of all just power and that the Commons of England being the peoples Representative have the supream Authority and what they Enact has the force of a Law though the House of Lords do not consent thereto Upon these and several other new political principles they proceed to Try Judge Condemn and Execute the King before his own palace-gate at White-Hall Jan. 30. 1648. But having already published a Book called The Wars of England Scotland and Ireland wherein is an exact relation of the Kings Tryal with the Reasons he would have offered against the pretended Jurisdiction of their Court of Justice and his last speech at the time of his suffering I shall refer the Reader to that and wholly omit it here The fatal blow being given the remainder of the House of Commons and the Army made it evident that they were not only for cutting off the King but Kingship it self and thereupon the House Voted That Kingly Government is unnecessary burdensome and dangerous and that whereas several pretences might be made to the Crown that any person who should proclaim Charles Stewart Son of the late King or any other King of England should suffer as in case of High Treason And soon after the House of Lords was likewise Vored useless and dangerous at which the Lords were so highly Incensed that a Declaration was suddenly published in the Name of all the Peers and Barons of England against the proceedings of the Commons and in definance of all Votes Acts and Orders to the contrary Charles the second was proclaimed King in the Name of all the Nobility Gentry and Commonalty of the Kingdom but they still proceed assuming new Ensigns of Soveraignty and cancelling the old causing all Writs Commissions c. to issue out under a new style and title that is The Keepers of the Liberties of England by the authority of parliament causing the old Great Seal to be broken and a new one made with this Inscription In the fifth year of freedom by Gods blessing restored And soon after they pulled down the Kings Arms in all places and his Statue at Guild Hall and the Royal Exchange A Council of State was constituted of forty and Bradshaw made president and the Council of Adjutators of the Army who had been so Instrumental in the late Revolutions was now dissolved who soon after petitioned the Lord Fairfax but those that subscribed it were by a Council of War Ordered to ride with their faâ—es to the Horses Tails before their Regiments with their crimes on their breasts to have their swords broken over their heads and to be cashier'd the army which much provoked their fellow souldiers so that a while after the Army Rendevouzing at Ware several Regiments in persuance of the former petition wherein they complain of erecting Illegal Courts of Justice and trying the free people of England by Martial Law with divers other grievances wore white colours in their Haâ—s to distinguish themselves among whom was Cromwels own Regiment of Horse who having notice of it ordered two other Regiments from remote Quarters to be there who knew nothing of the Intrigue and being all drawn up in Battalia Cromwel with a frowning countenance rides round and suddenly commands those two Regiments to surround a Regiment of Foot and then calls four men by their Names out of the body and with his own hands put them in custody of the Marshal instantly summoning a Council of War while their adherents secretly put their white colours in their pockets and were astonished at the action These four were tryed and found guilty but had the favour to cast lots for their lives whereby the two principal Mutineers escaped and the two ignorant fellows were shot to death upon the place in the view of the whole Army These now had the Name of Levellers given them and one Lockier was afterward shot to death for promoting a paper called The Ingagement and Agreement of the people c. in St. Pauls Church-yard and his Funeral was attended by above one thousand of the Lilburnian Faction all wearing black and Sea-green Ribbons the Army being now in a violent ferment and even ready to destroy one another which humour was cherished by John Lilburn not without incouragement from the Royal party who from their divisions hoped to reap advantage In persuance hereof Collonel Scroops Regiment of Horse dismissed their Officers at Salisbury and with colours flying marched to join Harrisons Iretons and Skippons Regiments who by the contrivance of the Agitators were all ingaged in the same designs This defection seeming of very dangerous consequence Gen. Fairfax and Cromwel with his own Regiment marched to Alton and had advice the Mutineers were gone to Abington after whom Cromwel made such haste that in one day he marched forty miles and having met with them he politickly proposed a Treaty before Harrisons Regiment should join them wherein all parties should receive satisfaction and that neither of them should keep at ten miles distance upon which the Levellers went to Burford and being opposed by the Souldiery at New-bridge to prevent Quarrels they went a little lower not doubting but they should all join upon Treaty and then put most of their Horses to grass they being in all above nine hundred consisting of twelve Troops entire of the best in the Army and leaving a guard of about sixty men some of their companions who were brought over to Cromwel giving Intelligence of their posture Coll. Reynolds about midnight rusht into their Quarters they â—â—ttâ—e expecting such rough treatment and seizing the Guards took the greatest part of the rest either asleep or drinking together with nine hundred Horse and four hundred prisoners whereof Thompson and two more only were Executed Cornet Don declaring such sorrow that he was reprieved at the place of Execution which their fellows beheld from the Leads of the Church and were told That every tenth man of them should die but Cromwel proposed the pardoning of them which was agreed to and they sent to their own Houses This proved the utter suppression of that Faction and rendred the Army wholly at the devotion of Cromwel About this time another illegal High Court of Justice was erected wherein Duke Hamilton the Earl of Holland Lord Capel and Lord Goring were brought to their Trial the three first were condemned and beheaded at the Palace-yard in Westâ—minster and a proclamation was published declaring the Kingdom of England to be a free State and Alderman Reynoldson was commanded to proclaim it in the City which he refusing was committed to the Tower and a new Lord Mayor was chosen by a â—ommon Hall who attended with several other Aldermen of the same temper readily proclaimed the Edicts of this new Republick in several places in the City England being thus subjected to the power of the House of Commons and the Army and Scotland not yet ripe for Invasion and the Nation full of Souldiers who having for so long a time led
the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of London and other persons of Quality all expressing the sence of their obligations Soon after he took his place in parliament and received the thanks of the House from the Speaker and then gave them a full account of the present condition of Ireland At this time Virginia and the Caribbee Islands revolt from the parliament and cry up the Monarchy and Liturgy who thereupon prohibit all Nations to Trade with them and in a few months they are wholly subdued by a Fleet sent thither under Sir G. Ayscough Prince Rupert infests the English Coasts from Scilly Jersey Ireland and France with the States revolted Ships to the great loss of the Merchants whereupon a Fleet well equipt is set forth against him who block him up in Kinsale which Town being taken by Cromwel they were forced to hasten away leaving three Ships behind and sailed to Lisbon where they were protected by the King of Portugal which caused a difference between that King and the English Republick About the same time that is May 3. 1649. Dr. Dorislaus who drew up the charge against King Charleâ— being sent as an Envoy to the States of Holland was treacherously murdered at the Hague by persons in disguise that broke into his Lodgings and afterward made their escape And not long after Mr. Anthony Ascham the English Agent in Spain was stabâ—d in his Inn in his way to Madrid and the murderers taking sanctuary in a church the King of Spain by all his authority could not bring them to Justice But the greatest danger to this new Common-wealth though victorious in Ireland seemed to be from Scotland for King Charles II. being in the Isle of Jersey and having notice of the great factions and differences in that Kingdom between the Covenanters and the Royalists he gives a commission to the Marquess of Montross who in the year 1645. was so successful for a time that the whole Kingdom of Scotland may be said to have been won and lost in one month by which commission he was to raise Forces in Holland and other parts wherewith if possible to abate the power of the Covenanters so that the King might be able to treat with them upon better terms He accordingly in a short time sends some Forces into the Isles of Orkney and a few more under Sir James Mongomery to the North of Scotland These the Committee of Estates resolve to oppose though raised for the Kings service and send propositions to him to Jersey which being granted they would enter into a Treaty to restore him to that Kingdom the substance whereof were That he would sign the solemn league and covenant and oblige all persons to take it To confirm all Acts of parliament in the two last Sessions and to have no Negative voice in their parliament and would appoint some place about Holland to treat in The King consented and promised in the word of a Prince to perform them and Breda a Town in Holland belonging to the Prince of Orange was the place appointed where the Scots Commissioners meet him and the Treaty in a short time was fully concluded wherein one Article was That the Marquess of Montross and his adherents be prohibited access into that Kingdom During this Treaty Montross being commissioned by the King fearing he should have an express command to desist and himself be banish'd his country landed as you heard at Orkney and in the North with some inconsiderable supplies of men and money against whom the parliament then sitting send an Army of seven thousand Foot and three Troops of Horse who utterly defeat his Forces which were only twelve hundred of whom two hundred were slain and all the rest taken except one hundred who made their escape and Montross himself who being three or four days in the open Fields without meat or drink with only one man discovered himself to the L. Aston but the pronused reward or fear of concealing him caused this Lord to send him to Edenburgh and he was soon after condemned and hanged upon a Gallows thirty foot from the ground and a few days after Sir John Urrey Sir Francis Hay Collonel Sâ—bald and Collonel Spotswood were beheaded for the same cause the last at his death confessing he was an actor in the death of Dr. Doritâ—aâ—s The King was somewhat startled at these proceedings but the Scots Commissioners desired him nor to stumble at these matters since they were all designed to promote his Interests so that finding it could not be redressed he was forced to conceal his resentments and the Treaty being finished the King prepared for his Voyage to Scotland The parliament of England having exact Intelligence of all these proceedings it was debated whether the War which was inevitable between them and the Scots should be Offensive or Defensive at length being sensible what desolations they brought along with them when they came in as Friends and afterwards as Enemies in Duke Hamiltons Invasion it was concluded to make Scotland the seat of the War and accordingly they Order the Army to march Northward but General Fairfax as well as some others being dissatisfied about the obligation of the National Covenant entred into between both Kingdoms which he conceived would not permit us to make War on Scotland desired to be excused and delivered up his commission which at first was a little startling but the parliament soon found another General of whose valour and conduct they had large experience which was Cromwel who accepted of the charge and had a commission to be General of all the Forces that now were or hereafter should be raised by the Common-wealth of England and all commissions formerly granted to Sir Tho. Fairfax were made void June 28. 1650. Cromwel with his Army marched toward Scotland and was received at York by the Lord Mayor and Aldermen with great respect The report of his coming surprized the Committee of Estates who sent a Letter to the Parliament That they admired the English should advance toward them and that many of their Ships were seized contrary to the Act of pacification which allowed three months warning and that the Forces they had raised were only in their own defence defiring to know whether those of the English were designed to guard their own borders or to invade Scotland The parliament by their Declaration declare the reasons of their proceeding and among others That the Scots endeavour to seduce the people of the Common-wealth of England from their affection and duty to the parliament and to promote the laterest of the late King under pretence of the Covenant and though they could claim no authority or dominion over us yet in Scotland they proclaimed Charles Stewart to be King of England and Ireland and since that promised to assist him against the Common-wealth and had declared against the English parliament and Army ranking them with malignants and papists These with many others were such intolerable provocations and no satisfaction being
complain of want of pay of the neglect of Church-Government and the Covenant The Parliament answered That in two years space they had received above two hundred thousand pounds for pay besides a vast sum of money which had been extorted from the weeping Inhabitants of the Northern Counties and that their Army had not answered expectation lying idle the best time of the year and if they were so precise in observation of the Covenant why contrary thereto had they put Garrisons into Newcastle Tinmouth and Carlisle Neither ought they to mention Religion being unsettled since the Parliament were consulting about it being a matter which requires time and mature deliberation From these dissentions the King expected some advantage but yet Oxford was already block'd up by Fleetwood and Ireton and Fairfax was daily expected to come and turn it into a close siege therefore before this should happen the King resolved to go out of the City and consulting with some of his inward Councellors it was concluded he should go to the Scots Camp then lying before Newark the King sent Montruel the French Ambassador before and himself soon after as Coll. Ashburnhams man who had a pass from Fairfax to go out of Oxford about some private business with a Cloak-bag behind him escaped unknown and came to Newark which when the besieged Newarkers had notice of being in great streights they upon conditions surrendred the Town The Scots seemed amazed at the Kings unexpected coming to them and so signified the matter to the English Commissioners then on the place Letters were instantly written to London and Edinburgh and the Parliament at Westminster required the Scots to detain the King at Southwell near Newark but contrary to this Order they carried him to Kelham where a greater part of their Army lay and soon after without further Order removed their Camp Northward and carried him away to Newcastle with them excusing their departure by alledging Newark being yielded no work was left for them but that as the King came to them of his own accord unexpected so he followed their Army neither being intreated nor forbidden by them but they seemed to hasten their departure by reason of a rumour that Cromwel with all his Horse was marching toward them This action much offended the English Parliament and they complain'd both of the Scots and the King In the beginning of May General Fairfax with his whole Army came before Oxford the City was very strong having been fortified according to the most exact rules of Art to make it Impregnable invironed with regular Forts and provided with a potent Garrison of five thousand valiant Souldiers having great stores of all manner of provisions and the Governour Sir Tho. Glemham a person who had sufficiently demonstrated his courage and conduct in holding out York and Carlisle to the last extremity The General disposing his Quarters round about the City summoned the Governour to surrender who returned That he would send to know the Kings mind and then act accordingly This answer was not satisfactory yet Fairfax and his Commanders doubting it would be a tedious Siege were put in hopes by some spies that it could not hold out long by reason of the divisions between the Nobility and Souldiers the first being for treating now and so obtain honourable conditions which they did accordingly and the Parliament decreed That the besieged should have the best conditions rather than waste their Army which might be more useful elsewhere for they designed to send them into Ireland against the Rebels there Thus was Oxford surrendred and the Garrison marched out in sight of Fairfax's Army with great quiet and modesty on both sides The D. of York was honourably conducted to London where two of the Kings Children remained thither also went all the Noble-men neither were any of the besieged denied to go to London but the Princes Rupert and Maurice who being commanded to go out of England prepared for their departure Prince Charles about this time sailed from Scilly with a few of his inward Counsellors to Jersey in order to go to his Mother in France which the King having advice of sent him this short Letter from Newcastle Charles I write to you only that you should know what I am and that I am in health not to direct you at this time in any thing for what I would have you do I have already written to your Mother to whom I would have you obedient in all things except Religion about which I know she will not trouble you and go no whether without her or my command Write often to me God bless you Your loving Father C. R. Soon after the surrender of Oxford followed the end of this fierce War for Worcester Wallingford Pendennis and Ragland yielded to the Victors Peace now seemed to be restored to England but they had no security the Parliament being grievously troubled with factions among themselves and divided under the Names of Presbyterians and Independants not only in matters of Church-Government but often in their Votes and in transacting almost all other business and this humour spread it self into the City Country and Camp and the Parliament doubting Coll. Masseys Forces might muriny upon that account sent Fairfax to Disband them being two thousand five hundred Horse which was quietly done in eight days time though they did not then receive their pay The Scots as you have heard carrying the King into the North the parliament Voted That the person of the King should be disposed of by the Authority of both Houses of the parliament of England But the Scots denied to deliver him up alledging That he was no less King of England than Scotland which caused great dissention between the two Nations But at length upon paying the Scots two hundred thousand pounds they agreed to deliver up Berwick Carlisle and Newcastle to the parliament of England and the Kings person also to the English Commissioners to be carried into the South who was received with great respect and honour by the Earls of Pembroke and Denbigh and the other Commissioners and by them waited on with much observance and an honourable Guard to his palace at Holmby in Northampton-shire But the Civil Wars being ended a dissention more than Civil arose among the Conquerors which still increased under the Names of Presbyterians and Independants and extreamly imbittered the minds of men against each other one party complaining That the Covenant was broken The other That it was not rightly Interpreted by them And on both sides were men of Reputation and several petitions were drawn up against the Army lately so much admired as maintainers of the Independent party who then lay about Saffron-Walden in Essex Yea it was debated in parliament whether they should be Disbanded or not which Cromwel who sided with the Independents having notice of he thereupon with Ireton insinuated into the common Souldiers That the parliament intended to Disband them without their Arrears or else to
to be had but by the sword the parliament resolve to vindicate the Nations honour and to secure it from the like Insolencies for the future The Army likewise publish a Declaration wherein taking notice of the practices of some in that Kingdom who endeavour by unjust reproaches and false slanders to make the Army odious and render them rather monsters than men they to clear themselves desire them to remember what their behaviour was when they were there before or what wrong or injury was then done either to the persons Goods or Houses of any and therefore they had no reason by false reports to affright the people from their Habitations Further assuring all persons who were not active against the parliament that they should not have the least injary done them either in Body or Goods but upon complaint should have present redress and that they might securely continue in their Habitations Copies of these Declarations were given to the country people at Berwick-market and others sent into Scotland which afterward had good effect After which Cromwel marches from York to North-Allerton and thence to New-castle where he was nobly treated by Sir Arthur Haslerig the Governor and after imploring the blessing of Heaven and having provided for future supplies he posts to Barwick and July 20. 1650. Rendevouzed his Army upon Hagerstone-moor four miles from thence where appeared a gallant body of Horse of five thousand four hundred and fifteen with valiant Riders to manage them ten thousand two hundred forty nine Foot with a Train of Artillery consisting of six hundred and ninety In all sixteen thousand three hundred forty five After which they were Quartered on the banks of River Tweed In England John Lilburn about this time was tryed at Guild-hall a man of a restless and invincible spirit who is charged with publishing Books wherein the parliament are termed Tyrants Traytors Conquering Usurpers c. and though it was generally thought they were of his writing and publishing yet he made such a subtile defence that the Jury brought him in Not Guilty and so he was released Not long after Collonel Eusebius Andrews being found with a commission from King Charles H. was condemned by an High Court of Justice and beheaded at Tower-hill And one Benson who was condemned with him was executed at Tyburn At the same time an Insurrection happened in Norfolk an Undisciplin'd company assembling and roaring about pretending they designed the abolishing of popery the restoring the young King to his Crown and to revenge his Fathers death and to suppress Heresie and Schism But two hundred Horse being sent against them from Lyn and three Troops from the Army soen dispersed them twenty of whom of no eminency were hanged Sir Henry Hyde being sent Ambassador from King Charles the Second to the Grand Seignior at Constantinople had some concest with Sir Tho. Bendish the parliaments Ambassador there whereupon they had a hearing before the Vizier Bassa and the result was That Sir Tho. Bendish should dispose of Sir Henry Hyde as he thought fit who presently sent him to Smyrna and thence to England where he was condemned and beheaded before the Royal Exchange in London Prince Rupert and his Fleer lying in the Haven of Lisbon as you have heard General Blake came before the City with the parliaments Fleet and after having destroyed several French Privateers and some rich Sugar-ships of the King of Portugals he was forced by storm and to re victual to go to some other Port upon which P. Rupert took the opportunity to sail thence with his Fleet to Malaga where they burnt and spoiled several Merchants Ships Whereupon Blake reduced his Fleet to seven stout nimble Sailors sending the rest home with the Prizes and with these sailed with all speed after Prince Rupert to Malaga but they being gone to Alicant he still followed them taking in his way a French ship of twenty Guns with the Roe-buck a revolted ship and the Black Prince another of Prince Ruperts Fleet to avoid being taken ran ashoar and blew her self up Next day four more of the Princes Fleet ran ashoar at Cartagena and were cast away the rest making their escape and so Blake returned again to England The Scots had now finish'd their Treaty with King Charles the Second he having promised to confirm the Presbyterian Government in Scotland for three years provided that himself might have always three Chaplains of his own Election As also to confirm the Militia in the hands of the Estates for five years provided it afterward should return to himself It was now resolved a Message should be sent to invite him to make all possible speed to his Kingdom of Scotland though it was opposed in the parliament at Edenburgh and put to the Vote whether any more addresses should be made to the King and thirty two were for the Negative but the Affirmatives being the major part the message was sent accordingly with a protestation That they would assist him with their Lives and Fortunes to establish him in all his Dominions yet withal forbore not to advertise him they had Testimonies to produce of his tramactings by Letters with Montross of which they had intercepted three or four contrary to his promise at Breda however they were willing to dispence with him for what was passed so that he would without delay according to the Articles of agreement come over into Scotland and comply with the Parliament and the Kirk After which they prepared for his reception but prohibited Duke Hamilton the Earls of Lauderdail and Seaforth with many other persons of Quality who had constantly attended him in Jersey and Holland from returning into Scotland About the beginning of June 1650. he left the Hague and after a tedious storm and narrowly escaping some English Ships landed in the North of Scotland whither some Lords were sent to receive and accompany him to Edenburgh being entertained by the way with the acclamations of the people At Dundee new propositions from the Parliament and Kirk were sent him which with some seeming reluctancy he signed The Town of Aberdeen presented him with fifteen hundred pounds but the Committee of Estates sent to other places that designed the like enjoining them to bring whatever money and plate they had to bestow into the Treasury which they would appoint While they were in expectation of the Kings arrival the Committee of Estates and Parliament consulted about forming an Army for his service as they pretended and an Act was passed for Training every fourth man capable to bear Arms throughout the Kingdom and for raising sixteen thousand Foot and six thousand Horse the Earl of Leven to be General of the Foot Holborn Major-General David Lesley Lieutenant-General of the Horse and Montgomery Major-General the supream command being reserved for the King who arriving at Edenburgh was complemented with many congratulations and July 15. proclaimed King at the Cross and had a strong Guard to attend him and observe his
another place and soon after most of the Nobility and Gentry of Scotland were taken at a place called Ellet in that Kingdom where they were assembled to propagate the Royal cause namely Old General Lesley Earl Marshal Earl of Crawford the Lords Keith Ogilby Burgoiny Huntley Ley with many Knights Gentlemen and Ministers which soon after were ship'd and sent for England Such was the sudden change of the condition of the Scots and the King that he who a few days before was proclaimed King of Great Britain had now neither Camp nor Garrison to retire to five hundred pounds sterling being offered to discover him so that after travelling in disguise and through many dangers about England he at length found an opportunity to imbark at Shoreham in Sussex for Newhaven in France where he arrived Octob. 2. following Of the great number of prisoners taken none of Quality suffered but the Earl of Derby who was beheaded at Bolton in Lancashire and Sir Tim. Fetherstone Others of less note suffered at Chester Shrewsbury and other places Nor did many of the Royalists themselves expect any better fortune in this expedition than what happened as appears by Duke Hamiltons Letter to Sir William Crofts taken among other papers a few days before the fight to this purpose We are all laughing at the ridiculousness of our condition who having quit Scotland being scarce able to maintain it yet we grasp at all and nothing but all will satisfie us or to lose all I confess I cannot tell whether our hopes or fears are greatest but we have one stout argument and that is despair for we must now either shortly fight or dye All the Rogues have left us I will not say whether for fear or disloyalty but all now with His Majesty are such as will not dispute his commands So that we see this undertaking was not the product of deliberate counsel but of necessity and desperation This battel put a period to the Kings hopes of getting the Government by Arms and on the other hand secured to Cromwel all his former Conquests the influence whereof though acted in England was great in Scotland for their principal Nobility and souldiery being cut off they were no longer able to bear up but were soon reduced to the obedience of England And Cromwel giving an account to the Parliament of this great success he concludes his Letter by telling them That this was a crowning Victory which was afterward thought to proceed from the foresight of his future Greatness This fight happened Sept. 3. 1651. that very day twelve-month wherein the Scots received that fatal blow at Dunbar afore-mentioned After the battel Cromwel staâ—d no longer than to see the Walls of Worcester levelled to the ground and the Ditches filled up with earth to discover his aversion to the Inhabitants for receiving his Enemies into it and Sept. 12. came to London being met at Acton by the Parliament and their Speaker the Lord Mayor of London Aldermen and Recorder and hundreds of others to whom Steel the City Recorder made a Congratulatory Oration extolling all his Victories and Exploits with the highest flights of Rhetorick and applying to him the words of Psalm 149 Let the high praises of God be in their mouth and a two-edged sword in their hand to execute vengeance upon the Heathen and punishments upon the people to bind their Kings with chains and their Nobles with fetters of iron to execute upon them the judgment written this honour have all the Saints praise ye the Lord. After which he was conducted in triumph to his House near White-hall great number of Scotch prisoners coming after him through Tuthill-fields to Westminster as Trophies of his Victories and the Colours taken there with those at Dunbar Westminster Preston were hung up in Westminster-Hall After a short repose General Cromwel and Lieutenant General Lambert went to take their places in Parliament where they were entertained by the Speaker with a second Congratulatory Oration magnifying their courage and gallantry and acknowledging the great obligation which the people of England were under toward them The same day the Lord Mayor feasted the General and his Officers where mutual returns of kindness passed between them to the satisfaction of both parties Oct. 14. 1651. Collonel Hayn with two Regiments of foot and two Troops of Horse were shipp'd at Weymouth for reducing the Isle of Jersey in eighty Vessels under the command of General Blake who came to St. Owens Bay where the ships running aground the men leapt out some to the middle others up to the neck in water and ran ashoar the enemy playing hard upon them with great and small shot and gave a hot charge with their Horse yet after half an hours dispute they fled and left behind them twelve cannon and some colours After which the English marched further into the Island within sight of Elizabeth Castle under which was a Fort called St. Albans Tower where were fourteen Guns which upon summons was delivered and so was Orgueil castle and soon after Elizabeth castle upon very good terms to the Garrison and Governour Sir George Cartaret because of its great strength The Isle of Man was likewise reduced in a short time with the castles of Peele and Rushen both very strong and almost impregnable as well as Cornet castle in the Isle of Guernsey if the besieged had had resolution to defend them About this time died Admiral Popham and Henry Ireton Son-in-law to Oliver Cromwel at Lymerick which Kingdom in a little while after was wholly subdued and brought under the obedience of the Government of England The Parliament now passed two or three considerable Acts one for Incorporating Scotland into one Common-wealth with England another of Oblivion and free pardon a third to determine the Session of this Parliament on Nov. 3. 1654. a fourth for the increase of shipping and incouragement of Navigation wherein was enacted That no Goods or Commodities of the growth or manufacture of any places in Asia Africa America or Europe should be imported into England Ireland or any of the Territories thereof but only in English ships under the penalty of forfeiting the Goods and Ships And that no Goods whatsoever shall be brought in unless they be ship'd from the places of their growth and manufacture only Also that no Fish or Oyl made of Fish or Whale-bone shall be imported but only such as shall be caught in Vessels belonging to the English Lastly that no kinds of salted fish from Feb. 1. 1653. shall be exported in any other save English Vessels with several other exceptions and provisoes in reference to East-India Goods and of commodities from Turky Spain and Portugal This last Act was very grateful to the Merchants and Seamen but did extreamly surprize and disturb the Holl inders as judging it would cause a vast diminution in their Trade which with so much advantage they had long driven to the loss and detriment of the English Nation who
Council of State be constituted to take care of and intend the peace safety and present management of the affairs of the Common-wealth which being settled accordingly the same is hereby declared and published to the end all persons may take notice thereof and in their several places and stations demean themselves peaceably giving obedience to the Laws of the Nation as heretofore in the exercise and administration whereof as endeavours shall be used that no oppression or wrong be done to the people so a strict account will be required of all such as shall do any thing to endanger the publick peace and quiet upon any pretence whatsoever O. Cromwel April 30. 1653. The Hollanders hoped to reap advantage from these Revolutions but found themselves mistaken the Naval affairs being still managed with as much application as before as they soon felt to their cost for the Dutch having a great Fleet of Merchants ships Outward bound durst not venture through the channel but with a Fleet of about Ninety Men of War convoyed them by the North of Scotland toward the sound and there met with another Fleet of Merchant men Homeward bound from Russia East-India and France whom they brought home safe and hearing the English Fleet was Northwards came into the Downs taking two or three small Vessels and made some shot into Dover Town boasting the English Fleet was lost and that they would send a Hue and Cry after them when on a sudden the English Navy arrived from the North and came into Yarmouth-Road June 1. Being at Anchor in Sole-Bay they discovered two Dutch Galliot Hoyses to whom chase was given till the whole Dutch Fleet was discovered but the weather proving dark they lost sight of them June 3. Our Fleet being at Anchor off the Gober discovered the Enemy about two Leagues to Leeward being about 100 sail and weighed toward them about Noon both Fleets were Ingaged which for some hours were very sharp so that in the Evening the Dutch bore right away before the wind Next day at Noon they ingaged again and after four hours dispute the Hollanders would have got away but the wind freshing Westerly the English bore in so hard among them that they took eleven Men of War two water Hoys six Captains fifteen hundred prisoners and sunk six men of War more the rest escaped by the darkness of the Night and the Flatts The English lost General Dean one of their Admirals who was killed with a great shot the first day with one Captain and bout one hundred and fifty men more and two hundred and forty wounded but not one ship was lost The English were much incouraged by General Blakes coming in during the fight with sixteen sail of stout men of War The Dutch having in the Night got into the Wielings the Flye and Texel it was resolved to sail as near the Coast as was safe where the English lay for some time taking many prizes to the great damage of the Hollanders whose ships could neither go in or out from any one Port to join together to oppose them General Cromwel and his Council of Officers having considered of the qualifications of the next Parliament and made a List of those persons in England Scotland and Ireland to whom they designed to commit the Legislative power Warrants were issued out for them to appear at the Council Chamber at White-Hall July 4. 1653. to this effect Forasmuch as upon the dissolution of the late Parliament it became necessary that the peace safety and good Government of this Common-wealth should be provided for and in order thereunto divers persons fearing God and of approved fidelity and honesty are by my self with the advice of my Council of Officers Nominated to whom the great charge and trust of so weighty affairs is to be committed and having good assurance of your love to and courage for God and the Interest of his Cause and the good people of this Common-wealth I Oliver Cromwel Captain General and Commander in chief of all the Armies and Forces raised or to be raised within this Common-wealth do hereby summon and require you being the persons Nominated personally to be and appear at the Council-Chamber commonly called or Known by the Name of the Council-Chamber at White Hall within the City of Westminster upon the fourth day of July next ensuing the date hereof then and there to take upon you the said Trust unto which you are hereby called and appointed to serve as a Member for the County of _____ And hereby you are not to fail Given under my Hand and Seal the eighth day of June 1653. O. Cromwel July 4. The persons summoned to the number of an hundred forty four out of the three Kingdoms met accordingly at the Council-Chamber at White-Hall where was General Cromwel and several of his Officers who made a Speech to them recounting The many wonderful mercies of God to this Nation and the continued series of Providences by which he had appeared in carrying on this Cause and bringing affairs into the present condition with their progress since the famous victory at Worcester and the actings of the Army thereupon after divers applications to the Parliament and waiting upon them with the grounds and necessity of their dissolving which he declared to be for the preservation of this Cause and the interest of all honest men who have been ingaged therein He then told them of the clearness of the Call given to the Members then present to take upon them the supream Authority and from the Scriptures exhorted them to their duty desiring that a tenderness might be used toward all conscientious persons of what Judgment soever After which General Cromwel produced an Instrument under his own Hand and Seal whereby he did with the advice of his Officers devolve and intrust the supream Authority and Government of the Common-wealth into the hands of the pâ—â—â—ons there met who or any forty of them were to be held and acknowledged the supream Authority of the Nation unto whom all persons within the same and the Territories thereto belonging were to yield obedience and subjection and that they should sit no longer than Nov. 3.1654 and three months before their dissolution they were to make choice of other persons to succeed them who were not to sit above twelve months anâ—â—chen to provide for a succession of Government Which Instruction being delivered them the General commended them to God himself with his Officers withdrew From thence the Members forthwith adjourned to the Parliament-House at Westminster and first considered what Title to take to themselves and after three days debate they resolved they would be called The Parliament of the Common-wealth of England and chose Mr. Rous for their Speaker About this time John Lilburn being a few months before banished by an Act of the last Parliament for certain crimes he was charged with took occasion upon this change of Government to return into England and cast himself upon
Valour for he who was the life of the business received a wound in one of them of which he shortly dyed and with him the Spaniards lost possession of the Town of Dunkirk for after the French and English had played 14 days successively with their Mortar-pieces upon the place the Besieged grew weary of the sport and beat a Parley and the Town was delivered up to them Dunkirk being established in the hands of the English the French Army after about a months Siege possess themselves of Graveling a strong Fortress not far from Dunkirk so that the English and French had now in their hands all the Frontier Towns on this side Flanders Amidst these Triumphs and Successes the Lady Claypool the Protectors only Daughter and whose image she was said to be Dyed Aug. 6. at Hampton-Court from whence she was conveyed by Water four days after with a great many Mourning Barges to Westminster and there laid in the Painted-Chamber where a stately Hearse was prepared for her and about Twelve at Night was carried into K. Henry VII Chappel and there Interred in a place purposely provided for her Her death was said to beso grievous to her Father that it was thought the cause of his own soon after for having been very melancholly from that time till about the end of August his distemper at length appeared to be a Tertian Ague which together with other malignant humours so depressed his Vitals that it brought him to his end though with many strivings and strugglings he often falling into Swouns and Trances He could not be perswaded at first that his Distemper was mortal saying That as God had carried him to that height he did firmly believe he had some further Work for him to do and some of his Chaplains were of the same opinion But his Fits increasing and causing him to talk delitious and to faint often the Privy-Council concluding he could scarce endure another Fit repaired to him and earnestly pressed him according to the first Article of the Petition and Advice to Nominate his Successor and though he was hardly sensible yet they demanding if he did not appoint his Eldest Son Richard to succeed him he answered YES The Night before his departure he was observed to pray as followeth LORD I am a miserable Creature yet I am in Covenant with Thee through Grace and I may I will come unto Thee for thy people Lord thou hast made me though very unworthy a mean Instrument to do them some good and thee service and many of them had too high a value for me though others would be glad of my fall But Lord howsoever thou dost dispose of me do good to them Give consistency of Judgment one heart and mutual love unto them Let the Name of Christ be Glorious throughout the World Pardon such as delight to trample upon the Ashes of a Worm and pardon the folly of this short Prayer even for Jesus Christ his sake This was on Thursday Night and on Friday Morning Sept. 3. 1658. his twice Victorious day at Dunbar and Worcester there appeared all the signs of a dying person and about Three a Clock in the Afternoon he expired A day or two before his Death a very great Tempest happened which was thought to forbode it Thus you have a full account of the end of Oliver Cromwel Lord Protector of England Scotland and Ireland whose Valour mounted him to that height by which he raised his Family almost equal to the best of the Kingdom and the Nation to that Glory that Forreign Princes feared and envied him He had two Sons Richard who succeeded him and Henry who from fixteen years of Age was by his Father bred a Souldier and was at his Death Lord Deputy of Ireland And four Daughters Bridget first Married to the Lord Deputy Ireton and afterward to the Lord Fleetwood Elizabeth his second Daughter Married to the Lord Cleypool Master of his Horse Mary his third Married to the Lord Falconbridge Frances his youngest Married to the Lord Rich Grandson to the Earl of Warwick After his expiration the Corps was Imbalmed and wrapped in a sheet of Lead and Sept. 26. about Ten at Night removed from White-Hall in a Mourning Hearse where his Effigies was with great Magnificence exposed publickly to the view of multitudes who came daily to see it till November 3. following and then in great State it was conducted from Somerset-House to Westminster and placed in the Abbey-Church under a stately Monument Erected for it with the Banners and six Ensigns of Honour placed about it the Corps having been some days before Buried in a Vault purposely provided for it in King Henry the Sevenths Chappel Sic Transit Gloria Mundi A Catalogue of Books Printed for Nath. Crouch at the Bell in the Poultrey near Cheapside History 1. ENglands Monarchs Or A Compendious Relation of the most remarkable Transactions from Julius Caesar to this present adorned with poems and the picture of every Monarch from K. William the Conqueror to the third year of K. William Q. Mary With a List of the Nobility the Knights of the Garter the number of the Lords and Commons who have Votes in both Houses of Parliament and many other useful particulars Price one Shilling 2. THE Wars in England Scotland and Ireland containing a particular and Impartial Account of all the Battels Sieges and other remarkable Transactions Revolutions and Accidents which happened from the beginning of the Reign of King Charles I. 1625. to His Majesties happy Restauration The illegal Tryal of K. Charles I. at large with his last speech at his suffering and the most considerable matters till 1660. with pictures of several accidents Price One Shilling 3. THE History of Oliver Cromwel being an Impartial Account of all the Battels Sieges and other Military Atchievements wherein he was ingaged in England Scotland and Ireland and particularly all the Sea Fights with the Dutch and French and likewise of his Civil Administrations while he had the Supream Government of these three Kingdoms till his Death Relating only matters of Fact without Reflection or Observation By R. B. Price One Shilling 4. HIstorical Remarks and Observations of the Ancrent and Present State of London and Westminster shewing the Foundations Walls Gates Towers Bridges Churches Rivers Wards Halls Companies Government Courts Hospitals Schools Inns of Courts Charters Franchises and Priviledges thereof with an account of the most remarkable accidents as to Wars Fires Plagues and other occurrences for above 903 years past in and about these Cities to the year 1681. Illustrated with pictures and the Arms of 65 Companies of London and the time of their Incorporating Price One Shilling 5. ADmirable Curiosities Rarities and Wonders in England Scotland and Ireland or an account of many remarkable persons and places and likewise of the Battles Sieges prodigious Earthquakes Tempests Inundations Thunders Lightnings Fires Murders and other considerable occurrences and accidents for many hundred years past Together
with the natural and artificial Rarities in every County in England with several curious Sculptures Price One shilling 6. THE History of the Kingdoms of Scotland and Ireland containing 1. An account of the most remarkable Transactions and Revolutions in Scotland for above 1200 years pasts during the Reigns of 68 Kings from 424. to K. James I. in 1602. 2. The History of Ireland from the Conquest thereof to this time with the miraculous persons and places strange accidents c. And a List of the Nobility and great Officers of State in both Kingdoms Plustrated with several pictures of some extraordinary observables Price One shilling 7. THE English Empire in America or a prospect of His Majesties Dominions in the West-Indies namely New-found-land New-England New-York New-Jersey Pensylvania Mary-land Virginia Catolina Bermudas Barbuda Anguilla Monserrat Dominica St. Vincent Antego Mevis or Nevis St. Christophers Barbadoes and Jamaica with an account of their Discovery Scituation and Product The Religion and manners of the Indians and other excellercies of these Countries To which is prefixed a relation of the first discovery of this New World and of the remarkable Voyages and Adventures of Sebastian Cabot Sir Martin Frobisher Captain Davies Capt. VVeymouth Capt. Hall Capt. Hudson Sir Tho. Cavendish the E. of Cumberland Sir VValter Rawleigh and other English VVorthies to divers places therein Illustrated with Maps and pictures of the strange Fruits Birds Beasts Fishes Insects Serpents and Monsters found in those parts of the VVorld Price One shilling 8. A View of the English Acquisitions in Guinea and the East-Indies VVith an Account of the Religion Government VVâ—rs strange Customs Beasts Serpents Monsters and other observables in those Countries And among others the Life and Death of Mahomet the Grand Impostor with the principal Doctrines of the Turkish Religion as they are display'd in the Alcoran Two Letters one written by the Great Mogul and the other by the King of Sumatra in the East Indies to our K. James I. of an unusual and extravagant stile The cruel Executions in those parts with the manner of the Womens burning themselves with their dead Husbands Together with a description of the Isle of St. Helena and the Bay of Souldania where the English usually refresh in their Voyages to the Indies intermixt with pleasant Relations and enlivened with pictures Price One shilling 9. THE English Heroe Or Sir Francis Drake Revived Being a full account of the dangerous Voyages admirable Adventures notable Discoveries and Magnanimous Atchievements of that Valiant and Renowned Commander As 1. His Voyage in 1572. to Nombre de Dios in the West-Indies where they saw a pile of Bars of silver near seventy foot long ten foot broad and twelve foot high 2. His incompassing the whole World in 1577. which he performed in two years and ten 〈◊〉 gaining a vast quantity of Gold and Silver 3. 〈…〉 into America in 1585. and taking the Towns of St. Jago St. Domingo arthagena and St. Augustine 4. His last Voyage into those Countries in 1595. with the manner of his Death and Burial Revised Corrected very much inlarged reduced into Chapters with Contents and beautified with pictures By R. B. Price One shilling 10. TWO Journies to Jerusalem containing first An account of the Travels of two English Pilgrims some years since and what admirable accidents befel them in their Journey to Jerusalem Grand Cairo Alexandria c. 2. The Travels of 14 English Merchants in 1669 from Scanderoon to Tripoly Joppa Ramah Jerusalem Bethlehem Jericho the River of Jordan the Lake of Sodom and Gomorrah and back again to Aleppo To which is added a Relation of the great Council of the Jews assembled in the plains of Ajayday in Hungary 1650. to examine the Scriptures concerning Christ By S. B. an English-man there present With the notorious delusion of the Jews by a counterfeit Messiah or false Christ at Smyrna in 1666. and the event thereof Lastly The Extirpation of the Jews throughout Persia in 1666. Epistle of King Agbarus to our Saviour with our Saviours answer Beautified with pictures Price One shilling 11. EXtraordinary Adventures of several famous men with the strange Events and signal mutations and changes in the Fortunes of divers Illustrious places and persons in all Ages being an account of a multitude of stupendious revolutions accidents and observable matters in divers States and Provinces throughout the whole world With pictures Price One shilling 12. THE History of the Nine Worthies of the World Three whereof were Gentiles 1. Hector Son of Priamus King of Troy 2. Alexander the great King of Macedon and conqueror of the World 3. Julius Caesar first 〈◊〉 of Rome Three Jews 4. Joshua Captain 〈◊〉 and Leader of Israel into Canaan 5. David King of Israel 6. Judas Maccabeus a valiant Jewish commander against the Tyranny of Antiochus Three Christians 7. Arthur King of Brittain who couragiously defended his country against the Saxons 8. Charles the Great K. of France and Emperor of Germany 9. Godfrey of Bullen King of Jerusalem Being an account of their Glorious Lives worthy Actions renowned Victories and Deaths Illustrated with poems and the picture of each Worthy By R. B. Price One shilling 13. FEmale Excellency or the Ladies Glory Illustrated in the worthy Lives and memorable Actions of Nine Famous Women who have been renowned either for Virtue or Valour in several Ages of the World As. 1. Deborah the Prophetess 2. The valiant Judith 3. Queen Esther 4. The virtuous Susanna 5. The chaste Lucretia 6. Voadicia Queen of Brittain in the reign of Nero Emperor of Rome Containing an account of the original Inhabitants of Brittain The History of Danaus and his fifty Daughters who murdered their Husbands in one Night Of the arrival of Brute Of the two Giants Corineus and Gogmagog Of K. Lear and his three Daughters Of Belin and Brennus who took the City of Rome Of the manner of Julius Caesars invading Brittain and of the Valour of Voadicia under whose conduct the Brittains slew 70 thousand Romans with many other remarkable particulars 7. Mariamne Wife to K. Herod 8. Clotilda Q. of France 9. Andegona Princess of Spain The whole adorned with poems and pictures to each History By R. B. Price One shilling 14. WOnderful Prodigies of Judgment and Mercy discovered in above 300 memorable Histories containing 1. Dreadful Judgments upon Atheists Blasphemers and perjured Villains 2. The miserable ends of many Magicians c. 3. Remarkable predictions and presages of approaching Death and how the event has been answerable 4. Fearful Judgments upon bloody Tyrants Murderers c. 5. Admirable Deliverances from imminent dangers and deplorable distresses at Sea and Land Lastly Divine goodness to penitents with the dying thoughts of several famous Men concerning a future state after this life Imbellished with divers pictures Price One shilling 15 UNparallel'd Varieties or the matchless action and passions of Mankind display'd in near 400 notable instances and examples discovering the transcendent
THE HISTORY OF Oliver Cromwel BEING AN Impartial Account Of all the Battles Sieges and other Military Atchievements wherein he was Ingaged in England Scotland and Ireland AND LIKEWISE Of his Civil Administrations while he had the Supream Government of these Three Kingdoms till his Death Relating only Matters of Fact without Reflection or Observation By R. B. Licensed and Entred LONDON Printed for Nath. Crouch at the Bell in the Poultrey near Cheapside 1692. TO THE READER THere have been few Persons upon whose actions so many different Sentiments have passed as upon those of Oliver Cromwel some advancing his Courage and Reputation to the height others on the contrary depressing them as low and not allowing that he had any thing praise-worthy in his Conduct in those great Imployments and Offices even the Government of the Three Nations which he passed through Yea they invade the Almighties Province of judging the Hearts and Thoughts of Men attributing all to Hypocrisie and Ambition asserting that he had Hopes and Expectations of raising himself to that Grandeur whereto he after arrived many years before he attained it nay so early as when he was but a Collonel and can hardly be thought to have had the least prospect thereof But to leave every Man to his Opinion in this matter I thought it might not be unacceptable to my Country-men to give a plain and Impartial Account of Matters of Fact performed and acted by him both in his Military and afterwards in his Civil Capacity without Reflections on Parties which ought to be the care of a faithful Historian if he expects to be believed by Posterity It is a Maxim That great Virtues have been often mixed with great Vices in many great men in the World neither is Cromwel excused from this Censure who had several worthy and blameable Qualities in him but since he is out of the reach either of good or bad Report I shall leave him and refer you to read his Atchievements which are briefly related in the following Manual R. B. THE HISTORY OF Oliver Cromwel OLiver Cromwel was descended of an Ancient Family in Huntington-shire who had a very plentiful Estate his Grandfather was Sir Henry Cromwel a Person of good Reputation and had issue five Sons Sir Oliver his Eldest Henry Robert Richard and Philip. This our Oliver Cromwel was Son of the third Brother Richard who was likewise in much esteem in his Country and Married Elizabeth Steward Peace of Sir Robert Steward a Gentleman of a considerable Estate in that Country by whom he had this Oliver who was born in the Town of Huntington April 25. 1599. and had his Name given him by his Uncle Sir Oliver When he was a Child he seemed to delight in Manlike Exercises and by the care of his Father was sent to the Free School of that Town and afterward to Sydney-Colledge in Cambridge where while he was a Student there were several Omens of his future Grandeur and he was observed more to be enclined to the Military than Contemplative Life During his continuance here his Father died upon which he returned home and spent hiâ— time in the Youthful Follies and Extravagancies incident to persons of his age and temper whereupon his Mother by the advice of her Friends sent him up to London and placed him in Lincolns-Inn thereby to qualifie him for a Gentleman and to put him into a Capacity to be serviceable to his Country Having continued here for some time and not being able to confine himself to this Sedentary Imployment he again returns into the Country and there proceeds in the same lewd courses as before but as he grew in years he became more solid and considerate insomuch that in a while he was as remarkable for his Sobriety as before for his Rudeneâ—s and Vâ—nity which so much pleased and obliged his Uncle Sir Robert Steward that he left him his Heir to a very fine Estate of four or five hundred pounds a year But before this came into his hands by the Death of his Uncle the reputation of it and the remarkable alteration in his disposition recommended him to Elizabeth the Daughter of Sir James Boucher whom he Married and though at first when this notable reformation was perceived in him he adhered to the Church of England frequenting the most famous Preachers with much seeming warmth and zeal yet afterwards when those called Puritans grew popular he began to have a good opinion of them inviting the Ministers to his House and entertaining them with much kindness and to demonstrate the reality of this change of his mind there is an instance of his freely returning a considerable sum of Money to a person from whom he had won it some years before by Gaming Such actions and the seeming sincerity of his Conversation raised his esteem yet higher with all persons of that Party who had such an opinion of his Wisdom and Abilities that when King Charles I. called that Parliament in 1640. which for its duration was afterward Named the Long he was by the Interest of his Friends elected Parliament-man for the Town of Cambridge Soon after this the War began between the King and Parliament one Party declaring they took Arms for defending the Prerogatives of the Crown and the other the Priviledges of Parliaments and Liberties of the People As soon as ever this fatal division happened wherein so many Thousands afterward lost their Lives and Estates Cromwel whose inclination was always Martial presently ingaged in the quarrel and having obtained a Commission from the Parliament quickly raised a Troop of Horse for their service of the most promising men he could choose and to try their Valour in jest before they came to exercise it in earnest he secretly ordered a dozen of them to issue out suddenly upon the rest with a Trumpet sounding a Charge as if they came from some of the Kings Garrisons that were not far off which they performed with so much briskness that about twenty of the new Troopers fled away with all possible speed whom Cromwel having reproached for their Cowardice dismounted and cashier'd mounting their Horses with persons of a more couragious temper He was likewise nominated a Commissioner in the Ordinance for settling the Militia whereby the Eastern Countries associated themselves together declaring that they would stand by the Parliament against all Opposers and Cromwel being sensible that the University of Cambridge was most inclined to the Royal Interest he had a particular regard to the place of his Education and very dexterously secured both the Town and a great quantity of the Colledge Plate even at the very instant when it was upon the point of being conveyed to the King at Oxford After this he forms a Garrison at Whitlesea where a Bridge joins the County of Norfolk with the 〈◊〉 of Ely and is the only passage from thence into Liâ—â—colnshire the greatest part whereof was possest by the Kings party and by this means he cut off
with a potent Army Lambert was sent before to suppress Glemham and Langdale who with their Forces being about three thousand retired into Cumberland and Westmoreland expecting to join with the Seets which they did and fell upon Lambert at Appleby forcing him to retire out of the Town but Cromwel having received all necessary supplies from the Parliament came and joined him and observed the motions of D. Hamilton being both but eight thousand six hundred men against the Scots and English Army of twenty one thousand who were marched into England as far as Preston in Lancashire where Cromwel resolved to fight them his forlorn ingaging them first with two hundred Horse and four hundred Foot and he himself leading up the main body in the best posture the place would admit being a dirty lane and inconvenient for Horse where after four hours dispute he put them to the rout whom the Conquerours persued through Preston and having cleared the Streets followed them as far as Warrington about twenty miles killing many in the chase and taking Lieutenant-General Baily prisoner with the greatest part of the Scots Army granting them only Quarter for their Lives Three thousand Scots were slain and ten thousand taken prisoners with above one hundred colours and all their Baggage Duke Hamilton finding the service too warm retreats over the Bridge with a good party of Horse and Foot but Cromwel ordered his men to fall in among them pell-mell with their swords drawn at which desperate courage the Scots being amazed betook themselves to flight and the Duke with a body of Horse got to Utoxâ—â—â—r where he was taken prisoner by the Lord Grey and about three thousand Horse with him Langdale was also taken by a Parliament Captain Conspiracies by land though over the whole Kingdom seemed not enough but the Sea likewise revolted from the Parliament divers of the chief Ships in the Royal Navy in June 1648. set the Vice-Admiral Rainsborough ashoar declaring they would serve the King and P. Charles now coming from Holland with twenty sail of Ships and two thousand men The Parliaments Vice-Admiral joined with them and the D. of York who had made his escape from London being also aboard At which the Parliament were much disturbed and sent to the E of Warwick to command the remaining Navy which he readily undertook but his brother though no souldier by commission from the Prince assembles five hundred Horse and Foot about Kingston-Heath depending on the affections of the Citizens having with him the D. of Buckingham his Brother L. Francis Villiers and the E. of Peterborough but Sir Michael Livesey and others soon dispersed them The L. Francis Villiers was slain and the L. Holland flying with the remainder of his Horse to St. Needs was altogether subdued Dalbeer and some other Gentlemen slain and himself taken prisoner At the same time Rossirer obtained a great Victory over one thousand Horse who were pillaging the Country out of Pomfret-castle About the end of August Warwick was with a good Fleet in the River of Thames when P. Charles with a great Navy of twenty stout Men of War came up the River and commanded him to take down his Flag and yield Obedience to him as chief Admiral by the Kings Commission Warwick refused yet declined fighting in that narrow channel expecting to be joined by the Portsmouth Fleet commanded by Sir G. Ayscough which the Royalists reported was revolted also but though most of the Mariners were inclined to the Prince yet Sir George by his prudent managery at length confirmed them in their Obedience to the Parliament and failing by P. Charles in the Night brought all his Ships safe to the E. of Warwick who now resolved to ingage the Prince but finding he was gone back to Holland for want of provisions he followed him soon after with the whole Fleet to Goree upon that coast Cromwel after he had given that great defeat to Hamilton following his Victory marches toward Scotland to assist Argyle and Levens against the Forces of Monroe and Lanerick and to give them an account what was become of Hamilton but upon his approach without effecting any thing they withdraw their Forces back into Scotland and Cromwel in his way reduced Berwick and Carlisle into the Parliaments power Before he entred Scotland he Rendevouz'd his Army on the banks of the Tweed and caused proclamation to be made at the head of every Regiment That no man upon pain of death should take from the Scots either Cattel or Goods without Order He then marches directly toward Edinburgh to consult about the affairs of both Kingdoms many of the Scots Nobility and Gentry were sent from the Committee of Estates to meet him who after congratulatory Orations made conducted him to Edenburgh where Argyle Leven and other Lords treated him and the rest of the English commanders with a magnificent banquet in the Castle Thanks were given by the Ministers to Cromwel who was by them stiled The preserver of Scotland under God many of these having denounced the wrath of God against that Army of Hamilton which by the success they now thought fulfilled Such also was the Testimony of the Committee of Estates written to the English Parliament concerning Cromwel Presently after the Forces of Monroe and Lanerick were disbanded and all others except fifteen hundred Horse and Foot under the command of Leven for settling the Kingdom It was also decreed by the Committee of Estates and Assembly of the Hirk for preservation of Religion and brotherly love with the English Nation That no man who had joined with Hamilton in the late Invasion of England should be chosen for the new Parliament which was then called or into the Assembly of the Kirk as being enemies to Religion and both the Kingdoms A strange and sudden alteration this was That the English Army which but a year before were by the Kirk party of Scotland called a bundle of Sectaries and reviled by all manner of opprobrious names should now be acknowledged by the same Scots to be the Instruments of God and Vindicators both of the Church and Kingdom of Scotland And this great change in the Council of Scotland had been more to he wondred at if the change that then happened in the English Parliament were not much more surprizing for who can imagine that Cromwel for vanquishing a Scotch Army by which the Nation was delivered from plunder and many other mischiefs should be acknowledged there the preserver of Scotland and that the same Victory of his against the Scots should please the Presbyterian Scots for Religion sake and for Religions sake displease the Presbyterians in England for the face of the English Parliament was now suddenly changed and the Voâ—es that had passed the year before of making no more addresses to the King were annulled and made void upon which they had published a Declaration of the reason and necessity of their proceedings New addresses are now made to the King with more
thereupon sent Ambassadors to desire it might be repealed but not succeeding herein they began to dispute our ancient right of the Flag in the British Seas by refusing to strike sail to our Men of War which occasioned a breach between the two Republicks for in May 1652. Admiral Trump with about forty two sail of Dutch ships was discovered on the back of the Goodwin Sands bearing toward Dover Road Major Brown being near with a squadron of English ships sent the Grey-hound frigate to speak with them to whom they struck their Topsail saying They came with a message from Admiral Trump to our commander in chief and coming aboard said That the great North winds had forced them farther South than they intended being compelled to ride some days off Dunkirk where they had lost divers Anchors and Cables professing they intended no injury to the English Nation General Blake who was Westward with the rest of the English Fleet having speedy advice of this passage hastened toward them and next morning May 19. saw them at Anchor in Dover Road and being within three Leagues of them they stood Eastward and received an Express from the States upon which they bore directly up to our Fleet Van Trump being headmost whereupon Blake shot three Guns without Ball at his Flag and Trump answered with a Gun on the averse side of the ship signifying a disdain and instead of striking his Topsail hung out a red flag which was the signal for his whole fleet and gave General Blake a broadside The fight continued four hours till Night parted them in which one Dutch ship was funk and another of thirty Guns taken with the Captains of both and about one hundred and fifty prisoners Of the English about ten were slain and forty wounded the English Admiral was much damaged in her Masts Sails Rigging and Hull but the rest of the Fleet had inconsiderable loss This attempt of the Hollanders while we were upon Treaty so incensed the Parliament that all the Addresses and Overtures of their Ambassadors and the sending hither two more could not appease them yea though they by several papers endeavoured to excuse it alledging That the unhappy fight between the ships of both Common-wealths happened without the knowledge and against the wills of the States taking God the searcher of mens hearts to witness the same and that with grief and astonishment they received the fatal News of that unhappy rash action and thereupon consulted about a remedy to this raw and bloody wound by appointing a solemn meeting of all the Provinces whereby they doubted not by Gods favour to remove not only the outward but inward cause of all further differences for the benefit of both Nations and to avoid the detestable shedding of Christian blood so much desired by their Enemies and therefore beseech the Council of State by the pledges of common Religion and Liberty to do nothing out of heat which afterward with vain wishes can never be recalled which they desire the more because their ships of War and Merchandize are detained in the English Ports To this the Parliament replied That calling to mind the demonstrations of friendship and good correspondence which they have always discovered toward the States General during all the troubles in England they are much surprized at such unsuitable returns especially at the acts of Hostility lately committed in the very Roads of England upon the ships of this Common-wealth and though they would willingly believe that the late Engaâ—ements of the Fleets happened without their knowledge or consent yet when they consider how disagreeable the actions of that State and their Officers at Sea have been in the midst of a Treaty offered by themselves and managed here by their Ambassadors and the extraordinary preparation of one hundred and fifty ships without any visible occasion and the Instructions given by the States to their commanders at Sea they have too much cause to believe that the Stares General design by force to Usurp the known Right of England in the Seas to destroy the Fleers that are under God their Walls and Bulwarks and thereby expose the Nation to be Invaded at pleasure as by their late action they have attempted to do Therefore the Parliament think themselves obliged to indeavour by Gods assistance to seek reparations for the wrongs already suffered and security against any such attempts for the future yet still desining that all differences if possible may be peaceably and amicably composed This answer quite broke off the Treatâ— and the Ambassadors having had audience of the Parliament took their leaves and departed And now these mighty States prepare to ingage each other and accordingly General Blake with a gallant Fleet advanced North towards the Isles of Orkney to seize all Vessels that were fishing there who took twelve Dutch Men of War that were guarding the Busses but discharged most of the Busses and Sir George Ayscough with his squadron being left to guard the narrow Seas discovered about thirty Dutch ships between Dover and Calice of which ten were taken and burnt the rest run ashoar on the Coasts of France Many other Dutch and French Prizes were daily taken Thence Sir George Ayscough sailed West to seek out the Dutch Fleer and Convoy home some Merchaur-men from Plymouth and being within seven or eight Leagues of Plymouth he had advice of them whereupon he resolved to stand over to the Coast of France and next day Aug. 16. 1652. had sight of them being about sixty sail of Men of War and thirty Merchant men the English were but thirty eight fail four Fireships and four Advice-ships yet they resolved to ingage the Enemy Sir George Ayscough and six other Frigates charged through the whole Dutch Fleet receiving much damage in their Masts Hulls Sails and Rigging yet they tack'd about and charged them all again till dark Night and had not some English Captains been deficient in their duty they had probably destroyed their whole Navy In this Ingagement some few English were slain and wounded and three Captains a Fireship of theirs was sunk with two other ships but the darkness of the Night concealed their other losses who stood away for the Coasts of France and the English for Plymouth to repair During this fight Blake came from the North into the Downs and took six rich Dutch Prizes sending some Frigates to reinforce Ayscough and soon after Captain Pen with his squadren hovering on the Coasts of France surprized six stout Men of War more now returned from the Venetian service and richly laden Sept. 5. General Blake riding in the Downs had notice of a French Fleet in Calice Road to whom he made up and chased them as far as they durst for the sands of Dunkirk taking most of them being ten Men of War between thirty one and twenty eight Guns and six Fireships This Fleet was to take in provisions at Calice for the relief of Dunkirk then besieged by the Spaniards who being
Dutch had about 30 ships sunk and burnt and their renowned Lord Admiral Van Trump was slain in the midst of the fight and out of the Dutch maimed ships that lay floating on the Sea the English took six Captains and about 1000 other prisoners This was the bloudiest Ingagement that had yet happened between the two Nations and for their valour and conduct the Parliament ordered Gold chains to be given to Blake Monk Pen and Lawson as a mark of their favour and other chains were bestowed on the Flag Captains and Medals of silver to the Officers of the Fleet. It was after known by Letters from Holland that they lost near six thousand men in this battel The Parliament having sate about five months in which they made several Acts one for Marriages before a Justice of Peace another for relief of Prisoners another against the High Court of Chancerv another for a Tax for six months at 120000 l. per month at length they were consulting of an Act for taking away Tythes a Committee was appointed to consider of the matter who brought in their report Dec. 10. 1653. That they thought it convenient that Commissioners be sent into all the Counties and inabled to eject scandalous and unable Ministers and also be impowered to settle able Ministers in all void places That such as are or shall be approved for publick preachers of the Gospel shall have and enjoy such maintenance as is already settled by Law That upon hearing and considering what hath been offered to the Committee touching propriety in Tythes it is their opinion that they have a legal propriety in them The Parliament having spent several days in this report put the Question Whether the House doth agree with the Committee which was carried in the Negative whereupon several heats and divisions arose insomuch that Dec. 12. a Gentleman stood up and moved That the sitting of the Parliament as then constituted would not be for the good of the Common-wealth and that therefore it was requisite to deliver up to the L. Gen. Cromwel the powers which they received from him This motion being seconded by several others the House rise and the Speaker Mr. Rouse with the Majority of the Members did by a writing under their hands resign their powers to Gen. Cromwel at White-Hall by their Speaker who thanked them for the pains they had taken for the service of the Common-wealth though by a strange spirit and perverse principle in some of the Members they had missed of their good intentions Some of the Members continued still sitting in the House to whom Coll. White was sent with a Guard of souldiers and required them in the Name of the General to depart for the Parliament was dissolved who replying the contrary and that they were upon business and ought not to be interrupted he at length compelled them though unwillingly to leave the House The Parliament having thus resigned the power given them the whole Authority both Civil and Military of the three Nations was concluded to be devolved into the hands of O. Cromwel who calling a Council of Officers with some others to consult of the settlement of the Government they at length resolved to have a Common-wealth in a single person That the person should be O. Cromwel Captain General of all the Forces in England Scotland and Ireland alledging That it was not Monarchy which was quarrell'd at but the Male administration and abuses therein by its prerogative being unlimited and arbitrary all which would be avoided by circumseribing it in a Protector and his Council a new Instrument of Government and the supream power of a Triennial Parliament in whom during their sitting the Soveraign Authority should reside In pursuance whereof a Council was appointed him to consist of twenty but fourteen only were named at present Lord Lambert L. Viscount Lisle General Desborough Sir Gilbert Pickering Major Gen. Skippon Sir Anth. Ash Cooper Walt. Strickland Esq Sir Ch. Woolsey Coll. Phil. Jones Francis Rouse Esq Rich. Major Esq John Lamence Esq Coll. Ed. Montague Coll. Will. Sydenham And the Instrument of Government designed to be the foundation of this new settlement was to this effect That the Title of O. Cromwel should beford Protector of the Common-wealth of England Scotland and Ireland and the Dominions and Territories thereunto belonging That all proceedings shall run in the name and style of the Protector and all Honours Offices and Titles to be derived from him That he may pardon all offences but Treason and Murder That the Militia during the Parliament shall be in his and their hands but in the intervals only in his and his Councils that he and his Council may make War and Peace with Foreign Princes No new Laws to be made nor old ones abrogated without confent of Parliament A Parsiament to be called within six months and afterwards every third year and if need be oftner which the Protector shall not dissolve without consent of Parliament till after five months The Parliament of English to consist of 400 to be chosen by more equal distributions in Counties and Burroughs Of Scotch thirty to be elected and of Ireland as many The Writs for Election to pass under the Seal of the Common-wealth to the Sheriffs and if the Protectoromit or deny it then the Commissioners of the Seal shall be obliged under pain of High Treason to issue out such Writs and in case of failure in them the High Sheriffs then to do it That such as are elected be returned into the Chancery by the chief Magistrates Mayor Sheriff or Bayliff twenty days before the Session If the Sheriff Mayor or Bayliff make a false return or any way procure an undue Election he shall be fined 2000 l. That none who have born arms against the Parliament Irish Rebels or Papists shall be capable of being elected and in case they be elected to forfeit two years Revenue and three parts of their Goods None are to be elected under the Age of 21 years nor unless he be a man of good conversation None to have Votes in Elections not worth 200 l. That sixty shall make a Qaorum The Protector if need be may call Perhements in the intervals of the Triennial ones Those Bills they make to be offered to the Protector who refusing to sign them in 20 days they are to pass into Acts without his consent The Protector with advice of his Council in case of death or breach of trust is to substitute new Privy Councellors A competent Revenue shall be settled for maintaining 10000 Horse and 15000 Foot and the Navy not to be altered or lessened without the advice of the Council and upon the disbanding of them the money to be brought into the Exchequer for sudden occasions No new Taxes nor â—aws to be made without consent in parliament All forfeited Lands unsold to belong to the Protector The Protectorate to be Elective but the Royal Family to be excluded Oliver Cromwel to be present
Protector All the great Offices of the Common-wealth such as Chancellor Keeper of the Seal Governor of Ireland Admiral c. if they become void in parhament time to be supplied by their approbation or in intervals of parliament with the approbation of the Council The Christian Religion as it is contained in the Holy Scriptures to be the publick profession of the Nation and those that administer it to be maintained by the publick but by some way more convenient and less liable to envy than Tythes None are to be compelled to consent to the publick profession by fine or any punishment ever but only by perswasion and arguments None that profess Faith in Jesus Christ are to be prohibited the exercise of their Religion provided he do not quarrel with nor disturb others except the papists and prelatists who are debarr'd that License All Sales of Estates made by parliament to stand good All Articles of War to be made good And lastly the protector and his successor upon entring that charge to swear to procure by all means the peace quiet and welfare of the Common-wealth to observe these Articles and to administer all things in his power according to the Laws Statutes and Customs of England After this Dec. 16. 1653. the protector came from White-Hall to the Chancery Court at Westminster attended by the Lords Commissioners of the Great Seal of England the Barons of the Exchequer and Judges in their Robes the Council of the Common-wealth the L. Mayor Aldermen and Recorder of London in their scarlet Gowns and many of the chief Officers of the Army A Chair of State being set the Protector stood on the left hand thereof uncovered till the Instrument was read which he subscribed in the face of the Court and then swore to perform as follows I promise in the presence of God not to violate or infringe the matters and things contained in the Instrument but to observe and cause the same to be observed and in all things to the best of my understanding will govern these Nations according to the Laws Statutes and Customs and to seek their peace and cause Justice and Law to be equally administred Hereupon he sate down covered in the Chair the Lords Commissioners then delivered him the Great Seal of England and the Lord Mayor his Sword and Can of maintenance which he instantly returned Then the Court rose and the Protector was attended back as before to the Banquetting House at White-Hall the Lord Mayor bare headed carrying the Sword before him where an exhortation being made by Mr. Nicholas Lockier one of his Chaplains the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Judges departed And thus was the Protector confirmed in this high Dignity tho' many of his Officers and former admirers were much discontented thereat but to command obedience the Council emitted the following Proclamation which was published in England Scotland and Ireland Whereas the late Parliament dissolved themselves and resigned their powers and Authorities the Government by a Lord Protector and successive elective parliaments is now established And whereas Oliver Cromwel Captain General of all the Forces of this Common-wealth is declared Lord protector of the said Nations and hath accepted thereof We have therefore thought it necessary as we hereby do to make publication of the premises and strictly to charge and command all and every person and persons of what quality and condition soever in any of the said three Nations totake notice hereof and to conform and subject themselves to the Government so established And all Sheriffs Mayors Bayliffs c. are required to publish this proclamation to the end that none may have cause to pretend Ignorance in this behalf The Protector began his reign with seeming serenity and when the different parties in Religion made their complaints to him against each other he usually told them That his power was no greater in the Nation than a Constables which was to keep peace and quietness among all parties And persuant to the power given him by the new Instrument he supplies the several Courts at Westminster with the ablest Judges and Lawyers and the City of London to shew their concurrence to this great change invite the Protector to Dinner at Grocers-Hall Feb. 8. being Ashwednesday the Streets were railed to Temple-bar the Livery men standing in their Gowns he was met at Temple-bar by Alderman Vyner Lord Mayor who delivered him the Sword and receiving it again bore it on Horseback bare-headed before him all the way After a Noble enterrainment he was served with a Banquet in the conclusion whereof he Knighted Sir Tho. Vyner and would have done the same to the Recorder Steel but he declined it The Hollanders being weary of the Wars which they had maintained with such little success and so great cost send commissioners to treat with the pretector for a peace between both Nations which at length was concluded both with the King of Denmark and the Dutch who were to pay the charge of the War money being very necessary in his new Government and in April following it was proclaimed with great solemnity in London the two Dutch Ambassadors making magnificent Treatments and Fire-works to demonstrate their satisfaction therein The Protector now sends his eldest Son Henry into Ireland of which he was made Lord Deputy soon after and General Monk was sent into Scotland Likewise the Lord Whitlock who was sent Ambassador by the last parliament to the Q. of Sweden had now a new commission sent him from the Lord protector in whose Name he continued the Treaty with that Crown and afterward finished it In March following Monsieur Bordeux was sent Ambassador to England from the French King and Sir Anthony Ashly Cooper Coll. Sydenham and Mr. Strickland were appointed Commissioners by the protector to treat with him so that he was owned abroad as well as at home King Charles was then in the French Court who finding that notwithstanding his own and his Mothers endeavours to the contrary the Treaty between France and England was vigorously prosecuted by Cardinal Mazarine and foreseeing that if the peace were concluded he and his party must be obliged to depart France he thought it more Honourable voluntarily to leave that Kingdom than to stay till he were forced out by a complement so the King with his Brother the Duke of York and his Cousins Prince Rupert and Edward retired to Chattillon a House of the Prince of Condes from whence soon after the King and Prince Rupert went into Germany and indeed it happened as they suspected for one of the Articles of the French King with the protector was That none of the Royal Family of England should reside in the Dominions of France In Feb. 1654. several persons were committed to the Tower about a conspiracy against the protector the chief whereof Sir Gilbert Gerrard Coll. John Gerrard his brother the E. of Oxford Mr. Philip Porter Mr. Vowell a School-master at Islington and in June following an High Court
possible to perswade them That it should be no Question but be absolutely carried in the affirmative This was as rigorously opposed by the majority of the House and among the rest a Gentleman who had all along stron ly opposed Monarchy as disagreeable to his Interest stood up and said The parliament cannot but discern the snares that are laid to intrap the priviledges of the people and for my own part as God has maâ—e me Instrumental in cutting down Tyranny in one person so now I cannot endure to see the Nations liberties shackled by another whose Right to the Government can be measured out no otherwise than by the length of his Sword which was the only thing that emboldened him to command his Commanders Many others seconded this motion confirming what he had said and directly against a single person These debates and divisions upon the protectors Instrument which continued eight days successively did much disturb him fearing they would produce irreconcileable differences and therefore to remedy it in time and put the parliament into a milder temper he goes from White-Hall to Westminster and sending for the members then sitting into the painted chamber he thus addresses them Gentlemen The God of Heaven knows what grief and sorrow of heart it is to me to find you falling into heats and divisions but I would have you take notice of this That the same Government made me protector which made you a parliament and that as you are intrusted with some things so am I with others and that in the Government there are certain Fundamentals which cannot be altered As 1. That the Government should be in a single person and a parliament 2. That parliament should not be perpetual 3. That the militia should not be trusted into one hand or power but so that the parliament should have a check upon the protector and the protector on the parliament 4. That in matters of Religion there ought to be Liberty of Conscience and that persecution in the Church was not to be Tolerated The rest of the things in the Government are examinable and alterable as the state of affairs do require and for my own part my heart is even over-whelmed with grief to fee that any of you should endeavour to overthrow what is settled contrary to the Trust received from the people and which cannot but bring very great inconveniency upon your selves and the Nation This was the substance of his perswasions but doubting that this would not sufficiently bring them over to his Interests he contrived a Recognition and acknowledgment which was to be signed by every member before he should be admitted to sit in the House as followeth I do hereby promise and ingage to be true and faithful to the Lord Protector of the Common-wealth of England Scotland and Ireland and shall nor according to the tenor of the Indenture whereby I am returned to serve in parliament propose or give any consent to alter the Government as it is settled in one person and a parliament This was subscribed by several of the members tho' the greater number at first refused especially those of the late long parliament so that of 400 there appeared only 200 but afterward were made up 300 who fell afresh upon the same disputes and run over all the Articles of the Instrument of Government resolving to have the Judgment of the whole House upon them in one entire Bill and so present it thereby to waste time and hinder the Protector from having money which he much wanted so that after five months dilatory proceedings and that they had not yet settled him in the Government the time being expired wherein the Instrument gave him leave without losing one day nay scarce an hour he dissolved the parliament This dissolution incouraged the most opposite parties to conspire against the Protector that is the fifth Monarchy men and Royalists the first expected King Jesus or the erecting of a fifth Kingdom the second longed for the Restoration of King Charles and the Protectors Favourites desired King Oliver and every party manifested their impatience but none of them could attain their wishes and when Oliver might afterwards yet he thought it not safe The protector was not ignorant of their designs and resolved first to deal with the weakest for finding this Millionary principle spread in the Army he discarded Major General Harrison and coll Rich and after sent them with coll Carew and Courtney prisoners to remote Castles and General Monk had order to seize Major General Overton and Major Bramston Holmes and other Officers and cashier them Overton was sent up prisoner to the Tower and his Regiment given to coll Morgan coll Okeys Regiment was given to the Lord Howâ—â—d Cornet now collonel Joyce was likewise dismâ—st having reproach'd Cromwel to his face with his services And thus the danger from the Army was quickly suppress'd But the design of the Royalists or Cavaliers would have been more formidable had not the whole contrivance thereof been discovered to the Protector by one Manning who was with King Charles in Germany and a Spy upon all his actions so that Cromwel knew the rise and progress and first appearance of those Arms against him without being surprized though all the Gentlemen of that party in England were one way or other ingaged or at least privy to iâ—â— but the seizing the principal of them throughout the Kingdom a little before the execution much frusâ—â—â—ted the probable effects of that Insurrection The L. Mayor was sent for and acquainted with it and 〈◊〉 militia settled Skippon being made Major-Generâ—â— All Horse Races forbidden and several dissolâ—â—â—â—â—â—sons were seized upon suspicion Counter ploes 〈◊〉 used all sorts of Ammunition being sent down â—â—â—veral Gentlemens Houses with Letters without Nâ—â—â—â— and the Gentlemen for not discovering them sâ—â—â—â—â— Yet notwithstanding all these discouragements 〈◊〉 Western Association thought themselves ingaged in honour to rise upon the day appointed and which they had signified to K. Charles who was come from Colen to the Sea coasts in order to have passed over to his friends with the first opportunity accordingly March 11. 1654. a party of 200 under Sir Joseph Wagstaff coll Penruddock and Grove march'd into Salisbury where the Judges Rolls and Nichols were sitting at the Assize and seized all their Horses declaring the cause of their appearance without further injury or taking any money which lay in Serjeant Maynard and other Lawyers chambers promising to return and break their fasts with the Judges provisions which they did and increased their number to four hundred the whole City being well affected to them Thence they marched to Blanford where coll Penruddock himself proclaimed the King in the Market-place and so marched Westward Captain Butler with two Troops of Cromwels Horse following at a distance in their Rere to give them opportunity of increasing but by the Protectors taking up so many before very few came in and many deserted when they saw no hopes
VVorlds great waste the Ocean we VVhole Forrests send to reign upon the Sea And every Coast may trouble or relieve But none can visit us without our leave Angels and we have this Prerogative That none can at our happy seat arrive VVhile we descend at pleasure to invade The Bad with Vengeance and the Good to Aid Mean while the Spaniards in America Near to the Line the Sun approaching faw And hoped their European coasts to find Cleer'd from our ships by the Autumnal wind Their huge capacious Gallions stuff'd with Plate The labouring winds drive slowly to their fate Before St. Lucar they their Guns discharge To shew their Joy or to invite a Barge This heard some ships of ours though out of view As swift as Eagles to the Quarry flew So harmless Lambs that for their Mother bleat VVake hungry Lyons and become their meat Arriv'd they roon begin their Tragick play And with their smoaky Cannon banish day Night horror slaughter with confusion meets And in their sable arms imbrace the Fleets Through yielding planks the angry Bullets fly And of one wound hundreds together dye Born under different Stars one fate they have The Ship their Coffia and the Sea their Grave Bold were the men that on the Ocean first Spread their new Sails when shipwrack was the worst More danger now from men alone we find Than from the Rocks the Billows and the VVind They that had fail'd from near th' Antartick Pole Their Treasure safe and all their Vessels whole In sight of their dear country ruin'd he VVithout the guilt of either Rock or Sea VVhat they would â—ave our fiercer art destroys Surpassing storms in terror and in noise Once Jove from Ida did both Hosts survey And when he pleas'd to Thunder part the fray Here Heav'n in vain that kind retreat would sound The louder cannon had the thunder drown'd Some were made prize while others burnt and rent VVith their rich lading to the bottom went Down sinks at once So Fortune with us sports The pay of Armies and the pride of Courts Vain man whose rage buries as low that store As Avarice had digg'd for it before VVhat Earth in her dark bowels could not keep From greedy hands lies safer in the Deep VVhere Thetis kindly doth from mortals hide Those seeds of Luxury debate and pride And now into our hands the richest prize Falls with the noblest of our eremies The Marquess glad to see the fire destroy VVealth the prevailing Foe were to enjoy Out from his flaming ship his children sent To perish in a milder Element Then laid him by his burning Ladies side And since he could not save her with her dy'd Spices and Gums about them melting fry And â—hoenix like in that rich Nest they dye Alive in flames of equal love they burn'd And now together into Ashes turn'd Ashes more worth than all their Funeral cost Than the huge Treasure which with them was lost These dying Lovers and their floating Sons Suspend the Fight and filence all our Guns Beuaty and youth about to perish finds Such noble pity in brave English minds That they the spoil neglecting and the prize All labour now to save their Enemies How frail 's our passion How soon changed are Our wrath and fury to a friendly care They that but now for honour and for plate Made the Sea blush with blood forget their hate And while their Foes from perishing they retrieve VVith greater danger than they fought they dive VVith these returns Victorious Montague VVith Lawrel in his hands and half Peru Let our brave Generals divide that bough Our great Protector hath such wereaths enow His conquering Head hath no more room for Bays Then let it be as the whole Nation prays VVith purple cloth'd and Ermine let him hold A Royal Scepter made of Spanish Gold The Protector was highly pleased at this succesns and great booty and a particular day of Thanksgiving was appointed by him for it and soon after Gen. Montague with the young Marquets and part of the Fleet to convoy the silver which amounted to two millions of pieces of Eight returned into England and delivered the Bullion into the Mint and the young Marquess and his Brother were set at liberty But the Spanish War being like to prove chargeable notwithstanding this present supply the protector being still necessitated for money and desiring to have his power confirmed to him by the people in hope the new Representative might grant him what the former denied he issues out Writs for the Election of a new parliament wherein much circumspection was used if possible to prevent some of the former House from being chosen Sept. 17. 1656. This parliament met at Westminster and had a Sermon preached before them at the Abbey Church by Dr. John Owen Dean of Christs-Châ—rch upon those words in Isaiah What shall one then answer to the messengers of the Land That the Lord hath founded Sion and the poor of his people shall rejoice After Sermon the members went to the House but found at the door a Guard and an Officer standing with a List in his hand demanding the Names of every one of them and such as were marked for non-admittance were turned back and a promise imposed upon every individual member before he should be permitted to fit in the House That he would not act any thing prejudicial to the present Government which many refused and returned home but the major part assenting to it entred the House and chose Sir Tho. Widdrington Speaker and not minding those that were excluded referred the approbation of them to the Protectors Council They then proceed according to the protectors desire making an Act for disanulling the Title of Charles Stewart to the Government of these three Nations nemine contradicente another for making it Treason for any to attempt compass or imagine the Protectors death and appointing such Offendors to be tryed not by a Jury of twelve sufficient men but by a High Court of Justice a third for an assessment upon England Scotland and Ireland of seventy thousand pound a month for three years an Act for preventing multiplicity of buildings in and ten miles about London a whole years Revenue to be paid for all dwelling or Out-houses raised upon any new foundation since 1620. An Act for Excise of merchandize imported An Act for punishing such as live at high rates and have no visible Estates and lastly for the observation of the Lords-day VVhen these Arts were ready for signing the Protector came to the painted chamber and sent for the parliament where the speaker tendring them to him at the signing them he speake thus Mr. Speaker I perceive that among these many Acts of parliament there hath been very great care had by the parliament to provide for the just and necessary support of the Common-wealth by these Bills for levying of money now brought to me which I have given my consent unto and understanding it hath been the practice
of those who have bene chief Governors to acknowledge with thanks to the Commons their care and regard of the publick I do very heartily and thankfully acknowledge their kindness herein But leaving the parliament awhile let us relate a most daring attempt performed under the conduct of Gen. Blake about this time This valiant commander lying with his Fleet near Cadiz had advice that the Spanish VVest-India Fleet was put into the port of Sancta Cruze in Teneriff the chief Isle of the Canaries whereupon the Fleet weighed and April 20. 1657. came to the mouth of Sancta Cruze Bay where they saw sixteen Spanish ships lying in order almost like an half moon At the North of the Haven is a castle well fortified with cannon besides seven Forts more with three four and six Guns apiece so that the enâ—erprize seemed dangerous if not desperate And Don Diego D' aquies had caused all the smaller ships to be moared along the shoar to secure them and the six great Gallions lay further off at anchor with their broad-sides toward the Sea Blake perceiving all this calls a Council of VVar where it was resolved to attack them instantly without any thought of danger Capt. Stainer in the Speaker presently falls upon the ships disregarding the number of shot which came thundring from the Forts on every side as thick as hail and maintains near an hours fight till the Generals blake and Montague having ordered some Frigates to ply the Forts and Breast-words with continual broad-siees came up and with all their force attack'd the Spaniards who after four hours gallant resistance were driven out of their ships which the English could not easily bring away and were therefore forced to burn to the number of sixteen small and great This gallant attempt cost the English but 48 men and 120 wounded The Spaniards besides the loss of their whole Fleet had several hundreds of men slain on the shoar and in the Forts and VVorks besides those kill'd in the ships For this notable exploit the Protector by order of parliament sent a Diamond Ring worth 500 l. as a present to G. Blake and capt Rich. Stainer who led on the first squadron was at his first coming into England for this and his former services Knighted by the protector At this time one Miles Syndercomb an Officer formerly in Scotland under M. Gen. Overton was seized and accused to design to take away the life of the protector in combination with a disguised person said to be a Priestâ—sent from Don Alonso in Flanders who was ingaged as principal It was alledged that several proper houses were taken to shoot the protector with Engines Blunderbusses and other fire Arms at his going to the parliament or in the way to Hampton-court and that the chappel at VVhite-Hall was to be fired with a strong combustible matter This account Secretary Thurloe delivered to the parliament in moving terms that the House ordered a day of Thanksgiving and a Narrative of the plot to be published and went in a body to congratulate His Highness happy Deliverance where Sir Tho. VViddrington their speaker made a speech wherein he declared 1. The danger and ruine of the Reformed Churches abroad and three Nations at home who were struck at by this blow 2. The cunning secrecy of it that no more than two should be privy to this wicked design 3. The extensiveness of it resolving if they failed in one place to do it in another so that if Cicero were living he would want expression to set out the danger and the mercy and it being so unparallell'd and unpresedented a deliverance the parliaments Hymn ought to be O Cantemus Cantemus Canticum Novum Other us sing a new song to the Lord bless his Name hew forth his salvation this day for he hath done marvelous things his right hand and his holy arm hath gotten him the Victory As the members were ascending the stairs of the banquetting-house a press of people crowding with them the stairs broke under them and Richard the protectors Son was much bruised and Mr. Ellis solicitor General broke his leg Syndercomb the next Term was by the direction of the parliament tryed for this Treason at the Kings Bench Bat He denied the plot but the evidence swearing positively against him he was convicted upon the statute of 25 Edw. 3. Justice Glyn upon his condemnation declaring that by the King was understood any chief magistrate of the Nation He was carried tkence to the Tower where the Night before his execution it was supposed he poysoned himself as the Coroners Jury gave their Verdict He went well to bed desiring before half an hours privacy for his prayers which being clapsed he opened the door and rubbing his hands together and his Nose with them he briskly bid them good Night and being found dead next morning his body awhile after was tyed with his head to the Horses Tail and drawn to the sâ—â—ffold at Tower-hill where he was buried and a stake covered with Iron a top driven into his body The sect of the Quakers were now grown numerous among whom one called James Naylor resembling in his proportions and complexion the picture of Christ and setting his beard and locks in the same fashion pretended to counterfeit our blessed Saviour and had Dilciples and VVomen ministring to him who blasphemously applied several expressions of scripture relating to our Lord Jesus to this man He first appeared at Bristol where a man leading an Horse before him and Dorcas Erbury and Martha Symonds going up to the knees in dirt by his Horse side sung aloud Holy Holy Holy Hosanna to the highest c. For this they were seized and brought up to the parliament They entred the House singing their blasphemies and a Committee being appointed to consider of their punishment he was sentenced to be set in the Pillory twice and whipt twice and his forehead to be stigmatized with a letter B. for a Blasphemer and bored through the Tongue with an hot Iron with which he used to answer to every question Thou hast said it and the like He was likewise whipt at Bristol and thence returned to Bridewell to be kept close prisoner and to eat no more than he earned In Newgate after his punishment one Mr. Rich a merchant of credit that held him by the hand while he was in the Pillory with divers others lick'd his wounds the VVomen were observed some to lay their heads in his lap lying against his Feet others to lean upon his shoulder and as soon as any Quaker came into his company they would first take him by the hand and in a strange note say Holy Holy c. but being removed to Bridewell after three days wilful fasting having weakened himself even to death he begged some Victuals and then was set to work which he performed and came by degrees to himself and his understanding after Cromwels death he had his liberty and soon after died fore the
is my answer That although I think the Government doth consist in very excellent parts in all but in that one thing the Title as to me I should not be an honest man if I should not tell you that I cannot accept of the Government nor undertake the trouble and charge of it which I have a little more experimented than every man as to what troubles and difficulties do befal men in such Trusts and in such Undertakings I say I am perswaded to return this answer to you That I cannot undertake this Government with the Title of a King and this is mine answer to this great and weighty business The Protector having refused the Title of King the Committee of Settlement was ordered to prepare an Explanatory Act to the humble petition and advice in respect of the Protectors Oath his Councils the Members of Parliament the other House which was to consist of about sixty Lords of the Protectors Electing and having Voted That Protector should be the Title of the chief Magistrate and the Petition and Advice being allowed accordingly the House desired a conference with His Highness who accordingly meets them May 25. 1657. in the painted Chamber where Sir Tho. Widdrington presents him with the humble Petition and Advice the substance whereof was 1. That His Highness Oliver Cromwel under the Title of Lord Protector would be pleased to execute the Office of chief Magistrate over England Scotland and Ireland and the Territories thereunto belonging and to govern according to all things in this Petition and Advice and also that he would in his life time appoint the person that should succeed in the Government after his death 2. That he would call a Parliament consisting of two Houses once in three years at farthest 3. That those persons who are legally chosen by a free Election of the people to serve in parliament may not be excluded from doing their duties but by consent of that House whereof they are Members 4. That none but those under the Qualifications therein mentioned shall be capable to serve as Members in Parliament 5. That the power of the other House be limited as herein prescribed 6. That the Laws and Statutes of the Land be observed and kept no Laws altered suspended abrogated or repealed or new Laws made but by Act of Parliament 7. That the yearly sum of a Million of pounds sterling be settled for the maintenance of the Navy and Army and three hundred thousand pounds for support of the Government besides other temporary supplies as the Commons in Parliament shall see the necessities of the Nation to require 8. That the number of the Protectors Council shall not be above twenty one whereof the Quorum to be seven 9. The chief Officers of State as Chancellors Keepers of the Great Seal c. to be appointed by Parliament 10. That his Highness would incourage a godly Ministry in these Nations and that such as do revile and disturb them in the worship of God may be punished according to Law and where Laws are defective new ones to be made 11. That the Protestant Christian Religion as it is contained in the Old and New Testament be asserted and held forth for the publick profession of these Nations and no other and that a Confession of Faith be agreed upon and recommended to the people of these Nations and none be permitted by words or writing to revile or reproach the said Confession of Faith c. The Petition and Advice being read was by the Protector passed into a Law though with much seeming reluctancy as the following Speech declared Mr. Speaker I am not come hither this day as to a Triumph but with the most serious thoughts that ever I had in my life being to undertake one of the greatest burthens that ever was laid upon the back of any humane creature so that without the support of the Almighty I must necessarily sink under the weight of it to the damage and prejudice of these Nations And this being so I must ask the help of the Parliament and the help of all those that fear God that by their prayers I may receive assistance from the hand of God seeing nothing but his presence can enable me to the discharge of so great a Trust And seeing this is but an Introduction to the carrying on the Government of these Nations and forasmuch as there are many things which cannot be supplied without the help of a Parliament I think it my duty to desire your help not that I doubt of it for I believe that the same spirit that led the Parliament to this will easily suggest the rest to them And truly nothing could have induced me to undertake this intolerable burden to flesh and blood had I not seen that it was the Parliaments care to answer those ends for which they have ingaged and I call God to witness that I would not have undergone it had I not seen it to be determined by the Parliament to make clearly for the Liberty and Interest of the Nation and preservation of such as fear God and if these Nations be not thankful to you for your care therein it will fall as a sin on their heads To conclude I would recommend to you the Reformation of the Nation by discountenancing Vice and giving encouragement to Good men and Virtue desiring that you would not be wanting in any thing that may make for the good of the Nations wishing the Lord to prosper all your aims and endeavours This Speech ended the Members return to their House and soon after the Protector sends them a Letter desiring their Adjournment till the Inauguration of the Lord Protector could be performed and accordingly they passed a Bill for adjourning from June 26. to Jan. 20. following June 26. being appointed for his Highness solemn Investiture and the same day a place being prepared in Westminster-Hall there were two Chairs set one for the Protector with a Canopy of State over it and another for the Speaker with seats built Scaffold-wise for the Parliament on both sides and places below for the Aldermen of London and others all which being ready the Protector came out of a Room adjoining to the Lords House and in this order proceeded into the Hall First went his Gentlemen then an Herald the Attorney-General then the Judges after them Norroy King at Arms the Lord Commissioners of the Treasury the Seal carried by Commissioner Fines then Garter and after him the Earl of Warwick with the Sword born before the Protector bare-headed the L. Mayor Tichburn carrying the City Sword by his left hand Being seated in the Chair on the left hand stood the L. Mayor and the Dutch Ambassador and on the right the E. of Warwick and the French Ambassador next behind him stood his Son Richard L. Fleetwood and L. Cleypool and the Privy-council upon a lower descent stood the Lords Montague and Whitlock with drawn Swords Then the Speaker Sir Tho. Widdrington in the Name
of the Parliament presented to him several things that were laid on the Table which were a Robe of purple Velvet a Bible a Scepter and a Sword on each of which the Speaker made a short Comment as he delivered them 1. The Robe of purple This is an Emblem of Magistracy and imports Righteousness and Justice when you have put on this Vestment I may say you are a Gown-man This Robe is of a mixt colour to shew the mixture of Justice and Mercy indeed a Magistrate must have two hands Plectentem Amplectentem to Cherish and to Punish 2. The Bible is a Book that contains the Holy Scriptures in which you have the happiness to be well versed This Book of Life consists of two Testaments the Old and New the first shews Christum Velatum the second Christum Revelatum Christ Veiled and Revealed It is a Book of Books and doth contain both Precepts and Examples for good Government 3. Here is a Scepter not unlike a Staff to the weak and poor it is of ancient use in this kind It 's said in Scripture That the Scepter shall not depart from Judah it was of the like use in other Kingdoms however the Greek Poet calls Kings and Princes Scepter bearers 4. The last thing is a Sword not a Military but Civil Sword it is a Sword rather of Defence than Offence not to defend your self only but your people also If I might presume to six a Motto upon this Sword as the Valiant Lord Talbot did upon his it should be this Ego sum Domini Protectoris ad protegendum populum meum I am the Lord Protectors to protect my people After this the Speaker returned again to the Chair and administred the Oath to the Protector in these following words I do in the presence and by the Name of Almighty God promise and swear that to the uttermost of my power I will uphold and maintain the true Reformed Protestant Christian Religion in the purity thereof as it is contained in the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to the uttermost of my power and understanding and incourage the profession and professors of the same And that to the utmost of my power I will endeavour as chief Magistrate of these three Nations the maintenance and preservation of the peace and safety and Just Rights and Priviledges of the people thereof and shall in all things according to my best knowledge and power govern the people of these Nations according to Law The Oath administred Dr. Manton made a Prayer and then an Herald stood up aloft giving signal to a Trumpet to sound three times after which he did by Authority and Direction of Parliament publish and proclaim his Highness Lord Protector of the Common-wealth of England Scotland and Ireland requiring all persons to yield him due obedience This Proclamation ended the Trumpets again sounded and some Souldiers and other cryed out God save the Lord Protector Then was he again proclaimed by an Officer at Arms standing on the Stairs The Ceremonies ended the Protector attended by all the Officers of State went into the Palace-Yard in his Robes where entring his Coach he returned in State to White-Hall This year an Insurrection was designed by those called Fifth Monarchy men who had divers meetings in an House in Shore-Ditch several of them being discontented persons who had been formerly of the Army they had appointed to have Rendevouzed on Mile-end-Green and so have marched into other Countries to augment their party At length they were seized and some Arms and Ammunition taken with them and a Standard with a Lyon Couchant with this Motro Who shall rouse him up The Men taken were Venner a Wine-Cooper with their Scribe Grey Goaler Hopkins Ashton and others About them was sound a Declaration in print called The principle of the Remnant they were committed to prison but after released without prosecution Likewise M. Gen. Harrison Vice-Admiral Lawson Coll. Rich and Coll. Danvers were secured as Discontents About this time the victorious General Blake returning from the Coasts of Spain fell sick of the Scurvy and Dropsie and dyed just entring into Plymouth Sound where he passionately inquired for Land he was buried with an handsome Funeral from Greenwich and interr'd in Hen. 7. Chappel at Westminster The Protector to keep the Spaniards imployed every where makes a private agreement with France to fend a Brigade of his best Infantry which the French extreamly wanted to Flanders consisting of 6000 men and about May 4. 1657. they arrived in Picardy and joined with those Forces commanded by the Marshal Turein to which the protector was the more induced because the K. of Spain had invited K. Charles into his Dominions fince the breach with England and he was then at Bruges full of expectation of being restored by the power of that King and the Marquess of Ormond the Lord Wilmot the Lords Gerrard and Wentworth the Lord Twaf and General Middleton had their several Regiments Quartered about the Sea coasts in order to a Descent and the Dukes of York and Glocester had likewise commands in Flanders Sir John Reynolds one of Cromwels Knights formerly Commissary General of the Army in Ireland was General of the English Forces and coll Morgan Major Gen. Before their embarquement they Rendevouzed at Black-Heath where Mr. Hugh Peters gave them a Sermon for incouragement and were shipped with a months pay in hand and all new red coats About the middle of September the French and English Forces advance into the Spanish Territories and according to agreement sate down before Mardike a strong Fortress and put themselves between it and Dunkirk General Montague riding before the Splinter with a Fleet of War it was not long before a continued Battery made the besieged quit the wooden Fort which so incommoded them when taken by the English that they were obliged to yield to mercy Turenne not allowing them better terms because they had refused his first offers Mardike was presently put into the hands of the English according to agreement in consideration of our assistance and coll Morgan took possession thereof with several Regiments whom the Spaniards soon after endeavoured to remove by a sudden and fierce assault after the Armies were drawn into Winter Quarters since being only two miles from Dunkirk they were very fearful it might indanger that Town also Whereupon Don John of Austria resolved to hazard a Scalado and Attack by Night the Duke of York and the Marquess of Caravene managed the business and K. Charles and the D. of Glocester had conveyed themselves into Dunkirk to observe the success of it Oct. 22. About 4000 English Scots Irish and some Spaniards about Ten a Clock at Night began the storming of Mardike with Hand-Granadoes and all other Engines proper for an assault and were got into the Trenches and had mounted the Scaling Ladders but the English within being ready to receive them commanded by Reynolds Morgan and Lillingstone who were
the House in obedience to his commands dissolved This was the fourth parliament he had dissolved having turned out the Long parliament the Little parliament the Recognition parliament and the present Juncto It was said of the three latter which was summoned by Cromwel himself That the first was called but not chosen The second did just nothing And the third did nothing Just The Royalists now make another attempt for restoring King Charles of which the protector had Intelligence by his Emissaries so that when the design was just ripe for execution he published a Proclamation for all Cavaliers to depart twenty miles from London and VVestminster and the Marquess of Ormond who was personally concerned in the Intrigue with much difficulty escaped in a small Boat from Sussex to Flanders but several others were seized as coll Russel Sir Will. Compton Sir Will. Clayton Mr. Mordam brother to the Earl of Peterborough Dr. John Hewit preacher at St. Gregories by St. Pauls Mr. Woodcock Mr. Mansel Mr. Mallory Sir Henry Slingsby and many more most of them were kept close prisoners till some were prevailed upon to be Witnesses against others The design was laid in Kent Essex Surrey and Sussex the King being ready to have passed over from Flanders with an Army under the conduct of Count Marcin the P. of Condâ—'s General and Portsmouth Hull and other Maritime Fortresses were treated for The Protector sent for the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of London acquainting them with what discoveries he had made and the danger they were in who thereupon chose a new Lieutenancy and changed the Officers of the Trained Bands and the Protector doubled his Guards and an alarm was given that on May 16. the Cavaliers had appointed for their rising and firing the Town and all the Souldiers about the City were to be murdered whereupon all the six Regiments were raised at once and divers Citizens seized Soon after another High Court of Justice was erected before whom Dr. Hewit and Sir Henny Slingsby were brought and charged with High Treason upon these Articles 1. That they had traiterously and maliciously endeavoured to raise force and Ievy War against his Highness and the Government and to subvert and alter thesame 2. That they had traiterously declared published and promoted Charles Stuart eldest Son of the late K. Charles to be King of England Scotland and Ireland 3. That they had held Intelligence with the said Charles Stuart Dr. Hewit would not own the Court but pleaded several cases against it and was therefore condemned as mute Mr. Mordant was next set to the Bar who argued so very plainly and fully against the Evidence that he was acquitted by one voice only Sir Henry Slingsby defended himself by alledging That what was said by him about seducing the Governor of Hull and perswading him to surrender that Garrison to the King was but only in Jest and discourse He was found guilty and condemned Mr. Mallory pleaded guilty and was saved Mr. Woodcock cleared-himself so well that they could fasten nothing upon him June 8. 1657. Dr. Hewit and Sir Henry Slingsby were Beheaded on Tower-hill though many endeavours were used and much sollicitation made to save their Lives Some other persons of inferior quality were likewise Tryed and Executed upon this account as Coll. Edw. Ashton who was Hang'd and Quartered at Mark-lane-end in Tower-street Edmund Stacy against the Royal-Exchange and John Bettely in Cheapside About this time a great Whale of sixty foot long came up as far as Greenwich to the admiration of all that saw his vast bulk being persued with Guns and other weapons with great danger and at length was brought dead to the shore The French and English Armies being joined now sate down before Dunkirk resolving to take it before they stirred which hotly alarmest the Spaniards in all their Quarters whereupon Don John of Austria considering the importance of this place as being the Key of Flanders and a Frontier of France so that if the English possessed it they might have an opportunity to conquer all Flanders by the Forces that might be continually landed from England with the supplies of money which this Town by their Booties brought into the Treasury Upon these and the like motives he resolved to attempt its relief though with the hazard of his whole Army but whilst he is getting them together the English and French Forces had in a short time run their Trenthes to the Spanish Counterscarp and still approached nigher the wall which the Spaniards having notice of and fearing their relief might come too late he made all possible halfe to its assistance the better to effect which Don John their General dreins most of the Garrisors and compleats a body of sixteen thousand men with which he marches with all speed through Fuernes and Incamps within a wile and half of Marshal Tureins Quarters of which the Confederates having advice immediately dislodge with a body of about fifteen thousand leaving still enough to Guard the Trenches and make good the approaches if the Townsmen should attempt a Sally With this Detachment of men and ten pieces of Cannon Tâ—rem faces the Spaniard The English Foot were drawn up in four great Battalions and were ordered to give the first assault upon four other Battalions of Spanish Foot who had the advantage of the ground being placed upon three rising Hillocks and were seconded by Don John himself The English were commanded by the Lâ— Lockhart who having first ordered a Forlorn Hope of 300 Musketeers to mount the Sand Hills together with his own Regiment of Foot under Coll Fenwick they stoutly maintained their ground though the Spaniards played down continual Volleys of shot among them and the French refused to second them He then sent another considerable Brigade to their relief who instantly fell in with the But end of their Muskets among the Spanish Foot and they not being used to such Club Law left the Field and fled whereupon the French Horse seeing the good fortune of the English Foot fell in upon the Spanish Horse few of whom stood the charge except those under the command of the Dukes of York and Glocester who after some resistance were forced by the number of the assailants to follow the rest In this Battel a great part of the L. Lockharts Regiments were either slain or wounded and Lt. Coll. Fenwick was killed by a Mnsket Bullet The slaughter was great the French Horse being very severe in the pursuit so that near 3000 were slain and many Spanish Noblemen killed wounded and taken Prisoners This total rout of the Relievers Army put dispair into the Dunkirkers who could now expect no relief either by Sea or Land the English Fleet blocking them up by Sea and Don John of Austria not being able to recruit his Army by Land Yet the Marquess of Leda their Governour to demonstrate some courage made frequent strong Sallies upon the French Quarters which seemed to proceed rather from Despair than