and that the Conflict which they produce in a Soul is capable to turn the edge of the keenest weapons which are opposed to their resistance and to make the fairest champain Field become a parched barren plat of Ground But what need we to seek external Causes in a Death which brought along such violent ones with it a Cardinal of Richelieu who was one of the best Tempers and Constitutions in the world did fall under the burthen of the Anxieties and Agitations of the Mind The scabbard as the Proverb saith being worn out by the sharpness of the blade must of necessity finde a vent And how could it otherwise chuse that a Man who for the space of ten or twelve years together had opposed himself to all the Injuries both of Time and of War should not at length fall under the activeness of a soul which seldom gave him any rest which governed and directed the Reins of three restive Kingdoms unaccustomed to the noble and famous Trappings of a Military Government and who moreover was to direct and guide the Consciences as well as the Bodies of Men and their Reasons as well as their Wills It had not been considerable had the Interest of England onely required that his Cares had been limitted within the Pales which the Sea prescribes to her Precincts But as the cause of the Disease was from abroad and that from the Closets of the Escurial the Spaniards had imployed their false Piety as well as their Peru Gold to discover and molest the repose of England so fire and flame was to be applied without and it was necessary to penetrate into the very secret causes of the evils The People of the Cities of the Continent were to be disabused and the Soldiery were to be overcome in open field The Mines of Mexico were to be looked into and the extent of that Ambition was to be curtailed which boasts it self both to see the Sun set and rise These were vaste imployments indeed of a large activity to run through these undertakings the fervor of them was scorching and although the Heavens did second these lawful Designes with all its Graces yet it could not without a Miracle and without destroying the secondary Causes hinder the separation of a Soul from a Body which it had so often employed and so efficaciously seconded the grand Affairs both of State and War for the Peace Glory and Tranquillity of three Nations Wherefore Nature it self did witness her grief some two or three dayes before by an extraordinary Tempest and violent gust of weather insomuch that it might have been supposed that her self had been ready to dissolve or that the Master-piece of Nature suffered a violent agitation And as the Death of the Sun of Righteousness was foretold by an Eclipse of the Sun which covered the surface of the whole Earth with Darkness In like manner at the death of the People of Englands Hercules both Force and Nature were let loose to shake the very Elements and by the reuniting of their violence like unto those who are ready to give up the Ghost to leave some marks of an extream dissolution all which is so lively set forth by the quaintest Wit of these times as that I shall not inlarge any further upon this observation but shall onely content my self to repeat unto you his Verses who expresseth it more elegantly and copiously then my rough Prose can possibly reach to Upon the late Storm and his Highness death ensuing the same We must resign Heaven his great soul doth claim In Storms as loud as his immortal fame His dying groans his last breath shakes our Isle And Trees uncut fall for his Funeral Pile About his Palace there broad roots were tost Into the Air so Romulus was lost New Rome in such a tempest mist their King And from obeying fell to worshipping On Aetna's top thus Hercules lay dead With ruin ' Oaks and Pines about him spread Those his last fury from the Mountain rent Our dying Hero from the continent Ravish whole Towns and Forts from Spaniards reft As his last Legacy to Brittain left The Ocean which so long our hopes confin'd Could give no limits to his vaster minde Our bounds inlargement was his latest toil Nor hath he left us Prisoners to our Isle Vnder the Tropick is our Language spoke And port of Flanders hath receiv'd our Yoke From Civil Broyls he did us disingage Found nobler objects for our Martial rage And with wise conduct to his Countrey shew'd Their ancient way of conquering abroad Vngrateful then it were no tears allow To him that gave us peace and Empire too Princes that fear'd him grieve concern'd to see No Pitch of glory from the Grave is free Nature her self took notice of his death And sighing swell'd the Sea with such a breath That to remotest shores her billows rould The approaching fate of their Great Ruler told And truly I had need of all Parnassus his art to sweeten and mollifie the bitterness of this death which causeth my pen to fall to the ground and would cast up my Muse into a pittiful swound did not all the rest of the Muses come to her aid and sprinkle her with some of that divine Water which nourisheth her to make her revive again and to restore her to her strength to announce to posterity the time the day and the manner when and how his late Highness our great Oliver breathed his last After his late Highness had therefore been sick about a fortnight of a Disease which at the beginning was but an Ague on a Friday being the third of September 1658. in the Morning he gave all the signs of a dying person and for whom the Physicians had onely Vows and Prayers in reserve However he remained in that manner till about three of the Clock in the afternoon when as his Soul which had alwayes retained the upper hand of his Body preserved her Empire till the last moment he had alwayes his wits about him and his perfect and intire understanding and continued to deliver those Oracles which were necessary to establish after so great a loss the Peace and Tranquility of England and immediately to repair the ruines which so dangerous a dissolution had threatned the State withall and might cause in the mindes of every particular person His greatest and most important care was to name a Protector to be his successor which he did with Reasons so little savouring of his own interests and worldly concernments as that he testified that being not content to have sacrificed himself for the common good by the shortning of his dayes he was willing to consecrate his Children thereunto by the lading of them with the heavy burden of those weighty mysteries which may well be termed a Royal and Gilt Servitude Which succession was so necessary to the Peace and Tranquility of the State that the Common-wealth and the Elective Kingdoms are constrained to imitate it and the successive
Fleet of nine great Ships which served to shelter several other small ones whereby the trade of England was much impeded and incommodated which obliged the Parliament to put forth a most puissant Naval Army to Sea fitted with good Mariners and all kinde of necessary war-like Ammunitions The sole brute of this Fleet made all the Enemies Ships to run into their several skulking holes like unto so many Conies and Prince Rupert being not strong enough to encounter them was forced to retire into Kingsale Haven in Ireland where he was immediately blocked up by the Parliaments Fleet whilest General Cromwell besieged both the Port and Town by land and Prince Rupert being forced to make a vertue of necessity resolved to bear the brunt of all the English Fleet and so saved himself leaving behinde him three Ships which by that occasion were taken and finally after several turnings and turmoilings be cast anchor at Lisbone where he was protected by the King of Portugal which caused the rupture betwixt this Common-wealth and that Crown and all those mischiefs which ensued as we hereafter shall rehearse Meanwhile the Royallists in Scotland seeing the Parliament was busied in Ireland thought to lay hold on a fit opportunity to play their game and to that purpose the Earle of Montrosse having landed in the North of Scotland with some Forces he had raised in Holland and other parts assembled the old Souldiers who had formerly served under him and armed them with such Arms as he had brought from Holland but before he could make a considerable body he was defeated by the Presbyter Forces taken and hanged on a very high Gibbet which is the last mark of infamy in that Countrey Within a while after there was a Treaty commenced at Breda between the Scots and their King to install and re-establish him in that Kingdome and in the others according as Fortune should answer their designs and expectations and to this end they deputed Ambassadors into Spain Italy Denmarke Sweden Russia and into Turkey and finally throughout all Europe to demand relief aid and assistance But all their Embassies procured neither men nor money only their Ambassadors were laden with Complements and good wishes in return each others particular affairs not permitting them to do more All which gave unto the Common-wealth of England not any great fears but great jealousies wherefore the better to be informed of the passages abroad and the better to fortifie themselves by foraign Leagues and Alliances M. Dorislaus a person full of knowledge and conduct was sent in the quality of an Agent towards the States of the United Provinces the chief drift of this Negotiation being to criment a good and firm understanding between the two Common-wealths But scarce was he arrived at the Hague when five or six disguised persons entred forcibly into his Chamber and massacred him And whilest it seemed all things were a profound Calm in England or that at least the course of the Enemies designs both at home and abroad being sufficiently known to the State on a suddain there sprang up the most formidable faction that ever was hatch'd since these last Warres A certain number of persons who called themselves Levellers whose pretenses were to render all mens goods and possessions alike and truely this was a very plausible design and might doubtlesse have met with as many Abetters as there are men in the world who have no other possessions or Revenues but their good wills to obtaine them The chief of these Levellers was one John Lilborn a man of a dating and attempting spirit who could not remain quiet but was altogether invincible not to be moved by threats nor gained by the favour or presents of fortune which were beneath the extent of his ambition and a considerable part of the Army siding with their Leader they augmented in numbers as fast as the shortnesse of the time would permit the confluence of such men as flattered themselves with such fond hopes and who promised themselves a revenge and and establishment by a second Revolution and change But before all those who intended to have sided with them could come up to them and unite in one body they were vigorously set upon by the Lord Fairfax at that time the Common-wealths General who defeated them at a place called Burford in the County of Oxford where their Leader and the best part of his Souldiers were taken some of which were put to death for example sake and some others were banish'd but the greatest part were pardoned and admitted into favour again As for their Leader John Lilborne being brought up to London he appeared before the chief Officers and Judges of London and Westminster the Lord Maior Sheriffs and divers others where he was not only accused of divers Martial Crimes but also Politick ones as having been the Author of several scandalous and defamatory Libells against the State which tended to render the Government odious and to beget a Mutiny in the people however he so dexterously shifted himself of all these accusations as that the Judges declared him Not guilty Much about that very time Mr. Anthony Ascham a most judicious and accomplished Gentleman was Deputed and sent over in the quality of an Agent to the King of Spain and arrived at the Port of Sancta Maria on the 5. of June 1650. where being advertised but his person was in danger he was constrained to cause himself to be guarded to Madrid where the next day after his arrival as he was at Dinner six men knocked at his Chamber doore which was immediately opened unto them and he rising from the Table to receive them the first of the said parties stabbed him in the head with a Dagger so that he fell down dead to the ground and his Interpreter Signior Riba being not able to make his escape soon enough was likewise stabbed in the belly which being thus done the Murderers would have saved themselves in the Venetian Ambassadors house who refused them protection whence they retired themselves into a Church which in Spain is a Sanctuary which the Justice ought not to violate whence however the King of Spain had them taken and put into prison one only excepted who made an escape Hence there arose a great contest betwixt the King and the Clergy who complain'd that their priviledges had been infringed and demanded that the Prisoners might be returned unto them and on the other side the Parliament of England pressed hard to have justice done on them and though message upon message instance upon instance were used therein yet they took no effect And lest it may seem that all these foraign Negotiations which we have here inserted may be beyond my subject however if they be considered as so many obstacles which Fortune opposed unto the vertue and greatness of his late Highness you will find that the recitall of them will not be altogether uselesse the rather since I have related them as succinctly as possibly
Castle which you keep In case you deliver it into my Hands for his Service it shall be on such Articles which may please you and those which are with you by which means you will not a little ease the Neighbouring Countries about you In case you give me a refusall I doubt not but by Gods assistance to obtain that which at present I demand of you I expect your Answer to Morrow by seven in the Morning and remain your Servant FENVVICK THE ANSVVER To the GOVERNOUR of BARWICK Colonel FENWICK Right Hourable I Have seen a Trumpet of yours as he saith without a Pass who doth summon me to surrender the Castle of Hume to the Lord General Cromwell That it may not displease you I never did see nor know your General as for the Castle of Hume it is seated on a Rock Given in the Castle of Hume this day before seven of the Clock In these terms I do remain without prejudice to my Country your most humble Servant Tho. Cockburne BUt the Morter-pieces had no sooner made a slight breach when as they demanded to parley and because they would not receive such Conditions as were preferred unto them they were forced to be contented with such Conditions as they could obtain and thus they surrendred at discretion After which Colonel Monke with about three Regiments of Horse and Foot laid siege to Tymptallon Castle which for the space of eight and forty hours together he battered with Morter-pieces without any effect whereby he was enforced to raise a Battery of six Guns which did marvellous execution whereupon the besieged desired to parley but no composition would be given them so that at last they were constrained to yield to the mercy of the Conquerour and to deliver into his hand all the Armes Cannon Ammunitions of War and Provisions The keeping of which Place by the Scots was a shrewd Thorn in the sides of the English who were by the parties from the said Castle scituate between Edinborough and Barwick daily taken and dispoiled when as they stragled never so little out of their way which enforced his late Highness to cause this ensuing Declaration to be published and to have executed with the utmost rigour Viz. A DECLARATION By GENERAL CROMWEL FInding that severall who bear Armes under our Colours are stript robbed and most barbarously and inhumanely murthered by Thieves and Vagabonds who are not under discipline of any Army And moreover that the Inhabitants of these Parts instead of answering our goodness do joyne with such people and support them And considering that it is in the power of the said Inhabitants to discover and produce them since they do for the most part dwell round about those places where usually the said Villanies are committed Observing moreover that by the Intelligence which is given by the Peasants the said Robbers come forth of their lurking places Therefore I do declare That in whatsoever place it shal happen that any of our Men shall be robbed and dispoiled or killed by such like persons I shall require life for life and an entire restitution for those things which shall be so stoln upon the Villages and other places where the Fact shall have been committed unless they discover and produce the Malefactor And hereof I will that all men take knowledge that none may pretend cause of Ignorance herein Given under my Hand and Seal at Edinborough 5. Novemb 1656. Signed O. Cromwell BY vertue of this Proclamation severall sums of money were raised on those Parishes and places where the like Robberies and Murthers were committed and those who were found either to be the Authors of or Complices therein in any manner whatsoever were either put to death or put to a pecuniary Mulct Shortly after there was a design upon Brunt Island but at that time it took not any effect whereas General Cromwell drew all his Forces out of Edinborough to have maintained them all the rest of the VVinter in Fyfe which is the best part of all Scotland but the rigour of the Season and the difficulty of the passage constrained him to face about again to his old Quarters which were very good by reason of the Shipping which continually arived at Leith with all kind of Provisions for the Soldiery Horse and Foot which said Refreshments came in very good time to the Army which being not accustomed to the extream rigour of the VVeather in those Parts was incommodated by severall Diseases and amongst the rest by a certain contagious Feaver which is peculiar to that Country and the which had also seised the General himself who spared his person no more then the least Soldier His late Highness was so cast down by this kind of Contagion as that it was believed he would scarce have escaped death and it may be said that his sickness was the greatest of the whole Armies for the private Soldiers they lost no Courage but did gladly and joyfully withstand and out-brave those difficulties which stopped Julius Caesar in his enterprize in those parts and who chose rather to be at the charge of a prodigious VVall which fenced him from the Scotch Incursions then to engage his Army in that mountainous Country hoary with Snow and Ice and the Conquest whereof was by the English undertaken in the very heart of the VVinter And whilst the fierceness of the VVinter is passing over we will leave both parties in Scotland being seperated by a River which was impossible to be passed over in that Season and will make a small digression into England to see what in the mean while passed there At Oxford one of the most famous Universities of England A certain Maiden who bym if chance at four Months end cast her Fruit was accused to have done it wilfully and of set purpose to have used some art therein and without any more formalities was Impeached and condemned to be hanged which was accordingly done and some while afterwards the Physitians and Chirurgions being resolved to make a dissection of her body there being no Symptomes of life at all in her Notwithstanding just as they were ready to cut her up as if she had been only in a Dream and as if her shamefac'dness being not able to endure the touching and looks of so many men had awakened her to shun their Eyes and Rasors she gave some tokens of life to the admiration of the wisest and most judicious men learned in the like Cases who all of them declared that she was really dead whereupon no kind of remedies were left unassailed to bring her to herself which accordingly was accomplished and she at present liveth in as perfect health as even she did before It being not Gods will nor pleasure that during the Government of the justest of Conquerours there should an act of so high an Injustice pass as the barbarous condemning and putting to death so innocent a Creature as the Event proved this silly Maiden to be But to come to publick
Concernments the Parliament being desirous together with the Kings person to extirpate his Memory and to remove those Objects which might beget tenderness in the people who do alwaies bemoan the misfortunes of those whom before they hated Commanded that his Statues should be flung down whereupon that which stood on the VVest-end of St. Pauls Church in London was cast down and the other which was placed in the old Exchange placing this following Inscription in the Comportment above the same Exit tyrannus Regum ultimus Anno Libertatis Angliae restitutae primo Anno Domini 1648. Januarii 30. In like manner the Aâ—mes of the Crown of England which were placed in the Churches in the Courts of Judiciture and other publick places were taken down And the Common-weath being now as it seemed solidly established some neighbouring States who desired to be in Amity with Her sent their extraordinary Ambassadors over as namely the Hollanders Spain and Portugal and by the following Negociations the issues of the said Embassies will easily appear As to the Spanish Ambassador satisfaction was continually demanded of him for the Murther which was committed on the persons of this Common-wealths Agents at Madrid nor was this State at all satisfied with the Answer thereon returned That the Contestations between the King of Spain and his Clergy on that particular were not as yet reconciled or brought to naissue And as to the Portugal Ambassador great and vast summes being demanded of him for the reimbursement of those Charges which the King his Master had caused the Common-wealth to be at and for the reparation of those damages which the English Merchants had sustained He replyed he had no Orders to make Answer thereunto whereupon he had his Audience of departure and went his way Immediatly after this Common-wealth sent two extraordinary Ambassadors to the States of the united Provinces the Lords Oliver St. Johns and Walter Strickland Personages of a high repute and endowed with exquisite Parts their Train was great ad splendid and their Equipage favoured not a little of the Splendor of their continued Victories They Embarqued in the Downs on the eleventh of March 1651. and the next day toward even they came to an anchor neer Helvoot Slugs but not without some danger on the 13 they made towards Rotterdam in the long-boats and by the way they were met by some of the States Jachts or Barges and being arrived they were by the English Merchants conducted to their publick House where they were most splendidly entertained whither the Spanish Ambassador sent to complement them by one of his Gentlemen to testifie unto them his joy for their happy arrival beseeching them to enter into and joyn with him in a right understanding Two or three dayes after they set forward towards the Hague and by the way were met by the Master of Ceremonies accompanyed with about thirty Coaches and after some reciprocal complements passed and exchanged they were conducted to a stately House which was prepared for them in the Town where having been three dayes treated at the States charges they had audience In which the Lord St. Johns made a most Elegant and learned Speech in English and gave the Copy thereof unto the Lords States both in English and in Dutch the most essential points whereof were as followeth I. That they were sent unto the Lords the High and mighty States of the United Provinces on the behalf of the Parliament of the Common-wealth of England to ciment a firm League and Confederation betwixt the two Common-wealths in case their Lordships thought it fitting notwithstanding the injuries which the English had received from the Holland Nation II. That they desired to renew and confirm the Treaties and Agreements formerly made concerning the Traffique and Commerce betwixt both Nations III. After which they exhibited the advantages which the Hollanders would reap by this said union in regard of the commodious situation of England for the Traffique with the multitude and security of her Havens and of all things which may advance the Commerce and Trade IV. Finally he told them That he wus commanded by the Parliament of England and by the Common-wealth to make known to their Lordships how sencibly they were touched with the Murder which was committed on the person of their Agent Mr. Dorislaus and that they doubted not but their Lordships would use all possible endeavours to discover the Authors of that horrid and unworthy action After which the Lords States being informed that the said Lords Ambassadors followers were daily molested and affronted by the English Royallists and other persons who resided in Holland they caused a Proclamation to be drawn up which they sent unto the Lords Ambassadors to know of them whether it was penned in the due terms according to their good liking whereby on pain of death they prohibited that no man should either by words or deeds offend or molest any of the said Ambassadors followers or retainers Three months time was already elapsed in their Negotiation at a vast expense and with a farre greater patience without that the least satisfaction in the world could be obtained at the hands of Justice for those daily affronts injuries which were put upon the Lords Ambassadors Retinue Servants and the scorns and disgraces offered to their own persons even to such a pitch as that the Common people and Rascality would assemble themselves at the Gates of their house and belch out injurious language and set upon and injure their Servants Now the Parliament being sensible of these wrongs and injuries and seeing the Lords States did not at all answer those kinde proffers and endeavours which were made unto them to beget and fettle a solid and firm alliance and peace betwixt the two Common-wealths save with delayes and shifts purposely to gain time upon the English till they should be able to judge how the face of things would evidence it self in Scotland and which way the Chain would turn there they recalled their Ambassadors Which suddain and unexpected newes extreamly surprised the Hollanders who testified their astonishments thereon to the Lords Ambassadors by more frequent and oftner visitations then formerly and by which they endeavoured to perswade them to beleeve the sincerity of their intentions and how earnestly and ardently they desired the alliance which their Lordships had propounded But all these fair words were not able to stay the Ambassadors who immediately returned into England again to cut out another guesse kinde of work for the Hollanders And that which gave the greater cause of jealousie unto the English and made them believe that the Hollander dealt deceitfully with them was that their Admirall Van Trump lay lurking about the Isle of of Scillie with his Fleet as if he had some design to make himself Master of them But when as the States were demanded the reason of his lying there they replyed that their Admirals being in those parts was only to demand restitution of
solid and firm Foundations and when as the Parliament did propound unto him most splendid and magnificent Presents in recompense he only desired the Lives and Liberties of their Prisoners They proposed to have Bonefires made and to have Triumphall Arcks erected but he answered That it would be better to raise Monuments to such of their Illustrious Patriots as lost their lives in the gaining of that Day and to bewaile their deaths with Teats And Iastly at the Generals request there were onely the Earle of Darby and Sir Fetherston Knight of all this great number of Prisoners put to death besides some few others of less quality Much about which time also that smal Body of an Army which remained in Scotland seized upon a great number of the Nobility of the Country who were assembled all together at a place called Ellet where the old General Lesly Earle Marshall the Lord Keith Cofford Ogleby Barany Huntly Lee and severall other Knights Gentlemen and Ministers were in Consultation all of which were put on boord a Ship and sent into England This great Storm being thus over-blown and the Minds of the Parliament Members being calmed after the apprehensions of the Scotch Invasion and the doubtfull and unexpected Events of a Battel they began to track the Foot-steps of their Conquest a new and the whole Common-wealth being entirely cleansed within they cast about how to reduce those Islands which sheltred several of the Enemies smal Vesssels whereby the Trade was interrupted and several Merchant-men impeded in their Voyages The Isle of Jersey was the first they resolved to begin withall and the Conduct of this Enterprise was left to Colonel Haymes who upon the same accompt on the fourteenth of October 1651. caused two Regiments of Foot and as many of Horse to be embarqued on board of eight Ships in the Port of Weymouth and the seventeenth they set Saile but the Stormy Weather forced them to return On the nineteenth they set saile again and on the same day about Midnight they came to anchor under the Island of Zoark and next Morning continuing their Course they arived at Stowens Bay in Jersey on the next day they fell down with the Tyde and got into St. Brelads Bay where they were assailed by so vehement a storm as that the Fleet was dispersed but having joyned to each other again on the one and twentieth they resolved to go ashoare that Night at Stowens Bay wheunto they were necessitated for want of Forrage for the Horse and as it were in a trice they landed their Horse by an admirable Industry of General Blake and his other Officers in Boats and two hours after the Flood they weighed anchor and some cut their Cables to run a shoare and so the Foot Landed some at three some at four some at five and some at six foot set and more receiving all that while both the Cannon and Musket shot which played upon them from the shoare Notwithstanding which they gained Land although they were faced by both the Horse and Foot of the Island but this was their advantage they were so over-charged with Water as that they were not succeptible of Fire Finally after they had endured this first brunt they got all of them on shoare and quickly gained as much Ground as served them to draw up into a Body to fight which they accordingly did with so much resoluion and vigour that in one half houres time they forced the Enemy to retreat who left their Ensignes behind them and twelve piece of Cannon after which the Horse being a little heartned having been refreshed in their Quarters in the Island on the two and twentieth of October they attempted three small Forts each having two piece of Ordnance in them which they took after which they advanced within sight of Elizabeths Castle to set upon a Fort called the Tower of St. Albons having fourteen piece of Ordnance commanded by the said Castle In two hours time they gained the said Tower and their next work was to possess the Castle of Montorqueil which they also took without much trouble But Elizabeths Castle being a very strong and considerable place into which they had retired all rheir Forces was not surrendred untill the midst of the Month of December on the most advantagious Conditions which so considerable a place could expect On the sixteenth of October 1651. there were embarqued at Westchester and Leverpoole three Regiments of Foot to wit General Cromwells commanded by Livetenant Colonel Worstey Major General Deanes Commanded by Livetenant Colonel Michell and Colonel Duckâ—nfields who Commanded the whole Brigade together with two Troops of Horse which Forces were sent to reduce the Isle of Man On the eighteenth of the said Month they set Sail but the VVind coming contrary they were driven into the Port of Beaumorris On the twenty fifth by two in the Morning the Wind coming Southwardly by the favour of a fresh Gale they set Sail again and about two of the Clock in the Afternoon they discovered the Custle of the Isle of Man Rushen Castle Darby Fort and a good part of the Island as also the Inhabitants and Soldiery as well Horse and Foot in Armes who were drawn out to make a review of their Forces when as by a suddain Gust the Fleet was hindred from approaching neerer the shoare whereupon they tacked about towards the North of the Island and not without some difficulty they gained Ramsey Bay where they Anchored that Night in sight of the Island and sent them Volleys of Cannon which were not at all answered by those of the Island On the twenty sixth of October an Inhabitant was sent on board the Fleet from the chief persons of the Island to assure the Commander that they would not in any wise hinder their Landing But to the contrary that they would deliver up unto them two Forts which they had Mastered after which there remained only Rushen and Peele Castle to be taken wherein they would also be assisting to the utmost of their powers But because the said Inhabitant brought nothing in writing to confirm what he had said Major Fox went on shoare to be assured of the certainty thereof and returning well satisfied he was followed by some Commissioners of the Island who most humbly beseeched the Officers not to ruine them which must of necessity ensue should they Land all their Men obliging and engaging themselves to bring Provisions at reasonable rates unto those who should remain on board the Ships The Commander in chief returned them thanks promising them to do them all the favour possible and imaginable but it fell out unhappily for all sides That on the twenty seventh the Sea became very rough and the Ships being not able to remain all of them under shelter in the said Bay they were in a great deale of darger and one Ship running a shoare was broken and rent in sunder however all the men were saved and those within the
Castles knowing full well the danger wherein the Ships were did encrease the dangers from shoare as well as from Sea and thereby became the more resolute and obstinate Insomuch that on the twenty eighth they were constrained to Land the Horse and the rest of the Foot who became Masters of the Forts and afterwards set upon the Castles in one of which was the Earle of Darbies Widow who quickly surrendred herself together with all the Ammunitions of War and some Vessells which were Anchored in the Harbour And not long after the strong Castle of Guernsey was also surrendred to the Parliament the whole Island having alwaies remained under the obedience of the Common-wealth and never deserted the same And as there is no felicity or bliss under the Heavens which is not mingled with some bitterness so in like manner the great Conquest of the Parliament both by Sea and Land had some mixture of missorrunes on both Elements on the Land by the decease of a great Captaine and a greater States-man and on the Sea by the death of a great Pilot and a greater Admirall both together The first was the Lord Ireton Son-in-law to his late Highness who immediatly after the taking of Limrick a very considerable place in those parts died during his being Lord Deputy of Ireland he was generally bemoaned of all men being a person who had rendred himself equally famous in War-like Exploits as well as in Politick Affairs and Sagacious Councels and to speak the truth there was scarce his like in all England and all the Comforts which survived his loss were that those good Foundations which he had laid and the Maximes which he had prescribed for the Government of Ireland did not perish with him but have remained to his Successors as Lamps and Lights whereby they may safely conduct their Foot-steps and assuredly carry on their Designes The other famous Person who also dyed was General Poppham a Personage endowed with all the good qualities of an exquisite Sea-man being valiant active and well versed in Sea Affaires his precipitated death and the small time he continued in that Imployment did shew unto us less what he was then according unto all appearance what he would have been had it pleased God to have lengthned his daies And now the Parliament being truly sencible both of the old and new Injuries which England had received from and by the States of Holland thought it fit to publish this ensuing Manifest Viz. THat no Commodities whatsoever of the growth or Manifacture of Africa Asia America or Europe should be brought into England or into any of the Territories belonging thereunto either by the English themselves or by any others save in Vessels or Barques effectively belonging to this Common-wealth or the Collonies and Plantations in the Indies who depend on the same on the penalty of forfeiting both Ships and Goods 2. That all Commodities whatsoever of the growth or manifacture of Forreigners which shall be brought within the Dominions of this Common-wealth in Vessels belonging to the Inhabitants thereof shall be taken and laden only in the places where the said wares do grow or else in those Ports and Havens whence they must of necessity be brought and where they are accustomed to be had and bought at the first hand 3. That all kind of Fish of the Fishing belonging to the people of this Nation as also all kind of Oyle of Fish VVhales Oyle and VVhale Bones shall not be brought save in such Ships where the said Fishing shall have been made upon the forementioned Penalty 4. That after the first of February 1653. there shall be no Salt-fish transported out of England save in English Vessels c. Then which nothing was more pleasing to the Merchants nor could any thing have more eucouraged them to cause the Traffick and Navigation to flourish again and whereby they were not a little also endeared to the Parliaments Interest So likewise was it very effectual to gain the Seamens hearts then which nothing is so apt to rebell and so hard to be kept in awe So likewise severall other Ordinances and Regulations were made concerning those Merchandizes which are brought from the East Indies from the Levant and from the Coast of Spain and Portugal all which did not much please and but lease oblige the Hollanders but to the contrary did so exasperate their Minds as that even during the time when they were treating of an Accommodation it came to an open VVar concerning the point of Honour at Sea and in this wise the Quarrel begun MAjor Bourn Commander in chief of a Squadron of English Ships discovered Van Trump Admirall of the Dutch Fleet on the back of Goodwine Sands who with two and forty Saile of Ships made towards Dover Road whereupon the Frigat called the Greyhound was commanded to make all the possible saile she could after them to speak with them which she accordingly did whereas they struck their Saile and gave all kind of tokens of honour and respect saying moreover That they would gladly tell something in the behalf of their Admiral unto the Party that commanded the English Fleet in chief and coming on board they saluted the English Ships and to seem the more officious they gave them an Account of their Navigation in this wise saying That the Nothernly VVinds having been somewhat high for some daies they had been constrained to ply more to the Southward then else they willingly would have done and that being come to an Anchor somewhat hitherwards to avoid the falling too neer unto Dunkirk they had lost severall Cables and Anchors concluding that they had not the least intention to do us any Injury General Blake was at that time with the rest of the Fleet towards the VVest who being enformed by Major Bourn of the Hollanders proceedings he used all the possible speed he could to joyne with him and on the nineteenth of May he discovered the Hollanders Anchored in Dover Road and being within three Leagues of each other the Hollander weighed Anchor and sailed Eastward where they met with an Express from the States whom they spake withall and afterwards made all the Saile they could up to the English Fleet their Admiral Van Trump shewing himself upon the Decks of the foremost Ships And General Blake coveting the honour to give the first Volley let fly three Guns at Van Trumps Flag though without Bullets To which Van Trump answered by a shot from the Stern of his Ship backwards signifying his disdain to vale his Flag and instead of the striking his Main Top-saile he caused a red Flag of War to be set up in token of a Combat to his whole Fleet and without any further delay he gave General Blake a whole Broad-side who joyfully received it and returned two for one and for the space of foure houres together both Fleets fought with that Animosity and vehemency which is usually on the like occasions at
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
to consult on their Business were seized with a Pannick fear and no one of their Enemies appearing or pursuing them they cryed out that they were betrayed and so betook themselves to their heels some one way some another in a confused manner So likewise did Collonel Lilburn send word out of Northumberland that they were busie in framing of a party there also but that they had dissipated themselves through their own Fears and Jealousies Finally in Yorkeshire Sir Henry Slingsby and Sir Richard Maleverer had also assembled some Forces to have seized the City of York having two Cart-loads of Ammunition with them but they dispersed themselves on their own accompt seeing but little appearance to succeed in their designe Sir Henry Slingsby was taken and Imprisoned and afterwards Beheaded upon another accompt The first party commanded by Wagstaff and Penruddock was defeated by Captain Vnton Crook at a place called South-melton some whereof were killed and others were taken who were Tried and Condemned and those which dyed of note were Mr. Lucas Thorpe Kensey Graves and Penruddock Sir Joseph Wagstaff had the hap to make his escape and to get away Moreover a little afterwards to rid the State of such like Incendiaries and Firebrands the several Prisons and Goals of England were delivered from the Royalists which were detained prisoners on the foregoing accompts who were sent away to the Plantations and Collonies in America In like manner the rest of the other risings before mentioned were quelled and dissipated which both struck a terror in those who had not as yet shewn themselves and restored peace and quietness to the State By this time the subtil Spaniard whose quaint policy doth for the most part hug the prosperous and destroy the miserable and distressed seeing that Fortune did daily more and more incline to favour his late Highness the Lord Protector that his Vigour and Force increased by opposition and that the sole resplendency of his glory dissipated all those fogs and mists which endeavoured to obscure it thought it meet to court England and to endeavour to engage this State in his interests in which was omitted no proffers which a Puissant Monarch could possibly make unto a Prince whose Power was but as it were in the bud and beginning to sprout forth To which purpose the Marquis of Leda arived at London in the quality of an extraordinary Ambassador to his late Highness where he was received with all the Demonstrations of Honour and Pomp. But his late Highness being over-sensible of all those gross injuries which the Spanish Nation for several years together have committed against the English and also against all Europe besides and being not willing to conforme his Maximes with the tyrannical and unjust principles of the Spaniards returned civil and ceremonious Answers to the said Ambassadors Proposals who returned back again very speedily with all sorts of contentment and satisfaction save onely to that which he chiefly expected and most of all insisted upon And England being at that present time in a peaceable posture the Almighty having Crowned his late Highness the Lord protector with several signal Victories and Deliverances of his person from an infinite number of Dangers his Highness thought he could not in a better wise express his acknowledgements for so many mercies then by the imploying of all his Care and Forces to oppose and beat down the Ambition nay I may justly say their Sacraledge and Impiety and Avarice of the Spaniards since it onely belongs to a God to Stile himself the Universal Monarch who at the expence and charge of an hundred thousand Murders and Devastations have rendred themselves Masters of the whole worlds Treasures And withall totally to extripate and root up the profound plots and devices which the Spaniards had long since laid in England to become Masters thereof or at least to breed divisions in it at their own pleasures Nor shall I need to enlarge upon the ambitious and cruel designes of that invincible Armado of Philip the Second which was to have invaded England and to have made it swim in its own Blood nor of those several entreagues and policies which Spain hath hatched in Ireland by assistances of men and monies as also by their several Conspiracies in England abusing of the Religion and blind zeal of some particular persons there I shall onely begin with Gundamore that arch Machiavilian Spanish Ambassador who had gained such a Credit and Power in the Court of England as that when he pleased he could dispose of the Lives of the greatest and best men in the State when he had discovered they were his Masters Enemies I shall onely instance in one that admirable personage Sir Walter Rawleigh who by reason he had undertaken to visit their Treasures in Hispaniola and had Committed some hostillities in those Seas in former time Gundamore never left importuning of King James whom he had in a manner bewitched till he had obtained his death and thus bereaved England of one of the great Politicians and Universallest men that ever this Isle brought forth leaving us a testimony of his vast knowledge and experience to wit his famous History of the World From hence his late Highness resolved to begin his just War against the proud Spaniard and to sacrifice to the memory of this great Captain and one of the most experienced Sea-men of all the World all the Spanish Blood which the valour of the noble English hath so generously by way of retaliation drawn and let out since his late Highness's expedition against them There are some friends with whom a man is forced to break off all friendship because they will be too much our friends that is because they over-act the part of friendship by prying too deep into our Affairs and Designes and by interesting themselves too far into the concernments of those who depend on us as that thereby they steal away their hearts from us and such like friends have the Spaniards been to England who buy their friendships at such cheap rates as that they feed those who side with them onely with imaginary speculations here on earth making them eternally miserable and with specious promises in the world to come which would be obtained at cheaper and more assured rates without the interposing of their Hippocritical and Ambitious trains But to return to our History again his late Highness whose Genius affected the greatest difficulties and the most extraordinary and rarest Designs fix'd his thoughts upon New Spain not to bereave them of their Treasures which are with more ease to be interrupted at their coming home but to revenge all Europe unto whom the Jealous humor of the Spaniards denies Traffique and Commerce into those parts having at all times exercised unheard of Cruelties and horrible Treacheries on such as were driven into those parts accidentally and forcibly by storms and tempests or such as were by themselves under the notion
second of July next ensuing and in convenient space of time arived safely at their designed Port. Within a moneth after which General Pen arrived in England having left the best part of the Fleet in those parts under the Command of Vice-Admiral Goodson a very valiant and experienced Sea-Commander and the Troops which had mastered Jamaica under the Command of Collonel Fortescue But as all prosperities are usually accompanied with some small Allayes of adversity the Almighty suffering it to be so for our instruction and precaution and to humble us in our highest transcendencies of Fortune Wherefore the said Fleet having gained the height of the Havennas in the Isle of Cuba the Paragon Frigot was fired by negligence and perished in the flames with the greatest part of its Company and Mariners before she could be succoured or relieved On the ninth of the moneth of September ensuing General Venables likewise returned from the Indies in the Frigot called the Marston-moor in so weak and dejected a condition that he was even at deaths door and nothing save the change of Air could possibly have saved him Mean while the sympathy which all great and couragious persons seem to have for each other begat a desire in his late Highness to be in amity with the King of Sweden and likewise the King of Sweden on the other side coveted the same thing so that the noble Lord Bulstrode Whitlock one of Englands Worthies having scarce his like for profound Knowledge and Sagacity after he had resided for the space of eight Moneths in Sweden terminated his Embassy by a compleat Peace and glorious Alliance which he had concluded between that Crown and England and returned himself to bring the good tydings thereof Now for the preservation of the Peace of this Commonwealth his late Highness constituted several Major-Generals in the respective Counties thereof whose Names are as followeth viz. 1. For Kent and Surrey Collonel Kelsey 2. For Sussex Hamshire and Barkeshire Collonel Goff 3. For Glocestershire Wilts Dorset Somerset Devon and Cornwal General Desborow 4. For Oxfordshire Bucks Hertford Cambridge Isle of Ely Essex Norfolk and Suffolk the Lord Deputy Fleetwood 5. For the City of London Major General Skippon 6. For Lincolnshire Nottingham Derby Warwick and Leicestershire Commislary General Whaley 7. For Northamptonshire Bedford Rutland and Huntington Major Butler 8. For Worcester Hereford Salop and North-Wales Collonel Berry 9. For Cheshire Lancashire and Staffordshire Collonel Wortley 10. For Yorkeshire Durham Cumberland VVestmerland and Northumberland the Lord Lambert 11. For VVestminster and Middlesex the Lieuetenant of the Tower At this time France on her side being jealous of the several applications profers and propositions which the Spaniards made unto England to beget an alliance with us began to be sensible that it was high time to think upon her own preservation her navigation being quite ruined her subjects divided by Civil Wars and intestine troubles and her forreign Enemies as powerful as ever resolved at length to make an address to his late Highness for an Alliance of Peace Besides that his late Highness harboured a natural aversness and hatred against the Spaniards who time out of minde have alwayes been the implacable and cruel Enemies of England as well as of all mankinde besides and who under a fair pretence of Religion and Amity endeavour to withdraw the Subjects of their Allyes and make them swerve from their Allegiance and Fidelity either by the powerful operations of money gifts and such like other bewitching inducements rendring themselves the Masters of the peoples inclinations when by their Valour they cannot overcome them in Battel nor by force of Arms gain their Towns or Fortresses But his late Highness open vertue and magnanimous courage disdaining any Commerce with this kinde of insinuating and entreaguing Nation the Lion being too noble to enter into association and communication with the Fox The French policy did better jump with his humor and their manner in vanquishing their Enemies in a pitch'd Battel and forcing them upon the very Ramparts of their Fortresses did better please and second his War-like vertue and by whose good intelligence and communication the English growing discipline could not choose but attain to a rare perfection whereas the Spaniards might happily have poysoned them by their Wiles and Subilties and have corrupted them by their Hipocritical false Alloy and Mettal Besides that the Liberty which is granted by the French to those who are of a different opinion in the points of Religion was a great inducement to move his Highness rather to incline to a peace with that Nation since himself was ever so tender in matters of Religion as that he believed it did onely belong to the Almighty to force the Consciences of Men at least to enlighten and inspire them by his Graces which are onely capable to convince our reason Finally The Articles of peace with France which were so much traversed by the Spanish Faction were concluded and signed by such Commissioners as his late Highness had thereunto deputed and on the other part by his excellency the Lord Bourdeaux Ambassador of France and on the eight and twentieth day of the moneth of November next ensuing the publication of the said Treaty was proclaimed first at White-hall by the Heralds of Arms the sound of Trumpets and other formalities accustomed on the like occasions afterwards in the Palace-yard at Westminster and in the other usual places in the City of London where such like Proclamations are made and on the self-same day it was also published at Paris with a general applause and joy at least of the Merchants who by the preceding misunderstanding between England and France were quite ruined and who by this conclusion of peace found not onely the Seas open and free for them to trade in but that the English of their worst Enemies became their best friends by causing a bundance to reign in their Rivers and Territories and by begetting an assured Commerce and Navigation in all those Seas wherein the Navigation extended it self Nor was the Lord Major of the City of Paris less glad then the poor Citizens who all of them witnessed an equal joy and allacrity finding themselves indulged by this Treaty of peace from breaking their Ember-weeks their Lent and Fasting dayes as they call them since they would otherwise have been constrained by reason of the excessive rates which fish butter and cheese and such other small ratable wares were grown to to have kept more fasting dayes then the Roman Kallendar doth enjoyn them which would have been a double Penance and an intollerable mortification From all which they were freed by this happy Peace and in acknowledgement whereof the Guns and Chambers from the Market-place and Town-House called the Greve as well as those from the Bastile or Tower ecchoed forth the joy which the Monsieurs conceived of this forerunner of the peace and tranquillity which they
into the hands of his Excellency the Lord Ambassador and General Lockhart who was by his Highness declared Governour of the same and took possession of it with four English Regiments which compose the Garrison thereof and serve to defend the Fort Mardike and the new Fort Royal begun by the Spaniards on the Channel of Burges and perfected by the English now called Olivers Fort. The Inhabitants of which place are so much taken with the superabundancy of the generosity and goodness of their said Governour his Excellency the Lord Lockhart as that they repent themselves to have so much listned to the Spanish false perswasions and fears which they possessed them with that they should be cruelly and inhumanely treated by the English purposely to make them resist the longer It had been well they had had so much care of their Souls as they perswaded them they had of their Goods and Fortunes But it would be too great a conquest to pretend joyntly to overcome both the Consciences of men and their Town to boot the first is Gods due and the other Caesars And we may observe in Alexander the Great whensoever his Forces became Master sof any place he would alwayes sacrifice to the Gods of the Countrey thereby to gain the Inhabitants hearts and to induce their Gods to become propitious to him Numa Pompilius was a King before he was a Priest and although the Almighty hath imprinted in all men a particular inclination to adore him yet however as concerning the manner of worshipping him Policy alwayes preceded Religion and ever kept the upper hand over her as much as she possibly could King Henry the Fourth of France was a Protestant whilst he had overcome his Enemies but as soon as he was settled in the Throne and that he was to Reign as King he seemingly returned Papist and said That the Kingdome of France and City of Paris was worth a going to Mass But when as superstitious and zealous spirits counselled him to prosecute and pursue the Protestants he answered That so long as they remained faithful and true to him and continued to stand by and serve him as they were wont he would be as much a Father and Protector unto him as unto the rest of his good Subjects These Maximes are general and common and admit of no distinctions save in Schools nor need the Spaniards with all their Hypocrisie and Pious malice to doubt but that France and England understanding each other well enough and that the English themselves are prudent enough to avoid that which may prejudice them and to tollerate whatsoever may advance and further their conquests and beget a love and esteem of their government But to return to our former subject again as we have oft before alledged the joyes of this World are alwayes for the most part mingled with some allayes of sorrow the Almighty being willing to keep us mindful that there are no perfect felicities to be enjoyed here on earth and that its onely in heaven we are to expect an intire and perpetual Contentment and Bliss Wherefore the Laurels of the Victory obtained against the Spaniards and of the taking of the Town of Dunkirk were soon withered and the joyes abated by the interposing of the Cypress-tree which death planted upon the Tomb of the Illustrious and most generous Lady Cleypoll second Daughter to his late Highness who departed this mortal life to a more glorious and eternal one on the sixth day of August this present year a fatal prognostication of a more sensible ensuing loss For even as Branches of trees being cut and lopped in an ill season do first draw away the sap from the tree and afterwards cause the body thereof to dry up and dye In like manner during the declining age of his late Highness an ill season in which men usually do as it were reap all their consolation from the youth and vigor of their Children wherein they seem to ruine by degrees as they draw near to their death it unfortunately fell out that this most illustrious Daughter the true representative and lively Image of her Father the Joy of his Heart the Delight of his Eyes and the Dispenser of his Clemency and Benignity dyed in the flower of her age which struck more to his heart then all the heavy burthens of his Affairs which were onely as a pleasure and pastime to his great Soul So great a power hath Nature over the dispositions of generous Men when the tye of Blood is seconded by love and vertue This generous and noble Lady Elizabeth therefore departed this World in despite of all the skill of Physicians the Prayers of those afflicted persons whom she had relieved and the vows of all kinde of Artists whom she cherished But she dyed an Amazonian-like death despising the Pomps of the Earth and without any grief save to leave an afflicted Father perplex'd at her so sudden being taken away she dyed with those good Lessons in her mouth which she had practised whilest she lived And if there be any comfort left us in her death it is the hope we have That her good Example will raise up the like inclinations in the remainder of her Sisters whom Heaven hath yet left us I shall not at all speak of her Funerals for if I might have been credited all the Muses and their God Apollo should have made her an Epicedium and should have appeared in mourning which should have reached from the top of their Mount Parnassus to the bottom of the valley thereof But if this illustrious Personages death received not the Funeral Rites which all great Wits were bound to pay it at least the Martial men did evidence that the disgrace lay not at their doors but that they ought to reap all the glory since they were not backward to continue to brave and affront dangers in the behalf of an illustrious and glorious Cause wherefore the sad tydings of this noble Personages death touched the gallant English to the heart seeing they were bereaved of their English Pallas and of their Jupiters Daughter they therefore accused the Destinies for intrenching upon their Priviledges and evidenced that it appertained not alone unto them to dispose of the lives of men Their wrath therefore discharged it self on the first Objects which presented themselves to their eyes and the harmless Spaniards were so many Victims offered up to this Amazons shrine and as if Graveling had been her stake they were so eagerly bent to fire the Enemies out of the same as that the Spaniards were constrained to open their gates to give vent to the fire and flame which suffocated them and surrendered themselves to the Conquering French Army to whose share that place fell and by whose force it was solely gained As Physicians do agree that extreme Joy causeth Death as well as excessive Grief so may we likewise say That both these violent Passions united together must needs destroy the strongest person on earth
Monarchies have oftentimes done more with a yong Prince in a Cradle hung betwixt two Trees in the midst of their Camp then they would have done by the Orders and the Examples of the most expert Captains But when as the Age Experience and Deserts of a Son do unite and combine in the Love and Memory of the vertues of a Father what shall not betide so wise and worthy a choice and what shall not be thence expected For who can with more reason hope to be feared loved and obeyed by a whole Nation save the worthy Heir of him who hath rendred them so formidable and who hath ruled over and governed them so tenderly and meekly How should unavoidable and strange changes have been prevented if domestick broils had not been shunned and whom could we thave better met with the resemblance of a Father who never had his equal in Prudence Fortune and Valour save in a Son Politicians and Nature delight in the diversifying of their works the one produceth few men alike and the other delights in the condemning and destroying of the designs of those who have preceded them to the end that they may thereby shew their own good parts and rather appear Originals then Copies After the giving of these and like Orders and the settling of the most important Concernments of the State this great Personage gave up the Ghost just like a man that falls asleep through the toil of a laborious task The ensuing night was serene and peaceful like unto those who display their Sable Veil spangled with Stars to deck and wrap up the Sun after its long and serious ardent Course He died in the midst of his Victories and Triumphs after he had caused all the fair fruits which shall be reaped for ever by England as well in the Continent as within the Circumference of its Isles to bud forth into Blossoms and Flowers He dyed in a Bed of Bucklers and on a Pillow of Caskets and though the Wreaths of the Imperial Laurel which invironed his head did wither at the Groans of his Agony it was onely to make place for a richer Diadem which was prepared for him in Heaven and which must needs be more sumptuous and resplendent in that it is ingrafted upon that Christian humility wherewith he did so constantly refuse a temporal Crown which was due unto his deserts and which was profered him several times by the People of England and although he be dead yet he is living nay triumphing and pronouncing Oracles to his very last Groans most clear and intellegible Oracles and as being inspired by the Spirit of the God of Truth he dyed like a second Vespasian who even on his Death-bed continued to enlarge the Bounds of his Empire and as long as he had breath ceased not to dispatch several Businesses of consequence answering the Physicians who reproved him as the Emperour did That an Emperour ought to dye standing Truly it is a great comfort at the Article of death to dye profitably for Heaven and for the good of ones Countrey But before we close his Eyes let us once more reflect on the constancy wherewith he expects her last assaults and with how much fear and trembling this inexorable one sets upon him unarmed and resolved to yield to her and however she was accustomed to cast her darts before him yet she is afraid she trembles and hides her treacherous sythe and never producing it till she sees her blow sure How oftentimes approaching him in the heat of Battels armed with despair and horrour was she constrained to turn her back and to serve him for an Instrument of Victory whom she was resolved to have laid along How often hath she been seen to change colour and to embrace the weaker party to the end she might shew her force and cut down a greater number of victimes Self-Interest is then made this insensible one grieve for those which she had rashly slain on Olivers side she lost by their not being since her sacrifices were there lessened and that Olivers Arm alone was forced often to supply the absence of his companions or their ill fortunes But as the love of this step-dame was false so likewise was it converted into rage as soon as his late Highness caused Peace to succeed War and that he outvied this furious Hag by the undaunted courage as then she brake off all intelligence with force and horrour and she raised up from Hell all the malicious and subtil Furies both Envy and Treason came to her relief and aid and by a sacrilegious Spell she hath sought the Blood of Christ in the very Sacrament thereof to compose her Poyson and by abominable wit chcrafts she sowed sedition in the Hearts of the People she bewitched the Wise she blinded the Nobles and finally she therewith coloured and cloaked all her most black and horrid Designs But on Oliver his late Higness she could never fasten her baits finding him alwayes armed with that Antidote which he renewed daily on the same Altars whence she sucked her venom He alwayes opposed his Wisdom to her Craft his Justice to her Violence his Prayers to her Impieties and his Clemency to her Obstinacy The Tempest invironed him on all sides but he was in the Ark his Enemies set upon him whilest he was asleep but the Character of God which was imprinted in his Forehead caused the Sword to fall out of their hands and Goliah with his Legions of Philistines fell down at the sole report of his Sling Finally God hath made him to pass safe through the lifted up Waves of his Enemies in which themselves were drowned and in case the Sea did prove Red God be praised it was not by his Blood nor by the stains of his Soul which abhorred all kinde of Cruelty For if the Pardons which he granted were put in an equal balance with the Deaths which happened during the time wherein his Power was as yet but limitted it would be found that he did not alwayes give ear to the prudent Politician to abandon himself from the meekness and generosity of his natural inclinations Those who shall read the Histories of such like Revolutions as these will finde that they never attained to so high a pitch of Grandor by such meek and merciful means and so void of passion Wherefore his peaceable and natural Death hath been also a Reward for his so great a Moderation nor can any one doubt but Heaven hath had a particular care of that life which hath been so often attempted and so desperately assaulted Not but that he would happily have rather chosen to have dyed with his Sword in his hand for the Glory of God and the Defence of his Countrey as better befitting his Warlike humor and Men of Courage but Heaven had otherwise evidenced its Miracles in his preservation Nor had our Champion had the glory to have wrestled with this powerful Enemy upon unequal terms and in an estate wherein the imbecillity of
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