those at White-Hall with the Protector against those at Wallingford House with the General the Protector in pursuance of the Parliament-Votes forbidding any further Convention of those Officers at Wallingford House Which prohibition signifyed little for the Wallingford House-men being much the more numerous and sturdy at length so awed and daunted his Highness that they obtained his consent to a Commission and Proclamation ready penned to Dissolve the Parliament though he had with great assurance to the Members promised the contrary Whereupon the Usher with the Black Rod was twice sent to the House of Commons by Mr. Nathaniel Fienes Speaker of the Other House requiring them to come up Who being not ignorant upon what errand it was not only scorned to stir but some of them became so couragious to move that the House should declare it High Treason for any person whatsoever to put force upon any Members of the House and that all Votes Acts and Resolutions passed by any Members of Parliament when the rest were detained from or taken out of the House by force should be null and void And finding themselves so unanimous to their Resolves Adjourned the House till next Monday Morning attending their Speaker all in fair Order through Westminster-Hall to his Coach in the face of the Souldiers which had then beset both the Palace-Yards CHAP. XLI BUT on Monday morning all avenues to the House being stopt up by the Souldiers and entrance peremptorily denyed unto any of the Members the Wallingford-House-Officers unto whom most of those at White-Hall were by that time joyned casting off Whalley Goffe and Ingoldesby with some other of the Protectors chiefest Confidents and taking in Lambert Sir Arthur Haselrigg Colonel Okey and some others who had been set aside by Oliver considering with themselves that though they must necessarily govern by a Military-power yet the name and shadow of a Parliament would best captivate the people forasmuch therefore as the Members of that Parliament then so excluded could not properly be readmitted but with much hazard to the Souldiers Interest they procured a private Conference with some Members of the Old Long Parliament formerly turned out by Oliver viz. Sir Henry Vane Sir Arthur Haselrigg Colonel Ludlow Colonel Iones Thomas Scot Thomas Chaloner Major General Lambert and some others to the number of about twenty At which Conference it being agreed that they should take in William Lenthal the Old Speaker and meet in the House on Saturday the seventh of May in order thereto they set forth this following Declaration viz. The Publick concernment of this Common-Wealth being through a vicissitude of dangers deliverances and back-slidings of many brought into that state and posture whereon they now stand and our selves also contributing thereto by wandring divers ways from Righteous and Equal Paths And although there hath been many Essays to obviate the dangers and to settle these Nations in Peace and Prosperity yet all have proved ineffectual the only wise God in the course of his providence disappointing all endeavours therein And also observing to our great grief that the good Spirit which formerly appeared amongst us in the carrying on of this great work did daily decline so as the Good Old Cause it self became a reproach we have been led to look back and examine the cause of the Lord 's withdrawing his wonted presence from us and where we turned out of the way that through mercy we might return and give him the Glory And amongst other things calling to mind that the Long Parliament consisting of the Members there Sitting until the 20 th of April 1653. were eminent assertors of the Cause and had a special presence of God with them and were signally blessed in that work the desires of many good people concurring with ours therein we judg it our duty to invite the aforesaid Members to return to the exercise and discharge of their Trust as before the said 20 th of April 1653. And therefore we do hereby most earnestly desire the Parliament consisting of those Members who continued to Sit from the year 1648. until the 20 th of April 1653. to return to the exercise and discharge of their Trust and we shall be ready in our places to yield them as becomes us our utmost assurance to Sit in safety for the improving present opportunity for setling and securing the Peace and Freedom of this Common-Wealth praying for the presence and blessing of God upon their endeavours Which Declaration was signed by General Fleetwood and the Council of Officers of the Army In order whereunto those Members of the Long-Parliament came the day following to the Painted-Chamber but finding of their designed number which was forty and two that there wanted a couple they sent to the Gaols for a present supply Where having the Lord Munson and Henry Martin ready at hand who lay there upon Executions for Debt with Lisle and Whitlock from the Chancery-Bench they advanced into the House with a Mace born before them their names being as followeth Lord Munson Henry Martin Bulstrode Whitlock Mr. Lisle Thomas Chaloner Alderman Atkins Alderman Penington Thomas Scott Cornelius Holland Henry Vane Mr. Prideaux Sir Iames Harington Lieutenant General Ludlow Michael Oldsworth Sir Arthur Haselrigg Mr. Iones Colonel Purefoy Colonel White Henry Nevil Mr. Say Mr. Blagrave Colonel Bennet Mr. Brewster Sergeant Wilde Iohn Goodwyn Mr. Nicholas Lechmore Augustine Skynner Mr. Downes Mr. Dove Mr. Iohn Lenthal Mr. Iohn Saloway Mr. Iohn Corbet Mr. Walton Gilbert Millington Mr. Gold Colonel Sydenham Colonel Byngham Colonel Ayre Mr. Smith Colonel Ingoldesby Lieutenant General Fleetwood Upon notice of whose Sitting there being many of the Members of that old Parliament then walking in Westminster-Hall and more about the City those in the Hall consulting together and thereupon being satisfied that they had as good right to sit there again as those who were gone in before resolved to follow them into the House or at least to attempt it These being Mr. Annesley Sir George Booth Mr. Iames Herbert Mr. William Prynne Mr. George Montagu Mr. Iohn Evelin Mr. Iohn Herbert Mr. Gowen Mr. Evelyn Mr. Knightley Mr. Clive Mr. Hungerford Mr. Harvey Mr. Packe Who being come to the Door after much expostulation with the Guard for their Priviledges of Sitting were denyed entrance Whereupon resolving to wait a fitter opportunity some of them came again on Monday following viz. Mr. Annesley Mr. Prynne and Mr. Hungerford and went into the House Which free admittance causing Mr. Annesley to presume that the rest might also come in he went out again into the Hall to give others notice thereof but upon his return found it otherwise For those who were met would not go on with any business so long as Mr. Prynne did make his stay amongst them so that they soon adjourned and upon their next meeting ordered That such persons formerly Members of that Parliament who had
the late Wars being Apprentices and not served out their times and others that had so served the Common-wealth who were fit for Trades should exercise any Trade that to such as had served the Parliament and Common-wealth in England Scotland or Ireland by the space of four years at any time since the year 1642. and before the third of September an 1651. and not revolted to the Kings-party or deserted the service or that had served two years in the Wars of Scotland or Ireland in the Service of the Common-wealth since the third of September 1651. and before the first of August 1654. Likewise a third Act appointing Visitors for both Universities Also for the Schools of Westminster Winchester Merchant-Tailors-School and Eaton-Colledge-School CHAP. XXXVII THEN he called a Parliament to meet at Westminster upon the third of September and on the day following went thither from White-Hall in State the manner thus First a Marshall with his Staff Then all the Life-Guard and his Domestick-Officers with some well-affected Citizens viz. his Draper and other Tradesmen in rank three and three on Foot bare-headed Next a rich Coach drawn by six Horses in the hinder end whereof he himself sate the Lord Lambert on his left side and the Lord Lawrence President of his Council on the right the Lord Strickland and Captain Howard Captain of his Life-Guard walking on Foot Then the Lord Claypole Master of his Horse on Horseback leading the Horse of State with a Rich Saddle curiously Embroydered with Gold and Pearl Next a War-Horse led with Pistols at the Saddle After this another rich Coach wherein sate the Lord Keepers of the Great Seal and two Serjeants at Arms with their Maces Then another rich Coach wherein rode the Secretaries of State Thus with all his Guard of Gray-coats having new Halberts and twelve Footmen in like Liveries they went to the Abby-Church at Westminster where Mr. Iohn Goodwyn Preacht and from thence on Foot to the Painted Chamber the Lord Lambert carrying the Sword before him Where standing by a rich Chair set by the Wal on that side the Room towards the Lord's House he made a long speech to them wherein using many canting expressions he told them they came that day to settle not only the Interest of three great Nations but of all the Christian-people in the World he talkt likewise very much of Healing and Setling and of the danger by the Levelling party Also of those who had only a form of Godliness but not the power thereof He likewise complain'd of an Extremity that as formerly he said none having a good Testimony and who had received Gifts from Christ might Preach if not Ordained That then on the other hand many who were Ordained had Antichristianism stampt upon their calling so that he ought not to Preach nor be heard As also that there was inveighing against such as denyed Liberty to those who had earned it with their Blood who had gained civil liberty and Religious also Next he toucht upon those many honest people as he call'd them whose hearts were sincere many of them as he said belonging to God viz. the mistaken notions of the fifth-Monarchy men a thing pretending more to Spirituality than any thing else affirming that Liberty and Property were not the Badges of the Kingdom of Christ who instead of regulating Laws would have Laws subverted and bring in the Judaical Laws He told them also of the advantages which the common Enemy id est the Royalists did make by those their divisions Likewise of the endeavours here by the Emissaries of the Jesuits of the decay in their Trade by the War with Portugal Dutch and French and the remedy applyed was that Government calculated for the Interest of the people instancing what Reformation had been aimed at by it that is to say the Reforming the Laws and putting the administration of them into the hands of just men Also to put a stop to every man who would make himself a Preacher and that That work was committed to the trust of persons both of the Presbyterian and Independent judgments of as known ability and integrity as any this Nation then had Men as he said who had put such into that great imployment who had received Gifts from him that ascended on high and had Gifts for the work of the Ministry and for the edifying of the Body of Christ. He told them also that That Government had been instrumental to the calling of that Parliament which they saw there that day Saying it was a free Parliament He told them likewise what Peace they had with Neighbour Princes and of a people which were brought out of Aegypt towards the Land of Canam but through unbelief murmuring and repining and other temptations and sins wherewith God was provoked they were fain to go back again and linger many years in the Wilderness He also added that they had cause to take notice how that they were not brought into misery but that a door of Hope was open And that if the Lords blessing and his presence went along with the management of affairs at that meeting they would be enabled to put the top Stone to their work and make the Nation happy He likewise told them that they were like to the people under Circumcision but raw their Peace being but newly made and that it was one of the great ends of calling that Parliament that their Ship of the Commen-wealth might be brought into safe Harbour perswading them therefore to a Sweet Gracious and holy understanding of one another And concluded that he had not spoke those things to them as one that assumed to himself Dominion over them but as one that did resolve to be a fellow-Servant with them to the Interest of those great affairs and of the people of these Nations And so dismissing them they went to the House of Commons and chose William Lenthall their Speaker But instead of falling to work as the Protector had directed in his Speech so great was the Ambition of those who had been Members of the late long Parliament to get the sole power into their hands again that after some private discourses amongst one another they fell to clandestine plots for the pulling down this their great Master and setting up themselves in their old Tyrannical Dominion again To which end they fell to making Speeches in derogation of the Lord Protector 's Authority pressing earnestly that those Members of the good old Parliament as they call'd it which were then by Gods providence as they said so met together should forthwith declare for and reassume their just and rightful Power Which motion being backt with many plausible Arguments found at that time such favourers in the House that the promoters of it hourly got ground upon those of the contrary party The debate therefore holding on with much eagerness and drawing very near to a dangerous issue did so awaken the Protector who discern'd his own certain ruine
in the House tending thereto first by a Proposal of four then five nay six were mention'd and the motion not dislik'd told them peremptorily that it was in vain for them to think of less than twelve in regard he knew under that number would not be accepted And having by that sinister dealing kept such distance betwixt his Majesty and his good Subjects was by some other of the faction so seconded with a hideous representation of their Grievances together with dangerous Innovations in Religion and fears of introducing Superstition besides certain motions as did not without cause put strange apprehensions in the Queen of peril to her person or at least some others very near unto her that his Majesty was constrain'd to dissolve that Parliament And taking consideration of the Scots rebellious Insolencies which every day increased proposed the business of money to his Privy-Council who contributed a considerable sum to his aid his domestic-Servants and Officers making good addition thereto The Earl of Strafford Lord Lieutenant of Ireland speedily hasting into that Kingdom where he call'd a Parliament raised an Army of eight thousand men with money to maintain them and within the space of six weeks return'd into England That the meeting of these Members of Parliament from all parts of the Realm being many of them men of turbulent Spirits and principles totally Antimonarchical gave opportunity for those contrivances which afterwards were put in Action there is nothing more sure For in the first place they took care to infuse Fears and Iealousies into the people every where that the Government was then design'd to be Arbitrary and Popery like to be introduced to promote which Scandals many seditious Preachers took no small pains in their Pulpits especially in and about London Whereupon several tumultuous meetings were made in divers parts of the Suburbs and a Paper set up in the night at the old Exchange animating the Apprentices to sack Lambeth House Which took such effect that two nights following it was beset with above five hundred of the rascal multitude and an attemt made thereon though without success some of them being taken and imprisoned in Southwark But here they rested not for within a few nights after they broke open the White-Lion and King's-bench Prisons and let out their fellows The Scots also having made such preparations for a second Rebellion continued likewise their Parliament according to the Fundamental Laws as their phrase was having enacted a Band to be subscribed by all men before the first of September to maintain it to be a free and lawful Parliament whereupon they form'd another Army and knowing certainly what store of well-wishers they had in this Kingdom as also how easy the work was like to be made through the subtile contrivances of the factious party here from whom they were sufficiently instructed and animated by private Invitations and large promises invaded this Realm passing the Twede at Barwick But the King being slow to believe what they designed was not so forward as to encounter them upon the Borders his Army which he rais'd that Summer lying at that time about New-Castle of which the Earl of Northumberland was made General who alledging himself to be then ill in health staid in London His Majesty therefore having certain advertisement that the Scots were ready to enter Northumberland intended to have made the Earl of Strafford General who declin'd it out of an honoured respect to the Earl of Northumberland but being much pressed in regard of this present occasion desired to serve as Lieutenant general under him and had his Commission accordingly On Thursday the twentieth of Aug. the King set forwards from London towards the North and on Munday following the Earl of Strafford having in that short time fitted himself for his journey posted from London by Coaches and arriving at York the Wednesday after though then much troubled with the Stone rode to Topcliffe on Fryday At that time the Lord Conway was General of the Horse and at Newcastle with the Army Where by reason of the General 's and Lieutenant-General's absence he had the cheif command thereof but made such slender resistance that the Scots forc'd their passage over the River of Tine at Newburne that very Friday and entred Newcastle without opposition himself then retreating with the Army towards York and in some confusion And now that the Scots had thus possess'd themselves of Newcastle they began to strengthen that place and bring all those Northern-parts under contribution Which strange passages made most men amazed scarce any man knowing whom to trust or speak freely to Much labour indeed there was to make the people believe that all this did work for their good and that the Scots were their surest friends this being the certain way to have a Parliament and that the undoubted cure of all things amiss both in Church and State And truly such a burthen was Ship-money then esteem'd to be and some few other extraordinary Impositions so wanton were many grown being surfeited with that plenty which long peace had produc'd that the Scots then had not a few well-wishers in all parts of this Realm their piety and goodness being so cried up by the whole Puritan-party His Majesty therefore in this difficult Labyrinth took resolution to summon a meeting of the Peers at York a course which had anciently been used especially when exigencies were so great that the Convention of a Parliament could not be staid for and at the meeting of this grand Council represented to them the present danger of this Invasion with desire of their advice touching the maintenance of his Army as not safe to be disbanded whilst the Scotish-Forces were on foot as also what course was fittest to be taken to get them out Whereupon without long deliberating a Treaty was determin'd on and for that end sixteen of the Lords then present were assign'd on the King's part to meet with Eleven of the Scots with power to compose and conclude all differences Whereunto the Scots assented upon condition that the King should first revoke his Proclamation whereby he had declared them Traitors COMMISSIONERS Of the English these Francis Earl of Bedford William Earl of Hertford Robert Earl of Essex William Earl of Salisbury Robert Earl of Warwick Iohn Earl of Bristol Henry Earl of Holland Thomas Earl of Berkshire Philip Lord Wharton William Lord Paget Edward Lord Kymbolton Robert Lord Brook Iohn Lord Paulet Edw. L. Howard of Escrick Thomas Lord Savile Francis Lord Dunsmore Of the Scots these Iohn Earl of Rothess Ch. Earl of Dumfermeling Iohn Lord Lowdon Sir Patrick Hepburne of Waughtone Sir Will. Douglas of Cavers William Drummond of Riccarton Iohn Smith Bailiff of Edenborough Alexand Wedderburn Clerk of Dundee Hugh Kennedy Burgess of Aire Alexander Henderson Archibald Iohnstone Which Treaty began at Rippon upon the ninth of October but what good effect it was like to produce we
of that Diocess of Coventry and Litchfield In order whereunto when he had march'd within half a mile of Litchfield he drew up his Army and there devoutly pray'd a blessing upon his intended work withall earnestly desiring that God would by some special Token manifest unto them his approbation of that their design which being done he went on and planted his great Guns against the South-East Gate of the Close himself standing in a Window of a little House near thereto to direct the Gunners in their purposed Battery but it so hapned that there being two persons placed in the Battlements of the chiefest Steeple to make shot with long fouling Guns at the Cannoniers upon a sudden accident which occasioned the Souldiers to give a shout this Lord coming to the door compleatly harnessed with Plate-Armour cap a pe was suddenly shot into one of his Eyes but the strength of the Bullet so much abated by the glance thereof on a piece of timber which supported a Pentiss over the Door that it only lodg'd in his Brains Whereupon he suddenly fell down dead Nor is it less notable that this accident fell out upon the second day of March which is the Festival of that sometime famous Bishop St. Chad to whose memory Offa King of the Mercians first erected this stately Church and devoutly dedicated it The next thing whereof I shall take notice is that on the nineteenth day of the same month of March was that feirce Skirmish at Hopton-Heath in the same County of Stafford where the right loyal and valiant Spenser Earl of Northampton encountring Sir William Brereton and Sir Iohn Gell though he had the better of the day being unhappily fallen from his Horse amongst Coney-Burrows was barbarously murthered CHAP. XV. AS to this year's Actions considering that money is the Sinews of war the first thing of note in order to the gaining thereof which the Members at Westminster did was the sequestring of Delinquents i. e. the Royalists estates And finding the poor Country-people very weary of the war and apt to run away having also had so much experience of the Cities forwardness in all things tending to their service to the intent that upon any sudden occasion they might draw out considerable numbers thence they passed an Ordinance that the Committee for the Militia of London and the Suburbs should raise new Regiments of Voluntiers for the better security thereof So likewise for the better support of two other of their Generals viz. Sir William Waller and Sir Arthur Haselrig they passed an Ordinance for engaging the Public Faith to such as should lend either Horse Men or Money unto them in that service But by this time the private Discontents and repinings which these large Exactions caused beginning to make the great Masters in this Tragic Scene to doubt a revolt in the people considering how frequently the King by sundry gracious Proclamations of pardon and all other good means had woed them To carry on the work therefore the more smoothly they were constrained after the example of their Brethren the Scots to make an Engagement by a solemn Oath for continuing their assistance therein And in this as the Citizens of London who in all other occasions had been their principal Instruments did readily tender their service by Sir Henry Mildmay who reported to the House that they would lend the fourty thousand pounds demanded for now they were borrowing again provided that the Holy League and Covenant before spoken of might be made and imposed upon the whole Kingdom And rather than their Blessed Cause as they call'd it should suffer it was moved by the Sub-Committee at Sadler's Hall in Breadstreet that all persons who were willing to promote their own Safety should spare one meal weekly towards the provision of Horse and Arms for the new rais'd Auxiliaries about London Also because they found some slackness in the people to bring in money upon the Propositions they appointed Committees in the several Counties to tax such for their fifth and twentieth part as had not contributed or lent accordingly and passed another Ordinance for taking Horses for the service of the Parliament It is not unworthy of note that this thrifty contrivance for sparing one meal a week was the usher to that then formidable Imposition called Excise never before heard of by many thousands in this Kingdom which the trivers at Westminster durst not shew the people till they were sufficiently tamed under the yoke of other Exactions knowing full well how displeasing it would be to them Nay so fearful were they themselves after they had form'd their first Army lest the people should apprehend any suspicion thereof which might then have endangered a Revolt that when it was but whispered by some what they foresaw would happen they made an Order in their House of Commons for punishing such Malignant persons as had cast aspersions upon that House that they intended to assess any man's Pewter and lay Excise upon that and other Commodities But now that they saw the people by degrees so patiently submit to many other burdens they began to debate in their House of Commons how fit and necessary it would be for them to impose Excise upon Wine Beer Tobacco and such petty Commodities Whereupon Mr. Pym by his Letter to Sir Iohn Hotham signifyed that they had proceeded in the Excise to many particulars and intended to go on farther but that it would be necessary to use the people to it by little and little And because this Ordinance before-mention'd for taking Horses for the service of the Parliament should not pinch upon their friends they passed another by which they appointed certain persons to levy such Horses for the service of the Parliament but with special direction that the Horses taken from the well affected should be valued and repaiment secured upon the Public faith Having thus laid such a sure foundation for the support of more Forces they then sent out a Declaration to their Lord Lieutenants and Deputy-Lieutenants of Kent Canterbury and the Cinqueports that they should associate and raise an Army of a thousand Foot-Voluntiers and one or more Troops of Horse and to appoint a Major General and give Battel to any Forces not raised by authority of both Houses But the Oath formerly mentioned by Sir Henry Mildmay being by this time framed was now thought fit to be set on foot as of high concernment to oblige all those that were well affected and for the better discovery of other well-wishers to the Cause a work therefore of this high consequence being not fit to be brought into the world naked they had a Committee who made report of a treacherous Conspiracy discovered upon the last day of May being the Fast-day viz. of a pretended design to destroy the Parliament and well affected party of the Kingdom to subject Religion
cleared and those difficulties explained to him which he then conceived to be destructive to his just regal power in case he should give a full consent to those Propositions as they then stood Engaging himself to give his chearful assent to all such Bills as should be really to the good and peace of his people and to prefer the happiness of this Kingdome before his own particular And as a farther means to work a confidence in them of his own sincerity in these things he offered again to trust them with his own person conjuring them as they were Christians and Subjects and as they were men who desired to leave a good name behind them so to receive and make use of that his Answer that all issues of bloud might be stopped and those unhappy distractions peaceably setled But as his former gracious and frequent offers so this could not then find any acceptance at all with them by reason that it tended to the composure of those lamentable distractions which tended to the utter ruine of the King and Realm their aims at first and continued resolutions still being to share the spoyl which by their strength and power they had most unjustly got Nay in stead of any kindness or comfort which he might rationally expect from their many and most solemn promises and protestations they perpetually tormented his pious Soul with incessant importunities to take their hypocritical Covenant and sent for several of their most rigid Preachers to terrify him with their Kirk-censures upon his refusal thereof In which sad and disconsolate condition I shall for a while leave him and take a short view of the transactions betwixt the Members sitting at Westminster and those at Edenborough with their respective Commissioners The principal work being now done here in England by the help of the Scots the Grandees here as well as others began to be weary of their dear Brethren and for the sooner riddance of them passed a Vote that a Message should be sent to the Scottish Army that in regard they were not usefull in this Kingdome for the present and that the payment thereof would be a great burthen thereto they should with all convenient speed return into their Country But the Scots never intending to be loosers by their journey hither knowing full well how to make the best use of those advantages they then had gave their dear Brethren very good words telling them in their answer to the demands made in pursuance of that Vote that their earnest desires were the setling of Religion and Church Government which as it was the principal ground of their engagement in this Cause so would the perfecting of it be their chiefest joy and Glory of both Kingdomes it being the constant resolution of that Kingdome against all opposition to strengthen and cherish the Brotherly kindness between the Kingdomes and Peace setled with Truth and those things performed by the Honourable Houses which by Treaty they were obliged unto to recall their Army with as great alacrity as they were ready to send the same into England for the assistance of their Brethren And in another Letter speaking of the Arrears due to their Army they had these words This Kingdome lyeth under the burthen of great and vast expence in raising and entertaining of Armies and hath with the lives of many precious men set their own Houses on fire to quench the flame of yours And seeing by the seasonable assistance afforded by this Kingdome to you and by the late successes wherewith God hath blessed your Armies you are in a great measure freed of your troubles and are in a far better capacity to pay the moneys due to our Armies in England and Ireland than you were at any time since the beginning of these Wars we demand of the honourable houses to make payment of the summs of money duly owing to this Kingdome ¶ The state of things standing thus made the Game now to be play'd betwixt these great Masters not a little difficult to each the chief business of the then predominant party at Westminster being to gain the person of the King into their own hands and in case he should not upon the matter totally quit his Regal power to them by taking their Covenant and assenting to those their destructive propositions before-mentioned then to keep him close prisoner and exercise the same power without him And the design of the Scots not onely to use the like Regal-power in Scotland but to get a large sum of mony to boot considering that having the King in their hands the Grandees there were able to make their own terms on the behalf of themselves as to Riches and Honours There was therefore no means unessayed by each for accomplishing their respective ends But the Arguments and debates about this business continuing no less than six months before all things were fully agree'd I shall reserve my observations upon them till then and in the mean time take notice of what else did occur that is most remarkable in order to the carrying on their main work and divide the same into two parts the one touching their attempts upon the King in relation to the Covenant and Propositions the other towards the advancement of the Scepter of Iesus Christ for by that title they called their Presbyterean Doctrine and Discipline As to the first About the beginning of September Iames Duke Hamilton Lindsey Earl of Craford the Earl of Cassiles and some others from the Estates of Scotland came to Newcastle to the King and there earnestly solicited him to take the Covenant and sign the Propositions To second which motion there was a petition presented to His Majesty from the general Assembly of the Kirk of Scotland for Reformation of Religion according to the Covenant and uniformity of Church government denouncing God's anger upon him and the hazard to lose the Hearts of his good subjects in case he assented not thereto Soon after which Mr. Andrew Cant Mr. Robert Blayre and Mr. Iames Douglass came thither also to press him to the same purpose To torment him likewise yet more one of these violent men I mean a rigid Presbyterean-preacher besides many rude and uncivil expressions in his Sermon there before the King called for the 52. Psalm to be sung by the congregation which beginneth thus Why do'st thou Tyrant boast abroad thy wicked works to praise Whereupon His Majesty instantly stood up and called for the 56. Psalm beginning thus Have mercy Lord on me I pray for men would me devour Which the people readily sung waving the other Nay the fierceness of these Scottish-presbyters against His Sacred Majesty was such as that upon certain Proposals made to those of them who were Commissioners from the general Assembly viz. If the King shall come into Scotland and that the Kingdome of England shall exclude him of the Government there for his leaving them without granting the Propositions Whether or not
Army and all being done to give them for the pains hazzard and charges which the said Army should undergo a due recompence by way of Brotherly Assistance Towards the performance of which agreement though these Grandees did manifest that besides much free Quarter the Scots-Army had monthly received nineteen thousand and seven hundred pounds and for the last year ending ultimo Octobris seventy two thousand nine hundred seventy two pounds two shillings and eleven pence for the Customes and other Impositions upon coals onely the Brethren nevertheless having then the better end of the staff in their hands as being possess'd of the King delivered in unto them an account of Arrears besides losses of no less than a Million of money their free Quarter reckoned but with a kind intimationâ— that they would accept of a less sum in gross for a full discharge of all Whereupon a Committee being appointed to treat with them thereon and times of payment they then stoop'd to the one half viz. five hundred thousand pounds whereof two hundred thousand pounds to be paid upon the departure of their Army and the rest within twelve months Much dispute indeed they had about this business yea some high words but at length four hundred thousand pounds was the sum agree'd on the one half in hand upon delivery up of the King Which sum without more ado stop'd the mouths of those Vultures and put a period to all this hot contest All their Oaths and Obligation whereon they had so much insisted meerly to heighten the price of their Sovereign being then set aside as 't is notoriously known Being therefore thus sold and delivered to the Earls of Pembroke Denbigh and Lord Mountagu of Boughton Sir Iames Harington Sir Iohn Holand Sir Walter Earl Sir Iohn Cook Iohn Crew Esq and Major General Brown Commissioners from the Members at Westminster to be carried to Holdenby-House in Northamptonshire his Majestie hoped that he might have two of his own Chaplains admitted to attend him in this sad and disconsolate condition having not one servant of his own about him but that request would not be granted though again seconded ¶ Thus did the bonny Scots part with their native King leaving those Northern countries miserably beggar'd by many grievous Taxes imposed on them by their Army and most lamentable oppressions by Free-Quarter Which burthens were so heavy that the Inhabitants of Cleveland by their petition to the Members at Westminster and Letter therewith sent complained that their oppressions were greater than those who suffered by the Turks both their persons and Estates those under the Turk being quit for a fifth part whereas they in one year did pay their whole Revenues seven times over We are say they in their Letters the absolutest slaves that ever was read of for they assess us at their pleasures leavy as they please If they bid us go and ride none dare refuse The Kill us in hot bloud beat us in cold c. In a word our stock is already wasted our little corn we had ill gotten in by reason of the great moisture we are now thrashing it for the Scots We are eating our last bread Who have been able to get away are gone c. The perfect Diurnal further adds The Country puts up many complaints Bedall a little Town in Yorkshire of 57 li. old Rent and Ayscough a lesser Village of 42 li. have put up their several complaints that they have in less than five months last past paid to the Scots Army quartering upon them almost two thousand pounds besides former Billettings and Taxes by which sad sufferings some have left their Houses others at the point of leaving theirs also Lâ—tters from Richmundshire did likewise intimate that two Constableries of that County the Rent whereof amounted to no more than ninety nine pounds per annum were assessed by the Scottish Army and paid in Free Quarter no less than nineteen hundred pounds in four months But having made such a fair Market of the King leaving those Countries thus harrassed they march'd back over Tweed upon the eleventh of February ¶ Hereupon the Grandees at Westminster having to the view of the World finish'd their great work by getting the person of the king into their power they imployed Phillip Earl of Pembroke Basill Earl of Denbigh Edward Lord Mountagu of Boughton Sir Iames Harington Sir Iohn Holand and Sir Iohn Cook Baronets Sir Walter Earl Knight Iohn Crew Esq and Major General Brown as already hath been observed to bring his Majestie from Newcastle to Holdenby in Northampton shire Who coming to Newcastle upon the 22. of Ianuary after their stay there till the last day of that month they set forwards on the Journey and on the sixteenth of February got to holdenby where they kept him under a strict restraint Colonel Richard Greaves a most confiding Presbyterean having the chief command of his Guards not suffring any of his own servants to come near him no not so much as one Chaplain for performance of such divine offices as common charity could not have denyed to the greatest criminal though often and earnestly moved by his Majestie thereto Which being done they thought of nothing more than singing a Requiem to their Souls In order whereunto in the first place they concluded on the new modelling of their Army lest the tender Independent who grew up apace might otherwise overtop his Presbyterean-parent and therefore resolv'd to cull out those who were not Covenant-proof and send them for Ireland there to encounter as well with hunger and cold as other miseries and hardships of war Then to disband others and make a new establishment consisting of such onely as were pure Covenanters and firm to the good old Cause And next to the end that with more plausibility to the people and security to themselves they might have the full sway of all their drift was to extoâ— the King's consent he being then their prisoner 〈◊〉 this their new designed Dominion For the accomplishment whereof according to their wonted praâ—â—â—ses they caused a petition to be exhibited to the two Houses at Westminster by the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Common Council of London Wherein was contained a subtil insinuation of their desires that God would bring his Majestie 's Heart nearer to his chief and greatest Council the Parliament and that he would be perswaded to joyn with them in the National League and Covenant and give satisfaction in the Propositions which the Parliaments of both Nations should make unto him for the full assurance of his People for the future and firm establishment of the Peace and Vnion of the Kingdomes in Church and Commonwealth In which Petition it was also desired that for security to the Parliament and City such as had been in opposition to the Parliament id est loyal to the King might be removed out of the City and kept at a
the least to the contrary and imparted to him the substance of what had then passed betwixt them Whereupon the King framing his Answer to those Proposals from the Parliament so brought to him as abovesaid sent it by the same person to Cromwell and Ireton to be perused with liberty to add or alter what they should think fit Which being done by them and returned to His Majesty he wrote it a new and sent it to Westminster But see now the horrid perfidiousness of Cromwell and Ireton No sooner was this candid and gracious Answer from the King Imparted to the House of Commons but that both of them appeared with the highest in their bitter invectives against it The News whereof being forthwith brought to the King he call'd for the person who had been so lately with Cromwell and acquainting him therewith sent him back to Cromwell to require a reason thereof Whose answer was that what he had then said in the House of Commons was to sound the depth of those virulent humours wherewith the Presbytereans whom he knew to be no friends to the King were possess'd with all But after that time he never came more to His Majesty That person therefore whom the King had so imployed to Cromwell observing thus much made it his chief business to find out the Councils and designs of the principal Officers of the Army at Putney and discerning at length how dangerous they were in reference to His Majesty gave him private Advertisement thereof to the end he might consider which way best to preserve himself Whereupon resolving to get privately from Hampton-Court to the City of London the same person so imploy'd as abovesaid undertook to find him out a secure lodging there and accordingly leaving him did provide such a one His Majesty determining that so soon as he should get safe thither to let him have knowledge thereof And now at length being fully sensible of what he had so long feared which was that notwithstanding his own clear and candid dealing with them in all respects and that he did so far rely upon them that he had strictly prohibited all those of his faithful subjects who had served in his Armys that they should not joyn with the Scots in case they should raise any forces in order to his pretended restoration as Cromwell seem'd to suspect that they might though nothing less would have been the effects thereof considering they stuck so close to their solemn League and Covenant he was to expect no better than destruction and ruine to himself and his posterity and absolute slavery to all his good Subjects he caused a Boat to be privately brought to the River-side and upon the eleventh of November about the beginning of the night went alone from the Privy-lodgings through a Door where no Guard stood into the Park and so crossing the Thames landed at Ditton where Sir Iohn Berkley afterwards Lord Berkley Mr. Iohn Ashburnham and Colonel William Legg sometime Groomes of his Bedchamber were placed with Horses But so it hapned that when the King was got on Shore and had stay'd some time for them Mr. Ashburnham diswaded him from going to London and led him into Hantshire where His Majesty demanding of him to what place he intended to conduct him he answered into the Isle of Wight whereof Colonel Hamond was then Governour in whom Mr. Ashburnham had no little confidence To which His Majesty replyed that he would not adventure himself thither unless he might have sufficient assurance under the Governour 's hand for his security from any danger and thereupon sent Mr. Ashburnham and Sir Iohn Berkley into the Isle to treat with Hamond to that purpose staying himself at Lichfield house belonging to the Earl of Southampton with Colonel Legg till they returned strictly charging them that they should not let Hamond know where he was unless he would give him full assurance under his Hand for his freedome and return thence when he pleased But instead of observing these His Majestie 's directions they came back and brought Hamond with them And being come to Lichfield went to the King then in his Bed-chamber leaving Hamond below telling His Majesty what they had done whereat the King being not a little amazed askt them if they had a promise under Hamond's hand for his security and they replying No but thâ—â— he would approve himself a man of Honour He plainly told them that they had betray'd him or words to that purpose concluding then that he was no better than his prisoner Which sharp resentment of his condition 〈…〉 them so neer that they offer'd to kill Hamond 〈◊〉 take some other course for His Majestie 's safety But to this their vain proposal the King did utterly refuse to assent rather choosing to yeild up himself a Sacrifice as he afterwards was made to those bloud-thirsty-men who had resolved his destruction and subversion of the Government than to be guilty of assenting to take away the life of that one Rebel in cold bloud And putting himself thereupon into the hands of that unworthy person was by him kept in no better condition than a prisoner untill he was by his consent taken away by the direction of Cromwell and the rest of those bloudy Regicides who brought him to the Block as we shall see anon But I return At his departure from Hampton-Court he left in his withdrawing-room a Letter directed to the Commissioners which attended him there to be communicated to both Houses of Parliament the effect whereof was to tell them that he had with great patience endured a tedious restraint which he did willingly undergo whilst he had any hopes that it might conduce to the peace of the Kingdoms but then finding by too certain proofs that this his continued patience would not onely turn to his personal ruin but be of much more prejudice than furtherance of the publick good he did conceive that he was bound as well by natural as political obligations to seek his safety by retiring himself for some time from the publick view both of his friends and enemies challenging the judgment of all indifferent men if he had not just cause to free himself from the hands of those who did change their Principles with their condition earnestly urging that all just Interests viz. Presbyterean Independent Army and Scots might be heard together with himself with Honour Freedom and Safety and then that he would instantly break through that cloud of retirement and shew himself to be really Pater patriae In this Letter of his Majestie 's who unparallel'd Sufferings had raised his Observations to an higher pitch than some who have been much magnified for their Wisedom did ever reach it is to be noted that he saw he had just cause to free himself from the Hands of those who did change their principles with their condition Now lest this his expression should be thought to have reference meerly to the Independents in whose power he then