sent by the Lair Libberton The New Commonwealth in England in the mean time was modell'd thus The House of Peers as I said was voted down the Commons reduc'd to about 100 and a new kind of Senate set up called a Council of State who sate at Whitehall consisting of forty persons these indeed though deriv'd from the Parliament grew to have greater authority then their creators but though the supreme Power seem'd in appearance to be in these two Councils yet it was really in the hands of the Army the chief Officers of which rul'd them that rul'd the Nations Their principall business at Home was to fortify their new Government by making severall Acts of Treason and to terrifie others by putting to death divers of the Nobility as D. Hamilton E. of Holland L. Capel c. and such of the Gentry who had oppos'd their Barbarous and Tyrannicall Proceedings They also employ'd themselves in dividing the Patrimony of the Crown having murder'd the Father and expell'd the Son the same course also they took with many thousands of loyall persons either confiscating and selling their Estates or putting them to redeem the same upon great compositions by this meanes and prodigious Taxes together drawing all the Wealth of the Nation both Money Lands into their own hands and sharing the same among themselves their Lords the Officers of the Army His Majesty had small hopes of doing any good immediately upon England although he had friends enough in it However two noble Gentlemen Sir Iohn Berkly and Col. Slingsby offer'd themselves to serve their Prince in England and accordingly came from Iersey into the VVest and went about stirring up their Correspondents to Armes for their King Country but they were both accidentally discover'd taken The King had sent Ambassadours to severall great Princes and States as the Emperor the King of Spain the Duke of Moscovy the State of Venice the Grand Seignor and others to sollicite their ayd and contribution for the recovery of his Father's Kingdomes But from the most of them he received only complements pretenses of their good will to help him The most considerable Embasse and most probable to take effect was that to his Majesty of Spain by the Lord Cottington who at his Audience remonstrated in the name of his Master That the Parliament of England having been in Armes against his Father had prevailed against him and caused him to be put to dâ—ath That he being Son and heir to the late King was yet kept out of his Kingdomes by the said Parliament And therefore he desired his Aid and Assistance to establish him into his Rights and Dignities in his Kingdomes To this the King of Spain answer'd That he was sorry for his Father 's ill successe wishing he had been more prosperous That he condol'd with him for his Father's death and was much affected with sorrow at the manner of it That concerning the difference between him and the Parliament and the Rights on thâ— one or the other side they being matters out of his Territories and Iurisdiction he could not take cognizance of them nor should he meddle therein But for any thing within his own Dominions he should be ready to do him what lawful favour he could But such is the influence Self Interest has upon the minds even of the greatest Potentates that it many times excludes all considerations of generosity Had the Neighbour-States resented the unjustice done to this King and his Father as they ought I am confident the Spirits of the Iuncto would have soon been broken But the course of the world as I said is otherwise his Majesty of Britain is an Exile his Enemies are great and powerfull and therefore in stead of sending assistance to the unfortunate Prince the King of Spain sends and Embassadour to court the new Common wealth of Rebels to a League The King hearing of a Fleet of Ships preparing by the Parliament for the Island of Iersey thought fit to dispatch his answer to the Committee of Estates of Scotland in order to a Treaty which being drawn up with a Letter directed to the Committee of the Kirk Assembly the Laird Libberton departed with it to Scotland Soon after which his Majesty to avoid all danger went from Iersey back again into France where her resided with his Royal Mother till the time for the Scotch Treaty drew near Before his going thither he writ thus to the Lord Marq. of Montross Most Dear and well beloved Cousin We have received Letters from our Kingdome of Scotland of which you receive herewith a Copy by which our subjects demand of us that we would please to acknowledge for lawfull their Parliament and particularly the two last Sessions of that Assembly Which being obtained of our Grace they offer to send us their Deputies with full Commission to Treat with us of the means to reestablish Peace and obedience in that Kingdome We have made them an Answer That we have made known to their Envoy the place where we desired their Deputies should come to us with all diligence And to the end you should not apprehend that by our Letters or by the Treaty we had any design to hinder the affairs we hâ—ve committed to you we have thought fit to let you know that as we judge the Levies you have made for our service to have been a powerfull motive to oblige them to send their Deputies and to enter into Treaty with us So we also believe that the Progrese you shall make in your generous Designes will dispose them to Treat with the more moderation to the end the whole Realm may again happily return under our obedience We assure you we have not the least thought to derogate from that ample Commission which we have given you nor to diminish that Authority in which we have invested you by our Letters Patents And we doe promise you also if it shall come to passe that we shall enter into any good Intelligence with our subjects we shall have so much care of your proper Interest that all the world shall see how much we esteem your Person what confidence we have in your conduct your Courage whereof not only the late King our Father but Our self also have reciv'd Proofs both by what you have done suffer'd for Us. In the mean time you shall understand that we have qualified the Assembly of our Subjects with the Appellation of the Committee of Estates which we have done onely for this Treary Which if it shall not succeed as we desire As we know already this Qualification of the Privy Signet do's not at all authorise them to be such so we shall then forthwith declare for what we hold them notwithstanding this Title which we have given them both for their own proper satisfaction also to make known to all the World that we desire to bring back our Subjects of the Kingdome of Scotland to their Duty rather by wayes of
War returns his desire That his Highnesse would be pleased to disband his Army and he would conduct him with honour to the Parliament This seeming too hard a condition the Lord Capel by the princes command reply'd by Letter That his Highnesse did not believe that his overture of engaging himself in the mediation of a blessed Peace for this miserable Kingdome would have brought him an inhibition to quit his duty to his Royal Father by dividing his Interest from that of his Majesty whereby he should render himself unworthy and uncapable of the fruit of that peace he laboured for If his proposition might be consented to he hop'd God would so bless his sincere intentions and desires as to make him a blessed Instrument to preserve this Kingdome from dissolution But if that be rejected he should give the world no cause to believe that he would forfeit that honour which only can preserve him in a capacity of doing that service should with patience attend God's good pleasure untill his endeavours may be applyed with preservation of his Innocence This is all I have in command from his Highnesse Your Servant A. CAPEL Such were the honourable loyal and good intentions of this noble Prince and such was the insolence of the Victors and the fate of this Nation that no mediation could be acceptable that might prevent its approaching totall ruine so that this generous Letter receiv'd no other answer but silence Shortly after the Prince repairs to Oxford and there reconciles his Cousins the Princes Rupert and Maurice to his Father their Uncle From thence also he writes severall Letters to the Speaker of the House of Peers containing Propositions for reconciliation and peace which notwithstanding took no effect Therefore he departs into the West with intent to raise the forces of his Dukedome of Cornwall and the County of Devon for the relief of Exceter which was at that time besieged by Sir Thomas Fairfax In order to which he commits his own Army to the conduct of the Lord Hopton who soon after resolv'd to come upon the back of Fairfax and accordingly advanced to Torrington with 5000. Horse and 4000 Foot Fairfax hearing this leave his siege and marches towards Torrington The Battel began near the Town which was after a sharp encounter taken and the Lord Hopton himself shot in the thigh but escaped away to Stratton His Highnesse in the mean time was at Lanceston but understanding the Approach of Fairfax's Army he quitteth it leaving Colonel Basset behind him with 500. Foot and Horse who skirmished with the Parliamentarians and being soon worsted got off by the favour of the darknesse of the Night The Prince in the mean time goes to Pendennis where finding the pursuit so hot he imbarqued himself for the Isle of Scilly on the first of March 1646. accompanied by the Lords Goring and Culpeper and Sir Edward Hide Soon after his departure the Lord Hopton finding Fairfax's successes daily to increase and himself unable to do any service to check them with those broken Forces he had left desires a cessation but the General summons him to lay down Armes upon which ensued a Treaty at Tresilian Bridge Sir Thomas Fairfax quartering at Truro and the Lord Hopton further west ward between whom it was agreed upon the thirteenth of March That the Lord Hopton should disband his Army in the west and have fifty Horse of his own and fifty of General Fairfax's for his Convoy to Oxford That all strangers should have passes to go beyond Seas to carry with them what was their own without Horses Armes That all English Officers should go home to their respective habitations or if they plea's beyond Sea each Colonel to have his horse and two men to wait on him each Captain one man and horse the Troopers 20 s. a piece and to go whither they pleased Such was the Fate of the Royall Cause under the conduct of this Heroical Prince who wanted fortune rather then virtue to be happy Hitherto we have with all succinctnesse and verity represented the adventures and actions of his Highnesse from his infancy here in England He was now about sixteen years old the last six of which he had been a spectatour of his Father's calamities and the ruine of his native Countrey having been a sufferer in both assoon as he was become capable to distinguish between good and evil Most part of his tender age was spent in Armies amongst the tumults and noise of an unfortunate War and now he finds himself enforc'd to quit the Territory of England leaving the King his Father with the Duke of York and the two Palatine Princes Rupert and Maurice closely besieged in Oxford by the Parliaments Forces and most of the other Garrisons of the King 's ready to surrender to the power of their victorious Armies The sense of all which certainly had been insupportable by a spirit lesse couragious and firm against such heavy adversities then that of this young Heroe We must now follow him into the Island of Scilly where he had not been long but a solemn message is sent from the Parliament to invite him to come to them and to reside in such places as they thought convenient with such Attendants and Counsellors as should be by them appointed It being no part of my design to comment upon any passages of this History but only to represent things nakedly as they were done I shall forbear to make any conjectures what the intentions of the Parliament were in this invitation leaving the Readers to their own judgement Indeed the Prince had inducements enough to move him to accept of their offer his Father's condition in a manner desperate his own little better having no hopes left but those slender ones of foreign succour it might have seem'd the best and safest course to a young Prince to secure his succession at least to the Government to have gone to them upon honourable terms according to the example of Edward the 3. in the life-time of his father Edward the 2. But loyalty prevailed above all other considerations and therefore upon 24. of April he returâ—s this prudent Answer That it became him not to doe any thing in a matter of that concernment without his Royall Father's privity advice and free consent and therefore before he could satisfie the Honourable House he desired that a passe might be granted for the Lord Capel to go to the King at Oxford to take his advice and hearken to his Royall pleasure and make some overtures to him in order to a peace Moreover he desired that the Reverend Arch-bishop of Armagh a person of transcendent learning great moderation and of an unspotted and inoffensive life might have liberty to come to him These proposals though extreme fair and reasonable were offer'd to deaf eares and took no effect In the mean time Fairfax having taken in the City of Exceter and the town of Barnstable upon Articles marches against Oxford
Chancellor the Lord Burleigh substituted This begat ill bloud The Earle of Sutherland assembled about 500. men and seem'd to intend them upon another account What course then should his Majesty take amidst this perverse Nation However he omitted no means that the most prudent and diligent Prince could use aswell to reconcile Differences as to compleat his levies to which purpose he obtain'd an Act of the Parliament for levying fifteen thousand foot and eight thousand horse Soon after which the Parliament adjourned till the seventeenth of April devolving the Civill Power in the mean time into the Hands of a Select Council and the Military upon a Committee of VVar consisting of twenty persons chosen out of each of the Three Estates Speciall care was taken about the fortifying of Sterling the King himself going often to hasten the compleating of them and shortly after removed his Court from St. Iohnston's thither The 29. of May being his Majestie 's Birth-day was solemniz'd with great rejoycing throughout Scotland the Parliament adjourning and his Majesty dining that day with most of the Nobility at a great Feast and the Town of Dundee to expresse their affections beyond all the rest presented his Majesty with a rich Tent 6. Field-pieces of Ordnance and advanced a brave Regiment of Horse for his service at their own charges Mean while the English pursue their advantages and Col. Monk takes Blacknesse a strong place between Edinburgh and Sterling by surrender Which losse was not so considerable as that of the Earle of Eglington a person of eminent worth and authority who having been sent into the West with some other Commanders to raise Forces and coming to Dunbarton to put his Commission in execution was there surpris'd by a party of Horse sent thither for that purpose by Col. Lilburne together with his Son Col. Ia. Montgomery Lieut. Col. Colburn c. and carried to Edinburgh About this time also the pretended Parliament of England judging it advantageous to get into their power those lesser Islands which held out for his Majesty sent their General Blake to that of Scilly who with three hundred Seamen in a short space reduc'd the most important places in it The Parliament of Scotland being reassembled at St. Iohnston's after their adjournment his Majesty sent a Message to them desiring 1. That the Act about the Classes of Malignants might be repeal'd 2. That no more mention might be made of the name of Malignants amongst them 3. That Duke Hamilton the Earles of Calendar and Seaforth and others might have full command m the Army These proposals which were of high importance to the common safety and consentaneous aswell to Religion as season of State were notwithstanding vehemently oppos'd by Argyle and the Covenanted gang yet the moderate party prevail'd and they were carried in the affirmative And having pass'd these and the Act of Indemnity and taken order for the pressing of men they dissolved about the beginning of Iune For the expediting the Levies Argyle Huntly and Seaforth were dispatcht away to their several Territories Cromwel in the mean time had been very sick so that there pass'd little of action during that time nor were the Scots willing to engage till their forces were compleated Maj. Gen. Massey had received instruction to fall into England with the English Horse and Foot under his command and together with the Duke of Buckingham and the Lord Wilmot to join with a party in Lancashire that were to rise for the King The designe was chiefly promoted at London by some of the Presbyterian Clergy who held correspondence with Maj. Gen. Massey and contributed divers summes of money to his assistance But a ship bound for the Isle of Man being driven into Ayre in Scotland was taken and Letters found in her which discover'd the whole Confederacy whereupon the chief heads of it in London were apprehended Mr. Cook Gibbons Love Ienkins Drake and others Two of whom viz. Mr. Love and Mr. Gibbons had a formal tryall before a pretended High Court of Iustice were beheaded on Tower-hill Au. 22. 1651. The rest upon their repentance and supplications were afterwards released By this means the intended Irruption and Insurrection were frustrated Cromwel being now recovered from his sickness having contracted all his forces into a Body by drawing in his out-guards or petty Garrisons and having receiv'd great supplyes of Ammunition from Berwick and 80000. l. from the Iunto by Sea for his Souldiers resolves upon a speedy encounter His Forces consisted of 14. Regiments of Horse and 12. Regiments of Foot 6. Troops of Dragoons and 16. pieces of Ordnance With these about the latter end of Iune he advances into Lithgow and endevour'd to dare the Scots to an engagement who lay strongly encamped at Torwood within 3. miles of Sterling But they thought fit to decline battle till their Forces were compleated Wherefore to intercept their supplies of provision Col. Overton was commanded with 1600. foot and 4. Troops of Horse to fall into the North of Fife who accordingly embarking his men in small Boats landed them at the North-Ferry in spight of all opposition Cromwel himself in the mean time marching with his whole Army close up to the Scots intending to fall upon their Rear in case they mov'd to disturb the Enterprise However Maj. Gen. Sir Iohn Brown and Maj. Gen. Holburn were dispatcht to drive the English out of Fife again but before they could come up to them Lambert and Okey were joyn'd with Overton with 2. Regiments of Horse and two of Foot And with this unexpected reinforcement the English wholly defeated the Scots killing 2000. upon the place and taking above 1200 prisoners among whom was the Commander in chief Maj. Gen. Brown who did not long survive this losse but dyed as is conceiv'd of grief having alwaies approved himself to his Majesty a person of much fidelity and courage This defeat was the bane of the Scotch affairs For soon after the English took in Garrisons almost as fast as they approacht them Brunt Island and a strong Forth called Innesgarvy scituate in an Isle lying in the Frith were reduc'd by Maj. Gen. Lambert and within a few dayes after Cromwel took the Town of St. Iohnston's after one dayes siege by surrender This prodigious successe caused his Majesty to alter his Counsels and designe an irruption into England which was resolv'd upon out of probable hopes that many of his loyall Subjects there would betake themselves to his assistance when they understood he was in the head of an Army in it This indeed was a desperate course but according to that of the great Physitian what matter 's it whether the remedy be desperate when there is but one Scotland was in a manner already lost the Army he had levyed were raw unexperienc'd men and all the Garrisons round about were possest by the Enemy whose Forces were far more numerous and better provided of Ammunition and able Horses and besides had
disability to goe through with the enterprise and defray the charges of it and partly because he was at the same time dealt with underhand by the King of France to relinquish the Prince's party and offer'd by him such termes as they were not able to give him And as ill fortune would have it the manner of discovery of their agreemenâ— made the King of England be lookt upon as the Agent and procurer of it For the French King's Army under Turenne marching into Brie in view of the Lorrain Army the Duke of Beaufort was extreme desirous to encounter with them To which purpose he went into the field where he found King Charles and the Duke of York with the Duke of Lorrain who upon the approach of Beaufort presently withdrew And then this Duke urging him of Lorrain to fight found an extreme coldnesse in him to the business and presently after understood his conjunction with the Court-interest Whereupon the incensed Princes exclaimed against the perfidiousnesse of the Duke of Lorrain and against the English Princes as the causes of it Who though they made it sufficiently apparent that their transactions with the Duke of Lorrain were wholly about another affair yet the indignation of the Princes and people for this collusion so blinded their reasons that they would not be convinc'd of the innocency of the King and his Brother but bitterly inveigh'd against them and the Queen Mother whom they also were resolv'd to believe had been instrumental in the business so that they were induc'd to withdraw from the Louvre to St. Germains and the Queen to Chaliot Shortly after the Victory at Worcester the pretended Parliament as I said executed abundance of the Royall party and such as were suffer'd to live had their Estates confiscated and were kept severall yeares after in prison Their principall Acts pass'd the remainder of this year were I. An Act for the increase of shipping and encouragement of Navigation in which it was enacted 1. That no goods or commodities of the growth or manufacture of any places whatsoever should be brought hither but onely in English Ships and that from the very places of their growth and manufacture onely Also that no Fish or Oyle made of Fish or Whale-bone should be imported but onely such as should be caught in English Vessels nor any salted Fish exported in any other save English Bottomes c. This Act was apprehended by the Dutch as highly prejudiciall to the Trade which they had driven with extreme advantage above us during our intestine Wars and proved a great cause of the War that shortly follow'd between this State and the Vnited Provinces II. An Act to determine the Session of this Parliament on Nov. 3. 1654. Their dissolution was a point they did not love to think of but being urg'd by the Army and several Petitions for a new Representative after many debates and delayes they resolv'd to continue their sitting 3. yeares longer but they reckon'd without their Host and receiv'd a quietus about a year and half after from Cromwel III. An Act of Oblivion which was loaden with many heavy provisoes and exceptions IV. An Act for incorporating Scotland into one Commonwealth with England the Government of which they invested in these Commissioners Ol. St. Iohn Sir Henry Vane Maj. Gen. Lambert Maj. Gen. Deane Col. Fenwick Alderman Tichburne Major Salwey and Lieut. Gen. Monck As for Ireland the Government of it having been wholly referred to Cromwel he constituted his Son in Law Ireton to command in chief there wâ—th the Title of Lord Deputy In December 1651. arrived at Paris the Gentlewoman Mrs. Iane Lane who had been instrumental in his Majestie 's deliverance after the overthrow at Worcester of which fearing danger by the discovery of some unfaithful confidents she went on foot in disguise to Yarmouth and there took ship for France She was conducted into Paris with great honour his Majestie himself with the Queen his mother and the Dukes of York and Glocester going out to meet her upon the first sight his Majesty took her by the hand and saluted her with this obliging term VVelcome my Life The French Court also regarded her with much respect and honour together with her Brother Col. Lane who accompanied her thither About the Spring of the year 1652. broke out a furious War between the English the Dutch Common-wealths after Embassadors had been sent to no effect from either The first Act of Hostility was on the 19. of May 1652. After which many bloody Sea-fights pass'd between them both in the British Sea and the Streights with great losse of Ships and men on both sides but the Dutch were most commonly worstest During this sharp War his Majesty was as mindfull of his Interests using all endeavours for an accommodation between the King of France and the Princes as also between the Kings of France and Spain in the mean time also sending Embassadours to severall Potentates to desire assistance as the Lord Wilmot whom he had created Earle of Rochester to the Imperial Diet at Ratisbone the Lord Culpeper to the Hague and the Lord VVentworth to the King of Denmark But the Catholick Princes were the colder in gratifying his Majesty for that he shew'd no pronesse to embrace their Religion as the Emperor once expresly signified to him And indeed such was his Majestie 's constancy that no temptations of worldly advantages no resentment of adversity nor the sollicitations and arguments of severall grand Catholicks who endeavour'd to pervert him as Mr. Montagu Militiere and Salmonet could prevaile any thing upon him He propounded to the Dutch that if they would furnish him with a squadron of Ships he would set up his own Flags and command them in person Some of the Provinces were very inclinable to the motion but that of Holland which stood out against the admitting of the young Prince of Orange for Capt. Gen. was also backward to comply with his Majestie 's desires or undertake his interest then which act nothing could have been more honourable to them nor perhaps more beneficiall All that he could bring them to was that they granted liberty for his Ships to ride in their Ports with their Flâ—gs up as King of Great Brittaine c. The King of Denmark professed willingnesse enough to gratify his Majesty but his affairs were then in a doubtfull Estate and depended much upon the successe of the Dutch with whom he had partly engaged On December 1652. the English Iunto resolved to be rid of his Majestie 's younger Brother the Duke of Glocester and referr'd it to the Council of State to consider with what accommodation and to what place to send him The Council that they might seem to do something handsomely ordered him to go into Holland gave him a Bill for 1000. l. to be paid to him upon his arrival but such was their honesty that they took care that he should never receive one penny of it However he was
to passe that way to Italy whereupon he sent one of his Lords to her to signify his desire to wait upon her Majestie at what place she should be pleased to nominate To which message she return'd thanks for the honour his Majesty intended her and appointed Coningstein a village near Francfurt in the Electorate of Mentz for the place of Interview His Majesty was accordingly received there by her with many expressions of respect and had private conference with her alone for almost an hour after which the Duke of Glocester was admitted to her presence alone and then the Prince Elector Palatine and his Brother Prince Rupert who came thither on purpose and the refst of the great Lords that attended the King The Elector Palatine invited his Majesty to his Court but his Majesty waved his civility and after many complements between these Princes his Majesty returned to Francfurt the Prince Elector and his Brother to Heidleberg and the Queen of Sweden proceeded without stay in her journey to Italy At his Majestie 's returning from Francfurt which was by water the Elector of Mentz having provided magnificent entertainment for his reception came inperson a great part of the way to meet him and conducted him to one of his Palaces where he treated him for four dayes in a most sumptuous and splendid manner after which himself accompanied him for some part of the way to Collen in which City four Burgomasters were appointed by the Magistrate to wait upon his Majesty and the Princes and to testify the satisfaction they took in their return thither And thus we see what respect his Majesty found in a forreign Country and in his lowest fortune the greatnesse of his vertues causing him to be every where extremely valued not for what he injoy'd but for what he truly deserv'd Shortly after the Princesse Royal took leave of his Majesty and the Duke of Glocester and departed for Holland In the mean time in England Cromwel's feares or his malice were restlesse for about Iune most of the Gentry in all parts of the Nation were clapt up by his Major Generals not would any securiry be taken for them but rhey were kept in Inns such like places with guards of Souldiers at an excessive charge and in convenience for many months together Among others the Lord Falkland Lord Willoughby of Parham and the Lord Newport were committed to the Tower upon suspition of Treason but it seems it was rather his own guilt that induc'd him to do thus then any reasonable cause which could he have found no question they had paid their lives for his security There having been this year a barbarous Massacre committed upon the Protestants of the Valleys of Piedmont by the Souldiers of Charles Emanuel Duke of Savoy the Protector testifi'd his resentment of it by appointing a solemn day of Humiliation to be observ'd and a large contribution to be gathered throughout the Nation for their relief The collections came to a vast sum but how well they were pay'd to those for whom they were pretended is not unknown to them that were employ'd about this affair into Savoy Also toward the latter end of this year Proposals were made to Cromwel by Manasseh Ben-Israel a Iew in behalf of the Iewish Nation for their free admission to trade and exercise of their Religion in England They had been excluded for the space of almost 400. hundred years yet Cremwel out of a sense of charity for their conversion and in consideration of 200000 l. was willing to listen to their reentertainment But the designe was so vehemently oppos'd by the Divines aâ—d Merchants that it took no effect In the beginning of the next year 1656. the King of Spain being sensible of Cromwel's perfidiousness solemnly proclaimed Warre against England Whereupon Cromwel enter'd into a strict league both Offensive and Defensive with the King of France who was then at Wars with the King of Spain both in Flanders Italy and Catalonia One of the chief Articles of the Confederacy was that his Majesty with the Dukes of York and Glocester and all his Relations and Adherents saving the Queen Mother should be excluded out of France In which it is to be wondred with what sense of honour that King could consent to so base and ignoble a proposall made by one that had murdered his Uncle and Usurped his Dominions and withall to banish such Princes as were so near of Blood to him and came to him for succour and relief But selt-interest not self-preservation for what could France fear from Cromwel when he was ingag'd with the King of Spain and jealous every day of the people he tyrannis'd over self-interest I say of not of the King of France at least of Cardinal Mazarine the Queen's creature prevail'd above all respects of honour justice and the sense of humane calamities The King wisely withdrew before and the Duke of Glocester not long after there remain'd onely the Duke of York who during his service in the French Army had acquir'd to himself a great renowne and a high command Neverthelesse he had some small time respited for his stay in which he was visited and honourably treated by Marshal Turenne who infinitely esteem'd and lov'd him for his extraordinary courage skill in Martial affairs others of the French Lords as also by the Duke of Modena who was then occasionally in that Kingdome And shortly after he took his leave of the King of France the Queen his Mother and the rest of the Court and departed into Flanders In the mean time the King of Spain partly out of a noble generosity and partly out of consideration that having engag'd in a Warre against Cromwel his Majestie 's interest might be of some advantage to him caused Don Iohn of Austria his Governour in the Low-Countries to invite his Majesty into his Territories which invitation was made by the Count of Fuensaldagne a great Commander and lately Governour of Milan His Majesty accepted of the offer and departed from Colen to Bruges in Flanders where he was received with great expressions of honour and respect Thither also the Duke of York went to his Majesty having taken Bruxels in his way and been extremely caress'd by Don Iohn and his Court who expressed much joy in having the most valiant Prince of his age in the world come to assist personaâ—ly in the war In England Cromwel being much necessitated for money and withall impatient to tarry longer for a confirmation by the people which although he could not obtain of the preceeding Parliament he hoped he might gain of another attempted once more to call a new Representative But remembring the carriage of some in the former he gave private intimation to certain persons in several Counties to obstruct if possible their Election again in the ensuing Session and writ Letters to some Sheriffs to the same purpose Neverthelesse though they were chosen after the new mode 10. in a County and 1. in
which put the King upon thoughts of providing for his own safety and therefore on the 13. of April he went out of Oxford in a disguise with Parson Hudson waiting upon Mr. Iohn Ashburnham and upon the 6. os May got to the Scots Army before Newark Soon after which Sir Thomas Glenham surrendred the City of Oxford to General Fairfax upon the 24. of Iune 1646. The Duke of York was carried from thence to Saint Iames's where he met with his Sister the Princesse Henrietta Maria who was sent thither from the surrender of Exceter but was shortly after conveyed from Oatlands over to her Mother in France by her Governesse the Lady Dalkeith From the Island of Scilly the Prince removed to that of Guernsey where he had not long been but an Ordinance is put out against him in the nature of a Ban prohibiting all persons to repair to him or correspond with him by letter or otherwise upon pain of death without mercy Whereupon his abode here being so uncomfortable he betakes himself for France to visit his Mother and that Court there he was received with great demonstration of joy by all parties excepting the dissembling Cardinal Mazarine who though he pretended much respect yet was he inwardly glad to see him in distresse and exile From hence the Queen being willing to comply with the active desires of her Son which inclin'd him to break through these clouds of misery and retirement which seem'd wholly to obscure him writes to the King by Major Bosvil requesting him to permit the Prince to go into the field with his Uncle the Duke of Orleans that summer in the head of a French Army that was then design'd for an expedition into Flanders against the Spaniard To which his Majesty refus'd to condescend partly for that he judg'd it an imployment below a Prince of Great Britain to serve any other King but his own whose pay and orders were once receiv'd by a Roman Caesar and partly because he knew not how soon his service might be necessary for his own Couhtrey and therefore he commands him to wave that design and await his further instructions In the mean time it pleased the King of kings to lay his hand upon him and visit him with an intermitting Fever which continued upon him for the space of some weeks 'till by the divine blessing upon the Physitian 's care he was recover'd to perfect health Soon after which he receiv'd a Commission from his Royal Father to be Generalissimo of all the Loyal forces that survived of the late unsuccessefull battels and garrisons While he is advising about this affair the Kingdom of Scotland out of tendernesse of the Prince's safety honour and conscience move the King That his Son the present hope and future happinesse of these Nations might not be exposed in his youth to the dangers which encompassed him in the French Court particularly in reference to his Religion the perversion of which might have fatal consequences in these three Kingdomes Whereupon his Majesty from Newcastle whether the Scots fearing least General Fairfax should fall upon them and compel them to deliver him up retir'd with him writes to him That he should wait upon his Mother and obey her dutifully in all things Religion only excepted and that he should not stir any whether without his directions The Scots also by their Committee of Estates write themselves to the Prince to invite him thither Professing that none of the late calamities except those that had befallen his Royal Father afflicted them more then his Highnesse's absence And seeing their Forces had entred England to doe their duty to Religion his Majesty and his Highnesse they humbly desire he would please to honour and countenance their pious and loyal endeavours with his gracious presence for whose honour safety and freedome they engage the publick Faith of that Kingdome Signed Crawford Lindsey In Answer to this he desires the Earle of Louderdail to return his acknowledgements to the States of Scotland and assure them he would doe nothing misbecoming a good Prince or unsuitable to their civility But the Prince in pursuance of his instructions negotiating in behalf of his Father's affairs in the French Court by his Mother's assistance whom her nearnesse of bloud great deserts and low condition made powerfull there prevails with the French to advance ten thousand pounds for the Marquesse of Ormond towards the furtherance of his Majestie 's affairs in Ireland as an earnest of greater matters And some remainders of his Cornish Forces getting to a head others upon order marching to him out of Ireland he goes to meet them at the Island of Iersey with such Forces as he had gotten together beyond sea especially in France by his Mother's means and in Holland by the mediation of his young Brother in Law VVilliam of Nassaw Prince of Orange who about this time succeeded his Father Henry in the dignity of General and Admiral of the United Provinces He possessed himself likewise of some Vessels in the Island adding others to them which he hired in France While his Highnesse lay here a Letter is sent to him from the Parliament by the hands of Colonel Russel their Governour of Guernsey which lyes six or seven Leagues distant from Iersey The effect of it was to desire him for his Father's his own and the three Kingdomes sake to return to them where he should find all due respects Subjects could afford or his H ghnesse expect The Design was to get the person of the Prince into their hands as the Scots had that of the King but it took no effect the Prince proceeding to manage his affairs by sea and land to such advantage as might â—nable his Royal Father to stand in the approaching Treaty on such termes as might consist with his Conscience and his Honour On Iuly the 27. following sixteen General Propositions with sundry Qualifications were presented to the King at Newcastle by the Earles of Pembroke Suffolk c. who were limited to ten dayes which the King judging unreasonable refused to consent to and defir'd to come to London and treat personally After which the Scots general Assembly send a Remonstrance to his Majesty desiring him to settle matters in England according to the COVENANT and to signe the Parliaments Propositions And Chancellor Lowdon told him plainly there was no other means for him to close with his Two Houses And moreover if he lost England he should not be admitted to reign in Scotland But the King still persisting in his denyal the Scots who had hitherto some what sharply disputed about the disposall of his Person are content upon the receit of a good summe of Money to depart home and leave the King in the power of the Parliament who voted him to Holmby House and sent Commissioners to receive and convey him thither where he arriv'd on the 17. of February 1646 7. The War was now totally finished and dissentions brake out between the Parliament
danger the Prince should make prize of their ships for that he had engaged to the States of the Low Countries to do no act prejudicial to Trade At last the debate was put off till the next day when the Speaker putting the House in mind of it again it was earnestly called upon by the younger Sir Iohn Evelin Scot VVeaver Hollond Boys and almost all the godly gang So the debate was resumed and VVeaver went very high to try the Temper of the House But the debate interminis That the Prince should be declared a Râ—bel a Traitor was soon laid by though violently press'd chiefly for these reasons 1. They had not the Originals of the Princes Letters and Declaration which the Common Council still kept but only Copies not so much as attested upon Oath by any authentick Clerk therefore no legall Proceedings could be upon them 2. It world argue no peaceable inclination in them the same day when they sent Messengers to invite the King his Father to a Treaty of Peace 3. It could not consist with the National Covenant 4. It is High Treason by the Stat. 25. Edw. 3. to endeavour the destruction of the Prince the King 's eldest Son but to declare him a Rebel and a Traytor was to endeavour to destroy him and therefore High Treason c. But what they could not do expresly they did implicitely by Voting all that should adhere to aid or assist the Prince Rebels and Traytors Hereby they put a tye upon the City not to redeem their ships by lending 20000. l. to the Prince and yet had a Pyrate taken them it had been lawfull to redeem them About this time also an Order passed the House of Commons for the Earl of VVarwick to fight the Prince at sea It was sent up to the Lords and passed that House too whereby it became an Ordinance yet some of the Lords entred a Protestation against it as the Earles of Lincoln Suffolk Lord North. The Prince continued still in the Downes with his Fleet in a good condition waiting for that supply of Land forces his Brother the Prince of Orange was very industriously raising for his service in Holland and in the interim was willing to do something for the relief of Deal Castle which was besieged by a party of Fairfax's Army left in Kent for that purpose In order to which he landed 500. men who at first charged handsomely but being overpowr'd by number were beaten several slain and taken and the rest got aboard again Failing of this attempt he was inclinable to hazard himself for the relief of Colchester which bravely held out against Fairfax's whole power but from this he was disswadeded as a businesse of too apparent danger Wherefore he continued expecting the event of Hamilton's expedition in the North who was sent into England by the Parliament of Scotland with an Army of 21000. upon the account of the Covenant viz. for a restitution of his Majesty with safety and honour and settlement of Presbyterie On the 15. day of Iuly the House of Commons without the Lords Vote the Scots that were come into England enemies and that they might covertly include the Prince the Question was put That all such English as had invited the Scots under Duke Hamilton to come in hostile manner into England should be declared Traitors and carried in the affirmative He that shall consider the House of Commons was still in a manner entire and consisted of the very same men that so often and by so many Votes Remonstrances Declarations Protestations Vowes and Oaths pretended the defence of the King's person and just authority settlement of these Nations in purity of Religion and preservation of the just Rights and Liberties of the Subject the very same things now petition'd for by several Counties declared for by the parties up in Kent Essex and Duke Hamilton in the North cannot but wonder they should vote them Traitors and endeavour their destruction with that of the Nations consequently who took up armes in the greatest sincerity possible for those honourable purposes themselves alledged to countenance their own against the King But the truth is the two Houses sate under a force ever since August 6. 1647. when Fairfax march't up with his Army in hostile manner against the City For from that time the lesser party of the House who together with some Officers of the Army had layd the blackest design that ever was hatcht by the instinct of the Devil siding with the Army over-aw'd all the Proceedings of Parliament and at the same time held the King and the major part of the House in suspence with unfaithfull Treaties and sent their forces against such as desir'd the same things they would be believ'd themselves intended The House of Lords too being strangely supine in not resenting the frequent sleighting and contempt of their Authority and not attempting any thing at all for the deliverance of their Soveraign the Vindication of their own Honour that of the Nation with it's rights priviledges and freedomes against the Usurpation of an Army and corrupt faction in that of the Commons An insolence which I am perswaded none of their great Ancestors we find in Histories under the same Titles but would have ventur'd both lives and fortunes to the utmost rather then have endured and certainly their posterity will wonder what they were doing all this while The Earle of Holland indeed though no Souldier yet dar'd well and out of a sense of Honour thought himself oblig'd to try his fortune in the Field if possible he might be an Instrument to avert the Destruction he saw threatned his Soveraign and the miseries of tyrannie impendent over this poor Nation by an armed power By commission from the Prince he assembles together about 500. Horse and Foot about Kingston heath Iuly 2. having with him the Duke of Buckingham and his Brother the L. Francis Villers and the Earle of Peterborough But he was soon routed by a stronger Party himself taken and afterwards put to death for his noble but unfortunate Attempt Such were the sinnes of this Nation and thus the good Providence of God was pleased to bring about the punishment of them by frustrating all meanes and courses taken to deliver it from the miseries of that threatned it For soon after viz. August 17. the great Army under Hamilton is defeated by Cromwell and Lambert at Preston in Lancashire and the Duke himself taken and afterwards beheaded by the English Parliament for this action This Defeat was followed by the surrender of Colchester which had indur'd a sharp starving Siege of three moneths upon hopes of relief from this Scottish Army Thus all the Princes Enterprises failing and his Fleet being in great need of provision he is forced to give over further Action and retires to the Hague in Holland to his Sister the Princesse of Orange in expectation and attendance upon Providence Shortly after many Counties of England soliciting the Parliament
for a Treaty with the King the honester and greater part take heart again recall the Votes of Non-Addresses Vote a Treaty send Commissioners with Propositions to the King All which his Majesty fully consented to and there was no difference between him and the Houses but concerniâ—g Presbytery which he granted should be established for three years All men now hoped for a happy settlement But alas now begin the greatest of our woes The Army who could not think their greatness and power would be durable if the King liv'd draw nearer to London petition for their Arrears and for Justice upon the King as the Capitall cause of the Evils of the Civil War to which effect also they publish a Remonstrance requiring withall that a peremptory Day be set for summoning the Prince of VVales and Duke of York and if they refuse to declare them incapable of Government or succession and to stand exiled as Traytors and if they render themselves yet they to be proceeded against for satisfaction with other damands of the like strain To bring their accursed design to passe Fairfax commands Colonel Hammond to deliver up his charge to Colonel Ewer by whom the King is conveyed out of the Isle of VVight to Hurst Castle Novemb. 30. contrary to the intentions and consent of the Parliament as they declar'd And thus the Treaty was violenty broken off Yet the Lords Vote the King's concessions a sufficient ground for Peace and so do the major part of the Commons But the Army march up to London discharge the Trained Bands from guarding the Parliament and order Pride's and Rich's Regiments to supply their places by whom above fourty Members are seiz'd on and confin'd Major General Brown ninety odde Members excluded the House Then the Army form a new Model of Government which they stile The Agreement of the people destructive to all the Fundamental Laws of the Land which was presented to the new molded House by Sir Hardres VValler and 16. Officers The House hereupon annull the Votes against Non-addresses and exclude all Members that will not joyn with them in this proceeding They then proceed to order the Tryall of the King and remove him though the Lords refus'd to concurre and declare no act of the Commons binding without their consent However force overcomes all Right Reason A pretended High Court of Iustice is erected of which Iohn Bradshaw newly created Serjeant at Law is made President The King is brought before them upon Saturday the 20 of Ianuary 1648. on Monday the 22. on Tuesday the 23. and on Saturday the 27. of the same moneth where persisting with magnanimity and reason to deny the power of the Court and being most impudently and insolently treated by Bradshaw he is condemned to be beheaded for Tyranny Treason and Murder According to which sentence having taken leave of his Children here is England and sent his blessing to his son in Holland he was put to death before White-hal Gate upon Tuesday the 30. of Ianuary the Dutch and French Embassadours in behalf of his Majesty made intercession for his life The Scottish Parliament publish'd a Remonstrance against the Parliaments Proceedings The Ministry of London declar'd their disallowance before God and Men The House of Peers offer'd themselves as pledges for his Sacred Majesty but all prevailed nothing The barbarous Iuncto are inexorable being made so desperate by their own guilt that they thought nothing could secure their former crimes but this impious detestable and unparallel'd murther of their Sovereign During his Majesties tryall which was carried on with all expedition and speed the Prince who could not be satisfi'd of that strange turn from a Treaty to a Tryall writ the following Letter to his Father by the Lord Seymour SIR HAving no means to come to the knowledge of your Majestie 's affairs but such as I receive from the Prints or whiâ—h is as uncertain reports I have sent this bearer Seymour to wait upon your Majâ—sty and to bring me an account of it and that I may withall assure your Majesty I do not only pray for your Majesty according to my duty but shall alwaies be ready to do all which shall be in my power to deserve the blessing which I now humbly beg of your Majesty upon Sir Your Majestie 's most humble and most obedient Son and Servant CHARLES Hague Ian. 23. 1648. But alas Sad were the tydings the Lord Seymour return'd with into Holland the most inhumane illegall and barbarous murther of the King of Great Britain by the hands of his English Subjects An Act which struck all Europe with horror and amazement and which certainly our Posterity will eternally detest To represent the sorrow and affliction of our Illustrious Prince with his Royal Brother the Duke of York and his Sister of Orange without doubt surpasses all the power of words No Prince ever lost a Father whom he was to succeed in Royalty with greater regret and indeed all circumstances consider'd I conceive no mortal man had ever greater occasion of grief Certainly had not the extraordinary grace of God supported him he could never have borne up against it I know not how better to resent his passionate resentment then by imitating the old Grecian Painter who being to pourtray Agamemnon present at the sacrifice of his Daughter represented all his followers weeping and lamenting but drew a veil over the Father's face as hiding the transcendent passion his Pencil was unable to expresse A few dayes before the King's death the Commons voted the style in Writs and all Judicial proceedings to be altered from Carolus Dei gratia c. the Great Seal with the Royal Scutcheon of England to be broken and a new one made with the Armes of England the Harp of Ireland with these words The Great Seal of England engraven on one side and on the Reverse the picture of the House of Commons sitting with these words In the first year of Freedome by God's blessing restored 1648. On the evening of that black day on which his Majesty suffered a Proclamation was set forth by the Iuncto prohibiting all persons upon pain of High Treason to presume to declare or publickly to promote Charles Stuart styled Prince of Wales eldest son of the late King or any of the rest of his Children to be King of England In pursuance of which determination having taken their King out of the way they proceed against Kingship and constitute a select Number of themselves joyn'd with the General and chief Officers of the Army in the Supreme authority The House of Peers is voted dangerous and unnecessary and an Act pass'd and proclaim'd in the City of London for the abolishing of Kingly Government and settling these Nations in way of a Free State It was also published 1. That it should be Treason to speak against this Form of Goverment 2. That it should be Treason for any to endeavour the exercise of Kingships in these Nations in his
own Person or promote it in another especially Charles the eldest Iames the second and Henry the third Sons of the late King After which they proceed as far as they could to abolish the very memory of his late Majesty his Arms are ordered to be defaced in all places throughout the Nations and his Statues broken all the regalia sold and imbezil'd the Crown Revenue to sale and all the goods of the Royal Family made prize on by those that had murdered and expell'd the Owners Neverthelesse there wanted not some in this sad consternation who shew'd themselves so resolute in asserting the Title of Prince Charles to the Crown of these Nations as to print and disperse this following Proclamation in several places of the City of London WE the Noblemen Iudges Knights Lawyers Gentlemen Freeholders Merchants Citizens Yeo-men Sea-men and other Free men of England do according to our Allegiance and Covenant by these present Heartily Ioyfully and Vnanimously acknowledge and Proclaim the illustrious CHARLES Prince of Wales next Heir to his Father King Charles whose late wicked murder and all Consenters thereunto We from our hearts abominate to be by Hereditary Birth-right and lawfull Succession rightfull and undoubted King of Great Britain France and Ireland And we will constantly and sincerely in our several places and callings defend and maintain his Royal Person Crown and Dignity with our estates and lives against all Opposers whom hereby we declare to be Enemies to his Majesty and Kingdomes In Testimony whereof we have caused these to be Publish't throughout all Counties and Corporations of this Realm The first day of February in the first year of his Majestie 's Reign But the Royal Party was so totally supprest throughout this Nation that they wanted power to make good what their consciences assur'd them was just and right This endeavour testifi'd their Loyalty and withall their weaknesse For though the hearts of most of the Nation were as willing to promote the Son's succession as to withstand the Father's destruction yet were they as unable to advance the one as they had been to prevent the other Indeed Ireland was in a manner wholly for his Majesty in many places whereof he was by joynt consent both of Protestants and Papists proclaimed King The Lord Marquesse of Ormond the Lord Inchequin and other great persons had considerable Forces in the field for his interest and all the Garrisons of that Island held out for him excepting the two most important the Cities of Dublin and London-Derry which were kept from returning to their Allegiance the former by Lieutenant General Iones then Governour and the latter by Sir Charles Coot who maintain'd their cause and authority who had barbarously murder'd his Royal Father in England Besides the Islands of Iersey Guernsey Scilly and Man remain'd faithfull to him though they were of no other advantage then to serve as places of retreat for the small Fleet that was left after the greatest part of it had again revolted to the Parliaments Navy The Parliament of Scotland as I said had protested against the proceedings of the English against their common King But at this time that Nation was divided into four grand Factions or Parties 1. The first consisted of such as had confederated with the English Parliament during the Warres till they saw their accursed design of destroying the King and subverting the Government these were the prevailing party who sent Duke Hamilton with that numerous but unfortunate Army into England 1648. They were willing though upon certain conditions to own and declare Prince Charles for their King only in this they sided with the English Independent Iuncto That they endeavoured to the utmost to depresse and discountenance the Malignants as they called those who had adher'd to his late Majesty who make up the second party The third consisted of such as were so strictly devoted to the Kirk and Convenant that they only projected the advancement of them and car'd not for any other interest either of King or Free-State but strenuously oppos'd both of which Faction Colonel Sâ—â—aâ—ghern and Colonel Kerre were two great Sticklers The fourth and last and worst were such as by unparallel'd treachery to their Prince their Native Countrey and as it appear'd afterwards to themselves too held secret correspondence with the Sectarian power and Army of England This Division I have made will give much light to the understanding of the reasons of the Scottish actions and their consequences when we come to relate them At present it may suffice to intimate that this Discord among themselves retarded them from publickly proclaiming and owning their lawfull King In the mean time the King having been a while a close Mourner in Holland and receiv'd the condolements of the Lords States who also deputed an Oratour Dr. Lotius to represent their sad sence of the inhumane murder of his Royall Father which he performed in an elegant Latine Oration extant in Print he committed the management of his affairs there to the care of his Brother and Sister of Orange and took a journey to France both to visit his disconsolate and forlorne Mother and to desire the assistance which he might reasonably conceive that King oblig'd both in honour consideration of consanguinity and the generall concernment of all Monarchs to afford him He was receiv'd in the French Court with much respect and after a short stay at Paris took up his abode at St. Germains having his Royall Brother the Duke of York with him He had not been long here but contrary to the expectationâ— as well as hopes of himself and all his Loyall Subjects news is brought him of the defeat of the Army in Ireland under the Marquis of Ormond then which a gallanter richer had scarce been seen during all the late Warrs The Marquis had laid siege to Dublin on the 21. of Iune 1649. but that City being reinforc'd with a supply of 3000. Horse and Foot from England and encouraged with the expectation of more the Besieged made severall Sallies out upon them from time to time and at length in one suppris'd the Marquis's maine Army and totally defeated it himself not without much difficulty escaping by flight 'T is very true the Marquis had an Army of about 20000. men but the greatest part of them were Irish and so such as he dar'd not trust besides I have heard it creadibly reported He might have taken Dublin if he had pleas'd but forbore to doe it meerly in tendernesse to the numerous Protestants were in it whom the Irish would have without question unmercifully destroy'd if they had taken the place by assualt and as yet there was no other way to take it by reason the besieged had high expectation of succour from England This was the first blow receiv'd by the young King and a great one it was indeed and so important that it made way for the losse of all that Kingdome About the same time also Sir Ch. Coot
issued out of London-Derry and beat off Sir Rob. Stuart and Col. Mervin that besieg'd it And immediately upon this successe Ol. Cromwell landed in Ireland with the Title of Lord Lieutenant and was follow'd by his Son-in-Law Ireton with about 40. ships The Royall Field Army being lost Cromwell falls upon the Garrisons the first place he attaqued was Droghedah or Tredagh which he soon took by storme and with a cruelty unknown since the first rise of Christianity put the Governour Sir Arthur Aston a noble Gentleman that had serv'd the late King in England and all Inhabitants of the Town of all ages and sexes to the Sword Thus was Providence pleas'd to suffer wickednesse to prosper This successe was follow'd with the losse of many considerable Townes and Castles in all parts of Ireland besides serverall Field-battels obtain'd over the Lords Inchequin Ardes and Clanduboys and Lieut. Gen. Farrell by the L. Broghill Sir Ch. Coot Col. Venables Zanchy Renolds and Hewson So that in lesse then the space of this year that Kingdome was wholly lost which in the beginning of it his Majestie lookt upon as so considerably his own that he was almost perswaded to have gone thither in person but waved upon mature advice and went to the Isle of Iersey where he was proclaimed by the Islanders immediately and the L. Iermin Earle of Yarmouth was made Governour and Sir Geo. Carteret his Deputy His retinue at his arrivall in this place amounted to about 300. persons A little before his departue from St. Germains the Duke of York came to him out of Holland was visited by the French King and the Cardinal of whom he humbly implored ayd in behalf of his Brother Mazarini answer'd civilly that he might assure himself of all favour and assistance from the King of France as soon as he had the power and opportunity to serve him In the mean time the Duke is persented with 100000. Crownes From Iersey his Majesty sends his Summons to Guernsey which was wholly the Parliament's saving Cornet Castle to submit to his obedience But it was to no effect It is reported by some his Majesty had some expectation from the Levellers who at that time had revolted from the rest of the Parliament's Army but whatever their designe was they were supprest both in the West and at Burford in Oxfordshire The English Plantations in the West-Indies at this time under the Lord Willoughby of Parham refus'd Obedience and Subjection to the Parliament who thereupon first interdicted them all Traffick Commerce and shortly after reduc'd them with a Fleet sent from England under the Command of Sir Geo. Ayscough The King at Iersey receiving intelligence of these unfortunate successes following one upon the neck of another his chief hopes and expectations lay now in Scotland He understood the severall Factions there and that the Covenanters who were most considerable both for Power and Number sought their own advantage by him and would cause much difficulty in his affairs there wherefore to balance them a little by the honest Royalists who were his and had been his Father's friends and whom the former endevour'd to keep under as also to bring them to more equitable Termes he gives Commission to the noble and valiant Lord Marquis of Montrosse to raise forces for him in Holland and other parts The Marquis in a short time sends some few forces into the Isle of Orkney and some few others landed in the North of Scotland under Sir Ia. Montgomery These the Committee of Estates resolve to oppose though rais'd for the King's service and notwithstanding after long debate and contest between the opposite factions the best of which were infinitely scrupulous at length resolve upon a Letter of Propositions to his Majesty and send it by Mr. Geo. Windram Laird of Libberton upon the 25. of Sept. 1649. Upon the 30. of that moneth he arriv'd at Iersey and presented his Majesty with these Propositions from the States of Scotland 1. That his Majesty would sign the solemn League and Covenant and pass an Act for all persons to take it throughout that Kingdome and ratifie all that had been done concerning the same 2. That he would ratifie divers Acts of Parliament of Scotland made by the two last Sessions viz. 1. For disclaiming D. Hamilton's last expedition 2. For receiving of the severall Acts made by the English for the Militia 3. For the Kings of Scotland to have no Negative voice in their Parliament 3. That his Majâ—stie would recall the late Commissions given to Montrosse c. 4. That he would dismisse all Papists from about him and let none be of his Council but Protestants 5. That he would appoint some place about Holland for a Treaty with their Commissioners whither they intended to send severall Persons of Honour for that purpose and take care for his Entertainment during that time sutable to his Dignity 6. That he would give a speedy answer to their Desires After some time of debate upon these proposalls which were variously entertain'd some upon diffidence of the Scots fidelity disswading his Majesty from complying with them as the Lords Byron Cleveland Gerard c. others on the contrary as the Lords Piercy Wentworth Wilmot and Sir Geo. Carteret counselling him not to put that to the hazard of war which might be obtain'd by Treaty especially his strength being at that time so low if he should resolve onely upon force Letters came to his Majesty from the Queen urging that if the Scots Propositions seem'd at present too severe and unsupportable he might have opportunity hereafter when possess'd of that Kingdome to free himself in some measure from the Inconvenience of them Therefore she judg'd it best to close with them Montrosse also then in Holland writ to the King to the same purpose desiring his Majesty to hearken to the Scots Commissioners so as to admit of an Agreement with them which might settle his Majesty in that Kingdome with safety and Honour adding That as for himself he should be contented to be banished perpetually from his Native Country rather then be the least cause of prejudice to his Majestie 's affaires Thus this incomparable pattern of Loyaltie preferred the Interest of his Prince above all respects of his own But his Majestie was too generous to admit of his offer and therefore answered him That he had such assurance of his fidelity so high a sense of his services perform'd to his late Father and himself that he could not in Iustice or in Honour desert him and therefore desired him to urge him no further to it At length the advice to close with the Scots seem'd most safe and reasonable and proceeding from the greater number of suffrages it was resolv'd to follow it The next thing therefore to be deliberated of was what answer should be return'd to the Propositions which requiring some time Sir VVill. Flemming was dispatcht before hand to Edenb as Agent till it could be compleated
it for a greater to have his head stand on the Prison gate for this quarrel then to have his P cture in the King's Bed-chamber And least his Loyalty should be forgotten they had highly honoured him in designing lasting monuments to bear up his memoriall to all posterity wishing he had flesh enough to have sent a piece to every City in Christendome to witnesse his Loyalty to his King and Countrey The next day having prepar'd his soul for Heaven he marcht magnanimously to the Scaffold and notwithstanding all the interruptions of the bitter spirited Priests having made a sober speech to the people underwent the cruell sentence with all the ignominious circumstances to his owne perpetuall glory and the everlasting reproach of his Enemies Thus dyed this incomparable Marquis of immortal fame a great example of unfortunate Virtue whose barbarous murder I have more particularly related because it discovers the temper of that Covenanted party who put him to death Posterity certainly will esteem his memory and account his Iudges deserving a more exquisite punishment for this and other their inhumane actions then that they inflicted on him if it be possible for the quintessence of malice to invent a greater Within a few dayes after four other Noble Gentlemen suffer'd for the same cause Sir Iohn Vrr y notwithstanding he pleaded the benefit of quarter Col. Spotswood Laird of Darcy Sir Francis Hay and Col. Sibbald though they had the favour to be beheaded Such was the fate of his Majestie 's affairs in Scotland and the brave persons that manag'd them and such was the unparallel'd insolence of the Scots who dar'd to murther his best friends while they were in Treaty with him upon a base and ungenerous presumption that the lownesse of his condition would enforce him to put up patiently so high and detestable an indignity Which indeed he was constrain'd to doe as his affairs then stood When the newes was brought to his Majesty at Breda he was much stâ—rtled at it and exprest his Resentment of their proceedings by a Message sent them by Mr. Murrey That he was griev'd to hear it credibly reported that notwithstanding those hopefull overtures of Peace lately made between him and them they had shed the blood of some of his best Subjects of the Kingdome of Scotland and that the manner thereof according to Reports did extremely trouble him But that he might understand the Particulars more certainly he desir'd an account of the business from themselves In answer to this they profess'd their affections were still reall to him and their Hearts much joy'ed to hear of his willingness to concur with them in a happy agreement And desir'd him not to stumble at some seeming Obstacles as the Death of Montrosse or their reducing of his Forces Assuring him there was nothing in what they did but to accomplish his Ends and promote his Interests to his best Advantage This zealous Nation do's God and the King good service when they illegally and inhumanely murder their fellow-Christians and Subjects These actions of the Scots and the business of the Covenant were the main impediments of the Treaty But the murder of Montrosse though it might justly have deterr'd his Majesty from trusting himself into those hands which reak'd with his best servants Blood could not be redress'd and his necessities enforc'd him to dissemble all further resentment of it As for the Covenant he argu'd that it was the Subjects Covenant to bind them to their King and not for him to swear to and therefore he thought it sufficient to passe an Act for his People to take it He likewise offered to confirme the Presbyterian Government in Scotland Provided that himself might have alwaies three Chaplaines of his own Election As also to confirm the Militia in the Hands of the Estates for five years Provided that afterwards it might return to himself These particulars were agreed to so a conclusion put to the Treaty The newes whereof being carry'd to Edenburgh the Parliament forthwith met and the fourth Faction which I mention'd viz. such as corresponded with the Sectarian Iunto of England were so strangely and ridiculously impudent as to put it to the Vote whether any more Adddresses should be made to the King it seemed they desir'd to ape the abominable Monsters at Westminster who pass'd a Vote of Non addresses after his late Majesty had consented to all their demands there were 32. of these malevolent Negatives but the major part carried it in the Affirmative Whereupon a Message was resolv'd upon to be sent to him wherein they invited him To make all possible speed to come to his Kingdome of Scotland and protested They would assist him with their lives and fortunes to establish him in all his Dominions Yet withall they forbore not to advertise him they had Testimonies to produce of his actings by Letters to Montross having belike intercepted 3. or 4. contrary to his promise to them at the Treaty at Breda as they pretended However they were willing out of speciall grace to dispense with him for what was past 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 this they betook themselves to make preparations for his Reception Two of the chiefest Houses in Edenburgh were richly furnisht and the Parliament took into consideration the nominating Officers for his Majesties Household which they did with much arrogance not permitting those to wait upon him whom he chiefly favoured whom he judg'd best affected towards him and by Proclamation prohibiting severall great Scotch Lords as Duke Hamilton the Earls of Louderdale and S aforth with many other persons of Quality who had constantly attended on him in Iersey and Holland from returning into Scotland Thus we have seen the deportment of the Covenanters towards his Majesty and Friends during his absence we now come to relate their actions after he took possession personally of the Kingdome of Scotland Which after the conclusion of the Treaty he did not delay to doe but about the beginning of Iune he left the Hague and took shipping at Scheveling in Holland By the way he was in some danger by reason of a tedious storm and certain English ships which ply'd about the Coast to way-lay him but with some difficulty he escaped both and arrived safe at a place called the Spey in the North of Scotland whither some Lords were sent to receive and accompany him to Edenburgh All the way he was entertain'd with the generall joy and acclamations of the people At Dundee new Propositions were by Commissioners from the Parliament and Kirk presented to him to sign which after some reluctancy he performed The town presented him of Aberdeen with 1500. l. But the Committee of Estates sent to severall places who had the same intentions enjoyning them whatever Plate or mony they had to bestow to bring the same into such a Treasury as they
been animated by frequent Victories and the spoil of such places as they had taken Possibly in England his Majesty might soon have forces competent to match them at least he should not be beset with so many difficulties and one fortunate Field might wholly turn the Scale Accordingly upon Thursday Iuly 31. 1651. all things being in readiness the Scotch Army left their Camp at Sterling which was soon after deliver'd to Lieut. Gen. Monk and the sixt day after being about 16000. entered England by the way of Carlisle Upon intelligence of this sudden March Cromwel's Army of which the greatest part was in Fife forthwith cros'd the Frith and first Lambert is sent with 5. Regiments of Horse and Dragoons to fall upon the Scots rear Cromwel himself soon after Aug. 6. following with 8. Regiments of Foot 2. of Horse and 8. great Guns having left 6000. horse and foot with Lieutenant General Monck to reduce the remaining garrisons of Scotland Major General Harrison being advanc'd the nearest England with 3000. horse and Dragoons attended the motion of the Scotch Army and the VVestminster Iuncto suddenly bestir themselves to raise the Militia of the whole Nation and make an Act to forbid all relief and succour to be given to his Majesty or his Forces under penalty of High Treason Immediately the Militia's of most Counties were drawn into the Field against him and for the hindring of his progresse 2000. of the County Militia of Staffordshire and 4000. out of Lancashire and Cheshire under Colonel Birch joyned with Lambert and Harrison whose first attempt upon the Royal Army was at VVarrington bridge the passage of which was very sharply disputed but at length gain'd by the Scots with the losse of some men In the mean time a party in VVales began to rise for the King intending to have joyned with the Earle of Derby from the Isle of Man but the design was crusht before it came to any thing The march of the Scotch Army was manag'd with extreme civility to the people as they past no souldier daring to plunder or steal the least thing whatever having been terrified by the punishment of one of their number who was shot to death for entering an Orchard But as this carriage of theirs together with his Majesties invitations did not so prevail upon the people to come in to him as he expected so by the way fear depriv'd him of about the fourth part of the Army he brought out of Scotland It was deliberated by bis Majesties council whether or no to march forthwith to London but the way was too tedious and the souldiers were much wearied with their journey already and it was hoped the interest Major General Massey had in Glocestershire would procure a confluence of men from those parts Asson as the Army entred England and afterwards at every Market-town his Majesty was proclaimed King of England by an English man whom he had created King at Armes with much satisfaction of the Country However such was the fate of these Nations for the punishment of whose sins a severe yoke was reserved by Providence for I know not what apparent reason to ascribe their actions to in this occasion that in stead of assisting their just and lawfull Prince they arose generally in Armes against him The Lord Fairfax who till then had been believ'd sensible of some remorse for his former proceedings appear'd in the Fâ—eld with a formidable body to flank the Royal Army as they marcht London pour'd out her numerous Militia and the adjacent Counties were by strict order of Parliament enjoin'd to set out Horse and Men at their own charges The King in the mean time receiv'd no considerable supply saving one Troop of Horse commanded by a noble young Gentleman Sir Cecill Howard son to the Lord Howard of Estrich Neverthelesse there wanted not courage in the breasts of the Nobility and Gentry with his Majesty whose great resolutions made them hope even in the midst of despair From Tong-Norton his Majesty sent a Trumpetter with a Letter and Summons to Col. Mackworth Governour of Shrewsbury which I shall venture to insert with the Answer His Majesties Letter was in these words Col. Mackworth Having sent you herewith a Summons to render into my hands my Town with the Castle of Shrewsbury I cannot but perswade my self you will doe it when I consider you a Gentleman of an ancient House and of very d fferent principles as I am informed from those with whom your imployment ranks you at present If you shall peaceably deliver them unto me I will not onely pardon what is past and protect you and yours in your persons and all that belongs to you but reward fo eminent and seasonable a Testimony of your Loyalty with future Trust and Favour and doe leave it to your selfe to propose the particular being upon that condition ready to grant you presently any thing you shall reasonably desire and to approve my self your Friend C. R. The Summons also which accompanied this Letter was to the same effect But whether the Governour lookt upon his Majestie 's condition too forlorn to engage on his side or acted really out of an hostile principle I will not determine but the answer he returned to his Soveraign Lord the King was in the following termes directed To the Commander in chief of the Scottish Army SIR By your Trumpetter I received two Papers the one containing a Proposition the other a direct Summons for the rendition of the Town Castle of Shrewsbury the custody whereof I have received by authority of Parliament And if you believe me a Gentleman as you say you do you may believe I will be faithfull to my trust to the violation whereof neither allurements can perswade me nor threatnings of force especially when but paper ones compell me What Principles I am judged to be of I know not but I hope they are suâ—h as shall declare me honest and no way differing herein as I know from those engaged in the same employment with me who should they desâ—rt the Cause they are embarqued in I resolve to be found as I am unremoveable the faithfull servant of the Commonwealth of England H. Mackworth About the same time also his Majesty sent the like summons to Sr Thomas Middleton Governour of Chirk Castle in Shropshire but this Gentleman was not altogether so civil as the former for in stead of returning any answer at all he caus'd the Messenger to be seized and sent away prisoner to VVrexham who was afterwards hanged at Chester for this service It having been resolv'd upon debate by his Majestie 's Council rather to march Westward then towards London his Army accordingly enter'd the City of VVorcester upon Friday the 22. of August 1651. after one or two repulses by the Forces that kept the City the Inhabitants not onely not opposing the Scots entrance but helping to beat the English Souldiers out In his Majestie 's March hither he had sent a
Speaker and was the same day feasted by Iohn Kendrick Mayor of London From whence he never after went forth upon any expedition About the latter end of October the Island of Iersey was reduc'd by Colonel Hain and General Blake from Sea and the Isle of Man was surrender'd to Colonel Duckenfield upon Articles by the Countesse of Derby whose renowned pious and valiant Lord was at Chester adjudgeed to death for engaging with the King at VVorcester by a Council of War after quarter given and beheaded at Bolton in Lancashire on the 15. of October with the teares and lamentations of most of the Spectatours Severall executions were also done upon others by shooting or hanging in divers places for the same cause as on Sir Timothy Fetherstonehaugh Captain Bendbow c. They were tryed upon the pretended Act made after the King 's coming into England viz. Aug. 12. 1651. prohibiting correspondence with his Majesty or his party under the penalty of High Treason His Majesty having upon his arrival at Paris been visited congratulated by the King Queen Nobles of France had a Princely Attendance assigned him and lodgings in the Louvre where he lead a retired life in expectation of some happier opportunity which it might please Providence to present him with for the recovery of his Kingdomes which he had now small hopes to obtain by the assistance of his own Subjects in either of them England being so strictly overaw'd by the numerous Army kept on foot for that purpose and Scotland and Ireland being in a manner wholly subdued by the English Armes Yet in Scotland there were still some small Forces up in the North as the Marquis of Huntley with about 1500. men and the Lord Belcarris The Marquis of Argyle also fortified his houses at Ander-arran and Lorne the Castles in Arran Island and was expected to join with 4000. with the former Moreover the Clergy were still very high against the English But it seemes the designes of the Noble men were onely to make themselves considerable that they might treat upon better termes For shortly after the Marquis of Huntly made his peace the Lord Belcarris divers other Lords came in to the protection of Lieut. Gen. Monck and Argyle having made an attempt to summon a Parliament and shuffled off and on for some moneths at length submitted and afterwards testified under his hand his agreement to the making of Scotland a Commonwealth with England and protested fidelity to it as establisht without King or House of Lords c. Upon which termes he was left at liberty with assurance to enjoy his Estate Had these Lords been cordiall to the Royall interest to which they had so solemnly sworne a little while before they might easily have maintain'd the Highlands against all opposition these places being naturally almost inaccessible and invincible Notwithstanding this low posture of his Majestie 's affairs he was treated with much honour by the Princes and Nobility in France and Madamoiselle de Orleans daughter to the late Duke of that Title being a very rich Princesse worth 60000. per annum and Soveraign Dutchesse of Montpensier shew'd great inclinations towards him in relation to marriage It is also reported that there was a match designed between his Majestie 's Brother the Duke of York and a daughter of the Duke of Longueville a Prince descended from the Royall House of France who was by her mother heire to the rich possessions of the Count of Soissons But the great troubles arising about that time between the King and the Princes of the Blood hinder'd the successe the Duke of Orleans and his Daughter being far ingag'd with the Prince of Conde against the King of France in a civil War occasioned by the imperiousness of Cardinal Mazarine who during the King's minority had by means of his great favour with the Queen ingrossed the whole Government of that Kingdome in a manner into his own hands usurp'd an inordinate power and all the grand offices had committed several enormous miscarriages during the Queen Mother's Regency The Princes of the Blood and generality of the Nation became so incensed against him hereby that an Arrest was passed by the Parliament of Paris for the banishment of the said Cardinal who thereupon retired to Colen and all his goods were confiscated But the Queen having a great inclination to bring him back again into France the Duke of Orleance and Conde vehemently opposed it and when no accommodation could be made the Prince withdrew his forces which he commanded for the King's service against the Spaniard to Stenay a strong Garrison where making great levies he got a considerable power into the field The Cities also of Paris and Bourdeaux owned the Prince's cause and quarrel Whereupon the King rais'd a great Army commanded by Marshal Turein and Count de Harcourt Several encounters pass'd between them the Illustrious Duke of York first serving as a Volunteer and afterwards commanding a Regiment at the siege of Estampes where he behav'd himself extreme honourably in two conflicts The Cardinal in the mean time return'd into France with 6000. men and the Princes on the other side invited the Duke of Lorrain to their assistance who had a mercenary Army of 10000. in the service of the King of Spain His Majesty of Great Britain understanding sufficiently the fatal effects of civill combustions partly out of sincere intentions for the good of France and partly out of the consideration of the advantageousnesse of its peace to his own affairs interceeded as a Mediatour between the King and the discontented Princes and his motion was gratefully accepted of by both Parties and thereupon Deputies were sent severall times by the Princes to represent their grievances but the King of France persisted resolute not to part with the Cardinal though the King of England urg'd him as far as possible to gratifie his incensed subjects if not by dismissing him altogether yet at least by sending him upon some honourable foreign imployment Of all which generous endeavours this noble prudent and Christian Prince obtain'd no other fruit but an extreme hatred from Mazarine At the same time his Majesty imployed himself in reconciling the French King and his subjects upon hopes of those endeavours succeeding he thought fit to deal with the Duke of Lorrain to transport his Army into Ireland where some Garrisons still held out Which affair was so far proceeded in that Articles were drawn up between the Duke of Lorrain and the Lord Taaf on behalf of his Majesty by which it was agreed amongst other things That the Duke should at his own charges land an Army of 10000. for the reducing of Ireland to his Majesty That he should be invested with the Title of Protector Royal of Ireland and have four Towns put into his hands for security for his disbursements with restrictions and cautions But these Articles never came to be signed partly because the Duke was conscious of his
extremely respected at all the places he came at in the Low-Countreys as at Dunkirk Antwerp the Hague Leyden c. And having been for some time entertain'd by his Royal Sister where he had the honour of the Garter sent him from the King he departed to the Court of France being attended by Sir Marmaduke Langdale and Sir Richard Greenvile his Majesty himself the Duke of York Prince Rupert and others going two leagues out of Paris to meet him Towards the latter end of the year 1652. his Majestie 's hopes began to be something desperate concerning any considerable succour from France for that King in stead of uniting with the Prince's his subjects sent an Embassadour Mr. de Bordeanx Neufville to treat a Peace with England to which he was the rather induc'd for that Admiral Blake had not long before beaten and destroy'd the French ships under the Duke of Vendosme that were going to the relief of Dunkirk which defeat occasion'd the loss of that Town to the Spaniard Nor were his hopes likely to prove more successfull in the united Provinces for they were so weary of the War that they sent a Letter to England to cast about for an accommodation But before they effected any thing Cromwell finding his ambitious projects ripe being emboldned with former successes and backt with a strong Army on the 20. of April 1653. entred the Parliament House attended with some officers where he represented to them that their Dissolution was important to the publick good and welfare of the Nation with many reasons for it which none daring to oppose the Members departed the House To justify which Action He and his Council of Officers put forth a Declaration wherein it was pretended The Parliament was over-ruled by a corrupt Party who intended to perpetuate themselves deluding the Nation from time to time with hopes of a New Representative notwithstanding the Petitions of the Army and severall Counties That the Cause which God had so greatly blessed languisht in their hands and was in danger to be lost by their negligence of the publick and self-seeking with many more like crimes And thus fell this great Idol of the Nation this Parliamentum Infame which in a dozen yeares time had wrought more mischief to these Kingdomes then all the preceeding Parliaments had ever done good After this Cromwel with his Officers took the administration of Affairs into their own hands the Armies in Scotland and Ireland and the Fleet assenting to their proceedings But to gull the people a little longer and render Parliaments more contemptible to them Cromwel upon the 8. of Iune following sent out a summons in his own name to such persons as he pleas'd to meet at VVestminster on the 4. of Iuly Who accordingly appearing to the number of six score he impowred them by a writing under his Hand and Seal to be the Supreme Authority and Governours of the three Nations and that 40. of them should be a Quorum to dispatch business This Iunto of Sectaries and Officers of the Army going into the Parliament House in three dayes time gravely resolved that they would be called the Parliament of the Common-wealth of England and that their Chairman Mr. Rous should be called Speaker and that they would have a Sergeant at Armes and a Mace Thus they began ridiculously and continued in all their Actions for four moneths in which they voted down the High-Court of Chancery made a silly Act for Marriages Births and Burials confirmed the unjust Bill for Sale of the Estate of Sir Iohn Stowell Knight of the Bath ordered Sale of the remainder of the Royall Revenue made a tax for 6. moneths at 120000 l. per mensem struck fiercely at Tythes and Universities and then being partly weary and partly asham'd of themselves some of Oliver's faction by underhand appointment repaired to Cromwel and resigned their power into his Hands who at first seeming unwilling and excusing his inability was prevail'd with by importunity to accept it which he did with the Title of Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England Scotland and Ireland The rest of the Sectarian Convention who refus'd to break up the Parliament and doe as their fellowes had done Cromwel sent Souldiers to turn them out of the House which was accordingly done and the doors lockt against them Decemb. 2. 1653. And upon the 16. of the same moneth having by the advice of his Officers framed and published an Instrument of Government consisting of 42. Articles he sent for the Commissioners of the Great Seale the Major and Aldermen of London with the Iudges and the Officers of the Army and was by them solemnly installed in Westminster-Hall taking an Oath to rule according to his Instrument and the Lawes of the Land though nothing could be more repugnant to the Lawes then that Instrument In this last year notwithstanding the former offer of Accommodation severall encounters had been between the Ships of this Nation those of the United Provinces in which the Dutch suffer'd much so that the common people there were in a great consternation Two of the principal Battels were on the 3. of Iune and the 29. of Iuly In the former the English got a remarkable Victory though with the losse of one of their Generals Dean by a great shot taking above 1300. prisoners and 11. Ships of War besides 6. sunk In the latter being the greatest blow the Dutch ever received from us their Admiral Martin Harper van Trump one of the most expert and renowned Seamen in the world was slain with a Musket shot and 2000. men more 1000. Prisoners taken and 27. Ships of War sunk and fired Which losses quite broke the spirits of the Dutch who thereupon began seriously to think of peace This Summer also it pleased God to visit his Majesty with a Fever which held him for some time with violence so that the London Pamphlets publish'd it to be mortal But the Divine Providence intended better things to this Nation and about the latter end of August recovered him to perfect health After which he departed from the Court for some time to Chantilly not far distant from Paris for better aire being accompanied with Prince Rupert who after various fortunes at Sea and separation from his brother Prince Maurice by a Hericano who was never after heard off put in with his Ships at Nantes at Britany and resided with his Majesty for a long time at Paris in the Palace Royall This year the Lord Hopton who had commanded an Army for his late Majesty in the Rebellion of England dyed of a Fever after five dayes sicknesse at Bruges in Flanders a person of great learning piety temperance and valour In the beginning of the next year his Majestie 's hopes of doing any good upon the United States were absolutely extinguish'd He had us'd all possible means by the intercessions of his friends to avert them from reconcilement with England and to that purpose was very active upon
the Horses From whence in expectation of greater Forces to join with them they marched towards Cornwall but they were overtaken by one Capt. Crook with a party of Sectarian Horse at Southmolton in Devonshire after four houres sharp conflict defeated Sir Ioseph VVagstaffe the chief of this loyall party escaped the three other most eminent Leaders Col. Iohn Penruddock Capt Hugh Groves and Capt. Iones were taken with 50. others Another rising was also in Yorkshire at Hexham Moore but of 4000. which should have met not above 200. appearing they were soon dispers'd by the Forces of Col. Lilburne Sir Henry Slingsby the chief taken and Sir Rich. Maleverer with much d fficulty escaping At the same time likewise another attempt was made to rise at Sherwood Forrest in Nottinghamshire but the Gentry that design'd it were supprest by Col. Hacker Nor were the Levellers lesse pleas'd with the Tyrannical Usurpation of Cromwel though their designes were not upon the account of loyalty For Maj. Gen Harrison Mr. Carew Rich. Courtney and Maj. Wildman were discover'd to have fram'd a Plot against him and secured These latter sort of Conspirators were in favour of the Sectaries and in consideration of former assistance in Rebellion and the murder of his late Majesty more gently proceeded with for Harrison was shortly after committed to Portland Castle Carew to St. Maur's in Cornwal and Courtney to Carisbrook Castle in VVight Island But on March 31. 1655. a Commission was issued forth for tryall of the Gentlemen in the West to Serjeant Thorp Glyn Steel And another for tryall of them in the North to Serjeant Newdigate Nicolas VVindham Hatton but of these persons Serjeant Newdigate and Thorp conscientiously refusing to try any man for treason upon Cromwel's Declaration as Law had writs of ease given them But the Protector wanted not instruments in the West to execute his bloody pleasure for at Salisbury Iohn Lisle one of his Princes Murderers sentenced Col. Penruddock and Capt. Grove to the block and at Exceter seven other persons to the Gallowes And now Cromwel resolv'd to rule onely by the sword seeing the people so hated his Tyranny to which purpose he constituted eleven of his Officers to preside over all the Counties of England with the Titles of Major Generals allotting four or five Counties as Provinces to each with sufficient authority not only in Military affairs but also in Civil and Ecclesiastical For the support of these Bashawes he made an Ordinance that all Cavaliers or Gentlemen of the late Kings party should notwithstanding the late Parliaments Act Oblivion their former compositions and their peaceable demeanor since pay the tenth part of their yearly revenue which was accordingly severely exacted by the Major Generals He also the better to provide against future Insurrections set up Auxiliaries in every County consisting of Horse and Foot which Were to be ready upon all occasions within an houres warning their pay was 8 l. per annum to a Horseman 3 l. to a Footman And finally that he might disenable all loyal persons from attempting any thing for their Countries Liberty he put forth an Ordinance to seâ—se all sorts of Armes found in the Houses of those he called Malignants Such were the courses he took to secure himself at home About the beginning of the year 1655. a great Fleet was sent against the King of Spain's Territories in America The designe was kept secret till it came to be executed upon the place nor did he declare war against that King till afterwards though the Marquesse of Leyda Governour of Dunkirk came over as Extraordinary Embassadour to know his intentions Many of such as had been imprisoned for the late insurrections had been barbarously sold to foreign plantation some that were left and several indigent people were by force sent in this service together with divers Regiments of old souldiers Venables commanding the Land-forces and Peâ— being General at Sea But it pleased God to check the Tyrants insolence by a considerable losse in the very first enterprize which was undertaken so unjustly and against the faith of Nations though the propagation of Religion was pretended and other slight reasons for it an Army consisting of 9700. Foot besides a party of Horse by the Generals indiscretion was landed in the Island Hispaniola at a place ten leagues from the chief Town Sto. Domingo whereby being ready to perish miserably with thirst and the excessive heat of the Sands through which they marcht they were shamefully routed by no greater a party then 70. Spaniards and Negroes 1200. were kill'd in the conflict and the pursuit the rest escaped by flight An incredible thing had not the faintnesse and weaknesse of the English render'd it rather an execution then a fight The remainder of this overthrow having afterwards endur'd extreme hardship for want of provision even to the eating of their horses seis'd upon another Island called Iamaica which though a barren place wanteth not some considerable advantages But for the dishonour occasion'd to our Nation by this unfortunate expedition amends was in part made by General Blake who entring Porto Ferino at Tunis with his Fleet fir'd nine Turkish Ships in it notwithstanding the strong fortifications upon the shore and came off with the losse of onely 25. men Whilst affairs were thus strangely managed in England by the violent Protectour his Majesty resided at Colen entertaining himself with such studies as best became a Christian in his own and his Countries calamities such exercises as were befitting a Prince and such company as his affection made most pleasing to him namely that of his brother the Duke of Glocester and the Princesse Royal of Orange The Duke of York continued still in France having onely made a journey of no long stay to the French Leaguer before Pavia His Majesty to divert himself from the resentment of his unsuccesseful affairs made a progresse of state and pleasure from Colen to Frankfort-Fair being accompanied with the Duke and the Pnncesse attended on by the Lord Marquess of Ormond the Earle of Norwith the Lord Newburgh the Lady Stanhop and several other persons of Honour They went by Coach a little beyond Bonne the Arch-bishop of Colen's Electoral Seat where they enter'd into a Gondelo or Pleasure boat through every Princes Territories that they past the chief Officers of State were sent to complement them and the great Guns saluted them from all their Towns and Castles More especially the Prince Elector of Mentz sent his grand Marshall to invite them to his Court but his Majesty sent the Lord Newburgh back with the grand Marshall to return his acknowledgements to the Elector and to promise him to accept of his civility as he came back from Francfort His Majesty being arrived there had intelligence that Christina Queen of Sweden who had voluntarily resigned her Crown on Ian. 17. 1654. to her Cousin Carolus Gustavus and had for the most part since continued at Bâ—uxels intended
them comparing the old Tyrant to Moses and his Impe to Ioshua the Guides and conductors of Gods people out of Aegyptian thraldome The chosen Members assembled at VVestminster on Ian. 27. and so did the Other House Great debates were amongst them touching the recognition of the Government transacting with the Other House as Lords during which two Speakers successively dy'd till the young Protector being undermined by a Caball of Officers Fleetwood Desborough c. weakly yielded to the Dissolving of the Parliament on Friday April 22. shortly after which a Fast being solemniz'd the remainder of the Long Parliament who had been dissolved by Cromwel in April 20. 1653. were invited by Lambert to sit again which they did on the 7. of May excluding by violence such of their Fellow-members as they had before secluded in Decemb. 1648. though they were the greater number Richard was thereupon depriv'd of his Government so was his brother Harry in Ireland And now this old Iunto being advanc'd again and congratulated as other Governments had formerly been from Scotland Ireland and the Fleet begin to act like subtile Politicians And to the end the Army might be kept in obedience to them they made the Speaker of the House General cashir'd many Officers and caus'd new Commissions to be deliver'd by the Speaker in the House of Parliament to all the Commanders both of Land and Sea-Forces The affections of the people they did not much value so long as the Army would stand to them To gratifie whom they impos'd a whole years Tax at 35000. l. per mensem to be paid immediately After which about Iuly they pass'd an Act for settling the Militia of Counties in such hands as they pleased But Lambert and the other Officers who intended to have the whole guard of the Rump and aim'd at other designs not relishing this proceeding it was laid aside Nothing could have been more odious to the Nation then this re-establishment of the Rump-Parliament who taking these courses to secure the perpetuall continuance of their sitting and resolving never to encrease their number by admitting their fellow-members or new ones legally elected in their places awakened the spirits of most of the Gentry of the Nation to attempt something for their Countries liberty by restitution of the ancient Government A great inclination there was in most Counties to take up Armes and several Offers were made in divers places but none was so considerable as that in Cheshire Lancashire and the parts adjoyning under Sir George Booth Sir Thomas Middleton and other Gentlemen in those parts They declar'd for a full and free Parliament to be elected by the People Sir George Booth had taken Westchester and was reported to be very numerous Whereupon Lambert was sent out against him with an Army of six or seven thousand men and a train of Artillery moreover forces from all quarters were appointed to draw to him so that all meeting he had a very puissant Army The party under Sir George Booth had been in Armes a a good time before Lambert came against them in expectation that other Counties would have done the like but this hope failing upon Lambert's approach many of them withdrew from him The rest came to an encounter with Lambert at Northwich and were without much difficulty defeated The number of the slain was not many but the Prisoners were in great multitudes Sir George Booth himself was also within a few dayes after taken in a disguise in an Inne at Newport-Pagnel in Bedfordshire as he was coming up to London Persons of quality taken besides him were the Earle of Derby the Lord Kilmurrey Major General Ranulph Egerton Sir William Neile Sir Thomas Powel of Flintshire Col. Massey of Cheshire Major Peter Brook The Earle of Stamford and Sir Thomas Leventhorp were also imprison'd in other places with some hundreds of Gentlemen for designing to levy war against the Commonwealth The Rump overjoy'd with this successe presented Lambert with 1000. l. to buy him a jewel but he thought it more suitable to his designes to distribute it amongst his Army During these actions in England his Majesty privately withdrew from Bruxells together with the Duke of York it was imagin'd by many that they were come concealed into England in expectation of the event or at least lay upon the Sea-coasts ready to have transported some forces in a Fleet which rode upon the Coast of Flanders in case matters had succeeded prosperously But not long after the suppression of the Cheshire Insurrection they appeared again at Bruxells from whence his Majesty dispatcht an Embassadour to attend with certain Proposals at the Interview of Cardinal Mazarini for the French King and Don Lewis de Haro for the Spanish who met upon the confines to treat a Peace between the two Crowns and a Marriage between the King of France and the Infanta of Spain The Embassadour was entertain'd by the two grand Ministers with very high testimonies of honour and respect and promised to have his Master's Interest taken into consideration assoon as the concernments of their own would permit But in England the pretended Parliament fell eagerly to their old beloved Trade of Sequestration and determin'd to exercise the utmost of severity upon the actors in the late Insurrection And no doubt they they would have prosecuted their intentions had not Providence diverted their malice by a breach which fell out between them and the principal Officers of the Army Lambert whose ambition instigated to him to be so active in the late change of Government and so popular in the management of his late expedition together with other grand Officers thought the Parliament so oblig'd to them for restoring them to Power and preserving them in it that they conceiv'd none of their demands ought to be denyed Whereupon at their return to London a Petition was presented to the House by Desborough for a General The Iunto remembring how their former General had serv'd them not only denied this request but vacated the Commissions of Lambert Desborough and 7. others and voted the supreme command of the Army into the hands of seven Commissioners whereof two or three were Army-men the others Members of Parliament Lambert and his Companions were so incensed herewith that upon the 11. of Octob. Forces were drawn out on either side at VVestminster those for the Iunto commanded by Haselrig Morley and others those for the Army by Lambert himself Desborough Berry and other Colonels and had not the Council of State interpos'd they had charg'd one another Neverthelesse the Army-party prevail'd and turn'd the Rump out of doors Oct. 13. Which being done the great Officers being assembled in Council at Wallingford-house dispos'd of commands among themselves Fleetwood was made General Lambert Lieutenant General Desborough General of the Horse and that they might satisfy Gen. Monck too who govern'd Scotland they made him Major General of the Foot As for civil Affairs they erected a Committee of