His Highness Oliuer Lord Protector of the Common Wealth of England Scotland Ireland etc. The Perfect POLITICIAN Or A FULL VIEW Of the LIFE and ACTION Military and Civil OF O. CROMWEL Whereunto is added His CHARACTER AND A Compleat CATALOGUE of all the Honours conferr'd by him on several PERSONS Qui nescit Dissimulare nescit Regnare LONDON Printed by J. Cottrel for William Roybould at the Unicorn and Henry Fletcher at the three Gilt â—â—lips in St. Paul's Church yard 1660. To the PEOPLE of England My dear Country-men THe ensuing History properly belongeth to you in a double respect First Because it was your Blood and Treasure that raised the subject of this ' Discourse to Supremacie Then Secondly your Backs bore the Burthen of his Greatness therefore it 's fit that once again you look back and view with a full aspect this Gentleman General Politician and Protector To limn him to the Life in all these Colours is too much for one Pencil therefore I onely present you the Epitome of great Cromwels Actions from his home near Huntington tâ— his Tomb in Westminster The work is not unlike Homers Iliads in a nut-shel yet may it serve for a Memento of our ever-to-be-lamented unnatural divisions The main scope of this Discourse is a continued series of Tragical Scoenes with Comical Interludes lately acted in England Ireland and Scotland herein I indeavor to keep pace with Truth so near as possibly it may be traced My aim is Moderation as the surest way to hit Affection therefore have I chosen it before partiality or egregious Encomiums which do not become an Historian for Flattery is meer folly no better I am sure can it seem to the sight of a wise man who knows that Panegyricks must profit the maker or else the same Quill will again drop Gall in a Satyrical strain upon his reputation My Indeavors herein I doubt not will render some profit to the Reader though much pleasure cannot be expected when the Theme is nothing else but boxing about of Governments as men do Balls in a Tennis-Court Countrey-men Read over this small Manual and then consider how finely you have fought your selves into LIBERTY Vale. I. S. Reader Correct these few material erratas following which accidentally have escaped the Press and if any literal happen to cross thy way let thy pen rectifie the mistake Page line 73. 5. for hand read hands 269. 28. for 1654. read 1659. THE LIFE and DEATH OF His late Highness OLIVER Lord Protector of the Common-wealth of England Scotland Ireland His actions in the Wars of England IT is very well known that he was of an honourable Extraction and had suitable Education He was born at Huntingdon and bred up in the famous University of Cambridge where whilst he was a Student there wanted not some Presages of his future Greatness neither was he then so much addicted to Speculation as to Action as was observed by his Tutor After a good Proficiencie in the University he came to London where he betook himself to the study of the Law in Lincolns-Inne that nothing might be wanting to make him a complete Gentleman and a good Commonwealths-man His Country was not unsensible of his great Endowments for when the necessities of those times compelled the late King to call that Parliament in the year 1640 truly surnamed The long he was elected by them to serve as a Member therein And now God being displeased with England for the abuse of a long continued Peace and the blessings thereof and determining to punish the inhabitants thereof for the same he sent an evil spirit of Division betwixt the King and that Parliament They complaining of his evil Counsel and He of their Jealousies and Fears which Division being industriously fomented by Incendiaries soon brake forth into the flame of open Hostility both parties pretending one and the same Cause of Quarrel But to that which is chiefly intended No sooner had the Drum and Trumpet summoned the Nation to Arms but Cromwel was alarmed who tam Marte quam Mercurio neglecting the softness of a Sedentary betook himself to a Martial employment and immediately raised a Troop of Horse for the Parliament among his neighbours at his own charge The University of Cambridge being not far off him and the place of his Education he had a special regard thereto and knowing that Universities of all places might be most addicted to the Kings interest esteeming Parliaments and this especially the greatest depressers of Ecclesiastical Dignity in hope of which they are there nurtured to put the matter out of doubt he secured it for the Parliament and that in the nick of time when a large quantity of the University-Plate was about to be conveyed to the King then at Oxford And so industrious was he in the Cause he had now newly undertaken that hearing Sir Thomas Connesby high-Sheriff of Hertford-shire was at the Town of St. Albans on a Matket-day there to proclaim the Parliament and their General the Earl of Essex Traytors according to the Kings Proclamation to that purpose he unexpectedly rusheth into the Town takes the Sheriff and sends him up to the Parliament Being thus blest with a Troop he augments his Strength making it up a thousand Horse whose Riders being stout and valiant he took a course to preserve by Arming them cap-a-pe after the manner of the German Crabats whence in those days he was commonly stiled Iron-sides Being thus re-inforced he marcheth into the County of Suffolk and having intelligence that above fourty Commanders Knights and Gentlemen were at Lowerstoft contriving an Association of Norfolk and Suffolk for the King he with such secresie and celerity enters the Town that he surpriseth them all Having setled the affairs of the Associated Counties firmly for the Parliament he marcheth towards Newark and blocks up that Garison and finding a party of the Newarkers neer Grantham he sought them in which Encounter though he wanted of equality in number yet he so far out-went his enemy in courage and resolution that he put them to flight himself giving the first Onset About Newark he spent not much time but advanceth with the Earl of Manchester for the re-inforcement of the Siege of York which was then beleaguered by the Scotish General Lesley assisted by Sir Thomas Fairfax and a conjunction of other Forces in the North. Cromwel had not been long there but Prince Rupert approacheth with a great Army to raise the Siege Upon certain intelligence whereof the Generals draw off the Siege to fight him well knowing that if they won the day that City would follow as an Appendix to the Victory The Princes Scouts informing him that the Siege was raised he sent a party of Horse to face Lesly on Hessam-Moor and in the mean time enters York with two thousand Horse carrying with him all things needful for the relief of the Garison which having done he seemingly made toward Tadcaster but soon returned again into
Action was that which chiefly corresponded to his Nature yet the sharpness of the season made him continue in his Winter-quarters for some small time longer in which time parties were sent abroad to enlarge their Quarters and clear the passage between England and Edinburgh Timptallon-Castle was a place which many times had cut off passengers and much molested the Country by frequent excursions for the reducing of which Colonel Monk that gallant Commander was sent with about three Regiments of Horse and Foot When first he came before it finding the Scots very refractory he caused the Mortar-pieces to play for 48 hours which did them little hurt until that six battering Guns being planted they played their parts so well that the Governour was enforst to yeild seeing no other conditions would be granted to Mercy and all those that were with him The Scots King having now got some power into his hands used his utmost endeavours to gain reputation amongst his Subjects by visiting all the Garisons in Fife and putting them in a posture to hinder the English from landing on that side the Frith But having experience of the Lord Generals courage and knowing that Forts would prove weak withstanders of his Forces should they make an attempt therefore he drew from Sterling those Horse and Foot which could be well spared and joyning with them the new-raised souldiers he quartered them all along the VVater-side for better security After this business was ended away rides he to the High-lands to compose differences for that place was not free from dissentions perswade those rough-hewn Fellows to rise unanimously in defence of their craggy habitations This progress vvas no sooner ended but the sitting of the Scotch Parliament at St. Johnstons vvas begun vvhere the chief consideration vvas still to recruit their Army vvith new supplies of men This Meeting produced an Act Ordinance or great Gun to terrifie those that should slip away from their Colours vvithout leave from their Captains and vvas followed by the Clergie to shew how ready they were to promote these designes with an exhortatory Declaration stufft with raising rhetorick against the English which was sent into Fife and the High-lands perswading all to rise at this time of need This produced little for the common people must not stir unless their Lords or Leards beat the Drum But these Grandees were now busily snarling one at another about superiority in the Army every one endeavoring to be in the chiefest place of command and if any one were advanced he that came next behind pulled him by the skirts to hinder his preferment By this means the Scots great undertakings went on but slowly But to return and make an inspection into the English Affairs We find the Army in and about Edinburgh under a cloud of sorrow mourning for the Eclipse of that great Luminary which erst while had shined so bright in their Hemisphere whose influence had many times melted the waxen Whings of his ambitious Enemies but now as all men are subject to be so this great General by sickness was confined to his Chamber and utterly dis-abled for the present to act in person with the Army should any new occasion call them forth of their Winter-Quarters This did not so much depress the spirits of the English Souldiery who were exceeding sensible of their unspeakable loss should Cromwel their fortunate Leader be now snach't away from them in the midst of their hopes as it heightned the Scots who were very much elevated with the fancy of his death believing the slightest report of it to be real truths because it corresponded with their desires imagining to themselves assurance of Victory and sufficient Revenge when death had conquered him who many times before had made them feel the force of his Steel This conceit was so deeply grounded in their imaginations that no report to the contrary could supplant it but it must be so because so they would have it so apt are men to believe any thing that serves for their purpose according to that saying Quod volumus facile credimus But this Chimaera soon vanished into nothing for a Scotch Trumpeter being sent out of Fife to Edinburgh about the restoration of a Ship laden with Goods which the English Frigats had taken sailing from Brunt-Island to Fife after his message was delivered he very confidently aver'd to the Souldiers That their General was dead and that they did well in hiding it but all the world should never make him believe otherwise This report was much wondered at and the more because the Reporter did it with abundance of confidence endeavouring to perswade all to chirp after his note But he could not long persist in his opinion for this Novelty being handed about from one to another at last it came to the Lord Generals ear who much admired such a thing should be and he not know it therefore to dispossess the Trumpeter of that conceit he caused him to be brought into his presence where coming he now saw that although sickness had for some time sorely handled this noble General yet now his recovery was so far advanced and that Nature had now gotten so much mastery over his distemper that in all probability he would walk forth in a small time to take the air and visit his neighbours at Sterling if not in Fife At the return of the Trumpeter to those that sent him he quickly blew away this false report which went so currantly in the Scotch Army and assured the falsity of it The Parliament in England having ever a watchful eye on the Affairs in Scotland with singular providence provided sufficient supplies both of Men Money and Provisions of all sorts for Horse and Man dispatching them away continually to the Army so that it might be said That never was an Army better provided for then this nor ever did Souldiers better deserve encouragement then these About this time arrived at Leith Admiral Dean one of the English Generals at Sea with large supplies from London amongst other conveniences he brought 27 great flat-bottom'd Boats which were for transportation of the Army over into Fife that so thereby a quick dispatch might be made of this work so far advanced already But the time of year would not admit of much action for although it was April here yet the Rays of the Sun were not of force sufficient to penetrate the congealed Clouds and raise any verdure on the ground so that the Cavalry could not march unless they carried their fields behind them or else in Carts But this which hindered the English furthered the Scotch and gave them leasure to scrape together as many men as possibly could be got Out of the High-lands marcht Middleton with a considerable Force of Horse and Foot and the Town of Dundee out of a great respect to their King and to shew their forwardness in prosecuting the cause advanced for the service a brave Regiment of Horse at their own charges and
number of 1500. all armed with Backs Brests Head-pieces Pistols Swords and Lances as if they had intended to inflict some strange new-fashion'd deaths upon the English July 30. about three or four in the morning Straughan gave a furious Camisado on a Body of the English in their quarters which being sudden did somewhat disorder a Regiment of Horse but the Alarm being given raised so many English spirits that soon frighted away the Scots pursuing them to their own homes In this encounter were killed and taken about 200 with seven Officers ' of quality Straughan himself because he could manage his horse no better was fain to trip it on foot to Edinburgh with shame enough Here the Lord General to let the Scots see what a generous Enemy they had to deal withal discharged the chiefest of the prisoners taken and sent them to Edinburgh in his own Coach which not onely begot him great applause but tended much to the rectification of those who had harboured so much prejudice against him by reason of those strange reports broached of his pretended cruelty Now the Armies provisions being welnigh spent they retire again to Dunbar there to renew their supplies from the Ships attending for that purpose by order from the English Parliament vvho knowing victuals to be the life of VVar money being onely the sinews took care to provide a continued course of Recruits After convenient supply and refreshment returned immediately towards Edinburgh to accompany the Scots in their Rejoycing they being then very seriously keeping a solemn Thanksgiving for their supposed great deliverance imagining that the English Army was quite gone as if they had come onely to see how they did or whether Edinburgh stood where it did when they were there last This unexpected visit spoiled their sport and made them change their none notwithstanding the presence of their King then but newly come thither from St. Johnstons who although he had been lately crowned had not a Crown in his pocket the Kirk it seems thinking him not yet fit to be trusted with money till he had more amply lamented the sins of his father and put on those Yokes they were preparing for him which he fearing would not prove very easie made no haste to take upon him About this time the General Assembly with David Lesley their General sent to the Lord General Cromwel a Declaration as Lesley call'd it containing the state of the Quarrel in which they were to fight as if they had such a minde to it desiring that this their Declaration might be publikely known Whether their request were fulfill'd then or no I know not I shall so far gratifie them now as to endeavour the same by reciting it briefly as followeth THat the General Assembly considering there might be just grounds of stumbling from the Kings Majesties refusing to subscribe the Declaration concerning his former carriage and resolutions for the future in reference to the Cause of God the enemies and friends thereof doth therefore declare that the Kirk and Kingdom will not own any Malignant party their quarrel or interest but that they will fight upon their former Principles for the Cause of God and their Kingdom and therefore as they disclaim all the sin and guilt of the King and his House so they will not own him nor his Interest any further then he shall disclaim his and his fathers opposition to the work of God and the enemies thereof And withal that they would with convenient speed consider of the Papers sent to them from Oliver Cromwel and vindicate themselves from the falshoods contained therein Very short but not very sweet it carries a sting in its tayl The imputation of falshood might much more justly and properly have been kept at home all things considered The Lord General Cromwel returns them this Answer THat the Army continued the same they had profest themselves to the honest people of Scotland wishing to them as to their own souls it being no part of their business to hinder them in the VVorship of God according to their Consciences as by his Word they ought And that they should be ready to perform what obligation lay upon them by the Covenant But that under the pretence of the Covenant mistaken a King should be taken in by them and imposed on the English and this called The Cause of God and the Kingdom and this done upon the satisfaction of Gods people in both Nations as alleadged together with a disowning of Malignants although the Head of them be received who at this very instant hath a party fighting in Ireland and Prince Rupert at Sea on a Malignant account the French and Irish ships daily making depredations upon the English coasts and all by vertue of his Commissions and therefore the Army cannot believe that whilst Malignants fighting and plotting against them on the one side and the Scots declaring for him on the other should not be an espousing of a Malignant Interest or Quarrel but a meer fighting on former Grounds and Principles If the state of the Quarrel be thus and you say you resolve to fight the Army you will have oportunity to do that else what means our abode here And our hope is in the Lord c. Thus the cause of the VVar was stated as if the Scots had been ignorant of the grounds and reasons of the English Armies coming into their Country Now there remains nothing but fighting and how well they quit themselves therein is next to be shewn The Lord General seeing that by no means he could provoke the Enemy to an engagement having sufficiently victualled his men at Muscleborough Aug. 17. 1650 he advanced and pitched his Camp on Pencland Hills In this march the Scots drew forth several Bodies of Horse and faced the English but they were so wary as to keep out of harms way not coming within Gun-shot The Army having taken up their Quarters on the hills two Troops of Dragoons are sent out to dispossess the Enemy of Collington-House About this time a Serjeant of Colonel Cox his Regiment with three others his associates was called to account for plundering a house and stealing a Cloak which being proved the Serjeant was condemned to be hang'd and notwithstanding the scarcity of trees in those parts the Sentence was executed on him for an example to others The other three Souldiers found mercy and obtained pardon So careful was the General to preserve the Country according as he had promis'd them before in his Declaration Then the Scots drew forth on the west side of Edinburgh between the river Leith and the Sea to the number of two or three thousand Horse conceiving that the Army intended to possess a pass over the said River Which the Lord General seeing he drew forth a Forlorn to engage them himself in person leading to shew the Scots his readiness to fight them Approaching near to their Body one that knew the Lord General fired a Carbine at him but timerously
sent them with a stately Tent and six fair Brass Ordnance for a Present to the King then at Sterling where all being joyned their Army consisted of 20000 men most raw or else but parboil'd having seen no Wars but what their own Country produced and being more acquainted with their fields then fights knew better how to handle a Spade then a Speare But though many of them were thus especially the new-raised Forces yet all were not so for Scotland being always numerous in people supplyed the neighbour-Nations with auxiliarie Forces so that many Regiments of them were always in the service of the Swede French Dutch and other Nations But now upon report of Wars in Scotland they repaired home to serve in their own Nation at this time against the English The Scotch Army being grown numerous was still augmented by Forces newly raised in all parts of the Nation where the King and States had any command yet more were desired to that purpose the Earl of Eglington an eminent person was sent into the VVest with some other Commanders to raise Forces these coming to Dunbarton began to put their Commissions in execution but Colonel Lilburn having notice of it sent them a party of Horse which suddainly snapt the Earl himself his Son Colonel James Mountgomery Lieutenant-Colonel Colborn c. whom they carried away prisoners to Edinburgh The Lord General Cromwel had now got strength to walk abroad notwithstanding the relapse he fell into after his first sickness and had it not been that he was of an extraordinary strong constitution the Ague which last of all seised upon him might have shook him into the grave But the Parliament in England seeing how frequent these distempers were upon their General and doubting the air of Scotland might be the cause of it the Council of State first of all sent him two eminent Doctors Dr. Wright and Dr. Bates to use their utmost skill in his recovery and presently after dispatched an Order into Scotland which gave him liberty to leave the business of the Army and repair into England until his health and strength was recovered Upon receipt of this he made a return of thanks by a Letter to the Lord President of the Council which ran thus My Lord I Having received yours of the 27 of May with an Order of the Parliament for my liberty to return into England for change of ayr that thereby I might the better recover my health all which came unto me whiles Dr. VVright and Dr. Bates whom your Lordship sent down were with me I shall not need to repeat the extremity of my last sickness it was so violent that indeed my nature was not able to bear the weight thereof but the Lord was pleased to deliver me beyond expectations and to give me cause to say once more He hath plucked me out of the Grave My Lord the indulgence of the Parliament expressed by their Order is a very high and undeserved favour which although it be fit I keep a thankful remembrance yet I judge it would be too much presumption in me not to return a particular acknowledgement I beseech you give me the boldness to return my humble thankfulness to the Council for sending two such worthy persons so great a journey to visit me from whom I have received much encouragement and good direction for recovery of health and strength which I finde by the goodness of God growing towards such a state as may yet if it be his good will render me useful according to my poor ability in the station wherein he hath set me I wish more steadiness in your Affairs here then to depend in the least upon so frail a thing as I am indeed they do not nor own any Instrument this Cause is of God and it must prosper Oh that all that have any hand therein being so perswaded would gird up the loyns of their minds and endeavour in all things to walk worthy of the Lord So prays My Lord Your most humble Servant O. CROMWEL Edinburgh June 3. Although sickness had a long time kept under the body of this noble General yet his courage was no way diminished by it for no sooner was he able to stir abroad but with eager desire of action he consults with the chief Officers of the Army to carry on the War The result of these Councils was to contract the Army by drawing in the out-guards or petty Garisons which were of little force and onely served for Perdues to give notice of the Enemies motions To Hamilton marcht Commissary-General Whally with eight Regiments of Horse and brought off a Troop of Dragoons and 60 Foot which were there placed afterward several other places were deserted by the Forces that kept them The Army being thus drawn into one body were supplyed with 33 Waggons and Carriages for the Train from Barwick and near upon the same time arrived by Sea Captain Butler in the Success a stout ship formerly taken from the French this was the Ship that wafted along the Golden Fleece and safely swom into Leith with a rich Cargazon of about 80000 l for to pay the Souldiers This money was presently distributed out to the Horse and Foot which mightily elevated their resolution to the present Expedition All things being now ready for this Champaigne the Lord General Cromwel ordered the Armies advance to Red-hall which was cheerfully done on June 24. 1651. At this place they onely tarried until the Souldiers had wholly quitted their Quarters and then marched off to Pencland hills a place which was well known to the English ever since the first enterance of the Army into Scotland when they took the confidence from thence to look big on the City of Edenburgh but now being in a braver condition then they were before having cut through the greatest difficulties of the VVar and advanced their Blood-red Cross on the top of the most impregnable places that durst withstand their invincible Force having made a breakfast of the South of Scotland they intended the North for a Dinner Therefore to make hast now their stomacks were up the Lord General Cromwel caused the whole Army to pitch their Camp on Pencland hills in such a comely Order and admirable Figure so that Julius Caesar himself could he have kept death off at the swords point and thereby survived to this Age might have turned Scholar and learnt the Rudiments of Modern Discipline by the Example of this excellent Commander How amiable was it to behold the towring Tents of the superiour Officers in various Figures and spreading Colours overlooking the Huts of the inferiour Souldiers like so many Pinacles in a well-built City that aspire over the humble Cottages administring a pleasant object to the delighted Traveller Here Military Discipline resembled the Civil Power all knowing their Duty and performing their Parts whilst General Cromwel the Head observed the Actions of every Member in this great Body with one hand stretched forth to reward the sober