in their place and gave solemn thanks by their Recorder to his Majesties Messengers The Lords received their Letter by the Lord Mordant with the like joy and loyal affection The House of Commons having read their Letter and the Declaration voted it satisfactory and presently voted the Government of the Nation to be in his Majesty as the rightful and undoubted heir of the three Nations of England Scotland and Ireland They ordered also a Committee to meet for drawing up a Letter of thanks to his Majesty for his most gracions Declaration And to Sir John Greenvile who delivered the Letter they gave five hundred pound as a gratuity to buy him a Jewel Both they and the Lords further ordered that six of the upper House and fifteen of the House of Commons should be forthwith sent to his Majesty to invite and attend him into to England Montague the Admiral at Sea is commanded to wait upon him with a Squadron of Ships and fifry thousand pound is ordered for his Majestjes expences as also ten thousand pound to the Duke of York and five thousand pound to the Duke of Glocester The Letter also and Declaration to the Army gave no lesser satisfaction both to the General Officers and Souldiers they all unanimously owning his Majesty in an high degree On Tuesday the eighth of May the King was solemnly proclaimed in London with the greatest expressions and acclamations of Joy that possibly could be and the like was soon after done in all Counties Cities Corporations and inlet Towns all over England No King ever coming to his Throne with so great satisfaction and rejoycing of the People thereby giving an evident Demonstration to the world that it was not the People of England nor the Parliament or Representatives of the People but only a factious and seditious party encouraged and supported by a perfidious and traiterous Army that murdered the late King disinherited his children and overthrew the ancient Fundamental and well constituted government of the Nation turning it from a Monarchy to a Common-wealth and thereby occasioned these horrid confusions and frequent changes and reelings of Government that afterwards ensued to the high reproach and dishonour of the English Nation For no sooner were the People and Parliament of England by the mercy of God delivered from the vassallage of an imperious and domineering Army and put in a condition of freedom but they presently return to their Allegiance and call in the undoubted Heir of the Crown submitting to his Government with the greatest cheerfulness and rejoycing that could be imagined And thus God who only doth wonders hath wrought wonderfully for this sinful Nation turning our Captivity as the Rivers in the South smoothly gently calmly without any tumult or torrent after so many horrid confusions as we have lain under for so many years together even to the wonder and astonishment not only of our selves but of all the Neighbour Nations round about us who must needs acknowledge in our behalf as was sometimes done in the case of Israel that the Lord hath done great things for them and we must needs with the Israelites answer by way of eccho Yea the Lord hath done great thing for us already whereof we rejoyce Psalm 126. The People of England were never conceived or reported to be so much against their King as now they manifestly appear to be for him even all of all sorts but such only whose guilt makes them desperate like Cain thinking their wickedness greater then can be forgiven And here for a conclusion we may fitly and truly in a sence take take up that saying of the Psalmist and apply it to the present occasion The same stone which the builders refused is become the head-stone of the Corner This is the Lords doing and it is marvellous in our eyes To the same God be Glory for his great and Glorious Work May 21. 1660. FINIS Books printed for Robert Gibbs at the Ball in Chancery Lane STemma Sacrum The Royal Progeny by Giles Fleming Minister of Waddingworth in the County of Lincoln Epinicia Carolina or an Essay upon the Return of his sacred Majesty Charls the second by S. Woodford Gent. quarto The blessed Estate of them that die in the Lord by Tho. Manton Minister of Covent-Garden preached at the Funeral of Mrs. Jane Blackwell Wife of Elidad Blackwell An hundred choice Meditations Divine and Moral by Henry Tubb M. A. of Saint Johns Colledge in Cambridge Sensuality dissected or the Epicure's Motto opened censured improved preached at the Kentish Feast The Saints Gods precious Treasure being a Sermon preached at the Funeral of Darcy Wyvil Esq Eldest Son to the truly honourable Sir Christopher VVyvil The Excellent Woman a Sermon at the Funeral of Mrs. Elizabeth Scot. The vanity of glorying in the flesh in a Sermon preached at the Funeral of Kingswel Lucy Esq These four Sermons all preached by Tho. Case Minister of Saint Giles in the Fields and may be bound in one volume in 120.
Protector It is probable the Protector foresaw that little or nothing would be done by this Parliament and therefore to make sure work he and his Council besides this Ordinance for his stile and Title for the issuing out Writs and for Law-proceedings to go according to that Stile and Title and some others of the like nature made in the beginning of his government immediately upon the Change I say besides these before the Convening of this Parliament a very few dayes he publishes by Authority of himself and his Council above twenty Ordinances as some reckoned them which were observed as valid Laws and amongst them one remarkable one for the Ejecting of Ignorant scandalous and insufficient Ministers by any five or more of the Commissioners therein named and by which in a quarter of a years time they ejected many Ministers especially in Norfolk out of their livings scarce one of twenty that were accused or complained of but were ejected And this was done I suppose to gratifie the Anabaptistical and Independent party who hitherto beheld Oliver with an evil eye since he was Protector looking as they thought too like a King The Parliament convened according to appointment at Westminster Septemb. 3. they presently question the Protectors Authority though he had at their first meeting in a very large speech presently after printed and published magnified the same as if he had been called to the Place by the concurrent and universal consent of the whole Nation It is true they consented because they could do no otherwise being forced thereunto by his armed power to silence and suppress this question within a few dayes after their sitting he enjoyns a Recognition or acknowledgement of his power by a particular subscription of every one of the Members before they were admitted to enter the House any more and such as would not subscribe were forcibly secluded by a guard of Souldiers but at last all or most of them subscribed No sooner were they set again but they fall in hand with the Instrument of Government examining it in every particular and the Protector suffered them to go on without interruption They would have been content to have made him Protector but they would not allow of the Instrument of Government in all things Ye must know by the way that one Article of the Government was that the Parliament called and convened must sit five months if themselves think good and during that time the Protector had not power to dissolve them but afterwards at any time he might It was further ordained that whatsoever Acts they made and tendred to him if he did not consent within thirty dayes or satisfie them to the contrary they were to be Laws valid and binding without him To conclude they spent so long time in tuning the instrument that just at the five moneths end counting precisely twenty eight dayes to a moneth the Protector calls them together tells them he thought they had been asleep having not of a long time heard from them That they had sate long and done nothing and therefore tells them they may repaire every one to his several home Thus they are dissolved with a kind of jeer Ianuary 22.1654 But I must tell you the Parliament would not tender him any Bill to passe nor receive any Laws from him till such time as they had regulated the Government of the Nation and confirmed his authority upon him The truth is they thought him not to have power to enact Laws till themselves had given it him And therefore they would have nothing pass till altogether were done and finished After the breaking up of this Parliament it was generally thought we should never have had any more in his time For the Protector betakes himself to other Methods of government That year 1655. year 1655 he institutes his Major General He divides the whole Kingdom into seven Provinces or Cantons three four or five more or fewer Counties in a Province And over every of these he placeth a Major General with his Deputy and sufficient Authority not only in Military affairs but also in Ecclesiastical and Civil none came amiss to them they would meddle in all upon occasion on complaint Especially in Church-affairs they take upon them the soveraign power they put out silence and inhibit what Ministers they please by vertue of the late Ordinance against scandalous Ministers and other orders private instructions to them from the Protector his Council They will not suffer any ejected Minister to teach a School either publickly or privately to pray or preach or to perform any Ministerial duty in any Church or private Family in a word they would have starved them if they could denying all means of livelyhood to them and theirs And because divers ejected Ministers had during the sitting of this last Parliament and soon after commenced suits in Law for the recovery of their Livings and had gotten some of them damages against their Intruders and had hopes of recovering the possession of their Livings and some of them had already got into possession by Law The Protector publisheth a Proclamation thereby strictly commanding them to quit their possessions and to release all judgements obtained and further inhibiting all Attournies Lawyers and Advocates to commence or prosecute any Suits for or to plead in the behalf of such Clients And all Judges are likewise inhibited to admit of any such Actions or Pleas in any of their Courts All which was apparently to deny them the benefit of the Law which is the highest Act of Arbitrary and Tyranni-power that can be and consequently to condemn that Authority as illegal by which they were first ejected Furthermore upon occasion of a rising in the Spring by some of the Kings party in the West he not only proceeds against Col. Iohn Penruddock and divers other Gentlemen by Capital punishment but he decimates all the Cavaleers or Gentlemen of the late Kings party that had been in arms for him all over England that is he enjoyns them to pay yearly the tenth part of their whole Revenue notwithstanding their former Compositions made for their Estates and their Pardon 's sued out as the Parliament had enjoyned and also the late Act of Oblivion anno 1651. And this Decimation was put in execution by these Major Generals And in this Government he much resembled the Turk Himself like the Grand Signior ruling by sole command had his standing Army as a guard for his Person answerable to the Janizaries and his Major Generals representing the Bashaws in their several Provinces And besides these he had his Auxiliaries lately set up in every County viz. certain Troops of horse and Companies of foot armed and ready upon all occasions maintaining and finding their own horses and arms for a constant yearly salary the horsemen had 8 li. per annum and the foot 3 li. and these were upon any occasion to be drawn forth and march in a few hours warning Anno 1656. The Protector
were highly guilty of the Kings Trial and death And all these together had a great influence upon the Army These generally were disaffected to the Protector The Army also Richard having never been a Souldier were very desirous to have a General of their own choice with power to place and displace what Army-Officers he thought fit Fleetwood the Protectors Brother in-law or Lambert aims at the place To effect their design they with the Commonwealths men in Parliament as Haselrig and Vane Scot and Weaver and others the like make a Faction in the Army against the Protector The Commanders of the Army that were of this Faction had frequent meetings at Fleetwoods Lodging at Wallingford House whereof Richard had notice and might have supprest them in time by some chief Officers that were of his part who offered their assistance thereunto but being loth to hazard the effusion of blood he let things rest hoping perhaps they would not have proceeded as afterwards they did Fleetwood soon after advises him to adjourn the Parliament year 1659 but he refusing they come to him and force him to send a Writ to dissolve it This was about the latter end of April 1659. The Parliament thus suddenly dissolved the Souldiers were at a loss what to do at last they resolve after a solemn Fast had among themselves as their manner was to call in that piece or tail of the long Parliament that Cromwell and themselves had broke up and cast out six years before April 20. 1653. to return again to the exercise of their trust as they termed it expressing their Repentance for that action and desiring to return again into the good old way Lenthal the Speaker and some others of that company being then in and about the City very gladly accept the motion they thought long to be again in authority They call together all their fellow-Members that they could get and had much ado to make fourty thought they took two of them out of the Gaol viz. the Lord Munson and Henry Martin who were Prisoners there upon execution Being thus got together upon Saturday afternoon May 7. the Speaker with the rest enter the House and set again as a Parliament publishing a Proclamation or Declaration to let the People understand how by the wonderful providence and mercy of God they were again restored to the exercise of their trust being as they call themselves Asserters of the Good old Cause c. The Munday following Mr. William Prin a Bencher of Lincolns Inn and many more Members of the Long Parliament that were secluded upon the Kings Tryal December 1648. met together at Westminster and went to the House-door demanding admission to sit with the rest but were denâ—ed entrance and kept out with armed guards Whereupon he writes a Book called his Narrative wherein he declraes at large their manner of demanding admission and in what manner they were forcibly kept out and very solidly pleads the Kings cause against their Commonwealth And another Book he writes and publishes at the same time intituled The good old Cause wherein he manifestly proves by twelve undeniable Arguments that that which they termed the good old Cause was far worse more destructive both to Church and State to Religion and the Common-wealth then the Gunpowder Treason And though he openly owned and avowed these Books setting his name to them yet they never returned the least answer to them nor questioned the Author But these Books thus seasonably published gave a deadly blow to their good old Cause though the operation of it was not so presently discerned The Parliament those few that were being thus got in again they presently depose the Protector and alter the Government from a single person to a Common-wealth They null all honouts conferred by the late Protector so that many are in an instant unknighted whom Oliver before had honoured with that dignity Richard himself but the other day Lord Protector of England Scotland and Ireland and his Highness at every word is now in the language of the Parliament but Richard Cromwel Esq for by that Title they wrote to him to quit his Lodgings and remove from White-hall and his Excellency Lord Henry Cromwell Lord Lieutenant of Ireland is now no more then Mr. Henry Cromwel All Olivers venerable House of Peers have now in an instant lost their Lordships and are the same that formerly they were so great a change is effected in an instant Only Fleetwood and Lambert are still termed Lords in the Parliaments first Declaration May 7. and there was cause for it for the Parliament were what they were by their means And now all mouths are open in an instant against the late Protector Oliver reproaching him as the worst of Tyrants and Usurpers tearing his Hearse or Statue in pieces defacing and pulling down his sumptuous Monument that was but a few weeks before at a most vast charge set up in Westminster The Parliament were more obliged to the Army then they were to the people for putting them again into Authority for the people had had more then enough of them for almost two seven years before Oliver never did so much good for the Nation nor had more thanks from the people then when he and his Army had turned these men out as before is said April 20. 1653. And therefore they thought it concerned them rather to gratifie the Army then to please the people To this end not long after their re-installment they impose a Tax of twelve months to be paid in a manner altogether That 35000 li. a month which was not to be paid by the Act that imposed it till Midsummer 1660. and that quarterly they command to be paid in presently between Lammas and Michaelmas 1659. intending as its probable as soon as that was paid in to impose another the like payment upon the people After this about July they pass an Act for setling the Militia and it was sent down into the several Counties to be presently put in execution but the Army as it was thought not relishing this design it was soon after laid aside This year about the beginning of August there was a rising in Cheshire Lancashire and the parts adjoyning under the command of Sir George Booth Sir Thomas Midleton and other Gentlemen in those parts they declare for a free and full Parliament to be elected by the People It was commonly reported the design was general laid all over all England and tâ—◠〈◊〉 was carried on châ—â—â—ly by the Pâ—â—â—â—â—terian Party But Cheshire and the parts adjacent were the first that arose in other places attempts were made but they were suppressed Sir George Booth had taken Westchester both Town and Castle and was reported to be very numerous And therefore upon the first intelligence thereof Lambert is sent out against him with an Army of six or seven thousand men and a train of Artillery and forces from all quarters are appointed to draw to him so that all
being thus restored who had for eleven years and more been kept out from discharging their trust there is great rejoycing and triumphing again both in London and all parts of the Kingdom with Ringing and Bonefires making c. but some of the Rump upon their restoring it is said withdrew and would sit no more Presently after their restoring they vote Monk to be General of all the forces of England Scotland and Ireland Sir William Waller one of the secluded Members to be Leiutenant-General and Rossiter a Lincolnshire Gentleman and one that had formerly served the Parliament to be General of the Horse They constitute Montagu to be Admiral at Sea instead of Lawson and they appoint a new Council of State Soon after they make an Act for setling the Militia of the Kingdom together with some Acts concerning Ministers And taking order for calling of a new Parliament to convene at Westminster April 25. they dissolve themselves on Friday the 16th of March. And thus by Gods great blessing we have lived to see an end of that unhappy long Parliament that hath been the cause of misery and calamity to these three late flourishing Kingdoms for these nineteen years and more last past And all this brought to pass without one drop of bloodshed by the prudent and politick conduct of General Monk who with a small Army an handful of men in comparison not past four thousand foot and eighteen hundred horse and those not very well accommodated marched from Berwick through the heart of England to the City of London without the least opposition and at length gained the power and command of that opulent and potent City Lamberts Army being at least twelve or thirteen thousand men well hors'd and well appointed breaking in pieces and mouldring away in a moment the Troops and Companies marching from place to place where they might find quarter till afterwards most of them their Officers cashierd were received and listed under the command of General Monk Afterwards by degrees he purges his Army putting out all Anabaptists Quakers and other Fanaticks both Officers and common Souldiers as they are or can be discoverd both in the Army and Garisons and placeth others in their steads Overton a fifth Monarchy-man who pretended to hold Hull for the Lord Jesus Christ was yet notwithstanding commanded to surrender it to Mr. Charls Fairfax a Yorkshire Gentleman which accordingly he did and the like was done in all other Garisons the Army-men displaced and Gentlemen of the Country of other confiding persons put in their steads Soon after the putting in of the secluded Members Lambert is committed to the Tower Haselrig Scot and others are under examination but dismissed upon their promise or engagement to demean themselves peaceably Lambert not long after finds means to escape out of the Tower and about the middle of April or soon after appears in Arms about Northampton in the head of a party many of the cashierd Officers and Souldiers of the Fanatick and discontented party being got together And it is generally conceived that all the Anabaptists Quakers and other factious people in all parts of the Kingdom had a design to have risen and joyned with him had he not been timely suppressed But Colonel Ingoldsby being sent against him with a party he surrounds them all being not above five or six hundred whereupon most of the common Souldiers come in and yield themselves and Lambert with some Commanders are taken upon the place without a stroke striking only a scour of Lamberts they say was slain Colonel Okey and some others escaped by flight lambert being thus taken is brought to London together with Colonel Cobbet Major Creed and young Haselrig Sir Arthurs Son These were all brought up in a Coach through Hide Park on Tuesday April 29. what time there was the greatest general Muster of Citizens that ever was seen in or near London Of trained men and Auxiliaries there were at least twenty thousand some say thirty thousand men in Armes Some of the Nobility and many Gentlemen of quality trayling pikes voluntarily amongst them The Prisoners brought through the Army and sufficiently hooted at they afterwards drove the Coach under Tyburn and there made a stand This was done I suppose to minde them of their destiny or at least of their desert and to disgrace them who had so long time insulted and domineered over the Nobility Gentry and Commonalty of the Kingdom A just reward to use them uncivilly who had so barbarously abused both King and People The Parliament according to Appointment began at Westminster April the twenty fifth the House of Commons being elected and called by Writs issuing out in the name of the Keepers of the Liberties of England by authority of Parliament a Title invented presently upon the change of the Government from as Monarchy to a Common-wealth in the year one thousand six hundred forty eight the Lords and Peers of the upper House taking their places by vertue of their birth-rights and ancient dignities Soon after the sitting of the Parliament there arrived at London the Lord Mordant and Sir John Greenvile with a Declaration from his Majesty as also several Letters One to the House of of Pâ—eâ—s another to the House of Commons a third to the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Common Council of the City of London and a fourth to General Monk to be by him communicated to the Council of State and to the Officers of the several Armies under his Command which Declaration and several Letters from his Majesty were presented according to their several directions May the first In his Declaration he offers 1. A general Pardon to all of all sorts excepting only such as the Parliament should think fit to except provided that they sue out their Pardons under the great Seal of England within fourty dayes after the publication thereof 2. He offers a Liberty to tender Consciences for matters of Religion so far forth as the Parliament should think fit and to consent to such an Act as the Parliament for that purpose shall tender to his Majesty 3. For the sales and purchases of Lands made since these late troubles he is willing to leave it to the determination of Parliament whom he presumes best able to provide for the satisfaction of all such as are concerned therein And Lastly he promiseth full satisfaction of Arrears to all Officers and Souldiers of General Monck's Army and to receive them into his service upon as good pay and conditions as they now enjoy This was the sum of his Declaration published at Breda April 14. 1660. in the twelfth year of his Majesties Reign This Declaration together with his several Letters afore-mentioned were highly accepted The Lord Mayor Aldermen and Common Council after the reading of them cried out unanimously God save King Charls and presently took down the Common-wealths Arms that hung in the Guild-hall and as they say brake them in pieces ordering the King Arms to be hung up