lost with the Gouverment which then was totally frustrated of the chiefe end for which I had broken with all my former frends by procuring leave contrary to their Councels for my returne into England which was to have gotten my selfe to the head of a Regiment of 2500. Men of my owne Nation in the King of Frances service whereby I Could have subsisted with honour and Gouverned my selfe in other things according to events During my sickness which was violent I fownd my selfe suffiently contented to dye for being ruined with all the world small hopes remayning to recouver my self I Could better have submitted to a quiet death then to have suffered those bitter anxieties of a turbulent and afflicted life which I fore saw I was likely to undergoe as hath befallen me from that very tyme to this day but the periode either of our lives or trowbles comes not as we often desire Haveing recouvered my health I endeavoured to calme my minde which was not without disordre and to bear patiently those calamities which I then felt and to fortify my selfe to suffer those which I foresawe I was likely to undergoe by a decree greater and more souveraigne then solomans which would require a support sublimer then what reason or Philosophy Could afford feeling in my selfe Just cause for what I apprehended when I deeply reflected on the violent passions inordinate affections and to great infirmities of my life past I knew plethorique bodies repleat with vitious humours if there were any hope of cure had need of strong and searching phisick Which preparitories have kept me from being entirely overwhelmed with what I have since undergone I returned no more into England till the death of Cromwell which came to pass neer twoe years after S r. William Lockart whoe was then Cromwels Ambassadour in France and Gouvernour of Dunkirck to whome I had been knowne before he fell into that interest gave me a pass with a letter of recommandation to one of his frends whoe was at that tyme in great credit The factions and divisions in the army the vinversall discontents in all the three-Nations which Could not longer bear the confusions of those tymes being destitute of all Principles of Gouverment either in church or state the weakness of him whoe succeeded and of those whoe followed him that amidst the greatest Anarchy in the world figured to themselves a chimerical Democratie which one of them Called a republique as durable as the sun and moone wherein he vanted himselfe to have more greatness then he wished for which in eight months tyme afterwards terminated in a strict Imprisonment in the Tower of London where he dyed and his republique as usually Anarchies doe ended in Monarchy many of the greatest and wisest men of the three Nations taking occasion of those desorders which underhand some of them increased all they Could opened the way to his Ma ties re-establishment The next day after his arivall at whitehall I was comitted close Prisonner to the Tour of London into the custody of a person whoe had been one of the late Kings Judges whoe was not only pardoned but continued for some tyme as Lieutenant of that place this may deservedly be considered as a wonderfull dispensation to see me whoe had very often hazarded my life for the service of the crowne and especially for the preservation of that King become a prisoner under the care of one whoe had a principal hand in his death because he was cunning enowgh to help to destroy his fellowes but a few days before the late Kings restauration and when he plainly perceaved there was no humane possibility to hinder it I remained under a severe restraint about aleaven months when by order I was browght by S r. John Robinson then Commanding the Tower the former haveing been remouved to whitehall to be examined which I was upon divers Artickles by the Earle of Clarendon at that tyme Lord Chancellour and by the twoe Secretaries of State S r. Edward Nicolas and S r. William Maurits What was true I acknowledged pleading an inevitable necessity for what I had done aleadging that those things Could not amount to the crime mentioned in the warrant for my committment which was upon suspition of misprision of treason my Lord Chancellour told me I was browght thither only to answer cattegorically to what was demanded of me That pleading of my cause was for another place if it should be thowght fit to bring me thither notwithstanding that rebuke upon my further examination as the matter required and Could permit I defended my selfe as reasnably as I Could in soe much that his Lordship told me Colonel Bamfield I can perceave that you have not been alltogether Idle in the Tower seeing you are arrived at soe much knowledg in the law at least as you belive but I must tell you that your wisest and surest refuge will be to have your recourse to the Kings clemency and not to your Justification I answered him I had great need of his Ma ties Grace that I threw my selfe at his feet and Implored it with all humility but was fully persuaded that his LoPP. desired not that I should acknowledge my selfe more guilty then I was he replyed no God forbid but it behouves you to be very Carefull that some things you deny come not to be prouved which the King has been informed of and belives I added no more but if they Could be prouved I desired no Grace This examination lasted longer there then is necessary it should doe here In the conclusion I was commanded to withdrawe into an ante chamber where some of the nobility and divers Gentilemen were standing by the fier and I went alone to a window over against them about halfe an hower after my Lord chancellour and the Secretaries Came out and being ready to pass by me his LoPP. drew a little towards me and I with a profownde reverence neerer to him he sayd aloude in the hearing of all present Colonel Bamfield I am your freind M r. Secretaries and I are sencible of your sufferings and will doe all we can to obtayne you the Kings Grace and to procure your liberty And turning to S r. John Robinson sayd M r. Lieutenant you may let him have the full liberty of the Tower and all his frends whoe desire it the freedome to visit him as we returned back in the barge to the tower amongest other discource for then he was become very civile whoe before had treated me exceeding rudely S t. John Robinson told me that he had conceaved my business to have been much otherwise then he fownd it that my Lord Chancellour had been as moderate in his reflexions on my answers after I was gone out as he had been in the examination and at the end of the debate spake theise following words The somme of all is that Colonel Bamfield has served the Crowne from his youth and when we left him he left us About three
his escape the newes came of his being secured by a party of the army commanded by a cornet named Joyce by his trade a taylour His Ma tie demanded of him what commission or autorite he had to offer him the violence he did without soe much as mouving his hat or shewing the King the least respect he shewed him with his hand the five or 600 soldiers which he commanded saying there is my commission his Ma tie without any the least emotion smilingly replyed t' was written in avery faire hand In short he was carried away to the army some furious spirits amongest them as Major General Harrison and others were for the putting of him to death by an unammous sentence of the army but Cromwell Ireton and the most politique heads were for delay and temporising soe long by amusing the King with hopes that they would restore him till they had entirely broken the Presbiterean party and rendered them powerless and themselves more absolute Upon this fowndation Cromwell Ireton and other principal persons of the army became very Civile and some thing respectfull to his Ma tie makeing great protestations of haveing no other designe but the setting him with honour upon his throne on his graunting them a free liberty of Conscience with such a power in the Militia as they judged convenient for their assurance that they might not be deprived thereof at pleasure but that tyme was needfull to prepare the way and to dispose the minds of the army to a submission thereunto Sect. 52. These promises and deep Protestations seconded by a free permission of his frends to wait on him of some of his domstiques to serve him and of his chapelens to performe their functions in his devotions according to the Constitutions and Customes of the Church of England wrought very much upon the King especially from the hopes he had of not being constrained in his Conscience in Matter of Divine worship and church Gouverment wherein he was much more sencible then in what concerned his prerogative or the rights of the crowne Sect. 53. The chiefs of the army especially Cromwell and Ierton whoe were great masters in that art made large promises and specious apparencies without effecting of any thing or makeing any demandes tending to a positive conclusion of what would satisfy them or of what they would doe for his Ma tie and which was then to me remarquable and worthy at all tymes of observation that amidest all theise faire pretences the armies adherents in both houses whoe did not any thing but by secret concert with Cromwell continually clamoured in Parliament at the seeming liberty which the King had often aleadging that he should be more restrayned and that the chief delinquents which was the Phraise in those tymes owght to be brouwght to condigne punishment Sect. 54. Twoe or three of the leading men whoe thirsted for his blood severall tymes let fly expressions of that kinde directly against his person and others a little cautious more obliquely but soe that both the end and the way to it which theise men had long projected by mutuall agreement was in my opinion sufficiently visible where of I advertised the King constantly and frequently the Queen by my constant adresses to the Earle of S t. Albanes whoe lived when I wrote and intended to Print this relation As I mentioned all particulars of that nature spoken in both or either house soe I named the authours haveing had ordnarily once in four and twenty howers knowledge of all that passed which concerned the King whoe was trained from place to place according to their apprehensions and designes during the space of divers months till Colonel Hamond was made Gouvernour of the iste of wight and Kairesbrooke Castel more magnificently furnished out of the publique warderobe then was needfull for him or sutable to his condition which by some others was taken notice of and by me especially throwgh an unexpected accident to long to be here inserted which gave me cause to suspect and fear what shortly after unhappely arrived which important circomstance joined to divers others not of much less weight put restless thowghts into my head till such tyme as I could obtaine a particular audience from the King to whome I gave an exact account of my apprehensions with the grownds of them Sect. 55. His Ma tie answered theise reasons have weight one may fear as well to little as to much especially as my condition is yet if there be any faith in them they will never come to such extremities however their feeding me hitherto with good words and deep protestations without reall effects or coming in all this tyme to any particular or positive conclusion makes me some tymes doubt the event but on the other side I cannot fall into all your apprehentions which seem now and then to hyppocondriacal Sect. 56. I replyed I beseech God thy may all prove soe where unto I added that I hoped there was yet an expedient either to constraine them to doe his business or to have it done without them He smiled and told me such a proposition was well worth the hearing asking mee what it was Sect. 57. I answered some of the most considerable persons of both houses whoe I named were unchangeabley convinced that the army jugled with him whoe were resolved upon a totalle change of the Gouverment which designe they whoe had sate during the space of five or six years in the same assembly with them and had been privy to their principles and debates and without doubt to many of their most secret contrivements could see further into them then any els and wished his Ma tie would bring them to a short and peremtory resolution touching what would content them as likewise what they would doe for him because that every day they gained power and others whoe really desired his Ma ties Conservation and reestablishment lost it Sect. 58. If they meant syncerely as they pretended Cromwell and Ireton Could absolutely engage that party in both houses to a concurrance with them whoe were inseperably linked to his interests and that the Presbitereans would not hinder but further it to prevent what they reasnably and exceedingly feared to late finding that they had raised a spirit which they could not easily lay againe And that the event was very uncertayne in their opposing of that power which insencibly they had let glide out of their owne hands and nourisht against themselves to long to be able to give limits to it Sect. 59. They considered that if the liberty of Conscience which the army seemed to insist upon were consented to and the penal statutes repealed the Presbitereans would have been included as well as others and for the power of the Militia which was demanded for security it must have resided in King Parliament or both for in the Officers of the army it could not be without keeping up a continued standing Militia which the nation Could not bear
of Parliament under the penalty of high treason The last vote was relative to the first as before theise votes all most as soone as he was in the Isle of wight I had fownd out means of correspondence with him and of giving his Ma tie constant advertisements of all occurrencies which concerned him soe notwithstanding this danger of being punished as a traitour I continued it even to the last continuing to write to him and to receive letters from him both for my selfe and others the greatest part of his intelligence both with english and Scotch passing throwgh my hands whilest I remayned in England not without great hazard as may easily be conceaved which had it ever been discouvered no humane means that I sawe could have secured my head Sect. 86. Cromwell haveing as I have already sayd and demonstrated from tyme to tyme opposed and by his several artifices prevented all treaties as much as he possibly could and agreements betwixt the King and the Presbitereans by degrees wrowght the Earle of Essex Bedford and Manchester the Generall Waller Major General Massy Major General Browne and all those Military persons out of all employment whome he judged capable to bring any opstacle to his projects in some Kinde reduced the citty of London and jugled the King prisoner into the Isle of wight in the custody of Colonel Hammon one of his creatures he belived his game sure which was the sole reason why I ever declined all treaty or colusion with those people foreseeing clearly their ends and as visibly their ways to them even when the Generallity of the Kings party assured themselves that they would infallibly restore both him and them Sect. 87. My stedfastness in the contrary opinion and my endeavours against that gross delusion not prostituting my reason to other mens phantasies procured me many enemies with very severe sensures leading divers to a jalousie that I had rivited my selfe into that interest rather for my owne private ends then for his Ma tie service or for the publique behoofe of the Nation which most groundless and unreasnable credulity together with the animosities and calomnies which arose therefrom had prepared the way and facilitated my after mine all thowgh I solemnly and syncerely protest that I alone declined the one party as being unchangeably convinced that they designed his Ma ties destruction nor applyed my selfe to the other then by his commands and as things were in those tymes that I Could perceave no other means for his preservation Sect. 88. Upon advertisements I gave the King which I know he had from other hands of the foregoeing votes as likewise of what Cromwell and Ierton had sayd against him he sawe to late howe perfidiously they had jugled with him which first disposed him to treat with the Scotch and with as many of the Presbitereans in England as safely Could and would be treated with which evidently refutes that rediculous assertion of some whoe pretend to be the Kings frends that Cromwell and Ireton broke with his Ma tie because he treated with the Scots makeing the effect the cause it being notorious to all whoe had any transactions in and knowledg of the affaires at those seperate tymes that the King after the armies proposalls had no treaty with the Scots or any els till the votes of non adresses and unanimous protestation of the army to live and dye with the Parliament in the persuance of those votes and for the setlement of the Gouverment without his Ma tie and a little after the like was done by the Parliament to live and dye with the army for the same ends and which was the wonder of wonders the house of Lords Passed this resolution first with great zeal and sent it downe to the Commons for their concurrence whoe for some tyme opposed it vigorously till threatnings and fear caused many members to absent themselves soe that it was carryed in the affirmative by five or six vooices Thus the commons contended to preserve the Peerage for the abolishing of which the Peers themselves layd this fowndation which ensued in about a year after Sect. 89. Theise proceedings haveing been visible and his Ma tie no other recource for the gaining of his liberty with the preservation of his crowne and life came to a conclusion with the Scotch Commissioners whoe were permitted by the Parliament to repaire to the King about the Gouverment of their owne nation Sect. 90. The agreement with them gave such satisfaction that they engaged themselves to enter into England with an army as speedily as well could be and in order to conjonction with them severall treaties were secretly mannaged with the principall persons of the Presbiterean party In a Parliamentary way nothing Could be done with them nor by them because of the awe of the army and the incertainty of many amongst themselves whoe in divers debates voted with the contrary party Besides that the very late resolutions and protestations of both houses rendred all propositions of that Kinde vaine and exceeding dangerous in soe much that there remained no other way but to treat with them a part and with the greatest Privacy The result was that they should declare at the same tyme with the Scotch the Kings party being to joine with them Upon the Scotch commissioners leaving the Isle of wight his Ma tie was more severely guarded then ever Not with standing I had constant correspondence with him all or much the greatest part of his intelligencies either with the Kingdome of Scotland or England passed my hands not without great difficulty danger and expence When all these transactions were concluded the King sent me the following letter of credit to be communicated to as many of the Gentilemen of the Easterne assotiation as I should thinke fit with the advice of those with whome I had before treated The Duke of Lauderdalle did me the honour to deliver it me at his returne from Cairsbrook Castel and to let me know what was concluded betwixt his Ma tie and the sotch Commissioners Cairsbrooke Decemb 1647. SEct. 91. Gentilemen I have been long since advertised by Colonel Bamfield whoe I have often employed to you of your good affections to my service and since there may fall out in a short tyme an occasion wherein they may be usefull to me in the present condition I am it may prove inconvenient for me and to you dangerous that I should give you Particular directions under my hand I have left it to Colonel Bamfield whoe knows my affaires and has order to communicate to you as much of them as is necessary for the direction of your Councels and endeavours for the publique good of your country and for him whoe is Your most assured frend CHARLES R. For the Gentilemen of the Easterne association Jan. the 24. SEct. 92. I have received yours of the 17 present but have not as yet decypherd the other letters inclosed because I would first fiuish this despatch
his Ma tie himselfe was the most competent judge whither they were reasnable honest and appliquable to the condition he then was to have been made use of or rejected according to his owne prudence and pleasure I shall here conclude this where upon I have the longer insisted as being the fowndation of my utter ruine the source of my great sufferings during six or seaven years and those calamities and necessities whereinto I was plonged at that tyme the causes of my offending his Ma tie to that degree he ever remained It is beyond the limits I propownd to my selfe to enlarge to a particular relation of the artickles presented to the King of the debates and disputes there upon during the treaty which has been allready the worke of other pens more proper for it then mine I shall only say that had his Ma tie and the Parliaments Commissioners come to the same conclusion they at last did fut twenty days sooner which they might have done for to the best of my remembrance there were twice fourteen dayes added to the first forty which was spun out to the last three or four the King in my opinion had not come to a violent death the Nation and the protestante Religeon had been free from the infamy there of and secured against the cruel confusions which Imediately followed the effusion of that blood all thowgh his Ma tie and the Parliament were fully agreed and his concessions voted entirely satisfactory and a sufficient fowndation for a happy peace and firme establishment in all his Dominions yet by the violence of the army which over whelmed all very much the greatest part of the Parliament were secluded and allways kept out till Imediately before the Present Kings restauration divers of the members emprisoned and others constrayned to save themselves beyond sea In this deplorable condition of things his Ma tie a little before he was remouved from Niewport by the army to Hurst Castel apparently calling to minde what I had severall tymes represented to him was gratiously pleased to send me by Mr. William Moray the ensuing letter THe danger to which you expose your self cannot be contreballanced by any service there now remains for you to doe me the severity of the Presbitereans haveing ruined me and themselves You will doe well to save your selfe and to returne to your Master and I commande you not to Councell him to any thing touching publique matters without the knowledg and approbation of the Queen his Mother and of the Prince his Eldest brother haveing no more to say to you then to commit you to the protection of the Allmighty God I remain Your assured frend CHARLES R. Imediately after his Ma ties death I was suspended from the Honour of wayting where I had done and my coming to the court prohibited which caused me to continue secretly and desguised in England in several places not knowing well in the disgrace I then was plonged how to subsist els where besides that I hoped there to finde some favourable occasion of serving the King where by to remouve his displeasure thowgh it prouved not soe easy a matter as some to Consolate me flattered me with the beliefe of I remayned in that condition about a year some tymes in one place and some tymes in another till at length I was betrayd by one whoe had served me long whome I had bred up from a boy and much obliged I was taken and Imprisoned and had certainly lost my head unless by the extraordnary Providence of God I had fownd the means of saveing my selfe throwgh a window of the Prison which all circonstances considered was little less then Miraculous the sea ports were soe layd for me that I was constrained to remaine secretly in the citty of London in faithfull frends houses during the space of three weeks when at last I was convey'd over into Holland by S r. Roger de Lyvedy Capitaine of a Man of war belonging to Rotterdam whose brother was since vice Admirall of the Meuse twoe or three years after his ship was seized upon at Hull he put in Prison where I have heard he dyed I had no sooner set foote on land but I was forced into another misfortune which was unavoydable that constrained me for some tyme to take my refuge at vienna neer utrect which added to his Ma ties indignation but it pleased God that the occasion in few weekes was taken away where upon I repayred to Breda where the King was in treaty with the Scots Commissioners his Ma tie would not permit me to appear in his Presence nor at his court he agreed with them went into Scotland it was not alowed me to wayte on him thither thowgh I made use of the intercession of some great persons in no less credit with him to obtayne that Grace Shortly after I followed in company with the with the Earle of Disert where being arrived Duke William Hamilton whoe was killed at woster the late Duke of Lauderdalle with most of the Nobility of Scotland whoe were then about his person employ'd theire mediation as ernestly as duty and descretion would admit to bring me into grace but Could not obtayne any thing which constrained me to returne againe into Holland In this State I continued about five years endeavouring to doe all the services I Could frequently agitated betwixt hope and despaire till at length I had the happiness to performe such a service as that some very great persons both in quality and credit Improuved it all they Could to restore me to his Ma ties favour whoe prevayled soe far as that he was pleased to admit me into his Presence and to kiss his hand as allsoe to receive the account I had to give him of some matters which regarded his service and to deliver his opinion freely enough concerning persons and things relative there unto Which gave occasion for me and such as wished a period to my misfortunes to hope that by degrees I might have recouvered his Ma tie favour which I belive I had not come short of unless unfortunately I had offended a person of quality and at that tyme in the greatest Credit and trust about him whoe before my disgrace had been one of my best frends and very highly obliged me in many occasions and after my misfortune had carried himselfe indifferently without doeing me either good or harme untill at that conjoncture he began againe to favour me giveing me his promesse to doe me what good offices he Could but being diametrally opposite in his Jugdment Councells and Proceedings to my humble opinions touching the likeliest means leading towards the Kings restauration I unhappily used to much freedom in my argumentations with himselfe and excessively more in my discources with others concerning him in a letter I had written to the Earle of Difert then at Antwerp which was intercepted to avow the truth I had made some bitter reflexions upon his conduct thowgh without nameing him but being