A Further Narrative of the Passages of these times in the Common-Wealth OF ENGLAND An Act for renouncing and disanulling the pretended Title of Charls Stuart and for the taking away of the Court of Wards and Liveries the Judgment of the House of Commons pronounced by Mr. Speaker against James Naylor the Quaker WITH The Triall of Miles Sundercombe being indicted of high Treason for conspiring against the life of his Highness the Lord Protector Feb. 9. 1656. A DAY Of Publick thanksgiving for the marvellous goodnesse of God to this Nation in the Island of Teneriffe under Generall Blake and giving them great success against the Ships of the King of Spain 16. fier'd and not one of ours lost An exact relation of the manner of the solemn Investiture or happy Inauguration of his Highness the Lord Protector at Westminster June 26. 1657. With his Oath and the Oath of the privy Councell and every person who now is or hereafter shall be a Member of either House of Parliament before he sit shall from and after the first of July 1657. take the same With a particular account of the taking in of the Fort of Mardike in Flanders by Dunkirke with the names of the House of Lord And some heads of the speech made by his Highnesse to both houses Jan. 1657. Which Parliament was dissolved the 4th of Feb. 1657. Printed by M. S. for Thomas Jenner at the South entrance of the Royall Exchange AN ACT FOR Renouncing and disanulling the pretended Title of CHARLS STUART c. FOr the better establishment of the peace of this Common-Wealth of England Scotland and Ireland and the Territories and Dominions thereunto belonging and for the prevention of the designs and attempts of the enemies thereof The Knights Citizens and Burgesses in this present Parliament assembled Do in the name of all the people of this Commonwealth fully freely absolutely and for ever Disclaim and Renounce all Fealty Homage or Allegiance pretended to be due unto Charls Stuart eldest Son of the late King Charls James Stuart second Son of the said late King Henry Stuart third Son of the said late King or any other the Issue or posterity of the said late King or any person or persons pretending or which shall at any time hereafter pretend Title by from or under him them any or either of them to hold or enjoy the Crowns of England Scotland and Ireland or of either or any of them or to have the Name Title Stile or Dignity of King or Queen of Great Britain King or Queen of England Scotland and Ireland Prince of Wales Duke of Cornwal Prince of Scotland Duke of Albany Duke of Rothesay Duke of York Duke of Gloucester any or either of them or to have and enjoy the Power Government or supream Magistracy of this Commonwealth or of any part thereof or of any the Territories or Dominions thereunto belonging or to have or enjoy as King or Queen of England Scotland and Ireland or of either or any of them Prince of Wales Duke of Cornwal Duke of Albany Duke of Rothesay Duke of York Duke of Gloucester or Prince of Scotland all or any the Honors Manors Lands Tenements Possessions and Hereditaments heretofore belonging or appertaining to the said Crowns of England Scotland and Ireland or to any or either of them or to the Principalitie of Wales Dutchy of Lancaster or Cornwal or any or either of them And be it declared and Enacted by his Highness the Lord Protector and this present Parliament assembled and the Authority thereof That the said Charls Stuart James Stuart Henry Stuart and all other the Issue and Posterity of the said late King and all and every person and persons pretending or which shall or may at any time hereafter pretend Title or Claim from by or under him or them be and are and shall for ever be absolutely and utterly excluded and debarred from holding or enjoying the Crown of England Scotland and Ireland or any or either of them or any the Dominions or Territories thereunto belonging and from holding or having the Name Title Stile or Dignity of King or Queen of Great Britain King or Queen of England Scotland and Ireland or any or either of them or of any the Dominions thereunto belonging Prince of Wales Duke of Cornwal Prince of Scotland Duke of Albany Duke of Rothesay Duke of York or Duke of Gloucester and from all Title Claim or Right as King or Queen of England Scotland and Ireland or of either or any of them Prince of Wales Duke of Cornwal Duke of Albany Duke of Rothesay Duke of York Duke of Gloucester or Prince of Scotland unto all or any the Honors Manors Lands Tenements Possessions or Hereditaments heretofore at any time belonging or appertaining to the said Crowns of England Scotland and Ireland or any or either of them and also from having exercising or enjoying any Power Authority Government or Magistracy in or over this Commonwealth or any the people thereof And that all such Right Title Claim or pretence of Right Title or Claim which they or any of them at any time heretofore at present or in time to come have doe shall or may make is hereby declared and adjudged and shall for ever hereafter be adjudged and taken to be utterly void and of no effect And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid and it is enacted That if any person or persons shall endeavour or attempt by force of armes or otherwise or shall be aiding assisting comforting or abetting unto any person or persons that shall by any wayes or means whatsoever endeavour or attempt the reviving or setting up of any pretended Right Title or Claim of the said Charls Stuart James Stuart Henry Stuart or of any other the Issue or Posterity of the said late King or of any person or persons claiming under him or them to any the Offices Stile Title Dignity or Authority aforesaid or any of them or shall declare publish or any way promote such pretended Right Title or Claim or shall give or contribute any summe or summes of Money or other aid or assistance to the said Charls Stuart James and Henry any or either of them That then every such offence shall be and is hereby deemed and adjudged high Treason and all and every the Offender and Offenders therein their Counsellors Aiders and Abettors being thereof convicted within three years after such Offence committed shall be deemed and adjudged Traytors and shall suffer and have such pains of Death and forfeitures as in case of high Treason is used and ordained Hen. Scobell Clerk of the Parliament AN ACT For the taking away the Court of Wards and Liveries WHereas the four and twentieth day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred forty five the Court of Wards and Liveries and all Wardships Liveries Primer-seizins and Oustrelemaines and all other Charges incident or arising for or by reason of Wardships Livery Primer-seizin or
Oustrelemain and all Tenures by Homage and all fines Licenses Seizures and pardons for alienation and all other charges incident thereunto was by the Lords and Commons then assembled in Parliament taken away And all Tenures by Knights service either of the King or others or by Knights service or Capite or Soccage in Capite of the King were turned into free and common Soccage For the further establishing and confirming the same Be it declared and enacted by his highnesse the Lord Protector and the Parliament that the Court of Wards and Liveries and all Wardships Liveries Primer-seizins and Oustrelemaines and all other charges incident and arising for or by reason of any such Tenures Wardship Livery Primer-seizin or Oustrelemaines be taken away from the said four and twentieth day of February One thousand six hundred forty five And that all Homage Fines Licences Seisures Pardons for Alienation incident or arising for or by reason of Wardship Livery Primer-seizin or Oustrelemain and all other charges incident thereunto be likewise taken away and is hereby adjudged and declared to be taken away from the said four and twentieth day of February One thousand six hundred forty five And that all Tenures in Capite and by Knights service of the late King or any other person and all Tenures by Soccage in chiefe be taken away And all Tenures are hereby Enacted and declared to be turned into free and common Soccage from the said four and twentieth day of February One thousand six hundred forty five and shall be so construed adjudged and declared to be for ever hereafter turned into free and common Soccage Neverless It is hereby Enacted That all Rents certain and Heriots due to mean Lords or other private Persons shall be paid And that where any Relief or double ancient yearly Rent upon the death of an Ancestor was in such cases formerly due and payable a double ancient yearly Rent only in lieu thereof shall now be paid upon the death of an Ancestor as in free and common Soccage And that the same shall be recovered by the like remedy in Law as Rents and Duties in free and common Soccage Hen Scobell Clerk of the Parliament A Briefe Relation of the late dangerous Plot and traiterous Design for the destruction of his Highness Person THe Common Enemy having failed in all their former Plots and Conspiracies for the ruine of his Highness and the Government resolved it seems at last to bring about their intended Mischief by a vigorous and bloody attempt upon his person For this end and purpose they sought out and gained to themselves instruments in all points fitted for the execution of their inhumane Cruelty The principal man employed was a notable desperate fellow named Sindercomb one who heretofore had been a Quartermaster under Sir John Reynolds in the Army and was about two years agoe cashiered by Generall Monck among others in Scotland As Assistant to him in this wickednesse he associated to himself one Cecil and many others were engaged in the Businesse whom we hope time will discover in the mean time only these two persons are in custody For the carrying on their work they held correspondence with some in Flanders received directions thence from time to time and for their encouragement Don Alonso the late Ambassador of Spain in England returned them over sums of money with which they were enabled to proceed The most likely way as they conceived to accomplish the devilish purpose was to contrive some means how to dispatch his Highnesse as he should be going to Hampton Court and that they might do it with security to themselves by having an opportunity to escape after the fact committed they took a House at Hammersmith which house hath belonging to it a little banqueting room which stands upon the Road at the said Town in a narrow durty place of passage where Coaches use to goe but softly and that Room they meant to make use of by planting an Engine in it which 〈…〉 charged would have upon occasion torn away Coâ—â—â— and person in it that should pass by and they had such an Engine preparing And because it was necessary for them to have information of the times when his Highness should goe abroad to take the ayre and the places whither Sindercomb cast about in his mind which way to draw in some one person near his Highness to be a partaker in the design and acquaint them in what part of the Coach his Highness should sit going to Hampton-Court that so they might be sure not to miss him and when the execrable Deed should have been executed they intended to have made an escape For this purpose they had bought up divers of the fleetest Horses about London which they kept in that House at Hammersmith and for conveniency of escaping the House they had hired stood down at some distance from that Road and had an out-let to another Road The person whom they made sure as they thought to be their Informer touching the Out goings of his Highness was one of the life Guard who had formerly been an acquaintance of Sindercomb in the Army and they gave him ten pounds in money at first to engage him adding thereto a promise of Fifteen hundred pounds This was one way that they resolved on by making use of the place at Hammersmith But they were not negligent in seeking other opportunities besides and therefore as occasion offered many times they were wont to thrust themselves in among those that rode abroad with his Highnesse Once they thought to have don their work as his Highness was taking the air in Hide-Parke and to make way for their escape they had in one place filed off the Hinges of the Gates and rode about with the Train attending his Highness with intent then to have given him a fatall Charge if he had chanced to have galloped out any distance from the Company After severall attendances of this nature and pryings up and down having also recourse many times to White-hall and finding no occasion as yet to favour their purpose thereupon they resolved to 〈…〉 Correspondent a proof of their 〈…〉 White hall To this end they cut a hole in 〈◊〉 of the doors of the Chappel and so unbolting it they on the eighth of this moneth went in and placed the materials for firing which were discovered about nine a Clock that night for in one of the Seats was found upon the Floor a Basket filled with a strange composition of combustible stuff and two lighted matches aptly placed which matches had been rub'd over with gunpowder on purpose to keep them surely burning and by the length of them it was conceived they would have given fire to the Basket about one a clock in the morning The Basket being removed and trial made of some part of the ingredients it appeared to be most active flaming stuffe The next day the two persons being apprehended they were found to have scrued Pistols which upon tryall appear notable
instruments to do execution at a distance more then ordinary and they had also a strange sort of long Bullets in the nature of slugs contrived on purpose to rend and tear These things are made manifest not only by many particulars of discoverie but by the confession also of one of the Parties viz. Cecil who hath cast himself upon the good grace and mercy of his Highness The seveâ—â—â— Passages and proceedings at the Tryall of Miles Sindercomb alias Fish at the upper Bench Bar in Westminster-Hall on Monday February 9. 1656. before the Lord Chief Justice Glyn and Mr. Justice Warburton being indicted of high Treason for conspiring against the Life of his Highness the Lord Protector he was found guilty by the Jury and received Sentence to be hang'd drawn and quarted at Tyborn according to Law The Indictment was for High Treason to this effect viz. THat Miles Sindercomb alias Fish and one William Boyes with divers other Rebels and Traytors against the Lord Protector and Government of the Common-wealth not having the fear of God in their hearts but moved and seduced by the instigation of the Devill on the * 17 of September 1656. and divers other dayes and times as well before as after at Westminster and divers other places in the County of Middlesex falsly maliciously and trayterously did conspire compass and imagine the death of the said Lord Protector and to subvert and alter the Government of this Commonwealth and to raise Warre within the same For effecting whereof 1 They took a Room in the house of one Edward Hilton and divers Rooms in the house of one James Mydhope in Westminster whether they brought Guns Harquebusses and Pistols charged with leaden bullets and iron Sluggs to shoot kill and murder him 2. January 1. 1656. they provided Horses and Weapons of War And 3 Took a house and Banquetting house at Hammersmith of one Henry Busby for the same purpose 4 January 9. 6. 6. they conspired to burn White-hall where his Highness was in his own Person and to that end brought a basket filled with Match Brimstone Gunpowder and other combustible Stuff and materialls and set the same on fire in the Chappel there to the great danger and disquietment of his Highness and ill example of others in contempt of the Law against their due obedience to his Highness and Government against the Peace and form of the Statute c. Thus far the Indictment Whereupon being arraigned he pleaded Not Guilty and for his Tryall put himselfe upon his Country and the issue being joyned there was immediately impanelled a Jury of Gentlemen of worth and quality to passe upon his life and death he challenged severall of them and twelve being sworn with his own consent His Highnesse Attorney Generall the Indictment being opened proceeded to the Evidence which was very full and clear and two Witnesses at the least to all the points of the Indictment with many aggravating Circumstances The particulars whereof are herein after mentioned The evidence to prove the Indictment 1. THat there was one Toope of his Highnesse Lifeguard who was drawn into the businesse and he proved fully 1. What person Sindercomb is how he inveagled him the said Toope with money in hand and promises of more and great preferment to joyn with him to murther his Highnesse saying Spain could never obtain a peace with us untill he were taken out of the way 2. The circumstances of Time Place Means and manner designed for this murther 3. That he the said Toope was to give notice when his Highness went forth and at what end of the Coach he sate 4. Their buying and keeping of fleet Horses 5. Their intent to fire White-hall the Firework placed in the Chappell and other Circumstances 6. Sindercombs resolution if the fire did not take to kill the Protector what ever came of it Also one John Cecil proved the whole design of Sindercomb and Boyes how long it was in hand That Sindercomb engaged him the said Cecil in it what words were used how it should be done what the consequence of he murder would be the money provided and that when it should have been done he the said Cecil was designed to goe to Col. Sexby and to share with Sindercomb in his honor and profit That the first thing agreed on was to provide good Horses What moneys were paid by Sindercomb Sindercomb's resolution to assassinate his Highness when he went abroad and the manner how That they were upon the Road 5 or 6 times on purpose and in Hide Park with Swords and Pistolls charged and had notice given them by Toope of his Highness coming That the hinges of Hide Park Gate were fyled off in order to their escape That they took an house with a Banqueting house at Hammer smith to shoot him with Guns made on purpose to carry 10 or 12. Bullets at a time That Toops was to give notice of his Highness passing that way and at which end of the Coach he sat That he the said Cecil saw one of the Guns provided which would carry 12 Carbine bullets and a slugg He spake fully to the design of firing Whitehall described the fire work prepared and the nature and intention of it and other circumstances Moreover that Boyes assured them That when the Protector should be dispatched Forces would come from Spain and Flanders and a great part of the Fleet would fall off And that he beleeved Sexby to be the main Agent herein at Brussels He proved also the discourse Boyes had about seizing Portsmouth or some other Port in the West and of a great summe for that purpose That 30 or 40 are engaged in this design to kill the Protector and it was so ordered that not above two should know each other untill the matter should be ripe for execution And that Boyes knew the whole number He spake fully to that design to kill his Highness the first day of the Parliament and their taking houses for that purpose at Westminster and bringing Armes thither and other Circumstances That Boyes goes by severall names and in severall habits sometimes as a poor Priest in raged cloaths sometimes well Clad as a Gentleman It was further proved by the said John Cecill and Coll James Mydhope That in order to the destroying of his Highness he the said Cecil Sundercomb and Boyes took the said Mydhopes House near the Abbey at Westminster and when they took it Sundercomb called himselfe John Fish Clark to one Mr Havers a pretended Gentleman of Norfolke and Cecill went by the name of Mr Havers Coachman It was proved likewise That the first day of the Parliament after they had taken Mydhops house he being there Sundercomb and Cecil went thither to him from one Edward Hilton a Sempsters house in Kingstreet Westminster where they left a great * Trunk full of Arms brought from Flandors and carrying with them in a Violl case one Harquebuss and some Pistols charged with leaden bullets
rest were fired only two that sunke down to rights and had little but their Masts appearing above water It remained to compleat this Mercy that our own shiâ—s should come off well wherein the greatest hazzard and difficulty lay for some riding near into the shore and being sorely maimed did require to be warped off others when we came to weigh drove with the wind all the while blowing right into the bay and one of our best Frigates strook The enemy in the mean time supplyed fresh men into his Forts for those we had killed and beaten out in the heat of the Action and from them and the Castle continued plying upon us till about seven of the Clock at night every Ship and Vessell belonging to our Fleet were by the good hand of God got safe out of Command In this service we had not above fifty slain outright and one hundred and twenty wounded and the damage to our ships was such as in two days time we indifferently well repaired for present security Which we had no sooner done but the Wind veered to the Southwest which is rare among those Islands and lasted just to bring us to our former Station neer Cape Maries where we arrived the second of May following For which mercifull appearance all along with us we desire the Lord may have the praise and glory to whom only it is due And that all thar hear of it may turne and say as of a truth we have found that among the gods there is none like unto him neither are there any workes like unto his workes The Names of the Commanders of the New Spain Fleet and of the other Ships that were burnt in the Sancta Cruce Road on the 20th of April 1657. Don Diego Diagues Generall Don Josepho Sentenno Vice-Admirall Roque Gallindo Rear-Admirall Gasper Goteras in the Great Campeachan Martin De Laxando in the little Campeachan These Commanders with their Ships came from Lavela Cruce in New Spain Iohn Quintero Francisco De Estoâ—ta Pedro Fegoroa Don Francisco Velasques Pedro Oreguel Commanders of the Admirall and Vice-Admirall of Hundoras Francisco Martines Francisco De Arana Pedro Sorrilio Commander of the Ship which came from Sancto Domingo These Commanders with their Ships were in Sancta Cruce before their Fleet arrived from the Indies Gregory Gomes Francisco Marcadel Fernando Sohes An exact Relation of the manner of the Solemn Investiture or happy inauguration of his Highnesse the Lord Protector at Westminster Mr Speaker in the name of the Par presented Seuerall thinges to his Highness Viz a Robe of Purple Veluet Lined wth Ermine a Large Bible Richly Guilt Bossed Next a Sword Lastly a Septer of Massiâ— Gold and then administred the Oath to his Highnesse Iune 26 an 1â—â—â— FRiday the 26 of June 1657. being agreed upon for the Investiture of his Highness the Lord Protector and a large place being raised and prepared at the upper end of Westminster Hall for that purpose there was in the midst thereof under the great Window a rich cloth of Estate set up and under it a chair of state placed upon an ascent of two degrees covered with carpets and before it a Table with a chair appoynted for the Speaker of the Parliament and on each side of the Hall upon the said structure were seats raised one above another and decently covered for the Members of Parliament and below them seats on one side for my Lords the Judges of the Land and on the otherside for the Aldermen of the city of London About two of the clock in the Afternoon his Highnesse came from Whitehall by water and Landing at the Parliament stairs went up into the chamber called the Lords house where having retired himself a while Mr. Speaker and the members of parliament being come to the Painted Chamber his Highness attended by his Councell the Officers of State and the Judges met them and gave his consent to the Additionall and Explanatory Petition and advice of the Parliament and all such other Bills as were then presented to him From thence the Speaker with the Members of Parliament departed to the great Hall at Westminster where they seated themselves in the places provided for them His Highnesse after a short retirement in a Boom near the Painted Chamber returned into the Lords House the Lords Commissioners of the great seale the two Lords Chiefe Justices the Master of the Rolls and the Judges in the interim placing themselves on one side of the said House and the Lord Major Recorder and Aldermen of the City of London on the other From the said House his Highnesse passed towards the Hall in manner following In the first place went his Highnesse his Gentleman and other persons of quality next an Officer of Arms going before the Recorder and Aldermen of London in their Scarlets next another Officer of Arms went before Master Attorney Generall and my Lords the Judges in their Robes and Order next them Norroy King of Arms then four Searjants at Armes with their Maces going before the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury and of the Great Seale the Lord Commissioner Fiennes bearing the Seal and the Lord President of his Highnesse Councill Then came Garter principall King of Armes before the Earl of Warwick who bare the Sword before his Highnesse on whose left hand went the Lord Major of London by his Highnesse speciall favour bearing the City sword After whom came his Highnesse being attended by his Councill the Principall Secretary of State and divers of the Nobility and other persons of great quality His Highness being entred on the place and standing under the Cloth of Estate Master Speaker did in the name of the Parliament present severall things ready laid upon the Table to his Highness viz. A Robe of purple Velvet lined with Ermine being the habit anciently used at the solemn investiture of Princes Next a larg Bible richly guilt and boss'd next a Sword and lastly a Sceprer being of Massy Gold which being so presented Mr Speaker came from his Chair took the Robe and therewith vested his Highnesse being assisted therein by the Earle of Warwick the Lord Whitelock and others Which being done the Eible was delivered unto his Highnesse after that Mr Speaker girt about him the Sword and lastly delivered his Highnesse the Scepter These things being performed Mr Speaker returned unto his Chair and administred the Oath to his Highnesse prepared by the Parliament the form whereof is as followeth I Doe in the presenec and by the Name of God Almighty promise and swear that to the uttermost of my power I will uphold and maintain the True Reformed Protestant Christian Religion in the purity thereof as it is contained in the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to the uttermost of my power and understanding and encourage the Profession and Professors of the same And that to the utmost of my power I will endeavor as Chief Magistrate of these three Nations the maintenance
and preservation of 〈◊〉 and safety and just Rights and Priviledges of the People thereof And shall in all things according to our best knowledge and power govern the People of these three Nations according to Law The speech of the Lord Widdrington Speaker of the Parliament at the Investiture of his Highnesse the Lord Protector 26. June 1657. May it please your Highnesse YOu are now upon a great Theator in a large Chore of People You have the Parliament of England Scotland and Ireland before you on your right hand my Lords the Judges and on your left hand the Lord Major Aldermen and Sheriffs of London the most noble and populous City of England The Parliament with the interposition of your suffrage makes Laws and the Judges and Governours of London are the great Dispensers of those Laws to the people The occasion of this great convention and intercourse is To give an Investiture to your Highnesse in that eminent place of Lord Protestor A name you had before but it is now setled by the full and unanimous consent of the People of these three Nations assembled in Parliament You have no new name but a new date added to the Old Name The sixteenth of December is now changed to the 26 of June I am commanded by the Parliament to make oblation to your Highnesse of Four things in order to this Inauguration The First is a Robe of Purple an Embleme of Magistracy and imports righteousnesse and justice When you have put on this Vestment I may say and I hope without offence that you are a Gown man This Robe is of a mixt colour to shew the mixture of Justice and Mercy which are then most excellent when they are well tempered together Justice without mercy is Wormwood and bitternesse and Mercy without Justice is of two soft a temper for Government For a Magistrate must have two hands Plectentem Amplectentem The Next thing is a Bible a Booke that contains the holy Scriptures in which you have the honour and happinesse to be well versed This is the Book of life consisting of two Testaments the Old and New In the first we have Christum velatum Christ in Types shadows and Figures in the latter we have Christum revelatum Christ revealed This Book carries in it the Grounds of the true Christian Protestant Religion it s a Book of Books it contains in it both Precepts and Examples for good Government Alexander so highly valued the Books of his Master Aristotle and other great Princes other Books that they have laid them every night under their Pillows These are all but legends and Romances to this one Book a Book to be had alwayes in Remembrance I find it said in a part of this Book which I shall desire to read and it is this Deut. 17. And it shall be when he sitteth upon the Throne of his Kingdome that he shall write a Copy of this Law in a Book out of that which is before the Priests and the Levites And it shall be with him and he shall read therein all the days of his life that he may learn to fear the Lord God and to keep all the words of his Law and those Statutes to do them That his heart be not lifted up above his Brethren and that he turn not aside from the Commandment to the right hand or to the left to the end he may prolong his dayes in his Kingdom he and his Children in the midst of Israel The next thing that I am to offer to your Highnesse is a Scepter not unlike a Staffe for you are to be a staffe to the weak and poor It s of antient use in this kind its said in Scripture in reference to Judah the Royall Tribe That the Scepter shall not depart from Judah It was of like use in other Kingdoms and Governments Homer the Prince of the Greek Poets calls Kings and Princes Scepterbearers The last thing is a sword not a military but a civill sword a sword rather for defence then offence Not to defend your self only but others also This Sword is an embleme of Justice The noble Lord Talbot in Henry the VI Time wrote upon his Sword Ego sum Talboti propter occidendum inimicos meos This Gallant Lord was a better Souldier then a Critiek If I might presume to fix a Motto upon this Sword it should be this Ego sum Domini Protectoris ad protegendum populum meum I say this Sword is an Embleme of Justice and is to be used as King Solomon used his for the discovery of the truth in points of Justice I may say of this sword as King David said of Goliahs sword There is none like this Justice is the proper virtue of the imperiall Throne and by Justice the Thrones of Kings and Princes are established Justice is a Royal virtue which as one saith of it doth imploy the other three Cardinall virtues in her service 1. Wisdom to discern the nocent the innocent 2. Fortitude to prosecute and execute 3. Temperance so to carry Justice that passion be no ingredient and that it be without confusion or precipitation You have given ample testimony in all these particulars so that this Sword in your hand will be a right sword of justice attended with Wisdom Fortitude and Temperance When you have all these together What a comely and glorious sight is it to behold A Lord Protector in a Purple Robe with a Scepter in his hand a Sword of Justice girt about him and his eyes fixt upon the Bible Long may you prosperously enjoy them all to your own comfort and the comfort of the people of these three Nations His Highnes standing thus adorned in princely State according to his merit and dignity looking up unto the Throne of the most High who is Prince of Princes and in whom is all his confidence Mr. Manton by prayer recommended his Highnesse the Parliament the councill his Highnesse forces by Sea and Land the whole Government and People of these three Nations to the blessing and protection of God Almighty After this the people giving severall great shouts and the trumpets sounding his Highnesse sat down in the Chair of State holding the Scepter in his hand At the right Elbow by his Highnesse Chair sate his Excellency the Lord Ambassadour extraordinary of France at the left his Excellency the Lord Ambassadour extraordinary of the states Generall of the Vnited Provinces On the right side of the chair stood the Earle of Warwick bearing the Sword and on the left side the Lord Major of London with the City Sword Near to his Highnesse stood the most noble Lord the Lord Richard Cromwell his excellency the Lord Fleetwood Lord deputy of Ireland the Right honourable the Lord Cleypool Master of his Highnesse Horse his Highnesse councill and all the officers of State attending There stood also upon the lower descent near the Earle of Warwick the Lord Viscount Lisle and Generall Montague and on the
otherside the Lord Whitelock each of them bearing a drawn Sword While his Highnesse thus sate a Herald stood up aloft giving a signal to a Trumpet to sound three times after which he did by authority and direction of Parliament there publish and Proclaim his Highnesse Lord Protector of the common wealth of England Scotland and Ireland and the Dominions thereunto belonging requiring all persons to yeeld him due obedience Hereupon the Trumpets sounded and the people made several great acclamations with loud shouts God save the Lord Protector Then an officer of Armes standing upon the top of the stairs made proclamation again after the same manner which was followed with shouts and loud acclamations as before After little pause the whole Ceremony being ended his Highnesse saluting the Ambassadors and publick Ministers proceeded thence in his Princely habit the train whereof was born up by severall noble persons among whom was the Earle of Warwicks Granchilde the Lord Sherwood and the eldest Son of the Lord Roberts of Truro The Aldermen Recorder the Judges with the officers of State and the rest proceeded in the same order as they came from the house of Lords and passed through the Hall to the great Gate leading into the New Pallace Yard where his Highnesse entred into his Coach of state being in his Robes The Earl of Warwick sat in the other end of the coach and the Lord Richard Cromwel and the Lord Whitlock in one side the Lord Whitelock having one of the drawn swords in his hand On the other side sat the Lord Viscount Lisle and Generall Montague bearing the other two drawn swords in their hands The Lord Cleypool Master of the Horse led the Horse of Honour in rich Caparisons the coach was attended by his Highnesse Lifeguard and other guards with the Officers of Armes on Horseback the Officers of State Judges Lord Major and Aldermen all waiting on his Highnesse in their coaches to Whitehall the whole being managed with state and magnificence suitable to so high and happy a solemnity The Speaker with the Members of Parliament returned to the House where it was Resolved that it be recommended to his Highnesse the Lord Protector as the desire of the Parliament that his Highness will be pleased to encourage all christian endeavours for uniting the Protestant churches abroad and severall Members were appointed to present this Vote to his Highnesse WHereas the Knights Citizens and Burgesses of the parliament of England Scotland and Ireland taking into their consideration the duty incumbent upon them to provide for the future peace and settlement of the Government of these Nations according to the Laws and customes of the same by their Humble petition and advice have presented their desires into his Highnesse Oliver Lord Protector that he should by and under the name and Stile of Lord Protector of the Common-wealth of England Scotland and Ireland and the Dominions and Territories thereunto belonging Hold and Exercise the office of Chiefe Magistrate of these three nations Whereunto the Lord Protector upon due and mature consideration of the said Petition and Advice hath consented And his Highnesse the Lord Protector and the Parliament judging it necessary that publication be made of the premises have thought meet and doe hereby strictly charge and command all and every person and persons of what quality and condition soever in any of the said three Nations to take notice of the premises and to conform and submit themselves unto the Government so established And the Lord Major of the City of London and all Sheriffs Majors Bailiffs and other publick Ministers and officers whom this may concern are required to cause this proclamation together with the said Petition and Advice to be forthwith published in the City of London and the respective Counties Cities Corporations and Market Towns to the end that none may have cause to pretend ignorance in this behalf Given at Westminster June 26. 1657. Westminster June 24. A true Copy of the Oaths to be taken by his Highnesse privy Councill and the severall members of Parliament It was resolved by the Parliament That all such persons who now are or hereafter shall be of the Privy Council of his Highness or Successors before they or either of them do act as Counsellors shall respectively take an oath before persons to be authorised by his Highnesse and Successors for that purpose in the form following viz. I. A. B. Doe in the presence and by the Name of God Almighty promise and swear that to the ultermost of my power in my place I will uphold and maintain the True Reformed Protestant Christian Religion in the purity thereof as is contained in the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament and encourage the Profession and Professors of the same and that I will be true and faithfull to his highnesse the Lord Protector of the commonwealth of England Scotland and Ireland and the Dominions thereto belonging as Chief Magistrate thereof and shall not contrive design or attempt any thing against the person or lawfull authority of his said Highness and shall keep secret all matters that shall be treated of in Councill and put under secrecy and not reveale them but by command or consent of his Highnesse the Parliament or the Councill and shall in all things faithfully perform the trust committed to me as a Counseller according to the best of my understanding in order to the good Government peace and welfare of these Nations Resolved that the same Oath be taken by the Members of his Highnesse Councill of Scotland and Ireland The house resumed the debate upon the report this day made for an Oath to be taken by the Members of Parliament And it was agreed That every person who now is or hereafter shall be a Member of either house of Parliament before he sit in Parliament shall from and after the first day of July 1657. take an Oath before persons to be authorised and appointed by his Highnesse and Successors for that purpose in the form following I. A. B. Doe in the presence and by the Name of God Almighty promise and swear That to the uttermost of my power in my place I will uphold and maintain the true reformed Protestant Christian Religion in the purity thereof as it is contained in the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Tostament and encourage the profession and Professors of the same And that I will be true and faithfull to the Lord Protector of the Common wealth of England Scotland and Ireland and the Dominions and Territories thereunto belonging as Chief Magistrate thereof and shall not contrive design or attempt any thing against the person or lawfull anthority of the Lord Protector and shall endeavour as much as in me lieth as a Member of Parliament the preservation of the Rights and liberties of the people His Highnesse upon the day of his Inauguration meeting the Parliament in the painted Chamber before the Solemnity passed all such Bills as were
said He met them there in that Capacity by the Advice and Petition of this present Parliament after so much Expence of Blood and Treasure to search and try what Blessings God hath in store for these Nations That he could not but with gladnesse of heart remember and acknowledge the labor and industry that is past which hath been spent upon a Businesse worthy of the best men and the best Christians That it was not unknown unto them all what difficulties we have past through and at what we are now arived and that he hoped it might be said we have arived at what we aimed at if not at that which is much beyond our expectations That the state of this cause and the quarrel at first was the maintaining of the Liberty of these Nations our Civill liberties as men and our Spiritual liberties as Christians That it was well known the first Declaration after the Beginning of the late Warr that spake to the life was a sense held forth by the Parliament that for sometime before Designes had been laid to Innovate upon the Civil Rights of the Nations to Innovate in matter of Religion and those persons who a man would have thought should have had the least hand in medling with civill things did justifie all irregular Transastions in Pulpits Presses and otherwise which they thought would be a means to shelter them while they innovated upon us in matters of Religion also and proceeded so to Innovate as to eat out the Core and power the heart and life of all Religion by bringing on us a company of poysonous Popish Ceremonies and imposing them upon those that were call'd and accounted the Puritans of the Nation and professors of Religion among us driving them to seek their bread in a howling Wildernesse they were forced to fly into Holland New-England almost any whither to find liberty for their Consciences That if this thing hath been the state and sum of our Quarrel and of the late ten years Wars and the good hand of God hath brought this Eusinesse thus home unto us as it is stated in the Petition and Advice then that He and they have all cause to blesse God and the Nations have cause to blesse him And if the enjoyment of our present peace and other mens Mercies may be witnesses for God we feel and we see them every Day That the greatest Demonstration of his Favor and love appears to us in this that he hath given us peace and the blessings of Peace to wit the enjoyment of our Liberties civill and Spirituall That when we were plunged in the midst of our Troubles it could not before-thought that ever the people of God should have had liberty to worship God without fear of Enemies yet this is the Portion which God hath given us and he hoped we shall for ever heartily acknowledge it it being our glory that we have a free possession of the Gospel That notwithstanding this we are not without the murmurings of many people who turn all this Grace and Goodnesse into Wormwood who indeed are disappointed by the Works of God and those men are of severall ranks and conditions great ones lesser ones men of all sorts men that are of the Episcopall Spirit who gave themselves a fatall blow in this place when they would needs make a Protestation That no Laws were good which were made by this House and the House of Commons in their absence and so without injury to themselves they cut off themselves That we have now a Godly Ministry a knowing Ministry such a one as without Vanity be it spoken the World hath not the like Men knowing the things of God and able to search into the things of God by that only which can fathome those things in some measure to wit by the Spirit of God That the reason why men slip in this age is because they understand not the Works of God and consider not the operation of his hands They consider not that God resisted and brake in pieces the powers that were that men might fear him might have liberty to do and enjoy all that he had been now speaking of Thence it is that men slip and engage themselves against God and for that very cause as it is in the 28 Psalm He shall break them down and not build them up That if we would know upon what foundation we stand we should own our foundation from God he hath set us where we are he hath placed us in the enjoyment of our Civil and of our Spirituall Liberties That upon this foundation of a cause and Quarrel thus attained and wherein we are thus estated he told the Parliament he should be glad to lay his bones with theirs and would have done it with all heartinesse and cheerfulnesse in the meanest capacity that he ever yet was in to serve the Parliament His Highnesse concluded That he had been speaking of but what they had done and that if God should be pleased to make this Meeting happy upon this account They would be called the blessed of the Lord the Generations to come will blesse them c. That having some infirmities upon him he had not liberty to speak at large but had desired an honorable person present to discourse a little more particularly what might be more proper for this occasion and this meeting Which particulars were afterwards delivered in a Grave and Eloquent Speech at large by the Lord Fiennes one of the Lords Commissioners of the Great Seal Thurs Feb. 4. 1657. The House of Commons this Morning resumed the Debate touching the Appellation of the other House viz. the House of Lords betwixt ten and eleven his Highnesse came to the House of Lords and Commanded the Usher of the Blake Rod to acquaint the House of Commons that his Highnesse was come to the Lords House and there expected them the Usher of the Blake Rod being called into the House of Commons signified the same accordingly whereupon the Speaker and the whole House coming into the Lords House and standing without the Bar his Highnesse standing under the cloth of Estate made a Speech to them wherein he declared severall urgent and weighty reasons making it necessary for him in order to the Publick peace and safety so passed to an immediate dissolution of this Parliament and accordingly his Highnesse dissolved the Parliament Articles of Peace treated on by the Commissioners of the two Northern Kings of Sweden and Denmark proposed and resolved on Feb. 27. S. N. PIETATE ET CONSTANTIA XIII All the states Noble and Ignoble spirituall or Clergy and secular men are to enjoy fully their priviledges in such places which by way of satisfaction are made over whether they be in Denmark or Norway and the Crown of Sweden is rather to enlarge their priviledges then to infringe or diminish them Item they are to enioy without molestation and hindrance all such Goods which they either purchased lawfully or are fallen to them by