smiling Mrs. Lane notwithstanding his Majesty went as her servant yet had a greater respect for him before others pretended him her Tenant's son but on the Road she would always ask what he would have to dinner or supper and what piece of that he liked which she would always be sure to get made ready and give him he still sitting at the lower end of the table But to come to the end of their journey being arrived at Bristol they lodged at the house of a Noble gentleman there and kinsman to Mr. Lastel the King finding it to be a house of great resort feigns himself sick of an Ague and so keeps his Chamber all the day coming down onely at nights but one night coming down and being somewhat cold craves a glass of Wine of the Butler who carries him into the But lery this Butler having before served his Majesties Father in the Wars looking earnestly upon him suspected him to be the King so easily will Majesty appear though veiled in the utmost disguises and thereupon pulling off his hat told him very ceremoniously That he might command what wine he pleased of which the King took no notice but drinking off his Wine went out yet the Butler could not satisfie his suspicion but went up to Mr. Lastels demanded of him how long he had had that servant whereupon Mr. Lastels was very angry at his boldness in daring to ask him such a question but the Butler still persisted and whispering told him that he believed it was the King where upon Mr. Lastels seeing he was discovered sends immediately for his Majesty whom he acquaints with the Butlers discovery of him with whom the King was somewhat angry in regard he did not first acquaint himself with his suspition it not being impossible but that Mr. Lastels might not have known him to be the King but upon pardon asked by the Butler it was granted by the King and he afterwards proved very instrumental in his Majesties conveyance through the Countrey But here at Bristol the chief design they had in hand failed them for though there were a little Barque lay there judged most convenient for the business yet the Master would for no reward transport a single person though he was so honest as only to deny it and made no further search or inquiry concerning the person which might perhaps have tended to a discovery This design here failing his Majesty desired to be brought some miles Westward to the house of a worthy gentleman whom he knew to be a trusty friend where coming in he finds the gentleman in the field with his servants having discovered himself to him he was by him conveyed to a convenient stand till night having first taken leave of his true friends who had thus far conducted him with the danger of their Lives and Estates from whence he was in the dusk conveyed into the house and there carefully concealed for a week till such time as preparation could be made in some Western Port of a passage for him but coming afterwards there where it was provided chancing to dine with a Parliament Colonell then there he thought it the safer to loose the benefit of that passage then adventure to imbarque himselfe singly which might breed suspicion and perhaps have been the means after so many deliverances to have betrayed him into the hands of his enemies This passage then likewise failing him he then returned back to the place from whence he came and concealed himself three weekes longer till in the end it being resolved on he by the assistance of Mr. Ph. was conveyed through the most by-ways they could imagine to a gentlewomans house in Sussex where he lay till a person of true worth and honour made provision of a faithfull Master who with a small Vessel wafted him to a small Creek in Normandy to the great content of the Kings sacred Majesty and all his Loyall Subjects and to the honour of the Master with due reward as in time may appear Soon after this the Juncto at Westminster took order for the reducing of the two Islands Jersie and Man about this time dyed Generall Popham one of the Generals at Sea and IretonCromwells Son in Law of the plague in Ireland No sooner had the English brought things to some quietnesse at home but now new stirs begin to appear abroad The Hollanders being offended at an Act made by that piece of Parliament then sitting at Westminster for the encreasing of shipping and encouragement of Navigation break out into an open warre and the first act of Hostility was May 16. 1652. When Van Trump Admiral of the Dutch Fleet with about 40 two sail comming into Dover Road refused to strike sail hung out a Red flag the usuall sign of defrâ—me and gave a broad-side to Blake the English Admirall which occasioned some hours sharp dispute wherein the Dutch had the worst they lost in this fight two ships and 150 men But of this action the states of Holland would not be concern'd because as they sayd it was done without their approbation and a little the beter to palliate the business they dispatch their Embassadors over into England to renew the Treaty the effect of which proved an open war betwixt the Common-Wealths which was now publickly proclaimed on both sides In July Sir George Ascue with a Squadron of Ships being left to guard the narrow Seas discovered a Fleet of Flemmings between Dover and Callice being about 80. of which ten were taken and burnt the rest ran a shore the Coasts of France Sir George Ascue as he was sailing Westward to guard the Seas and conduct home the Marchant-men that lay at Plymouth on the 16. August between one and 2. in the afternoon they had a sight of the Dutch Fleet they presently made what hast they cold towards them to discover their number which was about 60. sail of men of War and 30 Marchant-men the English were 38. sail and 4. Fireships and 4. Scouts they came up to the enemy about 4. in the afternoon and began the fight with much Gallantry and high resolution this engagement continued feirce till night parted then not without some loss to the English but much more to the Dutch Sept. 27. General Blake with his Fleet discovered on the backside of Goodwin Sands about 60. sail of Dutch-men of War under the Command of Admiral de Wit which bout was called the Kentish Knock they shamefully flying from the English though far more in number were miserably beaten by General Blake Upon the Neck of this breach came into England an Ambassador from the Queen of Sweden where he ended his life before he effected any thing another also from the King of Denmark who also seeing no probability of peace between these Nations departed out of this Kingdom In the Levant Seas asmal Fleet of the English wereset upon by â—â—-sail of Dutch who over-powering them in number took and blew up 5. English Ships About
ordered by the then Juncto sitting in Parliament that all publick Writings should be issued out under a new Test and Stile and a new great Seale should be made and the old one broken that the Inscription and Stamp of the Coin shall be altered also It was Enacted and Proclaimed that none upon pain of high Treason should presume to declare and publickly promote Charles Stuart Prince of Wales eldest Son of the late King or any of the rest of his Children to be King of England Nevertheless there was not wanting those who ventured their lives and fortunes in asserting the Title of his Majesty to the Crown of England to which end this following Proclamation was Printed and dispersed in severall places of London We the Noble men Judges Knights Lawyers Gentlemen Free-holders Merchants Citizens Yeomen Seamen and Free men of England do according to our Allegiance and Covenant by these presents heartily joyfully and unanimously acknowledge and Proclaim the most Illustrious Charles Prince of Wales next Heir apparent to his Father King Charls whose late wicked murther and all consents there unto we from our souls abominate to be by hereditary birth right and lawfull succession rightfull and undoubted King of Great Brittain c. And we will constantly and sincerely in our severall places and callings defend and maintain his Royall person Crown and Dignity with our Lives and Estates against all opposers whom we hereby declare to be enemies to his Majesty and Kingdomes in Testimony whereof we have caused these to be published throughout all Counties and Corporations of this Realm the 1. day of February In the first year of his Majesties Raign But so totally was the Kings party suppressed in all parts of the Kingdom that the Proclamation was of none essect none daring to appear for the Royal Interest Yet his Majesties greatest hopes and expectations were from Ireland where the severall factions united together Proclaim him King and bend all their whole strength against the Interest of the Common-Wealth of England and in a short time became so formidable and prevail so much as the possessed all the strong Holds of that Country Dublin and London-Derry are excepted both were straitly besieged the former by a gallant Army of 22000 men under the Marquesse of Ormond the latter by a party of the Irish Rebells Hee had likewise adjoining to the Territories of England the Islands of Scilly Jersy and Man which places served as a retreat for that small Fleet that was left him being the remainder of those Ships which had deserted the Parliaments Navy and revolted unto him This while his affairs in Ireland were at the height they began as suddenly to decline for there being about 3000 Horse and Foot safely landed at Dublin as the forlorn of a greater body they were joyned with what other forces they then could make all which did not make above 9000. at the most were commanded by Colonell Mich. Jones who sallying forth of Dublin did not onely raise the seige but also utterly routed the whole Army the Marquesse of Ormond himselfe hardly escapeing about 2000 were slain in the place and in the pursuite some thousands were taken prisoners as like wise all their Ordinaces Ammunition Carriages and Provision The siege of London-Derry was also raised by a resolute sally of Sir Charls Coot forcing Sir Rob. Stewart and Col. Merven to retire immediately upon this success not to give the Royall party any time to recover strength All disturbances being quieted in England The Levellers at Burford being suppressed by Generall Fairfax Oliver Cromwell then Lievetenant Generall of the Parliaments Army landed with a powerfull Army about the midst of August 1649. invested with the Title and Authority of Lord Governour or Lievetenant of Ireland presently after him followed his son in law Major Generall Ireton with about 40. Sail of Ships soon after Drogheda was taken by Storme not without some difficulty and loss and that hee might terrify other Garrisons that should stand out put Sir Arthur Aston all that were in the Town to the Sword which was about 3000. Then followed the taking of a number of considerable Towns and Castles in all parts of Ireland Besides severall Field-battells gained over the Lord Inohiqueen the Lord Ards and Clanduboys with Lievetenant Generall Farrell and others of his Majesties party by the Lord Broghill Sir Charles Coote Collonell Venables Zanchy Reynolds and Hewson so that in lesse then a years time Ireland was subdued to the power of the English Common-Wealth Much about this time hapned a generall defection of the English Plantations from their obedience to the Parliament viz. Virginia and the Caryb Islands publickly own the Royall Interest whereupon all Traffique and Commerce is prohibited thorow which means they are driven to great streits and presently after by a Fleet of Ships from England under the Command of Sir George Ascue they are brought unto conformity The King having Constituted Prince Rupert Admirall of his Fleet did much harm to the English Coasts and takes many rich prizes was at last blockt up in the Harbour of Kings Sale the Town presently after taken by Cromwell The Prince is forced to leave three of his Ships behind he had enough to do to get clear off with the rest at length he arrived at Lisbon the imperiall City of the King of Portugall and craved his protection which was not denied them which was the occasion of a great Contest between that King and the State of England other designes were set on foot by his Majesties Loyall Subjects for the obtaining of his Right The first was of James Graham Earl of Montross for the raising of what force he cold in Holland and else where to invade Scotland The 2. was the procuring a Treaty betwixt his Majesty and the Scots to give more life to these undertakings Ambassadors were dispatcht to Spain Italy Denmarke Sweden and Russia c. In the name of CHARLES the Second King of Great Britain France and Ireland Defender of the Faith The effect of whose Embassies were little else but Complements pleas and excuses for neither men nor mony could be got Montrosse According to his Majesties instructions having got together very considerable supplies of men and monies at length lands in the North of Scotland where he had not long been but Colonell Straughan Colonell Kerr Colonell Mountgomry and Lievetenant Colonell Hackets Troop and another amounting to 230 approach and give battel whereas Montrosse was at least 1200. and their Chief-Leaders such resolute and expert souldiers unlesse struck with fear of Lesley's great Army coming against them however so great was the defeat that the whole body of Montrosse was engaged in the battle There escaped not above 100 from being either taken or slain amongst the prisoners ners were S. Joh. Vrry Major General of Montrosses Army the L. Fendraught Col. Grey Lievetenant Colonell Stewart with a great number of other considerable Officers
miseries of a civil War but all endeavours proved in effectuall for the French King persisted in his resolutions not to give way to the banishment of the Cardinal hereupon the Duke of Lorraine was sent for with his Army to come and joyn with the Princes the Duke having been tampered with by the contrary party and having advantageous termes desisted hereupon aâ— generall report was spread that his Majesty of England had drawn over the Duke to the Kings party because they were often together this coming to the peoples ears so incensed them not onely against the Duke for his perfidiousness But also against his Majesty and the Queen his mother the fury of the people increased so much that the King was forced for his own preservation to retire from the Louver to St Jermans the Queen his mother received many affronts as she passedin her Coach from the Louver to the Nunnery at Chaliot where she kept her Refidence his Majesty now treateth with Lorraine for the recovery of his kingdom of Ireland out of the hand of the English Republick to this end several Articles are agreed unto by the Lord Taffe agent for the King and the Duke amongst other things it was concluded that the Duke should be vested with the power and title of Protector Royall of Ireland But the Duke having not strength enough for this great enterprise this businesse takes no effect his Majesty having stayed at Saint Jermans till the heat of the popular fury was over returned again to the Louvre During his abode there his ilustrious Brother the Duke of Glocester who for a long time had bin under the custody of the English Juncto and at length dismissed and sent into Holland to his sister was from thence attended into France by Sir Marmaduke Langdale and Sir Richard Grenvile and he was honorably received at Paris by the French King Queen-Mother and the rest of the Grandee during his Majesties abode here arrived Mrs. Jane Lane who had so miraculously preserved the King after the fight at Worcester he being exceedingly glad to hear this news immediately sends some persons of quality with Coaches to conduct her to Paris where being come they rejoyce in each others presence let us now a little cast our eyes into England where Cromwell and the Council at White-Hall having usurped the Regall authority carry all by force before them about the latter end of February several persons of quality are carried to the Tower for being Loyal to his Majesty but because nothing of moment could be proved against them they are set at liberty Cromwell being desirous to strengthen himself in the Tyrannical Reigning over his Majesties subjects bethinks himself of making peace with forein States and Princes to that end presently patches up a very disadvantageous peace with the Dutch presently after concludes a peace also with Christina Queen of Sweden a a little before the resignation of her Crown to her Couzen Carolus Gustavus In May following several persons are charged with high Treason for endeavouring to take away the Protectors life seize upon the Tower and proclaim his Majesty King of Great Brittain a High Court of Justice is erected Col. Gerard Peter Vowel School-master and Somerset Fox are condemned to die the last is reprieved for his ample confessions Col. Gerrard was beheaded at Tower hill and Vowel hanged at Charing-Cross on the same day Don Pantalaon Sa Brother to the Portugal Ambassadour was beheaded for engaging in a quarrel on the New Exchange where one Mr. Greneway was slain His Sacred Majesty having now remained in the Court of France about two or three years sometimes being lifted up high with hopes of regaining his three kingdoms other times being cast down with fears sollicitates the States of Holland again to own his Royall interest but they having made a peace with Oliver onely complement him with a letter full of civility and now that which troubled his Majesty most was this the French Court notwithstanding all means used to the contrary by the King of England his mother and other friends prepare to send over an Ambassadour into England hereupon his sacred yet still suffering Majesty leaves that kingdom having taken his farewell of the King and other great ones from whom he received many Complements and Apologies being accompanied with his brother the Duke of York his Couzens Prince Rubert and Prince Edward Palatine to Chatilion a house belonging to the Prince of Conde where they stayed a while to confider how to dispose of themselves to th' best advantage his Majesty with Prince Rupert resolves for Germany having before sent the Lord Wilmot before Ambassadour to the Emperor to negotiate in his behalf Prince Edward took his journey to Burbone the Duke of York remaining in France till after the peace with England is concluded being Lieutenant General of the French Army the young Duke of Glooester after his Brother was gone into Germany by reason of the Queen his Mother and some others of the Catholique Religion was placed in the Colledge of the Jesuits there to have been bred up in the Romish Religion Intelligence thereof being soon brought to his Majesty he being not a little displeased soon takes order for his remove which was exactly performed Oliver according to one Article in his Government called a Parliament to meet at Westminster Sept. 3. 1654. William Lenthal master of the Roll being chosen Speaker at their first sitting they begin to question the lawfulness of the power by which they were called this highly Offended Oliver Protector and made him resolve to put a Period to their sitting so when they had sat about 5 mouths he dissolved them soon after the dissolution of the Parliament the Court was allarmed with news of a great rising in Shropshire Montgomryshire Wiltshire Nottinghamshire Northumberland and Yorkshire in the behalf of his Royal Majesty Sir Henry Littleton Sir John Packington and Major Wildman are secured and sent Prisoners to the Tower Sunday 11. March a Party about 200. enter Salisbury seize upon Horses take away Commissions from the Judges as they were going there circuit and march towards Cornwal they are met with by Captain Vnton Crook and after a sharp dispute totally routed their chief Captains were taken viz. Penruddock Jones and Grove Sir Joseph Wagstaffe made a shift to escape shortly after Penruddock and Grove were beheaded at Exon and Jones was repreived several other risings in other parts of this Kingdom but were all suppressed and now Cromwel prepares a very great Fleet but for what end none knew but some principal Commanders In the mean time the King of Spain sends over as Extraordinary Ambassador the Marquis of Leda who was here conplemented by our new Court but finding which way things went after a short stay returns to his own Country presently after his departure this great Fleet steer there course towards Hispaniola one of the fairest Islands belonging to the American Dominions of the King of Spain at
THE Royall Martyr OR KING CHARLES The FIRST no Man of BLOOD but A MARTYR for His PEOPLE Being a brief Account of His Actions from the beginnings of the late unhappy Warrs untill He was basely Butchered to the Odium of Religion and scorn of all Nations before his Pallace at White-Hall Jan. 30. 1648. To which is Added A Short History of His Royall MAJESTY Charles the Second KING of England Scotland France and Ireland Defender of the Faith c. Third Monarch of Great Brittain In all his Sufferings and Solitudes more then CONQUERER Rom. 8. Salus Populi Salus Regis â—ondon Printed for Henry Bell and are to be sold by most Book sellers 1660 TO THE KINGS Most Excellent Majesty Dread Soveraign THe occasion of these few lines is neither to renew your sorrow nor stir up your Majesty to revenge I know you have learned a better lesson from our blessed Lord and Saviour to forgive your enemies neither is it my design to plead for that which I even tremble to write viz. Regicide I know the world expects some should be made examples of Justice God forbid that blood-guiltiness especially of our King should go unpunisht But that Justice mercy might kiss each other These ensuing lines were writ in the midst of your and our sufferings the onely end both in writing and publishing was to Vindicate your Royal Father our Dread Soveraign of blessed memory thereby to make a more easie passage for your most Excellent Majesty to ascend unto the Royall throne of your famous Progenitors And now seeing God at last by his wonderfull and most miraculous Providence hath brought your Sacred Majesty to your just Rights Dominions I make bold in all humility to prostitute both my self and this small Tract at your Royall Feet beseeching your Clemency to accept of this small Mite of my Loyalty begging your gracious pardon for my great presumption beseeching Almighty Jehovah the God of your Fathers to redouble in you your Fathers Graces and Vertues recompence to your Majesty for all your unparalelled sufferrings patience in the perfect obedience and affection of all your Subjests establish your Royall Throne here on Earth and at last give you a Crown of Glory in the highest heavens so prays Your Majesties Loyall Humble and most obedient Subject W. H. B. King Charles the First no Man of BLOOD But a Martyr for his PEOPLE THat there hath been now eighteen years spent in Civill Warrs aboundance of Blood shed and more Ruine and misery brought upon the Kingdom by it then all the severall Changes Conquests and Civill Warrs it hath endured from the time of Brute or the first Inhabitants of it every mans wofull experience some onely excepted who have been gainers by it will easily assent unto No marvell therefore that many of those who if all they alledge for themselves that they were not the cause of it could be granted to be true might either have hindred or lessned it would now put the blame of so horrid a business from themselves and lay it upon any they can perswade to bear it And that the Conquerours who would bind their King in Chains and their Princes with Fetters of Iron and think they have a Commission from heaven to do it the guilt of it being necessarily either to be charged upon the Conquerours or Conquered are not willing to have their Triumphant Chairs and the glories as they are made believe that hang upon their shoulders defiled with it but do all they can to load their Captives with it But howsoever though the success and power of an Army hath frighted it so far out of question as to charge it upon the King and take away his life for it by making those that must of necessity be guilty of the fact if he should have been as in all reason he ought to have been acquitted of it the only Judges of him It may well become the judgement and conscience of every man that will be but either a good Subject or a Christian not to lend out his Soul and Salvation so much on trust as to take those that are parties and the most ignorant sort of mens words for it but enter into a most serious examination of the matter of Fact it selfe and by tracing out the foot-steps of Truth see what a conclusion may be drawn out of it In pursuance whereof for I hope the Originall of this Sea of Blood will not prove so unsearchable as the head of Nile we shall enquire first of all who raised the fears and jealousies Secondly represent and set down the truth of the matter of Fact and proceedings betwixt the King and Parliament from the tumultuous and seditious coming of the people to the Parlament and White-Hall untill the 25 of August 1642. when he set up his Standard at Nottingham and from the setting up of his Standard untill the 13 of September 1642. when the Parlament by their many Acts of Hostility and a Negative and Churlish answer to his propositions might well have put him out of hope of any good to be obtained from them by messages of peace sent unto them Thirdly whether a Prince or other Magistrate labouring to suppress or punish a rebellion of the People be tyed to those rules are necessary to the justifying of a War if it were made between equals Fourthly suppose the War to be made with a neighbour Prince or between equalls whether the King or Parlament were in the defensive or justifiable part of it Fifthly whether the Parlament in their pretended Magistracy have not taken lesser occasions to punish or provide against insurrections treasons and rebellions as they are pleased to call them Sixthly who most desired Peace and offered fairliest for it Seventhly who laboured to shorten the War and who to lengthen it Eightly whether the conditions proffered by the King would not have been more profitable for the People if they had been accepted and what the Kingdom and People have got instead of it CHAP. I. Who first of all Raised the Fears and Jealousies THe desiring of a guard for a Parlament because of a tale rather then a plot That the Earl of Crawford had a purpose to take away the Marquis of Hamiltons life in Scotland the refusing of a legall guard offered by the King and his Protestation to be as careful of their safety as the safety of his Wife and Children The dream of a Taylor lying in a ditch in Finsbury fields of this and the other good Lord and Common-wealths men to be taken away The trayning of Horses under ground and a plague plaister or rather a clout taken from a galled Horse back sent into the House of Commons to Mr. Pym. A design of the Inhabitants of Covent Garden to murther the City of London News from France Italy Spain and Denmark of Armies ready to come for England and a supposition or feaverish fancy that the King intended to introduce Popery alter
defence of the Parlament were according to Law and if any man should arrest or trouble any of them for it he is declared to be an enemy to the Common-wealth And when the King to quiet the Parlament 12. January 1641 was pleased to signifie that for the present he would wave his proceedings against the five Members and Kimbolton and assures the Parlament that upon all occasions he will be as carefull of their Priviledges as of his Life or his Crown Yet the next day after they Declared the Lord Digby's coming to Kingstone upon Thames but with a Coach and six horses in it to be in a Warlike manner and disturbance of the Common-wealth and take occasion thereupon to order the Sheriffs of all Counties in England and Wales with the assistance of the Justices of Peace and trayned bands of the severall Counties to suppress any unlawfull Assemblies and to secure the said Counties and all the Magazines in them 14 January 1641. The King by a second Message professeth to them he never had the least intention of violating the least priviledge of Parlament and in case any doubt of breach of Priviledges remain will be willing to clear that and assert those by any reasonable way his Parlament shall advise him to But the design must have been laid by or miscarried if that should have been taken for a satisfaction and therefore to make a quarrell which needed not they Order the morrow after a Charge and Impeachment to be made ready against Sir Edward Herbert the Kings Attorney Generall for bringing into the House of Peers the third of that instant January by the Kings direction a Charge or accusation against Kimbolton and the five Members c. In February 1641. Seize upon the Tower of London the great Magazine and Store-house of the Kingdom and set some of the train-bands of London commanded by Major Generall Skippon to guard it 1. March 1641. Petition for the Militia and tell him If he would not grant it they would settle and dispose of it without him And the morrow after resolved upon the Question That the Kingdom be forthwith put in a posture of defence in such a way as was already agreed upon by both Houses of Parlament and order the Earl of Northumberland Lord high-Admirall to Rig and send to Sea his Majesties Navy and notwithstanding that the King 4 March 1641. by his Letter directed to the Lord Keeper Littleton had signified that he would wholly desist from any proceedings against the five Members and Kimbolton Sir John Hotham a Member of the House of Commons who before the the King had accused the five Members and Kimbolton had by Order of Parliament seized upon the Town of Hull the only fortified place of strength in the Kingdom and made a Garison of it summoned and forced in many of the trayned Souldiers of the County of York to help him to guard it And the eight of March 1641. before the King could get to York it was voted That whatsoever the two Houses of Parliament should Vote or Declare to be Law the people were bound to obey And when not long after the King offered to go in person to suppress the Irish Rebellion That was Voted to be against the Law and an encouragement to the Rebells and they Declare that whosoever shall assist him in his voyage thither should be taken for an enemy to the Common-wealth And 15 of March 1641. Resolved upon the Question that the severall Commissions granted under the great Seal to the Lievtenants of severall Counties were illegall and void and that whosoever should execute any power over the Militia by colour of any such Commission without consent of both Houses of Parliament should be accounted a disturber of the Peace of the Kindom Aprill 1642. Sir John Hotham seizeth the Kings Magazine at Hull and when the King went with a small attendance to demand an entrance into the Town denies him though he had then no Order to do it Notwithstanding all which the 28 of April 1642. they Vote That what he had done was in obedience to the commands of both Houses of Parliament and that the Kings proclaiming him to be a Traytor was a high breach of priviledge of Parliament And Ordered all Sheriffs and Officers to assist their Committees sent down with those their Votes to Sir John Hotham In the mean time the Pulpits flame with seditious invectives against the King and incitements to rebellion and the people running headlong into it had all manner of countenance and encouragement unto it but those Ministers that preached obedience and sought to prevent it were sure to be imprisoned and put out of their places for it Sir Henry Ludlow could be heard to say in the House of Commons that the King was not worthy to Reign in England And Henry Martin That the Kingly Office was forfeitable and the happiness of the Kingdom did not depend upon him and his Progeny And though the King demanded Justice of them were neither punished nor put out of the House Nor so much as questioned or blamed for it The Militia the principall part of the Kings regality without which it was impossible either to be a King or to govern and the Sword which God had given him and his Ancestors for more then a thousand years together had enjoyed and none in the Barons wars nor any Rebellion of the Kingdom since the very being or essence of it durst ever heretofore presume to ask for must now be wrestled for and taken away from him The Commissions of Array being the old legall way by which the Kings of England had a power to raise and levy men for the defence of themselves and the Kingdom Voted to be illegall The passage at Sea defended against him and his Navy kept from him by the Earle of Warwick whilst the King all this while contenting himselfe to be meerly passive and only busying himself in givinganswers to some Parliament Messages and Declarations and to wooe and intreat them out of this distemper cannot be proved to have done any one action like a War or to have so much as an intention to do it unless they can make his demanding an entrance into Hull with about twenty of his Followers unarmed in his Company and undertaking to return and leave the Governor in possession of it to be otherwise then it ought to be 5. Of May 1642. The King being informed that Sir John Hotham sent out warrants to Constables to raise the trained bands of Yorkshire writes his letter to the Sheriff of that County to forbid the trained bands and commands them to repair to their dwelling houses 12 Of May 1642. Perceiving himselfe every where endangered and a most horrid Rebellion framing against him and Sir John Hotham so neer him at Hull as within a days journey of him he moves the County of York for a troop of Horse consisting of the prime Gentry of that County
of horses And within two dayes after the Lord Keeper Duke of Richmond Marquiss Hartford Earl of Salisbury Lord Gray of Ruthen with 17 Earls and 14 Barons the Lord Chief Justice Bancks and sundry others of eminent quality and reputation attest His Majesties Declaration and profession that He had no intention to make a War but abhorred it and That they perceived no Councels or preparations tending to any such designe and sent it with His Majesties Declaration to the Parliament In the mean time the Committee of Parliament appointed to make the propositions to the City of of London for the raising of Horse viz. 15. June 1642. Made report to the House of Commons That the Citizens did very cheerfully accept the same there being for indeed there had been some design and resolulution a year before concerning the melting of plate to raise monies already great store of plate and monies brought into Guild-Hall for that purpose and an Ordinance of Parlament was made for the Earl of Warwick to be Lord Admirall and keep the Navy though the King had commanded him on pain of treason to deliver up the Ships to him And the Lord Brook sent down into Warwick-Shire to settle the Militia 17. June 1642. Committee of both Houses was appointed to go to the City of London to enquire what store of Horse Monies and Plate were already raised upon the Propositions 18. June 1642. The King by his Proclamation Disclaiming any intention to make War against his Parlament forbiddeth all levies of Forces without his Majesties express pleasure signified under his Great Seal And 20. June 1642. Informing all his Subjects by his Proclamation of the Lawfulness of his Commissions of Aray That besides many other Warrants and Authorities of the Law Judge Hutton and Judge Crooke in their Arguments against the Ship-money agreed them to be Lawfull and the Earle of Essex himself had in the beginning of this Parlament accepted of one for the County of York Gave his people to understand That he had awarded the like Commissions into all the Counties of England and Dominion of Wales to provide for and secure them in a legall way left under a pretence of danger and want of Authority from his Majesty to put them into a Military posture they should he drawn and engaged in any opposition against him or his just Authority But 21. June 1642. The Lords and Commons in Parlament Declaring The designe of their Propositions of raising Horse and Moneys was to maintain the Protestant Religion and the Kings Authority and Person and that the Forces already attending his Majestie and his preparations at first coloured under the pretence of a guard being not so great a guard as they themselvs had constantly for 6 months before did evidently appear to be intended for some great and extraordinary designe so as at this time also they do not charge the King with any manner of action of War or any thing done in a way or course of war against them and gave just caufe of fear and jealousie to the Parlament being never yet by any Law of God or man accounted to be a sufficient cause or ground for Subjects to make War against their Soveraign did forbid all Mayors Sheriffs Bayliffs and other Officers to publish His Majesties said Letter to the City of London And Declare that if He should use any force for the recovery of Hull or suppressing of their Ordinance for the Militia it should be held a levying Warr against the Parlament and all this done before His Majesty had granted any Commission for the levying or raising of a man and lest the King should have any manner of provision of War to defend himself when their Army or Sir John Hotham should come to assault him Powder and Armes were every whera seized on and Cutlers Gun-Smiths Sadlers and all Warlike Trades ordered not to send any to York but to give a weekly account what was made or sold by them And an Order made the 24 of June 1642. That the Horses which should be sant in for the service os the Parlament when they came to the number of 60. should be trained and so still as the number increased 4. July 1642. The King by his letter under his signe Manuall commanded all the Judges of England in their Circuits to use all means to suppress Popery Riots and unlawfull assemblies and to give the people to understand his resolution to maintain the Protestant Religion and the Laws of the Kingdom and not to govern by any arbitrary way and that if any should give the King or them to understand of any thing wherein they held themselves grieved and desired a just reformation He would speedily give them such an answer as they shall have cause to thank him for his Justice and favour But the same day a Declaration was published by both Houses of Parlament commanding that no Sheriff Mayor Bayliff Parson Vicar Curate or other Sir Richard Gurney the Lord Mayor of London not many days before having been imprisoned for proclaiming the Kings Proclamation against the bringing in of Plate c. should publish or proclaim any Proclamation Declaration or other paper in the Kings name which should be contrary to any Order Ordinance or Declaration of both the houses of Parlament or the proceedings thereof and Order that in case any force should be brought out of one County into another to disturb the peace thereof they should be suppressed by the Train Bands and Voluntiers of the adjacent Counties Shortly after Sir John Hotham fortifieth the Town of Hull whilst the King is at York seizeth on a Ship coming to him with provisions for his Houshold takes Mr. Ashburnham one of the Kings servants prisoner intercepts Letters sent from the Queen to the King and drowneth part of the Countrey round about the Town which the Parlament allows of and promise satisfaction to the owners 5. July 1642. They order a subscription of Plate and Horse to be made in every County and list the Horse under Commanders and the morrow after Order 2000 men should be sent to relieve Sir John Hotham in case the King should besiege him to which purpose Drums were bear up in London and the adjacent parts to Hull The Earl of Warwick Ordered to send Ships to Humber to his assistance instructions drawn up to be sent to the Deputy-Lievtenants of the severall Counties to tender the Propositions for the raising of Horses Plate and Money Mr. Hastings and divers of the Kings Commissioners of Array impeached for supposed high Crimes and misdemeanours and a Committee of five Lords and ten of the House of Commons ordered to meet every morning for the laying out of ten thousand pounds of the Guild-Hall moneys for the buying of 700 Horse and that 10000. Foot to be raised in London and the Country be imployed by direction of the Parlament and the Lord Brook is furnished with 6. pieces of
to which On Sunday the 23. of October 1642. for they thought it better to rob God of his Sabbath than lose an opportunity of murthering their Soveraign the Earl of Essex and Parliament-Army powring in from all quarters of the Kingdom upon him had compassed him in on all sides and before the King could put his men in Battel-Array many of whom being young Country fellows had no better armes than clubs and staves in their hands cut out of the hedges and put his two young Sons the Prince of Wales and the Duke of York in the guard of a Troop of horse at the further end of the field and had finished a short prayer a bullet of the Earl of Essex's Cannon grazed at his heels as he was kneeling at his prayers on the side of a bank for Blague a villain in in the Kings Army having a great pension allowed him for it had given notice in what part of the field the King stood that they might the better know how to shoot at him But God having a greater care of his Anointed than of their Rebellious pretences so ordered the hands of those that fought for the King as the Earl of Essex was so loaden with Victories as he left five of his men for one of Kings dead behind him lost his Baggage and Artillery retired back to Warwick and left the King to bless God in the field where he supped with such victuals as the more loyal and better natur'd neighbours sent him when the worser sort refused to do it and lying there all night sent warrants out the next day to the neighbour Parishes to bury the dead drew off his Ordnance and marched to Banbury and yet he could not forget to pity those were at such paines and hazard the day before to murther Him but before he went out of the field sent Sir William Leâ—neve Clarencieux King of Armes to Warwick whither the Earl of Essex was fled with a Proclamation of pardon to all that would lay down armes which though they scornfully received and the Herald threatned to be hanged if he did not depart the sooner cannot perswade Him from sending a Declaration or Message to the Parliament to offer them all that could be requested by Subjects but all the use they made of it was to make the City of London believe they were in greater danger than ever if they sent them not more moneys and recruited the Earl of Essex his broken Army and to cosen and put the people on the more to seek their own misery a day of Thanksgiving was publiquely kept for the great Victory obtained against the King And Stephen Marshall a Factious bloody Minister though he confessed he was so carried on in the crowd of those that fled from the battel as he knew not where he was till he came to a Market-Town which was some miles from Edge-hill where the Battel was fought preaches to the people too little believing the Word of God and too much believing him that to his knowledge there was not above 200. men lost on the Parliaments side that he picked up bullets in his black velvet cap and that a very small supply would now serve to reduce the King and bring him to his Parliament And here ye may see Janus Temple wide open though the doors of it were not lift off the hinges or broken open at once but pickt open by those either knew not the misery of the War or knowing it will prove to be the more guilty promoters of it That we may the better therefore find out though the matter of Fact already represented may be evidence enough of it self who it was that let out the fury and rage of War upon us we shall consider CHAP. II. Whether a Prince or other Magistrate labouring to suppress or punish a Rebellion of the People be tied to those rules are necessary for the justifying of a War if it were made between equals WAr was first brought in by necessity where the determining of controversies between two strange Princes of equal Power could not be had because they have no superiour A Rebel therefore cannot properly be called an enemy for Hostis nomen notat aequalitatem and when any such Arms are borne against Rebels it is not to be called a War but an Exercise of Jurisdiction upon trayterous and dissoyal Persons atque est ratio manifesta saith Albericus Gentilis qui enim jure judex est superior non jure cogitur ad subeundas partes partis aequalis non est bellum cum latronibus praedonibus aut piratis quanquam magnos habeant excercitus proinde nec ulla cum illis belli jura saith Besoldus The Romans who were so exact and curious in their publick denouncing of War and sending Ambassadors before they made War against any other Nation did not do it in cases of Rebellion and defection and therefore Fidenatibus Campanis non denunciant Romani And Cicero that was of opinion that nullum bellum justum haberi videtur nisi nunciatum nisi indictum nisi repetitis rebus stood not upon those solemnities in the Cataline conspiracy for the rules of justifying a War against an enemy or equals as demanding restitution denunciation and the like are not requisite in that of punishing Rebels Pompey justifies tbe War maintained by the Senate against Caesar not then their Soveraign with neque enim vocari praelia justa decent c. Cicero did not think it convenient to send Ambassadors to Anthony nor intreat him by faire words but that it was meet to inforce him by arms to raise his siege from Mutina for he said They had not to do with Hambal an enemy to the Commonwealth but with a rebellious Citizen The resisting of the Kings Authority when the Sheriff of a County goes with the posse Comitatus to execute it was never yet so much as called a War but Rebellion and Insurrection or Commotion were the best terms bestowed upon it such attempts are not called Wars but Robberies of which the Law taketh no other care of but to punish them The haste that all our Kings and Princes in England have made in suppressing Rebellions as that of the Barons Wars by Henry the 3. and his sending his Sonne the Prince to besiege Warren Earl of Surrey in his Castle of Rygate for affronting the Kings Justices saying That he would hold his Lands by the Sword That which Rich. 2. made to suppress Wat. Tiler H. 6. Jack Cade H. 8. Ket and the Norfolk Rebels and Queen Elizabeth to suppress the Earls of Northumber-land and Westmerland may tell us that they understood it no otherwise than all the Kings and Magistrates of the world have ever practised it by the Laws of England if Englishmen that are Traytors go into France and confederate with Altens or Frenchmen and come afterwards and make a War in England and be taken prisoners the strangers may be ransomed
but not the English for they were the Kings Subjects and are to be reckoned as Traytors not strangers And the Parliaments own advice to the King to suppress the Irish Rebels that ploughed but with their own Heyfer and pretended as they did to defend their Religion Laws and Liberties and the opinion also of Mr. President Bradshaw as Sir John Owen called him in his late sentence given against the Earls of Cambridge Holland and Norwich Lord Capel and Sir John Owen whom he mistakenly God and the Law knows would make to be the Subjects of their worfer fellow-Subjects may be enough to turn the question out of doors But lest all this should not be thought sufficient to satisfie those can like nothing but what there is Scripture for we shall a little turn over the leaves of that sacred Volume and see what is to be found concerning this matter Moses who was the meekest Magistrate in the world and better acquainted with him that made the fifth Commandement than these that now pretend Revelations against it thought fit to suppress the rebellion of Corah Dathan and Abiram as soone as he could and for no greater offence than a desire to be coordinate with him procured them to be buried alive with all that appertained unto them When Absolom had rebelled against his father David and it was told him That the hearts of the men of Israel were after him David a man after Gods own heart without any message of peace or Declaration sent unto his dear son Absolom or offering half or any part of his Kingdome to him sent three several Armies to pursue and give him battell When Sheba the sonne of Bichri blew a Trumpet and said We have no part in David every man to his tent O Israel and thereupon every man of Israel followed after him and forsook their King David who knew that Moses would not make a War upon the Amorites though he had Gods commandement for it without offers of peace and messengers sent first unto them said to Amasa Assemble me the men of Judah within three daies and when he tarried longer said unto him Take thou thy Lords Servants and pursue after him lest he get him fenced Cities and escape us For they that would take heed of Cocatrices have ever used to kill them in the shell And diligenti cuique Imperatori ac magistrains danda est opera saith Bodin ut non tam seditiones tollere quam praeoccupare student For sedition saith he once kindled like a span of fire blown by popular fury may sooner fire a whole City than be extinguished Et tales igitur pestes opprimere derepenté necessâ— est Princes and Soveraigns who are bound to protect and defend their Subjects are not to stand still and suffer one to oppress another and themselves to be undone by it afterwards But put the case the Parliament could have been called a Parliament when they had driven away the King which is the Head and Life of it or could have been said to have been two Houses of Parliament when there was not at that time above a third part of the House of Peers nor the half of the House of Commons remaining in them and what those few did in their abfence was either forced by a Faction of their own or a party of seditious Londoners for indeed the Warre rightly considered was not betwixt the Parliament and the King but a War made by a factious and seditious part of the Parliament against the King and the major part of the Parliament and had been as it never was nor could be by the Laws and Constitutions of the Kingdom coordinate and equal with the King and joint-tenanâ—â— of the Kingdom it would have been necessary to make â— War as just as they could and to have done all that had been in order to it and therefore we hope they which pretend so much to the Justice of the Kingdom will not be offended to have the Justice of their Wars somthing examined CHAP. IV. Suppose the Warre to be made with a neighbour-Prince or between equals Whether the King or Parliament were in the defensive or justifyabie part of it PLâ—rique saith learned Grotius tres statuunt bellorum justas causas defensionem recuperationem punttionem For any defence the Parliament might pretend a necessity of The King neither assaulted them nor used any violence to them when they first of all granted out their Propositions and Commissions of War unIess they can turn their jealousies into a Creed and make the Kings demanding the five Members and Kimbolton being done by warrant of the Law of the Land and the Records and precedents of their own Houses appear to be an assaulting of them Or if any reasonable man knew but how to make that to be an assault or a necessary cause of War for them to revenge it the Kings waving and relinquishing of his charge afterwards against them might have certainly been enough to have taken away the cause of it if there had been any howsoever a Warâ— made onely to revenge a bare demand or request of a thing and was neither so much as forced or a second time demanded of them but totally laid aside and retracted can never be accounted just As for the recovery of things lost or taken away The Parliament it self had nothing taken from them for both they and the people were so far from being loosers at that time by the King as the Remonstrance of the house of Commons made to the people 15. December 1641. of the Kings erroun as they please to call them in the government but indeed the errours rather of his Ministers and themselves also in busying him with brawles and quarrells and denying to give him fitting supplies mentions how much and how many benficeial Laws the King had granted them And so the Parliament and People being no loosers and the King never denying them any thing could in honour oâ— conscience be granted them That part of the justifying of a War will no way also belong to them But if the punishment for offences and injuries past if they could be so properly called being a third cause of justifying a War could be but imagined to be a cause to justifie the Parliaments war against the King Yet they were to remember another Rule or Law of War Ne nimis veteres causae accersentur That they do not pick quarrels by raking up past grievances that it be not propter leviusculas injurias or for trifles For when the King who if he had been no more then coordinate with them had called them to Councell to to advise him followed their advice in every thing he could find any reason for taken away all grievances made a large provision to prevent them for the future by granting the Trienniall Parliament and so large an amends for every thing they could but tell how to complain of there was so little left to the
People and the Parliament to quarrell for as they were much behind in thankfulness for what they had got of him already Or if any other causes or provocations should be imagined as misusing the Parliaments Messengers or the like we know the King unlesse it were by his patience and often Messages for peace was guilty of no provocations but on the contrary though hee had all manner of scornes and reproaches cast upon him and his messengers evil entreated by them could never be brought to return or retaliate it to any of theirs But nothing as yet serving to excuse them It will not be amiss to examine the causes as they are set down by themselves to justifie their war and so we may well suppose there are no other A war against the King for safety of his own Person was needless and then it comes within that rule of war and law of Nations Ne leves sint causae beâ—li not to make a warre unnecessary for the King would look to that himself and as they were his Subjects they as well as every honest Subject were bound to defend and assist him but not whether he would or no and in such a way of defence as would tend to his ruâ—ne rather then his safety For â—urely should any stranger of another Kingdom or Nation have casually passed by Edge-hill when the Kings and the Parliaments 〈◊〉 were in fight and have been told that the King shot at them for the safety of his own Person and that they also shot against hiâ— for the safety of his own Person and being aâ—ked which of the two parties hee believe did really or most of all intend the safety of it we cannot tell how to think any man such a stranger to nature reason or understanding as to think the King should not fight as the Dictates of nature perswaded him to or that the King could tell how to fight against those that fought for him or that if he should be so hugely mistaken in that one year or Battell he should be in severall â—â—her years and Battells after To 〈…〉 the deâ—ence of the Religion establishâ—d as they made also the people believe that was as needless when the King offered to do every thing might help to promote it and they are so little also to be credited in that pretence as we know they did all they could from the beginning to ruine it took away Episcopacy the hedge and bounds of it brought in Presbytery to preach up and aid their Rebellion and when their own turnes were served encouraged Conventicles and Tub Preachers to â—ud down the Presbytery And being demanded at the Treaty at Vxbridge by the Kings Commissioners what Religion they would have the King to establish were so unprovided of an answer as they could not resolve what to nominate nor in any of their propositions afterwards sent to the King though often urged and complained oâ— oy the Scottish Commissioners could ever find the way to doe it but have now set up an Independent extemporary enthusiastick kind of worshiping God if there were any such thing in it or rather a religious Chaos or gallimaufry of all manner of heresie errours blasphemies and opinions put together not any of the owners of which we can be confident will subscribe to that opinion that Wars may be made for Religion or that Conscience ought to be forced by it As for the restrictive part of the Lawes to keep the people in subjection we can very well perswade our selves no such War was ever made yet in the world nor any people ever found that would engage in a War for that they obeyed but against their wills And for that part of the law that gives them the Kings protection priviledges immunities and certainties of deciding controversies which are more fitly to be called the Liberâ—ies of tbe people than to have 45. of the house of Commons or a Faction to make daily and hourly Lawes and Religion and Government and vote their estates in and out to pay an Army to force their obedience to it if we had not outlived the Parliaments disguises and pretences saw them now tearing up by the roots that there may be no hope of their growing up again and setting up their own as well as the ignorant and illiterate fancies of Mechanicks and Souldiers in stead of them we might have said that also had been needless when the King had done abundantly enough already and offered to grant any thing more could in reason be demanded of him And as touching their priviledges of Parliament they that understand but any thing of the Lawes of England or have but looked into the Records and Journals of Parliament can tell that all priviledges of Parliament as King James said were at first bestowed upon them by the Kings and Princes of this Kingdom That priviledges of Parliament extended not to Treason or Felony or breach of the Peace That 32 Hen. 6. Sir Thomas Thorp Speaker of the House of Commons being arrested in execution in the time of the prorogation of the Parliament the Commons demanded he might be set at liberty according to their priviledges wherupon the Judges being asked their Councel therein made answer That general supersedeas of Parliament there was none but special supersedeas there was in which case of special supersedeas every member of the House of Com-of Commons ought to enjoy the same unles in causes of Treason Felony or breach of the Peace or for a CondeÌ„mnation before the Parliament After which answer it was determined that the said Sir Thomas Thorp should lie in execution and the Commons were required on the behalf of the King to choose a new Speaker which they did and presented to the King accordingly That Queen Elizabeth was assured by her Judges that she might commit any of her Parliament during the Parliament for any offence committed against her Crown and Dignity and they shewed her precedents for it and that primo tertio Caroli Regis upon search of precedents in the several great cases of the Earls of Arundel and Bristol very much insisted and stood upon the House of Peers in Parliament allowed of the exception of Treason Felony and breach of the Peace For indeed it is as impossible to think there can be any priviledge to commit Treason as to think that a King should priviledge all his Nobility and every one of his Subjects that could get to be elected into the House of Commons in Parliament to commit Treason and to take away his life in the time of Parliament whensoever their revenge or malice or interest should finde the opportunity to do it or that if it could be so any King or Prince would ever call or summon a Parliament to expose himself to such a latitude of danger or give them leave to sit as long as they would to breed it or that priviledges of Treason can be consistent with the name or being of a Parliament to
battell of Naseby insomuch as their fellow Rebells the Scotch Commissioners did heavily complain of it were at severall times trifled away and spent before any propositions could be made ready though those which they sent to Oxford Uxbridge New-castle and Hampton Court were but substantially and materially the same with their nineteen Propositions which they made unto the King before the Earl of Essex was made their General and in all the Treaties made Propositions for themselves and the Soveraignty and great offices and places of the Kingdome but would neither for Gods sake or their Kings sake or their Oaths or Conscientes sak or the Peoples sake or Peace sake which the People petitioned and hungred and thirsted for alter or abate one Jota or tittle of them but were so unwilling to have any peace at all as six or seven Messengers or Trumpeters could come from the King before they could be at leisure or so mannerly as to answer one of them but this or that Message from the King was received and read and laid by till a week or when they would after and the Kings Commissioners in the Treaties must forget their due titles of Earles Lords or Knights because the King had made them so since the beginning of the War or else must be neither Treaty nor Peace there At Uxbridge the time of the Treaty limited for 20. days and at New-Castle for 10. and though the King and his Commissioners at Uxbridge almost petioned for a cessation in the interim of that which was at Oxford it could not be granted nor have a few dayes added to it and if the King could in honor and conscience have granted all the other parts of the Propositions must grant them an act not only to consiscate the Estates of his Friends and those that took up armes to save his Life and Estate but to take away their Lives also and not only that but to condemn of high Treason attaint their blood when they that fought against them were only guiltâ— a thing so unfitting and unusually stood upon as it was never asked in any treaty or pacification among the civilized or mor barbarous heathen and amounts to more then Adonibezeks causing the thumbs and great toes of his captive Kings to be cut off and making them to gather the Crumbs from under his table or Benhadads demand of Ahabs silver and gold his wives and Children and whatsoever was pleasant in his eyes which the Elders and people of Israel perswaded Ahab not to consent unto but was a thing purposely contrived and stood upon to hinder a peace was not to be asked or granted by any that could but intitle themselves to the least part of reason or humanity a demand Bajazet would not leave his Iron-Cage to yield unto a thing nature it selfe would abhor and the worst of Villains and Reprobates rather loose their lives then yield to would never be demanded by any nor granted by any but his Equalls And if their desiring of a War more then a peace and to keep the King out of his own had not been the onely cause of such unnaturall and barbarous propositions it may well be wondred why they that have made to themselves for we cannot believe they have found any law or warrant to ground it upon a power to take away the Kings life upon a colour or pretence of an unread as well as unheard of piece of Justice should need to strive so hard with the King to give them a power to do that they are now so bufie to do of themselves and as if they had been afraid all this would not be enough to keep the doors of Janus or the Devill open for fear lest the King should trouble them with any more offers or Messages of Peace a vote must be made in February 1647. that it should be treason in any man to bring or receive any more Messages from him without consent of Parliament But suppose that which is not that the Parliament could have but found any thing but some what like a cause or justification of a War against their Soveraign for notwithstanding all their hypocriticall pretences so as it was at first intended and so it hath been proved to be ever since to whom their Masters the People we mean as to the house of Commons had sent them to consult with not to make a War against him they might have remembred that saying of Cicero if they had found nothing in the Book of God and their own Consciences to perswade them to it That duâ— sunt genera decertandi unum per disceptationem alterum per vim ad hoc confugiendum non est si uti superiori licebit There are other wayes to come by pretended rights than by a War and we ought never to make use of a War which is the worst of all remedies if we may obtain it by a better Hen. 2. King of England was made a Judge between the Kings of Castile and Navarre The Rebellious Barons of England in the Reign of King Hen. 3. referred their controversies to the decision of the King of France and his Parliament at Paris And the blood of this Kingdome which ran so plentifully in those unhappy differences was by that meanes onely stopped Charles the 4. Emperor was made a Judge of the differences betwixt the English and the French Kings For as Albericus Gentilis saith well Intelligendum eos qui diffugiunt genus hoc decertandi per disceptationem ad alterum quod est per vim currunt illico eos a justitia ab humanitate a probis exemplis refugere ruere in arma volentes qui subire judicium nullius velint They that rush into a War without assaying all other just meanes of deciding the controversie for which it is made and will judge onely according to their own will and opinion doe turn their backs to Justice Humanity and all good Examples And in that also the Parliament will be found faulty For the French King and the Estates of the united Provinces did by more than one Request and Embassy severally and earnestly mediate to make an accord betwixt the King and his Parliament and desired to have all things in difference left to their Arbitrement but their Ambassadors returned home again with a report how much they found the King inclined to it and how satisfactorily he had offered and how much the Parliament was averse to their interposition and altogether refused it But we have tarried long enough among the Parliament party from thence therefore for it is time to leave the company of so much wickedness we shall remove to the Kings party and yet that may cause a Sequestration and examine for a fuller satisfaction of that which by the rule of contraries is clear enough already if he were not on the defensive and more justifiable part of the business The King as he was Defensor Protector subditorum suorum
in the matter of fact hath hitherto among the wisest Princes and Commonwealths in the World been reputed a just and warrantable cause of War Homicide by the Lawes of England shall be excused with a fe defendendo when the assaulted hath but simply defended himself or retired in his own defence so far till by some water or wall he be hindred from going any further Death and destruction marching towards the King Hull fortified and kept behind him and all manner of necessitie compassing him in on every side could then doe no less then rouze him up to make his own defence and he must be as much without his senses as care of his own preservation if he should not then think it to be high time to make ready to defend himself and necessity enough to excuse him for any thing should be done in order to it The Parliament and He as this case stood could not be both at one and the same time in the defensive part For they had all the Money Arms Ammunition and strength of the Kingdom in their hands and multitudes of deluded people to assist them and so hunted and pursued from place to place as it was come to be a saying and a by-word among the apprentices and new levied men at London they would goe a King-catching and were not likely therefore to be guilty of so much patience as the King who was so much in love with peace and so thirsted after it as that and his often sending Messages and Propositions for it would not suffer him to make use of any victories or advantages God had given him Twice did he suffer the Earl of Essex to attempt to force him from Oxford and Sir Thomas Fairfax once to beleager him when he had Power enough to have made London or the associate Counties the Seat of the War and it would be something strange that he who when he had raised forces against his Scottish Rebels and found himself in the Head of so gallant an Army as he had much adoe to keep them from fighting and his enemies so ridiculously weak as he might have subdued them but with looking upon them but a fortnight longer could not be perswaded to draw a Sword against them would now begin an offensive warre without any power or strength at all against those that had before-hand ingrossed it or what policy or wisedome could it be in him to begin a War without Money or Men or Armes to goe through with it or to refuse the assistance of his Catholique Subjects and Forrain Friends and Forces or to spend so much time in Messages and offers of Peace to give them time and ability to disarm him and arm themselves if he had not utterly abhorred a War and as cordially affected peace as he offered fair enough for it Or if we could but tell how to say that the King did begin the War when what he did was but to preserve his Regality and the Militia and Protection of his people which the Parliament in express terms as well as by Petitioning for it acknowledged it to be his Own being but that which every private man that had but money or friends would not neglect to do Did he any more in seeking to preserve his Regality then to defend and keep himself from a breach of trust they fought to make him break Or did he any more then seek to defend himself against those did all they could to force him to break it or could there be a greater perjury or breach of trust in the Kingly office than to put the Sword which God had given him into the hands of mad-men or fools or such as would kill and slay and undo their fellow-subjects with it or to deliver up the protection of his people into the hands of a few of their ambitious fellow-subjects did as much break their own trust to those they represented in asking of it as the King would havedone if he had granted it or why shall it not be accounted an inculpata tutela in the King to preserve and defend that by a War the Laws of God and Man his Coronation-Oath Honour and Conscience and a duty to Himself and his Posterity as well as to his people would not permit him to stand still and suffer to be taken away from him But if the King by any manner of construction could be blamed or censured for denying to grant the Militia which was the first pretence of beginning of the War by those that sought to take it from him for till the besieging of Hull the 16. of July 1642. after many other affronts attempts of as high a nature put upon him the most malicious interpretation of the matter of Fact cannot find him so much as at all to have defended himself as to have done any one act of War or so much as like it who shall be in the fault for all that was done after when he offered to condiscend to all that might be profitable for his people in the matter of Religion Lawes and Liberties Or was it not a just cause of War to defend himself and his people against those would notwithstanding all he could doe and offer make a War against him because he would not contrary to his Oath Magna Charta and so many other Laws he had sworn to observe betray or deliver up his people into their hands to be governed or rather undone by a greater latitude of Arbitrary power then the great Turk or Crim Tartar ever exercised upon their enslaved people and put the education and marriage of his own Children out of his power was never sought to be taken out of the hand of any Father who was not a fool or a mad-man nor yielded to by any who would have the credit to be accounted 〈◊〉 wise or because he would not denude himself of the power of conferring honours or vilifie or discredit his great and lesser Seals and the Authority of them from which many mens Estates and Honours and the whole current of the Justice of the Kingdome had their original and refused to perjure himself by abolishing Episcopacy which Magna Charta and some dozens of other laws bound him to preserve Or if that be not enough to justifie him in his own defence had he not cause enough to deny and they little enough to ask Liberty of Conscience and practice to Anabaptists Blasphemers of God denieâ—s of the Trinity Scriptures and Deity of Christ when the Parliament themselves had taken a Covenant to root them out and made as many of the people as they could force to take it with them or had he not cause enough to deny to set up the Presbyterian Authority would not even have taken away his own Authority but have done the like also with the Lawes and Liberties of the Nation and the ruling part of that they now call the Parliament utterly abhor or if all that could not make the War be made to be defensive
and lawful had he not cause enough to deny and they none at all to ask that he should by Act of Parliament consent to make all those to be Traytors that took his part their Blood and Posterities attainted and their Estates forfeited when as some of the Parliaments own Members were heard to say when those Propositions were sent to him That if he yeelded unto them He was the unworthiest man living and not fit to be a King For certainly if the Laws of God and man and the understanding of all mankind be not changed there was never a juster more defensive unwilling and necessitated Warre than that of the Kings part since man came out of Paradise And if such a War should not be lawfull after so many provocations and necessities for the defence of himself and his People and so many after-generations this War of the Parliament and the curse of it is like to ruine and leave in slavery under what censure and opinion may that of Abraham with Chederlaomer the King of Elam and Tidal King of the Nations be when he fought with them to rescue his brother Lot and his goods and was blessed by Melchisedec the Priest of the most high God for doing of it Or of the War which the Tribes of Israel made against the Tribe of Benjamin and the men of Gibeah for committing lewdnesse and folly in Israel that of David to rescue his Wives that were carried away captive by the Amalekites or to fetch home the Ark of God from the Philistines that which Ahab made with Benhadad the King of Syria who was not half so tyrannical in his Propositions as the Parliament were approved of in Sacred Story or that which was made by Judas Machabeus and his Brethren to rescue the decayed estate of the people of the Jews or that which was used to be made by the heathen pro aris focis were never yet so much as suspected to be unlawfull How shall this of the Kings be condemned that had as much as Abraham David Ahab against Benhadad Judas Machabeus and the tribes of Israel or those heathens that made it pro aris focis put them altogether to warrant it Or by what reason or Law is any man by the Laws of England excused for killing a man in his own defence when he is necessitated or hindred by a Wall or a Water that he can go no farther or for killing thieves that come to assault or rob him in his house or castle If the King shall be hunted from his house through all the parts and corners of his Kingdom for his Life and not onely for his Life but his Honour and not onely for his Life and Honour but his Conscience and yet must never draw his Sword or seek to defend himself or have any body else to do it for him Or how have all the Kings Princes and Magistrates of the world hitherto governed and defended themselves and their people or shall ever be able to give an account of the people committed to their charge if they may not be at liberty to make a legal use of the sword power and reason God hath given them Or how can those State-riddles like those of Sphinx only made to destroy men with all that they fought for the King and Parliament as is alledged in many of their Orders and Declarations and that the War was a Rebellion raised against the King and Parliament as is expressed in the Ordinance of Parliament for association of the Counties of Pembroke Cardigan and Carmarthen be ever understood by any rules of sence or reason if he were on the offensive part of the War and had begun it against them But if any shall be so in love with the sense of the House of Commons as to be out of their owne senses and thinke that though there be no manner of evidence or proof to be had for love or money that the Parliament were constrained to defend themselves by a War yet the Kings admitting of the Preamble of the Parliaments Propositions presented to him at the Isle of Wight that the Parliament was necessitated to take up Arms in their just and lawfull defence makeâ— him who must needs be best acquainted with his own actions to be so clearly guilty of all the blood hath been shed in these Wars as it puts to silence all that can be now alledged or said in his behalf They that made the Preamble and placed it in limine and threshold of the Treaty on purpose to catch and insnare him for either he must have denied it at the very beginning and entrance into the Treaty and leave hiâ— Kingdomes and People to wallow in the blood and misery their Parliament Idols had brought them to and have all the blame laid upon him for hindring a Peace he had so much longed and laboured for or put himself and all his Loyal Subjects that helped to defend him under the burden of those Sins and Shames the Parliament themselves had all the right to can tell their undone and deluded Proselytes how much the King stuck at it how unwilling he was to break off the Treaty and was unwilling to wrong his own Innocency and that when the Parliament Commissioners had not any thing either in Law or Truth or Reason or Argument to perswade him to yield unto it but laid it onely as a case of necessity before him though there was no such preamble at the Treaties of Oxford and Uxbridge nor any such necessity at those times insisted upon that unlesse he would take the guilt upon himself his too Houses of Parliament and the people had engaged with them must necessarily bee guilty of Treason and could not have any security from the guilt and punishment The King be â—â—aning himself and People that must be thus shut out from any hopes of peace intreated some expedient or medium might be found out to reconcile the difference But Cains sins being greater then could bee forgiven him unless Abel can be brought to say he killed Cain they that could afterward find an expedient for 21 of their great Council of State that refused to subscribe to the lawfulnesse of murdering the King after it was done could finde none at all for the King to purchase a peace for the People though many kinds of ways and expedients as allowing him to make the like preamble to his own Proposition or the like might have been easily contrived and thought upon For the truth was the Independent party desired no Peace at all and the Presbyterians desired it onely to get into their hands the Kings Power and Authority and lay the guilt of all the blood they had shed for it upon him and both of them were so well content to have him allow of the preamble as the latter thought himself safe and out of controversie if the King took the blood upon him and the former that it would prove no small
endeavour to make a doubt whether the King did not more resemble the true mother of the Child in the case before Solomon who did so much and offered to part with so much to save the life of it than the Parliament that would have it more than divided and to be cut and torn all to bits and pieces and would do nothing at all to save but every thing to destroy it And now we have seen a King undone and imprisoned for his endeavours to protect his People and bring againe beloved Peace to those that would not entertain it and heard the report of his murther for most of the Peoples eyes have not seen it nor have their hearts acted in it we shall as most men do after they have lost a good offer or opportunity enquire CHAP. VIII Whether the Conditions offered by the King would not have been more profitable if they had been accepted and what the people have got instead of them IN order to which though so wofull and over-and-over-bitterly Tasted Seen Felt Heard and Vnderstood Experiences of the miseries have come unto us by the Parliaments not accepting the gracious offers and conditions the King made unto them may make it to be as needless to enquire of them as for a man to ask where to finde Pauls Steeple in London when he is in Pauls Church-yard or to enquire for the Sun in the dog-days when he and every man else may see or feele the effects of it we shall be content to consider what the King offered and what the Parliament would have had him to grant What the King would have done and what the Parliament have done and by that see which would have been the better bargain The King like a pater patriae offered over and over to grant all manner of Laws and Liberties which might be good and wholsome for his People and onely denied to grant those things the granting whereof as he said himselfe would alter the fundamental Laws and endanger the very foundation upon which the publick happiness and welfare of his People was founded and constituted or to give them stones in stead of bread or Scorpions in stead of fishes But the Parliament meaning to feed the People neither with bread nor fishes ask the Royal Sword Crown and Scepter Coronation Oath and Conscience and an Arbitrary Power to governe and domineer over their fellow Subjects and to enslave those that trusted them And though the King had already granted enough to preserve the Laws Lives Religion and Liberty of the People and was so willing almost at any rate to purchase a peace for himself and his people as he was content to part with his Sword and Militia and divers other parts of his Regality during his life Yet that would not serve the turn 't was Naboths Vine-yard not Ahabs Fast made all the businesse the Parliament that pretended so much to deny themselves and to dote upon the people doe notwithstanding all they can to continue the War and to cozen force the peoples blood estate and conscience out of them and they must never give over paying of Taxes fighting and fooling till they enable them to imprison their King and not onely murther him but thousands and many ten thousands of their fellow-subjects and the Lawes Religion and Liberties of the people And now that they have done more than the men of the Gun-powder-treason intended to do all England are becom like sheep without a Shepherd wandring on the mountains thousands of Wolves by Votes Ordinances miscalled Acts of Parliament appointed to feed them four or five yeares sad experience in the Wars of the Parliament against the King and almost as much more time spent in setling and subduing the people making them like Camels to kneel down to take up their burdens labour and travel hard and endure hunger and thirst under them yet yield up their veines to be prick'd for blood to enable their drivers to furnish them with a new supply of burdens when they shall be discharged of what they have laid upon them may easily shew us a difference as big as a mountain betwixt our old good Lawes and Liberties enjoyed under a gracious King who had an estate of inheritance large enough of his own besides an oath to oblige him to protect us and a Hell upon Earth and the most Slavish of all the Governments were ever yet put upon a Nation by men of as little wit and estates as they have honesty having no other obligations upon them but their own abominable designs interests For which of the people unless those that have traded in their neighbours blood and ruine but hath made their complaints of their undoing The Religion of the Kingdome once so glorious is now cut into fancies and blasphemies the Churches where God was wont to be worshipped either defaced or pulled down or made stables for horses the Lawes of the Kingdom that were consonant to the Word of God and had in them the Quintessence of all could be found to be extant in the Lawes of Nature Nations Civil Laws or rectified Reason and whatsoever the wisedome and care of all former Kings in Parliament or the usage and customs of this or any other neighbouring Nations could bring to its perfection and were wont to nourish preserve peace and property among us voted out or into that sense or toâ—â—er interest to that every thing or nothing or to that non-sense according as the Lawlesse Unlimited Unjust and Ignorant will of fellow-subjects shall please to misuse them in the Voting house or place of bandying aies or noes For a Parliament which in its legal and primitive Institution consisting of King Lords and Commons and the right use of it is so venerable as no man as our Lawes say ought so much as to speak or think dishonourably of it we cannot without violence to the Lawes and our reason and understanding call it where puâ—lique orders are made without hearing of all or any parties interessed a piece of a cause heard by some and none at aâ—l of it by others votes and parties made and packed and lent to one another before-hand and the best of the Faction and Juglers carry all the businesse as they have a mind to it A way of Justice worse than that â—f there were any in it of a lawlesse Court said to be kept yearly on a Hil betwixt Raleigh and Rochford in Eeslx the wednesday afterevery Michaelmas day where the Steward or Judge sitteth in the night after the first Cock-crowing without any light or candle and calleth all that are bouâ—â—â— to attend the Court with as low a voice as possibly he may write orders with a coal and they that answer not are deeply amerced For that being a particular punishment long agoe inflicted upon the Tenants of certain Manner in Raleigh hundred for a conspiracy against the King is but once a yeare some shift or chance or mercy of
doe any thing might help himself either to purchase his own quiet or so great a Liberty and would neither for any good might come to himself or any evil might be cast upon him and his Posterity be perswaded or threatned from the protection of his people who if he had not taken more care for them then they did for themselves must if he had yielded to all the Parliament-propositions for then they might have imagined mischief by a Law have from time to time been engaged in any Warre their Task-masters had a mind to put them upon must have been excised plundred sequestred ruined and undone sworn and forsworn constrained to swear to doe a thing to day and the next day swear not all to doe it The son set to kill his Father and brothers forced to fight one against another and have all their Holy-dayes turned to Thanksgiving-dayes that they are undone or Fasting-dayes that they may be undone soon enough And if at any time that thing they call a Parliament should think it fit to make a Directory to the Alchoran and to order every man to turn Turk and the King as their Henry Scobel or Town-Clerk but subscribe it their Spiritual as well as their Temporal Estate and their Soules as well as their Bodies must be voted and forced to it And now let the people that have tasted too much of such a kind of happinesse and are like to continue in it as long as their misery-makers can by any help of the Devil or his Angels hold them to it consider whether they or their fore-fathers though some have thought themselves to have wit enough to adventure to call them fooles were the wiser whether they that setled the Government and were contented with it or they that pulled it in pieces and whether the tearing up of the fundamental Lawes of Monarchy Peerage Parliament and Magna Charta even since this day the King was murthered for defending of them which every one but themselves desired to uphold be not enough besides the Scottish combination and the plots to ruine Monarchy and the King and his Posterity before the five Members and Kimbolton had so for engaged themselves in it to inform them if nothing else had been demonstrated unto them That the King did all he could to preserve the Lawes Religion and Liberties of the people which divers pieces of his coin will help to perpetuate the truth as well as the memory of and the Parliament all they could to destroy them And that as he actually endeavoured to defend them so have they as actually undone and destroyed them And let the greatest search of History can be made or time it self be Judge if ever any war was more made in the defensive or upon juster grounds or greater necessities or if ever any King before fought for the Liberties of those he was to govern and for Lawes to restrain himself withal or if it were possible for him to suffer so much in any mans opinion as to have it thought to be unlawful or that he was a murtherer of his people for seeking to Protect them How shall any King or Magistrate be able to bear or use the Sword when they themselves shall be in continual danger to be beaten with it King Edward the second of England was not murthered for the blood that was shed in the Barons Wars though some of them had drawn their swords but in performance of his fathers will to take away his favourite Gavestion from him King Rich. 2. in those many devised Articles charged against him was not deposed for the blood was shed in Wat Tilers Commotion nor Hen. 6. publickly accused for that of Jack Cades Rebellion and the most bloody differences of the White and Red-Roses nor Queen Elizabeth for all that was spilt in reducing Ireland when her favourite the Earl of Essex made it to be the more by his practises with Tyrone nor for the blood of Hacket who pretended to be Christ nor of Penry and other Sectaries lesser Incendiaries than Burton Prynne and Bastwick for disturbing the Common-wealth the great Henry of France was not endeavoured by his Catholick Subjects to be brought to trial for shedding so much of their blood to reduce them to his obedience nor by his Protestant Subjects after he was turned Catholick for spending so much of their blood to another purpose than they intended it Nor have the stout-hearted Germans though many of them great and almost free Princes in their late Peace and Accord made betwixt the Swedes and the Emperour thought it any way reasonable or necessary to demand reparation for those millions of men women and children houses and estates were ruined and spoiled by a thirty years War to reduce the Bohemians and Prince Elector Palatine to their obedience For what rules or bounds shall be put to every mans particular fancy or corrupted interest if they shall be at Liberty to question and call to account the authority God hath placed over them Shall the son condemn or punish the Father for his own disobedience the Wife her Husband for her own act of Adultery or the Servant the Master for his own unfaithfulnesse or can there be any thing in the Reason or understanding of man to perswade him to think the King was justly accused for the shedding of his blood which the accusers themselves were only guilty of And Bradshaw himself like the Jewes high Priest confessing a truth against his will in the word he gave instead of reason for murthering the King against the will and good liking of nine parts in every ten of the Commons of England could make his Masters that call themselves the Parliament of England to be no better then the Tribum plebis of Rome and the Ephori of Sparta the former of which for manifold mischiefes and inconveniences were abrogated and laid aside and never more thought fit to be used and the latter not being half so bad as our new state Gipsies killed and made away to restore the People again to their Liberties But the opinion and Judgement of the Learned Lord Chief Justice Popham who then little thought his grand-child Colonell Popham should joyn with those that sate with their Hats on their Heads and directed the murther of their Soveraign and if he were now living would sure enough have hanged him for it and those other learned Judges in the case and Tryall of the Earl of Essex in the Raign of Queen Elizabeth That an intent to hurt the Soveraign Prince as well as the act of it was Treason And that the Laws of England do interpret every act of Rebellion or Treason to aim at the death or deposing of the Prince For that Rebells by their good will never suffer that King or Prince to live or Raign that understands their purposes and may revenge them agreeable to that of the Civil Law That they that go about to give Law to their Prince will never suffer him to recover
Authority to punish it is now written in the blood of the King and those many iterated complaints of the King in severall of his Declarations published to the people in the midst of the Parliaments greatest pretences and promises that they intended to take away his life and ruine him are now gone beyond suspition and every man may now know the meaning of their Canoneers levelling at the King with perspective glasses at Copredy bridge the acquitting of Pym the Inn-keeper who said He would wash his Hands in the Kings hearts-blood stifling of fifteen or sixteen severall indictments for treasonable words Rolf rewarded for his purpose to kil him and the prosecutors checked and some of them imprisoned for it For the Sun in the Firmament and the four great quarters of the Earth and the Shapes and Lineaments of man are not so universally known seen or spoken of as this will be most certain to the present as well as after ages The end hath now verified the beginning Quod primum fuit in intentione ultimo loco agitur Seaven years hypocritical Promises practices 7. years Pretences and seven years preaching and pratling have now brought us all to this conclusion as wel as Confusion The blood of old England is let out bygreater witch-craft and cousenage then that of Medea when she set Pelias daughters to let out his old blood that young might come in the place of it the Cedars of Lebanon are devouted and the Trees have made the Bramble King and are like to speed as wel with it as the Frogs did with the Storke that devoured them And they have not onely slain the King who was their Father but like Nero rip 't up the belly of the Common-Wealth which was their Mother The light of Israel is put out and the King Laws Religion and Liberties of the people murthered an action so horrid and a sin of so great a magnitude and complication as if we shall ask the daies that are past and enquire from the one end of the Earth to the other there will not be found any wickednesse like to this great wickedness or hath been heard like it The Severn Thames Trent and Humbar four of the greatest Rivers of the Kingdome with all their lesser running streams of the Island in their continuall courses and those huge heaps of waterin the Ocean girdle of it in their Restlesse agitations will never be able to scoure and wash away the guilt and stain of it though all the rain which the clouds shal ever bring forth and impart to this Nation and the tears of those that bewail the losse of a King of so eminent graces and perfections bee added to it Quis cladem illius diei quis funera fando Explicet aut possit lachrymis aequare dolores Gens antiqua ruit multos dominata per Annos AN EXACT LIST OF The Names of those pretended Judges who sate and sentenced our late SOVERAIGNE KING CHARLES the First in the place which they called the High Court of Justice Jan. 27. 1648. And also of those thirty five Witnesses Sworn against the said KING The Sentence read against him With the Catalogue of the Names of those that Subscribed and Sealed the Warrant for his Execution And the manner of his Cruel MVRDER London Printed by Henry Bell and are to be sold by most Book-sellors 1660. The Names of the pretended Judges who gave Sentence against the late King January 27. 1648. LXXII in Number IOhn Bradshaw Lord President Oliver Cromwell Henry Ireton Sir Hardress Waller Valentine Walton Thomas Harrison Edward Whaley Thomas Pride Isaac Ewer Lord Grey of Grooby William Lord Mounson Sir John Danvers Sir Thomas Maleverer Sir John Bourcher Isaac Pennington Henry Martin William Purifoye John Barkstead Mâ—â—thew Tomlinson John Blakeston Gilbert Millington Thomas Chaloner Sir William Constable Edmund Ludlow John Hutchison Sir Michael Livesey Robert Tichburne Owen Roe Robert Lilburne Adrian Scroop Richard Dean John Okey John Harrison John Hewson William Goffe Cornelius Holland John Carew John Jones Thomas Lister Peregrine Pelham Thomas Wogan Francis Alleu Daniel Blagrave John Moor. William Say Francis Lascels John Chaloner Gregory Clement Sir Gregory Norton John Venn Thomas Andrews Anthony Stapley Thomas Horton John Lisle John Browne John Dixwell Miles Corbett Simon Meyne John Alured Henry Smith Humphrey Edwards John Frye Edmund Harvey Thomas Scot. William Cawley John Downes Thomas Hammond Vincent Potter Augustine Garland Charles Fleetwood John Temple Thomas Wayte Counsellors assistant to this Court and to draw up the Charge against the KING were Dr. Dorislaus Serjeant Danby Serjeant at Arms. Mr. Aske   Mr. John Cook Solicitor Mr. Broughton Clerkes to the Court. Mr. Phelpes Colonel Humphrey Sword-bearer Messengers Door-keepers and Criers were these Mr. Walford Mr. Radley Mr. Paine Mr. Powell Mr. Hull Mr. King The Sentence against the said King Jan. 27 1648. which was read by Mr. Broughton aforesaid Clerk WHereas the Commons of England in Parliament have appointed them an High Court of Justice for the Trial of Charles Stuart King of England before whom he had been three times convented and at the first time a Charge of High Treason and other Crimes and Misdemeanors was read in the behalfe of the Kingdome of England c. as in the Charge which was read throughout To which Charge he the said Charles Stuart was required to give his Answer but he refused so to do and so expresâ— several passages at his Trial in refusing to answer For all which Treasons and Crimes this Court doth adjudge That the said Charles Stuart as a Tyrant Traytor Murderer and publick Enemy shall be put to death by severing his head from his body This Sentence says the President now read and published is the Act Sentence Judgement and Resolution of the whole Court. To which the Members of the Court stood up and assented to what he said by holding up their hands The King offered to speak but he was instantly commanded to be taken away and the court broke up The Names of thirty five Witnesses produced and Sworn in the said pretended Court to give Evidence against the King Henry Hartford of Stratford upon Avon in Com. Warwick Edward Roberts of Bishops Castle in Com. Salop Ironmonger Will. Baines of Wrixhall in Com. Salop. Robert Lacie of Nottingham Painter Robert Loads of Cottam in Com. Nottingham Tyler Samuel Morgan of Wellington in Com. Salop Feltmaker James Williams of Rosse in Com. Hartford Shoomaker Richard Pots of Sharpreton in Com. Northumberland Vintner Giles Grice of Wellington in Com. Salop Gent. William Arnop of John Hudson of John Winston of Dornotham in Com. Wilts George Seeley of London Cordwainer John Moor of Cork in Ireland Gent. Thomas Ives of Boyset in Com. Northampton Husbandman James Cresby of Dublin in Ireland Barber Thomas Rawlins of Hanslop in Com. Buck. Gent. Richard Bloomfeild of London Weaver John Thomas of Langallan in Com. Donbigh William Lawson of Nottingham Maulster John Pinegar of
Damer in Com. Darby Shoomaker Humphrey Browne of Whitsundine in Com. Rutland Yeoman David Evans of Abergeveny in Com. Monmouth Smith Robert Holmes of Robert Williams of Samuel Woorden of Lineham in Com. Wilts Gent. Thomas Read of Maidstone in Com. Kent Gent. George Cornwall of Aston in Com. He. reford Forgeman William Jones of Uske in Com. Monmouth Husbandman Arthur Young Citizen and Barber-Chirurgion of London Diogenes Edwards of Carston in Com. Salop Butcher John Bennet of Harwood in Com. Ebor. Glover William Cutbert of Patrington in Holderness in Com Ebor. Gent. Richard Price of London Serivener Henry Gouch of Grays-Inn Gent. The true manner of proceeding to take off the Kings Head according to the Sentence given as aforesaid SIr Hardress Waller Colonel Harrison Commissary General Ireton Colonel Dean and Colonel Okey were appointed to consider of the Time and Place for the Execution of the King according to his Sentence given by the pretended High Court of Justice Painted-Chamber Monday January the 29th 1648. UPon Report made from the Committee for considering of the Time and Place of the Executing of the Judgment against the King that the said Committee have Resolved That the open street before Whitehal is a fitting place And the said Committee conceive it fit That the King be there executed the cuorrow the King having already notice thereof The Court approved thereof and ordered a Warrant to be drawn to that purpose which Warrant was accordingly drawn and agreed to and Ordered to be ingrossed which was done and signed and sealed accordingly as followeth At the High Court of Justice for the Trying and Judging Charles Stuart King of England Jan. 29. 1648. VVHereas Charles Siuart king of England is and standeth Convicted Attainted and Condemned of High Treason and other Crimes and Sentence on Saturday last was pronounced against him by this Court to be put to Death by the severing his head from his body of which Sentence Execution yet remaineth to be done These are therefore to will and require you to see the said Sentence Executed in the open street before White-hall upon the morrow being the 30. day of this instant Moneth of January between the hours of Ten in the morning and Five in the afternoon of the same day with full ef fect and for so doing this shall be your sufficient Warrant and these are to require all Officers and Soldiers and other the good People of England to bee assistant unto you in this service Given under our hands and Seals To Colonel Francis Hacker Col. Huncks and Lievtenant Colonel Phray and to every of them Sealed and Subscribed by John Bradshaw President Thomas Gray Oliver Cromwell Edward Whaley John Okey John Danvers Mich. Livesey John Bourcher Henry Ireton Tho. Maleverer Jo. Blackston Jo. Hutchison William Goffe Tho. Pride Henry Smith Vincent Potter William Constable Rich. Ingoldsby William Cawley John Barkstead Isaac Ewer Val. Walton Peter Temple Tho. Harrison Joh. Hewson Pet. Pelham Richard Dean Robert Titchburn Hump. Edwards Dan. Blagrave Owen Roe Will. Purifoye Adrian Scroop James Temple Aug. Garland Edmon Ludlow Hen. Martin Jo. Alured Robert Lilburn Will. Say Anthony Stapley Gregory Norton Tho. Chaloner Tho Wogan Simon Meyne Tho. Horton Jo. Jones Jo. Moore Hadress Waller Gilbert Millington Ch. Fleetwood Jo. Venn Greg. Clement Jo Downs Tho. Wait. Tho Scot. John Carew Miles Corbet In all Fifty eight Ordered That the Scaffold on which the King is to be executed be covered with black The warrant for executing the King being accordingly delivered to those parties to whom the same was directed Execution was done upon him according to the Tenour thereof about two of the clock in the afternoon of the said 30th of January 1648. The fatall day of the said Execution being Tuesday January the 30. 1648. HIs Majesty continued in prayer all the morning and receive the Sacrament just at Ten of the Clock before noon he was conveyed on foot from St. James's Palace to Whitehall guarded by a Regiment of foot Souldiers part before part behind with Colours flying and Drums beating his private guard of Partizans about him and Dr. Juxon Bishop of London next to him on one side and Colonell Tomlinson on the other being come to Whitehall he continued in his Cabinet Chamber at his devotions refusing to dine only about 12 a clock he eat a bit of bread and drank a glasse of Claret Wine from thence he was conveyed into the Banquetting house and the great window inlarged out of which he ascends the Scaffold the rails being hung round and the floor covered with black His Executioners disguised with Vizards yet was his Majesty not affrighted He shewed more care of the people living then of himself dying for looking upon the people whom the thick guards of Souldiers kept a great distance off and seeing he could not be heard by them omitting probably what hee purposed to have spoken to them therefore turning to the Officers and actors by him he delivered himself in a short but excellent Speech which being ended he meekly went to prayers and after some heavenly discourse between him and the Bishop having prepared himself he lifted up his eyes to heaven mildly praying to himself he stooped down to the block as to a prayer-desk most humbly bowed his generous Neck to God to be cut off by the Vizarded Executioner which was suddainly done at one blow Thus fell King Charles and thus all Britian with him A SHORT HISTORY OF His Royall Majesty our most Gracious SOVERAIGN Charles the Second KING of England Scotland France and Ireland Defender of the Faith c. Third Monarch of Great Brittain London Printed by Henry Bell and are to be sold by most Book-sellers 1660. A Short HISTORY OF His Royall Majesty King CHARLES the Second c HAving I hope sufficiently cleared his late Royall majesty from that execrable sin of blood-guiltinesse to every one that is not wilfully blind I shall now crave leave to give the Reader a short account of the Life and hitherto sorrowfull Raign of our most Gracious and Dread Soveraign Charles the Second King of England Scotland France and Ireland Defendeâ—â— of the Faith c. No sooner was this mighty Prince barbarously butchered before his own doors to the astonishment and griefe of the greatest part of his Subjects throughout his Dominions And the three Lords Hamilton Capel and Holland which had taken up Arms in his late Majesties defence but now Monarchy the darling of the people together with the House of Peers is voted chargeable unnecessary and useless and the Government changed into a Free State neither did this mutation happen for want of such as by a lineall discent and according to the usage of this Nation might pretend a Title to the Crown for there was a plentifull issue of his late Majesty both male and female then surviving but from the aspiring greatness of some who had wrested the power into their own hands to this end it was
King The Lord Jermyn made Governour of the Island under whom Sir George Carteret was constituted Deputy Governour Guernsey being possessed by the Parliaments forces a Declaration was sent thither inviting the Governour and people to submit to his Majesties obedience But this invitation did little avail By this time the severall Transactions that were between his Majesty his Kingdom of Scotland had brought forth a Treaty at Breda in the Netherlands a Town of speciall note belonging to the Prince of Orange And Master Windram Lord of Libeton is sent Commissioner from the States of Scotland to Treat with his Majesty who being safely arrived presents his Royall Majesty with the desires and offers of the States of Scotland which were to this effect 1. That hee would sign the solemn League and Covenant 2. That he would pass divers Acts of the Parliament of Scotland 3. That he would put away all Papists from about him and let none but known Protestants be of his Counsell That he would give a speedy answer to their desires Besides this his Majesty hath great hopes of raising a sufficient force in England among the friends to his Royall Interest Upon this design severall are sent from Jersey into the West of England amongst whom two Principal men Sir John Berkley and Col. Slingsby who went up and down to their confederates earnestly stirring them up to take up Arms for his Majesty but these were discovered by a Country fellow and are taken by Cap. Rochwich and are sent Prisoners to Truro in Cornwall After many consultations and gracious condiscentions of his Majesty The Treaty is at last concluded and now the Kingdom of Scotland make great preparations for his reception to this end two rich houses in Edinburgh are richly furnished and the Parliament take into consideration the nominating of Officers for his house About the beginning of June 1650. his Majesty hasts from Breda to the Hague Thence to Scheveling where he took Shiping and at last in despight of fowâ— weather and the English King Fishers that lay there to intercept him he landed at Spey in the North of Scotland In the mean time the Parliament of Scotland bend their consultations for the raising of an Army for the use of his Majesty the Earl of Leven is made Generall of the Foot and Holborun Major General David Lasley Lievtenant Generall of the Horse Mountgomery Major Generall The Supream command of the whole Army is reserved for the Kings most excellent Majesty himself whom at his Arrivall they entertained with high complements and much acclamation and seemed to congratulate his coming with much demonstrations of joy and affection And on the 15. July following solemnly proclaim him King at Edinburgh Crosse About this time the English send a complaint to the King of Spain about the death of one Ascam who wassent thither as Agent from our new Common-wealth who the first night he came to Madrid sitting at dinner with his Interpreter Segnior Riba six black Devills in the shape of men knockt at the door had easy access and being entred Master Ascham rose up to salute them whereupon the formost stabbed him in the head his interpreter endeavouring to escape was also stabbed in the belly The Republick of England receiving good intelligence that his Majesty and the Kingdom of Scotland were agreed After a serious and solemn debate Voted that Thomas Lord Fairfax with an Army under his command should march Northwards But that noble and truly valiant Commander could not be entreated to fight against his sacred Majesty and our Brethren of Scotland and hereupon laid down his Commission Which was forthwith conferred upon the Archest of Traitors Oliver Cromwell who presently after arrived out of Ireland leaving Ireton his son in Law as Lord Deputy in his room Accordingly Orders were issued forth for the speedy advance of the Army in Scotland who had no sooner taken their march but the Scots take the Alarm and send two or three papers to Sir Arthur Hasilrig then Governour of Newcastle to expostulate the case about the sudden approach of the English Army alledging the Covenant or large Treaty of Union betwixt the two Kingdoms and other circumstances of the like nature but all proved fruitless The Parliament then publish a declaration shewing the reason of their Armies advance towards Scotland The English Army is now at last at Dunbar where the Scots have the English at a great disadvantage nevertheless the Generall and his Officers finding the Army unfit for further delays resolved the next morning to fall upon the Scots who being imbattlled by break of day the word of the English was the Lord of Hostes and that of the Scotts was the Covenant after an hours dispute the Scots were wholly routed there was slain 3000 the Lord Libberton Colonell Lumsden mortally wounded 1000. taken together with Sir James Lumsden Lievtenant Generall of the Foot And about 260 other Officers 200 Colours 15000 Armes and 30. pieces of Ordnance At London was apprehended condemned and executed Colonell Eusebius Andrews who being taken with a Commission from his Majesty was beheaded at Tower Hill September 8. That most excellent Princesse Elizabeth daughter to our late Soveraign dyed at Carisbrook Castle in the Isle of Wight Upon these sad disasters his Majesty went secretly away to the North of Scotland upon which the Committee of Estates are much troubled chiefly for that they feared hee would join with Middleton they send Major Generall Mountgomery with a party of Horse to endeavour by earnest supplications to bring him back to Saint Johnstons which at the first he utterly refuseth but at last condescended to retire with Montgomery about the later end of October the Prince of Orange departed this life whose death was much lamented by his most gracious Majesty having received from him many high Testimonies of friendship and good will about ten days after the Princesse of Orange was delivered of a Son which did in part mitigate her griefe for the Princes death After three months siege the Castle of Edinburgh was surrendred up to Cromwell December 24. 1650. with all the Ordnances Armes Magazine and furniture of War thereunto belonging Notwithstanding the hard fortune his Majesties forces hitherto had undergone severall designes were set on foot At this time there was one Benson executed at Tiburn for acting by virtue of a Commission from his Majesty upon the same account there rose a great number in the County of Norfolk but were soon dispersed and taken About this time Sir Henry Hide being Commissionated by his Majesty Ambassador to the grand senior at Constantinople stood in competition with Sir Thomas Bendish whereupon they had a hearing before the Vizier Bassa The result whereof was that Sir Thomas Bendish should dispose of Sir Henry Hide as he thought good who was straight way sent to Smyrna thence into England and there condemned and executed as a Traytor before the Royall Exchange London The War
now in Scotland was almost at a stand by reason of the sharpnesse of the Winter The grand businesse now in agitation is the Corronation of his Majesty which was accordingly performed at Scone Jan. 1. 1651. with as much Pomp and Ceremonies as the present State of affairs would permit The Parliament considering how prone the people would be to adore the shadow of his late Majesty of glorious Memory caused his statue formerly set up at the West end of Pauls Church to be pulled down and that also in the Royall Exchange over which they caused to be writ this Motto Exit Tyrannus Regum ultimus Anno Libertatis Angliae Restitutae primo Jan. 30. 1648. they also caused the Kings Arms to be defaced and taken out of all Churches Chappels and places of Judicature throughout their Dominions The 29 of May being his Majesties birth day was celebrated in Scotland with much joy and feasting About this time in London was discovered a most dangerous plot as they were pleased to call it contrived by the Presbyterians Mr. Christopher Love Mr. Gibbons Major Alford Major Adams Colon. Barton Mr. Blackman Mr. Case Mr. Cauton Mr. Jenkins Mr. Jackson Mr. Robinson and many others were secured and examined before a High Court of Justice Mr. Love and Gibbons were beheaded August 22. 1651. on Tower Hill the rest upon their humble petitions and acknowledgements of their Crimes were released and pardoned The Scots having now compleated their Levies to the number of 15000 Foot and 6000. Horse marched on this side Sterling to a place called Torwod where they were faced by the English but could not be drawn to an engagement though the English much desired it at last the English attempt the Scotts by ascending the Hill which being done after a shot dispute the Scots are utterly routed 2000. or there abouts were slain and 1400. were taken prisoners whereof Sir John Brown Commander in chief was one with Col. Bucanan and many others of quality Immediately upon this was surrounded the strong Castle of Inchygarvey July 27. The whole English Army appear before Brunt Island which after some Capitulations was also yielded up this was no sooner done but the main body of the English Army attend more eminent service viz. The Pursuit of his Royall Majesty who with an Army of 16000. Horse and Foot enters England by way of Carlisle accordingly the infantry were boated over Fife with as much expedition as could be and presently after the Horse the truly Valiant then Lievtenant Generall Monk was left in Scotland with a party of 7000 Horse and Foot who straight way took in the strong Town and Castle of Sterling Aberdeen Abernets Dundee Dunotten and Dunbarton Castle with severall others So that now the whole Realm of Scotland was 〈◊〉 wholly subdued and made Tributary to the Republick of England His Majesty now at last with the Scots Army entred Worcester from whence the King sent his Royall letters commanding Sir Thomas Middleton to raise what forces he could for him and the like to Colonell Mackworth Governor of Shrewsbury but all to no purpose His Royal Majesty was proclaimed King of Great Brittain France and Ireland in most of the Market Towns as he came to Worcester about two or three dayes before his Majesties arrivall at Worcester The Earl of Derby having landed at Wy Water in Lancashire came to him with 250. Foot and 60 Horse which he brought with him out of the Isle of Man but immediately he returned back into Lancashire to raise a more considerable force which with the influence hee had in those places he soon got together a body of 1500. to prevent their conjunction with his Majesties forces Cromwels Regiment and Lilburns join together and after one hours dispute the Earle of Derby's party was worsted the Earle himselfe wounded hardly escapes to Worcester leaving his George and Garter behind him of the Kings party the most considerable that were slain were the Lord Widrington Sir Thomas Tilesly Colonell Mat. Boynton Sir Will. Throgmorton c. Not long after Cromwell with his Army came before Worcester which was presently dispersed about the City in Order to a close besieging of it hereupon the Scots Salley out of Worcester but are repulsed with some losse The next re-encounter was the pass at Vpton which the truly Valiant Major Generall Massey kept for his Majesty but he being too much over powred by Lamberts Horse and Dragoons which came from Evesham and with Fleetwoods Brigade was forced to retreat he himselfe being wounded The Third of September being the same day twelve Month on which the Scots were sorely beaten at Dunbar was that black and fatall day on which the Royall interest received their dreadfull wound the fight was maintained with great Valour on his Majesties part but being greatly over powred his Majesties Forces were totally routed both Horse and Foot their Works and Fort Royall were taken their Canons turned upon themselves the City was straightway entred and searched the most of the Scotts instantly were slain and taken in this engagement neer 10000 were taken prisoners and about 3000 slain His Majesty perceiving the day hitherto lost begins now to shift for himself the people generally as they fled-confusedly cry out O save the King save the King he presently withdrew himselfe to the house where he quartered and took of his treasure what he could conveniently carry with him just as Colonell Cobbet was entring the fore part of the house his Majesty was slipt out by a back way together with the Lord Wilmot striking into the most private and unfrequented way to avoyd the hot pursuit and strict enquiry that was made for him The Earl of Derby was taken prisoner in the pursuit by Lilborn whose hands hee had narrowly escaped not many dayes before together with the Earle of Loderdale the Earl of Cleveland Shrews-burry and Lord Wentworth with many other persons of quality in the main fight were taken Duke Hamilton Rob. Earle of Carnworth Alexander Earle of Kelley John Lord Synclare Sir John Packington Major General Mountgomery Mr. Richard Fanshaw the Kings Secretary the Generall of the Ordnance the Adjutant General of the Foot the Marshall Generall 6. Collo of Horse 13. of Foot 9. Lievetenant Collon of Horse 8. of Foot 6. Majors of Horse 17. Majors of Foot 37. Cap. of Horse 72. Cap. of Foot 55. Quarter Masters of Horse 72. Cap. of Foot and a number of other inferiour Officers 158. Colours the Kings Royall Standard his Collar of SS Coach and Horses and other things of great value Major Gen. Massey though he had made a shift to escape out of the field yet by reason of his wounds and sick condition of body surrendred himselfe to the mercy of the Countess of Stamford whose son neverthelesse the Lord Gray of Groby secured him as a prisoner and sent him up to the Parliament so soon as his wounds were cured Leivtenant Gen. David Lesley and Leiut Gen. Middleton were both taken
the beginning of December General Blake himself engaging with the whole Fleet of the Dutch came of with the worst loosing the Garland and Bonaventure and some other Ships About the ending of February the Dutch were miserably overthrown by the English between Portland and the Ifle of Wight In the mean time arrived an Extraordinary Ambassador from the King of Portugal to the Parliament which after many Addresses and Treaties concludes a peace with Obligation to satisfy the English Marchants From France also the English were courted by two partyes by an Agent from the King of France desiring a release of those Ships taken going to the reliefe of Dunkirk by 4. Deputies from the Prince of Conde craving aid against the Cardinal and his Creatures who had straitly besieged the City of Bourdeaux but they both proved ineffectual And now happened a very strange Alteration in the Scene of Affairs in England Cromwel whose ambition was now ripe and who knew he might take a very fit opportunity to usurp that that power he had so long gaped for the people of these Nations being weary of the actions of this Parliament and there dilatory proceedings and apparent intentions of perpetuating themselfs and to defraud the people of their ancient and undoubted Liberties of equal and successive representatives * entered the Parliament-House attended with some of his principal Officers and there delivered certain reasons why a Period ought to be put to that Parliament which was presently done the Speaker with the rest of the Members some by force some through fear and some murmuring departed the House the better to satisfy the wiser sort of people Cromwel and his Officers publish a large Declaration shewing the reasons of his dissolving that Parliament Thus that part of the Parliament who had basely murdered their King and Usurped an Authority over these Nations are turned out of Doors to the scorne and derision of the whole Nation by their Servant Oliver Cromwel Thus that part of the House of Commons which then sat afterwards better known by the name of the Rump being dissolved their power was wholly devolved into the hands of their aspiring General who least the Magistrates and other publique Ministers of the nation should be startled at this so suddain change This following Declaration was published WHere as the Parliament being dissolved persons of approved fidelity and honesty are according to the late Declar-tion of the 22 of April last to be called from the severall parts of this Commonwealth to the supreme Authority and although effectuall proceedings are and have been had for perfecting those resolutions yet some convenient time being required for the assembling those persons it hath been sound necessary for the preventing the mischiefs and inconveniences which may arise in the mean while to the publickaffairs that a Councill of State be constituted to take care of and intend the peace and safety and present management of the affairs of the Commonwealth which being settled acoordingly the same is hereby declared and published to the end all persons way take notice hereof and in their severall places and stations demean themselves peaceably giving obedience to the Laws of the Nation as heretofore and in the exercise and administration whereof as endeavours shall be used that no oppression or wrong be done to the people so a strict account will be required of all such as shall do any thing to endanger the publick peace and quiet upon any pretence whatsoever O. CROMWELL Aprill 30. 1653. These domestick Revolutions did in some measure heighten the spirits of the Dutch for they thought some eminent distractions and commotions would certainly ensue thereupon June 2. The English Fleet being at Anchor without the South-head of the Gober discover about 100 sail of Dutch men of Warre lying two Leagues to Lee-ward the English presently made sail after them after a sharp dispute they take of the Dutch 11. men of war two water-hoyes 6. Captaynes 1500 prisoners and sunck 6. men of War more had not the night prevented the rest of the Dutch-Fleet would in all probabillity have been cut off in this engagement General Dean one of our Admiralls was slain In the mean time Cromwell and his Confederates consult on fit persons on whom the Legislative power of the Nation should be committed to which end the grand Tyrant issueth out warrants under his own hand to a certain number of persons chosen by himself whom he thought would serve his interest to appear at the Counsell Chamber at White-Hall July 4. 1653. Where being accordingly met Cromwell being attended with several Officers of the Army maketh them a short speech and delivereth unto them a writing under his hand and Seal impowering them to be the supreme Legislative Authority of the three Nations from thence they repair to the Parliament house and choose for their Speaker Mr Rouse they begin to debate what they shall call themselves at last they conclude to call themselves the Parliament having sat about four moneths their consultations are chiefly for the taking away of Tythes at last it was moved by some of them that their further sitting would not prove for the peace of the Nation therefore they attend the General and according to command resigned their power into his hands again who presently after assumes to himself the Title of Lord Protector of the Common-wealth of England Scotland and Ireland takes unto himself a Council of twenty one persons by whose assistance all things are carried on during the intervals of Parliament Things being thus translated in England his Royal Majesty not having any further means left him for the regaining of his dominions is constrained to take up his Residence in the kingdom of France where notwithstanding his low condition he lived with great honour and respect with the King Queen and Nobles of France During his abode here in this Court a match was propounded to him viZ. the Duke of Orleances daughter as likewise to his illustrious Brother the noble Duke of York the Duke of Longevills daughter But the troublesome estate of the kingdom of France and his Royal Majesties ill posture of affairs in his own kingdoms soon put a period to this transaction Whilest these things were in agitation happened a difference betwixt the the Prince of Conde and Cardinal MaZarine most of the Princes of the blood side with the first the King of France who now was newly come to age to sway the Scepter with the latter the cause of the quarrel was Cardinal MaZarine his inordinate power and other grand miscarriages of state the people also generally murmure against him the Princes and Parliament of Paris and Bourdeaux are against him as also the Duke of Louraine then in service of the Spaniard things arrived at such a height that nothing but a Civil war was likely to ensue to compose and end these differances his sacred Majesty of England useth his utmost endeavours telling them from his own experience the
lâ—st the English land in the Island of Hispanola without any opposition and seeing no enemy near them think themselves sole Masters of the Indies They having marched a many miles through the woods are ready to perish with faintness and for want of water and now the Spanish Negros fall upon them and miserably kill them with little resistance drive them out of the Iland the remainder of those that escaped this Buchery possess themselves of Jamaica now G. Blake with a little better success being come before Tunis demands reparation for the losses sustained from Turkish Pyrates but being answer'd in scorn by the Dye of Tunis fired 9. Ships and came off with little loss but much glory to himself notwithstanding the former ill successes of the Royal party are sent to the Tower upon suspition of Treason The Lord Willonby of Parham and the Lord Newport The Illustrious Duke of Glocester having staid for some times with his sister the Princess Royall â—â— at Hague was now resolved to go to his Brother Our most gracious King then at Cullen being come thither with his Sister they stay till after the Fair at Franckfort to which place they made a progresse of State and pleasure being attended with the Marquesse of Ormond Lord Goring Lord Newburrough and Lady Stanhop c. As they passed through every Princes Country they were complemented by their Chief Officers of state and saluted by all the great Guns from all their Towers and Castles in an especiall manner The Prince Elector of Ments sent his grand Marshall to invite them to his Court whereupon the Lord Newburrough was sent back to desire to excuse them at present promising to wait upon them at his return being arrived at Franckfort and hearing that Queen Christiana of Swedn was coming that was in her journy to Italy his sacred Majesty sent one of his Lords to her signifying his desire to wait upon her at what place her Majesty should be pleased to Nominate the place appointed for this Interview was Collingsteen a Village near Frankfort where his Royall Majesty was received by her with much respect he had Private conference with her about half an hour then the Duke of Glocester and then the Lords that attended his Majesty Lord Jermyn and other English Lords Takes his Journey to Flaunders where at that time our dread Soveraign did reside at the Kind invitation of Don John of Austria then Governour of the Low-Countries let us now leave our King a little and look a while into his dominions where Cromwell notwithstanding his ill success in the last Parliament through his necessities is compelled to call another to meet at Westminster 17 September where the Navy Commanded by General Mountague lying to intercept the Spanish plate coming from the West Indies obtained a great victory over the Spaniard near Cadize six hundred thousand pieces of eight taken besides many ships fired and many other rich prizes taken This Parliament being met on the day appointed petition and advise Cromwell to take upon him the name and Title of King which his tender conscience could not swallow because he was affraid of some of his aspiring Officers and now a desperate attempt against the life of Oliver is found out and one Miles Sindercomb is apprehended and presently after tried and condemned to be hanged drawn sty As they came from Frankfort the Elector of Mentz renewed his civilities provided all manner of Accommodations for them as they passed thorow his Territories meeting them himselfe a great part of the way he brought them to one of his Pallaces where he entertained them after a sumptuous and splendid manner for two or three days after which they returned to Collen four Burgo Masters being appointed to wait on them and welcome them homâ— About the beginning of November 1656. A peace is concluded by Cromwell with the French the principall condition of this Treaty was the exclusion of our Royall Soveraign with all his relations and adherents out of the King of France his Dominions The thrice Noble Heroick and truly Valiant Duke of Yorke notwithstanding his great Command in the King of France his Army which was Lievetenant Generall is now advertized to depart the Kingdome by a prefixed time which act the French may perhaps hereafter have cause enough to rue which now being come he takes his leave of the King and Court of France being attended by the and quartered but he on the day appointed for his execution saves them that labour by making away himself by snuffing up some poysonous powder into his head whereupon it was ordered that he should be dragged naked at a Horses heels from the Tower to the scaffold on Tower hill and there buried having an Iron stake thrust into his belly c. In April 1657. several fifth Monarchy-men are apprehended for having a design to subvert this grand Tyrant and his Government Major General Harrinson Lawson and others are apprehended but nothing could positively be proved against them Now according to conditions of agreement betwixt England and France the French King desires Auxiliary forces from England to help him in his Wars against the Spaniard in Flanders which was readily granted by Cromwel 6000. Foot are accordingly sent over under the command of Col. Reynolds who are no sooner landed but suddenly they take the strong Fort of Mardike After Cromwel had given his final answer that he could not accept of the Title of King he was by the Parliament instated Lord Protector in a most solemne manner June 26. Cromwel having now as he thought setled his Throne bethinks himself of advancing his nearest friends and relations to that end he sends for his eldest Son Richard out of the Country to enure him to a Court life and that he might have some insight into State affairs designing him for succession in the Protectorship which the University of Oxford fore-seeing send their Proctors to elect him their Chancellor in which honour he was solemnly installed at Whitehall His Second Son Henry he created Lord Lieutenant of Ireland his two youngest Daughters he matched the eldest to Mr. Robert Rich Grand-child to the then Earl of Warwick The younger to the Lord Faulconbridge the Nuptials of them both was celebrated with much Splendor at Whitehal Hampton Court scarse was the mirth of these solemnities over but the Court is allarmed with the death of Gen. Blake Vice-Admiral Badiley and Lieutenant General Brain presently after Col. Reynolds and his Company were cast away by Goodwin Sands coming from Flanders The Parliament so called having adjourned themselves from the 6 th of June untill the 20 th of January following and now those other Members were admitted who formerly were excluded There is also another House of Parliament so called chosen by Cromwel consisting most part of Officers of the Army with some of the old Nobility this latter being as it were a House of Peers But this other House would not down with the House
Servants and Friends about Him who pawned and engaged their Plate Jewels and Lands for Him with those Lords and Gentlemen that willingly offered to bear Him company in His Troubles provides what Men and Armâ— He could in His way towards Notting ham where He intended to set up his Standard But the Parliament about the 23 of August 1642. having received some information that He intended to set up his Standard at Nottingham Declare That now it appearâ— to all the world that there is good ground of their fears and jealousies which if ever there had been any as there was no cause at all of any more than that meaning to murder and ruine Him they were often affraid He should take notice of it and seek to defend Himself there was by their own confession till this time no manifest or certain ground appearing that He intended to defend Himself against the Parliament and therefore order That all that shall suffer in their Estates by any force raised by the King without consent of Parliament shall have full reparation of their damages out of the Estates of the actors and out of the Estates of all such persons in any part of the Kingdome who should persist to serve the King in this War against the Parliament and That it should be lawfull for any number of persons to joyn and defend themselves and That the Earl of Essex their Generall should grant out Commissions for Levying and conducting forces into the Northern parts And Sir John Hotham the Governour of Hull assist them and command also the Sheriffs of the County of York and the adjacent Counties with the power of the Counties and Trained Bands to aid them and to seize upon all that shall execute the Commission of Array for his Majestie who was thus sufficiently beset by those that intended what since they have brought to pass against Him 25. August 1642. being some days after the Earle of Bedford had marched with great forces into the West that His Subjects might be informed of His danger and repair to his Succour setting up his Standard at Nottingham being a thing of meer legall necessity if He would have any at all to come to help Him and not forfeit and surprise those that by tenure of their Lands or by reason of Offices Fees or Annuities enjoyed under Him were more immediately bound to assist Him And yet here He must weep over Jerusalem and once again intreat the Parlament and His Rebellious Subjects to prevent their own miseries and therefore sends the Earls of Sonthampton and Dorset to the Parlament to desire a Treaty â—ffering to do all on His own part which might advance the Protestant Religion oppose Popery and Superstition and secure the Laws and Liberties of His Subjects and just pâ—iviledges of Parlament Which after severall scorns put upon those noble Messengers as denying the Earle of Southampton to come and sit in the House of Peers as a right by birth and inheritance due to him and causing the Serjeant at Arms of the House of Commons to go before him with the Macê as they use to do before Delinquents They refuse to accept of unless the King would first take down His Standard and recall his Declarations and Proclamations against them To which the King the 5. September 1642. notwithstanding the Earl of Bedford had with great forces in the mean time besieged the Marquis of Hartford in the Castle of Sherborn in Dorset shire replying That he never did Declare or intended for to Declare both his houses of Parlament to be Traitors or set up his Standard against them much less to put them and the Kingdom out of his protection And utterly protesting against it before God and the World offered to recall his Declarations and Proclamations with all cheerfullness the same day that they should revoke their Declarations against those that had assisted him and desiring a Treaty and conjuring them to consider the bleeding condition of Ireland and the danger of England undertakes to bee ready to grant any thing shall be really good for his Subjects which being brought by the Lord Falkland one of his Majesties Secretaries of State and a Member of the House of Commons and not long before in a very great esteem with them all the respect could be afforded him being to stand at the Bar of the House of Commons and deliver his Message to them had onely an answer in a printed Declaration of the Lords and Commons returned unto him That it was Ordered and Declared by the Lords and Commons in Parliament That the Armes which they have been forced to take up or shall be forced to take up for the preservation of the Parliament Religion and the Lawes and Liberties of the Kingdome shall not be laid down until his Majesty shall withdraw his protection from such Persons as have been voted by both Houses of Parliament to be Delinquents or that shall by both Houses of Parliament be voted to be Delinquents which after their mad way of voting might have been himself his Queen or his Heir apparent and leave them to the Justice of Parliament according to their demerits to the end that those great charges and damages wherewithal the Commonwealth hath been burthened since his Majesty departed from the Parliament might be born by the Delinquents and other malignant and dis-affected persons and that those who by Loans of money or otherwise at their charges have assisted the Commonwealth or shall in like manner hereafter assist the Commonwealth in times of extream danger and here they would also provide for future friends and quarrels may be re-paid all summs of money lent for those purposes and satisfied their charges sustained as out of the estates of the said Delinquents and of the Malignant and dis-affected Party in this Kingdome And to make good their words of 8. September 1642. Before their answer could come unto the Kings hands Ordered certain numbers of horse and foot to be sent to Garrison and secure Oxford and the morrow after before the King could possibly reply unto it their Lord General the Earl of Essex marched out of London against him with 20000 men horse and foot gallantly armed and a great train of Artiâ—lery to attend him notwithstanding all which and thosâ— huge impossibilities every day more and more appeared of obtaining a Peace witâ— those who were so much afraid to be loserâ— by it as they never at all intended it The King must needs send one messagâ— more unto them to try if that might noâ— give them some occasion to send Him gentleâ— conditions and therefore 13. September 1642. Being the same day they had impeached the Lord Strange of High-treason for executing the Kings Commission of Array and Ordered the propositions for furnishing of horse plate and money to be tendred from house to house in the Cities of London and Westminster and to be sent into all the Shires and Counties of England to be tendred for the same purpose
and the names of the refusers to be certified Mr. May one of the Pages to the King comes to the Lords House in Parlîament with a Message from Him bearing date but two dayes before That although He had used all wayes and me anes to prevent the present distractions and dangers of the Kingdome all his labours have been fruitless that not so much as a Treaty earnestly desired by him can be obtained though he disclaimed all his Proclamations and Declarations and the erecting of his Standard as against his Parliament unless he should denude himself of all force to defend him from a visible strength marching against him That now he had nothing left in his power but to express the deep sense he had of the publick misery of the Kingdome and to apply himself to a necessary defence wherein he wholly relied upon the providence of God and the affection of his good People and was so far from put ting them out of his protection as when the Parliament should desire a Treaty he would piously remember whose blood is to be spilt in this quarrel and cheerfully embrace it But this must also leave them as it sound them in their ungodly purposes for the morrow after being the 14. day of September 1642. Mr. Hampden one of the sive Members by this time a Colonel of the Army brings letters to the House of Commons from the Parliaments Lord General that he was at Northampton in a very good posture and that great numbers of the Countrey thereabouts came in daily unto him and offered to march under him and that so soon as all his forces that are about London shal come up unto him which he desires may be hastened he intended to advance towards his Majesty and it was the same day voted That all things sealed by the Kings Seal since it was carried away by the Lord Keeper Littleton should be Null and of no force in the Law and that a new Seal should be provided The King therefore seeing what he must trust to 19. September 1642. being at Wellington in Shrop-shire in the head of such small forces and friends as he could get together for the Parlament that very day had received letters That the King but the week before having a muster at Nottingham there appeared but about 3000 foot and 2000. horse and 1500 dragoona and thaâ— a great part of his men were not provided with arms made his Protestation and promise as in the presence of Almighty God and as He hoped for his blessing and protection to maintain to the utmost of his power the true reformed Protestant Religion established in the Church of England and that he desired to govern by the known Laws of the Land and that the Liberty and property of the Subject should bee preserved with the same care as his own just rights and to observe inviolably the Laws consented to by him in this Parlament and promised as in the sight of Almighty God if He would please by his blessing upon that Army raised for his necessary defence to preserve him from that rebellion to maintain the just priviledges and freedom of Parlament and govern by the known Laws of the Land In the mean while if this time of War and the necessity and straights he was driven to should beget any violation of them he hoped it would be imputed by God and man to the Authors of the War and not to him who had so earnestly desired and laboured for the peace of the Kingdome and preservation thereof and that when He should fail in any of those particulars He would exâ—est no aid or relief from any man or protection from Heaven And now that the stage of War seems to be made ready and the Parliament party being the better furnished had not seldome shewed themselves and made severall traverses over it for indeed the King having so many necessities upon him and so out of power and provision for it might in that regard only if He had not been so unwilling to have any hurtcome to his people by his own defending of himself be backward unwillingly drawn unto it we may do well to stand by and observe who cometh first to act upon it 22. Of September 1642. The Earl of Essex writeth from Warwick that he was upon his march after the King and before the 6. of October following had written to the County of Warwick with all speed to raise their Trained bands and Voluntiers to resist his Forces if they should come that way and to the three Counties of Northampton Leicester and Derby to gather head and resist him if he should retire into those parts and by all that can bee judged of a matter of fact so truly and faithfully represented must needs be acknowledged to have great advantages of the King by the City and Tower of London Navy Shipping Armes Ammunition the Kings Magazine all the strong Towns of the Kingdom most of the Kingdoms plate and money the Parliaments credit and high esteem which at that time the people Idolized the fiery Zeal of a seditious Clergy to preach the people into a Rebellion and the people head-longly running into the witchcraft of it When the King on the other side had little more to help him theâ— the Laws and Religion of the Land which at that time every man began to â—iâ—construe and pull in pieces had neither men horse arms ammunition ships places of strength nor money not any of his party or followers after the Parliament had as it were proclamed a War against him could come single or in small numbers through any Town or Village but were either openly assaulted or secretly betrayed no man could advenâ—ure to serve or own him but must expose himself and his Estate to be ruined either by the Parliament or people or such as for malice or profit would inform against him All the gains and places of preferment were on the Parliaments part and nothing but losses and misfortunes on the Kings No man was afraid to goe openly to the Parliaments side and no man duâ—st openly so much as take acquaintance of his Sâ—veraign but if he had done a quarter of 〈◊〉 which Ziba did to David when he 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 â—â—â—ves of bread or old Barzillâ—◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Gutite when he went along with him when hiâ— Son Absalom rebelled against him They should never have escaped so well as they did but have been sure to be undone and sequestred for it So much of the affections of the people had the Parliament cosened and stoln from them so much profit and preferment had they to perswade it and so much power to enforce those that otherwise had not a mind to it to fight against him Who thus every way encompassed about with dangers and like a Partridge hunted upon the Mountains marcheth from Shrewsbury towards Banbury perswading and picking up what help and assistance his better sort of Subjects durst adventure to afford him in the way