Younger Coot he easily put them to the rout so that most part of them being either killed or taken he pursues the rest as far as Drogheda in which place the Souldiers and Towns-People being put into great consternation in a Weeks time he reduced it under his own power About the same time the Lieutenant-Gederal Inchiqueen had notice given him of an Agreement betwixt Ouen-Ro-Oneal and Monck made at Dundalk whereby all necessary Provisions Powder Shot and Mony were to be furnished for the relief of Derry blockt up by the Lord Ards and Scots and that Ouen afterward should make an Inrode into Leinster and Munster that by this Stratagem he might draw off the Lord Lieutenant from the Siege of Dublin To put this in Execution Farell is Commanded out with five hundred Foot and three hundred Horse But Inchiqueen waiting for him in his return charged him routed him and obtained the Booty he intended After that having received fresh recruits of Men he besieges Dundalk which notwithstanding Moncks resistance the Souldiers delivered up after two days Siege with all the Artillery and Ammunition And being thus encouraged by the Smiles of Fortune and chusing rather to make advantage of his Victories than to enjoy them he reduced Green-Castle Neury and Trim. After which good Services he returns to the Lord Lieutenant having left Garrisons in the places he had taken better provided of Men Mony and Ammunition than before But seeing we have in this place made mention of Ouen-Ro-Oneal it is fit we relate a great Action of his before we continue the History of the Siege of Dublin The Lord Ards with the other Commanders had driven all the English Forces out of Vlster only Derry under the Command of the Elder Coot remaining which could give them any molestation It is a City seated upon Logh Foyle where it contracts it self into narrower compass and is on each side beautified with goodly Meadows and Pastures as the Water is inriched with Fishes Heretofore a Colony of English under the Conduct of Colonel Docwray was there established and many Londoners flocking thither afterwards it was called London-Derry the delightfulness of which place drew to it so vast a number of Inhabitants that it became without Controversie the chief City of Vlster Ards used all diligence to reduce this last place but not by Storm Approaches or Mines but by Building new Forts or taking those that were round it that so intercepting all Relief by Sea and Land it might at length be forced to surrender And indeed Provisions being exhausted and all other necessaries wanting they had been reduced to utmost straits had not Ouen-Ro-Oneal in the very nick of extremity and when the Garrison were at the last gasp brought them succour For he though he had been in a late overthrow sufficiently bang'd by Inchiqueen yet hastens with five thousand Foot and four hundred Horse to snatch the City out of the Jaws of the Enemy which indeed he performed very successfully and seasonably For swift-flying Fame having brought the news of his approach Ards thought it safer presently to draw off his Army than rashly to sight this Enemy that had the English in the City to assist him and leave Garrisons in Convenient places that might curb and block up the Town till upon Ouen's departure the Siege might be renewed again But Ouen with the joint assistance of the Besieged takes in all the Neighbouring Forts and restored distressed London-Derry to full liberty Now the Reader is to take notice what Reward he had from the Rump-Parliament for so important an Action He had made an Agreement in writing Signed and Sealed with Coot and Monck for relieving London-Derry in name of the Rump-Parliament which was sent into England to be Confirmed by the Members Letters were likewise sent in Favour of Ouen commending and extolling him for a Just Enemy a strict observer of his Faith a Man of Constancy and Resolution and true to his word and who if they thought it fit would be very useful to their Cause And both of them flatter him with hopes as if there were no doubt to be made of the Consent of the Rump-Parliament The Rump-Parliament trisled away time in deliberating about these Conditions until they might have intelligence of the overthrow of Ormond and of the Successes of Cromwel And then they reject Ouen-Ro-Oneal thanking Coot and Monck for their Faithfulness and good Services they had rendred to the Parliament But without longer digression let us return to Dublin and Inchiqueen who having performed Actions beyond expectation returned triumphantly to Finglass where the Lord Lieutenant had settled his Camp A Council of War being held there it was resolved to besiege Dublin but yet to try first if they could reduce it by Hunger rather than by a Storm and Assault lest that Royal City and Capital of all Ireland might be Sackt or Burnt by the enraged Souldiers and Friends and Foes be equally destroyed It was therefore thought fit to attack it on both sides and for that end the Lord Dillo being left with five hundred Horse and two thousand Foot to block up the North and farther side of the City the Lord Lieutenant himself with the rest of the Army crossing the River lies down upon the other and South side of it But whilst they are passing over to go to Rathmecus where the River being narrower afforded a more convenient place for building a Fort to hinder Importations into the Town the English Fleet comes in view with relief to the Besieged wherein were embarked Colonel Reynolds Commander of the Horse and Venables who had the Command not only of his own Foot but also of the Regiment newly raised by Monck and others They all in Health and good Plight had set Sail from Chester and with a prosperous Wind arrived at Dublin bringing with them all necessary Provisions With them also came no small number of Temporizers who presently flying over to the Royal Camp give it out for a certain that no more Men were to come to the relief of Dublin but that the whole English Army was to sail to Munster where it was clear that many of their Friends and not a few of Inchiqueens Men who loved changes would joyn with them So soon as the Lord Lieutenant heard this he forthwith designs Inchiqueen for Munster with the choicest of his Foot and almost the whole Horse with orders to oppose the Enemy incourage and confirm the Province and to beware of those whose Fidelity and Honesty was suspected He in the mean time resolved to raise the Siege and encamp his Souldiers at some distance in two or three distinct Camps where being strongly entrenched they might assist one another if occasion required watch the Enemy's motion and hinder Provisions from being conveyed into the Town But at the very instant the Commanders repining that they should be disappointed of
though Farell earnestly begg'd it they denied the use of their Boats of which they had plenty to the poor Fugitives nor would they suffer them in this danger to enter the Town nor any of them to Winter without the Walls though it was put to their option to chuse what Men and Colonels they pleas'd nor would they afford them any Pay or Money for providing Victuals and other necessaries Neither did the Wexford Expedition succeed better for Inchiqueen marching thither when he was but five Miles from the place by cross Fortune he met with Major General Nelson who had then Command in those parts Inchiqueen charged him and although he put some of his Men to flight yet he was taught by the rest that it would not be so easie a matter to subdue Wexford And Huson marching towards Arklow frightened him from proceeding farther The Souldiers in the mean time agreeing ill among themselves About the same time Cromwell received a seasonable supply both of Men and Ammunition partly from Bristol and partly from Milford Haven And so being sufficiently recruited about the latter end of February he drew out his Army and resolved to fall upon the Enemy And therefore he thought fit to divide his Forces and march different ways that he might amuse the Enemy as not knowing whither he designed He himself goes before with the light Horse-men and part of the Foot by Maltow the upper way into the County of Tipperary By another way Ireton and Reynolds with the rest of the Horse and Foot the Artillery and Ammuition march towards Carick Broghill with some Horse being left behind to scour the Country secure Munster fly too and again and watch the motions of the Enemy Ingoldsby had Orders with a Select Party to hover about Limmerick where he fell in into the Quarters of three hundred of Inchiqueens Horse with three Colonels and other Commanders and routed them two of which Colonels Broghill condemned to be shot to death Cromwell takes in Cahir Castle standing upon a high Rock in the River Suir as also the Castles of Kiltemon Foldea-Bridge Clogen and Roghill and lies down before Calan a Town of the same name with the River where Ireton and Reynolds joyn him with the other part of the Army having upon their March reduced several Castles as Arkemon Dunder Knoctovery Bullinard and others and having besieged Calan with three Camps and Raynolds having put an hundred and fifty Horse to flight in a days time they take it putting all to the Sword except Butlers Men who being summoned surrendred before a Gun was fired After that they make themselves Masters of Fethered and Thomas Town with the adjacent places And now Cromwell calls Huson from Dublin to joyn him with what supplies the Men of Wexford and the neighbouring Garrisons could afford which amounted to three thousand five hundred He having by the by taken Belsannon and Kildare comes to Lochlin which being without any difficulty reduced he crosses the Barrow and joyns Cromwell The first thing they attempt after this Conjunction making now eleven thousand Foot and about four thousand Horse was to besiege the Town of Gora which place either trusting too much to its own Strength or relying on Ormonds Regiment under the Command of Hammond was to its own misfortune so bold as to make a resistance But after that the Walls had for some time been battered the Garrison began to Mutiny and the place was instantly surrendered the Conquerour inflicting no other punishment upon them but the causing the Colonel and the Commanders to be shot to death From thence they march to Kilkenny through which runs the River Noir a pleasant place and without comparison the chief of all the In-land Towns of Ireland but withall the Spring-head of an execrable Rebellion and the Center as I may justly call it from which all the Treasons and damnable Councils against the King Country and Religion were as so many Lines drawn it was as yet the seat of the Commitee of Estates who upon the approach of the danger fled to Athlome upon the River Shannon upon the Borders of Connaght as a place more secure for their Consultations Kilkenny is divided into three parts one on the farther side of the River the other with a Castle opposite unto it and the third separated from the other two by Walls Cromwell lies down before it and according to the Custom of War summons it to surrender The Governour refusing without more delay he attaques it by force and having observed a convenient place he presently raises a Battery and from thence plays upon the Town The Governour now perceiving the danger causes forthwith two works to be cast up within the Walls with Palisadoes and Engines laid in the way to hinder an entry whilst the Souldiers in a full Body were posted behind to receive the Enemy if they attempted it The Breaches being made in the Walls the Retrenchments within appear Therefore to facilitate the Assault Ewers is commanded with a thousand Men to fetch a compass about and at the same time to attaque the other Town adjoining to this Here they come to blows but with more Resolution than Success the Besiegers being beat off with the loss of about seventy Men two Colonels and other Commanders Nevertheless Ewers gains the Town which though divided from the other yet served to straiten it and distract the Garrison Next Night another Officer is sent over the River with a Body of Men that by break of day he might break in into the other Town which he having performed with the loss of thirty Men whilst he attempted to burn down the Gate to make way into the City over the Bridge about fifty being exposed to shot fell At length the Governour perceiving himself attacqued on all hands and that there was no hopes of relief He capitulates and upon these Conditions delivers up the City into the hands of the Enemy That the Canon Arms and all the Ammunition should be delivered to Cromwell all the Citizens have leave to continue in the place or to remove any where else as they thought fit That the Officers and Souldiers should with Arms Bag and Baggage march to Athlome and that the Citizens should pay two thousand pounds to Cromwell And so in eight days time for the Siege lasted no longer Kilkenny was reduced under Subjection which for a great many years had given Laws to all the rest Next upon the Stage of War succeeds Clonmell a considerable well Peopled Town and walled round lying upon the Suir four Leagues from Waterford This place was defended by Hugh Boy-Oneal with a Garrison of two thousand Foot and an hundred Horse whose Reputation was much heightned by his Pains and Assiduity as having caused several considerable works to be made for the security of the place Hither does Cromwell now convert the stress of the War and having encamped and strongly entrenched himself he
for the Irish Nation as an Appendix to the work I now return to the History In the very depth of Winter the Bishop of St. Cathdrin came seasonably as an Agent from the Duke of Lorrain who as a token of his Masters Affection brought with him a considerable sum of Money and promises of more if they agreed in Treaty pretending great kindness to the King Kingdom and People The sums of the Proposals which he made to the afflicted Party was That the Duke with ten thousand Foot five thousand Horse and thirty Ships should come into Ireland and with the Title of Protector carry on the War That the Duke of York should Marry his Daughter That Limmerick and Galloway with the Magazine Guns and Ammunition should be put into his hands That he should have some cautionary Towns for security of the Moneys to be raised That the Inhabitants should have a care to keep the Enemy out of Connaght until his Arrival These Conditions were debated but whether agreed to or not I am uncertain and the Envoy departed to acquaint his master with his proceedings But that Atlas was not strong enough to support the falling Firmament and there was so much time spent in the Treaty that the oppportunity of relief being past shewed only its bald Poll instead of the favourable Forelock The Spring began now to come on but Ireland seemed to be in its autumn ready to be cut down All that Clanricard could do was to shew his tayl and flap with some convulsive motions and vibrations of a dying Nation like the last blaze of an expiring light He views all places by which the Enemy might break into Connaght he posts Soldiers at all the passes of the river Shannon as also at the river Rour and the Collough mountains wherever any passage might be found In the mean time Ireton call'd Coot out of Vlster with two thousand horse and as many good foot that he might come and join him near Galloway Coot that he might deceive the Enemy pretends that he is to march to Slego and there stops as if he were about to besiege that Castle until he had drawn thither all the Irish Forces From thence turning suddenly back again he found a pretty easy passage over the tops of the Collough hills Now must I relate by what means Ireton got into Connaght He having left Broghill in Munster Ingoldsby in the parts opposite to Limmerick Huson in West Weath Venables in Canan and Zankie in Tipparary he marches to the River Shannon and at three several places together not without suspicion of Treachery at Killalve he passes over his Forces the Foot in boats and the Horse for most part swimming Whilst Huson in the mean time alarm'd Abhalone as if he were ready to attack it Clanricard's men being beat out of all places he then over a wooden Bridge sends over his Canon and Baggage and without longer delay joins Coot as it had been agreed upon The Enemy being too weak to make resistance Athalone Portumna Tagera and some lesser Garrisons are taken Then having divided the Army Coot marches to Galloway Ireton to Limmerick Coot had already forced Farel with an Army of three or four thousand men to retreat into the Woods Bogs and other unaccessible places about Galloway and therefore daring to approach nearer the place he encamps and entrenches himself and so summons the Town to surrender He is answered That if Conditions were offered for the whole Kingdom of Ireland they would willingly listen unto them But seeing he would grant none but private and particular Articles both Parties prepare for a Siege In the mean time Limmerick is blockt up on all sides the river Shannon being also stopt They had for about three weeks expected succours from Muskery whose motion Broghil observing he had opportunely beat him off destroyed and dispersed his Forces The City is therefore incessantly batter'd and the approaches carried on to the very Walls Nor was the danger within the walls less than without the Plague having long raged amongst the Inhabitants and intestine divisions a no less grievous Plague daily increasing amongst them Some are for surrendering the Town forthwith others again for suffering rather the utmost extremity The opinion that was for a surrender prevailing they came to Articles which before they were signed the Gates were opened and the Castle delivered to the Enemy as an Hostage The Conditions were That the Soldiers should lay down their Arms and depart whither they pleased except those who had embrew'd their hands in the innocent Blood of the English That all the Arms Guns Ammunition and publick stores should be delivered into the possession of the Conquerour That those that had a mind to be gone should have time to pack up their Goods and Ships to transport them whithersoever they pleased That four and twenty should be left to the mercy of the Conquerour So fell that beautiful and Rich Town much frequented by reason of the advantages of the Sea and of the River Shannon and strongly fortified but withal proud of its own Strength Wealth and Riches which if it had not been divided and if it had not again with a stiffness refused to obey the Governours would not in so short a time and with so small a loss of Blood have fallen into the Enemy's hands The Bishop of Ferne with many others are hanged And the Bishop of Limmerick made his escape in disguise But the place was fatal to the Conquerour for as Limmerick fell Ireton dies concerning whom since from a mean extraction he mounted to the Pinacle of Government it will not be amiss that I speak a little In Trinity Colledge of Oxford he was initiated in the liberal Arts and made therein no contemptible Progress afterward he applied himself to the Study of the Common Law in the Temple in which having got a little smattering from his very Youth he drank in the Errours of the Anabaptists and assisted the Fanaticks in drawing up a Petition against the holy order of Episcopacy which was afterwards by Pennington and a numerous rabble of Londoners ready at that time for such attempts presented to the Parliament Not long after the Troubles daily encreasing he struck in with Cromwel when he was in the Isle of Ely being first admitted into his Quarters then by Cromwel being made Governour of the whole Island he was presently after advanced to be his Son in law Having there served an Apprentiship he enured his body to the War by a voluntary lying upon the ground fasting watching and exercises before he came to the Tryal of it until by degrees he at length advanced almost to the Chief command in the Army Hence forward he became his inseperable Companion especially in assisting him in all Declarations Articles Letters and Treaties that were to be made He grew indefatigable in labour and pains being accustomed to spend night and day in his
Earl is defeated who having received two wounds by By-ways cross the Countrey he flies to Worcester the Lord Widderington Sir Thomas Tilsley Matthew Bointon and Trollop Colonels with Lieutenant Colonel Galliard being kill'd and Sir William Throgmorton Colonel Richard Leg with four other Officers and fourty Private Souldiers taken Cromwell in the mean time views the Kings Camp uncertain as yet in what part to fall on He thought it however fit to make his first attempt at Vpton seaven Miles above Worcester to the South where there is a Stone-bridge over the Savern Massey had broken the Bridge and accidentally left a Plank from one Arch to another lying secure with two hundred and fifty Horse in the Neighbouring Town and no Guard left to defend the pass But the Cromwellians laying hold of the occasion stradling upon the Plank pass over one after another and encreasing in number they possess themselves of Vpton Church and for some time defend it until more Swimming over the River on Horseback and crossing the Bridge that was now in some manner repaired came up to their Assistance Massey takes the Allarm too late and having received a grievous wound in the Hand is forced to Retreat to Worcester Then upon a Bridge of Boats they pass the small River Team which running at some distance to the West falls into the Savern a little below the Town Soon after a like Bridge of Boats being made over the Savern it self they joyn'd all their Forces under Bun-hill within a Mile of Worcester and march towards the Citie as challenging the Kings Forces to come out The night following Middleton with fifteen hundred Horse and Foot all Scots resolves to Sally out upon the Enemy But the Cromwellians were in readiness having had timely Intelligence given them by a Taylor who was hang'd for his Treachery Nevertheless the Royalists attempt to break into the Camp but in vain and having lost Major Knox with some others they Retreat back again And now the third of September came a Day fatal to and never to be forgot by the Scots for the overthrow they received at Dunbar the year before when the King with a Council of War viewing the Enemies from the high Steeple of the Cathedral-Church perceived them upon their March towards the Town All presently Arm and the King himself marches out to the defence of Powick-bridge and to hinder the Enemies passing over the Bridge of Boats which we just now mentioned The King was scarcely got back into the Town when Montgomery who defended the Bridge being dangerously wounded and destitute of Gunpouder Kreth also another Commander being taken returns to the City Whil'st these things were acting the Kings Majesty turning towards the East-side of the Town resolves to hazard a Battel Therefore with a considerable Body of Foot but a small number of Horse for the Scottish Cavalry scarce budg'd he marches against the Enemy at Perry-wood with a most undaunted and present Mind being followed by the Dukes of Hamilton and Buckingham and Sir Alexander Forbes at the Head of his Foot At the first charge he beat the Van and made himself Master of the Artillery but afterwards though with wonderful Sagacity he gave orders in the heat and confusion of the Fight fac'd the greatest dangers with a High and Steady Mind not to be matched by others and with his own Hand did many brave Actions though at that time he gave illustrious proofs of his Personal Valour even in the Judgment of his Enemies yet being overpowred by fresh Men whom Cromwell in great numbers sent in he despaired not but that he might reserve himself for better Fortune thought it best to retreat in time and save himself in the Town but he was for some time stopt by a Wagon laden with Ammunition which the Wheel being accidentally broken lay cross Sudbury-Gate However alighting from his Horse he went in on Foot and presently mounting another he used all manner of perswasions to encourage the Souldiers who now were giving over to renew the Engagement till the danger growing greater and greater by St. Martins-gate he went out to the Horse Commanded by David Leslie being almost whole entire and directed his course towards Barbon-bridge earnestly entreating the Horse that they should take Courage and hasten to the Assistance of the Foot who were put to utmost extremity But many refused some threw away their Arms all slunk away and chose rather to decline the danger than by fighting stoutly either make that the last day of their Life or the first of their Victory But whil'st the King is making his escape the Earl of Cleveland Sir James Hamilton Colonel Careliss and some other worthy and Loyal Gentlemen with the remains of the Horse renewing the fight at Sudbury-Gate put a stop to the Enemy for some time till Fleetwood on the West-side having past the River broke into the Town through the Suburbs of St. John and Cromwel having thrown down Sudbury-gate beat off the Earl and the rest From thence he marched on victorious to the Fort Royal maintained by Colonel Drummond with fifteen hundred Soldiers who having refused to surrender it was Attacked on all Hands and cut off with all his Men. Deplorable and sad was the Countenance of the Town after that The Victorious Souldiers on the one Hand Killing breaking into Houses Plundering Sacking Roaring and Threatning on the other hand the Subdued flying turning their backs to be cut and slasht and with stretched out hands begging Quarters some in vain resisting sold their lives as dear as they could whil'st the Citizens to no purpose prayed lamented and bewailed All the Streets are strowed with dead and mangled Bodies Here were to be seen some that begg'd Relief and there again others weltering in their own gore who desired that at once an end might be put to their lives and miseries The Dead Bodies lay unburied for the space of three days or more which was a loathsome spectacle that encreased the horrour of the Action Three thousand and five hundred Private Souldiers were slain Duke Hamilton having his Thigh broken lived but four or five days after the Battel Forbess was shot through both his Legs Five thousand were taken Prisoners some Towns-people but most Scots amongst whom were the Earls of Rothes Karnewath Kelly the Lord Sinclare Montgomery the General of Artillerie as also of English Colonel Graves and Fanshaw Secretary to the King with the Officers of the Scots Army all the Baggage and an hundred and five and fifty Colours The Kings Majesty having a little beyond Barbon-bridge left Leslie who resolved to march with the Horse that were almost entire by Newport streight into Scotland and being attended by the Duke of Buckingham the Earls of Derby and Lauderdale the Lords Wilmot Talbot and other Persons of Qualitie with about fifty Horse followed By-ways partly that he might refresh himself with sleep and partly that
for money and that the Souldiers might be paid by the spoils of the State Lambert's forces are imperiously commanded back to their Garrisons and forthwith to leave the Field upon pain of disobeying the Supreme Power and forfeiting their Duty And at the same time news was brought to Monk's Camp that the Committee of Safety was broken and the Rump again in power What could Lambert now between hawk and buzzard do he was forsaken by Fortune deluded by Fleetwood's confidence over-reached by Monk under a colour of Peace and despised by the Rump Should he return to London it was a long and difficult march and perhaps as late for the succour of his friends as dangerous to himself having such an Enemy in the rear Should he engage Monk in a Country improper for Horse the ground being covered over with Ice and Snow it would be very uncertain if not in vain since in the dead of Winter his Horse could do no feats What to do he could not tell Nor were Lambert's men truer to their Trust than Fleetwood's had been at London for so soon as they heard of the defection of the London-Regiments basely without consulting their General nay and slighting his authority they submit to the Rump Few now were to be seen at Lambert's door and fewer within nothing but silence and seldom any Guards He was no more General nor cause of the War but where he hoped for Laurel and Triumph he was fain to search a hiding place so that without any attendance he speedily and secretly betook himself to London So fallacious and uncertain a thing is Power when it is too great A certain kind of Triumviral Power now exerted it self in Britain under Monk Fleetwood and Lambert not much unlike to that Roman Triumvirat of Caesar Pompey and Crassus With almost the same gallantry Monk behaved himself in Scotland as Caesar heretofore governed in Gallia but out of their Governments Monk out-did Caesar for the Roman being come into the City offered violence to the Senate and unjustly usurped the Dictatorship The other entering London under colour of restoring the Parliament by a rare instance of Loyalty and Modesty restored the King Nor were the emulous and competing Crassus and Pompey more sollicitous in drawing in Caesar than Fleetwood and Lambert were in endeavouring to associate Monk into the Government for though they contributed their mutual assistance in overturning the Rump-Parliament yet it is certain they hardly conspired in any thing but in the fear that both of them had of Monk Fleetwood was jealous of Lambert's ambition and Lambert could not brook Fleetwood's authority the one could not admit of an Equal nor the other of a Superiour Monk therefore was courted by Letters from both as having it in his power to give the Government to what Party he pleased Nor could Fleetwood have expected better Conditions from Lambert had he prevailed against Monk which those who favoured Fleetwood in his Army perceiving avoiding all opportunity of fighting with Monk lest Lambert perchance getting the victory might turn out his Rival Fleetwood Lambert can hardly be compared to Pompey unless it be in boundless ambition and the unhappy issue thereof and Fleetwood not at all to Crassus But without doubt it was the interest of the Publick that both were undone seeing Monk getting the better restored at length Britain to it self Lambert's Forces in all places having either run away or submitted Monk divides his Army and under his own and Morgan's conduct marches streight to London a march that will be famous in all future Ages and memorable to Posterity On New-years-day having sent before the Foot he moved from Caldstream and the day after he himself followed with the Horse and took his Quarters at Wellar the next day when he was come to Morpet he received Letters from the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen of London sent by the City Sword-bearer wherein they earnestly entreat him That according to the great Trust and Power he had having now found an occasion than which Providence had never offered a greater he would relieve the distressed State and call a new and full Parliament as the onely support of their tottering Country freely offering him the assistance and concurrence of the City in the affair And now on the fourth of January Monk having marched his Army over desert Mountains in deep Winter-Snow arrived at Newcastle and the day following sets forward to Durham from thence directing his march to York near Allerton he was honourably received by the Sheriff of the County Being next day come to York he was met by a multitude of Citizens and Persons of Quality and by them splendidly conducted into the City Having performed so great a march in so short a time he rested here five days either that he might let the news of his coming flie before him to London or that having allowed some time he might by his Agents of whom he had a great many in the City be early informed of the Councils of the Rump and inclinations of the Citizens Here Monk met with Fairfax a famous Souldier and his old Companion in the Wars who now following his own humour had risen in Arms against Lambert and was with no contemptible Forces but far greater reputation come over to the right side being now with more honour an Enemy than he had heretofore been General of the same Army During this stay at York Monk received into his service some Regiments of Lambert's Army having changed the Colonels and Officers and no Enemy now appearing anywhere he mustered his Army and sent back part of it under the command of Morgan into Scotland He himself with four thousand Foot and eighteen hundred Horse marches forwards towards London Such was the Army of Monk the least and yet most renowned body of men that ever marched through England which being hardly a third part in number to the enemy buoyed up the fate of tottering Britain and the fortune of Charles the Second The Army marching from hence and being come to Nottingham he was met by Clarges who came post from London a man deservedly of great interest and authority with him He secretly informed him of the designes of the Rump the strength of the City-Forces the suspicions and jealousies of the Sectarians and that the hopes of the Citizens depended wholly on him Upon his march he was met at Leicester and congratulated by Scot and Robinson Commissioners from the Rump upon pretext of doing honour to the General and civilly waiting upon him in his march but in reality as Spies to dive into his secrets and diligently to observe his words and actions Nor was Monk less circumspect but being a great concealer of his thoughts and sparing in words accommodating all his discourse to occasion and shewing the Commissioners all imaginable respect in the Army he confirmed them in the opinion of his sincerity In this long and
not now avail them That it was madness after the slaughter of so many Royalists the killing of so many Nobles and the unparallel'd Crime of the Murder of Charles the First to expect from a young banished man and exasperated by a long Exile a Pardon which God Almighty would hardly give for so many Villanies That there remained then no remedy for them but a daring boldness whilst as yet neither the Authority of the Parliament in the House nor that of Monk in both the Armies was firmly enough setled Let us therefore dare say they and re-attempt Murders Rapines Disturbances of State and all those Villanies that for twenty years past have so well succeeded with us rather than tamely and cowardly deliver up our Liberty purchased by our blouds into the power of an Enemy who will the more cruelly be revenged upon us that he hath been so often baffled and defeated by us Let us either by greater Crimes justifie the past or bury our misfortunes with our lives in the ruine of the Common-wealth Trahere omnia secum Mersa juvat gentesque suae miscere ruinae If we must sink we 'll drown the State And involve Nations in our Fate Having thus concerted a Conspiracy there wanted onely an opportune Leader but then Lambert being the person of greatest reputation amongst the Fanaticks was thought the fittest to undertake that Charge Having therefore corrupted his Keepers he made his escape out of the Tower by night then lurking privily in the City and consulting with the Ring-leaders of the Party they concluded amongst themselves O damnable madness by corrupting the English Regiments and raising Sedition in the Army to renew a Civil War And so Lambert secretly posts to Warwick the place appointed for their meeting Thither came Axtell Okey Cobbet Crede and other bloudy Traytors where being joyned by Turncoats and the disbanded Souldiers of the English Regiments whom they had allured into their Party they suddenly make up an Army and so the unhappy General is once more in command The first that gave Monk intelligence of Lambert's Insurrection was Colonel Streater who was with a Regiment of Foot quartered in Northampton The Council of State hearing of the escape of the Conspirators proclaim Lambert and his Adherents Traytors Monk in the mean time lest leaving the City of London he might bring the publick safety in danger resolved to reserve his main Force for greater occasions and to send in all haste some Horse after Lambert to crush the designe in its Infancy Richard Ingoldsbey acquitted himself like a brave man retrieving by a bold attempt the faults that being a Colonel under both the Cromwels he had formerly committed He having Orders from Monk with a body of Horse hastened to joyn Streater's Foot at Northampton and on the two and twentieth of April being Easter-day within two miles of Daventry came in sight of the Enemy in an open Country fit for a Horse-fight and no less for flight Lambert before his Forces were ripe for Action being thus unexpectedly beset for a last proof of his Valour drew up his men in order to fight leaving the rest that was not in his power to destiny and Ingoldsbey did the like both for some hours mutually expecting the charge Whilst thus they delayed to engage it was reported that Lambert made some overtures of restoring Richard Cromwel whom he knew Ingoldsbey to have been much affected to that so he might save Stakes But he disdaining to see the force of that scenical Prince plaid again they must come to blows Providence appeared in the engagement for hardly had they begun to skirmish but that many of Lambert's Horse turned to Ingoldsbey's side the rest either daunted at the desertion of their Companions or the force of the Enemy took quarters and yielded Which when the Commanders perceived they began to think of running Ingoldsbey charging then home put Lambert hard to it who far below the great fame that he had acquired in Arms his Courage sinking with his Cause and forgetting his former Reputation tamely yielded himself Prisoner With Lambert Cobbet and Crede were taken but Axtell and Okey making their escape delayed but avoided not their deserved punishments And now again Lambert forsaken of his Friends and a Prisoner became sensible of his fortune Yet this fresh madness of Rebels had it not been seasonably quelled by Ingoldsbey and Streater would have again embrewed the Nation in Bloud and Slaughter and turned all things into new Disorders The very day that Monk mustered the Militia of London Ingoldsbey brought his Prisoners to Town who were now led in triumph where they had so often triumphed by their Villanies passing disarmed through armed Souldiers And thus the Civil Wars had an end Not long before March the 17th the Long and Black Parliament dissolved themselves a Parliament infamous for such havock made in the State so many impudent and unwarrantable Undertakings and for the murder of Charles the Martyr being twice garbl'd twice turned out twice restored and at length much more happily ended than begun And now on the five and twentieth of April a new and more auspicuous Parliament assembled being made up according to the ancient English custom of Lords and Commons The Earl of Manchester was Speaker of the House of Lords and Sir Harbotle Grimstone of the Commons And this conjunction of both Houses seemed a natural Prelude to the Kings Restauration For the English accustomed to Kingly government cried that there remained no other way of remedying the publick Distempers but a submission to the rightful government of Charles the Second So was it ordered above that God and man should concur in recalling the King to his Throne And so great was the fame of the Virtues and Accomplishments of this August young Prince that though by reason of a long Exile he was by face almost unknown to all and though he had not had a lawful and hereditary Title to the Crown yet they would have courted him to accept of the Government Nor was he less desirable when compared and put into the balance with those bloudy Vsurpers Nay the compassionate sense of his adverse Fortune and tedious Exile kindled also in his Subjects an affectionate desire of recalling him to his Right And the inconsiderate mistakes of the imperious Traytors at length came to this That the Common-wealth no less desired the King than the King the Government and the languishing condition of the Publick made it as if not more necessary for the English to have a Prince than for him to have a People While these things were a doing Charles wholly intent upon the motions of England leaving Brussels a Town under the Spanish dominion came to Breda which belongs to his Nephew the Prince of Orange from whence he dispatched Sir John Greenvile with Royal Letters to both Houses of Parliament and Letters also to General Monk
make War abroad nor that the King was as yet so well seated in the Government that he could revenge the Injuries of the Dutch that it was not safe for him to trust Arms in the hands of his Subjects which afterwards they might be unwilling to lay down That the English were not now the same Enemies as the Dutch had found them to be under the Rump-Parliament that the warlike fierceness of that Nation was gone with the Sectarians and that there remained amongst them none but a company of silly Cowards That there were a great many Fanaticks in England who perhaps would fight for the Dutch against the King or at least would not fight for him against those who were for liberty of Conscience Nor was there wanting a great many of our fugitive Traytors amongst the Dutch who made these false reports to be believed The bloudy War which broke out the year following was ushered in by the taking of Ships on both sides and Alan with a Fleet of English Ships for securing the Merchant-men and anoying the Dutch in the Mediterranean fell upon the Dutch Smirna-Fleet in the Streights upon their return homewards and having killed them many men sunk some Ships Brakell the Admiral of the Fleet being slain he took and brought off four of the Enemies Ships which was the first booty and glad Omen of the War but one of them richly laden being much shattered and leaky foundered in the greedy Sea Nor was the King so wholly taken up with the thoughts of the approaching War but that he also minded other affairs and his innocent diversions he therefore on the fifteenth of April visited the famous Colledge of Physicians of London and was received very honourably by the Doctors There he saw the Marble Statue of Harvey the chief Pilot of the Blouds Circulation and heard the President Ent with equal Eloquence and Art reading upon the mysteries of Anatomy whom there he knighted There he saw the chief Physician Bates renowned in the skill of Physick and of Latine and Fraser his chief Physician since and Glisson excellent in Medicine and Philosophy and successful Micklethwait and much-esteemed Cox and Scarborough accomplished in all Natural Philophy and no less famous amongst the Muses with Wharton the Secretary of the Glandules and acute Merret besides many others eminent in the Art of Curing to whom at length were associated Willis the great Restorer of Medicine but of too short a life with Lower and Needham who have illustrated the Faculty by their Writings And now was the Royal Fleet ready to set sail divided into three Squadrons the first commanded by the Duke of York Lord High Admiral of England the second by the most Illustrious Prince Rupert and the third by the Earl of Sandwich famous in Expeditions at Sea The other Flag-Officers of the Fleet were Lawson and Alan lately returned from the Mediterranean Jordan Spragg Smith Meens and Tiddiman all famous Sea-Commanders Many persons of great Quality went Volunteers to Sea and though they had no command in the Fleet yet they thought it honourable in so just a War to try their fortune with the Duke of York The Fleet consisted of about an hundred Men of War having on board to the number of about thirty thousand Sea-men and Souldiers and on the two and twentieth of April weighed and with joyful Huzza's full Sails and flying Streamers sailed over to the Coast of Holland and came to an Anchor before the Texel the Enemy in the mean while for all their bragging not daring to come out His Royal Highness in the mean time in the Royal Fleet rode Master of the Seas and many Dutch Ships returning home in sight of the Shore fell into the hands of the English as Booties cast into their way by Providence But his Royal Highness more desirous of Fighting than Prey after he had expected almost a month the coming out of the Enemy upon their own Coast Victuals and Provisions growing scarce came back again to the English Coast giving them opportunity if they had a mind to fight to come out But now the Commanders of the Dutch Fleet moved with the disgrace of being blocked up but more at the Reproaches and Execrations of the people use all diligence to bring out their Ships The Fleet of the States General consisted of above an hundred sail of Men of War in seven divisions which were commanded by Opdam Trump Cartener Schramp Stillingwolfe Cornelius and John Evertsons Opdam in the mean time being Admiral But as the Dutch stood out to Sea a Fleet of English Merchant-men coming from Hamborough in the dark of the night by mistake fell in amongst the Enemies nor were they sensible of their Captivity till it was too late to flie for it and so they payed dear for their unhappy and prohibited Voyage The taking of the English Merchant-men was to the Enemies so joyful a presage of a future Engagement that directing their course towards England they resolved not to expect the coming of the English but not doubting of success to attack them in their own Coast His Royal Highness in the mean time was at Anchor with his Fleet near Harwich where so soon as he was advertised by his Scouts that the Enemy approached rejoycing at the long wished-for occasion of an Engagement on the first of June setting his Fleet in order with all the expedition he could he steers directly against the Dutch Next day he came in sight of the Enemies Fleet by night they were got near to one another and on the third of June with the day the Fight began The Fleet being drawn up undaunted Prince Rupert was in the Van in the Body of the Fleet was the Duke of York and the Earl of Sandwich in the Rear an expert Commander at Sea the Enemies Fleet being in order to engage them The first shot that was fired was from Prince Rupert's Squadron And both Fleets as yet fought with their great Guns at a distance The English had the wind which the Dutch on the other hand strove to gain it being westerly but whilst both Fleets strive for the wind the order of the Ships engaged changing the middle of the English Fleet came up with the front of the Enemies and Lawson who commanded the next Ship to the Admiral bearing in amongst their Fleet they came by a closer engagement to try the fate of both Nations By and by the Admirals of both Fleets by chance engaged together There was great slaughter on both sides and it was a bloudy Victory to his Royal Highness for whether by carelesness or our shot fire got into the Powder-Room and presently blew up Opdam's Ship He flying up into the Air prevented a shameful flight with his Fleet and falling again into the Sea Animam morti non redidit uni Resigned his life to several deaths The loss of the Admiral was attended with the
against the Enemy and so to make the safest retreat with the Fleet they could Ashamed they were and no less encouraged at the disgrace that they who were used to command the Seas should now decline the Enemy whom they had so often pursued And Albemarle stood on the Quarter-deck flying with threatning looks and terrible to the Enemy in his very retreat the boldest of whom that durst approach him with his Stern-Guns he either beat off or sunk nor did over-powered Valour give o're and they who fled had mâ—re courage to flight than those that pursued But now Fortune seemed to repent that she had not seconded the Valour of the English Nation For during this sharp Engagement the noise of the Guns had reached the ears of Prince Rupert who at a great distance was in search of the French Fleet though in vain he therefore tacking about made all the sail he could to come into the assistance of his Friends inflamed with the desire of fighting The sight of his Ships was as joyful to our men as formidable to the Enemy But Albemarl's Fleet had the ill fortune to take the nearest course to joyn the Prince who was so luckily come For the unskilful Pilates hastening too rashly steered upon Shelves and Banks where many struck but though the rest got off again yet the Prince a Man of War that deserved better fate commanded by Sir George Askeugh being so far got on as they could not bring her off was burnt by the Enemy and Askeugh being taken was afterward carried in triumph into Holland The Royal Fleet being now rejoyned on the fourth of June give chace to the Dutch daring them to another Engagement Hopes of Victory incited the Prince and Albemarle to revenge but which of the two had greatest Courage it is hard to determine And now a fourth time they fall to it in as memorable and fierce an Engagement as perhaps ever happened upon the Ocean though after three days fighting they now contended with greater fury than force The Prince with his fresh and entire Squadron had the Van carrying in his looks the resolution of his mind Albemarle followed after spurred on with new desires from the supplies of others having received fresh Vigour to himself but the Enemies Fleet kept at a distance not daring to come to a close Engagement until Prince Rupert desirous to make an end of the matter with his usual undaunted Courage fell in amongst the thick of the Dutch and sunk and put to flight many of them and had not Albemarl's own Ship been extreamly disabled in the former Engagements and had not an unlucky shot of the last of the Enemies Ships towards the evening brought the Mast of Prince Rupert's Ship by the board and so hindred the pursuit They had been able to have given a far better account of the Dutch in this days Engagement who now strove who could run fastest But the Dutch found by this days experience that the English equal or unequal in force were invincible and that they must submit to the fortune of Charles The Enemy being now everywhere put to flight the Royal Fleet seemed the more joyful that they had conquered the greater dangers and so stood over to their own Coast and put into Harbour to have their Ships refitted which was done with all diligence In the mean time the Dutch gave it out that they had got the Victory because they came off so well and after that they had celebrated a Mock-triumph over the English at home with a more ridiculous silliness they bragg'd of their Victory abroad to the scorn and derision of Foreign Nations And having speedily patched up a Fleet they come in sight of Harwich and dared the English upon their own Coast but with no designe of fighting as appeared afterward but onely out of a Dutch vanity and a false perswasion of a Victory for so soon as upon the seventeenth of July the Royal Fleet had put out to Sea again the Enemy bore off trusting more to their Banks than their Courage On the twenty fifth of July Prince Rupert and Albemarle engaged the Dutch on their own Coast nor did they decline the Engagement not out of confidence but being compelled to be bold and trusting to the neighbourhood of the shore and the nature of the Coast There was a hot Dispute on both sides for almost four hours but the Dutch suffering more in their reputation than in other losses tacked about and made all the sail they could to be gone the report being that de Ruyter's Ship gave them the example of flying The Royal Fleet pursued after with continual thundring of Guns until the Enemies having got behind their Banks the English were in greater danger from the Banks and Shelves of their Coast than from the flying Enemy A Squadron of Ships under the command of Trump stood it out still and was attacked by a part of the Royal Fleet that was in the rear but after a bloudy Engagement they were forced in the night-time to follow the fortune of the rest and shift for themselves upon the Coast of Zealand Jordan sunk de Ruyter's Fire-ship and in the Fight were taken Banker the Vice-Admirals Ship and the stoutest Ship of Harlem both which were burnt by the English who were more intent upon the Battel than the Booty Everts Admiral of the Zealand-Squadron Tirich Hides of the Friesland Vice-Admiral Conder and six Captains of Ships were killed The English lost onely one Ship commanded by Captain Hannam which after the Seamen had escaped was burnt by the Dutch The Royal Fleet was more troubled at this base flight of the Dutch than they were at the dangers of the former Engagement and they were vexed that the cowardly running of the Enemy should have cut them short of a more triumphant Victory But the Dutch always preferred a whole skin though with a dishonourable flight before Honour with danger Now did the Royal Fleet again block up the Dutch Coast that they might keep the Seas and make them ashamed of their overthrow who now being so often beaten were forced in their skulking holes to acknowledge the prowess of the English and seeing no Enemy appeared the Merchant-ships that were daily taken suffered what the Fleet better deserved But the English were unwilling to be idle upon the Dutch Coast and therefore Prince Rupert and the Duke of Albemarle ordered out Sir Robert Holmes a man of great undertaking to the Vly who sailing thither and having left a guard of Ships at the entry into the Harbour he took with him five Fire-ships and one Frigat besides Pinnaces and Boats manned with Souldiers and Sea-men and boldly entring in he burnt all the Ships in the Harbour to the number of one hundred and fifty Sail many of them East India Ships laden The Town of Schilling was afterwards taken and burnt and the Plunder given to the Souldiers And Holmes having shared