did call the Assembly pretended our humble and loyal Proceedings disorders our courses disagreeable to Monarchical Government nor the Castle of Edingburgh rendered which was onely taken for the safety of the Town of Edinburgh simply without assurance by Writ of their indempnity except for the trust we reposed in their Relation and confidence in his Majesties royal words which we believe they did not forget but will bring those which did hear the Treaty to a right remembrance thereof which Paper was onely written for that cause lest either his Majesty or his Subjects should averr that they spake any thing without a Warrant And yet the Lords of the English Council and of their party disavowed it openly at the Council-table And afterwards pag. 33. they say That the said Paper containing some of his Majesties expressions in the time of the Treaty which were put in the hands of the English and others have suffered innocently For first it was the means that brought about the Pacification and gave some satisfaction to his Majesties Subjects against certain words and clauses of the Declaration which without that Mitigation they would never have been able to digest Secondly it did bear nothing contrary to the Articles of Pacification but was a mollifying of his Majesties Declaration that it might be more readily received of the Subjects This is most untrue or else there would have been no question made of it Thirdly it had been extreme and more than imaginable impudency to put in the hands of the English Nobility a Paper professing what was openly spoken a little before in their own hearing that it might be remembered afterwards as occasion should serve and yet containing untruths and seditious Positions contrary to all that was done for Peace So it was done as they declared at the English Council-table Fourthly when there was great Murmuring and Exceptions taken at the words of the Kings Declaration our Commissioners were carefull to remember every lenifying sentence and word which proceeded from his Majesties mouth and the hearers were no less carefull to not all with their Pens which was by them related every man according as he was able to conceive And thus at first there were Relations somewhat different both in word and writ an evil very ordinary at such times till our commissioners joyning did bring all to their remembrance that neither more or less might be written than was spoken and what was written might be written to some of the English in futuram rei memoriam One thing it may be hath fallen further contrary to his Majesties desire that the Paper hath come to the knowledg of strangers which we may averr hath not been done by us and which was impossible for us to avoid for our Commissioners being about the desired Peace could not in their Relations conceal his Majesties gracious Expressions and these intended for our tranquillity coming into so many hands at home have possibly been divulged unnecessarily carried abroad contrary to our intended desires This in the simplicity of our hearts we â—o declare to be the plain truth of that which hath been before urged against us and is now so much noised and it is likely that the smoke of the fire and the hand of the hang-man have carried it to the knowledge of many who otherwise would never have known of it by the breath or hands of other And thus much concerning that Paper The Letter was written to the French King with this endorsment Au Roy To our King which in France is alwayes understood from those subjects onely to their Natural Prince Sire Vostre Majeste Cestant l'asyle sanctuaire des Princes Estates affligez c. SIR YOur Majesty being the refuge and sanctuary of afflicted Princes and States We have found it necessary to send this Gentleman Mr. Calvil to represent unto your Majesty the candor and ingenuity as well of our Actions and proceedings as of our intentions which we desire to be engraven and written to the whole world with a beam of the Sun as well as to your Majesty We therefore most humbly beseech you Sir to give Faith and Credit to him and to all that he shall say on our part touching us and our affairs being almost assured Sir of an assistance according to your wonted clemency heretofore and alwayes shewed to this Nation which will not yeeld the glory to any other whatsoever to be eternally Sir Your Majesties most humble most obedienâ— and most affectionate servants Rothes Montrose Lesly Mar Montgomery Lowdon Forrester To which the Scots make this Excuse This Letter is the Decumanus fluctus say they This is that French Letter so much talked of and insisted upon as to open a gate to let in foreign power into England which by what consequence can be inferred we would fain know when a people is sore distressed by sea and land is it not lawfull by the Law of God and Man to call for help from God and Man If there were no help nor assistance by Intercession by supply of money c. is all assistance by sword and men may not friends and equals assist as well as superiours we never had intention to prefer any foreign power to our native King whom God hath set over us The Proclamation at that time as may be seen by our Remonstrance page 34. was without example Great forces by Sea and Land were coming upon us Informations went abroad to foreign Nations to the prejudice of us and our cause This made us resolve to write unto the French King apprehending that upon sinister resolution his power might be used against us what kinde of assistance of men or mediation are best known by our Instructions ready to be seen and are signed also by the Lord Lowdons hand now in prison Ayd and assistance hath been given in former times as now in the return of our troubles upon Denmark Holland Sweden Poland or other Nations for help And when all is said or done the Letter is but an Embryo forsaken in the birth as containing some unfit expressions and not agreeable to our Instructions and therefore slighted by the subscribers Another Letter was formed consonant to the Instructions and signed by many hands but neither of them sent Their greatest trust was in their English brethren and Mr. Pickring was then and afterwards with them to assure them thereof until divers of them of better quality came there secretly and disguisedly and gave them more assurance from their party here in England and Nath. Fines the Lord Savil Mr. Cambden Mr. Lawrence and others as appeared afterwards in the petition of eleven Lords that posted to York in August 1640. and Treaty at Rippon because wee conceived it would come to late to France to avert the danger The Letter it self carrieth two tokens unperfected First That it wanted a date Secondly That it hath no superscription from us Both these are turned against us The blank date hath
the Kings looks He told them plainly He expected not such a Romance to answer his gracious consent to their Petition of Right But for their just Grievances they would deserve his consideration And so suddenly rose up and stepping down short from the degrees of steps raised under the Cloth of State the Duke stayed him by the hand which now is supposed to be given him to kisse in spight of the Parliament or otherwise rather but his low Congie to his Majesties hand which in Court-complement was too much But in truth I saw that passe and that other Lords near the King offering as much as the Duke did which I well know was then devised to lodge upon him against whom their inbred dislike increased to all exceptions even of Circumstance or Shadow But how suddenly the Commons House incroach upon the Lords Liberties excluding the words the Lords spiritual and Temporal in the very Grant of the Bill of Subsidies which they resented with very high Indignation though the Commons were known to be cunning enough to palliate the designe if discovered with an excuse of bare mis-omission yet the most of them stood it out pretending ever more in such cases That heretofere some Acts had so passed which they knew well enough how to avoid the proving But if their good Lordships would return the Bill their names should be inserted as if they were not able to put themselves in as the others were cunning to leave them out During these disputes and the Kings necessities in purse was the main cause of his consenting so much to raise the Parliaments and lessen his own Power One Doctor Manwaring observing the Clench meant to mend all by marring it with his two false Assertions The one to be preached before the King That the Kings Royal Command imposing without common consent of Parliament Taxes and Loans doth so farre binde the conscience of the Subjects of this Kingdom that they cannot refuse the payment without peril of damnation The other he preached at his Parish Church That the Authority of Parliament is not necessary for the raising Aydes and Subsidies To these he was questioned by a Committee and in reason justly sentenced 1. Imprisonment during the pleasure of the Parliament 2. Fined one thousand pounds to the King 3. To make such submission as shall be set down in writing at the Lords Bar and Bar of Commons 4. To be suspended three years from the exercise of the Ministry 5. Never to preach at Court hereafter 6. Never to have Ecclesiastical dignity or Secular Office 7. To move his Majesty for calling in of his Book and to be burnt And truly I remember the Kings answer to all He that will preach other then he can prove let him suffer I give them no thanks to give me my due and so as being a Parliament businesse he was left by the King and Church to their Sentence But why this case must be marked out for a sixth Presage from the Kings vailing his Crown to the Parliament by suffering the House of Comâ—mons to set up sayes he a Committee for Religion to question Manwaring and Sibthorp and others for Doctrinal matters more proper to be censured in the High-Commission or Convocation to which Courts the cognizance do belong and not unto a Consistory of Lay-Elders which perhaps wise men but never the greatest Clerks We may consent to his opinion in the Main for matters of Divinity and Orthodox points But that the Preacher is Iure Divino not to be censured but by themselves smells of the Presbyter or Papâ—st both alike their Tenets and so to ingrosse all into their General Assembly which was wont to be above Privy-Counsel Parliament and King But the King bent his busie time to frame an Answer to their late Remonstrance so tart that the Commons resolved to double upon him against Tonnage and Poundage which he would not indure bnt prorogued the Parliament unto the twentieth of October delivering his minde to them before his Assent to their Bills My Lords and Gentlemen IT may seem strange that I come so suddenly to end this Session therefore before I give my assent to the Bils I will tell you the cause though I must avow I ow an account of my actions to none but God alone It is known to every one that a while ago the House of Commons gave me a Remonstrance how acceptable every man may judge and for the merit of it I will not call that in question for I am sure no wise man can justifie it Now since I am certainly informed that a second Remonstrance is preparing for me to take away my profit of Tunnage and Poundage one of the chief maintenances of the Crown by alleadging that I have given away my right thereof by my Answer to your Petition This is so prejudicial to me as I am forced to end this Session some few hours before I meant it being willing not to receive any more Remonstrances to which I must give an harsh answer And since I see that even the House of Commons begins already to make false constructions of what I granted in your Petition lest it be worse interpreted in the Country I will now make a Declaration concerning the true intent thereof The Profession of both Houses in the time of hammering this Petition was no waies to trench upon my Prerogative saying They had neither intention nor power to hurt it Therefore it must needs be conceived that I have granted no new but onely confirm the ancient Libertie of my Subjects Yet to shew the clearness of my intentions that I neither repent nor mean to recede from any thing I promised you I do here declare That those things which have been done whereby men had cause to suspect the Liberty of the Subject to be trencht upon which indeed was the true and first ground of the Petition shall not hereafter be drawn into example for your prejudice and in time to come in the word of a King you shall not have the like cause to complain But as for Tonnage and Poundage it is a thing I cannot want and was never intended by you to ask never meant I am sure by me to grant To conclude I command you all that are here to take notice of what I have spoken at this time to be the true intent and meaning of what I granted you in your Petition But especially you my Lords the Judges for to you onely under me belongs the interpretation of the Laws for none of the Houses of Parliament joynt or separate what new doctrine soever may be raised have any power either to make or declare a Law without my consent This Session were enacted these Laws and first of all For further Reformation of Divers abuses committed on the Lords day commonly called Sunday 2. To restrain the passing or sending any to be Popishly bred beyond Seas 3. For the better suppressing unlicensed Ale-House Keepers 4. For
the Room foreâ—shortened and looking downwards as from the clouds the rarest postures that late ages can paralel being the portraictures of King Iames in several relations with all Imaginary similitude of Him tending towards Eternity for which he was well rewarded with the honour of Knighthood to boot Indeed the Artist had an indifferent esteem for his skill and by his wealth was wise enough to receive Informations on both parts in reference to Peace but never to be Plenepotentiary of either side for truly I cannot call him so much as Agent for any unlesse we admit him Ambo-dexter-Ambassadour for he was the means that a greater man Don Carlos Colonas came after to do the work And I have some knowledge in the particulars that the other was rather set on by us when with that conveniency we had him here It was in Iuly That an Arrest was made upon one Billingham sometimes a Captain at the Isle of Rhe and an attempt made to his Rescue by some Templers being acted in their Quarters of Priviledge to their Houses and to their cost they were wounded by the opposition of the Lord Major and his City Bands that were wilde to flourish out their Ensigns against any Gentlemen their Patrons This undertaking increased to a hot skirmish of above five hundred Of the Majors Militia four were killed and sundry others hurt above an hundred on both sides and so the Evening parted the This uprore so neer the Court caused the King to speed Justice with an extraordinary Session to be held in Guild-Hall London for Arraignment of several of the Malefactors seized vpon in the quarrel And by ill hap laid hold on Two who were accounted Principalls because more publique Captain Ashurst and Iohn Stamford the late Dukes servant for it was no medling with the Students And though Stanford came by but by chance in a Coach and onely drew his sword without any part in the fray These Two onely were found guilty by the City Jury and executed at Tyburn Stanford had his pardon before being in company when a Watchman was killed at a Tavern called Duke-Humphreys and his relations to his late Master made his crime the more remarkable now exceeding the bounds of Reason so without the bounds of Mercy There had been a Manuscript Book contrived long since by Sr. Robert Dudly at Florence 1613. that discontented Catholique who descended from the Dudlies Earls of Warwick and so he stiled himself It was a Rapsodie of severall Projects for increase of the Kings revenue and somewhat in prejudice of proceedings in Parliaments Sundry Copies thereof were disperst by such as meant not much honour to the King and therefore suspected to contrive the Book though pretended for his Majesties Instruction as the manner had been to force such feigned discoveries and fix them for the Kings designes and therefore the Earls of Bedford Somerset and Clare Sr. Robert Cotten Mr. Selden and Mr. Saint Iohn were committed and an Information entered in Star-chamber against them But Sr. David Fowles upon oath cleered the suspition and discovered the Authour and so it ended William Herbert Son of Henry Earl of Pembrook dies in April He was the third Earl from his Creation 3 Elizabeth Baron Herbert of Cardiff Lord Parr Ros of Kendal Marmion and Saint Quintin Lord Warden of the Stanneries Governour of Portsmouth Knight of the Garter Chancellour of the University of Oxford and lately Lord high Steward of the Kings Houshold but not of England He married Mary the Eldest daughter and co-heir of Gilbert Talbot Earl of Shrewsbury and dies without issue so that his honours descended to Philip Herbert his brother He supped the night before his death with the Countesse of Bedford at Bishops-gate upon the day of his birth fifty yeers since from thence he went home to Baynards Castle sitting up as usual very late for he was a hearty feeder and went to bed very well But not long after he fetcht a deep and deadly groan which startled his Lady that lay by and she not able to awake him called for company who found him speechlesse and so continued till eight in the morning and then died as a figure flinger had told him many years before We are told his Character in a high strain of Magnificence but we may give way to his good commendations in a reasonable measure A proper Person well set of graceful deportment his minde truly generous of the ancient stock and manner of Nobility His defects were in letters and Travel He had onely the breeding of England which gave him a conceited dislike of foraign men their manners and mode or of such English that professed much advantage thereby so that the Scots at Court and he were ever separate and therefore he was onely the old Courtier that kept close to the Commonalty and they to him and was therein trusted by his two Soveraigns as not over furnisht with abilities to be lesse then loyal which jealous Princes usually suffered In May 29 day the Queen was brought to Bed of a Son Surpassing joy there was of all true hearts and good subjects and in Iune the 27. baptized at Saint Iameses with princely Ceremonies and named Charles His Godfathers were the King of France and the Prince Elector represented by the Duke of Lenox and the Marquesse Hamilton the Godmother was the Queen Mother of France and her Person represented by the Duchesse of Richmond A man would stand amazed to believe that a sort of pretended sanctified subjects should not desire the King to have any issue I have my Author The Puritan-party that could not descern the cause of joy when the Queen was with childe God having better provided for us then we were aware in the hopeful Progeny of the Queen of Bohemia These men brought in the Reformed Religion Presbytery when it would be unâ—ertain what Religion the Kings children would follow And he observes to his own knowledge that when the most of the Parish gave publique signes of rejoycing with Bonefires Bell-ringing and mutual feasting onely the Presbyterian or Puritan party as he stiles them were shut up as on the day of general mourning And it may be remembred that afterwards as the Kings Issue increased the Common Prayer for the Kings onely Sister and her children was left out and in place thereof a Prayer compiled for preservation of the Kings Issue for though the Presbyterians hated the whole Book they would not stick to mention the one in their Prayer of the Pulpit and leave those other out of Gods blessing till by express command they were made to conform At his Birth there appeared a Star visible that very time of the Day when the King rode to Saint Paul's Church to give thanks to God for the Queens safe delivery of a Son upon which occasion these Verses were then presented Rex ubi Paulinas accessit gratus ad aras Immicuit medioâ— lucida stella
spoken assunder and agreeing together made up a full proof That no testimony may be neglected in matters of Treason That if any part of the charge was denied by the Defendant and proved by the Appellant it might convince him in a manner of the Whole And urged the offence of Ramseys challenging Rey. But more of that hereafter But Doctor Reeves prosecuted the matter for that Ramsey's Councel endeavoured to prove that he might decline the Combate or forbear answering because of some words which reflected upon my Lord Rey as matter of reproach that Rey had uttered words of Treason to catch Ramsey and then to turn Informer But said he No office can be accounted base when the King and Kingdoms safety is concern'd citing a story out of Livie that the Romans confederate with the Sanubies were to undergo a base office that stood not with Honour and resolved so long as it was advantagious to the Romane State it might with Honour be undertaken Doctor Eden was earnest to excuse himself for putting in these words against the Lord Rey saying that his Client enforced to have them inserted But being a point of Honour the Earl Marshal iuterposed That true it was the best man may not refuse the basest office to preserve a King and Nation But again it was most unworthy the degree of honour for any man to angle and intrap another and then to present him to that Kings Iustice. Then the Pleaders argued concerning Meldrams Testimony That no proof ought to be omitted for the King But it was offered for Ramsey to joyn issue upon that point in Law for the Bill was laid against him not general but particular to Place Time and matter viz. That in May last in a Ship and afterward at Amsterdam then again at Delph Ramsey should say such and such words which if Meldram would justifie besides himself they ought to be admitted otherwise it was no good matter but must refer to a new Bill That the Defendant had answered fully for that the Lord Rey profered his service to the Marquesse without pressing to know any designe That nothing in the Letters could convict Ramsey That the Lord Rey standing upon his great offices under the King of Swede and so not necessitated to serve the Marquess He had not those places of command then but since and that since his coming into England he said that he would have served under the Marquess and concluded that Ramsey and the Marquess might use such words and yet not intend Treason to his Majesty But having in this Tryal medled so much with the Marquess the Court was fain to enter an order or Protection to clear the Marquess his words or actions from dishonour Then the Court proceeded to Examine witnesses viva voce Archibal Raukin was to prove the challenge as the Bringer upon these questions he confessed That he was in Ramseys chamber at Richmond the last of October That Ramsey did not imploy him to carry any challenge to the Lord Rey But at that time Ramsey told him that it was his grief to be restrayned not to meet Rey who was a Trayterous villain and wished to meet him in the open fields at Barn-Elms he would make him dye for it and tear his heart with other such words of reproach and wished this Deponent to tell Rey so much which he did but it was three weeks after and then not until the Lord Rey told him that Ramsey had sent him a challenge so that said Ramsey my Message was but a relation not a challenge But Rauken was observed to falter from what he affirmed before Dr. Reeves and others viz. to have carried the challenge and that Ramsey could not deny it so that Rauken was threatned not to accuse Ramsey Gilbert Seaton deposed That Ramsey said he had made it come to Rey's ears to have ended this businesse without troubling the King or Lords Then Doctor Duck summoned up all the proceedings observing that formerly in the presence of the King Ramsey had with deep protestations and oath denied the time place and matter which he now confesseth and though then not examined upon oath yet in France and other Countreys the very holding up of the hand is an oath and so Tertullian sayes of the Romanes and Ramsey confessing part he might be guilty of the whole charge Doctor Eden said That Rey was not a competent witnesse against Ramsey though for the King for he was particeps criminis Capitalis Inimicus for the first his Bill made him so for it Ramsey spake Treason so did Rey for the second it appeared by Reys violent prosecution and if all failed his sword must make it good and so the Defendant was not bound to answer nor to accept the challenge unlesse he will to which he is so willing But Doctor Duck said these Reasons did not currere quatuor pedibus Some of the Conspirators with Cataline were revealers of the Treason and allowed as witnesses Doctor Reeves concluded that although some of the Lord Reys witnesses did not affirm what they might it would encourage him to set a sharper edge upon his sword when he entered the Lists and that the God of right would so weaken the heart of Ramsey that it should fail him when he took his sword in hand The Holy-daies of Christmass drawing nigh The Court ordered that either party might repair to Sr. Henry Martin and possesse him with further proofs out of these witnesses already Examined but of no other And so adjourned the Court till Monday the ninth of Ianuary when after some small debates but no further Matter or Proofs the businesse was briefly determined to be referred to the Kings pleasure Which came to this Account That Hamiltons power with the King got all favour for Ramsey and well rewarded in due time And Rey having done the duty of a Loyal Subject left the Court and Kingdom and returned to his Command in Sweden But this story though tedious will enlighten us further to the truths of the Scotish affairs This Year increased Discontents in the Clergy at Oxford University First many conceived that the renovations reducing their use of primitive times in Divine service was now no lesse than Innovation against which they bitterly Invected in their Pulpits and Pasquils Their very texts giving just cause of offence and mutiny as Let us make us a Coptain and return into Egypt And he cryed against the Altar in the word of the Lord and said O Altar Altar and many such reflecting upon the Persons of the most Eminent in the Church and violating the Kings Declaration for depressing Arminian controversies some of the offenders being convented before their superiours the vice Chancellor Appeal to the Proctors Bishop Laud mistaking these retrograde proceedings in appeals from Ascendents to Descendents caused the King at Woodstock to order the difference and censured the offenders to be expelled the University The
peace he gave order to his Officers to fight us and so to be engaged in bloud the better for his wicked Designs against both Kingdoms And although his Majesty with consent of his Peers were inclined to a Peace as before he onely in that honourable Assembly raged against us as Traitours and Enemies to Monarchical Government to be sent home nay he himself would undertake to whip us home in our own bloud That after the Cessation of Arms he during the Treaty drew up his Army near the Tees and gave his Warrants to the several Governours of Barwick and Carlile for their Acts of Hostility and he the Man that continueth several parts of England in terms of difference sundry Scots imprisoned still no free Trade nor other face of affairs there as before the Cessation And therefore desire their Lordships that this great Incendiary not onely against private persons but even against Kingdoms and Nations may come to his Trial and endure condign justice and punishment And for this their good service the Scots had favour from the House of Commons to have an hundred thousand pounds voted for the Expence of their Army who besides plundered the Counties round about their Quarters And not to separate him from his confident Sir George Ratcliff who was brought out of Ireland and this Impeachment charged against him The Impeachment of Sir George Ratcliff First that he had conspired and joined with the Earl of Strafford to bring into Ireland an Arbitrary Government and to subvert Fundamental Laws Secondly to bring in an Army from Ireland to subdue the Subjects of England Thirdly that he joyned with the Earl to use Regal power and to deprive Subjects of their liberties and properties Fourthly to take out fourty thousand pounds out of the Exchequer in Ireland and bought Tobacco therewith and converted the same profit to their own uses Fifthly that he hath traiterously confederated with the Earl to countenance Papists and built Monasteries to alienate the affections of the Irish Subjects from the subjection of England Sixthly to draw the Subjects of Scotland from the King Seventhly that to preserve himself and the said Earl he had laboured to subvert the Liberties and Privilege of Parliaments in Ireland The Parliament taking things in turn having turned out of the House of Lords and safely lodged two Delinquents the most active and powerfull the one from the State the other from the Church the next in course must concern the Law the most eminent Malignant as they conceived was the Lord Keeper Finch who took it for his wiser way to prevent the effects of what was in preparing against him the Commons charge of High Treason In reference to it he caressed them with an Oration such as it is in vindication of himself in such particulars as he knew most in force and because it contained more than bare words we may examine the merit thereof which was all that he had time to say for himself Mr Speaker I give you thanks for granting me admittance to your presence I come not to preserve my self and Fortunes but to preserve your good opinion of me for I profess I had rather beg my Bread from door to door with Date obolum Bellisario with your favour than be never so high and honoured with your displeasure I came not hither to justifie my words actions or opinions but to open my self freely and then to leave my self to the House What disadvantage it is for a man to speak in his own cause you well know I had rather another would doe it but since this house is not taken with words but with truth which I am best able to deliver I presume to do it my self I come not with a set speech but with my heart to open my self freely and then to leave it to the house but do desire if any word fall from me that shall be misconstrued I may have leave to explain my self For my Religion I hope no man doubts it I being religiously educated under Catterton in Emmanuel Colledge thirty years I have been in Grays Inn thirteen years a Bencher and a diligent hearer of Dr. Sibs who if he were living would testifie that I had my chiefest encouragement from him And though I met with many oppositions from many in that house ill affected in Religion yet I was alwaies supported by him Five years I have been of the Kings Council but no Actor Avisor or Inventor of any project Two places I have been preferred unto Chief Iustice and Lord Keeper not by any sute or merit of my own but by his Majesties free gift In the discharge of these places my hands have never touched my eyes have never been blinded with any reward I never biassed for friend-ship nor diverted for hatred for all â—â—at know me know that I was not of a vindicative nature I do not know for what particulars or by what means you are drawn into an ill oppinion of me since I had the honour to sit in that place you sit in Mr. Speaker In which I served you with fidelity and Candor Many witnesses are of the good Offices I did you and resumed expressions of thankfulness from this house for it for the last day I had share in it no man expressed more Symbols of sorrow then I. After three daies Adjournment the King desired me it might be adjourned for some few daies more whether was it then in his Majestie much less in me to dissolve the House But the King sent for me to White hall and gave me a Message to the House and commanded me when I had delivered the Message that I should forthwith come to him and if a question was offered to be put he charged me upon my Allegeance I should put none I do not speak this as a thing I do now merit but it is known to divers men and to some Gentlemen in this House All that I say is but to beseech you all consider what you would have done in this strait betwixt the King my Master and this honourable House The Shipping business lieth heavy upon me I am far from justifying that my opinion if it be contrary to the Iudgment of this House I submit I never knew of it at the first or ever advised any other I was made Chief Justice four daies before the Writ went out for the Port I was sworn sixteen daies after Chief Justice and those writs issued forth without my privity The King Commanded the then Chief Justice the now Chief Baron and my self to look on the Presidents and to certifie him our opinions what we thought of it That if the whole Kingdome were in danger it was reasonable and fit to lay upon the whole Kingdome and not upon the Port only and commanded the thâ—n Chief Justice and my self and the now Chief Baron to return him our opinions Our opinions were and we thought it agreeable to Law and reason that if the whole were in danger the
the Kings Answers unsatisfactory And that the Kingdom be put into a posture of Defence in such a way as is agreed upon by Parliament and a Committee to prepare a publick Declaration from these two Heads 1. The just causes of the Fears and Iealousies given to the Parliament and to clear them from any Iealousies conceived against them 2. To consider of all matters arising from his Majesties Message and what is fit to be done A man would wonder upon what grounds they should arm by Sea and Land specially so hastily resolved as the next day March 2. Advertisements they say of extraordinary preparations by the neighbouring Princes both by Land and Sea the intentions whereof are so represented as to raise a just apprehension of sudden Danger to the King and his Kingdoms unless the wisdom of Parliament prevent it And therefore the Earl of Northumberland Admiral of England is commanded with all speed to order the Rigging of the Kings Ships and fit them immediately for the Sea And to frighten us into fear all Masters and Owners of Ships are perswaded to do the like for the emergent occasions of publick Defence In order to these the Beacons were new made up Sea-marks set up such riding posting with Pacquets whispering and Tales telling as put the people in fear of they knew not what wise men onely told the Truth discovering the Enemy wholly at home I have been as brief as may be in the business of this year and yet to satisfie the curious I cannot omit all the occasions of this miserable Eruption which follows presuming yet that this Declaration designed may be spared the recording for certainly no new matter can be invented and what hither to hath been the cause the Reader has leave to judg But not to amuse your imaginations it self must satisfie the Declaration was born to Roiston by the Earls of Pembroke and Holland He who read it to the King this Lord being raised and created to become his most secret Counsellour the most intimate in affection the first of his Bed-chamber his constant companion in all his sports and recreations even in that place and to this hour At the sight of him the Kings countenance me thought mixed into compassion and disdain as who should as Caesar did Et tu mi fili But on he went to this effect March 9. The manifold Attempts to provoke your Majesties late Armie and the Scots Armie and to raise a Faction in London and other parts the Actours having their dependence countenance and encouragement from the Court witness Jermin's Treason who was transported beyond Sea by your Majesties Warrant and that dangerous Petition delivered to Captain Leg by your Majesties own Hand with a Direction signed C. R. The false and scandalous Accusation against the Lord Kimbolton and the five Members Plotting and designing a Guard about your person labouring to infuse into the people an ill opinion of the Parliament as if to raise Arms for a Civil War in which Combustion Ireland would be lost That the Lord Digby was sent to Sir John Pennington to be landed beyond Sea to vent his traiterous conceptions for the King to retire to some place of strength offering to correspond by cyphers with the Queen as if to procure some forreign Forces to assist your Majestie answerable to your remove with the Prince as in a readiness for the acting of it Manifold Advertisements which they have from Rome Venice Paris and other parts expecting the effects of the Kings Design to alter Religion and ruine the Parliament That the Popes Nuntio hath solicited the Kings of France and Spain to lend his Majesty four thousand Men a plece to help to maintain his Royalty against the Parliament And this foreign Force the most pernicious and malignant Design of all the rest so they hope it is from his thoughts Because no man will easily believe you will give up your People and Kingdom to be spoiled by strangers if you did not likewise intend to change both your own profession in Religion and the publick profession of the Kingdom that so you might be more assured of these foreign States of the Popish Religion for the future support and defence They â—eseech his Majesty to consider how fair a way he hath to happiness honour greatness plenty security if he would but joyn with his Parliament and people in defence of the Religion and Kingdom This is all they expect from him and for which they shall return their Lives Fortunes and utmost Endeavours to support him and Sovereignty And for the present have but onely this to desire To turn away his wicked Counsellours and put his trust in Parliament At the reading of that part which mentioned Master Iermin's transportation by his Majesties Warrant the King interrupted him and said That 's false And at the business of Captain Leg he told him 'T is a Lie And at the end of all he said He was confident the Parliament had worse information than he had Councils What have I denied you The Militia said Holland That 's no Bill The other replied It was necessary Which I have not denied but in the manner His Lordship would perswade the King to come near the Parliament Have you given me cause said the King This Declaration is not the way to it and in all Aristotle's Rhetoricks there is no such Argument of perswasion Pembroke that he might say something said it over again The Parliament prays him to come to them The King told him Words were not sufficient What would you have Sir said he The King replied To whip a Boy in Westminster School that could not tell that by my Answer Then the Lord asked him to grant the Militia for a time Not an hour this was never asked of any King with which I will not trust my Wife and Children But his Majesties Answer to all was this That to their Fears and Iealousies he would take time to satisfie all the World hoping that God would in his good time discover the secrets and bottoms of all Plots and Treasons to set him upright with his people For his Fears and Doubts are not trivial while so many scandalous Pamphlets seditious Sermons sundry Tumults publick are uninquired into and unpunished He must confess his Fears calling God to witness they are the greater for the Religion for his people and for their Laws than for his own Rights or safetie of himself and yet he tells them none of these are free from Danger What would you have said he Have I violated your Laws Have I denied any one Bill What have ye done for me Have my people been transported with Fears and Apprehensions I have I offer a free pardon as your selves can devise There is a Iudgment from Heaven upon this Nation if these Distractions continue God so deal with me and mine as all my thoughts and intentions are right for the maintenance of the true Protestant profession the observation and preservation of
proclames that by the last Act of this Parliament concerning Tunnage and Poundage It is there provided that no penalty in that Act or in 1 Iac. shall ensue to any person unless they refuse to compound for any Goods imported or exported after notice given of the same by Proclamation where the said Goods are to be entered And now declares that they pay the said Tunnage and Poundage as by the said Acts are expressed c. at York March 24. with which we end our English affairs for this year The Earl of Northumberland being Admiral and indisposed the King had commanded Sir Iohn Pennington Vice-admiral to take the charge of this Summer Fleet for the Narrow Seas and the Parliament as earnestly recommend the Earl of Warwick for that service inclosing their Message in a piece of Paper within a Letter to the Lord Keeper Littleton of the 28. of March neither by way of Petition Declaration or Letter it being also the first time that ever they took upon them the nomination or recommendation of the chief Sea-commanders and it adds to the wonder being that Sir Iohn Pennington was already appointed by the King for that service and indeed by mediation of the Admirals infirmity without any fault of exception And although he were not appointed nor through some accident might not be able to perform that service yet others of the same profession are so well known to the King that the recommendations of that kinde would not be acceptable and so was the Earl of Warwick absolutely refused The Assizes holden at York and the Gentry Ministers and Free-holders being assembled they most humbly shew to the Kings most excellent Majesty their souls piercing anguish proceeding from the general Distractions of this Kingdom somewhat eased by the comfort of his presence and gracious confidence in the affections of this County Yet the fellow-feeling of the passionate sorrow of the other parts of this Kingdom do inforce them after the tender of their Lives and Fortunes for the safety of his Person Crown and Sovereignty to follow that sacrifice of duty with their Prayer and Petition which shall not cry for help of particular Distractions naming all they could reckon up since his own Declaration in those particulars renders it an unpardonable crime in them to supect his words sacred before God and man But emboldened by the Oracle of Truth that a divided Kingdom cannot stand and his Majesty best acquainted with the means of prevention of danger that he will please to declare the Expedients which may take away all misunderdings betwixt him and his great Council to whom they will also address their endeavours to beget in the King a confidence in their Councils and blessed union necessary to this perplexed Kingdom April 5. To this so humble and hearty Address the King could not hold off their Expectations but suddenly told Mr. Sheriff and the Gentlemen that he believed they expected not a present Answer onely in the general and upon the sudden he sees he is not mistaken in the confidence of their affections nor will he deceive their expectation from him He observes their Petition modest not for themselves in particular and therefore he puts them in minde of three things for their good 1. He will reduce their Trained Bands into a lesser number as they shall shew him the way 2. To advise him to complie with the engagements for to pay them their Arrears for Billet-money and had the Water gone to the right Mill they had not wanted it now 3. For the Court-judicature of York of which he assures them he knows no legal dissolution thereof nothing as yet appears to him directly or indirectly so that it is but shaken not dissolved and if they shall advise the way of setlement thereof for the Northern parts they shall not blame him if they fail and refers them to a day or two for a full answer to all And assured them That as to the Praier of their Petition which included the rest the onely way of good understandings is for the Parliament to consider of his Message the twentieth of January last that the Militia be setled by Act of Parliament explained in his Answer to their Petition of the six and twentieth of March last and wishes them in those to applie to the Parliament for the good of all c. April 7. The King most intent to reduce Ireland by his Message to the Houses offers his own person with these Propositions That he intends to raise his Guard by Commissions out of the Counties near Chester two thousand Foot and two hundred Horse to be there armed from his Magazine at Hull and those to take the Oath of Supremacie and Allegiance The charge of raising and paying them shall be added to the Parliaments undertakings for that War which if too great the King will sell or pawn his Land or Houses Towards which as he hath already writ to Scotland to quicken their Levies for Ulster so he wishes the Parliament to hasten theirs for Munster and Connaught And hath prepared a Bill by his Atturney concerning the Militia for the good of all if received if refused he calls God and the World to judg between them To this the Parliament never returned answer But before the ninth of April some Members of the Commons House had subscribed in pursuance of the Act of Parliament for the reducing the Rebells of Ireland and subsigned unto sixty thousand four hundred and fifty pounds but how or when paid I do not finde The County of Bucks lend freely six thousand pounds upon the said Act for Ireland with great thanks to that County and with promise of very high acceptation if other Counties will part with their moneys so freely which shall be repaid them out of the Bill of four hundred thousand pounds to be raised for that service but how or when repaid I finde not The Parliament apprehending the Kings desire to lay hold on the Magazine at Hull pretend great necessity of Arms and Ammunition at the Tower of London being much diminished from thence by Supplies to Ireland and desire to have it lodged here in more safety than Hull and with easier transport for Ireland And to sweeten it to the peoples apprehension this Petition is accompanied with a charitable Prayer that the Reprieve of six Priests in New-gate may be taken off and they executed This Design concerning Hull presaged the cause of much mischief the ground of war and the first eminent effects of their power in the Militia and therefore the King returns to them a sharp Answer Rather to have an Account from them why a â—arison was placed there without his consent and Souldiers billeted without Law and express words of the Petition of Right than to be moved to remove his Magazine without reason or judgment He would know why his own inclination on the general rumour of Papists was not as sufficient for him to put the
with Mr. Hotham who was in ill case to continue but must be forced to retreat to Hull The Forces of the West in Cornwall for the King began to form into a Body near Pendennis Castle the Governour thereof Sir Nicholas Slaning a gallant Gentleman and assisted 〈…〉 others Sir Bevil Greenvile who possessed themselveâ—â—â—aunston the County Town of Cornwall but not long after Sir Ralph Hopton appears in chief command over the Cavaliers The Parliament had Plymouth the neighbour Port Town of Devonshire bordering Cornwall in the South and Sir George Chudly a Stickler for them for a time onely The Kings party increased in Mid-Wales and descending Southwards as he marches the Welch come to him from all parts of Hereford Monmouth mightily increasing by the power and industry of the Earl of Worcester their Brigades reaching to Oxford and round about where Prince Rupert commanded who took Powder and Match marching through Staffordshire to reprieve Manchester The Parliament party lay about Warwick Coventrie Worcester Buckingham and their Brigades round about even to Glocester Some Arms for the King are landed at Newcastle and ten thousand pounds in Money to raise Dragoons in Northumberland and to fall into Yorkshire which appeared for the King The King on his march from Wales descended Southward and now being near Stafford the Parliament order That the Citie of London be strongly guarded and Posts Bars and Chains be erected and set up in places and by-lanes of the Parishes of St. Margarets Westminster St. Martins in the Fields St. Clements Savoy Holborn St. Giles Covent-garden St. Johns Street â—lerkenwell Criplegate Shoreditch White-chapel Islington Mile-end Southwark Lambeth or any other places necessary at the charge of the Parish by equal Assesment Octob. 22. And the Parliament declare a solemn Protestation to all the world In the presence of Almightie God for the satisfaction of their Consciences and the Discharge of that great Trust which lies upon them That no private passion or respect no evil intention to his Majesties person no Design to the prejudice of his just Honour and Authoritie engaged them to raise Forces and take up Arms against the Authours of this War whereof the Kingdom is now inflamed And after they have by clearing themselves lodged the occasion upon the Contrivers Papists about the King for extirpation of the Protestant Religion wherein principally this Kingdom and Scotland are concerned as making the greatest Body of Reformation in Christendom they conclude For all which Reasons they are resolved to enter into a solemn Oath and Covenant with God to give up themselves lives and fortunes into his hands and defend this his cause with the hazzard of our lives against the Kings Armie according to a form agreed upon and to be subscribed and to associate and unite with all the well-affected of the Citie of London and other parts of his Majesties Dominions 〈…〉 expect their dear Brethren of Scotland that they will help and 〈◊〉 defence of this Cause which if the Popish partie prevail must needs involve Scotland in the like alteration of Religion and engage them also in a War against this Kingdom to defend their own Religion And this they do again they say protest before the everliving God to be the chief end of all their counsels and resolutions without any intention to injure his Majestie either in his person or just power Octob. 22. And the Battail of Edg-hill the next morning being Sunday After the Kings party had beat the Enemy at Worcester Fight the three and twentieth of September he joyns all his Brigades near hand and marches to meet General Essex hovering thereabout to watch the Kings Designs who lodged on Saturday night October 22. at Sir William Chancies six miles near Keinton and Essex at Keinton And early the next morning being Sunday the three and twentieth drew up into a Body near Keinton and ascending the top of Edg-hill with his Prospective Glass took view of Essex his Army in the Vale of the Red Horse about a Mile distant but before the King could draw into order he was saluted with three Pieces of Cannon from the other side with three Shouts of their Souldiers And being asked by his Officers what his Majesty meant to do To give him Battel said the King it is the first time I ever saw the Rebells in a Bodie God and good mens prayers to him assist the justice of my cause And instantly ordered the Fight by the return of two Shot of Cannon in answer to theirs about two of the clock after noon the Word was God and King Charls his greatest Body of Horse was on the right Wing and on the left some Horse and Dragoons The Parliaments Army was put into this order the Foot a good space behinde the Horse when the Charge began three Regiments of Horse on the right Wing the Generals Regiment commanded by Sir Philip Stapleton Sir Balfore's Regiment who was Lieutenant General of the Horse and the Lord Fielding's Regiment which stood behinde the other two as a Reserve Sir Iohn Meldrum had the Van with his Brigade Colonel Essex the middle the General 's Regiment the Lord Brook and Colonel Hollis had the Rear in the left Wing were twenty Troops commanded by Sir Iames Ramsey Commissary General And thus they stood The Earl of Lindsey Lord High Chamberlain of England was the Kings Captain General but the Fight was ordered by the Lord Ruthen since made Earl of Forth a Scotish man and the General lead on the main Body with a Pike in his hand it is said that General Essex lead on his Forces also but then it is confessed that he was advised to retire from Danger and so he escaped when the other was killed The Forlorn Hope was commanded by Major Baâ—stake and Captain Hamond both of them Officers in Sir Lewis Diveâ— Regiment of Foot and drawn down the Hill to the side of a Ditch lined with Musquetiers and both sides had no sooner fired but that the Kings Cannon followed and discharged six or seven Shot Prince Rupert General of the Horse commanding the right Wing routed their left Wing and followed them in chafe to Keinton Town and two Miles beyond killing all whom they overtook the Lord Ruthen ordered the left Wing of the Kings Horse with the Lord Wilmot both of them doing gallant service 't is true Prince Rupert presumed that he had left a sufficient Reserve of Horse behinde under command of the Earl of Carnarvan with some other Troops who seeing the Enemies Horse and Foot to run his spirit not accustomed to stand still followed too far and left their own Foot naked of Horse which Essex espying took the advantage and with his Horse fell upon the Foot including these Regiments the Lord Generals Colonel Fieldings and Colonel Bowels a Regiment raised by the Lord Paget and did much execution upon them this service being done by Colonel Hurry afterwards Major General for the Parliament The Lord General Lindsey
as many or if you shall finde that any way inconvenient to come in person that then your Lordship will appoint such or so many to meet with the like number from hence that may consider of all means possible to reconcile these unhappie Differences and misâ—understandings that have so long afflicted this Kingdom And for the securitie of your Lordship and those that shall come with and be imploied by your Lordship we do engage our Faith and Honour and do expect the same from your Lordship desiring withall your speedie Answer which must be a Guide to our Proceedings concluding that if this shall be refused we shall hold our selves justified before God and Men whatsoever shall be the Success so we rest From the Armie Aug. 8. 1644. Your Lordships humble Servants Maurice Thomas Wentworth Lindsey Lord Hopâ—on Nothampton Cleveland Thomas Blagge Joseph Bamfield Anthony Thelwel John Owen Thomas Stradling Robert Howard John Stocker Edward Porter Gilbert Armstrong Richard Nevil Thomas Pigot John Brown Ad. Scroop Amy Polard James Hamilton Richard Thornhill John Toping James Dundasse Giles Strangways R. Smith Ja. Cary Brainford Piercy Jacob Ashley Richard Cave Bernard Stuart Bernard Astley Theophilus Gilby William Leighton William Murrey Thomas Blackwell Thomas Bellingham Richard Page Bar. Jenkins Henry Miller Richard Fielding Thomas Weston Paul Smith G. Mouldsworth Phil. Honywood Thomas Culpeper William Leak Jo. Lunther Jo. Monk Cha. Fawlk Richard Samuel Arthur Slingsby George Goring Joseph Wagstaff Thomas Basset Charls Lloyd George Lisley William St. Leager Henry Lundsford Barth Pell Henry Shelley Thomas Paulet Thomas Kirton Anthony Brocher Devery Leigh David Stringer Ja. Mowbray Charls Compton Edward Not Alexander Standish Jo. Rideck Jo. Stuart Jo. Gambling Jo. Greenvile Arthur Henningham Ja. Haswith W. Maxwel And after his defeating Essex in Cornwall he writes from Tavestock To the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament C. R. It having pleased God in so eminent a manner lately to bless our Armies in these parts with success we do not so much joy in that blessing for any other consideration as for the hopes we have it may be a means to make others lay to heart as we do the miseries brought and continued upon our Kingdoms by this unnatural VVar and that it may open your ears and dispose your minde to imbrace those Offers of Peace and Reconciliation which have been so often and earnestly made unto you by us and from the constant and firm endeavours of which we are resolved never to desist in pursuance whereof we do upon this occasion conjure you to take into consideration our too long neglected Message of the fourth of July from Evesham which we again renew unto you and that you will speedily send such an Answer thereunto as may shew unto our poor Subjects some light of Deliverance from their present calamities by a happie Accommodation toward which we do here engage the word of a King to make good all these things which we have therein promised and really to endeavour a happie conclusion of this Treatie And so God direct you in the waies of Peace Given at our Court at Tavestock Sept. 8. 1644. These Messages were in his Marches the like he continues at his Return and setling at Oxford often times ere he could procure a Treaty as in dâ—e place here after in Ianuarie But as yet no endeavours of his could prevail and it hath been urged the jealousie of mutual confidence in eithers performance certainly the mystery was whether the King should trust to Essex and his Army or Essex to his and the difficulty might be how to advise in either It was said that Essex made some Overtures fair enough but how secure I shall not conclude Essex had it expresse in his Commission To take the King from his evil Counsel he urged therefore to be voluntarily trusted with the Kings person and the Kings Army to disband upon this assurance that then his Army being on foot he would not disband untill all things were performed to the general content and peace of the Kingdom So then the difficulty how to do what each party desired to be done kept on the War to the destruction of all Besides there was a providence or fate as we say therein which the Lord Digbie in a Letter calls His superstitious Observation concerning the hand of God in the cause of the Earl of Strafford 's death And the King from thence inferres in a Letter to the Queen That nothing can be more evident than that Strafford 's innocent bloud hath been one of the greatest causes of Gods just Iudgments upon this Nation by a furious Civil War Both sides hitherto being almost equally punished as being in a manner equally guilty but now this last crying blâ—ud being totally theirs I believe it is no presumption hereafter to hope that his hand of Justice must be heavier upon them and lighter upon us looking now upon our Cause having passed by our Fault The Estates of the Netherlands had sent their Ambassadours to the Parliament but not well instructed how to make their Address it took up some time for them to have new Instructions both for the Title of their Letters and Commissions from their Masters And so after these circumstances were setled they had Audience and being the first Address of note the Parliament referred it to a Committees direction which was upon the twelfth of Iulie the Master of the Ceremonies conducted them to both Houses apart and Chairs of State were set up for their repose one in the withdrawing Room by the House of Lords the other in the inner Chamber of the Court of VVards by the Commons where reposing a while they were brought to each House delivering their Embassie first in French and after in English in effect That the high and mightie States of the United Provinces had sent them to declare their earnest desire they had to interpose and mediate a Reconciliation of the Difference between the King and Parliament of England for which purpose they had already addressed themselves to his Majestie and were now come to declare it to the Parliament They further insisting upon the great effusion of Protestant bloud both in England and Ireland as a presaging inducement of their Desires to have a Peace accorded between the King and Parliament that so they might concur together for the Extirpation of Poperie and setling of the Protestant Religion in all the three Kingdoms and with the assistance of the States to defend it against all foreign powers The Ambassadours had received Letters from the Kings Court at Oxford intimating the Kings Successes in the North which the Parliament desired to correct and to evidence their Victories eight and fourty Colours of Horse and Foot were received from their Northern Commanders the Scots General the Lord Fairfax and his Son Sir Thomas and lay in their view in the House of Commons which was no otherwise resented than that they might as well have made the number
in him by the Parliament and adhered to the Enemie to be proved by his words by his Letters and by his actions and 1. His compliance with the Enemie the Lord Digby and the Marquess Newcastle 2. His Refusal to supplie the Lord Fairfax with Amunition to the great Disservice of the Parliament and prejudice of the Affairs in the North. 3. His uttering divers scandalous words against the Parliament and Close Committee 4. His endeavouring to betray the Town of Hull to the Enemie 5. His holding correspondencie with the Queen by several Messengers 6. His causing a Demi-culvering to be planted on the top of the Castle against the Town and two Pieces in the Block-house to give fire on the Parliament Ships 7. His sending away Mayor Captain of the Ship Hercules 8. His quitting of the Garison at Beverley which strengthened the Town of Hull 9. His endeavouring to escape so soon as his Designs were discovered All which were proved upon him by several Witnesses above thrity persons and that was the business of this day On Munday after he comes to his Defence beginning with a tedious Narrative of his faithfulnesâ— in maintaining the Town of Hull against his Majestie at the beginning of the War when he might have expected great preferment and advantage To the first Article he saith That Captain Mayor sailing forth to meet the Providence the first Ship that brought the King Amunition took a Catch in the River Humber wherein was the Lord Digby in disguise of a French man Col. Aâ—hburnham and Sir Edw. Stradling whom he brought Prisoners to Hull where the Lord Digby told him that he was a Souldier of Fortune and for his Libertie would adventure to the Enemie and give Sir J. Hotham Intelligence which accordingly he did and returned several times but at last gave the slip and then sent a Letter of Inticement that he was the Lord Digby and wished him to return to his Allegeance to his Sovereign after which he had no further Treatie with him That he treated with the Marquesse Newcastle was to no other end but to keep the Riding of Yorkshire free from plunder for the maintenance of Hull which was then destitute of money That for the Letters which he should send to the Marquess He alledged he knew not but that they might be counterfeit being only like his hand Then he proceeded by way of defence producing Witnesses on his own part which were Commissarie Coply and other Knights and Gentlemen on purpose only to take off the testimonie of Examinants against him but they proved to little effect And so after some daies spent in examining Witnesses pro and con he was sentenced 7. December to be carried back and from thence to the place of Execution to suffer death by having his head cut off Two daies after comes his Son Captain Hotham to his Trial. His Charge against him was in effect That he being a Commander in the Parliament Service had Traiterously betrayed the Trust reposed in him perfidiously adhering to the Enemy all which would be proved And was by the Advocate of the Court the chief matters were these That he had been disobedient to the Commands of the Lord Fairfax Commander in chief of the Northern Counties and that he had refused to account for the Parliaments moneys raised in Yorkshire and converted to his own use And for his adhering to the Enemy It was instanced by his going into the Enemies Quarters and returning without any ingagement His several private Treaties with the Enemy under pretence of Exchanging Prisoners and private discourse with the Marquesse Newcastle twice by his own confession and that the Marquesse offered him to be made a Lord and to have General Gorings Command or any other Honours if he would turn to the King His omitting several opportunities to fight with the Enemy and permitting a Convoy from the Queen with Arms upon her first landing at Burlington and to passe to York without fighting That Lord General Cromwel being in Lincolnshire with him upon a Design against the Enemy Hotham was to Charge the Right Wing and Cromwel the Left whom he Routed and Chased them above two miles who returning found the Enemies Right Wing unmoved and so Hotham had not charged at all That after the discovery of some of his Treachery and whilst committed prisoner to Notingham Castle he sent his Servant John Keyes swearing him to secrecy with a Message to the Queen then at Newark how he was imprisoned and to be speedily sent up to the Parliament or to the General and prayes her Majesty to send a Party of Horse to rescue him and that he had a Regiment of Horse under his Command and should be ready for the Service she expected in Lincolnshire That his Company of Foot at Lincoln the Town of Hull Beaverly and the Ship called the Hercules were all at her Majesties Service That after his being released from Nottingham Castle he went to Lincoln and gave out many scandalous Speeches invective against the Parliament with inticements to Colonel Rositer to betray his trust who detesting such perfidie Hotham went to Hull to his Father and forthwith both of them received Letters from the Marquesse Newcastle about the betraying of Hull and other matters And that the day before they both were apprehended at Hull 18. June 1643. Hotham writ to the Marquesse an Answer to his Letters which were found in his Chamber sealed not having time to send them away wherein much of his treacherie was therein laid open On Thursday 12. Decemb. Hotham makes his defence large and verie formal from four afternoon till eight at night That he treated with the Enemie for the Parliaments advantage in setling a course for exchange of Prisoners and the like which he conceived he might doe without acquainting his Superiour and to that purpose pleaded the priviledge of all Commanders instancing divers and that he knew no Law against it nor was it prohibited by the Ordinance of War That before he adventured upon Treaties he still had advice of his Commander in Chief Sir John Hotham and some of his own Captains That for his not fighting the Queens Convoy they were far stronger yet he attacked the Rear as far as he might with safety And had learned this Maxim of War that a Commander in Chief is not to adventure upon an Enemy but upon advantage or compelled by necessity That for the businesse betwixt him and Lord General Cromwel He offered to prove that he charged the Enemies Right Wing to the utmost though it proved not so effectual as the others Actions upon the Left Wing That when he was committed to Notingham not knowing his crimes or by whose Order committed He sent to his Father to Hull to enquire the cause but denyed he sent his servant to the Queen and made many Objections against his man Keyes testimonie therein The words which he spoke to Rositer he confessed but were in passion and he recalled them
the purchasers then the sword had done before Eighty barrels of power did the work most terrible to the Assailants that dreamed not of such an Accident Upon the firing the Cavaliers gave a charge also in the amaze of their Enemy and commanded by Sir Iohn Digby did the execution resolutely and bid farewel at Eleven at night and marched away into Cornwal These were old Souldiers of Gorings and Greenviles and now scattered abroad by this encounter Hopton was shot in the Thigh and Digby in the Head some Prisoners and Horse taken of such as were slaine But the rest kept rendezvouz at Stratton the Prince at Lamiston and Fairfax follows The 25. of February he sends a party of 1000. Horse and 400. Dragoons before he came to Lamiston commanded by Colonel Basset a gallant Gentleman fell upon this forelorn-hope and after a hot skirmish and the whole Army coming near hand he quitted the Town And the Prince hears of this and the forces marching towards Pendennis Castle he quits the place and ships himself with the Lord Capel Lord Culpepper and Sir Edward Hide March the first to the Isle of Scilly The Lord Hopton with some small forces at Trurâ— in Cornwal the General sends him summons Sir Through Gods goodness to his people and his just hand against their Enemies forces being reduced to such condition as to my sense the hand of God continuing with us they are not like to have subsistence or shelter long to escape thence nor if they could have they whither to goe for better To prevent the shedding of more blood I have sent you this summons for your self and them to lay down Arms upon those conditions enclosed which are Christian-like Noble and Honourable to be accepted March 5. Some time was taken up in this Treaty and concluded That the Lord Hopton shall disband his Army in the West the General Fairfax excepting His Lordship to have fifty of his own Horse and fifty of Fairfax for his Convoy to Oxford all strangers to have Passes beyond Seas and to carry with them what is their own without Horses and Arms. All English Officers to go home to their Habitations or if they will beyond Seas Each Colonel to have his Horse and two Men and Horses to wait on them Each Captain one Man and Horse The Troopers Twenty shillings a piece and to goe where they pleased March 13. But Hopton hearing of the ill effects of the Propositions for peace takes shipping with divers other of his Officers and sailed into France where he remained many years after And the West being cleared Fairfax returns back again to the Siege of Bristol where we leave him to take breath And in this time also the Kings party spared not to weaken his Enemies Towns are retaken some surprised encounters answered defeats redoubled death and devastation that I dread to write of all It sufficeth that mostly we have named the Fields and Fights for I have almost done whilst I devote my self to his Majesties pious Meditations upon this subject The various Successes sayes the King of this unhappy war have at least afforded me variety of good meditations sometimes God was pleased to try me with victory by worsting my Enemies that I might know how with moderation and thanks to own and use his power who is only the true Lord of Hosts able when he pleases to repress the confidence of those that fought against me with so great advantages for power and number From small beginnings on my part he let me see that I was not wholly for saken by my peoples love or his protection Other times God was pleased to exercise my patience and teach me not to trust in the arm of flesh but in the living God My sins sometimes prevailed against the justice of my cause and those that were with me wanted not matter and occasion for his just chastisment both of them and me Nor were mine Enemies lesse punished by that prosperity which hardened them to continue that injustice by open hostility which was begun by most riotous and unparliamentary Tumults There is no doubt but personal and private sins may oft-times over-balance the justice of Publick engagements nor doth God account everie gallant man in the worlds esteem a fit instrument to assert in the way of VVar a righteous Cause The more men are prone to arrogate to their own skil valour and strength the lesse doth God ordinarily work by them for his own glory I am sure the event or success can never state the Iustice of any Cause nor the peace of mens consciences nor the eternal fate of their Soules Those with me had I think clearly and undoubtedly for their Iustification the Word of God and the Laws of the Land together with their own Oathes all requiring obedience to my just Commands but to none other under Heaven without me or against me in the point of raising Arms. Those on the other side are forced to flie to the shifts of some pretended Fears and wild fundamentals of State as they call them which actually overthrow the present fabrick both of Church and State being such imaginary Reasons for self-defence as are most impertinent for those men to allege who being my Subjects were manifestly the first assaulters of me and the Laws First by unsuppressed Tumults after by listed Forces The same Allegations they use will fit aâ—y Faction that hath but power and confidence enough to second with the Sword all their demands against the present Laws and Governours which can never be such as some side or other will not finde fault with so as to urge what they call a Reformation of them to a Rebellion against them some Parasitick Preachers have dared to call those Martyrs who died fighting against me the Laws their Oaths and the Religion Established But sober Christians know that glorious title can with truth be applied only to those who sincerely preferred Gods truth and their duty in all these particulars before their lives and all that was dear to them in this world who having no advantageous designs by any Innovation were religiously sensible of those Ties to God the Church and my self which lay upon their Souls both for obedience and just assistance God could and I doubt not but he did through his mercy crown many of them with eternal life whose lives were lost in so just a Cause the destruction of their bodies being sanctified as a means to save their soules Their wounds and temporal ruin serving as a gracious opportunitie for their eternal health and happiness while the evident approach of death did through Gods grace effectually dispose their hearts to such Humility Faith and Repentance which together with the Rectitude of their present engagement would fully prepare them for a better life then that which their enemies brutish and disloyal fiercenâ—sse could deprive them of or without Repentance hope to enjoy They have often indeed had the better against my side in the
conjunction of the Forces under the Marquess of Montrose and such of our well affected Subjects of England as shall rise for us to procure it may be an honourable and speedy Peace with those who hitherto refused to give ear to any means tending thereunto Of which our Resolution we held it necessary to give you this Advertisement as well to satisfie you and all our Council and Loyal Subjects with you to whom we will that you communicate these our Letters yet failing in our earnest and sincere endeavours by Treaty to put an end to the miseries of these Kingdoms We esteemed our self obliged to leave no probable expedient unattempted to preserve our Crown and Friends from the usurpation and tyranny of those whose Actions declare so manifestly their desigâ—s to overthrow those Lawes and happy established Government of this Kingdom And now we have made known to you our resolution we recommend to your especial care the disposing and managing of our Affairs on that side as that you shall conceive most for our Honour and Service being confident the course we have taken though with some hazard of our Person will have a good influence on that our Kingdom and defer if not altogether prevent the Rebels transporting of Forces from them into that Kingdom And we desire you to satisfie all our well affected Subjects on that side of our Princely care of them whereof they shall receive the effect as soon as God shall enable us We desire you to use some means to let us and our Council at Oxford hear frequently from you and of your Actions and Condition there And so God prosper your Loyal endeavours Given at our Court at Oxon April 3. 1646. Which Letter Ormond receives the 20. of May and the next day communicates it to Montrose a great Commander of the British Forces in Ireland by this summons SIR This morning I received a dispatch from his Majesty and command therein to impart it not only to all his Councel but to all his Loyal Subjects I am confident you have so good a Title to the knowledge thereof that I have held it my part instantly to dispatch it unto you by an express I rest Yours Ormond Dublin May 21. 1646. And accordingly the King disguised got out by the discreet management of the Loyal and trusty Mr. Hudson a Clergy man and Mr. Iohn Ashburnham another of interest with the King They passed up and down as hereafter more particular to the French Agent Montril at Sowtham the 4. of May thence sent to the Scotish General Leven and was conducted to his Quarters by a Troop of Horse the Commissioners there soon after sent post to the Parliament of this news And likewise an Abstract of a Letter of the fourth of May discovering what was writ by the King to the Queen in France concerning his coming from Oxford and an agreement in the design she wot on Upon which Letter read in the House the Commons doe Order That the Commissioners and the General of the Scotish Army be desired that his Majesties person be disposed off as both Houses shall desire and direct And that he be thence disposed of and sent to Warwick Castle And that Jo. Ashburnham and the rest that came with the King into the Scots Quarters shall be sent for as Delinquents by the Serjeants at Arms and that the Commissioners of Parliament residing before Newark shall make a Narrative of the Kings coming thither and to present it to the House But to save them the labour there came this Letter from the Scots General and Commissioners to the Committee of both Kingdoms and by them communicated to the Parliament The Letter was thus Right Honourable The earnest desire which we have to keep a right understanding between the 2. Kingdoms moves us to acquaint you with that strange Providence wherewith we are now surprized together with our cariage and desires thereupon The King came into our Army yesterday in so private a way that after we had made some search for him upon the surmizes of persons who pretended to know his face ye we could not find him out in sundry houses And we believe your Lordships will think it was matter of much astonishment to us seeing we did not expect him to come into any place under our power We conceived it not fit to inquire into the causes but to endeavour that his being here might be improved for the best advantage for procuring the work of Uniformity for setling Religion and Righteousness and attaining of Peace according to the League and Covenant and Treaty by the advice of the Parliaments of both Kingdoms and their Commissioners authorized for that effect Trusting to our integrity we are perswaded that none will so far misconster us as that we intended to make use of this seeming advantage for promoting any other ends then are expressed in this Covenant and hath been hitherto pursued by us with no lesse Conscience then care And yet for further satisfaction we doe ingeniously declare That there hath been no Treaty nor Capitulation betwixt his Majesty and us nor any in our names that we leave the waies and meanes of peace unto the Parliament of both Kingdoms And so far as concerns us as we have a witness in heaven we are confident to make it appear to the world that there is nothing more in our desires then in all our resolutions and proceedings to adhere to the Covenant and Treaty Our gravest thoughts shall be taken up in studying and our utmost abilities imployed in acting those things that may best advance the Publick good and common happiness of both Kingdoms wherein by the help of the most High we shall labour to use so much tenderness and care that we hope it shall soon appear our Actions have been the result of honest and single intentions And further we cannot in a matter of so deep consequence and common interest but seek your Lordships advice for which effect we have also written to the Committee of Affairs of Scotland with intention to move your joynt Consents and Resolution that we at last after a Seed-time of Afflictions may reap the sweet fruits of Truth and Peace and in this confidence we remain Your Lordships humble servants Leven Dunferling Lothian S. D. Hume Sir Tho. Carr R. of Ireland W. Glendovin Iohn Iohnston Southwel May 6. 1646. To the Right Honourable the Committee of both Kingdoms And the eighth of May from Southwel the King sends this Message to the Parliament in effect That he understood from the Parliament that it was not safe for him to come to London untill he should consent to such Propositions as should be presented to him And being informed that the Armies marching so fast to Oxford made that place most unfit for a Treaty resolved to withdraw hither only to secure his Person with no intention to continue this War any longer or to make division between his two Kingdoms but rather to
comes the Marquesse Douglasse and Sir Io. Daliel with other his friends in this Extremity with a small Party of Horse not a hundred charged through the Enemy and escaped and being pursued he made his Stand slew divers and took Bruce a Captain of Horse and two Cornets with their Colours Prisoners Traquair Triumphingly reported Montrose and the Kings party totally defeated But Montrose was well and made the best use of his evil fortune and therefore marching easily with good guard and valiant hearts he marched Northwards forded over Cluid River where met him by the way many of his Souldiers with the Earls of Crawford and Airly and now he was strong two hundred Horse and some Foot and with convenient hast he resolves to go Northward into Athole and so passing over Forth River and then Erne he comes to Perthshire And in his way he had sent Dowglasse and Airly with Angus North East and the Lord Eisken into Marria to raise their friends and dependance and sent Daliel to the Lord Carnegy with Commissions to that purpose and Letters to Mac-Donel and to Aboin to return to him with their Forces About August the Atholâ— Men furnished him with four hundred good Foot to march Northwards and when ever he returned Southward he should command the whole County only they desired to be spared now for their harvest Montrose with wonderful speed and unspeakable toil clambers over Gransbane Mountains to meet with Aboin and Mac-Donel whom he expected and so the return of other his Messengers with their New Forces then to return Southward again to meet with the Kings Horse which by sundry Letters he was promised from England Aboin was of himself faithful and forward enough but restrained Ersken was sick and Huntly was returned home but with envy and ambition crossed under hand Montrose's designs but at last Aboin meets him with fifteen hundred Foot and three hundred Horse at Druminore a Castle of the Lord Forles and that his Brother Lewes was coming with more Thus impowered he instantly returns the same uncouth wayes over Gransbane Mountains and to take up Erskins and then Murries Forces and so to march Southward Lewis was come and marching together the first dayes Journey stole away the next with such Forces aâ—s followed him And the third day after his Brother Aboin with the rest of his Men desired leave to return pretending their Fathers Command the Marquesse Huntly whose County was in danger by the Enemy now about Marre and would suddainly ransack their Country but was content his Father should be treated with To him therefore Montrose sends Donald Lord Rose and Iermin kinsmen whom he had lately releived from Imprisonment Rose was honest and ashamed of his Kinsmans refusal fell sick and could not return Iermin most noble never forsaking Montrose to the death came back with doubtful Letters fast and loose And so Aboin must go home Montrose came down through the plaines of Marre and Scarschiock into Athole and so with increase of Forces he falls into Perth Here Aboin sends him word that he had got leave to return and would be with him before the time limited by his Forlough And here also meets him two Messengers after each other Captain Thomas Ogleby of Pomie and Captain Robert Nesbet with Commands from the King That if possible he should march Southward to the borders to meet the Lord Digby Son to the Earl of Bristol who was sent to him with a Party of Horse The same Bearers he dispatches with the Letters to Huntly and Aboin but in vain expectation he trifled away much time at Strath Erne in the Perth And here dies that gallant Man the Lord Napier of Marcheston truly Noble of an Ancient Family his Father and Grand-father Philosophers and Mathematicians Famous through Christendom But indeed this man exceeded them in Civil Affairs highly heretofore esteemed by King Iames and lately by K. Charls made Lord Treasurer of Scotland and advanced into the Rank of higher Nobility his Loyalty had suffered all the effects of his Enemies malice often Imprisoned Sequestred and Plundered of all his Substance whose Elaborate Discourses of the Rights of Kings and of the Original in the Turmoyls of Great Britain I have heard of and read some Manuscripts in Parcels but heartily wish may be publick Montrose is now passed the Forth and come into the Lands and Estate of Sir Iohn Buchanan a stiff Ring-leader of the Covenanters and descended from old Buchanan ingrateful Schoolmaster to King Iames and yet for his sake he and King Charles had advanced this man to what he was Hereabouts at Leven Montrose Encamps being so near Glasco that oftimes he forces the City on purpose to deter the Convention of the Coâ—enanters here who sat in Councel to arraign their Prisoners whom Montrose endeavoured to rescue Here they had for their Guard three thousand Horse and he not more than 3. hundred and fifteen hundred Foot wasting the Countrey without resistance Notwithstanding before he came they had executed three gallant men we may not neglect their memory The first was the afore mentioned Sir William Rollock Montrose his first Friend and Companion in Arms. He was sent to the King after the Battle of Aberdine and taken prisoner and condemned but upon Arguiles offer of life he was dealt with to murder Montrose whose life he valued far above his own and to save him he accepted this offer and so got loose and instantlyâ— found out by Montrose discovering all which saved Montrose for the present and was the cause of his own suffering promising upon his word that if he did not doe it to return prisoner by such a day which he did to the grief of Montrose and paid dear for it to the death The next was the aforesaid Alexander Ogleby Eldest Son to Sir Iohn Imercarrit descended from those Famous in the Scotish Chronicles he was not yet more then youth under eighteen but of a dareing Spirit and Loyal to the King for which he was executed Unless we admit him of the Family in deadly fewd with Arguile Then comes Sir Philip Nesbit I finde him the Son of Col. Nesbit a Regiment in the Kings service in England we may adde those two Irish men that suffered at Edenburgh some dayes before Colonel O-Cahen and Colonel Laghlin the crime of them all concentred in this new Treason against the King and Covenanters Montrose having long looked for six weeks his absent Confederates out of the North Mac-donel Alboin and others the Lord Digby's Forces defeated by the way and he not able to hold out a piercing hard winter Camp He the 20. of November departs from Levin Marching Northward over the Snowy Mountains of Taich through Woods and Loghes the Strathern and over the River Tay returns into Athole where he met Captain Ogleby and Captain Nesbit whom we told you he had sent with the Kings Letters to Huntly but prevailed not Here against Montrose sends to Sir Iohn Dalyel to mediate the
have been usefull for the Parliament in case other Successes had failed and therefore he stuck close to them and in the time of all the Wars whilest his two Brothers Rupert and Maurice were fighting for the King their Uncle this Palatine was feasting with the Citizens at London every Thanksgiving Day in effect Drinking their own Healths which was the others Destruction But not to be out of the Gang he was much reformed also and upon his humble Desires was voted by the Commons to sit with the Synod of Divines at Westminster for his assistance in the composure of the Directory which will come out one day And now the six and twentieth of March we finde his Letter to the Lords House and conferred with the Commons Wherein his Highness desires to communicate some Intelligence of great concernment in relation to the Protestant Religion through all Christendom to such Committees as both Houses shall appoint And here were two Committees conjoyned to wait upon his Highness herein and that was all for it came to no more being a Design set on work by a Scotish man who had laboured amongst the Northern Lutherans first then he descends Southwards to the Genevians Oecolampadians Zwinglians Hugonians and now returned hither to the Prebyterians devising how by Articles of the general Fundamentals of Faith professed amongst them all to reconcile them into one certain Creed and so to one professed Reformation against the common Enemy Antichrist presuming that as the Roman Papists agree in the Catholick Cause so the Reformed Churches should setle into a Protestation alike But this Business was too deep for his Highness and too shallow for the Parliament to wade in and so it went off in a puff And during his being here with the Parliament his distressed Uncle the King is disconsolate at Holmby under captivity and guard of the Parliaments Commissioners which makes him contemplate this Soliloquy Yet says he may I justifie those Scots to all the World in this that they have not deceived me for I never trusted to them further than to men if I am sold by them I am onely sorry they should do it and that my Price should be so much above my Saviours These are but further Essaies which God will have me make of mans uncertainty the more to fix me on himself who never faileth them that trust in him though the Reeds of Egypt break under the hand of him that leans on them yet the Rock of Israel will be an everlasting stay and defence God's Providence commands me to retire from all to himself that in him I may enjoy my self whom I lose while I let out my hopes to others The solitude and captivitie to which I am now reduced gives me leisure enough to studie the worlds â—anitie and inconstancie God sees 't is fit to deprive me of Wife Children Armie Friends and Freedom that I may be wholly his who alone is All. I care not much to be reckoâ—ed among the Unfortunate if I be not in the black List of irreligious and sacrilegious Princes No Restraint shall ensnare my Soul in sin nor gain that of me which may make mine Enemies more insolent my Friends ashamed or my Name accursed They have no great cause to triumph that they have got my Person into their power since my Soul is still mine own nor shall they ever gain my Consent against my Conscience What they call Obstinacie I know God accounts honest Constancie from which Reason and Religion as well as Honour forbid me to recede 'T is evident now that it was not Evil Counsellours with me but a good Conscience in me which hath been fought against nor did they ever intend to bring me to my Parliament till they had brought my minde to their obedience Should I grant what some men desire I should be such as they wish meâ— not more a King and far less both Man and Christian. What Tumults and Armies could not obtain neither shall Restraint which though it have as little of Safetie to a Prince yet it hath not more of Danger The fear of men shall never be my Snare nor shall the love of any Libertie entangle my Soul better others betray me than my self and that the price of my Libertie should be my Conscience the greatest Injuries mine Enemies seek to inflict upon me cannot be without mine own consent While I can deny with Reason I shall defeat the greatest impressions of their malice who neither know how to use worthily what I have already granted nor what to require more of me but this that I would seem willing to help them to destroy my self and mine Although they should Destroy me yet they shall have no cause to Despise me Neither libertie nor life are so dear to me as the peace of my Conscience the Honour of my Crowns and the welfare of my People which my word may injure more than any War can do while I gratifie a few to oppress all The Laws will by God's blessing revive with the Love and Loyaltie of my Subjects if I bury them not with my consent and cover them in that Grave of Dishonour and Injustice which some mens violence hath digged for them If my Captivitie or Death must be the Price of their Redemption I grudg not to pay it No condition can make a King miserable which carries not with it his Soul 's his People's and Posterities thraldom After-times may see what the blindness of this Age will not and God may at length shew my Subjects that I chuse rather to suffer for them than with them haply I might redeem my self to some shew of Libertie if I would consent to enslave them I had rather hazzard the Ruine of one King than confirm many Tyrants over them from whom I pray God deliver them whatever becomes of me whose solitude hath not left me alone Judg Ienkins taken at the Surrender of Castle in Wales was convened before a Committee of the House of Commons to answer to some Questions propounded to him To which he gave no Answer but presented them with this Paper I stand committed for high Treason for not acknowledging nor obeying the power of the Parliament by adhering to the King in this War I denie this to be Treason and this is my Reason The supreme power by the Laws of this Land is in the King if he should submit to any Examination derived from your power which by the Negative Oath stands in opposition to the Kings power I should confess the power to be in you and so condemn my self for a Traitour indeed I am sworn to obey the King and the Laws you have no power to examine me by these Laws but by the Kings Writ Patent or Commission and you do not produce either you your selves this Parliament have sworn that the King is our onely supreme Governour your Protestations Vows and Covenant solemn League and Covenant your Declarations all of them publish to the Kingdom
without stinting of number or distinction of persons and for payments to leavy such sums of monies in such sort and by such wayes and means as they shall think fit and appoint And now I cannot but ask Is this the Militia that the KING contends for or did ever any King of England pretend to or seek for such a power surely no But this is a new Militia and take heed lest this should prove like the Roman Praetorian Cohorts that what they did in chusing and changing Emperours these do not to this Government by moulding and altering it according to their fancies Now my eagerness to clear this point concerning the four Bills had almost made me forget a most material Questâ—on I wonder much wherein the danger consists of a personal Treaty with the KING even since he was last at Newcastle Surely he cannot bring Forces along with him to awe his two Houses of Parliament and it is well known that he hath not money to raise an Army and truly there is little fear that the eloquence of his tongue should work Miracles but on the contrary if he were so ill a man as you describe him to be whatsoever he shall say or write must more prejudice him then you for let him never flatter himself it must be clear not doubtful reason that can prevail against that great visible prevailing power which now oppresses him nor do I say it will but certainly less can do it Where is then the Danger Believe it Reason will hardly maintain those who are afraid of her After this it is said That they had cause enough to remember that the KING sometimes denyed to receive their humble Petitions but they never tell where nor when which I am most confident they cannot but I am certain that the KING hath sent divers Messages of peace to them unto which he hath yet had no Answer namely his last from Oxford of the 15. of Ianuary 1645. and all the rest since As for the fight at Brainford whosoever will read the Collection of the Declaration in Print upon that Subject will clearly finde that the KING hath more reason to complain that they under colour of Treaty sought to environ him with their Forces than they for what he then did and his Retreat was neither for fear nor with shame for the appearing of the Enemy made him retard not hasten his Orders for retiring which divers hours before their appearing he had given which he did without any loss at all but on the contrary retreated with more Arms eleven Colours and fifteen pieces of Ordnance besides good store of Amunition than he had before and for Cruelty there was not a drop of blood shed but in the heat of the fight for I saw above five hundred Prisoners who only promising never after to bear Arms against the KING were freely released Again they seem to have good memories saying That the King once sent them a specious Message of renewing a Treaty when at the same time his Messenger was instructed how to mannage that bloody Massacre in London which was then designed by vertue of the Kings Commission since published And hath the King sent but one Message for the renewing of a Treaty then what was that from Tavestock in August 1644. and five others from Oxford the next year But indeed this that is here mentioned they knew not how to answer for at that time they knew not the way of silence but by this forged accusation against the Messenger who I dare say knew nothing of that which might have been at that time intended for the Kings service by some who had more zeal than judgment But that there was a Massacre intended or that any Commission from the King should countenance a design is a most notorious slander As for the Kings mentioned Letter to the Queen I am confident that any judicious Reader will finde the gloss made upon it very much wrested And certainly all Ages will think these Times very Barbarous wherein private Letters betwixt Man and Wife are published to open view And in other Countries there is such repect carried to private Letters of Princes that to my knowledge the last Emperour in the greatest heat of the Bohemian War having intercepted a Packet wherein were private Letters to King Iames of blessed memory who was then known no great friend to the Emperour from his only Daughter then avowedly the Emperours greatest Enemy yet he sent them to the KING without the least offer of violence to the Seals And now I come to their determination upon the whole matter what course they have resolved to take with the K. their words are but notwithstanding this and other former tenders we have now received such a Denial that we are in despair of any good by addresses to the King neither must we be so injurious to the People in further delaying their settlement as any more to press his consent to these or any other Propositions Besides it is resolved upon the Question that they will receive no more any Message from the King and do enjoyn that no person presume to receive or bring any Message from the King to both or either Houses of Parliament or any other person Thus you see that the King is laid by But that is not all for he must neither justifie his innocency against Calumny nor is there any way left him to amend any Error that he may have committed is this a way of proceeding when truth though offered must not be heard and that no way must be left to recant an error And why all this severity Because as I have already shown you the King will not injure his Conscience or Honour to which they give the term of such a Denial though really it was none But it is no great wonder that they forbid the King to repent him of those faults which he never committed and I believe all indifferent men will easily judge of the King even by their way of accusation for those who will lay such high crimes to his charge as the breach of Oaths Vows Protestations and Imprecations should not spare to bring their proofs if they had any But on the contrary it is known to all the world that he had not suffered as he has done if he would have dispensed with that part of his Coronation Oath which he made to the Clergy which is no great sign that he makes slight of his engagements of which it is so universally known that he has been so religiously careful as I hold it a wrong to his innocency to seek to clear him where there are no proofs alleged for Malice being once detected is best answered with neglect and silence And was there ever greater or more apparent Malice than to offer to put the horrid slander of Paricide upon him who was eminently known to be as obedient and loving a Son to his blessed Father as any History can make mention of But indeed the losse
him and the memory of his deceased Father His head on the Block he ended his life in these words Merciful Iesus gather my soul unto thy Saints and Martyrs who have run before me in this race He was learned in the Mystery of things Divine and Humane and in the knowledge of Eastern Tongues in History Law and Politiques and alike excellent for the intergrity of his life And preferred to this commendation by a neer observer of him that he loved the old fashion piety with his soul to explain his meaning he saies and yet Not a vain and Superstitious professor of it before others but to distinguish him a sound Protestant Professor and no new Fangler Hugh Scrimiger sometime his Servant had leave to bury his body and continuing sorrowful ere the Scaffold was taken away he passing by fell into a swound and being carried home dyed at his own door Then followed Andrew Gutlery Son to the deserving Bishop of Murrey and by his Judges hated the more for that Blair fell upon him also to repent for siding in the evil Cause He answered therefore came I here to suffer for a good Conscience and a good King which he embraced without fear and would dye without dread of death for his sins he trusted were satisfied by the merits of his Saviour to whom he recommends his soul. The last was William Murrey brother to the Earl of Tullibardin a youth of 19. years at the most who told them That this his day of suffering he accounted a meer honour to his House that he descended of that Ancient Family should deliver up his life for his good King and his Cause and desires that his Parents would not grieve at the shortness of his life being abundantly recompensed with the honourable death And so with his own and good mens prayers he suffered Execution also Montrose much troubled to hear of their deaths was extreamly importuned to sacrifice such Prisoners as he had being they said real Traytors indeed and for which Justice he had Warrant from Gods Vice-gerent the King But as he nere put any to death in cold blood as yet so he would never be said to break his word of Quarter by exchange or imprisonment All this time had Huntley trifled in Plundering as he Marched and gave way to the relief of Innerness and retreats to the Spye notwithstanding Montroses several Messages to him to return to the Siege or to joyn their Forces and to descend Southward and to oppose a new Enemy Major General Middleton Marching with six hundred Horse and eight hundred Foot as far as Aberdine but Huntley would not Although there came in to Montrose many friends and Tenants of the Earl of Seafort the L. Rose and from the farthest Northern Islâ—nds Sir Iames Mack-donel Mack-lins and Glengar the chief of Mac-renalds and many more And by this means before the end of March he might have Marched Southward with a greater Army then ever had been beheld in Scotland But for the present he surrounds and besieges Innerness for the commodious Haven and sent back three Troops of Horse to lodge about the Passes of Spye to have a Watch upon Middleton who was now eighty miles off And had timely warning to draw off from the Siege and from the Enemies strength of Horse and to Retreat beyond Nessa with some Skirmishes and equal loss and so passed by Benly into Rose and after through Long-Nasse Strath-glasse and Harrage into the bank of Sprey And being now not far from Huntley he takes a Troop of Horse and gallops to him twenty miles sending word before that he was coming to crave his Councel in the Kings affairs but Huntley took Horse and fled and the other returned the last of May. By whose example Seaford and others began to falter which put resolution in Montrose to force all the Northern Parts which he could easily doe having tried all the fairest means and failed therein for of late Middleton was entred into Aberdine with five hundred men whom Huntley had besieged and taken upon his own score in revenge to the Town which he plundered though the Kings friends and released all Prisoners that were of Middletons men Montrose busie about his Northern designe on the last of May comes a Herald from the King whose misfortune had as you have heard elsewhere cast himself upon the Scotish Convenanters Army at Newcastle this time twelve moneth 13. of May and commands Montrose to lay down his Arms and Disband and to pass over to France till his Majesties further pleasure The valiant man was amazed at this sad news being assured that they had forced this upon the Kings miserable condition with some secret hint to look to himself also But Montrose must obey and Summons all his Consederates whom he conceived this disbanding would concern and principally he sends Hurrey to Huntley that Montrose was willing to come to his Castle for to be present at this Consultation he Answered The K. had written to him of the same and that his Commands may not admit of second thoughts but to obey as he would They replyed that it was likely Montrose was of that opinion too however ever it might concern them all to provide for prevention of future mischiefs and the very joynt consult would advantage them even in the Enemies opinion He replyed that he had resolved for himself and would have nothing to doe with any body else Montrose sends his Answer to the King by Letters wherein he humbly presumed to be so far inquisitive of his condition with the Covenanters if safe in their hands whether his Majestie was stedfastly resolved to Disband that Army of friends who had exposed their lives and fortunes for his Cause whilst his Enemies were Armed in both Kingdoms what course should be taken for them and their safety not to be left to the mercy of murderous men and in a word whether his particular service might be acceptable in any other way To these he received no open Answer but had returned to him some Articles signed by the Covenanters which he in great regret refused as unconscionable and not vouchsafing to Treat therein he speeds the Messenger back to the King professing that as he had not taken up Arms but by the Kings Commission so he would have no Conditions prescribed him to lay them down by any mortal man but the King himself Therefore he humbly besought the King to sign the Conditions to which though perhaps very harsh he promised obediently to submit unto but disdained the Commands of any other Many of his Friends had underhand sought their peace with the Enemy and Huntley and his Party to please them resolved to force Montrose submission Antrim was arrived alone from Ireland without any Forces but sought to draw the Highlanders to himself calling Montrose in scorn the Governour of the Low lands But Montrose was to depart by the Articles before the first of September
Court Besides all this the peace of the Kingdom is not the least in my thoughts and what hopes of settlement is there so long as power reigns without rule of Law changing the whole frame of that Government under which this Kingdom hath flourished for many hundred years nor will I say what will fall out in case this lawless unjust proceeding against me go on and believe it the Commons of England will not thank you for this change for they will remember how happy they have been of late years under the Reign of Queen Elizabeth the King my Father and my self untill the beginning of these unhappy troubles and will have cause to doubt that they shall never be so happy under any new And by this time it will be too sensibly evident that the Arms I took up were only to defend the fundamental Laws of this Kingdom against those who have supposed my power hath totally changed the ancient Government Thus having shewed you briefly the Reasons why I cannot submit to your pretended Authority without violating the trust which I have from God for the welfare and liberty of my people I expect from you either clear reasons to convince my judgement shewing me that I am in an errour and then truly I will readily answer or that you will withdraw your proceedings After Sentence the King being hurried away was mocked of the Souldiers suffering many things like to Christ they laying aside all reverence to Soveraignty acted Triumph on the Prisoner crying out justice justice That one defiled his venerable face with spittle I abhor to say it was wittingly done but we are assured he wiped it off with his Handkerchief they puft Tobacco fume no smell to him more offensive and cast their Tobacco pipes at his feet And such as salute him they Bastinado One that did but sigh out God have mercy had his Pasport They intrude almost into his Closet hardly permitting him private devotion with his own Chaplain the Bishop of London In their devotions interrupted and himself disturbed whilst he prayed and prepared for this bitter cup. But he with Majesty of minde when they cryed out for justice Poor souls saies he for a piece of money they would do so for their Commanders and at these Rebels he said Christ suffered more for my sake such as dissembled irreverence he with easie contempt eâ—â—ded by neglecting it Yet that little time was lent him he betakes himself to confessions of his sins pardon of his Enemies receiving the Eucharist reading the Scriptures godly conferences doing all the duties of piety And thus holily he seeks to overcome the terrors of death ere they assail him Whilst he prayes they prepare for his execution Sir Hardress Waller Colonel Harrison Colonel Doan Com. Gen. Ireton and Col. Okes are to consider of the time and place for execution And in the Painted Chamber Munday the 29. of Ianu. the President and Judges meet and with the â—â—mmittee resolve That the open street before White-Hall is the fittest place that the King be there executed tomorrow Tuesday between ten and two a clock upon a Scaffold covered with black near the Banquetting House where he was wont to ascend his Throne and shew the pomp of Majesty due to Princes there must he pass to his Funeral Pulpit and lay aside the spoiles of Majesty where he had put on the Insigns thereof It was supposed that the King would not submit his neck to his enemies Axe and therefore it was so provided with Staples and Cords that he could not resist And the Commons house considered that in case of execution they ordered a Proclamation to be made throughout the Kingdom To declare it high Treason to Proclaim any King of England without consent of the present Parliament for so the House is stiled And that none upon paines of imprisonment preach or speak any thing contrary to the present proceeding of the Supream Authority of the Nation the Commons of England assembled in Parliament A Member of the Army gave in the desires of the King That in respect Sentence of death was past upon him and the time of execution might be nigh That he might see his Children and to receive the Sacrament and to prepare himself for death and that the Bishop of London might pray with him in private in his Chamber This night Saturday 27. Ian. the King lodged at White-hall and the next day Sunday the Bishop preached there before the King in his Chamber and this Sunday the President and all the Members of the High Court of Justice fasted in the Chappel of Whitehall and Mr. prayed for them On Sunday means was made to deliver a Letter to him from his son the Prince of Wales which the King read and burnt it and then he was conveyed to St. Iames's the next morning being Munday While the Dutch Ambassadour had audience of the House read their â—â—structions and Letters of Credence in French their desires was to intercede for the Kings life and to keep and preserve a fair correspondence betwixt this Nation and the Estates of the Netherlands This day his Children had leave to visit him but stayed not long His Children being come to meet him he first gave his blessing to the Lady Elizabeth and bad her remember to tell her brother Iames when ever she should see him that it was his Fathers last command that he should no more look upon Charls as his eldest brother only but be obedient unto him as his Soveraign and that they should love one another and forgive their Fathers Enemies Then said the King to her Sweet-heart you 'l forget this no said she I shall never forget it while I live and pouring forth abundance of tears promised him to write down the Particulars Then the King taking the Duke of Gloucester upon his knee said sweet-heart now they will cut off thy Fathers head upon which words the child looked very stedfastly on him mark child what I say they will cut off my head and perhaps mak thee a King but mark what I say you must not be a King so long as your brothers Charles and Iames do live For they will cut off your Brothers heads when they can catch them and cut off thy head too at last and therefore I charge you do not be made a King by them At which the child sighing said I will be torn in pieces first which falling so unexpectedly from one so young it made the King rejoyce exceedingly Another Relation from the Lady Elizabeths own hand What the King said to me the 29. of Ian. 1648. being the last time I had the happiness to see him he told me he was glad I was come and although he had not time to say much yet somewhat he had to say to me which he had not to another or leave in writing because he feared their cruelty was such as that they would not have permitted him to write to me He