York as also by fourty three Dukes Marquesses Earls Vicounts and Barons of the House of Peers and cxviii members of the House of Commons there present many others by reason of distance of place sickness and imployments elsewhere in his Majesties service and for want of timely notice of that Proclamation of Summons not being then come thither But the effect which this their Letter produced was in the first place to be cryed throughout the Streets of London in scorn as the Petition of the Prince and Duke of York for peace and a meer frivolous answer or Paper in form of a Letter directed to the Earl of Forth then General of the King's forces wherein was inclosed a printed paper called a National Covenant of the Kingdoms of England and Scotland and two other Papers the one called a Declaration of both the Kingdoms and the other a Declaration of the Kingdom of Scotland In that their General 's Letter it was pretended that because there was no address to the two Houses of Parliament nor acknowledgment of them it could not be communicated to them whereas it was notoriously known that he did so far impart it as that a Committee of theirs advised and fram'd the answer Besides it plainly appears by the penning thereof that they all concurr'd in the Resolution therein mention'd whereby 't is clear enough that this was but an excuse or shift to avoid any Treaty And what could that printed Covenant and two Declarations inclosed signifie but to shew that before they would admit of a Treaty all the Lords and Commons assembled at Oxford must join in that Covenant with them for the absolute extirpation of Church-government here without nay tho against the King's consent submit the Lives Liberties and Estates of themselves and all others who according to their allegiance had assisted his Majesty to the mercy of those members then sitting at Westminster as also to admit of and justifie that invasion of the Scots according to the plain sense of their Declaration But notwithstanding all this the Lords and Commons at Oxford continuing still sollicitous for an happy peace for avoiding delay or cavil about Names or Titles or descants upon words humbly besought his Majesty to send Messengers with Instructions to desire a Treaty for peace Whereunto he readily assenting two persons were by him nominated and a Letter written to the Earl of Essex for their safe conduct Which Letter had in substance this Answer viz. that if they would first agree that those Lords and Commons sitting a Westminster were the Parliament and the King 's only Council that those Gentlemen should have a safe conduct This being therefore taken into consideration it was thought fit to desire his Majesty to write his royal Letters to the Earl of Essex himself and therein to inclose a Letter superscribed To the Lords and Commons of Parliament assembled at Westminster Which his Majesty accordingly did and thereby desired that a convenient number of fit persons might be appointed and authorized to meet with all convenient speed at such a place as they should nominate with an equal number of fit persons appointed and authorized by him to treat of the ways and means for setling the present distractions of the Kingdom and procuring a happy peace In answer whereunto they insisted that themselves thus sitting at Westminster were the Parliament convened according to the Fundamental Laws of the Kingdom and that those loyal persons members of the Parliament who were come to his Majesty at Oxford according to his royal Proclamation had deserted their Trust and levyed war against the Parliament and in sum did intimate that what they should do herein must be with the concurrent advice of the Commissioners for the Kingdom of Scotland according to their late solemn League and Covenant calling his Majesties earnest endeavours for Peace but Professions and their own feigned pretences most real intentions letting fall by way of menace that his Majesty could not be the least and last sufferer Hitherto as a consequence of this second Invasion by the Scots I have given a brief touch of his Majesties farther incessant endeavours for obtaining a happy peace with these violent spirited men by an amicable Treaty Which taking no effect by reason they then saw such a likelihood through the aid and assistance of those their dear Brethren to carry all powerfully before them I shall look back a little and take notice not only how their heavy oppressions upon the people by many farther grievous Impositions were carried on but how they proceeded in their advancing the Scepter of Iesus Christ in this Realm for so they called their Presbyterian Discipline Wherein I observe that within six days next after this their Invasion the Members at Westminster passed an Ordinance for regulating the Vniversity of Cambridge by Edward Earl of Manchester then their Chancellour that is to say for turning out all loyal persons from their Headships and Fellowships in any of the Colleges there and for removing scandalous Ministers id est all orthodox men throughout the several associated Counties of Essex Norfolk Suffolk Hertford Cambridge Huntington and Lincoln That the Welch also might be the sooner brought under the yoke they soon after made another Ordinance whereby they impower'd Sir Thomas Middleton Knight to take Subscriptions for raising of Forces in the six Counties of North-wales and give the public faith for such moneys as should be raised to that purpose CHAP. XVIII HAving thus taken notice of the Transactions in their Parliament at Westminster I come now according to my designed method to the Militarie-business of this year 1643. In which I find that the King having gained ground in the North and West his farther success in sundry parts was not unsutable thereto for Sir Hugh Cholmley of Whitby in Yorkshire who at first had been a most confiding man thought it now time to declare for the King So likewise did Captain Brown-Bushell Governour of Scarborough Castle in that County who then delivered it up for his Majestie And within few days after their great Northern Champion Ferdinando Lord Fairfax was routed by the Earls of Newcastle and Cumberland at Bramham-moore in that County which great defeat so startled the Members at Westminster that they forthwith solicited the ayd of their Brethren the Scots In the neck of this also Prince Rupert upon a sharp encounter near Bermicham a seditious and populous Town in Warwick shire with a strong party of the Rebels commanded by Colonel Greaves worsted them with the loss of the Loyal William Earl of Denbigh who there received his deaths wound Soon after that also another party of them commanded by Iohn son and heir to the famous Sir Iohn Hotham their trusty Governour of Hull was routed near Ancaster in Lincolnshire And Litchfield close which they had got after the unsuccessfull attempt thereof by the Lord Brooke was without much adoe
Scotland much revived their drooping Spirits for winter being over they fram'd an Ordinance that Sir William Brereton in Cheshire should have authority to take Subscriptions for raising more forces in that County and soon after imposed a new Excise upon Allom Coperas Monmouth-caps Hats of all sorts Hops Saffron Starch all manner of Silks and Stuffs and on several other commodities made or growing in England not formerly charged And having by their many and great grievous Taxes thus largely provided for welcoming in the Scots those their dear Brethren advanced Southwards and with the Earl of Manchester laid siege to the City of York The loss of all the North being by this means thus in great peril and Prince Rupert coming with the chief of all His Majesties forces to the relief thereof he was encountred with the greatest strength that the English Rebels then had the joynt forces under the command of Ferdinando Lord Fairfax and the Earl of Manchester with the whole Scottish Army commanded by Leslley which drew off from their siege of York whereupon in a bloudy Battle fought at Marston-moore about four miles from that City though at first he utterly routed the Scots and the Earl of Manchester yet following the chase too far presuming the day his own through the onely conduct of Cromwell then Lieutenant General to Manchester with a fresh body of Horse the rest of the royal Army after a valiant and â—harp dispute being much over-powered was totally shattered and vanquisht So that he was constrain'd to quit the field and march Southwards with what Horse he had left exposing York hopeless of relief to the power of the Enemy which by reason thereof was delivered up to Cromwell within few days after But of this fatal Action the King then far remote knowing nothing at present His royal Heart incessantly minding the preservation of his people from further spoil by the wars sent to the Members at Westminster desiring as formerly that they would appoint such and so many persons as they should think fit sufficiently authorized by them to attend him upon safe-conduct given and there to conclude how all things in question might be fully setled Which gracious Message though not then regarded so much were they elated with that their success at Marston-moore yet after that grand defeat of their old General the Earl of Essex in Cornwal which hapned on the first of September next following His Majesty then reminding them of that his Message from Evesham they did vouchsafe within two months following to send him certain propositions but such as did still apparently manifest their confidence to carry on the work by power through the ayd of the Scots with whom they had entred into so firm a combination for assistance by their solemn League and Covenant For by these propositions amongst others they had the boldness to make these following Demands viz. that the King should swear to sign that Instrument called the solemn League and Covenant adding according to the example of His Royal Father of happy memory for so they had the face to say though Mr. Nye had exprest that it was such an Oath as for matter persons and other circumstances was never in any age before And not onely so but that an Act of Parliament might be passed for to injoyne the taking of it by all His Majesties Subjects within His three Kingdomes Next that a Bill should be passed for the utter abolishing of Episcopacy without which Goverment it is well known that no National Church ever was since the Apostles times And that their Ordinance for the calling and sitting of their Assembly of Divines should be confirm'd by Act of Parliament Also that an Act should be passed for confirming their Treaty for bringing in the Scots-Army into England and for establishing that their disloyal Declaration made by themselves and the Scots bearing date 30. Ian. 1643. whereby Prince Rupert and Prince Maurice His Majesties Nephews Iames Earl of Derby William Marquess of Newcastle Iohn Earl of Bristol with divers other of his Nobility the Archbishop of Canterbury and Bishop of Ely then their prisoners with a multitude of other worthy persons both of this Kingdome and of Scotland were excepted as to life and their estates doom'd to pay publick Debts Likewise that a great number more whose names are there exprest together with all those Loyal Members of Parliament which attended his Majesty at Oxford should be removed from His Majesties Councils and never to come within the Verge of the Court but by their permission Then that all Judges Serjeants Councellors Attorneys Doctors Advocates and Proctors in the Law-common or Civil who had adhered to the King should be made uncapable of any practice publick or private and all Clergy-men whatsoever who had also adhered to the King to be incapable of any preferment or imployment in the Church or Common-wealth Moreover that the Forces by Sea and Land for the Kingdomes of England and Scotland should be setled by Act of Parliament in Commissioners nominated by both their Houses of Parliament and that the education and marriage of the King's children as also the making Peace or War with any forreign Princes should be with the advice and consent or Parliament Furthermore that by Act of Parliament the Deputy or chief Governour of Ireland be nominated by both Houses of Parliament and in the Intervals of Parliament by Commissioners to continue during the pleasure of both Houses And that the Lord Chancellour Lord Keeper Lord Treasurer Commissioners of the great Seal or Treasury Lord Warden of the Cinque-ports Chancellour of the Exchequer and Dutchy Secretaries of State Judges of both Benches and Barons of the Exchequer for the Kingdomes of England and Ireland should be nominated by both Houses of Parliament to continue quamdiu se benè gesserint and in the Intervals of Parliament by the before-mention'd Commissioners The like for the Kingdome of Scotland adding the Justice-general and in such manner as the Estates in Parliament there should think fit Divers other Propositions also they then sent no less unreasonable than these which for brevities sake I omit So that in short the summe of all was no less than that His Majesty should condescend to the utter destruction and overthrow of the Religion by Law established in the Church of England which he had sworn to maintain and whereunto all the reverend Clergy of the Realm had likewise subscribed sacrifice the Lives and Estates of divers of his most faithful subjects to the avarice and ambition of these men subject all those loyal persons learned in the Laws Common and Civil to their malice Give up the power of the Sword totally into the hands of his greatest Enemies therewith not onely to oppress his good subjects at home but according to their own pleasure to molest and annoy his Friends and Allies abroad and prostitute the Education of his dear
Independents of the Army to gain the whole and absolute power of rule into their hands having printed and published several Declarations Remonstrances Manifestos and Proposals besides Petitions of their own framing whereunto they got subscriptions in many places insinuating to the people their willingness to redress publick Greivances to be the Restorers of Peace the Laws and Liberties of the Subject to be setlers of Religion maintainers of the priviledges of Parliament Callers to accompt of all Committees Sequestrators Treasurers c. and to be their deliverers from Excise and other Taxes but above all preservers of all true Interests Restorers of the King to his just Rights and Prerogatives with Honour Freedom and Safty to his person without which they professed there could be no setled peace or happiness in this Nation And in pursuance of their undertakings having made Addresses to His Majesty with more tolerable overtures than any that he could obtain from the Members sitting at Westminster they after a while made private proposals to him sutable meerly to their own Interests but wholy derogatory to his Regal power the Religion established by Law as also to the Liberties and Properties of the Subject Whereunto when they saw that the King could not with his Conscience and Honour assent they enterteined new designs against his Person and Government ushering them in by the help of a Levelling-party who in pursuance thereof obtruded clamourous Petitions against any farther Treaty with His Majesty and demanded exemplary Justice from the Members at Westminster against him which through the influence that the Army had on them considering how the Houses had been garbled were entertain'd with Thanks Hence was it that when those Propositions of 13. Nov. anno 1647. were brought into the House from His Majesty whereby he pressed them so earnestly for a personal Treaty the four Dethroning Bills were sent to him to be first signed before they would admit thereof And upon his refusal to yield unto them those Destructive Votes of no more Addresses to him were passed The miserable condition of his Majesty and in him of all his loyal Subjects being therefore thus evidently seen by most men who beheld nothing but slavery and oppression thenceforth to be their portion did so awaken them that from Essex there came a Petition by many thousands to the Members at Westminster for a personal Treaty with the King as the most proper means to a well grounded peace After that another from Surrey a multitude of that County accompanying it to Westminster Which relisht so ill with the Grandees that they sent the Guards to beat them away whereupon divers were wounded and some slain Nor had the Kentish-men better success for having by their Grand Jury in the name of the whole Shire fram'd a petition for peace the Committee of that County being jealous that the people would take Heart thereat prohibited the same by printed papers published in all the Churches branding it to be seditious and tumultuous saying that they would hang up two in every Parish that were promoters of it and sequester the rest And when the people seeing themselves opposed in that their modest way of Application resolved of farther consideration therein by a general meeting and to come arm'd for their own defence a party of Horse was first sent in amongst them and afterwards the whole Army under the Command of their General Fairfax whereupon some of them fled into Essex where Sir Charles Lucas and divers of that County joyned with them as also the Lord Capell at Colchester with some Horse which necessitating the rest for their own defence to make to Sandwich and some Castles on the coast thereabouts the Army advanc't after slew and took divers of them prisoners and sequestred the estates of all that desired peace Weever a hot-headed Independent having mov'd in the House of Commons that all Kent might be sequestred because they had rebell'd and all Essex because they would rebel But notwithstanding the strength of their Army and severity against those who did not submit to their oppressive power the Scots having rays'd an Army which was then ready to march into England in pursuance of the ends of the Covenant as hath been observed there were many others in sundry parts of the Nation as well Presbytereans as Royalists discerning no better fruits to themselves of those successes which the Independents then had than oppression and slavery boldly made attempts in order to the rescue of His Majesty out of their cruel hands and to free the whole Kingdome from their farther Tyranny Of these the first was by Sir Nicholas Kemish who got with some forces into Chepstow-castle The next was that of the valiant Sir Marmaduke Langdale who shortly after surprized the strong town of Barwick After this Col. Laughorn Poyer and Powell having raysed eight thousand men in Pembrokeshire secured Lenvy-castle with the town and castle of Pembroke and declared in those parts for the settlement of the King and Kingdome Sir Philip Musgrave also upon the like fair hopes took Carlisse About the same time likewise part of the royal Navy consisting of twenty great Ships of War under the command of their Vice-Admiral Batten revolted and came in to the Prince in Yarmouth road Pontfrait-castle being within few days after surprized by the Royalists and the Earl of Holland with the Lord Francis Villers in Arms with two thousand men near Kingston upon Thames And to make the expectation more secure Duke Hamilton with a powerfull Army of the Scots entring England published a Declaration consisting of these heads 1. That the King should be brought to London to treat in person with the two Houses of Parliament 2. That all those who had a hand in or contrived the carrying of the King from Holdenby should be condignly punished 3. That the English Army should be disbanded 4. That Presbytery should be settled 5. And that the Members of Parliament which were forcibly secluded from the House should be re-seated there After which within few days Major Lilburne Brother to Iohn Governour of Tinemouth-castle in the Bishoprick of Durham declared for the King But the fruits of all these fair hopes were soon blasted for as that Castle was shortly after storm'd by Sir Arthur Haslerig and Lilburne with his men put to the Sword So was Chepstow-castle by Col. Eure and Sir Nicholas Kemish kill'd in cold bloud The Earl of Holland also with the Lord Francis Villers were encountred by Colonel Rich Major Gibbons and Sir Michael Livesey totally routed the Lord Francis Villers slain the Earl himself pursued to St. Ives in Huntingdon-shire and there taken Laughorne Poyer and Powell were likewise defeated by Cromwell and Colonel Horton And Sir Iohn Owen who was in Arms about that time in Northwales vanquisht by Major General Mitton The Navy also brought in by Batten fell off to the Earl of Warwick Duke
day of March instant be presented chosen or appointed to any Benefice formerly called Benefice with Cure of Souls or to Preach any publick setled Lecture in England or Wales shall before he be admitted c. be Iudged and Approved by the Persons hereafter named to be a Person for the Grace of God in him his Holy and unblameable Conversation as also for his knowledge and utterance able and fit to Preach the Gospel viz. Francis Rous Esq Dr. Thomas Goodwyn Dr. Iohn Owen Mr. Thankful Owen Dr. Arrowsmith Dr. Tuckney Dr. Horton Mr. Joseph Caryll Mr. Philip Nye Mr. William Carter Mr. Sidrak Simpson Mr. William Greenhill Mr. William Strong Mr. Thomas Manton Mr. Samuel Slater Mr. William Couper Mr. Stephen Marshall Mr. Iohn Tombes Mr. Walter Cradok Mr. Samuel Faircloath Mr. Hugh Peters Mr. Peter Sterrey Mr. Samuel Bamford Mr. Thomas Valentine of Chaford Mr. Henry Iesse Mr. Obediah Sedgwick Mr. Nicholas Lockyer Mr. Daniel Dike Mr. Iames Russel Mr. Nathaniel Campfield Robert Tichburne Alderman of London Mark Hildesley Thomas Wood. John Sadler William Goff Thomas St. Nicholas William Packer Edward Crescet Esq or any five or more of them Having now ended this year 1653. as to the Principal Transsactions at Home I must look back a little and take notice of our farther Military contests with the Dutch wherein I find that on the second of Iune upon another sharp Fight in Yarmouth rode they much worsted those Hogen-mogens so likewife on the last day of Iuly wherein Van Trump their famous Admiral was slain But both parties at length growing weary of this chargeable and destructive War before the end of this year a Peace was concluded betwixt them though not ratified till April ensuing Which Peace with the Dutch and the slavish condition whereunto this Monster Cromwell had brought the People of these Nations made him not only much Idolized here by all his Party but somewhat feared abroad For certain it is that most of the Princes of Europe made application to him amongst which the French King was the first his Embassador making this Speech to him in the Banquetting-house at White-Hall Your most serene Highness hath received already some principal assurances of the King my Master and of his desire to establish a perfect Correspondency between his Dominions and England His Majesty gives unto your Highness this day some publick Demonstration of the same and sending his Excellency for his Service in the quality of Embassador to your Highness doth plainly shew that the esteem which his Majesty makes of your Highness and the Interest of his People have more power in his Councils than many Considerations that would be of great concernment to a Prince less affected with the one and the other This proceeding grounded upon such sound principles and so different from that which is only guided by Ambition renders the Friendship of the King my Master as much considerable for its firmness as for the Utility it may produce and for that reason it is such eminent esteem and sought after by all the greatest Princes and Powers of the Earth But his Majesty doth Communicate none to any with so much Ioy and Chearfulness as unto those whose vertuous deeds and extraordinary Merits render them more eminently Famous than the greatness of their Dominions His Majesty doth acknowledge all these advantages wholly to reside in your Highness and that Divine Providence after so many Troubles and Calamities could not deal more favourably with these three Nations nor cause them to forget their past Misery with more content and satisfaction than by submitting them to so just a Government And whereas it is not enough for the compleating of their happiness to make them enjoy Peace at Home since it depends no less on a good correspondency with Neighbour-Nations abroad the King my Master doth not doubt but to find also the same disposition in your Highness which his Majesty doth express in those Letters which his Excellencie hath Order to present unto your Highness After so many Dispositions exprest by his Majesty and your Highness towards the accommodation of the two Nations there is cause to believe that their wishes will be soon Accomplisht As for me I have none greater than to be able to serve the King my Master with the good liking and satisfaction of your Highness and that the happiness I have to tender unto your Highness the first assurances of his Majesties esteem may give me occasion to deserve by my respects the honour of your Gracious Affection Being therefore thus puft up he soon after passed an Act of Grace and Pardon to all Persons of the Scottish Nation excepting Iames late Duke Hamilton William late Duke Hamilton Iohn Earl of Crawford-Lindsey Iames Earl of Calender and many more therein specially named As also another Act for making Scotland one Common-wealth with England Whereby it was likewise Ordained that thirty Persons of that Nation should serve in Parliament here for Scotland And that the People of that Nation should be discharged of their Allegiance to any Issue of the late King Also that Kingship and Parliamentary-Authority should be there abolished and the Arms of Scotland viz. St. Andrew's Cross should thenceforth be borne with the Arms of this Common-wealth All which being done he removed his Lodgings which were before at the Cockpit into those of the late King in his Royal Pallace at White-Hall About this time it was that Colonel Venables having been imploy'd by Cromwell to attempt some of the chief Plantations made by the Spanyard in the West-Indies Landing his Men in Hispaniola and expecting with little trouble to have taken S. Domingo he received a shameful defeat But the next Month he had better success in those Forreign parts For the Spaniards in Iamaco timorously flying before them when they Landed there an easie acquisition was made by the English of that large Island which hath since proved a very prosperous and beneficial Plantation But to return Cromwell by this time being grown very great to make himself the more formidable to all his late Majesties good Subjects then called Royalists by establishing his Dominion upon more Innocent blood having by the wicked practises of his Emissaries trayn'd in some Persons purpose of endeavouring their own and the Peoples freedome from his Tyrannous Power he caused another bloody Theater to be erected in Westminster-Hall calling it an high-Court of Iustice where Mr. Iohn Gerard and Mr. Wowell two Gentlemen of great Loyalty received Sentence of Death and were accordingly Sacrificed as a peace-Offering to this Moloch For the better maintenance likewise and encouragement of Preaching-Ministers and for uniting and severing of Parishes he made another Act which begins thus Whereas many Parishes in this Nation are without the constant and Powerful Preaching of the Gospel through want of competent maintenance c. Also another for Souldiers which had serv'd the Common-wealth in
next following landed at Dover Whence attended by most of the Loyal Nobility and Gentry of this Realm he came to London upon the 29th of that Month being the Anniversary of his Birth where with stately Arches of Triumph costly Pageants Bells various sorts of excellent Musick Bonefires and joy inexpressible he was received and proceeded in State through that great City to his Royal Palace at White-Hall the chief and happy Instrument of this His Majesties most miraculous Restauration without blood-shed being the above-mentioned Colonel George Monke a Devonshire Gentleman of an Antient and Worthy Family lineally descended from King Edward the IV by the Lady Frances Daughter and Coheir to Arthur Plantagenet Vicount Lisle his Natural Son Who having put himself in Arms for the King at the Commencement of this grand defection and so continuing till by a second Invasion of the Scots the Rebels prevailed in sundry parts by taking divers Garrisons and many of His Majesties Loyal Subjects Prisoners amongst which it was his hap to be one he thought it better to gain his Liberty by receiving entertainment in their Army until he could discern a proper opportunity to do His Majesty service than by so suffering Which at last with no less Prudence than Courage he most faithfully performed as hath been observed and for which he hath since that time been deservedly remunerated not only with several great and honourable Titles viz. Baron Monke of Powtheridge Earl of Torington Duke of Albemarle and Knight of the most Noble Order of the Garter as also made Captain General of all his Forces Horse and Foot throughout his whole Dominions but with ample Possessions for the better support of those high Dignities A SHORT VIEVV OF THE LATE TROUBLES IN ENGLAND CHAP. XLIII HAving now finished this Narrative with as much brevity as I well could do whereby it hath been fully made evident by what Artifices this seeming-Godly Generation did at first get power into their cruel hands that is to say their many specious Declarations and solemn promises for the Defence of the Protestant Religion the Laws of the Land the Liberties of the Subject and Priviledges of Parliament I shall now crave leave to make some short Observations thereon and give most ample instances of their contrary Actings in every of these even in those very times in which their Dagon of Presbytery was visibly Triumphant And first as to the Protestant Religion After they had under pretence of great danger by a Jesuitical-party of destroying the Protestant Religion fram'd a protestation for preserving the same as it was exprest in the Doctrine and Discipline of the Church of England Which protestation the farther to satisfy the People of their own integrity was solemnly taken by all the Members and Ordered to be Printed and sent down into the several Counties within few days after they made an Explanation thereof viz. That by the true reformed Protestant Religion was meant so far as it was opposite to Popery and that the said words were not to be extended to the maintenance of any Form Discipline or Government nor of any Rules or Ceremonies of the said Church of England And having given themselves such Latitude by that their After-explanation viz. not to desend the Protestant Religion as it stood establisht by Law and was exprest in the XXXIX Articles but as it was repugnant to Popery and taught perhaps by all Brownists Anabaptists Familists and other Sectaries which made way for all that brood to joyn with them They then Ordered that no Minister should take any Oath at his Induction but what should be warranted by Scripture And soon after fell into debate for the Extirpation of Episcopacie Then Ordered that no Service should be Read nor Psalm sung in going pâ—ocession Next Voted that the Government of the Church of England by Archbishops Bishops c. had been found by long experience to be a great impediment to the perfect reformation and growth of Religion and very prejudical to the civil Government of this Kingdom As also that Archiepiscopal and Episcopal Iurisdiction should be exercised by themselves And brought in a Bill for abolishing the Cross in Baptism Surpliss Bowing at the name of Iesus standing up at the Gospel c. Nevertheless to set up Lectures Likewise that whosoever should refuse to take the Protestation should be held unfit to bear Office in the Church or Common-Wealth conceiving it to be a true testimony for that was their expression to distinguish the Ephramites from the Gileadites And within four days after Voted Thirteen Bishops Delinquents with desire that they might be impeached as Authors of Sedition for having a hand in the later Canons What private Conferences they had about this time in order to the Extirpation of Episcopacy whereby for want of Government in the Church they might the sooner bring all to confusion take their own Testimony At an assembly of about an hundred Priests at Mr. Calamie's a London Priest about a Petition against the Bishops it being insisted on that Heresies would farther spread if Bishops were put down the Priests thereupon sent for Mr. Green and Mr. Spenser of the seperate Congregations to desire them for a time they would suspend their open meetings and be more private in their practise in regard that their publique meeting was an obstacle to the suppression of the Bishops but afterwards they might have free libertie of their practise The words were uttered by Mr. Calamine who was afterwards to violent against their toleration And to hasten this universal Confusion they appointed the pulling down of Rayles about Communion Tables and the removing of such Tables giving liberty by a special Order to the Inhabitants any where throughout the Kingdom to erect Lectures whereby Mechanicks and Illiterate-men were set up to the infinite scandal of Religion and increase of Schisme And when the House of Lords discerning these licentious and irreverent courses made a publique Order injoying the due observation of the Book of Common Prayer in all Churches without alteration the House of Commons by means of the prevalent Partie therein in opposition thereto and extenuation thereof declared that but Eleven of the Lords assented to that Order and that Nine refused ordering that their Declaration therein should be dispersed and Read throughout all the Churches in England It can hardly be imagined what strange effects these their practises in the House of Commons did in a short time produce one of their own partie then acknowledging in Print That all Government and Discipline of the Church was lay'd in her Grave and all the putredinous Vermine of bold Schismaticks and frantick Sectaries glory in her Ashes making the fall thereof their own rising to mount the Pulpits c. And another of them crying out in these words Alas your poor Church is oppressed and who layeth hand to help the
rendred to Prince Rupert by Lieutenant Colonel Russell Subsequent to these I shall onely enumerate the rest in order of time Iames Earl of Northampton routed another stout party of them at Middleton Cheney in Northampton shire And about ten days following Sir Ralph Hopton obtain'd a clear victory over the Dehonshire and Cornish Rebels at Stratton in Cornwall the Earl of Stanford and Major General Chudleigh being Commanders in chief of them In which Battle were taken seventeen hundred Prisoners thirteen brass piece of Ordnance seventy Barrels of powder and store of other provisions by reason whereof the greatest part of the West except Plymouth and some other Port-Towns was reduced to obedience and in consideration of this signal service the said Sir Ralph Hopton soon after viz. 4. Sept. 1643. was advanced to the dignity of Lord Hopton of Stratton aforesaid The next month also ensued Prince Rupert's Victory over the Rebels at Chalgrave-field in Oxfordshire Commanded by Colonell Iohn Hampden who there received his deaths wound that being the very field wherein he first put in Execution the Parliaments Ordinance for the Militia of that County as a president to the rest of England and the Earl of Newcastle taking Howley house in Yorkshire soon after defeated the Lord Fairfax at Adderton Heath in that County At the beginning of Iuly likewise a party of Horse and Dragoons Commanded by Colonel Middleton coming to surprize Sir Charles Lucas in his Quarters at Padbury near Buckingham were by him routed And the Earl of Newcastle valiantly assaulting Bradford in Yorkshire took it by storm Sir Thomas Fairfax who was Governour there fleeing thence by night whereupon Hallifax and Denton house Sir Thomas Fairfax his seat were quitted by the Rebels Burton upon Trent also in Staffordshire was taken by the Lord Iermyn upon the Queens passage from Burlington in Yorkshire towards Oxford Near which time was the great fight at Landsdown in Somerset shire where the Lord Hopton had the better of the Rebels though the Valiant Sir Bevill Grenevill was there slain The Lord Wilmot and Earl of Carnarvon likewise routed Sir William Waller and Sr. Arthur Haselrigg at Roundwaydown in Wiltshire Prince Rupert also having taken Burleigh house in Rutland marcht to Bristol and after a short Siege of that City had a surrender thereof from Colonel Nathaniel Fiennes the then Governour In the next month likewise was Dorchester in Dorset shire rendred to the Earl of Carnarvon and the Isle of Portland reduced to His Majesties obedience Hereupon Weymouth and Melcombe in com Dorset submitted These great successes encouraged the King to come before the City of Gloucester the most considerable Garrison in all that part of the Realm which so startled the Earls of Bedford and Holand and the Lord Paget that they came in to the King but not long after being less apprehensive of danger fell off again to their own party Soon after this Beverley in Yorkshire was taken by the Earl of Newcastle Biddiford◠Appleford and Barnstaple in com Devon were also rendred The City of Exeter was likewise taken by Prince Maurice and Sir William Waller one of their active Generals routed at Winchester Near Auburne also in Wiltshire a strong party of them was worsted by Prince Rupert But soon after this the Earl of Essex with his whole Army met his Majesty near Newbery in Berkshire where after much slaughter neither could boast of the victory though the Earls of Carnarvon and Sunderland with Lucius Viscount Falkland then one of the Kings principal Secretaries of State there lost their lives the noise whereof did not a little avail the Rebels it giving them much reputation with all their party In October the next month Dertmouth in Devon-shire was rendred to Prince Maurice and shortly after Hawarden-Castle in Flint-shire yielded to the King's obedience Arundell-Castle also in Sussex was rendred to the Lord Hopton Beeston castle in Cheshire taken Likewise Lapley house in Stafford-shire Grafton house in Northampton-shire and Crew house in 〈◊〉 shire Towards the end of Ianuary also Sir Thomas fairfax and Colonel Milton were routed by Prince Rupert at Drayton in Shropshire Hopton Castle in Shropshire and Wardour Castle in Wiltshire were likewise taken And upon the relief of Newark in Nottinghamshire besieg'd by Sir Iohn Meldrum a Scot with seven thousand men Gaynesborough Lincolne and Sleford all in Lincolnshire were quitted by the Rebels And Sturton-castle in Staffordshire about this time taken ¶ These being the most remarkable Actions on the King's part for this year 1643. I come now to observe what success the Rebels who were not idle had the same year In April therefore the Earl of Essex came before Reading in Berkshire and soon obtain'd it by surrender Colonel Feilding being then Governour thereof Siege being also laid to Wardour-castle in Wiltshire it was rendred So likewise was Monmouth in Monmouth shire And at Wakefield in Yorkshire His Majesties forces encountring the Rebels were worsted Soon after which Taunton and Bridgwater both in Somersetshire were also delivered up to them But notwithstanding all this they were not without their fears and therefore dispatcht the Lord Grey of Warke together with Mr. Henry Darley and Sir William Armine both trusty Members of their House of Commons by special order into Scotland earnestly to sollicite the dear Brethren of that Realm to their assistance Shortly after this they took Gaynesborough in Lincolnshire and attempted Basing house in Hantshire without effect But in September the Earl of Essex with more help from the zealous Londoners approaching Gloucester with a great strength caused the King to raise the siege which he had laid to that rebellious place In the same month also was Lynne in Norfolk yielded to the Earl of Manchester and shortly after the City of Lincoln taken by him forcibly Arundel-castle in Sussex likewise in Ianuary following yielded to Sir William Waller Whereupon being recruited with more forces he was constituted Major General of Kent Surry Sussex and Hantshire But that which proved to be instar omnium was that grand Invasion of the Scots which on the 22d of Ianuary crossed the River Tine with their numerous Army to the assistance of these Rebels as hath been already observed For at that time all the North of England beyond Trent excepting Hull in York shire and some few inconsiderable places being by the Marquess of Newcastle for so he had been lately made reduced to the King's obedience as also the West by Prince Rupert and Prince Maurice His Majesties Nephews excepting Poole and Lime in Dorset shire and Plymouth in Devonshire the Members sitting at Westminster became so startled that some of the leading-men prepared for quitting the Realm But this great ayd from
an Execration upon his wife and children in asseverating thereof And as heretofore the leading-members at Westminster did usually pen petitions and send them into the City of London and elsewhere to be subscribed by those of their party for countenanceing whatsoever they had a mind to act so then did the Grandees of the Army not being ignorant what advantages had formerly been made of those devises viz. one from Essex to the General in the name of the well-affected-People there desiring that in regard of the present unsettled condition of the Kingdome and the design of many to deprive the subject of their liberty he would not consent to the disbanding of the Army nor any part thereof untill there should be a general settlement of things in the Kingdome The like Petitions from Norfolk and Suffolk desiring that there might be no disbanding untill the general grievances were redrest and Iustice done But see the dreadfull horrors and apprehensions which attend the Consciences of wicked men in times of distress and danger No sooner did the Army march from the parts about Triplo towards St. Albans but the Presbyterean-Members at Westminster and those of that gang in London fell into such Agonies that they forthwith ordered all the Trayned-Bands in London to be raised upon pain of Death and strong Guards to be set about the Line nay that all the Citizens should shut up their Shops So that whereas formerly his Majestie 's incessant Messages to them for peace were contemn'd and laid aside and when they had bought him of the Scots he must not be suffered to come nearer Westminster where they hatch'd all their barbarous contrivances against him than Holdenby in Northamptonshire now they voted his coming to Richmund and did vouchsafe to write Letters to him But alas too late Independencie being then triumphant and Presbytery gasping as you will see by and by For in answer to this Vote it was desired that no place might be proposed for his Majestie 's residence nearer unto London than where they would allow the Quarters of the Army to be And not many days after a paper was sent to the Houses at Westminster intituled the Representation of the Army In which it was in the first place required that the Houses should be speedily purged of such Members as for their Delinquencie so they were pleas'd to term it or for corruptions or abuse to the State c. ought not tosit there Which terrible news put the Presbyterean-party upon mustring up all their power and once for all to try what one strong blast could do Whereupon they Voted that the Army should remove fourty miles from London But this vote signified very little for instead of any obedience thereto the Army presently gave order for purging the House by an impeachment of high Treason of all the most able and active men which stood for the Presbyterean-Interest viz. Denzill Hollies Esq Sir Philip Stapleton Sir William Lewes Sir Iohn Clotworthy Sir William Waller Sir Iohn Maynard Knights Major General Massye Iohn Glyn Esq Recorder of London Walter Long Esq Colonel Edward Harley and Anthony Nicholls Esq being in number no less than Eleven of their chief Members who had from the beginning vigorously born the heat of the day Great stickling indeed there was by all their party to have preserv'd those men still in that holy conclave but all would not do for it was clearly discern'd that by their power in the House the Ordinance for disbanding the Army did pass So that to avoid suspending the whole House it was thought most fit that these men should retire And so they did it being high time for the Army did not stick to threaten to march up to Westminster if those Members were not suspended courting the City of London to sit Neutralls and let them work their will with the Parliament This indeed was a stroke almost fatal to the Presbyterean for it lost them not onely all these leading-men but a far greater number that staid some falling off from that side under colour of clearer Illumination and some others were so much daunted thereat that they had not afterwards courage enough to hold up their heads as formerly But upon the retiring of these Eleven Members the prosecution of their charge was totally forborn And now that the House was thus purged the greater part of the remaining Members became most obsequious to the Army and declared that they owned it as their Army and would make provision for the maintenance thereof ordering that so soon as mony could be conveniently raised they should be payd equally with those who had left the Army CHAP. XXIV HAving thus garbled the House of Commons no wonder it was that the whole Presbyterean-party every where became highly incensed and the rather for that they had so imprudently slipt their oportunity of complying with the king in due time For then when 't was too late they would have gladly joyn'd with any Interest to work themselves again into some authority Which being discern'd by the Independents who then had the King in their Hands to spoyle the Presbyterean-design they not onely fell to Courting His Majesty with great civilities and favours such indeed as he never enjoy'd since he fled to the Scots for refuge admitting the Duke of Richmond to come and attend him and two of his own most desired Chaplains but the people also by many printed Books and Papers spread over all England and likewise by the Pulpits whereby they stirred up the vulgar to make loud complaints of their pressures and grievances and to make addresses to the Army as their onely Saviours Restorers of their Laws Liberties and Proprieties Setlers of Religion and Preservers of all just Interests pretending also to establish the King in his just Rights and Prerogatives to uphold the Priviledg of Parliament to reform and bring to account all Committees Sequestrators and others who had defil'd their fingers with publick moneys and to free the people from Excise and other Taxes Seeing therefore that the work of Reformation was now thus obstructed by the Seraphick Brethren here who walkt by more new and clear Lights those in Scotland grew so highly moved thereat that they indicted a publick Fast and solemn day of Humiliation to be kept throughout the whole Kirk of that Kingdome setting forth a Declaration of the Causes moving them thereunto the Copy whereof I have thought fit here to insert 1. That notwithstanding our solemn Engagement in the Covenant our Obligations for great and singular mercies and our many warnings by Iudgments of all sorts yet not onely do we come far short of that sobriety Righteousness and Holiness that becometh the Gospel of Iesus Christ but ungodliness and worldly lusts abound every where throughout the land unto the grieving of the Lord's Spirit and provoking of the eyes of his glory and to
To the which Story as to the improbability of it I reply that 't is very well known the King was in that open Freedom at Hampton-Court all the time he remained there that divers of his old and Faithful Servants were not only permitted to attend on His Royal Person in their respective places but many others had the Liberty of Free access to him So that it is not at all likely that any Letter from the Queen should come to him at that time by other hands than those who were of known trust Besides what could he expect from the Scots which might conduce to the Restoring him to any part of his Regal Authority without submitting to their solemn League and Covenant which they full well knew he could never be prevail'd with to do Next that he had no great reason to conside much in Duke Hamilton's fair intentions towards him in case he should have vanquisht those men And lastly that it had been no Prudence to depend upon the strength of their Armes considering that the Events of War are uncertain especially having so much reason to hope and believe that Cromwell and his Party who had such an influence upon those Members which then Sate in their Parliament as on the Army would accomplish what he had so solemnly promised considering also in all Humane reason it would conduce to his own proper Interest Thus much as to the Improbability of any Truth herein But now to the Impossibility thereof Let it be considered that the Scots could not foresee any danger towards His Majesty till after he left Hampton-Court which was upon the Eleventh of November 1647. Nor then till the Month of December next following that they saw the Fur Dethroning Bills which through the influence of Cromwell and his Party were sent to him and the Vote on the Third of Ianuary ensuing of No more Addresses Shortly after which he was made close Prisoner by Colonel Hamond Which destructive Bills and malevolent Votes was that which in truth alarm'd the Scots as it did the English in divers Parts who discerning His Majesty in this miserable condition made several attempts in order to his rescue though without success as hath been already observed who thereupon and not till then did constitute a Committee of Danger at 〈◊〉 which was previous to any preparation for Raising an Army and necessitated them to consider what was without delay to be done in this great exigent foreseeing well that the Tyranny of these Antimonarchists would in the end overwhelm them there as well as the English here Whereupon they resolv'd to Raise an Army in order thereto Besides most apparent it is that the King was so ignorant of any Preparations made by the Scots to that purpose that until the Month of Iuly 1648. when it was told him that Duke Hamilton was entred England with an Army he was so strangely surprized with the News that he suddenly said Then he is undone To pass by this base Fiction therefore meerly devised to give some colour for the perfidiousness of Cromwell I descend to the next device they had to countenance their wicked Actions which was to detract from his deserved Fame in another kind For discerning soon after his Death those most Divine Meditations made publick by the Press and Intituled Icon Basilike which in his deplorable and disconsolate soliâ—udes he had Pathetically put in Writing whereby his Great Prudence Patience and Piety in those his woful Sufferings would be made openly conspicuous to the World and not being able to suppress them as they did earnestly endeavour to do they made it their work to blast them by their false and Impudent Reports that they were none of his own but composed by some Royallist to gain a Reputation to his Memory which they studyed by all malicious projects and practises to suppress and to that purpose encouraged a needy Pedagogue preferring him to the Office of Secretary to write that Scandalous Book called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 being a bitter invective against those his Divine Meditations But to manifest that these were no borrowed wares but by the Good and Gracious assistance of Almighty God were totally of his own composure in the midst of his most sad afflictions besides the unlikely-hood that any such expressions could flow from an Heart not opprest and grieved with such a weight of sorrow as his was I shall make it evident from the Testimony of very credible persons yet living that he had begun the Penning of them long before he went from 〈◊〉 to the Scots For the Manuscript it self written with his own Hand being found in his Cabinet which was taken at â—â—vesby Fight was restored to him after he was brought to Hampton-Court by the hand of Major Huntington through the favour of General Fairfax of whom he obtained it And that whilst he was in the Isle of Wight it was there seen frequently by Mr. Thomas Herbert who then waited on His Majesty in his Bed-chamber as also by Mr. William Lever a Page of the the back Staires the Title then prefixt to it being Suspiria Regalia who not only read several parts thereof but saw the King divers times writing farther on it Which Mr. Herbert being that Learned Person who hath publisht his Observations upon his Travels in Asia hath since the Kings most happy Restauration been honoured with the Title of Baronet in Testimony of the Gracious sense His Majesty hath of his dutiful demeanour and perfect sidelity in those Perillous times to his dear Father of Blessed Memory Add hereunto the Testimony of Mr. Richard Royston a Bookseller at the Angel in 〈◊〉 who having in those Rebellious times adventured to Print divers of His late Majesties Declarations Speeches and Messages about the beginning of October 1648. the King being then in the Isle of 〈◊〉 was sent to by His Majesty to prepare all things ready for the Printing some Papers which he purposed shortly after to convey to him Which was this very Copy brought to him on the Twenty Third of December next following by one Mr. Edward Symmons a Reverend Divine who received it from Dr. Bryan Duppa then Bishop of Salisbury and afterwards of Winchester In the Printing whereof Mr. Royston made such speed that it was finished before that dismal Thirtieth of January that His Majesties Life was so taken away as before is observed What I have here instanced to wipe off this soul stain which the malice of wicked men have cast upon the Memory of His late Majesty will be sufficient I am sure to satisfie all such who through those most venomous Insinuations have been doubtful herein and enough to stop the mouths of those vile Detractors which are any way favoures of that execrable Murther of their Lawful Soveraign Whose last Legacies of what he had left the night before his Suffering and afterwards delivered by the hands of Mr. Herbert were as followeth viz. To the Prince our now Gracious King his Bible
then sequestring himself from any diversion for a while to ponder seriously what she and he had said to him and that night either send or bring her a full and final answer The Duke upon the first appearance of this intended privacy of his Mother with him in the little interim of clearing the Room he took opportunity of sending Mr. Gryffin to find out the Marquess of Ormond and to desire him to come to him as soon as he returned from the Queen that he might be advised by him how to deport himself as occasion should serve And as soon as he came from her according to her command retired to his Chamber Whereunto the Abbot coming before the Marquess of Ormond could be found after he had at large expatiated on what the Queen had but briefly hinted to him he pressed him for his final Answer Which the Duke refused to give till he had first consulted with the Marquess Whereupon the Abbot withdrew desiring to be sent for when the Marquess should come which if not in an hours time he would return again though not sent for As soon as the Marquess came the Duke quickly resolved what answer to make but having been so long harassed was desirous to take a little breath so that he neglected sending to the Abbot and went out of his Lodging into the Court to divert himself No sooner was he gone but the Abbot came and missing him sought up and down At last finding him he severely rebuk't him for neglecting his Mothers Commands and his Instructions which were seriously to Ponderate on what he had said and for having not sent for him Well Sir says the Duke I have seriously considered on all hath been said to me and my final answer is I am resolved to continue firm in my Religion Then replyed the Abbot I am Commanded from the Queen your Mother to tell you that she charges you to see her Face no more At which dismal expression the Duke being not a little moved with great earnestness intreated that he might at least begher parting Blessing till he could prevail for her Pardon but could not obtain it though he endeavoured it again the next Morning being Sunday before her Majesty went to her Devotions by the Intercession of his Brother the Duke of York who did with great tenderness compassionate his condition and with much earnestness moved on his behalf But the Queen was inexorable to all that spoke in favour of him nor would she intimate her pleasure to him by any Person but Abbot Mountague who again sollicited him aggravating the Peril of his Mother's displeasure advising him at that instant being the most proper time as she was going to Mass at her Monastery to apply himself to her For she had proposals to make to him which would set his heart at rest though he could not then name them To which the Duke replyed if so I can For my heart can have no rest but in the free exercise of my Religion but I fear her Propositions will not I am sure yours never tended to give me any ease or quiet At which Instant the Queen passed by in her Coach going to her Nunnery Whereupon the Duke approached towards her attempting to beg her Blessing but was with great Indignation rejected Whereat being much discomposed the Abbot came up to him and askt him what it was her Majesty had said to him which put him into so great disorder To which he briefly replyed what she said I may thank you for Sir and it is but reason What my Mother therefore said to me I shall say to you Be sure I see your Face no more and so turn'd away from him Whereupon the Abbot calling after him said Whither are you going good Sir To whom the Duke looking over his shoulder answered to Church and so went with a sad and dejected Countenance which did much abate the joy of the Congregation who were much pleased to see him accompany his Brother the Duke of York thither But they partook with him in his sorrow when they understood that after Sermon he was to seek where to get a Dinner for which he must send to the Cooks or Fast for there was a very strict Prohibition given to all the Officers in his Mothers Court that they should not furnish him with any Provisions or Necessaries That Night after Evening Prayer he had hopes to enjoy one moment of satisfaction by conversing with his Sister the Princess Henrietta afterwards Dutchess of Orleans during his Mothers absence But as soon as the young Princess heard the news of his designed Adventure she was so frighted into shrieks and tears that she cryed out Oh God my Brother Oh me my Mother I am undone for ever what shall I do Which as soon as the Duke heard he retyred not being willing his dear Sister should by her kindness to him purchase her Mothers displeasure In this disconsolate condition he went to his Lodging Where at nine of the Clock at night his Groom came to know what he should do with his Horses For the Queens Comptroller was come to him with a charge to remove them instantly Whereupon the Groom Pleaded it was then too late and that on the morrow it would be time enough But the Comptroller replyed he should then be put out of his place ere Morning The next day the Sheets were taken off his Bed Finding therefore that he could not be permitted to stay at the Pallace-Royal he thought until he could provide Necessaries for his Journey into Germany to retire to the House of Mr. Crofts afterwards Lord Crofts near Paris whereof the Queen hearing she chekt Mr. Crofts for being willing to receive him with which he acquainted the Duke but submits however to his pleasure In this straight the Duke betook himself to the advise of that faithful Servant to his Family and zealous Protestant the Lord Hatton by whose judicious Instructions he had received much satisfaction in this his distressed Condition who so soon as the Duke had made known to him that he was not only turn'd out of his Mothers House but that all persons that had any dependency on her were forbidden to receive or assist him His Lordship told him if his Highness would please to honour his House with his Presence he should there be received with all the dutiful regard that could be payed to him by so antient and faithfully devoted a Servant to his Royal Family and with an entertainment as suitable to his Quality as the remains of that Fortune he had spent in his Fathers Service would afford But this the Duke out of great modesty seemed to decline alledging the hazard his Lordship might run to having his Estate again sequestred in England and likewise incurring the displeasure of the French Court as well as of the Queen his Mother to be exiled that Realm for his Kindness to him as he had been England for his Service to his Father and perhaps be endangered in
yield the Government of the whole Countrey of Burgundy with the nomination of all under-Governours there and that to pass to his Son after him To the young Duke of Guise the Inheritance of Champaine St. Desir and Rocroy for Security of his Person with Thirty Thousand Crowns a Year of Ecclesiastical Revenue for one of his Brothers To the Duke of Nevers the Government of Lyons To the Duke D'Aumarle Saint-Esprit du Rae for his security To make his Brother General of the Foot with Twenty Thousand Franks a Year To the Duke of Elleboef the Government of Poictiers To these and others divers large pensions and preferments so desirous was he to purchace his Peace at any rate Which Propositions were not much unlike his Majesties Instructions to his Commissioners for the Treaty at Uxbridge and wrought as little with the Leaguers But this Paper of the King 's wrought nothing at all the Duke of Mayne meeting with the Legate refusing peremptorily to hearken to any Agreement pretending that he could not accept of any Conditions without calling all the Estates of the League and all the Princes of his Family together to have their Consent Which he said indeed because he thought himself by much Superior in force to the King and because both the King of Spain and the Duke of Savoy had promised to assist him with Men and Money The News of the Truce which the King had made with the King of Navarr no sooner arrived at Paris but 't is incredible what Malice they thereupon conceiv'd against him and all his Followers what exorbitant Demonstrations they made of it even by their publick Ordinances prohibiting any Prayers to be used for him in the Service of the Church as had been ever done for all the Kings of France which the Catholick Church many times and Piety allows particularly on Good-Friday even to Hereticks Idolaters and Infidels Nor is it possible to account the innumerable quantity of Libels Declarations and Pamphlets Printed and Published against him beyond all bounds of Reason and Modesty To conclude the noise of Arms did soon drown that of their Libels and Seditious Sermons And many Battails were Fought in which the King had the better and came Victorious before that proud City of Paris But in the Seige of it he was basely Murthered by Iaques Clement a Dominican Fryer 1. Aug. 1589. After this Untimely Death of that King Henry the 3 d. the Crown of France with its Troubles descended upon the King of Navarr Henry the 4 th Who being acknowledged by the Catholick Nobility in the Camp they swore Allegiance to him he mutually promising to maintain and defend the Catholick Roman-Religion to the utmost of his Power and not to endeavour any alteration in it And likewise to maintain the Priviledges of Parliament the three Estates of France in their wonted Power Priviledges Immunities Prerogatives c. without any prejudice or innovation whatsoever But all this had little Operation on the Leaguers they persisting in their wonted Obstinacy and Rebellion though he omitted not any means to win them to peace and reconcilement For first he sent unto them that Villeroy might come to Treat with him but was refused Then he imploy'd a private Gentleman to Paris to whom the Duke of Maine would not give Audience but appointed that he should deliver his Message to Villeroy Which was that the King had expresly commanded him to assure the Duke of his Majesties good Inclinations to peace as also to represent unto him how necessary it was for the publick good what great account he made of the Dukes person how much he desired to make him his Friend and to have him near at hand that he might afford him an honourable share in his favour sutable to his Condition Likewise that the Duke might then lay aside the vain hopes of seeing the King abandoned by his Subjects considering in what a good condition he did at that time stand Desiring therefore that he would propose some Conditions his Majesty being ready to gratify him in any thing he might This hath somewhat of his Majesties Letter to the Earl of Essex at Lestithiel Whereunto the Sum of the Answer which the Duke gave Commission to be made was in this somewhat more civil than that of the Earl of Essex that he had no private Quarrel with the King whom for his own part he did highly Honour and Reverence but his Religion and his Conscience would not suffer him to enter any Treaty with him For if quoth he my Deceased Brethren took up Armes in the Kings Life time upon a suspition of danger Now that the Necessity is more urgent and the danger present I cannot lay down those Armes which I have taken up without sinning against the Memory of my Deceased Brethren Essex might have urged his Father and my own Conscience and that Solemn Oath which I took the Covenant forsooth That I engaged my Faith and Consecrated my Life to the publick Cause when I accepted the Charge of Lieutenant General of the State and that I could not resolve upon any thing without the publick Convention of all of my Party Some there were who urged this Duke of Mayne to usurp the Title of King of France but others on better grounds dissuaded him The King therefore in these great Distresses Summon'd a general Convnention of the Estates to meet in October at Tours the chief City of his Party But his Army mouldring away and he with those left him not above six Thousand Foot and fourteen Hundred Horse retired to Diepe and there fortifyed Whereupon the Duke of Mayne pursued and put the King in danger but lost the Opportunity of a Victory and at the Battail of Arches was forc't to retreat with loss though his Forces were Superior by much to the Kings Which success in that Battail upon the addition of four Thousand English and a Thousand Scotts then sent to Diepe by Queen Elizabeth so encourag'd the King that he presently Marcht towards Paris and came before it upon the last of October 1589. Which unexpected Approach stroke no small Terror into the Multitude especially the Ladies seeing him come on such a suddain ready to assail that proud City and at a time when they were perswaded he would have had enough to do to defend himself Also that in regard of the weakness of his Forces he would either by that time have been subdued or driven out of the Realm For the Duke of Mayne when he went against the King at Diepe by way of ostentation of his Forces before the People writ to Paris that within a few Days he would either bring the King Prisoner or force him to flye into England with shame enough And now the City not well provided and out of hopes of relief their Mindes were full of Fears and Vexation But upon the Duke of Mayne's Approach the King rose from before Paris having first