and three Fifteens which were by the late Parliament resolv'd on to have been given to the King setting forth a Declaration to manifest the reasons of his requiring that Loan Soon after which he sent away six thousand Foot-Soldiers under the command of Sir Charles Morgan and others for the service of the Vnited Provinces Moreover to heighten and increase these his wants about this time a most unlucky occasion hapned which in short was this that the French Priests and Domestics of that Nation which came into England with the Queen were grown so insolent and had put so many affronts upon the King that as the French King had sent back all the Spanish Courtiers which his Queen brought with her his Majesty was forc'd to send them home But that King not looking on this Example and knowing upon what ill terms our King stood both at home and abroad first seized on all the Merchants Ships which lay in the River of Bourdeaux and then brake out into open war so that the King was constrain'd to make use of those Forces against the French which were design'd to have been used against the Spaniard and to comply with the desire of the Rochellers who humbly sued for his protection and defence but the Fleet set forth for that purpose being encountred with great Tempests was forc'd to return without doing any thing farther then shewing his Majesties good will and readiness to assist them CHAP. IV. BUT the next year the King having made new Preparations for a war with France to manifest what ground he had for it declared that the House of Austria conspiring the ruin of all those of the Reform'd Religion through Christendom as he said plainly appear'd in the wars of Germany had such an influence upon the Councel of France as to prevail with the French to obstruct the landing of Count Mansfield's Army contrary to promise with whom they should have join'd Forces for the relief of the Palatinate and the German Princes the failure wherein proved the ruin of that Army the greatest part whereof perished Furthermore that having by his mediation prevail'd for a Peace between the French King and his Protestant Subjects and engaged his Word that the Protestants should observe the Articles of Agreement nevertheless the King of France contrary to those Articles block'd up their Towns Garrisons and Forts committing many spoils upon them though they had done nothing in violation of the Edict of Peace Whereupon the Duke of Buckingham in order to the relief of the Palatinate being made Admiral and Commander in Chief of the Land-Forces on the 27th of Iune set out from Portsmouth the Fleet consisting of an hundred Sail whereof ten were of the King 's Royal Navy having aboard six or seven thousand Land-Soldiers and towards the later end of Iuly appear'd before Rochel Where attempting to gain the Isle of Rhee which lay before that Town and imbarr'd their Trade his unskilful conduct therein was such that he was forc'd to a retreat with the loss of many valiant men and not a little of his Honour the more full relation of which ill success I refer to our Historians This Expedition proving thus unhappy his Majesties necessitous condition forc'd him to pawn much of his Lands to the City of London for an hundred and twenty thousand pounds which he then borrowed and also to borrow thirty thousand pounds more of the East-India Company But all this being not sufficient to support the charge of the Fleet notwithstanding these former great discouragements still hoping by a Parliament to obtain some reasonable Supply in these his pressing Necessities he call'd another Parliament to begin on the seventeenth of March next following At the meeting whereof he told them None there but knew that common danger was the cause of that Parliament and Supply at that time the Chief end thereof Likewise that if to maintain their own advices and as the case then stood for the following thereof the true Religion Laws and Liberties of this State and the just defence of its true Friends and Allies were not sufficient then no Eloquence of men and Angels could prevail the particular dangers being laid open by the Lord Keeper Hereupon after some time spent in debate of these things five Subsidies were voted and the Petition of Right assented to by his Majesty After which the Parliament was first prorogued from the 26th of Iune till the 20th of October And then by Proclamation till the 20th of Ianuary At which meeting the Clergy also gave the King as many Subsidies In the interim of which Prorogation the Duke of Buckingham who had formerly been the Darling of that Parliament which made use of him to King Iames for breaking the match with Spain being now grown odious and in this Parliament represented to be the chief cause of all their Grievances not only by reason of the losses at the Isle of Rhee but for many other respects as in the Annals of that time may at large be seen hoping as well to regain the honour he lost in the last year's attempt in that Isle as a better opinion of the People design'd another Expedition to Rochel In order whereunto being Commander of the Royal Fleet ready to set sail from Portsmouth he was there desperately murther'd by one Iohn Felton a discontented Officer of the last years Army upon the 23d of August who gave no other reason for that his barbarous and bloody Act then that the Duke had been declared an Enemy to the Commonwealth in a Remonstrance tendred to the King by the House of Commons in the former Session But I proceed notwithstanding this fair shew of an hopeful accordance there were not a few turbulent-spirited men both in the Parliament and elsewhere who sought all advantages for breaking thereof divers Merchants refusing to pay Tonnage and Poundage in regard it had not been granted to the King by a special Act since the death of his Royal Father King Iames. Whereupon his Majesty first sent for those Merchants to the Council-Table and after by a Speech to both Houses told them he expected they should pass the Bill for it But instead of complying therein the Commons publisht a Declaration concerning Religion alledging that they must prefer it before all other business Whereupon the King whose urgent Necessities for want of the Supply expected pressed hard upon them issuing out a special Commission for taking of Tonnage and Poundage Against which the Commons not only protested but some of their Members behaved themselves therein so disobediently and seditiously to the contempt of his Regal authority that fearing they should be dissolved before they had vented their own passions in that particular they lockt the doors of the House of Commons kept the Key and held the Speaker by strong hand in his Chair till they had thunder'd out their Anathema's not
the Ecclesiastical and Civil Laws of his Kingdom of Scotland he did not only agree to the same but should always protect them to the utmost of his power they yielding him in the mean time such civil and temporal obedience as could be justly required of loyal Subjects Upon this Petition therefore Articles of Pacification were concluded on at Barwick whereby his Majesty was contented not only to confirm whatsoever his Commissioner had promised in his name but that all Ecclesiastical matters should be determined by the Assemblies of the Kirk Likewise matters Civil by the Parliament and other inferior Judicatories establish'd by Law Moreover that for setling the distractions of that Kingdom he was willing to grant a free general Assembly to be kept at Edenborough the sixth of August ensuing and after that a Parliament the twentieth of August for ratifying what should be concluded in the Assembly being graciously pleased to declare that upon disbanding of their Forces dissolving all their pretended Tables restoring his Forts Castles and Amunition c. To his good Subjects their Liberties Lands Goods c. detained since the late pretended general Assembly he would recall his Fleet retire his Land-forces and make restitution to them of their Ships and Goods arrested c. Which Agreement was entertained by them with so much outward acceptance that by the Subscriptions of the chiefest of them it was promised they would ever in all things carry themselves like humble loyal and obedient Subjects But instead of performance of their parts at the very publishing the Articles in their Camp a Protestation was made dishonourable to his Majesties Government to the further encouraging of the People in their disobedient and mutinous ways And at the same time they delivered into the hands of some of the English Nobility and spread among others a scandalous Paper intituled Some conditions of his Majesties Treaty with his Subjects of Scotland wherein were contained such untruths and seditious positions and so contrary to what was concluded in the Articles of Pacification that howsoever they pretended a desire of peace yet they intended nothing less and instead of disbanding their Forces within forty eight hours after publication of those Articles they kept great parts of them together and held in pay almost all their Officers continuing their unlawful meetings and conventicles to the great vexation and trouble of all such his Majesties good Subjects as did not adhere to their rebellious Covenant and Act of the pretended Assembly at Glasgow keeping up all their Fortifications Yea such was the fury of the People animated by that Protestation with divers scandalous Papers and seditious Sermons that they deterred his Majesties good Subjects from going to their dwellings threatning them with loss of their lives if they repaired to their own Houses labouring also to pervert them in the choice of the Commissioners for the general Assembly appointed by anticipating their voices in making them swear to and subscribe the approbation of the same Assembly at Glasgow and Acts thereof deterring others from repairing thereto So that by these new disorders the peace and quiet of his Subjects was greatly disturbed great Insolencies being offer'd to the Earl of Kinnowl his Majesties high Treasurer as also to Sir Iames Hamilton Justice-general and other his Majesties Councellors and good Subjects so that the King sorbore to come to Edenborough such of his Loyal Subjects as attended his Person and adhered to him being branded by them with the vile aspersion of Traitors to God and their Country and threatned to be proceeded against with censures accordingly And lastly shaking off all respect due to sacred Majesty protested that all members of the Colleges of Iustice and Leiges were not to attend the Session and that all Acts Decrees and Sentences therein past against any of them should be null void and ineffectual contrary to the King 's express Warrant for the down-sitting thereof and the heavy damage of his good Subjects who were thereby frustrated of Justice And having laid these insolent and seditious foundations for a Parliament it could not be expected but that the structure must be full of confusion as indeed it proved their Actions and demands favouring of nothing but undutifulness and disloyalty for they stuck not to deny to his Majesty the most essential and inherent Prerogatives of his Crown striving by all means to change and alter the constitutions of the Parliament and frame of Government Likewise to restrain his power in point of coinage custody of Castles grants of Honour and Commissions-Justiciary or Lieutenancy And his Majesty by his Commission having allow'd them the liberty of convening and meeting until a certain day for distributing of their pretended charges amongst such as should willingly condescend thereunto they did not only without Warrant continue their Conventicles and Tables since that Commission expired contrary to the positive Laws of that Kingdom the Act of Pacification and their own acknowledgment in petitioning for the aforesaid Commission but urged that all those his good Subjects who adhered to him in defence of his Royal authority against their rebellious commotions should be made equal if not more liable to the defraying of their pretended charges Which might imply his Majesties countenance and justification of all their Rebellions and Treasons The King therefore discerning their persistance in such unsufferable demands return'd to England signifying to the Earl of Traquier his Commissioner that it did evidently appear unto him that their aim was not now for Religion as they always pretended but rather the alteration of the Government of that Kingdom and withall the total overthrow of Royal authority commanding his said Commissioner to prorogate the parliament till the second of Iune next following Notwithstanding which Prorogation they continued their sitting at Edenborough and sent their Deputies over into this Kingdom to make Remonstrance of their doing without knowledg of his Commissioner Whereupon his Majesties Commissioner came over and acquainting him with those Insolencies also by his command relating them at his Council-board the King there proposed to the consideration of the Lords then present whether it were not more sit to reduce them to their duty by force than give way to their demands so much prejudicial to his Honour and safety Which being unanimously voted in the affirmative his Majesty resolved to call a Parliament soon after In which Interim the Scots lost no time but making fair pretences by their Remonstrance protested against this Act of Prorogation and declared that the same was contrary to the Constitutions and practise of all precedent Parliaments contrary to the liberties of that Kingdom and repugnant to the Articles of the late Pacification and that it was ineffectual and of no force to hinder their proceedings professing that it was never their intention to deny his Majesty any part of that civil and temporal obedience which is due
Kineton against the King And lastly how averse they were to any peace or cessation with them though never so necessary as appears by those earnest and bitter incitements used by their Commissioners in the Treaty at Uxbridge for the prosecution of that war It is likewise farther to be noted that these high provocations met with a concurrent opportunity of those eight thousand disbanded Irish not permitted to be transported into Spain and other parts though desired by that King's Ambassador and assented to by his Majesty who being out of employment were ready for any desperate enterprize As also with the want of a Lieutenant in that Kingdom by reason that the Earl of Strafford was so cut off who had kept them in such exact obedience And lastly what an Example they had from their Neighbours the Scots who sped so well by their own Insurrection that they not only obtained their full demands even to the introducing a new Religion and new moulding the whole form of their Government both in Church and State but when they rebelliously invaded England with an Army were treated as good Subjects had three hundred thousand Pounds given them with an Act of Pacification and Oblivion to boot Whereunto I shall add what a late Writer in his Short view of the life and reign of King Charles the First hath expressed Of this Rebellion saith he for it must be call'd a Rebellion in the Irish though not in the Scots the King gives present notice to the Houses of Parliament requiring their Counsail and assistance for the extinguishing of that flame before it had consumed and wasted that Kingdom But neither the Necessity of the Protestants there nor the King's importunity here could perswade them to levy one man towards the suppression of those Rebels till the King had disclaimed his power of pressing Souldiers by an Act of Parliament and thereby laid himself open to such acts of violence as were then hammering against him Which having done they put an Army of Scots their most assured friends into the Northern parts of Ireland delivering up into their hands the strong Town and Port of Carick-Fergus one of the chief Keys of that Kingdom and afterwards sent a small Body of English to preserve the South Which English Forces having done notable service there against the Rebels were kept so short both in respect of pay and other necessaries by the Houses of Parliament who had made use of the money rais'd for the relief of Ireland to maintain a war against their King that they were forced to come to a Cessation and chearfully returned home again to assist the King in that just war which he had undertaken for his own defence CHAP. IX BUT notwithstanding all these instances forbearing to give any censure therein I shall now proceed and trace them in farther practises for accomplishing their designed ends and give instance in the Militia for obtaining whereof I find my self best guided by their feigned Plots and Conspiracies the first of which was Mr. Pym's Letter delivered to him at the Parliament House by a Porter from a pretended Gentleman on Horseback in a gray Coat which having in it a contagious Plaister taken from a Plague-sore the Letter it self also being full of invectives against Mr. Pym gave occasion for publishing of a Pamphlet intituled The discovery of a damnable Treason by a contagious Plaister c. and afterwards of a Report to the House made by Mr. Pym that there were divers Posts come several by-ways from Scotland and that the Papists had many meetings in Hâ—nt-shire Moreover within few days following one Iohn Davis discovered to the House that the Earl of Worcester had large Stables under ground at Ragland-Castle and a number of Light-Horse in them likewise Arms for an hundred and forty Horse and two thousand men whereof seven hundred were then in pay and Ammunition proportionable And one Thomas Beale of White-Cross-Street declaring that he heard some who were walking late in Moor-fields discourse of their intentions to murther certain Members of the Parliament and amongst others Mr. Pym order was presently given that the Lords and some other Members should have part of the Trained-Band of Middlesex to conduct them to their Lodgings that night Also the next day upon the discovery of another Plot to kill some Noblemen of which one who lay in a ditch pretended to hear two Gentlemen speak it was order'd that the Earl of Worcester's House and Sir Basil Brookes House should be guarded all Papists disarmed Soldiers raised with speed to secure the Isle of Wight and two Lords appointed to raise Forces one beyond â—rent and the other on this side â—rent And within five days after this there was a discovery of another conspiracy by the Papists in Cheshire viz. that certain of them were in Arms at the Lord Chomley's House and had attempted the surprizal of Chester But advertisement being given that the King was upon his journey from Scotland and would be at London within three days the hunting after any farther discovery of Plots was for awhile laid aside and that scandalous Remonstrance beforementioned which was brought in the twelfth of August was read again in the House Against the passing and publishing whereof many worthy Gentlemen freely express'd their minds Nevertheless after long dispute and much ado the factious party prevailed partly by tyring out some for they sate up all night and partly by promises or threats to others insomuch as it was carried by Eleven voices So that though there was the greatest shew of gladness by the Citizens of this his Majesties arrival as that solemn reception of him by the Lord Mayor and Aldermen on Horsback did import who feasted him with the Queen and Prince at Guild-Hall the Companies all standing in their Liveries to congratulate his safe coming home as he rode through the streets yet had he little joy thereof for instead of that happy progress which he expected that the Parliament had made in the great affairs of the Kingdom during his absence he found the people not a little disturb'd with strange apprehensions and Guards set upon the Houses of Parliament Which so astonish'd him that he forthwith sent to the Lords desiring that for the prevention of farther jealousies and fears the Train'd-Bands might be discharged But no sooner did those Citizens take notice of that Message then that great numbers of them in person offer'd to attend the House of Parliament in their Arms. Nay so forward thenceforth were they upon all occasions to act their parts for hast'ning that general confusion which soon after ensued that on Munday following a multitude of them made a hubbub in Westminster-Hall crying Down with Antichrist and the Bishops adding that if they could not then be heard they would have a greater number next day to back them And so they had many of them coming tumultuously to the doors of
that though the Committee which were sent to bring in the Scots went but lately thither yet the Brethren there having had former advertisements how great a necessity here was of them to the end their Friends should not faint hasted over a Declaration hither whereby they signified that whereas the Kingdom of England had a long time suffered by the Popish and malignant Counsels about his Majesty and that the miseries in England were but preparations to theirs they therefore did resolve to assist the Parliament of England And high time it was for their forces in most parts going by the worst it put them upon new contrivances every day So that Sir William Waller was fain to come again to the House and take the Covenant a second time to encourage some that had not taken it before And though the Committee which met at Merchant-Taylor's-Hall for raising the people of the land as one man did give direction to the Aldermen and their Deputies in every Ward with the Ministers Common-Council-men and others to promote the work as being the last Refuge of the people for so they express'd and no vain bait or allurement yet saw they so little fruit of this great endeavour that they were constrain'd to effect that by their power which they could not do by perswasion and therefore ordered the raising of two thousand men in Norfolk Suffolk and Cambridgshire every man to have a months pay in his pocket And for a speedy supply of more they passed two Ordinances One that the Committee for the Militia of London with the Deputy-Lieutenant's and Committees of Parliament in every County throughout the Kingdom should have power to raise levy and impress such numbers of Souldiers as should be appointed by both Houses of Parliament The other for pressing no less than twenty thousand men with so many Gunners Trumpets and Chirurgeons as should be thought fit for the six associated Counties of Norfolk Suffolk Essex Cambridg Hertford and Huntington with the City of Norwich and Isle of Ely to be rais'd within the said Counties for the service of the Kingdom and Parliament And notwithstanding all this being in a declining condition by reason that their moneys were spent their men wore out and no small discontents amongst themselves in order to some recruit they made an explanation of their old Ordinance for Sequestration of Delinquents with certain enlargements wherein is set forth who were to be reputed Delinquents over and besides such as were described in the former Ordinance with power to examine upon Oath for discovery as also Rewards to Discoverers And likewise passed another Ordinance relating to a former for the speedy raising of a body of Horse for the Preservation Peace and Safety of the Kingdom to resist the Insolencies and outrages committed by the Souldiers of the King's Army those being the words thereof By which they farther ordained that Tenants should pay the Assesments out of their Landlords estates and defalk them out of their Rents But that which they then chiefly look'd on being the assistance of the Scots whereon they principally depended as their last refuge to keep up the hearts of their then drooping party they made it their business therefore to cry up loudly the aid of these their dear Brethren For which respect it will not I suppose be impertinent to make here a short digression in shewing by what means they were dealt with in order to this their second Invasion CHAP. XVI AFter the English Committee was arriv'd in Scotland and had made large promises to the Brethren of an advantagious journey viz. the lands of the Church by the extirpation of Episcopacy the Scots well resenting so beneficial an offer did set forth a Proclamation whereby pretending the King's Person their Religion and Priviledges of Parliament to be in no small danger for preservation of these they required that all persons in that Realm of what sort quality or degree soever between sixteen and sixty years of age should forthwith fit themselves with fourty days Victual Amunition Arms and all other warlike Provision under penalty of confiscation of their whole Estates and to be punished as Enemies to Religion King and Kingdoms And having set forth a plausible Declaration shewing the reasons of such their intended assistance to the Parliament of England against the Papists and Prelatical party as they therein express'd they passed an Act in their convention of Estates for putting that Kingdom into a Posture of Defence naming therein the principal Colonels and Officers for that purpose To accomplish likewise their cheif design of enjoying the Church-Lands they fram'd a new Oath called the solemn League and Covenant Which was forthwith sent over into England and read in the House of Commons at Westminster thence to be transmitted to the Assembly of Divines for their approbation and being by them approved was remitted to the House of Commons And that the grand Contrivers at Westminster might the more ingratiate themselves with those their Brethren of Scotland they passed an Ordinance for demolishing all Monuments of Superstition and Idolatry as they intituled it In which was particularized the removal of all Communion-Tables from the East end of the Chancels in every Church as also for taking away the Rails which defended them levying the Chancels where the East part was higher with removing of Tapers Candlesticks and Basins For the speedy raising of more Moneys they likewise passed another Ordinance for fourteen thousand pounds to furnish one or more Magazines of Arms and Amunition and for raising of Horse c. Which sum was to be levied within the Hamlets of the Tower City of Westminster Burrough of Southwark and other places of Middlesex and Surrey within the lines of Communication Hitherto it was only pretended that those new Regiments of Voluntiers rais'd by the Ordinance of April the xiith for the better security of the City of London should not go out of the Lines of Communication But as Mr. Pym in his Epistle to Sir Iohn Hotham concerning Excise wrote that they must be used to it by little and little so now they began to shew them what they must trust to and passed another Ordinance to enable the Committee for the Militia of London to command forth one or more Regiments of the Trained-Bands or Auxiliaries within the Liberties of London and Westminster to go forth under the command of Sir William Waller and upon occasion to be assistant to the Lord General And herein I cannot but observe an excellent expression made to the House of Commons by Mr. Oliver St. Iohn sometime his Majesties Sollicitor General but then a dear Member and special Contriver in this great work in answer to Mr. Iohn Pym who seemed to stand strict for observing the Ordinance of April the xiith alleaged that though those men by that Ordinance raised only for the defence of the City were not to
Scotland much revived their drooping Spirits for winter being over they fram'd an Ordinance that Sir William Brereton in Cheshire should have authority to take Subscriptions for raising more forces in that County and soon after imposed a new Excise upon Allom Coperas Monmouth-caps Hats of all sorts Hops Saffron Starch all manner of Silks and Stuffs and on several other commodities made or growing in England not formerly charged And having by their many and great grievous Taxes thus largely provided for welcoming in the Scots those their dear Brethren advanced Southwards and with the Earl of Manchester laid siege to the City of York The loss of all the North being by this means thus in great peril and Prince Rupert coming with the chief of all His Majesties forces to the relief thereof he was encountred with the greatest strength that the English Rebels then had the joynt forces under the command of Ferdinando Lord Fairfax and the Earl of Manchester with the whole Scottish Army commanded by Leslley which drew off from their siege of York whereupon in a bloudy Battle fought at Marston-moore about four miles from that City though at first he utterly routed the Scots and the Earl of Manchester yet following the chase too far presuming the day his own through the onely conduct of Cromwell then Lieutenant General to Manchester with a fresh body of Horse the rest of the royal Army after a valiant and â—harp dispute being much over-powered was totally shattered and vanquisht So that he was constrain'd to quit the field and march Southwards with what Horse he had left exposing York hopeless of relief to the power of the Enemy which by reason thereof was delivered up to Cromwell within few days after But of this fatal Action the King then far remote knowing nothing at present His royal Heart incessantly minding the preservation of his people from further spoil by the wars sent to the Members at Westminster desiring as formerly that they would appoint such and so many persons as they should think fit sufficiently authorized by them to attend him upon safe-conduct given and there to conclude how all things in question might be fully setled Which gracious Message though not then regarded so much were they elated with that their success at Marston-moore yet after that grand defeat of their old General the Earl of Essex in Cornwal which hapned on the first of September next following His Majesty then reminding them of that his Message from Evesham they did vouchsafe within two months following to send him certain propositions but such as did still apparently manifest their confidence to carry on the work by power through the ayd of the Scots with whom they had entred into so firm a combination for assistance by their solemn League and Covenant For by these propositions amongst others they had the boldness to make these following Demands viz. that the King should swear to sign that Instrument called the solemn League and Covenant adding according to the example of His Royal Father of happy memory for so they had the face to say though Mr. Nye had exprest that it was such an Oath as for matter persons and other circumstances was never in any age before And not onely so but that an Act of Parliament might be passed for to injoyne the taking of it by all His Majesties Subjects within His three Kingdomes Next that a Bill should be passed for the utter abolishing of Episcopacy without which Goverment it is well known that no National Church ever was since the Apostles times And that their Ordinance for the calling and sitting of their Assembly of Divines should be confirm'd by Act of Parliament Also that an Act should be passed for confirming their Treaty for bringing in the Scots-Army into England and for establishing that their disloyal Declaration made by themselves and the Scots bearing date 30. Ian. 1643. whereby Prince Rupert and Prince Maurice His Majesties Nephews Iames Earl of Derby William Marquess of Newcastle Iohn Earl of Bristol with divers other of his Nobility the Archbishop of Canterbury and Bishop of Ely then their prisoners with a multitude of other worthy persons both of this Kingdome and of Scotland were excepted as to life and their estates doom'd to pay publick Debts Likewise that a great number more whose names are there exprest together with all those Loyal Members of Parliament which attended his Majesty at Oxford should be removed from His Majesties Councils and never to come within the Verge of the Court but by their permission Then that all Judges Serjeants Councellors Attorneys Doctors Advocates and Proctors in the Law-common or Civil who had adhered to the King should be made uncapable of any practice publick or private and all Clergy-men whatsoever who had also adhered to the King to be incapable of any preferment or imployment in the Church or Common-wealth Moreover that the Forces by Sea and Land for the Kingdomes of England and Scotland should be setled by Act of Parliament in Commissioners nominated by both their Houses of Parliament and that the education and marriage of the King's children as also the making Peace or War with any forreign Princes should be with the advice and consent or Parliament Furthermore that by Act of Parliament the Deputy or chief Governour of Ireland be nominated by both Houses of Parliament and in the Intervals of Parliament by Commissioners to continue during the pleasure of both Houses And that the Lord Chancellour Lord Keeper Lord Treasurer Commissioners of the great Seal or Treasury Lord Warden of the Cinque-ports Chancellour of the Exchequer and Dutchy Secretaries of State Judges of both Benches and Barons of the Exchequer for the Kingdomes of England and Ireland should be nominated by both Houses of Parliament to continue quamdiu se benè gesserint and in the Intervals of Parliament by the before-mention'd Commissioners The like for the Kingdome of Scotland adding the Justice-general and in such manner as the Estates in Parliament there should think fit Divers other Propositions also they then sent no less unreasonable than these which for brevities sake I omit So that in short the summe of all was no less than that His Majesty should condescend to the utter destruction and overthrow of the Religion by Law established in the Church of England which he had sworn to maintain and whereunto all the reverend Clergy of the Realm had likewise subscribed sacrifice the Lives and Estates of divers of his most faithful subjects to the avarice and ambition of these men subject all those loyal persons learned in the Laws Common and Civil to their malice Give up the power of the Sword totally into the hands of his greatest Enemies therewith not onely to oppress his good subjects at home but according to their own pleasure to molest and annoy his Friends and Allies abroad and prostitute the Education of his dear
of such Members of Parliament and Citizens of London as had any Hand in calling him in Cromwel took a Journey on purpose to Windsor and there flattered him with fair promises of Life and though he could get nothing out of him nevertheless he caused Bradshaw to carry a favourable countenance towards him upon his Tryal in Westminster-Hall the Lord Grey of Groby Colonel Wayte and Hugh Peters being likewise imploy'd to him upon the like Errand who told him that they would not much obstruct him Pretended Plea of Quarter from Lambert upon Articles Peters also promising him to witness the same for him though Wayte upon his Report to the House of Commons of the manner how he took him had affirmed that he yielded at discretion and that Lambert was not near him Nay honest Hugh seem'd so zealous in his behalf that he Prayed openly for him as his Lord and Patron and fed him with no small hopes in case he would impeach those whom they suspected But Hamilton in stead of complying with them therein expecting otherwise to save his Head did not only offer them an hundred thousand Pounds for his Life intimating what Service he would do them in Scotland but assured them that he would joyn Interests with Argile and be a Servant to them there Whereupon Messengers were sent Post thither to know Argile's mind who resolving that none should share with him in so Glorious a Work refused any conjunction with him The Wind therefore blowing in that Door Bradshaw used him more roughly upon his Farther Tryal than before and Hugh Peters renounc'd what he had formerly testified insomuch as Sentence of Death was given against him Nevertheless that he might still expect Life and not give that Glory to God in this his Judgment and cast Infamy upon them by a Christian acknowledgment of his own and Argile's mutual Practises they soon cut off his Head And immediately after this they passed an Act for discharging all people from their Allegiance to the late King's Issue and abolishing the Kingly Office Likewise for abolishing the House of Peers as useless and dangerous but with favour to some Lords who had demeaned themselves with honour courage and fidelity to the Common-wealth as the words are so that they might be capable of Voting in Parliament if elected Philip Earl of Pembroke being the first which had the benefit of this Act being admitted a Commoner in this new fram'd Parliament and the Lord Howard of Escrick the Second After whom followed William Earl of Salisbury And wisely considering that as the Preachers had been their chief Instruments for infusing such Principles into the Vulgar sort of People by their Seditious Lecturing Sermons as had at last accomplisht their long studied design for the abolishing of Monarchical Government Lest therefore that by the same Engine the like ruine in time might be brought upon themselves they ordered that no Minister in the Pulpit should meddle with any State-Matters therein pursuing the practise of the Netherlanders who had done so before for the prevention of mischief to their own Common-wealth But now to digress a little let us here behold what a Brain-sick Generation in a short space of time sprung up from this precious root of Presbytery About this time there came Six Souldiers into the Parish-Church of Walton upon Thames in Surrey near Twylight in the Evening Mr. Faucet the Preacher there having not till then ended his Sermon one of which number with a Lanthorn in his hand and a Candle burning in it and in the other Hand four Candles not lighted desired the Parishoners to stay a while saying that he had a Message from God unto them and thereupon offered to go up into the Pulpit But the people refusing to give him leave so to do or to stay in the Church he went into the Church-yard and there told them that he had a Vision wherein he had received a command from God to declare his will unto them which he was to deliver and they to receive upon pain of damnation it consisting of Five Lights 1. That the Sabbath was abolisht as unnecessary Iewish and meerly Ceremonial And here quoth he I should put out my first Light but the wind is so high I cannot kindle it 2. That Tithes are abolisht as Iewish and Ceremonial a great Burthen to the Saints of God and a discouragement of Industry and Tillage and here I should put out my Second Light c. 3. That Ministers are abolisht as Antichristian and of no longer use now Christ himself descends into the hearts of his Saints and his Spirit enlighteneth them with Revelations and Inspirations And here I should put out my Third Light c. 4. Magistrates are abolished as useless now that Christ himself is in purity of Spirit come among us and hath erected the Kingdom of the Saints upon Earth Besides they are Tyrants and Oppressors of the Liberty of the Saints and tye them to Laws and Ordinances meer humane Inventions And here I should put out my Fourth Light c. 5. Then putting his Hand into his Pocket and pulling out a little Bible he shewed it open to the People saying Here is a Book you have in great Veneration consisting of Two parts the Old and New Testament I must tell you it is abolished it containeth Beggarly Rudiments Milk for Babes but now Christ is in Glory amongst us and imparts a farther measure of his Spirit to his Saints than this can afford I am commanded to burn it before your Face So taking the Candle out of his Lanthorn he set fire on it Then putting out the Candle he said and here my Fifth Light is extinguished Nay the stream at that time carryed Multitudes so violently this way that the Souldiers fell to Preaching in many places six of them in one day exercising their Gifts in that kind at White-Hall in so much as that Grand Impostor Cromwel subtilly observing the bent of this Tide ascended the Pulpit there himself pretending that he was called up by the Spirit of God and standing a good while with his Eyes lifted up as it were in a Trance his Head inclining to one side he fetcht many deep Groans spent one hour in his Prayer and near two in his Sermon In which Prayer his Humility was such that in imitation of Moses he desired God to take off from his Shoulders the Government of this Mighty People of England as being too heavy for him to bear And so much did he then pretend to Revelations and Inspirations that when any weighty matter was propounded to him he usually retired for a quarter of an hour or more and declared what was revealed to him But to proceed About this time they passed an Act for supporting of their Military Forces by imposing a Tax of Ninety thousand Pound Per Mensem upon the Kingdom And that the people might be totally confounded as to matter of Religion or have any regard
to Moral Honesty but wholly guided by those whimsical Fantasies which were by their Ring-leaders called the Revelations and Inspirations of God's Holy Spirit it was referred to a Committee to consider of a way for the Raising of Pensions and allowances out of Deans and Chapters Lands to maintain certain Itinerant Preachers who were Authorized to go up and down and spread abroad their Antimonarchical Doctrine whereby the Rabble might be set up and comply with the Souldiery against the Nobility and Gentry Clergy Lawyers and all orderly Government But upon better consideration fearing that the Liberty might in time overwhelm them with confusion and give such a countenance to the Levellers of whose help they had made no small use for the King's Destruction as would bring upon them inevitable ruine Cromwel moved in their Parliament that the Presbyterian Government might be setled promising his endeavours thereto and that the secured and secluded Members might be again invited to return into the House They likewise imploy'd divers of their Preachers of which Mr. Marshal Mr. Nye Mr. Carrel Mr. Goodwyn and Hugh Peters were the chief to cajole others of their own Coat together with the Citizens and expulsed Members with certain Discourses and Proposals telling them that the Presbyterians did differ with the King in point of Civil Interest which was much more irreconcileable than the Interest of Church Government whatsoever shew was made to the contrary Also that it was the Presbyterians who first made War against the late King brought him low and prepared him to receive his deadly blow from the Independants and therefore that the King would look upon them as equally Guilty with the Independants and endeavour equally to cut them off their design being thereby to cast the Presbyterians into utter despair and so to bring them in point of self Preservation to joyn with their Interests for common defence And to carry on their work with the more shew of Sanctity they ordered that a strict Fast should be kept to humble themselves and implore God's Forgiveness for the Ingratitude of the People who did not sufficiently acknowledge with Thankfulness Gods Great Mercies upon this Land in Freeing them from Monarchy and bestowing Liberty upon them by changing Kingly Government into a Free State or Republick To sweeten likewise the affections of the Vulgar towards them they made most specious pretences of paying all the publick Debts and raising Three Hundred thousand Pounds for supplying the necessities of the Common-wealth as they term'd it without any charge or burthen to the people and to that end passed an Act for abolishing all Deans and Chapters and for sale of their Lands And the better to fortifie themselves and their Usurped Dominion they fram'd another Act whereby they declared certain particulars to be Treason viz. 1. If any man should maliciously affirm their present Government to be Tyrannical usurped or unlawful or that the Commons in Parliament were not the Supream Authority of the Nation or that should endeavour to alter that their Government 2. If any should affirm their Council of State or Parliament to be Tyrannical or unlawful or endeavour to Subvert them or stir up Sedition against them 3. For any Souldiers of their Army to contrive the death of the General or Lieutenant General or endeavour to Raise Mutinies in the Army or to Levy War against the Parliament or to joyn with any to Invade England or Ireland to Counterfeit their Great Seal or kill any Member of their Parliament or any Judge or Minister of Justice in their duty Soon after this they framed and passed another Act declaring England with all the Dominions and Territories thereto belonging to be a Free State and to be Governed by the Representatives of the People in Parliament without any King or House of Lords Which Act was Proclaimed in the City of London by Alderman Andrews then Lord Mayor Alderman Pennington Wollaston Fowkes Kenrick Byde Edmunds Pack Bateman Atkins Viner Avery Wilson Dethick Foote then attending him The Londoners being by that time brought unto so much Vassalage by these insolent Regicides as that in obedience to a Vote made by their servile Parliament they were constrain'd to invite that wicked Conclave to a Thanksgiving Dinner whereat all of them were to rejoyce together for bringing the Grand Delinquent to punishment that is to say for the Murther of the King for the greater honour of that day the Lord Mayor met the Speaker and the other Members of Parliament at Temple-Bar and there resigning the Sword to him received it again and carryed it before him to Christs Church Whence after a Canting Sermon he conducted them to Grocers-Hall and entertain'd them in the quality of a Free State the Cooks having every one of them an Oath to prepare for those Saints nothing but wholsome Food Being therefore thus seeming firmly setled in their Tyrannical Dominion they went on in passing sundry other Acts in their pseudo-Pseudo-Parliament of which the Ruling Grandees had the chief benefit viz. 1. To encourage the Purchasers of Deans and Chapters Lands by the sale of them at Ten years Purchase in case of ready Money or doubling what was due to those as should so purchase 2. Another for the sale of the Goods and Personal Estate of the King Queen and Prince 3. A Third for sale of the Crown Lands with particular Instructions to sell them at Thirteen years purchase 4. Soon after this they passed another Act for Coyning of new Money with direction for the form of the stamp to be thereon 5. Another declaring what Offences should be thenceforth adjudged Treason viz. to express or publish their Government to be Tyrannical or that the Commons in Parliament were not the Supream Authority 6. And for the quicker riddance of Deans and Chapters Lands they added farther Power and Instructions to the Trustees for the sale of them 7. Next to reward their Bloody President Bradshaw who gave Judgment of Death upon the King they passed another Act for settling Two thousand pounds per annum upon him And that there might be a known mark of distinction betwixt themselves and others they passed an Act for the Subscribing an Engagement whereby every man should promise to be true and Faithful to the Government then established without a King or House of Lords or in case of refusal to have no benefit of the Laws But the Crown-lands so doom'd to be sold went but slowly off they therefore passed another Act to constitute a Committee to remove obstructions in the sale of them Nor was all this sufficient to satisfie their greedy appetites or was evident enough from the aim they had to devour all the Gleabe and Tithes throughout the whole Kingdom To which purpose they passed an Act whereby they nominated certain Commissioners to receive and dispose of all Rents Issues and profits of all Rectories
as when the truth which is but one shall appear to the simple Multitude no less variable than contrary to it self the Faith of Men will soon after dye away by degrees and all Religion be held in Scorn and Contempt CHAP. XLIV FOR the Laws of the Land with the Liberty and Property of the Subject because the first ought to be a Defence to the latter let us see what these great pretended Champions for both did for their Preservation Or rather how manifestly they violated them all by their unjust Practises Was it not for Execution of his Majesties Legal Writ grounded upon the Statute for Suppressing of Tumults that Justice Long was Committed to the Tower And were not Commands laid upon the Judges of the King's Bench that they should not grant any Habeas Corpus the Antient Remedy for the Peoples Security for such as the Members had Committed to Prison by their own Authority And did not Mr. Rigby a beloved Member move twice that those Lords and Gentlemen which were Prisoners for no cause but being Malignants as they term'd them should be sold as Slaves to Argiere or sent to the new Plantations in the West-Indies because he had Contracted with two Merchants for that purpose Though Mr. Pym himself had in a Speech in that Parliament acknowledged it against the Rules of Iustice that any Man should be Imprison'd upon a General Charge when no Particulars were proved against him As these things were most evident so was their Order against Publishing the King's Proclamation contrary to Acts of Parliament then in Force Likewise their Barbarous murther of his Majesties Messenger for bringing a Legal Writ to the Sheriffs of London to that purpose As also Collonel Nathaniel Fienes his causing the King's Proclamation concerning Marriners to be burnt in the open Market-place at Bristol by the Common Hangman he being then Governour there and Imprisoning the Earl of Bristol and Justice Malet for having an hand in the Kentish-Petition And notwithstanding the Statute in force against Loanes and Benevolences grounded upon the Petition of Right and that on Magna Charta which the Lord Say Mr. Pym and Mr. Hampden once held so Sacred that being asked upon occasion in King Iames his time why they would not then Contribute to the King's Necessities by way of Loan They Answered that they could be content to lend as well as others but that they feared to draw upon themselves that Curse in Magna-Charta which should be read twice every Year against the Infringers thereof Nevertheless did not these men Commit Mr. Fountain the Lawyer and divers others which refused to lend Money for advancement of their Rebellion And by a special Order sent those Loyal Citizens Sir George Whitmore Alderman Gurney Mr. Gardner and others to several Remote Prisons viz. Yarmouth Colchester Norwich c. for not submitting to their Lawless and Rigorous Tax of the twentieth part for the support of their Rebellious Forces And give power to their Officers to break open Trunks to search for Money and Plate and to seize the same for that purpose Mr. Strode one of the five Members in Justification of these heavy Oppressions saying that it was no more than they had right to do And that every Man in England had trusted his whole Estate to be disposed of as the Members of both Houses should think convenient For if the Members of both Houses quoth he think fitting to seize the Estate of every Man in England all the whole Kingdom is bound to submit to them And was not their Licentious Boldness such that Mr. Pym a single Member during a recess of both Houses by an Order under his own hand did dispence with the Act of Parliament 1. Eliz. for Uniformity of Common-Prayer And when upon a motion of the House that certain Gaolers should be tryed by Marshal Law by reason of some Prisoners escape and that it was opposed by divers Lawyers as an illegal course the Gaolers being answerable by the Law for the same was it not Replyed that they were not to be tyed to any Forms of Law those being to be laid by at such times as this when Necessity is the Rule by which they must guide their Actions What Misery have many Reverend and Orthodox Divines and others suffered by long Imprisonment some sent on Ship-board and kept under the Deck lying many days upon the hard Boards for no other Offence than their firm Loyalty to the King and Constancy in the true Protestant Religion Establish't by Law His Majesties Servant coming only to them on a Message for Peace being likewise so long Imprisoned that he dyed therein with hard Usage How partially Indulgent have they been to those of their own Rebellious Tribe is evident from sundry Instances as that of Mr. Gryffith one of their Members who was made a Captain of Horse with Silver Trumpets and extraordinary Bravery though he had Ravish't the Lady Sidley and was by her Accused for so doing Mr. Lenthall their Speaker having also six Thousand Pounds given him of that Money which had been raised by Act of Parliament for publick Service Having therefore thus trampled down the Laws and made seizure of the Kings Forts Towns Navy and Magazine whereby he was devested of all Power to protect his good Subjects no marvel that they deprived him of all other Authority declaring his nomination of Sheriffs Illegal and authorizing his Deputy Lieutenants and Trained-Bands to Suppress and Apprehend such Sheriffs Levying Money for Horse and Plate as also the twentieth part and a vast Weekly Tax by Distresses and Imprisonment to say nothing of Sequestrations and Plunders Add hereunto the Hanging of those Loyal Persons Mr. Yeomans and Mr. Bourchier at Bustol Likewise Mr. Tompkins and Mr. Chaloner at London And that the Oppressed People might take no benefit of the Law an Order and Declaration was set forth by Authority of both Houses that the Judges of Assize should forbear to go their Circuits as they would answer their Contempt to the Parliament Moreover to let the Reins of all Government loose they discharged all Apprentices from their Masters Service as would serve in their Rebellious Armies Compelling divers against their Parents good will Nor is it less observable that though by their own Fundamentals they had declared that the Subject was not to be forced unto the Wars against his will except it were by the consent of the King and the Estates in Parliament there being an Act in that Parliament passed also to that purpose Nevertheless they frequently pressed great numbers of Men to serve them in their Rebellious Armies And by a special Ordinance gave Power to any three of the Militia of London to raise and send out Men as also to Fine Imprison and Execute Martial-Law By the like Authority it was that they raised vast Sums upon Merchandize under the name of Tunnage
A SHORT VIEW OF THE Late Troubles IN ENGLAND Briefly setting forth Their RISE GROWTH and TRAGICAL CONCLUSION As also some Parallel thereof with the BARONS-WARS in the time of King HENRY III. But chiefly with that in France called the HOLY LEAGUE in the Reign of HENRY III. and HENRY IV. late Kings of that Realm To which is added A Perfect Narrative of the Treaty at Uxbridge in an 1644. OXFORD Printed at the THEATER for MOSES PITT at the Angel in St. Paul's Church-Yard London MDCLXXXI Carolus Primus D. G. Anglia Scotia Francia et Hibernia Rex F. D. THE PREFACE THat all Rebellions did ever begin with the fairest Pretences for Reforming of somewhat amiss in the Government is a Truth so clear that there needs no manifestation thereof from Examples Nor were they ever observed to have greater success than when the Colours for Religion did openly appear in the Van of their armed Forces most men being desirous to have it really thought how bad and vile soever their practises are that zeal to God's glory is no small part of their aim Which guilded bait hath been usually held forth to allure the Vulgar by those whose ends and designs were nothing else than to get into power and so to possess themselves of the Estates and Fortunes of their more opulent Neighbours Should I look far backwards for discovery of the first source and fountain whence that viperous brood which not long since hath so miserably infested these Kingdoms did spring of whose unparallel'd practises the ensuing Narrative doth specially take notice I must ascend to the times of Moses and Aaron the one the supreme Magistrate the other the chief Priest Corah Dathan and Abiran then rising up and taking upon themselves an authority equal with those chosen servants of God and saying that all the Congregation was Holy In like manner afterward when Absolom the rebellious son of David rose up against his father there was a demure face of Godliness put on of a solemn vow to be performed to God at Hebron and large promises of reformation of all abuses in Government were made by the unnatural usurper This sort of practice continued in the Iewish Church till the time of the Gospel as is conspicuous enough from the words of our blessed Saviour where he speaks of the Scribes and Pharisees that they did outwardly appear righteous unto men but within were full of Hypocrisy and Guile devouring Widows houses and for a pretence making long Prayers Our Lord in the xith and xvith Chapter of St. Luke making likewise a farther Description of them St. Paul also in his Epistle to Timothy plainly foretelling us that such should again spring up in the last times Men saith he who shall be Lovers of themselves covetous boasters proud c. Traiterous heady high-minded c. having a form of Godliness but denying the power thereof Now that the offspring of these did more or less infest the world throughout all after-times would be no difficult thing to manifest were it here necessary or convenient In the time of heathen persecution of Christianity rose up Novatian the father of the Cathari or Puritans to whom may be added Donatus and his followers who confin'd Godliness to themselves and religion to Africa their country After the settlement of the Church in Christian Emperors appear'd Aerius the first inventor of Presbytery which tho it seem'd a long time dead has been of late raked out of its ashes and made to trouble and set on fire the Western Church As to the usual practises of the men of this sect there is nothing more clear than that Religion nay the Reformation thereof to its purity hath bin the thing which they have ever cryed up and that meekness sanctity and the power of Godliness are the Cloaks in which they have alway at first shew'd themselves by which plausible devices they have captivated thousands But it is no less evident that having by this means got power into their hands destruction of civil Government Rapine Spoil and the greatest mischeifs imaginable have bin the woful effects of those their Specious pretences whereby they have really verified that expression of our Saviour viz. that they were of their father the Devil and the Works of him they should do But to come nearer my present business That the Actions of our late times chiefly from the year 1637 till 1660 can be easily forgotten or that there is any need of reviving the memory of them to this present Age 't is not to be imagin'd Nevertheless for their sakes who are ignorant of the means and preparations made in order to those grand Exploits then done and that Posterity may have a short view thereof I have adventured upon the publishing of this Discourse which was long since compiled Wherein I first deduce our late Troubles in England and other his Majesties Realms from the principles of those persons who about an hundred and fifty years before under the same Hypocritical pretences did greivously infest Germany And having finished that Narrative as particularly and fully as I may afterwards manifest that the original project of our chief Contrivers here was to reduce the King to Necessities and thereby to expose him to the use of such extraordinary ways of Supply as might most conduce to the raising of discontent amongst all his good Subjects Which they did by engaging first his father in a war for the Palatinate and their failing to assist him notwithstanding their most solemn promises As also by planting Schismatical Lectures in most corporateTowns and populous places throughout the Realm so to poison the people with Antimonarchical principles In the next place I shall take notice of the rise and progress of the late troubles in Scotland which were the Prologue to these of ours Then of the Scottish Invasion which occasioned the unhappy long Parliament and likewise of some proceedings in that Parliament before the predominant party therein did put themselves in Arms. After this I shall point at the dissolution of the Presbyterian power and growth of the Independent whereupon ensued the nefarious murther of King Charles the first and after that such confusions as made way for the happy Restoration of our present Soveraign King Charles the second Which being done I shall make some observations upon their first fair and smooth pretences set forth in several Declarations and Remonstrances by which the too credulous people were miserably deluded and drawn from their due Allegiance And lastly give some brief Account of those Actings by the Rebellious Barons here in the time of King Henry the third which had most resemblance with the practises of these our pretended Reformers As also shew how exact a parallel these great Masters in mischief have held with those of the Holy League in France whose Rebellion terminated in some sort as ours did in the Murther of their King What falleth within my own cognisance I deliver with mine own words what is beyond
civil Government I now descend to those their Arts and Devices whereof by the help and influence of a most subtile corrupt and schismatical party in Parliament they made use in order to the raising this late nefarious Rebellion the consequence whereof viz. the extirpating of Monarchy here was in their design long before however it may be thought by some that Necessity and Despair put them upon that blod Exigent after they had gone farther than they thought they could by any outward reconciliation or pardon be safe for if need were sufficient and undoubted testimony might yet be produced who did hear a principal Actor in this late woful Tragedy about a twelve-month after the barbarous murther of King Charles the First express these words I bless God that I have now lived to see the ruine of Monarchy and that I haue been instrumental in it for I do here acknowledge that it hath been in my design ever since I was at Geneva which is now thirty eight years Of these the first and indeed most fatal Artifices was the reducing his Majesty to Necessities to the end he might be inforc'd to betake himself unto such extraordinary means for supply as would certainly attract the odium of his Subjects For accomplishing whereof that war wherein King Iames became engaged on the behalf of his daughter and her children for recovery of the Palatinate gave them a seasonable opportunity the Story whereof I shall briefly here set down Upon the death of the Emperour Matthias 8. Aug. An. 1619. 17 Iac. Ferdinand his Brother adopted by Matthias in his life time was elected Emperour and crowned 19 Septemb. following Which Election the Bohemians disclaiming they chose for their King Frederick Count Palatine of the Rhine Who thereupon by his Letters to King Iames whose daughter he had marryed acquaints him therewith craving his advice as to his reception thereof Howbeit before King Iames his answer could come to his hand which was utterly dissuasory he had accepted their choice Whereof King Iames hearing in no little perplexity disavow'd the act and would never stile him by that Title That this unhappy business prov'd most destructive to the Count Palatine will immediately appear For the Emperor Ferdinand became so highly irritated thereat that he soon after publish'd a Proscription against him proclaim'd him guilty of High Treason and declared his resolution to prosecute him as a public Enemy of the Empire and accordingly sent Marquess Spinola with numerous Forces to invade the Palatinate as also Buquoy and D. Balthasar into Bohemia who with a powerful Army gave him Battail near to the City of Prague upon the eighth of November An. 1620 utterly routed the Bohemians and forc'd that new King with his Queen to flee the Country The Report whereof arriving soon after in England caused King Iames to advise with the Lords of his Council upon the 13 th of Ianuary following for recovery and protection of the Palatinate it being the antient Inheritance of his Son in Law and his Children Whereupon thirty thousand Pounds was forthwith sent to the Princes of the Union for their assistance therein and in order to farther help a Parliament call'd to sit at Westminster upon the 30 th of the same month of Ianuary At which Convention the King acquainting the two Houses with what had happened farther represented unto them that he had already treated a Peace in this business but Perswasions without power being as he said of little effect he told them that he thought it fit to provide an Army against the Summer following and desired them therefore to think upon his Necessities Which Parliament having sate about four months and done little in this matter the King considering of a Recess for a time in regard of the season that might cause Infection represented to them by the Lord Treasurer his purpose to adjourn them Whereat the Commons growing displeased they desired the Lords to joyn with them in petitioning against it the King therefore taking much exception thereupon judging it derogatory to his Prerogative it being in his sole power to call and adjourn and dissolve Parliaments they thereupon for satisfaction of his Majesty publish'd a Declaration wherein they signified unto him that in case his endeavours by a Treaty could not effect the restitution of the Palatinate upon signification of his pleasure in Parliament they should be ready to the utmost of their powers both with their lives and fortunes to assist him so as by the Divine help of Almighty God he might be able to do that with his Sword which by a peaceable course could not be effected After this the Parliament was adjourn'd from the fourth of Iune until the twentieth of November at which time of meeting again the King being absent for lack of health the Lord Keeper told them that unless they took farther resolutions and were expeditious the Army in the Palatinate would fall to the ground The Lord Treasurer also acquainting them how empty the King's Coffers were and that his Majesty had assisted the Palatine and Princes of the Union with great Sums which had so exhausted his Treasure that he was much in debt Also that notwithstanding the King had declared for War he pursued Peace and resolv'd therefore to close with Spain hoping by that Alliance to heal the breach Which Speech of the Lord Treasurer tending to Peace so startled the House of Commons wherein the Puritan was predominant that they soon after drew up a Remonstrance to his Majesty wherein representing Religion to be in danger by the growth of Popery they incited him to take his Sword into his Hand for the aid of those of our Religion in forreign parts and that the bent of this War might be against that Prince whose Armies and Treasures had maintained the War in the Palatinate Signifying that they had given him one Subsidy for the present Relief of the Palatinate But in this Remonstrance there being also divers things which the King esteem'd to tend unto his high dishonour and to trench upon his Prerogative-royal he forbad them farther to entermeddle concerning his Government and deep affairs of State and particularly with the match of his Son with a Daughter of Spain Certain it is that the Parliament made little hast in the offering of that for which they were chiefly called together viz. the giving to the King considerable aid for relief of the Palatinate in so much as the Lord Digby then took occasion to put the Peers in mind thereof and that it was to that end they were summon'd thither reporting the present distress of that Country and danger thereto by the Duke of Bavaria as also that the Army of Count Mansfeild which came in for defence thereof if not speedily supplyed was like to desert that service But instead of hasting such Relief Christmass approching and the King upon the
be destructive to order and Government or to the peace of the Church or Kingdome That the Ordinances concerning the calling and sitting of the Assembly of Divines be desired to be confirmed by Act of Parliament That the Proposition for the confirmation of the Treaties betwixt the two Kingdomes and the proceedings betwixt them be expressed And that Treaty for the return of the Scots Army of the date of Decem. 23. 1646. be inserted amongst the rest That His Majestie 's assent be desired to what the two Kingdomes shall agree in the prosecution of the Articles of the large Treaty which are not yet finished and that all other things be inserted concerning the joynt Interest of both Kingdomes or the Kingdome of Scotland in particular That the Armies in both Kingdomes which were raised for the preservation of Religion and defence of the King's person may be disbanded now the war is ended and have due satisfaction for their arrears That speedy releif may be sent to Ireland and that an Act of Oblivion may be agreed upon to be passed in the Parliaments of both Kingdomes That His Majesty be restored to His Rights and that in the Propositions a conclusion may be added promising all real endeavour that His Majesty may live in the splendor and glory of his royal progenitors as beseemeth his royal place that so all differences and troubles may end in a mutual confidence and rejoycing Upon debate of which Message from His Majesty Nov. 16. and of that Declaration and those Proposals by the Scottish-Commissioners the House of Commons passed these following Votes 1. That no more addresses be made from the Parliament to the King nor any Letters or Message received from him 2. That it should be Treason for any person whatsoever to deliver any Message to the King or receive any Letter or Message from him without leave from both Houses of Parliament 3. That the Members of both Houses and the Committee of both Kingdomes had power to sit and act alone asformerly the Committee of both Kingdomes had for the safety of the Kingdom 4. And that a Committee should be nominated to draw up a Declaration to be published to satisfy the Kingdome of the reasons of passing these Votes To back which Votes the General and Council of the Army did put forth a Declaration signifying their Resolutions to adhere to the Houses for setling and securing the Parliament and Kingdome without the King and against him or any other that should thereafter partake with him And sent Thanks to the House of Commons for those Votes To shew the people likewise the Reasons of those four Votes the Grandees at Westminster appointed a Committee to search into the King's conversation and errors of his Government and to publish them in a Declaration to the World wherein they objected as high crimes against him his father's death the loss of Rochell and the Massacre and Rebellion in Ireland Which Declaration being printed by their authority was afterwards ordered to be dispersed throughout the whole Kingdome by the several Members of the House of Commons in those Countries and places for which they did serve CHAP. XXVIII THE King therefore seeing himself thus layd aside penned a Declaration with his own hand for the satisfaction of all his people which soon after was made publick by the Press Whereby representing his sad and most disconsolate condition through a long and strict Imprisonment together with his earnest endeavours to have composed all things by an happy peace whereunto he added most just cleer and undeniable Reasons why he could not assent to pass those four dethroning Bills before-mentioned farther shewed what usage he had endured by Colonel Hamond the Governour in whose custody he then was most of his servants being by him discharg'd the Guards redoubled and himself restrain'd of that Liberty which before he had been allowed Appealing also to the world how he had deserved that dealing from his subjects having sacrificed to them for the peace of the Kingdome all but what was much more dear to him than his life viz. his Conscience and Honour and desiring nothing more than to perform it in the most proper and usual way viz. by a personal Treaty Taking notice likewise of the often repeated professions and Engagements made to him by the Army at Newmarket and St. Albans for asserting his just Rights in General by their voted and revoted Proposals which he had reason to understand should be the utmost that would be expected from him yea that in some things he should be eased And conlcuded that if it were peace they desired he had shewed the way thereto being both willing and desirous to perform his part in it by a just complyance with all cheif Interests Was it plenty and Happiness Those were the inseperable effects of peace Was it security His Majesty who wisht that all men would forgive and forget like him did offer the Militia for his own time Was it Liberty of Conscience He who wanted it was most ready to give it Was it right administration of Iustice Officers of Trust were referred to the choyse of the two Houses Was it frequent Parliaments He had legally and fully concurred therewith Was it the Arrears of the Army Upon a settlement he told them that they would be certainly payd with much ease but before that there would be found much difficulty if not impossibility in it But all this was then to no purpose for having got the power of the Sword into their hands the Voice of an Angel from Heaven could have been nothing regarded for on they went with their great worke In order whereunto a Pamphlet was publisht by authority that is to say licensed by a publick Imprimatur where the Prophet Ezekiel was produced to discover what they intended Thus saith the Lord God concerning the prophane wicked Prince whose day is come when Iniquity shall end Remove the Diadem Take off the Crown This shall not be the same Exalt him that is low and abase him that is high And to cajole the Presbyterean having formerly secured themselves from the reach of their Holy Discipline they passed an Ordinance for the speedy dividing and setling the several Counties of this Kingdome into distinct Classical-Presbyteries and Congregational Elderships And desiring to seem men of the greatest Sanctity imaginable they constituted a Committee for the enumeration of great crying sins appointing that they should daily meet and do their utmost endeavour to suppress them And passed another Ordinance for suppressing of Stage-plays and demolishing Play-Houses But all these devices were meerly circumstantial those which more immediately tended to the carrying on their grand work being the chief viz. the approbation which the people then had or seem'd to have of their Votes for no more Addresses to the King Towards the obtaining whereof having been not a little sollicitous they imploy'd their most busy Emissaries and
Laws of the Land and to the Liberties and Properties of the People Whereof one was that he should pass an Act for keeping on Foot their Army during the pleasure of such as they should nominate to be entrusted with the Militia with power from time to time to recruit and continue them to the Number of Forty Thousand Horse and Foot under their present General and Officers and that the Council of War should have power to make choise of new Officers and Generals from time to time as occasion should happen and they think fit as also to settle a Tax upon the People by way of Land-rate for supporting the same Army to be Collected and levyed by the Souldiers themselves And for the establishing a Court-Marshal of extraordinary extent But so soon as His Majesty had read some few of those Tyrannous Proposals he threw them aside saying that he would rather become a Sacrifice for his People than thus betray their Laws Liberties Lives and Estates with the Church the Common-wealth and Honour of the Crown to so intolerable a Bondage of an Armed Faction And such a Sacrifice they really made him upon the Tuesday following which was the Thirtieth of Ianuary having the more to affront and deject him had it been possible built a Scaffold for His Murther before the Great Gate at White-Hall whereunto they fixed several Staples of Iron and prepared Cords to tye him down to the Block had he made any resistance to that Cruel and Bloody stroke To which place they then brought him on Foot from St. Iames's attended by Guards of Souldiers having filled all the Streets from Charing-Cross to Westminster with Troops of Horse and Companies of Foot Whereon being ascended with the Greatest Christian Magnanimity imaginable he told them that they were in a wrong way to the Kingdoms Peace their design being to do it by Conquest in which God would never prosper them Farther declaring to them that the right way thereto would be first to give God his due by regulating rightfully the Church in a National Synod freely call'd and freely debating Secondly the King his Successor his due wherein the Laws of the Land would sufficiently instruct them Thirdly the People theirs in such a Government whereby their Lives and Gods might be most their own It was for that quoth he I come now hither for would I have given way to an Arbitrary sway to have all Laws changed according to the power of the Sword I needed not to have come here Telling them farther but praying God it might not be laid to their Charge that he was the Peoples Martyr And then most Christianly forgiving all praying for His Enemies he meekly submitted to the stroke of the Axe It is not unworthy of Observation and therefore not finding a more proper place for it I have thought fit to insert it here that some of those most Impious Regicides who sate and gave judgment of Death upon this Blessed Martyr when after the happy Restoration of our present Soveraign they were brought to their Tryals for that unparallel'd Murther stuck not in justification of themselves to plead that they were not within the compass of Treason as it is declared by the Statute of 25. E. 3. For that questionless said they must intend private Persons Councilling Compassing or imagining the Death of the King but you know said they that the War was first stated by the Lords and Commons the Parliament of Enlgand and by virtue of their Authority was raised they pretending by the Laws that the right of the Militia was in them whereupon accordingly they rais'd a Force making the Earl of Essex General and after that Sir 〈…〉 This therefore they insisted on for a legal Authority because said they that this Parliament was called by the King 's Writ and that the Members thereof were chosen by the People Adding that the Persons which acted under that Authority ought not therefore to be question'd as Persons Guilty because if that which they acted was Treason then the Lords and Commons in Parliament began the Treason Having thus finisht their Grand and long designed work they permitted the Duke of Richmond the Marquess of Hertford the Earl of Southampton and Earl of Lindsey to Interr his Corps in the Collegiate Chapel within the Castle at 〈◊〉 refusing him Burial with his Ancestors in the Church of Wesâ—minster under colour of preventing such confluence of People which out of a superstitious respect might resort to his Grave reserving that place therein which had been built by King Henry the Seventh purposely for the Sepulture on himself and his Posterity for the Bones of his chiefest Murtherers Some of which being afterwards accordingly there deposited have since been Translated and laid more properly under the Gallows Being thus come to the Period of this incomparable Prince's Life I may not omit to take notice that the time was when these Monsters of men did publickly declare that they would make his Majesty a Glorious King which now we see most truly verifyed though not as they then seem'd to intend it So Glorious indeed as Mortal man never was more First In that he suffered as an Heroick Champion for the Rights of the Church the Laws of the Land the Liberties and Properties of the Subject and Priviledges of Parliament in stoutly to his utmost withstanding the conjunctive Power of his Rebellious Subjects which under the colour of asserting these most Trayterously assaulted him in divers sharp Battels Next by his cheerful undergoing the many hardships of a destructive War and a tedious Imprisonment Thirdly by his patient enduring the many insolent affronts of this subtile false cruel and most implacable Generation in their Barbarous manner of conventing and Condemning him to Death and to see his most blood-thirsty Enemies then Triumph over him And that no part of true felicity might be wanting to him they have made him Glorious in his Memory throughout of the World by a Great Universal and most durable Fame and Glorious by his enjoyment of an Immortal Crown with the Blessed Saints Martyrs and devout Confessors in the highest Heavens CHAP. XXXI AND here having made a mournful stop for a while to contemplate the unspeakable loss of this excellent Prince and the direful actings of these matchless Conspirators I begin to consider that the Presbyterians may possibly take much exceptions at this Historical Narrative in regard that by the Life of the King was not taken away by them but by that Sect which are usually called Independants Whereunto I answer that it is not denyed but that he was actually put to death by those who in common discourse do pass under that name But whether the Presbyterians can clear themselves from the Guilt of his Murther as I know not how to excuse them so am I somewhat doubtful thereof For in the First place I would ask whether they were not the men which Originally put themselves in Armes
Parliament in case they were elected ¶ The next thing of Note that hapned was the Proclaiming of Prince Charles at Edenborough in Scotland to be King of Great Britain France and Ireland his Royal Father being thus destroy'd But 't is to be noted that this Proclamation ran thus Whom all the Subjects of his Kingdom are bound humbly to obey maintain and defend according to the National Covenant betwixt the Two Kingdoms with their Lives and Goods against all deadly And that before he should be admitted to the exercise of His Royal Power he was to give satisfaction to that Kingdom in those things that concern'd the security of Religion the Union betwixt the Kingdoms and the Good and Peace of that Kingdom according to the National Covenant and the Solemn League and Covenant And for Establishing the Dominion of these Bloody Regicides at Weâ—tminâ—â—er the Members there Sitting went on Vigorously First Voting the absolute abolition of the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy Next in devising and appointing A new Stamp for Coyne And by Erecting a Council of State consisting of Thirty Persons viz. the Earles of Densigh Mulgrave Pembroke Salisbury Lord Grey of Warke Lord General Fairfax Lord Grey of Groby Lord L'isle Son to the Earl of Leicester Lord Chief Justice Rolls Lord Chief Justice St. Iohn Lord Chief Baron Wylde Lord President Bradshaw Lord General Cromwell Major General Skippon Sir Gilbert Pickering Sir William Masham Sir Arthur Haselrig Sir Iames Harrington Sir Henry Vane Jun. Sir Iohn Davers Sir William Armyn Sir Henry Mildmay Sir William Constable Alderman Penington Alderman Wilson Bulstrode Whitlock Esq Henry Martin Esq Colonel Ludlow Anthony Stepeley Esq William Heveningham Esq Robert Wallop Esq Iohn Hutchinson Esq Dennis Bond Esq Alexander Popham Esq Valentine Walton Esq Thomas Scot Esq William Purefey Esq Iohn Iones Esq But the Lord Grey of Warke waving that employment Mr. Iohn L'isle of Hantshire Cornelius Holand and Luke Robinson were added to this Number who were called the Committee of Estates appointed by Parliament ¶ It is not unworthy of Observation that as the Scots and this unhappy Long Parliament at the beginning of their desperate Practises against the King did declare that their whole Proceedings then were according to the Fundamental Laws So these wicked Regicides after their Bloody Murther of the King in answer to an Embassy from the Dutch expressed that these their Proceedings against the King were consistent with the Fundamental Laws of this Nation of England which were best known to themselves Nor was the project for their new Church-Discipline less notable as may seem by this following Petition and Advice which was presented to the General of their Army and the Council of War by many Christians as they call'd themselves dispersed abroad throughout the County of Norfolk and City of Norwich in these words That your Petitioners acknowledge themselves unspeakably engaged to the God of Heaven and Earth for his great Mercy to us in giving you Hearts to offer your selves so willingly among the People in the late Great undertaking of the Nation against the Enemies of the Peace thereof and Blessing your Faithful endeavours with such Glorious and wonderful successes whereby as the Lord hath put great Honour upon you Crowning your Valour with Victory and making you the War-like Glory of the World so hath be no less put great Obligations upon you all to exalt him that hath exalted you and to lift up his Glory in the World where he hath given you a name so Great and Glorious c. Therefore our dayly Prayers shall be for your selves and your Noble Army that you may never stumble at the stumbling-stone nor take the honour to your selves that is due to Christ nor be Instrumental for setting up of a meer Natural and Worldly Government like that of Heathen Rome Athens c. To which end we humbly pray that your selves would enter into Serious and Grave consideration and debate the Particulars in the Papers here humbly offered to you and also present them to the Honourably Parliament that they may be improved so far as shall be found agreeable to the will and word of God Which done we doubt not but God shall have much Glory the Godly Party shall be comforted Natural men enjoying their Estates will be at rest also and much satisfied and this Common-wealth will be exalted to be both an Habitation of Iustice and Mountain of Holiness even such a People as God shall Bless An humble Advice concerning the Government of the Kingdom according to the former Platform or Model 1. That you would stir up Godly Ministers and People throughout the Kingdom to Associate or incorporate into Church-Societies and grant them your special Favour Provision and Protection so shall you be Saints Nursing Fathers 2. That you would please to satisfie the Godly-dissenting Brethren both of Presbytery and Independency by such ways and means as your Wisdoms shall think fit how both their Interests may meet herein that so they may concur with one heart in the work 3. That Sister-Churches over-see such Incorporations and Imbodyings that only such as be of approved Godliness may have the Right-hand of Fellowship given to them 4. That such Churches where more of them are thus Collected and imbodyed in any Division Circuit Province c. may choose and send out some Delegates Members and Officers to Meet in one Sessions Lesser-Parliament Presbytery or Assembly for ordering of all such affaires as there occur according to the word if appertaining alone to that division 5. That all such Churches and the Members thereof have voices in Elections of such as are to sit in General Assemblies or Church-Parliaments so often as occasion is and those Elected to Sit there as Christ's Officers and the Churches Representatives and to determine all things by the word as that Law which God will exalt alone and make honourable 6. That you take special care to send out and encourage Godly Preachers that may go into the rest of the Kingdom to Preach the Gospel that so when others are converted and the Son of God makes them Free they may enjoy the former Freedom with the rest of the Saints And in father order to the utter abolishing of Kingly Government they appointed all those Antick and most Venerable Regalia conserved in the Treasury at Westminster and chiefly made use of at the Magnificent Coronations of the Kings of the Realm and solemn Proceedings to Parliament And also the costly Hangings precious Jewels with other of the Kings Goods and rich Furniture for his several Princely Palaces to be sold. And within few days following caused the Heads of Iames Duke of Hamilton Henry Earl of Holand with that truly Noble Arthur Lord Capel to be cut off Touching whose actings against them having already made some brief mention I shall only take notice of their dealing with Duke Hamilton a little before his Execution which was that in order to his discovery
his person by the Rabble animated by some enraged Papists for thus disappointing them of making a Proselite of him as they boasted they had done and given publick thanks in divers Churches But his Lordship assured him that as he had spent the greatest part of his life and fortune in the Service of his Highnesses Royal Family and defence of the Protestant Religion he would willingly Sacrifice the remainder of both on so honourable an occasion as this With which hearty invitation his Highness was so pleased that he took no farther thoughts whither to go but remained with his Lordship Being thus gone from the Pallace-Royal the Queen Mother of France came immediately thither to try again as 't was thought if she could prevail with him to change his Religion And as soon as she came sent her Son the Duke of Anjou afterwards of Orleans to visit him who return'd with the news that he was not to be found But as soon as it was known that he was at the Lord Hatton's House she sent the then Marquess since Duke of Plessis a Person of such famed parts and abilities that in consideration thereof he was made Governour to the Duke of Anjou to perswade with him to comply with his Mothers advise for effecting whereof he exercised all his parts and elocution with great earnestness urging that since the Death of his Father the Queen his Mother had the sole Power and Authority over him Disputing whether the King his Brother as his Sovereign had equal Authority to dispose of him And the discourse growing somewhat publick the Marquess of Ormund and the Lord Hatton then present arguing in the Dukes defence the French Marquess finding himself overmatch't in great passion return'd without the success expected at the Pallace-Royal where the French Queen staid very late till he came back Whose report when both Queen 's heard they were then fully satisfied in the Dukes firmness to his Religion so that after that no considerable attempt was made on him though he continued for near two months very nobly entertained by the Lord Hatton until through the Marquess of Ormund's and his Lordships Interest Necessaries could be provided for his going into Germany CHAP. XXXVIII IT is not to be doubted but that the Convening of these persons from all parts of the Nation considering that divers of them being Members of the Old Long Parliament and eagerly thirsted to obtain their wonted power again having to that end corrupted a great part of the Army did not a little endanger his new-raised Dominion But such was his vigilancy that their Plots took no effect Seeing therefore both how and by whom his Authority had been thus affronted lest others in time by such examples might be swayed his next business was to gain some shadow of being owned by the generality of the people throughout the three Kingdoms which by the help of his Emissaries in short time he accomplisht first from Scotland by Gratulatory Petitions and next from the Counties and chief Places throughout England and Ireland Which being effected he then put on the Mask of a most tender and zealous Patriot earnestly promoting the performance of Justice encouraging Virtue and discountenancing Vice And to gain those of the Clergy who might be most serviceable to his purpose he made no small shews of his favours unto them yet with a check to the insolency of the Presbyterian and depressing the Episcopal and Orthodox To those also of the Romish persuasion though he seemed severe 't is certain enough that he did somwhat favour them there being not any sort of men to whom he carried not some shew of respect having an excellent faculty of courting them with some appearance of kidness But to captivate those who were seemingly Religious he had a singular art of discoursing with them most Divinely and not only so but Praying Sighing Groaning and somtimes shedding Tears in their presence yet having a special vigilancy upon all Parties and Interests which possibly might disturb his quiet So that the Royalists whose generous and active Spirits were ever prompting 〈…〉 our the Kings Restauration and to 〈…〉 a Rising in the West were soon 〈…〉 some of them were brought to Tryal amd 〈◊〉 death for the same But the lives of these Loyal 〈…〉 this subtle Tyrant for he took advantage thereby to cause the Estates of all others of that 〈◊〉 sate quiet to be decimated except such as by mony could free themselves from that great exaction And for the strict Levying of that most oppressive Tax he constituted fourteen select Major-Generals each of which had several Counties under his Jurisdiction who not only exercised their Authority in an Arbitrary and unlimited manner but at length grew so insolent that he thought it not fit to continue them in that power And now looking upon himself as an absolure Monarch he exercised the Authority of conferring the Honour of Knighthood first upon the Lord Mayor of 〈◊〉 And having soon after concluded a League 〈◊〉 France he went on and Knighted two of his Colonies Pride and Barksted the one who had been a Dray-man the other a seller of Thimbles and Bodkins of Silver And having throughout all parts of England by underhand practices those of his Preaching-Clergy serving him therein to some purpose made way for an Election of such Members for another Parliament as might best advance his future ambitious designs he sent out Writs of Summons for Convening of them accordingly At which meeting none were permitted to enter the House which refused to acknowledg and subscribe to his Authority Whereupon some being excluded went back to their Countries But those which sate went stoutly on with the work having made choice of Sir Thomas Widdrington to be their Speaker That the chief end whereat this proud and subtle Tyrant at that time drove was by the help of this Convention to be invested with the Title of King few there were to whom it was not evident enough though he cunningly seemed to look another way That there might therefore be the less suspicion thereof the design was so laid that the work should be brought about by degrees and in a Collateral way To which end in the first place as a preparation thereto they passed an Act whereby the Knights Citizens and Burgesses there assembled for so are the words did in the name of all the people of that Common-Wealth fully clearly and absolutely and for ever disclaim and renounce all Fealty Homage or Allegiance pretended to be due unto Charles Stuart Eldest Son of the late King Charles Iames Stuart c. or any other Issue or Posterity of the said King or any person or persons pretending or which should pretend Title by from or under them or any of them And soon after that another Act for security of the person of his Highness the Lord Protector and continuance of the Nation in Peace and Safety the
not sate therein since the year 1648. and had not subscribed the Engagement in the Roll of that House should not sit there till farther Order by the Parliament And by a general Vote declared That all such as were to be imployed in any place of Trust or Power in the Common-Wealth should be able for the discharge of such Trust and that they should be persons fearing God and who had given testimony to all the people of God of their faithfulness to that Common-Wealth according to the Declaration of Parliament of May the 7 th proceeding also in the Election of these whose names are here added for a Council of State Sir Arthur Haselrigg Sir Henry Vane Colonel Ludlow Colonel Iohn Iones Colonel Sydenham Thomas Scott Major Saloway General Fleetwood Sir Iames Harrington Colonel Walton Mr. Henry Nevil Mr. Thomas Chaloner Mr. Downes Bulstrod Whitlock Herbert Mortley Mr. Sidney Colonel Thompson Colonel Dixwel Mr. Reynolds Oliver St. Iohn Mr. Wallop All these being Members of the Old Long Parliament Unto which were added Iohn Bradshaw Colonel Lambert Colonel Desborow Fairfax Colonel Berry Sir Anthony Ashley Couper Sir Horatio Tounsend Sir Robert Honywood Sir Archibald Iohnston Iosias Berners As to the Actings of these old Members it is not a little observable that first they ordered the sale of all such Houses and Lands of the late King the Queen the Prince with Bishops Deans and Chapters or other then unsold and that they should forthwith be exposed to sale Also that such persons on whom any Title of Honour had been conferred by the said King should pay those forfeitures for the same as had been by their Acts and Ordinances in that case provided and bring in their Patents Amongst which Houses intended for Sale Somerset-House in the Strand was one the materials whereof to be pulled down and sold were valued at 5545 l. 1 s. 3 d. And now having some compassion on their late Lord Protector Richard Cromwel so outed of his Sovereignty as before is observed they Voted him an exemption from Arrests for six months Likewise the more to ingratiate themselves with the people they passed an Act of Indempnity but without benefit to any who should boggle at subscribing to a new Engagement against the Government by the single Person Kingship or House of Peers seizing upon divers persons in and about London and upon Horses and Arms pretending Trayterous designs against them by the Royalists the Preachers in their Pulpits crying out in this manner viz. The Lord stir up the hearts of his people to Prayer and sincere Humiliation and fill them with Unanimity and Courage in this evil time and make the people to see whatever fair pretences may be made use of by the Common Enemy to get power into their Hands yet should they prevail no man that hath been of a party against them heretofore yea no man that hath been a meer Neuter but must expect that his private Estate as well as the Publick Liberty shall become a prey to a desperate crew of Ravenous and Unreasonable men Certain it is that throughout the whole Realm the people were weary of their Oppressions and saw that notwithstanding these shiftings of the Dominion from one hand to another they were no whit eased of their Taxes and Burthens and therefore not only the Royalists but most of the Presbyterians being then out of play to rid themselves of that lingring slavery did privately engage to rise and accordingly began so to do in Cheshire putting themselves under the command of Sir George Boothe Baronet a person of a fair Estate in those parts Which so alarm'd the old Iuncto sitting at Westminster commonly called the Rump they being the fag-end or Tail of the Long Parliament as that they speedily sent down into those parts what Forces could soon be got together under the command of Major General Lambert publishing a Proclamation against them and their adherents as Rebels and Traytors Sir George in the mean time causing a Declaration to be Printed and spread abroad Whereby manifesting to the world that this Iuncto at Westminster had violated all Laws of God and men did profess that the defence of the Laws and Liberties was the chief thing he and those with him aimed at which would never be setled by those Self-Seekers at Westminster and therefore desired a new and Free Parliament But this good design was soon blasted for Lambert encountring them near to North-Wiche so over-powered them with numbers and more experienced Souldiers that he utterly routed and dispersed all their strength Which success so far elated this active General that he then thought of nothing more than his own personal advancement And to the end that he might the more endear the Souldiers to himself not only magnified their merits by Letters to the Parliament but when he had a thousand pounds sent to buy him a Jewel in token of their high esteem of that service he forthwith distributed it amongst his Common Souldiers And in farther order to that his design under colour of seizing all Arms thereabouts he subtilly got them into his own hands All which was no whit dissatisfactory to the Rumpers who then did not at all dream of Lamberts design and therefore having received Letters out of Scotland which gave them much assurance of General Monks reality they laid their Insurrection in Cheshire wholly to the Royallists charge and forthwith resolved upon an Oath for abjuring the Kings Title the formality whereof I have here added I. A. B. do hereby declare that I renounce the pretended Title of Charles Stuart and the whole Line of the late King James and of every other Person as a single Person pretending to the Government of these Nations of England Scotland and Ireland and the Dominions and Territories thereto belonging And that I will by the Grace and Assistance of Almighty God be true faithful and constant to this Common-Wealth against any King single Person and House of Peers and every of them and hereunto I subscribe my name And to shew how Zealous their Clergy were generally therein I shall only give instance of a precious pack of those in Leicestershire which personally came out of that County to the Parliament and presented to them a Paper Intituled The humble Representation of divers well-affected Ministers of the Gospel in the County of Leicester whose names are hereunto subscribed Which was so well accepted of that they being called in one of them as the mouth of the rest addressing himself to the Speaker said That being all Ministers of the Gospel in the County of Leicester faithful servants to the Parliament and imbarqued in the same bottom with themselves that some of them marched along with their Forces to suppress the late Rebellion of Sir George Boothe and others and that they well knowing how much it concerned them with all the true Godly of the Land to strengthen the Parliaments