at Westminster who though they had doubting such a thing ordered Major Generall Harrison with 3000 Horse and Dragoons to attend such an irruption yet knowing him unable to encounter so great a Body they could not tell what the event might be they therefore proceed to the leavying of new Forces in all the Counties of England and likewise for the better carrying on of their business Enact That no person whatsoever should presume to hold any correspondency with Charles Stuart or with his party or with any of them nor give any intelligence to them nor countenance encourage abett adhere to or assist any of them nor voluntarily afford or cause to be afforded or delivered to any of them any victuals provision Ammunition Arms Horses Plate Money Men or any other relief whatsoever under pain of high Treason and that all persons should use their utmost endeavours to hinder and stop their march Yet for all this the Scotch Army went on in prosecution of their design bending their course by a swift March for the West of England though it was expected by the whole Nation and especially by their friends that they would have directed their course to London Generall Cromwell being at St Johnston and hearing of this suddain march leaving such Forces as might secure that part of Scotland which was already won and leaving six or seaven thousand Horse and Foot more with Lieutenant Generall Monck to reduce those parts which remained he orders Major Generall Lambert with five Regiments of Horse and Dragoons to fly away with all possible speed to get into the rear of the Scots Army whilest Harrison was in the Front aad with the rest of the Army followes as hard as he could and on the 12 of August crossed the Tine but let us leave him following the Scotch Army and look a little into the affairs of Ireland Limerick though for some time blockt up yet held out stoutly against the Forces of the Lord Deputy Ireton they still relying upon the Lord Muskerryes help for relief who at length having gathered an Army of near 1000 Horse and Dragoons and 2000 Foot had an intention to joyn with some Forces which were got together in Lemster but the Lord Broghill hearing of his design with about 400 Horse and Dragoons and 1000 Foot endeavoured to hinder compaction so there hapned an engagement between them which though it was bloudy to the Lord Broghill himself likewise being indangered yet in the end he obtained full victory over the Lord Muskerryes Forces of whom there were neer 600 slain many of them Officers but very few taken there were likewise neer 200 of the Lord Broghills slain and many wounded the dispute being very hot on both sides yet this startled not at all either Limerick or Galloway which were both beleaguered and resolved to hold out to the uttermost bit of bread But let us return to see how the Scots direct their March in England where being come to Warrington Bridge Harrison endeavours to impead their passage but in vain for they gained the Bridge and forced him to retire so they march on without impediment to Worcester Lambert following them at the heels and Cromwell with all possible expedition advancing from Scotland the Militia in every County being raised or marching towards them to inclose them in that City of which they had possessed themselves For on Friday the 23 of August the King with his Army entred Worcester resolving to tarry there and abide the brunt for there were now so many Forces leavied that all wayes were stopt to impead his Marching farther He causes works to be raised here for his greater security and sends forth his Letters Mandatory to Collonel Mackworth Governour of Shrewsbury and to Sr Thomas Middleton in Wales for leavying Forces to assist him but both his commands and perswasions proved vain and unnsefull And now the black day begins to draw nigh Cromwell with an iuimaginable celerity joyns with Fleetwood Desborough Gray of Groby Lambert and Harrison who commanded the rest of the Parliaments Forces the Militia Forces are likewise joyned to them so they all march unanimously forward to surround the Scotch Army in this pound at Worcester Nor was there ever so great an Army gathered together in so small a time in England for the whole force could not amount to less then 80000 men The Army being now drawn near to Worcester the first design they set upon was the possession of Vpton Bridge where Cromwell intended to pass over with his Army Fleetwood had the management of this enterprize who sends first a small party of Horse and Foot to judge of the feasableness of the attempt these though they found the Bridge broken down all save only one beam of Timber which reached from one Arch to another boldly dismount and venture over and secure themselves in a Church which Massey who lay in Vpton with about 200 Horse and 60 Dragoons in a great deal of security not dreading an Enemy allarmed at assaults whilest in the mean time Lambert passes over a considerable party of Horse to their relief whereupon Maffey finding it in vain to fight made an honourable retreat towards Worcester himself still bringing up the rear in which service he was wounded by a shot in the hand The Bridge thus won is immediately repaired so that Fleetwoods Army passes all over whilest Cromwell causes a Bridge of Boats to be made over the Severn on the other side that by passing over his Army the Enemy might be the more streightened But let us leave them a little at Worcester in the forementioned posture and look a little into Lancashire where the Earl of Derby with about 300 Gentlemen endeavour to raise the Country and had a party of near 1500 Horse and Foot Collone Lilburne is ordered to oppose him with whom Generall Cromwells Regiment of Foot is ordered to joyn To prevent their conjunction the Earl marches towards Manchester to surprize that Regiment Collonel Lilburne flanks the Enemy in their march hoping by that means to joyn with the Regiment which to prevent the Enemy forces him to engage the dispute was tedious by reason Lilburne was over-matched with Foot but in the end the Earl was totally routed The Lord Widdrington Sr Thomas Tidesly Sr William Throgmorton Sr Francis Gamuel with many other inferiour Officers and about 60 Souldiers slain upon the place Collonel Leg Collonel Robbinson Collonel Bay and Collonel Gerrard with severall other Commission-Officers and Gentlemen with about 500 private Souldiers were taken together with the Earl of Derbeys George Garter and other Badges of his Order but he himself escaped to Worcester there to tell the sad news of his petty overthrow which was but as a prologue to a greater But to return again to Worcester Fleetwoods Army having all passed over Vpton Bridge make a Bridge of Boats over the River Teame to attaque the West side of the Town which so alarmed the Scots that they rise from their
the Attorney Generall bring in a Bill to Audit the Arrears of the Souldiers Thus the Parliament make hast to the sale of the Lands belonging both to Church and State for the payment of their Souldiers and servants The 25th of April 1649 was Collonel Poyer shot to death Major Generall Loughorne Coll. Powell and himself three eminent Welchmen were tried for their lives by a Counsell of Warre and all three condemned for holding Intelligence with the Enemy but mercy being shown it was put to the Lot which fell upon Coll. Poyer who suffered death according to sentence The Princess Elizabeth Daughter to the late King petitioning the Parliament that shee might have leave to go into Holland to her Sister the Princess Royall of Orange is denyed but is ordered to go with her Brother the Duke of Glocester to Sr Edward Harringtons in Rutland who is ordered to take care of them and 3000lb a year is allowed for their maintenance but he excuses it being ancient The Parliament take upon them the Royall Prerogative of Coyning Monies order a new Stamp to be made with the Arms of England on one side and round The Commonwealth of England and the Arms of England and Ireland on the other and round God with us Severall Troops and Regiments of the Army either discontented at Liev. Coll. John Lilburns imprisonment or some other feigned pretence of their own mutinie Coll. Scroops and Major Gen. Iretons who were designed for Ireland are the chief but in the end they are all either reduced to obedience or disbanded A Regiment of Coll. Tuthills is sent over to Dublin as a vangard to the rest Dr Dorislaus whom the Parliament of this Commonwealth had sent over as their Agent to treat with the States of Holland was the 5th of May murdered in an Ordinary in the Hague by six men who entred into the chamber disguised the English Cavaliers there were suspected for the murther but we judg it a calumny since the certainty could never be known though the States of Holland offered 1000 Guldens to the discoverers of the assassinates The Parliament to manifest their surious resentment of the murther of Dr Isaac Dorislaus their Agent put forth a Declaration how tender a sense they have of so horrid a murther and the dishonour redounds thereby to the Commonwealth and that since they cannot have the authors of that horrid villany they are resolved to execute their revenge upon those Cavaliers for they are resolved to believe those there the actors of it which they have here in their power and have not been admitted to compound and so are left to their mercy which they else had found had not their fellows there forfeited it so sweet is revenge though but upon a meer suspicion of an injury The Parliament in England put forth an Act declaring what should be high-Treason the particulars were 1. That whosoever should maliciously and advisedly by writing printing or openly declare that this Government by Parliament is tyrannicall usurped or unlawfull or that the Commons assembled in Parliament are not the Supream Authority of the Nation or shall plot endeavour or contrive to stir up or raise any force to the subversion or alteration of the Government and shall declare the same by open deed shall be judged guilty of high-Treason 2. That any person who shall maliciously and advisedly contrive and plot or cause to be contrived and plotted any thing which may tend to the subversion of the Keepers of the Liberties of England or the Councell of State and shall declare the same by open deed shall be judged guilty of high Treason 3. That whosoever not being a Member of the Army shall plot contrive or endeavour to stir up any mutiny in the said Army or draw any Souldiers or Officers from their obedience to their superiour Officers or from the present Government or shall procure invite or aid any forreigners to invade England or Ireland or counterfeit the great Seal of England for time being used by Authority of Parliament That then they for every such offence be judged guilty of high Treason and suffer the pains and penalties thereof This Act was by Order of Parliament proclaimed throughout England and Wales But now the straits of Ireland requiring a speedy help which is daily sollicited for Ormond having beleaguered Dublin near a Moneth and it scarce like to hold out long for want both of men provisions and Ammunition Collonel Tuthills Regiment having carried nothing over but themselves and their Arms on their shoulders though scarce Cloathes to their backs so that the Parliament to answer those reiterated desires of Lieutenant Generall Jones and being indeed sensible of their necessities expedite their assistance appointing Commissary Generall Ireton Collonel Scroop Collonel Horton Major Generall Lambert with their four Regiments of Horse and Collonel Ewers Collonel Cooke Collonel Hewson and Collonel Dean with theirs of Foot and five Troops of Horse to be made ready for that service besides which some other Regiments are raised by beat of Drum In the mean time Collonel Reynolds Regiment of Horse Collonel Venables and Collonel Monkes of Foot quartering nearest are ordered to advance to Chester and thence immediately take Shipping as the Vant-guard of the Army the other eight Regiments were ordered to march to the generall Rendezvows at Milford-haven where there was a convenient number of Shipping provided to waft them over into Ireland and whither Generall Cromwell very speedily followed them departing out of London the tenth of July 1649. The Vant-guard commanded by the Collonels Reynolds Venables and Monke met with so prosperous a gale from Chester soon arrived in Dublin Road and having landed their men notwithstanding the Enemy lay so near entred the City without any considerable opposition where they were received with Ecchoes of joy by the Souldiers and Inhabitants who had so long expected them The Town being now so well strengthened by this new supply Collonel Jones his old Souldiers Collonel Tuthills Regiment with the Inhabitants that bore Arms and this new Brigade could now muster between 8 and 9000 stout men Jones therefore resolves upon a Sally as soon as he should see occasion which the Enemy themselves soon gave him by coming down on the East side of the City with a party of near 2000 Foot and some Horse intending to have run a trench along to the Sea and there to have built a Fort which might have commanded the Haven and hindred supplyes from England they within perceiving their design were resolved to hinder them so drawing out near twelve hundred Horse and four thousand Foot couragiously enter those trenches the Enemy had raised and pursued their charge with so much courage that Ormonds Horse presently gave back and his Foot most cut in pieces or taken prisoners which easie victory gave such heat to the English Forces that pursuing it with as much resolution as possible could be expected in men they followed the Chase as far as Rathmines where
Souldiers being sunk by Shot from the Castle Captain Browne Bushell a Noble Royalist who had done many handsome actions for the service of both the Kings was beheaded under the Scaffold at Tower-hill In the mean time the Forces under Command of the Lord Deputy of Ireland scatter and disperse those Forces raised by Castle-haven Clanrickard Dillon and others in the Counties of Kerryathlone Monaghan and Wicklow and settle severall Garrisons to the distraction of most of their Enemies no considerable places being left to them but only Limerick and Galloway That considerable Garrison of Finnagh in Westmeath being surrendred to Commissary Generall Reynolds and Phelim Mac Hugh who came with 1500 Horse and Foot to its relief routed most of his Company slain and many considerable Officers taken prisoners But let us return again to the main business in Scotland Collonel Moncke with a Party of Horse and Foot marches towards Blackness a Garrison of the Scots which had much endammaged the English Quarters which after the Batteries raised and some Shot was spent was reduced the Defendants craving Quarter which considering the strength of the place was granted The Scots in the mean time grow powerfull for notwithstanding all the strifes and emulations amongst them an agreement is patcht up to the seeming satisfaction of all the dissenters they are likewise in hopes of a power to rise for them in Lanchashire which with a considerable Party promised from Scotland to joyn with them might confront any force of the Parliaments but the design is discovered before it was acted and Thomas Cooke Esquire of Grays-Inne the principall Agent for Lancashire taken Major Generall Harrison upon these discoveries is sent into the North with a Body of Horse and Foot and to oppose the Enemy if he should make an invade by way of Carlisle The above-mentioned plot was contrived throughout all England though by ill fortune timely prevented severall persons of quality but most Presbyterian Divines were taken viz. Mr Christopher Love Major Alford Major Adams Collonel Barton Mr Blackmore Mr Case Mr Cauton Dr Drake Captain Far Mr Gibbons Mr Hrviland Major Huntington Mr Ienkins Mr Iaquell Mr Iackson Lieutenant Collonel Iackson Captain Massey Mr Nalton Captain Potter Mr Robbinson Mr Sterks Collonel Sorton Collonel Vaughan and others of which only two suffered viz. Mr Love and Mr Gibbons who after many delays were beheaded on Tower-hill the 22. of August 1651. There hapned much about this time a petty rising in Wales two or three hundred persons being gathered together in behalf of the Scots King upon a report that the English Army was routed and the Scotch advancing into England but the design proved as void of success as the report was of truth But the Scots make severall in-falls upon the Out-guards and Garrisons of the English wherein they had frequently good success killing some and taking others having the advantage of the English in the knowledge of the Country which makes the English contract their Quarters drawing away the Out-Garrisons and putting the Army into a posture to march to Fife but the Ground not yet affording Grass or Oats the enterprize was for the present suspended The Scotch Levies were now compleated to 15000 Foot and 6000 Horse with which they march on this side Sterling to a place called Torwood where the King drew up most of his Horse and Foot and enrails them in a regular fortification Cromwell draws up his Army towards them and marched in Battalia within view of their Camp in hopes to draw them to a Fight but they got nothing else from them then some thundring Messengers from their great Artillery The Lord Generall vext at their delays fals upon Kalendar-house kept by a Party of theirs and in the end though it was stoutly defended out of hopes of relief takes it by storm but when this neither would provoke the Scots to fight he resolves now having so fit an opportunity to do that which he had so long intended viz. to land some men on Fife and accordingly Collonel Daniells Regiment of Foot having four Companies more joyned to it and four Troops of Horse all under Command of Collonel Overton being imbarqued at Leith under pretence of being sent for England arrived next morning on the other shore landed and intrenched in despite of a Party of Scots which strove to oppose them This News brought to the Lord Generall Major Generall Lambert is presently ordered with two Regiments of Horse and two of Foot to second them which they did but advice of it arriving in the Scotch Camp so alarm'd them that in all haste Major Generall Brown is sent with four Regiments of Horse and four of Foot to drive the English out which they might have done had not Major Generall Lambert been arrived before them So there being now almost an equall force the Fight began to the great loss of the Scots whereof near 1500 were slain 1000 taken prisoners among which Sr John Brown Major Generall was one who shortly after as 't is supposed out of grief for this defeat died Upon this overthrow the Scotch Army remove their Camp from Torwood and march directly to Sterling-Park Cromwell follows in their rear hoping yet to draw them to a Battell but they would by no means be induced to it though he followed them within two Miles of Sterling The Lord Generall perceiving his delays would be in vain marches with his whole Army to Lithgoe whence he sends over into Fife the greatest part of them with the train of Artillery to prosecute the War on the other side the remainder with him being only four Regiments of Horse and four of Foot which he made use of to secure what was already gained and observe the Scots motions In the mean time the Lord Lambert faces Brunt Island which is surrendred upon Articles without discharging so much as one piece of Artillery The Lord Generall likewise having dispatched those affairs which detained him at Leith crosses the Frith and coming to the Army draws them into a posture and having left Colonel Wests Regiment in Brunt Island marches with the rest towards Sr Johnston and in two dayes faces the Town and being informed that there was no Garrison in it he sends a Summons to the Inhabitants not doubting of a suddain rendition but it proved otherwise for the Lord Dafferes had the day before entred the Town with 1300 Souldiers The Lord Generall hereupon sends another Summons to the Governour who sullenly returns him no answer but after the Artillery had played one day his stomack came down and the Town was surrendred upon Articles The English Army being marched as far North as St Johns Town the King seeing affairs go so desperately in Scotland and loath to lose so good an opportunity advances with his whole Army consisting of about 16000 and marches with all speed possible into England by way of Carlisle This suddain and unexpected action startled the whole English Nation but especially the Parliament
in the Directory of publique Worship Confession of Faith and Catechisme These and many other bitter Pills was he forced to take to purge him and make him fit for that Crown which was shortly after put upon his head And now the Parliament of England begin to think of their security and for fear of an invasion from the Scots resolve to invade the Scots they therefore order the Armies speedy advance which presently allarms the Scots they send two or three Papers to Sr Arthur Haslerig then Governour of Newcastle expostulating for the suddain approach of the English Army which they do only to gain time that they may be in a better readiness to receive them The Parliament to satisfie the people of England publish a Declaration large and specious enough shewing the causes and reasons of the Armyes so suddain advance into Scotland though indeed they could pretend nothing in justice but only a fear lest Scotland should invade them July 22. 1650 The English Army quit their Quarters at Barwicke and advance into Scotland as far as the Lord Mordingtons house so they are now the first invaders thence on to Copperspeth and so to Dunbar where they receive provisions from their Ships and so march to Haddington At Haddington the Lord Generall Cromwell hearing that the Scotch Army would meet him next at Gladmoore endeavours to possess the Moore before them but no considerable Party of Scots appeared Lambert and Whalley are sent with 1400 Horse to attempt somewhat on the Enemy at Musselborough but nothing could be done The English encamped that night within four Miles of the Scots but the next day they perceived the Scots Camp so strongly fortified and flankred with great Guns that they judged it in vain to attempt any thing upon it so the English retreat to refresh themselves the Scots fell in on their rear and put them to some disorder till a body of English Horse close with them put them to the rout and pursue them to their very trenches Lambert was in this encounter wounded in two places and taken prisoner but rescued again two or three Scotch prisoners of note were taken and some few slain on both sides The English march off quietly to Musselborough but very much tired and faint for want of provisions and by lying open in the rain that they expected the Enemy should fall upon them in the night which they did broke through the English Guards and put a Regiment of Horse to disorder but the English sallying and the whole Army taking the Allarm charged routed and pursued those fifteen Troops under Command of Montgomery and Straughan These losses made the Scots keep closer in their trenches In the mean time affairs go on well for the Parliament in Ireland Teoroghan-Castle notwithstanding the stour resistance of the Lady Governess is at last compelled to yield Waterford before which the Lord Deputy Ireton was set down was in a yielding capacity Ormonds Castlehavins and other royall Forces dispersed so that there now remained only Limericke Galloway and some other inconsiderable Garrisons to the wholly reducing that Kingdome Somewhat before this the English Plantations in Virginia and the Caribdy Island revolted from their obedience to the Parliament and declare unanimously for Monarchy and Liturgy but the decay of their Trade without which they could not long subsist and a Squadron of Ships sent under the Command of Sir George Askew quickly reduces them to complyance The Parliament of England the more to afflict the Scots and encrease their misery prohibite all traffick with them command all their Merchants and Ships to depart in ten dayes who going without Convoy most of them fall into the hands of the English Frigots against whom they could make no resistance Collonel Eusebius Andrews being taken with a Commission from the King is apprehended and accused for a design to subvert the Government of this Commonwealth for which he is condemned and executed on Tower-hill one Benney who was found to have a hand in the business is hanged drawn and quartered at Tyburne But to digress The Prince of Orange having a design to enlarge his power over the united Provinces is impeaded by the City of Amsterdam whereupon he endeavours to surprize it but the Burgers having advice of it by letting open their sluces forbid the approach of his Army so his design failing he came off with disgrace but they afterwards came to an agreement and the Prince was forced to be content with the power he had before or less The English Army in Scotland to which it is time to return having taken Collington-house and Readhall by storm and in the last the Lord Hamilton Major Hamilton and good store of Ammunition and provision move from Pentland-hills and Collington and Readhall within a Mile of the Scotch Army both Armyes march side by side in view of each other but a Bog betwixt them hindred an Engagement but the great Guns played on both sides which nevertheless provoked not the Scotch to fight but still they kept under protection of the Bog which the English seeing retreated and marcht to Musleborough to refresh themselves which done they draw off and march to Haddington the Scots attending their right wing fall on desperately but are repulsed by Collonel Fairfaxes Regiment September 1. 1650 the English Army marched to Dunbar whither the Scots followed them and drew up their whole Army upon a high Hill within a Mile of the Town The English Army drew up in a Corn-field below being encamped on a neck of Land not a Mile and half from the Sea to Sea so that the Scots Army being above them and finding their advantage endeavoured the gaining of Copper-speth-pass which effected they bragged they had the English in Essex his pound and Lesly the Scotch Generall bragged he would have the English either dead or alive The straits of the English were very great many sick and disabled and themselves pen't up in this manner wanting provisions they resolved on the third of September either to force their way through their Enemies or die nobly in the attempt a Party of Horse is first set to gain the pass which effected the whole Army charged and after about an hours hot engagement the Scotch Horse being routed the Foot threw down their Arms and fled There was in the Scotch Army this day neer 16000 Foot 6000 Horse wherof 4000 were slain neer 10000 taken Prisoners The English Army were not above 7500 Foot and 3500 Horse besides disabled men There was taken from the Scots neer 200 Foot and Horse Colours 27 Fieldpieces 10000 Arms and many Prisoners of note amongst which were the Lords Liberton Lumsdale and Grandison This relation gives me occasion to give you some heads of Cromwel's Letter to the Speaker wherein the Reader may please to observe his religious canting and judg themselves if they would not have took him for a Saint Having given a relation of the fight and victory he craves leave to add
His Brother also Henry Cromwell late Lord Lieutenant in t Ireland upon the Parliaments advice surrendred his Government and Collonel John Jones William Steel Esquire Collonel Mathew Thomlinson Robert Goodwin and Miles Corbett Esquire were in his stead appointed by the Parliament to be Commissioners for the Government of Ireland In Scotland Generall Monke though he resignes not up his Government to the Parliament yet holds a fair correspóndency with them and by his and the rest of the Officers of his Armyes declare and keep a complyance to their Government which he punctually performed The Parliament endeavouring still more and more to oblige the Army pass an Act of oblivion and indemnity for all force or violence formerly put upon the House yet nevertheless to restrain them for the future the Commissions are issued out by the Speaker in the Name of the Parliament and not by a Generall as formerly Yet the Parliament take so much care to perform their promises to them that they order the immediate sale of Whitehall Hampton-Court and Sommerset-House towards the present payment of some of the Armyes Arrears About this time on the 11th of July 1659 happened a strange kind of Tumult in or about Enfield some part of the Chase which formerly lay common and was the chiefest stay and support of the Country people thereabouts for the feeding of their Catttle from whence proceeded the chief support and maintenance of themselves and Families being by the Parliament given to some of the Souldiers for their arrears was by them built upon and euclosed which so incensed the poor of the Country whose Families were almost ready to starve for want of such relief that notwithstanding Souldiers were sent to secure those Grounds the common people made a head fell upon the Souldiers took nine of them prisoners threw down a Barn and levelled the enclosures The Parliament upon audience given to an extraordinary Ambassador of the King of Sweden appointed three persons to go over as Plenipotentiaries to Coppenhaguen to treat of such a reconciliation between the two Kings of Swedeland and Denmarke as might best stand with the interest of England but their Ambassage hath as yet produced no considerable effect And now further to secure themselves in those designes they had in hand here they banish all Cavaliers under the stile of Malignants from London and twenty Miles about and pass an Act for the settlement of the Militia in the respective Cities and Countries of England and Wales But though this Parliament had taken away the Government of these three Nations from Richard Cromwell yet they are so kind to him as to protect him from all arrests and take care for the payment of his Debts which amounted to 29640lb and besides order him 10000lb per annum for his life out of the Common-weal hs Lands as much of which 't is probable he received as his Creditors did of what was owing to them And now the Parliament discover a female-Plot of the shee-Cavaliers for the subverting of their Government the Lady Mary Howard Daughter to the Earl of Barkshire and one Mrs Sumner are committed to the Tower upon pretence of being pryers to a horrible terrible design against the Government upon whose Examinations all the Horses about Town are taken Sr Ernestus Byrom and others committed to prison But now somewhat begins to appear severall Troops of Horse are sent into Kent and Surry to prevent infurrections there where they take severall Cavaliers to bring them up to London Major Generall Massey being likewise in Glocestershire endeavouring as it was pretended to raise Forces there for the King was surprized by a Troop of Horse who for the better securing him set up a Trooper behind him with whom coming down a Hill the Horse stumbled and fell and the night being dark and Massey nimble legged escaped from them into the Wood. The Parliament now begin to discover the reason of the buying up of so many Arms in London for Sr George Booth Sr Thomas Middleton and some others of the secluded Members having got a considerable quantity of Arms raised a Party in Cheshire Flintshire and Lancashire to the number of between three and four thousand men and declare for a Free Parliament and the due rights and priviledges of the Nation against that Fanatick and unlawfull power which now usurped dominion over them With these they rendezvows at Routon-Heath and from thence march to Manchester endeavouring to augment their Party Collonel Ireland in Lancashire and Governour of the Cattle of Leverpool promising them what aid and assistance he could though he never performed it This great rising at first startled the Parliament who immediately dispatch the Lord Lambert with three Regiments of Horse one of Dragoons and three of Foot to march with all possible hast to suppress them whilest severall Parties which endeavoured to rise in other Counties are prevented either by the Militia or the Parliaments Forces But Sr George Booths number daily encreases somewhat by the confluence of the Gentry of those parts unto him so that he made up a very gallant body of Horse He sends his Letters and Declarations up to London inviting them to joyn with him to maintain their priviledges and redeem themselves from the slavery they were now in But all proved ineffectuall that great City being over-awed by a small Party of the Parliaments Forces In the mean time Lambert makes a speedy march towards them two Regiments the one of Horse the other of Foot are by Order of Parliament sent out of Ireland under the Command of Collonel Axtill Collonel Hierom Zankey who joyn with Lambert neer Nantwich notwithstanding some endeavours of Sr George Booths Party to hinder their conjunction and on the 16th of August the Army faced one another the one on one side the River the other on the other Hereupon Sr George Booth sends a Trumpet to Lambert to tell him the reasons of his taking up of Arms and desiring that to avoid shedding of blood some persons might be appointed to conferre in order to a Treaty But Lambert returns him a short answer telling him that the readiest way to avoid shedding of blood was for them to lay down their Arms and surrender Chester and other Strengths which if they refused to do that he was sent to reduce them to their due obedience which by the help of God he did not doubt but to do Hereupon the next morning Lamberts Army advanced towards Nantwich-Bridge which was kept by a Party of Sr George Booths Sr Georges Horse and Foot were drawn upin Battalia in a Meadow just below the Bridge Lambert seeing that he could not draw his enemy out of his advantage resolved to beat him out and thereupon comands a stout Party of Foot to assault those which kept the Bridge which they did with a great deal of courage and resolution and were as stoutly resisted on the other side sometimes one gaining the advantage and sometimes the other till at length
his bed a man whom I need not much defile my pen to set forth since that very name doth now and will to eternity contain all that is matter of shame and detestation to the English Nation and yet it pleased the wise God to suffer him on the 22th of this November to be laid quietly in his grave who may according to the judgement of some men have deserved better to be buried alive in the entrails of dogs then to have enjoyed the benefit of Christian Funerals but we are not to censure the pleasure of Divine Providence On the 23th of this Moneth Lambert arrived at Newcastle where he found several discarded Officers to be come from General Monck which though they cried up at London as a weakning of his party yet they found it by experience to be a wise strengthning of his interest by ridding himself of those which he knew neither could nor would be true to any sober designs Now were Letters from General Monck sent to the Common Counsel of London and delivered to them by Collonel Markham and Collonel Atkin which containing things directly in opposition to what the Committee of Safety had flattered their party and the people withall were by them given out to be forged and thereupon they ordered the confinement of the two fore-mentioned persons But in this interim the Parliament which as I said before the General had summoned in Scotland were assembled to whom he delivers his sentiments of the present posture of affairs which terminated in these three Propositions First That he having a call from God and man to march into England for resetling the Parliament they would during his absence which would not be long preserve the peace of that Nation Secondly That if any troubles should arise they would assist him in suppressing them Thirdly That they would raise him some money To which Propositions the summe of their answers was briefly thus First That they could not engage to preserve the Peace of the Countrey wanting Armes but should notwithstanding use their endeavours Secondly They were incapable to answer his desires and besides thought it imprudent and inconvenient to ingage in a Warre whereof the successe was dubious and the advantage to them uncertain and not intelligible Thirdly They were content to levy him twelve moneths assessement Though in the two first they did not quadrate their answer to the affirmative of his Propositions yet in this last I suppose they satisfied the whole of his intentions it being that which he chiefly stood in need of for carrying on the great work he had in hand whilst Gen. Monck is thus vigorously providing against them in the North they are not lesse violently attached by discontents of the people at London and open force more Southward At London the Apprentices whose tumultuary Assemblies and confused Petitions had been instrumental to the first disturbances 1640. begin now to recollect their spirits and as was thought abetted by some considerable persons resolve to petition the Heads of the City to endeavour the restitution of them and the whole Nation to their due Rights and Priviledges by a Free Parliament The noise of this extreamly startles the Army and Committee of Safety so that they endeavour all means of prevention and to this purpose they publish a Proclamation against it and send their forces into the City on the day whereon they heard it was resolved to be presented to the Common Counsel where notwithstanding the violence and other high misdemeanours committed by Hewson the Commander of the Souldiers yet the Petition was by six noble spirited Apprentices presented to the Common Counsel and the thanks of it returned to them for it Several other Petitions and endeavours were promoted likewise in order for a Free Parliament not was the Designers for the Rump lesse active but sate daily in consultation for the undermining the present Usurpers but their designs in London came to no head but on the fifth of December news arrived of the appearance of the grand Heads of them at Portsmouth whether Morley and Hasilrig were arrived and the Governour Collonel Whetham sided with them and immediately secured Captain Brown Captain Peacocke and such other Officers of the Garison as they knew were principled contradictorily to that interest These in power here though they had little hopes to cope with so many adversaries yet immediately order a Body of Horse and Foot that way if possible to blow the storm over and reduce that revolting Garison Major Cadwell was the first that with a party of Horse marched towards them but he was no sooner going that way but part of his Forces desert him and took part with the contrary faction But this was not all the misery that attended them they had an enemy nearer home to deal withall the City was to the height discontented and having recovered some part of its former vigour resolved no longer to be fooled The Common Counsel met daily and their results produced nothing but was heterodox to the Army interest who finding all their threats and force to be now of no effect resolve to see what they can do by treaty and whither or no they could still these neighbour storms by fair and gilded promises The Common Counsel elected a Committee of worthy and eminent Citizens to conferre with them esteeming them not worthy any other owning or any way deserving the acknowledgement of an Authority With these Fleetwood and the rest of the Grandees had a conference and that they might to the vulgar give them some seeming satisfaction they are willing to condescend to these particulars That a Parliament shall be called and appointed to sit down at or before the first of February next That the said Parliament shall be according to such qualifications as are or should be agreed upon and may best secure the just Rights Liberties and Priviledges both Civil and Religious of the people of this Commonwealth This they thought enough to stop the mouth of the City for the present intending what performance or after-termes themselves pleased but their endeavours remained fruitlesse the City keeping still the same face of discontent But upon the neck of this news comes still of severall endeavours for insurrections against them in defence of the Rump In Sussex a Party had been formed under one Collonel Fissenden which notwithstanding were dispersed and Collonel Fagg likewise who was raising Forces with intentions to strengthen the Party at Portsmouth was taken and brought up to London But their Portsmouth enemies grew daily stronger and stronger Major Bremen Major of Collonel Rich his Regiment and severall others instead of resisting them going in to their assistance and so adding daily to their number And at this time was a design framed to have seized on the Tower of London for the behalf of the late Peer of a Parliament which was thus to have taken effect The designers having brought over Collonel Fitch to their Party and engaged him to the promotion of
the enterprize he was on Munday the 8th of December about eight in the Morning to have come out of the Tower in his Coach and returning about ten to have carried in with him in the Coach Collonel Okey Major Wagstaffe and John Streater late Comptrollers of the Armies train of Artillery and immediately after the Coach were four Companies of Foot ready prepared for that purpose amongst the Sectaries in London to have rushed in upon Pretence of Orders from Fleetwood for strengthning the Garrison and so bing entred to declare immediately for the late disturbed Rump But this design of theirs was not so privately carried but that it was discovered to those at Wallingford-House who on the Sunday before sending for Fitch did there secure him and forthwith Desborough and Collonel Salmon to take care of the security of the Tower and so this machination vanished into nothing But now the Generall Counsell of Officers sit daily that they might conclude something concerning the mock-Parliament they intended which they resolved should have nothing of a Parliament but the name being to be curbed and kept under by the negative voice of a company of ridiculous and schismaticall persons of their own faction whom they termed Conservators and were in number twenty one On the 15th of December they publish the Proclamation for this their Parliament and resolve Writs should immediately go forth as soon as they had considered what number it should consist of and what persons for best conducement to themselves On the 17th comes news far worse then all the rest they are now like to be forceably set upon at their own doors Lawson with a squadron of Ships comes into the River and makes protestation against them and their proceedings resolving the restoration of the late pretended Parliament To remedy this if possible they send down with all speed Sr Henry Vane Major Saloway and Collonel Salmon to treat with him who were no sooner come aboard but they find with him Sr Anthony Ashly Cooper Mr Scot and Mr Streater three of the Rumps great Agents so that instead of a friendly complyance this conference ended in nothing but taunts of these Adversaries Nor was London and the adjacent places in this interim free from designs against them a plot was formed generally over the City to have made a generall insurrection in vindication of their liberties but this being as was supposed discovered by some of the chief undertakers was broken and severall persons taken and secured for it both at London and at Greenwich where a Party was likewise to be formed to second these The Common-Counsell of London seeing these strange distractions and tumults which every day happened and knowing of how dangerous consequence they were to the welfare of the City which by these means might be made the seat of War resolved to take the liberty to themselves since they were absolutely denied it of setling their own Militia in such hands as they might confide in for the safeguard of it and accordingly made choise of their respective Officers which was since presented to the Rump but denied though afterwards confirmed upon the re-admission of the secluded Members But now comes the period of this Embryo of a Government for messengers coming hourly bring news of the advance of Sr Arthur Haslerig and the rest from Portsmouth towards London Whereupon the Officers themselves begin to be various and uncertain in their ridiculous determinations concluding on one thing and then resolving the contrary and the Souldiers perceiving how unable they were to help themselves resolve to provide for their own security and leave their Officers to shift for themselves Upon the Summons therefore and Orders of the Rumps Agents here in Town they muster themselves in Lincolns Inn-field under the Command of Collonel Okey Collonel Alured and Collonel Markham and there with shouts testifie their resolutions to return to the obedience of the Parliament and so from thence marching into Chancery-Lane and by the Speakers door they all submitted themselves to his command as the Parliaments Souldiers That night the Speaker accompanied with divers others comes into the City and acquaints the Maior and Sheriffs of the Parliaments intentions to sit again very shortly and therefore desires him to endeavour that seeing they were again restored to the exercise of the Government he would endeavour to still and quiet the animosities of the City that they might acquiesce and submit to their determinations From thence he goes to the Tower and having distributed twenty pounds amongst the Souldiery commits the charge of it to Sir Anthony Ashly Cooper Mr Weaver and Mr Josias Barnars who were confirmed a while after by the Parliament with addition of Mr Scot. And no sooner were things thus overturned at London but news comes likewise of the overthrow of the Army-faction in Ireland Sir Hardress Waller and other his associates declaring publikely in behalf of the Rump having imprisoned Collonel Jones and the rest of his Party Desborows Regiment had advanced out of the North from Lambert in order to help to quiet their disturbances here but the work being done before they came their labour was lost and so they thought it better to submit to the mercy of the Parliament then by standing out in defence of their Collonel to hazard both their lives and Arrears Munday December the 26th was the day of the Rumps re-installment and finall perdition of the late imaginary Government the fictitious Embryo of Sr Henry Vane but it 's hard to say whether England had not as much reason to be sorry for the restoration of the one as for the destruction of the other since both of them made it their aim and interest to inslave and oppress their native Country But the Rump being thus reseated conferre without delay the Government of the Army upon Collonel Alexander Popham Collonel Thompson Mr Scot Collonel Okey Sr Anthony Ashly Cooper Collonel Alured and Collonel Markham who or any three of them were to be Commissioners for that end and purpose They next take into consideration the business of Moneys and order the continuance of Custome and Excise For though they had voted it down as oppressive to the Nation that they might thereby deprive the Army of the benefit of it yet were they resolved they would not themselves lose the profit though never so much to the prejudice of the people it being envy and not good will which made them formerly vote it down That they might likewise seem to give some satisfaction to the desires of the Nation they appoint a Committee to consider of the cases of absent Members and filling up of the House a thing they would never have done had not Generall Monck so nobly forced them to it But next that they might dissipate the grand enemy which they had in the North to wit Lambert they order First the disbanding of all such Forces as had been raised without Authority of Parliament Secondly the returning of all Arms
which had been taken out of the publike stores Thirdly that all the Regiments of Horse and Foot in the Northern Counties do forthwith repair unto such Quarters as shall be appointed for them by the Commissioners for management of the Army and observe their order inddirections for time to come And then they ordered thanks to be returned to Generall Monck Vice-Admirall Lawson and the Portsmouth Commissioners as an acknowledgement of their fidelity and good service And this was their first Act upon their resetling their Rump in its former seat Divers were the other Votes and Orders which they made for setling their Army and securing their power which because not much materiall for our purpose we shall pass on to what is more properly historicall namely the actions of Generall Moncke and his march towards London yet not forgetting such things as in the mean time passed at London or elsewhere and ought to be considerable Generall Monck had after his first Treaty at London by his Commissioners and that he might keep things from running to bloodshed and prevent the hazard of a Battle knowing that time it self must certainly make him victorious upon notice of the agreement made by his Commissioners here contrary to the tenor of their Commissions or his intentions had I say agreed upon a second Treaty to be had at Newcastle By which means he delayed time so long that Sr Arthur Haslerig and the rest making that diversion at Portsmouth the Parliament was on a suddain restored and his enemies immediately upon news vanished like smoke all the Forces being by the Parliaments Order to submit to his command and disposure Having therefore setled all things according to his pleasure and as was most convenient to his purpose he resolves upon his march to London and for that purpose took up Horses in the Country to horse his Foot the Parliament approving of his actions for fear to displease him though they had ordered his coming up only with 500 Horse and disposed his Army in their respective Quarters But he who was to do other things then barely the restoring of a putrified Rump resolves to march up with his whole strength but in the mean time lulls them asleep with a smiling complyance with their humors and desires His march towards London was but slow he being resolved to keep his Army in such a posture as might provide security for the Souldiery and testifie the prudence of the Generall In Yorkeshre he was met by the Lord Fairfax and other Gentlemen of the County who before Lamberts dispersing had raised a considerable Body and with the assistance of the Irish Brigade had secured Yorke and by them was caressed with all testimonies of affection and courted with their desires that he would be instrumentall to make the Nation happy by restoring the Members secluded in 1648 or in helping them to a full and free Parliament This likewise was the substance of many Declarations which at this time were tendred to the Speaker and City of London from severall Counties And this likewise was the subject of those other addresses which he received from the Gentry of all places in his march But the Parliament a little alarmed by this news and sensible of the danger was thereby imminent to themselves should the intentions of the Generall be otherwise then they seemed to them order Mr Scot and Mr Robinson to go down to him under pretence of congratulating him for his signall services but indeed to search if they could into the depth of his intentions But he who was too wise to be caught by such gulls carried himself with such an even poise that both Parliament and Country thought him surely inclining to their severall Parties And notable was his Letter in answer to one the City had lately sent him by their Swordbearer in which he both resolved as he said to satisfie their desires for a Free Parliament and yet resolved to continue faithfull to this Parliament giving the City matter of hope and taking from the Rump all cause of discontent But the Parliament having sent persons to search into his thoughts the City likewise whom it as nearly concerned were resolved to do the like and therefore made choise of Alderman Fowke Alderman Vincent and Collonel Bromfield to go down and present him with their affections and desires together with their resolution to stick by their former resolution who were received by the Generall with all expressions of civility but nothing was promised to them which might give the Rump any suspition or jealousie of his intentions After a long and tedious march on January 28. 1659. he arrived at St Albans where he was presented with the Addresses of severall Counties together with one from the City of London all which containing the forementioned subject received from him the like courteous though dubious answers The same day he arrived at St Albans his Lady arrived at Whitehall and took up those lodgings which had been prepared for her On Friday February the third he arrived at London the Army which was quartered there having marched out the night before though with a great deal of discontent and some disorder and mutiny He was the next day by the Parliament desired to come to the House and Mr Scot and Mr Robinson sent to attend him where being come the Speaker in the highest expressions might be did endeavour to testifie the grand esteem the House had of his merits and the hearty thanks they did return to him for them and he afterwards retaliated his language in an excellent speech whereof though in all things he seemed to comply with their desires yet in some sort he put them in mind of the peoples desires and inclinations which notwithstanding he left to their determination and upon parting left them well satisfied with him in all outward appearance There were not many things remarkable which fell out at London or elsewhere in the interim of the Generalls march thither only the ejection of Sr Henry Vane and Major Saloway who had been instruments in the late interruption out of the House and confinement of the first with Lambert and the rest of the nine Worthies to their severall Houses and the committing the last to the Tower There happened likewise two mutinies the one at Gravesend by the Souldiers of Sr Brice Cockrains Regiment and the other at Bristoll by the inhabitants in relation to a Free Parliament but both were sunddenly quelled The Generall being as aforesaid come to London the Parliament alias Rump for by that name they may be best known being extraordinary jealous of him and the power he might at pleasure exercise over them to their prejudice consult amongst the grandees of them how they might best abridge his power and overtop him and for this they designed this expedient The City continuing as before malecontent and denying to pay any Money without the consent of a full Parliament and refusing to be satisfied with any thing could proceed