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A35255 The wars in England, Scotland and Ireland, or, An impartial account of all the battels, sieges, and other remarkable transactions, revolutions and accidents, which have happened from the beginning of the reign of King Charles I, in 1625, to His Majesties happy restauration, 1660 illustrated with pictures of some considerable matters curiously ingraven on copper plates. R. B., 1632?-1725? 1681 (1681) Wing C7357; ESTC R8819 122,635 215

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time he should stand committed to the Serjeants Ward till Two Thousand Pound Bail could be procured for his appearance next Sessions And though the King took him into Protection as his Servant yet his Bail-bond remained uncancelled Divers Laws were Enacted in this Parliament as one about Observation of the Lord's day another for restraint of Tipling in Inns Alehouses c. These passed likewise in the House of Commons A Bill for Tunnage and Poundage but this miscarried in the House of Lords because the Commons had limited it to a year whereas it was formerly granted to the Kings Predecessors during their lives it being intended to reduce the Customs to the Rate at which they were settled in the Reign of Queen Mary During the fitting of the Parliament the Lord Mordant a Papist and his Wife a Protestant being both desirous of each others Conversion they put their cause upon a dispute between James Usher L. Archbishop of Amargh and one Rookwood a Jesuite who called himself Beaumont this was acted at Drayton in Northamptonshire the points disputed on were Transubstantiation Praying to Saints Images and the Visibility of the Church wherein the Learned Primate so foil'd his Adversary that the Lord Mordant was Convinced and Converted to the Protestant Religion and his Lady further confirmed therein On the Eleventh of July 1626 the Parliament by reason of the sickness Adjourned till August 1. and then met again at Oxford where the King first by himself and next by his two Secretaries the Lord Conway and Sir John Cook declared to them the necessity of setting forth a Fleet for the recovery of the Palatinate which was the Countrey of the Prince Palatine of the Rhyns who married the Kings Sister and was then unjustly detained from him by the Emperour of Germany and the King of Spain the Lord Treasurer likewise instanced the several Sums of Money which King James died indebted to the City of London This occasioned very warm Debates in the House of Commons who alledged That evil Councels guided the Kings Designs That the Treasury was misimployed That our necessties arose through Imprevidence That it would be necessary to Petition the King for a stricter hand and better Councel to manage his Affairs That though a former Parliament engaged the King in a War yet if things were managed with Contrary designs and the Treasure misimployed this Parliament was not bound to be carried blindsold in Designs not guided by sound Council That it was not usual to grant Subsidies upon Subsidies in one Parliament and no Grievances rednessed With several other Passages of the like Nature They likewise very much reflected upon the miscarriages of the Duke of Buckingham who was then a person of very considerable Trust but however they promised to consider of the Kings desires and presented him a Petition against Popish Recusants giving an Account of their damage ascribing certain Causes of their growth and offering divers Remedies thereunto unto which a satisfactory Answer if any thing would have satisfied was returned And hereupon there followed a Debate about Supplies some were for contributing presently others demurr'd as disliking the design in hand and in conclusion the Major part agreed not to give And being incensed against the Duke of Buckingham they began to think of divesting him of his Offices and to require an Account of the Publick Moneys wherewith he had been intrusted all which they intended to include in an humble Remonstrance to prevent which the King resolved to Dissolve the Parliament and accordingly the Usher of the Black Rod was sent from the House of Lords to the Commons who were then resolved into a Grand Committee and understanding the Kings pleasure they caused the Speaker to keep his Seat while they agreed upon a Message of Thanks to his Majesty for his Gracious Answer to their Petition for Religion and for his care of their Health in giving them leave to depart this dangerous time of Sickness with a dutiful Declaration of their Affection and Loyalty and of their purposing to supply him in a Parliamentary way in fit and convenient time After which they were accordingly dissolved Now the War with Spain being intended both for the recovery of the Palatinate and to prevent disturbance in our Civil Estate the Councel hereupon resolve with all speed to set forth a Fleet and to preserve strict Unity and Peace with France Denmark and the United Provinces and with the Hollanders the King had already entered into a League Offensive and Defensive against the House of Austria and likewise had promised to assist them in soliciting other Princes to enter into the same Confederation upon Condition that they should bear a Fourth part of the Charge of the Fleet and in pursuance hereof the Duke of Buckingham and the Earl of Holland were sent to the Hague and there meeting with the Ambassadors of France and Denmark they concluded a League for restoring the Liberties of Germany the two last Ambassadors having no further power from their Supteams A while after the Dissolution of the Parliament the King published a Proclamation Commanding the return of all Children of Noble-men which had been sent to be Educated in Seminaries and Popish Schools beyond Sea that none who had received Orders from Rome should presume to confer Orders or Exercise Ecclesiastical Functions in any of his Dominions and likewise that the Statute be put in Execution for the departure of Priests and Jesuites out of his Majesties Dominions By reason of the Dissolving the Parliament the Act of Subsidies was prevented and the King was necessitated to take up Money upon Loan of such Persons as were of Ability to lend and to that end he directed his Letters to the Lord Leiutenants of the several Counties To return the Names of those Men whom they thought most sufficient The places of their Habitations and what Sums each might be judged able to lend and to the persons returned Letters were Issued forth in the Kings Name to this purpose That his Majesty having observed in the Presidents and Customs of former times That all the Kings and Queens of this Realm upon extraordinary occasions have used either to resort to those Contributions which arise from the generality of Subjects or to the private helps of some well affected in particular by way of Loan in the former of which as his Majesty has no doubt in the Love and affection of his People when they shall again Assemble in Parliament so for the present he was inforced to proceed in the latter course for supply of some Portions of Treasure for divers publick Services which without manifold Inconveniences to his Majesty and his Kingdoms cannot be deferr'd and therefore this being the first time that his Majesty hath required any thing of this kind he doubts not but he shall receive such a Testimony of good affection from them among other of his Subjects and that with such alacrity and readiness as may make the same so
Hart which intimated That his only Motive to this Fact was the late Remonstrance of the Commons against the Duke and that he could not sacrifice his Life in a nobler Cause than by delivering his Countrey from so great an Enemy Felton was afterwards Condemned and Hanged at Tybourn and his Body hanged upon a Gibbet at Portsmouth There was observation made of divers Passages presaging the Dukes Death as that his Picture fell down in the high Commission Chamber at Lambeth That the Lady Davis reputed a Prophetess had foretold in June that the Dukes fatal time would not come till August and lastly that Mr. Towerson of the Customhouse was charged by a Phantasm or Ghost resembling the Dukes Father to tell him That if he changed not his courses he should shortly become a great Fairing to the City of London which was afterwards judg'd to be accomplished by his death which happened the day before the Fair that is August 23. 1628. However the Fleet set Sail under the Command of the Earl of Lindsey and came to the Bar of Rochel Haven where there was a wonderful Barracado contrived by Cardinal Richlieu of Fourteen Hundred Yards cross the Channel however the Earl adventured in passing the Forts and Outworks but the Wind changing drove the Ships upon each other which unhappy Accident made the Rochellers despair of Relief and occasioned the present surrender of the Town after which the Earl of Lindsey brought the Fleet safe home again The Parliament was to have met in October but by reason of some ill news during this Expedition they were again Adjourned to January 20th in which time the Merchants refusing to pay Custom had their goods seized Complaint whereof being made to the Parliament the King summons the two Houses to the Banquetting House at White-hall and requires them to pass the promised Bill of Tunnage and Poundage for ending all differences since it was too precious a Jewel of the Crown to be so lightly forgone But the Commons being forward enough to take all occasions to put of the Kings Requests Answered That Gods Cause was to be preferr'd before the Kings and they would therefore in the first place consult concerning Religion and thereupon appointed one Committee for Religion and another for Civil Matters in the last wherof there was a complaint that the Petition of Right had been Printed with the Kings first Answer only and not with the last which was judged Satisfactory Another complaint was likewise made about the Customs and Mr. Rolls a Member of the House affirmed That it was reported some of the Officers of the Custom-house should say Though all the Parliament were in you we would take your Goods Mr. Richard Chambers was likewise imprisoned for saying at the Council Table That such great Customs and Impositions were required of the Merchants in England as were in no other Place and that they were more screwed up than under the Turk After which a Form of Submission being sent him from the Star Chamber to subscribe his name there to he instead of owning it as a fault underwrit these words All the abovesaid Contents I Richard Chambers do utterly abhor and detest as most unjust and false and never to death will acknowledge any par● thereof and quoted divers Scriptures against Oppression and Injustice As to the Printing the Petition of Right the Printer was questioned and for the other the Farmer● of the Customs were challenged to Answer it bu● the King excused them as Acting by his Command yet this not being clear to the Parliament they would have proceeded against them as Delinquents whereupon the King sent them Word That in honour he could not nor would give way there to Which so increased the Parliament that they Adjourned themselves for some days and the● meeting again the King Adjourned them further till March 1. upon which Sir John Eliot stood up and accused the Lord Trea surer Weston as an Enemy to the English Trade and designing to transfer it to Forreigners which Speech caused a further Adjournment to March 10. The Commons inraged hereat blamed their Speaker for admitting the Message and ordered Sir John Eliot to read their Remonstrance the Speaker and Clerk refusing to do it which was to this purpose That the House had considered of the Bill for Tunnage and Poundage but being overprest with other business and that of it self so perplext as would require much leisure to discharge could not at that time finish it this present Session moving hastily to an end and least his Majesty should hereafter as he had done heretofore encline to Evil Spirits or to be abused to believe that might justly receive the Subsidies of Tonnage and Poundage which they humbly declare to be against the Fundamental Law of the Nation and contrary to the Kings late Answer to the Petition of Right therefore they crave that his Majesty would for the future forbear such Taxes and not take it ill if his Subjects refuse what is demanded by Arbitrary and unwarrantable Power A Report was likewise made from the Committee of Pardons by Oliver Cromwell a fatal name afterward that Dr. Neal Bishop of Winchester was cheifly Instrumental in procuring the Kings hand to the Pardons of Dr. Sybthorp Dr. Maynwaring Mr. Cousens and Mr. Montague and that he had likewise preferr'd Dr. Maynwaring to a rich Living though censured by the former Parliament and disabled from holding any Ecclesiastical Dignity and also that he was a Countenancer not only of Arminianism but flat Popery The Commons having prepared their Remonstrance about the Bill of Tonnage and Poundage they required their Speaker to put it to the Vote whether it should be presented to the King or not but the Speaker refused it and accordingly to the Kings order would have gone away but Mr. Hollis would not suffer him to stir till himself had read the Protestation of the House consisting of 3 Heads 1. Whoever shall bring in any Innovation of Religion or by favour seek to introduce Popery or Arminianism or other Opinions disagreeing from the True and Orthodox Church shall be reputed a Capital Enemy to this Kingdom and Common-wealth 2. Whosoever shall Counsel or Advise the taking or levying the Subsidies of Tonnage and Poundage not being granted by Parliament or shall be an Actor or Instrument therein shall be likewise reputed a Capital Enemy to the Commonwealth 3. If any man shall yield voluntarily or pay the same not being granted by Parliament he shall be reputed a Betrayer of the Liberties of England and an Enemy to the Commonwealth These Articles were entertained with the general Approbation of the Members but were much disliked by the King who immediately sent for the Serjeant of the Mace out of the House of Commons but Sir Miles Hobart took the Key from him and locking the door would not suffer him to go forth at which the King being very much offended he sends the Usher of the Black Rod to dissolve them who
December 3. they presented their Petition against their Prosecutors And now the Papists began to fear a Cloud for Justice Howard was to deliver up a Catalogue of all Recusants within the Liberties of Westminster to prevent which he was stabbed by one Mr. John James in Westminster hall for which he was imprisoned in the Gate-house in order to a more severe punishment But Sir Francis Windebank Secretary of State fearing to be called to Account by the Parliament for reprieving Jesuits and Priests which he knew would be produced against him if not worse matters fled privately into France December 7th the Commons Voted Ship-money with the Opinion of the Judges thereupon to be Illegal and a Charge of High Treason was ordered to be drawn up against eight of them and they resolved to begin with the Lord Keeper Finch December 11th Alderman Pennington and some hundreds of Citizens presented a Petition subscribed by 15000 Hands against Church Discipline and Ceremonies and a while after the House of Commons Voted That the Clergy in a Synod or Convocation have no power to make Canons or Laws without Parliaments and that the Canons are against the Fundamental Laws of this Realm the Kings Prerogative the Property of the Subject the Right of Parliaments and tend to Faction and Sedition In pursuance hereof a Charge was ordered to be drawn up against Arch-bishop Laud as the principal framer of those Canons and other Delinquencies which Impeachment was seconded with another from the Scotch Commissioners upon which he was committed to the Black Rod and 10 weeks after Voted Guilty of High Treason and sent to the Tower The Scots likewise prefer a charge against the Earl of Strafford then in Custody requiring Justice against them both as the great Incendiaries and Disturbers of Church and State and Sir George Ratcliff the Earls Bosom Friend had Articles also drawn against him to this purpose That he had conspired with the Earl to bring Ireland under an Arbitrary Government and to subvert the Fundamental Laws and to bring an Army from Ireland to subdue the Subjects of England That he perswaded the Earl to use Regal Power and to deprive the Subjects of their Liberties and Properties That he countenanced Papists and built Monasteries to alienate the Affections of the Irish from England That he withdrew the Subjects of Scotland from their King And lastly That to preserve himself and the Earl of Strafford he laboured to subvert the Liberties and Priviledges of Parliament in Ireland The Lord Keeper Finch was the next Person designed to be censured and notwithstanding a Speech made in his own Vindication he was Voted a Traytor upon several Accounts and among the rest for soliciting perswading and threatning the Judges to deliver their Opinions for raising Ship-money and for several ill Offices done in moving the King to Dissolve the last Parliament and causing the publishing the Kings Declaration thereupon Next day he was accused before the Lords but he foresaw the Storm and went over into Holland The Parliament having now removed their Enemies and increasing in Reputation were designing a Bill for a Triennial Parliament for promoting which Petitions came from divers places one whereof was subscribed with 800 Hands directly against Episcopacy which the King took notice of and calling both Houses together tells them Of their slowness and the charge of Two Armies in the Kingdom and that he would have them avoid two Rocks the one about the Hierachy of Bishops which he was willing to Reform but not to alter The other concerning frequent Parliaments which he liked well but not to give his Power to Sheriffs and Constables About this time one Goodman a Popish Priest condemned at the Sessions in London was reprieved by the King upon which both Houses petitioned to know who were the Instruments of it and receiving an unsatisfactory Answer they Remonstrated against the Toleration of Papists and the Popes Nuncio Rosetti and this Goodman whom they desired might be left to the Justice of the Law To this the King answers That the increase of Popery and Papists in his Dominions is extreamly against his mind and that he would use all possible means for the restraining of it As for the Popes Nuncio Rosetti he had no Commission but only to preserve Correspondence between the Queen and the Pope which was allowed her by the Articles of Marriage however he had prevailed with her to remove him and is contented to remit the particular Case of Goodman to both Houses The Scots had been now quartered in England five months during which a Cessation had been concluded at Rippon but the full Pacification was reserved for London where Commissioners sate on both Parties to hear the Demands of the Scots and to make answer thereunto After which the Scots presented the great Account of their Charges which was Five hundred fourteen thousand one hundred twenty eight pounds nine Shillings besides the loss of their Nation which was Four hundred and forty thousand pounds This Reckoning startled the English Commissioners till the Scots told them They did not give in that Account as expecting a Total Reparation of their Charges and Losses but were content to bear a part of it hoping for the rest from the Justice and Kindness of England There was some opposition made to the Demands however Moneys were raised for the present from the City of London for the Supply of both the Northern Armies as the Parliament had done once before At this time a Match was propounded between the young Prince of Orange and the Lady Mary Eldest Daughter to the King which his Majesty liked well of and communicated it to the Parliament with whom it found an unanimous and general Reception in regard of the Alliance to be thereupon concluded with the States General and likewise that he was of the same Protestant Religion with England so that the Marriage was soon concluded Presently after four Members of the Commons delivered a Message to the Lords of a Popish Design of Levying an Army of Fifteen thousand in Lancashire and Eight thousand in Ireland and that the main promoters thereof were the Earls of Strafford and Worcester In February Sir Robert Berkly one of the Judges about Ship-money was accused of High Treason and committed Prisoner to the Black Rod. In this Month the King passed that Act for a Triennial Parliament and to let them know what value he put upon this great favour his Majesty told the Two Houses That hitherto they had gone on in those things which concerned themselves and now he expected they should proceed upon what concerned him The King then likewise signed the Bill of Subsidies which gave them such universal content that Sir Edward Littleton Lord Keeper was ordered To return the Humble Thanks of Both Houses to his Majesty at Whitehall Upon which there were Bonefires and Bells ringing in and about London in the same manner as formerly upon granting the Petition of Right March 1 1640
had taken upon him the Command of the Fleet for which Reasons the King was resolv'd to punish Hotham Indeed the E. of W. had been by the Parl. commended to the King as the fittest man for Admiral the E. of N. being then sick but he was rejected by the King who conferr'd that place upon Sir John Pennington Yet afterwards the Parl. conceiving it necessary to get the Fleet into their hands they found means notwithstanding the Oppositions of Sir J. Pennington and his Adherents to make the E. of W. Admiral after which a Ship laden with Arms and Ammunition from Holland for the King being ignorant of the matter fell in among the Fleet and was by the E. of W. sent to the Parliament The Parliament now thought fit to Arm and therefore resolve that an Army shall be raised for Defence as they term it of King and Parliament and the Earl of Essex to be Capt. General and the E. of Bedford to command the Horse the E. of Holland Sir John Holland and Sir Will. Stapleton were ordered to carry a Petition to the King then at Beverly the effect whereof was To pray him to disband all his Forces to recal his Commissions of Array dismiss his Guard and return to the Parliament All which the King refused The Parliament next consider of raising Money and so declare for Loan upon the Publick Faith to promote which the endeavours of the Ministers were very serviceable whereby in a short time a very considerable quantity of Money Plate and Ammunition were brought in The King was likewise furnished with Money from the Queen upon the pawned Jewels and some Contributions from divers Lords and Gentlemen and the University of Oxford The King goes from Beverly to Leicester and there Proclaims the Earl of Stamford Traitor for removing the County Magazine from the Town to his own House at Bradgate Aug. 1. the King comes back to Yorkshire and raises a Regiment under the E. of Cumberland which he called Prince Charles his Regiment The Parliament on the other side declare the Commissioners of Array to be Traitors and disturbers of the State and Peace of the Kingdom and Lievtenants of ●everal Counties were constituted by Parliament The King likewise deals with their Commanders as ●hey did with his and Proclaimed General Essex with all his Collonels and Officers who should not ●nstantly lay down their Arms to be Rebels and Trai●ors and the Marquess of Hartford and his Forces ●●re ordered to march against him The King then ●ummons in the Countrey on the North side of Trent ●nd 20 miles Southward and publisheth his Grand Declaration concerning all transactions between himself and the Parliament August 22. 1642. The King comes to Nottingham ●nd there erects his Standard to which some numbers resorted but far short of what was expected And three days after the King sends a Message to the Parliament to propose a Treaty the Messengers were ●he Earls of Southampton and Dorset Sir John Culpeper Chancellor of the Exchequer and Sir William Vdall none of which were suffered to sit in the House to deliver their Errand therefore it was sent in by the Usher of the Black Rod to which the Parliament Answered That untill His Majesty shall recall his Proclamations and Declarations of Treason against the E. of Essex and them and their Adherents And unless the Kings Standard set up in pursuance thereof be taken down they cannot by the fundamental Priviledges of Parliament give his Majesty another answer The King replyes that he never intended to declare the Parliament Traitors or set up his Standard against them but if they resolve to Treat either Party shall revoke their Declarations against all Persons as Traitors and the same day to take down his Standard To this they answer That the Differences could no● any ways be concluded unless he would forsake hi● evil Councellors and return to his Parliament And accordingly Sept. 6. they Order and Declare tha● the Arms which they have or shall take up for th● Parliament Religion Laws and Liberties of the Kingdom shall not be laid down untill the King withdraw his Protection from such persons as are or shall be Voted Delinquents and shall leave them to Justice that so their Estates may discharge the Debts and Loan Moneys of the Common-wealth The War being now begun the new raised Souldiers committed many Outrages upon the Countrey People which both King and Parliament upon Complaint endeavoured to rectifie The King himself was now Generalissimo over his own his Captain General was first the Marquess of Hartford and afterward the E. of Lindsey and the E. of Essex for the Parliamentarians The Kings Forces received the first repulse at Hull by Sir John Hotham and Sir John Meldrum and the King takes up his Quarters at Shrewsbury Portsmouth was next surrendred to the Parliament and presently after Sir John Byron takes Worcester for the King In September the two Prince Palatines Rupert and Maurice arrived in England who were presently entertained and put into Command by the King who having now got together a potent Army he made a solemn Protestation to them of his candid Intentions and sincere meaning to defend the Protestant Religion the Laws and Liberties of the Subject and Priviledges of Parliament according to the former protestation at York Sept. 9. the Earl of Essex in great State attended on by the Parliament set forth out of London toward St. Albans and from thence to Northampton where all his Forces met amounting to near fourteen thousand men having with him the Parliaments Petition which he was to present to the King the effect of which was That his Loyall Subjects the Lords and Commons in Parliament cannot without tenderness of Compassion behold the pressing Calamities of England and Ireland by the Practices of a prevailing Party with his Majesty to alter true Religion and the Ancient Government of this Kingdom introducing Superstition into the Churches and Confusion in the State Exciting encouraging and fostering the Rebellion in Ireland and as there so here begin the like Massacres by drawing on a War against the Parliament leading his Person against them as if by Conquest to establish an unlimited Power over the People seeking to bring over the Rebels of Ireland to joyn with them And all these evil Councellors are Defended and protected against the Justice of the Parliament who have for their just Defence of Religion the Kings Crown and Dignity the Laws Liberties and Power of Parliaments taken up Arms and Authorized the E. of Essex to be their Captain General against these Rebels and Traytors And pray the King to withdraw his Person and leave them to be supprest by his Power and to return to his Parliament and that they will receive him with Honour and yeild him Obedience secure his Person and establish him and his People with all the Blessings of a Glorious and Happy Reign This Petition was never delivered though Essex sent twice to the King for
THE HOVSE OF LORDS THE HOVSE OF COMMONS THE WARS IN ENGLAND Scotland and Ireland OR An Impartial Account of all the Battels Sieges and other Remarkable Transactions Revolutions and Accidents which have heppened from the beginning of the Reign of King CHARLESI in 1625 to His Majesties happy Restauration 1660. Illustrated with Pictures of some Considerable matters curiously Ingraven on Copper Plates LONDON Printed for Nath. Crouch and John How at the Seven Stars in Sweetings Alley near the Royal Exchange in Cornhill 1681. TO THE READER THis small Volume is intended for the use of those who cannot go to the price of a greater and yet would willingly be informed of those wonderful Transactions and Revolutions which have happened in these Three Kingdoms of England Scotland and Ireland in this last Age and within the memory of many now living And though it cannot be expected that a large Account of every particular Accident can be comprehended in this little Compendium yet I have endeavoured without the least passion or partiality briefly to comprise the most considerable Matters Now as the Things here inserted are more remarkable both for their Variety and Quality than it may be ever happened at any time heretofore in so short a space so the serious perusal and consideration thereof may be very useful and necessary for quieting the present Discontents and deplorable Distractions that are now amongst us since these were the Forerunners of those miserable Wars Ruins and Desolations which are herein related wherein all Bonds of Religion Alliance and Friendship were utterly destroyed Wherein Fathers and Children Kindred and Acquaintance became unnatural Enemies to each other so that with some little Variation we may apply what Lucan writes of the Civil Wars of Rome to England in those times Wars more than Civil on the Brittish Plains Then happened and England Distzins In her own Bowels her Victorious Swords Where Kindred Hosts Encounter all Accords Of Empire broke where arm'd to Impious War The strength of all the shaken Land from far Is met known Ensigns Ensigns do desie Fathers by Sons and Sons by Fathers die What fury Countrey-men what madness cou'd Move you to feast your Foes with English Blood And chuse such Wars as could no Triumphs yield Whilst yet proud Babylon unconquer'd held Alas what seas what lands might you have ta'ne VVith that bloods loss which your own hands have drawn Let us all therefore who pretend to the name of Christians study to be quiet and follow Peace with all men which is the most Effectual means to prevent those Confusions and Miseries which we have lately suffered and under the effects whereof we still groan and that this short Narrative may be useful to this purpose is the earnest and hearty desire of Your Countrey-man and Well-wisher RICHARD BVRTON THE WARS IN England Scotland and Ireland c. BEfore we proceed to give an Account of those Unnatural Wars Ruins and Devastations which have happened in these Kingdoms in this Last Age it may seem necessary by way of Introduction to give a Relation of several previous Transactions before these Woful Calamities befel us Upon the 27th day of March in the year 1625 King James departed this life at Theobalds in the Fifty ninth year of his Age when he had reigned Twenty two years compleat And in the Afternoon of the same day Charles Prince of Wales his only Son then living was proclaimed King of Great Britain France and Ireland The first thing he did was performing the Ceremonies of his Fathers Funeral in which the King himself in Person followed as chief Mourner immediately after the Herse having his Train of black Velvetborn up by the Twelve Peers of the Realm at his right hand the Earl of Arundel and at his left the Earl of Pembroke He then proceeded to his Coronation and after that he consummated the Marriage with Henrietta Maria younger Daughter of the Great Henry the Fourth King of France whom he had formerly seen in his Journey through that Countrey into Spain his first Complement to her when he went to meet her at Dover was That he desired to be no longer Master of himself then he was Servant to her which indeed he made good for on the day before his deplorable death he desired his Daughter the Lady Elizabeth to assure her Mother if ever he saw her again That his Thoughts had never strayed from her and that his Affections should be the same to the last The King then called a Parliament which Assembled the Eighteenth of June follwoing to whom he represented in a short Speech The urgent necessity of raising a Subsidy since it would not agree with his Kingly honour to shrink from the War with Spain which his Father upon solid Considerations had by consent of both Houses undertaken although prevented by death from putting it in Execution That Money the sinews of War must be levied without which neither Army nor Fleet could move former Contributions being already disbursed to a penny That he should seem ridiculous to all Europe if he did not now at length proceed to Action That it was his first Enterprize the success whereof would have influence upon his following Reign That it concerned their own Reputations herein to Assist him effectually least the world should judge them to have betray'd their King That Celerity was necessary because of Winter then approaching a season prejudicial to Martial Attempts the Pestilence at that time Reigning in the City which in all probability might cause a sudden Dissolution of their Meeting All which Arguments if duly considered did evidently demonstrate That it was most Honourable Opportune and safe to use Expedition in the business As for Religion and Manner of Government he was resolved to tread in his Fathers steps hoping that his former life had ministred no just grounds for them to suspect the contrary The Parliament acknowledged these Arguments for a Subsidy to be very rational but yet would not suddenly resolve upon it till they had first presented their two Petitions concerning Beasons of Religion and Complaint of their Sufferings which points had been offered to his Father King James in the close of his last Parliament and by his death were left hitherto unanswered In both which they received competent satisfaction and likewise an account of the Arrears which were due to the Forces both by Sea and Land together with an Estimate of the future Charge and Expence of the Spanish War upon which the King obtained of the Laity freely and absolutely Two Subsidies to be paid by Protestants and four from Papists and three Subsidies from the Clergy In this Parliament Dr. Montague the Kings Chaplain was questioned for certain Tenets in his Answer to a Book called the Romish Gagger and his defence thereof Intituled Appello ad Caesarem And he being brought before the Bar of the House the Speaker declared their pleasure That they would refer his Censure till the next meeting and in the mean
was not admitted in whereupon the King with his Guard of Pensioners were resolved to force their Entrance which the Commons having notice of they suddenly went all out of the House and this was the end of this Parliament After their Dissolution the King publisheth a Declaration of the Causes thereof and then question'd Eleven of the Refractory Members at the Council Table who were all committed to divers Prisons About the same time the Marquis of Huntley Sheriff of the greatest part of Scotland neglecting the Order of the Council for seizing some Priests and Jesuites who publickly said Mass and committed other Insolences at Aberdeen with several other Lords who joyned with him and refused to appear upon Summons and had likewise given notice to the Priests and Jesuites to escape were proclaimed Rebels and Traitors to the King and Kingdom upon which they fled into England The French King having had much loss by the War with England did now therefore propose and conclude a Peace with the King consisting of several Articles A Paper was about this time dispersed abroad containing some Projects how the King might Augment his Revenues without the help of Parliaments upon which the Earls of Bedford Somerset and Clare with others where committed upon Information that they had dispersed some Copies of them but Sir David Fowls soon cleared them who deposed upon Oath that it was contrived near Sixteen years before by Sir Robert-Dudley Son to the Earl of Leicester when he was in Italy The dissolving the last Parliament procured great Animosities in the People against the Prime Ministers of State which occasioned divers Invective Libels to be dispersed abroad whereof one against Bishop Laud was found in the Dean of St. Pauls Yard to this Effect Laud look to thy self be assured thy life is sought as thou art the Fountain of Wickedness repent of thy monstrous sin before thou be taken out of the World and assure thy self Neither God nor the World can endure such a vile Councellor or Whisperer Another very bitter Libel was scattered against the Lord Treasurer Weston On the other side some considering the unsuccesfulness of this and the two former Parliaments advised never for the future to call any more Parliaments and to that end the forementioned Book of Projects was published and addrest to the King proposing some methods to prevent the Impertinency of Parliaments as he called them for time to come by the Example of Lewes 11th of France who pretended that the Commons or Third Estate did incroach too much upon the Nobility and Clergy dissolved it and never after suffered the People freely to Elect their Representatives but nominated certain Eminent Persons himself instead thereof which is called L' Assembly des Notabiles or the Assembly of Chief or Principal Men and the Methods proposed to avoid Parliaments were 1. To have a Fortress in every considerable Town 2. To cause high-ways to be made through all such Towns 3. To make none of the Inhabitants Governors of those Fortresses 4. To let none pass through those Towns without a Ticket 5. To have the Names of all Lodgers taken by Innkeepers 6. To impose a general Oath upon the Subjects not to oppose any of these Contrivances And to increase the Kings Revenue the Advice was 1. To demand the Tenth part of every Mans Estate 2. To buy all Leases upon the Crown Lands 3. To take the benefit of Salt into his own hands 4. To demand a Rate for Sealing the Weights every year 5. To lay a Taxe upon Wools. 6. Upon every Lawyers Fee 7. Upon Inns and Victualling Houses for a Licence 8. Upon all Cattle Flesh and Horses sold in the Market 9. Upon all Lands Alienated 10. To set a Rate upon all Offices in his Majesties Grant 11. To Reduce his Majesties Houshold to board wages 12. To lay a Taxe upon White Meats on fasting days 13. To lay an Imposition upon the Papists Lands 14. To Advance some Hundreds of Persons to Honours 15. To prohibit excess in Apparel which would save the Gentry more Money then what they were Taxed would amount to The Insurection of the Apprentices at Lambeth The E of Strafford beheaded on Towerhill Cheapside Cross pulled down in 1643. Upon May 29. 1630 the Queen was delivered of a Son at St. James's who was Christened Charles and Preserved by Providence to Succeed his Father in these Three Kingdoms as his Rightful Inheritance after the Miseries of a long and tedious Exile from his Native Countrey unto which he was at length happily Restored with the general Consent and Acclamations of the whole Kingdom The King of France and the Prince Elector Yalatine represented by the Duke of Lenox and the Marquis Hamilton were his Godfathers and the Queen Mother of France represented by the Dutchess of Richmond his Godmother It was observed that at his Nativity a Star was seen at Noon-day which might portend some extraordinary Passages of this Princes Life About this time Dr. Leighton was sentenced in the Star Chamber to have his Body Whipt his Fore-head Stigmatized his Ears Cropt his Nose Slit for publishing a Book called Sions Plea wherein he exhorted the late Parliament to smite the Bishops under the Fifth Rib and called the Queen the Daughter of Heth a Canaanite and Idolatress which Sentence was accordingly inflicted on him In Ireland the Papists presumed on St. Stephens day to say Mass in Dublin while the Lords Chief Justices were at Church who having notice thereof ordered the Preists Crucifixes and Vestments to be seized and Eight Popish Aldermen were likewise Imprisoned for not Assisting the Mayor but some Papists making a Tumult rescued the Priests whom the Guards again forced to deliver back Upon Information of this Riot and Insolency Fifteen Houses were by special Order from the Council seized upon for his Majesties use and the Priests and Fryers so disturbed that two of them hanged themselves Neither did the Papists agree together for there were great Contests in England between the Jesuites and Secular Priests The Earl of Essex had many years before married the Lady Howard who complaining of his Insufficiency for Marriage Duties the Cause was brought to a Tryal and it being made appear by a Jury of Midwives and the Earls own Confession That he never could and believed he never should carnally know her Thereupon Sentence of Divorce between him and his Lady was pronounced by the Bishops However the Earl was resolved to try his Fortune once more and therefore upon his return out of the Low Countreys where he had been for some time a Souldier he now Married a Daughter of Sir William Paulet of Wiltshire but a while after she objecting the same cause of complaint desired likewise to be Divorced from him which the Earl easily cousented to and it was done accordingly In the year 1631 and the 7th of his Majesties Reign Mervin Lord Audly and Earl of Castlehaven was Tryed by his Peers upon the Petition of his own
needing no further Abridgment That he was willing to concur with them for removal of any Innovations in Religion by a National Synod That he had no Counsellors nor Ministers of State whom he would not at any time expose to Trial and leave to the Law but cannot agree that any others should have the choice of them but himself That he concurs with them for not altering the Forfeited Lands in Ireland but thinks it not reasonable to resolve before the Event of War be seen and doubts not of their Loyal Endeavours for the support of his Royal State In Answer to the Remonstrance the King Issues out a Declaration to his Subjects the Sum of which was That he thought he had given sufficient satisfaction to his Peoples Fears and Jealonsies concerning Religion Liberty and Civil Interests by the Bills which he had passed this Parliament desiring that misunderstandings might be removed on either side and that the bleeding Condition of Ireland might perswade them to Unity for the relief of that unhappy Kingdom Not long after happened the Insolent Tumults of the London Apprentices who in a riotous manner went to White-hall and Westminster to the great disturbance of the King who thereupon commanded the Lord Mayor and Common Council to keep a double Watch and Guard for preventing mischief and Dec. 28. the King sends a Message to the Lords That he would raise Ten thousand Voluntiers for Ireland if the Commons would undertake to pay them On New-years day a Proclamation was published against the Irish declaring Those that were in Arms with all their Adherents and Abettors to be Rebels and Traytors Two days after the King upon Information that the L. Kimbolton and Five of the House of Commons viz. Mr. Hollis Sir Authur Haslerig Mr. Pym Mr Hamden and Mr. Stroud had correspondence with the Scots and countenanced the late City Tumults He thereupon ordered their Trunks Studies and Chambers to be Sealed up and their Person Seized the former of which was done but having timely notice they went aside upon which the Commons Voted the same day That if any Persons shall Attempt to Seize the Persons or Papers of any Parliament Men such Members shall require the Aid of the Constable to secure such Persons till further Order of the House and that it is lawful for any person to Assist the said Members and that the said Members may stand upon their Guard and make resistance according to the Protestation for defence of the Priviledges of Parliament Hereupon the King charges the L. Kimbolton and the 5 Members with several Articles and Acquaints both Houses That he did intend to prosecute them for High Treason and required that their Persons might be secured And the next day the King Attended with his Guard of Pensioners and some Hundreds of Gentlemen went to the House of Commons and the Guard staying without the King with the Palsgrave entred the House at whose entrance the Speaker rises out of the Chair and the King sitting down therein Views the House round and perceives the Birds he aimed at were flown for having warning they had withdrawn into London whereupon he tells them That he came to look for those 5 Members whom he had accused of High Treason and was resolved to have them where ever he found them and expected to have them sent to him as soon as they should come to the House but would not have them think that this Act of his was any Violation of Parliament This Act of the Kings was so highly resented by the House that the next day January 5 the Commons Voted it a Breach of Priviledge and Scandals were raised in the City that he intended Violence against the House of Commons and came thither with force to Murther several Members and used threatning Speeches against the Parliament with which the City was so possessed That unusual Guards and Watches were set as if some desperate Assault were to be made upon the City and the Houses Adjourned till the Tuesday following appointing a Committee in the mean time to sit at Guild-hall to consider of the most Effectual Means for their Security And then they publish a Declaration That whosoever shall Arrest any Member of Parliament by Warrant from the King only is Guilty of the Breach of Priviledges of Parliament and likewise that all those who attended the King when he came to demand the 5 Members were Guilty of a Traiterous Design against the King and Parliament That the Proclamation for Apprehending and Imprisoning the said Members was False Scandalous and Illegal and not of Validity enough to hinder them from attending the House and that the publishing of the several Articles of High Treason was a Breach of Priviledge wherefore they intreat his Majesty to discover the Names of those Informers and Evil Councellors declaring all such Persons to be publick Enemies to the State In the mean time the Londoners came thronging to Westminster with Petitions inveighing bitterly against some of the Peers but especially the Bishops whom they affronted as they went to the House upon which they were so affrighted that Twelve Bishops absent themselves from the House of Lords drawing up a Protestation against all Laws Orders Votes Resolutions and Determinations as in themselves null and of none effect which had passed or should pass during their forced Absence desiring their Protestation might be entred by the Clerk of the House of Peers Presently after which at a Conference between both Houses it was agreed That this Protestation of the Twelve Bishops did extend to the deep intrenching upon the fundamental Priviledges and Being of Parliaments and in a short time they were accused of High Treason seized and brought on their knees at the Lords Bar Ten of them were committed to the Tower and the other two in regard of their Age to the Black Rod. The King at this time thinking himself unsafe without a Guard accepted of the offer of some Gentlemen of the Inns of Court to be a Guard to him which instead of security was by subtil men made more prejudicial to the King by taking this occasion to raise the rage and jealousie of the City against him for at midnight there were crys made ●n the Streets of London That all People should rise ●o their Defence for the King with his Papists were coming to fire the City and cut their Throats in their Beds than which though nothing were more false yet it found the effects of truth and the People by such Allarms being terrified from sleep the impressions of those night fears lay long upon their Spirits in the day and filled them almost with madness of which the King complained to the Common Council of London But the House of Commons to obviate this upon suspicion of some design upon their persons petition the King for a Guard to be commanded by the Earl of Essex of whose fidelity to the King and State no question was ever made This Petition was denied by the
Kingdom of England c. Here the Clerk read the Charge Which Charge being read unto him as aforesaid He the said Charles Stuart was required to give his Answer but he refused so to do and so exprest the several passages at his Tryal in refusing to answer For all which Treasons and Crimes this Court doth adjudge That the said Charles Stuart as a Tyrant Traytor Murtherer and a publique Enemy shall be put to Death by the severing his Head from his Body After the Sentence read the Lord President said This Sentence now read and published it is the Act Sentence Judgment and Resolution of the whole Court Here the Court stood up and assenting to what the President said King Will you hear me a word Sir President Sir you are not to be heard after the Sentence King No Sir President No Sir by your favour Sir Guard withdraw your Prisoner King I may speak after the sentence By your favour Sir I may speak after the sentence ever By your favour hold the sentence Sir I say Sir I do I am not suffered for to speak expect what Justice other people will have O Yes All manner of persons that have any thing else to do are to depart at this time and to give their attendance in the Painted Chamber to which place this Court doth forthwith adjourn it self Then the Court rose and the King went with his Guard to Sir Robert Cottons and from thence to White-Hall The Names of those Persons that were present at the Sentencing of the KING to Death John Bradshaw President John Lisle William Say Oliver Cromwel Henry Ireton Sir Hardresse Waller Valentine Walton Thomas Harrison Edward Whaley Thomas Pride Isaac Ewers Lord Gray of Groby Sir John Danvers Knight Sir Thomas Maleverer Bar. Sir John Bourchier Knight William Heveningham Alderman Pennington William Purefoy Henry Martin John Barkstead John Blakiston Gilbert Millington Sir William Constable Bar. Edmond Ludlow John Hutchinson Sir Mich Livesay Bar. Robert Tichborn Owen Roe Robert Lilburn Adrian Scroop Richard Deane John Okey John Hewson William Goffe Cornelius Holland John Carew John Jones Miles Corbet Francis Allin Peregrine Pelham John Moore John Aldred Henry Smith Humphrey Edwards Gregory Clement Thomas Woogan Sir Gregory Norton Knight Edmond Harvy John Venn Thomas Scot Tho. Andrews Alderman William Cawly Anthony Stapley John Downes Thomas Horton Thomas Hammond Nicholas Love Vincent Potter Augustine Garland John Dixwel George Fleetwood Symon Meyne James Temple Peter Temple Daniel Blagrave Thomas Waite Ordered that Sir Hardress Waller Coll. Harrison Com. General Ireton Coll. Dean and Coll. Okey are appointed a Committee to consider of the Time and Place for the Execution of the King according to his Sentence given by the high Court of Justice Painted Chamber Lunae Jan. 29. 1648. Upon report made from the Committee for considering of the Time and Place of the Executing of the Judgement against the King that the said Committee have resolved that the open Street before White-hall is a fit place And that the said Committee conceive it fit that the King be there Executed the morrow the King having already notice thereof The Court approved thereof and ordered a Warrant to be drawn for that purpose which Warrant was accordingly drawn and agreed unto and ordered to be ingrossed which was done and Signed and Sealed accordingly as followeth At the High Court of Justice for the Trying and Judging of Charles Stuart King of England January 29 1648. WHereas Charles Stuart King of England is and standeth Convicted Attainted and Condemned of high Treason and other high Crimes and Sentence upon Saturday last was pronounced against him by this Court to be put to death by the severing of his head from his body of which Sentence Execution yet remains to be done These are therefore to will and require you to see the said Sentence Executed in the open street before White-Hall upon the morrow being the 30th day of this instant month of January between the hours of Ten in the morning and Five in the afternoon of the same day with full effect And for so doing this shall be your sufficient Warrant And these are to require all Officers and Souldiers and other the good people of this Nation of England to be assisting unto you in this service Given under our Hands and Seals To Coll. Francis Hacker Coll. Huncks and Lieuten Coll. Phray and to every of them Sealed and subscribed by J. Bradshaw O Cromwell Hen. Ireton Har. Waller Jo. Lisle Val. Walton Tho. Gray Ed. Whaley Mich. Livesey Jo. Okey Jo. Danvers Tho. Maleverer Wil. Goffe Tho. Pride Tho. Harrison Jo. Hewson Ri. Dean Robert Tichborn Ow. Roe Jo. Barkstead G. Fleetwood Gil. Milington Tho. Horton W. Say W. Constable Miles Corbet Jo. Ven Hen. Martin c. Painted Chamber Jan. 30. 1648. The Commissioners met and ordered That Mr. Marshall Mr. Nye Mr. Caryll Mr. Salway and Mr. Dell be desired to attend the King to administer to him those Spiritual helps as should be suitable to his present condition and Lieutenant Collonel Goffe is desired forthwith to repair unto them for that purpose Who did so but after informed the Court That the King being acquainted therewith refused to confer with them expressing that he would not be troubled with them Ordered That the Scaffold upon which the King is to be executed be covered with Black The Warrant for executing the King being accordingly delivered to those parties to whom the same was directed Execution was done upon him according to the tenour of the Warrant about two of the Clock in the Afternoon of the said 30. of January After Sentence The King being hurried from their Bar as he passed down the stairs the common Souldiers laying aside all Reverence to Soveraignty scoffed at him casting the smoak of their stinking Tobacco in his face no Smell more offensive to him and flinging their foul pipes at his feet But one more insolent than the rest defiled his venerable Face with his spittle for his Majesty was observed with much patience to wipe it off with his Handkerchief and as he passed hearing them cry out Justice Justice Poor soul said he for a piece if money they would doe so for their Commanders That Night being Saturday January 27. the King lodged at White-Hall that evening a Member of the Army acquainted the Committee with the desires of the King that seeing they had passed Sentence of Death upon him and the time of his Execution might be nigh that he might see his Children and receive the Sacrament and that Dr. Juxon Bishop of London might be admitted to pray with him in his private Chamber both which were granted The next day being Sunday January 28. the King was attended by his Guard to Saint James's where the Bishop of London preached privately before him his Text was in Rom. 2.16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of all men by Jesus Christ according to my Gospel Monday Jan. 29. His Children
put my hands out this way stretching them out them After that having said two or three words as he stood to himself with hands and eyes lift up Immediately stooping down laid his Neck upon the Block and then the Executioner again putting his hair under his Cap the King said thinking he had been going to strike Stay for the sign Executioner Yes I will and it please your Majesty And after a very little pause the King stretching forth his hands the Executioner at one blow severed his head from his body The head being off the Executioner held it up and shewed it to the people which done it was with the Body put in a Coffin covered with black Velvet for that purpose and conveyed into his Lodgings there And from thence it was carried to his house at Saint James's where his body was embalmed and put in a Coffin of Lead laid there a fortninght to be seen by the people and on the Wednesday sevennight after his Corps embalmed and coffined in Lead was delivered chiefly to the care of four of his Servants viz. Mr. Herbert Captain Anthony Mildmay his Sewers Captain Preston and John Joyner former Cook to his Majesty they attended with others cloathed in Mourning Suits and Cloaks accompanied the Herse that night to Windsor and placed it in that which was formerly the Kings Bed-chamber next day it was removed into the Deans Hall which Room was hanged with black and made dark Lights burning round the Herse in which it remained till Three in the Afternoon about which time came the Duke of Lenox the Marquess of Hertford the Marquess of Dorchester the Earl of Lyndsey having obtained an order from the Parliament for the decent Interment of the King their Royal Master provided the expence thereof exceeded not five hundred pounds At their coming into the Castle they shewed their Order of Parliament to Collonel Wichcot Governour of the Castle desiring the Interment might be in St. Georges Chappel and by the Form in the Common-Prayer Book of the Church of England this request was by the Governour denyed saying It was improbable that the Parliament would permit the use of what they had so solemnly abolished and therein destroy their own Act. To which the Lords replyed There is a difference betwixt destroying their own Act and dispensing with it and that no Power so binds its own hands as to disable it self in some cases All could not prevail the Governour persisting in the Negative the Lords betook themselves to the search of a convenient place for the Burial of the Corps the which after some pains taking therein they discover a Vault in the middle of the Quire wherein as is probably conjectured lyeth the body of King Henry the Eighth and his beloved Wife the Lady Jane Seamor both in Coffins of Lead in this Vault there being Room for one more they resolve to inter the body of the King the which was accordingly brought to the place born by the Officers of the Garrison the four Corners of the Velvet Pall born up by the aforesaid four Lords the pious Bishop of London following next and other Persons of Quality the Body was committed to the earth with sighs and tears especially of the Reverend Bishop to be denyed to do the last Duty and Service to his Dear and Royal Master the Velvet Pall being cast into the Vault was laid over the Body upon the Coffin was these words set KING CHARLES 1648. After the Regicides had committed this Horrid and nefarious Act the prevailing Power consisting of a patcht number of the House of Commons and the chief Officers of the Army combined together and seeing how successfully and unopposed they had effected this so unparalel'd a Deed to which they knew the generality of the Nation were utterly averse and as far as they durst shew'd their absolute dislike They in the next place fall upon the alteration of the Government thinking to make sure work by subverting the Ancient Monarchy of this Realm and instead thereof introducing that which they called a Free State or Common-wealth For constituting of which the first thing they did was to Vote and publish by Proclamation That whereas several pretences might be made to the Crown c. to the apparent hazard of the publick Peace no Person whatsoever should presume to proclaim or any way promote Charles Stuart Son of the said Charles late King of England or any other person to be King or chief Magistrate c. by colour of Inheritance or any other claim whatsoever without the free Consent of the People in Parliament first signified by a particular Act for that purpose any Law or Custom to the contrary notwithstanding and whosoever should contrary to this Order proclaim c. shall be adjudged a Traytor and suffer accordingly This proceeding was founded upon a Maxim which they had taken up and agreed on among themselves namely That all Power and Authority is Originally in the People But well knowing that their Councils had soon been confounded and themselves interrupted in the course they had begun if they had incorporated again with those of their Members which had been forcibly kept out by the Army they Resolve and decree 1. That all those Members who had assented to the Vote of Decemb. 5. concerning the Kings Concessions for that was the occasion of their seclusion should never be readmitted and that those that Voted in the Negative should presently enter their said dissent or before they were to be admitted And together with the fortune of Monarchy was involved that of the House of Peers who having sent to desire a Conference about setling the Government in regard the Judges Commissions were determined by the Kings Death instead of an Answer to their Message the Junto of the Commons upon debate Voted the Lords House to be useless and dangerous and therefore to be laid aside as in like manner they declared the Kingly Office to be unnecessary and Burthensom and therefore fit to be abolished only they allowed the Lords the Priviledge of being capable to be chosen Burgesses into the House of Commons But the Lords were so highly incensed thereat that there was suddenly published a Declaration in the name of all the Peers and Barons of the Realm wherein they protest against the Proceedings of the Commons And a while after some of the Kings friends in despite of all Votes Acts and Orders to the contrary promoted a Proclamation in the name of all the Nobility Gentry and Commonalty of the Kingdom for proclaiming Charles our present Soveraign to be King of England But little could unarmed Declarations prevail against the reigning Power of an Armed faction who now assumed new Ensigns of Soveraignty cancelling the Old and caused all Writs Commissions and Instruments of publick Concernment to be issued out under a new Stile and Test that is of The Keepers of the Liberties of England by Authority of Parliament They ordered the old Great Seal to be