had begun by a most solemn and terrible Imprecation beseeching that in testimony of the truth of all these particulars the great God of Heaven through his infinite mercy pardoning their failings and weaknesses would judge betwixt them when they should come to joyn in battle with their Enemies This Manifesto was sent from the Generals quarters as then at Barwick to the Metropolitan of Scotland by a Trumpet whose eyes the Scots did blinde both going and coming Meanwhile the Army advanced as farre as the Lord Mordingtons Castle on the 22 of July 1650. and refreshed there three days on the 25. they advanced towards Copperspeth and the 26. they arrived at Dunban where the Army received those Ammunitions wherewith such Ships were laden as were come thither on purpose to observe the motions of the Army by reason that the Peasants had abandoned their dwellings not leaving so much as any thing which might serve for refreshing The Army being somewhat refreshed at Dunbar marched toward Haddington and the next day understood that the Enemies were disposed to give them battle on a Heath called Gladsmore so that the English endeavoured to possesse themselves of the place But the Scots appeared not whereupon it was resolved that Major General Lambert and Collonel Whalley persons of an approved valour and who have since proved themselves as great Politicians as they were great Commanders should with 1400. Horse advance towards Muscleborough to endeavour if possible to draw forth the Enemy and to engage him to fight whilest the rest of the Army marched up unto them whereupon there happened some slight skirmishes but the Scots would not by any means be engaged in a general Combat so that the English that night encamped hard by Muscleborough from whence the Scots were but four miles distant defended by a brest-work which they had drawn from Edinborough to Leith and which was well nigh flanked all the way by the Canon of the last place so that they were possessed of a very advantagious Port. The English being approached unto Muscleborough with a resolution to have set upon the Enemy in their works found that it was a difficult matter to force their Line and so were constrained to set down their Camp hard by that place all the day to discover the countenance of the Enemy But the desire they had to fight was somewhat abated by a great showre of rain which continued all the day and which did much incommodate them by reason they had no shelter at all On the 30. finding that they were put to it for want of Victuals and the ground being so throughly soaked by the rain as that it was farre more difficult to attempt the Enemy then before the English retired to their former quarters which begat heart in the Scots who fallyed out of their Lines and fell so fiercely upon the Rearguard of the English as that they put them into a kinde of disorder but some Squadrons of Horse fronting in the Rear and making good the ground assured the March of the foot and so vigorously continued their charge as that they had like to have brought the businesse to a general Combate had not the Commander in chief of the Scots Army caused a retreat to be sounded that so they might bring their men into their Lines again whither the English pursued them fighting all the way with their Cavallry In this Encounter Major General Lambert ingaged so farre as that he was hurt in the Arm with a Launce and received another wound in the body and once he was taken prisoner but was rescued again by Lieutenant Empson of the Generals Regiment there were but few English killed but farre more of the Scotch and amongst them some persons of quality several prisoners of theirs were also taken as a Lievtenant Colonel a Major and some Captains By which means the English recovered Muscleborough that night without being molested by the Enemy but they were so disheartened for want of sleep and so tyred by the dirty slabbery wayes as that misdoubting least the enemy being aware thereof might give them an Alarum that night they stood upon their guard and accordingly they failed not betwixt three and four of the clock in the Morning with fifteen Companies of choice Horse commanded by Major General Montgomery and Collonel Straughton to fall into the English quarters with such a vehemency as that they bare down the Guards and put a whole Regiment of Horse in disorder whereby the whole Army taking the Alarum the English charged them so home as that they put them into a rout and pursued them within half a League of Edinbourgh killing them a sufficient number both of Officers and Souldiers and taking several prisoners After which the Scots being disgusted at these their ill successes retired themselves for a while within their intrenchments where we shall also leave them to their closer guards In the meanwhile the Parliament interdicted the Commerce between England and Scotland and caused their Ships to be adjudged good Prize which contributed very much to their undoing and ruine During which they wanted for no Partisanes in England who laboured to dispose things toward the effecting of their grand design and amongst their chief Agitators Collonel Eusebius Andrewes being discovered and convinced was also condemned and beheaded on Tower-hill The whole Moneth of August passed almost away without any action in Scotland towards the latter end whereof Collington and Readhall were taken by attempt where the Lord Hamilton and Major Hamilton were taken with 60. Souldiers 60. Barrels of Powder Armes for 60 men and a considerable quantity of Victuals and other good Booty all which hapned on the 24 of August After which the whole Body of the English Army quitted the Mountains of Pencland and encamped about Collington and Readhall and the parts adjacent within one Mile of the Scotch Army on the seven and twentieth both Armies marched Flank to Flank being only seperated by a little Quagmire or Marsh-ground which hindred their Conjuction however the Canon played upon each other and on the 28th the English Canon plyed the Scots hard and endamaged them very much notwithstanding they neither quitted their Ground nor would they come to a Resolution to joyn in a closer Fight And the English having consumed all their Provisions of Victualls retired unto their former Quarters first unto Pencland Hills and afterwards unto Mussleborough whither they had much ado to reach where being some what refreshed they dreyned their Garisons assembled also their Forces and took their March toward Hoddington at which the Scots coasting their March on their right Wing did charge them with a Squadron of stout Men and as they did most briskly set upon the English so they were in like manner vigorously repulst by a Regiment of Foot commanded by Colonel Fairfax On the first day of September both Armies found themselves only seperated by the Town and the Scots being encamped in an advantagious place on the West-side of
the Town the English were engaged to encamp themselves on the East-side of the Town in an open Field very fit to give Battel in without that either Party would give or take advantage of the Ground where the English having attended the Enemies a sufficient space of time and perceiving that they would not fight but upon an advantage they took their March towards Dunbar whither the Scots followed them immediatly and at a certain passage endeavoured to charge their Rearguard But the English immediatly facing about the Scots changed their resolution and gained the Hills where they thought they might with advantage cut off the English their passage to Coperspeth at which time the English Army was but in a very ill Condition the Winter wch begins betimes in those parts had so nipt them with Colds and great Rains and the ill Victuals which they had besides caused a great deal of sickness in the Army Fluxes Loosness and other Diseases whereby many died and were rendred uncapable of Service being sent and carried away to Barwick and the adjoyning parts The Scots who very well knew the sad estate of the English Army which they had really blocked up at the passage of Copperspeth which is betwixt Dunbar and Barwick thereby impeding the English's Communication with that place and by hindring them from those Conveniencies which they thence received intending either to overcome them there or to cause them to perish there for want of Necessaries so that they promised themselves an unquestionable Victory without much loss on their sides wherby they presumed to brag that they had gotten the English in the Earl of Essex's Pensold alluding to that extremity whereunto the Royallists had reduced that Earle in the County of Cornwall where his Army surrendred at discretion the Horse only excepted who made their way through the Enemy in the Night-time Nor were the Scots their hopes ill grounded considering the ill plight wherein the English Army was at that time and the inequality of their Forces the Scots being at the least 20000 Men and the English not above 12000 divers of which were likewise sick But the extremity whereunto the English were reduced made them pitch upon so firm a resolution either to overcome or to die in the Battel as that the Scots were totally routed and defeated by those very reasons and that very confidence which had made them as it were sure of the Victory Wherefore the General and the chief Officers of the English Army deeming that the longer they should delay to put it to a noble adventure whereby to get out of this great straight wherein they were the lesse they should be able to compass it resolved either to make their passage through their Enemies by the points of their Swords or to perish in the undertaking So that they imployed the whole Night in seeking of the Lord and imploring his Assistance from Heaven as also in giving out and distributing the Orders requisite for the Fight and just at break of the day the Army was ready drawn up into Battel-aray and to give the on-set the English word was The Lord of Hoastes and the Scots word was The Covenant which did very well represent the state of their Affairs and the subject of their Quarrell and in an instant both the English Horse and Foot with a gallant resolution fiercely charged the right Wing of the Scots where the Enemy had placed all their Cavalry on purpose to hinder the English in their passage that way The Scots received their Charge with a great deal of constancy and resolution and it may justly be said That Alexander did not meet with more resistance nor glory at the passage of Granicia then our late Protector met with at this Encounter especially if so be we consider how that the said Conquerour of Asia had to do with an effeminate kind of People bred in a delicious Country accustomed to their ease and pleasures but here on the contrary That the English brought up in a fertile abundant Soil and under a middle Climate should come to confront a War-like Nation in a harsh barren and cold Climat The General 's own Regiment of Foot had the Vanguard that day and performed the parts of men answering most gloriously to that honour which belonged to them Their Colonel and General together animating aâ—d encouraging them by his own example witnessed by his Actions that there was not a straws breadth that day betwixt them and death or the Victory Major General Whaley charged the Enemies whole Army through and through with his Regiment bearing down all those who durst withstand him and without the loss of many men having wheeled about again and cleared all before him regained his former station himself having only received a slight Wound in the Arm and had a Horse killed under him And not to detain the Reader in any further suspence all the Regiments of the Army performing their parts like resolute gallant men For should a man go about to praise one Squadron or Battallion of them in particular he must of necessity derogate from the rest you might have observed as many Soldiers as Officers as many Officers as Soldiers who being all of them animated or rather inspired by a supernaturall instinct of Valour a man would have thought they had been invulnerable or shot-free and that a Hand from on high did defend them from the showers of Lead and Launces which were ready to overwhelme them so that the violence and force wherewith they fought did only permit the Scots to put by their Blows as also it is worthy to be noted that in all this Fight the English lost but forty men whereas of the Scots there were foure thousand killed upon the place and that Army which was stronger then the English by two thirds thinking to have overwhelmed them did only by closing in upon them force them to fight with the greater vigour and you would have imagined that the little Army of the English consisted only of one Body which had but one only motion and charged the Enemy on all sides with so much Impetuosity and Animosity as that you would have said it had been and insensible Mass or Lump which only pressed forwards where the weight of Arms or the force of Powder did transport it Finally after one whole hours dispute very hot Fight and violent furious Contests the Scots gave way and their Horse being put to flight endeavoured to save themselves by the goodness of their heels the English Cavalry pursuing them to Haddington all the Scotch Foot remained on the place and that which rendred the slaughter of them the greater was that the English Soldiers remembred an Action which hapned the day before in which thirty Soldiers of Colonel Prides Regiment being commanded to possess a House scituate betwixt both Camps and not being seconded were over-powred by a greater number of the Scots and so forced to deliver up the place again notwithstanding which
some Ships Goods and Merchandises which the Pyrats of those parts had despoiled their Merchants of Which answer though in some measure it satisfied the Parliament yet not so farre as to trust too much therein to the Hollanders and whereby the Parliament was obliged to give order for the suddain reducing of that Island to their obedience Generall Blake being re-inforced by a Squadron of Ships commanded by Sir George Askue which was designed for the reduceing of the Cariba Islands made sail towards Scilly where immediately they set ashoar 300. Sea-men besides the Land-men the Sea-men gave the first onset with a great deal of courage and resolution and the Land-men did second them very well insomuch that they speedily became Masters of the Isles of Tresco and Bryers where they took 150 Prisoners after they had once slain a score of them They found in the place two good Frigats one of 18 Guns and the other of 32. and immediately possessed the best Haven of all these Islands whence the Enemies fled unto St. Maries the strongest of all those Islands but which held not long out afterwards and so they were all reduced It is unnecessary to lose time in the disating upon the strength and conveniencies of those Islands since all what art and nature could possibly allotte unto them is there to be found and so need but look into the Mappes to judge by their very situation of what concernment they are unto England Meanwhile it is worthy admiration that so difficult a Conquest should be attained in so little a space of time with the losse of so few men onely And whereas the Royallists did continue to make good Cornet Castle in the Isle of Guernsey and on a false advise that there were but forty men in the place eighteen of which were also said to be incapable of doing service a resolution was taken to set upon the said Castle and to carry it by surprisall but when the attempt was made there were found to be in the place threescore good men who when the Scaleing Ladders were applyed to the walls and the assault given to the place defended themselves resolutely and endammaged the Assailants in such a manner with Stones and Timber which they cast down upon them as also by their Canon which flanked the wall charged with Case-shot as that they killed divers of the Assailants and constrayned the rest to retire and the greatest dysaster that hapned was that a Vessel or two in which the men retired were sunk by the Canon from the Castle And however this attempt did not succeed yet the English did like couragious men and deserved no lesse prayse then if they had carryed the place About which time one Brown-Bushell was beheaded at London a famous Royallist both by Sea and Land for having deserted the Parliaments Forces and having since committed several Murders and mischievous actions But it is time to return into Scotland and to see in what posture both Armies are there The English who would not remain idle only to keep their Men in action besieged Blackness a considerable place and whence their quarters were continually allarum'd by the Mosse-Troopers who retreated and sheltred themselves in that place Colonel Monk commanded in chief in this Expedition who with but a handfull of men causing a Battery to be raised and having given them some few volleys of Cannon constrained them to yield On the other side all the several dissenting parties amongst the Scots notwithstanding their differences quarrels jealousies and their terrible excommunications did unite themselves altogether by their common interest wherein they concurred to re-establish their King whereunto they were encouraged by severall under hand practises which were carried on here in England and chiefly in Lancashire which was generally to have risen in Arms One of the chief Agents interessed in this businesse by name Mr. Thomas Cook was taken at London who discovered part of the design and more was known by Letters which were found in a Vessel sailing from the Mount of Scotland to the Isle of Man which belonged to the Earl of Darby and who anon will appear more visibly in this businesse as also Mr. Birkenhead was taken being charged with severall Orders and Instructions by which the most hidden and intricate secrets of this conspiracy were discovered These proceedings obliged the Parliament to order a party both of Horse and Foot under the command of Major General Harrison to march towards the North as well to dissipate such raisings as should chance to happen there as to oppose the Enemy should they make an irruption by the way of Carlisle Meanwhile several persons of note were impeached and tryed for having a hand in this Conspiracy The names of the chief are as followeth viz. Mr. Christopher Love Major Alford Major Addams Colonel Barton Mr. Blackmore Mr. Case and Mr. Cauton Doctor Drake Mr. Drake Captain Farre Mr. Gibbons Mr. Haviland and Mr. Jenkins Major Huntington Mr. Jackwell Mr. Jackeson Mr. Walton Mr. Robinson Captain Massey Captain Potter Lieutenant Colonels Jackeson Sowton and Vaughan and several others Two of which number were only put to death being found more guilty then the rest to wit Mr. Love and Mr. Gibbons who were both beheaded on Tower-hill And a false report being spread in the principality of Wales that Generall Cromwell was defeated in Scotland and that the Royallists Army was entring England a party began to form it self in those parts but as the cause of the same rising was false so the effect thereof did soon vanish Now the English being resolved to terminate the warre of Scotland caused Vessels to be built to passe over the River and to enter into Fife which began to allarum the Enemies who were on the other side of the water as also those in Brunts-Island Nor were the Scots idle neither but incommodated those quarters of the English which were the most advanced which they effected with the greater advantage being versed and known in the wayes and advances and by this means they slew several English Souldiers as they went out to forrage and to get in Provisions whereby the English were constrained to quit their Out-quarters and having thus ingrossed their Army by the said Garrisons they advanced towards Fife and to that end made their Magazine at Blacknesse but not finding wherewithall in the Countrey to feed their Horse they retarded their March for some few dayes By which time the Scots having compleated their Levies found themselves to be 15000 Foot and 6000 Horse with which Force they marched toward a place called Torwood on this side Sterling whereby they were faced by the English Army but would not ingage in a Battail keeping themselves within their Bogges and other inaccessable places whereupon the English resolved to passe over part of their Army on the other side of the River and Colonel Overton being thereunto ordered did on the 6th of July 1651. passe at
Queens Ferry with 1600 Foot and four Troops of Horse having in his said passage lost but six men as soon as they were arrived they fell to intrenching themselves and at the same time the Generall with the body of the Army marched directly towards the Enemy to the end that in case the Scots should make a shew to march towards Fife he might charge their Rear before they should gain Sterling and the Scots being unwilling to let the day passe without driving the English out of Fife sent 4000 Horse and Foot under the command of Sir John Brown to set upon the English which obliged Generall Cromwell to send over a re-inforcement of two Regiments of Horse and two Regiments of Foot under the Command of Major Generall Lambert in lesse then 24 hours they were passed over and joyned to the others and immediately the Regiment of Colonel Okey advanced towards the Enemy which ingaged them to draw up into Battel-array and the English likewise did the same who though they were more in number then the Scots yet they had the advantage of the ground and the Scots being placed on a hill they remained face to face for the space of an hour and a half looking on each other the Scots not being willing to march down nor lose their advantage insomuch that the English at last resolved to march up towards them and set upon them so resolutely as that after a very slender contest they quite routed them and made such a butchery amongst them that they killed 2000 of their 4000 took 1400 Prisoners amongst whom Sir John Brown who commanded the Party Colonel Buchanam and severall other persons of quality on the English side there were but few slain but many hurt and in reference hereunto more Forces were sent over into Fyfe in case the whole Body of both Armies might chance to come to a generall Battell Immediatly after the English became Masters of Inchigarvy a strong Castle scituate upon a Rock in the midst of the Province of Fryth between Queens Ferry and North Ferry in which there were sixteen piece of Ordnance mounted On the twenty seventh of July all the English Army appearing before Brunt Island the Governour there of took such an Alarme thereat as that after a small Contest in a Parley he surrendred the same delivering unto the English together with the said Island all the Men of War which were found in the Haven all the Cannon of the place as also all the Armes Ammunition of War and the provision of Victuals which said Isle was very considerable for the English to make a Magazine and Storehouse for the Provisions and Ammunition for the Army Thence the Army marched to St. John's Town a very strong and considerable place into which the Enemy had but just before put a fresh Regiment who were resolved to have defended themselves very well but as soon as they saw that their Sluces were cut off by the English they lost their Courage and surrendred the place Meanwhile there happened a great change of Affairs for the Scots Army consisting in 16000 men abandoned their own Territories in hopes of establishing themselves in a better Country and by the way of Carlisle enter England General Cromwell being advertised hereof issued out immediatly such Orders as were requisite to pursue the Scots and with all possible speed the Army repassed the River of Fife upon a Bridge of Boats at Leith Major General Lambert the sooner to overtake the Enemies Rear with 3000 Horse and Dragoons followed after them and Major General Harrison with a Body of lighter Horse was commanded to get into the Van of the Enemy for to amuse and detain them whilst the General himself with the Body of the Army consisting in sixteen Regiments of Horse and Foot immediatly pursued the Enemy But not wholly to abandon the Affaires of Scotland Colonel Monk was left there with 7000 men with which alone he perfected the Conquest of that Kingdome taking immediatly after this Change of the Scene the strong Town and Castle of Sterling being a very considerable Place and also Aberdeen Dundee and the strong Castle of Dunnotters and Dunbarton with many others Insomuch as that after the passage into Fyfe was once gained the remaining parts of Scotland were so on entirely subdued and were made tributary unto the Common-wealth of England Mean while the divided Parties of the English Forces which pursued the Scots Army did quite and clean tire them out during their March setting upon them sometimes in the Van sometimes in the Rear sometimes in the Flank and finally on all sides as they saw their oportunity to disturb and annoy them Insomuch that their long and precipitated March did much weaken the Scots But that which troubled and vexed them most of all was the little hopes they saw of those promises of relief which were given them from England The Parliament having settled such good Orders in all parts as that no body durst stir or rise in Armes to their Aide In all places wheresoever the Scots came they proclaimed their King To be King of great Britain France and Ireland according to the accustomed Formes and in his Name they sent unto all those who had any Commands or were in any Authority in those parts through which they passed to rise in Armes joyntly with them but no body budged To the contrary by Order of Parliament the Trained Bands of severall Countries drew forth in Armes to hinder the Risings and to augment the Common-wealths Armies On the one side General Cromwells Army marched on the Heels of the Scots to their Terrour on the other side the Major General Lambert and Harrison waited upon their Designs and Colonel Robert Lilborn was left in Lancashire to hinder the Earl of Darby from levying men in those parts and to the same purpose severall other Bodies were placed in other places as the occasion required both to cut off the Enemies Provisions as well as his passage In case they should resolve to retreat back again or to fly away Finally the Scotch Army having reached the Town of Worcester pitched its Camp there having much debated where and in what manner they should fix upon a resting and breathing place after so long and tedious a march Whereof the Earl of Darby was no sooner assertained but he issued forth of his Island with 300 Gentlemen and Landed in Lancashire where he assembled at least 1200 men during which the Generals Regiment which was left at Manchester was Commanded to joyn with Colonel Lilborne to cut off the Earl of Darbies passage to Manchester whither he was marching to have faln upon the said Regiment but Colonel Lilborne observing his motion marched the very same way joyning Flank and Flank with the Earls Forces who deeming that he ought not to defer the Fight with Lilborne till he should have joyned with the Generals Regiment when as then he might have proved too
his Life as freely as he formerly had done for the peace and tranquility of their City and for the Liberty of England The Lord Major rode all the way bare-headed as also carried the City Sword drawn before his late Highness the Lord Protector By the one representing the Respect and Obedience of the City and by the other its Fidelity and Resolution to spill their Blood in the defence of the Peace of the State and for the preservation of the Life and new Dignity of his Highness The Streets were railed up and the several Companies of the City in their Liveries sate on both sides of the way with Streamers sticking up to distinguish each Company Moreover it is a thing worthy to be observed how that the Character which God doth imprint on the Forehead of those whom he hath designed to be his Vicegerents on Earth doth beget an astonishment and fear in the hearts of those where it cannot raise a respect but in the others both admiration and love so that on all sides the Divine Providence compasseth its Glory either by the means of its Justice or Mercy And thus you see his Highness the Lord Protector passing through this great City which was drawn up in Arms having his Head onely covered with Laurels and his guarded with a simple though resplendent morsel of Glory The one surrounding him to cover and protect him with her wings and the disarmed Justice which accompanied this great Heroes footsteps seemed to Lead a naked and fettered Mars by a silken thread And thus after his Highness had been most splendedly entertained by the City before he departed he conferred the Honour of Knighthood upon the Lord Major and left all the City filled with an admiration of his Heroick Vertues and with a general satisfaction of his candor and generousness their hopes being freighted with acclamations and good wishes No sooner was his late Highness settled in the Supreme degree of his Protectorship but just like the Sun elevated in a high sublime Sphere he begat an infinite number of malignant Exhalations which however were soon dissipated by his luster and resplendency and at the same time by his vertue he gave a life and being to all those glorious actions which knowing men did expect from his sage Government On the Eighteenth of February 1653. a most dangerous Conspiracy which was hatched by the Royalists was discovered several of the Conspirators were taken and sent to the Tower of London But his Highness willing to begin his Government by an Act of Clemency and to let the world see that the Grandor of his new Dignity did onely render him powerful to do good he pardoned the said Delinquents and caused them to be set at liberty Much about which time arrived Deputies from the several Counties and Shires as well of England Stotland and Ireland to congratulate his Highness happy Inauguration and to assure him of their fidelity and submission to his Commands all which his Highness received with a great deal of Candor and repaied them with Use to wit the establishing of good and salutary Orders for the Peace and Tranquility of the Commonwealth and each Member thereof in particular Nor did he forget to regulate the Spiritual Affairs and out of an infinite number of Opinions he begat a pleasant harmony the seeming dissonance and harshness whereof was onely unsavory to the ignorant and to such as had stopped their ears Mean while the Scots animated by several discontented persons here in England did levy an Army by Command from their King and began to take heart of grace again reassuming their former courage and hopes The Earls of Glencarne and Kenmore were at the Head of four thousand Horse and Foot joyning several other small parties which from all sides flocked down unto them But Collonel Morgan was so vigilant and active that before they could have time to Form a greater Body he marched with fifteen hundred Horse and Foot and on the seventh of February he arrived at Lough which was the Enemies appointed Rendezvouz where having charged them after a short but smart Fight he killed one hundred and fifty of them and defeated all the rest the Earl of Glencarne with much ado making his escape onely with forty Horse But all these small Bickerings and as it were shadows of War did onely serve as a foil to that most important and considerable Peace which both England and Holland was to reap at our Olivers hands When as most part of the Winter was well nigh passed over in this Negociation at London where the Hollanders had four Ambassadours who daily laboured to compass the same Two of them to wit the Lords Newport and Youngstall re-passed into Holland about the Moneth of February to communicate unto the High and Mighty Lords the States their Masters the Conclusion of the Treaty and to get them to ratifie the same On the third of March 1653 4. of the same Year they returned back again where they were received with all the pomp and state that could possibly be imagined and might demonstrate the Joy which the Merchants conceived of the happy effects of so happy a Reconciliation The next day they had Audience from his Highness where declaring the full powers they had from the Lords States to ratifie the said Peace which they had made they desired a speedy Cessation of Arms should be published on both sides and in conformity thereto on the fifth Day of April next ensuing the Articles of Peace were signed sealed and delivered on the behalf of both parties and were accordingly published and proclaimed to the general satisfaction of all men And his Highness the better to testifie the particular pleasure he took therein did most sumptuously treat the Holland Ambassadours witnessing unto them by his noble Noble treatment all the marks of Joy which might manifest and make good by his Conduct and Entertainment the old Motto of his Family That War hath no other end save to beget a Peace And as to the Affairs of Ireland his Highness by his good Orders and establishing the Natives in the Province of Cannaught which is in the heart of Ireland had settled all things so well in those parts as that the English needed not to fear any either abroad or at home and the Irish beginning to be sensible that the Yoke of a vigilant and absolute Protector was far more tollerable and to be preferred before the Servitude of a feeble and tottering multitude who onely heeding their own preservations and particular interests do abandon the People and their wellfares either to their own capriciousness or to the imbroils of ambitious and hot spirits who abusing of the Commonalties simplicity and sincerity run them headlong into Ruine But some enemies of the State perceiving that it was impossible to hinder the Earth from bringing forth of good fruits as long as it was animated by so sensible and feeling a warmth resolved to
continued their Sappinges Upon the second of the said Month upon notice that severall Armes and Ammunitions of VVar were hidden in the Cathedrall Church at Edinborough they were transported thence VVhilst the fortifying of Leith was carried on vigorously as well as the Mines under the Castle of Edinborough that no time might be lost his late Highness whose great Soul could not live without Action and who was not to be taken up by one or two single Objects marched off with part of the Army to go and view Glascow which having done and finding that he was not in a Condition to assail it at that time he returned back to Edinborough but by the way he rased two strong Holds whither the Moss Troopers were accustomed to retreat and shelter And as the Scots had a puissent Enemy in the heart of their Country so had they a far greater in their very Bowels since it s generally confest That the greatest of all Evils which can possibly happen to a State Is the Divisions which the different professions in Religion and the other particular Interests do beget For in the North of Scotland there was a Party for the King seperated from the Churches in the VVest there was a Party for the Church seperated from the King so likewise there was a third Party more moderate who held both for King and Church and all these intestine Divisions were carryed on with such a violent animosity as that they neglected the common good and were even ready to cut each others throat The last of these parties was the strongest being composed of the General States of the Kingdome as then held at Sterling who neverthelesse stood upon their Guards as well as the several others did they being afraid of each other The Assembly of the Estates used their best endeavours to reconconcile these two parties and to this purpose treated mainly with the Colonels Carre and Straughan who seemed to be the chief Heads of the said parties but they could not prevail with them His late Highnesse who was alwayes as politick as vigilant endeavoured to make good use of their dissentions and so wrote both unto Carre and Straughan but their particular quarrels hindred them not to joyn in their general animosities against the English whom they reputed to be their common Enemy But the said proffers which were made unto them having as little wrought upon them as the care of their own preservations Colonel Whaley was commanded with a good Squadron of the Army to goe and reduce them to their obedience which he undertook not however before he had once more assayled to gain them by fair means wherefore he sent a Letter unto them both representing unto them in substance as followeth viz. That all the world knew how many amicable wayes and endeavours had been used by the English since their being in Scotland to hinder the effusion of Christian blood and although all the said undertakings had proved fruitlesse yet they still harboured the same thoughts and resolutions continuing thus that their arms were alwayes ready and open to receive and embrace them whensoever it should please God to inspire them to meet them half-way That their design was not to rule over them nor to intrench upon their liberties far lesse on their Church Government or to possesse their goods and fortunes their drift being only to advance the Lords work But if they perished in their blindnesse and would continue to harbour frivolous and vain hopes they must continue to be their enemies to their rests and declared unto them that all the miseries which should befall them hereafter either by the sword or famine would fall very heavy on their own accompt Collonel Carr sent an answer to this Letter quite in another strain then it might have been expected from persons who professed to desire nothing so much as an accommodation and this Answer was returned to Commissary General Whaley at his being at Carlisle according to the tenour following or very nigh the same That although they were not strong enough to resist the English their unjust Invasion yet that they had strength enough to undergoe it and that by their actions and sufferings they would submit themselves to the will of God untill the time of their deliverance should come That in case they should have the happinesse to perish in doing of their duties it would be too much grace that God would do unto them that they doubted not but when their miseries should be arrived at the full pitch their Fortune would then change adding that they thought it very strange that the English should mention a cessation of Arms at the same time when they laded their Subjects with Irons when they took their Towns when they imprisoned their Ministers and by this means bereaved their flocks now going astray of the only and best comforts which they had left unto them amidst their greatest miseries Concluding thus That if they would voluntarily desert and relinquish Scotland and afterwards enter upon a Treaty in such a manner as becommeth Christians to doe it would be a reciprocal grace and favour they would doe unto both Nations But these Interparlies having proved thus unprofitable the English began to fall to work again and Major Brown possessed himself of a strong place called Ball-house and afterwards took the Castle of Dorlington in which there were great store of Ammunitions of warre found and in this last some Mosse-Troopers some of which were put to death Collonel Monke likewise with a party both of Horse and Foot marched towards the Castle of Rozellar within seven miles of Edinborough which was also surrendred after some Granado Shells were fired into it Immediately after which Colonel Lambert marched with 2000 Horse towards Dumfreez in quest of Colonel Carre who was about Peblies and likewise Colonel Whalley who commanded a Squadron of that partie took Dalkeith on his march which meerly surrendred upon the threats which he sent in unto those who defended it although the walls of the said Castle were 13 foot thick and that they were well stored with Canon Arms and all kinde of warlike Ammunitions and provisions of victuals Meanwhile Colonel Lambert having with much difficulty passed the River Hamilton encamped there that night whereof Colonel Carre having notice did endeavour to surprize him the next morning at the very break of day which he likewise did very briskly but the English having opportunely taken the Alarum and being unwilling that any of the Enemies forces should escape out of their hands did surround them in such a manner as that they found themselves at one and the self same time set upon on all sides The English in a trice killed them 100 men and took as many prisoners Not could the Scotch Horse escape their clutches so that they dismounted 400. Horse-men whose Horses and baggage they brought away and might have had the men too but that they would not stand to trouble themselves with so many Prisoners
the first fallings out when at last having severall times past and repast through and through each other General Blake obtained the Victory having sunk one Holland Man of War took another with thirty Guns made a hundred and fifty Prisoners and both the Captains of the said Ships and sent the rest of their Fleet home by weeping Cross to tell the rest of their Butter-box Brethren the success of their rash Attempt The English lost but ten Men in this Fight and had forty wounded and of the whole Fleet the Generals Ship alone was somewhat endamaged in her Masts Sails Tackling and Apparel After which the States of Holland disowned and disavowed this Action and to that purpose sent over two extraordinary Ambassadors into England who represented these Reasons to the Parliament of England therein declaring Viz. That the unhappy Fight betwixt the Fleets of both Common-wealths hapned without their knowledge and contrary to the will and desire of the Lords the States General of the united Provinces taking God to witness of this Truth who knows the hearts of men and that both by Letters and Messages they had continually been assured of the said Lords and States Sincerity That with astonishment and amazement they had received the fatall tydings of so rash an Attempt and Action and that immediatly they entred into Consultation how they might best find out a remedy to soften and excuse this fresh bleeding Wound To which end they had convocated a general Assembly of the Provinces in the which they doubted not God willing to meet with a present remedy to these Troubles whereby not only the Causes of all the evils which might ensue should be removed but also by an interiour Comfort mens Minds might be rectified and brought to a better hope of the Treaty which was on Foot wherein their Lordships laboured daily and in good earnest for the Welfare of both Nations to avoid the further effusion of Christian blood so much desired by the Enemies unto both Nations wherefore they requested and desired most humbly of this honourable Councel by the Pledges of the Liberty and their mutuall concurrence in Religion Not to suffer any thing to be undertaken with too much precipitation and heat which might at length become irrevocable and not to be remedied by vaine Wishes or too late Vows but that without delay they might receive a favourable Answer which they the more earnestly desire since their Lordships the States Ships and Marriners were detained and impeded in their Voyages some by force and others by the Fights at Sea and the rest in the Ports of this Common-Wealth Whereunto the Parliament thus replyed Viz. THat whereas they remember with what continual Demonstrations of Friendship they alwaies Comported themselves towards their Neighbours of the united Provinces ever since the beginning of their Civil Wars having not omitted any thing which might tend to the preservation of a good understanding betwixt them they think it very strange to find how ill the said States have answered these their Civilities and especially by the Acts of Hostilitie which they have lately exercised against this Common-wealths Fleet and having taken the whole into their Consideration as well as the severall Papers presented to the Councel of State by their Ambassadors They do thereon answer That as they are ready to give a favourable interpretation to the expressions contained in the said Papers tending to represent how that the last Fight which hapned lately was without the knowledge and contrary to the intentions of their Masters so likewise when they consider how incomformable and inconsistent with these Thoughts and Discourses the proceedings of their State and the behaviour of their Sea-men hath been in the very midst of a Treaty and in what a manner the said particulars have been Negotiated here by their Ambassador The extraordinary preparations of a 150 Ships without any apparent necessity and the Instructions which were by the said Lords States given to the Sea-men we have but too great cause to believe That the Lords the States General of the united Provinces have a designe to usurp the known right which the English have to the Seas To destroy their Fleets which after God are their Walls and Bulwarks and thereby to expose the Common-wealth to an Invasion according to their own good liking even as they have attempted to do by their last Action whereupon the Parliament do think themselves to be obliged to endeavour by Gods assistance as they shall find occasion for the same to seek the reparation of those Wrongs which they have already received and an assurance for the future against the like which might be attempted against them However with a desire and an intention that things may be composed and put up in an amicable way if it be possible by such waies and means as God by his Providence shall lay open and by such circumstances as may tend to hasten this Designe and may render it more efficacious then any other of the like nature hath not yet been So that this Conference besides many others having not been caple to produce the Agreement and expected Reconciliation the Holland Ambassadors took their leaves of the Parliament by a publick Audience and went their ways And immediatly both these powerful Common-wealths prepared for an open VVar all the Waters of the Ocean being not able to quench their just Indignations and those Forces which they will both engender upon the Surface of the Sea may well and duly represent unto us the Image of the Chaos and the VVars of the Elements General Blake who seemed to have fastned the Saile of Fortune to his most prodigious mast by the glorious appearance of his gallant and resolute Fleet makes Saile towards the Northen Parts and about the Isles of Orkney and seised upon all the Holland Vessels which he found Fishing on that Coast most part of the Fishing Barques he sent away and discharged as unworthy Objects or Ornaments to so stately a Navall Armado but the twelve Holland Men of War which were to convoy and secure them he brought home with him On the other side Sir George Askue remaining in the Channel with another Squadron of Ships to clear and guard the same discovered thirty Saile of Hollanders betwixt Callis and Dover to which he gave Chace and constrained them all for the most part to run a shoare on the Coast of France onely ten excepted which were taken burnt and sunck and in reference to this fatall Rupture there was not a day past wherin Prizes were not made by the English on the Hollander and French who likewise were not as yet well reconciled to the English Thence Sir George Askue set Saile towards the West as well to seek out for the Hollander as to guard those Coasts and to convoy the Merchant-Men which were ready to set Saile from Plimouth through the Channel and being come within seven or eight Leagues of the said Port he had notice given
him that the Holland Fleet was not far off whereupon calling a Councel of Warre it was conceived they might be met with about the Coast of France a Resolution was taken to make Saile thitherwards and the same day which was the sixteenth of August betwixt one and two of the Clock in the Afternoon they discovered the Holland Fleet and immediatly made up towards them as fast as they could and found them to be sixty Men of Warre and thirty Merchant men the English were but eight and thirty Men of Warre foure Fire Ships and foure small Frigats who notwithstanding the inequalitie of of their Number about foure of the Clock of the said Afternoon encountred the Enemy with as much Gallantry and Resolution as possible could be expected And Sir George Askue seconded by six other Ships immediatly Charged into the very Body of the Enemy and however they were sufficiently damaged by this first Charge in their Sailes Masts and Yards yet they got to the Wind-ward of their Enemies and once againe Charged the whole Body of them continuing their said Combat very fiercely in this wise and alwayes being intermingled pell-mell with the Enemy untill the obscurnesse of the Night had seperated them and had the rest of the Fleet imployed their parts as well as Sir George Askue's Squadron did it is believed the whole Hollands Fleet had been destroyed amongst the English there were severall hurt and killed however but one Person of Note Captaine Pack a Person of Honour and a very Valiant stout and experienced Sea-man whose Legg being shot off by a Cannon Bullet he died immediatly there were also two other Captaines hurt Viz. Little and Whiteridge Two of the Holland Men of Warre and one of their Fire Ships were sunck as might be guest by the Wrecks afterwards for the Night which terminated this Fight did also debarre the sight of the Fleets what it had produced So that the Hollanders continued their Course towards the Coast of France and the English towards Plimouth to repaire their Vesseels but especially their Masts Yards and Tackling which were so much endamaged that they were forced to give over the pursuite of the Enemy And much about the same time that this Fight happened Generall Blake steeting North-wards took six Holland Ships of a great value about the Downes and sent one Frigat toward the East to re-inforce Sir George Askue presently afterwards Captaine Penne plying also upon the Coast of France took six Holland Ships which had formerly been in the Venetian Service and were all of them bound homewards richly Laden being all Men of Warre of considerable Burthen On the fifth of September General Blakes Fleet riding at Anchor in the Downes having notice that a French Fleet was to touch in Callis Road there to take both Men and Ammunition on Boord for the Reliefe of Dunkirk he weighed Anchor and made towards them and about five in the Evening they were tiding it out of Callis Road with a Designe in the Night to have set Saile towards Dunkirk But General Blake as soon as they were got to Sea gave them Chace and pursued them to the very Flats before Dunkirk as farre as he durst by reason of the Flats and the Burthen of his Ships he took seven of their Men of Warre the least carrying two and twenty Guns and one Frigat with eight Guns and also one of their Fire Ships whereupon the Garrison of Dunkirk having been disappointed of their expected Reliefe of Ammunitions and Provisions Not long after was forced together with the rest of the Garrisons which depended on the same to yield to the Spaniards On the twenty seventh of September General Blake discovered about sixty Saile of Holland Men of Warre Commanded by Admiral Dewit on the back-side of the Goodwin Sands so that next day he set Saile and made towards the Enemy but falling upon a Flat called the Kentish Knock under which the Hollander had purposely sheltred themselves to endanger the English should they attempt to gain the Windward of them they found they had but three Fathome Water so that severall of the Fleet struck upon the Sands but had no other harme which caused them to stand off againe and to make directly towards the Enemy endeavouring to engage them to a Fight But the Hollander being unwilling to engage all that day past in slight Skirmishes onely towards Evening the Hollanders changed their Station but kept themselves off from the English towards the Flats making a shew of being desisirous to fight But the next Morning by break of day the English Fleet perceiving that the Hollanders were gone about two Leagues Northward from them they resolved although they had but very little Wind and that various to make up towards them which they endeavoured all the Morning but could not reach them the Wind being come North inclined to the West However the best Sailing Frigats were commanded to make after them and to keep them in play till the rest of the Fleet could get up to them and about three in the Afternoon the said Frigats with much ado got within shot of them but the Hollander fearing least by degrees they might be drawn to a generall Combat as it indeed was the English's Designe hoyst up their maine Top-sailes and fairely run away Notwithstanding which ten good Frigats gave the Chace till ten at Night and the next Morning by the favour of a fresh Gale from the Southwest the whole Fleet pursued them till they came to West Cappell in Zeland when as they put into Gore the English would faine have falne on and fought them in their own Ports but a Councel of Warre being called it was judged unfitting to pursue them any further upon their owne Coasts by reason of the Flats and also by reason that the English Provisions began to fall short The Hollanāers loss in this Encounter is not well known that which was visible was that three of their Ships were disembled from fighting the one having her Main-mast shot downe and the Mizen-mast Bowsprits Staies and Tackling of the other two the Admiral of their Reare Squadron was reduced to so ill a plight as being not able to make any way of her self they were constrained to tow her a long by a Hoy of two and thirty great Guns which advanced but slowly forward so that the Nonesuch Frigat boarded her and having put thirty men over into each Vessell they mastered them but finding that they were extream leakie and began to sinck they took eighty men out of them and their Officers the Reare Admiral and the Captaine and left the Hulks to serve the dead men for a Coffin The English had but forty men killed and as many hurt Now the fame of this notable Warre between these two Queenly and Mistress Common-wealths of the Navigation having spread it self throughout the Universe in all places where Trade and Commerce is used The effects thereof appeared shortly