doe any thing might help himself either to purchase his own quiet or so great a Liberty and would neither for any good might come to himself or any evil might be cast upon him and his Posterity be perswaded or threatned from the protection of his people who if he had not taken more care for them then they did for themselves must if he had yielded to all the Parliament-propositions for then they might have imagined mischief by a Law have from time to time been engaged in any Warre their Task-masters had a mind to put them upon must have been excised plundred sequestred ruined and undone sworn and forsworn constrained to swear to doe a thing to day and the next day swear not all to doe it The son set to kill his Father and brothers forced to fight one against another and have all their Holy-dayes turned to Thanksgiving-dayes that they are undone or Fasting-dayes that they may be undone soon enough And if at any time that thing they call a Parliament should think it fit to make a Directory to the Alchoran and to order every man to turn Turk and the King as their Henry Scobel or Town-Clerk but subscribe it their Spiritual as well as their Temporal Estate and their Soules as well as their Bodies must be voted and forced to it And now let the people that have tasted too much of such a kind of happinesse and are like to continue in it as long as their misery-makers can by any help of the Devil or his Angels hold them to it consider whether they or their fore-fathers though some have thought themselves to have wit enough to adventure to call them fooles were the wiser whether they that setled the Government and were contented with it or they that pulled it in pieces and whether the tearing up of the fundamental Lawes of Monarchy Peerage Parliament and Magna Charta even since this day the King was murthered for defending of them which every one but themselves desired to uphold be not enough besides the Scottish combination and the plots to ruine Monarchy and the King and his Posterity before the five Members and Kimbolton had so for engaged themselves in it to inform them if nothing else had been demonstrated unto them That the King did all he could to preserve the Lawes Religion and Liberties of the people which divers pieces of his coin will help to perpetuate the truth as well as the memory of and the Parliament all they could to destroy them And that as he actually endeavoured to defend them so have they as actually undone and destroyed them And let the greatest search of History can be made or time it self be Judge if ever any war was more made in the defensive or upon juster grounds or greater necessities or if ever any King before fought for the Liberties of those he was to govern and for Lawes to restrain himself withal or if it were possible for him to suffer so much in any mans opinion as to have it thought to be unlawful or that he was a murtherer of his people for seeking to Protect them How shall any King or Magistrate be able to bear or use the Sword when they themselves shall be in continual danger to be beaten with it King Edward the second of England was not murthered for the blood that was shed in the Barons Wars though some of them had drawn their swords but in performance of his fathers will to take away his favourite Gavestion from him King Rich. 2. in those many devised Articles charged against him was not deposed for the blood was shed in Wat Tilers Commotion nor Hen. 6. publickly accused for that of Jack Cades Rebellion and the most bloody differences of the White and Red-Roses nor Queen Elizabeth for all that was spilt in reducing Ireland when her favourite the Earl of Essex made it to be the more by his practises with Tyrone nor for the blood of Hacket who pretended to be Christ nor of Penry and other Sectaries lesser Incendiaries than Burton Prynne and Bastwick for disturbing the Common-wealth the great Henry of France was not endeavoured by his Catholick Subjects to be brought to trial for shedding so much of their blood to reduce them to his obedience nor by his Protestant Subjects after he was turned Catholick for spending so much of their blood to another purpose than they intended it Nor have the stout-hearted Germans though many of them great and almost free Princes in their late Peace and Accord made betwixt the Swedes and the Emperour thought it any way reasonable or necessary to demand reparation for those millions of men women and children houses and estates were ruined and spoiled by a thirty years War to reduce the Bohemians and Prince Elector Palatine to their obedience For what rules or bounds shall be put to every mans particular fancy or corrupted interest if they shall be at Liberty to question and call to account the authority God hath placed over them Shall the son condemn or punish the Father for his own disobedience the Wife her Husband for her own act of Adultery or the Servant the Master for his own unfaithfulnesse or can there be any thing in the Reason or understanding of man to perswade him to think the King was justly accused for the shedding of his blood which the accusers themselves were only guilty of And Bradshaw himself like the Jewes high Priest confessing a truth against his will in the word he gave instead of reason for murthering the King against the will and good liking of nine parts in every ten of the Commons of England could make his Masters that call themselves the Parliament of England to be no better then the Tribum plebis of Rome and the Ephori of Sparta the former of which for manifold mischiefes and inconveniences were abrogated and laid aside and never more thought fit to be used and the latter not being half so bad as our new state Gipsies killed and made away to restore the People again to their Liberties But the opinion and Judgement of the Learned Lord Chief Justice Popham who then little thought his grand-child Colonell Popham should joyn with those that sate with their Hats on their Heads and directed the murther of their Soveraign and if he were now living would sure enough have hanged him for it and those other learned Judges in the case and Tryall of the Earl of Essex in the Raign of Queen Elizabeth That an intent to hurt the Soveraign Prince as well as the act of it was Treason And that the Laws of England do interpret every act of Rebellion or Treason to aim at the death or deposing of the Prince For that Rebells by their good will never suffer that King or Prince to live or Raign that understands their purposes and may revenge them agreeable to that of the Civil Law That they that go about to give Law to their Prince will never suffer him to recover
of horses And within two dayes after the Lord Keeper Duke of Richmond Marquiss Hartford Earl of Salisbury Lord Gray of Ruthen with 17 Earls and 14 Barons the Lord Chief Justice Bancks and sundry others of eminent quality and reputation attest His Majesties Declaration and profession that He had no intention to make a War but abhorred it and That they perceived no Councels or preparations tending to any such designe and sent it with His Majesties Declaration to the Parliament In the mean time the Committee of Parliament appointed to make the propositions to the City of of London for the raising of Horse viz. 15. June 1642. Made report to the House of Commons That the Citizens did very cheerfully accept the same there being for indeed there had been some design and resolulution a year before concerning the melting of plate to raise monies already great store of plate and monies brought into Guild-Hall for that purpose and an Ordinance of Parlament was made for the Earl of Warwick to be Lord Admirall and keep the Navy though the King had commanded him on pain of treason to deliver up the Ships to him And the Lord Brook sent down into Warwick-Shire to settle the Militia 17. June 1642. Committee of both Houses was appointed to go to the City of London to enquire what store of Horse Monies and Plate were already raised upon the Propositions 18. June 1642. The King by his Proclamation Disclaiming any intention to make War against his Parlament forbiddeth all levies of Forces without his Majesties express pleasure signified under his Great Seal And 20. June 1642. Informing all his Subjects by his Proclamation of the Lawfulness of his Commissions of Aray That besides many other Warrants and Authorities of the Law Judge Hutton and Judge Crooke in their Arguments against the Ship-money agreed them to be Lawfull and the Earle of Essex himself had in the beginning of this Parlament accepted of one for the County of York Gave his people to understand That he had awarded the like Commissions into all the Counties of England and Dominion of Wales to provide for and secure them in a legall way left under a pretence of danger and want of Authority from his Majesty to put them into a Military posture they should he drawn and engaged in any opposition against him or his just Authority But 21. June 1642. The Lords and Commons in Parlament Declaring The designe of their Propositions of raising Horse and Moneys was to maintain the Protestant Religion and the Kings Authority and Person and that the Forces already attending his Majestie and his preparations at first coloured under the pretence of a guard being not so great a guard as they themselvs had constantly for 6 months before did evidently appear to be intended for some great and extraordinary designe so as at this time also they do not charge the King with any manner of action of War or any thing done in a way or course of war against them and gave just caufe of fear and jealousie to the Parlament being never yet by any Law of God or man accounted to be a sufficient cause or ground for Subjects to make War against their Soveraign did forbid all Mayors Sheriffs Bayliffs and other Officers to publish His Majesties said Letter to the City of London And Declare that if He should use any force for the recovery of Hull or suppressing of their Ordinance for the Militia it should be held a levying Warr against the Parlament and all this done before His Majesty had granted any Commission for the levying or raising of a man and lest the King should have any manner of provision of War to defend himself when their Army or Sir John Hotham should come to assault him Powder and Armes were every whera seized on and Cutlers Gun-Smiths Sadlers and all Warlike Trades ordered not to send any to York but to give a weekly account what was made or sold by them And an Order made the 24 of June 1642. That the Horses which should be sant in for the service os the Parlament when they came to the number of 60. should be trained and so still as the number increased 4. July 1642. The King by his letter under his signe Manuall commanded all the Judges of England in their Circuits to use all means to suppress Popery Riots and unlawfull assemblies and to give the people to understand his resolution to maintain the Protestant Religion and the Laws of the Kingdom and not to govern by any arbitrary way and that if any should give the King or them to understand of any thing wherein they held themselves grieved and desired a just reformation He would speedily give them such an answer as they shall have cause to thank him for his Justice and favour But the same day a Declaration was published by both Houses of Parlament commanding that no Sheriff Mayor Bayliff Parson Vicar Curate or other Sir Richard Gurney the Lord Mayor of London not many days before having been imprisoned for proclaiming the Kings Proclamation against the bringing in of Plate c. should publish or proclaim any Proclamation Declaration or other paper in the Kings name which should be contrary to any Order Ordinance or Declaration of both the houses of Parlament or the proceedings thereof and Order that in case any force should be brought out of one County into another to disturb the peace thereof they should be suppressed by the Train Bands and Voluntiers of the adjacent Counties Shortly after Sir John Hotham fortifieth the Town of Hull whilst the King is at York seizeth on a Ship coming to him with provisions for his Houshold takes Mr. Ashburnham one of the Kings servants prisoner intercepts Letters sent from the Queen to the King and drowneth part of the Countrey round about the Town which the Parlament allows of and promise satisfaction to the owners 5. July 1642. They order a subscription of Plate and Horse to be made in every County and list the Horse under Commanders and the morrow after Order 2000 men should be sent to relieve Sir John Hotham in case the King should besiege him to which purpose Drums were bear up in London and the adjacent parts to Hull The Earl of Warwick Ordered to send Ships to Humber to his assistance instructions drawn up to be sent to the Deputy-Lievtenants of the severall Counties to tender the Propositions for the raising of Horses Plate and Money Mr. Hastings and divers of the Kings Commissioners of Array impeached for supposed high Crimes and misdemeanours and a Committee of five Lords and ten of the House of Commons ordered to meet every morning for the laying out of ten thousand pounds of the Guild-Hall moneys for the buying of 700 Horse and that 10000. Foot to be raised in London and the Country be imployed by direction of the Parlament and the Lord Brook is furnished with 6. pieces of
THE Royall Martyr OR KING CHARLES The FIRST no Man of BLOOD but A MARTYR for His PEOPLE Being a brief Account of His Actions from the beginnings of the late unhappy Warrs untill He was basely Butchered to the Odium of Religion and scorn of all Nations before his Pallace at White-Hall Jan. 30. 1648. To which is Added A Short History of His Royall MAJESTY Charles the Second KING of England Scotland France and Ireland Defender of the Faith c. Third Monarch of Great Brittain In all his Sufferings and Solitudes more then CONQUERER Rom. 8. Salus Populi Salus Regis â—ondon Printed for Henry Bell and are to be sold by most Book sellers 1660 TO THE KINGS Most Excellent Majesty Dread Soveraign THe occasion of these few lines is neither to renew your sorrow nor stir up your Majesty to revenge I know you have learned a better lesson from our blessed Lord and Saviour to forgive your enemies neither is it my design to plead for that which I even tremble to write viz. Regicide I know the world expects some should be made examples of Justice God forbid that blood-guiltiness especially of our King should go unpunisht But that Justice mercy might kiss each other These ensuing lines were writ in the midst of your and our sufferings the onely end both in writing and publishing was to Vindicate your Royal Father our Dread Soveraign of blessed memory thereby to make a more easie passage for your most Excellent Majesty to ascend unto the Royall throne of your famous Progenitors And now seeing God at last by his wonderfull and most miraculous Providence hath brought your Sacred Majesty to your just Rights Dominions I make bold in all humility to prostitute both my self and this small Tract at your Royall Feet beseeching your Clemency to accept of this small Mite of my Loyalty begging your gracious pardon for my great presumption beseeching Almighty Jehovah the God of your Fathers to redouble in you your Fathers Graces and Vertues recompence to your Majesty for all your unparalelled sufferrings patience in the perfect obedience and affection of all your Subjests establish your Royall Throne here on Earth and at last give you a Crown of Glory in the highest heavens so prays Your Majesties Loyall Humble and most obedient Subject W. H. B. King Charles the First no Man of BLOOD But a Martyr for his PEOPLE THat there hath been now eighteen years spent in Civill Warrs aboundance of Blood shed and more Ruine and misery brought upon the Kingdom by it then all the severall Changes Conquests and Civill Warrs it hath endured from the time of Brute or the first Inhabitants of it every mans wofull experience some onely excepted who have been gainers by it will easily assent unto No marvell therefore that many of those who if all they alledge for themselves that they were not the cause of it could be granted to be true might either have hindred or lessned it would now put the blame of so horrid a business from themselves and lay it upon any they can perswade to bear it And that the Conquerours who would bind their King in Chains and their Princes with Fetters of Iron and think they have a Commission from heaven to do it the guilt of it being necessarily either to be charged upon the Conquerours or Conquered are not willing to have their Triumphant Chairs and the glories as they are made believe that hang upon their shoulders defiled with it but do all they can to load their Captives with it But howsoever though the success and power of an Army hath frighted it so far out of question as to charge it upon the King and take away his life for it by making those that must of necessity be guilty of the fact if he should have been as in all reason he ought to have been acquitted of it the only Judges of him It may well become the judgement and conscience of every man that will be but either a good Subject or a Christian not to lend out his Soul and Salvation so much on trust as to take those that are parties and the most ignorant sort of mens words for it but enter into a most serious examination of the matter of Fact it selfe and by tracing out the foot-steps of Truth see what a conclusion may be drawn out of it In pursuance whereof for I hope the Originall of this Sea of Blood will not prove so unsearchable as the head of Nile we shall enquire first of all who raised the fears and jealousies Secondly represent and set down the truth of the matter of Fact and proceedings betwixt the King and Parliament from the tumultuous and seditious coming of the people to the Parlament and White-Hall untill the 25 of August 1642. when he set up his Standard at Nottingham and from the setting up of his Standard untill the 13 of September 1642. when the Parlament by their many Acts of Hostility and a Negative and Churlish answer to his propositions might well have put him out of hope of any good to be obtained from them by messages of peace sent unto them Thirdly whether a Prince or other Magistrate labouring to suppress or punish a rebellion of the People be tyed to those rules are necessary to the justifying of a War if it were made between equals Fourthly suppose the War to be made with a neighbour Prince or between equalls whether the King or Parlament were in the defensive or justifiable part of it Fifthly whether the Parlament in their pretended Magistracy have not taken lesser occasions to punish or provide against insurrections treasons and rebellions as they are pleased to call them Sixthly who most desired Peace and offered fairliest for it Seventhly who laboured to shorten the War and who to lengthen it Eightly whether the conditions proffered by the King would not have been more profitable for the People if they had been accepted and what the Kingdom and People have got instead of it CHAP. I. Who first of all Raised the Fears and Jealousies THe desiring of a guard for a Parlament because of a tale rather then a plot That the Earl of Crawford had a purpose to take away the Marquis of Hamiltons life in Scotland the refusing of a legall guard offered by the King and his Protestation to be as careful of their safety as the safety of his Wife and Children The dream of a Taylor lying in a ditch in Finsbury fields of this and the other good Lord and Common-wealths men to be taken away The trayning of Horses under ground and a plague plaister or rather a clout taken from a galled Horse back sent into the House of Commons to Mr. Pym. A design of the Inhabitants of Covent Garden to murther the City of London News from France Italy Spain and Denmark of Armies ready to come for England and a supposition or feaverish fancy that the King intended to introduce Popery alter
and the names of the refusers to be certified Mr. May one of the Pages to the King comes to the Lords House in Parlîament with a Message from Him bearing date but two dayes before That although He had used all wayes and me anes to prevent the present distractions and dangers of the Kingdome all his labours have been fruitless that not so much as a Treaty earnestly desired by him can be obtained though he disclaimed all his Proclamations and Declarations and the erecting of his Standard as against his Parliament unless he should denude himself of all force to defend him from a visible strength marching against him That now he had nothing left in his power but to express the deep sense he had of the publick misery of the Kingdome and to apply himself to a necessary defence wherein he wholly relied upon the providence of God and the affection of his good People and was so far from put ting them out of his protection as when the Parliament should desire a Treaty he would piously remember whose blood is to be spilt in this quarrel and cheerfully embrace it But this must also leave them as it sound them in their ungodly purposes for the morrow after being the 14. day of September 1642. Mr. Hampden one of the sive Members by this time a Colonel of the Army brings letters to the House of Commons from the Parliaments Lord General that he was at Northampton in a very good posture and that great numbers of the Countrey thereabouts came in daily unto him and offered to march under him and that so soon as all his forces that are about London shal come up unto him which he desires may be hastened he intended to advance towards his Majesty and it was the same day voted That all things sealed by the Kings Seal since it was carried away by the Lord Keeper Littleton should be Null and of no force in the Law and that a new Seal should be provided The King therefore seeing what he must trust to 19. September 1642. being at Wellington in Shrop-shire in the head of such small forces and friends as he could get together for the Parlament that very day had received letters That the King but the week before having a muster at Nottingham there appeared but about 3000 foot and 2000. horse and 1500 dragoona and thaâ— a great part of his men were not provided with arms made his Protestation and promise as in the presence of Almighty God and as He hoped for his blessing and protection to maintain to the utmost of his power the true reformed Protestant Religion established in the Church of England and that he desired to govern by the known Laws of the Land and that the Liberty and property of the Subject should bee preserved with the same care as his own just rights and to observe inviolably the Laws consented to by him in this Parlament and promised as in the sight of Almighty God if He would please by his blessing upon that Army raised for his necessary defence to preserve him from that rebellion to maintain the just priviledges and freedom of Parlament and govern by the known Laws of the Land In the mean while if this time of War and the necessity and straights he was driven to should beget any violation of them he hoped it would be imputed by God and man to the Authors of the War and not to him who had so earnestly desired and laboured for the peace of the Kingdome and preservation thereof and that when He should fail in any of those particulars He would exâ—est no aid or relief from any man or protection from Heaven And now that the stage of War seems to be made ready and the Parliament party being the better furnished had not seldome shewed themselves and made severall traverses over it for indeed the King having so many necessities upon him and so out of power and provision for it might in that regard only if He had not been so unwilling to have any hurtcome to his people by his own defending of himself be backward unwillingly drawn unto it we may do well to stand by and observe who cometh first to act upon it 22. Of September 1642. The Earl of Essex writeth from Warwick that he was upon his march after the King and before the 6. of October following had written to the County of Warwick with all speed to raise their Trained bands and Voluntiers to resist his Forces if they should come that way and to the three Counties of Northampton Leicester and Derby to gather head and resist him if he should retire into those parts and by all that can bee judged of a matter of fact so truly and faithfully represented must needs be acknowledged to have great advantages of the King by the City and Tower of London Navy Shipping Armes Ammunition the Kings Magazine all the strong Towns of the Kingdom most of the Kingdoms plate and money the Parliaments credit and high esteem which at that time the people Idolized the fiery Zeal of a seditious Clergy to preach the people into a Rebellion and the people head-longly running into the witchcraft of it When the King on the other side had little more to help him theâ— the Laws and Religion of the Land which at that time every man began to â—iâ—construe and pull in pieces had neither men horse arms ammunition ships places of strength nor money not any of his party or followers after the Parliament had as it were proclamed a War against him could come single or in small numbers through any Town or Village but were either openly assaulted or secretly betrayed no man could advenâ—ure to serve or own him but must expose himself and his Estate to be ruined either by the Parliament or people or such as for malice or profit would inform against him All the gains and places of preferment were on the Parliaments part and nothing but losses and misfortunes on the Kings No man was afraid to goe openly to the Parliaments side and no man duâ—st openly so much as take acquaintance of his Sâ—veraign but if he had done a quarter of 〈◊〉 which Ziba did to David when he 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 â—â—â—ves of bread or old Barzillâ—◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Gutite when he went along with him when hiâ— Son Absalom rebelled against him They should never have escaped so well as they did but have been sure to be undone and sequestred for it So much of the affections of the people had the Parliament cosened and stoln from them so much profit and preferment had they to perswade it and so much power to enforce those that otherwise had not a mind to it to fight against him Who thus every way encompassed about with dangers and like a Partridge hunted upon the Mountains marcheth from Shrewsbury towards Banbury perswading and picking up what help and assistance his better sort of Subjects durst adventure to afford him in the way
the Steward or an appeal may take a way the inconvenience of it A way of government worse then to be subject to the rule of so many fools for they might perchance doe that would be just or so many Knaves who but in playing the Knaves one with another or for reward might sometimes do that which was right or Mad-men which at intervals might do something which was reasonable worse then for every subject of England to be put to play at dice for his life or estate or any thing else he should crave a Justice to get or keep for then he might by skill or chance obtain something In fine worse then any example or way of Government the world hath as yet produced and can have nothing worse but Hell it self The Parliament and priviledges of it are destroyed and every mans life and estate in no better a condition then at the pleasure of the next pretenders to it All the Charters and Liberties of Cities and Corporate Towns Corporations of Trade and Companies of Merchants made void all the Merchandise Trade and Manufacture of the Kingdom laid open and in common to every one that will intrude upon it all that is in the Law concerning our Lives Estates Liberties and Religion made void and dependant upon the Arbitrary Independent power all that is in the Law concerning Navigation the Kings Protection of his people certainty of Customes Trade and Entercourse Leagues and Correspondencies with Forrain Princes expired or annihilated and all that our Fore-fathers have obtained by way of Lawes and Settlement and certainty of Estate are now at dispose of our vote-mongers who in stead of a most pious and gracious King governing by known Lawes have set us up 43. or 50. Kings and ten times as many more Knaves and Fools who will govern by no Law but such as they shall call Lawes and make themselves can be accusers witnesses and Judges at one and the same time and if need be condemn and take away mens Estates first and try them after two or three yeares Petitioning for it a bondage slavery in the general more then ever any of our Ancestors tasted of For the Romans whose Justice and Morality at home and Vertue and Temperance abroad made them free enough from Tyranny did but make them as Tributaries The Picts made but temporary incursions and a wall could be made against them The Saxons and Danes brought us good Lawes and William the Conquerour was content to restore them And all that succeeded him since understood a government by Lawes to be their own as well as the peoples security but this which they have now brought upon us and would keep us under is a misery beyond that was suffered under the 30. Tyrants of Athens Spartan Ephori or Romes Decemvirat for there were something of Lawes and Rules to govern by The Children of Israel in the Egyptian slavery had a property in their goods and cattel and were at liberty to serve a better God then that of their Masters and though they had their burdens doubled upon them were not kill'd imprisoned or sequestred for petitioning against the sense of Pharaoh The Jewes in Captivity had so much liberty of Conscience allowed to them as to play upon their Harps and sing the Songs of Sion in a strange Land The frozen Russians though so dull and ignorant as when they are asked any matter of State or difficulty make answer God and the great Duke knoweth breath not under so Arbitrary lawlesse a government The Grecians had not their Lawes Religion and Liberties as we have all at once taken from them nor can the sufferings of them or any other vassals of the Ottoman Port or those that live under the Crim Tartar equal the one half of our English slavery Into which we had never fallen or come at all or so long groaned under had we but served God and the King as we ought to have done and not wrâ—sted the sense as well as the plain words of the Scripture and the Lawes of the Land to enable the sons of Zerviah to be too hard for us and bring all manner of mischief confusion and wickednesse upon us more then Romes and Constantinoples Antichrist ever brought upon a people and from which the King had delivered us if we had not Cursed Reviled Prayed Contributed and Fought against him for endeavouring to Protect us How gracious then was he who endured the heat of the day and cold of the night to preserve a great deal more for us then Nabals sheep could amount unto yet being worse used then ever David was for it could not tell how so much as to threaten to doe that which David had so great a mind to doe but fought as long as he could to Protect them would not so much as defend themselves but did all they could to ruine those that defended him And how much was he beyond Codrus the Athenian King the Roman Curtius or Decii if all that the Ancients wrote of them were true who sacrificed themselves but not their Estates and Posterity to preserve the Publique and how good beyond example or the credit of any History who made himself a Martyr for his peoples lives and liberties and endured so many deaths and suffered more indignities then all the Kings of England put together have ever endured to preserve a people have for a great part of them either by Rebellion or an accursed Newtrality helped to ruine him and when he knew whatsoever Conditions or Propositions he should be forced to yield unto would by the Law of God as well as the Civil and Common Law the Lawes of Nature and Nations and the dictates of every common mans reason and apprehension have been void in the very making of them and could not have reached to his Posterity and that if he would but have surrendred up his people and gone along with their new Masters in their Arbitrary and Tyrannical government as some of his last words upon the Scaffold plainly intimate and sided with 20. or 30. of the Faction and delivered up the sheep to the Wolves he might no doubt have had a good part of the Fleece to his own share or but wirh Sampson have pleased himself with revenge and delivered up a people to Slavery were at so much expence of Treasure and Blood and their own Soules to bring their Soveraign to it might have worn the Title of a King and played the wanton with Sardanapalus in the company and delight of women pleased his palat with Vitellius his pride if he had any with Bassianus his cruelty if he could ever have been guilty of it with Commodus and with Childerick the lazy King of France in a Chariot deck't with garlands whilst others governed for him been at certain times of the year onely exhibited to the people and like the Minotaure of Creete wallowed in the labyrinth of Parliament Priviledges and devoured his people did notwithstanding refuse to
ordered by the then Juncto sitting in Parliament that all publick Writings should be issued out under a new Test and Stile and a new great Seale should be made and the old one broken that the Inscription and Stamp of the Coin shall be altered also It was Enacted and Proclaimed that none upon pain of high Treason should presume to declare and publickly promote Charles Stuart Prince of Wales eldest Son of the late King or any of the rest of his Children to be King of England Nevertheless there was not wanting those who ventured their lives and fortunes in asserting the Title of his Majesty to the Crown of England to which end this following Proclamation was Printed and dispersed in severall places of London We the Noble men Judges Knights Lawyers Gentlemen Free-holders Merchants Citizens Yeomen Seamen and Free men of England do according to our Allegiance and Covenant by these presents heartily joyfully and unanimously acknowledge and Proclaim the most Illustrious Charles Prince of Wales next Heir apparent to his Father King Charls whose late wicked murther and all consents there unto we from our souls abominate to be by hereditary birth right and lawfull succession rightfull and undoubted King of Great Brittain c. And we will constantly and sincerely in our severall places and callings defend and maintain his Royall person Crown and Dignity with our Lives and Estates against all opposers whom we hereby declare to be enemies to his Majesty and Kingdomes in Testimony whereof we have caused these to be published throughout all Counties and Corporations of this Realm the 1. day of February In the first year of his Majesties Raign But so totally was the Kings party suppressed in all parts of the Kingdom that the Proclamation was of none essect none daring to appear for the Royal Interest Yet his Majesties greatest hopes and expectations were from Ireland where the severall factions united together Proclaim him King and bend all their whole strength against the Interest of the Common-Wealth of England and in a short time became so formidable and prevail so much as the possessed all the strong Holds of that Country Dublin and London-Derry are excepted both were straitly besieged the former by a gallant Army of 22000 men under the Marquesse of Ormond the latter by a party of the Irish Rebells Hee had likewise adjoining to the Territories of England the Islands of Scilly Jersy and Man which places served as a retreat for that small Fleet that was left him being the remainder of those Ships which had deserted the Parliaments Navy and revolted unto him This while his affairs in Ireland were at the height they began as suddenly to decline for there being about 3000 Horse and Foot safely landed at Dublin as the forlorn of a greater body they were joyned with what other forces they then could make all which did not make above 9000. at the most were commanded by Colonell Mich. Jones who sallying forth of Dublin did not onely raise the seige but also utterly routed the whole Army the Marquesse of Ormond himselfe hardly escapeing about 2000 were slain in the place and in the pursuite some thousands were taken prisoners as like wise all their Ordinaces Ammunition Carriages and Provision The siege of London-Derry was also raised by a resolute sally of Sir Charls Coot forcing Sir Rob. Stewart and Col. Merven to retire immediately upon this success not to give the Royall party any time to recover strength All disturbances being quieted in England The Levellers at Burford being suppressed by Generall Fairfax Oliver Cromwell then Lievetenant Generall of the Parliaments Army landed with a powerfull Army about the midst of August 1649. invested with the Title and Authority of Lord Governour or Lievetenant of Ireland presently after him followed his son in law Major Generall Ireton with about 40. Sail of Ships soon after Drogheda was taken by Storme not without some difficulty and loss and that hee might terrify other Garrisons that should stand out put Sir Arthur Aston all that were in the Town to the Sword which was about 3000. Then followed the taking of a number of considerable Towns and Castles in all parts of Ireland Besides severall Field-battells gained over the Lord Inohiqueen the Lord Ards and Clanduboys with Lievetenant Generall Farrell and others of his Majesties party by the Lord Broghill Sir Charles Coote Collonell Venables Zanchy Reynolds and Hewson so that in lesse then a years time Ireland was subdued to the power of the English Common-Wealth Much about this time hapned a generall defection of the English Plantations from their obedience to the Parliament viz. Virginia and the Caryb Islands publickly own the Royall Interest whereupon all Traffique and Commerce is prohibited thorow which means they are driven to great streits and presently after by a Fleet of Ships from England under the Command of Sir George Ascue they are brought unto conformity The King having Constituted Prince Rupert Admirall of his Fleet did much harm to the English Coasts and takes many rich prizes was at last blockt up in the Harbour of Kings Sale the Town presently after taken by Cromwell The Prince is forced to leave three of his Ships behind he had enough to do to get clear off with the rest at length he arrived at Lisbon the imperiall City of the King of Portugall and craved his protection which was not denied them which was the occasion of a great Contest between that King and the State of England other designes were set on foot by his Majesties Loyall Subjects for the obtaining of his Right The first was of James Graham Earl of Montross for the raising of what force he cold in Holland and else where to invade Scotland The 2. was the procuring a Treaty betwixt his Majesty and the Scots to give more life to these undertakings Ambassadors were dispatcht to Spain Italy Denmarke Sweden and Russia c. In the name of CHARLES the Second King of Great Britain France and Ireland Defender of the Faith The effect of whose Embassies were little else but Complements pleas and excuses for neither men nor mony could be got Montrosse According to his Majesties instructions having got together very considerable supplies of men and monies at length lands in the North of Scotland where he had not long been but Colonell Straughan Colonell Kerr Colonell Mountgomry and Lievetenant Colonell Hackets Troop and another amounting to 230 approach and give battel whereas Montrosse was at least 1200. and their Chief-Leaders such resolute and expert souldiers unlesse struck with fear of Lesley's great Army coming against them however so great was the defeat that the whole body of Montrosse was engaged in the battle There escaped not above 100 from being either taken or slain amongst the prisoners ners were S. Joh. Vrry Major General of Montrosses Army the L. Fendraught Col. Grey Lievetenant Colonell Stewart with a great number of other considerable Officers
King The Lord Jermyn made Governour of the Island under whom Sir George Carteret was constituted Deputy Governour Guernsey being possessed by the Parliaments forces a Declaration was sent thither inviting the Governour and people to submit to his Majesties obedience But this invitation did little avail By this time the severall Transactions that were between his Majesty his Kingdom of Scotland had brought forth a Treaty at Breda in the Netherlands a Town of speciall note belonging to the Prince of Orange And Master Windram Lord of Libeton is sent Commissioner from the States of Scotland to Treat with his Majesty who being safely arrived presents his Royall Majesty with the desires and offers of the States of Scotland which were to this effect 1. That hee would sign the solemn League and Covenant 2. That he would pass divers Acts of the Parliament of Scotland 3. That he would put away all Papists from about him and let none but known Protestants be of his Counsell That he would give a speedy answer to their desires Besides this his Majesty hath great hopes of raising a sufficient force in England among the friends to his Royall Interest Upon this design severall are sent from Jersey into the West of England amongst whom two Principal men Sir John Berkley and Col. Slingsby who went up and down to their confederates earnestly stirring them up to take up Arms for his Majesty but these were discovered by a Country fellow and are taken by Cap. Rochwich and are sent Prisoners to Truro in Cornwall After many consultations and gracious condiscentions of his Majesty The Treaty is at last concluded and now the Kingdom of Scotland make great preparations for his reception to this end two rich houses in Edinburgh are richly furnished and the Parliament take into consideration the nominating of Officers for his house About the beginning of June 1650. his Majesty hasts from Breda to the Hague Thence to Scheveling where he took Shiping and at last in despight of fowâ— weather and the English King Fishers that lay there to intercept him he landed at Spey in the North of Scotland In the mean time the Parliament of Scotland bend their consultations for the raising of an Army for the use of his Majesty the Earl of Leven is made Generall of the Foot and Holborun Major General David Lasley Lievtenant Generall of the Horse Mountgomery Major Generall The Supream command of the whole Army is reserved for the Kings most excellent Majesty himself whom at his Arrivall they entertained with high complements and much acclamation and seemed to congratulate his coming with much demonstrations of joy and affection And on the 15. July following solemnly proclaim him King at Edinburgh Crosse About this time the English send a complaint to the King of Spain about the death of one Ascam who wassent thither as Agent from our new Common-wealth who the first night he came to Madrid sitting at dinner with his Interpreter Segnior Riba six black Devills in the shape of men knockt at the door had easy access and being entred Master Ascham rose up to salute them whereupon the formost stabbed him in the head his interpreter endeavouring to escape was also stabbed in the belly The Republick of England receiving good intelligence that his Majesty and the Kingdom of Scotland were agreed After a serious and solemn debate Voted that Thomas Lord Fairfax with an Army under his command should march Northwards But that noble and truly valiant Commander could not be entreated to fight against his sacred Majesty and our Brethren of Scotland and hereupon laid down his Commission Which was forthwith conferred upon the Archest of Traitors Oliver Cromwell who presently after arrived out of Ireland leaving Ireton his son in Law as Lord Deputy in his room Accordingly Orders were issued forth for the speedy advance of the Army in Scotland who had no sooner taken their march but the Scots take the Alarm and send two or three papers to Sir Arthur Hasilrig then Governour of Newcastle to expostulate the case about the sudden approach of the English Army alledging the Covenant or large Treaty of Union betwixt the two Kingdoms and other circumstances of the like nature but all proved fruitless The Parliament then publish a declaration shewing the reason of their Armies advance towards Scotland The English Army is now at last at Dunbar where the Scots have the English at a great disadvantage nevertheless the Generall and his Officers finding the Army unfit for further delays resolved the next morning to fall upon the Scots who being imbattlled by break of day the word of the English was the Lord of Hostes and that of the Scotts was the Covenant after an hours dispute the Scots were wholly routed there was slain 3000 the Lord Libberton Colonell Lumsden mortally wounded 1000. taken together with Sir James Lumsden Lievtenant Generall of the Foot And about 260 other Officers 200 Colours 15000 Armes and 30. pieces of Ordnance At London was apprehended condemned and executed Colonell Eusebius Andrews who being taken with a Commission from his Majesty was beheaded at Tower Hill September 8. That most excellent Princesse Elizabeth daughter to our late Soveraign dyed at Carisbrook Castle in the Isle of Wight Upon these sad disasters his Majesty went secretly away to the North of Scotland upon which the Committee of Estates are much troubled chiefly for that they feared hee would join with Middleton they send Major Generall Mountgomery with a party of Horse to endeavour by earnest supplications to bring him back to Saint Johnstons which at the first he utterly refuseth but at last condescended to retire with Montgomery about the later end of October the Prince of Orange departed this life whose death was much lamented by his most gracious Majesty having received from him many high Testimonies of friendship and good will about ten days after the Princesse of Orange was delivered of a Son which did in part mitigate her griefe for the Princes death After three months siege the Castle of Edinburgh was surrendred up to Cromwell December 24. 1650. with all the Ordnances Armes Magazine and furniture of War thereunto belonging Notwithstanding the hard fortune his Majesties forces hitherto had undergone severall designes were set on foot At this time there was one Benson executed at Tiburn for acting by virtue of a Commission from his Majesty upon the same account there rose a great number in the County of Norfolk but were soon dispersed and taken About this time Sir Henry Hide being Commissionated by his Majesty Ambassador to the grand senior at Constantinople stood in competition with Sir Thomas Bendish whereupon they had a hearing before the Vizier Bassa The result whereof was that Sir Thomas Bendish should dispose of Sir Henry Hide as he thought good who was straight way sent to Smyrna thence into England and there condemned and executed as a Traytor before the Royall Exchange London The War
Religion and take away the Laws and Liberties of the People and many other the like seditious delusions the People so much as their misery will give them leave have now found out the way to laugh at either came from the Parlament party or were cherished and turned into advantages by them For they had found the way and lost nothing by it to be ever jealous of the King And whil'st he did all he could to shew them that there was no cause for it they who were jealous without a cause could be so cunning as to make all the hast they could to weaken him and strengthen themselvs by such kind of artifices But he that could not choose but take notice that there were secret ties and combinations betwixt his English and Scortish Subjects the latter of whom the Earl of Essex and Sir Thomas Fairfax themselves understood to be no better then Rebells and therefore served in places of Command in his Majesties Army against them That Sir Arthur Haselrig had brought in a Bill in Parlament to take the Militia by Sea and Land away from him saw himselfe not long after by a printed Remonstrance or Declaration made to the People of all they could but imagine to be errors in his Government arraigned and little less then deposed The Bishops and divers great Lords driven from the Parlament by tumults Was inforced to keep his gates at Whitehall shut and procure divers Captains and Commanders to lodge there and to allow them a Table to be a guard for him and had been fully informed of many Traiterous Speeches used by some seditious Mechanicks of London as that it was pity he should Raign and that The Prince would make a better King was yet so far from being jealous or solicitous to defend himselfe by the Sword and power which God had intrusted him with as when he had need and reason enough to do it he still granted them that he might not seem to deny what might but seem to be for the good of his people every thing they could reasonably ask of him or he could but reasonably tell how to part with though he could not be ignorant but an ill use might be made of them against himself As the putting down of the Star-Chamber and high Commission Court the Courts of Honour and of the North and Welch Marches Commissions for the making of Gun-powder allowing them approbation or nomination of the Lievtenant of the Tower and did all and more then all his predecessors put together to remove their jealousies And when that would not do it He stood still and saw the game plaid on further many Tumults raised many Libells and scandalous Pamphlets publickly printed against his person and Government and when he complained of it in Parlament so little care was taken to redress it as that the peoples coming to Westminster in a Tumultuous manner set on and invited by Pennington and Ven two of the most active Mechanick Sectaries of the House of Commons it was excused and called a liberty of Petitioning And as for the Libells and Pamphlets the Licensing of Books before they should be printed and all other restraint of the Printing Press were taken away and complaints being made against Pamphlets and seditious Books some of the Members of the house of Commons were heard to say the work would not be done without them and complaints being also made to Mr. Pym against some wicked men which were ill affected to the Government He answered It was not now a time to discourage their friends but to make use of them And here being as many Jealousies and fears as could possibly be raised or fancied without a ground on the one side against all the endeavours could be used on the other side to remove them We shall in the next place take a view of the matter of Fact that followed upon them and bring before you CHAP. II. The Proceedings betwixt the King and the Parlament from the Tumultuous and Seditious coming of the People to the Parlament and White-Hall till the 13. of September 1642. being 18. days after the King had set up his Standard at Nottingham WHen all the King could do to bring the Parlament to a better understanding of him did as they were pleased to make their advantage of it but make them seem to be the more unsatisfied that they might the better mis-represent him to the People and petition out of his hands as much power as they could tell how to perswade him to grant them and that he had proofs enough of what hath been since written in the blood and hearts of his People that the five Members and Kimbolton intended to root out Him and His Posterity subvert the Laws and alter the Religion and Covernment of the Kingdom and had therefore sent his Serjeant at Arms to demand their persons and Justice to be done upon them instead of obedience to it an order was made That every man might rescue them and apprehend the Serjeant at Arms for doing it which Parlament Records would blush at And Queen Elizabeth who was wont to answer her better composed Parlaments upon lesser occasions with a Cavete ne patientiam Principis laedatis and caused Parry a Doctor of the Civill Laws and a Member of the house of Commons by the judgement and advice of as sage and learned a privy Councill and Judges as any Prince in Christendom ever had to be hang'd drawn and quartered for Treason in the old Palace of Westminster when the Parlament was sitting would have wondred at And 4. of January 1641. desiring onely to bring them to a Legall tryall and examination went in person to demand them and found that his own peaceable behaviour and fewer attendants then the two Speakers of the Parlament had afterwards when they brought a whole Army at their heels to charge and fright away eleven of their fellow members had all manner of evil constructions put upon it and that the Houses of Parlament had adjourned into London and occasioned such a sedition amongst the people as all the train bands of London must guard them by Land when there was no need of it and many Boats and Lighters armed with Sea-men and murdering pieces by water and that unless he should have adventured the mischief and murder hath been since committed upon him by those which at that time intended as much as they have done since it was high time to think of his own safety and of so many others were concerned in it having left London but the day before upon a greater cause of fear then the Speakers of both Houses of Parlament in July 1647. to go to the Army retires with the Prince his Son whom the Parlament laboured to seize and take into their custody in his company towards York 8. January 1641. A Committee of the House of Commons sitting in London resolved upon the question That the Actions of the City of London for the
Authority to punish it is now written in the blood of the King and those many iterated complaints of the King in severall of his Declarations published to the people in the midst of the Parliaments greatest pretences and promises that they intended to take away his life and ruine him are now gone beyond suspition and every man may now know the meaning of their Canoneers levelling at the King with perspective glasses at Copredy bridge the acquitting of Pym the Inn-keeper who said He would wash his Hands in the Kings hearts-blood stifling of fifteen or sixteen severall indictments for treasonable words Rolf rewarded for his purpose to kil him and the prosecutors checked and some of them imprisoned for it For the Sun in the Firmament and the four great quarters of the Earth and the Shapes and Lineaments of man are not so universally known seen or spoken of as this will be most certain to the present as well as after ages The end hath now verified the beginning Quod primum fuit in intentione ultimo loco agitur Seaven years hypocritical Promises practices 7. years Pretences and seven years preaching and pratling have now brought us all to this conclusion as wel as Confusion The blood of old England is let out bygreater witch-craft and cousenage then that of Medea when she set Pelias daughters to let out his old blood that young might come in the place of it the Cedars of Lebanon are devouted and the Trees have made the Bramble King and are like to speed as wel with it as the Frogs did with the Storke that devoured them And they have not onely slain the King who was their Father but like Nero rip 't up the belly of the Common-Wealth which was their Mother The light of Israel is put out and the King Laws Religion and Liberties of the people murthered an action so horrid and a sin of so great a magnitude and complication as if we shall ask the daies that are past and enquire from the one end of the Earth to the other there will not be found any wickednesse like to this great wickedness or hath been heard like it The Severn Thames Trent and Humbar four of the greatest Rivers of the Kingdome with all their lesser running streams of the Island in their continuall courses and those huge heaps of waterin the Ocean girdle of it in their Restlesse agitations will never be able to scoure and wash away the guilt and stain of it though all the rain which the clouds shal ever bring forth and impart to this Nation and the tears of those that bewail the losse of a King of so eminent graces and perfections bee added to it Quis cladem illius diei quis funera fando Explicet aut possit lachrymis aequare dolores Gens antiqua ruit multos dominata per Annos AN EXACT LIST OF The Names of those pretended Judges who sate and sentenced our late SOVERAIGNE KING CHARLES the First in the place which they called the High Court of Justice Jan. 27. 1648. And also of those thirty five Witnesses Sworn against the said KING The Sentence read against him With the Catalogue of the Names of those that Subscribed and Sealed the Warrant for his Execution And the manner of his Cruel MVRDER London Printed by Henry Bell and are to be sold by most Book-sellors 1660. The Names of the pretended Judges who gave Sentence against the late King January 27. 1648. LXXII in Number IOhn Bradshaw Lord President Oliver Cromwell Henry Ireton Sir Hardress Waller Valentine Walton Thomas Harrison Edward Whaley Thomas Pride Isaac Ewer Lord Grey of Grooby William Lord Mounson Sir John Danvers Sir Thomas Maleverer Sir John Bourcher Isaac Pennington Henry Martin William Purifoye John Barkstead Mâ—â—thew Tomlinson John Blakeston Gilbert Millington Thomas Chaloner Sir William Constable Edmund Ludlow John Hutchison Sir Michael Livesey Robert Tichburne Owen Roe Robert Lilburne Adrian Scroop Richard Dean John Okey John Harrison John Hewson William Goffe Cornelius Holland John Carew John Jones Thomas Lister Peregrine Pelham Thomas Wogan Francis Alleu Daniel Blagrave John Moor. William Say Francis Lascels John Chaloner Gregory Clement Sir Gregory Norton John Venn Thomas Andrews Anthony Stapley Thomas Horton John Lisle John Browne John Dixwell Miles Corbett Simon Meyne John Alured Henry Smith Humphrey Edwards John Frye Edmund Harvey Thomas Scot. William Cawley John Downes Thomas Hammond Vincent Potter Augustine Garland Charles Fleetwood John Temple Thomas Wayte Counsellors assistant to this Court and to draw up the Charge against the KING were Dr. Dorislaus Serjeant Danby Serjeant at Arms. Mr. Aske   Mr. John Cook Solicitor Mr. Broughton Clerkes to the Court. Mr. Phelpes Colonel Humphrey Sword-bearer Messengers Door-keepers and Criers were these Mr. Walford Mr. Radley Mr. Paine Mr. Powell Mr. Hull Mr. King The Sentence against the said King Jan. 27 1648. which was read by Mr. Broughton aforesaid Clerk WHereas the Commons of England in Parliament have appointed them an High Court of Justice for the Trial of Charles Stuart King of England before whom he had been three times convented and at the first time a Charge of High Treason and other Crimes and Misdemeanors was read in the behalfe of the Kingdome of England c. as in the Charge which was read throughout To which Charge he the said Charles Stuart was required to give his Answer but he refused so to do and so expresâ— several passages at his Trial in refusing to answer For all which Treasons and Crimes this Court doth adjudge That the said Charles Stuart as a Tyrant Traytor Murderer and publick Enemy shall be put to death by severing his head from his body This Sentence says the President now read and published is the Act Sentence Judgement and Resolution of the whole Court. To which the Members of the Court stood up and assented to what he said by holding up their hands The King offered to speak but he was instantly commanded to be taken away and the court broke up The Names of thirty five Witnesses produced and Sworn in the said pretended Court to give Evidence against the King Henry Hartford of Stratford upon Avon in Com. Warwick Edward Roberts of Bishops Castle in Com. Salop Ironmonger Will. Baines of Wrixhall in Com. Salop. Robert Lacie of Nottingham Painter Robert Loads of Cottam in Com. Nottingham Tyler Samuel Morgan of Wellington in Com. Salop Feltmaker James Williams of Rosse in Com. Hartford Shoomaker Richard Pots of Sharpreton in Com. Northumberland Vintner Giles Grice of Wellington in Com. Salop Gent. William Arnop of John Hudson of John Winston of Dornotham in Com. Wilts George Seeley of London Cordwainer John Moor of Cork in Ireland Gent. Thomas Ives of Boyset in Com. Northampton Husbandman James Cresby of Dublin in Ireland Barber Thomas Rawlins of Hanslop in Com. Buck. Gent. Richard Bloomfeild of London Weaver John Thomas of Langallan in Com. Donbigh William Lawson of Nottingham Maulster John Pinegar of