major-General the Forces raised and to be raised in Lothian having recovered from the Souldiers of Berwick Garrison the pieces of Ordnance which Lesley had left behind him at Dunslo and brought them to Dunglass was the next day slain with twenty more Knights and Gentlemen in the midst of his Court by the stones that flew from the Vault neer adjoyning which was then blown up with the Magazine that lay in it Though the Earl of Strafford was so eagerly and intensly bent on fighting with the Scots yet with the King who was loth to run that hazard not knowing how to recruit himself if he were worsted unless he should condescend as much or more to his English Subjects in Parliament those Martial resolutions soon abated to the regret of that Noble Earl whose safety as well as glory consisted in driving the Scots out of this Kingdom So that though the King had declared them to be Rebels and Traytors by Proclamation and commanded that publick Prayers should be put up against them in all Churches and had set up his Royal Standard at York yet now he was contented to treat with them and to that end received from them a Petition stuft with their grievances to which he returned answer by his Secretary of Scotland the Earl of Lanerick That he expected their particular demands which were tendered to him within three days after and imported his Majesties calling a Parliament in England without which there could be no satisfying redress for them Thay had likewise published sometime before their marching into England a Declaration intituled The intentions of the Army which signified that they would not lay down their Armes till the reformed Religion were setled in both Nations upon sure grounds and the causers and abetters of their present grievances and troubles were brought to publique Justice and that in Parliament In order to the speedy accommodation therefore of this quarrel Twelve of the Nobility who were there with the King by name Hertford Essex Bedford Warwick Mulgrave Bristol Bullingbrook Say Mandevil Howard Paget and Brook drew up a Petition to the King and had it delivered after which others of the same contents were brought from London and other places of the Kingdom which unanimously agreed in this That nothing could satisfie the people nor relieve their grievances and pressures but a Parliament This the King willingly assented to and in part condescended to other of the Scots demands and for the present summoned the Lords of England to appear at York where accordingly they met and on the first day of their sitting in Council it was agreed that a Parliament should be called to convene the third of November next And in reference to the Scotch business and the poor oppressed Northern Counties where both the Armies that Summer had quartered the Bishoprick of Durham being then taxed by the Scots at three hundred and fifty pound the Country of Northumberland at three hundred pound a day it was also resolved that a Treaty should be had and thereupon sixteen English Lords whereof eight were Earls the other Barons should meet with so many of the Scotch Nobility and the place was assigned at York which was refused as not safe enough for the Scotch Commissioners by reason of the presence of the Lord Deputy Strafford who had proclaimed them Traytors in Ireland and against whom they had matters of high Complaint And so it was resolved it should begin at Rippon The first thing the English insisted on was a present Cessation but the Scots objected against that and said that other things were more expedient to be first considered For as they would obey the Kings command in advancing no further so would they not go back again till they had accomplisht the business they came for and therefore propounded four Praeliminaries to be resolved on which were concluded on and agreed to At the first of these That the Scotch Army should be paid and maintained out of the English purse the Earl of Strafford was highly incensed and enraged being so dishonourable a thing to the Nation and therefore would have perswaded the King to give him leave to fight them no way doubting but that he should be able to drive them presently into Scotland again though accounted then far superiour in Discipline and Souldiery to the English Army But the affair of the Treaty was so far advanced for the reasons aforesaid that there was no fair way of receding if the King had been powerful enough to have combated them as some made no scruple so that on the 16 th of October the English Commanders
Assembly was ordered to bring in their Model of Church-Government and those Resolves were urged afterwards by many hundred Petitions and the Covenant prest to be universally taken Towards the end of this month they had licked up the form of their Directory but could not agree about the receiving of the Sacrament which dispute was then committed Hereupon the Parliament procâ—eded and voted the abolishing of the Common-Prayer-Book which gave some satisfaction to the Scots yet not fully contended them they had in the beginning of our Troubles openly named the Archbishop of Canterbury and prosecuted him as an Enemy to their Country as the great Incendiary of the broyls between both Nations and did not desist while they had him safe in the Tower now they would have his life also as a gratification of their assistance His head must be danced off like St. Iohn Baptist's at the Musick of their Bag-pipes This they publikely demanded so that an Ordinance for the Parliament durst not venture his Tryal at the Common-Law as was thought by some because of the clause of that Bill of Attainder against the Earl of Strafford that his Case should be no precedent and they knew the Judges though they might pack a Jury that should would never venture to condemn him And his tryal by Peers they vouchsafed not as alike dangerous passed the House of Commons whereby he was declared guilty and that sent up to the Lords for their concurrence who bogled at it as a very ill precedent so that it stuck for a while until Sir David Hawkins with his veterane Troops of Justice-cryers came bawled at the Lords House for speedy Execution of Delinquents And then a new Expedient was set on foot for the better dispatch that the Lords should come and sit in the House of Commons as to this business and make one work of it which some of them unworthily did an ill Omen or Presage what that degenerateness would come to when after some of the same persons sate there as Commoners By this trick after several brave Defences made at the Bar of the Lords House where with might and main his Enemies prosecuted his Innocence he was condemned the main Argument against him being used by Serjeant Wild That he was so guilty an offender that he wondred the people did not pull him in pieces as he came to and fro to his tryal and on the tenth of Ianuary brought to Tower-hill from a most sound and sweet repose that night till awakened by Pennington the Lieutenant of the Tower to go to his Execution whereat he was no whit dismayed his colour being as fresh in his Face as ever it was in his life which continued to his last minute At his death he made a Funeral-sermon for himself which was in lieu of a Speech where this is as he hinted it to be observed that though other Arch-bishops had lost their lives in this manner yet not the same way He being the first English-man that ever was condemned by an Ordinance of Parliament His body was decently interred in Alhallows Barkin London according to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Church of England of which he had been the chief Defender and Assertor leaving Sir Iohn Robinson his Nephew since Lieutenant of the Tower to inherit the remains of his Estate and the rewards of his great Services and Munificences to this Church and Kingdom Abington had been made a Garrison ever since the Earl of Essex marched into Cornwal and became so troublesome a neighbour to Oxford and the Country adjacent by the continual excursions of the Horse which were never less than a Regiment that Colonel Sir Henry Gage to prevent this perpetual annoyance no man daring to travail upon any of the Roads towards Oxford with provisions or other business more especially hindering the intercourse betwixt Oxford and Wallingford resolved to build a Fort at Culham-bridge within a mile of Abington on the London-road to repress the boldness of those parties who were constantly out thereabouts upon designes In the attempt thereof and to obstruct so dangerous an obstacle to their Eruption the Abingdon-forces under Colonel Brown Sally out Engage and maintain a short fight with the Royalists with little hopes of prevailing till an Unfortunate shot wounded Colonel Gage in the head of which he dyed as soon as he came to Oxford and so that project was laid aside The King had so closely prosecuted his intentions for Peace that it being in the depth of Winter both Armies in their quarters and the two Factions of Presbytery and Independency jealous of one another the modelling of the Army requiring also some gain and advantage of time a Treaty so often proposed by the King was now admitted to be managed at Vxbridge by Commissioners on both sides The Kings Commissioners were as Follow Duke of Richmond and Lenox Marquess of Hertford Earl of Southampton Earl of Kingston Earl of Chichester Lord Capel Lord Seymore Lord Hatton Lord Culpeper Sir Edward Nicholas Sir Edward Hide afterwards Lord Chancellor Sir Richard Lane Sir Thomas Gardiner Sir Orlando Bridgeman Mr. Iohn Ashburnham Mr. Ieffery Palmer Dr. Stuart and Dr. Hammond Divines The Parliaments Commissioners were Earl of Northumberland Earl of Pembroke Earl of Salisbury Earl of Denbigh Lord Wenman Mr. Denzil Hollis Mr. William Pierpoint Sir Henry Vane Jun. Mr. Crew Mr. Whitlock Mr. Prideaux Mr. Vines a Minister The Scotch Commissioners Lord London Sir Charles Erskin Mr. Dundas Mr. Brackley Mr. Alexander Henderson Minister The main things first to be treated of were first Religion second Militia third Ireland For Religion the King would not alter Government by Bishops but would give way to some amendments in the Liturgie upon advice For the Militia he would consent some Forts and Garrisons should remain in the Parliaments hands pro tempore for security of the agreement the King having the nomination of half the Commissioners For Ireland the King would not abrogate the Cessation until he were sure the Rebellion here were at an end having to avoid that popular demand and to prevent any insisting upon that point given Order to the Marquess of Ormond to conclude a Peace but however to continue the Cessation for a year for which he should promise the Irish if he could have it no cheaper to joyn with them against the Scots and Inchiqueen for by that time the King said he hoped his condition would be such as the Irish should be glad to accept of less or he enabled to grant more The Parliament on the contrary side insisted as to Religion upon the taking away of the Kings Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction his Donations and Temporalties of Bishopricks his First-fruits and Tenths of Bishops Deans Deans and Chapters not offering to constitute the least dependance of the Clergy upon the King to the Presbyterian mode compensating him with Bishops Lands in lieu of all those which of
Volume as would scarce be imagined In the interim of this March Colonel Rainsborough who had beleaguered Wood-stock and attempted it by storm with very great loss it being manfully defended and as well fortified had it at last Surrendred to him upon such Articles as manifested the Governours worth and honour in the acknowledgments thereby given him from his Enemies The King foreseeing that Oxford was the next place which they designed not to make his own Court his Prison what ever should be done by his Enemies if it should please God to reduce him to that distress resolved to withdraw himself in time to the Scotch Army who as was reported and generally believed had given him some assurance that not onely his Majesty but all others that adhered to him should be safe in their persons honours and consciences in their Army yet not to lay more upon them having so much already I can hardly credit it The manner of the traverse of the King is thus related He went out of Oxford as Colonel Rainsborough informed the Parliament who no doubt were well acquainted with it before for they had no other means to be rid of the Kings instances for Peace of which hereafter together that continually sounded in their ears so neer hand than to have him removed from so neer a convenience of personal accommodation in the disguise of a servant to Colonel Iohn Ashburnâ—am who was accompanied with one Mr. Hudson a Minister who for his singular Loyalty and fidelity was intrusted in the menage of that affair and for which he deserves a better remarque than this Chronicle can contribute or set upon him losing his life afterwards in the same Cause in 1648 in the Commotions of that unfortunate year By his Examination upon this business it appeared that the King came first to Henly then to Brainford and so neer London removed back to Harrow on the hill there being a general Training of the City-Forces in Hide-Park whither the King was expected to come General Essex being them in the field and his Majesty almost perswaded to venture himself into their hands but other Counsels prevailing he departed to St. Albans and thence to Harborough in Leicestershire where he expected the French Agent with some Horse to meet him and conduct him to the Scots but he mssing the King went yet uncertain and irresolute what to do to Stamford in Lincolnshire and thence to Downham in Norfolk from whence the examinant was sent to the Agent and upon his return they three passed into the Scotch Army where for the present we shall leave him with this account of it from the General of that Army to the Parliament at London which imported thus much That out of a desire to keep a right understanding between the two Kingdomes he acquainted them with a strange providence with which his Army was surprized together with their carriage and desires thereupon That the King came the 4 of May in so private a manner that after they had made some search for him upon the surmises of persons who pretended to know his face yet they could not find him out in sundry houses Trusting to our integrity we are so far perswaded that none will so far misconster us as to make use of this seeming advantage for promoting any other ends than are expressed in the Covenant We do ingenuously declare that there hath been no Treaty nor Capitulation betwixt his Majesty and us nor in our names leaving the ways and means of Peace unto the Parliament of both Kingdomes And with such twilight of language concluded This was the happiest oportunity that ever offered it self to do honour to the Scotch Nation who had the Peace of three Kingdomes but their own particular glory at their sole Arbitrement and how miserably they abused this advantage and how they debauched their duty to their Prince and their reputation to the World we will not descant upon since the Parliament of Scotland in the year 1661 have so passionately protested against the conduct of this business and have exempted from pardon whomsoever shall afterwards be found guilty of this most base and disloyal usage of the King of which in its time Before this adventure which the King would have avoided if the insolence of the prevailing Houses at Westminster could have been by any means rebated his Majesty had courted the Parliament to a Peace by several Letters and Messages from Oxford the abstracts whereof it will not be tedious to recite The first of them was soon after the aforesaid overture from the Prince by the Lord Fairfax and was onely to desire a Pass or Safe-conduct for the Duke of Richmond the Earl of Southampton John Ashburnham and Jeffery Palmer Esquires for their journey and continuance at Westminster being furnished with such Propositions as his Majesty was confident would be the foundation of an happy Peace To this Address if I may so term it though the Houses thought lesser of it as appears by their Answer they retort That had his Majesties intentions been the same with his pretences and expressions a happy Peace had been settled long since That they cannot agree to his desires as to the coming of those Lords and Gentlemen into their Quarters in regard the designe for Peace may be of dangerous consequence That they are in debate of Propositions which they will draw up and send to be signed by way of Bill by his Majesty This was in December 1645. The Reader will excuse this retrospection because we will repeat this transaction in its own series To this the King ten days after replies with more quickening Language That his Majesty cannot but extremely wonder that after so many expressions on their part of a deep and seeming sence of the miseries of this afflicted Kingdom and of the dangers incident to his person during the continuance of these unnatural Wars their many great and so often-repeated Protestations that the raising of these Arms hath been onely for the defence of Gods true Religion his Majesties honour safety and prosperity the peace comfort and security of his people they should delay a Safe-conduct to the persons mentioned in his Majesties Message of the 5 of this instant December which are to be sent unto them with Propositions for a well-grounded Peace A thing so far from having been denyed at any time by his Majesty whensoever they have desired the same that he believes it hath been seldome practised among the most avowed and professed Enemies much less from Subjects to their King But his Majesty is resolved that no discouragements whatsoever shall make him fail of his part in doing his utmost indeavours to put an end to these Calamities c. And therefore doth once again desire a Safe-Conduct This would not do neither the King therefore aggresseth them anothe way and offers a personal Treaty ten days after His Majesty laying aside all expostulations as rather losing time than
Soveraignty but the difficulty of doing it in regard of those mutual distrusts that waxed every day stronger betwixt the two factions of Presbytery and Independency delayed a while the actual fruition of their desires The Bucket of interest went up and down a long while one side secretly closing with the King in a seeming tenderness for his Rights and Person to ballance the other who by an obstinacy against him and his Government engaged most of the first leaven of that tumultuous rabble to an adherence and strengthning of their party from an expectation of spoil and preferment upon their Models after their subversion of Monarchy In these their distractions the onely expedient for both was to protract time and await a more advantagious and favourable juncture for either of them wherein to compass and accomplish their several aims and divided projections upon the Kingdom Therefore the same publike ends and common concernments which were the pretended causes of the War were now declared to be insisted on as to constant and perpetual security viz. the Laws Religion and Liberty That the bâ—â—ting the Enemy in the Field was not sufficient alone to that purpose but that some provision must be made for the future and that those establishments of the publike upon a firm Peace would require time after so many commotions and dislocations such disorder and confusion of the policy of the Government To this purpose the King was held out to his people as an obstinate person no way changed in his mind as to their good but that all his offers of Treaty and Peace were meerly to impose upon their credulous affections intending nothing less than satisfaction to his Parliament against whom he had waged a long and bloody War That in a just resolution they had proceeded and would persist on their way of Propositions on which alone a lasting Peace might be grounded and expected That in the mean time they would take care that the Common Enemy should take no advantage of raising a new War indeed their tyrannical method of Composition for their Loyalty in the first might well make them as good as their words And with the old flourishes of Liberty and happy times inculcating their Successes and ascribing them to their Cause they thus offered to amuse the people exchanging their fineness and smoothness of words for the real repose and tranquillity looked for by the Kingdom This proceeding highly exasperated the Kings party and as much encouraged the desperadoes of their own to claw them with Petitions and Addresses of Thanks for these resolutions proving the onely means to continue the rupture and consequently their Power and Authority which how then and hereafter they executed we will now more particularly relate having laid down these SEEDS of the SECOND WAR as they and from then their Sequestrators and Committees were most wrathfully pleased to call it when they wrongfully placed it upon their score and account These were the transactions and the devices of the English Parliament and Army it will be requisite to see what the same bodies of Scotland do in reference to the Peace of both Kingdoms and we shall finde them in as great a strangeness to it as the former and not with far different purposes and intentions For the Scots would have money in Coyn and Specie the other were for the value in great penny-worths and purchases of Delinquents Estates The Scots as was said before had the King in their possession a good pawn and pledge for the debt accrued to them before for the pay due for their service in England which being not over-hastily pay'd they quitted their post at the Siege of Newark and with the King marched Northwards bearing him in hand that they were his gude Subjects and would stand as far as 't was consistent with their Covenant for his person and interests As the Army marched so did the King making the limits of their Quarters to be his Court until by leasurable journeys and which were interrupted by several Expostulations Expresses from Westminster he came at last and took up his residence at Newcastle where appeared such a deal of Scotch bravery especially among the Commanders of their Army that the place appeared like the revived Court of King Iames after his assumption to the Crown of England Every rag worn by them being bought and purchased if so fairly come by with English gelt In the mean while the Parlianent were debating concerning the Person of the King but it was so ticklish a point that they agreed not to any present positive settlement or entertainment of it but negatively in signifying to the Scots that in England his Majesty might be disposed by none but the Parliament of England That their Army in England is theirs and under their pay and pretending the inconvenience of the great distance of the King from them as to obtaining of his assent and then the Covenant This begat in the King another meditation in his Eikon Basil. where he discourseth and deplores those events which put him to such a choice but resolutely fixeth himself on his own Honour and Conscience however it should please God to order this disposition of him in the Scots hands And contrariwise it raised in the faction Soliloquies and Charms which way they might extricate this puzling difficulty As the first expedient the old stalk of courting the Prince was agreed upon and therefore they sent a Letter to the Governour of Gâ—ernsey to be conveyed to him At the Kings Arrival at Newcastle he was there received with all demonstrations of respect both from the Town and the Scots on the Towns part with the usual customes of Bone-fires and ringing of the bells and apprecations for his Majesties happy restitution and speedy accommodation with his Parliament on the Scots in a semblance of the same gladness and duty with protestations to the same purpose as the inhabitants wishes but which suddenly lost belief when their General signified by Proclamation not onely that no Papists or Delinquents should come neer his Person but also That although his Majesties Person were present yet all men whatsoever should yield Authority to the Ordinances of the Parliament A parcel of which Authority they themselves imitated laying heavy Assessments upon all the Northern Counties pretending the Parliaments negligence of their pay so that those poor people were ready to rise and free themselves from these oppressors having in vain Petitioned them at Westminster for relief which the Scots senting they privately sent for their Horse under David Lesly who had defeated Montross at Philipshaugh of which briefly before and driven him far enough into the High-lands to return to their main Army then at Newcastle to reinforce it and to secure themselves in their Quarters till the bargain should be made They at Westminster understanding hereof do resent this additional force of Scots and thereupon in anger Vote That this Kingdom hath no further
Army he had done enough in giving them at Westminster for the Parliament sounded no more at the Head-quarters an account of Him But of this presently at large Most certain it is that this designe was laid solely by Cromwel and Ireton and personated by the Agitatours suspected many of them and that rationally for Jesuits who were as good at wicked Plots and Contrivances as either of those Catilines but most accomplished for execution having such Lawless yet most powerful Indemnity not onely to protect them but to shroud their other Conspiracies for themselves against this Church and State It is strange indeed to consider how many several interests were driven on among the Belials of this Army as then under the appearance of honest and most just ends the same pretence whereof served and was accommodate to each particular combinating against the Publike as so many lines tending to one Center with all which Cromwel wisely temporized giving secret encouragement to them all professing to intend the same things and to be of the Party but that for a while there was a necessity of concealing his resolutions To this purpose caresâ—ing the Papists upon all addresses or discourses with him as also familiarizing himself with the Levellers as the men indeed that were to do his business and were right of his complexion for the spoyl of the Kingdom to be compassed any manner of way but by setting up a Government or Laws for their projected Democracy was but a more exact method or Rule of Thievery of all which they most abominated Monarchy as the most regular and strict whose awful Authority could solely restrain their loose and licentious practises and keep the mad vulgar within their bounds from invading all propriety secured by the ancient Tenure of all Lands and Inheritances from the Crown and the Laws which their devilish intention was to abrogate and abolish and by a Wild parity lay all things in Common But for fuller satisfaction what this Intrigue or designe meant it will be requisite to consult the King's and the General 's or rather the Armies account thereof just as it was done and first from the Actors the General and Council of War Sir Thomas Fairfax his Letter MAster Speaker yesterday the King was taken from Holdenby by some Souldiers who brought him thence by his consent the Commissioners going along with Him That his Majesty lay that night at Colonel Mountagues after Earl of Sandwich and would be at New market next day That the ground of the removing the King was from an apprehension of some strength gathered to force the King from them whereupon he sent Colonel Whaley with his Regiment to meet the King and the Commissioners and to return them back again but they refused and were come to Sir John Cuts neer Cambridge Professing That this remove was without his consent or his Officers about him or the body of the Army or without their desire or Privity and that he will secure the King's person from danger Further assuring the Parliament that the whole Army endeavours Peace will not oppose Presbytery nor affect Independency or to hold a licentious freedom in Religion or interest in any particular party but will leave all to the Parliament Tiberius Letters about Sejanus were not half so mystical as these nor was there ever so daring braving an attempt done in the face of the Sun to the face and person of a Prince so covered and concealed under such obscurities and pretended ignorances which rendred the impudence of the action more dangerously fearful by how much the less it was conjecturable what it portended nor could the King himself at present well resolve himself or his two Houses in this juncture as we shall see in his acquainting of the Parliament with it by the Earl of Dunfermling where he saith contrary to what Fairfax before That he was unwillingly taken away by a strong party of Horse and desired of the Parliament to maintain the Laws of the Land and that though he might signe to many things in this condition yet he would not have them believed till further notice given by him to his two Houses The King imagined they would make use of his Authority by forcing his consent to some Proposals and designes of Government but they onely made a stalking Horse of his person keeping his interest by pretences of respect to him on foot meerly to countenance their own and outvy and awe the Presbyterian party At the news of it in London both Parliament and City were in such confusion and so distracted that they might well be excused from rightly judging of the fact therefore they first bethink of remedy the Houses order the Committee of Safety to sit all night and provide ne quid detrimenti accipiat respublica and dispatch a Messenger to the General requesting him not to come neerer London than twenty five miles for news was brought them they were upon a speedy March for the City who at the same time shut up their shops run to their Arms and make a fearful hurry for a while and then resolve to send Commissioners likewise and attend the Issue in peace in such a maze did this accident put them In the mean while the King is caressed by the Army and shown in state to the people who with great joy every where receive him and applaud the Army who to carry their business the fairer suffer some of his Majesties old Friends to have access to his person as the Duke of Richmond the two Doctors Sheldon and Hammond his Chaplains who Officiated with him in publike according to the Church of England and divers others of lesser note At this the Parliament take exceptions and send again to the General expostulating the matter and desiring him to re-deliver the King to the Commissioners aforesaid to be brought to Richmond and there to be guarded by Colonel Rossiters Regiment of Horse In Answer to this the Army declare and require after their like manner of expostulation about the Irish Expedition and Transporting the Army thither that it was against former Declarations of the Parliament the precedent case of the Kingdom of Scotland and the liberty and freedom of the People That the Houses may speedily be purged of such as ought not to sit there That such who abused the Parliament and Army and endanger the Kingdom may speedily be disabled from doing the like or worse That some determinate period of time may be set to this and future Parliaments according to the intent of the Bill for Triennial Parliaments That provision be made that they be not adjournable and dissolvable by any power but their own consent during their Respective period and then to determine themselves That the freedom of the people to present Grievances by Petition to the Parliament may be vindicated That the exorbitant powers of Country-Committees may be taken away That the Kingdom may be satisfied of the
of those Tumultuaries before they could be quiet and were scarce returned to their seats before they had notice of the approach of the Army who in scorn of the Parliaments Commands of keeping at 30 miles distance were approached to 10 and had appointed a Rendezvouz on Hounsloe-heath This Alarm begot strange and different passions in the Citizens the wealthier sort began to flinch from those resolutions of adhering to their Engagement to save their bags nothing being more vogued among the people than that the City would be plundered as it was given out by some of the Grandees of the Army but the Militaâ—â—â—â—en and those of meaner fortunes seemed to take courage from the nearness of the danger offering to meet it and if the pusillanimity of the Court of Aldermen had not hindred Massey would have given the Army then quartering part of it on this side Braynford a salute or Camisado by that means to make Rupture wide and past the cure of a reconciliation Nevertheless the defensive part from their own concerns they undertook guarding the Works and Fortifications round the City quartering several reserves in whole Regiments in the fields more particularly those parts nearest the Army out of dread of another Wat Tyler or Iack Cade with his Rebel-rout a judgement this famous City hath been more subject to than any City in the World most of which have often suffered by their own intestine divisions but were in fine glad to seek Peace betrayed at their own doors by one Hardwick Colonel of the Southwark Regiment and who then guarded the Works on that side which were opened to Colonel Hewsin by their Commissioners Fouk Gibs and Estwick acceptable men to the Army for they durst not for fear of a dismission re infecta send others then attending the General at Hounsloe The King hears this and to avoid the Scandal of these Uproars which he in prudence did see primarily concern others though they would right or wrong be Loaded upon him emitted this Paper to clear himself from them THere having been many Rumours spread and Informations given which may have induced many to believe that We intend to make War against Our Parliament We profess before God and declare to all the World That We always have and do abhor all such designes and desire all our Nobility and Commoners who are here upon the place to declare whether they have not been witnesses of as frequent and earnest Declarations and Professions to this purpose whether they see any colour of prâ—parations and Counsels that might reasonably beget a belief of any such designe and whether they be not fully perswaded that We have no such intention but that all Our endeavours according to Our many Professions tend to the firm and constant Settlement of the true Protestant Religion the just Priviledges of Parliament the Liberty of the Subject the Law Peace and Prosperity of this Kingdom This even course of the Kings and constancy to himself so well known to the Army made them speak less to the Kings prejudice in the altercation about the priviledges of Parliament of which they now forsooth were the main assertors so that the King as he got nothing lost as little by this brangle between both Parties neither of them having whereon to fasten any cavil on the King in this matter who without medling with their differences further than his own private descants upon them awaited the Issue of Divine Providence The Army therefore the better to proceed and countenance their Rebellion His Majesty and Parliament being made a meer Cypher invite and engage the two Speakers and Fugitive Members to sit in consultation and pass Votes promiscuously with the Council of War in the nature of a Parliament and to Signe an Engagement dated the 4 of August to live and dye with Sir Thomas Fairfax and the Parliament and Army both under his Command affirming therein that generally throughout their sense agrees with the Declaration of Sir Thomas Fairfax and his Council of War which shewed the grounds of their present advance towards the City of London In this Declaration the Council of the Army took upon them also to be the Supream Judges of the Parliament discriminating whom of the two Houses they held for persons in whom the publike trust of the King remained and by whose advice they meant to govern themselves in managing the weighty affairs of the Kingdom They highly resent the late choice of a new Speaker by those Gentlemâ—n at Westminster and say that as things now stand there is no free nor legal Parliament sitting such being through the violence of the 26 of Iuly suspended That the Orders and Votes c. passed the 29 of Iuly last and all such as shall pass in this Assembly of Lords and Gentlemen at Westminster are void and null and ought not to be submitted unto This Remonstrance was the second to a Letter to the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen upbraiding them with the late Tumult as Enemies to the Peace of the Kingdom Treacherous to the Parliament and uitable to secure that or themselves and therefore demanding the City to be put into their hands to which purpose they were then on their way And to brave the City to a surrender their General sends out Warrants to raise the Trained-Bands of the near Counties to march with him against the City and both Houses although such Bands were not under pay of the Parliament and so not under any Command of the General by any Order or Ordinance But armed violence was not to be stopt with Lawyers niceties A Bumkin in a Leather-doublet must be a Red-coat by the same rule that Foxes have Horns This brought the City to the expected submission by which they obtained and thank you too these most dishonourable Conditions That they should yield to desert the Impeached Members call in their Declaration newly published relinquish their Militia deliver up all their Forts and Line of Communication to the Army together with the Tower of London which they had so clamorously and impudently extorted out of the Kings disposal and all the Magazines and Arms therein disband all their Forces and turn all the Reformadoes out of the Line withdraw ail their guards from the Parliament and receive such guards of Horse and Foot within the Line as the Army should appoint to guard them demolish their Works and suffer the whole Army to maâ—ch through their City all which were suddenly and dishonourably yielded to and insolently executed the Souldiers marching in Triumph with Bays in their Hats through all the principal streets of the City boasting of their civil march as a great courtesy when there was men enough if they had offered to Plunder to have â—aten them This envious disdainful Triumph being over the next work was to reseat the Fugitive Members whom the General himself brought to both Houses with a strong party the two Palaces filled with
declaring that what they had done therein was out of a desire of the Peace of the Kingdom whereas the meaning was that their safety and protection was obliged partly to that unwitting service they had done the Faction who were honourably pleased to shield those who had skreened them from the odium of that unfortunate and pernicious Escape and partly to the King who interposed himself in the matter declaring If those Gentlemen were taken and punished as evil doers for Counseling Him not to go out of the Kingdom but rather to come to the place where he now is for the ends aforesaid and for their endeavours in attending Him thither He cannot but expect to be dealt with accordingly His Case being the same The next consideration of this affair by the Parliament was a result of five Votes which forbad any Cavaliers or Papists to be admitted in the Island and left the guard of his Person and the nomination of Officers to attend Him to the General and allowed 5000 l. for the expences of his Court the last of which Hamond quarrelled at as an incompetent pittance but it 's questionable whether he meant not for himself and no doubt he was better paid for his service He also required more aid that forsooth he might be as good as his word in keeping the King in security and out of danger who having passed Per varios casus per tot discrimina rerum ad Latium tendit so many perils and discouragements gave not yet over his endeavours after Peace but with a just resolution of not being denied this time when he now granted almost the whole controversie He wooes them in this Message from His Prison at Carisbrook where He had only the liberty of the Walls under a Guard It indeed comprehends and clears all the differences between the King and Parliament CHARLES REX HIs Majesty is confident that before this time His two Houses of Parliament have received the Message which he left behinde Him at Hampton-Court the 11th of November by which they will have understood the reasons which enforced Him to go from thence as likewise his constant endeavours for the settling of a safe and well-grounded Peace wheresoever he should be And being now in a place where he conceives himself to be at much more freedom and security than formerly He thinks it necessary not only for making good his own Professions but also for the speedy procuring of a Peace in these languishing and distressed Kingdoms at this time to offer such grounds to His two Houses for that effect which upon due examination of all Interests may best conduce thereunto And because Religion is the best and chiefest Foundation of Peace His Majesty will begin with that particular That for the abolishing Arch-bishops Bishops c. His Majesty clearly professeth that he cannot give his consent thereunto both in relation as he is a Christian and a King For the first he avows that he is satisfied in his judgment that this Order was placed in the Church by the Apostles themselves and ever since that time hath continued in all Christian Churches throughout the World until this last Century of years and in this Church in all times of Change and Reformation it hath been upheld by the wisdom of His Ancestors as the great preserver of Doctrine Discipline and Order in the Service of God As a King at his Coronation He hath not onely taken a Solemn Oath to maintain this Order but His Majesty and His Predecessors in their Confirmation of the Great Charter have inseparably woven the Rights of the Church into the Liberties of the rest of their Subjects And yet he is willing it be provided that the particular Bishops perform the several Duties of their Callings both by their Personal residence and frequent Preaching in their Dioceses as also that they Exercise no Act of Iurisdiction or Ordination without the consent of their Presbyters and will consent that their Powers in all things be so Limited that they be not grievous to Tender Consciences Wherefore since His Majesty is willing to give ease to the Consciences of others He sees no reason why he alone and those of his Iudgement should be pressed to a Violation of theirs Nor can His Majesty Consent to the Alienation of Church-Lands because it cannot be denied to be a sin of the Highest Sacriledge as also that it subverts the intentions of so many Pious Donors who have laid a heavy Curse upon all such prophane Violations which His Majesty is very unwilling to undergo And besides the matter of Conscience His Majesty believes it to be a prejudice to the Publike Good many of His Subjects having the benefit of renewing Leases at much easier rates than if those Possessions were in the hands of Private men Not omitting the discouragement which it will be to all Learning and Industry when such eminent rewards shall be taken away which now lye open to the Children of the meanest persons Yet His Majesty considering the present great distempers concerning Church-Discipline and that the Presbyterian Government is now in practice His Majesty to eschew Confusion as much as may be and for the satisfaction of His two Houses is content that the said Government be Legally permitted to stand in the same condition it now is for three years provided that His Majesty and those of his Iudgement or any other who cannot in Conscience submit thereunto be not obliged to comply with the Presbyterian Government but have free Practice of their own Profession without receiving any prejudice thereby and that a free Consultation and Debate be had with the Divines at Westminster twenty of his Majesties nomination being added unto them whereby it may be determined by his Majesty and the two Houses how the Church-Government after the said time shall be setled or sooner if differences be agreed as is most agreeable to the Word of God with full Liberty to all those who shall differ upon Conscientious Grounds from that Settlement Always provided that nothing aforesaid may be understood to tolerate those of the Popish Profession nor the exempting of any Popish Recusant from the penalties of the Laws or to tolerate the publike profession of Atheism or Blasphemy contrary to the Doctrine of the Apostles Nicene and Athanasian Creeds they having been received by and had in reverence of all the Christian Churches and more particularly by us of England ever since the Reformation Next the Militia being that right which is inseparably and undoubtedly Inherent in the Crown by the Laws of this Nation and that which former Parliaments as likewise this hath acknowledged to be so His Majesty cannot so much wrong that Trust which the Laws of God and the Land hath annexed to the Crown for the protection and security of his people as to Devest himself and His Successors of the Power of the Sword Yet to give an infallible evidence of His desire to secure the
Cromwel and his Complices and out of commiseration to those Noble persons that suffered this persecution who though perhaps the Commonwealth may recover this loss by timely recruits of Literature do no doubt irremediably rue this their violent Revulsion out of that Bosome where they might and ought to have been cherished to a competent vigour enabling them to serve the Commonwealth and their own thus enforced necessities Sed quo vehor By these and the like distempers and pains in every part of it England began now to be Heart-sick and those ambulatory running Humours which spread through the whole mass of the people to Center at last in the Metropolis the City of London which had more successfully broke out but for the opposition it met with from the then Lord Mayor Alderman Warner Pennington's own second a Factious and Seditious person who discountenanced it by the Authority of his place appearing at the first hubbub thereof openly against it The manner was as followeth On the 9 of April being the Lords-day a number of Apprentices as was usual were playing in Moor-fields in the afternoon for the Parliament had abrogated all Hâ—lydays and by a venerable Order had appointed one day in every Month for their Recreation in lieu of those Festivals after much coil and many elaborate Petitions and reference to and reports from Committees of both Houses concerning them which being told to a Company of Trained-Bands then upon the Guards whose Officers were some precise Schismaticks they came into the Fields and commanded them to depart which they refusing or delaying they fired some Pieces at them whereupon the Boys incensed took up Stones and couragiously fell upon them and routed them taking from them their Ensign which in a tumultuous and childish bravery they marched with into the City and being increased with additions like themselves affronted the Mayor and made him hastily retire to his own House for Sanctuary whither they followed him and seized on one of the Drakes he had planted for his defence and thence marched to the several Gates which they likewise secured more especially Ludgate which lay neerest their Enemy the Army who were then quartered at White-Hall and the Mews they guarded with the same Drake The City remaining the rest of that day and night in great terrour and confusion the Rabblé crying out for God and King Charles but no Person of Quality undertaking their Conduct or to bring them into Order and Discipline In the mean while the Army-Guards take the Alarm and conceiving it dangerous to venture into the City by night kept themselves in a readiness for the morning when Sir Thomas Fairfax himself entred by Aldersgate with Horse and Foot who fell a scouring the Streets and driving this unarmed and ungoverned Multitude before them wounding and killing divers innocent persons Men Women and Children in a cruel and hostile manner until they came to Leaden-hall where the Apprentices entred and endeavoured to maintain it But the avenues thereof being found defenceless and themselves not strong enough besides want of necessaries requisite thereunto they wisely and more prudently than any thing they did before slipt away and shifted for themselves few or none falling into the Armies hand but some upon enquiry afterward in the beginning of the Commonwealth were discovered and arrained of High Treason for levying War c. Two of whom a Vintner and a Meal-man Kensey and Matthews were convicted and condemned but by the mediation of Alderman Tichborn one of the best deeds likewise he ever did were reprieved and by the same means at last pardoned and assumed by him for a demonstration of his goodness to be the guard to his person on publike Trayning days This Insurrection or Riot rather was quickly noised to the uttermost parts of the Nation where it was reported and received with great advantage as we usually fancy and credit what we expect to the encouraging of all honest people to rise now and follow this example and redeem and rescue their Religion Laws Lives and Liberties now at stake for neither the several nor united practices of Parliament and Army Presbyterian nor Independents could impose upon them any longer Nor was there an easie belief given to this check of that Tumult but was supposed an Artifice and one of their old Lies with which they stuffed their News-Books since the whole Nation saw how they had irritated the City by their insolent carriage towards them in changing their Militia c. so that it was undoubtable they would embrace and improve the first opportunity Whereupon as the next Scene of this years Tragedy Colonel Laughorn Poyer and Powel who had done notable service for the Parliament in Wales rose in Pembroke-shire and Flint-shire to neer the number of 8000 men They had been by the Council of the Army which was Authorized always by the Parliament ordered to disband as being men of better and surer principles than they durst confide in in order to their subsequent designs which they understanding the drift of refused and flew to their Arms and for the strengthening of their Party Declare for the settlement of the King and Kingdom and gave notice to the Prince who then issued out Commissions as General for his Father of their intentions and present posture having secured â—enby-Castle and the Town and Castle of Pembroke to the same end This sudden and threatning defection put the Juncto at Derby-house to their dumps when another Express brought news that the like effects were to be looked for from North-Wales where Sir Iohn Owen was risen with a Force and had defâ—ated and taken Prisoner the High-Sheriff that opposed him and that Sir Nicholas Kemish an eminent Cavalier had likewise surprized Chepstow-Castle so thaâ— all Wales was like to be lost without a blow strucken from the late Conquerors who therefore hastened away Forces to re-establish their Dominion and suppress these dangerous beginnings Over these Colonel Horton was now Commissioned for the reducing those new and old Royalists Cromwel being if occasion should require preparing to second him Horton with the Stafford and Worcester-Forces and part of the Army quartering thereabouts advanceth against Laughorne his whole power consisting of not above 3000 men with whom making more hast than good speed a party thereof being under the Command of Colonel Fleming fell unawares into an Ambuscado and were most of them cut off the rest sheltring themselves in a neighbouring Church were forced to render at discretion which Fleming seeing and despairing that he should be able to answer this oversight at a Council of War or for some other cause laid violent hands upon himself and so dyed Horton no way daunted with this inauspicious entrance marched up and faced the Enemy who shewed themselves upon the hills and places of advantage making their Hubbubs to call the Country to their assistance In their descent whence into more even ground the Parliamentarians
Propositions would they have been satisfactory did not at present sute the high and imperious humour of the Parliament yet by the good temperament and respectful behaviour of the major part of the Commissioners such a mutual confidence was wrought that the King won with their dutiful perswasion did in most of those things besides Religion and Church-lands comply with their demands and then the Parliament upon debate of the whole Treaty Voted his Concessions a ground to settle the Kingdom of which presently But a little before the conclusion of the Treaty which hapned on the 27th of Nov. the Army Cromwel being now come out of Scotland had after a long Consultation how to break it off hammered out a villanous Remonstrance on the 16th of that Month at St. Albans and on the 28th presented it to the House of Commons by Col. Ewers related to the Lord Ewers and seven Officers more the Treasonable and Execrable Heads thereof setting aside that Principle That the Magistery of the People is Supreme were as followeth First That the Capital and Grand Author of our Troubles viz. the Person of the King by whose procurement and for whose Interest of Will and Power all our Wars have been may be brought to Iustice for the Treason Blood and Mischief he is therein guilty of Secondly That a Timely Day may be set for the Prince of Wales and the Duke of York to come in by which time if they do not that then they may immediately be declared incapable of any Trust or Government in this Kingdom or its Dominions and thence to stand exiled for ever as Enemies or Traytors to die without mercy if ever after found or taken therein c. If by the time limited they do render themselves that then the Prince be proceeded with as on appearance he shall give satisfaction or not and then the Duke as he shall give satisfaction may be considered as to future Trust or not But however that the Revenue of the Crown saving necessary allowances for the Children and for Servants and Creditors to the Crown be Sequestred and the costly pomp suspended for a good number of years and that this Revenue be for that time disposed toward Publike Charges Debts and Damages for the easing of the people so as the Estates neither of Friends to publique Interest nor alone of inferior Enemies thereunto may bear the whole burthen of that loss and charge which by and for that Family the Kingdom hath been put unto Thirdly That Capital punishment be speedily Executed upon a competent number of his Chief Instruments also both in former and later Wars and that some of both sorts be pitcht upon as are really in your hands or reach Fourthly That the rest of the Delinquents English may upon rendring themselves to Iustice have mercy for their lives and that only Fines be set upon them and their persons declared incapable of any Publique Trust or having any voice in Elections thereto at least for a good number of years And that a short day may be set by which all such Delinquents may come in and for those who come not in by that day that their Estates be absolutely Confiscated and sold to the Publike use and their Persons stand Exiled as Traytors and to die without mercy if ever after found in the Kingdom or its Dominions Fifthly That the satisfaction of Arrears to the Souldiery with other publike Debts and competent reparations of publique Damages may be put into some orderly way And that therefore the Fines and Compositions of Delinquents be disposed to those uses only as also the Confiscations of such who shall be excluded from Pardon or not come in by the day assigned Now after Publique Iustice thus provided for we proceed in order to the general satisfaction and Settlement of the Kingdom First That you would set some reasonable and certain period to your own Power Secondly That with a period to this Parliament that there may be a Settlement of the Peace and future Government of the Kingdom And in order thereto First That there may be a certain Succession of future Parliaments Annual or Biennial with secure provision 1. For the certainty of their Sitting Meeting and Ending 2. For equal Elections 3. For the Peoples meeting to Elect Provided that none engaged in War against the Kingdom may Elect or be Elected nor any other who oppose this Settlement 4. For clearing the power of Parliaments as Supreme only they may not give away any Foundation of Common Right 5. For liberty of Entring Dissents in the said Representatives that the people may know who are fit for future Trusts but without any penalty for their free Iudgments Thirdly That no King be hereafter admitted but upon Election of and as upon Trust from the people by such their Representatives nor without first disclaiming all pretence to a Negative Voice against the Determinations of the Commons in Parliament and this to be done in some Form more clear than heretofore in the Coronation-Oath These Matters of General Settlement we propound to be provided by the Authority of the Commons in this Parliament and to be further Established by a general Contract or Agreement of the people with their Subscriptions thereunto And that no King be admitted to the Crown nor other person to any Office of publique Trust without express Accord and Subscription to the same This was the Basis Method and Model of Cromwels Tyranny and though he had changed his pretences according to the exigences of time and occasions yet he was fixed here as having learnt from Matchiavel that there is no readier way to an Usurpation than by destroying the Fundamental Laws and Essentials of Government and proposing pleasing Innovations to the Vulgar This he drove at in his possessed Servants the Levellers whom he put on to divulge this new secret of Empire but they thundering of it out and to try its acceptance as the rain in unseasonable weather he was content to abandon them to a shower of Bullets influenced on one of his prime Boâ—tefeus by the Command of the Parliament to the General as beforesaid in 1647 at Ware For observe the trace of his Policie after this Critical Juncture when he had superated all difficulties and removed all obstacles and you shall see how sequaciously he copied these Articles of Agreement as they were called of the people First Destroy the King as a Tyrant then exclude the Royal Progeny then disable its potent Friends and ingratiate with the mean Next Gratifie and engage the Souldiers with promise of Arrears and Establishment Then the next subsequent great work is the dissolution of the Parliament then a Chimaera of Government such as Barebones Convention And lastly A pretended Elective Tyranny under the Style of Protector which his impiety afforded him not only to subscribe but to swear to The ill news of this pestilent Paper flew amain
wasted the Publique Treasure exhiâ—â—ted Trade decreased thousands of people murthered and infinite other mischiefs committed for all which high offences the said Charles Stuart might long since have been brought to exemplary and condign punishment Whereas also the Parliament well hoping that the restraint and imprisonment of his person after it had pleased God to deliver him into their hands would have quieted the distempers of the Kingdom did forbear to proceed judicially against him but fâ—und by sad experience that such their remisness served only to encourage him and his Complices in the continuance of their evil practices and in raising new Comâ—â—tions Rebellions and Practises For prevention of the like and greater inconveniences and to the end no Chief Officer or Magistrate may hereafter presume traiterously and maliciously to imagine or contrive the enslaving or destroying of the English Nation and to expect impunity Be it Enacted and Ordained by the Commons in this present Parliament Assembled and it is hereby Enacted and Ordained that Thomas Lord Fairfax c. the other persons that actually did Siâ— and Sentence are hereafter subjoyned shall be and are appointed Commissioners and Iudges for the Hearing Trying and Iudging of the said Charles Stuart And the said Commissioners or any twenty of them shall be and are hereby Authorized and Constituted an High Court of Iustice to meet at such convenient time and places as by the said Commissioners or the major part or twenty or more of them under their Hands and Seals shall be appointed and notified by publique Proclamation in the great Hall or Palace-yard of Westminster and to adjourn from time to time and from place to place as the said High Court or the major part thereof meeting shall hold fit and to take order for the Charging of Him the said Charles Stuart with the Crimes above-mentioned and for receiving his personal Answer thereunto and for examination of Witnesses upon Oath if need be concerning the same and thereupon or in default of such answer to proceed to final Sentence according to Iustice and the merit of the Cause to be executed speedily and impartially And the said Court is hereby Authorized and required to chuse and appoint all such Officers and Attendants and other Circumstances as they or the Major part of them shall in any sort judge necessary or useful for the ordering and good managing of the Premises And Thomas Lord Fairfax the General with all Officers of Iustice and other well-affected persons are hereby Authorized and Required to be aiding and assisting to the said Commissioners in the due execution of the Trust hereby committed to them Provided that this Ordinance and the Authority hereby granted do continue for the space of one Month from the Date of the making hereof and no longer This Act was followed by a Proclamation Ianuary 9. made by Serjeant Dendy by sound of Drums and Trumpets and Guards of Horse and Foot in Westminster-Hall whereby notice was given that the Commissioners of the pretended High Court of Justice were to sit down on the morrow and that all those that had any thing to say against Charles Stuart King of England might be heard The like was done in Cheap-side and the old Exchange The Actors or Tragical Persons in this Ordinance were stumbled at several illegalities and irregularities thereof which in a presumptuous confidence as drunken men passing over a dangerous Bridge then yet slighted But when it was perfected and the consummatory part of the Seal to be affixed and the whole result to be warranted thereby they were at a stand as knowing the Kings Seal could not be made use of against him while the Army-Familiars inspired them that the King and his Seal was alike unnecessary and that they must now according to their advice act by themselves and their own Authority which direction they followed and gave order for a new Seal to their ensuing Acts as hereafter We have omitted the Cypher-Names specified in the said pretended Act because cause many of them upon reluctancie of Conscience or more happy perswasions of Friends did not undertake the Impiety as also because we would not defame the Names of those Lords and Peers of the Kingdom and the Judges whose Function instructed them to the contrary that were invited and listed onâ—e by the same Treasonable Combination to be partakers in that Guilt but those that appeared and prosecuted their Power and are worthy of their brand are with their due Character here subjoyned The Kings Iudges marked with †are those that were Executed †Oliver Cromwel an English Monster a shame to the British Chronicle a name of ruine and mischief a Native of Huntingdon-shire who needs no other Character than this Chronicle being the Troubler of our Israel whose ruines were his Grave yet hath found another under Tyburn Ian. 30. †Henry Ireton Commissary-General of Horse Cromwel's Second espoused his Daughter as well as his Designes so like Father-in-law like Son-out-law and renterised in the same manner and at the same time 1660. †Iohn Bradshaw President Cum nemini obtrudi potest itur ad Hunc there was no such Villain to be found among the Long-Robâ— who drowned all his wickedness and false practises not to be compared under this most flagitious and scelerate parricide of the King A Cheshire-man born but hateful to his Country more abominable to his Name most odious to his Nation whose hopeful recovery by the first endeavours of his own County under Sir George Booth in 1659. he so pined at that taking a just desperation he died Two Terms before the Perpetration of the Kings Murther he had took the Oath of Allegeance as a Serjeant at Law being called to that Dignity from the scolding and railing of Guild-hall London to convitiate and reproach his most peaceable Sovereign He grew conscious as to the safety of his Body of his Fact when he shewed his aversness to Oliver the very name of a Single Person frighting him but so cauterized as to the salvation of his Soul that he departed in a most damnable obstinacie and maintenance of his Fact presuming there was no High Court of Iustice in Heaven or else that he was judged already The price of this Villany was the Presidencie of their Council of State the Lord Cottington's Estate and the Dutchy of Lancaster with some Advance-Money like Iudas for his undertaking It is observed he died in his Bed advantageously Commented on by the Imps and Abettors of his villany by others at least taken as a note of admiration leaving his Name and Memory to be tortured for ever The good Providence of God removing this wretch and the most implacable Enemies of our Sovereign by the same easie hand which might otherwise have been died in blood with which it restored Him to his Kingdoms and his people to their Laws Liberty and Religion he was likewise digged out of Westminster-Abby and thrown under
his interest and the Cause being the same the same Mercies have been continued And I doubt not but if the intended Change or rather Restitution be made as I hope it will the same God will continue his Blessings to that Good Old Cause wherein we are engaged and that good men will receive satisfaction by it Your Highness hath been told that the Title of King is upon the Foundation of Law and that a new Title must have a constitution to make the Laws relate unto it and that unto the Laws I shall onely adde this that a Title by relation is not so certain and safe as a Title upon the old Foundation of the Law and that a Title upon a present single Constitution as any new Title must be cannot be so firm as a Title both 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 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 burden will be the greater And therefore whatsoever may fall out will be better answered by your Highness complying with your Parliament than otherwise This question is not altogether new some instances have been given of the like to which I shall adde 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. reciting that inconveniencies 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 Iudgement of this 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 Cuncta discordiis civilibus â—â—ssa nomine principis sub imperium accepit some would not admit the Title Rex to be used but were contented to give the Titles of Caesar perpetuus Dictator Princeps Senatus Imperator Non sum Râ—x sed Caesar came at last to this Voluntas Caesaris pro lege habebatur The Northern people were more happy amongst 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 their 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 Afterwards 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 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 be will to do that which will be most for his honour and the good of his people Cromwel's Speech to the Parliament in the Banquetting-house at White-hall the 8 of May. Mr. Speaker I Come hither to answer that that was in your last Paper to your Committee you sent to me which was in relation to the desires which were offered to me by the House in that they called their Petition I confess that business hath put the House 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 it now I have the best I can revolved 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 setling 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 of 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 onely 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 so 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 caeteris patibus no private judgement is to lye in the Ballance with the judgement 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 onely a liberty but a duty and such a duty as I cannot without sinning forbear to examine my own Heart and thoughts and judgement in every work which I am to set mine Hand to or to appear in or 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 truely 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 onely I could have wished I had done it sooner for the sake of the House
Mr. Ansley walking afterwards into the Hall the House not being ready to sit to let the Members know that though they were repulsed by force on Saturday the House was open for honest men this day at his return Captain Lewson of Goff's Regiment as he confessed himself and other Officers denied him entrance he asking them whether they were a Committee to judge of Members without doors they said No but they were Commanded by their superiour Officers to let none in that had not sate till April 1653. After some reasoning the case with them the Captain told Mr. Ansley that if he would give his Parol to return without sitting he might go in and speak with whom he pleased so upon his Parol passed to the Captain he was permitted to go in the second time and soon after returned telling the Captain as he came out that he had kept his Parol and wished he and the Souldiers would do the like Mr. Pryn continued still there and resolved so to do since he saw there was Force again upon the House and had some discourse within doors and made them lose that Morning and adjourn by reason of his presence without the Speakers taking the Chair he attempted to sit again in the Afternoon but found there a Troop of Horse and two Companies of Red-coats Keepers of the Liberties of England and so bid them farewel immediately after which to prevent further interruption in their works of Darkness from Honest men they barred the Door against three parts of four of the Members of the House by the following Vote Ordered That such persons heretofore Members of this Parliament as have not sate in this Parliament since the year 1648. and have not subscribed the Engagement in the Roll of Engagement of this House shall not sit in this House till further order of the Parliament Whereupon Sir George Booth Mr. Ansley Mr. Knightly Mr. Pryn and the rest who had agreed on a Letter to be sent to them finding them in their old temper of trampling the priviledges of Parliament under foot and Judging without Hearing resolved to make no application to them Thus we saw to the vexation of the Kingdom the same pretended Parliament as was sitting in 1653. till the Protector Oliver by the best act of his life pull'd them out of the House sitting again upon a Declaration of the Army whose Slaves they were to do what they please as time discovered And that we might see they could trust few but themselves and were not changed for all their fained repentance they were already returned to the Good Old Cause of preferring one another and their Friends into good Offices and Commands and Counsellors places as appeared by their Vote of the 9th of May viz. The Parliament doth declare That all such as shall be employed in any place of Trust or Power in the Commonwealth be able for the discharge of such Trust and that they be persons fearing God and that have given testimony to all the people of God and of their faithfulness to this Commonwealth according to the Declaration of Parliament of the 7 th of May 1659. And such their proceedings thereupon that forthwith they chose of their own Members for a Council of State 21. viz. Sir Arthur Haslerig or the Bishop of Durham Sir Henry Vane Ludlow Io. Iones Sydenham Scot. Saloway Fleetwood Sir Iames Harrington Col. Walton Nevil Chaloner Downes Whitlock Herb. Morley Sidney Col. Thompson Col. Dixwel Mr. Reynolds Oliver St. Iohn Mr. Wallop Of Persons without the House 10. viz. Bradshaw Lambert Desborough Lord Fairfax Berry Sir Tho. Honeywood Sir Archi. Iohnson Iosiah Berners Sir Anth. Ashley Cooper a Gentleman too wise honest to sit in such company Sir Hor. Townsend a Gent. of too good an Estate to be hazarded with such a crew Next they discontinued the Term to the great damage and discontent of the people because many Suits were depending against Vane and Haslerig In fine what they were like to prove or what good rather what evil was dreaded and expected from them to an utter despair and enragement of the whole Nation did sufficiently appear from the esteem the people had of them in the Elections to the last Parliament wherein though none but persons well-affected to Parliaments had Votes and the persons now sitting laboured hard to be chosen very few of them were Elected the people generally looking upon them as apostates from the Good Old Cause and therefore no wonder they would have that Parliament to which onely they were chosen never dissolved Going about by the example of the Army whose Apes they were to cozen the people of their Religion Laws Liberties Parliaments and Money with a Rattle called the Good Old Cause which was a Cheat greater than any of the former Being thus reseated and having entred for qualitie though not for number worse if worse could be than when they were turned out before they fell as readily as if there had been no disaster on their power upon selling the remainder of the King's Lands as Hampton-court Somerset-house Greenwich c. All persons were commanded to quit White-hall whence the miserable Richard for whom the Army had conditioned for ten thousand per annum for his life c. in fear of Arrests had withdrawn himself into the Country Thither these his Masters sent to him a Committee for his submission and resignation to which they sweetned him with a kinde demand of his Debts of which by their Conditions they were tied to discharge him He at first answered not home to the Resignation but being urged for they knew his Title was as good as theirs to do it he in express terms added He had learnt not to be unquiet under Gods hand and should cause all persons relating to him to behave themselves peaceably under the Government from whom he expected Protection May 25. Then he gave them a Transcript of his Debts by the hands of his Steward and they thereupon took him off a debt of 29640 l. and gave him a Protection for six Months and together his dismission having taken and seized all the Plate Hoshould-stuff and other Utensils whatsoever in White-hall together with what Jewels they could finde into their possession and so exit Richard in such a pitiful regardless condition but by his Creditors that we shall hear but little of him further in this Chronicle They were next saluted with an Address from the Army in Scotland wherein they confessed and lamented their former miscarriages towards them but at the end thereof there was a hard word subjoyned That the defection was fomented and caused by some of themselves and this was afterwards construed as a bone of Contention and Jealousie thrown in amongst them At home the Judges Commissions being expired they appointed Serjeant Nudigate for the Kings-Bench Serjeant Atkins and Archer for the Common-Pleas and Serjeant Parker for the Exchequer where Wilde and Hill were afterwards placed and
which this Kingdom hath been involved since the violent attempts to dissolve the Established Government the best way to make up those breaches is by all means to obtain the Restoration of the King to his people and that in order thereunto a Letter from both Houses drawn up by a Committee shall be sent to the King giving him thanks for his gracious Offers and professing their duty and loyalty to him and that Sir Iohn Greenvil have the thanks of the House and 500 l. bestowed on him by the Commons to buy him a Jewel as a Testimony of the respects of the House to him and a badge of Honour which they thought fit to place upon him all which was with great solemnity punctuality performed Moreover to testifie their hearty obedience to his Majesty they ordered the sum of 50000 l. as a Present for him which was instantly borrowed with 50000 l. more of the City of London who having desired leave of the Parliament returned a like dutiful Answer with a Present also to his Majesty and his two Brothers having honourably received the Lord Viscount Mordant and the said Sir Iohn Greenvil who brought them his Majesty's Letters who also acknowledged their Quality and good Offices by 300 l. given them to buy them Rings Nor were the Souldiery wanting to this concourse and stream of general Affection and Loyalty to his Majesty for upon communication of his Majesty's Letters and Declaration they quickly drew up an Address to the General wherein they shewed their willing and ready submission as formerly in all Transactions to him their General so in this their perfect Duty to the King To whom they doubted not to evince that his Excellencie and the Army under his Command and those engaged in the Parliaments Cause had complied with the Obligations for which they were raised The Preservation of the Protestant Religion the Honour and Happiness of the King the Priviledges of Parliament the Liberty and Proprieties of the Subject and the Fundamental Laws of the Land This was seconded by the Navy under the General Montague now Earl of Sandwich to whom and the Fleet under him the King had sent the like Letters and Declaration the Sea ringing with the peals of Ordnance upon the communication of the said Papers and lastly the Governour Colonel Harlow and Garrison of Dunkirk did the same by an Address to his Excellencie A Committee was appointed to consider the manner of his Majesties Return and to prepare all things necessary for his Reception they likewise ordered his Majesty's Arms to be set up in all Churches and the Commonwealths to be taken down and that all Proceedings be in the Kings Majesties name and that the present Great Seal be made use of till further order that there might be no hindrance or stop in the proceeding of Justice Easter-Term was likewise prorogued that no business might interfere with this grand and expected Affair of the Settlement of the Kingdom All Officers as Sheriffs Justices that were in commission the 25 of April to continue and exercise the respective Offices in the King's Name It was Resolved further That the King's Majesty be desired to make a speedy return to his Parliament and to the exercise of his Kingly-Office and that in order thereunto several Commissioners from both Houses be sent to the King at Breda with their Letters to his Majesty Doctor Clargys now Sir Thomas the General 's Brother having been before sent with his to the King and to acquaint him with the said Desires and Votes of the Houses To these Commissioners others were added from the City of London the Names of them all are as followeth For the House of Lords Earl of Oxford Earl of Warwick staid at London sick of the Gout Earl of Middlesex Lord Viscount Hereford Lord Berckley Lord Brook For the House of Commons The Lord Fairfax Lord Bruce Lord Falkland Lord Castleton Lord Herbert Lord Mandevil Sir Horatio now Lord Townsend Sir Anthony now Lord Ashly Cooper Sir George Booth now Lord De la mere Denzill now Lord Hollis Sir Henry Holland Sir Iohn Cholmley For the City of London Sir Iames Bunce Baronet Alderman Langham Alderman Reynardson Alderman Sir Richard Browne Sir Nicholas Crisp Alderman Tompson Alderman Frederick Alderman Adams Sir William Wilde Recorder Sir Iohn Robinson Alderman Sir Anthony Bateman Sir William Wale Sir Theophilus Biddulph Sir Richard Ford Sir William Vincent Sir Thomas Bludworth Sir William Bateman Sir Iohn Lewis Master Chamberlain and Sir Laurence Bromfield all of them not Knighted before Knighted by the King at the Hague upon their arrival the King being removed thither from Breda as nearer and more convenient for his shipping the disposal whereof and of the whole Fleet was remitted to his Majesty's pleasure the General Montague having received Orders to obey his Majesty's Commands and Directions therein The Instructions being delivered to the Commissioners they set Sail in several Frigots appointed to attend them and with some foul Weather Landed in Holland where they were graciously and favourably received by his Majesty at the Hague I may not omit that the reception of Sir Thomas Clergys from the General was as an Embassador from a Prince the Lord Gerard with many Coaches being sent to conduct him to Audience where Mr. Hollis into whose hands the Letters were intrusted for the delivery spoke for the House of Commons the Earl of Oxford for the Lords and Sir William Wilde for the City Those that were there at their Audience agreed in Opinion that never person spoke with more affection or in better terms than Master Hollis He insisted chiefly upon the Miseries the Kingdoms had groaned under by the tyranny of the pretended Parliament and Cromwel which should now be exchanged into their repose quiet and lawful liberty beseeching his Majesty in the name of his people to return and resume the Scepter c. and assured him he should be infinitely welcome without any terms a thing so much stomacked by the Phanaticks but most just and honourable After several Treatments given the King by the Dutch which he shortned as much as he could and other Complements by Forraign Ministers to whom he gave publick Audience the Portugal only excepted and Spaniard having notice of the Fleets arrival which consisted of near Forty Sail of great Men of War he prepared to depart At this time came also to his hands the Proclamation made in London as a little before returned Sir Iohn Greenvil with the happy news of his peoples love and entire affection The Proclamation followeth being very fit to be recorded that which we mentioned in the second Part being but an earnest of this ALthough it can no way be doubted but that his Maiesties Right and Title to these Crowns and Kingdoms is and was every way compleat by the Death of his most Royal Father of Glorious Memory without the Ceremony or Solemnity of a Proclamation Yet since
room But now to take the charge from-both the Lord Roberts arrives at Dublin Upon the news of this change the Lord Mayor and Aldermen the Provost of the Colledge the Dean of Christ-Church and most of the Clergy attended the Lord Ossory where the one acknowledged the many benefits which the City had received from the Government of his Father and himself the other the many benefits which the Church had enjoy'd as well by their good Examples as by the plentiful provision made them by the Clergy The reception of the new Lord-Deputy was intended to have been made with much State and Solemnity but he waving those publick Honours met the Lord-Deputy and the Council at the Council-Chamber the same Evening after his arrival where after he had taken the usual Oath the Lord-Deputy deliver'd him the Sword He was no fooner enter'd upon his Government but he issu'd out a Proclamation commanding all Governors and Officers to repair to their several Charges and Duties not admitting any dispâ—nsation to the contrary London had long layn in Ashes and the Confluence of all the World had been as long confin'd within the narrow limits of a Colledge-Court but now again the Merchants to their great satisfaction and the lasting Merits of Sir William Turner then Lord Mayor whose indâ—â—aâ—igable paâ—â— and zeal was Eminent in advancing and forwarding so great a Work met in the Royal Exchange a Fabrick equal to the Honour of the Undertakers and holding a true proportion with the rest of the Goodly Buildings of the Reviving City But now men began to listen after things a higher Nature seeing both Houses of Parliament again Assembled upon the 19th of October The King in a Speech acquainted them With his joy to see them at that time and the hopes he had of a happy meeting which he promis'd himself from the great experience he had of their Affection and Loyalty of which he did not doubt the Continuance briefly minding them of his Debts which though pressing he was unwilling to call for their Assistance till this time acquainâ—ing them also that what they last gave was wholly apply'd to the Navy and to the Extraordinary Fleet for which it was intended desiring they would now take his Debts effectually into their Consideration Afterwards hinting to them a Proposal of great Importance concerning the Vniting of England and Scotland which because it requir'd some length he left that and some other things to the Lord Keeper to open more fully which was by him done and then both Houses Adjourn'd At the beginning of November both Houses in pursuance of a Vote which they had made attended the King in the Banqueting House where the Lord Chief Justice Vaughan supplying the Room of the Lord Keeper in the name of both Houses return'd their Humble Thanks to the King for his Care of the Publick in Issuing out his Proclamation for the suppressing of Conventicles Humbly desiring his Majesty to continue the same care for the future In Reply to which his Majesty return'd an Answer to the satisfaction of both Houses But now Christmas drawing near and having sate above a Month without effecting any thing of consequence the Lords sent the Usher of the Black-Rod to the House of Commons to tell them That by Vertue of the King's Commission they desird their Attendance who Attending accordingly with their Speaker the Commission was read and the Parliament Prorogu'd till the 24th of February next ensuing At the same time that the Parliament of England sate at Westminster the Parliament of Scotland sate at Edenburgh where the Earl of Lauderdale having taken the Chair of State as Lord Commissioner of Scotland the Earls Commission was first read and then the doubtful Elections of Members refer'd to Examination That done the Kings Letter to the Parliament was twice read seconded by a shorter from the Lord Chancellor perswading them to a concurrence with the King in his Design of Uniting the Two Kingdoms Then they proceeded to Elect the Lords of the Articles the Bishops choosing Eight Bishops and those Eight Eight of the Nobility and these Sixteen making choice of Eight Knights and as many Burgesses by whom all Affairs were to be prepar'd for the House During this Session they Publish'd an Act for the Naturalization of Strangers within the Kingdom of Scotland Declaring that all Strangers of the Protestant Religion that should think fit to bring their Estates into the said Kingdom or should come to set up new Works and Manufactures therein should be Naturaliz'd as Native-Born Subjects of that Kingdom to all intents and purposes The King farther Declaring That upon application by such Strangers made to him he would grant them the free and publick use of their Religion in their own Language and the Libertie of having Churches of their own However no persons were to have the benefit of the said Act till first by Petition to the Lords of the Privy-Council containing an exact designation of their Names and places of Birth and former residences and that tâ—ey be of the Protâ—stant Religion They also made another Act asserting his Majesty's Supremacy over all persons and in all Causes Ecclesiastical By Sea little was this Year done only Sir Thomas Allen being again sent with a Squadron of Ships about the beginning of August came before Argier and sending in his Boat began to Treat they in Argier seem'd willing to make restitution of such Money as they had taken from an English ship bound for the East-Indies but not agreeing to some other demands the Treaty prov'd ineffectual thereupon he began actual Hostility seizing a Bark laden with Corn which rode in the Bay with eleven Moors and a Brigantine which he took in view of the Town From hence having done little or nothing else considerable he set sail for Tripoly the Bashaw of which place sent him an assurance of his readyness to prâ—serve Peace and a good Correspondence with the King of Great Britain And after a short crusing up and down in those Seas he return'd for Cadiz where this Year leaves him But being now so neer the English Territories at Tangier the King of England's Embassador Mr. Henry Howard must not be forgot who being sent by the King his Embassador Extraordinary to the Emperour of Morocco at that time Taffalette by vertue of his new Conquests was now arriv'd at Tangier but understanding the danger of hazarding his person among those Barbarians stay'd at that place expecting a sufficient strength to convoy and conduct him to his place of Audience In November he receiv'd his Safe-Conduct with an assurance from the Emperour that he should not fail of receiving all satisfaction in order to whatsoever he should desire for his security and that he had already caus'd Justice to be done to such as were found guilty of giving any affronts to his people And true it was that he caus'd all the English which were taken by the
of Maritime affairs with the Dutch 566. Extraordinary Embassador in Holland 568 Thurlo Secretary to Oliver 357 Theatre at Oxford finished 573 Tickle Captain Executed for treasonable designe of yielding Kilkenny 250 Tiddiman assails at Bergen 541 Timptallon-castle yielded 283 Tinmouth-castle by Lilburn for the King 179 Tomkins and Challoner Executed 47 Tower-street Powder-blow 25â— Traquair Earl Kings Commissâ—in Scotland 10 Treaty personal voted 180. Sir John Hippesly and Mr. Bulkly sent to the King a prisoner in Carrisbrook-castle 181. Begun and managed 183. So as ended 187. All that subscribed it voted by the Iuncto remaining to be uncapable of bearing Offices 193 Treavor Sir John made Secretary 569 Treavors Col. sides with the Marq. of Ormond engaged at the Siege of London-Derry intercepts Arms going from Monke to O Neal 240 Trial of the Kings Iudges 469 Trump Van defeats Blake in the Downs 330 in triumph to Guernsey Rochel 331 returns 335. Is killed 347. Buried and his Elegie 349 Tumults in Endinburg about the Common-prayer 5. The Bishop of that City in danger of life ib. Excused but recommended in London and at White-hall-gates 25. Encrease and drive away the Court 26. Against the Parliament 138 to 140 Tumults in London against Army and Rump 433 Tunbridge and Red-hill designe 424 Turner tryed and hanged 521 Turk besieges New-hausel 525. Surrendred 526. Defeated 527. Makes peace with the Emperour 533. His Embassadors Secretary turns Christian 548 Tuscany Duke comes into England 569. Gives the King two Gallies 575 V Vane Sir Henry tried beheaded 510 511 Vavasor Sir William goes beyond Sea after Marston-fight 61 Varny Sir Edward slain at Drogheda 244 Vaughan Sir Will. slain at Baggot Rath 242 Vaughan Sir John Lord Chief-Iustice 568 Ven a Colonel at Windsor 39 Venables General 369 St. Venant taken 396 Venetian Embassador in England 569 Venner's Insurrection and Trial and Execution 505 510 511 Vernon Sir Ralph 367 Vicariat of the Empire 397 Vieuville a French Marquiss slain 50 These are y e cheife of them that came to David to Ziklag and they were among y e mighty men helpers of the Warr. Croâ— 1.12.2 * We doubt not to evince to your Majesty that his Excellency and the Army under his Command c. have complied with the Obligations for which they were raised The Preservation of the Protestant Religion the honour and happiness of the King the Priviledges of Parliament the Liberty and Propriety of the Subject and the Fundamental Laws of the Land Vide Declaration of the Army May 1660. Distractions and Confusions about Church-Ceremonies In a Conference about them justified by K. James Fresh Commotions about them raised by Pryn Bastwick Burton and Lilburn All Pillori'd and Crop'd Pryn stigmatized they are fined and imprisoned Lilburn whipt at Carts tail Bishop Williams fined 10000 l. Troubles break out in Scotland England and Scotland United Scotland well setled Endeavours for conformitie in Discipline Articles of Perth Common-Prayer endeavoured to be introduced in Scotland The Kings Revocation cause of Tumults Laid upon the Bishop Commission of Superioritie and Tythes Honours and Titles adde to the Troubles Libels tax the Parliament Libeller fled Balmerino apprehended Strange Tumult abâ—ut reading Common-Prayer The Rabble continued their madness Proclamation against them Magistrates profess a detestation but soon joyned with them Ministers recant reading Service Petition against it and thereby endanger insurrection Proclamation to depart the City removing Term and seizing a Libel Another Insurrection Bishop of Galloway in danger Traquair and Wigton came to his relief with no less danger They send to the Provost and Bailiffs of Edinburgh for relief who were as bad or worse used A Conference but in vain Traquair troden down Another Proclamation against unlawful Assemblies but not regarded The Rabble petition Their petition sent to the King who by Proclamation resents the affronts of his chief Ministers Hume and Lindsey justifie the matter Four Tables A Covenant resolved on The King highly incensed thereat Hamilton sent unto Scotland They slight him and strengthen themselves Term returned to Edinburgh By Declaration Service and Canons dispensed with The Covenanters protest against it Hamilton having given the King an account of affairs is sent againâ— and enters a Treaty He returns to England hath power given him to satisfie the Scots if possible The Assembly at Glasgow Bishops excluded They protest against it They continue fitting notwithstanding a Proclamation to dissolve them Arguile owns the Covenanters The Scots arm Queen-Mother arrives The Scots have a competent Army The King raists an Army Arundel General-Hamilton commands the Fleet. A Declaration by the King The Assembly answers The Earls of Roxborough and Traquair Commissioners from the Covenanters Committed and released A Treaty began and soon ended The Parliament of Scotland proregued The Assembly abolish Episcâ—pacie Their Parlialiament adjourned They send the Earl of Dumfermling and Lord Loudon with a Remonstrance Loudon committed and released The P. Elector Palatine came into England Departed and taken by the French Released and returning â—nto England was allowed 8000 l. per annum A Sea-fight between the Flemings and the Spaniards The Hollanders worsted But in conclusion become Victors An ill Omen Lord Estrich Col. Ruthen and others sent to repair Edenburgh Castle they were resisted by the Covenanters The Nobility Gentry and Clergy assist the King with mony for the carrying on of the War Supplies from Ireland Lord Keeper Coventry dieth Succeeded by Sir John Finch A Parliament summoned They favour the Scots Are backward in assisting the King with mony Are dissolved The Convocation of the Clergy sit and assist the King with mony They make new Canons in opposition to Popery and the the Scotch Covenant Bishop Goodman dissents And is admonished by A. B. Laud. Tot said A. B. Libelled and his house assaulted Some of the factioâ— imprisoned and rescued Bensted a Seaman hanged The Scotch Army advance towards England Henry Duke of Glocester bâ—â—n The Earl of Northumberland General of the Kings Army Earl of Strafford Lieut. General The King comes to Northallerton Newborn sight Aug. 29. Gen. Lesley Earl of Leven engageth with the Lord Conway and â—â—â—eats him Sir Jacob Ashley deserts Newcastle that and Durham render themselves to Gen. Lesley The Earl of Stafford complains of the Lord Conway The Earl of Haddington the Scots M. G. with 20 Knights and Gentlemen slain at Dunglass The Scots proclaimed Traytors and the Kings Royal Standard set up at York The Scots petition the King and are answered by the Earl of Lanerick The Lords of England summoned to appear at York They agree to call a Parliament A Treaty of peace at Rippon The English insist on a Cessation The Scots refuse and propound 4 Praeliminaries The Earl of Strafford adviseth the King to fight them But in conclusion These Articles were agreed on The Parliament set they question several Bishops and Iudges and vote down Monopolies Mr. pym sent from the Commons to the Lords with an
Oxford relieve Banbury The Siege raised Col. Myn sâ—ain iâ— Glocestershâ—re and the Royalists worsted by Masâ—ey Who bestowed an honoâ—rable burial on the saiâ— Câ—lonâ—l Princâ— Rupert at the Severn where hapnâ—d daily Skirâ—â—â—hes He is worsted by Massey Monmouth bâ—â—â—aâ—â—d to Massey by Lieutenant-Coâ— Kirle Col Holtby Goverâ—our thereof escapes Massey active and vigilant Newberry second fight Octob. 27. Manchester's forces over-powered the Kings but are repâ—lied by Sir Bernard Astley The Duke of Yorks Regiment led by Sir Wil. St Leger and Pr. Maurices Brigade repulsed Essex his Horse too hard for the Kings over-powred Sir Humphry Bennet and Major Leg but are repulsed by the Lord Bernard Stuart Goring and Cleaveland worsted Earle of Cleaveland taken Prisoner and the Kings person in danger Earl of Manchester ingaged with Lord Ashley and Sir George Lisle they are worsted but relieved by Sir John Brown The King marcheth to Wallingford and so to Oxford Slain of note on the Kings side Sir William St. Leger Essex had the Field Col. Boys secured the Kings Artillery The King relieves Dennington-castle The Parliament suspect the Earl of Essex Manchester and Cromwel disser The Parliament resolve to new model their Army They Order that no Member shall bear command in either Military or Civil affairs The Ordinance for the new modeling the Army Decemb. 31. Sir Thomas Fairfax made General The stots advance Southward The first Address contrived by Oliver Cromwel The Scots tâ—â—â— Newcastle Plunder it Soâ—â—m thanks at London for their success Sir Alexander Carew beheaâ—ed fâ—â— endâ—avouring to betray Plymouth-Fort to the King Sir John Hotham and his son executed Jan. 1 2. for endeavouring to betray Hull and holding correspondence with the Marquess of Newcastle Hugh Peters accompanieth them at their deaths The Kings observations of them in his Meâ—itations The Assembly of Divines consult about Church-Government The Covenaâ—t prest to be universally takâ—â— The Commâ—n-Prayer abolished Sir David Hawkins a zealous stickler for the Parliament Archbishop of Canterbury bâ—headâ—d Vide Speechâ—s Buried at Alhallows Barking London Sir Henry Gage Câ—l for the King shot neer Abingdon Uxbridge Trâ—aty Jan. 3. Commissioners for the King at the Treaty at Uxbridge Commissioners for the Parliament Scotch Commissioners The main things to be treated of were Religon Militia and Ireland The King refuseth to alter Religion by Bishops but would admit of some amendments in the Liturgie He is willing some Garrisons should be in the Parliaments hands pro tempore but will not abrogate the Cessation in Ireland Mr. Love a strange Incendiary The Treaty ended in vain The Lord Macguire and Col. Mac Mahon hanged drawn and quartered Shrewsbury taken by Major-General Mitton for the Parliament He hath the thanks of the House The Parliament takes Scarborough and Weymouth they raise Plymouth Siege Ponfract castle relieved by Sir Marmaduke Langdale he routs the Parl. Forces under Col. Rossiter Essex Manchester and Denbigh resigne their Commissions A notable success at the Devises under Sir Jacob Ashley A Faction at Oxford the Lords Savil Percy and Andover confined The Parliament Adjourned The Parliament's new Generals Commission The Actions of the Renowned Marquess of Montross He arrives in the Highlands of Scotland He fights the Covenanters and obtains a great Victory at Tepper-Moor Hâ— makes great spoils in Argyles Country Who with the E. of Seaforth maâ—ch against him with two several Armies He routs Argyle defeats Col. Hurry at Brechin afterwards at Alderne and obtains a remarkable Victory at Alesford hills Lord Gourdons death Marquess of Montross affrights the Parliament at St. Johnstons His famous Victory at Kilsith David Lesley routed The Nâ—bility Gentry assist him The King orders Montross to disband Colonel Massey defeated at Lidbury by Prince Rupert He is forced to flye and narrowly escapes Sir Thomas Fairfax takes command of the Army Prince Rupert and Prince Maurice raise Horse in Worcester-shire Cromwel sent to intercept the Kings Forces routs them The Queens Standard taken He summons Blechington house the Governour Col. Windebank delivers it And was therefore shot to death Cromwel takes Sir William Vaughan at Radcot bridge Goring gives Cromwel his first brush The new modeled Army march to Blandford in Dorset-shire take Lieutenant-Col Hacket The King leaving Oxford takes the field Fairfax recalled from the West but leaves part of his Army there Oxford besieged the second time A cruel custome at Abingdon Borstal house besieged Gaunt house surrendred Chester distressed Relieved by the King Goring Hopton and Greenvile joyn and besiege Taunton Leicester Stormed and taken by Prince Rupert May 21. He takes Sir Robert Pye the Town is plundered The Parliament almost driven to despair The King and Royalists too confident of Success Sir Thomas Fairfax ordered to give the King-Battel York-shire a long time harrased by the Scots The unresolved which way to bend his Forces The Parliament order Fairfax to put their differences to the decision of a Battel They march to Marsh-Gibeon Major-General Brown Garisons Gaunt house The King at Daventry and Northampton Cromwel sent for by the Parliament to command their Horse The Kings Foot and Carriages quartered upon Burrough-hill The Parliaments Army at Gilsborough The Kings Army march to Pomfret Ireton with a strong party of Horse sent to fall upon his Flank The Kings Head-quarters at Naseby Alarm'd by Ireton he goes to Harborough and unhappily resolves to fight Naseby fight The Parliament forces Rendezvouz neer Naseby they discover the Kings Horse neer Harborough The King misinformed Cromwel commands the right Wing of the Parl. horse Ireton the left The Gen. and Skippon the main battel of Foot Whaley routs Langdale who commanded part of the Kings left Wing Prince Rupert routs the Parliaments left Wing Ireton taken Prisoner and the fortune of the day changing is released The Kings Foot over-powered by the Parliaments Horse His Cavalry in great distress Okey's Dragoons do notable Execution on the Kings Horse The Calamities of this day The Parliament take many of the Kings Officers and his Standard â— with his Cabinet of Letters which they unworthily publish The advantage equal to both parties The Lord Bard. did excellent service for the King Fiennes sâ—nt to London with the Prisoners The Parliaments Forces pursut the Kings The King at Ashby de la zouch He goes into Wales Sir Marmaduke Langdale flies to Newark Taunton distrest by the Lord Goring Leicester retaken Lord Hastings Governour thereof The Kings Souldiers march out with Staves in their hands The Parliaments Army march towards Marlborough The Club men rise They Petition the King and Parliament Taunton freed Iuly 7. And Goring after his defeating the besieged departed His Army quartered at Long-Sutton they march to Langport Massey resolutely attempis their Rear but with loss Langport fight General Fairfax routs the Lord Goring Langport fired General Fairfax at Bridgewater Sir Richard Greenvile and Sir John Berkley joyn with the Lord Goring Bridgewater taken July 23. by the Parliament The Parliaments forlorn
that the King was well rewarded for his lenity and sparing of blood which was at this place plenteously drawn from his own Army Of which of men of note were slain fewer than in any Battel whatsoever there being reckoned but three Colonel Sir William St. Leger Lieutenant-Colonel Topping and Lieutenant-Colonel Leak There were wounded Sir Iohn Greenvile the General the Earl of Brainford in the head and Sir Richard Campfield Colonel of the Queens Regiment of Horse of Common Souldiers a greater quantity than of the Parliaments neer three thousand But of their side not any person of note above a Captain and some five and twenty hundred killed The Earl of Essex had indubitably the honour as he had the pillage of the Field on which he lay all that night and having buried the Dead marched to Besiege Demington-castle where the Kings Artillery was secured by the care of the aforesaid Colonel Boys who intended not to part with them at any Rates though encompassed with so great and powerful an Army which after three several Summons three several days together assaulted it The King having marched his Army through Oxford on the thirtieth of the same month on the sixth of October Rendezvouzed them on Burlington-Green within a Mile Eastward of Oxford and so marched by Dorchester to Wallingford and forward for the relief of Dennington-castle which yet stifly defended it self Upon his approach and some resolute attempts upon their out-Guards over-night which passed with sundry Skirmishes the Enemy drew off next day and departed although they were two for one Hereabout and in this matter appears the first dissatisfaction of the Parliament as to the good management of their Arms the Earl of Essex being now suspected as careless or discontent And therefore they fell to debate concerning the Army in the House For Colonel Norton had writ a Letter to them that he had received a Warrant from a chief Commander in the Army to withdraw from Basing which was a thing to him unexpected but yet he obeyed and besides the commands of the Committee of both Kingdoms to the Army were lately much neglected and complained of This debate flew so high as it came to this question How chance the Parliament-forces permitted the Enemy to relieve Dennington-castle when they were two for one and why the Town of Newbery was quitted before the Enemy was marched away as the pretence of not fighting was because they would not quit Newbery It seems it was first resolved by the Council of State that Essex his Forces should not quit Newbery or draw out into the Field lest the King should take it for Winter-quarters but when the King should retreat from the relief of Dennington to fall upon his Rear But no such matter was prosecuted for the King possest himself of that Town as a good covert and quarter for his Army while the Parliaments Forces lay in the open Fields who being by the Kings approach to them at Hungerford and one thousand Horse sent under the same Colonel Gage from thence hastily dislodged also from the Siege of Basing where Manchester and his whole Army had shewed themselves onely departed to their Winter-quarters in Reading Henly Abington and Farnham and the King 's to Basing Odiam Newbery Blewbury and Marlborough Whilst they thus are lodged in their quarters there will be respite to look upon the Counsels and debates of the Parliament and the consultations of the King and the debates likewise in his Court and Parliament at Oxford And first the Earl of Manchester made his relation concerning the management of the business at Dennington-castle of great length in Writing which was in the nature of a Charge against his Lieutenant-General Cromwel who had fought so Fortunately for the Parliament He thereupon made answer to several particulars therein mentioned and pleaded first point of Priviledge because of the transmitting of that business from the Lords before any Charge was brought into the House of Commons This private Quarrel was presently quashed but the Publike disgusts were not so soon laid For the Independent Faction began now to appear and to be powerful in the House of Commons so that a suspicion was raised and somented by them that the Earl of Essex was more Royal than the Parliament ever intended when they gave him his Commission Upon this pretence and after several discourses it came at last to a debate wherein it was resolved to new model their Army and so by degrees to quit themselves of their General and to bethink of a new one that should not be of that dangerous greatness and honour who might not well be disputed with but to chuse one of a middle Estate betwixt the Peers and the People and so to be at last rid of all the Lords which afterwards they brought to pass To this end they began with a subtle Order That no Member of either House shall during this War enjoy and execute any Office or Command military or civil which hath been granted or conferred on any Member of either House or by any Authority derived from either House The Reasons published for this Order were these fine ones That all Commissions to Parliament-men being void the new modeling the Army may be carried on with the less exception when all are concerned alike That Military differences among the great Commanders being Parliament-men which might retard the work will hereby cease Those that shall be new elected Officers being of lesser quality and sooner subject to question and punishment and the Army also maintained at a lesser charge Forty days were limited from this Order by which all such Commissions and Commands were in the Army declared void with a resolution nevertheless expressed to pay off their Arrears which was meanly performed and at the same rate that the Earl of Essex had the Ten thousand pounds a year assigned him for the good service he had done the State out of the Lands of the Lord Capel whose Heirs now have his Honour and other Delinquents punctually paid him This Ordinance for new modelling the Army met notwithstanding with great opposition and as much after it was received into the House of alteration The Lords being instructed to soresee the evil consequences nor would they plenarily consent before the old trick of Petitions from City and Country compelled them to pass it The Title whereof was An Ordinance for the raising and maintaining of Forces for the defence of the Kingdom under the comand of Sir Thomas Fairfax He thereupon is sent for and privately comes out of the North and on the nineteenth of February was brought by four Members into the House of Commons where a Chair was set and he desired to sit therein the Speaker telling him of the great confidence and trust the Kingdom had put upon him in the Command of this Army from a sence of his Valour and Fidelity for the defence of the Laws and
Religion While this Army was a modelling many disorders happened which retarded their settlement it was to consist of fourteen thousand Foot and seven thousand Horse and Dragoons effective so that the Spring was well advanced before they were in any readiness Therefore the Scots Army was intreated to advance South-ward with all speed to assist the Parliament in the mean time It is to be noted that the first contrivance of Addresses was from Oliver Cromwel who having by this Model and by a Salvo to him from the injunction of the Ordinance the Regiment of Colonel Leg which had been in some muttering and discontent against the Parliament conferred on him did as soon as he had Mustered them present a Paper to them wherein they professed their future adherence to the Parliament in all duty and affection as to the utmost hazard of their lives which Precedent and leading Case was followed throughout the Army and since throughout the Times The Scots we said before were sent for to march more Southward having left all things secure behind them save Carlisle which was then Besieged for Newcastle they had taken of which we must speak a little They had layn a long while for many months a close and desperate Siege to it where several Sallies and Skirmishes had happened it proving one of the hardest resolutest Sieges in the Kingdom all sorts of policy of peace and war by Treaty by Mines by Assaults having been frequently used but to little purpose the Inhabitants resolving never if possible to fall into the Scots hands But on Saturday the nineteenth of October all the Scotch Army furiously set upon the Town and having weakened the defences thereof both as to the Fortifications and the Garrison having made three breaches by their Battery and Mines after a tedious Storm they at last mastered it Sir Iohn Morley and Sir Nicolas Cole and Sir George Baker got to the Castle where being forced by necessity they came to a Capitulation which in Articles concluded a surrender on the twenty seventh of the same month The town being taken by assault was plundered sufficiently over and over again and thanks was given solemnly at London for the giving of Newcastle up to their Brethren of Scotland And very great reason they had to do so for the poorer sort of people had been almost starved for the last two years for want of fuel Coles having risen to the price of four pound a Chaldron never heard of before in London as to the half of it Sir Iohn Hotham and his son had been prisoners in the Tower of London since Iuly 1643. Now upon the new Model several of the old strains were heard as every Change began with Outcryes the noyse was justice now against Delinquents the Sword had glutted it self almost with blood now the Ax was to tast some of it but because of order it is fit to put Sir Alexander Carew in the forlorn of those men who on the three and twentieth of December was beheaded on Tower-Hill being condemned by a Council of War held at Guild-hall for endeavouring to betray Plymouth-Fort where he was Commander to the King This unfortunate person of whom something strange as to the business of the Earl of Strafford hath been said before was brother to the more miserable Iohn Carew one of the Judges of his late Majesty On the twenty seventh of December Sir Iohn Hotham received sentence in like manner for his endeavour to betray Hull to the King and for holding and maintaining correspondence and intelligence with the Marquess of Newcastle and others the Earl of Manchester and other great persons sitting in the Hustings Court at Guild-hall as Judges He would have evaded the Charge but he could not throughly do it and so mainly insisted on the great service he had done before at Hull when he might have expected great honour and preferment He also produced some witnesses of quality on purpose to take off the testimony of the Examinants against him but they were not received for sufficient His Excecution should have been on the thirty first of December upon Tower-hill where the multitude was assembled the Scaffold his Coâ—fin and Executioner was in readiness but as he was on his way thither a Reprieve came from the Lords for four days longer which the Commons so stomacked that conceiving their Priviledge hereby invaded they ordered he should dye on the second of Ianuary which was accordingly performed his son suffered the day before for the same offence and both of them dying with great reluctancy and reflecting upon the Parliament being assisted in this sad business with no better comforter than Hugh Peters In their grave we leave them with that most excellent memorial of them in the Kings book than which nothing can be more truely or pathetically said of them give me leave for an example to posterity to transcribe a Paragraph Nor did a solitary vengeance serve the turn the cutting off one head in a family is not enough to expiate the affront done to the head of the Common-weal the eldest son must be involved in the punishment as he was infected with the sin of his father against the father of his Country Root and Branch God cuts off in one day That which makes me more pitie him is that after he began to have some inclinations towards a repentance for his sin and reparation of his duty to me he should be so unhappie as to fall into the hands of their Iustice and not my Mercie who could as willingly have forgiven him as he could have asked that favour of me Poor Gentleman he is now become a notable Monument of unprosperous Disloyaltie teaching the world by so sad and unfortunate a spectacle that the rude carriage of a Subject carries always its own Vengeance as an unseparable shadow with it and those oft prove the most fatal and implacable Executioners of it who were the first employers in the service Less than this could not be afforded to this most notable passage of the times whose ill beginning with this man brought him to this ill and unfortunate end The Assembly of Divines Convocated by the Parliament had sate a good while in consultation of Church-Government and though they were forward enough to subvert what they sound standing yet by the interposition of more moderate and learned Divines who happened to be chosen among the rest such as Dr. Featly whom at last the Parliament stifled in restraint and Dr. after Bishop Gauden and others that speed was retarded but upon this request of the Parliament to the Scots for their speedy advance in exchange of mutual kindness they demanded the speedy settlement of the Presbyterian Government and that the Orders and Ceremonies of the Church of England might not be used in the interim in any of the Churches of the places where they should happen to quarter Presently upon the receipt of this Letter the
would use his best endeavours with the Parliament to that end About the same time came hither a very splendid Ambassy from the Emperour of Russia delegated to three of his Knez or Princes the one of them came some time before the other to prepare all things suitable to the State of their Reception and had Audience by the King in privatate at Hamton-Court The Principal was Knez Peter Simonewitz formerly Governour of Archangel our Port of Trade in those Dominions he was received in greater State than any former Ambassadours from any Prince whatsoever both in respect He useth the same Honours to our Soveraigns Publick Ministers and the great Immunities and Priviledges the English enjoy again there as also from that particular Affection which is between these Two Monarchs as hath been hinted before At his Receipt the whole Military Force of the City was in Arms Trained Bands Auxiliaries Hamlets Westminster-Regiments several of the Companies and Liveries of the City on Horseback in their Gold Chains with the Aldermen of the City Riding before him who near York-House where he was to be entertained by the King during his stay made a Lane for Him to pass through them thereunto Two of them Rode in the Kings Coach the Principal was at that time sick and came by Water to his House their Retinue according to their Countrey Fashion were Vested in a long Robe girt about the Middle loop-laced on the Breast and caped behind His two Coachmen and Postilions the like though English men there were some Thirty Servants that Rode a Horseback with Hawks on their Fists as Presents On New years-day they were Conducted to White Hall where they delivered their Presents of Furs as black Fox Skins Ermins many Timber or scores of Martins Beavers and the like Persian-Carpets three Persian Horses Argamarick and other Commodities of that Country as Damask Silks and Embroyderies also a Ship Loading of Hemp there were Presents of the like Nature from the Empress to the Queen and from the Prince of Russia likewise they were all received with that affection and kindness which the King on all occasions hath manifested to have for that great Potentate Two of those Embassadors departed hence for France and so to Italy the Chief stayed to to return in Iune with our ships for his own County On the Twenty sixth of December at night in the House of one Mr. â— la Noy an Hamborough Merchant who had lately married Sir Thomas Allâ—â— Daughter of Middlesex being now with Child as the Family were in Bed a suddain fire without breaking out into the Street which was the new Buildings in Loathbury where others stood or being discerned suddenly consumed all that were within goods and all the Chambers and Goods being all burnt from top to bottom and not a shreik or cry heard it being supposed the greenness of the Timber smoking more vehemently at the eruption of the fire instantly smothered them A very sad and much-lamented providence seven being reckoned that were killed in this manner The fire was perceived at last by the heat it caused in the next House but the Bricks and the shutters in the Windows kept it from breaking out Notwithstanding the inhibition to Non-conforming Ministers to Preach or Exercise their Ministry and the penalties thereof yet Mr. Calamy late Pastor of Aldermanbury by reason the Parish was disappointed on Sunday the Twenty eighth of December by a blind old Minister that should have Preached there as he pretended went into the Pulpit and Preached and by his Text and Sermon and Inferences did reflect hardly and strangely upon the state of the Church and beyond his Last if he had been also capacitated to Preach For this Transgression and Contempt he was by Warrant of the Lord Mayor committed to Newgate where many persons came to visit him to his no little advantage but within two or three days was by his Majesties gracious Clemency and his Order discharged from this Imprisonment though it were an Offence done as it were to affront that tenderness held forth in His Majesties Declaration aforesaid The Bishop of Lincoln the famous Casuist Dr. Sanderson died in the middle of Ianuary as many of that Function had preceded him since the King's Restitution and left his See to the Lord Bishop of Peterborough Dr. Laney The Lord Warreston a Committee of Safety-man and infamous for his Treason in Scotland and a Fugitive there being Proclaimed Rebel and Traytor was taken and secured in France and sent over hither where he was Committed by his Majesties Order to the Tower in order to his sending for Scotland from thence Gibs the Brother of the aforesaid Nathanael who fled and was lately retaken was sent to the Sessions at the Old Baily February the Twentieth and with the before-mentioned Baker Condemned for the same former Treason and both Executed at Tyburn in like manner The Nineteenth of February the Parliament met where the King took notice of his said Declaration of the Twenty sixth of December wherein he cleared himself of any mistakes as favouring Popery though he acknowledged the Services of many of that Profession yet he was so far from Tolerating or qualifying them thereby to hold any Office or places of Trust in the Government that he desired Laws might be made to hinder the growth of their Doctrine That his Zeal to the Protestant Religion and Uniformity shall not yield to the Bishops themselves and yet if the Dissenters will demean themselves peaceably and modestly under the Government he could heartily wish He had such a Power of Indulgence to use upon occasions as might not needlesly force them out of the Kingdome or staying here give them Cause to Conspire against the Peace of it In Answer to this His Majesties Explanation of Himself and his Declaration of the Twenty sixth of December the House of Commons distinctly and separately to every particular thereof gave His Majesty their most humble Thanks withal by their Votes and Addresses to him Vindicating their settlement of Religion in the antient Form Discipline and Government thereof from the Calumny and danger of Schism and promised to Assert it with their Lives and Estates as their particular and Parliamentary Honour which Resolutions and Reasons being of so recent Date and the Answer of the King not yet given thereunto which out-measures the time of this Chronicle I do remit to another unwearied and unperplexed Pen. Scotland in a most Peaceful state and condition and the Kingdome of Ireland in a tendency thereunto but through so many variations and vicissitudes of Domination and propriety the Lands thereof had passed that it was not imaginable the total subversion thereof by the Rebellion of both Parties there the Irish and Long Parliament could devolve things into any presumed security it having been the first and last Stage of the War sed Tucro Duce Auspice Tucro But the Eminence and Prudence of this Lord Lieutenant the most noble