confined by the Parliament at VVestminster Earl of Chesterfield and the Lord Mountague of Boughton These Members then disabled by Accidents have appeared since Peter Venebles Sir Io. Pawler Edward Bagshaw Sir Io. Burlacie Fr. Newport Anthony Hungerford Io. Russel Thomas Chichely Earl of Cork Sir Iervase Cliâ—ton Sir Guy Palmes Ro. Sutton Iervase Hollis Sir Patrick Curwin Sir Henry Bellingham Sir George Dalston Sir Thomas Stanford Sir VVilliam Dalston Mich. VVharton Sir Ro. Hutton Iames Sindamore Sir Io. Brich Sir Io. Stepny Imployed in his Majesties Service Sir Io. Finch Hugh Porter VValter Kurle VVilliam Stanhop Sir VVilliam Carnaby Sir Thomas Danby Io. Fennich Ralph Sneade Sir VVilliam Ogle Sir Thomas Iermin Sir Iohn Stowell Sir Robert Strickland Sir Ph. Musgrave Io. Coucher Io. Coventry Sir Henry Slingsby Sir Io. Malory Io. Bellasis Sir Thomas Ingram Lord Mansfelt Thomas Hebelthaite Sir Hugh Cholmly Sir George VVentworth Sir VValter Lloyd Iohn Vaughan Richard Ferrers George Hartnoll Sir VVilliam Udall Robert Hunt Thomas May. Sir Thomas Bourcher Sir Thomas Roe These Members taking into consideration the distressed estate of this Kingdom did the seven and twentieth day of this instant Ianuary send a Letter to the Earl of Essex for a Treaty of peace signed by all the Members with order to be published to this effect My Lord His Majesty having by his Proclamation of the two and twentieth of December last upon occasion of this Invasion by some of his Subjects of Scotland summoned all of the Members of both Houses of Parliament to attend him here at Oxford inviting us in the said Proclamation by these gracious Expressions That his Subjects should see how willing he was to receive advice for preservation of the Religion Laws and Safety of the Kingdom and as far as in him lay to restore it its former peace and security his chief and onely end from these whom they had trusted though he could not receive it in the place where he appointed VVhich hath been made good to us and seconded by such unquestionable Demonstrations of his deep and princely sense of the miseries and calamities of his poor Subjects in this unnatural VVar and his passionate affection to redeem them from that deplorable condition by all ways consistent with his Honour or with the future safety of the Kingdom c. We being most intirely satisfied of this truth and sensible of the Desolations of our Countrey and further Dangers threatned from Scotland c. And we being desirous to believe your Lordship however ingaged a person likely to be sensibly touched with these considerations do invite you to that part in this blessed work wich is onely capable to repair all our miseries and buoy up the Kingdom from ruine VVe therefore conjure you by all obligations that have power upon honour conscience or publick piety you will co-operate with us to its preservation by truly representing to and promoving with those by whom you are trusted this our Desire That they joyning with us in a right season some persons be appointed on either part to treat of such a Peace as may redeem it from the brink of desolation This Address we make being assured by his Proclamation of Pardon that his mercy and clemency can transcend all former provocations God Almighty direct your Lordship and those whom you shall present with these our real Desires as may produce a happy peace c. Your affectionate Friends c. Oxford Jan. 27. 1645. To these he returns no Answer to them but sends this Letter to the Parliament at Westminster where it wrought upon the Members according to their several affections The haste which the Scots Covenanters made rushed in their Army into England the sixteenth of Ianuary consisting of eighteen thousand Foot and two thousand Horse marching forwards till they came to the warm Sea-coal fires at Newcastle they knew the way hither having fared so well the time before in their first Expedition their then General and they being well rewarded here and at home by the Kings indulgent graces he following them into Scotland confirming unto them in full Parliament all the Privileges of Kirk and Kingdom and conferred many Honours and Offices He having done all this as before in particulars and ere he took leave to return wishing them to continue in allegeance and live in peace and if any difference should happen in England which he hoped God would divert he desired them to continue Neuters though he might expect Aid yet he would not disturb the Peace of his native Countrey To which they all obliged themselves by revival of their own Act to that purpose and at the publishing one of their chief that had been their General in the said Expedition fell on his knees and lifting up his arms and hands to Heaven wished they might rot to his body before he died if ever he would heave them up hereafter or draw his Sword against his gude King yet this Wretch Sir Alexander Lesly whom the King had made Lord Leven comes General of this Army also But their Harbinger came before them a Declaration spread abroad for satisfaction to their Brethren of England intentionally to answer three Questions The justness of their Cause The lawfulness of their calling thereunto And the faithfulness of their carriage therein For the first they appeal to the great Searcher of all hearts who knows that had not the love of Christ requiring to bear one anothers burthen and the Law of Nature challenging our endeavour to prevent our own Danger inveloped with our Neighbours and our Duty and Desire of rescuing the King from his pernicious Council we could with far more content have enjoyed our dry Morsel than entered into your Houses full of Sacrifices with strife c. And we profess before God and the world our hearts are clean and free from any other intentions than those expressed in our Solemn League and Covenant confederate with England viz. Reformation of Religion Honour of the King Peace of the Kingdoms Secondly and because a good necessarily requires a good Calling c. Providence hath so provided that the Parliament of England have a particular obligation upon this our Nation for refusing to countenance a VVar against us in 1640. and now desire our assistance to them and so with the sense of Piety Religion Honour and Duty to their Sovereign we may not resist our Call to this Expedition Thirdly then for our carriage herein we shall order our Army from Insolencies Rapines Plunderings and other calamities incident to War And we do freely give the Publick Faith of the Kingdom of Scotland unto the Kingdom of England that neither our entrance into nor continuance in England shall be made use of to other ends than is expressed in that Covenant which we shall keep inviolable And call God to witness their onely intent of VVar is to confirm all in Peace and so to return home again How they have performed these let the world judge I
himself from the Ladder without any remorse for his monstrous Crime And now being executed for his Villany it may merit the moving why he was refused his Trial by Peerage The King had a great desire to remove the Siege against Dennington Castle but were beaten off and therefore it was concluded by the Council of State that Essex's Forces should not draw out of Newbury into the Field lest the King should possess it for a Winter Quarter but that they should fight him at his Retreat but he retreated to Marlborough without opposition and the Parliaments Forces quit Newbury which the King possesses and reserves as a covert Quarter for his Army when the other lay in the open Fields and forced from Basing Siege withdrew to Reading Hereabout we finde the first appearance of Exception which the Parliament had against the good management of their Armies Essex being now suspected as careless or discontent and therefore they fall to debate hereabout in the House for Colonel Norton had writ a Letter to them that he had received a Warrant from a chief Commander in the Army to withdraw from Basing which was a thing unexpected he says but accordingly he hath obeyed nay the commands of the Committee of both Kingdoms to the Army were lately much neglected and complained of It grew into a high Debate How chance the Parliaments Forces permitted the Enemie to relieve Dennington Castle when they were two for one and why the Town of Newbury was quitted before the Enemie was marched away as the pretence of not fighting before was because we would not quit Newbury And now the Kings Forces were quartered at Basing Odjam Newburie Blewburie and Marlborough and Essex at Reading Henley Abington and Farnham And whilest they thus lodg in Quarters the Actions of the Parliaments Army are arreigned and committed And the Earl of Manchester makes the Relation concerning the carriage at Dennington Castle of great length in writing wherein his Lordship makes his own Defence and gives a Charge against Lieutenant General Cromwel a Member of the Commons who had deserved much honour for his good Service to the State and who made answer to several particulars therein mentioned and the point of privilege of Parliament upon the transmitting of that business from the Lords before any Charge was brought to the House of Commons but it was committed and they to receive the proofs for making good of the Earls Information concerning Lieutenant General Cromwel and to make protestation of secrecy therein and so silent they were that we never heard more of it General Essex having sped so ill in the West was now returned to Westminster where the Faction was powerfull in the Commons House against him being suspected somewhat more royal than the House would have him to be And after long Debate it was resolved to new model the Army and by degrees and in time to be rid of their old General and to bethink of a new one in quality not more than a Knight with intention not over-long to trust to the Lords at all And begin with an Order That no Member of either House shall during this War enjoy and execute any Office or Command Military or Civil which hath been granted or conferred on any Member of either House or by any Authoritie derived from either House This was subtilly done and but very poor Reasons publick to satisfie the world in this policy That in relation to the Armie all Commissions to Parliament men being void the new molding the Armie may be carried on with less exception when all are concerned alike That all Differences militarie among the great Commanders Parliament men which may retard the work is hereby quieted And those that shall be new made Officers may be elected of the lesser quality and the sooner subject to question and punishment and the Armie maintained at a less charge And after fourty days expiring this Order all their Commands and Offices in the Army shall be null but in order to justice they publish their Resolution to pay off their Arrears which was slenderly performed when their Offices were out of date And to crown this Design they fast and pray and to boot the well-affected City give them thanks and promise to live and die with them for this their new voting And somewhat to sweeten the Earl of Essex's sowreness the Parliament ordered him ten thousand pounds per annum out of Delinquents Estates for his good Service and his great Losses and amongst their Commanders they elect Sir Thomas Fairfax in his room But this great Ordinance of Molding goes on slow and suffered much Debate and Alteration for the Lords House began to foresee the effects and would not assent untill Petitions from the City and several Counties drew them to conclude it with this Title An Ordinance for the raising and maintaining of Forces for the defence of the Kingdom under the command of Sir Thomas Fairfax Who is sent for to London out of the North and comes in private and the next day Feb. 19. is conducted to the Commons House by four of their Members a Chair was set and he to sit therein M. Speaker telling him the great trust the Kingdom had put upon him in the command of this Army and the good opinion they had of his valour and fidelity for the defence of Religion Laws and Liberty encouraging him to go on as he hath begun Great Disorders in the modelling this new Army and long time setling hastened an Order to the Scots Army to march Southward with all speed This new Army consisted of twenty one thousand viz. fourteen thousand Foot and six thousand Horse and a thousand Dragoons The House of Commons finding the Peers so pregnant as notwithstanding the great Exceptions and publick discourse of an intention to lessen their Lordships it was thought fitting to caress them by an appointed Committee March 18. to congratulate their happy concurrence and to assure them of the Commons real affections and endeavours to support their Lordships in their Honours and Privileges A language which heretofore the Lords would have disdained to have received from them The List of the Officers thus passed were these besides those of the old which are kept in Sir Thomas Fairfax Commander in chief Major General Skippon who was indeed the City Champion New Officers of Foot Colonels Crayford Berkley Montague Aldridg Holborn Fortescue Ingolsby Pickering Rainsborough New Officers of Horse Colonels Middleton Sidney Graves Sheffield Vermindon Whaley Levisay Fleetwood Rossiter Sir Robert Pie The Kings Army was now under the chief command of the Prince of Wales Prince Maurice and Prince Rupert in the Northern parts and association of the Counties adjoyning the Earl of Derby and Sir Marmaduke Langdon in Byrone and Gerard in VVales Southward and these Counties thereabout Hopton Goring and Greenvile in the West with several small Armies Amongst those of the old Commanders for the Parliament I finde Lieutenant General Cromwel the
afore mentioned as also that which Ormond intimates to Monroe of the one and twentieth of May. Which Letters were the very same in print and published by Ormond at Dublin and brought over by Sir Robert King one of the Parliaments Commissioners in Ireland and were as yet laid under Deck for advantage against the King hereafter In this time the King caresses the Parliament with Messages as before for his personal Treaty at London And because he would give earnest of his serious Intentions he gives Warrant for surrendering all his Garisons C. R. Having resolved to comply with the designs of our Parliament in every thing that may be for the good of our Subjects and leave no means unattempted for removing of differences between us therefore we have thought the more to evidence the reality of our intention of setling a happy peace to require you upon honourable conditions to quit the Towns Castles and forts intrusted to you by us and to disband all the forces under your several Commands Given at Newcastle the tenth of June 1646. To our trusty and well beloved Sir Thomas Glenham Sir Thomas Tisley Colonel Washington Colonel Blague Governours of our Cities and Towns of Oxford Worcester Litchfield and Wallingford and to all other Commanders of any other Towns Castles or Forts within the Kingdom of England or Dominion of Wales The Scots now in some Jealousie how mightily the King complies with his Parliament and that they should not be able perhaps to effect their designs by force they now endeavour therefore by fraud and cunningly insinuate to the Parliament That their Conscience bears them witnesse of their constant endeavours to preserve the Union of both Kingdoms yet never more than since the Kings coming to their Army by effecting such Messages from his Majesty as might be a sure ground of peace to his people and happinesse to himself And although we have not as yet prevailed over his Principles deeply rooted into him as to obtain the utmost of our desires which we hope in short time to effect And we hope that accordingly the Parliament will be pleased to send their Propositions of peace to him upon whose Answer we shall clearly know how to proceed in the intended Pacification and to satisfie the Parliament in disbanding our Armies delivering up the Garisons possessed by us and retiring home for the good of both Kingdoms Newcastle June 10. Signed by Leven and all the Scots Commissioners and directed to the Parliament And herewith is presented to the Parliament the Copy of a paper delivered to the King from the Committee of Estates of Scotland concerning the Prince of Wales That the Prince goe not beyond Sea but to reside within the Kingdom of England with Honour and safety for preventing the danger to his Person Religion and Inconveniencies besides in this time of affairs Then was a Letter intercepted from the King to the Prince read in the Parliament thus Charles This is rather to tell you where I am and that I am well than at this time to direct you in any thing having writ fully to your Mother what I would have you to do whom I Command you to Obey in every thing except Religion concerning which I am confident she will not trouble you and see you goe no whither without her or my particular direction Let me hear often from you so God blesse you Your Loving Father C. REX Postscript If Jack Ashburnham come where you are command him to wait on you as he was wont untill I shall send for him If your Mother and you be together if she will he must wait on her Then was Hudson Examined who saith That the King was there in company coasted the Country from Oxford and came to Henley Brainford and Harrow on the Hill where he was almost perswaded to come to London from thence he went to St. Albans and then to Harborough in Leicestershire where he expected the French Agent with some Horse to meet him toconduct him to the Scots but the Agent failing of his promise to Hudson the King went to Stanford thence to Norfolk and at Downham he rested from Thursday till Munday till Hudson returned from the Agent upon whose return the King passed into the Army But how ever they handled Hudson he escaped out of prison at London 28. November after and is retaken again the midst of December in the North and his Examination sent up viz. That escaping out of Newgate he went to Ratcliffe disguised and there took Boat and landing without the Works went to Bow where his Man met him with Horses thence to Lyn so to Newcastle to Montril the French Agent who carried him to the King and had conference with him two hours who bad him return to his friends for a moneth by that time he should have occasion to dispose of him bad him beware of the Scots who would commit him and returning to Lincolnshire was taken prisoner again The King now in durance and out of all hope to be able to Manage his affairs in Ireland and for Ormond to proceed there according to former directions and being labored by the English and Scots at Newcastle not to Treat with the Rebells of Ireland any more The King writes to the Marquesse C. R. Right trusty c. Having a long time with much grief looked upon the sad Condition our Kingdom of Ireland hath been in these divers years through the â—iked and desperate Rebellion there and the bloody effects that have ensued thereupon for the setling whereof we would have wholly applied our selves if the difference betwixt us and our Subjects here had not diverted and withdrawn us And not having been able by force for that respect to reduce them we were necessitated for the present safety of our Protestant Subjects there to give you power and Authority to Treat with them upon such Pious Honourable and Safe grounds as the good of that our Kingdom did require But for many Reasons too long for a Letter We think fit to require you to proceed no further with the Rebells nor to engage us upon any conditions with them after sight hereof And having formerly found such real proofs of your ready Obedience to our commands we doubt not of your care in this wherein our service and the good of our Protestant Subjects in Ireland is so much concerned Newcastle June the eleventh 1646. But the affairs of Ireland not intermxing with others are purposely put together at the end of this year to which we refer the Reader The Commissioners of Scotland had oftentimes since the twentieth of Iune 1645. pressed the sending of the former Propositions presented at Oxford and debated at Uxbridg And the Parliament upon the sixth of August 1645. declared that Propositions shall speedily be sent with some alteration And upon the last of February following the Scots Commissioners received some new Propositions from the Houses And upon the sixteenth March they
all retired to Bugden where he lived very Hospitably and in manner and order of the good Bishops not without an eye and ear over him of such as were Intelligencers of Court And at Westminster Hall the Ceremony begun towards the Abbey Church in order thus 1. The Aldermen of London by couples ushered by an Herauld 2. Eighty Knights of the Bath in their Robes each one having an Esquire to support and a Page to attend him 3. The Kings Serjeants at Law Solicitor Atturney Masters of Request and Iudges 4. Privy Councellors that were Knights and the chief Officers of the Kings Houshold 5. Barons of the Kingdome bare-headed in their Parliament Robes with Swords by their sides 6. The Bishops with Scarlet Gowns and Lawn sleeves bare-headed 7. The Vice-Counts and Earls not in their Parliament but in their Coronation Robes with coronetted Caps on their Heads 8. The Officers of State for the day whereof these are the Principal Sir Richard Winn Sir George Goring The Lord Privy Seal The Archbishop of Canterbury The Earl of Dorset carrying the first Sword The Earl of Essex carrying the second Sword The Earl of Kent carrying the third Sword The Earl of Mountgomery carrying the Spurs The Earl of Sussex carrying the Globe and Cross upon it The Bishop of London carrying the Golden Cup for the Communion The Bishop of Winchester carrying the Golden Plate for the Communion The Earl of Rutland carrying the Scepter The Marquess Hamilton carrying the Sword of State naked The Earl of Pembroke carrying the Crown The Lord Maior in a Crimson Velvet Gown carried a Short Scepter before the King amongst the Serjeants The Earl of Arundel as Earl Marshall of England and the Duke of Buckingham as Lord High Constable of England for that day went next before his Majesty The King entred at the West Gate of the Church under a rich Canopy carried by the Barons of the Cinque Ports His own Person supported by Doctor Neil Bishop of Durham on the one hand and Doctorâ— Lake Bishop of Bath and Wells on the other His train six yards long of Purpleâ—Velvet held up by the Lord Compton Master of the Robes and the Lord Viscount Doncaster Master of the Wardrobe Here he was met by the Prebends of Westminster Bishop Lawd supplying the Deans Place in their rich Copes who delivered into the Kings hands the Staff of King Edward the Confessor with which he walked up to the Throne Which was framed from the Quire to the Altar the King mounted upon it none under the degree of a Baron standing therein save only the Prebends of Westminster who attended on the Altar Three Chairs for the King in several places first of Repose the second the antient Chair of Coronation and the third placed on an high square of five steps ascent being the Chair of State All settled and reposed the Arch-bishop of Canterbury presented his Majesty to the Lords and Commons East West North and South asking them if they did consent to the Coronation of K. Charles their lawful Soveraign The King in the mean time presented himself bareheaded the consent being given four times with great acclamation the King took his Chair of Repose The Sermon being done the Arch-Bishop invested in a rich Cope goeth to the King kneeling upon Cushions at the Communion Table and askes his willingness to take the Oath usually taken by his Predecessors The King is willing ariseth and goeth to the Altar and is interrogated and thus answereth Coronation Oath Sir Sayes the Arch-bishop will you grant and keep and by your Oath confirm to the People of England the Laws and Customes to them granted by the Kings of England your lawful and Religious Predecessours and namely the Laws Customs and Franchises granted to the Clergy by the glorious King St. Edward your Predecessor according to the Lawes of God the true profession of the Gospel established in this Kingdome agreeable to the Prerogative of the Kings thereof and the antient Customes of the Realm The Kings answer I grant and promise to keep them Sir Will you keep Peace and Godly agreement according to your power both to God the holy Church the Clergy and the people I will keep it Sir Will you to your power cause Law Iustice and discretion to mercy and truth to be executed to your Iudgement I will Sir will you grant to hold and keep the Laws and Rightfull Customes which the Comminalty of this your Kingdome have and will you defend and uphold them to the honour of God so much as in you lieth I grant and promise so to do Then one of the Bishops read this Admonition to the King before the people with a lowd voice Our Lord and King wee beseech you to pardon and to grant and to preserve unto Vs and to the Churches committed to your charge all Canonical privileges and do Law and Iustice and that you would protect and defend Vs as every good King to his Kingdomes ought to be Protector and Defendor of the Bishops and the Churches under their Government The King answereth With a willing and devout heart I promise and grant my Pardon and that I will preserve and maintain to you and the Churches committed to your charge all Canonical privileges and due Law and Iustice and that I will be your Protector and Defender to my Power by the Assistance of God as every good King in his Kingdom in right ought to protect and defend the Bishops and Churches under their Government Then the King ariseth and is led to the Communion Table where he makes a solemn Oath in sight of all the people to observe the premisses and laying his hand upon the Bible saith The Oath The things which I have here promised I shall perform and keep So help me God and the Contents of this Book Then were his Robes taken off and were offered at the Altar He stood a while stripped to his Doublet and Hose of White Sattin Then led by the Arch Bishop and Doctor Lawd the Bishopâ—of St. Davids he was placed in the Chair of Coronation a Close Canopy spread over him the Arch-bishop anointing his Head Shoulders Arms and Hands with a costly ointment the Quire singing an Anthem of these words Zadook the Priest anointed King Solomon Hence he was led up in his Doublet and Hose with a White Coife on his head to the Communion Table where the Bishop of St. Davids Deputy for the Dean brought forth the antient Abiliments of King Edward the Confessor and put them upon him Then brought back to the Chair of Coronation he received the Crown of King Edward presented by the Bishop of Saint Davids and put on his Head by the Archâ— Bishop of Canterbury the Quire singing an Anthem Thou shalt put a Crown of pure Gold upon his head whereupon the Earls and Viscounts put on their Crimson Velvet Caps with Coronets about them the
by the Kings command expresly to leave the House and attempting to rise was by force held down by Master Hollis who swore he should sit still whilest they pleased but not prevailing Sir Peter Hayman moved Hollis to reade these Articles which the House protested First whosoever shall bring in Innovation of Religion or by favour seek to introduce Popery or Arminianism or other Opinions disagreeing from the true and orthodox Church shall be reputed a capital Enemy to this Kingdom and Common-wealth Secondly whosoever shall counsel or advise the taking or levying of the Subsidies of Tunnage and Poundage not being granted by Parliament or shall be an Actor or Instrument therein shall be likewise reputed a capital Enemy to the Common-wealth Thirdly if any man shall yield voluntarily or pay the same not being granted by Parliament he shall be reputed a Betraier of the Liberties of England and an Enemy to this Common-weath To each of these in order the House gave there a loud applause at every close which distempers reaching but to the Kings ear he sent for the Serjeant of the Mace but he was kept in and Sir Miles Hobart a Member locked the Door and kept the Key The King incensed at these insufferable Contempts sent Maxwel the Usher of the Black Rod to dissolve the Parliament but him and his Message they excluded which put the King into a forcible Posture the Captains with their Pensioners and Guard to break their entrance they fearing the effects suddenly slunk out of the House not daring to abide his anger who instantly came to the Lords and told them My Lords I never came here upon so unpleasant an occasion it being the Dissolution of a Parliament therefore men may have some cause to wonder why I should not rather chuse to do this by Commission it being a general Maxime of Kings to leave harsh commands to the Ministers themselves onely executing pleasing things Yet considering that Justice as well consists in reward and praise of virtue as punishing of vice I thought it necessary to come here to day to declare to you and all the World that it was meerly the undutifull and seditious carriage of the Lower House that hath made the Dissolution of this Parliament And you my Lords are so far from being causes of it that I take as much comfort in your dutifull demeanours as I am justly distasted with their Proceedings Yet to avoid mistakings let me tell you that it is so far from me to adjudg all that House guilty that I know there are many there as dutifull Subjects as any in the World it being but some few Vipers amongst them that did cast this mist of undutifulness over most of their eys yet to say truth there was a good number there that could not be infected with this contagion in so much that some did express their duties in speaking which was the general fault of the House the last day To conclude as these Vipers must look for their reward of punishment so you my Lords must justly expect from me that favour and protection that a good King oweth to his loving and dutifull Nobility And now my Lord Keeper do what I commanded you Who in the Kings name dissolved the Parliament But because Tunnage and Poundage was much disputed we shall shall say something to the first ground and occasion of them It is a fundamental truth essential to the constitution and government of this Kingdom and hereditary Privilege of the Subject that no Tax Tallage or other charge might be laid without consent in Parliament this was ratified by the contract of this Nation with the Conquerour upon his admittance and declared and confirmed in the Laws which he published and yet afterwardâ— broken by King Iohn and Henry 3. then confirmed by Magâ—â—â— Charta and other succeeding Laws but then attempted to be broken by the two succeeding Edwards when the Subject pursued those Breaches by the opportunity of frequent Parliaments and found relief procuring the right of the Subjects to be fortified by new Statutes And it may be observed that those â—ings in the very Acts whereby they did break the Law did really affirm the Subjects liberty and disclaimed that right of him a thing which hath been since challenged by successive Sovereigns the Merchant in those times usually giving consent to such Taxes but limited to a time to the ratification of the next following Parliament to be cancelled or confirmed But mostly these upon Merchandise were taken by Parliament six or twelve per pound for time and years as they saw cause for defence of the Sea sometimes also granted unto Noblemen or Merchants but for that use and afterwards they were granted to the King for life and so continued for divers Descents Between the time of Edward 3. and Queen Mary never any Prince some say demanded any Imposition but by Parliament Queen Mary indeed laid a charge upon Cloth by the equity of Tunnage and Poundage because the rate set upon Wool was much more than that upon Cloth and little Wool being transported unwrought she had reason to impose so much more as brought them to an equality but that there still continued a less charge upon Wool wrought into Cloth than upon Wool carded out unwrought untill King Iames his times when upon Nicholson's advice there was a further addition of charge which is that which we call the pretermitted Custome In Queen Elizabeths time some Impositions nay many increased the general prosperity of her Reign in the conjuncture of time and forrein affairs overshadowing and her power and will commanding without regret or complaint That of Currans was one for the Venetians having taxed a charge upon our English Cloth she raised that of the Currans with pretence to be even with them the sooner to take off the other And this came to be denied to King Iames by Bates a Merchant and a Sute in the Exchequer adjudged it for the King The three Judges then no more distinguished their several opinions The first that the King might impose upon forreign Commodities but not upon Natives to be transported or necessary to be imported for the use of the Kingdom The second Iudg was of opinion he might impose upon all forreign Merchandize whether superfluous or no but not upon native The third was absolute seeing the King had the custody of the Ports and Guard of the Seas and might shut up or open the Ports as he pleased 〈◊〉 had a Prerogative to impose upon all Merchandize exported or imâ—â—rted Afterwards King Iames laid charges upon all Commodities Outward and Inward not limited to time or occasion This Judgment and the right of imposing was a question in 7. and 12. Ian. and in 18. and 21. Ian. It was declined by the Commons House But in 1 Car. it was renewed by the Kings Propositions and then rather confirmed not abolished It was not sufficient for the King to break up the School of dissension
executâ—â—◠〈◊〉 he wretchedly died IRELAND The State of England must be cleared of an Imputation That the not reducing Ireland to Civility since the Martial design 17 H. 2. above four hundred years was so continued in policy But if otherwise intended why not the Conquest perfected till their subjection to K. Charls In truth their former defects have been the faint prosecution of the War and loosness of Civil Governments The Souldiers ill paid and worse commanded the more barbarous the greater difficulty witness Caesars to reduce Brittains and their petty Princes a longer War then with all Asia and under one Monarch The King of Spain hath felt that by the States of the Netherlands not as yet but the whole Kingdom of Portugal he got in a trice Tributaries they were the first degree of subjection but more properly Soveraigns than Subjects And H. 3. grants run thus Rex Regi Tosmond salutem c And the Record says Onale Rex 100 l. de auxilio domini Regis Henrici c. and in truth the English Kings might rather deserve their Title Rex Regum for each Rebel is a King and vi armis Regnum suum obtinuit and the Armies sent over at several times were ill paid more unruly worst commanded till 36. Edw. 3. Extorting Coin and Livery Free-quarter and Money the general fault of all Commanders there which the Irish call damnable Custom and so did nothing but undo one another the English Colonies as hardly used as the Irish Until 9 Eliz. who sent over more men and spent more money there than all her Progenitors since the first onset on that Nation for she had three Rebellions Oneal anno 1566. was soon defeated with a thousand men or rather he was slain by accident of the Scots not the English Army Desmond more deep six thousand English quite defeated him But Tyrones Rebellion universally spread enforced the Queen to send Essex with forces indeed twenty thousand by Poll yet did nothing till Mountjoy made an end of that war under King Iames and so submitted to English Government Laws Magistrates the Kings pardon and Peace in all parts an intire and perfect Conquest as Merline prophesied At Sextus maenia Hiberniae subverteâ— Regiones in Regnum redigentur But concerning the Civil Affairs they were never brought to any degree of Reformation till the Governour Earl of Sussex laid the platform and proceeded in the way which Sr. H. Sidney pursued reducing the Countries into â—hires placing 〈◊〉 and Ministers of Laws but yet rather in a course of 〈◊〉 than by Civil Courts for though the greatest part of 〈◊〉 were vested in the Crown by Act of Parliament yet no seizure nor brought in charge the Irish having all and though the Name O-Neal were damn'd as High Treason yet Tirlagh Leynnagh was suffered to leave that Title and to intrude upon the possessions of the Crown and that with favour of the State and the Abbaries and Religious Houses in Tyrone Tirconnel and Ferminagh dissolved in 33 Hen. 8. were never reduced into charge but were continually possest by the Religious Persons until King Iames came to the Crown Nay more strange the Donations of Bishopricks being a flower of the Crown which the Kings of England did ever retain when Papacy was at the highest There were three of them in Ulster namely Derry Rapho and Clogher which were never bestowed by any former Soveraigns though they were undoubted Patrons until King Iames the first King that ever supplied these Sees with Bishops Indeed after the Government of Henry Sidney followed Sir Iohn Perrolt who advanced the Reformation in three principal points In establishing the Composition of Conaught in reducing Ulster into seven Shires though in his time the Law never executed in those new Counties by Sheriffs or Justices of Assize but the people left to be ruled by their own barbarous Lords Laws Lastly by vesting in the Crown the Laws of Desmond in Munster and planting English there After Perrot comes Sir William Fitzers He raised a Composstion in Munster and setled the possessions of the Lords and Tenants in Monahan one of the last Acts of State tending to Reformation in Queen Elizabeths days Thus former Soveraigns endeavoured since Edward 3. to reduce this Nation and before the Civil Wars of York and Lancaster the chief aim was to order the degenerate English Colonies not respecting the meeâ— Irish. But after Hen. 7. who united the Roses they laboured to bring both English and Irish to Alleageance but never perfected till King Iames. The former 〈…〉 〈…〉 And for the Civil part to settle peace after Tyrone that Act of State or Act of oblivion by Proclamation pardoned all offences against the Crown and particular Trespasses don before King Iames his time and the inslaved Irish under their tyrant Lords were received into his Majesties immediate Protection As publick Peace so publick Iustice the first Sheriffs in Tyrone and Tyrâ—onnel in Ulster and Pelham and the first Justices in those Counties and afterwards in the first years Government of Sir Arthur Chichester he established two other new Circuits of Assize in Connaught and Munster where for two hundred years before had not been executed and publick Iustiâ—e grew so great as that there was Magna messis sed operarii pauci round about the whole Kingdom twice a year which heretofore was but about the Pale like the Circuit of Cynosur a about the Pole Quae cursu interiore brevi convertitur orbe By the Circuits of Assize the Commons were taught to be free Subjects to the King not Slaves to their Lords that their Cuttings Cosheries Sessings and such Extortions were unlawfull so that these tyrant Lords wanting means humbly petitioned for licence to take some competent contribution for their support which being denied them they were fain to fly into foreign parts and as Extortion banished them who could not live but under the Law so the Law banished the Irish Lord who could not live but by extortion that in five years not so many Malefactours of Death in the six Circuits or two and thirty Shires as in one Circuit of the West of England the Irish in peace fearfull to offend the Law and thereby â—ull knowledge of the Irish their Countries Persons and Actions and so their ancient Allowances in their Pipe Rolls pro Guidagio Spiagio was well spared Under Officers doing that Aâ—rand the neglect of the Law made the very English 〈◊〉 Irish which now counts them to be civil English The â—est was the setling of the Irish Estates as well as English for though a Law of Queen Elizabeth enabled the Governours to take Surrenders and regrant Estates unto the Irish yet but few Irish Lords in her time offered to make any if they did it was regranted to them again and to no other and the poor Septes paid their Duties as before so 〈◊〉 such a Surrender there was but one Freeholder made in a whole County which was
a fitting occasion was never offered whereby he might insinuate himself into the Lord Arch-Bishop to whom free access was to be impetrated by the Earl and Countesâ—e of Arundell as also by Secretary Windebank all whose intercessions he neglected and did shunne as it were the Plague the company or familiarity of CON. He was also solicited by others of no mean rank well known to him and yet he continued immoveable Trial also was made of another Secretary Cook who impeded accesse to the detestable design an utter enemy he was to the Iesuites whose access to the King he obstructed He treated many of them as they deserved he searcht into their factions by which means every incitement breathing an attractive power to the Romish Catholiques was ineffectual with him for nothing was so dear to him as his own Innocence whence being rendred odious to the conspirators he was in perpetual hazzard of losing his Place which being laboured for three years was at length obtained But for all this the King had left him a knotty piece for the Lord Arch-Bishop by his constancy opposed himself as an immoveable Rock Con and his party finding the Lord Arch Bishop so impregnable and that they laboured in vain began to boyle with malice and to plot how the Lord Arch-Bishop together with the King should be taken Sentence also is passed against the King who was the main concernment in the plot because nothing is hoped from him which might seem to promote the Popish Religion but especially when he had once declared himselfe that he was of the minde that any good and pious man may be saved in his own Religion To Act the Treason undertaken the criminall execution at Westminster caused by some puritanical writing gave the first spark a thing so much exasperated and exaggerated by the Papists and Puritans that if it went unrevenged it would be thought a blemish to their Religion the flames of which fire the subsequent Liturgie encreased In this heat a certain Scottish Earle one Maxwell if I mistake not was dispatcht to the Scots by the Popish party with whom two other Scottish Earles were correspondents he was to excite the people to commotion He was to raise commotions to re-inforce the sense of every injury and to spur on the people to Rebellion whereby the great disturber of the Scottish liberty might be destroyed There by one labour sâ—ares are laid for the King for which purpose the affaire was so ordered that very many English should adhear to the Scots That the King should be inferiour to them in Armes whereby he might be inforced to crave ayd from the Papists which yet should be denied him unlesse he would descend to conditions by which he should permit a general toleration of the Romish Religion which was the thing the Papists did aim at And should he be difficultly brought to such terms there was a Remedy hoped for For the young Prince who from his Cradle was educated in advantage to the Romish perswasion growing on fast in his youthfull age the Kings Death was contrived by an Indian Nut stuffed with a most fierce Poyson kept in the Society which Con then shewed me in a boasting manner and prepared for him as there was another for his Father During the Scotch Troubles the Marquess of Hamilton was often imployed by the King as Commissioner to compose Disorders there and pacifie the discontented party but returned as often without fruit His Chaplain repaired at that time to us and had secret conference with Con of whom I demanded in jest Whether also the Iews agreed with the Samaritans To which Con answered I would to God all Ministers were like him you may conjecture of this as you please Things standing thus there came to London from Cardinal Richelieu Master Thomas Chamberlain his Chaplain and Almoner a Scot by Nation who was to assist the College of Confederacy to advance the business and to â—ttempt all ways of exasperating the first heat for thâ—s service a Bishoprick was promised him Four moneths space he co-habited with the Society nor was he permitted to depart untill matters succeeding as he wished he might return with good News Sir Toby Mathew a Jesuited Priest of the Order of Politicians the most vigilant of the chief Heads who never went to Bed but got a Nap of an Hour or two in a Chair Day and Night plotted Mischief A Man principally noxious and the very Plague both of King and Kingdom a Man most impudent hunting all Feasts called or not called never quiet always in action and perpetual motion intruding into the company of all his Betters pressing Discourses whereby to fish out mens inclinations whatsoever he sucketh from thence either of advantage or noxious to the Conspiracy he imparteth to the Popes Legate reserving the most secret intelligence for the Pope himself or the Cardinal Barbarino In short he associates himself with any not a word can be spoken but he lays hold of it and accommodates it to his turn In the interim all his Observations he reduceth into a Catalogue and every Summer carrieth it to the general Consistory of the Jesuits Politicks which privately meet in the Province of Wales where he is a welcome Guest There are Councils closely hammered which are fittest for the ruining of the Ecclesiastick and Politick state of both Kingdoms Captain Read a Scot dwelling in Long-Acre Street near the Angel-tavern a Secular Jesuit who for his detestable service performed in perverting of a certain Minister of the Church with secret inticements to the Popish Religion with all his Family taking his Daughter to Wife obtained as a Reward an Impost upon Butter paid by the Countrey people procured for him from the King by some chief men of the Society who never want a Spur whereby he may be constantly detained in his Office In his house the whole Plot is contrived where the Society which hath conspired against the King the Lord Arch-bishop and both Kingdoms convene but on the Day of the Posts Dispatch they meet in greater Numbers for then all their Informers assemble and confer their Notes together and that they may be the less suspected convey all their secrets by Toby Matthew or Read himself to the Popes Legate who transmits the Pacquet of Intelligence to Rome With the same Read are intrusted the Letters brought from Rome under forged Titles and Names and by him delivered to whom they belong for all their Names are known to him Upon the same occasion Letters are also brought over under the covert of Father Philip though he be ignorant of the Plot who distributeth them to the Conspiratours In that very House there is a publick Chappel wherein an Ordinary Jesuit consecrates and dwelleth In this Chappel Masses are daily said by the Jesuits and the Children of some of the Domesticks and some the Conspiratours are baptized They who meet there come often in Coaches or on Hors-back in Laymens
Strafford with the assistance of the said Arch-bishop did procure his Majesty by sundry Speeches and Messages to urge the said Commons House to enter into some Resolution for his Majesties supply for maintenance of his War against his Subjects of Scotland before any course was taken for the relief of the great and pressing Grievances wherewith this Kingdom was then afflicted Whereupon a Demand was then made from his Majesty of twelve Subsidies for the release of Ship money onely and while the said Commons then assembled with expressions of great affections to his Majestie and his service were in Debate and Consideration of some Supply before Resolution by them made he the said Earl of Strafford with the help and assistance of the said Arch-bishop did procure his Majesty to dissolve the last Parliament upon the fifth Day of May last and upon the same Day the said Earl of Strafford did treacherously falsly and maliciously endeavour to incense his Majesty against his loving and faithfull Subjects who had been Members of the said House of Commons by telling his Majesty they had denied to supply him And afterward upon the same did treacherously and wickedly counsel and advise his Majesty to this effect viz. That having tried the affections of his People he was loose and absolved from all Rules of Government and was to do every thing that Power would admit and that his Majesty had tried all ways and was refused and should be acquitted both of God and Man and that he had an Army in Ireland meaning the Army above mentioned consisting of Papists his Dependents as is aforesaid which he might imploy to reduce this Kingdom to obedience The Earls Reply That he was not the principal cause of dissolving the last Parliament for before he came to the Council-table it was voted by the Lords to demand twelve Subsidies and that Sir Henry Vane was ordered to demand no less but he coming in the interim he perswaded the Lords to vote it again declaring to his Majesty then present and them the danger of the breach of the Parliament whereupon it was again voted that if the Parliament would not grant twelve Subsidies Sir Henry should descend to eight and rather than fail to six But Sir Henry not observing his Instructions demanded twelve onely without abatement or going lower that the height of this demand urged the Parliament to deny and their denial moved his Majesty to dissolve the Parliament so that the chief occasion of the breach thereof was as he conceived Sir Henry Vane He confesseth that at the Council-table he advised the King to an offensive War against the Scots but it was not untill all fair means to prevent a War had been first attempted Again others were as much for a defensive War it might be as free to vote one as the other Lastly Votes at a Council-board are but bare Opinions and opinions if pertinaciously maintained may make an Heretick but never can a Traitour And to Sir Vane's Deposition he said it was onely a single Testâ—mony and contradicted by four Lords of the Iunto Tables Depositions viz. the Earl of Northumberland the Marquess of Hamilton the Bishop of London and Lord Cottington who all affirmed that there was no question made of this Kingdom which was then in obedience but of Scotland that was in Rebellion and Sir Henry Vane being twice examined upon Oath could not remember whether he said this or that Kingdom and the Notes after offered for more proof were but the same thing and added nothing to the Evidence to make it a double Testimony or to make a Privy-counsellours Opinion in a Debate at Council high Treason The four and twentieth Article not urged 25. That not long after the dissolution of the said last Parliament viz. in the months of May and June he the said Earl of Strafford did advise the King to go on rigorously in levying of the Ship-mony and did procure the Sheriffs of several Counties to be sent for for not levying the Ship-money divers of which were threatned by him to be sued in the Star-chamber and afterwards by his advice were sued in the Star-chamber for not levying the same and divers of his Majesties loving subjects were sent for and imprisoned by his advice about that and other illegal payments And a great loan of a hundred thousand pounds was demanded of the City of London and the Lord Maior and the Aldermen and the Sheriffs of the said City were often sent for by his advice to the Counsel Table to give an accâ—unt of their proceedings in raising of Ship-money and furthering of that loan and were required to certifie the names of such Inhabitants of the said City as were fit to lend which they with much humility refusing to do he the said Earl of Strafford did use these or the like speeches viz. That they deserved to be put to Fine and Ransom and that no good would be done with them till an example were made of them and that they were laid by the heels and some of the Aldermen hâ—nged up The Earls Reply That there was a present necessity for Money that all the Council-board had voted with yea before him That there was then a Sentence in Star-chamber upon the Opinion of all the Judges for the legality of the Tax of Ship-money and he thought he might advise the King to take what the Judges had declared was by Law his own He confessed that upon Refusal of so just a service the better to quicken the Citizens to the payment of Ship-money he said they deserved to be fined Which words might perhaps be incircumspectly delivered but conceives cannot amount to Treason especially when no ill consequence followed upon them and it would render men in a sad condition if for every hasty word or opinion given in Council they should be sentenced as Traitours But that he said it were well for the kings service if some of the Aldermen were hanged up he utterly denieth Nor is it proved by any but Alderman Garway who is at best but a single Testimony and therefore no sufficient Evidence in case of Life 26. That the said Earl of Strafford by his wicked counsel having brought his Majesty iâ—to excessive charges without any just cause he did in the moneth of July last for the support of the said great charges counsel and approve two dangerous and wicked Projects viz. To seise upon the Bullion and the Money in the Mint And to imbase his Majesties Coin with the mixtures of Brass And accordingly he procured one hundred and thirty thousand pounds which was then in the Mint and belonging to divers Merchants strangers and others to be seised on and stayed to his Majesties use And when divers Merchants of London owners of the said Bullion came to his house to let him understand the great mischief that course would produce here and in other parts what prejudice it would be to the Kingdom by discrediting the Mint and hindring the
importation of Bullion he the said Earl told them that the City of London dealt undutifully and unthankfully with his Majesty and that they were more ready to help the Rebel than to help his Majesty and that if any hurt came to them they might thank themselves and that it was the course of other Princes to make use of such monies to serve their occasions And when in the same month of July the Officers of his Majesties Mint came to him and gave him divers reasons against the imbasing of the said money he told them that the French King did use to send Commissaries of Horse with Commission to search into mens estates and to peruse their accompts that so they may know what to levy of them by force which they did accordingly levy and turning to the Lord Cottington then present said That this was a point worthy his Lordships consideration The Earls Reply That he expected some Proofs to evidence the two first Particulars but hears of none For the following words he confessed probably they might escape the Door of his Lips Nor did he think it much amiss considering their present posture to call that Faction Rebells As for the last words objected against him in that Article he said that being in conference with some of the Londoners there came to his hands at that instant a Letter from the Earl of Leicester then at Paris wherein were the Gazets inclosed relating that the Cardinal had given order to levy Money by Souldiers This he onely told the Lord Cottington standing by but made not the least Application thereof to the English Affairs 27. That in or about the Moneth of Aug. last he was made Lieutenant General of all his Majesties Forces in the Northern parts against the Scots being at York did in the Moneth of September by his own authority and without any lawfull warrant impose a Tax on his Majesties Subjects in the County of York of 8. d. per diem for maintenance of every Souldier of the Trained Bands of that County which Sums of Money he caused to be levied by force And to the end to compell his Majesties Subjects out of fear and terrour to yield to the payment of the same He did declare that he would commit them that refused the payment thereof and the Souldiers should be satisfied out of their Estates and they that refused it were in very little better condition than of high Treason The Earls Reply That his Majesty coming to York it was thought necessary in regard the Enemy was upon the Borders to keep the Trained Bands on foot for defence of the County and therefore the King directed him to write to the Free-holders in Yorkshire to declare what they would do for their own defence that they freely offered a Moneths pay nor did any man grudg against it Again it was twice propounded to the great Council of Peers at York that the King approved it as a just and necessary act and none of the Council contradicted it which he conceived seemed a tacit allowance of it That though his Majesty had not given him special order therein nor the Gentry had desired it yet he conceived he had power enough to impose that Tax by virtue of his Commission But he never said that the Refusers should be guilty of little less than high Treason which being proved by Sir William Ingram he was but a single Testimony and one who had formerly mistaken himself in what he had deposed 28. That in the moneths of September and October last he the said Earl of Strafford being certified of the Scotish Army coming into the Kingdom and he the said Earl of Strafford being Lieutenant General of his Majesties Army did not provide for the defence of the Town of Newcastle as he ought to have done but suffered the same to be lost that so he might the more incense the English against the Scots And for the same wicked purpose and out of a malicious desire to ingage the Kingdoms of England and Scotland in a National and bloudy war he did write to the Lord Conway the General of the horse and under the said Earls command that he should fight with the Scotish Army at the passage over the Tyne whatsoever should follow notwithstanding that the said Lord Conway had formerly by Letters informed him the said Earl that his Majesties Army then under his command was not of force sufficient to incounter the Scots by which advice of his he did contrary to the duty of his place betray his Majesties Army then under his command to apparent danger and loss The Earls Reply That he admired how in the third Article he being charged as an Incendiary against the Scots is now in the Article made their Confederate by betraying New-castle into their hands But to answer more particularly he said that there was at New-castle the 24. of August ten or twelve thousand Foot and two thousand Horse under the Command of the Lord Conway and Sir Iacob Astley and that Sir Iacob had written to him concerning the Town of New-castle that it was fortified which also was never under his particular care and for the passage over the River of Tine his Majesty sent special Directions to the Lord Conway to secure it and therefore that Lord is more as he conceives responsible for that Miscarriage than himself When he had done the House of Commons urged that if he had any further Defence he should perform it presently but had time set next Day when the Court met but the Earl being taken with a terrible Fit of the Stone and in danger of his Life if he stirred abroad which Message though assured by the Lieutenant of the Tower for more satisfaction to the violency of the Commons the Lords agreed to proceed the next Day if he did not appear and sent some of the Upper House thither who found him in some hopes of better health against the next Day Not that any one could imagine that his Cause needed the help of dissembling having satisfied all indifferent persons with his Justification as to Treason and no other Crimes could daunt him But as in such Cases his Adversaries the Commons had reserved their Evidence most pernicious which the next Day they desired to produce The Earl also pressed the like on his own behalf which as yet had not been offered a reasonable Request for the Defendant as well as the Plaintiff or to wave them on both sides And because the Lords were absolute of this opinion the Commons in apparant discontenâ— took no leave but departed without ordering any certain Day for their next Meeting But on Monday two Days after the Parliament sate in their several Houses when Master Pym produced to the Commons a Copy of some Notes taken by Secretary Vane of several opinions upon Debates at the Council-table the fifth of May 1640. being the Day of the last Parliaments Dissolution and the Discovery is thus made our The Father delivers
have sought to gain a like consent from me to Acts wherein my conscience is unsatisfied than the sharp touches I have had for what passed me in my Lord of Strafford's business Not that I resolved to have imploied him in my affairs against the advice of my Parliament but I would not have had any hand in his death of whose guiltlesness I was better assured than any man living could be Nor were the crimes objected against him so clear as after a long and fair hearing to give convincing satisfaction to the major part of both Houses especially that of the Lords of whom scarce a third part were present when the Bill passed that House And for the House of Commons many Gentlemen disposed enough to diminish my Lord of Strafford's greatness and power yet unsatisfied of his guilt in Law durst not condem him to die who for their integritie in their Votes were by posting their Names exposed to the popular calumnie hatred and furie which grew then so exorbitant in their clamours for justice that is to have both my self and the two Houses Vote and to do as they would have us that many 't is thought were rather terrified to concur with the condemning partie than satisfied that of right they ought so to do And that after-Act vacating the authoritie of the precedent for future imitation tells the world that some remorse touched even his most implacable enemies as knowing he had very hard measure and such as they would be very loth should be repeated to themseves This tenderness and regret I finde in my soul for having had any hand and that very unwillingly God knows in shedding one mans bloud unjustly though under the colour and formalitie of justice and pretences of avoiding publick mischiefs which may I hope be some evidence before God and man to all posteritie that I am far from bearing justly that vast load and guilt of all that bloud which hath been shed in this unhappie War which some men will needs charge on me to ease their own souls who am and ever shall be more afraid to take away any mans life unjustly than to lose mine own And now I take my leave of our two Writers the Historian and his Observatour They stop here and we part Friends But I am to go on towards my journeys end a great way farther The sad execution of this brave man put the great Officers of State in some doubt what to do with themselves as fearing that upon the like score they might be subject to destruction And because envy and insecurity wait nearest upon persons of eminency in office or because they considered that the ambition of the adverse party might be some way satisfied divers of the Kings nearest Officers resigned up their Places the seventeenth of May viz. The Lord Cottington Master of the Wards to the profitable desires of the Lord Say Dr. Iuxon Bishop of London resigning his Office of Treasurer of England into the hands of five Commissioners more sufficient than he could be The Earl of Leicester was made Lieutenant of Ireland perhaps to ballance with the late Lord's merit Marquess Hertford sworn Governour of the Prince in the room of the Earl of New-castle who hereafter the Parliament pretend to be a Papist The Earl of Essex made Lord Chamberlain of the Kings Houshold and Pembroke put out The Officers of the English Army set a Design on foot by which it was pretended that they meant to force the Parliament but being discovered and soon made publick the manner and matter collected out of the Examinations in May and Iune were thus The Field-officers and Commanders being at London and Members of either Houses the Army was left to the oversight of Sir Iacob Astley the Ground of the Design was pretended from the Dislikes between the King and Parliament with the hasty Supply of the Scotish Army and the neglect of the English which begat Discontent in them and private Meetings and Consultations there and so brought up to Court But their Design not fixed fell into several Intentions which never came to head being crushed in the Embryo by sudden discovery In the general it was voted the nineteenth of Iune that the Scots should receive one hundred thousand pounds of their three hundred thousand pounds at Mid-summer next 1642. and the remainder at Mid-summer 1644. But the Scots by writing pretend necessity for the present and demanded twenty five thousand pounds there being in readiness but fifteen thousand pounds for the Parliament had designed fifty thousand pounds for the necessity of the English Army from whose Money the House of Commons soon consented to deduct ten thousand pounds for the Scots The Lord Piercy Commissary General Wilmot and Colonel Ashenburnham sitting together and murmuring at it Wilmot stept up and told Master Speaker That if such Papers of the Scots could procure Moneys he doubted not but the Officers of the English would soon do the like But it prevailed not to prevent the Scot and provoked the English Army to say that the Parliament had disobliged them These at London put themselves into a Iunto of sworn secrecy resolving to engage in some particular for themselves and the publick service of the King drawing up uncertain extravagant Heads by way of Petition to the King and Parliament For Money for the Army Not to disband before the Scots To preserve Bishops Votes and Functions To settle the Kings Revenue The Army tainted from hence meet at Burrowbrig draw up a Letter by way of Petition which Paper of Instructions was shewn to the King who seemed to approve of it say the Parliament by singing it C. R. which served onely as a direction to Captain Leg that none should see it but Sir Iacob Astley who in absence of the chief Commanders ordered the Army The main of the matter there was that all good men ought to thank God for directing the Kings heart to the desires of his Parliament by delivering up into their hands the chiefest of Counsellours and Servants and many other things to gratifie them which never was done by any his Ancestours By Petition of Right Triennial Parliament and such like yet that some turbulent spirits backt by rude and tumultuous Mechanicks seem not to be satisfied without the total subversion of the Government of State c. That therefore the Army so orderly governed though without Martial Law No payment and few Officers might be called up to attend the safety of the Kings person and Parliaments security or that both Armies should be disbanded for the ease of the Kingdom with a desire to procure the Officers hands hereto c. The Actours there were Sir Iames Ashley Sir Iohn Conniers Sir Foulk Hunks Colonel Vavisor Chudleigh William Leg and Oneal and others all examined to this purpose but none suffered for the same Amongst those others here above and some Courtiers was Master Henry Iermin who to avoid the bad effects of his Medling conveyed himself
and Figures within the Churches and afterwards from without suppressing the very Signs and Sign-posts and this curiosity of Imployment was conferred upon such as had least to do and could intend to be busied abroad Sir Robert Harloe was found out to be the fittest person which makes me remember Chaucer's Character of such another A busier man there never was Yet seemed busier than he was The King had given knowledg of his Resolution to journey to Scotland and to set out the tenth of August to which the Houses had agreed but now thus near they desire the King to put it off a Fortnight longer the great affairs of State necessarily requiring his presence and instanced in some Bills yet to be passed and some settlement for the Government of the Kingdom in his absence he told them the warning was so long since as that they might have hastened their business to that purpose And so the same day passed some Bills for Knighthood free making of Gun-pouder and Saltpeter and signed a Commission for passing Bills in his absence unto the Lord Keeper the Lord Privy-Seal the Earl of Lindsey Earl of Essex Marquess Hartford the Earl of Bath and the Earl of Dorset And signed to another Bill for the Earl of Essex General of all his Forces on this side Trent by which he had power to raise Forces in case of necessity but to that request that the Earl of Pembroke should be made Lord high Steward in the place of the Earl of Arundel now absent and the Earl of Salisbury to be Lord Treasurer he had no minde to either of them But the day before the King's Journey into Scotland and the Parliament serious in some sudden affairs of importance they were forced to lay aside the solemnity of this Day being Sunday and to sit from Morning till Night but not to bring it into President they publish in Print That for many urgent occasions they thought it necessary to sit and do declare so much that no inferiour Court or Council or any person may draw this into Example for their encouragement in neglecting the due observation of the Sabbath Sunday August 8. And then they adjourned untill the twentieth of October and a standing Committee of the House of Commons consisting of fifty Members appointed during the Recess But the King gone to Scotland the Parliament at leisure to frame business against his return such a Freedom and Liberty was taken up of the People and such connivance from the Parliament as somewhat like the late Comedy The World turn'd up side down Many Jealousies in the hearts of the People many Divisions and Differences in Opinion which little favour the Parliaments proceedings The Prelatical party utterly discountenanced and Learning discouraged the Universities neglected Orthodox men slighted A wonderfull liberty and licence afforded to the Communalty of a long time had now taken root and Riots too Every one as his fancy increased took upon him by connivance of several Members of several Opinions to countenance such who without other authority order or decency rudely and riotously disturbing Church-service in time of Prayers tearing the Book of Liturgy the Surplices and such things which the Parliament onely connived at being to use such a considerable party in time of need Ridiculous Conventicles and Preachings in Conventicles nay openly in corners of the Streets by Trades-men Tub-preachers to the general scandal of all good men In earnest to wise men and religious these courses were offensive and thereby grew disaffected to Parliaments but there were ways invented some were taken off by Preferments others deterred and most men distracted with these varieties exprest a Mutation and change of Church and State which after followed Insolencies and Disorders in the Populacy uncorrected or connived at grow up to Insurrections and Rebellions as with the late Actions of the Scots after whose Example the Irish Nation resolve of the like Freedom the one of Reformation the other of old ancient Popery National pretence either had but the effects of the former were soon smothered and pacified for the present but this other taking fire in time of our English Distractions which afforded them means and boldness to contrive the most horrid Rebellion in Ireland that after-ages will not easily believe It fell out in the Kings absence at Scotland and so we shall take up that time to enter the Reader in the former part of that miserable story and first of all to give some account of the Grounds and their rebellious pretences Somewhat we have said concerning the State of Ireland from the first Conquest of the English to these times of King Charls who highly indulged his Subjects there in this last Year 1640. upon their late Complaints and their general Remonstrance to him from the Parliament sitting at Dublin by a Committee of four Temporal Lords of the Upper House and twelve Members of the House of Commons instructed to represent the heavy pressures which they pretended to have suffered under the Government of the Earl of Strafford The King took their Grievances into his royal consideration heard them himself and presently provided for their redress And upon the decease of Master Wansford Master of the Rolls in Ireland and then Lord Deputy under the Earl of Strafford who still continued Lord Lieutenant of that Kingdom though then accused of high Treason and imprisoned in the Tower of London the King sent a Commission of Government to the Lord Dillon of Kilkenny West and Sir William Parsons Knight and Baronet Master of the Wards there but finding his choice of Dillon to be much disgusted by the Irish Committee that Commission was forthwith cancelled with their approbation he placed the Government upon Sir William Parsons and Sir John Burlace Knight Master of the Ordnance both of them persons of great integrity who took the Sword the ninth of February 1640. who applied them selves with all possible content to the People In abating the Subsidies there being given in the time of the Earl of Strafford from fourty thousand pounds each Subsidy to twelve thousand pounds a piece so low were they reduced and drew up two Acts in Parliament most impetuously desired by the Natives The one was the Act of Limitations which settled all Estates of Land there for sixty years preceding The other Act for the relinquishment of the Kings Right and Title to the four Counties in Conaught legally found for him by several Inquisitions and ready to be disposed of to Brittish Undertakers as also to some Territories in Munster and Clare upon the same Title And that the King might testifie his own settled resolution for his future grace and favours to them he did about the end of May 1641. declare the Earl of Leicester Lord Lieutenant General of Ireland perhaps upon the former score as Heir to his Uncle Sir Philip Sidney as to Sir Henry Sidney his Grand-father who had been Governour of Ireland in time
And so the War was mannaged by the cursed Irish and also by the Parliamentaries Scots and English against the Kings party being commanded by his General the Marquess of Ormond alone to defend himself which could not last over long for the Kings Forces in England being defeated and the Irish Rebells straitning Dublin with a Siege thought it more honourable to surrender to the Parliaments Forces that and what ere the King held in Ireland than to suffer the Interest of the English and Protestants to fall under the power of the Irish and so retires himself But after the Kings Imprisonment in the Isle of Wight and no further address to him Ormond goes over again with new Instructions and dignified with the Title of the Lord Deputy of Ireland with intent to make the best Peace he could and so to associate the English Scots and Irish to him many English and Irish conjoyn and Inchequin also upon the Kings Death with Preston and Taff and the mindes of others remaining in suspence the Scots forbear hostility giving good hopes to unite with Ormond To counterpoise these the Governour of Dublin Colonel Jones for the Parliament are deprehended in the same Embraces with Owen Roe the Rebells General and so are associated together with their Forces which Ormond not able to suppress after many Encounters yielded up all that he possessed for the King and his succeeding party after and retired into foreign parts where he now remains Thus in brief the Particulars follow It is true that Sir William Cole upon bare apprehensions of something had writ a letter to the Lords Justices the eleventh of Octâ—ber of great resort to Sir Phelem Oneal in the County of Tirone as also to the Lord Mac Guire in the County of Formanagho that Mac-Guire had often journeyed into the pale was continually busied in Letters and dispatches And then afterwards Sir William Cole certified by Letters of the one and twentieth of October of what was revealed to him by several Irish viz. to seize upon the Castle of Dâ—blin to murder the Lords Justices and Council and Protestants there and so over all Kingdom But these Letters never came to their hands nor any warning till the Evening of the day of Rebellion When many of the Conspirators arrived at Dublin and the three and twentieth of October 1641. met at the Lion Tavern neer Copper Alley Owen O Conally a Gentleman of a meer Irish family but a true Protestant by long Conversation with the English addressed himself to the Lord Justice Parsons about nine a clock that night and made a broken relation of a great conspiracy to seize the Castle at Dublin giving him the names of them now come expressly for that purpose and to attempt it the next morning and that Hugh mac Mahon was one of them who had told him so much with whom he had been drinking and so distempered his Lordship gave the less belief However he commanded him to return to Mac mahon to get out more of the plot and not faile to return back that night to his Lordship who in the mean time with all possible speed and secrecie ordered strong Guards in every corner And about 10. a clock went to the Council with Barlace without the Town and Sir Thomas Rotheram and Sir Robert Meridith Chancellor of the Exchequer where expecting the return of Conally he was seized by the watch ready to be carried to prison to the hazzard of all had not a servant of the Lord Parsons rescued him and so was brought to the Council and somewhat recovered of his former distemper told this Tale. That he being at Monimore in the County of London Derrey on Tuesday he received a Letter from Colonel Hugh Oge Mac mahan to come to Conaught in the County of Monaghan and to be with him on Wednesday last whither he came accordingly but Hugh being gon to Dublin he followed him hither and came about six a clock this Evening and forthwith went to his Lodging found him there without the Town and â—oth together came to the Lodging of the Lord Mac Guire but he not at home they two returned back again Hugh telling him that this night great number of the Irish Noblemen Papists would arrive in Town who with himself would take the Castle by Morning then to force the City by the Ordinance and destroy all the Protestants and so divers others were ordered in all parts of the Kingdom to seize and destroy all the English at an houre designed viz. to morrow by ten a clock and that all possible posting or speed could not prevent it And Conally moved Hugh rather to discover it to the State to prevent the mischief but he answered he could not help it yet that they owned their Allegiance to the King and pay it to him but what they did was against the tyrannical Government over them and to imitate Scotland who got their priviledge by that course And Hugh swore that they would not part but go together to the Castle and if this matter were discovered some body should die for it whereupon Conally fained some necessity for his easement to go out of the chamber leaving his sword in pawn Hugh's Man comming down with him into the yard where in a trice he leaped over a wall and two pales and so came to the Lord Justice Parson Examined the two and twentieth of October 1641. Owen O Conally Hereupon The Justices instantly sent and seized Mac-Mohan and his Man who forthwith came to the Council and confessed all the plot That on that very day all the forts and Castles of Ireland would be surprized That he with the Lord Mac Guire Hugh Birn Captain Brian Oneale and others were come to surprize Dublin Castle and that twenty men of Each County were to meet here to joyn with them That all the Nobility and Gentry Papists were confederates impossible to be prevented and how ever they used him now in their power his blood would be revenged Then Mac Guire and others were suddainly seized on and the Town filling with strangers the Council removed into the Castle and by this time a rumor of something gave Items to Hugh Birn and Roger Moor chief of the conspirators who escaped over the River and so did Plunket and Fox but thirty others were taken of the meanest quality the chief Actors found friends enough in the Town to help their escape The next day The Lords Justices Proclaimed the discovery of a Disloyal and detestable Conspiracy intended by some evil affected Irish Papists against the lives of the Lords Justicâ—s and Council and others his Majesties faithful Subjects throughout this Kingdome c. We therefore require all good Subjects to betake themselves to their own defence c. And to advertise us with all speed of all occurents which may concern the peace of the Kingdome and we require that care be taken that no levies be made of men for foraign
contrary to Almightie God and to the King that they immediately retract that mischievous illegal and unjust Order To which he expects their speedy Answer and obedience and the rather that he may be secured that such part of the four hundred thousand pounds as is or shall be collected for the Irish service may not be imployed under false pretence in a War against the King August 13. This was home close to their conscience which they retort upon the King with this Answer That his Directions to them to retract their Order is a high Breach of privilege of Parliament that his wicked Counsellours have raised this bloudie and barbarous Rebellion in Ireland that they had a Design to raise a Million of Money to suppress them but the King with-drawing into the North from his Parliament their intentions were frustrate As also to send five thousand Foot and five hundred Horse to Ireland under the command of the Lord Wharton for Relief of Munster which failing Limrick is lost and Munster in much miserie The Kings Forces so quartered in and about the common Roads to Ireland that no provision can pass by land that way that be hath recalled two Ships appointed for the Guard of those Seas that certain suits of Cloath sent towards Chester for that service were taken by the Cavaliers and the Waggon-horses And that the House of Commons apprehending the danger of this Kingdom thought it necessarie to prepare a competent Armie for defence of the King and Kingdom but in regard that the Contributions of Plate by the well-affected could not be so soon coined they made bold to borrow this hundâ—ed thousand pounds for the present And so put it to the question Whether the King and his Cavaliers or the King and his Parliament do endeavour for the best To all this though I finde no Reply yet thus much in truth may be said that though the King recalled two Ships commanded by Captain Ketleby and Sir Henry Stradling they conceal that at the same time he sent Warrant to the Downs commanding four better Ships to attend that service which Warrant by the Parliaments means could finde no obedience by the absence of which four Ships the Rebells of Ireland had opportunity to bring store of Arms and Ammunition And it is as true that at this time the Parliament seized fourty good Ships of the Kings Navy and could spare none of them for the Irish service but imployed them against the King in the business of Hull And as to their Suits of Cloaths they likewise conceal that they were taken entring into Coventry then in open War against the King where no doubt they would have been disposed amongst their Souldiers who bore Arms against him And for the Horses of Draught they were certified to be useless for Ireland and so the King kept them for his service And the Earl of Leiceister Deputy of Ireland being now with the King at Nottingham his Man Errington was sent to fetch them for the King who hastens the Deputy to his charge and sent him for London And they do not hold forth their Excuse sufficient to say that the one hundred thousand pounds was for the necessitie of their Armie in defence of this Kingdom when the Irish Army was ready to perish for want of it which they imployed together with such part of the four hundred thousand pounds Subsidy as they had received to maintain this unnatural civil War at home And to forward their Forces Sir William Brereton and others Deputy Lieutenants for the County of Chester are directed to put in execution the Ordinance of the Militia with particular Advices and Orders how they shall act in reference thereto and to suppress all other forces and meetings any way intending the contrary and that the Parliament will bear them out herein August 18. And to the Gentry of the Northern Countries they declare that notwithstanding all the Kings vowes and protestations to govern by Law to blinde and deceive the people the most mischievous principles of Tyranny are practized that ever were invented That is to disarm the middle sort of people who are the body of the Kingdome and to maintain Souldiers by forced contributions To create a provincial Government in the North and the Countries are to associate with other Counties and such as will not shall be plundered and pillaged For prevention they do promise that all well affected people so plundered shall have full reparation out of the Estates of the Actors Counsellors and out of such as are withdrawn to York or shall persist to serve the King against the Parliament with Horse Arms Plate or money who are Traytors to the King Parliament and Kingdome And thus either party having endeavoured to win upon the People by Declarations Remonstrances and Answers which rather encreased suspition and jealousies and the Subject thereby the more deceived The King most graciously observing that mistakes have arisen by Messages between them which may be prevented happily by way of Treaty and so by freedom of debate for the peace of the Kingdome sends this Message to them from Nottingham the 25. of August which was presented to the Parliament by the Earls of Southampton and Dorset Sir Iohn Culpeper Chancellour of the Exchequer and Sir William Uvedal To which the Parliament make answer That untill his Majesty shall recall these Proclamations and Declarations of Treason against the Earl of Essex and them and their adherents And untill the Kings Standard set up in pursuance thereof to be taken down they cannot by the fundamental priviledges of Parliament give his Majesty any other answer But these Messengers were not suffered to sit in the Houses And the Earl of Southampton against whom there was not the least colour of exception or so much as a vote not suffered to deliver the message but compelled to send it by the usher of the black Rod and then commanded to depart the Town before they would prepare any Answer which they sent to the King To which the King Replies That he never intended to declare the Parliament Traytors or set up his Standard against them but if they shall resolve to Treat either party shall revoke these Declarations against all persons as Traytors and the same day take down his standard But nothing prevailing they yet make reply unless He will do as they desire forsake his evil Councellors and return to them representing the whole Kingdome there being no other way in the world to make his Majesty happy and his Kingdome safe And to confirm their Resolutions and to keep up their party that began to stagger at this refusal They order and declare That the Arms which they have and shall take up for the Parliament Religion Laws and Liberties of this Kingdome shall not be laid down untill the King withdraw his protection from such persons that are and shall be voted Delinquents and shall leave them to Iustice to the end that their Estates may
and sword he will take it for a favour but if you will not he doubts not but Gideon's Sword will do the Work alone I speak not it that I doubt you but that you would resolve that when you hear the Drums beat for it is resolved that the Drums shall beat to morrow our Drums shall beat to lead out our men and the Committees Drums shall beat to lead out their men say not I beseech you I am not of the Trained Band nor this nor that but doubt not to go out to work and fight couragiously and this shall be the Day of your Deliverance However on Friday the eleventh of November the King at Colebrook receives a Petition from the Parliament by the two Earls and Gentlemen named in the Conduct and not Sir Io. Evelin To the Kings most Excellent Majestie The humble Petition c. of the Lords and Commons in Parliament c. Being affected with a deep and piercing sense of the Miseries of this Kingdom and the Danger of your Majesties person the great effusion of Bloud with the late Battel and weighâ—â—g the addition of Loss and Miserie if both Armies should again joyn in another Fight as without Gods blessing and his Majesties concurrence will not probably be avoided to which they believe his Majestie hath a sutable impression of compassion to accept of this their Petition and to appoint some convenient place not far from London where your Majestie will be pleased to reside untill Committees of Parliament may attend with some Propositions to your Majestie for removal of these Distempers as may conduce to Gods glorie c. The King liked this Petition of an humble nature unlike their late Papers presented to him and the next day gives this gracious Answer He takes God to witness how deeply he is affected with the Miseries of this Kingdom which he hath striven to prevent and as he was not the first that took up Arms so he hath been ready of composing all things in a fair way to avoid the Destruction of his Subjects which would always make his greatest Victories to him c. And to that end he will reside at his own Castle at Windsor till Committees may have time to attend hiâ— which he wishes to be hastened either there or if it be refused any other place and God of his mercie give a blessing Nov. 12. But the same night after the Messengers were gone News came to the King that General Essex had drawn his Forces with his Ordnance out of London towards him and so he being almost surrounded some at Windsor Kingston and Acton if Brainford were possest likewise the King would be hemm'd in and his Army deprived either of moving or subsisting and so a Council of War concluded to advance towards Brainford and either to possess it or to repossess them which he did and many slain The King withall considered that it could not reasonably be esteemed an Aversion from Peace or an Intention to interrupt the Treaty then in expectation since on the other side he had cause to believe that if he would not preserve himself out of their power the very possibility of a Treaty would vanish And indeed willingness to receive a Treaty was never held to amount to a suspension of Arms otherwise why did Essex incompass him on all parts to Colebrook Towns end And there being no word of Suspension of Arms in all the Kings Answer nay since in that by wishing their Propositions to be hastened he implied that by this Arms were not suspended And most of all since the Parliaments Votes of proceeding as hath been said vigorously notwithstanding their Petition and their own actions sending after their Messengers great store of Forces evidently implied the same The King being resolved upon Reasons that his Advance was just yet he endeavoured to satisfie the Parliament that Peace was still his desire by a Messenger but so ill received as he and his Trumpeter were like to kiss the Gate-house The Message was thus Novemb. 12. Whereas the last night November 11. after the departure of the Committee with his Majesties Answer to their Petition he received information that the Earl of Essex had drawn his Forces out of London towards him which hath necessitated him to march with his Forces to Brainford he thinks fit hereby to signifie that he is no less desirous of the peace than he exprest in his foresaid Answer and desires to receive the Propositions of Brainford this night being Sunday or early to morrow morning And another Argument for the King is that so soon as the Earls Forces were removed from Kingston before any Forces appeared out of London the King gave order to quit Brainford and to possess Kingston And the success to the King was answerable to his just intention God being pleased to assist him by Land and Water so as with a third part of his Foot and with the loss but of ten Men to beat two of their best Regiments out of Brainford to kill him that commanded in chief and his Ensign Ralph Wilbie a hopefull Gentleman at the very Bridg and many others by land and water took five hundred Prisoners and as many Arms eleven Colours and store of Ammunition fifteen Pieces of Ordnance and then unfought with to march away to Oatlands Reading and so to Oxford And upon all this the Parliament voted to have no Accomodation although the King concluded That God so bless his future Actions as he is excusable and innocent from any deceit herein The Parliament in their Answer to the Kings Message do confess That they gave direction to the Earl of Essex to draw the Armie out of London and that part of it was inquartered at Branford whilest the Committee was with the King And they excuse it belike confessess to themselves of just Exceptions that they sent a Messenger with a Letter to know whether his Majestie intended forbearance of Hostilitie be found them in fight and could not pass Brainford The King replies That his Message of the twelfth though not received by the Parliament till the fourteenth was sent to them upon the same Day as it was dated and the way not clear was again sent upon the thirteenth and taken that morning by the Earl of Essex and though not directed to him was opened by him so as the slowness of the deliverie is not so strange as the stop of the Letter sent by the Parliament to the King which he never received and the King could not suppose to take any of the Parliaments Forces unprovided who in their March to Brainford might as well have been intended to Colebrook upon the King And indeed take other Observations to boot The Parliaments printing so out of time of such a Declaration as was their Reply to the Kings Answer to theirs of the six and twentieth of May but the day before they voted the sending of a Petition and the March of the
Lord and Commons do declare that all such persons as shall upon any pretence whatsoever assist his Majesty with Horse Arms Plate or Money are Traitours to the Parliament and shall be brought to condign punishment The French in publick appearing very sensible of the unchristian â—â—il War in this Nation had sent the Prince of Harcourt Extraordinary Ambassadour into England commissioned to mediate peace between the King and Parliament being received at London with all due respects but his Arrand was first to the King and therefore desires the Parliaments Pass and had it but notwithstanding at the out Fort at Hide Park corner was stopped the Guard having no such Warrant without searching his Coach and Train of Baggage which he highly resented as the greatest injury from any Nation but there he refused and staid untill some Members of the House were sent to relieve him with such publick scorns Libells and Pamphlets without President and knowing that he came to mediate the Parliament would not be backward upon that score and therefore voted Sir Henry Vane Mr. Saint Iohns with the Lord VVharton a Committee to relate to the City a great Plot discovered which was set forth to the Common Council on Munday the seventh of Ianuary still filling up the Periods of their Speeches with the Gun-powder Treason which they said was much like this Plot for a Peace It was frequent with the Armies whether necessity or special advantage to act extraordinary business on Sundays as Keinton Field Brainford Hopton-heath Leeds Chalgrove Field Basing The King had now large Territories for his Army to march in this Year set him up for on this Day Twelve-moneths past he had but one small County of all the West in Yorkshire but York City and Pomfret Castle and except Reading Wallingford Brill and Abington he had not a Souldier quartered out of Oxford when he had not one Ship nor any Port save Newcastle and Falmouth when the Parliament declared in print that he had not ten thousand Men. And yet the King hath now five small Armies better than Brigades and in all the Western Counties the Parliament hath not a Souldier but at Plymouth and Pool in Yorkshire none but Hull and in Cheshire onely Nantwich The last Battels if we may so call them were at Bodwin Tadcaster Hopton-heath Ancaster Middleton-cheany Stratton Bradford More Chalgrave Chuton Lands-down Round-way-down Auburn Newbury Leek Middlewich and if of some the King had the better of the rest not much to boast The remnant of South Wales is fully reduced and North Wales cleared the whole Principality Cavaliers The Parliament got from the King Strafford and Warrington but all these Towns were the Parliaments last Year which now the King hath viz. Saltash Cirencester Burningham Leege Lichfield Bradford Hallifax Wakefield Taunton Bristol Bath Dorchester Weymouth Biddeford Barnstable Appleford Tenby Haverford-west Pembroke Exeter The Marquess of Newcastle for the King in the Commission of Array was met at Chesterfield in Darbyshire with a vast concourse of people as a Novel to see and hear where he listed fifteen hundred Voluntiers assisted by Sir Iohn Gell his interest thereabout and Sir Iohn Harpers The Lord Byron had good success and took Crew House with all the Arms and Ammunition six Commanders an hundred threescore and five Souldiers as also he took Dodrington belonging to Sir Thomas Delves being a Garison and cleared many places Middlewich Beeston Castle Someback with sundry Prisoners his Brigade being now near seven thousand Horse and Foot Sir William Waller having besieged Arundel Castle in Sussex eight and twenty Days with the sacrifiâ—e of many men had it surrendered the Cavaliers at Oxford will not be perswaded but that it was not fairly delivered on their parts but rather by connivence if not for Reward and if we consult the strength of the place it self the Fortifications Men and Ammunition we may suspect no less not to credit the Purchasers for then it will seem true whose relations of the numbers of Men slain and strength of Ammunition surrendered as it is usual with all conquerours to account comes to a great Sum. This Service made Sir William Waller to fly high desiring the Parliaments Commission to him To place and displace all Governours of Towns and Castles within his Association But this took off the General Essex his Authority from whom all the military Commanders had Commissions And was occasioned through a late difference between Sir William and the Governour of Chichester who refused to admit Colonel Norton to enter his Garison being routed and pursued by the Lord Hopton which difference was by the Parliament referred to the General as it appears by his Letter to the House of Commons he tells them That in truth the Commission he sent to Sir William Waller was not so full as he usually grants and the Reasons why he was so limited are not to be discovered But tells them withall that he did no more than what he ought to do and that the charge he took upon him was not his own seeking though it was a great encouragement to him that the Houses thought him once worthy of the sole command which however lessened yet he will never desert the Cause as long as he hath any bloud in his veins till the Kingdom hath regained her Peace or an end made by the Sword But Sir VVilliam not well pleased with all this returned his Commission back to Mr. Nichâ—las with much regret as it appears by his Letters which accompanied this Surrender I have said he returned the Commission which is as good as nought The Counties of Devon and Cornwall Cavaliers for the King unanimously joyned in Association in these words VVhereas a few malevolent and ambitious persons in the name of two Houses of Parliament have by treasonable practices imbroiled this Kingdom in a Civil VVar pursued his Majesties person murdered his good Subjects some of them barbarously by the common Hangman against Law and Iustice others by hostile Assault brought a general devastation upon the whole Kingdom taking away all Liberty from the Members of both Houses by awing terrifying and assaulting them with Tumults and Arms usurping the Regal power counterfeiting a great Seal to shew their horrid intentions against the King Kingdom and Government and finding their Acts not likely to protect them from the punishment due to their merits have unnaturally invited the Scots to invade this Kingdom and in these Distractions to make a total Conquest of this Nation for Resistance whereof and preserving the common peace the Inhabitants of Devon and Cornvvall have united themselves and for continuance of which union this ensuing Protestation is to be taken I. A. B. do in the presence of Almighty God promise vow and protest with my utmost power to maintain and defend the true Reformed Protestant Religion established by Law in this Kingdom against all Popery popish and all other Innovations of Sectaries and Schismaticks as also his
little darknesse upon nature but thou by thy mercies and passion hast broke through the jawes of death So Lord receive my soul and have mercie upon me and blesse this Kingdom with peace and plenty and with brotherly love and charity that there may not be this effusion of Christian blood amongst them for Iesus Christ his sake if it be thy will Then laying his head upon the Block and praying silently to himself he said aloud Lord receive my soul which was the signal to the Executioner who very dexterously did his Office at a blow This one Note I may not forget as a truth from an Honourable person then present upon the Scaffold that though the Chinks were stopped yet there remained a small hole from a knot in the midst of a Board and in which his finger of the right hand happened to fall into and to stop that also that his desire might be fulfilled lest his blood might descend on the peoples head his soul ascending to Heaven and leaving his body on the Scaffold to the care of men imbalming it with their tears His body was accompanied to the earth afterwards with great multitudes of people whom love had drawn together to perform that Office and decently Interred in the Church of Allhallows-Barking a Church of his own Patronage and jurisdiction according to the Rites and â—eremonies of the Church England He deserved that honour at his death being the greatest Champion of the Common Prayer Book whilst he lived Nor need Posterity take care to provide his Monument It being well observed by Sir Edward Deering He who threw the first stone at him that St Pauls Church will be his principal Monument and his own Book against the Iesuite his lasting Epitaph and so I leave him to that comfort which the Psalmist gives him The righteous shall be had in everlasting remembrance and shall not be affraid of any evil report Psal. 112. 6 7. Take this though for the present Thy brave attempt on Pauls in time to come Shall be a Monument beyond a Tombe Thy Book shall be thy Statua where we finde The Image of thy Nobler part thy Minde Thy Name shall be thy Epitaph and he Who hears or reads of That shall publish Thee The Kings Party had Garisoned a repaired Castle at the Devises and Colonel Devereux had a Garison at Roudon House between the Devises and Malmsburie being set upon and Besieged Colonel Stephens in Wiltshire newly made by the Parliament Governour of Beverston Castle was willing to give aide to the Besieged at Roudon and sets upon the Besiegers with three Troopes of his own and some Malmsburie Foot without staying for Devereux assistance broke through the Cavaliers and Relieves the House with Provision and Powder and alighting would needs eate and refresh himself with his friends giving time to the Cavaliers Party to Rally and cast up a Brestwork before the passage and so he with 1400. Horse and Foot cooped up all together and so the Besieged more straitned then before News gets to Glocester from whence comes sixty Horse well commanded and were to joyn with one hundred Horse and Dragoons from Malmsburie to break through the Cavaliers and these added to the four hundred and thirty within the House were conceived to force a Passage through the first Sconce But then comes Sir Iacob Ashlie with three thousand Massie raises the County about Strodewater doing what he could to face the Garison at Cirencester and to divert the danger of the Besiegers but nothing prevailed and so they were faine to Surrender upon bad quarter The Cavaliers grow strong on all sides and a stream of ill success rushes in upon their enemies upon Colonel Hopton having raised sixty Horse and fourty Foot Garisoned Castle-ditch near Lidburie in Herefordshire a Party from thence of three hundred Horse and Foot in twenty four houres took him Horse and Foot Prisoners to Hereford Sir Iohn Winter hath Guards set round about upon him to straiten his Garison his own House in the Forest of Deane but they break out through all those Guards and joyn with a Party of Foot from Cheystow which Landed at Lancaught intending to make good the Passe over Wye and so to issue out of Wales at pleasure To oppose them all the Guards drew together thither Sir Iohn violently charged the Forlorn of Foot who gave back to let in their Foot and so both Horse and Foot fell upon him some were slain Colonel Gamne and Vangerris Colonel Pore of Berkley Castle drowned but Sir Iohn and his escaped being the industrious enemy to all his Parliament neighbours These things happened the latter end of the year February about the time of surprizing Shrewsburie by the Parliament Prince Rupert falls back out of Shropshire and comes upon Herefordshire with all his Army the greatest in the Kingdom being a confluence of these Forces his own formerly Prince Maurice Colonel Gerard Lord Hastings Lord Ashlie and Sir Marmaduke Langdale and yet impresse more men in aboundance in all the neighbouring Counties with store of Arms necessity casting them in such waies of violence and coercive power prest-men of suspected fidelity and lesse value often deceiving them in Battle yet the King was forced to these waies for conducing to the sudden forming of an Army when the Kings affairs became desperate and so thrust in with the old Volunteers made up the bulk of a great Body when the Parliament had no such necessity to enforce rather a more cunning way to win upon that party the City of London being the undrained Magazine of Men and Money the common Asse that bare the burden and so ends this year A continuance of the brief Narrative of the Kings Affairs Military in Scotland under Conduct of the Marquesse of Montrose Montrose with considerable Forces enters Scotland 13. April 1644. comes to Dunfrize seises that Town expecting Antrims Irish but being there in some danger returns to Carlisle with his men for the Earl of Calander had raised a new Army in Scotland to second General Leslie in England and now besieging York Montrose having beaten a Garison out of Morpith pillaged the Castle and took a Fort at the mouth of Tine He plentifully sent Victuals to Newcastle which come from Almwick And is now sent for by Prince Rupert then in his way to raise the siege of Yorke but could not possible get to him till the retreat from that unfortunate Battle of Marston-moor and so returned back to Carlisle with a few but faithful gallant men He sends the Lord Oglebie and Sir William Rollock into the heart of Scotland in disguise who return with sad news that all Strengths in Scotland were possessed by the Covenanters The Earl of Traquair contrary to his Oaths and promises to the King was an Agent for the Covenanters Yet this man was more in the Kings Favour then any Scotish except the Hamiltons Montrose in these Difficulties sends Oglebey with his earnest
conjunction of the Forces under the Marquess of Montrose and such of our well affected Subjects of England as shall rise for us to procure it may be an honourable and speedy Peace with those who hitherto refused to give ear to any means tending thereunto Of which our Resolution we held it necessary to give you this Advertisement as well to satisfie you and all our Council and Loyal Subjects with you to whom we will that you communicate these our Letters yet failing in our earnest and sincere endeavours by Treaty to put an end to the miseries of these Kingdoms We esteemed our self obliged to leave no probable expedient unattempted to preserve our Crown and Friends from the usurpation and tyranny of those whose Actions declare so manifestly their desigâ—s to overthrow those Lawes and happy established Government of this Kingdom And now we have made known to you our resolution we recommend to your especial care the disposing and managing of our Affairs on that side as that you shall conceive most for our Honour and Service being confident the course we have taken though with some hazard of our Person will have a good influence on that our Kingdom and defer if not altogether prevent the Rebels transporting of Forces from them into that Kingdom And we desire you to satisfie all our well affected Subjects on that side of our Princely care of them whereof they shall receive the effect as soon as God shall enable us We desire you to use some means to let us and our Council at Oxford hear frequently from you and of your Actions and Condition there And so God prosper your Loyal endeavours Given at our Court at Oxon April 3. 1646. Which Letter Ormond receives the 20. of May and the next day communicates it to Montrose a great Commander of the British Forces in Ireland by this summons SIR This morning I received a dispatch from his Majesty and command therein to impart it not only to all his Councel but to all his Loyal Subjects I am confident you have so good a Title to the knowledge thereof that I have held it my part instantly to dispatch it unto you by an express I rest Yours Ormond Dublin May 21. 1646. And accordingly the King disguised got out by the discreet management of the Loyal and trusty Mr. Hudson a Clergy man and Mr. Iohn Ashburnham another of interest with the King They passed up and down as hereafter more particular to the French Agent Montril at Sowtham the 4. of May thence sent to the Scotish General Leven and was conducted to his Quarters by a Troop of Horse the Commissioners there soon after sent post to the Parliament of this news And likewise an Abstract of a Letter of the fourth of May discovering what was writ by the King to the Queen in France concerning his coming from Oxford and an agreement in the design she wot on Upon which Letter read in the House the Commons doe Order That the Commissioners and the General of the Scotish Army be desired that his Majesties person be disposed off as both Houses shall desire and direct And that he be thence disposed of and sent to Warwick Castle And that Jo. Ashburnham and the rest that came with the King into the Scots Quarters shall be sent for as Delinquents by the Serjeants at Arms and that the Commissioners of Parliament residing before Newark shall make a Narrative of the Kings coming thither and to present it to the House But to save them the labour there came this Letter from the Scots General and Commissioners to the Committee of both Kingdoms and by them communicated to the Parliament The Letter was thus Right Honourable The earnest desire which we have to keep a right understanding between the 2. Kingdoms moves us to acquaint you with that strange Providence wherewith we are now surprized together with our cariage and desires thereupon The King came into our Army yesterday in so private a way that after we had made some search for him upon the surmizes of persons who pretended to know his face ye we could not find him out in sundry houses And we believe your Lordships will think it was matter of much astonishment to us seeing we did not expect him to come into any place under our power We conceived it not fit to inquire into the causes but to endeavour that his being here might be improved for the best advantage for procuring the work of Uniformity for setling Religion and Righteousness and attaining of Peace according to the League and Covenant and Treaty by the advice of the Parliaments of both Kingdoms and their Commissioners authorized for that effect Trusting to our integrity we are perswaded that none will so far misconster us as that we intended to make use of this seeming advantage for promoting any other ends then are expressed in this Covenant and hath been hitherto pursued by us with no lesse Conscience then care And yet for further satisfaction we doe ingeniously declare That there hath been no Treaty nor Capitulation betwixt his Majesty and us nor any in our names that we leave the waies and meanes of peace unto the Parliament of both Kingdoms And so far as concerns us as we have a witness in heaven we are confident to make it appear to the world that there is nothing more in our desires then in all our resolutions and proceedings to adhere to the Covenant and Treaty Our gravest thoughts shall be taken up in studying and our utmost abilities imployed in acting those things that may best advance the Publick good and common happiness of both Kingdoms wherein by the help of the most High we shall labour to use so much tenderness and care that we hope it shall soon appear our Actions have been the result of honest and single intentions And further we cannot in a matter of so deep consequence and common interest but seek your Lordships advice for which effect we have also written to the Committee of Affairs of Scotland with intention to move your joynt Consents and Resolution that we at last after a Seed-time of Afflictions may reap the sweet fruits of Truth and Peace and in this confidence we remain Your Lordships humble servants Leven Dunferling Lothian S. D. Hume Sir Tho. Carr R. of Ireland W. Glendovin Iohn Iohnston Southwel May 6. 1646. To the Right Honourable the Committee of both Kingdoms And the eighth of May from Southwel the King sends this Message to the Parliament in effect That he understood from the Parliament that it was not safe for him to come to London untill he should consent to such Propositions as should be presented to him And being informed that the Armies marching so fast to Oxford made that place most unfit for a Treaty resolved to withdraw hither only to secure his Person with no intention to continue this War any longer or to make division between his two Kingdoms but rather to
of Lemster and Ulster Novem. 1646. That the exercise of the Roman Catholick Religion be in Dublin and Drogheda and in all the Kingdom of Ireland as free as in Paris in France and Bruxells in Flanders That the Council of State called the Councel-Table be of Members true and faithful to his Majestie and such as may be no fear or suspition to go to the Parliaments party That Dublin Drogheda Team Newby Catherly Carlingford and all Protestant Garisons be manned by their Confederate Catholicks to maintain and keep the said Cities and Garisons for the use of our Soveraign Lord King Charls and his lawful Successors and for defence of the Kingdom of Ireland That the present Councel of the Confederators shall swear truly and faithfully to keep and maintain for the use of his Majesty and his Lawful Successors and for defence of the Kingdom of Ireland the abovesaid Cities and Garisons That the said Councellors and all Generals Officers and Souldiers whatsoever doe swear and protest to fight at Sea and Land against the Parliaments and all the Kings Enemies and that they will never come to any convention or agreement with the said Parliamentiers or any of the Kings Enemies to the prejudice of his Majesties Rights or of this Kingdom of Ireland That according to our Oaths of Association we will to the best of our power and cunning defend the Fundamental Lawes of this Kingdom the Kings Rights the Lives and Fortunes of the Subjects Owen O Neal Tho. Preston The Lord Lisle designed Lieutenant General of Ireland is but now this day taking leave of the Parliament to goe to Ireland Ian-28 and ere we can hope of his arrival there he writes to the Parliament he is willing to return for they had Debated his return before and so he came home again April 1. But the Parliament Vote the sending over more Forces into Ireland and with all vigour to carry on a Defensive War in that Kingdom with seven Regiments of Foot consisting of eight thousand four hundred besides Officers with three thousand Horse and one thousand two hunded Dragoons And all these to be taken out of the General Fairfax Army which was the occasion of much distemper between the Armies and the Parliament as will appear the next year But according to our former Method we may not omit the Kings affairs Military in Scotland under the Conduct of the Marquess of Montrose this year 1646. Montrose his late successe made him famous abroad which soon came to the Kings knowledg and although he were not able to send him supplies sufficient to Arm against the great power of his Enemies yet it was thought very fit to comply with him in Complements and therefore the King ot caresse him in some way sends from Oxford several Letters and Messengers to Montrose whilst he continued at Bothwel four miles East of Glascow amongst whom was Andrew Sandiland a Scotish man but bred in England a Church-Man faithful to the King and beloved of Montrose with whom he continued to the end of the War Another was Sir Robert Spotswood Son President of the Session in Scotland and now the Kings Secretary for that Kingdom The Instructions by all of them were to this effect That it was the Kings Pleasure Montrose should joyn unto himself the Earls of Roxborough and Traquair and to confide in their advice and endeavours of whose fidelity there was no question to be made That he should hasten towards the Tweed the River that runneth to Barwick and divides the Kingdoms where he should meet a party of Horse instantly sent by the King out of England with which he might safely give Battel to David Lesly if he should march that way with the Covenanters Horse as was suspected he would Each Messenger said as much and the King evermore over credulous confirmed the same by his Expresse which Montrose resolves to obey And here he receives a larger Commission from the King by Spotswood wherein he was impowered to give the honour of Knighthood which he did to Mack Donel at his departure Montrose intends the Kings commands and Journies to Calder Castle when the Earl of Albony whether Montrose would or no carries away with him his own men and all others of the Northern Forces Montrose passing by Edenburgh led his small Army through Louthian and in Straithgal joyns with Dowglasse whose forces mouldred daily In that coast Traquair himself came to him pretending faith and Loyalty to the King and the next day sends to him his Son the Lord Linton with a gallant Party of Horse as if to be under his Command that by that like pledg he might the better shadow his Villany which he intended the ungratfullest person to him and in him also to the King And now Montrose within twelve miles of Roxborough and Hume without any caresse from them and therefore mistrusting he resolves to seek them out and to bring them to reason But they cunningly send to David Lesly who by that time was come to Barwick with all the Scotish Horse out of England and willingly give him leave to pretend to the seizing of the Earls as Enemies to the Covenanters which was done the day before Montrose came to them Then comes Lesly over Tweed marching East of Lothâ—â—â— Montrose knowing their Wiles and fearing to be blocked up from passing to the North and Highlanders marches into Armindale so to Niddesdale South-westwards and the County of Ayre to raise Horse the Enemies strength being therein And from Kelsor comes to Iedburgh and Selkirk where he Quartered busied in some dispatches all night to the King and although he appointed the best of his Scouts who it seemes were false and suffered the Enemy with all their Forces to come within four miles ere he had warning Lesly that day when Montrose departed from Iedburgh mustâ—ered his Men upon Gladsmar in Lothianshire and marched straight to Serathgale to surprize Montrose upon the borders of Tweed and Linton had private Order from Traquair his treacherous Father to withdraw his party of Horse from Montrose and the Enemy within half a mile with six thousand the most Horse charged his Wing disorderly got together but Valiantly defended themselves until the third charge disranked routed the Foot after some resistance and over powered many who were all put to the sword after by Lesly's peculiar command and so to the very Women and Horse-boyes most of the Horse and some Foot shifted well and came to Montrose the next day An honest Irish Man seeing one of the Kings Standards engaged valiantly rescued it and stripping the staff wrapped it about his middle and brought it to Montrose who honoured him with the bearing thereof ever after The other Standard also born by William Hie Brother to the Earl of Kinole stript it off the staff and conveyed it with him to the borders of England and after when the coast was clear brought it to the North to his General But in
the Earl of Holland to St. Needs and pursued by Colonel Scroop from Hartford who being guided by Spyes got the secret waies thither ere the Defendants were aware yet some were Mounted and in a Body but were beaten by a Forlorn and Routed before the rest entered the Duke with sixty Horse flyes away towards Lincolnshire and escapes beyond Seas Their General not up or not dressed was taken in his Câ—â—mber many that fought got away some slain others prisoners persons of good Note so that the Souldiers said they never met with such golden booties fine clothes gallant Horses and pockets full of Coin The Parliament say they lost but three And for the present the Earl of Holland is sent prisoner to Warwick Castle where he continued untill his Arraignment and Execution at Westminster the 9. of March as hereafter follows But the Prisoners of note were the Earl of Holland Sir Gilbert Gerard Colonel Skemisher Major Holland Major Slepkin Lieu Col. Goodwin Colonel Legg and one hundred more Dalbier and a Son of Sir Kenelm Digbies slain the Lord Andover was after taken at Dover and there imprisoned The Parliament of Scotland were now sitting since the second of March and not well pleased with the English proceedings it was thought fitting here to send English Commissioners to reside there during their Session And of the Lords House were chosen the Earls of Nottingham and Standford the Commons were Mr. Arthurst Colonel Birch Mr. Herle and Mr. Marshal Preachers For the Scots recruit their Army at home and the English expect an Invasion of them being generally dissatisfied there of our proceedings against the King here However the Commssioners of England resident there acquainted our Parliament here with Propositions of Scotland and this their Answer to some Papers sent thither That it was the desire of the Parliament of England to maintain a good correspondency between the two Nations 2. That this Kingdom would take speedy care for the advance of a hundred thousand pounds due unto that Kingdom and so long as that sum or any part should be forborn they should have Interest after the rate of 8. l. per â—ent for the same 3. And that concerning the Arrears due to the Scots Army in Ireland the Parliament of Scotland are desired either to propound a certain sum by the Lump for the service of that Army there or else to appoint Commissioners on their side or appoint their Commissioners with ours to repair into Ireland to audit the 〈◊〉 of that Army So then we find the outward pretences on both sides to keep a good correspondency And to Caress them the more ever and anon the Parliament of England would by debates and Orders shew an inclination to settle the Presbyterian Government here by that means to quiet the bawling Spirits of the Scots Ministery in their Kirk and Pulpits though it was never seriously intended here And even at this time Letters of Intelligence came from Scotland that Sir Tho Glenham Sir Lewis Divâ—â—â—ir Marmaduke Langdale and others from the Queen in France are expected in Scotland and many discontented English flock to Edenburgh from all parts Captain Wogans Horse Marched thither from the Army with a full Troop and two Companies of Foot landed out of Ireland at Chester and Marched thither likewise But as the Affairs of the English Parliament had suffered under several distractions so these of Scotland were managed with great disturbance some of their Members would raise an Army to espouse the Kings quarrel and to restore him Another party desire an Army to suppress the Sectaries of both Kingdoms but are loath thereby to strengthen the hands of Malignants in either Kingdom A third would have no Army at all and to some end or other they frame an Oath That Presbyterial Government be maintained That the King be not restored till he subscribe the Covenant and endeavours the extripation of Sectaries That Ecclesiastical Power is not subordinate to the Civil That the Kings Negative voice in England be taken away In Debate of these Passages two of their best Sparks the Earl of Kilmore allied to Hamilton and the Lord Granston to their General Leven went out in a Fury and fought a Duâ—l and most of many are for War The Parliament of England confer and Vote that all Members be summoned to attend the Houses on the 24. of the next Moneth April for the Estates of Scotland had formed a Committee of danger who had of themselves voted to raise fourty thousand men and these were Duke Hamilton Arguile the Earls of Crawford Lindsey Lauderdale Lanrick Calandar Traquair and Roxborough the Lords Eimeâ—pethen Waneston 〈◊〉 Humbe Collington Arneston Gartland and Ennis and eight Burgessâ—s But against the manner of this Vote not the matter a Protestation was made by eighteen Lords and fourty other to this effect Whereas we have desired that no Power be granted to any Committee to engage this Kingdom in a War before the Parliament resolve on a War and state the cause and ends thereof it being not agreeable to the Act of Parliament 1640 c. And protest not to be included but may be free of all the evill that may follow thereupon to the cause of God the Covenant Religion and to the Kings person and Authority to this Kirk and Kingdom or the union of both The Scots are come and their General Duke Hamilton consults there with Sir Marmaduke Langdale whether towards Lancashire or New-castle the Duke marches himself in the Van with his Trumpeters before in Scarlet Coats with silver lace and much state His life guard proper persons well cloathed His Standard and other equipage Prince-like In the Van marched four Regiments of Horse seven Colours to a Regiment and in all of the Van about two thousand Their body led by Major General Middleton seven Regiments ten Colours to a Regiment and therein neer seven thousand Some carriages came with them but their compleat will be from Carlisle the only reason of his hasting thither The Rear is brought up by the Earl of Calander with fifteen hundred Additional forces they expect from Major General Monroe of three thousand Scots from Ireland under his Command And for assistance of the English about three thousand now ready to be drawn out into Arms under Langdale in the North. The Scots Declarations are already passed to smooth his passage to the people And being come thus near as Annan he Summons Major General Lambert the Parliaments Northern Commander to this effect Noble sir The Parliament of Scotland upon the imminent danger to Religion his Majesties sacred person and the peace of his Kingdoms from the prevailing power of Sectaries in England did send to the Parliament of England such demands as they conceived necessary and no Answer nor satisfaction therein the danger increasing by Northern Forces drawn to the Borders The Committee of Estates in Scotland have commanded him and other noble Personages his
comes the Marquesse Douglasse and Sir Io. Daliel with other his friends in this Extremity with a small Party of Horse not a hundred charged through the Enemy and escaped and being pursued he made his Stand slew divers and took Bruce a Captain of Horse and two Cornets with their Colours Prisoners Traquair Triumphingly reported Montrose and the Kings party totally defeated But Montrose was well and made the best use of his evil fortune and therefore marching easily with good guard and valiant hearts he marched Northwards forded over Cluid River where met him by the way many of his Souldiers with the Earls of Crawford and Airly and now he was strong two hundred Horse and some Foot and with convenient hast he resolves to go Northward into Athole and so passing over Forth River and then Erne he comes to Perthshire And in his way he had sent Dowglasse and Airly with Angus North East and the Lord Eisken into Marria to raise their friends and dependance and sent Daliel to the Lord Carnegy with Commissions to that purpose and Letters to Mac-Donel and to Aboin to return to him with their Forces About August the Atholâ— Men furnished him with four hundred good Foot to march Northwards and when ever he returned Southward he should command the whole County only they desired to be spared now for their harvest Montrose with wonderful speed and unspeakable toil clambers over Gransbane Mountains to meet with Aboin and Mac-Donel whom he expected and so the return of other his Messengers with their New Forces then to return Southward again to meet with the Kings Horse which by sundry Letters he was promised from England Aboin was of himself faithful and forward enough but restrained Ersken was sick and Huntly was returned home but with envy and ambition crossed under hand Montrose's designs but at last Aboin meets him with fifteen hundred Foot and three hundred Horse at Druminore a Castle of the Lord Forles and that his Brother Lewes was coming with more Thus impowered he instantly returns the same uncouth wayes over Gransbane Mountains and to take up Erskins and then Murries Forces and so to march Southward Lewis was come and marching together the first dayes Journey stole away the next with such Forces aâ—s followed him And the third day after his Brother Aboin with the rest of his Men desired leave to return pretending their Fathers Command the Marquesse Huntly whose County was in danger by the Enemy now about Marre and would suddainly ransack their Country but was content his Father should be treated with To him therefore Montrose sends Donald Lord Rose and Iermin kinsmen whom he had lately releived from Imprisonment Rose was honest and ashamed of his Kinsmans refusal fell sick and could not return Iermin most noble never forsaking Montrose to the death came back with doubtful Letters fast and loose And so Aboin must go home Montrose came down through the plaines of Marre and Scarschiock into Athole and so with increase of Forces he falls into Perth Here Aboin sends him word that he had got leave to return and would be with him before the time limited by his Forlough And here also meets him two Messengers after each other Captain Thomas Ogleby of Pomie and Captain Robert Nesbet with Commands from the King That if possible he should march Southward to the borders to meet the Lord Digby Son to the Earl of Bristol who was sent to him with a Party of Horse The same Bearers he dispatches with the Letters to Huntly and Aboin but in vain expectation he trifled away much time at Strath Erne in the Perth And here dies that gallant Man the Lord Napier of Marcheston truly Noble of an Ancient Family his Father and Grand-father Philosophers and Mathematicians Famous through Christendom But indeed this man exceeded them in Civil Affairs highly heretofore esteemed by King Iames and lately by K. Charls made Lord Treasurer of Scotland and advanced into the Rank of higher Nobility his Loyalty had suffered all the effects of his Enemies malice often Imprisoned Sequestred and Plundered of all his Substance whose Elaborate Discourses of the Rights of Kings and of the Original in the Turmoyls of Great Britain I have heard of and read some Manuscripts in Parcels but heartily wish may be publick Montrose is now passed the Forth and come into the Lands and Estate of Sir Iohn Buchanan a stiff Ring-leader of the Covenanters and descended from old Buchanan ingrateful Schoolmaster to King Iames and yet for his sake he and King Charles had advanced this man to what he was Hereabouts at Leven Montrose Encamps being so near Glasco that oftimes he forces the City on purpose to deter the Convention of the Coâ—enanters here who sat in Councel to arraign their Prisoners whom Montrose endeavoured to rescue Here they had for their Guard three thousand Horse and he not more than 3. hundred and fifteen hundred Foot wasting the Countrey without resistance Notwithstanding before he came they had executed three gallant men we may not neglect their memory The first was the afore mentioned Sir William Rollock Montrose his first Friend and Companion in Arms. He was sent to the King after the Battle of Aberdine and taken prisoner and condemned but upon Arguiles offer of life he was dealt with to murder Montrose whose life he valued far above his own and to save him he accepted this offer and so got loose and instantlyâ— found out by Montrose discovering all which saved Montrose for the present and was the cause of his own suffering promising upon his word that if he did not doe it to return prisoner by such a day which he did to the grief of Montrose and paid dear for it to the death The next was the aforesaid Alexander Ogleby Eldest Son to Sir Iohn Imercarrit descended from those Famous in the Scotish Chronicles he was not yet more then youth under eighteen but of a dareing Spirit and Loyal to the King for which he was executed Unless we admit him of the Family in deadly fewd with Arguile Then comes Sir Philip Nesbit I finde him the Son of Col. Nesbit a Regiment in the Kings service in England we may adde those two Irish men that suffered at Edenburgh some dayes before Colonel O-Cahen and Colonel Laghlin the crime of them all concentred in this new Treason against the King and Covenanters Montrose having long looked for six weeks his absent Confederates out of the North Mac-donel Alboin and others the Lord Digby's Forces defeated by the way and he not able to hold out a piercing hard winter Camp He the 20. of November departs from Levin Marching Northward over the Snowy Mountains of Taich through Woods and Loghes the Strathern and over the River Tay returns into Athole where he met Captain Ogleby and Captain Nesbit whom we told you he had sent with the Kings Letters to Huntly but prevailed not Here against Montrose sends to Sir Iohn Dalyel to mediate the
Kings cause the danger of the Kingdome and after all to beseech a conference with Montrose But he returned answer with peevish scorns Wherefore Montrose resolves to surprise into reason Therefore in depth of Winter the last of December he marches through Angus over Gransbaw hills and so with a few men he comes direct North into Sâ—ratbogge where Huntly kept in hold but with wondrous cunning escaped to his Castle Bogye upon the mouth of the River Spey that runs North and South Thither posts Montrose with two men and so disguised rushes in and salutes him Where they confer and over-mastred with Montrose's reason and perhaps loyalty to his Sovereigns cause they agree and shook hands in earnest Huntlâ—y to pass over the Spey and fall down into Murray Land South-West Montrose to march Southwards on the East side to Strath-spey and then suddenly to meet and Besiege Innerness a Garison in the North of Murray Land on the Sea Coast above the great Lake Nessa which was near froze And his two Sons Alboin and Lewis coâ—firmed friendship and obedience hereto upon the most assurance by oath that could possible be given from men of Honour and by force of fair means to draw to them the Earl of Seafort Montrose accordingly Marches with his Forces towards Innerness and sends Patrick Graham and Dromond to raise the whole men seven hundred who were put to it for the Arguile Party and others were fallen upon the Mack-Gregories and Mack-Nubies who sided with Montrose with fifteen hundred men Having already fired a Town in the Lakes and besieged Ample Castle from which they are forced by the Athole men and pursued but Face about and fight and being Routed fly and many slain and so return to Montrose Of whom we take leave till we meet the next year The Foraign Affairs speak the surrender of Dunkirk to the French the tenth of October and the same day the news was carried to the King and Queen Regent newly arrived at Paris from Fountain-Bleau the Spaniards have now but three Haven Towns in Flanders Newport and Baukerber which are not fit for greater Vessels then of ten Tun and that of Ostend in truth capable of greater but those less safe there than in the open Road. The Besieged Marched out of Dunkirk that night with fifteen hundred Foot and three hundred Horse besides four hundred sick and wounded persons they have lost in their defence six or seven hundred of their best men those that marched out were conducted to Newport The Duke of Anguien now Prince Conde put in the Marshall of Rantzaw Governour thereof The Holland Ships assisted the French here We may not confound the Original and Natural Inhabitants with an heap of divers Nations who being brought under the Banners of Spain into their Haven commodious for Sea-roads did exercise that Piracy which naturally the Spaniard doth not profess The chiefest of the Natural people are Flemings a Generation of good men lovers of Traffique Improvers of Handicraft as appears by the great Trade and Commerce of those most populous Towns of Flanders and the rest of the Netherlands Another sort of them subsisting wholly by Thieving and Piracie The fifth of September the Emperour at Prague came attired in his Emperial Robes with his Eldest Son in white cloth of Tyssue early into the Cathedral Church of the Castle attended with divers Princes and Lords that bare several dignities and honours in the State of Germany the Emperour sat upon a Throne of Gold the Son upon Silver who having been re-attired with Royal Abiliments in a side Chappel was conducted by the Estates of Bohemia unto his Throne where after Masse he went and kneeled down before the Cardinal of Harach invironed with sixteen Prelats in Pontificalibus Annointed him and put on his Head a Regal Crown whereupon he was proclaimed King of Bohemia and received the Oath of Allegeance of the Peâ—rs and States of that Kingdom and the Ceremonies and Feastings finished the Father and Son went to Lintz The Parliament and Scot having bought and sold the best Bargain are soon decieved of their Prize by a third party as bad as both the other The Parliament jealous of any present Power to prevail but themselves by degrees debate the lessening of the Army thereby to be rid of such whom they misliked And to send over thousands of them into Ireland to manage that War against the Rebells there But the Souldiers set on begin to Mutiny and being ripe for acting their Commanders underhand abet them and after some alteration it â—ell into Sedition and so into Division those for the Parliament fared the worse and were Cashiered And therefore â—twas necessary for some truly affected to discriminate the other Those who were intrusted were called Agitators two out of each Regiment who indeed with others of more power Acted for erecting a Democracie having seized the King out of custody of the Parliaments Commissioners under pretence of favour and freedom of his person they indulge him with many small Experiments for the present of his Chaplains converse with his Children caress him to his most eminent Palace so that the Camp and Court seemed one nay they frame Proposals to provide for the King the Army and people envy at the Parliament accuse divers Members of high Treason urge the Dissolution of the Parliament regnant and all this seemingly for the Kings Interest In fine the Military march up to the Parliament and formidable put them in fear Some of the Members of either Houses with their Speakers fly to the Camp for succour the City and such as stay behinde prepare for a Defence whose Circle being too wide for their Management and unfaithfull to themselves fall into Factions the whole City submit to the Discretion of the Army who first ingratiate the Speakers and Members in the Camp and setle them into their Seats again with condign punishment and Impeachment of high Treason upon the Lord Mayor Aldermen divers Lords and many Members The Tower and City Militia are new-modelled into other hands their Fortifications demolished and their Lines of Communication levelled the Admiralty ordered into Commissioners ad yet for all these punishments the City give thanks and pay a Largess to the Army Thus the former eminent power the Presbyter by their own weight and pride sink and raise the other yet these are at their wits end also unresolved and unsetled The people at gazâ— for a Government Proposals from the Army and Propositions from the Parliament the King refuses as in hope to have them lessened which they take for an advantage to themselves The Wheel turns and he is threatned and under hand advised of some Danger to his person which whilest he seeks to avoid he falls into their Pit prepared for him and afterwards into eminent Destruction which the story too soon discovers We may wonder what becomes of the Prince Elector Palatine he remained at Westminster for his Interest might