committed The Lords Justices Sir William Parsons and Sir John Burlace taking those Arms which they found in Dublin and arming whom they could on a sudden to defend themselves dispatched Letters to the King in Scotland and the Earl of Leicester then chosen Deputy but staying in England Money was wanting and no supplies neerer then England Owen O Conally the first discoverer of the Plot brought the first Letters to London upon receipt of which they rewarded Owen with a gift of 500.l and an annuity of two hundred pounds per annum and presently both Houses of Parliament met at a Conference and the House of Commons forthwith resolved into a Committee to consider of Irelands relief and also to provide for the safety of England for distractions began then to appear in England the Parliament every day considered of Irelands relief and presently ordered supplies of money to be borrowed of the City of London Victuals and Ammunition for that purpose But all relief could be but slow in such a sudden disease For the Rebellion encreased and spread through all the Kingdom and many Papists and ill-affected fled from Dublin into the Country to joyn with the Rebels whilest the City in their rooms was daily filled with poor spoiled Protestants who came naked and famished thither many of them being past relief and there perished in the City It were an endless thing to relate the pitiful condition of those woful people and what sad stories they there told concerning the bloody rage of those inhumane Irish Rebels and several tortures by which the unhappy English were brought to their ends But the Lords of the Councel and Lords Justices in a short time with those Arms of Dublin had armed many well-affected Gentlemen and sent many active Commanders out of the City to defend places neer against the approach of the Rebels About the middle of November were in Arms Sir Charles Coot Sir Henry Tichburn the Lord Lambert Sir Thomas Lucas Capt. Armstrong Capt. Yarner and the Earl of Ormond came to Dublin with an hundred Horse well armed At which time the Parliament of England till greater sums could be raised sent them over as a present comfort twenty thousand pounds But it was a long time before they could send over any forces to the relief of that bleeding Kingdom the first was a Regiment Commanded by Sir Simon Harcourt who arrived on the last of December 1641. While Ireland was thus miserably distressed the King returned out of Scotland into England and was entertained by the City of London with most pompous solemnity the whole multitude of Citizens distinguished by their several Companies in such costly Equipage as never before was known with Horse and Arms met the King and guarded him through the whole City to his Palace at White-hall Some condemned that costly entertainment of the City at such a sad time others hoped it might gain the Kings dubious affection to his people but it wrought a contrary effect in the King who began now to think he could never lose the love of the City whatsoever he did and was flattered by some with a hope that the City would assist him in curbing of the Parliament it self he grew therefore more disdainful toward the Parliament and to endear the City invited divers of the chief to Hampton Court where he feasted them and Knighted some But the honest Citizens perceiving that no good use was made of their dutiful expressions toward the King but that some bad people did openly say that the City were weary of the Parliament and would joyn with the King against it they framed a Petition to the Parliament wherein the contrary is professed and that they would live and die with the Parliament for the good of the Common-wealth While the King remained at Hampton Court the House of Commons presented him with a Remonstrance wherein the Grievances of the Kingdom are expressed but no fault laid upon himself in plain words but a Malignant party as they call them and evil Counsellors Irelands calamities seemed to be quite forgotten or rather that those inhumane Rebels were countenanced every body wondring that the King would not proclaim them Rebels and some honest Lords advising the King to proclaim them speedily that a better course might be taken against them they desired him to wash off that foul stain from himself by proceeding severely against those wicked villains who reported every where that they had authority from him to seize upon the Holds of the English Protestants that they were the Queens Souldiers and rise to maintain the Kings Prerogative against the Puritan Parliament in England they therefore advised him by all means to purge himself of that crime then which a greater on earth could not be But so strangely were things carried that although the Rebellion brake out upon the twenty third of October the King did not proclaim them Rebels till the first of January and then gave a strict command that no more then forty Copies of that Proclamation should be Printed and that none of them should be published till his Majesties pleasure were further signified so that a few only could take notice of it which made all men extreamly wonder when they observed the late contrary proceedings against the Scots who were in a very quick and sharp manner proclaimed and those Proclamations forthwith dispersed with as much diligence as might be thorow all the Kingdom But before this Proclamation came out the Parliament being somewhat troubled with some speeches of which they had been informed as if a Plot were contrived against them desired the King to allow them a Guard for security of their persons and that the Earl of Essex then Lord Chamberlain of his Majesties Houshold might be Commander of it But the King denied them a Guard giving them many fair promises of his care for their safety and that he would command such a Guard to wait upon them as he would be responsible for to Almighty God Three days after the Proclamation against those Irish Rebels being the fourth of January the King attended with about three hundred Armed Gentlemen came to Westminster and entring in Person into the House of Commons and seating himself in the Speakers Chair demanded five Members of that House to be delivered to him Mr. Hollis Sir Arthur Haslerig Mr. Pym Mr. Hamden and Mr. Strode Those five Members had by command of the House upon information of the Kings intent absented themselves Which the King finding went away after a short Speech delivered concerning them That he intended a fair Trial against them and that he was and would be as careful to maintain the Priviledges of Parliament as ever any King of England was He had the day before demanded them by his Atturney Sir Edward Herbert a Member of the House of Commons pretending a Charge of high Treason against them and with them against the Lord Mandevile a Member of the House of Lords But the Parliament did not think
and after he had plundered the country thereabouts retired safely to his Winter-Quarters at Oxford The Parliament considering this action of the King began to hope little upon any Treaty resolving That the General should speedily pursue the King's Forces and fall upon them and the City of London to encourage the Parliament made a Petition to them wherein they entreated That they would proceed no further in the business of Accommodation because evil counsel was so prevalent with the King that he would but delude them that they had heard his Forces are weak and entreat that his Excellency would follow and fall upon them the City as heretofore being ready to spend with all willingness their lives and fortunes to assist the Parliament For which Petition and Protestation the Parliament returned thanks to the City and according as they desired it was decreed in Parliament FINIS Book II. A Short mention of the Progress of this Civil War THe beginnings of the Civil war together with the Series of causes from whence it sprung as likewise the degrees by which it grew have been already breifly and clearly shewed The things which remain to be unfolded are of so great a weight of so various a nature and of so many peices that scarce any Historian I might say History it self is sufficient to weave fully together so many particulars my intention therefore is to make onely a short mention not a full Narration of that Variety For the War went on with horrid rage in many places at one time and the fire once kindled cast forth through every corner of the land not onely sparks but devouring flames insomuch as the kingdom of England was divided into more Wars than Counties nor had she more fields than skirmishes nor Cities than Sieges and almost all the Palaces of Lords and great Houses were turned every where into Garrisons of War they fought at once by Sea and Land and through all England who could but lament the miseries of his Country sad spectacles were of plundering and firing Villages and the fields otherwise wast and desolate were rich onely and terribly glorious in Camps and Armies The following Summer namely in the year one thousand six hundred forty three proved for a long time fatal to the Parliament and Fortune seemed to have condemned the cause of liberty so exceedingly did the Kings party flourish in successes and Victories and the Parliaments condition every where low so that they were neer to ruine who in the end prevailed In the West Sir William Waller a Parliament-chieftain who had gotten divers Victories and then almost quite vanquished Sir Ralph Hopton was at last namely in July utterly defeated by the Lord Wilmot who came from Oxford with an Army of the Kings and having lost all his Army returned to London and such as the fortune of the Field was was the condition of Towns and Garrisons for immediately after Wallers defeat the two greatest Cities of all the West were yeilded up Bristol to Prince Rupert and Excester to Prince Maurice At the same time in the North of England was the like success where the Lord Fairfax who with his valiant Son had long and prosperously maintained the cause of the Parliament being now over-powred by a puissant Enemy the Earl of Newcastle and almost all his Forces scattered was driven into Hull and there besieged Essex himself the great General at the same time his Army decreasing suddainly some dying of sickness others for want forsaking their colours was constrained to leave the field and return to London quartering the sick and weak remnant of his Army at Kingston and other adjacent places until a Recruit could be made for him The Parliamentarians were now in a desperate condition and their strengths every where broken on the other side the Royalists strong and dreadful in Arms Men and Horses conquerours of all the West of Wales and the North of England as far as the very borders of Scotland One onely Town of Note in the Midland Country Glocester stood out yet faithful and constant to the Parliament and much desired by the King who in great disdain that this Town after Bristol and Excester were yeilded should stand out came in person to besiedge it with a great Army The Queen was now arrived in England and had brought with her great store of Armes bought in Holland with the money which she had raised by pawning the Crown-Jewels there whose coming at this time seemed rather to a Triumph than a War Glocester not onely staid the career of the Kings Victories but made a great change in the Conditions of the sides The City was gallantly defended against a great and flourishing Army wherein Massey the Governour justly gained a wonderful renown so long did he defend the City until General Essex could be recruited with an Army great enough to raise the Siege and march thither from London eighty miles Famous and honourable in the judement of all men was that expedition of General Essex who by solong a March fighting often with great bodies of the Kings Horse by the way brought notwithstanding his whole Army safe to Glocester raised the Siege relieved that Town and in his retreat from thence encountered and vanquished the Kings Army in that memorable Battel of Newberry After this time the parliament revived of whose condition Wise men might justly have doubted if the King leaving Glocester had marched directly with his Victorious Army to London which was then not at all fortified and miserably distracted with factions within it Or besides if the Earl of Newcastle letting alone the besiegâ—ng of Hull which likewise proved fruitless had powred out his numerous forces upon the Eastern associated Counties but it otherwise pleased God who is the onely Lord of Hoasts and by whose providence all things are guided Both sides now by this Victory of Essex seemed to be put into an equal ballance both of strength and reputation and this sad War not onely likely to be continued but extended to a greater latitude on one side the Parliament inviting to their assistance their brethren of Scotland on the other side the King calling in his Irish The Scots by a Covenant to be taken by both Nations for conservation of Religion Laws and Liberties the Irish by a cessation of Armes granted by the King a peace being also promised were drawn in The Scots promised to the Parliament from whom Commissioners were sent to Edinburgh about that business that they would bring into England to their assistance an Army consisting of one and twenty thousand Horse and Foot the Parliament engaged themselves to pay the Scots one hundred thousand pounds toward the charge of raising that Army But the King dealt not so openly with those bloudy Irish in bargaining for their assistance but by a pretence of cessation of Arms for the behoof of the English Protestants in that Kingdom which cessation notwithstanding was for the benefit of the Irish Rebels in lieu of
Episcopacy he disputed out of the dictates of his conscience much and gave touches also of the other matters Of all which he hoped that he should satisfie the Parliament with his reasons if he might personally treat with them Therefore he earnestly desired to be admitted with Honour Freedom and Safety to treat personally at London the Commissioners of Scotland with great vehemence also pressed that this desire of the King might be granted The Parliament weighing these things lest they should betray themselves and friends by admitting of a personal Treaty with the King in London so Malignant a City before he had given any satisfaction or security which was before the Scots Opinion after so many mischiefs done to the Commonwealth resolved upon a middle way Therefore after a long debate on the twenty sixth of November they concluded that four Propositions being drawn up into the form of Acts should be sent to the King in the Isle of Wight to sign which when he had signed he should be admitted to a personal Treaty a London that his Majesty giving the Kingdom security by passing these four Propositions there may be a personal Treaty with his Majesty for passing the rest of the Propositions The four were these 1. That a Bill be passed into an Act by his Majesty for setling of the Militia of the Kingdom 2. That a Bill be passed for his Majesties calling in of all Declarations Oaths and Proclamations against the Parliament and those who have adhered to them 3. For passing an Act that those Lords who were made after the Great Seal was carried to Oxford may be made uncapable of sitting in the House of Peers thereby 4. That power may be given to the two Houses of Parliament to adjourn as the two Houses of Parliament shall think fit The Commissioners of Scotland would in no wise give their consent that these four Bills should be sent to the King before he treated at London therefore in a very long Declaration they protested against it Notwithstanding that the Bills were sent by Commissioners of both Houses of Parliament and on the twenty fourth of December presented to the King at Carisbrook-Castle But the King understanding the minde of the Scots and the factions in London absolutely refused to sign those Propositions and the Commissioners with this denial returned to London On the third of January the House of Commons debated of this denial of the King the dispute was sharp vehement and high about the State and Government of the Commonwealth and many plain Speeches made of the King 's obstinate aversness and the peoples too long patience it was there affirmed that the King by this denial had denied his protection to the people of England for which onely subjection is due from them that one being taken away the other falls to the ground That it is very unjust and absurd that the Parliament having so often tried the King's affections should now betray to an implacable Enemy both themselves and all those friends who in a most just cause had valiantly adventured their lives and fortune that nothing was now left for them to do but to take care for the safety of themselves and their friends and settle the Common-wealth since otherwise it could not be without the King Therefore on the 17 of January a Declaration and Votes passed both Houses of Parliament in this manner The Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament after many Addresses to his Majesty for the preventing and ending this unnatural War raised by him against the Parliament and Kingdom having lately sent four Bills to his Majesty which did contain onely matter of safety and security to the Parliament and Kingdom referring the composure of other differences to a personal Treaty with his Majesty and having received an absolute Negative do hold themselves obliged to use their utmost endeavours speedily to settle the present Government in such a way as may bring the greatest security to this Kingdom in the enjoyment of the Laws and Liberties thereof And in Order thereunto and that the Houses may receive no delay nor interruptions in so great and necessary a work they have taken these Resolutions and passed these Votes following viz. The Lords and Commons do declare That they will make no further Addresses or Applications to the King Resolved c. By the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament That no Application or Address be made to the King by any Person whatsoever without the leave of both Houses Resolved c. By the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament that the Person or Persons that shall make breach of this Order shall incur the penalty of High Treason Resolved c. That the Lords and Commons do declare That they will receive no more any Message from the King and do enjoyn That no ` Person whatsoever do presume to receive or bring any Message from the King to both or either of the Houses of Parliament or any other Person Within few dayes after these Votes of Parliament were published a Declaration of the General and general Councel of the Army their Head-Quarters being then at Windsor was made and humbly presented to the Parliament for which Declaration thanks were returned from the Parliament to the General and Councel of the Army which take in the full expression A Declaration from his Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax and the General Councel of the Army of their Resolutions to adhere to the Parliament in their proceedings concerning the King NOtwithstanding the high violations of the Kingdoms Rights and Liberties and the indeavours to swallow up the whole interest of the Kingdom into the power and will of a King which the present King's Reign hath afforded we have observed that the Parliament was through his necessities and against his declared intentions to the contrary called but in a condition of vindicating the Kingdom in those things hath yet enacted with that tenderness towards the King as to any thing of right that might be in him or duty towards him as that in the Protestation Covenant and many Declarations published by them that have held forth a careful regard to the preservation of the King's person and just rights with and in the preservation and vindication of the publick interests and safety of the Kingdom and by the whole service of their actions and their many-fold humble Addresses to him for the preservation and settlement of all they have we conceive abundantly demonstrated the reality and innocency of their intentious towards him in all which we have still understood the sence and intention to be no other then that the preservation of the King's person and particular rights should be so endeavoured as it might be consistent with and not destructive to those great and more obliging publick interests of Religion and the Rights Liberties and safety of the Kingdom and not otherwise And accordingly in the late Declarations and Papers that have occasionally past from this Army as to our desires of
and Bailiffs of Barwick upon Tweed and to all and every other Officers and Persons to whom Writs have used to be directed for the electing of the Knights Citizens Barons and Burgesses of and for the said Counties Cities Cinque-ports and Boroughs of England Wales respectively in the accustomed form to appear and serve in Parliament to be held at Westminster on the said Monday which shall be in November aforesaid which said Knights Citizens Barons and Burgesses chosen by vertue of the said Writs shall then and there appear and serve in Parliament accordingly And the said Lord Chancellor Lord Keeper Commâ—ssioner and Commissioners aforesaid shall respectively take a solemn Oath upon the holy Evangelist for the due issuing of Writs according to the tenor of this Act viz. in haec verba YOu shall Swear that you shall truly and faithfully issue forth and send abroad all Writs of Summons to Parliament for both Houses at such time and in such manner as is expressed and enjoyned by an Act of Parliament intituled An Act for the preventing of inconveniencies happening by the long intermission of Parliaments Which Oath is forthwith to be taken by the present Lord Keeper and to be administred by the Clerk of the Crown to every Lord Chancellor Lord Keeper Commissioner and Commissioners aforesaid and that none of the said Officers shall henceforth execute any the said Offices bâ—fore they have taken the said Oath And if the said Lord Chancellor Lord Keeper or any the said Commissioners shall fail or forbear so to issue out the said Writs according to the true meaning of this Act then he or they respectively shall beside the incurring of the grievous sin of perjury be disabled and become by vertue of this Act incapable ipso facto to bear his and their said Offices respectively and be further liable to such punishments as shall be inflicted on him or them by the next or any other ensuing Parliament And in case they neglect then the Peers of this Realm shall by vertue of this Act be enabled and are enjoyned to meet in the old Palace of Westminster in the usual place there on the third Monday in the said Month of November and they or any twelve or more of them then and there assembled shall on or before the last Monday of November next following the tenth day of September aforesaid by vertue of this Act without other Warrant issue out Writs in the usual form in the name of the Kings Majesty His Heirs or Successors attested under the hands and seals of twelve or more of the said Peers to the several and respective Sheriffs of the several and respective counties for the electing of the Knights Citizens Barons and Burgesses to be and appear at the Parliament at Westminster aforesaid to be held on the third Monday in January then next following And in case the said Lords or twelve or more of them shall fail to issue forth such Writs or that the said Writs do not come to the said several counties cities cinque-ports and borroughs so that an election be not thereupon made And in case there be not a Parliament assembled and held before the three and twentieth day of the said Month of January then in every such case as aforesaid the Parliament shall assemble and be held in the usual place at VVestminster on the second Tuesday which shall be in the month of March next after the said three and twentieth day of January At which Parliament the Peers of this Realm shall make their appearance And for the better assembling of the Knights Citizens Barons and Burgesses to the said Parliament as aforesaid It is further Enacted That the several and respective Sheriffs of their several and respective counties cities and boroughs of England and VVales and the Chancellor Masters and Scholars of both and every of the Universities and the Major and Bailiffs of the Borough of Barwick upon Tweed shall at the several courts and places to be held and appointed for their respective counties universities cities and boroughs next after the said three and twentieth day of January cause such Knight and Knights citizen and citizens Burgess and Burgesses of their said counties universities cities and boroughs respectively to be chosen by such persons and in such manner as if several and respective Writs of summons to Parliament under the Great Seal of England had issued and been awarded And in case they do not before ten of the clock in the forenoon of the same day wherein the several and respective courts and places shall be held or appointed for their several respective counties universities cities and boroughs as aforesaid begin and proceed on according to the meaning of this Law in causing Elections to be made of such Knight and Knights citizen and citizens Burgess and Burgesses of their said counties Universities cities and boroughs as aforesaid then the Freeholders of each county and the Masters and Scholars of every of the Universities and the citizens and others having voices in such Election respectively in each University city and borough that shall be assembled at the said courts or places to be held or appointed as aforesaid shall forthwith without further Warrant or direction proceed to the Election of such Knight c. And it is further enacted That the several and respective Sheriffs shall after the said three and twentieth day of January and before the eighth day of February then immediately next ensuing award and send forth their Preceps to the several and respective cities and boroughs within their several counties and likewise unto the said Cinque-ports respectively commanding them respectively to make choice of such citizen and citizens Barons Burgess and Burgesses to serve in the said Parliament at the time and place aforesaid Which said cities cinque-ports and boroughs respectively shall before the last day of the said month of February make election of such citizen and citizens barons burgess or burgesses as if Writs for summoning of a Parliament under the Great Seal of England had issued and been awarded And in case no such Precept shall come unto the said cities cinque-ports and boroughs respectively by the time herein limited Or in case any Precept shall come and no election be made thereupon before the said last day of February That then the several citizens burgesses and other persons that ought to elect and send citizens barons and burgesses to the Parliament shall on the first Tuesday in March then next ensuing the said last day of February make choice of such citizen and citizens barons burgess and burgesses as if a Writ of Summons under the Great Seal of England had issued and been awarded and shall each of them be liable unto such pains censures for his their not appearing serving then and there in Parliament as if he or they had been elected and chosen by vertue of a Writ under the great Seal of England shall be likewise subject unto such further pains
were drawn up and read against them in the House of Commons for in December before when the debate had been concerning Ship-money and the offence of those Judges who had given their extrajudicial opinions for it was examined upon which the Lord Keeper Finch fled the thing was condemned as most illegal Three Judges had been honest Judge Crook Hutton and Baron Denham whose Arguments were very famous the other were examined by sixteen Members of the House of Commons who were appointed to present those particular Charges against every Judge who were Judge Bramston Baron Trever Baron Weston Baron Davenport and Judge Crawley for Judge Barclay was charged with high Treason Of this a certain Gent. spake as followeth The Root of most of our present mischiefs the ruine of all posterity do I hold to be that extrajudicial Judgment I cannot say but rather doom delivered by all the Judges under their hands out of Court yet recorded in all Courts to the subversion of all our Fundamental Lawes Liberties and Annihilation if not Confiscation of our Estates That in case of danger the King may impose upon his subjects that he is the sole Judge of the danger necessity and proportion which in brief is to take what when and where he will which though delivered in the time of a gracious merciful Prince who we hope will not wrest it beyond our abilities yet left to the interpretation of a succeeding Tyrant if ever this Nation be so fortunate to fall into the hands of such It is a Record wherein every man might read himself a slave that reads it having nothing he can call his own all prostitute to the will of another What to do in such a case we are not to seek for precedents our honorable Ancestors taught us in the just and exemplar punishments of chief Justice Tresilian and his Complices for giving their judgments out of Parliament against the established Laws of Parl. how tender they were of us how careful we ought to be to continue those Laws to preserve the Liberty of our Posterity Those Charges were now brought in about the beginning of August but little was afterwards done against any of them or almost any other offendor the King had designed a journey into Scotland and would go though the Houses earnestly entreated his stay for a while longer because the Kingdoms business required his presence the King alledged that the affairs of Scotland did necessarily require his presence and further told them that he would Pass any good Bill which they had for him before he went Which he accordingly did and signed a Commission for passing of Bills in his absence the Commissioners were the Lord-Keeper Littleton the Lord Privy-seal Earl of Manchester the Lord great Chamberlain Earl of Lindsey the Marquess of Harford Earl of Essex Earl of Bath Earl of Dorset The Earl of Essex also by a Bill which the King then signed was made General of all his forces on this side Trent with power to levy Arms in case of necessity But before the King went the Earl of Holland chosen both by him and the Parliament as General for that purpose was gone into the North to disband the English Army there The King departing from London the tenth of August made haste towards Scotland and passed by the Armies as they were disbanding Whether he did under-hand attempt any thing with the Scotish Army as a Scotish writer hath published to engage them against the Parliament of England with large promises of Spoil and offering Jewels of great value in pawn for performance of it I leave as uncertain for the reader to judge by what afterwards fell out But if he did it was a matter of great falsehood having as yet declared no enmity against the English Parliament But what the Kings design was of going into Scotland was not understood in England The same Author saies it was to make sure those Noble men of that Kingdom whom he doubted of as not willing to serve his turn against England And true it is that about September Letters came from Scotland to the standing Committee at Westminster for the two Houses had rejourned themselves from the eighth of September till the twentieth of October and appointed a standing Committee of fifty Members during that time that a Treasonable Plot was discovered there against the lives of some of the greatest Peers in the Kingdom upon which the standing Committee fearing some mischief from the same spring placed strong guards in divers parts of the City of London However the mischiefs might fall out by chance or by design the Kings journey into Scotland was sure to hinder the English business and to retard the cure of all their Grievances which was little less then a plain destruction For after the tenth of August the day of his departure little was done in the Parliament until the recess On the 23 of October whilst the King remained in Scotland broke forth that cursed conspiracy of the Irish Rebels and the inhumane butchery of Protestants through the whole Island more tragical then any effect of a calamitous War in which was put in execution whatsoever could be imagined from the licentious cruelty of a barbarous people so long kept under the English yoke or whatever the dire dictates of superstition or wicked exhortations of Priests could infuse into them It was wonderful that so devilish a design could so long be kept close whereby 200000 Protestants in two months space were murdered and many by exquisite torments and many more despoiled of all their wordly fortunes This divelish design was to be put in execution on the 23 of October upon which day not only the Castle of Dublin the Kingdoms chief Magazine a storehouse of ten thousand Arms at that time but all other Forts and Magazines in that Kingdom were to be surprised and all the English or Protestants that joyned not with them to be murdered The seizure of Dublin Castle to which purpose many of the chief Rebels came to the City the day before was prevented by timely discovery of the Plot to the two Lords Justices by one Owen O Conally a Servant to Sir John Clotworthy which discovery was but the very night before that fatal day and the occasion of it very accidental or rather a strange providence of God by Mac-Mahons unadvised trusting this Owen with some relations concerning it at a Tavern Upon which discovery Mac-Mahon and the Lord Maguire were presently apprehended by the Lords Justices and many Conspirators of great note escaped that night out of Dublin So was Dublin saved that all Ireland might not be lost in one day But the horrid design was past prevention as to the general for the Conspirators were up at the day in all Counties round about and poor English Protestants arrived at Dublin every day robbed and spoiled of all they had relating how their houses were seized how Towns and Villages in all parts were fired and cruel outrages
at last though too much time were lost was contented to admit of that Article as the Parliament had done But that way which the Parliament thought most powerful to Reduce Ireland was by adventuring for proportions of Land there to be shared amongst the English Adventurers according to those sums of money which they would disburse or subscribe That so whosoever in person or purse helped towards the conquest of those bloody Rebels might be recompensed if the Work were done Propositions were framed in Parliament to that purpose The King confirmed these Propositions though at first he laughed at them and was heard to say That they were like to him who sold the Bears skin before the Bear was killed At last an Act was made enabling the Parliament with power to carry on that War until Ireland should be declared wholly subdued and that no Peace or Cessation of Arms should be ever made with the Rebels unless both Houses of Parliament consented to it The King then offered to go in person over into Ireland But the Parliament thought it was not fit to hazard the Kings person in such an expedition The King was then at Hampton Court distasted at the City and pretending the reasons of his absence to be fear of Tumults for besides what was before spoken of the numbers which flocked to Petition at Westminster the King was advertised That the day after he retired to Hampton which was about a week after his going to the House of Commons divers Citizens with Boats and Guns in them brought the five Members to Westminster with many promises not to forsake the Parliament From thence upon the twentieth of January the King sent a Message to the Parliament desiring them that seeing particular grievances were so many as that it would be tedious to present them by themselves they would digest them into one Body that so a clear Judgement might be made upon them And then they should see how ready he would be to equal or exceed the greatest examples of most indulgent Princes in their Acts of Grace and Favor to the People The Parliament gave him thanks and resolved speedily to consider of it but desired the King in the mean time to give them a sure ground of security while they discharged their Trust by putting the Tower with other principal Forts and the whole Militia of the Kingdom into such hands as the Parliament might trust and recommend to him The King refused to grant that Petition alleaging that he would reserve to himself the disposal of all those places as a principal and inseparable Flower of his Crown nevertheless he promised to entrust none but faithful Persons in any of those places Many reasons were shewed on both sides and many Petitions and Answers passed they still pressing for this Grant of the Militia and the King still denying it The King then residing at Hampton Court had found out a new way to weaken the Parliament in their number by sending for some who were his Servants to leave their sitting in the House to attend him Especially he aimed at the Earl of Essex his Lord Chamberlain and the Earl of Holland Groom of the Stool both whom he sent for but they chose rather to obey his Parliament-Writ than his private Command and continued sitting For which he sent a Messenger to demand the Staffe of the one and the Key of the other being the Ensigns of their Offices which they willingly resigned The Lord George Digby about that time had written a Letter to the Queen from Midleborough in Zealand whither he had fled from England when the Lords in Parliament had sent for him upon some Misdemeanors and if he appeared not in twenty days had proclaimed him Traytor in which he intimates That if the King will declare himself and retire to a safe place he should be able to wait upon him from thence as well as from any part of England over and above the service which he might do for him there in the mean time This Letter was intercepted and brought to the Parliament whereby they began to understand that the King had some design in hand against them which they more plainly afterwards discerned The King and Queen about the middle of February with their eldest Daughter Mary Princess of Orange went to Canterbury From which place while some of the Members of both Houses went between London and that City upon divers businesses the King signed the Bill for taking away Bishops Votes in Parliament From Canterbury they went to Dover from whence the Queen passed into Holland under pretext of keeping her Daughter company to her Husband But she carried with her the Crown-Jewels of England and pawned them there whereby she bought Arms for that War which ensued and was it seems then designed by the King against the Parliament After her departure the King taking the Prince and Duke of York with him went to Theobalds there he received a Petition from the Parliament on the first of March one thousand six hundred forty one wherein they desired him to Grant the Militia to abide neer London and not to carry the Prince away All which he denied and went immediately to New-Market There he was presented with a Declaration drawn by both Houses The Earls of Pembrook and Holland with some Commoners carried it In which they repeat the old Grievances his wicked War against Scotland the Irish Rebellion raised here by many presumptions his attempt of engaging the English Army against the Parliament his entring the House of Commons with the like and that his fear to reside neer London is without ground and pretended for nothing but to perplex the Common-wealth to hinder the relief of Ireland and encourage the ill-affected party in this Kingdom to which the King Answered with great indignation and afterwards answered it by a long Declaration of his own endeavoring to clear himself of some things and extenuate or excuse others accusing them for coining to themselves needless Fears and Jealousies and so these Commissioners departed from Theobalds while the Parliament suffered him without any real hinderance to the Peoples great griefs he passed to the City of York The Parliament in the mean time sit and Vote only against the Kings evil Counsel and make three Votes 1. That the Kings absence so far remote from his Parliament is not only an obstruction but may be a destruction to the Affairs in Ireland 2. That when the Lord and Commons in Parliament shall declare what the Law of the Land is to have this not only questioned and controverted but contradicted and a command that it should not be obeyed is an high breach of the Priviledge of Parliament 3. That they which advised the King to absent himself from the Parliament are enemies to the peace of this Kingdom and justly to be suspected as favorers of the Rebellion in Ireland From York the King sent a Message to the Parliament on the eighth of April 1642. that he would
safety of the Kings person and defence of the Parliament Of which the Earl of Essex a man of eminent fidelity and worth was by an unanimous consent of both Houses chosen General Some Lords and Members of the Commons were sent down into the Counties to settle the Militia and raise Forces for defence of several Towns and places And divers Members of the Houses Listed themselves in the Lord General Essex his Army and took Commissions from him as Colonels But immediately after this time the Kings Commissions of Array were sent down into every County though often declared by the Parliament to be illegal and were obeyed in many places more than the Parliaments Ordinances for the Militia by reason that so many Lords and Gentlemen adhered to him now against the Parliament But there were scarce any Counties free from contention betwixt the Commissioners of the one and the Ordinances of the other which strugled together with great Nobility and Gentry on both sides Neither had the Kings Proclamations nor the Parliaments Ordinances obedience from all only as far as the now-drawing swords enforced it During these Divisions in several Counties London it self was not free for the Lord Major of London Sir Richard Gurney was by the Parliament committed prisoner to the Tower of London for moving sedition in the Kingdom by causing the Kings Commission of Array a thing declared illegal by both Houses to be proclaimed in the City and afterwards an additional impeachment was brought in against him by the Common-Councel of London for divers breaches of his Oath in that Office and contemning the Orders of Parliament After many days attendance concerning these Accusations on the twelfth day of August he received his Censure at the House of Lords which was That he should be turned out of his Majoralty That he should never bear any Office in the City or Common-wealth That he should be incapable of any Honor or Dignity to be conferred on him by the King and Committed Prisoner to the Tower during the pleasure of both Houses Many Proclamations about that time passed from the King and Declarations from the Parliament one from the King against the Earl of Essex as a Rebel and all that adhered unto him and a Declaration from the Parliament recounting all that the Kings evil counsel for so they call it had done illegally against them the Parliament likewise published what in particular had been done by his party against Ireland and how that unhappy Kingdome had been of late robbed of many Reliefes of Cloathes Victuals and Arms which the Parliament had sent them by the King and his party While these writings on both sides lasted the King removed often to gather strength and in several places made Speeches to the Countries with many Protestations of his affection to the people At last he came to Nottingham where about the middle of August he set up his Standard-Royal Very few People came to it nor had the King at that time any considerable strength nor if the Parliament would then have seized upon his person could he have kept himself out of their hands From Notingham on the twenty fifth of that Month he sent a Message to the Parliament by the Earls of Southampton and Dorset and Sir John Culpeper In that Message he signifieth a desire to compose the difference by a Treaty that a certain number of Persons sent and enabled by the Parliament may treat in some indifferent place with the like number authorized by him The Parliament answer That until he put them in a condition to treat that is until he take down his Standard and recall those Proclamations wherein he calleth a thing unheard of before both Houses of Parliament Traytors and Rebels they cannot by the Fundamental Priviledges of Parliament or by the publick trust reposed in them or with the general good of the Realm admit of any such Treaty The KING denied that he advanced his Standard against the Parliament or that he called them Rebels but within few dayes in his Instructions to his Commissioners of Array Marquess Harford the Earl of Cumberland and the Lord Strange he again called the Earl of Essex Rebel and Traytor Thus did they contend for some time by Declarations and Proclamations which proved all fruitless as to satisfying of the people nor could this lamentable War be averted Prince Rupert and Prince Maurice the the second and third Sons of the late King of Bohemia were now come into England the beginning of September to offer their service to the King their Uncle whom presently he put into Commands Prince Rupert the Elder and Fiercer by nature Commanding a Body of Horse flew with great fury through divers Counties raising men for the King's service in a rigorous way Committing outrages to those who favoured the Parliament upon which the Houses fell into a debate agreeing that a Charge of Treason should be drawn up against him for endeavouring the Destruction of this State and abusing that Court which represented it The King marched another way and passing through Derbyshire Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire he commanded the Trained Bands of those Counties to attend and Guard his Person and when they were met he disarmed the greatest part of them taking as many Arms as served for two thousand men besides good summs of Money which he borrowed by constraint protesting still as usually he did to maintain the Protestant Religion the Laws and Liberties of the Subject and the priviledges of Parliament The Parliament-Army raised under the Conduct of the General Essex was now grown into a considerable Bulk consisting of about fourteen thousand Horse and Foot their general Rendezvouz was at Northampton where many of the chief Commanders stayed with them expecting the presence of the General himself The Lord General Essex on the ninth of September taking his leave of the Parliament and City of London went towards Northampton and was waited on by the trained Bands and a great number of armed Gentlemen from Essex-house to the end of the City with great solemnity The Parliament sent a Petition to the General at Northampton to be by him presented to the King in a safe and honourable way the effect of which was humbly to entreat his Majesty to withdraw his presence from those wicked persons about him and not to mix his danger with theirs but that he would return to his Parliament and such-like things The King intending to seize upon Worcester sent Prince Rupert thither with some Horse which Essex fearing to prevent the King commanded part of his forces to march thither speedily himself following with his Army Some Skirmishes happened between that party of Parliamentarians and Prince Rupert before the coming of General Essex but Prince Rupert when the forerunners of Essex his Army were in sight with great speed fled out of Worcester General Essex leaving a Garison at Northampton marched to Coventry which Town he also garisoned as likewise Warwick and marched from thence with his
which favour they gave the King thirty thousand pounds This was that cessation of Arms so much spoken against by honest men in London for that reason especially that it was directly against a Law and the Kings faith for it was enacted by authority of Parliament the King also signing the Act in the year one thousand six hundred forty one That the War against those bloudy Irish Rebels should proceed untill it were declared by Parliament that Ireland were fully subdued and that no peace nor any cessation of Arms should be made with those Rebels without the consent of both Houses of Parliament Thus was assistance brought to either side to the King which he especially aimed at in this business that English Army which for almost a whole years space had fought valiantly and victoriously against those Rebels was now brought into England within five moneths after that cessation to fight against the Parliament of England but the cause being changed the fortune of those Souldiers was likewise changed for they had no success in England but within a short time after their arrival that whole Army was utterly defeated and all their cheif commanders with seventeen hundred common Souldiers were taken prisoners by Sir Thomas Faâ—rfax The Scottish Army that Winter following about the middle of January passing over Tweed came into England The Earl of Leven was General his kinsman David Lesley commanded the Horse the snow that fell at that time covered the ground in an unusual depth and as great a frost had congealed all the rivers but the heat of fighting was greater than the rigor of the air and the patience of Souldiers overcame the hard weather The Earl of Leven marched with his forces against the Earl of Newcastle who with a great Army possessed the Northern parts of England for the King nor did the War goe on with less vigour in other parts In the beginning of the Spring great Armies were raised on both sides and filled all the countries with terrour all the following Summer which fell in the year one thousand six hundred forty four they fought with equal fury and almost equal fortunes insomuch as that England by the dubiousness of success on both sides and sad vicissitude of calamitous slaughters was made an unhappy Kingdom The Kings fortune was susteined by brave Armies in the West under the Princes Rupert and Maurice in Wales under Gerard and others in the midland Counties under Sir Jacob Ashley an old Souldier other Armies were commanded by Sir Ralph Hopton and Colonel Goring and in the North the Earl of Newcastles great Army Nor were the forces of Parliament inferiour the cheif Army under the General Essex Waller commanded another the Earl of Manchester to whom Crumwell a stout and successful Souldier was joyned led a strong Army toward the North where the Lord Fairfax and his Son had good forces and Sir John Meldrum not far off the Earl of Denbigh a stout Commander was with a fair Party about Strafford and besides these the great Scottish Army At the beginning of that Summer the Parliament attempted a thing of great moment to besiege Oxford or at least to block up the King within that Town which was endeavoured by two Armies Essex on the one side and Waller on the other but the King deceived them both and with a few light Horse escaping out of the Town went to joyn with his greater Armies General Essex marched farther into the West but the expedition proved unhappy both to himself and the Parliament Waller followed the King but in vain for he could not hinder his designed March onely some skirmishes happened between parts of their Forces but nothing was done of any great moment until Waller returned with his force to encounter enemies in other places Various were the successes this Summer in most parts of the Kingdom in the West South and midland Counties the Kings forces prevailed above the Parliament which perchance had been ruined if the North had not made them amends with some atchievements besides one great Victory For Leve with his Scottish forces coming the last Winter into England besides the taking of some Towns and Forts had much weakened Newcastles Army lessening their number not by fighting but enduring the sharpness of that weather which the other could not so well doe To Leven the Lord Fairfax after Selby was so miraculously taken by valiant Sir Thomas Fairfax joyned himself with all his forces to whom also the Earl of Manchester after his Lincoln expedition came with a gallant Army Three Parliament Armies under three Generals Leven Manchester and Fairfax with great concord and unanimity had marched together and with joyned forces had besieged the great City of York whereof the Earl of Newcastle was Governour to raise the siege Prince Rupert was come with a great Army out of the South the three Generals left their siege to fight the Prince under him also Newcastle having drawn his forces out of York served who on a great plain called Marston Moore gave battel to the three Generals This was the greatest battel of the whole civil war never did greater Armies both in number and strength encounter or drew more bloud in one fight The Victory at first was almost gotten by the Royalists whose left Wing Fairfax his men being disadvantaged by the inconvenience of the ground had routed and put to flight the right wing of the Parliamentarians but this loss was more than recompenced in the other Wing where Crumwell who fought under Manchester charged with such force and fury the right wing of the Royalists that he broke the best Regiments which Prince Rupert had and put them all to flight Crumwel together with David Lesley pursued them and wheeling about with his Horse came opportunely to the releif of his oppressed friends in the other Wing where they ceased not until they had gained a compleat Victory and all Prince Rupert his Ordnance his carriages and baggage were possessed by the Parliamentarians After this Victory Rupert with the remnant of his forces fled into the South some of the Victorious Armies Horse in vain pursuing him for some miles the Earl of Newcastle with some of his chosen friends leaving York of which City Sir Thomas Glenham took the government went to Scarborough where within a while after he took shipping and passed into Germany The three Generals Leven Manchester and Fairfax after this great Victory returned to besiege York to whom that City soon after upon conditions was rendered after which they divided their forces and Leven with his Scottish Army returning into the North about the end of that Summer took the rich Town of Newcastle about the same time that the General Essex unfortunately managed his business in the West and having lost all his Artillery returned to London This Summer the Queen passed into France and used great endeavour to raise aid for the King her husband among the Roman Catholikes but those endeavours proved fruitless yet
possibility have held out long without some releif The Parliament rejoyced much at the delivery of that Town three Parliament Garrisons about that time and the foregoing year behaved themselves with such courage and constancy as might deserve to be celebrated in a larger History viz. Lime Plimouth and Taunton all which having been often besieged by Prince Maurice Greenvile Goring and other Commanders had not onely held out against those strong Enemies but much broken their Forces The things which that new Army under the conduct of Fairfax did that following year taking no rest all that sharp and bitter Winter were much to be wondred at how many strong Towns and Forts they took how many field Victories they obtained the stories of evey several moneth will declare of which because they are more acurately described by other pens I shall here onely make a short mention for within the space of one year all the Western Counties of England great Armies under the conduct of Prince Rupert Greenvile Hopton and Goring being utterly vanquished and brought to nothing were reduced to the obedience of Parliament In the moneths of August and September were taken Bath and Sherburn and Bristol it self the greatest and most wealthiest City of the whole West was by Prince Rupert surrendred to General Fairfax The Army also when it was divided by reason of the multiplicity of their work was not less successful in the parts of it Winchester and Basing taken by Cromwel the Devizes and Barclay by other Commanders Fairfax himself marching that cold December into Devonshire took Tiverton and with strange felicity stormed and took Dartmouth and afterwards drove the Kings Armies into Cornwall whom Fairfax pursuing at Torrington gave Hopton a great overthrow In the moneth of February with his Victorious Army he entred Cornwall for fear of whom Prince Charles fled into the Islands of Silly and in March following all Hoptons forces by the Command of the Conquerour Fairfax were disbanded and sent away and the whole County of Cornwall reduced to the obedience of Parliament In the following April Excester and Barnstable were surrendred to Fairfax and Bridgewater stormed but when they yeilded taken to mercy S. Michaels Mount the farthest angle of Cornwall was also surrendred to Collonel Hamond Thus Fairfax the Conquerour of the West having fitted all things for his expedition to make an end of the War is marching to besiege Oxford Woodstock was already taken by Colonel Rainsborough but in all these moneths that the General had done such great things in the West the other Commanders of Parliament were not unfortunate the Fates seeming to conspire at that side in the North and midland Counties of England about the midst of Summer Carlise was surrendered by Glenham the Governour to the Scottish Army a Garrison of Scots was put into that Town of which the English complained as being against the Covenant the Parliament also wrote to Leven to restore Carlisle to the English not that they did suspect any evil from their Brethren but that conditions might be observed and the mouths of ill-affected people stopped who were too apt to say that The Scots came into England not as friends but Freebooters From that time the Parliament ordained to have their Commissioners as the Scots had theirs at London resident in Edinburgh to be present with the Parliament of Scotland and to that purpose the Earl of Rutband the Lord Wharton and of the Commons Sir Henry Vane the Elder Sir William Armin Mr. Hatcher and Mr. Goodwin were chosen Glenham with his men after the surrender of Carlisle went to Newarke The Scottish Army about that time marched under Leven to Newark to besiege that Town but the Scottish horse staid not long there being forced to return into the North to the assistance of their distressed Countrey For the English Parliament at that time in midst of their own prosperity were notwithstanding mourners for the calamity of Scotland a great unexpected and wonderful calamity in which the frailty of humane affairs and the mutable condition of Kingdoms was set forth by a memorable example all Scotland within the space of one moneth was lost and recovered quite sunk and again emergent The man that thus plagued Scotland was the Earl of Montross one on whom the Kings hopes so much then depended that out of an earnest desire to joyn his forces to Montross the King with a body of good horse marched Northward but by the forces of Pointz Gell Rossiter and others the Kings expedition was stopped that he could not meet Montross for it had been agreed betwixt the King and Montross that at the same time he from the South should march Northward and the other from the North to meet him should come Southward that the Kings horse joyned to his foot might make a considerable Army in those parts but the Kings passage though he tryed many wayes was as beforesaid stopped Montross mindful of his promise broke out into the Southern parts of Scotland with greater success than could be hoped having scarce 4000. Highlanders and Irish A place there was neer to Kilsithe which the craggy Mountains and straitened passages had made fit for ambushes where Montross had seated himself thither the Army of the State confident of their number whilest unadvisedly they pursued the theeving Highlanders fell into the cunningly-disposed ambushes and were cut off with a miserable slaughter above five thousand were slain and none almost escaped but whom the wearied Conquerours had not strength to kill for cruel Montross spared none crying out They had no need of Prisoners This overthrow of Kilsithe at one battle had utterly ruined the State of Scotland if David Lesley about a moneth after giving an absolute overthrow to Montross had not restored it for after this so unexpected a defeat the State of Scotland had no Army for a Reserve or Force to stop the passage of the Conquerour to whom almost all their Towns presently yeilded The papists and Malignants and all neuters with those that had before dissembled their affections now joyned with him the rest were cut off all the chief Nobility of the Covenanters were forced to fly into England A publike Fast and Humiliation was kept by the English for the calamity of their brethren of Scotland General Fairfax and other of the chief Commanders wrote to Leven That they accounted the Calamity of Scotland to be their own and that if their affairs at home would permit and the Parliament would command it they would earnestly undertake that War and venture their blouds as freely for the Scots as for the English till the Enemies of the three Kingdoms were fully vanquished But Montross his cruell raign lasted not long scarce a whole moneth to vindicate Scotland David Lesley was sufficient who with his Horse coming thither at Selkirk gave Montross so total a defeat that it seemed fully to recompence Kilsithe the Victory was gotten in an hours space and as it was observed by
their Army had not satisfied the expectation of the English but had lyen idle in the best time of the year if they were so precise in observation of the Covenant why then contrary to the Covenant did the Scots put Garrisons into Newcastle Tinmouth and Carlisle neither was it just in the Scots to object any thing in the case of Religion seeing the Parliament are now labouring in it being a business which requires time and mature deliberation From these jarrs the King hoped for some advantage to himself and now Oxford began to be blocked up by Ireton and Fleetwood and every day the coming of Fairfax himself and a straiter Siege of that City was expected therefore before this should happen the King resolved to go out of Oxford and communicating his mind to some inward Councellors above all other places he pitched upon the Scottish Camp to the Scots therefore as they lay before Newark the King sent Montruel the French Ambassador and himself soon after as Ashburnhams man with a Cloak-back behind him escaped unknown out of Oxford and came to Newark From this enterprise the King was disswaded by some who loved the safety of their Country and entreated rather to deliver himself to Fairfax which might in prohability put an end to the War but the King was obstinate in his design not doubting but that dissentions daily growing between the two Nations he should be the more welcome to the Scots safe from harm and be able by this means either to make a peace upon his own conditions or kindle a new war The King came first to Montruels house and from thence to Southwell into the Scottish Camp the besieged Newarkers understanding of the Kings coming and being brought into great straits harkned to conditions and surrendred the Town The Scots seemed to be amazed at the Kings unexpected coming to them and so signified the matter to the English Commissioners then present with them upon the place Letters were immediately written of it to London and to Edinburgh the English Parliament required the Scots to detain the King at Southwell but they contrary to that Order carried him away to Kelham where a greater part of their Army lay and soon after without expecting any further Orders from the Parliament of England removed their Camp marched Northward and carried away the King with them to Newcastle The Scots excused their departure because Newark being yeilded no work was left for them but alleadged That as the King came to them of his own accord unexpected so he followed their Army neither being entreated nor fobidden by them but they seemed to hasten their departure by reason of a rumor whether true or falsly pretended that Cromwell with all his Horse was marching toward them But the English upon this complained much both against the Scots and the King To the Scots they objected the breach of Covenant and Treaty To the King they imputed it As a great obstinacy and despight toward the English Nation whom he had so long injured that now in his low ebb he should in England leaving the Parliament of England go to the Scots their Mercenaries if he desired peace why did he not embrace it being offered upon such conditions as besides his necessities the common safety of his People invited him to rather than go about to kindle new fire between the two confederate Nations In the beginning of May General Fairfax with his whole Army came within sight of Oxford and disposing his quarters round about the City summoned the Governour Glenham to surrender it Glenham answered that he would first send to the King and when he knew his mind would do what was fitting this answer was not allowed Nevertheless Fairfax considering with himself which was also the opinion of all his Commanders that it was likely to prove a long Siege being a City excellent well fortified and a strong Garrison in it consisting of at least five thousand most of them old souldiers stored with provisions arms and ammunition for a great while yet was put into hope of sooner obtaining it by intelligence which he had gotten out of Letters and by some Spies that within they were much divided in their opinions and the greater part especially those of the Nobility desired it should be surrendred that they might have while time was honorable conditions Therefore they began to Treat and not onely between the Army and the City but in Parliament at London it was debated and at last decreed That the besieged should rather have the best conditions than that their precious Army should be consumed before so strong a place whilst in the mean time many things might fall out ill to the Common-wealth But the chief reason of granting such large conditions was that the conquering Army it being now Mid-summer might be transported into Ireland to vindicate that afflicted Country against the barbarous and bloudy Rebels but that so pious an intention of the Parliament was quite frustrated by the Kings going to the Scots of whom at that time there were some jealousies and that the King went to the Scots for that very purpose it was believed by Letters which were intercepted afterward written to Ormund before he went out of Oxford We hope that this design of ours though it may seem dangerous to our person will prove advantagious for Ireland in hindering the Rebels meaning the Parliament from transporting any forces into that Kingdom Thus Oxford was surrendred and at the appointed day all the souldiers of that Garrison marched away by Fairfax his Army with great quiet and modesty on both sides The Duke of York was honorably conducted to London where two of the Kings children remained thither also went all the Noble men nor was it denied to any of the Besieged to go to London but the Princes Rupert and Maurice being commanded to go out of England prepared for their departure The great Seal of England with other Ensigns of Majesty were layed up in the Library which afterward carried to London was by the command of Parliament for the Parliament when the great Seal three years before was carried away to the King had made a new one broken in pieces together with the other smaller Seals Prince Charles about that time distrusting the condition of his side fled from Silly with a few of his inward Counsellors and went to Jersey that from thence he might pass into France to the Queen his Mother While the Prince remained in Jersey the Commissioners both of England and Scotland intreated the King that the Prince his Son might continue within his Dominions lest if he should go into France it might be inconvenient at this time and an obstruction to the desired peace but the King promising them that he would think of it wrote in the mean time this short letter to the Prince CHarles I write to you onely that you should know where I am and that I am in health not to direct you at this time
we confess they are higher than we if our wish might have gone would have made them but seeing that no other way is left to cure the Kingdoms wounds and consolidate the ruptures between your Majesty and the Parliament We do in all humility and loyalty advise your Majesty that out of your gratious goodness you would assent to them as being the onely remedy left to procure a firm and happy peace from whence also many happinesses will accrue to you c. But neither this Oration of Londen nor all the endeavours of both Parliaments could after the Kings mind yet did not the Commissioners give over their hopes but persisted in intreating so that many moneths were spent in this business and the time consumed till the midst of Winter in which space they could not perswade the King to hear any Ministers of the Synod preach before him being constant onely to his own Chaplains Upon which they began to endeavour that amity might be preserved between the two Nations and that the two Kingdoms things standing as they did might be peaceably setled without the King Therefore after some debate between the Parliament of England and the Commissioners of Scotland they at the last agreed upon the aforesaid sum namely that two hundred thousand pounds should be forthwith paid to the Scots which mony being told out was by General Fairfax with part of his Forces conveyed out of London who afterwards committed the business to Major General Skippon He with six Regiments marched away in the midst of Winter and in January came to Newcastle upon Tine with the mony The Scots when they had received their mony according to the compact delivered up the English Garrisons Berwick Carlisle and Newcastle into the Parliaments hands and marched quietly home into Scotland they delivered also the King to the English Commissioners to be carried into the South Who was received with great respect and honour by the Earls of Pembrook and Denbigh and the rest of the Parliament Commissionerâ— and by them waited on with great observance and an honourable guard to his Palaâ—â— of Holmby in Northampton-shire Thâ—â—â— things were done in the Moneth of February at which time the Earl of Stanford Mr. Gâ—â—win and Mr. Ashhurst of the House of Commons were sent Commissioners by the Parliament into Scotland that at Edenburgh thâ—â— might treat with the Scottish Parliament about the Common Affairs Though the Kings party which had fougâ—â— against their Parliament and Liberties wâ—â—â— absolutely subdued yet a quiet liberty 〈◊〉 security could not be suddenly obtained the victory For the Civil War being ended dissention more than Civil arose among the Conquerors which seemed therefore more sad to all good men because it was between those who before had with most united affections and desires thrown their lives and Fortunes into the hazard against a common Enemy whom the same cause the same fervour of reforming Religion and restoring liberty and the same prayers had linked together in the nearest bond of conscience By this division under the names of Presbyterian and Independent still encreasing the minds of men began beyond all measure to be embittered against each other one side complained that the Covenant was broken the other that it was not rightly enterpreted by them nor so as that it could any way be a vindication of the cause undertaken or the publike Safety on both sides were men of great reputation Yet did they not at first so far dissent but that both sides seemed forward to vindicate the Common cause against the Kings party called Malignants It must be a longer time that must by degrees so far work upon the consciences of that side which seemed weakest as to make them cleave to the Malignants for a prop. The Malignants were ready to joyn with either side that they might ruine both They themselves though disarmed being now the greatest number especially by reason of the unconstancy of many men either upon particular grievances or the burden of Taxations A great number of the Citizens of London not of the meaÌ„est but highest rank had revolted from their former principles insomuch as that City all the Kings Garrisons being by Fairfax his bloudless Victories emptied thither became to be of that condition as that the Parliament without the Armies help could not safely sit there These dissentions of Presbyterian and Independent because the motives and intentions of men are not enough known our purpose is to touch with more brevity than the actions of open War and plain hostility though they also are here shortly mentioned It were a work of too much length and difficulty to recite how many Calumnies were raised by the other faction against the Army before so much admired as maintainers of the Independent faction How divers Petitions were drawn up and sub-scriptions eagerly sought in the County of Essex against this Army which was then quartered about Walden in the moneth of April And in the Parliament it self it was so far and in that manner debated concerning disbanding of that Army that they being now taught to value their own merits conceived themselves much injured and in the moneth of May presented a Petition to their General In which they desire to be satisfied not onely for their due pay as Souldiers but in things concerning belonging to them as free born sons of the Nation the publike liberties which they had fought for Of which Petition great complaint was made by those of the other Faction These and some other Alterations wrought at last so far as that the Souldiers about the beginning of June upon what design or what jealousies I leave to Judge took away the King from Helmby out of the Parliament-Commissioners hands and carried him along with them in the Army So that his person was to be in some Town or Palace neer to their Quarter When this was known it was ordered by both Houses of Parliament and their order sent to the General 1. That the King should reside at Richmond 2. That he should be attended by the same persons that he was at Holmby 3. That Rossiters Regiment should guard him But the next day from the General and his Councel of Officers was brought to the Parliament an Impeachment against eleven Members of the House of Commons viz. honoured names many of them Hollis Stapleton Waller Glyn Massey Maynard Lewis Clotworthy Long Harley and Nichols Wherein divers things were objected concerning hindering the Releif of Ireland obstructing Justice and acting somewhat against the Army and the Laws of England The Impeached Members declared themselves ready to answer to any crime that could be objected against them But another request came from the Army that those Impeached Members untill they had brought in their answer might be secluded from their Seats in Parliament This at the first was not granted as a thing judged to be too high and too much against the priviledge of Parliament But when the Army iterated their desire those accused Members
settlement to the Kingdom we have expressed our real wishes that if the King would in things necessary and essential to the clearing setling and securing of those publick interests give his concurrence to put them past future disputes then his Rights should be considered and setled so far as might be consistent with those superior interests of the publick and the security thereof for future And that by an Address to the King upon things so purely essential to those publick ends it might once more come to a clear trial whether we could with the preservation of the King's person and in particular interests have a security to the other hath been our earnest desire our great expectation and our endeavour that we and others might be in a patient waiting for such an issue Now in the Parliaments last Addresses to the King we finde they have insisted onely upon some few things so essential to that interest of the Kingdom which they have hitherto engaged for as that without betraying the safety of the Kingdom and themselves and all that engaged with them in that cause without denying that which God in the issue of the war hath been such a Testimony unto they could not go lower and those things granted they have offered to treat for all the rest Thus we account that great business of a settlement to the Kingdom and security to the publick interest thereof by and with the King's Concurrence to be brought unto so clear a trial as that upon the King's denial of those things we can see no further hopes of settlement or security that way And therefore understanding that upon the consideration of that denial added to so many other the Honourable House of Commons by several Votes upon munday last have resolved not to make any further address or application to the King nor receive any from him nor to suffer either in others We do freely declare for our selves and the Army That we are resolved through the grace of God firmly to adhere with and stand by the Parliament in the things voted last munday concerning the King and in what shall be further necessary for prosecution thereof and for setling and securing of the Parliament and Kingdom without the King and against him or any other that shall hereafter partake with him Windsor Jan. 9. 1647. The Parliament also made a publick Declaration about the beginning of February for satisfaction of all men in general concerning the causes of their Votes in which besides the Kings former misdeeds related before in other Remonstrances they declare how often they had treated with him That although they were never forced to any Treaty yet no less then seven times they had applied themselves to the King with Propositions containing nothing but what was necessary to the peace and security of the Kingdom How they had offered him Propositions at Oxford afterwards at Uxbridge and then after he was quite vanquished in war at Newcastle and lastly after the departure of the Scots at Hampton Court All which hath been perpetually denied by him By such a Declaration did the Parliament endeavour to appease the unquiet mindes of people but no Arguments nor Decrees could serve to asswage their fury nor prevent the storms which were then arising Force onely was required and wise Councel to search out conspiracies and suppress the Tumults which were feared Therefore part of the Army was quartered about Westminster the Mews and other places of the City And the month before these high transactions some Lords and Commons were chosen out of both Houses to be a Committee for the safety of the Commonwealth and sate together at Derby-house in the same place where the Committee of both Kingdoms England and Scotland had sitten before To this Committee power was given to suppress Tumults and Insurrections and to that purpose to raise Forces as they saw occasion The Members of this Committee were seven Lords namely the Earls of Northumberland Kent Warwick and Manchester the-Lords Say Wharton and Roberts and thirteen of the House of Commons Mr. Perpoint Mr. Fines Sir Henry Vane Senior and Junior Sir William Armin Sir Arthur Hazlerig Sir Gilbert Gerrard Sir John Evelin Lieutenant General Cromwel Mr. St. John Mr. Wallop Mr. Crew Mr. Brown The Parliament though victorious though guarded with a gallant Army no forces visibly appearing against it yet was never in more danger All men began in the Spring to prophecy that the Summer would be a hot one in respect of Wars seeing how the Countries were divided in Factions the Scots full of threats the city of London as full of unquietness And more sad things were feared where least was seen rumours every day frightning the people of secret Plots and treasonable meetings From whence every man began to foresee slaughter and war as Mariners use to foresee a rising Tempest Cum longo per multa volumina tractu Aestuat unda minax flatusque incerta futuri Turbida testantur conceptos aequora ventos The threatning waves in tracks voluminous Boil up the Seas by blasts uncertain blown Betoken many windes conception The King's Party began to swell with great hopes and look upon themselves not as vanquish'd but Conquerors nor could they forbear vaunting everywhere but talked of the Kings rising and ruine of the Parliament The same thing seemed to be the wish of those whom they called Presbyterians who were ready to sacrifice themselves and their Cause to their hatred against the Independents who wished that quite undone which themselves could not do and desired that liberty might be quite taken away by the King rather then vindicated by the Independents The King himself though set aside and confined within the Isle of Wight was more formidable this Summer then in any other when he was followed by his strongest Armies The name of King had now a further operation and pity of the Vulgar gave a greater Majesty to his Person Prince Charls also by his absence and the name of banishment was more desireable by those Vulgar people and by his Commissions which his Father privately sent him as if armed with lawful power did easily command those that were willing and by commands under his name was able to raise as will afterward appear not onely Tumults but Wars The beginning was by Tumults and in the City from whence also the following Insurrections in the neer Counties had their original and was by Apprentices and loose young people playing in More-fields upon a Sunday the ninth day of April who dispising the authority of Magistrates set upon a Captain of the trained Bands and with stones beat him out of the fields and taking away his colours with them they marched a disorderly rout gathering up many of the scum of the people as they passed to Westminster crying out as they went that they were for King Charls But they by a Troop of Horse out of the Mews were quickly scattered But running back and getting into London while other
disorderly fellows came into them they remained all night in a whole body filling the City with fears so that the Lord Major a man cordial to the Parliament was enforced to escape privily out of his House and flye into the Tower In the morning General Fairfax to crush this mischief in the beginning before the wound were grown incurable by the concourse of wicked men sent a part of his Army into the City who vanquishing the Seditious and driving them into Leaden Hall of whom some they carried away Prisoners with great valour and no less prudence quieted the Tumult For delivering the City from so horrid a danger thanks were given to the General both by the Parliament and the honest sober Citizens and a thousand pounds in money given as a gratuity to the Souldiers In the very Petitions also at that Malignant time nothing but sedition War was contained as appeared in those of Surrey and Kent From Surrey about three hundred came to Westminster on the twenty sixth of May bringing a Petition to the Parliament in which they did not so much entreat as command in high words That the King should presently be restored to his former dignity and come to Westminster with Honour Freedom and safety to treat personally there about all Controversies that the Army should presently be disbanded and the free people of England be governed by their known Laws and Statutes with other things of this nature Nor would these Surrey-men that brought the Petition endure any delay no not so much as till the Parliament could debate about it but being extream insolent cursing and railing openly at the Parliament they set upon the Souldiers who were their guard of whom some they hurt and one they killed Upon which a troop of Horse from the Mews and some Foot were sent to help their Fellows who soon vanquished and scattered those Country Fellows and slew some of them This was the end of that seditious Petition of Surrey At that time the Kentish-men were coming with a Petition of that nature who being in number of a good Army seemed afar off to threaten the Parliament They had been the more stirred by reason of a severe punishment of some of their Country-men who had lately raised a sedition about Canterbury against these Kentish-men the Parliament provided no smaller defence then the General Fairfax himself who with seven Regiments marched away to Black Heath neer Greenwich of whose success we shall speak afterwards The Parliament had before designed that General Fairfax should march into the North to defend those parts but nearer dangers detained him in the South For at this time scarce any part of England was quiet in every place tumults insurrections and Wars were threatned To quell all these which was wonderful one onely Army sufficed by the great blessing of God upon it Which Army as when it was conjoyned in one year Anno Dom. 1646. it quite vanquished and broke all the Kings flourishing strength and reduced the Kingdom to the obedience of Parliament so at this time with no less fortitude and felicity being divided into parts in all corners of the Kingdom it continued Victorious so that fortitude and fortune might seeme in that Army as the soul in an humane body to be all in the whole and all in every part For besides those light and soon-suppressed insurrections of Suffolke in the East and of Stamford in the mid-land part by Col. Wait and others and of Cornwal in the West by Sir Hardresse Waller more great and formidable insurrections happened in the Northern parts and in Wales In the beginning of May the North was infested by some of the Kings Commanders Sir Thomas Glenham who had before governed so many Garisons of the Kings as Carlisle York and Oxford and lost them all had now with no better success seized upon Carlisle And at the same time Sir Marmaduke Langdale of whom we spake before had seized upon Berwick and fortified it The strong Castle also of Pomfret was then taken by the Royalists who by treachery had slain the Governour thereof To manage these Wars in the North Lambert a stout Commander and Major-General of those Counties was left with some Regiments of the Fairfaxian Army But dangers of a more horrid degree seemed to threaten the Parliament in Wales not onely from ancient and formerly-vanquished Enemies but those who had before been Parliament-Commanders and had now forsaken their side and cause namely the Colonels Poyer and Powel and him that had so often so well deserved of the Parliament Laughorn himself Poyer who had hitherto kept the Town and strong Castle of Pembrook for the Parliament now strengthned by the concourse of malignant people with great animosity maintained it against them Laughorn a Commander of great esteem in those parts had raised a gallant Army under whom Colonel Powel served In a small time the Welch coming in apace to him Laughorns Army was so increased that he mustered 8000. Both Laughorn Poyer as it afterward appeared entred into this War by a Commission received from Prince Charles whose Auspicy proved no better then his Fathers Colonel Horton with a small part of the Fairfaxian Army and some other raised forces went against them with three thousand men But it pleased God the giver of all Victories that the success was not according to the number for Horton on the eighth day of May between the two Towns of Fagans and. Peterstone encountring with Laughorn totally routed and put to flight his whole Army consisting of eight thousand Horse and Foot A great slaughter was made upon the place and the number of Prisoners being three thousand equalled the number of the Victorious Army among whom were taken about an hundred and fifty Officers a great number of Colours and quantity of Arms with all their Ordnance There was scarce a more happy Victory as the condition of things then stood to the Parliament then this of Hortons for which by order of Parliament a publike thanksgiving to God was celebrated Laughorn and Powel escaping by flight got to Poyer into Pembrook Castle Cromwell himself about the beginning of May was sent into Wales with some Regiments who on the eleventh day of that moneth came to Chepstow Castle which he resolved to besiege but hastening to Pembrook he left Colonel Ewer at Chepstow who within fifteen days took that Castle and killed Kemish to whom before the place had been betrayed and Cromwel on the twentieth of May came to Pembrook Poyer relying on the strength of the place refused all conditions knowing besides that time was now pretious to the Parliament being then entangled in so many difficulties at once But Cromwel not being accustomed to despair of any thing prepared for the Siege being much furthered in his work from the Sea by the great industry of Sir George Ayscough who commanded there a squadron of the Navy Sir George Ayscough with much care and diligence from time to time