THE HISTORY OF THE LIFE DEATH OF OLIVER CROMWELL The late Usurper and pretended Protector of England c. Truely Collected and Published for a warning to all Tyrants and Usurpers By J. H. Gent. LONDON Printed for F. Coles at the Lamb in the Old-Baily 1663. THE HISTORY Of the LIFE and DEATH OF OLIVER CROMWELL The late Usurper CHAP. I. Shewing the birth and Parentage and place of Nativity of the said Oliver Cromwell THE unparalleld actions of this man hath made people more curious then otherwise they would be to know his Rise and Birth which otherwise might better to the advantag of his memory been yet obscured and concealed for it will neither add praise nor commendation either to his countrey or Relations both which have publiquely protested their shame and their abhortance of him So that without prejudice to his Family who have cleared themselves of any participation of his Facts and did and doe detest both him and them you may understand he was the Sonne of Henry Cromwell alias Williams the Younger Sonne of Sir Henry Cromwell of Hinohingbrook in the County of Huntingdon Knight who so magnificently treated King James in that place at his coming into England who so Loyally and Affectionately loved King Charles the Martyr and who lastly so hated and abominated this same Oliver his Nephew God-sonne and Name-sake He was Born at Huntingdon in the year 1599. where his Father being a Cadet or younger Brother as we have said having no large Estate had intermarried with a Brewers Widdow by whom he had some addition of Fortune and from her sprung that story of Olivers being a Brewer in Huntingdon he was from his infancy a lusty active Child and of a sturdy rough temper which to remedy in his young years his Father prudently took this Course CHAP. II. How Oliver was Educated and brought up in the Vniversity of Cambridge and afterwards in Lincolns Inne in the study of the Law ABout the Age therefore of Thirteen or Fourteen years his Father sent him to the University of Cambridge to have him tempered and managed by the severe Tuition and Discipline of the University but his Tutor quickly perceived the boysterous and untractable spirit of his Pupill who was more for action then speculation and loved Cudgells Foot-ball-playing or any Game and Exercise better then his Book so that there was no hopes of making him a Shollar or a learned Man and much ado there was to keep him so in compasse that he became not an open and publique dishonour to his Friends here he was made an actor in the play of the Five Senses where he ominously stumbled at a Crown which he had also dreamed he should once Wear whereupon he was presently removed his Tutor weary and afraid of disgrace by him to Lincolns-Inne where he might with lesse imputation and observance if his bent were so given royster it out and yet without much trouble attaine some knowledge in the Lawes to qualifie him for a Countrey Gentleman and that little Competency his Father could leave him But no such Rudiments would sink into him he was for Rougher Arguments and Pleas Club-law and indeed what occasion had he to know and be versed in the Law whose designs and wicked practises afterwards were directly opposite to all Lawes both Divine and Humane so that he continued not long there but was called home his Father dying soon after and leaving him to his swinge CHAP. III. Of his Manner of Life and Conversation in the Countrey OLiver being come down in the Countrey and growing sturdy and of Mans stature frequented all manner of wild Company who but he at any Match or Game whatsoever where he would drink and roar with the rudest of his Companions and when his Money which he had sparingly from his Mother who yet kept the purse failed him he would make the Victuallers trust him to such a ruine of his Credit and Reputation he being as famous for his Raunting and his Scores as after for his Prayers and Victories that the Ale-wives of Huntingdon if they see him coming would set up a cry here comes young Cromwel shut up the Doors and so keep him out But he had better successe in the War for then there was no shutting of him out no Garrison or Castle or strength whatsoever was sufficient to debar him But that may be imputable to the luck of his former Atchievments Fortune being tyed at his Girdle keeping a constant Tenour with him for at this Age he would make nothing of beating of Tinkers and such Masty Fellowes at Quarter staffe or any such weapon they would chuse so that he was dreaded by all the Ale-drinkers as well as Ale-wives of the Countrey CHAP. IV. How Oliver was reclaymed from these loud Courses how he joyned himself to the preciser sort and became an Hypocritical Convert BY these debaucht Courses of Life and regardlesse thoughts how the world went as long as Drink and Company could be had no matter how nor where he had so endangered his small Estate and Patrimony and was so far in debt that nothing robory he was forced to retire himself and get out of the way and live privately for private arrests and judgements which were brought against him In this solitary Condition he had time to bethink himself of his Condition and having nothing else to do having play'd a part at Cambridge to personate another at home seeming very pensive and melancholy and much reserved in his talk and discourse which from vaine and frivolous and wild speeches was now altered into serious and modest and grave language and sober expression which accomodated and set forth with a more stayed and solemne aspect and gesture made him appear to be another kind of person having run from the one extreme to the other from Stark nought to too Good and t will be a question whether by the first he were more destructive to himself or by the latter more pernicious to his Countrey This humour sowred him at last into a precise Puritanisme with whom his zealous design was to ingratiate himself who increasing every day and being grown to a head-strong Faction he doubted not but if time should serve which his daring spirit if he had not a familiar told him was a coming to be principal person among them and howsoever to make up his decaies on his Fortunes by the kind-hearted supplies and loanes of the brother-hood who were very proud of such a proselyte In a short time after he had learned to pray and attained a very ready faculty therein which he made no nicety to manifest upon all occasions both in their publique and private meeting so that he was looked upon by those of his Godly party as their chiefest Ornament and by the rest of the world as a strange wonder This Artificial devotion did not onely then advantage him but served him thereafter through the whole course of his Life and was the main ingredient
resist him whereupon the Scotch War then newly beginning Cromwell was sent for over and the Presbyterian Ministers set on no doubt by some of his Agents having inveigled Fairfax with the unlawfulnesse of his engaging against their Gude brethren he laid down his Commission which was readily conferred on and taken up by Cromwell CHAP. IX Of Cromwells March into Scotland his Victories at Dunbar and Worcester and the reduction of that Kingdome GLadly did Oliver undertake this War for now he was sure to make the Army his own by placing and displacing of Officers long it was and many delayes were used by the Scots before they would be brought to Fight intending to starve the English Army which was neer done to their Hands and Oliver sneaking away Home when the precipitate blew cap greedy of Spoyle and Victory would needs fall upon them at Dunbar Sept. 3d. 1650. and were there by the prowesse and desperate Valour of their Enemies totally overcome Cromwell therefore now Marches back again to Edinburgh and buyes that impregnable Castle of the Traytor Dundasse and advances against King Charles the Second who lay Encamped by Sterling but he not stirring out of his fortified Camp and there being no other or further passage into Scotland but over the Frith an Arm of the Sea Cromwell wafts over most part of his Army and defeats a Scotch party while the King gives Cromwell the Go-by being two dayes march before him and after a tedious march came to Worcester August the 22d whither not long after came Cromwell in great doubt and perplexity by the way having left General Monk to carry on the War in Scotland who shortly after reduced the whole Kingdome and beset the Town being recruited and made up with his old Army to above Forty Thousand Men what shall I say of that Unfortunate day the King was Worsted and most miraculously escaped and so Cromwell might have leave to play But no such matter the time was come he had long expected to act his own Game and appear in it for himself for by the year 1653. Scotland and Ireland being wholy subdued in the hands of his most trusty Privado's and Confidents his New Son-in-Law Fleetwood for Ireton was dead of the Plague at Limbrick being Deputy of Ireland and General Monck Governour of Scotland he proposeth to the Parliament the desires of the Army for their Dissolution to make way for succession of a new Representative which they endeavouring to delay and to impose upon him with the necessities of their sitting a little while longer his Ambition could brook no longer retardments but sent Major General Harrison on the 20th of Aprill 1653. to out their Rump-ships which he accordingly did to the general rejoycing of the people who considered nor cared who should come next so they were rsid of these CHAP. X. How Cromwell ordered the Government afterward and how he made himself Lord Protector of England AFter the RUMP was thus dissolved Oliver by the advise forsooth of his General Councel of Officers erected a Councel of State of such as were true to his Interest and the Army and were well Fledg'd with the spoyles of the Kingdome but perceiving that was but a slender Authority to derive the Government to himself which was the first and last thing intended he called a pickt Conventicle of the like batch as himself and his Followers all of the Godly party whom he stiled a Parliament the name whereof was enough to Authorize and Dignifie the Resignation of the Authority they had from to him their odious actions moreover would make a single person himself more acceptable For these wild Fellows were upon Abolishing the Ministry and opening the Floodgate to Heresie and Atheisme when Cromwell dissolved them and with them discarded his old Friend and their darling Major General Harrison who was tampering with the Army to unhorse Oliver but he smelt him out and Cashiered him as he did his Trusty Friend Lambert soon after as finding they were both greater in the Army then his Safety and Interest would suffer so impossible it is for brethren in iniquity long to continue in Love and Friendship Oliver would endure no Competitor but resolved to be Single and Supreme CHAP. XI How Oliver was sworn Protector and how be managed the Government briefly THat little or foolish Parliament being divided among themselves one part thereof resigned their power unto Oliver who straight with caused the Commissioner of the Seale Mr. Lisle to Administer him an Oath on the 16th of December 1653. before the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of the City of London in Westminster-Hall to observe a Module of Government in Forty Two Articles which instrument of his as was said was found in my Lady Lamberts placket and thereupon he was proclaimed Lord Protector in February he was feasted sumptuously in the City and Knighted the Lord Mayor as he did many other afterwards upon whom he had better have pissed he made also one Lord but he never owned it Now though he was proclaimed Protector yet he knew the people took him for no such thing therefore he called a parliament according to Form thinking to have been declared so by them but they would not own him or his Authority Seeing therefore he could neither get Reputation nor Money at home he resolved to have it from the King of Spains West-Indies but at Hispaniola his Forces under General Venables were strangely defeated and forced to plant themselves in Jamaica and fight for Bread instead of Gold He likewise started several plots the Fox was the finder against Cavaliers such as Colonel Gerrard and afterwards Colonel Penruddock maintaining intelligence at the price of 1500. per annum with one Manning a Clerk to the Kings Secretary who then resided at Colen who discovered most of the Kings Councel till he was discovered himself and executed on purpose to terrifie people and those especially from rising against him Now when Oliver saw he could not attaine his will by whole Parliaments he resolved on his old expedient to garble a Parliament Call it and then Cull it which he did and secluded those Members that would not before they entred recognize and own his Highnesse by which means two parts of three were excluded and he by the remainder complemented with the stile of King but for fear of Lambert and Harrison and indeed the whole Kingdome especially the Army he durst not accept of it but was content to take the Title of Protector from their Hands and was accordingly on the 16th of June 1657. Solemnly installed by the Speaker Sir Thomas Widdrington again in Westminster-Hall and the Parliament adjourned who had likewise passed an Act for erecting of a thing called another House consisting of such Lords as Pride Hewson and Barkstead but upon the meeting of a full House after the Adjournment all this new structure was questioned even to Oliver himself who thereupon in a passion and transported beyond his vizarded sanctity with an Oath by the Living God dissolved them In the year 1658. he assisted the French against the Spaniard and helped them to take Dunkirk which for his pains he had delivered to him and no doubt it was the best service he ever did to his Countrey But during this unenvied triumph having drencht his polluted hands in more innocent and Loyal Blood namely that of Dr. Hewet and Sir Henry Slingsby God put a Hook into the mouth of this Leviathan and having snatcht away his beloved Daughter Claypoole just before on the 3d. of September 1658. his great successful day he was hurried in a Tempest out of the world which he had so long troubled and on the 16th of November following was most magnificently buried to the onely sorrow of those who furnished the Mourning and Pageantry thereof leauing his Wife Elizabeth alias Jone with two Sonnes Richard who succeeded till he tamely and Cowardly resigned is now fled for his Fathers Debts Henry and a Daughter ycleped Francis Rich. A Person as it was well charactered of him fit to be a Prince of Tartars or Cannibals Before the King returned into England Colonel Henry Cromwell Sonne of Sir Oliver Cromwell obtained license of the King to change that hateful name into Williams which was the name of this Family before they married with a Daughter and Heir of of Cromwell which was upon Condition they should take her Name as well as Estate FINIS
of all his policies and successes A Friar was an Asse to him for saying of Prayers he was able to give him two for one with his Beads and by Rote and out-stript him Extempore CHAP. V. How Oliver being noted for his pretended Sanctity was chosen a Burgesse of Cambridge for the Long-Parliament and the War breaking out was made a Captaine of Horse BY this sanctimonious vizor and manifested zeale for Reformation which was then in every Mans mouth he was lookt upon as the fittest Instrument to promote it in the Parliament which the King had called in 1640. to redresse the grievances of the State and Church and to supply his necessities and therefore the Puritan faction and his Relations by marriage as Mr. Goodwin and also Hambden of Buckingham laboured in the Election of Burgesses for the town of Cambridg to have him chosen The Town was generally infected with the same Disease and therefore it was no hard matter to effect it Sitting in Parliament as a Member he quickly saw which way the streame went and therefore resolved to run one of the first with it therefore helpt out the Noyse and Cry for Priviledge proving a great stickler against the Prerogative and to that end endeavouring to widen the breach way made by the Malapertnesse of Tumults against the Kings Person and Court insomuch that he became conspicuous and noted for his aversion to the Government The Flame of those inward burnings now breaking out and because of his influence on his Country and his bold confident spirit he was courted with a Commission which he accepted under the Earl of Essex the Parliaments Generall and was made a Captaine of a Troop of Horse CHAP. VI. Of the Exploits Cromwell did in the beginning of the War HAving raised his Troop he marched not presently with the grosse and main body of the Army but was ordered to continue about his own countrey that so his own enterprizes might be the better observed and he taken notice of so that he was a rising man from the very first beginning of our civil confusions The first service that he appeared in was the seizure of Sir Henry Conisby the Sheriffe of Hartfordshire when in a gallant contempt of the Parliament he was proclaiming the Commission of Array at St. Albaus and sending him and other Gentlemen his asistance to London which sudden and meritorious exploit of his was well resented and highly commended by the Parliament His next piece of diligence was the like seizure of Sir John Pettus and Forty Gentlemen more of the County of Suffolk who were forming a party for the King and securing them by which means he broke the neck of any future designe in that or the next County of Norfolk for the Royal Interest so that he had brought all the Eastern part of England to the Parliaments subjection by a bloodlesse and easie Conquest but his other Victories which were principally ascribed to him though they were joyned with him were very sanguinous and fatally cruel As his last home employment he was ordered to purge and to inspect the University wherein he proceeded with so much rigour against that place of his own Nurture c. it was conceived he would at last as mercilessly use his Mother then bleeding England which work being over and unhappily effected Cromwell was the only man his prudence Fortune and Valour every where applauded and extolled and he reputed for one of the most eminent and able Commanders in the Parliaments Army 'T was time therefore now to shew him abroad having Armed Disciplined and paid his Men so carefully that there was no doubt of their prevailing upon any equal Enemy and under the Conduct of so Vigilant and Wary a Leader whose only aime it was to keep up his Reputation to greater undertakings Therefore in order to a Conjunction and assistance of the Scots who were entred England he was made Lieutenant General to the Earle of Manchester who had raised his Army out of the associated Counties as Cambridge Huntingdon Bedford Suffold c. Those Armies being joyned and mastering the Field the Marquesse of New-castle who opposed them retreating into York they resolved to besiege that City to Reliefe whereof Prince Rupert came and forcing them to draw off from their League gave them the battel on Marston Moor July the Second 1644. In the beginning of the Fight Prince Rupert had utterly discomfited the right wing of the Army where Sir Thomas Fairfax and the Scots Horse stood and disordered the main body of the Foot so that the day was given for lost the Scots running and throwing down their Arms when Cromwell with his Curafficres and the rest of my Lord Manchesters Horse who were placed in the right wing fell with such force and fury upon the Lord Gorings Brigades on the Right that they presently broke them in pieces and following their successe before the Prince returned obtained a compleat Victory killing no lesse then 5000 Men gaining their Camp Bag and Baggage and as the price of all the City of York Hence he acquired that terrible name of Ironsides his Troops being reported unvulnerable and unconquerable by this Dehe feat lifted up himself to those great Titles and Places he went through afterwards CHAP. VII A continuance of his successes against his Soveraign and his Forces his Treacherous and Disloyal dealing with his Majesty THe next Field we finde him in was that of the second Newberry October the 27 1644. where with the same Felicity and Valour he had the better on that part of the Field where he Fought and contributed mainly to that piece of a Victory the Parliament Forces had there when to cloud and damp this rising Martiallist he was Articled against by his Superiour Officers for some miscarriages and practises in the Army to the hindrance of the service which was indeed his ambitious insinuation into the affection of the Souldiery but this was never prosecuted his Friends the Grandees of the Independent party interposing and justifying him for a godly expert and Valiant Commander This Independent Faction was now grown too crafty and had supplanted their Brother of Presbytery by new modelling the Army turning out most of Essexes Officers and dismissing all Members of Parliament from their several Commands therein among which number Cromwell should have been included but his partisans wrought so that he was continued for Forty dayes and those expired longer and longer even till the War ended By this said model Sir Thomas Fairfax was made Lord General and Cromwell after some time Lieutenant General being the only man lookt upon able to carry on the independent Interest The first action he engaged in in this quality was his routing of the Queens Regiment and some other Troops come from Worcester to fetch the King from Oxford then designed to be besieged in the beginning of the year 1645. at Islip bridge then his immediate summoning and taking Blechingdon House April 24th whereafter as he was