Cromwell in this Province which like a peice of the former Heptarchy he himself ruled and governed absolutely and pro imperio His next peice of Service was of the like nature and of the same evil Consequence to the King For divers Gentlemen of the County of Suffolk another of the associated Counties resenting this Curb upon their Allegiance and the sawcy Edicts and Commands of the Committees which were made up of the meanest of the Gentry and Burgesses of the Towns designed together to free themselves and their Country from the yoake of these new Lords the chief of these Gentlemen were Sir John Peâ—tus Sir Edw. Barker c. who having in order to their Conjuncture rendezvouzed at Lowerstofe in that County were by the preventing diligence of Cromwell seized and secured and thereby such a Break-neck given to any future Royal undertakings in those parts the rendition of Lyn Regis which then held for the King soon after following this defeat and disappointment that throughout the whole course of the War there happened not any the least Commotion in favour of His Majesties Arms either by supply assistance or diversion Things being thus quieted thereabouts and disposed to the Interest of the Juncto there remained after the military part a Scholastical labour for this Parliamentary Hercules the zealons cleansing of the University of Cambridge the Parent of this Viper who just before his infectious production into the main Army whither he was now designed did miserably exenterate her leaving her a sad and doleful Skeleton deprived of so many learned and religious persons whose only charge was that they adhered to the Dictates of their Conscience and the Obligations of those Oaths which just Authority had enjoyned against the novel and illegal Commands and Covenants forcibly imposed and obtruded on them In this destructive work his module and method of Ambition Cromwell was mainly and chiefly active as also against the Orthodox and Protestant Ministry and their Churches defacing all the Ornaments and Beauty thereof leaving them the ruinous Spectacle of his Reformation And from this Employment now finished he was Commissioned Lieutenant General to the Earl of Manchester who had the separate command in a distinct Supremacy of these associated Counties and was designed to march Northwards with those Forces and joyn with the Scots newly entred England and the Lord Fairfax against the Marquiss of Newcastle who was General for the King in those parts and yet ballanced the Fortune of War against that potent Scotch Invasion but upon the conjuncture and addition of the Earl of Manchester's fresh and well disciplined and armed forces the said Marquiss was constrained to quit the field and distribute his Army into the Garrisons he himself shutting up the best part of it in the City of York which the Confederates presently besieged and made several venturous attempts wherein Cromwell was none of the backwardest though always repulsed with losse and considerable slaughter The importance of this place and juncture of time which either won or lost the North to the King who had newly had great successe in the West by the defeating of the Earl of Essex at Lestithiel in Cornwall caused him to send away Prince Rupert as Generalissimo with a very potent Army to raise that Siege and fight the Enemy if he found occasion The Prince accordingly advanced and upon his approach the Confederates drew off from their Leagure affording the Garrison liberty to joyn with their friends when it was resolved by the Prince without any delay to give Battel though the Marquiss knowing what hazzard the Kings Interest and his own and all the Loyal parties Estates would thereby be put to did very much diswade the suddennesse of the Encounter which notwithstanding ensued on the Evening of the same day July 2. On Marston-Moor within Three miles of York and lasted till Night It will be tedious and beside our purpose to relate the whole order and manner of the Battell further then this that the Scots and my Lord Fairfaxes Forces were totally routed and perâ—ued some miles out of the field and the day given for lost when Cromwell with his associated Horse most of them Curassiers in the left wing seeing this discomfiture fell on with great resolution and courage and worsted the Prince and his reserves and with the same fury fell upon the Marquisses foot whose Regiment of White-Coats and therefore called his Lambs yet stood and could not be broken till the field being almost cleared the Parliaments Infantry came up and then both horse and foot charged and broke them Cromwell here made a very great Slaughter and Carnage especially in the rout and pursuit purposely to make his name terrible this being his first and grand appearance gaining here the Title of Ironsides from the impenetrable strength of his Troops which could by no means be broken or divided The successe of this day made him indeed highly famous and his Lawrells most verdant and flourishing the Victory being principally ascribed to his courage and conduct His Cunctation and temperate delay were highly magnified and then his Resolution in the desperation of the Event extolled the firmnesse and constant equality of his mind when intrepidly and fixedly he beheld the overthrow of the grosse of their Army and thereby animated his Troops to the more vigorous recovery of the day now that the adverse fury was spent in the chase of their Fellows the Scots whom Cromwell ever afterwards though in Covenant with them most disdainfully despised but not only for this reason The Credit of this Atchievement was industriously cryed up at Westminster and all the Grandezza's of Scriptural Ovation fitted and accommodated thereto He himself with the same conquering Troops as yet in the same quality under the Earl of Manchester was remanded from the North to oppose the King then returning victorious out of the West and because the Earl of Essex had hither to been unfortunate therefore this lucky Cheiftain was added as his better Star at the second Battel of Newberry within font Months after Marston Moor and here again the Fates favoured him though not with a complete Victory yet on that side where he fought with a part of one and so much as endangered the person of the King if the noble and stout Earl of Cleveland had not hazardously interposed and bore off the pursuit This indifference of Fortune begot very great differences among the Parliament Commanders one Taxing the other of Neglect Treachery or Cowardize and by what means it could come to passe that nothing was yet effected against the King whom in the beginning of the War they had thought to have swallowed up presently Not were the divisions lesse at home then in the camp â—or now the younger Brother of the Rebellion the Independant Faction began to appear a preciser and severer sort of Zealots who thought Essex and his Army not righteous enough nor fit instruments in whose hands the work of Reformation should
presently enjoyned His old Crambe of a Fast throughout the Army p. 133. l. 5. r. to its vanquished Enemies Nol's own argument p. 136. l. ult for professing read possessing The Life and Death OF OLIVER CROMWEL THE Late Usurper c. FATE when it decreed and ordained the unhappy birth of this Famoso by he most secret and hidden malice brought him into the World without any terrible remark of his portentuous Life neither Comets nor Earthquakes nor such like Violences of nature ushering or accompanying Him to the declaring and pointing out that the Scourge of the English Empire and Nation was now born as she did by indiscernible methods train him up to the possession of the Throne and as secretly and cunningly after all his bloody and most nefarious actions shift him out of it and with a blast of her spent Fury turned him into his wish'd for Grave Nor did she midwife him into this light which he so horribly polluted by any unusual preternatural or monstrous way not with seeth or Heels forward or long hair nor with any marks upon his Flesh as it is storied of Julius Casar our Richard the Third and others nor were theâ—e any presagious dreams or fearful divinations of his Mother when she was impregnate with him as is mentioned of several who have proved like him to be the destruction and common Enemies of Mankind None of all these signs revealed or discovered the abstruse and most reserved deep and mysterious Fortune of this person The subtleties Arts and Policies of his destiny potently and irresistibly conspiring with his as close Treasons and dissembled Treacheries to the ruin and overthrow of this Church and State singly and insensibly accomplished by the mean and unobserved Hand of this bold and perjurious politique All therefore that to this purpose is noted of him is this that he was born the last year of that wonderful Century of 1500. to begin the next with his fital Marvails just before the union of the Two Kingdoms of England and Scotland by King James as if it were congenial to Crowns as to the other lesser accessions of Felicity in private persons to have at the same instant a temperament and alloy to their lustre and greatnesse that as fortunes right hand presented a Scepter so her left hand was ready with a Scourge to wreak her â—nvy upon the glory and grandeur of that renowned succession to and accruement of dominion Every thing hath its good and evil Angel to attend or haunt it and that grand and happy revolution was to be afflicted and prosecuted by this Fury to an almost dissolution of its well composed united and established Frame He was born and descended of a very ancient knightly Family of his name in the County of Huntingdon where for many ages they have had a very large and plentiful patrimony it will suffice therefore to deduce him from no further originals then Sir Henry Cromwell his Grandfather a Gentleman highly honoured and beloved both in Court and Country who had issue Sir Oliver his eldest Son Henry Robert Richard and Sir Philip the youngest whose Son upon Suspicion of poysoning his Master a Lawyer was accused thereupon and convicted and hanged some 35. years agoe This our Oliver Cromwell was Son of Mr. Robert Cromwell the third Son of Sir Henry a Gentleman who went no lesse â—n esteem and reputation then any of his Ancestors for his personal worth which did seem inherent in that Family till his unfortunate production of this his Son and Heir whom he had by his Wife Elizabeth Steward the Neice of Sir Robert Steward a Gentleman of a competent Fortune in that County but of such a maligne effect on the Course of this his Nephews life as hereafter shall be declared that if all the Lands he gave him as some were Fenny Ground had been irrecoverably lost and deluged by any accident or disaster whatsoever it might have past for a most propitious providential prevention of that dire mischief and miseries that Estate occasioned He was born April the 25. in St. Johns Parish in the Town of Huntingdon and was christned in that Church the 29. of the same Month Anno Domini 1599. where Sir Oliver Cromwell his Uncle gave him his name being received into the bosome of the Church by her Rites and Ceremonies both which he afterwards rent and tore and ungraciously and impiously annulled and renounced From his Infancy to his Childhood he was of a crosse and peevish disposition which being humoured by the fondnesse of his Mother made that rough and intractable temper more robust and outragious in his juvenile years and adult and Masterless at mans estate No sooner therefore had he obtained the uâ— of his Tongue but his Father careful of his Education sent him to School to learn the Elements of Language and principalls of Religion both which he studied with the same indifference and inside and fallacious endevour as afterwards appeared by his never speaking what he thought nor believing what he heard or was instructed in so that his main policy was a radical and original hypocrisie which growing up with him could not but be at last after so many years of Experience most exquisitely perfected From this A. B. C. Discipline and the slighted Governance of a Mistris his Father removed him to the Tuition of Dr. Beard Schoolmaster of the Free-School in that Tovvn vvhere his Book began to persecute him and Learning to commence his great and irreconciliable Enemy for his Master honestly and severely observing that and other his Faults vvhich like vveeds sprung out of his rank and uncultivable nature did by Correction hope to better his manners and vvith a diligent Hand and carefull Eye to hinder the thick grovvth of those vices vvhich vvere so predominant and visible in him yet though herein he trespassed upon that respect and lenity due and usual to Children of his Birth and quality he prevailed nothing against his obstinate and perverse inclination The Learning and Civility he had coming upon him like fits of Enthusiasme now a hard Student for a week or two and then a Truant or Otioso for twice as many months Nunquam sibi constans of no settled constancy the very tenour and mode of his future life till his grand attainment Among the rest of those ill qualities which fructuated in him at this age He was very notorious for robbing of Orchards a puerile crime and an ordinary trespasse but grown so scandalous and injurious by the frequent spoyls and damage of Trees breaking of Hedges and Inclosures committed by this Apple Dragon that many solemn Complaints were made both to his Father and Master for redresse thereof which missed not their satisfaction and expiation out of his hide on which so much pains were lost that that very offence ripened in him afterwards to the throwing down all boundaries of Law or Conscience and the stealing and tasting the forbidden fruitâ— of Soveraignty by which as the Serpent
he borrowed 600 foot of M. G. Brown from Abingdon and with them fell presently to storming but was notably repulsed losing 50. men without any successe at all and before he could get off was attaqued by a party of General Gorings Horse commanded by himself then newly come out of the West from Taunton Seige who being as vigilant and valourous a Commander as himself gave Cromwell the first brush he received in the War taking three Colours and Major Bethel prisoner and so returned to his former Leaguer at Taunton In the mean while General Fairfax by Order of the Committee of both Kingdoms of England and Scotland who ordered the Conduct of the War was advancing into the West for the relief of the said Town of Taunton and because the King was yet at Oxford preparing to take the Feild Cromwell was left behind in the same parts where now he quartered with Major General Brown to attend the Kings motion and to impede his Conjunctures with the Princes Rupert and Maurice then comming withâ— Compleat Body of Horse out of Worcestershire but His Majesty had equipped so gallant an Army that Cromwell durst not venture to fight him or retard his march any whither so that Fairfax was presently recalled and ordered to sit down before Oxford to reduce the King to the care of that place and upon advantages to fight him when News came that the King having joyned with the Princes and relieved Chestor besieged by Sir William Brereton was now returning and bending his March towards the Associate Counties the heart and unrouch'd strength of the Parliament Cause and therefore Cromwell was immediately dispatch'd into the Isle of Ely with three Troops to secure that against any Invasion it being as the Bulwark or Fortresse of the rest But the King diverting from that course came and sate down before Leicester and after summons stormed and took it which put the Parliament into such a fright that they commanded Fairfax to rise from Oxford and presently find out the King and fight him who was now as he himself writ to the Queen in a better and more successeful condition then any time since the War This Order Fairfax having never sent in a summons to the City as forejudging he should rise without it disgracefully readily obeyed but withall requested them that they would forthwith dispatch away Cromwell from the Isle of Ely to command the Horse extolling his Experience and Sucoeffe in that Service Accordingly Cromwell reinforced and recruted with some Troops of the Association returned to the Army then marching to Northampton where the General was informed that the King lay about Daventry quartering his Foot and Carriages upon Borough hill as if he intended to fight upon that ground if they should advance but he stayed only till the 1200 Horse which he had sent to carry the Cattle he had taken out of Leicester and Northamptonshire for the supply of Oxford were returned intending thence according to advice of his Councel of War to march to the relief of Pomfret Castle in the North and to reduce those parts lost to him ever since Marstâ— Moor and so to draw on Fairfax after him and fight him at advantage which he could not do in these Counties that were every were Garrisoned by the Parliament forces But this Resolution the quicker Consultation and Opinion of Cromwell soon disappointed for by his advice now that their Army could expect no other Additions but Coll. Rossiter who was then also in a Days march of them for Sir John Gell was joyned already Ireton was presently dispatcht with a Brigade of Horse to observe the posture of the Kings Army and if they weâ— upon their March Northwards to skirmish then in the Rear and keep them in Action till the whole body could come up and engage June the 13. Fairfax came to Gilsborough within 5 miles of Borongh hill whence the Cavaliers the 120â— Horse being returned were marching northwards and the next night to the wonder and amazement of the King Ireton gave an Alarum to His Own quarters at Naseby whence about a 11. of the Clock the King dislodged and hastâ—ed to Harborough where Prince Rupert and the Van of the Army was quartered here a Council of War was presently convened and by the Kings fatal Opinion concluded that because there was danger of bringing off the real of his Army the Enemy pressing so near and hard upon them that therefore they should desist from their March further Northwards and immediately turn back upon the Enemy and give him Battel relying chiefly upon the valour of the Infantry now flusht and encouraged with the Plunder and spoil of Leicester This was put in execution though the major voyces were for staying till General Goring with his forces were come up and the Kings will obeyed For very early in the Morning the Scouts brought word that the King was making all hast to the Engagement being falsly informed that Fairfax in fear was retreating to Northampton whereas he had now disposed of Naseby-field awaited Him having Cromwell with Whalley on his right wing and Ireton on his left the one opposed to my Lord Langdale and the Northern Horse and the other to Prince Rupert General of the Cavalry the King himself being Generalissimo To come to the Event Prince Rupert totally routed Ireton who being engaged and driven upon the Kings rightmost foot was there wounded in the Thigh with a Halbert and taken Prisoner and the Field on that hand cleared which Fairfax and Cromwell observing having not yet stirred from their ground Fairfax with a short Speech encouraged the Troops to the Charge which was seconded with some devout ejaculations from Cromwell who clapping Spurs to his Horse fell in with Langdale's Brigade and quite charged through three bodies and utterly broke them nor did he stop till with fine force he had likewise beat that Wing from their ground without possibility of rallying or recovering it again In this Action a Commander of the Kings knowing Gromwell advanced smartly from the Head of his Troops to exchange a Bullet singly with him and was with the like galantâ—y encountred by him both sides forbearing to come in till their Pistoâ— being discharged the Cavalier with a slanting Back-blow of a broad Sword having cut the Ribond that tyed his Murrion and with a draw threw it off his head and now ready to repeat his stroke his party came in and rescued him and one of them alighting threw up his Headpiece into his Saddle which Oliver hastily catching as being affrighted with the chance clapt it the wrong way on his head and so fought with it the rest of the day which proved most highly fortunate 〈◊〉 his side though the King most magnanimouâ— and expertly managed the sight exposing himself to the eminentest perils of the Feild raised him beyond the Arts and reach of Envy or his Enemies of the Presbyterian party who had so long been heaving at him to out him
was killed by Carbine shot refusing to take quarter at such perfidious peoples hands This Hurly burly being over and ended like a flash the General came to Oxford where he was highly treated and he and Oliver made Doctors of the Civil Law This proved the utter Suppression of that party rendred the Army entirly at his command without any farther dispute of their Leading so that they presently submitted to the Lot which Regiments should be sent to Ireland then almost reduced to the Kings obedience by the M. of Ormond which thus decreed it viz. 11. Regiments One of Dragoons under Col. Abbot Of Horse Iretons Scroops Hortons and Lamberts Of Foot Eures Cooks Hewsons and Deans And three new ones viz. Cromwells Venables and Phayrs Cromwell was ordained Commander in Chief and tituladoed with the Style of Lord Governour of Ireland while Fairfax was lest here to attend the Parliament and passe away his time in the Dotages of his Successe giving him the Honour of subduing that Realm and preparing it to his Usurtion He with a very potent Army was now landed at Dublin Whereupon a strong Garrison of 2500 Foot and 300 horse resolved men under the charge of Sir Arthur Aston was put into Drogheda the nearest Garrison to the late defeat of the Ms of Ormond which Cromwell having refreshed his Army a while at Dublin came to besiege The Town was stormed resolutely thrice and as well defended-Sir Arthur Aston being so confident that he advised the Lord Lieutenant not to precipitate any thing for he should hold them play a while but in the third assault Collonel Wall being unâ—ortuâ— nately killed his dismaid Souldâ—ers listened to thâ— offer of quarter before they had need of it and admitted them upon those terms Cromwell having notice that the Flower of the Irish Army was in his hands gave order to put all in Arms to the Sword where were killed Sir Arthur Asteâ— Sir Edmund Varney Collonel Warren Coll. Dun Finglassâ— Tempest c. with 3000 Souldiers the best in that Kingdome He comes next before Wexford which having resused to accept of a Garrison now the Enemy was under their walls was contented to admit of 500 Men under the command of Sir Edmund Butler and the Lord Lieutenant came also in sighthâ— the Town before whose face Stafford the Governour of the Castle basâ—ly betrayed it to Cromwell together with the Town who there are acheroroâ—fly murthered 2000 more Rosse was the next place whither a Garrison was sent under the command of Luke Taaf with order the Town not being tenable to render upon Conditions which accordingly a breach being made they did and marched away with their Arms. His next attempt was upon Duncannon but the noble Wogan and the English Cavaliers gave him a foyle hence he retreated to Rosseâ— â—ere he made a floating bridge that to having a passage to the other side he might comâ—ell Ormond either to divide his Army to observe his motions or otherwise to get a passage into Munster where he held intelligence with several places that would then Revolt and accordingly for all my Lord Taaff was sent thither before hand to secure them yet Youghall Corke and all the English Towns of Munster openly Revolted and many of my Lord Inchiqueens men allured by Money and Commands in Cromwell's Army ran over to the Enemy and his Excellency the L. Lieutenant having lost the opportunity of Fighting Cromwell by his dislodging from Duncannon by night vvhen the Irish vvere cheaâ—full and earnest to engage vvas never after in a condition fit to venture a battel He therefore passes over his Bridge and so into the County of Kilkenny facing his Enemy and moving up and dovvn after him vvhile his Lieut. G. Jonâ—s with parties took in the Castles and Carrick vvas vvretchedly betrayed to him by Martin that commanded there vvhence 〈◊〉 passes his Army into Munster and takes severall Castles by the appearance onely of his Horse onely at Kilteran he received a repulse but Ballisannon was sold to him Kilkenny was taken next aster a stout defence made the Towns-men complying contrary to the Souldiers knowledge who were driven into the Castle and there conditioned The next enterprize he went in hand with was to take Clonmell kept by Major Generall Hugh Neake who behaved himself so well that the Enemy having lost 2500 Men before it had gone away without it had it not bin that the Gariâ—on wanted Powder so that they got over the River to Waterford in the night leaving the Townsmen to make conditions for themselves which the Enemy not knowing the Souldiers were gone readily granted Soon after Collonel Roch received a brush from my Lord Broghill in the County of Cork vvhere the Bishop of Rosse being taken vvas hanged I have thus briefly discoursed of the War in Ireland that I might hasten to the grand event and from the Camp after another expedition conduct him to the Palace the main consequence of his Life vvhich rendred all his other actions so notable and conspicuous The Irish War thus in a manner ended and the Scotch War ready to Commence the Committee of Estates there having concluded vvith the King at Breda and he upon his Voyage to that Kingdom wheâ—e all correspondence with the English was by Proclamation forbidden and all manner of Provision stopt from carrying into England though the Juncto at Westmiâ—ster had used all Artifices to keep the Scots from closing with Him who were so far disposed thereto that they had barbarously murâ—hered the Great Marquiss of Montross a Hero far surpassing Oliver in Conduct and who was untimely and unfortunately taken away from the rescue of his Country Cromwell like a Fury was ready at hand to take revenge of that Fact For having been seeretly called for over from Ireland to amuse all Parties both the Irish who trembled at his presence and made no considerable resistance against him and his Fortune and the General himself at home who expected not such his sudden â—valship to his Command which gave him no time for mature consideration of the design the Scots who though Alarumed by frequent rumours of an English Invasion yet were not so forward in their Levies as having assurance of Fairfax's dissatisfaction he was now wasted over into England preventing the Letters he had sent to the States to know their express pleasure for his departing that Kingdome On the beginning of June he returned by the way of Bristoll from Ireland to London and was welcomed by Fairfax the General many Members of Parliament and Council of State at Hounsle-heath and more fully complemented at his Lodgings and in Parliament by the Thanks of the House and the like significant Address of the Lord Mayor c. of London being look'd upon as the only Person to the Eccsipse and diminution of the Generals Honour which we shall presently see him paramount in the same supreme Command The World that considered the carriage of this Politique towards his Prince
conditions that the worst of Rebells could have put upon a Prince which being once confirmed and assented to by him they would be ready to give Battel as the quarrell should then be stated and upon which they might expect a blessing But this wile advantaged not the Kirk but only served as a Directory to Oliver where he should level his Treasonable projects To this Cromwell takes very good occasion to reply and help our their sophistry with some more of his own◠and to let the Scots see of how near affinity the Kirk and the Congregational way were in this respect to the King he permitted nay caused their Declaration to be publiquely read to his Army putting the Scotch-Remonstrants upon these Dilemma's That their professed disowning of Malignants and receiving and assisting their Head and Chief in whom all their hope lies cannot consist in common sence or pradence reciting as evidence thereof the late Popish affairs in Ireland and Prince Ruperts roving at Sea That suppose He the King should give security of his turning it must be some other way then by a few and feigned formal submissions for it is his necessity and his old Complices that connsel him to that Complyance Nor is it possible for the Scots in the way that they are now in to be able to secure themselves or England and concludes that upon this quarrel if they be ready to fight his Army attends there for that purpose and therefore the Scots cannot complain for want of an opportunity These pestilent and alike dangerous Papers which in effect seemed rather an agreement then cause of quarrell between the Antagonists were warily considered by some even of Kirk-men who loved the King as of sudden and desperate consequence to his Majesties Person and Government so highly vilified and disre-garded so that a Declaration to the liking of the Kark was extorted from him that there might no cause of pretence remain either for their obstinate carriage towards him or ready compliance with the Enemy Hereupon the English Army advanced again and though several Bodies of Scotch Horse appeared yet they presently withdrew upon their approach which that it might not be altogether frustrate Cromwell in sight of them caused a Garrison called Red-house within a mile and a half of Edinburgh to be Stormed wherein were taken 60. Foot and the House made tenable and manned by the English while the Scats being necessitated for Provisions and to joyn with some other Forces from Fife and the West had marched two miles beyond Edinburgh having a great Hill on the one side and the City and a River on the other so that it was very hazardous to engage them being drawn up in Battalia the great Cuns playing on both sides In which posture and attendance the Scots and English stood and neither changed ground till Provisions growing scarce Cromwell retreated to Pentland-hills Lambert having had some discourse and conference with Straughan c. about the former equity of their cause de lana caprina and thence with some difficulty by reason of bad weather to Musleborough for Provant and thence a few days after to Dunbar with intention by shipping or any other way to get into England being now closely followed by the Scotch Army in their rear who rightly guessing the English to be weakned with long Marches and want of Victual made cock-sure of a total Victory which snatching at before it was ripe for them fearing nothing more then that they would escape them they saw themselves miserably frustrated and their despairing Enemy a most insulting Conqueror On Sunday at night the first of September the English making at most not above 12000. men came to Dunbar whither the Scots keeping close at their Heels came also and drew up their whole Army consisting of between 20. and 24. thousand men upon a high Hill within a mile of the Town to the great amazement at first of the English but dispair adding resolution to their courage they presently drew out in Battalia in the Corn-field near adjoyning and so stood all night being incamped upon a Neck of Land whose Breadth was not a Mile and a half from Sea to Sea so that they were by Land quite cooped up In considence therefore of an assured Victory David Lashley who Commanded this Kirk Army in chief began to advance as early as the Sun next morning and drew down the Hill fixing at the foot thereof and about 4. a clock in the afternoon brought down his Train there being a great Ditch betwixt both the Armies That night the English by Command placed themselves close to the Ditch and placed their Field-pieces likewise in every Regiment that they might be in a readiness in case the Enemy should attempt any thing upon them who were vainly expecting terms of a rendition boasting that they had them in a worse pound then the King had the Earl of Essex at Lestithiell in Cornwall The Ministers having their voice in the Council of War held by this Kirk Army most earnestly urged the Engagement and fight against those that were of opinion to let the English escape and not venture the fortune of War upon an Enemy made desperate of which there were 〈◊〉 many sad examples saying that God had delivered Agag meaning Cromwell into their power and if they let him go would require him at their hands On Tuesday morning at four of the Clock a Brigade of the English Army drew down to possess themselves of a pass upon the Road between Edenburgh and Berwick which being had they might with the more ease and advantage make their way home and in order thereto pass over so the Enemy to fall upon them This Brigade consisted of three Regiments of Horse of Major General Lamberts Commissary General Whalleys and Collonel Lilburns and two of Foot This gave the Scots a great Alarum and a fore dispute happened about the pass which lasted above an hour the great Guns playing in the mean time against both the bodies At length that stout Brigade gained and possessed the pass much gallantry and bravery being shewed on both sides This pass lay at Copperspeth in the English way homewards to impede which they had drawn off their best Horse upon the right Wing to receive the English weose Word was the Lord of Hosts theirs The Covenant The Enemy charged hereupon with their Lanciers so that that the Horse gave way a little but immediately rallied and the foot advancing to second them the Scots were charged so home that they put them presently to the rout it being about six a Clock in the morning the left Wing of Horse without striking one stroke following the same way The Foot seeing this rout and flight of the Horse and not able in any order by reason thereof to engage were all of a sudden so confused and confounded that without any resistance or offer of Engagement they threvv dovvn their Arms and fled giving the English the full pursuit of them above
eight miles beyond Haddington the number of the slain vvere 40000. 9000 Prisoners many vvhereof vvere desperately wounded and 10000 Arms all their Ammunition Bag and Bagage Prisoners of Note were Sir James Lâ—sdale Lieutenant General of the Army the Lord Libberton imployed by the States to the King lately and died of his wounds presently after the fight at Dunbar Adjutant General â—ickerton Scout-master Campbel Sir William Douglass Lord Cranston and Colonel Gurden 12 Lieutenant Colonels 6 Majors 42 Captains 75 Lieutenants 17 Cornets 2 Quarter-masters 110 Ensigns Foot and Horse Colours 200. 27 Guns some Brass Iron and Leather with the loss of not above 300. English and one Major Rookisty who died after of his wounds there was likewise taken the Purse to the great Seal of Scotland which was presently sent up to London and the Colours with those taken before at Preston ordered forthwith to be hâ— up in Westminster-Hall The full Contents of all which was signified in a Letter from the General in his usual strain of devout zeal tending very much to strengthen the Independent against the Presbyterian at home and the advancement of a Common-wealth to the imitation of the rest of the World the latter part thereof for the severeâ— Aspect it had towards the Ministry in favour of Anabaptists with which the Army swarmed I have here inserted The Ministers of Scotland have hindred the passage of those things meaning his affection to the good people of Scotland to those to whom 〈◊〉 intended them and now we see that notionly the deceived people but some of the Ministers three or four are fallen in the fight This is the great hand of the Lord and worthy of the consideration of those who taking into their hands the instrument of a foolish Shepheard to wit medling with worldly policies and mixtures of earthly powers to set up that which they call the Kingdom of Christ which is neither it nor if it were it would such be found effectual to that end and neglect or trust not to the Word of God the sword of the Spirit which is alone able and powerful to that end and when trusted to will be found effectually able c. This is HUMBLY offered for their sakes who have lately turned too much aside that they might return again to Preach Jesus Christ c. and then no doubt they will deserve and find your protection and encouragement Which humble offer was to command a strict Inquisition upon them as those most probable to obstruct the new module of his future greatness The glory of this field though it were by his own party ascribed to his valour yet it laid a great blemish on his conduct and indeed the rescue of his honour is principally to be referred to Colonel Monck whose company he had obliged in this expedition being very understanding in the choice and as subtile in the shaking off his Friends and Familiars He had newly had a Regiment conferred on him made up of recruits and other imperfect companies and did now at the Generals request draw and design the fight and embattle the Army and seconded that deliberate speculation with forwardest of action for which indeed most of the Officers were very praise worthy After the fight Cromwell used some catching courtesies to the wounded Soldiers and the feebler sort of Prisoners but the poor Highlanders and such like paid dear for that partial kindness shewed their Countrymen as many as with difficulty lived being sold for slaves On the 14. of September General Cromwel marched out of Edenburgh with 7. days provision for the Scots had not left any manner of subsistance betwixt that and Sterling and on the 15. reached beyond Linlithgow but through bad weather was constrained to retreat thâ—ther that night for shelter the 16. to Falkiâ—k within a Mile of Sterling from whence fresh Letters of the old strain were sent into that City but the Trumpeter was not suffered to enter whereupon order was given for a storm but upon better thoughts of the danger forborn so that on the 19. of September they returned to Linlithgow whither came General Dean to him from Shipboard being newly arrived at Leith in the Speaker Frigot and fortified the Town being the road way betwixt Edenburgh and Sterling and a sufficient Garrison was left to maintain it and so on the 22. the English returned to Edenburgh where Coll. Whally had offered the Ministers fled to the Castle leave 〈◊〉 come out and preach in their several Parishes but they refused Another Cajole to the Kirk Cromwell encamping and traversing hereabouts with his Army but not being able to effect any thing against the main Army of the Kings that lay on Sterling-side resolved to be doing with a Patty that then lay in the West of Scotland under the Command of the Colonels Ker and Straughan with whom Cromwell had maintained an open intercourse and had proffered them a Cessation driving at this to take them off and subdivide the Nation in several parties and the effect of his Papers taxing the Scots with the admission of the King upon the old Malignant score did operate as he projected for thereupon out-comes a Declaration or Remonstrance from these Western fellows full of saucy and treasonable language which accordingly was voted both by the Commissioners of the Kirk and the Committee of Estates to be scandalous and seditious Sir James Stuart and Sir John Cheisly and one Mr. Leviston who seemed to countenance it were strictly watched and Straughan taken and made Prisoner in Dunbarton and after in Cathnes-castle whence he escaped and came over to the English at Edenburgh but 't was more the sacred hunger of Gold then zeal for Religion made him first betray his King and his Country after and we shall see all Cromwell's Proselytes of that Nation both Dundasse Warrestâ—n and Giffan to love nothing so much as the Mammon of Presbytery Straughan thus removed Major General Lambert was sent to prevail with Ker either by blows or words the latter being thought as feisible as the former and accordingly on the last of November having difficultly found and passed a Ford over Hambleton-river Car got notice of it and resolutely fell into the Major Generals quarters at a Town of that name but the Horse being in a readiness to receive him he lost a 100. men had his right hand almost cut off and was taken Prisoner and the rest of his party being 5. Regiments of Horse 2. whereof were the Earl of Cassells and Lord Kirconbrights pursued as far as Ayre where Commissary General Whalley was now left to command in chief in those Western parts Cromwell had marched with his Army this way as far as Glasgow in October but understanding or dreading the enemy would come and relieve Edinburgh-Castle with Provisions and another Governour being in Treaty with the present for a summe of money he forthwith retired having there took and garrisoned two Houses while Coll. Whalley took in Dalkeith and another
and sending Lieutenant Generall Monk with 5 or 6000. to Sterling to reduce that place and by it to put your affairs into a good posture in Scotland We marched with all possible expedition back again and have passed our Foot and many of our Horse over the Frith this day resolving to make what speed we can up to the Enemy who in this desperation and fear and out of inevitable necessity is run to try what he can do this way I do apprehend that if he goes for England being some few dayes march before us it will trouble some mens thoughts and may occasion some inconveniences of which I hope we are as deeply sensible and have and I trust shall be as diligent to prevent as any and indeed this is our comfort that in simplicity of heart as to God we have done to the best of our judgements knowing that if some issue were not put to this businesse it would occasion another Winters War to the ruin of your Souldiery for whom the Winter-dissiculties of this Country are too hard and be under the endlesse expence of the Treasure of England in prosecuting this War It may be supposed we might have kept the Enemy from this by interposing between him and England which truely I believe we might but how to remove Him out of this place without doing what vve have done unlesse we had had a commanding Army on both sides of the River of Frith is not clear to us or hovv to ansvver the inconveniences aforementioned vve understand not vve pray therefore that seeing there is a possibility for the Enemy to put you to some trouble you vvould vvith the same courage grounded upon a confidence in God wherein you have been supported to the great things in which God hath used you heretofore improve the best you can such Forces as you have in readinesse or may on the sudden be got together to give the Enemy some check until we shall be able to reach up to him which we trust in the Lord we shall do our utmost endevour in and indeed we have this comfortable experiment from the Lord that this Enemy is heart-smitten by God and when ever the Lord shall bring us up to them we believe the Lord will make the desperateness of this Councel of theirs to appear and the folly of it also when England was much more unsteady then now and when a much more considerable Army of theirs unfoiled invaded you we had but weak force to make resistance at Preston upon deliberate advice we chose-rather to put our selves between their Army and Scotland and how God succeeded that is not well to be forgotten This is not out of choice on our part but by some kind of necessity and it is to be hoped will have the like issue together with a hopeful end of your work in which it 's good to wait upon the Lord upon the earnest of former experiences and hope of his presence which only is the life of your Cause Major General Harrison with the Horse and Dragoons under him and Colonel Rich and the rest in those parts shall attend the motion of the Enemy and endevour the keeping of them together as also to impede his March and will be ready to be in conjunction with what Forces shall get together for this service to whom Orders have been speeded to that purpose as this enclosed to Major General Harrison will shew Major General Lambert this day marched with a very considerable Body of Horse up towards the Enemies Reer With the rest of the Horse and nine Regiments of Foot most of them of your old Foot and Horse I am hasting up and shall by the Lords help use the utmost diligence I hope I have left a commanding force under Lieutenant General Monk in Scotland This account I thought my duty to speed to you and rest Leith 4. August 1651. Your most humble Servant O. Cromwell This shews what sudden troubled apprehension He had of this well designed March of the Kings and made him repent his obstinacy of Honour in reducing St. Johnstons by which the King got 3 days March of him but however he excused this to the Parliament who were almost in despair and terribly affrighted at the News of it yet they did highly taxe him for his negligence and spoke ill words of him which came to his ears and for which he soon after cried quits with them The King departed from Sterling the last of July and came into England by the way of Carlisle and upon his first footing there was Proclaimed rightful Kin ' of Great Brittain and did thereupon publish his Declaration wherein He offered His free Grace and Pardon to be confirmed by an Act thereafter to all His Subjects of England of what ever nature or crime their offences were excepting Cromwell Bradshaw and Cook the more immediate Murtherers of His Father and therewith prosecuted His March being proclaimed in the same manner through all the Towns he passed On the 22 of August the Van of the Kings Army entred Worcester some resistance being attempted to be made by some new raised Forces under one Colonel James and by the influence of Baron Wilde but the Townsmen saved them the labour of driving them out and most joyfully welcomed these weary Guests and such too as in 1645. had been extremely oppressive and intolerably burdensome at the Siege of Hereford but their gladnesse at the Kings presence and hope of his Restitution obliterated all other considerations and remembrances whatsoever The Mayor and his Brethren at the Kings Intradâ— did Him the customary but most chearful obeysances tendring Him the Keys and the Mace upon their Knees and bidding Him and His Forces welcome to this his Majesties Ancient and Loyal City where the same day with great solemnity He was anew Proclaimed and the tired Soldiers most abundantly provided for being in all Scotch and English some 13000. who had marched 300. miles outright in three weeks In the mean time the Parliament had amassed a numerous Militia in all the Counties of England and glad were the Members that the King stayed for them for nothing was more dreaded then his continued march to London which place would have soon ridded their fears upon an approach of the Kings Army but 30. miles further from Worcester but to prevent that as Essex did before at the beginning of the War whose first efforts took this way Cromwell by long Marches through Newcastle Rippou Ferrybrygs Doncaster Mansfield and Coventry had interposed himself and joyned with his Army at Keynton where a General Council of all his Officers was held and a speedy advance to Worcester resolved on Lieutenant General Fleetwood being dispatch'd to bring up his Forces then on their way at Banbury the gross of all the Forces amounting to above 50000. effective Militia and all By this time Cromwell had surrounded the City of Worcester with his spreading Host in as neer a compass as the Rivers
and Passes would suffer him the Kings Army as yet lying out of the Town a mile in the fields The first pass endevoured to be taken was Vpton-Bridge on Fleetwoods side which Major General Lambert attempted with 500. Horse and Dragoons who unespied crept upon their Bellies on a peice of Timber they had laid over the River which the surprizing Assailants after a brisk dispute wrested from Colonel Massey The Scots lâ—wing thus abandoned the place it was presently possest by a strong Party of Horse and Foot in order to the present advance of the rest of the Army The Scots now drawn closer to Worcester made many Salleys breaking down 2. or 3. Bridges over the River Team and shewing a well ordered and governed courage but September the third that ominous day he drew out from his own Post and having given the signal to the whole Army to fall on began the Fight in this manner Cromwell himself in person about 3. a Clock with hss Life Guard and Colonel Hackers Regiment of Horse with part of his own Regiment and Colonel Ingoldsby's and Fairfax's entire passed over his Bridge of Boats upon the Severn and marched towards the City after him Lieut. Gen. Fleetwood who had been most part of that day marching of 5. miles from Upton to Powick-bridge which the Kings Army had broken down passed with Colonel Goff's and Major General Dean's Regiments and joyntly advanced the Kings Forces encountring them at the Hedges and disputing every field with them in such order and with such gallantry that these already over lest they should not be wholly discouraged with the hotnesse of the service were relieved by reserves and they by others no considerable progress yet made the Highlanders proving excellent Firemen and coming to the But-end at every foot till weary and their Ammunition spent the King being then upon the place Commanded them in some hast into the City and hastned himself to the other side where Colonel Hayns Regiment with Cobbets stood about Powick bridge and were entertained with no less Manhood and Slaughter and though Colonel Mathews was the reserve to the other two Regiments yet did the Scotch Foot fairly drive them from their ground till their little Army being every way engaged and no seconds or supplies to be expected after some wheelings in a careless regard of the Enemy as if they feared not to make which way they pleased they drew likewise into the Town as did that Brigade which opposed the Regiments of the Lord Gray Colonel Blague Gibbons and Marsh But they stayed not long here for as if their pent spirits had broke out with greater fury they sallied out in great bodies upon the Generals side who had now brought the Militia Forces into play the Veterans wisely detrecting to engage first upon the Storm which was then intended but there was yet field matter enough to do In the Head of one of those squadrons the King himself charged with that gallantry which would have become our Admiration in other men and showed he had not forgot the Discipline of War in which he had been brought up from his youth In one of those Charges he made Duke Hamilton a better Soldier and nobler gallanter person then his Brother received a shot on his thigh whereof presently after he dyed The loss that was sustained by the Enemy fell principally upon the Essex Foot and those of Cheshire and Snrrey who returned in thin Troops and Companies to their Counties but fresh and entire Brigades and Regiments in Reserves namely Desborough's Regiment of Horse Cromwell's of Horse Major General Lambert's of Horse WWhaley's Harrison's and Tomlinson's Brigades with other Foot re-inforcing them the Scots by the over-powering multitude were driven into the Town Leshley with 2000. Horse upon what account not known not stirring out of the Town to relieve them when the Enemy entred pell mell with them and gained the Fort Royal about 7. a Clock at night at which time the King left the Town it being dusk and accompanied vvith some 60. Horse of the cheifest and most confident of his Retinue though many more pressed to bear him Company departed out of St. Martins-gate and it was reported that Cobbet very narrowly Mist of him as the King left his lodging whether he first hastned The Enemies Foot was now got into the Town and according to their Order fell a plundering the Town in a most barbarous manner as if Turks were again a Sacking of Constantinople and giving no quarter to any they found in the Streets through this their greedinesse of spoil they kept the Horse out lest they should have shared the better part and to that purpose kept the Gates fast aâ— they were and so favoured as God would have it the Kings escape some Scots who had got into one of the Churches held out till next morning when they obtained quarter for Life by which time there was not an Inhabitant in Worcester friend or foâ— left worth a farthing but the Loyal Inhabitants lost little by the bargain being supplied with fresh wares to their desires from London without any scruple of credit or paiment and their Debts forborn till such time as God should enable them which the Gentry and Inhabitants round about them endevoured to bring to passe by their more then ordinary resort to that Market for all necessaries and upon all occasions The Mayor being Knighted by the King and Aldermen vvere committed to Prison and the Wife of one Guyes vvho for betraying the designs of the King in that Garrison vvas hanged vvas revvarded vvith 200. l. per annum and 200 l. dovvn There were slain in Field and in Town in the last the most and in pursuit some 3000. and some 8000. taken prisoners in several places most of the English escaping by their Shiboleth the principal were Duke Hamilton who presently dyed of his wounds and at Newport the Earl of Lauderdale Earl of Rothes Earl of Carnworth Earl of Kelly Earl of Derby Earl of Cleveland the now Earl of Shrewsbury Sir John Packington Lord Spyne Sir Ralph Clare Sir Charles Cunningham Colonel Graves Mr. Richard Fanshaw Secretary to the King 6 Col. of Horse 13. of Foot 9 Lieutenant Colonels of Horse 8. Lieutenant Colonels of Foot 6. Majors of Horse 13. Majors of Foot 37. Captains of Horse 72 Captains of Foot 55. Quarter-masters 89. Lieutenants there were taken also some General Officers with 76. Cornets of Horse 99. Ensigns of Foot 90. Quartermasters 80. of the Kings Servants with the Kings Standard which he had set up when he summoned the Country the Kings Coach and Horses and Collar of SS but that which was Ten times more worth then all the Kings person they had no power to touch On the 12. of Sept. Cromwell came to London and was met about Acton with the Speaker and the Members and the Lord Mayor and the Recorder Steel who in a set Speech congratulated his great successes and like a false Prophet by a
in the Council of Officers and getting upon a Table for better Audience was bid to come down by Cromwell asking him what he did there only Coll. Streater persisted in his Resolution of giving reasons against it and being flamm'd with Harrison with Christs personal Raign and that he was assured the Lord General sought not himself but that King Jesus might take the Scepter He presently replied That Christ must come before Christmas or else he would come too late For this opportune opposition and 10. Queries then published by him in the Army he was committed to the Gate-house and look'd upon by Cromwell as his Mortal Enemy The next Scene of this applauded Comedy was laid at the Cock-pit by White-hall where Cromwel concealing the number of the Beast in his Apocalypse declared to his Council of Officers That if they should trust the People in an Election of a New Parliament according to the old Constitution it would be a tempting of God and that his confidence was that God did intend to save and deliver this Nation by few as he had done in former times and that five or six men and some few more setting themselves to the Work might do more in one day then the Parliament had or would do in a hundred as far as he could pâ—rceive and that such unbyassed men were like to be the only Instruments of the peoples Happinesse These things had been offered to be debated with a Committee and a Treaty agreed wherein so many Officers and so many Members should meet and argue the business which signified only the crafty Cunctation of the Parliament who made Asses of the Sword-men St. Johns being one of those Referrees with other resty Sages of the Anarchy By this means 4. or 5. Months were spent upon the Definition of an equal Representative But Cromwell growing teasty some began to make particular excuses others to promise a new Representative to his mind and some to side with the Equity of his Proposals as most consistent well advised and prudential means to the Peace of the Nation such a ridiculous collusion that I cannot but anticipate the Event of this Conspiracy with this Truth Upon his return from the Dissolution of the Parliament back again to the Council of Officers He acquainted them of his Exploit and then told them That now they must go hand in hand with him and justifie what was done to the hazzard of all their Lives and Fortunes as having advised and concurred in it Adding That when he went into the House he intended not to do it but the Spirit was so upon him that He was over-ruled by it and did not therefore consult with Flesh and Blood at all nor did He premeditate the doing thereof though he plainly saw the Parliament designed to spin an everlasting Thred And because there are few good Acts of his Life let the Reader score him up One for the 23. of April 1653. Oliver himself attended by Major General Lambert Harrison and some 8. more Officers having after several conferences with their Committees who showed him the danger of calling a new Representative as the case then stood with the Common-wealth for that no qualifications could sufficiently secure the interest thereof and that the only way was to recruit the House which could judge of such Elections by their own Authority received no satisfaction entred the House some Members being made privy to his design before especially Sir Gilbert Pickering who had held consultation the night before with him and was up armed in his Chamber till the very time and after a Speech therein showing the reasons and necessity of that Dissolution did declare it to be so and required them to depart saying in some passion to some of them who began to ask the reason of this thou art a Whoremaster thou a Drunkard thou a Cheater of the publique and presently M.G. Harrison peremptorily bid the Speaker to leave the Chair which be refusing to do without the Order of the House and till he was pulled out Harrison desired him to lend him his hand and gently heaved him out Cromwell also commanded that Bauble as he called the Mace to be taken away and to be carried no more in State before him and so having turned them out of Dores lockt them up and clapt Guards before them and about all the Avenues of the Palace to keep these spirits out from professing it again The News of this Luciferian fall was quickly spred throughout the City and from thence into the Kingdome being related and received with all imaginable gladnesse while the Members slunk away muttering to themselves the affront they had received and laying their heads together how to retrive themselves for loath they were to suffer this Violence or acknowledge their Dissolution which they would by no means hear of But what ever they fancied to the contrary raving at this boldnesse and audaciousnesse of their servant as they styled Cromwell he minded it not but went on in his work The Government such as it was was now lodged in the Council of Officers of his own making and preferring and the first thing done by them after this new module was the Emitting of a Declaration from Him and His Officers shewing the grounds and reasons of this Dissolution of the Parliament with an account of their intentions as to the present and future government of the Nation which that it may appear by how slender a thread the Sword of this lawless Commander hung over the Heads of those Parliament Tyrants is very requisite to be inserted it holding forth the present Intrigues of Cromwell's designs and method of ambition Our intention is not to give an accompt at this time of the grounds which first moved us to take up Arms and engage our lives and all that was dear unto us in this cause nor to mind in this Declaration the various Dispensations through which Divine Providence hath led us or the witness the Lord hath born and the many signal testimonies of acceptance which he hath given to the sincere endevours of his unworthy Servants whilst they were contesting with the many and great difficulties as well in the Wars as other transactions in the three Nations being necessitated for the defence of the same Cause they first asserted to have recourse unto extraordinary actions the same being evident by former Declarations published on that behalf After it had pleased God not only to reduce Ireland and give in Scotland but so marvellously to appear for his People at Worcester that these Nations were reduced to a great degree of Peace and England to perfect quiet and thereby the Parliament had opportunity to give the people the harvest of all their labour blood and treasure and to settle a due liberty both in reference to civil and spiritual things whereunto they were obliged by their duty their ingagements as also the great and wonderful things which God had wrought for them it was matter of much
secure of his Life from the justice of some avenging hand Here he used to hunt and at the fall of a Deer where he would be sure to be present embrue his hands in the blood of it and therewith asperse and sprinkle the Attendants and sometimes to cokes the neighbouring Rusticks give them a Buck he had hunted and money to drink with it His own Diet was very spare and not so curious except in publique Treatments which were constantly given every Monday in the Week to all the Officers of the Army not below a Captain where he dined with them and shewed a hundred Antick Tricks as throwing of Cushions and putting live Coals into their Pockets and Boots A Table being likewise spread every day of the Week for such Officers as should casually come to Court and this was the greatest expence which and other charges of the Government hâ— levyed as yet by his and his Councils Ordinances which were as duâ—ly and respectfully obeyed as Acts of Parliament With these Officers while he seemed to disport himself taking off his Drink freely and opening himself every way to the most free familiarity He did meerly lye at the Catch of what should incogitantly and with such unsuspected provocation fal from their Mouths which he would be sure to record and lay up against his occasion of reducing them to the Speakers Memory who were never like to forget the prejudice and damage they had incurred by such loose Discoveries of their Minds and Inclinations He was a great Lover of Muhck and entertained the most skilfullest in that Science in his pay and Family in that like wicked Saul who when the evil Spirit was upon him thought to lay and still him with those Harmonious charms but generally he respected or at least pretended a Love to all ingenious and eximious persons in any Arts whom he procured to be sent or brought to him but the niggardliness and incompetence of his reward shewed that this was a personated Act of Greatnesse and that private Cromwell yet governed Prince Oliver Among the rest of those Virtuosi He favoured a Poet too who very elegantly sang his Marston-Moor 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but with more misfortune then others who made the Muses Slaves to his Triumphs and Pegasus to draw His Chariot He had twenty other freaks in his head for sometimes before he had half dined he would give order for a Drum to beat and call in his foot Guards like a Kennell of Hounds to snatch off the meat from his Table and see them tear it in pieces the like Joco's and Frisks he would have with other Company even with some few of the Nobility when he would not stick to tell them what Company they had lately kept when and where they had drank the Kings Health and the Royal Families bidding them when they did it again to do it more privately and this without any passion and as festivous and Drol discourse But the sad news of the Defeat at Hispaniola whence he had promised himself Mountains of Gold and Rocâ—s of Gems to the maintenance of his Mamalukes and perpetuating of the Army coming to his ears soon after the Marquiss de Leda Ambassador from the Spaniard had departed dissatisfied with the preparations here and other ill news founding in his ear that the Commonwealth Party were very active in the Army and the Royallists breeding new Designs he began to cast off the Merry Divel and act the Tyrant altogether and not without Cause For The effects of this Parliament rupture encouraged two most opposite parties to conspire against the Protector the Fifth Monarchists and Cavaliers as we must so distinguish the Royal Party upon this difference who longed for their rightful Soveraign Charles the Second the Fifth Monarchy expected King Jesus the Courtiers and those engaged by them or with them with Cromwell himself desired King Oliver and every of these manifested much impatience but none of them could attain their Wishes and when Oliver might afterwards he durst not The Protector was no way ignorant of this and therefore he resolved to deal with the weakest first which yet by underminings vvas more dangerous then the other The Army was corrupted by that Millenary Principle and that was to be purged so that as Harrison and Rich had been laid aside and not long after committed with Carew and Courtâ—ey into several remote Castles so now General Monck had order to seize Major General Overton and the Majors Bramston and Holms and other Officers and Cashier them after Fines and good Security for their Behaviour Overton was sent up to the Tower and his Regiment conferred on Colonel Morgan Colonel Okey's Regiment taken from him and given to a sure Confider and so the danger from the Army was quickly supprest Cornet but now Colonel Joyce was likewise malecontent at this change and signified so much to Cromwell's Face whom he upbraided with his own Service and his faithlessnesse but escap'd any other Censure then a bidding him be gone Cromwell well knowing him to be one of those mad men that would say or do any thing they were bid Now happened occasion or rather Cromwell made it one for him to shew his zeal to the Protestant cause and publish himself to the World the Champion or Hector thereof this was also one secret step and reach to the Crown by invaing the sacred Title of the Defender of the Faith due only to the Hereditary Soveraigns of Englandâ— Herein also he aimed as in the Proverb to hit two Birds with one stone not doubting but to find another Mine in the charitable minds and compassion of this Nation towards the parallel suffering of the old Waldenses in â—iedmont to the Irish Massacres which were set out and drest here with the greater skill of Butchery then the Actors could handâ—omly do it there and it was said the Copy was drawn from that Original Alderman Viner and Pack were made Treasurers for this money which amounted to a very large sum and reaching the full design of the Protector a small parcel whereof was now remitted to Geneva the French King having newly before accommodated the businesse the Duke refusing to admit Cromwell's Mediation There was another Artifice of the Protectors to set this businesse forward and to countenance it which was Addresses from the Army here and abroad offering their Service in this common cause of the Protestant Religion no way doubting but that God in his due time would confound those Enemies of his people as he had shewn his salvation by themselves in the same Controversie to that day A new Plot was now started and most of the Nobility and Gentlemen of England secured Sir Geoffrey Palmer Lord Willoughby of Parham Lord Lovelace Earl of Lindsey Lord Newport and Sir Richard Wingfield Lords Maynard Petre Lucas and Faulkland Sir Frederick Cornwallis c. and this done by Manning whose Villany was not yet discovered though to render a due account of him his