and a Regiment of the train-bands of Foot to be for a guard unto him caused the oath of Allegiance to be administred unto them But the Parliament thereupon Vote that it appeared the King seduced by wicked Counsell intended to make a war against them and til then if their own Votes should be true must acquitt him from any thing more then an intention as they call it to do it And whosoever should assist him are Traitors by the fundamentall Laws of the Kingdom The Earl of Essex Lord Chamberlain of the Kings Houshould and all other of the Kings Houshould Servants forbid to go to him and the Kings putting some of them out and others in their places Voted to be an injury to the Parliament Messengers were sent for the apprehending of some Earls and Barons about him and some of his Bed-Chamber as if they had been Fellons The Lord Keepers going to him with the great Seal when he sent for him Voted to be a breach of priviledge and pursued with a warrant directed to all Mayors Bayliffs to apprehend him Cause the Kings Rents and Revenues to be brought in to them and forbid any to be paid him Many of his Officers and Servants put out of their places for being Loyall unto him and those that were ill affected to him put in their Rooms and many of his own Servants tempted and procured by rewards and maintenance to tarry with them and be false and active against him The twenty sixt day of May 1642. a Declaration is sent to the King but printed and published before he could receive it That Whatsoever they should Vote is not by Law to bee questioned either by the King or Subjects No precedent can limit or bound their proceedings A Parliament may dispose of any thing wherein the King or peopl have any right The Soveraign power resides in both Houses of Parlament The King hath no Negative voyce The levying of Warre against the personall commands of the King though accompanied with his presence is not a levying of Warre against the King but a levying War against his Laws and authority which they have power to Declare is levying of War against the King Treason cannot be committed against his person otherwise then as he was intrusted They have power to judge whether he discharge his trust or not that if they should follow the highest precedents of other Parliaments Paterns there would be no cause to complain of want of modesty or duty in them and that it belonged only to them to judge of the Law 27 Of May The King by his Proclamation forbids all his Subjects and trayned bands of the Kingdom to Rise March or Muster But the Parliament on the same day Command all Sheriffs Justices of the Peace and Constables within one hundred 50 miles of York to seize and make stay of all Armes and Amunition going thither And Declaring the said Proclamation to bee voyd in Law Command all men to Rise Muster and March and not to Muster or March by any other Authority or Commission and the Sheriffs of all Counties the morrow after Commanded with the posse Comitatus to suppress any of the Kings Subjects that should be drawn thither by his Command Secure and seize upon the Magazines of the Counties Protect all that are Delinquents against him make all to be Delinquents that attend him and censure and put out of the House of Peers nine Lords at once for obeying the Kings summons and going to him 3 June 1642. The King summoning the Ministers Gentry and Free-holders of the County of York declared to them the reasons of providing himselfe a guard and that he had no intention to make a War and the morrow after forbad the Lord Willoughby of Parham to Muster and train the County of Lincolne who under colour of an Ordinance of Parlament for the Militia had began to do it 10. June 1642. The Parlament by a Declaration signifying That the King intended to make a War against his Parlament invited the Citizens of London and all others well affected as they pleased to miscall them within eighty miles of the City to bring money and plate into the Guild-Hall London and to subscribe for Men Horses and Arms to maintain the Protestant Religion the Kings Person and Authority free course of Justice Laws of the Land and priviledges of Parlament and the morrow after send 19 propositions to the King That the great affairs of the Kingdom and Militia may be mannaged by consent and approbation of Parlament all the great Officers of Estate Privy Councell Ambassadors and Ministers of State and Judges to be chosen by them that the Government Education and Marriage of the Kings Children be by their consent and approbation and all the Forts and Castles of the Kingdome under the Command and Custody of such as they should approve of and that no Peers to be made hereafter should sit or vote in Parliament without the consent of Parliament with several other demands which if the King should have granted would at once in effect not onely have undone and put his subjects out of his protection but have deposed both himself and his posterity and then they would proceed to regulate his Revenue and deliver up the Town of Hull into such hands as the King by consent and approbation of Parliament should appoint But the King having the same day before those goodly demands came to his hands being a greater breach of his former priviledges then his demanding of the five Members and Kimbolton it it had not been lawfull for him so to doe could be of theirs granted a Commission of Array for the County of Leicester to the Earl of Huntington and by a letter sent along with it directed it for the present onely to Muster and Array the Trained Bands And 13. June 1642. Declared to the Lords attending him at York That he would not engage them in any War against the Parliament unless it were for his necessary defence whereupon the L. Keeper Littleton who a little before had either been affrighted or seduced by the Parliament to vote their new Militia The Duke of Richmond Marquess Hartford Earl of Salisbury Lord Gray of Ruthen now Earl of Kent and divers Earls and Barons engaged not to obey any Order or Ordinance concerning the Militia had not the Royal assent to it And fourteenth of June 1642. Being informed That the Parliament endeavoured to borrow great summs of money of the City of London and that there was great labour used to perswade his Subjects to furnish horse and money upon pretence of providing a guard for the Parliament By his letter to the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Sheriffs of London disavowing any purpose of making a War declared That He had not the least thought of raising or using of Forces unless he should be compelled to doe it for his own defence and forbiddeth therefore the lending of money or raising
defence of the Parlament were according to Law and if any man should arrest or trouble any of them for it he is declared to be an enemy to the Common-wealth And when the King to quiet the Parlament 12. January 1641 was pleased to signifie that for the present he would wave his proceedings against the five Members and Kimbolton and assures the Parlament that upon all occasions he will be as carefull of their Priviledges as of his Life or his Crown Yet the next day after they Declared the Lord Digby's coming to Kingstone upon Thames but with a Coach and six horses in it to be in a Warlike manner and disturbance of the Common-wealth and take occasion thereupon to order the Sheriffs of all Counties in England and Wales with the assistance of the Justices of Peace and trayned bands of the severall Counties to suppress any unlawfull Assemblies and to secure the said Counties and all the Magazines in them 14 January 1641. The King by a second Message professeth to them he never had the least intention of violating the least priviledge of Parlament and in case any doubt of breach of Priviledges remain will be willing to clear that and assert those by any reasonable way his Parlament shall advise him to But the design must have been laid by or miscarried if that should have been taken for a satisfaction and therefore to make a quarrell which needed not they Order the morrow after a Charge and Impeachment to be made ready against Sir Edward Herbert the Kings Attorney Generall for bringing into the House of Peers the third of that instant January by the Kings direction a Charge or accusation against Kimbolton and the five Members c. In February 1641. Seize upon the Tower of London the great Magazine and Store-house of the Kingdom and set some of the train-bands of London commanded by Major Generall Skippon to guard it 1. March 1641. Petition for the Militia and tell him If he would not grant it they would settle and dispose of it without him And the morrow after resolved upon the Question That the Kingdom be forthwith put in a posture of defence in such a way as was already agreed upon by both Houses of Parlament and order the Earl of Northumberland Lord high-Admirall to Rig and send to Sea his Majesties Navy and notwithstanding that the King 4 March 1641. by his Letter directed to the Lord Keeper Littleton had signified that he would wholly desist from any proceedings against the five Members and Kimbolton Sir John Hotham a Member of the House of Commons who before the the King had accused the five Members and Kimbolton had by Order of Parliament seized upon the Town of Hull the only fortified place of strength in the Kingdom and made a Garison of it summoned and forced in many of the trayned Souldiers of the County of York to help him to guard it And the eight of March 1641. before the King could get to York it was voted That whatsoever the two Houses of Parliament should Vote or Declare to be Law the people were bound to obey And when not long after the King offered to go in person to suppress the Irish Rebellion That was Voted to be against the Law and an encouragement to the Rebells and they Declare that whosoever shall assist him in his voyage thither should be taken for an enemy to the Common-wealth And 15 of March 1641. Resolved upon the Question that the severall Commissions granted under the great Seal to the Lievtenants of severall Counties were illegall and void and that whosoever should execute any power over the Militia by colour of any such Commission without consent of both Houses of Parliament should be accounted a disturber of the Peace of the Kindom Aprill 1642. Sir John Hotham seizeth the Kings Magazine at Hull and when the King went with a small attendance to demand an entrance into the Town denies him though he had then no Order to do it Notwithstanding all which the 28 of April 1642. they Vote That what he had done was in obedience to the commands of both Houses of Parliament and that the Kings proclaiming him to be a Traytor was a high breach of priviledge of Parliament And Ordered all Sheriffs and Officers to assist their Committees sent down with those their Votes to Sir John Hotham In the mean time the Pulpits flame with seditious invectives against the King and incitements to rebellion and the people running headlong into it had all manner of countenance and encouragement unto it but those Ministers that preached obedience and sought to prevent it were sure to be imprisoned and put out of their places for it Sir Henry Ludlow could be heard to say in the House of Commons that the King was not worthy to Reign in England And Henry Martin That the Kingly Office was forfeitable and the happiness of the Kingdom did not depend upon him and his Progeny And though the King demanded Justice of them were neither punished nor put out of the House Nor so much as questioned or blamed for it The Militia the principall part of the Kings regality without which it was impossible either to be a King or to govern and the Sword which God had given him and his Ancestors for more then a thousand years together had enjoyed and none in the Barons wars nor any Rebellion of the Kingdom since the very being or essence of it durst ever heretofore presume to ask for must now be wrestled for and taken away from him The Commissions of Array being the old legall way by which the Kings of England had a power to raise and levy men for the defence of themselves and the Kingdom Voted to be illegall The passage at Sea defended against him and his Navy kept from him by the Earle of Warwick whilst the King all this while contenting himselfe to be meerly passive and only busying himself in givinganswers to some Parliament Messages and Declarations and to wooe and intreat them out of this distemper cannot be proved to have done any one action like a War or to have so much as an intention to do it unless they can make his demanding an entrance into Hull with about twenty of his Followers unarmed in his Company and undertaking to return and leave the Governor in possession of it to be otherwise then it ought to be 5. Of May 1642. The King being informed that Sir John Hotham sent out warrants to Constables to raise the trained bands of Yorkshire writes his letter to the Sheriff of that County to forbid the trained bands and commands them to repair to their dwelling houses 12 Of May 1642. Perceiving himselfe every where endangered and a most horrid Rebellion framing against him and Sir John Hotham so neer him at Hull as within a days journey of him he moves the County of York for a troop of Horse consisting of the prime Gentry of that County
Ordinance out of the Tower of London to fortifie the Castle of Warwick And 9. July 1642. Order That in case the Earl of Northampton should come into that County with a Commission of Array they should raise the Militia to suppress him And that the Common Counsell of London should consider of a way for the speedy raising of the 10000 Foot and that they should be listed and put in pay within four days after 11. July 1642. The King sends to the Parlament to cause the Town of Hull to be delivered unto him and desires to have their answer by the 15 of that month and as then had used no force against it But the morrow after before that message could come unto them they resolve upon the Question That an Army shall be forthwith raised for the defence of the Kings person and both houses of Parlament and those who have obeyed their Orders and Commands in preserving the true Religion the Laws Liberties and the Peace of the Kingdom and that they would live and dye with the Earl of Essex whom they nominate Generall in that cause And 12. July 1642. Declare that they will protect all that shal be imployed in their assistance and Militia And 16 July 1642. Petition the King to forbear any preparations or actiōs of War and to dismiss his extraordinary guards to come nearer to them and hearken to their advice but before the Petition could be answered wherein the King offered when the Town of Hull should bee delivered to Him he would no longer have an Army before it and should be assured that the some pretence which took Hull from him may not put a Garison into Newcastle into which after the Parlaments surprise of Hull He was inforced to place a Governour and a small Garrison He would also remove that Garrison and so as his Magazine and Navy might be delivered unto him all Armies and Levies made by the Parlament laid down the pretended Ordinance for the Militia disavowed and the Parlament adjourned to a secure place he would lay down Arms and repair to them and desired all differences might be freely debated in a Parlamentary way whereby the Law might recover its due reverence the Subject his just Liberty Parlaments their ful vigour and estimation and the whole Kingdom a blessed Peace and Prosperity and requiring their answer by the 27. of that July promised til then not to make any attempt of force upon Hull had armed their General with power against him given him a Commission to kill and slay all that should oppose him in the execution of it and chosen their General of the Horse 8. August 1642. Upon information that some of the Town of Portsmouth had revolted to Colonell Goring being but sent thither with a message from the King and Declared for his Majestie Order forces to be sent thither speedily to beleaguer it by Land and the Earle of Warwick to send thither 5. Ships of the Navy to prevent any forraign forces coming to their assistance and upon Intelligence that the Earle of Northampton appeared with great strength at Banbury to hinder the Lo. Brooks for carrying the picces of Ordnance to Warwick Ordered 5000 Horse and Foot to be sent to assist him 9. August 1642. Upon information that the Marquis of Hartford and divers others were in Somerset-shire demanding obedience to the Kings Commission of Array to have the Magazine of the Connty to be delivered unto them Gave power to the Earl of Essex their Lord Generall the Lord Brook and others to apprehend the Marquis of Hartford and Earl of Northampton and their complices and to kill and slay all that should oppose them And the day following gave the Earle of Stamford a Commission to raise forces for the Suppressing of any should attempt for the King in Leicester-shire or the adjacent Counties And on the eleventh of August 1642. Upon the Kings Proclamation two days before declaring the Earl of Essex and all that should adhere unto him in the levying of Forces and not come in and yield to His Majesty within six days to be Travtors◠vote the said Proclamation to be against the fundamental Laws of the Kingdom Declare their resolutions to maintain and assist the Earl of Essex and resolve to spend no more time in Declarations and Petitions but to endeavour by raising of Forces to suppress the Kings Party though all that the Kings loyal Subjects did at that time for Him was but to execute the Commission of Array in the old legal way of the Militia and within a day or two after ordered the Earl of Essex their Lord General to set forth with his Army of Horse upon the Monday following but not so much as an Answer would be afforded to the Kings Message sent from Hull where whilst He with patience and hope forbore any action or attempt of force according to His promise Sir John Hotham sallied out in the night and murdered many of his fellow-subjects 12 Angust 1642. The King though He might well understand the great leavies of Men and Arms ready to march against Him by a Declaration published to all his Subjects assures them as in the presence of God That all the Acts passed by Him in this parliament should be as equally observed as those which most of all concerned His own interest and rights and that his quarrel was not against the Parliament but particular men and therefore desired That the Lord Kimbolton Mr. Hollis Sir Hen Ludlow Sir Arthur Hasilrig Mr. Strode Mr. Martin Mr. Hampden Alderman Pennington and Captain Venne might be delivered into the hands of Justice to be tried by their Peers according to the known Laws of the Land and against the Earls of Essex Warwick Stamford Lord Brooks Sir John Hotham Major General Skippon and those who should exercise the Militia by vertue of the Ordinance he would cause Indictments to be drawn of high Treason upon the Statute of 25 Edw. 3. and if they submit to trial and plead the Ordinance would rest satisfied if they should be acquitted But when this produced as little effect as all other endeavours He had used for peace He that saw the Hydra in the mud and slime of Sedition in its Embrio birth and growth and finds him now erected ready to devour him must now though very unwilling to cast off His beloved Robe of Peace forsake an abused patience and believe no more in the hopes of other remedies had so often deceived Him but if He will give any account to the Watchman of Israel of the People committed to his charge or to the people of his protection of them or any manner of satisfaction to his own judgment and discretion betake Himself to the Sword which God had intrusted Him with and therefore makes the best use He could of those few friends were about Him and with the money which the Queen had not long before borrowed and the small supplies He had obtained of His
Servants and Friends about Him who pawned and engaged their Plate Jewels and Lands for Him with those Lords and Gentlemen that willingly offered to bear Him company in His Troubles provides what Men and Armâ— He could in His way towards Notting ham where He intended to set up his Standard But the Parliament about the 23 of August 1642. having received some information that He intended to set up his Standard at Nottingham Declare That now it appearâ— to all the world that there is good ground of their fears and jealousies which if ever there had been any as there was no cause at all of any more than that meaning to murder and ruine Him they were often affraid He should take notice of it and seek to defend Himself there was by their own confession till this time no manifest or certain ground appearing that He intended to defend Himself against the Parliament and therefore order That all that shall suffer in their Estates by any force raised by the King without consent of Parliament shall have full reparation of their damages out of the Estates of the actors and out of the Estates of all such persons in any part of the Kingdome who should persist to serve the King in this War against the Parliament and That it should be lawfull for any number of persons to joyn and defend themselves and That the Earl of Essex their Generall should grant out Commissions for Levying and conducting forces into the Northern parts And Sir John Hotham the Governour of Hull assist them and command also the Sheriffs of the County of York and the adjacent Counties with the power of the Counties and Trained Bands to aid them and to seize upon all that shall execute the Commission of Array for his Majestie who was thus sufficiently beset by those that intended what since they have brought to pass against Him 25. August 1642. being some days after the Earle of Bedford had marched with great forces into the West that His Subjects might be informed of His danger and repair to his Succour setting up his Standard at Nottingham being a thing of meer legall necessity if He would have any at all to come to help Him and not forfeit and surprise those that by tenure of their Lands or by reason of Offices Fees or Annuities enjoyed under Him were more immediately bound to assist Him And yet here He must weep over Jerusalem and once again intreat the Parlament and His Rebellious Subjects to prevent their own miseries and therefore sends the Earls of Sonthampton and Dorset to the Parlament to desire a Treaty â—ffering to do all on His own part which might advance the Protestant Religion oppose Popery and Superstition and secure the Laws and Liberties of His Subjects and just pâ—iviledges of Parlament Which after severall scorns put upon those noble Messengers as denying the Earle of Southampton to come and sit in the House of Peers as a right by birth and inheritance due to him and causing the Serjeant at Arms of the House of Commons to go before him with the Macê as they use to do before Delinquents They refuse to accept of unless the King would first take down His Standard and recall his Declarations and Proclamations against them To which the King the 5. September 1642. notwithstanding the Earl of Bedford had with great forces in the mean time besieged the Marquis of Hartford in the Castle of Sherborn in Dorset shire replying That he never did Declare or intended for to Declare both his houses of Parlament to be Traitors or set up his Standard against them much less to put them and the Kingdom out of his protection And utterly protesting against it before God and the World offered to recall his Declarations and Proclamations with all cheerfullness the same day that they should revoke their Declarations against those that had assisted him and desiring a Treaty and conjuring them to consider the bleeding condition of Ireland and the danger of England undertakes to bee ready to grant any thing shall be really good for his Subjects which being brought by the Lord Falkland one of his Majesties Secretaries of State and a Member of the House of Commons and not long before in a very great esteem with them all the respect could be afforded him being to stand at the Bar of the House of Commons and deliver his Message to them had onely an answer in a printed Declaration of the Lords and Commons returned unto him That it was Ordered and Declared by the Lords and Commons in Parliament That the Armes which they have been forced to take up or shall be forced to take up for the preservation of the Parliament Religion and the Lawes and Liberties of the Kingdome shall not be laid down until his Majesty shall withdraw his protection from such Persons as have been voted by both Houses of Parliament to be Delinquents or that shall by both Houses of Parliament be voted to be Delinquents which after their mad way of voting might have been himself his Queen or his Heir apparent and leave them to the Justice of Parliament according to their demerits to the end that those great charges and damages wherewithal the Commonwealth hath been burthened since his Majesty departed from the Parliament might be born by the Delinquents and other malignant and dis-affected persons and that those who by Loans of money or otherwise at their charges have assisted the Commonwealth or shall in like manner hereafter assist the Commonwealth in times of extream danger and here they would also provide for future friends and quarrels may be re-paid all summs of money lent for those purposes and satisfied their charges sustained as out of the estates of the said Delinquents and of the Malignant and dis-affected Party in this Kingdome And to make good their words of 8. September 1642. Before their answer could come unto the Kings hands Ordered certain numbers of horse and foot to be sent to Garrison and secure Oxford and the morrow after before the King could possibly reply unto it their Lord General the Earl of Essex marched out of London against him with 20000 men horse and foot gallantly armed and a great train of Artiâ—lery to attend him notwithstanding all which and thosâ— huge impossibilities every day more and more appeared of obtaining a Peace witâ— those who were so much afraid to be loserâ— by it as they never at all intended it The King must needs send one messagâ— more unto them to try if that might noâ— give them some occasion to send Him gentleâ— conditions and therefore 13. September 1642. Being the same day they had impeached the Lord Strange of High-treason for executing the Kings Commission of Array and Ordered the propositions for furnishing of horse plate and money to be tendred from house to house in the Cities of London and Westminster and to be sent into all the Shires and Counties of England to be tendred for the same purpose
but not the English for they were the Kings Subjects and are to be reckoned as Traytors not strangers And the Parliaments own advice to the King to suppress the Irish Rebels that ploughed but with their own Heyfer and pretended as they did to defend their Religion Laws and Liberties and the opinion also of Mr. President Bradshaw as Sir John Owen called him in his late sentence given against the Earls of Cambridge Holland and Norwich Lord Capel and Sir John Owen whom he mistakenly God and the Law knows would make to be the Subjects of their worfer fellow-Subjects may be enough to turn the question out of doors But lest all this should not be thought sufficient to satisfie those can like nothing but what there is Scripture for we shall a little turn over the leaves of that sacred Volume and see what is to be found concerning this matter Moses who was the meekest Magistrate in the world and better acquainted with him that made the fifth Commandement than these that now pretend Revelations against it thought fit to suppress the rebellion of Corah Dathan and Abiram as soone as he could and for no greater offence than a desire to be coordinate with him procured them to be buried alive with all that appertained unto them When Absolom had rebelled against his father David and it was told him That the hearts of the men of Israel were after him David a man after Gods own heart without any message of peace or Declaration sent unto his dear son Absolom or offering half or any part of his Kingdome to him sent three several Armies to pursue and give him battell When Sheba the sonne of Bichri blew a Trumpet and said We have no part in David every man to his tent O Israel and thereupon every man of Israel followed after him and forsook their King David who knew that Moses would not make a War upon the Amorites though he had Gods commandement for it without offers of peace and messengers sent first unto them said to Amasa Assemble me the men of Judah within three daies and when he tarried longer said unto him Take thou thy Lords Servants and pursue after him lest he get him fenced Cities and escape us For they that would take heed of Cocatrices have ever used to kill them in the shell And diligenti cuique Imperatori ac magistrains danda est opera saith Bodin ut non tam seditiones tollere quam praeoccupare student For sedition saith he once kindled like a span of fire blown by popular fury may sooner fire a whole City than be extinguished Et tales igitur pestes opprimere derepenté necessâ— est Princes and Soveraigns who are bound to protect and defend their Subjects are not to stand still and suffer one to oppress another and themselves to be undone by it afterwards But put the case the Parliament could have been called a Parliament when they had driven away the King which is the Head and Life of it or could have been said to have been two Houses of Parliament when there was not at that time above a third part of the House of Peers nor the half of the House of Commons remaining in them and what those few did in their abfence was either forced by a Faction of their own or a party of seditious Londoners for indeed the Warre rightly considered was not betwixt the Parliament and the King but a War made by a factious and seditious part of the Parliament against the King and the major part of the Parliament and had been as it never was nor could be by the Laws and Constitutions of the Kingdom coordinate and equal with the King and joint-tenanâ—â— of the Kingdom it would have been necessary to make â— War as just as they could and to have done all that had been in order to it and therefore we hope they which pretend so much to the Justice of the Kingdom will not be offended to have the Justice of their Wars somthing examined CHAP. IV. Suppose the Warre to be made with a neighbour-Prince or between equals Whether the King or Parliament were in the defensive or justifyabie part of it PLâ—rique saith learned Grotius tres statuunt bellorum justas causas defensionem recuperationem punttionem For any defence the Parliament might pretend a necessity of The King neither assaulted them nor used any violence to them when they first of all granted out their Propositions and Commissions of War unIess they can turn their jealousies into a Creed and make the Kings demanding the five Members and Kimbolton being done by warrant of the Law of the Land and the Records and precedents of their own Houses appear to be an assaulting of them Or if any reasonable man knew but how to make that to be an assault or a necessary cause of War for them to revenge it the Kings waving and relinquishing of his charge afterwards against them might have certainly been enough to have taken away the cause of it if there had been any howsoever a Warâ— made onely to revenge a bare demand or request of a thing and was neither so much as forced or a second time demanded of them but totally laid aside and retracted can never be accounted just As for the recovery of things lost or taken away The Parliament it self had nothing taken from them for both they and the people were so far from being loosers at that time by the King as the Remonstrance of the house of Commons made to the people 15. December 1641. of the Kings erroun as they please to call them in the government but indeed the errours rather of his Ministers and themselves also in busying him with brawles and quarrells and denying to give him fitting supplies mentions how much and how many benficeial Laws the King had granted them And so the Parliament and People being no loosers and the King never denying them any thing could in honour oâ— conscience be granted them That part of the justifying of a War will no way also belong to them But if the punishment for offences and injuries past if they could be so properly called being a third cause of justifying a War could be but imagined to be a cause to justifie the Parliaments war against the King Yet they were to remember another Rule or Law of War Ne nimis veteres causae accersentur That they do not pick quarrels by raking up past grievances that it be not propter leviusculas injurias or for trifles For when the King who if he had been no more then coordinate with them had called them to Councell to to advise him followed their advice in every thing he could find any reason for taken away all grievances made a large provision to prevent them for the future by granting the Trienniall Parliament and so large an amends for every thing they could but tell how to complain of there was so little left to the
People and the Parliament to quarrell for as they were much behind in thankfulness for what they had got of him already Or if any other causes or provocations should be imagined as misusing the Parliaments Messengers or the like we know the King unlesse it were by his patience and often Messages for peace was guilty of no provocations but on the contrary though hee had all manner of scornes and reproaches cast upon him and his messengers evil entreated by them could never be brought to return or retaliate it to any of theirs But nothing as yet serving to excuse them It will not be amiss to examine the causes as they are set down by themselves to justifie their war and so we may well suppose there are no other A war against the King for safety of his own Person was needless and then it comes within that rule of war and law of Nations Ne leves sint causae beâ—li not to make a warre unnecessary for the King would look to that himself and as they were his Subjects they as well as every honest Subject were bound to defend and assist him but not whether he would or no and in such a way of defence as would tend to his ruâ—ne rather then his safety For â—urely should any stranger of another Kingdom or Nation have casually passed by Edge-hill when the Kings and the Parliaments 〈◊〉 were in fight and have been told that the King shot at them for the safety of his own Person and that they also shot against hiâ— for the safety of his own Person and being aâ—ked which of the two parties hee believe did really or most of all intend the safety of it we cannot tell how to think any man such a stranger to nature reason or understanding as to think the King should not fight as the Dictates of nature perswaded him to or that the King could tell how to fight against those that fought for him or that if he should be so hugely mistaken in that one year or Battell he should be in severall â—â—her years and Battells after To 〈…〉 the deâ—ence of the Religion establishâ—d as they made also the people believe that was as needless when the King offered to do every thing might help to promote it and they are so little also to be credited in that pretence as we know they did all they could from the beginning to ruine it took away Episcopacy the hedge and bounds of it brought in Presbytery to preach up and aid their Rebellion and when their own turnes were served encouraged Conventicles and Tub Preachers to â—ud down the Presbytery And being demanded at the Treaty at Vxbridge by the Kings Commissioners what Religion they would have the King to establish were so unprovided of an answer as they could not resolve what to nominate nor in any of their propositions afterwards sent to the King though often urged and complained oâ— oy the Scottish Commissioners could ever find the way to doe it but have now set up an Independent extemporary enthusiastick kind of worshiping God if there were any such thing in it or rather a religious Chaos or gallimaufry of all manner of heresie errours blasphemies and opinions put together not any of the owners of which we can be confident will subscribe to that opinion that Wars may be made for Religion or that Conscience ought to be forced by it As for the restrictive part of the Lawes to keep the people in subjection we can very well perswade our selves no such War was ever made yet in the world nor any people ever found that would engage in a War for that they obeyed but against their wills And for that part of the law that gives them the Kings protection priviledges immunities and certainties of deciding controversies which are more fitly to be called the Liberâ—ies of tbe people than to have 45. of the house of Commons or a Faction to make daily and hourly Lawes and Religion and Government and vote their estates in and out to pay an Army to force their obedience to it if we had not outlived the Parliaments disguises and pretences saw them now tearing up by the roots that there may be no hope of their growing up again and setting up their own as well as the ignorant and illiterate fancies of Mechanicks and Souldiers in stead of them we might have said that also had been needless when the King had done abundantly enough already and offered to grant any thing more could in reason be demanded of him And as touching their priviledges of Parliament they that understand but any thing of the Lawes of England or have but looked into the Records and Journals of Parliament can tell that all priviledges of Parliament as King James said were at first bestowed upon them by the Kings and Princes of this Kingdom That priviledges of Parliament extended not to Treason or Felony or breach of the Peace That 32 Hen. 6. Sir Thomas Thorp Speaker of the House of Commons being arrested in execution in the time of the prorogation of the Parliament the Commons demanded he might be set at liberty according to their priviledges wherupon the Judges being asked their Councel therein made answer That general supersedeas of Parliament there was none but special supersedeas there was in which case of special supersedeas every member of the House of Com-of Commons ought to enjoy the same unles in causes of Treason Felony or breach of the Peace or for a CondeÌ„mnation before the Parliament After which answer it was determined that the said Sir Thomas Thorp should lie in execution and the Commons were required on the behalf of the King to choose a new Speaker which they did and presented to the King accordingly That Queen Elizabeth was assured by her Judges that she might commit any of her Parliament during the Parliament for any offence committed against her Crown and Dignity and they shewed her precedents for it and that primo tertio Caroli Regis upon search of precedents in the several great cases of the Earls of Arundel and Bristol very much insisted and stood upon the House of Peers in Parliament allowed of the exception of Treason Felony and breach of the Peace For indeed it is as impossible to think there can be any priviledge to commit Treason as to think that a King should priviledge all his Nobility and every one of his Subjects that could get to be elected into the House of Commons in Parliament to commit Treason and to take away his life in the time of Parliament whensoever their revenge or malice or interest should finde the opportunity to do it or that if it could be so any King or Prince would ever call or summon a Parliament to expose himself to such a latitude of danger or give them leave to sit as long as they would to breed it or that priviledges of Treason can be consistent with the name or being of a Parliament to
battell of Naseby insomuch as their fellow Rebells the Scotch Commissioners did heavily complain of it were at severall times trifled away and spent before any propositions could be made ready though those which they sent to Oxford Uxbridge New-castle and Hampton Court were but substantially and materially the same with their nineteen Propositions which they made unto the King before the Earl of Essex was made their General and in all the Treaties made Propositions for themselves and the Soveraignty and great offices and places of the Kingdome but would neither for Gods sake or their Kings sake or their Oaths or Conscientes sak or the Peoples sake or Peace sake which the People petitioned and hungred and thirsted for alter or abate one Jota or tittle of them but were so unwilling to have any peace at all as six or seven Messengers or Trumpeters could come from the King before they could be at leisure or so mannerly as to answer one of them but this or that Message from the King was received and read and laid by till a week or when they would after and the Kings Commissioners in the Treaties must forget their due titles of Earles Lords or Knights because the King had made them so since the beginning of the War or else must be neither Treaty nor Peace there At Uxbridge the time of the Treaty limited for 20. days and at New-Castle for 10. and though the King and his Commissioners at Uxbridge almost petioned for a cessation in the interim of that which was at Oxford it could not be granted nor have a few dayes added to it and if the King could in honor and conscience have granted all the other parts of the Propositions must grant them an act not only to consiscate the Estates of his Friends and those that took up armes to save his Life and Estate but to take away their Lives also and not only that but to condemn of high Treason attaint their blood when they that fought against them were only guiltâ— a thing so unfitting and unusually stood upon as it was never asked in any treaty or pacification among the civilized or mor barbarous heathen and amounts to more then Adonibezeks causing the thumbs and great toes of his captive Kings to be cut off and making them to gather the Crumbs from under his table or Benhadads demand of Ahabs silver and gold his wives and Children and whatsoever was pleasant in his eyes which the Elders and people of Israel perswaded Ahab not to consent unto but was a thing purposely contrived and stood upon to hinder a peace was not to be asked or granted by any that could but intitle themselves to the least part of reason or humanity a demand Bajazet would not leave his Iron-Cage to yield unto a thing nature it selfe would abhor and the worst of Villains and Reprobates rather loose their lives then yield to would never be demanded by any nor granted by any but his Equalls And if their desiring of a War more then a peace and to keep the King out of his own had not been the onely cause of such unnaturall and barbarous propositions it may well be wondred why they that have made to themselves for we cannot believe they have found any law or warrant to ground it upon a power to take away the Kings life upon a colour or pretence of an unread as well as unheard of piece of Justice should need to strive so hard with the King to give them a power to do that they are now so bufie to do of themselves and as if they had been afraid all this would not be enough to keep the doors of Janus or the Devill open for fear lest the King should trouble them with any more offers or Messages of Peace a vote must be made in February 1647. that it should be treason in any man to bring or receive any more Messages from him without consent of Parliament But suppose that which is not that the Parliament could have but found any thing but some what like a cause or justification of a War against their Soveraign for notwithstanding all their hypocriticall pretences so as it was at first intended and so it hath been proved to be ever since to whom their Masters the People we mean as to the house of Commons had sent them to consult with not to make a War against him they might have remembred that saying of Cicero if they had found nothing in the Book of God and their own Consciences to perswade them to it That duâ— sunt genera decertandi unum per disceptationem alterum per vim ad hoc confugiendum non est si uti superiori licebit There are other wayes to come by pretended rights than by a War and we ought never to make use of a War which is the worst of all remedies if we may obtain it by a better Hen. 2. King of England was made a Judge between the Kings of Castile and Navarre The Rebellious Barons of England in the Reign of King Hen. 3. referred their controversies to the decision of the King of France and his Parliament at Paris And the blood of this Kingdome which ran so plentifully in those unhappy differences was by that meanes onely stopped Charles the 4. Emperor was made a Judge of the differences betwixt the English and the French Kings For as Albericus Gentilis saith well Intelligendum eos qui diffugiunt genus hoc decertandi per disceptationem ad alterum quod est per vim currunt illico eos a justitia ab humanitate a probis exemplis refugere ruere in arma volentes qui subire judicium nullius velint They that rush into a War without assaying all other just meanes of deciding the controversie for which it is made and will judge onely according to their own will and opinion doe turn their backs to Justice Humanity and all good Examples And in that also the Parliament will be found faulty For the French King and the Estates of the united Provinces did by more than one Request and Embassy severally and earnestly mediate to make an accord betwixt the King and his Parliament and desired to have all things in difference left to their Arbitrement but their Ambassadors returned home again with a report how much they found the King inclined to it and how satisfactorily he had offered and how much the Parliament was averse to their interposition and altogether refused it But we have tarried long enough among the Parliament party from thence therefore for it is time to leave the company of so much wickedness we shall remove to the Kings party and yet that may cause a Sequestration and examine for a fuller satisfaction of that which by the rule of contraries is clear enough already if he were not on the defensive and more justifiable part of the business The King as he was Defensor Protector subditorum suorum
advantage or colour to take away his Life for confessing himself guilty of it by allowing of the preamble in this unparallel'd demand never before stood upon By Subjects to their Prince or Conquerours to their Captives Nero himself was so far short of it as though he had cunning enough when he set Rome on fire to lay the fault upon the Christians had not Villany enough to torture and seek to draw them to a confession that they did it The King after Protestation that he could not without manifest injury to the Truth and a violation of his Honour and Conscience take upon him a guilt could no way be charged upon him or those that appeared in his defence was yet for peace sake and his peoples sake content to say It will be a great self-denial to take this supposition of a guilt upon my selfe and a Christian vertue to undergoe any affliction that may be for the good of my People and I am confident those that have adventured so much for me will be content to share with me for so good a purpose in the suffering for it I shall therefore conditionally consent to the Preamble so as there follow a conclusion upon the whole matter in Treaty and Propositions betwixt us otherwise it is but sub modo and conditional as it is alwaies to be understood in this Treaty that nothing agreed in part betwixt us shall be binding unless there be a conclusion upon the whole And here let the Truth be judge if the King did not abundantly endeavour to save his People and if the Parliament had not need of a Justification when they used all manner of force and shifts to have the King take the fault upon him they therefore that shall consider that the King was a close prisoner robbed and bereaved of all he had but his Honour and Conscience and a great measure of knowledge and understanding and the hearts of his Loyal Subjects was debarred of all friends and comforts pent up and used with all manner of hardship and extremities and every day like to be murdered that conditions adimpleri debent priusquam sequatur effectus are but inserted or added in casum incertum qui potest tendere ad esse aut non esse and depend on subsequencies or following effects which not hapning or coming to be performed according to the intent of the conditions makes them to vanish and expire as if there no such matter at all had been acknowledged or expressed in them That Cooke his accuser who when he comes to be hanged for it will never be able to prove that the People substituted or gave him warrant for to accuse him And Bradshaw who sate higher in the pageant of Justice and the rest of his fellow-murderers took the Kings conditional consenting to the Preamble to be so little for their purpose as they never so much as mentioned it must not onely acquit him of any confession or guilt to be inferred from his conditional yeelding to that Ambuscado Preamble but dissolve into wonder and admiration that he who in his Royal Meditations and Conference with death upon the Parliaments Votes of non address and his closer imprisonment at Carisbrook-Castle had clearness of Conscience enough to say for as for his judgement we hope it cannot be suspected when Mr. Carill the Independent and Mr. Vines a Presbyterian Minister could say he was a second Solomon and the Parliaments Commissioners at the Isle of Wight report him to be the master of the greatest wisdome and understanding That he had the feast of a good Conscience and the brazen wall of a judicious integrity and Conscience doubted not but his Innocency would finde God to be his protector rejoyced in the comfort of imitating Christs example in suffering for Righteousness sake and thanked God he could pray for them that God would not impute his Blood to them further than to convince them what need they had of Christs Blood to wash their Souls from the guilt of shedding His And was afterwards in the face and view of Death and his Murderers heard to say upon the Scaffold He never did begin a War with the two Houses of Parliament and called God to his witness to whom he was shortly to make an account he never intended to incroach upon their priviledges but they began upon him It was the Militia they began upon though they confest it was his and that any that would looke into the date of their Commissions and his might clearly see that they began these unhappy troubles and hoped God would clear him of it Could be so much more than a man and so great a protector of his People as not onely to be content to be robbed and dispoiled of all that he had for their sakes but to save the Lives and Estates of his People when there was no other way to do it deliver up himself so as a Peace and Agreement might have followed upon the Treaty to the unjust Censure of Robbing and Spoiling those that had robbed and undone him But now that we have hunted this Parliament Proteus through all his disguises of Parliament priviledges and pretences and are lamentably assured a great and accursed thing is committed in our Israel and the anger of the Lord is kindled against us it may be labour well bestowed though here is sure enough already said and prov'd that the King was in the defensive and justifiable part of the War to send into Achan's tent and search and see what is there to be found concerning this matter and here we finde the Lord Say the Lord Brooks and their complices had not long before the King had summoned them to that which is now called the Parliament settled and conveyed their estates to prevent any dangers might happen upon their intended enterprises Peard the pragmatique Parliament-man was heard to say a little before this holy War began to break out That the Government of the Kingdom would within a year or two be altered A little before the second Scottish Invasion Hinderson the Scotch firebrand confesses the Covenanters of both Kingdoms were unanimously agreed to bring the King to their lure before they laid down Arms the joint Declaration of both Kingdoms in January 1643. professes they will never lay down Armes till the pretended reformation be accomplished many Declarations and Remonstrances of the Parliament if they may be so called and the Army mention the original power and Soveraignty to be in the people the common Rights and Freedome of the Nation and the opportunities God hath put into their hands An Ordinance of Parliament 20 October 1645. concerning Rules and Directions for Triers and Judges of the ability of Elders declare it was the wonderfull providence of God in calling them which he never did by force of Arms Hypocrisie Treason Rebellion and usurping of Regal Authority to the great and difficult work of reformation and purging the Church The Lord Fairfax and his General Council
out of prison and causing the Souldiers not onely to cut and kill divers of the County of Surrey in the very act of Petitioning the Parliament for a Treaty of Peace with the King and sequester many of them for putting their hands to it with disabling the Citizens of London for bearing any office in the City or Common wealth for but putting their hands to the petition for the Treaty though Cromwel himself had not long before set on som to petition for it and the ruine undoing of 2 parts of 3 in the Kingdome very many of whom did nothing actually in the Wars but were onely sacrificed to their pretended reasons and jealousies of State do sufficiently proclame and remain the woful Registers to after-generations of this lamentable assertion If the King could have gotten but so much leave of his mercy and a tenderheartednesse to his people as to have used but the five-hundredth part of the Parliaments jealousies and sharp and merciless authority in the managing of this Warre so much of his Kingdomes and people had not been undone and ruined nor the Parliament put to so much labour to coyn faults and scandals against him nor to wrest the Lawes to non-sense and the Scriptures to Blasphemy to justifie their most horrid act of murthering him but for seeking to preserve the Lawes and Liberties of his people who are now clearly cheated out of them And here our misery tells us we must leave them and in the next place shall remember for indeed it is so plain it needs no enquiry CHAP. VI. Who most desired Peace and offered fairliest for it TH'bundant satisfaction the King had offered them from his first summoning of the late Parliament to their dissolving of themselves by dissolving him who gave them all their Life and Being That which he did and all which he would have done so many Declarations Answers and Messages penned by himself intending as much as his words could signifie and were believed and understood by all at that time that were not interessed or engaged against him and by many of the eagrest of them also that had no hand or look't to have any profit in the murthering of him for a Trial of a King without either warrant or colour of Scripture or the Lawes of the Kingdome or the consent of the major part of the people if that could have authorized it cannot nay will not by all the world and after-ages be otherwise interpreted unlesse we shall say Ravillac might have justified his killing Henry the Fourth of France if he had but had the wit to have framed or fancied a Supreme Court of Justice and have Sentenced him before he had done it will be as pillars and lasting Monuments of this Truth The King was the onely desirer of Peace and laboured and tugged harder for it than ever Prince or King Heathen or Christian fince Almighty God did his first dayes work did ever doe with Superiors Equals or Subjects and it will be no wrong certainly to David whose sufferings are so much remembred in all Christian Churches complaining so bitterly that he sought peace with those that refused it and in the mean time prepared for War against him To say the King did suffer more and offer more and oftner for peace than ever he did for any thing is extant or appearing to us for surely so many Messages of Peace as one and twenty in two years space from the 5. of December 1645. to the 25. of Decem. 1647. sent to the Parliament after so many affronts and discouragements must needs excuse him that offered all could be imagined to be for the good and safety of his people and condemn those that not onely from time to time refused it but adhered so much to their first intentions as all the blood and ruine of the people could not perswade them to depart with the least punctillio of it though the King before the Isle of Wight-Treaty offered so much for the Olive-branch as to part with the Militia for term of his life and in a manner to un-king himself and was afterwards content to doe all that his Coronation-Oath Honour and Conscience could possibly permit him to do and to purchase a peace for his people was content to have born the shame reproach of what his enemies were onely guilty of insomuch as the Lord Say himself and most of his ever-craving never safe enough Disciples confessed the King had offered so much as nothing more could be demanded of him They therefore that can but tell how to divide or put a difference betwixt white and black night and day and the plainest contraries must needs also acknowledge the King offered all and the Parliament refused all The King was willing to part almost with every thing and the Parliament would never part with any thing The King was willing for the good of his people to give away almost every thing of his own but the Parliament would never yield to part with any thing was not their own And thus may the account be quickly cast up between the King and Parliament who would have saved the people from misery and who was most unwilling to make an end of it But that we may not too hastily give the sentence to try the businesse aâ— they use to do at the Councel of War or the new invented way of Justice sitting with their Will or the Sword onely in one hand and no Ballance at all in the other We shall in the next place examine CHAP. VII Who laboured to shorten the War and who to lengthen it THe odds was so great betwixt what the Parliament laboured to get and the King to keepe as that which sways the balance in most mens actions will be argument enough to conclude they were more likely to lose by a peace than a war therefore the more willing to continue it and if their own Interests would not put them so far upon it their vain-glory and ambition would be forward enough to perswade them to it and if not that the success of their arms or miscalled providence would make them look as experience tells us they did upon any tenders of peace as Alexander the Great did upon Darius his offer oâ— half his Kingdom and if not that their feares and jealousies now grown greater by wronging of the King than ever they were when they suspected him could never think it safe to let an inraged Lion into his Denne they had so long kept out of it But the King could not fight for his own but he must adventure the undoing of his own and could not but know that so much as was lost of his Subjects would be so much lost of a King and therefore doth all he can to preserve a People had no minde to preserve themselves and before He had gathered up the Bayes He won at Edge-hill sends a Proclamation of pardon to those that the day before did all they could to kill him and in
Authority to punish it is now written in the blood of the King and those many iterated complaints of the King in severall of his Declarations published to the people in the midst of the Parliaments greatest pretences and promises that they intended to take away his life and ruine him are now gone beyond suspition and every man may now know the meaning of their Canoneers levelling at the King with perspective glasses at Copredy bridge the acquitting of Pym the Inn-keeper who said He would wash his Hands in the Kings hearts-blood stifling of fifteen or sixteen severall indictments for treasonable words Rolf rewarded for his purpose to kil him and the prosecutors checked and some of them imprisoned for it For the Sun in the Firmament and the four great quarters of the Earth and the Shapes and Lineaments of man are not so universally known seen or spoken of as this will be most certain to the present as well as after ages The end hath now verified the beginning Quod primum fuit in intentione ultimo loco agitur Seaven years hypocritical Promises practices 7. years Pretences and seven years preaching and pratling have now brought us all to this conclusion as wel as Confusion The blood of old England is let out bygreater witch-craft and cousenage then that of Medea when she set Pelias daughters to let out his old blood that young might come in the place of it the Cedars of Lebanon are devouted and the Trees have made the Bramble King and are like to speed as wel with it as the Frogs did with the Storke that devoured them And they have not onely slain the King who was their Father but like Nero rip 't up the belly of the Common-Wealth which was their Mother The light of Israel is put out and the King Laws Religion and Liberties of the people murthered an action so horrid and a sin of so great a magnitude and complication as if we shall ask the daies that are past and enquire from the one end of the Earth to the other there will not be found any wickednesse like to this great wickedness or hath been heard like it The Severn Thames Trent and Humbar four of the greatest Rivers of the Kingdome with all their lesser running streams of the Island in their continuall courses and those huge heaps of waterin the Ocean girdle of it in their Restlesse agitations will never be able to scoure and wash away the guilt and stain of it though all the rain which the clouds shal ever bring forth and impart to this Nation and the tears of those that bewail the losse of a King of so eminent graces and perfections bee added to it Quis cladem illius diei quis funera fando Explicet aut possit lachrymis aequare dolores Gens antiqua ruit multos dominata per Annos AN EXACT LIST OF The Names of those pretended Judges who sate and sentenced our late SOVERAIGNE KING CHARLES the First in the place which they called the High Court of Justice Jan. 27. 1648. And also of those thirty five Witnesses Sworn against the said KING The Sentence read against him With the Catalogue of the Names of those that Subscribed and Sealed the Warrant for his Execution And the manner of his Cruel MVRDER London Printed by Henry Bell and are to be sold by most Book-sellors 1660. The Names of the pretended Judges who gave Sentence against the late King January 27. 1648. LXXII in Number IOhn Bradshaw Lord President Oliver Cromwell Henry Ireton Sir Hardress Waller Valentine Walton Thomas Harrison Edward Whaley Thomas Pride Isaac Ewer Lord Grey of Grooby William Lord Mounson Sir John Danvers Sir Thomas Maleverer Sir John Bourcher Isaac Pennington Henry Martin William Purifoye John Barkstead Mâ—â—thew Tomlinson John Blakeston Gilbert Millington Thomas Chaloner Sir William Constable Edmund Ludlow John Hutchison Sir Michael Livesey Robert Tichburne Owen Roe Robert Lilburne Adrian Scroop Richard Dean John Okey John Harrison John Hewson William Goffe Cornelius Holland John Carew John Jones Thomas Lister Peregrine Pelham Thomas Wogan Francis Alleu Daniel Blagrave John Moor. William Say Francis Lascels John Chaloner Gregory Clement Sir Gregory Norton John Venn Thomas Andrews Anthony Stapley Thomas Horton John Lisle John Browne John Dixwell Miles Corbett Simon Meyne John Alured Henry Smith Humphrey Edwards John Frye Edmund Harvey Thomas Scot. William Cawley John Downes Thomas Hammond Vincent Potter Augustine Garland Charles Fleetwood John Temple Thomas Wayte Counsellors assistant to this Court and to draw up the Charge against the KING were Dr. Dorislaus Serjeant Danby Serjeant at Arms. Mr. Aske   Mr. John Cook Solicitor Mr. Broughton Clerkes to the Court. Mr. Phelpes Colonel Humphrey Sword-bearer Messengers Door-keepers and Criers were these Mr. Walford Mr. Radley Mr. Paine Mr. Powell Mr. Hull Mr. King The Sentence against the said King Jan. 27 1648. which was read by Mr. Broughton aforesaid Clerk WHereas the Commons of England in Parliament have appointed them an High Court of Justice for the Trial of Charles Stuart King of England before whom he had been three times convented and at the first time a Charge of High Treason and other Crimes and Misdemeanors was read in the behalfe of the Kingdome of England c. as in the Charge which was read throughout To which Charge he the said Charles Stuart was required to give his Answer but he refused so to do and so expresâ— several passages at his Trial in refusing to answer For all which Treasons and Crimes this Court doth adjudge That the said Charles Stuart as a Tyrant Traytor Murderer and publick Enemy shall be put to death by severing his head from his body This Sentence says the President now read and published is the Act Sentence Judgement and Resolution of the whole Court. To which the Members of the Court stood up and assented to what he said by holding up their hands The King offered to speak but he was instantly commanded to be taken away and the court broke up The Names of thirty five Witnesses produced and Sworn in the said pretended Court to give Evidence against the King Henry Hartford of Stratford upon Avon in Com. Warwick Edward Roberts of Bishops Castle in Com. Salop Ironmonger Will. Baines of Wrixhall in Com. Salop. Robert Lacie of Nottingham Painter Robert Loads of Cottam in Com. Nottingham Tyler Samuel Morgan of Wellington in Com. Salop Feltmaker James Williams of Rosse in Com. Hartford Shoomaker Richard Pots of Sharpreton in Com. Northumberland Vintner Giles Grice of Wellington in Com. Salop Gent. William Arnop of John Hudson of John Winston of Dornotham in Com. Wilts George Seeley of London Cordwainer John Moor of Cork in Ireland Gent. Thomas Ives of Boyset in Com. Northampton Husbandman James Cresby of Dublin in Ireland Barber Thomas Rawlins of Hanslop in Com. Buck. Gent. Richard Bloomfeild of London Weaver John Thomas of Langallan in Com. Donbigh William Lawson of Nottingham Maulster John Pinegar of
THE Royall Martyr OR KING CHARLES The FIRST no Man of BLOOD but A MARTYR for His PEOPLE Being a brief Account of His Actions from the beginnings of the late unhappy Warrs untill He was basely Butchered to the Odium of Religion and scorn of all Nations before his Pallace at White-Hall Jan. 30. 1648. To which is Added A Short History of His Royall MAJESTY Charles the Second KING of England Scotland France and Ireland Defender of the Faith c. Third Monarch of Great Brittain In all his Sufferings and Solitudes more then CONQUERER Rom. 8. Salus Populi Salus Regis â—ondon Printed for Henry Bell and are to be sold by most Book sellers 1660 TO THE KINGS Most Excellent Majesty Dread Soveraign THe occasion of these few lines is neither to renew your sorrow nor stir up your Majesty to revenge I know you have learned a better lesson from our blessed Lord and Saviour to forgive your enemies neither is it my design to plead for that which I even tremble to write viz. Regicide I know the world expects some should be made examples of Justice God forbid that blood-guiltiness especially of our King should go unpunisht But that Justice mercy might kiss each other These ensuing lines were writ in the midst of your and our sufferings the onely end both in writing and publishing was to Vindicate your Royal Father our Dread Soveraign of blessed memory thereby to make a more easie passage for your most Excellent Majesty to ascend unto the Royall throne of your famous Progenitors And now seeing God at last by his wonderfull and most miraculous Providence hath brought your Sacred Majesty to your just Rights Dominions I make bold in all humility to prostitute both my self and this small Tract at your Royall Feet beseeching your Clemency to accept of this small Mite of my Loyalty begging your gracious pardon for my great presumption beseeching Almighty Jehovah the God of your Fathers to redouble in you your Fathers Graces and Vertues recompence to your Majesty for all your unparalelled sufferrings patience in the perfect obedience and affection of all your Subjests establish your Royall Throne here on Earth and at last give you a Crown of Glory in the highest heavens so prays Your Majesties Loyall Humble and most obedient Subject W. H. B. King Charles the First no Man of BLOOD But a Martyr for his PEOPLE THat there hath been now eighteen years spent in Civill Warrs aboundance of Blood shed and more Ruine and misery brought upon the Kingdom by it then all the severall Changes Conquests and Civill Warrs it hath endured from the time of Brute or the first Inhabitants of it every mans wofull experience some onely excepted who have been gainers by it will easily assent unto No marvell therefore that many of those who if all they alledge for themselves that they were not the cause of it could be granted to be true might either have hindred or lessned it would now put the blame of so horrid a business from themselves and lay it upon any they can perswade to bear it And that the Conquerours who would bind their King in Chains and their Princes with Fetters of Iron and think they have a Commission from heaven to do it the guilt of it being necessarily either to be charged upon the Conquerours or Conquered are not willing to have their Triumphant Chairs and the glories as they are made believe that hang upon their shoulders defiled with it but do all they can to load their Captives with it But howsoever though the success and power of an Army hath frighted it so far out of question as to charge it upon the King and take away his life for it by making those that must of necessity be guilty of the fact if he should have been as in all reason he ought to have been acquitted of it the only Judges of him It may well become the judgement and conscience of every man that will be but either a good Subject or a Christian not to lend out his Soul and Salvation so much on trust as to take those that are parties and the most ignorant sort of mens words for it but enter into a most serious examination of the matter of Fact it selfe and by tracing out the foot-steps of Truth see what a conclusion may be drawn out of it In pursuance whereof for I hope the Originall of this Sea of Blood will not prove so unsearchable as the head of Nile we shall enquire first of all who raised the fears and jealousies Secondly represent and set down the truth of the matter of Fact and proceedings betwixt the King and Parliament from the tumultuous and seditious coming of the people to the Parlament and White-Hall untill the 25 of August 1642. when he set up his Standard at Nottingham and from the setting up of his Standard untill the 13 of September 1642. when the Parlament by their many Acts of Hostility and a Negative and Churlish answer to his propositions might well have put him out of hope of any good to be obtained from them by messages of peace sent unto them Thirdly whether a Prince or other Magistrate labouring to suppress or punish a rebellion of the People be tyed to those rules are necessary to the justifying of a War if it were made between equals Fourthly suppose the War to be made with a neighbour Prince or between equalls whether the King or Parlament were in the defensive or justifiable part of it Fifthly whether the Parlament in their pretended Magistracy have not taken lesser occasions to punish or provide against insurrections treasons and rebellions as they are pleased to call them Sixthly who most desired Peace and offered fairliest for it Seventhly who laboured to shorten the War and who to lengthen it Eightly whether the conditions proffered by the King would not have been more profitable for the People if they had been accepted and what the Kingdom and People have got instead of it CHAP. I. Who first of all Raised the Fears and Jealousies THe desiring of a guard for a Parlament because of a tale rather then a plot That the Earl of Crawford had a purpose to take away the Marquis of Hamiltons life in Scotland the refusing of a legall guard offered by the King and his Protestation to be as careful of their safety as the safety of his Wife and Children The dream of a Taylor lying in a ditch in Finsbury fields of this and the other good Lord and Common-wealths men to be taken away The trayning of Horses under ground and a plague plaister or rather a clout taken from a galled Horse back sent into the House of Commons to Mr. Pym. A design of the Inhabitants of Covent Garden to murther the City of London News from France Italy Spain and Denmark of Armies ready to come for England and a supposition or feaverish fancy that the King intended to introduce Popery alter
of horses And within two dayes after the Lord Keeper Duke of Richmond Marquiss Hartford Earl of Salisbury Lord Gray of Ruthen with 17 Earls and 14 Barons the Lord Chief Justice Bancks and sundry others of eminent quality and reputation attest His Majesties Declaration and profession that He had no intention to make a War but abhorred it and That they perceived no Councels or preparations tending to any such designe and sent it with His Majesties Declaration to the Parliament In the mean time the Committee of Parliament appointed to make the propositions to the City of of London for the raising of Horse viz. 15. June 1642. Made report to the House of Commons That the Citizens did very cheerfully accept the same there being for indeed there had been some design and resolulution a year before concerning the melting of plate to raise monies already great store of plate and monies brought into Guild-Hall for that purpose and an Ordinance of Parlament was made for the Earl of Warwick to be Lord Admirall and keep the Navy though the King had commanded him on pain of treason to deliver up the Ships to him And the Lord Brook sent down into Warwick-Shire to settle the Militia 17. June 1642. Committee of both Houses was appointed to go to the City of London to enquire what store of Horse Monies and Plate were already raised upon the Propositions 18. June 1642. The King by his Proclamation Disclaiming any intention to make War against his Parlament forbiddeth all levies of Forces without his Majesties express pleasure signified under his Great Seal And 20. June 1642. Informing all his Subjects by his Proclamation of the Lawfulness of his Commissions of Aray That besides many other Warrants and Authorities of the Law Judge Hutton and Judge Crooke in their Arguments against the Ship-money agreed them to be Lawfull and the Earle of Essex himself had in the beginning of this Parlament accepted of one for the County of York Gave his people to understand That he had awarded the like Commissions into all the Counties of England and Dominion of Wales to provide for and secure them in a legall way left under a pretence of danger and want of Authority from his Majesty to put them into a Military posture they should he drawn and engaged in any opposition against him or his just Authority But 21. June 1642. The Lords and Commons in Parlament Declaring The designe of their Propositions of raising Horse and Moneys was to maintain the Protestant Religion and the Kings Authority and Person and that the Forces already attending his Majestie and his preparations at first coloured under the pretence of a guard being not so great a guard as they themselvs had constantly for 6 months before did evidently appear to be intended for some great and extraordinary designe so as at this time also they do not charge the King with any manner of action of War or any thing done in a way or course of war against them and gave just caufe of fear and jealousie to the Parlament being never yet by any Law of God or man accounted to be a sufficient cause or ground for Subjects to make War against their Soveraign did forbid all Mayors Sheriffs Bayliffs and other Officers to publish His Majesties said Letter to the City of London And Declare that if He should use any force for the recovery of Hull or suppressing of their Ordinance for the Militia it should be held a levying Warr against the Parlament and all this done before His Majesty had granted any Commission for the levying or raising of a man and lest the King should have any manner of provision of War to defend himself when their Army or Sir John Hotham should come to assault him Powder and Armes were every whera seized on and Cutlers Gun-Smiths Sadlers and all Warlike Trades ordered not to send any to York but to give a weekly account what was made or sold by them And an Order made the 24 of June 1642. That the Horses which should be sant in for the service os the Parlament when they came to the number of 60. should be trained and so still as the number increased 4. July 1642. The King by his letter under his signe Manuall commanded all the Judges of England in their Circuits to use all means to suppress Popery Riots and unlawfull assemblies and to give the people to understand his resolution to maintain the Protestant Religion and the Laws of the Kingdom and not to govern by any arbitrary way and that if any should give the King or them to understand of any thing wherein they held themselves grieved and desired a just reformation He would speedily give them such an answer as they shall have cause to thank him for his Justice and favour But the same day a Declaration was published by both Houses of Parlament commanding that no Sheriff Mayor Bayliff Parson Vicar Curate or other Sir Richard Gurney the Lord Mayor of London not many days before having been imprisoned for proclaiming the Kings Proclamation against the bringing in of Plate c. should publish or proclaim any Proclamation Declaration or other paper in the Kings name which should be contrary to any Order Ordinance or Declaration of both the houses of Parlament or the proceedings thereof and Order that in case any force should be brought out of one County into another to disturb the peace thereof they should be suppressed by the Train Bands and Voluntiers of the adjacent Counties Shortly after Sir John Hotham fortifieth the Town of Hull whilst the King is at York seizeth on a Ship coming to him with provisions for his Houshold takes Mr. Ashburnham one of the Kings servants prisoner intercepts Letters sent from the Queen to the King and drowneth part of the Countrey round about the Town which the Parlament allows of and promise satisfaction to the owners 5. July 1642. They order a subscription of Plate and Horse to be made in every County and list the Horse under Commanders and the morrow after Order 2000 men should be sent to relieve Sir John Hotham in case the King should besiege him to which purpose Drums were bear up in London and the adjacent parts to Hull The Earl of Warwick Ordered to send Ships to Humber to his assistance instructions drawn up to be sent to the Deputy-Lievtenants of the severall Counties to tender the Propositions for the raising of Horses Plate and Money Mr. Hastings and divers of the Kings Commissioners of Array impeached for supposed high Crimes and misdemeanours and a Committee of five Lords and ten of the House of Commons ordered to meet every morning for the laying out of ten thousand pounds of the Guild-Hall moneys for the buying of 700 Horse and that 10000. Foot to be raised in London and the Country be imployed by direction of the Parlament and the Lord Brook is furnished with 6. pieces of
and the names of the refusers to be certified Mr. May one of the Pages to the King comes to the Lords House in Parlîament with a Message from Him bearing date but two dayes before That although He had used all wayes and me anes to prevent the present distractions and dangers of the Kingdome all his labours have been fruitless that not so much as a Treaty earnestly desired by him can be obtained though he disclaimed all his Proclamations and Declarations and the erecting of his Standard as against his Parliament unless he should denude himself of all force to defend him from a visible strength marching against him That now he had nothing left in his power but to express the deep sense he had of the publick misery of the Kingdome and to apply himself to a necessary defence wherein he wholly relied upon the providence of God and the affection of his good People and was so far from put ting them out of his protection as when the Parliament should desire a Treaty he would piously remember whose blood is to be spilt in this quarrel and cheerfully embrace it But this must also leave them as it sound them in their ungodly purposes for the morrow after being the 14. day of September 1642. Mr. Hampden one of the sive Members by this time a Colonel of the Army brings letters to the House of Commons from the Parliaments Lord General that he was at Northampton in a very good posture and that great numbers of the Countrey thereabouts came in daily unto him and offered to march under him and that so soon as all his forces that are about London shal come up unto him which he desires may be hastened he intended to advance towards his Majesty and it was the same day voted That all things sealed by the Kings Seal since it was carried away by the Lord Keeper Littleton should be Null and of no force in the Law and that a new Seal should be provided The King therefore seeing what he must trust to 19. September 1642. being at Wellington in Shrop-shire in the head of such small forces and friends as he could get together for the Parlament that very day had received letters That the King but the week before having a muster at Nottingham there appeared but about 3000 foot and 2000. horse and 1500 dragoona and thaâ— a great part of his men were not provided with arms made his Protestation and promise as in the presence of Almighty God and as He hoped for his blessing and protection to maintain to the utmost of his power the true reformed Protestant Religion established in the Church of England and that he desired to govern by the known Laws of the Land and that the Liberty and property of the Subject should bee preserved with the same care as his own just rights and to observe inviolably the Laws consented to by him in this Parlament and promised as in the sight of Almighty God if He would please by his blessing upon that Army raised for his necessary defence to preserve him from that rebellion to maintain the just priviledges and freedom of Parlament and govern by the known Laws of the Land In the mean while if this time of War and the necessity and straights he was driven to should beget any violation of them he hoped it would be imputed by God and man to the Authors of the War and not to him who had so earnestly desired and laboured for the peace of the Kingdome and preservation thereof and that when He should fail in any of those particulars He would exâ—est no aid or relief from any man or protection from Heaven And now that the stage of War seems to be made ready and the Parliament party being the better furnished had not seldome shewed themselves and made severall traverses over it for indeed the King having so many necessities upon him and so out of power and provision for it might in that regard only if He had not been so unwilling to have any hurtcome to his people by his own defending of himself be backward unwillingly drawn unto it we may do well to stand by and observe who cometh first to act upon it 22. Of September 1642. The Earl of Essex writeth from Warwick that he was upon his march after the King and before the 6. of October following had written to the County of Warwick with all speed to raise their Trained bands and Voluntiers to resist his Forces if they should come that way and to the three Counties of Northampton Leicester and Derby to gather head and resist him if he should retire into those parts and by all that can bee judged of a matter of fact so truly and faithfully represented must needs be acknowledged to have great advantages of the King by the City and Tower of London Navy Shipping Armes Ammunition the Kings Magazine all the strong Towns of the Kingdom most of the Kingdoms plate and money the Parliaments credit and high esteem which at that time the people Idolized the fiery Zeal of a seditious Clergy to preach the people into a Rebellion and the people head-longly running into the witchcraft of it When the King on the other side had little more to help him theâ— the Laws and Religion of the Land which at that time every man began to â—iâ—construe and pull in pieces had neither men horse arms ammunition ships places of strength nor money not any of his party or followers after the Parliament had as it were proclamed a War against him could come single or in small numbers through any Town or Village but were either openly assaulted or secretly betrayed no man could advenâ—ure to serve or own him but must expose himself and his Estate to be ruined either by the Parliament or people or such as for malice or profit would inform against him All the gains and places of preferment were on the Parliaments part and nothing but losses and misfortunes on the Kings No man was afraid to goe openly to the Parliaments side and no man duâ—st openly so much as take acquaintance of his Sâ—veraign but if he had done a quarter of 〈◊〉 which Ziba did to David when he 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 â—â—â—ves of bread or old Barzillâ—◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Gutite when he went along with him when hiâ— Son Absalom rebelled against him They should never have escaped so well as they did but have been sure to be undone and sequestred for it So much of the affections of the people had the Parliament cosened and stoln from them so much profit and preferment had they to perswade it and so much power to enforce those that otherwise had not a mind to it to fight against him Who thus every way encompassed about with dangers and like a Partridge hunted upon the Mountains marcheth from Shrewsbury towards Banbury perswading and picking up what help and assistance his better sort of Subjects durst adventure to afford him in the way
consult or advise with the King for the defence of Him and his Kingdome or that when Felony and breach of Peace are excepted out of their priviledge Treason that is of a far higher nature consequence and punishment should be allowed them or if there could have been any such priviledge and a meaner man than their Soveraign had broke it a small understanding may inform them they could not without breach of the Peace have fought for it against a fellow-subject and then also could not their priviledges have reached to it but the King might have punished them for it and if they cannot upon a breach of priviledge as it was adjudged in Halls case without the Kings Writ and the cause first certified in Chancery deliver one of their own setvants arrested It is not likely any warrant can be found in Law to inforce the King to reparation though he himself should have broken it but to petition the King for an allowance of that or any other priviledge as well in the middle as any other time of their sitting in Parliament as they alwayes doe at the presenting of their Speaker in the beginning of it Wherefore certainly the people never gave the Parliament Commission if they could have given a Commission to make a War against their Soveraign to claim that was never due to them or to fight for that was never yet fought for by any of their Fore-fathers nor ever understood to be taken from them much less for their ayrie innovated pretences rather than priviledges which have since eaten up all the peoples Lawes and Liberties as well as a good part of their lives and estates with it and are now become to be every thing their Representatives will and and arbitrary power have a mind to make it who have so driven away their old legal priviledges by setting up illegal and fantastick kind of Priviledges as they are pleased to call them instead of them as there is nothing left of the Parliament like a Parliament neither matter nor form nor any thing at all remaining of it For the upper and lower Houses have driven away and fought against the King who was their Head the the lower after that have driven away the upper and 45. of the House of Commons whereof eleven are great Officers and Commanders of the Army have after that imprisoned and driven away four hundred of their fellow-members And from degenerate and distemperate piece of a Parliament brought themselves to be but a representative or journey-men-voters to a Councel of their own mercenary and mechanick Army and may sit another eight yeares before ever they shall be able to find a reason to satisfie any man is not a fool or a mad man or a fellow-sharer in the spoiles of an abused and deluded Nation Why the Kings demanding of the five Members and Kimbolton by undeniable warrant of the land and the Records and precedents of their own houses upon a charge or accusation of Treason for endeavouring amongst 〈◊〉 other pieces of Treason to alter the Government and subvert the fundamental Lawes of the Kingdome which the Parliament and they themselves that were accused have more than once declared to be Treason should be taken to be so great a breach of priviledge in the King their Soveraign when the forcing and over a wing the Houses of Parliament by the Army their servants and hirelings demanding the eleven Members and imprisoning and banishing some of them upon imaginary and fantastical offences committed against themselves or they could not tell whom shall be reckoned to be no breach at all of priviledge and the forcing of the Houses by the same Army within a year afterwards by setting guards upon them violently pulling two of the Members of the House of Commons out of the House and imprisoning them and 39 more of their fellow-members all night in an Alehouse and leading them afterwards to several prisons with guards set upon them as if they had been common malefactors can be called mercies and deliverances and a purging and taking away rotten Members out of the House of Commons But now that we can find nothing to make a defensive or lawful nor so much as a necessary War on the Parliaments part for causa belli saith Besoldus correspondere debet damno periculo the Parliament feares and jealousies were not of weight enough to put the people into a misery far beyond the utmost of what their feares and jealousies to them did amount unto we shall do well to examine by the rules and laws of War and Nations the ways and means they used in it Injustum censetur bellum si non ejus penes quem est Majestas authoritate moveatur a war cannot be just if it be not made by a lawful authority Armorum delatio prohibitio ad Principem spectat It belongs to the Prince to raise or forbid Arms and the Records of the Parliament which we take to be a better sense of the House then their own purposes can inform them that the Prelates Earls Barons and Commonalty of the Realm did in the seventh year of the reign of King Edw. the First declare to the King That it belongeth and his part is through His Royal Signorie streightly to defend force of Armour and of Armour and all other force against his Peace when it shall please him and to punish them which shall do the contrary according to the Laws and usages of the Realm and that thereunto they were bound to aid their Soveraign Lord the King at all seasons when need shall be How much ado then will they have to make a War against their Soveraign to bee Lawfull or if by any Warrant of Laws Divine or Humane they could but tell how to absolve themselvs from their oaths of Supremacy Allegiance and their very many protestations and acknowledgements of Subjection to the King find a Supream authority to be in the People at the same time they not only stiled themselves but all those they represented to be his Subjects Or how will they bee able to produce a warrant from the People their now pretended Soveraigns till they shall be able sufficiently to enslave them to authorize them to make a War to undo them when they elected them but to consent to such things as should be treated of by the King and his Kingdom Or how could a tenth part of the people give warrant to them to fight against the King and the other nine parts of the people Or can that bee a good warrant when some of them were cheated and the other by plunderings and sequestrations forced to yield to it Or could the pretence of a War for defence of the Kings person and to maintain the Religion Laws and Liberties of the people be a warrant to the Parliament which never sought any for the King and People but to take away the Soveraignty from the one and the Liberties of the other to do every thing was
contrary unto it But if that could have legitimated their actions as it never did or will be able There is a two fold rule of Justice in the practise of War and Nations si bellum geratur sine denuncaitione in captivos tanquam latrones animadverti possit It is a thievery rather than a War not denounce or give notice of it before-hand and in that also the Parliament was faulty for they took Hull and Portsmouth and the Kings Navy and Magazine from him when hee hoped better things of them and sent out their Armies and the Earl of Essex against him whilst he was in treaty with them and offered all that he could to have a peace with them Bellum item impium injustumque sit si modus debitus non observetur A War is unjust if there be not a due way of proceedings held in it which especially consisteth in not hurting the innocent women and Children and in this also they will fall short of an excuse For how full is every Town and Village of the Truth as well as the complaints of the unchristian usage of old and sick people Women and Children beaten wounded or killed upon no provocation Women and Maids ravished and their fingers cut off for their rings Old Best of Canterbury hanged up by the privities others tortured and had burning matches tyed to their fingers to make them confess where their mony was Women and Children sick and aged Persons starved for want of the sustenance they had taken from them Husbandmen had their corn and hay spoiled in the field and the barn their sheep cattle and provisions devoured houses ruined or burnt their horses that should help to plough and do other works of Husbandry taken away in so much as some were inforced to blind and put out their horses eyes that they might not be taken from them Churches that escaped defacing prophaned and made Stables or Goals or Victualling or Bawdy houses Monuments defaced and Sepulchers opened as were those of the Saxon Kings at Winchester and the priests and Ministers not so much as suffered to weep betwixt the Porch and the Altar but their benesices and livelyhood taken from them by Wolves put in the Shepherds places had their Books burned and all their means and maintenance plundred from them and those that were neutralls and mâ—dled on neither side but lived as quietly as they could either totally undone or cast in prison not for that they did them no hurt but because they might do it and if they were not imprisoned their Lands money or goods were sure to be in the fault and taken away from them Ut bellum illaesa conscientia geratur necesse est ut adsit intentio bena there ought to bee a good intention to make the War conscionable which in this appears to fail also For the Charge against the five members is now as true as it was then they meant to ruine the King and they have done it and to alter the Government and subvert the Religion Laws and Liberties and they have done a great part of it and as fast as they can are pulling down the remainder Quaerere debemus victoriam rationibus honestis ne salutem quidem turpibus We ought to pursue victory and the just ends of War by honest and lawfull means and not to do foul and dishonest things to procure our safety from the latter of which the mad fears and jealousies which the Parliament made use to usher in their pretences their fayning of Victories and scandaling the King and his actions not to insist upon their buying the Kings servants and secrets Battells Towns and Garrisons and making too many Judases of all that were about him will hardly be able to free them or if they could the making use of men and money intended for the support of Ireland and leaving them wallowing in their blood for seven years together whilst they were ruining their King that would have helped them violating of their oaths of allegiance and Supremacy which many of their Members had taken six or seven times over breaking their oaths taken in their protestation and Nationall Covenant and not so few at one hundred solemne promises and undertakings in their severall Petitions Remonstrances and Declarations forcing the People to take the Protestation and Covenant and compell them as soon as they had taken it to break them and by cozening and forcing them into Rebellions and perjuries cheat them out of their Religion Loyalty Laws and Liberties will without very good advocates be sure enough to condemn them and if the great Turk carrying the Covenant which Ladislaus the unfortunate King of Hungary was perswaded to break with him as an ensign of publick detestation in the battell wherein he slâ—w him invoked the God of the Christians to help him to revenge so great a treachery there will be more reason now for all that are but Christians or but pretend to any morality â—o carry in their banner the Poâ—rtract of the Kings bleeding Head as it was cut from his shoulders and make War in revenge of the Master piece and totum aggregatum of all manner of wickedness and perfidiousness who besides all their own and the Peoples oaths taken to defend him when those they called Deliuquents some few onely which were specially named and excepted for obeying the known Laws of the Land as well as their oaths and consciences were never questioned for their lives but suffered to compound for their Estates would not suffer the King that was neither a Delinquent or excepted Person to enjoy either his Life or Estate though to save his people and keep them from killing one another he yielded himself became a Prisoner upon the publick faith of the Kingdoms of England and Scotland Paxaequa non est recusanda Licet victoriae spes adsit saith Besoldus A good or fitting Peace is not to be refused though the victory were certain And in this also the Parliament will be as far to seek for a justification as in the other For instead of offering any thing which was likely to bring it they caused men and women in the first year of their Warre to be killed because they did but petition them to accept of a peace and in the third and fourth year of their War plundered and robbed others that petitioned them but to hearken to it and put out of office and made all as Deâ—â—linquents in the seventh year of the Warre that did but petîtion them for a Treaty with the King and refused all the Kings many very many Messages for peace not onely when he was at the highest of his successe in the War but when he was at the lowest and a Prisoner to them and conjured them as they would answer at the dreadfull day of Judgement to pitty the bleeding conditions of his Kingdomes and People and send propositions of Peace unto him quarters and half years and more then a whole year together after the
and lawful had he not cause enough to deny and they none at all to ask that he should by Act of Parliament consent to make all those to be Traytors that took his part their Blood and Posterities attainted and their Estates forfeited when as some of the Parliaments own Members were heard to say when those Propositions were sent to him That if he yeelded unto them He was the unworthiest man living and not fit to be a King For certainly if the Laws of God and man and the understanding of all mankind be not changed there was never a juster more defensive unwilling and necessitated Warre than that of the Kings part since man came out of Paradise And if such a War should not be lawfull after so many provocations and necessities for the defence of himself and his People and so many after-generations this War of the Parliament and the curse of it is like to ruine and leave in slavery under what censure and opinion may that of Abraham with Chederlaomer the King of Elam and Tidal King of the Nations be when he fought with them to rescue his brother Lot and his goods and was blessed by Melchisedec the Priest of the most high God for doing of it Or of the War which the Tribes of Israel made against the Tribe of Benjamin and the men of Gibeah for committing lewdnesse and folly in Israel that of David to rescue his Wives that were carried away captive by the Amalekites or to fetch home the Ark of God from the Philistines that which Ahab made with Benhadad the King of Syria who was not half so tyrannical in his Propositions as the Parliament were approved of in Sacred Story or that which was made by Judas Machabeus and his Brethren to rescue the decayed estate of the people of the Jews or that which was used to be made by the heathen pro aris focis were never yet so much as suspected to be unlawfull How shall this of the Kings be condemned that had as much as Abraham David Ahab against Benhadad Judas Machabeus and the tribes of Israel or those heathens that made it pro aris focis put them altogether to warrant it Or by what reason or Law is any man by the Laws of England excused for killing a man in his own defence when he is necessitated or hindred by a Wall or a Water that he can go no farther or for killing thieves that come to assault or rob him in his house or castle If the King shall be hunted from his house through all the parts and corners of his Kingdom for his Life and not onely for his Life but his Honour and not onely for his Life and Honour but his Conscience and yet must never draw his Sword or seek to defend himself or have any body else to do it for him Or how have all the Kings Princes and Magistrates of the world hitherto governed and defended themselves and their people or shall ever be able to give an account of the people committed to their charge if they may not be at liberty to make a legal use of the sword power and reason God hath given them Or how can those State-riddles like those of Sphinx only made to destroy men with all that they fought for the King and Parliament as is alledged in many of their Orders and Declarations and that the War was a Rebellion raised against the King and Parliament as is expressed in the Ordinance of Parliament for association of the Counties of Pembroke Cardigan and Carmarthen be ever understood by any rules of sence or reason if he were on the offensive part of the War and had begun it against them But if any shall be so in love with the sense of the House of Commons as to be out of their owne senses and thinke that though there be no manner of evidence or proof to be had for love or money that the Parliament were constrained to defend themselves by a War yet the Kings admitting of the Preamble of the Parliaments Propositions presented to him at the Isle of Wight that the Parliament was necessitated to take up Arms in their just and lawfull defence makeâ— him who must needs be best acquainted with his own actions to be so clearly guilty of all the blood hath been shed in these Wars as it puts to silence all that can be now alledged or said in his behalf They that made the Preamble and placed it in limine and threshold of the Treaty on purpose to catch and insnare him for either he must have denied it at the very beginning and entrance into the Treaty and leave hiâ— Kingdomes and People to wallow in the blood and misery their Parliament Idols had brought them to and have all the blame laid upon him for hindring a Peace he had so much longed and laboured for or put himself and all his Loyal Subjects that helped to defend him under the burden of those Sins and Shames the Parliament themselves had all the right to can tell their undone and deluded Proselytes how much the King stuck at it how unwilling he was to break off the Treaty and was unwilling to wrong his own Innocency and that when the Parliament Commissioners had not any thing either in Law or Truth or Reason or Argument to perswade him to yield unto it but laid it onely as a case of necessity before him though there was no such preamble at the Treaties of Oxford and Uxbridge nor any such necessity at those times insisted upon that unlesse he would take the guilt upon himself his too Houses of Parliament and the people had engaged with them must necessarily bee guilty of Treason and could not have any security from the guilt and punishment The King be â—â—aning himself and People that must be thus shut out from any hopes of peace intreated some expedient or medium might be found out to reconcile the difference But Cains sins being greater then could bee forgiven him unless Abel can be brought to say he killed Cain they that could afterward find an expedient for 21 of their great Council of State that refused to subscribe to the lawfulnesse of murdering the King after it was done could finde none at all for the King to purchase a peace for the People though many kinds of ways and expedients as allowing him to make the like preamble to his own Proposition or the like might have been easily contrived and thought upon For the truth was the Independent party desired no Peace at all and the Presbyterians desired it onely to get into their hands the Kings Power and Authority and lay the guilt of all the blood they had shed for it upon him and both of them were so well content to have him allow of the preamble as the latter thought himself safe and out of controversie if the King took the blood upon him and the former that it would prove no small
ordered by the then Juncto sitting in Parliament that all publick Writings should be issued out under a new Test and Stile and a new great Seale should be made and the old one broken that the Inscription and Stamp of the Coin shall be altered also It was Enacted and Proclaimed that none upon pain of high Treason should presume to declare and publickly promote Charles Stuart Prince of Wales eldest Son of the late King or any of the rest of his Children to be King of England Nevertheless there was not wanting those who ventured their lives and fortunes in asserting the Title of his Majesty to the Crown of England to which end this following Proclamation was Printed and dispersed in severall places of London We the Noble men Judges Knights Lawyers Gentlemen Free-holders Merchants Citizens Yeomen Seamen and Free men of England do according to our Allegiance and Covenant by these presents heartily joyfully and unanimously acknowledge and Proclaim the most Illustrious Charles Prince of Wales next Heir apparent to his Father King Charls whose late wicked murther and all consents there unto we from our souls abominate to be by hereditary birth right and lawfull succession rightfull and undoubted King of Great Brittain c. And we will constantly and sincerely in our severall places and callings defend and maintain his Royall person Crown and Dignity with our Lives and Estates against all opposers whom we hereby declare to be enemies to his Majesty and Kingdomes in Testimony whereof we have caused these to be published throughout all Counties and Corporations of this Realm the 1. day of February In the first year of his Majesties Raign But so totally was the Kings party suppressed in all parts of the Kingdom that the Proclamation was of none essect none daring to appear for the Royal Interest Yet his Majesties greatest hopes and expectations were from Ireland where the severall factions united together Proclaim him King and bend all their whole strength against the Interest of the Common-Wealth of England and in a short time became so formidable and prevail so much as the possessed all the strong Holds of that Country Dublin and London-Derry are excepted both were straitly besieged the former by a gallant Army of 22000 men under the Marquesse of Ormond the latter by a party of the Irish Rebells Hee had likewise adjoining to the Territories of England the Islands of Scilly Jersy and Man which places served as a retreat for that small Fleet that was left him being the remainder of those Ships which had deserted the Parliaments Navy and revolted unto him This while his affairs in Ireland were at the height they began as suddenly to decline for there being about 3000 Horse and Foot safely landed at Dublin as the forlorn of a greater body they were joyned with what other forces they then could make all which did not make above 9000. at the most were commanded by Colonell Mich. Jones who sallying forth of Dublin did not onely raise the seige but also utterly routed the whole Army the Marquesse of Ormond himselfe hardly escapeing about 2000 were slain in the place and in the pursuite some thousands were taken prisoners as like wise all their Ordinaces Ammunition Carriages and Provision The siege of London-Derry was also raised by a resolute sally of Sir Charls Coot forcing Sir Rob. Stewart and Col. Merven to retire immediately upon this success not to give the Royall party any time to recover strength All disturbances being quieted in England The Levellers at Burford being suppressed by Generall Fairfax Oliver Cromwell then Lievetenant Generall of the Parliaments Army landed with a powerfull Army about the midst of August 1649. invested with the Title and Authority of Lord Governour or Lievetenant of Ireland presently after him followed his son in law Major Generall Ireton with about 40. Sail of Ships soon after Drogheda was taken by Storme not without some difficulty and loss and that hee might terrify other Garrisons that should stand out put Sir Arthur Aston all that were in the Town to the Sword which was about 3000. Then followed the taking of a number of considerable Towns and Castles in all parts of Ireland Besides severall Field-battells gained over the Lord Inohiqueen the Lord Ards and Clanduboys with Lievetenant Generall Farrell and others of his Majesties party by the Lord Broghill Sir Charles Coote Collonell Venables Zanchy Reynolds and Hewson so that in lesse then a years time Ireland was subdued to the power of the English Common-Wealth Much about this time hapned a generall defection of the English Plantations from their obedience to the Parliament viz. Virginia and the Caryb Islands publickly own the Royall Interest whereupon all Traffique and Commerce is prohibited thorow which means they are driven to great streits and presently after by a Fleet of Ships from England under the Command of Sir George Ascue they are brought unto conformity The King having Constituted Prince Rupert Admirall of his Fleet did much harm to the English Coasts and takes many rich prizes was at last blockt up in the Harbour of Kings Sale the Town presently after taken by Cromwell The Prince is forced to leave three of his Ships behind he had enough to do to get clear off with the rest at length he arrived at Lisbon the imperiall City of the King of Portugall and craved his protection which was not denied them which was the occasion of a great Contest between that King and the State of England other designes were set on foot by his Majesties Loyall Subjects for the obtaining of his Right The first was of James Graham Earl of Montross for the raising of what force he cold in Holland and else where to invade Scotland The 2. was the procuring a Treaty betwixt his Majesty and the Scots to give more life to these undertakings Ambassadors were dispatcht to Spain Italy Denmarke Sweden and Russia c. In the name of CHARLES the Second King of Great Britain France and Ireland Defender of the Faith The effect of whose Embassies were little else but Complements pleas and excuses for neither men nor mony could be got Montrosse According to his Majesties instructions having got together very considerable supplies of men and monies at length lands in the North of Scotland where he had not long been but Colonell Straughan Colonell Kerr Colonell Mountgomry and Lievetenant Colonell Hackets Troop and another amounting to 230 approach and give battel whereas Montrosse was at least 1200. and their Chief-Leaders such resolute and expert souldiers unlesse struck with fear of Lesley's great Army coming against them however so great was the defeat that the whole body of Montrosse was engaged in the battle There escaped not above 100 from being either taken or slain amongst the prisoners ners were S. Joh. Vrry Major General of Montrosses Army the L. Fendraught Col. Grey Lievetenant Colonell Stewart with a great number of other considerable Officers
smiling Mrs. Lane notwithstanding his Majesty went as her servant yet had a greater respect for him before others pretended him her Tenant's son but on the Road she would always ask what he would have to dinner or supper and what piece of that he liked which she would always be sure to get made ready and give him he still sitting at the lower end of the table But to come to the end of their journey being arrived at Bristol they lodged at the house of a Noble gentleman there and kinsman to Mr. Lastel the King finding it to be a house of great resort feigns himself sick of an Ague and so keeps his Chamber all the day coming down onely at nights but one night coming down and being somewhat cold craves a glass of Wine of the Butler who carries him into the But lery this Butler having before served his Majesties Father in the Wars looking earnestly upon him suspected him to be the King so easily will Majesty appear though veiled in the utmost disguises and thereupon pulling off his hat told him very ceremoniously That he might command what wine he pleased of which the King took no notice but drinking off his Wine went out yet the Butler could not satisfie his suspicion but went up to Mr. Lastels demanded of him how long he had had that servant whereupon Mr. Lastels was very angry at his boldness in daring to ask him such a question but the Butler still persisted and whispering told him that he believed it was the King where upon Mr. Lastels seeing he was discovered sends immediately for his Majesty whom he acquaints with the Butlers discovery of him with whom the King was somewhat angry in regard he did not first acquaint himself with his suspition it not being impossible but that Mr. Lastels might not have known him to be the King but upon pardon asked by the Butler it was granted by the King and he afterwards proved very instrumental in his Majesties conveyance through the Countrey But here at Bristol the chief design they had in hand failed them for though there were a little Barque lay there judged most convenient for the business yet the Master would for no reward transport a single person though he was so honest as only to deny it and made no further search or inquiry concerning the person which might perhaps have tended to a discovery This design here failing his Majesty desired to be brought some miles Westward to the house of a worthy gentleman whom he knew to be a trusty friend where coming in he finds the gentleman in the field with his servants having discovered himself to him he was by him conveyed to a convenient stand till night having first taken leave of his true friends who had thus far conducted him with the danger of their Lives and Estates from whence he was in the dusk conveyed into the house and there carefully concealed for a week till such time as preparation could be made in some Western Port of a passage for him but coming afterwards there where it was provided chancing to dine with a Parliament Colonell then there he thought it the safer to loose the benefit of that passage then adventure to imbarque himselfe singly which might breed suspicion and perhaps have been the means after so many deliverances to have betrayed him into the hands of his enemies This passage then likewise failing him he then returned back to the place from whence he came and concealed himself three weekes longer till in the end it being resolved on he by the assistance of Mr. Ph. was conveyed through the most by-ways they could imagine to a gentlewomans house in Sussex where he lay till a person of true worth and honour made provision of a faithfull Master who with a small Vessel wafted him to a small Creek in Normandy to the great content of the Kings sacred Majesty and all his Loyall Subjects and to the honour of the Master with due reward as in time may appear Soon after this the Juncto at Westminster took order for the reducing of the two Islands Jersie and Man about this time dyed Generall Popham one of the Generals at Sea and IretonCromwells Son in Law of the plague in Ireland No sooner had the English brought things to some quietnesse at home but now new stirs begin to appear abroad The Hollanders being offended at an Act made by that piece of Parliament then sitting at Westminster for the encreasing of shipping and encouragement of Navigation break out into an open warre and the first act of Hostility was May 16. 1652. When Van Trump Admiral of the Dutch Fleet with about 40 two sail comming into Dover Road refused to strike sail hung out a Red flag the usuall sign of defrâ—me and gave a broad-side to Blake the English Admirall which occasioned some hours sharp dispute wherein the Dutch had the worst they lost in this fight two ships and 150 men But of this action the states of Holland would not be concern'd because as they sayd it was done without their approbation and a little the beter to palliate the business they dispatch their Embassadors over into England to renew the Treaty the effect of which proved an open war betwixt the Common-Wealths which was now publickly proclaimed on both sides In July Sir George Ascue with a Squadron of Ships being left to guard the narrow Seas discovered a Fleet of Flemmings between Dover and Callice being about 80. of which ten were taken and burnt the rest ran a shore the Coasts of France Sir George Ascue as he was sailing Westward to guard the Seas and conduct home the Marchant-men that lay at Plymouth on the 16. August between one and 2. in the afternoon they had a sight of the Dutch Fleet they presently made what hast they cold towards them to discover their number which was about 60. sail of men of War and 30 Marchant-men the English were 38. sail and 4. Fireships and 4. Scouts they came up to the enemy about 4. in the afternoon and began the fight with much Gallantry and high resolution this engagement continued feirce till night parted then not without some loss to the English but much more to the Dutch Sept. 27. General Blake with his Fleet discovered on the backside of Goodwin Sands about 60. sail of Dutch-men of War under the Command of Admiral de Wit which bout was called the Kentish Knock they shamefully flying from the English though far more in number were miserably beaten by General Blake Upon the Neck of this breach came into England an Ambassador from the Queen of Sweden where he ended his life before he effected any thing another also from the King of Denmark who also seeing no probability of peace between these Nations departed out of this Kingdom In the Levant Seas asmal Fleet of the English wereset upon by â—â—-sail of Dutch who over-powering them in number took and blew up 5. English Ships About
the beginning of December General Blake himself engaging with the whole Fleet of the Dutch came of with the worst loosing the Garland and Bonaventure and some other Ships About the ending of February the Dutch were miserably overthrown by the English between Portland and the Ifle of Wight In the mean time arrived an Extraordinary Ambassador from the King of Portugal to the Parliament which after many Addresses and Treaties concludes a peace with Obligation to satisfy the English Marchants From France also the English were courted by two partyes by an Agent from the King of France desiring a release of those Ships taken going to the reliefe of Dunkirk by 4. Deputies from the Prince of Conde craving aid against the Cardinal and his Creatures who had straitly besieged the City of Bourdeaux but they both proved ineffectual And now happened a very strange Alteration in the Scene of Affairs in England Cromwel whose ambition was now ripe and who knew he might take a very fit opportunity to usurp that that power he had so long gaped for the people of these Nations being weary of the actions of this Parliament and there dilatory proceedings and apparent intentions of perpetuating themselfs and to defraud the people of their ancient and undoubted Liberties of equal and successive representatives * entered the Parliament-House attended with some of his principal Officers and there delivered certain reasons why a Period ought to be put to that Parliament which was presently done the Speaker with the rest of the Members some by force some through fear and some murmuring departed the House the better to satisfy the wiser sort of people Cromwel and his Officers publish a large Declaration shewing the reasons of his dissolving that Parliament Thus that part of the Parliament who had basely murdered their King and Usurped an Authority over these Nations are turned out of Doors to the scorne and derision of the whole Nation by their Servant Oliver Cromwel Thus that part of the House of Commons which then sat afterwards better known by the name of the Rump being dissolved their power was wholly devolved into the hands of their aspiring General who least the Magistrates and other publique Ministers of the nation should be startled at this so suddain change This following Declaration was published WHere as the Parliament being dissolved persons of approved fidelity and honesty are according to the late Declar-tion of the 22 of April last to be called from the severall parts of this Commonwealth to the supreme Authority and although effectuall proceedings are and have been had for perfecting those resolutions yet some convenient time being required for the assembling those persons it hath been sound necessary for the preventing the mischiefs and inconveniences which may arise in the mean while to the publickaffairs that a Councill of State be constituted to take care of and intend the peace and safety and present management of the affairs of the Commonwealth which being settled acoordingly the same is hereby declared and published to the end all persons way take notice hereof and in their severall places and stations demean themselves peaceably giving obedience to the Laws of the Nation as heretofore and in the exercise and administration whereof as endeavours shall be used that no oppression or wrong be done to the people so a strict account will be required of all such as shall do any thing to endanger the publick peace and quiet upon any pretence whatsoever O. CROMWELL Aprill 30. 1653. These domestick Revolutions did in some measure heighten the spirits of the Dutch for they thought some eminent distractions and commotions would certainly ensue thereupon June 2. The English Fleet being at Anchor without the South-head of the Gober discover about 100 sail of Dutch men of Warre lying two Leagues to Lee-ward the English presently made sail after them after a sharp dispute they take of the Dutch 11. men of war two water-hoyes 6. Captaynes 1500 prisoners and sunck 6. men of War more had not the night prevented the rest of the Dutch-Fleet would in all probabillity have been cut off in this engagement General Dean one of our Admiralls was slain In the mean time Cromwell and his Confederates consult on fit persons on whom the Legislative power of the Nation should be committed to which end the grand Tyrant issueth out warrants under his own hand to a certain number of persons chosen by himself whom he thought would serve his interest to appear at the Counsell Chamber at White-Hall July 4. 1653. Where being accordingly met Cromwell being attended with several Officers of the Army maketh them a short speech and delivereth unto them a writing under his hand and Seal impowering them to be the supreme Legislative Authority of the three Nations from thence they repair to the Parliament house and choose for their Speaker Mr Rouse they begin to debate what they shall call themselves at last they conclude to call themselves the Parliament having sat about four moneths their consultations are chiefly for the taking away of Tythes at last it was moved by some of them that their further sitting would not prove for the peace of the Nation therefore they attend the General and according to command resigned their power into his hands again who presently after assumes to himself the Title of Lord Protector of the Common-wealth of England Scotland and Ireland takes unto himself a Council of twenty one persons by whose assistance all things are carried on during the intervals of Parliament Things being thus translated in England his Royal Majesty not having any further means left him for the regaining of his dominions is constrained to take up his Residence in the kingdom of France where notwithstanding his low condition he lived with great honour and respect with the King Queen and Nobles of France During his abode here in this Court a match was propounded to him viZ. the Duke of Orleances daughter as likewise to his illustrious Brother the noble Duke of York the Duke of Longevills daughter But the troublesome estate of the kingdom of France and his Royal Majesties ill posture of affairs in his own kingdoms soon put a period to this transaction Whilest these things were in agitation happened a difference betwixt the the Prince of Conde and Cardinal MaZarine most of the Princes of the blood side with the first the King of France who now was newly come to age to sway the Scepter with the latter the cause of the quarrel was Cardinal MaZarine his inordinate power and other grand miscarriages of state the people also generally murmure against him the Princes and Parliament of Paris and Bourdeaux are against him as also the Duke of Louraine then in service of the Spaniard things arrived at such a height that nothing but a Civil war was likely to ensue to compose and end these differances his sacred Majesty of England useth his utmost endeavours telling them from his own experience the
miseries of a civil War but all endeavours proved in effectuall for the French King persisted in his resolutions not to give way to the banishment of the Cardinal hereupon the Duke of Lorraine was sent for with his Army to come and joyn with the Princes the Duke having been tampered with by the contrary party and having advantageous termes desisted hereupon aâ— generall report was spread that his Majesty of England had drawn over the Duke to the Kings party because they were often together this coming to the peoples ears so incensed them not onely against the Duke for his perfidiousness But also against his Majesty and the Queen his mother the fury of the people increased so much that the King was forced for his own preservation to retire from the Louver to St Jermans the Queen his mother received many affronts as she passedin her Coach from the Louver to the Nunnery at Chaliot where she kept her Refidence his Majesty now treateth with Lorraine for the recovery of his kingdom of Ireland out of the hand of the English Republick to this end several Articles are agreed unto by the Lord Taffe agent for the King and the Duke amongst other things it was concluded that the Duke should be vested with the power and title of Protector Royall of Ireland But the Duke having not strength enough for this great enterprise this businesse takes no effect his Majesty having stayed at Saint Jermans till the heat of the popular fury was over returned again to the Louvre During his abode there his ilustrious Brother the Duke of Glocester who for a long time had bin under the custody of the English Juncto and at length dismissed and sent into Holland to his sister was from thence attended into France by Sir Marmaduke Langdale and Sir Richard Grenvile and he was honorably received at Paris by the French King Queen-Mother and the rest of the Grandee during his Majesties abode here arrived Mrs. Jane Lane who had so miraculously preserved the King after the fight at Worcester he being exceedingly glad to hear this news immediately sends some persons of quality with Coaches to conduct her to Paris where being come they rejoyce in each others presence let us now a little cast our eyes into England where Cromwell and the Council at White-Hall having usurped the Regall authority carry all by force before them about the latter end of February several persons of quality are carried to the Tower for being Loyal to his Majesty but because nothing of moment could be proved against them they are set at liberty Cromwell being desirous to strengthen himself in the Tyrannical Reigning over his Majesties subjects bethinks himself of making peace with forein States and Princes to that end presently patches up a very disadvantageous peace with the Dutch presently after concludes a peace also with Christina Queen of Sweden a a little before the resignation of her Crown to her Couzen Carolus Gustavus In May following several persons are charged with high Treason for endeavouring to take away the Protectors life seize upon the Tower and proclaim his Majesty King of Great Brittain a High Court of Justice is erected Col. Gerard Peter Vowel School-master and Somerset Fox are condemned to die the last is reprieved for his ample confessions Col. Gerrard was beheaded at Tower hill and Vowel hanged at Charing-Cross on the same day Don Pantalaon Sa Brother to the Portugal Ambassadour was beheaded for engaging in a quarrel on the New Exchange where one Mr. Greneway was slain His Sacred Majesty having now remained in the Court of France about two or three years sometimes being lifted up high with hopes of regaining his three kingdoms other times being cast down with fears sollicitates the States of Holland again to own his Royall interest but they having made a peace with Oliver onely complement him with a letter full of civility and now that which troubled his Majesty most was this the French Court notwithstanding all means used to the contrary by the King of England his mother and other friends prepare to send over an Ambassadour into England hereupon his sacred yet still suffering Majesty leaves that kingdom having taken his farewell of the King and other great ones from whom he received many Complements and Apologies being accompanied with his brother the Duke of York his Couzens Prince Rubert and Prince Edward Palatine to Chatilion a house belonging to the Prince of Conde where they stayed a while to confider how to dispose of themselves to th' best advantage his Majesty with Prince Rupert resolves for Germany having before sent the Lord Wilmot before Ambassadour to the Emperor to negotiate in his behalf Prince Edward took his journey to Burbone the Duke of York remaining in France till after the peace with England is concluded being Lieutenant General of the French Army the young Duke of Glooester after his Brother was gone into Germany by reason of the Queen his Mother and some others of the Catholique Religion was placed in the Colledge of the Jesuits there to have been bred up in the Romish Religion Intelligence thereof being soon brought to his Majesty he being not a little displeased soon takes order for his remove which was exactly performed Oliver according to one Article in his Government called a Parliament to meet at Westminster Sept. 3. 1654. William Lenthal master of the Roll being chosen Speaker at their first sitting they begin to question the lawfulness of the power by which they were called this highly Offended Oliver Protector and made him resolve to put a Period to their sitting so when they had sat about 5 mouths he dissolved them soon after the dissolution of the Parliament the Court was allarmed with news of a great rising in Shropshire Montgomryshire Wiltshire Nottinghamshire Northumberland and Yorkshire in the behalf of his Royal Majesty Sir Henry Littleton Sir John Packington and Major Wildman are secured and sent Prisoners to the Tower Sunday 11. March a Party about 200. enter Salisbury seize upon Horses take away Commissions from the Judges as they were going there circuit and march towards Cornwal they are met with by Captain Vnton Crook and after a sharp dispute totally routed their chief Captains were taken viz. Penruddock Jones and Grove Sir Joseph Wagstaffe made a shift to escape shortly after Penruddock and Grove were beheaded at Exon and Jones was repreived several other risings in other parts of this Kingdom but were all suppressed and now Cromwel prepares a very great Fleet but for what end none knew but some principal Commanders In the mean time the King of Spain sends over as Extraordinary Ambassador the Marquis of Leda who was here conplemented by our new Court but finding which way things went after a short stay returns to his own Country presently after his departure this great Fleet steer there course towards Hispaniola one of the fairest Islands belonging to the American Dominions of the King of Spain at
lâ—st the English land in the Island of Hispanola without any opposition and seeing no enemy near them think themselves sole Masters of the Indies They having marched a many miles through the woods are ready to perish with faintness and for want of water and now the Spanish Negros fall upon them and miserably kill them with little resistance drive them out of the Iland the remainder of those that escaped this Buchery possess themselves of Jamaica now G. Blake with a little better success being come before Tunis demands reparation for the losses sustained from Turkish Pyrates but being answer'd in scorn by the Dye of Tunis fired 9. Ships and came off with little loss but much glory to himself notwithstanding the former ill successes of the Royal party are sent to the Tower upon suspition of Treason The Lord Willonby of Parham and the Lord Newport The Illustrious Duke of Glocester having staid for some times with his sister the Princess Royall â—â— at Hague was now resolved to go to his Brother Our most gracious King then at Cullen being come thither with his Sister they stay till after the Fair at Franckfort to which place they made a progresse of State and pleasure being attended with the Marquesse of Ormond Lord Goring Lord Newburrough and Lady Stanhop c. As they passed through every Princes Country they were complemented by their Chief Officers of state and saluted by all the great Guns from all their Towers and Castles in an especiall manner The Prince Elector of Ments sent his grand Marshall to invite them to his Court whereupon the Lord Newburrough was sent back to desire to excuse them at present promising to wait upon them at his return being arrived at Franckfort and hearing that Queen Christiana of Swedn was coming that was in her journy to Italy his sacred Majesty sent one of his Lords to her signifying his desire to wait upon her at what place her Majesty should be pleased to Nominate the place appointed for this Interview was Collingsteen a Village near Frankfort where his Royall Majesty was received by her with much respect he had Private conference with her about half an hour then the Duke of Glocester and then the Lords that attended his Majesty Lord Jermyn and other English Lords Takes his Journey to Flaunders where at that time our dread Soveraign did reside at the Kind invitation of Don John of Austria then Governour of the Low-Countries let us now leave our King a little and look a while into his dominions where Cromwell notwithstanding his ill success in the last Parliament through his necessities is compelled to call another to meet at Westminster 17 September where the Navy Commanded by General Mountague lying to intercept the Spanish plate coming from the West Indies obtained a great victory over the Spaniard near Cadize six hundred thousand pieces of eight taken besides many ships fired and many other rich prizes taken This Parliament being met on the day appointed petition and advise Cromwell to take upon him the name and Title of King which his tender conscience could not swallow because he was affraid of some of his aspiring Officers and now a desperate attempt against the life of Oliver is found out and one Miles Sindercomb is apprehended and presently after tried and condemned to be hanged drawn sty As they came from Frankfort the Elector of Mentz renewed his civilities provided all manner of Accommodations for them as they passed thorow his Territories meeting them himselfe a great part of the way he brought them to one of his Pallaces where he entertained them after a sumptuous and splendid manner for two or three days after which they returned to Collen four Burgo Masters being appointed to wait on them and welcome them homâ— About the beginning of November 1656. A peace is concluded by Cromwell with the French the principall condition of this Treaty was the exclusion of our Royall Soveraign with all his relations and adherents out of the King of France his Dominions The thrice Noble Heroick and truly Valiant Duke of Yorke notwithstanding his great Command in the King of France his Army which was Lievetenant Generall is now advertized to depart the Kingdome by a prefixed time which act the French may perhaps hereafter have cause enough to rue which now being come he takes his leave of the King and Court of France being attended by the and quartered but he on the day appointed for his execution saves them that labour by making away himself by snuffing up some poysonous powder into his head whereupon it was ordered that he should be dragged naked at a Horses heels from the Tower to the scaffold on Tower hill and there buried having an Iron stake thrust into his belly c. In April 1657. several fifth Monarchy-men are apprehended for having a design to subvert this grand Tyrant and his Government Major General Harrinson Lawson and others are apprehended but nothing could positively be proved against them Now according to conditions of agreement betwixt England and France the French King desires Auxiliary forces from England to help him in his Wars against the Spaniard in Flanders which was readily granted by Cromwel 6000. Foot are accordingly sent over under the command of Col. Reynolds who are no sooner landed but suddenly they take the strong Fort of Mardike After Cromwel had given his final answer that he could not accept of the Title of King he was by the Parliament instated Lord Protector in a most solemne manner June 26. Cromwel having now as he thought setled his Throne bethinks himself of advancing his nearest friends and relations to that end he sends for his eldest Son Richard out of the Country to enure him to a Court life and that he might have some insight into State affairs designing him for succession in the Protectorship which the University of Oxford fore-seeing send their Proctors to elect him their Chancellor in which honour he was solemnly installed at Whitehall His Second Son Henry he created Lord Lieutenant of Ireland his two youngest Daughters he matched the eldest to Mr. Robert Rich Grand-child to the then Earl of Warwick The younger to the Lord Faulconbridge the Nuptials of them both was celebrated with much Splendor at Whitehal Hampton Court scarse was the mirth of these solemnities over but the Court is allarmed with the death of Gen. Blake Vice-Admiral Badiley and Lieutenant General Brain presently after Col. Reynolds and his Company were cast away by Goodwin Sands coming from Flanders The Parliament so called having adjourned themselves from the 6 th of June untill the 20 th of January following and now those other Members were admitted who formerly were excluded There is also another House of Parliament so called chosen by Cromwel consisting most part of Officers of the Army with some of the old Nobility this latter being as it were a House of Peers But this other House would not down with the House