after him for ever for naming his Son Richard Successor according to a power cunningly gained by him from the Paâ—liament in a Petition and Advice 1656. he contrived him an impregnable interest first in Ireland by his Brother Henry made there Lord Deputy secondly in Scotland by a Councell and an Army made up for the most part either of Relations or oâ— Fanatiques or of New-purchasers of the Kings Queens and Bishops Lands all equally engaged to the Usurper thirdly in England 1. by a Councell made up of his Fathers own Creatures 2. An Army under his Brother in Law Fleetwood Commander in chief his Unâ—le Desborough as Major Generall and severall other Relations of his in great command so that his Army was like that of Abrams of his own house 3. The City awed by a pack of Sectaries under one Io. Ireton a Creature of his since the marriage of his Brother Henry with Oliver's Daughter 4. The Countrey people generally so much pleased with the obliging carriage to which Oliver politickly brought him up that they generally said If we must needs have an Usurper we will be content to have him Sect. His Excellency saw Richard so well settled that to attempt any thing against so well layed a Government in the behalf of his most Sacred Majesty had been but to hazard the best Cause with his own and his Friends persons and fortunes against a tide which swelling higher by the opposition would quickly have overwhelmed them And therefore he submitted himself to a compliance with the Power then in being acting by its authority knowing as Grotius saith jure belli pacis p. 1. c. 73. That the acts of empire which an Usurper exerciseth may have power to oblige not out of his right which is none but because its better his Commands should prevail and be of force then utter confusion be brought in the Laws and Iudgements being taken away See Suarez leg l. 3. c. 10. n. 7. vid. de potest civ n. 23. And so his Excellency went on with the Usurper strengthening the hands of the evill doer for publique good while he was weakening him in private interest We may observe in Nature that the severall parts of it though they are ordinarily true and faithfull to their standing rule law and duty the light going upwards and the heavy downwards c. yet they are allowed to comply with a violence that brings them out of their place order against their inclination and law to fill up such chasmes and supply such vacuities as may endanger the dissolution of the whole Besides I think really his Excellency together with our Gracious Soveraign had rather the Invader should be left in possession then occasion given to such dangerous and bloudy commotions as they both trembled at the thoughts of which yet must necessarily follow upon any violence against those men who have strong Factions on their side at home and as strong Confederacies abroad It was their opinion 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Plutarch Or as Favonius hath it Civill War is worse then unlawfull Government Mihi pax omni cum civibus bello civilii utilior videtur Cic. Titus Quintus thought it better the Tyrant Nubis had been let alone at Lacedemoâ— when he could not otherwise be thrown down but with the ruine of the Common-wealth likely to perish in vindication of her Liberty For as Aristophanes hath it A Lion is not to be bred in a City but if he be brought up he must be kept For indeed we nec morbum ferre possumus nec remedium Liv. Yea we were so unfoâ—tunately â—…ck that we feared plus periculâ— a medico quam a morbo For though Usurpâ—tion falls heavy upon many particulars yet the bloâ—dy consequences of an intestine War are worse spâ—…ading and permanent Sect. His Excellency was as carefull to keep others within an usefull moderation and prâ—dence as he was to act according to it himâ—elf and therefore upon Oliver's death He and the Councel make an Order That there be none brought from beyond the Seas to Scotland and that none be carried from Scotland beyond the Seas without speciall leave and a Passe That there be no unusuall meetings of Persons dangerously affected to the Peace of that Nation c. And seized upon severall persons dangerously busie about his Majesties Affairs in that Kingdome whereby he at once seemed to be very cordiall against his Majesties interestâ— and for that of the Usurpers and really did his Majesty the best service imaginable and his Friends the greatest curtesie 1. Restraining them from those attempts which had been their ruine AEquum non est saith Stallius ut sapiens disipientâ—urâ— causu in pericula turbas se conjiceat See Nehem. 9. 27. 2. And withdrawing from the Usurpeâ— that advantage whiâ—h he made of such vain and empty oppositions towards his own establishment and settlementâ— who knows noâ— that Oliver wâ—s advanâ—ed to that height we ere while admired and feared by those plots which he subtlely contrived and others were foolishly trapanned to by whose discovery and defeat he rendered himself formidable and by sly inâ—…nuations of what danger the Government and the three Nations were in by reason of them prevailed with his Conventions to secure the Common-wealth by promoting his power daily upon the occasion of one pretended Plot after another untill he sâ—rued himself up to the power of the most absolute Monarch in Europe His Excellency thought that monstrous Power would fall away of it self which might be held up and strengthened by opposâ—tion A Lacedemonian in Plutarch when he read Hos dum Marte parant dominatum extinguere saevus ante saliuntis Maenia mors rapâ—it added Merito viri illi periere expectare enim debuerunt ut ipse per se dominatuâ— conflugraret Sect. His acquiâ—scing in Richards free Parliament In the mean time he resolved to acquiesce discreetly in the determination of the free and full Parliament which Richard and his Councell were happily necessitated to call towards the right constitution of which he contributed much in the choice of such Parliament men for Scotland as the Malignant party in England would not have willingly admitted to the House who when they entered assisted the Honest party in such counsels as would have brought down the power which Oliver set up with so much bloud and treasure in the twinkling of an eye without any noise or stir wherefore they were suddenly after dissolved by the Army with a consent that Richard gave to it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Although his Excellency was sorry to see such unwarrantable violence offered to a free Parliament made up of the honourable Representatives of three Nations yet he was pleased to see that vast Power taken from Cromwel's Family by the same Authority that gave it them even before a third Heir enâ—oyed it He so well foresaw the future establishment of these Nations through these severall revolutionâ— as the establishment of a fair
World out of a Chaos that he stuck not in an Address to the Parliament whom the Army had invited to reassume their power which they had once forced them from and now looked upon as the onely Authority that could serve their turn and interest to say that the Nation was then born in a day Sect. His carriage towards the long Parliament when recalled When those Members that the Army had called in refused the admission of the secluded Members those worthy Patriots that were resolved to doe their King and their Counâ—rey right when they resolved to â—surp the Government denying the Nation their priviledge of being governed by a free and full Parliament and siding with a company of Sectaries and desperate persons that were engaged to râ—ine our Church and State neglected our honourable Nobility our worshipfull Genâ—…y our reverend Clergy and in a word slighted three Kingdomes and with their assistance awe us with Militia's and oppress us with Assesments so farre to the discontent of the whole Nation that they agree upon a generall Insurrection upon the first of August but upon some discoveries made by the unhappiness of the Honourable the Lady Howard whose Sex was not capable of that secrecy which her Loyalty might be intrusted with and others they were prevented in most places save onely in Cheshire Lancashire and Wales where Sir Thomas Middleton Sir George Booth Sir Philip Egerton c. by reason of their distance fâ—om the Parliament and Army got together such a considerable party that alarumed the whole Army under Lambâ—rt and an Irish Bâ—igade besidesâ— to march towards them whom his Excellency beheld favourably and had they brought their design to any issue he would have assisted to bâ—ing those refractory Members at Westminster to some reasonable termes Although he would not have engaged against those Members being obliged unto them and thinking not with Cicero that a man may break his oath with theeves or with Brutus in Appion That 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That the Romans esteem no faith yea nor oath to be kept with Tyrants yet would he have used his interest with them to reduce them to a Moderation T. Fregis sidem A. quà m neque dedi neque do Infideli cui periam Accuis Sect. His design upon Sir G. Booth's rising But upon Sir George Booth's overthrow Lambert blown up with the success sores high and contrives that the Army now highly caressed by him with the thousand pound sent by the Parliament to buy him â— Jewell c. should stickle for his Honouâ— to be Commander in chief of all the Forces in England Scotland and Ireland the next step to the Protectorship of England Scotland and Ireland and that the Parliament in case they denied it should be dissolved which he saw done accordingly Sect. His resolution against the Armies Arbitrary power Whereupon Lambert calling together his Counsel of Officers makes sure of a correspondence with the Army in Ireland and Scotland and therefore dispatchetâ— Collonel Barrow for Ireland and Collonel Cobbet to General Mâ—nck who though he was a Member of the Army yet was he likewise a Servant to the Parliament and of two Confederates he is to be preferred that hath a just cause of warr The Athenians were to assist their fellows the Messâ—nians against their other fellows the Lacedemonians Deâ— Orat. de Megalop Methinks I hear his Excellency replying to Collonel Cobbet's Message as the Aâ—…nans did to the Spartans Aâ—icis auxilia ferenda contra hostes non contra Amicos vid. fidel Tubal l. 4. c. 31. l. 7. Ptolom apud Appianum in leg exceptis Or with him in Alexandrides Ego esse vester non queam Comâ—ilito Quando nec leges nec mores Consentiunt Sed multis inter se Convallis discrepant Vid. Orat. Partazae ad Lazâ—s apud Agath l. 3. c. 2. n. 6. Sect. The noble Generall according to his instructioâ—s from London secures Cobbet at once preserving his Army from such dangerous inâ—inuations as that person brought along with him thither and to cut off all the advantages the Army in England might have of the information he might carry home with him He imprisons Cobbet the Armies Messenger It s true an Embassadour is per saecula populâ—… sanctum noâ—en Papin Pompon l. si quis D. de legal yea Sancta sunt carpora legatorum var. l. 3. del Tutius regressus legato Radevic append de Polon morian l. 12. de mauris so that they were not to be violated in life limb estaâ—e or liberty for it is contra jus legatorum legatos in vinculis habere Menand de Iust. 2. Imp. But Collonell Cobbet is rather a Messenger of a Faction of Subiects then a propeâ— Embassadour of the Supreme power and therefore he must not claim the right of aâ— Embassadour It 's the pecâ—liar prerogative of Majesty and Supreme Authority â—aith Dion Hulicarn to create Magistrates to make Laws to make Warre and Peace and to send Embassadours Legates must not be received from Antony for saith Cicero In that Case we have nâ—t to doe with Hanniball an enemy of the Common-wealth but with one of our own Countrey Nobly doth the Generall imprison him who brought along with him thâ— face of a Faction and the authority of Rebels who would have honoured him Si senatus faciem secum attuleratâ— auctoritatem reip Cic. Philip. 7. Sect. He models his Army And then his Excellency feeling the temper of his Army upon Collonell Cobbets Message accoâ—ding to the power given him when he was made Commissioner for governing of the Army with Sir Arthur Hasâ—erig Collonell Walton Collonell Morley â— Collonell Okey c. by the Parliament just before their dissolution he models it and secures such Officers as he found either too loosely principled or already too dangerously engaged to be entrusted in so honourable an expedition as he resolved upon in Tantillon Castle first and since in the Baslâ— Islands so confining their principles and persons within those walls which otherwise might have too sad an influence upon that whole Army and Nation Sect. He declares And then thinks fit to declare his resolution to assert the authority of Parliaments against all violence whatsoever in two Remonstrances one to the whole Nation and the other to the Churches Whereupon the English Officers bethink themselves of a Declaration too ' wherein supposing the end of Government to be the publick good they must perswade the world that they are the onely promoters of that in the world ' In melle sunt â—inguae sita vâ—strae atque orationes lacte â—orda fâ—lle sunt sita atque acerbâ— aceto â—â—inguis dicta dulcia datis ut corde amara â—aciâ—is Pretence white as milk And as soft as silk Will do the feat Your hearts as sowre as gall Purpose our thrall And thus ye cheat ' They ravish us with apprehensions of liberty while they enthrall us with oppression and as their usuall manner
To preserve the Laws other losses he could bear patiently but when he is forced to deparâ— from the Laws then he will fight even beyond his strength and endure all extremitie of Warre He sends three to treat with those at Wallingford viz. Collonell Wylkes Lieutenant Collonell Clobery and Major Knight with letters to Gen. Fleetwood ' intimating his readiness to comply upon reasonable terms with his old friends and fellow souldiers and his sorrow for the advantages which were given the common enemy by this unseasonable distance of friends ' Sect. His Letters to the City But withall he sends letters to the City 'to encourage them to stand fast in their Liberty for their Laws Priviledges Properties and lawfull Government ' for which he there expressed himself ready to live and die which letters were delivered by Collonell Alured and Collonell Markham but by reason of the conclusion the fore-mentioned Treaters came to so contrary to the contents of those letters they were a while under Cassandraes fate of not being believed though they brought in them the highest truths imaginable as time the father of truth hath since made maâ—ifest Sect. The Treaty is concluded in an agreement upon these termes 1. That his Majesties Title be renounced 2. That England Scotland and Iâ—eland be governed as a free State without any single Person or House of Peers 3. That an able and a godly Ministry be encouraged and the Universities regulated 4. That the Army be not disbanded without its own consent 5. That there be a meeting of three from Scotland three from Ireland and three from England not Officers of the Army and five from Scotland and five from Ireland and five from England Officers of the Army to consult about a further settlement Sect. But his Excellency had discreetly reserved to himself the ratification of the Treaty so that nothing should be of force untill he confirmed it with his own Seal and therefore upon the return of his Commissioners by his own order he imprisoning Collonell Wylkes for going beyond his Commission declareth the Treaty void and marcheth towards the Borders intending to make Berwick which he had secured at first his Head-quarters holding correspondence with his friends all over England especiall in the West as the information Collonell Cobbet gave his friends at Wallingford House intimated Sect. At Berwick he gave the Messengers of the Army and of the Churches very plausible answers whiâ—h yet signified nothing receiving and dismissing them with great respect but yeilding to them nothing prejudiciall to his cause so that one of the Ministers upon his return home must needs tell his Congregation That the seed of the Serpent is irreconcileable with the seed of the woman Sect. Overtures towards a second treaty ' with the grounds of it Fabius saved Rome by a delay his Excellency being advised from England That if he could keep at distance with his Adversary untill the first of Ianuary the work would be done without bloud-shed make some overtures of peace with Lambert but alwayes insisting upon the re-admission of the Parliament to the exercise of their trust to be granted before they enter upon aâ—y Treaty Sect. Now some Commissioners for the Parliament viz. Hasâ—erig Walton and Morley having gained Portsmouth with the conseâ—t of Collonell Whetham formerly of the Counsell of Scotland whereof his Excellency was President and Lawson notwithstanding all endeavours by that Syren Vane to perswade him to the contrary declaring with the Navy for the Parliament and the Land forces for want of pay revolting the Army in the North mouldereth away and yieldeth to time aâ—d delay Sect. He moveth to England with his whole Army Thus all force being removed from the Parliament and they sitting thought themselves not safe untill he by his authority and presence came to awe the Soâ—ldiery and the tumults that want nothing but an Head to lead them to another Rebellion Sect. His prudent management of affairs throughout his progress to a subserviency to his design His Excellency whom former Powers could not draw from Scotland with either fear or favour takes this opportunity to do his Countrey and King a publick right And so though ordered to bring with him onely three hundred men and dispose the rest for quarters he marcheth with his whole Army modelling such Garrisons and Forces as he met with to a posture subservient to his design intrusting them with men faithfull to his and the Nations Interest which were now no more two but one and commending the care of Scotland to Major Generall Morgan a Person very industrious in assisting his Excellency going to him in his greatest extremity from London to encourage him and his Army to a resolution in those designes that were as great as they were good he marcheth with his own Army which he knew was tryed and â—…ithfull whereas the other Forces an aire dato conducta cohors bellica miles dona sequens pretioque suum mutare favorem suetus accepto pariter cum munere bello hunc habuisse dator pretâ—… quem jusserit hostem Bell. de re mil. 2. p. t. 2. n. 4. would upon the least temptation as he told the Parliament betray both himself and them too And in his way finds the Honourable His conference with the Lord Fairfax in his way to York-shire Lord Fairfax with Sir H. Cholâ—ely c. in Armes against free Quarter and for a free Parliament with whom he had private conference to each parties satisfaction Sect. Here he receives a Message from the City by the Sword-bearer to which he returns this Answer 1. That he was resolved for the Parliament as it was on the 11. of Octob. last 2. And yet when he came to the City which he said would be shortly he assures them he would satisfie their expectation Thus at once he keeps himself to his own Commission owns the onely face of Authority then in being under whose Authority he might act safely yet prâ—…ately manageth things according to his own principles and thoughts So inferiour Orbes suffer themselves to be swayed by the motion of the superiour while yet they steal a motion of their own The Parliament serve the Publick for themselves His Excellency will serve them for the Publick ' Being inviolably constant to his Principles of Virtue and religious Prudence his Ends are noble and the meanes he useth innocent His Worth had led him to the Helm of our State The Rudder he useth is an honest and vigorous Wisdome The Starre he looks on for direction is in Heaven and the Port he aimes at is the joynt welfare of Prince and People ' Sect. He is caressed by the whole Countrey but not understood And then he proceeds towards London being courted by the Countâ—ies as he passed as the Patron of Authority Law Liberty and Property his Expedition looking like a Kings Progress rather then a Souldiers March and addressed â—o by the