intersint ad consentiendum his quae tum ibidem de communi concilio Regni nostri Divinâ favente clementiâ contigerit ordinari Teste Meipso c. The ancient form of the Writ to the Peers The Kings Writ to the Nobles or Peers runs thus CHARLES by the grace of God c. to the most Reverend Father in Christ if it speaks to any of the Bishops to Our Cousin if it is addressed to any Duke Marquess or Earl To our Beloved and Faithful if to a Baron Whereas by the advice of Our Council We have ordained that Our Parliament shall be holden at Westminster c. for the dispatch of certain difficult and urgent Affairs concerning or pertaining to Us and the State and Defence of Our Kingdom of England and of the Church of England and there to hold a Colloquy and Treat with you and with the rest of the Prelates Great men and Nobles of Our said Kingdom of England Therefore We by the Fidelity and Love if the Writ be sent to the Bishops by the Fidelity and Allegiance if to any of the Peers which you owe to Us streightly injoyning command you that in consideration of the difficulty of the aforesaid Affairs and of the Dangers impending laying aside all Excuses at the day and place aforesaid you personally appear to treat with Us together with the rest of the Prelates Great men and Nobles concerning the Affairs aforesaid and thereupon give Us your counsel And this you are not to omit as you love Us and Our Honour and the Safety of Our said Kingdom and the expedition of the said Affairs And if the Writ be directed to a Bishop it goes on further thus And you are to forewarn the Dean and Chapter of your Church and all the Clergy of your Diocess that the said Dean and the Archdeacons be personally present and the said Chapter by one and the said Clergy by two sufficient Procurators having full and sufficient power from the said Chapter and Clergy at the day and place aforesaid to Consent to those things which then and there by the favour of the divine Clemency shall happen to be ordained by the Common Council of Our Kingdom Witness my self c. Ad Communes seu Inferioris Confessus Senatores Aliud Rescriptum ad Vicecomites Praesides Civitatum seu Municipiorum conceptis hisce verbis ità se habet Rex Vicecomiti salutem Quia de advisamento assensu Concilii nostri c. progreditur ut superius ibidem cum Praelatis Magnatibus Proceribus Regni nostri Colloquium habere tractatum Tibi praecipimus firmiter injungentes quòd factâ Proclamatione in Comitatu tuo post receptionem hujus Brevis nostri Parliamenti tenendi die loco praedictis duos Milites gladiis cinctos magis idoneos discretos Comitatûs praedicti de qualibet Civitate Comitatûs illius duos Cives de quolibet Burgo duos Burgenses de discretioribus magìs sufficientibus liberè indifferenter per illos qui Electioni huic interfuerint juxta formam Statutorum indè edictorum provisorum eligi nomina eorundem Militum Civium Burgensium in quibusdam Indenturis inter te illos qui hujusmodi Electioni interfuerint conficiendis sive hujusmodi electi praesentes fuerint sive absentes inseri eósque ad dictum diem locum venire facies Ità quòd iidem Milites plenam sufficientem potestatem pro se Communitate praedicti Comitatûs ac dicti Cives Burgenses pro se Communitatibus Civitatum Burgorum praedictorum divisim ab ipsis habeant ad faciendum consentiendum his quae tum ibidem de communi Concilio Regni nostri favente Deo contigerit ordinari super negotiis antè dictis ità nè pro defectu potestatis hujusmodi seu propter improvidam Electionem Militum Civium aut Burgensium praedictorum praedicta negotia infecta maneant quovis modo Nolumus tamen quòd tu nec aliquis alius Vicecomes dicti Regni nostri aliqualiter sit electus To the Members of the House of Commons Another Writ directed to the Sheriffs and Chief Magistrates of Cities and Corporations runs thus The King to the Sheriff greeting Whereas by the Advice and Assent of Our Council c. as before then and there to hold a Colloquy and Treaty with Our Prelates Great men and Nobles of Our Kingdom c. We command and streightly injoyn you that a Proclamation being made in your County Court after the receipt of this Our Writ concerning Our Parliament to be holden at the day and place aforesaid you do cause two Knights of the most fitting and discreet of your County aforesaid and of every City in the said County two Citizens and of every Burrow or Corporation two Burgesses of the most discreet and sufficient to be freely and indifferently chosen according to the form of the Statutes in that case made and provided by those who shall be then present at the said Election and you are also to insert the names of the said Knights Citizens and Burgesses whether the persons so elected be present or absent in certain Indentures to be made betwixt you and those who shall be present at the said Election and you shall cause them to appear at the day and place aforesaid so as the said Knights have full and sufficient power for themselves and the Community of the aforesaid County and the said Citizens and Burgesses for themselves and the Communities of the said Cities and Corporations severally to do and consent to those things which by the favour of God shall by the Common Council of Our Kingdom be ordained concerning the Affairs aforesaid so that by the want of such Power or by the improvident Election of the Knights Citizens or Burgesses aforesaid the Affairs aforesaid be not in any way left unfinished undispatched Yet We will not that you or any other Sheriff of Our said Kingdom be by any means elected These things being punctually performed according to exactness of Law the Members in a solemn and splendid Procession such as may imprint an Awe and Reverence in the minds of the People go first to Church and then to the Parliament-house And at that time the King coming into the House of Lords and having called up the Members of the House of Commons either speaks to them himself or causes the Lord Chancellor to declare to them the weighty causes of their meeting and what it is he would have them consult and deliberate about for the Publick Good The King is not obliged afterward unless he please to be present at their Consultations except at the end of a Session that he may give the strength and vigour of a Law to their Bills The Knights and Burgesses of the Lower House have severally the Oath of Allegiance administred unto them by one appointed for that effect by the King which amongst other things
difficulty also the Fleet under the command of the Earl of Warwick is divided but all this still without any fighting There was much skirmishing indeed on both sides by Apologies and Manifesto's but after that the King in the judgment of most men had got the better on 't at the Pen at length they come to try the matter by Armies and the Sword It was easie for the Parliament to raise an Army in London a City abounding with swarms of seditious and restless men where so many Arms so great quantity of Provision and Ammunition so much Money and so many thousand pieces of Ordnance were ready at hand Where by the publick Declarations of so many specious Causes for which it might seem even honourable to die and the plausible Motto's in their Colours they inflamed the minds of the deluded Rabble more than with the sound of the Trumpet or Drum pretending forsooth That they took Arms for the defence of the Kings Person and to remove evil Counsellors from him for maintaining the Priviledges of Parliament and the preservation of the Reformed Religion for asserting the Laws and ancient Government of England nay and for securing their Religion Lives and Estates and therefore inviting all to their assistance By which Artifices the Preachers being bewitched who were desirous of a change in the Church-government and somewhat tickled with the hopes which the Rebels had roundly promised that the Livings of the Loyal Clergy and the fat Benefices of the Bishops Deans and Chapters would fall to their share in the Dividend they sound the Trumpet to Rebellion from the Pulpit from whence they ought to have preached the Gospel of Peace The People upon this spurred on with other hopes of a future Golden Age and of the temporal reign of the Messias comes flocking from all quarters the men bringing a vast quantity of Money and Plate and the women their Wedding-Rings Thimbles and Bodkins and without any regard to their Families by a strange kind of a phrenzy casting them into the publick Stock or Treasury The men strove who should be first to list themselves in this holy War whence in a short time there was an Army of about twenty thousand men got together before the King had levied five hundred for his defence and they also having more Cannon than he had Muskets in his possession For raising Pay for their Army besides the profuse Contributions and Benevolences of the People they seize the Goods of the Nobility and Gentry whom they knew to be of the Kings Party they fall also upon the Revenues of the Bishops Prince Queen and of the King himself by way of sequestration so that the Kings Majesty was forced to complain That they had not left him enough to live on And now they thought there was no more to be done but to march and seize the person of the King who was overcome and in a manner taken in a toyl which they doubted not to promise themselves to be done within the space of a month But the Will of God was otherwise for the Juggles of the Rebels had not so blinded the understanding of the English but that most part of the Lords and Peers of the Vpper House and almost an equal number of the Lower who for Estates and Quality far exceeded the rest went over to the Kings Party Many also of those who tarried at London favoured the Royal Cause in secret and in all Counties of the Kingdom there were many Gentlemen and common people that stood for the interest of the King By the assistance of these and the Royal Authority which like the Sun in an eclipse drew together a crowd of Spectators and by a certain pity and commiseration of some men who were ashamed to behold the Head of the Kingdom depressed into such a condition as to be forced to flie from the Imperial City to York from York to Nottingham from Nottingham into Shropshire and the borders of Wales after he had wandered up and down above four months long and in vain imploring the help and assistance of his Subjects the King at length got together a kind of a small Army which afterwards increased to greater Forces the people the more readily flocking to the King because with him they thought the Government must stand or fall Many of the Nobility and Gentry also brought what Forces they could to the Kings Party amongst whom not to rob any of the Honour due to them the Loyalty and Interest of the two Marquesses of Hertford and Newcastle was eminently conspicuous of whom the first brought with him a considerable Body of Dutch and the other almost at his own charge raised no inconsiderable Army in the North the Queen also sending over Moneys and Arms which by pawning her Jewels she had raised for which dutiful office to her Husband the Rebels accuse her of Treason Whilst these Clouds overcast the Sky at home a dismal Tempest thunders from abroad upon the heads of the English which because it was of no small moment as to our affairs that I may not wholly pass by in silence the Reader must cross the Sea with me into Ireland The Irish who always bore impatiently the Yoke of the English Government out of a natural aversion heightened by the emulation of different Religions watched for an opportunity to shake off the one and to assert the other I mean the Roman Catholick Religion did now attempt the Enterprize which long before they had formed in their minds For the whole Nation of a sudden and which was strange by a clandestine and concealed Conspiracy fell upon the English scattered over Ireland who were secure and expected no such thing turn them out of house and hold and without distinction of Age or Sex without respect to Affinity or Relation barbarously butcher many thousands like so many humane Sacrifices to their Superstition And had not the Conspiracy been detected at Dublin and in other places the more cautious running to Arms had not withstood their fury the English name was in a fair way of being totally extinguished in Ireland The good luck was that the very day before the intended Insurrection the mystery of the Plot was discovered at Dublin by an Irish Footman belonging to Sir John Clotwaithie who having refused to act the part that was put upon him in the Conspiracy opened the whole Intrigue to his Master who presently informed the Privy-Council of it Though many of the Conspirators fled yet two of the chief Incendiaries and Promoters of the Rebellion who had also undertaken to surprize Dublin-Castle I mean the Lord Macquire and Macmahon were apprehended Being committed to Prison they were afterwards conveyed to London where having long suffered the incommodities of a Prison that we may at once make an end of them they made their escape but being by another Irish-man betrayed in the absence of the King who was then inevitably engaged
in a War with his Subjects of England they were taken and at the Kings-bench-bar tried for High-Treason Macquire being found guilty by a Jury had sentence pronounced against him according to the Laws of the Country That he should be dragged to Tyburn in a Hurdle hang'd by the neck till he be half dead his privy Members and Bowels burnt before his face his Head cut off and set upon London-bridge and his Quarters upon four Gates of the City This Sentence was punctually executed in the presence of the Sheriff of London and fifteen thousand Spectators at least Nor is it to be omitted that the Sheriff having adjured Macquire by the dreadful Tribunal of God before which shortly he was to appear and the clearing and easing of his Conscience which was then or never to be done that he would ingenuously confess whom he knew to be guilty of the same Crime though the Rope was about his neck and he half up the Ladder yet by name he acquitted King Charles from being any ways privy to it solemnly professing that he knew no English-man but one and he a Papist that had any hand in the matter Nay and being cast off the Ladder and when after he had tried what hanging was he was a little reprieved and had no small hopes given him of a pardon he still persisted in the same protestation But in the Pulpits Clubs and publick Pamphlets the Crime was charged upon King Charles nor did the Rebels blush to asperse even the sacred and innocent Majesty of the King with so heinous a guilt hoping that whilst they continued so boldly to vent their Calumnies and Slanders against him some of them at least would stick The Irish Nobility and Priests who were the chief Actors in this Tragedy were encouraged to the Villany by the late successes of the Scots who to speak in the language of Sir John Temple a Privy-Counsellor of that Kingdom who wrote the History of those Troubles having happily succeeded in their attempts obtained by their last Commotions considerable Priviledges from the King To this adde that our intestine Troubles seemed to offer fair opportunity of changes it being very rational and easie to conjecture that the English being ready to fall together by the ears at home there was no fear that they would cross over to Ireland to defend and assist their Colonies in that Kingdom Their boldness was increased by the Interregnum occasioned by the murder of Strafford and the change of the Magistrates of whom the severer and best acquainted with the State of that Kingdom were by the interest of the Irish Lords whilst they prosecuted Strafford in England either turned out of place or accused of High-Treason men who were either ignorant of the Affairs and State of Ireland or who were prone to Rebellion being put into their places Being thus in a readiness the unseasonable disbanding of an Army of eight thousand Irish who had been raised for the Scottish expedition did not a little strengthen their resolution for though the King after the pacification of the Scots lest they might occasion Stirs in Ireland had permitted the Spanish Embassadour to transport four thousand of them yet the Irish Lords put on by the Conspirators got the Parliament under pretext that the French King might take it ill earnestly to beseech that it might not be done And afterwards when the King had ordered the same number to be raised for the service of the French without any reasons alleadged they utterly rejected it Very few of the Captains and Officers of that Army dishonoured themselves by joyning in the Rebellion but the private Souldiers whose custom it is to be insolent and at length appear valiant when they are about to be dismissed from the dangers of War easily rushed into that Villany The Lords and Priests being soothed with these so many fair opportunities of fishing in troubled waters that they might weaken our Colonies divide and distract their thoughts and in the mean time incense the Natives to slaughter and rapine they cast about all ways To the English they brag That the Queen is in their Army that the King was coming with an Army to their assistance that the Scots were agreed with him and to make that the more credible amongst the slaughter of the English they spare the Scots They give out that they have the Kings Commission and act by virtue of his authority shewing indeed a counterfeit Commission to which one Plunket with the consent of many Lords and Priests at Farn-Abbey had appended the Kings Seal taken from another old Commission as appeared by the confessions of a great many afterwards That they defend the King's Cause against the Puritans Amongst their own men they divulge counterfeit Letters whereby they pretend to be informed from England That there was an Act lately past whereby all the Irish were to be forced to go to Church and assist at the Devotion of the Protestants upon pain of forfeiture for the first offence of their Chattels for the second of their Lands and Inheritances and for the third of their Lives They propose besides to the Natives the hopes of Liberty and of recovering their ancient Customs That the English Yoke is to be cast off a King to be chosen of their own Nation and the Goods and Estates of the English to be divided amongst the Natives By this hope of booty and of living at their own liberty for the future the Irish are allured to the War and being egg'd on with fury and rage they committed such horrid and heynous Crimes as hardly any Age can parallel The King foresaw the Storm a coming whilst he was in Scotland and therefore that he might prevent it whilst it was a gathering he presently dispatched Sir James Hamilton to the Lords and others of his Majesties Privy-Council of Ireland with instructions and what money he could raise of his own and from his friends on the sudden He earnestly desires the assistance of the Parliament of Scotland and acquaints the Parliament of England with it also But the one under pretext that Ireland was under the dominion of England refuse their assistance and the other takes but little notice of it The Factious tacitly rejoycing that new Troubles were arising to the King and that Kingly government being abolished alike in all the three Kingdoms they would shortly be turned into so many free Commonwealths But the Sparks breaking out into a flame and the report of the Irish barbarity being in every bodies mouth the Parliament was enraged and all were filled with an extraordinary zeal of revenging the bloud of their Country-men treacherously killed and of defending and protecting the surviving For the charges of a War in a short time three hundred thousand pound English was raised partly by benevolent Contributions and partly out of the price of the Lands and Inheritances of the Rebels which by the Parliament were sold to be
for they grow openly mutinous and infect others with the same itch of Rioting They accuse the Lord Lieutenant in presence of the Lord O-Bryan Inchiqueen as the Disturber of the Affairs of Ireland whose continuing longer at the Helm would quickly be the ruin of the Government but that if he alone would undertake the management of Affairs being a person descended of the ancient Race of their Kings whom they had found to be a Valiant Watchful Faithful and Successful General they all promise to swear Obedience to him and willingly submit to his Government On the other hand they whisper the Lord Lieutenant in the Ear that Inchiqueen having been an inveterate Rebel had not as yet laid aside the thoughts of his ancient Enmity nor would he cordially defend the cause of those against whom he had been so long accustomed to draw his Sword that if the Lord Lieutenant would consent to lay him aside the Irish would unanimously joyn and in all things obey his Commands Thus whilst by an abominable Treachery and Hatred to either they strive to Calumniate and Blacken both they make it their business to propagate Faction and Divisions But the Lord Lieutenant meeting the Bishops and Great Men earnestly exhorts them That at length laying aside all private Grudges and Animosities which still remained to be composed they would consult the Publick Interest become Friends and unanimously prepare for a more vigorous defence That they would reflect upon the great danger they were in three Provinces being already almost wholly subdued and the last not like to resist much longer That if his Government was less grateful to them and was a hindrance to the defence of the Country he would hasten his departure and commit the charge to another For he had already secretly obtained leave to depart from the King being still at Jersey and had got the Goverment conferred on Clanricard When they heard this all of them pretended extraordinary Sorrow that they would submit to his Will and Pleasure banish all mutual Jealousies and perswade the Towns to Obedience They departed with glad and cheerful Countenances as abundantly satisfied though they were still inwardly discontented So true it is That those whom God intends to destroy he first infatuates For the Inhabitants and Roman Catholick Clergy combining privately together kept Clubs and Cabals and dispersed infamous Libels wherein they shew the Rancour of their Minds by calumniating the Lord Lieutenant as unactive Cowardly and Treacherous finding fault with the Commissions that were granted to Officers of the Reformed Religion and repining that the War should be committed to the Caâ—e and Conduct of unfit Men wholly addicted to Whoring Gaming Gluttony and Impiety The Bishops of Cork and Toam and of Clonfert and the rest of the Clergy declare the Government void and the Followers of the Lord Lieutenant liable to Excommunication And therefore they order the Army to be Disbanded before they could think of the raising of another Nevertheless the Lord Lieutenant that he might as much as lay in his Power preserve the Forces in their Duty and Loyalty to the King he left the charge of them to the Earl of Clanricard with the Title of Lord Deputy who being admitted by the unanimous consent of all that stuck to the Kings Party took upon himself the management of the War A general Muster being thereupon appointed new Levies are made the Souldiers Exercised necessaries for the War provided and all things prepared afresh the Clergy being very Zealous and the People assistant in carrying on the Work About that time Ireton betook himself to Winter Quarters in Dublin that he might consult with the Commissioners of the Common-wealth about the future War and other Affairs having left Orders to Axtel Governour of Kilkenny to have an eye upon the Garrisons about Athlome Axtel by chance whil'st he was upon Duty fell in with Clanricards Men who passing the Shannon at Athlome had taken some of Iretons Garrisons and had surprised more if he had not come in the nick of time They charge Axtel who being much inferiour in number retreated a little until being recruited from Wexford and other places he had joyned thirteen hundred men to the eight hundred which he himself had and then he made head against the Enemy But so soon as they began to Skirmish though the Irish were five thousand Foot and four hundred Horse strong yet not daring to venture a battel they retreat to the River Shannon and skulk in two Boggs about Melecha fortifying themselves with Poles and Stakes driven into the ground and filled up with Earth as by a double Wall However the English leaving no means unessayed and breaking through all impediments bravely drove them out of their Station and destroyed them five hundred men who were partly slain and partly drowned After this overthrow it was thought safer in the very extremity of Winter to keep the Souldiers betwixt the Shannon vast Lakes and the Collough Mountains than any more to molest the Enemy whom daily Success made bolder The Reader may be apt to wonder that the Irish shewed themselves so Cowardly and Timerous during the whole Series of this War as if from Men they had degenerated into Women being every where defeated though they fought for their Lives and Liberties But whoever equally weighs matters will easily leave off to wonder For on the one hand he 'll find the English provided of all necessaries for a War unanimous amongst themselves all expert in War and confiding as it is usual in their continual good Fortune The Irish on the other hand almost without Arms for most part destitute of Weapons and other necessaries disagreeing also amongst themselves miserably rent into Factions raw and unskillful in War and in a manner cowed by constant ill Fortune Besides they are neither comparable to the English in Foot nor Horse how brave soever they be in Foreign Countries The private Souldiers I know not whether it be by the Skill and Knowledge they have of the Bogs and lurking Places that they are to soon enticed to fly or that through the force of an old Custom they could not but turn their Backs envied to the Blows of the English Now as to their Horse they are far exceeded by the English not only in number but also in the quality of the Horses and Riders The Horses indeed march but softly but in bulk of Body strength of Limbs and Courage one Troop of them is worth three almost of the Irish and breaks Ranks better And the Riders again are for close Fighting discharging their Pistols in the Enemies Breast and laying about them with their Swords Hence it is that in every Engagment the Irish presently betake themselves to flight nor can they endure the looks yea hardly the Neighing of the Horses of the English I hope the Reader will pardon me that I have tacked this Apology
contains this clause I will bear Faith and true Allegiance to his Majesty his Heirs and Successors and him and them will defend to the uttermost of my power against all Conspiracies and Attempts whatsoever which shall be made against his or their Persons their Crown and Dignity and make known unto his Majesty his Heirs and Successors all Treasons and traiterous Conspiracies which I shall know and hoar of to be against him or any of them c. But lest any one being advanced to the high Honour and Dignity of consulting with the King and sharing in some part of the Government should forget that he is still a Subject the better to keep him within the bounds of duty he is to take another Oath of Supremacy in these words I A. B. do utterly testifie and declare in my Conscience That the Kings Highness is the onely Supreme Governour of this Realm and of all other his Highness's Dominions and Countries as well in all Spiritual or Ecclesiastical things or causes as Temporal and that no foreign Prince Person Prelate State or Potentate hath or ought to have any Jurisdiction Power Superiority Preeminence or Authority Ecclesiastical or Spiritual within this Realm And therefore I do utterly renounce and forsake all foreign Jurisdictions Powers Superiorities and Authorities and do promise from henceforth I shall hear Faith and true Allegiance to the Kings Highness his Heirs and lawful Successors and to my power shall assist and defend all Jurisdictions Priviledges Pre-eminences and Authorities granted or belonging to the Kings Highness his Heirs and Successors or united or annexed to the Imperial Crown of this Realm So help me God and by the contents of this Book Being thus obliged to their duty upon their entry into this auspicious Honour by the Votes of the Lower House according to the Kings designation or nomination a Speaker is chosen whom they accompany to the King beseeching his Majesty to approve their election which the King readily grants This being done the Speaker in the name of himself and of all the Commons thanks the King and begs of his Majesty that they may enjoy their Priviledges and have the freedom of debating and that if any one in the heat of discourse should speak too warmly his Majesty would not take it ill nor be offended and that they may have free access to his Majesty and the Upper House so often as occasion shall require Which being granted they are dismissed All men heretofore were admitted to petition this August Assembly provided their Petitions were preferred within six days after the opening of the Parliament and by the hands of some appointed by the Upper House it belonging to them to judge what were fitting to be presented in Parliament and to reject such as were trivial or seditious Each House has power to consult debate and form Bills about the matters proposed by the King or concerning the making or abrogating of Laws so that what is agreed upon in the one House is by Messengers to be sent to the other and if both concur in judgment after the matter hath been debated the Assent is marked over the head of the Bill if it be in the Lords House in this form of words Les Seigneurs out assentes The Lords have consented And in the House of Commons thus Les Communes out assentes The Commons have consented But if they disagree many times both Houses or Committees chosen by them meet in conference in a convenient place which is called the Painted Chamber where the Lords covered and sitting in solemn manner receive the Commons standing uncovered and both argue the matter in debate If in such Conferences opinions disagree as it happens sometimes the thing is laid aside but if they concurr the Bill is carried to the King which if he approve of it is written upon Le Roy le veut The King wills it whereby as by a Soul infused into the body it receives life and passes into a perfect Law to be afterwards promulgated to the people If on the contrary the King approve not the Bills brought to him he uses to write over head Le Roy s'avisera The King will consider of it sometimes he utterly rejects them and then they are wholly laid aside But matters of Religion which require the Kings more especial care are not so intirely committed by him to the Parliament but to the Convocation of the Clergy to be handled unless for the sanction of Parliament to give them the authority of a Law which otherwise they could not sufficiently have The Deans Archdeacons two Prebendaries commissionated by the several Chapters and as many Priests out of every Diocess meet in an appointed place to consult about affairs of that nature where having first chosen a Prolocutor they settle points of Religion Ceremonies and other matters belonging to the Church and the imposition of Subsidies also in name of the Clergy yet in these latter times their Acts bind not the People until as we said before they be passed into a Law by the King with consent of both Houses of Parliament And so cautious have our Kings been that Laymen should not meddle in such affairs that as it is recorded in History Queen Elizabeth severely checked the Parliament for having appointed a Fast without â—sking her leave nor would she be satisfied till they begg'd her Majesties pardon for it That we may return to the Authority of Parliament each House hath its several and distinct Priviledges The House of Lords not onely concurs in Council and making of Laws but hath also power of Judicature and giving Judgment and so of administring an Oath especially in weightier Causes as in the corruption of Judges and Magistrates and in highest Appeals which yet the Lawyers say cannot lawfully be brought to a tryal without the consent and warrant of the King and is never done unless the Judges of the Law do assist The House of Commons claims to it self the priviledge of petitioning and proposing Laws or of prosecuting but never of judging unless within its own walls and over the Members of their own House nor that neither beyond a Fine and Imprisonment By ancient custom that House was so far from pronouncing any Sentence much less in cases of Life and Death in the name of the People against the meanest Servant in England that it never took to it self the power of administring an Oath It is also extant in the Rolls to this purpose Vpon the humble supplication of the House of Commons that whereas all Parliamentary Judgment belongs to the King and the Peers and not to the Commons unless by a Grant and Permission from the King it would please the Kings Majesty that they be not contrary to custom obliged to give Judgment whereupon the King for the future excused them from that trouble reserving the Parliamentary power of Judging for the time to come to the King and
House of Lords onely save onely in making Laws or imposing Taxes and Subsidies unless when it shall otherwise seem fit to the Kings Majesty to require their particular counsel and assent for dispatching the publick Affairs of the Nation Nay it was of old the custom also that if any Controversie or Doubt arose about the validity of the Election of the Members of the House of Commons the matter was not determined by the other Members of the same House but either by the Lords in the Upper House or by the Judges in Chancery And if any of them also departed from the Parliament without leave from the King and both Houses he was brought before the Kings Privy-Council or Kings-Bench to receive sentence for his faults but he was never punished at the will and pleasure of his own House This also is peculiar to the House of Commons that we may again return to their Priviledges that it belongs to them first to debate and form the Bill for raising Money from the People Such therefore is the wonderful temper of our Monarchy that the King Lords and Commons have their several parts in the publick administration of Affairs yet with that harmonious proportion that All can help but none of them hurt the Publick For the Prerogative of the King that gives him the supreme power of Government and of Peace and War tends to this that he may have strength enough to defend the Laws against the Factions of the Nobility and the Tumults and Insurrections of the people whilst the Nobles by the high Authority they have in giving Judgment and making Laws can on the one hand put a stop to tyrannical attempts if any should be offered by the King and on the other curb the insolence of a tumultuous and seditious common People Nor are the Commons through the priviledge they have of accusing any man and giving or denying Money unprovided of means of restraining the licentiousness of the Lords and Privy-Counsellors and of preventing the arbitrariness of the Prince The Laws are very careful that the liberty of Debating and Voting be not obstructed through fear and the insolence of wicked men for it is enjoyned under severe penalties that no Member of Parliament come to the House with hidden or open Arms nor that any other person armed with a Sword or any other Weapon presume to walk in the Palace-yard or near the House thereby to give cause of terrour and apprehension or to lessen the reverence of the place Yea it hath been the custom that the Members of Parliament and their menial Servants should during the sitting of Parliament be protected from arrests for debt or other slight crimes but the Priviledge of Parliament excuses no man that is guilty of Treason Felony or Breach of the Peace from the ordinary prosecution of Law Yet if by the mistake either of the Magistrate or Officer any Parliament-man or their Servants happen to be arrested they cannot be set at liberty according to Law but by a Writ assigning the cause directed out of the Chancery So much heretofore did both Houses contain themselves within the bounds of modesty that if any one inconsiderately offended against the received customs or spake any way irreverently of the King he was severely punished for the fault and that at the suit and instance of the House of which he was a Member The Kings also did very seldom unless it were for weighty causes act any thing that might give offence to so August an Assembly Yet sometimes upon high provocations some of our mildest Princes have severely rebuked the whole Parliament and caused some Members to be brought to the Bar to answer for their offences and have punished others by Fine Imprisonment or Death according to the nature of their crimes These were the old customs and those the men that made England for many Ages past to flourish being happy at home and renowned abroad until too much happiness as often happens in humane affairs with Luxury and all sorts of Vice brought in amongst us Pride Ambition and the contempt of the Laws both of God and man so that with mutual emulation and envy men began to covet and invade the Rights of one another to despise and set at nought rather than to reverence and obey the King Religion and Laws and to gape after Novelties rather than to acquiesce in what was most excellently established Of late some perverse men and they at first but a few who had screwed themselves into the Lower House being desirous of changes and crafty Promoters of publick Debates began to clamour about the Rights and Liberties of the People and Power of Parliaments to arrogate to themselves unheard-of Priviledges to be very busie where they were no ways concerned take upon them what they were not capable of effecting and at length breaking out into insolent Expressions and Invectives against the the Kings power calling into question the Tunnage and Poundage which the Kings of England in all times enjoyed and forbidding them to be payed to the King nay and to offer violence to their Speaker within the very walls of the House and in a word to shake off their ancient modesty all reverence which they ought to bear to the Majesty of their King and to trample under foot the sacred Customs of the Kingdom and Priviledges of Parliament Hence arose mutual Heart-burnings and Jealousies that the King designed to invade the Liberties of the Parliament and the Parliament to encroach upon the Prerogative of the Crown For this reason the King put an end to several Parliaments much sooner than many desired but not without precedents in former times and checked the rashness of some by imprisonment Being some time afterward sollicited he refused to call new Parliaments that so the Heats and Animosities might be allayed and that they might learn for the future to bring along with them Modesty and greater Gravity to so great a Council But that gave occasion to crafty and restless men of spreading their poyson all over England so that every where they gave it out That Religion was ruined the publick Liberty opprest and the Laws in danger of being subverted hoping that it would be no difficult matter to perswade credulous people of this who were greedy of Novelties and prone to listen to Calumnies and Slanders especially of the great men They reproached the King with bitter Railings calling him uxorious imprudent addicted to the Popish Religion covetous and what else they knew to be infamous and hateful to the People They censured the best of his actions and strained them to the worst sence They wonderfully aggravated his Misfortunes and Failings and were more injurious than ill fortune her self in their horrid constructions Amongst so many Complaints and Outcries if you demand what real calamity happened Britain was never in a more flourishing condition stately Buildings both publick and private every where reared not
onely for conveniency but even for Ostentation and Luxury Trade increasing dayly both in compass and profit had already enlarged it self to both the Indies onely unhappy in this that with the Wealth of Strangers foreign Vices were also imported Arts of all sorts never look'd gayer in Colledges Courts and Shops nor were the wealthy Inhabitants ever prouder Justice was administred according to Law nor was any man deprived of Life or Goods but by the lawful Verdict of a Jury of his Country-men to whom these things ought to be of highest value all the parts of Government were so administred that they seemed to conspire together for the publick good save onely in this that they could not repress the insolency and wantonness that sprung from so great prosperity and which is not to be dissembled being long unaccustomed to War we had been unfortunate in some foreign expeditions and the people were incensed at some impositions at home which though very moderate and countenanced by publick necessity and good reason in Law yet gave occasion to the people to pretend that the Right and Property of the Subject was opprest and to outcries of Injustice and also the imprisonment and lopping off the ears of four or five seditious persons sentenced by the Judges of the Star-Chamber seemed to be punishments too severe for those halcyon days of Peace and Tranquillity To this may be added that the Jurisdiction and Censures of Spiritual Courts wrought pity in some and indignation in others Besides the muster of Malecontents was made greater by some scrupulous Puritans who interpreted the enjoyning of Ceremonies and things indifferent in the Worship of God in the Canons of the Church to be the Fore-runners of Popery We may also take along with us the Zeal of the Archbishop in exempting the Clergie from the Suits and Injuries of Laicks and preferring them to civil employments which drew a great deal of envy and ill will not onely upon himself but upon all the Church-men also as also his endeavouring to bring into the Church of Scotland the use of the Service-book of England which though his designe was laudable that these three neighbouring Nations being under the government of one and the same King might also be joyned in an uniform manner of Worship was yet unseasonable and ill timed as we shall a little more fully relate Matters in Scotland were then ripe for a Rebellion for many took it ill that the King denied them the Honours and Titles to which they aspired others were vexed that they were forced to part with some portion of the Tythes though but moderate which they had upon the dissolution of the Monasteries in the minority of King James obtained from the Crown for making a competent Stipend for Ministers who then served the Cures at what easie rates the Patrons were pleased to allow them but most could not digest that the absolute Authority which they had for a long time usurped over their Vassals and Tenants should be taken from them and annexed to the Crown These chusing rather to shake the State than quit their hold those again rather to get Titles of Honour by the seditious Acclamations of the Mobile than to want them took occasion of the Liturgie and Ceremonies to buz the people in the ear that the reformed Religion was to be overturned to make way for Popery so that having taken up Arms and born down all that were of a contrary opinion they new model Church and State according to their own humour The King resolving to reduce those by Arms whom he could not reclaim by the milder causes of admonition being accompanied by the Flower of the Youth and Nobility of England who voluntarily and at their own charge set out upon the expedition marches to the borders but having by clemency and concessions brought them over to obedience which he preferred before Hostility and Arms he condescended to Articles of Peace and disbanded his Army The Scots afterward insisting upon Articles different from those that were agreed upon occasion new Broils and Dissensions which when neither Commissioners Messengers nor mutual Letters could compose both sides prepare afresh for a new War On the Kings side the Earl of Strafford then Deputy of Ireland raised an Army of eight thousand men with the assistance of the Parliament of Ireland being to be paid by them and being come over again into England bestirs himself in raising another Army here A Parliament is called wherein a certain Courtier making bad use of his instructions did purposely as most believed that he might confound affairs and increase Animosities betwixt the King and Parliament somewhat haughtily demand twelve Subsidies when the House of Commons had offered six in lieu of the Ship-money and this raised new discontents and grievances for putting a stop to which in those troublesome times the Parliament was sooner dissolved than many could have wished In the mean time the Scots whose Forces were not so dispersed but that they might be speedily drawn together into a body nicking the opportunity and by Agents entring into a Combination with the factious of England under pretext of petitioning the King came in a hostile manner into England and having beat some Troops that guarded the passage of the River Tine put all into fear and consternation took Newcastle and other Towns unprovided for defence and fortified them And though Strafford with the new-raised Army under his command had undertaken to drive them out of the Kingdom yet the most merciful King chose rather to refer the matter to a Parliament than without publick consent to pollute the Kingdom with bloud and slaughter A Truce was therefore made whereby the Scots were allowed a free Trade and Commerce with liberty to raise Contributions in the Counties where they lay and so a Parliament was called by whose prudence and Loyalty it was hoped all roots and Fibres of Animosities might be extirpated The Parliament being met the Factious who in great numbers had got into the House of Commons trusting now to the Patronage of the Scots and the Disorders of the times set about their business manfully they represent Grievances both publick and private accuse Courtiers and Magistrates and dart obliquely reproaches against the King himself exaggerating all with the highest strains of their Rhetorick Under pretext of reforming these Abuses they labour to overturn both Church and State and in imitation of the Scots to new-model the Government and that by these steps If in the first place they could deprive the King of the Counsels and Assistance of his most faithful Subjects and by loading him with Reproaches and false Crimes render him odious to the People and strip him of all Power and Authority they would next screw themselves into publick Offices and the power of the Militia and then with absolute dominion give Laws both to the King and People The Earl of Strafford and
amongst others is chiefly to be observed That the King having given secret orders to the Army then on foot which at his own charge he had raised against the Scots though after the Truce they were payed by the Parliament to march to London that he might more conveniently repress the Tumults and Insolencies of the People it was by the Factious charged upon him as a Crime But though he might lawfully do it yet they examined many Officers and Souldiers about the matter and finding none privy to it they made it their chief care by laying all the blame at the Kings door to incense the People more against him Now the Parliament has leisure the Power being in their hands to send the Scots home to their own Country who having received a promise of three hundred thousand pounds English to be paid within three years and being loaded with Thanks Pay and Booty of which they were not so free to the English Army they departed both the English and Irish Armies being at the same time disbanded Nay it was hotly disputed which of the Armies should first be dismissed this or that till at length with much ado it past in Parliament that both should be disbanded together The King followed the Scots into Scotland where having called a Parliament and having granted and confirmed by Law whatever Avarice Ambition and Wantonness could devise to his own loss he reconciles all Parties and for that time heals up all wounds of War and Dissention But the Parliament dogs the King with Commissioners as spies over all his actions who under pretext of cementing a stricter Union with their Friends and dear Brethren might break off their friendship to the King and indeed by tales whispers and crafty insinuations they had very near spoiled all the Kings business at that time The Parliament of England also during this space was by the Votes of both Houses prorogued to a certain day The King upon his return was received with applause in London and with the Queen and Royal Issue magnificently feasted by the City which the Parliamentarians and some others took ill lest the Kings Majesty being elevated by those Congratulations of the Citizens might think the people had received sufficient satisfaction or that his own affairs were setled to advantage And the King having sent for the Lord Mayor and chief Citizens to Hampton-Court gave them in recompence a sumptuous and Princely Treat which grated upon the Factious who were resolved to mingle sorrows with their joys After some days they congratulate his return with a Declaration or rather an infamous Libel In it the Parliamentarians mustered up all the grievances of the State or rather the murmurings of insolent and wanton men aggravating with the utmost spight and malice whatever had been committed by the Courtiers Courts Magistrates or Kings Officers what calamities or misfortunes had happened during his whole reign yea and those things also which being reformed ought justly to have been buried in silence and at the same time cause it to be printed and published This was forged during the Kings absence being moved under other pretexts by the chief Sticklers of the House and having been debated from three in the afternoon all night long until ten next morning and many wise men in the mean time through age and infirmity and others which is far worse through fear and cowardise withdrawing it was at last with much ado approved by the plurality of eleven voices The King finding fault that they had made it publick without expecting his Answer a few days after published another Declaration in refutation of it This was in a manner the first Declaration of War For though the King endeavoured a Cure by somentations and mollifying Remedies yet the Sore festered and was not to be cured without Fire and Sword The Rabble again broke out into Tumults under colour of the Ceremonies Liturgie and Church-government The Factious whisper that the power of the Militia must be taken out of the Kings hands which they intended immediately to seize By which it clearly appeared that the boldness of the disaffected and the ways of sedition were rather encouraged than conquered by patience and that the Troubles were no less raised by the consent than by the artifice and machination of the Factious the King having discovered some of them to have been accessary to the Scottish Invasion That the King therefore might not always suffer things to go on but obviate and timely stifle the growing Rebellion in the bud he accuses five Commoners and one of the Peers of High-Treason and desires them to be brought to a fair tryal according to Law before the Judges of the Kingdom But the Faction growing now more powerful and numerous in the Parliament many good men also being over sollicitous lest the Priviledges of Parliament might be in the least infringed the House of Commons which durst never before own the defence of any who were accused of Felony Murder or Treason takes them into protection and so far from complying with the King who undertook the prosecution himself they rather accuse him as invading the Priviledges of Parliament and will not suffer any Member to be brought to the Bar or taken off by accusations from the care of the Publick or that the Judges and Arbitrators of the Affairs of the Kingdom should be disgraced by criminal Processes The King being provoked at this by the advice of some of his Privy-Council who were themselves Members of the House went to Westminster-hall attended with about an hundred Noblemen and Gentlemen with their Servants and commands that no body else be suffered to come up stairs and that they should not upon any provocation offer the least affront to any man Entering the House of Commons accompanied onely by the Prince Palatine of the Rhyne he demands the Incendiaries to be delivered up to him and promises to proceed against them according to the known Laws They being warned as it was reported by means of the Earl of H. and of a Lady who was now willing to set off her wit as formerly she had done her beauty the gifts of different Ages amongst the Parliament-men had withdrawn themselves Wherefore the King having accused the Abscondents returned without any hurt or injury done to any man But when he perceived that the Members were in a chaff and highly displeased he mildly remitted the Suit and that he might soften the angry minds of the men he retracted what he had done and in a manner begg'd pardon for his fault Nevertheless they who lay continually at the catch to blow the Coals of Jealousies and Offences taking hold of this opportunity of inveighing against the King set the minds of the ignorant agog and scattered abroad in all places such sparks of Division as were enough to put the whole Kingdom in a flame The Rabble of the neighbouring
complains and demands reparation for the affront But the House of Commons approve Sir John Hotham's Fact and vote that the King had violated the Priviledges of Parliament in proclaiming a Member of the House guilty of Treason Before he was heard in their House they give Orders to the Earl of Warwick to send some Souldiers from on board into the Town and to transport the Magazine from thence to London But Sir John Hotham repenting too late when he perceived that these Sparks had put the whole Country into a flame having afterwards obtained pardon and being about to deliver up the Town to the King was taken and payed to the Parliament what he owed to the King both he and his Son being beheaded Amongst these preludes to War there is some mention and hopes of peace for after some months the Parliament send an Answer to the King's Proposals which he made at Windsor upon his departure for the North in nineteen Articles or Demands of which this is the sum 1. That all the King's Privy-Council great Officers and Ministers of State may be put out excepting such as the Parliament shall approve and to assigne them an Oath 2. That all affairs of State be managed by the Parliament except such matters as are transferred by them to the Privy-Council and to be concluded by the major part of the Nobility under their hands the full number not to exceed 25 nor under 15 and if any place fall void in the interval of Parliament then the major part of the Council to chuse one to be confirmed at the next Session of Parliament 3. That all the great Officers of the Kingdom shall be chosen with approbation of Parliament c. as before said 4. The government and education of the King's Children by Parliament c. ut supra 5. Their Marriages to be treated and concluded by Parliament c. 6. The Laws against Papists Priests and others be executed without Toleration or Dispensation except by Parliament 7. No Popish Lord or Peer to have vote in Parliament and their children to be educated in the Protestant Faith 8. To Reform Church-government as the Parliament shall advise 9. To settle the Militia as the Parliament have ordered and for the King to recal all his Declarations published against their Ordinances therein 10. All Privy-Counsellers and Judges to take Oath for maintenance of the Petition of Right and other Statutes which shall be made this Parliament 11. All Officers placed by Parliament to hold their places quam diu bene se gesserint 12. All Members of Parliament put out during this time be restored again 13. The Justice of Parliament to pass upon all Delinquents and they to appear or abide their censure 14. The general Pardon to pass with Exceptions as the Parliament shall advise 15. All Forts and Castles of the Kingdom to be disposed of by Parliament ut supra 16. The King to discharge all his Guards and Forces now in being and not to raise any other but in case of actual Rebellion 17. The King to enter into a strict Alliance with all Reformed States for their assistance to recover the Rights of his Royal Sister and her Princely Issue to those Dignities and Dominions which belong unto them 18. To clear the Lord Kimbolton and the five Members by Act of Parliament 19. No Peer hereafter to be made shall sit in Parliament without their consent And these Articles being confirmed the Parliament engage to make him a happy Prince To these Commands rather than Articles of Peace being such as were more proper to move Indignation than to gain an Assent the King sends an Answer by two noble and discreet Lords the Marquess of Hertford and the Earl of Southampton who were enjoyned to treat on more equal terms in the House of Lords But they not being admitted the Treaty came to nothing And because in this place we have made mention of Peace and Proposals we are to take notice that afterwards in the heat of the War at the instance of the King Propositions of Peace being mutually sent and Commissioners on both sides twice meeting to treat about it nothing could be effected and mostly by the Parliaments fault For seeing they proposed such severe Conditions on their own parts and which tended onely to their own advantages and the King on the other hand such just and equitable Terms more favourable to the Parliament and State than to himself and Family the People began to be enraged and to fall off dayly from the Parliament The King of France also how sincerely I shall not judge and the States of the Vnited Provinces interposed for accommodating the differences but were rejected by the Parliament and the Scots who likewise offered to mediate were refused by the King as partial But farewel Peace Bellona is now at the doors The People being in the disposition we mentioned before Deputies were sent with Commissions into all the Counties and the Parliamentarian Rebels by force and their own authority invade the Militia which they could not obtain from the King by petitioning The King on the contrary commands them to desist upon pain of Treason citing the Act of the 25 Edw. 3. whereby To contrive the death of the King Queen or Prince to violate the Queen or the Wife of the Prince to take up Arms against the King to assist the Kings enemies within or without the Kingdom to counterfeit the great Seal or Kings Coyn are for the future declared to be Treason having also alleadged other Acts whereby it is declared That the power of the Militia and taking up of Arms belongs onely to the King But they make answer That the Letter of the Law is for the King but the mind of it for them That it is not forbidden to take up Arms against the Kings Person but against his Authority which being in all Courts of Judicature was most eminently in the Parliament To this the King replies That that distinction was condemned above three hundred years since when the Spencers under that cover carrying on Sedition were condemned to death by the Parliament That besides the present Parliament was not free but the better part of the Members being excluded the rest were slaves to the Faction These courses taking no effect the King also sends Deputies into all Counties with authority from his Majesty to array and arm the Subjects and to have fit men in readiness if necessity should require for suppressing Rebellions and Seditions And from this we may date our Sorrows and Calamities whilst the King endeavouring to maintain his ancient Rights and they again to invade them War breaks out in the Kingdom But the Match was unequal on what side soever the Right stood The Parliament superiour in strength prevails and in most Counties usurps the Government the Royal Cause being very weak and in a few Counties struggling for life With no greater
them and at length march Northward against their Brethren Nor durst the English Presbyterians who favoured the Scots say much to the contrary lest they should seem more concerned for the insolence of a foreign Nation than the honour of their Country-men At length after long Debates the Scots pretending that it was contrary to the Laws of Nations and Hospitality to deliver up the King who of his own accord put himself under their protection into the hands of the Parliamentarians our Republican Rebels on the other hand urging in the name of the Parliament That the Scots serving and receiving pay in England ought not to have received the King into their Army and much less keep him there against the will of the Parliament but after some formal previous Treaties that might serve to enhaunce the price it was resolved that the King should be delivered up to the Parliamentarian-Rebels And that they might have a specious colour for so horrid an action They urge the King to take the Covenant pretending that without that they could not lawfully take him with them into Scotland The King promises to take that Oath provided he were satisfied in some scruples of Conscience concerning Church-government which Province was committed to the Minister Heuderson the then Oracle of the Kirk who weakly and unsuccessfully attempted it for in their disputes the King in the judgment of all had the better on 't but money prevailed The Scots having received an hundred thousand pounds English in ready money and the promise of an hundred thousand more to be paid within a year draw out of England leaving the King to the mercy of the Parliament but with this condition That no injury should be offered to his Majesties person and that he might be received in one of his houses in or about London with honour safety and freedom that so he might be prevailed with by Arguments from both Nations to confirm and approve their Propositions The King being received at Newcastle by the Parliament-Commissioners four Lords and eight Commoners was with a guard of Souldiers conducted to Holmeby house in Northamptonshire where he suffered a splendid indeed but close imprisonment all who had either actually been or suspected to be of his Party being removed from him nay and his domestick Chaplains also whose assistance he had often desired of the Parliament The Conquerours now in striving for the Booty and Government did no longer dissemble their opinions but divide themselves into various Sects and Names which hitherto we called by the common name of Factious or Rebels but shall now divide them into their several Classes and Forms as likewise shewing by what cunning and degrees they who got into power advanced to the Supremacy Which that we may the more clearly do it will not be amiss to look into some past Ages It is not to be denied but that the seeds of Faction were sow'd in England from the very beginning of the Reformation Nor are the Roman Catholicks to be proud of this since they have given the examples to others by subjecting the Crowns and Scepters of Kings to the Mitre of the Pope and Keys of St. Peter and are no less dangerous to Kings whom they have pulled from their Thrones and exposed to the Daggers of Assassinates From that time some but in no great number are for shaking off Rome in every thing and not leaving the least monument of the ancient Church-government or Liturgie But the greater number and those the wiser thinking it enough to retrench what was superfluous and superstitious are for retaining Episcopal government and a publick reformed Liturgie the one because it suited well with Monarchical government and civil interest of the State and the other because it seemed pious and adapted to the publick Worship of God Both these as being consonant to primitive Constitutions Kings and Parliaments wisely to prevent the inconveniencies that happen from skipping from one extreme to another thought fit to establish by Laws and to inflict severe Penalties upon Dissenters This at first gave ground to heart-burnings afterwards to reasonings about the matter and the licentious humour of disputing prevailing to more bitter Controversies so that at length as it usually happens amongst Brethren who differ in points of Religion they fell to Contentions and invective Disputations the common enemy egging them on on both sides And thus the Quarrel being managed with mutual hatred and animosity the Anti-Episcopal Party or the Jesuits in their name defame the established Church with Reproaches and scandalous Libels which forced from the Bishops and Ecclesiastical Courts Suspensions Deprivations Imprisonments and Banishments But that severity though executed according to the prescript of Law drew hatred upon the Prelates and made the Anti-Episcoparians to be pitied and the rather that they seemed to suffer for Conscience-sake and the purity of Gospel-worship being otherwise in appearance men of strict lives and conversations zealous Preachers fervent in Prayer ready to do pious Offices and in a word in all things else very good men And this made many Towns Noblemen and Gentlemen take them into protection make very much of them and at length joyns with them in opinion and conspire together against the Hierarchy or Church-government Who despairing to procure the abolition of it from the Kings they hope to compass it by Parliament and therefore they endeavour to lessen the Royal Authority by magnifying a Parliamentary power wherein being assisted by all the other Sects of Fanaticks the seditious and turbulent off-scourings of Christians and Subjects they begin to make a distinction betwixt and divide the Royal Prerogative from the Liberty of the People two things that are very consistent together that laying hold on that pretext they might set up for publick-spirited men and be thought the Patriots of the Nation Having by this means at length raised their Authority amongst the common People so as to be chosen Members of Parliament they set all their Engines at work for accomplishing their intended Project there is nothing in their mouths but the Rights of the People Priviledges of Parliament and the publick Liberty they lay open to the quick the faults of the Magistrates and Courtiers in scandalous Pamphlets they inveigh against Episcopacy and the established government of the Church censure the Manners and Pluralities of Church-men they expose the administration of publick government and make it their care and study in all things to weaken the Kings Power and lessen his Reputation To these their cunning contrivances a commodious occasion happened Whilst in the Reign of King James Frederick Prince Palatine of the Rhyne the Kings Son-in-law having been engaged in the German War was with his whole Family by the Imperial Forces driven out of his Territories To defend the Cause of the Protestant Religion which seemed to be in danger and to restore this banished Prince so nearly allied to the King
be a sufficient Conviction of Popish Recuâ—ancy An Act or Acts of Parliament for Education of the Children of Papists by Protestants in the Protestant Religion VIII An Act or Acts for the true Levie of the Penalties against them which Penalties to be levied and disposed in such manner as both Houses shall agree on wherein to be provided that his Majesty shall have no loss IX That an Act or Acts be passed in Parliament whereby the practices of Papists against the State may be prevented and the Laws against them duly executed and a stricter course taken to prevent the Saying or Hearing of Mass in the Court or any other part of this Kingdom or the Kingdom of Ireland The like for the Kingdom of Scotland concerning the four last preceding Propositions in such manner as the Estates of the Parliament there shall think fit X. That the King do give his Royal assent to an Act for the due observation of the Lords Day XI And to the Bill for the suppression of Innovasions in Churches and Chappels in and about the Worship of God XII And for the better advancement of the preaching of Gods holy Word in all parts of this Kingdom XIII And to the Bill against the enjoying the pluralities of Benefices by Spiritual Persons and Non-Residency XIV And to an Act to be framed and agreed upon by both Houses of Parliament for the reforming and regulating of both Universities of the Colledges of Westminster Winchester and Eaton XV. And to such Act or Acts for raising of Moneys for the payment and satisfying of the publick Debts and Damages of the Kingdom and other publick uses as shall hereafter be agreed on by both Houses of Parliament and that if the King do not give his Assent thereunto then it being done by both Houses of Parliament the same shall be as valid to all intents and purposes as if the Royal Assent had been given thereunto The like for the Kingdom of Scotland And that his Majesty give assurance of his consenting in the Parliament of Scotland to an Act acknowledging and ratifying the Acts of the Convention of Estates of Scotland called by the Council and Conservers of the Peace and the Commissioners for the common Burthens and assembled the two and twentieth day of June 1643. and several times continued since and of the Parliament of that Kingdom since convened XVI That the Lords and Commons in the Parliament of England assembled shall during the space of twenty years from the first of July 1646. arm train and discipline or cause to be armed trained and disciplined all the Forces of the Kingdoms of England and Ireland and Dominion of Wales the Isles of Guernsey and Jersey and the Town of Barwick upon Tweed already raised both for Sea and Land-service and shall from time to time during the said space of twenty years raise levy arm train and discipline or cause to be raised levied armed trained and disciplined any other Forces for Land and Sea-service in the Kingdoms Dominions and places aforesaid as in their Judgments they shall from time to time during the said space of twenty years think fit and appoint and that neither the the King his Heirs or Successors nor any other but such as shall act by the authority or approbation of the said Lords and Commons shall during the said space of twenty years exercise any of the Powers aforesaid And the like for the Kingdom of Scotland if the Estates of the Parliament there shall think fit That Moneys be raised and levied for the maintenance and use of the said Forces for Land-service and of the Navy and Forces for Sea-service in such sort and by such ways and means as the said Lords Commons shall from time to time during the said space of twenty years think fit and appoint and not otherwise That all the said Forces both for Land and Sea-service so raised or levied or to be raised or levied and also the Admiralty and Navy shall from time to time during the said space of twenty years be employed managed ordered and disposed by the said Lords and Commons in such sort and by such ways and means as they shall think fit and appoint and not otherwise And the said Lords and Commons during the said space of twenty years shall have power 1. To suppress all Forces raised or to be raised without authority and consent of the said Lords and Commons to the disturbance of the publick Peace of the Kingdoms of England and Ireland and Dominion of Wales the Isles of Guernsey and Jersey and the Town of Barwick upon Tweed or any of them 2. To suppress any foreign Forces who shall invade or endeavour to invade the Kingdoms of England and Ireland Dominion of Wales the Isles of Guernsey and Jersey and the Town of Barwick upon Tweed or any of them 3. To conjoyn such Forces of the Kingdom of England with the Forces of the Kingdom of Scotland as the said Lords and Commons shall from time to time during the said space of twenty years judge fit and necessary To resist all foreign Invasions and to suppress any Forces raised or to be raised against or within either of the said Kingdoms to the disturbance of the publick Peace of the said Kingdoms or any of them by any authority under the Great Seal or other Warrant whatsoever without consent of the said Lords and Commons of the Parliament of England and the Parliament or the Estates of the Parliament of Scotland respectively And that no Forces of either Kingdom shall go into or continue in the other Kingdom without the advice and desire of the said Lords and Commons of the Parliament of England and the Parliament of the Kingdom of Scotland or such as shall be by them appointed for that purpose And that after the expiration of the said twenty years neither the King his Heirs or Successors or any person or persons by colour or pretence of any Commission Power Deputation or Authority to be derived from the King his Heirs or Successors or any of them shall raise arm train discipline employ order mannage disband or dispose any of the Forces by Sea or Land of the Kingdoms of England and Ireland the Dominion of Wales Isles of Guernsey and Jersey and the Town of Barwick upon Tweed Nor exercise any of the said Powers or Authorities in the precedent Articles mentioned and expressed to be during the said space of twenty years in the said Lords and Commons Nor do any act or thing concerning the execution of the said Powers or Authorities or any of them without the consent of the said Lords and Commons first had and obtained That after the expiration of the said twenty years in all cases wherein the Lords and Commons shall declare the safety of the Kingdom to be concerned and shall thereupon pass any Bill or Bills for the raising arming training disciplining employing mannaging ordering or disposing of the Forces by Sea or Land of the Kingdoms
stuck still in his Mind that our King was the first of all who honourably received a splendid Embassie from the Duke of Braganza and after he had successfully dispatched his business sent him away in triumph To this may be added the mischance of Don Oquenda not many years before under whose Command several Ships carrying Men and Arms for a recruit to the War of Flanders being forced into the English Harbours by the Dutch who pursued them were under our Castles though then in Peace with Spain suffered to be torn sunk and burnt our Fleet rather threateningly rebuking then stoutly driving off the Enemy Which discontents not expiring with the Murthered King are hurtful now to his Son But after all his new Friends as a reward of the amity freely offered them by stealth and without any Declaration of War having sometimes after invaded the West Indies that is the very Bowels of the Spanish Empire And their attempt upon Hispaniola being disappointed he at length laying aside all hatred obliged CHALES the Second by all sorts of good Offices and entertaind him in his Territories for the ruine of the Regicides The King of Portugal shewed a generous Soul of which hereafter had his Strength corresponded with his Inclinations But what would one who hardly as yet sate steddy in his own lately recovered Throne do for another expulsed Prince The truth is though he had then flourished in the quiet enjoyment of his own just Rights he was not Potent enough to undertake such a War as could restore a banished King and much less at that time when he could hardly on the one hand repel the Spaniard who offered at all and on the other keep even with the Dutch who in the East Indies and all over the Ocean strove for the mastery Suedland at first good natured changed as Affairs altered Frederick Duke of Holstein supplied the Earl of Montross who was then ready to Sail into Scotland with Men Money Ships and Arms for the Service of the King Danemark having its Treasury exhausted for the Cause of the King's Father and running into a new War was able to do no more The Rebellious Cossacks and Neighbouring Nations who had rendred the Peace uncertain made the King of Poland sparing in his Assistance Yet the Scottish Subjects who lived in those Countries as they were commanded gave what help they were able to give And so did the Emperour of Moscovie Elector of Brandenbourg Arch-Bishop of Mentz and other Princes of Germany show their Affections to the King But alas what was all that to the fitting out of a Fleet and raising of an Army to the providing of Arms Ammunition and Necessaries of War perhaps a little more than might defray the Charges of Ambassadours and relieve the Poverty of Courtiers All the hope was now in the Loyalty and Benevolence of Subjects who though many of them were wheedled by the Artifices of the Regicides or the fawnings of Prosperity Ambition of rising to higher Employments or the coveteousness of other mens Estates which they hoped might be had for little or nothing and these because Justice delay'd to strike drawn in to the number of above fifty thousand yet a far greater number kept their Loyalty and Allegiance to the King inviolated but being stun'd with the sudden horrour of the Kings Murder and amazed at the continual Victories of the Regicides they knew not what to do or whither to turn themselves They knew not as yet what it was to Associate and they had no opportunity of rising the Regicides having a watchful Eye over all the Countries and their Spies and Emissaries wresting all the Actions and Sayings of Honest men into the worst Sense Nevertheless many Royalists in disguise crossed the Sea and waited upon the King and others who came hither from the King were by his Friends informed what to do All that they could do was gradually to confer Councils encourage one another plot and contrive gather supplies and by blowing the Coals raise such a Flame as might at length destroy the Enemy Yet some of them of whom I shall mention two Sir Charles Berkly and Sir Henry Slingsby were taken by the watchfulness of Informers but both made their escape though the last falling again into the Noose payed for his Loyalty and lost his Head by Sentence of the High Court of Justice About that time Ascham whom I named a little before a Fellow of obscure Birth desiring to show his Gifts and get himself a Name by writing against the King and for the abominable change of Government which the less it beeame him to do for that heretofore under the Earl of Northumberland he had had the institution of the Young Duke of Glocester is therefore in quality of Envoy with Ribera an Italian as his Interpreter sent into Spain to treat of Affairs But he had got himself so much hatred by his Writings that were published and the Employment he now undertook that some conspired a revenge and suddenly breaking into his Chamber at Madrid against all Law and Equity killed both him and Ribera his Interpreter The Ambassadour of Venice gave Sanctuary to one of the Murderers another being taken making his escape publickly suffered for it The rest to the number of three took Sanctuary in a Church till the Ecclesiasticks should have time to take cognisance of the Cause But by delaying of time and lengthening out the debate the English also infesting the West Indies they at length get clearly off It is fit we should also mention the good Offices of the emulous King of Portugal and how for the sake of our Prince he provoked the Rebel Hornets Prince Rupert and Prince Maurice when they fled from Ireland found Protection at Lisbon But Blake Admiral of the Fleet for the Rump-Parliament pursuing them hither desires leave to sight the Prince's Ships The King of Portugal thinking that the Laws of Hospitality were not so to be violated seing it was not safe for him openly to refuse he shifts the matter and forces not the Princes to put out to Sea Blake being highly offended at this Cruises upon the Coast and at length meeting with a Fleet of seaven or eight Sail of Ships laden with Sugers he takes them and sends them into England He himself in the mean time having pursued the Princes who had put to Sea again comes up with them at Carthagena a Spanish Town in the Streights and in the Bay of Vera forces them ashoar but both of them escaped in one of their Ships and Sailing with one or two more Ships to the West Indies they leave Spain to be sufficiently mauled by the Parliament But a terrible Hurricane which is frequent in the Torrid Zone having separated Maurice from his Brother he was cast away with his Ship and Men in the dreadful Storm Here we cannot but sigh at our Calamities in the dismal fate of so Illustrious a
Youth Unhappy English who with blind rage have consumed the Relicts of the Palatinat and accursed Broils of Britain that shipwrack't that Life which escaped the Sword of Austria I should give way to lamentations if our shame could add Glory to the Dead or give comfort to the surviving Family But a Valiant man is not to be by womanish houling lamented neither does true Grief require an ambitious pomp of Words nor great sorrow admit it Let us only then which is all we can do with our Tears wash out the stain of our unlucky Age to which Crime it is no small accession that the Ocean and other World are also polluted with the destruction of the Royal Family But Prince Rupert which was some comfort having sent his Goods into France with much adoe was saved I return to Portugal from whence the steam of Sugar attracted an Ambassadour to London Now would God the Supreme disposer of all things suffer that so remarkable constancy of so good a King should turn to the dammage of his Subjects For the Ships being restored the War that was threatened was upon supplication averted a new League made and the Peace afterward more religiously observed The Rebels indeed think it below them to make reparation for dammages yet they make them good by a War they were to engage in with the Dutch and Spaniards to the great advantage of the Portuguese I mention not the Glory of assisting distressed Princes a rare thing amongst Kings But after all he himself has no cause to fear but that his kindness shew'd to a King heretofore in distress will by the same Prince who never forgets those that have deserved well of him now raised to the Throne of his Ancestours and joyned to him in Affinity be repayed to him and his Subjects with plentiful interest But now we have affairs nearer home and with the Dutch again to consider Strickland having long resided in Holland as Ambassadour is now slighted and being allowed no more a place in the Assembly of the States he returns home But that the Parricides might repay one Affront with another they command Jacobin Vanodenskirk the Dutch Ambassadour to depart the Kingdom of England upon pretext that the King being dead the Negotiation with the States was now at an end But soon after as if they repented what they had done Schaepie is sent to treat of Peace who though he was but an Agent and empowred only by one City to wit Amsterdam to treat yet by the Rump-Parliament he is honoured with the Title of Ambassadour who take occasion on the other hand to send two Ambassadours with Royal and Magnificent Equipage to wit Oliver St. Jones one of the Members of the Rump-Parliament and Lord Chief Justice of the Common-Pleas and Walter Strickland These have Instructions To clap up a Peace and that by a Coalition of both Nations into one they might live under the same Government have the mutual Priviledges of Habitation Trading and Harbours of each Country indifferently But these were not to be divulged but piece and piece and by degrees if they found the People inclineable and fit to comply with such Propositions But the States had no inclination to settle a Peace until they found the success of the affairs in Scotland But after much adoe having at length given Audience to the Ambassadours they put them off from day to day till they proposed at long run some long winded Articles of Peace drawn up in the time of Henry VII to be considered which so soon as the Ambassadours had rejected they devise others to drive away time until the Ambassadours finding themselves fooled might hasten their departure But during their stay in Holland the States were necessitated to place a Guard at their Door nor was that sufficient to secure them from Affronts but that their Windows were every night broken or they themselves disturbed by I know not what Bug-bears and Apparitions There was also a strong report that a certain Relation of St. Jones came to his House that with a Bow-string he might strangle him after the manner of the Turks Mutes but that because he saw no way to escape if he had committed the Fact he abstained from attempting it The Ambassadours being startled at these things and daily fearing worse and not knowing how long they might stay nor what answer bring back they return without any effect of their Negotiation But great were the Disorders that this Affront occasioned and severe was the Revenge which the Parricides hatched in their Hearts being resolved that if the affairs in Scotland succeeded according to their wishes they would never rest nor sheath their Sword before they had forced by Arms the Conditions which by Ambassadours they could not obtain In the mean time they thought it enough at present to give out Letters of Reprisal and by other mens hands revenge the Injuries done to themselves and to make an Act that no Merchandise of what Country soever it were should be brought into England unless imported in English Bottoms by English Sea-men or fraighted by English Merchants Let us make a trip over to Sweden the Queen whereof had lately sent an Envoy to Compliment and Congratulate the Regicides To her therefore Whitlock is sent in a splendid Embassie to return the Honour and Compliment and also to make Peace with her to which she very willingly consented But the Queen being shorttly after removed or to use a softer expession having resigned the Crown the King of Sweden sends over a Reciprocal and no less Honourable Embassy by the Lord Christopher Bond a Senator of the Kingdom to Cromwell who then had the chief administration of the Government The Isles of Silly lay very convenient for molesting the Trade of the English There the Royalists cruising too and again with four or five small Vessels did no little hurt to the Regicides and would have done much more could they have been morgaged to the Dutch as it was commonly reported For plucking out of this Thorn great preparations are made at Plimouth not above fifteen Leagues distant from the Islands Where Blake and Popham having provided some small Vessels and Boats they take the opportunity and set Sail from thence in the night time with three hundred Souldiers besides Sea-men and having had a fair Wind next morning they come to the Land There are in all ten adjacent Islands divided only by narrow Passages of an Eddy Sea and on all sides secured by Shelves and Rocks In three hours time they take Threscoe and Briari with the loss of fifteen Men but of the Garrison a Boat being sunck about fourty were drowned one hundred and twenty made Prisoners and about fourty Guns taken which the Royalists out of two Friggats had planted upon the shoar The raging of the Sea appeasing the Fury of the Souldiers made for two days time a Cessation not unlike to a
These reasons so prevailed that at length he withdrew Then do the Nobles and Ministers inquire into the Authors of the Kings coming and order almost a thousand Horse and two thousand Foot to be disbanded as being Malignants or that they had not at all or too late taken the Covenant without any previous signs of Repentance But Cromwell at that time knew none of these things who without any ransome sent the Prisoners whom he had taken in his own Coach to Edenburrough that by that good Office he might oblige the Kirk having not as yet lost all hopes of the Ministers or at least that he might have an occasion of getting Intelligence of the affairs of the Enemies Cromwell marches back to Dunbar where the Ships rode at Anchor that he might refresh his faint Souldiers with Provisions give them some rest and draw the Scots farther off from their Camp but being impatient of delay after a few days he marched back again and found much rejoycing and feasting at Edenburrough for the departure of the English which his sudden approach quickly put a stop to David Leslie is sent to Cromwell from the Comittee of the Kirk to acquaint him That the King stumbling at and refusing to subscribe to the Declaration offered him by the Committee of Estates and Commissioners of the Kirk concerning his former Carriage and resolution for the future is cause of just Grief and Offence in reference to the Cause of God and the Enemies and Friends thereof And therefore they do declare that they do not nor will not espouse any malignant Party or Quarrel but that they fight meerly upon their former Grounds and Principles in the cause of God and the Kingdom nor will they own the King nor his Interest farther than he owns and prosecutes the Cause of God c. Cromwell perceiving that there was no way to allure the Scots to a Battel marches towards Pentland Hills and in sight of the Army takes in Collington and Red-house both garrisoned by Souldiers that so he might draw the Scots out of their Trenches But when neither that could do he drew up his Army marches too and again about the Camp views provokes them and threatens a present attempt Nevertheless the Scots keep to their resolution sometimes indeed skirmishing with and harassing the Enemy but not daring to put it to the tryal of a Battel Until the Souldiers were enured by Skirkmishes and slight Engagements to look the Cromwellians in the Face use their Arms and lay aside all fear and that they might at length with no great labour defeat Cromwell's Forces tired out and weakned by the badness of Air Cold Hunger watching and frequent Skirmishing But because a rumour was spread abroad that the Scots kept within their Dens and lurking holes with a whole Skin not daring like Cowards to hazard a Battel that they might wipe off that Aspersion they send a splendid message to Cromwell to assure him that within a few days he should have experience of the contrary And that they might be as good as their word two days after drawing out their Forces they march to the right hand as towards Sterling and after a short march halt Cromwell that he might not seem to decline an opportunity of Fighting now by them offered advances against and follows them But when he came within Musquet-shot of the Enemy he puts Spurs to his Horse and advances that he himself might view what it was that hindered the Scots from coming on Finding a great Marish there which could not without difficulty be passed over with his great Guns which was all he could do he thunders against the Army to which the Scots on the other side return the like answer This roaring of great Guns lasted about the space of two hours with no great loss on either side and then both draw-off put an end to that kind of Mock-fight Cromwell returning to his Camp on Pentland Hills has intelligence that the Enemy was about to surprise Musselbrough and intercept the Provisions which he usually received in Boats from Dunbar Therefore they march thither in the dead of the Night and having refreshed the Army they put on board Ships fifteen hundred Men who being sick or wounded were not able to carry Arms and the rest march towards Haddington The Scots are at their heels Skirmishing with them in the Reer and flouting and jeering them nor were they sooner encamped but that they were set upon yet only to disturb and allarm them not to engage them with the whole Army Next day the Cromwellians march to Dunbar midway betwixt Berwick and Edenburrough upon the Sea shoar Lamner-moor Hills to the South being almost impassable The Scots sent a Body of Men to Cobberspath who though they were but few in number might hinder a far greater to pass over the Hills and pitch their Camp about Dunbar This being a very Rainy night the Officers rambled up and down and the private Souldiers I know not by whose Order had put out their Matches which as it usually happens when things go amiss was imputed to Treachery though there was a strong Guard kept next to the English But Cromwell having that night refreshed and cherished his Souldiers in good Lodging in the Town of Dunbar divided his Forces about break of day and sends Lambert first to charge the main Guard of the Scots he himself follows after and after a sharp dispute wherein most part being wounded many were killed he dispersed them all and follows them to the Camp where presently there was nothing but noise and confusion Men running to and again they knew not whither the groaning and sighing of dying Men shouts and joyful acclamations of the Conquerours flying and slaughter Three thousand are killed nine thousand taken Prisoners fifteen thousand Arms all the Artillery and Ammunition with above two hundred Colours fall into the hands of the Victorious The Prisoners after the wounded sick and weak and those that were of no value were set at liberty are sent to New-Castle in England where by the Governour Haselrig many of them were starved having nothing to eat but green Cabbage Leaves and Oats in a small proportion The more Robust that out-lived this Diet are condemned to the Sugar-Mills and by the English Planters are transported to the West-Indies Whilst these things were acting the Pulpits of Edenburrough resound with Prayers and promise a certain and speedy Victory and that the Feet of those who brought glad tydings were at hand But whil'st they are hourly in expectation of joyful they receive sad and sorrowful news Leslie himself arrives about ten of the Clock the same day and assures them of a total overthrow So dangerous a thing it is to pass a Judgment of God Almighty and by the line of our weak Reason to fathom the depth of unsearchable Providence For the purposes of a sincere heart are
had not been for the reverence and awe they stood in of the King would have flown in the faces of those Countrey-men of theirs at least would have been very troublesome unto them And now being informed how basely the King was used by the Covenanters they invite him to them promising to protect and defend him these were the Marquess of Huntley Earls of Athol and Seaforth the Lords Ogilby and Gordon Middleton and several other great men The King had already listned to these and secretly casts about with himself how he might make his escape out of the hands of those Covenanters Therefore mounting on Horse-back without Boots as if he had been going a Hawking with three or four more in Company he slips out of Town and directs his Journey to the house of the Lord Vicount Diddop with a purpose to abscond until the return of the Messengers who had been sent to learn the minds of the Highlanders whether or not they were able and were indeed willing to assist him In the mean time an Englishman having discovered where the King was great debates arise amongst the Nobles whether the Scots should leave him to shift for himself and onely look to themselves or having made submission unto him and promised greater obedience for the future they should use his means and Authority for reconciling all parties and perswasions This was liked of by most and for that end Montgomery is quickly dispatched with a trusty party of Horse that he might represent to his Majesty how dangerous that forsaking of the Covenanters would be to himself and his Affairs intreat him to return and promise better usage for the future In pursuance of his orders he came and beset the Lord Diddop's house in the night time and entring in the morning fell at his Majesties feet and pressed him so urgently that by his and others perswasion he was prevailed upon to return back with him to St. Johnston About that time as an accession to other Calamities the Death of the Prince of Orange happened He had fallen sick of the small Pox which at first seemed to threaten no danger having been let Blood put on clean Linnen and eaten Flesh unseasonably he suddenly dies and indeed too soon for the King and his own Family But he left a posthumous Son the present Prince to inherit his just Rights and Dignities in the Vnited Provinces Now began the minds of the Scots to bend by degrees Heretofore none to be admitted into the War but he who first gave a confession of his Faith and whose Religion was no ways suspected Flatterers who could countefeit Godly looks and grimaces were freely admitted but men of Courage who had signalized themselves in the Wars were put back No Water could serve them to quench the fire but what came from the clear Fountain Head no Sword but the Holy Sword of the Spirit was to be drawn against the Enemy Now all are sharers in the War yet not before they had confessed their Sins and by a kind of Repentance scowred their Consciences The Marquess of Hamilton is oblig'd of new to take the Covenant as also the Earls of Lauderdale Crawford Buchan the Lords Diddop Levingstone and many other Persons of great Quality Nay and the English also as the Duke of Buckingham Lord Wilmot Earl of Cleveland Massey and others whose names I do not remember are associated But Middleton and Huntley not satisfied with the Act of Indemnity having joyned the forces of the Earl of Athol march against them and defeat Browns Regiment and had also engaged Lesly had not the coming of the King put an end to the Controversie all being relaxed from Excommunication taking the Covenant and associated into the War Whilst these things are in agitation on the other side of Forth the effects of Cromwell's Letters and practises began to appear in that Seeds of Sedition being sown amongst the Scots the foundations of the Kirk were miserably shaken the Remonstrators from the Pulpit railing at the King and his Ministers and publishing Libels nay at length appealing to Cromwell against General Assemblies which they sawcily enveigh against because they prohibited their clamorous buffoonery And in all places cry that it was lawful for none that were truly Godly to take up Arms for the cause above mentioned at the Command of the Parliament King or Kirk All the South part of Scotland with greatest part of the Ministers and the Horse that were Commanded by Ker and Straughan are drawn in to subscribe the Remonstrance wherein they spew out the poison of their rancour against all those Who had called in the King too hastily before he had given certain marks of sincere Repentance and Conversion to God and before they had sounded the minds of the Parricides who had not had satisfaction objecting to them much more of the same stuff At last they propose ways for remedying those Evils The Parliament and Assemblie of the Kirk at first essay to mitigate and appease those violent Spirits with Lenities inviting them to send Commissioners to St. Johnston that if they had any remaining Scrupules they might be removed without noise But they returning an answer more insolently propose Sterling as a place of greater security to both meetings That the Parliament might repress that Sedition they order Ker to apprehend Straughan and bring him to Justice But he discovering the Train instantly sled into Cromwell's Camp where soon after dying he concluded the Catastrophe of his Fortune And so Ker alone has the command of the Horse Cromwell now despairing of the intestine dissentions amongst the Scots pursues Ker and having ordered Lambert and Whaley with five Regiments of Foot and an hundred Dragoons to keep along the South side of the River Clide he himself advances on the North side Lambert marching through Peebles quartered at Hamilton which Ker being informed of by his Scouts and knowing that Cromwell was absent with fifteen hundred Horse he suddenly falls upon Lambert in the night time and that very successfully at first till by chance a Tree being laid cross the street in the middle of the Town which a Captain with a Company defended put a stop to their Progress whilst Lambert drew up his Men and surrounding the Enemy charged them on the Rear And having made a considerable slaughter of them and Ker himself who was shot through the hand being taken he pursued the rest to Air which Town being presently taken was secured with a Garrison And so those of the old Army that hitherto remained are quite broken and dispersed whether more to the grief or satisfaction of the King I cannot tell About the same time a great Conspiracy of Presbyterians both Ministers and Lay-men is discovered at London which took vent first in Scotland and was by Cromwell upon some suspitions he had not without ground conceived recommended to the Regicides of England to
house to Nortons was their Guide and they lodged the first night at Carew-Castle seven miles on this side Trent The appointed hour of their coming drawing nigh VVindham and his Wife as if to take a walk went out to meet them and send the King privately into the house by one whom they had chosen for that purpose Jane and Lassels in the mean time are publickly received as Relations who coming from a place far distant were to be gone next day In this place the King's Majesty stayed securely nineteen days expecting a Vessel at leisure and having been several times disappointed But one day it happened that the Countrey People fell to ringing of Bells with more than usual Solemnity and the King enquiring into the cause of this extraordinary rejoycing was told that it was for the joyful News of the King's Death which was confidently reported But whilst they consulted and cast about a long time concerning a passage VVindham bethought himself of one Elden a Merchant formerly a Captain under CHARLES the First who since that drove a considerable trade at Lime that he possibly might procure a Vessel since he had assisted the Lord Berkley in distress with a safe passage Therefore VVindham is dispatched to him to learn whether or not he could procure a safe passage for VVilmot and another Nobleman who had made their escape from VVorcester fight He readily listened to it and presently went to Chayermouth near to Lime where having sent for the Master of a Ship he asked him under promise of secresie if he durst venture to carry VVilmot and his servant safely over to France He undertook it and bargains with a Captain for threescore Pound which he obliged himself under Hand and Seal to pay him after he had carried a Nobleman over to France The hour and day when he was to put them on Board in a Boat are prefixed Hitherto all things succeeding according to their expectation there only wanted a pretext of staying in Lodgings till all things might be made ready for their passage For that end Henry Peters VVindham's Servant who was privy to the design applies himself to an Hostess at Chayermouth and amongst other discourses told her that he was servant to a worthy Nobleman who was deeply in Love with a Maid that had neither Father nor Mother who lived not far off and was as much in Love with him But that her Guardian opposing the Marriage he resolved to steal her away by Night He therefore asks her if she would for some hours entertain them in her house and at the same time gives her a small Gift as a pledge of a greater reward and drinks a Glass of Wine with her The woman softned by the present and touched with Compassion for the young Lady promises to serve them Leaving therefore Trent the King sets out towards Chayermouth with Juliana Conisbey his pretended Bride who was privy to the matter riding behind him upon the same Horse The Lord Wilmot Colonel VVindham and Henry Peters accompany them and were met by Elden who carried them into a private house whither he went under pretext of viewing a little Farm Here the King's Majesty discovered himself unto him giving him a small present as an earnest of future Gratitude From thence the Merchant goes to Lime that he might give notice to the Master of the Ship to be in readiness to put to Sea at the appointed time The King with the rest went to their Lodgings at Chayermouth and Peters to stay for the Boat But having waited till it was almost day he returned without any News of the arrival of the Boat This put them all into disorder and made them think of taking other measures there was no safe place here to stay in and the King was resolved not to loyter a moment After a short consultation the King with Juliana and the Colonel accompanying them advance towards Bridport there to expect the coming of the Lord VVilmot and Peters in an appointed Inn. Peters being to go to Lime to learn from the Merchant the reason of the disappointment And VVilmot staying behind in the Inn upon pretext of new shooing his Horse But Elden the Merchant who thought that by this time they had made half their Voyage could not imagine the reason of the breach of promise nor could he attribute it to any thing else save that the man taking his leave of his Friends it being then the Market-day at Lime had drank so much as to make him forget the prefixed time But it was known afterward that the Master of the Vessel being come home to take clean Cloaths and other necessaries for his Voyage with him was locked up in his Chamber and bolted in by his Wife For that very day a Proclamation had been made in the Town whereby it was declared Death for any Person to aid or conceal the King and a thousand Pounds promised to any that could apprehend him This put the woman into so great fear lest her Husband in doing that Office which he had confessed to his Wife to have taken upon him might suffer Shipwrack on Shore She therefore used Entreaties Tears and almost Violence to hinder him from it and at length screamed out thereby to allarm the Neighbourhood Being therefore overcome by so much importunity he kept at home and committed himself to the direction of his Wife Upon the way to Bridport VVindham went a little before the King to view the Rode and coming near the Town he found it to be full of Soldiers For there was a Muster that day and a taking on of Soldiers for an Expedition against the Isle of Jersey under Haines VVindham was therefore for the Kings going to another place but he laying aside all fear would needs enter the Town lest he might seem to have deceived VVilmot and partly also that he might refresh himself tir'd out with night-watching and travelling and wait for the coming of VVilmot The Colonel took care to provide a Chamber and Victuals which was no easie matter to be done amongst so many Guests The King in the mean time was employed in carrying the Horses into the Stable and looking after them nor could he avoid talking with the Soldiers in the yard about his Journey But the Hostler looking him in the face as he deliver'd him the Horses told him You are welcome I know you very well Where did you know me answered the King At Exeter said he for the King had continued long there during the heat of the War I lived two years in an Inn there And so did I replied the King in the Service of Master Porter I am glad I have met with a Country-man but I perceive you are so busie that you have no time to drink with me when I come back from London we 'll talk of old Stories Being pleased with these promises and full of Business or God Almighty casting a Mist
than the Lawful Government of the King joyn in the same Resolution namely Overton who heretofore had been Governour of Scotland and Wildman both Leading Men. They had hopes that the Republicans and Royalists being associated together they might either overcome or at least force Cromwell to come to better Terms and that then turning their Arms against the Royalists they might easily subdue them For the report was That 2000 Horse and vast numbers of Foot all Republicans had listed themselves for that Service The Governours of Towns and Forts give also hopes of joyning in the Confederacy Cannon are likewise provided and one day first then another and a third are appointed for the Insurrection that rising at the same time in all Counties they might every way divert and divide the Enemy and in this uncertainty what Course to take overcome him But Cromwell is not ignorant of these Contrivances he employs all his Arts and Might to get a clear discovery of the Scheme and Series of the whole Business to bring to light the Plotters and especially that he might detect the Lords and Chief Persons of Quality break their Measures and by a false Insurrection spoil their true Rising By that means he suppressed the Conspiracy of the Cornish and Shropshire Men by stirring them up to precipitate their Rising At Hessen-Moor also in Yorkshire a numerous Meeting is appointed to be amongst whom Fairfax himself was reported to have given hopes of appearing But he being beset by the Craft and Artifices of Cromwell abstained from Action There the Earl of Rochester whom we have often mentioned by the Name of the Lord Wilmot and Sir Nicholas Armorer met at the appointed time that they might Head the rest But both of them few appearing and most part falling off for fear betook themselves presently to flight and being taken at Ailsbury by the Rebels with much ado made their escape Sir Henry Slingsby and Sir Richard Maleverer being with others taken are committed to Prison A great many People appeared that night also in Sherwood-Forest near Nottingham But being partly betrayed and partly smitten with fear and divided about the Choice of a Commander they all fly of which a great many being apprehended suffer a tedious Imprisonment for it At the same time about Three hundred Wiltshire Men rising under the Command of Wagstaff Major-General of the Army broke into Salisbury where two Judges of the Kingdom were then holding the Assizes whom they seised but afterwards civilly dismissed From thence for some days they wander up and down in vain expecting Auxiliary Forces till at length many of them disappeared and the rest were defeated in their Quarters by Crook's Regiment Wagstaff escaping safe in the dark London Kent and the other Counties taking warning from the Misfortunes of their Brethren forbore at present to make any Disturbance but yet they could not escape the Intelligence of Cromwell The Earl of Oxford Lords Willoughby of Parham Newport and Compton Littleton Peyton Packington Ashburnham Russel Legg Philips Halsey and many others whom I shall not name being seised are committed to a long and irksom Imprisonment and some transported to the Plantations The Republicans also Wildman Overton and much about the same time Vane are made Prisoners All the Prisoners who were clearly convicted of the Fact are severely punished Many shed their generous Blood some being beheaded at Salisbury and some at Exeter as Penruddock Groves Lucas and others died upon a Gibbet who ought to have had their Memories eternized in Statues But not many of the rest were put to death as not being taken in the Fact or escaping in the Crowd of so many concerned or lastly not any one accusing another Now the Reader is to know how Cromwell came to the knowledge of the matter He had given power to the publick Postmasters who were all at his devotion to stop suspected People open and secretly read their Letters and if they appeared to insinuate any thing tending to an Insurrection to give him an account of them if there were any thing found ambiguously written to write it down till he might have an opportunity either of seising or branding the Parties with pregnant suspicion He narrowly observed all Posts and Messengers caused them sometimes to be stopp'd and carefully searched from Head to Foot terrifying them with Threats and Imprisonments and plying them with Wine and other Engines of Discovery he found out the most hidden Secrets He therefore hired and dispersed about many Spies and Eve-droppers nay and some clandestine ones amongst the Cavaliers themselves who openly stood up for the King and Royal Cause but Men of no Estates nor Honesty who prying into all the Secrets they could gave intelligence of them But these Men did but little Service being accustomed to detect things that were publickly known and sometimes contradictory He gained a considerable and topping Traytor one Manning whose Father died in defence of the Royal Cause as he himself had formerly served the King and received a Wound in the Foot being a Gentleman of a good Family and by Religion a Roman Catholick who notwithstanding that he might be the more acceptable and make way for his future Treachery daring in a manner to mock God took the Sacrament after the manner of the Church of England Cromwell by Craft and Allurements wholly debauched this Man into his Party who insinuated himself into the King's Service and the Society of the Courtiers under pretext of raising amongst the Royalists Six thousand pounds English a year for the Use of His Majesty Cromwell in the mean time privately paying the Money Under this specious colour he securely dived into the Counsels of the King and of His Friends and weekly sends an Account of them till at length as no Treason can be long concealed the Rat discovered himself and being guilty of the Death of so many Brave Men by his own Blood which was all he could do he expiated his Crime But a Parliament is now called at London though not after the ancient manner The Commons are onely called to sit and consult in Parliament nor these neither freely elected by all the People But before they were suffered to enter the House Cromwell spake to them to this purpose That some years ago none would have thought of such a Door of Hope that he knew there were yet many Humours and Interests and that Humours were above Interest that the Condition of England was like Israel in the Wilderness that this was a Healing Day there was neither Nobleman nor Gentleman nor Yeoman before known by any Distinction we had not any that bore Rule or Authority but a great Contempt of Magistracy and Christ's Ordinances That the Fifth Monarchy was highly cried up by Persons who would assume the Government but that desired thing wanted greater manifestation than appeared for such Men to change the Authority by He desired
Back-doors Guards being set at all of them Let us here mention one Passage which tho' indeed ridiculous had nevertheless almost cost him his Life Being much troubled with the Stone he used sometimes to swill down several sorts of Liquor and then stir his Body by some violent kind of Motion as Riding hard on Horseback or Jolting in a Coach that by such Agitation he might disburden his Bladder Wherefore one day he took with him his Secretary Thurlow that they two by themselves might privately use this Exercise in a Coach in Hide-Park When they were come thither Cromwell himself got up into the Coach-box drawn by six stout Horses lately presented him by the Count Oldenburgh But so soon as he began to snap his Whip the Horses run away and the Postilion who was to guide them being thrown off of the Forehorse they fall a fretting and grow unruly and not knowing their Master toss their new Driver from his Seat upon the Pole who falling from thence upon the Ground and being entangled in his Coat was dragged up and down till having received many Bruises and a Pocket-Pistol going off in his Pocket his Coat rent and he escaped from the very Jaws of Death a Troop of Guards that waited without the Park hastning in to his Assistance God Almighty thought it not fit that this Plague of England should thus expire though he was not far from the just punishment of his Crimes that is from being torn to pieces alive by unruly Horses But this made work for Poets and Post-boys and afforded pleasant Discourse in Taverns Cromwell now growing bare of Money dispersed his Souldiers over the Countrey allowing them free Quarters instead of Pay taking a pretext from a late Insurrection without any accusation or proof of a Crime to plunder all those who had been sequestrated for the Royall Cause commanding them to pay the tenth part of their Goods and of their yearly Rents unless they could compound for it by laying down a Sum of Money as had been often done before The Publick Faith and Act of Oblivion stood them in no stead though it had cost vast Sums of Money or had been stipulated by Articles upon the surrender of Garrisons and strong places Nor did the innocence of many who had not meddled in these Affairs in the least excuse them all are equally involved in the Guilt and must all alike part with their Money New Major Generals are appointed to raise the Moneys in all Counties to the number of fourteen each having their Province which perhaps reached three or four Counties over which as amongst the Romans the Military Tribunes so these were appointed with almost an absolute Power And that they might not seem thus to domineer onely for Money they are impowered to make inquiry into all those who had carried Arms for the King or had favoured that Cause those who had heretofore bought up Arms or had hired or let out Post-horses into Privat Assemblies those who live at too high a rate when it is not known how they are able to afford it into Vagabonds and Idle Persons into those that frequent any sort of Game those who slight or are averse from the established Governments into such as raise Tumults or Sedition those who haunt Taverns Tipling and Eating-houses into unlearned and scandalous Ministers and School-masters All such the Major Generals had power to inquire into call before them and punish To these were joined Assessors in the several Counties Towns and Provinces for most part chosen out of the very Sink of the People though others of better note were sometimes mingled with them these had Power upon common Fame proper Knowledge or bare Conjecture to inform against others make them appear and accuse them before the Major General of the Army with whom they sat as Assessors in giving Judgment Good God! how Princely these fellows carry it how big and proud do they look despising and slighting all others of what rank and quality soever Nothing pleased them more than to insult over and oppress the Ministers of the Church of England sufficiently already born down who being long ago turned out of their Houses and Livings these Blades would not so much as suffer them to teach little Children thereby to get Bread to themselves and Families unless some Fanatick interceded for them which happened rarely and but to a few The Royalists being right or wrong before sequestred must now suffer a Decimation and be threatned with Imprisonment Bonds and Transportation which sometimes were actually inflicted Licentious indeed was the Rule of these Men they carry all things Arbitrarily and with Despotick Authority making themselves Judges of Controversies though they were ignorant of and despised all Forms and Methods of Process which they constantly decided in favours of the Faction and their Party They imposed new and unusual Punishments nay and made new Laws Raised People out of their Beds at Midnight and committed them to Goals nay and caused Constables who have the power of keeping the Peace in Countrey Villages to be whipt and put in the Stocks compelled Persons of Quality who had appeared for neither Party nay such as had been for the Parliament and others also who heretofore by hereditary right had siâ—ten in the House of Lords to come and give their Votes in the Elections for Parliament-Men Being at length drunk with that Exorbitant Power they hardly acknowledged the Protector himself and begun to spurn against the mighty Tyrant which made him by degrees lessen their Power and upon the approach of a Parliament wholly abolish it About the same time Cromwell sends one of his Bedchamber Envoy into Poland there to Congratulate the Victories of the King of Sweden with a present of four brave Horses as a Testimony of his Affection Whether or not Private Affairs be worth the relating may be a doubt yet that the inclinations of the People may be known I shall mention some Passages Davison Holder and Thorold are brought into suspition of acting for the King and of using endeavours to bring him in therefore they are committed to a Provost Marshal to be shortly brought to Tryal before the High Court of Justice In the mean time having obtained leave from him to walk abroad they wheadled the Soldier into a by place whom because he refused to consent to their escape they Pistolled But being afterwards apprehended they are brought to their Tryal for Murder before the Lord Chief Justice of the Kings Bench in Westminster-hall and submitted themselves to the Verdict of a Jury of Twelve Men a Tryal that onely pleases our Countrey-men as being according to Law Nevertheless though they were taken in the fact and that the Judge himself had promised to use his endeavours to have these Men Condemned yet I know not what scruples being started the Jury brought them in Not guilty which thing vexed Cromwell who had resolved with himself
that they seemed rather to decline than promote the Determination of the Controversie by opposing this rapid Motion However he resolved to connive and allow them liberty to trade in England with an Indulgence of their Religion according to the Rites of Moses without any publick Examination going before or as it is usual amongst Catholicks coming yearly after and without teaching or catechising them But this Year was famous for the Actions of Mountague since Earl of Sandwich and of Blake For they with a Joynt-Commission commanding the Fleet whilst they were cruising upon the Coast of Spain without the Straits Mouth met with Eight great Spanish Ships whom Stainer presently engages with Three Frigats onely for the rest could not come up because of the Wind but with so much Bravery and Resolution he plied them with his Broadsides that within three or four Hours space he mastered them all one being sunk another burnt two escaping into Cadiz and two more forced ashore and broke to pieces wherein were lost Sixty thousand Wedges of Silver besides other rich Goods of vast Value However two of them fell into the hands of the Victorious with a great deal of Coyned Gold to the quantity of Six hundred thousand Pieces much Silver curiously-wrought Plate and other things of value together with two Sons of the Marquess de Baydexio Don Joseph de Savega and Don Francisco de Lopes the Marquess himself with his Lady and Daughter who was to be married to the Son of the Duke of Medina Sidonia being burnt The two Brothers that remained alive were by Cromwell discharged without any Ransom England now being sufficiently plagued by those petty Tyrants whom they called Major-Generals who as we said before began to be uneasie to all another Parliament is called but not after the ancient manner but onely made up of the Commoners or People Thirty being called out of Scotland and as many from Ireland Cromwell tampering with many and the Major Generals hindring the Elections and Votes of several that the House might not be filled with Republicans In the mean while no Man is suffered to enter the House till first he subscribed to the Authority of the Protector so that by that means most of the Republicans of either sort are excluded from sitting Sir Thomas Widdrington is chosen Speaker Many things passed here in favour of Cromwell as That it should be Treason to conspire his Death and That the Royal Family should be renounced Nor is it in this place to be omitted that about this time many things were publickly talked of to the prejudice of the King as That he was Consumptive and could not live long That he was also Melancholy and inclinable to a Monastick Life laying aside all desire of Government and that the Duke of York was a Professed Papist that by that means they might wheadle over the credulous and unwary to their Party by removing every thing that might curb and keep them in awe The Customs are renewed a vast Triennial Tax also imposed upon all Houses built upon new Foundations in London and witbin Ten miles round that every one of them should pay a years Rent At length at the Motion of a certain Citizen of London the Parliament resolves to give Cromwell the Title of King with most of the Ensigns of Royalty which he had already long ago usurped and many Members apply themselves to him beseeching him that he would vouchsafe to accept of it which he sometimes made a shew as if he would embrace but by and by again appeared doubtful and at length shifted it off I think it will not displease the Reader if I give in this place a short hint at the main Reasons whereby the Members of Parliament endeavoured to incline Cromwell to accept of the Title of King which inwardly he was most ambitious of though outwardly he affected a reluctancy This Affair was by the Parliament committed to the diligent management of six or seven of their number These Men urg'd That the name of King had always been in vogue from the very beginning in this Nation for the space of above thirteen hundred years that the Person of the King had sometime displeased the People but that the Title was never before abrogated that moreover the same was fitted to our Laws and the Humour of the People and approved not onely by the Votes of the preceding but of this present Prarliament also Cromwell answers That these were persuasive but no cogent Arguments that the Title of Protector might be adapted to the Laws that Providence was against them which hath now altered the Name and that he could not without a Crime displease so many Godly and Religious Men. But the Commissioners reply That the Title ought to be fitted to the Laws not the Laws to Titles nay that the Innovation of Titles is suspected as a Cloak for Vnderhand Tyranny and that the disadvantages of such a kind of change are never felt in in the same Age for which very Reason when King James came to the Crown of this Kingdom the Parliament would not give way that in his Title instead of England and Scotland he should insert Great Britain That by refusing the Title of King he does not derogate so much from himself as from the Nation whose Honour it is to be governed by a King That the supreme Magistrate was never designed by the Name of Protector unless for a time during the Nonage of the King for the Administration of the Government and a Title for the most part unfortunate That that Name at present having its Original from the Souldiers sounded Victory and might be lawfully rescinded by another Parliament That the Title of King being once abolished the Government would become mutable and unsafe not durable if the Foundation tottered that in the space of five years it had been three or four times altered and was yet as wavering as heretofore the alteration of Title was ominous to the Roman People who neither could endure the Name of Prince nor of Perpetual Dictator nor of the Prince of the Senate till at length the Pleasure of Caesar went for Law But the strongest Argument of all was The Statutes of the Ninth of Edward the Fourth and of the Third of Henry the Seventh wherein it was enacted That no Man carrying Arms though unjustly for the King in being shall be punished for it and that in the late Wars more trusting to that Law were in Arms for the King than of those who loved his Cause That as to Providence it was no less conspicuous in changing the Government again into Monarchy for avoiding confusion and quelling a tumultuous People than in changing the Name of a Monarch into that of Protector That lastly Good and Godly Men would submit to a Decree of Parliament though perhaps they might seem to differ in private A great deal of time is spent betwixt Cromwell and the Committee in
mutual Answers and Replies but after much affectation of Words they still fell upon the same Heads again There was no less to do with the private Addresses of different Parties most of the Pettyfogging Lawyers the Commissioners for the Great Seal the Judges and some of the Officers of the Army relying upon the former Reasons entreat urge and earnestly importune him That he would consent to take upon him the Name of King On the other hand the Anabaptists Sectarians and Democratical Republicans by Letters Conferences and Monitory Petitions wearied him with their importunities to the contrary Many also of the Soldiers and inferiour Officers laying their Heads together frame a Petition to the same purpose But he during the whole transaction dismisses all with the same uncertainty and doubts however he severely chid the Soldiers biding them mind their own business for what had they to do with the Resolutions of Parliament that they should look to their Arms and keep themselves modestly within their own bounds not medling in Civil Affairs but that if they did forget their Duty and Obedience neither God Almighty nor he himself would be wanting to reduce them into order The Cavaliers are Tooth and Nail for his complying with the first Advice as being a Matter which they thought would not a little contribute to the reviving of their Cause whilst continual jangling and and dissentions would thereby arise betwixt the Republicans and Cromwell and the Office of King being again introduced the onely Quarrel would then be betwixt two Families which of the two had the better Title the one having it by undoubted right and the other by none at all And besides thereby it would be made manifest for what cause the War was in a great part begun to wit the sole Ambition of Cromwell But he having taken time to weigh with himself all their Opinions thought it more modest and suitable to his Interest to retain his more than Regal Authority circumscribed by no Laws under the submissive Title of Protector than by coveting an August Name render himself ridiculous to the World At length having called the Parliament unto him He tells them That at present he durst not take upon him the Administration of the Government with the Title of King though he was resolved in future Parliaments to introduce it by degrees how humbly soever at present he carried himself and utterly rejected the same I cannot tell whether or not it be worth the mentioning what many interpreted as a bad presage Whilst the Members of Parliament were going up to the Banqueting-House in Whitehall to have the last Debate with Cromwell about that Affair his eldest Son Richard being in company with them the old Stairs by which they mounted being overcharged with weight broke with them so that many fell to the ground of whom not a few had bruises in their Legs and Arms and amongst the rest Richard being grievously wounded lay by it a long time But since Cromwell refused the Title of King the Parliament by the superiority of two Voices onely confirmed to him that of Protector which he had taken before and that they might not seem to have done nothing at all they agreed about reforming the Instrument of Government and added a House of Peers or Lords to be chosen by him That these Men might as occasion offered be a check sometimes to the Commons when they proceeded too hastily They give him likewise Power of appointing his Successour or next Heir That no Man however lawfully elected according to the above-mentioned Conditions should under any pretext whatsoever be excluded from sitting in Parliament On a day appointed the Members march to Westminster-hall there solemnly to Inaugurate Cromwell and to receive his consent So soon as he had mounted a Stage erected for that purpose round which the Members of Parliament sat Widdrington the Speaker reaching to him the Ensigns of Majesty to wit a long Purple Robe lined wtth Ermin the Holy Bible a Sword and Scepter thus he speaks to him standing near him under a Canopy of State This Robe of Purple is an Emblem of Magistracy and imports Righteousness and Justice when you have put on this Vestment I may say you are a Gown-man This Robe is of a mixt Colour to shew the mixture of Justice and Mercy Indeed a Magistrate must have two Hands Plectentem Amplectentem to cherish and to punish The Bible is a Book that contains the Holy Scriptures in which you have the happiness to be well versed This Book of Life consists of two Testaments's the Old and New The first shews Christum Velatum the second Christum Revelatum Christ Vailed and Revealed It is a Book of Books and doth contain both Precepts and Examples for good Government Here is a Scepter not unlike a Staff for you are to be a Staff to the weak and poor It is of Ancient use in this kind It 's said in Scripture That the Scepter shall not depart from Judah It was of like use in other Kingdoms Homer the Greeek Poet calls Kings and Princes Scepter-bearers The last thing is a Sword not a Military but Civil Sword it is a Sword rather of Defence than Offence not to defend your self onely but your People also If I might presume to fix a Motto upon this Sword as the Valiant Lord Talbot had upon his it should be this Ego sum Domini Protectoris ad protegendum Populum I am the Protectors to protect his People Then having given him his Oath and read over the Articles of Government with sound of Trumpet he is Proclaimed Protector of the Commonwealth of England Scotland and Ireland c. but with faint Acclamations from the People Hence you may understand what and how great things the Power of a Tyrant counterfeit Virtue Lawyers fetches fawning hope anxious fear love of novelty and specious pretexts could against all right and reason bring to pass amongst Men in all things else for most part very Prudent and Wise That in the like case I may use the Words of another These things being thus performed the Parliament shortly after were dismissed for three or four Months and Cromwell has time to make choice of his Peers for the other House But we must not omit to take notice in this place of that unbridled licentiousness of Hereticks which grew greater and greater daily Besides Arrianism against the Divinity of our Saviour Jesus Christ and other abominable Errours which one Biddle profanely and yet safely maintained before the Parliament the Blasphemies also of Copps against the Holy Name of God and Fry who heretofore scattred his Poisons in the Parliament-House besides Erbury who as with impunity he sowed the monstrous Seeds of Heresies amongst the Souldiers and in the City whilst he was in health so dying he breathed out his last in Blasphemy Saltmarsh also and other Sectarians whose Fanatical Errours by the Enthusiasm of Cromwell and the other
been subject unto seeing for at least thirty years he had at times heavily complained of Hypochondriacal indispositions Though his Bowels were taken out and his Body filled with Spices wrapped in a fourfold Cerecloath but put first into a Coffin of Lead and then into a Wooden one yet it purged and wrought through all so that there was a neâ—ssity of interring it before the Solem◠〈…〉 â—rals But still his Character is wanting which without prejudice and waving what we before observed in the series of the History thus take He was born of honest Parents in Huntingtonshire and from a Child gave no obscure proofs of Enthusiasm For as I have had it from credible Persons when he was a Child he reported that one appeared to him in the likeness of a Man who told him that he should be a King which his School-master being acquainted with whipt him for it by his Fathers direction He laid an unsolid Foundation of Learning at Cambridge but he was soon cloy'd with Studies delighting more in Horses and in Pastimes abroad in the Fields However from one Indecent Action the Reader may conclude of the extravagance of his Youth Sir Oliver Cromwell his Uncle an honest good Gentleman far from the Humours of the Nephew after the old manner kept Christmas with Musick Dancing and the other Diversions of a chearful heart a Master of the Revels as the Custom was presiding in their Plays when my Gentleman observing a great many got together daubs over his own Boots and Gloves with Ordure and crouding in amongst the rest whilst they were a Dancing besmears the Clothes of the Master of the Revels and other Guests so that the whole House was perfumed but not with the scent of Frankincense Therefore the Master of the Revels caused him to be Horsed upon a Pole carried upon the Shoulders of some of the stronger Youths and so plunged over Head and Ears in the next Pond there to be throughly rinsed I would add a great many more of such his nasty pranks if I were not afraid to offend the Readers Modesty After the Death of his Father in his Youth he married a Gentlewoman but by his profuse and luxurious way of living in a short time he squandered away both his own and Wives Estate so that he was almost reduced to Beggary Afterward playing the Penitent he gave himself wholly over to the hearing of Sermons reading of Godly Books and Works of Mortification and having hired a Brewhouse as if he would now Brew better than he had Baked he plied the Brewing Trade and Husbandry After that by means of Sir Robert Steward some Royalists and Clergy-men he was reconciled to his Uncle who could not before endure him so that he made him his Heir But shortly after having again run out of all he resolved to go to New-England and prepares all things for that end In the mean time by the help of Sectarians he was chosen a Member of Parliament where finding fit Companions mad partly through Ambition and partly through Zeal and Religion he omitted no opportunity of fomenting Debates and raising Calumnies to the prejudice of the King inventing Tales stirring up the Embers and blowing about Sparks of Division till at length he put all into a fair Flame and Combustion The War afterwards breaking out he served as a Captain and really was so against his own King Charles the First a Prince of ever Blessed Memory But reflecting with himself on the continual Victories of the Cavaliers he told the Parliamentarians that the Rabble would never be able to fight against the King whose Army consisted of Gentlemen because of the disparity of the Cause and Motives Honour moving the one and Pay the other but if they desired to fight with equal Courage and overcome the Enemy they must look out for and raise good honest Soldiers that would fight meerly for Conscience sake or at least place such Officers of their Forces Many have often heard him glory of that Advice Having therefore obtained leave from the Parliament to raise a Regiment by Letters or Messengers he invited the Honest Men as he was pleased to call them from among all the Soldiers in the several Counties with whom he had had any acquaintance and persuaded them to take on with him Wherefore Independents Anabaptists Quakers and in a word all the Sink of Fanaticks come flocking to him so that he made up above a thousand Horse who in the beginning being unskilful either in handling their Arms or managing a Horse by Diligence and Industry became in process of time most excellent Soldiers for Cromwell used them daily to look after feed and dress their Horses and when it was needful to lie together on the ground and besides taught them to clean and keep their Arms clear and have them ready for Service to chuse the best Armour and to arm themselves to the best advantage Trained up in this kind of Military Exercise they excelled all their Fellow-Soldiers in Feats of War and obtained more Victories over their Enemy This was the beginning of the New Model as they called it These were preferred to be Commanders and Officers in most part of the Troops of the Army the places of Private Soldiers being filled up with lusty strong Fellows whom Oliver trained up and kept in very strict Discipline Afterward he was made Major-General of the Horse then Lieutenant-General and at last General till after all he raised himself to the Dignity of Protector and invaded the highest Place of Honour and Authority When he was thus mounted to the top of Preferment his first care was to break down the Steps by which he ascended lest Rivals might climb up by the same means Few have hitherto applied greater Industry than he in the Administration of the Commonwealth What is Philosophically said of others I may with probability affirm of him to wit That he had two Assistant Spirits a good and a bad and that when he knocked his Breast poured out his Prayers Sighs and Tears promising all things that were good he was acted by his good Genius but when by Lying and Fallacies he carried on his Cheats his wicked and Traiterous Designs then was he prompted by his bad Genius or Spirit He was not unworthy of Government had he not invaded it by Villany Fraud Treachery and the Blood not onely of others but of his own Prince also Next day Richard his eldest Son is by the Privy-Counsellors after mutual Consultation saluted Protector and is by a Herald proclaimed first in the conspicuous Places in London and then all over England Scotland and Ireland Nay the Officers of the Army though they hatched in their Breasts contrary Counsels which were not as yet come to maturity came to Congratulate him and under their Hand-writing promised to be true to and defend him But he was far from aspiring to it out of Ambition and
prejudice to his Person or Interest which they would not make ample and sufficient amends for Richard then thought it enough in imitation of his Father to look big threaten chide and roar However they are not terrified but rather provoked to greater rage by that blunt Thunderbolt nor do they onely scoff and make mouths at him but slight him as an Ass and attempt greater matters against him From hence forward those that formerly wished best to him abandon him in Counsel and every way nor do they think it worth the while to meddle in his Affairs whom God had so infatuated as to make him neglect his own Interest Therefore they bequeath their Labour and Studies to the Cause of the King as being clearly convinced at length that that was the onely Interest that could justly and lawfully be maintained But the Officers seeing their Proposals tending to maturity frame a Remonstrance wherein they turn the fury of their engines aganst the Name of Malignants complaining That the Good Old Cause was forgot that the Asserters of it were every where vil fied the great Patrons and Patriots of it the Kings Judges put into Printed Lists and marked for destruction with the ruin of all the Godly and the Cause together that many Cavaliers came daily from beyond Sea and in presence of the People asserted the Kings Cause and Consulted together with much more of this Nature They pray that these things may speedily be redressed giving no obscure marks of their Inclination of bringing in a Democracy again This they desire Richard to represent to the Parliament scaring him thus with Lightning before the Thunderclap But the Parliament some true Republicans being amongst them out of design as some thought that he might have the Army against him pass a very imperious Vote Prohibiting any number of Officers and Soldiers to meet together for holding of Consults until the Parliament should determine about these Affairs Which Richard delivering both in his own and in Name of the Parliament and commanding their Consults to cease in a full meeting of the Officers Desborough takes him up for it so that the Officers becoming fiercer and more angry they apply themselves to the Lieutenancy of the Militia of London and allure them to a consent and to joyn with them that being involved in the same guilt with them they might not boggle to desire the same things of the Parliament This by means of Ireton the Brother of the late Ireton the Commander then Lord Mayor and of other Leading Men they easily obtained After these Prelimnaries the Officers of the Army drawing together their Forces before Day beset Whitehall where the Protector lived sending in in the mean time Desborough and Fleetwood earnestly to beseech him that he would presently dissolve the Parliament and to acquaint him That if it were not speedily done the Officers would cause Fire to be set to the House and all that resisted to be slain Richard terrified with these threats having in vain implored the Assistance of the City without either Guards or Soldiers to stand by him and his Bed-chamber Men and other Servants being frightned at length Signs a Proclamation to be published for Dissolving the Parliament After this some few days being allowed him to repent for what he had done and to take new Counsels there were a great many who prognosticated all evils to him nay affirmed them to be hanging over his Head seeing now the inveterate Enemies of his Family swoln with Pride and Malice who never kept Faith to any Man were got into Power again That perhaps they would sooth and slatter him at present till under pretence of his Authority they might rob him of the Assistance and Protection of his Friends and then having exposed him to hatred and derision try him for his Life and that under colour of a Law formerly made whereby to aspire to or introduce Monarchy is declared Treason It was moreover represented to him That he had still a safe refuge under the Mercy of the King if he would expiate his Fathers Crime by his own Allegiance that it was the part of a King to keep his Word that the Lord Petcombe the Danish Resident had promised to send over Letters safe to the Soundt that a Messenger might be more securely sent afterward to the Admiral to acquaint him with these Affairs and that he would likewise give security on the Kings part that the Articles should be fulfilled That that was no such difficult thing to be done since the Fleet was as yet free from Contagion the Admiral ready to serve the King and both hating and hated by the Parricides that besides Portsmouth and other strong Holds would joyn with him in a strict Confederacy that most part of the People also for the sake of the King and to revenge the injuries done to himself and the Parliament abruptly dissolved would rise in Arms and lastly that all Ireland was as yet subject to his Government Being sollicited by these and such like Arguments he was in suspence not knowing what to do he was tossed betwixt hope and fear having missed or abused the occasion of doing his business sometimes preferring the Counsels of some and by and by again of others and sometimes ready to run for it till at length being advised by Fleetwood and other Republicans whose Opinions he had privately asked That it would be much safer for him to enjoy certain and sure Priviledges than dangerously make tryal of new Experiments with fear and astonishment he keeps in Whitehall In the mean time a Council being called the Officers that had stood for Richard Ingoldsby Coff Whaley Falâ—onberge and Howard are â—asheered the old Republican Colonels whom his Father had formerly turned out Lambert Harrison Rich Parker Okâ—y and others being again brought into play Then the Officers of the Army with some five or six Members of the Musty Old Rump meeting together in the House of the Old Speaker Lenthall require him that he would reassume his Chair after a long intermission in Parliament and again sit at the Helm of the Government Which at first he refused alledging invincible Arguments to the contrary but afterwards partly through the threats and desires of Vane and chiefly of Lambert partly through his own Pusillanimity and partly through his own ambitious desire of Rule he is prevailed upon and condescends The Officers having acknowledged the injury they had done to the Rump and having publickly declared their sorrow for it and the Members obliging themselves of new by mutual engagements the Speaker with his Mace before him enters the House of Commons being attended by as many as could be got together out of the Streets Ale-houses Taverns even the Army and Prisons which nevertheless being computed hardly made up two and fourty Men by so small a Thread the Affairs of England then hung Yet these Varlets made no scruple to represent three
for the deceased or sung their Praises in hanging Elegies his Poetry surpassing his Oratory especially when he treated of such monstrous subjects Strangers may perhaps wonder and no less our Posterity at home that such base and contemptible fellows many of them Brewers others who drank as they had brewed and spent their Estates and some again whose ignominious Poverty was a scandal to the Nation should overturn the flourishing state of England and get to the top of Authority and Government Would we know the cause of it These were the Spoils and these the Trophies of Heresie which taking its rise from the Sermonizing Presbyterian Ministers increased by the Independants hurried on by the Kennel of all the Sectarians and by a kind of flying Contagion spread over all the Forces could not be stopt till they had shed the Royal Bloud subverted the Parliament and made one ruinous heap of all good Subjects Some time before September the twenty third the Princess of Orange was come into her Native Country more fatal to her than a foreign Land to congratulate his Majesties return but falling sick of the Small Pox at London on Christmas-Eve she died being snatched away amidst the Triumphs and fresh Lawrels of her Brother Charles she onely shared in the adverse fortune of her Family and renewed the Mourning wherein the Court still was for the untimely death of the Duke of Gloucester I shall begin the year with the Solemnities of the Coronation of King Charles On the two and twentieth of May the King from the Tower of London as the custom is at the Coronation of our Kings passed through the City where in honour of so great a Solemnity the Citizens of London in the more eminent places of the streets erected four Triumphal Arches of a vast height and bigness elaborate Pieces of Art and exquisite Engines of Pomp bearing Inscriptions and Devices and adorned with Painting and gilding The first Arch bore in its Frontispice the Triumph of Charles upon his return To CHARLES the II. By the grace of G. K. of G. Brit. To the Best and Greatest And ever most Venerable Ever most August The most Happy most Pious Who was born for our Good Who of his Native Britain And of Mankind in general Has deserved most To the Father of our Country The Extinguisher of Tyranny The Restorer of our Liberty The Founder of our Quiet In memory of his happy And long-desired Restitution We Willingly and Joyfully Have placed this S. P. Q. L. CAROLO II. D. G. Britanniarum Imp. Optim Maxim Vbique Venerando Semper Aug. Beatissimo Piissimo Bono Reip. Nato De Avitâ Britan. De omnium Hominum genere Meritissimo P. P. Extinctori Tyrannidis Restitutori Libertatis Fundatori Quietis Ob Faelicem Reditum Ex voto L. M. P. S. P. Q. L. The second being a Naval bore this Inscription To the British Neptune CHARLES the II. By whose Authority The Sea Is free or restrain'd NEPTVNO Britannico CAROLO II. Cujus Arbitrio Mare Vel Liberum vel Clausum The third placed in the middle of the City represented the Temple of Concord with this Inscription The Temple of CONCORD Erected in honour of the best of Princes By whose return The British Sea and Land being appeas'd and By its ancient Laws reform'd He has restored Enlarged and adorned it S. P. Q. L. Aedem CONCORDIAE In Honorem Optimi Principis Cujus Adventu Britannia Terrâ Marique Pacata Et Priscis Legibus Reformata est Ampliorem Splendidioremque Restituit S. P. Q. L. The last exhibited the Garden of Plenty and Cornucopia's with the Statues of Bacâ—bus Ceres Flora and Pomana with this Inscription To Plenty and to Augustus The fire of Civil War Being Extinguished And the Temple of War shut This Lofty Altar Was built by the S. A. P. O. L. VBERTATI Aug. Extincto Belli Civilis Incendio Clausoque Jani Templo Aram Celsiss Construxit S. P. Q. L. Under all these the King rode on horse-back streight to his Palace in a triumphant manner with Trumpets Musick and the joyful Acclamations of the People being attended by the Nobility his Majesties Ministers and Servants the Heralds Kings at Arms the Kings Judges and Knights of the Bath The solemnity of this day though it was not so great in the number of Attendents yet in richness and splendour of Cloaths and Arms it surpassed the triumphant Entry of the King upon his return Next morning the King was in great pomp conducted to Westminster-Abbey where in his Imperial Robes the Prelates in their Myters and the Nobles in their Parliament-Robes conducted him to his Throne and the Archbishop of Canterbury anointed him with the sacred Oyl Afterwards all the ancient and usual Ceremonies upon such occasions were performed ¶ The Author of this History designing the utmost brevity hath not mentioned any of these Ceremonies but Mr. Philips in his Continuation of Dr. Richard Baker's Chronicle has very exactly set forth all the Rituals then used but hath omitted the Coronation-Oath and onely given an Epitom of it and there having of late years been strange Pretences raised upon the account of this Oath it is thought fit to insert the same here from Mr. Sanderson's History of Charles the First with that variety of Circumstances which were used in the Coronation here mentioned expressed by Mr. Philips Coronation-Oath SIR said the Bishop of London will you grant and keep and by your Oath confirm to the People of England the Laws and Customs to them granted by the Kings of England your Lawful and Religious Predecessors and namely the Laws Customs and Franchises granted to the Clergie by the Glorious King St. Edward your Predecessor according to the Laws of God the true Profession of the Gospel established in this Kingdom agreeable to the Prerogative of the Kings thereof and the ancient Customs of the Realm The King's Answer I grant and promise to keep them Bishop Sir Will you keep Peace and goodly Agreement according to your power both to God the holy Church the Clergie and the People King I will keep it Bishop Sir Will you to your power cause Law Justice and Discretion with Mercy and Truth to be executed to your Judgment King I will Bishop Sir Will you grant to hold and keep the Laws and rightful Customs which the Commonalty of this Kingdom have and will you defend and uphold them to the honour of God so much as in you lieth King I grant and promise so to do Then the Bishop of Rochester read this Admonition to the King before the People with a loud voice Our Lord and King we beseech you to pardon and to grant and to preserve unto us and to the Churches committed to your charge all Canonical Priviledges and do Law and Justice and that you would protect and defend us as every good King to his Kingdoms ought to be Protector and Defender of the Bishops and the
shut or guarded by Souldiers and imposing upon Delinquents for the first fault a Fine for the second Imprisonment and for the third Banishment that punishment might at length restrain those whom Clemency could not gain Nevertheless a War with Holland breaking forth and the Laws being silent amongst the noise of Arms the domestick Calamity grew so strong that the Authority of the Justices of the Peace not being able to prevail against the obstinacy of the Rabble the evil catched like Wild-fire and all future Remedies seemed posthumous and unseasonable The great injuries done by the Dutch to the English Merchants having for a long time past unrevenged did now occasion great grievances and complaining at London Though there was no Nation upon Earth whom the Dutch desired more for Friends and less for Enemies than the English who in the late War had proved themselves as formidable Enemies to the Hollanders as heretofore they had been to their Enemies yet they unjustly broke that Peace which some years before they had dishonourably begg'd of the Rump and Cromwel as being necessary for their interest by humble Addresses sordid and base compliances of their Embassadours and had since confirmed by a stricter League with King Charles the Second For to that pitch of Arrogance and Perfidy was that State of Fisher-men and croud of crafty Merchants who under the Title of a Commonwealth disliked all Monarchy raised that besides the detaining of the Island of Poloron which they were obliged to deliver up by the Articles of Peace they took a great many English Ships upon the Coast of India and Africa and making Prize of the Ships and Goods made the Sea-men Prisoners and added cruelty and scoffing to their Injustice They block up many Ports of the Indies which the English had long possessed with Men of War and having unjustly intercepted the English Trade they sold to other Nations at home at the dear rates the Commodities which they had for a small matter bought in the Indies Holmes who was Admiral for the King upon the Coast of India and Africa behaving himself modestly in his Commission was by those Dutch Pirats by Sea and Land whom neither the East nor West could satisfie contrary to the Law of Nations often fired upon At which Holmes a man of a daring temper and unacquainted with affronts being provoked resolved to continue no longer on the defensive part but to turn Aggressour and therefore bringing his Guns ashore and planting them on Batteries he took some of the Dutch Garrisons and revenged the injuries he had received But with false Accusations they complain of Holmes who had been so often and basely used by them to the King crying out against him as a Robber and the causer of a War as if by making a clamour first they might ridiculously excuse their own Treachery These and many other Encroachments of the Dutch so incensed the Parliament that they forthwith voted it necessary to revenge so many Injuries done to the Merchants and a considerable supply of money to be given to the King to carry on a War which they judged safer than a doubtful and uncertain Peace Though the King was highly offended to hear of the Injuries done to his Subjects and concerned in honour to right them yet he resolved to try other ways of adjusting matters before he came to force of Arms having therefore dispatched Letters to Sir George Downing his Embassadour at the Hague he demands a speedy reparation of the Injuries done to his Subjects from the States But though the Kings demands were just and lawful yet it was in vain to represent the Rapines of Dutch Merchants to trafficking States since they who were in Authority and should have punished these Abuses reaped the profit of them But amongst these Clashings about Injuries a new cause of quarrel not heard of till then happened through the treachery of the Dutch For the year before the States General having been oppressed by the frequent Piracies of the Algerines by Embassadours made earnest application to the King that joyning his Fleet with theirs he would help to revenge the Injuries of these Infidels Nor was the King wanting to contribute to the safety of his Subjects and of all Christendom but sent Vice-Admiral Lawson an expert Sea-Commander with a well-appointed Fleet to joyn and assist the Fleet commanded by de Ruyter But whilst Lawson was wholly taken up in fighting and pursuing the Pirats Ships of which he had sunk and burnt many upon the Coast of Barbary De Ruyter gave him the slip and by orders from the States directed his course to Guiny where falling upon the English who were secure and neither expected nor deserved any such thing he committed no less Robberies upon us than he pretended to revenge on the Algerines but with far greater treachery The news of so base an action being freshly brought to London so incensed all People that the King highly offended commanded all Dutch Ships in the Ports of England to be stopt and all further Treaties of Pacification being laid aside both sides prepare for a War But during the preludes of the approaching War the Dutch a more contumelious than formidable Enemy inflamed the rage and hatred of the English by scurrilous Libels Medals and many base and satyrical Pictures according to the innate insolency and barbarous vanity of that People Holland more powerful both in Wealth and Cunning led the rest of the Vnited Provinces by the nose and Dewit Holland a man of a crafty and subtle Wit malicious Eloquence and of more reputation for cunning Policy than Honesty The greatness of the Family of the Prince of Orange and the vast power of the King of Great Britain by Sea stood in the way of the Artifices of this arrogant man and of his own Holland To ruine therefore the Prince and Family of Nassau he raised secret jealousies against him and by lessening the authority of Orange with the States he alone managed all affairs and under colour of standing up for the liberty of the Commonwealth ruled absolutely at his pleasure and so confident of himself grew this Butter-box that having trode upon the Dignity of the Prince at home he thought that by turns he might make fools of all the Kings of Europe He hated the King of Great Britain the more because he feared him and since through similitude of Manners he had been a great friend to the Traytor Cromwel he was therefore the more implacable Enemy to King Charles Certainly next to the insatiable Avarice of the Dutch Nation all the hatred of that People to the English is to be attributed to Dewit and his Faction To so great an Arrogance were the Dutch raised that it was given out amongst the People That the affairs of England were not in such a posture that the Civil War of England being just ended they had money enough still to
most valiant General in War not onely to be compared to the chief Commanders of his own age but to the most renowned Warriours of elder times and of so great reputation he was in Military affairs that the modestest do acknowledge too great a Courage in Albemarle He spent almost his whole life in Arms and at length growing old amidst Victories he became gray-headed under a Helmet In Britain and Ireland by Sea and by Land so happy was Albemarle that Fortune traced out for him Honour Renown and Titles He had indeed a hidden and a silent kind of Sagacity in the management of affairs and improved almost all the Arts of Prudence by Silence He had a Modesty that set off all the other Virtues of his Mind nor was he ever heard to brag of what he had done or deserved The Fame of so great a man doubtless inferiour to no other Mortal will propagate it self to Posterity who without Pride or Ostentation gratified a banished Prince with so signal Services and onely rejoyced in the conscientious performance of his Duty and Obedience Nor after the Restauration of Charles did he behave himself as a Colleague in the Government as Mucianus was of old reported to have done to Vespasian but as a Servant neither did he ever boast that having the Power in his own hands he had bestowed it upon another whereby he burned to his glory the Arrogance of the Rump and the Impudence of Cromwel his Loyalty inclining him more to give up than his Ambition to retain the Government We may moreover reckon Albemarle happy not onely in the greatness of the Action but also in the seasonableness of the Service That he brought back the Government to a Prince of so just and good a temper who put so true an estimate upon his Loyalty and under whom it would never be unsafe nor dangerous to deserve the most For good Offices are acceptable especially to Kings so long as the obliged think they may be able to requite them but when they are too great to be rewarded instead of Thanks they procure Hatred And it is rare and almost unusual for Princes to think themselves obliged or if they think so to love their Benefactors Peace being now established at home and Janus his Temple shut Albemarle departed the more joyfully out of this life that when he left no Troubles in Britain yet he left behind him a Love for himself in the hearts of all good men so much the more wanted that he had taken care that nothing should be wanting having left nothing in the State but his own death to be bewailed the King flourishing in his Government and the Loyalty of the Parliament as yet vieing with the modesty of the Prince Every one enjoyed the happiness they desired at home and Peace with all Nations abroad till the League-breaking Dutch again provoked the English Arms. But the Actions of that War the steddy Fortune of the British Nation and the future Triumphs of CHARLES I have set aside as a subject for my more advanced years FINIS A Table to the Third Part. A. ALbemarle vid. Monk Army disbanded 52 B. Bishops restored 51 Booth Sir George his Insurrection 8 C. Committee of Safety 13 Commissioners from the Parliament wait on the King at Breda 44 Conventicles supprest 73 Covenant burnt by the Hangman 66 Cowley Abraham 99 D. De Wit 76 Dutch War beginning and occasion 74. The first Engagement 81. The second 87. The third 88. the fourth 90. The fifth 92. Their Attempt at Chatham 98. Peace concluded 98. F. Fanaticks rise but are supprest 72 G. Gloucester Duke dies 52 K. King Charles 2. Comes to Breda 42. Lands at Dover 46 Enters London 47. His Coronation 61. Marries the Infanta of Portugal 69. L. Lambert proclaimed a Traytor 40. Committed to the Tower 41. Condemn'd but obtains mercy 71. Libels 73 The Liturgie and Ceremonies of the Church confirm'd and establish'd by Act of Parliament 71 London the great Plague there 84. The great Fire there 94. Rebuilt 99 100. M. Monk Sir George 6 13 inf His famous march into England 25. Enters London 28. Admits the secluded Members 36. Receives Letters from the King 37. Created Duke of Albemarle 51. A short account of his Life and Death 102 inf His Character 105. O. Oblivion Act 52 Great Officers upon the Kings Restoration 51 Orange Princess dies in England 60 Oxford the Court and Term there 85. The new Theatre there built 101. P. Parliament the long one dissolved 41. A new one meet 42. A new one call'd by the King 66. Physicians Colledge visited by the King 78 Q. Queen-Mother dies 101 R. Recapitulation of things past 1 Regicides brought to Tryal 53. Their several Characters 54 55 56 57 58 67 68 70. Rump-Government 5. inf Rump and Army at variance 10. S. Solemn League and Covenant burnt by the Hangman 66 V. Uly-Island and Ships there burnt by the English 93 Y. York Duke made Lord High Admiral 50. His great Victory at Sea 81. The Right of Kings in England In the person of a Monarch for above a thousand years And he hereditary And never dying To him all swear Allegiance and Supremacy The Prerogatives of the K. or chief marks of Majesty and the Regalia belong onely to the King So that all Estates and Possessions are derived from him and to him return at last He hath the care of Pupils and Lunaticks The power of coyning Money He confers all Honours and Offices Which are to be administred in his name alone His power in matters of War Also in Ecclesiastical affairs He moderates the rigour of Laws And judges in undecided cases He chuses his own Counsellors He that mounts the Throne is never to be brought to the Bar since the Law says he cannot die Nor can he err or do wrong But as he offends by his Ministers so is he punished The Heir of the Crown is by the death of his Predecessor ipso facto cleared from all guilt Yet it is not lawful to rule arbitrarily VVhat Rights belong to Parliaments To make and repeal Laws Impose Taxes Legitimate Bastards Enact the VVorship of God Set Rates on VVeights and Measures VVhat the Parliament of England is The Vpper House of it The Lower The time and place appointed by the King They are called by VVrits The manner of meeting The King declares the causes of their meeting in the Vpper House All and every one of the Members of the House of Commons take the Oath of Allegiance to the King And of Supremacy They chuse a Speaker whom they accompany to the King beseeching his Majesty to approve their Election And not to be offended with their freedom in speech ☞ All may petition but by the mediation of Deputies The way of debating and communicating opinions betwixt both Houses By the Kings consent the Bills are made Laws Or otherwise rejected Religious matters aâ—â—ommitâ—ed by the Kiâ—g to
the Clergy Which by the Deans Archdeacons and Deputies of the Clergy are holden in the Convocation Their Acts bind not the People without the consent of the King and Parliament The Rights Priviledges of the Vpper House Of the Lower The providence of the Law thae the Members might debate freely and without fear The modesty of the Parliament What honour Kings were wont to shew the Parliament But when occasion required reduced them into order The happiness of the Kingdom under this Government VVhat were the beginnings of the Troubles raised by some Members of the House of Commons Hence mutual Jealousies betwixt the King and Parliament And then the dissolution of Parliaments This gave occasion of stirring the people up against the King And yet the Kingdom in a most flourishing condition Though unfortunate in War abroad and some Taxes imposed at home Some seditious persons are punished New Ceremonies startle the Puritans The Archbishop endeavouring to impose the Liturgy of England upon the Scots offends them Vpon which pretext but for other causes they grow turbulent They take Arms alter the Government both in Church and State The King marches against them And upon Articles makes Peace with them The Scots innovating the Articles cause a new VVar. A Parliament is called in England And dissolved The Scots making a secret Combination with the Factious invade England Having made a Truce the Judgment of the Parliament is expected The Parliament meets The Factious in it Who under pretext of reforming Grievances endeavour to new-model the Government both in Church and State And by what steps Many are accused the E. of Strafford and Arshb of Canterbury The L. Keeper Judges And twelve Bishops The terrified Judges are freely discharged The Bishops also being deprived of the right of voting in the House of Lords Strafford is brought to his tryal before the House of Lords the King over-hearing The Earl in his defence clears himself of the Accusation The House of Commons make a new Law whereby they make him guilty of Treason Not without opposition many dissenting The Lords deliberating more seriously The Rabble beset the House And hinder the Lords and Bishops from entering it then they break into Westminster-Abbey And afterward run in tumult to White-hall And answer the K. sawcily Whilst the Justices of Peace repress the Tumults they are imprisoned by the factious House The factious Members of Parliament consult with the Apprentices and teach them the time and manner of tumultuating Whereby the Members being frightned forbear coming to the House and are therefore excluded Whence the Authority of Parliament wears out of date The Lords pass the Bill against the Earl of Strafford The Kings consent is very hardly obtained Till the Judges pronounced it lawful the Bishops removed his scruples And Strafford advised him to it The King by Letters desires the execution may be delayed The Lords deny it Courtiers fearful of their condition freely resigne their places The Sheriffs Justices of the Peace comply with the times In that thing alone the King withstood the will of the Parliament In the rest he left himself in a manner at their discretion He suffers the Jurisdiction of the Court of Stannaries of the Court of the President of Wales to be lessened The extent of the Forests also be abridged The Court of the Star-Chamber And of the High Commission to be abrogated As also that of the Lord President and Council of the North. He allows Monopolies to be rescinded He yields up also his right of levying Souldiers Ship-money Tunnage and Poundage Allows also a Triennial Parliament And that the present Parliament should not be dissolved without the consent of both Houses Yet with these the Factious are not pleased But are thereby emboldened to raise Animosities and Divisions The Scots are sent home The English Irish Armies are also disbanded The K. follows the Scots into their Country And upon his return is feasted by the Londoners The Factious congratulate the Kings return by a defamatory Declaration ☞ To which the King shortly answers New Tumults for snatching the power of the Militia out of the K.'s hands The K. obviates the Sedition by accusing the Heads of it of Treason Whom the House of Commons takes into protection Wherefore the K. enters the House of Commons in person That he may demand them Who fled The K. afterward desisted and in a manner acknowledged his fault But the Factious take thence occasion of slandering and of raising jealoâ—sies stirs Buckinghamshire Essex petition The accused Members abscond in London and with a Guard of Citizens are conducted to the Parliament-house The K. withdraws to Windsor-Castle Sends the Q into Holland Sends for the Prince Moves towards York Having first sent pacificatory Letters to the Parliament VVhich notwithstanding the House of Commons misinterpret as contrary to the Priviledges of Parl. and pretend to be in great fear Daring alone to demand the power of the Militia VVhich when they could not obtain they stir up the Corporations to take up Arms of their own accord The House of Commons pass a Vote for ordering the Militia by Deputies and having prevailed with the Lords with joynt address they demand the Militia of the King upon pretence of dangers The K. allows a share in the power of the Militia reserving to himself the supreme Authority he exhorts them to moderation and peace But the Factious slight these things fill the rest with idle fears and by them stir up the People Fearing that the K. might possess himself of the Magazine of Hull They send Sir John Hotham to prevent it Who shuts the Gates against the King And is proclaimed Traitor He is justified by the House of Commons Afterward repenting of what he had done and being about to deliver up the Town to the K. he is taken with his Son beheaded The Parl. sends Proposals of Peace to the King The Parl. Propositions to the King The King answers The matter comes to nothing as all future Treaties Propositions The Parl. proposing most rigid Conditions The mediation of the K. of France the States of the United Provinces and of the Scots is rejected The Parl. seizes the Militia The K. commands the contrary citing Laws that are against it They answer And the K.'s Majesty replies And opposes the Aggressors They skirmish on both sides in Apologies and Manifesto's wherein the K. has the better The Parl. levies an Army Having deceived the People by wheedles And the Ministers They raise Pay Who favour the King By their assistance and his own authority the King raises an Army such as he could The Irish Rebellion intervenes Macquire and Macmahon the Incendiaries of the Irish Rebellion are taken carried to London There to be punished with the utmost rigour Macquire upon the brink of death Constantly asserts the innocence of the K. Vpon whom nevertheless the Rebels charge the Crime Who were the Authors of it And what opportunities they
interrupts and takes him up The King is a fourth time brought to the bar refuses to plead Desires a Conference with the Lords and Commons One of the Judges prickt in Conscience The President in a set-speech makes way for the Sentence Orders the Sentence to be read All the Judges that were present stand up and confirm the Sentence The souldiers carry away the King scoff at him And barbarously use him His Majesty behaves himself courageously and prudently And prepares himself for his last sufferings The Judges before the publication of Sentence consult about the kind manner and time of the Murder Proposals are tendered unto him upon granting which he is offered his life He is permitted to take his leave of his Children What the King gave them in charge The K. is led to execution He speaks to Col. Tomlinson and the other Instruments of the Regicide His Maj. had not spoken but that otherwise he might have been thought to submit to the guilt He did not begin the War But the two Houses His Majesty lays not the the guilt upon the two Houses Ill Instruments the cause of it One unjust sentence punished with another His Majesty forgives all the world even the Causers of his death Prays that they may take the right way to Peace Conquest an ill way seldom just To give God his due the K. his due and the People their due is the right way Give God his due in setling his Church As to the K. it concerning himself his Majesty waves it Peoples liberty consists in having government not in sharing it His Majesty the Martyr of the People He professes he dies a Christian of the Church of England He is beheaded Barbarous Cruelty against him dead Against his body Against his soul Against his fame and memory to posterity * The Tyrant the last of Kings is gone They carry away all the Royal Writings that they might not be publish'd Nevertheless a golden book of the Kings Meditations saw the light The extraordinary grief of the people The Character of the late King ☜ The Rebels exercise Arbitrary Dominion over the Lives and Estates of others They forbid any man to call Charles the II. King or to pray for him his Brother or any of the Royal Family The Monarch being cut off thâ—y presently murder Monarchy they also abrogate the House of Lords Turns out the Lord Mayor of London They alter the Common Council of the City also And repeal all Laws against Heresies and Schisms They engage the Preachers to themselves by the Kings Rents Punish the Gain-sayers Sparing no body The Government committed to the Council of forty men A subscription is enjoyned S. inveighs bitterly against the Regicides By and by falls off to the same Party They labour to establish an Oligarchy The Democraticks oppose it Inveigh ☞ Resist with Arms. They are defeated by the Vsurpers Thâ—y publish a Proclamation that no man should accuse them of Tyranny Appoint a Thanksgiving Are feasted by the City Which they recompence They sell the Kings Houses Houshold-furniture c. They burden the people with most heavy Taxes Invade Ireland And threatned the whole world March 27. June 14. May 29. October 14. June July 23. April 13. May 5. Aug. November 3. November December May 12. May 10. May 2. August October 23. Novemb. 25. December 1. January 3. January 4. January 10. January 20. February 23. February 28. April 23. June 2. August 22. October 23. Feb. March April July 13. June 30. July 27. September 4. August 10. September Septemb. 20. Jun. Sept. 25. Septemb. 15. January 3. January 16. January 22. May. June 29. July Septemb. 1 2. October 27. Decemb. 23. January 1 2. January 10. February 20. February June 14. April 27. May 5. June 24. September January 30. February 16. March June 4. July 29. August 6. September 7. Novemb. 11. Decemb. 24. January 17. May. June July 5 July August 17. August 28. October 29. Sept. Octob. November Novemb. 16. Novemb. 20. Decemb. 1. Decemb. 5. Decemb. 6 7. January 4. January 6. January 20.22 23 27. January 30. March 9. March 17. May 30. May. June 7. September 8 The state of Affairs after the Regicide in England Scotland Ireland And the Islands belonging to England The Regicides resolving the worst against Ireland Forbid Trading with the Islands and Plantations and for what end They sooth the Dutch Dorislaus being sent Ambassadour And for what purpose But without success For the Ambassadour is killed by some Scots And that with safety A Petition preserved to the Regicides by the Democratical Party They are committed to Pâ—â—son for it Another from the private Souldiers Is supprest in the Birth A third and smarter Petition from the Officers of the Army Which the Regicides elude By doing much to no purpose Some Trade with us Prohibited by the French With the French by us The Ministers of the Church of England are Persecuted Especially the â—elch The rest are cherished An Expedition into Ireland under the Command of Cromwell The Irish are ranked into several classes The Native Irish The Pope's Nuncio head of the Rebels Some Catholick Nobles Loyal to the King Irish Planters Why they fell off Being before most Loyal The Irish Scots Now fight for the King Coot Monck and Jones stand for the Rump-Parliament Inchiqueen for the King How the Royalists joyned together The arrogance of the Pope's Nuncio was his ruine And the cause of Preston's defeat The Vnion of the Irish in favour of the King Who humbly dedesire the Queen and Prince of Wales to send over the Marquess of Ormond with supplies and Authority The Nuncio frets And being besieged Capitulates for a departure Ormond coming to Kilkenny where a general meeting of the Irish was held they come to Articles of agreement Ouen-Ro-Oneal Jones and some othâ—rs find fault with the Aâ—ticles of Pacification The Lord Deputy also General of the Forces sets about a dâ—fficult work And at length raiseth an Army And marches against Jones Governour of Dublin Which place after a Council of War he first views Jones preparing for a defence sends the superfluous Cavalry to Drogheda Who are forthwith pursued by Inchiqueen And being partly slain and taken and partly made to fly to Drogheda in a short time he took the Town it self And beats Farell upon his return from relieving of Derry Takes Dundalk And other Towns And victoriously returns to the Lord Lieutenant London-Derry straitned by Ards Is relieved by Ouen-Ro-Oneal Who made an Agreement with Coot and Monck to be Confirmed by the Rump-Parliament And yet is ignominiously rejected Dublin is besieged Reynolds and Venables bring relief from England The Lord Lieutenant being informed by Deserters that Cromwel was to Sail to Munster He resolves to send thither Inchiqueen with the greatest part of his Forces And with the rest to block up Dublin and intercept Provisions The Commanders allured with the hâ—pes of Booty obtain first leave to straiten the Besieged by
the King was very near discovered by an Hostler From thence as good luck would have it to Broad-VVindsor Where he is disquieted by Soldiers quartering there And the Country People Wilmot is in danger at Chayremouth Vpon a suspition occasioned by his Horses Shoes The Hostler consults the Minister of the place Who having seriously weighed the matter He hunts after the King tho too late Especially in Sir Hugh Windham 's house The King returns to Trent having sent VVilmot to Coventry A ship freighted at Southampton but without Success The King gâ—es to Heal. Having taken leave in the morning he returns â—ack without the knowledge of the Servants and is hid From thence he hastens to Bright-Helmstead Gunter having hired a Vessel Where at Supper he is known by the Master of the Bark Who being afraid of the Parliaments Proclamation With diffiulty undertakes the thing His Wife who smelt it out â—ncouraging him to the busâ—ness Being got on board they coast along the Shore as bound for the Isle of VVight In the Evening they arrive in Normandy The King very skilful in Navigation The Master of the Vessel being kindly dismissed arrives the same night at Pool The King having changed his Cloathes at Rouen Where by chance he found Doctor Earle He goes to Paris Whos 's safely was an illustrious Testimony of Divine Providence Cromwell having sent the Prisoners before comes to London Sterling Castle surrendered to Monck Noblemen taken by Alured Dundee was a prey to the Conquerour All Scotland in the power of the English who strengthen themselves by new Citadels And subdue Orkney and the Isles The Scots rise but in vain The administration of civil Affairs in Scotland by Judges for the most part English And a Council of State Thirty Commissioners from thence allowed to sit and Vote in the Parliament of England The Scots had what they deserved Hains subdues Jersey The Isle of Mann also takâ—n An Act of Oblivion passes But not without the instance of Cromwell The Soldiers displeased with the Rump Which with these Crimes they load As minding onely their own advantages The Objections are boldly enough answered The Soldiers reply Of whom therefore the Rump under another pretence order a great part to be disbanded The Soldiers refusing and demanding a new Representative An equal numbâ—r of both consult in common But without any Fruit. The Rumpers are divided about the manner of the Representative And about the Time Not willing to give the Power rashly out of their own hands Cromwell flying to the House and objecting to them Misdemeanours and other horrid Crimes Commands all to be gone And they delaying by the assistance of the Soldiers he expelled them the House And makes them ridiculous The People rejoycing And much applauding him They consult in the mean time what is fittest to be done The Officers advance the Godly to the Government Chosen from among the Off-scowrings of the People and out of all Sects Who having chosen a Speaker Take the Name of The Parliament of England And presently shew their madness in falling soul of the Ministers Colleges and Nobility They abolish all Courts of Justice Appoint Justices of Peace to celebrate Marriage The sounder part deliver up the Government to Cromwell who with reluctancy accepts it Lambert chiefly and by his persuasion the rest of the Officers consenting But he would be called Protector not King Cromwell swears to his own Conditions and presently chuses Counsellors out of every Sect. What were the thoughts of men in this great Revolution A War with Holland The use of it Different Opinions of the States of the United Provinces about that Matter The middle Opinion prevailing Embassadors for Pacification are sent into England In the heat of the Treaty a sharp Engagement hapned The Dutch excuse the matter But confederate with the Danes And fight again and again At length they sue for Peace Cromwell being now at the Helm A fourth Engagement most fatal to the Dutch Trump being killed And 2000 besides Cromwell claps up a Peace with the Dutch and Danes And lays a snare for the Prince of Orange Sâ—ditious Seamen Three Hansiatick Ships are stopp'd And condemned Cromwell is reconciled to the King of Portugal The Embassadors Brother Don Pantaleon Sa For a Murder committed in London Is beheaded And Gerard at the same time also for standing up for the Kings Interestâ— Vowell hanged for the same Cause The King of England uses all Endeavours to oblige the French King But being basely used He removes to Cologne His Friends in England in the mean time use all endeavours Cromwell counter-endeavours Yet by mutual Exhortations they do somewhat The matter was at length undertaken by Commâ—ssioners Very cauâ—iously The Republicans also conspiring with them And some Governours of Places But Cromwell discovering the Design easily disappoints it Some rising too soon Others cowardly And all disappointed of their Hopes Many Persons of Great Quality committed to Prison Not a few put to death Cromwell's Arts of Discovery Spies mingled amongst the Cavaliers Especially one Manning that lived at Court Who at length was justly put to death Cromwell calls a Parliament of Commoners onely Wherein he brags of his own good Deeds Which he would have the Parliament to confirm But they on the contrary nibble at the Instrument of Government The Officers and Courtiers opposing it But the Republicans urging the same But Cromwell severely checks these Debates And obliges all that would enter the House to own the Government However he left all his Labour The Republican Soldiers conspire his ruine Which he smelling out presently dissolved the Parliament He makes Peace with Sueden And France For Support of his Authority he procures Gratulatory Addresses from the Officers of the Army in Scotland Then from the Officers in England And afterwards from some Corporations He affected to be a Promoter of Justice And a rigid Censurer of Manners And a Favourer of the Clergy Whose Divisions nevertheless he foments whilst he seemed earnest in composing of them Industriously suppressing the Insolence of the Presbyterians He was ill-affected towards the Church of England tho he was accustomed to caress some few He hugged the Independents Nor was he an enemy to Fanaticks And Roman-Catholicks He creates Censurers of the Preachers out of every Sâ—ct Who basely minded their own Profit He studies to ingratiate himself with all men according to their various Humours With the Nobility The Godly Country People And also the Soldiers Always glancing at his own Profit A most cunning Diver into the Manners of Men. And most prodigious Hypocrite King Charles finds for the Duke of Glocester his Brother from France Lest the Stripling might be in danger of hâ— Religion amongst Catholicks 〈…〉 by a certain Astrologer Oneal Cromwell continually dogg'd with anxious biting Cares Thinks himself safe no where Getting into the Coach-box to exercise his Body He was very near being torn to pieces alive by Horses Of new he oppresses the
Royalists whom he spoils of the tenth part of their Goods Withot any distinction He sets Major Generals over Provinces Who had great power given them over suspected persons Especially over Ministers turned out of their Livings who are not permitted so much as to teach little Children At length their Exorbitant Power being suspected to Cromwell himself they are wholly abolished Some Imprisoned for the Royal Cause For a Murder afterward committed are brought to a Tryal and acquitted by a Jury After the same manner Lilburn escaped Death and Stawell thrice The Tyrant objects against the Ancient Custom of a Jury of twelve Men. This wholesom Custom is justied Cromwell assists the Protestants oppressed by the Duke of Savoy An Expedition into the Mediterranean Sea under Blake Who easily agreeing with the Algerines He chastises the Pride of those of Tunis by burning their Ships in the very Harbour Another greater into America The first reason of it The second The third The fourth The fifth Penn Admiral at Sea and Venables General at Land The Spaniard being afraid They arrive first at Barbadoes Afterwards they saile to Hispaniola with a design to proceed to Carthagena after they had taken St. Domingo But they are first overcome by the heat and thirst Then by the Inhabitants And at length by a Plague in Jamaica whither they had betaken themselves The Spaniard declaring War Cromwell assists the French upon these Conditions King CHARLES and the Duke of York being invited go into Flanders Where the Duke serves the Spaniard Manasses Ben Israel a Jew desires liberty for his Nation to live and Trade in England To which Cromwell listens in hopes of gain But having first consulted Divines Of whom some contrary to his expectation are of a contrary Opinion The English Fleet Commanded by Montague and Blake Defeats eight Spanish Ships richly laden whereof two were taken A second Parliament câ—nsisting onely of Coâ—moners wherein Scots and Irish are admitted Suits better with Cromwells Interests Since they would have made him King Alledging these Reasons for it To which he answering They strongly reply The chief Argument Who they were that would have had him take the Title of King And who on the other hand as fiercely opposed it The Cavaliers for several reasons were for the first Advice Cromwell rejecting the Crown which be so earnestly coveted With much ado he obtained from the Parliament the Title of Protector And is solemnly Inaugurated by the Speaker The sink of Hereticks of these times Of whom Naylor had the impudence to give himself out for Jesus Christ Vntil he was Whipt and Imprisoned who deserved a thousand times to be put to Death Sundercome a Republican plots against Cromwell Who being betray'd by another Conspirator is brought to a Tryal and condemned But he prevented the Executioner by a sudden Death The Republicans rising are apprehended Lambert being Disbanded Fleetwood is put in his place Cromwells Lords of the very dregs of the People Some of the Nobility being mingled with them who disdain such companions Falconberge also his Son-in-law and both his own Sons Of whom he sends Richard to lead a Countrey Life Who at length is made Chancellour of the Vniversity of Oxford and one of his Fatherâ—s Privy Council A Parliament of two Houses who agree ill betwixt themselves the Bastard Peers being despised by the Lower-House And therefore that Parliament is dissolved New Designs of the Cavaliers are disappointed by Cromwell they being discovered by secret Spies Many are brought to Trial for their Life Two of the more remarkable are beheaded Four others drawn hanged and quartered Cromwell for greater security levies new Troops of Hâ—rse consisting of Voluntiers Blake with unparallell'd boldness burns the Spanish Fleet in the very Harbour of Sancta Cruce His Death Character and Actions The Dane makes War against the Swede â—ow victorious in Poland The Swede hastning his return invades Denmark revenges himself on the Dane and reduces him to extremity Afterward he demands Assistance from the English and the Dane from the Dutch Cromwell sends thither a Fleet and two Mediators The Dutch likewise assist the Dane having fought the Swedes at Sea The French by the assistance of the English take Montmidy and presently after Mardyke Fort which is given to the English to be defended The Duke of York in vain attempts it Graveling being taken Dunkirk is Besieged For the relief of which Don John of Austria comes The French fight and overcome Shortly after the Governour being shot the Town is takâ—n And given to the Engllsh as a Reward for their Service Cromwel began to be sick first in Mind For the Death of his dearest Daughter And the Republicans that grew daily grew stronger Presently after being taken with a slight Fever Which at length confined him to his Bed Though he was secure of recovering Trusting rashly to his silly Ministers and Flatterers Who feed the Dying-man with vain hopes and mock God himself with their Thanks-givings From Hampton-Court he is brought to London The Disease growing more dangerous He is advised by his Counsellors to name his Successour And so his Son Richard nominated shortly after he died Sept. 3. 1658. The Spleen of all other parts of his Body when opened being most affected Cromwells Character His Birth Childish Enthusiasms And Scurrility His youthful Luxury and Repentance His Penury and Want His Prejudice against the King He advises the Parliamentarians His Military Discipline His Command and Rule His way of Ruling Richard takes into his Hands the Reins of Government Not so much out of his own Ambition as indeed by the Allurements of others Cromwells expensive Funeral And Enterment amongst Royal Ashes The 〈…〉 â—ill 〈◊〉 tâ—rds Richaâ—d â—y endâ—avour 〈◊〉 Fâ—twood and him together by the Ears The Soldiers challenge to themselves extravagant Priviledges A Parliament is called wherein much time is spent in jangling without any fâ—uit Yet they are reconciled The Instrument of Government is sifted They recall Overton from Banishment They accuse Berkstead and Butler of Treason The Commanders of the Army urging their Proposals Richard is wanting to himself And is forsaken of his Friends The Officers publish a Remonstrance And are by the Parliament discharged to keep Consults This made them draw into the Conspiracy the Lâ—eutenancy and Officers of the Militia of Londâ—n Presently they beset Whitehall And Richard being overcone by their Prayers and Threatnings dissolves the Parliament He being sâ—rrounded with these dangers Is perswaded to espouse the Kings Cause â—eetwood diâ—wading him The Officers agan raise the Rump from the Dead And what sort of Men they were And bound to these Articles Send them into the Parliament-house Richard out of fear having resigned up his Authority Stript of all departs out of Whitehall And being made a laughing stock betakes himself again to a Country Life May 3. June 21. August 2. August Sept. 11. June June June April 29. May 1. May 21. June June 26. July 22. August 22. Septemb.