in the bud and prevent their further increase 4. It was necessary to have a special regard to and warchful eye upon Scotland because by reason of its contiguity no Enemy could be so obnoxious to England as it and how ready they have been to lay hold on all opportunities to disturb the peace of England frequent examples testifie both of former and later times And unless that back-door were pin'd up as great mischiefs were like to be let in thereby now as ever In order therefore to their former Resolutions the Parliament provide for a war they order the Army to march Northwards to sit upon the skirts of the Scots But Sir Tho. Fairfax their General at that time being it seems not satisfied in the thing as many others likewise were not desired to be excused and laid down his Commission VVhich action of his bred consternation in most and several descants were given thereupon the Plebeian rout whose tribunal nothing of moment can pass judged the reason to be that he durst not venture to abide the gust of those Northern blasts But wise men know how much vulgar bruits are to be heeded and that notwithstanding what was said then or can be said now the trumpet of his fame shall not be put to silence nor shall Time it self be able to wipe his name into oblivion The Parliament being thus disappointed are to seek for a General to command their Army but for that they need not go far since they had then amongst them the most renowned Cromwel of whose prowess and faithfulness they had had manifold experience and who upon their request did accept of the Charge upon which they give him a Commission thereby impowering him to command all the Forces raised and to be raised in the Commonwealth of England annulling all Commissions formerly granted to the Lord Fairfax Cromwel being thus invested with power presently addresses to the vvork and in order thereunto he took his journey towards the Army in the North June 28. 1650. As he passed great demonstrations of respect were given him by the generality of the people July 4. he arrived at York attended by many great Officers of the Army No sooner vvas he entred that City but the Lord Maior Aldermen and Sheriffs gave him an invitation to a stately Dinner expressing how much they joyed in the presence of so renowned an Hero But he remembring that it was Fighting and not Feasting that he came about tarried there no longer then to order supplies for the Army and expedite their Rendezvous By this time the Committee of Estates in Scotland was alarmed insomuch that they were frighted into an Expostulation with the Parliament thinking thereby to protract time till their Levies were perfected to that end they sent a Letter to the Speaker by Col. Grey to this effect That they wondered at the report of the English Armies advance towards their Nation and that many of their Ships were seized and secured by the English contrary to the Act of Pacification in the large Treaty which provided that no acts of Hostility should be used against each other without three months warning beforehand and that those Forces which they were raising were onely for their own defence and therefore they desired to know if the Forces of England now on their march Northward were intended for Offence or Defence to guard their own borders or invade Scotland Papers of like import were also sent to the Governour of Newcastle Major Gen. Lambert and the Lord General Cromwel The Parliament answered them by a Declaration shewing the Grounds and Reasons of their Armies advance vvith the equity and necessity thereof Their Grounds and Reasons vvere these 1. For that the Scots endeavoured to seduce the people of the Commonwealth of England from their affection and duty to the Parliament and to promote the Interest of the late King under pretence of the Covenant 2. In that they took Berwick and Carlisle and put Garisons into them in the year 1648. contrary to the large Treaty in 1640. and this done by the Parliament of Scotland even whilst English Commissioners were at Edinburgh offering to endeavour the composing of all differences betwixt the Nations by a Treaty which they refused But forasmuch as every quarrel that is lawful is not necessary for in some cases injuries are to be passed by or at least to be composed by Treaty therefore they proceed to declare the Necessity also of their present Expedition which they thus grounded All reparations of the damages done by the Scots in their late Invasion have been denied to be given in a fair way by their Parliament vvhereby they have owned the vvrongs done thereby That they have a designe again to invade us which appears thus 1. In that upon the English their demanding a Treaty for satisfaction of the injuries done in their late Invasion they in express terms declared themselves enemies to this Commonwealth 2. In that although they could not claim to themselves any Authority or Dominion over us yet in Scotland they proclaimed Charles Stuart to be King of England and Ireland and since that promised to assist him against this Commonwealth 3. In that vvhen upon preparation in Scotland for Hamiltons Invasion of England the Parliament of England sent Commissioners to treat of an Accommodation to prevent effusion of bloud they declined the Treaty and in stead thereof an Army speedily marcheth into England 4. In that they declared against the English Parliament and Army as Sectaries ranking them vvith Malignants and Papists These provocations being intolerable and no satisfaction being to be had but vvhat the Sword must procure the Parliament resolve upon that course vvhereby seeing no other expedient could effect it to vindicate the Nations honour and to secure it against the like insolencies for the time to come This Declaration was quickly seconded by another from the Lord General and his Army which they directed to the well-affected in Scotland and was to this effect That they being to advance into Scotland for the ends expressed in the Parliaments Declaration of June 26. they considering the practices of some in that Kingdom whose designes are by unjust reproaches and false slanders to make the Army odious and render them to be rather monsters then men Therefore to clear themselves they could do no otherwise then re-minde them of their behaviour when they were before in Scotland what injury or wrong was then done either to the persons houses or goods of any considering this it was hoped that such their former demeanour would not be forgotten nor the present reports affright the people from their habitations To satisfie them further the Lord General and the Army declared from the integrity of their hearts That such of the Gentry and Commonalty as inhabit where the Army may come they being none of those who by their counsels laid the foundation of a second Invasion or closed with him who hath endeavoured to engage forraign Princes against
children God took them at their word For not to mention what some affirm that a bloudy issue hath ever since hereditarily descended upon them not long after according to Christs prophecy their City was destroyed their Temple not on stone left upon another and themselves ceasing to be a Nation became with Cain Fugitives and Vagabonds upon the Earth having now according to that prophecie of Hosea been many dayes yea many years without a King and without a Prince and without a sacrifice and without an image and without an Ephod and without a teraphim being dispersed amongst all Nations and hated by all people remaining nevertheless in such a degree of contumacious obduration that here in England whither some of them wandred they crucified children in despight to and derision of the name of Christ For which and other execrable practices they were justly expelled this Nation by King Edward the first in the year of Christs incarnation 1291. And so willing were the people then to be rid of them that for this Act of that King the Commons in Parliament freely granted him a whole Fifteenth Thus they were expulsed and ever since for the space of 364 years they have been excluded without the publike permission of so much as one Synagogue in England But this our Protector having a large I say not conscience but heart and being of tender bowels his charity extended so far as to plead for the re-entertainment of these guests to which purpose he propounded it to several eminent Ministers for their approbation alleadging that since there is a promise of their Conversion means must be used to that end which is the preaching of the Gospel and that cannot be had except they be permitted to reside where the Gospel is preached But by his leave when Gods good time is come there shall not be means wanting to accomplish that work which being of an extraordinary nature is not like to be done by ordinary means Besides such was then and yet is the temper of the people of England so full of diversities in opinions and reduced to such an indifferencie in matters of Religion that it is more then probable the number of their Proselytes would have exceeded that of our Converts But this is not all for it seems our Protectors charity that we mentioned before according to the Proverb began at home he had a promise of 200000 l. from the Jews in case he procured their Toleration here as saith Mr. Prynne in his Narrative p. 56. which sweet morsel he had swallowed by thus gratifying them had not the design been opposed by Arguments as sharp as weapons of STEEL The War with Spain beginning now to wax warm not onely under the Torrid Zone but likewise Northwards of the Tropick the Protector thought it best to annoy this Enemy in as many places as possible which could not well be brought about without a Peace with France which being effected roome might be made for English Feet to tread Flemish ground The French at this time earnestly desired the same for their chief minister of State Cardinal Mazarine saw every Champaign how prejudicious it was to his Masters Affairs in Flanders especially in besieging a Sea-Port Town to be without correspondencie with England This gave the Protector not onely opportunity of making up the long continued feud that had been betwixt the two Nations but to do it on very advantagious terms wherein the French King was content to deny himself in sending out of his Dominions his near relations the Stuarts which kindness the Protector requited with sending him 6000 Foot-Souldiers Thus the alliance was contracted The impediments that hindered Peace with France being past over to the Protectors great content he set himself wholy to a thorow prosecution of his Wars with Spain For this purpose the two Generals Blake and Montague had with a strong Navie long beleaguered the Port of Cadiz by Sea and with many provocations endeavoured to dare out an Enemy but the grave-pac'd Spaniard durst not step one stride to drive the English from his coasts but rather waited the lucky hour when scarcity of provisions or distress by weather would do the work to his hand and save the Limbs and Lives of many good Catholicks which might miscarry in forcing the English farther off But this piece of Policy little prevailed for when the Fleet wanted water and other necessaries the Generals found out a way to supply it by sayling to the Bay of Wyers in Portugal whence they were recruted in the mean time leaving behind Captain Stayner with a Squadron of seven Ships to have an eye on Cadiz Now it hapned that in the absence of the Generals a stiff gale of wind forc't Stainer to ply it off to Sea which brought him upon the discovery of an excellent object it was the King of Spaines Plate-Fleet richly laden with Gold Silver Pearl and other good commodities newly brought from the Indies The Spaniards at the first sight of the English Frigats took them for Fisher-boats which indeed they were in a sense for Captain Stainers work was to fish for gold and now seeing so fair a shole swimming he thought he would be sure to catch some considerable quantity or lose his life in the attempt wherefore with these three the Speaker Bridgwater and Plymouth Frigats the remaining part of the Squadron being driven to Leeward he gallantly fell upon the Spanish great Galleons which were seven in number and plyed them so sore with great shot that in few hours the whole Fleet was quite spoyled one whereof was sunk another burnt two forc'd on ground one run away and two remained in the Conquerours hands which were safely conveyed to England and very joyfully received by the Protector who set apart a particular day to give God thanks for this good success The Protector being much necessitated for money and withal impatient to tarry longer for a Confirmation of his Dignity by the People which although he could not obtain of the preceding Parliament he hoped he might gain of another this perswaded him to attempt once more a new Representative Which being resolved upon he issued out Writs for Election throughout the three Nations But remembring the Speeches and carriage of some in the late Parliament private intimation was given to certain persons in several Counties to obstruct if possible their Election again in this ensuing Session yet for all this the generality of people being swayed by respect made choyce of them they thought sit and such as were most able to carry on the weighty affairs of the Common-wealth Septemb. 17. 1656 being appointed for the general meeting at Westminster the Members accordingly made their appearance at the Parliament House where they found quite contrary to the ancient Priviledge of Parliament that no Members could enter into the House except they were first tyed up in a promise Not to act any thing prejudicial to the present Government Many of the Members would not bite
the Scots desired Articles to depart in peace which Lambert though a man of War quickly condescended to and so the place was yeilded upon these Conditions 1. That the Souldiers in Garison who were about five hundred should march away with flying Colours 2. That the Towns People should have what belonged to them 3. That all provisions for War together with all Guns and shipping of War should be delivered up for the use of the Common-Wealth of England This place was of great concernment for besides the strength of it it was a most commodious Harbour and in many respects better then that at Leith and from thence the Army in the progress of their Conquests might have constant supplies of all necessaries The Lord General having dispatched his Affairs at Leith made no stay but immediatly crost the Frith to his Army then at Brunt Island where he finds all things governed by Lambert with much Prudence and Policie the Souldiers couragious and Commissary General Whalley with a strong Party of Horse abroad scouring the Sea-side of Fife having some Men of War by Sea attending his Motion The Activity of this excellent Commander was very eminent who quickly subjugated many small Forts and possest himself of all their Artillery with the Ships and Pinaces that lay near them for security Having now brought his Affairs to a very hopeful condition the Lord General placed Colonel Wests Regiment in Brunt Island and with the rest of the Army and Train of Artillery July 30. 1651. he marched away to reduce St. Johnstons thereby to stop the High-landers from offering to send any Supplies to Sterling either of Men or Provisions The swiftness of this March was such that in two dayes the English Army came within sight of the Town and no sooner had they faced the same but intelligence informed the Lord General what small resistance he was like to meet withal which news was no way unwelcome but most acceptable for now 't was hoped to obtain possession by words not by swords and therefore this Summons was sent in That being informed the Town was void of a Garison save the inhabitants and some few Country men he thought fit to send to them to deliver the same to him immediately and that he did thereby promise to secure their Persons from violence and their goods from plunder This Message was immediately sent away by a Trumpeter who as it was conceived would blow open the Gates and make a free entrance for the whole Army but it fell out contrary to expectation for this Messenger of Peace approaching one of the Gates he was denyed admittance and returned back again by the Towns-men with a short Reply That they were not in a capacity to receive any Letters This slighting of Peace had like to have made them uncapable of Mercy but that a speedy excuse from the Magistrates of the Town was sent forth to mend the matter which declared That the Kings Majesty had sent a very strong Party able to maintain the Town and over-power them with a Governour But alwayes to observe civility with his Lordship they had obtained leave from the Governour to excuse themselves by shewing how unable they were to treat This was strange but not so strange as true For the day before the Lord Dafferes had entered the town with 1300 souldiers and therefore General Cromwel once more resolved to try the strength of his pen in a new Summons to this new Governour before they felt the fury of his sword But this was to little purpose for Dafferes would not return the least line or word in answer This sullen silence caused the General to give a speedy Order for drawing away the Water out of the Moats round about the Town whilst three Regiments of Foot Col. Prides Reads and Maliverers boldly advanced and planted four great Guns which plaid furiously into the Town this continued for one night but the Governour next day finding himself in an Errour was unwilling to persist any longer in it for fear of being brought to the stool of Repentance and therefore sent out to desire a Treaty which being concluded upon it was there agreed to deliver up the Town to the Lord General Thus the English Army run on in a continued Series of Successes making all places that offered to withstand their invincible force bow in obedience and come under their command and all this without the least opposition from the Scots grand Army commanded by the King himself which had lain long in and about Sterling strongly intrenched as if their onely design had been to defend themselves fearing as 't was thought to offend their Enemies and therefore continued their station to no other purpose then to bring up the Rear in Cromwel's Triumphs But it fell out otherwayes for the English Army having advanced as far Northwards as St. Johnstons the King thought good to make use of the present opportunity seeing his Affairs in Scotland were reduced to a desperate condition and fearing the fate that hung over that Nation would inevitably fall upon his own head did not he prevent it by some extraordinary means therefore knowing a desperate Disease requires a desperate Cure and that being in a house ready to fall it would be the safest course by a sudden departure to save himself by seeking a better Habitation he presently took that course To which end first of all casting up his force he found it extended to about 16000 strong with these and hopes of farther help from Friends he resolves to venter for England it self not doubting if his success answered his desires to hook in both Scotland and Ireland into the Bargain This Resolution he resolves to put in execution and therefore hastens his souldiers to drive on the design Thursday July 31. 1651. all things being in readiness the Scotch Army began their march from Sterling and the sixth day after entered England by the way of Carlisle The noyse of this Irruption made a terrible Eccho through all the Nation especially in the ears of the Parliament at Westminster who were much startled with the suddenness of the Action But they like vigilant Statists doubting such a thing would happen had beforehand provided to welcome these new-come Guests and first of all Major General Harrison attended by 3000 Horse and Dragoons joyning himself with Colonel Rich and some other great Commanders marched away to salute them upon their entrance into England Then an Act was issued forth and sent into all the Counties of the Nation to raise up the Militia into a present posture of Defence and besides to make all sure another Act was presently sent abroad which prohibited correspondency with Charles Stuart or any of his Party wherein it was enacted and declared That no person whatsoever should presume to hold any correspondencie with the said Charles Stuart or with his Party or with any of them nor give any intelligence to them nor countenance encourage abet adhere to or assist