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A26767 Elenchus motuum nuperorum in Anglia, or, A short historical account of the rise and progress of the late troubles in England In two parts / written in Latin by Dr. George Bates. Motus compositi, or, The history of the composing the affairs of England by the restauration of K. Charles the second and the punishment of the regicides and other principal occurrents to the year 1669 / written in Latin by Tho. Skinner ; made English ; to which is added a preface by a person of quality ... Bate, George, 1608-1669.; Lovell, Archibald.; Skinner, Thomas, 1629?-1679. Motus compositi. 1685 (1685) Wing B1083; ESTC R29020 375,547 601

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Youth Unhappy English who with blind rage have consumed the Relicts of the Palatinat and accursed Broils of Britain that shipwrack't that Life which escaped the Sword of Austria I should give way to lamentations if our shame could add Glory to the Dead or give comfort to the surviving Family But a Valiant man is not to be by womanish houling lamented neither does true Grief require an ambitious pomp of Words nor great sorrow admit it Let us only then which is all we can do with our Tears wash out the stain of our unlucky Age to which Crime it is no small accession that the Ocean and other World are also polluted with the destruction of the Royal Family But Prince Rupert which was some comfort having sent his Goods into France with much adoe was saved I return to Portugal from whence the steam of Sugar attracted an Ambassadour to London Now would God the Supreme disposer of all things suffer that so remarkable constancy of so good a King should turn to the dammage of his Subjects For the Ships being restored the War that was threatened was upon supplication averted a new League made and the Peace afterward more religiously observed The Rebels indeed think it below them to make reparation for dammages yet they make them good by a War they were to engage in with the Dutch and Spaniards to the great advantage of the Portuguese I mention not the Glory of assisting distressed Princes a rare thing amongst Kings But after all he himself has no cause to fear but that his kindness shew'd to a King heretofore in distress will by the same Prince who never forgets those that have deserved well of him now raised to the Throne of his Ancestours and joyned to him in Affinity be repayed to him and his Subjects with plentiful interest But now we have affairs nearer home and with the Dutch again to consider Strickland having long resided in Holland as Ambassadour is now slighted and being allowed no more a place in the Assembly of the States he returns home But that the Parricides might repay one Affront with another they command Jacobin Vanodenskirk the Dutch Ambassadour to depart the Kingdom of England upon pretext that the King being dead the Negotiation with the States was now at an end But soon after as if they repented what they had done Schaepie is sent to treat of Peace who though he was but an Agent and empowred only by one City to wit Amsterdam to treat yet by the Rump-Parliament he is honoured with the Title of Ambassadour who take occasion on the other hand to send two Ambassadours with Royal and Magnificent Equipage to wit Oliver St. Jones one of the Members of the Rump-Parliament and Lord Chief Justice of the Common-Pleas and Walter Strickland These have Instructions To clap up a Peace and that by a Coalition of both Nations into one they might live under the same Government have the mutual Priviledges of Habitation Trading and Harbours of each Country indifferently But these were not to be divulged but piece and piece and by degrees if they found the People inclineable and fit to comply with such Propositions But the States had no inclination to settle a Peace until they found the success of the affairs in Scotland But after much adoe having at length given Audience to the Ambassadours they put them off from day to day till they proposed at long run some long winded Articles of Peace drawn up in the time of Henry VII to be considered which so soon as the Ambassadours had rejected they devise others to drive away time until the Ambassadours finding themselves fooled might hasten their departure But during their stay in Holland the States were necessitated to place a Guard at their Door nor was that sufficient to secure them from Affronts but that their Windows were every night broken or they themselves disturbed by I know not what Bug-bears and Apparitions There was also a strong report that a certain Relation of St. Jones came to his House that with a Bow-string he might strangle him after the manner of the Turks Mutes but that because he saw no way to escape if he had committed the Fact he abstained from attempting it The Ambassadours being startled at these things and daily fearing worse and not knowing how long they might stay nor what answer bring back they return without any effect of their Negotiation But great were the Disorders that this Affront occasioned and severe was the Revenge which the Parricides hatched in their Hearts being resolved that if the affairs in Scotland succeeded according to their wishes they would never rest nor sheath their Sword before they had forced by Arms the Conditions which by Ambassadours they could not obtain In the mean time they thought it enough at present to give out Letters of Reprisal and by other mens hands revenge the Injuries done to themselves and to make an Act that no Merchandise of what Country soever it were should be brought into England unless imported in English Bottoms by English Sea-men or fraighted by English Merchants Let us make a trip over to Sweden the Queen whereof had lately sent an Envoy to Compliment and Congratulate the Regicides To her therefore Whitlock is sent in a splendid Embassie to return the Honour and Compliment and also to make Peace with her to which she very willingly consented But the Queen being shorttly after removed or to use a softer expession having resigned the Crown the King of Sweden sends over a Reciprocal and no less Honourable Embassy by the Lord Christopher Bond a Senator of the Kingdom to Cromwell who then had the chief administration of the Government The Isles of Silly lay very convenient for molesting the Trade of the English There the Royalists cruising too and again with four or five small Vessels did no little hurt to the Regicides and would have done much more could they have been morgaged to the Dutch as it was commonly reported For plucking out of this Thorn great preparations are made at Plimouth not above fifteen Leagues distant from the Islands Where Blake and Popham having provided some small Vessels and Boats they take the opportunity and set Sail from thence in the night time with three hundred Souldiers besides Sea-men and having had a fair Wind next morning they come to the Land There are in all ten adjacent Islands divided only by narrow Passages of an Eddy Sea and on all sides secured by Shelves and Rocks In three hours time they take Threscoe and Briari with the loss of fifteen Men but of the Garrison a Boat being sunck about fourty were drowned one hundred and twenty made Prisoners and about fourty Guns taken which the Royalists out of two Friggats had planted upon the shoar The raging of the Sea appeasing the Fury of the Souldiers made for two days time a Cessation not unlike to a
humbled the Pride of France reduced Portugal into order broke the Strength of the Dutch and drove them off of the Sea suppressed the Pyrats and lastly triumphed twice over Spain In this alone to be blamed that he stuck to the Side of the Parricides About that time a dreadful War broke out betwixt two Northern Nations Frederick the Third King of Denmark egg'd on by his Confederates the King of Poland and Elector of Brandenburg invades the Territories of Carolus Gustavus King of Sweden then Victorious in Poland and breaking the Truce besieges Bremersford and other strong Places in Bremen Which so soon as Carolus Gustavus had Intelligence of leaving Poland the best way he could he marched his Forces through Gassue Pomerania and the Dutchy of Mecklenbourg into Holstein recovers what he had lost and drives Frederick who was unable to give him Battel into the Islands then he over-runs all Jutland and Holstein and having the opportunity of a hard Winter not without danger to himself and Army he boldly marched over the Sea upon the Ice into Fuinen and having subdued it and the Islands about one after another in the same manner he enters Zeeland divided from them by a narrow Frith where by the same Storm of a sudden War he had overwhelmed Copenhagen had not a Peace been made at Roschild by the Mediation of Medows who with Jepson was by Oliver sent from England as Mediators of Peace he to the Swede and the other to the Dane and the Intervention of the Embassadors of other Princes for which timely Service King Frederick made Medows Knight of the Elephant and a Nobleman of Denmark And King Charles the Second of England as a Testimony of His Favour for the good Offices done to his Kinsman honoured him likewise with Knighthood The War breaking out again afterward betwixt the Kings the Swede having possessed himself of Croneberg and the greatest part of Denmark and blocked up Copenhagen by a long and obstinate Siege both Parties implore the Assistance of Neighbouring Nations Carolus Gustavus of the English and Frederick of the Dutch The Swede wanted Ships and Seamen the Dane all kind of Relief to wit Soldiers Ships and Ammunition The Swede offered the English for their Security and a Reward of their Pains Gluckstadt with a small Territory on the other side of the Elbe which nevertheless was not in his power and Leth-Fort upon the River Wese But the English demanding either Gottenberg on the Baltick Sea near the Sound or Elsenburg that lies in the Mouth of the Baltick Cromwell and the Swede disagree about the Terms Nevertheless Oliver fits out a pretty considerable Fleet in England and that he might watch all Opportunities of advantage for the English sends it into Denmark under the Command of Goodson but the Ice and Winter-Colds hindred it from advancing beyond Scagen and at length Richard sent a greater under the Command of Admiral Montague who was afterwards made Earl of Sandwich and Knight of the Garter But the Dutch being secure that the English would not interfere and molest them that they might maintain a Free Trade through the Sound and at the same time assist the King of Denmark reduced to the utmost extremity fitted out a Fleet under the Command of General Opdam provided with all Necessaries which having engaged in a Sea-fight with the Swedes with equal Loss on both Sides they supplied Copenhagen with Ammunition and plenty of all Provisions To Flanders now the series of this short History calls me where the Affairs of the Spaniards began to decline and grow daily worse and worse A well appointed Army of six thousand English under the Command of Reynolds is landed at Calis of which some assist the French in taking Montmidy and being afterwards all joyned with the French they take Mardyke Fort two Miles distant from Dunkirk which was given to the Engl●sh to be kept during the Winter who fortifie it round with Palisadoes besides a Wall and Ditch and render it impregnable Nevertheless the most illustrious Duke of York resolved to attaque it bringing therefore about four thousand Men before it partly English Scots and Irish and partly Spaniards he attacks it in the Night-time by an Assault But he found Morgan Governour of the place in a readiness who in watchfulness was not inferiour to him but in this much superiour that under the cover of a strong Fort he fought against an Enemy in the open Fields wherefore after he had by all ways attempted but in vain to storm the place at length he sounded the Retreat But the Marshall d' Aumont came not so well off at Ostend for being tempted thither by hopes given him that the Town would be betray'd into his Hands he pay'd for his rash hopes himself being made Prisoner and many brave Men killed Next Spring Marshall Turen having taken in Graveling he came with a vast Army of French and English to Besiege Dunkirk and quickly invested the Town by Land the English Ships blocking it up by Sea For it was necessary either to reduce that Key of Flanders under the Power of the French or to try the uncertain Fortune of War Affairs being as yet doubtful On the other hand if the Spaniards suffered it to be taken besides the loss of the profit which they made by Pyracy and Traffick the English would also deprive them of the rest of their Ports for they easily conjectured that Dunkirk would fall into the Hands of the English and open to themselves a way of bringing an Army into the Heart of the Countrey Therefore Don John of Austria Governour of Flanders resolved to hazard a Battel For that end having drawn out of the Garrisons about some fifteen thousand Men to which were added four Regiments but half compleat in Men under the Duke of York he possesses himself of the Sandy Hills half a Mile distant from Turen's Camp there as occasion served to hinder or raise the Siege But next Morning Turen having left Men enough in the Trenches to prevent the sallying out of the Garrison with the rest of the Army in this manner attacks the Spaniards About three hundred English under the Command of Devaux are ordered to march up the Hill and beat the Spaniards from thence two thousand following after and four thousand to second them the Horse being placed on the Wings and behind in the Rear The Spaniards being drawn up bravely received the charge with confused shouts of mixt Nations But at length though the loose Sand afforded no sure footing to those that marched up and that the Spaniards showred down continual Volleys of Shot yet the English obtain the Victory the Spaniards being on all hands put to flight and killed Then at length the French Horse fall on and were for a long time bravely resisted by the Duke of York and his Brother the Duke of Glocester but they both the English Red-coats advancing and
of Jamaica Ten Major Generals are set over the Provinces Cromwell makes Peace with the French The Jews sue for liberty to come and live in England MDCLVI Cromwell makes Peace with the Portuguese The Swedish Embassadour is feasted by Comwell at Hampton-Court Blake and Montague beat eight Spanish Ships and take two of them richly laden A Mock-Parliament of the three Nations England Scotland and Ireland is held at Westminster James Naylor a false Christ enters Bristol MDCLVI LVII Sundercome who conspired Cromwells death is condemned He is found dead in his Bed in the Tower of London Harrison Lawson and others are committed to Prison Blake burns the Spanish Fleet in the very Harbour of Santa-cruce Cromwell refuses the Title of King offered him by the Parliament He is solemnly inaugurated Protector And the Parliament is adjourned for six Months Richard Son to Cromwell is made Chancellour of Oxford Jepson is sent to Sweden and Medows into Denmark Mardike-Fort taken by the English and French The Vicecount Falconberge marries Mary Daugh-to Cromwell MDCLVII LVIII A Parliament is again held consisting of two Houses Suddenly dissolved by Cromwell Slingsby and Hewet are beheaded Dunkirk is yielded to the French Cleypole Cromwell's Daughter dies at Hampton-Court Oliver Cromwell Protector dies in Whitehall Richard Cromwell publickly declared Protector Oliver is buried in Westminster MDCLVIII LIX Richard calls a Mock-Parliament which is held at Westminster Overton is recalled from his Banishment The Lower-house vote Richard to be Recognised Protector of England Scotland and Ireland And Vote also a present Conference with those of the Other House about Publick Affairs The Officers of the Army present a Remonstrance to Richard and he to the Parliament The Parliament make an Ordinance That the Officers of the Army meet not to hold Consults The Officers beset Whitehall and Richard by Proclamation dissolves the Parliament Richard being turned out the Rump-Parliament is again revived FINIS A TABLE To the Second Part. A. ADdresses and gratulatory Petitions to Cromwel pag. 190 Ascham the Rebel Embassadour in Spain killed there 72 B. Blake his Death and Character 228 C. Cavaliers conspire to rise for the King but disappointed 182 225 Church of England her Ministers persecuted 5 Cromwel Oliver 6 98. He procures a kind of Amnesty to be past by the Rump 156. Turns out the Rump 161. Is made Protector 165 166. The Instrument 166. His Arts and Cunning 184. Calls a House of Commons under the name of a Parliament 186. But cannot work 'em to his will 189. The manner of his Government in some matters 190 191 192. His fears and mistrust 198. Enters into a League with France 210. Treats with the Jews about a Toleration 210 211. Calls a pickt Assembly of the three Nations 212. The point debated whether he should take the Title of King 214 215. The manner how he was inaugurated Protector and the Speech thereat 218. Falls sick 233. Dies 236. His Character 237. His Funeral 341. Cromwel Richard 217 223. He becomes Protector 240. Call● a Sham-Parliament 243. Dissolves it 246. He is advised to be for the King but refuses the advice 247. Turn'd out of his Protectorship by the Rump 250. D. Dorislaus sent by the Regicides into Holland 2. Is killed there 3. Dunbar defeat 106 Dunkirk taken by the English 231 Dutch War 171 G. Gloucester Duke sent for to Cologn by the King 197 H. Hereticks in Gromwel's time 219 Hewet Dr. 225 High Court of Justice another erected 79. And does a world of mischief 80. inf I. Jamaica taken by the English 209 Jersey subdued 155 Ireland Expedition thither under Cromwel 6. inf Subdued 55. Juries endeavoured to be abolished by Cromwel 203 K. King Charles I. the state of Affairs after his death 1 King Charles II. seeks help from foreign Princes 67. Proclaimed in Scotland 83. Crowned there 117. His march into England 120. His Escape from Worcester 128. inf Arrives in France 150. Removes to Cologn 180. His Restoration foretold by an Astrologer 198. L. Lambert John his Character 55 Lane Jane 136 Lords of Cromwel 's making 222 Love 's Conspiracy 115 M. Major-Generals and their Tyranny 200 Man-Island subdued 156 Marriages by Justices of Peace 164 Montross the noble Marquiss his Story 90 N. Nayler James his Pranks 220 P. The Pendrils 128 Petty Sir William 61 Portugal Embassadour's Brother beheaded 178 R. Rump-Parliament and Army disagree 156 Turned out by Cromwel 161 Brought again into play 249 S. Scotland Expedition thither under Cromwel 98 Subdued 152 Slingsby Sir Henry 183 225 Sundercome and the Republicans conspire against Cromwel 220 221 V. Van Trump kill'd 176 Vowel a condemn'd Royalist cites Cromwel and his Judges to appear before the Judgment-seat of God 179 W. War against the Spaniards in America 206 Between the Danes and Swedes 228 Worcester-Fight 125 Part the Third OR THE HISTORY OF THE Composing the Affairs of England By the Restauration of King CHARLES II. And the Punishment of the Regicides And the Settlement of the Church and State as they were before the Rebellion THE Civil War of England begun by a pernicious and fatal Parliament raged for the space of eight years with various successes of Battels till the Royalists being in all parts worsted and not able to keep the Field Charles the First the best of Kings a Prince of most exalted but persecuted Virtue to avoid the victorious Arms of the English Independants moved by ill fate or bad counsel cast himself into the arms of the Presbyterian Scots by whom he was for a round sum of money treacherously delivered up into the hands of English Traytors Nor was it long before he was a sad instance that the Prisons of Kings are but little distant from their Graves For what the flagitiousness of past Ages never attempted and future Will hardly believe the unfortunate Prince to make way for the Usurpation of the Traytor Cromwel was forced by a scenical and mock-form of Law and Justice to lay down his sacred head to be struck off upon a Block The boldest Villany that ever any Nation saw and a Parricide that all the World was astonished at But this Villany succeeding so prosperously and Britain at length and Ireland being subdued by victorious Rebels as the Forces of Charles the Second were entirely routed by the defeats at Dumbar and Worcester Cromwel the Traytor delayed no longer the execution of his long-projected Wickedness He knew full well that the name of the Parliament was grown odious to the people through the uneasiness of their flagitious and usurped Dominion Turning therefore his Arms against his hauty Masters he turned them out of the House as Objects first of his own contempt and then of the peoples scorn The onely grateful action he did to the Kingdom And now
the King was very near discovered by an Hostler From thence as good luck would have it to Broad-VVindsor Where he is disquieted by Soldiers quartering there And the Country People Wilmot is in danger at Chayremouth Vpon a suspition occasioned by his Horses Shoes The Hostler consults the Minister of the place Who having seriously weighed the matter He hunts after the King tho too late Especially in Sir Hugh Windham 's house The King returns to Trent having sent VVilmot to Coventry A ship freighted at Southampton but without Success The King g●es to Heal. Having taken leave in the morning he returns ●ack without the knowledge of the Servants and is hid From thence he hastens to Bright-Helmstead Gunter having hired a Vessel Where at Supper he is known by the Master of the Bark Who being afraid of the Parliaments Proclamation With diffiulty undertakes the thing His Wife who smelt it out ●ncouraging him to the bus●ness Being got on board they coast along the Shore as bound for the Isle of VVight In the Evening they arrive in Normandy The King very skilful in Navigation The Master of the Vessel being kindly dismissed arrives the same night at Pool The King having changed his Cloathes at Rouen Where by chance he found Doctor Earle He goes to Paris Whos 's safely was an illustrious Testimony of Divine Providence Cromwell having sent the Prisoners before comes to London Sterling Castle surrendered to Monck Noblemen taken by Alured Dundee was a prey to the Conquerour All Scotland in the power of the English who strengthen themselves by new Citadels And subdue Orkney and the Isles The Scots rise but in vain The administration of civil Affairs in Scotland by Judges for the most part English And a Council of State Thirty Commissioners from thence allowed to sit and Vote in the Parliament of England The Scots had what they deserved Hains subdues Jersey The Isle of Mann also tak●n An Act of Oblivion passes But not without the instance of Cromwell The Soldiers displeased with the Rump Which with these Crimes they load As minding onely their own advantages The Objections are boldly enough answered The Soldiers reply Of whom therefore the Rump under another pretence order a great part to be disbanded The Soldiers refusing and demanding a new Representative An equal numb●r of both consult in common But without any Fruit. The Rumpers are divided about the manner of the Representative And about the Time Not willing to give the Power rashly out of their own hands Cromwell flying to the House and objecting to them Misdemeanours and other horrid Crimes Commands all to be gone And they delaying by the assistance of the Soldiers he expelled them the House And makes them ridiculous The People rejoycing And much applauding him They consult in the mean time what is fittest to be done The Officers advance the Godly to the Government Chosen from among the Off-scowrings of the People and out of all Sects Who having chosen a Speaker Take the Name of The Parliament of England And presently shew their madness in falling soul of the Ministers Colleges and Nobility They abolish all Courts of Justice Appoint Justices of Peace to celebrate Marriage The sounder part deliver up the Government to Cromwell who with reluctancy accepts it Lambert chiefly and by his persuasion the rest of the Officers consenting But he would be called Protector not King Cromwell swears to his own Conditions and presently chuses Counsellors out of every Sect. What were the thoughts of men in this great Revolution A War with Holland The use of it Different Opinions of the States of the United Provinces about that Matter The middle Opinion prevailing Embassadors for Pacification are sent into England In the heat of the Treaty a sharp Engagement hapned The Dutch excuse the matter But confederate with the Danes And fight again and again At length they sue for Peace Cromwell being now at the Helm A fourth Engagement most fatal to the Dutch Trump being killed And 2000 besides Cromwell claps up a Peace with the Dutch and Danes And lays a snare for the Prince of Orange S●ditious Seamen Three Hansiatick Ships are stopp'd And condemned Cromwell is reconciled to the King of Portugal The Embassadors Brother Don Pantaleon Sa For a Murder committed in London Is beheaded And Gerard at the same time also for standing up for the Kings Interest● Vowell hanged for the same Cause The King of England uses all Endeavours to oblige the French King But being basely used He removes to Cologne His Friends in England in the mean time use all endeavours Cromwell counter-endeavours Yet by mutual Exhortations they do somewhat The matter was at length undertaken by Comm●ssioners Very cau●iously The Republicans also conspiring with them And some Governours of Places But Cromwell discovering the Design easily disappoints it Some rising too soon Others cowardly And all disappointed of their Hopes Many Persons of Great Quality committed to Prison Not a few put to death Cromwell's Arts of Discovery Spies mingled amongst the Cavaliers Especially one Manning that lived at Court Who at length was justly put to death Cromwell calls a Parliament of Commoners onely Wherein he brags of his own good Deeds Which he would have the Parliament to confirm But they on the contrary nibble at the Instrument of Government The Officers and Courtiers opposing it But the Republicans urging the same But Cromwell severely checks these Debates And obliges all that would enter the House to own the Government However he left all his Labour The Republican Soldiers conspire his ruine Which he smelling out presently dissolved the Parliament He makes Peace with Sueden And France For Support of his Authority he procures Gratulatory Addresses from the Officers of the Army in Scotland Then from the Officers in England And afterwards from some Corporations He affected to be a Promoter of Justice And a rigid Censurer of Manners And a Favourer of the Clergy Whose Divisions nevertheless he foments whilst he seemed earnest in composing of them Industriously suppressing the Insolence of the Presbyterians He was ill-affected towards the Church of England tho he was accustomed to caress some few He hugged the Independents Nor was he an enemy to Fanaticks And Roman-Catholicks He creates Censurers of the Preachers out of every S●ct Who basely minded their own Profit He studies to ingratiate himself with all men according to their various Humours With the Nobility The Godly Country People And also the Soldiers Always glancing at his own Profit A most cunning Diver into the Manners of Men. And most prodigious Hypocrite King Charles finds for the Duke of Glocester his Brother from France Lest the Stripling might be in danger of h● Religion amongst Catholicks 〈…〉 by a certain Astrologer Oneal Cromwell continually dogg'd with anxious biting Cares Thinks himself safe no where Getting into the Coach-box to exercise his Body He was very near being torn to pieces alive by Horses Of new he oppresses the
Counties to wit of Buckinghamshire and Essex are egg'd on that being armed in several bodies they might come and petition that their Members might have free liberty of voting and that their Priviledges might be kept inviolate Although the Kentish-men who came to supplicate on the other side were denied liberty to enter the Gates of London and others who were about to do the like were restrained by threats and reproaches So that by polling and in a manner mustering the people they give the signal to War The accused Members abscond in London until they might feel the pulses and stir up the Citizens to draw out for their Guard and conduct them to the House in arms and triumph The King being advertised of this though at that time by the care and contrivance of Gurney the then Lord Mayor many valiant and loyal men offered themselves to mix with the Croud and being scattered through the streets like Spectators to oppose the Army if they attempted any thing against the King yet his Majesty hoping that these storms might break and spend themselves by giving way to them he with the Queen removed to Windsor-Castle But afterwards the Quarrel rising higher having sent the Queen beyond Sea under pretext of accompanying her eldest Daughter lately married to the Prince of Orange over into Holland but in reality that she might pass the Winter secure from the future storm and having sent for the Prince whom as he was informed the Factious did intend to seize by authority of Parliament he moves towards York but not before he wrote to the Parliament giving them the reasons of his departure perswading them by all means to Peace and desiring them That whatever it was they so much desired that he would grant and do for them they would set it down in writing that without ambiguiety they would state what the Parliament and People claimed and what on the other hand was to be granted to the King and he religiously protests that he would have the Rights of others no less to be inviolate than his own and that he would most willingly give his consent to all things that might contribute to the restoring of Peace and the just Rights of his Crown and Kingdom They not onely slight but caluminate this goodness of so gracious a King as if it were contrary to the Priviledges of Parliament to be informed what was fit to be done and that their consultations should be interrupted by Letters It can hardly be exprest how much the House of Commons proud of the favour of the Multitude pretended to be scared at these admonitions to Peace as portending new dangers and ruine in disguise Hence laying hold of the opportunity the House of Commons being onely the third and lowest Estate of the Kingdom the Lords being as yet averse from so unjust a desire had the boldness to demand that the power of all Castles and Forts and of the Militia should be put into their hands When they could not obtain this from the King they move all the Towns and Corporations that sided with them that as of their own accord they should make musters train up the Youth in Military Discipline and divide them into Companies which was afterward confirmed and approved in the House of Commons as done according to Law They pass also a Vote in their own House that by Authority of Parliament Deputies should be named in each County To exercise arm draw out and muster the Youth and those that were fit to carry Arms that they might be ready upon the future Orders of Parliament for suppressing Rebellions resisting Invasions c. Having at length by their known Arts prevailed with the Lords to give their consent both Houses joyn in an Address to the King That it was a thing not onely expedient but necessary to be done as well for himself as for the State pretending fears from France Germany and Spain who then were all in Arms and the intelligence they had from Paris Venice and Rome that the restless Papists and ill men were plotting and contriving how they might overset the Parliament of England and the reformed Religion The King willing to grant any thing for Peace sake yields them a share in the power of the Militia for a certain time reserving to himself the supreme Authority whereby he might be able to maintain the Dignity of the Crown and the Rights of Parliament He approves also the Deputies appointed by them some Londoners excepted and does pathetically exhort and adjure them That at length laying aside vain fears and mutual jealousies they would calmly and seriously consider by what means the troubled State divided into several Factions and torn almost into pieces by it self might be united again into one and that since no former Prince had made greater Concessions to his Subjects they would peaceably enjoy them But they slighting this Indulgence of the King and his sound Admonitions impose upon the rest with their bugbears of Fears and Jealousies They ordered strict Watch to be kept in suspected places the Beacons to be watch'd and prepare Pilots as for a War The People are dayly stirred up with false Rumours spread amongst the Multitude On Sundays when they are in Church at their Devotion they are put into panick fears as if the Papists who were to come no man knew whence were ready to burn their houses and to mingle their Bloud with their Prayers and by and by again that their throats were to be cut by enemies lurking in the Woods and Vaults under ground And many though not the wisest of the Londoners were perswaded that the River of Thames was to be blown up by Gunpowder to drown the City in the night-time so ridiculous were the surmises that gave occasion to most fatal changes By these and such-like tricks the Populace is frightened out of their senses and resolved to do any thing to rid themselves of these apprehensions Amongst the other preparatiss to War all the particulars whereof it is not our designe to trace the cunninger sort smelt a Plot as if the King in his progress to the North intended to seize the Town and well-provided Magazine of Hull which might be of great consequence in carrying on the War That they might prevent this the Factious of their own head without any authority from both Houses give the government of the place to Sir John Hotham which he instantly secured with a Garison and the assistance of some Towns-men So soon as the King had notice of this he marched thither attended with his Nobles and Servants but the Gates being shut and Souldiers planted upon the Walls he is denied entrance The King being highly offended commands the Governour to let him enter attended onely with twenty Gentlemen on horseback but he refusing to let him in unless alone is proclaimed a Traytor and the King by Letters to the Parliament
rob their Parents Fathers their Children Servants their Masters Wives their Husbands so that the mutual Offices to which men are bound in society were denied to those that differed from them in opinion For these reasons many contrary to the Dictates of Conscience run into the noose of the Covenant and at length whether that they thought themselves obnoxious to the Kings Laws or really bound in conscience by their Oath they seriously espoused the Party of the Parliament Against this many learned and pious men took up the Cudgels and in several Treatises amongst which was the Judgment of the University of Oxford an unanswerable piece in Latin confuted it as contrary to the Laws both of God and man the Covenanters in the mean time making no answer but with force and the sharper Arguments of the Sword The Scots who faithfully promised the King to give him no trouble in his affairs in England having by those previous artifices cleared their way into that Kingdom with twenty thousand men come to the assistance of the Parliament But first for forms sake they send Commissioners to the King to perswade him being inclinable enough of himself to make peace with the Parliament and to offer themselves as Mediators of the Controversie but the King having rejected them as unjust and partial Judges and commanded them to mind their own affairs at home they call a Parliament against all Law in the Kings name and then declare War The King foreseeing the Storm that was like to fall upon himself and Party had provided against it as well as possibly he could The Lords and Members of the House of Commons who though they were excluded the Houses thought it their duty still to stand by the Publick came over to the Kings side and the former to the number of forty with the Lord Keeper of the great Seal and the latter above two hundred transfer the Parliament to Oxford where being called to Council before they were admitted to take Arms by the King they held a Session of Parliament by the Kings authority nothing being wanting to the power and dignity of a Parliament but Walls and the place appointed by the Kings Writ To these the King gave strictly in charge that they would do what lay in their power to avert the Storm or at least consult how they might be able to resist it This Parliament wrote to the Scots that they would not in an hostile manner invade the King and Kingdom of England nor violate the Pacification formerly made They declare it Treason to take up Arms against the King or without his consent to call a foreign Nation into the Kingdom and that therefore the Rump-Parliament sitting at Westminster were upon both accounts guilty of High-Treason They also pass an Act for raising as much money as could reasonably be expected from the exhausted Counties and Towns which still continued in obedience to the King for defraying the charges of a double War now approaching The King also by Letters earnestly dehorted the Scots from that unlawful attempt and prohibits them by Proclamation That being his Subjects and obliged by so many bonds they would not come to the assistance of Rebels But this being signed by the hands of nineteen Lords the prevailing Rebels of Scotland with matchless insolence in Subjects cause it publickly to be burnt by the common Hangman The Marquess of Hamilton is commanded to keep the Scots at home that they might not meddle in the affairs of another Kingdom who being discovered to have unfaithfully discharged that Office having under pretext of danger fled out of Scotland to the King was afterward committed to Prison The Marquess of Montross being made General and Commissioner of Scotland is dispatched thither that by giving them a diversion at home they might be kept from invading England This Commission was valiantly discharged by the Marquess having with a handful of men and those raw and undisciplined put whole Armies to flight and every-where wasted the Country However the Scots pursuing their point left not England before by the help of Fairfax they had routed no small part of the Kings Army which they had long diverted from quelling the Parliamentarians elsewhere taken Newcastle and other strong places and handed on the Victory into the more Southern parts Henceforward the Kings affairs do dayly decline and were at length totally ruin'd Victory everywhere smiling upon the Rebels The Republican Rebels having obtained many Victories began to vent their hatred and indignation against the Lords and especially after the last Newberry-Fight they grew sick of the Earl of Manchester For he in a Council of War giving his opinion and exhorting them to Peace which he judged more expedient to the State seemed not so thorough-paced and fierce upon the War as they could have desired and being therefore in a long Speech accused by Cromwel in the Lower House he defends himself in the Vpper retorting the accusation So that both Houses thought it more convenient to compose the difference betwixt them than to enter into the merits of the Cause The Kings Forces being at length scattered and broken by the Scots on the one hand and the Parliament-Rebels on the other Pay and Provisions being wanting and Factions arising betwixt the Commanders of the Army and the Lords that all things might conspire to draw down Judgments upon us His Majesty had in his mind first to come to London and trust himself in the hands of the Parliament next to cast himself into the arms of the English Army but being rejected by both and his affairs in a very doubtful condition he ventured to betake himself to the Scots the French Embassadour who then was in the Scottish Army and some Scottish Commanders having obtained from them promises of honour safety and freedom for his Majesties person This revived former Grudges betwixt the English and Scottish Rebels which had almost broken out into a War It was likewise given out that the Earl of Essex who from a General was now become a private person would joyn with the Lords and Commons that conspired for their ruine in new Articles and Resolutions with the Scots but his sudden death occasioned by lying on the ground when he was all in a sweat after hunting dissipated all those rumours Nevertheless the Rebels thought fit at publick cost to humour him with magnificent Funerals as being more for their interest to shew gratitude to a dead friend than to have him perhaps a living enemy Upon this they began to deny the Scots their Pay put a necessity upon them of exacting Money and free Quarters from the Counties where they lay expose them to hatred extenuate their merits undervalue the courage of the Nation call them mercenary Souldiers of fortune whilst they in the mean time paid them onely with Reproaches threaten to drive them out of the Kingdom by force of Arms publickly provoke
and France as being divided at home and many of them had the confidence openly to glory that they would break that Yoke wherewith the Kings of the Earth oppress the People Nor truly could any man have told where the fierceness of this Scourge would have ended and where that Floud would have spent it self unless the divine Majesty which hath hollowed a channel for the Sea set bounds and limits to it and said Hither shalt thou come and no further had not opposed the over-swelling pride of these Waters and commanded his Angel to sound the Retreat A Chronological INDEX FOR This First Part. Old Stile MDCXXV KIng James being dead CHARLES the First succeeds King of Great Britain He marries Henrietta Maria Sister to Louis XIII King of France MDCXXV VI VII VIII The King calls three Parliaments and little or nothing done as often dissolves them MDCXXX Prince CHARLES is born MDCXXXIII James Duke of York is born MDCXXXVII Prin Burton Bastwick having lost their ears are put in prison The Scots grow rebellious MDCXXXIX The King meets the Scots intending to invade England but having made a Pacification disbands his Army MDCXL The Stirs of the Scots occasioned the Kings calling of a Parliament at Westminster which was dissolved without any success So the Scots invade England and take Newcastle The King marches against them but having made a Truce calls a Parliament at Westminster The Parliament meets and under pretext of Reformation put all into Confusion Thomas Wentworth Earl of Strafford Deputy of Ireland and William Laud Archbishop of Canterbury are accused MDCXI The Deputy of Ireland condemned by a Law made for the purpose is beheaded The King also by Act of Parliament grants That the Parliament shall not be dissolved without the consent of both Houses William of Nassaw Son to Frederick Prince of Orange is married to Mary Daughter to K. Charles The Scots full of money return into their own Country The King follows them into Scotland The Irish conspire against the English and cruelly fall upon them The King returns to London from Scotland A Remonstrance of the Lower House offered to the King MDCXLI MDCXLII The King accuses five Commoners and one Lord of High-Treason The King goes into the House of Commons The King withdraws from London Sends a Pacificatory Letter to the Parliament Sends the Queen into Holland with her Daughter He himself goes towards York Sir John Hotham shuts the Gates of Hull against the King Vnjust Propositions of Peace are made by the Parliament to the King The Parliament raising an Army the King at length sets up his Standard at Nottingham Both Armies engage at Edge-hill and both challenge the Victory MDCXLIII A Treaty of Peace appointed at Oxford comes to nothing The Earl of Newcastle gets the better of Fairsax Commander of the Rebels in the North. In the West Waller a Commander of the Rebels is routed by the Kings Party Prince Rupert taketh Bristol Maurice his Brother takes Exeter In the mean time the King himself besieges Gloucester Essex General of the Rebels relieves Gloucester The King meets Essex upon his return and fights him at Nubury The English Rebels put to a streight call in the Scots and take the Covenant The King therefore makes a Truce with the Irish for a year MDCXLIII IV. James Marquess of Hamilton is committed to prison The Scots again enter England The King holds a Parliament at Oxford The Earl of Montross is sent Commissioner into Scotland Essex and Waller Generals of the Rebels march towards Oxford The King defeats Waller at Cropredian-bridge Then pursues Essex into the West The Scots in the mean time joyned with the English defeat the Cavaliers at Marston-moore And then take York by surrender In the West the King breaks all Essex his Forces Vpon his return he is met by Manchester at Newbury where they fight a second time Alexander Carey is beheaded MDCXLIV V. Hotham the Father and Son are beheaded William Laud Archbishop of Canterbury is beheaded Macquire an Irish Lord is hanged The Treaty of Peace at Uxbridge comes to nothing Fairfax General of the Parliament Forces defeats the King at Naseby Henceforward all by degrees fell into the hands of the Parliament MDCXLVI The King having in vain tried the English departing privately from Oxford commits himself into the hands of the Scots Fairfax takes Oxford by composition Robert Earl of Essex dies MDCXLVI VII The Scots sell the King to the English and return fraighted with Money The King is made close Prisoner in Holdenby-Castle The Marquess of Ormond Lord Lieutenant of Ireland delivers up Dublin to the English The Army take the King out of Prison And march against the Parliament The Speakers of both Houses with fifty other Members flie to the Camp The Souldiers attend the Members that fled to West-minster Vnjust Conditions of Peace are proposed to the King at Hampton-court The King makes his escape to the Isle of Wight From thence writing Pacificatory Letters they propose to him four Demands as preliminary to a Conference The King is made close Prisoner MDCXLVII VIII The Parliament votes no more Addresses to the King The Counties everywhere stir the Kentish Essex-men and some others take up Arms. The Duke of Buckingham Francis his Brother and Earl of Holland in vain take up Arms. The Fleet comes over to the Prince of Wales The Scots commanded by Duke Hamilton advance into England They are defeated by Cromwel and Hamilton taken Fairfax takes Colchester upon surrender Rainsborough a Commander of the Parliament Army killed at Duncaster A Conference appointed with the King in the Isle of Wight The Marquess of Ormond returns Lord Lieutenant into Ireland The Remonstrance of Ireton is approved in a Council of War And is presented to the Parliament in name of the Army and People of England The King is carried from the Isle of Wight to Hurst-Castle Nevertheless the Parliament votes That the Kings Concessions are a sufficient ground for a Peace Many Parliament-men are made Prisoners by the Souldiers MDCXLVIII IX The rest amongst other and unheard things vote That all Power is originally in the People Then That the King himself is to be brought to a tryal The King therefore is brought to the Bar. The King is brought a fourth time and condemned CHARLES the best of Kings by unparallel'd Villany is beheaded James Duke of Hamilton Henry Earl of Holland and the generous Arthur Lord Capel are beheaded Lastly Monarchy it felf is abolished by the Regicides The Act is proclaimed by the mock-Mayor of London
and the suspicion of a sudden Insurrection again amongst the Irish because they parted so easily with their Inheritances is laid at their door as a ruine We purposely pass by matters of less importance least what we are about by the by should swell up to too vast a bulk The Officers of the Army what by craft and what by force turning Richard out of the Supream Power and the Rump-Parliament after five years interment being raised again from the dead the eyes of all are fixed upon Henry It was thought by some that he would defend his own Authority and vindicate that of his Brother Others hoped that he would favour the Royal Cause and so make his interest with the King the Navy especially giving no obscure marks of their inclination and the Army and Kingdom of Ireland being ready enough to promote such an Enterprize Nor dare I swear that he entertain'd no such Projects But the Lord Broghill and Coot deserting him in dubious Affairs and Steel and Tomlinson old Commissioners managing and Waller and Corbet new ones continually solliciting him he at length resigns himself to the Will and Pleasure of the Rump-Parliament and returns into England there to give an account of his administration Hitherto we have dwelt in Ireland that without interruption we might give the Reader an account of the Affairs of that Kingdom Now bringing our discourse back to former years we must return to the Democratical Republicans who after the murder of the King swayed Affairs in England under the Olygarchicks These being upstarts promoted for the most part men of their own Edition to places of honour and profit Which the Londoners took so ill that the Mayor and Aldermen came and petitioned the Rump-Parliament that the cheif Citizens or that some of them at least might be again admitted into the common Council of the City These were about three hundred whom either age or wealth at least recommended But the year before the Rump-Parliament had turned a great many of them out and judged them unworthy of carrying any office in the City for no other reason but because they had signed the Petition making Peace with the King which the greater and sounder part of the Parliament were also for But that desire of the Mayor and Aldermen though they seriously alledged the want of ingenious and honest men of moderate Estates for discharging the offices of the City is rejected with contempt nor would they have any but the Riff Raff and inconsiderable rable to manage Publick Affairs as being such who measured good and evil according to the will and pleasure of their Masters Whil'st these things are carried on at London CHARLES the Second was not asleep nor did he neglect his Affairs though the Regicides carried all before them in England but moves every stone and leaves nothing unessayd that the wit and power of man could devise or execrate for resetling the undone Nations asserting the publick Liberty and the Regicide being revenged recovering his ancient Inheritance He implores the assistance of Foreign Kings and Princes who are all equally concerned according to the Supream Power they have received from God and their common duty to give Sanctuary to the oppressed but especially to Kings whom above all men living they ought to protect not only upon the account of Kindred and Cognation but also for fear of Contagion least the horrid example of Rebellion might have an influence upon their own Subjects that if perchance they should be reduced to the like streights they might likewise obtain the like help and assistance He sends Ambassadours to the Emperour and German Princes to the Grand Signior the great Duke of Moscovie the Kings of Poland Denmark and Sweden to the republick of Venice and the States General of the united Provinces He sends into Spain from whence he had the greatest expectation the Lord Edward Hide who had formerly been Lord cheif Baron of the Exchequer and was afterwards Lord Chancellor and Earl of Clarendon whose Iuvenile and vegete wit might put life into the aged head of Cottington In France besides a particular Ambassadour the Queen Mother and Duke of York were there and the King himself to sollicite his own affairs But alass almost every where unsuccessfully the distance of place hindering the aid of some and either the want of money domestick seditions or dangers from neigbours obstructing the assistances of others None are touched with the sence or pity of the Calamities of another The Ottoman Court dealt barbarously in that for a little money they delivered up the Ambassadour Henry Hide a most accomplished Gentleman into the hands of the Rump-Parliament who being brought over into England for his unshaken Loyalty without any pretext of ancient Law he was beheaded before the Royal Exchange in London France with promises gives hope of large assistance so long as they could procure any help from the Subjects of the King of England especially from James Duke of YORK who commanding the English and Irish that served the French in Flanders had given many Noble and Illustrious proofs of his Heroick Valour and Courage Until that Blake had beaten the French Fleet under the Command of the Duke of Vendosme which came to the relief of Dunkirk at that time besieged by the Spaniards Then they sent Burdex to treat of peace at London whil'st the Regicides expected no less than a declaration of War And having afterwards entred into a strict allyance they inwardly rejoyced that the Kings Majesty was deluded and no small stop put to the fury of the Rebels The Spaniard seemed to be grieved at the Kings Murder but excused himself that it did not belong to him to determine about the controversies of England nor did he take pleasure to meddle in other Peoples Affairs out of his own Terrritories but that in the mean time he should be ready to do the King all the kindness he could within his Countries Nevertheless not long after Ascham being killed which I shall shortly relate he was the first King who Commanded his Hedge Ambassadour Don Alonso de Cardenas to Worship the rising sun of the Common-wealth wish the Parrcides all happiness intreat the continuance of Friendship and good Correspondence betwixt his Kingdomes and the New Common-wealth and promised severely to punish the Wicked Murderers of Ascham Now there are some not obscure Reasons why the great Mind of so Wise a King was by so unexpected a change that rather discovered than altered his Inclinations brought over to the contrary side For besides Ancient and Paternal enmities with Queen Elizabeth Philip himself had particular Quarrels against Charles It wounded him deep that his Sister being courted in Marriage even so far as to have had an interview and conference with her she should afterwards be slighted for a Daughter of France though a Princess of extraordinary Worth Besides the old offence
number overpow'ring them are fain to give ground and at length are beat out of the Field Above a thousand were killed in that Battel fifteen hundred private Soldiers taken fourscore Officers and all the Cannon and Ammunition The Garrison of Dunkirk nevertheless persist in their defence till the Marquess of Leda being shot with a Musket Bullet the Town lost its Life with the Governour and fell into the Hands of the French King who that he might perform the Articles agreed upon gives it to our Countrey-men as a Reward of their Services and delivered it up into the Hands of Lockart a Scottish Man who had married Cromwell's Neece and was his Embassadour in France for Reynolds the Winter before crossing over into England in a weak Vessel that he might justifie himself before Cromwell from a Crime of Treason that he was accused of as if he had entertained a Correspondence with the Duke of York was cast away at Sea The same Year the French with the assistance of the English possessed themselves of Winoxberg Fuern Ypress Oudenard and many other places their Horse ravaging all Flanders almost So way was made for a Treaty betwixt the French King and Spaniard whereupon a Marriage after ensued Let us now return home and view at nearer distance the Preludes of Cromwell's approaching Death Whilst he is delighted with Triumphs beyond Sea he is hampered at home with difficulties and gnawing Cares Besides the Death of his dearly beloved Daughter the Lady Cleypole who died of an inward Imposthume in her Loins with great agony and pain after she had in her Hysterical fits much disquieted him by upbraiding him sometimes with one of his Crimes and sometimes with another according to the furious distraction of that Disease The Republicans created him continual troubles and vexation especially seeing his Son-in-law Fleetwood and his Wife seemed to favour these Men excuse and intercede for them nay he refrained coming to his Father-in-laws House though he lived hard by and ought to have comforted his dying Sister amidst the mourning and bewailings of her Relations and though Cromwell as he told it to some had made him his Heir in his last Will and Testament Besides Desborough who had married his Sister Pickering also and Sidenham whom he had made Privy Counsellors had secret meetings with Lambert and other leading Men of the Republican Party whom they openly magnified and extolled But all his Distemper was not in his Mind alone for shortly after he was taken with a Slow Fever that at length degenerated into a Bastard Tertian Ague For a Weeks time the Disease so continued without any dangerous symptoms as appearing sometimes one and sometimes another kind of distemper that every other Day he walked abroad but after Dinner his five Physicians coming to wait upon him one of them having felt his pulse said that it intermitted at which suddenly startled he looked pale fell into a Cold Sweat almost fainted away and orders himself to be carried to Bed where being refreshed with Cordials he made his Will but onely about his Privat and Domestick Affairs Next Morning early when one of his Physicians came to visit him he asked him why he looked so sad And when he made Answer That so it becomes any one who had the weighty care of his Life and Health upon him Ye Physicians said he think I shall die Then the Company being removed holding his Wife by the Hand to this purpose he spoke to him I tell you I shall not die this bout I am sure on 't And because he observed him to look more attentively upon him at these words Don't think said he that I am mad I speak the Words of Truth upon surer grounds than Galen or your Hippocrates furnish you with God Almighty himself hath given that Answer not to my Prayers alone but also to the Prayers of those who entertain a stricter commerce and greater intimacy with him Go on chearfully banishing all sadness from your looks and deal with me as you would do with a Serving-man Ye may have skill in the Nature of things yet Nature can do more than all Physicians put together and God is far more above Nature But being ordered to take his rest because he had not slept the greatest part of the Night as the Physician was coming out of the Chamber he accidentally met another who had been a long time very familiar with him to whom I am afraid says he our Patient will be light-headed Then said he You are certainly a Stranger in this House Don't you know what was done last Night The Chaplains and all who are dear to God being dispersed into several parts of the Palace have prayed to God for his Health and all have brought this Answer He shall recover Nay to this degree of madness they came that a Publick Fast being for his sake kept at Hampton Court they did not so much pray to God for his Health as thank him for the undoubted pledges of his Recovery and repeated the same at Whitehall These Oracles of the Saints were the cause that the Physicians spake not a word of his danger In the mean time Cromwell leaving Hampton Court where hitherto he had lain sick is brought to London and the Physitians meet at a Consultation in the Chamber of the aforementioned Doctor who at that time was troubled with a grievous Head-ach and an Imposthume in his Ear. But next Morning early another Physician coming who had watched all Night with the Patient and telling the rest how ill he had been in the last fit they all conclude that he could hardly out-live another This Sentence of the Physicians awaking the Privy Council at an appointed time they come to advise him that he would name his Successour But when in a drowsy fit he answered out of purpose they again ask him if he did not name Richard his eldest Son for his Successour to which he answered Yes Then being asked where his Will was which heretofore he had made concerning the Heirs of the Kingdom he sent to look for it in his Closet and other places but in vain for he had either burnt it himself or some body else had stole it And so Richard being nominated his Heir the Day following being the third of September he yielded up the Ghost about three of the Clock in the Afternoon not as it was commonly reported carried away by the Devil at Mid-night but in clear Day-light and the same Day that he had twice defeated the Scots His Body being opened in the Animal parts the Vessels of the Brain seemed to be overcharged in the Vitals the Lungs a little inflamed but in the Natural the source of the distemper appeared the Spleen though sound to the Eye being within filled with matter like to the Lees of Oyl Nor was that Incongruous to the Disease that for a long time he had
States make and unmake Laws Pros●ribe Forfeit and take to themselves the absolute Power over the Lives and Fortunes of all The Articles or Engagements that they entered in were to this purpose That all should enjoy their Liberties and Properties That there be a fixed and determinate proceeding in Law That all Crimes relating to the change of Government be abolished That all Statutes and Ordinances remain in force until the contrary be Enacted That Publick Debts be punctually paid That no Man believing in the Father Son and Holy Ghost and acknowledging the Holy Bible for the Word of God be debarred from the profession of his Religion except Episcopal-Men and Papists That a Zealous and Powerful Ministry be by all means cherished That Colledges and Schools be reformed That at present Fleetwood have the chief Command of the Forces both by Sea and Land That for the future the Parliament have the Legislative Power and the Council of State the Executive That the Protectors Debts be paid and that he have a Liberal Pension of Ten thousand pounds yearly during Life and ten thousand more in Inheritance And that his Mother also during Life have eight thousand pounds yearly out of the Exchequer The Parricides being bound to these Articles take their Seats again in the Parliament-House but how much they valued them they make it quickly manifest In the mean time many of the old Members to the number of above three hundred who had been secluded heretofore by the Officers of the Army though they believed the Parliament to be dissolved by the Death of Charles the First and the Abrogation of the House of Lords yet that they might avoid other Inconveniencies desiring to be readmitted are carefully kept out Some few Days after they send Commissioners to Richard to ask him the Question How he liked the change of Government and what Debts he owed that wheadling him with the hopes of kind usage they might draw from him a voluntary renunciation of the Authority He makes answer That he thought it reasonable that he should submit to their Authority from whom he must expect protection that his Steward should give them an account of his Debts But nothing but a formal and express resignation would please them to which he seemed chearfully to give his assent And now at length he is commanded to deliver up all the Goods and Houshold Furniture not so much as reserving to himself any Gold or Silver Jewels or Hangings Linnen or any other Goods that might have been pack'd up in a small bulk all are adjudged to the Exchequer Thus stript of all he is commanded to depart out of Whitehall liable to the Actions of all his Creditors and perhaps to have been tried for his Life had they not had other Fish to fry Behold the perfidiousness of Mortal Men and a wonderful instance of Divine Providence which presides over and alters Humane Affairs and Governments as it seemeth Good to the Amighty He who just now swayed the Scepter of three Kingdoms forced by the Calamities of a tedious Civil War to truckle under his Vicegerents three old Commanders to wit his Brother Brother-in-law and a third whom Cromwell had obliged by many and great Favours he I say in the short space of one year is craftily turned out of all and now stript of his borrowed Plumes he becomes the object of the Raillery of Poets and Painters and being sufficiently lasht with the giibes and reproaches both of the Parricides and Rabble as of old the Dictator was called from the Plough so now the Protector is sent back to the Plough A Chronological Table FOR THE SECOND PART MDCXLIX DOrislaus by some Scots killed in Holland The Marquess of Ormond Lieutenant of Ireland makes a Truce with the Irish Having raised an Army he besieges Dublin Jones routs his Forces and raises the Siege Cromwell General of the Rebels in Ireland arrives at Dublin Cromwell takes Drogheda cruelly abusing his Victory MDCL Cromwell takes Kilkenny the Seat of the Irish Council by a Surrender Leaving Ireton his Son-in-Law in Ireland he returns to England Ascham Embassador from the Regicides is killed at Madrid The Marquess of Montross Commissioner of Scotland overcome in Battel is betrayed and taken And basely used by the Scots is put to death at Edinburgh King CHARLES having Articled with the Scots sails into Scotland Fairfax laying down his Comission Cromwell is declared General of all the Forces in England Scotland and Ireland Cromwell leads an Army into Scotland Eusebius Andrews is beheaded at London Cromwell defeats the Scots in a bloody Battel at Dunbar William Prince of Orange dies MDCL LI CHARLES the Second is Crowned in Scotland He enters England with an Army of Scots Easily possesses himself of Worcester James Earl of Derby is by Lilburn routed at Wiggan The Scots being beat by Cromwell at Worcester the King escapes Cromwell in triumph enters London The King after many dangers at length arives in Normandy The Isle of Jersey reduced by Haines James Earl of Derby Lord of Mann is put to death His Lady Carlotta generously but in vain defends the Isle of Mann Henry Ireton Son-in-law to Cromwell dies at Limerick in Ireland MDCLI LII Aiskew takes the Island of Barbadoes by surrender An Act of Oblivion is past in the Rump Parliament St. Johns and Strickland are sent to Holland The first fight at Sea between Blake and Trump Aiskew beats the Dutch at Sea near Plimouth Blake beats the Dutch again MDCLII LIII The English and Dutch fight in the Streights Cromwell dissolves the Rump Parliament after twelve years Tyrannical Vsurpation Yet he calls a new one to which he commits the Government The Dutch send four Embassadours into England to treat of Peace Monck in a great Sea-engagement beats the Dutch Trump being slain Some Portuguese commit a Riot in the New Exchange in the Strand The Mock Parliament resigns up the Government to Cromwell Oliver Cromwell with the Title of Protector takes upon him the Administration of the Government MDCLIV Cromwell makes Peace with the Dutch Don Pantaleon Sa brother to the Portugal Embassadour and John Gerard are beheaded Cromwell calls a Mock Parliament which meets at Westminster Cromwell makes the Members swear Fealty to him King CHARLES leaving France goes to Colen He sends for his Brother Henry Duke of Glocester MDCLIV LV. Cromwell dissolves his Mock-Parliament The Cavaliers stir but in vain in several places of England Wagstaff possesses himself of Salisbury Penruddock and Groves are beheaded at Exeter Henry Cromwells younger Son made Deputy of Ireland The Marquess of Leda the Spanish Embassadour comes to London Pen and Venables Commanders of the Fleet and Army take the Island
Church Those Bishops who had survived the fury of the Hereticks he restored to their Sees and chose others conspicuous for Primitive Piety Learning and a good Life in place of those that were dead who with the same Piety and Humility that they had suffered the Reproaches of Sectarians and born the Calamities of a Civil War now in their old age carried the Miter and governed the Church of God The King made Juxon Archbishop of Canterbury and primate of all England a Prelate of Primitive Piety venerable both in his books and words heretofore Confessor to Charles the Martyr and his Assistent to the last whilst amidst the fury and reproaches of bloudy Traytors he took his leave of this world Et nullo gemitu consensit ad ictum Despexitque nefas When without sighing he received that Blow And bravely scorn'd the Villanies below And now it was no small comfort to many that they to whom the Parricides had formerly been liberal were as poor as those whom they had robbed but it was fit that Clemency should usher in the new Administration of the Government and therefore Charles imitating God Almighty in mercifulness past in Parliament an Act of Indemnity and Oblivion for all his Subjects except those who had embrewed their hands in his Fathers Bloud the rest of the guilty Rebels being wonderfully pardoned but whether with greater Policy or Mercy let Posterity judge The King now secure in his own Majesty and the Loyalty of his Subjects resolved to disband the Army which for so many years had been the Burden and Grievance of the Nation for the paying of which a Tax by way of Poll was imposed on every head in England The Souldiers had also a Donative bestowed upon them and many of the Officers were rewarded according to their merit Amidst the Joys wherewith the first three months of his Majesties government was blessed Henry Duke of Gloucester fell sick and was fatally too soon snatched out of this world by the Small Pox so much the more lamented by the King his Brother and by the Kingdom that at twenty years of age he had given such sublime proofs of his Princely Accomplishments And this alone may seem an Eclipse of the Glory of Charles that almost in his own triumph he beheld the Funeral of his dear Brother Manibus date Lilia plenis Purpureos spargam flores Bring plenty of white Lillies to his Herse Whilst sad there the purple Rose disperse The affairs of England being setled Scotland and Ireland were to be taken care of The King therefore appointed Privy-Councils of the most Loyal Subjects of both Kingdoms to manage the Government till he might advise about calling a Parliament in Scotland and sending over a Lord Lieutenant into Ireland After the dutiful Addresses of his Subjects at home the neighbouring Kings of France Sweden Denmark and many Princes of Germany by honourable Embassies congratulate the Kings happy Restauration all which were outdone by the pompous and splendid train of the Prince Ligny Embassadour from the Catholick King And now it was time to bring the Murderers of Charles the Martyr to their Tryals many of whom were before clapt up in Prison others fled away secretly and wandered in foraign and distant Countries and some trusting to the hopes of a Pardon obeyed the Kings Proclamation and freely surrendred themselves Therefore on the tenth of October Harrison Carew Clements Jones Scot and Scroop who had been of the number of the Judges that condemned the King Cooke Attorney-General the famous infamous Peters Chaplain to the Traytors Axiell and Hacker Commanders of the Guards were brought to the Bar not before an accursed and new-made High Court of Justice but according to the ancient Laws of the Kingdom before the chief Justices and the rest of the Kings Justices to be tryed by a Jury of Twelve men after the usual manner of England They were chiefly charged by the Attorney-General and the Kings Council That they the aforesaid Traytors and others guilty of High-Treason conspiring with an accursed Army of Fanaticks had carried away to Prison King Charles securely treating a Peace with the two Houses of Parliament which was almost concluded in the Isle of Wight So that the House of Lords being abrogated and the founder Members of the Commons six and forty Villains that remained took to themselves the name of a Parliament invaded the Government and decreed to bring the King to a Tryal By whose authority these Parricides an High Court of Justice being impudently constituted had condemned and caused to be put to death the King of England who was above the Laws contrary to the will and to the great grief of the People To their Indictment rightly laid and fully proved having made many false and frivolous Answers concerning the supreme authority of the Parliament which indeed in this case had no authority at all they were by the Verdict of a Jury of Twelve men found guilty of and condemned for High-Treason The same Verdict past also upon nineteen other of the Kings Judges but with a different event as shall be mentioned in the proper place On the third of October a Gibbet was set up at Charing-cross near Whitehall whither in the morning Harrison being brought the first of the surviving Regicides both in guilt and punishment with the same madness and obstinacy as he had behaved himself at his tryal the cruel Traytor affecting an undauntedness at his death was hang'd and quarter'd as he well deserved CAROLE tuis jam Victima mittitur umbris Nec satis hoc fortuna putat procul absit ut ista Vindictae sit summa tui Great CHARLES a Victim to thy Ghost does fall And yet thy Fates are not appeas'd no all That just Revenge is not yet paid that shall Harrison rather of a base than low Birth was the Son of a Butcher bred at first a Pettifogging Country-Attorney but in the heat of the Civil Wars when the onely way to get into Power was Fanaticism and Treason he fled to the Rebellious Army and there turning a furious Anabaptist and advanced to be a Colonel he grew very intimate with Cromwel and his Competitor in Villany But being a proud and haughty fellow and a most desperate Republican he fell out and was highly displeased with Oliver when he was made Protector not that he hated the Tyrant Cromwel but disdained to be outstripped and to submit to one who from a fellow-Souldier was become his Prince Carew came next and suffered the like death but his Relations who had served the King in the Wars obtained as a mark of favour the liberty of burying his body which was the same night obscurely performed The day following Cook and Peters in the same place suffered the same punishment where Peters by a drunken and base death disgraced his infamous life Cook was an obscure ragged beggarly Lawyer and ambitious to get a
the Clergy Which by the Deans Archdeacons and Deputies of the Clergy are holden in the Convocation Their Acts bind not the People without the consent of the King and Parliament The Rights Priviledges of the Vpper House Of the Lower The providence of the Law thae the Members might debate freely and without fear The modesty of the Parliament What honour Kings were wont to shew the Parliament But when occasion required reduced them into order The happiness of the Kingdom under this Government VVhat were the beginnings of the Troubles raised by some Members of the House of Commons Hence mutual Jealousies betwixt the King and Parliament And then the dissolution of Parliaments This gave occasion of stirring the people up against the King And yet the Kingdom in a most flourishing condition Though unfortunate in War abroad and some Taxes imposed at home Some seditious persons are punished New Ceremonies startle the Puritans The Archbishop endeavouring to impose the Liturgy of England upon the Scots offends them Vpon which pretext but for other causes they grow turbulent They take Arms alter the Government both in Church and State The King marches against them And upon Articles makes Peace with them The Scots innovating the Articles cause a new VVar. A Parliament is called in England And dissolved The Scots making a secret Combination with the Factious invade England Having made a Truce the Judgment of the Parliament is expected The Parliament meets The Factious in it Who under pretext of reforming Grievances endeavour to new-model the Government both in Church and State And by what steps Many are accused the E. of Strafford and Arshb of Canterbury The L. Keeper Judges And twelve Bishops The terrified Judges are freely discharged The Bishops also being deprived of the right of voting in the House of Lords Strafford is brought to his tryal before the House of Lords the King over-hearing The Earl in his defence clears himself of the Accusation The House of Commons make a new Law whereby they make him guilty of Treason Not without opposition many dissenting The Lords deliberating more seriously The Rabble beset the House And hinder the Lords and Bishops from entering it then they break into Westminster-Abbey And afterward run in tumult to White-hall And answer the K. sawcily Whilst the Justices of Peace repress the Tumults they are imprisoned by the factious House The factious Members of Parliament consult with the Apprentices and teach them the time and manner of tumultuating Whereby the Members being frightned forbear coming to the House and are therefore excluded Whence the Authority of Parliament wears out of date The Lords pass the Bill against the Earl of Strafford The Kings consent is very hardly obtained Till the Judges pronounced it lawful the Bishops removed his scruples And Strafford advised him to it The King by Letters desires the execution may be delayed The Lords deny it Courtiers fearful of their condition freely resigne their places The Sheriffs Justices of the Peace comply with the times In that thing alone the King withstood the will of the Parliament In the rest he left himself in a manner at their discretion He suffers the Jurisdiction of the Court of Stannaries of the Court of the President of Wales to be lessened The extent of the Forests also be abridged The Court of the Star-Chamber And of the High Commission to be abrogated As also that of the Lord President and Council of the North. He allows Monopolies to be rescinded He yields up also his right of levying Souldiers Ship-money Tunnage and Poundage Allows also a Triennial Parliament And that the present Parliament should not be dissolved without the consent of both Houses Yet with these the Factious are not pleased But are thereby emboldened to raise Animosities and Divisions The Scots are sent home The English Irish Armies are also disbanded The K. follows the Scots into their Country And upon his return is feasted by the Londoners The Factious congratulate the Kings return by a defamatory Declaration ☞ To which the King shortly answers New Tumults for snatching the power of the Militia out of the K.'s hands The K. obviates the Sedition by accusing the Heads of it of Treason Whom the House of Commons takes into protection Wherefore the K. enters the House of Commons in person That he may demand them Who fled The K. afterward desisted and in a manner acknowledged his fault But the Factious take thence occasion of slandering and of raising jealo●sies stirs Buckinghamshire Essex petition The accused Members abscond in London and with a Guard of Citizens are conducted to the Parliament-house The K. withdraws to Windsor-Castle Sends the Q into Holland Sends for the Prince Moves towards York Having first sent pacificatory Letters to the Parliament VVhich notwithstanding the House of Commons misinterpret as contrary to the Priviledges of Parl. and pretend to be in great fear Daring alone to demand the power of the Militia VVhich when they could not obtain they stir up the Corporations to take up Arms of their own accord The House of Commons pass a Vote for ordering the Militia by Deputies and having prevailed with the Lords with joynt address they demand the Militia of the King upon pretence of dangers The K. allows a share in the power of the Militia reserving to himself the supreme Authority he exhorts them to moderation and peace But the Factious slight these things fill the rest with idle fears and by them stir up the People Fearing that the K. might possess himself of the Magazine of Hull They send Sir John Hotham to prevent it Who shuts the Gates against the King And is proclaimed Traitor He is justified by the House of Commons Afterward repenting of what he had done and being about to deliver up the Town to the K. he is taken with his Son beheaded The Parl. sends Proposals of Peace to the King The Parl. Propositions to the King The King answers The matter comes to nothing as all future Treaties Propositions The Parl. proposing most rigid Conditions The mediation of the K. of France the States of the United Provinces and of the Scots is rejected The Parl. seizes the Militia The K. commands the contrary citing Laws that are against it They answer And the K.'s Majesty replies And opposes the Aggressors They skirmish on both sides in Apologies and Manifesto's wherein the K. has the better The Parl. levies an Army Having deceived the People by wheedles And the Ministers They raise Pay Who favour the King By their assistance and his own authority the King raises an Army such as he could The Irish Rebellion intervenes Macquire and Macmahon the Incendiaries of the Irish Rebellion are taken carried to London There to be punished with the utmost rigour Macquire upon the brink of death Constantly asserts the innocence of the K. Vpon whom nevertheless the Rebels charge the Crime Who were the Authors of it And what opportunities they
67 infra Strafford Earl 21 23. His Tryal 24. T. Tryal of his Sacred Majesty K. Charles I. 144 Tumults and Riots 25 Tunnage and Poundage 18 V. Vote of Non-Addresses 95. Is rescinded 102. W. War its beginning 42 Wight Isle the Treaty there 102. inf The Kings Concessions there voted satisfactory 136. Writs of Summons to Parliament the form 7 ERRATA'S To the First Part. PAge 1. line 8. for to read of p. 66. l. 3. r. honour p. 67. l. 33. for shewing r. shew p. 74. l. 9. adde from p. 82. l. 2. r. muttering p. 102. l. 10. r. levitie p. 137. l. 23. adde who p. 159. l. 9. r. reported ibid. l. 11. r. harmonious p. 162. l. 2. r. bounds ibid. l. 11. r. Rectitude p. 163. l. 3. r. Charge To the Second Part. PAge 22. line 7. read Rathmeenes p. 27. l. 3. r. Arts p. 30. l. 21. r. Butler p. 48. l. 15. r. envied p. 58. l. 7. adde most p. 66. l. 31. adde for p. 67. l. 12. r. Execute p. 74. l. 26. r. Nor p. 87. l. penult dele are p. 96. l. 14. r. make p. 104. l. 35. r. hand p. 108. l. 28. r. Dirlton p. 121. l. 35. r. Massey p. 124. l. 1. r. Coming presently to blows at the Town of Wigan p. 125. l. 23. r. Keith p. 204. l. 35. r. obey To the Third Part. PAge 15. line 2. read retained p. 41. l. 1. r. farce p. 44 l. 14. r. Leicester Vicount Hereford p. 53. l. 29. r. Sollicitor-General p. 63. l. 23. r. Sir Richard Baker's p. 66. l. 16. r. Mounson p. 82. l. 29. r. Falmouth p. 86. l. 20. dele was p. 90. l. 2. r. fight A short HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE Rise and Progress OF THE Late Troubles in England ENgland as all the Records of our Antiquity tell us never was governed but by the authority of a King and though it hath been divided into several Kingdoms or rather Camps yet it never had rest from intestine Commotions nor foreign Invasions till it came under the Obedience and Protection to one sole Monarch Since that it is now above a thousand years that Kings in a continued succession have reigned with supreme Authority in England And so great all along hath been the Love and Reverence that the People have had towards a Prince that he was always judged the fittest and most worthy of the Government who was next in Bloud to the King so that no factious Election but lawful Birthright could ever warrant a Title to the Crown The Royal Heir of the last King though an Infant is immediately carried to the Throne even in the Cradle And in this kind of immortality in reigning the Laws glory That the King of England never dies Nay and by the ancient common Law all Subjects above twelve years of age are bound by Oath to bear a peculiar Faith by the Laws called Allegiance to the lawful Prince to him alone and for ever even before he be crowned and that their Obedience may be confirmed upon a double account a religious Oath that of Supremacy is likewise to be taken to the King I must here beg the Readers pardon if in the very beginning I speak of the Kings Prerogative the Priviledges of Parliament and Liberties of the People which to our Country-men who have studied the point perhaps may be tedious though to the Work we now undertake it be absolutely necessary seeing thereby it will appear who have been the Violators and who the Observers of the Laws In the first place what great power the King has over the lives and fortunes of his Subjects is hereby made manifest that mediately or immediately they all hold their Estates of the King that is to say that whatever Lands and Possessions they enjoy in fee or feudal rights they owe them more to the bounty of the King than to Fortune And therefore all Estates failing of lawful Heirs or when the Owners forfeit them by Felony or Treason flow back to the Kings Exchequer as to the Ocean from whence they have been derived The King as Father of the Country has the care of the persons of Pupils and Lunaticks and enjoys their Rents and Revenues Nay by the ancient Laws it is not lawful for them to contract Marriage without his consent and if they do they are to be severely censured And that what is to be given to Caesar may be known by the publick Money the matter form manner and value of Coyn is varied according to the will and pleasure of the King All Honours Titles and Priviledges all publick Corporations and Societies flow from and are constituted by the Crown the Admiral Chancellor Treasurer Judges Sheriffs Justices of Peace are onely made by the King in whose name alone their Writs Warrants and Sentences pass nor does any of them enter into Office before he hath taken an Oath of Fidelity to the King and of faithful administration None but the King has power of Peace and War who orders Military Discipline according to his will and pleasure and not by the forms or prescripts of Laws and as he himself thinks fit disposes of the Forces both by Sea and Land it being necessary that he who watches for the safety of the Common-wealth should be invested with sufficient Power to repress intestine Seditions and repel foreign Invasions Upon that account it belongs onely to him to appoint Musters and Levies of Souldiers secure the Castles and Garisons with which maritim Fortifications England even in the profoundest time of Peace is no less secured than by the Seas as often as there is need also to fit out a Fleet and to set Governours and Commanders over both Nor is the Sword neither to be weilded by any other hand but that which sways the Scepter so that if any one without the Kings command take up Arms for the defence of the Kings Person and Rights he is by so doing guilty of High-Treason and liable to the punishment of a Traytor without a special Pardon from the King Nor is his Power more limited in Ecclesiastical than Civil affairs for since the authority of the Pope being shaken off the Church was made part of the Kingdom and the Clergy after long reluctancy began to be contented with the common priviledges of Subjects the King became at length Custos utriusque tabulae and as he ever was in right before so was he then acknowledged and confirmed by Law to be supreme Head and Governour in spiritual as well as temporal affairs and owned to be in a manner the Bishop of the Kingdom wherein in the promotion of Bishops conferring of Dignities appointing Fasts enjoyning Rites and Ceremonies in the Church he hath with the advice of the Fathers and Rulers of the Church always exercised a supreme and sacred Power and Authority He hath also so great power over the Laws themselves though he obliges himself to govern
onely for conveniency but even for Ostentation and Luxury Trade increasing dayly both in compass and profit had already enlarged it self to both the Indies onely unhappy in this that with the Wealth of Strangers foreign Vices were also imported Arts of all sorts never look'd gayer in Colledges Courts and Shops nor were the wealthy Inhabitants ever prouder Justice was administred according to Law nor was any man deprived of Life or Goods but by the lawful Verdict of a Jury of his Country-men to whom these things ought to be of highest value all the parts of Government were so administred that they seemed to conspire together for the publick good save onely in this that they could not repress the insolency and wantonness that sprung from so great prosperity and which is not to be dissembled being long unaccustomed to War we had been unfortunate in some foreign expeditions and the people were incensed at some impositions at home which though very moderate and countenanced by publick necessity and good reason in Law yet gave occasion to the people to pretend that the Right and Property of the Subject was opprest and to outcries of Injustice and also the imprisonment and lopping off the ears of four or five seditious persons sentenced by the Judges of the Star-Chamber seemed to be punishments too severe for those halcyon days of Peace and Tranquillity To this may be added that the Jurisdiction and Censures of Spiritual Courts wrought pity in some and indignation in others Besides the muster of Malecontents was made greater by some scrupulous Puritans who interpreted the enjoyning of Ceremonies and things indifferent in the Worship of God in the Canons of the Church to be the Fore-runners of Popery We may also take along with us the Zeal of the Archbishop in exempting the Clergie from the Suits and Injuries of Laicks and preferring them to civil employments which drew a great deal of envy and ill will not onely upon himself but upon all the Church-men also as also his endeavouring to bring into the Church of Scotland the use of the Service-book of England which though his designe was laudable that these three neighbouring Nations being under the government of one and the same King might also be joyned in an uniform manner of Worship was yet unseasonable and ill timed as we shall a little more fully relate Matters in Scotland were then ripe for a Rebellion for many took it ill that the King denied them the Honours and Titles to which they aspired others were vexed that they were forced to part with some portion of the Tythes though but moderate which they had upon the dissolution of the Monasteries in the minority of King James obtained from the Crown for making a competent Stipend for Ministers who then served the Cures at what easie rates the Patrons were pleased to allow them but most could not digest that the absolute Authority which they had for a long time usurped over their Vassals and Tenants should be taken from them and annexed to the Crown These chusing rather to shake the State than quit their hold those again rather to get Titles of Honour by the seditious Acclamations of the Mobile than to want them took occasion of the Liturgie and Ceremonies to buz the people in the ear that the reformed Religion was to be overturned to make way for Popery so that having taken up Arms and born down all that were of a contrary opinion they new model Church and State according to their own humour The King resolving to reduce those by Arms whom he could not reclaim by the milder causes of admonition being accompanied by the Flower of the Youth and Nobility of England who voluntarily and at their own charge set out upon the expedition marches to the borders but having by clemency and concessions brought them over to obedience which he preferred before Hostility and Arms he condescended to Articles of Peace and disbanded his Army The Scots afterward insisting upon Articles different from those that were agreed upon occasion new Broils and Dissensions which when neither Commissioners Messengers nor mutual Letters could compose both sides prepare afresh for a new War On the Kings side the Earl of Strafford then Deputy of Ireland raised an Army of eight thousand men with the assistance of the Parliament of Ireland being to be paid by them and being come over again into England bestirs himself in raising another Army here A Parliament is called wherein a certain Courtier making bad use of his instructions did purposely as most believed that he might confound affairs and increase Animosities betwixt the King and Parliament somewhat haughtily demand twelve Subsidies when the House of Commons had offered six in lieu of the Ship-money and this raised new discontents and grievances for putting a stop to which in those troublesome times the Parliament was sooner dissolved than many could have wished In the mean time the Scots whose Forces were not so dispersed but that they might be speedily drawn together into a body nicking the opportunity and by Agents entring into a Combination with the factious of England under pretext of petitioning the King came in a hostile manner into England and having beat some Troops that guarded the passage of the River Tine put all into fear and consternation took Newcastle and other Towns unprovided for defence and fortified them And though Strafford with the new-raised Army under his command had undertaken to drive them out of the Kingdom yet the most merciful King chose rather to refer the matter to a Parliament than without publick consent to pollute the Kingdom with bloud and slaughter A Truce was therefore made whereby the Scots were allowed a free Trade and Commerce with liberty to raise Contributions in the Counties where they lay and so a Parliament was called by whose prudence and Loyalty it was hoped all roots and Fibres of Animosities might be extirpated The Parliament being met the Factious who in great numbers had got into the House of Commons trusting now to the Patronage of the Scots and the Disorders of the times set about their business manfully they represent Grievances both publick and private accuse Courtiers and Magistrates and dart obliquely reproaches against the King himself exaggerating all with the highest strains of their Rhetorick Under pretext of reforming these Abuses they labour to overturn both Church and State and in imitation of the Scots to new-model the Government and that by these steps If in the first place they could deprive the King of the Counsels and Assistance of his most faithful Subjects and by loading him with Reproaches and false Crimes render him odious to the People and strip him of all Power and Authority they would next screw themselves into publick Offices and the power of the Militia and then with absolute dominion give Laws both to the King and People The Earl of Strafford and
Argile with the Forces he had raised being no less an Army at home than Cromwel was abroad reduced them in a short time to such streights that the Army which had been raised by order of Parliament was forced to lay down Arms and submit to the discretion of Argile's Faction Then was a new Parliament called all being excluded who had taken up Arms or voted for engaging in a War for the delivery of the King In this the Acts of the last Parliament were recinded the War declared to have been unlawful Cromwel had the publick thanks and Argile privately engaged as Cromwel himself boasted that he would concur with the Oligarchicks of England and root out Monarchy when occasion offered in Scotland as well as in England Besides many Ships the Tyde turning according to the innate levine of Seamen prepare to make defection from the Prince casting themselves into the protection of the Earl of Warwick who had won their hearts by frequent Largesses and who was set over a new Fleet for a time that he might draw over the Seamen again to the obedience of the Parliament but being beset with the Spies Of the Oligarchick Rebels and having done their job he justly received the usual Reward from these Masters that is he was turned out and laid aside Whilst the Army is busied in these Wars the Members of Parliament being a little rid of the yoak of the Army and Cromwel that were now at a distance and seriously considering how ill all the People of the Kingdom would resent the injuries done to the King and how ticklish their own affairs stood they begin to think of Peace and growing wise behind hand against the advice of the Oligarchick Republicans they rescind the Votes of None Addresses by the unanimous consent of both Houses They appoint a Conference with the King for composing Differences but by Commissioners and that in the Isle of Wight For this purpose they commissionate five Lords for the Vpper House and ten Commoners for the Lower The Propositions to be debated in that Conference are prescribed to the Commissioners ¶ That the Translator relates all which verbatim though it be contrary to the designe of this Work and of the Author who hath onely entred the short Articles marked with the numbers I. II.III I hope the Reader will not dislike since the Articles at large contain so excellent a description of the Changes that were then intended to be made in the Government of England that it is thought very fit to publish them according to the perfect Copy printed by order of both Houses the 29th of August 1648. May it please your Majesty WE the Lords and Commons assembled in the Parliament of England in the name and on the behalf of the Kingdoms of England and Ireland and the Commissioners of the Parliament of Scotland in the name and on the behalf of the Kingdom of Scotland Do humbly present unto your Majesty the humble desires and Propositions for a safe and well-grounded Peace agreed upon by the Parliaments of both Kingdoms respectively unto which we do pray your Majesties Assent And that they and all such Bills as shall be tendered to your Majesty in pursuance of them or any of them may be Established and Enacted for Statutes and Acts of Parliament by your Majesties Royal Assent in the Parliaments of both Kingdoms respectively I. WHereas both Houses of the Parliament of England have been necessitated to undertake a War in their just and lawful defence and afterwards both Kingdoms of England and Scotland joyned in Solemn League and Covenant were engaged to prosecute the same That by Act of Parliament in each Kingdom respectively all Oaths Declarations and Proclamations heretofore had or hereafter to be had against both or either of the Houses of the Parliament of England the Parliament of the Kingdom of Scotland and the late Convention of Estates in Scotland or Committees flowing from the Parliament or Convention in Scotland or their Ordinances and Proceedings or against any for adhering unto them or for doing or executing any Office Place or Charge by any Authority derived from them and all Judgments Indictments Outlawries Attainders and Inquisitions in any the said Causes and all Grants thereupon made or had or to be made or had be declared Null suppressed and forbidden And that this be publickly intimated in all Parish-Churches within his Majesties Dominions and all other places needful II. That his Majesty according to the laudable example of his Royal Father of happy memory may be pleased to swear and signe the late Solemn League and Covenant and that an Act of Parliament be passed in both Kingdoms respectively for enjoyning the taking thereof by all the Subjects of the three Kingdoms and the Ordinances concerning the manner of taking the same in both Kingdoms be confirmed by Acts of Parliament respectively with such Penalties as by mutual advice of both Kingdoms shall be agreed upon III. That a Bill be passed for the utter abolishing and taking away of all Archbishops Bishops their Chancellors and Commissaries Deans and Sub-Deans Deans and Chapters Arch-Deacons Canons and Prebendaries and all Chaunters Chancellors Treasurers Sub-Treasurers Succentors and Sacrists all Vicars Choril and Choresters old Vicars and new Vicars of any Cathedral or Collegiate-Church and all other their under-Officers out of the Church of England and Dominion of Wales and out of the Church of Ireland with such alterations concerning the Estates of Prelates as shall agree with the Articles of the late Treaty of the date at Edenburgh 29 November 1643. and joynt Declaration of both Kingdoms IV. That the Ordinances concerning the calling and sitting of the Assembly of Divines be confirmed by Act of Parliament V. That Reformation of Religion according to the Covenant be setled by Act of Parliament in such manner as both Houses have agreed or shall agree upon after consultation had with the Assembly of Divines For as much as both Kingdoms are mutually obliged by the same Covenant to endeavour the nearest Conjunction and Uniformity in matters of Religion That such Unity and Uniformity in Religion according to the Covenant as after consultation had with the Divines of both Kingdoms now assembled is or shall be joyntly agreed upon by both Houses of the Parliament of England and by the Church and Kingdom of Scotland be confirmed by Acts of Parliament of both Kingdoms respectively VI. That for the more effectual disabling Jesuits Priests Papists and Popish Recusants from disturbing the State and deluding the Laws and for the better discovering and speedy conviction of Popish Recusants an Oath be established by Act of Parliament to be administred to them wherein they shall abjure and renounce the Popes Supremacy the Doctrine of Transubstantiation Purgatory worshipping of the Consecrated Hoast Crucifixes and Images and all other Popish Superstitions and Errours and refusing the said Oath being tendred in such manner as shall be appointed by the said Act to
of England and Ireland and Dominion of Wales Isles of Guernsey and Jersey and the Town of Barwick upon Tweed or any part of the said Forces or concerning the Admiralty and Navy or concerning the levying of Moneys for the raising maintenance or use of the said Forces for Land-service or for the Navy and Forces for Sea-service or of any part of them and if that the Royal Assent to such Bill or Bills shall not be given in the House of Peers within such time after the passing thereof by both Houses of Parliament as the said Houses shall judge fit and convenient That then such Bill or Bills so passed by the said Lords and Commons as aforesaid and to which the Royal Assent shall not be given as is herein before expressed shall nevertheless after declaration of the said Lords and Commons made in that behalf have the force and strength of an Act or Acts of Parliament and shall be as valid to all intents and purposes as if the Royal Assent had been given thereunto Provided that nothing herein before contained shall extend to the taking away of the ordinary legal power of Sheriffs Justices of Peace Mayors Bayliffs Coroners Constables Headboroughs or other Officers of Justice not being Military Officers concerning the administration of Justice so as neither the said Sheriffs Justices of Peace Mayors Bayliffs Coroners Constables Headboroughs and other Officers nor any of them do levy conduct employ or command any Forces whatsoever by colour or pretence of any Commission of Array or extraordinary command from his Majesty his Heirs or Successors without the consent of the said Lords and Commons And if any persons shall be gathered and assembled together in warlike manner or otherwise to the number of thirty persons and shall not forthwith disband themselves being required thereto by the said Lords and Commons or command from them or any by them especially authorized for that purpose then such person or persons not so disbanding themselves shall be guilty and incur the pains of High-Treason being first declared guilty of such offence by the said Lords and Commons any Commission under the great Seal or other Warrant to the contrary notwithstanding And he or they that shall offend herein to be incapable of any pardon from his Majesty his Heirs or Successors and their Estates shall be disposed as the said Lords and Commons shall think fit and not otherwise Provided that the City of London shall have and enjoy all their Rights Liberties and Franchises Customs and Usages in the raising and employing the Forces of that City for the defence thereof in as full and ample manner to all intents and purposes as they have or might have used or enjoyed the same at any time before the making of the said Act or Proposition To the end that City may be fully assured it is not the intention of the Parliament to take from them any priviledges or immunities in raising or disposing of their Forces which they have or might have used or enjoyed heretofore The like for the Kingdom of Scotland if the Estates of the Parliament there shall think fit XVII That by Act of Parliament all Peers made since the day that Edward Lord Littleton then Lord Keeper of the Great Seal deserted the Parliament and that the said Great Seal was surreptitiously conveyed away from the Parliament being the one and twentieth day of May 1642. and who shall be hereafter made shall not sit or vote in the Parliament of England without consent of both Houses of Parliament And that all Honour and Title conferred on any without consent of both Houses of Parliament since the twentieth day of May 1642. being the day that both Houses declared That the King seduced by evil Council intended to raise War against the Parliament be declared Null and Void The like for the Kingdom of Scotland those being excepted whose Parents were passed the Great Seal before the fourth of June 1644. XVIII That an Act be passed in the Parliament of both Kingdoms respectively for confirmation of the Treaties passed betwixt the two Kingdoms viz. the large Treaty the late Treaty for the coming of the Scots Army into England and the setling of the Garrison of Barwick of the 29th of November 1643. and the Treaty concerning Ireland of the 6th of August 1642. for the bringing of ten thousand Scots into the Province of Vlster in Ireland with all other Ordinances and Proceedings passed betwixt the two Kingdoms and whereunto they are obliged by the aforesaid Treaties And that Algernon Earl of Northumberland John Earl of Rutland Philip Earl of Pembrooke and Mungomery Theophilus Earl of Lincoln James Earl of Suffolk William Earl of Salisbury Robert Earl of Warwick Edward Earl of Manchester Henry Earl of Stanford Francis Lord Dacres Philip Lord Wharton Francis Lord Willoughby Dudly Lord North John Lord Hunsdon William Lord Gray Edward Lord Howard of Estrick Thomas Lord Bruce Ferdinando Lord Fairfax Mr. Nathaniel Fines Sir William Armine Sir Philip Stapilton Sir Henry Vane senior Mr. William Perpoint Sir Edward Aiscough Sir William Strickland Sir Arthur Hesilrig Sir John Fenwick Sir William Brereton Sir Thomas Widdington Mr. John Toll Mr. Gilbert Millington Sir William Constable Sir John Wray Sir Henry Vaine junior Mr. Henry Darley Oliver Saint John Esq his Majesties Sollicitor-General Mr. Denzel Hollis Mr. Alexander Rigby Mr. Cornelius Holland Mr. Samuel Vassell Mr. Peregrin Pelham John Glyn Esq Recorder of London Mr. Henry Martin Mr. Alderman Hoyle Mr. John Blakiston Mr. Serjeant Wilde Mr. Richard Barwis Sir Anthony Irby Mr. Ashurst Mr. Bellingham and Mr. Tolson Members of both Houses of the Parliament of England shall be the Commissioners for the Kingdom of England for conservation of the Peace between the two Kingdoms to act according to the Powers in that behalf exprest in the Articles of the large Treaty and not otherwise That his Majesty give his Assent to what the two Kingdoms shall agree upon in prosecution of the Articles of the large Treaty which are not yet finished That an Act be passed in the Parliaments of both Kingdoms respectively for establishing the joynt Declaration of both Kingdoms bearing date the 30th day of January 1643. in England and 1644. in Scotland with the Qualifications ensuing 1 Qualification That the persons who shall expect no pardon be onely these following Rupert Maurice Count Palatines of Rhine James Earl of Darby John Earl of Bristol William Earl of New-castle Francis Lord Cottington George Lord Digby Matthew Wren Bishop of Ely Sir Robert Heath Kt. Dr. Bramhall Bishop of Derry Sir William Widdrington Col. George Goring Henry Jermin Esq Sir Ralph Hopton Sir John Biron Sir Francis Doddington Sir John Strangewayes Mr. Endymion Porter Sir George Radcliffe Sir Marmaduke Langdale Henry Vaughan Esq now called Sir Hen. Vaughan Sir Francis Windibanke Sir Richard Greenvill Mr. Edward Hide now called Sir Edw. Hide Sir John Marley Sir Nicholas Cole Sir Thomas Riddel Jun. Sir John Colepepper Mr. Richard
purpose spake to the Speaker You have sufficiently imposed upon the People and provided for your selves and Relations you have long cheated the Country by your sitting here under pretext of settling the Commonwealth reforming the Laws and procuring the Common Good whilst in the mean time you have onely invaded the Wealth of the State screwed your selves and Relations into all Places of Honour and Profit to feed your own Luxury and Impiety Then stamping with his Foot which was the Signal to the Soldiers without For shame said he get ye gone give place to honester Men and those that will more faithfully discharge their Trust But whilst all surprised by this sudden Consternation held their tongues one had the boldness to tell him It suits ill with your Excellencies Justice to brand us all promiscuously and in general without any Proof of a Crime At which being a little more heated taking hold of one by the Cloke Thou art a Whoremaster says he to another Thou art an Adulterer to a third Thou art a Drunkard and Glutton to a fourth Thou art an Extortioner And the Musquetiers rushing in he excludes them all and commands the Parliament to be dissolved whilst Harrison gently pulled the Speaker out of his Chair being unwilling to rise and sent him going So that that vast horrid and many-headed Monster whose Bellowing had made all Europe to shake is by one single Puff of Cromwell's Breath dispersed and scattered no body regretting but rather all the People rejoycing at it So Government basely got is basely lost Nay to compleat their Punishment they were ridiculed a Bill being set upon the Door with This House is to be Let. They were also Lampoon'd by the Ballad-singers about Town who cried publickly about the City Twelve Parliament-men for a Peny Next day the Council of State and Privy Council are in the same manner sent packing by Cromwell lest if any remained the Rooks might breed again By this so acceptable an Action he so blotted out the Memory of his past Villanies that for a time he was rather look'd upon as a Saviour the Shouts and Bonfires that were made sufficiently expressing the Joys of the People for being delivered from so cruel a Yoke They praise the Freedom the General took in not fearing to charge his Impotent Masters to their Faces with the Vices that were publickly talked of some few in the mean time observing that whilst he himself now accused those whom before he had commended he had then preferred such as he might afterwards most justly accuse For he had so purged the Parliament as casting away the Flower he had for his own purpose reserved the Bran to be likewise thrown away when he had a mind to it The Rump-Members loaded with publick Hatred and sad Hearts departed home as they were commanded for there was a Necessity that they must fall at the Pleasure of those at whose Pleasure they chose to stand and since they could not thrive in their Trade without obeying their Guardians the Injuries of the Soldiers were to be born with and onely whispered But they find no other Patron The Publick indeed grieved not at their Disaster as if the Office of the Laws had been shut but triumphantly insulted over them as a Den of Thieves now broken up and dispersed But the Commonwealth was still reserved to sadder Bondage Cromwell now as General of the Army arrogating to himself the Supreme Authority Yet that he might remove all suspicion of any such ambitious Design and render the same more secure and stable by gradual and crafty Insinuations as also that he might gull the Demotratical Republicans it is decreed in a Council of the Officers That the Supreme Power should be committed to Godly and Pious Men to the number of an hundred and forty four during the space of six Months who should have power to moderate and with such Prudence settle all things that all Sin and Vice being rooted out Peace and Concord might flourish in the Nations Therefore the Officers of the Army with Consent of Cromwell call out of every County and Corporation a proportionable number of the holiest Men whom either they knew or could find out the civiller or rather most pragmatical sort of the Private Soldiers being permitted to name some whom they place at the Helm of Government to consult about the difficult Affairs of Three Kingdoms Illiterate Men for the most part and the Off-scowrings of the People and these also Bigots Anabaptists Fifth-monarchy-men Democraticks Fanaticks and in a word the most villanous Incendiaries of all the Sects But with those were mingled Cromwell's cunninger Adherents whom being most obnoxious he had endeared to himself by Favour that as occasion offered they might sway the rest and check their mad Counsels These being met in the Parliament-house their first Care is to chuse one Rous a Smatterer in Letters for Speaker and then to give themselves a Title which after much Preliminary Dispute was at length concluded to be The Parliament of England This done they set to work But Good God! what strange Confusion presently arose Which Cromwell and the other cunning Rogues foreseeing would undoubtedly happen laughed in their Sleeve that they being hampered and entangled in Difficulties would with universal Applause and Gratulation deliver up to Cromwell alone the sole Administration of Government They resolved to make way for the Monarchy of Christ upon Earth prophesying his Personal Presence to be at hand Therefore they pronounce Priesthood to be Popery paying of Tythes Judaism the Laws of England the Remains of the Norman Yoke Schools and Colleges Heathenish Seminaries of curious and vain Learning Nobility lastly and Honours contray to the Law of Nature and Christianity all which they would have wholly abolished and pluck'd up by the Roots and without doubt had done so had not the few of Sense that were amongst them put a stop to it However in effect they abolish the Court of Chancery and all the Judicatures that were wont to be kept in Westminster-hall By one or two Acts was that prodigious Parliament renowned For Marriage which from the very Birth of the Church of England was never celebrated but by Church-men they commit to the Care of Justices of the Peace as if in an Affair of so great moment there were no need of Solemn Prayers nor of the Benediction of the Church They leave also the Publication of the Bans of Matrimony which used always thrice to be made in time of Divine Service to the choice of the Parties either to have it made in the Church or Market-place A Register also is appointed to be kept not of the Christnings but of the Birth of Children so that from hence you may guess what a kind of new Reformers these were But when Cromwell had suffered them to give the People sufficient Proofs of their Madness and to work Fear and Hatred also in their
of the Council That the Christian Religion as it is contained by Holy Scripture should be the Publick Profession of the Nation and that those who were to have the Care thereof should have their Support from the Publick so that it be with some other more convenient Maintenance and less subject to Envy than by Tythes That no Man shall be by any Fine or Penalty whatsoever forced to Comply with the said Publick Profession otherwise than by Persuasions and Arguments That no man Professing Faith in Christ should be prohibited the Exercise of his own Religion so that he disturb not any other but that neither Popery or Prelacy should be permitted the least Favour or Licence and that all Laws to the contrary should be void That all Agreements made by Parliament should be firm and stable All Articles of Peace made with Domestick Enemies made good That all Protectors in their Order should be obliged by Oath at their first taking upon them the Government by all means to procure the Peace Welfare and Quiet of the Commonwealth by no means to violate the present Agreements and lastly to his Power to administer all things according to the Laws Statutes and Customs of England To these Conditions Cromwell swears and then cunningly chuses his Privy-Counsellors which he so dexterously pack'd that though they differed in Quality and Inclinations amongst themselves yet all were equally at his devotion Of every Sect he chuses some Leading Men by whose means he might gain the rest of the same Stamp Officers also of the Army especially the Higher and those who were most in Favour and Authority with the People Amongst them were Anabaptists Independents and Presbyterians Irish and Scots all sorts of Republicans and until all Liberty of Ingenuous Minds was restrained some Royalists also The Reins of these so many and different Opinions Factions Nations and Sects the skilful Driver being himself of no Faith nor certain Profession took into his Hands and turned them at his pleasure now inclining to one side now to the other sometime approving the greater and sometime the smaller number of Votes being ready at every turn to dismiss those that were head-strong And thus assisted by his Counsellors he takes upon him the Administration of the Commonwealth Out of fear few withstand this so great a Change in Affairs and many applaud it Those who are of a contrary Opinion stand in amaze and conceal their Thoughts Presbyterians Independents Royalists Neutralists and all chuse rather to acquiesce under his Government than eternally to be enslaved to the Pleasure of mad Fanaticks The exulting Soldiers are cock-a-hoop Now Colleges are freed from the fear of Ruine the Common-Laws are secured from danger the Nobility though maimed yet still seemed to be in being the Presbyterians secure of their Tythes and Discipline though not coactive triumph nor are the Royalists much grieved being now sure of a Single Person and hoping that the Scepter and Crown after one or two Turns more would at length be setled upon the right Basis the Royal Family Every Commander of the Army talks of Golden days as if now their Places were to last for ever nor does the meanest Soldier despair but that by degrees he may mount to the top of the Government But Lambert and other Chief Officers besides the plentiful Estates wherewith they are enriched at present skip for joy that they are admitted into a share of the Government hoping within a little after the death of the aged Protector to be raised higher Amidst these Domestick Revolutions at home England wanted not a Foreign Enemy they had a heavy War with Holland upon their Shoulders which being begun two years before and till then continued seemed like to terminate in the Ruine of one of the two Nations had not God othewise decreed The Dutch were netled at the Letters of Reprisal which being promiscuously granted Pyrats from all Places who liked better to live by Rapine than by honest Courses infesting the Seas had taken above Fourscore Sail of Ships as also at the Order of Parliament That no Goods should be Imported from abroad unless in English Bottoms or Ships of the Country where the Commodities were originally to be had And that People were too late foolishly bent upon War For when it was in their Power to have assisted the King against His Rebellious Subjects then would they neither aid Him with Counsel Money Intercession Credit nor any other way nay I wish it might not be said that some of them assisted the Rebels But now when the Princes of Europe vailed their Crowns and Scepters before the Parricides they think themselves able to make Head against them and vie for Pre-eminence Nothing now is to be heard amongst them but forthwith resisting Force by Force The Publick Places resound with Ballads and Songs against the Villanous Regicides and Sectarians and Booksellers Shops are adorned with Pictures The Flushingers exceeded all the rest in Folly who boasted that their own Ships alone were able to beat the English But the High and Mighty States were not of that Judgment they were divided into Three Parts One Part was not onely for entertaining a Peace and good Correspondence with the Regicides but also for Leaguing into a stricter Amity Others favouring the Popular Opinion did all that lay in their power to thwart that and that Confederating with Neighbouring Princes they should endeavour to restore the King of Great Britain to the Throne of his Ancestors A third Party taking a middle way thought it best to mind their own Interests carry fair and civilly with the Rebels thereby to secure their Trade and the free use of the Seas but in the mean time if the Parricides carried it high and slighted their Friendship that with a well-appointed Fleet of an hundred and fifty Men of War they should forthwith quell them The last Opinion prevailing Four Embassadours for Pacification are appointed to go into England the Heer 's Catz Schaep Vandeperre and Neuport who had long been resident there They renew the Treaty which St. Johns had broken up beginning at the same Article where he had left off The Oligarchicks hereupon seem sorry for what was past and presaging a future Coalition with the English into one Commonwealth carry very civilly and kindly receive them Then the Dutch Ambassadors without denouncing of War make some mention of an hundred and fifty Men of War which they had in readiness to scowr the Seas from Pyrates and securing Navigation but without any Intention to molest us which was far from their thoughts But in the heat of the Treaty it unluckily fell out that a great Fight hapned betwixt Blake and Trump the Admirals of both Nations but I am uncertain who gave the first Provocation We alledged That the Dutch refused to strike Sail which is a Mark of Prerogative and Dominion that we demand of all Foreign Ships and that Trump being warned to do
this Honourable Assembly to remedy all these Disorders shewed That the Wars with Portugal France and the Dutch do and did eat up the Assessments That swarms of Jesuits are crept in to make Divisions which were grown so wide that nothing but his Government could remedy them And let Men say what they will he could speak it with comfort before a Greater than any of them Then he shewed what he had done during his Government First his Endeavours of reforming the Laws having joyned all Parties to assist in that great Work Next his filling the Benches with the Ablest Lawyers Then his Regulation of the Court of Chancery and his Darling Ordinance for the Approbation of Ministers which hindred all that list from invading the Ministry by Men of both Persuasions Presbyterians and Independents c. And lastly his being Instrumental to call a Free Parliament which he valued and would keep it so above his Life Then he shewed the Advantage of the Peace with the Dutch Dane and Suede and the Protestant Interest which he would have them improve and intend chiefly That they were now upon the Edge of Canaan That he spoke not as their Lord but their Fellow-servant And then bad them go and chuse their Speaker Cromwell having spoken to this effect the Members without returning him Thanks as is usual went to the House Lenthall being again chosen Speaker they fall first upon the New Instrument of Government all the Clauses and Articles whereof they thorowly sift and examine The Officers of the Army who were Privy-Counsellors and all who depended on Cromwell vigorusly oppose that saying That that Instrument was to be taken for the Basis and Foundation of the Government no ways to be called in question since by the Authority thereof the Parliament met and that it would be contrary to the Dictates of Natural Reason to bring it to a Trial. Nay many and particularly Lambert threaten That if the Parliament did not approve and confirm it they themselves would call another nay a third and a fourth till it should be at length established by Publick Consent But the Republicans stood stiff to the contrary making answer That the Government was usurped by Craft and Force not procured by Right nor confirmed by the Free Votes of the People that it laid Snares for the Liberty of the Commonwealth and made way for a most grievous Tyranny One amongst the rest in the heat of the Debate was so bold as to say That since they were approaching so near to Monarchy it were better to call one of the Royal Family to the Government than that Cromwell should usurp the Scepter and Crown Cromwell being informed of these Debates comes in great rage to the Parliament and tells them to this effect That they were not called together that they might confound and turn all things again into the former Chaos but that they should build upon the Foundation and Ground-work already laid down and not to be altered That his Authority could not be called in question unless at the same time they invalidated their own Power since the present Parliament was called by him and by him had liberty to consult That he alone had the Right of setling Fundamentals upon which they had power to raise and beautifie Superstructures That he was resolved to maintain the Government and Supreme Power in a Single Person to call a Parliament once in Three years not to sit above Five months without his Consent c. That to violate or innovate these things should neither be in the Power of the Protector nor Parliament That in other things they might consult and enact as they pleased for the Publick Good But because Admonition might not be sufficient he thinks fit to apply Force Next day a Guard of Soldiers being set before the Door of the House no Man was suffered to enter unless he signed the following Recognition I shall be faithful to the Lord Protector and shall not endeavour to change the Government of a Single Person Many who could not swallow that Bit are debarred from the Privilege of Sitting Nevertheless so many Republicans took the Recognition as made the Cromwellian Faction and Republican almost equal some who underhand favoured the King joyning themselves to each Side enflaming Animosities and as much as might be setting the Parties who seriously treated these Affairs at greater variance Insomuch that after five Months continual jangling and debate Cromwell was not able to bring his Affairs to any good issue in this Parliament Nor do the Republican Spirits onely prevail in the Parliament but also in the Army For these consult and plot together how they might apprehend Cromwell and bring him before the Parliament to be accused and condemned of Treason thinking with themselves that if they could lay Hands upon him and make him Prisoner there would be a sudden change of Affairs and that his Favourers and Adherents being thereby baulked would sculk and shift for themselves The truth is the Officers of Three thousand Horse and of no inconsiderable number of Foot frequently met in Somerset-house and elsewhere about the contriving and carrying on of that Design But before the Matter came to maturity by the Treachery of Pride it came to Cromwell's Ears who by a hasty Dissolution of the Parliament prevented all those Machinations and disbanded those Officers In the mean time Cromwell having received a splendid Embassie from Sueden with equal Magnificence he concluded a Peace with that Crown and dismissed the Embassadors with hopes of a nearer Alliance He makes Peace also with France and promises to send over Assistance thither if the Affairs of England would permit him But all this while the specious Pretext of Supreme Authority was wanting to these Attempts The Parliament had denied their Collective Votes to make that up therefore it remains that the Distributive Votes of all the People be had and that the Officers break the Ice Wherefore Gratulatory Petitions or Addresses are sent by the Commanders of the several Regiments of the Army in Scotland whereby they thank the Lord Protector for having changed the Form of Publick Government to the better They pray him to go on in the discharge of that Province which by Providence he hath undertaken promising with their Lives and Fortunes to maintain and defend him in all difficulties But amongst the English Officers there was a necessity of a wheadling Pretext to wit That the Malignants and Enemies of the Country now triumphed as if the Army breaking into Discords and Divisions would presently renounce their General Cromwell That therefore a Petition of that nature must needs be framed wherein by applauding the Protector they would convince those that were of a contrary Opinion With much ado he obtained that amongst the Republicans but at length some refusing to sign it as venturing rather Cromwell's Displeasure and Revenge than by a sneaking Compliance to betray the
Rights and Privileges of the People all the rest agree to the Petition The Army thus leading the Dance some Corporations and Counties follow and these possessed by what Spirit I know not heap so many and so great Elogies upon the Man that striving to outdo others in Hyperbolical Cant and Flattery they fall into Blasphemy and blush not most profanely to attribute to this Man Titles that are peculiar to God Almighty In the mean time to give the Devil his Due he restores Justice as well Distributive as Commutative almost to its ancient Dignity and Splendour the Judges without Covetousness discharging their Duties according to Law and Equity and the Laws unless some few that particularly concerned Cromwell having full and free course in all Courts without hindrance or delay Mens Manners also at least outwardly seemed to be reformed to the better whether by really substracting the Fewel of Luxury or through fear of the Ancient Laws now revived and put in execution His own Court also was regulated according to a severe Discipline here no Drunkard nor Whoremonger nor any guilty of Bribery was to be found without severe Punishment Trade began again to prosper and in a word gentle Peace to flourish all over England He studied also to gain an Opinion of extraordinary Sanctity among the Church-men for no Man affected to seem more tender of the Clergy than he though he would not list himself in any particular Sect nor espouse particular Opinions He was indeed more inclined towards the Independents his Affairs so requiring but a severe Enemy to all the Orthodox Clergy of England He gave it out That it was his onely wish and desire to see the Church in Peace and that all would gather together into one Sheep-fold under one Shepherd Jesus Christ and mutually love one another whilst under-hand he set them together by the Ears and promoted their Dissentions He projected some specious Proposals of Reconciliation betwixt the Presbyterians and Independents but when they were upon the point of agreement he put them again at greater variance Under pretext also of moderating and pacifying the Divisions of the Scottish Remonstrators and Assembly-men he blows up the Embers and kindles greater Flames amongst them By turns he used to countenance all sorts of Fanaticks that the hair-brain'd People might the more obstinately stick to their Whimseys and Scruples of whom if he could frame any one to his own Temper by prying into his Secrets he shewed himself easie and tractable to the Opinions and Punctilio's of any Religion He had moreover the knack of wheadling and alluring all with hopes of Favours and fawning Offices but so as they must know there was no resisting of the Bridle if otherwise he would break out into Anger and thunder Threatnings If he perceived that the Presbyterians began to raise their Crests be troublesom to their Neighbours seem uneasie under the Government or meddle in Civil Affairs then would he threaten and denounce all Evils to the Sect and let loose against them the Anabaptists Quakers and the rest of the Fanaticks who took pleasure in disputing with the Preachers and interrupting them in their Divine Worship and by such Brutes he created no small trouble to the swelling Presbyterians Nay he was heard by many to glory that he had curbed that Insolent Sect as he used privately to call it which would suffer none but it self so that they had humbly begg'd his leave and thanked him for granting them permission to Preach and perform Divine Worship after their manner in their own Congregations and to those who were willing to submit to their Government Though the Publick Use of the Service-Book was denied to the Episcopal Party yet in Private Houses he allows them the Use of their Rites He not onely cherished but seemed also mightily to love Dr. Brownrigg a Bishop and other Learned Men whom heretofore he was acquainted with at Cambridge whilst they were suffered by the Parliament to live there and commanded them to visit him often yet it was his custom so soon as they were gone to forget calumniate and deride them If any were suspected by him to promote the Royal Cause or to contrive against himself they must be sent to Foreign Plantations chained and imprisoned severely checked interrupted in their Sermons haled before Officers or Justices of the Peace and not dismissed till they found Security for their Good Behaviour and the keeping of the Peace Nevertheless though the State of the Church seemed now sad and deplorable yet it is not to be denied but that milder Courses were used than under the rigid Tyranny of others that went before The Independents get into the Chief Places of Honour and Profit whom he countenanced with his own Familiarity and at length gave them liberty to call an Assembly at the Savoy that the Preachers or Prelates of the Independent Churches in all Counties meeting there might make a Confession of their Faith and justifie themselves from absurd Opinions with which they were branded by some but especially and indeed that they might shew their Numbers and Strength and by knowing one another associate together into a stricter Union Though this Meeting was not celebrated till Richard was possess'd of the Government yet the Grant of it was obtained in Oliver's time He allows a Toleration of Religion to all sorts of Fanaticks Though publickly he detested and seemed an implacable Enemy to the Papists yet he was very familiar with some of them and very obliging towards them Nay once he set afoot a Treaty with them about a general Toleration of Religion converting the third part of their Rents wherein by our Laws they are fined into a certain Sum of Money But because they could not agree upon the Money-consideration and that he smelt out that it would be ungrateful to the People and give occasion of Stirs and Commotions he thought it more expedient for that time to desist But what success soever that Affair had he gave to all Liberty of Mass privately and Priests and Jesuits who by the Law are guilty of Death if they set foot in England had never greater freedom nor did they ever more boldly carry on their Designs in the Camp Courts and Pulpits some of them being even raised to Promotion so that amongst the unstable and ill-grounded they reaped no small Harvest of Proselytes He appointed a Convention of Lay-men and Church-men as well Presbyterians and Independents as also Anabaptists who had power to judge of Promotions and the Collation of Ecclesiastical Benefices vacant by Death or Deposition to call before them and examine Competitors put Questions to them concerning their Manners and Learning and especially about the Marks of the In-dwelling of the Holy Spirit and sometimes about Civil Matters as If they liked a Popular State It was lawful to these either to admit to or debar from the Cure of Souls whom they pleased
them to undertake the Voyage He raises also private Souldiers and fits out a considerable Fleet he makes Penn Admiral at Sea and Vennables General of the Land Forces Men that could not set their Horses together joining with them Commissioners who were acquainted with the Humours and Language of the Inhabitants and skilful in the Harbours and advantages of Places with whose advice the Generals were to manage all matters and presently orders them to make sail to the Caribbee Islands there shortly to expect all necessary Provisions from England Whil'st these things are carrying on in England the Neighbouring Princes were at a stand what to think on 't but the Spaniard was most startled who from Dunkirk sent the Marquess of Leda to learn if he intended to keep the Peace with him But he from the Answers conjecturing the Design speedily returns and repented too late of his too early honouring an Usurper In six or seaven weeks time with a fair Wind they arrived at Barbadoes the most flourishing of all the Islands from thence sailing to St. Christophers and other Circumjacent Islands they raise nine or ten thousand Men not so much Souldiers as Porters Slaves and Rogues who in hopes of Booty not with design to undergo the Perils and Toils of a Military Life engaged in the Service fitter to make up a number than to sight Trusting to this Army though I must confess some old Souldiers were mingled with them Arms and Ammunition not being as yet brought from England so that instead of Pikes many were fain to make use of Poles they sail to the Island of Hispaniola that surprising and making sure of St. Domingo the chief Town and leaving there a Magazine with as many Souldiers as they could spare they might proceed to Carthagena but when they came in view of St. Domingo having landed part of the Souldiers near the Town whilst the rest fetched a compass about that they might attack it on the other side the signal is expected But these having fatally sailed ten Leagues beyond the place appointed for the landing put ashoar in another place and marching through a Sandy and thick Woody Country they were so scorched and burnt up with heat and thirst that some being quite spent fell dead by the way many stragling to find somewhat to asswage their thirst were killed by the Enemy the rest hardly able to go or stand upon their Legs at length joyn their Companions There Orders were published which were as grievous to their Minds as the drought had been to their Bodies whereby They are commanded upon pain of Death to bring all the Gold Silver and Rich Goods that they should find into a Common Treasury The hope of booty had hitherto kept up their Spirits but now being destitute of all comfort and sensible of their present and past fatigues they were setting forward on their march towards St. Domingo when after a sudden volley of small shot three hundred Cow-hunters armed with Lances break out of the Woods upon them and having put them into disorder killed them till they were weary But next Day the Army being refreshed as well as they could their design succeeded somewhat better At length drawing off their Forces they bid adieu to that unhappy Land having lost six hundred Men or more Then they set sail towards Jamaica to the Westward a pleasant Island and as it were a Garden of Delights which they easily become Masters of the Spaniards Capitulating to be gone but there a direful Plague the avenger of Wickedness raged amongst the English which within six Months infected and swept away the whole Army except two Souldiers Afterwards new Souldiers and fresh supplies coming by little and little to their refreshment they drive all the Spaniards out of Jamaica which extends in length threescore Leagues and thirty in breadth and bravely repulsed those that attempted to come back again becoming Masters of the whole Island and raising Forts in several places for their defence Thus Divine Wisdom baffles the Pride and Vanity of Man The Spaniard to be revenged Proclaims War against Cromwell And he on the other hand makes a League with the French that at the Peril and Charges of others he might give the Spaniard his Hands full on 't It was therefore agreed That Cromwell should send six thousand Men over into Flanders to be payed by the French and that the second Town that should be taken should belong to the English and that CHARLES King of England with all His Court and Family should be Banished France lest he might any way be aiding and assisting to the Enemy The Duke of York the Kings Brother forseeing that renounces the French Service wherein he had hitherto bravely behaved himself under Marshal Turen and shortly after both the King and He are by Don John of Austria and others invited to come into Flanders having a Pension of Nine thousand pounds English a year settled upon them which his Majesty after his return into England fully repaid They came first to Brussels and there the Duke is made General of the English Scots and Irish who left the French Army at the Kings Command and now served the Spaniard At that time one Manasses Ben Israel a Jewish Rabbi came from Holland and desired leave of the Protector that the Jews might be suffered to live in England and enjoy a Free Trade using many Arguments for obtaining that Favour as in the first place The Innocence of their Lives and the Gain that would accrue from their Trade and others easie to be deduced from the Native Genius and Qualities of that People But the advantage he most boasted of was their Art in giving the best Intelligence seeing they knew the secret Designs and Counsels of all Princes these he promises to discover to him and at the same time to defeat the Counsels that might be prejudicial to his Interests Lastly which was the strongest Argument of all he promises a great Sum in ready Money and some Thousands of Pounds yearly to be paid into the Exchequer Such golden Promises with the sweet smell of Gain soon prevailed the Exchequer especially at that time being exhausted much Debt contracted and Cromwell casting about all ways how he might have Money to defray the Publick Charges But a fair and honest Pretext was wanting Therefore on a day prefixed Divines are called to meet and give their Judgments about this Matter Why since we pray to God for the Conversion of the Jews we should banish them our Society as if we who are enlightned by the bright Beams of the Gospel ought to be afraid of our Religion because of Jews He being assured of a great many Votes made no doubt but that they would comply with him But alas what a Tide of Contradiction had he to stem Some Divines on the day appointed disputing to the contrary not without some inward heat and anger so
Officers of the Army were again conjured from Hell a new and unheard-of Generation of Quakers sprung up of whom the Parliament brought before them a considerable Ring-leader that I shall now briefly discourse of James Naylor was the Man who had heretofore served under Lambert and now had the impudence to personate Jesus Christ imitating his Words Looks and Carriage And to so great madness he grew that his Boldness encreasing through the Applauses of some and the Admiration of others he would represent him in all things For mounting a Horses Colt he came riding towards the City of Bristol those of his Sect strewing the Way with Leaves and Boughs of Trees and crying Hosanna Hosanna Blessed is he that cometh in the Name of the Lord. But the Madness stops not here neither for the distracted Fellow affects Divine Honours as if he could raise the Dead heal the Sick and fast after the Example of Christ At length the Parliament tired out with the continued Clamours of Accusers having cited him to appear before them sentence him to be publickly Whipp'd Pilloried and committed to perpetual Imprisonment But the Parliament being dissolved this Monster of Mankind was set at liberty by an Order of the Rump-Parliament when it revived again About that time Cromwell's Life was in danger from one Sundercome a Republican It was said that he was suborned by Alonso de Cardenas formerly Embassadour in England from the King of Spain and then living in Flanders to kill him He had often taken a House fit for committing the Fact but his Hopes always failing him he got him a Blunderbuss that could discharge twelve Bullets at a time resolving with that out of an Arbor upon the side of the Rode where the Way grows narrow at Hammersmith near London to shoot Cromwell as he past in his Coach to Hampton-Court and forthwith mounting a fleet Horse make his Escape on the opposite side But because there was a necessity of having another privy to the Design when the time that he was to go drew near one Toop belonging to the Guards is engaged in the Plot. But one Assassine betrays another Toop Sundercome who that he might be the first that suffered for Treason under this Government by a new Statute is arraigned and condemned for conspiring the Death of the Protector However some few hours before the time of his designed Execution he was found dead in his Bed though his Body appeared found there being no Marks of Violence either inwardly or outwardly to be discovered Of which thing according to the diversity of Humours People might severally judge as they pleased In the mean while the fiercer Fifth-Monarchy-men and Republicans making all the Preparations they could for a sudden Insurrection against the new Monarchy in the Bud are discovered and presently seised amongst other things a Standard being taken bearing a Lion Couchant with this Inscription Quis suscitabit eum Who shall rouse him This Rising then being wholly defeated Lawson a Sea-Commander Colonel Harrison Rich and several Officers of the Army with Danvers and others who could not endure the Regal Authority of Cromwell are clapp'd up in Prison Lambert also when he perceived that all his Hopes of Succession were cut off by an Ordinance of Parliament began to tack about and strike in with the Republicans Which so soon as Cromwell had notice of he presently recalled his Commission and disbanded him appointing Fleetwood to be next to himself in Power for he thought it neither safe nor fit that he should have the Chief Command in the Army who professed himself an open Enemy to the Civil Government Cromwell in the mean time that he might by fair and gentle means draw over more of the Republicans and endear them to himself promoted many of them into the House of Lords that they might seem to share with himself in the Government but such mean Fellows of no Birth nor Merit raised out of the Dregs of the Rabble who were contemptible and ridiculous to the real Lords and Peers could neither give nor receive any Splendour or Nobility Would ye have a List of some of them Let Pride then lead the Dance a most abject Rascal who had served a Brewer and that he might now with greater security cheat the Publick he purchases a Grant for Brewing Beer for the Protector 's Family and for serving the Fleet at Sea Huson was another who not long before cobbled old Shoes in a Stall Berkstead who heretofore sold Needles Bodkins and Thimbles and would have run on an Errand any where for a little Money but who now by Cromwell was preferred to the Honourable Charge of Lieutenant of the Tower of London Cooper who had been a Haberdasher of Small-wares in Southwark Berry a Woodmonger and Whaley a broken Clothier who had removed into Scotland until the breaking out of the Wars I shall name no more of them that I may not turn the Readers Stomach In the mean time he joyns to them for Companions five or six of the Ancient Nobility and gives them place in the House of Lords who nevertheless refuse to herd with the rest and all refrain the House that they might not pollute their Blood by such a Contagion Others called out of the House of Commons to this Other House prefer their own Seats and will not be reckoned amongst those Peers The two Sons and one Son-in-Law of Cromwell are brought into this House For it is to be observed that he had lately married his two younger Daughters the eldest having formerly married to Cleypole the one to Mr. Rich Nephew to the then Earl of Warwick who lived not long after and the other to the Lord Falconberge of whom now we speak Henry Cromwell his younger Son whom he made Deputy of Ireland and Richard the elder of whom since I am to mention him in the Sequel it will be fit I speak a little at present before I leave this House of Lords That Cromwell might remove all suspicion of arrogating to himself and Family the Supreme Authority he sends his eldest Son Richard into the Country to take his Pleasure in Hunting and Hawking Where he a Man of a good Nature courteous and affable far from the Tricks of his Father receiving the Common People hospitably diverting himself with the Gentry and behaving himself civilly to all besides many good Offices that he did at Court and elsewhere not onely gained the Applause of the People but obliged a great many Persons of Note and Quality But at length his Father took him off of these Toys and by degrees inured him to Publick Business ordering him first to sit in the Committee of Trade then in the House of Commons and now at last having called him as we have just now said up to the House of Lords Besides he made him Chancellor of the University of Oxford one of his Privy-Council and a Colonel of the
would produce a durable obedience The Colonels of Fleetwood's Army at London despising the Authority of the Rump more haughtily demanded the same thing But the cunninger Members smelt afar off these Camp-designes of the Officers well foreseeing what these Councils drove at at long run And this made them fret rage and threaten Haselrigg a hot-headed man and a great Stickler formerly in the War now no less concerned in the Faction of the Democraticks lays it out confidently That the Authority of the Parliament was a precacious thing that Lambert following Cromwel 's steps endeavoured alterations and that his modesty at long run would prove but a Decoy to easie Fleetwood or to this purpose In the mean time the Army was divided into two Factions The far greater part were for giving Laws to the Parliament though the rest submitted to their Authority And this so netled the Members that they could not endure the insolence of the Souldiers but come on 't what would they resolved to vindicate their supreme Authority and not to suffer any Power in the Army above their own Thus venturing upon a revenge whilst the Scales were as yet a turning if the Colonels intended to use force they resolved to leave the Traytors a poor Game to play and discharge the publick from paying any Taxations by passing a Vote That no money shall be raised without consent of the Parliament and that he who did to the contrary should be guilty of High-Treason against the Commonwealth And this seeing the Army wanted money was the neck-break of the Colonels Nor could any thing content the discontented Rump but the debarting of some of the boldest Colonels disbanded to wit Lambert Desborough Berry Kelsey Ashfield Cobbet Crede Packer and Barrow In the mean time the Rump appoints a Supreme Council of War over the Army without any name of a General consisting of Fleetwood Monk Haselrigg Ludlow Walton Morley and Overton the Souldiers in the mean time laughing in their sleeve at the vain and impotent anger of the Members For Lambert and the rest of the cashered Colonels upon mature deliberation resolved That seeing their interest and authority was still in force in the Army they would take the Field persist in their Resolutions and if it came to a push try the fidelity of the Souldiers And because they found by experience that Richard lost all by delaying they resolved to hasten their Undertaking The Rump in the mean time had intelligence of the violent designs of the Colonels and seeing hands were more necessary than heads Moss and Morley's Regiments are ordered next day to keep guard in Westminster The same morning Lambert with undaunted boldness and a strong body pickt out of the Forces that were best affected towards him hastens into the old Palace-yard and before the Members were come set Guards upon all the entries into the House Lambert stops the Speaker Lenthall coming out of his Coach and attended by a Troop of Guards and presently changing the Captain sends him back again into the City more like a Prisoner than a Speaker of the House and so with little ado he terrified and dispersed the rest of the Knaves And now Moss and Morley's Regiments guarding the silent and empty House are themselves beset by Lambert Both Parties looked big and seemed ready to come to blows but the night approaching they drew off without bloud whilst the Rump and Colonels full of anger and hatred mutually reproached each other and justly too with Treachery Villany and Tyranny But the Rump being now sent packing and the Parliament-doors shut the Officers of the Army became no less inconstant Masters and Ficklers in ruling than they had been in obeying Next morning a great confluence of Colonels met in Wallingford-house to consult about setling the Government and having first modelled the Army as being more considerable than the Commonwealth by unanimous consent they appoint Fleetwood to be General Lambert Lieutenant-General and Desborough heretofore a blunt Country-clown Major-General of the Horse The Supreme Power in Civil Affairs was committed to three and twenty Vane Fleetwood Ludlow and the rest of that odious Crew too long to be named whom they were pleased by a new and unheard-of Title to call the Committee of Safety Thus having erected a new Scheme of Government at London they disperse themselves into all places endeavouring to secure themselves by associated Villany Barrow they send to Ireland Cobbet to Scotland allure the Forces abroad into their Party but all in vain For the Army in Ireland whilst Ludlow was at London declared for the Rump Parliament Monk in the mean time writing to Fleetwood and Lambert sharply taxes the Army in England with Treachery and Ambition of governing and professes also that for the future he 'll stand by the Parliament refuses to admit of Cobbet as an Embassadour but commits him to custody as a Traytor Monk in the mean time being as yet uncertain what to do had many anxious thoughts He foresaw indeed greater security under the Rump but if the Army in England had the better on 't inevitable ruine having long ago had experience of the hatred of Lambert and Fleetwood though disguised in their looks And besides the usual competition in rule they were also looked upon as men of different humours and manners Monk was for a plain and modest Religion but they turbulent and violent in their pernicious Heresie Wherefore seriously weighing with himself the strength of the English Army on the one hand and on the other the weakness of his own Forces the perfidiousness of many of the Officers and the fickleness of the Souldiers he thought still that he might do better in War than in Peace and so having resolved against the worst he hastened his march into England When he had consulted about these things with his most intimate Friends at Delkeith he goes to Edinborough and there in a full Council of Colonels he represents the new Troubles of England How that the Parliament was turned out of doors by the Officers in England without any provocation but through levity and an ambition of governing That the London Colonels having attempted many bad things resolved not onely to bear rule over their own but the Forces abroad also That it would be disgraceful to them to submit to the Commands of another Army That he himself was a General neither inferiour to Fleetwood nor Lambert nor was the Army of Scotland that had outlived so many Battels less to be accounted than that of England That therefore he was firmly resolved to march into England to revenge the Right and Honour of the Parliament that the Authority might remain in their hands who gave them their Pay and Rewards When with much authority and greatness of mind which do better than eloquence in a Souldier he had spoken to this purpose the Souldiers were inflamed with Zeal and Resolution
and under the command of so great a General desire the signal to march Having now confirmed the Souldiers and the Garrison of Edinburough-Castle he put the command of Berwick Leeth Air St. Johnston and other Castles and Citadels into the hands of trusty Officers He turned out in the mean time all suspected Sectarians especially the Anabaptists the Plague of Mankind whilst many of his Horse addicted to the errour or humours of the English Army of their own accord desert him and leave the Foot and the rest who were truer to their Trust He remaintained in their places many of his own Officers who had been lately casheered by the London Council of War which gained him their affection and Fleetwood and Lambert their hatred The report of this Storm coming from the North was quickly brought to London and all things made greater as it is usual at such a distance than really they were This distracted the Councils of the Rulers and put them into no little anxiety However they arm against Monk and appoint Lambert elevated by the overthrow of Booth's Party General of the War and Head of their Faction who was now to engage in another kind of a War and with anothergets General But seeing they stood much in awe of the prouess and conduct of Monk and had him in great admiration they thought fit first to essay him by Treaty Wherefore Fleetwood sent unto him Clarges nearly allied to him and Colonel Talbot who served in the Scottish Army and in great favour with the General to mediate a Peace and Reconciliation With the same purpose of Pacification Colonel Goff and Colonel Whaley followed after with Carril and Barker the great Oracles of the Independents that the Artifices of Preachers might not be wanting in laying of Snares Monk received them all civilly He had many secret Conferences with Clarges To the rest he publickly professed that he had no Quarrel with the Colonels commanding in England about Religion That his whole designe was to revenge the Indignity done to the Parliament and to proceed no farther That if they had rather take up the matter at London without bloud he was willing to allow time for Conferences The Ministers with affected flattery preached up the advantages of Peace presaging from more than one instance that the divisions of fellow-Souldiers would be pernicious to themselves and very advantageous to the publick Enemy intimating the King and indeed their Presage proved afterward to be true But the mercenary and canting Tongues of those preaching Mediators wrought no effect upon an old Souldier who was so well acquainted with their juggling tricks He civilly sends back these Agents of Peace with the same security as they came Clarges in the mean time was before gone to London with more secret Instructions And though Monk now perceived that all Agreement with the Colonels of the English Army would prove fallacious and unsafe yet all things not being as yet sufficiently ordered for securing the more remote Garrisons of Scotland he made his advantage of what was cast in his way by chance and labours for the convenience of his own affairs to protract the time of Treaty He therefore dispatches to London Wilks Knight and Cloberry as Commissioners for the Treaty from the Army in Scotland with Instructions how to delay time where for some time we 'll leave them in Wallingford-house with more complement than freedom debating with Fleetwood's Officers though I am not apt to believe that the desire of Pacification was sincere on both sides Lambert marching against Monk was already got as far as York with twelve Regiments of men he was weak in Foot but strong in Horse Here he found Morgan Major-General of Monk's Army recovering out of a fit of the Gout a man that at that time was judged inferiour to none in Military skill Lambert who was his old friend and knew him to be dear to Monk sent him into Scotland to promote the business of Peace He having followed Monk to Edinburrough in a military manner declared his business and what he was come about but preferring Monk's cause and honesty he took command under him when because of the many Commanders lately turned out and others that had deserted he was made very welcome Monk in the mean time having pretty well composed the affairs of his Army invites the Scottish Nobility to Council first at Edinburrough and then at Berwick where he discovered his designes unto them beseeching them for the sake of their Country and of himself that they would keep Scotland in peace and raise moneys to pay the Army that now was upon the march into England The Scottish Nobility very readily promised him money nay and to assist him with men and Arms in the expedition which was an accession to Monk's good fortune that when he might have made use of so great assistance from Scotland he did not stand in need of it For being a man of a sharp wit he was not willing that Scotland should come under the power of another the Inhabitans being armed nor that they accompanying him into England might render his coming ungrateful at home Trusty Officers being left to command the Garrisons of Scotland the Souldiers rightly modelled and all things in a readiness for the expedition of a sudden news is brought to Edinburrough that the Peace was confirmed but upon so hard and uneasie terms that Monk with anger in his looks severely checked the Authors of the hateful Reconciliation upon their return telling them That if the honesty of some certainly the prudence of all of them was to be suspected and committed Wilks to prison for transgressing his Commission The truth was Monk's Commissioners being by Fleetwood's Officers with a shew of honour narrowly observed and in a manner confined ignorant of the Stirs abroad and imposed upon by false reports of the diminution of Monk's Forces with more haste than judgment had clapt up an unjust Peace In the mean time Monk having had certain intelligence from Clarges a faithful man that Fleetwood was daily more and more despised at London that at York Lambert 's Army was divided and full of Faction judging a delay more convenient for himself than for the Enemy industriously protracted the Treaty Having therefore sent Letters to Fleetwood he acquainted him That the news of a Pacification was very acceptable to him but that he found some things doubtful in the Conditions and other matters not rightly transacted by his Commissioners that therefore that the agreement might be more solid all Officers being removed he desires the number of Commissioners to be increased and Newcastle as a more proper place for their meeting Fleetwood condescended more out of fear than choice but Lambert whose whole ability consisted in charging an Enemy rashly and fatally deluded to his own ruine accepted also of the delays of Treaty Lambert in
Churches under their government The King answered With a willing and devout heart I promise and grant my Pardon and that I will preserve and maintain to you and the Churches committed to your charge all Canonical Priviledges and due Law and Justice and that I will be your Protector and Defender to my power by the assistance of God as every good King in his Kingdom in right ought to protect and defend the Bishops and Churches under their government Then the King arose and was led by the Bishops of Duresme and Bath and Wells to the Communion-Table where he made a solemn Oath in sight of all the People to observe the Premises and laying his hand upon the Bible said The OATH The things which I have here promised I shall perform and keep So help me God and the Contents of this Book On the eighth of May a new Parliament met which continued many years Since the year before the Regicides had been brought to condign punishment the three Estates of Parliament now condemned to the flames the Solemn League and Covenant the Bond of the English and Scottish Conspiracy and Sacrament of the Presbyterian Villany The same was done by the Parliament of Scotland and Ireland and that which had raised a Civil Combustion and propagated the same all over Britain and Ireland is now burnt by the hand of the Hangman and by its own ashes expiated at length the wickedness of three Nations This year was concluded or the new begun by the further punishment of Regicides For by Order of Parliament Mouson an upstart Lord Sir Henry Mildmay heretofore Keeper of the Jewels to the late King and therefore the more criminal and Robert Wallop on the seven and twentieth of January the day whereon the blessed King had been condemned were in Hurdles with Halters about their necks dragged to Tyburn and back again to Town being sentenced to perpetual imprisonment It was sufficiently made out that they had been Members of that execrable High Court of Justice but because they had not signed the Warrant for the Kings execution they were onely punished by Bonds and Imprisonment Hazelrigg in the mean time one of the bitterest of all the Traytors being sentenced to the same punishment pined away with anger and grief and unable to bare his disgrace prevented the dishonour and his captivity by a timely death in the Tower of London The same punishment was inflicted upon the Traytors who as we said before came in upon the Kings Proclamation For being brought to the Bar because waving all defence they humbly acknowledged their Crime and that they were a Crew most part of them of silly seduced Rascals drawn in either by the arts or threatnings of Cromwel they redeemed their necks from the Gallows which they had so often deserved by a perpetual imprisonment to which being closely confined they lived to see their Villany punished by Infamy But fortune was more favourable to the Traytors that came in at home than to those who fled abroad for about that time Sir George Downing being Embassadour in Holland had intelligence that three of the Fugitive Regicides Barkstead Okey and Corbet being come back out of Germany lurked in Delf He therefore having obtained a Warrant from the States General seized them and sent them over to England where being brought to a tryal they were condemned for High-Treason and April the nineteenth executed at Tyburn They went all to death with a fanatical ostentation of Piety But Barkstead and Corbet approaching to their end after many ugly delays and cups of Strong-waters unwillingly put their trembling necks into the Halter which quickly put an end to the Wretches half dead already for fear But Okey being a man of an undaunted mind and making use of his courage to the last went off with the bravoury of a Souldier and not undecently had he so died for his Country Corbet was heretofore an inspired prating Lawyer more skilful in the Principles of Fanaticks than in the Laws he got to be a Member of that long and black Parliament and no man was more professedly an implacable Enemy to the King The low extraction of Okey is buried in obscurity Being a Tallow-chandler in London and weary of his poor condition he followed the profitable Wars of the Parliament where his daringness advanced him to the place of a Colonel and at length to be one of the chief Judges in trying and sentencing the King Barkstead was heretofore a whifling Goldsmith in London and had raised himself upon the Ruines of his Country But those who knew the cunning of Oliver in chusing his Magistrates wondered that he preferred so silly and idle a fellow even to be a Colonel and Lieutenant of the Tower of London besides other Offices But that kind of stupid fierceness was more useful to Cromwel than the cunninger knavery of others for the Tyrant himself for the most part looked another way and commanded the Villanies which he would not behold so that this fellow no doubt was privy to the furious Councils of Cromwel and a trusty Minister of his Protectoral Cruelty And so long as he was chief Jaylor to Oliver the barbarous Villain was never startled at the sight of the Murders and Imprisonments of so many Nobles and worthy Subjects His head was set upon a Gate of the Tower whereof heretofore he had been Governour that upon the same Stage where he acted his greatest Crimes he might suffer his greatest Punishment The first Prodigy of the Regicides was their matchless impudence in putting to death the King and their next their obstinacy to the last For when they had murdered the best of Kings to the shame of Christianity the infamy of the Reformation and the universal reproach and malediction of Fanatick Zeal these godly Regicides were ashamed when Treason stuck in their breasts to confess their hypocritical pretending Religion even at the last gasp Nay their Godliness made them so impudent as rather to know themselves guilty and deny it to save their reputation amongst their Brethren than humbly and modestly to acknowledge their Crimes The Authority of Parliament was the onely thing that all of them alleadged to justifie their Parricide as if a Gang of fifty Robbers who had so often violated that Authority had been worthy of that name when there was neither the colour nor resemblance of a House of Commons left Nec color Imperii nec frons fuit illa Senatûs But since they could live no longer to do mischief their whole care was at their death to harden the minds of their Party by a fanatical assertation of dying good men when it was rather the highest Judgment of an offended God to let them fill up the Cup of their bold Indignities by a desperate end It was time now for the King who was a Batchelour to think of Marriage that he might leave a Posterity for the future
several Ambassadours especially of the Spaniard by Hide afterwards Chancelour of England and Earl of Clarendon And the French in person But with little success every where The Turk delivering up the Ambassadour Hide brother to the Chancelour into the hands of the Rump-Parliament who being brought to London is beheaded The French flattering with vain hopes And at length making a league with the Regicides The Spaniard declining to meddle in other peoples business And being the fi●st of all that owned and complemented the Common-wealth of England For what Reasons chiefly instigated thereunto The King of Portugal being able to do little And Sueden fickle The Duke of Holstein brought some succours The Dane indigent of money The Pole engaged in domestick troubles Others benevolent but not much to the purpose The King 's chief hope in his own Subjects Of whom a great many extreamly well affected but very weak in strength Ascham who he was An envoy from the Rump-Parliament to the King of Spain He is privately killed with his Interpreter One of the Murderers taken making his escape suffers for it The King of Portugal offends the Regicides because he would not force Prince Rupert and Prince Maurice cut of his Harbours when Blake desired to fight them Blake therefore takes some Porteguese Ships laden with Suger and sends them into England The Princes hardly escaping sail to America Where Maurice was unhappily cast away Rupert returning back to the Coast of France The Portuguese Ships are restored Strickland the Ambassadour being slighted in Holland returns home The Dutch Ambassadour is commanded to depart England To whom another presently succeeds from Amsterdam St. Jones and Strickland are sent into Holland with great Equipage Who nevertheless being fooled by the States And exposed to continual dangers They return without doing of any thing This enraged the Parricides And made them give out Letters of Reprisal Whitlock Sails to Sweden with a splendid Embassy for the Que●n Who resigning the Crown the King sends ov●r Bond Ambassadour to Cromwell An expedition for reducing the Isles of Silly Of which two after a conflict of three houres continuance are taken The rest at length surrender upon articles As also upon Barbadoes an Island in America A high Court of Justice is again erected and that a standing Court. A lively description of the sad faee of affairs Informers swarm in all places Nothing secure from Spies Who had a thousand tricks to do mischief A New set of Trapans come in play Who amongst others are fatal to Colonel Andrews By the craft of these the Lord Craven is forfeited And others brought into the danger of their lives Whilst the accursed authors are secure As being put upon these tricks by the Regicides The Scots consent to Monarchy and that in the person of Charles the Second those that were of a contrary opinion not daring to resist Yet they disagree about the conditions At length CHARLES the Second is proclaimed King of Scotland England and Ireland And Windram is sent to the King from the Convention of Estates That he might inform him upon what conditions he was to be admitted Which were to this purpose The King having read the Letters writes back to the Scots by Fleeming Afterwards by the same Windram And appoints Breda in Holland for a Treaty Then deliberates with his Friends Of whom some dread all concord with the Scots Others perswade him to listen to the Scots As the Queen-Mother also did ☞ The King acquaints Montross with the Treaty to be held with the Scots at Breda And presently leaves the Isle of Jersey The convention of the Estates of Scotland chuse Commissioners And agree upon Articles to be sent to the King Which proposed at Breda And presently after a few more by other Commissioners especially against Montross The deplorable fate of that Excellent Hero is related Who w●th a small handful of men arrives too soon in Scotland He is sadly disappointed of his hopes the Nation being now worn out with troubles and inclinable to peace He takes Dumbeath And hastens to p●ssess himself of a Pass But Straughan was at hand with three hundred Horse Who perceiving his opportunity falls upon him easily routs and puts his men to flight Montross betakes himself to flight and being spent with three days fasting confiding in a treacherous man is brought to Leslie And from thence into the Jaws of his Enemies and is basely used at Edinburrough Next day he is in Parliament accused of hainous Crimes Which he shortly answered and refuted Nevertheless he is Condemned by Chancellour Loudon to suffer in a most horrid manner Next day he suffered a barbarous and inhumane death The King was extreamly grieved at this misfortune and expostulates with Murrey Yet he conceals his Anger The Scots labour to soften and appease the King Who at length consents to their Articles And together with the Commissioners that in different Ships he puts out to Sea by whom he is on Board plied with new Proposals about the Solemn League and Covenant Which with reluctancy he subcribes in presence of Witnesses And at length after many dangers arrives in the Spey With the general applause of the People He is splendidly entertained at Aberdeen And at Dundee also And when he came to Edinburrough he was solemnly proclaimed King of Scotland England and Ireland There he is managed at the pleasure of Commissioners and continually vexed by the Ministers By the Laicks also almost divested of his Royal Power The Regicides informed of all that past look to themselves Therefore passing by Fairfax who favoured the S●ots Cromwell is recalled from Ireland who with much solemnity and applause returns to London And is presently declared Captain General of the Forces in place of Fairfax for an immediate Invasion of Scotland The Scots send Dehortatory Letters To which the English Officers answer ☜ Cromwell also wheadles the common people of Scotland with sweet words But in vain seeing all fled leaving no victuals behind them Cromwell having entered Scotland The Scots encamp betwixt Leeth and Edenburrough Cromwell shews hims●lf and provokes them to Battel Then thinks of falling in upon their Camp but thinks it safer to march back to Musselbrough to ref●esh his Souldiers Lambert beats back the enemy in pursuit of the English Straughan offers great matters relying not only on the Prayers but also the Horse of the Clergy He falls upon the English But is beat off and loses his Horse The King reduces the terrified Souldiers into order For which the Souldiers shew him very great Honou● The Commanders are angry The Ministers pray him to withdraw To whom with much ado he at length listens The Prisoners are sent home in Cromwells Coach Cromwell returns to Dunbar And from thence suddenly marching back again disturbs the joys of the Scots The Kirk and States renounce the defence of Malignants Cromwell takes two Forts in view of the Scots Who budg not for all that And to wash off the
Fortifying an old Castle near the Walls The Counsel took But the work not as yet finished Jones unexpectedly fall in upon th●m And having defeated all the Forces of the besiegers obtains a great Victory Part of the Kings Souldiers fly to Drogheda The Lord Lieutenant to Kilkenny And th●n to Drogheda And delivers it from the fear of Jones And also Fortifies other places In the mean time Cromwell slighting Munster arrives a● Dublin With fifteen thousand old Souldiers Of whom he marches w●th ten thousand to Drogheda Which was defended by Sir Arthur Aston and the Flower of the Kings Army Cromwell forthwith batters the Walls He himself commanding the attack makes his way into the Town and kills all he meets The sad spectacle of the Town taken The number of the slain The Garrisons about either deserted or easily surrendred The Lord Lieutenant is deserted by many of the English Souldiers But yet not by all The Irish ill affected towards him Yet he raises an Army Huson put into the Government of Dublin Cromwell marches to Wexford Summons it to render Then making an attack he first takes the Castle And then the Town Thence he marches to Ross with an Army sick and much weakened Of which Taff was Governour having just received a supply of fifteen hund●ed men Yet upon the first attempt he surrenders the Town and marches to Kilkenny with fifteen hundred men Peace betwixt the Lord Lieutenant and Oaen Who shortly after dies The Princes Rupert and Maurice with six Ships hover upon the Irish Coast and Blake pursuing them they fly to Kingsale Being blockt up there they escape through the Enemies Fleet and set Sail for Portugal Estionege being taken Cromwell makes a Bridge of Boats over the Barrow He takes Carick and Passage He attempts Waterford but in vain Now at length he bethinks himself of Winter Quarters All Munster revolts The Treachery long ago ●ss●ied at Youghal Is now accomplished at Cork Where Inchiqueen's Lady and Children are imprisoned And Cromwell puts his Men into Winter Quarters Jones dies The Lord Lieutenant calls a general Council and persuades Dissenters to Vnion Which they all pretend He endeavouors to recover Passage by Farell Who by Zankie is intercepted and put to flight In vain imploring the assistance of the Waterfordians Inchiqueen being about to recover Wexford is hindered by Nelson Cromwell having received Recruits from England divides his Forces and marches against the Enemy He easily takes a great many Garrisons Calls Huson with his P●ers to joyn him They jointly take Gora Then they march to Kilkenny the place where the Committee of the Estates met Which having made a brave Resistance at length yields upon Condition The Siege of Clonmel Reynolds is s●nt to hinder the Lord Lieutenants Levies With good success Broghill takes the Bishop of Ross coming to the relief of Clonmell and hangs him up The Garrison forsake Clonmel and make their escape by night Whom Cromwell in vain pursues He easily subdues several smal places The Exploits of the Elder Coot in Ulster Who takes the Bishop of Cloger the General of an Army and hangs him up Husons Victories Cromwell Ireland being almost subdued within the space of a year is recalled for the Scottish expedition He leaves his Son in Law Ireton General in Ireland to whom Waterford being Besieged yields upon Conditions And in the same manner Carlow and Duncannon The Papist Clergy basely affected towards the Lord Lieutenant From whom they endeavour to alienate the mind of Inchiqueen As also the Lord Lieutenant from Inchiqueen The Lord Lieutenant exhorts to Concord and Obedience Being ready to renounce the Government for the Publick good The Irish at present seem sorrowful But presently again fall to Calumniating Thuamensis Clonfertensis And declare his Government void He th●refore yields and app●ints Clanricard his Deputy Who having made new Levies Goes on prosperously Till Axtel who upon the first encounter had retreated that he might procure Recruits Beat him out of his Camp fortified by two Lakes and put him to flight Why the Irish so Cowardly They are compared with the English Souldiers A treaty with the Duke of Lorrain But fruitless Clanricard stops all the passages for the enemy into Connaght Yet Coot by stratagem having past the Collough mountains got into it Ireton passes the river Shannon at three places Athalone with other Garrisons are presently taken Farell being forced to retreat Coot attacks Galloway Ireton besieges Limmerick Which upon Arti●les agreed upon but not signed is surrendered to him He causes the Bishop of Ferne and some others to be hanged The death and character of Ireton Galloway prest Coot Is taken And also consumed by the Plague Ireland being now totally subdued is governed by four Commissioners Who first suppress the Tories Publick enemies It is consulted about a Successor to the late Ireton Lambert is chosen Deputy of Ireland Whose Commission whilst He is commanded to supply onely the place of a Commissioner Lambert refusing Fleetwood is sent His Character The broken remnant of the Irish forces yield to Broghill And Ludlow Having first obtained liberty to go beyond Sea The first Authors of the Rebellion are brought to Tryal Especially Phi-Oneal and Luke-O-Tool Who at their death acquitted the King from a false and scandal● 〈◊〉 report The Plague rages in Ireland Especially at Dublin And a grievous Famine also Both English and Irish are burdened with Taxes The Souldiers in the mean time live at their ease and the Commanders grow rich All Law in a manner Arbitrary Some Forts surprised by the Rebells are recovered by Reynolds The distribution of the Irish Lands as a punishment for their Rebellion Many of the Kings Party fall under the same censure The Popish Nobles are condemned of Treason The Neutrals are fined in a fifth part of their Estates Strife betwixt the new and old Souldiers about dividing the Spoil Is at length composed The way of measuring the Lands invented by Sir William Petty a Doctor of Physick The Sectarians flocking together in Troops Cromwell calls home Fleetwood from Ireland As being too favourable to them And sends his Son Henry at first as his Substitute Who in the first place takes upon him the care of Religion Of the Preachers And of the Colledge As also of Civil affairs of Justice And Trade The Royalists being received more mildly His Assistants and Counsellers Cromwell calls a Parliament at London The Irish are commanded to Abjure Popery Henry's clemency as to that particular The Irish are enjoyned to transplant themselves into Connaght And what was the cause of it Yet it is by many cunningly evaded Henry neglecting both his own and brothers interest Delivers up the Government to the revived Rump-Parliament A Petition of the Magistrates of London to the Rump-Parliament for their Citizens turned out of the common Council Is rejected with contempt The attempts of King Charles the Second for himself and his Subjects By asking help from Foreign Princes By