Former Ages never Heard of AND After Ages will Admire Or a Brief Review of the most Materiall PARLIAMENTARY TRANSACTIONS Beginning Nov 3. 1640. WHEREIN The Remarkeable Passages both of their Civil and Martial Affaires are continued unto this present Year Published as a Breviary leading all along successively as they fell out in their severall years So that if any man will be informed of any remarkeable Passage he may turne to the year and so see in some measure in what Moneth thereof it was accomplished For Information of such as are altogether ignorant of the rise and progresse of these Times A Work worthy to be kept in Record and communicated to Posterity Who is wise and he shall understand these things prudent and he shall know them for the wayes of the Lord are right and the just shall walk in them but the transgressors shall fall therein Hosea 14. 9. LONDON Printed by M. S. for Tho Jenner at the South-Entrance of the Royal EXCHANGE 1654. The Chronology IN the first year of King Charls his Reign a Parliament being called at Oxford two Subsidies were granted no grievances removed but the said Parliament soon dissolved The sad effects which the dissolution of this Parliament produced were the losse of Rochel by the unhappy help of Englands ships The diversion of a most facile and hopeful war from the West Indies to a most expensive and succeslesse attempt on Cales The attempt on the Isle of Ree and thereby a precipitate breach of peace with France to our great losse A peace concluded with Spain without consent of Parliament contrary to a promise formerly made to the Kingdome by King James a little before his death whereby the cause of the Palatinate was altogether most shamefully deserted by us The Kingdome suddenly billetted with Souldiers and a concomitant project set on foot for Germane Horses to force men by fear to fall before arbitrary and tyrannical Taxations continually to be laid upon them 2d Parliament The dissolution of a second Parliament at Westminster in the second year after a declarative grant of no lesse then five Subsidies and the sad issues that flowed to the Kingdom thereupon As first the violent exacting from the people that mighty sum of the five Subsidies or a sum equal to it by a Commission for a Royal Loan Many worthy Gentlemen imprisoned and vexed that refused to pay it Great sums extorted by Privy Seals and Excises and the most hopeful Petition of Right blasted 3d A third Parliament called and quickly broken in the fourteenth year of the King the best Members clapt up close Prisoners denied all ordinary and extraordinary comforts of life and so that Parliament was dissolved Opprobrious Declarations published to asperse the proceedings of the last Parliament yea Proclamations set out to those effects thereby extreamly to dishearten the Subjects yea and plainly forbidding them once to name a Parliament or to desire them any more Whence immediately gushed out the violent inundations of mighty sums of money got by that strange project of Knight hood yet under a colour of Law The most burthensome Book of Rates the unheard of Taxation of Ship-money the enlargement of Forrests contrary to Magna Charta the injurious Taxation of Coat and Conduct money the forcible taking away of the Trained Bands Arms ingrossing Gunpowder into their hands in the Tower of London The destruction of the Forrest of Dean which was sold to Papists whence we had all our timber for Shipping Monopolies of Sope Salt Wine Leather and Sea Coal yea almost of all things in the Kingdome of most necessary and common use Restraint in trades and habitations for reâ—â—sall of which foresaid heavy pressures many were vext with long and languishing suiâ—s some fined and confined to Prisons to the losse of health in many of life in some some having their Houses broken open their Goods leized on their Studies or Closets searched for Writings Books and papers to undo them some interrupted also in their Sea-Voyages and their Ships taken from them The crushing cruelties of the Star-Chamber Court and Councel Table where the Recorder of Salisbury was greatly fined for demolishing the Picture of the first person in the Trinity in their great Cathedrall Thus far for the miseries of the Common-wealth Popish Ceremonies Romish innovations and such like outrages of the Arch Prelate of Canterbury and his Prelaticall Agents and Instruments over the whole Kingdome in matters of Religion Divine worship and spiritual cases of conscience Additions in the Oath administred to the King at his first inauguration to the Crown by the Arch-Bishop Fines Imprisonments stigmatizings mutilations whippings pillories gagges confinements and banishments yea and that into perpetual close imprisonments in the most desolate remote and as they hoped and intended remotest parts of the Kingdome Mr. Burton Mr. Bastwicke Mr. Prin. The ruinating of the â—â—eoffees for buying in of Impropriations and the advancing to Ecclesiasticall livings Arminians silencing with deprivations degradations and excommunications almost all the most pious Pastors over the Land whom they could catch in their snares and all this under a pretence of peace unity and conformity Printing Presses set open for the Printing and publishing of all Popish and Arminian Tenets but shut up and restrained from printing sound Doctrines Nay not only thus lamentably molested in England but attempted the like in Scotland indeavouring to impose upon them a New Liturgy and a Book of Canons They refusing of them were called and counted Rebels and Traytors yea so proclaimed in all Churches in England and an Army was also raised to oppresse and suppresse them A mighty and tumultuous rising of Apprentices and young men in Southwark and Lambeth side with Clubs and other weapons especially at the Arch Bishops house which put him in such a fright as made him flye to Croyden to convey himselfe to some more private and remote place And although Pharoahs Magicians were so honest that at the sight of the dust of the earth turned into lice they cryed out It was the finger of God but he grew more and more outragious and caused one to be hanged and quartered and his head set on London-Bridge who said at his execution he came there by accident and he must dye The Arch-Prelate of St Andrewes in Scotland reading the new Service-booke in his pontificalibus assaulted by men Women with Crickets stooles Stickes and Stones The rising of Prentises and Sea-men on Southwark side to assault the Arch-bishop of Canterbury's House at Lambeth 4 Parliament A fourth Parliament was thereupon shortly after called again by those complotters means but to a very ill intent and another Parliament summoned also at the same time by the Earl of Strafford in Ireland both of them only to levy and procure moneys to raise another Army and wage a new War against the Scots The Ships and Goods of Scotland were in all parts and Ports of this Land and of Ireland also surprized and seized on
for the King their Commissioners denied audience to make their just Defence to the King and the whole Kingdome of Scotland and England too hereupon much distracted and distempered with levying of moneys and imprisoning all amongst us that refused the same This Parliament also refusing to comply with the King Canterbury and Strafford in this Episcopal War against the Scots was soon dissolved and broken up by them and thereupon they returned to their former wayes of wast and confusion and the very next day after the Dissolution thereof some eminent Members of both Houses had their Chambers and Studies yea their Cabinets and very pockets of their wearing Cloaths betimes in the morning before they were out of their Beds searched for Letters and Writings and some of them imprisoned and a false and most scandalous Declaration was published against the House of Commons in the Kings Name A Forced Loan of money was attempted in the City of London to be made a president if it prevailed there for the whole Kingdome but some Aldermen refusing were sorely threatned and imprisoned In which interim the Clergies Convocation continuing notwithstanding the Dissolution of the Parliament New Conscience oppressing Canons were forged and a strange Oath with an c. in it was framed for the establishing of the Bishops Hierarchy with severe punishments on the refusers to take it The OATH That I A. B. doe Sweare that I doe approve the Doctrine and Discipline or Government established in the Church of England as containing all things necessary to Salvation And that I will not endeavour by my selfe or any other directly or indirectly to bring in any Popish Doctrine contrary to that which is so established Nor will I ever give my consent to alter the Government of this Church by Arch-Bishops Bishops Deans and Arch Deacons c. as it stands now established and as by right it ought to stand Nor yet ever to subject it to the usurpations and superstitions of the Sea of Rome And all these things I doe plainly and sincerely acknowledge and swear according to the plain and common sense and understanding of the same words without any equivocation or mentall evasion or secret reservation whatsoever And this I doe heartily willingly and truly upon the faith of a Christian So help me God in Jesus Christ In this Convocation sore Taxations were also imposed upon the whole Clergy even no lesse then six Subsidies besides a bountifull Contribution to forward that intended War against Scotland For the advancing of which said sums for this War the Popish were most free and forward yea and a solemn Prayer was composed and imposed by the Bishops on their Ministers every where to be used and read in all Churches against the Scots as Rebels and Traytors The Papists also in a high measure enjoyed even almost a total Toleration and a Popes Nuncio suffered amongst us to act and govern all Romish affairs yea a kind of private Popish Parliament kept in the Kingdome and Popish Jurisdictions erected among them Commissioners were also secretly issued out for some great and eminent Papists for Martial Commands for levying of Souldiers strengthning their party with Arms and Ammunition of all sorts and in great plenty His Majesties Treasure was by these means so extreamly exhausted and his Revenues so anticipated that he was forced to compell as it were his owne Servants Judges and Officers of all sorts to lend him great sums of money and Prisons filled with refusers of these and the other illegall payments yea many High-Sheriffs summoned in the Star-Chamber and to the Councel board and some of them imprisoned for not being quick enough in levying of Ship-money and such like intolerable Taxations In sum the whole Land was now brought into a lamentable and languishing condition of being most miserably bought and sold to any that could give and contribute most of might and malice against us and no hope of humane help but dolour desperation and destruction to be the portion of all In which interim the Scots being entred our Kingdome for their own defence the King had advanced his Royal-Standard at Yorke where the cream of the Kingdom Nobles and Gentry being assembled and a Treaty betwixt the prime of both Armies had at Rippon for a fair and peaceable accommodation the King was at last inforced to take his Nobles Councel and in the first place a cessation of Arms agreed on and then a fifth Parl. was necessitously resolved on to begin Nov 3. 1640. 5th Parliament Letters from the King Queen Popish Earls Lords Knights and Gentry post into all parts of the Kingdome to make a strong party for them Shortly after a very formidable Spanish Fleet or Armado appeared on our English narrow Seas in sight of Dover and was coming in as was on very strong grounds more then probably conjectured as a third party to help to destroy us the Spaniards hoping that by this time we and the Scots were together by the ears but they were by Gods mercy beaten off from us by our Neighbours of Holland and we fighting against them fought against our friends The Souldiers in their passage to York turn Reformers pull down Popish Pictures break down rails turn Altars into Tables those Popish Commanders that ware to command them they forced to eat flesh on Fridays thrusting it down their throats and some they slew In the time of ours and the Scots Armies residing in the North which was in June 1641. Malignant Lords endeavoured to bring it out of the North Southward and so to London to compell the Parl. to such limits and rules as they thought fit whereupon the Parl. entred upon this following Protestation Die Veneris 30 July 1641. WE the Knights Citizens and Burgesses of the Commons House in Parl. finding to the great grief of our hearts that the designs of the Priests Jesuites and other adherents to the Sea of Rome have of late been more boldly and frequently put in practice then formerly to the undermining and danger of the ruine of the true Reformed Protestant Religion in his Majesties Dominions established And finding also that they have been and having just cause to suspect that there are still even during this sitting in Parliament endeavours to subvert the fundamentall Lawes of England and Ireland and to introduce the exercise of an Arbitrary and Tyrannicall Government by most pernicious and wicked counsels practices plots and conspiracies And that the long intermission and unhappy breach of Parliam hath occasioned many illegall Taxations whereupon the subject hath been prosecuted and grieved And that divers Innovations and superstitions have been brought into the Church multitudes driven out of his Majesties Dominions jealousies raised and vvn betwixt the King and his people a Popish Army levyed in Ireland and two Armies brought into the bowels of his Kingdom to the hazzard of his Majesties Royal person the consumption of the Revenues of the Crown and Treasure of his Kingdome And lastly finding
to all indifferent men to judge if I have not cause to free my selfe from the hands of those who change their principles with their condition and who are not ashamed openly to intend the destruction of the Nobility by taking away their Negative voyce and with whom the Levellers doctrine is rather countenanced then punished and as for their intentions to my person their changing and putting more strict Guards upon me with the discharging most of all the servants of mine who formerly they admitted to wait upon me do sufficiently declare nor would I have this my retirement mis-interpreted for I shall earnestly and uncessantly endeavour the setling of a safe well grounded peace where-ever I am or shall be and that as much as may be without the effusion of more Christian blood for which how many times have I prest to be heard and yet no ear given to me and can any reasonable man think according to the ordinary cours of affairs there can be a setled peace without it or that God will bles those that refuse to hear their own King surely no I must further add that besides what concerns my self unlesse all other chief interests have not only a hearing but likewise just satisfaction given to them to wit the Presbyterians Independents Army those who have adhered to me and even the Scots I say there cannot I speak not of miracles it being in my opinion a sinful presumption in such cases to expect or trust to them be a safe and lasting peace now as I cannot deny but that my personal security is the urgent cause of this my retirement so I take God to witnesse the publick peace is no lesse before mine eyes and I can find no better way to expresse this my profession I know not what a wiser man may do then by desiring and urging that al chief interests may be heard to the end each may have just satisfaction as for example the Army for the rest though necessary yet I suppose are not difficult to consent ought in my judgement to enjoy the liberty of their conscience and have an Act of Oblivion or Indempnity which should extend to the rest of all my subjects and that all their arrears should be speedily and duly paid which I will undertake to do so I may be heard and that I be not hindred from using such lawfull and honest means as I shall chuse To conclude let me be heard with freedome honoâ—r and safety and I shall instantly break through this cloud of Retirement and shall shew my self to be Pater Patriae C. R. A great tumult insurrection and mutiny in London breaking open divers Houses and Magazines of Arms and Ammunition seizing on the Dâ—â—ms Gates Chains and Watches of the Câ—â—y assaulted shot into the Lord Mayors House and killed one of his Guard c. May 16. 1648. Surrey Petitioners came to Westminster and made a great shout and cryed Hey for King Charls we will pull the Members out by the Ears disarmed two Sentinels knockt them down one Sentinell refusing to be disarmed the Petitioners got within his Arms one of them drew his sword and run him through and the Petitioners drew their swords and said Fall on for King Charls now or never but a party of 500 Foot did take some Of the Petitioners were slain four or five of the Souldiers two The old Lord Goring proclaimed Generall at the head of the Kentish Army upon the Hill neer Aluford consisting of 8000 besides those in Maidstone there were near 300 slain and about 2300 prisoners many of them taken in the Woods Hop-yards and fields also Gentlemen of good quality There were about 500 Horse 3000 Arms 9 Foot colours and 8 pieces of Canon with store of Ammunition taken their Word at the Engagement was King and Kent ours Truth They being routed marched over Rochester Bridge towards Black-Heath with about 3000 Horse and Foot most Cavaleers Prentises and Watermen and fled over the water into Essex by Woollidge and Greenwich The Duke of Buckingham Lord Francis Earl of Holland Lord Andrew Lord Cambden and others rose in Surrey and made Proclamation that they expected the Parl. would settle the Kingdome but because they have not they would fetch the King and live and dye with him to settle it July 11. 1648. Pembroke Castle surrendred 〈◊〉 Scots Army of 21000. Invaded England Duke â—ambletons Standard had Motto Date Cefari Foot Standard 〈◊〉 Covenant Religion King and Kingdomes Riseing in Kent Revolting of the Navie Redusing Colchester And Quelling the insurection in Pembroke Shire all in 1648 The Scots entring the Kingdome July 11. 1648. Maj. Gen. Lambert sent this Letter to Duke Hamilton MY LORD HAving received Information that some Forces of Horse and Foot are marched out of Scotland into this Kingdome under your Excellencies Command I have sent this Bearer unto you desiring to know the truth and intent thereof and whether they are come in opposition to the Forces in these parts raised by the Authority of the Parl. of England and now in prosecution of their Commands I desire your Lordships speedy answer and rest Your Excellencies humble Servant J. LAMBERT Duke Hamilton's Answer Noble Sir I Received yours of the 11 of this instant in answer whereunto I shall only say the information you received is true for according to the Commands of the Committee of Estates of the Parl. of Scotland there are Forces both of Horse and Foot come into this Kingdome under my conduct for prosecution of the ends mentioned in my Letter of the 6th to which I refer you intending to oppose any that are or shall be in Arms for the obstructing of those pious loyall and just ends and so remain HAMBLETON The Towne of Colchester delivered up Sir Charles Lucas and Sir George Lisle shot to death Liev Col Lilburn revolted at Newcastle declared for the King Sir Arthur Hasterigge storm'd the Castle Lilburns head was set upon a pole June 5. 1648. The Lord of Warwick went to Portsmouth to bring into obedience the mutinous Sea-men there was with the Lord of Warwick the Phoenix Mary Rese Robert Nonesuch Lilly Lyon Bonadventure Antilope Swift sure Hector and Fellowship A short Abridgment of the Engagement made by the Common Councell Commanders Souldiers and Commission Officers in London WE declare to engage as much as in us lies to defend the King and Parl from all violence and to the end we may be inabled to perform the same We humbly offer that the Forces in the line may be one Militia and no Forces may be raised but by Authority of the said Militia by consent of the Common Councell We desire no Forces in Arms might come within thirty miles of London during the Treaty and for those within what persons soever shall make any tumult shall be put to death Ordered That the Common Councell men and Commanders shall within their severall Precincts goe from house to house to receive concurrence to the said
glory of thy great name the truth and sincerity of Religion the establishment of the K. and his posterity after him in their just rights and priviledges the honour and conservation of parl. in their ancient and just power the preservation of this poor Church in her truth peace and patrimony and Sr Alexander Caron Sr. Iohn Hotham Captin Hotham the Arch Bishop of Canterbury beheaded on Tower-hill for Treason against ye Parliament 1645. the settlement of this distracted and distressed people under the ancient Lawes and in their native liberties and when thou hast done all this in mercy for them O Lord fill their hearts with thankfulnes and with religious dutifull obedience to thee and thy Commandements all their dayes So Amen Lord Jesus and I beseech thee to receive my soul to mercy Our Father c. His last Prayer on the Scaffold LOrd I am coming as fast as I can I know I must pass through the shadow of death before I can come to see thee but it is but umbra mortis a meer shadow of death a little darknesse upon nature but thou by thy merits and passion hast broke through the jaws of death so Lord receive my soul and have mercy on me and blesse this Kingdome with peace and plenty and with brotherly love and charity that there may not be this effusion of Christian blood among them for Jesus Christ his sake if it be thy will And when he said Lord receive my soul which was his signe the Executioner did his Office A design to starve the City by breaking into Surrey Sussex Kent but disappointed by Sir Wil Waller and the City Regiments Feb the King granted a cessition of arms with the bloody Rebels of Ireland March a Solemn League and Covenant taken by the Lords Commons city of London and all parts within the Parl. power Nottingham Town and Castle to have been betrayed but prevented by Col. Hutchinson A ship from Denmark of 300 Tuns laden for the most part with Round-heads being half pike-slaves with a knob at the end full of iron spikes sent to the King but that yeare the Swedes fell into Denmarke and took half his Countrey from him A plot against the City of London by Sir Basil Brooke Col. Read Mr. Ripley and Mr. Vilâ—â— two Citizens of London and others but prevented Our Army in Cornwall preserved with the losse of our Artillery A peace pretended at Vxbridge and a petition from Buckinghamshire wherein Sir Iohn Lawrence was a great stickler but frustrated Melcomb Regis to have been betrayed Col. Goring and Sir Lewis Dives were agents therein the Town and Forts recovered and two ships with rich prizes from Rhoan in France were seized on to make amends for their trouble The Service-Book Voted down Earles and Lords from Oxford submitted themselves to the Parl. Iune 1645. The famous Victory of Naisby over the Kings Forces 5000 prisoners taken a Jewel of 500. l. sent to Gen. Leven by the Parl. all the K. Commissioners taken at Shaftsbury Basing house taken and burnt August A plot in the west against the Parl. by the Clubmen A sudden plot upon Scotland by Montrosse but as suddenly recovered again by Gen David Lesley A Treaty with the Parl. for a well grounded peace and yet at that time the Earl of Glamorgan had a Commission to the ruine of all the protestants in Ireland and consequently in England also The Great Seal broken before the Lords and Commons on Tuesday the 11 of August 1646. The King Escapes out of Oxford in a disguised maner Ordered That whosoever conceals the Kings person shal be a Traytor A Letter concerning the Kings coming to the Scots Army May 5. 1646. RIght Honourable the discharging our selves of the duty we owe to the Kingdom of Engl to you as Commissioners from the same moves us to acquaint you with the Kings coming in to our Army this morning which having overtaken us unexpectedly hath filled us with amazement and made us like men that dream we cannot think that he could have been so unadvised in his resolutions as to have cast himself upon us without a real intention to give satisfaction to both Kingdoms in all their just and reasonable demands in all those things that concern Religion and righteosnesse whatsoever be his dispositions or resolutions you may be assured that we shall never entertain any thought or correspondency with any purpose or countenance any indeavours that may in any circumstance incroach upon our League and Covenant or weaken the union or confidence betwixt the Nations that union to our Kingdom was the matter of many prayers and as nothing was more joyfull unto us then to have it set on foot so hitherto have we thought nothing too dear to maintain it and we trust to walk with such faithfulnesse and truth in this particular that as we have the testimony of a good conscience within our selves so you and all the world shall see that we mind your interest with as much integrity and care as our own being confident you will entertain no other thought of us Signed May 5. 1646. LOTHIAN A Remonstrance exhibited in the name of the Lord Major Aldermen and Common-Councel of the City of London to the High Court of Parl. 1 That some strict and speedy course may be taken for the suppressing of all private and separate Congregations 2 That all Anabaptists Brownists Hereticks Schismaticks Blasphemers and all such Sectaries as conform not to the publick discipline established or to be established by the Parl. may fully be declared against and some effectuall course setled for proceeding against such persons 3 That as we are all Subjects of one Kingdome so all may be equally required to yield obedience to the Government either set or to be set forth 4 That no person disaffected to the Presbyterian Government set or to be set forth by the Parl. may be imployed in any place of publick trust The King gave speedy Order to severall Officers for the surrender of the Towns Castles and Forts which then were in the hands of the Kings Commanders viz Oxford Worcester Litchfield and Wallingford A Petition delivered to his Excellency from the Officers and Souldiers in the Army touching their faithfullnesse in the Parl. service doing Summer Service in the Winter season c. Further presented severall desires of theirs 1 That an Ordinance of indempnity with the Royal assent be desired 2 That satisfaction may be given to the petitioners for their arrears both in their former service and in this Army before it is disbanded 3 That those who have voluntarily served the Parl. may not be prest to serve in another Kingdome c. 4 That those who have lost their lives limbs or estates may be provided for and relieved The Apology in answer to his Excellencies Letter relating their sense of a second storm hanging over their heads by the malice of a secret enemy worse then the former now vanquished expressing their sorrow that
Ingagement Decemb. 1648 The House having notice of the Kings carrying to Hurst Castle Voted That the seizing his person was without their advice or consent Dec. 5. The House Voted That his Majesties concessions to their Proposals was ground sufficient to settle the peace of the Kingdome Dec. 6. Col. Rich and Col. Prides Regiment guarded the Parl. and seized some Members Dec. 12. Maj. Gen. Brown Sheriff of London was apprehended Dec. 13. The House Voted That the Lords and Commons declare they will make no further Addresses to the King nor none shall be by any person whatsoever without leave of the Parl. and if any make breach of this Order they shal incur the penalty of high Treason and that they will receive no more any Message from the King to both or either Houses of Parl. An Ordinance sent to the Lords for the Tryall of the King but they rejected the Commission and adjourned eight dayes after that they never sate more Serjeant Dendy Serjeant at Arms to the Commissioners rode into Westminster-Hall with the Mace belonging to the House of Commons on his shoulder and some Officers attending him all bare and six Trumpeters on Horsback a guard of Horse and Foot attending in the Pallace yard and Proclamation was made All that had any thing for matter of Fact against Charls Stuart King of England to bring it in to the Commissioners Jan 19. 1648. That this present Seale of England should be broken in pieces and a new one forthwith made and ordered that the Arms of England and Ireland should be ingraven on the one side and on the other side a Map of the Parl. with these words in it The first yeer of Freedome by Gods blessing restored 1648. The Charge of the Commons of England against Charls Stuart King of England THat the said Charls Stuart being admitted King of England and therein trusted with a limited power to Govern by and according to the Lawes of the Land and not otherwise and by his truth Oath and Office being obliged to use the power committed to him for the good and benefit of the people and for the preservation of their Rights and Liberties yet neverthelesse out of a wicked design to erect and uphold in himselfe an unlimited and tyrannicall power to rule according to his will and to overthrow the Rights and Liberties of the people yea to take away and make void the foundations thereof and of all redresse and remedy of mis government wch by the fundamentall Constitutions of this Kingdome were reserved on the peoples behalfe in the right and power of frequent and successive Parl. or Nationall meetings in Councels He the said Charls Stuart for the accomplishment of such his designs and for the protecting of himselfe and his adherents in his and their wicked practices to the same ends hath trayterously and maliciously levyed War against the present Parl. and the people therein represented Particularly upon or about the 30 of June in the year 1642. at Beverley in the County of Yorke and about the 30 of July in the yeer aforesaid in the County of the City of York and upon the 22 of August at Nottingham where he set up his Standard of War and also about the 23 of October in the same year at Edge-hill and Keintonfield in the County of Warwick and neer the 30 of Nov. in the same yeer at Brainford in the County of Middlesex and neer the 30 of Aug. 1643 at Cavesham Bridge neer Redding in the County of Berks and neer the 30 of Octob. in the same yeer neer the City of Gloucester and about the 30 of Nov. the same yeer at Newbury in the County of Ber. and about July 31. 1644. at Cropredy Bridge in the County of Oxen. and Sept. 30. the same yeer at Bodmin and other places in the County of Cornwall and Nov. 30. the same yeer at Newbery and about June 8. 1645. at Leicester and the 14. at Naseby field At which severall times and places or most of them and at many other places in this land at severall other times within the years afore-mentioned And in the year 1646. he the said Charls Stuart hath caused and procured many thousands of the free people of the Nation to be slain and by diversions parties and insurrections within this land by invasions from forreign parts endeavoured and procured by him and by many other evill wayes and means he the said Charls Stuart hath not only maintained and carried on the said War both by Land and Sea during the yeers before mentioned but also hath renewed or caused to be renewed the said War against the Parl. and good people of this Nation in this present yeer 1648. in the Counties of Kent Essex Surrey Sussex Middlesex and many other Counties and places in England and Wales and also by Sea and particularly he the said Charls Stuart hath for that purpose given Commission to his Son the Prince and others whereby besides multitudes of other persons many such as were by the Parl. intrusted and imployed for the Nation being by him or his Agents corrupted to the betraying of their trust and revolting from the Parl. have had entertainment and Commission for the continuing and renewing of War and Hostility against the said Parl. and people as aforesaid By which cruell and unnaturall Wars by him the said Charls Stuart continued and renewed as aforesaid much innocent blood of the free people of this Nation hath been spilt many Families have been undone the publick Treasury wasted and exhausted Trade obstructed and miserably decayed vast expence and damage to the Nation incurred and many parts of the Land spoiled some of them even to desolation And for farther prosecution of his said evill Designes he the said Charls Stuart doth still continue his Commission to the said Prince and other Rebels and Revolters both English and Forreigners and to the Earl of Ormond and to the Irish Rebels and Revolters associated with him from whom further invasions are threatned upon the procurement and on the behalfe of the said Charls Stuart All which wicked Designs Wars and evill practices of him the said Charls Stuart have been and are carried on for the advancing and upholding of the personall interest of will and power and pretended prerogative to himselfe and his Family against the publick interest common right liberty justice and peace of the people of this Nation by and for whom he was entrusted as aforesaid By all which it appeareth that he the said Charls Stuart hath been and is the Occasioner Author and Contriver of the said unnaturall cruell and bloody wars and therein guilty of all the Treasons Murthers Rapines Burnings Desolations Damage and mischiefe to this Nation acted or committed in the said Wars or occasioned thereby And the said John Cooke by Protestation save on the behalf of the people of England the liberty of exhibiting at any time hereafter any other Charge against the said Charls Stuart and also of replying
to the answers which the said Charls Stuart shall make to the premisses or any Charge that shall be so exhibited doth for the said Treasons and Crimes on the behalfe of the said people of Engl impeach the said Charls Stuart as a Tyrant Traytor Murtherer and a publick and implacable enemy to the Common-wealth of England and pray That the said Charls Stuart King of England may be put to answer all and every the premisses that such Proceedings Examinations Tryals Sentence and Judgement may be thereupon had as shall be agreeable to Justice The Kings Speech made upon the Scaffold at White-Hall Jan. 30. 1648. I Shall be very little heard of any body here I shall therefore speak a word unto you here indeed I could hold my peace very well if I did not think that holding my peace would make som men think that I did submit to the guilt as well as to the punishment but I think it is my duty to God first and to my Countrey for to clear my self both as an honest man and a good Christian I shall begin first with my innocency in troth I think it not very needfull for me to insist long upon this for all the world knowes I never did begin a War with the two Houses of Parliament and I call God to witnesse to whom I must shortly make an account that I never did intend for to incroach upon their priviledges they began upon me it was the Militia they began upon they confest that the Militia was mine but they thought it fit for to have it from me and to be short if any body will look to the dates of Commissions both theirs and mine and likewise to the Declarations will see cleerly that they began these unhappy troubles not I so that as for the guilt of these enormous Crimes that are laid against me I hope in God that God will clear me of it I will not I am in charity God forbid that I should lay it upon the two Houses of Parl. there is no necessity of either I hope they are free of this guilt for I doe beleeve that ill instruments between them and me ha's been the cause of all this bloodshed so that by way of speaking as I find my selfe clear of this I hope and pray God that they may too yet for all this God forbid that I should be so ill a Christian as not to say that Gods judgements are just upon me many times he does pay justice by an unjust sentence that is ordinary I will onely say this That an unjust Sentence that I suffered to take effect is punished now by an unjust Sentence upon me that is so far I have said to shew you that I am an innocent man Now for to shew you that I am a good Christian I hope there is a good man pointing to Dr Juckson that will bear me witnesse that I have forgiven all the world and those in particular that have been the chief causers of my death who they are God knowes I doe not desire to know I pray God forgive them But this is not all my charity must goe further I wish that they may repent for indeed they have committed a great sin in that particular I pray God with Saint Stephen that this be not laid to their charge nay not onely so but that they may take the right way to the peace of the Kingdome So Sirs I doe wish with all my soule and I doe hope there is some here will carry it further that they may endeavour the peace of the Kingdome Now Sirs I must shew you how you are out of the way and will put you in a way first you are out of the way for certainly all the way you ever have had yet as I could find by any thing is in the way of Conquest certainly this is in an ill way for Conquest Sir in my opinion is never just except there be a good just Cause either for matter of wrong or just Title and then if you goe beyond it that makes it unjust at the end that was just at first But if it be onely matter of Conquest then it is a great Robbery as a Pirate said to Alexander That He was the great Robber he was but a petty Robber and so Sirs I doe think the way you are in is much out of the way Now Sir for to put you in the way believe it you will never doe right nor God will never prosper you untill you give God his due the King his due that is my Successors and the people their due I am as much for them as any of you You must give God his due by regulating rightly his Church according to his Scriptures which is now out of order for to set you in a way particularly now I cannot but onely this a Nationall Synod freely called freely debating among themselves must settle this when that every Opinion is freely and cleerly heard For the King indeed I will not the Lawes of the Land will cleerly instruct you for that therefore because it concernes my owne particular I only give you a touch of it For the people and truly I desire their liberty and freedome as much as any body whomsoever but I must tell you that their Liberty and their Freedome consists in having of Government those Lawes by which their life and their goods may be most their owne It is not for having share in Government Sir that is nothing pertaining to them a Subject and a Soveraign are clean different things and therefore until they doe that I mean that you doe put the people in that Liberty as I say certainly they will never enjoy themselves Sirs it was for this that now I am come here If I would have given way to an Arbitrary way for to have all Lawes changed according to the power of the Sword I needed not to have come here and therefore I tell you and I pray God it be not laid to your charge That I am the Martyr of the people In troth Sirs I shall not trouble you much longer for I will onely say this to you that in truth I could have desired some little time longer because that I would have put this that I have said in a little more order and a little better digested then I have done and therefore I hope you will excuse Me I have delivered my conscience I pray God that you do take those courses that are best for the good of the kingdom and your own Salvation The Biship of London minding him to say somthing concerning his Religion King I thank you very heartily my Lord for that I had almost forgotten it In troth Sirs my Conscience in Religion I think is very well known to all the world and therefore I declare before you all That I die a Christian according to the profession of the Church of England as I found it left me by my Father and this honest man I thinke will witnesse it
Then turning to the Officers said Sirr excuse me for this same I have a good cause and I have a gracious God I will say no more Then turning to Col. Hacker he said Take care that they doe not put me to paine and Sir this and it please you But then a Gentleman coming neer the Ax the King said take heed of the Ax pray take heed of the Ax. Then the King speaking to the Executioner said I shall say but very short prayers and when I thrust out my hands Then the King called to Dr Iuxon for his night cap and having put it on he said to the Executioner does my haire trouble you who desired him to put it all under his Cap which the King did accordingly by the help of the Executioner and the Bishop then the King turning to Dr Juxon said I have a good Cause and a gracious God on my side Dr Jaxon There is but one stage more this stage is turbulent and troublesome it is a short one but you may consider it will soone carry you a very great way from Earth to Heaven and there you shall find a great deale of cordiall joy and comfort King I goe from a corruptible to an incorruptible Crown where no disturbanc can be Doct. You are exchanged from a temporall to an eternall Crown a good exchange Then the King took off his Cloak and his George giving his George to Dr. Juckson saying Remember 't is thought for the Prince and some other small Ceremonies past after which the King stooping down laid his neck upon the blocke after a very little pause stretched forth his hands the executioner at one blow severed his head from his Body his Body was put in a Coffin covered with black Velvet and removed to his Lodging Chamber at White-Hall An Act prohibiting the Proclaiming of any person to be King of England c. VVHereas Charls Stuart King of England being for the notorious Treasons Tyrannies and Murthers committed by him in the late unnaturall and civill Wars condemned to death whereupon after execution of the same severall pretences may be made and Title set on foote unto the Kingly Office to the apparent hazzard of the Publick Peace For the prevention thereof Be it Enacted and Ordained by this present Parliament and by the Authority of the same That no person or persons whatsoever doe presume to Proclaime Declare Publish or any way promote Charls Stuart Son of the said Charls commonly called Prince of Wales or any other person to be King or chief Magistrate of England or of Ireland or of any the Dominions belonging to them or any of them by colour of Inheritance Succession Election or any other claim whatsoever without the free consent of the people in Parliam first had and signified by a particular Act or Ordinance for that purpose any Law Statute Vsage or Custome to the contrary notwithstanding And be it further Enacted and Ordained and it is hereby Enacted and Ordained that whosoever shall contrary to this Act Proclaim Declare Publish or any way promote the said Charls-Stuart the Son or any other person to be King or chief Magistrate of England or of Ireland or of any the Dominions belonging to them or to either of them without the said consent in Parliament signified as aforesaid shall be deemed and adjudged a Traytor to the Common-wealth and shall suffer the pains of death and such other punishments as belong to the Crime of High Treason And all Officers as well Civill as Military and all other well-affected persons are hereby authorized and required forthwith to apprehend all such Offenders and to bring them in safe custody to the next Justice of the Peace that they be proceeded against accordingly H. Scobel Cler. Parl. D. Com. Dk. Hambleton E of Cambridg E of Holland and Lord Capell be headed Mar 9. 1649 And their speeches on the scaffold The Speech of Duke Hamilton Earl of Cambridge on the Scaffold in the Pallace yard the ninth of March 1649. I Think it is truly not very necessary for me to speak much there are many Gentlemen and Souldiers there that see me but my voyce truly is so weak so low that they cannot hear me neither truly was I ever at any time so much in love with speaking or with any thing I had to expresse that I took delight in it yet this being the last time that I am to doe so by a Divine providence of Almighty God who hath brought me to this end justly for my sins I shall to you Sir Master Sheriff declare thus much as to the matter that I am now to suffer for which is as being a Traytor to the Kingdome of England Truly Sir it was a Countrey that I equally loved with my owne I made no difference I never intended either the generality of its prejudice or any particular mans in it what I did was by the Command of the Parliament of the Countrey where I was borne whose Command I could not disobey without running into the same hazard there of that condition that I now am in It pleased God so to dispose that Army under my Command as it was ruined and I as their Generall cloathed with a Commission stand here now ready to dye I shall not trouble you with repeating of my Plea what I said in my owne Defence at the Court of Justice my self being satisfied with the Command that is laid upon me and they satisfied with the justnesse of their procedure according to the Lawes of this Land God is just and howsoever I shall not say any thing as to the matter of the Sentence but that I doe willingly submit to his Divine providence and acknowledge that very many wayes I deserve even a worldly punishment as well as hereafter for we are all sinfull Sir and I a great one yet for my comfort I know there is a God in Heaven that is exceeding mercifull I know my Redeemer fits at his right hand and am confident clapping his hand on his brest is mediating for me at this instant I am hopefull thro his free grace and all-sufficient merits to be pardoned of my sins and to be received into his mercy upon that I rely trusting to nothing but the free grace of God through Jesus Christ I have not been tainted in my Religion I thank God for it since my infancy it hath been such as hath been profest in the Land and established and now it is not this Religion or that Religion nor this or that fancy of men that is to be built upon it is but one that 's right one that 's sure and that comes from God Sir and in the free grace of our Saviour Sir there is truly somewhat that he then observing the Writers had I thought my Speech would have been thus taken I would have digested it into some better method then now I can and shall desire these Gentlemen that doe write it that they will not wrong me in it and
and this done upon the satisfaction of Gods people in both Nations as is alleged together with a disowning of Malignants although he who is the head of them in whom all their hope of comfort lies be received who at this very instant hath a Popish paâ—ty fighting for and under him in Ireland hath Prince Rupert a man who hath had his hand deep in the blood of many innocent men of England now in the head of our Ships stoln from us upon a Malignant accompt hath the French and Irish ships daily making depradations upon our Coasts strong combinations by the Malignants in England to raise Arms in our bowels by vertue of his Commissions who having of late issued out very many to that purpose and how the interest you pretend you have received him upon and the Malignant interest in the ends and consequences entring in this man can be secured we cannot discern and how we should believe that whilst known and notorious Malignants fighting and plotting against us on the one hand and the declaring for him on the other should not be an espousing of a Malignant party quarrell or interest but be a meer fighting upon former Grounds and Principles and in defence of the Cause of God and of the Kingdome as hath been these twelve yeers last past as ye sâ—y for the security and satisfaction of Gods people in both Nations or the opposing of which should render us enemies to the godly with you we cannot well understand especially considering That all these Malignants take their confidence and encouragement from the late Transactions of your Kirk and State with your King for as we have already said so we tell you again it is but satisfying security to those that employ us and are concerned in that we seek which we conceive will not be by a few formall and feigned submissions from a person who could not tell otherwise how to accomplish his Malignant ends and therefore Councel'd to this complyance by them who assisted his Father and have hitherto acted him in his most evill Designes and are now again by them set on foot against wch how you will be able in the way you are in to secure us or your selves is forasmuch as concerns our selves our duty to looke after If the state of your quarrell be thus upon which as you say you resolve to fight our Army you will have opportunity to doe that els what means our abode here And if our hope be not in the Lord it will be ill with us We commit both you and our selves to him who knowes the heart and tries the Reins with whom are all our wayes who is able to doe for us and you above what we know which we desire may be in much mercy to this poor people and to the glory of his owne great Name And having performed your desire in making your papers so publick as is before exprest I desire you to doe the like by letting the State Kirk and Army have the knowledge hereof To which end I have sent you inclosed two Copies and rest From the Camp at Pencland Hills Aug. 14. 1650 Your humble Servant O CROMWEL The Victory at Gladsmore in Scotland July 30 31. 1650. M G. Montgomery slaine 200 Arms taken 80 Troopers 500 wounded 4 Colours 15 Troops routed 500 Font routed at Muscleburrough The Victory at Dunbar Aug. 30. 1650 4000 killed 10000 Prisoners 2000 Horse 290 Commission Officers 15000 Arms 200 Colours 32 pieces of Ordnance Of ours that ingaged 5000 Horse and Foot their word The Covenant ours The Lord of Hests Novemb. 1650. Insurrections in Norfolke for which 24 were condemned and 20 executed Col. Ker routed and taken and the Town of Ayre Decemb. 25. The strong Castle of Edenburgh delivered up 53 pieces of Ordnance whereof 15 Iron the 〈◊〉 Braste about 8000 Arms with store of Ammunition and Provision Nov. 22. A Squadron of Ships Commanded by Gen. Blague surprised a considerable part of the Portugal Brasit Fleet fraighted with Sugar and sent them to England and after pursued the revolted ships beyond Alligant where they took 7 of Prince Ruperts Fieet and pursued him to Thoulon one of the surthest Havens of France having but two ships left Jan. 30. 1650. A day of publick Thanksgiving in England Wales and Town of Berwick Jan. 1. 1650. The Scots King was Crowned at Schone he is General of the Army D. Hamilton Lieut. Gen. of the Scotch Army David Lesley M. G. Middleton L. G. of the Scotch Horse and Massey M. G. of the English Jan. 4. 1650. The King of Spaine sent his Ambassador for the â—â—knowledging of this State whose Authority and Soveraignty reades in this Parl. of the Commonwealth of England and to stablish a good friendship with it The Portugal sent his Agent also to the like effect March 6. 1650. Sir Henry Hide Beheaded at the Exchange for receiving and acting by vertue of a Commission from Charls Stuart the Second and King of Great Britaine France and Ireland as his Agent to the Great Turk with an intent to destroy the Trade of the Turky Company and the Parl. interest not onely in Constantinople but in Mitylene Anatolia Smyrna in which Conspiracies he was a Commissioner and likewise to seize upon our Merchants Goods for the use of the King of Scotland and procured audience of the Grand Visier and raised great fears and uproars among the Merchants A Speech made by K. Charles ye 2d at his Coronation i. January 1650 I will by gods assistance bestow my life for your defence wishing to live no longer then that I may see this Kingdome flourish in happiness The Oath I doe promise vow in ye presence of ye eternall god yt I will maintaine ye true Kirk of god religion right preaching administration of ye Sacraments now received preached within this Realme in purity And shall abolish gain-stand all false Religions sects contrary to ye same And shall rule ye people comiÌ„ted to my charge according to ye will of god and laudable laws constitutions of ye Realme causing justice equity to be ministred without partiality Browne Bushelt Beheaded under the Scaffold on Tower-hill Mar. 29. 1651. for delivering up Scarborough June 2. 1651. The surrender of Scilly Islands June 24. Insurrection in Cardiganshire 40 slaine 60 prisoners taken July 29. Burnt Island surrendred The Scotch King invaded England with 16000 Hors and Foot and a light Tran of Artillery and caused himselfe to be proclaimed K. of England Scotland and Ireland in Lancashire August 23. Charls the First erected his Standard at Nottingham and Charls the Second erected his Standard at Worcester Aug. 22. 1651. Sept 3. Old Lesley Crawford Linsey Ogleby with divers of quality besides 〈◊〉 taken that were making levies to raise the Siege at Dundee Aug. 2 165â— St Johnston surrendred Aug. 19. The Castle of Steâ—â—â— surrendred 〈◊〉 pieces of Ordnance 27 faire brasse pieces a great iron Gâ—â—â— 11 Leather Guns
provision of Meal to serve 500 men about twelve months 40 or 50 Barrels of Beef 500 Armes new Muskets and Pikes 26 Barrels of powder 20 or 30 Vessels of Claret Wine and Strong waters great store of Match and other Ammonition Lantes Guns a thousand Flats and other instruments of War of that nature all the Records of Scotland the Chaire and Cloath of State the Sword and other rich furniture of the Kings Aug. 25. The totall rout and overthrow of the Earl of Darby in Lancashire by Col. Robert Lilburne A full Narrative of the late Dangerous Designe against the State written with Master Love's owne hand and by him sent to the Parliam declaring the severall Meetings and secret Actings with Major Alford Major Adams Colonel Barton Master Blackmore M Case M Cauton Dr. Drake M Drake Capt. Far M. Gibbons M. Haviland Maj Huntington M. Jenkins M. Jaquel M. Jackson Liev. Jackson Cap. Massey M. Nilton Cap. Potter M. Robinson M. Sterks Col. Sowton Col. Vaughan and others COnsidering how a clear and full Narrative may satisfie the State although it may prejudice my self I am willing with an ingenuous freedome and opennesse of heart to make known the whole matter so far as I distinctly know and well remember humbly hoping that this large acknowledgment of mine which is more then any in the world can prove against me shall not be taken as an aggravation of my fault but as a demonstration of my ingenuity Before I mention the matters of Fact I humbly crave leave to signifie the time when and manner how I came to be intangled in this unhappy businesse I now come humbly and truly to relate the matter of Fact which is as followeth It appeared to me by the testimony of the Witnesses that there were freequent meetings by Mr. Drake Alford Titus Adams and others soon after the death of the late King and applications made to the King of Scots the Queen his Mother to Jermyn and Piercy both before and during the Treaty at Jersey of which I know nothing nor was I present But the first meeting I was at was at my House and as I remember at the reading of a Letter which came from Captain Titus after the Treaty was ended at Jersey the Contents of that Letter were if I mistake not to this effect That the Treaty at Iersey was broken off through the violent and evill Counsels of desperate Malignants and that he had something of concernment to communicate which he durst not doe in person being not safe for him to come over into England nor could he well doe it by writing he judging it not fit or safe to send by the Common Post scaring a miscarriage wherefore he desired some body to be sent over to him to Calice to whom he might give an account of all proceedings Upon the reading of this Letter Mr. Drake moved that some person should be desired to goe to Calice for said he we shall hear the whole relation of the businesse at Iersey whereupon Major Adams or Capt. Farr were moved by Mr. Drake to goe There was mention of Major Alford to goe though he was not then present that I know of nor was he ever within my house as I remember untill after he returned from Calice so that there was none that I know of was gone Mr. Drake told me Major Alford was the fittest man to go over to Calice having businesse of his owne to goe into France to look after his Prodigall Son so that it was said he a plausible pretence to conceaâ—e his going over to meet with Titus There were present at this first meeting M. Drake M. Ienkins Maj. Adams D. Drake Cap. Far Capt. Potter and my selfe with some others but who more I cannot remember About 2 or 3 dayes after Maj. Alfords return from Calice M. Drake told me he was come to London and told me he would goe to severall Ministers and Citizens to desire them to meet at my House that so we might hear what Newes Maj. Alford brought with him from Calice accordingly the next day in the evening they met at my house Mr. Drake brought Maj. Alford with him who gave an account of his conference with Titus and his receiving a Copy of the Kings Letter from him as also a Narrative of the Treaty at Iersey and said that he brought not over the Letters himselfe but delivered them to a Passenger that came in the Ship least himself should be searched but after he came into England he received the Letter Narrative from him but who he was I know not and so brought them to London whether the Copy of the Kings Letter was read at my house in my hearing I remember not yet I deny not but it was read there I am sure I heard the Contents of it were to this effect That he took in good part the affections and loyalty of those who formerly had Petition'd to him of which Petition I know nothing and if ever God restored him or put him in a condition he should remember them The Narrative read in my House was to this effect He made a large description of the Scots commending his prudent carriage good inclinations to an agreement with the Scots but that his bad Councel about him hindred it also he made a rehearsall of his lusterings from the Cavaliers at Jersey how he was imprisoned in a close Room There were present at this meeting Maj. Alford M. Drake Mr. Case Maj. Adams Mr. Jaquel Mr. Jackson Mr. Jenkins Dr. Drake Capt. Potter Mr. Sterks Capt. Farr and my selfe with others but who I doe not remember A little before the Treaty at Bieda there was a meeting at my House Mr Drake proposed that wee should thinke of some way to promote the agreement between the King and the Scots where by the way I desire humbly to give notice that this was the first and only meeting of this nature at my house Mr Drake took out some papers out of his pocket written in Characters which he read in my Study which went under the name of a Commission and Instructions to be sent to the Lord Willoughby Alderm Bunce Massey Graves and Titus to appoint them to advise with and use their interests in persons of honour to provoke the King to agree with the Scots take the Covenant as also to advise with the Scots Commissioners and perswade them That in their agreement with their King they would have speciall respect to the interest of Religion and terms of the Covenant the Commission ran in this form as if it were in the names of all the Presbyteriall party in England after I heard it read I was against it alledging severall reasons chiefly that it was an act of high presumption for private persons to send a Commission with Instructions and an act of notorious falshood to say this was in the name of all the Presbyteriall party of England when but a few persons knew thereof many in the