Gen. Cromwell upon their march after the Enemy And to prosecute the affairs of Scotland Liev. Gen. Monk was left with a party of 7000 Horse and Foot who straightway took in the strong Town and Castle of Sterling Aberdeen Abernethy Dundee Dunotter Castle Dunbarton Castle with severall others so that the whole Realme of Scotland was after a passage gained into Fife with little or no difficulty subdued and made tributary to the Republick of England The Scots Army The Scots enter the City of Worcester after many halts and skirmishes long and tedious marches weakned in their bodies and distracted in their minds decreasing rather then increasing at length put into Worcester whence the King sent out his Letters mandatory to Sir Thomas Middleton to raise forces for him and to Col. Mackworth Governour of Shrewsbury to the like purpose as he did to others also but without successe He was likewise proclaimed King of Great Britaine France and Ireland in most places where he came which blast of Honour like Jonah's Gourd quickly vanisht for alas by this project of theirs of coming into England they run themselves into inevitable danger as the Poet sayes Decidit in Scyllam qui vult vitare Charybdim being invironed on all sides with the Militia Forces of the severall Counties of the Nation besides Gen. Cromwels Army they so much dreaded there was likewise a considerable body of Horse and Foot under Major Gen. Lambert and Harrison that attended their motions Col. Robert Lilburne was left in Lancashire to hinder the Earl of Derby from raising Forces in those parts other parties were disposed into severall other places to hinder the enemy of Provision or stop their flight as occasion should be M The Earle of Derby being landed as was expected at Wyewater in Lancashire with about 300 Gentlemen and others endeavoured to raise the Country while the English were busied at Worcester and in short space by the accession of Papists Royalists and discontented Presbyterians they encreased to the number of 1500 Gen. Cromwells Regiment of Foot being then at Manchester was appointed to meet Col. Lilburne at Preston The Earl of Derby routed in Lancashire To prevent this conjunction the enemy bent their course towards Marchester to surprize the said Regiment whereupon Col. Lilburne assay'd to flank the enemy in their march and by that means to joyn with those Foot which the enemy perceived and prest to engage Now though Col. Lilburn was overmatcht with Foot in point of number whereby the dispute proved tedious and difficult yet in the space of an hour the enemy was totally routed many persons of quality were taken as Col. Leg Col. John Robinson Col. Bayns Col. Gerard 4 Lievt Col. 1 Major 4 Captains 2 Lievtenants 20 Gentlemen and Reformadoes 500 Common Souldiers with all their baggage Sumpters Arms and Ammunition the Earl of Derby's George Garter and other Robes with badges of the Order but he himself escaped and recovered Worcester There were slain the Lord Widrington Sir Thomas Tildesly Col. Matth. Boynton Sir William Throgmorton Sir Francis Gamuel with some other inferior Officers and about 60 private Souldiers Of the Parliaments party but ten were slain but many wounded For this piece of service Col. Lilburn was bountifully rewarded as he indeed deserved Gen. Cromwell who by delayes never contributed to approaching dangers with his Army came to Worcester before he was either desired or expected by his Adversaries when as the whole Army was presently disposed about the City in order to a close begirting thereof The first remarkable attempt was the possessing a Passe upon the Severne at a place called Vpton which was done by a party led on by Major Gen. Lambert and was presently made good by Lievt Gen. Fleetwoods Brigade who marched towards the River Teame over which was made a Bridge of Boats and another over Severn on the Generals side upon which the enemy took the Alarme and drew out Horse and Foot to oppose the Lievt Generals passage to whose relief there was commanded over Collonel Inglesbyes and Col. Fairfax Regiments of Foot the Generals Lifeguard and Col. Hackers Regiment of Horse all which were led on by Gen. Cromwell in person then was commanded over likewise Col. Goffs and Major Gen. Deans Regiments who fell to scouring the hedges which the enemy had lined and beat them from hedge to hedge and being seconded by a fresh supply after about an hours sharp dispute the enemy was forced to give ground and fly to Powick Bridge where with about three Regiments more they maintained another hot dispute but at length quitted their ground also and ran into Worcester except some that were taken After which renewing their courage they drew out what Horse and Foot they could on the Generals side thinking most of his Army had been on the other side making a bold and resolute sally whereby the Generalls men were forced a little to retire but the scales presently turned and in such sort that the enemy was totally routed The Scots routed at Worcester Sept. 3. 1651. both Horse and Foot their Works and Fort-Royall were taken and their Canon turned upon themselves the Town also was straightway entred and sacked most of the Scots Infantry were slain and taken but of their Horse above 3000 escaped of which Col. Barton lying about Bewdly with some Horse and Dragoons took neer upon a thousand Col. Lilburne with the Generalls Regiment of Foot met with the Earl of Derby that lately so narrowly mist his hands with the Earl of Lauderdaile and above an hundred persons of quality more In this engagement and the gleanings thereof there were taken prisoners neer 10000 and about 3000 slain Those of Quality taken were Duke Hamilton Earl Lauderdaile Earl of Rothes Earl of Carnwath Earl of Shrewsbury Sir John Packington Sir Charles Cunningham Sir Ralph Clare Lord Spine Lord Sinclare Earl of Cleveland Earl of Derby Earl of Kelly Col. Graves Mr. Richard Fanshaw Secretary to the Scots King 6 Col. of Horse 13 of Foot 9 Lievt Col. of Horse 8 of Foot 6 Majors of Horse 13 Majors of Foot 37 Capt. of Horse 72 Capt. of Foot 55 Quartermasters of Horse 89 Lievtenants of Foot Major Gen. Pitscotty Major Gen. Montgomery the Lievt Gen. of the Ordnance Adjut Generall of the Foot the Marshall Quartermaster Generall and Waggon-master Generall 76 Cornets of Horse 99 Ensigns of Foot 30 of the Kings Servants 9 Ministers 9 Chirurgions 158 Colours the Kings Standard Coach and Horses with other rich goods and his Collar of SS Many Parties were taken besides in severall other places as Warwickshire Shropshire Lancashire Cheshire Yorkshire c. insomuch that few of that great Body escaped but were either killed or taken Major Generall Massey being sorely wounded surrendred himself to the Countesse of Stamford and by the Lord Grey of Groby her Sonne was secured and sent to London whence in short space he made an escape In another place was taken Major Gen.
Britains Triumphs OR A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE WARRES AND OTHER STATE-AFFAIRS OF Great Britain From the Death of the late KING to the third year of the Government of the LORD PROTECTOR Vide quam repentè tempus res mutat humanas Tempora mutantur nos et mutamur in illis LONDON Printed for Edward Farnham and are to be sold at his Shop in Popes-head-Alley neer Cornhill 1656. that have hapned in this little corner of the Earth for these five years last past which although peradventure they may be imbased by the course and mean allay of this impolisht dresse yet in this as in all other Histories you may find some things which may aut prodesse aut delectare either profit or delight thee One wisely and truely calls History the faithfull preserver of things past and the certain Prophet of things to come First here is related the Fall of one of the mightiest Monarchs in Europe and in him of Monarchy it self with the severall designs and transactions that were set on foot for the instating of his Sonne in the Throne and the fruitlesse events thereof The Conquest of Scotland The Reducing os Ireland The Revolt of the Carybe Islands and the reducing thereof and of the Islands of Scilly Jersey and Man The Breach between England and the Vnited Provinces and all the memorable Sea-fights that ensued thereupon The Dissolution of the commonly called everlasting Parliament The Calling another Assembly or Parliament with the manner and cause of the dissolution thereof The Lord Generall made Lord Protector of the Common-wealth of England c. the Solemnities used therein his Reception and Entertainment in the City of London Other things of lesse moment are interwoven and promiscuously mingled up and down the Book as the nature thereof requireth And further finding thy kind acceptance of the first Impression it hath enboldened me to bring down the Story of all the Warres and other memorable things of Britain to the third year of the Protector all which as to matter and form I leave to thy Impartiall judgement there to be arraigned and condemned according to the nature of the offence and withall I request thee that with patience thou wilt passe by such faults as have escaped the Presse whether verball syllabicall or literall and so farewell A COMPENDIOUS NARRATIVE of the most Important Affairs of Great Britain from the death of the late KING to the third year of the Government of his Highness the Lord Protector AS to the external Causes of the many evils and miseries wherewith this Nation hath been afflicted for these few years past much might be said but the chief I have reduc'd to the following Heads The first and generall Cause was the Sins of the People who taking a surfet of ease plenty and pleasure and growing wanton thereby gazed after novelty that magneticall attraction of the Plebeian rout and as discontented with their present condition sought felicity in things they wanted Malv Rom. and were still unsatisfied even in the accomplishment thereof whence is occasioned the hatred of tranquillity the desire of motion the loathing of present things and seeking after future Another principal Cause was the lamentable corruptions of the Court not inferior in vice to the most infamous Court in Europe not excelling in any thing that might be called vertuous but inur'd themselves to a soft and luxurious life abounding in all manner of voluptuous and effeminate pleasures rejecting the more noble dictates of nature and grace not atchieving any one enterprize that might render them either feared abroad or loved at home but still wanting fuell for the fire of their prodigality daily invented some new and indirect courses and wayes to torment the people whose jealousies and fears encreasing with their grievances brought forth a most bloudy and intestine warre which ended not but in the subversion of Church and State as then established viz. Episcopacy and Monarchy the head of both being cut off and the bodies discomfited And though the King was judged to be the Patron of those many innovations and miscarriages that befell the Church and Common-wealth yet I am fully perswaded they proceeded not from the depravedness of his will but the flexibility of his nature overwhelm'd by his pernicious Councell by which he seem'd of a lesser magnitude then otherwise he would have done yet was he not the worst although the most unfortunate of Princes and in him ended Monarchy but not the miseries of these Nations for after some years civil and yet unnaturall warre betwixt King and Parliament they at length terminated in the vanquishing of his Armies the surprizall captivity and death of his person upon a scaffold before his Palace of White-Hall Jan. 30th 1648. The third and last Cause which I shall mention though not the least was the Pride Avarice Ambition and slothfulnesse of the Clergy who not only starv'd their flocks by withholding the spirituall food of their souls but also tormented their bodies by exhausting and sucking their bodily substance insomuch that the Nation groaned under the burden of their abominable corruptions who should have been the examples and leading-cards of piety and sanctity yet did the popular fury contribute more to the confusion of their Hierarchy then all their Crime put together nor were they cry'd down with more heat then afterwards cry'd up verifying that of the Poet Quid populi tibi voce places Mori Epigr saepe optima caecus Dat vitio temerè deteriora probat Having now hinted out unto you the Causes of our Warres and the distractions that followed the beginning progresse and conclusion thereof to the beheading of the King being accurately and briefly described by another hand I shall proceed to that which remains May 's Brev. No sooner was this mighty Prince bereaved of his life and dignity in such sort as is before related bnt Monarchy the darling of the multitude was voted chargeable unnecessary and uselesse and the Government was resolved into that of a Common-wealth Yet this mutation hapned-not for want of such as by a lineall descent and according to the usage of this Nation might pretend a Title to the Crown for there was a plentifull Issue of the late King both Male and Female then surviving but from some other politicall reasons best known to the then swaying Powers the which added and ministred hopes equal to the discontents of the people Now Charles though eldest Son of the late King inherited little save the misfortunes of his Father and what else he could chaulk out with his Sword yet his greatest hopes and expectations were from Ireland where the severall factions united proclaimed him King and bent their whole strength against the Interest of the Commonwealth of England and in short space became so formidable and prevail'd so much that they possest all the strong holds of that Country Dublin and Londonderry excepted both which were straitly besieged the former by an Army of 22000.
go out nor come in nor get together in any one Port whereby to unite and get to a head in which condition I shal for the present leave them Gen. Cromwell and his Councell of Officers having finished their consultations and resolutions about those Persons to whom the Legislative Power of the Nation was to be committed Warrants were issued out to each person so chosen in the three Nations to appear at the Councel-Chamber at Whitehall July 4. 1653. a Copy whereof followes FOr as much as upon the dissolution of the late Parliament it became necessary that the peace safety and good government of this Commonwealth should be provided for and in order thereunto divers persons searing God and of approved fidelity and honesty are by my self with the advice of my Councel of Officers nominated to whom the great charge and trust of so weighty affairs is to be committed And having good assurance of your love to and courage for God and the Interest of his Cause and the good people of this Commonwealth I Oliver Cromwell Captain Generall and Commander in chief of all the Armies and Forces raised and to be raised within this Commonwealth do hereby summon and require you being of the Persons nominated personally to be and appear at the Councel-chamber commonly known or called by the name of the Councel-chamber at White-Hall within the City of Westminster upon the 4 day of July next ensuing the date hereof and then and there to take upon you the said trust unto which you are hereby called and appointed to serve as a Member for the County of _____ And hereof you are not to faile Given under my hand and Seal the _____ day of June 1653. O. Cromwell July 4. The severall Members met accordingly in the Councel-Chamber where was the Lord Gen. Cromwell and many of his Officers about him who standing up made an excellent usefull and seasonable Speech unto them recounting the many wonderfull mercies of God towards this Nation and the continued series of providences by which he had appeared in carrying on this Cause and bringing affairs into the present condition He set forth likewise the progresse of affairs since the famous victory at Worcester as also the actings of the Army thereupon after divers applications to the Parliament and much waiting upon them with the grounds and necessity of their dissolving the late Parliament which he declared to be for the preservation of this Cause and the interest of all honest men who have been engaged therein He in like manner held forth the cleernesse of the call given to the Members then present to take upon them the supreme Authority and from the Scriptures exhorted them to their duties and encouraged them therein He further defired them that a tendernesse might be used towards all conscientious persons of what judgement soever Which having ended his Excellency produced an Instrument under his own hand and Seal whereby he did with the advice of his Officers devolve and intrust the Supreme Authority and Government of this Commonwealth into the hands of the Persons there met Who or any forty of them are to be held and acknowledged the Supreme Authority of the Nation unto whom all persons within the same and the territories thereunto belonging are to yeeld obedience and subjection And that they sit no longer then the 3d. of Novemb. 1654. And three moneths before thein dissolution they were to make choice of other Persons to succeed them who were not to sit above a twelvemoneth and then to take care for a succession in Government Which Instrument being delivered to the Members his Lordship commended them to God and with his Officers withdrew From thence the Members adjourned forthwith to the old Parliament House and there sate de die in diem About this time John Lilburne of whom I have already made mention being a few moneths before banished the Land by an Act of the foregoing Parliament for certain crimes laid to his charge took occasion upon this change of Government to come into England and cast himself upon his Excellency the Lord Generall Cromwell craving his protection in several publick addresses who unwilling to interpose or meddle with affairs of that nature left him to the Law in somuch that he was commited to Newgate and the next Sessions or Gaol-delivery John Lilburn tried at the Sessions in the Old Baily he was brought to triall in the Old-Baily July 13. but nothing was done that day save that Councell was assigned him according to his demand July 14. he was again brought to the Barre but refused to put in his Plea unless he might have a copy of his Indictment which was at length granted him July 15. he appeared at the Barre again but little was done that day July 16. he appeared and delivered in divers Exceptions to the Bill of Indictment which were signed by his Councel and received by the Court which day the Sessions ended so that the businesse was put off to the next Sessions Aug. 13. he appeared before the Bench again and put in an Exception demanding an Oyer of the Judgement given against him in Parliament as well as of the Act grounded thereupon Aug. 16. he appeared again the Point argued on both sides but nothing more was done that day Aug. 20. he was again brought before the Court where he joyned issue and pleaded not guilty whereupon a Jury was impannel'd and Witnesses examined to make good the Charge as also Witnesses on the behalf of the Prisoner who in making his defence held the Court severall hours and in answer thereunto the Councel for the Common-wealth were also heard The Jury having the Charge after hearing the whole businesse withdrew Is quitted by the Jury and about twelve of the clock that night delivered up their Verdict That they found him Not guilty whereupon he was sent back to Newgate and soon after was from thence sent to the Tower where he yet remains Thus you see what endeavours were used to rid the Nation of this inconsiderable fellow by Tryals Banishment and what not but hitherto in vain when as many a gallant Heart farre transcending him in birth and parts have fallen by the sword of Justice in the twinkling of an eye But it may be God hath reserved him to be a greater plague to this Nation whose heart I fear is the seed-plot of sedition and division True it is he is a man of a penetrating judgement quick wit and voluble tongue bold and confident in all his undertakings he is likewise peevish and passionate out of measure affects popularity and is of an implacable spirit not to be appeased but with the bloud of his adversaries Nor can I deny but some of those things he aimed at were honest and usefull for the people but he steered not the right course to attain those ends The condition of the English affairs in Scotland was now much after this sort The state of Scotland although the