people take a Protestation An Act for putting downe the High Commission Court and Starre-Chamber with other occurrences of that time The Queene Mother departeth England The King goeth into Scotland THe Parliament conceiving themselveâ— somewhat strengthened and secured by by that Act of continuance began to fall upon the maine businesse of the Kingdome but their first desire was to ease themselves of that unsupportable charge of keeping two Armies in pay It was therefore resolved that both the Armies should forthwith be disbanded The Earle of Holland was nominated by the King and well approved of by the Parliament to go down as Generall for disbanding of the English And for the speedy disbursement of so great a summe which was to be raised out of the Poll-Money of which I shall speake anon and the â—ix Subsidies much Plaâ—e was appointed with more then ordinary haste to be melted and coyned The Reader will here perchance desire to be satisfied by what meanes the Scottish Army which the King in the beginning of the Parliament was so dâ—sirous to have driven out of the Kingdome and stiled Rebells should continue undisbanded till this time The Cessation of Armes which was made before to expire about the end of December last was at that time renewed by the Parliament for a Moneth longer who presently after tooke it into consideration that the Scots should be satisfied for all their charges they had been at and losses sustained since that unhappy Warre that the King had raised against them In the February following after a serious debate concerning that businesse the necessities of the Scots being well weighed and their demands considered it was not onely agreed that their Ships taken since that Warre should be restored and 4000. l. in ready money given to them to rigge those Ships but for the maine of all it was resolved upon by both Houses to give the full summe of 300000. l. in these words expressed Towards a supply of the losses and necessities of our Brethren of Scotland and that the Parliament would in due time take into consideration the manner of raising and daies of payment Whereupon the Scottish Commissioners three daies after returned thankfulnesse to the Parliament not onely for that great summe of 300000. l. but for the stile of Brethren which they had given them And the same weeke to continue and further strengthen the amity of both Nations the Parliament of England Ordained that all Books Libels and Proclamations against the Scots should be called in and a thanksgiving to God should be in all Churches thorow England for the happy conclusion of that peace But before the time came that the Parliament pressed with so many great and weighty Affaires could have leisure to consider and fully determine the times for payment of that great summe to the Scots which was not till the 19. day of the following Iune when it was concluded that they should receive 100000 l. of it at Midsomer come twelve Moneth and the other 200000. l. at Midsomer two yeares after the Scots presented many Papers to the House at severall times for money to supply the wants of their Army which were friendly entertained and considered by the Parliament for that Army was kept long undisbanded insomuch as about the end of the following May there was in Arreare due to the Scottish Army besides the gift of 300000 l 120000. l. So great a charge was the Parliament of England content to be at rather then suffer the Scots to go till businesses were better setled which gave occasion to many of the Clergy and others not well affected to them not onely in discourse but written Libels to taxe the Parliament and impute it to them as a crime of too much distrust of the King and that they kept a forraigne Army to awe their owne Prince But certaine it is that since that time when the forenamed Conspiracies began to breake out the Houses not well assured of the King nor fully trusting the English Army were content that the Scots should not be disbanded untill the other were being also doubtfull of that Irish Army which the King as is before expressed had told them he could not disband for some reasons best knowne to himselfe Nor was that Army of Scots disbanded till August at the same time when the English Army was by the Earle of Holland appointed Generall to that purpose And both the Armies quietly departed conducted to their owne homes by Order from Justices of Peace through the severall Counties To defray so vast a charge as the payment of two great Armies the Parliament besides the grant of six Subsidies imposed a Taxe seldome or never knowne which was that of the Poll-Money wherein the whole Kingdome were to be personally assessed Every Duke at 100 l. a Marquesse at 80 l. Earles at 60 l. Viscounts and Barons at 40 l. Knights of the Bathe 30 l. other Knights 20 l. Esquires 10 l. every Gentleman dispending 100 l. per annum was seized at 5 l. and all others of ability to pay a competent proportion the meanest head of the whole Kingdome was not excused under six pence This Bill of Poll-Money was offered by the Houses to the King together with two other of great concernment one for putting downe the High Commission Court and the other for putting downe the Starre-Chamber But the King shewed some reluctancy in that businesse desiring to passe only that Bill of Poll-Money for the present and to deliberate about passing of the other two At which the House of Commons being certified so much by the Lords were not well contented and voted that his Majesty should passe all three or none at all Notwithstanding the King upon the second of Iuly did accordingly passe the Poll-Money and demurred upon the other two But understanding that the matter was so ill taken and loath upon mature deliberation to displease the Kingdome at that time he came againe upon the following Tuesday being the fifth of Iuly and passed the other two for putting downe the High Commission and Starre-Chamber Many of the Courtiers and neerest servants about the King were very sorry that his Majesty seeing that he passed those two Bills so soone after had not freely done it at the same time as was desired together with the Poll-Money Because it might be thought an unwillingnesse in him and that his heart which was then feared did not perfectly concurre with his Peoples desires Whereby much of the thanks which so great a grace freely and forwardly expressed might have deserved did seeme in a manner lost The King therefore at the passing of those two Bills told them as much That He could not but be sensible of those reports of discontent which he had heard was taken by some for his not passing them before and thought it very strange that two things of so great importance should be expected from him without an allowance of time to consider of them That he wondred they could harbour any
The effect of that Protestation was for we cannot here insert it at large That the Service Booke was full of Superstition and Idolatry and ought not to be obtruded upon them without consent of a Nationall Synod which in such cases should judge That it was unjust to deny them liberty to accuse the Bishops being guilty of high crimes of which till they were cleered they did reject the Bishops as Judges or Governours of them They protested also against the High Commission Court and justified their owne meetings and superscriptions to Petitions as being to defend the glory of God the Kings Honour and Liberties of the Realme This Protestation was read in the Market place at Sterlin and the Copy hung up in publike CHAP. IV. The Scots enter into a Covenant The Marquesse HAMILTON is sent thither from the King A Nationall Synod is granted to them but dissolved within few daies by the Marquesse as Commissioner from the King The King declares against the Covenanters and raises an Army to subdue them FRom Sterlin the Commissioners resorted to Edenburgh whither many from all parts met to consult of the present businesse and concluded there to renew solemnly among them that Covenant which was commonly called The lesser confession of the Church of Scotland or The confession of the Kings family which was made and sealed under King JAMES his hand in the yeare 1580. afterwards confirmed by all the Estates of the Kingdome and Decree of the Nationall Synod 1581. Which Confession was againe subscribed by all sorts of persons in Scotland 1590. by authority of Councell and Nationall Synod and a Covenant added to it for defence of true Religion and the Kings Majesty which Covenant the aforesaid Lords Citizens and Pastours in the yeare 1638. did renew and tooke another according to the present occasion The Covenant it selfe expressed at large in the Records of that Kingdome consisted of three principall parts The first was a re-taking word for word of that old Covenant 1580. confirmed by Royall Authority and two Nationall Synods for defence of the purity of Religion and the Kings Person and Rights against the Church of Rome The second part contained an enumeration of all the Acts of Parliament made in Scotland in defence of the reformed Religion both in Doctrine and Discipline against Popery The third was an application of that old Covenant to the present state of things where as in that all Popery so in this all innovations in those Bookes of Lyturgy unlawfully obtruded upon them are abjured and a preservation of the Kings Person and Authority as likewise a mutuall defence of each other in this Covenant are sworne unto Against this Covenant the King much displeased made these foure principall objections First By what authority they entred into this Covenant or presumed to exact any Oath from their fellow Subjects Secondly if they had power to command the new taking of this Oath yet what power had they to interpret it to their present occasion it being a received Maxime That no lesse authority can interpret a Law then that which made it or the Judges appointed by that Authority to give sentence upon it Thirdly What power they had to adde any thing to it and interpose a new Covenant of mutuall assistance to each other against any other power that should oppose them none excepted And fourthly That all Leagues of Subjects among themselves without the privity and approbation of the King are declared to be seditious by two Parliaments in Scotland one of the tenth Parliament of JAMES the sixth Act the twelfth and the other the fifteenth Act of the ninth Parliament of Queene MARY What answer the Covenanters made to these objections and what arguments the King used to enforce the contrary are largely expressed in many writings being such indeed as not onely then but since in the sad calamities of England have been discoursed of in whole volumes containing all that can be said concerning the true Rights and Priviledges of Princes and People The Covenant notwithstanding was generally subscribed by all there present at Edenburgh in February 1638. and Copies of it sent abroad to those who were absent and so fast subscribed by them also that before the end of Aprill he was scarce accounted one of the Reformed Religion that had not subscribed to this Covenant And the Church and State were divided into two names of Covenanters and Non-Covenanters the Non-Covenanters consisting â—irst of Papists whose number was thought small in Scotland scarce exceeding six hundred Secondly some Statesmen in Office and favour at that time Thirdly someâ— who though they were of the Reformed Religion were greatly affected to the Ceremonies of England and Booke of Common-Prayer Many Bishops at that time came from thence to the Court of England and three Lords of the Councell of Scotland whom the King had sent for to advise about the affaires of that Kingdome where after many debates what course to take whether of reducing the Covenanters by Armes or using more gentle meanes The King at last sent the Marquesse HAMILTON together with those three Lords into Scotland The Marquesse arrived at Dulketh and within few daies entred Edenburgh in Iune being met and conducted into the City by a great multitude of all ranks in which number were seven hundred Pastors of Churches The Marquesse by the Kings Command dealt with the Covenanters to renounce their Covenant or else told them there was no hope to obtaine a Nationall Synod which they so much desired for setling of the Church which they affirmed could not be done without manifest perjury and profanation of Gods Name But when nothing was agreed upon they besought the Marquesse at his returne into England to present their humble desire to the King But before his departure in Iuly he published the Kings Proclamation wherein his Majesty protests to defend the Protestant Religion and that he would no more presse upon them the Booke of Canons or Service Booke but by lawfull Mediums That he would rectifie the High Commission and was resolved to take a speedy opportunity of calling both a Parliament and Synod When the Proclamation was ended the Covenanters read their Protestation of which the heads were That they never questioned his Majesties sincerity in the Protestant Religion That these grants of his were not large enough to cure the present distempers for he doth not utterly abolish that Service-Booke nor the High Commission being both obtruded against all Law upon them That their meetings are not to be condemned in opprobrious words being lawfull and such as they would not forsake untill the purity of Religion and peace might be fully setled by a free and Nationall Synod The Marquesse went into England to returne at a prefixed day the twelfth of August In the meane time the Scots keepe a solemne Fast and the Covenanters not hoping from the King so quick a call of a Nationall Synod as the present malady required published a writing wherein
pounds and the rest of the Clergy according to their abilities proportionably to make up the summe Certaine it is it was not in any substantiall way advantagious to the King but onely to give them time and opportunity to taxe the Clergy in Money for supplying his Majesty in the Warre then on foot against the Scots The King must needs be driven to a great exigent at that time having so expensive a Warre in hand and wanting the assistance of Parliament The courses that were then taken by the King to supply that defect were partly the contribution of the Clergy to whom that Warre was lesse displeasing then to the Laity Collections were made among the Papists Writs of Ship-money were issued out againe in a greater proportion then before great Loanes were attempted to be drawne from the City of London to which purpose the names of the richest Citizens were by command returned to the Councell Boord But these waies being not sufficient some other were made use of which were of a nature more unusuall as the seizing of Bolloine in the Tower the Lord COTTINGTON also for the Kings use tooke up a great Commodity of Pepper at the Exchange to be sold againe at an under rate A consultation was also had of coyning 400000. l. of base Money upon allegation that Queen ELIZABETH had done the like for her Irish Warres but the King waved that upon reasons which the Merchants gave of the inconveniencies of it The Scots hearing of the breach of this English Parliament thought it high time to provide for their owne safety and being restrained in their Trade and impoverished by losse of Ships seized in divers parts resolve to enter England with a sword in one hand and a Petition in the other signifying in the meane time to the people of England in two large Remonstrances what their intentions were to that Nation and the reasons of their entrance which who so pleases may reade at large in their printed Booke When the King had notice of the Scots intentions a Fleet was forthwith sent to annoy the Maritime Coasts of Scotland and a Land Army to meet at Yorke where the Earle of STRAFFORD as President of the North commanded in Chief though the Earle of NORTHUMBERLAND at the time of raising the Army was named Generalissimo but for want of health could not be present A great Magazine of Ammunition had been sent to Hull Newcastle and Berwick the Castle of Edenburgh being kept by RIVEN a firme man to the Kings side But in the Expedition of the Kings Army towards the North it was a marvellous thing to observe in divers places the aversenesse of the Common Souldiers from this Warre Though Commanders and Gentlemen of great quality in pure obedience to the King seemed not at all to dispute the cause or consequence of this Warre the Common Souldiers would not be satisfied questioning in a mutinous manner Whether their Captaines were Papists or not and in many places were not appeased till they saw them receive the Sacrament laying violent hands on divers of their Commanders and killing some uttering in bold speeches their distaste of the Cause to the astonishment of many that common people should be sensible of publike Interest and Religion when Lords and Gentlemen seemed not to be By this backwardnesse of the English Common Souldiers it came to passe that the Warre proved not so sharpe and fatall to both Nations as it might otherwise have done Some blood was shed but very little first at Newburne a Towne five miles distant from Newcastle where part of the English Army encamped to intercept the passage of the Scots as they marched toward Newcastle But many of the English Souldiers forsooke their Commanders and â—led sooner then the use of that Nation is to do in Warre But the English Horse made good a fight and with great courage and resolution charged upon the Scots but all in vaine their number being too small In this Skirmish which happened upon the 28. of August the number of men slaine on both sides is not related either by the English or Scottish Relation but certaine it is that it was not great Three valiant and active Commanders of the English Army were taken Prisoners Colonell WILMOT Sir JOHN DIGBY and ONEALE the two latter being Papists and both Captaines of Horse This fight opened that rich Towne of Newcastle to the Scots and within few daies after they put a Garrison into Durham commanded by the Earle of Dumferling and taking that Fort of Newcastle upon Tine intercepted some Ships which were newly arrived there with Provision of Corne for the Kings Army Some blood was also shed about the same time when part of the English Garrison at Berwick hearing that some Ammunition was layed up in a little Towne of Scotland Dunsian made an attempt upon it but found it better fortified then was expected and were repelled with some slaughter from whence hearing that a greater power of Scots was making toward them under the command of the Lord HADINTON who unfortunately perished afterward blowne up with powder at Dunglasse they returned to Berwick The King during these Skirmishes had by Proclamation warned all the English Nobility with their followers and Forces to attend his Standard at Yorke against the Scots the 20. of September where whilest himselfe in Person resided he received an humble Petition from the Scots containing an expression of their loyalty to him and the innocence of their intentions toward England But their expressions were in such generall termes that the King returned answer to the Earle of LANURICK Secretary for Scotland Commanding them to specifie their demands more particularly Which whilest the Scots prepared to do it pleased God to open the hearts of many English Lords who considering and bewailing the great calamity and dishonour which England was then throwne into by these unhappy proceedings of the King framed an humble Letter subscribed by all their hands and sent it to His Majesty wherein they represent to him the miserable condition of the Kingdome and mischiefes attending that wicked Warre as the danger of his Person the waste of his Revenue the burden of his Subjects the rapines committed by that Army which he had raised wherein Papists and others ill-affected to Religion are armed in Commands who are not by the Lawes permitted to have Armes in their owne houses The great mischiefe which may fall upon the Kingdome if his intentions which are reported of bringing in Irish and forraigne Forces should take effect The urging of Ship-money The multitude of Monopolies and other Patents to the great and universall grievance of his people The great griefe of the Subjects for the long intermission of Parliaments for dissolving of the last and former dissolutions of such as have been called without any good effect For remedy whereof and for prevention of future dangers to his owne Royall Person and the whole State they humbly intreat his Majesty That he would be pleased
House upon the eighth day of June last past they refused to appear and returned a scornful Answer by a Letter under their hands directed to the Speaker of the Lords House and remaining there upon Record For which Crimes and Misdemeanours to the interruption of the proceedings of Parliament and great Affairs of the Kingdom and tending to the dissolution of the Parliament and disturbance of the Peace of the Kingdom I am commanded in the name of the said Commons to demand of your Lordships that the said Lords may be forthwith put to their Answer and receive speedy and exemplary punishment according to their demerits The Commons saving to themselves liberty at all times hereafter to exhibite any other or further Impeachment or Accusation against the said Lords or any of them Upon this Impeachment of the nine Lords the House of Peers about a month after being in their Robes entred into debate of the said Impeachment and after divers Speeches made by some Lords setting forth the greatnesse of their Offence they were censured 1. Never to sit more as Members of that House 2. That they should be utterly uncapable of any benefit or priviledges of Parliament 3. That they should suffer Imprisonment during their pleasure After which Censure it was concluded that the said Lords should be demanded in the behalf of both Houses of Parliament to submit to the said Censure About that time when the Members of both Houses of Parliament did daily forsake their station and repair to the King at York another accident fell out which gave a great wound to the Parliament and much encouragement to the King in his designes which was the carrying away of the Great Seal of England from London to York EDWARD Lord LITTLETON on whom the King when the Lord Keeper FINCH fled out of England as is before related had conferred the keeping of the Great Seal he being before Lord chief Justice of the Common-Pleas and created a Baron of the Realm had continued for some space of time after the rest were gone to York firm to the Parliament in all appearance and upon all occasions voted according to the sense of those that seemed the best affected that way and among other things gave his Vote for setling the Militia by Ordinance of Parliament insomuch that there seemed no doubt at all to be made of his constancy till at the last before the end of the month of Iune a young Gentleman one Master Thomas Eliot Groom of the Privie Chamber to the King was sent closely from York to him who being admitted by the Lord Keeper into his private Chamber when none else were by so handled the matter whether by perswasions threats or promises or whatsoever that after three hours time he got the great Seal into his hands and rid post with it away to the King at York The Lord Keeper Lâ—TTLETON after serious consideration with himself what he had done or rather suffered and not being able to answer it to the Parliament the next day early in the morning rode after it himself and went to the King Great was the complaint at London against him for that action nor did the King ever shew him any great regard afterwards The reason which the Lord Keeper LITTLETON gave for parting so with the great Seal to some friends of his who went after him to York was this That the King when he made him Lord Keeper gave him an Oath in private which he took That whensoever the King should send to him for the great Seal he should forthwith deliver it This Oath as he averred to his friends his conscience would by no means suffer him to dispense withal he onely repented though now too late that he had accepted the Office upon those terms The Parliament to prevent so sad a War sent out two Orders one to all Sheriffsâ— Justices and other Officers within 150 miles of the City of York that they should take special care to make stay of all Arms and Ammunition carrying towards York until they have given notice thereof to the Lords and Commons and received their further direction and to that purpose to keep strict Watches within their several limits to search for and seize all such Arms and apprehend the persons going with the same The other was to the Sheriff of Lancashire and other adjacent Counties to suppresse the raising and coming together of any Souldiers Horse or Foot by any Warrant from the King without the advice of the Lords and Commons in Parliament as likewise to declare all that should execute any such Warrant from the King disturbers of the peace of the Kingdom and to command the Trained Bands to be assistant to the Sheriffs in that service These Orders of the Parliament were immediately answered by a Proclamation from the King forbidding all his Subjects belonging to the Trained Bands or Militia of this Kingdom to rise march muster or exercise by vertue of any Order or Ordinance of one or both Houses of Parliament without Consent or Warrant from his Majestie The Parliament notwithstanding proceed in setling the Militia of the Kingdom having made on the second of Iune an Order for those revolted members to return to their duty again before the 16 of that month under the forfeiture of an hundred pound to be disposed to the Wars in Ireland besides undergoing such punishment as the Houses should think fit and had by this time at many places began to settle the said Militia Upon the same second of Iune also the Lords and Commons sent a Petition to the King with nineteen Propositions which the King received with great indignation as appeared in his Answer to them both in general and in divers Particulars concerning those Propositions as esteeming himself injured in restraint of his Power and Prerogative The Petition and Propositions were as followeth The humble Petition and Advice of both Houses of Parliament with Nineteen Propositions and the Conclusion sent unto His Majestie the second of Iune 1642. YOur Majesties most humble and faithful Subjects the Lords and Commons in Parliament having nothing in their thoughts and desires more precious and of higher esteem next to the honour and immediate Service of God then the just and faithful performance of their duty to Your Majestie and this Kingdom And being very sensible of the great distractions and distempers and of the imminent dangers and calamities which those distractions and distempers are like to bring upon Your Majestie and Your Subjects all which have proceeded from the subtil informations mischievous practices add evil counsels of men disaffected to Gods true Religion Your Majesties Honour and Safety and the publike Peace and Prosperity of Your People after a serious observation of the causes of those Mischiefs Do in alâ— humility and sincerity present to Your Majesty their most dutiful Petition and Advice that out of Your Princely Wisdom for the establishing Your Own Honour and Safety and gracious tendernesse of the Welfare and
furnish by way of Loan unto the Committee of Lords and Commons for the defence of the Kingdom the sum of one hundred thousand pounds for the supply of the publike necessity for defence of the King Parliament and Kingdom upon the publike Faith to be repayed duely and carefully within so short a time that it shall not be diverted from that purpose for which it was intended or any way frustrate the Acts already made in the behalf of that Adventure During the time of these Paper-conflicts the King in person had often removed and visited many places To the Gentry of Leicestershire he made a Speech on the 20 of Iuly after his usual manner with Protestations of his great love to the people and care of the Kingdom And from thence removing Northward on the fourth of August he made a Speech after the same manner to the Gentry of York-shire from whence he returned back to Nottingham and there set up his Standard Royal. Very few people resorted to it Nor had the King at this time a considerable strength to guard his Person if any attempts had been to have seized upon him From Nottingham on the 25 of August the King sent a Message to the Parliament by the Earls of Southampton and Dorset and Sir JOHN CULPEPER one of the Members of the House of Commons who had deserted the Parliament and went to the King at York having not long before been made by him Chancellour of the Exchequer The King's Message to both Houses of Parliament from Nottingham Aug. 25. 1642. We have with unspeakable grief of heart long beheld the Distractions of this Our Kingdom Our very Soul is full of Anguish until We may finde some Remedy to prevent the Miseries which are ready to overwhelm this whole Nation by a Civil War And though all Our endeavours tending to the composing of those unhappie Differences betwixt Vs and Our two Houses of Parliament though pursued by Vs with all Zeal and Sincerity have been hitherto without that Successe we hoped for yet such is Our constant and earnest care to preserve the publike Peace that We shall not be discouraged from using any Expedient which by the blessing of the God of mercy may lay a firm foundation of Peace and Happinesse to all Our good Subjects To this end observing that many Mistakes have arisen by the Messages Petitions and Answers betwixt Vs and Our two Houses of Parliament which haply may be prevented by some other way of Treaty wherein the matters in difference may be more clearly understood and more freely transacted We have thought fit to propound to you That some fit persons may be by you enabled to treat with the like number to be authorized by Vs in such a manner and with such freedom of Debate as may best tend to that happie Conclusion which all good men desire The Peace of the Kingdom Wherein as We promise in the word of a King all safety and encouragement to such as shall be sent unto Vs if you shall chuse the place where We are for the Treaty which we wholly leave to you presuming the like care of the safety of those We shall employ if you shall name another place So We assure you and all Our good Subjects that to the best of Our understanding nothing shall be therein wanting on our part which may advance the true Protestant Religion oppose Popery and Superstition secure the Law of the Land upon which is built as well Our just Prerogative as the Propriety and Liberty of the Subject confirm all just Power and Priviledges of Parliament and render Vs and Our people truely happie by a true understanding betwixt Vs and Our two Houses of Parliament Bring with you as firm resolutions to do your duty and let all Our People joyn with Vs in Our prayers to Almighty God for his blessing upon this Work If this Proposition shall be rejected by you We have done Our duty so amply that God will absolve Vs from the guilt of any of that blood which must be spilt And what opinion soever other men may have of Our Power We assure you nothing but Our Christian and pious care to prevent the effusion of blood hath begot this motion Our provision of Men Arms and Money being such as may secure Vs from further violence till it please God to open the eyes of Our People The Answer of the Lords and Commons to the King's Message of the 25 of August 1642. May it please Your Majestie The Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled having received Your Majesties Message of the 25 of August do with much grief resent the dangerous and distracted state of this Kingdom which we have by all means endeavoured to prevent both by our several Advices and Petitions to Your Majestie which have been not onely without successe but there hath followed that which no evil Counsel in former times hath produced or any age hath seen Those several Proclamations and Declarations against both the Houses of Parliament whereby their Actions are declared Treasonable and their Persons Traitours and thereupon Your Majestie hath set up Your Standard against them whereby you have put the two Houses of Parliament and in them this whole Kingdom out of Your Protection So that until Your Majestie shall recal those Proclamations and Declarations whereby the Earl of Essex and both Houses of Parliament their adherents and assistants and all such as have obeyed and executed their Commands and Directions according to their duties are declared Traitors or otherwise Delinquents and until the Standard set up in pursuance of the said Proclamations be taken down Your Majestie hath put us into such a condition that whilst we so remain we cannot by the Fundamental Priviledges of Parliament the publike Trust reposed in us or with the general good and safety of this Kingdom give Your Majestie any other Answer to this Message Within few days after the King sent Instructions under his Privie Signet to his Commissioners of Array for the several Counties of England and Wales as to Marquesse Hartford whom the King had made Lieutetenant-General of all the Western Counties as is before expressed to the Earl of Cumberland Lord-Lieutenant of York-shire and the Lord STRANGE Lieutenant for Lancashire and Cheshire in which Instructions he commands them to pursue the Earl of Essex whom he again calls Rebel and Traitour Immediately after the King sent a Reply to that Answer of the Parliament to his last Message of the 25 of August which being short that the Reader may the more truely inform himself of the nature of this strange division I shall wholly insert in the very words We will not repeat what means We have used to prevent the dangerous and distracted estate of the Kingdom nor how those means have been interpreted because being desirous to avoid effusion of blood We are willing to decline all memory of former Bitternesse that might make Our offer of a Treaty lesse readily accepted We never
Army This Petition he carried to Northampton to the Generall to be by him presented according to the Parliaments desire to His Majesty in a safe and honourable way In which Petition nothing at all according to their former Declarations is charged upon the King himselfe but only upon his wicked Councell and the former mis-governments briefly mentioned and that this wicked Councell have raised an horrid Rebellion and Massacre in Ireland and ever since by opposition against the Parliament hindered the reliefe of that Kingdom and at last drawne his Majesty to make a War upon his Parliament leading an Army in Person to the destruction of his people depriving his good Subjects of his Majesties protection and protecting those Traytors against the Justice and Authority of Parliament WE the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament have for these are the words of the Petition for the just and necessary defence of the Protestant Religion of your Majesties Person Crowne and Dignity of the Lawes and Liberties of the Kingdome and the Priviledges and power of Parliaments taken up Armes appointed and authorized ROBERT Earle of ESSEX to be Captaine Generall of all the Forces by us raised to conduct the same against those Rebels and Traytors to subdue and bring them to condigne punishment And we do most humbly beseech your Majesty to withdraw your Royall Presence and Countenance from these wicked persons and if they shall stand out in defence of their rebellious and unlawfull attempts that your Majesty will leave them to be supprest by that Power which we have sent against them And that your Majesty will not mix your owne dangers with theirs but in peace and safety without your Forces forthwith returne to your Parliament and by their faithfull advice compose the present distempers and confusions abounding in both your Kingdomes and provide for the security and honour of your selfe and Royall Posterity and the prosperous estate of all your Subjects Wherein if your Majesty please to yeeld to our most humble and earnest desires We do in the presence of Almighty God professe That we will receive your Majesty with all Honour yeeld you all due obedience and subjection and faithfully indeavour to secure your Person and Estate from all dangers and to the uttermost of our Power to procure and establish to your selfe and to your People all the blessings of a glorious and happy Reigne According to this Petition were those Directions from the Parliament to the Lord Generall sent at the same time wherein the Lord Generall is required by the Houses to use his utmost indeavour by Battell or otherwise to rescue the Kings Person the Persons of the Prince and Duke of Yorke out of the hands of those desperate persons now about them Another Direction was That if his Majesty upon this humble Petition should be pleased to withdraw himselfe from the persons now about him and returne to the Parliament that then the Lord Generall should disband and should serve and defend his Majesty with a sufficient strength in his returne Another Direction was That his Excellency should proclaime pardon to all those who were at that time seduced against their Parliament and Country if within ten daies after that Proclamation they would returne to their duty doing no hostile act within the time limited Provided that this should not extend to admit any man into either House of Parliament who stands suspended without giving satisfaction to that House whereof he was a Member and excepting all persons impeached for Delinquency by either House and those persons who have been eminent Actors in these Treasons and therefore impeached in Parliament of High Treason such as were at that time declared and there named the Earles of Bristoll Cumberland Newcastle and Rivers Secretary NICHOLAS Master ENDYMION PORTER Master EDWARD HIDE the Duke of Richmond the Earle of Carnarvan Viscount Newarke and Viscount Fawkland These were the persons at that time voted against and declared Traytors though afterwards others were added to the number of them and many of these left out as occasions altered Such Directions and others for the advantage of the Army and behoose of the Countries thorow which he was to march were given by the Parliament to his Excellency but above all things to restraine carefully all impieties prophannesse and disorders in his Army The Generall arriving at Northampton was there possessed of a great and gallant Army well furnished at all points consisting of about twenty thousand with those that within few daies were to come thither An Army too great to finde resistance at that time from any Forces a foot in England for the Kings side had then small strength What they had consisted of Horse who in small Parties roved up and downe to make Provision and force Contribution in severall places Prince RUPERT especially like a perpetuall motion with those Horse which he commanded was in short time heard of at many places of great distance The care therefore which his Excellency especially tooke was so to divide his great Army as to make the severall parts of it usefull both to annoy the stragling Troops of the Enemy and ptotect those Counties that stood affected to the Parliament as also to possesse himselfe either in his owne Person or by his Lieutenants of such Towns as he thought might be of best import if this sad War should happen to continue From Northampton he marched to Coventry to make that considerable City a Garrison for the Parliament and from thence to Warwick and having fortified that Towne marched away towards Worcester upon intelligence that the King himselfe intended to come thither with his Forces for his desire was to finde out the King and the Parliament to whom he imparted his designe by Letter approved well of his advance towards Worcester The City of Worcester as well as the whole County had beene in great distractions by reason not only of the dissenting affections of the Inhabitants but the frequent invitations from both sides if we may call that an invitation which is made by armed force Sir JOHN BYRON had first entred Worcester for the Kings side whom Master FIENNES Sonne to the Lord SAY had opposed for the Parliament and afterward Prince RUPERT with five hundred Horse not farre from the City was encountred by Master FIENNES who commanded another Body about that number the skirmish was but small and not above twelve men slaine as the report was made at London But before the Lord Generall could arrive at Worcester who was marching thither from Warwick as was before expressed there happened a fight there not to be omitted in regard of the persons that were there slaine or wounded though the number of men in generall that fell were small Prince RUPERT was then at Worcester with twelve Troops of Horse when about that City divers of the Parliaments Forces were though not joyned in one Body but dispersed The Prince marched out of the City into a greene Meadow and there set his
observations of a stranger concerning the Religion of the English people IT cannot but be thought by all wise and honest men that the sinnes of England were at a great height that the injustice of Governours and vices of private men were very great which have â—â—nce called downe from Almighty God so sharpe a judgement and drawne on by degrees so calamitous and consuming a Warre Those particular crimes an English Historian can take no pleasure to relate but might rather desire to be silent in and say with STATIUS Nos certe taceamus obruta multa Nocte â—egi nostrae patiamur crimina gentis Let us be silent and from after times Conceale our own unhappy Nations crimes But to be silent in that were great injustice and impiety toward God to relate his judgements upon a Kingdome and forget the sinnes of that Kingdom which were the cause of them The Heathen Historians do well instruct us in that point of piety who never almost describe any Civill Warre or publike affliction without relating at the beginning how vitious and corrupted their State was at that time grown how faulty both the Rulers and People were and how fit to be punished either by themselves or others Nor doe any of the Roman Poets undertake to write of that great and miserable Civill Warre which destroyed the present State and enslaved posterity without first making a large enumeration of such causeâ— how wicked the manners of Rome were growne how the chiefe Rulers were given to avarice and oppression and the whole State drowned in luxury lusts and riot as you may see upon that subject in two the most elegant of them And shall we Christians who adore the true God and live under the Gospell-light not be sensible under so heavy a judgement of our owne offences To begin with the faultâ— of the higher powers and their illegall oppression of the people during these eight or nine yeers in which Parliaments were denyed to England which I briefly touch referring the Reader to a more full narration in the Remonstrance multitudes of Monopolies were granted by the King and laid upon all things of most common and necessary use such as Sope Salt Wine Leather Sea-cole and many other of that kinde Regia privaâ—is creseunt aeraria damnis Claud. By losse of private men th' Exchequer growes Large sumâ— of Money were exacted thorow the whole Kingdome for default of Knighthood under the shadow of an obsolete Law Tonnage and Poundage were received without the ordinary course of Law and though they were taken under pretence of guarding the Seas yet that great Tax of Ship-money was set on foot under the same colour by both which there was charged upon the people some years neere 700000. li. though the Seas at that time were not well guarded These things were accompanied with an enlargement of Torrests contrary to Magna Charta the forcing of Coat and Conduct-Money taking away the Armes of Trayned Bands in divers Counties disarming the people by engrossing of Gunpowder keeping it in the Tower of London and setting so high a rate upon it that the poorer sort were not able to buy it nor could any have it without license whereby severall parts of the Kingdome were left destitute of their necessary defence No Courts of Judicature could give redresse to the people for these illegall sufferings whilest Judges were displaced by the King for not complying with his will and so awed that they durst not do their duties For to hold a rod over them the clause Quandiu se bene geserint was leâ—t out of their Patents and a new clause Durante bene placito inserted New illegall Oathes were enforced upon the Subjects and new Judicatories erected without Law and when Commissions were granted for examining the excesse of Fees and great exactions discovered the Delinquents were compounded with not onely for the time past but immunity to offend for the time to come which in stead of redressing did confirme and encrease the grievance of the Subjects By this time all thoughts of ever having a Parliament againe were quite banished so many oppressions had been set on â—oot so many illegall actions done that the onely way to justifie the mischiefes already done was to do that one greater To take away the meanes which was ordained to redresse them the lawfull Government of England by Parliaments Whilest the Kingdome was in this condition the serious and just men of England who were no way interessed in the emolument of these oppressions could not but entertaine sad thoughts and presages of what mischiefe must needs follow so great an injustice that things carried so farre on in a wrong way must needs either inslave themselves and posterity for ever or require a vindication so sharpe and smarting as that the Nation would groane under it and though the times were jolly for the present yet having observed the judgement of God upon other secure Nations they could not chuse but feare the sequell Another sort of men and especially Lords and Gentlemen by whom the pressures of the Government were not much felt who enjoyed their owne plentifull fortunes with little or insensible detriment looking no farther then their present safety and prosperity and the yet undisturbed peace of the Nation whilest other Kingdomes were embroyled in calamities and Germany sadly wasted by a sharpe Warre did nothing but applaud the happinesse of England and called those ingratefull and factious spirits who complained of the breach of Lawes and Liberties That the Kingdome abounded with wealth plenty and all kinde of elegancies more then ever That it was for the honour of a people that the Monarch should live splendidly and not be curbed at all in his Prerogative which would bring him into the greater esteeme with other Princes and more enable him to prevaile in Treaties That what they suffered by Monopolies was insensible and not grievous if compared with other States That the Duke of TUSKANY sate heavier upon his people in that very kinde That the French King had made himselfe an absolute Lord and quite depressed the power of Parliaments which had beene there as great as in any Kingdome and yet that France flourished and the Gentry lived well That the Austrian Princes especially in Spaine layed heavy burdens upon their Subjects Thus did many of the English Gentry by way of comparison in ordinary discourse pleade for their owne servitude The Courtiers would begin to dispute against Parliaments in their ordinary discourse That they were cruell to those whom the King favoured and too injurious to his Prerogative That the late Parliament stood upon too high termes with the King and that they hoped the King should never need any more Parliaments Some of the greatest Statesmen and Privy Counsellors would ordinarily laugh at the ancient Language of England when the word Liberty of the Subject was named But these Gentlemen who seemed so forward in taking up their owne yoake were but a small part
of the Nation though a number considerable enough to make a Reformation hard compared with those Gentlemen who were sensible of their birth-rights and the true interest of the Kingdome on which side the common people in the generality and Country Freeholders stood who would rationally argue of their owne Rights and those oppressions that were layed upon them But the sins of the English Nation were too great to let them hope for an easie or speedy redresse of such grievances and the manners of the people so much corrupted as by degrees they became of that temper which the Historian speakes of his Romans ut nec mala nec remedia ferre possent they could neither suffer those pressures patiently nor quietly endure the cure of them Prophannesse too much abounded every where and which is most strange where there was no Religion yet there was Superstition Luxury in diet and excesse both in meat and drinke was crept into the Kingdome in an high degree not only in the quantity but in the wanton curiosity And in abuse of those good creatures which God had bestowed upon this plentifull Land they mixed the vices of divers Nations catching at every thing that was new and forraigne Non vulgo not a placebant Petronius Gaudia non usu plebejo trita voluptas Old knowne delight They scorne and vulgar bare-worne pleasure sleight As much pride and excesse was in Apparell almost among all degrees of people in new fangled and various fashioned attire they not only imitated but excelled their forraigne patternes and in fantasticall gestures and behaviour the petulancy of most Nations in Europe Et laxi crines tot nova nomina vestis Petr. Loose haire and many new found names of clothes The serious men groaned for a Parliament but the great Statesmen plyed it the harder to compleat that worke they had begun of setting up Prerogative above all Lawes The Lord WENTWORTH afterward created Earle of STRAFFORD for his service in that kinde was then labouring to oppresse Ireland of which he was Deputy and to begin that worke in a conquered Kingdome which was intended to be afterward wrought by degrees in England And indeed he had gone very farre and prosperously in those waies of Tyranny though very much to the end ammaging and setting backe of that newly established Kingdome He was a man of great parts of a deepe reach subtle wit of spirit and industry to carry on his businesse and such a conscience as was fit for that worke he was designed to He understood the right way and the Liberty of his Country as well as any man for which in former Parliaments he stood up stiffely and seemed an excellent Patriot For those abilities he was soone taken off by the King and raised in honour to be imployed in a contrary way for inslaving of his Country which his ambition easily drew him to undertake To this man in my opinion that character which LUCAN bestowes upon the Roman Curio in some sort may suit Haud alium tauta civem tulit indole Roma Aut â— ui plus Leges deberent recta sequenâ—i Perdita tune urbi nocuerunt secula postquam Ambitus Luxus opum metuenda facultas Transverso mentem dubiam Torrente tulerunt Momentumque fuit mutatus curio rerum A man of abler parts Rome never bore Nor one to whom whilest right the Lawes ow'd more Our State it selfe then suffer'd when the tide Of Avarice Ambition factious pride To turne his wavering minde quite crosse began Of such high moment was one changed man The Court of England during this long vacancy of Parliaments enjoyed it selfe in as much pleasure and splendour as ever any Court did The Revels Triumphs and Princely Pastims were for those many yeares kept up at so great a height that any stranger which travelled into England would verily believe a Kingdom that looked so cheerefully in the face could not be sick in any part The Queene was fruitfull and now growne of such an age as might seeme to give her priviledge of a farther society with the King then bed and board and make her a partner of his affaires and businesse which his extreme affection did more encourage her to challenge That conjugall love as an extraordinary vertue of a King in midst of so many temptations the people did admire and honour But the Queenes power did by degrees give priviledge to Papists and among them the most witty and Jesuited to converse under the name of civility and Courtship not only with inferiour Courtiers but the King himselfe and to sowe their seed in what ground they thought best and by degrees as in complement to the Queene Nuntio's from the Pope were received in the Court of England PANZANI CON and ROSETTI the King himselfe maintaining in discourse That he saw no reason why he might not receive an Embassadour from the Pope being a Temporall Prince But those Nuntio's were not entertained with publike Ceremony so that the people in generall tooke no great notice of them and the Courtiers were confident of the Kings Religion by his due frequenting Prayers and Sermons The Clergy whose dependance was meerely upon the King were wholly taken up in admiration of his happy Government which they never concealed from himselfe as often as the Pulpit gave them accesse to his eare and not onely there but at all meetings they discoursed with joy upon that Theam affirming confidently that no Prince in Europe was so great a friend to the Church as King CHARLES That Religion flourished no where but in England and no reformed Church retained the face and dignity of a Church but that Many of them used to deliver their opinion That God had therefore so severely punished the Palatinate because their Sacriledge had beene so great in taking away the endowments of Bishopricks Queene ELIZABETH her selfe who had reformed Religion was but coldly praised and all her vertues forgotten when they remembred how she cut short the Bishoprick of Ely HENRY the eight was much condemned by them for seizing upon the Abbies and taking so much out of the severall Bishopricksâ— as he did in the 37 yeer of his Reigne To maintaine therefore that splendour of a Church which so much pleased them was become their highest endeavour especially after they had gotten in the yeare 1633. an Archbishop after their owne heart Doctor LAUD who had before for divers yeares ruled the Clergy in the secession of Archbishop ABBOT a man of better temper and discretion which discretion or vertue to conceale would be an injury to that Archbishop he was a man who wholly followed the true interest of England and that of the Reformed Churches in Europe so farre as that in his time the Clergy was not much envied here in England nor the Government of Episcopacy much dis-favoured by Protestants beyond the Seas Not onely the pompe of Ceremonies were daily increased and innovations of great scandall brought into the Church but in point of
Doctrine many faire approaches made towards Rome as he that pleaseth to search may finde in the Books of Bishop LAUD MOUNTAGUE HELYN POCKLINGTON and the rest or in briefe collected by a Scottish Minister Master BAILY And as their friendship to Rome encreased so did their scorne to the Reformed Churches beyond the Seas whom instead of lending that reliefe and succour to them which God had enabled this rich Island to do they failed in their greatest extremities and in stead of harbours became rocks to split them Archbishop LAUD who was now growne into great favour with the King made use of it especially to adâ—vnce the pompe and temporall honour of the Clergy procuring the Lord Treasurers place for Doctor JUCKSON Bishop of London and indeavouring as the generall report went to fix the greatest temporall preferments upon others of that Coat insomuch as the people merrily when they saw that Treasurer with the other Bishops riding to Westminster called it the Church Triumphant Doctors and Parsons of Parishes were made every where Justices of Peace to the great grievance of the Country in civill affaires and depriving them of their spirituall edification The Archbishop by the same meanes which he used to preserve his Clergy from contempt exposed them to envy and as the wisest could then prophecy to a more then probability of losing all As we reade of some men who being fore-doomed by an Oracle to a bad fortune have runne into it by the same meanes they used to prevent it The like unhappy course did the Clergy then take to depresse Puritanisme which was to set up irreligion it selfe against it the worst weapon which they could have chosen to beat it downe which appeared especially in point of keeping the Lords day when not only books were written to shake the morality of it as that of Sunday no Sabbath but sports and pastims of jollity and lightnesse permitted to the Country people upon that day by publike Authority and the Warrant commanded to be read in Churches which in stead of producing the intended effect may credibly be thought to have been one motive to a stricter observance of that day in that part of the Kingdome which before had been well devoted And many men who had before been loose and carelesse began upon that occasion to enter into a more serious consideration of it and were ashamed to be invited by the authority of Church-men to that which themselves at the best could but have pardoned in themselves as a thing of infirmity The example of the Court where Playes were usually presented on Sundaies did not so much draw the Country to imitation as reflect with disadvantage upon the Court it selfe and sowre those other Court pastims and jollities which would have relished better without that in the eyes of all the people as things ever allowed to the delights of great Princes The countenancing of loosenesse and irreligion was no doubt a good preparative to the introducing of another Religion And the power of godlinesse being beaten downe Popery might more easily by degrees enter men quickly leave that of which they never took fast hold And though it were questionable whether the Bishops and great Clergy of England aimed at Popery it is too apparent such was the designe of Romish Agents and the English Clergy if they did not their owne worke did theirs A stranger of that Religion a Venetian Gentleman out of his owne observations in England will tell you how farre they were going in this kinde his words are THe Vniversities Bishops and Divines of England do daily imbrace Catholike opinions though they professe it not with open mouth for feare of the Puritans For example They hold that the Church of Rome is a true Church That the Pope is superiour to all Bishops That to him it appertaines to call generall Counsels That it is lawfull to pray for soules departed That Altars ought to be erected in summe they believe all that is taught by the Church but not by the Court of Rome The Archbishop of Canterbury was much against the Court of Rome though not against that Church in so high a kinde For the Doctrine of the Roman Church was no enemy to the pompe of Prelacy but the Doctrine of the Court of Rome would have swallowed up all under the Popes Supremacy and have made all greatnesse dependant upon him Which the Archbishop conceived would derogate too much from the King in Temporalls and therefore hardly to be accepted by the Court as it would from himselfe in Spiritualls and make his Metropoliticall power subordinate which he desired to hold absolute and independent within the Realme of England It is certaine that the Archbishop of Canterbury as an English Gentleman observes would often professe against those Tridentine Papists whom only he hated as Papists properly so called For at the Councell of Trent all matters concerning the Court of Rome which are of themselves but disputable were determined as points of faith to be believed upon paine of damnation But matters of faith indeed concerning the Church of Rome were left disputable and no Anathema annexed to them But that Venetian Gentleman whom before we cited declares in what state for matter of Religion England at that time stood and how divided namely into Papists Protestants and Puritans Papists are well knowne The Protestant party saith he consists of the King the Court Lords and Gentlemen with all that are raised by favour to any honour Besides almost all the Prelates and both the Vniversities What the Protestants are he farther declares viz. They hate Puritans more then they hate Papists That they easily combine with Papists to extirpate Puritans and are not so farre engaged to the Reformed Religion but that they can reduce themselves againe to the old practise of their fore-fathers That they are very opinionative in excluding the Popes Supremacy He speaks then concerning the Puritans and saies That they consist of some Bishops of almost all the Gentry and Communalty and therefore are far the most potent party And further declares what they are viz. They are such as received the Discipline of the French and Netherlanders and hold not the English Reformation to be so perfect as that which CALVIN instituted at Geneva That they hate Papists far more then they hate Protestants c. Thus farre of this strangers observation concerning England CHAP. III. The condition of the Scottish State and Clergy when the new Booke of Lyturgy was sent unto them how it was received with some effects which followed The Kings Proclamation sent by the Earle of TRAQUARE against which the Lords make a Protestation IN this condition stood the Kingdome of England about the yeare 1636. when the first coale was blowne which kindled since into so great a combustion as to deface and almost ruine three flourishing Kingdomes Neither was this coale blowne by the grieved party of England the Communalty and those religious men that prayed for Reformation but by
to declare unto them in a Parliament which former Princes used to call upon lesse occasions but not revealing the proceedings of it to the Body of his Privy Councell acquainting onely some of them whom he thought fittest for his purpose as the King himselfe expresseth in two places of his owne Booke intituled A large Declaration concerning the late tumults in Scotland pag. 76. and page 126. in fine the Scots are declared Rebels and the King in Person with an English Army richly furnished is going to chastise them CHAP. V. The aversenesse of the English people from this Warre with Scotland The King advanceth to Yorke with his Army The preparation of the Scottish Covenanters A pacification is made and both Armies disbanded Another preparation for Warre with Scotland A Parliament called to begin in England on the 13. of April The Parliament of Scotland is broken off by command of the King to the Earle of Traquare NEver were the people of England so averse from any Warre as neither hating the Enemy against whom nor approving the cause for which they were engaged Their owne great sufferings made them easily believe that the Scots were innocent and wronged by the same hand by which themselves had beene oppressed and for the cause it was such wherein they could not desire a Victory supposing that the same Sword which subdued the Scots must destroy their owne Liberties and that the contrivers of this Warre were equall Enemies to both Nations Nor was this onely the thought of wisest Gentlemen but the common people in generall were sensible of the mutuall interest of both Kingdomes Those Courtiers who were in all things wholly complyant to the Kings will did also dislike this Warre with Scotland though not for the same reason which the forenamed did as not considering the cause or quarell but the disadvantage of the Warre it selfe Those disadvantages they used to vent in contemptuous expressions of the poverty of Scotland That nothing could be gotten from such wretched Enemies That the King were happy if with his Honour he might suffer it to be rid of that Kingdome and would be a great gainer by the losse of it The younger Courtiers were usually heard to wish Scotland under water or that the old Wall of SEVERUS the Emperour were now re-edified Those Courtiers that were of a graver discourse did likewise seeme to feare the consequence of this bâ—sinesse and I remember would daily mention the Story of CHARLES Duke of Burgundy his pressing of a Warre upon the Swissers and what PHILIP DE COMMINES relates about the Battell of Granson that the Duke lost to the value of three millions of Crownes all which he fondly ventured against so wretched a people that it is there expressed if all the Swissers had been taken Prisoners they would not be able to pay a Ransom to the value of the Spurres and Bridle-bits in his Campe And very frequent in their mouthes was that Verse Curandum in primis ne magna injuria fiat Fortibus miseris Juvenal Take heed of offering too great injuries To people stout and poore But the people of England though they abhorred the very thought of that unnaturall Warre yet glad they seemed to be that such an occasion happened which might in reason necessitate the King to call an English Parliament and so by accident redresse the many grievances of England Which might also prevent the feare of such Warres for the future and bring a just punishment upon those who were sound to be the Authors or assistors of this present disturbance But the King though resolved to pursue his designe of Warre rather then take the advice of a Parliament was content to want the aid of it and to seeke supplies of a lower condition Great sums of money he borrowed from the chiefe Nobility and required proportionable Loanes from all the Judges and Officers but specially the Clergy of all ranks were liberall in contribution to this War which was then called by many men Bellum Episcopale All Courtiâ—â—s as well extraordinary as ordinary were summoned to attend the King in Person with Horse and Armes in a proportion suitable to their rankes By whom and such voluntiers of the Gentry as came in to gaine His Majesties favour with old Souldiers that imbraced it as their profession a gallant Army was made up Yorke was appointed for the Rendezvouze and the Earle of ARUNDELL Commander in chiefe The King as it was well knowne had beene advertised by many and especially by the prosecuted Bishops who were fled out of Scotland that the Scottish Covenanters were in no sort able to resist him That scarce any English Army at all would be needfull to fight but onely to appeare and His Majesty would finde a party great enough in Scotland to do the worke And indeed much might have been done in that kinde if the Lords of the Covenant had not used a most dexterous and timely prevention which is as necesssry in a defensive as an offensive Warre For besides the feared incursion of the English upon their Borders and what invasion the Deputy of Ireland on the Westerne Coast might make together with the Earle of ANTRIM and his Forces from the Hebrides the Marquesse HUNTLEY in the North and Marquesse DUGLAS towards the Southerne parts with the Earle of HETH were to be feared and the Towne of Aberden to be secured before it could fortifie to receive the Kings Fleet. All which with timely care was undertaken and provided against by severall Lords as ARGILE for the West MONTROSSE for the North Colonell MONROE for the South The most considerable Forts in that Kingdome were taken in at the beginning without any blood or resistance and furnished by them with Ammunition as Edenburgh and Dun-Britain and the Haven of Leeth to secure Edenburgh suddenly fortified All Neuters or suspected persons they disarmed without tumult The Castle of Dalketh they scaled and tooke with all the warlike provision which had been brought into it by Marquesse HAMILTON the yeare before In that Castle they found the Kings Crowne Scepter and Sword which in great state and solemnity were carried from thence by the greatest Noblemen and layed up in Edenburgh Castle The Covenanting Lords at the same time published a long Remonstrance in answer to the Kings Proclamation against them the 27. of February and to satisfie the people of England concerning their proceedings and intents The Marquesse HAMILTON arrived at Forth with a Fleet in May and sent Letters to the Governour of Edenburgh to obey the Kings Commands and especially to publish in Edenburgh that Proclamation which had been by the King proclaimed at Yorke upon the 25â— of Aprill wherein among other things the Rents and Debts due to Covenanters from Tenants and others are forbidden to be paid to them The Governour desired the Marquesse to expect an answer till the Parliament sate which was to begin within few daies who returned answer to the Marquesse That they could not
in that obey his Command for many reasons expressed at large in their Commentaries In the meane time the King commanded the Parliament to dissolve which immediately obeyed And being threatned with Warre on every side elected Sir ALEXANDER LESLEY an experienced Commander in the German Warres to be their great Generall to whom all the greatest Earles and Lords of the Covenant swore obedience in all warlike Commands taking an Oath of him for performance of his duty and immediately betooke themselves every man to his charge throughout all parts of the Kingdome according as they were commanded by LESLEY Whilest the Armies on both sides advanced forward and no decision of this difference seemed with reason to be hoped for but such as the stroke of Warre must allow The Scottish Covenanters did neverthelesse continue their first course of petitioning the King and by many addresses to him protested their loyalty to his Crowne and Person and did not omit by Letters and Messages to solicite as Advocates those English Noblemen whom they esteemed best and truest Patriots as the Earles of ESSEX PEMBROOKE and HOLLAND as supposing that this Warre was not approved of by any that were firme to the Cause of Religion and Liberties of both Kingdomes for so themselves expresse it The Earle of DUMFERLING having free passage about that time to the English Army assured his fellow-Covenanters that those Noble fore-named Earles and almost all the English Nobility were much averse from this Warre and â—avourers of their suit to the King Which did so much encourage the Covenanters to continue their humble Petitions to the King and God being pleased to give his blessing that after some few Messages to and fro the King was pleased to give leave that six of them should come and personally treat at the Earle of ARUNDELL his Tent upon the tenth of Iune with some of the English Nobility at which Discourses some few daies after the King himselfe vouchsafed to be present At last after many humble expressions of the Covenanters and some expostulations of the King with them by the happy mediation of wise and noble Councellors a Pacification was solemnly made upon such Articles as gave full satisfaction to all parties save onely that the Scottish Covenanters were not pleased with some expressions which the King had used in the Preface to the Pacificatory Edict as calling their late Synod Pseudo Synodus Glasquensis and aspersing their proceedings in Armes with such Epithites as tumultuous illegall and rebellious Which notwithstanding at the humble suit of them the King was pleased to moderate to expunge some of those harsh phrases as likewise to explaine more cleerely other ambiguous sentences to take away all suspitions from peoples hearts the Copies of which were delivered to divers of the English Nobility who had taken faithfull paines in procuring that happy peace that if any doubts should afterwards happen their judgements might be taken concerning the intention of the writing The King also declared for satisfaction of the Scots That though his expressions at some places might seeme harsh yet his meaning to them was never the worse That care must be taken of his owne reputation in forraigne parts and that litigation about words was vaine when the matter was cleere and their suit wholly granted The King granted them a free Nationall Synod to be holden upon the sixth of August following and a Parliament to begin upon the 20. day of the same Moneth to confirme and ratifie what the Synod should decree which the Scots thankfully receive esteeming that to be the onely proper and efficatious way to settle a firme peace both in Church and State They were also joyfull that the King had promised to be there himselfe in person but that hope afterwards failed them for the King excused himselfe affirming that urgent and weighty affaires at London as he was certified by Letters from his Queen and Councell required his presence there but that he would send a Deputy thither with full power to make good whatsoever he had promised which was the Earle of TRAQUARE This Pacification to the great joy of good men was solemnly concluded on the 18. of Iune 1639. and both Armies within eight and forty houres to be disbanded which was accordingly done and both the English and Scots returned home praising God who without any effusion of blood had compounded this difference and prevented a Warre so wickedly designed But that joy lasted not long for the Earle of TRAQUARE the Kings Commissioner could not agree with the Scottish Parliament the Scots complaining that nothing was seriously performed which the King had promised at the Pacification as shall more appeare afterward But however it were within a little time after that the King had been at London that Paper which the Scots avowed to containe the true Conditions of that Pacification was by the King disavowed and commanded by Proclamation to be burned by the hands of the hangman though the Contents of that Paper were not named at all in the Proclamation nor the people of England acquainted with any of them Which put the English in great feare that the former Councells of divisions yet prevailed in the Court especially discerning a shew of preparation for Warre againe But leaving the Scots at their Parliament a while In the meane time the Lord WENTWORTH Deputy of Ireland arrived in England and was received by the King with great expressions of grace and favour dignified with a higher Title and created Earle of Strafford Great was the expectation of all the English what might be the effect of his coming over great was the opinion which men in generall had conceived of his ability and parts looking at him as the onely hinge upon which the State was now likely to turne But very different and various were the conjectures of Gentlemen at that time in their ordinary discourses for I will relate the truth what use this great Statesman would make of his ability and favour Some as they wished did seeme to hope when they considered his first right Principles that whatsoever he had acted since his greatnesse was but to ingratiate himselfe perfectly with the King that so at last by his wisdome and favour he might happily prevaile both upon the Kings judgement and affection and carry him from those evill Councells which he had long beene nurtured in to such waies as should render him most honourable and happy That the Earle was so wise as to understand what most became a wise man and would make greatnesse beloved and permanent But others durst not hope so much from him when they considered his Government in Ireland and the ambition of the man They feared that neither his vertue was great enough to venture his owne fortunes by opposing any evill Councells about the King nor his favour great enough to prevaile in over-ruling That he was sent for onely to compleat that bad worke which others of lesse braine then he had begun Which he would
by the House of Commons guilty of High Treason for foure causes 1. Disobeying the House in refusall to speake at their command when he was Speaker in Parliament in the fourth yeare of King CHARLES 2. For threatning some Judges in the matter of Ship-money 3. For his illegall and cruell Judgements in the Forrest businesse when he was Lord Chiefe Justice of the Common Pleas. 4. For drawing that injurious Declaration after dissolution of the last Parliament Upon which a Charge was drawne up against him and carried up to the Lords upon the 14. of Ianuary three weeks after his flight by the Lord FAWKLAND who presented it with a very pithy and sharpe Oration against the man These two last Delinquents though men of eminent place in the Common-wealth as they did not long trouble the Parliament nor much retard the progresse of publike businesse preventing their Trialls by timely flight so can they take up no large roome in this Historicall Narration CHAP. VIII The Tryall and death of the Earle of Strafford Conspiracies detected during the agitation of it An Act for continuance of this present Parliament With a mention of that Grant of the Trienniall Parliament in February before BUt now a greater Actor is brought upon the Stage THOMAS Earle of Strafford Lieutenant of Ireland a man too great to be let escape no sooner accused but surprized and secured for a Tryall Which Tryall of his if we consider all things the high nature of the Charge against him the pompous circumstances and stately manner of the Triall it selfe the time that it lasted the pretiousnesse of that time so consumed and lastly of what moment and consequence the successe of it must prove I may safely say that no Subject in England and probably in Europe ever had the like So great it wasâ— that we can hardly call it the Triall of the Earle of Strafford onely the Kings affections toward his People and Parliament the future successe of this Parliament and the hopes of three Kingdoms depending on it were all tryed when Strafford was arraigned Many Subjects in Europe have played lowder parts upon the Theater of the world but none left it with greater noise nor was the matter of his accusation confined within one Realme three whole Kingdoms were his Accusers and eagerly sought in one death a recompence of all their sufferings That we may say of his case as CLAUDIAN of RUFFINUS Offensis Ruffinum divide terris Within ten daies after the Parliament began the Earle of Strafford newly returned from the North was sitting in the House of Lords when Master PYMME an ancient Gentleman of great experience in Parliamentary affaires and no lesse knowne fidelity to his Country came up to the Lords and in the name of all the Commons of England accused THOMAS Earle of Strafford Lord Lieutenant of Ireland of High Treason and desired their Lordships that he might be sequestred from Parliament and forthwith committed to Prison as also to let them know that the Commons within very few daies would resort to their Lordships with the particular Articles and grounds of this Accusation The Earle was required to withdraw and after a debate thereof called in was committed to safe custody to the Gentleman Usher And immediately after upon the 13. day of November a Serjeant at Armes was sent into Ireland for Sir GEORGE RATLIFFE a great Favourite of the Earles and one that under him had beene very active in the oppression of Ireland a man of subtle wit and knowledge of the Law as having before beene educated at the Innes of Court and taken the degree of Barrister Sir GEORGE accordingly upon the fourth of December came in and yeelded himselfe to the Speaker from whence he was committed to custody And foure daies after the Lords of Parliament sent the Earle of Strafford to the Tower with a strict command to the Lieutenant that he should keepe a close guard upon him Much time was interposed betweene the severall proceedings against this Earle of Strafford by reason of the multiplicity of weighty businesse which the Parliament then had But before the end of Ianuary a long Charge was read against him in the House of Commons and a Message not long after sent to the Lords to desire that he might be sequestred from all his places of Dignity and Honour in England and Ireland The Charge against him consisted of nine Articles which afterwards upon a further impeachment were extended to eight and twenty All those Articles are to be seene at large in the Records But for further satisfaction of the Reader I will give a briefe touch of the scope of them The first and second being much alike concerning his ruling of Ireland and those parts of England where his Authority lay in an Arbitrary way against the fundamentall Lawes of the Kingdome which Lawes he had indeavoured to subvert Thirdly his retaining part of the Kings Revenue without giving a legall account Fourthly The abusing of his Power to the increase and incouragement of Papists Fifthly That he maliciously had indeavoured to stir up Hostility betweene England and Scotland Sixthly That being Lieutenant Generall of the Northerne Army he had wilfully suffered the Scots to defeat the English at Newburne and take Newcastle that by such a losse and dishonour England might be ingaged in a Nationall and irreconcileable quarrell with the Scots Seventhly That to preserve himselfe from questioning he had laboured to subvert Parliaments and incense the King against them Eightly and lastly That these things were done during the time of his Authority as Deputy of Ireland and Lieutenant Generall of the Northerne Armies in England The Commons saving to themselves a liberty of further impeachment against the said Earle c. do require his legall answer to all The further impeachment consisting of 28. Articles was for the most part branched out of these and insisted upon in more particulars concerning his Tyranny in Ireland over divers persons contrary to Law Concerning which the Reader must be referred to the Records themselves as being too large to be here inserted The Earle of Strafford upon the 23. of February was brought before the Lords to give in his answer which he accordingly did the King himself being there present to heare it read It was very large and when it was done he was sent back to the Tower there to remaine till further Order A Committee being appointed to consider of that businesse upon the fourth of March following made report in the House That they would mannage and maintaine their Accusation of Treason against him and thought it not fit to reply to his Answer but call him to speedy triall Immediately upon which a Conference was had with the Lords concerning that Triall and some Circumstances which were thought fit to be used at it The Commissioners of Scotland had likewise a Charge against the Earle of Strafford concerning those injuries which as they conceived their Nation and Kingdome had suffered from him
Realme contrary to the said Doctrine and according to the duty of my Allegiance I will maintaine and defend his Majesties Royall Person Honour and Estate as also the Power and Priviledge of Parliaments the lawfull Rights and Liberties of the Subjects and every Person that shall make this Protestation in whatsoever he shall do in the lawfull pursuance of the same and to my power as farre as lawfully I may I will oppose and by all good waies and means endeavour to bring condigne punishment on all such as shall by force practise counsels plots conspiracies or otherwise do any thing to the contrary in this present Protestation contained And further That I shall in all just and honourable waies indeavour to preserve the union and peace betwixt the three Kingdomes of England Scotland and Ireland and neither for hope feare or any other respects shall relinquish this Promise Vow and Protestation It were not amisse in this place briefly to mention some alterations which had been made before the time that the King tooke his journey into Scotland though they were not done immediately about that time but some weekes or Moneths before because they concerne some Noble men of whom we shall have occasion hereafter to make mention in the course of this History The Lord COTTINGTON upon the 17. of May 1641. had resigned his place Master of the Wards the Lord Viscount SAY and SEALE succeeded him in that Office Within few daies after the Lord Treasurer Doctor JUCKSON Bishop of London resigned his Staffe and the Office was committed to five Commissioners About that time the Earle of Leicester lately come from being Ambassadour in France was by the King made Lord Lieutenant of Ireland The Earle of Newcastle was removed from being Governour to the Prince and the Marquesse of Hartford appointed in his roome THE HISTORY OF THE PARLIAMENT OF ENGLAND The Second Book CHAP. I. A Standing Committee during the Recesse of â—oth Houses of Parliament The Rebellion of the Irish and Massacre of the Protestants there Some endeavours of the English Parliament for relief of that Kingdom THE businesse of England by this absence of the King was at a great stand In such a concurrence of high affairs so great an expectation to find redress of pressing Grievances nothing was so irksome to the People as delay To retard the cure was little better then to destroy And the Sequel within a short time proved worse then the wisest men could imagine or the most jealous possibly suspect though jealousies and fears were then grown to a great height the Parliament of England less then ever assured of the Kings real affection to them Nothing of State was transacted in Parliament during the Kings absence Some debates there were only about Church-service and alterations to be made in the Book of Common-prayer in which notwithstanding nothing was concluded One businesse only came to be discussed of which the King himself gave occasion who within few daies after his arrival in Scotland signified by a Letter to the Lords That he was engaged to the Spaniard by promise to let him have four thousand souldiers out of that lately disbanded Irish Army which the Earle of Strafford had before raised his desire was to make good his promise by consent of Parliament But the House of Commons whom the Lords had invited to a Conference for that purpose would not consent that any Irish should go to assist the Spaniard some reasons were then given but more particular cause was shewed about ten daies after when a second Letter came from the King in which his Majesty declared That the Spanish Ambassador claimed his promise from which in honor he could not recede Notwithstanding since he had found that Ambassador so reasonable as that he was content to accept of two thousand he hoped the Parliamnnt would not deny that The House took it into consideration and within two dayes the Lord of FAWKLAND a Member of the House of Commons at a conference delivered to the Lords gave reasons in the name of that House why it was very unfit to grant the Kings desire because the Spaniard was not only an Ally confederate but an assistant to the Emperor against the Prince Elector his Majesties Nephew who by the power and oppression of that Emperor had bin long deprived of his inheritance And at this time when the King had published a Manifesto in behalf of his Nephew and to that purpose sent an Ambassador to the Dyet of Ratisbone it would seem a contradiction in the King to assist the Enemies of the said Prince Elector and a drawing of his own Sword against himself besides the great prejudice it must needs bring to the Protestant cause which this present Parliament so much intended and laboured to promote Upon these reasons it was thought fit not to consent to the Kings desire in that point And immediately the two Houses of Parliament rejourned themselves from that day being the eighth of September till the twentieth of October and appointed a standing Committee of fifty Members during that recesse Before the Accesse and meeting again of the Parliament Letters came from the English Committee in Scotland and were read before that standing Committee of Westminster importing the discovery of a Treasonable plot against the lives of Marquesse HAMILTON and others the greatest Peâ—res of Scotland the conspirators being the Earle of Crayford and some others How it was discovered or how prevented or whether the King had any privity to it though one of that country have since written very plainly charging the King with it because the State of Scotland were very silent in it the Parliament of England took the lesse notice of it Only the standing Committee for avoiding the like attempts at London and fearing that such might flow from the same spring appointed strong guards to be placed in many parts of the City till further directions might be given from the two Houses at their Accesse The malignancy which at that time began to appear in people of that condition and quality which wee before mentioned and was not only expressed in usual discourse among their companions but vented in scurrilous and bitter Libels against those Lords and Commons who were generally reputed the most Sedulous for the common-wealth was cause sufficient to increase the feares and jealousies of the Parliament But that fatall fire which so sadly wasted the three Kingdoms broke out there where it was least feared and those that seemed most secure were the first sufferers About the end of October 1641 during the Kings abode in Scotland the most barbarous and bloudy Rebellion that ever any age or Nation were guilty of broke out in Ireland The atrocity of it is without a paralell and as full of wonder was the close carriage of so black and far-reaching a Designe The innocent Protestants were upon a suddain disseised of their Estates and the persons of above two hundred thousand men women and
children murthered many of them with exquisite and unheard of tortures within the space of one month That which increased the amazement of most men was The consideration that the ancient hatred which the Irish a thing incident to conquer'd Nations had borne to the English did now seeme to be quite buried and forgotten forty years of peace had compacted those two Nations into one body and cemented them together by all conjunctures of alliance intermarriages and consanguinity which was in outward appearance strengthned by frequent entertainments and all kinds of friendly neighbourhood There seemed in many places a mutuall transmigration as was observed by a noble Gentleman whose place in that Kingdom gave him means to know it out of whose faithfull relation of that Rebellion and Massacre I have partly collected my discourse of it into each others manners Many English strangely degenerating into the Irish manners customers and many Irish especially of the better sort having taken up the English language apparel and decency of living in their private houses The present Government was full of lenity and moderation and some redresse of former grievances had then been newly granted by the King to his Irish subjects The same Gentleman in his History of the Irish Rebellion where the Reader may more fully enforme himself of particulars affirms that he could never hear of any one Englishman that received any certain notice of this conspiracy till that very evening before which it was to be put in execution Some intimations had been given by Sir WILLIAM COLE in a Letter to the Lords Justices Sir WILLIAM PARSONS and Sir JOHN BURLACE with the rest of the Councell concerning dangerous resorts and meetings of some persons who were judged fit instruments for such a mischief This horrid plot contrived with so much secrecy was to take effect upon the 23 of October The Castle of Dublin the chief strength of that Kingdome and principall Magazine of the Kings Armes and Ammunition where all those Armes which were taken from the late disbanded Irish Army and others which the Earl of Strafford had provided were deposited was to be seized by nine of the clock that day by the Rebels to which purpose many of the Irish Gentry of great quality were the night before come to Dublin to be in readinesse for the performing of that exploit It was further agreed among those conspirators that upon the same day all other his Majesties Forts and Magazines of Armes and Ammunition in that Kingdom should be surprized and all Protestants and English that would not joyn with them should be cut off But it pleased God to prevent the seisure of that Castle and so to save the Kingdom from being wholly lost in one day and that by a means strange and unexpected HUGH MAC MAHON Esquire grand-son to the famous Rebel TYRONE a Gentleman of a plentifull fortune in the county of Monagan and one that had served in Armes under the King of Spain as Leiutenant Colonel a principal Agent in this Rebellion and coming with others as aforesaid into Dublin the day before that great Designe was to be put in execution being the 22 of October admitted into his company at a Tavern in that City one OWEN CONALLY of Irish extract but a protestant and servant to Sir JOHN CLOTWORTHY a Member of the English Parliament To this OWEN he revealed so much as they were drinking that the honest man escaping from him though not without great danger to himself at the present informed the Lord Justice PARSONS that night about nine of the clock of a dangerous Designe upon the whole Kingdom which being taken into present consideration MAC MAHON was apprehended and after his examination the Lord MAQUIRE also another principal actor who were both committed to close custody and the Castle secured with all diligence But many conspirators of great note escaped that night out of Dublin as BIRNE MORE PLUNKET and others The Lords of the Counsel amazed at the discovery of so horrid a Treason did notwithstanding endeavour since there was no prevention for MAC MAHON had plainly told them when he was examined that by that time all the counties of Ireland were risen to use the best remedies to that desperate disease and hoping that perchance the news how the plot for seizing of Dublin castle was disappointed might somewhat dishearten the conspirators in remote parts and encourage the good Subjects with more confidence to stand upon their guard issued forth a Proclamation presently and by carefull messengers spread it into as many parts of the Kingdom as they could The effect of which proclamation was to signifie the discovery of the Treason and exhort all men to their duty in suppressing of it But the generall Designe was past prevention and that very day came in some poor English protestants and others in a short time every day and almost every hour shewing how they had been robbed their houses surprised by the Rebels whose outrage daily increased in rapine and murdering and fireing Towns and Villages in divers counties To oppose therefore the growth of that desperate malady the Lord Justices dispatching Letters to the King in Scotland and the Earle of Leicester lately made Lieutenant of Ireland by the King and yet resident at London of their lamentable condition examined with all diligence how they were provided for such a War They found in Dublin Stores Armes for ten thousand with Artillery Powder Match and Lead proportionable laid in by the late Earle of Strafford though designed by him another way yet reserved by Gods providence for this service But the Officers and souldiers of the old standing army were so much dispersed into remote places of the Kingdom for the guard of other Forts that there was scarse any possibility of drawing a considerable company together to defend Dublin or make head against the Rebels in the North. The greatest mischeif to the State and advantage to the Rebels was That there was no Money in the Exchequer besides the Kings Revenues and Rents of English Gentlemen due for that halfe year were either in Tenants or Collectors hands in the country and must unadvoidablly fall into the Rebels power so that although their disease were present the only means of cure was remote which was a dependence upon some supplies from the Parliament of England Upon the very day designed for surprisall of the Castle at Dublin the 23 of October the Northren Rebels broke out in the Province of Vlster and in few dayes got possession of so many Towns Forts and Gentlemens Houses within the counties of that Province as might seeme almost incredible if we consider only the cheif actors men of no great skill in Martiall affairs or any policy such as Sir PHELIM ONEALE and his Brother with the rest and not rather which indeed was the true reason the generall engagements of the Irish and their deep dissimulation concurring with the great credulity of the English upon the causes
they were most forward and ready to concur with their Lordships in that service But so great an affliction was to fall upon unhappy Ireland that all those Lords that were Papists after they had received Commissions and Armes notwithstanding all their deep vowes did most perfidiously soon after desert their houses and openly declare themselves in actuall Rebellion such as were Viscount MONGANNET GORMANSTON and COSTELOE DILLON BIRNE BELLER TALBOT and many others The Condition of Dublin was more lamentable every day then other and not so much afflicted were they with feares and dangers which threatned themselves as that extream sorrow which compassion must needs work in them toward all the suffering English which resorted thither Dublin was the Sanctuary of all the despoiled Protestants and by that meanes the sad stage upon which all horror was represented and what mischeifes soever were acted in other parts were there discovered and lamented Their eyes were sad witnesses of the Rebels cruelty in those despoiled English which daily resorted to the City but their eares much more afflicted with relation of those horrid tortures which had been used to those who died in other parts Their eyes could not but extremly suffer from such wretched Spectacles as daily from all parts presented themselves People of all conditions and qualities of every age and Sex spoiled and stripped with no coverings but ragges or twisted straw to hide their privities some wounded almost to death others frozen with cold some tired with travell and so surbated that they came creeping on their knees others famished beyond all releif And besides the miseries of their bodies their minds tortured with the losse of all their fortunes and sad remembrance of their husbands wives or children most barbarously murdered before their faces In this most lamentable plight with wasted bodies and distracted mindes did they arrive at Dublin some to be releived some entombed which was more then their murdered friends could obtaine from the Rebels insomuch as they appeared like walking ghosts in every street and all the Barnes Stables and out-houses were filled with them where they soon died after they had recovered the City in so great numbers that all the Church-yards of Dublin could not contain them but the Lords were enforced to take in large peeces of ground on both sides of the River to set apart for burying places But that part of this wofull Tragedy which was presented to their eyes was the least and but the shadow of that other which was related to their eares of which the Readers and all posterity may share the sorrow Many hundreds of those which had escaped under their oathes lawfully taken upon examination and recorded with all particulars as may be seen at large in the Records delivered to the Councell what horrid Massacres the bloudy villains had made of men women and children and what cruell inventions they had to torture those whom they murdered scarce to be equalized by any the most black and balefull story of any age Many thousands of them at severall places too many to be here inserted after all despites exercised upon them living put to the worst of deaths some burned on set purpose others drowned for sport and pastime and if they swam kept from landing with poles or shot and murdered in the water many were buried quick and some set into the earth breast-high and there left to famish But most barbarous as appears in very many examinations was that cruelty which was shewed to great bellied women whom the villaines were not content to murder but ripped up their bellies and many times took delight to see the Hogges eate the abortive Infants But I am loath to dwell upon so sad a narration The greatest part of these inhumane cruelties were acted by the Irish upon the poor unarmed Brittaines before any provocation given unto them and the bloud of so many thousand innocent persons sacrificed to their meer malice as many afterwards were sacrificed to their revenge as whensoever the Irish received any blow from English Forces the English Protestants that lived among them were murdered in great numbers By this time the Lords of the Councell had armed as many as they were able and given Commissions for raising of severall Regiments which were put into the hands for the most part of gallant men as their actions after testified to the world Sir CHARLES COOTE an active and valiant man who was also made Governor of Dublin with great speed made up his Regiment out of the poor robbed and stripped English which had fled to Dublin Sir HENRY TICHBORNE a worthy Commander was dispatched away with a Regiment of Foot to keep Tredagh from the approaching Rebels The Lord LAMBERT also Sir THOMAS LUCAS Captain ARMESTRONG Captain YARNER with others raised by Commissions souldiers there This was done about the middle of November at which time also the Earle of Ormond with his well armed Troop of Horse came to Dublin where within few dayes after he was by a Commission sent from the Earl of Leicester Lord Lieutenant of Ireland as likewise by the Kings approbation from Scotland signified in a Letter made Lieutenant Generall of all the Forces there For the Earl of Lecister at that time was not enabled so far with necessaries for the service of Ireland as to repair thither in person The Earl also sent over to the Lords at Dublin together with an Order of the Lords and Commons of the Parliament in England comfortable Letters in this time of distresse to let them know that the King had referred the whole businesse of Ireland to the Parliament of England who had undertaken the charge and management of the War had declared a speedy and vigorous assistance had designed for their present supplies the summe of 50000 pound and taken order for all further provisions necessary But that they might not be altogether destitute of reall comfort the Parliament of England sent them over at the same time Twenty thousand pound which arrived most seasonably at Dublin their treasure beginning utterly to fail for paying those new Companies which they had raised About the end of November the Lords Justices and Councell of Ireland considering the miserable desolations brought upon that whole Kingdom and what miseries were further threatned Commanded by Proclamation a Publike and religious Fast to be weekly observed upon Friday in the City of Dublin to implore the mercy and assistance of Almighty God and divert his heavy indignation from them CHAP. II. The King returneth out of Scotland and is pompously entertained by the City of London The Remonstrance is published by the Parliament The King entereth into the House of Commons The Protestation of the twelve Bishops and how it was censured by the Lords and Commons Divers unhappy obstructions of the releif of Ireland BUT to leave Ireland strugling against her sad and wofull calamities and returne again to the Affairs of England at that same time about the end of November 1641
Traitors came not out till the beginning of January though that Rebellion broke out in October and then by special Command from Vs but fourty Copies were appointed to be printed It is well known where we were at that time when that Rebellion broke forth in Scotland that we immediately from thence recommended the care of that businesse to both Houses of Parliament here after We had provided for all fitting Supplies from our Kingdom of Scotland that after Our return hither We observed all those Forms for that service which We were advised to by Our Councel of Ireland or both Houses of Parliament here and if no Proclamation issued out sooner of which for the present We are not certain but think that others before that time were issued by Our directions it was because the Lords Iustices of that Kingdom desired them no sooner and when they did the number they disired was but twenty which they advised might be signed by Vs which We for expedition of the service commanded to be printed a circumstance not desired by them thereupon We signed more of them then Our Iustices desired all which was very well known to some Members of one or both Houses of Parliament who have the more to answer if they forbore to expresse it at the passing of this Declaration and if they did expresse it We have the greater reason to complain that so envious an aspersion should be cast upon Vs to Our People when they knew well how to answer their own Objection This was the Kings Answer to that point of the Parliaments Declaration concerning Ireland But the House of Commons in another Declaration though long after charge the King upon the same particular with more circumstances of aggravation as That although the Rebels had most impudently styled themselves The Queens Army and professed that the cause of their rising was To maintain the King's Prerogative and the Queens Religion against the Puritan Parliament of England and thereupon both Houses of Parliament did humbly and earnestly advise His Majestie to wipe away this dangerous Scandal by proclaiming them Rebels and Traitors to His Majestie and the Crown of England which then would have mated and weakned the Conspirators in the beginning and have encouraged both the Parliaments here and good people there the more vigorously to have opposed their proceedings yet such was the power of evil counsel about him that no Proclamation was set forth to that purpose till almost three months after the breaking out of this Rebellion and then Command given that but fourty should be printed nor they published till further direction should be given by His Majestie But the businesse of Ireland was more particularly touched in subsequent Declarations which in their due time and place may hereafter be related That Proclamation against the Irish Rebels came not out above two days before the King entred the House of Commons as is before expressed by which act so great a disturbance was made and the relief of Ireland so much retarded It was likewise complained of to the King by the House of Commons within three weeks after that since the Ports by order of both Houses as is before mentioned had been stopped against all Irish Papists many of the chief Commanders then in the Head of the Rebels had been suffered to passe by His Majesties immediate Warrant Of which the King cleared himself in Answer to them that by examining his own memory and the notes of his Secretaries he could not finde himself guilty of granting any such Warrants CHAP. III The Queen passeth into Holland with her daughter the Princesse MARY Difference between the King and Parliament concerning the Militia The King goeth toward York and is followed with a Petition from the Lords and Commons to Theobalds and another Declaration to Newmarket The King is denied entrance into Hull by Sir JOHN HOTHAM IT was wonderful that nothing at all could advance or further this great and necessary work of reducing Ireland when so many courses were propounded and undertaken as about the middle of February both Houses of Parliament had found a way which they conceived to be most substantial and firm to carry on that War namely by adventuring for proportions of Land in Ireland there being by their account within the four Provinces of Vlster Connaught Munster and Leinster two millions and an half of Acres of Land forfeitable from the Rebels in those Provinces to be shared among those Adventurers in the City of London or other Counties thereabout that would bring in or subscribe such Sums of money as were thought fit and which were upon good and serious consideration set down in particular whereby if an happie Conquest were made upon those bloody Rebels a large recompence might be made to all those English who either in Person of Purse had contributed to so good a work The King was well contented with these Propositions offâ—ring withal to go himself in Person into Ireland but that was not thought sitting by the Parliament and so far it passed that an Act was made to that purpose enabling the Parliament with power to carry on that War until Ireland should be declared to be wholly subdued and that no Peace or Cessation of Arms should be at any time made with those Rebels unlesse both Houses of Parliament assented to it But while these things were acting other businesse wherein the safety and security of England was concerned fell into debate which was touching the Militia of the Kingdom of England and Dominion of Wales to be setled in every County upon such persons as the Parliament should approve A Petition to this purpose was sent to the King presently after they had received a Message from him dated the twentieth of Ianuary wherein the King in fair language desires the Parliament since that particular Grievances and Distractions were too many and would be too tedious to be presented by themselves that they would comprise and digest them into one entire Body that so His Majestie and themselves might be able to make the more clear Iudgement of them and that it should then appear by what His Majestie would do how for he hath been from intending or designing any of those things which the too-great fears and jealousies of some persons seem to apprehend and how ready he would be to equal or exceed the greatest examples of most indulgent Princes in their Acts of Grace and Favour to the People This Message was received with thanks by the Parliament who resolved to take it into speedie and serious consideration But to enable them with security to discharge their duties in those affairs they desired the King to raise up to them a sure ground of safety and confidence by putting in the mean time the Tower with other principal Forts and the whole Militia of the Kingdom into the hands of such persons as the Parliament might trust and should be recommended to him by both Houses This Petition of theirs was not well
him no reparation would make the World believe that his priviledges were lesse then any Subjects in the Land and that it was more lawful to rob him of his proper Goods then the meanest Member of the Kingdom He sent also at the same time a Letter to the Maior of Hull commanding him and all Officers of that Town to take care that no part of the Magazine should be removed or transported out of the Town under any pretence of Order or Power whatsoever without his Royal Assent under his Hand He caused likewise all Passages between Hull and London to be stopped up and by that means apprehended a servant of Sir JOHN HOTHAM'S going with a Letter to the Parliament concerning the proceedings before mentioned The Parliament immediately upon notice of these things declared their reasons for Hull and that the stopping of Passages and intercepting of Messengers or Letters to or from the Parliament or in their service was an high breach of the Priviledges of Parliament which by the Laws of the Land and their Protestation they were bound to defend and punish the violators authorizing by Ordinance of both Houses all Sheriffs Justices Constables and other Officers to aid them employed in the said service for their more speedie free and safe passage giving Order also to the said Officers within the Counties of York and Lincoln to suppresse any Armies raised to force Hull or stop the passages before mentioned in disturbance of the Kingdom 's peace It was voted by them two days after that Sir JOHN HOTHAM had done nothing but in obedience to the Command of both Houses of Parliament Resolved also it was upon the Question That this declaring of Sir JOHN HOTHAM Traitor being a Member of the House of Commons was an high breach of the Priviledge of Parliament Resolved again That declaring Sir JOHN HOTHAM Traitor without due Processe of Law was against the Liberty of the Subject and Laws of the Land An Order of Assistance was then given to the Earl of Stamford the Lord WILLOUGHBY of Parham Sir EDWARD AYSCOUGH Sir CHRISTOPHER WRAY Sir SAMUEL OWFEILD and Master HATCHER as Committees of both Houses sent down to Hull and the two Counties of York and Lincoln for service of the Kindom that all Sheriffs Justices Maiors c. should be assisting to them upon all occasions To that Declaration Votes and Orders of Assistance of both Houses of Parliament the King on the fourth of May returned an Answer wherein at large he expresses how hainous the affront was and how much he accounts himself injured by the Parliament in not repairing him against HOTHAM labouring to prove by ancient Statutes there cited that Sir JOHN HOTHAM'S denial of entance to him was absolutely high Treason by the Law of the Land Upon this subject within the space of one week two other Declarations and Answers passed between the King and both Douses too large to be here inserted but the scope of the King's Declarations in general are to vindicate his own Rights and dignity allowed him as King by the Laws of the Land wherein he seemeth not to take notice of the present occasion or such things as are conceived dangers and thought necessary to prevent by a Parliament sitting The Parliament on the other side with all humility and reverent expressions to the Kings Person seeming to take no notice of any affront offered or intended to his Majestie himself but onely of preserving Hull the Militia and Navie out of the hands of those wicked Counsellors which they conceived to be too prevalent with him to the danger of ruining the Kingdom and himself both which they laboured to preserve and were lawfully called to it by that Authority which belongs to Parliaments by the Fundamental Constitution of English Government They desire to inform the King that his Interest in Towns Arms or the Kingdom it self is not of that kinde that private men have interest in their Goods to sell or dispose of at pleasure but onely as entrusted to him for the good of all in performance of which trust none but the Parliament while it sitteth are or ought to be his Counsellors and directors that there can be no good or useful disputation where the Principles are not granted and it was ever heretofore taken say they for a certain Principle That the Parliament sitting is the onely Judge of what is dangerous to the Common-wealth and what useful as likewise what is lawful in those cases which the King by advice of no private Counsel whatsoever ought to control or contradict which Principle till the King will be pleased rightly to apprehend Disputations and Declarations are endlesse and no true understanding between him and his people can be begotten Of all these things if a Reader desire to be satisfied in particular he may sinde the questions all fully stated by the Parliament and the King's desires expressed by himself in two large Declarations one called the Parliaments third Remonstrance dated the 26 of May 1642 and the King's Answer to that Remonstrance But things began to go on in an high manner the Parliament authorizing Sir JOHN HOTHAM to issue out Warrants to Constables and other Officers to come with Arms for the defence of Hull and the King on the other side forbidding any such Warrants bringing or training without an expresse Authority under his hand The King had summoned the Gentry of that County to attend him at the City of York which they accordingly did upon the 12 of May 1642 where he caused after he had spoken some few words to them to be read aloud in their hearing his Answer to the Declaration of both houses concerning Hull the Answer of the Parliament to his two Messages concerning Hull together with his Reply to the same and his Message to both houses declaring the reasons why he refused to passe that Bill of the Militia after which he proceeded in a Speech to them wherein he strove to make them apprehend that traiterous attempts might be against his Person and for that reason he desired a Guard of Horse and Foot to be levied there for his defence He complained likewise that the Committee of Parliament consisting of four Members of the house of Commons FERDINANDO Lord FAIRFAX Sir HUGH CHOLMLEY Sir PHILIP STAPLETON and Sir HENRY CHOLMLEY refused to obey his Command for they being there employed in their own Country by the Parliament to do service to the State were commanded by the King to depart out of the County which they durst not do against the intention of the Parliament who employed them there But the King in that Speech to the County bade them take heed of those four Gentlemen not knowing what doctrine of disobedience they might preach to the people under colour of obeying the Parliament The King's Speech and Declaration read seemed to be much applauded by many Gentlemen and their servants as when those things which came from the Parliament were read the same persons expressed
that men of such parts or that think so of themselves have been apter to take pet and grow angry when any Speech of theirs hath not received that honour which they expected or any other affront hath been offered to them and what such an anger may make proud and ambitious spirits to do even against their own Country and the dictates of their Conscience and Reason the world hath been taught by many examples some of high consequence and very remarkable such as CORIOLANUS the Romane and JULIAN the Spanish General which for the eminence of the persons and extraordinary effects which they wrought in the world must needs fall into Record when the actions of mean and private men are buried in oblivion Besides there are many whose Callings make them capable of easier and greater gratifications from the King then other men as Lawyers and Divines who will therefore be apt to lean that way where the preferment lies Such discourses were frequent in all companies at that time for different affections did at all meetings beget such argumentative language What sense and apprehension the Parliament had of so many Members forsaking their station shall appear anon by a Vote passed in the House of Commons and presented to the Lords by Master DENZIL HOLLLS after some intervening passages have been related Whilst the King encouraged and strengthened by this great accession of reputation to his side pursued his designe of raising Forces in the North the Parliament after that they had on the twentieth of May petiâ—ioned the King to disband such Forces and rely for his security as his Predecessours had done upon the Laws and affections of his People contenting himself with his usual and ordinary Guards declared that otherwise they held themselves bound in duty towards God and the Trust reposed in them by the People and by the Fundamental Laws and Constitutions of the Kingdom to employ their care and utmost power to secure the Parliament and preserve the Kingdom 's Peace and immediately it was voted in Parliament and resolved upon the Question That it appears that the King seduced by wicked Counsel intends to make War against the Parliament who in all their consultations and actions have proposed no other end unto themselves but the care of his Kingdoms and the performance of all duty and loyaltie to his Person It was likewise resolved upon the Question That whensoever the King maketh War upon the Parliament it is a breach of the Trust reposed in him by his People contrary to his Oath and tending to the dissolution of this Government As also That whosoever shall serve or assist him in such Wars are Traitours by the Fundamental Laws of this Kingdom and have been so adjudged in two Acts of Parliament 11 RICH. 2. and 1 HEN. 4 and that such persons ought to suffer as Traitours But those Lords who had forsaken the Parliament continuing still with the King in the Northern parts the Parliament by an Order of the 30 of May summoned nine of them who first had gone away to appear at Westminster viz. the Earls of Northampton Devonshire Dover and Monmouth the Lords HOWARD of Charleton RICH GREY of Ruthen COVENTRY and CAPEL but they utterly refused to come away returning an Answer in writing which the Parliament judged to be a slighting and scornful Letter Upon which a Vote was passed against them in the house of Commons and presented on the 15 of Iune to the Lords by Master HOLLIS with an Oration of his own concerning the importance of the businesse the greatest part of which Speech being here inserted may give light to the Reader concerning the condition of the Kingdom at that time and the judgement of the Houses upon it His Speech began thus My Lords By command of the Knights Citizens and Burgesses of the house of Commons I come hither to your Lordships in behalf of the Parliament or rather in behalf of the whole Kingdom labouring with much distraction many fears great apprehensions of evil and mischief intended against it and now hatching and preparing by that malignant party which thirsts after the destruction of Religion Laws and Liberty all which are folded up cherished and preserved in the careful bosome of the Parliament It hath ever been the policie of evil Counsellors who are the greatest enemies we have in the world or can have to strike at Parliaments keep off Parliaments break Parliaments or divide Parliaments by making Factions casting in Diversions and Obstructions to hinder and interrupt the proceedings of Parliament all against the Parliament Your Lordships have had experience of this Truth this Parliament a succession of designes upon it First to aw it and take away the freedom of it by the terrour of an Army then to bring Force against it actually to assault it and with the Sword to cut in sunder this onely Band which ties and knits up King and People the People among themselves and the whole frame of this Government in one firm and I hope indissoluble knot of Peace and Unity God diverted those designes did blowe upon them presently another is set upon which was To obstruct and hinder our proceedings that in the mean time the flame of Rebellion might consume the Kingdom of Ireland and distempers distractions and jealousies be somented here at home to tear out the bowels of this Kingdom the Parliament being disabled from helping it by occasion of so many diversions so much businesse cut out unto it many obstructions and difficulties especially that great one from whence all the rest receive countenance and support his Majestie 's absenting himself not concurring with us and so withdrawing both his presence and influence by which means such remedies could not be applied as were necessary and what was done was done with infinite trouble to the Parliament and excessive charge to the Subject double treble what otherwise would have served the turn So the Subject is grieved and oppressed with charge and the blame of all is laid upon the Parliament and the Parliament unjustly said to be the cause of all these Evils which the authors of them had made so great and so confirmed and secured by the frequent interruptions of the Parliament that they could not suddenly nor easily be suppressed or removed Well by God's infinite blessing the Parliament was in a fair possibility to wade thorow this likewise and though the Night had been black and stormy some Day began to appear miraculously our Armies have prospered in Ireland and God be praised the malevolent practices of these Vipers at home as they appeared were in some sort mastered and the Parliament began to act and operate towards the setling of the great Affairs both of Church and State and providing for the defence and safety of this Kingdom against either forraign Invasion or any striving of the disaffected party among themselves Then three ways are together assayed for the weakning and invalidating the proceeding and power of the Parliament and
making way for the utter subversion of it 1. Force is gathered together at York under pretence of a Guard for His Majesties Person to make an opposition against the Parliament and by strong hand to support and protect Delinquents so as no Order of Parliament can be obeyed but on the other side is slighted and scorned to make the Parliament of no reputation to be but Imago Parliamenti a meer shadow without substance without efficacie 2. To send out in His Majesties name and as Declarations and Messages from him bitter invectives against the Parliament to perplex it and engage it in expence of time to answer them and besides cunningly to insinuate and infuse into the people by false colours and glosses a disopinion and dislike of the Parliament and if it be possible to stir up their spirits to rise against it to destroy it and in it all other Parliaments to the ruine of themselves their wives and children 3. The third Plot is The Members are drawn away and perswaded to forsake their duty and attendance here and go down to York thereby to blemish the actions of both Houses as done by a few and an inconsiderable number and rather a Party then a Parliament and perhaps to raise and set up an anti-Parliament there My Lords this is now the great Designe whereby they hope by little and little the Parliament shall even bleed to death and moulder to nothing the members dropping away one after another a desperate and dangerous practice and as your Lordships well observed when you were pleased to communicate the businesse to us an effect of the evil Counsels now prevailing and tending to the dissolution of the Parliament of this Parliament which under God must be the preserver of three Kingdoms and keep them firm and loyal to their King subject to his Crown save them from being turned into a Chaos of disorder and confusion and made a dismal spectacle of misery and desolarion this Parliament which is the last hope of the long-oppressed and in other Countries even almost wholly-destroyed Protestant Religion this Parliment which is the onely means to continue us to be a Nation of freedom and not of slaves to be owners of any thing in a word which must stand in the Gap to prevent an in-let and inundation of all misery and confusion My Lords this Parliament they desire to destroy but I hope it will destroy the destroyers and be a wall of Fire to consume them as it is a wall of Brasse to us to defend King and Kingdom us and all we have Your Lordships wisely foresaw this Mischief and as wisely have endeavoured to prevent it by making your Orders to keep your Members here as that of the ninth of April and several other Orders enjoyning them all to attend thereby restraining them from repairing to York where the Clouds were observed to gather so fast threatning a storm and such preparations to be made against the Parliament that it necessitated both Houses to passe a Vote That the King seduced by wicked Counsel intended to make War against the Parliament and all who shall serve and assist in such Wars are declared to be Traitours which Vote passed the 20 of May so setting a mark upon that place and their opinion concerning those who should at this time resort thither Yet now in such a conjuncture of time when the Kingdom had never more need of a Parliament and the Parliament never more need of all the help and assistance of the best endeavour and advice of every Member the Safety and even Being of three Kingdoms depending on it after such Orders and Commands of your Lordships House to the contrary such a Vote of both Houses and expressely against their Duty being called thither by Writ under the Great Seal which is the King 's greatest and highest Command and not controllable nor to be dispensed with by any other Command from him whatsoever and called to treat and consult de arduis Regni the great urging and pressing affairs of the Kingdom never more urgent never more pressing notwithstanding all this these Lords the Earls of Northampton Devonshire Dover Monmouth the Lords HOWARD of Charlton RICH GREY COVENTRY and CAPEL have left their stations withdrawn themselves and are gone to Yorkâ— and being â—ummoned to appear by an Order of the 30 of May in stead of obedience return râ—fusal by a slighting and scornful Letter which hath been so adjudged both by your Lordships and the House of Commons My Lords the â—ouse of Commons hath likewise upon the consideration and debate of this businesse finding it so much to concern the safety of the Kingdom and the very Being of the Parliament passed this Vote That the Departing of these nine Lords from the Parliament without leave after such a time as both Houses had declared That the King seduced by wicked Counsel intended to make War against the Parliament and their still continuing at York notwithstanding their Summons and Command is an high Affront and Contempt of both Houses and that the said Lords did as much as in them lay that the service of Parliament might be deserted and are justly suspected to promote a War against the Parliament The House in further prosecution of their duty in this Particular and in pursuance of their Protestation which obliges them to endeavour to bring to condign punishment all such high offenders against not onely the Priviledges but the very Essence of Parliament have sent me up to impeach these Lords and desire that speedy and exemplary Justice may be done upon them And accordingly I do here in the name of the Knights Citizens and Burgesses of the Commons House assembled in Parliament and in the name of all the Commons of England Impeach SPENCER Earl of Northampton WILLIAM Earl of Devonshire HENRY Earl of Dover HENRY Earl of Monmouth CHARLES Lord HOWARD of Charleton ROBERT Lord RICH CHARLES Lord GREY of Ruthen THOMAS Lord COVENTRY and ARTHUR Lord CAPEL for these high Crimes and Misdemeanours following viz. For that contrary to their duty they being Peers of the Realm and summoned by Writ to attend the Parliament and contrary to an Order of the House of Peers of the ninth of April last and several other Orders requiring the attendance of the Members of that House and after a Vote past in both Houses the twentieth of May last That the King seduced by wicked Counsel intended to make War against the Parliament and that whosoever served or assisted him in that War was adjudged a Traitour did notwithstanding afterwards in the same month of May contemptuously having notice of the said Votes and Orders withdraw themselves from the said House of Peers and repair to the City of York where the preparations of the said War were and yet are in contrivance and agitation they knowing of such preparations and being by an Order of the thirtieth of May duely summoned by the House of Peers to make their appearance before that
gone down to take possession of the Navie and therefore called a Councel of War acquainting them all both with the Ordinance of Parliament and the King's Letters But the Earl himself was swayed in conscience to give obedience rather to the Ordinance of Parliament and the reason of it himself gives in a Letter directed to a Lord of the House When I considered saith he the great care which I have seen in the Parliaments of this Kingdom for the good and safety both of King and Kingdom and every man's particular in them and that they are the great Councel by whose authority the Kings of England have ever spoken to their Subjects I was resolved to continue in this employment until I shall be revoked by that Authority that hath intrusted me with it Most of the Captains took up unanimously the same resolution that the Earl did excepting five which were the Râ—â—â—-Admiral Captain FOGGE Captain BAILY Captain Sâ—INGSBY and Captain WAKE who alleadged that they had the King's Command to obey Sir JOHN PENINGTON whom he had appointed Admiral in stead of the Earl of Northumberland These five had gotten together round to make defence against the Earl but he came to Archor about them and having begiâ—â— them summoned them again upon which three of them came in and submitted two onely Captain Sâ—INGSBY and Captain WAKE stood out The Earl let 〈◊〉 a Gun over them and turned up the Glasse upon them sending his Boat and most of the Boats in the 〈◊〉 to let them know their danger if they came not within that space But so peremptory was their answer that the Masters and Sailors grew impatient and although they had no Arms assaulted them seized upon those Captains being armed with their Pistols and swords strook their Yards and Top-masts and brought them to the Faâ—l Thus by the wonderful courage of these unarmed men the businesse was ended without eâ—â—usion of any blood when the Earl was ready to give fire upon them Within few days after another addition of strength was brought to the Earl of Warwick by an accident A great and strong ship of the King 's called The Lion putting to Sea from Holland and bound for Newcastle being much distressed with soul weather was driven into the Downs Captain FOXE who commanded that ship saluted the Earl of Warwick who presently acquainted the Captain with the Ordinance of Parliament whereby his Lordship had commanded of those ships requiring his submission thereunto The Captain at first refused to yeeld obedience to the Ordinance and thereupon was presently clapt in hold but all his Officers in the ship submitted themselves and strook their Sails and Top-yards in token of obedience to the said Ordinance This ship was very considerable carrying two and fourty great Pieces of brasse Ordnance besides a little Vessel laden with Gun-powder of a great value was taken also together with this ship The Earl was informed by some of her men that young Prince RUPERT and Prince MAURICE with divers other Commanders intended to have come from Holland in this ship the Lion But after three days and three nights storm at Sea those two Princes in a sick and weak condition landed again in Holland The King hearing of the surprisal of the Lion sent a Messenger to the Earl of Warwick to demand her again with all the goods therein and that she should be brought to Scarborough But the Earl returned an Answer to this effect that the Parliament had intrusted him with the Care of the Fleet and that that ship was a part thereof therefore he humbly besought his Majestie to pardon him for without their consent he might not part with her and that he knew of no goods within her belonging to his Majestie But leaving the Earl of Warwick to his Sea-employments it is time to return to those warlike Levies and Preparations which were made by Land for now the fatal time was come when those long and tedious Paper-conflicts of Declarations Petitions and Proclamations were turned into actual and bloody Wars and the Pens seconded by drawn swords On the twelfth of Iuly 1642 the Parliament voted that an Army should be raised for the safety of the King's Person and defence of the Parliament for so they called it desiring to joyn together what seemed to be at so great a distance and enmity The Earl of Essex was by a great and unanimous consent of both Houses chosen General of that Army and of all Forces raised for the Parliament with whom they protested to live and die in that Cause The Earl of Essex was a Gentleman of a noble and most untainted reputation of undoubted loyalty to his Country and Prince having always what course soever the Court steered served in an honourable way the right Interest of the English Nation and the Protestant Religion and to that end had formerly engaged himself in the Palatine War and service of the Netherland United Provinces insomuch as at this time when they sought a Lord to undertake the high charge of commanding in chief there seemed to be no choice at all but we may say of this Election as PATERCULUS did of another Non quaerendus erat quem eligerent sed eligendus qui eminebat The Parliament at that time were very able to raise Forces and arm them well by reason of the great masse of Money and Plate which to that purpose was heaped up in Guild-hall and daily increased by the free Contribution of those that were well-affected to the Parliament Cause where not onely the wealthiest Citizens and Gentlemen who were neer-dwellers brought in their large bags and goblets but the poorer sort like that widow in the Gospel presented their mites also insomuch that it was a common Jeer of men disaffected to the Cause to call it the Thimble and Bodk in-Army The Earl of Essex was very careful and industrious in raising of his Army in which he desired to have as great a Body of Horse as could conveniently be gotten by reason that he conceived his chief work was to seek out the King's Forces and prevent their spoiling of the Country and disarming several Counties to furnish themselves And indeed his Forces considering the long Peace of England and unreadinesse of Arms were not onely raised but well armed in a short time Many of the Lords who then sate in the House of Peers besides those Lords who went into divers Counties to settle the Militia and therefore raised Forces for safety of those several Places listed themselves in the Lord General 's Army and took Commissions as Colonels the Lord ROBERTS the Lord SAINT-JOHN eldest son to the Earl of Bullenbrook the Lord of Rochford eldest son to the Earl of Dover and many Gentlemen of the House of Commons of greatest tank and quality there took Commissions for Horse and Foot-service in that Army of whom these were some Sir JOHN MERRICK who was made Serjeant-Major-General of that Army the Lord GREY of Grooby son to the
hath since been confirmed if I mistake not by his example and Your Majesties Chief Iustice Sir JOHN BANKS both in accepting their Ordinance and nominating their Deputy-Lieutenants how much further they proceeded I know not But Sir if the opinions of those great Lawyers drew me into an act unsutable to Your Majesties liking I hope the want of yeers will excuse my want of judgement And since by the Command of the Parliament I am now so far engaged in their Service as the sending out Warrants to summon the County to meet me this day at Lincoln and afterwards in other places I do most humbly beseech Your Majestie not to impose that Command on me which must needs render me false to those that relie on me and so make me more unhappie then any other misery that can fall upon me These things Sir I once more humbly beseech Your Majestie may be taken into Your Gracious consideration and that You would never be pleased to harbour any misconceit of me or of this Action since nothing hath yet passed by my Commands here or ever shall but what shall tend to the honour and safety of Your Majesties Person to the preservation of the Peace of Your Kingdoms and to the content I hope of all Your Majesties Subjects in these parts amongst whom I remain Your Majesties most humble and most dutiful Subject and Servant FRA. WILLOUGHBY Upon the receipt of these Letters the Lords sent a Message to the House of Commons in which they expressed how much they did value and approve the endeavours of this Lord in a service so much importing the safety of this Kingdom not doubting of their readinesse to concur with them upon all occasions to manifest the sense they have and shall retain of his deservings which appear the greater by how much the difficulties appearing by the circumstances of those Letters have been greater The Lords therefore as they resolved to make his Interest their own in this Service for the publike good and safety of the Kingdom so they desired the Commons to joyn with them in so just and necessary a work To this the House of Commons consented and resolved to joyn with the Lords in this Vote making the like resolution also for the Deputy-Lieutenants for the County of Lincoln and desired the Lords concurrence therein Upon which it was ordered by the Lords in Parliament that they agree with the House of Commons for the resolution concerning the Deputy-Lieutenants of the County of Lincoln In Essex also which proved a most unanimous County and by that means continued in peace and happinesse the Earl of Warwick whose care and action was not confined onely to the Sea chosen Lord Lieutenant by the Parliament when he went down to muster and exercise the Country was received with great applause The Trained Bands were not onely compleat but increased by Voluntiers to unusual numbers and so affectionate to that Cause they were in general that they presented a Petition to the Earl of Warwick and the Deputy-Lieutenants in the name of all the Captains and Lieutenants of the several Companies and in the name of all persons belonging to the Trained Bands To which Petition when it was read in the field they expressed a full consent by their general acclamations and applause in every Company The Earl of Warwick therefore sent the Petition to the Parliament to let them see the extraordinary alacrity and affection of that County of Essex to them which was in these words which follow To the Right Honourable ROBERT Earl of Warwick Lord-Lieutenant of the County of Essex and to the worthy Gentlemen the Deputy-Lieutenants of the same County confided in by the most Honourable the high Court of Parliament We the Captains and Lieutenants with the full consent of the Trained Bands and Voluntiers of the County now assembled having before the accesse of this present Parliament seen our Religion our Laws and Liberties brought to the brink of ruine and subversion by the results of most desperate and wicked Counsels could not but with exâ—â—ding joy behold the assembling and continuance of so great and faithful a Councel the Representative Body of this Kingdom and with most certain confidence commit thereto all that was dear unto us And having also seen the late hellish designes and actings of a malignant party in this Kingdom and the bloody Rebellion in Ireland all working to retard the progresse or subvert the being of this worthy Parliament and therein to bereave us of all our hopes of Reformation or future peace and happinesse to this Church or State we cannot but ascribe all glory praise unto the Lord of lords expresse most hearty thankfulnes to his blessed Instruments that great Assembly for their undaunted resolutions unparallell'd endeavours and happie proceedings for the common good And herein as not the least means of our safety for the most necessary and seasonable Ordinance of theirs touching the Militia whereby we are put under the Command and Guidance of so noble a Lord and such worthy Gentlemen whereunto we humbly desire this present day and meeting may be an evidence and pledge of our free and willing obedience Having intrusted our Religion our Laws and all into the hands of that great and most faithful Councel the Parliament whose care and fidelity we have so abundantly found we even bleed to see the heart and actions of our Royal King contrary to his own Royal expressions declining from the Counsels of his Parliament carried after other Counsels whom as the Laws and Constitutions of this Land have not known nor reposed upon so we for our own parts neither will nor dare intrust with our Religion or Laws and whom we verily believe could they prevail against that highest Court under God our chiefest Bulwark and Defence would soon deprive us both of Religion and Law and notwithstanding all their specious pretences reduce us to a condition no lesse miserable then slavish From the deep apprehensions of all which we do freely and heartily promise and tender our persons and estates to assist and defend to the uttermost the high Court of Parliament now assembled the Members Power and Priviledges thereof and therein his Majesties Person and Authority and the Kingdoms Peace according to our late Protestation against all contrary Counsels Power or force of Arms whatsoever which shall be reared up or attempted against them And this our humble Acknowledgement and Resolution which we doubt not will be accorded unto by all good Subjects we humbly desire your Honour and Worships to tender on our behalf to that most honourable Assembly of Parliament for whose happie progresse and successe we shall daily pray Subscribed J. KITELEY HENRY FARRE JOHN BALLET JOHN FLEMMING WILLIAM MARSHAM ROBERT BARRINGTON Captains THO. HARPER JOHN WOODCOCK RICH. LAWRENCE GEORGE COLWEL THO. CLARK WIMLIAM BURLS Lieutenants The Parliament were very forward to expresse their approbation of this most affectionate Declaration of the Essex men and returned
them an Answer part of which was in this manner This just and faithful resolution of theirs to the publike good the Lords and Commons do not onely approve but commend assuring them that as their endeavours have been for the Peace and Happinesse of the King and Kingdom so they will persist in discharge of the great and publike Trust which lies upon them to go thorow all difficulties which may oppose the publike Peace and Welfare of this Kingdom and will upon all occasions be ready to expresse particularly to those persons that respect which is due to persons from whom they have received so great assurance of affection and fidelity In Kent there was cheerful obedience without any open opposition shewed to the Ordinance of the Militia as it appeared by their Petition and Proclamation and more by their real and constant actions True it is that some Gentlemen of that County were not much affected to the Parliaments Cause who did accordingly frame a displeasing Petition to the Houses and brought it up to London accompanied with many Gentlemen of that County but the Parliament having notice of it sent Officers and disarmed those Gentlemen who brought the Petition before they passed over London-bridge and the two which presented it to the House of Commons Sir WILLIAM BUTLER and M. RICHARD LOVELACE were both committed Those in Kent who favoured the King's party and Commission of Array were not a number considerable enough to bring that County into any combustion the Gentlemen which adhered to the Parliament used so great a care and industry in setling the Militia in disarming those few but great Papists among them in raising Arms and taxing themselves at high rates for the serâ—vice of the Parliament that they not onely preserved their own County in quiet but gave great assistance to the Parliament-Armies in other places as will appear in the sequel of this Story The Eastern end of Sussex it being a long and narrow County lying for many miles upon the Sea stood firm to the Parliament and were very industrious in setling of the Militia by which means they were so happie as to preserve themselves in peace and quâ—eâ—nesse But the Western part of that County by means of many revolted Members of the Parliament inhabitants there together with their Allies and friends was at the first in some distraction though it continued not very long Surrey and Middlesex by fortune of their situation could not but side with and by consequence be protected by the Parliament The Eastern Counties Suffolk Norfolk and Cambridgeshire once the Kingdom of the East-Angles were happily kept from the beginning without any great combustion though it were certain that many of the chief Gentry in those Counties bended in their affections to the King's Commission of Array but they were not a part strong enough to engage their Countries in a War For the Free holders and Yeomen in general adhered to the Parliament and those Gentlemen who attempted to raise men or draw Forces together or provide Arms for the King were soon curbed and all their endeavours crushed at the beginning by those of the other side especially by the great wisdom and indefatigable industry of Master OLIVER CRUMWEL a Member of the House of Commons who had taken a Commission for Colonel of Horse from the Parliament of whose particular actions there will be high occasion to discourse hereafter The County of Southampton began at the first to be divided and continued so being long and variously perplexed with the changing fortunes of either side Colonel GORING eldest son to the Lord GORING who had been the yeer before a means to detect that Conspiracie of bringing the Northern Army against the Parliament of which already hath been spoken and by that grown into some Trust with the Parliament of which he was a Member was sent down to Portsmouth to keep that place for them and three thousand pounds allowed him for the charges of Fortification He receiving that money from the Parliament broke his Trust and kept the Place for the King against them with what successe shall hereafter be declared But immediately after his revolt the Earl of Portland Governour of the Isle of Wight a man suspected by the Parliament was committed to custody in London for security of his person lest he should comply with Colonel GORING and command that Island for the King's party The Government of Wight was then committed to the Earl of Pâ—mbrook a man of whose fidelity the Parliament doubted not Though the Southern and Eastern parts of England enjoyed some shew of rest the Counties more remote from London toward the North and West could not at all partake of that happinesse In Lancashire the Lord STRANGE son to the Earl of Derby who was made Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire and Cheshire by the King seeking to put the Commission of Array in execution found great resistance from the Parliamentary Gentlemen Sir THOMAS STANLEY Master HOLLAND Master HOLCRAFT Master EGERTON Master BOOTH as also Master ASHTON and Master MOOR both Members of the House of Commons by whom within the space of few months he was quite driven out of the County and that Shire wholly ruled by the Parliament though it abounded more with Papists then any other The Lord STRANGE upon the fifteenth day of Iuly had made an attempt to gain Manchester and by those Gentlemen was repulsed where one man was slain which was the first blood shed in these Civil Wars But this Lord was not at all fortunate in service against the Parliament who not long after returned again with a great Force consisting of three thousand men to the Town of Manchester where after he had sharply besieged it for the space of two whole weeks he was at last quite beaten with the losse of many of his men In Cheshire also the other County of which he was made Lieutenant by the King his fortune was no better where he was resisted by Sir WILLIAM BRERETON and other Gentlemen and hindered from seizing the Magazine of that County as he intended Nor could the Earl of Rivers whom the King had put into the Commission of Array being a Papist assist him sufficiently to make good that County for the King but that the Papists were all disarmed there by those Protestant Gentlemen that adhered to the Parliament Further North the Countries were more full of variance The Earl of Newcastle with a strong Garison kept for the King the Town of Newcastle And the Earl of Cumberland made Lord-Lieutenant of York-shire by the King was active in putting the Commission of Array in execution but resisted they were by the Lord FAIRFAX and others of the Parliamentary Gentlemen But this businesse of the North shall now be passed over deserving a larger Story hereafter when time shall require to speak of the Earl of Newcastle's greatnesse and the various fortunes of the Lord FAIRFAX and his son Sir THOMAS FAIRFAX In Derbyshire where many great Lords
and Gentlemen inhabited none at all of note stood for the Parliament but Sir JOHN GELL and his brother of whose actions it will be seasonable to speak in another place Staffordshire and Nottinghamshire were in no lesse combustion In Leicestershire the troubles were far greater and early begun by Master HENRY HASTINGS second son to the Earl of Huntingdon whom the King had made Sheriff of that County and put into the Commission of Array who raised great Forces to seize upon the Magazine of that County Against whom the Earl of Stamford was sent by the Parliament as Lord Lieutenant with a considerable strength who arriving there did much curb the proceedings of Master HASTINGS and took possession of the Town of Leicester Great was the Contention about that time in Warwick-shire between the Earl of Northampton for the King and the Lord BROOK for the Parliament not without sharp encounters and slaughter on either side The Earl having seized the Ordnance at Banbury marched with great fury into Warwick-shire spoiling the Countrey as he went though not without opposition of the people and the Lord BROOK'S Forces against whom he could not at all prevail The Earl of Pembrook had setled the Militia in Wilâ—shire with small ado though it continued not long so And the Earl of Holland in Berk-shire being but saintly resisted by the Earl of Berk-shire the Lord LOVELACE and others For soon after the Earl of Berk-shire together with Sir JOHN CURSON Sir ROBERT DORMER and others for the Commission of Array who came to Watlington in Oxfordshire to seize the Magazine of that part of the County which was laid up in that Town were there taken prisoners and sent up to the Parliament by Colonel HAMDEN and Colonel GOODWIN two Members of the House of Commons and Knights of the Shire for Buckingham But the further that this Discourse travels Westward the greater and more remarkable you shall finde such contestations especially considering the number of Lords and Gentlemen of great rank and many of them Members of Parliament who sided with the King against the Parliament and were therefore afterward voted out of the House One great Head there was of all those Western Counties WILLIAM Marquesse of Hartford whom the King by his Commission of Array had appointed Chief and made him Lord Lieutenant-General of Devon Cornwal Somerset Dorset Wilts Southampton Gloucester Berks Oxford Hereford and seven Counties within the Principality of Wales who notwithstanding his high Command was never able to atchieve any great matter for the King's side so much were the common people of the West at that time inclined to the Parliament and so active were those Gentlemen who stood for it such as were the sons of Sir FRANCIS POPHAM Master ALEXANDER POPHAM HUGH and EDWARD who were more animated by the example of their aged father Master STRODE a Deputy-Lieutenant and others against all those frequent attempts which the Marquesse made Great was the number of considerable men in those Countries which took part with the Marquesse against the Parliament and very industrious in their several Stations to put in execution the Commission of Array as the Lord PAWLET Sir RALPH HOPTON and Sir JOHN STOWEL both Members of the House of Commons and for that reason put out of the House Sir RICHARD SLANY in Cornwal another Member put out also for the same cause as likwise were Sir EDWARD RODNEY and Master COVENTRY both Parliament-men who followed the Marquesse in some of his actions Sir BEVILE GREENVILE an active man another Member of Parliament was very industrious for the Array both in Cornwal and Devon joyning himself with the Earl of Bath who came for that purpose to his house at Tastock in Devonshire and assisted by many Gentlemen as Master CULINS Sheriff of that County M. BAMFIELD M. ASHFORD M. GIFFORD M. SAINTHIL Baronet SEYMOUR and M. COURTNEY to whose assistance Squire ROGERS came with Forces out of Dorsetshire Various were the Successes which Marquesse Hartford assisted by so many of the Gentry found in his several Enterprises sometimes prevailing but more often distressed In one Skirmish which about the beginning of August himself the Lord PAWLET Sir RALPH HOPTON Sir JOHN STOWEL and M. SMITH another Member of the House of Commons made against the Deputy-Lieutenants in Somersetshire he prevailed against them and possessed himself of the Town of Shepton-Mallet Ten men were slain and many wounded Going afterwards to Wells he had been besieged by many thousands of the People who arose against him but that having timely notice of their coming he escaped a back-way out of the Town About which time the Earl of Bedford was sent down by the Parliament against him with three hundred Horse by whom the Lord Marquesse the Lord PAWLET Sir RALPH HOPTON Colonel LUNSFORD and many other considerable men were besieged in Sherburn For great numbers out of the Country came daily to the assistance of the Earl of Bedford Many weeks did that Siege continue many Sallies were made out and sharp encounters on both sides performed with great courage the Parliament side being in firm hope to have taken them at last which was conceived a thing of great moment and advantage to their affairs if they could have possessed the persons of so many men considerable both in their Fortunes and Valour and who proved afterwards very strong and cruel enemies Yet that hope was frustrate for about the beginning of October they all escaped out of Sherburn the Earl neverthelesse pursued after them and in the Chase took M. PALLART Sir HENRY Sir JOHN and Sir CHARLES BARCLAY prisoners Within a week after the Earl of Bath was apprehended and brought up a prisoner to the Parliament It cannot be much wondered at that Division was found in Countrey-Towns and Villages so far remote from the Parliament where the people were variously wrought upon by perswasions or fears from either side when London it self the Seat of that great Councel and chiefest Bulwark of their defence was not without some taste of these Distractions Which besides the actions of some private Citizens too petty to be here rehearsed may appear to the Reader in one thing which cannot be omitted The Lord Major of London was at this time a prisoner in the Tower committed by the Parliament Sir RICHARD GURNEY Lord Maior of London for that yeer was charged by the House of Commons on the seventh of Iuly for being a mover of Sedition in the Kingdom in causing the King's Proclamation concerning the Commission of Array which was declared by both Houses to be illegal to be proclaimed in the City And the Charge being perfected was sent up to the Lords desiring that he might forthwith be called to his Answer which was accordingly granted Four days after while the Lord Maior was attending the Lords House upon this Charge and additional Impeachment was read against him in the House of Commons brought in by the Common-Councel of London for divers breaches of
his to them is an high breach of the Priviledge of Parliament and upon that occasion they call to remembrance and declare many particulars of their care for the relief of Ireland and the King 's hindering of it Those particulars there expressed are as followeth They declare that this bloodie Rebellion was first raised by the same Counsels that had before brought two Armies within the bowels of this Kingdom and two Protestant Nations ready to welter in each others blood which were both defrayed a long time at the charge of the poor Commons of England and quietly at last disbanded by Gods blessing upon the Parliaments endeavours That this designe failing the same wicked Councels who had caused that impious War raised this barbarous Rebellion in Ireland and recommended the suppressing thereof for the better colour to the Parliaments care who out of a fellow-feeling of the unspeakable miseries of their Protestant Brethren there not suspecting this horrid Plot now too apparent did cheerfully undertake that great work and do really intend and endeavour to settle the Protestant Religion and a permanent Peace in that Realm to the glory of God the honour and profit of his Majestie and security of his three Kingdoms But how they have been discouraged retarded diverted in and from this pious and glorious Work by those traiterous Counsels about his Majestie will appear by many particulars They there mention the sending over at first of twenty thousand pounds by the Parliament and that good way found out to reduce Ireland by the Adventure of private men without charging the Subject in general which would probably have brought in a Million of money had the King continued in or neer London and not by leaving his Parliament and making War upon it so intimidated and discouraged the Adventurers and others who would have adventured that that good Bill is rendered in a manner ineffectual They mention that when at the sole charge of the Adventurers five thousand Foot and five hundred Horse were designed for the relief of Munster under the command of the Lord WHARTON and nothing was wanting but a Commission to enable that Lord for the Service such was the power of wicked Counsel that no Commission could be obtained from the King by reason whereof Lymrick was wholly lost and the Province of Munster since in very great distresse That when well-affected persons at their own charge by way of Adventure had prepared twelve Ships and six Pinnaces with a thousand Land-forces for the service of Ireland desiring nothing but a Commission from his Majestie that Commission after twice sending to York for it and the Ships lying ready to set Sail three weeks together at the charge of neer three hundred pounds a day was likewise denied And those Adventurers rather then lose their Expedition were constrained to go by vertue of an Ordinance of both Houses of Parliament That though the Lords Justices of Ireland earnestly desired to have two Pieces of Battery sent over as necessary for that Service yet such commands were given to the Officers of the Tower that none of the King's Ordnance must be sent to save his Kingdom That CHARLES FLOYD Engineer and Quartermaster-General of the Army in Ireland and in actual employment there against the Rebels was called away from that important Service by expresse command of the King That Captain GREEN Controller of the Artillery a man in Pay and principally employed and trusted here by the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland for providing and ordering the Train of Artillery which was to be sent to Dublin and who had received great sums of money for that purpose was commanded from that employment and trust to serve the King in this unnatural War against his Parliament And when the Parliament had provided six hundred suits of Clothes for present relief of the poor Souldiers in Ireland and sent them towards Chester WILLIAM WHITAKER that undertook the carriage of them was assaulted by the King's souldiers lying about Coventry who took away the six hundred suits of Clothes and the poor man his Waggon and Horses though they were told that the Clothes were for the souldiers in Ireland and though the poor Carrier was five times with the Earl of Northampton to beg a release of his Waggon That three hundred suits of Clothes sent likewise by the Parliament for Ireland with a Chirurgion's Chest of Medicaments towards Chester were taken all away by the King's Troopers under command of one Captain MIDDLETON together with the poor Carrier's Horses and Waggon for the King's service As likewise that a great number of Draught-horses prepared by the Parliament for the Artillery and Baggage of the Irish Army and sent to Chester for that purpose being there attending a passage are now required by the King for his present service in England whose forces are so quartered about the Roads to Ireland that no Provision can passe thither by Land with any safety That Captain KETTLEBY and Sir HENRY STRADLING the Admiral and Vice-Admiral of the Ships appointed to lie upon the coast of Ireland to annoy the Rebels and to prevent the bringing of Ammunition and relief from forraign parts are both called away from that employment by the King's command and by reason of their departure from the coast of Munster to which they were designed the Rebels there have received Powder Ammunition and other relief from forraign parts By which particulars say they it may seem that those Rebels are countenanced there upon designe to assist the enemies of the Parliament here especially considering that those confident Rebels have presumed very lately to send a Petition to the King intituling themselves his Majesties Catholike Subjects of Ireland and complaining of the Puritan Parliament of England and desiring that since his Majestie comes not thither according to their expectation they may come into England to his Majestie The Parliament therefore finding what danger both Kingdoms are in by the designes of cruel enemies thought fit to provide for the safety of both by preparing a competent Army for the defence of King and Kingdom But in regard that the Plate brought in by so many well-affected men could not be coâ—â—ed to suddenly as the service required and well knowing that one hundred thousand pounds might for a short time be borrowed out of the Adventurers money for Ireland without any prejudice to the affairs of that Kingdom whose Subsistence depends upon the Welfare of this and resolving to make a speedie repayment of that money made this Order which that it may appear say they to all the world to be neither mischievous illegal nor unjust as the King calls it the House of Commons thought fit to recite it in haec verba and instead of retracting the Order to repay that money with all possible speed The Order Iuly 30. It is this day Ordered by the Commons House of Parliament That the Treasurers appointed to receive the Moneys come in upon the Subscriptions for Ireland do forthwith
and to treat with them As soone as the Parliament Lords returned with this Answer the Kings Artillery according to all relations advanced forwards with divers Troops of Horse thorow that Towne of Colebrooke after them towards London and taking advantage of a great mist which happened that Friday night they marched to Brainford and fell upon the Parliament Forces which were there quartered which were a broken Regiment of Colonell HOLLIS but stout men who had before done great service Of them the Kings Forces killed many and had quite destroyed all in probability if the Lord BROOKS and Colonell HAMâ—DENS Regiments billitted not farre off had not made haste to their reliefe who comming in maintained a great and bloody fight against the Kings Forces where many were slaine on both sides and many taken Prisoners both Parties as before it happened at Keynton Battell esteeming themselves conquerors and so reporting afterwards The newes of this unexpected fight was soone brought to London whither also the noise of the great Artillery was easily heard The Lord Generall Essex then sitting at Westminster in the House of Peeres tooke Horse immediately and with what strength he could call together on such a sudden came in to the rescue of his ingaged Regiments but night had parted them and the King was retired to his best advantages all that night the City of London powred out men toward Brainford who every houre marched thither and all the Lords and Gentlemen that belonged to the Army were there ready on the Sunday morning being the 14. of November a force great enough to have swallowed up a farre greater Army then the King had Besides the Kings Forces were encompassed on every side insomuch as great hope was conceived by most men that the period of this sad Warre was now come But God was not yet appeased toward this Nation a fatall doore was opened to let out the inclosed King Three thousand of the Parliament Souldiers were then at Kingstone upon Thames a Towne about ten miles distant from the City which Souldiers were all as it happened commanded to leave that Towne and march thorow Surrey with what speed they could and over London Bridge so thorow the City toward Brainford to prevent the Enemies passage to London The reason of that Command was afterward given for that the Lord Generall was not assured of strength enough to stop the Enemy from London nor could before hand be assured of so great an Army as came thither before morning But this was the event of it and thorow Kingstone thus abandoned the King retreated and leaving some Troops to face his Enemies brought all his Foot and Artillery over that Bridge which drawing up afterward he had time enough securely to plunder many places of that Country and retire safely to Oxford where he intended to take up his winter Quarters The Parliament upon this Action of the King began to be out of hope of doing any good by Treaties resolving that the Lord Generall with all speed that might be should pursue the Kings Forces and fall upon them about Oxford and Reading for newes was daily brought them how active his Parties were under the conduct of Prince RUPERT and others in plundering all the places thereabouts And the City of London to incourage the Parliament with a free tender of their service framed a Petition to them to intreat them That they would proceed no further in the businesse of Accommodation because evill Counsell was so prevalent with the King That he would but delude them That they had heard his Forces are weake and that if his Excellency would follow and fall upon them and that no delayes be made for feare of forraigne Forces comming over the City as heretofore would with all willingnesse spend their lives and fortunes to assist the Parliament The City was thanked for their Petition and Protestation and the Lord Generall moved by the Parliament to advance who though the season of the yeare were not very fit for so great a Body to march was very desirous to obey their Commands The best way was thought to divide his Army and send severall parties to severall places to restraine the Enemies from annoying the Countries as to Buckingham Marlow Reading and other parts untill himselfe with his whole force could be well accommodated to march from Windsor where he lay that winter toward the King But it so fell out either by reason of ill weather at some times and at other for want of Money or fit accommodation that the Generall himselfe with his maine Army marched not forth untill the spring whose first businesse was to lay siege to Reading which was fortified by the Kings Forces and maintained by a Garrison of 3000. Souldiers and 20. Peece of Ordnance before which Towne he sate downe upon the five and twentieth day of April 1643. with an Army of about 16000. Foot and 3000. Horse Now leaving the Lord Generall before Reading with his Army in the meane time we will shew one maine reason why he did no sooner advance The expectation of another Treaty which the Parliament had desired to have with the King for setling of the Kingdomes Peace which proved fruitlesse in debate lasted a long time Propositions were drawne up by the Parliament and sent to Oxford on the 31. of Ianuary 1642. by foure Lords and eight Commoners the Earles of Northumberland Pembrooke Sarum and Holland Lord WAINMAN Lord DUNGARUAN Sir JOHN HOLLAND Sir WILLIAM LITTON Master PERPOINT Master WALLER Master WHITLOCK Master WINHOOD the Propositions were 1. That the King would passe those Bils which the Houses had made ready 2. To passe a Bill for setling Parliament Priviledges and Liberties 3. For bringing to tryall those Delinquents whom the Houses had impeached since Ianuary last 4. For clearing the six Members before mentioned 5. For restoring all Judges and Officers of State lately removed 6. To passe a Bill for re-paying the charge of the Kingdome 7. A Bill for an Act of Oblivion 8. An Act for a generall pardon without exception 9. That there may be a Cessation of Armes for fourteene daies to agree upon these Propositions The King not liking nor yet utterly refusing these Propositions sent the Commissioners home to their Parliament within a weeke after they came to carry six Propositions from him to the Houses which were 1. That his Revenue Magazines Townes Forts and Ships may be delivered to him 2. That all Orders and Ordinances of Parliament wanting his assent may be recalled 3. That all power exercised over his Subjects by Assessements and imprisoning their persons may be disclaimed 4. That he will yeeld to the execution of the Laws against Papists provided that the Booke of Common-Prayer be confirmed 5. That such persons as upon the Treaty shall be excepted out of the generall Pardon shall be tryed by their Peâ—res onely 6. That there be a Cessation of Armes during the Treaty The Houses upon receiving of these Propositions though at first it
slaine That Commission of Array was directed from the King to Sir NICHOLAS CRISPE Sir GEORGE STROUD Knights to Sir THOMAS GARDINER Knight Recorder of London Sir GEORGE BINION Knight RICHARD EDES and MARMADUKE ROYDEN Esquires THOMAS BROWNE PETER PAGGON CHARLES GENNINGS EDWARD CARLETON ROBERT ABBOT ANDREW KING WILLIAM WHITE STEVEN BOLTON ROBERT ALDEM EDMUND FOSTER THOMAS BLINKHORNE of London Gentlemen and to all such other persons as according to the true intent and purport of that Commission should be nominated and appointed to be Generals Colonels Lieutenant Colonels Serjeant Majors or other Officers of that Councell of Warre The Commission it selfe is to be read at large in the Parliament Records But this Conspiracy was prevented and proved fatall to some of the Contrivers being detected upon the last day of May which happened at that time to be the day of the Monethly Fast and Master WALLER Master TOMKINS with other of the forenamed Conspirators being apprehended were that night examined by divers grave Members of the Parliament of whom Master PYM was one and afterwards reserved in custody for a Tryall They were arraigned in Guild-Hall and Master WALLER Master TOMKINS Master CHALLONER Master HASELL Master WHITE and Master BLINKHORNE were all condemned none were executed but Master TOMKINS and Master CHALLONER being both hanged Master TOMKINS in Holborne and Master CHALLONER in Cornhill both within sight of their own dwelling houses Master HASELL dyed in Prison BLINKHORNE and the other were by the mercy of the Parliament and the Lord Generall Essex reprived and saved afterwards Master WALLER the chiefe of them was long detained Prisoner in the Tower and about a yeare after upon payment of a Fine of ten thousand pounds was pardoned and released to go travell abroad It was much wondered at and accordingly discoursed of by many at that time what the reason should be why Master WALLER being the principall Agent in that Conspiracy where Master TOMKINS and Master CHALLONER who had been drawne in by him as their own Confessions even at their deaths expressed were both executed did escape with life The onely reason which I could ever heare given for it was That Master WALLER had been so free in his Confessions at the first without which the Plot could not have been clearly detected That Master PYM and other of the Examiners had ingaged their promise to do whatever they could to preserve his life He seemed also much smitten in conscience and desired the comfort of godly Minister being extremely penitent for that soule offence and afterwards in his Speech to the House when he came to be put out of it much be wailed his offence thanking God that so mischievous and bloody a Conspiracy was discovered before it could take effect CHAP. III. Matters of State trans-acted in Parliament touching the Assembly of Divines The making of a new Great Seale Impeaching the Queene of High Treason and other things The Lord Generall Essex after some Marches returneth to quarter his wasted and sick Army about Kingston The Kings Forces Masters of the West The Earl of Newcastle his greatnesse in the North. Some mention of the Earle of Cumberland and the Lord FAIRFAX AT the same time that these Conspiracies were closely working to undermine the Parliament and Warre was raging in highest fury throughout the Kingdome many State-businesses of an unusuall nature had been trans-acted in the Parliament sitting For things were growne beyond any president of former ages and the very foundations of Government were shaken according to the sense of that Vote which the Lords and Commons had passed a yeare before That whensoever the King maketh Warre against the Parliament it tendeth to the dissolution of this Government Three things of that unusuall nature fell into debate in one moneth which was May 1643. and were then or soone after fully passed one was at the beginning of that moneth concerning the Assembly of Divines at Westminster Among other Bils which had passed both Houses and wanted onely the Royall Assent that was one That a Synod of Divines should be chosen and established for the good and right settlement of Religion with a fit Government for the Church of England This Bill was oft tendred to the King to passe but utterly refused by him The matter therefore was fully argued what in such cases might be done by Authority of Parliament when the Kingdomes good is so much concerned when a King refuseth and wholly absenteth himselfe from the Parliament And at last it was brought to this conclusion That an Ordinance of Parliament where the King is so absent and refusing is by the Lawes of the Land of as good Authority to binde the people for the time present as an Act of Parliament it selfe can be It was therefore Voted by the Lords and Commons That the Act for an Assembly of Divines to settle Religion and a forme of Government for the Church of England which the King had oft refused to passe should forthwith be turned into an Ordinance of Parliament and the Assembly thereby called debate such things for the settlement of Religion as should be propounded to them by both Houses which not long after was accordingly put in execution The case seemed of the same nature with that of Scotland in the yeare 1639. when the Scottish Covenanters as is before mentioned in this History upon the Kings delay in calling their Nationall Synod published a writing to that purpose That the power of calling a Synod in case the Prince be an Enemy to the truth or negligent in promoting the Churches good is in the Church it selfe In the same moneth and within few daies after another businesse of great consequence was by the Lords and Commons taken into consideration which was the making of a new Great Seale to supply the place of that which had been carried away from the Parliament as before is mentioned This businesse had been fully debated in the House of Commons and the Moneth following at a Conference between both Houses the Commons declared to the Lords what great prejudice the Parliament and whole Kingdome suffered by the absence of the Great Seale and thereupon desired their speedy compliance in Votes for the making of a new one The matter was debated in the House of Peeres put to Votes and carried for the negative The onely reason which they alleadged against the making of a new Seale was this That they have hitherto dispatched all business since the absence of the Seale by vertue of Ordinances of Parliament and they conceived that the same course might still be kept in what matters soever were necessary to be expedited for the good of the Kingdome without a Seale Yet the Lords gave a respective answer That if the House of Commons would informe them in any particular cases wherein the Kingdomes prejudice by absence of the Great Seale could not be remedied by vertue of an Ordinance they would take it into further consideration to induce complyance accordingly Neither was
it long before the Lords upon reasons shewed concurred with the House of Commons who about the beginning of Iuly presented to the Lords at a Conference the Votes Which had before passed in their House together with the reasons for making of a new Great Seale The Votes were these Resolved upon the Question June 14. 26. 1. THat the Great Seale of England ought to attend the Parliament 2. That the absence of it hath been a cause of great mischiefe to the Common-wealth 3. That a remedy ought to be provided for these mischiefs 4. That the proper remedy is by making a new Great Sale The reasons which they gave were divided into two branches The first declaring those mischiefes which were occasioned by conveying away the Great Seale from the Parliament The second expressing those inconveniences and mischiefes which proceeded from the want of the Great Seale with them The reasons of the first kinde were thus 1. It was secretly and unlawfully carried away by the Lord Keeper contrary to the duty of his place who ought himselfe to have attended the Parliament and not to have departed without leave nor should have been suffered to convey away the Great Seale if his intentions had been discovered 2. It hath been since taken away from him and put into the hands of other dangerous and ill-affected persons so as the Lord Keeper being sent unto by the Parliament for the sealing of some Writs returned answer That he could not Seale the same because he had not the Seale in his keeping 3. Those who have had the managing thereof have imployed it to the hurt and destruction of the Kingdome many waies as by making new Sheriffes in an unusuall and unlawfull manner to be as so many Generals or Commanders of Forces raised against the Parliament by issuing out illegall Commissions of Array with other unlawfull Commissions for the same purpose By sending sorth Proclamations against both Houses of Parliament and severall Members thereof proclaiming them Traytors against the Priviledges of Parliament and Laws of the Land By sealing Commission of Oyer and Terminer to proceed against them and other of His Majesties good Subjects adhering to the Parliament as Traytors By sending Commissions into Ireland to treat a peace with the Rebels there contrary to an Act of Parliament made this Session Besides divers other dangerous Acts passed under it since it was secretly conveyed away from the Parliament whereby great calamities and mischiefes have ensued to the prejudice of the Kingdome Mischiefes arising through want of the Great Seale 1. The Termes have been adjourned the course of Justice obstructed 2. No originall Writs can be sued forth without going to Oxford which none who holds with the Parliament can do without perill of his life or Liberty 3. Proclamations in Parliament cannot issue out for bringing in Delinquents impeached of High Treason or other crimes under paine of forfeiting their Estates according to the ancient course 4. No Writs of Errour can be brought in Parliament to reverse erroneous judgements nor Writs of Election sued out for chusing new Members upon death or removall of any whereby the number of the Members is much lessened and the Houses in time like to be dissolved if speedy supply be not had contrary to the very Act for continuance of this Parliament 5. Every other Court of Justice hath a peculiar Seale and the Parliament the Supreme Court of England hath no other but the Great Seale of England which being kept away from it hath now no Seale at all and therefore a new Seale ought to be made 6. This Seale is Clavis Regni and therefore ought to be resident with the Parliament which is the representative Body of the whole Kingdome whilest it continues sitting the King as well as the Kingdom being alwaies legally present in it during the Session thereof The Lords upon these reasons concurred with the House of Commons and order was given that a new Great Seale should forthwith be made which was accordingly done It should seeme the King was not well pleased with this action of the Parliament as appeared by what was done at Oxford above a yeare after when the King assembled together the Lords which were with him and all those Gentlemen that had been Members of the House of Commons and had deserted the Parliament at Westminster whom the King called his Parliament at Oxford and propounded many things for them to debate upon amongst which it was taken into debate and resolved upon the Question by that Assembly at Oxford That this very action which they stile counterfeiting the Great Seale was Treason and the whole Parliament at Westminster eo facto guilty of High Treason But this was passed at Oxford long after of which occasion may be to speak further hereafter But at the time when the Parliament made their new Great Seale the people stood at gaze and many wondered what might be the consequence of so unusuall a thing Some that wholly adhered to the Parliament and liked well that an action so convenient and usefull to the present state was done by them looked notwithstanding upon it as a sad marke of the Kingdomes distraction and a signe how irreconcileable the difference might grow betweene the Parliament and the Kings Person For the legality or justnesse of making of the Seale there was little dispute or argument among those who were not disaffected to the Parliament and though there were no direct or plaine precedent for it for the case of a Kings being personally in Warre against the Parliament sitting was never before yet by comparison with other times when the necessities of State have required such a thing it was not onely allowed but thought requisite I do not know of any thing written against it by any Lawyers or other of the Kings Party but Master PRYNNE a learned Lawyer and great Antiquary of the Parliament side hath written a copious discourse in justification of it both by arguments of reason and many neere-resembling precedents of former times called The opening of the Great Seale of England which is extant to be read by any that would be satisfied what power from time to time Parliaments have challenged and been allowed over that Seale both in making of it in the infancy or absence of Princes and disposing of it in the dotage or wilfulnesse of others But before this businesse was fully concluded another thing which seemed as great a signe how wide the rent was growne fell into debate in the House of Commons Some time was spent in consultation about it and much arguing on both sides The matter was about charging the Queene of High Treason To that purpose many Articles of an high nature were drawne up against her some of them were That she had pawned the Crowne Jewels in Holland That she had raised the Rebellion in Ireland That she had indeavoured to raise a Party in Scotland against the Parliament That she had gone in the head of
a Popish Army in England For not long before this time the Queene with Armes and Ammunition from the Low-Countries and Commanders of Warre from thence had landed in the North of England been entertained there by the Earle of Newcastle and by him and others with strong Forces conveyed to the King at Oxford whereof more particulars will be related hereafter Divers other Articles were framed against the Queene upon which within few Moneths after she was impeached of High Treason by the House of Commons and the Impeachment carried up by Master PYMME to the House of Peeres where it stuck for many moneths but was afterward passed there also and may be further discoursed of in the due time It had been likewise before Ordered by both Houses and was now accordingly put in execution that the King and Queenes Revenue comming into the Exchequer should be detained and imployed to the Publike Service of the Common-wealth a Committee was chosen of Lords and Commons to dispose of it to the best uses Divers necessary charges of the State were defrayed by it and among others which seemed a kinde of just retalliation many Members of both Houses of Parliament whose whole Estates had been seized upon by the Kings Armies were in some measure relieved at London out of his Revenue and thereby enabled to subsist in that Publike Service to which they had beene called But so exceeding great by this time were the charges growne for supportation of so spreading a Warre that no Contributions nor Taxes whatsoever were thought sufficient unlesse an Excize were imposed upon Commodities according to the way of the Netherlanders such as Beere Wine Tobacco and Meat which was taken into consideration by both Houses and this Summer agreed upon But the Excize was layed with much gentlenesse especially upon all Victuals of most common and necessary use insomuch that it was little felt either by the rich or poore people and yet amounted monethly to a very considerable summe though the Kings Quarters were then the greatest part of England for the City of London was within the Parliament Quarters To returne againe to the Lord Generall ESSEX His Excellency in May 1643. having as aforesaid received intelligence of the defeat given to the Parliament Army in the West and in what condition things there stood not being able with his owne Forces to give them reliefe sent order to Sir WILLIAM WALLER whose actions shall be anon mentioned in a Series by themselves to march thither in assistance of the Devonshire Forces and writ his Command to the Governour of Bristoll to aid him with such Horse and Foot as he could conveniently spare out of his Garrison But things could not at that time be put in execution according to his desires and before Sir WILLIAM WALLER could get farre into the West Prince MAURICE Marquesse HARTFORD and Sir RALPH HOPTON were joyned all together The Lord Generall since it was much desired by the City of London from whom the supplies of money were to come that he should move with his whole Army towards Oxford was content though somewhat against his judgement to proceed in that Designe and marched with the maine Body to Thame to meet there with the Forces sent from the associated Counties to his assistance from whence as a person whose care and Command extended over the whole Kingdome which was now overspread with a generall Warre and wasted by many Armies at once he granted a Commission by direction of the Parliament to the Lord FIELDING now Earle of Denbigh by the late death of his Father who was slaine in a Skirmish fighting against the Parliament to be Generall of foure Counties Shropshire Worcester Stafford and Warwick-shire to leavy Forces there and conduct them into any part of the Kingdome against the Kings Power according to directions from the Parliament or Lord Generall He granted also at the same time another Commission in the like manner to Sir THOMAS MIDDLETON to raise Forces as Generall of all North Wales At Thame the hand of God in an extreme increase of sicknesse hundreds in a day desperately ill did visite the Lord Generals Army and by strange unseasonablenesse of weather and great raine continuing fourteene daies the place being upon a flat moist and clayie ground made it impossible for him to advance from that Quarter In which time the Army was by sicknesse and departure of most of the Auxiliary Forces brought to a number utterly unable to attempt the former designe without certaine ruine the situation of Oxford upon the River of Thames considered for the Lord Generall conceived it impossible as himselfe expressed to block up the Towne without a double number to what he then had But when the raine ceased and the waters were so much abated as to make the waies passable intelligence was brought that Prince RUPERT had drawne out his Horse and Foot toward Buckingham with his Canon also and had called in the Country making open profession before them that he would give Battell to the Generall The Generall marched with some speed toward Buckingham to fight with him When he came within two miles of that Towne he found the case farre otherwise and had intelligence that the Prince had quitted Buckingham in a kinde of disorderly manner that the night before he had horsed his Foot and marched away leaving some of his Provisions behinde him The Lord Generall understood well that it was not possible for him with his Traine of Artillery and Foot Companies to follow the Enemy to any advantage For if he had been at that time strong enough in Horse his desire was to have hindered Prince RUPERT from joyning with the Queene who then was marching with a good Convoy of Horse from the Northerne parts of England where she had arrived from the Netherlands toward Oxford But being not able to follow that designe he desisted from his march to Buckingham sending into the Town a Party of his Horse to quarter there that night and to bring away that Provision which the Enemy had left there He himselfe with the rest of his Army marched to great Brickhill a place most convenient to lye betweene the Enemy and London to defend the Associated Counties to assist or joyne with the Forces of the Lord GRAY of Grooby Sir JOHN MELDRUM and Colonell CROMWELL to whom he had before written that if they could possibly they should fight with the Queens Forces and stop her passage to the King But it seemed that the businesse could not be done that the Queene and Prince RUPERT were suffered to joyne together with all their Forces Sir WILLIAM WALLER had beene long victorious in the West yet now the Parliaments fortune almost in every place began to faile and intelligence was brought to the Lord Generall that Sir WILLIAM having almost gained the whole West and besieging Sir RALPH HOPTON in the Devizes a Towne of Devonshire was on a sudden by unexpected Forces from Oxford under the conduct of
away all night The Reere-Guard of the Lord Generals Army some Ordnance and Ammunition stayed on the top of the Hill by reason of the steepnesse thereof darknesse of the night and tempestuousnes of the weather whereby besides a famine of Victuals the whole Army had for three daies March before extremely suffered through a Country that their Enemies had already destroyed But the Lord Generall marched from thence to Cheltenham though during his March the Kings Forces skirmished with some Parts of his Army and divers times beat up his Quarters whilest he stayed at Cheltenham which was two daies till the eight of September when he marched with his whole Army to Gloucester and was there with great expressions of joy and much honour received by that long besieged and now rescued City The Generall much extolling the skilfull valour and indefatigable industry of Colonell MASSEY and praising the patient constancy of the City They on the other side highly honouring his Excellency for bringing them this reliefe thorow so many difficulties discouragements and disadvantages both joyning in thanks to Almighty God for his divine providence over them and great mercy in sending so timely a deliverance The Lord Generall lodged two nights in Gloucester furnishing the City with Ammunition Money and other necessaries and from thence marched to Tewksbury staying betwixt the Kings Forces and that Garrison foure daies to give them more time to furnish themselves better with Provision of Victuall which was to be brought from Herefordshire and parts beyond the Severne since the other parts had been before ransacked by the Kings Forces When the Generall with his whole Army arose from Tewkesbury and intended to quarter at Cheltenham he was advertised that a Body of the Kings Army were then in Cirencester which were reported to be Prince MAURICE his Forces and had there layed in great store of Provision for their Army Upon that advertisement the Generall his want of Victuals and necessaries still continuing and miserably increasing upon his whole Army made a long March with the Van-guard of his Army to fall upon them which he did about one of the clock in the night sending in a Party of Horse to seize upon the Centinels and Guards whilest himselfe with the rest of the Horse begirt the Towne and a Forlorne hope of Foot with his owne Foot Regiment entred the Towne and surprized two Regiments of Horse belonging to Sir NICHOLAS CRISPE and Colonell SPENCER which were by the confession of some Prisoners taken intended for raising a Commotion in Kent The Lord Generall at that Towne of Cirencester took forty Loads of Victuall which under Gods providence was the preservation of his Army untill the day that the great Battell of Nembury was fought He tooke there likewise six Standards all the Officers except the two Colonels which were absent with divers other Gentlemen of quality above 300. Common Souldiers and 400. Horse The Generall from Cirencester in short Marches not above five miles a day went to Cricklade and to Swinden from thence intending to passe to Hungerford But when the Van and Body of his Army had marched almost all over Aâ—burne Chase a gallant Body of the Kings Horse consisting of about 6000. approached hard to the Reere-guard of his Army which not being a sufficient number to resist them indeavoured to make an orderly retreat to the Body of their Army But the Kings Horse pursued so hotly both on Reere and Flanke that those Horse Regiments of the Generals Reere-guard could not retreat but with confusion and some losse But being come to the Body of the Foot they were drawn up againe into order and faced their Enemies untill all the Foot were marched Neverthelesse the Kings Horse againe advancing put their Enemies the second time into the like disorder till some of the Generals Regiments facing about towards them charged the Forlorne Hope of the Kings Forces consisting of 500. Horse and put them wholly into disorder and then charging the two Regiments which seconded that Forlorne Hope they routed them likewise but the Kings Horse came on bravely with fresh Bodies and stopt their Enemies further pursuit Immediately followed a brave Charge made by two of the Parliaments Regiments which was incountered with as much Gallantry on the other side so that they both retreated at one time Another Charge was made by some Regiments of the Parliament Army and so answered by the other that they were forced to retreat to their maine Body at which time Sâ—r PHILIP STAPLETON who had the Van-guard of the Parliament Army that day came purposely back and drew up his Regiment to succour his friends which caused the Kings Forces to retiâ—e altogether and the night stopt any further proceedings On the Kings Party in these hot encounters were slaine the Marquesse De Vieu Ville with other Officers of good quality whose worth and valour appeared highly though I finde not their names recorded Many Common Souldiers were there slaine and one Lieutenant Colonell two Lieutenants and a Cornet taken Prisoners On the Parliaments side were slaine of Officers Captaine MIDDLETON and Captaine HACKET divers Officers were wounded some Common Souldiers slaine and Coâ—onell SHEFFIELD lost a Standard The Lord Generall Essex marched that night with his Army to Hungerford Sir PHILIP STAPLETON who before had the Van bringing up the Reere The next day the famous Battell of Newbury was fought which Battell may deserve because the condition of the whole Kingdom so much depended on the successe of it to be related in a large and particular manner But because I have found nothing written of it by those of the Kings Party and that there was a punctuall Narrative published by some Colonels of the Parliament Army Gentlemen of great and unstained Reputation concerning this Battell which Narrative I have heard some of their Enemies confesse to be full not onely of modesty but truth in the Generall or for the most part let the Reader be pleased to take it from their Relation If any thing may hereafter appeare of greater truth it will not trouble any honest man to see it published Neither is it a thing unheard of for men to describe their owne actions with impartiall truth since JULIUS CAESAR is acknowledged to have written his owne Commentaries not onely of the Gallike but Civill Warre with so much cleare integrity that his Enemies had nothing to blame in it Take it therefore in their Language On Tuesday the nineteenth of September 1643. we marched from Hungerford towards Newbury and when we approached within two miles of the Town we might discover the Enemies Forces upon an hill their whole Army having prevented us were gotten to Newbury and possest the Towne But the next morning being Wednesday by break of day order was given for our March to an Hill called Biggs Hill neere to Newbury and the onely convenient place for us to gaine that we might with better security force our passage But when his Excellency perceived
coming to the House of Commons to surprise those Members by all which they endeavour to prove their fears and jealousies grounded upon true substantial reasons and necessary for the safety the Common-wealth entrusted to them and that the Kings fear to reside neer London is altogether without ground and pretended for nothing but to perplex the Common-wealth proceeding from evil and traiterous Counsels affirming that His Majesties absence would cause men to believe that it was out of designe to discourage the undertakers and hinder the other provisions for relieving Ireland that it would hearten the Rebels there and all dis-affected persons in this Kingdom The King expressed much indignation when he received this Remonstrance complaining of the manner of it that it was onely an upbraiding not an invitation or perswasion of him to return to the Parliament and told them that in all ARISTOTLE'S Rhetoricks there was no such argument of Perswasion and that he would answer it in another Declaration which within few days after was drawn up and published wherein with deep protestations he vindicates the truth of his Religion and justifies his other proceedings denying those Warrants for transporting Master JERMYN and others in that manner which they urge them taxes them with their needlesse fears and uncertain expressions of advertisements from Rome Venice Paris and other places recites the many gracious Acts which he had already passed this Parliament to satisfie his People and protests in conclusion that he is most desirous to reside neer his Parliament and would immediately return to London if he could see or hear of any provisions made for his security The King sent them another Message from Huntingdon on the 15 of March being then upon his removal to the City of York wherein he expresses his care of Ireland and not to break the Priviledge of Parliament but chiefly to let them know that he understands his own Rights forbidding them to presume upon any pretence of Order or Ordinance to which he is no party concerning the Militia or any other thing to do or execute what is not warranted by those Laws and withal recommending to them the substance of his Message of the twentieth of Ianuary last that they compose and digest with all speed such Acts as they shall think fit for the present and future establishment of their Priviledges These were the heads of some Declarations Petitions and Answers for about this time and for three months after such Messages Remonstrances Petitions and Answers grew so voluminous upon all occasions as might recited verbatim make a large History Thus is the King gone to York while the Parliament sit at London declaring in vain and voting as they did upon receipt of his last Message by consent of both Houses 1. That the King's absence so far remote from his Parliament is not onely an obstruction but may be a destruction to the affairs of Ireland 2. That when the Lords and Commons in Parliament shall declare what the Law of the Land is to have this not onely questioned and controverted but contradicted and a Command that it should not be obeyed is an high breach of the Priviledge of Parliament 3. That they which advised the King to absent himself from the Parliament are enemies to the peace of this Kingdom and justly to be suspected as favourers of the Rebellion in Ireland It may seem strange to a Reader that the King without any but such bootlesse opposition as Pen and Paper can make against him even in the sight and notice of a Parliament whilst they not onely beheld his actions but seemed to discern the designes and foresee the effects which would flow from them could be able to carry the work on so clearly and so far until the whole Kingdom were thereby involved in a most calamitous and destructive War I will not presume to publish any opinion of mine own how or when this ruine of the Kingdom should have been prevented but onely relate what was then done that posterity hereafter may judge of it It was not unknown to the Parliament at least not unsuspected for it was usually talked among the people of that time that the Queen when she passed into Holland carried with her the Crown-Jewels to pawn or sell there which if she did they could not be ignorant what the intention was or what the effect was like to prove nor could it be unknown to them how unlawful the act was and therefore how fit to be prevented for they indicted her asterwards of high Treason for that fact and were able to tell the world in a Declaration how great a crime it is in a King himself to make away the Ornaments of the Crown and in particular the Jewels of it yea in such Kings as did it onely to spend or give away not to maintain War against their own People for whose preservation not onely those but whatsoever they possesse was first bestowed on them They seemed to oppose the Prince his departure from Hampton-Court to attend the King his Father into the North because it might increase fears and jealousies in the People but the King carried him away Above all the rest they were not ignorant how wonderful an obstruction to all businesse of Parliament and to the setling of England or relieving of Ireland that far removal of the Kings Person from the Parliament must needs prove and which themselves sufficiently expressed That the very Journey it self though no worse designe were in it was in no kinde excusable as most inconvenient for the reasons aforesaid and convenient in nothing that was ever alleadged for it Yet the King passed quietly thither One designe of the King which indeed was thought the chief of that his Northern Expedition was prevented by the Parliament by an open and forcible way which was the seizing upon the strong Town and Fort of Hull with all that Magazine of Arms which was there deposited But it was very remarkable what means had been used on both sides to prevent if it had been possible that open denial of the King's entrance into Hull and that the matter should not have come so far Which the King conceived so great an affront to him that it grew the subject of many large and voluminous Declarations afterward from either Part. For the prevention of that before it happened the King from York had sent a Message to the Parliament upon the eighth of April 1642 that he intended to go in Person over into Ireland to chastise by force of Arms those barbarous and bloodie Rebels and to that purpose he thought fit to advertise the Parliament that he intended to raise forthwith by his Commissions in the Counties neer Westchester a Guard for his own Person when he should come into Ireland consisting of two thousand Foot and two hundred Horse which he would arm at Westchester from his Magazine of Hull But at the same time the Lords and Commons in Parliament had sent a Petition to the King
for leave to remove the Magazine at Hull to the Tower of London alleadging that the Stores of Arms and Ammunition in the Tower were much diminished and that the necessity of Supplies for the Kingdom of Ireland for which they had been issued from thence daily increased That the occasion for which the Magazine was placed at Hull was taken away there being no danger now from Scotland They likewise alleadged that it would be kept in the Tower with lesse charge and more safety and transported from thence with much more convenience for the service of Ireland The King seemed very angry at this Petition alleadging among other things that if any of those Arms were designed for Vlster or Leinster the conveyance of them would be more easie and convenient from Hull then from London But most of all he seemed to be exasperated for the Parliament had used timely prevention that they had sent to keep out from thence the Earl of Newcastle whom the King in that Answer termeth A Person of honour fortune and unblemished reputation and committed that Town and Fort without his consent to the hands of Sir JOHN HOTHAM The Parliament as it appeared by their expression in a Declaration at that time were much confirmed in that opinion which they had of the King 's aiming at Hull when he went Northward by an intercepted Letter from the Lord GEORGE DIGBY dated from Middleborough in Zealand the 20 of Ianuary 1641 to Sir LEWIS DIVES wherein he writes that if the King will declare himself and retire to a safe place he should be able to wait upon him from thence as well as out of any part of England over and above the service which he might do for him there in the mean time The like expressions he used in another Letter to the Queen intercepted in the same Packet intimating some service he might do her in those parts and desired a Cypher whereby to hold correspondencie with her in writing This young Lord of whom we spake before about the death of the Earl of Strafford a man of excellent parts and one that had been acceptable to the Parliament until his Speech about that businesse and some other miscarriage detected upon the same occasion was much alienated in heart from the Parliament because that Speech of his which he had printed against Command was ordered to be burned by the hands of the Hang-man so that afterward he became a great cherisher as appeared in divers things of those divisions which were growing between the King and Parliament and was voted against in the House of Commons as a disturber of the publike peace for appearing armed at Kingston upon Thames in an unusual and illegal manner with other circumstances there to belonging Whereupon the Lords in Parliament sent for him and if he appeared not within twenty days proclaimed him Traitor But he in the mean time was transported by Sir JOHN PENNINGTON into Holland by a Warrant under the Kings hand as the Declaration of the Lords and Commons to the King in March following expressed During the time that the King and Parliament were as aforesaid busied about getting the Magazine of Hull the Parliament proceeded by degrees in setling the Militia in divers Counties and putting the Commands into such hands as they reposed confidence in as likewise to take charge of the Navie and provide by that means against any forraign force that might assault the Kingdom And because the Earl of Northumberland Lord Admiral by reason of indisposition of health was disenabled then for commanding the Fleet in his own person they thereupon recommended to his Lordship the Earl of Warwick a man of such ability in Sea-affairs and such untainted reputation as they durst highly trust to supply his Lordships room in that employment But understanding that the King had chosen Sir JOHN PENNINGTON into that Command a Message was sent from both Houses to the King on the 28 of March to intreat him that the employment might no longer be detained from the Earl of Warwick as a noble person chosen by both Houses of Parliament in that Service the Charge whereof was to be born by the Common-wealth The King refused to admit of the Earl of Warwick taking great exception at the Message from both Houses as appeared by his Letter to the Lord Keeper concerning it that they would take upon them the nominating of the chief Sea-Commander But the Earl of Warwick within few months after though not without some opposition of divers Gentlemen who had before been placed in Command by the King and strove to carry away their Ships to His Majestie was possessed of the whole Navie of which some more particulars may hereafter be related Upon the 23 of April 1642 the King attended by some Noble-men and no great train of Gentlemen and Souldiers came before the walls of Hull to demand entrance there but he found the Gates shut and the Bridges drawn up by the command of Sir JOHN HOTHAM a member of the House of Commons and by the Parliament entrusted with the Government of that Town Sir JOHN HOTHAM appeared upon the Wall and kneeling down there intreated his Majestie that he would be pleased not to command that which he must be enforced though extremely grieved to disobey his Majestie in any thing to deny at that time alleadging that he could not admit his Majestie without breach of trust to the Parliament beseeching the King to give him leave to send to the Parliament to acquaint them with his command and take their direction The King upon this denial grew into choler and after some hot words seeming not to believe that the Parliament had commanded any such thing to that purpose speaking demanded of Sir JOHN HOTHAM that if he had Order from the Parliament to keep out his Person he should shew it in Writing for otherwise he would not believe it But Sir JOHN HOTHAM because the Order was not in those expresse words as naming the Kings particular person though he knew the sense and meaning of the Parliament did not produce any Writing onely beseeching the King not to command him that which he might not do Whereupon the King after some hours spent in vain about the Town proclaimed Sir JOHN HOTHAM Traitour and returned when he had received out of the Town his Son the Duke of York and his Nephew the Prince Electour whom Sir JOHN the day before had admitted into the Town entertained and lodged there that night The next day the King in a Message to the Parliament complained of that affront offered by Sir JOHN HOTHAM accusing him for that he had traiterously and seditiously strived to put his disobedience upon the Parliament the King seeming to believe that HOTHAM had done it upon his own head without any direction or authority from them And within two days after sent another Message to the Parliament complaining in a sharper manner then before of that great indignity which if they afforded
young Princes arrived in England were soone put into imployment and Command under the King their Uncle in which they shewed themselves very forward and active as will appeare afterward and if more hot and furious then the tender beginnings of a Civill Warre would seeme to require it may be imputed to the fervour of their youth and great desire which they had to ingratiate themselves to the King upon whom as being no more then Souldiers of fortune their hopes of advancement wholly depended Prince RUPERT the elder brother and most furious of the two within a fortnight after his arrivall commanded a small party of those Forces which the King had at that time gathered together which were not of so great a body as to be tearmed an Army with which he marched into divers Counties to roll himselfe like a snow ball into a larger bulke by the accession of Forces in every place Through divers parts of Warwick-shire Nottingham-shire Leicestershire Worcester-shire and Cheshire did this young Prince fly with those Troops which he had not inviting the people so much by faire demeanour for such was the report to the Houses of Parliament as compelling them by extreme rigour to follow that side which he had taken Many Townes and Villages he plundered which is to say robb'd for at that time first was the word plunder used in England being borne in Germany when that stately Country was so miserably wasted and pillaged by forraigne Armies and committed other outrages upon those who stood affected to the Parliament executing some and hanging up servants at their Masters doores for not discovering of their Masters Upon which newes the Houses of Parliament fell into a serious debate and agreed that a Charge of High Treason should be drawne up against him for indeavouring the destruction of this State which was voted a great breach of the Kingdoms Lawes and breach of the priviledge of that great Councell representing the whole state of it Let it not seeme amisse in this place to insert a passage happening at the same time which cannot be omitted by reason of the eminence of that person whom it concernes in the succeeding Warres Colonell GORING who was before spoken of to keepe the Towne of Portsmouth against the Parliament being now no longer able to hold it out was permitted by Captaine MERRICK not without allowance from the Earle of Warwick to leave the place and to be conveyed to the Brill in Holland according to his owne desire This the Parliament were contented with because the Captaine was necessitated to agree to it for preservation of that Towne and many persons therein well affected to the Parliament for GORING had threatned to destroy the Towne with wilde-fire if he might not preserve his owne life by a peaceable surrender Whilest Prince RUPERT was thus active with a flying Party the King himselfe was moving with those Forces which he had but in a gentler and calmer way for the reverence which the people bare to his Person made him finde lesse resistance as windes lose their fury when they meet no opposition but howsoever the King desired to go in such a way as to be taken for a Father of his Country and a Prince injur'd by the Parliament professions of love perswasions and Protestations of his affection to the people were the chiefe instruments which he used to raise himselfe a strength and complaints against the proceedings and actions of the Parliament as when he was marching toward Shrewsbury where he intended to make his chiefe Rendezvouze being a place convenient to receive and entertaine such Forces as should come to him out of Wales Which place as will appeare afterward failed not his expectation though it were more then the Parliament could suspect As he was marching thither with a small Army he made a Speech betweene Stafford and Wellington on the 19. of September and caused his Protestation to be then also read in the head of his Army wherein among other things he tells them for their comfort and hope to prevaile that they should meet no Enemies but Traytors most of them Brownists Anabaptists and Atheists who would destroy both Church and Common-wealth And in this Protestation with deepe vowes and imprecations upon himselfe and his posterity he declares his whole care and intentions to be for the maintenance of the Protestant Religion the Lawes and property of the Subject together with the Priviledge of Parliament as he was accustomed to do in his former Speeches But the King not many daies before had taken a more harsh and coercive way for marching thorow Derbyshire Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire he commanded the Trayned Bands of those Counties to attend and guard his Person and when they were met disarmed the greatest part of them taking as many Armes as served for 2000. men besides good summes of Money which not without some constraint he borrowed from them But to leave the Kings proceedings for a while it is time to returne to the Lord Generall for the Parliament and the Army raised under his conduct which at that time when Prince RUPERT began to march was growne to a considerable body consisting of about â—4 thousand Horse and Foot their generall Rendezvouze was at Northampton where many of the chiefe Commanders as the Lord BROOKE Lord ROBERTS Colonell HAMDEN and others stayed with them expecting the presence of his Excellence who on the ninth of September taking his leave of the Parliament and City of London bent his journey toward Northampton and was waited on by the Trayned Bands and a great number of armed Gentlemen from Essex House to the end of the City with great solemnity But the love and wishes of the people that did attend him were farre greater then any outward signification could expresse To whom he seemed at that time though going to a Civill Warre as much an English man and as true a Patriot as if he had gone against a forraigne Enemy Great was the love and honour which the people in generall bore to his Person in regard of his owne vertue and honourable demeanour and much increased by the Memory of his noble Father the highest example that ever I yet read of a Favourite both to Prince and people of whom that was most true which VELLEIUS PATERCULUS speaks with flattery and falshood of SEJANUS In quo cum judicio Principis certabant studia populi The peoples love strived to match the Prince his judgement That Cause wherein the Earle of ESSEX had ingaged himselfe seemed to them religious enough to require their prayers for the successe of it For the Parliament though they raised an Army expressed much humility and reverence to the Kings Person for not many daies after the departure of the Lord Generall by consent of both Houses a Petition to the King was drawne up to be carried by Sir PHILIP STAPLETON a Member of the House of Commons often spoken of before and at this time a Colonell in the Lord Generals