had left nothing behind that might accommodate them The Army thus refresht at Dunbar marcht thence to Haddington Next day hearing the Scots would meet them at Gladsmore they laboured to possesse the Moor before them but no considerable part appeared whereupon Major Generall Lambert and Collonel Whalley men of approved courage with 1400. Horse were sent as a Vauntguard to Mussleborough to attempt something upon the Enemy if possible The General with the residue of the Army marching in the rear the English and Scotch Horse had some encounters but the Scots would not endure the Shock that night the English lay encamped close at Mussleborough the Enemy was within four miles of them intrenched with a Line flanked from Edenburgh to Leith the Guns from Leith scouring most parts of the Line so that they lay very strong The English finding their Enemies were not easily to be attempted lay still all that day being the 29. which proved a sore day of rain and greatly disadvantageous to them having nothing to cover them all which expecting a speedy engagement they did cheerfully undergo it next day being the 30. the ground very wet and provisions being scarce the English resolved to draw to their Quarters at Mussleborough to refresh and revictuall which while they were doing the Scots fell upon their rear and put them to some disorder But some bodies of the English Horse came forthwith to close with them which produced a hot and gallant skirmish insomuch that at length the English charged them so home that they beat them to their very Trenches Major General Lambert in this dispute was run through the arme with a Launce and wounded in another part of the body taken prisoner but rescued by Lievtenant Empson of the Generals Regiment several oâ— the Scots were killed and taken prisoners with small losse to the English among the rest there was taken one Lievtenant Collonel one Major and some Captains some persons of note were likewise slain By this means the English had opportunity to march quietly off to Mussleborough which they did that night but so wearied for want of sleep and tired with the dirtinesse of the wayes that they expected the Enemy would make a sudden infall upon them which accordingly they did Between three and four of the Clock next morning being the 30. of July with fifteen select Troops of Horse under the Command of Major General Montgomery and Coll. Straughan who came on with great resolution beat in the English Guards and put a Regiment of Horse into some disorder but the English presently taking the Alarm charged routed pursued and did execution upon them within a quarter of a mile of Edenburgh taking and killing many as well Officers as Souldiers the Scotch affairs succeeding in this sort made them forbear such frequent sallies and keep within their intrenchments This was the posture of the Military affairs in Scotland when to adde to the miseries of that people all traffique and commerce was prohibited between the two Nations And such of the Scots as had their residence in England were commanded to depart the Land within ten dayes or thereabouts their Ships not able to resist having no Convoy were often surprized by the English insomuch that they were in the road way to ruine But seeing this Moneth of August produced little of action from the Armies there it will not be amiss to give a brief account of such remarkable passages as about that time hapned in England and the neighbouring Nations At London was apprehended condemned Col. Andrews beheaded at Towerhill and executed Collonel Eusebius Andrews who being taken with a Commission from Charles Stuart and for entring into a conspiracy to undermine the Government of England suffered death as aforesaid From the united Provinces came accompt of some notable transactions which take as followeth The Prince of Orange Brother in Law to the Scots King by marrying his Sister Daughter to the late King of England aspiring to a higher degree of Soveraignty over those Provinces then he or his Predecessors ever enjoyed and being thwarted in some of his projects when he was at Amsterdam he thereupon was so distested that he resolved to right himself by securing and putting out the leading men in that Province of Holland for which purpose he caused all the Deputies thereof being then at the Hague to assemble which they refusing he seized most of them those of Amsterdam whom he chiefly defired escaped only His next design was to have surprized the City of Amsterdam by a stratagem commanding the Horse to such a place under pretence of conducting his Mother and shipped his Infantry at Vtrech in the ordinary Passage-boats to come all night that they might be there early next morning and the horse to have their Rendezvouz upon the Heath between Naerden and Amesford about midnight and to be at the Ports of the Town at the moment appointed by which time the foot should have seized on the Regulars and the S. Tunies Ports and have opened a passage for the Horse to enter which design if by a wonderful providence of God in sending a fierce storm of rain that night the intended march of the Horse had not been hindred from coming to the place and time appointed had in all probability taken effect Nor had the Town known any thing thereof till too late But the Hamburgh Post as he was coming to the Town met with several parties of Horse riding to and fro about Amesford and the Heath yet who they were he knew not Hereof the Lords being informed straightway caused the Ports to be shut the Bridges drawn the Guards set the Ordinance planted and all warlike preparations to be made and all this while not knowing their enemies But they were not long in suspence for notice was soon given that it was Count William with his Forces whose designments being thus defeated the Prince of Orange accosts the Town with this following Letter Worshipfull Prudent Discreet Sirs and my very good Friends WHen I was last in the City for the service of the Countrey I was so strangely entertained that not to be subject to the like hereafter I found it expedient to send Count William with the Troops following him into your City and ordered him to keep all things in peace and quiet there that I might not be hindred by any all-affected in such things as yet I have to propound unto you touching the service of the Countrey wherein I require your good assistance And in considence thereof commending you to the protection of the most High I remain Hague July 29. 1650. Your good Friend W. Prince of Orange This stratagem projected with so much secrecy and subtlety failing Count William drew off his Forces to severall Posts with intent to block up the Town which being in a posture of defence opened their sluces and set the Land under water round about and having so done they sent a Trumpeter to Count William to know the
at a time and having her main-Mast and misen-Mast shot away and being overpowered with number was taken The Levant-Merchant was first boarded by one of the enemies Ships of 36 Guns and after two hours fight by another as big the first of which sunk presently after yet was she also possest by the Dutch The Sampson was boarded by young Trump Rear Amirall of the Dutch on one side and by a fire-Ship on the other so that she was quickly fired Some there were that did not stick to traduce Capt. Badiley and those with him as if he had been wanting in point of duty toward the relief of the Ships aforesaid when as they were all well nigh destroyed before he could possibly come up Where when he had done what in him lay and seeing his Fleet in such a hazardous condition like a wise Commander made all the sail he could away for preservation of that part of the Fleet and this he hath so clearly proved that he is wholly acquitted from having any hand in that miscarriage The Relation wherein this Commonwealth stood with the Neighbouring Nations was in this sort The King of Portugall and the State of England conclude a peace The King of Portugall not able to resist so powerfull a State as this having more then enough to do to grapple with the wealthy Spaniard sent over an Ambassadour extraordinary with a sumptuous train of followers to conclude a Peace with the English who after many conferences frequent addresses and large offers made obtained the same yet to this day he hath not fully fiuished his Negotiations so as to satisfie the Merchants for their great losses From France the English were courted by two Parties A French Agent arrives at London by an Agent from the King of France desiring a release of his Ships taken as aforesaid going to the relief of Dunkirk as also that there might be a right understanding between the two Nations And by four Deputies from the Prince of Conde 4 Deputies from Bourdeaux arive at London also craving aid against the Cardinall and his creatures who had straightly besieged the City of Bourdeaux all which Negotiations were ineffectuall for alas the breach was too high between the two Nations to be easily cemented Other Nations by Letters and otherwise endeavoured to be mediators and composers of those mortal jarres that were between England and Holland as the Queen of Sweden the Cantons of Switzerland the Imperiall Cities of Lubeck and Hamburgh c. This was the posture of the Civill and Military affairs of this Nation when his Excellency the Lord General Cromwell a man as it were by Divine appointment set apart for great enterprizes perceiving the notorious corruptions dilatory proceedings pernicious and arbitrary actings of the Parliament to perpetuate their session and to inthrall the people by defrauding and disfranchising them of their antient and undoubted Liberties of equall and successive Representatives entred the Parliament House attended with some of his principall Officers and there delivered certain reasons why a period ought to be put to that Parliament The Parliament is dissolved which was presently done the Speaker with the rest of the Members some by force some through fear and some murmuring departed the House For which dysaster no man moved either tongue or hand in their behalf it being generally beleeved that though the Nation possibly might not be bettered by this change yet a worse could not befall it And thus was this mighty Councell dissolved their Powers transferred into the hands of the Souldiery and their Names reproacht and vilified with the scorns and dirigies of the common people who being well pleased with the doing thereof enquired not into the reasons or causes why it was done But to satisfie the wiser sort and those that were more curious enquirers into the true and genuine causes of things Generall Cromwell and his Councell of Officers published a Declaration the substance whereof was as follows THat after God was pleased marvellously to appear for his people The Declaration of Gen. Cromwell and his Councel of Officers in reducing Ireland and Scotland to so great a degree of peace and England to perfect quiet whereby the Parliament had opportunity to give the people the harvest of all their labour bloud and treasure and to settle a due Liberty in reference to Civil and Spirituall things whereunto they were obliged by their duty engagements and those great and wonderful things God hath wrought for them But they made so little progresse therein that it was matter of much grief to the good people of the Land who thereupon applyed themselves to the Army expecting redresse by their means who though unwilling to meddle with the Civill Authority agreed that such Officers as were Members of Parliament should move them to proceed vigorously in reforming what was amisse in the Commonwealth and in setling it upon a foundation of Justice and Righteousnesse which being done it was hoped the Parliament would have answered their expectations But finding the contrary they renewed their desires by an humble Petition in Aug. 1652. which produced no considerable effect nor was any such progresse made therein as might imply their reall intentions to accomplish what was petitioned for but rather an aversnesse to the things themselves with much bitternesse and opposition to the people of God and his Spirit acting in them in so much that the godly Party in Parliament were rendred of no further use then to countenance the ends of a corrupt Party for effecting their desires of perpetuating themselves in the supreame Government For obviating these evils the Officers of the Army obtained severall meetings with some of the Parliament to consider what remedy might be applyed to prevent the same but such endeavours proving ineffectuall it became evident that this Parliament through the corruption of some the jealousie of others the non-attendance of many would never answer those ends which God his People and the whole Nation expected from them But that this cause which God had so greatly blessed must needs languish under their hands and by degrees be lost and the Lives Liberties and Comforts of his people be delivered into their enemies hands All which being sadly and seriously considered by the honest people of the Nation as well as by the Army it seemed a duty incumbent upon us who had seen so much of the power and presence of God to consider of some effectuall means whereby to establish righteousnesse and peace in these Nations And after much debate it was judged necessary that the supreame Government should be by the Parliament devolved upon known persons fearing God and of approved integrity for a time as the most hopefull way to countenance all Gods people reform the Law and administer Justice impartially hoping thereby the people might forget Monarchy and understand their true interest in the election of successive Parliaments that so the Government might be setled upon a right Basis
â—f striking his top-sayl hung out a â—ed Flag which was the signall for â—is whole Fleet and gave Gen. Blake 〈◊〉 broad-side this was the manner of â—he beginning of that Fight which hath â—aused so much trouble to the two Commonwealths the continuance was â—or about four hours untill night parâ—ed them in which fight one of the â—utch Ships was sunk and another of â—o Guns taken with the Captains of â—oth and about 150 Prisoners of the English there were about ten slâ—â— and fortie wounded the English Aâ—â—mirall received much hurt in her Maâ—â— Sails and Rigging many shot wâ—â— likewise placed in her Hull and tâ—â— hurt that was done to the rest of tâ—â— Fleet was not considerable This attempt of the Dutch whâ—â— they were upon a Treaty did so iâ—cense the Parliament that notwithstanding all the addresses and overtuâ—â— of their Ambassadours and the comiâ—â— over of two more they could not aâ—â— pease them without satisfaction for thâ— injury Although in severall Papers put 〈◊〉 to the Councell of State they labour to excuse the same alledging That the unhappy Fight between the Shâ—â— of both Commonwealths The Apology of the Dutch Ambassadours for the late affront offered to the English in the Downs did happen withâ— the knowledge and against the wills of 〈◊〉 Lords States Generall of the Netherland taking God the searcher of mens hearts witnesse the same and that by Letters aâ—â— Messages they were dayly assured of the sâ—â—cerity of their said Lords and that with grâ—â— and astonishment they received the satâ—â— News of that unhappy rash action aâ— thereupon fell into consultatation about a râ—medy to mitigate that raw and bloudy wound â—â—d to that end had appointed a solemn meetâ—â—g of all the Provinces whereby they doubtâ—â— not but by Gods favour such present cure 〈◊〉 these troubles may be wrought whereby â—â—t only the outward cause of all further eâ—lls may be taken away but also by an inâ—â—ne comfort the minds may be redressed â—nd reduced again to a better hope of the â—reaty in hand and that this thing was most â—rnestly agitated by their Lords for the comâ—on good of both Nations to shun the detestaâ—le shedding of Christian bloud so much â—â—sired by the enemies of both Nations â—hey therefore erave and beseech this Honorâ—ble Councell by the pledges of common Reâ—gion and Liberty to suffer nothing to be â—one out of too much heat that afterwards â—â—ay prove neither revocable nor repairable â—â—y too late idle vows and wishes but that â—hey might without delay receive a kind Answer which they desire so much the more â—ecause the Ships of their Lords and Shipâ—ers as well in the broad Sea as in the Ports â—â—f this Commonwealth some by force and some â—â—y fighting are kept Unto which the Parliament replyâ—d That calling to mind with what contâ—nued demonstrations of friendship The Parliaments Answer to and resolution thereupon they havâ— demeaned themselves towards their Neighbours of the united Provinces from the beginning of their intestine troubles omitting nothing that might tend to a good correspondency with them do find themselves mucâ— surprized with the uNsuitable returns thaâ— have been made thereunto and especially aâ— the Acts of Hostility lately committed in thâ— very roads of England upon the Ships oâ— this Commonwealth Vpon consideration oâ— all which and of the severall Papers delivered by the Ambassadors into the Councelâ— of State they further answered That as they would be willing to make a charitable construction of the expressions in the said Papers endeavouring to represent the late Engagement of the Fleets to have hapned without the Knowledge and against the Mind of their Superiors So when they consider how disagreeable to that Profession the Revolutions and Actions of your State and their Ministers at Sea have been in the midst of a Treaty offered by themselves and managed here by their Ambassadours the extraordinary preparations of an hundred and fiftie saile of Ships without any visible occasion and the Instructions themselves given by the States to their Commanders at Sea too much cause is found to beleeve that the Lords the States Generall of the united Provinces have an intention by force to usurp the known Right of England in the Seas to destroy the Fleets that are under God their Walls and Bulwarks and thereby to expose this Commonwealth to Invasion at their pleasure as by their late Action they have attempted to do Whereupon the Parliament conceive themselves obliged to endeavour with Gods assistance as they shall have opportunity to seek Reparation of the wrongs already suffered and Security that the like be not attempted for the future Neverthelesse with this mind and desire that all differences betwixt the Nations may if possibly be friendly and peaceably compoled as God shall open a way by his providence thereunto and circumstances shall be conducing to render such endeavours lesse dilatory and more effectuall then those of this kind heretofore usually have been This short and smart answer contained yet something in it that tended to a possibility of an accommodation yet all the severall conferences and debates about this businesse came to nothing but broke quite off The Dutch Ambassadours have audience and depart and in short space after the Ambassadors had audience in Parliament took their leaves and departed And now these two mighty States prepare to offend each other and accordingly Gen. Blake the English Admirall with a gallant and resolute Fleet of ships advances Northward towards the Isles of Orkney to seize upon and hinder all such as they should find fishing on those coasts where he took 12 Dutch men of Warre guarding their Busses but most of the Busses were let go Sir George Ayscue with his Squadron of Ships being left to guard the narrow Sea The Fight between the Dutch and English Fleets neer Plimouth discovered a Fleet of Flemings between Dover and Calice being about 30 of which 10 were taken and burnt the rest ran ashoar on the Coasts of France Many other Prizes were dayly brought in both of the Dutch and French by the Ships and Frigots of this Commonwealth Thence Sir George Ayscue with his Fleet sailed to the Westward to seek out the Dutch Fleet to guard the Seas and to conduct the Merchant-men that lay at Plimouth through the Channel and being about seven or eight Leagues off Plimouth he received intelligence of the Dutch Fleet and presently a Councell of Warre was called upon which they resolved to stand over for the Coast of France as the most probable way to meet with them and the same day being the 16. of Aug. between one and two in the afternoon they had sight of the Dutch Fleet and presently made what saile they could towards them to discover their number being about 60 Sail of Men of Warre and 30 Merchantmen the English were but 38. saile four Fireships and four Scouts yet they came up with the enemy about four in the afternoon and began