he was he did me the honour to write to me an answer in the following termes Holmby the 15. April Sect. 41. I have received your cipher and your twoe letters both without date desirnig you to mend that omission here after And now to come to the business without further preambles you must know that I am guarded with such extreme severity that I can neither write nor receive any letter nor speak with any of my frends to let pass all other rigours which are such as I cannot but often tymes profess publiquely that I can neither with honour nor prudence answer to any proposition which either has been or can be made me whilst I am in this condition for what ever I can now offer or consent to will rather be interpreted to proceed from fear or at best to mend my condition then from any motif of publique good for I am as a blinded man without the least light of what I am to expect from my enemies or hope for from my frends saveing what Gods Providence affords me by the industry and hazard of those whoe are most faithfull to me inso much that I cannot change my resolution unless upon the certainty of gaining some advantage for the publique which may counterballance the passing by this reall point of honour for I cannot admit of your distinction of promising things now to be ratified when I am at liberty But when you can give me such an assurance as may reasnably be depended upon that the answer which I am able to make to the propositions will produce the effect of bringing me with honour to London I shall not delay to give it even before the twoe houses demande it of me And least your not knowing of my minde might hynder you from answering me fully and particulardy I have thowght good to give you under my hand what the satisfaction is which I can give to the four cheif propositions First for Religeon I shall consent to confirme the Presbiterian Gouverment and the directory for three years being the tyme as yet limited by the houses provided I and my household have the liberty of serving God as formerly and that allsoe a consultation and free debate be agreed to with the assembly of divines at Westminster only twenty of my nomination being added to them where by I and the twoe houses may agree howe the church shall be Gouverned upon the expiration of the sayd terme of three years Secondly I will consent that the Militia by act of Parliament as well by sea as by land shall be in the twoe houses for ten years and at the expiration of that terme to returne to the Crowne as in the tymes of Queen Elizabeth and of my father of happy Memory Thirdly for their great seal I will confirme it and all acts passed under it Provided that I be not pressed to disanull those passed under my owne and that the Gouverment there of for the tyme to come be in me according to due cource of Law Fourthly for the business of Ireland theise other things being agreed I shall give satisfaction therein I am content to lay aside much of my owne proper right for the publique tranquility And to agree to all tending really to the conservation and better reformation of the Protestante Religeon as far as I may without wownding of my conscience by the breach of my othe And assure all those with whome you treat about these Matters that no humane consideration shall bring me further as to theise four propositions tell 128. that without encouragement from him and from you I shall not goe thus far Be carefull that the twoe inclosed letters be sudainly and safely delivered the one to my wife the other to the French Ambassadour Adieu Your assured frend CHARLES R. Sect. 42. Haveing shewed this letter to some of the chiefs of both houses whoe I had gained into the Kings interest and that they had consulted such of their frends as they could trust concerning his Ma ties resolution touching theise four principal propositions and done all in the business which was necessary and for me possible I gave his Ma tie an account there of with all that I had learnt and observed touching the twoe parties as well as my humble opinions there upon grounded in answer whereunto I received shortly after this following letter Holmby April ye 27. SEct. 43. I have received yours of the 24. present on thursday to which in short my answer is that no apprehention nor yet certitude of any evils which can befall me shall make me leave out those twoe clauses you mention which are not circomstantiel but most essentiall and in such things to relye to much on their good nature or to belive that they care not to conserve what they desire with soe much ernestness or like children shall be soone weary of it seems to me a most inexcusable folly Wherefor I commande you to assure all with whome you treat or thinke further fit to speak with about my affaires that I shall adhere firmly without addition or substraction to what I wrote to you in my last only adding their expedient which you sent me concerning the Covenant as to the substance but not in the same termes which they have drawne up which I hope will give satisfaction to all reasnable men Let no man see the note in cipher but doe all you can possible in what it containes The greatest of the inclosed is for my wife the other for the Ambassadour Bellievre to whome I have written to acquaint you with what he has done or hopes to doe with those of the Scotch commissioners which he belives he has influence upon to the end you may write it to me in cipher Let me know by your next whoe gave you the note in French which I fownd in your last allthowgh I belive it a cheat yet I have made no great scrupule to answer it which you are to deliver as soone as you can and here after doe not engage your selfe to secrecy in such adresses for I will not receive any thing from those whoe Conceal their names inconveniencies may befall me by it If they thinke fit to trust you they May me I am your frend CHARLES R. Sect. 44. Shortly after upon the advertisements which I had given his Ma tie touching the Parliaments resolution to disband the army which effected some pretended to me that they Could treat with the King in greater liberty and securety But suspecting that he would not meet with such reasnable Conditions after as before the armies Cassation I gave him the advertisement with my humble opinions there upon beseeching him to send his offers whilest things were in the condition they then Stoode He was pleasd to answer me as followes Holmby May the 8. SEct. 45. Your advertisement of the Parliaments resolution to disband the army and of its discontentement lets me see the cause of their delaying to send me the propositions Were I
to my wife the Earle of Laneric and my Lord Willowby wherefor excuse me to the Earle of Southampton that I have not answered his wich I shall doe by the first occasion I am advertised that it has been deliberated by some of the army to possesse themselves of the Duke of Yorke consider if you cannot finde means to convey him out of England cause the inclosed to be delivered to him for it concerns me neerly to have correspondence with him at this tyme let me knowe as soone as may be your opinion touching this business farewell Your assured frend CHARLES R. Sect. 93. Upon the receipt of this letter I caused the inclosed for his Royale Highness the Duke of Yorke to be delivered him by a sure hand whoe had that accesse to him which I could not have and unless my memory failes me as I am persuaded it does not he had been pleased not long before by Message to let me knowe that he had promised the King his father whilest he was in the hands of the army to make his escape out of England as soone as he Could attempt it on any reasnable appearance of success demanding if Could not serve him in it which I am confident I had undertaken in which resolution I was fully confirmed by theise his Ma ties commands and not knowing whither by this occasion he had mentioned the business to the Duke or not with his owne letter I sent his Royalle Highness mine which was transmitted againe to me and upon his resolution and answer I framed mine to his Father The Duke was pleased to commande me not to precipitate the business but to take necessary tyme and use all circomspection not to plunge him into a worse condition then he was Haveing duly considered what measures were fittest for me to take herein and given the King an account there of his Ma tie was pleased to write me the following letter Cairsbrooke the 22 Feb. SEct. 94. I have received yours of the 14 present and being weary with decyphering it I cannot answer to all its particulars nor is it needfull I will only tell you in Generall that I approve what you have allready done and what you propose for the saveing of the Duke of York I confirme the promesse he has made to Howard and the assurances you have given him in my name to be continued in the Charge of Master of his horse allthowgh the Parliament has made him soe The rest I leave to your conduct committing you to Gods Providence trawble not your selfe about my other affaires but thinke only of what you have now in your hands bring him if possible either to his Mother or sister farewell Your assured frend CHARLES R. Sect. 95. For some Important reasons which I acquainted his Ma tie with I delayed this business untill the end of Aprill following at which tyme it succeeded happily to the great contentment of the King and of the Royalle famely his Highness arrived first in Zealand and the next day in Holland Sect. 96. About six weekes after the Parliaments whole fleet quitted their unlawfull masters came to anker in Gorée Rode delivering themselves up to the Duke of York as their Admirall which they knew he was by the King his fathers patent and was really the occasion of their coming thither and submitting to him Sect. 97. The winde which was favourable to bring them into Holland prouved a storme to me which occasioned my wrack ever since haveing unhappily given some councell concerning that fleet it seemes with to much precipitation which was well meant very ill taken because most bitterly represented by a person of quality and to doe him but Justice of merit betwixt whome and me there was at that time some competition about particular matters who according to the ordinary practice in such cases to ruine my credit and increase his owne held it expedient to couver his private animosity under the specious vaile of Zeal to a more publique interest I shall againe declare what I have ever protested that I had no other end or designe then either freeing the King out of his Imprisonment in the Isle of wight or if it were fownd Impossible which I did not then belive nor doe now that is was to have landed 1500. or 2000. men at yarmouth to have countenanced a rising in northfolke suffolke and the other adjacent Provinces of the easterne assotiation the probabillity of the one or of the other I shall here expose to any reasnable consideration Sect. 98. First touching the Kings freedome I had been assured out of England of a landing place in the Island which I looked upon as the greatest difficulty Sect. 99. Secondly that we Could have landed with 2000 Men haveing raised at that very tyme in Holland about 1200 English Soldiers of the reduction which the States had then made of the troupes of our nation and might well have added to them upon such an occasion 1000 sea men chosen out of the Fleet besides that great assurances were given that the inhabitants would have risen with us if we could have furnished them with armes which was to have been done Sect. 100. Thirdly I could never conceave in case of a free descent on land any great or long opposition wee Could have met with by sea not the least the Parliament not haveing had one ship of war fitted out in ten weekes or three months after By land as little except what Colonel Hamond Could have made with not above 5 or 600 foote which was all he had nor Could have hoped for more Cromwell with the greater part of the army was marched against the Scots Fairefax engaged before Colchester and some considerable parties of the army diverted into walles by risings there for the King at the same tyme. Moreover if they Could have sent an army entire to portsmouth or any other part upon that coast to have been transported into the Island not a barque or bote Could have passed without either being sunke or taken Besides there were many of the bravest and best officers whoe had served his Ma tie whoe were Embarqued in the fleet as Prince Mauris S r. John Boyce Colonel Washington S r. Francis Mackworth and very Many more whoe wee fownd retired into Holland at our arivall and some followd nor is it to be Imagined that in soe glorious an enterprise but that the greatest contestation would have been whoe should have been readiest to have sacrifised themselves For my part I never could apprehend any other difficulty in this attempt then to have landed which we had great and likely assurances of and in all events our retreat was sure and the fleet at liberty for any other designe in case that could not have been effected Sect. 101. Which was to have landed at yarmouth where we were sure of a free reception and did persuade my selfe that a body of 2000 Soldiers would have had the reputation of double the nomber and have encouraged
they lay nor was it councellable he Should only that he would demande a treaty and debate by a power given to the commissioners to explaine and discuss Every artickle apart and in particular which was the likeliest means to produce a good Effect and that by such an answer and demande those persons whoe had as then the most credit and cheif direction would endeavour to despose the Parliament to consent by which means and throwgh reasnable expedients which might be fownd out the severest things might have been moderated and great difficulties remouved To which end I told him I had already written to the King whoe seemed to be very well satisfied therewith and disposed to give such an answer 35. He replyed that he was upon good grounds assured when his Maj. had hearâ—d what this messenger forementioned had to propownd be would not demande any treaty and that the army would set him on his throne and make him a great King I besowght Allmighty God that it might prove soe but that I feared thy would at last take away his life and crowne together puting him in a capacity of possessing another in Heaven more durable Sect. 36. The next day I went to waite on the Marquis of Hartford since Duke of Somerset whoe the forenamed Gentilman had told me was acquainted with all this transaction and concurred in it which I fownd true and that he was persuaded the army would restore his Maj. sudainly perceaving me obstinate in the contrary opinion he sayd theise words to me Colonel Bamfield I have allways wished you well and doe soe Still and therefor would advise you not to oppose your selfe further to obstruct this cource towards the Kings recouvery for some of the clergy begin to suspect that you have particular interests in your transactions with the Presbitereans which weigh more then that of his Maj. I made answer that I had no other worldly interest but what was involved in and subordinate to the Kings that I never expected any advantage neither from the one or from the other partie but that I was soe fully convinced of the desperate designs secret practices and principles of the army and their adherents where of I did not want light that the groundless jalousie of some men nor their deluding hopes should never make me prostitute my reason nor act against it or have any thing to doe with those whose end and underground workings were for the destruction of the Kings person and Monarchie Sect. 37. A few days after this his Maj. answer came but not alltogether such as theise his freinds whoe I have mentioned desired but unhappy enough for him to doe the armies business at that tyme for the most Zealous part of the Presbitereans left the wisest and most moderate whoe endeavoured to have made the Kings answer the fowndation of a treaty and being likewise irritated by the Schotish Ministers Gyllaspy and others joined with the armies adherents in Parliament to demande of the Scots the delivery of his Maj. person to commissioners whoe were sent to receive him and guardes commanded by Collonel Graves This was clearly foreseen by the late Duke of Lauderdalle then one of the Commissioners for Scotland the Earle of Holland my Lord Willowby of Parham my Lord Hollis S r. Phillip Stapleton and very many others in both houses whoe were ar that tyme entirely for the Kings restauration upon as moderate termes as their conduct and credit in Parliament Could possibly worke out and as the only expedient to remoue difficulties wished and endeavoured to bring the business to a personall treaty by which means they hoped to abate the severity of some demands which all reasnable and truly conscientions men amongst them knew his Maj. Could not graunt without violence to his conscience in the breach of his othe and divesting himselfe of all power to maintaine ye lawes protect his subjects or to preserve himselfe and his posterity from being deprived of that less then halfe his regall and just authority which his assenting to those propositions in the termes they were drawne up would have left him the remaining part of his power being but precario and at the arbitrement of every succeeding Parliament Sect. 38. The wisest amongest them Considered and acknowldged theise truths and seeing a part of the Nation desposed with the army and their adherents towards a popular Gouverment would willingly have had more power in the King then when they began the war they desired or designed Sect. 39. On the contrary the adverse partie was absolutely against a treaty which they feard might lead to moderation on both sides and produce an accord destructive to those great projects the cheifs of them had figured to themselves for a long tyme and resolved upon after the niew modeling of the army to prevent an agreement they must hinder a treaty to which end that party in both houses haveing at first vigorously opposed sending of any propositions to the King but that being carried against them in the affirmative by great adress and infusing jalousies concerning Religeon into the greatest nomber of the Presbitereans few of them being States men by experience and peradventure not all by reason they easily drew them to a vote that his Maj. Should be obliged to signe the propositions in the termes as they were sent him by both houses alowing no latitude to the Commissioners by whome they were sent to treat or debate one syllable knowing very well that the King neither would nor indeed Could consent to them as they were neither with Conscience honour or safety however least the extreme danger whereunto he lay exposed might have prevayled with him to consent they made use of the stratagem I have allready mentioned of infusing into the belief of many of the most considerable of the Kings freinds that the army would restore him upon certaine conditions specified whoe led his Maj. himselfe to some hopes of it Sect. 40. By theise means the King was by the Scots delivered to the commissioners sent by the Parliament to receive him by them browght to Holmby one of his owne houses where he was rigorously guarded and very hardly used in all considerations not permitted to Speak with any man but in presence of some of the Commissioners not one of his domestique servants suffered about him nor the liberty to write or receive a lettre from the Queen any of his Childeren or freinds knowing nothing what his enemies did or what he was to doe himselfe In this deplorable condition one nepar whome the Parliament had placed about him as his barber being gained whose employment every morning and evening neer his person gave him the oportunity of conveying letters unpercevably into his hands how strictly soever he was watched by this conveniency haveing written to him at large concerning many things and especialy of the desorders begun betwixt the Parliament and the army and of all els which I judged necessary for his Knowledg in that estat
assured that they would deal syncerely and moderately with me afterwards I should witsh te armies casheering but the very ill usage I receive as yet from them makes me suspect alle things that I can hardly resolue what is best for me to doe in such an unhappy conjoncture and shall deliberate a little longer however take you hence the occasion to let those see whoe say they are my frends how much more reasnable I am even according to their owne rules then the authors of theise desorders which can never be appeased unless they agree with me they know what will satisfy me but the botom of theise mens designes is not easily sownded upon the place where you are you know best how to urge this with the most efficacy According to the advice your next letter brings me I shall take my measures Send the inclosed to my wife and deliver the other your selfe to my Lord Dumfermlin and keep my correspondence with him secret farewell Your frend CHARLES R. Sect. 46. Upon the answer which I made to this letter which contained very many matters of fact of great importance betwixt the Parliament and army whose differences flew very high with the opinion of others as well as my owne there upon the particulars where of all thowgh to long to be Here Mentioned may be guessed at by the Kings answer which followes May the 16. SEct. 47. Monday last I received yours which put such thowghts into my head that I could not delay the dispatching my Message to the twoe houses for undoubtedly reason will be sooner heard by unreasnable men when they dispute whoe shall be master then when there is no opposition and certainly seeing many of those in the Parliament whoe pretend to be my frends make soe little account of what you have offered them in my name I can expect nothing from them but extremest rigour when they have no competitors for in the incertainty of their affaires they may judg me necessary but then useless What I send you now is no more then what you know allready touching the four cheif propositions and for the covenant I have Done as much as I promised them Cause my message to be printed and published all you can Make my excuse to the french Ambassadour for what he has written to me in his last is of soe little concernment that it is not worth the payns to answer it in cipher to him selfe Assure him from me that neither Dumfermlin whoe is now here nor any els saving you shall know what passes betwixt him and me Send the inclosed to my wife to whome faile Not to give an account of all that passes farewell Your frend CHARLES R. Sect. 48. I have many other letters from his Ma tie touching theise negotiations at that tyme not necessary here to be inserted for the end I propose to my selfe The Parliament had past an ordinance in both houses for the disbanding of the army which would not obey their refusall and proceedings there upon were very high and factions and out of the power of the houses to restraine their only force lying in their votes and orders which the other laughed at and dispised whoe haveing thus begun fownd themselves obliged to goe on or perish The Parliament was here at much alarmed and the wisest amongest them began to repent their haveing rejected a proposition which was secretly made to them and often urged with weighty reasons not to send the Scotch army out of England entirely and at once but at the same tyme to disband part of their owne and send away a like proportion of the Scots and soe by degrees make them selves quit of both But this was refused without aleaging any solid reason against it but only depending on Parlementary authority which they sayd the army would never dare to disobey they were likewise sorry they had soe long and soe much neglected the great advances which the King had made and told me plainly they would endeavour the passing of a vote in both houses for the Kings coming to London but that they apprehended the army there upon would seize upon his person before he could come thither Sect. 49. They desired me to write to his Ma tie to know his inclination I told them I would goe my selfe to a frends house within less then an hower from Holmby and would write from thence which I did all the same night post Arriving where I intended before noon the next day from thence I wrote I mediately to his Ma tie inclosing my letter in one to the Earle of Dumfermlin I acquainted him with the great danger he was in of being seized by the army to prevent which I saw no means unless his Ma tie would and could save himselfe by night in desguise and that I would have horses ready very neer the place to bring him to London where as affaires stood I was persuaded he might come to a reasnable accord on the fowndation of his Message The next morning he sent my Lord Dumfermlin to me whoe gave me the following lerter Holmby June 4. SEct. 50. Referring particulars to the Earle of Dumfermlin I shall only tell you that what you proposed to me by your letter of yesterday is quickly to be answered that ever since I heard of the armies refusal to disband I have often thowght of what you now propownd and am resolved not to fall into their hands if I can avoyde it I have sownded the commissioners about the expedient which you mention of escaping with them to London I have assured them to confirme my last message and to treat with the Parliament concerning the other things in question I have layd before them the publique danger as well as of my person in case I should be taken by the army all agree to it except two whoe say they connot Consent without order from the Parliament it being to betray their trust soe that I see no way to shun falling into the hands of the army if they have the designe to take me as soone as Dumfermlin returns I will try againe what may be done with those whoe make the greatest difficulty Expecting your answer this evening if I can put in execution by any means what you move you shall know my resolution speedily to which end you shall doe well to remain where you are farewell Your frend CARLES R. Sect. 51. My answer to this letter was very short haveing acquainted my Lord Dumfermlin fully with all things whoe had likewise himselfe received letters from some of the Scotch Commissioners at London which confirmed all I had written and savd and therefor concluded some thing was to be done out of hand for the Kings escape He named the twoe persons to me whoe opposed it one where of commanding the troupes which garded his Ma tie without him it was not possible to have been done The next morning in stead of receiving any advice from the King how I might serve him in
his escape the newes came of his being secured by a party of the army commanded by a cornet named Joyce by his trade a taylour His Ma tie demanded of him what commission or autorite he had to offer him the violence he did without soe much as mouving his hat or shewing the King the least respect he shewed him with his hand the five or 600 soldiers which he commanded saying there is my commission his Ma tie without any the least emotion smilingly replyed t' was written in avery faire hand In short he was carried away to the army some furious spirits amongest them as Major General Harrison and others were for the putting of him to death by an unammous sentence of the army but Cromwell Ireton and the most politique heads were for delay and temporising soe long by amusing the King with hopes that they would restore him till they had entirely broken the Presbiterean party and rendered them powerless and themselves more absolute Upon this fowndation Cromwell Ireton and other principal persons of the army became very Civile and some thing respectfull to his Ma tie makeing great protestations of haveing no other designe but the setting him with honour upon his throne on his graunting them a free liberty of Conscience with such a power in the Militia as they judged convenient for their assurance that they might not be deprived thereof at pleasure but that tyme was needfull to prepare the way and to dispose the minds of the army to a submission thereunto Sect. 52. These promises and deep Protestations seconded by a free permission of his frends to wait on him of some of his domstiques to serve him and of his chapelens to performe their functions in his devotions according to the Constitutions and Customes of the Church of England wrought very much upon the King especially from the hopes he had of not being constrained in his Conscience in Matter of Divine worship and church Gouverment wherein he was much more sencible then in what concerned his prerogative or the rights of the crowne Sect. 53. The chiefs of the army especially Cromwell and Ierton whoe were great masters in that art made large promises and specious apparencies without effecting of any thing or makeing any demandes tending to a positive conclusion of what would satisfy them or of what they would doe for his Ma tie and which was then to me remarquable and worthy at all tymes of observation that amidest all theise faire pretences the armies adherents in both houses whoe did not any thing but by secret concert with Cromwell continually clamoured in Parliament at the seeming liberty which the King had often aleadging that he should be more restrayned and that the chief delinquents which was the Phraise in those tymes owght to be brouwght to condigne punishment Sect. 54. Twoe or three of the leading men whoe thirsted for his blood severall tymes let fly expressions of that kinde directly against his person and others a little cautious more obliquely but soe that both the end and the way to it which theise men had long projected by mutuall agreement was in my opinion sufficiently visible where of I advertised the King constantly and frequently the Queen by my constant adresses to the Earle of S t. Albanes whoe lived when I wrote and intended to Print this relation As I mentioned all particulars of that nature spoken in both or either house soe I named the authours haveing had ordnarily once in four and twenty howers knowledge of all that passed which concerned the King whoe was trained from place to place according to their apprehensions and designes during the space of divers months till Colonel Hamond was made Gouvernour of the iste of wight and Kairesbrooke Castel more magnificently furnished out of the publique warderobe then was needfull for him or sutable to his condition which by some others was taken notice of and by me especially throwgh an unexpected accident to long to be here inserted which gave me cause to suspect and fear what shortly after unhappely arrived which important circomstance joined to divers others not of much less weight put restless thowghts into my head till such tyme as I could obtaine a particular audience from the King to whome I gave an exact account of my apprehensions with the grownds of them Sect. 55. His Ma tie answered theise reasons have weight one may fear as well to little as to much especially as my condition is yet if there be any faith in them they will never come to such extremities however their feeding me hitherto with good words and deep protestations without reall effects or coming in all this tyme to any particular or positive conclusion makes me some tymes doubt the event but on the other side I cannot fall into all your apprehentions which seem now and then to hyppocondriacal Sect. 56. I replyed I beseech God thy may all prove soe where unto I added that I hoped there was yet an expedient either to constraine them to doe his business or to have it done without them He smiled and told me such a proposition was well worth the hearing asking mee what it was Sect. 57. I answered some of the most considerable persons of both houses whoe I named were unchangeabley convinced that the army jugled with him whoe were resolved upon a totalle change of the Gouverment which designe they whoe had sate during the space of five or six years in the same assembly with them and had been privy to their principles and debates and without doubt to many of their most secret contrivements could see further into them then any els and wished his Ma tie would bring them to a short and peremtory resolution touching what would content them as likewise what they would doe for him because that every day they gained power and others whoe really desired his Ma ties Conservation and reestablishment lost it Sect. 58. If they meant syncerely as they pretended Cromwell and Ireton Could absolutely engage that party in both houses to a concurrance with them whoe were inseperably linked to his interests and that the Presbitereans would not hinder but further it to prevent what they reasnably and exceedingly feared to late finding that they had raised a spirit which they could not easily lay againe And that the event was very uncertayne in their opposing of that power which insencibly they had let glide out of their owne hands and nourisht against themselves to long to be able to give limits to it Sect. 59. They considered that if the liberty of Conscience which the army seemed to insist upon were consented to and the penal statutes repealed the Presbitereans would have been included as well as others and for the power of the Militia which was demanded for security it must have resided in King Parliament or both for in the Officers of the army it could not be without keeping up a continued standing Militia which the nation Could not bear
as unsafe both for King Parliament and people Sect. 60. They were therefor of opinion that his Matie without further delay should have pleased to press them to a particular and Catigoricall explanation of their full demands which if he fownd such as he could agree to and that the armies partie in both houses would syncerely concur there Could be no insuperable difficulty in the business nor any opposition saveing what the Scotch Ministers could have stirred up whoe would never have approuved of a liberty of Conscience nor of any thing less then a Presbiterean Gouverment jurê Divinô which the armies adherents in both houses were declaredly against and I dare boldly say for I understood at that tyme the temper and costitution of that Parliament as it really was ten of those whoe went by the name of Presbitereans were not of the Schots opinion but either for a moderate episcopacy as the King had volontarily offered it at the treaty at uxbridge when he was under no force as the wisest expedient to have remouved all jalousies about Religeon or els were erastians and for haveing the politique Gouverment of the church dependant on the civile as it had been from the midle of Henry the eights raigne to that very tyme the six years of Queen Mary only excepted And undoubtedly there was great and clear reason foreseeing that where the Ecclesiasticale policy of the church in the one or the other extreme is received or shall be as Jurê Divinô the Hyrarchy has and will gouverne more absolutely then the civile and supreme Magistrate which has been manifest for many ages and is as demonstrable for the future as any probleme of euclide from which clear and experienced ground it may be thowght that no wise souveraigne Autority will volontarily part with the best halfe and surest fowndation of its power Sect. 61. But insencibly I forget my selfe this not being my business nor was then any part of my humble representation to his Ma tie thowgh above a year before he had towght me that lesson when he was at new-castle in soe much that by what I have here sayd upon this subject I become but his echoe Sect. 62. Wherefor I shall returne without goeing further astraye to the matter which led me to this short digression to conclude as I did then to the King that the opposition of the Scotch Ministers thowgh it might have made a little noise could not have occasioned any interuption to the success of what has been sayd Sect. 63. But in case his Ma tie Could not bring the army to such a conclusion as this councel imported and that he fownd himselfe convinced that their promises and protestations were but delusory they whoe gave this advice promised to endeavour the passing of an order in both houses to command the army to retire further from London and to permit the King to come to some of his houses neer the citty to treat personally for a well Grownded peace Sect. 64. His Ma tie replied this has some weight being what I heartily desire but I much doubt the armies obedience either to leave me at soe much liberty or to retire to such a distance However I will press them as far as is possible and prudent for me in the condition I am to a fixed and positive Conclusion with me and by you shall acquaint them with the success if I finde it usefull to me Theise men whoe propownd this to you see to late that they have improvidently cut out more worke then they can make up without my help but I cannot resolve to doe it all at my owne expence Sect. 65. His Ma tie however put this in practice with all the ernestness he Could but met with continual demurs and delays that things were not yet sufficiently ripe that the army was not soe unanimous as was hoped it would become that there were desordres in it which Cromwell underhand raised to have a colour for protarction and for other greater ends which appeared on the the theatre shortly after that their frends in the Parliament Could not be wrowght to a full concurrence with them Sect. 66. Theise pretexts were soe grosse and obvious that the Kings hopes deminished dayly Where upon those persons allready mentioned procured an order in the twoe houses that his Ma tie should reside at Richmond house that he should be attended by the same persons whoe were about him at Holmby thirdly that Colonel Rossiters regiment should guarde him All which Cromwell refused and laughed at declaring that the King should come no neerer to London then the Parliament permitted the armies quarter to be Where upon I alâ—aged to those persons that all their votes would signify nothing unless means could be fownd out where by their orders might be seconded by such force as in some degree was able to counterballance that of the army To which end none Could be thowght on saveing the Militia of London which at that tyme of trayned bands and auxillianes amounted to at least fiveteen or sixteen thowsand foote and to have been browght together in six howers tyme they were for much the greatest part Commanded by Presbiterean officers which in divers battayles had done as good service and fowght as well as those of the army Sect. 67. Whereupon the Earles of Manchester Holland Lauderdalle whoe thowgh not of the Parliament but one of the Scots Commissioners had great credit in the city my Lord willowghby of Parham my Lord Hollis S r. Phillip Stapleton S r. William Waller Major General Mastey Major General Browne all which and divers more whoe had great influence on the citty judged it now the crittical season to engage it to petition the Parliament for the continuance of their Militia under the establishment it was which Cromwell and his adherents laboured to have changed but secondly to order that the King should be left at his House at Richmond in order to a personall treaty thirdly that the citty should be autorised to rayse forces for the Parliaments and its owne defence and have power to chuse their General Officers Fourthly that aleaven members of the Parliament whoe had been a little before throwgh an impeachement of the army sequestred from their cession with their owne consent should returne to their places in Parliament this designe was Caried on in the beginning with as great secrecy as such a transaction Could be by the persons above mentioned where in I slept not Sect. 68. I acquainted the King with it whoe approuved the whole conduct withall commanding me soe to Gouverne my selfe in my part there of that he might not be necessitated to appear there in first for his personall safety as being in the power of the army secondly that he might have been free in Conscience and honour to agree with the army in case that this designe should drive them to the necessity of makeing good their severall protestations to him which without being forced to it
of Parliament under the penalty of high treason The last vote was relative to the first as before theise votes all most as soone as he was in the Isle of wight I had fownd out means of correspondence with him and of giving his Ma tie constant advertisements of all occurrencies which concerned him soe notwithstanding this danger of being punished as a traitour I continued it even to the last continuing to write to him and to receive letters from him both for my selfe and others the greatest part of his intelligence both with english and Scotch passing throwgh my hands whilest I remayned in England not without great hazard as may easily be conceaved which had it ever been discouvered no humane means that I sawe could have secured my head Sect. 86. Cromwell haveing as I have already sayd and demonstrated from tyme to tyme opposed and by his several artifices prevented all treaties as much as he possibly could and agreements betwixt the King and the Presbitereans by degrees wrowght the Earle of Essex Bedford and Manchester the Generall Waller Major General Massy Major General Browne and all those Military persons out of all employment whome he judged capable to bring any opstacle to his projects in some Kinde reduced the citty of London and jugled the King prisoner into the Isle of wight in the custody of Colonel Hammon one of his creatures he belived his game sure which was the sole reason why I ever declined all treaty or colusion with those people foreseeing clearly their ends and as visibly their ways to them even when the Generallity of the Kings party assured themselves that they would infallibly restore both him and them Sect. 87. My stedfastness in the contrary opinion and my endeavours against that gross delusion not prostituting my reason to other mens phantasies procured me many enemies with very severe sensures leading divers to a jalousie that I had rivited my selfe into that interest rather for my owne private ends then for his Ma tie service or for the publique behoofe of the Nation which most groundless and unreasnable credulity together with the animosities and calomnies which arose therefrom had prepared the way and facilitated my after mine all thowgh I solemnly and syncerely protest that I alone declined the one party as being unchangeably convinced that they designed his Ma ties destruction nor applyed my selfe to the other then by his commands and as things were in those tymes that I Could perceave no other means for his preservation Sect. 88. Upon advertisements I gave the King which I know he had from other hands of the foregoeing votes as likewise of what Cromwell and Ierton had sayd against him he sawe to late howe perfidiously they had jugled with him which first disposed him to treat with the Scotch and with as many of the Presbitereans in England as safely Could and would be treated with which evidently refutes that rediculous assertion of some whoe pretend to be the Kings frends that Cromwell and Ireton broke with his Ma tie because he treated with the Scots makeing the effect the cause it being notorious to all whoe had any transactions in and knowledg of the affaires at those seperate tymes that the King after the armies proposalls had no treaty with the Scots or any els till the votes of non adresses and unanimous protestation of the army to live and dye with the Parliament in the persuance of those votes and for the setlement of the Gouverment without his Ma tie and a little after the like was done by the Parliament to live and dye with the army for the same ends and which was the wonder of wonders the house of Lords Passed this resolution first with great zeal and sent it downe to the Commons for their concurrence whoe for some tyme opposed it vigorously till threatnings and fear caused many members to absent themselves soe that it was carryed in the affirmative by five or six vooices Thus the commons contended to preserve the Peerage for the abolishing of which the Peers themselves layd this fowndation which ensued in about a year after Sect. 89. Theise proceedings haveing been visible and his Ma tie no other recource for the gaining of his liberty with the preservation of his crowne and life came to a conclusion with the Scotch Commissioners whoe were permitted by the Parliament to repaire to the King about the Gouverment of their owne nation Sect. 90. The agreement with them gave such satisfaction that they engaged themselves to enter into England with an army as speedily as well could be and in order to conjonction with them severall treaties were secretly mannaged with the principall persons of the Presbiterean party In a Parliamentary way nothing Could be done with them nor by them because of the awe of the army and the incertainty of many amongst themselves whoe in divers debates voted with the contrary party Besides that the very late resolutions and protestations of both houses rendred all propositions of that Kinde vaine and exceeding dangerous in soe much that there remained no other way but to treat with them a part and with the greatest Privacy The result was that they should declare at the same tyme with the Scotch the Kings party being to joine with them Upon the Scotch commissioners leaving the Isle of wight his Ma tie was more severely guarded then ever Not with standing I had constant correspondence with him all or much the greatest part of his intelligencies either with the Kingdome of Scotland or England passed my hands not without great difficulty danger and expence When all these transactions were concluded the King sent me the following letter of credit to be communicated to as many of the Gentilemen of the Easterne assotiation as I should thinke fit with the advice of those with whome I had before treated The Duke of Lauderdalle did me the honour to deliver it me at his returne from Cairsbrook Castel and to let me know what was concluded betwixt his Ma tie and the sotch Commissioners Cairsbrooke Decemb 1647. SEct. 91. Gentilemen I have been long since advertised by Colonel Bamfield whoe I have often employed to you of your good affections to my service and since there may fall out in a short tyme an occasion wherein they may be usefull to me in the present condition I am it may prove inconvenient for me and to you dangerous that I should give you Particular directions under my hand I have left it to Colonel Bamfield whoe knows my affaires and has order to communicate to you as much of them as is necessary for the direction of your Councels and endeavours for the publique good of your country and for him whoe is Your most assured frend CHARLES R. For the Gentilemen of the Easterne association Jan. the 24. SEct. 92. I have received yours of the 17 present but have not as yet decypherd the other letters inclosed because I would first fiuish this despatch
more then many of them did me I was seldome there but haveing concluded a very advantagious capitulation with Monsieur de Tillier at present Chancellour of France for the raysing of a Regiment of 2500 English and Scots and had obtayned liberty to doe it I returned to London to procure Marchands security for my performing the conditions on my part agreed upon before the mony I was to receive Could be payd me Haveing accomplished what was demanded to the contentment of those concerned a man of war was offered me for my retransport to Deep without my demanding it I wondered a litle at the great civility considering it as a good presage that I should meet with no niew interuption in the progress of my business I went the next day poste to Dover sending thence to the Downes the order I had for a frigat to come thither where I thowght to have embarqued my selfe whilest I wayted for it dreaming of nothing less then Imprisonment the Gouvernour of the Castel with the Major of the Towne together with some Soldiers came into my chamber shewing me an order from Cromwell to seize all my papers and to bring me and my servants prisonners into the castle not one of them haveing been permitted about me nor to speak together before they were examined which the next day was performed but my turne came not untill three or four days after which was executed with great formality and no less severity upon seaven Artickles which I looked upon as very strange and without any the least possibility of fowndation in soe much that my answers were positive and some thing negligent sufficiently knowing that according to their owne constitution in those tymes they Could doe no more to me then to revoke what had been graunted concerning my leavies and to keep me in restraint for some tyme. In a few days I was again examined for the second tyme not in the order I had been at first but very confusedly hopeing to have intrapped me in some contradiction but my answers haveing been in substance the same as at first no advantage Could be fownd against me by that course and to have prouved any materiall point I knew was Impossible which made me appear very indifferent notwithstanding the uncivile and rude threatnings of one of my Commissaryes The only thing which had any shadow of truth or reason was that a few days before my parting from London a Gentileman with whome I was very intimate being at that tyme Gouvernour of a considerable place whoe in his heart I knew was not passionately in love with the cause he was engaged in haveing told me in confidence that another underhand solicited his charge and he feared might deprive him of it I was very free and open in my Councells to him touching the best means to conserve it adding in the conclusion that as long as he held that post in all events which Could happen he might keep himselfe considerable he answered me not a word touching that point but after a short and deep Meditation diverted his discource to another subject the next day he acquainted Cromwell with the Councel I had given him not without both change and addition whither this had been concerted before and that he was employ'd to counterfeit jalousy and discontent to in snare me or that he thowght to profit himselfe in that occasion by manifesting his integrety throwgh his discouvery to preserve his charge I Could wever know nor with my selfe determine this information gave more credit to other Articles then otherwise they would have met with which Cromwell himselve as lenght reflected on as artificial contrivements of some whoe he knew by many intercepted letters were not my frends to obstruct my levies and to ruine my credit in England at that tyme to prevent my doeing the harme they apprehended which I never meant at this very conjoncture there hapned a misunderstanding at the Kings Court then at Bridges in Flanders some persons haveing retyred thence to the Hage where upon purposely to ruine me advertisement was given to Cromwell that all beit I was very deep in his Ma ties displeasure which he knew as well as they yet I was well with others whoe were no less his enimies and that my pretext for liberty to make levyes for France was but to couver the designe I had to begin a fowndation for the advancement of another interest some circomstances relating to my affaires where of he was not ignorant afforded no small probability to this information where in he was the more confirmed by the Gouvernours advertisement whoe I have mentioned being likewise strengthned by another of little less Importance which was that Imediately before my parting from paris I had sayd something occasionally to a person of quality of my owne nation in confidence that concerned England and Spayne he contrary to his promise acquainted one of the French Ministers with it whoe wrote it to Monsieur Bourdaux then Ambassadour in England and by him was communicated to Cromwell these twoe circomstances gave much credit to the chiefe information Haveing layne under this restraint three weekes and nothing to have been prouved but the Gouvernours advertisement the business of Bruges being accommodated the grownds whereof he at last knew and was fully convinced that I was not faulty in the great designe Which being urged by S r. John Renolds with some others throwgh their frequent solicitations for my liberty and for my permission to proceed in my levies he acknowledged that nothing stuck with him saveing the councell I had given to the Gouvernour I have allready mentioned they aleaged that all humane affaires were subject to mutation and that if any change should happen my words Implied no more then a bare possibility thereof but not that I knew of any or that I did wish or would further it That the Councel I gave was to a frend whoe demanded it whoe then was and whoe allways had been in his interests and that any man upon the like occasion might have given the same Councel His final answer was that after haveing Imprisoned Colonel Bamfield we can neither trust him nor he us wherefor I cannot now consent to his levies nor to his continuance in any of the dominions of this common wealth his liberty he shall have upon his engagement to retire abrode within four days and not to returne into any of the three Nations without leave of the Gouverment which I did was set at liberty and to keep my word more exactly then I was constrained to haveing stayd one day at Dover the next I hyred off an open shaloup to calais where I fell sick of a violent feaver which confined me for some tyme to that place Thus I fownd my selfe utterly ruined in his Ma ties favour cast out of his service for ever and by this contrivement and accident for both were in the business to gayne my liberty was constrained to enter into a volontary exile
lost with the Gouverment which then was totally frustrated of the chiefe end for which I had broken with all my former frends by procuring leave contrary to their Councels for my returne into England which was to have gotten my selfe to the head of a Regiment of 2500. Men of my owne Nation in the King of Frances service whereby I Could have subsisted with honour and Gouverned my selfe in other things according to events During my sickness which was violent I fownd my selfe suffiently contented to dye for being ruined with all the world small hopes remayning to recouver my self I Could better have submitted to a quiet death then to have suffered those bitter anxieties of a turbulent and afflicted life which I fore saw I was likely to undergoe as hath befallen me from that very tyme to this day but the periode either of our lives or trowbles comes not as we often desire Haveing recouvered my health I endeavoured to calme my minde which was not without disordre and to bear patiently those calamities which I then felt and to fortify my selfe to suffer those which I foresawe I was likely to undergoe by a decree greater and more souveraigne then solomans which would require a support sublimer then what reason or Philosophy Could afford feeling in my selfe Just cause for what I apprehended when I deeply reflected on the violent passions inordinate affections and to great infirmities of my life past I knew plethorique bodies repleat with vitious humours if there were any hope of cure had need of strong and searching phisick Which preparitories have kept me from being entirely overwhelmed with what I have since undergone I returned no more into England till the death of Cromwell which came to pass neer twoe years after S r. William Lockart whoe was then Cromwels Ambassadour in France and Gouvernour of Dunkirck to whome I had been knowne before he fell into that interest gave me a pass with a letter of recommandation to one of his frends whoe was at that tyme in great credit The factions and divisions in the army the vinversall discontents in all the three-Nations which Could not longer bear the confusions of those tymes being destitute of all Principles of Gouverment either in church or state the weakness of him whoe succeeded and of those whoe followed him that amidst the greatest Anarchy in the world figured to themselves a chimerical Democratie which one of them Called a republique as durable as the sun and moone wherein he vanted himselfe to have more greatness then he wished for which in eight months tyme afterwards terminated in a strict Imprisonment in the Tower of London where he dyed and his republique as usually Anarchies doe ended in Monarchy many of the greatest and wisest men of the three Nations taking occasion of those desorders which underhand some of them increased all they Could opened the way to his Ma ties re-establishment The next day after his arivall at whitehall I was comitted close Prisonner to the Tour of London into the custody of a person whoe had been one of the late Kings Judges whoe was not only pardoned but continued for some tyme as Lieutenant of that place this may deservedly be considered as a wonderfull dispensation to see me whoe had very often hazarded my life for the service of the crowne and especially for the preservation of that King become a prisoner under the care of one whoe had a principal hand in his death because he was cunning enowgh to help to destroy his fellowes but a few days before the late Kings restauration and when he plainly perceaved there was no humane possibility to hinder it I remained under a severe restraint about aleaven months when by order I was browght by S r. John Robinson then Commanding the Tower the former haveing been remouved to whitehall to be examined which I was upon divers Artickles by the Earle of Clarendon at that tyme Lord Chancellour and by the twoe Secretaries of State S r. Edward Nicolas and S r. William Maurits What was true I acknowledged pleading an inevitable necessity for what I had done aleadging that those things Could not amount to the crime mentioned in the warrant for my committment which was upon suspition of misprision of treason my Lord Chancellour told me I was browght thither only to answer cattegorically to what was demanded of me That pleading of my cause was for another place if it should be thowght fit to bring me thither notwithstanding that rebuke upon my further examination as the matter required and Could permit I defended my selfe as reasnably as I Could in soe much that his Lordship told me Colonel Bamfield I can perceave that you have not been alltogether Idle in the Tower seeing you are arrived at soe much knowledg in the law at least as you belive but I must tell you that your wisest and surest refuge will be to have your recourse to the Kings clemency and not to your Justification I answered him I had great need of his Ma ties Grace that I threw my selfe at his feet and Implored it with all humility but was fully persuaded that his LoPP. desired not that I should acknowledge my selfe more guilty then I was he replyed no God forbid but it behouves you to be very Carefull that some things you deny come not to be prouved which the King has been informed of and belives I added no more but if they Could be prouved I desired no Grace This examination lasted longer there then is necessary it should doe here In the conclusion I was commanded to withdrawe into an ante chamber where some of the nobility and divers Gentilemen were standing by the fier and I went alone to a window over against them about halfe an hower after my Lord chancellour and the Secretaries Came out and being ready to pass by me his LoPP. drew a little towards me and I with a profownde reverence neerer to him he sayd aloude in the hearing of all present Colonel Bamfield I am your freind M r. Secretaries and I are sencible of your sufferings and will doe all we can to obtayne you the Kings Grace and to procure your liberty And turning to S r. John Robinson sayd M r. Lieutenant you may let him have the full liberty of the Tower and all his frends whoe desire it the freedome to visit him as we returned back in the barge to the tower amongest other discource for then he was become very civile whoe before had treated me exceeding rudely S t. John Robinson told me that he had conceaved my business to have been much otherwise then he fownd it that my Lord Chancellour had been as moderate in his reflexions on my answers after I was gone out as he had been in the examination and at the end of the debate spake theise following words The somme of all is that Colonel Bamfield has served the Crowne from his youth and when we left him he left us About three