of that vast Charge is saved yet neither Custome Excise nor Taxes made lower but rather encreased the Souldiers Petitioning for a larger Taxe that free Quarter the greater oppression indeed of the two might be avoided Severall Troopers who pretended a Liberty to Petition without the consent of their Officers are punished five of them are condemned first to ride with their Faces to the Horse Tail then to have their Swords broke over their Heads and lastly to be cashiered a Letter which they had concerning the aforesaid Liberty being judged pernicious and scandalous to the Parliament and Counsell of State About this time began those great disturbances both in Army and Parliament occasioned by the distast given to Lieutenant Collonel John Lilburne by the Parliaments denying some desires of his But because the Discourse of it would now be too tedious we shall let it alone till we come to treat of its Effects But let us return now a little to Scotland where the Parliament upon rumours that the English Army were marching towards them prepare to resist and Vote the raising for their present defence 2000 Horse and 6000 Foot whilest the Lord Seaforth and Collonel Heisell are busied in fortifying Enderness and other strong places in the North all being resolved to defend and maintain the Cause of Charles the Second with their lives and fortunes many Englishmen flocking to them In the mean time Prince Rupert makes great Havock of the Merchants Ships and Goods in the English and Irish Seas which makes the Parliament hasten out their Fleet under the Command of Popham Dean and Blake as aforesaid And now on the ninth of March 1648. those three Lords Duke Hamilton as Earl of Cambridge the Earl of Holland and Lord Capell were beheaded in the new Palace-yard Westminster for having raised Arms against the Parliament nor could Duke Hamiltons pretending himself a stranger and not subject to the Laws of England nor the Lord Capells claiming the Lord Generals promise of Quarter finde them voices enough to save their lives though the Lord Goring and Sr John Owen escaped by Superiority of voices They all three died resolutely and handsomely befitting men of so noble descents The Parliament in some things to answer the Armies Petition Order a release of all Prisoners who were not in a capacity to pay their Debts the Commission nevertheless extending to the seizure of all their Estate and Moveables to pay as far as they will go They likewise Enact a rebate in Usury that none should take above six in the hundred which is an ease to the poor but a plague to the rich The 14th of March arrives at London Master Belford from the Parliament of Scotland who brings Letters expressing their high resentment for the securing of their Commissioners they assure them that they owned the Paper sent by their Commissioners by sending another Transcript of it so their Commissioners are discharged and it referred to the Counsell of State to send them an Answer The Parliament proceed in consideration of what was to be done in the farther punishing of offendors and Vote that fifteen be banished whereof the Marquess of Winchester the Lords Bristoll Cottington and Digby are four Judge Jenkins and Sr John Stowell are Ordered to be tried at the Kings Bench Bar. That Collonel Laughorne Powell and Poyer or any others who have held out any Castle or Fort since the first of March 1648. to be tried by a Counsell of War They proceed to the Confiscation of the Estates of the Prince of Wales Duke of York Duke of Buckingham Earl of Bristoll Earl of Newcastle Earl of Worcester Lord Digby Sr William Widdrington Sr Phillip Musgrave Sr Marmaduke Langdale Sr Richard Grimvile Sir Francis Dodington Sr Iohn Culpepper and Sr Iohn Byron any of which being taken in England are to die without mercy The Banishment of the Marquess of Winchester is remitted at last and he with Bishop Wren Voted imprisonment in the Tower during the Parliaments pleasure Brown Bushell is also Voted to be tried for his life The Parliament hoping to justifie their actions to the world abroad by Logick as well as they had done it by force at home cause a large and specious Declaration to be drawn up shewing the causes of their Actions and Proceedings against their late King and of the Alteration of the Government which they order to be Printed in Latin French Dutch and Italian the better to satisfie as they dream't the rest of the Christian world The Lieutenant Generall Cromwell now comes in play again action being so naturall to him he being appointed Generalissimo of those 12000 Horse and Foot which are Voted to be sent for the relief of Ireland and the reducing of Ormond Inchequeen and Owen Roe who had now made a full conjunction and lay neare Dublin with 22000 Men. And now the Parliament by their Act and Declaration of the 19th of February dissolve all Kingly Government disheriting the late Kings Children or any other from any claim right or title to the Government of England Wales or Ireland or any of the Honours Mannors Lands Tenements Possessions or Hereditaments belonging or appertaining to the Crown of England or Ireland And they by the same Act discharge and absolve all the people of England Wales and Ireland of what degree or condition soever from all Fealty Homage and Allegiance which is or shall be pretended due to any of the Issue and Posterity of the late King or any claiming under him This Act the Parliament Order to be proclaimed in the City of London by the Mayor Aldermen and Sheriffs in Person and likewise in the chief places of the Nation to which purpose Writs are sent down to the Sheriffs of the respective Counties But the Lord Mayor and severall of the Aldermen whose consciences would not permit them to proclaim it refusing to do it put a demur upon it throughout the whole Nation the effects of which the Parliament fearing called him to the Bar of the House and finding him resolved Order the degradation of him Alderman Bunce and three Aldermen more Alderman Andrews being found fit for the Parliaments purpose is appointed to sit on the Bench in the late Lord Mayors stead who readily executed the Parliaments Commands The Parliament Constitute a Committee for the sale of Parks Chases and Forrest-Lands of whom any three have power and authority to Act. The 24th of March the Castle of Pomfret which had held out near nine Moneths was forced to surrender for want of Ammunition The private Souldiers who were most of them inhabitants of Yorkeshire had liberty by Articles to go home to their habitations but the Governour and some others were exempted from Quarter nevertheless Lieutenant Collonel Morris the Governour escaped The Scotch Commissioners are at last dispatched to the King with full Instructions to treat with him of which the chief were First That his Majesty take the Covenant Secondly That he put from him all who have assisted
his Father or him formerly and particularly the Lord Montross Thirdly That he bring but 100 with him into Scotland And fourthly That he bring no forreign force into Scotland without their consent But whether these Conditions were by him agreed to or no I think is hardly known In the mean while the Parliaments friends in Ireland are but in a bad condition they therefore desire present aid Clanrickard Taffe and Preston with their Catholicks having made a full agreement with Ormond and Inchequeen the Articles were viz. after the Catholicks acknowledgement by way of preamble That Charles the second is King of Ireland and that they will stand to him with their lives and fortunes It is agreed 1. That the Catholicks have free exercise of Religion in Ireland and all penalties taken off 2. That a Parliament shall be held within six Moneths or after when the Catholicks desire 3. All Laws made in the Parliament of England since 41 in blemish of Catholicks in the next Parliament to be null 4. All Indictments against any Catholicks since 41 to be vacuated 5. Way and provision made that Catholicks may be Elected and Vote in Parliament 6. All Debts to remain as they were February 8. 1641. notwithstanding any disposition under colour of Attainder 7. The Estates of the Knights Gentlement and Freeholders of Connaght Clare Thomond Limerick and Tipperary to be secured by Act. 8. All incapacities of the Natives in Ireland to be taken away by Act. 9. All Honours Trusts c. to be conferred as well on Catholicks as Protestants 10. That the King take 2000lb per annum in lieu of the Court of Wards 11. Noble men to be capable of more Proxies then two in Parliament 12. That the depending of the Parliament of Ireland on that of England shall be as shall stand with the Laws of Ireland 13. That the Counsell-Table meddle only with State-matters 14. That all Acts forbidding the transport of Wooll be made null by the next Parliament 15. That if any have been wronged by Grants from King James or since they may have relief in Parliament 16. That divers particular Lords Knights and Gentlemen who have as they conceive been wronged may be righted 17. That all who have had their Estates taken from them in Cork Youghall and Dungarvan have restauration 18. That in the next Parliament an Act of oblivion pass to all Ireland 19. That no Lord Deputy or other Officer of Eminency farm the Customes 20. An Act against Monopolists and no imposition on Aqua-vitae 21. That the Court of Castle-chamber be regulated 22. The Acts prohibiting plowing with Horses by the tail and burning Oats in the Straw be nul'd 23. That his Majesty take off the grievances of the Kingdome 24. That Maritime causes be determined in Ireland 25. That no Rents be raised under pretence of defective titles 26. That Interest be forgiven from 1641. 27. That all this be Acted and of force till a Parliament agree it 28. That the Commissioners for the Catholicks that treated agree upon such as shall be Commissioners of the peace and hear all causes under 10lb. 29. That all Governours of Towns Castles c. made by the King be with the approbation of Catholick Commissioners 30. That none of his Majesties Rents be paid till a full settlement in Parliament 31. That the Commissioners of Oyer and Terminer do try all Murthers Thefts c. 32. That hereafter such Differences as arise between Subjects be tried by a Court in Ireland 33. That the Roman Clergy that behave themselves according to this Agreement be not molested These Articles thus agreed on Ormond publishes a Declaration exasperating the horrid Murther of the late King and Declaring Charles the second King of Ireland as the true lawfull and undoubted Heir to his Father and to him and in his Defence they all resolve to stick with lives and fortunes The Counsell of State begin now to take the business of Ireland into more serious consideration and to dispatch relief the sooner Order that a convenient number of Shipping be made ready at Bristoll Leverpool Beaumorris and Milford Haven to transport the Army and to be at the direction of the Commander in chief for Ireland They likewise give Order that an Hospitall be provided for maimed Souldiers in Dublin That all those who are already in the Parliaments pay in Ireland do joyn with those now sent over under the Command of his Excellency the Lord Generall Cromwell That Bread Salt Cheese and other provisions be provided with a train of Artillery And that care be taken that continuall supplyes of men be constantly sent The seventh of Aprill the Parliament for the better supply of their Army and taking off the intollerable oppression of Free-Quarter pass an Act for 90000lb. a Moneth for six Moneths But in relation to their present exigencies for setting forward of the relief for Ireland the Generall Earl of Pembroke and some others are sent to the City to borrow 120000lb. upon the security of the two last Moneths Assessment And now the business of Ireland goes on vigorously the Parliament making sundry Votes for its furtherance viz. That care be taken for provisions for the Winter Quarters That a sufficient number of Ships be imployed on the Coast at the Command of the Generall by Land That provision be made for maimed Souldiers and for the Widows and Orphans of Souldiers slain That a train of Artillery be provided That the Troopers be supplyed with such Backs Brests and Pots as shall be fitting And that care be taken for the convenient sending over of Recruits And indeed it was no time to dally now except they meant to have lost all for Ormond Taffe Preston and Inchequeen are mustering their Forces to lay siege to Dublin London-Derry and Sr Charles Coot in it was already besieged by the Covenanters or Laggan Forces And though Owen Roe's standing out might make a kinde of schisme amongst them yet it was judged that their Army would be numerous enough both to besiege Dublin and reduce him for which last service Inchequeen was intended his Brother Sr Phellime not being so sure a friend to him as was imagined so that Ireland could not at that time seem to be in any other condition then near utterly lost to the Parliament The sale of the Deans and Chapters Lands coming under consideration were found worth 9000lb per annum impropriate which goes towards the Ministers maintenance and 18000lb per annum old Rent which is to be sold But 1. It was resolved that 300000lb be raised on it in way of doubling as on Bishops Lands 2. That no Bill of Faith pass but such as hath been allowed by Trustees 3. That the 600000lb due for Souldiers Arrears stand good upon the Excise till other security be setled 4. That this 600000lb be paid out of Lands belonging formerly to the Crown 5. That twelve Trustees be for this Act six nominated by the Generall and six by the Parliament 6. That
the Attorney Generall bring in a Bill to Audit the Arrears of the Souldiers Thus the Parliament make hast to the sale of the Lands belonging both to Church and State for the payment of their Souldiers and servants The 25th of April 1649 was Collonel Poyer shot to death Major Generall Loughorne Coll. Powell and himself three eminent Welchmen were tried for their lives by a Counsell of Warre and all three condemned for holding Intelligence with the Enemy but mercy being shown it was put to the Lot which fell upon Coll. Poyer who suffered death according to sentence The Princess Elizabeth Daughter to the late King petitioning the Parliament that shee might have leave to go into Holland to her Sister the Princess Royall of Orange is denyed but is ordered to go with her Brother the Duke of Glocester to Sr Edward Harringtons in Rutland who is ordered to take care of them and 3000lb a year is allowed for their maintenance but he excuses it being ancient The Parliament take upon them the Royall Prerogative of Coyning Monies order a new Stamp to be made with the Arms of England on one side and round The Commonwealth of England and the Arms of England and Ireland on the other and round God with us Severall Troops and Regiments of the Army either discontented at Liev. Coll. John Lilburns imprisonment or some other feigned pretence of their own mutinie Coll. Scroops and Major Gen. Iretons who were designed for Ireland are the chief but in the end they are all either reduced to obedience or disbanded A Regiment of Coll. Tuthills is sent over to Dublin as a vangard to the rest Dr Dorislaus whom the Parliament of this Commonwealth had sent over as their Agent to treat with the States of Holland was the 5th of May murdered in an Ordinary in the Hague by six men who entred into the chamber disguised the English Cavaliers there were suspected for the murther but we judg it a calumny since the certainty could never be known though the States of Holland offered 1000 Guldens to the discoverers of the assassinates The Parliament to manifest their surious resentment of the murther of Dr Isaac Dorislaus their Agent put forth a Declaration how tender a sense they have of so horrid a murther and the dishonour redounds thereby to the Commonwealth and that since they cannot have the authors of that horrid villany they are resolved to execute their revenge upon those Cavaliers for they are resolved to believe those there the actors of it which they have here in their power and have not been admitted to compound and so are left to their mercy which they else had found had not their fellows there forfeited it so sweet is revenge though but upon a meer suspicion of an injury The Parliament in England put forth an Act declaring what should be high-Treason the particulars were 1. That whosoever should maliciously and advisedly by writing printing or openly declare that this Government by Parliament is tyrannicall usurped or unlawfull or that the Commons assembled in Parliament are not the Supream Authority of the Nation or shall plot endeavour or contrive to stir up or raise any force to the subversion or alteration of the Government and shall declare the same by open deed shall be judged guilty of high-Treason 2. That any person who shall maliciously and advisedly contrive and plot or cause to be contrived and plotted any thing which may tend to the subversion of the Keepers of the Liberties of England or the Councell of State and shall declare the same by open deed shall be judged guilty of high Treason 3. That whosoever not being a Member of the Army shall plot contrive or endeavour to stir up any mutiny in the said Army or draw any Souldiers or Officers from their obedience to their superiour Officers or from the present Government or shall procure invite or aid any forreigners to invade England or Ireland or counterfeit the great Seal of England for time being used by Authority of Parliament That then they for every such offence be judged guilty of high Treason and suffer the pains and penalties thereof This Act was by Order of Parliament proclaimed throughout England and Wales But now the straits of Ireland requiring a speedy help which is daily sollicited for Ormond having beleaguered Dublin near a Moneth and it scarce like to hold out long for want both of men provisions and Ammunition Collonel Tuthills Regiment having carried nothing over but themselves and their Arms on their shoulders though scarce Cloathes to their backs so that the Parliament to answer those reiterated desires of Lieutenant Generall Jones and being indeed sensible of their necessities expedite their assistance appointing Commissary Generall Ireton Collonel Scroop Collonel Horton Major Generall Lambert with their four Regiments of Horse and Collonel Ewers Collonel Cooke Collonel Hewson and Collonel Dean with theirs of Foot and five Troops of Horse to be made ready for that service besides which some other Regiments are raised by beat of Drum In the mean time Collonel Reynolds Regiment of Horse Collonel Venables and Collonel Monkes of Foot quartering nearest are ordered to advance to Chester and thence immediately take Shipping as the Vant-guard of the Army the other eight Regiments were ordered to march to the generall Rendezvows at Milford-haven where there was a convenient number of Shipping provided to waft them over into Ireland and whither Generall Cromwell very speedily followed them departing out of London the tenth of July 1649. The Vant-guard commanded by the Collonels Reynolds Venables and Monke met with so prosperous a gale from Chester soon arrived in Dublin Road and having landed their men notwithstanding the Enemy lay so near entred the City without any considerable opposition where they were received with Ecchoes of joy by the Souldiers and Inhabitants who had so long expected them The Town being now so well strengthened by this new supply Collonel Jones his old Souldiers Collonel Tuthills Regiment with the Inhabitants that bore Arms and this new Brigade could now muster between 8 and 9000 stout men Jones therefore resolves upon a Sally as soon as he should see occasion which the Enemy themselves soon gave him by coming down on the East side of the City with a party of near 2000 Foot and some Horse intending to have run a trench along to the Sea and there to have built a Fort which might have commanded the Haven and hindred supplyes from England they within perceiving their design were resolved to hinder them so drawing out near twelve hundred Horse and four thousand Foot couragiously enter those trenches the Enemy had raised and pursued their charge with so much courage that Ormonds Horse presently gave back and his Foot most cut in pieces or taken prisoners which easie victory gave such heat to the English Forces that pursuing it with as much resolution as possible could be expected in men they followed the Chase as far as Rathmines where
Justice may be executed in the Land Thirdly I recommend to you the Protestant cause abroad which seems at this time to be in some danger having great and powerfull enemies and very few friends and I hope and believe that the old English zeal to that Cause is still among us Lastly my Lords and you Gentlemen of the House of Commons That you will in all your debates maintain and conserve love and unity among your selves that therein you may be the pattern of the Nation who have sent you up in peace and with their prayers that the spirit of wisdome and peace may be among you and this shall also be my prayer for you and to this let us all add our utmost endeavours for the making this a happy Parliament This was the Protectors so much applauded Speech to his Parliament which finisheed the Lord Fines began and after having enumerated the deceased Protectors great endeavours c. for the peace of the Nation and his Highnesses following his steps in the calling of this present Parliament for the three Nations joyntly he recommended more effectually to them the wars abroad and the probabilities of homebred disturbances desiring their provision to maintain the one and care to prevent the other the Parliament having every one taken the Oath formerly taken by Olivers Parliament not to alter the Government were returned to their House and the Protector to Whitehall The House of Commons being returned to their House spent muce time about the rectifying of their Elections and expelling severall Members out of the House but causing others to be elected in their steads under pretence of being Malignants and having born Arms against the Parliament in behalf of their lawfull Soveraign and not only expelling them but disabling them from being elected or chosen as Members of future Parliaments so though this Parliament was esteemed one of the freest that had been called since 1641 yet it was not free indeed The House having as far as they could rectified their Members and Elections proceed to the calling to an account of all those who had been entrusted with the Customes Excize Taxes or other Revenue of the Common-wealth and to consider of the present state of the Revenues and some ways to pay the arrears of the Army Navy c. and other Nationall Debts but this business being put off by delays never came to any effect They likewise proceed to the drawing up of a Bill for it never came to be either Act or Ordinance which should be intituled An Act of Recognition of his Highness right and Title to be Protector and Chief Magistrate of the Commonwealth of England Scotland and Ireland and the Dominions and Territories thereunto belonging Many demurs were there in this debate and severall praevious Votes to be passed before this Bill could be committed as whether the Parliament should consist of two Houses and whether this House should transact with the Persons sitting in the other House as a House of Parliament This business took up a great deal of time the Protectorians stood stifly for it and the Commonwealths-men as stong against it alledging that to treat with those men as a House of Lords was to enslave themselves more deeply then ever they had been before That they should now by it clearly evince to the world their folly perjury and villany that whilest they had taken their Oaths to be true and faithfull to govern without a House composed of the Peers of the Nation they should now both break their Oath and subject themselves to such as were scarce Peers to the Commons That if they did but consider the Creator of this House of Peers as they were called they could not but foresee the necessary thraldome they must run themselves into these being all such as were made sure to his interest and were so many sure Votes for whatever arbitrary actions he might undertake and if it were thought unlawfull for the Bishops to sit in the House of Lords because they were accounted so many sure voices for the King how much more might these be excepted against who were certainly so many sure voices for the Protectorall interest being all created by it Yet notwithstanding these Arguments the Vote was at length carried on the Protectorian side and Resolved That the House of Commons would transact with the Persons then sitting in the other House as a House of Parliament during the present Parliament but with this Proviso that it was not intended thereby to exclude such Peers as have been faithfull to the Parliament from their priviledge of being duly summoned to be Members of that House Whilest the Parliament are thus pursuing their Votes to settle the Protector in England the French and Spaniard are endeavouring to conclude a Peace betwixt themselves and to leave the English in the lurch which howsoever it then and ever since went vigorously on yet are not the Conditions spoken of performed on either side to the full-consummating of it During the Sessions of this Parliament on the 24th of February Mr George Strangways formerly a Major in the Kings Army was pressed to death in the Press-yard in Newgate for refusing to plead to his Indictment for having caused his Brother-in-Law one Mr Fussell an Attorney of Dortsetshire to be shot in the head as he sate writing in his Chamber-window of which he died The magnanimity nobleness and pe nitence of Major Strangways at his death deserves this memory This Parliament took into consideration the Cases of divers Persons who had been imprisoned in the time of the late deceased Protector Maj. Gen. Overton is sent for out of the Isle of Jersey and released The Duke of Buckingham is likewise released out of Windsor-Castle upon the Lord Fairfax his giving 20000lb security that he shall demean himself peaceably for the future and not joyn with abet or have any correspondence with the enemies of the Lord-Protector or the Common wealth Severall other Persons of Quality were likewise by them released out of the Tower Maj. Gen. Brown likewise who had by the long Parliament in 1649 been disabled from bearing any Offices in the City is by them restored and made capable of all Offices priviledges and precedencies there and the long Parliaments Vote of the 4th of December 1649 made in his prejudice vacated The Quakers to promote their Turbulencies on the 16th of April sent a Paper into the House sealed and directed on the outside For the Speaker of the Commons assembled in Parliament these are for him to read to the Commons The inside contained a Declaration entituled A Declaration to the Commons assembled in Parliament Delivered the sixth day of the second Moneth called April 1659 to the then Speaker of the said House This Declaration contained many ignominious scandals thrown by those Fanatiques both upon the Magistracy and Ministry for which the Parliament express their Resentment to the Declarers requiring them to repair to their respective habitations apply themselves to
thirtieth Articles concerning Church-censure and Synods They likewise constitute General Monck together with General Montague to be Generals at Sea for the next Summers expedition and accordingly command Montague to go to Sea with all possible speed And because several Members had impeachments against them and upon that score were secluded the House they disanull those impeachments and re-admit them as namely Mr Denzil Hollis and Sr Robert Pye About this time the Deanry of Christ-Church which had for a long time been in the hands of Dr Owen a man look'd upon at Oxford as a hair-brain'd schismatick was taken from him and confirmed to Dr Reynolds a man who farre better deserved it They likewise at the beginning of March released the Lord Lindsey the Lord Sinclare and Lord Lauderdale from their tedious imprisonments to which upon various pretences they had been committed Dr Walker and Dr Turner were made Judges of the Admiralty and Probate of Wils and Dr Wiseman constituted the Commonwealths Advocate And now was the Lord General invited to Dinner by the Company of Mercers and afterwards by several other of the Companies the Citizens striving mutually who should in the best manner discover and expresse the gratefulness and esteem they bore for his noble and heroick actions At this time there was an assembly of a Parliamentary Convention in Ireland summoned by Sr Charles Coote and the Lord Broghill for the better Regulating of affairs there till all things in England might be in a better posture The Parliament that they might testifie to the world that they were not so forgetfull of Oaths as their fellow-Members order the solemn League and Covenant to be set up and read in all Churches and likewise to be set up in the Parliament that they might remember they had sworn for the maintenance of the King and his posterity Collonel Lambert being found to lurk up and down about the City notwithstanding the Order of the Parliament was as a person too dangerous to be trusted to himself at such a time as this committed to the Tower Orders were sent down to Hull by Collonel Alured and Major Smith that Collonel Overton should immediately deliver up that Garrison into the hands of Collonel Fairfax and to repair immediately to London and he notwithstanding his former Declaration that he was resolved to keep it till the coming of King Jesus presently obeyed the Order and Collonel Fairfax accordingly took possession of the place Sr Arthur Haslerig and others were questioed before the Parliament and Counsell of State but nothing extraordinary being found against him as to the designs were then on Foot it was passed by The Parliament made Sr Peter Killigrew Governour of Pendennis-Castle and worthy Mr Morris Commander of Plymouth-Fort and Island There was about this time a conference between ten of the Counsell of State and ten head-Officers of the Army the Generall being present concerning the Government but the conference being only for mutuall information and satisfaction it had no result The Parliament ordered that the Examination of Sr George Booth and his Lady should be taken off the File and given to him he deserving to have his Encomium put on in the room of it And now they obliterated the Engagement which was made by the Rump in 1649 to free them from punishment for the impious murther of their Gracious Soveraign out of the Journall and voted it to be null and void And now the time of their dissolution being come they put out the Act for summoning a new Parliament in the Name of the Keepers of the Liberties of the Commonwealth of England The Qualifications which they put out being only these That all persons who have advised aided or any wayes assisted or abetted the rebellion in Ireland All those who profess the Popish Religion All that advised or voluntarily aided in the Warre against the Parliament in 1641 unless they have since given a manifestation of their good affection shall be uncapable of being elected Members for the ensuing Parliament and no person elected and thus qualified to sit in the House upon a high penalty Though these Qualifications did seem at first to exclude a great number yet divers eminent and worthy persons though they had actually been in the Kings service in the late War having been engaged in Sr George Booths quarrell for the naturall interest were elected and admitted to sit in the House The City having compleated their Militia as well Auxiliaries as trained Bands made choice of his Excellency the Lord Generall to be Major Generall of all their Forces Major Generall Brown being Collonel of the Regiment of Horse The Parliament ordered 9000lb to be given to Major Generall Brown in satisfaction for those great losses which he had received under the tyranny of the Rump for his noble and publick spirit They likewise gave 20000lb as a gift to his Excellency And before their dissolution they released Dr Wren who for about eighteen years had suffered imprisonment in the Tower of London a man who doubtless deserved better usage but that the times then did not well understand him They gave power also to the Counsel of State to release what Prisoners upon State-matters they should see good and particularly Maj. Gen. Lambert They ordered a stop should be put to the sale of the Estate of the Lord Craven and Lord St John the first of which had his Estate taken away from him by more than hellish injustice Some neglect being in the Printer concerning the Printing of the Act for the Militia and it being supposed there was a designe of some of the late Rump to make some alteration in the Act as might suit for their turn or else upon the Parliaments dissolution by violence to hinder it The Parliament ordered a Committee to take care that it should be finished with all expedition which accordingly was performed And so this part of a Parliament which was chosen in 1640. was now finally dissolved in 1660. by their own Act which was That the day for dissolution of this Parliament be from the sixteenth of March 1660. Multiplicity of business having caused them to alter the first appointed day About this time our gracious Sovereigne King Charles the second hearing of the transactions of affairs in England and seeing how the face of all things began to alter so that great probability there was of being admitted to his undoubted Right without the effusion of his Subjects blood removed his Court from Brussels to Breda in Holland a Town belonging to his Sister the Princess of Orange there expecting till England might be brought into such a posture as might fit it for his happy and wished for reception The Parliament at their dissolution had conferred on the Counsel of State all Power whatsoever in the Interval till the assembling of the Free Parliament April 25. 1660. which accordingly they executed so prudently and wisely and preserved the Nation in peace and put the affairs of the Kingdom in
English The Loves of Clirio and Lozia a Romance Mr. Knowles his Rudiment of the Hebrew Tongue A Book of Scheams or Figures of Heaven ready set for every four Minutes of times and very usefull for all Astrologers Florus Anglicus or an exact History of England from the Reign of William the Conquerour to the death of the Late King Linguae or the Combate of the Tongue and five Senses for Superiority a serious Comedy The Spirits Touchstone being a clear discovery how a man may certainly know whether he be truly taught by the Spirit of God or not The poor mans Physician and Chyrurgion Physicall Rarities containing the most choice Receipts in Physick and Chyrurgery for the cure of all Diseases Incident to mans body By R W lliams To which is added the physical Mathematicks By Hermes Tris-Megistus The Idol of Clowns or the Relation of Wat Tiler's Rebellion The Christian Moderator in 3 parts The Golden Fleece or a Discourse of the cloathing of England Dr. Sibbs his Divine Meditations Vigerius Precepts of Idiotismes Grotij Poemata Three Books of M. Matthews Minister at Swansey in South-wales 1 The Messiah Magnified by the mouthes of Babes in America or Gains and Gamaliel a helpfull Father and his hopeful Son discoursing of the three most considerable points 1. The great want of Christ 2 The great worth that is in Christ 3. The good way that is chalkt out by Christ 2. The New Congregationall Church prov'd to be the old Christian Church by Scripture Reason and History 3 The Reading Church-member Regularly call'd back to Christ and his Church A physical Dictionary An exact History of the several changes of Government in England from the horrid Murther of King Charles the first to the happy Restauration of King Charles the second with the Renowned Actions of General Monck by J. D. Duodecim Dr. Smith's practice of physick The Grammar War Posselius Apothegmes Fasciculus Florum Crashaw's Visions The Juniper Lecture Helvicus Colloquies The Christian Souldier his Combate with the three arch-enemies of man-kind the world the flesh and the devil Seasonable advice to the Apprentices of the Honourable City of London touching their duty to God and their Masters Heinsius de Crepundiis The History of Russia or the Government of the Emperour of Muscovia with the manner and fashions of the people of that Countrey Drexeliu's school of Patience Drexelius his right Intention of every ones action A School or Nurture for Children or the Duty of Children to Parents very usefull for all that intend to bring up their children in the fear of God Viginti Quarto The New Testament The third part of the Bible Sir Richard Bakers Meditations and Prayers for every day of the Week Playes The Ball. Chawbut Conspiracy Obstinate Lady The London Chanticlers a Comedy foll of various and delightfull Mirth neyer before published FLORVS ANGLICVS The Second Part. CONTAINING Englands Oligarchicall Government from the Death of CHARLES the I. to the Protectorship of OLIVER PART I. NO sooner had the fatall Axe severed England and her Liberties by severing King Charles his head from his body but the Parliament the better to maintain what they had now so farre prosecuted make Proclamation That none under penalty of being deemed guilty of high Treason should presume to proclaim declare publish or any way promote the Prince of Wales Sonne to the late King or any other Person to be King or Chief Magistrate of England or of any the Dominions belonging to them by colour of Inheritance Succession or Election or any other claim whatsoever without the free consent of the people in Parliament c. This Proclamation though it came not forth in full till the second of February yet was in part proclaimed on the very day of the Kings beheading They likewise the more to ensure their Government and to carry it on with the more plausibility publish an Act of State for the alteration of Writs in England Ireland and Wales as that in stead of King the Name Stile and Test Custodis Libertatis Angliae Authoritate Parliamenti be used and none other and all Writs c. should run so of which all concerned in the Law were required to take notice Yet they provide that all Patents granted by the late King should still stand in full force and vertue The Houses likewise take upon them a more then Papall power and because he Priest could indeed absolve them they are resolved to absolve themselves and all those engaged with them by an Act repealing the Oath of Allegiance and Supremacy Sr Lewis Dives Sr Robert Stuart of Irel and the Lord Loughborough Collonel Poyer Collonel Laughorne and Duke Hamilton having escaped out of severall Prisons of which the last out of Windsor Castle a strict search was made for them but in vain except Duke Hamilton who was the next morning retaken in an Inne in Southwark The Lords House perceiving that by reason of his Majesties death the Judges gave not that assistance to them which was usuall by reason his death had extinguished their power as Judges desired that eighteen of the Commons might be sent to conferre with nine of the Lords but it would not be assented to The House of Commons having executed their King the Nobles are an eyesore to them they therefore resolve to take away as many of them as they can bring within their reach they resolve to begin with those they have already in hold and the Commission of the High-Court of Justice for his Majesties Triall being expired they create a new one consisting of sixty three persons of which any fifteen had power to act for the triall of Duke Hamilton as Earl of Cambridg Earl of Holland Earl of Norwich Lord Capell who attempted an escape but was retaken at Lambeth and Sir John Owen and in order thereto they likewise vote the adjournment of Hillary Terme which because the Judges had not power they do by their Proclamation of the second of February And now they take into consideration the reception of their numerous fellow members which by the arbitrary force of the Army had been excluded and at last they vote That none should be admitted into the House who had voted that his late Majesties Concessions were a ground for Peace and for the firm settlement of these Nations The Parliament having cut off one of those three Estates by which the Nation had so long been governed think likewise of abolishing the second that they alone might have the whole power therefore upon considerations of the House of Lords in what capacity they should stand they vote 1. That they would make no farther addresses to them 2. That they would receive none from them 3. That an Act be drawn to abolish that House as dangerous and useless Thus is the whole basis of that Government which had continued in England so many hundred years overthrown in ten dayes and the two ancient grand Estates of the Land cut off Having abolished
mens bodies endeavour the like over their souls They therefore Enact that every Citizen of London at the time of their admission to their Freedome should take the ensuing Oath viz. You shall swear That you shall be true and faithfull to the Commonwealth of England and in order there unto you shall be obedient to the just Government of the City of London You shall to your best power maintain the peace and all the due Franchises thereof and to your knowledge and ability do and perform all Acts and things belonging to a Free-man of the said City They likewise Enact that the said Oath Mutatis mutandis be taken by every Free-man in every City Borrough and Town Corporate in England and Wales at the time of their admission to Freedome as aforesaid The Extraordinary Ambassadors for the States of Holland having had audience and promise of Redress for the injuries done to their Ships provided the wrong-doers could be found out being on departure many thanks and civilities having past between them and the House they Order two Members to give them a solemn farewell who accompanied them to Gravesend The Army again Petition the Parliament in prosecution of some desires formerly presented to them viz. 1. To make and establish such wholesome Laws in the native Language as may preserve the Interest and Liberties of this Commonwealth 2. That Tithes may be abolished 3. That no punishment be inflicted upon any man for the Exercise of his Conscience 4. That all that had to deal in the publick Treasury be called to account and that free Quarter be taken off 5. That all Persons whatsoever may have a free and equall Administration of the Law 6. That Persons imprisoned for Debt having nothing to pay may be released and that such as are able and shelter themselves in prison be forced to pay 7. That all Persons in prison for pretended words c. be brought to triall and if found innocent have satisfaction for false imprisonment 8. That Provision might be made for the Poor of the Nation 9. That constant Pay may be provided to prevent free Quarter 10. That the Arrears of the Army might be paid out of the Kings Deans and Chapters Lands 11. That their want of Horses might be supplied 12. That care might be taken for prevention of clipt Money 13. That the Articles of Warre might be mitigated 14. That the Souldiers might not be put to the execution of civil Orders as seizing on unlicensed Books distraining of Moneys or the like so that the people may not complain of their intrenchment on their Liberties These were February 19. 1649. drawn up by the Army as their humble Petition and Address to the Parliament but we need not think it strange that every common Souldier should have liberty to propose what was necessary to be done in the Government since they had perfectly the whole power in their hands and had first by the fetches of some of their Commanders excluded and extirpated all other power to give life and being to this shadow of a Government this little finger of a Parliament and yet ten times heavier to the Nation then the whole loynes of its legal Magistracy But to return to our purpose the Parliament for so in their own language we must call them order the Triall of Duke Hamilton who though he was no Englishman yet was arraigned under the Name of Earl of Cambridge thereby to subject him to the English Law together with the Earl of Holland Lord Capell Lord Goring and Sr John Owen the two first of which were afterwards beheaded in Pallace-yard and the two last meeting with more favour from them were suffered to depart beyond Seas A Councell of State being setled by the Parliament they met at Derby House where some Propositions of the Parliaments in order to their unanimous Proceedings were tendred to them viz. the approbation of the Proceedings with the late King the House of Lords the present Alteration and some other These were by them received with some dislike to some of the particulars and their dislike being mentioned in the House was referred to a Committee The Prince Elector Palatine makes his Addresses to the Parliament with returnes of thanks for their former favours and desires that 5600lb due of his last years Pension might be paid that the Pension of 8000lb per annum might be continued and that he might have the Pass of the House for himself Family and forty Horse to go home The first and last desires were granted and the Summe due Ordered to be paid him but the Continuation of his Pension put off to further consideration The Parliament and Councell of State agree upon an Attestation to be taken by every individuall Member of the Councell of State which ran as followeth viz. I A. B. being of the Councell of State do Testifie that I do adhere unto this present Parliament in the maintenance and defence of the publick Liberty and Freedome of this Nation as it is now Declared and to the Government for future in way of a Republick without King or House of Peers And I do promise in the sight of God that through his grace I will be faithfull in the performance of the trust committed to me as aforesaid and therein faithfully pursue the Instructions given to this Councell by this present Parliament and not reveal or disclose any thing in whole or in part directly or indirectly that shall be debated or resolved on in Counsell without command or direction in Parliament or the Order and allowance of the major part of them that shall be present at such debates or resolutions In confirmation of the Premisses I have hereunto set my hand To which Attestation the Clerk of the Parliament is Ordered to see that every individuall Member of the Councell of State do Subscribe And now comes out the Protestation of the Parliament of Scotland against the Proceedings touching his Majesties Life and Person which because it was of so eminent concernment I shall here insert the most materiall Circumstances viz. That by their Letter of the sixth instant viz. January they represented unto you what endeavours have been used for taking away of his Majesties life for Change of the fundamentall Government of this Kingdome and introducing a sinfull and ungodly Toleration in matters of Religion and therein they did express their sad thoughts and great feares of the dangerous consequences that might follow thereupon and further they did earnestly press that there might be no proceeding against his Majesties Person which would certainly continue the great distractions of the Kingdomes and involve them in many evils troubles and confusions but that by the free Councels of both Houses of the Parliament of England and with the advice and consent of the Parliament of Scotland such course might be taken in relation to him as may be for the good and happiness of these Kingdomes both having an unquestionable interest in his Person as King of both
judgeeth every mans actions impartially Some there were who got into Steeples and other places of defence thinking to save themselves but were all forced either by the sword or famine to yield who yet in cold bloud found as little mercy as their fellows had done in the heat of the Battell there being not above two escaping with their lives the Dean Barnard afterwards made Almoner and the other an old man by his leaping out of a Steeple which Cromwels Souldiers blew up with Gunpowder who though he broke his Leg yet had his life saved This great slaughter not being occasioned neither by the heat of the Souldiers but by Cromwels speciall Command who vowed somewhat to a noble Officer of his pleading for mercy for the Defendants That he would sacrifice their bodyes to the souls of the Englishmen they had murdered which he could not in justice say of those in Droghedah knowing them to be most Englishmen and such whose greatest fault was to serve their true and lawfull Soveraign in his just defence However this slaughter works for his ends for upon the News the Souldiers and Townsmen in Trim and Dundalke two adjacent Garrisons quit their holds and such was their haste in Trim that they l ft their great Guns behinde them on the Platforms and well might their fear be great at the News of Droghedahs taking when Sr Phelime O Neal at the hearing of it burst out in a passion swearing That if Cromwell had taken Droghedah by storm if he should storm Hell he would take it This considerable action having had such wished for success Cromwell directs his Army towards Wexford and in his way engarrisons Killingkerick and Arcklo Castle the feat of the Ormonds two deserted Forts many others in that March submitted whereof most being places inconsiderable were slighted others engarrisoned The first of October the Army faces Wexford and the Lord Deputy requires Collonel Synnot the Governour to make a speedy surrender of it he returnes an answer somewhat dubious so that many Papers pass between him and the Lord Deputy which was occasioned only by a design the Governour had to waste and delay time till the Earl of Castle-haven was entred into the Town with 500 men to strengthen the Garrison So when the Governour had received these recruits he no longer writes dubiously but plainly sends word to the Lord Deputy that he was resolved to stand it out to the utmost whereupon Cromwell being enraged at his mockery bends his force at the Castle which stands at the South-East end of the Town which after having received some hundreds of great Shot was forced to a rendition This so quelled the hearts of the stout Wexfordians that they quitred their Walls and gave the Enemy free leave to enter which they delayed not to do but meeting with no resistance fell in pell mell till they came to the Market-place where the Souldiers and Inhabitants reviving their courage in vain maintained their ground for a short time for they were soon over-powred and all that were found in Arms slain Thus Wexford being taken Cromwell marches on to Waterford and takes Passage-Fort but because of the Winter presently raises his Army and whilest severall parties are disposed in their winter-quarters they reduce severall engarrisoned places so that in fine all considerable places in Ireland except Limerick Waterford Clonmell Galloway and Kilkenny were in the possession of the Lord Deputy Cromwell But let us leave him thus victorious in Ireland and return to the King and Scots The King seeing business go so ill in Ireland resolves to comply somewhat neerer with the Scots who notwithstanding his giving Commissions to Montross still sollicit him by Commissioners and at length come to agreement with him The news of this and the Scottish great preparations for warre and as it is supposed to invade England makes the Parliament send over to Ireland for their victorious Generall Cromwell whom they intend to send into Scotland to hinder their coming into England Generall Fairfax having pleaded his disability to go but Cromwell before his coming away he reduces the City of Kilkenny and the strong Fort of Clonmell the one by Articles the other by storm which done leaving Ireton Deputy in his stead he takes Ship at Wexford and so came over to Bristoll and from thence by Post to London where upon Saturday the first of Iune he arrived with unexpressible imaginations of joy About this time Prince Rupert who had played many pranks at Sea is blocked up by the three English Admirals in Lisbone most of his Ships being before either taken or sunk who treat with the King of Portugall to force him out of his harbour which he by no means neither promises nor threats could be induced to do though the English surprize many of his Sugar-Ships coming from Brazill and threaten to take the rest in case he resolves not to renounce his protection of Prince Rupert but at last the English for want of water and victuals are forced to depart from before the Port which opportunity Prince Rupert taking gets out and steers for Malaga whither the English having victualled follow them take the Roe-Buck force the Black-Prince and four more ashore and Prince Rupert escaping with two Ships more they sleight him and giving over further search return with victory to England About this time likewise the English having sent Mr Anthony Ashcam Agent to the King of Spain he arrived the 5th of Iune 1650. at Sancta Maria where hearing many threats against his person he procured a guard for to convey him to Madrid where at his first arrivall lying at an Inne being the next day at dinner with his Interpreter six roaring Dons knockt at the door and having easie admittance Mr Ashcam rose to salute them whereupon the first stabbed Mr Ashcam and his Interpreter endeavouaing to escape was wounded in the belly both falling down dead in the place the murtherers though they escaped to the Sanctuary were fetched out by the King of Spain but again returned thither by the Popes speciall mandate The League and agreement being as I said before fully concluded between the Scots and the King so that there wanted nothing but their having him with them which to expedite he hastens from Breda comes to the Hague and there takes shipping from whence notwithstanding the wait laid for him he arrives safely at the Spey in the north of Scotland where he is received with the best entertainment the Scots could give him But before he ascend the Throne there are other Conditions to be agreed on which they told him not of before 1. He must take the solemn League and Covenant 2. He must subscribe to a Declaration of the Kirks own framing declaring That he renounced the sins of his Fathers house and of his own the Idolatry of his Mother by a constant adhering to the Cause of God according to the Covenant in the firm establishment of Church-government as it is laid down
where in the presence of God he promised upon Oath not to violate or infringe the matters and things contained in the aforementioned Instrument but to observe and cause the same to be observed and in all things to the best of his understanding govern the Nations according to the Laws Statutes and Customes seeking peace causing justice and Law to be equally administred Presently after the Administration of this Oath the following Proclamation was by Order of the Counsell published throughout all the Territories and Dominions of the Commonwealth of England Scotland and Ireland viz. Whereas the late Parliament dissolved themselves and resigning their whole powers and Authorities the Government of the Common-wealth of England Scotland and Ireland by a Lord Protector and successive trienniall Parliaments is now established And whereas Oliver Cromwell Captain Generall of all the Forces of this Commonwealth is declared Lord Protector of the said Nations and hath accepted thereof We have therefore thought it necessary as we do hereby to make publication of the premisses and strictly to charge and command all and every person and persons of what quality and condition soever in any of the said three Nations to take notice hereof and to conforme and submit themselves to the Government so established And all Sheriffs Mayors Bayliffs c. are required to publish this Proclamation to the end none may have cause to pretend ignorance in this behalf This Proclamation was first of all proclaimed by a Serjeant at Arms in the Pallaceyard Westminster and by the Lord Major Sheriffs and Aldermen of London at the Royall Exchange and afterwards throughout all England Scotland and Ireland The City of London to shew their willing concurrence to this great Change invite the Protector to a Dinner at Grocers-Hall whither he is attended with a great deal of magnificence and received with as much pomp and splendor as possibly could be There he first first makes use of the Power given him in giving Titles of Honour by dubbing of Sr Thomas Viner then Lord Major of London Knight And now out of imaginary fears of danger the better to secure his state a seeming Plot is found out some Cavaliers are sent to the Tower and the others warned from London upon it but the Protector to shew his clemency at his first entrance into the Government after some small time of durance releases again those who were imprisoned in the Tower The King of Scots being now come into France was there honourably received by the Court where he took up his residence at which time there were many discontents of the Princes of the blood against the aspiring ambition of Cardinall Mazarine in so much that it had like to have come to a civill warre To compose which difference the King of Scots offered to mediate in order to a reconciliation wherein he so farre prevailed that he procured a Conference between Deputies on both sides to whom although he urged his own condition as an argument for the French King to compose the difference in love rather then to to stand it out all which proving ineffectuall both sides betake themselves to armes the Treaty not succeeding caused him to lie under the displeasure of the Cardinall The Scots in the Highlands under the command of Glencarne and Kenmore by Commission from the King rally and rise to a considerable body of neer 4000 Horse and Foot hoping they might once more fairly dispute their quarcell in field but Major Generall Morgan with 1500 Horse and Foot coming upon them at their Rendesvouz before they could get into any good order killed neer 200 on the place took most of the rest Prisoners Glencarne himself hardly escaping with about 40 Horse The three Agents from Holland having been here all this while and little or nothing agre on for the ratification of a Peace between the two States two of them went over to receive fuller power from the Lords States as was pretended but it was rather suspected that it was to fetch Money which was the only bait by which the Protector could be won to an accord for at their return the Peace was suddenly clapt up and by a large Proclamation annexed to the Articles shewing the reason 's of the Peace which would so much as was pretended redound to the good of the Nation though no understanding Englishman but might guesse at the inconveniencies of it proclaimed on the 5th of Aprill at London and after in other parts of England And now another Plot succeeds the last the chief designers are pretended to be Gilbert and John Gerrard Esquires brothers one Jones an Apotheeary Tewdor Fox and Vowell the design was to have slain the Protector raised an Army and brought in the King but how no man ever knew however these feigned Plots or at least Plots first contrived by themselves are good seturers of Tyrants and usurpers for hereby they fright men from reall designments the plotters are sent to the Tower and a High Court of Justice is erected for their triall Gerrard and Vowell are condemned to be hanged the rest are saved Vowell according to sentence was hanged at Charingcross but Coll. Gerrard upon Petition had the favour to be beheaded at Towerhill where he behaved himself so gallantly and looked death so unappalledly in the face that his very enemies were forced to admire his courage and constancy At the very same time Don Pantaleon Sa Brother to the Lord Ambassador of Portugall was beheaded on the same scaffold for having committed a ridiculous Riot on the New Exchange where followed by a crew of mad fellowes Servants and Lacquies to his Brother or himself he shot a Gentleman that was there walking in the head and had done further mischief had not the noble Coll. Gerrard who was for an other cause beheaded before him stopt their fury and with his Rapier drove them before him down stairs This Portugall came with so great fear to the block that many deemed his life was gone before the blow with the Axe was given The King of Scots being still in France and finding notwithstanding his own and his Mothers endeavours that the Treaty with France and England was vigorously solicited by Monsieur Newfvill Seeing that by necessary consequence the Peace being concluded he and his party must be enforced to leave France thought it a great deal better and more honourable voluntarily to desert that Kingdom then to stay till he were forced out by complement so he with his Brother the Duke of York his Cousins Prince Rupert and Edward retired themselves to Chatillon a house of the Prince of Conde's from whence not long after the King and Prince Rupert went into Germany But now Glencarne reenforced by hopes of Middletons coming out of Holland with supplies of Money and Ammunition begins to stirre again in the Highlands exhorting his Countrymen to gain themselves immortall fame by redeeming themselves and their posterity from the slavery and bondage they now lay under filling their
Protectors instrument were soon carried to his ear and therefore he fearing that in the end they would produce irreconcileable jarrs resolved to remedy them in time and to put the Parliament into a posture more complacent to his designs if possible he goes therefore by water from Whitehall to Westminster enters the Painted Chamber and sends for those Members of Parliament which were then sitting to whom he declared That the God of heaven knew what great grief and sorrow of heart it was to him to find them falling into heats and divisions That he would have them take notice of this that the same Government made him a Protector whech made him a Parliament That as they were intrusted with some things so was he with others That in the Gouernment there were certain Fundamentals which could not be altered As 1. That the Government should be in a single person and a Parliament 2. That Parliaments should not be perpetnall 3. That the Militia should not be trusted into one hand or power but so that the Parliament have a check on the Protector and the Protector on the Parliament 4. That in matters of Religion there ought to be liberty of Conscience and that persecution in the Church was not to be tolerated That the rest of the things in the Government were examinable and alterable as the State of affairs did require That for his own part his heart was even overwhelmed with grief to see that any of them should go about to overthrow what was setled contrary to their trust received from the people which cannot but bring very great inconveniences upon themselves and the Nation This was the summe of his perswasions to them but fearing that this would not sufficiently win them to his interest he provided a recognition to be signed by every individuall Member as followeth I do hereby promise and engage to be true and faithfull to the Lord Protector and the Common-wealth of England Scotland and Ireland and shall not according to the tenor of the Indenture whereby I am returned to serve in Parliament propose or give my consent to alter the Government as it is setled in one person and a Parliament This was subscribed by many of the Members though the major part rather chose to abandon the House the rest conntinued sitting to the end of the five Moneths at which time the Protector seeing their dilatory proceedings and that they delayed the setling him in the Government the time being expired wherein his Instrument gave him leave not letting slip one day nor sarce an hour dissolves them Some time after the time of this Parliaments dissolution was there a horrible terrible Plot discovered against his Highness the Lord Protector and his usurped power The first appearance of its effects was at Salisbury whither on the 16th of March came a Body of about 200 Cavaliers and it being then the time of the Assizes there they took away the Judges Commissions clapt guards on all the Innes till they had seized upon all the Horses then left the Town and marched towards Pool commanded by their Captains Wagstaffe Penruddocke and Jones Another Party at the same time surprized the Town of Shrewsbury and endeavoured to have taken the Castle but being discovered that design was prevented There was likewse a Party to the number of 800 or a 1000 men got together in Montgomeryshire In Sherwood-Forrest likewise in Nottingamshire there was a Party gathered together but frighted with their own shadows they dispersed as did likewise two parties which were upon Yorkeshire and Northumberland This Plot was said to have been laid all over the Nation though there were so few appearances and all those vanished of themselves except that commanded by Wagstaffe Penruddocke and Jones which being pursued by Collonel Vntoncrooke out of Wiltshire into Devonshire were by him and John Copleston Esquire Sheriff of Devon totally routed Penruddocke and Jones taken and Penruddocke with some others executed For this service the Protector afterwards dubbed the Sheriff of Devon and in token of more favour gave him the Sword wherewith he Knighted him About the end of this year 1654 died that famous Antiquary and accomplished Scholler Mr John Selden of the Inner Temple whose fame was so great in Forreign parts that many persons of known wisdome and Learning came over on purpose into England to see and admire him Nor need any give him any larger Encomium then the Right Reverend Bishop of Armagh gave him in the Pulpit when he preacht his Funerall Sermon viz. That he esteem'd Mr Selden a man of such vast parts and Learning that he judged himself not worthy to carry his Books after him The Protector had a great while been preparing a mighty Fleet with all necessary provisions for some notable voyage all the world standing amazed at his preparations and every one fearing thuir own States they could not guesse whither his design tended At length those vast preparations produced two mighty Fleets the one under command of Generall Blake was fitted only for the Sea and sent to the Streights The other about two moneths after was committed to the charge of Generall Pen who was to take aboard him a Land Army commanded by Generall Venables These Land Forces being about 3000 were divided into the severall Ships which were in number 30 sail of good Ships but not provided with Provisions necessary for so great an Army nor so long a voyage nor indeed could the Commanders provide themselves things fitting they not knowing whither nor how farre they were to go The 19th of December 1654 this Fleet set sail for Portsmouth directly for the Barbadoes where the Generals had order to break open their Commissions this being the appointed place of Rendesvouz whether having a fresh gale of wind and fair they arrived on the 29th of January and came all to anchor in Carlyle-bay where presently after they landed their men The sudden departure of these two great Fleets made the King of Spain who feared thry were designed against him to send an express command to the Marquess of Leda then Governour of Dunkirk to pass into England in the quality of an extraordinary Ambassadour to see if he could possibly search out the certainty of that grand Court secret he accordingly being arrived in England spent severall days here but having no satisfaction in that which he most of all desired returned back again But to return to our West-India voyage whilest the Fleet abode at the Barbadoes the Generals Collonels and inferiour Officers look'd diligently after their respective charges the Shallops brought in quarters out of England are set up the Coopers are ordered to trim the Watercaske two Frigots are sent to St Christophers and St Mevis to raise Men the Generals striving to compleat their Regiments at the Barbadoes and form Regiments out of the Seamen to serve upon occasion and at length being in a full readiness they shipt about 6000 Men and a Troop of Horse which the Islanders
Generals to be an eclipse of his glory reduced them again to their former Stations Another design of the Protectors to raise Money should have been the introduction of the Jewes into England Here was two hundred thousand pounds to be got which made the care of the encrease of the Church of Christ lye extreamly So he proposes it to severall Ministers for their approbation alledging that since there is a promise for their conversion means must be used to that end which is the preaching of the Gospell and that cannot be had except they be permitted to reside where the Gospel is preached But notwithstanding these Arguments the design was declaimed against both by Clergy and Laity so the Jews were denied their Re-admission though 't is supposed the Protector swallowed down some part of that sweet promised morsell The Spaniard having had certain advice of the attempt and repulse of the English at Hispaniola and their Possession of Jamaica thought this a sufficient breach of the peace though there was never any peace made with him beyond the Line he alwayes taking those English Ships he could light on and master though they went to traffick thither presently makes a seizure of all the English Merchants persons and goods then resident in Spain so that the War begins to grow hot on both sides the Tropick The Protector therefore orders the Generals Blake and Montague to block up Cadiz the chief Port-Town of the King of Spain and whither his Plate-Fleet used yearly to come He likewise endeavours a peace with France who had had Wars with Spain for a long time to which the Cardinall Mazarine consenting it was easily concluded on The French King being so inhumanely unworthy as upon Mazarines instigations to banish his Majesty the King of Scots and the rest of the late Kings children his nearest relations out of his Dominions though indeed he could do no more but forbid their re-entrance they being already gone to further the making of a peace with him who had so unjustly exposed them from their inheritances The English Fleet under Montagues and Blakes Command had for a good while in a manner besieged Cadiz by Sea but could by no exasperations be drawn out of their harbour to fight them the Spaniards thinking it a safer policy to let the English beat at Sea and at last be forced to depart for want of provisions rather then venture either men or Ships against them who they had seen so well experienced in such terrible Sea-fights with the Hollander But the English found in Wyers Bay in Portugall a convenient supply both of Water and provisions which proved a great deal nearer then the Spaniard imagined they would be forced to fetch it Hither were the Generals gone for fresh Water and provisions having left only a Squadron of seven Ships under Command of Captain Stainer before the Port of Cadiz to have an eye upon whatever Ships should pass in or out at that Port. Being thus plying to and fro thereabouts for some dayes it happened that a stiff gale of Wind forced Stainer to stand out to Sea where he spied a very pleasing object part of the King of Spains Fleet coming from the West-Indies and making directly for Cadiz he was somewhat to the Lee-ward made up towards them with all the Sail they could possibly and after some two hours hard plying Captain Stainer with his Ship the Speaker the Bridgewater and the Plimouth Frigots got up to them the other four of the English never being able to come up and presently these three engaged them Though the Spaniards were eight tall Ships or Galleons yet in short time the Spanish whole Fleet was spoiled whereof one was sunk two burnt two ran ashore and were bulged one escaped and two remained in the hands of the English one whereof had a great quantity of Plate and Cochenill in her the other was for the most part laden with Hides In these Ships many persons of note were taken who together with the Ships were safely convoyed home to the great joy of the Protector who made a particular day of Thanksgiving to God for so great a booty But notwithstanding the late great Plate prize yet our Protector is still necessitated for Moneys therefore to procure some and out of a longing desire he had to have his power confirmed to him by the people hoping that a new Representative might grant him that which the first denied or refused issues out his Writs for the Election of another Parliament Yet remembring the speeches and carriages of many Members in the late Parliament he gave secret advice to the Sheriffs in most Counties not to permit them if possible to be chosen however the people in most Countries choosing according to respect his secret advice would scarce hold water The 17th of September 1656 this Parliament met first at Westminster where they found the ancient priviledge of Parliament broken by a promise imposed upon every individuall Member before he should be permitted to sit in the House to wit that he would not act any thing prejudiciall to the Prebyterian Government which promise so to be made so digusted many of the Members that they choose rather to return home but the major part assenting to it entring the House chose Sr Thomas Widdrington for Speaker and began to act suitable to the wishes and desires of the Protector For first that they might secure his Highness person whose loss would certainly have been the ruine of the Nation against all attempts which should be made against him by the Malignant Party or such desperate Fellows as Sindercombe They make an Act wherein it was Enacted high Treason for any to attempt compass or imagine the Protectors death They likewise considering the end for which they were called grant him round summes of Money for the carrying on of the Spanish War and to that effect make these ensuing Acts. An Act for an Assesment upon England for three Moneths at the rate of a Moneth 60000lb On Scotland for three Moneth a Moneth 05000lb On Ireland for three Moneths a Moneth 05000lb On England Scotland and Ireland for three years England to pay 35000lb. Scotland to pay 06000lb. Ireland to pay 09000lb. An Act for continuing of Tunnage and Poundage An Act for preventing the multiplicity of Buildings in about the City of London and within ten Miles thereof A whole years revenue to be prefently paid for dwelling or Out-Houses that have been reared upon new foundations since the year 1620. An Act for Excize of Merchandise imported These with many other being presented to the Protector for his consent were by him gladly passed at which time he spake somewhat to this effect to the Speaker I perceive that among these Acts of Parliament there hath been a very great care had by the Parliament for the just and necessary support of the Common-wealth by these Bills for leavying of Money now brought to me which I have given my consent unto And understanding
it hath been the practice of those who have been chief Governours to acknowledge with thanks to the Commons their care and regard of the publicke I do very heartily and thankefully acknowledge their kindness herein But let us a little leave the Parliament perfecting all things to the Protectors content and see a relation of the victorious Generall Blakes thrice worthy exploit at Sancta-Cruze Generall Blake lying with his Fleet near Cadiz had advice brought him that the Spanish West-India Fleet was put into the Port of Sancta-Cruze in Teneriffa the chief Island of the Canaries Whereupon the Fleet weighs Anchor and on the 20th of Aprill 1657 were at the mouth of Sancta-Cruze Bay where they espied the Spanish Ships sixteen in number lying in an order almost semi-circular at the mouth of the Haven stands a Castle well furnished with Guns and besides that seven Forts more with three four and six Guns a piece so that the passage in must needs be dangerous or rather desperate Besides Don Diego D'aques the Spanish Admirall to make all safe had caused the smaller Ships to be mored alongst the shore and the six great Gallions lay farther off at Anchor with their broad sides towards the Sea Generall Blake having perceived this posture of defence in which they lay from the offing presently calls a Counsell of War where it was resolved that they should presently attaque them not at all considering the eminent hazard Captain Stainer Commander of the Speaker is ordered first in with them who presently falls upon the Ships not at all considering or regarding the number of the Shot which the Forts on every side continually powred upon him and maintains near an hours Fight till the Generals Blake and Montague having ordered some Frigots to ply the Forts and Brest-works with continuall broad sides came up and with all their power encountered the Spaniards who though they made a gallant resistance yet in four hours space they were driven out of their Ships which though possessed by the English yet could not easily be brought away so they were by them fired to the number of sixteen small and great This noble attempt cost the English but 48 men and 120 wounded The Spaniards besides the loss of their whole Fleet had many hundreds of men slain on the shore and in the Forts and Brest-works besides those which lost their lives in the Ships For this noble exploit the Protector by Order of Parliament sent a Diamond Ring worth 500lb for a present to Generall Blake And Captain Richard Stainer who led on the first Squadron was at his coming to England for this and his former service Knighted This year happened a Conspiracy of other sort of men then Cavaliers for on the 19th of Aprill 1657 at a House in Shoreditch severall discontented persons who had been formerly of the Army were apprehended who had appointed to have Rendesvowzed on Mile-end-Green and so have marched into other Counties to augment their Party Store of Arms were taken and the number of the Conspirators being many they were disposed of in severall prisons Major Generall Harrison Vice-Admirall Lawson Collonel Rich and Major Danvers were secured as the chief Ring-leaders This was called the Plot of the fifth-Monarchy-men The Protector out of a desire he had to keep the Spaniards to it every where makes a private agreement with France to send out a Brigade of his best Infantry which the French extreamly wanted to assist them in Flanders These were begun to be raised about the 4th of May 1657 and about the latter end of the Moneth having had a very fine passage into Picardy joyned with those Forces commanded by the Marshall of Turene Over these Sir John Reynolds one of the Protectors Knights but formerly Commissary Generall of the Army in Ireland was appointed Commander in chief and Collonel Morgan was made Major Generall But to return a little to our affairs at home The Parliament had long been debating concerning the settlement of his Highness and had almost concluded of it when on a suddain a Paper was sent into the House desiring his Highness advance of Title Upon this the grand machine of Government was printed entituled An humble Petition and Advice humbly entreating that his Highness would be pleased to change his Title of Protector to that of King This was extreamly averse to his nature who God bless us would be a Servant and not a Master of his Country He knew Monarchy to be odious both to the Army and as he said to the people and therefore he gave the Parliament this positive answer in the painted Chamber That he could not accept the Government under the Title of a King Whereupon the Parliament voted that Protector should be the Title of the chief Magistrate and the Petition and Advice being altered accordingly nothing now wanted to the making it a Law but his Highness approbation So a Conference is desired with him which granted the Protector on the 25th of May 1657 meets the Parliament in the painted Chamber where Sr Thomas Widdrington Speaker presents him with the humble Petition and Advice the substance whereof was 1. That his Highness Oliver Cromwell under the Title of Lord Protector would be pleased to execute the Office of chief Magistrate over England Scotland and Ireland and the Territories thereunto belonging c. and to govern according to all things in this Petition and Advice And also that he would in his life time appoint the person that should succeed in the Government after his death 2. That he would call a Parliament consisting of two Houses once in three years at farthest 3. That those persons who are legally chosen by a free Election of the people to serve in Parliament may not be excluded from doing their duties but by consent of that House whereof they are Members 4. That none but those under the Qualifications therein mentioned should be capable to serve as Members in Parliament 5. That the power of the other House be limited as herein prescribed 6. That the Laws and Statutes of the Land be observed and kept no Laws altered suspended abrogated or repealed or new Laws made but by Act of Parliament 7. That the yearly summe of a Million of pounds sterling be setled for maintenance of the Navy and Army and three hundred thousand pounds for support of the Government besides other temporary supplies as the Commons in Parliament shall see the necessities of the Nation to require 8. That the number of the Protectors Counsell shall not be above twenty one whereof the Quorum to be seven 9. The chief Officers of State as Chancellors Keepers of the great Seal c. to be approved by Parliament 10. That his Highness would encourage a godly Ministry in these Nations and that such as do revile and disturb them in the worship of God may be punished according to Law and where Laws are defective new ones to be made 11. That the Protestant Christian Religion as it
His Brother also Henry Cromwell late Lord Lieutenant in t Ireland upon the Parliaments advice surrendred his Government and Collonel John Jones William Steel Esquire Collonel Mathew Thomlinson Robert Goodwin and Miles Corbett Esquire were in his stead appointed by the Parliament to be Commissioners for the Government of Ireland In Scotland Generall Monke though he resignes not up his Government to the Parliament yet holds a fair correspóndency with them and by his and the rest of the Officers of his Armyes declare and keep a complyance to their Government which he punctually performed The Parliament endeavouring still more and more to oblige the Army pass an Act of oblivion and indemnity for all force or violence formerly put upon the House yet nevertheless to restrain them for the future the Commissions are issued out by the Speaker in the Name of the Parliament and not by a Generall as formerly Yet the Parliament take so much care to perform their promises to them that they order the immediate sale of Whitehall Hampton-Court and Sommerset-House towards the present payment of some of the Armyes Arrears About this time on the 11th of July 1659 happened a strange kind of Tumult in or about Enfield some part of the Chase which formerly lay common and was the chiefest stay and support of the Country people thereabouts for the feeding of their Catttle from whence proceeded the chief support and maintenance of themselves and Families being by the Parliament given to some of the Souldiers for their arrears was by them built upon and euclosed which so incensed the poor of the Country whose Families were almost ready to starve for want of such relief that notwithstanding Souldiers were sent to secure those Grounds the common people made a head fell upon the Souldiers took nine of them prisoners threw down a Barn and levelled the enclosures The Parliament upon audience given to an extraordinary Ambassador of the King of Sweden appointed three persons to go over as Plenipotentiaries to Coppenhaguen to treat of such a reconciliation between the two Kings of Swedeland and Denmarke as might best stand with the interest of England but their Ambassage hath as yet produced no considerable effect And now further to secure themselves in those designes they had in hand here they banish all Cavaliers under the stile of Malignants from London and twenty Miles about and pass an Act for the settlement of the Militia in the respective Cities and Countries of England and Wales But though this Parliament had taken away the Government of these three Nations from Richard Cromwell yet they are so kind to him as to protect him from all arrests and take care for the payment of his Debts which amounted to 29640lb and besides order him 10000lb per annum for his life out of the Common-weal hs Lands as much of which 't is probable he received as his Creditors did of what was owing to them And now the Parliament discover a female-Plot of the shee-Cavaliers for the subverting of their Government the Lady Mary Howard Daughter to the Earl of Barkshire and one Mrs Sumner are committed to the Tower upon pretence of being pryers to a horrible terrible design against the Government upon whose Examinations all the Horses about Town are taken Sr Ernestus Byrom and others committed to prison But now somewhat begins to appear severall Troops of Horse are sent into Kent and Surry to prevent infurrections there where they take severall Cavaliers to bring them up to London Major Generall Massey being likewise in Glocestershire endeavouring as it was pretended to raise Forces there for the King was surprized by a Troop of Horse who for the better securing him set up a Trooper behind him with whom coming down a Hill the Horse stumbled and fell and the night being dark and Massey nimble legged escaped from them into the Wood. The Parliament now begin to discover the reason of the buying up of so many Arms in London for Sr George Booth Sr Thomas Middleton and some others of the secluded Members having got a considerable quantity of Arms raised a Party in Cheshire Flintshire and Lancashire to the number of between three and four thousand men and declare for a Free Parliament and the due rights and priviledges of the Nation against that Fanatick and unlawfull power which now usurped dominion over them With these they rendezvows at Routon-Heath and from thence march to Manchester endeavouring to augment their Party Collonel Ireland in Lancashire and Governour of the Cattle of Leverpool promising them what aid and assistance he could though he never performed it This great rising at first startled the Parliament who immediately dispatch the Lord Lambert with three Regiments of Horse one of Dragoons and three of Foot to march with all possible hast to suppress them whilest severall Parties which endeavoured to rise in other Counties are prevented either by the Militia or the Parliaments Forces But Sr George Booths number daily encreases somewhat by the confluence of the Gentry of those parts unto him so that he made up a very gallant body of Horse He sends his Letters and Declarations up to London inviting them to joyn with him to maintain their priviledges and redeem themselves from the slavery they were now in But all proved ineffectuall that great City being over-awed by a small Party of the Parliaments Forces In the mean time Lambert makes a speedy march towards them two Regiments the one of Horse the other of Foot are by Order of Parliament sent out of Ireland under the Command of Collonel Axtill Collonel Hierom Zankey who joyn with Lambert neer Nantwich notwithstanding some endeavours of Sr George Booths Party to hinder their conjunction and on the 16th of August the Army faced one another the one on one side the River the other on the other Hereupon Sr George Booth sends a Trumpet to Lambert to tell him the reasons of his taking up of Arms and desiring that to avoid shedding of blood some persons might be appointed to conferre in order to a Treaty But Lambert returns him a short answer telling him that the readiest way to avoid shedding of blood was for them to lay down their Arms and surrender Chester and other Strengths which if they refused to do that he was sent to reduce them to their due obedience which by the help of God he did not doubt but to do Hereupon the next morning Lamberts Army advanced towards Nantwich-Bridge which was kept by a Party of Sr George Booths Sr Georges Horse and Foot were drawn upin Battalia in a Meadow just below the Bridge Lambert seeing that he could not draw his enemy out of his advantage resolved to beat him out and thereupon comands a stout Party of Foot to assault those which kept the Bridge which they did with a great deal of courage and resolution and were as stoutly resisted on the other side sometimes one gaining the advantage and sometimes the other till at length
not idle he seises upon and secures such Officers of the Army there as he knew any wayes inclining to such dangerous attempts and presently possessed himself of Barwick and other places of strength committing all the suspected persons prisoners first to Tyntalian-Castle and afterwards to the Basse-Island This news extreamly startles our Reformadoes and make them begin to look about them and to think what way they might either compose the differences or reduce them to reason by force of Arms. But they are resolved to use all means to compasse both Land and Sea to make him a proselyte and to this purpose in hopes to winne him by fair means they send down his brother-in-law Dr Claerges with Collonel Talbot to mediate with him their former agent Collonel Cobbet having found no better reception then the prison of Edinburgh Castle Nay and least these two should not have power enough to prevail they order after them Commissary General Whaley and Collonel Goffe both formerly grand Protectorians and with Mr Caryl and Mr Barker two Independent Parsons that so he might have all argument alledged to him which either the Sword or the Spirit could furnish them withall Whilst these are on their journey Major General Morgan a man too honest for such knavish association takes his journey out of Yorkeshire to General Monck with whom he hath demonstrated himself a good help to the restoration of his King and Countrey General Monck having new modelled his Army in Scotland and weeded those noxious plants which by their infection must needs have given poison in stead of nutriment resolves to advance towards the Borders taking Oath in the mean time of the Nobility and Gentry of Scotland an Assembly of whom he convened to acquiesce themselves and likewise endeavour to keep all others in quiet in the time of his absence from them The afore-said Commissioners of the Army coming to him he received them with all demonstrations of civility and professed his readinesse to joyn with the Army in England provided they would restore the Parliament to its due Rights and Priviledges and that then he would use his utmost endeavours for the composing of differences and obtaining an Act of Pardon and Oblivion for all in general But that they might see in the mean time how unwilling he was to be any cause of blood-shedding and to avoid bringing a warre into his native Countrey which though raised for the defence of it must needs be its ruine and destruction he had ordered three Commissioners viz. Collonel Wilkes Lieutenant Col. Clobery and Major Knight to go up to London and if possible to make a fair end of the Controversie And this signified to the Officers at London by their Commissioners there This was the way of their endeavours by peace but lest this should prove ineffectual to to reduce him they had prepared for Warre likewise Lambert was already on his march thither with all the strength of the Army both Horse and Foot in so numerous a body that in all probability had they had to doe with a person lesse wise and prudent than this noble General they would quickly have consummated their own victory and his and this Nations ruine They likewise upon Lambert's departure had ordered and chosen new Commissioners for the Militia in London picking out such persons for the most part whose schismatical principles or else former notorious crimes were like to make them stick surest to so bad compartners and into these mens power they put the whole Command of the City Lambert being already advanced Northward coming into Yorkshire doth there joyn with the Irish Brigade and those forces under the Command of Collonel Lilburne and whilst every body expected that a sudden fight would make a decision of the controversie General Monck by extraordinary prudence keeps off at swords point with fair words and as we may truly say pious fraud deceives this so grand jugler and deceiver The Commissioners of General Monck which we aforementioned were now arrived at London and by the appointment of the Counsel of Officers persons were ordered to treat with them who after several debates brought businesses almost to a period by the fault of Collonel Wilks who transcended the bounds of his Commission and for his pains was upon his return justly imprisoned by the General By his simplicity I say things were brought to a result or agreement the heads whereof were these The utter renouncing of Charles Stuart or any other claiming from that Family The Government to be by a Free-State and not King single Person or House of Lords That a godly and learned Ministry be maintained and encouraged The Vniversities to be reformed and countenanced so as to become the Nurseries of Piety and Learning That the Officers and Souldiers and other Persons on either side be indemnified for what is past touching their late differences and that all unkindnesses betwixt them be buried in oblivion The Officers prisoners in Scotland to be set at liberty The Armies on both sides presently to depart to their respective Quarters And lastly That there be a Committee of nineteen consisting of five persons for England and five for Scotland not Members of the Army and three for England three for Scotland and three for Ireland all of which except one are Members of the Army and of these nineteen nine shall be a Quorum and are to meet to determine and conclude what is necessary for the Qualifications of Parliaments c. This is part of that Agreement which was pretended to be made between the Army here and the Commissioners of the Lord General Monck which because it did prove vain and abortive deserves no further particular mention About this time several designs of the Rump to restore themselves to their former power began to be glimmeringly perceived Collonel Morley and several other Officers of the Army making protests against the present proceedings But the Committee of Safety perceiving the danger their new Government was in of being stifled in the birth and finding City and Countrey to be generally disaffected with them except those who were of schismatical principles do order Commissions to be issued out for raising several Foot-Regiments of these throughout the Nation under the notion of the well-affected And that they might seem to have conquered some difficulties they daily by their Pamphleteer publish the best of their own Condition and produce Letters from Ireland of Novemb. 10th 1659. wherein they declare the Armies in Ireland non-approbation of the actions of General Monck and their free concurrence with their Brethren in England But as this was only a pretence from some persons there equally interessed with themselves in the late irregular actions so did it suddenly after vanish into nothing the generality there under Sir Hardresse Waller perfectly declaring for their enemies the Rump But here I must make some short digression For this Moneth it pleased God that that monster of men and unparallel'd murtherer Bradshaw died in
resolve a speedy sending out Writs but resolve to tie up their hands to their blocks by previous engagements against King House of Lords c. But this was no satisfaction to the General For he having taken away those arms which were in the hands of the Fanaticks and such as might have caused disturbance in the City on Tuesday the 21th of February a day not to be forgotten as long as England endureth being the first light which glimmered some chearfulnesse to us having drawn his Army together he marched to Westminster early in the morning and having before-hand prepared the secluded Members to be ready who were then very many of them in Town and had had divers private meetings he met them at White-hall where having recommended to them the care of the National interest yet in such termes as the Rump might not absolutely despair he saw them admitted into the Parliament House to the great grief and amazement of the former House-keepers who look upon these as Intruders That night there was Bonfires and great rejoycing in London But the secluded Members being in they fall to their work in good earnest they had not such by-ends or corrupted interests to drive on as their Predecessors and therefore found no such haltings in doing things which the Nation required But in the first place they order the release of those prisoners which for Free-Parliament-Petitions had been lately clapt up as likewise the Members of the Common Counsel of London They disanull the Militia which the Rump had instituted consisting only of persons both Fanatick and Factious and order a new Militia throughout all England wherein they nominated the most principal of the Gentry who were thought most willing and ready to promote the settlement of their Countrey yet with this proviso that they should subscribe that they should acknowledge the war was lawfull against his late Majesty till 1648. the Parliament by violent force was broken And that they might be furnished with that which is the sinews and strength of all money they send to the City to desire them advance some money before-hand upon security of the next six Moneths assessement which was freely granted by the City and 27000lb. immediately lent them Whereupon the City petition for the confirmation of the Militia which the Parliament presently setled according to their desires The next work they did was to chuse a Counsel of State which was done by lot of all manner of choise the most equal by reason no man can find himself aggrieved not knowing who is pro or who is con which prevents all rancour and animosity The persons which were by them chosen being for the most Gentlemen of eminent worth and such as have to the height testified their abilities for the good of their Countrey in this last emergency although there were some Rumpers amongst them I have thought it not amisse to give you a Catalogue of them that we may pay due homage to their names and memory Arthur Ansley Lord President William Pierpoint John Crew Richard Knightly Collonel Popham Collonel Morley Sr A. A. Cooper Sr Gilb. Gerhard Lord St John Sr Tho. Widdrington Sr John Evelin Sr William Waller Sr Richard Onslow Serjant Maynard Sr William Lewis Col. Montague Col. Hanley Col. Norton Denzil Hollis Sr John Temple Col. Thompson Sr John Trever Sr John Holland Sr John Potts Col. Birch Sr Herbottle Grimston John Swinton John Weaver Col. Rossiter Lord Fairfax L. General Monck Then they repealed such Acts of the Rump as they had made meerly for the satisfaction of their own self ends and were exceedingly destructive to the interest of the Kingdome taking off those Sequestrations which they had laid on Sr George Booth and his party which must have proved almost a general calamity to the Nation and they likewise released them from that confinement which they had for a long time lain under Making moreover such acts as might best secure the interest of the people and conduce to the settlement of the Nation some of which were directed to the taking away all places of power or profit out of the hands of the Fanatick or Commonwealth party and putting in those who were like to prove better Patriots But these acts being very numerous I think not convenient to insert the particulars In the next place they commissionate the Lord Monck to be Captain General of all the Forces in England Scotland and Ireland a place of the highest honour and which he had as highly deserved And now to show that God was pleased notwithstanding the continued sinnes of the Nations to remit his punishing hand no sooner were the Members seated in the House but news came that Ireland was by his good providence through the endeavours of Sr Charles Coote already put in such a posture as might make it capable of receiving the first state of affaires he having secured Sr Hardresse Waller and others of the Rumps faction But now some signe of discontent appeared in the Army here which had formerly been under Fleetwoods and Lamberts command For Collonel Rich's Regiment upon news of this change at London began to mutany at St Edmondsbury but the Parliament hearing of it instantly sent out Collonel Ingoldsby a Lover of his Countrey their former Commander with a party of Horse to whom upon his approach they quietly submitted themselves The Parliament now restored the Charter to the City of Chester which had been taken away by the Rump upon Sr George Booths businesse as shortly afterward they likewise revived the Dutchy of Lancaster which had been voted down by the others and made Sr Gilbert Gerrard Chancellour Nich. Letchmere Attorney of the Dutchy and the Speaker William Lenthal Esquire Chamberlain of Chester And perceiving that endeavours were daily used to sow sedition in the Army and that there was designs on foot to draw them together to a mutiny they order That none either Officers or Souldiers should depart from their respective Quarters without leave from the Lord General and those that had forthwith to return to their assigned stations To gratifie Dr Claerges and in him his brother the Lord General the Hamper-Office a place of good profit was conferred upon him Febr. 29. Upon notice of some design contriving by the Fanatick party several armes were seised in divers places of the City of London and Captain Kiffen a grand Ring-leader of the Anabaptists and several others were secured though afterwards released no matter of weight being then found against them And now that they might testifie to the world they were other men than their predecessours who would have continued themselves a Parliament to posterity they order their dissolution to be on the 15th of March resolving before that time to take order for summoning a New Representative They confirmed the Confession of Faith formerly made by the Assembly of Divines and enacted That it should be the Confession of Faith of the Church of England except onely the thirtieth and one and
AN EXACT HISTORY of the several Changes of GOVERNMENT IN England From the horrid Murther of King CHARLES I. to the happy Restauration of King CHARLES II. WITH The Renowned Actions OF General MONCK Being the second Part of Florus Anglicus by J.D. Gent. London Printed for Simon Miller at the Starre in St Paul's Church-yard 1660. ENGLAND'S CONFUSION During its Interregnum A General View of the various Governments in England since the Murther of Charles the first 1. England Govern'd by Oligarchy from 1648. to 1653. 2. Under Oliver Protector the grand Tyrant from 1653. to 1658. 3. Under Richard not above seven Moneths 4. Under Fleetwood Lambert Vane Haselrig and the Rump of the Long Parliament Lastly The Actions of Renowned General Monck the chiefest Instrument under God of restoring his Sacred Majesty Charles the second to his Crown and Kingdoms TO THE READER Reader I Doe here present thee with a true though unparallel'd History of all the several Revolutions of Government in England for the space of twelve years since the Martyrdom of our Gracious Sovereigne Charles the First of ever blessed memory execrably murthered to make way for the Usurpation of ambitious Cromwell who after some time took the Office of Supreame Magistrate upon himself and kept it during his Life by Tyranny and Oppression when summoned by Death he bequeathed it to his Eldest Sonne Richard who either by cowardize or folly permitted himselfe to be supplanted by his neer Relations When in stead of one Vsurper England groan'd under an Athenian tyranny and from that to worse till at last such a horrid dismal blackness had overcast the whole Kingdom the Sword being drawn at one blow to cut off Magistracy and Ministry that it had been utterly destroyed had not Almighty God raised up that great and ever to be Renowned to all posterity General Monck the chief Instrument appointed by the Great God for the redemption of poor England from bloody and violent men by restoring a free-Free-Parliament the undoubted birthright of every English man and hath likewise as in duty bound by Gods blessing setled us under the Lawfull and happy Government of our dread Sovereign Lord King Charles the second whom God hath so miraculously preserved from the jaws of his blood-thirsty enemies and reserved him to this present time that England might once again enjoy her primitive beauty and lustre and have her Kings as at the first and her Counsellours as at the beginning Since then we are through all these miseries revolutions and changes by Divine Providence restored to a settlement Let it be the care of every English man as it is my hearty wish that we fall no more into those snares which formerly entrapped us but unanimously resolve our selves into a constant Duty and Allegiance to our Sovereigne Lord the King For thus and thus only can we flourish J. D. Courteous Reader These Books following are printed for Simon Miller and Sold by him at the Starre in St. Paul's Church-yard Small Folio DOctor Lightfoot his Harmony on the New Testament which will shortly be re-printed with large Additions The civil Wars of Spain in the Reigne of Charls the fifth Emperor of Germany and King of that Nation wherin our late unhappy differences are paralleled in many particulars A general History of Scotland from the year 767 to the death of K James c. By David Hume of Godscroft The History of this Iron Age. Mr Paul Baine on the Ephesians Eighteen Books of the Secrets of Art and Nature by John Wecker D. in Phys The Queen of Arragon a Play In fol. In Quarto large Jo. Barklay his Argenis Translated by Sir Robert le Grise Knight by his Late Majesties special Command Quarto Small An Eperimental Treatise of Surgery by Felix Wortz Abraham's Faith or the good Old Religion c. By John Nicholson Minister of the Gospel The Anatomy of Mortality By George Stroad Three Treatises 1 The Conversion of Nineveh touching Prayer and Fasting 2. Gods Trumpet sounding to Repentance 3. Sovereigne preservatives against distrustful thoughts and cares By Will. Attersoll Minister of Gods Word at Iefield in Sussex Aynsworth on the Cantic Paul Baine his Diocesans Trial. Gralle against Appolinius A Treatise of Civil policy c. By Samuel Rutherford Professor of Divinity of St Andrews in Scotland Politick and Military Observations of Civil and Military Government containing the Birth Encrease Decay of Monarchies the carriage of Princes and Magistrates Mr Pinchin his Meritorious price of mans Redemption cleared Astrology Theologized shewing what nature and influence the Starres and Planets have over men and how the same may be diverted and avoided Wells his Souls Progress Christ tempted the Devils Conquered Being a plain Exposition on the fourth Chapter of St Matthews Gospel By John Gumbleden Min. of the Gos The Saints Society D. Stoughtons thirteen choice Sermons with his Body of Divinity The Reasons of the dissenting Brethren concerning the Presbyterian Government together with the answer of the Assembly of Divines Camdens Remains The Harmonious Consent and Confession of Faith c. The Argument and Confession of Faith of all the congregational Churches of England agreed upon at the Savoy 1659. The Description of the Universal Quadrant c. By Tho Stirrup Mathem The whole Art of drawing painting limning and etching collected out of the choisest Italian and Germane Authours by Alex Brown Practitioner Large Octavo A Treatise of the Divine Promises By Edw. Leigh Esq Florus Angliens with the Lively Effigies of all the Kings and Queens since the conquest cut in brasse The Reconciler of the Bible wherein above two thousand seeming contradictions are fully and plainly Reconciled Evidences for Heaven containing Infallible signs and real demonstrations for Assurance of Salvation published by Edm. Calamy The Life and Reign of King Charls from his Birth to his Death by Lambert Wood. The Night-search the second part by H. Mill. A view of the Jewish Religion with their Rites Customs and Ceremonies Usefull Instructions for these Evil times held forth in 22. Sermons by Nich. Lockyer Provost of Eaton Colledge The Nullity of Church-Censures or Excommunication not of Divine Institution but a meer humane Invention Written by the famous Tho. Erastus and never before Englished Small Octavo Ed. Waterhouse Esq His Discourse of Piety and Charity Panacea or the Universal Medicine being a Discourse of the Admirable Nature and Virtues of Tobacco By Dr. Everard and Others A view and Defence of the Reformation of the Church of England very usefull in these times Mr. Pet. du Moulin his Antidote against Popery published on purpose to prevent the Delusions of the Priests and Jesuites who are now very busie among us Herberts Devotions or a Companion for a Christian containing Meditations and prayers usefull upon all occasions Extranem Vapulam or the Observator releved from the violent but vain assault of Haman Lestrange Esq and the back-blows of D. Bernard an Irish Dean by P. Hoylin D.D. Ovid de Pento in
one Government they proceed to consider of the establishment of another but agree only in a negative Vote That there should for the future be no Government in England either by King or House of Lords They break the old Great Seal and cause a new one to be made which is delivered to the keeping of three Commissioners viz. Mr Keeble Mr Whitlock and Mr Lisle They likewise consider of Oaths to be administred to the Judges who thereupon meet and upon debate six of them are content to continue in their employments provided the fundamentall Laws of the Land be not altered which were viz. Chief Justice Rolles and Justice Jerman of the Kings Bench Lord Chief Justice St John Justice Phesant of the Common Pleas Lord Chief Baron Wild and Baron Yates and in order to these Judges satisfaction in their forementioned scruple the Parliament by their Declaration of the ninth of February do declare That they are fully resolved to maintain and shall and will uphold preserve and keep the fundamentall Laws of this Nation for and concerning the preservation of the lives properties and liberties of the people with all things incident there unto with the alterations touching King and House of Lords already resolved in this present Parliament for the good of the people and whatsoever shall be further necessary to the perfecting thereof and by it requiring all Judges Justices c. to execute and administer in their respective Offices and Trusts c. The House order a Committee to consider of such Persons as they should think fit to be Justices of the Peace throughout the Nation they likewise order another Committee to consider of Persons whom they might judg fit to constitute a Councell of State whose number should be forty whereof only five Lords or not above And whereas before they had only repealed they now wholly make void the Oath of Allegiance and Supremacy Thus though the Parliament are endeavouring all means to make themselves as secure and firm in the Government as they can yet are the people generally discontented those who formerly affected them now sensible of the inconveniencies like to ensue the cutting off of their Prince as much disaffect them so that there is generally plotting in all Countries which makes the Parliament send forces into severall Counties to keep them in awe whilest the Royalists in Pomfret Castle still hold out hoping some relief may arise from those so universall discontents But let us from England pass a little into Scotland and we shall find that the Kings death is much more resented there at the first news of his Condemnation they proclaim a solemn Fast with Prayers to God for his deliverance but upon the news of his Execution such was their sorrow that the whole City of Edenborough seemd a flood of tears The Parliament upon this exigence are convened and putting it to the vote it passed nemine contradicente that his Eldest Sonne should be proclaimed King and accordingly a Proclamation was drawn which because of some niceties in it not usuall in things of this nature I think fit to insert as followeth viz. The Estates of Parliament presently convened in this second Session of the second trienniall Parliament by vertue of an Act of the Committee of Estates who had power and authority from the last Parliament for convening the Parliament considering that forasmuch as the Kings Majesty who lately reigned is contrary to the dissent and protestation of this Kingdom removed by a violent death and that by the Lords blessing there is left unto us a righteous Heir and lawfull Successor Charles Prince of Scotland and Wales now King of Great Brittain France and Ireland We the Estates of the Parliament of the Kingdom of Scotland do therefore most unanimously and cheerfully in recognition and acknowledgment of his just right Title and succession to the Crown of these Kingdoms hereby proclaim and declare to all the world that the said Lord and Prince Charles is by the providence of God and by the lawfull and right of undoubted succession and descent King of Great Brittain France and Ireland whom all the subjects of this Kingdom are bound humbly and faithfully to obey maintain and defend according to the Nationall Covenant and the solemn League and Covenant betwixt the Kingdome with their lives and goods against all deadly enemies as their only righteous Soveraign Lord and King And because his Majesty is bound by the Law of God and fundamentall Laws of this Kingdom to rule in righteousness and equity to the honour of God the good of Religion and the wealth of his people it is hereby declared That before he be admitted to the exercise of his Royall power he shall give satisfaction to this Kingdom in those things that concern the security of Religion the unity betwixt the Kingdoms and the good and peace of this Kingdom according to the Nationall Covenont and the solemn League and Covenant for which end we are resolved with all possible expedition to make our humble and earnest addresses to his Majesty For the testification of all which we the Parliament of the Kingdom of Scotland publish this our acknowledgment of his just right Title and succession to the Crown of these Kingdoms at the Market-Cross in Edenborough with all usuall solemnities in like cases and ordain his Royall Name Portract and Seal to be used in the publike writings and Judicatories of this Kingdome and in the Mint-house as was usually done to his Royall Predecessors and command this Act to be proclaimed at all the Market-Crosses of the Royall Burghs within this Kingdom and to be printed that none may pretend ignorance God save King Charles the second This was done by the Parliament the Lords in all their Robes the Cross was richly hanged the Chancellor brought up the Proclamation read it to the King at Arms who proclaimed it there being an universall joy in the City and their great Guns from the Castle sending peals of the same into the adjacent Countries The solemnity being past care was taken for the sending Messengers to acquaint his Majesty with the business Sr Edward Douglas was chosen to go and acquaint him with it to desire him to take heed of evill Councellors c. that there should very speedily a more full address be made to him In the mean time a Fast is proclaimed and supplications made that God would prosper their addresses to him for the good both of the Kirk and State The Lords and the whole Parliament in the mean time put on mourning for the death of his Father But to return to England again The beheaded old King Charles was February 12. thirteen days after his death buried at Windsor in the same Vault where Henry the eighth was interred without any manner of solemnity the Bishop of London Dr Juxon and some few others attending him to his Funerall The Parliament not thinking that they are not yet secure enough whilest they have only power over
which duely considered we had reason to hope should have given a stop to all Proceedings against his Majesties Person But they understood that after many of the Members of the House of Commons have been imprisoned and secluded and also without and against the Consent of the House of Peers by a single Act of this Parliament alone power being given to certain Persons of their own Number of the Army and some others to proceed against his Majesties Person in order whereunto he was brought upon Saturday last in the afternoon before this new Extraordinary Court. Wherefore they do in the Name of the Parliament of Scotland for their vindication from false aspersions and calumnies declare That though they are not satisfied with his Majesties Concessions at Newport in the Isle of Wight especially in the matters of Religion and are resolved not to crave his Majestes restitution to this Government before satisfaction be given by him to this Kingdome yet they do all unanimously with one voice not one Member excepted disclaim the least knowledge of or accession to the late Proceedings of the Army against his Majesty and sincerely profess that it will be a great grief unto their hearts and lie heavy upon their spirits if they shall see the trusting of his Majesties Person to the Honourable Houses of the Parliament of England to be made use of to his ruine so far contrary to the declared intentions of the Kingdome of Scotland and solemn professions of the Kingdome of England and to the end it may be manifest to the world how much they abominate and detest so horrid a design against his Majesties Person they do in the Name of the Parliament and Kingdome of Scotland Declare their dissent from the said Proceedings and the taking away of his Majesties Life and protest that as they are altogether free from the same so they may be free from all the evils miseries confusions and calamities that may follow thereupon to these distracted Kingdomes In thus much is contracted the large Letter of the Scottish Parliament to which the Parliament in short answer That as to the alteration of the fundamentall Laws of the Land and allowing liberty of Conscience in Religion if Scotland had not the same power of liberty as they did not go about to confine them so they would not be limited to them but leaving them to act in relation to theirs as they shall see cause resolve to maintain their own Liberties as God should enable them In relation to the putting the King to death they had done it upon serious consideration of the miseries both they and the Nation had suffered by the Misgovernment and Tyranny of that man of sin as they termed him that they doubted not but God would prosper them in it That if Scotland would not now with them assert its Liberties but espouse that quarrell they would reap no other advantage by it but a lasting Warre and the miseries that attend it or the intailing of a perpetuall slavery under a Tyrant and his Issue to them and their posterity These jarrings at length produced a bloudy Warre betwixt the two Nations to the devastation and almost utter ruine of Scotland as the sequell of the Story will show The Parliament Order the Army to march Northward The Parliament now more fully ordered that no Member whatsoever who had absented himself from sitting in the House since the 31. of December 1648. should be re-admitted into the House but should be utterly secluded and barred from sitting except such as had been imployed in the service of the Parliament They then consider of wayes for raising of Money to serve their Occasions and in order thereto appoint a Committee to consider of the Revenues of the late King Queen Prince Bishops c. and how they may be improved to their greatest advantage Collonel Popham Collonel Dean and Collonel Blake who are to go with the Fleet are ordered to go down immediately and nine pound a day appointed for their maintenance The Lord Warwicks Commission of Admirall of the Seas and Warden of the Cinque Ports being null'd and that power put into the Hands of the Councell of State who have devolved it upon those three aforementioned In the mean time those who stand out in the two Cityes of Dublin and London-Derry for this Parliament earnestly entreat relief before that Ormond Inchiqueen and Owen-Roe who were very near Compositions should joyn which would go near to ruine all They therefore desire that eight thousand men formerly promised them might come over which would either hinder the malevolous Conjunction threatned or be a good Barricado against them however they promise to hold out as long as possibly they can The Earl of Lothian Sr John Chesley and Mr Glendonning who came as Commissioners from the Parliament of Scotland to this of England not having received any satisfaction in relation to their Instructions or the Desires of the Parliament of Scotland being somewhat angry but loath to express their Choller by word of mouth after their departure from London send back a Letter by a servant to the Parliament in the Name of the Parliament of Scotland enumerating all their Declarations the breach of all their Covenants Oaths and Protestations for contiruance of the late Government and how much they had gone contrary to all of them in what they had now done to King Lords c. desiring them to do their first work which if they did not as they that then they would wash their hands of all the misery that was like to ensue This so netled our Parliament that they immediately imprison the Messenger and besides the giving secret Order for the securing the Subscribers they put forth a Declaration against the Paper arguing it to contain much scandalous and reproachfull matter against the just Laws and Government of this Nation to the high dishonour thereof That it was a design in the contrivers and subscribers of it to raise Sedition and lay the grounds of a new and bloudy Warre They therefore Declare that all Persons whatsoever residing in England or Ireland or Scotland that shall adhere to the said Subscribers in pursuance of the Grounds by them laid in the said Paper are Rebels and Traitors to the Commonwealth of England and shall be proceeded against as Rebels and Traitors They likewise Order that a Letter be sent with a Copy of that Paper to the Parliament of Scotland to know if they will own or justifie it The Parliament are so necessitated for Moneys that they are resolved to let no way slip for the raising of it the ancient Standard in the Palace-yard shall not scape but a Committee is ordered to examine what it might be worth in case it were sold for publique use The Parliament in consideration of Sr George Ascues eminent services at Sea order him to be Admirall of the Irish Seas and Modell the Expences of the Navy as low as they can possibly whereby a great part
Ormonds Company lay consisting of 19000 Horse and Foot whom finding secure and out of order they charged so vigorously that they soon put the whole body to the rout pursuing them as far as the Naas Ormond himself hardly escaping on Horseback In this Battell were above 3000 slain on the place 2517 Prisoners taken many men of quality of which Ormonds own Brother was one all their train of Artillery Ammunition and provision taken and a rich Camp left for the Souldiers to plunder Thus was this great Army of whom such matters were expected overthrown and routed by a handfull of men and with so small a loss that it would scarce gain belief if mentioned But let us leave Ireland and speak a little of the affairs of Scotland The Scoth Commissioners at the Hague could not get the King to consent as yet to a full agreement with their Estates it seemed somewhat too harsh to digest the Covenant or condiscend to the setling of Church-Government by Presbytery nor could he either in honour or conscience desert those Noble persons who had alwayes stuck faithfully both to himself and Father for a Nation that had sold his Father to destruction though now they courted him with golden promises but especially he could not tell how to part with Montross who had ventured so far for him Nor would the Commissioners nor the States of Scotland themselves upon any termes re-admit him but upon the grant of those Conditions The King therefore rather then so much descent from his Honour grants a Commission to Montross to levy what Forces he could beyond Sea and with them to go joyn with the Lord Seaforth Major Straughan and others who had got to a head for the King without the Kirk in the North of Scotland but they were routed before he came by Lesley and himself not long after his arrivall defeated by a Party of the Kirks taken prisoner and most ignominiously hanged in Edenborough which action next that of selling their King must necessarily bring as much odium upon the Scottish Presbyterians as ever Sect was under But let us return a little to England where at length that turbulent Head-piece John Lilburn is brought to triall the grand Champion of the Levellers and indeed their only Patriot a man of an undaunted spirit neither to be deterred by threats or won by favours He was tried in Guild-Hall London by a speciall Commission of Oyer and Terminer where most of the Judges and Justices of the Courts at Westminster the Lord Mayor Sheriffs and severall Aldermen of London were present His Indictment contained many crimes of a treasonable nature chiefly being author of severall scandalous reviling Pamphlets against the Government and Governours of the Nation and particularly that entituled The second part of Englands new Chains which contained most sharp invectives against the Parliament calling them Traytors Tyrants Murderers Vsurpers telling them that they were wholly composed of Rebellion Villany Murder and Perjury with a great deal of such rabble yet though these Books were verily believed his the proofs not being clear the Jury found him not guilty whereupon he was acquitted But let us return to see how the Lord Generall Cromwels Army got over into Ireland The generall Rendezvows being at Milford-Haven they there had the news of the great victory over Ormonds Army which no doubt displeased the Lord Generall who had hopes to have had a share in or the whole glory of so great a victory however he makes what hast he can over and himself August 13 departs from Milford-Haven with the Van of the Army in thirty two Ships on the 15th of May Generall Ireton follows with the Main in fourty two Vessels Mr Hugh Peters brings up the rear in about twenty Sail. Favourable windes brought them soon to Dublin where the Canons ecchoed forth the joy of their arrivall but the Lord Deputy Cromwell being wholly addicted to action stayed not long to receive those entertainments which the Citizens of Dublin gave but having refreshed his Army some time draws out a Body of 15000 Horse and Foot to a generall Muster out of which he selects twelve Regiments containing 9 or 1000 able and resolute men for the present expedition which he intends for Droghedah and having furnished his Army with a train of Artillery fit for the siege of so well fortified a place marches on with his Army and being come near the Town according to the custome of War sends a Summons to Sr Arthur Aston Governour but the Summons prevailed little upon a person known to be so able a Souldier and who had above 2000 English Gentlemen with him who had most of them been formerly Commanders in the late Kings Army but an answer was returned containing a resolution to expire with the taking of the Town whereupon the Lord Generall orders all things for the quickest accomplishment of his design which was to take the Town per force since quick dispatches must necessarily be the life of his business the Winter drawing so nigh and however should that let be removed yet if he should stay the starving it out he should give Ormond Inchequeen c. time to raise an Army for its relief the batteries therefore are planted to the best advantage and play as furiously so that in four hours space it levelled the Steeple of St Maries Church and a Tower by it and continuing the next day after near five hundrep Shot the South-East Tower is beaten down and two very considerable breaches made which are immediately entred by Collonel Castles Husons and Ewers Regiments Collonel Castle himself which seldome Commanders of like note use to do in a storm leading the Van by the Lord Deputy Cromwells speciall Order for what intent I 'le leave to others to guess where he was slain the Charge on both sides was so hot as seldome the like hath been seen the grapple being on both sides at swords point the only weapon to execution for near three hours space till the Assailants were forced to retire which Cromwell seeing commands a fresh reserve of Collonel Ewers his Regiment to assail the breach but others say that he entred himself which is very hardly believed he having too much wisdome to be so desperate who meeting with wearied Defendants forced their way though they met with a noble and heroick assistance yet they gained a sure possession in the Town though they could not yet subdue it for Sr Arthur Ashtons men hotly disputed every corner of the Street so that the Assailants were forced to win what they did by small degrees till at last the supernumerary force of their enemies overcoming their valour they all were massacred by their merciless adversary the Lord Deputy Cromwell having given strict Orders not to allow Quarter either to Man Woman or Childe which unparralleld cruelty though it may finde excuses amongst men who delight in flattery yet will it undoubtedly finde as cruell a reward from the most just God who
Souldiers being sunk by Shot from the Castle Captain Browne Bushell a Noble Royalist who had done many handsome actions for the service of both the Kings was beheaded under the Scaffold at Tower-hill In the mean time the Forces under Command of the Lord Deputy of Ireland scatter and disperse those Forces raised by Castle-haven Clanrickard Dillon and others in the Counties of Kerryathlone Monaghan and Wicklow and settle severall Garrisons to the distraction of most of their Enemies no considerable places being left to them but only Limerick and Galloway That considerable Garrison of Finnagh in Westmeath being surrendred to Commissary Generall Reynolds and Phelim Mac Hugh who came with 1500 Horse and Foot to its relief routed most of his Company slain and many considerable Officers taken prisoners But let us return again to the main business in Scotland Collonel Moncke with a Party of Horse and Foot marches towards Blackness a Garrison of the Scots which had much endammaged the English Quarters which after the Batteries raised and some Shot was spent was reduced the Defendants craving Quarter which considering the strength of the place was granted The Scots in the mean time grow powerfull for notwithstanding all the strifes and emulations amongst them an agreement is patcht up to the seeming satisfaction of all the dissenters they are likewise in hopes of a power to rise for them in Lanchashire which with a considerable Party promised from Scotland to joyn with them might confront any force of the Parliaments but the design is discovered before it was acted and Thomas Cooke Esquire of Grays-Inne the principall Agent for Lancashire taken Major Generall Harrison upon these discoveries is sent into the North with a Body of Horse and Foot and to oppose the Enemy if he should make an invade by way of Carlisle The above-mentioned plot was contrived throughout all England though by ill fortune timely prevented severall persons of quality but most Presbyterian Divines were taken viz. Mr Christopher Love Major Alford Major Adams Collonel Barton Mr Blackmore Mr Case Mr Cauton Dr Drake Captain Far Mr Gibbons Mr Hrviland Major Huntington Mr Ienkins Mr Iaquell Mr Iackson Lieutenant Collonel Iackson Captain Massey Mr Nalton Captain Potter Mr Robbinson Mr Sterks Collonel Sorton Collonel Vaughan and others of which only two suffered viz. Mr Love and Mr Gibbons who after many delays were beheaded on Tower-hill the 22. of August 1651. There hapned much about this time a petty rising in Wales two or three hundred persons being gathered together in behalf of the Scots King upon a report that the English Army was routed and the Scotch advancing into England but the design proved as void of success as the report was of truth But the Scots make severall in-falls upon the Out-guards and Garrisons of the English wherein they had frequently good success killing some and taking others having the advantage of the English in the knowledge of the Country which makes the English contract their Quarters drawing away the Out-Garrisons and putting the Army into a posture to march to Fife but the Ground not yet affording Grass or Oats the enterprize was for the present suspended The Scotch Levies were now compleated to 15000 Foot and 6000 Horse with which they march on this side Sterling to a place called Torwood where the King drew up most of his Horse and Foot and enrails them in a regular fortification Cromwell draws up his Army towards them and marched in Battalia within view of their Camp in hopes to draw them to a Fight but they got nothing else from them then some thundring Messengers from their great Artillery The Lord Generall vext at their delays fals upon Kalendar-house kept by a Party of theirs and in the end though it was stoutly defended out of hopes of relief takes it by storm but when this neither would provoke the Scots to fight he resolves now having so fit an opportunity to do that which he had so long intended viz. to land some men on Fife and accordingly Collonel Daniells Regiment of Foot having four Companies more joyned to it and four Troops of Horse all under Command of Collonel Overton being imbarqued at Leith under pretence of being sent for England arrived next morning on the other shore landed and intrenched in despite of a Party of Scots which strove to oppose them This News brought to the Lord Generall Major Generall Lambert is presently ordered with two Regiments of Horse and two of Foot to second them which they did but advice of it arriving in the Scotch Camp so alarm'd them that in all haste Major Generall Brown is sent with four Regiments of Horse and four of Foot to drive the English out which they might have done had not Major Generall Lambert been arrived before them So there being now almost an equall force the Fight began to the great loss of the Scots whereof near 1500 were slain 1000 taken prisoners among which Sr John Brown Major Generall was one who shortly after as 't is supposed out of grief for this defeat died Upon this overthrow the Scotch Army remove their Camp from Torwood and march directly to Sterling-Park Cromwell follows in their rear hoping yet to draw them to a Battell but they would by no means be induced to it though he followed them within two Miles of Sterling The Lord Generall perceiving his delays would be in vain marches with his whole Army to Lithgoe whence he sends over into Fife the greatest part of them with the train of Artillery to prosecute the War on the other side the remainder with him being only four Regiments of Horse and four of Foot which he made use of to secure what was already gained and observe the Scots motions In the mean time the Lord Lambert faces Brunt Island which is surrendred upon Articles without discharging so much as one piece of Artillery The Lord Generall likewise having dispatched those affairs which detained him at Leith crosses the Frith and coming to the Army draws them into a posture and having left Colonel Wests Regiment in Brunt Island marches with the rest towards Sr Johnston and in two dayes faces the Town and being informed that there was no Garrison in it he sends a Summons to the Inhabitants not doubting of a suddain rendition but it proved otherwise for the Lord Dafferes had the day before entred the Town with 1300 Souldiers The Lord Generall hereupon sends another Summons to the Governour who sullenly returns him no answer but after the Artillery had played one day his stomack came down and the Town was surrendred upon Articles The English Army being marched as far North as St Johns Town the King seeing affairs go so desperately in Scotland and loath to lose so good an opportunity advances with his whole Army consisting of about 16000 and marches with all speed possible into England by way of Carlisle This suddain and unexpected action startled the whole English Nation but especially the Parliament
Leaguer at St Jones and with a great part of their Horse and Foot advance to oppose the Lieutenant Generals passage The Lord Generall to divert their design leads on in person on the other side of Worcester which he had undertook to attaque two Regiments of Foot Collonel Hookers Horse and his own Lifeguard whilest Fleetwood with Collonel Goffs and Deans Regiments of Foot marches on to a Hedge-fight which the Scots thought most secure and stoutly maintained their ground till the fresh supply of Blakes Gibbons and Marshes Regiments force them to retire to Pawick Bridge where they are again engaged by Collonel Hayns Cobbets and Matthews Regiments and at length still overpowred by the Enemyes fresh supplyes forced to retreat in some disorderly hast into Worcester Their success being so bad on this side against Lieutenant Generall Fleetwood they resolve to trie if they could have better fortune against Cromwell on the other side Therefore on a suddain they sally out with all the Horse and Foot they could and at the first shock made Cromwels men retire somewhat disorderly the King himself performing the duty of a valiant Commander in the head of his Horse but at length overpowred by their numerous fresh supplyes they were put to the rout The Horse flying amain towards the North and the Foot into Worcester followed at the heels by their victors who entred the Town with them which they sacked killed or took most of the Scots prisoners who found life or death according to the mercy of those into whose hands they fell From this Battell there escaped only about 3000 Horse most or all the Infantry being either slain or taken and near 100 prisoners of quality of which the chief were Duke Hamilton Earl of Shrewsbury Earl of Derby who fell now into Collonel Lilburnes hands though he mist him before Earl of Cleaveland Earl of Lauderdail Earl of Rothes Earl of Carnwath Earl of Kelly Lord Spine Sir John Packington Sr Charles Cunningham Sir Ralph Clare Major Generall Piscotty Major Generall Montgomery Collonel Graves and Mr Richard Fanshaw Secretary to his Majesty The number of the prisoners in the whole was given out to be near 10000 together with whom was taken the Kings Standard Coach and Horses Collar of SS and Star-Cloak Major Generall Massey likewise though he escaped the Battell yet not finding any secure shelter and being grievously wounded surrendred himself prisoner to the Countess of Stamford and was secured by the Lord Grey of Groby her son and after recovery of his wounds by him sent up to London from whence he shortly after escaped The News of this victory extreamly rejoyced the Parliament at Westminster who nevertheless were somewhat sorry for the escape of the King of Scots who notwithstanding the great search made for him and the Fine set upon his head escaped For after having quitted the field at Worcester he with only one servant with him retired into the Woods where he hid himself two or three dayes till at length coming to a Gentlemans house who had formerly been a servant of his Fathers he was by him conveyed to a noble Esquires house in that County where he lay disguised near two Moneths till the heat of the search was over from whence he came up to London as servant to a Gentlewoman and so at fit opportunity escaped into France Many of the Scotch Nobility were about this time taken by Generall Monck in Scotland at a place called Ellet where they were met together to negotiate the royall affairs viz. old Generall Lesley Earl of Marshall Earl of Craford Lord Keith Lord Ogilby Lord Bargayny Lord Huntly Lord Lee with many other Knights Gentlemen and Ministers who were shortly after sent by Sea to London The Lord Generall Cromwell after his great victory at Worcester on the third of September his ever propitious day on the eighth sets forward towards London where arriving on the twelfth he was met by the Speaker and most of the Members of Parliament the President of the Counsell of State the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of the City of London with great acclamations of joy and acknowledgement of the Parliaments obligation to him for his eminent services which was expressed by the Speaker in a very elegant speech Shortly after two of the Parliaments Chieftains left this world both men of eminent conduct the one Generall Popham one of the Admirals of their Fleet who was a man from whom all men expected excellent service for them had his dayes been prolonged The other the Lord Deputy Ireton who died of the plague under the Walls of Limerick whose body or a Coffin in its stead was afterwards brought over into England and laid in State in Sommerset-House and from thence carried with as much pomp as ever any Kings of England since the conquest to be interred in Westminster Abbey where his Effigies was likewise set up in requitall of his many services he having a long time been one of the Parliaments fortunate Commanders In the mean time the Parliament take order for the speedy reducing of the Islands of Gersey and Man in pursuance whereof Collonel Haynes with two Regiments of Foot and four Troops of Horse set sail out of Weymouth the 16 of October and arriving at Gersey though they found some opposition at Landing yet they easily forced their way and soon possessed themselves of the Island all the Forts in it being presently delivered to them except Elizabeth Castle which held out till the middle of December and was then surrendred upon Articles Collonel Duckenfield with his own Generall Cromwels and Generall Deans Regiments of Foot and two Troops of Horse on the 14th of October departed out of the Bay of Reaumorris towards the Island of Man and arriving there on the 17th in Ramsey-Bay there came aboard to them an Islander to assure them that they should have no opposition in their Landing that they might come securely under their Forts which they had taken possession of for them that only two Castles held out viz. Peel and Rushen which were held by the Forces of the Countess of Derby which they would help them to reduce He is at first distrusted having nothing in writing to show but Major Fox being sent ashore findes it true so the Army lands and besieges both the Castles of Peel and Rushen which after short time delivered up with bloud to Collonel Duckenfield for the use of the Parliament on the 26th of October 1651 where there was found good store of provision and Ammunition of all sorts Shortly after was surrendred to the Parliaments Forces the strong and impregnable hold of Corne-Castle in the Isle of Guernsey with good conditions to the defendants consideration being had to the strength of the place and the bloud might probably be yet spent in reducing it per force or the charge they must necessarily have been at in starving it out it being still found very well victualled Notwithstanding that numerous company of Noble men
Merchants Ships having generally good plunder and being taken with little danger And now a Fleet of French fals likewise into the hands of the Engliish which as they were going to relieve Dunkirke are spied by the English and being pursued are most of them taken The names of them were The Triton with 31 Guns the Shepheard 29 Guns the Gift of God 30 Guns the Dutchess 22 Guns the Crescent 26 Guns the Hunter 22 Guns the St Lewis 28 Guns a small Frigot of 8 Guns and 6 Fire-ships The taking of this Fleet making the French in Dunkirke despair of relief caused the rendition both of it and Graveling to the Spaniard And now on the 28 of September happened that notable fight between the English and Dutch commonly called the Kentish Knock. Generall Blake having discovered a Fleet of Hollanders consisting of about sixty Sail on the backside of the Goodwin Sands under the Command of Admirall Dewit makes towards them and engages them but the Dutch having placed themselves under the Sand called the Kentish Knock to hinder the English from coming to the Weathergage they endeavouring to do it had like to have endammaged themselves for the Admirall the Royall Soveraign the Resolution and the St Andrew and others struck on the Sands but getting off again without any harm fell afresh to the work till night parted them Next Morning September 29 the Duch Fleet was seen two Leagues Northeast off the English who made after them all the forenoon with that little wind there was but the wind coming to North and by West they could not get up to them yet some of the best Frigots were commanded to bear as near the Dutch as they could and keep them in play till the rest came up About three a Clock they got within shot of the Dutch Fleet who fearing that by degrees the English would get within them set up their main Sails and ran for it whom ten Frigots had in chase till six a Clock the next day the whole Fleet pursued the Dutch into their very harbours In this sight the Hollander had five Ships disabled among which the Rearadmirall was one whose Captain and men the English took out of her but left her floating on the sea The English lost not above forty men But in the mean time the Hollanders get the better of a squadron of our Ships in the Straits where they were eleven to four they take the Phaenix an English Ship of 45 Guns which the English retake afterwards by a stratagem The Danish Ambassadour who was come over just at the beginning of the breach between the two Commonwealths the wound now beginning to fester is recalled by his Master who was forc't to temporize with the Hollanders and who to that effect detains 22 English Merchants Ships which were coming from the Eastland and notwithstanding all fair treaties would not be perswaded to let the Ships go but took out the Goods and sold them The Hollanders now prepare to be revenged of those rubs they had received from the English and to that intent appear on the 20th of December on the backside of the Goodwin with 90 Men of Warre and 10 Fireships the English were 42 sail in the Downs yet for all their small number resolve to fight them though it proved to their loss for the Garland and Bonadventure besides two Merchants Ships were taken Generall Blake himself was endangered and the Vanguard and Victory scarce got off clear This loss made Generall Blake retreat into Lee Road so that the Dutch bragg'd of us as we before had done of them that they had pursued us unto our Harbours The Parliament however provide to revenge this loss and to that effect order fit encouragement to the Marriners That their pay instead of 18s should be 23s per mensem That for every Prize they shall take they have 10s for every Tunburthen and 6lb 13s 4d for every Piece of Ordinance to be equally distributed besides the rifling of all above the Gun deck That they shall have 10lb a Gun for every Man of Warre they shall sink or destroy by fire c. That they which will come in to serve voluntarily shall have a moneths pay gratis Care was likewise taken for Provisions for sick and wounded men aboard and Maintenance ashore These encouragements made the Seamen venture more willingly so that about the middle of February the English had a gallant Fleet of Ships at Sea which the 18th day discovered the Dutch Fleet in number about 80 Men of War with about 150 Merchant men from Roan Nants and Bourdeaux between Portland and the Isle of Wight About eight in the morning Generall Blake and Generall Deane in the Triumph with three or four of the headmost Ships of the English Fleet endured the brunt with neer 30 of the Dutch men of Warre till two or three of the Clock when half the English Fleet came up who continued the fight till night The English in this days service had the Sampson a Flemish Prize disabled the Men they afterwards took out and sunk the Ship themselves the Dutch had one Ship sunk Feb. 19. The Dutch steering on their course the English made towards them brought some of their Ships by the Lee and destroyed them Feb. 20. The two Fleets engaged and the dispute continued very hot for near five or six hours till at last the Dutch begun to fire out of their sternmost Ports and fly away so the English gave them a chase took fifty of their Merchants and nine men of War The slaughter was great on both sides though greater on the Dutch then English Whilest the Dutch are thus beaten in the Channell they give us a blow before the Port of Livorne where the Leopard Peregrine and Levant Merchant are taken by them the Sampson fired and the Bonadventure blown up Captain Badiley who lay out at Sea during this fight with twelve Ships not being able or willing to come to their assistance In the mean time arrives an extraordinary Ambassadour from the King of Portugall to the Parliament which after many addresses treaties and conferences is concluded upon obligation to satisfie the English Merchants losses From France there comes two Agents one from the King of France desired release of those Ships taken before Dunkirke as also that there might be a right understanding between the two Nations The other from the Prince of Conde craving aid against the Cardinall and his faction who had strongly besieged Bourdeaux but they both proved ineffectuall And now happened a very strange alteration in the Scene of affairs in England Cromwell whose ambition was now ripe and who knew that now he might take a very fit opportunity to usurp that power he had so long gaped for the people of these Nations being weary of the actions of this Parliament and their dilatory proceedings and apparent intentions of perpetuating themselves and he perceiving that as the people were weary of them so they would be would
be willing to be rid of them On the 20 of April 1653. enters the Parliament house attended by some of his principall Officers where he delivered severall reasons why that Parliament should be dissolved and a period put to its sitting which was immediately done The Speaker with the rest of the Members some by force some through fear and some through murmuring departing the house all the Nation rejoycing and scarce a man grieved for their dissolution but themselves it being generally believed that though the Nation might not be bettered by this change yet worse could not befall it But to satisfie the wiser sort of people Generall Cromwell and his Counsell of Officers publish a very large and specious Declaration shewing the reasons of his dissolving this Parliament in that they regarded not the Nations good or proceeded to the establishment of a Commonwealth as they pretended but only to an arbitrary perpetuation of their power and that therefore some other meanes must be sought for the establishment of such a Government as might suit with the Liberties and Priviledges of the people Thus that part of the Parliament who had cut off their King and Masters head and usurped an authority over these Nations is turned out of doors by their servant Oliver Cromwell and their power wholly taken into his own hands which how he executed and improved to his own advantage in the next part shall be declared FLORVS ANGLICVS OR THE Government of England VNDER Oliver Lord Protector from the Year 1653 to 1658. PART II. THe Parliament or at least that part of the House of Commons which then sate being dissolved and their power wholly devolved into the hands of their aspiring Generall Cromwell their Dissolution being willingly assented to by most of their principall Officers both by Sea and Land he had now nothing to do but to give notice to the Magistrates of the Civill and Capitall Laws to go on in the prosecution of their duties the generality of the people being very well satisfied to which effect this ensuing Declaration was published Whereas the Parliament being dissolved persons of approved fidelity and honesty are according to the late Declaration of the 22 of April last to be called from the severall parts of this Commonwealth to the supreme Authority and although effectuall proceedings are and have been had for perfecting those resolutions yet some convenient time being required for the assembling those persons it hath been found necessary for the preventing the mischiefs and inconveniences which may arise in the mean while to the publick affairs that a Counsell of State be constittuted to take care of and intend the peace safety and present management of the affairs of this Commonwealth which being setled accordingly the fame is hereby declared and published to the end all persons may take notice hereof and in their severall places and stations demean themselves peaceably giving obedience to the Laws of the Nation as heretofore and in the exercise and administration whereof as endeavours shall be used that no oppression or wrong be done to the people so a strict accompt will be required of all such as shall do any thing to indanger the publick peace and quiet upon any pretence whatsoever O. Cromwell The Dutch however the English Nation seemed generally satisfied yet hoped that such distractions might advance their cause and interest arising from this suddain alteration and change of the State of affairs in England imagining Chimeraes in fancies and building Castles in the Air with vain hopes that these confusions at Land would hinder all preparations at Sea to oppose them so having manned out a high and mighty Fleet they begun to play the Rex And first having ready in their habours a numerous Fleet of Merchant-men bound for France Spain Italy the Levant and East-Indies they with a Fleet of 90 Sail of men of War undertake to convoy and secure them from all English surprizals yet notwithstanding their force they dare not venture to conduct them through St Georges Channell his Cross having so oft proved bloudy to them there but chuse rather to steer their course round the North of Scotland which way though it was far more long and tedious yet was as much more safe and secure Trump having happily according to his Commission left these Merchant-men out of all suspicion of danger tacks about and bends his course to the Sound from whence he convoys home a great Fleet of Eastland-Merchant-men from Russia Denmarke Dantzicke and other Ports of the Baltick Ocean and in his voyage he meets with another Fleet of Hollanders coming from France which being joyned to him he enters with a great deal of bravery into the Ports of Holland and Zealand his Fleet in the whole consisting of between 3 and 400 Sail of Ships The Flemmings pufft up with this happy success and understanding that the English Fleet was gone Northward thought to do some noble exploit on the English in their absence Having therefore hoised Sail they stand over for the Downs and on the 25 of May ranged themselves in Douer-Road with 108 Ships where finding but three small Ships a poor prize for so great a Navy they began to wreak their malice upon the Town by beating some Tiles off from the tops of the houses with their great Shot wherein they manifested far more folly then valour From thence they stood off towards the North out of a pretence to seek for the English Fleet which they boasted they must send Hue and Cry after but they met them sooner then they expected for the English Fleet being returned Southwards and Anchoring three Leagues off the South-head of Gober early in the morning on the third of June espied two Dutch Galliots which being chased by two English Frigots brought them within ken of their whole Fleet upon which the two Frigots giving the usuall and appointed tokens the whole Fleet made Sail with what possible speed they could to engage the Dutch but the wind being scarce it was near twelve a Clock before they could reach them with their Shot This first dayes dispute was very hot on both sides and so continued till night parted them though little harm was done to the English but only the loss of Generall Dean who was slain in the beginning of the encounter with a Cannon shot from one of the enemies Rear-Admirals as it was supposed The second day though it were late before the Fleets could joyn yet the dispute proved very hot and bloudy Van Trump had at first got the advantage of that little wind was stirring and brought up his Fleet in very good order thinking to charge through and through the English but his design failed for the wind rearing about to the Westerly the English Generals Blake and Moncke fell in so furiously amongst the thickest of the Dutch Fleet that they soon forced them to retire and their thundrings of Shot still continuing the Dutch not able to abide it tacked about and
with all the Sail they could make ran towards their own Coasts But the English in respect of those dangerous flats thought it not safe to pursue them too far but only sent some light Frigots to discover their course In this encounter there was no certain account could be given of the Dutch that were slain but there were taken prisoners 6 Captains 1350 common-Seamen and others 11 men of War taken 6 sunk Of the English Gnerall Dean slain 1 Captain killed 120 Sea-men slain and 236 wounded But in all this desperate Batrell not one Ship lost or disabled The Dutch Fleet by the opportunity and advantage of the night got into the Wielings the Vley and the Texell to recruit their men and repair their losses which were so great but the loss on the English side being so inconsiderable they resolved to keep the Sea and having mended their torn and tottered rigging they call a Counsell of War where it was agreed on that the whole Fleet should make what hast they could towards the Weilings and by ranging up and down the Coast block up the Dutch in their habours which they did for a good space of time taking prizes at pleasure and not permitting the Dutch whose Fleet was seperated into severall harbours to joyn or be in a capacity to make any resistance so that the Dutch having now the English Fleet constantly in sight though against their wils need not be put to any further trouble of making a Hue and Cry after them But let us leave the Hollanders thus blockt up and return to our Scepter-aspiring Cromwell in England Who having finished his Consultations with his Counsell of Officers about choosing those persons into whose hands he intended to put the Legislative power of the Nation sends out his Warrants to those persons so by him chosen whom he will have stiled a Parliament though they amounted not to above 140 persons for the three Nations to appear at the Counsell-Chamber in Whitehall on the 4th of July 1653. where they being accordingly convened Generall Cromwell attended by severall Officers of the Army makes them a short speech which being ended he delivers them a Writing under his hand and Seal impowring them to be the supreme legislative Authority of the three Nations of England Scotland and Ireland with all the Territories thereto belonging and that any forty of them should be a Quorum sufficient to dispatch any publick business make Laws raise Moneys and order the affairs of Peace and War as they should think fit only their sitting was limited to the third of Nouember 1654 and three Moneths before their dissolution they were to make choise of others to succeed in their room So Cromwell having canted out a prayer that God would bless them and their Counsels dismissed them From thence they retired to the old Parliament-house at Westminster where having chose Mr Rouse Speaker they began to debate what they should call themselves a Parliament or something else but at last it was resolved in the affirmative by what law or reason few canguess that all addresses should be made to them as to a Parliament But it is very like many if not most of this pact Parliament knew very well for what end and purpose they were called viz. to make way for Cromwels future greatness and though perhaps these were the fewer part yet be plainly endeavoured to hedge in the greater by somenting those differences among them which his earnest pressing them to take the Tithes and Universities into consideration caused About this time John Lilburn who for his factious spirit had long lain in prison and was at last banished by the long Parliament upon occasion of this change of Government came into England and cast himself upon the Lord Generall Cromwell for protection but he knowing his turbulent temper refused to intermeddle but left him to the Law so being committed to Newgate he was brought to his triall in the Old Baily where notwithstanding the endeavours of his adversaries he so strongly pleaded his cause that the Jury brought him in not guilty But however his spirit be very well known and that he would still be carping at whatever Government should be established he was still kept prisoner first in the Tower and after in Dover-Castle where Trandling according to the madness of his brain from one opinion to another he at length fell into Quakerisme in which heresie he died But let us look a little into Scotland where though the English had got possession of most of the Forts Garrisons and strong holds in the Low-lands yet the High-landers from their craggy Cliffs made many incursions into the Country committing many Murthers Robberies and Outrages upon both people and Souldiers forth with again betaking themselves to their inaccessible fastnesses whither our Souldiers not knowing the Country nor Passes could not tell how to pursued them and they encreasing daily into great numbers headed by Glencarne Atholl Seafort and others The Lord Seafort having surprized seven or eight men that came ashore to seek provisions from aboard the Fortune Frigot who layar Anchor at Lew is Island was so vain as to send his Summons to the Ship requiring it to surrender but it proved as could not be otherwise expected ineffectuall The condition of Ireland was the same with that of Scotland all the strong holds and fortresses being reduced to the English yoke nor any opposition made but what the excursions of some Tories who lurked in Woods and Fastnesses and did much damage to the Country people and travellers on the Road produced The Hollanders perceiving their force too weak to resist the English strength send over four Commissioners viz. Monsieur Bevering Newport Youngstall and Vanderpaue who died soon aftet his arrivall here to renew again the Treaty Though three remaining Commissioners pursued their negotiations very close yet the Treaty produced at that present neither cessation or intermission of Arms but both parties prepared for War and had during the Treaty a most remarkable Fight which happened thus On the 29th of July the English Scouts discovered a Dutch Fleet from the Weilings consisting of about 95 men of War which Fleet Van Trump had all that while been preparing with indefatigable labour to beat the English from his Countries harbours and to encourage and add resolution to his Seamen had made proclamation That all the men of War taken from the English should be the Mariners with a considerable Summe of Money to whomever should take the Admirals or vice-Admirals Flag The English Scouts having espied them gave notice to the Fleet who made what Sail they could possibly towards them which the Dutch discerning stood away and the English after them but the wind being scarce came not into Shot till six a Clock when thirty light Frigots engaged them but little was done this day in regard the night parted them The Dutch all night stood into the Texell where there joyned with them 25 stout men of War
the black Rod to the House to desire their attendance on the Lords but they refused to give him entrance but understanding there were Guards in Westminster-Hall they thought it best to adjourn which they did till the following Munday being the 25th of April whereby they prevented both their formall and forceable dissolution But the next day being the 23 of April the Proclamation signed by his Highness the Lord Protector for the dissolution of the Parliament was published the Contents of it were as followeth By the Lord Protector A Proclamation for dissolving the Parliament Whereas we assembled our high Court of Parliament to assemble and meet at our City of Westminster the 27th day of January last which hath continued unto this present day And whereas we did by our Commission under the great Seal of England bearing date at Westminster this present 22 day of April for divers weighty reasons declare our pleasure and resolution to dissolve the said Parliament and to that end did thereby constitute and appoint our right trusty and right wellbelovod Counsellour Nathaneal Lord Fines one of the Keepers of our great Seal of England and others our Commissioners in our name this said present 22 day of April to dissolve our said Parliament which was by them done according to the tenor of the said Commission in the usuall place and by vertue hereof our said Parliament is absolutey dissolved Nevertheless we have thought it necessary by advice of our Privy Counsell by this our Proclamation to publish and make known the same to the end all Persons whom it may concern may take notice thereof Given at Whitehall the 22 day of April in the year of our Lord 1659. Yet notwithstanding this Proclamation the Members on Munday the 25th of April repaired to the House according to the vote of adjournment which they found guarded by red Coats whose Officers told them that they should not enter the House any more With the dissolution of this Parliament we may put a period to the short Reign of Richard Lord Protector no further use being made of him besides what a Declaration of the 25th of April commanding all Cavaliers and Papists to depart out of London upon these present disturbances did amount to Behold the visible hand of God that those very persons and Relations that Oliver had advanced into the highest places of trust for securing his usurped power are by the Almighty made instrumentall to pull down and destroy that which he had so perfidiouslly got by murther and hypocrisie Various Revolutions of Government in 1659 1660. BY the dissolution of the late Parliament the power over the Nations is devolved into the hands of those who devolved it they being then the only visible force I will not say power in these Nations viz. the chief Officers of the Army who first of all begin to modell their own Family which they did by cashiering those of the Protectorian faction for some such there were in the Army viz. Okey Ingolsby and Goffe and some others into whose places and commands they by their own authority put Lambert Haslerig Gbey and such others as had been displaced by the late deceased Protector These men considering that as they now stood they had no visible form of a Civil Government but their proceedings in this manner would render them most odious to the common people and in time ruin them begin to think what Civill Power they might establish which might be most concordant to their designes and at last send for some of the members of that Parliamentary Juncto which were dissolved by Generall Cromwell in 1653 to these they make motion of returning to the exercise of their trust desiring them to inform the Speaker and the rest of the Armies intentions They all readily and willingly assent but the Speaker makes some conscientious objections against their resitting which notwithstanding though I think they were never yet answered he at length consents to their desires whereupon the Army publish a large and specious Declaration asserting their resolutions to stand stedfast to the Good Old Cause as they called it with repentance for their errors and to that effect they conclude their Declaration to this purpose That they amongst other things calling to mind that the long Parliament consisting of the Members which continued their sitting untill the 20th of April 1953 were eminent assertors of that Cause and had a speciall presence of God with them and were signally blessed in that work the desires of many good people concurring with theirs therein they thought it their duty to invite the said Members to return to the exercise and discharge of their trust as before the said 20th of April 1653. And therefore they did by this Declaration earnestly desire the Parliament consisting of those Members who continued to sit since the year 1648 unto the 20th of April 1653 to return to the exercise and discharge of their trust that they should be ready in their places to yeeld them their utmost assistance to sit in safety for the improving present opportunity for setling and securing the peace and quiet of this Commonwealth praying for the presence and blessing of God upon their endeavours This Declaration published there were severall Articles agreed upon between the Officers of the Army and severall Members of the then to be restored part of a Parliament which accorded to and signed on the next day being the 7th of May 1659 they convented together in the Painted-Chamber where those Members appointed to meet being all present forty two in number the Speaker with the Mace carried before him and followed by the rest went into the House and took their places Upon notice that those men had taken their places in the House as a Parliament severall of the Members secluded in 1648 there being double the number of them in the City came into the Hall and agreed that some persons of their number should go up to the House to try whether they could find admittance The persons appointed to go up were Mr Ansley Sr George Booth Mr William Pryn Mr James Herbert Mr George Mountague Sr John Eveling Mr Eveling Mr Knightly Mr Gewen Mr John Herbert Mr Peck Mr Hungerford Mr Harly and Mr Clive these according to the desire of the rest went up but found restraint upon the House so that with much ado they prevailed to get into the Lobby but here they were opposed by Lieutenant Collonel Allen though they earnestly disputed the undoubted right they had to sit in the House as well as the others but no reasons could prevail Yet on Munday May 9th Mr Ansley Mr Pryn and Mr Hungerford understanding that there were no guards upon the House went to Westminster-Hall and found admittance without any opposition at first though afterward when Mr Ansley went forth to acquaint those secluded Members which attended their success in the Hall of their admittance endeavouring to enter again he and some others with him were forcibly kept
back by Captain Lewson of Coll. Goffs Regiment However Mr Pryn continued there and disputed highly with the Juncto of the priviledge which he and the rest of the secluded Members had to sit which only a little disturbed and made them who were loath to hear right disputed adjourn till the afternoon when Mr Pryn attempting again to enter was impeded by a Troop of Horse and two Companies of Foot which were there ready to guard this piece of a Parliament against those whom they pretended were intruders And thus this Parliament sate in quiet among themselves and to the end they might be no further disturbed voted That all persons heretofore Members of that Parliament which had not sate in this Parliament since the year 1648 nor had subscribed the Engagement in the Roll of Engagement of this House should not sit in the House till further order of the Parliament They likewise published a Declaration wherein after a large and specious Preamble they declared That they were resolved through the gracious assistance of God to apply themselves to the faithfull discharge of the trust imposed in them and to endeavour the settlement of this Commonwealth upon such a foundation as may assert establish and secure the properties and liberties of the people in reference to all both as men and as Christians and that without a single Person Kingship or House of Peers and that they should vigorously endeavour the carrying on of Reformation so much desired and so often declared for to the end there might be a godly and faithfull Magistracy and Ministry upheld and maintained in these Nations to the glory and praise of our Lord Jesus Christ and to the reviving and making glad the hearts of the upright in the Land By such fair pretences did they begin to gull the people And immediately because they could not have time as yet to appoint a Counsell of State the usuall dependant of a Parliament since 1648 they for the present erect a Committee of Safety consisting of Fleetwood Haslerig Vane Ludlow Sydenham Salway John Jones Lambert Desbrough Berry and Scot. In imitation of this was that Committee of Safety I suppose erected afterwards by the Army But the Counsell of State being shortly after nominated whatever power they had was void though 't is true most of the forementioned were members of it The Great Seal of England made by the Protectors is likewise by them broken and the old Seal used by the Parliament in 1651 voted to be the Seal of the House and no other Easter Terme is also by them adjourned to the great discontent of many persons who had then suits depending against many Members especially against Vane and Haslerig This Parliament now thinking themselves fixt in their authority begin to bustle strongly but especially they take care to please the Army who had made them a Parliament which they do by passing Votes That effectuall care be taken for satisfying their arrears and paying them their pay in due order for the future At this Parliaments reentrance into the Supream Government of these Nations there happened a sad accident in the Town and Corporation of Southwould or Soulbay in the County of Suffolk where neer 230 dwelling-Houses were wholly consumed with fire all which was but a spark to the fire might have been kindled in this State had they continued in power The Army likewise at this time put up a Remonstratory Petition to this Parliament wherein they desired severall things as they pretended towards the settlement of the Nation to which the Parliament gave them these contentive answers for they durst indeed do no otherwise 1. That the liberty of the persons and property of the Estates of the free people of these Nations should be preserved inviolable according to Law under the Government of a free State or Commonwealth without a single Person Kingship or House of Peers 2. That there should be a just and due regulation of the Law 3. That all persons who professed one God in Trinity and acknowledged the Scriptures should have liberty of conscience provided it extended not to Popery or Prelacy 4. That a godly and faithfull Gospell-Preaching-Ministry should be encouraged 5. That all Vniversities and Schools of learning should be countenanced and reformed 6. That none but men of approved godliness and whose interests suited with the Good Old Cause should be admitted to employments in State 7. That an Act should be made for confirmation of the sales of all Kings Queens Princes Archbishops Bishops Deans and Chapters Lands Thus they endeavour to please the Army by complying with their desires Yet notwithstanding the fickle establishment of this House the States of Holland court them by their Ambassadour who on the 24th of May had audience in the House but perhaps those States might have more reason to do so then others these being the men who first began that War with them which almost totally ruined them And now on the 25th of May Richard Cromwell Esq late Lord Protector of these three Nations makes a free resignation of that Government to the Parliament which the Army had before taken away without his leave or consent His resignation or rather submission ran thus I have perused the Declaration and Resolve you were pleased to deliver me the other Night and for your information touching what is mentioned in the said Resolve I have caused a true state of my Debts to be transcribed and annexed to this Paper which will shew what they are and how they were contracted As to that part of the Resolve whereby the Committee are to inform themselves how far I do acquiesce in the Government of this Common-wealth as it is declared by this Parliament I trust my past carriage hitherto hath manifested my acquiescence in the will and good pleasure of God and that I love and value the peace of this Commonwealth much above my own concernments and I desire that by this a measure of my future deportment may be taken which by the assistance of God shall be such as shall bear the same witness having I hope in some degree learned rather to reverence and submit to the hand of God then be unquiet under it And as to the late providences that have fallen out amongst us however in respect to the particular engagements that lay upon me I could not be active in making a change in the Government of these Nations yet through the goodness of God I can freely acquiesce in it being made and do hold my self obliged as with other men I expect protection from the present Government so to demean my self with all peaceableness under it and to procure to the uttermost of my power that all in whom I have interest do the same Thus he who was lately Protector of these three Nations craved protection from his Quondam Subjects and thus easily did he resign those three Kingdomes which his Father had got with so much hazard of his body if not of his soul
his bed a man whom I need not much defile my pen to set forth since that very name doth now and will to eternity contain all that is matter of shame and detestation to the English Nation and yet it pleased the wise God to suffer him on the 22th of this November to be laid quietly in his grave who may according to the judgement of some men have deserved better to be buried alive in the entrails of dogs then to have enjoyed the benefit of Christian Funerals but we are not to censure the pleasure of Divine Providence On the 23th of this Moneth Lambert arrived at Newcastle where he found several discarded Officers to be come from General Monck which though they cried up at London as a weakning of his party yet they found it by experience to be a wise strengthning of his interest by ridding himself of those which he knew neither could nor would be true to any sober designs Now were Letters from General Monck sent to the Common Counsel of London and delivered to them by Collonel Markham and Collonel Atkin which containing things directly in opposition to what the Committee of Safety had flattered their party and the people withall were by them given out to be forged and thereupon they ordered the confinement of the two fore-mentioned persons But in this interim the Parliament which as I said before the General had summoned in Scotland were assembled to whom he delivers his sentiments of the present posture of affairs which terminated in these three Propositions First That he having a call from God and man to march into England for resetling the Parliament they would during his absence which would not be long preserve the peace of that Nation Secondly That if any troubles should arise they would assist him in suppressing them Thirdly That they would raise him some money To which Propositions the summe of their answers was briefly thus First That they could not engage to preserve the Peace of the Countrey wanting Armes but should notwithstanding use their endeavours Secondly They were incapable to answer his desires and besides thought it imprudent and inconvenient to ingage in a Warre whereof the successe was dubious and the advantage to them uncertain and not intelligible Thirdly They were content to levy him twelve moneths assessement Though in the two first they did not quadrate their answer to the affirmative of his Propositions yet in this last I suppose they satisfied the whole of his intentions it being that which he chiefly stood in need of for carrying on the great work he had in hand whilst Gen. Monck is thus vigorously providing against them in the North they are not lesse violently attached by discontents of the people at London and open force more Southward At London the Apprentices whose tumultuary Assemblies and confused Petitions had been instrumental to the first disturbances 1640. begin now to recollect their spirits and as was thought abetted by some considerable persons resolve to petition the Heads of the City to endeavour the restitution of them and the whole Nation to their due Rights and Priviledges by a Free Parliament The noise of this extreamly startles the Army and Committee of Safety so that they endeavour all means of prevention and to this purpose they publish a Proclamation against it and send their forces into the City on the day whereon they heard it was resolved to be presented to the Common Counsel where notwithstanding the violence and other high misdemeanours committed by Hewson the Commander of the Souldiers yet the Petition was by six noble spirited Apprentices presented to the Common Counsel and the thanks of it returned to them for it Several other Petitions and endeavours were promoted likewise in order for a Free Parliament not was the Designers for the Rump lesse active but sate daily in consultation for the undermining the present Usurpers but their designs in London came to no head but on the fifth of December news arrived of the appearance of the grand Heads of them at Portsmouth whether Morley and Hasilrig were arrived and the Governour Collonel Whetham sided with them and immediately secured Captain Brown Captain Peacocke and such other Officers of the Garison as they knew were principled contradictorily to that interest These in power here though they had little hopes to cope with so many adversaries yet immediately order a Body of Horse and Foot that way if possible to blow the storm over and reduce that revolting Garison Major Cadwell was the first that with a party of Horse marched towards them but he was no sooner going that way but part of his Forces desert him and took part with the contrary faction But this was not all the misery that attended them they had an enemy nearer home to deal withall the City was to the height discontented and having recovered some part of its former vigour resolved no longer to be fooled The Common Counsel met daily and their results produced nothing but was heterodox to the Army interest who finding all their threats and force to be now of no effect resolve to see what they can do by treaty and whither or no they could still these neighbour storms by fair and gilded promises The Common Counsel elected a Committee of worthy and eminent Citizens to conferre with them esteeming them not worthy any other owning or any way deserving the acknowledgement of an Authority With these Fleetwood and the rest of the Grandees had a conference and that they might to the vulgar give them some seeming satisfaction they are willing to condescend to these particulars That a Parliament shall be called and appointed to sit down at or before the first of February next That the said Parliament shall be according to such qualifications as are or should be agreed upon and may best secure the just Rights Liberties and Priviledges both Civil and Religious of the people of this Commonwealth This they thought enough to stop the mouth of the City for the present intending what performance or after-termes themselves pleased but their endeavours remained fruitlesse the City keeping still the same face of discontent But upon the neck of this news comes still of severall endeavours for insurrections against them in defence of the Rump In Sussex a Party had been formed under one Collonel Fissenden which notwithstanding were dispersed and Collonel Fagg likewise who was raising Forces with intentions to strengthen the Party at Portsmouth was taken and brought up to London But their Portsmouth enemies grew daily stronger and stronger Major Bremen Major of Collonel Rich his Regiment and severall others instead of resisting them going in to their assistance and so adding daily to their number And at this time was a design framed to have seized on the Tower of London for the behalf of the late Peer of a Parliament which was thus to have taken effect The designers having brought over Collonel Fitch to their Party and engaged him to the promotion of