Scotland much revived their drooping Spirits for winter being over they fram'd an Ordinance that Sir William Brereton in Cheshire should have authority to take Subscriptions for raising more forces in that County and soon after imposed a new Excise upon Allom Coperas Monmouth-caps Hats of all sorts Hops Saffron Starch all manner of Silks and Stuffs and on several other commodities made or growing in England not formerly charged And having by their many and great grievous Taxes thus largely provided for welcoming in the Scots those their dear Brethren advanced Southwards and with the Earl of Manchester laid siege to the City of York The loss of all the North being by this means thus in great peril and Prince Rupert coming with the chief of all His Majesties forces to the relief thereof he was encountred with the greatest strength that the English Rebels then had the joynt forces under the command of Ferdinando Lord Fairfax and the Earl of Manchester with the whole Scottish Army commanded by Leslley which drew off from their siege of York whereupon in a bloudy Battle fought at Marston-moore about four miles from that City though at first he utterly routed the Scots and the Earl of Manchester yet following the chase too far presuming the day his own through the onely conduct of Cromwell then Lieutenant General to Manchester with a fresh body of Horse the rest of the royal Army after a valiant and â—harp dispute being much over-powered was totally shattered and vanquisht So that he was constrain'd to quit the field and march Southwards with what Horse he had left exposing York hopeless of relief to the power of the Enemy which by reason thereof was delivered up to Cromwell within few days after But of this fatal Action the King then far remote knowing nothing at present His royal Heart incessantly minding the preservation of his people from further spoil by the wars sent to the Members at Westminster desiring as formerly that they would appoint such and so many persons as they should think fit sufficiently authorized by them to attend him upon safe-conduct given and there to conclude how all things in question might be fully setled Which gracious Message though not then regarded so much were they elated with that their success at Marston-moore yet after that grand defeat of their old General the Earl of Essex in Cornwal which hapned on the first of September next following His Majesty then reminding them of that his Message from Evesham they did vouchsafe within two months following to send him certain propositions but such as did still apparently manifest their confidence to carry on the work by power through the ayd of the Scots with whom they had entred into so firm a combination for assistance by their solemn League and Covenant For by these propositions amongst others they had the boldness to make these following Demands viz. that the King should swear to sign that Instrument called the solemn League and Covenant adding according to the example of His Royal Father of happy memory for so they had the face to say though Mr. Nye had exprest that it was such an Oath as for matter persons and other circumstances was never in any age before And not onely so but that an Act of Parliament might be passed for to injoyne the taking of it by all His Majesties Subjects within His three Kingdomes Next that a Bill should be passed for the utter abolishing of Episcopacy without which Goverment it is well known that no National Church ever was since the Apostles times And that their Ordinance for the calling and sitting of their Assembly of Divines should be confirm'd by Act of Parliament Also that an Act should be passed for confirming their Treaty for bringing in the Scots-Army into England and for establishing that their disloyal Declaration made by themselves and the Scots bearing date 30. Ian. 1643. whereby Prince Rupert and Prince Maurice His Majesties Nephews Iames Earl of Derby William Marquess of Newcastle Iohn Earl of Bristol with divers other of his Nobility the Archbishop of Canterbury and Bishop of Ely then their prisoners with a multitude of other worthy persons both of this Kingdome and of Scotland were excepted as to life and their estates doom'd to pay publick Debts Likewise that a great number more whose names are there exprest together with all those Loyal Members of Parliament which attended his Majesty at Oxford should be removed from His Majesties Councils and never to come within the Verge of the Court but by their permission Then that all Judges Serjeants Councellors Attorneys Doctors Advocates and Proctors in the Law-common or Civil who had adhered to the King should be made uncapable of any practice publick or private and all Clergy-men whatsoever who had also adhered to the King to be incapable of any preferment or imployment in the Church or Common-wealth Moreover that the Forces by Sea and Land for the Kingdomes of England and Scotland should be setled by Act of Parliament in Commissioners nominated by both their Houses of Parliament and that the education and marriage of the King's children as also the making Peace or War with any forreign Princes should be with the advice and consent or Parliament Furthermore that by Act of Parliament the Deputy or chief Governour of Ireland be nominated by both Houses of Parliament and in the Intervals of Parliament by Commissioners to continue during the pleasure of both Houses And that the Lord Chancellour Lord Keeper Lord Treasurer Commissioners of the great Seal or Treasury Lord Warden of the Cinque-ports Chancellour of the Exchequer and Dutchy Secretaries of State Judges of both Benches and Barons of the Exchequer for the Kingdomes of England and Ireland should be nominated by both Houses of Parliament to continue quamdiu se benè gesserint and in the Intervals of Parliament by the before-mention'd Commissioners The like for the Kingdome of Scotland adding the Justice-general and in such manner as the Estates in Parliament there should think fit Divers other Propositions also they then sent no less unreasonable than these which for brevities sake I omit So that in short the summe of all was no less than that His Majesty should condescend to the utter destruction and overthrow of the Religion by Law established in the Church of England which he had sworn to maintain and whereunto all the reverend Clergy of the Realm had likewise subscribed sacrifice the Lives and Estates of divers of his most faithful subjects to the avarice and ambition of these men subject all those loyal persons learned in the Laws Common and Civil to their malice Give up the power of the Sword totally into the hands of his greatest Enemies therewith not onely to oppress his good subjects at home but according to their own pleasure to molest and annoy his Friends and Allies abroad and prostitute the Education of his dear
the better of the day viz. in the Fight at Bramden Heath near Ailesford in Hantshire where Sir William Waller worsted the Lord Hopton the Lord Iohn Stuart being there mortally wounded In the Battle at Marston-moore in Yorkshire the victory was chiefly gain'd by the valour and skilfull conduct of Cromwel Lieutenant general to the Earl of Manchester as hath been already observed with the Earl of Manchester's Horse in the left Wing drawn out of the Eastern association shortly after which the City of York was delivered up to him on honorable terms by Sir Thomas Glemham then Governour there And in October Newcastle after a long siege of many months given up to the Scots In which month happened also the second Battel at Newbery in Berkshire where great slaughter was on both sides In which it was observed that none of the Rebels fought more fiercely than those who at the delivering up their Arms in Cornwal as hath heen already mentioned did then engage never more to fight against the King Upon the ill success of this Battel for so the members at Westminster esteem'd it the Parliament party having double in number to the King it was that the Earl of Essex their General became suspected of carelesness or discontent so that much debate happened amongst them concerning that point The Independent party therefore having a design to be rid of him to make the more specious ostentation that all their Actions wholly tended to the Glory of God and the publick good and nothing to their private Interest being then more predominant than the Presbyterian prevailed in making a Vote that no Member of either House should during that war enjoy or execute any office or command Military or Civil which had been granted or conferred on them by either House or by any authority derived from either House and that an Ordinance should be drawn up accordingly By which device that party did not only lay aside this their great General but outed many eminent Presbyterians from divers beneficiall offices both in the Treasury Garisons and other considerable imployments placing in their stead those of their own party Whereupon Sir Thomas Fairfax was constituted General of all their forces and a new modelling of the Army voted but with no small difficulty the Presbyterians much opposing it so that the Independents were necessitated to make use of their old trick in getting petitions out of several Counties ere their Ordinance to that purpose could pass In pursuance of which vote his Commission but the clause in the solemn League and Covenant for preservation of his Majesties person omitted therein Sir Thomas Fairfax with great formality received Col. Oliver Cromwell though a member of the House of Commons being then made his Lieutenant general with whom they did specially dispense in that point of Self-denial Which being accomplish'd and the whole party not a little elated by this second Invasion of the Scots to their aid they began to cry aloud for Justice upon delinquents whereupon Sir Alexander Carew one of the Knights of the Shire for Cornwall tasted sharply thereof For this Sir Alexander having been a most confiding man and in that respect constituted Governour of Plymouth-fort at length discerning the greatest part of the West reduced to his Majesties obedience began rationally to consult his own safety and to make his peace with the King by the delivering up of that strong hold but his intention therein being discovered before the business could be fully effected he was condemn'd to death by a Council of War held at Guild-Hall in London and on the twenty third of December beheaded on Tower Hill with the very same Ax by which the noble Earl of Strafford lost his life Which notable accident is not fit to pass without a special remark for most certain it is that upon voting the Bill in the House of Commons for putting that great man to death the most Loyal Sir Bevill Grenevile the other Knight for Cornwall sitting by Sir Alexander and much abhorring that unjust procedure against a person whose life the known Laws of the Land could not touch express'd himself thus to Sir Alexander Pray Sir let it never be said that any Member of our County should have a hand in this fatal business and therefore pray ye give your vote against the Bill To whom Sir Alexander instantly replyed If I were sure to be the next man that should suffer upon the same Scaffold with the same Ax I would give my consent to the passing of it How exactly this was verified is sufficiently known Nor is it less worthy of note that about this time also they reckoned with their trusty Governour of Hull Sir Iohn Hothum and likewise with Iohn his eldest son who had been Prisoners in the Tower of London from the month of Iuly 1643. though formerly much magnified for refusing to give the King entrance there as hath been already observed whose great crimes were that when they discern'd the Earl of Newcastle powerfull in the North the Queen also safe landed at Burlinton with Arms and Ammunition and the strength of the Rebels not a little declining in all parts and therefore deeming it best to make their peace with the King in time they privately treated with the Earl of Newcastle or his Agents for the delivery up of that Garison but so unwarily as that their design was discovered whereupon they had sentence of death passed upon them on the seventh of December by the Earl of Manchester and others then sitting at Guild-Hall in London which was accordingly executed on his son upon the first of Ianuary next ensuing and on himself the morrow following And not many days after being thus flesht with bloud they brought the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury to the same block as hath been already observed Soon after which the Tide running swiftly on their side Shrewsbury was surprized by their forces nothing of moment thenceforth being acted by the Royallists other than a defeat which Colonel Massey received by Prince Rupert near Ledbury in Herefordshire and the taking of Leicester by the King which proved fatal to him as we shall see anon all going thenceforth to wrack on his Majesties part For at the very entrance of this year Donington-castle was yielded up to them Soon after which Cromwel having defeated some of the King's forces near Iâ—ip-bridg in Oxford shire and upon summons got Blechington house within few weeks after General Fairfax came with his whole Army before Oxford whereupon Godstow house was quitted by the Royallists Evesham in Worcestershire taken and Gaunt-house in Oxfordshire yieldded up All this while Fairfax continuing before Oxford but hearing that the King was somewhat considerable after the taking of Leicester he raised his siege and march'd towards him Both Armies therefore meeting near Navesby in Northampton shire upon their first encounter
distance from his Majestie 's Royal presence Declaring likewise to the whole world that they still were and resolved to remain in their zeal as fervent to the Parliament as ever And according to the Covenant did next under God rely upon the Wisdome and Justice of the Parliament for settlement of their Peace and Prosperity And discerning the Independent-party of the Souldiery beginning to be then predominant had drawn the Army neerer to the City of London than the Grandees at Westminster did well like it was by them farther petitioned that the Army might be forthwith removed and with all convenient speed disbanded As also that the Court of Common-Council might have authority to elect Members for the Militia of the City in pursuance of a former Petition of theirs to that purpose Whereupon after much debate and quick dispute the Presbyterean-party in the House being at that time most numerous it was resolved that the whole Army Horse and Foot should be disbanded onely five thousand Horse one thousand Dragoons and some few Fire-locks to be continued in pay for the safety of this Kingdome and some to be sent for Ireland Which vote so awakened the Souldiery that no less than eight Regiments of Horse soon sent up a Counter-Petition to the Parliament wherein they give reasons why they could not engage in the service of Ireland for thither 't was resolved they should go upon their disbanding and complained of many scandalous suggestions which had been raised against them and their proceedings as also that they saw designes put upon them and upon many of the Godly party in the Kingdome Signifying likewise that they could not engage for Ireland till they were satisfied in their expectations and their just desires granted But these things as yet being not publickly insisted on nor own'd by any other than the common Souldiers it was ordered that Major-General Skyppon Lieutenant-General Cromwell Commissary-General Ireton and Colonel Fleetwood should be speedily sent down to the Army to acquaint them that there should be a considerable sum of money provided for them before their disbanding and that their Accompts should be audited as also an Act of Indemnity for all the mischeif they had done in the time of warr it being expected that this bountiful and gracious offer would quiet their stirring Spirits and incline them to submit tamely to the pleasure of their great Masters And so confident at that time were the Presbyterean-party in the two Houses at Westminster to baffle their Independent offspring by this artifice of disbanding the Army that to make room for them in Ireland upon their riddance here they fram'd an Ordinance for clearing that Kingdome of those Scottish forces which were then imploy'd there as Auxiliaries against the Irish-Rebels And soon after did accordingly order that the Army should be disbanded beginning first with the General 's Regiment then at Chelmesford in Essex and that so many of them as would engage for Ireland should be presently taken on and a fortnights pay advanced to them together with two months pay of their arrears The like for the rest of the Army at their respective Rendevouzes But whilst these now distinct parties of Godly men were thus striving for Masteries the King who still was kept at Holdenby under a most deplorable restraynt and the whole Kingdome under grievous oppressions finding no sense at all in them neither of His nor his peoples miseries sent his sixteenth Message wherein complaining of his disconsolate condition there his Servants being denyed access to him none admitted to bring or receive any Letters from him nor any other but the Parliaments Commissioners who were then his Spyes as well as Guardians to converse with him by which means he was not Master of those ordinary Actions which are the undoubted right of every free-born-man how mean soever and so not qualified to make any concessions nor give Answers as himself did then most rationally observe yet so much was he desirous of peace that unto those Propositions which they sent to him at Newcastle when he was in custody of the Scots viz. 25. Iune An. 1646. and whereupon he then gave a general Answer with desire to be admitted to treat personally with them at Westminster that presuming they might insist upon the same still he did then by this his 16th Message as to Religion offer to confirm the Presbyterean-government the Assembly of Divines at Westminster and the Directory for three years being the time required by those Propositions so that himself and his Houshold were not hindred from that order in Gods service which they had formerly used Offering that a free consultation should be had with those their Divines at Westminster twenty of his own nomination being added thereto whereby it might be determined what Government in the Church should be after those three years But as to the Covenant he told them that he was not satisfied therein desiring that upon his admission to London he might be assisted with the advice of such of his own Chaplains and other Divines as he should think fit to consult with farther signifying to them that the Militia by Sea and Land in case it were onely as a security for preservation of the peace of his Kingdome after due performance of all other Agreements then to be considered of should be for the space of ten years in the hands of such persons as the two Houses should nominate And as to the prosecution of the War in Ireland other things being agree'd he would give them satisfaction therein those being the most material of these Propositions But to be short the guilt of these men being like that of Cain greater than in their own opinion could ever be forgiven they still cryed out that His Majesty was averse to peace and never yet pleased to accept of any tender fit for them to make nor to offer any fit for them to receive And their preachers were still taught to pray that God would incline the King's Heart to come to His Parliament ¶ Leaving His Majesty therefore out of all hopes to obtain any good by these his earnest and incessant Messages I now return to the Grandees of the Army who had about this time a considerable Game to play the most active of them being then become Independent whose main work was to avoid disbanding yet not to be seen therein in the least manner themselves To which end as at the first beginning of this woful Rebellion the rabble and baser sort of people in Scotland were piped up by the zealous Kirkmen to lead on the Dance the Gentry next and Nobility last as they discern'd the way following after the same Musick So were the Common-souldiers here taught to appear in opposition to those Orders of the Parliament whereupon at Bury in Suffolk in the first place they alledg'd that they were at that time no less than fifty six weeks pay in arreare so
voting in their old companions called the Eleven impeached Members Next setting up a Committee of Safety enabling them to joyne with the Committee of the restored City-Militia and giving them power to list and raise forces appoint Commanders and Officers and issue forth Arms and Amunition for defence of both Houses and the City against all that should invade them And in the neck of these Votes came out a Declaration of the City which the Lords and Commons then sitting at Westminster ordered to be published throughout all England and Wales wherein after a large preamble they went on thus We do in the presence of Almighty-God profess that there is nothing in the world that we more desire than that His Majesty may be put and left free in such an honourable condition and capacity as his person may appear to be at Liberty to receive and treat upon such Propositions as shall be presented unto him from the Parliaments of both Kingdomes for our Consciences tell us that whilst his royal person is environ'd by an Army and remains under the power thereof we cannot expect that either His Majestie 's Princely Heart can give that free assent unto those things which shall be propounded unto him as is requisite or if he do cannot hope with good reason that we and our posterity shall without alteration enjoy the same And therefore we are resolved earnestly yet with humility to apply our selves to the Parliament to this purpose and hope that all good Subjects who are touched with any sense of that duty and allegiance which by the Law of God and man they owe unto the King will unanimously joyn with us therein We cannot omit also to declare unto the Kingdome how we have sadly observed since the Eleven accused Members withdrew themselves and that the Army hath daily grown upon the Parliament that a great and considerable number of other Members of the House of Commons have also retired themselves to the endangering of the Kingdom which never more needed a full Council And therefore we shall make our speedy address to the honourable House of Commons to call in all the Members of their House residing in the Army or retired to their dwellings by leave of the House or otherwise And we shall particularly insist upon the readmission of the Eleven Members lately driven out of the House of Commons by the violent pursuit of the Army contrary to the sense of the same House the Law of the Land and the Priviledges of Parliament wherein also we are confident all good English-men and Lovers of their Country will adhere unto them and us c. And we declare that we sincerely desire an happy and speedy Peace by the settlement of true Religion in this Kingdome by re-establishing His Majesty in his just Rights and Authority by upholding all lawful Priviledges of a free Parliament by maintaining the Fundamental Laws of the Land by restoring and securing the Subject unto and in his just liberty and property and by freeing the long oppressed Kingdome of all Taxes and enforced free Quarter towards the maintenance of an Army which of a long time hath had no visible Enemy to encounter And from this Resolution by the blessing of God we shall never recede for any earthly consideration or advantage whatsoever But whilst the Citizens were thus Declaring and the Members very busy at Westminster the Fugitives for so they then call'd them that were fled to the Army were not idle at Windsor for there they sate in consultation with the Council of War and signed an Engagement to live and dye with General Fairfax and the Army under his Command as also a Remonstrance shewing the grounds of their intended advance towards London Declaring against the choyce of the new Speaker at Westminster and that as things then stood there was no free-Parliament sitting being through the violence done on the twenty sixth of Iuly before wholy suspended as also that whatsoever Orders or Votes had passed since that time they should be null and void and not at all submitted unto With the Army thus marching towards the City also joyned the Trayned Bands of some Countries viz. Kent Essex and Surrey which put the Covenanting Brethren into such dreadful apprehensions and pannick fears as that they often sent Commissioners to mediate for peace but could obtain no other terms than that they must desert the Members sitting at Westminster as also the Eleven formerly impeached Moreover that they should call in their Declaration then newly printed and published Relinquish the Militia Deliver up all their Forts and Line of Communication to the Army together with the Tower of London and all the Magazines of Armes therein Disband all their Forces Turn all the Reformados out of the Line withdraw all their Guards from the Houses Receive such Guards of Horse and Foot within the Line as the Army should appoint to guard the Houses Demolish their works and suffer the whole Army to march in triumph through the City Unto all which they forthwith tamely yielded as may seem from those poor pittiful abject and slavish Expressions made by the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Common-Council then sent to General Fairfax in these words And forasmuch as we observe that the chief cause which hath drawn you Excellency and your Army thus near the City is to bring home those noble and honourable Memebers of both Houses who because of the Tumults at Westminster the twenty sixth past have retired themselves to the end they may by you be placed in safety and in a free-Parliament at Westminster we chearfully and heartily joyne with your Excellency therein and according as we shall find directions from your Excellency they shall find all ports and passes open to receive you and them and also such Guards of two or three Regiments as you Excellency shall think fitting for their conduct to the two Houses of Parliament And the Parliament being set with Peace and Safety we shall humbly submit to their direction what forces of yours and ours to continue for their future Guard in which service we humbly offer the whole strength of this City Whereupon on Hounslow Heath the Army drew up in Batalia there being present the Earls of Northumberland Salisbury Kent and Moulgrave the Viscount Say and Sele the Lord Gray of Werke the Lord Howard of Escrick and Lord Wharton the Speaker also of the House of Commons and about one hundred Members of that House Where the Common-Souldiers were taught to make great Shouts and cry Lords and Commons and a free-Parliament From whence upon the sixth of August the General brought the fugitive Members with a strong party to the Parliament House the two Pallace-yards being filled with armed Guards and double Files placed throughout Westminster-Hall to the stairs of the House of Commons and so through the Court of Requests to the Lords House put the Speakers in their respective chayrs and set
Dorset 55. Mr. Philip Warwick Likewise after the Lords had passed their Votes therein was not their House called to find out which of them had not given their Votes thereunto And was not Mr. Gervase Hollies Burgess for Grymesby in Lincoln-shire expelled the House for his free Speech against the Scots propositions for the altering of our Church-Government Also the Lord Digby's Speech against the Bill for the Earl of Strafford's Attainder Voted to be burnt by the common Hangman Mr. Taylor Burgess of Windsore Expell'd for speaking his mind against the same and Mr. Geffrey Palmer Burgess of Stamford Committed for speaking against the Printing of that Scandalous Declaration called the Grand-Remonstrance Were not Multitudes brought down to Westminster even to the Doors of the Parliament many of them Weaponed by the Instigation of Captain Venn then a Member of the House of Commons who by Notes under his hand Sollicited them in these expressions That the better sort were like to be over-powred by the worser And did not those tumultuous People cry loud for Iustice against the Earl of Strafford saying down with the Bishops aspersing also divers of the Peers by name for evil and Rotten-hearted Lords And notwithstanding that the Lords by several Messages desired the House of Commons to join with them in a Declaration against those Tumults did not they refuse or neglect to do it Mr. Pym plainly saying in the House God forbid we should dishearten our Friends who came to assist us And when his Majesty by a Legal Writ upon the Statute for Suppressing of Tumults setled a Guard at Westminster was it not Voted a Breach of their Priviledges Moreover was not there a Petition Exhibited to the House of Commons in the Name of many Thousands of poor People in and about the City of London taking notice of a Malignant Faction which made Abortive all their good Motions Desiring that those Noble Worthies of the House of Peers who concurred with them in their happy Votes might be earnestly desired to join with that Honourable House and to sit and Vote together as one entire Body And professing that unless some speedy Remedy were taken for the removing of all such Obstacles as hindred the happy Progress of their great endeavour the Petitioners should not rest in quietness but should be forc'd to lay hold on the next Remedy at hand to remove the Disturbers of their Peace And Want and Necessity breaking the Bounds of Modesty not to leave any means unessayed for their Relief Adding that the cry of the Poor and Needy was that such persons who were the Obstacles of their peace and the hinderers of the happy proceedings of that Parliament might be forthwith publickly declared whose removal would put a period to those Distractions Which Petition being brought up by the House of Commons unto the Lords at a conference a Member of the Commons by a Message pressed the Lords at their Barr to joyn with them in their desire about the Militia expressing That if their desire were not assented to those Lords who were willing to concur would find some means to make themselves known that it might be seen who were against them to the end they might notifie it unto those which sent them To proceed Was not the Duke of Richmond Voted by the Commons an evil Councellor to his Majesty one of the Malignant-Party and not fit to bear Office or place of Trust and that consideration should be had of drawing up a Charge against him and all this for no other than moving in the House of Lords that the Parliament might be Adjorn'd for six Months And Mr. Gamull Burgess for the City of Chester told him that if he left not the Town speedily he should be Committed to the Tower or knockt on the head by the Souldiers And when an Order was reported to be confirm'd by the House hath it not been only put to the Question without any debate thereon and publickly said in the House to those who have taken Exceptions thereat that they were only to Vote and not to Dispute Was not Sir Ralph Hopton Committed to the Tower for speaking against that Declaration of March the Second Also Serjeant Hide Voted to be Expelled and Committed to the Tower for not Publishing the Order of the House as Recorder of Salisbury And Sir Sidney Montague Expelled the House for refusing to take the Protestation to Live and Dye with the Earl of Essex Did they not Impeach and Commit divers Lords to the Tower for not Concurring with them in these their Irrational and most Unjust Doings And when it was moved that they might be Bailed was it not answered That there would be no Sitting for them if those Lords were Released and Restored to the freedom of their Votes again And when the Members of the House of Commons had upon a solemn Debate agreed to join with the Lords in sending Propositions for Peace to his Majesty were there not Printed Papers the next day scattered in the Streets and fixed upon Posts in publick places in the City and Suburbs requiring all Well-Affected persons to rise as one Man and to come to the House of Commons next Morning for that Twenty thousand Irish Rebels were Landed And was not Direction and Information given in the Pulpits by their Seditious-Preachers and in some of those Papers Exprest that the Malignant Party had over-Voted the good and if not prevented there would be Peace The Propositions for Peace the Day before being carried by twenty nine Voices Whereupon multitudes by the Instigation of Alderman Pennington came in a most tumultuous manner with Threats and Menaces to divers of the Members of both Houses and said that their Petition tooke notice of Propositions passed by the Lords for Peace which if allowed would be destructive to Religion Laws and Liberties many of them telling the Members that if they had not a good Answer they would be there the next Day with double the Number Again when it was moved that the two Sir Iohn Evelins should be Discharg'd from Prison being Members of the House and thereupon the House dividing LXXI standing for their Enlargement and LXV against it were not divers called out of the Committee-Chamber who neither heard the Debate nor Vote and because the LXXI Opposed their entrance did not the LXV prohibit the Speaker to pronounce any Order therein Lastly did not the Commons Vote that the Committee of both Kingdoms should proceed as they did for three Months longer though the Lords refused to consent thereto Many more Instances of this nature might be given but I shall for brevities sake pass them by and descend to some where the Lords after they had freely passed their Votes were by the prevalent Party in the House of Commons contrary to all course and usage in Parliament constrain'd to yield unto what they had upon free and serious
for that end promising to refer all difference to his Holiness Which when the Legate moved to the Duke of Maine he refused to hearken to it alledging it to be but a shift of the King to gain time in regard he found himself at present unprovided and unarmed All hopes of accommodation therefore fayling the King being persuaded that he had used all means possible on his part and that not without descending far below the honour of his person began to alter his Opinion And to the end he might not be surprized without assistance by the Power of his Enemies the urgency of his necessities constraining him perforce to look about for some Supplies he began to hearken to an accord with the King of Navarre a Professed Protestant Certain it is that in his own Inclination he was ever averse from such an accord his nature being incompatible with all Commerce with the Huguenots But there being an evident necessity that he could not then do otherwise all his Councillers with one voice told him he must needs resolve and side with one Party unless he would stand alone in the midst of his Potent Enemies one on one side the Loyre and the other on the other side having possess'd themselves of all What Moneys what Friends what Armies what Forces had he sufficient to grapple with such Factions at the same time T is clear which way soever he could turn himself he must have one Enemy before his Face and another behind his back His Kingdom also being divided and Forrein Princes likewise divided betwixt two Religions he a new Example should have both averse both Enemies to him would he continue in this distraction without Forces without Moneys While one side Invades one part another side another part of the Regal Authority He is now what he was always affraid of in the midst of two Violent Torrents He did as much as man could do for Peace He forgot his own Honour to be reconcil'd with the Seditious and gave the Rebels and Despisers of his Authority that satisfaction which they little deserved With unheard of Patience he endured all the Injuries of the People the Invectives of their Preachers the Villanous Insolencies of the Factious Commons and the bold Decrees of the Sorbon submitting his Royal Majesty to the inordinate desires of the Reliques of the Guises He did that which never King before him would have endured to have done What could he do more unless to please the Spaniards he would patiently wait without providing any defence till he were miserably torn in Pieces by his Enemies and the like outrages Committed upon his Person as had been already done to his Statua's both in Paris and Tholouse It is more then time therefore that he shew he hath the Heart of a Lyon and making use of the King of Navarr's Assistance de Inimicis suis vind care Inimicos suos to revenge himself of his Enemies by his Enemies this being no new nor unheard of Course His Brother K Charles many times and himself sometimes when Necessities were less pressing had made Peace with the Huguenots Why should he not therefore seek all just means to restrain the Seditious to recover his own Power and now at last to restore Peace and Rest to his Kingdom Upon this then followed several adverse Declarations of the King 's justifying his own Proceedings The like by the Duke of Mayne in behalf of the League After these Instigations of his Councillers the King beginning to incline to an accommodation with the King of Navarr and the Huguenots Though all his followers desired that he should not come to an accord with them yet such was the obstinacy of the Duke of Mayne and the Leaguers and such the State of the Realm by reason of the present Seditions that none of them could blame him though they all abhorr'd it Seeing therefore that of necessity he must take up some resolution and that his Affairs were in danger of utter ruine if he did not he concluded a Truce for one Year with the King of Navarr upon these Conditions 1. That the publick Exercise of the Catholick Religion should be restored in all places under the Command of the Huguenots without Exception 2. That the Clergy should be restored to their Means and the Prisoners which they had in their hands should be set at Liberty 3. That the King of Navarr should be obliged to serve him in Person with four Thousand Foot and twelve Hundred Horse wheresoever he should be Commanded 4. That all Cities Countries and places of his Party should observe all the Laws and Constitutions of the Kingdom obey the Courts of Justice and the Kings Magistrates and receive such Orders as the King had or should hereafter give them On the other side it was agreed that the King of Navarr should have the City of Samur and keep it as a free pass for him upon the River Loyre but be bound to yield it up again at the Kings Pleasure How fully applicable is this to the Cessation made in Ireland by his Majesty Hereupon the King set forth a Declaration against the Duke of Maine and his Adherents who had caused the Cities to revolt and were then up in Arms intimating to them that if they did not return to their Obedience within the space of XV. days and forbear to trouble the Realm by making Levies as also not lay down Arms they should incurr the Crime of Rebellion and all their Goods be Confiscate Like to this was his Majesties Proclamation against the Earl of Essex from York 9. Aug. 1642. Which Writings were attended with Actions sutable as his Majesty did set on foot his Commissions of Array the King granting out Commissions to several Governours in sundry Provinces for making of Levies and drawing the People together in Arms. Nevertheless he still continued his Inclinations to Peace and having excused the Truce which he was necessitated to make with the King of Navarr and promised to persevere constant in the Catholick Religion he intreated the Pope's Nuncio once more to trye the Mind of the Duke of Maine and by conferring with him in Person to labour him to an Accommodation in regard that neither by the Duke of Loreyne's means to whom he had Written nor the Dutchess of Nemurs who had been imploy'd to that purpose he could at all work upon him to lend the least Ear to any Treaty for Peace And to make it evident to the World how desirous he was to be free'd from the necessity of an accord with the Huguenots he delivered to the Cardinal a Paper Written with his own Hand wherein was contained what things he would be content to grant to them of the League Offring to make the Prince of Loreyne Governour of Metz Tul and Uerdun to Marry the Inheritrix of Bullion with the Cities of Games and Sedan to the Count of Vaudemont To the Duke of Mayne he was content to
yield the Government of the whole Countrey of Burgundy with the nomination of all under-Governours there and that to pass to his Son after him To the young Duke of Guise the Inheritance of Champaine St. Desir and Rocroy for Security of his Person with Thirty Thousand Crowns a Year of Ecclesiastical Revenue for one of his Brothers To the Duke of Nevers the Government of Lyons To the Duke D'Aumarle Saint-Esprit du Rae for his security To make his Brother General of the Foot with Twenty Thousand Franks a Year To the Duke of Elleboef the Government of Poictiers To these and others divers large pensions and preferments so desirous was he to purchace his Peace at any rate Which Propositions were not much unlike his Majesties Instructions to his Commissioners for the Treaty at Uxbridge and wrought as little with the Leaguers But this Paper of the King 's wrought nothing at all the Duke of Mayne meeting with the Legate refusing peremptorily to hearken to any Agreement pretending that he could not accept of any Conditions without calling all the Estates of the League and all the Princes of his Family together to have their Consent Which he said indeed because he thought himself by much Superior in force to the King and because both the King of Spain and the Duke of Savoy had promised to assist him with Men and Money The News of the Truce which the King had made with the King of Navarr no sooner arrived at Paris but 't is incredible what Malice they thereupon conceiv'd against him and all his Followers what exorbitant Demonstrations they made of it even by their publick Ordinances prohibiting any Prayers to be used for him in the Service of the Church as had been ever done for all the Kings of France which the Catholick Church many times and Piety allows particularly on Good-Friday even to Hereticks Idolaters and Infidels Nor is it possible to account the innumerable quantity of Libels Declarations and Pamphlets Printed and Published against him beyond all bounds of Reason and Modesty To conclude the noise of Arms did soon drown that of their Libels and Seditious Sermons And many Battails were Fought in which the King had the better and came Victorious before that proud City of Paris But in the Seige of it he was basely Murthered by Iaques Clement a Dominican Fryer 1. Aug. 1589. After this Untimely Death of that King Henry the 3 d. the Crown of France with its Troubles descended upon the King of Navarr Henry the 4 th Who being acknowledged by the Catholick Nobility in the Camp they swore Allegiance to him he mutually promising to maintain and defend the Catholick Roman-Religion to the utmost of his Power and not to endeavour any alteration in it And likewise to maintain the Priviledges of Parliament the three Estates of France in their wonted Power Priviledges Immunities Prerogatives c. without any prejudice or innovation whatsoever But all this had little Operation on the Leaguers they persisting in their wonted Obstinacy and Rebellion though he omitted not any means to win them to peace and reconcilement For first he sent unto them that Villeroy might come to Treat with him but was refused Then he imploy'd a private Gentleman to Paris to whom the Duke of Maine would not give Audience but appointed that he should deliver his Message to Villeroy Which was that the King had expresly commanded him to assure the Duke of his Majesties good Inclinations to peace as also to represent unto him how necessary it was for the publick good what great account he made of the Dukes person how much he desired to make him his Friend and to have him near at hand that he might afford him an honourable share in his favour sutable to his Condition Likewise that the Duke might then lay aside the vain hopes of seeing the King abandoned by his Subjects considering in what a good condition he did at that time stand Desiring therefore that he would propose some Conditions his Majesty being ready to gratify him in any thing he might This hath somewhat of his Majesties Letter to the Earl of Essex at Lestithiel Whereunto the Sum of the Answer which the Duke gave Commission to be made was in this somewhat more civil than that of the Earl of Essex that he had no private Quarrel with the King whom for his own part he did highly Honour and Reverence but his Religion and his Conscience would not suffer him to enter any Treaty with him For if quoth he my Deceased Brethren took up Armes in the Kings Life time upon a suspition of danger Now that the Necessity is more urgent and the danger present I cannot lay down those Armes which I have taken up without sinning against the Memory of my Deceased Brethren Essex might have urged his Father and my own Conscience and that Solemn Oath which I took the Covenant forsooth That I engaged my Faith and Consecrated my Life to the publick Cause when I accepted the Charge of Lieutenant General of the State and that I could not resolve upon any thing without the publick Convention of all of my Party Some there were who urged this Duke of Mayne to usurp the Title of King of France but others on better grounds dissuaded him The King therefore in these great Distresses Summon'd a general Convnention of the Estates to meet in October at Tours the chief City of his Party But his Army mouldring away and he with those left him not above six Thousand Foot and fourteen Hundred Horse retired to Diepe and there fortifyed Whereupon the Duke of Mayne pursued and put the King in danger but lost the Opportunity of a Victory and at the Battail of Arches was forc't to retreat with loss though his Forces were Superior by much to the Kings Which success in that Battail upon the addition of four Thousand English and a Thousand Scotts then sent to Diepe by Queen Elizabeth so encourag'd the King that he presently Marcht towards Paris and came before it upon the last of October 1589. Which unexpected Approach stroke no small Terror into the Multitude especially the Ladies seeing him come on such a suddain ready to assail that proud City and at a time when they were perswaded he would have had enough to do to defend himself Also that in regard of the weakness of his Forces he would either by that time have been subdued or driven out of the Realm For the Duke of Mayne when he went against the King at Diepe by way of ostentation of his Forces before the People writ to Paris that within a few Days he would either bring the King Prisoner or force him to flye into England with shame enough And now the City not well provided and out of hopes of relief their Mindes were full of Fears and Vexation But upon the Duke of Mayne's Approach the King rose from before Paris having first