power of the Militia The People were to pay the Army and it was thought just by many that the Parliament should have command of them And it was suspected had they sate but a little longer that the Army or a considerable part of it would have adhered to the Parliament To prevent this mischief that was a working the Protector suddenly and unexpectedly dissolves them Febr. 4. with this word of comfort nevertheless to his other House My Lords ye are Lords and shall be Lords The Parliament thus again dissolved in discontent things rested as formerly though not without much murmuring and secret discontent both in the Protector and People About the latter end of August year 1658 or the beginning of September the Protector dyed having lain somewhile in a very sad condition with extream pain and torment in his bowels Some strongly fancy that he died on Tuesday Aug. 30. what time was the most furious violent wind that ever happened in the memory of man And it s very probable that he died that day or soon after but it was given out and commonly reported that he dyed on Friday Sept. 3. His Funeral was a great while deferred his body embalmed and kept above ground many moneths together with mourners continually attending his corpse and meat carried up and served on his Table as if he had been the greatest Prince in Christendom and afterwards he was interred with as great funeral solemnity as ever any King of England was interred and his Hearse or Statue set up after the manner of Kings and a most most magnificent Monument erected for him It is worth the remembring that about a year or two before his death he made a new broad Seal with the Arms of England viz. a Saint Georges Cross quartered with Saint Andrews Cross for Scotland and the Harp for Ireland and his own Coat in a little Escutcheon in the midst his Helmet and Mantle with a Crown imperial and a Lion puissant for his Crest and and the supporters a Lyon and a Dragon the Motto underneath his Arms Pax quaeritur Bello And this inscription about Sigillum magnum Reipublicae Anglioe Scotiae Hiberniae On the other side himself on Horseback richly trappered as the King Seal was wont to be and the Inscription about it Oliverus Dei gratia Reipublicae Angliae Scotiae Hiberniae Protector And though he usually coined no money yet I have seen some pieces of Silver of an half crown bigness with his Arms as before on the one side and his Picture crowned with bays on the other side and the former Inscription In these respects so near he approached to the Royal dignity sure I am he assumed more power and authority then ever any King of England did The Protector before his death had according to the fore-mentioned Humble Petition and Advice appointed his eldest Son Richard Cromwel to succeed him in his place and accordingly immediately after his Fathers death he was proclaimed in London and soon after all over England The Independents Anabaptists and other Sectaries were not well pleased at it they had rather have had Fleetwood in the place who had married the late Protectors Daughter Iretons Widow for Richard had formerly been reputed a kind of a good fellow and a Royallist and never was in Arms against the King as all the rest of his Fathers Family and Allies had been Richard soon after cals a Parliament to begin at Westminster Jan. 27. not according to the Instrument of Government but after the old way two in a County c. Before the calling of the Parliament and after congratulatory Addresses are made to Richard from most Counties Cities and Corporations of Note in England extolling the merits of his heroick Father expressing their joy for the succession of such a Son and promising to adhere to him withall faithfulness and loyalty In some of their Addresses they compare the Father to Moses and the Son to Joshua the Guiders and Conductors of Gods People out of Aegyptian thraldom with other the like blasphemous expressions Richard receives these Addresses with as much gravity as they were tendered with humility so that no man could imagine but that he was most firmly fixed in his Throne And Lilly the States mercenary Prognosticator assures it from his Astrological Predictions of that year AT the opening of the Parliament Jan. 27. he makes a Speech to both his Houses wherein he minds them of his just and lawful Title to the Government not only by the wonderful Provindence of God but by the disposition of the Laws he tels them he had convened them together for important affairs of State for the honour and safety of the Nation willed them to take into consideration the necessity of the Navy and Army whom he commends for their patience and obedience to the best Army in the world some other things to this purpose he commended to them and told them in conclusion that they should find him ready and willing to concur with them in any thing for the good of the publick and to deny them nothing that was just and fit And that if this were not an happy Parliament it should not be his fault And all this says the Book was spoken with so gracious and Princely a deportment as hath gained this opinion amongst the wisest Hearers that he deservedly holds the place of Supream Magistrate in these Nations Thus the Parliament began and great hopes there were of good agreement between the Protector and the People and doubtless he for his part would have given them leave to have setled the Nation as they thought good both for Religion and Civil Government But still the other House though called as formerly and many of them convened would not down with the Commons they would not in the least own this new made House of Lords sit they might if they pleased but little or nothing they had to do for the Commons would never impart any thing to them nor indeed have any intercourse with them A pitiful company of Peers they were and accordingly regarded But Richard and the House of Commons agreed very well he was willing to leave all to them And there being a very great number of young Lawyers in the House that gaped for preferment they were willing to give him power enough too much as many suspected Ye must know that in all Parliaments since Olivers time there was a faction of men in the House called Common-wealths men that were for a free State as they called it and against a single Person These were such as had purchased the Lands of Bishops Deans and Chapters and those belonging to the late King Queen and Prince And they feared that these Lands might be at one time or other restored unless the Government were again setled in the way of a Common-wealth for a single Person they thought might possibly come to be a King With these also concurred all such both Parliament-men and Army-men as
A BRIEF VIEW OF The late troubles and confusions in England begun and occasioned by a prevailing Faction in the Long PARLIAMENT Deduced to the auspicious coming in of GENERAL MONCK And the most glorious and happy Restitution of KING CHARLES the SECOND By WILLIAM YOUNGER Psal 118.22 The same stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the Corner This is the Lords doing and it is marvellous in our eyes London Printed for Robert Gibbs at the golden Ball in Chancery-lane 1660. AN ADVERTISEMENT TO THE Reader THis brief Relation was composed Chiefly out of the Authors own observation of the transactions in these late sad times Many things are purposely omitted especially in the former part for brevity sake which otherwise might have been inserted For his intentions at first were to leave it in the Register book of his Parish in which he first began it for the use of his successors but it growing too big for that design he drew the rest down in papers to the coming in of General Monck and the happy Restitution of King Charles the Second to his Throne He hath endeavoured herein to set down nothing but truth and hopeth he hath not much failed therein However if any errors or mistakes be they are not wilfull and possibly not much material His purpose only is to set forth the stupendious mercy of God in raising up a temporary Saviour such a one he accounts General Monck to be for the deliverance of this sinful Nation from an oppression or slavery as bad as Egyptian and from a confusion no less than Babylonish If God may have the glory by an humble ackowledgement and real thanks to be given him by the people of these Kingdoms it is all the Author expects or desires A Brief View of the late troubles and confusions in England begun and occasioned by a prevailing faction in the Long Parliament ANNO 1640. Novem. 3. began the Parliament called the Long Parliament year 1640 we may truly term it the Black or the Bloody Parliament that involved the three Nations in blood and destroyed the King the Parliament it self and thee Kindoms The King in the beginning of this Parliament had for the security of the Subjects in their Persons Liberties and Estates passed many and several Acts of grace to the no small diminution of his Royal Prerogative more than all his Predecessors Kings of England from the Conquest downward had ever done and all this to remove from them all jealousies and fears After this in May 1641. he gives way at the great and pressing importunity of the House of Commons â—â—â—1 to the Condemnation and Execution of the Earle of Strafford a loyal Subject and a most able and accomplish'd counsellour as any Prince in Christendome ever had The King was very hardly moved to yield either to his attaindor or execution as not being satisfied in conscience of any guilt or crime in him deserving such punishment but yield at length he did though with much reluctancy to satisfie the importunity of the people and indeed at the request of the Earle himself who desired Jonah-like to be cast over-board thereby to appease the violent rage of a tempestuous people The truth is this Nobleman as also the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury afterwards Anno 1644. were meerly sacrificed to the malice and revenge of the Scots In August following the King goes into Scotland to compose differences there between himself and his Subjects of that Kingdom which done he returns again to London and is there received with exceeding joy and triumph of the people in or about the beginning of December The House of Commons to welcome his Majesty home instead of giving him thanks for the many gracious Acts he had lately passed they present him with a Remonstrance Dec. 15. laying open all the miscarriages and misfortunes of his whole Government from the beginning of his Raign even to that present and this they publish contrary to his express desire to the whole Kingdom whereby they gave occasion to the people to conceive jealousies and suspicions of a malignant party about the King still carrying on their own designs both against Religion and the Laws of the Land After the publishing of this Remonstrance fears and jealousies encrease among the people the vulgar rabble in and about London frequently flock down to Westminster with Petitions and clamours against the Bishops and Popish Lords and disaffected Members as they termed them in the House of Commons and no redress could be had again them though the House of Lords and the King himself had moved the House of Commons to declare against them The truth is they were favored and countenanced under hand by some Members of that House The King to avoid the danger of these tumults withdraws from White-hall to Windsor from thence afterwards to Newmarket and so by Cambridge into the Northern parts and thence to York The Parliament soon after his removal from Whitehall petition Him at Newmarket and elsewhere for the Militia to have it put into such hands as the two Houses shall think fit but he denyes them telling them that the Law hath setled it in Him that to divest Himself of the power of the Sword is to bereave Himself of power to protect his people and support the Laws This Petition was much insisted on by the Parliament under pretence of feares and jealousies but the King absolutely and peremptorily denyes it The King by several journeys comes year 1642 to York in the beginning of the year 1642 and there he settles His Court. Soon after his coming into those parts he was denyed enterance into Hull by Sir John Hotham when he offer'd to go into the Town but with twenty persons attending Him The King thereupon fearing lest the same armed force that kept Him out of Hull might surprize His Person at York he entertaines a guard of the Gentry of that County This by the house of Commons is Voted a levying of War against the Parliament though they themselves had long before three times as many of the Trainedbands of the City to guard the houses dayly Many Petitions Answers and Declarations passed between the King and Parliament during his Majesties being at York wherein it is evident to all understanding men that the King had the better cause and was more able to maintain it by the pen and by reasons and arguments than the Parliament was for the truth is his Declarations and Answers to their Messages Petitions and Propositions were unanswerable But words and writings not being sufficient to compose these differences they proceed from words to blows About July they Vote that the King is seduced by evill and Malignant Counsellers and thereupon they Vote an Army to be raised under the Command of Robert Earle of Essex the pretence is for King and Parliament against these Malignant Counsellers but they accuse or name none in particular The same year Aug. 24. the King sets up his Standard at
Nottingham commanding all men who were bound to assist him by vertue of their Tenures to repair unto him But at Nottingham there being no great appearance though Essex his Army was at that time listed and formed ready to march his Majesty marches with those few Forces he had to Leicester Worcester Shrewsbury and so upon the borders of Wales gathering an Army Essex all this time marching after him and pursuing him After some little conflict at Worcester wherein the Kings Forces under the conduct of Prince Rupert Maurice had the better the two Armies meet at Edge-hill near Keynton in Warwickshire where the first Signal Battel was fought between them with great losse and slaughter on either side The Kings standard being taken yet recovered again his General the Earl of Lindsey slain but the King had the better keeping the field all night and Essex Retreating with his broken Forces to Warwick-Castle and from thence soon after with a few horses to London This Battel was fought on Sunday Octob. 23. and the Guns were heard all that afternoon to Thetford in Norfolk The King presently after enters Oxford and fortifies it and matches to Reading and Windsor and so towards London The Citizens arming and sending forth all the power they could make against him At Branford he encountred them about Novem. 12. and beat the party that opposed but fearing least he should be surrounded with their numerous Army of Citizens he Retreated back to Windsor and Fortifying Reading he marches back to Oxford but about the latter end of the year Reading is besieged by the Parliaments Forces and the Governour Sir Arthur Ashton being unhappily wounded with a brick falling from a Chimney beaten down by a Canon-shot the Garison is yeilded upon composition by Colonel Fielding Anno 1643. year 1643 The Kings Forces prevail in the West under the Command of Sir Ralph Hopton Sir Richard Grenvile and others beating out the Earl of Stamford who commanded there for the Parliament The Earl of Newcastle for the King growes very strong in the North beats the Lord Fairfax in several Encounters and takes in all places of strength except Hull into which the Lord Fairfax had fled The Queen lands at Bridlington with arms and ammunition out of Holland she marches by Nottingham and so to Oxford The King the mean time takes Bristol thence he removes summons Gloucester which refusing to yield he sets down before it The terror of Newcastles Army affrights Norfolk and the Associated Counties in so much as many of the Parliament side are preparing to flie beyond sea for their security But the King setting down before Gloucester and Newcastle before Hull wasted their Armies and trifled away their time whereas had they joyned and marched directly up to London all had lain prostrate at their feet The King lay so long before Gloucester that Essex had raised a great Army for the relief thereof which Army appoaching the King arose and marched off Essex relieves the City and pursues him they encounter at Newbury where the King was worsted and lost many gallant men Newcastle in the mean time lay before Hull till the Earl of Manchester besieges and takes Lyn in Norfolk untill Lincoln and many other places were reduced to the Parliament with much loss to the Kings party The same year the Parliament treats with the Scots for their assistance against the King and the better to engage them they impose the Covenant frâ—med in Scotland upon the whole Nation for putting down of Bishops changing the whole Frame of Church Government in England and Ireland with Doctrine Discipline and worship to that of Scotland the Scots accordingly come in with an Army of 20000. or thereabout in winter they besiege Newcastle upon Tyne and at length take it Mean time the Forces of the Association besiege Newark upon Trent a Garison of the Kings and much straiten it Sir John Meldrum Sir Miles Hobart and Sir John Palgrave commanding the forces against it But in their march towards the latter end of the year when they every day expected the surrendring of the Town Prince Rupert comes suddenly upon them with a party of Horse his body of foot being three or four miles behind assaults and surprises the Besiegers disarms them all and so relieves the Town Many of the Souldiers and some Commanders were plundered and stript contrary to Articles for which the Kings party were afterward served in the like kind Anno 1644. year 1644 The Earl of Essex and Sir William Waller were sent forth with two Armies to pursue and take the King The King fortifies Oxford and lodging the rest of his Artillery in Dennington Castle with a light Army he takes the field Essex goes towards the West then mostly â—n the Kings possession Waller understanding which way the King was marched pursued him At Cropdie Bridge in Oxford-shire a place of advantage he sets upon the Kings Forces but is himself beaten and routed this was about the latter end of June Waller being thus defeated the King follows Essex into the West drives him by degrees as far as Lestithrell in Cornwell and there coops him up Essex takes the Sea in a Boate and leaves this Army to capitulate for themselves The Horse under the Command of Sir VVilliam Balfore break through the Kings Quarters and get away the Foot commanded by Skippon capitulate for their lives leaving their Arms Ordnance and Ammunition upon the place Septemb. 4. and tâ—king an Oath not to serve any more against the King which nevertheless many of them presently after broke The King after this hard service marches back with his Army leasurely and at Newbury is assaulted by the broken Troops of Essex his Army assisted by Manchester and Cromwell commanding the Forces of the Association A sore fight there was in the night with much loss to both parties The King gains the Town and the next day or the day after takes his Ordnance and Ammunition from Dennington Castle in the sight of the Enemy without opposition and so marches with them to Oxford This Sommers service lost the credit of Essex Manchester and VValler they were never imployed after But in the mean time while Essex and VValler were thus imployed against the King the Scots with the assistance of the Associated Counties and other of the Parliaments Forces had so far prevailed against the Earl of Newcastle and his Army as they had besieged him in York for many months Prince Rupert with a great Army out of Lancashire and the parts adjacent to his relief Upon the Prince his approach the Besiegers rise in disorder and are ready to break and run The Prince thought it not enough to relieve the City but would also beat the besiegers and setting upon them July 14. they Rally and beat him a great slaughter there was not lesse than seven thousand slain of both parts but most they say of the Princes party The Earle of Newcastle in discontent at the Prince
his rashness quits the place and all his Command and with some others of note leaves the Kingdom York soon after is again besieged and Sir Thomas Glenham undertakes the defence of the place but at length was forced to yield upon honourable terms Anno 1645. year 1645 The beginning of the year the Parliament new moulds their Army By a self-denying Ordinance as they termed it they cast out Essex Manchester and VValler and all others that were Parliament Members both Lords and Commons only Oliver Cromwell one of the Burgesses for Cambridge is dispensed with Sir Thomas Fairfax is made Captain General Cromwell his Lieutenant General Skippon also hath a great command amongst them and many of Cromwels kindred and Relations have great imployment and commands in this new modelled Army most of Essex his Officers being laid aside In May the King marches out of Oxford with a very good Army and takes Leicester by assault about the latter end of the moneth having then also a very considerable Army in the VVest about 15000. as was reported under the command of Goring who at that time besieged Taunton After the taking of Leicester the King was requested by Sir Marmaduke Langdale and the Northern Gentlemen to march Northward for the Relief of Pomsret Castle then straitned by the enemy But receiving intelligence that Fairfax intended to besiege Oxford he marches against him hoping if he could deseat their new model'd Army all other places and forces would easily be reduced At Naseby in Northamptonshire the two Armies meet on Saturday June 14. where at the first encounter the King had much the better his Right Wing of horsemen Defeating and Routing the Left Wing of the Parliaments Army wounding Skippon and taking Ireton Cromwels son in law prisoner But the Left Wing of the Kings Army consisting most of Northern Horsemen and they discontented at the first Encounter were broken turn'd head and ran the King did what possibly could be riding up and down the field to stay their flight and Rally them but all would not do and the Right Wing of Horse were so farre engaged in the pursuit as they could not timely and orderly Retreat to succour the Foot The Horse being thus routed and defeated the Foot were not able to stand but after some little resistance and slaughter yielded themselves prisoners four or five thousand of them The Kings Coach and in it his Cabinet with Letters and Papers taken all Arms Artillery Bagge and Baggage lost the King himself hardly escaping to Leicester and from thence that night to Ashby de la Zouch This was the fatal battel of Naseby for after this the Kings affairs never prospered but Town after Town was taken and in all encounters the Kings party was worsted all the VVest parts by degrees taken in that Sommer and the Queen and Prince forced to flie beyond sea anno 1646. year 1646 Oxford the Kings chiefest Garrison was besieged and much straitned About Ascention time the King in a disguise got out of the City came as far a Downham in Norfolk and from thence went to the Scots Camp lying in siege before Newark and to them his native Subjects he yields himself hoping by their means to make some better terms with the Parliament They used him civilly and respectively gave notice to the Parliament of his yielding himself to them having made use of his Authority for the prâ—sent surrendring of of Newark and from thence carryed him to Newcastle a Garrison then in their possession where he remained all that year and from thence gave Order to several other Garrisons as yet holding out for him to surrender to the Parliaments Forces upon honourable terms At Newcastle he remained all that summer and afterwards upon Treaty between the Parliament and Scots Commissioners the Parliament paying them 200000. l. in hand and securing as much more to be paid And promising as the Scots affirm to treat the King honourably and not to do any violence to his Person they deliver the King up to the Parliament and quitting Newcastle and the rest of the Garrisons they held in England they departed with their Army into Scotland The King from Newcastle was removed to Holdenby year 1647 a house of his own in Northamptonshire there he is kept an honourable Prisoner attended by some Commissioners of Parliament and a slender Guard of souldiers none of his own servants are permitted to wait upon him nor any of his Chaplains or Ministers of his Opinion though he earnestly desired it in a Message to the Parliament but they force upon him Presbyterian Ministers of the Parliaments Opinion and appointment These would not suffer him to celebrate the Feast of Easter as being against their Directory of late established This summer the Wars being finished all Garrisons surrendred and the Kings Forces utterly subdued and forced to compound for their estates taking an Oath never to bear Arms against the Parliament they take a resolution to disband the Army sending some part of it into Ireland against the Papists still in Arms there and only to keep 5000 Horse and Foot in England to preserve the peace of the Kingdome against any risings that might happen The souldiers fearing the Wars would cease and their trade decay began to Mutinie first they pick quarrels against the Parliament and at once impeach eleven of the Members of the House of Commons all rigid Presbyterians as enemies to the Army and desire they may be secluded the House They Act now not as Souldiers but as Commonors and Freemen of the Nation pretending to stand for the Native Rights and Liberties of the people And to carry on their designes the better the common Souldiers who began the work chuse their Agitators as they termed them two or more out of every Regiment to represent their grievances to the General and chief Officers of the Army And in conclusion they peremptorily refuse to disband or to send or go any of them into Ireland till all their grievances were redressed and their desires satisfied But all this ye must know was underhand countenanced if not contrived by Cromwel and some principal Officers of his Faction And because the Parliament had made themselves sufficiently odious by keeping the King under so strict guards denying him the attendance of his Chaplains and the use of the Common-prayer Book and tendering such harsh Propositions to him both in relation to himself and his party that had already suffered so much for his sake The Souldiers to ingratiate themselves to the people pretended much for the King and for his restitution of his Throne and Government upon fairer terms by much than the Parliament would afford him And suddenly by a Party Commanded by one Cornet Joyce they seize upon the King at Holdenby June 4. in the night and bring him into the Armies quarteâ—s then about Newmarket or Cambridge The General would not suffer him to pass through Cambridge lest the Schollers more than ordinarily addicted to him