COLONEL JOSEPH BAMFEILD'S APOLOGIE Written by himselfe and printed at his desire Facit indignatio versus ANNO 1685. PREFACE ALbeit the unbounded liberty of the press may sufficiently warrant my necessary undertaking and that a modest and needful Apologie free from all passion or unlawful Aymes may hee by an ordinary charity excused if not fully justifyed yet I had not run the hazard of the publique sensure being conscious of my owne incapacity had I not been in need thereunto by some reasonable pressages that the end of my misfortunes which can finde no other period and that of my life neerly approches 1. Neither had this alone prevailed with mee unless constrain'd thereunto by the injust and to any ingenious nature most insupportable injuries and Calomnies of some who are totally ignorant of the truth of my affaires nor have ever had the least provocation on my part to couver the cruelty of their secret practises and obscure proceedings against mee to the endangering of my life even since I came in this Province of Freesland which next the protection of God I thinke has been chiefly preserved by my neglecting it I not being ignorant of my danger nor of the causes thereof which I saw no certaine meanes of preventing but by flight disguise and concealment which I have ever through the whole cours of my great troubles been resolved against chusing rather to dye once if I could not fairly defend my selfe then live in fear of dying always Especially having a long time considered death if not in a dishonourable way as the only end of my calamities which I could reasonably hope for and my most sure azile 2. No less have their sinister and malitious practices contributed to the traversing of my fortune which I am persuaded had not otherwise been thus long desolate and obscure by encreasing the jalousies and indignation of some who I have never willingly offended nor otherwise then through the insupportable necessity of my affaires heeretofore and the indispensable compulsions of honour which would not permit me to doe what I might and most others would have done nor to have left undone what in policy and the general practice of mankind I ought to have avoided as essentially needful to my interests and to the raising me out of this sepulcher wherein I have for some years lain buried alive which peradventure I should not have come short of had I not been secretly calomniated and circumvented by underground darck and unavow'd or rather never to bee avowed mines and traines which in some kind have not a little contributed to the rendring my wounds incureable as well in England as elswhere 3. This being really my case is also the sole cause why I am enforced to expose my discreation to the capritious sensure of critiques rather then to abandone my honour by a womanish modesty timiditie and silence leaving these persons triumphant in their victorie which they have atchived by indirect and most unjust means I am not ignorant what wrongs have been done mee by whom and how but know I shall never be openly accused and by consequence not have any occasion of vindicating my selfe but by this means to which onely I can have recourse and although I am far from all hope of recovering what I have lost yet I shall endeavour to let some see demonstratively how far their credulity has been abused and my innocency wrong'd which I can no otherwise performe then by declaring truly and sincerely what I have done or not done leaving it to the judgment and sentence of all unprejudiced and unpassionate persons to what degree I have been either unfortunate or criminel 4. What my transactions have been in some great conjonctures I shall be as sincere and candid in as if my eternal happiness or misery depended on the truth or falsehood of what I here expose to the common view which I onely make publique for the vindication of my honour though I clearly foresee my interest may suffer by it which weighs soe little with mee that if this adventure meets but with a charitable reception from good men and unpreoccupied I beleeve as far as I know my self I shall not be much troubled if my death should prove immediately after the Epilogue to this tragedy JOS. BAMFIELD AT 17. years of age I began to serve the late King of happy memory Charles the-First being ancient under my Lord Ashley General Major of the Army in the first expedition against the Scots an Accord was made as other agreements in those times of very short continuance for the spring following the war was the second time declared in that expedition I was first Leutenant in the Regiment of Colonel Henry Wentworth brother to the Earl of Cleveland shortly after a Compagnie falling vacant in the same Regiment by the favour of the King I obtain'd it In the space of a year the peace was again made and the Armies disbanded The war betwixt the King and the Parliament followed shortly after I continued in his Majesties interest and service I commanded the Regiment of the late Duke of Somersent at that time Marquess of Hartford Generall for the King in the Westerne Provinces 2. In the first incounter which Arrived betwixt his Majesties and the Parlaments forces I was hurt and taken Prisoner brought so to London by the late Lord Hollis at that tyme Colonel under the Parlament Not long after being at liberty the King honnoured mee with a Commission for a Regiment not being at that tyme full twenty years old having levied it I returned to Oxford where his Majesty held his court Few days after his Hyghness Prince Robbert gave me a Commission which he had procured of the King to be Governour of Malmesbury whereof I knew not any thing before he was pleased to deliver it mee About the month of April following his Majesty sent mee order being pressed for troupes to march with three Regiments of foote and as many Compagnies of horse to Joyne his Army for the relief of Reading besieged by the Earle of Essex and was rendered by Colonel Fielding at the same tyme the King arrived there which might greatly have endangered his Army had the Enemy seen and made use of their advantage 3. In the month of June following his Majestie sent Prince Maurits and the Duke of Somerset with an Army into the west whereof my Regiment was part to Joyne with My Lord Hopton and Lord Berkeley who had beaten the Parlements forces Commanded by the Earle of Stamford not long before in the Province of Cornwell the Conjunction was made the towns of Weymouth whereof the late Earl of Shaffsbury was left Gouvernour Taunton and Bridwater being taken and garrisons placed in them the body of the Army Marched towards Generall Waller haveing first despatched my Lord Berkelay with four Regiments of foote and some few troupes of horse to blocque up Exeter to prevent the Earl of Stamfords raising of forces in Devonshire Who was
months after his Ma tie sent an order for my liberty I continued some tyme in London where I lived with the greatest circomspection Imaginable not to give cause of jalousy or offence to any Till at length S r. Allen Apsly treasurer to his Royale Highness whoe did me the honour some tymes to see me with a civile and frendly introduction to very ill niews told me in plain termes that the court was againe abondantly unsatisfyed with me and that Particularly his Royale Highness the Duke of Yorke had commanded him to tell me that I owght to be carefull of my comportment that if I fell into any trowble he would have nothing to doe with me adding theise words the Duke is soe displeased with you that I belive it easier for you to recouver the Kings favour then his I with some Importunity urged him to tell me if he knew any thing of the cause to which he gave no other answer then that the best cource he Could advise me to was for some tyme to retire my selfe out of England till the publique affaires were soe re-settled that there might remaine no grounds of jalousy concerning me I replyed I shall take this night to thinke of it and would the next day give him an account of my resolution which I did the morning following before he was out of his bed I told him that I had duly weighed his councel and was determined to follow it that thowgh the storme I had stoode out seemed to have been abated yet I Could perceave the sea was stil unquiet the winde contrary and my ankers not the surest in soe much that I should seek another port his answer was you doe very wisely for in case the least newe disorder should arise I am soe much your frend as to tell you freely that I persuade my selfe you would be confined to a perpetuaile Imprisonment I replied I had rather dye he told me brusquly that you may easily doe if you have a minde to it I besowght him to acquaint his Ma tie that if he pleased to give me leave I would for some tyme retire out of his Dominions till the affaires of state were soe settled to his contentment that my returne might give no ombrage The apprehension of a continuel Imprisonment had soe alarmed me that I was willing to be gone as soone as I could which made me hasten to him agayne twoe days after he told me he had fownd occasion to represent to the King my humble resolution of retirement which his Ma tie approuved He added likewise that he had acquainted my Lord Chancellour therewith whoe he sayd commended my discretion councelled me to carry my selfe abrode circomspectly and Dutifully not haveing to doe with factious or scismaticall people by which means he hoped to see me in some tyme recalled from my volontary banishment Theise discources of his together with some advertisements I had from a person of great Importance at that tyme of his Ma ties councel whoe either out of compassion or frendship by one of his neer relations had desired to meet me in a third place caused me to hasten my departure with soe much precipitation as to leave my torne affaires in a very desorderly condition for he gave me some light into the reasons of my niew desgrace as my often frequenting of some places thowgh most publiquely which was interpreted to my disadvantage as all things in nature at that tyme by some would have been secondly that I had spoken words to a certain person with greater confidence then discretion which were looked upon as marques of remaining discontent and of factious inclinations he told me the expressions but assured me that he knew not whoe the reporter was where upon I named the person avowing that I had sayd those words or to the same effect Acquainting him with the occasion which was that this Gentileman was not at that tyme in very much greater grace in the court then I with whome some tymes I met occasionally and at other oportunities he did me the honour to visit me one day I retayned him with me at dinner at the table we discourced of many indifferent things as I tooke them to be for as long as he was there one of my servants was present and till neer the end of dinner his footeman whoe being gone out of the chamber he sayd some words to me absolutely in rallerie which was custumary amongest the great wits of which nomber he really was both by nature and acquisition as any I knew of the Nation the substance was a paralelle he made betwixt me and one dead some tyme before whoe had not been of the Kings most dutyfull subjects referring to the future course of things as he sayd they might fall out I I suspecting nothing for we had lived during the space of twelve or thirtien years with great kindeness and familiarity answered him in the same dialect in pure and manifest rallerie nor could the thing it self about which he had spoken bear any other sence if weighed without passion and my answer much less if the antecedent as well as the consequent had been reported but he in another place and to other persons repeated only and that grammatically my words as seperate from his owne which he never mentioned in soe much that where twoe sentences are relatives if the later be reported without the former to which it related the sence may be wrested oftentimes to what one will Haveing recited exactly the whole Matter with all the circomstances to this noble person he shooke his head and sayd theise are dangerous tymes and such are most dangerous men I besowght him that he would acquaint my Lord Chancellour with this business and all its circomstances He replied his Lordship knowes nothing of my speaking with you much less of what I say to you and I desire he never may nor any els I have wished you well as long as I have knowne you and have been very sorry for your misfortunes and out of pure pitty have adventured to speak with you to hynder your falling into greater which may prove as lasting as your life and therefor I hope you will keep this meeting and what I have sayd to you secret otherwise you will deal unwisely as to you selfe and unthanckfully as to me Some persons of the greatest Calibre are soe prepossested against you that your clearing your selfe in this point will in no kinde help you for the words themselves can bear no action in law nor be of any other consequence then to confirme some in the belief long rooted in them that you are discontented and that your heart swells with mutinous and revengfull thowghts which is soe ingrafted that if an Angel should descend from Heaven to declare the contrary I may question whither it would avayle you Retire your selfe as soone as you can be very circomspect in your whole comportment and especially in your discources wherein your best frends
condemne you as often to free Speaking to him about his Royale Highness the Duke of Yorke and my Lord Chancellour he told me the Duke is not as I hear inclined to you as he has been and I easily belive that S r. Allen Apsley sayd the truth to you for I had told him what it was that his Master will not medle in your concernments My Lord Chancellour had kindeness for you wrowght out your liberty was opinion when you first came out of the Tower that you might have been employed at sea for the King would not endure to hear of your coming to Court but now those thowghts of his Lordship are off and thowgh I can perceave that he wishes not your utter ruine yet if you should fall into any new trowble you will finde no favour from him I have here inserted the substance of this noble persons discource and as far as I can possibly recollect his words Upon these advices twoe or three days after I embarqued my selfe in a ship of Zealand and landed at Midelburgh where meeting with very great civility and kindeness from all persons in generall I remayned neer four years when by the councels and very effectual recommendations of some of my frends I went to the Hague where by their credit and by the power of some persons in Holland whome they had engaged to favour me I had the honour to be received into the service of the State Shortly after Colonel Dolman and I were summoned by proclamation without the specification of any crime as the cause to render our selves in England by a day which neither of us doeing we were both proscribed and which I belive was never done before by act of Parliament without any Criminal charge aleadged against either I shall not wear out tyme with fruitless complaints nor with any other kinde of reflexions which can signify nothing I only solemnly protest that after my proscription which was I thinke in the very beginning of the year 1666 till the month of April in the year 1674 I never wrote letter nor sent message to any creature in any of his Majesties Dominions nor did receive any Haveing not had in all that tyme being about eight years the least correspondence directly or indirectly either to good or bad ends In the month of April 1674 when the peace was concluded by the last treaty of Breda I wrote three or four letters to twoe persons of great quality in the most eminent employments about his Majestie and in no less credit Whoe had been bred up from their youth in the service of the crowne one with whome I had formerly long and great correspondence returned me no other answer then verbally to him whoe delivered him my letter that he was very sorry for the unhappiness of my condition but that the conjoncture Could not permit any man to speak in favour of that unfortunate Gentileman The other I know did move his Ma tie in my behalfe for my returne into England severall tymes but Could obtayne no Grace Thus finding my selfe most entirely ruined and hopeless of ever recouvering either in England or els where I betooke my selfe to a resolution as contrary to my temper humour and custome as one opposite can well be to another where unto I could never constraine my inclination throwgh the whole course of my life untill that tyme which was to retire my selfe not only from all kinde of affaires of what nature soeever but even from the usual contentment of humane conversation as far forth as the possibility of subsisting Could admit and to lead an Hermitical kinde of life to which end haveing throwgh the frendship of a worthy person to whome I was knowne procured in the country a little house in a garden but as great as my designe Thither I retired my selfe and soe continued during the space of five years haveing had in all that tyme very little other society then my bookes and meditations notwithstanding this great circomspection and harmless way of living I Could not be entirely free from some practises which had been for a long tyme one of the chiefe causes of my great calamitie in soe much that I then did and doe now thinke that if the very trees Could have had the discoursive faculty they would have been employ'd to my disadvantage which made me as much as was decently possible to avoyd the speaking with all man kinde but in this egiptiene darkness by intervalls God extraordinaryly afforded me such glimerings of light that I Could discouver the first mouvers reasons ends and instruments of all theise practises as likewise that passion in the first and interest in the last produced theise effects from which I playnly saw no manner of life that I Could consine my selfe unto was of sufficient force to free me Theise considerations which were solid and reall exempt from all Hypocondriacall vapours or chimeraes together with the very sencible decay of my health throwgh this way of living as likewise that melancholy sencibility of my to heavy distresse not haveing been Stoicien enough to have lost my feeling together with other reasons that I shall not mention I concluded my return to Leuwarden at least for the winter more conducible to my health to my security and more convenient in other considerations then the country about the end of September 1679 I posted my selfe there where I lived as free from all conversation as I had done at Bergum In the year 1680 coming to the knowledg of some things which concerned me in the highest degree that I Could be touched with and perceaving by the prints which were frequent and filled therewith that the desordres in England were risen to that Height that the storme seemed to blow from all points of the compass and not only conjecturing that I should be suspected but knowing that I was soe thowgh innocent as to all those transactions as the childe whoe had never seen the light I begun to thinke with my selfe what course was fittest for me to steer and after much deliberation I concluded it absolutely best to write into England which accordingly I did to a person whoe I thowght Could not be exposed to any suspition and by their means if they would have adventured it to have letters delivered to some of the Court whoe had formerly been my frends this person answered my letter and undertooke what I desired Where upon calling the saying to minde that he that wallkes circomspectly walkes surely allbeit I saw no necessity to have done it as things were betwixt England and this State I demanded leave from those whoe had the power to accord it me for my writing to such of my frends as would have endeavourd to get my proscription taken off free and entire liberty was graunted me very Generously without those limitations which I offered to Impose upon my selfe I wrote three letters to persons of Importance at the court one tooke tyme to resolve whither he would
his escape the newes came of his being secured by a party of the army commanded by a cornet named Joyce by his trade a taylour His Ma tie demanded of him what commission or autorite he had to offer him the violence he did without soe much as mouving his hat or shewing the King the least respect he shewed him with his hand the five or 600 soldiers which he commanded saying there is my commission his Ma tie without any the least emotion smilingly replyed t' was written in avery faire hand In short he was carried away to the army some furious spirits amongest them as Major General Harrison and others were for the putting of him to death by an unammous sentence of the army but Cromwell Ireton and the most politique heads were for delay and temporising soe long by amusing the King with hopes that they would restore him till they had entirely broken the Presbiterean party and rendered them powerless and themselves more absolute Upon this fowndation Cromwell Ireton and other principal persons of the army became very Civile and some thing respectfull to his Ma tie makeing great protestations of haveing no other designe but the setting him with honour upon his throne on his graunting them a free liberty of Conscience with such a power in the Militia as they judged convenient for their assurance that they might not be deprived thereof at pleasure but that tyme was needfull to prepare the way and to dispose the minds of the army to a submission thereunto Sect. 52. These promises and deep Protestations seconded by a free permission of his frends to wait on him of some of his domstiques to serve him and of his chapelens to performe their functions in his devotions according to the Constitutions and Customes of the Church of England wrought very much upon the King especially from the hopes he had of not being constrained in his Conscience in Matter of Divine worship and church Gouverment wherein he was much more sencible then in what concerned his prerogative or the rights of the crowne Sect. 53. The chiefs of the army especially Cromwell and Ierton whoe were great masters in that art made large promises and specious apparencies without effecting of any thing or makeing any demandes tending to a positive conclusion of what would satisfy them or of what they would doe for his Ma tie and which was then to me remarquable and worthy at all tymes of observation that amidest all theise faire pretences the armies adherents in both houses whoe did not any thing but by secret concert with Cromwell continually clamoured in Parliament at the seeming liberty which the King had often aleadging that he should be more restrayned and that the chief delinquents which was the Phraise in those tymes owght to be brouwght to condigne punishment Sect. 54. Twoe or three of the leading men whoe thirsted for his blood severall tymes let fly expressions of that kinde directly against his person and others a little cautious more obliquely but soe that both the end and the way to it which theise men had long projected by mutuall agreement was in my opinion sufficiently visible where of I advertised the King constantly and frequently the Queen by my constant adresses to the Earle of S t. Albanes whoe lived when I wrote and intended to Print this relation As I mentioned all particulars of that nature spoken in both or either house soe I named the authours haveing had ordnarily once in four and twenty howers knowledge of all that passed which concerned the King whoe was trained from place to place according to their apprehensions and designes during the space of divers months till Colonel Hamond was made Gouvernour of the iste of wight and Kairesbrooke Castel more magnificently furnished out of the publique warderobe then was needfull for him or sutable to his condition which by some others was taken notice of and by me especially throwgh an unexpected accident to long to be here inserted which gave me cause to suspect and fear what shortly after unhappely arrived which important circomstance joined to divers others not of much less weight put restless thowghts into my head till such tyme as I could obtaine a particular audience from the King to whome I gave an exact account of my apprehensions with the grownds of them Sect. 55. His Ma tie answered theise reasons have weight one may fear as well to little as to much especially as my condition is yet if there be any faith in them they will never come to such extremities however their feeding me hitherto with good words and deep protestations without reall effects or coming in all this tyme to any particular or positive conclusion makes me some tymes doubt the event but on the other side I cannot fall into all your apprehentions which seem now and then to hyppocondriacal Sect. 56. I replyed I beseech God thy may all prove soe where unto I added that I hoped there was yet an expedient either to constraine them to doe his business or to have it done without them He smiled and told me such a proposition was well worth the hearing asking mee what it was Sect. 57. I answered some of the most considerable persons of both houses whoe I named were unchangeabley convinced that the army jugled with him whoe were resolved upon a totalle change of the Gouverment which designe they whoe had sate during the space of five or six years in the same assembly with them and had been privy to their principles and debates and without doubt to many of their most secret contrivements could see further into them then any els and wished his Ma tie would bring them to a short and peremtory resolution touching what would content them as likewise what they would doe for him because that every day they gained power and others whoe really desired his Ma ties Conservation and reestablishment lost it Sect. 58. If they meant syncerely as they pretended Cromwell and Ireton Could absolutely engage that party in both houses to a concurrance with them whoe were inseperably linked to his interests and that the Presbitereans would not hinder but further it to prevent what they reasnably and exceedingly feared to late finding that they had raised a spirit which they could not easily lay againe And that the event was very uncertayne in their opposing of that power which insencibly they had let glide out of their owne hands and nourisht against themselves to long to be able to give limits to it Sect. 59. They considered that if the liberty of Conscience which the army seemed to insist upon were consented to and the penal statutes repealed the Presbitereans would have been included as well as others and for the power of the Militia which was demanded for security it must have resided in King Parliament or both for in the Officers of the army it could not be without keeping up a continued standing Militia which the nation Could not bear
of Parliament under the penalty of high treason The last vote was relative to the first as before theise votes all most as soone as he was in the Isle of wight I had fownd out means of correspondence with him and of giving his Ma tie constant advertisements of all occurrencies which concerned him soe notwithstanding this danger of being punished as a traitour I continued it even to the last continuing to write to him and to receive letters from him both for my selfe and others the greatest part of his intelligence both with english and Scotch passing throwgh my hands whilest I remayned in England not without great hazard as may easily be conceaved which had it ever been discouvered no humane means that I sawe could have secured my head Sect. 86. Cromwell haveing as I have already sayd and demonstrated from tyme to tyme opposed and by his several artifices prevented all treaties as much as he possibly could and agreements betwixt the King and the Presbitereans by degrees wrowght the Earle of Essex Bedford and Manchester the Generall Waller Major General Massy Major General Browne and all those Military persons out of all employment whome he judged capable to bring any opstacle to his projects in some Kinde reduced the citty of London and jugled the King prisoner into the Isle of wight in the custody of Colonel Hammon one of his creatures he belived his game sure which was the sole reason why I ever declined all treaty or colusion with those people foreseeing clearly their ends and as visibly their ways to them even when the Generallity of the Kings party assured themselves that they would infallibly restore both him and them Sect. 87. My stedfastness in the contrary opinion and my endeavours against that gross delusion not prostituting my reason to other mens phantasies procured me many enemies with very severe sensures leading divers to a jalousie that I had rivited my selfe into that interest rather for my owne private ends then for his Ma tie service or for the publique behoofe of the Nation which most groundless and unreasnable credulity together with the animosities and calomnies which arose therefrom had prepared the way and facilitated my after mine all thowgh I solemnly and syncerely protest that I alone declined the one party as being unchangeably convinced that they designed his Ma ties destruction nor applyed my selfe to the other then by his commands and as things were in those tymes that I Could perceave no other means for his preservation Sect. 88. Upon advertisements I gave the King which I know he had from other hands of the foregoeing votes as likewise of what Cromwell and Ierton had sayd against him he sawe to late howe perfidiously they had jugled with him which first disposed him to treat with the Scotch and with as many of the Presbitereans in England as safely Could and would be treated with which evidently refutes that rediculous assertion of some whoe pretend to be the Kings frends that Cromwell and Ireton broke with his Ma tie because he treated with the Scots makeing the effect the cause it being notorious to all whoe had any transactions in and knowledg of the affaires at those seperate tymes that the King after the armies proposalls had no treaty with the Scots or any els till the votes of non adresses and unanimous protestation of the army to live and dye with the Parliament in the persuance of those votes and for the setlement of the Gouverment without his Ma tie and a little after the like was done by the Parliament to live and dye with the army for the same ends and which was the wonder of wonders the house of Lords Passed this resolution first with great zeal and sent it downe to the Commons for their concurrence whoe for some tyme opposed it vigorously till threatnings and fear caused many members to absent themselves soe that it was carryed in the affirmative by five or six vooices Thus the commons contended to preserve the Peerage for the abolishing of which the Peers themselves layd this fowndation which ensued in about a year after Sect. 89. Theise proceedings haveing been visible and his Ma tie no other recource for the gaining of his liberty with the preservation of his crowne and life came to a conclusion with the Scotch Commissioners whoe were permitted by the Parliament to repaire to the King about the Gouverment of their owne nation Sect. 90. The agreement with them gave such satisfaction that they engaged themselves to enter into England with an army as speedily as well could be and in order to conjonction with them severall treaties were secretly mannaged with the principall persons of the Presbiterean party In a Parliamentary way nothing Could be done with them nor by them because of the awe of the army and the incertainty of many amongst themselves whoe in divers debates voted with the contrary party Besides that the very late resolutions and protestations of both houses rendred all propositions of that Kinde vaine and exceeding dangerous in soe much that there remained no other way but to treat with them a part and with the greatest Privacy The result was that they should declare at the same tyme with the Scotch the Kings party being to joine with them Upon the Scotch commissioners leaving the Isle of wight his Ma tie was more severely guarded then ever Not with standing I had constant correspondence with him all or much the greatest part of his intelligencies either with the Kingdome of Scotland or England passed my hands not without great difficulty danger and expence When all these transactions were concluded the King sent me the following letter of credit to be communicated to as many of the Gentilemen of the Easterne assotiation as I should thinke fit with the advice of those with whome I had before treated The Duke of Lauderdalle did me the honour to deliver it me at his returne from Cairsbrook Castel and to let me know what was concluded betwixt his Ma tie and the sotch Commissioners Cairsbrooke Decemb 1647. SEct. 91. Gentilemen I have been long since advertised by Colonel Bamfield whoe I have often employed to you of your good affections to my service and since there may fall out in a short tyme an occasion wherein they may be usefull to me in the present condition I am it may prove inconvenient for me and to you dangerous that I should give you Particular directions under my hand I have left it to Colonel Bamfield whoe knows my affaires and has order to communicate to you as much of them as is necessary for the direction of your Councels and endeavours for the publique good of your country and for him whoe is Your most assured frend CHARLES R. For the Gentilemen of the Easterne association Jan. the 24. SEct. 92. I have received yours of the 17 present but have not as yet decypherd the other letters inclosed because I would first fiuish this despatch
to my wife the Earle of Laneric and my Lord Willowby wherefor excuse me to the Earle of Southampton that I have not answered his wich I shall doe by the first occasion I am advertised that it has been deliberated by some of the army to possesse themselves of the Duke of Yorke consider if you cannot finde means to convey him out of England cause the inclosed to be delivered to him for it concerns me neerly to have correspondence with him at this tyme let me knowe as soone as may be your opinion touching this business farewell Your assured frend CHARLES R. Sect. 93. Upon the receipt of this letter I caused the inclosed for his Royale Highness the Duke of Yorke to be delivered him by a sure hand whoe had that accesse to him which I could not have and unless my memory failes me as I am persuaded it does not he had been pleased not long before by Message to let me knowe that he had promised the King his father whilest he was in the hands of the army to make his escape out of England as soone as he Could attempt it on any reasnable appearance of success demanding if Could not serve him in it which I am confident I had undertaken in which resolution I was fully confirmed by theise his Ma ties commands and not knowing whither by this occasion he had mentioned the business to the Duke or not with his owne letter I sent his Royalle Highness mine which was transmitted againe to me and upon his resolution and answer I framed mine to his Father The Duke was pleased to commande me not to precipitate the business but to take necessary tyme and use all circomspection not to plunge him into a worse condition then he was Haveing duly considered what measures were fittest for me to take herein and given the King an account there of his Ma tie was pleased to write me the following letter Cairsbrooke the 22 Feb. SEct. 94. I have received yours of the 14 present and being weary with decyphering it I cannot answer to all its particulars nor is it needfull I will only tell you in Generall that I approve what you have allready done and what you propose for the saveing of the Duke of York I confirme the promesse he has made to Howard and the assurances you have given him in my name to be continued in the Charge of Master of his horse allthowgh the Parliament has made him soe The rest I leave to your conduct committing you to Gods Providence trawble not your selfe about my other affaires but thinke only of what you have now in your hands bring him if possible either to his Mother or sister farewell Your assured frend CHARLES R. Sect. 95. For some Important reasons which I acquainted his Ma tie with I delayed this business untill the end of Aprill following at which tyme it succeeded happily to the great contentment of the King and of the Royalle famely his Highness arrived first in Zealand and the next day in Holland Sect. 96. About six weekes after the Parliaments whole fleet quitted their unlawfull masters came to anker in Gorée Rode delivering themselves up to the Duke of York as their Admirall which they knew he was by the King his fathers patent and was really the occasion of their coming thither and submitting to him Sect. 97. The winde which was favourable to bring them into Holland prouved a storme to me which occasioned my wrack ever since haveing unhappily given some councell concerning that fleet it seemes with to much precipitation which was well meant very ill taken because most bitterly represented by a person of quality and to doe him but Justice of merit betwixt whome and me there was at that time some competition about particular matters who according to the ordinary practice in such cases to ruine my credit and increase his owne held it expedient to couver his private animosity under the specious vaile of Zeal to a more publique interest I shall againe declare what I have ever protested that I had no other end or designe then either freeing the King out of his Imprisonment in the Isle of wight or if it were fownd Impossible which I did not then belive nor doe now that is was to have landed 1500. or 2000. men at yarmouth to have countenanced a rising in northfolke suffolke and the other adjacent Provinces of the easterne assotiation the probabillity of the one or of the other I shall here expose to any reasnable consideration Sect. 98. First touching the Kings freedome I had been assured out of England of a landing place in the Island which I looked upon as the greatest difficulty Sect. 99. Secondly that we Could have landed with 2000 Men haveing raised at that very tyme in Holland about 1200 English Soldiers of the reduction which the States had then made of the troupes of our nation and might well have added to them upon such an occasion 1000 sea men chosen out of the Fleet besides that great assurances were given that the inhabitants would have risen with us if we could have furnished them with armes which was to have been done Sect. 100. Thirdly I could never conceave in case of a free descent on land any great or long opposition wee Could have met with by sea not the least the Parliament not haveing had one ship of war fitted out in ten weekes or three months after By land as little except what Colonel Hamond Could have made with not above 5 or 600 foote which was all he had nor Could have hoped for more Cromwell with the greater part of the army was marched against the Scots Fairefax engaged before Colchester and some considerable parties of the army diverted into walles by risings there for the King at the same tyme. Moreover if they Could have sent an army entire to portsmouth or any other part upon that coast to have been transported into the Island not a barque or bote Could have passed without either being sunke or taken Besides there were many of the bravest and best officers whoe had served his Ma tie whoe were Embarqued in the fleet as Prince Mauris S r. John Boyce Colonel Washington S r. Francis Mackworth and very Many more whoe wee fownd retired into Holland at our arivall and some followd nor is it to be Imagined that in soe glorious an enterprise but that the greatest contestation would have been whoe should have been readiest to have sacrifised themselves For my part I never could apprehend any other difficulty in this attempt then to have landed which we had great and likely assurances of and in all events our retreat was sure and the fleet at liberty for any other designe in case that could not have been effected Sect. 101. Which was to have landed at yarmouth where we were sure of a free reception and did persuade my selfe that a body of 2000 Soldiers would have had the reputation of double the nomber and have encouraged
forces with all diligence in soe much that had the Scots but avoyded fighting for the space of one month which with great ease they might have done by the advantagious posts whereof in divers places throwgh which they had marched they Could have had their choise by a good entrenchment which at other tymes was observed they sufficiently understoode the forces of the four Provinces I have named would have in that tyme composed a solid body of an army more considerable for Nomber and in all other regards then that of the Scots amounted to Besides those of the easterne assotiation were fully and unanimously resolved to rife Cornwell Devon Somerset and Dorset the like and wanted only a month or six weeks tyme in sine the whole nation was prepared as to the same end and were in the way towards it when the strange and allmost wonderfull defeat of the Scots army by Cromwells not consisting of halfe their nomber broake all other measures which had been taken upon that fowndation by concert some months before As they had neglected what I have allready mentioned touching encampment soe when they came to fight as if there had been a fatallity both in the conduct and success they neither made use of the great advantages of their nomber their army haveing been soe ranged that the greatest halfe of their troupes never came to fight nor profited themselves of that benefit of the choyse of grownd and other commodities which a defensive army may have against an enemy whoe attacques it which owght allways to be held in cheife consideration by all experienced and Provident soldiers But to cease from all further reflexions that army was unfortunately beaten and soe totally dissipated that it was not believed that 5000. of them ever returned to Scotland this miscarriage and misforture stifled divers great designes abortively upon the point of their production and cut of others which were begun before they Could come to any maturity Haveing been at that tyme privy to all the designes and measures formed and taken in that conjoncture and in those transactions as likewise actively industrious in the contriving and advancing of moste of them which according to humane Judgment I was fully persuaded could not have fayld of the end where unto they were directed of the Kings liberty and happy restauration both for himselfe his porsterity and subjects His late Ma tie was out of the hands of his enemies the King now raigning escaped out of England the Parliaments whole fleet leaving them returned to their obedience to their Souveraigne the Scots entered into ye heart of England with the formed body of an army of twenty thowsand men risings in severall places an universall and well formed resolution throwgh the whole nation to doe the same and upon the very point of being put in execution one great and indeed unreasnable errour and twoe or three others not much less which to avoyd tediousness as well as for other reasons I mention not ruined all and shortly after the whole fabrique of Gouverment causing such a violent and Generall Conflagration as I fear even to this day has never been totally extinguished but as fyer hid in the cavernes of the earth is often subject to make very dangerous irruptions The Scotch army totally defeated Cromwell Marched towards Scotland all other parties in England which had declared for his Ma tie were easily dissipated and all places sudainly reduced the humane cause of this extraordnary and most un apprehended ruine of the Scots forces was attributed to the secret correspondence which was more then believed to have been betwixt some of the dissenting clergy which were much the greatest nomber with other of the nobillity whoe had opposed most violently that expedition into England and Cromwell As likewise to the great influence they had upon a considerable part of that army which was knowne to some and had very convincing appearences to all both from their extraordinary conduct in suffering themselves to be constrained to fight against their wills and contrary to the common interest of the Cause they had in hand and when they engaged soe Improvidently to have ordered the business as not to have browght halfe their army to fight as likewise from the transactions and accord betwixt Cromwell and that partie of the Scotch when he came upon their borders The whole face of things being thus unexpectedly changed the more severe part of the Presbitereans whoe had not long before concurred with the armies partie in both houses to the vote of non adresses to the King apprehending when it was to late the danger of the totall subversion of the antient Gouverment of the three Nations by theise allmost prodigeous successes of the army changed their mindes forsooke the army party and joyning themselves to the moderate Presbitereans whoe in truth and reallity were strong Protestants but no Presbitereans were by much the more numerous in both houses nullified the former resolution of non adresses to the King and agreed to a speedy treaty with him hopeing to have concluded it before Cromwells army Could March southward and joyne with Fairefax soe to have browght his Ma tie with freedome Honour and safety to London to have voted all the Generall officers commissions voyde to have employd others in their charges and at the same tyme to have raysed a niew army in and about London by which means it was hoped all parties would have agreed together whoe were frends to the antient Gouverment and to the lawes of the Nation which were undoubtedly nine parts of ten in all three Kingdomes A day was prefixed for the beginning of the treaty forty days limited for its continuation thowgh that it was belived it would have been concluded in ten throwgh the necessity of the interests on both sides Which had it been I am confident the King had been happily restored and a multitude of Calamities prevented which ensued at and since his death and as may be feared are not yet soe entirely ended as wise and honest men may wish Artickles were drawne up and Commissioners sent away with them to the Isle of wight About which tyme M r. William Moray then of the bedchambre to his Royale Highness whoe was permitted to be about the King during the treaty wrote me word that his Ma tie had commanded him to let me know that if I Could come into England either by permission of the Parliament where the Presbitereans had at that tyme the power or secretly my negotiations at that conjoncture with those whoe had formerly had communication with me about his affaires and my advertisements to him might be of great use As soone as I had received the letter without much ballancing concerning the danger which I exposed my selfe to I repayred to flushing hired a fisher boate of expressly haveing desguised my selfe as much as I could arriving in twoe days at London where I remayned secretly during the treaty Very shortly after haveing spoaken
his Ma tie himselfe was the most competent judge whither they were reasnable honest and appliquable to the condition he then was to have been made use of or rejected according to his owne prudence and pleasure I shall here conclude this where upon I have the longer insisted as being the fowndation of my utter ruine the source of my great sufferings during six or seaven years and those calamities and necessities whereinto I was plonged at that tyme the causes of my offending his Ma tie to that degree he ever remained It is beyond the limits I propownd to my selfe to enlarge to a particular relation of the artickles presented to the King of the debates and disputes there upon during the treaty which has been allready the worke of other pens more proper for it then mine I shall only say that had his Ma tie and the Parliaments Commissioners come to the same conclusion they at last did fut twenty days sooner which they might have done for to the best of my remembrance there were twice fourteen dayes added to the first forty which was spun out to the last three or four the King in my opinion had not come to a violent death the Nation and the protestante Religeon had been free from the infamy there of and secured against the cruel confusions which Imediately followed the effusion of that blood all thowgh his Ma tie and the Parliament were fully agreed and his concessions voted entirely satisfactory and a sufficient fowndation for a happy peace and firme establishment in all his Dominions yet by the violence of the army which over whelmed all very much the greatest part of the Parliament were secluded and allways kept out till Imediately before the Present Kings restauration divers of the members emprisoned and others constrayned to save themselves beyond sea In this deplorable condition of things his Ma tie a little before he was remouved from Niewport by the army to Hurst Castel apparently calling to minde what I had severall tymes represented to him was gratiously pleased to send me by Mr. William Moray the ensuing letter THe danger to which you expose your self cannot be contreballanced by any service there now remains for you to doe me the severity of the Presbitereans haveing ruined me and themselves You will doe well to save your selfe and to returne to your Master and I commande you not to Councell him to any thing touching publique matters without the knowledg and approbation of the Queen his Mother and of the Prince his Eldest brother haveing no more to say to you then to commit you to the protection of the Allmighty God I remain Your assured frend CHARLES R. Imediately after his Ma ties death I was suspended from the Honour of wayting where I had done and my coming to the court prohibited which caused me to continue secretly and desguised in England in several places not knowing well in the disgrace I then was plonged how to subsist els where besides that I hoped there to finde some favourable occasion of serving the King where by to remouve his displeasure thowgh it prouved not soe easy a matter as some to Consolate me flattered me with the beliefe of I remayned in that condition about a year some tymes in one place and some tymes in another till at length I was betrayd by one whoe had served me long whome I had bred up from a boy and much obliged I was taken and Imprisoned and had certainly lost my head unless by the extraordnary Providence of God I had fownd the means of saveing my selfe throwgh a window of the Prison which all circonstances considered was little less then Miraculous the sea ports were soe layd for me that I was constrained to remaine secretly in the citty of London in faithfull frends houses during the space of three weeks when at last I was convey'd over into Holland by S r. Roger de Lyvedy Capitaine of a Man of war belonging to Rotterdam whose brother was since vice Admirall of the Meuse twoe or three years after his ship was seized upon at Hull he put in Prison where I have heard he dyed I had no sooner set foote on land but I was forced into another misfortune which was unavoydable that constrained me for some tyme to take my refuge at vienna neer utrect which added to his Ma ties indignation but it pleased God that the occasion in few weekes was taken away where upon I repayred to Breda where the King was in treaty with the Scots Commissioners his Ma tie would not permit me to appear in his Presence nor at his court he agreed with them went into Scotland it was not alowed me to wayte on him thither thowgh I made use of the intercession of some great persons in no less credit with him to obtayne that Grace Shortly after I followed in company with the with the Earle of Disert where being arrived Duke William Hamilton whoe was killed at woster the late Duke of Lauderdalle with most of the Nobility of Scotland whoe were then about his person employ'd theire mediation as ernestly as duty and descretion would admit to bring me into grace but Could not obtayne any thing which constrained me to returne againe into Holland In this State I continued about five years endeavouring to doe all the services I Could frequently agitated betwixt hope and despaire till at length I had the happiness to performe such a service as that some very great persons both in quality and credit Improuved it all they Could to restore me to his Ma ties favour whoe prevayled soe far as that he was pleased to admit me into his Presence and to kiss his hand as allsoe to receive the account I had to give him of some matters which regarded his service and to deliver his opinion freely enough concerning persons and things relative there unto Which gave occasion for me and such as wished a period to my misfortunes to hope that by degrees I might have recouvered his Ma tie favour which I belive I had not come short of unless unfortunately I had offended a person of quality and at that tyme in the greatest Credit and trust about him whoe before my disgrace had been one of my best frends and very highly obliged me in many occasions and after my misfortune had carried himselfe indifferently without doeing me either good or harme untill at that conjoncture he began againe to favour me giveing me his promesse to doe me what good offices he Could but being diametrally opposite in his Jugdment Councells and Proceedings to my humble opinions touching the likeliest means leading towards the Kings restauration I unhappily used to much freedom in my argumentations with himselfe and excessively more in my discources with others concerning him in a letter I had written to the Earle of Difert then at Antwerp which was intercepted to avow the truth I had made some bitter reflexions upon his conduct thowgh without nameing him but being
lost with the Gouverment which then was totally frustrated of the chiefe end for which I had broken with all my former frends by procuring leave contrary to their Councels for my returne into England which was to have gotten my selfe to the head of a Regiment of 2500. Men of my owne Nation in the King of Frances service whereby I Could have subsisted with honour and Gouverned my selfe in other things according to events During my sickness which was violent I fownd my selfe suffiently contented to dye for being ruined with all the world small hopes remayning to recouver my self I Could better have submitted to a quiet death then to have suffered those bitter anxieties of a turbulent and afflicted life which I fore saw I was likely to undergoe as hath befallen me from that very tyme to this day but the periode either of our lives or trowbles comes not as we often desire Haveing recouvered my health I endeavoured to calme my minde which was not without disordre and to bear patiently those calamities which I then felt and to fortify my selfe to suffer those which I foresawe I was likely to undergoe by a decree greater and more souveraigne then solomans which would require a support sublimer then what reason or Philosophy Could afford feeling in my selfe Just cause for what I apprehended when I deeply reflected on the violent passions inordinate affections and to great infirmities of my life past I knew plethorique bodies repleat with vitious humours if there were any hope of cure had need of strong and searching phisick Which preparitories have kept me from being entirely overwhelmed with what I have since undergone I returned no more into England till the death of Cromwell which came to pass neer twoe years after S r. William Lockart whoe was then Cromwels Ambassadour in France and Gouvernour of Dunkirck to whome I had been knowne before he fell into that interest gave me a pass with a letter of recommandation to one of his frends whoe was at that tyme in great credit The factions and divisions in the army the vinversall discontents in all the three-Nations which Could not longer bear the confusions of those tymes being destitute of all Principles of Gouverment either in church or state the weakness of him whoe succeeded and of those whoe followed him that amidst the greatest Anarchy in the world figured to themselves a chimerical Democratie which one of them Called a republique as durable as the sun and moone wherein he vanted himselfe to have more greatness then he wished for which in eight months tyme afterwards terminated in a strict Imprisonment in the Tower of London where he dyed and his republique as usually Anarchies doe ended in Monarchy many of the greatest and wisest men of the three Nations taking occasion of those desorders which underhand some of them increased all they Could opened the way to his Ma ties re-establishment The next day after his arivall at whitehall I was comitted close Prisonner to the Tour of London into the custody of a person whoe had been one of the late Kings Judges whoe was not only pardoned but continued for some tyme as Lieutenant of that place this may deservedly be considered as a wonderfull dispensation to see me whoe had very often hazarded my life for the service of the crowne and especially for the preservation of that King become a prisoner under the care of one whoe had a principal hand in his death because he was cunning enowgh to help to destroy his fellowes but a few days before the late Kings restauration and when he plainly perceaved there was no humane possibility to hinder it I remained under a severe restraint about aleaven months when by order I was browght by S r. John Robinson then Commanding the Tower the former haveing been remouved to whitehall to be examined which I was upon divers Artickles by the Earle of Clarendon at that tyme Lord Chancellour and by the twoe Secretaries of State S r. Edward Nicolas and S r. William Maurits What was true I acknowledged pleading an inevitable necessity for what I had done aleadging that those things Could not amount to the crime mentioned in the warrant for my committment which was upon suspition of misprision of treason my Lord Chancellour told me I was browght thither only to answer cattegorically to what was demanded of me That pleading of my cause was for another place if it should be thowght fit to bring me thither notwithstanding that rebuke upon my further examination as the matter required and Could permit I defended my selfe as reasnably as I Could in soe much that his Lordship told me Colonel Bamfield I can perceave that you have not been alltogether Idle in the Tower seeing you are arrived at soe much knowledg in the law at least as you belive but I must tell you that your wisest and surest refuge will be to have your recourse to the Kings clemency and not to your Justification I answered him I had great need of his Ma ties Grace that I threw my selfe at his feet and Implored it with all humility but was fully persuaded that his LoPP. desired not that I should acknowledge my selfe more guilty then I was he replyed no God forbid but it behouves you to be very Carefull that some things you deny come not to be prouved which the King has been informed of and belives I added no more but if they Could be prouved I desired no Grace This examination lasted longer there then is necessary it should doe here In the conclusion I was commanded to withdrawe into an ante chamber where some of the nobility and divers Gentilemen were standing by the fier and I went alone to a window over against them about halfe an hower after my Lord chancellour and the Secretaries Came out and being ready to pass by me his LoPP. drew a little towards me and I with a profownde reverence neerer to him he sayd aloude in the hearing of all present Colonel Bamfield I am your freind M r. Secretaries and I are sencible of your sufferings and will doe all we can to obtayne you the Kings Grace and to procure your liberty And turning to S r. John Robinson sayd M r. Lieutenant you may let him have the full liberty of the Tower and all his frends whoe desire it the freedome to visit him as we returned back in the barge to the tower amongest other discource for then he was become very civile whoe before had treated me exceeding rudely S t. John Robinson told me that he had conceaved my business to have been much otherwise then he fownd it that my Lord Chancellour had been as moderate in his reflexions on my answers after I was gone out as he had been in the examination and at the end of the debate spake theise following words The somme of all is that Colonel Bamfield has served the Crowne from his youth and when we left him he left us About three