it for a greater to have his head stand on the Prison gate for this quarrel then to have his P cture in the King's Bed-chamber And least his Loyalty should be forgotten they had highly honoured him in designing lasting monuments to bear up his memoriall to all posterity wishing he had flesh enough to have sent a piece to every City in Christendome to witnesse his Loyalty to his King and Countrey The next day having prepar'd his soul for Heaven he marcht magnanimously to the Scaffold and notwithstanding all the interruptions of the bitter spirited Priests having made a sober speech to the people underwent the cruell sentence with all the ignominious circumstances to his owne perpetuall glory and the everlasting reproach of his Enemies Thus dyed this incomparable Marquis of immortal fame a great example of unfortunate Virtue whose barbarous murder I have more particularly related because it discovers the temper of that Covenanted party who put him to death Posterity certainly will esteem his memory and account his Iudges deserving a more exquisite punishment for this and other their inhumane actions then that they inflicted on him if it be possible for the quintessence of malice to invent a greater Within a few dayes after four other Noble Gentlemen suffer'd for the same cause Sir Iohn Vrr y notwithstanding he pleaded the benefit of quarter Col. Spotswood Laird of Darcy Sir Francis Hay and Col. Sibbald though they had the favour to be beheaded Such was the fate of his Majestie 's affairs in Scotland and the brave persons that manag'd them and such was the unparallel'd insolence of the Scots who dar'd to murther his best friends while they were in Treaty with him upon a base and ungenerous presumption that the lownesse of his condition would enforce him to put up patiently so high and detestable an indignity Which indeed he was constrain'd to doe as his affairs then stood When the newes was brought to his Majesty at Breda he was much stâ—rtled at it and exprest his Resentment of their proceedings by a Message sent them by Mr. Murrey That he was griev'd to hear it credibly reported that notwithstanding those hopefull overtures of Peace lately made between him and them they had shed the blood of some of his best Subjects of the Kingdome of Scotland and that the manner thereof according to Reports did extremely trouble him But that he might understand the Particulars more certainly he desir'd an account of the business from themselves In answer to this they profess'd their affections were still reall to him and their Hearts much joy'ed to hear of his willingness to concur with them in a happy agreement And desir'd him not to stumble at some seeming Obstacles as the Death of Montrosse or their reducing of his Forces Assuring him there was nothing in what they did but to accomplish his Ends and promote his Interests to his best Advantage This zealous Nation do's God and the King good service when they illegally and inhumanely murder their fellow-Christians and Subjects These actions of the Scots and the business of the Covenant were the main impediments of the Treaty But the murder of Montrosse though it might justly have deterr'd his Majesty from trusting himself into those hands which reak'd with his best servants Blood could not be redress'd and his necessities enforc'd him to dissemble all further resentment of it As for the Covenant he argu'd that it was the Subjects Covenant to bind them to their King and not for him to swear to and therefore he thought it sufficient to passe an Act for his People to take it He likewise offered to confirme the Presbyterian Government in Scotland Provided that himself might have alwaies three Chaplaines of his own Election As also to confirm the Militia in the Hands of the Estates for five years Provided that afterwards it might return to himself These particulars were agreed to so a conclusion put to the Treaty The newes whereof being carry'd to Edenburgh the Parliament forthwith met and the fourth Faction which I mention'd viz. such as corresponded with the Sectarian Iunto of England were so strangely and ridiculously impudent as to put it to the Vote whether any more Adddresses should be made to the King it seemed they desir'd to ape the abominable Monsters at Westminster who pass'd a Vote of Non addresses after his late Majesty had consented to all their demands there were 32. of these malevolent Negatives but the major part carried it in the Affirmative Whereupon a Message was resolv'd upon to be sent to him wherein they invited him To make all possible speed to come to his Kingdome of Scotland and protested They would assist him with their lives and fortunes to establish him in all his Dominions Yet withall they forbore not to advertise him they had Testimonies to produce of his actings by Letters to Montross having belike intercepted 3. or 4. contrary to his promise to them at the Treaty at Breda as they pretended However they were willing out of speciall grace to dispense with him for what was past so that he would without delay according to the Articles of Agreement come over into Scotland and comply with the Parliament and the Kirk After this they betook themselves to make preparations for his Reception Two of the chiefest Houses in Edenburgh were richly furnisht and the Parliament took into consideration the nominating Officers for his Majesties Household which they did with much arrogance not permitting those to wait upon him whom he chiefly favoured whom he judg'd best affected towards him and by Proclamation prohibiting severall great Scotch Lords as Duke Hamilton the Earls of Louderdale and S aforth with many other persons of Quality who had constantly attended on him in Iersey and Holland from returning into Scotland Thus we have seen the deportment of the Covenanters towards his Majesty and Friends during his absence we now come to relate their actions after he took possession personally of the Kingdome of Scotland Which after the conclusion of the Treaty he did not delay to doe but about the beginning of Iune he left the Hague and took shipping at Scheveling in Holland By the way he was in some danger by reason of a tedious storm and certain English ships which ply'd about the Coast to way-lay him but with some difficulty he escaped both and arrived safe at a place called the Spey in the North of Scotland whither some Lords were sent to receive and accompany him to Edenburgh All the way he was entertain'd with the generall joy and acclamations of the people At Dundee new Propositions were by Commissioners from the Parliament and Kirk presented to him to sign which after some reluctancy he performed The town presented him of Aberdeen with 1500. l. But the Committee of Estates sent to severall places who had the same intentions enjoyning them whatever Plate or mony they had to bestow to bring the same into such a Treasury as they
which put the King upon thoughts of providing for his own safety and therefore on the 13. of April he went out of Oxford in a disguise with Parson Hudson waiting upon Mr. Iohn Ashburnham and upon the 6. os May got to the Scots Army before Newark Soon after which Sir Thomas Glenham surrendred the City of Oxford to General Fairfax upon the 24. of Iune 1646. The Duke of York was carried from thence to Saint Iames's where he met with his Sister the Princesse Henrietta Maria who was sent thither from the surrender of Exceter but was shortly after conveyed from Oatlands over to her Mother in France by her Governesse the Lady Dalkeith From the Island of Scilly the Prince removed to that of Guernsey where he had not long been but an Ordinance is put out against him in the nature of a Ban prohibiting all persons to repair to him or correspond with him by letter or otherwise upon pain of death without mercy Whereupon his abode here being so uncomfortable he betakes himself for France to visit his Mother and that Court there he was received with great demonstration of joy by all parties excepting the dissembling Cardinal Mazarine who though he pretended much respect yet was he inwardly glad to see him in distresse and exile From hence the Queen being willing to comply with the active desires of her Son which inclin'd him to break through these clouds of misery and retirement which seem'd wholly to obscure him writes to the King by Major Bosvil requesting him to permit the Prince to go into the field with his Uncle the Duke of Orleans that summer in the head of a French Army that was then design'd for an expedition into Flanders against the Spaniard To which his Majesty refus'd to condescend partly for that he judg'd it an imployment below a Prince of Great Britain to serve any other King but his own whose pay and orders were once receiv'd by a Roman Caesar and partly because he knew not how soon his service might be necessary for his own Couhtrey and therefore he commands him to wave that design and await his further instructions In the mean time it pleased the King of kings to lay his hand upon him and visit him with an intermitting Fever which continued upon him for the space of some weeks 'till by the divine blessing upon the Physitian 's care he was recover'd to perfect health Soon after which he receiv'd a Commission from his Royal Father to be Generalissimo of all the Loyal forces that survived of the late unsuccessefull battels and garrisons While he is advising about this affair the Kingdom of Scotland out of tendernesse of the Prince's safety honour and conscience move the King That his Son the present hope and future happinesse of these Nations might not be exposed in his youth to the dangers which encompassed him in the French Court particularly in reference to his Religion the perversion of which might have fatal consequences in these three Kingdomes Whereupon his Majesty from Newcastle whether the Scots fearing least General Fairfax should fall upon them and compel them to deliver him up retir'd with him writes to him That he should wait upon his Mother and obey her dutifully in all things Religion only excepted and that he should not stir any whether without his directions The Scots also by their Committee of Estates write themselves to the Prince to invite him thither Professing that none of the late calamities except those that had befallen his Royal Father afflicted them more then his Highnesse's absence And seeing their Forces had entred England to doe their duty to Religion his Majesty and his Highnesse they humbly desire he would please to honour and countenance their pious and loyal endeavours with his gracious presence for whose honour safety and freedome they engage the publick Faith of that Kingdome Signed Crawford Lindsey In Answer to this he desires the Earle of Louderdail to return his acknowledgements to the States of Scotland and assure them he would doe nothing misbecoming a good Prince or unsuitable to their civility But the Prince in pursuance of his instructions negotiating in behalf of his Father's affairs in the French Court by his Mother's assistance whom her nearnesse of bloud great deserts and low condition made powerfull there prevails with the French to advance ten thousand pounds for the Marquesse of Ormond towards the furtherance of his Majestie 's affairs in Ireland as an earnest of greater matters And some remainders of his Cornish Forces getting to a head others upon order marching to him out of Ireland he goes to meet them at the Island of Iersey with such Forces as he had gotten together beyond sea especially in France by his Mother's means and in Holland by the mediation of his young Brother in Law VVilliam of Nassaw Prince of Orange who about this time succeeded his Father Henry in the dignity of General and Admiral of the United Provinces He possessed himself likewise of some Vessels in the Island adding others to them which he hired in France While his Highnesse lay here a Letter is sent to him from the Parliament by the hands of Colonel Russel their Governour of Guernsey which lyes six or seven Leagues distant from Iersey The effect of it was to desire him for his Father's his own and the three Kingdomes sake to return to them where he should find all due respects Subjects could afford or his H ghnesse expect The Design was to get the person of the Prince into their hands as the Scots had that of the King but it took no effect the Prince proceeding to manage his affairs by sea and land to such advantage as might â—nable his Royal Father to stand in the approaching Treaty on such termes as might consist with his Conscience and his Honour On Iuly the 27. following sixteen General Propositions with sundry Qualifications were presented to the King at Newcastle by the Earles of Pembroke Suffolk c. who were limited to ten dayes which the King judging unreasonable refused to consent to and defir'd to come to London and treat personally After which the Scots general Assembly send a Remonstrance to his Majesty desiring him to settle matters in England according to the COVENANT and to signe the Parliaments Propositions And Chancellor Lowdon told him plainly there was no other means for him to close with his Two Houses And moreover if he lost England he should not be admitted to reign in Scotland But the King still persisting in his denyal the Scots who had hitherto some what sharply disputed about the disposall of his Person are content upon the receit of a good summe of Money to depart home and leave the King in the power of the Parliament who voted him to Holmby House and sent Commissioners to receive and convey him thither where he arriv'd on the 17. of February 1646 7. The War was now totally finished and dissentions brake out between the Parliament
for a Treaty with the King the honester and greater part take heart again recall the Votes of Non-Addresses Vote a Treaty send Commissioners with Propositions to the King All which his Majesty fully consented to and there was no difference between him and the Houses but concerniâ—g Presbytery which he granted should be established for three years All men now hoped for a happy settlement But alas now begin the greatest of our woes The Army who could not think their greatness and power would be durable if the King liv'd draw nearer to London petition for their Arrears and for Justice upon the King as the Capitall cause of the Evils of the Civil War to which effect also they publish a Remonstrance requiring withall that a peremptory Day be set for summoning the Prince of VVales and Duke of York and if they refuse to declare them incapable of Government or succession and to stand exiled as Traytors and if they render themselves yet they to be proceeded against for satisfaction with other damands of the like strain To bring their accursed design to passe Fairfax commands Colonel Hammond to deliver up his charge to Colonel Ewer by whom the King is conveyed out of the Isle of VVight to Hurst Castle Novemb. 30. contrary to the intentions and consent of the Parliament as they declar'd And thus the Treaty was violenty broken off Yet the Lords Vote the King's concessions a sufficient ground for Peace and so do the major part of the Commons But the Army march up to London discharge the Trained Bands from guarding the Parliament and order Pride's and Rich's Regiments to supply their places by whom above fourty Members are seiz'd on and confin'd Major General Brown ninety odde Members excluded the House Then the Army form a new Model of Government which they stile The Agreement of the people destructive to all the Fundamental Laws of the Land which was presented to the new molded House by Sir Hardres VValler and 16. Officers The House hereupon annull the Votes against Non-addresses and exclude all Members that will not joyn with them in this proceeding They then proceed to order the Tryall of the King and remove him though the Lords refus'd to concurre and declare no act of the Commons binding without their consent However force overcomes all Right Reason A pretended High Court of Iustice is erected of which Iohn Bradshaw newly created Serjeant at Law is made President The King is brought before them upon Saturday the 20 of Ianuary 1648. on Monday the 22. on Tuesday the 23. and on Saturday the 27. of the same moneth where persisting with magnanimity and reason to deny the power of the Court and being most impudently and insolently treated by Bradshaw he is condemned to be beheaded for Tyranny Treason and Murder According to which sentence having taken leave of his Children here is England and sent his blessing to his son in Holland he was put to death before White-hal Gate upon Tuesday the 30. of Ianuary the Dutch and French Embassadours in behalf of his Majesty made intercession for his life The Scottish Parliament publish'd a Remonstrance against the Parliaments Proceedings The Ministry of London declar'd their disallowance before God and Men The House of Peers offer'd themselves as pledges for his Sacred Majesty but all prevailed nothing The barbarous Iuncto are inexorable being made so desperate by their own guilt that they thought nothing could secure their former crimes but this impious detestable and unparallel'd murther of their Sovereign During his Majesties tryall which was carried on with all expedition and speed the Prince who could not be satisfi'd of that strange turn from a Treaty to a Tryall writ the following Letter to his Father by the Lord Seymour SIR HAving no means to come to the knowledge of your Majestie 's affairs but such as I receive from the Prints or whiâ—h is as uncertain reports I have sent this bearer Seymour to wait upon your Majâ—sty and to bring me an account of it and that I may withall assure your Majesty I do not only pray for your Majesty according to my duty but shall alwaies be ready to do all which shall be in my power to deserve the blessing which I now humbly beg of your Majesty upon Sir Your Majestie 's most humble and most obedient Son and Servant CHARLES Hague Ian. 23. 1648. But alas Sad were the tydings the Lord Seymour return'd with into Holland the most inhumane illegall and barbarous murther of the King of Great Britain by the hands of his English Subjects An Act which struck all Europe with horror and amazement and which certainly our Posterity will eternally detest To represent the sorrow and affliction of our Illustrious Prince with his Royal Brother the Duke of York and his Sister of Orange without doubt surpasses all the power of words No Prince ever lost a Father whom he was to succeed in Royalty with greater regret and indeed all circumstances consider'd I conceive no mortal man had ever greater occasion of grief Certainly had not the extraordinary grace of God supported him he could never have borne up against it I know not how better to resent his passionate resentment then by imitating the old Grecian Painter who being to pourtray Agamemnon present at the sacrifice of his Daughter represented all his followers weeping and lamenting but drew a veil over the Father's face as hiding the transcendent passion his Pencil was unable to expresse A few dayes before the King's death the Commons voted the style in Writs and all Judicial proceedings to be altered from Carolus Dei gratia c. the Great Seal with the Royal Scutcheon of England to be broken and a new one made with the Armes of England the Harp of Ireland with these words The Great Seal of England engraven on one side and on the Reverse the picture of the House of Commons sitting with these words In the first year of Freedome by God's blessing restored 1648. On the evening of that black day on which his Majesty suffered a Proclamation was set forth by the Iuncto prohibiting all persons upon pain of High Treason to presume to declare or publickly to promote Charles Stuart styled Prince of Wales eldest son of the late King or any of the rest of his Children to be King of England In pursuance of which determination having taken their King out of the way they proceed against Kingship and constitute a select Number of themselves joyn'd with the General and chief Officers of the Army in the Supreme authority The House of Peers is voted dangerous and unnecessary and an Act pass'd and proclaim'd in the City of London for the abolishing of Kingly Government and settling these Nations in way of a Free State It was also published 1. That it should be Treason to speak against this Form of Goverment 2. That it should be Treason for any to endeavour the exercise of Kingships in these Nations in his
should appoint As if it were unfit for his Majesty to be master of his own Purse while they were in expectation of his Arrival the Committee of Estates and Parliament consulted about forming of an Army for his service as they pretended and an Act was pass'd for training every fourth man capable to bear Armes throughout the Kingdom raising 16000. Foot and 6000. Horse in which the Earle of Leven was made General of the Foot Holborn Major General David Lesley Lieutenant General of the Horse and Montgomery Major General the supreme Command being reserv'd for his Majesty Who arriving at Edenburgh was entertain'd with many complements and congratulations and on the 15 of Iuly solemnly proclaimed King at the Crosse and should have been Crown'd in the ensuing moneth had not certain obstacles caus'd the deferring of that ceremony He had not been long there but the Estates and Parliament begin to busie themselves afresh about modelling his Retinue and clearing his Houshold of such Malignants as they term'd them as were in his Service excluding them also from all imployment both about his Person and in the Army As for himself he had a strong Guard continually about him to attend him and observe his motions The English pretended Parliament had all this while sufficient intelligence of the Scots proceedings with his Majesty in the Treaty of Breda together with their engagement to assist him in the recovery of his Rights in England and this by the perfidiousnesse treachery of some of the Fourth Faction I mention'd in the Parliament of Scotland And therefore by the sollicitation of these Traytors and partly out of policy to prevent an invasion by making one whereby the Enemies Country would become the Seat of the War they prepar'd an Army against Scotland and sent for Cromwel out of Ireland on whom they confer'd the Command of Capt. General of all their Forces in the room of the Lord Fairfax who gave up his Commission abhorring to be longer a servant to such horrid designes as they had formerly put him upon About this time one Ascham whom the Iunto had sent Agent into Spaine was assassinated at Madrid together with his Interpreter Senior Riba by a combination of six or seven men at Madrid who after the fact took Sanctuary Dorislaus another Agent of the Upstart Republick had the same fate also though more deservedly about a year before in Holland It hapned also during the Treaty was on foot between his Majesty and his Scottish Subjects that Prince Rupert's Fleet having for a long time been protected by the King of Portugal was utterly destroy'd upon that coast by Blake the English Admiral On the 28. of Iune Cromwel got all things in readiness for a War advanc'd towards Scotland in the head of 11000. Foot and 5000. Horse And approaching to the Borders sent the Scots a Declaration from the ptetended Parliament of England and another from himself to justifie these proceedings The Scots seem'd much surpris'd at this invasion without warning given and therefore send to expostulate the Cause of it in a paper to Haslerig then Governour of New-Castle in another to Cromwel and a third to the Iunto in which they urg'd the Solemn League and Covenant and the former Union between the two Nations But it was answer'd by a Declaration 1. That the Scots contrary to their agreement had once already invaded England under D. Hamilton and were now ready for a second invasion so that the English were advanc'd against them onely by way of prevention 2. That they had made a Peace with the Common Enemy promised him assistance to regain the other Kingdomes he pretended to 3. They had resolved to impose their form of Religion upon the English Nation These were the grounds the English alledg'd for their proceedings Accordingly Cromwel marches into Scotland taking all the Garrisons that lay in his way till he came to Muscleborough a place famous for a signall defeat given the Scots in the Reign of Edward the 6. there he is set upon by Maj. Gen. Montgomery and Col. Straughan but the assailants were put to the worst After which the two main Armies having for some time moved at a small distance one from another the Scots declined engaging till they got the English at a great disadvantage at Dunbar who by the difficulties of the place were so distress'd for provision that they began to think of an escape by Sea and would without doubt have taken that course had not the Scots confidence of Victory induc'd them to set upon them contrary to the great prudent maximes of War viz. To make a bridg for a flying Enemy not to drive an enemy Army to the utmost of despair The event of this engagement was that the Scots in stead of an assured Victory received a totall overthrow 3000. of them being slain in the field amongst whom was the Laird of Libberton Col. Lumsden about 8000. with Sir Iames Lumsden Lieut. Gen. of the Foot made prisoners 200. Colours part of those that were afterwards hung up in Westminster-Hall 15000. armes and 30. pieces of Ordnance taken The King in the mean time was withdrawn to St. Iohnston's being so sensible of the Scots unfaithfulnesse that he apprehended as much danger from them as from the Enemie Here he received the news of this losse which was followed with a greater that of the excellent Princesse his Sister Elizabeth who dyed on the eight of Sept. 1650. at Carisbook Castle in the Isle of VVight a Lady of incomparable goodness piety and who deserved to have been born in a better Age and in a lesse Barbarous Nation The execrable murther of her Royall Father hastned her death whither the same Villaines at the helme of the State contributed any thing towards it though reported I will not affirme Onely I know they were enemies enough to that family base enough to attempt as great a crime It is recorded by some that the decease of this Illustrious Princesse afflicted his Majesty more then the losse of the Army at Dunbar and perhaps he had reason since himself seem'd least concern'd in this the Forces having been raised and order'd wholly by the States and Kirk's command and for their interest About this time also dyed the renowned Prince of Orange to the great grief of the King leaving his Princesse great with her first child of which she was safely deliver'd four dayes after being a Son his Father's Successour About this time Col. Eusebius Andrewes having been found with a Commission from his Majesty was condemned by a High-Court of Justice and beheaded on Tower-Hill Immediately after this notable Victory Cromwel made himself master of Edinburgh and of Leith onely the Castle of Edinburgh held out for a good while after The King being unable to bear the imperiousness and hard impositions of the Estates and Kirk extorting a Declaration from him to condemn his own proceedings and those of his best affected party banishing
Montrosse the Lord Lorne Sir Arthur Forbes and Sir Mungo Murrey having gather'd together several parties of Horse and Foot and making severall irruptions upon the English in the Low-lands whereby they much molested them in their new possessions sometimes taking considerable booty and sometimes being worsted and flying into the Mountains where the pursuers could not follow them And thus they continued in expectation of greater Levies and the arrivall of Lieut. Gen. Middleton with supplyes out of the Low-Countryes But in the mean time the English met with the most considerable party under the Earle of Glencarn and defeated them the Earle himself hardly escaping other like successe also befell severall other parties so that they could not unite into one Body as they intended At length Lieut. Gen. Middleton arrived out of Holland with the expected provisions of War and a Commission to be General and Monroe to be his Lieut. Gen. This disposing of Commands so incensed Glencarne who had been imploying his utmost interest in levying Forces which he now saw must be commanded by others that instead of conspiring together against the common Enemy these great Officers quarrell'd among themselves Glencarne was contented to be Lieut. Gen. but Monroe would not agree to it whereupon a single combate ensued between them in which the Earle having wounded and disarmed his Adversary deserted the service with about 500. Gentlemen and made composition with the Governour of Dunbarton to live peaceably at home The same course was also taken by others by degrees However Middleton stood out still with much resolution till at length being set upon a great disadvantage by Gen. Monck and Col. Morgan first in Arguyl and then at Loughary about the midst of Iuly he was wholly overthrown Nevertheless he continued in the High lands with some Foot for some time after till he saw most of the Nobility were either taken or made their submissions and then he retir'd back into Holland The Kirk of Scotland was likewise concern'd in the publick desolation being broken up by Col. Morgan and the petulant Ministry reduc'd to subjection As for Ireland it was by the English Armes brought to such a condition as there was no fear of disturbance for the future onely some few Tories that kept themselves in inaccessible places sometimes made irruptions to steal and plunder The Parliament also erected a High-Court of Iustice there of which Cook so infamous for being an instrument in the murder of his late Majesty was President By whose sentence a great number of the Natives and amongst them many of the ancient Irish Nobility were sentenced and executed for being found guilty of the bloody Massacre committed upon the Protestants in the beginning of the Rebellion and about 14000. were sold to the King of Spain and many transported into other foreign parts who had rendred themselves upon Proclamation the rest were all driven into the Province of Cormaught and there circumscribed to inhabit The other three Provinces Vlster Munster and Leimster were allotted to the English and all forfeited Lands divided among such Adventurers as had advanced money towards the management of the Irish affairs and the souldiers for satisfaction of their Arrears In the room of Deputy Ireton who had succeeded Cromwell in the chief Command of that Nation and died of the pestilence at Limerick Cromwell constituted Lieutenant General Fleetwood who was become his son in-law by the marriage of his eldest daughter Bridget Ireton's Widow His Majesty having for some moneths resided at the Spaw where he enjoy'd the company of his Royall Sister the Princesse of Orange and having recived 200000. Ryxdollers from the Emperour and the Imperiall Colledge who also enacted that no scandalous book publish'd against him should be bought or sold in Germany under pain of death departed from thence to Collen where he arriv'd with his Royall Sister on the sixt of October the great Guns being discharged at their entrance and the Deputies of the City going forth to meet them in solemn manner and conducting them to the Palace provided for them by the chief Magistrates On the 28. of the same moneth the said Magistrates exprest their affections to his Majesty by entertaining him and the Princesse with a sumptuous collation who also the next day upon invitation went to Dussel-dorp where the Duke of Newburgh treated them with all possible magnificence for some dayes After which the Princesse Royall took her journey towards Holland and his Majesty having accompanied her on the way as far as Bedinguen return'd to Collen At his Majestie 's departure out of France he was over-intreated by the Queen his Mother to permit the Duke of Glocester to stay with her at the Palace Royall but with condition that no attempt should be made upon him to pervert him from his Religion But shortly after by the instigation of the French Court and some English Catholicks about her the Queen was willing he should be solicited to turn Catholick and for that purpose permitted him to be carried to Pontoise where some bad Instruments taking advantage of Mr. Lovell his Tutor's absence at Paris set upon him with all motives they could invent both spirituall and temporall to incline him to the Popish Religion But the former kind of Arguments were refell'd by his Highns with greater reason resolution then could probâ—bly have been expected from a person of his years and for the temptations of worldly advancement he rejected them with contempt and the danger of his Majestie 's displeasure urging withall the Queen's promise to the King before his departure in this very particular and complaining of this unworthy advantage taken against him in the absence of his Tutour who was fittest to judge of their proposals Wherefore he was removed to Paris to the House of Mr. Crofts from thence to Pontoise again the instruction of Mr. VValter Montagu Abbot of Nanteul and his former Tutor dismiss'd Of these attempts some cordial Protestants certifi'd his Majesty at Colen with all possible speed who resented them so highly that being ready to goe to dinner when the intelligence was brought him he would not think of eating till he had dispatcht Letters away to Paris In the mean time his Highnesse was restlessely importun'd with perswasions to return to the True Ancient Apostolical Roman Church to embrace the Religion wherein most of his Ancestours liv'd and di'd and most of the Christian world together with the King of France his Royal Mother and her Alliance profess'd which were also back't with the allurements of the greatest Church-Dignities and Revenues and the Honours which that whole Nation would be ready to pay his Highnesse c. All which he declin'd with very ingenious answers and shortly after a Gentleman went to his Highnesse with a Letter from his Majesty and was admitted to his presence but not being able to deliver the same privately he caus'd it to be deliver'd by another hand In that Letter his Majesty minded him of the
Governor thereof being slain in a Sally it was surrendred upon Articles and by the King of France and the Cardinal in person put into the hands of the English Iune 25. 1658. While these things were in agitation beyond Sea the pretended Parliament reassembled on Ian. 20. and those Members who had been excluded the last Session were now admitted There was also an assembly of Officers and some few others in the House of Peers summon'd thither by Cromwel as Lords But the Commons being now a full House began to review the late Humble Petition and Advice made by a packt Iunto and refus'd to treat with the Other House as Lords Wherefore Cromw in a great fury hasted to them in a Hackney Coach and having rated them sufficiently dissolved them Feb. 4. yet with this word of consolation to his Other House My Lords ye are Lords and shall be Lords This was the fourth Parliament he dissolved having before violently turn'd out the Long-Parliament the little Parliament the Recognition Parliament this garbled Iunto There goe's a saying concerning the three latter which were summoned by Cromwel himself that the First was called but not chosen the Second did just nothing and the Third did nothing just However Cromwel resolv'd to maintain what he had gotten per fas nefas He had called his eldest Son Richard out of the Country to inure him to a Court life and Publick Affairs and placed his second Henry in Ireland the room of Fleetwood whom he recalled from thence wanting as he said his Presence and Counsel Moreover he had married his two youngest Daughters in the foregoing November one to Mr. Rob. Rich. heir apparent to the Earldome of VVarwick and the other to Thomas Viscount Faulconbridge And having thus settled himself he resolv'd to rule at his pleasure dispairing of ever having the complyance of a full and free chosen Parliament On the twelfth of March he sent for Tichburn then Lord Mayor of London the Aldermen and Common Council and acquainting them with the imminent danger of the Commonwealth by reason of secret Machinations from some Ill-willers to his Government gave them order for settling the Militia Whereupon the guards were doubled and a strict watch was set in all parts of the City Shortly after divers persons were apprehended and imprisoned and among others Doctor Iohn He wet Minister of St. Gregories near Paul's Mr. Iohn Russell brother of the Earle of Bedford Sir VVilliam Compton brother of the Earl of Northampton Mr. Iohn Mordant brother of the Earle of Peterburgh Sir Richard VVillis Sir VVilliam Leighton many more of lesse quality Hereupon follow'd a day of solemn Humiliation and a High-Court of Iustice before which was brought first S. Henry Slingsby of Yorkshire he was accused of Treason by one VVaterhouse and one Overton Officers in the Garrison of Hull for conspiring to seize upon that place for the King Next him was brought to Tryall Dr. Hewet he was impeached of Treason for holding correspondence with the King and delivering his Commissions to several persons for levying Forces against the Government But the Doctor refused to own the authority of the Court The same day Mr. Mordant was also arraigned before the said High-Court for a treasonable design but he made his innocence so apparent against all the evidence that he was acquitted Sir Henry Slingsby and Doctor Hewet received sentence of death pronounced upon them by President Lisle on the 2. of Iune and notwithstanding the intercessions of great friends were beheaded on Tower-Hill on the 5. of the same moneth A few dayes after one Mallery the betrayer of all the rest was try'd pro forma and condemn'd but repriev'd Other persons were also try'd whereof some were acquitt'd some condemned and reprieved but three persons were dealt with in the greatest rigour being hang'd and quarter'd namely Col. Edw. Ashton in Tower-street over against Mark-lane end Iohn Bettely in Cheapside and Edmund Stacy before the old Exchange Iuly 17. These murders were usher'd in with a Fast and concluded with a day of Thanksgiving Sad newes was this to his Sacred Majesty who could not but be infinitely sensible of the sufferings of these loyall persons as well as of the calamitous state his interest was thereby brought into However he gave not himself up to pensivenesse and unprofitable sorrow but repaired for a while to Antwerp with the two Dukes his Brothers and the Princesse his Sister from whence also he went to Bruxels and resided there for a good space being entertain'd there splendidly by Don Iohn of Austria and desired to be present at most consultations for carrying on the War against the French In August Elizabeth Cleypole daughter to Cromwel and wife to one Iohn Cleypole dyed at Hampton-Court much troubled in mind by reason of the bloody actions of her Father as was reported But whether it were so or no this is certain that Cromwel never injoy'd himself after her death and did not survive her a full moneth He lay some while in a very sad condition with extreme torment and pain in his bowels neverthelesse he could not endure to think of dying but said the night before his death That God had revealed to him that he should not dye and that he had a great deal of glorious work for him still to do in these Nations But on Friday Sept. 3. he departed this life or as some say on Aug. 30. at what time was the most furious violent wind that ever hapned in the memory of man Immediately upon his death his Council met and upon the affirmation of Dr. Goodwin that he nominated his son Richard to succeed him or for that they judged it the most expedient course they order'd him to be proclaim'd Protector accordingly Which was done the next day in the City of London and his new Highnesse took an Oath prescrib'd in the Humble Petition and Advice Richard's first care was the Interment of his Father and search was made into the Records to see what had been expended upon the buriall of former Kings to the end greater cost might be bestow'd upon his All the gaudry was not provided till the 23. of Novemb. and then his Image was drawn in great pomp to Westminster Abbey and lay'd in a stately Herse What became of his carcase is not certainly known Thus ended this great Tyrant after almost 5. years usurpation during which he spent vast sums of Treasure to maintain his ill-gotten power and yet his Funeral charges amounting to above 30000 l. are unpaid for at this day Assoon as the ceremonies were over young Cromwel was urg'd by his wants of money and other prâ—ssing occasions to call a Parliament to which end he sent forth writs not according to the Instrument of Government but after the old way two in a County c. In the mean time many congratulatory addresses were made to him from Counties Cityes Burroughs and Regiments of Souldiers full of flattery and profanesse some of