premeditated Parricide removed the King the designed Sacrifice to their hellish Ambition hurried from one Prison to another was brought to Windsor where the usual Ceremonies of the Knee and other Marks of Honour were laid aside Col. Harrison a Butcher's Son had the Impudence to sit with his Majesty in the Coach with his Hat on leading this most innocent and pious Prince like a Lamb to the Slaughter There were yet some amongst these Barbarians Who could not judge the King obnoxious to Law and seeing they had vanquished him by Arms they did not at all esteem him considerable or to be feared But the furious Novellists pronounce with much bitterness That they will have him forthwith removed Nor durst they who had other Sentiments mutter against them for fear of being expelled Yet these States had a mind to delegate this worst of Employments as being unheard of and beyond all Precedents to be perpetrated by these worst of Men the Souldiery This being perceived the Chief Officers however unnaturally desperate yet decline it thinking it might suffice if they remitted the performance of so villainous an Act to those who sate by their Favour and Permission The Commons therefore of the Lower House being scarce the eight Part of the whole whereof many also were Commanders in the Army so that nâ—thing remained of a Parliament but the Name arrogating the Supream Power to themselves that they might seem to avoid the Infamy of Perjury absolved themselves by an Ordinance from the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy The Commons assume the Supreme Power which they had so often taken to the King thinking perhaps to evade what they had done separately by this conjunct Abjuration This done they Vote That it is Treason by the Fundamental Laws of the Realm in the King of England to levy War against the Parliament And send up the same to the Peers by the Lord Gray of Grooby who rejected it with Indignation as inconsistent with Reason and the Laws of the Land This enraged the Commons who slighting the Assent and Power of the Lords unanimously decree That 1. The People under God are the Original of all just Power 2. That the Commons of England in Parliament Assembled have the Supream Power of the Nation 3. That whatever is enacted or declared for Law by the House of Commons in Parliament hath the force of Law Constitute a High Court of Justice This Foundation being laid they constitute a High Court of Justice without any consideration of the Lords or those Thousands who desired to preserve the King from the Destruction he was threatned with and the Nation from the Guilt of his most Innocent Blood The Scots by their Commissioners protested highly against this pretended Tryal The Dutch deprecated it as of most pernicious consequence to the Reformed Religion Some of the Chief Nobility as the Duke of Richmond the Marquess of Hartford and the Earls of Southampton and Linsey endeavoured his Conservation by Prayers and Proffers Offering themselves as being the Chief Ministers of his Will as Hostages for him and by a generous Example of magnanimity in case the Kings pretended Crimes could not be expiated without Blood presented their own to be shed in lieu of his Prince Charles piously endeavoured by all manner of ways to deliver his Father from the impending danger For besides the Dutch Embasladors which his Highness had procured to be sent over to mediate for him he and the Prince of Orange enquired after and sent for such Officers or others in that Country who were of Kindred or related to Cromwell Ireton or any other of the Conspirators and sent them into England with full Power to offer present promise and yield to every thing mingling Thrâ—ats with their Entreaties that might divert them from their designed Parricide or at least retard it The Queen was no less active on her side to save her Royal Consort Endeavors to preserve the King who also writ to Lenthall the Speaker in terms capable to mollify every thing except these Hyrconian Monsters which Letters were also delivered by the French Embassador but laid by without being opened Nor could there any thing in those days be expected from France labouring then with the same Frenzy of Rebellion Amongst others the Presbyterian Preachers who had betrayed the King into these Streights pierced with the Infamy of their Treasons and perhaps apprehending their own turns in case the Independants should persist very earnestly besought and conjured them by monitory Letters Petitions and Remonstrances as also admonished and exhorted them out of their Pulpits to desist from their designed enterpize Lest they should defile the English Nation with so horrid a Guilt as that of Regicide For that execrable fact could not be perpetrated without violating the Obligation of so many Oaths as they had taken without breaking the Publick Faith exhibited by so many Protestations and Declarations without transgressing the Law of Nature and Nations and finally without prostituting the Dictates of the Scripture and our Religion But all this was to no purpose as also the Princes sending of them White Paper to write their own Conditions For nothing seemed enough to them who had swallowed all the Hopes of Empire and were ready to ascend into the Throne They therefore name One Hundred and Fifty of the most Petulant of the Faction and the most adverse to Monarchy to judge the King Some of the Nobility whom they had pitcht upon as also the Judges however raised to that Dignity by them for daring to declare That it was not lawful to bring the King of England to Tryal were expunged out of that black Catalogue others being introduced in their places A suborned Prophetess produced to encourage their Villainy But to encourage the doubtings of the less Perswaded and entitle their Actions to Providence these divine Jugglers produced an Impostor a Virgin they called her out of Hertfordshire who told the Officers of the Army That she had a Message from Heaven to them and being admitted affirmed That God did approve of their Designs Which did exceedingly encourage the most wavering The Contemptibleness of the Judges did in some sort aggravate their Crimes many Petty-foggers Brewers Carr-men Goldsmiths Coblers and other Mechanicks being of the Number who thirsting after the King's Revenues as well as his Blood were forward to perpetrate any mischief how tremendous soever At this Tribunal the King was impleaded baited and condemned unheard unconvict as Guilty of those Crimes of Treason Tyranny and Murther which those incarnate Divels his Judges had committed I had purposed to omit the Particulars of this Black Tragedy as being exactly described already by better Pens But lest these Commentaries might prove imperfect it was thought requisite to present the Curious if this empty Narrative can render any such with an Abridgment of the same Quamquam animus meminisse horret luctuque refugit The pretended Court of High Justice having spent some days in settling
and threw Pieces of Pipes as he walked along at his Feet And lest he might not be like his Saviour in his Sufferings he was mocked and had his Reverend Countenance defiled with Spittle which he wiped off with no other Reproaches than That Christ had suffered more for his sake He spent the Rest of his Time in preparing himself for his Last Hour however disturbed with the Questions Cavils Scoffings and Petulancy of the Enthusiastick Souldiers All which he either repressed by Arguments or eluded by neglecting them Nor did he say any thing however provoked by Arrogancies unusual to Princes or unworthy his former Magnanimity Dr. Juxton the Reverend Bishop of London was at length admitted to wait upon the King to whom by reason of his Holiness of Life and the Consolation he brought him he was exceedingly welcome But coming later than he was expected the King said to him That you are not come sooner is I know none of your Fault and now seeing these Rogues will shed my Blood you and I must consider how I may best part with it The Faction had offered some of their own Fanatick Levites whom the King had rejected as miserable Comforters He would not pray with them who had always pray'd against him but they might pray for him if they pleased Having then the Benefit of his own Chaplain he prepared himself for Death so well that he overcame the Terrors of it before it appeared Amongst these Preludes of Death some of the Prime Officers of the Army came to the King offering him certain Propositions with Promise of Life and some Shadow of Royalty if he would sign them Of these one was That the Army consisting of Forty Thousand Men should be perpetuated under the Present General and Officers and that the Council of War should be impow'red to supply Vacancies from time to time He rejects the Souldiers impious Propositions tho' to save his Life as occasion should happen and settle Taxes for the Pay of the Army to be levied by the Souldiers c. But the King having read some of these Tyrannous Proposals threw them away with much Indignation saying That he would rather become a Sacrifice for his People than thus betray their Laws Liberties Lives and Estates with the Church the Common wealth and Honour of the Crown to so intolerable a Bondage of an Armed Faction Preferring with his usual Greatness of Mind a Glorious Cross before an ignominious Life Nor did he only prefer the Public Good before his own Particular but would not expose private Friends to inevitable Danger to save himself Which abundantly appeared at his being at Bagshot where when the Lord Newburg and his Noble Lady had demonstrated to His Majesty Means whereby he might elude his bloody Keepers who led him to the Slaughter His Children come to him His instructions to thâ—m he waved their Proposals saying If I should escape they would cut you to Pieces It was some Solace to the King in his Streights that his Children were permitted to see him The Lady Elizabeth and the Duke of Gloucester very Young were only left in the Power of the Faction the Duke of York having as is already mentioned escaped their Bloody Hands To these Princes of rare Endowments and Hopes the King gave in Charge That they should consider Charles not as their Brother but as their King That they should forgive their Enemies Love one another and all of them be Obedient to their Mother He told them also what * Hooker 's Eccl. Pol. Bish Andr. Sermons Laud against Fisher Books they should read to confirm them in their Religion and giving them his Blessing dismissed them in a Deluge of Tears The Prince Elector and the Duke of Richmond had also obtained Permission to visit the King though His Majesty now intent only upon his Meditations would not admit them how dear soever to him And now the Fatal Day the 30th of January being come the King being guarded from St. James's through the Park on Foot he spake to the Souldiers to go faster saving That he now went before them to strive for a Heavenly Crown with less solicitude The King prepares for his End than he had often encouraged his Souldiers to Fight for an Earthly Diadem Being come to White-Hall he spent most of his time there in his Devotions And having received the Blessed Communion he was much raised by the reading of the History of the Passion of our Saviour described by the Evangelist St. Mathew and more particularly when he knew it was not done upon Design but prescribed by the Rubrick for the Service of the Day Being brought through the Banquetting-House to the Stage covered with Black the Block the Axe and the masqued Executioners presented themselves to his Sight Which did not so much dismay his Heart fortified with Innocence and Piety but that his Care for the Living seemed no less than his Solicitude for Dying He therefore lest he might seem to submit to the Guilt as well as the Punishment in Vindication of his Innocency demonstrated That it was not He but the Two-Houses that began the War He acknowledges God 's Justice in punishing one Unjust Sentence with another He not only forgiveth his most bitter Enemies but prayes also that God will Pardon them Being solicitous for Peace he warns them not to seek it by Conquest but to give God the King and People their due God by setling the Church the King according to Law and the People by such a Government whereby their Lives and Goods might be most their own Finally he told them He dyed the Peoples Martyr and a Christian according to the Profession of the Church of England After some short Prayers he submitted his Head to the Axe an unheard of and surprizing Example of Human Fragility It is wonderful with how much Constancy and Christian Fortitude He his Murthered he laid down his Head used to wear Crowns and with what Meekness who by all Laws Divine and Human was exempt from the Penalties of any Perhaps insulting in that he was to change this Earthly Crown however splendid yet heavy for that of Immortal Glory As he seemed to intimate in that prophetick Anagram composed by himself the Day preceding his Martyrdom CAROLUS REX Cras ero Lux. And truly as there was never any Parricide except that of our Saviour so detestable as this so never any Man was equally lamented as this best of Princes No Sex nor Age nor Order of Men was found that did not mourn this universal Loss Children how little soever sensible of the Public dissolved in Tears could hardly be appeased Those who were more advanced in Years could scarce bear their Sorrow Whilst the Weaker not able to support their Grief as Thunder-struck sunk under it And Breeding-Women laboured with Untimely Births and like her who when the Glory was departed from Israel would admit of no Consolation And truly not only his own Subjects but
the General who by his Courage and Conduct had contributed so mainly to it They then Vote Declare and Decree That the Government of England is Monarchical consisting in a King and Two Houses of Parliament After this King Charles I. his Statues thrown down by the Sectaries were set up again and the New Arms of the Common wealth with extream Contumelies tâ—rn and defaced those of the King being put in their Places A â—â—w Days after the King himself the Members of Bâ—th Houses assisting and an Iâ—fâ—nity of People was with the usual Ceremonies but unusual Transports of Joy proclaimed at Westminster in London and afterwards in the whole Kingdom King of Great Britain and Ireland In these following Terms Although it can no ways be doubted but that his Majesty's Right and Title to these Crowns and Kingdoms is and was every way compleat by the Death of his most Royal Father of glorious Memory without the Ceremony or Solemnity of a Proclamation Yet since Proclamations in such Cases have been always used to the End that all good Subjects might upon this occasion testifie their Duty and Respect And since the armed Violence and other Calamities of many Years last past have hitherto deprived us of any Opportunity wherein we might express our Loyalty and Allegiance to his Majesty We therefore the Lords and Commons now assembled in Parliament together with the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Common Council of the City of London and other Freemen of this Kingdom now present do according to our Duty and Allegiance heartily joyfully and unanimously acknowledge and Proclaim That immediately upon the Decease of our late Sovereign King Charles I. the Imperial Crown of the Realm of England and all the Kingdoms Dominions and Rights belonging to the same did by inherent Birth-right and lawful undoubted Succession descend and come to his most Excellent Majesty King Charles II. as being Lineally Justly and Lawfully next Heir of the Blood Royal of this Realm And that by the Goodness and Providence of Almighty God He is of England Scotland and Ireland the most Potent Mighty and Vndoubted King and thereunto we most humbly and faithfully do submit and oblige our selves our Heirs and Posterities for ever At the Ceremony of this Proclamation the Publick Joy expressed by Shoutings Acclamations of God bless the King Bells and Bonfires were no less extraordinary than infinite the People being at length redeemed out of so long and so wretched a Captivity by the miraculous Restauration of their Beloved Prince Our most August Monarch had hitherto as is already mentioned wandered in Foreign Courts and as usual in the Disgraces of Fortune too much neglected especially where Reason of State seemed more prevalent than all the Tyes of Blood or Hospitality He was at Brussels the Metropolis of the Spanish Netherlands when he first heard of this Change in England from whence he removed to Breda a more secure place under the Circumstances of the present Times And now he hastens Greenvill away again with Letters to the Two Houses of Parliament to the City to Monk and to Montague joynt General at Sea In these Writings He Pardons all Men and all Crimes committed against his Royal Father or himself except such as the Parliament should except against promising further The Souldiers their Arrears tho' they bore Arms against him and That he would from that time receive them into his own Trust and Service upon the same Terms they did now enjoy c. This Declaration being received and read in Parliament with inexpressible Satisfaction and Joy was voted infinitely Satisfactory and a splendid Embassy ordered to the forthwith sent to the King with their humble Thanks for his Gracious Declaration and Letters and to invite and press His Majesty's return to his Parliament and People Six Lords and Twelve Commoners with Twenty Principal Citizens with a noble Train of Attendants were sent upon this happy Occasion Who the Wind favouring them after a quick Passage found His Majesty at the Hague in Holland where he had been treated and defrayed by the States of that Province with all imaginable Demonstrations of Honour and Friendship The Embassadours being admitted to the King's Presence and graciously heard had their Desires crowned with a wisht-for Answer So that nothing now impeded His Majesty's Return to his Dominions but the Wind which in favour to the kind Dutch kept him some little time longer there In the interim the Duke of York visited the Fleet lying at Anchor before Scheveling under the Command of General Montague formerly as is mentioned reconciled to His Majesty After a magnificent Reception his Royal Highness taking the Oaths of Allegiance from the Sea-men and having changed the Names of several of the Prime Ships restored this first Pledge of Empire to our Monarch The King having taken his Leave of the States General and of the States of Holland in their Assemblies the Honour of which visit they acknowledged in a most Elegant Speech with all the Expressions of Gratitude and Satisfaction he imbarked in a Boat prepared for him by the States whose Flag had this memorable Inscription Quo Fas et Fata vocârunt The Ways the Downs the Sand Hills and Shores were crowded with an innumerable Multitude of all Sorts of People ecchoing his Departure with Vows for his good Success By the way upon the Approach of a Brigandine from the Fleet he entered into it And going aboard the Royal Charles formerly the Naesby with his Two Royal Brothers the Dukes of York and Gloucester he was receieved there by Montague with all submissive Veneration who again treated him with a Gracious Testimonial of his Affection The Season was very clear and the Sea so calm that his Majesty mounting upon the Poop did daiâ—n to turn his Eyes to the Shore which he had so lately left and seeing the infinite Crowds of Spectators there he was pleased to say That he thought his own Subjects could scarce have more Tenderness for him than those People on whose Affections he saw he reigned no less than he was going to reign on the Wills of the English After this having kiss'd his Nephew * Prince of Orange and the Queen his Aunt * Queen of Bohemia and bid them farewel he had much aâ—o to be separated from his Sister * Princess Royal. This matchless Princess who had born and slighted so many Vicissitudes of Evil and who had frequently solaced the Calamities of her Brothers by her charming Discourses can scarce now without shaking her Constancy endure the Absence of a few Days being what she had desired with so much Impatience and what was so glorious to both of them The Anchors being at length weighed he left this friendly Shore with the thundering of the Cannon on both sides and sailed towards England now truely his own On the 25th of May he came into Dover Road where upon his landing he was received by Monk with Joy and Observance This best of
BEATAM AETERNAM CLARIOR E TENEBRIS CELI SPECTO ASPERAM AT LEVEM CHRISTI TRACTO In verbo tuo Spes mea MUNDI CALCO SPLENDIDAM AT GRAVEM Alij diutius Imperium tenuerunt nemo tam fortiter reliquit Tacit. Histor Liâ—â— 2. c. 47. p. 417 THE HISTORY OF THE Rebellions IN England Scotland and Ireland WHEREIN The most Material Passages Sieges Battles Policies and Stratagems of WAR are impartially Related on both Sides FROM The YEAR 1640. To the Beheading of the Duke of Monmouth in 1685. In Three Parts By Sir ROGER MANLEY Kt. late Governour of Land-Guard-Fort Quaeque ipse Miserima vidi LONDON Printed for L. Meredith at the Angel in Amen-Corner and T. Newborough at the Golden Ball in St. Paul's Church Yard MDCXCI THE PUBLISHER TO THE READER IN regard the Reputation of Histories is generally raised on the Worth of their Authors I thought it convenient to acquaint the World That the Compiler of This was a Gentleman of known Integrity bred in the Church of England for whose Cause joined with that of the Royal Family he was a valiant and zealous Champion having been Personally engaged in the most considerable Battles which his Royal Master King Charles I. fought against his Rebellious Subjects You are not therefore here to expect the Reversion of other Mens Labors no borrow'd Fragments or Scraps of Records no patch'd or imperfect Collections but an entire uniform History with great Impartiality and for the most Part of his own certain Knowledge Yet to free him from Suspicion of any Mistake in these Memoirs it is sufficient to observe That he collected them in those Troublesome Times whose Iniquity would not admit the Publication of them which he reserv'd till there was a clear Stage for Truth to appear on And having surviv'd this Great Rebellion for many Years he has added to the History of that an Account of all the Remarkable Transactions with the Conspiracies Insurrections and Tumults that happ'ned in the Reign of King Charles II. And concludes with the Invasion and Overthrow of the Duke of Monmouth in the West I shall say no more but that this Gentleman dying soon after he had finished these Commentaries the Publication of them was entrusted with me Which I did very readily undertake since I had the Honour to know the Author so well that his very Name was a sufficient Recommendation of the Work And all honest Men that knew Sir Roger Manley were very desirous of a History from his Hand whose Pen was aâ—â—oyal and Just as his Sword Reader honour the Memory of this brave Man and think not ill of the Publisher who like a faithful Executor presents thee with this his last Legacy And if thou take my Pains in good part 't is all the Acknowledgment I expect from thee Adieu THE CONTENTS PART I. BOOK I. THE Vnion of the Kingdoms of Great Britain The State of Affairs in England The Scots Tumults and their Causes They Rebel and Arm. The King Marches against them but concludes a Peace They break it and enter England with an Army The Little Parliament call'd and dissolved The Treaty at Rippon referred to the Parliament which met in November 1640. The Preludes to their ensuing Rebellion Strafford Impeach'd and Beheaded The Fatal Act of Continuance The Scots dismissed The King follows them into Scotland The Irish Rebellion breaks out The King upon his Return is pompously received by the Londoners The King enters the House of Commons The Bishops accused of High Treason The King forced by Tumults retreats Northward Contests about the Militia His Majesty is repulsed at Hull p. 1. BOOK II. The King attempts Hull in vain Propositions sent to his Majesty to York Most of the Lords and many of the Commons repair to his Majesty He erects his Standard at Nottingham and raises an Army Essex the Rebels General at Worcester at Keynton The famous Battle of Edge-hill Fight at Branford The King fortifies Oxford Some Actions in other Provinces The Queen lands at Burlington Goes to Oxford The Battle of Lansdowne Of Rownday Downe The Siege and Relief of Glocester The great Battle of Newbury The Parliament invite the Scots to their Succour They enter England The Siege of York The fatal Battle of Marston Moor. The Fights at Brandon Heath and Copedry-bridge Essex defeated in the West The second Battle of Newbury Alexander Carew and the Two Hothams beheaded Mac-Mahon and Macquier executed The Archbishop of Canterbury martyr'd The Treaty at Uxbridge Essex discarded and Sir Thomas Fairfax made General in his Place 38. BOOK III. The Continuation of the Irish Rebellion The Lords of the Pale side with the Rebels Their Model of Government The Cruelty of the English in Ireland Ormond makes first a Cessation then a Peace with the Irish Delivers Dublin to the English The King vindicated from any Correspondence with the Irish Rebels Fairfax marches Westward recalled besieges Oxford The King relieves Chester Takes Leicester The Fatal Battel of Naesby described The King's Cabinet taken and published Fairfax relieves Taunton The Fight at Langport He takes Bridgwater Sherburne and Bristol The King's Travels and Labours The Scots besiege Hereford They quit it The Fight at Rowton-Heath Digby and Langdale defeated in the North. Barclay-Castle the Devizes and Tiverton taken Cromwell takes Winchester and Basing-House by Assault The Fight at Torrington The Prince passes into France The Lord Hopton disbands his Army Distructions at Newark The King returns to Oxford The Lord Ashley defeated 84. BOOK IV. The King leaves Oxford and goes to the Scots Army Hereford is surprized and Chester surrender'd Oxford besieged and taken The other Royal Garrisons follow Massey's Forces disbanded Contests with the Scots Their barbarous Vsage of the King They sell him He is imprisoned in Holmbey-House The History of the Scots Rebellion and valorous Actions of Montross Independency triumphant The Army mutinies and seize upon the King at Holmbey They court him but deal treacherously with him He flies to the Isle of Wight 122. BOOK V. The King in the Isle of Wight His Message for Peace The Four Dethroning Bills The Votes of Non-address Cap. Burleigh attempts the King's Delivery Rolfe his Life The King appeals to the People They rise in several Parts of the Kingdom Are suppressed Pembroke taken The Scots defeated and Hamilton a Prisoner Colchester surrendered The Treaty in the Isle of Wight broken by the Army They seize upon the King Garble the Parliament The perjur'd Remains of the Commons assume the Supream Power Constitute a pretended Court of High Justice Arraign Condemn and Murther their King His End and Elogy 169. PART II. BOOK I. The Regicides prohibit the proclaiming of the Prince of Wales They abolish the House of Lords and the Government by Kings Choose a Councel of State Displace and Fine the Lord Mayor for refusing to publish the Act for abolishing of Monarchy Declare they will maintain the Fundamental Laws Erect a High Court of Justice Hamilton Holland and
Capell condemned by it and murthered Several Acts of State The Scots proclaim Charles II. Some Actions of the Levellers The King leaves Holland and goes by Brussels into France The Duke of Gloucester banished Continuance of the History of Ireland The King at Jersey Prince Rupert Sails from Kinsale to Portugal Loseth his Brother Prince Maurice by a Hurrycane The King at Breda Treats and Concludes with the Scots Montrosse's unfortunate End Fairfax routed and Cromwell General His Actions in Scotland The Scots barbarous Vsage of the King They are defeated at Dunbar The King crowned at Schone He enters England The Battle of Worcester The King 's miraculous Escape 109 110. BOOK II. Cromwell enters London Triumphantly Continuation of the Irish Affairs Ormond leaves Ireland and Clanrickard his Deputy there Ireton dyes of the Plague Monk takes Sterling Dundee and Subjugates Scotland The Isles of Scilly Barbadoes Garnsey Jersey and that of Man surrendered to the Regicides Their Greatness They are courted by the Neighbouring Kings and States They send a solemn Embassy into Holland Cromwell Cabals Turns out the Mock-Parliament Chooses another Is chosen Protector The Wars with the United Provinces The various Sea-Fights betwixt the Two States Cromwell makes a Peace with them and a League with France The Expedition of San Domingo and Jamaica Blake's success at Tunis and Santa Cruz. Dunkirk taken The Death of Oliver Cromwell His Character 249. BOOK III. Richard succeeds his Father in the Protectorate He is deposed by the Army The Rump restored Lambert defeats Sir George Booth Montague returns with the Fleet out of Denmark Lambert turns out the Rump Monk dissents and declares for the Rump Lambert marches against him Being deluded by Treaties he is deserted by his Army The Committee of Safety routed and the Rump yet again restored Monk marches to London Readmits the Secluded Members The Parliament dissolv'd by its own Act. An Abstract of the King's Actions and Motions abroad He is proclaimed by the Parliament Returns into England His glorious Reception The End of our Troubles 278. PART III. BOOK I. The REBELLION breaks into new Flames Some Millenaries secur'd Venner's Insurrection and End The Presbyterians stickle for new Elections Several Seditious Tumults detected and punished The Plague consumes the People The Conflagration of the City Tumults in Scotland Oate's Plot. The Parliament insist upon removing the Duke from the King's Presence and Councils It is dissolved Another Parliament call'd The Duke retires from Court A new Council chosen The Parliament refuse the King Money and insist upon the Bill of Exclusion It is also dissolved another being Summon'd A new Rebellion in Scotland The Arch-bishop of St. Andrew's inhumanly butchered The Rebels are defeated at Bothwel-Bridge The King sick He recovers The Duke returns to Court Monmouth Cabals and is outed of his Employments The Lord Stafford beheaded The Parliament dissolv'd and succeeded by another at Oxford which is likewise dismiss'd College is hang'd and Shaftsbury try'd The strange Encrease of the Fanaticks Their Insolence and Power in the City They form a Conspiracy The Council of Six The Plot to Murther the King and Duke The Providential Fire at New-Market Keeling discovers the Conspiracy Russel and Sidney are executed Monmouth absconds but upon his Submission is pardoned He again transgresses and is banished The King dyes of an Apoplexy The Duke succeeds 312. BOOK II. The Rebellion breaks out in Scotland under Argile in England under Monmouth Both are vanquished taken and executed The Final Ruin and End of the Rebellion 336. COMMENTARIES ON THE REBELLION OF England Scotland and Ireland PART I. BOOK I. The Vnion of the Kingdoms of Great Britain The State of Affairs in England The Scots Tumults and their Causes They Rebel and Arm. The King Marches against them but concludes a Peace They break it and enter England with an Army The Little Parliament call'd and dissolved The Treaty at Rippon referred to the Parliament which met in November 1640. The Preludes to their ensuing Rebellion Strafford Impeach'd and Beheaded The Fatal Act of Continuance The Scots dismissed The King follows them into Scotland The Irish Rebellion breaks out The King upon his Return is pompously received by the Londoners The King enters the House of Commons The Bishops accused of High Treason The King forced by Tumults retreats Northward Contests about the Militia His Majesty is repulsed at Hull THE Kingdoms of Great Britain being United under the Dominion of one Prince and the Animosities and Emulations which usually disorder Neighbour-Nations thereby removed gave a sudden Rise to a very great and formidable Power which could not be destroyed but by it self The Moderator of this vast Empire was JAMES VI. King of Scotland and First Monarch of Great Britain undoubted Heir to both as well by Right of Succession from Margaret the only Daughter of Edgar Atheling the last of the Saxon Princes as by that of Force derived to him from the Norman Conqueror This Wise and Learned Prince Charles I. succeeds to the Crown being gathered to his Fathers the loss which his Dominions suffered by it however great was abundantly repaired by the Succession of his Son CHARLES who being truly Heir to his Father's Greatness and Vertues as well as Scepters did excel all his Predecessors in the more severe Disquisition of what was Fit and Just so that our Tragedies will scarce find Credit with Posterity whilst the Ages to come mistrusting the Reports of such enormous Villainies will look upon our unheard-of Vicissitudes but as the Fancies of Poetry and the Decoration of Theatres For how is it possible to believe that the Best of Princes should meet with the Worst of Subjects on whom he had conferred more Graces than the whole Series of his Ancestors and that he who valued his Kingdoms and Life at a lower Rate than the Happiness of his People should by a Judicial Parricide be sacrificed to the ambitious Violence of a prevailing Faction in their Representative and that under the pretence of Usurpation and Tyranny But these things happened an everlasting Reproach to the Nation and not to be atoned for by any Resentment or Hecatombs of Victims King James left a flourishing Kingdom behind him but an empty Treasury and his Successor engaged in a War with Spain and what was worse the Parliament that oblig'd the Father to Arm abandoned the Son when they had exposed him Nor were the succeeding Parliaments more Obsequious or forward in supplying his Necessities how great soever either in recovering the Palatinate or rescuing the French Protestants though undertaken in Defence of the Reformed Religion 'T is true his Third Parliament voted him Five Subsidies but we must own also The Petition of Right that the Petition of Right being a Condescension even to Supererogation deserv'd their best Acknowledgements for raised with that Grant they that very Session questioned the Tribute of Tonnage and Poundage though perpetually enjoyed by his Predecessors Kings of England affirming
so many Graces upon them upon his being in Scotland having refused them nothing they had demanded of him that their Parliament taken with so great Indulgence had decreed That if any whosoever should levy Men or take up Arms upon any Pretence whatsoever except by the King 's Express Order he should be guilty of damnable Treason Nay they profess farther upon Oath That in Case the King's Person should at any Time be endangered they would defend his Majesty's Cause and Honour as they were in Duty bound with their Lives and Fortunes When the King was at Edinbrough he had advanced Two very Ingrateful Persons to great Honour Lesley he made an Earl and Hamilton a Duke The First exstasied with the Greatness of the Favour protested solemnly perjured Wretch That he would never bear Arms more against his Majesty And the other if we may believe publick Fame betrayed all his Master's Counsels to his Enemies but perfidiously concealed Theirs though a Privy Counsellor from his King It may not be unworthy Notice to declare what farther happened at the same Time There was a great Noise rumour'd A pretended Conspiracy against Hamilton and Argyle of a Conspiracy against the Lives of Hamilton and Argyle with some others contrived by the Earl of Crawford and his Party This Report however fictitious and imaginary gained such Credit that the King himself was not obscurely reflected upon Which his righteous Soul took in such Scorn that he could not forbear to tell Hamilton when as the Custom is he delivered him his Patent in Parliament whereby he was created Duke That he did not deserve to be suspected by him who could not choose but remember That at that very Time when he was accused to him of High-Treason he suffered him that very Night to lie in his Bed-Chamber After this the Wars growing Hot in England the King advertised his Privy-Council in That Kingdom of the State of his Affairs in This demanding their Advice and Aid who returned an Answer full of Duty and Loyalty but with a Resolution to perform nothing they had promised For the Business being known at London they of Westminster caressed their lately acknowledged Brethren so effectually that they did not scruple to declare That they would act nothing against the Parliament no not in Favour of the King himself which they also perfidiously faithful did perform Nay more these Ungrateful Wretches forgetful of their Honour and Allegiance invade England with a Great Army causing that Fatal Change in the Kings Affairs till then very Prosperous that cost him his Life and them their Liberty to those whose Encrease they had so obstinately pursued The King perceiving how furiously the prevailing Faction did drive on and that it daily received Strength from London resolved to remove the Parliament to Oxford which he did by publick Proclamation where most of the Lords and amongst them the Earls of Holland Bedford and Clare who were lately come in to the King tho' they left him again with the same Levity and near Two Hundred of the Commons met at a Day The rest in Scorn of their Duty continued at Westminster until they were outed thence by their own Servants The first Business that the Parliament at Oxford undertook was to admonish the Scots by Letters That they should not hostilely Invade England it being no less than High-Treason to attempt it But this as also the King's Dissuasory Message was to no purpose Nay they were so rudely impudent that they caused a Letter writ to them and Signed by all the Lords to be Burnt by the Hands of the Common-Hangman The Scots enter England March 1. They therefore Invade England the Year being far spent with Eighteen thousand Foot Two thousand Horse and One thousand Dragoons and passing the River Tine send their Declaration before them pretending That they designed nothing but the Reformation of Religion the King's Honour and the Peace of the Kingdom The King extreamly surprized with this Invasion having been still kept up with a Belief that the Scots would not enter England finding himself deluded committed Duke Hamilton and his Brother Lanerick who were newly posted out of Scotland as afrighted with the News they brought to Prison The former being accused of several other Treasons also Hamilton sent to Pendennis-Castle was afterwards sent to Pendennis-Castle His Brother escaped to London and so to Scotland which he lately abandoned as unsafe whereof he was Secretary though the Court-Signet had been taken from him But to march with the Scots into England where the Parliament had long since seized upon the King's Castles Forts Arms Ships Revenues Treasure Ornaments c. they now to Complement their new Allies urge their impious Covenant so far that the Subject must either forfeit his Faith or Estate But Religion was always pretended and all their Undertakings veiled with the Masque of Godliness They divest her of her Ornaments under pretence of dressing her and with Impious Hands prophane her Monuments transferred to us from our pious Ancestors who sealed the Faith we own with their Bloods Their zealous Fury extends to our Churches destroying whatever was in them either Reverend for Antiquity or to be Esteemed for its Artifice They turn Temples into Stables and the House of Prayer into a Den of sacrilegious Impurity Amongst other Acts and Triumphs of their Reformation they demolished Charing and Cheapside-Crosses eminent for their Beauty and the Artificiousness of their Structure converting the Superstitious Metals they were composed of to their own Use It may not be from the Purpose to relate a Story of ludicrous as well as impudent Boldness Harry Martin H. Martin Inspects the Regalia who had said in the House That the Felicity of the Nation did not consist in the Family of the Stuarts for which he then to palliate the Impudence had been confined was ordered to Survey the Regalia which he did for breaking the Iron Chest wherein they were kept he took out of it the Crown Sceptre and Vestments belonging to Edward the Confessor wherewith the Kings of England had since been always inaugurated saying though falsly with a scornful Laughter There will be no more Vse of these Trifles With the same unmannerly Impudence he caused George Withers a pitiful Poet then present to be dressed in those Royal Vestments who being also Crowned walked at first stately up and down but afterward putting himself into a Thousand Mimick Postures endeavoured to expose those Sacred Ornaments to the Contempt and Derision of the By-standers These afterwards as also the Robes and Plate belonging to the Church were sold Nor could they be perswaded to leave one Silver Cup to be used at the Communion affirming with barbarous Sacrilege That a wooden Dish would serve the Turn Nor is it any wonder That these Sacred Vtensils were thus abused when the Sacred Function of Ministers was so Inhumanely treated of whom a Hundred and Fifteen in the City and Suburbs were for their
Fight at Langport He takes Bridgwater Sherburne and Bristol The King's Travels and Labours The Scots besiege Hereford They quit it The Fight at Rowton-Heath Digby and Langdale defeated in the North. Barclay-Castle the Devizes and Tiverton taken Cromwell takes Winchester and Basing-House by Assault The Fight at Torrington The Prince passes into France The Lord Hopton disbands his Army Distractions at Newark The King returns to Oxford The Lord Ashley defeated Continuation of the Rebellion in Ireland IT is now time to return to the Irish History we have hitherto discontinued with design not to interrupt the English And shall now take the same Liberty to represent this to the Rendition of Dublin to the English in one continued Relation The King had committed the Government of Ireland to the Earl of Leicester a Favourite of the Faction upon a Supposition that that Kingdom would be the better provided for But he observing the backwardness of the Parliament however pressed by frequent Addresses from the Council there and by reiterated Messages from his Majesty nearer had no mind tho' invited to it and entrusted with it to stir or engage himself in so hazardous an Enterprise He therefore lest he might seem wholly to neglect his Province commissioned the Earl of Ormond a Person made up of Honour and Loyalty to be his Lieutenant General in that Kingdom which was likewise approved of by his Sacred Majesty the best Judge of Men and Abilities and who afterwards Honoured his Merit with the Chief Government of the whole Which he performed with so much Courage Constancy and Prudence as will raise him a Trophy of Honour in the Annals of Time Upon his Arrival at Dublin with a Troop of a Hundred Horse well armed having been summoned thither by the Lords-Justices he revived by his Presence the desponding Courage of the City He also immediately proposed in Council the raising of a small Army which might in the Infancy of the Rebellion have suppress'd or else stopt its Progress but they being either not able or not willing and the Reader may believe both as will too visibly appear hereafter the Business was laid aside The Conspirators especially in Vlster where they were most predominant having with the Extremity of Rage and Cruelty drowned slain spoiled stripp'd and ejected infinite Numbers of the poor Protestants made Sir Phelim O Neal their General He was of the House of Tyrone but bred up in Lincoln's-Inn and a Protestant till of late though indeed of no famed Conduct or Courage However he took Dundalk which was surrendred to him and besieged Tredah by Sea and Land Tichburne the Governour doubtful of the Event had demanded and obtained the Grant of Succours from Dublin Six Hundred Foot were sent to him under the Command of Major Roper with a Convoy of Fifty Horse for their Security But they were surprized in a Mist by the Irish and defeated scarce one Hundred of the Foot escaping to Tredah with the Major though the Horse with Weems their Commander brake through and returned back to Dublin It is not conceivable what Courage this Success then great infused into the wavering Irish Those who were content to look on before became hereupon Actors in this Tragedy Nay The Lords of the Pale join with the Rebels the Lords of the Pale who had hitherto stood upon their Guard now upon the uncontrouled Progress of the Rebels and the no Appearance of any considerable Forces from England the Breach there betwixt the King and Parliament daily wid'ning to oppose them they also contrary to the sacred Vows of Duty and Allegiance forfeited both by joining with their Countrymen Nay all the Provinces in the Kingdom broke out into a detestable Rebellion being instigated thereunto by their Priests and Confessors with the Appearance nay Assurance of Liberty and Heaven Besides they had understood that their Country was to be enslaved and their Estates to be divided amongst the English Adventurers to each proportionable to the Money raised by them for the Use of the War Nay further that they not only designed to suppress the Rebellion but the very Religion of the Rebels They therefore now declare That they fight for their Altars for their Subsistance and for their Lives seeing their Countrymen were denied Quarter in England So that their taking up Arms was no Rebellion their extream Peril unavoidably obliging them to it These and the like Arguments obliged all to run to their Natural Defence so that there was no Corner exempt from this dismal Infection And yet it was not so universal but that some of the principal of the Nobility continued to their great Honour unshaken in their Fidelity to the King nor so bloody but that some Marks of Humanity appeared in the very Actors in this Tragedy who sheltered cloathed fed and delivered very many from the Barbarities of their Associates Which ought not to be silenced without Injustice and Ingratitude The Rebels settle a Form of Government And now the Rebels finding their Strength and Numbers considerable institute a Form of a Common-wealth and choosing amongst themselves a Council of the most eminent Persons of the Party gave it the Title of The Supreme Council of the Confederate Catholicks of Ireland and framing an Oath of Association by which all were bound to obey them assumed the Form of a Regular Government This Senate consisted of Five and Twenty Six out of each Province the Twenty Fifth being Castle-Haven newly escaped from Dublin where he had continued a Prisoner a great while They also made them a Great Seal coined and raised Money erected several Courts of Judicature appointed several Officers of State and amongst other Points of Regality constituted Four Generals of the Four Provinces Preston for Lemster Barry Munster Owen Roe O Neal Vlster Burk Their Four Generals Conaught They had cleared most of the Inland Countries of the English and did really bear all before them until those few English sent over joining with the Protestants at Dublin put a stop to their Carier In the mean Time they put out their Remonstrance where amongst other things they declare That they had taken up Arms for Defence of the Roman-Catholick-Religion their own Rights and Privileges and the King's Prerogative c. exactly copied afterwards by the Rebel-Parliament in England The Irish had hitherto lived in Amity with the Scots apprehending the Neighbourhood of Scotland and lest they should buckle with Two Enemies at once but finding their Power grow they also fell upon their Quarters using them with no less infamous Barbarities than they had done the English But the Siege of Tredah went but slowly on for tho' they practise all the Arts of Force and Intelligence in the assaulting of it They raise the Siege of Tredah yet upon the Arrival of Sir Simon Harcourt with a strong Regiment out of England despairing of carrying it they quitted it notwithout considerable Loss For the Governour falling in his Rear
the City with his Troops whilst he himself followed with the main Army in order to a formal Siege This obliged the King to think of a Retreat He had attempted all ways of Peace and invited those barbarous Tyrants at Westminster to it though neglected by near Twenty Messages They refused a Pass for the Duke of Lenox with Propositions though the King had in vain conjured their Assent they being then as they said themselves upon others to be sent to his Majesty They also flatly refuse the Scots Commissioners who pressed for a Treaty pretending to great interruption in their Affairs by the delays and difficulties the joint Councils of both Kingdoms produced And therefore vote That the King's Answer shall be desired to their Propositions without Treaty And being indeed weary of the Scots they also voted That they do intend to carry on the War of Ireland with the Forces of England and that the Scots Forces should be called away The Parliament design to gratifie their Grandees In their Debate about the Propositions to be sent the King they think it time to gratifie their Grandees and in order to it Vote That Sir Thomas Fairfax be made a Baron with Five Thousand Pound per Annum settled upon him and that his Father be made an Earl Cromwel a Baron and two Thousand five Hundred Pound per Annum Northumberland Essex Warwick Pembroke Dukes Salisbury Manchester Marquesses Roberts Say Willouby of Taram Wharton Howard Earls Sir William Waller a Baron Hazelrigg Stapelton Barons each Two Thousand Pound per An. Vane a Baron Brown fifteen hundred Pounds per An. and Skippon a Thousand Pound Thus they were dividing the spoil whilst the good King offered provided they would suffer his Friends to live securely at home whatever the most nefarious of Criminals could desire to wit An Act of Oblivion for what is past the Fruition of all they had acquired Accession to Offices and Dignities And because they might have no colour or pretence for Jealousies and Suspicions he would immediately disband all his Forces and would not only return to his Parliament but also ratifie whatever they should judge necessary for restoring his afflicted Kingdoms to their former Tranquillity But all this was absolutely refused by these modest Men who at length laying the Veil of Hypocrisie aside did not blush to declare to the whole World That there was nothing less in their thoughts than what they had so often solemnly declared promised protested vowed and sworn to perform which was To rescue the King out of the hands of Evil Counsellors and to bring him back to his Parliament Nay now they take care by Proclamation that he shall not come and command their Militia-Officers in case he attempted it to secure his Person and detain all his followers Prisoners The King perceiving himself in such unusuall streights this potent Monarch of three Kingdoms and sometimes Supream Arbitrator of Peace and War knows not now where to lay his Head Heu faciles dare summa Deos eademque tueri Difficiles He therefore reassumes his Thoughts of a Retreat Being rejected by the Parliament The King leaves Oxford and goes to the Scots Army he had a design to throw himself into the Arms of the Army but being refused by these also he puts himself into disguise And accompanied only with two Attendants Ashburnham of his Bed-Chamber and Hudson a Divine he left Oxford and conveyed himself to the Scots Army then at the Siege of Newark Monsieur Montrueil the French Resident then in the Scotch Camp had stipulated for security and equitable conditions for his Majesty who upon that confidence and the assurance he had entertained of his Countrymen's Loyalty as he wrote to the Marquess of Ormond Lord Lieutenant of Ireland he cast himself into their Protection May 1646. Some thought he was gone into Wales still true however oppressed to his Interests Others that he was withdrawn into Scotland to the renowned Montross and not a few were of opinion that he was conceal'd in the City Which the Parliament so far believed that they declared by beat of Drum and sound of Trumpet That what Person soever shall harbour or conceal or know of the harbouring or concealing of the King's Person and shall not reveal it immediately to the Speakers of both Houses shall be proceeded against as a Traytor to the Commonwealth forfeit his Estate and die without Mercy A while after contrary to the opinion of all Men he was rumoured to be in the Scottish Camp which was also signified to the Grandees at Westminster by the Commander in chief of the Scots Army The pretended Parliament as soon as they were informed of the King's Departure and were assured of his being in the Scotch Army desire and require of the Scotch Commissioners at London and of the Scots General in the Camp That they would deliver his Majesty into their Hands to be secured in Windsor-Castle until the Parliament should otherwise dispose of him Moreover they barbarously Vote That the King by going to the Scots Army He goes with the Army to Newcastle did prolong the War against the Parliament and foment the Discord betwixt the Two Nations But the Scots not ignorant of the value of their purchase gave no Ear to their Dear Brethren but breaking up with their Army a Rumour being spread that Cromwell was advancing towards them with all his Horse marched in haste to Newcastle with the King affirming That as his Majesty came to their Camp of his own Accord so he followed it with the same Liberty the Army neither perswading nor opposing him And this was a place garrisoned with their own Soldiery and near the Confines of their own Country The Royallists being as is related shut up in their Fortresses and languishing with the despair of Relief some of them taking occasion from their adverse Fortune surrender'd upon demand Whilst others defended themselves till they were forced as Col. Stanhop at Shelford or famished out as the Heroick Countess of Darby at Lathome-House which she had kept two Years against all the Insults of the Rebels But the Fate of Hereford was more dismal which having baffled and beat the Scots from her Walls was not able to prevent the surprizal of a less considerable Enemy The Colonels Morgan and Birch with Two Thousand Men drawn out of Gloucester and other neighbouring Garrisons by the favour of an obscure Night and a quick March accomplished the Enterprize For having sent Six choice Souldiers with a Lieutenant who pretended to be a Constable all in Country-Habits Hereford miserably surprized early to the Gate the said fictitious Constable calling to the Guard told them That he was come thither with his Men according to the Governour 's Command to break the Ice in the Moat expecting only till the Bridge was let down Being admitted with their Rural Instruments which they carried for show they immediately making use of the Arms they had under their
hardship to renounce his Honour or depart from his Judgment Not that he would peremptorily deny what was fit to be granted but lest he might yield to that which both Reason and Religion commanded to deny As soon as he was come to Newcastle Leven commanded by Proclamation That no Papists or Delinquents that is any who was Loyal or Faithful to the King should be permitted to approach him And it was moreover cautioned That no Soldiers or Officers should contract any commerce of Friendship or Civility with Malignants that is such as were addicted to his Majesty But the Independant Grandees did fret and fume that the King was detained by the Seots their Mercenaries and Hirelings as they termed them as being nourish'd by their Pay Affirming further Contests betwixt the Independents and Scots That the Kingdom of Scotland had no right or joint Interest in disposing of the Person of the King in the Kingdom of England Hence they come to Threats and Vote That they have no more Occasion for their Assistance the Kingdom being no longer able to bear them Yea they took care to publish to the World by Declaration their Rapines Extortions Cruelties and Errors The Scots on the other side pretending the Laws of Nature of Nations and Hospitality affirm That it is in no Kind permitted them to deliver up the King and especially their own King to any whosoever against his Will His Majesty having refuged himself under their Power of his own Accord But lest they might altogether displease their Dear Brethren they force the King to send Orders to his Governours to deliver such Places as they had yet in their Power to the Parliament to the Marquess of Ormond not to conclude any Treaty with the Irish and to Montross to disband all his Forces in Scotland These things being extorted from the King they also would wrest his Assent to the Parliament's Imperious Propositions which they sent to Newcastle to him viz. That he should ratifie the Solemn League and Covenant abolish Episcopacy deliver the Power of the Sword into the Hands of his Enemies and exclude the Peers made by him with several others of his chief Friends from Pardon c. They had themselves not as yet corrupted with English Gold condemned many of these Propositions which they advance now with Menaces lest both Kingdoms should agree he refusing to settle Peace and Religion without him to his and his Posterity's irrecoverable Loss Nor did they thus terrifie this magnanimous Prince who chose rather to expose his Crowns and Scepters than his Honour and his Religion and to see himself and Posterity divested of the Imperial Dignity of Kings Montross disbands by the King's Command by the violence of others than his own Act by a tame Subscription to the unjust demands of his Enemies The Scots had deputed Duke Hamilton the Earl of Crawford and others to the King altho ' their Parliament had Voted That he should not come into Scotland declaring it to be contrary to their agreement with the English and the Treaty to perswade exhort warn and urge his Assent to the Covenant And that he would be pleased also to approve and enact the English Propositions These were followed by Delegates from their Synod denouncing in case he were refractary The Scots barbarous usage of the King the Wrath of God against him and the hate of his Subjects Some of these were appointed to remove his Scruples and clear his doubts whereof one being admitted to Preach before him after several bitter Invectives in the Pulpit his Sermon being finished he commanded the fifty second Psalm to be sung Why dost thou Tyrant boast c. But the King perceiving his malicious Reflection unexpectedly stood up and ordered the fifty sixth Psalm Have Mercy Lord on me I pray to be sung Which the People neglecting the Parson unanimously did Nor were the Fortunes of David and Charles much unlike the one being detained by the Philistines at Gath and the other by the Scots at Newcastle when this Psalm was composed by the Royal Prophet and sung by the Royal Sufferer But now the main Controversie amongst the Rebels was about the disposal of the King's Person Until the Scots moved by Contumelies and the Sarcasms of the Cromwellists and perceiving the Parliament although they had conquered England did not disband were more inclined to agree with them and perhaps softned by the Parliament's offers after some previous formal disceptations to heighten the Price of their Treachery they at length resolved to deliver him up And he was delivered to the English Rebels by his native unnatural Subjects of Scotland to whom he had fled for Security with all the circumstances of Irreligion of Impiety of Perjury of Treason and of detestable Avarice being sold for Two hundred Thousand Pounds They sell him Which they having received and evacuated their Garrisons in England they returned with this Reward of their Iniquity into their own Country But with a Curse also for it is observable That after that time they did never thrive nor nothing they undertook prosper There had indeed been some attempts made for the King's escape But they were all prevented by the vigilancy of his cruel Keepers Leven assuring the Parliament That he would according to their desire take care that his Majesty depart not away And he was as good as his word for his Majesty having changed his Keepers being as he had truly said Bought and Sold and now in the hands of his bloodiest Enemies He is imprisoned in Holmby and cruelly used was carried to Holmby-House not far from Naesby where he had so unfortunately fought that he might be perpetually tormented with the sight of that odious Companion Nor was he less perplex'd within doors not being permitted to enjoy a freedom in his Solitude His Friends and his Chaplains which a common Civility would not refuse to the most Criminal being inhumanly kept from him whilst some of their own unknowing Factious Levites are obtruded upon him These mistaken Creatures had neither Modesty to cohabit nor Learning to dispute with this Royal Divine who being equally capable of the Mitre as well as Scepter of the Sacerdotal as well as Kingly Office was truly inimitable in both How good a Divine he was appears by his Controversies with the Marquess of Worcester a Person no less Eminent for Learning than Nobility of the Roman Catholick Religion and with the Parliament Ministers especially by his Writings to Henderson a Scots Presbyterian and Champion of the Party who being vanquished by the strength of his Arguments testified his Conviction by his Repentance and died for Grief as is credibly reported that he had offended so good and so pious a Prince not as the Enemy affirm because he could not perswade his Majesty to sign the Propositions a reconciled Son to the Church of England Whilst the King is afflicted in his noisom Prison at Holmby it will not be from the purpose to
requiring That the Treaty with the King might be renewed and the Army paid off and disbanded But their reception was very rude being beaten and plundered and slain by their Guards Insomuch that the Kentish-men having likewise framed a Petition for Peace upon the like usage by a Party of Horse and being threatned to have two harged out of each Parish that were Promoters of it and the rest sequestered they threw away their Paper and betook them to their Arms. The first appearance of an Insurrection broke out in the City of London being accidental not upon the King's Accompt The Parliament had piously voted down Holy-days abrogating all the Festivals of the Church having appointed one Day in every Month in lieu of them for Publik Recreations The Apprentices as usually had met in some Numbers in Moor-Fields on the 9th of April to play and divert themselves But this being Sunday moved the Zeal of some precize Schismatical Officers of the Trained-Bands who with their Guards would force them away but were themselves routed by the Boys with Stones and Clubs who also took their Colours from them and in a Childish Bravery marching into the Streets frighted Warner the then Mayor into his House and taking away a Drake from his Door Planted it at Lud-Gate nearest the Foe the Army then about White-Hall But Fairfax on the Morrow following ent'ring with some Regiments of Horse and Foot at Alders-Gate easily dispersed them though then numerous no Person of Quality undertaking their Conduct The Fame of this tumultuous Insurrection or rather Riot was quickly noised throughout the Kingdom which although strangled in its Infancy seemed to animate the oppressed populace to follow the Example whereby they might redeem themselves and Liberties from their impending slavery The Welch were the first that took up Arms under the Conduct of Major General Laughorn The Welch in Armes and the Collonels Poyer and Powell all Three formerly stiff Assertors of the Parliaments Jurisdiction But now being to be disbanded by Orders of the Council of War of the Army they refuse to obey And the better to secure themselves declare for the King acting by Commission and Powers from the then Prince of Wales Laughorn grew suddenly by the accession of Major General Stradling and others of the King's Party to a considerable Army esteemed Eight Thousand strong which rendered him Master of the Town and Castles of Pembroke and Tenby Sir Nicholas Kemish at the same time surprized Chepstow Castle and Sir John Owen another eminent Cavalier in North wales defeated and took the High-Sheriff of Caernarvan So that all Wales seemed at once to shake off that cruel Yoak they laboured under Nor were the preparatives for a War of the Kentish-men less considerable For As also the Kentishmen Rendezvouzing near Rochester they chose the Earl of Norwich then upon the place to be their General Very many Apprentices and reformed Officers and Souldiers flocked from London daily to them Insomuch that the Juncto terrified with the apprehension of what might happen restored to the City their Militia which they feared otherwise might be extorted from them hoping by this Confidence to render them more addicted to their interest Which also happened not upon sentiments of generosity but to manifest their aversness to oppressed Monarchy even then when it was in their Power to restore it Skippon being also readmitted to the Command of their Forces the Communication with Kent was interrupted by placing Guards upon the Passages of the River But the Clouds that threatned the fiercest storm gathered in the North where Sir Marmaduke Langdale Sir Charles Lucas and others having surprized the strong Town of Berwick Berwick and Carlile surprized and Sir Phillip Musgrave and Sir Thomas Glenham that of Carlile and raised considerable Forces to joyn with the Scots now ready to enter England seemed no less able than willing to effect what they pretended the King's Restitution Though it be true that the Scots-Declaration had so many untoward Restrictions in it that nothing but the Frank Loyalty of the Royallists could joyn with them Upon the first noise of the Scots arming many English repaired into Scotland which obliged them at Westminster by their Deputies to require the delivery of the chief of them as Incendiaries They named particularly Wogan who carried a Troop thither with Sir Thomas Glenham and others But the Scots refused it seeing it was not stipulated in the Treaties betwixt both Nations They not judging those to be Incendiaries between the Two Kingdoms but only between the King and England These Revolts and Preparations for a new War did strangely disquiet the pretended Parliament who thereupon reviving their Votes of 1642. declare That it appears that the King seduced by wicked Counsel though then a close Prisoner intends to make War against the Parliament Cromwell being dispatcht against the Welch with great Forces the Kentish Expedition was not thought unworthy Fairfax's Conduct He therefore marches with Six Thousand Foot and Two Thousand Horse against the Cavaliers who being fatally divided whilst they Fight singly by Parties they are all overcome Fifteen Hundred stout Men were sent to Maidstone Fairfax defeats the Kentish-men to oppose their Enemies Passage there who fought with so much Valour that after they had been beaten from the Avenues and Hedges they kept that Town firing from the Houses and Leads about the space of Six Hours with great slaughter of the Enemy So that it is believed if the Earl of Norwich had come up with the rest of the Army to their Assistance the Rebels might have been defeated that Day But he dividing his Forces sent half of them to Dover and himself marched with the rest to Black-heath and being denied a Passage through the City which had been promised him he Ferries and Swims his small Army over to the Isle of Doggs From thence he moved to Mild-end-Green But seeing none come out of London to his relief as he expected he himself with only Five Hundred the rest being upon the obstinacy of the Citizens slipt from him joyned with the Essexians at Bow under the Command of Sir Charles Lucas They all stay'd here some time to favour any Loyal Attempt that might be made at London until warned by the approach of Fairfax who having dispatcht Rich and Barkstead with their Regiments to reduce those Castles which the Kentish had taken towards the Downs had passed the Thames at Graves-End they were also forced to dislodge And marching further into the Country seized store of Arms and Ammunition in the Earl of Warwick's House at Lees and having surprized the Parliament-Committee at Chelmsford went thence to Colchester where the brave Lord Capell joyned them with some Horse And all of them received the Van of Fairfax's Army with such Gallantry at the Towns-end that they forced them to retire to their main Body with considerable Loss They had designed to march further if they had not been so
closely pursued by the Enemy with Hopes of strong Assistance from the Inhabitants of Norfolk and Suffolk But these failing and indeed joyning with the Rebels contrary to their solemn Promises the Royallists were besieged in this Town no way tenable but by the rare Fortitude of the Defendants Cromwell the Welch Nor was Cromwell less successful in Wales Laughorn having been beaten at St. Fagons by Col. Horton with scarce half his Number Fifteen Hundred of his Men being killed and near Three Thousand taken Prisoners Cromwell besieged the Fugitives in Pembroke having first taken Tenby Castle and forced that of Chepstow by Col. Eure who slew the Governour in cold Blood The Rumor of the Scots Invasion greatly encreasing animated Cromwell to employ all his skill and force for the Reduction of this important Post The Garrison within was strong and the Place well fortified which he resolved however to attempt by Storm And falling on with great Courage was as bravely received and at length beaten off with great slaughter of his Men. After this not thinking it adviseable to expose his dismayed Souldiers to new hazards he resolves to gain that by famine which he could not effect by force Which being perceived by the Garrison they chose rather to surrender upon Terms than lanquish in the Toyls of a long Siege tho they saw a Prospect of a General Rising in the Kingdom and the certainty of the Scots Invasion But Cromwell knowing how precious time was offering the Souldiery and Inferior Officers very good Conditions he had this strong Place with the Three chief Leaders Laughorn Poyer and Powell delivered into his hands by these faithless Miscreants Nor was Sir John Owen more fortunate in North Wales being defeated and taken Prisoner by Colonel Mitton So that the whole Country being reduced to the Parliaments Obedience again Cromwell was at liberty to march against the Scots with all his Power The Earl of Holland defeated The Earl of Holland the Duke of Buckingham with the L. Francis his Brother the Earl of Peterborough and some others of Quality appeared near Kingston with Five Hundred Horse and some Foot but were instantly suppressed tho not without some bloody Shirmishes in one of which the Young and Generous Lord Francis refusing Quarter was barbarously slain by an unknown Hand Holland was taken in his flight at St. Neots by Col. Scroop where Dalbier sometime a Favourite of Essex's and a great Parliamentarian was killed in his Quarters But the Scots seem now to demand our Attention being advanced with a very numerous and well accoutred Army far into the Kingdom And here may be observed the Vicissitudes of the Times as well as of Affairs For the Scots whom the Parliament had formerly with great Endeavours and Charges allured to their Assistance and whom the War being done they had likewise twice dismissed with vast Rewards as Friends These same Scots the Faction being changed become Enemies and invading England again joyn Forces with the Royallists their now reconciled Friends against their sometimes dear Brethren of the Parliament Duke Hamilton upon the surrender of Pendennis Castle where he had been detained Prisoner by the King's Command being set at liberty was now General of this great Army consisting of Fifteen Thousand fighting Men to whom Langdale and Musgrave brought Three Thousand English which forces if God had not determined otherwise might have effected what they designed As soon as the King was informed that Hamilton commanded the Scots Army he too prophetically foretold the Fatal Issue of the Expedition as fancying him unfortunate or inconstant But Cromwell being come out of Wales with a victorious and disciplined Army and joyning with Lambert who had hitherto attended the Enemies Motion fell upon the main Body of the Scots within Two Miles of Preston in Lancashire and routed them by Skirmishes Cromwell defeats the Scots at Preston and beating up of Quarters without the Formality of a Battle Langdale and his English fought bravely but being neglected and no ways succoured were oppressed by the adverse Multitudes The Scots presumed perhaps upon their own Power and thinking to conquer by themselves and consequently reap the whole Advantage of the Victory as also the entire Honour of restoring the King if they had any such design abandoned them that fought so well and by this foolish precaution or presumption contributed to their own ruin Besides the Scots Forces either by Ignorance or Malice or Discord for Hamilton and Calander who was Lieutenant-General of the Army did not agree well were so untowardly marshalled that they could not all be brought to fight or assist each other by reason of the over great distance of their Wings whereby they were all defeated Bayly after sharp encounters with those who pursued him having recovered Warrington-Bridge delivered up himself and Four Thousand Foot to the Conqueror upon Quarter Major-General Midleton was intercepted with Four Hundred Horse and Hamilton himself General of the Expedition with Three Thousand Horse was taken without a Blow at Vttoxeter by the Lord Gray and Colonel Waite Very few returning by the way they came met with Monroe who followed Hamilton with a Supply of Six Thousand more but hearing of the Defeat returned with the other Fugitives back into Scotland Cromwell following in the Rear of these came to Edinburgh where joyning Forces and Councils with Argile by whom he had been invited they not only obliged the contrary Faction to lay down Arms but having summoned another Parliament condemned the late Expedition as unjust Scotland being pacified Cromwell secure on that side having also concerted with Argile concerning the Ruin of the King and Extirpation of Monarchy it self they also advised and agreed on the Form and Method of the future Regicide And so after sumptuous Treats and many high Expressions of Gratitude and Acknowledgments for his meritorious Services Cromwell returned into England All this while Colchester held out with incredible Courage and Constancy upon hopes of Relief from the Scots and not only content to defend themselves did extreamly annoy the Enemy by their frequent Sallies and Camisadoes They had consumed their Horses Dogs Cats and what else was no less abhorring to Nature but their hopes with the defeat of Hamilton being likewise spent they were forced to surrender Which they did upon no other Terms than Quarter for life to the Souldiery and Mercy to the Officers But Colchester surrendred how cruel the Mercies of these Scelerates were instantly appears for they had no sooner possest the Town but Three most Noble Persons Men of Eminent Valour and Loyalty the Lord Capell Sir Charles Lucas and Sir George Lisle to whom was added Sir Bernard Gascoyn but exempted upon the accompt of being a Stranger were sentenced to be shot to death by the Court-Marshal tho the War was done Sir George and Sir Charles were immediately murthered by Souldiers appointed for the Slaughter The Stone they fell upon being sprinkled with their Blood could
in writing against the Jurisdiction of the Court But it was not permitted the President saying He would admit nothing against the Parliament from which there was no appeal And so the King was remitted and the Court Adjourned Three Days after the King was again brought before this Impious Court where He desired the President cloathed now in Scarlet suitable to the Bloody Design of the Day to be heard a Word hoping to give no occasion of interruption But the President refused him saying The Court must be first heard And thereupon told the Auditors how the Prisoner had been several times convented and brought before the Court to make Answer to a Charge of Treason and other Crimes Which he not only refused to do but took upon him to offer Reasonings and Debates against the Authority of the Court and the Highest Court that constituted them to try and judge him which being considered as also his Contumacy and the Probability of the Fact they had resolved to pronounce Sentence against him But the Prisoner desiring to be first heard the Court was content to hear him provided he said nothing against the Authority thereof The King then said Since they would hear nothing of Debate concerning what he thought most material for the Peace of the Kingdom he would wave it only tell them That all Things had been taken from him this many a Day but what he valued dearer than his Life his Conscience and his Honour And if he had respect to his Life more than the Peace of the Kingdoms and the Liberty of the Subject certainly he would have made a Particular Defence for himself whereby he might have at least delayed an ugly Sentence which he believed would pass upon him And therefore if his Zeal to his Country had not overborn the Care that he had of his own Preservation he should have gone another Way to Work He conceived That a hasty Sentence once passed might be sooner repented of than recalled And the same desire that he had for the Peace of the Kingdom and the Liberty of the Subject more than his own particular did make him now at last desire that having something to to say that concerns both he might be heard in the Painted-Chamber before the Lords and Commons This delay could not be prejudical to them whatsoever he said If Reason it would be worth the Hearing if otherwise those who heard him might judge He therefore conjured them as they loved what they pretended the Liberty of the Subject and Peace of the Kingdom that they would grant him a Hearing before Sentence past If not he did protest that so fair shews of Liberty and Peace were but meer shews and not otherwise and that they would not hear their King This being heard however the President had said That it was but a new Delay and a farther declining the Jurisdiction of the Court yet there were some amongst the Judges who would reason the Business in Private And lest they might seem to dissent amongst themselves they withdrew into the Court of Wards Where after some sharp Contests They Vote That what the King had tendered tended to delay Several of the Judges were of a contrary Opinion desiring to know what the King would say to them But it was voted by the major part in the Negative whereupon some of them exagitated with the Terrors of their Consciences went away in discontent The rest being returned into the Court the President in a very long nauseous Speech ripping up all the Misfortunes and Errors committed in the Government imputed them to the King He further affirmed That Kings were inferiour to the People and to the Laws producing Examples of some Kings of England deposed from the Government which happened by Parliaments no less impious than this and more particularly in Scotland where of 109 Kings near half were removed by untimely Ends. This tedious and hated Speech being ended and the Charge read the Sentence followed in these Terms He is condemned That Charles Stuart as a Tyrant Traytor Murtherer and Public Enemy shall be put to Death by severing his Head from his Body It may not be from the purpose to mention some particular Passages that intervened extraordinarily at the various Sessions of this Court. The King behaved himself with that Firmness of Mind Wisdom and Majesty that he did nothing that was not truly Royal cluding their Epithites of Tyrant and Traytor with Smiles Casualties that happened during his Tryal Some time after the Head of his Cane falling off he was himself forced to take it up not one amongst so many Barbarians offering at so small a Civility and perceiving the By-standers seemed to look upon it as sinistrous he said That was nothing The Second Day the King offered his Reasons in Writing against the Jurisdiction of the Court but was not permitted The Third Day of Meeting the General 's Wife whilst he impiously commanded the equal impious Army ventur'd to disturb the Court when they were baiting the King calling out That was a Lye Adding That the Tenth part of the People she might have said the Hundredth were not of that Opinion but that it was done by the Artifice of that Traytor Cromwell She also blamed the Subjects Irreverence to their King Insomuch that the Souldiery had much to do to silence her though Axtel called her Whore and others moved upon that occasion I cannot tell Whether this may not in some sort Parallel that of Pilates Wife But what I was seriously told by one that was present of Bradshaw's Wife comes nearer She the Morning of the Day that the King was Sentenced rushing into her Husbands Chamber fell upon her Knees at his Feet and dissolved into Tears and Sighs besought her Husband That he would have nothing to do with His Majesty nor Sentence this Earthly King for fear of the dreadful Sentence of the King of Heaven You have no Child said he and why should you do so monstrous an Act to Favour others But Bradshaw bidding her get about her business added I confess he hath done me no Harm nor will I do him any but what the Law commands The Sentence being pronounced his bloody Murtherers Seventy Two of them being present stood up thereby expressing their Assent The King delivered to the Souldiers who abuse and mock him After which His Majesty was hurried away by his Guards the Souldiers instigated by Axtel and Peters crying as he went along Execution Execution as the Jews had done formerly to their Saviour Crucifie him Crucifie him To these the King no less immoveable in Adversity than Prosperity replied Alas poor Souls for a piece of Money they would do so by their own Commanders Which also happened upon the Restauration of Charles II. when some of these Miscreants cryed out for Justice against the King's Judges with no less Violence and Clamour There were amongst these Wretches some who puffed Tobacco the Smell whereof was odious to him in his Face
General and Lieutenant General they had their Quarters surprized and beaten up about Mid-night by Reynolds where Four Hundred of them were made Prisoners and Nine Hundred of their Horses taken The Democraticks or Levellers being thus defeated our brave Hero's march to Oxford where both of them Fairfax and Cromwell were made Doctors of Law who had themselves trampled upon all Laws both Divine and Human. After this having visited Portsmouth they return to London in Triumph where after a Thanks-giving for their late Successes they were together with their Servile Senate invited treated and regal'd by the more Servile City who again not to seem ungrateful or rather to intangle them in their Interest bestowed New-Park with all the Deer in it upon the Citizens The Regicides being now secure at home at least in Appearance began to look after Foreign Correspondence and Amities Amongst which the Friendship of the Vnited Netherlands seemed preferable by reason of their Neighbourhood of their Resemblance in Government and the Genius of the Nation Dorislawes and Ascham in their Embassies Doctor Dorislawes a Civilian as also a German by Birth was sent thither with Instructions not only to propose a strict Friendship but also a Coalition of both People But he was prevented in it being assassinated in his Lodging by one Whitford a Scot who with Ten or Twelve more having perpetrated the Fact withdrew without any Pursuit though they were afterwards colourably summon'd in by the States The reason of this Remissness was his presuming to appear as it were in the King's presence having contributed so eminently to the Ruine of his Father And thus God permitted one Injustice to be retaliated with another Nor had Ascham another of their Envoy's at Madrid better Fate being kill'd in his Inn upon his Arrival by one Sparks an English-man who though he took Sanctuary was pulled thence by the Spaniard apprehending the rising Greatness of the new Common-wealth for the Regicides had declared though they much esteemed the Amity of so great a King yet they ought and did require the punishment of so Nefarious a Parricide as they called it adding that unless Justice were immediately satisfied they did not see how the Friendship betwixt both Nations could be sincere and durable The King acknowledged at the Hague The King had continued hitherto at the Hague acknowledged and reverenced by all and though the States that they might not altogether seem to displease their Sister Common-wealth of whom they began to be jealous had dispensed with the Ceremony of Public Congratulation yet the Swede and Danish Embassadors had saluted His Majesty with the usual Testimonies of Condolence and Congratulation He was also King in Possession Scotland having proclaimed him and Ireland being upon the point of being reduced so that his Affairs calling him away he left the Hague and being attended by the Princess Royal his Sister and the Prince of Orange his Brother-in-law to whose generous Friendship he owed all Things through Rotterdam Dort and Breda Treated magnificently by the Arch-Duke being received at these Places with the noise of their Cannon and Bells and all other marks of Honour he came to Antwerpe the principal City of the Spanish Netherlands where he was magnificently entertained and presented with a rich Chariot and Eight brave Horses sent him by Arch-Duke Leopold Governour of the Low-Countries His Majesty was also Royally treated by him at Brussels from whence after some Stay being conveyed on his way to France by the Duke of Lorrain Goes into France and feasted and honoured every where with the same Grandeur as if the King of Spain had been there he came to Compeigne where the French King accompanied with a great Train of his Nobility received him with all the Testimonies of Affection and Honour and brought him thence in State to his Mother the Queen of Great Brittain then at St. Germians Whilst the King was in France the Duke of Gloucester his Brother and the Lady Elizabeth his Sister both Princes of divine Endowments and Hopes were removed from the Earl of Northumberland's Guardianship to Carisbrook Castle infamous for having been the Prison of their Martyred Father to the custody of that impure Villain Anthony Mildmay The Lady Elizabeth dyeth and the D. of Gloucester is banished where the Princess afflicted with the daily Sight of that odious Mansion and consumed with Grief and the Maladies it occasioned breathed her last being denied by those barbarous Parricides the Assistance of such Physicians as she had desired Her Brother the Duke was presently after banished out of England by the Regicides the only agreeable Thing they did in rescuing him out of their Bloody Hands by their own Act. The Kingdom being thus subdued and the Army reduced to Obedience the mock-Mock-Parliament or Rump for Continuation of the History of Ireland it grew famous by that Title of Infamy thought Ireland now worthy their consideration They therefore Vote Eleven Regiments to be sent thither under the conduct of Cromwell with the Title of Lord Governour whereof he was very fond which he could not forbear testifying for all his Dissimulation The Fame of these Preparations immediately flew over which obliged the Irish Rebels however dissenting amongst themselves to think of uniting for their Public Safety and although the Nuntio opposed this Confederation with all his Power excommunicating the Authors of it whilst they declared him and his Party Traytors resolving to force him by Arms which they did The Popes Nuntio expelled driving him into Galloway for his security where they prest him so hard that notwithstanding the Thunder of his Excommunication he was necessitated for his personal safety to abandon his Principality and the Kingdom The Irish-Grandees thus at Liberty invite and obtain the Marquess of Ormond as is mentioned in our former Commentaries with an Assurance of an entire Obedience to his Majesty's Lieutenant He being arrived the Confederates grew formidable by the Accession of the Lord Inchequin President of Munster and the Scots in the Province of Vlster Both these had served the Parliament with much Vigor until the King and Monarchy had been destroyed in England but abhorring the sordid Tyranny of the Regicides they deserted that Party they had so unjustly followed and return to their Duty and Allegiance to their Sovereign Owen-Roe-Oneal refused to be included in the Confederacy upon pretence that sufficient Provisions had not been made for the Security of their Religion but in reality because the Confederate Delegates had foolishly denied the no extravagant Conditions which his Quality seemed to require and he had demanded The Difference was about the Command of Four Thousand Men which they were willing to grant and Six Thousand which he insisted upon which they afterwards tho too late after his conjunction with Monk and Coot and his relieving of London-derry were glad to assent to During these Traverses the Marquess of Ormond entered upon the Government The
Prince Maurice lost in a Hurricane after many Hazards and Adventures Prince Maurice being separated from his Brother in that Tempestuous Ocean perished in a Hurricane The immature Fate of this Royal Youth was justly lamented by the Good and Brave for being no less eminent for Fortitude Gentleness Greatness of Mind and all other Vertues than Illustrious for his Birth he was snatcht away leaving his Fame to his Posterity and to us his Contemporaries the Desire of him The King being come to Breda met the Scots-Commissioners who attended his Majesty some Miles out of Town The first Congress was fair but the Disceptations and Arguings in the Treaty long and sharp The main Disputes were about the Covenant the Directory and the Catechism And tho the said Covenant did naturally regard the People not the Sovereign yet the Commissioners instigated by the English Presbyters did so obstinately adhere to them The Treaty at Breda that they refused to grant the King that Liberty in Holy Things which they challenged to themselves But to sweeten him they promise if he would consent to their Demands that they would not only restore him to the Scottish Throne but assist him in the Recovery of the rest of his Dominions and to bring to condign punishment the execrable Murtherers of his Royal Father His Majesty readily consented to the Civil Part of their Proposals remitting all Things to the Determinations of Parliament but stuck at the other until overcome by the Perswasions of the Prince of Orange and the greatest part of his Council as also by the Desperateness of his Affairs ruined both by Sea and Land he tho very unwillingly at length yielded And now the Treaty was upon Conclusion when the unfortunate Defeat and Death of Montrosse had like to have quite broke it off Those who were averse to any Agreement with the Scots took Occasion hence to disswade his Majesty from having any Commerce with them daily inculcating to him That this perfidious Nation had no other thoughts but of his Ruine because they had in the very time of Treaty so inhumanly murthered his Lieutenant But no Man did more affectionately bewail the immature and cruel End of this excellent Personage than the King himself who did not cease to expostulate the Injury done him in it by so barbarous an Act of Hostility even then whilst they pretended to Peace But Time and the Necessity of his Affairs did somewhat allay his Resentments so that the Treaty being at length happily concluded Concluded he and the Commissioners embarking at Scheveling with Young Trompe sailed towards Scotland Whilst His Majesty is upon the Ocean it will not be impertinent to be more particular in the sad History of the Illustrious Montrosse Our former Commentaries have noted those Actions of Glory he had performed in Scotland with the Lustre whereof he appeated so eminent in the Courts of Foreign Princes that his Exile seemed rather a Progress than Banishment until the Commands of the King obliged him again to arm and invade his Ungrateful Country The last Scene of Montrosse's Actions This was done by his Majesty with Design that by the known Valour of the General he might force his untractable Country-men to more Equal Terms But the Event proved unsuccessful Scotland was then full of Armed Men and their Forces intire whereas he had scarce Seven Hundred Souldiers with him when he landed Nay the Inhabitants either wearied with the War or terrify'd with the noise of Foreigners came but slowly in to him notwithstanding his known Valour and Conduct but forsaking their Dwellings fled with their Fears about them and filled the Country with the Apprehension of this Pretended Invasion Hereupon Lesley was sent with the Army to suppress this new Enemy who was also defeated by Straugham sent before with a Party of Three Hundred Horse and being betrayed by the Laird of Aston one he had entrusted with his Safety was taken and murthered with all the dire Circumstances of Enraged Malice and his Quarters sent to the Four principal Cities of the Kingdom to be fixt over their Chief Gates It is strange with what Firmness of Soul and unshaken Constancy he heard this dreadful Sentence saying only That he took it for greater Honour to have his Head fixt upon the Prison Gate in such a Cause than to have his Picture in the King's Bed-Chamber And lest his Loyalty should be forgotten they had highly honoured him in designing lasting Monuments to Four of the Chiefest Cities to bear up his Memorial to all Posterity wishing he had had flesh enough to have sent a piece to every City in Christendom to Witness his Loyalty to his King and Country Being ready to mount the Scaffold they put a Rope over his shoulders with his Declaration and History fastned to it which he wore with the same Calmness as formerly affirming That he embraced that with no less Alacrity than he had done the Garter when he was admitted of that most Honourable Order by his present Majesty He further asked these Barbarians Whether they had any more Dishonour to put upon him And thus ended this renowned Marquess not unjustly paralell'd to the great Captains of Antiquity if he had not fallen in the Untimely Prosecution of a most Just Cause The King having escaped the Dangers at Sea and eluded the Snares laid for him by the English landed having been convoy'd by Three Men of War lent him by the Prince of Orange at Spey in the North of Scotland where being received by a Noble Train of Attendants and welcomed by the grateful Acclamations of the People as he passed he came to Edinburgh His reception there from the Parliament and Committees of the Kirk was honourable and with all the Appearance of Affection and Loyalty July 15 1650. the People congratulating his happy arrival with continual and perhaps more sincere Shouts of Joy And now the Second Time he was proclaimed King of Scotland England and Ireland tho his Coronation was deferred as yet by reason of the pressing Difficulties of the War The English Parricides were not ignorant of these Triumphs and Preparations of their Neighbours and were also informed of their promises to restore the King They had Intelligence of what was transacted in Scotland by their Friends there and of what was done at Court by their Spies and Hirelings about the King They therefore to prevent a War at their own Doors resolve to transfer it to the Enemy as well to prevent their Invasion of England as to remove into another Country the Calamities that attend Camps and Armies But Fairfax could not be perswaded to bear Arms against the Scots their Brethren and sworn Confederates his Aversion to it being much fortified by his Wife and the Presbyterian Teachers Nor was the Mock Parliament much concerned at his Refusal for thinking they had done enough in having sent a Committee to perswade him they conferred the Generalate upon Cromwell lately called out
changed his Battery and will now try to gain them by Civilities and a more gentle Usage But that taking no effect with Men immoveable in their Loyalty and whom nothing could oblige to abandon that Cause they had so religiously maintained he thought of other ways to be rid of these Men so averse to his Tyranny Upon this accompt he permits Foreign Ministers in League with him to make Levies of them for their Wars the Prisons having often times been emptied for that purpose The Colonies in the West Indies consumed many of them by Slavery and others allured into the unfortunate expedition of San Domingo perished in it His Domestick Enemies being thus removed or oppress'd the Vsurper became also formidable to Strangers And now it seemed seasonable for him to think of transmitting his Tyranny to his Posterity As he had usurp'd the Power of a King so he ambition'd the Title which a Parliament he had convened for his Purpose endeavoured to invest him with But he was opposed by the Chiefs of the Army who expected and hoped after his Fate to have their Turns in the Supremacy However he managed his Design so well that he was created Sovereign Protector with Power to name his Successor which was in effect what he desired in rendring his Tyranny Hereditary The Spaniards to repay one War with another seized and confiscated all the English Merchants Goods and Shipping in his Dominions and by a Publick Edict declared War against the Nation But Cromwell acting more Effectually sent Blake and Montague with a Fleet to shut up the Haven of Cadiz where the Rich Ships from the Indies usually arrived Stayner with his Squadron of Seven Frigats 1656. Sep. 1. fell upon Eight of them in the Absence of their Admiral whereof he took Two burnt One with the Marquess of Badaiox the Vice-Roy of Peru and his Lady in it sunk Another forced Two on Shore and the other Two escaped into Port. This was a great Victory wherein they took above Two Millions of Pieces of Eight But that which Blake won at Teneriffe the Year following surpassed all other in Nobleness of Action and Resolution of the Undertakers The West India Fleet consisting of Sixteen Rich Ships 1657. Apr. 20. having Intelligence that the English were cruising upon the Atlantick Ocean put into the Haven of Santa Cruz where by the Advantage of their strong Castle at the Entry and Seven Forts round the Bay they thought themselves secure But Blake perceiving their Order sending Stayner a brave Commander with some nimble Frigats before followed himself with the rest of his Fleet. And plying the Castle and Forts with his great Ships beat the Spaniards from their Guns and after a sharp Fight took the Fleet abandoned by the Sea-men who ran on Shore but not being able to carry it away with them they set in on fire consuming both it and the immense Riches it was fraughted with A Thanksgiving-Day being appointed in England for this so eminent a Victory Blake was honoured by the Parliament with a Present of Five Hundred Pounds But this so famous Admiral did not long survive so many Victories expiring at his Entrance into Plymouth Road by the Malignity of the Dropsy and Scurvy Thus ended this brave and fortunate Warriour worthily to be celebrated if he had not so audaciously resisted his own Prince Nor was it at Sea only that Cromwell plagued the Spaniard for he sent Six Thousand Men under the Command of Collonel Reynolds into Flanders who much facilitated the Successes of the French Montmedy and St. Venant were taken by their Asstance and some time after Mardike which was delivered to the English and by them so strongly fortified that it firmly withstood the Assaults of the Brittish Regiments in the Service of Spain Hereupon Dunkirk was Besieged by the Confederates But Don Juan of Austria Governour of those Low-Countries Solicitous for the conserving of so considerable a Sea-port and to prevent the Excursions of the French into Flanders on that side having drawn his Army together and strengthened it with Veterane Souldiers taken out of their Garrisons and being joyned by the Duke of York with four Batalions of English and Irish then under his Command he marched to the Relief of the Besieged and suddenly possessing the Height of the Sand-Hills opposite to Turin's Camp pitcht his there Marshal Turin having left Guards to Defend Forts and Posts against the Sallies of the Besieged drew the rest of his Army out of his Trenches The English were in the Van who notwithstanding the Showers of shot powered upon them ascended the Hill and after a sharp encounter at push of Pike and Butt-end of Musket forced the Enemy from their Ground This being done the French Horse charged the opposite Cavalry which being long sustained by the Valour and Vertue of the Duke of York and his Brother Gloucester was at last the English advancing upon them obliged to leave the Field There were above a Thousand slain and more then Two Thousand taken Prisoners The Cannon and Spoil of the Field were the present Reward of the Victors and some time after Dunkirk it self Which by the Death of the Governour the Marquess of Lede was surtendered upon Conditions and put into the Possession of the English by Contract Cromwell however heightned by this Victory did not long survive it being oppressed with a Melancholy which he had contracted upon the Death of his beloved Daughter Cleypoole Which accompanied with a Fever and Faintings snatcht him hence deprecating his immature Destiny in vain to that Tribunal where he was to give an Accompt of his Rebellions Sacriledge Perjury Parricide and Tyranny He died indeed like other Men in his Bed but not without some extraordinary Commotions of Spirit Nay the whole Frame of Nature suffer'd violent Concussions by a dreadful Tempest at the Exit of this Impostor which threatn'd by Tumult and Noises loud as his Sins to reduce the World into its pristine Chaos again We cannot with Justice deny this great Artist in Dissimulation and Imposture Courage and Vastness of Mind since he raised himself up from a Private Condition and a simple Gentleman to the Supream Height of Empire not altogether unworthy the Degree he attained to if he had not acquired it by ill Means BOOK III. Richard succeeds his Father in the Protectorate He is deposed by the Army The Rump restored Lambert defeats Sir George Booth Montague returns with the Fleet out of Denmark Lambert turns out the Rump Monk dissents and declares for the Rump Lambert marches against him Being deluded by Treaties he is deserted by his Army The Committee of Safety routed and the Rump yet again restored Monk marches to London Readmits the Secluded Members The Parliament dissolv'd by its own Act. An Abstract of the King's Actions and Motions abroad He is proclaimed by the Parliament Returns into England His glorious Reception The End of our Troubles OLiver having during his Sickness been vainly
declaring the Pacification null breaks out into Open War The City of London during these Traverses altho they had disapproved the Interruption of the Rump did openly refuse to joyn with the Army daring by Petitions and Tumults to manifest their Desires for a Free Parliament And truly such were the Sentiments of the whole Nation which enraged the Souldiery to that height that a great part of the Army was sent into the City to keep them in their Obedience denouncing Death and Ruine to the obstinate Nor did they thus attain the Ends of their Desires opposed by the contrary Strivings of the People who would be satisfied with nothing but the Restitution of This or the Convocation of a New Parliament Which they at length assented to but with most servile Restrictions There was nothing of moment happened this while upon the Borders Monk was resolved to delay and gain time which he also did by avoiding Battle and amusing his Adversaries with another Treaty at New-Castle But Fleetwood head of the Chymerical Republick unequal for so great a Weight as ignorant of his own Strength a Man neither constant to himself nor bravely perfidious thinks of laying down his Burthen Which he was the more inclined to as believing if Lambert returned with Victory his Reign would be but very short To this his Endeavours to reduce the Fleet had proved but vain and that the Souldiers sent against the Rebels at Portsmouth had revolted to them To all this he wanted Money for the Army he commanded the Souldiers being ready to Mutiny for want of Pay and would infallibly rage with all the Extravagancies of Sedition and Tumult Prest with so many Evils and dreading greater this miserable Holder-Forth wretchedly submits his Grandeur to the Rump which he had so lately routed and Dec. 26. with sordid Assentation permits his old Masters to return to their Assembly as before The Rump being thus restored their first Business was to remove Lambert by whom they had been disturbed from his Command Which was not difficult to effect for the Irish Brigades left him and Desborough's Regiment of Horse by the Example of Fleetwood's Souldiers had abandoned him which the rest of his Army likewise did upon receiving the Parliaments Pleasure and Orders for that purpose So that this General who so lately hoped for Triumphs by a strange Vicissitude of things was forced to search for a Retreat to hide himself not unworthy the Fate that attended him since he suffered himself to be deprived of so great an Army without the Circumstance of a Blow Moreover as most ample Conditions had been formerly presented to Oliver and his Son Richard upon returning to their Duty so no less Honours and Dignities with the same Arguments had been offered by the Lord Hatton in the King's Name to Lambert and not without Threats which proved Prophecies That if he refused this Opportunity the King's Restitution would be worught and that suddainly without him and against his Will He should therefore make use of the Occasion to render himself and Posterity great to after Ages But this Advice was in vain he as the rest being blinded with Ambition and the Frantick Desire of Rule Monk being glad that the Enemy was dispersed without a Blow enters England with his little Army of Five Thousand Men tho the Parliament had assigned him but Five Hundred sending the rest back with Morgan into Scotland All the several Parties and Factions had an eye upon his Motions The Rump presumed by his Means to tame the Contumacious City and the Citizens hoped that he would compel the Rump to admit of the Secluded Members again or fill the Vacancies with new Elections They had sent their Sword-Bearer to Complement him upon his coming into England and he was likewise congratulated by all the Provinces he past thro as also by Deputations from the most remote Counties The desires of all good Men were for a Free Parliament as the only remedy against the impending Evils and the true means to reduce the Common-wealth to its pristine Forms of Government and most holy Laws again Monk tho he was of the same Opinion did not as yet think it convenient to discover himself so far Lest therefore he might displease those for whose sake he had armed his Returns to those many Addresses to him were general and civil intimating that he would acquaint the House with their Petitions and recommend them but exhorts them for the present that they keep themselves quiet and within the Bounds of Modesty permitting the Disposal of Affairs to the Judgment and Prudence of the Parliament And thus he moves forwards with slow Marches forming the Garrisons and Forces in his Way to his own Humour The Rump troubled that he was come with more Forces than they had designed he pretending to secure them from all violence by them solicitous of the many Petitions and Addresses to the General and convinced of the Hate of all Men towards themselves not knowing where to fix send Two of their Members Scot and Robinson cunning Men to him under pretence of congratulating his Arrival in England but in effect to pry into his Actions and to see what was to be expected from him Monk received these Gentlemen with the greatest Observance imaginable very careful least he might betray himself by any Inadvertency to these crafty Discoverers Being come to St. Albans he was again saluted by a Splendid Embassy from the City which he received and dismissed with great Civility covering his Purposes with a profound Dissimulation On the Second of February he entered the City with his Army and took his Lodging at White-Hall against the Opinion of all Men. The Third Day being attended upon by Scot and Robinson into the House he refused the Chair appointed for him But leaning upon it after he had received the Speaker's Thanks and Complements for his great Service in restoring the Parliament by his Council and Arms he replyed in these Terms First having modestly declined so great praises since he had done nothing but what his Duty obliged him to He humbly offered to them That they would be pleased to satisfy the People's Expectations by a Vindication of their Laws and Liberties God having restored them not so much to study their own as the Publick Welfare He then desired them To remove the Jealousies some Men conceived of their Design of perpetuating themselves in the Government and that mindful of future Parliaments they would fix a Period to this Moreover he advised them Not to burthen the Subjects with New Oaths And finally That they should take heed to the Royallists and Fanaticks and commending Scotland and a Free State to their Care he finished There were they in the Assembly who fancied he spake more like a Dictator than an Orator and yet he left them loaden with Thanks and Congratulations to take his place appointed him in the Council of State Here he prudently declined the Oath of Abjuration presented to him
courtly though reserved And yet the King behaved himself with so much charming Prudence to both these Ministers and gained so much upon them that he not only defeated the Designs of Lockhart the Regicides Embassadour then there but having obtained an Assurance of being assisted by the Forces of the Two Crowns for his Restitution he was dismissed with the same Honours he had been received At Paris in his Return he was splendidly treated by the Duke of Orleance as King of England and acknowledged such by all Men none now doubting of his sudden Restauration From thence he came to Brussels entering into that City publickly and with a Pomp worthy his Grandeur where he also was magnificently caressed and where he designed to continue until the Dissolution of the Parliament Whilst these things were in Agitation the Distractions and Risings in England were various the Impatience of the Royal Party to restore their Prince precipitating them as usually into great Inconveniencies And yet they got to a Head in Cheshire under Sir George Booth as is already mentioned and the King himself was in private about St. Malos attending some favourable Occasion to transport him into England These Risings especially Booth's were lookt upon as formidable it being supposed that Monk was intermingled with them But they being supprest every where the King returned again to Brussels in expectation of the event of the Pacification concluded betwixt the Two Crowns He had not continued long there when being informed of the Differences betwixt the Army and Rump his Hopes being raised thereby he took also a Resolution not to be wanting in himself He had tryed the ways of War and had also attempted the perfidious Fidelity of his Enemies but with no Success He will therefore put himself upon other Counsels And seeing Monk commanded the Rebels in Scotland in Chief he will enquire into the Secret of his Intentions and Mind The King had found him a sharp Enemy but Noble free from Calumnies and Revilings nor any way distained with the inexpiable Guilt of the Regicide In the former Wars he had served King Charles I. but being taken and perhaps neglected he preferred Liberty before Confinement and the Management of Arms to the clinking of Shackles It was therefore thought expedient to attempt him under these Circumstances and endeavour to reclaim him with the Charms and Honour of being the Deliverer of his Country and King the Church and State Sir John Greenvill eminent for his Loyalty and of kin to Monk was employed to manage this important Secret Who in order to it having gained Mr. Nicolas Monk a Minister the General 's Brother on whom as Patron he had bestowed a very considerable Benefice he sent him into Scotland with Commission in the King's Name to offer him any Conditions he should please to Demand But Monk wisely suspicious under pretence of the incertain Vicissitudes of Affairs answered ambiguously neither openly declaring his sentiments nor wholly concealing them He also having exacted an Oath of secresie from his Brother sent him back with his Daughter which was the Pretext for his coming into Scotland as also a Message to the Members outed by Lambert to assure them of his Fidelity to the Parliament These Gentlemen raised with these Hopes presumed all things upon that Accompt and was a plausible Vail for him in the modelling and forming his Army according to his Designs But Greenvill being not well satisfied with the Parson's Declaration acquainted the King with it Who notwithstanding the Abstruseness of it drew no ill Augury thence commanding Greenvil to attend the General when he came to London and make all imaginable Enquiry of what Intentions he was towards His Majesty's Restitution And this he happily performed being admitted by the Assistance of Mr. Morrice a great Confident of Monk's and afterwards Secretary of State to the King The Enterview was in Morrice his Chamber where no Body but themselves being present Greenvill delivered Monk the King's Letters To which after Twice reading of them he answered That he would not only comply with the King's Desires but also restore him without Conditions or any the least Diminution of his Royal Authority Neither would he think of any Terms for himself humbly submitting that to the King's Pleasure when he returned Greenvill ecstasi'd with the Joy of his Success desired Letters to the King to testifie so great a Secret but he replied That he would commit nothing to Writing nor send any Body to the King besides himself whom he had found so faithful and secret He hoped His Majesty would Pardon what was past professing That he always had a Veneration for the King and now upon this first Occasion would testifie his Obedience to him with the Hazard of his Life and Fortune Greenvill overjoyed with this happy Conclusion hastened to acquaint the King with it at Brussels who was infinitely pleased with Monk's generous Actings especially having received Letters out of England from some Friends there desiring him to accept of the Isle of Wights Conditions they being the best they could at present procure him But Greenvill was by Advice of Sir Edward Hyde then made Chancellour and the Marquess of Ormond presently returned into England with a Commission for Monk as General of all the Forces in the Three Kingdoms and a Letter all writ with the King 's own Hand full of gracious Expressions and Acknowledgments for so great a Benefit Greenvill had also other Letters which we shall mention in their Place And lest he might himself return empty after he had been so signally meritorious the King honoured him with a Warrant for an Earldom and 3000 l. a Year Whilst these things were in Agitation the English observing that the Treaty betwixt France and Spain upon the Borders would end in a Peace shewed themselves likewise not averse to it especially considering the vast Commerce they always had with the Spanish Countries Hence followed a spontaneous Cessation from Arms. But the King would not expect the Event of it for fear of being imposed upon here as he had been in France and therefore removed his Court to Breda belonging to his Sister the Princess of Orange The sudden Change in England occasioned Changes of Councils And now it was supposed that the King should take shipping from Calais or some Part in Flanders having been earnestly invited thereto from both France and Spain But to content both he accepted of neither but continued at Breda cluding thereby the Arts of both Princes the French Designs as well as those of the Spanish longing for the return of Jamaica and Dunkirk to their Obedience The King then being secure at Breda was saluted there by Deputies from the States-General where he was also magnificently treated by the Publick The Parliament being now met consisting of Two Houses free and full in their Numbers their first Care was to give Publick Thanks to God for rescuing their Country from Usurpation and Tyranny and the next to thank
being husht up by the Treaty of Breda The Plague did devour our People no more its Poison being extinct And the City lately of Wood was now by the King's Munificence rebuilt of Brick and Stone When one Titus Oates who had had his Education and Orders in the Reformea Church of England being afterwards reconciled to that of Rome passed over first into Flanders and thence into Spain Where under pretence of Religion and his Zeal for it he gained so much Favour with the Priests and Jesuits that he had Opportunities as he pretended to penetrate into their most secret Councils This new Proselyte changing Parties again returned into England where he informs the King of a Design of the Papists against his Life against the Reformed Religion and the present Government And naming several Lords as Bellasis Powis Peters Arundel Castelmain Stafford and other Men of Quality as prime Conspirators in this Treason gained so much Credit with the Parliament that the accused were all imprisoned the Papists commanded to remove Ten Miles from the City and all of them to be cashier'd out of all Employments both Military and Civil The mysterious Death of Godfrey inflamed the Parliaments Credulity to Vote That there was a Plot execrable and Hellish as they termed it Insomuch as the King at their instant Desires past a Bill to disable all Popish Peers or other Members so affected to fit in either Houses of Parliament Offering further to comply with any Expedient they should propose for the Security of the Protestant Religion so as they tended not to impeach the Right of Succession Coleman Ireland Pickering Groves Fenwick Whitebread Langhorn Staley Green Berry and Hill condemned by the Testimony of Oates and others of his Associates solemnly attested their Innocence at their Death Nor did so great Effusion of Blood suffice to remove the Jealousies they had of the Papists so that the Houses of Parliament to whom the King had granted all things for the security of Religion not contented with these Concessions proceeded so far as to press the King to remove the Duke of York from his Presence and Councils To this they added the Imprisonment of his Secretary Williamson without his Knowledge Which did so far irritate his Majesty that he dissolved this Parliament after it had continued Seventeen Years Fanaticism which had lurk'd for some Time under a Protestant Mask and infused its Contagion into the Parliament began now under Pretence of Godliness to appear more openly The King having dissolved the Parliament as is said had summon'd another from which he hoped for more good than he had hitherto experimented And lest the Presence of his Brother might prove any Obstacle he commanded him to retire until the Heat of the Faction did a little cool Which he obeyed without Repugnancy that he might in no wise occasion any the least Dissension betwixt the King his Brother and the Parliament But the King's Indulgence and the Duke's Observance were equally valu'd Nor could all his Concessions with those Limitations not meddle with the Succession or his Prerogatives satisfy their Contumacy year 1679 Nay he had dismissed his Privy Council as being ill look'd upon by the Parliament surrogating others in their rooms not so obnoxious to the Faction making the Earl of Shaftsbury President But all this was to no purpose for the Parliament omitting those Things which they were to have treated of and postponing the King's Demands of Subsidies they again attacked the Duke of York absent then in Flanders the Commons voting his Exclusion from the Succession But the King seeing the contumacious Animosity of the Party and not obscurely perceiving that he himself was aimed at through the Duke's Sides July 10. Octob. 17. dissolving this present Parliament commanded another to convene in October following Whilst these things are in Agitation in England the Tumults in Scotland flew higher Dr. Sharp the Arch-bishop of St. Andrews was most inhumanly murthered in his Coach by a Party of the barbarous Covenanters Which done the Rebellion they designed was by the Concourse of those Multitudes that flockt together suddainly formed into a considerable Army consisting of Sixteen Hundred Horse and above Four Thousand Foot Nor were the Royallists less active the King having sent the Duke of Monmouth thither as General who joying with the Scots Nobility they raised such a Force that fighting the Rebels at Bothwel-Bridge chey defeated them The Slaughter was not great for the Enemies Horse not being prest or pursued by the Connivance if not Command of Monmouth for he himself had other Designs as it afterwards appeared retreated in a Body at least Twelve Miles from the Place they had fought in and separating there dispersed themselves some of the Foot being slain A few of the Prisoners were punished for their improsperous Treason After this the King fell sick of a Fever at Windsor which was so violent that the Physitians despaired of his Recovery Upon News whereof the Duke hastened from Brussels to Court But it seemed otherwise good to the Almighty who was pleased to prolong his Life until he could leave the Kingdom agitated at present with so many Distractions settled and composed to his Successor Being restored to his Health the Joy of it was celebrated by the Universality at least the Good Part of the Nation the City also sending their Lord Mayor and Aldermen with a great Train with Thirty Coaches and a Troop of a Hundred Horse for their Convoy to Windsor to congratulate his Hapyy Recovery But Monmouth however illegitimate blinded with Ambition and not content with those great Honours and Places he enjoyed aspired to the Crown it self inviting and alluring with the Baits of Employments and Rewards some of the most interested to his Party But this caballing was discovered to the King by the Earl of Oxford who abhorring the Treason preferr'd his Loyalty before all the Offers of Ambition and Greatness The King being justly incensed against the Ingratitude and Vanity of the Pretender divested him of all those Dignities and Offices which he enjoyed and banished him the Kingdom Moreover to prevent the Chymerical Delusions which the Report of his being married or contracted to the said Duke's Mother might occasion his Majesty by repeated Declarations publickly emitted as also by Writings under his own Hand declared Vpon the Faith of a Christian and the Word of a King that he never Married nor gave any Contract to any Woman whatsoever but to Queen Katharine his Wife This the King did with so much Solemnity to prevent the Peoples being abused by these false and malitious Reports and lest the Factious might thereby mislead them to disturb the Publick Peace or violate the Rights of Succession Whereby also the vain Pretences of Monmouth and the ridiculous Machinations of the Seditious might be disappointed The Parliament 1679. 1680. which the King had summoned to meet in October being delayed by several Motogatives did not come together before the October
following Nor were their Councils now less violent punishing some of their own Members by expelling them the House and persecuting several of the Judges and others faithful to the King Nor did this suffice For they not only voted but past a Bill which they called An Act to aisable the Duke of York from inheriting the Imperial Crown of England and Ireland and all the Territories thereunto belonging But it went no further for being carried up to the Peers by the Lord Russel after a second reading it was thrown out of the House After this Dec. 17. the Lord Viscount Stafford was brought to his Tryal being prosecuted by the Commons upon the Testimonies of Oates Turberville and Dugdale and condemned by the Suffrages of the Peers was beheaded Not were the Commoners thus satisfied They press the Bill of Exclusion a-new and demand Permission for the Protestants to associate themselves for security of the Protestant Religion They declare all other Remedies in sufficient and obnoxious to Dangers And that therefore they could give the King no Supply without Danger to his Person Hazard to the Protestant Religion and Vnfaithfulness to those by whom they were trusted Nay they required That the Lords Hallifax Worcester Clarendon Rochester and Feversham should be removed from all Offices of Honour and Profit and from his Councils and Presence for ever And with the same Breath with unheard of as well Fury as Arrogance Vote That whosoever shall lend or cause to be lent by way of Advance any Money upon the. Branches of the King's Revenue arising by Custom Excise or Hearth-Money should be adjudged to hinder the sitting of Parliaments and should be responsible for the same And when they perceived that the King wearied with such monstrous Insolence designed to Prorogue their Session they had 〈◊〉 vote and denounce That whosoever advised the King to prorogue that Parliament to any other purpose than in order to the passing the Bill of Exclusion should be lookt upon as a Betrayer of the King the Protestant Religion and the Kingdom of England a Promoter of the French Interest and a Pensioner of France But Mar. 24. the Parliament being however Prorogued and then Dissolved by Proclamation the King intimated his pleasure to call another which should convene in March following at Oxford as a place less Subject to Faction and Tumults Which so stung the Common Council of London and such Peers as were emancipated to the Party that they endeavoured by Petitions to divert his Majesty from thoughts of so remote a Design upon imaginary reason of Danger and Unfitness praying it might therefore sit at Westminster But to no purpose So that the Parliament met at Oxford composed for the most part of the same Delegates The major Part of the Deputies as also the Fanatick Lords depending upon their numerous Attendants and Friends which they were accompanyed with drove on futiously and neglecting the King's Admonitions who had declared That as he had resolved never to use Arbitrary Government himself so he was resolved never to suffer it in others rage with more Fierceness against the Duke and press the Bill of Exclusion with so much Violence that the King putting a stop to their career immediately dissolved them And it was time seeing they designed not only to retrench his Prerogative but also to seize his Person Upon that Accompt Rouse Hains White College and the Earl of Shaftsbury were committed to Prison Of those College and Shaftsbury were brought to their Tryals But in vain being acquitted by their Juries against the Testimonies and Evidences of irreproachable Witnesses Which was no Wonder the very Coâ—rts of Justice being enslaved to the Faction and acted by their Prescripts So that the King who himself was religious in the equal Distribution of Justice to all Men could not obtain Justice for himself But College being brought before another Tribunal less subjected to the Authority of the Faction received such Punishment as his Treason deserved He had no less offended at Oxford than at London and was try'd and executed there The Fellow was of the Lees of the Rabble a Joyner by Trade vain restless inquisitive and perpetually busie in Affairs that least concerned him But Shaftsbury's Fortune was better who eluding the Publick Justice by a Jury addicted to himself and the Faction and retorting the Danger upon his Accusers triumphed whilst they hardly escaped the Fury of the Rabble And 't was no wonder for this destructive Faction was so prevalent in the City that it had infatuated the People and the Companies of Tradesmen with a reverent Opinion of their Sanctity And spreading wider the Contagion had diffused it self into most of the Provinces of the Kingdom And now all such whose Crimes had rendered them Guilty or Indigence bold such whose Zeal made furious or Ambition lofty joyned themselves to them The same Pretences of Liberty Property and Religion and the same Methods wherewith the Reign of Charles the Martyr had been involved in Blood and Confusion were now again made use of mostly by the same Men cunning restless and implacable to seduce weak and irresolute Persons as also to disturb that Peace which we hitherto enjoyed to the Envy of all Europe By such Instruments the mildest of Governments was branded with the Name of Tyranny The Church of England is traduced and the faithfullest Ministers and Servants to the King and Crown calumniated with Male Administration In the mean Time Schism and Sedition are every where promoted Jealousies and vain Terrors are suggested proditorious Discourses and infamous Libels are scattered about and things abhorring from Christianity are dayly exercised under the genuine Veil of Protestantism Finally the old Opinions and Doctrines of the Democraticks so ruinous to Monarchy are now again countenanced and asserted with the same Fierceness and Confidence as they had been in the late Rebellion With these pickeerings of Rebellion they gradually proceeded to Action Parties are distinguished Names and Signs of Separation are distributed Unlawful Conventicles in despite of the Laws are patronised Tumultuous Banquets and factious Clubs are every where set up Clandestine and seditious Assemblies are frequented Unusual Quantities of Arms are bought up by private Men. Insolent Progresses are made through the Country to the End they might shew how numerous they were spread their Terror about as they moved discover their Party and demonstrate their readiness upon all Occasions Nor were these Caballings unknown to the King who when he saw his Clemency so highly abused by those whom he had pardoned yet greater Offences resolved to chastise them and oppose the severity of Law to their Extravagancies In the Two preceding Years Two Favourers of the Faction being Lord Mayors by Turn had promoted turbulent Fellows to the Magistracy and chief Employments in the City Of these the Two Sheriffs were chief who directed the choice of Jury's at pleasure which gave the licentious Liberty to offend For what durst they not attempt who were
horrid a Design discountenanced the Credit of the Relator until verified by demonstrative Arguments which gave Opportunity to the Conspirators to withdraw themselves Yet some of them were taken as Howard Essex Russel Rumsey Sidney Walcot Hone Rowse and the Lord G. but he escaped out of the hands of the Messenger The Lord Russel and Collonel Sydney were both beheaded Walcot Rowse and Hone were executed at Tyburn and others in other places suffered the punishments due to such execrable Treasons The Earl of Essex the unfortunate Son of a good Father by his own hands prevented the Kings Clemency who could not shew the utmost of his Severity against a Son of my Lord Capels Of those who fled some obtained the Kings Pardon by their ingenious Confessions as Barber Blaney Bourn How Howard Rumsey c. Nor is it unworthy of Notice that scarce any of those who were executed did dye without confessing enough to demonstrate their Crime though not their Repentance Amongst the Fugitives the most considerable were Armstrong Ayloff Burton the Two Goodenoughs Brothers Gray Holloway Norton Nizbet Row the Two Rombalds Brothers Smyth Wade Tyley and Ferguson the Shame of his Coat and Calling a Canting Teacher and more cruelly wicked than all those he had endeavoured to mislead Sir Thomas Armstrong and Holloway being intercepted the First at Leyden in Holland the other at Mevis one of our Western Plantations and brought into England were both executed according to the Merit of their Crimes The Parricide designed thus in England against His Majesty and the Duke being discovered and prevented the Conspiracy in Scotland fell also as depending on it James Stuart Monroe Melvin Cockran Bayley Castares Spence Alex. Gordon Nezbet c. were the Chief of the Party acting in all Things by Agreement with Argile This perverse Son of a wicked Father had Demanded 30000 l. of the English to buy Arms engaging himself to make a powerful Diversion in his own Country Which he also effected as we shall see hereafter having procured Supplies by other means The Duke of Monmouth youthfully rash inconstant ambitious and hurried on with the Pretense of vindicating Liberty and Religion agitated now with the Guilt of his Crimes had also withdrawn himself But being proscribed and finding but little safety in a Retreat though it his best course to implore that Clemency which he had so cruelly offended Which he did by his Letters seemingly full of Ingenuity wherein he acknowledges his Crimes of Unfaithfulness against the King and of Ingratitude to the Duke bewailing what he had done and humbly supplicating Pardon for what was past With Imprecations of Vengeance upon himself if he offended any more or violated the Promises he then made of his future Fidelity The King the mildest of Princes moved with his Submissions answered him under his own Hand in these Terms That if the Duke of Monmouth would render himself capable of his Mercy it was necessary he should surrender himself into the Hands of Secretary Jenkins and should tell His Majesty all that he knew submitting himself as to the rest entirely to his Pleasure This peremptory Declaration of the King's Will extorted other Letters from Monmouth wherein he patheticalâ—y aggravates his Sorrow and Tortures of Mind for his failings against his Majesty Confessing that being fatally circumvented by the Enchantments of others he was drawn into their Design and precipitated into those Evils the Consequences whereof he had not suspected He declares that his Crimes appeared to him with so terrible an Aspect that he would rather dye than be tormented with their stings he therefore implores the King's Grace and Pardon which he did not desire but by the Mediation of his Royal Highness He further professes That he saith this seriously and sincerely not only submitting himself for this Time to the King's Pleasure but for his whole Life Concluding That he should be the unhappiest of Men until he were raised with a grateful and mild Answer The King after this 1683. Nov. 25. not questioning the sincerity of Monmouth's Conversion admitted him to his presence Where throwing himself at his Majesty's Feet he plainly and fully acknowledged himself conscious of all the Conspiracy except the Parricide discovering many things to the King which they had hitherto been ignorant of Monmouth being by the Intervention of the Duke restored to his Majesty's Favour as formerly obtained also the Favour not to be produced as a Witness against any Body which Grace had been formerly refused to the Duke of Orleance in France and that undoubtedly was the reason that his old Associates and Friends impudently gave out that he had discovered nothing of the Conspiracy but contrarily had vindicated the Innocency of those that had so injuriously suffered The King moved with so great Arrogance and perceiving that Monmouth did continue his Society with those who seduced his unwary Youth after some Admonitions he commanded him to publish in Writing what he had declared to himself and to the Duke his Brother Nor did he refuse it writing to the King in these Terms That he was informed that it had been reported of him as if he had designed to extenuate the late Conspiracy and traduce the Testimonies against them that suffered His Majesty and the Duke knew how ingeniously he confessed all Things and that he was not conscious of the least Evil against his Majesty's Life It grieved him however that he had so greatly countenanced the said Conspiracy He would publish this for his Vindication beseeching his Majesty not to look back but that he would please to forget those Injuries which he had forgiven It should be his Care for the future to sin no more or suffer himself to be misled from his Duty Yea he would spend his whole Life to deserve that Pardon which he had granted to his most Dutiful Monmouth But these Flourishes were no less fickle than short-liv'd For the unhappy Youth being bewitcht by the Artifices of wicked Men and his own Ambition broke that Faith which he had so solemnly promised to preserve inviolable For being foolishly perswaded That the Declaration he had so lately made was a Diminution to his Honour and might rise up in Judgment against him hereafter he redemanded it from his Majesty Who tender of his Good endeavoured to divert him from so preposterous an Attempt but being more obstinately pressed he in great Anger restored it him banishing him at the same time from his Court and Presence The King did not long survive this for being intercepted by a violent Apoplectic Fit he changed his Terrestrial Crowns for one of Glory being so universally lamented by the Good and leaving so great a Desire of him behind him that our Loss was in a Manner inconsolable He was succeeded by James Duke of York who was immediately proclaimed King But he was scarce setled in his Throne when the Hydra of Rebellion lift up her Head again out of the Lake of Schism and Faction BOOK