Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A Word B Word C Word D Occurrence Frequency Band MI MI Band Prominent
cause_n army_n great_a king_n 2,073 5 3.6840 3 true
View all documents for the selected quad

Text snippets containing the quad

ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A64894 Former ages never heard of, and after ages will admire, or, A brief review of the most materiall parliamentary transactions, beginning, Nov. 3, 1640 wherein the remarkable passages both of their civil and martial affaires, are continued unto this present year published as a breviary, leading all along, successively, as they fell out in their severall years, so that if any man will be informed of any remarkable passage, he may turne to the year, and so see in some measure, in what moneth thereof it was accomplished : for information of such as are altogether ignorant of the rise and progresse of these times : a work worthy to be kept in record, and communicated to posterity. Vicars, John, 1579 or 80-1652.; Jenner, Thomas, fl. 1631-1656. 1654 (1654) Wing V305; ESTC R2983 53,959 61

There are 7 snippets containing the selected quad. | View lemmatised text

for the King their Commissioners denied audience to make their just Defence to the King and the whole Kingdome of Scotland and England too hereupon much distracted and distempered with levying of moneys and imprisoning all amongst us that refused the same This Parliament also refusing to comply with the King Canterbury and Strafford in this Episcopal War against the Scots was soon dissolved and broken up by them and thereupon they returned to their former wayes of wast and confusion and the very next day after the Dissolution thereof some eminent Members of both Houses had their Chambers and Studies yea their Cabinets and very pockets of their wearing Cloaths betimes in the morning before they were out of their Beds searched for Letters and Writings and some of them imprisoned and a false and most scandalous Declaration was published against the House of Commons in the Kings Name A Forced Loan of money was attempted in the City of London to be made a president if it prevailed there for the whole Kingdome but some Aldermen refusing were sorely threatned and imprisoned In which interim the Clergies Convocation continuing notwithstanding the Dissolution of the Parliament New Conscience oppressing Canons were forged and a strange Oath with an c. in it was framed for the establishing of the Bishops Hierarchy with severe punishments on the refusers to take it The OATH That I A. B. doe Sweare that I doe approve the Doctrine and Discipline or Government established in the Church of England as containing all things necessary to Salvation And that I will not endeavour by my selfe or any other directly or indirectly to bring in any Popish Doctrine contrary to that which is so established Nor will I ever give my consent to alter the Government of this Church by Arch-Bishops Bishops Deans and Arch Deacons c. as it stands now established and as by right it ought to stand Nor yet ever to subject it to the usurpations and superstitions of the Sea of Rome And all these things I doe plainly and sincerely acknowledge and swear according to the plain and common sense and understanding of the same words without any equivocation or mentall evasion or secret reservation whatsoever And this I doe heartily willingly and truly upon the faith of a Christian So help me God in Jesus Christ In this Convocation sore Taxations were also imposed upon the whole Clergy even no lesse then six Subsidies besides a bountifull Contribution to forward that intended War against Scotland For the advancing of which said sums for this War the Popish were most free and forward yea and a solemn Prayer was composed and imposed by the Bishops on their Ministers every where to be used and read in all Churches against the Scots as Rebels and Traytors The Papists also in a high measure enjoyed even almost a total Toleration and a Popes Nuncio suffered amongst us to act and govern all Romish affairs yea a kind of private Popish Parliament kept in the Kingdome and Popish Jurisdictions erected among them Commissioners were also secretly issued out for some great and eminent Papists for Martial Commands for levying of Souldiers strengthning their party with Arms and Ammunition of all sorts and in great plenty His Majesties Treasure was by these means so extreamly exhausted and his Revenues so anticipated that he was forced to compell as it were his owne Servants Judges and Officers of all sorts to lend him great sums of money and Prisons filled with refusers of these and the other illegall payments yea many High-Sheriffs summoned in the Star-Chamber and to the Councel board and some of them imprisoned for not being quick enough in levying of Ship-money and such like intolerable Taxations In sum the whole Land was now brought into a lamentable and languishing condition of being most miserably bought and sold to any that could give and contribute most of might and malice against us and no hope of humane help but dolour desperation and destruction to be the portion of all In which interim the Scots being entred our Kingdome for their own defence the King had advanced his Royal-Standard at Yorke where the cream of the Kingdom Nobles and Gentry being assembled and a Treaty betwixt the prime of both Armies had at Rippon for a fair and peaceable accommodation the King was at last inforced to take his Nobles Councel and in the first place a cessation of Arms agreed on and then a fifth Parl. was necessitously resolved on to begin Nov 3. 1640. 5th Parliament Letters from the King Queen Popish Earls Lords Knights and Gentry post into all parts of the Kingdome to make a strong party for them Shortly after a very formidable Spanish Fleet or Armado appeared on our English narrow Seas in sight of Dover and was coming in as was on very strong grounds more then probably conjectured as a third party to help to destroy us the Spaniards hoping that by this time we and the Scots were together by the ears but they were by Gods mercy beaten off from us by our Neighbours of Holland and we fighting against them fought against our friends The Souldiers in their passage to York turn Reformers pull down Popish Pictures break down rails turn Altars into Tables those Popish Commanders that ware to command them they forced to eat flesh on Fridays thrusting it down their throats and some they slew In the time of ours and the Scots Armies residing in the North which was in June 1641. Malignant Lords endeavoured to bring it out of the North Southward and so to London to compell the Parl. to such limits and rules as they thought fit whereupon the Parl. entred upon this following Protestation Die Veneris 30 July 1641. WE the Knights Citizens and Burgesses of the Commons House in Parl. finding to the great grief of our hearts that the designs of the Priests Jesuites and other adherents to the Sea of Rome have of late been more boldly and frequently put in practice then formerly to the undermining and danger of the ruine of the true Reformed Protestant Religion in his Majesties Dominions established And finding also that they have been and having just cause to suspect that there are still even during this sitting in Parliament endeavours to subvert the fundamentall Lawes of England and Ireland and to introduce the exercise of an Arbitrary and Tyrannicall Government by most pernicious and wicked counsels practices plots and conspiracies And that the long intermission and unhappy breach of Parliam hath occasioned many illegall Taxations whereupon the subject hath been prosecuted and grieved And that divers Innovations and superstitions have been brought into the Church multitudes driven out of his Majesties Dominions jealousies raised and vvn betwixt the King and his people a Popish Army levyed in Ireland and two Armies brought into the bowels of his Kingdom to the hazzard of his Majesties Royal person the consumption of the Revenues of the Crown and Treasure of his Kingdome And lastly finding
great cause of jealousie that endeavours have been and are used to bring the English Army into a misunderstanding of this Parl. thereby to incline that Army with force to bring to passe those wicked Councels Have therefore thought good to joyne our selves in a Declaration of our united affections and resolutions and to make this ensuing Protestation The Protestation I A. B. Do in the presence of Almighty God Promise Vow and Protest to maintaine and defend as far as lawfully I may with my life power and state the true Reformed Protestant Religion expressed in the Doctrine of the Church of England against Popery and Popish Innovations within this Realme contrary to the same Doctrine and according to the duty of my Allegiance his Majesties Royall Person Honour and Estate as also the power and priviledges of Parliament the lawfull rights and liberties of the Subject and every person that maketh this Protestation in whatsoever he shall doe in the lawfull pursuance of the same And to my power and as far as lawfully I may I will oppose and by all good wayes and means endeavour to bring to condigne punishment all such as shall either by force practice counsels plots conspiracies or otherwise doe any thing to the contrary of any thing in this present Protestation contained And further that I shall in all just and honourable wayes endeavour to preserve the union and peace between the three Kingdomes of England Scotland and Ireland and neither for hope fear nor other respect shall relinquish this Promise Vow and Protestation At the beginning of the Parliament Nov. 3. 1640. there was a diligent inquisition after oppressions and oppressors and first upon the Petition of Mris Bastwicke and Mris Burton two widowed wives and a Petition exhibited in the behalfe of Mr Pryn Dr. Laighten Mr. Smart Mr. Walker Mr. Foxley Mr. Lilburn and many others set at liberty some being banisht and all close Prisoners others fast fettered in irons and their wives debar'd from coming to them Decemb. 1640. The Earl of Strafford and Laud Arch-bishop of Canterbury impeached of High Treason Wren Bishop of Norwich of Treason Windebank and Finch fled The Scots ships that were taken before the Parl. began restored and 4000. l. given to rig them 300000. l. towards their losses and all Books Libels and Proclamations against the Scots called in February A Bill signed for Trienniall Parl. ●ix Subsidies Poll money and a personall assesment of the whole Kingdome May a Bill signed that the Parl. should not be dissolved without their consent Lord Strafford beheaded the High Commission Court and Star Chamber put down the Parl. proceeded against Delinquent Judges about Ship-money The Earl of Strafford's Speech on the Scaffold May 12. 1641. MY Lord Primate of Ireland and my Lords and the rest of these Gentlemen it is a very great comfort to me to have your Lordship by me this day in regard I have been known to you a long time I should be glad to obtain so much silence as to be heard a few words but doubt I shall not my Lord I come hither by the good will and pleasure of Almighty God to pay the last debt I owe to sin which is death and by the blessing of that God to rise again through the mercies of Christ Jesus to eternall glory I wish I had been private that I might have been heard my Lord if I might be so much beholding to you that I might use a few words I should take it for a very great courtesie my Lord I come hither to submit to that judgment which hath past against me I do it with a very quiet and contented mind I do freely forgive all the world a forgivenesse that is not spoken from the teeth outward as they say but from my heart I speak it in the presence of Almighty God before whom I stand that there is not so much as a displeasing thought in me arising to any creature I thank God I may say truly and my conscience bears me witnesse that in all my services since I have had the honour to serve his Majesty in any employment I never had any thing in my heart but the joynt and individuall prosperity of King and people if it hath been my hap to be misconstrued it is the common portion of us all while we are in this life the righteous judgment is hereafter here we are subject to error and apt to be The Earle of Strafford for treasonable practises beheaded on the Tower-hill mis-judged one of another There is one thing I desire to clear my selfe of and I am confident I speak it with so much clearnesse that I hope I shall have your Christian Charity in the belief of it I did alwayes think that the Parl. of England were the happiest constitutions that any Kingdome or any Nation lived under and under God the means of making King and people happy so far have I been from being against Parliaments For my death I here acquit all the world and pray God heartily to forgive them and in particular my Lord Primate I am very glad that his Majesty is pleased to conceive me not meriting so severe and heavy a punishment as the utmost execution of this sentence I am very glad and infinitely rejoyce in this mercy of his and beseech God to turn it to him and that he may find mercy when he hath most need of it I wish the Kingdome all the prosperity and happinesse in the world I did it living and now dying it is my wish I do now professe is from my heart and do most humbly recommend it to every man here and wish every man to lay his hand upon his heart and consider seriously whether the beginning of the happinesse of a people should be writ in Letters of blood I fear you are in a wrong way and I desire Almighty God that not one drop of my blood may rise up in judgment against you My Lord I professe my selfe a true and obedient Son to the Church of England to the Church wherein I was born and wherein I was bred prosperity and happinesse be ever to it and whereas it hath been said that I have inclined to Popery if it be an objection worth answering let me say truly that from the time since I was twenty one years of age till this hour now going upon forty nine I never had thought in my heart to doubt of the truth of my Religion in England and never any had the boldnesse to suggest to me contrary to the best of my remembrance and so being reconciled to the mercies of Christ Jesus my Saviour into whose bosome I hope shortly to be gathered to that eternall happinesse that shall never have end I desire heartily the forgivenesse of every man both for any rash or unadvised word or deed and desire your prayers And so my Lord farewell farewell all the things of this word Lord strengthen my faith give me confidence and assurance in the merits
of Jesus Christ I desire you that you would be silent and joyn in prayers with me and I trust in God that we shall all meet and live eternally in Heaven there to receive the accomplishment of all happinesse where every tear shall be wiped from our eyes and every sad thought from our hearts And so God blesse this Kingdome and Jesus have mercy upon my Soul Amen August 1641. The King went to Scotland Octob. The Irish Rebellion began whereby above 100000 Protestants were murdered Novemb. Decemb. The King came from Scotland to London and was entertained with most pompous solemnity and after went to Hampton Court the Earl presented a Remonstrance wherein was expressed the Kingdomes grievances they desire a Guard Sir Wil. Belford was displaced and Cottington made Constable of the Tower but he was soon displaced and Col. Lunsford was made Lieutenant of the Tower but he also was displaced and Sir John Byron was made Liev. of the Tower in Lunsfords stead but he also with much ado removed and Sir John Conyers was put in his place To the Kings most Excellent Majesty and the Lords and Peers now Assembled in Parliament The Humble Petition and Protestation of all the Bishops and Prelats now called by his Majesties Writs to attend the Parliament and present about London and Westminster for that Service THat whereas the Petitioners are called up by several and respective Writs and under great penalties to attend the Parl. and have a clear and indubitable right to Vote in Bils and other matters whatsoever debatable in Parl. by the ancient Customes Lawes and Statutes of this Realm and ought to be Protected by your Majesty quietly to attend and prosecute that great Service They humbly Remonstrate and Protest before God your Majesty and the noble Lords and Peers now assembled in Parl. that as they have an indubitate right to Sit and Vote in the House of Lords so are they if they may be protected from force and violence most ready and willing to performe their duties accordingly And that they doe abominate all actions or opinions tending to Popery and the maintenance thereof as also all propension and inclination to any Malignant party or any other side or party whatsoever to the which their owne reasons and conscience shall not move them to adhere But whereas they have been at severall times violently menaced affronted and assaulted by multitudes of people in their coming to perform their services in that honourable House and lately chased away and put in danger of their lives and can find no redresse or protection upon sundry complaints made to The High Commission-Court and Starr-Chamber voted down and pluralities non residencies damned by Parliament both Houses in these perticulars They likewise humbly protest before your Majesty and the Noble House of Peers that saving unto themselves all their Rights and Interests of Sitting and Voting in that House at other times they dare not Sit or Vote in the House of Peers untill your Majesty shall further secure them from all affronts indignities and dangers in the premisses Lastly whereas their fears are not built upon fantasies and conceits but upon such grounds and objects as may well terrifie men of good resolutions and much constancy They doe in all duty and humility protest before your Majesty and the Peers of that most Honourable House of Parl. against all Laws Orders Votes Resolutions and Determinations as in themselves null and of none effect which in their absence since the 27th of this instant Month of Decem. 1641. have already passed as likewise against all such as shall hereafter pass in that most Honourable House during the time of this their forced and violent absence from the said most Honourable House not denying but if their absenting of themselves were willfull and voluntary that most honourable House might proceed in all their premisses in their absence and this Protestation notwithstanding And humbly beseeching your most Excellent Majesty to command the Clerk of the House of Peers to enter this their Petition and Protestation among their Records They will ever pray to God to bless c. Jo Ebor. Th. Dures Rob. Co. Lich. Jo. Norw. Jo. Asa. Gul Ba. Wels. Geo. Heref. Rob. Ox. Ma. Ely Godf. Glouc. Jo Peterb Mor. Land Twelve Bishops were impeached of high Treason and ten imprisoned in the Tower and afterward all disabled from ever sitting in the Parl. they are Voted down root and branch Nulla contradicente The same night there were bonefires and ringing of Bels All Popish Recusants inhabiting in and about the City all dis-affected persons and such as being able men would not lend any money for the defence of the Common-wealth should forthwith confine themselves to their own Houses and not to goe forth without speciall license An Ordinance to apprehend dis-affected persons in the City whereof were four Aldermen put in safe custody in Crosby House and some in Gressam Colledge A letter sent to Mr. Pym Mr. Pym Do not think that a guard of men can protect you if you persist in your trayterous courses and wicked designs I have sent a Paper-messenger to you and if this does not touch your heart a Dagger shal so soon as I am recovered of my plague-sore In the mean time you may be forborn because no better man may be endangered for you Repent Traytor Jan 1641. The Irish proclaimed Rebels the King demands five Members Lunsford assaulteth the Citizens at Westmin an Act to carry on the War in Ireland till it were reduced Febr King signs the Bill for taking away Bishops Votes March the Queen went to Holland one of her ships sprung a leak and much treasure lost and when she return'd there was a great storm Van Trump's Mast broke and after eight dayes turmoil driven back again broke and lost 3 ships The King went to Theobalds where a Petition from the Par. was presented desiring him to let the Militia abide neer Lon and not carry the Prince away he being at Newmarket the House presented a Declaration the King went to York sends a message to the Parl. that he would raise 2000 Foot and 200 Horse at Hull and go for Ireland Sir John Hotbam denies the King entrance in April May som Members leave their seats and go to the King at York Binion a Silk-man the Kentish Malignants and Sir Edw Deering frame petitions against the Parl. but rejected fined and imprisoned The King interdicts the Militia but the Messenger was hang'd at the Exchange The Lords and Gentry of Ireland and Scotland petition the King to return to his Parl. the Gentry of York shire do the like but rejected The K. set on foot a Commission of Array June The Great Seal carried to the K. The Earle of Warwick Adm. Money and Plate brought in for the Cause the King besieges Hull 500 men went from London to it Proclamations and Declarations against the Parliament read in all Churches and Chappels within the
Then turning to the Officers said Sirr excuse me for this same I have a good cause and I have a gracious God I will say no more Then turning to Col. Hacker he said Take care that they doe not put me to paine and Sir this and it please you But then a Gentleman coming neer the Ax the King said take heed of the Ax pray take heed of the Ax. Then the King speaking to the Executioner said I shall say but very short prayers and when I thrust out my hands Then the King called to Dr Iuxon for his night cap and having put it on he said to the Executioner does my haire trouble you who desired him to put it all under his Cap which the King did accordingly by the help of the Executioner and the Bishop then the King turning to Dr Juxon said I have a good Cause and a gracious God on my side Dr Jaxon There is but one stage more this stage is turbulent and troublesome it is a short one but you may consider it will soone carry you a very great way from Earth to Heaven and there you shall find a great deale of cordiall joy and comfort King I goe from a corruptible to an incorruptible Crown where no disturbanc can be Doct. You are exchanged from a temporall to an eternall Crown a good exchange Then the King took off his Cloak and his George giving his George to Dr. Juckson saying Remember 't is thought for the Prince and some other small Ceremonies past after which the King stooping down laid his neck upon the blocke after a very little pause stretched forth his hands the executioner at one blow severed his head from his Body his Body was put in a Coffin covered with black Velvet and removed to his Lodging Chamber at White-Hall An Act prohibiting the Proclaiming of any person to be King of England c. VVHereas Charls Stuart King of England being for the notorious Treasons Tyrannies and Murthers committed by him in the late unnaturall and civill Wars condemned to death whereupon after execution of the same severall pretences may be made and Title set on foote unto the Kingly Office to the apparent hazzard of the Publick Peace For the prevention thereof Be it Enacted and Ordained by this present Parliament and by the Authority of the same That no person or persons whatsoever doe presume to Proclaime Declare Publish or any way promote Charls Stuart Son of the said Charls commonly called Prince of Wales or any other person to be King or chief Magistrate of England or of Ireland or of any the Dominions belonging to them or any of them by colour of Inheritance Succession Election or any other claim whatsoever without the free consent of the people in Parliam first had and signified by a particular Act or Ordinance for that purpose any Law Statute Vsage or Custome to the contrary notwithstanding And be it further Enacted and Ordained and it is hereby Enacted and Ordained that whosoever shall contrary to this Act Proclaim Declare Publish or any way promote the said Charls-Stuart the Son or any other person to be King or chief Magistrate of England or of Ireland or of any the Dominions belonging to them or to either of them without the said consent in Parliament signified as aforesaid shall be deemed and adjudged a Traytor to the Common-wealth and shall suffer the pains of death and such other punishments as belong to the Crime of High Treason And all Officers as well Civill as Military and all other well-affected persons are hereby authorized and required forthwith to apprehend all such Offenders and to bring them in safe custody to the next Justice of the Peace that they be proceeded against accordingly H. Scobel Cler. Parl. D. Com. Dk. Hambleton E of Cambridg E of Holland and Lord Capell be headed Mar 9. 1649 And their speeches on the scaffold The Speech of Duke Hamilton Earl of Cambridge on the Scaffold in the Pallace yard the ninth of March 1649. I Think it is truly not very necessary for me to speak much there are many Gentlemen and Souldiers there that see me but my voyce truly is so weak so low that they cannot hear me neither truly was I ever at any time so much in love with speaking or with any thing I had to expresse that I took delight in it yet this being the last time that I am to doe so by a Divine providence of Almighty God who hath brought me to this end justly for my sins I shall to you Sir Master Sheriff declare thus much as to the matter that I am now to suffer for which is as being a Traytor to the Kingdome of England Truly Sir it was a Countrey that I equally loved with my owne I made no difference I never intended either the generality of its prejudice or any particular mans in it what I did was by the Command of the Parliament of the Countrey where I was borne whose Command I could not disobey without running into the same hazard there of that condition that I now am in It pleased God so to dispose that Army under my Command as it was ruined and I as their Generall cloathed with a Commission stand here now ready to dye I shall not trouble you with repeating of my Plea what I said in my owne Defence at the Court of Justice my self being satisfied with the Command that is laid upon me and they satisfied with the justnesse of their procedure according to the Lawes of this Land God is just and howsoever I shall not say any thing as to the matter of the Sentence but that I doe willingly submit to his Divine providence and acknowledge that very many wayes I deserve even a worldly punishment as well as hereafter for we are all sinfull Sir and I a great one yet for my comfort I know there is a God in Heaven that is exceeding mercifull I know my Redeemer fits at his right hand and am confident clapping his hand on his brest is mediating for me at this instant I am hopefull thro his free grace and all-sufficient merits to be pardoned of my sins and to be received into his mercy upon that I rely trusting to nothing but the free grace of God through Jesus Christ I have not been tainted in my Religion I thank God for it since my infancy it hath been such as hath been profest in the Land and established and now it is not this Religion or that Religion nor this or that fancy of men that is to be built upon it is but one that 's right one that 's sure and that comes from God Sir and in the free grace of our Saviour Sir there is truly somewhat that he then observing the Writers had I thought my Speech would have been thus taken I would have digested it into some better method then now I can and shall desire these Gentlemen that doe write it that they will not wrong me in it and
lesse troubled with it because of those violent deaths that I have seen before Principally my Saviour that hath shewed us the way how and in what manner he hath done it and for what cause I am the more comforted I am the more rejoyced It is not long since the King my Master passed in the same manner and truly I hope that his purposes and intentions were such as a man may not be ashamed not onely to follow him in the way that was taken with him but likewise not ashamed of his purposes if God had given him life I have often dispu●ed with him concerning many things of this kind and I conceive his sufferings and his better knowledge and better understanding if God had spared him life might have made him a Prince very happy towards himselfe and very happy towards this Kingdome I have seen and known that those blessed souls in Heaven have passed thither by the gate of sorrow and many by the gate of violence And since it is Gods pleasure to dispose me this way I submit my soule to him with all comfort and with all hope that he hath made this my end and this my conclusision that though I be low in death yet neverthelesse this lownesse shall raise me to the highest glory for ever Truly I have not said much in publick to the people concerning the particular actions that I conceive I have done by my Counsels in this Kingdome I conceive they are well known it were somthing of vanity me thinks to take notice of them here I 'le rather dye with them with the comfort of them in mine own bosome and that I never intended in this action or any action that ever I did in my life either malice or bloodshed or prejudice to any Creature that lives For that which concerns my Religion I made my profession before of it how I was bred and in what manner I was bred in a Family that was looked upon to be no little notorious in opposition to some liberties that they conceived then to be taken and truly there was some mark upon me as if I had some taint of it even throout the whole wayes that I have taken every body knows what my affections have been to many that have suffered to many that have been in troubles in this Kingdome I endeavoured to oblige them I thought I was tyed so by my Conscience I thought it by my charity and truly very much my breeding God hath now brought me to the last instant of my time all that I can say and all that I can adhere unto is this That as I am a great sinner so I have a great Saviour that as he hath given me here a fortune to come publickly in a shew of shame in the way of this suffering truly I understand it not to be so I understand it to be a glory a glory when I consider who hath gone before me and a glory when I consider I had no end in it but what I conceive to be the service of God the King and the Kingdom and therefore my heart is not charged much with any thing in that particular since I conceive God will accept of the intention whatsoever the action seem to be I am going to dye and the Lord receive my soul I have no reliance but upon Christ for my self I do acknowledge that I am the unworthiest of sinners my life hath been a vanity and a continued sin and God may justly bring me to this end for the sins I have committed against him and were there nothing else but the iniquities that I have committed in the way of my life I look upon this as a great justice of God to bring me to this suffering and those hands that have been most active in it I pray God forgive them and that there may not be many such Trophies of their Victory I might say somthing of our Tryal which I think hath been extraordinary but because I would not seem as if I made some complaint I will not so much as mention it because no body shall believe I repine at their actions or my owne fortune it is the will of God it is the hand of God under whom I fall I take it intirely from him I submit my self to him I shall desire to roule my selfe into the arms of my blessed Saviour And when I come to this place pointing to the Block when I bowe downe my selfe there I hope God will raise me up and when I bid farewell as I must now to hope and to Faith that Love will abide I know nothing to accompany the Soule out of this World but Love and I hope that Love will bring me to the Fountaine of glory in Heaven through the Arms Mediation and the Mercy of my Saviour Jesus Christ in whom I believe O Lord help my unbelief I shall make as much hast as I can to come to that glory and the Lord of Heaven and Earth take my soule I look upon my selfe intirely in him and hope to find mercy through him I expect it and through that Fountaine that is opened for sin and for uncleannesse my soule must receive it for did I rest in any thing else I have nothing but sin and corruption in me I have nothing but that which instead of being carried up into the Arms of God and Glory I have nothing but may throw me downe into Hell And here is the place where I lye downe before him from whence I hope he will raise me to an eternall Glory through my Saviour upon whom I rely from whom only I can expect mercy into his arms I commend my spirit into his bleeding arms that when I leave this bleeding body that must lye upon this place he will receive that Soule that ariseth out of it and receive it into his Eternall mercy through the Merits through the Worthinesse through the Mediation of Christ that hath purchased it with his owne most precious Blood Christ Jesus receive my Soule my Soule hungers and thirsts after him clouds are gathering and ●●●ust in God through all my heavinesse and I hope through all impediments he will settle my interest in him and throw off all the claim that Sathan can make unto it and that he will carry the soul in despight of all the calumnies and all that the Devill and Satan can invent will carry it into eternall mercy there to receive the blessednesse of his presence to all eternity That Lamb of God into his hands I commit my soul and that Lamb of God that sits upon the Throne to judge those 24 that fall down before him I hope he will be pleased to look downward and judge me with mercy that fall down before him and that worship him and that adore him that only trusts upon his mercy for his compassion and that as he hath purchased me he would lay his claim unto me now and receive me Indeed if Christ justifie no body can condemn and I trust in
most willingly humble my selfe then kneeling down said I will try first how I can lye and laying his head over the block said Am I well now Execut. Yes And then as he lay with both his hands stretched out he said to the Executioner Here lye both my hands out when I lift up my hand thus then you may strike And then after he had said a short prayer he lifted up his right hand and the Executioner at one blow severed his head from his body which was taken up by his Servants and put with his Body into a Coffin as the former March 19. 1648. An Act for Abolishing the House of Peers THe Commons of England Assembled in Parl finding by too long experience that the House of Lords is uselesse and dangerous to the people of England to be continued have thought fit to Ordain and Enact and be it Ordained and Enacted by the present Parliam and by the Authority of the same That from henceforth the House of Lords in Par. shall be and is hereby wholly abolished and taken away and that the Lords shall not from henceforth meet or sit in the said House of Lords nor shall Sit Vote Advise Adjudge or Determine of any matter or thing whatsoever as a House of Lds in Parl. Neverthelesse it is hereby Declared That neither such Lords as have demeaned themselves with Honour Courage and Fidelity to the Common-wealth their Posterities who shall continue so shall not be excluded from the Publick Councels of the Nation but shall be admitted thereunto and have their free Vote in Parl if they shall be thereunto Elected as other persons of interest Elected and Qualified thereunto ought to have And be it further Ordained and Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That no Peer of this Land not being Elected Qualified and sitting in Parl. as aforesaid shall claim have or make use of any Priviledge of Parl. either in relation to his Person Quality or Estate any Law Vsage or Custome to the contrary notwithstanding Hen Scobel Cler Parl. On Thursday July 25. 1650. The General and Army Marched from Mordington to Coppersmith Col. Hackers Regiment being drawn up in the way his Excellency made a Speech to satisfie them concerning Capt. Ogles Troop being sent back into Northumberland in regard of his interest in that County that Cap. Greenwoods Troop appointed for Berwick should March with the Regiment in the stead thereof which gave great satisfaction Col. Bright's Regiment being drawn up Maj. Gen. Lambert appointed Collonel thereof coming to the head of the Regiment was received with great Acclamations A List of the Regiments of Horse and Foot Randezvouzed and Marched with the Lord Gen Cromwell into Scotland Eight Regiments of Horse THe Lord Generals in number 663 Maj. Gen. in number 663 Col. Fleetwoods in number 663 Col. Whalies in number 663 Col. Twisden in number 663 Col. Lilburn in number 663 Col. Hackers in number 663 Col. Okey in number 744 Consisting with Officers in all 5450 Ten Regiments of Foot THe Lord Generals in number 1307 Col. Pride 1307 Col. Bright 1307 Col. Maliveryr 1307 Col. Ch Fairfax 1307 Col. Cocks 1307 Col. Dunell 1307 Col. Sir Arthur Hasterigs 5 Companies 550 Col. Fenwicks 5 Companies 555 Consisting with Officers in all 10249 The Traine 690 The whole thus The Traine 690 The Horse 5450 The Foot 10249 The Totall 16354 A Letter from Liev Gen David Lesley to the Lord Gen Cromwell My Lord I Am Commanded by the Committee of Estates of this Kingdome and desired by the Commissioners of the Generall Assembly to send unto your Excellency this inclosed Declaration as that which containeth the State of the Quarrell wherein we are resolved by the Lords assistance to fight your Army when the Lord shall please to call us thereunto And as you have professed you will not conceal any of our Papers I doe desire that this Declaration may be made known to all the Officers of your Army And so I rest Bruchton 13 Aug. 1650. Your Excell most humble Servant DAVID LESLEY For his Excellency the Lord Generall Cromwell The Declaration of the Commissioners of the Generall Assembly of Scotland as followeth THe Commission of the Generall Assembly considering That there may be just ground of stumbling from the Kings Majesties refusing to subscribe and emit the Declaration offered unto him by the Committee of Estates and Commissioners of the Generall Assembly concerning his former carriage and resolutions for the future in reference to the Cause of God and the Enemies and Friends thereof Doth therefore Declare That this Kirk and Kingdome doe not owne nor espouse any Malignant Party or Quarrell or Interest but that they fight meerly upon their former Grounds and Principles and in defence of the Cause of God and of the Kingdome as they have done these twelve years past And therefore as they doe disclaime the sin and guilt of the King and of his House so they will not owne him nor his interest otherwise then with a subordination to God and so far as he ownes and prosecutes the Cause of God and disclaimes his and his Fathers opposition to the work of God and to the Coven and likewise all the Enemies thereof And that they will with convenient speed take into consideration the Papers lately sent unto then from Oliver Cromwel and vindicate themselves from all the fa●shoods contained therein especially in these things wherein the Quarrell betwixt us and that party is mis-stated as if we owned the late Kings proceedings and were resolved to prosecute and maintaine his present Majesties interest before and without acknowledgement of the sins of his House and former wayes and satisfaction to Gods people in both Kingdomes West Kirk Aug. 13 1650. A. Ker. August 13. 1650. THe Committee of Estates having seen and considered a Declaration of the Commission of the Generall Assembly anent the stating of the Quarrell whereon the Army is to fight Doe approve the same and heartily concur therein Tho Henderson The Lord Generalls Answer to the former as followeth I Received yours of the thirteenth instant with the Paper you mentioned therein inclosed which I caused to be read in the presence of so many Officers as could well be gotten together to which your Trumpet can witnesse we returne you this Answer by which I hope in the Lord it will appear That we continue the same we have profest our selves to the honest people of Scotland wishing to them as to our own souls it being no part of our business to hinder any of them from worshiping God in that way they are satisfied in their Consciences by the Word of God they ought though different from us but shall therein be ready to perform what obligations lye upon us by the Covenant but that under the pretence of the Covenant mistaken and wrested from the most native intent and equity thereof a King should be taken in by you to be imposed upon us and this called The Cause of God and the Kingdome
Cities Burroughs Shires c. and every of them are and shall be acquitted and pardoned of all Treasons Fellonies Offences c. done before Sept. 3. 1651. not in this present Act hereafter not excepted nor fore-prized And the said Keepers of the Liberties of England granteth and freely giveth to every of them all Goods Debts Chattels Fines which to the said Keepers of the Liberties of England do belong or appertain before Sept. 3. and which be not hereafter in this Act foreprized and excepted And it is further Enacted That this Pardon shall be taken in Courts of Justice available to all and singular the said persons c. shall be arrested c. for any thing acquitted by this Act every person so offending shall pay to him offended his treble damages and 10. l. to the State Excepted all High-Treasons other then for words only and all levying of war rebellions insurrections and conspiracies committed against the Par. since Ian. 30. 1648. And all concealments of the said offences And all voluntary Murthers petty Treasons poysoning piracles buggeries rapes ravishments marrying any one against her will And also all persons now attained for petty treason murther poysoning conjurations witchcrafts charms detainments of Customs and sums of money due upon Composition Excise or New-Imposts all Conditions Covenants and penalties of forfeitures due to the Parl. or the late K. since Ian. 30. 1648. All first fruits and Tithes and all offences and misdemeanours whereof any sentence or judgment hath been given in Parl. since Ian. 30. 1648. And all offences of Bribery perjuries and subordination of Witnesses counterfeiting Deeds Debenters Bills of Publick Faith Escripts or writings whatsoever carrying over Seas any Coyn or Jewels melting downe of Gold or Bullion c. detaining the Goods c. of the late King or Queen all offences committed by any Jesuite any Outlawries upon any writ of Capion ad satisfaciendum and all except such persons as were Ian. 28. 1651. in prison by Order of Parl. and all proceedings concerning common High-wayes all Free-farm-rents and arrerages due since Iune 24. 1645. all moneys imprested since Nov. 3. 1638. Provided all Acts of Hostility between the late King and Parl. or between any of the people of this Nation or falling out by reason of the late troubles shalt in no time after Iune 18. 1651. be called in question The DECLARATION of the Lord Generall and his Councel of Officers shewing the Grounds and Reasons for the Dissolving the Parliament April 20. 1653. AFter it had pleased God not only to reduce Ireland and give in Scotland but so marvellously to appeare for his people at Worcester that these Nations were reduced to a great degree of peace it was matter of grief to many well affected in the Land to see the Cause of God so little forwarded by the Parl. whereupon they applied to the Army expecting redresse by them notwithstanding which the Army being unwilling to meddle with the Civill Authority in matters so properly appertaing to it it was agreed That his Excellency and Officers of the Army should be desired to move the Parl. to proceed vigorously in reforming what was amisse in Government which having done we hoped that the Parl. would seasonably have answered our expectations but finding delayes therein we renewed our desires in a Petition in August last and although they signified their good acceptance thereof and referred the particulars to a Committee of the House yet no considerable effect was produced but there more and more appeared among them an aversion to the things themselves with much bitternesse and opposition to the people of God which grew so prevalent that those persons of honour and integrity who had eminently appeared for God and the publick good were rendred of no further use in Parl. then by meeting with a corrupt party to give them countenance to carry on their ends For which purpose they frequently declared themselves against having a New Representative and when they were necessitated to take that Bill into consideration they resolv'd to make use of it to recruit the House with persons of the same temper thereby to perpetuate their owne sitting which intention divers of the most active did manifest labouring to perswade others to a consent therein and divers Petitions preparing from severall Counties for the continuance of this Parl. were encouraged by them For obviating these evills the Officers of the Army obtained severall Meetings with some of the Parl. to consider what fitting meanes might be applyed to prevent the same but such endeavours proving altogether ineffectuall it became most evident to the Army that this Parl. would never answer those ends which God his people and the whole Nation expected from them But that this Cause must needs languish under their hands and be wholly lost All which being sadly considered by the honest people of this Nation as well as by the Army and wisdome and direction being sought from the Lord it seemed to be a duty incumbent upon us to consider of some more effectuall means to secure the Cause which the good people of this Common wealth have been so long engaged in and to stablish peace in these Nations And after much debate it was judged necessary that the Supream Authority should be devolved upon known persons men fearing God and of approved integrity and committed unto them for a time as the most hopefull way to encourage and countenance all Gods people reform the Law and administer justice impartially hoping thereby the people might forget Monarchy and have the Government setled upon a true Basis without hazard to this glorious Cause and necessitating to keep up Arms for the defence of the same And being still resolved to use all means possible to prevent extraordinary courses we prevai'ed with about twenty Members of Parl. to give us a Conference with whom we freely and plainly debated the necessity and justnesse of our Proposals and did evidence that these would most probably bring forth something answerable to that work the foundation whereof God himselfe hath laid The which found no acceptance but it was offered that the way was to continue still this Parl. as being that from which we might reasonably expect all good things and this being insisted upon did much confirm us in our apprehensions That not any love to a Representative but the making use thereof to perpetuate themselves was their aim They being plainly dealt with about this and told that neither the Nation the honest interest nor we our selves would be deluded by such dealings did agree to meet again next day in the afternoon and nothing in the mean time should be done that might frustrate the Proposals Notwithstanding the Parl. next morning did make more hast then usuall in carrying on their said Act being helped therein by some of the persons engaged to us the night before none of them endeavouring to oppose the same and being ready to put the main Question for consummating the said Act whereby our Proposals would have been made void For preventing whereof we have been necessitated to put an End to this Parliament And desire that all men as they would not provoke the Lord to their owne destruction should wait for such issue as he shall bring forth and to follow their businesse with peaceable spirits wherein we promise them protection by his assistance FINIS