an end to the fray and difference And the Major Generall being that afternoon made a Free-man of the City did a day or two after come up to London and render himself to the Counsel according to their Order whereupon he was dismissed and was by his Glocester friends chosen with free consent for one of their Burgesses Great were the expectations of this time what the Counsel of State would do concerning the King many being of opinion and resting confident that they would bring him in before the beginning of the Parliament all men antedating the time of his restoration by their longing and earnest desires of that happy day wherein they might see him setled upon the Throne of his Ancestors and the Nation restored to its true and ancient Liberties The designes of the Fanaticks did now appear almost in every County but the head being brok in Lambert the Members could not long enjoy life and motion but in every County they were dispersed and the chief Ringleaders taken amongst whom Major General Harrison who was taken in Staford-shire was most considerable But the 25th of April being now come a day of greatest expectation by the whole Nation the Parliament met in their House where the first day nothing of moment passed but only they chose their Speakers and Sr Harbotle Grimstone for the House of Commons a man of eminent parts and deserts The next day the House of Commons appointed severall Committees to take care of such things as were first to come under consideration and the first was concerning double elections and till the business was determined none but those who were returned in both the indentures were to sit in the House A Bill against vagrants wandring idle and dissolute persons was read And not long after The Lords confirmed their old Speaker the Earl of Manchester Both houses likewise Ordered Thursday May 10. to be set apart for a day of publick thanksgiving to Almighty God for his wonderfull goodnesse in stirring up and assisting of General Monck and other worthy persons in being so grandly instrumentall to the restoring of happinesse to their Country and Ordered to be observed by this House and the Cities of London and Westminster and late Lines of Communication and that the Thursday fortnight after be likewise observed the whole Nation and this their Resolve being by Mr Herbert carried up to the Lords they immediately concurred with them therein and so passed the Orders The Commons resolved that the thanks of their House should be given to Generall Monck as an acknowledgement of his eminent and unparalleled services for the good of these Nations and likewise Ordered thanks to be returned to Coll. Ingoldsby for his late eminent services both which were by the Speaker elegantly performed accordingly The Houses on Friday April 27. adjourned till the Tuesday following appointing Munday to be observed as a day of Humiliation by both Houses whereon Dr Reynold and Mr Hardy preached before the Lords and Dr Gauden Mr Calamy and Mr Baxter before the House of Commons And now appeared that happy day Tuesday May 1st which is not to be mentioned amongst English men without praise to Almighty God for his infinite mercy it being the day whereon he pleased at length to bring us out of that masse of confusion and misery into which his just hand had suffered us to plunge our selves into our former blessed and happy estate For the Parliament having received by Sr John Greenvile his Majesties most Gracious Letters and Declarations it was unanimously passed by both Houses That according to the ancient and fundamentall Laws of this Kingdome the Government is and ought to be by King Lords and Commons The Kings Majesty besides his Letters to both Houses and Declaration had likewise sent a Letter to General Monck with the Officers under his Command together with one to General Mountague and the Commanders at Seas The substance of all which was His Majesties free and Gracious pardon to all that should within fourty daies lay hold on the same with resolution as far as in him lies to preserve them free from injury in their lives and Estates liberty for tender Consciences and such as differ in matters of Religion provided they disturb not the peace of the Nation and that all things relating to Sales and Purchases shall be determined in Parliament And the full satisfaction of the Arrears of the Souldiery and receiving them into his Majesties pay Upon the reading of the fore-mention Letters and Declaration in the Houses there was all reverence shown due to his Majesty and so Royall a concession and one thing is worth observation that the first who celebrated his Majesties grace and extraordinary goodnesse was Luke Robinson a man whose former actings had rendred him deservedly odious but now I hope he hath made a reall repentance Never was Vote received with more joy then this was by the Citizens and all others who could hear of it at night the Bels Bonfires and shouts of the people did highly demonstrate their extraordinary content and satisfaction On the next day the House of Commons agreed upon a Letter in answer to his Majesty and resolved that the Superscription should be To the Kings most excellent Majesty And General Monck acquainted the House with an Addresse made to him by the Officers of the Army wherein they did with one heart testifie their resolutions to demonstrate themselves the best and most loyall of his Majesties Subjects Which Addresse was presented to the Generall by Coll. Sr John Lenthall and subscribed by all the chief Officers then in London The House Resolved that Dr Claerges have leave of the House to go to the King with the Lord Generals answer to his Majesties Letter to him They likewise Resolved that Sr John Greenvile should have the thanks of the House and receive 500lb to buy him a jewel as a restimony of their respect to him Honest Ald. Robinson acquainted the House That the Lord Major Aldermen and Commoncounsel had likewise received a Letter with the Declaration from his Majesty to which they desired liberty of the Parliament to return an answer which was by this House accordingly granted An Agreement was made between this Commonwealth and the King of Spain for metuall exchange of all prisoners which was signed by the Marquesse of Caracena on the behalf of his Catholick Majesty and the Lord General Monck in behalf of this Commonwealth and the Orders taken according for the transportation of such Spaniards as were prisoners here which agreement is hoped will not end there but that there will shortly be a finall conclusion of all differences between both Nations May 3. The Lords and Commons Ordered a Declaration for continuance of all Sheriffs Justices of the Peace Major and other Officers that were in office the 25th of April 1660. and to exercise their functions in his Majesties name and stile and suppresse all unlawfull Assemblies and punish all misdemeanours against his Majesties Royall
the black Rod to the House to desire their attendance on the Lords but they refused to give him entrance but understanding there were Guards in Westminster-Hall they thought it best to adjourn which they did till the following Munday being the 25th of April whereby they prevented both their formall and forceable dissolution But the next day being the 23 of April the Proclamation signed by his Highness the Lord Protector for the dissolution of the Parliament was published the Contents of it were as followeth By the Lord Protector A Proclamation for dissolving the Parliament Whereas we assembled our high Court of Parliament to assemble and meet at our City of Westminster the 27th day of January last which hath continued unto this present day And whereas we did by our Commission under the great Seal of England bearing date at Westminster this present 22 day of April for divers weighty reasons declare our pleasure and resolution to dissolve the said Parliament and to that end did thereby constitute and appoint our right trusty and right wellbelovod Counsellour Nathaneal Lord Fines one of the Keepers of our great Seal of England and others our Commissioners in our name this said present 22 day of April to dissolve our said Parliament which was by them done according to the tenor of the said Commission in the usuall place and by vertue hereof our said Parliament is absolutey dissolved Nevertheless we have thought it necessary by advice of our Privy Counsell by this our Proclamation to publish and make known the same to the end all Persons whom it may concern may take notice thereof Given at Whitehall the 22 day of April in the year of our Lord 1659. Yet notwithstanding this Proclamation the Members on Munday the 25th of April repaired to the House according to the vote of adjournment which they found guarded by red Coats whose Officers told them that they should not enter the House any more With the dissolution of this Parliament we may put a period to the short Reign of Richard Lord Protector no further use being made of him besides what a Declaration of the 25th of April commanding all Cavaliers and Papists to depart out of London upon these present disturbances did amount to Behold the visible hand of God that those very persons and Relations that Oliver had advanced into the highest places of trust for securing his usurped power are by the Almighty made instrumentall to pull down and destroy that which he had so perfidiouslly got by murther and hypocrisie Various Revolutions of Government in 1659 1660. BY the dissolution of the late Parliament the power over the Nations is devolved into the hands of those who devolved it they being then the only visible force I will not say power in these Nations viz. the chief Officers of the Army who first of all begin to modell their own Family which they did by cashiering those of the Protectorian faction for some such there were in the Army viz. Okey Ingolsby and Goffe and some others into whose places and commands they by their own authority put Lambert Haslerig Gbey and such others as had been displaced by the late deceased Protector These men considering that as they now stood they had no visible form of a Civil Government but their proceedings in this manner would render them most odious to the common people and in time ruin them begin to think what Civill Power they might establish which might be most concordant to their designes and at last send for some of the members of that Parliamentary Juncto which were dissolved by Generall Cromwell in 1653 to these they make motion of returning to the exercise of their trust desiring them to inform the Speaker and the rest of the Armies intentions They all readily and willingly assent but the Speaker makes some conscientious objections against their resitting which notwithstanding though I think they were never yet answered he at length consents to their desires whereupon the Army publish a large and specious Declaration asserting their resolutions to stand stedfast to the Good Old Cause as they called it with repentance for their errors and to that effect they conclude their Declaration to this purpose That they amongst other things calling to mind that the long Parliament consisting of the Members which continued their sitting untill the 20th of April 1953 were eminent assertors of that Cause and had a speciall presence of God with them and were signally blessed in that work the desires of many good people concurring with theirs therein they thought it their duty to invite the said Members to return to the exercise and discharge of their trust as before the said 20th of April 1653. And therefore they did by this Declaration earnestly desire the Parliament consisting of those Members who continued to sit since the year 1648 unto the 20th of April 1653 to return to the exercise and discharge of their trust that they should be ready in their places to yeeld them their utmost assistance to sit in safety for the improving present opportunity for setling and securing the peace and quiet of this Commonwealth praying for the presence and blessing of God upon their endeavours This Declaration published there were severall Articles agreed upon between the Officers of the Army and severall Members of the then to be restored part of a Parliament which accorded to and signed on the next day being the 7th of May 1659 they convented together in the Painted-Chamber where those Members appointed to meet being all present forty two in number the Speaker with the Mace carried before him and followed by the rest went into the House and took their places Upon notice that those men had taken their places in the House as a Parliament severall of the Members secluded in 1648 there being double the number of them in the City came into the Hall and agreed that some persons of their number should go up to the House to try whether they could find admittance The persons appointed to go up were Mr Ansley Sr George Booth Mr William Pryn Mr James Herbert Mr George Mountague Sr John Eveling Mr Eveling Mr Knightly Mr Gewen Mr John Herbert Mr Peck Mr Hungerford Mr Harly and Mr Clive these according to the desire of the rest went up but found restraint upon the House so that with much ado they prevailed to get into the Lobby but here they were opposed by Lieutenant Collonel Allen though they earnestly disputed the undoubted right they had to sit in the House as well as the others but no reasons could prevail Yet on Munday May 9th Mr Ansley Mr Pryn and Mr Hungerford understanding that there were no guards upon the House went to Westminster-Hall and found admittance without any opposition at first though afterward when Mr Ansley went forth to acquaint those secluded Members which attended their success in the Hall of their admittance endeavouring to enter again he and some others with him were forcibly kept
one Government they proceed to consider of the establishment of another but agree only in a negative Vote That there should for the future be no Government in England either by King or House of Lords They break the old Great Seal and cause a new one to be made which is delivered to the keeping of three Commissioners viz. Mr Keeble Mr Whitlock and Mr Lisle They likewise consider of Oaths to be administred to the Judges who thereupon meet and upon debate six of them are content to continue in their employments provided the fundamentall Laws of the Land be not altered which were viz. Chief Justice Rolles and Justice Jerman of the Kings Bench Lord Chief Justice St John Justice Phesant of the Common Pleas Lord Chief Baron Wild and Baron Yates and in order to these Judges satisfaction in their forementioned scruple the Parliament by their Declaration of the ninth of February do declare That they are fully resolved to maintain and shall and will uphold preserve and keep the fundamentall Laws of this Nation for and concerning the preservation of the lives properties and liberties of the people with all things incident there unto with the alterations touching King and House of Lords already resolved in this present Parliament for the good of the people and whatsoever shall be further necessary to the perfecting thereof and by it requiring all Judges Justices c. to execute and administer in their respective Offices and Trusts c. The House order a Committee to consider of such Persons as they should think fit to be Justices of the Peace throughout the Nation they likewise order another Committee to consider of Persons whom they might judg fit to constitute a Councell of State whose number should be forty whereof only five Lords or not above And whereas before they had only repealed they now wholly make void the Oath of Allegiance and Supremacy Thus though the Parliament are endeavouring all means to make themselves as secure and firm in the Government as they can yet are the people generally discontented those who formerly affected them now sensible of the inconveniencies like to ensue the cutting off of their Prince as much disaffect them so that there is generally plotting in all Countries which makes the Parliament send forces into severall Counties to keep them in awe whilest the Royalists in Pomfret Castle still hold out hoping some relief may arise from those so universall discontents But let us from England pass a little into Scotland and we shall find that the Kings death is much more resented there at the first news of his Condemnation they proclaim a solemn Fast with Prayers to God for his deliverance but upon the news of his Execution such was their sorrow that the whole City of Edenborough seemd a flood of tears The Parliament upon this exigence are convened and putting it to the vote it passed nemine contradicente that his Eldest Sonne should be proclaimed King and accordingly a Proclamation was drawn which because of some niceties in it not usuall in things of this nature I think fit to insert as followeth viz. The Estates of Parliament presently convened in this second Session of the second trienniall Parliament by vertue of an Act of the Committee of Estates who had power and authority from the last Parliament for convening the Parliament considering that forasmuch as the Kings Majesty who lately reigned is contrary to the dissent and protestation of this Kingdom removed by a violent death and that by the Lords blessing there is left unto us a righteous Heir and lawfull Successor Charles Prince of Scotland and Wales now King of Great Brittain France and Ireland We the Estates of the Parliament of the Kingdom of Scotland do therefore most unanimously and cheerfully in recognition and acknowledgment of his just right Title and succession to the Crown of these Kingdoms hereby proclaim and declare to all the world that the said Lord and Prince Charles is by the providence of God and by the lawfull and right of undoubted succession and descent King of Great Brittain France and Ireland whom all the subjects of this Kingdom are bound humbly and faithfully to obey maintain and defend according to the Nationall Covenant and the solemn League and Covenant betwixt the Kingdome with their lives and goods against all deadly enemies as their only righteous Soveraign Lord and King And because his Majesty is bound by the Law of God and fundamentall Laws of this Kingdom to rule in righteousness and equity to the honour of God the good of Religion and the wealth of his people it is hereby declared That before he be admitted to the exercise of his Royall power he shall give satisfaction to this Kingdom in those things that concern the security of Religion the unity betwixt the Kingdoms and the good and peace of this Kingdom according to the Nationall Covenont and the solemn League and Covenant for which end we are resolved with all possible expedition to make our humble and earnest addresses to his Majesty For the testification of all which we the Parliament of the Kingdom of Scotland publish this our acknowledgment of his just right Title and succession to the Crown of these Kingdoms at the Market-Cross in Edenborough with all usuall solemnities in like cases and ordain his Royall Name Portract and Seal to be used in the publike writings and Judicatories of this Kingdome and in the Mint-house as was usually done to his Royall Predecessors and command this Act to be proclaimed at all the Market-Crosses of the Royall Burghs within this Kingdom and to be printed that none may pretend ignorance God save King Charles the second This was done by the Parliament the Lords in all their Robes the Cross was richly hanged the Chancellor brought up the Proclamation read it to the King at Arms who proclaimed it there being an universall joy in the City and their great Guns from the Castle sending peals of the same into the adjacent Countries The solemnity being past care was taken for the sending Messengers to acquaint his Majesty with the business Sr Edward Douglas was chosen to go and acquaint him with it to desire him to take heed of evill Councellors c. that there should very speedily a more full address be made to him In the mean time a Fast is proclaimed and supplications made that God would prosper their addresses to him for the good both of the Kirk and State The Lords and the whole Parliament in the mean time put on mourning for the death of his Father But to return to England again The beheaded old King Charles was February 12. thirteen days after his death buried at Windsor in the same Vault where Henry the eighth was interred without any manner of solemnity the Bishop of London Dr Juxon and some few others attending him to his Funerall The Parliament not thinking that they are not yet secure enough whilest they have only power over
a few words of which these are part viz. It is easie to say the Lord hath done this it would do you good to see and hear our poor Foot go up and down making their boast of God but Sr it is in your hands and by this eminent mercy God puts it more in your hands to improve your power and his blessings to his praise we that serve you beg of you not to own us but God alone We pray you own his people more and more for they are the Chariots and horsemen of Israell disown your selves but own your authority and improve it to curb the Proud and the insolent such as would disturb the tranquility of England though under what specious pretences foever c. Again Since we came into Scotland it hath been our desire and longing to have avoided bloud in this business by reason that God hath a people here fearing his Name though much deceived and to that end we have offered much love to such in the bowels of Christ and concerning the truth of our hearts therein we have appealed unto the Lord c. and more this is the great hand of the Lord and worthy the consideration of all those who taking into their hands the instruments of a foolish shepheard to wit medling with worldly policies and mixtures of earthly power to set up that which they call the Kingdom of Christ which is neither it and if it were would such means be found effectuall to that end and neglect or trust not to the Word of God the Sword of the Spirit which is alone powerfull and able for the setting up of that Kingdom and when trusted to will be found effectually able for that end and will also do it This is humbly offered for their sakes who have lately too much turned aside that they might turn again to preach JESVS CHRIST according to the simplicity of the Gospell c. If this man could not dissemble well who ever did The Parliament ordered that the Scottish Colours taken from Duke Hamilton at Preston in Lancashire and those sent from Dunbar taken at the now recited battell should be hanged up in Westminster hall the one on the one side and the other on the other side About this time died in the Isle of Wight the Princess Elizabeth third Daughter to the late King Charles who had her Funerall rights performed in Newport Church in the same Island Tuesed Sept. 24. presently after which the Parliament gave order for the sending of Henry Duke of Glocester her Brother to the University at Heidelberg a Town of the Prince Electors where the Parliament ordered him an allowance of 1500lb per annum Quam diu se bene gesserit In the mean time by the care and pains of the Lord Deputy Ireton Munster and Vlster are reduced to obedience except some Tories which stand out and lie sculcking in the woods and fastnesses Waterford being surrendred there was nothing now left towards the Conquest of that Countrey but Connaught to which effect Limerick as the pass into it was blockt up Deputy Ireton But let us by a little leave these affairs in Ireland for the more important affairs of Scotland After the Victory won at Dunbarr the Scots not only lose all their Arms and Artillery in the Camp but likewise quitted Leith and Edinburrough whereupon the Lord Generall the 7th of Septemb. sends four Regiments to take possession of Leith where they found 37 Guns mounted on the Platforms some shot and store of Ammunition and the same day Cromwell draws the rest of the Army into Edenburrough without any loss save the Arm of a Souldier though the Castle plaid hot upon them After the Army had spent some time in fortifying Leith and Cromwell had by beat of Drum and sound of Trumpet proclaimed a Protection of Markets and liberty of Trade in Edinborrough and Leith the Army advances towards Sterling whither most of the Scottish Nobility and Gentry had retired from Edenborrough and Leith and Septemb. 18. being within a mile of the Town a Counsell of Warre was called and a Summons resolved to be sent for its surrender to the service of the Commonwealth of England and accordingly a Trumpeter was sent with a Letter who being come near the Town was met by a Gentleman on foot with a Pike in his hand who told him that he would neither let him come in nor receive his Letter The same day the Scots sent our a Trumpet desiring a release of Prisoners upon ransome but Generall Cromwell returned answer That he came not thither to make merchandize of men but for the service and security of the Commonwealth of England The Summons sent to Sterling not being received caused Orders to be given for the getting of Ladders and all things necessary for a storm but upon second thoughts the strength of the Enemy and dangers being considered it was agreed that the Army should draw off which accordingly they did and marched to Linlithgow which place lying between Edinborrough and Sterling being judged fitting to be made a Garrison of the Generall ordered to be fortified and leaving in it five Troops of Horse and six Companies of Foot marched with the rest to Edinborrough About this time Sept. 23. the afflicted Kirk of Scotland appointed a solemn day of Fasting and Humiliation 1. To humble themselves for their too much confidence in the arm of flesh 2. For the malignity and prophaness of their Army 3. For the plunderings and wickedness of their Army when they were in England 4. For their not sufficient purging their Army 5. For their Commissioners unlawfull and surreptitious manner of prosecuting the Treaty with their King and their crooked wayes in bringing him home 6. For their not sufficient purging the Kings house 7. For the just grounds they have to beleeve his Majesties repentance was not sound nor from the heart In the mean time Generall Cromwell endeavours to beget a right understanding with those that dissented from the King but stood for the Kirk viz. Coll. Kerre and Straughan and their adherents for there were three factions in Scotland viz. one in the North was for the King without the Kirk another party in the West was for the Kirk without the King the third was for King and Kirk and these were they then at Sterling who bore the greatest sway viz. The Committee of Estates and Generall Assembly To Coll. Kerr c. Commis Generall Whalley is sent with a party but he accosts them first with a Letter declaring That it was not unknown what amicable wayes they had used to avoid the effusion of Christian blood before and since they came into Scotland which though hitherto hath been ineffectuall yet they should endeavour the same Shewing further That their arms were still stretched out to imbrace them when ever God should incline them to come in and that they sought not dominion over them to enslave them nor to depress their Kirk Government neither that they
possess which if you now deliver into my hands for his service you shall have fit terms for your self and those with you and ease the adjacent parts of a great Charge If you refuse I doubt not but in a short time by the Lords assistance to obtain what now I demand I expect your answer to morrow by seven of the Clock and rest To the Governour of Hume-Castle Your Servant George Fenwick To which the Governour next Morning returned this answer Right Honourable I have received a Trumpeter of yours as he tells me without a pass to render Hume-Castle to the Lord Generall Cromwell Please you I never saw your Generall As for Hume Castle it stands upon a Rock Given at Hume-Castle this day before seven a Clock So rests without prejudice to my native Country Your most humble Servant Tho. Cockburne After this conceited answer of the Governours he likewise salutes Collonel Fenwick with these Verses I William of the Wastle Am now in my Castle And awe the Dogs in Town Shan't gar me gang down But after the great Guns had played a little and a small breach was made at which Fenwicks men were ready to enter he was forced to surrender the Castle upon Quarter for life of which Captain Collinson with his Company took possession Collonel Moncke likewise though in somewhat longer time had the same fortune with three Regiments of Horse and Foot in reducing Timptallon-Castle which had many times cut off Passengers and done no little harm to the Country by frequent excursions the Governour and Souldiers finding no other Conditions being forced to surrender to mercy But to give some stop to the English Proceedings Generall Cromwell was taken with a violent Feaver which confined him many dayes to his Chamber insomuch that it was generally voted up and down the Scoth Camp that he was dead but a Trumpeter coming to Edinborough from Fife to demand restitution of a Ship laden with goods which was taken by the English Frigots going from Brunt Island to Fife and there confidently averring to the Souldiers that their Generall was dead which coming to Cromwels ears he caused the Trumpeter to be brought before him and not only gave him assurance of his life but of his recovery in great measure which at his return caused no small decrease of joy in the Scotch Army Generall Dean about this time arrived at Leith with a Squadron of English Ships bringing with him a convenient quantity of supplies both of men Money and provisions together with twenty seven flat bottomed Boats for transportation of the Army over into Fife so extreamly carefull were the Parliament of their Army in Scotland In the mean time the Scotch Levies go on vigorously Middleton marches out of the High-lands with a considerable number both of Horse and Foot The Town of Dundee to shew their affection to his Majesty advanced a brave Regiment of Horse at their own charge and sent them with six brass pieces of Ordnance for a present to their King at Sterling Whilest these things were acting in Scotland there happened a very strange accident at Oxford in England One Anne Green servant to Sr Thomas Read having been got with Childe by a Gentleman of the House about the fourth Moneth of her time by over-working fell in travell and not knowing what it might be went to the House of Office where with some straining an abortive Infant of about a span long fell from her which being found out she was carried prisoner to Oxford and there condemned for the Murther and hanged After she had hung near an hour all which time she was pulled by the Legs and strook on the Brest by some of her friends and some Souldiers that stood by with the But ends of their Muskets she was cut down put into a Coffin and brought to a house to be dissected by some Physicians when they opened the Coffin they perceived a ratling in her Throat whereupon one standing by stamped on her Brest and Belly but Dr Petty and two other Doctors present fell speedily to use some meanes to bring her to life which they did to the wonder of all men she still as upon the Gallows averring her innocency The Parliament now to abolish the shadow as well as formerly they had done the substance of Monarchy cause the Statuas of the late King which were set up at the West end of the Cathedrall of St Pauls Church aed that set up in the Royall Exchange to be pulled down and over the conspicuous place of the last caused this ignominious Motto to be set Exit Tyrannus Regum ultimus anno libertatis Angliae restitutae primo Anno Domini 1648. January 30. which might far better be inverted They likewise cause the Kings Arms in all places of the Kingdome to be defaced and expunged the Souldiers using all violence imaginable to his Majesties Pictures though but set up for Signs In the mean time the Parliament are courted by severall forreign Ambassadors from the Hollander Spaniard and Portugall all requesting peace and amity though 't is suspected the Hollander then intended a War But however the Parliament of England send over Oliver St John and Walter Strickland Esquires as Ambassadors extraordinary to Holland where they were entertained with a great deal of Ceremony The heads of their Ambassage was 1. That a firme league and confederacy be made between the two Republicks 2. That former treaties and agreements of trade and commerce be renewed 3. That the States of Holland would make strict search after the Murderers of Dr Dorislaus and that like affronts might be prevented for the future But notwithstanding the States had put out a Declaration commanding that none should upon strict amercements affront the English Ambassadors yet three Moneths were past and nothing agreed upon but innumerable affronts received the Ambassadors by Order of the Parliament of England returned home infect â pace But Van Trumps lying hovering with his Fleet of Scilly made the English Jealous that they intended some hostile attempt upon the place but the reason of his hovering being demanded the Hollanders answered that they only lay there to demand satisfaction for such Ships as those Pirates had taken from their people which satisfied for the present however the Parliament thought good to reduce those Isles under their own obedience which they shortly after did by a Fleet under Command of Admirall Blake and Sr George Askew In the mean time Cornet-Castle in the Isle of Guernsey which still held out with a Party for the King was assaulted by a considerable Party of Foot upon information given that there was but Forty men in the Castle and eighteen of them disabled when upon tryal there was found sixty good men in the Castle who made hot work for the assailants breaking their Ladders and killing many of them with Case-shot from the Flankers so that they were fain to get off by the Boat which proved as unfortunate two Boats full of
Souldiers being sunk by Shot from the Castle Captain Browne Bushell a Noble Royalist who had done many handsome actions for the service of both the Kings was beheaded under the Scaffold at Tower-hill In the mean time the Forces under Command of the Lord Deputy of Ireland scatter and disperse those Forces raised by Castle-haven Clanrickard Dillon and others in the Counties of Kerryathlone Monaghan and Wicklow and settle severall Garrisons to the distraction of most of their Enemies no considerable places being left to them but only Limerick and Galloway That considerable Garrison of Finnagh in Westmeath being surrendred to Commissary Generall Reynolds and Phelim Mac Hugh who came with 1500 Horse and Foot to its relief routed most of his Company slain and many considerable Officers taken prisoners But let us return again to the main business in Scotland Collonel Moncke with a Party of Horse and Foot marches towards Blackness a Garrison of the Scots which had much endammaged the English Quarters which after the Batteries raised and some Shot was spent was reduced the Defendants craving Quarter which considering the strength of the place was granted The Scots in the mean time grow powerfull for notwithstanding all the strifes and emulations amongst them an agreement is patcht up to the seeming satisfaction of all the dissenters they are likewise in hopes of a power to rise for them in Lanchashire which with a considerable Party promised from Scotland to joyn with them might confront any force of the Parliaments but the design is discovered before it was acted and Thomas Cooke Esquire of Grays-Inne the principall Agent for Lancashire taken Major Generall Harrison upon these discoveries is sent into the North with a Body of Horse and Foot and to oppose the Enemy if he should make an invade by way of Carlisle The above-mentioned plot was contrived throughout all England though by ill fortune timely prevented severall persons of quality but most Presbyterian Divines were taken viz. Mr Christopher Love Major Alford Major Adams Collonel Barton Mr Blackmore Mr Case Mr Cauton Dr Drake Captain Far Mr Gibbons Mr Hrviland Major Huntington Mr Ienkins Mr Iaquell Mr Iackson Lieutenant Collonel Iackson Captain Massey Mr Nalton Captain Potter Mr Robbinson Mr Sterks Collonel Sorton Collonel Vaughan and others of which only two suffered viz. Mr Love and Mr Gibbons who after many delays were beheaded on Tower-hill the 22. of August 1651. There hapned much about this time a petty rising in Wales two or three hundred persons being gathered together in behalf of the Scots King upon a report that the English Army was routed and the Scotch advancing into England but the design proved as void of success as the report was of truth But the Scots make severall in-falls upon the Out-guards and Garrisons of the English wherein they had frequently good success killing some and taking others having the advantage of the English in the knowledge of the Country which makes the English contract their Quarters drawing away the Out-Garrisons and putting the Army into a posture to march to Fife but the Ground not yet affording Grass or Oats the enterprize was for the present suspended The Scotch Levies were now compleated to 15000 Foot and 6000 Horse with which they march on this side Sterling to a place called Torwood where the King drew up most of his Horse and Foot and enrails them in a regular fortification Cromwell draws up his Army towards them and marched in Battalia within view of their Camp in hopes to draw them to a Fight but they got nothing else from them then some thundring Messengers from their great Artillery The Lord Generall vext at their delays fals upon Kalendar-house kept by a Party of theirs and in the end though it was stoutly defended out of hopes of relief takes it by storm but when this neither would provoke the Scots to fight he resolves now having so fit an opportunity to do that which he had so long intended viz. to land some men on Fife and accordingly Collonel Daniells Regiment of Foot having four Companies more joyned to it and four Troops of Horse all under Command of Collonel Overton being imbarqued at Leith under pretence of being sent for England arrived next morning on the other shore landed and intrenched in despite of a Party of Scots which strove to oppose them This News brought to the Lord Generall Major Generall Lambert is presently ordered with two Regiments of Horse and two of Foot to second them which they did but advice of it arriving in the Scotch Camp so alarm'd them that in all haste Major Generall Brown is sent with four Regiments of Horse and four of Foot to drive the English out which they might have done had not Major Generall Lambert been arrived before them So there being now almost an equall force the Fight began to the great loss of the Scots whereof near 1500 were slain 1000 taken prisoners among which Sr John Brown Major Generall was one who shortly after as 't is supposed out of grief for this defeat died Upon this overthrow the Scotch Army remove their Camp from Torwood and march directly to Sterling-Park Cromwell follows in their rear hoping yet to draw them to a Battell but they would by no means be induced to it though he followed them within two Miles of Sterling The Lord Generall perceiving his delays would be in vain marches with his whole Army to Lithgoe whence he sends over into Fife the greatest part of them with the train of Artillery to prosecute the War on the other side the remainder with him being only four Regiments of Horse and four of Foot which he made use of to secure what was already gained and observe the Scots motions In the mean time the Lord Lambert faces Brunt Island which is surrendred upon Articles without discharging so much as one piece of Artillery The Lord Generall likewise having dispatched those affairs which detained him at Leith crosses the Frith and coming to the Army draws them into a posture and having left Colonel Wests Regiment in Brunt Island marches with the rest towards Sr Johnston and in two dayes faces the Town and being informed that there was no Garrison in it he sends a Summons to the Inhabitants not doubting of a suddain rendition but it proved otherwise for the Lord Dafferes had the day before entred the Town with 1300 Souldiers The Lord Generall hereupon sends another Summons to the Governour who sullenly returns him no answer but after the Artillery had played one day his stomack came down and the Town was surrendred upon Articles The English Army being marched as far North as St Johns Town the King seeing affairs go so desperately in Scotland and loath to lose so good an opportunity advances with his whole Army consisting of about 16000 and marches with all speed possible into England by way of Carlisle This suddain and unexpected action startled the whole English Nation but especially the Parliament
Leaguer at St Jones and with a great part of their Horse and Foot advance to oppose the Lieutenant Generals passage The Lord Generall to divert their design leads on in person on the other side of Worcester which he had undertook to attaque two Regiments of Foot Collonel Hookers Horse and his own Lifeguard whilest Fleetwood with Collonel Goffs and Deans Regiments of Foot marches on to a Hedge-fight which the Scots thought most secure and stoutly maintained their ground till the fresh supply of Blakes Gibbons and Marshes Regiments force them to retire to Pawick Bridge where they are again engaged by Collonel Hayns Cobbets and Matthews Regiments and at length still overpowred by the Enemyes fresh supplyes forced to retreat in some disorderly hast into Worcester Their success being so bad on this side against Lieutenant Generall Fleetwood they resolve to trie if they could have better fortune against Cromwell on the other side Therefore on a suddain they sally out with all the Horse and Foot they could and at the first shock made Cromwels men retire somewhat disorderly the King himself performing the duty of a valiant Commander in the head of his Horse but at length overpowred by their numerous fresh supplyes they were put to the rout The Horse flying amain towards the North and the Foot into Worcester followed at the heels by their victors who entred the Town with them which they sacked killed or took most of the Scots prisoners who found life or death according to the mercy of those into whose hands they fell From this Battell there escaped only about 3000 Horse most or all the Infantry being either slain or taken and near 100 prisoners of quality of which the chief were Duke Hamilton Earl of Shrewsbury Earl of Derby who fell now into Collonel Lilburnes hands though he mist him before Earl of Cleaveland Earl of Lauderdail Earl of Rothes Earl of Carnwath Earl of Kelly Lord Spine Sir John Packington Sr Charles Cunningham Sir Ralph Clare Major Generall Piscotty Major Generall Montgomery Collonel Graves and Mr Richard Fanshaw Secretary to his Majesty The number of the prisoners in the whole was given out to be near 10000 together with whom was taken the Kings Standard Coach and Horses Collar of SS and Star-Cloak Major Generall Massey likewise though he escaped the Battell yet not finding any secure shelter and being grievously wounded surrendred himself prisoner to the Countess of Stamford and was secured by the Lord Grey of Groby her son and after recovery of his wounds by him sent up to London from whence he shortly after escaped The News of this victory extreamly rejoyced the Parliament at Westminster who nevertheless were somewhat sorry for the escape of the King of Scots who notwithstanding the great search made for him and the Fine set upon his head escaped For after having quitted the field at Worcester he with only one servant with him retired into the Woods where he hid himself two or three dayes till at length coming to a Gentlemans house who had formerly been a servant of his Fathers he was by him conveyed to a noble Esquires house in that County where he lay disguised near two Moneths till the heat of the search was over from whence he came up to London as servant to a Gentlewoman and so at fit opportunity escaped into France Many of the Scotch Nobility were about this time taken by Generall Monck in Scotland at a place called Ellet where they were met together to negotiate the royall affairs viz. old Generall Lesley Earl of Marshall Earl of Craford Lord Keith Lord Ogilby Lord Bargayny Lord Huntly Lord Lee with many other Knights Gentlemen and Ministers who were shortly after sent by Sea to London The Lord Generall Cromwell after his great victory at Worcester on the third of September his ever propitious day on the eighth sets forward towards London where arriving on the twelfth he was met by the Speaker and most of the Members of Parliament the President of the Counsell of State the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of the City of London with great acclamations of joy and acknowledgement of the Parliaments obligation to him for his eminent services which was expressed by the Speaker in a very elegant speech Shortly after two of the Parliaments Chieftains left this world both men of eminent conduct the one Generall Popham one of the Admirals of their Fleet who was a man from whom all men expected excellent service for them had his dayes been prolonged The other the Lord Deputy Ireton who died of the plague under the Walls of Limerick whose body or a Coffin in its stead was afterwards brought over into England and laid in State in Sommerset-House and from thence carried with as much pomp as ever any Kings of England since the conquest to be interred in Westminster Abbey where his Effigies was likewise set up in requitall of his many services he having a long time been one of the Parliaments fortunate Commanders In the mean time the Parliament take order for the speedy reducing of the Islands of Gersey and Man in pursuance whereof Collonel Haynes with two Regiments of Foot and four Troops of Horse set sail out of Weymouth the 16 of October and arriving at Gersey though they found some opposition at Landing yet they easily forced their way and soon possessed themselves of the Island all the Forts in it being presently delivered to them except Elizabeth Castle which held out till the middle of December and was then surrendred upon Articles Collonel Duckenfield with his own Generall Cromwels and Generall Deans Regiments of Foot and two Troops of Horse on the 14th of October departed out of the Bay of Reaumorris towards the Island of Man and arriving there on the 17th in Ramsey-Bay there came aboard to them an Islander to assure them that they should have no opposition in their Landing that they might come securely under their Forts which they had taken possession of for them that only two Castles held out viz. Peel and Rushen which were held by the Forces of the Countess of Derby which they would help them to reduce He is at first distrusted having nothing in writing to show but Major Fox being sent ashore findes it true so the Army lands and besieges both the Castles of Peel and Rushen which after short time delivered up with bloud to Collonel Duckenfield for the use of the Parliament on the 26th of October 1651 where there was found good store of provision and Ammunition of all sorts Shortly after was surrendred to the Parliaments Forces the strong and impregnable hold of Corne-Castle in the Isle of Guernsey with good conditions to the defendants consideration being had to the strength of the place and the bloud might probably be yet spent in reducing it per force or the charge they must necessarily have been at in starving it out it being still found very well victualled Notwithstanding that numerous company of Noble men
ears with those vast supplies which Middleton was to bring out of the Netherlands At length Middleton arrives and amongst other things brings a Commission for himself to be Commander in Chief and Monroe Lieutenant Generall But Glencarne looks upon this as a very high affront that he should take the pains to raise an Army and others be appointed to command over it that he was a Souldier and equally fit to command with the best and therefore could not comport this affront done to his honour Middleton endeavours to reconcile these differences but in vain Clencarne disdaining to condescend lower then to be Lieutenant Generall which neither Middleton nor Monroe would yeeld to whereupon Glencarne challengeth his adversary to a single Duell where Fortune favouring him he wounds and disarms Monroe and presently after with neer 506 Gentlemen deserts Middleton and makes his composition with the Governour of Dunbarton However Middleton prosecutes his designes as well as he can Generall Monk is sent against him with Commission to be Generall of the Forces in Scotland he hearing of these dissentions delayes marching towards them till he see the event which happening as before he advances towards Middleton engages him at Loughgerry Routs him and forces this stubborn Generall to fly back again into Holland And here I cannot omit a passage which may sufficiently vindicate the Kings Majesty of Scotland from those aspersions of Popery laid against him After the Kings departure out of France into Germany the young Duke of Glocester was placed by the Queen-Mother in a Jesuites Colledge to be instructed in the Roman Catholick Religion which his Brother the King hearing of sent speedy order to have him brought to him which being obeyed as he was departing Paris with the Marquess of Ormond the Queen desired only that he would stay and take a dinner in the Colledge before he went to which he answered That though she were his Mother yet he ought rather to give obedience to his Brother who was his King This deniall so angred the Queen that she permitted him not to take leave of her and after when the King sent a Letter to excuse the business she in fvry burnt it which circumstances may sufficiently evidence that the King is still truly Protestant In the mean time our new Lord Protector according to his Oath taken in the Instrument for Government summons his Parliament on the 3d of September 1654 which being assembled the day before their Sessions the Protector meets them in the Painted Chamber where he only desires them to accompany him to hear a Sermon in Westminster Abby and that afterwards he would impart his sense to them About nine of the Clock his Highness went from Whitehall to the Abby attended by his ordinary Guard and some of his Counsell bare the Lords Commissioners of the Great Seal and of the Treasury following in their Coaches he going likewise in his Coach accompanied by Lambert and his Sonne Henry here they staid whilest Dr Goodwin finished his Sermon after which retiring into the Painted Chamber he was followed by the Parliament to whom he made a formall Speech much to this effect That that Parliament was such a Congregation of wise prudent and discreet persons that England had scarce seen the like and that it would have been very necessary and worthy such an Assembly to give a relation of the series of Gods Providences all along to these very times but that being very well known to them he should at present omit it and proceed to the declaring how the Erection of this present Power was a suitable providence with the rest by shewing them what a condition these Nations were in at its erection every mans heart was then against another every mans interest divided against anothers and almost every thing grown arbitrary That there was grown up a generall contempt of God and Christ the grace of God turned into wantonness and his Spirit made a cloak for all wickedness and profaness nay the axe was even laid to the root of the Ministry and swarms of Jesuites were continually wafted over hither to consume and destroy the welfare of England That the Nation was likewise then engaged in a deep warre with Portugall Holland and France so that the whole Nation was in a heap of confusion but that this Government was calculated for the peoples interest let malignant spirits say what they would and that with humbleness toward God and modesty towards them he would recount somewhat in behalf of this Government For first it had endeavoured to reform the Law it had put into the seat of Justice men of known integrity and ability it had setled a way for probation of Ministers to preach the Gospell and besides all this it had called a Free Parliament blessed be God they that day saw a Free Parliament As for the Warres a Peace was with Sweden Denmark the Durch and Portugall and one was likewise neer concluding with France That these things were but entrances and doors of hope but now he made no question to enable them to lay the top stone of this work he recommended to them this Maxime That Peace though it be made is not to be trusted further then it consists with interest That the great work now lay upon this Parliament was that the Government of Ireland might be setled in termes of Honour That they would avoid confusions lest forreign States should take advantage by them That as for himself he did not speak like one that would be a Lord over them but as one that would be a fellow-Servant to them in this great affair So to conclude he desired them to repair to their House and use their liberty in choosing a Speaker The Protectors speech finished the Members immediately repair to their House and there choose William Lenthall Esquire Master of the Rolls to be their Speaker which done they begin upon the Instrument for Government The Question is in the first place proposed Whether the Legislative power shoald be in a single person and a Parliament The Protectorians endeavour by all means possible to perswade that it should be no Question but be carried absolutely in the affirmative This is as strongly opposed by the greater part of the House and amongst the rest a Member who had all along strongly opposed Monarchy as incongruous to his interest stood up and told them That they could not but discern the snares that were laid to entrap the priviledges of the people for his own part he declared that as God had made him instrument all in cutting down Tyranny in one person so now he could not endure to see the Nations liberties shackled by another whose right to the Government could be measured out no other wayes then by the length of his Sword which was only that which emboldened him to command his Commanders Many speeches were made confirming what he had said and in direct opposition to a single person These debates and divisions upon the
is contained in the Old and New Testament be asserted and held forth for the publick profession of these Nations and no other and that a Confession of faith be agreed upon and recommended to the people of these Nations and none be permitted by words or writings to revile or reproach the said Confession of faith The Petition and Advice of which the foregoing Lines were the heads being in the painted Chamber read to the Protector was by him passed though with much seeming reluctancy he declaring That he came not thither that day as to a triumph but with the most serious thoughts that ever he had in all his life being to undertake one of the greatest burthens that ever was laid upon the back of any humane creature so that without the support of the Almighty he must necessarily sink under the weight of it to the damage and prejudice of these Nations That this being so he must ask the help of the Parliament and the help of all those that fear God that by their prayers he might receive assistance from the hand of God seeing nothing but his presence could enable him to the discharge of so great a trust That seeing this is but an Introduction to the carrying on of the Government of these Nations and forasmuch as there were many things which could not be supplied without help of Parliament he thought it his duty to desire their help not that he doubted of it for he believed that the same spirit that had led the Parliament to this would easily suggest the rest to them That nothing should have induced him to have undertaken this intollerable burthen to flesh and bloud had he not seen that it was the Parliaments care to answer those ends for which they had engaged calling God to witness that he would not have undergone it had he not saw it to be determined by the Parliament to make clearly for the liberty and interest of the Nation and preservation of such as fear God and that if these Nations be not thank full to them for their care therein it would fall as a sin upon their heads To conclude he recommends to them other things which would tend to Reformation and the discountenancing of vice and encouragement to good men and vertue desiring them that they would not be wanting in any thing that might make for the good of the Nations So wishing the Lord to prosper their endeavours ends The Members having heard this speech are dismissed and return to their House whither in few dayes the Protector sends them a Letter desiring their adjournment some convenient time till the Inauguration of his Highness the Lord Protector could be conveniently performed And accordingly they passed a Bill for their adjournment from the 26th of June 1657 to the 20th of January following the said 26th of June being the day appointed for his Highness solemn investiture His Highness with accustomed Ceremonies being conducted to the place which was prepared for him under a Cloth of State in Westminster-hall the Speaker in the name of the Parliament presents severall things which were ready laid upon the Table unto him First a Robe of purple Velvet lined with Ermine being the habit anciently used at the solemn investiture of Princes next a large Bible richly guilt and boss'd then a Sword and lastly a Scepter of massie Gold Which thus presented in the whole the Speaker arose and assisted by the Earl of Warwick and the Lord Whitlocke vested his Highness then presented him the Bible the Speaker girt his Sword about him and lastly gave him the Scepter which done the Speaker returned again to the Chair and administred the Oath to the Protector in these following words I do in the presence and by the name of Almighty God promise and swear that to the uttermost of my power I will uphold and maintain the true Reformed Protestant Christian Religion in the purity thereof as it is contained in the holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to the uttermost of my power and understanding and encourage the profession and professors of the same and that to the utmost of my power I will endeavour as chief Magistrate of these three Nations the maintenance and preservation of the peace and safety and just rights and priviledges of the people thereof and shall in all things according to my best knowledge and power govern the people of these Nations according to Law This Oath administred and some attending Ceremonies performed a Herald stood up aloft giving signall to a Trumpet to sound three times after which he did by Authority and Direction of Parliament publish and proclaim his Highness Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England Scotland and Ireland requiring all persons to yeeld him due obedience This Proclamation ended the Trumpets again founded and some Souldiers and others set there on purpose ecchoed forth God save the Lord Protector Then was he again proclaimed by an Officer at Arms standing on the stairs which was answered again by the same Ecchoes of some of the Souldiery These Ceremonies ended the Protector attended by all the Officers of State went into the Palace-yard Westminster in his Robes where entring his Coach he returned in State to Whitehall But let us now return a little to our English Forces which went over under Sr John Reynolds to assist the French King who this year about the latter end of October advance into the Spanish Territories and joyning with the Marshall Turine the whole Army according to agreement sate down before the Mardike-Fort which lyes about two Miles from Dunkirke and was judged of concernment to the taking of Dunkirke it self which place according to agreement the French Army in consideration our helps was joyned with theirs to the siege before any other service and if taken to deliver it into the English hands after a short siege Mardike was upon Articles surrendred to the French and English and presently a Garrison of Souldiers placed in it whom the Spaniards suddenly after endeavoured to remove by giving a fierce Camisado to the Fort when the Armyes were drawn into their Winter-Quarter but it proved ineffectuall For though there were no want of courage in their charge yet the English repulsed them though they not content with this expulse adventured upon it again where though the Duke of Yorke who commanded in chief performed things worthy of so gallant a Prince yet were they forced to a second retreat Whilest the sweetness of these successes made many men rejoyce there arrived news to imbitter it viz. the death of that noble and thrice valiant Generall Blake who had done such noble and gallant service for his Country had beaten the Hollanders that potent Nation at Sea forcing them to run into their harbours for shelter he had lately burnt the mighty King of Spains West-India Fleet in his own harbours and under his own Castles and to shorten his praises in a word had he been but as loyall as he was
having been very pensive and melancholly from her death till aboutthe middle of August his distemper was perceived to be an Ague which together with other malignant humours so depressed his vitals that it brought him at length to his finall Exit though with many strivings and struglings he often falling into swouns and trances being loath to go to give an account He could not be perswaded that his distemper was mortall being an Enthusiast in judgment firmly believing That as God had carried him to that height so he had some farther work for him to do he having about him such sycophantine Chaplains one of which but three days before his death praying by his bed side used this expression Lord we beg not of thee life for that we are already assured of but that thou wouldest be pleased to ease him of his languishing misery Having had severall discourses with divers of his Privy Counsell who earnestly pressed him according to the first Article of the Petition and Advice to name his Successor being ambitious to leave what he could no longer enjoy himself to his own line named his Sonne Richard Cromwell for succeeding Protector after his death The night before his departure says one he was observed to have uttered this Prayer Lord I am a miserable creature yet I am in Covenant with thee through grace and I may I will come unto thee for thy people Lord thou hast made me though very unworthy a mean instrument to do them some good and thee service and many of them had too high value of me though others would be glad of my fall But Lord howsoever thou disposest of me do good for them Give consistency of judgment one heart and mutuall love unto them Let the Name of Christ be glorious throughout the world Pardon such as delight to trample upon the ashes of a worm and pardon the folly of this short Prayer even for Jesus Christ his sake This was on Thursday night and on Friday morning being the 3d of September 1658 his twice auspicious day he shewed all the signs of a dying person though he continued still alive till about three a clock in the afternoon when his great soul expired and went to give an account of his actions in this life to the great High Court of Justice who had so often called men to account before his High Courts of Justice here yet there he might have this surety which could not be given here that there are neither Trepanners nor false Witnesses The Privy Counsell upon advice of his death immediately assembled together and being satisfied of his departure out of this world and that he according to the first Article of the Petition and Advice had appointed his Sonne Richard Cromwell to succeed him in the Government of Lord Protector of England Scotland and Ireland c. they agreed to his choice and the Officers of the Army having likewise assented thereto they immediately sent the Lord Chamberlain to acquaint the Lord Richard Cromwell that they were coming to wait upon him whereupon he attended their coming and the Lord President being the formost made a Speech to him in the name of the whole Counsell wherein he let him know how deeply the Counsell was affected with grief for the death of his Princely Father and that they could not but very much condole with him for so great a loss and withall to acquaint him that his late Highness his dear Father having in his life time according to the humble Petition and Advice declared and appointed him to succeed in the Government of these Nations the Counsell had taken the matter into consideration and thereupon resolved it and had caused a Proclamation to be drawn up which was passed by the Counsell communicated and consented to by the Officers of the Army and subscribed by the members of the Counsell and the Lord Major of London and Officers of the Army with one consent whereby his Highness was to be proclaimed Lord Protector of these three Nations of England Scotland and Ireland and that the said Proclamation was to be made publick the next Morning at nine of the Clock c. To this his Highness returned answer That he had a very deep sense as well of his own sorrow for the loss of his Father as of the faithfulness of the Counsell of the City of London and Officers of the Army toward his deceased Father and himself in the present occasion and likewise the sense he had of the great weight of the Government now by Gods providence thrust upon his shoulders which he could no better way hope to sustain than by theirs and the good people of the Nations Prayers whose peace and prosperity he would endeavour to maintain to the utmost of his power c. so he dismissed the Counsell Thus you have a full relation of the end of Oliver Cromwell Lord Protector of England Scotland and Ireland whose valour only mounted him to that height and for which only he deserves remembrance or applause and by which he raised his Family to that pitch to equall with the best of the Kingdome and the Nation to that glory that forreign Princes both feared and envied it He had issue two Sons viz. 1. The Lord Richard Cromwell who was brought up in a soft kind of life and more addicted to hunting and pleasures then either to Warres or Governments who succeeded him in the Protectorship 2. The Lord Henry Cromwell who from sixteen years of age was by his Father bred a Souldier and was at his death Lord Deputy of Ireland And four Daughters viz. 1. Bridget his eldest Daughter was first married to the Lord Deputy Ireton and after his death re-married to the Lord Fleetwood who succeeded Ireton in the Deputyship of Ireland 2. Elizabeth his second Daughter married to the Lord Cleypool Master of his Highness Horse 3. Mary his third Daughter married to the Lord Faulconbridge And 4. Frances his youngest Daughter who was married to the Lord Rich Grandchilde to the Earl of Warwick So high were his fortunes raised that those of the Nobility who would once have hardly deigned to have spoke to him would now have accounted it an honour to have matched into his Family But let us leave him sleeping in his ashes and proceed to his Son Richard FLORVS ANGLICVS OR THE Government of England VNDER Richard Lord Protector in the Years 1658 1659. PART III. OLIVER Lord Protector of England c. being thus deceased the Privy Counsell send a Committee of their own members viz. the Lord Mountague Generall at sea Walter Strickland Esquire and Major Generall Skippon to the City who acquainted them with the Counsels intentions to proclaim his Highness Richard the eldest Sonne to the late deceased Lord Protector of these Nations and their territories and dominions which being readily assented to by them the ensuing Proclamation was the next day after Olivers death first read at the Counsell window by Norway King of Arms viz.
made them the following Speech My Lords and Gentlemen I beleeve there are scarce any of you here who expected some moneths since to have seen this great Assembly at this time in this place in peace considering the great and unexpected change which it hath pleased the all disposing hand of God to make in the midst of us I can assure you that if things had been according to our own fears and the hopes of our enemies it had not been thus with us And therefore it will become both you and me in the first place to reverence and adore the great God possessor of Heaven and earth in whose hands our breath is and whose are all our wayes because of his judgments so to acknowledg his goodness to these Lands in that he hath not added sorrow to sorrow and made the period of his late Highnesses life and that of the Nations peace to have been in one day Peace was one of the blessings of my Fathers Government a mercy after so long a Civill War and in the middest of so great division which that war bred is not usually afforded by God unto a people in so great measure The Cause of God and these Nations which he engaged in met in all the parts of it as you well know with many enemies and great opposition The archers privily and openly sorely grieved him and shot at him yet his bow abode in strength and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob. As to himself he died full of dayes spent in great and sore travail yet his eyes were not waxeddim neither was his nature or strength abated as it was said of Moses he was serviceable even to the last As to these Nations he left them in great honour abroad and in full peace at home all England Scotland and Ireland dwelling safely every man under his Vine and under his Figtree from Dan unto Beersheba He is gone to his rest and we are entred into his labours and if the Lord hath still a blessing for these Lands as I trust he hath as our peace hath been lengthened out to this day so shall we go on to reap the fruit and gather the harvest of what his late Highness hath sown and laid the foundation of For my own part being by the providence of God and the disposition of the Law my Fathers Successor and bearing that place in the Government that I do I though it fit for the publick good to call a Parliament of the three Nations now united and conjoyned together into one Commonwealth under one Government It is agreeable not only to my trust but to my principles to govern these Nations by the advice of my two Houses of Parliament I find it asserted in the humble Petition and Advice which is the corner stone of this building and that which I shall adhere unto that Parliaments are the great Counsell of the chief Magistrate in whose advice both he and these Nations may be most safe and happy I can assure you I have that esteem of them And as I have made it the first Act of my Government to call you together so shall I further let you see the value I have of you by the answers that I shall return to the Advice that shall be given me by you for the good of these Nations You are come up from your severall Countries as the heads of your Tribes and with hearts I perswade my self to consult together their good I can say I meet you with the same desires having nothing in my designes but the maintenance of the Peace Laws Liberties both Civill and Christian of these Nations which I shall always make the measure and rule of my Government and be ready to spend my life for We have summoned you at this time to let you know the state of our affairs and to have your advice in them and I beleeve a Parliament was never sommoned upon so important occasion It is true as I have told you we are through the goodness of God at this time in peace but it is not thus with us because we have no enemies there are enough both within us and without us who would soon put an end to our peace were it in their powers or should it at any time come into their powers It will be becoming of your wisdomes to consider of the securing of our peace against those who we all know are and will be our implacable enemies what the means of doing this are I shall refer unto you This I can assure you that the Armies of England Scotland and Ireland are true and faithfull to the peace and good interest of these Nations and it will be found so and that they are a consisting body and usefull for any good ends and if they were not the best Army in the world you would have heard of inconveniencies by reason of the great arrear of pay which is now due unto them whereby some of them are reduced to great necessities but you shall have a particular account of their arrears and I doubt not but some consideration will be had thereon in some speedy and effectuall way And this being matter of money I recommend it particularly to the House of Commons You have you know a warre with Spain carried on by the advice of Parliament he is an old enemy and therefore it will be necessary both for the honour and safety of these Nations that the war be vigorously prosecuted Furthermore the constitution of Affairs in all our neighbour Countries and round about us as well friends as enemies are very considerable and calls upon us to be upon our guard both at Land and Sea and to be in a posture able to maintain and conserve our own interest Great and powerfull Fleets are preparing to be set forth into these seas and considerable Armies of severall Nations and Kings are now disputing for the mastery of the Sound with the adjacent Islands and Countries among which is the Roman Emperour with other Popish States I need not tell you of what consequence these things are to this State We have already interposed in these affairs in such manner as we found it necessary for the interest of England and matters are yet in such a condition in those parts that this State may with the assistance of Gods provide that their differences may not prejudice us The other things that are to be said I shall refer to my Lord Keeper Fines and close up what I have to say with only adding two or three particulars to what I have already said And first I recommend to your care the people of God in these Nations with their concernments the more they are divided among themselves the greater prudence should be used to cement them Secondly The good and necessary work of Reformation both in manners and in the administration of Justice that profaneness may be discountenanced and suppressed and that Righteousness and
resolve a speedy sending out Writs but resolve to tie up their hands to their blocks by previous engagements against King House of Lords c. But this was no satisfaction to the General For he having taken away those arms which were in the hands of the Fanaticks and such as might have caused disturbance in the City on Tuesday the 21th of February a day not to be forgotten as long as England endureth being the first light which glimmered some chearfulnesse to us having drawn his Army together he marched to Westminster early in the morning and having before-hand prepared the secluded Members to be ready who were then very many of them in Town and had had divers private meetings he met them at White-hall where having recommended to them the care of the National interest yet in such termes as the Rump might not absolutely despair he saw them admitted into the Parliament House to the great grief and amazement of the former House-keepers who look upon these as Intruders That night there was Bonfires and great rejoycing in London But the secluded Members being in they fall to their work in good earnest they had not such by-ends or corrupted interests to drive on as their Predecessors and therefore found no such haltings in doing things which the Nation required But in the first place they order the release of those prisoners which for Free-Parliament-Petitions had been lately clapt up as likewise the Members of the Common Counsel of London They disanull the Militia which the Rump had instituted consisting only of persons both Fanatick and Factious and order a new Militia throughout all England wherein they nominated the most principal of the Gentry who were thought most willing and ready to promote the settlement of their Countrey yet with this proviso that they should subscribe that they should acknowledge the war was lawfull against his late Majesty till 1648. the Parliament by violent force was broken And that they might be furnished with that which is the sinews and strength of all money they send to the City to desire them advance some money before-hand upon security of the next six Moneths assessement which was freely granted by the City and 27000lb. immediately lent them Whereupon the City petition for the confirmation of the Militia which the Parliament presently setled according to their desires The next work they did was to chuse a Counsel of State which was done by lot of all manner of choise the most equal by reason no man can find himself aggrieved not knowing who is pro or who is con which prevents all rancour and animosity The persons which were by them chosen being for the most Gentlemen of eminent worth and such as have to the height testified their abilities for the good of their Countrey in this last emergency although there were some Rumpers amongst them I have thought it not amisse to give you a Catalogue of them that we may pay due homage to their names and memory Arthur Ansley Lord President William Pierpoint John Crew Richard Knightly Collonel Popham Collonel Morley Sr A. A. Cooper Sr Gilb. Gerhard Lord St John Sr Tho. Widdrington Sr John Evelin Sr William Waller Sr Richard Onslow Serjant Maynard Sr William Lewis Col. Montague Col. Hanley Col. Norton Denzil Hollis Sr John Temple Col. Thompson Sr John Trever Sr John Holland Sr John Potts Col. Birch Sr Herbottle Grimston John Swinton John Weaver Col. Rossiter Lord Fairfax L. General Monck Then they repealed such Acts of the Rump as they had made meerly for the satisfaction of their own self ends and were exceedingly destructive to the interest of the Kingdome taking off those Sequestrations which they had laid on Sr George Booth and his party which must have proved almost a general calamity to the Nation and they likewise released them from that confinement which they had for a long time lain under Making moreover such acts as might best secure the interest of the people and conduce to the settlement of the Nation some of which were directed to the taking away all places of power or profit out of the hands of the Fanatick or Commonwealth party and putting in those who were like to prove better Patriots But these acts being very numerous I think not convenient to insert the particulars In the next place they commissionate the Lord Monck to be Captain General of all the Forces in England Scotland and Ireland a place of the highest honour and which he had as highly deserved And now to show that God was pleased notwithstanding the continued sinnes of the Nations to remit his punishing hand no sooner were the Members seated in the House but news came that Ireland was by his good providence through the endeavours of Sr Charles Coote already put in such a posture as might make it capable of receiving the first state of affaires he having secured Sr Hardresse Waller and others of the Rumps faction But now some signe of discontent appeared in the Army here which had formerly been under Fleetwoods and Lamberts command For Collonel Rich's Regiment upon news of this change at London began to mutany at St Edmondsbury but the Parliament hearing of it instantly sent out Collonel Ingoldsby a Lover of his Countrey their former Commander with a party of Horse to whom upon his approach they quietly submitted themselves The Parliament now restored the Charter to the City of Chester which had been taken away by the Rump upon Sr George Booths businesse as shortly afterward they likewise revived the Dutchy of Lancaster which had been voted down by the others and made Sr Gilbert Gerrard Chancellour Nich. Letchmere Attorney of the Dutchy and the Speaker William Lenthal Esquire Chamberlain of Chester And perceiving that endeavours were daily used to sow sedition in the Army and that there was designs on foot to draw them together to a mutiny they order That none either Officers or Souldiers should depart from their respective Quarters without leave from the Lord General and those that had forthwith to return to their assigned stations To gratifie Dr Claerges and in him his brother the Lord General the Hamper-Office a place of good profit was conferred upon him Febr. 29. Upon notice of some design contriving by the Fanatick party several armes were seised in divers places of the City of London and Captain Kiffen a grand Ring-leader of the Anabaptists and several others were secured though afterwards released no matter of weight being then found against them And now that they might testifie to the world they were other men than their predecessours who would have continued themselves a Parliament to posterity they order their dissolution to be on the 15th of March resolving before that time to take order for summoning a New Representative They confirmed the Confession of Faith formerly made by the Assembly of Divines and enacted That it should be the Confession of Faith of the Church of England except onely the thirtieth and one and