A BRIEF VIEW OF The late troubles and confusions in England begun and occasioned by a prevailing Faction in the Long PARLIAMENT Deduced to the auspicious coming in of GENERAL MONCK And the most glorious and happy Restitution of KING CHARLES the SECOND By WILLIAM YOUNGER Psal 118.22 The same stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the Corner This is the Lords doing and it is marvellous in our eyes London Printed for Robert Gibbs at the golden Ball in Chancery-lane 1660. AN ADVERTISEMENT TO THE Reader THis brief Relation was composed Chiefly out of the Authors own observation of the transactions in these late sad times Many things are purposely omitted especially in the former part for brevity sake which otherwise might have been inserted For his intentions at first were to leave it in the Register book of his Parish in which he first began it for the use of his successors but it growing too big for that design he drew the rest down in papers to the coming in of General Monck and the happy Restitution of King Charles the Second to his Throne He hath endeavoured herein to set down nothing but truth and hopeth he hath not much failed therein However if any errors or mistakes be they are not wilfull and possibly not much material His purpose only is to set forth the stupendious mercy of God in raising up a temporary Saviour such a one he accounts General Monck to be for the deliverance of this sinful Nation from an oppression or slavery as bad as Egyptian and from a confusion no less than Babylonish If God may have the glory by an humble ackowledgement and real thanks to be given him by the people of these Kingdoms it is all the Author expects or desires A Brief View of the late troubles and confusions in England begun and occasioned by a prevailing faction in the Long Parliament ANNO 1640. Novem. 3. began the Parliament called the Long Parliament year 1640 we may truly term it the Black or the Bloody Parliament that involved the three Nations in blood and destroyed the King the Parliament it self and thee Kindoms The King in the beginning of this Parliament had for the security of the Subjects in their Persons Liberties and Estates passed many and several Acts of grace to the no small diminution of his Royal Prerogative more than all his Predecessors Kings of England from the Conquest downward had ever done and all this to remove from them all jealousies and fears After this in May 1641. he gives way at the great and pressing importunity of the House of Commons â—â—â—1 to the Condemnation and Execution of the Earle of Strafford a loyal Subject and a most able and accomplish'd counsellour as any Prince in Christendome ever had The King was very hardly moved to yield either to his attaindor or execution as not being satisfied in conscience of any guilt or crime in him deserving such punishment but yield at length he did though with much reluctancy to satisfie the importunity of the people and indeed at the request of the Earle himself who desired Jonah-like to be cast over-board thereby to appease the violent rage of a tempestuous people The truth is this Nobleman as also the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury afterwards Anno 1644. were meerly sacrificed to the malice and revenge of the Scots In August following the King goes into Scotland to compose differences there between himself and his Subjects of that Kingdom which done he returns again to London and is there received with exceeding joy and triumph of the people in or about the beginning of December The House of Commons to welcome his Majesty home instead of giving him thanks for the many gracious Acts he had lately passed they present him with a Remonstrance Dec. 15. laying open all the miscarriages and misfortunes of his whole Government from the beginning of his Raign even to that present and this they publish contrary to his express desire to the whole Kingdom whereby they gave occasion to the people to conceive jealousies and suspicions of a malignant party about the King still carrying on their own designs both against Religion and the Laws of the Land After the publishing of this Remonstrance fears and jealousies encrease among the people the vulgar rabble in and about London frequently flock down to Westminster with Petitions and clamours against the Bishops and Popish Lords and disaffected Members as they termed them in the House of Commons and no redress could be had again them though the House of Lords and the King himself had moved the House of Commons to declare against them The truth is they were favored and countenanced under hand by some Members of that House The King to avoid the danger of these tumults withdraws from White-hall to Windsor from thence afterwards to Newmarket and so by Cambridge into the Northern parts and thence to York The Parliament soon after his removal from Whitehall petition Him at Newmarket and elsewhere for the Militia to have it put into such hands as the two Houses shall think fit but he denyes them telling them that the Law hath setled it in Him that to divest Himself of the power of the Sword is to bereave Himself of power to protect his people and support the Laws This Petition was much insisted on by the Parliament under pretence of feares and jealousies but the King absolutely and peremptorily denyes it The King by several journeys comes year 1642 to York in the beginning of the year 1642 and there he settles His Court. Soon after his coming into those parts he was denyed enterance into Hull by Sir John Hotham when he offer'd to go into the Town but with twenty persons attending Him The King thereupon fearing lest the same armed force that kept Him out of Hull might surprize His Person at York he entertaines a guard of the Gentry of that County This by the house of Commons is Voted a levying of War against the Parliament though they themselves had long before three times as many of the Trainedbands of the City to guard the houses dayly Many Petitions Answers and Declarations passed between the King and Parliament during his Majesties being at York wherein it is evident to all understanding men that the King had the better cause and was more able to maintain it by the pen and by reasons and arguments than the Parliament was for the truth is his Declarations and Answers to their Messages Petitions and Propositions were unanswerable But words and writings not being sufficient to compose these differences they proceed from words to blows About July they Vote that the King is seduced by evill and Malignant Counsellers and thereupon they Vote an Army to be raised under the Command of Robert Earle of Essex the pretence is for King and Parliament against these Malignant Counsellers but they accuse or name none in particular The same year Aug. 24. the King sets up his Standard at
Nottingham commanding all men who were bound to assist him by vertue of their Tenures to repair unto him But at Nottingham there being no great appearance though Essex his Army was at that time listed and formed ready to march his Majesty marches with those few Forces he had to Leicester Worcester Shrewsbury and so upon the borders of Wales gathering an Army Essex all this time marching after him and pursuing him After some little conflict at Worcester wherein the Kings Forces under the conduct of Prince Rupert Maurice had the better the two Armies meet at Edge-hill near Keynton in Warwickshire where the first Signal Battel was fought between them with great losse and slaughter on either side The Kings standard being taken yet recovered again his General the Earl of Lindsey slain but the King had the better keeping the field all night and Essex Retreating with his broken Forces to Warwick-Castle and from thence soon after with a few horses to London This Battel was fought on Sunday Octob. 23. and the Guns were heard all that afternoon to Thetford in Norfolk The King presently after enters Oxford and fortifies it and matches to Reading and Windsor and so towards London The Citizens arming and sending forth all the power they could make against him At Branford he encountred them about Novem. 12. and beat the party that opposed but fearing least he should be surrounded with their numerous Army of Citizens he Retreated back to Windsor and Fortifying Reading he marches back to Oxford but about the latter end of the year Reading is besieged by the Parliaments Forces and the Governour Sir Arthur Ashton being unhappily wounded with a brick falling from a Chimney beaten down by a Canon-shot the Garison is yeilded upon composition by Colonel Fielding Anno 1643. year 1643 The Kings Forces prevail in the West under the Command of Sir Ralph Hopton Sir Richard Grenvile and others beating out the Earl of Stamford who commanded there for the Parliament The Earl of Newcastle for the King growes very strong in the North beats the Lord Fairfax in several Encounters and takes in all places of strength except Hull into which the Lord Fairfax had fled The Queen lands at Bridlington with arms and ammunition out of Holland she marches by Nottingham and so to Oxford The King the mean time takes Bristol thence he removes summons Gloucester which refusing to yield he sets down before it The terror of Newcastles Army affrights Norfolk and the Associated Counties in so much as many of the Parliament side are preparing to flie beyond sea for their security But the King setting down before Gloucester and Newcastle before Hull wasted their Armies and trifled away their time whereas had they joyned and marched directly up to London all had lain prostrate at their feet The King lay so long before Gloucester that Essex had raised a great Army for the relief thereof which Army appoaching the King arose and marched off Essex relieves the City and pursues him they encounter at Newbury where the King was worsted and lost many gallant men Newcastle in the mean time lay before Hull till the Earl of Manchester besieges and takes Lyn in Norfolk untill Lincoln and many other places were reduced to the Parliament with much loss to the Kings party The same year the Parliament treats with the Scots for their assistance against the King and the better to engage them they impose the Covenant frâ—med in Scotland upon the whole Nation for putting down of Bishops changing the whole Frame of Church Government in England and Ireland with Doctrine Discipline and worship to that of Scotland the Scots accordingly come in with an Army of 20000. or thereabout in winter they besiege Newcastle upon Tyne and at length take it Mean time the Forces of the Association besiege Newark upon Trent a Garison of the Kings and much straiten it Sir John Meldrum Sir Miles Hobart and Sir John Palgrave commanding the forces against it But in their march towards the latter end of the year when they every day expected the surrendring of the Town Prince Rupert comes suddenly upon them with a party of Horse his body of foot being three or four miles behind assaults and surprises the Besiegers disarms them all and so relieves the Town Many of the Souldiers and some Commanders were plundered and stript contrary to Articles for which the Kings party were afterward served in the like kind Anno 1644. year 1644 The Earl of Essex and Sir William Waller were sent forth with two Armies to pursue and take the King The King fortifies Oxford and lodging the rest of his Artillery in Dennington Castle with a light Army he takes the field Essex goes towards the West then mostly â—n the Kings possession Waller understanding which way the King was marched pursued him At Cropdie Bridge in Oxford-shire a place of advantage he sets upon the Kings Forces but is himself beaten and routed this was about the latter end of June Waller being thus defeated the King follows Essex into the West drives him by degrees as far as Lestithrell in Cornwell and there coops him up Essex takes the Sea in a Boate and leaves this Army to capitulate for themselves The Horse under the Command of Sir VVilliam Balfore break through the Kings Quarters and get away the Foot commanded by Skippon capitulate for their lives leaving their Arms Ordnance and Ammunition upon the place Septemb. 4. and tâ—king an Oath not to serve any more against the King which nevertheless many of them presently after broke The King after this hard service marches back with his Army leasurely and at Newbury is assaulted by the broken Troops of Essex his Army assisted by Manchester and Cromwell commanding the Forces of the Association A sore fight there was in the night with much loss to both parties The King gains the Town and the next day or the day after takes his Ordnance and Ammunition from Dennington Castle in the sight of the Enemy without opposition and so marches with them to Oxford This Sommers service lost the credit of Essex Manchester and VValler they were never imployed after But in the mean time while Essex and VValler were thus imployed against the King the Scots with the assistance of the Associated Counties and other of the Parliaments Forces had so far prevailed against the Earl of Newcastle and his Army as they had besieged him in York for many months Prince Rupert with a great Army out of Lancashire and the parts adjacent to his relief Upon the Prince his approach the Besiegers rise in disorder and are ready to break and run The Prince thought it not enough to relieve the City but would also beat the besiegers and setting upon them July 14. they Rally and beat him a great slaughter there was not lesse than seven thousand slain of both parts but most they say of the Princes party The Earle of Newcastle in discontent at the Prince
his rashness quits the place and all his Command and with some others of note leaves the Kingdom York soon after is again besieged and Sir Thomas Glenham undertakes the defence of the place but at length was forced to yield upon honourable terms Anno 1645. year 1645 The beginning of the year the Parliament new moulds their Army By a self-denying Ordinance as they termed it they cast out Essex Manchester and VValler and all others that were Parliament Members both Lords and Commons only Oliver Cromwell one of the Burgesses for Cambridge is dispensed with Sir Thomas Fairfax is made Captain General Cromwell his Lieutenant General Skippon also hath a great command amongst them and many of Cromwels kindred and Relations have great imployment and commands in this new modelled Army most of Essex his Officers being laid aside In May the King marches out of Oxford with a very good Army and takes Leicester by assault about the latter end of the moneth having then also a very considerable Army in the VVest about 15000. as was reported under the command of Goring who at that time besieged Taunton After the taking of Leicester the King was requested by Sir Marmaduke Langdale and the Northern Gentlemen to march Northward for the Relief of Pomsret Castle then straitned by the enemy But receiving intelligence that Fairfax intended to besiege Oxford he marches against him hoping if he could deseat their new model'd Army all other places and forces would easily be reduced At Naseby in Northamptonshire the two Armies meet on Saturday June 14. where at the first encounter the King had much the better his Right Wing of horsemen Defeating and Routing the Left Wing of the Parliaments Army wounding Skippon and taking Ireton Cromwels son in law prisoner But the Left Wing of the Kings Army consisting most of Northern Horsemen and they discontented at the first Encounter were broken turn'd head and ran the King did what possibly could be riding up and down the field to stay their flight and Rally them but all would not do and the Right Wing of Horse were so farre engaged in the pursuit as they could not timely and orderly Retreat to succour the Foot The Horse being thus routed and defeated the Foot were not able to stand but after some little resistance and slaughter yielded themselves prisoners four or five thousand of them The Kings Coach and in it his Cabinet with Letters and Papers taken all Arms Artillery Bagge and Baggage lost the King himself hardly escaping to Leicester and from thence that night to Ashby de la Zouch This was the fatal battel of Naseby for after this the Kings affairs never prospered but Town after Town was taken and in all encounters the Kings party was worsted all the VVest parts by degrees taken in that Sommer and the Queen and Prince forced to flie beyond sea anno 1646. year 1646 Oxford the Kings chiefest Garrison was besieged and much straitned About Ascention time the King in a disguise got out of the City came as far a Downham in Norfolk and from thence went to the Scots Camp lying in siege before Newark and to them his native Subjects he yields himself hoping by their means to make some better terms with the Parliament They used him civilly and respectively gave notice to the Parliament of his yielding himself to them having made use of his Authority for the prâ—sent surrendring of of Newark and from thence carryed him to Newcastle a Garrison then in their possession where he remained all that year and from thence gave Order to several other Garrisons as yet holding out for him to surrender to the Parliaments Forces upon honourable terms At Newcastle he remained all that summer and afterwards upon Treaty between the Parliament and Scots Commissioners the Parliament paying them 200000. l. in hand and securing as much more to be paid And promising as the Scots affirm to treat the King honourably and not to do any violence to his Person they deliver the King up to the Parliament and quitting Newcastle and the rest of the Garrisons they held in England they departed with their Army into Scotland The King from Newcastle was removed to Holdenby year 1647 a house of his own in Northamptonshire there he is kept an honourable Prisoner attended by some Commissioners of Parliament and a slender Guard of souldiers none of his own servants are permitted to wait upon him nor any of his Chaplains or Ministers of his Opinion though he earnestly desired it in a Message to the Parliament but they force upon him Presbyterian Ministers of the Parliaments Opinion and appointment These would not suffer him to celebrate the Feast of Easter as being against their Directory of late established This summer the Wars being finished all Garrisons surrendred and the Kings Forces utterly subdued and forced to compound for their estates taking an Oath never to bear Arms against the Parliament they take a resolution to disband the Army sending some part of it into Ireland against the Papists still in Arms there and only to keep 5000 Horse and Foot in England to preserve the peace of the Kingdome against any risings that might happen The souldiers fearing the Wars would cease and their trade decay began to Mutinie first they pick quarrels against the Parliament and at once impeach eleven of the Members of the House of Commons all rigid Presbyterians as enemies to the Army and desire they may be secluded the House They Act now not as Souldiers but as Commonors and Freemen of the Nation pretending to stand for the Native Rights and Liberties of the people And to carry on their designes the better the common Souldiers who began the work chuse their Agitators as they termed them two or more out of every Regiment to represent their grievances to the General and chief Officers of the Army And in conclusion they peremptorily refuse to disband or to send or go any of them into Ireland till all their grievances were redressed and their desires satisfied But all this ye must know was underhand countenanced if not contrived by Cromwel and some principal Officers of his Faction And because the Parliament had made themselves sufficiently odious by keeping the King under so strict guards denying him the attendance of his Chaplains and the use of the Common-prayer Book and tendering such harsh Propositions to him both in relation to himself and his party that had already suffered so much for his sake The Souldiers to ingratiate themselves to the people pretended much for the King and for his restitution of his Throne and Government upon fairer terms by much than the Parliament would afford him And suddenly by a Party Commanded by one Cornet Joyce they seize upon the King at Holdenby June 4. in the night and bring him into the Armies quarteâ—s then about Newmarket or Cambridge The General would not suffer him to pass through Cambridge lest the Schollers more than ordinarily addicted to him
the beginning oâ— August with an Army of about eleven thousand horse and foot into England by the way of Lancashire and forcing his way at Warrington bridge against a party that opposed he comes by easie marches without resistance to Worcester Massey being with him hoping the Presbyterians in those parts and about Glocester would generally have risen and joyned with the Scots The Parliament upon the first intelligence of his entrance into England arm all that possibly they can against him publishing a Proclamation against him and all his adherents as Rebels and Traitors and forbidding all men upon pain of high Treason to joyn with him or to aid or assist him in the least Cromwel also pursues him out of Scotland with as great a part of his Army as he could well spare at Worcester all forces assembled against him meet there they fought and the Kings party in conclusion is beaten the Scots they say many of them refusing to fight at all The King in a disguize very hardly escapes yet it pleased God that at last he got safely out of England many of the Scottish Nobility and some of the English being taken prisoners and kept long after in the Tower of London This fight at Worcester happened Septemb. 3. 1651. a remarkable day for Cromwels Victories Scotland after this is with little difficulty wholly reduced to the obedience of the Parliament and Garisons maintained in several places even to the utmost Northern Coasts and they who formerly would not be subject to their King are now inforced to submit to Cromwell and his Faction Afterwards in Anno 1652. year 1652 the Parliament falls out with the Hollanders many fierce and bloody battels were fought at Sea with great loss of both sides in one of which Admiral Dean for the English and in another Van-Trump for the Dutch were slaine The Hollanders have the worst in conclusion so that at last they sue for peace and obtain it But some while before this peace was concluded year 1653 Cromwell being now grown great with his Victories in Ireland and Scotland having subdued both these Kingdoms upon the twentieth of April 1653. he suddenly and forcibly turns out the Parliament who had for four years and as much as from January to April since they put the King to death with bloody cruelty and heavy oppression governed the Nation The Parliament being thus turned out Cromwel and his Army Officers take upon them the government of the Nation They presently impose six Months Tax and erect a new Council of State Bradshaw who formerly for his good service was President is now not so much as a Member of the Council Cromwel soon after cals a Convention of about an hundred and twenty persons pickt out by himself out of the several Counties of the Nation most of them inferiour persons and of the Independent and Anabaptistical faction These were summoned by particular Warrants or Tickets in paper under his own hand only to meet at Westminster and consult for t setling the Nation Being met according to their summons Iuly 4. 1653. in the Commons House of Parliament and having chosen them a Chairman or Speaker Cromwel comes in amongst them and puls a writing out of his pocket thereby giving them the supream authority of the Nation upon this they presently vote themselves to be a Parliament and to requite his courtesie they vote him to be a Member of their Parliament Thus being seated in Authority they make an Act for six Months Tax at the old rate of 120000 li. a Month and another Act concerning marriages appointing Justices of Peace to marry and none other marriages to be valid or lawful In the same Act they ordain a Register to be kept in every Parish in which is to be set down all births and burials not so much as mentioning Baptism as a thing in their opinion at least not necessary thus they lessen and diminish the use and authority of Ministers whom they intended by degrees to take wholly away In order whereunto they had a design to take a way Tithes but the Ministers of London being called to alledge what might be said in defence of them by their Counsel learned in the Law and by Arguments out of Scipture they opposed so strongly as that debate was laid aside for the present But that failing they had another device namely by an Act in one day to have unbottomed all Ministers in England and to have lockt up the Church doors as some affirmed and then afterward to have taken in whom they had thought good which may probably be conceived should have been only such as would have renounced their orders if not their baptism Things being carried so high and in such a frantick manner the more moderate among them weary of the work and fearing they should rather bring things into further confusion then settle any thing they repair to Cromwel the General desiring him to take again into his hands his Writing or conveyance of the supream power whereupon he presently dissolves them but some of the Anabaptists refusing to obey and continuing still in the house at their prayers he sent Souldiers who pulled them out and lockt up the doors against them Decemb 12. 1653. This Schismatical Convention called by some the little horn being thus timely and happily outed Cromwel upon the sixteenth day of the same month having by advice of his Army-Officers and Council of State framed an Instrument of Government presently after printed and published consisting of fourty two Articles and therefore by some called his forty two string'd sidle by others the Magna Charta takes upon him the Government of the three Nations as Supream Magistrate under the Title of Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England Scotland and Ireland And sending for the Commissioners of the great Seal the Lord Maior and Aldermen of London with the Judges of Law and the chief Officers of his Army Proclamation thereof being made in London he is solemnly installed in Westminster-hall taking an oath to govern according to that Instrument and the Laws of the Land though nothing could be more repugnant to the Laws then that Instrument was According to that Instrument year 1654 he cals a Parliament to begin Septemb. 3. 1654. though it fell out that year to be Sunday accounting the day auspicious by reason of his two great victories upon that day at Dunbar and Worcester This Parliament was not to be chosen according to the ancient manner two in a County and two in a Corporation but ten eight six more or less in a County according to the proportion of it and the small decayed Corporations as Thelford and Rising in Norfolk and the like elsewhere were wholly left out There were also added to the Parliament Thirty Members for Scotland and as many for Ireland chosen or nominated from thence so as it was a Parliament of the Commonwealth of England Scotland and Ireland whereof as before he had made himself
Peers as useless inconvenient and an hinderance to the proceedings of Parliament a just reward for so ignoble degenerous spirits And because great Personages like great Trees in a Forrest seldom fall alone to compleat the Tragedie within a few weeks after they impeach Duke Hamilton General of the Scottish Army and the Earl of Holland as also the Lord Capel and Lord Goring taken in Colchester and some others None of these seared to be questioned for their lives till now for they yielding had quarter given them But an high Court of Justice must not be set up for the King alone They mean to go the same way to work with others the Law taking no hold of them they 'l make a Law that shall and therefore the like Court is erected again for the trial of these Lords and others though the same President sate not yet others did that had the same power All that were accused were condemned but Goring being a Gentleman of no great fortune and never before engaged against them found mercy at their hands Capels great estate drove on his ruine Hamilton and Holland are observed to have suffered deservedly because they had played on both parts sometimes for the King and otherwhiles against him as affairs changed The poor spiritness of the rest is observed in cowardly submitting to their pretended authority only the stout Lord Capel so Lilburn cals him would not in the least buckle to acknowledge them a lawful judicatory but after the example of his Royal Master denied their Anthority and when he came to suffer which he and the other did March 9. he took his death with a most resolute and undaunted courage not only to the admiration of all men but even to the very terror of his enemies they that neither loved him nor his cause yet highly commended him for his courage and magnanirnity and as much despised Hamilton for his timerous baseness using all means possible to save his life but all would not do much confidence he reposed in Hugh Peters that Clergy Mountebank who at last betrayd him as himself had formerly betrayed the King After the King was thus put to death and the Government changed into a Commonwealth a new Seal and new Coyn being made this Piece of the Parliament that put the King to death governed the Nation till April 20. 1653. what time they were thrown out forcibly by Cromwel being then their General and his Army Officers to the great content and rejoycing of the People But in the mean time presently after the death of the King the Scots proclaimed the Prince King of Scotland by the Name of Charls the second Ireland was almost all revolted soon after the death of the King year 1649 only the City of Dublin held out for the Parliament But Cromwel going over thither about September 1649. in less then a years time reduces that whole Kingdom to the obedience of the Parliament driving the Natives for the most part out and cooping up the rest in the Western parts of the Kingdom Scotland having as is said before proclaimed the Prince King they received him into that Kingdom and crowned him at Scone the first of January 1649. 1650. whereupon the Parliament having reduced Ireland they resolve to send an Army into Scotland about June 1650. Fairfax upon this layes down his Commission and Cromw ll is made Captain General in his stead He marches into Scotland with a great Army where he lay a long time before he could engage the Scots to fight insomuch as the English were in great distress for provisions and had been famished or forced to return long before had they not encamped near the sea and had the sea free and open to them At length the Scots set upon them at Dunbar but were defeated and routed at least 10000. of them slain and taken upon the place all of the Presbyterian party and such as had formerly engaged in England for the Parliament against the King An hundred Ensigns at least are taken brought up to London and hung up in triumph in Westminister Hall and which is remarkable great numbers of those Souldiers that at their coming into England in 1643. had heathenishly prophaned the Cathedral Church of Durham were now brought prisoners and lodged in the very same Church shut ' up together and fed like swine with roots and other trash so that with hunger and cold and stench lying there a long time most of them perished some of them acknowledging the just hand of God for their sacrilegious prophaness committed in that place this is a certain truth reported by credible persons living near and in that City And thus our Brethren the Scots were in part payd for their brotherly assistance But Cromwel hath not yet done with them he stayes still after the battel of Dunbar and pursues his victory he presently takes Leith and Edenburgh and afterward that strong and impregnable Castle called by the Scots the Maiden Castle because never before conquered Nor can I say it was now conquered by Cromwell He took it not by assault nor yet by hunger but as is credibly reported surrendred by the treachery or cowardize of the Lord _____ that commanded there in chief This Cast e being taken Cromwel enlarges his conquest all over the South of Scotland from Leith and Dunbar on the East to Glasco and Ayre in the West without any great resistance But the City and Castle of Sterling held out for the King together with the Fife the fertilest part of the Kingdom and all the North of Scotland from Endinburgh Frith Northward the Scots being now grown so wise after their beating at Dunbar as to take and call in to their assistance all the Kings party both Scots and English whom formerly they rejected under the notion of Malignants and Cavaleers putting the Earl of Montross most barbarously to death who landed in Scotland a little before the Kings coming thither and whom if they had entertained might possibly by the blessing of God have prevented their being beaten at Dunbar being a man of extraordinary experience conduct and courage in war exceedingly beloved of all the Royallists in Scotland and one that had formerly with an handful of men done incomparable service for the King But the Presbyterian Scots were as bitter against the Kings party as they were against Cromwell and his army and would have the glory wholly to themselves and their Covenant in restoring the King that thereby they might the better advance their Covenant and carry on their pretended work of reformation both in Scotland and England Cromwel and his Army lay long in Scotland year 1651 after Dunbar fight and did little not able to advance any further At length towards the latter end of July he gets over Edenburg Frith and lands his Army or a considerable part of them in the Fife with a great loss and defeat to the Scots who resisted The King soon after quits Sterling and suddenly marches away in
power of the Militia The People were to pay the Army and it was thought just by many that the Parliament should have command of them And it was suspected had they sate but a little longer that the Army or a considerable part of it would have adhered to the Parliament To prevent this mischief that was a working the Protector suddenly and unexpectedly dissolves them Febr. 4. with this word of comfort nevertheless to his other House My Lords ye are Lords and shall be Lords The Parliament thus again dissolved in discontent things rested as formerly though not without much murmuring and secret discontent both in the Protector and People About the latter end of August year 1658 or the beginning of September the Protector dyed having lain somewhile in a very sad condition with extream pain and torment in his bowels Some strongly fancy that he died on Tuesday Aug. 30. what time was the most furious violent wind that ever happened in the memory of man And it s very probable that he died that day or soon after but it was given out and commonly reported that he dyed on Friday Sept. 3. His Funeral was a great while deferred his body embalmed and kept above ground many moneths together with mourners continually attending his corpse and meat carried up and served on his Table as if he had been the greatest Prince in Christendom and afterwards he was interred with as great funeral solemnity as ever any King of England was interred and his Hearse or Statue set up after the manner of Kings and a most most magnificent Monument erected for him It is worth the remembring that about a year or two before his death he made a new broad Seal with the Arms of England viz. a Saint Georges Cross quartered with Saint Andrews Cross for Scotland and the Harp for Ireland and his own Coat in a little Escutcheon in the midst his Helmet and Mantle with a Crown imperial and a Lion puissant for his Crest and and the supporters a Lyon and a Dragon the Motto underneath his Arms Pax quaeritur Bello And this inscription about Sigillum magnum Reipublicae Anglioe Scotiae Hiberniae On the other side himself on Horseback richly trappered as the King Seal was wont to be and the Inscription about it Oliverus Dei gratia Reipublicae Angliae Scotiae Hiberniae Protector And though he usually coined no money yet I have seen some pieces of Silver of an half crown bigness with his Arms as before on the one side and his Picture crowned with bays on the other side and the former Inscription In these respects so near he approached to the Royal dignity sure I am he assumed more power and authority then ever any King of England did The Protector before his death had according to the fore-mentioned Humble Petition and Advice appointed his eldest Son Richard Cromwel to succeed him in his place and accordingly immediately after his Fathers death he was proclaimed in London and soon after all over England The Independents Anabaptists and other Sectaries were not well pleased at it they had rather have had Fleetwood in the place who had married the late Protectors Daughter Iretons Widow for Richard had formerly been reputed a kind of a good fellow and a Royallist and never was in Arms against the King as all the rest of his Fathers Family and Allies had been Richard soon after cals a Parliament to begin at Westminster Jan. 27. not according to the Instrument of Government but after the old way two in a County c. Before the calling of the Parliament and after congratulatory Addresses are made to Richard from most Counties Cities and Corporations of Note in England extolling the merits of his heroick Father expressing their joy for the succession of such a Son and promising to adhere to him withall faithfulness and loyalty In some of their Addresses they compare the Father to Moses and the Son to Joshua the Guiders and Conductors of Gods People out of Aegyptian thraldom with other the like blasphemous expressions Richard receives these Addresses with as much gravity as they were tendered with humility so that no man could imagine but that he was most firmly fixed in his Throne And Lilly the States mercenary Prognosticator assures it from his Astrological Predictions of that year AT the opening of the Parliament Jan. 27. he makes a Speech to both his Houses wherein he minds them of his just and lawful Title to the Government not only by the wonderful Provindence of God but by the disposition of the Laws he tels them he had convened them together for important affairs of State for the honour and safety of the Nation willed them to take into consideration the necessity of the Navy and Army whom he commends for their patience and obedience to the best Army in the world some other things to this purpose he commended to them and told them in conclusion that they should find him ready and willing to concur with them in any thing for the good of the publick and to deny them nothing that was just and fit And that if this were not an happy Parliament it should not be his fault And all this says the Book was spoken with so gracious and Princely a deportment as hath gained this opinion amongst the wisest Hearers that he deservedly holds the place of Supream Magistrate in these Nations Thus the Parliament began and great hopes there were of good agreement between the Protector and the People and doubtless he for his part would have given them leave to have setled the Nation as they thought good both for Religion and Civil Government But still the other House though called as formerly and many of them convened would not down with the Commons they would not in the least own this new made House of Lords sit they might if they pleased but little or nothing they had to do for the Commons would never impart any thing to them nor indeed have any intercourse with them A pitiful company of Peers they were and accordingly regarded But Richard and the House of Commons agreed very well he was willing to leave all to them And there being a very great number of young Lawyers in the House that gaped for preferment they were willing to give him power enough too much as many suspected Ye must know that in all Parliaments since Olivers time there was a faction of men in the House called Common-wealths men that were for a free State as they called it and against a single Person These were such as had purchased the Lands of Bishops Deans and Chapters and those belonging to the late King Queen and Prince And they feared that these Lands might be at one time or other restored unless the Government were again setled in the way of a Common-wealth for a single Person they thought might possibly come to be a King With these also concurred all such both Parliament-men and Army-men as
were highly guilty of the Kings Trial and death And all these together had a great influence upon the Army These generally were disaffected to the Protector The Army also Richard having never been a Souldier were very desirous to have a General of their own choice with power to place and displace what Army-Officers he thought fit Fleetwood the Protectors Brother in-law or Lambert aims at the place To effect their design they with the Commonwealths men in Parliament as Haselrig and Vane Scot and Weaver and others the like make a Faction in the Army against the Protector The Commanders of the Army that were of this Faction had frequent meetings at Fleetwoods Lodging at Wallingford House whereof Richard had notice and might have supprest them in time by some chief Officers that were of his part who offered their assistance thereunto but being loth to hazard the effusion of blood he let things rest hoping perhaps they would not have proceeded as afterwards they did Fleetwood soon after advises him to adjourn the Parliament year 1659 but he refusing they come to him and force him to send a Writ to dissolve it This was about the latter end of April 1659. The Parliament thus suddenly dissolved the Souldiers were at a loss what to do at last they resolve after a solemn Fast had among themselves as their manner was to call in that piece or tail of the long Parliament that Cromwell and themselves had broke up and cast out six years before April 20. 1653. to return again to the exercise of their trust as they termed it expressing their Repentance for that action and desiring to return again into the good old way Lenthal the Speaker and some others of that company being then in and about the City very gladly accept the motion they thought long to be again in authority They call together all their fellow-Members that they could get and had much ado to make fourty thought they took two of them out of the Gaol viz. the Lord Munson and Henry Martin who were Prisoners there upon execution Being thus got together upon Saturday afternoon May 7. the Speaker with the rest enter the House and set again as a Parliament publishing a Proclamation or Declaration to let the People understand how by the wonderful providence and mercy of God they were again restored to the exercise of their trust being as they call themselves Asserters of the Good old Cause c. The Munday following Mr. William Prin a Bencher of Lincolns Inn and many more Members of the Long Parliament that were secluded upon the Kings Tryal December 1648. met together at Westminster and went to the House-door demanding admission to sit with the rest but were denâ—ed entrance and kept out with armed guards Whereupon he writes a Book called his Narrative wherein he declraes at large their manner of demanding admission and in what manner they were forcibly kept out and very solidly pleads the Kings cause against their Commonwealth And another Book he writes and publishes at the same time intituled The good old Cause wherein he manifestly proves by twelve undeniable Arguments that that which they termed the good old Cause was far worse more destructive both to Church and State to Religion and the Common-wealth then the Gunpowder Treason And though he openly owned and avowed these Books setting his name to them yet they never returned the least answer to them nor questioned the Author But these Books thus seasonably published gave a deadly blow to their good old Cause though the operation of it was not so presently discerned The Parliament those few that were being thus got in again they presently depose the Protector and alter the Government from a single person to a Common-wealth They null all honouts conferred by the late Protector so that many are in an instant unknighted whom Oliver before had honoured with that dignity Richard himself but the other day Lord Protector of England Scotland and Ireland and his Highness at every word is now in the language of the Parliament but Richard Cromwel Esq for by that Title they wrote to him to quit his Lodgings and remove from White-hall and his Excellency Lord Henry Cromwell Lord Lieutenant of Ireland is now no more then Mr. Henry Cromwel All Olivers venerable House of Peers have now in an instant lost their Lordships and are the same that formerly they were so great a change is effected in an instant Only Fleetwood and Lambert are still termed Lords in the Parliaments first Declaration May 7. and there was cause for it for the Parliament were what they were by their means And now all mouths are open in an instant against the late Protector Oliver reproaching him as the worst of Tyrants and Usurpers tearing his Hearse or Statue in pieces defacing and pulling down his sumptuous Monument that was but a few weeks before at a most vast charge set up in Westminster The Parliament were more obliged to the Army then they were to the people for putting them again into Authority for the people had had more then enough of them for almost two seven years before Oliver never did so much good for the Nation nor had more thanks from the people then when he and his Army had turned these men out as before is said April 20. 1653. And therefore they thought it concerned them rather to gratifie the Army then to please the people To this end not long after their re-installment they impose a Tax of twelve months to be paid in a manner altogether That 35000 li. a month which was not to be paid by the Act that imposed it till Midsummer 1660. and that quarterly they command to be paid in presently between Lammas and Michaelmas 1659. intending as its probable as soon as that was paid in to impose another the like payment upon the people After this about July they pass an Act for setling the Militia and it was sent down into the several Counties to be presently put in execution but the Army as it was thought not relishing this design it was soon after laid aside This year about the beginning of August there was a rising in Cheshire Lancashire and the parts adjoyning under the command of Sir George Booth Sir Thomas Midleton and other Gentlemen in those parts they declare for a free and full Parliament to be elected by the People It was commonly reported the design was general laid all over all England and tâ—◠〈◊〉 was carried on châ—â—â—ly by the Pâ—â—â—â—â—terian Party But Cheshire and the parts adjacent were the first that arose in other places attempts were made but they were suppressed Sir George Booth had taken Westchester both Town and Castle and was reported to be very numerous And therefore upon the first intelligence thereof Lambert is sent out against him with an Army of six or seven thousand men and a train of Artillery and forces from all quarters are appointed to draw to him so that all
being thus restored who had for eleven years and more been kept out from discharging their trust there is great rejoycing and triumphing again both in London and all parts of the Kingdom with Ringing and Bonefires making c. but some of the Rump upon their restoring it is said withdrew and would sit no more Presently after their restoring they vote Monk to be General of all the forces of England Scotland and Ireland Sir William Waller one of the secluded Members to be Leiutenant-General and Rossiter a Lincolnshire Gentleman and one that had formerly served the Parliament to be General of the Horse They constitute Montagu to be Admiral at Sea instead of Lawson and they appoint a new Council of State Soon after they make an Act for setling the Militia of the Kingdom together with some Acts concerning Ministers And taking order for calling of a new Parliament to convene at Westminster April 25. they dissolve themselves on Friday the 16th of March. And thus by Gods great blessing we have lived to see an end of that unhappy long Parliament that hath been the cause of misery and calamity to these three late flourishing Kingdoms for these nineteen years and more last past And all this brought to pass without one drop of bloodshed by the prudent and politick conduct of General Monk who with a small Army an handful of men in comparison not past four thousand foot and eighteen hundred horse and those not very well accommodated marched from Berwick through the heart of England to the City of London without the least opposition and at length gained the power and command of that opulent and potent City Lamberts Army being at least twelve or thirteen thousand men well hors'd and well appointed breaking in pieces and mouldring away in a moment the Troops and Companies marching from place to place where they might find quarter till afterwards most of them their Officers cashierd were received and listed under the command of General Monk Afterwards by degrees he purges his Army putting out all Anabaptists Quakers and other Fanaticks both Officers and common Souldiers as they are or can be discoverd both in the Army and Garisons and placeth others in their steads Overton a fifth Monarchy-man who pretended to hold Hull for the Lord Jesus Christ was yet notwithstanding commanded to surrender it to Mr. Charls Fairfax a Yorkshire Gentleman which accordingly he did and the like was done in all other Garisons the Army-men displaced and Gentlemen of the Country of other confiding persons put in their steads Soon after the putting in of the secluded Members Lambert is committed to the Tower Haselrig Scot and others are under examination but dismissed upon their promise or engagement to demean themselves peaceably Lambert not long after finds means to escape out of the Tower and about the middle of April or soon after appears in Arms about Northampton in the head of a party many of the cashierd Officers and Souldiers of the Fanatick and discontented party being got together And it is generally conceived that all the Anabaptists Quakers and other factious people in all parts of the Kingdom had a design to have risen and joyned with him had he not been timely suppressed But Colonel Ingoldsby being sent against him with a party he surrounds them all being not above five or six hundred whereupon most of the common Souldiers come in and yield themselves and Lambert with some Commanders are taken upon the place without a stroke striking only a scour of Lamberts they say was slain Colonel Okey and some others escaped by flight lambert being thus taken is brought to London together with Colonel Cobbet Major Creed and young Haselrig Sir Arthurs Son These were all brought up in a Coach through Hide Park on Tuesday April 29. what time there was the greatest general Muster of Citizens that ever was seen in or near London Of trained men and Auxiliaries there were at least twenty thousand some say thirty thousand men in Armes Some of the Nobility and many Gentlemen of quality trayling pikes voluntarily amongst them The Prisoners brought through the Army and sufficiently hooted at they afterwards drove the Coach under Tyburn and there made a stand This was done I suppose to minde them of their destiny or at least of their desert and to disgrace them who had so long time insulted and domineered over the Nobility Gentry and Commonalty of the Kingdom A just reward to use them uncivilly who had so barbarously abused both King and People The Parliament according to Appointment began at Westminster April the twenty fifth the House of Commons being elected and called by Writs issuing out in the name of the Keepers of the Liberties of England by authority of Parliament a Title invented presently upon the change of the Government from as Monarchy to a Common-wealth in the year one thousand six hundred forty eight the Lords and Peers of the upper House taking their places by vertue of their birth-rights and ancient dignities Soon after the sitting of the Parliament there arrived at London the Lord Mordant and Sir John Greenvile with a Declaration from his Majesty as also several Letters One to the House of of Pâ—eâ—s another to the House of Commons a third to the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Common Council of the City of London and a fourth to General Monk to be by him communicated to the Council of State and to the Officers of the several Armies under his Command which Declaration and several Letters from his Majesty were presented according to their several directions May the first In his Declaration he offers 1. A general Pardon to all of all sorts excepting only such as the Parliament should think fit to except provided that they sue out their Pardons under the great Seal of England within fourty dayes after the publication thereof 2. He offers a Liberty to tender Consciences for matters of Religion so far forth as the Parliament should think fit and to consent to such an Act as the Parliament for that purpose shall tender to his Majesty 3. For the sales and purchases of Lands made since these late troubles he is willing to leave it to the determination of Parliament whom he presumes best able to provide for the satisfaction of all such as are concerned therein And Lastly he promiseth full satisfaction of Arrears to all Officers and Souldiers of General Monck's Army and to receive them into his service upon as good pay and conditions as they now enjoy This was the sum of his Declaration published at Breda April 14. 1660. in the twelfth year of his Majesties Reign This Declaration together with his several Letters afore-mentioned were highly accepted The Lord Mayor Aldermen and Common Council after the reading of them cried out unanimously God save King Charls and presently took down the Common-wealths Arms that hung in the Guild-hall and as they say brake them in pieces ordering the King Arms to be hung up
in their place and gave solemn thanks by their Recorder to his Majesties Messengers The Lords received their Letter by the Lord Mordant with the like joy and loyal affection The House of Commons having read their Letter and the Declaration voted it satisfactory and presently voted the Government of the Nation to be in his Majesty as the rightful and undoubted heir of the three Nations of England Scotland and Ireland They ordered also a Committee to meet for drawing up a Letter of thanks to his Majesty for his most gracions Declaration And to Sir John Greenvile who delivered the Letter they gave five hundred pound as a gratuity to buy him a Jewel Both they and the Lords further ordered that six of the upper House and fifteen of the House of Commons should be forthwith sent to his Majesty to invite and attend him into to England Montague the Admiral at Sea is commanded to wait upon him with a Squadron of Ships and fifry thousand pound is ordered for his Majestjes expences as also ten thousand pound to the Duke of York and five thousand pound to the Duke of Glocester The Letter also and Declaration to the Army gave no lesser satisfaction both to the General Officers and Souldiers they all unanimously owning his Majesty in an high degree On Tuesday the eighth of May the King was solemnly proclaimed in London with the greatest expressions and acclamations of Joy that possibly could be and the like was soon after done in all Counties Cities Corporations and inlet Towns all over England No King ever coming to his Throne with so great satisfaction and rejoycing of the People thereby giving an evident Demonstration to the world that it was not the People of England nor the Parliament or Representatives of the People but only a factious and seditious party encouraged and supported by a perfidious and traiterous Army that murdered the late King disinherited his children and overthrew the ancient Fundamental and well constituted government of the Nation turning it from a Monarchy to a Common-wealth and thereby occasioned these horrid confusions and frequent changes and reelings of Government that afterwards ensued to the high reproach and dishonour of the English Nation For no sooner were the People and Parliament of England by the mercy of God delivered from the vassallage of an imperious and domineering Army and put in a condition of freedom but they presently return to their Allegiance and call in the undoubted Heir of the Crown submitting to his Government with the greatest cheerfulness and rejoycing that could be imagined And thus God who only doth wonders hath wrought wonderfully for this sinful Nation turning our Captivity as the Rivers in the South smoothly gently calmly without any tumult or torrent after so many horrid confusions as we have lain under for so many years together even to the wonder and astonishment not only of our selves but of all the Neighbour Nations round about us who must needs acknowledge in our behalf as was sometimes done in the case of Israel that the Lord hath done great things for them and we must needs with the Israelites answer by way of eccho Yea the Lord hath done great thing for us already whereof we rejoyce Psalm 126. The People of England were never conceived or reported to be so much against their King as now they manifestly appear to be for him even all of all sorts but such only whose guilt makes them desperate like Cain thinking their wickedness greater then can be forgiven And here for a conclusion we may fitly and truly in a sence take take up that saying of the Psalmist and apply it to the present occasion The same stone which the builders refused is become the head-stone of the Corner This is the Lords doing and it is marvellous in our eyes To the same God be Glory for his great and Glorious Work May 21. 1660. FINIS Books printed for Robert Gibbs at the Ball in Chancery Lane STemma Sacrum The Royal Progeny by Giles Fleming Minister of Waddingworth in the County of Lincoln Epinicia Carolina or an Essay upon the Return of his sacred Majesty Charls the second by S. Woodford Gent. quarto The blessed Estate of them that die in the Lord by Tho. Manton Minister of Covent-Garden preached at the Funeral of Mrs. Jane Blackwell Wife of Elidad Blackwell An hundred choice Meditations Divine and Moral by Henry Tubb M. A. of Saint Johns Colledge in Cambridge Sensuality dissected or the Epicure's Motto opened censured improved preached at the Kentish Feast The Saints Gods precious Treasure being a Sermon preached at the Funeral of Darcy Wyvil Esq Eldest Son to the truly honourable Sir Christopher VVyvil The Excellent Woman a Sermon at the Funeral of Mrs. Elizabeth Scot. The vanity of glorying in the flesh in a Sermon preached at the Funeral of Kingswel Lucy Esq These four Sermons all preached by Tho. Case Minister of Saint Giles in the Fields and may be bound in one volume in 120.