so much dexterity diligence and vigour as that they had reason to confess that the change of the Pilot and the entire obedience which is rendered to an absolute Captain who hath the sole power in his hands are but ill signs that the Vessel should be therefore the worse guided and conducted And to give you a proof of the truth the Hollanders having at that time a vast number of Merchant-men in their Harbours ready to set Sail durst not hazard them through the Channel although they had a Fleet of ninety Men of War to conduct them But conducted them by North of Scotland to reach the Sound where they met with another great Fleet of their Merchant-men some coming from Russia some from the East-Indies and others from France all which they carryed home into Holland after which hearing that the English Fleet was steered Northward instead of seeking them out and to take the advantage of the English divisions as they had pretended and bragged they amuzed themselves in making several bravadoes in such places where there was neither honour glory nor benefit to be acquired at length they steered towards the Downs where they carried away two or three despicable Barks and sent some volleys of Cannon into Dover their Hearts and their Sails being equally puffed up with these imaginary successes which savouring something of their old Masters Jack Spaniards Rodomontado's they thought they could not better express them then at that time saying That the English Fleet was to be cryed out by the sound of Trumpets and Horns as if she had been lost But the Winde being as unconstant as the Sea it self and as dangerous quickly tacked about to their confusion and the Old Proverb That all the evil comes from the North was made good to their cost and charges For the English Fleet returning on a suddain from the Northward on the twenty eighth of May came into Yarmouth-Road and on the first of June next ensuing being at an Anchor they discovered two Dutch Galliots to which they gave chase till they came up to the body of the Dutch Fleet. But the weather proving over-covered and dusky they could not joyn with them On the third the English being at Anchor near unto the South-point of the Gober descryed the Enemy about two Leagues to Leeward of them being about one hundred Sail of Ships wherefore without loss of time the English weighed and made up to them The engagement began between eleven and twelve at noon and for some hours the fight was sharp untill about six in the evening the enemy bare right way before the winde and so ended that dayes fight On the next morning both Fleets came in sight of each other but there was so little winde stirring that they could not engage each other till twelve at noon when as they fell to it again for good and all and after four hours fight which proved very disadvantagious to the Hollanders they thought it not fitting to contest any longer but to get away as well as they could However a fresh westerly gale arising very opportunely the English being encouraged by their flight bare in so hard amongst them that they took eleven Men of War and two water Hoyes in which fight one thousand five hundred prisoners were taken and six Captains besides which six Holland Men of War were sunk and all the rest of the Dutch Fleet had according to all probability been cut off had not the night happily closed in for them But the darkness growing on and the English finding themselves near the Flats and necessitated to stay and mend their Sails and Rigging which were much shattered and torne about ten at night they came to an Anchor The greatest loss the English sustained was of General Dean one of their Admirals who was taken off by a great shot in the first dayes ingagement and whose death did sufficiently recompence all the Enemies loss he having been a person of reputed Valour and great experience besides which there was one Captain slain and about one hundred and fifty men and two hundred and forty hurt but not one of the English Ships were lost That which greatly encouraged the English and disheartned the Dutch was the arival of General Blake to their aid and succour with sixteen good Men of War very opportunely Now the Dutch by the favour of the night being gotten off and having retired themselves into the Weilings the 〈…〉 and the Texel the English called a Councel of all the Officers to advise on what would be most expedient to be undertaken to improve this Victorie to the best advantage and it was resolved to advance with the whole Fleet as fast as they could to the Weilings as far as they could possibly approach with safety by reason of the Flats and Shelves and in this wise forrage the whole Dutch Coasts till they came to Texel which being accordingly performed and being arrived at the said height they there remained a pretty while taking every day some prizes more or less to the great prejudice of the Dutch whose Ships could neither get in or out of any of their Ports as long as the English continued there Nor could their Men of War unite and come to a head to make a body to come forth Wherefore leaving them to take breath and to recollect their spirits again and so to think of the best means for their Deliverance we will return for England again with our Fleet and see how squares stands there General Cromwel who alwayes made use of more moderation then power in the Rise of his Fortune being unwilling to deprive England of her ancient Liberties and Priviledges resolved together with the chief Officers of his Army to assemble a Parliament To invest them with the power of administring and exercising the Laws and to appoint them as it were Judges of his Councel and Government And the Warrants requisite thereunto were issued out unto such persons as through England Scotland and Ireland were chosen by himself and his Councel to assist in the said Parliament for them to meet in the Councel-Room at White-Hall on the fourth day of the moneth of July in the year of our Lord. 1653. A forme of which said Warrant you have as followeth viz. For asmuch as upon the dissolution of the late Parliament it became necessary that the Peace Safety and good Government of this Commonwealth should be provided for and in Order thereunto diverse persons fearing God and of approved sidelity and honesty are by my self with the advice of my Councel of Officers nominated to whom the great charge and trust of so weighty Affairs is to be Committed And having good assurance of the love to and courage for God and the interest of his Cause and the good people of this Commonwealth I Oliver Cromwel Captain General and Commander in chief of all the Army and Forces raised and to be raised within this Commonwealth do hereby Summon and
him that the Holland Fleet was not far off whereupon calling a Councel of Warre it was conceived they might be met with about the Coast of France a Resolution was taken to make Saile thitherwards and the same day which was the sixteenth of August betwixt one and two of the Clock in the Afternoon they discovered the Holland Fleet and immediatly made up towards them as fast as they could and found them to be sixty Men of Warre and thirty Merchant men the English were but eight and thirty Men of Warre foure Fire Ships and foure small Frigats who notwithstanding the inequalitie of of their Number about foure of the Clock of the said Afternoon encountred the Enemy with as much Gallantry and Resolution as possible could be expected And Sir George Askue seconded by six other Ships immediatly Charged into the very Body of the Enemy and however they were sufficiently damaged by this first Charge in their Sailes Masts and Yards yet they got to the Wind-ward of their Enemies and once againe Charged the whole Body of them continuing their said Combat very fiercely in this wise and alwayes being intermingled pell-mell with the Enemy untill the obscurnesse of the Night had seperated them and had the rest of the Fleet imployed their parts as well as Sir George Askue's Squadron did it is believed the whole Hollands Fleet had been destroyed amongst the English there were severall hurt and killed however but one Person of Note Captaine Pack a Person of Honour and a very Valiant stout and experienced Sea-man whose Legg being shot off by a Cannon Bullet he died immediatly there were also two other Captaines hurt Viz. Little and Whiteridge Two of the Holland Men of Warre and one of their Fire Ships were sunck as might be guest by the Wrecks afterwards for the Night which terminated this Fight did also debarre the sight of the Fleets what it had produced So that the Hollanders continued their Course towards the Coast of France and the English towards Plimouth to repaire their Vesseels but especially their Masts Yards and Tackling which were so much endamaged that they were forced to give over the pursuite of the Enemy And much about the same time that this Fight happened Generall Blake steeting North-wards took six Holland Ships of a great value about the Downes and sent one Frigat toward the East to re-inforce Sir George Askue presently afterwards Captaine Penne plying also upon the Coast of France took six Holland Ships which had formerly been in the Venetian Service and were all of them bound homewards richly Laden being all Men of Warre of considerable Burthen On the fifth of September General Blakes Fleet riding at Anchor in the Downes having notice that a French Fleet was to touch in Callis Road there to take both Men and Ammunition on Boord for the Reliefe of Dunkirk he weighed Anchor and made towards them and about five in the Evening they were tiding it out of Callis Road with a Designe in the Night to have set Saile towards Dunkirk But General Blake as soon as they were got to Sea gave them Chace and pursued them to the very Flats before Dunkirk as farre as he durst by reason of the Flats and the Burthen of his Ships he took seven of their Men of Warre the least carrying two and twenty Guns and one Frigat with eight Guns and also one of their Fire Ships whereupon the Garrison of Dunkirk having been disappointed of their expected Reliefe of Ammunitions and Provisions Not long after was forced together with the rest of the Garrisons which depended on the same to yield to the Spaniards On the twenty seventh of September General Blake discovered about sixty Saile of Holland Men of Warre Commanded by Admiral Dewit on the back-side of the Goodwin Sands so that next day he set Saile and made towards the Enemy but falling upon a Flat called the Kentish Knock under which the Hollander had purposely sheltred themselves to endanger the English should they attempt to gain the Windward of them they found they had but three Fathome Water so that severall of the Fleet struck upon the Sands but had no other harme which caused them to stand off againe and to make directly towards the Enemy endeavouring to engage them to a Fight But the Hollander being unwilling to engage all that day past in slight Skirmishes onely towards Evening the Hollanders changed their Station but kept themselves off from the English towards the Flats making a shew of being desisirous to fight But the next Morning by break of day the English Fleet perceiving that the Hollanders were gone about two Leagues Northward from them they resolved although they had but very little Wind and that various to make up towards them which they endeavoured all the Morning but could not reach them the Wind being come North inclined to the West However the best Sailing Frigats were commanded to make after them and to keep them in play till the rest of the Fleet could get up to them and about three in the Afternoon the said Frigats with much ado got within shot of them but the Hollander fearing least by degrees they might be drawn to a generall Combat as it indeed was the English's Designe hoyst up their maine Top-sailes and fairely run away Notwithstanding which ten good Frigats gave the Chace till ten at Night and the next Morning by the favour of a fresh Gale from the Southwest the whole Fleet pursued them till they came to West Cappell in Zeland when as they put into Gore the English would faine have falne on and fought them in their own Ports but a Councel of Warre being called it was judged unfitting to pursue them any further upon their owne Coasts by reason of the Flats and also by reason that the English Provisions began to fall short The Hollanāers loss in this Encounter is not well known that which was visible was that three of their Ships were disembled from fighting the one having her Main-mast shot downe and the Mizen-mast Bowsprits Staies and Tackling of the other two the Admiral of their Reare Squadron was reduced to so ill a plight as being not able to make any way of her self they were constrained to tow her a long by a Hoy of two and thirty great Guns which advanced but slowly forward so that the Nonesuch Frigat boarded her and having put thirty men over into each Vessell they mastered them but finding that they were extream leakie and began to sinck they took eighty men out of them and their Officers the Reare Admiral and the Captaine and left the Hulks to serve the dead men for a Coffin The English had but forty men killed and as many hurt Now the fame of this notable Warre between these two Queenly and Mistress Common-wealths of the Navigation having spread it self throughout the Universe in all places where Trade and Commerce is used The effects thereof appeared shortly
December they appeared on the back of the Goodwins the English Fleet under General Blakes Command consisted but in two and forty Ships ill furnished wanting Men and all other Necessaries The greatest part of the best Ships having been rendred incapable of going forth to Sea whereas there was the greatest occasion to make use of them which happened either by the negligence or rather by the perfideousness and treachery and set Malice of some who at that time had the management of the Sea Affaires being over jealous that the Military Persons and Men of Action should grow too high and over-top them although afterwards God in his own time found out these men and caused them to give an account of these their pernitious aversnesse to the publicke Good of the Common-wealth and to the private interests of the particular Members thereof Hower the English notwithstandsting the Inequality of their Forces resolved to Launch out and fight them so that on the thirtieth of December being a very faire day both Fleets steering Westward encountred each other about eleven of the Clock in the Morning and began the Fight the English having the upper hand of the Wind of two and forty English Ships not one halfe of them engaged in the fight for want of men insomuch that twenty or two and twenty Ships bare the brunt of the puissant Holland Fleet. The Avant guard and the Victory two brave Frigats having been the whole day engaged in the midst of the Enemy firing from all sides got off in a very good Condition But towards the Evening the Garland carrying about forty pieces of Cannon was boorded at once by two great Dutch Ships which she manfully resisted till her Decks were quite unfurnished of men which having blowne up and finally being over powered on all sides was forced to yield The Bonaventure being a Merchant-man but a good Vessell going to relieve the Garland was clapt aboord by a Man of Warre and after she had severall times cleered her Decks of the Enemy which were gotten into her at length by the death of her Captaine who behaved himselfe stoutly she lost both Strength and Courage and so fell into the hands of her Enemies Meanwhile Generall Blake who Commanded the Triumph seeing this Disorder plunged into the thickest of his Enemies to rescue the Garland had his fore-Mast shot downe close by the Boord and was Clapt on Boord by the Enemy but having stoutly defended himselfe and severall times beaten them off againe he at length got cleare of them and went off with the rest of his Fleet onely with the losse of two Ships which cost the Dutch deare enough before they got them and after the fight two English Merchant-men falling casually into the Hollanders hands helped to make up the Friutes of this their great boasted of Victory over the English which being in it selfe but a small Check served onely to whet the Valour of the English and to edge them on with the more vehemency to dissipate that Ecclipse which had so lately over Clouded their wonted Glory Wherefore they made a very considerable Sea Equipage and fitted out with all speed a brave Fleet of the best and gallantest Ships as well to bring downe their Enemies Pride who were devoid of all Moderation after this their pretended Successe as to stop and silence the Murmurings and Clamour of the People against those who at that time held and guided the Reines of the State some of which behaved themselves so untoward that it could not be imagined save that by a base and vile black pollicy they intended together with the Ruine of Maratine Affaires to bring Destruction upon the whole LAND THE HISTORY OF OLIVER Lord Protector From his Cradle to his Tomb. HIs Highness at that time being General was as it were seized with a kinde of horrour by the very sense of these disorders which could not be excused either by reason of the disabillity of the Countrey of any misfortunes or ill accidents nor by any imprudence but were manifestly committed out of meer malice through a blinde zealous ambition His great soul did even reproach him inwardly for letting the honour of his Countrey as it were fall to the ground and that a Million of brave Merchants were suffered to run into perdition by default of a discreet Pilot to steer at the Helme which was so ill guided and although the Sea-affairs did not properly concerne him He conceived however that in case during the General Shipwrack he launched into the Main with some small Barks to save the grand Vessel and body of the State which was perishing he might do both a beneficial commendable and praise-worthy work He therefore believed that in Honour and Conscience he was bound to dive more narrowly into the secret of the Affairs and to employ the keenness of his Sword to set an edge upon the subtil Cabinet pens and mend their bluntness and dullness so that after the most requisite Orders for the arming and equipying of the Fleet had been issued out he hammered out some others for the better encouragement of the Sea-men in general as well Commanders and Soldiers as Mariners In reference whereunto it was ordered 1. That some musters should be advanced them to put themselves in a fit equipage to go to Sea and to leave a subsistence with theit families during their absence 2. That for every ship which was adjudged good prize in the Admiralty they should have two pounds per Ton and six pounds for every peece of Canon Brass or Iron as should be found in the said Vessels and the which should be equally distributed amongst them in relation to the Offices they bear in the Ship which had taken the said prize 3. That they should have ten pound for every peece of Cannon on board of such Ships as they should sink or destroy by firing or otherwise 4. That those who should enroll themselves before the forty dayes should be expired should receive a moneths pay as a gratuity which should not be put to accompt 5 That Hospitalls should be erected at Dover Deal and Sandwich for such sick and wounded Men as should be brought on shoar and that a Stock should be settled for their maintenance as also for the subsistence of such other sick and wounded men as by reason of their Diseases and Wounds could not be brought on shoar or should be too far from Hospitals Diverse other Ordinances of the like nature were also settled which did wonderfully encourage the Sea-men and Mariners so that toward the latter end of February 1653. the English put forth a puissant Fleet to Sea frighted with gallant men who were resolved to fight it out although at that time the Hollanders had made use of their best wits and stratagems and had negotiated almost with all the Nations of Europe to hinder the bringing into England any Pitch Tarr Masts and such other necessaries for the Navigation This brave Fleet being in a longing desire to
have since enjoyed in the heart of their Dominions and the Victories and Conquests which they may yet atchieve by this happy Union if their victorious and gallant Prince doth continue to accompany his Valour with those Vertues which are onely capable not onely to give him addition of Crowns but also to preserve them And lest I might insensibly out-slip my chief intent and purpose and engage my self in the giving of you a Relation of the chiefest and most important Wars and Transactions of all Europe should I recount unto you all the glorious Actions which have hapned since the Breach between England and Spain in which our late Protector bare away all the share at Sea and a very great part also by Land as in our joynt Conquests in Flanders and our particular ones in Lorain I shall therefore contract my pen a little and onely give you a Breviate of the chiefest Actions remitting the Reader to the more ample Histories both of France and England to peruse the Relation of those Victories wherewith Heaven hath blessed this Alliance for these late Years past In which the mature deliberations and good Councels do more concern his late Highness then the execution of those gallant Attempts which proceeded from them although in truth both the one and the other may well be attributed to his great prudence and to those Blessings which it hath pleased the Almighty to shower down upon his admirable good fortune of which take some few Instances It is apparent to all the world in what a manner his late Highness provided for the preservation of Jamaica notwithstanding all the force and attempts of Spain and the Indies to free that Island again although they never yet did set foot thereon save to their own shame and confusion having been driven thence again with the loss of all their Cannon and Baggage and the which happened two several times when as the Spaniards assembling all their Forces in the Indies came and encamped themselves in the Island with two or three thousand men had the time and opportunity to build and erect Forts and for the space of some dayes to settle themselves Notwithstanding which the English as if they were but newly arrived from England to attempt a new Conquest of the Island were constrained to imbark themselves and put to Sea again the wayes being not passable by Land and in that wise compassing the whole Island they made their descent at the very place where the Enemies were encamped and assailed them in their Forts and Breast-works with a far less number of men then theirs and drave the Spaniards quite from them and out of the Island killing and taking several of their men and retaining several of their great Guns and stately Standards as Trophies of their Victory Nor shall I enlarge upon that glorious Victory obtained by General Mountegue over the Spaniards at Sea which was the first that made this entrance into that famous War and gave the Spaniards to understand that it would cost them far more to transport their Gold from the Indies to Spain then to dig it out of the Mines or to refine it The ensuing Poem penned by one of the most exquisite Wits of England upon that subject may better suffice to satisfie the Reader of the gloriousness of the Fact and the shaming Stile which it is described by is more proper to express this Heroick Action then my low and unpolished Prose which might haply obscure and detract from the lustre and splendor of so brave an Exploit wherefore I have thought fit to insert the Poem it self Upon the present War with Spain and the first Victory obtained at Sea Now for some Ages had the pride of Spain Made the Sun shine on half the World in vain While she bid War to all that durst supply The place of those her Cruelty made dye Of Nature's Bounty men forbare totaste And the best Portion of the Earth lay waste From the New World her Silver and her Gold Came like a Tempest to confound the Old Feeding with these the brib'd Elector's Hopes She made at pleasure Emperors and Popes VVith these advancing her unjust Designs Europe was shaken with her Indian Mines VVhen our Protector looking with disdain Vpon this gilded Majesty of Spain And knowing well that Empire must decline Whose chief support and sinews are of Coyn Our Nation 's sollid vertue did oppose To the rich Troublers of the World's repose And now some moneths encamping on the Main Our Naval Army had besieged Spain They that the whole Worlds Monarchy design'd Are to their Ports by our bold Fleet confin'd From whence our Red Cross they triumphant see Riding without a Rival on the Sea Others may use the Ocean as their road Onely the English make it their abode Whose ready Sails with every Winde can flie And make a covenant with th'unconstant Skie Our Oaks secure as if they there took root We tread on Billows with a steady foot Mean while the Spaniards in America Near to the Line the Sun approaching saw And hop'd their European Coasts to find Clear'd from our ships by the Autumnal Winde Their huge capacious Gallions stuft with Plate The laboring winds drives slowly towards their fate Before Saint Lucar they their Guns discharge To tell their Joy or to invite a Barge This heard some Ships of ours though out of view As swift as Eagles to the quarry flew So heedless Lambs which for their mothers bleat Wake hungry Lions and become their meat Arriv'd they soon begin that Tragick play And with their smoakie Cannon banish day Night horror slaughter with confusion meets And in their sable Arms imbrace the Fleets Through yielding Planks the angry Bullets fly And of one Wound hundreds together dye Born under different Stars one Fate they have The Ship their Coffin and the Sea their Grave Bold were the men which on the Ocean first Spread their new Sails whilst shipwrack was the worst More danger now from men alone we find Then from the Rocks the Billows or the Wind. They that had sail'd from near th' Anartick Pole Their Treasure safe and all their Vessels whole In sight of their dear Countrey ruin'd be Without the guilt of either Rock or Sea What they would spare our fiercer Art destroyes Excelling storms in terror and in noise Once Jove from Hyda did both Hoasts survey And when he pleas'd to Thunder part the Fray Here Heaven in vain that kinde Retreat should sound The louder Canon had the thunder drown'd Some we made Prize while others burnt rent With their rich Lading to the bottom went Down sinks at once so Fortune with us sports The Pay of Armies and the Pride of Courts Vain man whose rage buries as low that store As Avarice had digg'd for it before What Earth in her dark bowels could not keep From greedy hands lies safer in the Deep Where Thetis kindly doth from mortals hide Those seeds of Luxury Debate and Pride
this so eminent a charge as that envy it self is constrained to confess that his Fathers wisdome could not have made a better choice Much about this time the Officers at Mardike in whose breasts the rigour of the winter did onely excite the heat of those designs which they had conceived in their souls being desirous to imploy part of that unprofitable season to concourse and consult that Oracle of Prudence who by the conduct of their Heroick Projects did inspire into them the vertue and efficacy to compass their designs and to surmount even the greatest difficulties Sir John Reynolds I say Commander in chief Collonel White and some other Officers being impatient to enjoy the happiness of seeing and consulting his Highness embarqued at Mardike for England but the mischance was that being assailed by a tempest they were unfortunately cast away upon the Goodwin Sands and so frustrated all the world of the expectations of those fair hopes which were conceived of their valours and of so fortunate beginnings On the fourth day of the moneth of February then next ensuing his late Highness repaired to the Lords House then in Parliament and having sent notice thereof to the House of Commons by the Keeper of the Black-Rod the Speaker with the Members came to the Lords House where standing without the Bar and his Highness within under a Cloath of State being animated with his wonted vigour and resolution succinctly told them without many preambles That it concerned his Interest as much as the publike Peace and Tranquility to terminate this Parliament so that he was come thither to dissolve the same which was also immediately performed On the twelfth day of the moneth of March ensuing his late Highness being desirous to oblige the City of London in a particular manner and at the same time to witness unto them the care he took for their preservation and tranquillity he sent for the Lord Major the Aldermen and the other Magistrates of the City and having made them sensible of his tenderness and care for their good he also represented unto them that during the Calm Tempests were most of all to be apprehended so that at such times the requisite Orders and necessary preventions to resist Troubles were to be chiefly minded For to this knowing and vigilant Spirit to whom nothing was dark or hid this penetrating Light who could pry even into mens hearts and who from out of his Cabinet could discover the most secret Plots which were hatching throughout all Europe declared unto them That the Enemies both of the State and of their City did not sleep although it seemed they were quite lulled That their City was great and vaste and like unto a corpulent Body nourished several ill humours That he requested them for their own goods to have a special care and to bear a watchful eye That he relied much upon their Vigilancy and Affection and that all he could contribute thereunto on his behalf was to re-establish the City Militia which had been abolished through the disorder of the foregoing Wars and to desire them to appoint for their Officers persons of Honour and Probity well-wishers and friends to the peace and quietness of the State and publique Good Whereupon the Lord Major and Officers having returned thanks to his Highness for so signal a Mark of his confidence and goodness towards them proceeded to settle the Militia and repayed him with all the Obedience and Fidelity which a Magnanimous Prince could expect from Subjects who were well versed in the duties they owed to a Governour who had rid them of a world of miseries and delivered them from the burthen of a Civil War Nor was this precaution or forewarning of his late Highness without some grounds or foundation for on the twenty fourth of the said Moneth the quiet Serpent which hatched its poison under the green grass unawares let slip a Hiss whereupon an exact search was made throughout all London and Westminster for suspected persons divers of which were secured and imprisoned His late Highness knowing full well that States are maintained as well by Justice as by force of Arms and that those chiefly stand in need of both which through the divisions of Mens mindes touching Spiritual concernments seem to be in a continual apprehension of those revolutions which at all times have been caused in the World by the means of these diversities of opinions His Highness I say through the cause of these apprehensions and the discoveries which were already made as aforesaid caused a High Court of Justice to be erected according as it had been decreed by an Act of Parliament and settled under the great Seal of England and truly it was high time for the Swords of Justice to appear to chastise the Conspirators since the sparkles of their fury had spread themselves abroad through its veil rather by their immoderate heat then their sad looks several persons of quality were imprisoned in the Tower of London and within few dayes afterwards just like unto a River which is ready to disgorge it self into the Sea appears great and violent at its entrance so also the Conspiracy being just ready to break forth appeared the more formidable and assured there were whole Regiments enrolled and in the midnight of May-day they should have set fire on several parts of the City and whilest the confusion and horror thereof had seized all men they should have made a general Massacre of all those who would have opposed their fury His Highness like unto the Sun elevated up to the highest Heaven peirced through all those other Sphears which were darkned to all other Lights but his and dissipated those Fogs and Mists which the darkness of the Furies had spread over the City of London for on the morning of that fatal intended day the Guards were doubled both within and without the City and about five of the Clock in the Evening both Horse and Foot were drawn up in Arms the City Militia likewise keeping strong Guards all that night to prevent and hinder so sad and horrid an attempt Mean while all care was taken to discover the Firebrands before they could enter upon their exploit and as Enterprizes wherein so many persons are engaged cannot remain very secret or hidden about seven of the Clock that Evening about forty of the Conspirators were taken and carried to White-Hall and on the day following several others of all kindes and conditions were also apprehended as Gentlemen Merchants Souldiers and the like many of which were condemned to dye as Traytors but his late Highness was so merciful to pardon the most part of them to the end that like unto a second Augustus he might gain by his Clemency those hearts which would not be mollified by the horror of the undertakings nor the rigour and severity of the punishments On the second day of the moneth of June then next ensuing there arrived a strange accident on
the Spirit hath no other relief but that of Grace and Reason This his preservation was also an effect of his Prayers which he had chosen with a great deal of prudence out of the holy Writs He caused one of his Gentlemen often to read the tenth Chapter of Matthew's Gospel and twice a day himself rehearsed the 71. Psalm of David which hath so near a relation to his Fortune and to his Affairs as that one would believe it had been a Prophesie purposely dictated by the holy Ghost for him or else that this great Personage was a Mortal Figure of that great Favourite of God who hath done so many marvellous things with such slender beginnings passing through so many obstacles difficulties and dangers so likewise was it very just that he should enter into the eternal Rest on the like day wherein he had undergone such great and glorious Labours and Dangers and that he should triumph over Death even in his weakness at the like time wherein he had overcome her at her fullest strength and greatest advantages This conformity happened unto him as well as to several other great Personages of the Earth but by such observable and reiterated notable actions as that it is void of all doubt but the Heavens had foretold by the Stars which are the Looking-glasses and Rule of all famous Mens Lives the Events of our glorious Protectors successes To instance in some Alexander the Great was born on the sixth day of April on the like day the famous Temple of Diana at Ephesus was burnt presaging that fire which this Conqueror should kindle in Asia On a sixth day of April he overcame Darius King of Persia in a Battle and on the like day he departed this life whereunto there may be added that his Birth was preceded by a famous Victory which the Greeks his Subjects obtained on a sixth day of April against the Persians hard by Plutea and by a Naval Combat which also happened the same day So likewise Pompey was born and triumphed on a like day to wit the thirtieth of the Moneth of September Charles the Fifth the Emperour had also such like observable Encounters he was born on a twenty fourth of February and being twenty four years old on the like day he obtained a great Victory in which a great King was taken prisoner And on a twenty fourth day of February he was crowned Emperour by the Pope But not to look any further then our own Countrey and into our own Histories It is observed that his late Highness our present Lord Protector Richard was Installed in his Protectorship on the like day being a third day of September when as Richard the First that Famous King of England so much spoken of in the Histories by reason of his great Wit Understanding and Resolution began his Reign an accident which cannot choose but promise a most favourable Omen and good Token In like manner his late Highness had more favourable and famous dayes encountring together then any of those foregoing Worthies which we have specified For on a third of September he was confirmed in his Protectorship by the Parliament On a third of September he gained in Scotland that famous Battel of Dunbar On a third of September he gained that great Battel at Worcester And Finally on a third of September his glorious life was Crowned with a peaceable and resolved death in the midst of all his Triumphs in his Palace at White-hall with all the comforts which good hopes could give in his posterity both to his Children and to the Companions of his Fortune The Corps of his late Highness having been Embalmed and wrapped up in a sheet of Lead was on the six and twentieth of September about ten of the Clock at night privately removed from White-hall to Sommerset-house being onely attended by his own Domestick Officers and Servants as the Lord Chamberlain and Comptroller of the Houshold the Gentlemen of the Life-guard the Guard of Halberdiers and divers other Officers and Servants two Heralds of Arms went next before the Corps which was placed in a morning Hearse drawn by six Horses in which manner it was carried to Sommerset-House where it remained for some dayes in private untill things were in a readiness to expose it in State to a publick view which was performed with the following order and Solemnity The first Room at Sommerset-House where the Spectators entred was formerly the Presence Chamber compleatly hung with Black at the upper end whereof was placed a Cloth of State with a Chair of State under the same The second large Room was formerly the Privy Chamber hung with Black with a Cloth and Chair of State under the same The third Room was formerly the Withdrawing Room hung with BlackCloth had a Cloth and Chair of State in it as the former all which three large Rooms were compleatly furnished with Scutcheons of his Highness Arms crowned with the Imperial Crown and at the head of each Cloth of State was fixed a large majestique Scutcheon fairly painted and gilt upon Taffity The fourth Room where both the Corps and the Effigies did lye was compleatly hung with Black Velvet and the Roof was cieled with Velvet and a large Canopy or Cloth of State of black Velvet fringed was plated over the Effigies made to the life in Wax The Effigies it self being apparel'd in a rich suit of uncut Velvet robed in a little Robe of Purple Velvet laced with a rich Gold Lace and furr'd with Ermins upon the Kirtle was the Royal large Robe of the like purple Velvet laced and furred with Ermins with rich strings and tassels of Gold the Kirtle being girt with a rich embroidered Belt wherein was a fair Sword richly gilt and hatch'd with Gold hanging by the side of the Effigies In the right hand was the Golden Scepter representing Government in the left hand the Globe denoting Principality upon the Head a purple Velvet Cap furr'd with Ermins signifying Regality Behinde the Head there was placed a rich Chair of State of tissued Gold and upon the Cushion which lay thereon was placed an Imperial Crown set with precious Stones The Body of the Effigies lay upon a Bed of State covered with a large Pall of black Velvet under which there was spread a fine Holland Sheet upon six stools of tissued Cloth of Gold on the sides of the Bed of State was placed a rich suit of compleat Armour representing his late Highness Command as General at the Feet of the Effigies stood his Crest according to the custom of ancient Monuments The Bed of State whereupon the Effigies did thus lie was ascended unto by two steps covered with the aforesaid Pall of Velvet the whole work being compassed about with Rails and Ballasters covered with Velvet at each corner whereof there was placed an upright Pillar covered with Velvet upon the tops whereof were the four Supporters of the Imperial Arms bearing Banners or Streamers Crowned The Pillars