of all just power and that the Commons of England being the peoples Representative have the supream Authority and what they Enact has the force of a Law though the House of Lords do not consent thereto Upon these and several other new political principles they proceed to Try Judge Condemn and Execute the King before his own palace-gate at White-Hall Jan. 30. 1648. But having already published a Book called The Wars of England Scotland and Ireland wherein is an exact relation of the Kings Tryal with the Reasons he would have offered against the pretended Jurisdiction of their Court of Justice and his last speech at the time of his suffering I shall refer the Reader to that and wholly omit it here The fatal blow being given the remainder of the House of Commons and the Army made it evident that they were not only for cutting off the King but Kingship it self and thereupon the House Voted That Kingly Government is unnecessary burdensome and dangerous and that whereas several pretences might be made to the Crown that any person who should proclaim Charles Stewart Son of the late King or any other King of England should suffer as in case of High Treason And soon after the House of Lords was likewise Vored useless and dangerous at which the Lords were so highly Incensed that a Declaration was suddenly published in the Name of all the Peers and Barons of England against the proceedings of the Commons and in definance of all Votes Acts and Orders to the contrary Charles the second was proclaimed King in the Name of all the Nobility Gentry and Commonalty of the Kingdom but they still proceed assuming new Ensigns of Soveraignty and cancelling the old causing all Writs Commissions c. to issue out under a new style and title that is The Keepers of the Liberties of England by the authority of parliament causing the old Great Seal to be broken and a new one made with this Inscription In the fifth year of freedom by Gods blessing restored And soon after they pulled down the Kings Arms in all places and his Statue at Guild Hall and the Royal Exchange A Council of State was constituted of forty and Bradshaw made president and the Council of Adjutators of the Army who had been so Instrumental in the late Revolutions was now dissolved who soon after petitioned the Lord Fairfax but those that subscribed it were by a Council of War Ordered to ride with their faâ—es to the Horses Tails before their Regiments with their crimes on their breasts to have their swords broken over their heads and to be cashier'd the army which much provoked their fellow souldiers so that a while after the Army Rendevouzing at Ware several Regiments in persuance of the former petition wherein they complain of erecting Illegal Courts of Justice and trying the free people of England by Martial Law with divers other grievances wore white colours in their Haâ—s to distinguish themselves among whom was Cromwels own Regiment of Horse who having notice of it ordered two other Regiments from remote Quarters to be there who knew nothing of the Intrigue and being all drawn up in Battalia Cromwel with a frowning countenance rides round and suddenly commands those two Regiments to surround a Regiment of Foot and then calls four men by their Names out of the body and with his own hands put them in custody of the Marshal instantly summoning a Council of War while their adherents secretly put their white colours in their pockets and were astonished at the action These four were tryed and found guilty but had the favour to cast lots for their lives whereby the two principal Mutineers escaped and the two ignorant fellows were shot to death upon the place in the view of the whole Army These now had the Name of Levellers given them and one Lockier was afterward shot to death for promoting a paper called The Ingagement and Agreement of the people c. in St. Pauls Church-yard and his Funeral was attended by above one thousand of the Lilburnian Faction all wearing black and Sea-green Ribbons the Army being now in a violent ferment and even ready to destroy one another which humour was cherished by John Lilburn not without incouragement from the Royal party who from their divisions hoped to reap advantage In persuance hereof Collonel Scroops Regiment of Horse dismissed their Officers at Salisbury and with colours flying marched to join Harrisons Iretons and Skippons Regiments who by the contrivance of the Agitators were all ingaged in the same designs This defection seeming of very dangerous consequence Gen. Fairfax and Cromwel with his own Regiment marched to Alton and had advice the Mutineers were gone to Abington after whom Cromwel made such haste that in one day he marched forty miles and having met with them he politickly proposed a Treaty before Harrisons Regiment should join them wherein all parties should receive satisfaction and that neither of them should keep at ten miles distance upon which the Levellers went to Burford and being opposed by the Souldiery at New-bridge to prevent Quarrels they went a little lower not doubting but they should all join upon Treaty and then put most of their Horses to grass they being in all above nine hundred consisting of twelve Troops entire of the best in the Army and leaving a guard of about sixty men some of their companions who were brought over to Cromwel giving Intelligence of their posture Coll. Reynolds about midnight rusht into their Quarters they â—â—ttâ—e expecting such rough treatment and seizing the Guards took the greatest part of the rest either asleep or drinking together with nine hundred Horse and four hundred prisoners whereof Thompson and two more only were Executed Cornet Don declaring such sorrow that he was reprieved at the place of Execution which their fellows beheld from the Leads of the Church and were told That every tenth man of them should die but Cromwel proposed the pardoning of them which was agreed to and they sent to their own Houses This proved the utter suppression of that Faction and rendred the Army wholly at the devotion of Cromwel About this time another illegal High Court of Justice was erected wherein Duke Hamilton the Earl of Holland Lord Capel and Lord Goring were brought to their Trial the three first were condemned and beheaded at the Palace-yard in Westâ—minster and a proclamation was published declaring the Kingdom of England to be a free State and Alderman Reynoldson was commanded to proclaim it in the City which he refusing was committed to the Tower and a new Lord Mayor was chosen by a â—ommon Hall who attended with several other Aldermen of the same temper readily proclaimed the Edicts of this new Republick in several places in the City England being thus subjected to the power of the House of Commons and the Army and Scotland not yet ripe for Invasion and the Nation full of Souldiers who having for so long a time led
another place and soon after most of the Nobility and Gentry of Scotland were taken at a place called Ellet in that Kingdom where they were assembled to propagate the Royal cause namely Old General Lesley Earl Marshal Earl of Crawford the Lords Keith Ogilby Burgoiny Huntley Ley with many Knights Gentlemen and Ministers which soon after were ship'd and sent for England Such was the sudden change of the condition of the Scots and the King that he who a few days before was proclaimed King of Great Britain had now neither Camp nor Garrison to retire to five hundred pounds sterling being offered to discover him so that after travelling in disguise and through many dangers about England he at length found an opportunity to imbark at Shoreham in Sussex for Newhaven in France where he arrived Octob. 2. following Of the great number of prisoners taken none of Quality suffered but the Earl of Derby who was beheaded at Bolton in Lancashire and Sir Tim. Fetherstone Others of less note suffered at Chester Shrewsbury and other places Nor did many of the Royalists themselves expect any better fortune in this expedition than what happened as appears by Duke Hamiltons Letter to Sir William Crofts taken among other papers a few days before the fight to this purpose We are all laughing at the ridiculousness of our condition who having quit Scotland being scarce able to maintain it yet we grasp at all and nothing but all will satisfie us or to lose all I confess I cannot tell whether our hopes or fears are greatest but we have one stout argument and that is despair for we must now either shortly fight or dye All the Rogues have left us I will not say whether for fear or disloyalty but all now with His Majesty are such as will not dispute his commands So that we see this undertaking was not the product of deliberate counsel but of necessity and desperation This battel put a period to the Kings hopes of getting the Government by Arms and on the other hand secured to Cromwel all his former Conquests the influence whereof though acted in England was great in Scotland for their principal Nobility and souldiery being cut off they were no longer able to bear up but were soon reduced to the obedience of England And Cromwel giving an account to the Parliament of this great success he concludes his Letter by telling them That this was a crowning Victory which was afterward thought to proceed from the foresight of his future Greatness This fight happened Sept. 3. 1651. that very day twelve-month wherein the Scots received that fatal blow at Dunbar afore-mentioned After the battel Cromwel staâ—d no longer than to see the Walls of Worcester levelled to the ground and the Ditches filled up with earth to discover his aversion to the Inhabitants for receiving his Enemies into it and Sept. 12. came to London being met at Acton by the Parliament and their Speaker the Lord Mayor of London Aldermen and Recorder and hundreds of others to whom Steel the City Recorder made a Congratulatory Oration extolling all his Victories and Exploits with the highest flights of Rhetorick and applying to him the words of Psalm 149 Let the high praises of God be in their mouth and a two-edged sword in their hand to execute vengeance upon the Heathen and punishments upon the people to bind their Kings with chains and their Nobles with fetters of iron to execute upon them the judgment written this honour have all the Saints praise ye the Lord. After which he was conducted in triumph to his House near White-hall great number of Scotch prisoners coming after him through Tuthill-fields to Westminster as Trophies of his Victories and the Colours taken there with those at Dunbar Westminster Preston were hung up in Westminster-Hall After a short repose General Cromwel and Lieutenant General Lambert went to take their places in Parliament where they were entertained by the Speaker with a second Congratulatory Oration magnifying their courage and gallantry and acknowledging the great obligation which the people of England were under toward them The same day the Lord Mayor feasted the General and his Officers where mutual returns of kindness passed between them to the satisfaction of both parties Oct. 14. 1651. Collonel Hayn with two Regiments of foot and two Troops of Horse were shipp'd at Weymouth for reducing the Isle of Jersey in eighty Vessels under the command of General Blake who came to St. Owens Bay where the ships running aground the men leapt out some to the middle others up to the neck in water and ran ashoar the enemy playing hard upon them with great and small shot and gave a hot charge with their Horse yet after half an hours dispute they fled and left behind them twelve cannon and some colours After which the English marched further into the Island within sight of Elizabeth Castle under which was a Fort called St. Albans Tower where were fourteen Guns which upon summons was delivered and so was Orgueil castle and soon after Elizabeth castle upon very good terms to the Garrison and Governour Sir George Cartaret because of its great strength The Isle of Man was likewise reduced in a short time with the castles of Peele and Rushen both very strong and almost impregnable as well as Cornet castle in the Isle of Guernsey if the besieged had had resolution to defend them About this time died Admiral Popham and Henry Ireton Son-in-law to Oliver Cromwel at Lymerick which Kingdom in a little while after was wholly subdued and brought under the obedience of the Government of England The Parliament now passed two or three considerable Acts one for Incorporating Scotland into one Common-wealth with England another of Oblivion and free pardon a third to determine the Session of this Parliament on Nov. 3. 1654. a fourth for the increase of shipping and incouragement of Navigation wherein was enacted That no Goods or Commodities of the growth or manufacture of any places in Asia Africa America or Europe should be imported into England Ireland or any of the Territories thereof but only in English ships under the penalty of forfeiting the Goods and Ships And that no Goods whatsoever shall be brought in unless they be ship'd from the places of their growth and manufacture only Also that no Fish or Oyl made of Fish or Whale-bone shall be imported but only such as shall be caught in Vessels belonging to the English Lastly that no kinds of salted fish from Feb. 1. 1653. shall be exported in any other save English Vessels with several other exceptions and provisoes in reference to East-India Goods and of commodities from Turky Spain and Portugal This last Act was very grateful to the Merchants and Seamen but did extreamly surprize and disturb the Holl inders as judging it would cause a vast diminution in their Trade which with so much advantage they had long driven to the loss and detriment of the English Nation who
of the Parliament presented to him several things that were laid on the Table which were a Robe of purple Velvet a Bible a Scepter and a Sword on each of which the Speaker made a short Comment as he delivered them 1. The Robe of purple This is an Emblem of Magistracy and imports Righteousness and Justice when you have put on this Vestment I may say you are a Gown-man This Robe is of a mixt colour to shew the mixture of Justice and Mercy indeed a Magistrate must have two hands Plectentem Amplectentem to Cherish and to Punish 2. The Bible is a Book that contains the Holy Scriptures in which you have the happiness to be well versed This Book of Life consists of two Testaments the Old and New the first shews Christum Velatum the second Christum Revelatum Christ Veiled and Revealed It is a Book of Books and doth contain both Precepts and Examples for good Government 3. Here is a Scepter not unlike a Staff to the weak and poor it is of ancient use in this kind It 's said in Scripture That the Scepter shall not depart from Judah it was of the like use in other Kingdoms however the Greek Poet calls Kings and Princes Scepter bearers 4. The last thing is a Sword not a Military but Civil Sword it is a Sword rather of Defence than Offence not to defend your self only but your people also If I might presume to six a Motto upon this Sword as the Valiant Lord Talbot did upon his it should be this Ego sum Domini Protectoris ad protegendum populum meum I am the Lord Protectors to protect my people After this the Speaker returned again to the Chair and administred the Oath to the Protector in these following words I do in the presence and by the Name of Almighty God promise and swear that to the uttermost of my power I will uphold and maintain the true Reformed Protestant Christian Religion in the purity thereof as it is contained in the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to the uttermost of my power and understanding and incourage the profession and professors of the same And that to the utmost of my power I will endeavour as chief Magistrate of these three Nations the maintenance and preservation of the peace and safety and Just Rights and Priviledges of the people thereof and shall in all things according to my best knowledge and power govern the people of these Nations according to Law The Oath administred Dr. Manton made a Prayer and then an Herald stood up aloft giving signal to a Trumpet to sound three times after which he did by Authority and Direction of Parliament publish and proclaim his Highness Lord Protector of the Common-wealth of England Scotland and Ireland requiring all persons to yield him due obedience This Proclamation ended the Trumpets again sounded and some Souldiers and other cryed out God save the Lord Protector Then was he again proclaimed by an Officer at Arms standing on the Stairs The Ceremonies ended the Protector attended by all the Officers of State went into the Palace-Yard in his Robes where entring his Coach he returned in State to White-Hall This year an Insurrection was designed by those called Fifth Monarchy men who had divers meetings in an House in Shore-Ditch several of them being discontented persons who had been formerly of the Army they had appointed to have Rendevouzed on Mile-end-Green and so have marched into other Countries to augment their party At length they were seized and some Arms and Ammunition taken with them and a Standard with a Lyon Couchant with this Motro Who shall rouse him up The Men taken were Venner a Wine-Cooper with their Scribe Grey Goaler Hopkins Ashton and others About them was sound a Declaration in print called The principle of the Remnant they were committed to prison but after released without prosecution Likewise M. Gen. Harrison Vice-Admiral Lawson Coll. Rich and Coll. Danvers were secured as Discontents About this time the victorious General Blake returning from the Coasts of Spain fell sick of the Scurvy and Dropsie and dyed just entring into Plymouth Sound where he passionately inquired for Land he was buried with an handsome Funeral from Greenwich and interr'd in Hen. 7. Chappel at Westminster The Protector to keep the Spaniards imployed every where makes a private agreement with France to fend a Brigade of his best Infantry which the French extreamly wanted to Flanders consisting of 6000 men and about May 4. 1657. they arrived in Picardy and joined with those Forces commanded by the Marshal Turein to which the protector was the more induced because the K. of Spain had invited K. Charles into his Dominions fince the breach with England and he was then at Bruges full of expectation of being restored by the power of that King and the Marquess of Ormond the Lord Wilmot the Lords Gerrard and Wentworth the Lord Twaf and General Middleton had their several Regiments Quartered about the Sea coasts in order to a Descent and the Dukes of York and Glocester had likewise commands in Flanders Sir John Reynolds one of Cromwels Knights formerly Commissary General of the Army in Ireland was General of the English Forces and coll Morgan Major Gen. Before their embarquement they Rendevouzed at Black-Heath where Mr. Hugh Peters gave them a Sermon for incouragement and were shipped with a months pay in hand and all new red coats About the middle of September the French and English Forces advance into the Spanish Territories and according to agreement sate down before Mardike a strong Fortress and put themselves between it and Dunkirk General Montague riding before the Splinter with a Fleet of War it was not long before a continued Battery made the besieged quit the wooden Fort which so incommoded them when taken by the English that they were obliged to yield to mercy Turenne not allowing them better terms because they had refused his first offers Mardike was presently put into the hands of the English according to agreement in consideration of our assistance and coll Morgan took possession thereof with several Regiments whom the Spaniards soon after endeavoured to remove by a sudden and fierce assault after the Armies were drawn into Winter Quarters since being only two miles from Dunkirk they were very fearful it might indanger that Town also Whereupon Don John of Austria resolved to hazard a Scalado and Attack by Night the Duke of York and the Marquess of Caravene managed the business and K. Charles and the D. of Glocester had conveyed themselves into Dunkirk to observe the success of it Oct. 22. About 4000 English Scots Irish and some Spaniards about Ten a Clock at Night began the storming of Mardike with Hand-Granadoes and all other Engines proper for an assault and were got into the Trenches and had mounted the Scaling Ladders but the English within being ready to receive them commanded by Reynolds Morgan and Lillingstone who were
a Military life could hardly be reduced to their former Imployments Our new States-men to prevent any ill humours that might gather among them resolved to make them serviceable to their Country in the reduction of Ireland all that Kingdom except Dublin and London-derry being in possession of the Irish which neither were able to hold out without speedy assistance from England This Rebellion the most barbarous and bloody that ever happened upon earth acted by Devils in humane shape rather than men butchering two hundred thousand protestants in eight weeks space without the least offence or provocation given or without sparing of age or sex was perpetrated Oct. 23. 1641. and though contrived so secretly and acted so furiously yet was Dublin wonderfully preserved to be a refuge to those poor protestants who escaped the rage of their bloody persecutors Many of them fled to England but found little relief for here all things seemed to forebode the re-acting the same Tragedy yet in the midst of the differences between the King and parliament it was agreed to send some Regiments thither if possible to hinder the progress of those Assassines but this relief was so small that it had no effect for the King finding the parliament prevail against him recalled those Troops from Ireland many of the Rebels coming along with them to his assistance so that this Kingdom lay more exposed to these bloody Wolves than ever and thus they continued for some years But this new state having renounced Monarchy and Episcopacy resolve now to use the same Instruments to recover Ireland and to that end they ordered an Army to be sent thither The Marquess of Ormond was made Lord-Lieutenant by the late King and the Rebels had made a confederacy among themselves and upon condition to have the free Exercise of their Religion and divers other ample priviledges and advantages which the necessity of affairs obliged him to yield to they joined their Forces to his being also assisted by a considerable number of others raised by the Earls of Castlehaven Clanâ—ickand and the Lord Inchiquin so that they were the greatest united strength in that Kingdom but the confederates having broken their Articles with the Lieutenant and being ready to besiege Dublin which he was not able to defend rather than it should fall into the hands of the Irish papists he surrendred it to Collonel Jones for the parliament and came over to the King who was then carried from one place to another by the Army and from thence he went over to Prince Charles then at Paris But the Confederates surprized at the great preparations made against them in England sent Letters to the Prince humbly intreating him to send back the Marquess of Ormond with an absolute promise to submit entirely to the Kings Authority and to obey his Lieutenant At their request he returned into Ireland about a year before Cromwel came over and with their united Forces they had reduced the whole Country except London-derry commanded by Sir Charles Coot and Dublin the principal City wherein was Collonel Jones with no great strength and who was very jealous of the sidelity of his own men that often deserted and went over to the other party The Irish confederates with an Army of twenty two thousand men lay under the very Walls of Dublin and sent divers threatning summons into it requiring a speedy surrender but they had no effect upon the valiant Governour Jones who yet not insensible of the great danger he was in sent many earnest Messages to the parliament of England to aid him with all speed with Men and Ammunition or else all would be quickly lost and they knowing the difficulties of his condition hasten their assistance to him gave order for sending thither Iretons Scroops Hortons and Lamberts Regiments of Horse with Hewsons Deans Ewers and Cooks Regiments of Foot and five Troops of Dragoons all old tried Souldiers that feared no Enemy and led by victorious commanders with some other Regiments new listed to make a number sufficient to effect the business Nothing was now wanting but a General to command this gallant Army which the parliament being sensible of Cromwels conduct and fitness desired him to accept which he readily did declaring at the same time That he did not doubt but God would use him as an Instrument to execute his vengeance upon the bloody Irish with which answer the parliament were so pleased that instantly they give him a commission to be General of all their Forces and Lord Governour both in the Civil and Military affairs of Ireland and Collonel Jones was made Lieutenant-General of the Horse After which they march to their Rendevouz at Milford in Wales and July 10. 1649. Cromwel set forward from London in a Coach and six Horses attended with many of the House of commons council of State and principal Officers of the Army with a Life-Guard of fourscore who had been lately commanders very gallantly accoutred In this state he march'd to Brainford where these Gentlemen took their leaves with wishes for his happy success from thence he rides post to Bristol to put his men and Train of Artillery into the Transport-ships and afterwards goes into Wales having sent Reynolds Regiment of Horse and Venables and Monks Regiments of Foot before from Chester who with a fair wind soon arrived at Dublin to the great joy of the Inhabitants being about three thousand in all who were very careful to recover them from the fatigues of the Sea in hopes by their means to recover their Liberties And in this they found themselves not mistaken for Collonel Jones much animated with these recruits resolved to attack the besiegers with the first opportunity and accordingly Aug. 2 when the Irish with a strong party of Horse and Foot marched with much assurance to Baggor-field a little way Eastward from the city toward the Sea from whence they designed to run their Trenches towards the Works of the city to prevent the landing any more supplies from England the besieged sound a necessity to prevent them and with twelve hundred Horse and four thousand Foot fell upon the Enemies new Works and rout their Horse at the first encounter most of the Foot being also either kill'd or slain consisting of fifteen hundred besides their Horse which so incouraged the English that they pursued their victory to Rathunines where the Marquess of Ormond with his whole Army of nineteen thousand men were Incamped who hearing of it wished they would come that he might have some sport with them he soon had his wish but the sport was somewhat rude for in a short time his Army was utterly put to the rout four thousand being slain upon the spot and in the pursuit and two thousand five hundred and seventeen prisoners most persons of Quality with the Marquesses own brother all their Cannon and Ammunition with a wealthy Camp became the reward of the conquering Souldiers who made themselves Gentlemen with the spoils of the
VVorlds great waste the Ocean we VVhole Forrests send to reign upon the Sea And every Coast may trouble or relieve But none can visit us without our leave Angels and we have this Prerogative That none can at our happy seat arrive VVhile we descend at pleasure to invade The Bad with Vengeance and the Good to Aid Mean while the Spaniards in America Near to the Line the Sun approaching faw And hoped their European coasts to find Cleer'd from our ships by the Autumnal wind Their huge capacious Gallions stuff'd with Plate The labouring winds drive slowly to their fate Before St. Lucar they their Guns discharge To shew their Joy or to invite a Barge This heard some ships of ours though out of view As swift as Eagles to the Quarry flew So harmless Lambs that for their Mother bleat VVake hungry Lyons and become their meat Arriv'd they roon begin their Tragick play And with their smoaky Cannon banish day Night horror slaughter with confusion meets And in their sable arms imbrace the Fleets Through yielding planks the angry Bullets fly And of one wound hundreds together dye Born under different Stars one fate they have The Ship their Coffia and the Sea their Grave Bold were the men that on the Ocean first Spread their new Sails when shipwrack was the worst More danger now from men alone we find Than from the Rocks the Billows and the VVind They that had fail'd from near th' Antartick Pole Their Treasure safe and all their Vessels whole In sight of their dear country ruin'd he VVithout the guilt of either Rock or Sea VVhat they would â—ave our fiercer art destroys Surpassing storms in terror and in noise Once Jove from Ida did both Hosts survey And when he pleas'd to Thunder part the fray Here Heav'n in vain that kind retreat would sound The louder cannon had the thunder drown'd Some were made prize while others burnt and rent VVith their rich lading to the bottom went Down sinks at once So Fortune with us sports The pay of Armies and the pride of Courts Vain man whose rage buries as low that store As Avarice had digg'd for it before VVhat Earth in her dark bowels could not keep From greedy hands lies safer in the Deep VVhere Thetis kindly doth from mortals hide Those seeds of Luxury debate and pride And now into our hands the richest prize Falls with the noblest of our eremies The Marquess glad to see the fire destroy VVealth the prevailing Foe were to enjoy Out from his flaming ship his children sent To perish in a milder Element Then laid him by his burning Ladies side And since he could not save her with her dy'd Spices and Gums about them melting fry And â—hoenix like in that rich Nest they dye Alive in flames of equal love they burn'd And now together into Ashes turn'd Ashes more worth than all their Funeral cost Than the huge Treasure which with them was lost These dying Lovers and their floating Sons Suspend the Fight and filence all our Guns Beuaty and youth about to perish finds Such noble pity in brave English minds That they the spoil neglecting and the prize All labour now to save their Enemies How frail 's our passion How soon changed are Our wrath and fury to a friendly care They that but now for honour and for plate Made the Sea blush with blood forget their hate And while their Foes from perishing they retrieve VVith greater danger than they fought they dive VVith these returns Victorious Montague VVith Lawrel in his hands and half Peru Let our brave Generals divide that bough Our great Protector hath such wereaths enow His conquering Head hath no more room for Bays Then let it be as the whole Nation prays VVith purple cloth'd and Ermine let him hold A Royal Scepter made of Spanish Gold The Protector was highly pleased at this succesns and great booty and a particular day of Thanksgiving was appointed by him for it and soon after Gen. Montague with the young Marquets and part of the Fleet to convoy the silver which amounted to two millions of pieces of Eight returned into England and delivered the Bullion into the Mint and the young Marquess and his Brother were set at liberty But the Spanish War being like to prove chargeable notwithstanding this present supply the protector being still necessitated for money and desiring to have his power confirmed to him by the people in hope the new Representative might grant him what the former denied he issues out Writs for the Election of a new parliament wherein much circumspection was used if possible to prevent some of the former House from being chosen Sept. 17. 1656. This parliament met at Westminster and had a Sermon preached before them at the Abbey Church by Dr. John Owen Dean of Christs-Châ—rch upon those words in Isaiah What shall one then answer to the messengers of the Land That the Lord hath founded Sion and the poor of his people shall rejoice After Sermon the members went to the House but found at the door a Guard and an Officer standing with a List in his hand demanding the Names of every one of them and such as were marked for non-admittance were turned back and a promise imposed upon every individual member before he should be permitted to fit in the House That he would not act any thing prejudicial to the present Government which many refused and returned home but the major part assenting to it entred the House and chose Sir Tho. Widdrington Speaker and not minding those that were excluded referred the approbation of them to the Protectors Council They then proceed according to the protectors desire making an Act for disanulling the Title of Charles Stewart to the Government of these three Nations nemine contradicente another for making it Treason for any to attempt compass or imagine the Protectors death and appointing such Offendors to be tryed not by a Jury of twelve sufficient men but by a High Court of Justice a third for an assessment upon England Scotland and Ireland of seventy thousand pound a month for three years an Act for preventing multiplicity of buildings in and ten miles about London a whole years Revenue to be paid for all dwelling or Out-houses raised upon any new foundation since 1620. An Act for Excise of merchandize imported An Act for punishing such as live at high rates and have no visible Estates and lastly for the observation of the Lords-day VVhen these Arts were ready for signing the Protector came to the painted chamber and sent for the parliament where the speaker tendring them to him at the signing them he speake thus Mr. Speaker I perceive that among these many Acts of parliament there hath been very great care had by the parliament to provide for the just and necessary support of the Common-wealth by these Bills for levying of money now brought to me which I have given my consent unto and understanding it hath been the practice