Speaker and was the same day feasted by Iohn Kendrick Mayor of London From whence he never after went forth upon any expedition About the latter end of October the Island of Iersey was reduc'd by Colonel Hain and General Blake from Sea and the Isle of Man was surrender'd to Colonel Duckenfield upon Articles by the Countesse of Derby whose renowned pious and valiant Lord was at Chester adjudgeed to death for engaging with the King at VVorcester by a Council of War after quarter given and beheaded at Bolton in Lancashire on the 15. of October with the teares and lamentations of most of the Spectatours Severall executions were also done upon others by shooting or hanging in divers places for the same cause as on Sir Timothy Fetherstonehaugh Captain Bendbow c. They were tryed upon the pretended Act made after the King 's coming into England viz. Aug. 12. 1651. prohibiting correspondence with his Majesty or his party under the penalty of High Treason His Majesty having upon his arrival at Paris been visited congratulated by the King Queen Nobles of France had a Princely Attendance assigned him and lodgings in the Louvre where he lead a retired life in expectation of some happier opportunity which it might please Providence to present him with for the recovery of his Kingdomes which he had now small hopes to obtain by the assistance of his own Subjects in either of them England being so strictly overaw'd by the numerous Army kept on foot for that purpose and Scotland and Ireland being in a manner wholly subdued by the English Armes Yet in Scotland there were still some small Forces up in the North as the Marquis of Huntley with about 1500. men and the Lord Belcarris The Marquis of Argyle also fortified his houses at Ander-arran and Lorne the Castles in Arran Island and was expected to join with 4000. with the former Moreover the Clergy were still very high against the English But it seemes the designes of the Noble men were onely to make themselves considerable that they might treat upon better termes For shortly after the Marquis of Huntly made his peace the Lord Belcarris divers other Lords came in to the protection of Lieut. Gen. Monck and Argyle having made an attempt to summon a Parliament and shuffled off and on for some moneths at length submitted and afterwards testified under his hand his agreement to the making of Scotland a Commonwealth with England and protested fidelity to it as establisht without King or House of Lords c. Upon which termes he was left at liberty with assurance to enjoy his Estate Had these Lords been cordiall to the Royall interest to which they had so solemnly sworne a little while before they might easily have maintain'd the Highlands against all opposition these places being naturally almost inaccessible and invincible Notwithstanding this low posture of his Majestie 's affairs he was treated with much honour by the Princes and Nobility in France and Madamoiselle de Orleans daughter to the late Duke of that Title being a very rich Princesse worth 60000. per annum and Soveraign Dutchesse of Montpensier shew'd great inclinations towards him in relation to marriage It is also reported that there was a match designed between his Majestie 's Brother the Duke of York and a daughter of the Duke of Longueville a Prince descended from the Royall House of France who was by her mother heire to the rich possessions of the Count of Soissons But the great troubles arising about that time between the King and the Princes of the Blood hinder'd the successe the Duke of Orleans and his Daughter being far ingag'd with the Prince of Conde against the King of France in a civil War occasioned by the imperiousness of Cardinal Mazarine who during the King's minority had by means of his great favour with the Queen ingrossed the whole Government of that Kingdome in a manner into his own hands usurp'd an inordinate power and all the grand offices had committed several enormous miscarriages during the Queen Mother's Regency The Princes of the Blood and generality of the Nation became so incensed against him hereby that an Arrest was passed by the Parliament of Paris for the banishment of the said Cardinal who thereupon retired to Colen and all his goods were confiscated But the Queen having a great inclination to bring him back again into France the Duke of Orleance and Conde vehemently opposed it and when no accommodation could be made the Prince withdrew his forces which he commanded for the King's service against the Spaniard to Stenay a strong Garrison where making great levies he got a considerable power into the field The Cities also of Paris and Bourdeaux owned the Prince's cause and quarrel Whereupon the King rais'd a great Army commanded by Marshal Turein and Count de Harcourt Several encounters pass'd between them the Illustrious Duke of York first serving as a Volunteer and afterwards commanding a Regiment at the siege of Estampes where he behav'd himself extreme honourably in two conflicts The Cardinal in the mean time return'd into France with 6000. men and the Princes on the other side invited the Duke of Lorrain to their assistance who had a mercenary Army of 10000. in the service of the King of Spain His Majesty of Great Britain understanding sufficiently the fatal effects of civill combustions partly out of sincere intentions for the good of France and partly out of the consideration of the advantageousnesse of its peace to his own affairs interceeded as a Mediatour between the King and the discontented Princes and his motion was gratefully accepted of by both Parties and thereupon Deputies were sent severall times by the Princes to represent their grievances but the King of France persisted resolute not to part with the Cardinal though the King of England urg'd him as far as possible to gratifie his incensed subjects if not by dismissing him altogether yet at least by sending him upon some honourable foreign imployment Of all which generous endeavours this noble prudent and Christian Prince obtain'd no other fruit but an extreme hatred from Mazarine At the same time his Majesty imployed himself in reconciling the French King and his subjects upon hopes of those endeavours succeeding he thought fit to deal with the Duke of Lorrain to transport his Army into Ireland where some Garrisons still held out Which affair was so far proceeded in that Articles were drawn up between the Duke of Lorrain and the Lord Taaf on behalf of his Majesty by which it was agreed amongst other things That the Duke should at his own charges land an Army of 10000. for the reducing of Ireland to his Majesty That he should be invested with the Title of Protector Royal of Ireland and have four Towns put into his hands for security for his disbursements with restrictions and cautions But these Articles never came to be signed partly because the Duke was conscious of his
Dunbar which defeat occasion'd the losse of that Kingdome In the morning his Majesty held a Council of War upon the Top of the Colledge-Church Steeple the better to view in what manner the Enemy lay From whence perceiving the Enemie's new bridges and a kind of a skirmish at Powick bridge he forthwith commanded all to their Armes and march'd thither himself where he gave order for the making good of that passe and opposing that of the Enemy over Severne Soon after his return to the City the Enemy assaulted Powick bridge furiously which was valiantly defended by a Brigade of Horse and Foot under Maj. Gen. Rob. Montgomery and Col. George Keyth till the former being dangerously wounded and his Ammunition spent was forc'd to retire disorderly into Worcester and the latter was taken prisoner by the Enemie This place being won there was no time to deliberate longer Wherefore it was resolv'd to engage Cromwel forthwith who lay at Perry-wood within a mile of Worcester The onset was given with a great deal of fury by the Royallists insomuch that Cromwel's invincible Life-guard was unable to bear the shock and compell'd to give ground in some disorder their great Guns also were for some time in the power of the Royalists The Rebell Commanders had put the new rais'd County forces to bear the first brunt of the incounter of whom the Royalists made a horrible slaughter His Majesty himself lead up the Scots Foot in this battle and that with so much courage and gallantry that his inveterate enemy Cromwel could not but applaud his valour The Fight continued for the space of three or four houres very sharp and fierce during which his Majesty had his Horse twice shot under him and rallyed the Infantry himself untill by the successive supplyes of fresh forces they were in a manner all lost The Rebels had great advantage not onely in being more numerous but fighting both with Horse and Foot against his Majestie 's Foot onely for the Scotch Horse did not engage at all in this encounter which some impute to the treachery of David Lesley who in the mean time commanded a brave body of Horse to stand still and look on the ruine of their King and Fellow-subjects threatning the first man that stirr'd with death For the truth of which relation I dare not undertake but it is certain the Scotch Horse under Lesley were scarce any more then spectators of the battle nor is it incredible but that treachery might be practis'd by a Scot and money imploy'd by Cromwel for conquest as well as force The remainder of the forlorne Royall Army being put to flight were pursued into the Town by the Victors his Majesty was as one of the last in the field and could hardly be perswaded to out-live that day At Sudbury-gate through which the routed Royalists fled an Ammunition Waggon was overthrown lay crosse the passage so that his Majesty was enforc'd to alight and enter into the City on foot In the Fryers street he to k â— fresh Horse and perceiving many of his Foot throw down their Armes and decline fighting he rode up and down among them sometimes with his hâ—t in his hand intreating them to stand to their Armes and sell their lives as dear as they could But seeing his encouragements ineffectuall he said I had rather you would shoot me then keep me alive to see the sad consequences of this fatall day Neverthelesse the Earle of Cleveland Sir Iames Hamilton Col. VVilliam Carlis then Major to the Lord Talbot and some Officers rallyed what force they could which was unproportionable to that of the Assailants and gave a check to to the Enemy as they were entring in at Sudbury Gate and valiantly disputed that street with them Which action was very important to secure his Majesties flight In the mean time Fleetwood's men were on the o her side of the City masters of St Iohns and having wholly disperst all opposers fell to plunder Assoon as Cromwel had made his way into Sudbury-street whilest some of his Forces were furiously kâ—lling and slaying all that were in the streets he hasten'd with some Regiments to the Fort Royal commanded by Col. Drummond where he found courageous opposition and lost 300. Cheshire men but at length reducing it with twice the number of the defenders he put every man of them to the sword to the number of 1500. Then was there seen the saddest spectacle that humane imagination is capable to conceive the streets being all strew'd with carcasses and cover'd with blood houses broken open and pillag'd and the whole Town fill'd with the noise of the insolent Victors and the cryes of the poor inhabitants till having satiated their cruelties rapacious desires or rather tired themselves with barbarous executions and inhumanities they began to think of securing prisoners The slain were reckon'd about 4000. amongst whom was Duke Hamilton who being taken dyed so on after of his wounds a very Noble courageous loyall person worthy of immortal fame The Prisoners taken in the battle and the City were about 7000. in which number were the Earls of Carnwarth Rothes Kelly the Lord Synclare Sir Iohn Packington Maj. Gen. Montgomerry Maj. Gen. Piscotty Mr. Rich. Fâ—nshaw his Majestie 's Secretary the General of the Ordnance the Adjutant General of thâ— Foot and the Marshal General besides several Colonels and others inferior Officers 158. Colours which together with those taken the year before at Duâ—bar were hung up in VVestminster Hall the King's Standard his Collar of Ss Coach and Horses with other things of great value How many of the Rebels fell in this fight we hâ—ve no â—râ—ditable relation their own Pamphlets mention onely the losse of Quartermaster Gen. Mosely Capt Iones and about 200. common Souldiers and 300. wounded among whom was Charles Howard afterwards Captain of Cromwel's Life-guard another Captain This is the truest and most impartiall account I can meet with of this remarkable overthrow which was then lookt upon as the decision of the Cause between King and Commonwealth But it pleased God that in this great losse the Forturne of England was preserved whose bloud was the onely thing wanting to cement the foundations of the new Republick The manner of his Majesties escape was in a sâ—rict sense not miraculous yet as near a miracle as almost any thing that is barely possible by natural means Certainly he that shall deliberately consider the paucity of such of the Nobility as escaped the fury of the fight and diligence of the pursuers of all the Lords there onely the Duke of Buckingham the renowned Lord Wilmot getting undiscover'd beyond Sea the instruments of his Majestie 's preservation such whom indigence or fear might have induc'd to prefer reward or security before faithfulness to a Prince who in all humane probability was unlikely ever to requite them for their dangerous loyalty and the places where his Majesty was concealed in the midst of his enemies
his distempers and afterwards attain'd a firmer health When he came to sit in the House of Peers 1640 his first action in publick affairs was the carrying the King's Letter to them in favour of that noble but unfortunate Lord the Earl of Strafford the King hoping that when all other respects could not prevail upon them at least the consideration of the dignity and goodnesse of this Royal Messenger might something move them to reflect upon the hard measure they had determin'd for him But through the cruel fate of this brave man or rather that of these three Kingdomes the heat of I know not what strange zeal had made them so thirsty for his bloud that a day or two's respite of execution of the severest sentence that ever was given was more then could be afforded to the desires of their King though presented by the hands of their Prince This repulse he suffer'd was certainly the beginning if not the cause of all his ensuing sufferings and those of the Nation 's too For soon after hapned that fatall misunderstanding between the King and the Parliament which occasioning the King's withdrawing from London he commanded the Prince to attend him first at Greenwich then at Hampton-Court then at Theobalds the incensed Parliament and City in the mean time regretting his escape out of their hands having design'd to make advantage of his person according as the contingency of their affairs should suggest to them From thence with the Duke of York he accompanies his Father to New-market and from thence into Yorkshire where they all stood before the gates of Hull and were deny'd admission by Sir Iohn Hotham 'till at length the two Princely brothers were by his special favour permitted as children to see the Town At York the Northern Nobility and Gentry offering their service to his Majesty received thanks for it but were not made use of for prevention of jealousie 'till a greater danger induc'd the King to neglect his fafety no longer and accordingly he selected a company of gallant and loyal persons for his Life guard which were commanded by the young Prince His Majesty assuring them they should hazard their lives no further in defence of their Countries Lawes and Liberties then himself and that they should endanger themselves no farther for his person then his own dear Child In this manner he accompanied the King from York to Newark in Nottinghamshire and from thence to Lincoln and Leicester and back again into Yorkshire in which progress the King endeavoured to satisfie the Counties he passed through of the uprightnesse of his intentions for the good of the Nations and evidenc'd to them the desperate courses the Parliament engaging in order to deprive him of the Royalty left him from his Predecessours and this under pretence of Liberty and Religion At his return into Yorkshire the King informes the Gentlemen there of the Parliaments forwardnesse to a War desires them to spare him some Armes and to compleat Prince Charles's Regiment for the guard of his person under the command of the Earle of Cumberland Not long after the King having gather'd a considerable Army was met between Kinton and Edge-hill in Warwickshire by that of the Parliament under the conduct of the Earl of Essex There was the first considerable battle fought of our civill Wars The Prince was then in the field and the Honourable Earle of Lindsey who was the King's Generall and lost his life in the fight looking upon him very attentively a little before the conjunction of the Armies I know not by what Propheticall instinct utter'd these words Ther 's a Child born to end that VVar we now begin Which how miraculously accomplish't we cannot but gratefully acknowledge the civill Wars having continued ever since the Army which had subdued the one Party afterwards turning their swords upon those that first employ'd them and the poor Nations being rul'd by the sword and always in a state of War and groaning under the miseries inflicted on it by armed Oppressours After this the King retir'd with the Prince to Oxford and committed him to the Right Honourable the Marquesse of Hertford then and still Chancellor of that University who provided for him severall worthy persons in the quality of Tutors for his instruction in all such languages and Sciences as were convenient for the accomplishment of a Prince During his residence there it pleased God to visit him with the Meazles and that not without some danger of death which by the Divine mercy and indulgence to these Nations he avoided is respited we hope for many years Here he was very diligent in commendable studies intermix'd with ingenious and innocent pleasures and upon the King 's summoning a Parliament thither which convened the 22 of Ianuary 1644. himself with his noble Brother the Duke of York sate with the rest of the Nobility in the Upper Schooles which were designed for the House of Lords as the Convocation House was to the Commons who were no inconsiderable number there being present at that Assembly besides these two young Princes the Lord Keeper Littleton the Lord Treasurer Cottington the Duke of Richmond the Marquesse of Hertford nineteen Earles three and twenty Barons and a hundred and fourty Knights and Gentlemen The next year the Prince betakes himself into the field being now about fifteen years old his first course was Westward where by his Majesties Order he had attendants appointed him suitable to the grandeur and state of an heir to three Crowns He set up a Royall Court and chose out a Retinue at his own pleasure the King though disapproving the action in a Letter to the Queen yet admiring his discretion in the Election of them scarce inferiour as a great observer affirm'd to that of his deceased Uncle Prince Henry During this time the King of Portugal sends over an Embassadour who amongst severall specious proposals relating to his Majesties present exigencies tenders one for a Marriage between the Daughter of that King and the Prince of Wales which for good reasons the King his father put off with a civill answer importing a deniall of the proposition though as the policy of State-affairs often makes it necessary to do in words expressing no dislike of it After that fatall battle of Naseby which turn'd the scale to the disadvantage of the Royall Interest severall Overtures interven'd between Prince Charles the Lord Goring and the Parliamentarian General Fairfax but the two former alwayes receiv'd the same answer from him which signified nothing viz. That he was but a servant to the Parliament and could not exceed his Commission which impower'd him onely to fight therefore in râ—ference to a Treaty application ought to be mâ—de to his Masters at VVestminster The Prince accordingly writes to him again to grant the Lords Hopton and Culpepper leave to attend the King and mediate with him for a Treaty with the Parliament to which the General upon grave consultation with his Committee of
1200. which were in the field on the Marquesse's side 200. were slain and all the rest taken saving about a hundred who escaped by flight Among the Prisoners of note were Major General Sir Iohn Vrrey the Lord Frendraught Sir Francis Hay of Dalketie Colonel Hay of Naughton Colonel Grey Lieutenant Colonel Stuart with a great number of other considerable officers and two Ministers The Royal Standard was also taken in which was pourtrayed the Head of the late King lying a bleeding and severed from the body with this Motto IUDGE AND REVENGE MY CAUSE O LORD The Marquesse himself when he saw the day loft threw away his Cloak which had the Star on it having receiv'd the order of the Garter a little while before deserted his horse changed his habit with a Hâ—ghlander and fled The news of this Victory was so welcome to the State and Kirk of Scotland that they rewarded Straughan with 1000. l. sterling and gratifi'd other officers And to assure it they order narrow search to be made for Montrosse propounding a great summe to any that should apprehend him He had continued three or four dayes in the open fields without meat or drink with onely one man in his company till at lenght in this starving condition he discoverd himself to the Lord Aston who had formerly been a friend of his But his adversity and the promised reward made him now be lookt upon under another notion so that either out of fear or covetousnesse or both this Lord sends this Illustrious but unfortunate Heroe with a strong guard to David Lesley by whom he was forthwith sent to Edenburgh into which he was carried with all the ignominy malice assisted with zeal could invent all which he underwent with extraordinary constancy and magnanimity He was brought to the Towns end upon a Cart-horse and at the Gates he was met by some officers and the Executioner in his Livery Coat They put him into a high seat in fashion of a Chariot and bound him about the breast and armes with a cord into a Chair The Executioner being so commanded took off the Marquesse his hat and the chariot being drawn with four horses put on his own bonnet mounted one of the first horses and so very solemnly drive along to the Tol booth He had at that time many wounds about him but none uncurable The Parliament had resolv'd before-hand what sentence to pronounce upon him but the more to disgrace him and to act with formality and insolence He was brought before them where he appeared in a rich attire with an undaunted countenance His chief adversaries were Argile an inveterate enemy to loyalty and consequently to this Noble Marquis Lowdon the Chancellor Ker and Cassells who was gone in Commission to the King but especially the fleabitten Ministers of Edinburgh a generation of people whose courses and practises are detested by all that understand any thing of the sobriety of Christian Religion Being brought to the Bar of the House the Chancellour told him first That he must kneel at the Bar. Whereunto he answer'd My Lord I shall with all my heart observe any posture you shall appoint mâ— to appear before you in whereby I may minifest to you that I freely submit to the authority of Parliament and to this present Parliament in a more especiall manner because you have concluded so near a Conjunction with his Majesty my Master in the late Treaty After which the Chancellor made a Speech to him the substance whereof was this SIR I am commanded to mind you of the last judgement of God befallen you for your perfidious breaking of the Covenant which might justly provoke God thus to divert your counsels and affairs for having been so eminent an Author and Actor of mischief against this Nation You abandoned the Covenant and despised the Oath of God invaded your Native Country and with most inhumane and barbarous cruelty burnt and wastest divers parts thereof and have spilt much blood of his Majestie 's good Subjects taking advantage of that time when the prime Commanders forces thereof were imploy'd elsewhere For these Crimes you were excommunicated by the Church and sore-faulted by the Parliament of this Kingdome and yet still continued in the highest contempt against God under that fearfull sentence of excommunication And to this day have you remained without the least shew of Repentance And God by his Providence hath now justly brought you hither to receive the Sentence of your Condemnation Hereunto the Illustrious Prisoner having defir'd and obtain'd liberty answer'd My Lord I am glad that I may to answer for my self Though I am here your prisoner yet my cause is good Nor is there any breach of the Covenant on my part in which I swore to be true to his Majestie his Heirs and Successors Concerning what I have done in relation to the VVars affairs of this Kingdome I had not onely a General Commission but particular Orders for what I have done from his Majesty which I was engag'd to obey by the said Covenant And concerning my coming over now I was assertain'd that you had profest to comply with his Majesty in the present Affairs in which he hath employ'd me and upon that Account it was that I have acted I desire to refer my self and to submit unto this present Parliament and the authority thereof to be my Iudges in this Case whom I own as a true Parliament by authority from his Majesty and I shall be content however it shall please God to deal with me As for my Life if you take it away by this Authority it is well known to the VVorld I regard it not Death is a debt which all owe and must once be pay'd by every one And I shall be willing and much rejoice to goe the same way which my Master pass'd before me and it is the joy of my heart not onely to do but also to suffer for him After he had pronounced this with a very composed gravity even to the admiration of all that heard him he was commanded to withdraw The Parliament were not long in debate but unanimously resolv'd upon this Sentence of Condemnation which he being recall'd was pronounc'd against him You are to be carried back to the place from whence you came and from thence to morrow being the 21. of May 1650. to Edenburgh Crosse there to be hanged on a Gallowes 30. foot high for the space of 3. hours with your History Declaration about your neck and then to be taken down and your head cut off upon the Scaffold and set upon Edenburgh Talbooth and your legs and armes over the gates of the Cities of Sterling Dundee Glasgow and Aberdeen your Trunk to be buried in the common place for Thieves and Robbers except the Kâ—rk take off your excommunication This sentence aggravated by the Chancellor in the utmost terms of horrour his spleen could invent was undismaiedly receive d by the noble Marquesse who answered That he took
disability to goe through with the enterprise and defray the charges of it and partly because he was at the same time dealt with underhand by the King of France to relinquish the Prince's party and offer'd by him such termes as they were not able to give him And as ill fortune would have it the manner of discovery of their agreemenâ— made the King of England be lookt upon as the Agent and procurer of it For the French King's Army under Turenne marching into Brie in view of the Lorrain Army the Duke of Beaufort was extreme desirous to encounter with them To which purpose he went into the field where he found King Charles and the Duke of York with the Duke of Lorrain who upon the approach of Beaufort presently withdrew And then this Duke urging him of Lorrain to fight found an extreme coldnesse in him to the business and presently after understood his conjunction with the Court-interest Whereupon the incensed Princes exclaimed against the perfidiousnesse of the Duke of Lorrain and against the English Princes as the causes of it Who though they made it sufficiently apparent that their transactions with the Duke of Lorrain were wholly about another affair yet the indignation of the Princes and people for this collusion so blinded their reasons that they would not be convinc'd of the innocency of the King and his Brother but bitterly inveigh'd against them and the Queen Mother whom they also were resolv'd to believe had been instrumental in the business so that they were induc'd to withdraw from the Louvre to St. Germains and the Queen to Chaliot Shortly after the Victory at Worcester the pretended Parliament as I said executed abundance of the Royall party and such as were suffer'd to live had their Estates confiscated and were kept severall yeares after in prison Their principall Acts pass'd the remainder of this year were I. An Act for the increase of shipping and encouragement of Navigation in which it was enacted 1. That no goods or commodities of the growth or manufacture of any places whatsoever should be brought hither but onely in English Ships and that from the very places of their growth and manufacture onely Also that no Fish or Oyle made of Fish or Whale-bone should be imported but onely such as should be caught in English Vessels nor any salted Fish exported in any other save English Bottomes c. This Act was apprehended by the Dutch as highly prejudiciall to the Trade which they had driven with extreme advantage above us during our intestine Wars and proved a great cause of the War that shortly follow'd between this State and the Vnited Provinces II. An Act to determine the Session of this Parliament on Nov. 3. 1654. Their dissolution was a point they did not love to think of but being urg'd by the Army and several Petitions for a new Representative after many debates and delayes they resolv'd to continue their sitting 3. yeares longer but they reckon'd without their Host and receiv'd a quietus about a year and half after from Cromwel III. An Act of Oblivion which was loaden with many heavy provisoes and exceptions IV. An Act for incorporating Scotland into one Commonwealth with England the Government of which they invested in these Commissioners Ol. St. Iohn Sir Henry Vane Maj. Gen. Lambert Maj. Gen. Deane Col. Fenwick Alderman Tichburne Major Salwey and Lieut. Gen. Monck As for Ireland the Government of it having been wholly referred to Cromwel he constituted his Son in Law Ireton to command in chief there wâ—th the Title of Lord Deputy In December 1651. arrived at Paris the Gentlewoman Mrs. Iane Lane who had been instrumental in his Majestie 's deliverance after the overthrow at Worcester of which fearing danger by the discovery of some unfaithful confidents she went on foot in disguise to Yarmouth and there took ship for France She was conducted into Paris with great honour his Majestie himself with the Queen his mother and the Dukes of York and Glocester going out to meet her upon the first sight his Majesty took her by the hand and saluted her with this obliging term VVelcome my Life The French Court also regarded her with much respect and honour together with her Brother Col. Lane who accompanied her thither About the Spring of the year 1652. broke out a furious War between the English the Dutch Common-wealths after Embassadors had been sent to no effect from either The first Act of Hostility was on the 19. of May 1652. After which many bloody Sea-fights pass'd between them both in the British Sea and the Streights with great losse of Ships and men on both sides but the Dutch were most commonly worstest During this sharp War his Majesty was as mindfull of his Interests using all endeavours for an accommodation between the King of France and the Princes as also between the Kings of France and Spain in the mean time also sending Embassadours to severall Potentates to desire assistance as the Lord Wilmot whom he had created Earle of Rochester to the Imperial Diet at Ratisbone the Lord Culpeper to the Hague and the Lord VVentworth to the King of Denmark But the Catholick Princes were the colder in gratifying his Majesty for that he shew'd no pronesse to embrace their Religion as the Emperor once expresly signified to him And indeed such was his Majestie 's constancy that no temptations of worldly advantages no resentment of adversity nor the sollicitations and arguments of severall grand Catholicks who endeavour'd to pervert him as Mr. Montagu Militiere and Salmonet could prevaile any thing upon him He propounded to the Dutch that if they would furnish him with a squadron of Ships he would set up his own Flags and command them in person Some of the Provinces were very inclinable to the motion but that of Holland which stood out against the admitting of the young Prince of Orange for Capt. Gen. was also backward to comply with his Majestie 's desires or undertake his interest then which act nothing could have been more honourable to them nor perhaps more beneficiall All that he could bring them to was that they granted liberty for his Ships to ride in their Ports with their Flâ—gs up as King of Great Brittaine c. The King of Denmark professed willingnesse enough to gratify his Majesty but his affairs were then in a doubtfull Estate and depended much upon the successe of the Dutch with whom he had partly engaged On December 1652. the English Iunto resolved to be rid of his Majestie 's younger Brother the Duke of Glocester and referr'd it to the Council of State to consider with what accommodation and to what place to send him The Council that they might seem to do something handsomely ordered him to go into Holland gave him a Bill for 1000. l. to be paid to him upon his arrival but such was their honesty that they took care that he should never receive one penny of it However he was
strict command he had lay'd upon him at his departure out of France of the horrid injury offer'd to his conscience honour and family of the vanity of his perswaders motives and the falseness and emptiness of their promises He also declar'd to him the more eligiblenesse of any degree of suffering and urg'd to him the fidelity of God's promises whose love he must expect to loose together with that of himself a most affectionate Brother in case he yielded to the inveiglements of his Temptours Moreover he desir'd him to reflect on their dead Father's last charge solemnly given him the day before his Glorification with the entail of his blessing annexed And in conclusion added That if he either chang'd his Religion or put himself into the Iesuites Colledge he had the last Letter from him and must never look to see England or his face again And that if which God forbid their businesse miscarried for ever the whole ruining of their Family and all the Nations too must be laid with all the consequent mischiefs at his doore as the chief cause of it Assoon as his Highnesse had read this admonitory Letter he transcrib'd a copy of it and sent it to the Queen desiring her permission to come to Paris both in regard of these commands of the King and of his Brother the Duke of York's approching return from the Army To which her Majesty answer'd that she should not cease wishing his eternall good by his conversion to which nevertheless she would not force him but wish'd him to hearken to what Mr. Montagu should further deliver to him which was that he would be willing to go to the Iesuites Colledge where he should have extreme freedome in every thing But all would not prevail upon his resolution However he return'd to Paris whereabout the 18. of November the Marquis of Ormond arriv'd from Germany with Letters and new Instructions having taken a long and dangerous voyage by reason the lately dissolved French Army had betaken themselves to the robbing of all passengers Before the intent of his journey was known the Queen of France and the Cardinal very closely press'd him and so did her Majesty of England both her self apart and by Mr. Montagu Which importunities proving fruitlesse some severities were proceeded to which occasion'd his Highnesse to leave the Palace Royal and go to the House of the Lord Hatton's in the Fauxbourgs where the former solicitations were renew'd but with as little successe After which the Duke desir'd the favour to see the Q. his Mother before his departure but was refus'd which denial having receiv'd with much grief he went away with my Lord of Ormond to Collen where his Majestie resided But let us look back a little upon the actions of the Usurper of his Majestie 's Dominions Cromwel's new Instrument enjoin'd the summoning of Parliament every three years and accordingly he sent out his new fashioned Writs and new contriv'd Indentures for the returning of Members and that after a new way ten or a dozen for most Counties one or two for Cities and Burroughs and many of these left wholly out The reason of which was because it was easier to pack elections in Counties by the interest of Army-Officers and other Creatures then in Borroughs They assembled at Westminster on the 3. of Septemb. 1654. Cromwel meeting them in the Painted Chamber made a Speech in which he indevor'd to shew the necessity of his taking the Government upon him and recounted the excellencies of it telling them also that he did not designe to be a Lord over them but their Fellow-Servant to the publick After which they chose Lenthall for their Speaker and betook themselves to their business The first debate was Whether the Legislative Power should be in a siâ—gle Peâ—son and a Parliament It was bandied with some heat till Cromwel thinking them too busy in making a Question of that which he would have believ'd sufficiently determin'd by his Instrument resolv'd to make them sensible of it wherefore sending for them into the Painted Chamber about 8. dayes after their first assembling he check'd them severely telling them 1. That the Fundamentals in the Government viz. such as were constituted by the Instrument could not be altered whereof that which they dâ—bated was one and 2. that the Militia was not to be trusted in any one hand or power but so that the Parliament ought to have a check upon the Protector and He upon Them 3. That Parliaments should not be perpetuall nor alwaies sitting 4. That there ought to be Liberty of Conscience in Religion Other things in the Government were examinable and alterable according to the State of Affairs For his own part his heart was even overwhelm'd with grief to see any of them should go about to overthrow what was settled viz. by his Instrument contrary to their trust received from the people After this Preface he deliver'd them a Paper called a Recognition to be subscribed by such as intended to sit in which they were to engage to be faithfull to the Lord Protector and the Commonwealth and not to propose or give consent to alter the Government as it was setled in one Person and a Parliament Such as refus'd to subscribe were excluded from sitting the rest repair'd again to the House where they took the Instrument in hand again and prepar'd a Bill for the settling of the Government some others which they intended to present to the Protector to be sign'd together But he having information given him all the way of their proceedings by some false Members suffer'd them to spend 5. months allotted them by the Instrument to sit without interruption and the very next day after went to the Painted Chamber where upbraiding them with Parricide in not owning the Authority that called them thither and endeavouring to subvert the Government owned by God as being the dispensation of his Providence after 12. years VVar he dissolv'd this Parliament as he had done two before Ian. 22. 1654. Within two dayes after their Dissolution a Plot was discover'd which Cromwel said was occasioned if not hatched by the Parliament it self Sir Henry Littleton high Sheriff of Worcestershire and Sir Iohn Packington of the same County were committed to the Tower thereupon and severall persons more in the North and Northwest Counties of England where the design was laid for an Insurrection Shrewsbury and Chrik-Castle were to have been surprised but it was prevented the discovery of the whole Conspiracy having been made to Cromwel by some secret insinuating Agents of his from the first birth of it till it was mature to break out At Shrewsbury the Lord Newport Sir Thomas Harris who were the chief there was taken prisoners and sent up to London Neverthelesse others were not deterr'd from attempting something for the deliverance of their Native Country from Bondage for upon the 11. of March 1654. a body of 200. consisting most of Gentlemen surprised Salisbury and took away all