settlement to the Kingdom we have expressed our real wishes that if the King would in things necessary and essential to the clearing setling and securing of those publick interests give his concurrence to put them past future disputes then his Rights should be considered and setled so far as might be consistent with those superior interests of the publick and the security thereof for future And that by an Address to the King upon things so purely essential to those publick ends it might once more come to a clear trial whether we could with the preservation of the King's person and in particular interests have a security to the other hath been our earnest desire our great expectation and our endeavour that we and others might be in a patient waiting for such an issue Now in the Parliaments last Addresses to the King we finde they have insisted onely upon some few things so essential to that interest of the Kingdom which they have hitherto engaged for as that without betraying the safety of the Kingdom and themselves and all that engaged with them in that cause without denying that which God in the issue of the war hath been such a Testimony unto they could not go lower and those things granted they have offered to treat for all the rest Thus we account that great business of a settlement to the Kingdom and security to the publick interest thereof by and with the King's Concurrence to be brought unto so clear a trial as that upon the King's denial of those things we can see no further hopes of settlement or security that way And therefore understanding that upon the consideration of that denial added to so many other the Honourable House of Commons by several Votes upon munday last have resolved not to make any further address or application to the King nor receive any from him nor to suffer either in others We do freely declare for our selves and the Army That we are resolved through the grace of God firmly to adhere with and stand by the Parliament in the things voted last munday concerning the King and in what shall be further necessary for prosecution thereof and for setling and securing of the Parliament and Kingdom without the King and against him or any other that shall hereafter partake with him Windsor Jan. 9. 1647. The Parliament also made a publick Declaration about the beginning of February for satisfaction of all men in general concerning the causes of their Votes in which besides the Kings former misdeeds related before in other Remonstrances they declare how often they had treated with him That although they were never forced to any Treaty yet no less then seven times they had applied themselves to the King with Propositions containing nothing but what was necessary to the peace and security of the Kingdom How they had offered him Propositions at Oxford afterwards at Uxbridge and then after he was quite vanquished in war at Newcastle and lastly after the departure of the Scots at Hampton Court All which hath been perpetually denied by him By such a Declaration did the Parliament endeavour to appease the unquiet mindes of people but no Arguments nor Decrees could serve to asswage their fury nor prevent the storms which were then arising Force onely was required and wise Councel to search out conspiracies and suppress the Tumults which were feared Therefore part of the Army was quartered about Westminster the Mews and other places of the City And the month before these high transactions some Lords and Commons were chosen out of both Houses to be a Committee for the safety of the Commonwealth and sate together at Derby-house in the same place where the Committee of both Kingdoms England and Scotland had sitten before To this Committee power was given to suppress Tumults and Insurrections and to that purpose to raise Forces as they saw occasion The Members of this Committee were seven Lords namely the Earls of Northumberland Kent Warwick and Manchester the-Lords Say Wharton and Roberts and thirteen of the House of Commons Mr. Perpoint Mr. Fines Sir Henry Vane Senior and Junior Sir William Armin Sir Arthur Hazlerig Sir Gilbert Gerrard Sir John Evelin Lieutenant General Cromwel Mr. St. John Mr. Wallop Mr. Crew Mr. Brown The Parliament though victorious though guarded with a gallant Army no forces visibly appearing against it yet was never in more danger All men began in the Spring to prophecy that the Summer would be a hot one in respect of Wars seeing how the Countries were divided in Factions the Scots full of threats the city of London as full of unquietness And more sad things were feared where least was seen rumours every day frightning the people of secret Plots and treasonable meetings From whence every man began to foresee slaughter and war as Mariners use to foresee a rising Tempest Cum longo per multa volumina tractu Aestuat unda minax flatusque incerta futuri Turbida testantur conceptos aequora ventos The threatning waves in tracks voluminous Boil up the Seas by blasts uncertain blown Betoken many windes conception The King's Party began to swell with great hopes and look upon themselves not as vanquish'd but Conquerors nor could they forbear vaunting everywhere but talked of the Kings rising and ruine of the Parliament The same thing seemed to be the wish of those whom they called Presbyterians who were ready to sacrifice themselves and their Cause to their hatred against the Independents who wished that quite undone which themselves could not do and desired that liberty might be quite taken away by the King rather then vindicated by the Independents The King himself though set aside and confined within the Isle of Wight was more formidable this Summer then in any other when he was followed by his strongest Armies The name of King had now a further operation and pity of the Vulgar gave a greater Majesty to his Person Prince Charls also by his absence and the name of banishment was more desireable by those Vulgar people and by his Commissions which his Father privately sent him as if armed with lawful power did easily command those that were willing and by commands under his name was able to raise as will afterward appear not onely Tumults but Wars The beginning was by Tumults and in the City from whence also the following Insurrections in the neer Counties had their original and was by Apprentices and loose young people playing in More-fields upon a Sunday the ninth day of April who dispising the authority of Magistrates set upon a Captain of the trained Bands and with stones beat him out of the fields and taking away his colours with them they marched a disorderly rout gathering up many of the scum of the people as they passed to Westminster crying out as they went that they were for King Charls But they by a Troop of Horse out of the Mews were quickly scattered But running back and getting into London while other
committed The Lords Justices Sir William Parsons and Sir John Burlace taking those Arms which they found in Dublin and arming whom they could on a sudden to defend themselves dispatched Letters to the King in Scotland and the Earl of Leicester then chosen Deputy but staying in England Money was wanting and no supplies neerer then England Owen O Conally the first discoverer of the Plot brought the first Letters to London upon receipt of which they rewarded Owen with a gift of 500.l and an annuity of two hundred pounds per annum and presently both Houses of Parliament met at a Conference and the House of Commons forthwith resolved into a Committee to consider of Irelands relief and also to provide for the safety of England for distractions began then to appear in England the Parliament every day considered of Irelands relief and presently ordered supplies of money to be borrowed of the City of London Victuals and Ammunition for that purpose But all relief could be but slow in such a sudden disease For the Rebellion encreased and spread through all the Kingdom and many Papists and ill-affected fled from Dublin into the Country to joyn with the Rebels whilest the City in their rooms was daily filled with poor spoiled Protestants who came naked and famished thither many of them being past relief and there perished in the City It were an endless thing to relate the pitiful condition of those woful people and what sad stories they there told concerning the bloody rage of those inhumane Irish Rebels and several tortures by which the unhappy English were brought to their ends But the Lords of the Councel and Lords Justices in a short time with those Arms of Dublin had armed many well-affected Gentlemen and sent many active Commanders out of the City to defend places neer against the approach of the Rebels About the middle of November were in Arms Sir Charles Coot Sir Henry Tichburn the Lord Lambert Sir Thomas Lucas Capt. Armstrong Capt. Yarner and the Earl of Ormond came to Dublin with an hundred Horse well armed At which time the Parliament of England till greater sums could be raised sent them over as a present comfort twenty thousand pounds But it was a long time before they could send over any forces to the relief of that bleeding Kingdom the first was a Regiment Commanded by Sir Simon Harcourt who arrived on the last of December 1641. While Ireland was thus miserably distressed the King returned out of Scotland into England and was entertained by the City of London with most pompous solemnity the whole multitude of Citizens distinguished by their several Companies in such costly Equipage as never before was known with Horse and Arms met the King and guarded him through the whole City to his Palace at White-hall Some condemned that costly entertainment of the City at such a sad time others hoped it might gain the Kings dubious affection to his people but it wrought a contrary effect in the King who began now to think he could never lose the love of the City whatsoever he did and was flattered by some with a hope that the City would assist him in curbing of the Parliament it self he grew therefore more disdainful toward the Parliament and to endear the City invited divers of the chief to Hampton Court where he feasted them and Knighted some But the honest Citizens perceiving that no good use was made of their dutiful expressions toward the King but that some bad people did openly say that the City were weary of the Parliament and would joyn with the King against it they framed a Petition to the Parliament wherein the contrary is professed and that they would live and die with the Parliament for the good of the Common-wealth While the King remained at Hampton Court the House of Commons presented him with a Remonstrance wherein the Grievances of the Kingdom are expressed but no fault laid upon himself in plain words but a Malignant party as they call them and evil Counsellors Irelands calamities seemed to be quite forgotten or rather that those inhumane Rebels were countenanced every body wondring that the King would not proclaim them Rebels and some honest Lords advising the King to proclaim them speedily that a better course might be taken against them they desired him to wash off that foul stain from himself by proceeding severely against those wicked villains who reported every where that they had authority from him to seize upon the Holds of the English Protestants that they were the Queens Souldiers and rise to maintain the Kings Prerogative against the Puritan Parliament in England they therefore advised him by all means to purge himself of that crime then which a greater on earth could not be But so strangely were things carried that although the Rebellion brake out upon the twenty third of October the King did not proclaim them Rebels till the first of January and then gave a strict command that no more then forty Copies of that Proclamation should be Printed and that none of them should be published till his Majesties pleasure were further signified so that a few only could take notice of it which made all men extreamly wonder when they observed the late contrary proceedings against the Scots who were in a very quick and sharp manner proclaimed and those Proclamations forthwith dispersed with as much diligence as might be thorow all the Kingdom But before this Proclamation came out the Parliament being somewhat troubled with some speeches of which they had been informed as if a Plot were contrived against them desired the King to allow them a Guard for security of their persons and that the Earl of Essex then Lord Chamberlain of his Majesties Houshold might be Commander of it But the King denied them a Guard giving them many fair promises of his care for their safety and that he would command such a Guard to wait upon them as he would be responsible for to Almighty God Three days after the Proclamation against those Irish Rebels being the fourth of January the King attended with about three hundred Armed Gentlemen came to Westminster and entring in Person into the House of Commons and seating himself in the Speakers Chair demanded five Members of that House to be delivered to him Mr. Hollis Sir Arthur Haslerig Mr. Pym Mr. Hamden and Mr. Strode Those five Members had by command of the House upon information of the Kings intent absented themselves Which the King finding went away after a short Speech delivered concerning them That he intended a fair Trial against them and that he was and would be as careful to maintain the Priviledges of Parliament as ever any King of England was He had the day before demanded them by his Atturney Sir Edward Herbert a Member of the House of Commons pretending a Charge of high Treason against them and with them against the Lord Mandevile a Member of the House of Lords But the Parliament did not think
at last though too much time were lost was contented to admit of that Article as the Parliament had done But that way which the Parliament thought most powerful to Reduce Ireland was by adventuring for proportions of Land there to be shared amongst the English Adventurers according to those sums of money which they would disburse or subscribe That so whosoever in person or purse helped towards the conquest of those bloody Rebels might be recompensed if the Work were done Propositions were framed in Parliament to that purpose The King confirmed these Propositions though at first he laughed at them and was heard to say That they were like to him who sold the Bears skin before the Bear was killed At last an Act was made enabling the Parliament with power to carry on that War until Ireland should be declared wholly subdued and that no Peace or Cessation of Arms should be ever made with the Rebels unless both Houses of Parliament consented to it The King then offered to go in person over into Ireland But the Parliament thought it was not fit to hazard the Kings person in such an expedition The King was then at Hampton Court distasted at the City and pretending the reasons of his absence to be fear of Tumults for besides what was before spoken of the numbers which flocked to Petition at Westminster the King was advertised That the day after he retired to Hampton which was about a week after his going to the House of Commons divers Citizens with Boats and Guns in them brought the five Members to Westminster with many promises not to forsake the Parliament From thence upon the twentieth of January the King sent a Message to the Parliament desiring them that seeing particular grievances were so many as that it would be tedious to present them by themselves they would digest them into one Body that so a clear Judgement might be made upon them And then they should see how ready he would be to equal or exceed the greatest examples of most indulgent Princes in their Acts of Grace and Favor to the People The Parliament gave him thanks and resolved speedily to consider of it but desired the King in the mean time to give them a sure ground of security while they discharged their Trust by putting the Tower with other principal Forts and the whole Militia of the Kingdom into such hands as the Parliament might trust and recommend to him The King refused to grant that Petition alleaging that he would reserve to himself the disposal of all those places as a principal and inseparable Flower of his Crown nevertheless he promised to entrust none but faithful Persons in any of those places Many reasons were shewed on both sides and many Petitions and Answers passed they still pressing for this Grant of the Militia and the King still denying it The King then residing at Hampton Court had found out a new way to weaken the Parliament in their number by sending for some who were his Servants to leave their sitting in the House to attend him Especially he aimed at the Earl of Essex his Lord Chamberlain and the Earl of Holland Groom of the Stool both whom he sent for but they chose rather to obey his Parliament-Writ than his private Command and continued sitting For which he sent a Messenger to demand the Staffe of the one and the Key of the other being the Ensigns of their Offices which they willingly resigned The Lord George Digby about that time had written a Letter to the Queen from Midleborough in Zealand whither he had fled from England when the Lords in Parliament had sent for him upon some Misdemeanors and if he appeared not in twenty days had proclaimed him Traytor in which he intimates That if the King will declare himself and retire to a safe place he should be able to wait upon him from thence as well as from any part of England over and above the service which he might do for him there in the mean time This Letter was intercepted and brought to the Parliament whereby they began to understand that the King had some design in hand against them which they more plainly afterwards discerned The King and Queen about the middle of February with their eldest Daughter Mary Princess of Orange went to Canterbury From which place while some of the Members of both Houses went between London and that City upon divers businesses the King signed the Bill for taking away Bishops Votes in Parliament From Canterbury they went to Dover from whence the Queen passed into Holland under pretext of keeping her Daughter company to her Husband But she carried with her the Crown-Jewels of England and pawned them there whereby she bought Arms for that War which ensued and was it seems then designed by the King against the Parliament After her departure the King taking the Prince and Duke of York with him went to Theobalds there he received a Petition from the Parliament on the first of March one thousand six hundred forty one wherein they desired him to Grant the Militia to abide neer London and not to carry the Prince away All which he denied and went immediately to New-Market There he was presented with a Declaration drawn by both Houses The Earls of Pembrook and Holland with some Commoners carried it In which they repeat the old Grievances his wicked War against Scotland the Irish Rebellion raised here by many presumptions his attempt of engaging the English Army against the Parliament his entring the House of Commons with the like and that his fear to reside neer London is without ground and pretended for nothing but to perplex the Common-wealth to hinder the relief of Ireland and encourage the ill-affected party in this Kingdom to which the King Answered with great indignation and afterwards answered it by a long Declaration of his own endeavoring to clear himself of some things and extenuate or excuse others accusing them for coining to themselves needless Fears and Jealousies and so these Commissioners departed from Theobalds while the Parliament suffered him without any real hinderance to the Peoples great griefs he passed to the City of York The Parliament in the mean time sit and Vote only against the Kings evil Counsel and make three Votes 1. That the Kings absence so far remote from his Parliament is not only an obstruction but may be a destruction to the Affairs in Ireland 2. That when the Lord and Commons in Parliament shall declare what the Law of the Land is to have this not only questioned and controverted but contradicted and a command that it should not be obeyed is an high breach of the Priviledge of Parliament 3. That they which advised the King to absent himself from the Parliament are enemies to the peace of this Kingdom and justly to be suspected as favorers of the Rebellion in Ireland From York the King sent a Message to the Parliament on the eighth of April 1642. that he would
express Command that they should read it publikely in their Churches The Scots complained that a thing of so great concernment having not been allowed by their Church in a National Synod should be imposed upon them they complained likewise that it was not the same with the book of England but alterations were made some of them they confessed were for the better but more for the worse Lastly they affirmed that wheresoever that book varies from the English Lyturgie it approaches directly to the Romane Missal and all the parts of Popery are there But the King seemed to excuse those alterations in his great Declaration These are his words which were not satisfactory to the Scots We supposing that they might have taken some offence if We should have tendered them the English Service-book totidem verbis and that some factious spirits would have endeavoured to have misconstrued it as a badge of dependencie of that Church upon this of England which We had put upon them to the prejudice of their Laws and Liberties We held it fitter that a new Book should be composed by their own Bishops in substance not differing from that of England that so the Romane party might not upbraid us with any weighty or material differences in our Lyturgies and yet in some few insensible alterations differing from that it might truely and justly be reputed a Book of that Churches own composing and established by Our Royal authority as King of Scotland This Book of Lyturgie was read as the King commanded in the great Church at Edinburgh but not without a great uproar in which the Bishop that read it hardly escaped The Plebeians first stirred but presently after the Nobility and Ministers publikely avowed their detestation of that Book some therefore were sent to the King to intreat him that he would recal his command concerning it But the King was immoveable and sent another peremptory command for reading of the Book and that all people who came as Petitioners against it should depart from Edinburgh which did but increase the number of Petitioners who intreated the Councel once more to send to the King concerning it in the mean time they much accused their Bishops as the causers of this Innovation The King commanded his Councel to receive no more Petitions from them and sent the Earl of Traquare into Scotland with a Proclamation which was published at Sterlin wherein he declared That the Bishops were wrongfully accused about the Prayer-book that he himself was the Author of it and all done by his Command he condemned their proceedings as tumultuous and denounced the punishment of high-Treason to those who persisted Against this Proclamation the Lords of the Commission protested and so did the Ministers and others justifying their assembly to be lawful as tending to Gods glory the Kings honour and Liberty of the Nation Immediately after they entered into a Solemn Covenant for defence of their Religion and Liberties This Covenant was subscribed not onely by the Nobles but all sorts of men that their number within few months was many thousands the King enraged did by many Messengers condemn that Covenant the Scots defended it What was alleadged on both sides is more largely expressed in that book intituled Tumultus Scotici In June the Marquess Hamilton as Commissioner from the King came to Edinburgh who in vain dealt with the Covenanters to renounce their Covenant but published a Proclamation of the Kings wherein he forbears to press the reading of that Prayer-book upon them and resolved to call both a Parliament and Synod but the Covenanters in their Protestation declare that the Kings grants were not large enough to cure their present distempers and offer some particular Exceptions So great grew the differences and alterations upon several points that the Marquess Hamilton was enforced that yeer to make two journeys into England to the King and at last by the Kings command called a National Synod which accordingly began at Glasco Novemb. 1. but within seven days the Marquess dissolved that Synod alleadging for reasons that they had broken the Laws of a free Synod both in the maner of their Elections and in other businesses during their sitting But they protested against that dissolution and continued their Synod after that the Marquess was gone away and proceeded in such Laws and Decrees as they judged fit for the present State after which they dissolved the Synod and published a Declaration from Edinburgh to all sincere and good Christians in England concerning their innocencie and intentions The King after a sharp Proclamation against the Scots which he commanded to be read in all English Churches raised an Army to subdue them by force in which the Nobles and all Gentlemen his servants were commanded to attend him at York the first of April with Horse and Arms sutable to their degree the Earl of Arundel was made General and a rich and well-appointed Army at that time and place attended the King But the people of England in general abhorred that wicked War as a designe to enslave both Nations and loved the Scots as brethren persecuted by the same power which had long oppressed themselves they likewise hoped that such an occasion might necessitate the King to call a Parliament in England so long wanted there But the King while he could make any other shift how lowe soever and dishonourable would not endure to think of a Parliament The Covenanting Lords of Scotland published a Remonstrance in answer to the Kings Proclamation and wisely provided against all Invasions that might be made upon them on any side they seized the considerable Forts and disarmed all suspected persons without any great trouble electing Sir Alexander Lesly an old Souldier for their General to whom all the Noble men were content to give obedience at which time the King commanded the Parliament of Scotland to dissolve and his command was obeyed But the threatned War did not proceed it pleased God that by the happie mediation of some honest Lords of both Nations and upon a Conference granted that the Pacification was made and solemnly declared on the 18 of June 1639. and both Armies were disbanded within eight and fourty hours The King granted to the Scots a National Synod to begin upon the first of August following and a Parliament to begin on the 24 day of the same month so that both sides peaceably retreated home But when the King had been but a little time at London his heart was again estranged from the Scots and thoughts of peace He commanded by Proclamation that Paper which the Scots avowed to contain the true conditions of the Pacification to be disavowed and burnt by the hands of the Hangman and the honest people of both Nations began to fear another War The King about the beginning of December told the Lords of his Council that he intended to call a Parliament in England to begin in April following which being spread among the people made them almost amazed so
strange a thing was the name of a Parliament grown But rational men did not like it that it should be deferred so long and that preparations for a War with Scotland went on in the mean time They were likewise troubled that the Earl of Strafford Deputy of Ireland a man of deep policie but suspected honesty one whom the King then used as a bosom-Councellor was first to go into Ireland and call a Parliament in that Kingdom besides the King at that time had broken up the Parliament in Scotland which the Scots complained of the business of State depending as a great breach of their Liberties and against the Laws of that Kingdom Upon which they sent some Lords into England to intreat the King to grant them a redress of such Injuries as they had received since the Pacification which were That their Parliament was broken off before any business done That Edinburgh-Castle was Garisoned with far more Souldiers then were needful That Dun-Britain-Castle was Garisoned with English Souldiers That the Scots that traded in England and Ireland were enforced to take new Oaths contrary to their Covenant and altogether contrary to the Articles of Pacification The King imprisoned those Lords sending one of them the Earl of Lowden to the Tower and commanded a Charge of Treason to be drawn against him concerning a Letter which the Scotish Covenanters had written to the King of France for his assistance and Lowden had subscribed but the accusation was frivolous easily answered and came to nothing because those Letters were not sent at all and besides it was before the Pacification upon which an Oblivion of all things was agreed although the King at the beginning of the English Parliament produced that Letter against them as a ground of his second War for now on the thirteenth of April the Parliament of England was begun before which time the Earl of Strafford was returned out of Ireland where he had held a Parliament and gotten four Subsidies The King was very urgent with his Parliament to give money to enable him for a War against Scotland and pay that Army and Officers which he had already raised he demanded twelve Subsidies of them for which he promised to release Shipmoney he promised them that he would afterwards redress the Kingdoms grievances but desired money in the first place to go on with his designed War It was answered by many Members of the House in several Speeches that redress of Grievances was the chiefe end of Parliaments and should go before Subsidies That the King asked a great summe of money for releasing of that which he had no title to hold but had taken illegally by power That the people had no reason to pay for a War which they desired not but abhorred a War not for their good but their own ruine that nothing was so just as to punish the contrivers of that wicked War But so strange was the obedience and complyance of that Parliament towards the King that although the money which he asked was against themselves yet they took the Subsidies into consideration but while they were debating the King whatsoever his reasons were whether he thought it a delay or not came into the House on the fifth of May and dissolved the Parliament The people were grieved in an extraordinary manner to see this Parliament so suddenly broken up and as much to see the King break his word so immmediately upon the dissolution of it for he protested in the House at that time that he would rule for the future as legally as if a Parliament were constantly sitting Yet nevertheless he imprisoned some Members the next day after Mr. Belosis Sir John Hotham and M. Crew he commanded the Lord Brookes his Study his Cabinet and pockets to be searched for Letters He Commanded the Convocation of Divines to continue their sitting an unexampled thing who by authority from him made Canons and imposed Oaths upon the people contrary to their Laws and Liberties The King to defray the charges of this War besides the Contribution of the Clergy and Papists issued out again Writs of Shipmoney in a greater proportion then before he seized the Bullion in the Tower and took up Commodities to be sold again at an under-rate and consulted about Coyning of brass-money but that went not forward But the War went on the Earl of Strafford commanding in chiefe the Earl of Northumberland not being in health who had been appointed General but the Scots had not been backward for having been debarred of their trade and lost their ships by seizure they entered into England with an Army expressing their intentions in writing to the English and bringing with them a Petition to the King But the King in this War found a greater want then that of Money which was the hearts of the Souldiers especially the common Souldiers who could not be easily brought to engage against the Scots as hating the Cause many of them mutinying against their Officers and Commanders which might be one cause that the War proved not so bloody and fatal as it was designed some Skirmishes but not very considerable happened at Newburn and at Dunsian not far from Barwick Thus proceeded this unhappie business until some English Peers Earls and Barons about twenty grieved at the dishonour which England suffered by the unhappie actions of the King made a Petition to him declaring in some part their former sufferings by illegal Government the dissolution of the last and other Parliaments the miserable condicion of the Kingdom at present the sad consequence of this wicked War desiring him to summon a Parliament within some convenient time where the Kingdoms Grievances may be redressed this War composed and the Authors of these wicked counsels punished Upon this Petition the King caused all the Lords to meet at York on the 24. of September And there told them his intention of calling a Parliament with all possible speed which was to begin on the 3. of November It was there also consulted and debated how to end this War upon fair termes and after some time spent between Lords chosen out of both Nations the matter was composed according to these Articles 1. A Truce or cessation of Arms was made for two moneths till the 16. of December 2. That 850. li. a day should be paid to the Scots during that Truce 3. That if it were not paid the Scots might force it from the Counties of Northumberland Cumberland Westmerland and Durham 4. That those Counties should be allowed the Scots for their Winter-quarters 5. No new preparations for War to be made 6. That private Injuries should not break the Truce so satisfaction were made upon complaint 7. That Merchants might freely traffique in either Kingdomes without letters of safe conduct but Souldiers without leave might not pass their limits Thus was the state of things altered and that VVar which was intended for an enslavement of both Nations became the bond of Concord between them and
which favour they gave the King thirty thousand pounds This was that cessation of Arms so much spoken against by honest men in London for that reason especially that it was directly against a Law and the Kings faith for it was enacted by authority of Parliament the King also signing the Act in the year one thousand six hundred forty one That the War against those bloudy Irish Rebels should proceed untill it were declared by Parliament that Ireland were fully subdued and that no peace nor any cessation of Arms should be made with those Rebels without the consent of both Houses of Parliament Thus was assistance brought to either side to the King which he especially aimed at in this business that English Army which for almost a whole years space had fought valiantly and victoriously against those Rebels was now brought into England within five moneths after that cessation to fight against the Parliament of England but the cause being changed the fortune of those Souldiers was likewise changed for they had no success in England but within a short time after their arrival that whole Army was utterly defeated and all their cheif commanders with seventeen hundred common Souldiers were taken prisoners by Sir Thomas Faâ—rfax The Scottish Army that Winter following about the middle of January passing over Tweed came into England The Earl of Leven was General his kinsman David Lesley commanded the Horse the snow that fell at that time covered the ground in an unusual depth and as great a frost had congealed all the rivers but the heat of fighting was greater than the rigor of the air and the patience of Souldiers overcame the hard weather The Earl of Leven marched with his forces against the Earl of Newcastle who with a great Army possessed the Northern parts of England for the King nor did the War goe on with less vigour in other parts In the beginning of the Spring great Armies were raised on both sides and filled all the countries with terrour all the following Summer which fell in the year one thousand six hundred forty four they fought with equal fury and almost equal fortunes insomuch as that England by the dubiousness of success on both sides and sad vicissitude of calamitous slaughters was made an unhappy Kingdom The Kings fortune was susteined by brave Armies in the West under the Princes Rupert and Maurice in Wales under Gerard and others in the midland Counties under Sir Jacob Ashley an old Souldier other Armies were commanded by Sir Ralph Hopton and Colonel Goring and in the North the Earl of Newcastles great Army Nor were the forces of Parliament inferiour the cheif Army under the General Essex Waller commanded another the Earl of Manchester to whom Crumwell a stout and successful Souldier was joyned led a strong Army toward the North where the Lord Fairfax and his Son had good forces and Sir John Meldrum not far off the Earl of Denbigh a stout Commander was with a fair Party about Strafford and besides these the great Scottish Army At the beginning of that Summer the Parliament attempted a thing of great moment to besiege Oxford or at least to block up the King within that Town which was endeavoured by two Armies Essex on the one side and Waller on the other but the King deceived them both and with a few light Horse escaping out of the Town went to joyn with his greater Armies General Essex marched farther into the West but the expedition proved unhappy both to himself and the Parliament Waller followed the King but in vain for he could not hinder his designed March onely some skirmishes happened between parts of their Forces but nothing was done of any great moment until Waller returned with his force to encounter enemies in other places Various were the successes this Summer in most parts of the Kingdom in the West South and midland Counties the Kings forces prevailed above the Parliament which perchance had been ruined if the North had not made them amends with some atchievements besides one great Victory For Leve with his Scottish forces coming the last Winter into England besides the taking of some Towns and Forts had much weakened Newcastles Army lessening their number not by fighting but enduring the sharpness of that weather which the other could not so well doe To Leven the Lord Fairfax after Selby was so miraculously taken by valiant Sir Thomas Fairfax joyned himself with all his forces to whom also the Earl of Manchester after his Lincoln expedition came with a gallant Army Three Parliament Armies under three Generals Leven Manchester and Fairfax with great concord and unanimity had marched together and with joyned forces had besieged the great City of York whereof the Earl of Newcastle was Governour to raise the siege Prince Rupert was come with a great Army out of the South the three Generals left their siege to fight the Prince under him also Newcastle having drawn his forces out of York served who on a great plain called Marston Moore gave battel to the three Generals This was the greatest battel of the whole civil war never did greater Armies both in number and strength encounter or drew more bloud in one fight The Victory at first was almost gotten by the Royalists whose left Wing Fairfax his men being disadvantaged by the inconvenience of the ground had routed and put to flight the right wing of the Parliamentarians but this loss was more than recompenced in the other Wing where Crumwell who fought under Manchester charged with such force and fury the right wing of the Royalists that he broke the best Regiments which Prince Rupert had and put them all to flight Crumwel together with David Lesley pursued them and wheeling about with his Horse came opportunely to the releif of his oppressed friends in the other Wing where they ceased not until they had gained a compleat Victory and all Prince Rupert his Ordnance his carriages and baggage were possessed by the Parliamentarians After this Victory Rupert with the remnant of his forces fled into the South some of the Victorious Armies Horse in vain pursuing him for some miles the Earl of Newcastle with some of his chosen friends leaving York of which City Sir Thomas Glenham took the government went to Scarborough where within a while after he took shipping and passed into Germany The three Generals Leven Manchester and Fairfax after this great Victory returned to besiege York to whom that City soon after upon conditions was rendered after which they divided their forces and Leven with his Scottish Army returning into the North about the end of that Summer took the rich Town of Newcastle about the same time that the General Essex unfortunately managed his business in the West and having lost all his Artillery returned to London This Summer the Queen passed into France and used great endeavour to raise aid for the King her husband among the Roman Catholikes but those endeavours proved fruitless yet
by the Parliament created which Title he had born at the beginning of these Wars Lord High Admiral of England Whilest Warwick was serving the Parliament his Brother the Earl of Holland unhappily rise in Arms against it Relying as it seems upon the opportunity of time while the Navy was revolted whilest Fairfax in Kent Cromwel in Wales were busied he built likewise upon the affections of the Citizens of London of whom he made tryal and joyning the young Duke of Buckingham and his Brother with others to him he appeared in Arms by Kingston with five hundred Horse but by Sir Michael Levesey and others who took occasion by the fore-sock he was thereput to flight the Lord Francis Villiers was slain Holland flying with the remainder of his Horse was within few dayes after at the Town of St. Needs by Col. Scroop whom the General had sent from Colchester for that purpose altogether subdued Dalbeer and some other Gentlemen slain Holland himself was taken and by the Parliament committed prisoner to Warwick-Castle At the same time Rossiter also obtained for the Parliament a gallant victory over the forces of Pomfret-Castle whom as they were pillaging the Country and plundering up and down being a thousand Horse Rossiter fell upon vanquished and took prisoners all their Commanders took all their Arms and Baggage Rossiter himself which for a time abated the joy of this victory was grievously wounded but he recovered These victories obtained everywhere by the Parliament though some of them may seem small yet will appear great and worthy of commemoration to all those who consider how much the Commonwealth if but one of these fights had miscarried had been endangered and the Parliament it self weighing the number and variety of their hazards may the better acknowledge the continuance of Gods providence and his very hand with them By these little victories also a way was made for higher Trophies and an absolute subjugation of all their Enemies which about this time miraculously happened For now most opportunely was Pembrook-Castle surrendred to Cromwel which Poyer and Laughorn confiding in the strength of the place had so long stifly maintained But at last brought to extremities they delivered it without conditions rendring themselves Prisoners at mercy Which fell out at the same time Fates calling Cromwel to a greater atcheivement that Duke Hamilton with a numerous Army of Scots had entred England about the beginning of of July was further strengthned by the addition of Langdales Forces Hamilton marched above five and twenty thousand stong striking a great terror every-where scarce in the whole time of these wars did any Army exercise greater cruelty toward the poor inhabitants of England And yet when the Parliament debated concerning this Army the House of Peers could hardly be brought to declare them Enemies For the House of Commons had declared That the Scots that under Duke Hamilton Invaded England were Enemies and that all the English which joyned with them were Traitors to their Country To which Vote the Lords at last after much debate assented The chief Citizens of London and others called Presbyterians though the Presbyterian Scots abominated this Scotish Army wished good success to these Scots no less then the Malignants did Whence let the Reader judge of the times Lambert though too weak in all probability for so potent an enemy was not discouraged but resolved to oppose the present danger and if need required to fight the Scots but he daily expected the coming of Cromwel to whose conduct this victory was reserved In the mean time with prudent retreates some Skirmishes not onely with Langdale but Hamilton himself he spun out the time so long until that Hamilton's great Army having on the twentieth of August entred into Lancashire Cromwel was arrived with his forces who with the addition of Lambert's strength made an Army of almost ten thousand This famous battel was fought neer to Preston in Lancashire in which all the forces of Hamilton and Langdale were vanquished and put to flight whom the Conqueror pursuing as far as Warrington about twenty miles and killing many in the chase took Lieutenant General Baily prisoner with a great part of the Scottish Army granting them onely quarter for their lives In this battel were slain three thousand Scots and taken prisoners about nine thousand Duke Hamilton himself within few dayes after having fled with a good party of Horse to Uttoxeter was there taken prisoner by the Lord Grey and Colonel Wait with Hamilton were taken about three thousand Horse Langdale also not long after was taken prisoner in a little Village by Widmerpool a Parliament-Captain This was the success of Hamilton's invading England Presently after this famous victory of Cromwel Colchester was surrendred to General Fairfax three months almost had the General lien before that Town with a small Army in respect of the number of the besieged in a lamentable rainy season where the Souldiers patience no less then their valour was tried Goring Capel Hastings Lucas and the other Commanders until they were reduced to extream necessity would not hear of yielding but despised all conditions their courages were long upheld by vain hopes besides the smalness of the General 's Army of aid by insurrections at London and of the success of Hamilton Langdale or the E. of Holland and more especially of succor by Sea from Prince Charls who was now possessed of those Ships which had revolted from the Parliament and having taken divers Merchants Ships besides was himself in person with no contemptible Fleet come into the narrow Seas But about the end of August the besieged in Colchester despairing of any relief and reduc'd to extremities for they had long fed upon Horse-flesh yielded themselves to the mercy of the Conqueror Two onely suffered Sir Ch. Lucas and Sir George Lisle who were shot to death Goring Capel and Hastings were sent to prison to abide the doom of Parliament Thus was the Parliament everywhere victorious by Land nor were they unhappy by Sea For considering that revolt of the Navy it was to be accounted a great felicity that no more revolted after them or no farther mischief ensued But the Earl of Warwick was very careful and it pleased God by this fright rather then loss to let the Parliament know the frailty of their own condition About the end of August Warwick with a good Fleet was in the River Thames when Prince Charls with a greater force about twenty sail was come upon the River against him and sent a command to Warwick to take down his Flag and yield obedience to him as supream Admiral having the King's Commission to that purpose But Warwick true to the Parliament obeyed not the Summons nor was there any convenient place in that narrow Channel especially for the larger Vessels to make a naval fight and Warwick's Fleet not strong enough to encounter the Prince stayed for the coming of their friends the Porchmouth-Fleet The government and bringing
furnished Leiutenant General Cromwel with great Guns with provisions of all sorts from Bristol and other places and every thing necessary for a Siege While these things were acting in Wales General Fairfax sent as before was said with seven Regiments to suppress the Kenrish Risers pursued them towards Rochester A great number of Kentish men not far from Gravesend were gotten together into an Army with whom were above twenty Knights Esquires and Gentlemen of the County and among them divers commanders formerly of the King Armies though they were more in number they durst not give the General battel but some marched away to Maidstone a few kept together about Rochester another part of them went to Dover and besieged that Castle to raise that Siege the General sent Colonel Rich and Sir Michael Levesy who very happily performed that work The General himself marched with his Army to Maidstone Into that Town about two thousand of the Risers were gotten and resolved to make good the place The General likewise prepared to besiege them In no chance of War before was the vertue of Fairfax and his Souldiers more tryed nor a Victory bought with greater danger For after that the Souldiers had broke into the Town which was done with great difficulty they found a War in every street and Ordnance planted against them and were put to fight for every corner of it At last the General with the loss of forty of his men took the Town two hundred of the Enemies being slain and about fourteen hundred taken prisoners four hundred Horse and two thousand Arms were taken One thing was wonderful that an Army of many thousand Kentish men more in number then the Generals Army coming from Rochester to the aid of their friends yet notwithstanding when they came neer durst not venture to assist them but stood in sight while the General took the Town Publike thanks were given to God by order of Parliament for this great victory Now all Kent seemed to be quieted except some Castles which also within a short time were taken or yielded to the Parliament when suddenly a new head of this Hydra sprung up the Lord Goring gathering together a remnant of the Kentish Army with about two thousand men had marched as far as Greenwich from whence he sent some to see how the Citizens of London stood affected to the business but whilst he staid expecting an answer some Troops of the Army came in sight upon which Goring and all his company fled the Horsemen pursuing took some Booty and divers prisoners the Kentish men for the most part fled to their own Houses The Lord Goring with about five hundred horse flying from Greenwich and getting Boats crossed the Thames into Essex where as if the Fates sought out new Victories for Fairfax every where the Lord Capel with Forces out of Hartfortshire and Sir Charles Lucas with a body of Horse at Chensford in Essex joyned themselves to Goring to whom within a short time divers that formerly had been the King Souldiers and many Londoners with others flocked Some also of higher rank as Mr. Hastings brother to Huntingdon and Compton brother to the Earl of Northampton The General Fairfax crossing the Thames at Gravesend passed with a part of his Army into Essex and sending for the rest of his Forces out of Kent and London pursued the Enemies whom at last he drove into Colchester and in that Town besieged them where because it proved a long siege we leave him for a time and pass to other actions The greatest of all dangers which threatned the Parliament was from the North not contained within the bounds of England onely but from the Kingdom of Scotland Major General Lambert the chief Commander in the North labouring to suppress Glenham and Langdale wrought so much that he kept them within the bounds of Cumberland and Westmerland but they expected the march of the Scotish Army to which they intended to joyn themselves Lambert too weak to oppose so great a Force omitted no diligence in strengthening himself from the neighbour-Counties who were very forward to his assistance especially Lancashire who raised two Regiments of Horse and four of Foot to be conducted by Major General Ashton and joyn with Lambert in Yorkeshire The English Malignants alone were not very formidable in the North but that the Kingdome of Scotland joyned with them against the Parliament Wars were made from another Kingdome that Cromwel might be victorious as well against Forraigners as Englishmen The faction of Duke Hamliton was then prevalent in the Parliament of Scotland by whom Designs were hatched dangerous to both Kingdoms contrary to peace and contrary for so it was judged by the Church of Scotland even to the Covenant it self England was to be invaded and a great Army raised under the Command of Duke Hamliton a man ambitious and subtle The English Malignants for it was given out that they took Arms for the King were invited to joyn with them and pay promised to those that would serve all this was done though Arguile Louden and the honester Lords protested against their proceedings and the Kirk of Scotland cursed that War as impious But the greater part prevailed who therefore stiled themselves the Parliament of Scotland by a kinde of right and to curb men of the adverse faction a Commitee was made with power given to them to punish all those who should attempt any thing against the Decrees of the Parliament and a penalty set down to be inflicted upon all Ministers who should from their Pulpits teach the people otherwise by which means it was brought to pass that many Ministers were silenced others punished and some Lords of the other faction retired themselves to their own strengths yet could they not stop the mouths of all the Ministers some with a constant Zeal denounced the wrath of God against that Army of Hamilton and by the wretched success of that unfortuneate Army the curses of the Kirk seemed not in vain no more then of old the Tribunes curse upon the Parthian Expedition of Marcus Crassin Conspiracies by Land though over the whole Iland against the Parliament of England seemed not enough unless the Sea also had rebelled against them Divers of the chief Ships in the Royal Fleet revolted from the Parliament about the beginning of June and set the Vice-Admiral Rainsborough ashore affirming they were for the King and would serve Prince Charles sailing towards Holland where the Prince then was and with him his brother the Duke of York who not long before fled privately being perswaded thereto by Letters from the King his Father out of London where he had been kept with great observance and state by the Parliament The Parliament were much troubled at the revolt of these Ships as a thing of extream danger and sent to the Earl of Warwick to take the Command of their remaining Navy and reduce the rest if he could Warwick cheerfully accepted the employment and was