great Statesmen untill the very effects of them are ready to appear All which reasons being naturally pondered by the wisest and most zealous persons interessed in the glory of the English Nation the good and wellfare of the Commonwealth and particularly by his excellency the Lord General it was resolved that the Parliament should be dissolved in reference hereunto on the twelfth of December 1653. as soon as the Parliament was met A Member of the said House stood up and moved That the sitting of this Parliament as it was then constituted being not thought proper nor fitting for the good of the Commonwealth It was therefore requisite to deliver up unto the Lord General Cromwel the powers which they had received from him Which motion being seconded by the greatest part of the other Members the House arose and the Speaker accompanied by the major part of the House departed and went to White-Hall where they did by a Writing under their hands being the greater number of the Members sitting in Parliament resign unto his Excellency the Power which they had received from him and the which was by the Speaker presented to his said Excellency accordingly in the Name of the whole House No sooner was the Parliament dissolved and that Affairs of moment and weight came crowding in apace but that there was a necessity during the intervalls of Parliament to form as it is called in forreign parts an upper Councel and to create a superiour dignity to avoid both tediousness and confusion in the dispatch of Affairs which said dignity holding the mid-way between a Monarchial and Democratical might avoid the inconveniencies which these two extremities are subject unto and the thing it self having been well pondered and maturely deliberated the choice of the person on whom this dignity was to be conferred was soon made God having pointed him out unto them by a mark those admirable and uninterrupted Victories which he caused him to gain and by those excellent productions of a minde which had something of supernatural in it and partaked of the Divinity Wherefore the Lord General Cromwel was Elected Declared and Sworn at Westminster in the presence of all the Judges and Justices the Barons of the Exchequer the keepers of the Liberties of England the Lord Major and Aldermen of the City of London with most of the chief Officers of the Army Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England Scotland and Ireland and the Islands and Territories thereunto belonging and at the same time several Articles were presented to the Lord Protector by which he was to govern the people which being red unto him he took a solemn Oath to performe and see them kept in the presence of the whole assembly protesting moreover that he would minde nothing so much as the good of the Commonwealth the Glory of God and the Honour of the English Nation The chief heads of the Articles of Government were as followeth 1. That the Protector should call a Parliament every three years 2. That the first Parliament should assemble on the third of September 1654. 3. That he should not dissolve the Parliament till it had sate five moneths 4. That such Bills as he should not signe within twenty dayes should pass without him 5. That he should have a select Councel to assist him not exceeding one and twenty nor less then thirteen 6. That immediately after his Death the Councel should choose another Protector before they rose 7. That no Protector after him should be General of the Army 8. That the Protector should have Power to make Peace or War 9. That with the consent of his Councel he may make Laws which shall be binding to the Subjects during the intervals of Parliament c. Immediately after which the Lord General Cromwel without the devesting of himself of the Command of the Army which he preferred before all other charges took upon him the title of Highness and the dignity and name of Lord Protector A very fit appellation in regard of the Infantine and as yet growing State of England which the several Factions and Divisions as also the different Opinions in Religion would have exposed to a numberless kinde of unavoidable miseries had not a powerful Genius armed with Force and Judgement protected it from ripping up its Entrails and Bowels by its own hands And immediately after he was proclaimed Lord Protector of England Scotland and Ireland c. First in the Pallace yard at Westminster by the Officers of State and afterwards at the Royal Exchange by the Lord Major and Aldermen in their Scarlet Gowns Some few dayes after the body of the City invited his Highness the Lord Protector to a most splendid feast and gallant entertainment at Grocers-Hall not so much to treat him with their good chear as with the resplendent testimonies of their joy and with the submissive tenders of their devoires His Highness would by no means refuse to give that satisfaction to their evidences of respect and joy and the better to testifie unto them on his behalf the high value he put upon their care and love he set forth towards them in as great a pomp and magnificence as befitted a person invested with so eminent qualities and as one who having reaped so many Laurels had newly restored peace and tranquillity unto three distracted Kingdomes The manner of his Highness going to the City and reception there was on this wise His Highness's Life-guard of Horse marched in the first place after which followed the chief Officers of the Army on Horse-back and some of his Councel of State after them rode two Pages bare headed in sumptuous Apparel after them came twelve Lackeys in velvet Caps and gray Liveries with silk and silver Fringe then followed his Highness seated in a Charet of State drawn by six beautiful Horses richly trapped which by their lofty gate seemed to glory in their drawing so victorious a Hercules triumphing over so many Monsters and his Highness who alwayes preferred the little ornaments of the Soul before those of the Body was onely clad in a dark coloured Suit and Cloak the greatest part of the other Nobility attending in their Coaches and six horses At Temple-Bar his Highness was met and received by the Lord Major and Aldermen and the Recorder of the City saluted him with an excellent Speech containing several expressions of Joy Fidelity and Obeisance and of good Hopes of his prosperous and happy Government His Highness having thanked him alighted from his Chariot and quitting his Cloak put on a rich Riding Coat imbroidered with Gold and got up on Horse-back on a Palfrey richly trapped and was followed by three other led Horses of State By which change of Garments his Highness testified unto them that when as occasions of the States-service should call upon him he would descend from his Triumphal Chariot where the glory of his Conquests had set him in rest and mounting his Horse for Battel would expose
were adorned with Trophies of Military Honour carved and gilt the pedestalls of the Pillars had Shields and Crowns gilt which compleated the whole work Within the Rails and Ballasters stood eight great Silver Candlesticks or Standarts almost five soot high with Virgin-wax Tapers of three foot long next unto the Candlesticks there were set upright in Sockets the four great Standards of his Higness Arms the Guydons great Banners and Banrolls of war being all of Taffity very richly gilt and painted The Cloth of State which covered the Bed of State and the Effigies had a Majestick Scutcheon and the whole Room was fully and compleatly adorned with Taffity Scutcheons several of his late Highness's Gentlemen attending bare-headed round about the Bed of State in Mourning and other of his Highness's Servants waiting in the other Rooms to give directions to the spectators and to prevent disorders After which his late Highness Effigies was several dayes shown in another Room standing upon an Ascent under a rich Cloth of State vested in royal Robes having a Scepter in one hand and a Globe in the other a Crown on his Head his Armour lying by him at a distance and the Banners Banrolls and Standards being placed round about him together with the other Ensigns of Honour the whole Room which was spacious being adorned in a majestical manner and several of his late Highness's Gentlemen attending about the Effigies bare-headed in which manner the Effigies continued until the solemnization of the Funerals On the three and twentieth day of November in the morning the time appointed for the solemnization of the Funerals of his late Highness the several persons of Honour and quality which were invited to attend the Interment being come to Somerset-house and all things being in a readiness to proceed the Effigies of his late Highness standing under a rich Cloath of State in the manner afore specified was first shown to the company and afterwards removed and placed on a Hearse richly adorned and set forth with Scutcheons and other Ornaments the Effigies it self being vested in Royal Robes a Scepter in one hand a Globe in the other and a Crown on the Head after it had been a while thus placed in the middle of a Room it was carried on the Hearse by ten of his late Highness Gentlemen into the Court-yard where a very rich Canopy of State was born over it by six other of his late Highness Gentlemen till it was brought and placed on the Chariot at each end whereof was a seat wherein sate two of his late Highness's Gentlemen of the Bed-Chamber the one at the Head and the other at the Feet of the Effigies The Pall which was made of Velvet and the white linnen was very large extending on each side of the carriage and was born up by several persons of Honour thereunto appointed The Chariot wherein the Effigies was conveyed was covered with black Velvet adorned with Plumes and Scutcheons and was drawn by six Horses covered with black Velvet and each of them adorned with black Plumes of Feathers From Somerset-house to Westminster the streets were railed in and strawed with Sand the Soldiers being placed on each side of the steeets without the Rails and their Ensigns wrapped up in a Cypress mourning Veil The manner of the proceeding to the Interment was briefly thus First a Knight Martial advanced on Horse-back with his black Truncheon tipt at both ends with Gold attended by his Deputy and thirteen men on Horseback to clear the way After him followed the Poor men of Westminster in mourning Gowns and Hoods marching two and two Next unto them followed the Servants of the several persons of all qualities which attended the Funeral These were followed by all his late Highness's Servants as well inferiour as superiour both within and without the Household as also all his Highness's Barge-men and Water-men Next unto these followed the Servants and Officers belonging to the Lord Major and Sheriffs of the City of London Then came several Gentlemen and attendants on the respective Ambassadors and the other Publique Ministers After those came the poor Knights of Windsor in Gowns and Hoods Then followed the Clerks Secretaries and other Officers belonging to the Army the Admiralty the Treasury the Navy and Exchequer After these came the Officers in Command in the Fleet as also the Officers of the Army Next followed the Commissioners for Excize those of the Army and the Committee of the Navy Then followed the Commissioners for the Approbation of Preachers Then came the Officers Messengers and Clerks belonging to the Privy Councel and the Clerks of both Houses of Parliament Next followed his late Highness Physicians The Head Officers of the Army The Chief Officers and Aldermen of the City of London The Masters of the Chancery with his Highness learned Councel at Law The Judges of the Admiralty the Masters of Request with the Judges in Wales The Barons of the Exchequer the Judges of both Benches and the Lord Major of London Next to these the persons allied in Blood to his late Higness and the Members of the Lords House After them the Publique Ministers of Forreign States and Princes Then the Holland Ambassador alone whose Train was born up by four Gentlemen Next to him the Portugal Ambassador alone whose Train was held up by four Knight of the Order of Christ And thirdly the French Ambassador whose Train was also held up by four persons of quality Then followed the Lords Commissioners of the great Seal The Lords Commissioners of the Treasury The Lords of his late Highness most Honorable Privy Councel After whom followed the chief Mourner and those persons of quality which were his Assistants and bare up his Train All the Nobles were in close Mourning the rest were but in ordinary being disposed in their passage into several Divisions being distinguished by Drums and Trumpets and by a Standard or Banner born by a Person of Honor and his assistant and a Horse of State covered with black Velvet and led by a person of Honor followed by two Grooms Of which Horses there were eleven in all four covered with black Cloth and seven with Velvet These being all passed in order at length the Chariot followed with the Effigies on each side of which were born six Banner Rolls twelve in all by as many persons of Honor The several pieces of his late Highness Armor were born by eight Honorable persons Officers of the Army attended by a Herald and a Gentleman on each side Next followed Garter principal King of Arms attended with a Gentleman on each side bare-headed Then came the chief Mourner together with those Lords and noble personages that were supporters and assistants to the chief Mourner Then followed the Horse of Honor in very rich Trappings embroidered upon Crimson Velvet and adorned with white red and yellow Plumes and was led by the Master of the Horse Finally in the close of all followed his late Highness
The Most excellent Oliver Cromwell Lord Gen ll of Greate Brittay Chancellor of the Vniversity of Oxford L d Cheife Gover r of Ireland ☜ Claude lib de laud Stil Similem Quae protulit Aelus Consilio vel Marle VIRUM THE HISTORY OF THE Life and Death Of His most Serene Highness O LIVER Late Lord Protector Wherein from his Cradle to his Tomb are impartially transmitted to Posterity the most weighty Transactions Forreign or Domestique that have happened in his Time either in Matters of Law Proceedings in Parliaments or other Affairs in Church or State By S. Carrington Pax quaeritur Bello London Printed for Nath. Brook at the Sign of the Angel in Cornhill 1659. FUIMUS The Right honble Charles Viscount Bruce of Ampthill â—en â— Heir Apparent of Thomas Earl of â—â—â—â—bury Baron Bruce of Whorleton To His most SERENE HIGHNESS RICHARD Lord PROTECTOR OF THE Commonwealth of England Scotland and Ireland and the Dominions and Territories thereunto belonging May it please Your Highness AS nothing can be presented to the Potentates of the World of greater value then the Labours of Famous Historiographers who describe to the life the Examples of such Eminent Personages as were transcendent in preceding Ages and may in their Successours beget both Emulation and Experience so shall I not need to apprehend that this History which in all humility I present unto Your Highness will prove unacceptable since therein You may encounter with such a Model of all kinde of Vertues and Perfections as I hope may take a deeper impression in Your Highnesses Breast in regard that it will be found that Art herein is seconded by Nature And whereas I am under the lash of a severe Castigation for my presumption in profering this History to Your Review as I acknowledge when I seriously consider how You have attracted to Your Self that lively Pourtraiture of his Great Soul that You appear the true Embleme both of his Vertues and Majesty May it please Your most Serene Highness I cannot chuse but address this present Oblation as to Your Self so in other Languages to the rest of the Princes and Potentates of the Earth I bequeath it unto posterity very humbly craving the favourable Protection of Your Highnesses Patronage Nor durst I publish so glorious a Work to the World before I had craved Your Highnesses pardon for my Rashness in adventuring to trace those Vigorous Lineaments in the Alexander whom Your Highness so well resembleth and in whom your Highness beareth so great a part Moreover as a sole Apelles could onely be capable of so great an Enterprize so it will be altogether unnecessary for me to endeavour the Description of that Pourtraiture which so evidently is manifested to all the World both in Your Highnesses Person and Actions Wherefore my Lord I must needs confess that Your Highness is the true Original and mine onely relating to the Out-side of so Great and unalterable an Albionist The truth is I finde not in my self ability to express the Real Worth of His Accomplishments and Hardy Features accompanied with that Vivacity and Lustre which secret Mystery lyeth onely in the Hand of that great Master of Nature and Extant in that very Personage whose Simile is hardly this Day to be found in the whole Vniverse except in Your Inimitable Self Nor doth Art or Humane frailty allow so much to be in the Possession of the best men Therefore those who go about to Pourtraict such like Incomparable Personages cannot avoid one of those extremities which Painters run into when they go about to represent the Sun who either place themselves at so great a distance as that they can onely discover an ineffications and feeble Reflections of its Beams or approach so neer unto it as that being dazled with its Resplendency and overcome with its Heat they are bereaved of their Senses and retain onely their Hearts at liberty to adore and admire that powerful Hand which formed so glorious a Creature To the like Non plus am I reduced who rashly ascend to the very summit of the Throne of Honour thence to contemplate his late Highness Person surrounded by so glorious a Resplendency as no eyes are able to behold nor to be comprehended by the mindes of men so that I must needs sink under the burthen and content my self with the Poets Expression Inopem me copia fecit In which extasie all my Senses being surprized my Heart is onely left free to admire and my Tongue to plead Excuses and offer up good Wishes which I most humbly Dedicate and Devote unto Your most Serene Highness Nor could the Heavens have ever established a more fitting Personage to bear a share in or inclination unto this Work then Your Highness as well as to defend it from Envy it self And if so be History be a second Life Your Highness may judge by the black Attempts which threatned Your Glorious Father how this Work will be assailed and how many Enemies its Authour must resolve to enter into the Lists withall their Rage being thereby renewed and augmented by their perceiving that the Tomb hath onely bereaved us of the least part of this Great Heroe And how malicious soever their Envy may appear in such Stories which possibly may be written in Contradiction hereof it will onely publish from Truth it self to the World their inveterate Spleen which can never pierce through the bright Rayes of his Innocent and Glorious Actions Moreover whereas the Divine Providence hath so often and miraculously preserved the first life of his late Highness against the Attempts both of men and monsters Your most Serene Highness is also engaged as well by Imitation as by the Interest of Your Care and Royal Dignity to watch over the Preservation of his second Life which is in Your Highness by so Lawful a Succession as is devolved upon Your Self The Glorious Course whereof I resolve to trace from this very moment that I may the better publish the Illustrious Transactions thereof in five other Languages which during my Travels I have acquired In which also I intend to publish this present History the French being already perfected and fit for the Press His great Soul expecting proportionable Honours to its Dignity and his vaste Minde requiring number less Elegies which may remain as so many living Monuments not to be defaced by Times Violence nor Envy But I press this Subject too home to Your Highness since You bear so great a share therein and my self dare attribute so little of it to my own incapacity of compassing so great an undertaking Wherefore I shall onely hereby endeavour to attract others and to shew them the Borders and Coast of that vaste Sea into which they ought to lanch so that like to a Forelorn Hope I shall onely first mount the Breach and by diverse Languages animate all the Trumpets of Fame to Celebrate the Glory of his late Highness in those parts of the World where I have conversed for
the space of sixteen or eighteen years past Hoping for the future to write the Heroick Actions of this Nation in unexpugnable Characters to leave unto Posterity as an eye witness the Rehearsal of those Victories which Heaven shall bestow on England under Your Glorious Government that so I may the better satisfie my Zeal and Fidelity to Your Highness and approve my self to be Your Highnesses most Humble most Obedient most Faithful Servant and Loyal Subject S. Carrington The Preface Courteous Reader THat which I do here intend to present you with all is the Life and Death of Oliver Cromwel late Lord Protector of the Common-wealth of England that Grand Personage whose Conduct and Fortune all the world doth admire and who in the space of ten years time did accomplish the work of a whole Age nay more he perfected the work of future Ages having settled England on such good Foundations that if she continues to build thereon she may expect to produce second Edwards and second Henries This Illustrious Personages life is presented unto you in three several Scenes First you will finde him Dormant like unto David midst his Flocks untill the Troubles of his Countrey awake him And that the Almighty was pleased to call upon him to appease them as well as to en crease his glory you may reflect upon the course and progress of his valour by which being elevated almost to the sublimest pitch of his Grandeur he was left to act more absolutely according to his own prudence and was enforced to lay hands on the Reins of the most confused State that ever was Where you will finde his late Highness demeaning himself like unto a well resolved skillful Pilot in a Vessel tossed and tumbled by a tempest bestirring himself amidst the contrariest of Winds and wisely and dexterously avoiding those Rocks Shelves and Quicksands which threatned England with a second Shipwrack This his sage conduct being the more to be admired in that as then he had but a limited Power although the whole was due to his dexterity and prudence yet each one thought they had as great a share as himself in the Sovereign Power which as they supposed they had acquired by the Pen or the Sword either in the Army or in the Parliament so that all this great Politician could as then do was to reconcile those several Opinions then in agitation and to suffer himself to be swayed by the current of those windes and streams which he was neither willing nor well able to withstand at that time Now as there is nothing more dangerous in States then great and sudden changes so nothing more difficult to be managed and this being the Master-piece which a Politician hath to act this ensuing History will discover unto us the chief and several Motions Turnings Windings and Settling of the same His late Highness like unto an expert Physician was first put to read the Temperment of England her former way and manner of actings before the Current of her Humors and the Symptomes of all the Evils and Malignities which threatned her He likewise reflected on the Body Politick which he found as well as the Humane had its Replenishments and Evacuations and Crisis and then observed that as well in the one as the other those sudedn changes which happen are either Destructive or Salutary He observed that these Bodies nourished Choller as well as other Humors and thence deemed War to be the best Rubarb to purge them least otherwise they might evacuate of themselves Moreover he observed these Humors were subject to grow sharp and to rebell and that they oftentimes caused such violent and hot fits as that without the assistance of an expert and accomplished Physician death was like to ensue or which is worst most violent languishing and intollerable diseases So that the thing which is most to be admired at in the conduct of this grand Politician is that he could governe a People and procure a perfect Union and Tranquillity amidst three Nations whose mindes were agitated by several Opinions and whereby they are continually stirred against each other no motion transporting men more impetuously towards civil Dissentions then those which arise from the several Professions in Religion For besides the chief Religions profest in these three Nations viz. that of Geneva the Protestant the Episcopal and some Roman Catholicks there are sprung up throughout all England an infinite number of other Sectaries which like unto so many Hidra's did seem to issue forth from each others neck and whereby the mindes of men were so discomposed and hurried away into such violent Enthusiasmes as they stood in need of a good Guide to conduct and refrain them from a total precipitation And as it would be a difficult task to give you the several Denominations Derivations and Off-springs of all these several Schismaticks I shall therefore pass them by as being numberless Wherefore if we acknowledge as it is most assuredly true that Religion is the chief principal part which doth most of all contribute to the well ordering quiet and peaceable settling and Governing of a People we may easily judge that his late Highness the Lord Protector stood in need of more then ordinary Sagacity Prudence and Conduct to procure that Tranquillity Plenty and Splendour to England wherein he left it and the which without example is hardly to be found in all the other parts of Europe But to come nearer home to my own enterprize the Life of an Historian is the Life of History and his truth the most proper Preface to it Thus much I can safely write for my self that I have entertained no design beyond Truth as I have not made this History subservient either to Flattery or Interest I question not but the prejudice of some may go about to detect but I am so confident of my own integrity as to believe no person can forme a truer Relation of the late disturbed Affairs of these Nations I acknowledge where Originals have failed me and must do others I have conformed to Copies but of so near extraction as that they are but once removed from their Fountain I being so truly acquainted my knowledge so strongly established to trace this History as to discerne how to write so also for the credit of my laborious Industry I can affirme That my Information was not without near approaches as I continually conversed with the most principal Instruments in these admirable Transactions persons Unbiased that had certain and full Intelligence of the highest emergences whether Forreign or Domestick If I have been but as judicious and clear-sighted to perceive and write as I have been honestly unconcerned to transmit this History to posterity I shall not need to fear but stand secure against the most malicious or otherwise impertinent Imputations Having thus discharged my Conscience in these my honest endeavours I have no more to write but to bid thee read and then censure Impartially Farewell Thine S. C. The
Fleet of nine great Ships which served to shelter several other small ones whereby the trade of England was much impeded and incommodated which obliged the Parliament to put forth a most puissant Naval Army to Sea fitted with good Mariners and all kinde of necessary war-like Ammunitions The sole brute of this Fleet made all the Enemies Ships to run into their several skulking holes like unto so many Conies and Prince Rupert being not strong enough to encounter them was forced to retire into Kingsale Haven in Ireland where he was immediately blocked up by the Parliaments Fleet whilest General Cromwell besieged both the Port and Town by land and Prince Rupert being forced to make a vertue of necessity resolved to bear the brunt of all the English Fleet and so saved himself leaving behinde him three Ships which by that occasion were taken and finally after several turnings and turmoilings be cast anchor at Lisbone where he was protected by the King of Portugal which caused the rupture betwixt this Common-wealth and that Crown and all those mischiefs which ensued as we hereafter shall rehearse Meanwhile the Royallists in Scotland seeing the Parliament was busied in Ireland thought to lay hold on a fit opportunity to play their game and to that purpose the Earle of Montrosse having landed in the North of Scotland with some Forces he had raised in Holland and other parts assembled the old Souldiers who had formerly served under him and armed them with such Arms as he had brought from Holland but before he could make a considerable body he was defeated by the Presbyter Forces taken and hanged on a very high Gibbet which is the last mark of infamy in that Countrey Within a while after there was a Treaty commenced at Breda between the Scots and their King to install and re-establish him in that Kingdome and in the others according as Fortune should answer their designs and expectations and to this end they deputed Ambassadors into Spain Italy Denmarke Sweden Russia and into Turkey and finally throughout all Europe to demand relief aid and assistance But all their Embassies procured neither men nor money only their Ambassadors were laden with Complements and good wishes in return each others particular affairs not permitting them to do more All which gave unto the Common-wealth of England not any great fears but great jealousies wherefore the better to be informed of the passages abroad and the better to fortifie themselves by foraign Leagues and Alliances M. Dorislaus a person full of knowledge and conduct was sent in the quality of an Agent towards the States of the United Provinces the chief drift of this Negotiation being to criment a good and firm understanding between the two Common-wealths But scarce was he arrived at the Hague when five or six disguised persons entred forcibly into his Chamber and massacred him And whilest it seemed all things were a profound Calm in England or that at least the course of the Enemies designs both at home and abroad being sufficiently known to the State on a suddain there sprang up the most formidable faction that ever was hatch'd since these last Warres A certain number of persons who called themselves Levellers whose pretenses were to render all mens goods and possessions alike and truely this was a very plausible design and might doubtlesse have met with as many Abetters as there are men in the world who have no other possessions or Revenues but their good wills to obtaine them The chief of these Levellers was one John Lilborn a man of a dating and attempting spirit who could not remain quiet but was altogether invincible not to be moved by threats nor gained by the favour or presents of fortune which were beneath the extent of his ambition and a considerable part of the Army siding with their Leader they augmented in numbers as fast as the shortnesse of the time would permit the confluence of such men as flattered themselves with such fond hopes and who promised themselves a revenge and and establishment by a second Revolution and change But before all those who intended to have sided with them could come up to them and unite in one body they were vigorously set upon by the Lord Fairfax at that time the Common-wealths General who defeated them at a place called Burford in the County of Oxford where their Leader and the best part of his Souldiers were taken some of which were put to death for example sake and some others were banish'd but the greatest part were pardoned and admitted into favour again As for their Leader John Lilborne being brought up to London he appeared before the chief Officers and Judges of London and Westminster the Lord Maior Sheriffs and divers others where he was not only accused of divers Martial Crimes but also Politick ones as having been the Author of several scandalous and defamatory Libells against the State which tended to render the Government odious and to beget a Mutiny in the people however he so dexterously shifted himself of all these accusations as that the Judges declared him Not guilty Much about that very time Mr. Anthony Ascham a most judicious and accomplished Gentleman was Deputed and sent over in the quality of an Agent to the King of Spain and arrived at the Port of Sancta Maria on the 5. of June 1650. where being advertised but his person was in danger he was constrained to cause himself to be guarded to Madrid where the next day after his arrival as he was at Dinner six men knocked at his Chamber doore which was immediately opened unto them and he rising from the Table to receive them the first of the said parties stabbed him in the head with a Dagger so that he fell down dead to the ground and his Interpreter Signior Riba being not able to make his escape soon enough was likewise stabbed in the belly which being thus done the Murderers would have saved themselves in the Venetian Ambassadors house who refused them protection whence they retired themselves into a Church which in Spain is a Sanctuary which the Justice ought not to violate whence however the King of Spain had them taken and put into prison one only excepted who made an escape Hence there arose a great contest betwixt the King and the Clergy who complain'd that their priviledges had been infringed and demanded that the Prisoners might be returned unto them and on the other side the Parliament of England pressed hard to have justice done on them and though message upon message instance upon instance were used therein yet they took no effect And lest it may seem that all these foraign Negotiations which we have here inserted may be beyond my subject however if they be considered as so many obstacles which Fortune opposed unto the vertue and greatness of his late Highness you will find that the recitall of them will not be altogether uselesse the rather since I have related them as succinctly as possibly
Besides we may also look upon them as so many seeds sowen to beget those warres which thereon ensued and which were by the late Protector rather by most glorious Treaties whereunto he was sought or by most signal Victories which were obtain'd and brought to a happy period by which the blood of these two Agents so cruelly murdered were retaliated with use But to go on to our History the Treaty of Breda being absolutely concluded and notwithstanding the great Antipathy and animosity between the Royallists and the Presbyterians all their jealousies and grudges were seemingly reconcised so that the Scotch wanted nothing to compleat their design but to enjoy their Kings preserce who immediately coming to the Hague went thence for Schevelinge and embarqued himself for Scotland notwithstanding the dangers and perils of the Sea which were very great and the English Ships which had way-laid him to surprize him As soon as he was landed in Scotland the first thing they propounded unto their King was to take the solemn Oath called the Covenant that burning Torch which the Mother of Paris did see in her frenzies that fatal fire which the Scotch believe descended from Heaven and by which they at their pleasures kindle those warres wherewith they infest England which Covenant as we know was only a superstitious and warlike Prorestation made in the presence of God and Men To maintain the purity of the Religion to preserve the priviledges of Parliament and the people and to re-establish the King in his Ancestors Throne But that which seemed somewhat harsh and rude to this Prince was the terms wherein they caused him to take this Oath quite contrary to Physitians who dip their Pills in Syrrops or Sugar to make them down the glibber yet these Politicians when the whole lay at the stake it seems troubled themselves not much with the wording of the thing for amongst real friends indeed there needs not many complements nor much complacence to be used Therefore the Churches of Scotland made their King swallow this restorative in the following Beverage constraining him to protest That he renounced the sinnes of his Fathers and his own house the Idolatry of his Mothers and that he would adhere unto Gods cause in conformity to the Covenant in the firm establishment of the Church Government as it was expressed in the Directory for that publick worship which is to be rendred to God contained in the Belief and Catechism And this Cup he was forced to drink that he might obtain his Fathers Kingdome which formalities were more then requisite for to establish that Prince in the opinion of the prevailing party which was only then in a condition to help him Howbeit the English knew very well to distinguish between these Artificial fictions and the truth for the Parliament of England being duely informed of the Scots their designs and practises thought it was high time to think of the best means to oppose them and after several consultations upon this businesse it was resolved that the Lord Fairfax should command the Army in chief and with all speed march toward the North of England But he most humbly thanked the Parliament and like unto a second Cincinatus retired himself from the Dictatorship to a Countrey-life excusing himself for not serving them in that Expedition upon his Indisposition at that time The Renown of General Cromwells feats of Arms both as Governour and Conqueror of Ireland admitted of no lesse Proposals then to make him Generalissimo of the Common-wealths Armies in the Lord Fairfax his stead So that he came over again into England whilest his hands were as yet warm and was sent to give a check unto other Enemies in another Climate and under another disguise after he had settled and assured all the Conquests of Ireland and had left the necessary and requisite Orders conducing to a solid peace and establishment of those parts with his sonne-in-Law Henry Ireton so that he returned thence laden with Palms and Laurels as Trophies of his worthy Acts in those parts And scarce was he returned home but he was enforced to march towards those parts whither the glory of Conquering a second Kingdome called upon him Now the Scots who by no means would make any outward shew of the grand designs which they were hatching at the approach of the English Army on their Frontiers seemed to be very much astonished and the whole Countrey took the Allarum moreover the better to colour this their astonishment and seeming surprizal they deputed a Messenger to Sir Arthur Haslerigge as then Governour of Newcastle upon the Borders of England and Scotland to know the reason of that so suddain March of the English Army towards their Frontiers whereunto they joyned several Manifesto's setting forth the Contents of the Leagues and ample Treaties of union between the two Nations and several other particulars which served only to gain time and to make the better preparations to receive their Enemies At the same time of the English Armies advance towards the North the Parliament set forth a Manifest accompanyed by another from the General and chief Officers of the Army whereby both the one and the others declared viz. That the reasons which moved them to this great undertaking was neither the support which they expected from the Arm of flesh nor the consideration or vanity of former successes not the desire they had to compasse any of their own designs But the true assurance they had that their cause was just before God reflecting on the foregoing Revolutions and the successe which had followed them not as the handy-work of Politick men or of Humane force but as the most eminent works of Providence and the power of God thereby to make his good will appear and to shew his pleasure concerning those things which he had decreed in this world That they were obliged not to betray the cause wherein God had so evidently manifested himself after which there was nothing more dear unto them then the preservation of those who feared the Lord and who might greatly suffer either by being mistaken or by not being capable to discern the true tye of a Generall Calamity of which their Christian charity they hoped they had given sufficient proofs at the last time when they were in Scotland with this very Army of which God was pleased to make use for to break in pieces the power of those who oppressed the faithfull in those parts But that the acknowledgements of so signal a favour did but little appear in the Engagement which they had lately made with their new King and that they had not proceeded like unto good Christians in publishing that their Army was but an Army of Sectaries However that they doubted not but that God would give them the grace to forgive them that calumny and to that effect they beseeched him to be so good unto them as to separate the Chaffe from the good Corn concluding in like manner as they
Concernments the Parliament being desirous together with the Kings person to extirpate his Memory and to remove those Objects which might beget tenderness in the people who do alwaies bemoan the misfortunes of those whom before they hated Commanded that his Statues should be flung down whereupon that which stood on the VVest-end of St. Pauls Church in London was cast down and the other which was placed in the old Exchange placing this following Inscription in the Comportment above the same Exit tyrannus Regum ultimus Anno Libertatis Angliae restitutae primo Anno Domini 1648. Januarii 30. In like manner the Aâ—mes of the Crown of England which were placed in the Churches in the Courts of Judiciture and other publick places were taken down And the Common-weath being now as it seemed solidly established some neighbouring States who desired to be in Amity with Her sent their extraordinary Ambassadors over as namely the Hollanders Spain and Portugal and by the following Negociations the issues of the said Embassies will easily appear As to the Spanish Ambassador satisfaction was continually demanded of him for the Murther which was committed on the persons of this Common-wealths Agents at Madrid nor was this State at all satisfied with the Answer thereon returned That the Contestations between the King of Spain and his Clergy on that particular were not as yet reconciled or brought to naissue And as to the Portugal Ambassador great and vast summes being demanded of him for the reimbursement of those Charges which the King his Master had caused the Common-wealth to be at and for the reparation of those damages which the English Merchants had sustained He replyed he had no Orders to make Answer thereunto whereupon he had his Audience of departure and went his way Immediatly after this Common-wealth sent two extraordinary Ambassadors to the States of the united Provinces the Lords Oliver St. Johns and Walter Strickland Personages of a high repute and endowed with exquisite Parts their Train was great ad splendid and their Equipage favoured not a little of the Splendor of their continued Victories They Embarqued in the Downs on the eleventh of March 1651. and the next day toward even they came to an anchor neer Helvoot Slugs but not without some danger on the 13 they made towards Rotterdam in the long-boats and by the way they were met by some of the States Jachts or Barges and being arrived they were by the English Merchants conducted to their publick House where they were most splendidly entertained whither the Spanish Ambassador sent to complement them by one of his Gentlemen to testifie unto them his joy for their happy arrival beseeching them to enter into and joyn with him in a right understanding Two or three dayes after they set forward towards the Hague and by the way were met by the Master of Ceremonies accompanyed with about thirty Coaches and after some reciprocal complements passed and exchanged they were conducted to a stately House which was prepared for them in the Town where having been three dayes treated at the States charges they had audience In which the Lord St. Johns made a most Elegant and learned Speech in English and gave the Copy thereof unto the Lords States both in English and in Dutch the most essential points whereof were as followeth I. That they were sent unto the Lords the High and mighty States of the United Provinces on the behalf of the Parliament of the Common-wealth of England to ciment a firm League and Confederation betwixt the two Common-wealths in case their Lordships thought it fitting notwithstanding the injuries which the English had received from the Holland Nation II. That they desired to renew and confirm the Treaties and Agreements formerly made concerning the Traffique and Commerce betwixt both Nations III. After which they exhibited the advantages which the Hollanders would reap by this said union in regard of the commodious situation of England for the Traffique with the multitude and security of her Havens and of all things which may advance the Commerce and Trade IV. Finally he told them That he wus commanded by the Parliament of England and by the Common-wealth to make known to their Lordships how sencibly they were touched with the Murder which was committed on the person of their Agent Mr. Dorislaus and that they doubted not but their Lordships would use all possible endeavours to discover the Authors of that horrid and unworthy action After which the Lords States being informed that the said Lords Ambassadors followers were daily molested and affronted by the English Royallists and other persons who resided in Holland they caused a Proclamation to be drawn up which they sent unto the Lords Ambassadors to know of them whether it was penned in the due terms according to their good liking whereby on pain of death they prohibited that no man should either by words or deeds offend or molest any of the said Ambassadors followers or retainers Three months time was already elapsed in their Negotiation at a vast expense and with a farre greater patience without that the least satisfaction in the world could be obtained at the hands of Justice for those daily affronts injuries which were put upon the Lords Ambassadors Retinue Servants and the scorns and disgraces offered to their own persons even to such a pitch as that the Common people and Rascality would assemble themselves at the Gates of their house and belch out injurious language and set upon and injure their Servants Now the Parliament being sensible of these wrongs and injuries and seeing the Lords States did not at all answer those kinde proffers and endeavours which were made unto them to beget and fettle a solid and firm alliance and peace betwixt the two Common-wealths save with delayes and shifts purposely to gain time upon the English till they should be able to judge how the face of things would evidence it self in Scotland and which way the Chain would turn there they recalled their Ambassadors Which suddain and unexpected newes extreamly surprised the Hollanders who testified their astonishments thereon to the Lords Ambassadors by more frequent and oftner visitations then formerly and by which they endeavoured to perswade them to beleeve the sincerity of their intentions and how earnestly and ardently they desired the alliance which their Lordships had propounded But all these fair words were not able to stay the Ambassadors who immediately returned into England again to cut out another guesse kinde of work for the Hollanders And that which gave the greater cause of jealousie unto the English and made them believe that the Hollander dealt deceitfully with them was that their Admirall Van Trump lay lurking about the Isle of of Scillie with his Fleet as if he had some design to make himself Master of them But when as the States were demanded the reason of his lying there they replyed that their Admirals being in those parts was only to demand restitution of
strong but whilst he was weaker being alone fell upon Colonel Lilborne and each side for the space of four hours fight did behave themselves very well till at length the Earls Forces being worsted he was constrained to save himself and to gain Worcester almost all alone amongst Prisoners of note which were taken in this Encounter were Colonel Legg Robinson Baines Gerrard four Livetenant Colonels one Major four Captains two Livetenants twenty Gentlemen and five hundred Soldiers There were killed the Lord Withrinton Sir Thomas Fieldsley Colonel Boynton Sir William Throgmorton Sir Gamuell and sixty Soldiers On the Parliaments side there were but ten men slain but abundance were hurt which defeat although it was but a small one yet it was very ominous and served not a little to discourage those who were on the Brink of declining themselves and ready to rise in Armes so that it may be said without vanity that the defeating of those 1500 men hindred above 10000 to joyn with the Scots at Worcester and indeed Colonel Lilborne received those Honours and that recompense from the Parliament which was due to his Valour And the Lord General Cromwell whose prudence did at all times equallize his Valour nay far surpass it being conscious that diligence and expedition was more then requisite in this Conjuncture which was like unto a Gangren continually gaining ground and therefore immediatly to be cut off least it should endanger the whole arived with his Army at Worcester sooner then he was expected with a resolution to make his Enemies either perish within the place or constrain them to give Battel Here War-like stratagems or wiles were not necessary for there was no delaying of the business neither was there any retreat to be made or flight to be taken It matters not for one Town more or less This is the upshot Blow where the best Swords were to decide the Interest of three Crowns The Royallists were backed by dispaire and the others were animated with the continuall and accustomed defeating of their Enemies Now both must either fight or die and resolve to be a Cast or nothing and the Town of Worcester this very day must be the bloody Theater of the fairest chance of Fortune which ever happened in the Isles of great Britain The first thing therefore which the Parliaments Forces endeavoured was to gain a pass over the River of Severne which was immediatly performed by Major General Lambert at a place called Vpton and which passage was made good by Liveten at General Fleetwcods Brigade which advancing towards Tame River a Bridge of Boats was laid over the same and likewise another Birdge was made over Severn on the Generals side which being perceived by the Royallists they caused a Body both of Horse and Foot to advance to oppose the Livetenant Generals passage who was backed by two Regiments of Foot of Colonel Inglesbies and Colonel Fairfax's by the Generals Troops of Guard and Clonel Hackers Regiment of Horse all which were animated and encouraged by the Generals prerence who marched at the Head of them after which Colonel Goff's and Major General Deans Regiments were passed over the River who began to scoure the Hedges which were lined by the Enemy and whence they drave them away beating them from Hedge to Hedge being supplyed with fresh men but after this kind of Skirmish had lasted well nigh a good hour very smartly the Royallists were constrained to give ground and to retire to Powick Bridge which they made good for an hour longer but quitting it at length they retired toward the Town except those which were made Prisoners and within a little while afterwards having assembled all their Forces and all their Courage to boot they issued forth of the Town in a Body towards the Generals side believing that the best part of his Army had been on the other side as in effect it was seperated in two by the afore specified River and the Royallists at their first charge were so furious and resolute as that the Generals Troops were constrained to give way but that only served to augment their courage and make them more covetous of Glory Insomuch that renewing their Fight with a fresh vigour they charged the Enemy so impetuously as that the Scotch Army both Horse and Foot were on a suddain over borne and quite brought into disorder all their Works and Lynes together with their Royall Fort and their Cannon were immediatly taken and turned upon and against themselves the Town was given in Pillage and all their Foot were either slain or taken Prisoners a Body of 3000 Horse brake through and made their escape and one thousand of them were taken by Colonel Barton who lay about Bewdly only with a few Horse and Dragoons and Colonel Lilborne with the Generals Regiments of Foot accidentally met with the Earl of Darby who a little before had escaped him whom he seized together with the Earl of Landerdale and above a hundred persons of quality severall others were likewise taken by the other parties which were abroad as Duke Hamilton General of the Scotch Army who afterwards died of his Wounds the Earl of Rothe the Earl of Cornwarth the Earle of Shrewsbury Packington Cunningham and Clare Knights the Lords Spine and Sinclere the Earle of Cleaveland of Kelley and Colonel Greaves six Colonels of Horse thirteen of Foot nine Livetenant Colonels of Horse eight of Foot six Majors of Horse thirteen of Foot thrity seven Captains of Horse seventy three of Foot fifty five Quarter-masters eighty nine Livetenants of Foot Major Generall Biscotty Major General Montgomery the Livetenant General of the Ordnance the adjutant General of the Foot the Martiall General the Quarter-master General the Conductor General of the Baggage seventy six Standards ninety nine Ensigns nine Ministers nine Chirurgions one hundred fifty eight Colours and all the Cannon and Baggage generally the Royall Standard the Kings Coach and Horses the Royall Robe the Collar of the Order of the Garter thirty of his domestick Servants and his Secretary Faâ—shams as for the King his own person he made and escape strangely and in a disguise he saved himself at length into France not without many difficulties and dangers Notwithstanding the Parliament had promised five hundred pounds to any one that could discover his Person Several other persons were also afterwards taken in the remotest Countries as Major General Massey who afterwards made an escape Major General Middleton Livetenant General David Lesly and severall others insomuch as that it may be said the Gleanings of this Victory were as considerable as the whole Harvest it self But let us return to our CONQUEROR and observe with what a moderation he enjoyed this his victory he desires no triumphall preparations He would not that thanks should be returned to him for the same but only to God alone who helped him with his mighty Arme to advance his own Glory and to establish the peace and repose of England upon
December they appeared on the back of the Goodwins the English Fleet under General Blakes Command consisted but in two and forty Ships ill furnished wanting Men and all other Necessaries The greatest part of the best Ships having been rendred incapable of going forth to Sea whereas there was the greatest occasion to make use of them which happened either by the negligence or rather by the perfideousness and treachery and set Malice of some who at that time had the management of the Sea Affaires being over jealous that the Military Persons and Men of Action should grow too high and over-top them although afterwards God in his own time found out these men and caused them to give an account of these their pernitious aversnesse to the publicke Good of the Common-wealth and to the private interests of the particular Members thereof Hower the English notwithstandsting the Inequality of their Forces resolved to Launch out and fight them so that on the thirtieth of December being a very faire day both Fleets steering Westward encountred each other about eleven of the Clock in the Morning and began the Fight the English having the upper hand of the Wind of two and forty English Ships not one halfe of them engaged in the fight for want of men insomuch that twenty or two and twenty Ships bare the brunt of the puissant Holland Fleet. The Avant guard and the Victory two brave Frigats having been the whole day engaged in the midst of the Enemy firing from all sides got off in a very good Condition But towards the Evening the Garland carrying about forty pieces of Cannon was boorded at once by two great Dutch Ships which she manfully resisted till her Decks were quite unfurnished of men which having blowne up and finally being over powered on all sides was forced to yield The Bonaventure being a Merchant-man but a good Vessell going to relieve the Garland was clapt aboord by a Man of Warre and after she had severall times cleered her Decks of the Enemy which were gotten into her at length by the death of her Captaine who behaved himselfe stoutly she lost both Strength and Courage and so fell into the hands of her Enemies Meanwhile Generall Blake who Commanded the Triumph seeing this Disorder plunged into the thickest of his Enemies to rescue the Garland had his fore-Mast shot downe close by the Boord and was Clapt on Boord by the Enemy but having stoutly defended himselfe and severall times beaten them off againe he at length got cleare of them and went off with the rest of his Fleet onely with the losse of two Ships which cost the Dutch deare enough before they got them and after the fight two English Merchant-men falling casually into the Hollanders hands helped to make up the Friutes of this their great boasted of Victory over the English which being in it selfe but a small Check served onely to whet the Valour of the English and to edge them on with the more vehemency to dissipate that Ecclipse which had so lately over Clouded their wonted Glory Wherefore they made a very considerable Sea Equipage and fitted out with all speed a brave Fleet of the best and gallantest Ships as well to bring downe their Enemies Pride who were devoid of all Moderation after this their pretended Successe as to stop and silence the Murmurings and Clamour of the People against those who at that time held and guided the Reines of the State some of which behaved themselves so untoward that it could not be imagined save that by a base and vile black pollicy they intended together with the Ruine of Maratine Affaires to bring Destruction upon the whole LAND THE HISTORY OF OLIVER Lord Protector From his Cradle to his Tomb. HIs Highness at that time being General was as it were seized with a kinde of horrour by the very sense of these disorders which could not be excused either by reason of the disabillity of the Countrey of any misfortunes or ill accidents nor by any imprudence but were manifestly committed out of meer malice through a blinde zealous ambition His great soul did even reproach him inwardly for letting the honour of his Countrey as it were fall to the ground and that a Million of brave Merchants were suffered to run into perdition by default of a discreet Pilot to steer at the Helme which was so ill guided and although the Sea-affairs did not properly concerne him He conceived however that in case during the General Shipwrack he launched into the Main with some small Barks to save the grand Vessel and body of the State which was perishing he might do both a beneficial commendable and praise-worthy work He therefore believed that in Honour and Conscience he was bound to dive more narrowly into the secret of the Affairs and to employ the keenness of his Sword to set an edge upon the subtil Cabinet pens and mend their bluntness and dullness so that after the most requisite Orders for the arming and equipying of the Fleet had been issued out he hammered out some others for the better encouragement of the Sea-men in general as well Commanders and Soldiers as Mariners In reference whereunto it was ordered 1. That some musters should be advanced them to put themselves in a fit equipage to go to Sea and to leave a subsistence with theit families during their absence 2. That for every ship which was adjudged good prize in the Admiralty they should have two pounds per Ton and six pounds for every peece of Canon Brass or Iron as should be found in the said Vessels and the which should be equally distributed amongst them in relation to the Offices they bear in the Ship which had taken the said prize 3. That they should have ten pound for every peece of Cannon on board of such Ships as they should sink or destroy by firing or otherwise 4. That those who should enroll themselves before the forty dayes should be expired should receive a moneths pay as a gratuity which should not be put to accompt 5 That Hospitalls should be erected at Dover Deal and Sandwich for such sick and wounded Men as should be brought on shoar and that a Stock should be settled for their maintenance as also for the subsistence of such other sick and wounded men as by reason of their Diseases and Wounds could not be brought on shoar or should be too far from Hospitals Diverse other Ordinances of the like nature were also settled which did wonderfully encourage the Sea-men and Mariners so that toward the latter end of February 1653. the English put forth a puissant Fleet to Sea frighted with gallant men who were resolved to fight it out although at that time the Hollanders had made use of their best wits and stratagems and had negotiated almost with all the Nations of Europe to hinder the bringing into England any Pitch Tarr Masts and such other necessaries for the Navigation This brave Fleet being in a longing desire to
second of July next ensuing and in convenient space of time arived safely at their designed Port. Within a moneth after which General Pen arrived in England having left the best part of the Fleet in those parts under the Command of Vice-Admiral Goodson a very valiant and experienced Sea-Commander and the Troops which had mastered Jamaica under the Command of Collonel Fortescue But as all prosperities are usually accompanied with some small Allayes of adversity the Almighty suffering it to be so for our instruction and precaution and to humble us in our highest transcendencies of Fortune Wherefore the said Fleet having gained the height of the Havennas in the Isle of Cuba the Paragon Frigot was fired by negligence and perished in the flames with the greatest part of its Company and Mariners before she could be succoured or relieved On the ninth of the moneth of September ensuing General Venables likewise returned from the Indies in the Frigot called the Marston-moor in so weak and dejected a condition that he was even at deaths door and nothing save the change of Air could possibly have saved him Mean while the sympathy which all great and couragious persons seem to have for each other begat a desire in his late Highness to be in amity with the King of Sweden and likewise the King of Sweden on the other side coveted the same thing so that the noble Lord Bulstrode Whitlock one of Englands Worthies having scarce his like for profound Knowledge and Sagacity after he had resided for the space of eight Moneths in Sweden terminated his Embassy by a compleat Peace and glorious Alliance which he had concluded between that Crown and England and returned himself to bring the good tydings thereof Now for the preservation of the Peace of this Commonwealth his late Highness constituted several Major-Generals in the respective Counties thereof whose Names are as followeth viz. 1. For Kent and Surrey Collonel Kelsey 2. For Sussex Hamshire and Barkeshire Collonel Goff 3. For Glocestershire Wilts Dorset Somerset Devon and Cornwal General Desborow 4. For Oxfordshire Bucks Hertford Cambridge Isle of Ely Essex Norfolk and Suffolk the Lord Deputy Fleetwood 5. For the City of London Major General Skippon 6. For Lincolnshire Nottingham Derby Warwick and Leicestershire Commislary General Whaley 7. For Northamptonshire Bedford Rutland and Huntington Major Butler 8. For Worcester Hereford Salop and North-Wales Collonel Berry 9. For Cheshire Lancashire and Staffordshire Collonel Wortley 10. For Yorkeshire Durham Cumberland VVestmerland and Northumberland the Lord Lambert 11. For VVestminster and Middlesex the Lieuetenant of the Tower At this time France on her side being jealous of the several applications profers and propositions which the Spaniards made unto England to beget an alliance with us began to be sensible that it was high time to think upon her own preservation her navigation being quite ruined her subjects divided by Civil Wars and intestine troubles and her forreign Enemies as powerful as ever resolved at length to make an address to his late Highness for an Alliance of Peace Besides that his late Highness harboured a natural aversness and hatred against the Spaniards who time out of minde have alwayes been the implacable and cruel Enemies of England as well as of all mankinde besides and who under a fair pretence of Religion and Amity endeavour to withdraw the Subjects of their Allyes and make them swerve from their Allegiance and Fidelity either by the powerful operations of money gifts and such like other bewitching inducements rendring themselves the Masters of the peoples inclinations when by their Valour they cannot overcome them in Battel nor by force of Arms gain their Towns or Fortresses But his late Highness open vertue and magnanimous courage disdaining any Commerce with this kinde of insinuating and entreaguing Nation the Lion being too noble to enter into association and communication with the Fox The French policy did better jump with his humor and their manner in vanquishing their Enemies in a pitch'd Battel and forcing them upon the very Ramparts of their Fortresses did better please and second his War-like vertue and by whose good intelligence and communication the English growing discipline could not choose but attain to a rare perfection whereas the Spaniards might happily have poysoned them by their Wiles and Subilties and have corrupted them by their Hipocritical false Alloy and Mettal Besides that the Liberty which is granted by the French to those who are of a different opinion in the points of Religion was a great inducement to move his Highness rather to incline to a peace with that Nation since himself was ever so tender in matters of Religion as that he believed it did onely belong to the Almighty to force the Consciences of Men at least to enlighten and inspire them by his Graces which are onely capable to convince our reason Finally The Articles of peace with France which were so much traversed by the Spanish Faction were concluded and signed by such Commissioners as his late Highness had thereunto deputed and on the other part by his excellency the Lord Bourdeaux Ambassador of France and on the eight and twentieth day of the moneth of November next ensuing the publication of the said Treaty was proclaimed first at White-hall by the Heralds of Arms the sound of Trumpets and other formalities accustomed on the like occasions afterwards in the Palace-yard at Westminster and in the other usual places in the City of London where such like Proclamations are made and on the self-same day it was also published at Paris with a general applause and joy at least of the Merchants who by the preceding misunderstanding between England and France were quite ruined and who by this conclusion of peace found not onely the Seas open and free for them to trade in but that the English of their worst Enemies became their best friends by causing a bundance to reign in their Rivers and Territories and by begetting an assured Commerce and Navigation in all those Seas wherein the Navigation extended it self Nor was the Lord Major of the City of Paris less glad then the poor Citizens who all of them witnessed an equal joy and allacrity finding themselves indulged by this Treaty of peace from breaking their Ember-weeks their Lent and Fasting dayes as they call them since they would otherwise have been constrained by reason of the excessive rates which fish butter and cheese and such other small ratable wares were grown to to have kept more fasting dayes then the Roman Kallendar doth enjoyn them which would have been a double Penance and an intollerable mortification From all which they were freed by this happy Peace and in acknowledgement whereof the Guns and Chambers from the Market-place and Town-House called the Greve as well as those from the Bastile or Tower ecchoed forth the joy which the Monsieurs conceived of this forerunner of the peace and tranquillity which they
this so eminent a charge as that envy it self is constrained to confess that his Fathers wisdome could not have made a better choice Much about this time the Officers at Mardike in whose breasts the rigour of the winter did onely excite the heat of those designs which they had conceived in their souls being desirous to imploy part of that unprofitable season to concourse and consult that Oracle of Prudence who by the conduct of their Heroick Projects did inspire into them the vertue and efficacy to compass their designs and to surmount even the greatest difficulties Sir John Reynolds I say Commander in chief Collonel White and some other Officers being impatient to enjoy the happiness of seeing and consulting his Highness embarqued at Mardike for England but the mischance was that being assailed by a tempest they were unfortunately cast away upon the Goodwin Sands and so frustrated all the world of the expectations of those fair hopes which were conceived of their valours and of so fortunate beginnings On the fourth day of the moneth of February then next ensuing his late Highness repaired to the Lords House then in Parliament and having sent notice thereof to the House of Commons by the Keeper of the Black-Rod the Speaker with the Members came to the Lords House where standing without the Bar and his Highness within under a Cloath of State being animated with his wonted vigour and resolution succinctly told them without many preambles That it concerned his Interest as much as the publike Peace and Tranquility to terminate this Parliament so that he was come thither to dissolve the same which was also immediately performed On the twelfth day of the moneth of March ensuing his late Highness being desirous to oblige the City of London in a particular manner and at the same time to witness unto them the care he took for their preservation and tranquillity he sent for the Lord Major the Aldermen and the other Magistrates of the City and having made them sensible of his tenderness and care for their good he also represented unto them that during the Calm Tempests were most of all to be apprehended so that at such times the requisite Orders and necessary preventions to resist Troubles were to be chiefly minded For to this knowing and vigilant Spirit to whom nothing was dark or hid this penetrating Light who could pry even into mens hearts and who from out of his Cabinet could discover the most secret Plots which were hatching throughout all Europe declared unto them That the Enemies both of the State and of their City did not sleep although it seemed they were quite lulled That their City was great and vaste and like unto a corpulent Body nourished several ill humours That he requested them for their own goods to have a special care and to bear a watchful eye That he relied much upon their Vigilancy and Affection and that all he could contribute thereunto on his behalf was to re-establish the City Militia which had been abolished through the disorder of the foregoing Wars and to desire them to appoint for their Officers persons of Honour and Probity well-wishers and friends to the peace and quietness of the State and publique Good Whereupon the Lord Major and Officers having returned thanks to his Highness for so signal a Mark of his confidence and goodness towards them proceeded to settle the Militia and repayed him with all the Obedience and Fidelity which a Magnanimous Prince could expect from Subjects who were well versed in the duties they owed to a Governour who had rid them of a world of miseries and delivered them from the burthen of a Civil War Nor was this precaution or forewarning of his late Highness without some grounds or foundation for on the twenty fourth of the said Moneth the quiet Serpent which hatched its poison under the green grass unawares let slip a Hiss whereupon an exact search was made throughout all London and Westminster for suspected persons divers of which were secured and imprisoned His late Highness knowing full well that States are maintained as well by Justice as by force of Arms and that those chiefly stand in need of both which through the divisions of Mens mindes touching Spiritual concernments seem to be in a continual apprehension of those revolutions which at all times have been caused in the World by the means of these diversities of opinions His Highness I say through the cause of these apprehensions and the discoveries which were already made as aforesaid caused a High Court of Justice to be erected according as it had been decreed by an Act of Parliament and settled under the great Seal of England and truly it was high time for the Swords of Justice to appear to chastise the Conspirators since the sparkles of their fury had spread themselves abroad through its veil rather by their immoderate heat then their sad looks several persons of quality were imprisoned in the Tower of London and within few dayes afterwards just like unto a River which is ready to disgorge it self into the Sea appears great and violent at its entrance so also the Conspiracy being just ready to break forth appeared the more formidable and assured there were whole Regiments enrolled and in the midnight of May-day they should have set fire on several parts of the City and whilest the confusion and horror thereof had seized all men they should have made a general Massacre of all those who would have opposed their fury His Highness like unto the Sun elevated up to the highest Heaven peirced through all those other Sphears which were darkned to all other Lights but his and dissipated those Fogs and Mists which the darkness of the Furies had spread over the City of London for on the morning of that fatal intended day the Guards were doubled both within and without the City and about five of the Clock in the Evening both Horse and Foot were drawn up in Arms the City Militia likewise keeping strong Guards all that night to prevent and hinder so sad and horrid an attempt Mean while all care was taken to discover the Firebrands before they could enter upon their exploit and as Enterprizes wherein so many persons are engaged cannot remain very secret or hidden about seven of the Clock that Evening about forty of the Conspirators were taken and carried to White-Hall and on the day following several others of all kindes and conditions were also apprehended as Gentlemen Merchants Souldiers and the like many of which were condemned to dye as Traytors but his late Highness was so merciful to pardon the most part of them to the end that like unto a second Augustus he might gain by his Clemency those hearts which would not be mollified by the horror of the undertakings nor the rigour and severity of the punishments On the second day of the moneth of June then next ensuing there arrived a strange accident on
concerning the Government of his Estates and touching the interests of other Princes as without the entring into their Cabinets or partaking of their Counsels he discoursed very pertinently of their Affairs and foretold their several issues and events He likewise was an excellent Phisionomer and having once seriously considered any one he was seldome deceived in the opinion he conceived of him He married into the ancient and noble family of the Bourchers whence the Earls of Essex were descended his marriage bed was blessed with many Children none of which did ever degenerate from the eminent vertues of their most Illustrious Father His eldest son named Ricard hath succeeded him in the Protectorship his younger son named Henry being at this time Lord Lieutenant of Ireland both of them capable to follow their Fathers glorious footsteps and to perfect and crown such hopeful promising though difficult beginnings their Father having as it were divided shared and left by inheritance unto their youth swelling with marvellous hopes that most exquisite Quintessence of two great Talents which he had acquired by his age and by his experience so that the one of his sons may be stiled the Jupiter and the other the Mars of England He had four Daughters all of them Ladies of a most eminent and vertuous disposition The Lady Bridget first married unto the Lord Ireton in his life time Lord Deputy of Ireland a Personage of sublime worth and afterwards espoused unto the Lord Fleetwood sometimes Lord Deputy of Ireland and at present Lieutenant General of all his Highness Forces The Lady Elizabeth his second Daughter married unto the Lord Cleypoll and dyed a little before her Father of whom we shall speak hereafter The third the Lady Mary espoused unto the Lord Viscount Faulconbridge And the youngest the Lady Frances at present widow of the Lord Robert Rich Grandchilde to the late Earl of Warwick Nor did the change of his late Highness Fortunes in the least decline or diminish the tenderness and affection which he ever bare towards the worthy Mother of so numerous and hopeful an issue and that absolute power which he had over all his Dominions never gave him the least desire to captivate any heart save that which God had given him in marriage And that which is the most to be admired at and seems to be the summe of all bliss is that the Almighty lent his late Highness so much life as to see all his Children disposed to the most gallant personages and allied to the most Illustrious Families of England which are as so many props of his Fortune and Fences against the enviers of his Vertue He was an enemy to vain gloriousness ostentation and although he was all as it were fire that is of a passionate constitution yet he had so overcome his passions that he was seldome or never moved but when there was a great cause given so likewise was he more subject to repress and keep in then to give way to his passion The actions of his body denoted those of his minde his actions were in a manner without motion and without any forcings of the body in like manner his minde was not at all agitated nor his expressions precipitated sweetness and tranquillity accompanied his thoughts and his words but when there was occasion to carry a business he expressed himself with so much vigour as gave to understand that he was not easily to be disswaded from the thing he had once resolved In like manner during the whole course of the War he never harboured the least thought of changing of parties And as for Ambition which is the onely passion whereof envy it self seems to accuse him the effects thereof were so inconfiderable and unnecessary unto him nay so unpleasing and unwelcome and which is more he so often refused the pomps delights and grandours which were profered him that all the world must needs confess that where Nature could claim so small an interest the master and directer of Nature must needs have had a great share Wherefore we may aver with a great deal of reason That in case he hath hoorded and laid up Treasures it hath been in the Intrals of the Poor of all Sexes and of all Nations of all Professions and Religions both at home and abroad insomuch that it hath been computed that out of his own private instinct particular Motions and pious Compassion he distributed at least forty thousand pounds a year in Charitable Uses out of his own purse out of such Moneys as the Commonwealth did allow him for his Domestique Expences and for the maintenance of his State and the Dignity of his Person Family and the keeping up the splendour of his Court. And the better to illustrate this matter we shall insert an Essay of two examples of Generosity and Gratitude which are not to be parallel'd save in the persons of Thomas Lord Cromwell his late Highness's predecessor in Henry the Eighth's Reign and in the person of his late Highness Oliver Lord Protector In those glorious dayes when the English young Gentry endeavored to out-vie their elder Brothers by undertaking far and dangerous journies into Forreign parts to acquire glory by feats of Arms and experiencing themselves in the Military Discipline Thomas Cromwel a younger Brother to better his knowledge in Warlike Affairs passed into France and there trailed a Pike accompanying the French Forces into Italy where they were defeated at Gattellion whereupon our English Volantier betook himself to Florence designing to pass thence home again into England but having loft all his equipage and being in a necessitated condition he was enforced to address himself to one Signior Francisco Frescobald an Italian Merchant who corresponded at London and making his case known unto him Frescobald observing something remarkable and a certain promising greatness in the Features Actions and Deportment of Thomas Cromwel who gave an account of himself with so candid an ingenuity and in such terms as beseemed his Birth and the Profession he then was of whereby he gained so much upon Frescobald as inviting him home to his house he caused him to be accommodated with new Linnen and Clothes and other sutable necessaries kindly entertaining him till such time as he testified a desire to return for England when as to compleat his Generosity and Kindeness he gave Mr. Thomas Cromwell a Horse and sixteen Duccats in gold to prosecute his journey homewards In process of time several disasters and Bankrupts befalling Signior Frescobald his Trading and Credit was not a little thereby impaired and reflecting on the Moneys which were due unto him by his Correspondents in England to the value of 15000. Duccats he resolved to pass thither and try whether he could happily procure payment During which interval of time Mr. Thomas Cromwell being a person endowed with a great deal of Courage of a transcendent Wit hardy in his undertakings and a great Politician had by these his good qualities gotten himself
entrance and credit at Court and highly ingratiated himself with King Henry the Eighth having advanced himself to almost as high a pitch of Honour in as short a time in a manner as his late Highness did The Lord Thomas Cromwell therefore riding one day with a great train of Noble Men towards the Kings Palace chanced to espy on foot in the streets Signior Frescobald the Italian Merchant in an ill plight however he immediately alighting from his Horse embraced him before all the world to the great astonishment of the beholders and chid him that at his very arrival he came not to visit him Frescobald being astonished at so unexpected an encounter and receiving so signal a favor from a personage he could not call to minde he had ever known was quite surprized and my Lord Cromwells pressing affairs at Court not permitting him the while to acquaint him further who he was onely engaged him to come and dine with him that day Frescobald full of amazement enquired of the attendants who that great personage might be And hearing his name he began to call the Feature of his Face and the Idea of his Person to mind and so by degrees conceiving with himself it might happily be the same Mr. Thomas Cromwell whom he had harboured at Florence he enquired out his Lordships habitation and attended his coming at Noon-tide walking in his Court-yard No sooner was the Lord Thomas Cromwel entred the same attended by several persons of quality and officers of the Crown but speedily alighting from his Horse he embraced his friend Frescobald in the same manner he had done in the morning and perceiving that the Lords which accompanied him were amazed at such a disproportioned familiarity he told them that he was more obliged to Frescobald then to all the men in the world owing unto him the making of his Fortune and so proceeded to relate unto them the whole story which had befallen him at Florence So great a delight do generous mindes take to recount their foregoing Misfortunes when their Grandor hath elevated them to such a pitch as that they triumph over Shame and are incapable of Ingratitude Frescobald was treated at Dinner with all the tenderness he could expect from so great a personage and so good a friend after which being carried up by the Lord T. Cromwel into his Closet he was there presented with four bags of Gold each containing four hundred Duccats in return of his former civilities which Frescobald being of a gallant spirit at first refused but after several contestations was constrained to accept as an acknowledgement from the Lord Cromwell who moreover enquiring of him concerning his coming over and affairs in England and understanding his Losses and that there were Moneys due to him caused him to write down his Debters names and by his Secretary summoned the several Merchants which were indebted to Frescobald upon pain of his displeasure to clear their Accounts with him and to pay him within the space of fifteen days which was accordingly performed onely Frescobald freely forgave them the Use Over and above all which the Lord Thomas Cromwell endeavoured to perswade his friend Frescobald to have remained in England the rest of his Dayes profering to lend him a stock of 60000. Duccats to trade withall But Frescobald being over-charged with all those grand obligations which the Lord Cromwell had conferred on him having by his Lordships Generosity acquired enough to keep him from being necessitated all his life time and deeming that the trading in good Works was incomparably more sure and gainful then in the richest Wares and Merchandizes being resolved to quit Trading and to end the rest of his dayes peaceably and quietly he obtained leave of the Lord Thomas Cromwell to depart towards his own Countrey freighted with so great obligations as caused in him a generous shame But the Almighty doth not alwayes recompense the fruits of good Works here on Earth often repaying the greatest with the least rewards and Heaven delights in the exercising of its great Vertues by the Vices which are thereunto opposite and as the most noblest Creatures are the slowest in the attaining to their perfections so the Almighty doth not immediately cause those Fruits to ripen which are sowed here below by Christian Charity Wherefore to return to the Lord Thomas Cromwell who had made the Match between Anne of Cleve and King Henry the Eighth you shall see how he was rewarded for his Generosity and good Services for this Princess Anne of Cleve conceiving a certain womanish Jealousie she knew not why nor wherefore against the Lord Thomas Cromwell save onely that she apprehended he had too great a power and sway with the King never left off solliciting and importuning of him till he caused the Lord Thomas Cromwell to be beheaded by which sad compliance the King lost the best Supporter of his Crown and the faithfullest of his Servants and Subjects The Lord Thomas Cromwell dyed without Heir Males leavingone onely Daughter espoused to one Mr. Williams a Gentleman of Glamorganshire of a good Family who as we have before said inherited little of his Father save his Vertues besides what his own Deserts had procured him and what he might promise himself by the Match with this Heiress the Lord Thomas Cromwels Daughter from whence our Lord Protectors are lineally descended and who was the lively representative of her Father and the very pourtraiture of his great soul as the Lady Cleypool was of his late Highness the Lord Protector Now that you may know on what occasion the Name of Williams came to be changed into that of Cromwell it happened when as King Henry the Eighth was in the midst of his Splendor Pomp and Magnificence wallowing in the pleasures of a sumptuous Entertainment at Court Mr. Williams who had been a retainer to the late Lord Thomas Cromwell made his appearance before the King in deep Mourning like a dark Cloud eclipsing the Sun at Noon-tide The King casting his eye upon so unexpected and dismal an Object which seemed to reproach his rash fault was surprized and offended at the interrupting of his Pleasures by Williams so unseasonable apparition wherefore the King asked him how he durst appear at Court in that garb whereunto Williams replied with a sad but assured countenance That not onely himself but the King and all the Court had reason to mourn for the loss of the greatest and faithfullest of his Subjects and Servants whose Death himself might one day chance to regret when he should stand in need of his Councels and Fidelity But the King whose thoughts were at that time taken up with his Pastimes wished Williams to be gone and to get himself cured of his Frenetick Mallady Some while after troubles arising and the King finding himself in a strait for want of so faithful a Minister of State as the late Lord Thomas Cromwel was whose life he had so inconsiderately taken away began to
Letters the most exquisite that are in any Language by Mr. Robert Lovedey who was the late admired Translator of the Volumes of the famed Romance Cleopatra Published by his dear Brother Mr. A. L. 15. The so long expected Work the New World of English Words or a general Dictionary containing the Terms Etymologies Definitions and perfect Interpretations of the proper signification of hard English words throughout the Arts and Sciences Liberal or Mechanick as also other subjects that are useful or appertain to the Language of our Nation to which is added the signification of Proper Names Mythology and Poetical Fictions Historical Relations Geographical Descriptions of the Countreys and Cities of the World especially of these three Nations wherein their chiefest Antiquities Battels and other most memorable Passages are mentioned by E. P. 16 A learned Comentary on Psalm the fifteenth by that Reverend and Eminent Divine Mr. Christopher Cartwright Minister of the Gospel in York to which is prefixed a brief account to the Authors life and of his Work by R. Bolton 17. The way to Bliss in three Books being a learned Treatise of the Philosophers Stone made publique by Elias Ashmole Esq 18. Wit restored in several Select Poems not formerly publisht by Sir John Mennis Mr. Smith and others 19. The Modern Assurancer the Clerks Directory containing the Practick Part of the Law in the exact Forms and Draughts of all manner of Presidents for Bargains and Sales Grants Feoffements Bonds Bills Conditions Covenants Jointures Indentures c. And all other Instruments and Assurances now in use by John Hern. 20. Naps upon Parnassus A sleepy Muse nipt and pincht though not awakened Such voluntary and Jovial Coppies of Verses as were lately received from some of the WITS of the Universities in a Frolick dedicated to Gondibert's Mistress by Captain Jones and others c. 21. The compleat Midwife's Practice in the high and weighty Concerments of Mankinde the second Edition corrected and enlarged with a full Supply of such most useful and admirable Secrets which Mr. Nicholas Culpeper in his brief Treatise and other English Writers in the Art of Midwifry have hitherto wilfully passed by kept cose to themselves or wholly omitted by T. Chamberlaine M. P. 22. America Painted to the Life the History of the Conquest and first Original undertakings of the advancement of the Plantations in those Parts with an exquisite Map by F. Gorges Esquire 23. Culpeper's School of Physick or the Experimental Practice of the whole Art so reduced either into Aphorismes or choice and tried Receipts that the free-born Students of the three Kingdoms may in this Method finde perfect wayes for the operation of such Medicines so astrologically and Physically prescribed as that they may themselves be competent judges of the Cures of their Patients by N. C. 24. Blagrave's admirable Ephemerides for the Year 1659. 25. History and Policy Reviewed in the Heroick transactions of his most Serene Highness Oliver late Lord Protector declaring his steps to Princely Perfection drawn in lively Parallels to the Ascents of the great Patriarch Moses to the height of 30 degrees of Honor by H. D. Esq 26. J. Cleaveland Revived Poems Orations Epistles and other of his Genuine Incomparable Pieces never before Publisht 27. England's Worthies Select Lives of the most eminent Persons of the three Nations from Constantine the Great to these times by W. Winstanly 28. The History of the Life and Death of his most Serene Highness Oliver late Lord Protector Wherein from his Cradle to his Tomb are impartially transmitted to Posterity the most weighty Transactions forreign or Domestique that have happened in his Time either in Matters of Law Proceedings in Parliaments or others Affairs in Church or State by S. Carrington 29. The right Lozenges publickly sold by Edmund Buckworth in St. Katherines Court for Coughs and Consumption of the Lungs c. are to be had at Nath. Brook's and John Grismond's in Ivy-lane and at no other place FINIS His Highness Birth and Parentage Lingua the Combate of the Sences His excellent qualifications The first Engagement The Treasure of the University sailed on A remarkable expedition The Battell of Marston Moor. His Highness admirable management of the Bartell at Nazeby The Victory of Preston in Lancashire The Monarchiall Government changed into a Common Wealth Forces sent into Ireland General Cromwell goes for Ireland and arrives there in August 1649. Drogedah in Ireland besieged The Common-wealth prepares to war against the Scots His late Highness made Generalissimo of the Common-wealths Armies A Manifest concerning the Scotch warre The Bâ—â—…teâ—… of Dunia gainte by the English Lieth taken Edinborâ—ugh taken The besieging of Edinborough Castle The good successe of the Naval Forces under General Blake Prince Ruperts Fleet ruined A Declaration for the security of the Soldiers The reducing the Isle of Scilly Blacknâ—sse taken by Coloâ—el Monk The Scots unitâ— A Plot discovered Major General Harrison sent to the North. Mr. Love Gibbons beheaded The Scotch army compleated refuse to fight Colonel Overton passes into Fife Major General Lambert passes into Fife 4000 Scots defeated by the English Brunt Isleland surrendred St. Johns Town surrendred The Scots enter England by Carlisle The English follow Colonel Monk with 7000 men reduceth all Scotland The Earle of Darby defeated Worcester Fight The Scots defeated at Worcester The remaining Nobility of Scotland seised and sent into England The Isle of Jersey attempted Jersey and all the Castles taken The Isle of Man attempted and reduced Guernsâ—y Castle surrendred The death of two famous Persons in England An Act of Parliament concerning the Importation and exportation of Goods Merchandises A Rupture with Holland caused The first Sea-fight with the Hollander May 52. Open War with Holland The Hollanders Fishermen destroyed in the North. A Holland Fleet destroyed by Sir Geo. Askue The Plimouth fight with the Dutch Six Hollanders Ships taken by Gen. Blake Six more taken by Captain Penne. A French Fleet taken by Gen. Blake The Kentish Knock a fight with the Hollanders Two Ambassadors arrive in England Severall passages between the English the Danes The Antelope Frigate lost 20 Holland Barques and 2 Men of War taken Another Sea Fight betwixt the English the Hollander in December A Fight between the English and the Hollander near the Isle of Wight Portland The Phenix regained A second Sea-fight in the Levant between the English and the Dutch A Portugal Ambassadour obtains Peace French Deputations sent to England Deputations concerning a peace with Holland The â—…ong Parliament dissolved The Lord General Cromwel and his Councells Manifest for the dissolving the Parliament A Declaration for settling a Councel of State A Fight between the English and the Dutch on the North Foreland The Dutch worsted and many Ships taken The Hollanders pursued and blocked up in their own Ports A Parliament called by General Cromwel The Generals Speech to the Members The Instrument of Government delivered to the
Chair appointed for the Speaker of the Parliament On each side of the Hall upon the said Structure there were seats raised one above each other and decently covered for the Members of the Parliament and below them there were Seats made for the Judges of the Land on the one side and for the Aldermen of the City on the other side About two of the Clock in the afternoon his Highness met the Parliament in the Painted Chamber and passed such Bills as were presented to him after which they went in order to the place appointed in Westminster-Hall his Highness being entred on the place and standing under the Cloath of State Mr. Speaker did in the Name of the Parliament present several things which lay ready on the Table unto his Highness viz. A Robe of Purple Velvet lined with Ermines being the habit anciently used at the solemn Investure of Princes next a large Bible richly Gilt and Bossed and lastly a Scepter of massie Gold which being thus presented Mr. Speaker came from his Chair took the Robe and therewith vested his Highness being assisted by the Earl of Warwick the Lord Whitlock and by others which being done the Bible was delivered to his Highness after which Mr. Speaker girt about him the Sword and finally delivered his Highness the Scepter which being thus performed Mr. Speaker returned to his Chair and administred the Oath to his Highness which had been prepared by the Parliament for him to take His Highness standing thus adorned in Princely State Mr. Manton by prayer recommended his Highness Forces by Sea and Land the whole Government and People of these Nations to the blessing and protection of God Almighty After which the people gave several shouts and the Trumpets sounding his Highness sate down in the Chair of State holding the Scepter in his hand and whilst his Highness thus sate a Herald of Arms stood aloft making a signal to a Trumpet to sound three times after which by direction and Authority of Parliament he did there publish and proclaim his Highness Oliver Lord Cromwel Lord Protector of England Scotland and Ireland and the Dominions thereto belonging Hereupon the Trumpets ' sounded again and the People gave several Acclamations with loud shouts crying God save the Lord Protector After a little pause the Ceremony being ended his Highness saluting the Ambassadors and publick Ministers proceeded thence in his Princely Habit the Train whereof was borne up by six noble persons and passed through the Hall into the Palace-yard the Earl of Warwick carrying the sword before him where his Highness entred into his Coach attended by his Life-guards and Halberdeirs the Officers of State the Lord Major and Aldermen all which waited on his Highness back to White-Hall the whole Ceremony having been managed with State and Magnificence suitable to so high and happy a Solemnity But to return to our History again toward the end of the Summer therefore the united Forces of England and France took the Fort of Mardike whereof Major General Morgan took possession for the English as the earnest of further Conquests The Spaniard hereupon conceived all the fears and jealousies which so dangerous a neighbour-hood might justly cause which obliged them in the following moneth to resolve vigorously to assault the place and to carry it by force But they were received with so much vigour by the English as that they were manfully beaten off and constrained to retire with a great loss of their men and of several Officers of note But the joy of these successes were moderated by the death of Admiral Blake a person who had so well deserved of England as that he may be justly intituled its Neptune at the same time when as his Highness was its Jupiter and Mars who caused him to be buried with all the Demonstrations of Honour due to his high demerits He came within sight of Plimouth onely to give up the Ghost and received this satisfaction at his death to have bestowed all the Moments of his life on that Element which had given him so much glory just like unto Moley Moluch that Illustrious King of Fess who at the Article of Death caused himself to be carried in a Litter into his Camp where he expired in the middle of the Battel as he was exhorting his Soldiers and gained the Victory In like manner dyed General Blake in the midst of his famous Combats and Victories regretted by all England and his late Highness who had alwayes an especial care to cause those honours to be rendred to such great persons as were due to their demerits would have him stately interred as the Earl of Essex had been before but General Blakes body was onely brought with a Naval Pomp by Water in State on the Thames from Greenwich to Westminster as being a more suitable Ceremony to his imployment and was there buried in Henry the Seventh's famous Chappel Now the Spaniards disgusted at the firme footing the English had both gotten and kept at Mardike conceiving that against the next Spring it might give them a greater in-let in Flanders deemed they had best to endeavour the driving of them thence betimes before they should be too well settled and established there they resolved to assault them again and accordingly did set upon them very vigorously and resolutely with a party very considerable commanded by the pretended Princes of England and the Marquis of Coracene but the English defended themselves so manfully and stoutly as that the Spaniards began to judge that as the French are good at taking of places so the English were constant in keeping and defending them insomuch as that my Dons were forced to return by weeping cross to Dunkirk and take their last farewell of Mardike For they might very well have perceived by the business of St. Venant that the English were as good at the one as at the other when as the Spaniards having besieged Ardres the English supposed that their advance into France was onely to retard their progress into Flanders gave so resolute an assault to St. Venant as that they carryed the place and had the sole honour of it and immediately marching towards Ardres they drove away the Spaniards then with so much courage and resolution as amazed the French Wherefore this latter part of the season having been imployed in sowing the seeds of those Laurels which they were to reap in the next years expedition in Flanders His late Highness recollected himself to establish Peace and Tranquility in England and to settle the foundation of a happy and glorious Government And deeming that he could not more justly confer the eminent dignities of the Land save upon those who together with their blood had sucked from him the seeds and buds both of Military and Politick Vertues he created his younger son the Lord Henry Cromwel Lord Deputy of Ireland who hath alwayes and doth still behave himself with so much conduct and applause in