William Cawley gave his single Negative On the 13 th of April 1646. Exeter was delivered to ours upon Articles by which all such as were in the Town and Garison were admitted to compound for their Estates paying two Years Value for the same Barnstable Dunstar-Castle and Michael's-Mount in Cornwall were also surrendred in the last of which Places the Marquiss of Hamilton was Prisoner by the King's Order and restored to his Liberty upon the Surrender of it which Favour he acknowledged to the Members of the House of Commons attending in Person at their door to that end The most considerable Body of Men remaining in the Field for the King was commanded by Sir Jacob Ashley who being on his March towards Oxford was attacked by Col. Morgan and Sir William Brereton at Stow in the Woald where after a sharp Dispute on both sides Sir Jacob Ashley's Forces were entirely defeated many of them killed and wounded and himself taken Prisoner During his Confinement he was heard to say That now they had no hopes to prevail but by our Divisions Which deserves the more Reflection because he being well acquainted with the King 's Secrets was not ignorant that many amongst us who at the beginning appeared most forward to engage themselves and to invite others to the War against the King finding themselves disappointed of those Preferments which they expected or out of some particular Disgusts taken had made Conditions with the King not only for their Indemnity but for Places and Advancements under him endcavouring by a Treaty or rather by Treachery to betray what had cost so much Blood to obtain These Men to strengthen their Interest applied themselves to the Presbyterian Party who jealous of the Increase of Sectaries of which the Army was reported chiefly to consist readily joined with them By which Conjunction most of the new elected Members were either Men of a neutral Spirit and willing to have Peace upon any Terms or such who tho they had engaged against the King yet finding things tending to a Composition with him resolved to have the Benefit of it and his Favour tho with the Guilt of all the Blood that had been shed in the War upon their Heads in not requiring Satisfaction for the same nor endeavouring to prevent the like for the future designing at the most only to punish some inferiour Instruments whilst the Capital Offender should not only go free but his Authority be still acknowledged and adored and so the Nation more enslaved than ever to a Power which tho it destroys the People by Thousands must be accountable to none but God for so doing whom some Persons as it is apparent by their Usage of Mankind either think not to be or not at all superiour to them Another sort of Men there was amongst us who having acquired Estates in the Service of the Parliament now adhered to the King's Party for the preserving of what they had got who together with such as had been discharged from their Employments by the Reform of the Army or envied their Success combined together against the Commonwealth This Party was encouraged and supported upon all occasions by the Scots and the City of London The first of them tho they began the War and tho their Assembly of Ministers had declared the King guilty of the Blood of Thousands of his best Subjects their Covenant engaging them in the preservation of his Person so far only as might consist with the Laws of the Land and Liberty of the Subject yet having had many good Opportunities in England and hoping for more supposing it to be in their Power to awe the King to whatsoever they should think fit they were contented to swallow that Ocean of Blood that had been shed pressing the Parliament by their Commissioners to conclude upon such Terms with the King as shewed them rather Advocates than such as had been Enemies to him The latter having had their Treasure much exhausted by the War and their Trade long interrupted besides the Influence the Scots had upon them by the means of their Ministers the Common Council being also debauched by Serjeant Glyn and others of that Party in the House of Commons it was not so much to be wondred at if they earnestly solicited for a speedy Determination of the Difference by a Treaty The King also perceiving Judgment to be given against him by that Power to which both Parties had made their solemn Appeal thought it advisable to make use of the Foxes Skin and for a time to lay aside that of the Lion sending Messages to the Parliament to desire of them a safe Conduct for his coming to London in Honour Freedom and Safety there personally to treat with the Two Houses about the means of settling a firm and lasting Peace the Scots in the mean time repeating their Instances with the Parliament to enter into the Consideration of the Articles of Religion contained in the Covenant to give a speedy Peace to his Majesty to pay them near two hundred thousand Pounds which they pretended to be due to them for their Arrcars and to make a just Estimate of the Losses they had sustained by Sea and Land since the beginning of the War for want of such Supplies as were promised them which they computed at more than the former Sum. The Parliament for divers Reasons thought it not convenient to comply with the King's Propositions and in answer to the Scots demanded of them an exact Account of what was due to them requiring them to withdraw their Garisons from such Places as they possessed in England Some Differences they had also with the Scots Commissioners concerning the Exclusion of the King from having any thing to do with the Militia and touching the Scots intermedling with the Government of England about the Education of the King's Children the disbanding of Armies and an Act of Oblivion in which Matters the Parliament of England would not permit the Scots to interpose and therefore their Commissioners acquainted them that they had not Power to consent to any Demands of that nature whereupon the Deputies of Scotland applied themselves to the Two Houses demanding that they would enlarge the Powers of their Commissioners to that end But there being found in these Demands of the Scots some Expressions highly reflecting upon the Parliament the Two Houses declared them to be injurious and scandalous and ordered them to be burnt by the Hands of the Common Hangman After which they commanded the Army to besiege Oxford who in order to that Design blocked up Farringdon Wallingford and Woodstock but before they could form the Siege of Oxford the King escaped from thence on the 27 th of April 1646. of which notice being given to the Parliament by Col. Rainsborough who lay before Woodstock they suspecting that he designed to come to London to raise a Party against them published an Ordinance declaring That whosoever should harbour or conceal the King's Person should be proceeded
England and the Common Council of the City of London presented a Petition to the Parliament by the hands of Col. Titchborn to that effect but some of the Commonwealths-men desired that before they consented to that Method it might be resolved what Government to establish fearing a Design in the Army to set up some one of themselves in his room others endeavoured to perswade them that the execution of Justice ought to be their first Work in respect of their Duty to God and the People that the failure therein had been already the occasion of a second War which was justly to be charged on the Parliament for neglecting that Duty that those who were truly Commonwealths-men ought to be of that Opinion as the most probable means to attain their Desires in the establishment of an equal and just Government and that the Officers of the Army who were chiefly to be suspected could not be guilty of so much Impudence and Folly to erect an Arbitrary Power in any one of themselves after they had in so publick a manner declared their Detestation of it in another In order to the accomplishment of the important Work which the House of Commons had now before them they voted That by the Fundamental Laws of the Land it is Treason for the King of England for the time being to levy War against the Parliament and Kingdom To which the Lords not concurring they passed it the next day without their Consent and the day after declared That the People are under God the Original of all just Power That the House of Commons being chosen by and representing the People are the Supreme Power in the Nation That whatsoever is enacted or declared for Law by the Commons in Parliament hath the Force of a Law and the People are concluded thereby tho the Consent of King or Peers be not had thereto This Obstruction being removed several Petitions were brought to the Parliament for so the House of Commons now stiled themselves from the City of London Borough of Southwark and most of the Counties in England requesting that the King might be brought to Justice in order to which they passed an Act authorizing the Persons therein named or any thirty of them to proceed to the Arraignment Condemnation or Acquittal of the King with full Power in case of Condemnation to proceed to Sentence and to cause the said Sentence to be put in Execution This High Court of Justice met on the 8 th of January 1648 in the Painted Chamber to the number of about fourscore consisting chiefly of Members of Parliament Officers of the Army and Gentlemen of the Country where they chose Serjeant Aske Serjeant Steel and Dr. Dorrislaus to be their Counsel Mr. John Coke of Grays-Inn to be their Solicitor and Mr. Andrew Broughton their Secretary and sent out a Precept under their Hands and Seals for proclaiming the Court to be held in Westminster-Hall on the tenth of the said Month which was performed accordingly by Serjeant Dendy attended by a Party of Horse in Cheapside before the old Exchange and in Westminster-Hall On the the tenth they chose Serjeant Bradshaw to be their President with Mr. Lisle and Mr. Say to be his Assistants and a Charge of High Treason being drawn up against the King the Court appointed a convenient Place to be prepared at the upper end of Westminster-Hall for his Publick Trial directing it to be covered with Scarlet Cloth and ordered twenty Halberdiers to attend the President and thirty the King All things being thus prepared for the Trial the King was conducted from Windsor to St. James's from whence on the 20 th of January he was brought to the Bar of the High Court of Justice where the President acquainted the King with the Causes of his being brought to that Place For that He contrary to the Trust reposed in him by the People to see the Laws put in execution for their Good had made use of his Power to subvert those Laws and to set up his Will and Pleasure as a Law over them that in order to effect that Design he had endeavoured the Suppression of Parliaments the best Defence of the Peoples Liberties That he had levied War against the Parliament and People of England wherein great numbers of the good People had been slain of which Blood the Parliament presuming him guilty had appointed this High Court of Justice for the Trial of him for the same Then turning to Mr. Broughton Clerk of the Court he commanded him to read the Charge against the King who as the Clerk was reading the Charge interrupted him saying I am not intrusted by the People they are mine by Inheritance demanding by what Authority they brought him thither The President answered that they derived their Authority from an Act made by the Commons of England assembled in Parliament The King said the Commons could not give an Oath that they were no Court and therefore could make no Act for the Trial of any Man much less of him their Soveraign It was replied that the Commons assembled in Parliament could acknowledg no other Soveraign but God for that upon his and the Peoples Appeal to the Sword for the Decision of their respective Pretensions Judgment had been given for the People who conceiving it to be their Duty not to bear the Sword in vain had appointed the Court to make Inquisition for the Blood that had been shed in that Dispute Whereupon the President being moved by Mr. Solicitor Coke in the Name and on the Behalf of the good People of England commanded the Clerk of the Court to proceed in the reading of the Charge against him which being done the King was required to give his Anser to it and to plead guilty or not guilty The King demurred to the Jurisdiction of the Court affirming that no Man nor Body of Men had Power to call him to an account being not intrusted by Man and therefore accountable only to God for his Actions entring upon a large Discourse of his being in Treaty with the Parliament's Commissioners at the Isle of Wight and his being taken from thence he knew not how when he thought he was come to a Conclusion with them This Discourse seeming not to the purpose the President told him that as to his Plea of not being accountable to Man seeing God by his Providence had over-ruled it the Court had resolved to do so also and that if he would give no other Answer that which he had given should be registred and they would proceed as if he had confessed the Charge In order to which the President commanded his Answer to be entred directing Serjeant Dendy who attended the Court to withdraw the Prisoner which as he was doing many Persons cried out in the Hall Justice Justice The King being withdrawn the Court adjourned into the Painted Chamber to consider what farther was fit to be done and being desirous to prevent all Objections tending to accuse them
unwarrantable Courses but he made his Escape by Water for that time and one of the most active of the People was seized and executed which served only to exasperate the rest Upon the near Approach of the English and Scots Army a considerable Party of each side encountred and the English contrary to their wonted Custom retired in Disorder not without Shame and some Loss Of such Force and Consequence is a Belief and full Perswasion of the Justice of an Undertaking tho managed by an Enemy in other respects inconsiderable The King startled at the Unsuccessfulness of his first Attempt upon the Petition of a considerable number of the well-affected Nobility requesting him that to avoid the Effusion of more Blood he would call an Assembly of the Nobility consented thereunto This Council accordingly met at York and advised the King to a Cessation of Arms and the Calling of a Parliament to compose Differences which to the great trouble of the Clergy and other Incendiaries he promised to do assuring the Scots of the Paiment of twenty thousand Pounds a Month to maintain their Army till the Pleasure of the Parliament should be known In order to which Writs were issued out for the Meeting of a Parliament on the 3 d of November 1640. The time prefix'd for their assembling being come they met accordingly and as they were very sensible that nothing but an absolute Necessity permitted their coming together so they resolved to improve this happy Opportunity to free the People from their Burdens and to punish the Authors of the late Disorders To this end they declared against Monopolies and expelled the Authors of them out of the House The Opinions of the Judges concerning Ship-Money they voted unjust and illegal fining and imprisoning those that had warranted the Lawfulness thereof And that the Offenders against the Publick might not escape they ordered the Sea-Ports to be diligently guarded and all Passengers to be strictly examined This being done they impeached the Lord Keeper Finch the Earl of Strafford and the Arch-bishop of Canterbury of High Treason in endeavouring to subvert the Laws and to erect an Arbitrary and Tyrannical Power They declared that they would pay the English and Scots Armies to the end of May 1641. and assist the Prince Palatine with Men and Money to recover his Country And now having the Charge of two Armies to pay and all Men suspecting they might be abruptly dissolved as had often hapned before and therefore refusing to credit them with such Sums as were necessary unless an Act might pass to secure their sitting till they should think fit to dissolve themselves by Act of Parliament the King gave his Assent to one drawn up and passed to that purpose Another Act likewise passed to assert that according to the antient Fundamental Laws of England a Parliament ought to be held every Year and directing that in case one was not called in three Years the Lord Chancellor or Keeper of the Great Seal should issue out Writs as is therein expressed and if he fail in his Duty he is declared guilty of High Treason and a certain number of Lords impowered to summon the said Parliament and is they should neglect so to do the Sheriffs and Constables are vested with the same Authority But if it should happen that all the forementioned Powers should be wanting in their Duty the People of England are thereby authorized to put the said Act in execution by meeting and electing Members to serve in Parliament tho not summoned by any Officers appointed to that end The Parliament then proceeded to correct the Abuses that had been introduced in the preceding Years Whereupon the Star-Chamber the High Commission Court the Court of Honour with some others were taken away by Act of Parliament and the Power of the Council-Table restrained The Commissioners of the Custom-House who had collected Customs contrary to Law were fined and such as had been imprisoned by any of the above-mentioned Arbitrary Courts were set at liberty A Protestation was also agreed upon by the Lords and Commons which they took and presented to others to take whereby all those that took it obliged themselves to defend and maintain the Power and Privileges of Parliament the Rights and Liberties of the People to use their utmost Endeavours to bring to condign Punishment all those who should by Force or otherwise do any thing to the contrary and to stand by and justify all such as should do any thing in prosecution of the said Protestation The Day prefix'd for the Earl of Strafford's Trial being come he was brought before the House of Peers where the Charge against him was managed by Members of the House of Commons appointed to that end The chief Heads of the Accusation were That he had governed the Kingdom of Ireland in an Arbitrary manner That he had retained the Revenues of the Crown without rendring a due Account of them That he had encouraged and promoted the Romish Religion That he had endeavoured to create Feuds and Quarrels between England and Scotland That he had laboured to render the Parliament suspected and odious to the King That he was the Author of that Advice That since the Parliament had denied to grant the King such Supplies as he demanded he was at liberty to raise them by such Means as he thought fit and that he had an Irish Army that would assist him to that end It being the Custom that a Lord High Steward should be made to preside at the Trial of a Peer that Honour was conferred upon the Earl of Arundel The King the Queen the House of Commons the Deputies of Scotland and Ireland with many other Persons of Quality of both Sexes were there present I remember the Earl of Strafford in his Defence objected against the Evidence of the Earl of Cork denying him to be a competent Witness because his Enemy To which George Lord Digby who was appointed one of the Managers of the Charge against him replied That if that Objection should be of any weight with the Court the Earl of Strafford had found out a certain way to secure himself from any sarther Prosecution Yet this Man who then spoke with so much Vigour soon after altered his Language and made a Speech to the House in his favour which he caused to be printed and also surreptitiously withdrew a Paper from the Committee containing the principal Evidence against the said Earl The Parliament resenting this Prevarication ordered his Speech to be burnt by the Hands of the Common Hangman The House of Commons having passed a Bill for the Condemnation of the Earl it was carried to the Lords for their Concurrence which they gave The King not satisfied therewith consulted with the Privy Council some Judges and four Bishops And all of them except one advise the throwing of Jonas over-board for the appeasing of the Storm Upon which the Earl of Arundel the Lord Privy Seal and two more were commissionated by
this dismissing the Officer tho otherwise an useful Man from his Command for the same The next day we marched towards Clare-Castle and found the way so rocky that we rode near three Miles together upon one of them whereby most of our Horses cast their Shoes so that though every Troop came provided with Horse-shoes which were delivered to them out of the Stores yet before that day's March was over a Horse-shoe was sold sor five shillings The next morning the Lady Honoria Obryan Daughter to the late Earl of Thomond being accused of protecting the Goods and Cattle of the â—â—emy under pretence that they belonged to 〈◊〉 and thereby abusing the favour of the Deputy's Safeguard which he had granted to her came to him and being charged by him with it and told that he expected a more ingenuous Carriage from her she burst out into Tears and assured him if he would forgive her that she would never do the like again desiring me after the Deputy was withdrawn to intercede with him for the continuance of his favour to her which when I acquainted him with he said As much a Cynick as I am the Tears of this Woman moved me and thereupon gave order that his Protection should be continued to her From hence I would have attended him to Limerick but so much more care did he take of me than of himself that he would not suffer it desiring me to go that day being Saturday and quarter at Bonratto a House of the Earl of Thomond's in order to recover my health and to come to him on Monday morning at Limerick Accordingly I came and found the Deputy grown worse having been let blood and sweating exceedingly with a burning Fever at the same time Yet for all this he ceased not to apply himself to the Publick business settling Garisons and distributing Winter-quarters which was all that remained to be done of the Military Service for that year I endeavoured to perswade him as I had often done before that his immoderate Labours for his Country would much impair if not utterly destroy him but he had so totally neglected himself during the Siege of Limerick not putting off his Clothes all that time except to change his Linen that the malignant Humours which he had contracted wanting room to perspire became confined to his Body and rendred him more liable to be infected by the Contagion I was unwilling to leave him till I saw the event of his Distemper but he supposing my Family was by this time come to Dublin would not permit me to stay and I finding I could in no way be serviceable to him submitted to his desires I found the Commissioners of Parliament at Dublin and acquainted them with the State of Affairs in those Parts from whence I came and with the Resolutions taken by the Deputy at Limerick but soon after my arrival the sad news of his Death was brought to us which was universally lamented by all good Men more especially because the Publick was thereby deprived of a most faithful able and useful Servant The Commissioners of Parliament taking into their consideration what method to observe in that Conjuncture and presuming that my Command in the Army was next to that of the Deputy resolved by a Letter to acquaint the Officers of our Forces in Ireland with their judgment and to require them to yield Obedience to me accordingly I earnestly desired them to forbear sending any such Letter which I did not out of a feigned modesty but from a real sense of the weight of such an Undertaking and my own inability to perform the duty of that important Station For tho the Work seemed to be almost finished yet there remained great Difficulties behind the Enemy possessing some strong Places and Islands and having many thousands yet in the Field there being also in the Parliament's Pay between seven and eight thousand Horse and Dragoons with above two and twenty thousand Foot For these and other Reasons I desired them that they would reserve the Power to themselves till the Parliament should send over some Person to undertake that Employment which they might do soon enough the season of Action being already past the Troops dispersed into their Winter-quarters and nothing of importance likely to be done before the next Spring acquainting them that being one of their number I could be as serviceable in their Deliberations and Resolutions as if I were entrusted with the sole Power But all that I could say was not sufficient to disswade them from sending the Letter before mentioned and tho it met with a general submission yet I resolved not to undertake any thing without their Advice and Consent which they readily promised to afford me Some of General Cromwell's Relations who were not ignorant of his vast Designs now on foot caused the Body of the Lord Deputy Ireton to be transported into England and solemnly interred at Westminster in a magnificent Monument at the Publick Charge Who if he could have foreseen what was done by them would certainly have made it his desire that his Body might have found a Grave where his Soul left it so much did he despise those pompous and expensive Vanities having erected for himself a more glorious Monument in the hearts of good Men by his affection to his Country his abilities of Mind his impartial Justice his diligence in the Publick Service and his other Vertues which were a far greater Honour to his Memory than a Dormitory amongst the Ashes of Kings who for the most part as they had governed others by their Passions so were they themselves as much governed by them The Isles of Scilly and Man were reduced to the Obedience of the Commonwealth but nothing extraordinary happening at their reduction at least not coming to my knowledg I purposely omit the relation of those Actions About this time we were informed that Sir George Ayscue who had been sent by the Parliament to the Western Islands which still continued in Arms against them arrived at the Barbadoes on the 26 th of October 1651. and having opened a Passage into the Harbour by firing some great Shot seized upon twelve of their Ships without opposition The next morning he sent a Summons to the Lord Willoughby to submit to the Authority of the Parliament of England but he not acknowledging any such Power declared his Resolution to keep the Island for the King's Service But the News of the Defeat of the Scots and their King at Worcester being brought to Sir George Ayscue together with an intercepted Letter from the Lady Willoughby containing the same Account he summoned him a second time and accompanied his Summons with his Lady's Letter to assure him of the truth of that report But the Lord Willoughby relying upon his Numbers and the fewness of those that were sent to reduce him being in all but fifteen Sail returned an Answer of the like substance with the former Whereupon Sir George Ayscue sent two
hundred Men on shore commanded by Captain Morrice to attack a Quarter of the Enemies that lay by the Harbour which they executed Successfully by taking the Fort and about forty Prisoners with four Pieces of Cannon which they nailed up and returned on board again At this time the Virginia Fleet arriving at the Barbadoes it was thought fit to send a third Summons to the Lord Willoughby but finding that neither this nor the Declaration sent to them by the Commissioners of Parliament to the same purpose produced any effect Sir George Ayscue landed seven hundred Men from his own and the Virginia Fleet giving the Command of them to the same Captain Morrice who fell upon thirteen hundred of the Enemies Foot and three Troops of their Horse and beat them from their Works killing many of their Men and taking about a hundred Prisoners with all their Guns The Loss on our side was inconsiderable few of ours being killed upon the place and not above thirty wounded Yet these Successes were not sufficient to accomplish the Work there being above five thousand Horse and Foot in the Island and our Virginia Fleet preparing to depart for want of Provisions In this conjuncture Colonel Muddiford who commanded a Regiment in the Island by the means of a Friend that he had in our Fleet made his Terms and declared for the Parliament Many of his Friends following his Example did the like and in conjunction with him encamped under the protection of our Fleet. Upon this the most part of the Island were inclined to join us but the Lord Willoughby prevented them by placing Guards on all the Avenues to our Camp and designed to charge our Men with his Body of Horse wherein he was much superior to them had not a Cannon-Ball that was fired at random beat open the door of a Room where he and his Council of War were sitting which taking off the Head of the Sentinel who was placed at the door so alarmed them all that he changed his design and retreated to a Place two Miles distant from the Harbour Our Party consisting of two thousand Foot and one hundred Horse advancing towards him he desired to treat which being accepted Colonel Muddiford Colonel Collyton Mr. Searl and Captain Pack were appointed Commissioners by Sir George Ayscue and by the Lord Willoughby Sir Richard Pierce Mr. Charles Pym Colonel Ellis and Major Byham By these it was concluded that the Islands of Barbadoes Mevis Antego and St. Christophers should be surrendered to the Parliament of England That the Lord Willoughby Colonel Walrond and some others should be restored to their Estates and that the Inhabitants of the said Isles should be maintained in the quiet enjoyment of what they possessed on condition to do nothing to the prejudice of the Commonwealth This News being brought to Virginia they submitted also where one Mr. George Ludlow a Relation of mine served the Parliament in the like manner as Col. Muddiford had done at the Barbadoes The Parliament of England being desirous after all these Successes to convince even their Enemies that their principal design was to procure the happiness and prosperity of all that were under their Government sent Commissioners to Scotland to treat concerning an Union of that Nation with England in one Common-wealth directing them to take care till that could be effected that Obedience should be given to the Authority of the Parliament of the Common wealth of England The Commissioners appointed to this end on the part of the Parliament were Sir Henry Vane the Chief Justice St. Johns Mr. Fenwick Major Salloway Major General Lambert Colonel Titchborn Major General Dean and Colonel Monk This Proposition of Union was chearfully accepted by the most iudicious amongst the Scots who well understood how great a condescension it was in the Parliament of England to permit a People they had conquered to have a part in the Legislative Power The States-General being highly displeased with the late Act of Navigation passed by the Parliament which they accounted to be a great obstruction to their Trade resolved to leave no means unattempted to procure it to be repealed To this end they sent three Ambassadors to England who pretending a desire to finish the Treaty begun formerly between the Two States requested that things might be as they were at the time of our Ambassador's departure from Holland designing thereby that the Act lately passed for the Encouragement of our Seamen should be suspended and all such Merchandizes restored as had been seized from the Dutch by virtue of the said Act. The Parliament refusing to consent to this Proposal the States-General gave Orders for the equipping a considerable Fleet consisting of about a hundred Ships of War giving notice to the Parliament by their Ambassadors of these Preparations and assuring them that they were not design'd to offend the English Nation with whom they desired to maintain a friendly Correspondence and that they were provided to no other end than to protect their own Subjects in their Trade and Navigation But the Parliament being unwilling to rely upon the Promises of those who by their past and present Actions had manifested little Friendship to us resolved to make what Preparations they could to defend themselves This Alarm awakened us to a diligent performance of our duty in Ireland fearing that the Hollanders might transport some foreign Forces by their Fleet to the Assistance of the Irish who were not only still numerous in the Field but had also divers Places of Strength to retreat to Our Suspicions were farther increased by the Advices we received of a Treaty on foot between the Duke of Lorain and Theobald Viscount Taff with other Irish to bring the Forces of that Duke into Ireland against us in order to extirpate all Hereticks out of that Nation to re-establish the Romish Religion in all Parts of it and to restore the Irish to their Possessions all which being performed he should deliver up the Authority to the King of Great Britain and assist him against his Rebellious Subjects in England That all Ireland should be ingaged for his Re-imbursement That Galway Limerick Athenree Athlone Waterford and the Fort of Duncannon should be put into his hands as Cautionary Places with other things of the same nature The Report of this Agreement being spread amongst the Irish encouraged them to make all possible Opposition against us in expectation of the promised Succours The Commissioners of the Parliament on the other hand laboured with all diligence to dispose their Affairs in the best manner they could for the Publick Service in order to which they sent to the several Commanders of our Army to excite them to the discharge of their Duty making provision of Arms Ammunition Clothes Tents and all things necessary to the carrying on the War in the ensuing Spring A general Meeting of Officers was also appointed to be held at Kilkenay to consult about the best Method of employing our Arms against the
entered the Lists as Champions of the Prerogative asserting that the Possessions and Estates of the Subject did of Right belong to the King and that he might dispose of them at his pleasure thereby vacating and annulling as much as in them lay all the Laws of England that secure a Propriety to the People Arbitrary Courts were erected and the Power of others enlarged such were the High Commission Court the Star-Chamber the Court of Honour the Court of Wards the Court of Râ—â—â—â—â—s c. Patents and Monopolies of almost every thing were granted to private Men to the great Damage of the Publick Knighthood Coat and Conduct-Money and many other illegal Methods were revived and put in execution to rob the People in order to support the Profusion of the Court And that our Liberties might be extirpated at once and we become Tenants at will to the King that rare Invention of Ship-Money was found out by Finch whose Solicitation and Importunities prevailed with the major part of the Judges of Westminster-Hall to declare for Law That for the Supply of Shipping to defend the Nation the King might impose a Tax upon the People That he was to be Judg of the Necessity of such Supply and of the Quantity to be imposed for it and that he might Imprison as well as Destrain in case of Refusal Some there were who out of a hearty Affection to the Service of their Country and a true English Spirit opposed these illegal Proceedings Amongst whom Mr. John Hampden of Buckingham-shire Judge Croke and Judge Hutton were of the most eminent Prerogative being wound up to this height in England and the Affairs of the Church tending to a Conjunction with the See of Rome before any farther Progress should be made therein here it was thought expedient that the Pulse of Scotland should be felt and they perswaded or compelled to the like Conformity To this end a Form of Publick Prayer was sent to Scotland more nearly approaching the Roman Office than that used in England The reading of this New Service-Book at Edinburgh was first interrupted by a poor Woman but the People were so generally discontented with the Book it self as well as the manner of imposing it that she was soon seconded by the Generality of them those who officiated hardly escaping with their Lives This produced divers Meetings of many of the Nobility Clergy and Gentry who entred into an Agreement or Covenant to root out Episcopacy Heresy and Superstition Those of the Clergy of England who had been the chief Advisers and Promoters of this Violence prevailed with the King to cause all such as should persist in their Opposition after a certain time to be proclaimed Traitors But the Scots not at all afrighted with these Menaces resolved to make good their former Undertaking Which the King perceiving and that this violent way took not effect began to incline to more moderate Counsels and by Commission empowered the Marquiss of Hamilton to treat them into a Submission consenting to the Suppression of the Liturgy High Commission Court and Articles of Perth But the Scots insisting upon the Abolition of Episcopacy and the King refusing his Consent to it they did it themselves in an Assembly held at Glasco and being informed that the King was preparing an Army to compel them to Obedience agreed upon the raising of some Forces to defend themselves The Clergy in England were not wanting to promote the New Levies against the Scots contributing largely thereunto which was but reasonable it being manifest to all that they were the principal Authors and Fomentors of these Troubles The Nobility and Gentry were likewise required to further this Expedition in which tho divers of them did appear yet was it rather out of Compliment than Affection to the Design being sensible of the Oppressions they themselves lay under and how dangerous to the People of England a thorow Success against the Scots might prove The King perceiving an Universal Dislike to this War as well in the People as in the Officers and Souldiers of his Army concluded an Agreement with the Scots at Berwick the 17 th of June 1639. But upon his Return to London under colour that many false Copies of the said Articles were published and dispersed by the Scots to the great Dishonour of the King the said Agreement was disowned and order'd to be burnt by the Hands of the Hangman Thereupon hoping that a Parliament would espouse his Quarrel and furnish him with Money for the carrying on of his Design he sammoned one to meet at Westminster on the 3 a of April 1640. which sitting but a little time thereby obtained the Name of the short Parliament The King by his Agents earnestly pressed them to grant him present Supplies for the Use of his Army but they sensible of former Usage after they had gratified him in that Particular and of the insupportable Burdens and Oppressions they lay under refused to grant any Subsidies till their Grievances should be redressed Whereupon the King put a Period to their sitting the fifth of May following the Earl of Strafford and others of his Council advising him so to do and to make use of other Means for his Supply as appeared to the ensuing Parliament by the Minutes of the Secretary of State taken at that Cabal and produced at the Trial of the said Earl The Sum of whose Advice was to this effect Sir You have now tried your People and are denied by them therefore you are clear before God and Man if you make use of other Means for your Supply You have an Army in Ireland c. This Counsel was prosecuted and new Preparations made for the carrying on of the War against the Scots all imaginable ways used to raise Supplies Privy Seals sent throughout the Nation for the Loan of Money Ship-Money Coat and Conduct-Money pressed to the height Commodities taken up on Credit and sold for ready Money Warrants also were delivered out to press Men to serve in the Army Brass-Money was propounded and some prepared but that Project took no effect The Clergy being permitted and encouraged by the King to sit in Convocation after the Dissolution of the Parliament took upon them not only to frame Canons and Oaths but also to impose four Shillings in the Pound upon Ecclesiastical Benefices throughout the Kingdom The King to give life to the Advance of his Army marched with them in Person the Earl of Northumberland as most popular wearing the name of General whilst Strafford with the Title of Lieutenant General had the principal Management of all The City of London had refused to pay some of the illegal Taxes before-mentioned whereupon divers of their chief Officers were imprisoned and an Order issued forth to take away the Sword from the Lord Mayor Whereupon the People rise and beset the House of the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury who in conjunction with the Earl of Strafford was supposed to put the King upon these violent and
their Teeth since they could do no more The Debate continued till late in the Night and the Sense of the House was that they should be required to forbear the prosecution of the said Petition but when the House wearied with long sitting was grown thin Mr. Denzil Hollis taking that opportunity drew up a Resolution upon his Knee declaring the Petition to be seditious and those Traitors who should endeavour to promote it after such a day and promising Pardon to all that were concerned therein if they should desist by the time limited Some of us fearing the Consequence of these Divisions expressed our Dissatisfaction to it and went out which gave them occasion to pass two or three very sharp Votes against the Proceedings of the Army The Agitators of the Army sensible of their Condition and knowing that they must fall under the Mercy of the Parliament unless they could secure themselves from their Power by prosecuting what they had begun and fearing that those who had shewed themselves so forward to close with the King out of Principle upon any Terms would now for their own Preservation receive him without any or rather put themselves under his Protection that they might the better subdue the Army and reduce them to Obedience by Force sent a Party of Horse under the Command of Cornet Joyce on the 4 th of June 1647. with an Order in Writing to take the King out of the Hands of the Commissioners of Parliament The Cornet having placed Guards about Holmby-house sent to acquaint the King with the occasion of his Coming and was admitted into his Bed-chamber where upon Promise that the King should be used civilly and have his Servants and other Conveniences continued to him he obtained his Consent to go with him But whilst Cornet Joyce was giving Orders concerning the King's Removal the Parliament's Commissioners took that occasion to discourse with the King and perswaded him to alter his Resolution which Joyce perceiving at his Return put the King in mind of his Promise acquainting him that he was obliged to execute his Orders whereupon the King told him that since he had passed his Word he would go with him and to that end descending the Stairs to take Horse the Commissioners of the Parliament being with him Col. Brown and Mr. Crew who were two of them publickly declared that the King was forced out of their hands and so returned with an account of what had been done to the Parliament The King's Officers who waited on him were continued and the chief Officers of the Army began publickly to own the Design pretending thereby to keep the private Souldiers for they would no longer be called Common Souldiers from running into greater Extravagancies and Disorders Col. Francis Russell and others attending on the King became soon converted by the Splendor of his Majesty and Sir Robert Pye a Colonel in the Army supplied the Place of a Querry riding bare before him when he rode abroad so that the King began to promise to himself that his Condition was alatered for the better and to look upon the Independent Interest as more consisting with Episcopacy than the Presbyterian for that it could subsist under any Form which the other could not do and therefore largely promised Liberty to the Independent Party being fully perswaded how naturally his Power would revive upon his Restitution to the Throne and how easy it would be for him to break through all such Promises and Engagements upon pretence that he was under a Force The principal Officers of the Army made it so much their business to get the good Opinion of the King that Whalley being sent from them with Orders to use all means but Constraint to cause him to return to Holmby and the King refusing Whalley was contented to bring him to the Army Yet in the mean time a Charge of High Treason was drawn up by the Army against eleven Members of the House of Commons who were Mr. Denzil Hollis Sir Philip Stapylton Sir John Clotworthy Serjeant Glyn Mr. Anthony Nichols Mr. Walter Long Sir William Lewis Col. Edward Harly Commissary Copley Col. Massey and Sir John Maynard for betraying the Cause of the Parliament endeavouring to break and destroy the Army with other Particulars This Charge they accompanied with a Declaration shewing the Reasons of what they had done affirming that they were obliged by their Duty so to do as they tendred the preservation of the publick Cause and securing the good People of England from being a Prey to their Enemies The great end of this Charge of Treason being rather to keep these Members from using their Power with the Parliament in opposition to the Proccedings of the Army than from any Design to proceed capitally against them they resolved rather to withdraw themselves voluntarily than to put the Parliament or Army to any farther Trouble or their Persons to any more Hazard By these means the Army in which there were too many who had no other Design but the Advancement of themselves having made the Parliament the Scots and the City of London their Enemies thought it convenient to enlarge their Concessions to the King giving his Chaplains leave to come to him and to officiate in their way which had been denied before Whilst this Design was on foot I went down to their Quarters at Maidenhead to visit the Officers where Commissary General Ireton suspecting that these things might occasion Jealousies of them in me and others of their Friends in Parliament desired me to be assured of their stedfast Adherence to the Publick Interest and that they intended only to dispense with such things as were not material in order to quiet the restless Spirits of the Cavaliers till they could put themselves into a condition of serving the People effectually I could not approve of their Practices but many of the chief of them proceeding in the way they had begun gave out that the Intentions of the Officers and Souldiers in the Army were to establish his Majesty in his just Rights The News of this being brought to the Queen and Prince of Wales who were in France they dispatched Sir Edward Ford Brother-in-law to Commissary General Ireton into England to found the Designs of the Army and to promote an Agreement between the King and them Soon after which Mr. John Denham was sent over on the like Errand Sir John Barkley also upon his Return to the Queen from Holland where he had been ordered to condole the Death of the Prince of Orange came into England by the same Order and to the same Purpose It was in his Instructions to endeavour to procure a Pass for Mr. John Ashburnham to come over to assist him in his Negotiation which with many other Particulars relating to this Business I have seen in a Manuscript written by Sir John Barkley himself and left in the Hands of a Merchant at Geneva Being at Diepe in order to embark for England he met with Mr.
of Haste or Surprize they resolved to convene him before them publickly twice more after which if he persisted in his Demurrer to the Jurisdiction of the Court then to give Judgment against him And that nothing might be wanting in case he should resolve to plead they appointed Witnesses to be examined to every Article of the Charge At the King 's second Appearance before the Court which was on the 22 d of January he carried himself in the same manner as before whereupon his Refusal being again entred and he withdrawn the Court adjourned to the Painted Chamber On the twenty third of January the King was brought a third time before the Commissioners where refusing to plead as he had done before his Refusal was entered and Witnesses examined publickly to prove the Charge of his levying War against the Parliament After which Solicitor General Coke demanded of the Court that they would proceed to the pronouncing of Sentence against the Prisoner at the Bar whereupon the Court adjourned into the Painted Chamber and upon serious consideration declared the King to be a Tyrant Traitor Murderer and a publick Enemy to the Commonwealth that his Condemnation extend unto Death by severing his Head from his Body and that a Sentence grounded upon those Votes be prepared which being agreed upon the King should be ordered on the next day following to receive it The Sentence being engrossed was read on the 27 th of January and thereupon the Court resolved that the same should be the Sentence which should be read and published in Westminster-Hall the same Day that the President should not permit the King to speak after the Sentence pronounced that he should openly declare it to be the Sense and Judgment of the Court and that the Commissioners should signify their Consent by standing up In the Afternoon the King was brought to the Bar and desired that he might be permitted to make one Proposition before they proceeded to Sentence which he earnestly pressing as that which he thought would tend to the reconciling of all Parties and to the Peace of the three Kingdoms they permitted him to offer it The effect of which was that he might meet the two Houses in the Painted Chamber to whom he doubted not to offer that which should satisfy and secure all Interests designing as I have been since informed to propose his own Resignation and the admission of his Son to the Throne upon such Terms as should have been agreed upon This Motion being new and unexpected to the Court who were not willing to deny or grant any thing without serious Deliberation they withdrew to consider of it into the Inner Court of Wards and being satisfied upon debate that nothing but loss of time would be the consequence of it they returned into the Court with a Negative to his Demand telling him that they met there as a Court of Justice commissionated by the Parliament of whose Authority they were fully satisfied that by their Commission they were not authorized to receive any Proposals from him but to proceed to the Trial of him that in order thereto his Charge had been read to him to which if he would have pleaded the Counsel for the Commonwealth were ready to have proved it against him that he had thrice demurred to the Jurisdiction of the Court which Demurrer the Court had overruled and registred ordering to proceed against him as if he had confessed the Charge and that if he had any Proposition to make it was proper for him to address it to the Parliament and not to them Then the Presideut enlarged upon the horrid Nature of those Crimes of which he had been accused and was now convicted declaring that the only just Power of Kings was derived from the Consent of the People That whereas the People had intrusted him to see their Laws put in Execution he had endeavoured throughout the whole Course of his Reign to subvert those good Laws and to introduce an Arbitrary and Tyrannical Government in the room of them That to cut off all hopes of redress he had attempted from the beginning of his Reign either wholly to destroy Parliaments or to render them only subservient to his own corrupt Designs That tho he had consented the publick Necessities so requiring that this Parliament should not be dissolved but by an Act of themselves he had levied War against them that he might not only dissolve them but by the Terrour of his Power for ever discourage such Assemblies from doing their Duty That in this War many thousands of the good People of England had lost their Lives That in obedience to what God commanded and the Nation expected the Parliament had appointed this Court to make Inquisition for this Blood and to try him for the same That his Charge had been read to him and he required to give an Answer to it which he having thrice refused to do he acquainted him that the Court had resolved to pronounce Sentence against him and thereupon commanded the Clerk to read it which he did being to this effect That the King for the Crimes contained in the Charge should be carried back to the Place from whence he came and thence to the Place of Execution where his Head should be severed from his Body which Sentence being read the Commissioners testified their unanimous Assent by their standing up The King would have spoken something before he was withdrawn but being accounted dead in Law immediately after Sentence pronounced it was not permitted The Court withdrew also and agreed that the Sentence should be put in Execution on the Tuesday following which would be the 30 th of January 1648. The King having refused such Ministers as the Court appointed to attend him desired that Dr. Juxton late Bishop of London might be permitted to come to him which being granted and Adjutant General Allen sent to acquaint the Doctor with the King's Condition and Desires he being altogether unprepared for such a Work broke out into these Expressions God save me what a Trick is this that I should have no more Warning and I have nothing ready but recollecting himself a little he put on his Scarf and his other Furniture and went with him to the King where having read the Common Prayer and one of his old Sermons he administred the Sacrament to him not forgetting to use the Words of the Confession set down in the Liturgy inviting all those that truly repent to make their Confession before the Congregation then gathered together tho there was none present but the King and himself The High Court of Justice appointed a Committee to inspect the Parts about Whitehall for a convenient place for the Execution of the King who having made their Report it was agreed that a Scaffold should be erected to that purpose near the Banqueting-House and order given to cover it with black The same day being the 29 th of January they signed a Warrant for his Execution to which
about threescore of the Commissioners set their Hands and Seals directing it to Col. Hacker Col. Hunks and Col. Phaier or either of them The Duke of Glocester and the Lady Elizabeth waited on the King the same day to take their leave of him An Extraordinary Ambassador from the United Provinces had his Audience in the Parliament his business was to intercede with them for the Life of the King and to preserve a fair Correspondence between England and the States The next day about eight in the Morning the King attended by a Guard was brought from St. James's through the Park to Whitehall where having drunk a Glass or two of red Wine and stayed about two hours in a private Room he was conducted to the Scaffold out of a Window of the Banqueting-house and having made a Speech and taken off his George he kneeled down at the Block and the Executioner persormed his Office The Body was ordered to be interred at Windsor The Duke of Lenox the Marquiss of Hertford the Earls of Southampton and Lindsey with some others having Leave from the Parliament attended it to the Grave A Report of the Proceedings of the High Court of Justice being made to the Parliament they declared That the Persons imployed in that important Service had discharged their Trust with Courage and Fidelity that the Parliament was well satisfied with the Account of their Proceedings ordering them to be engrossed and recorded amongst the Parliament-Rolls in order to transmit the Memory thereof to Posterity and resolved that the Commissioners of the Great Seal should issue a Certiorari to their Clerk to record those Proceedings in the Chancery and that the same should be sent to the other Courts at Westminster and to the Custos Rotulorum of each County Judg Jenkins Sir John Stowel and divers other Persons who were Prisoners and had carried themselves very insolently now finding the Parliament to be in earnest began to come to a better Temper Colonel Middleton who was also a Prisoner at Newcastle upon Parole ran away to Scotland and being required to return answered That his Life was dearer to him than his Honour Sir Marmaduke Langdale made his escape also and Sir Lewis Dives through a House of Office in Whitehall The Lord Capel got out of the Tower but being discovered by a Waterman as he crossed the Thames he was seized in a House at Lambeth Duke Hamilton also escaped out of Windsor-Castle and came to Southwark where knocking at the Door of an Inn he was seized by a Souldier who knew him and was passing by that way whereupon he was committed to the Tower The House of Lords becoming now the Subject of the Consideration and Debate of the Parliament Lieutenant General Cromwell appeared for them having already had a close Correspondence with many of them and it may be presuming he might have farther use of them in those Designs he had resolved to carry on but they not meeting in their House at the time to which they had adjourned much facilitated their Removal so that the Question being put Whether the House of Commons should take Advice of the House of Lords in the Exercise of the Legislative Power it was carried in the Negative and thereupon resolved That the House of Peers was useless and dangerous and ought to be abolished and an Act was soon after passed to that effect After this they proceeded to declare That the Office of a King in this Nation is unnecessary burdensome and dangerous to the Liberty Safety and publick Interest of the People and therefore ought to be abolioshed and that they will settle the Government of the Nation in the way of a Commonwealth To this end they ordered a Declaration to be published whereby it was declared Treason for any Person to endeavour to promote Charles Stuart to be King of England or any other single Person to be chief Governour thereof They also ordered the Great Seal and other Seals which had the Image of the late King on them to be defaced and appointed new ones to be made with the Stamp of the House of Commons on one side accompanied with this Inscription The Great Seal of the Parliament of the Commonwealth of England On the other side was engraven the Cross and the Harp being the Arms of England and Ireland with this Inscription God with us Ordering all Writs formerly running in the King's Name to be issued out in the Name of the Keepers of the Liberty of England A High Court of Justice was constituted by Act of Parliament for the trying of Duke Hamilton the Earl of Holland the Lord Goring the Lord Capel and Sir John Owen Duke Hamilton pleaded that he entred into England as an Enemy being of another Nation and born before the Act of Union and consequently not to be tried by the Laws of this besides he had surrendred himself upon Conditions The rest of the Lords pleaded Articles also and so did Sir John Owen But that Allegation appeared to be of no weight by the Testimony of the General in relation to the Lords Goring and Capel and by the Evidence of Col. Wayte touching Duke Hamilton the like being affirmed by other Witnesses against the Earl of Holland and Sir John Owen for if there had been any Promise made to any of them either implicitely or by word of Mouth it could only extend to protect them from the Military not the Civil Sword And as to the Plea for Duke Hamilton that he was born before the two Nations were united it was answered that they tried him not as Duke Hamilton but as Earl of Cambridg in which Capacity he had sate as a Peer of England and therefore a Subject thereof So that upon full Evidence they were all sentenced by the Court to have their Heads struck off for High Treason in levying War against the Parliament of England Earnest Solicitations and Petitions were made for them to the Parliament but they thought not fit to reprieve the Duke the Earl of Holland or the Lord Capel Touching the Lord Goring the House was equally divided and the Speaker having upon such Occasions the determining Voice gave it for his Reprieve Commissary General Ireton observing no Motion consider that he was a Commoner and therefore more properly to have been tried in another way by a Jury whereupon the House reprieved him also The other three were executed a day or two after in the New Palace-Yard before Westminster-Hall in pursuance of a Warrant signed by the Court to that purpose the Parliament refusing to hearken to the Earl of Denbigh who proposed on the behalf of Duke Hamilton his Brother-in-law to give them a Blank signed by the said Duke to answer faithfully to such Questions as should be there inserted The Parliament having resolved to constitute a Council of State the better to carry on the executive part of the Government authorized five of their Members to agree upon the Number and Persons of such as they
the Place beat a Parley and sent out Commissioners to treat Articles were agreed and signed on both sides whereby it was concluded that the Town with all the Arms and ammunition therein should be delivered up the next Morning to such of our Forces as should be appointed to receive the same After this Agreement was made and signed the General was informed that Col. Hugh O Neal Governour of the Place with all the Garison had marched out at the beginning of the Night towards Waterford before the Commissioners came out to treat It something troubled the Commanders to be thus over-reach'd but Conditions being granted they thought it their Duty to keep them with the Town Dungarvan and Carrick were next reduced where Col. Reynolds being left with his Regiment of Horse the Lieutenant General with the Army marched towards the County of Waterford The Enemy having observed ours marching on the other side of the River took that Advantage to draw together a considerable Body of Horse and Foot with which they marched with all diligence to Carrick and stormed it not at all doubting to carry the Place wherein there was nothing but Horse armed only with Swords and Pistols to defend a Wall of great compass Yet did our Men manage their Defence so well making use of Stones and whatsoever might be serviceable to them that the Enemy was beaten off with loss so that tho Forces were sent from the Army to relieve their Friends upon the first notice of their Danger yet they found the Work done at their Arrival The Army began now to prepare for the Siege of Waterford but by the hard Service of this Winter and other Accidents being much diminished and those that remained being but in a sickly Condition it was thought fit to send Orders to Dublin requiring the Forces there who were in better Health to march towards Wexford in order to reinforce the Army before Waterford The Lord Inchequin who had notice of their March having formed a Body of two thousand five hundred Horse and some Foot resolved to fall upon them which he did between Arclo and Wexford our Forces not amounting to more than fifteen hundred Foot and five hundred Horse The Enemies charged our Horse with such Fury and Numbers that they were forced to retreat to their Foot after which falling upon our Foot they obliged them to retire to the Rocks that were on the Shore in great Disorder but some of our Horse with a part of our Foot rallying again charged a Body of their Horse with such Vigour that they broke them and killed many of them amongst whom were divers considerable Persons which so discouraged the rest that tho they were the choicest of the Enemies Men and many of ours so distempered with the Flux that they were forced to fight with their Breeches down yet durst they not make any farther Attempt against them but drew off and permitted ours to march to their designed Rendezvouz without any more Interruption By which it eminently appeared of what Importance it is towards the obtaining Success to fight in the Cause of our Country for these very Men as long as they were engaged with us performed Wonders against the Rebels and now being engaged with them were almost as easily overcome as they had beaten the Irish before and this was so visible even to the Irish themselves that some time after at a Consultation of the Chief Officers of Leinster where it was debated what Course to take in order to destroy our Army some advising to draw into a Body and fight us others to betake themselves to the Woods and Bogs and from thence to break our Forces by Parties the Lord of Glanmaleiro assured them of a way which if taken would certainly effect it and that was to induce us to make Peace with them for said he they are a successful Army and our Men are dispirited and not likely to get any thing by fighting with them and to weary them out by our Surprizes and Depredations is impossible as long as the way from England is open for their Supplies but the other way proposed will infallibly ruin them for did not our Ancestors by the same means render the Conquests of Queen Elizabeth fruitless to England and have we not thereby ruined the Earl of Ormond and Inchequin already who having been always successful when against us have been famous for nothing since their Conjunction with us but the Losses and Repulses which they have sustained so that if we can perswade this Army to make a Truce or League with us they will become as unfortunate as the fornier Whilst the Lieutenant General was making Preparations for the Siege of Waterford a Letter was brought to him from the Parliament requiring his Attendance in England In order to which he left the Command of the Army with Commissary General Ireton to carry on the remaining part of the Work going himself to visit those Places in Munster which had lately submitted to the Parliament with intention to settle the Civil as well as Military Affairs of that Province To this end he impowered John Coke Esq to be Chief Justice of Munster and having accomplished such things as he designed embarked for England and soon after landed at Bristol In the mean time the Treaty between Prince Charles and the Presbyterian Party in Scotland hastening towards a Conclusion the Forces which they had raised by the Encouragement of our Army after they had rescued them from the Power of the Hamiltonian Party fell upon Montrose killed many of his Men and took him with divers other Officers Prisoners and amongst them Major General Hurry and Capt. Spotiswood who was said to have been concerned in the Assassination of Dr. Dorislaus our Agent in Holland They were all three condemned to death and hanged Montrose being carried to the Place of Execution in an ignominious manner with the Declarations issued out by him for the King tied about his Neck where he was executed on a Gibbet of thirty Foot high His Quarters were placed upon the Gate through which their King was to pass at his coming to Edinburgh which could not but move his Indignation if he had the least Sense of Honour because he had acted by his Commission and in order to vest him with that absolute and uncontrolable Power which Kings think to be most for their Advantage but the King being instructed with other Maxims struck up the bargain with the Presbyterians and engaged to take the Covenant whereupon they cried him up for a great Convert Some Sycophants in the English Parliament a Race of Men never wanting in great Councils pressed earnestly for settling two thousand five hundred Pounds a Year upon the Lieutenant General according to a Vote formerly passed in the House or that it might at least be read once or twice before his Arrival at Westminster he being then upon his way from Bristol Upon this Motion I took the liberty to acquaint the House
with the Clearness of my Proceeding and no less of my Abilities to discharge the Trust reposed in me and to perform the Duties of my Employments of which he was pleased to say I had given sufficient Demonstration as well as of a constant and hearty Affection to the Publick Interest In conclusion the Debate concerning the Lord Broghill was brought to this Question Whether he should be wholly laid aside or whether something should be done in order to content him for the present by conferring upon him some Office of Profit and the Title of a General Officer The latter was agreed upon and he declared Lieutenant General of the Ordinance in Ireland The Commissioners having settled Affairs as well as they could and finding the Deputy to be employed in making all necessary Preparations for the ensuing Service took that Opportunity to go to regulate Affairs at Dublin where after they had dispatched the Publick Business in which they spent about a Week and provided Houses to receive their Families when they should arrive from England they returned to Kilkenny The Enemy who had a Party of Horse in those Parts had designed to surprize them in their way to Dublin and again in their Return to us but finding them attended by a strong Guard they durst not venture to attempt it The Enemies Forces being retreated into Connaught which Province was covered by the Shannon and keeping strong Guards upon the Bridges and Fords of that River the Reduction of Limerick could not well be expected till we had blocked them up on both sides In order to which it was resolved that Sir Charles Coote who had with him between four and five thousand Horse and Foot should march into Connaught by the way of Ballyshannon a Passage on the side of Ulster not far distant from the Sea and Commissary General Reynolds was sent with his Regiment of Horse to his Assistance Col. Axtell and some others about this time going for England were taken by a Pirate belonging to Scilly whither they were all carried Prisoners The Irish who were many in the Island against whom Col. Axtell had been very active and who had heard of the Charge lately exhibited against him pressed hard for the taking away his Life But upon consideration of the Preparations making by the Parliament to send a Fleet with Souldiers to reduce that Island it was not thought convenient to attempt any thing against him tho they had a strong Inclination to it for fear of an exemplary Retaliation In the mean time the Parliament sent a Fleet with some Land-Forces to reduce the Isle of Jersey with the Castle which was kept by Sir Philip Carteret for Prince Charles Col. Haines who commanded them met with some Opposition at his landing but having brought his Men ashore the Island generally submitted to the Parliament The Castle having made some Resistance was soon after surrendred also The Affairs of the Commonwealth being thus successful and their Authority acknowledged by the Applications of Agents and Ambassadors from Foreign Nations to them it was resolved to send some Ministers abroad to entertain a good Correspondence with our Neighbours and to preserve the Interests of the Subjects of this Nation in those Parts To that effect the Lord Chief Justice St. Johns was dispatched with the Character of Ambassador Extraordinary to the States of the United Netherlands with whom Mr. Walter Strickland our Resident there was joined in Commission and to prevent such another Attempt as had been made upon our former Agent forty Gentlemen were appointed to attend him for his Security and Honour ten thousand Pounds being delivered to the Lord Ambassador's Steward for the Expence of the Embassy Yet this great Equipage was not sufficient to prevent a publick Affront which was offered him by Prince Edward one of the Palatine Family as he was passing the Streets But the Prince immediately retiring to some Place out of the Jurisdiction of the States secured himself from any Prosecution tho they pretended upon the Complaint of our Ambassadors that they were ready to do them what Right they could The Negotiation of our Ministers which was designed to procure a nearer Conjunction and Coalition between the two States proved also ineffectual the Province of Holland being not so much inclined to consent to it as was expected and Frizeland with most of the rest of the Provinces entirely against it presuming that such a Conjunction as was demanded would be no less than rendring those Countries a Province to England So that our Ambassadors having used all possible means to succeed in their Business and finding the Dutch unwilling to conclude with us whilst the King had an Army in the Field returned to England without effecting any thing but the Expence of a great Sum of Money This Disappointment sat so heavy upon the haughty Spirit of the Lord Chief Justice St. Johns that he reported these Transactions with the highest Aggravations against the States and thereby was a principal Instrument to prevail with the Council of State to move the Parliament to pass an Act prohibiting foreign Ships from bringing any Merchandizes into England except such as should be of the Growth or Manufacture of that Country to which the said Ships did belong This Law tho just in it self and very advantageous to the English Nation was so highly resented by the Dutch who had for a long time driven the Trade of Europe by the great Number of their Ships that it soon proved to be the Ball of Contention between the two Nations During these Transactions the Deputy of Ireland labouring with all diligence to carry on the Publick Service ordered the Army to rendezvouz at Cashil from whence he marched by the way of Nenagh to that part of the River Shannon which lies over against Killalo where the Earl of Castle-haven lay with about two thousand Horse and Foot disposed along the side of the River and defended by Breast-works cast up for their Security resolving to endeavour to obstruct our Passage into Connaught The Deputy as if he had intended to divert the Course of the River set the Souldiers and Pioneers at work to take the Ground lower on our side that the Water venting it self into the Passage the River might become fordable which so alarmed the Enemy that they drew out most of their Men to oppose us Whilst they were thus amused the Deputy taking me with him and a Guard of Horse marched privately by the side of the Shannon in order to find a convenient place to pass that River The ways were almost impassable by reason of the Bogs tho Col. Reeves and others who commanded in those Parts had repaired them with Hurdles as well as they could Being advanced about half way from Killalo to Castle-Conel we found a place that answered our Desires where a Bridg had formerly been with an old Castle still standing at the foot of it on the other side of the River We took only a short
Year 1648 or had appeared in Arms since under the King of Scots in order to subvert the present Government excepting those who since the Battel of Dunbar had abandoned the said King of Scots and by their Merits and Services had rendred themselves worthy of Favour That all such who are not comprehended under the said Qualifications and shall concur with them in their just Enterprize shall receive the Benefit of their Protection and enjoy their Liberties and Goods equally with the free People of England In pursuance of this Declaration of the Parliament their Commissioners in Scotland published another wherein they discharge from Confiscation all Merchants and Tradesmen who possess not in Lands or Goods above the Value of five hundred Pounds and are not Prisoners of War Souldiers of Fortune Moss Troopers or such as have killed or committed Outrages against the English Souldiers contrary to the Laws and Customs of War They also emitted a Proclamation abolishing in the name of the Parliament all manner of Authority and Jurisdiction derived from any other Power but that of the Commonwealth of England as well in Scotland as in all the Isles belonging to it After this they summoned the Counties Cities and Boroughs to agree to the Incorporation before mentioned of which eighteen of one and thirty Counties and twenty four of fifty six Cities and Boroughs consented to send their Deputies to the Parliament of England most of the rest excusing themselves for want of Money to defray the Expences of their Representatives This Business being accomplished and an Act passed for the Incorporation of England and Scotland into one Commonwealth the Parliament were prevailed with by the Importunities of some of their own Members and in particular of General Cromwell that so he might fortify himself by the Addition of new Friends for the carrying on his Designs to pass an Act of General Pardon and Amnesty whereby tho it had thirty eight several Exceptions many Persons who deserved to pay towards the Reimbursement of the Publick no less than those who had been already fined escaped the Punishment due to their Misdemeanours and the Commonwealth was defrauded of great Sums of Money by which means they were rendred unable to discharge many just Debts owing to such as had served them with Diligence and Fidelity In Ireland the Rebels were so pressed by our Forces in all Parts that they began to think it necessary to treat about Conditions of Submission and many of them obtained Liberty to be transported into foreign Service wherein the Commissioners of Parliament assisted them with Ships so that the Irish Officers were in many Places deserted by their own Souldiers Col. Fitzpatrick was the first who submitted on condition to be transported with his Regiment into the Service of the King of Spain which was a great blow to the Irish Confederacy who were very desirous to treat in conjunction hoping to obtain more favourable Terms in consideration of their Numbers insomuch that they published Declarations against him and the Irish Clergy excommunicated him and all those who joined with him Notwithstanding which Col. Odowyer Commander in Chief of the Irish in the Counties of Waterford and Tipperary followed his Example and proposed a Treaty to Col. Zanchey who having received Instructions from the Commissioners concluded an Agreement with him the principal Articles whereof were to this effect That the Arms and Horses belonging to the Brigade of Col. Edmund Odowyer shall be delivered up at a certain price That he and his Party shall enjoy their personal Estates and such a proportion of their real Estates as others under their Qualification shall be permitted to do That the Benefit of the Articles shall not extend to such as had murdered any of the English or had been engaged in the Rebellion during the first Year or to any Romish Priests or to those who had been of the first General Assembly those also who had taken away the Life of any of ours after Quarter given and those who had deserted us and joined themselves to the Enemy were excepted out of the Treaty All others to have Liberty to live in our Quarters or to transport themselves into the Service of any foreign State in Friendship with the Commonwealth of England Whilst the Ambassadors from Holland were in Treaty with the Commissioners appointed by the Parliament to that end the Dutch Fleet consisting of forty three Ships of War commanded by the Heer Van Tromp came into the Downs Major Bourn having with him a Squadron of eight Men of War perceiving two of the Dutch Ships making sail towards him sent to them to demand the Reason of their Approach and an Answer being returned that they had a Message to deliver from Admiral Van Tromp to the English Commander of that Squadron they were permitted to come up to that purpose The Captains of the two Dutch Ships after they had saluted Major Bourn by striking the Flag went on board him and acquainted him that they were sent by their Admiral to let him know that riding with his Fleet near Dunkirk he had lost many Cables and Anchors by bad Weather and was now brought by a North Wind more Southward than he designed of which he thought himself obliged to give him notice to prevent any Misunderstanding Major Bourn told them he was willing to believe what was said and that the Truth of it would best appear by their speedy Retreat With this Answer the two Captains returned to their Fleet which coming within Cannon-shot of Dover-Castle with their Sails up and Flag at the Top-mast not saluting the Fort according to Custom the Garison was constrained to fire three Guns at the Hollanders to put them in mind of their Duty But their Admiral made no Answer and still keeping up his Flag lay in the Road till the next day about Noon at which time he weighed Anchor and set sail towards Calais The rest of the English Fleet consisting only of thirteen Men of War commanded by General Blake who had been upon the Coast of Sussex returning into the Downs soon after the Departure of the Dutch was joined by Major Bourn and those eight Ships he had with him But Admiral Van Tromp being obliged to take care of some rich Merchant Ships bound home to Holland from the Straits returned towards the Downs and being come within Cannon-shot of our Fleet without striking their Flag General Blake commanded three several Guns one after the other to be fired at him Whereupon he answered with one Gun which shot through the English Flag and followed it with a whole Broad-side setting up a red Standard on his Topmast as a Signal to the whole Fleet to prepare to fight The Engagement began about four in the Afternoon and lasted till nine at Night with great Loss to the Enemy and little Damage on our side tho their Fleet was double our Number We took two of their Men of War in the Fight one of which was brought away