under 9. The chief Officers of Seate as Chancellors Keepers of the Great Seal c. to be approved of by Parliament 10. That his Highnesse would encourage a Godly Ministry in these Nations and that such as do revile or disturb them in the Worship of God may be punished according to Law and where the Laws are defective new ones to be made in that behalf 11. That the Protestant Christian Religion and no other and that a confession of Faith be agreed upon and recommended to the people of these Nations and none be permitted by words or writings to revile or repreach the said Confession of Faith c. Which he having Signed declared his acceptance in there words That he came thither that day not as to a Triumph but with the most serious thoughts that ever he had in all his life being to undertake one of the greatest burthens that ever was laid upon the back of any humane creature so that without the support of the Almighty he must sink under the weight of it to the damage and prejudice of these Nations This being so he must ask help of the Parliament and of those that fear God that by their Prayers he might receive assistance from God for nothing else could enable him to the discharge of so great a duty and trust That seeing this is but an Introduction to the carrying on of the Government of these Nations and there being many things which cannot be supplied without the assistance of the Parliament it was his duty to ask their help in them not that he doubted for the same Spirit that had led the Parliament to this would easily suggest the same to them For his part nothing would have induced him to take this unsupportable burthen to flesh and blood but that he had seen in the Parliament a great care in doing those things which might really answer the ends that were engaged for and make clearly for the Liberty of the Nations and for the Interest and preservation of all such as fear God under various forms And if these Nations be not thankful to them for their care therein it will fall as a sin on their heads Yet there are some things wanting that tend to reformation to the discountenancing vice and encouragement of virtue but he spake not this as in the least doubting their progress but as one that doth heartily desire to the end God may Crown their work that in their own time and with what speed they judge fit these things may be provided for There remained only the Solemnity of the Inauguration or Investiture which being agreed upon by the Committee and the Protector was by the Parliament appointed to be performed in Westminster-hall where at the upper end thereof there was an Ascent raised where a Chair and Canopy of State was set and a Table with another Chair for the Speaker with Seats built Scaffold-wise for the Parliament on both sides and places below for the Aldermen of London and the like All which being in a readiness the Protector came out of a Room adjoyning to the Lords House and in this order proceeded into the Hall First went his Gentlemen then a Herald next the Aldermen another Herald the Attorney General then the Judges of whom Serjeant Hill was one being made a Baron of the Exchequer June 16. then Norroy the Lord Commissioners of the Treasury and the Seal carried by Commissioner Fiennes then Garter and after him the Earl of Warwick with the Sword born before the Protector Bare headed the Lord Mayor Tichborn carrying the City Sword being the special of Coaks of the Protector by his left hand Being seated in his Chair on the left Hand whereof stood the said Titchborn and the Dutch Ambassador the French Ambassador and the Earl of Warwick on the Right next behind him stood his Sons Richard Fleetwood Cleypoole and the Privy Council upon a lower descent stood the Lord Viscount Lisle Lords Montague and Whitlock with drawn Swords Then the Speaker Sir Thomas Widdrington in the name of the Parliament presented to him a Robe of Purple-Velvet a Bible a Sword and a Scepter at the Delivery of these things the Speaker made a short Comment upon them to the Protector which he divided into four parts as followeth 1. The Robe of Purple This is an Emblem of Magistracy and imports Righteousness and Justice When you have put on this Vestment I may say you are a Gown-man This Robe is of a mixt colour to shew the mixture of Justice and Mercy Indeed a Magistrate must have two hands Plectentem amplectentem to cherish and to punish 2. The Bible it is a Book that contains the Holy Scriptures in which you have the happinesse to be well vers'd This Book of Life consists of two Testaments the Old and New the first shews Christum Velatum the second Christum Revelatum Christ vailed and revealed it is a Pook of Books and doth contain both Precepts and Examples for good Government 3. Here is a Scepter not unlike a Staff for you are to be a Staff to the weak and poor it is of ancient use in this kind It 's said in Scripture that The Scepter shall not depart from Judah It was of the like use in other Kingdoms Homer the Greek Poet calls Kings and Princes Scepter-Bearers 4. The last thing is a Sword not a Military but Civil Sword it is a Sword rather of defence then offence not to defend your self only but your people also If I might presume to fix a Motto upon this Sword as the valiant Lord Talbot had upon his it should be this Ego sum domini Protectoris ad protegendum populum meum I am the Protectors to protect my people This Speech being ended the Speaker took the Bible and gave the Protector his Oath afterwards Mr. Manton made a prayer wherein he recommended the Protector Parliament Council the Forces by Land and Sea Government and people of the three Nations to the protection of God Which being ended the Heralds by Trumpets proclaimed his Highness Protector of England Scotland and Ireland and the Dominions thereunto belonging requiring all persons to yeild him due obedience At the end of all the Protector with his Train carried by the Lord Sherrard Warwick's Nephew ahd the Lord Robert's his eldest Son returned in the same posture the Earl of Warwick sitting at one end of the Coach against him Richard his Son and Whitlock in one and the Lords Lisle and Mountague in the other Boot with Swords drawn and the Lord Claypool Master of the Horse led the Horse of Honour in rich Caparisons to White-hall The Members to the Parliament House where they prorogued their sitting to the Twentieth of January He vvas novv setled and established in his first assumed Dignity to the satisfaction of some part of the Army only Lambert vvas gravelled with that clause in it which gave the Protector power to name his Successor Whereby he savv himself deprived and frustrated
secure of his Life from the justice of some avenging hand Here he used to hunt and at the fall of a Deer where he would be sure to be present embrue his hands in the blood of it and therewith asperse and sprinkle the Attendants and sometimes to cokes the neighbouring Rusticks give them a Buck he had hunted and money to drink with it His own Diet was very spare and not so curious except in publique Treatments which were constantly given every Monday in the Week to all the Officers of the Army not below a Captain where he dined with them and shewed a hundred Antick Tricks as throwing of Cushions and putting live Coals into their Pockets and Boots A Table being likewise spread every day of the Week for such Officers as should casually come to Court and this was the greatest expence which and other charges of the Government hâ— levyed as yet by his and his Councils Ordinances which were as duâ—ly and respectfully obeyed as Acts of Parliament With these Officers while he seemed to disport himself taking off his Drink freely and opening himself every way to the most free familiarity He did meerly lye at the Catch of what should incogitantly and with such unsuspected provocation fal from their Mouths which he would be sure to record and lay up against his occasion of reducing them to the Speakers Memory who were never like to forget the prejudice and damage they had incurred by such loose Discoveries of their Minds and Inclinations He was a great Lover of Muhck and entertained the most skilfullest in that Science in his pay and Family in that like wicked Saul who when the evil Spirit was upon him thought to lay and still him with those Harmonious charms but generally he respected or at least pretended a Love to all ingenious and eximious persons in any Arts whom he procured to be sent or brought to him but the niggardliness and incompetence of his reward shewed that this was a personated Act of Greatnesse and that private Cromwell yet governed Prince Oliver Among the rest of those Virtuosi He favoured a Poet too who very elegantly sang his Marston-Moor 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but with more misfortune then others who made the Muses Slaves to his Triumphs and Pegasus to draw His Chariot He had twenty other freaks in his head for sometimes before he had half dined he would give order for a Drum to beat and call in his foot Guards like a Kennell of Hounds to snatch off the meat from his Table and see them tear it in pieces the like Joco's and Frisks he would have with other Company even with some few of the Nobility when he would not stick to tell them what Company they had lately kept when and where they had drank the Kings Health and the Royal Families bidding them when they did it again to do it more privately and this without any passion and as festivous and Drol discourse But the sad news of the Defeat at Hispaniola whence he had promised himself Mountains of Gold and Rocâ—s of Gems to the maintenance of his Mamalukes and perpetuating of the Army coming to his ears soon after the Marquiss de Leda Ambassador from the Spaniard had departed dissatisfied with the preparations here and other ill news founding in his ear that the Commonwealth Party were very active in the Army and the Royallists breeding new Designs he began to cast off the Merry Divel and act the Tyrant altogether and not without Cause For The effects of this Parliament rupture encouraged two most opposite parties to conspire against the Protector the Fifth Monarchists and Cavaliers as we must so distinguish the Royal Party upon this difference who longed for their rightful Soveraign Charles the Second the Fifth Monarchy expected King Jesus the Courtiers and those engaged by them or with them with Cromwell himself desired King Oliver and every of these manifested much impatience but none of them could attain their Wishes and when Oliver might afterwards he durst not The Protector was no way ignorant of this and therefore he resolved to deal with the weakest first which yet by underminings vvas more dangerous then the other The Army was corrupted by that Millenary Principle and that was to be purged so that as Harrison and Rich had been laid aside and not long after committed with Carew and Courtâ—ey into several remote Castles so now General Monck had order to seize Major General Overton and the Majors Bramston and Holms and other Officers and Cashier them after Fines and good Security for their Behaviour Overton was sent up to the Tower and his Regiment conferred on Colonel Morgan Colonel Okey's Regiment taken from him and given to a sure Confider and so the danger from the Army was quickly supprest Cornet but now Colonel Joyce was likewise malecontent at this change and signified so much to Cromwell's Face whom he upbraided with his own Service and his faithlessnesse but escap'd any other Censure then a bidding him be gone Cromwell well knowing him to be one of those mad men that would say or do any thing they were bid Now happened occasion or rather Cromwell made it one for him to shew his zeal to the Protestant cause and publish himself to the World the Champion or Hector thereof this was also one secret step and reach to the Crown by invaing the sacred Title of the Defender of the Faith due only to the Hereditary Soveraigns of Englandâ— Herein also he aimed as in the Proverb to hit two Birds with one stone not doubting but to find another Mine in the charitable minds and compassion of this Nation towards the parallel suffering of the old Waldenses in â—iedmont to the Irish Massacres which were set out and drest here with the greater skill of Butchery then the Actors could handâ—omly do it there and it was said the Copy was drawn from that Original Alderman Viner and Pack were made Treasurers for this money which amounted to a very large sum and reaching the full design of the Protector a small parcel whereof was now remitted to Geneva the French King having newly before accommodated the businesse the Duke refusing to admit Cromwell's Mediation There was another Artifice of the Protectors to set this businesse forward and to countenance it which was Addresses from the Army here and abroad offering their Service in this common cause of the Protestant Religion no way doubting but that God in his due time would confound those Enemies of his people as he had shewn his salvation by themselves in the same Controversie to that day A new Plot was now started and most of the Nobility and Gentlemen of England secured Sir Geoffrey Palmer Lord Willoughby of Parham Lord Lovelace Earl of Lindsey Lord Newport and Sir Richard Wingfield Lords Maynard Petre Lucas and Faulkland Sir Frederick Cornwallis c. and this done by Manning whose Villany was not yet discovered though to render a due account of him his
Cromwell in this Province which like a peice of the former Heptarchy he himself ruled and governed absolutely and pro imperio His next peice of Service was of the like nature and of the same evil Consequence to the King For divers Gentlemen of the County of Suffolk another of the associated Counties resenting this Curb upon their Allegiance and the sawcy Edicts and Commands of the Committees which were made up of the meanest of the Gentry and Burgesses of the Towns designed together to free themselves and their Country from the yoake of these new Lords the chief of these Gentlemen were Sir John Peâ—tus Sir Edw. Barker c. who having in order to their Conjuncture rendezvouzed at Lowerstofe in that County were by the preventing diligence of Cromwell seized and secured and thereby such a Break-neck given to any future Royal undertakings in those parts the rendition of Lyn Regis which then held for the King soon after following this defeat and disappointment that throughout the whole course of the War there happened not any the least Commotion in favour of His Majesties Arms either by supply assistance or diversion Things being thus quieted thereabouts and disposed to the Interest of the Juncto there remained after the military part a Scholastical labour for this Parliamentary Hercules the zealons cleansing of the University of Cambridge the Parent of this Viper who just before his infectious production into the main Army whither he was now designed did miserably exenterate her leaving her a sad and doleful Skeleton deprived of so many learned and religious persons whose only charge was that they adhered to the Dictates of their Conscience and the Obligations of those Oaths which just Authority had enjoyned against the novel and illegal Commands and Covenants forcibly imposed and obtruded on them In this destructive work his module and method of Ambition Cromwell was mainly and chiefly active as also against the Orthodox and Protestant Ministry and their Churches defacing all the Ornaments and Beauty thereof leaving them the ruinous Spectacle of his Reformation And from this Employment now finished he was Commissioned Lieutenant General to the Earl of Manchester who had the separate command in a distinct Supremacy of these associated Counties and was designed to march Northwards with those Forces and joyn with the Scots newly entred England and the Lord Fairfax against the Marquiss of Newcastle who was General for the King in those parts and yet ballanced the Fortune of War against that potent Scotch Invasion but upon the conjuncture and addition of the Earl of Manchester's fresh and well disciplined and armed forces the said Marquiss was constrained to quit the field and distribute his Army into the Garrisons he himself shutting up the best part of it in the City of York which the Confederates presently besieged and made several venturous attempts wherein Cromwell was none of the backwardest though always repulsed with losse and considerable slaughter The importance of this place and juncture of time which either won or lost the North to the King who had newly had great successe in the West by the defeating of the Earl of Essex at Lestithiel in Cornwall caused him to send away Prince Rupert as Generalissimo with a very potent Army to raise that Siege and fight the Enemy if he found occasion The Prince accordingly advanced and upon his approach the Confederates drew off from their Leagure affording the Garrison liberty to joyn with their friends when it was resolved by the Prince without any delay to give Battel though the Marquiss knowing what hazzard the Kings Interest and his own and all the Loyal parties Estates would thereby be put to did very much diswade the suddennesse of the Encounter which notwithstanding ensued on the Evening of the same day July 2. On Marston-Moor within Three miles of York and lasted till Night It will be tedious and beside our purpose to relate the whole order and manner of the Battell further then this that the Scots and my Lord Fairfaxes Forces were totally routed and perâ—ued some miles out of the field and the day given for lost when Cromwell with his associated Horse most of them Curassiers in the left wing seeing this discomfiture fell on with great resolution and courage and worsted the Prince and his reserves and with the same fury fell upon the Marquisses foot whose Regiment of White-Coats and therefore called his Lambs yet stood and could not be broken till the field being almost cleared the Parliaments Infantry came up and then both horse and foot charged and broke them Cromwell here made a very great Slaughter and Carnage especially in the rout and pursuit purposely to make his name terrible this being his first and grand appearance gaining here the Title of Ironsides from the impenetrable strength of his Troops which could by no means be broken or divided The successe of this day made him indeed highly famous and his Lawrells most verdant and flourishing the Victory being principally ascribed to his courage and conduct His Cunctation and temperate delay were highly magnified and then his Resolution in the desperation of the Event extolled the firmnesse and constant equality of his mind when intrepidly and fixedly he beheld the overthrow of the grosse of their Army and thereby animated his Troops to the more vigorous recovery of the day now that the adverse fury was spent in the chase of their Fellows the Scots whom Cromwell ever afterwards though in Covenant with them most disdainfully despised but not only for this reason The Credit of this Atchievement was industriously cryed up at Westminster and all the Grandezza's of Scriptural Ovation fitted and accommodated thereto He himself with the same conquering Troops as yet in the same quality under the Earl of Manchester was remanded from the North to oppose the King then returning victorious out of the West and because the Earl of Essex had hither to been unfortunate therefore this lucky Cheiftain was added as his better Star at the second Battel of Newberry within font Months after Marston Moor and here again the Fates favoured him though not with a complete Victory yet on that side where he fought with a part of one and so much as endangered the person of the King if the noble and stout Earl of Cleveland had not hazardously interposed and bore off the pursuit This indifference of Fortune begot very great differences among the Parliament Commanders one Taxing the other of Neglect Treachery or Cowardize and by what means it could come to passe that nothing was yet effected against the King whom in the beginning of the War they had thought to have swallowed up presently Not were the divisions lesse at home then in the camp â—or now the younger Brother of the Rebellion the Independant Faction began to appear a preciser and severer sort of Zealots who thought Essex and his Army not righteous enough nor fit instruments in whose hands the work of Reformation should
from Hampton-Court which place was found to be too near to London for fear of a rescue in a dark and tempestuous night in November 1647. and forced to cast himself into the disloyal hands of Coll. Hamond Governour of the Isle of Wight and Brother to the most Learned and Reverend Dr. Hamond which consideration Cromwell forelaid would invite the King in his distresse to betake himself thither where we shall leave him in a most disconsolate Imprisonment the Votes of Non Addresses being not long after procured by Cromwell's Menaces to the Parliament when upon the Debate of them he declared in such like words That it was now expected by the good people of the Nation and the Army that the Parliament would come to some Resolution and Settlement as the Price of all the Blood and Treasure that had been expended in the War and that they would not now leave them to the expectation of any good from a Man whose heart God had hardned but if they did they should be forced to-look for their preservation some other way At the end of this Speech he laid his hand upon his Sword by his side as was the more observed because formerly in the same place it could not keep him from trembling when Sir Philip Stapleton a man of spirit and metal baffled him but Sir Philip and his seconds were now out of Dores Next to him spoke Ireton in the very same sense being newly chosen a recruit for the Parliament by their illegal writ of Election extolling and magnifying the valour civility and duty of the Army concluding with the same threats that if the Parliament would not settle the Kingdome without the King then they of necessity must and would So that after some Opposition the said votes passed against any further Addresse to be made to the King and now Oliver thought himself cock-sure and therefore the King Parliament and City being in his power he had no rub left to his Ambition but those Imps and Spirits of his own raising and conjuring up the Adjutators and Levellers of the Army who having conn'd their Lesson of the Agreement with the people were became most artful and skilful Governours already boasting in the Country many of which silly people they had induced to their side upon the accompt of laying all in common and in a wild Parity that the Parliament sate only during their pleasure and till a new Representative then a forming should take upon them the Government nor did they more dutifully respect and behave themselves to their Officers whom they counted as peices of the Prerogative Military therefore decried all Courts and Counsells of them which began to separate and act by themselves without the mixture of their Adjutators This exorbitancy and heigth of the Soldiery was altogether as destructive to Cromwell now he had done his work with them for this time as any of the other 3 Interests but desperate diseases must have desperate Cures for immediately the Headquarters being then at Ware Coll. Eyer a Leveller was seised and imprisoned and one Arnold a private Soldier shot to death for promoting the former solemn Engagement and Agreement of the People and after that He cashiered all such who favoured the same and to fan and cull out the rest he proceeded to disband 20 out of a Troop by which the most of that party were totally excluded the like was done in London by the Imprisonment of Mr. Prince and others of the same Faction Having for the present still'd that commotion in the Army the danger of a second war seemed a fresh to threaten the Juncto and Cromwell by reason of their injurious Votes of Non-Addresse and therefore to prevent so potent and formidable a Conjunction of all Interests and Parties against him He now by his Party and Emissaries proposeth an accommodation between the Presbyterians and Independents and a way and means whereby they may be so united at the motion of this in the House of Commons a Gentleman replyed That if there were any such persons who had any private Interest different from the publique and under the distinction of parties had prejudiced the Kingdome he was not fit to be a Member of that House Neverthelesse it was insisted on that the House would declare and ratifie their Votes of nulling and making void the Votes that passed in the absence of the Speakers that fled into the Army in 1647. and their Engagement of adhering to the Army which were tacitly confessed to be then unduly procured so fearful and doubtful was he again of the issue of those new Troubles he foresee would fall out and therefore would shelter himself and justifie his Actions by the Authority he had so often bafled The same Artifices he used likewise to the City offering them now upon the like condition of uniting Interests the freedome of their Lord Maior and Aldermen viz. Sir John Gayr Alderman Langham Alderman Adams and others and the setting up again their Posts and Chains but when they having already treated and engaged with the Scots then in preparation for a March into England refused to give ear to any propositions or terms resenting the base affronts He and the Army had put upon them He questioned his Argent Glover who gave him Commission to make any such Overtures and in great rage turned him out of his Service The danger still increasing he suffered the Lords as namely the Earls of Suffolk Lincoln Lord Maynard Willoughby c. whom he had impeached of High Treason after his March into London to be freed from their Imprisonment in the Tower and with them the Maior and Aldermen aforesaid and as a further satisfaction and submission to the Authority of the Parliament A Declaration of the Army is published wherein they bewail their former miscarriages and misdemeanors towards the Parliament their medling with the civil power and that force and violence they had offered to the two Houses and in Conclusion promise faithfully and dutifully to acquiesce in their Resolutions and Wisdom With this Hocus Pocus deluding the Presbyterian party into a kind of stupid neutrality or rather worse while yet they would by no means comply with the King untill Polyphemus Courtesie appeared in this Cromwellian Craft The Scots under Duke Hamilton having entred England and divers Insurrections happening in England and Wales according as was expected Cromwell was ordered by the Parliament to attend the first of them which was the Welch and Northern Armies though the Scots delayed their March so long till all was neer lost in England and after a short Siege upon the Defeat at St. Pagons which was atcheived in his absence took in Tenby-Castle Pembroke Castle held out a while longer thence he marched for Lancashire having joyned with Major General Lambert who attended the motion of the Scotch Army and at Preston his forces amounting to few more then 9000 Men whereas the Scots were not lesse then 20000 gave Duke Hamilton Battle
eight miles beyond Haddington the number of the slain vvere 40000. 9000 Prisoners many vvhereof vvere desperately wounded and 10000 Arms all their Ammunition Bag and Bagage Prisoners of Note were Sir James Lâ—sdale Lieutenant General of the Army the Lord Libberton imployed by the States to the King lately and died of his wounds presently after the fight at Dunbar Adjutant General â—ickerton Scout-master Campbel Sir William Douglass Lord Cranston and Colonel Gurden 12 Lieutenant Colonels 6 Majors 42 Captains 75 Lieutenants 17 Cornets 2 Quarter-masters 110 Ensigns Foot and Horse Colours 200. 27 Guns some Brass Iron and Leather with the loss of not above 300. English and one Major Rookisty who died after of his wounds there was likewise taken the Purse to the great Seal of Scotland which was presently sent up to London and the Colours with those taken before at Preston ordered forthwith to be hâ— up in Westminster-Hall The full Contents of all which was signified in a Letter from the General in his usual strain of devout zeal tending very much to strengthen the Independent against the Presbyterian at home and the advancement of a Common-wealth to the imitation of the rest of the World the latter part thereof for the severeâ— Aspect it had towards the Ministry in favour of Anabaptists with which the Army swarmed I have here inserted The Ministers of Scotland have hindred the passage of those things meaning his affection to the good people of Scotland to those to whom 〈◊〉 intended them and now we see that notionly the deceived people but some of the Ministers three or four are fallen in the fight This is the great hand of the Lord and worthy of the consideration of those who taking into their hands the instrument of a foolish Shepheard to wit medling with worldly policies and mixtures of earthly powers to set up that which they call the Kingdom of Christ which is neither it nor if it were it would such be found effectual to that end and neglect or trust not to the Word of God the sword of the Spirit which is alone able and powerful to that end and when trusted to will be found effectually able c. This is HUMBLY offered for their sakes who have lately turned too much aside that they might return again to Preach Jesus Christ c. and then no doubt they will deserve and find your protection and encouragement Which humble offer was to command a strict Inquisition upon them as those most probable to obstruct the new module of his future greatness The glory of this field though it were by his own party ascribed to his valour yet it laid a great blemish on his conduct and indeed the rescue of his honour is principally to be referred to Colonel Monck whose company he had obliged in this expedition being very understanding in the choice and as subtile in the shaking off his Friends and Familiars He had newly had a Regiment conferred on him made up of recruits and other imperfect companies and did now at the Generals request draw and design the fight and embattle the Army and seconded that deliberate speculation with forwardest of action for which indeed most of the Officers were very praise worthy After the fight Cromwell used some catching courtesies to the wounded Soldiers and the feebler sort of Prisoners but the poor Highlanders and such like paid dear for that partial kindness shewed their Countrymen as many as with difficulty lived being sold for slaves On the 14. of September General Cromwel marched out of Edenburgh with 7. days provision for the Scots had not left any manner of subsistance betwixt that and Sterling and on the 15. reached beyond Linlithgow but through bad weather was constrained to retreat thâ—ther that night for shelter the 16. to Falkiâ—k within a Mile of Sterling from whence fresh Letters of the old strain were sent into that City but the Trumpeter was not suffered to enter whereupon order was given for a storm but upon better thoughts of the danger forborn so that on the 19. of September they returned to Linlithgow whither came General Dean to him from Shipboard being newly arrived at Leith in the Speaker Frigot and fortified the Town being the road way betwixt Edenburgh and Sterling and a sufficient Garrison was left to maintain it and so on the 22. the English returned to Edenburgh where Coll. Whally had offered the Ministers fled to the Castle leave 〈◊〉 come out and preach in their several Parishes but they refused Another Cajole to the Kirk Cromwell encamping and traversing hereabouts with his Army but not being able to effect any thing against the main Army of the Kings that lay on Sterling-side resolved to be doing with a Patty that then lay in the West of Scotland under the Command of the Colonels Ker and Straughan with whom Cromwell had maintained an open intercourse and had proffered them a Cessation driving at this to take them off and subdivide the Nation in several parties and the effect of his Papers taxing the Scots with the admission of the King upon the old Malignant score did operate as he projected for thereupon out-comes a Declaration or Remonstrance from these Western fellows full of saucy and treasonable language which accordingly was voted both by the Commissioners of the Kirk and the Committee of Estates to be scandalous and seditious Sir James Stuart and Sir John Cheisly and one Mr. Leviston who seemed to countenance it were strictly watched and Straughan taken and made Prisoner in Dunbarton and after in Cathnes-castle whence he escaped and came over to the English at Edenburgh but 't was more the sacred hunger of Gold then zeal for Religion made him first betray his King and his Country after and we shall see all Cromwell's Proselytes of that Nation both Dundasse Warrestâ—n and Giffan to love nothing so much as the Mammon of Presbytery Straughan thus removed Major General Lambert was sent to prevail with Ker either by blows or words the latter being thought as feisible as the former and accordingly on the last of November having difficultly found and passed a Ford over Hambleton-river Car got notice of it and resolutely fell into the Major Generals quarters at a Town of that name but the Horse being in a readiness to receive him he lost a 100. men had his right hand almost cut off and was taken Prisoner and the rest of his party being 5. Regiments of Horse 2. whereof were the Earl of Cassells and Lord Kirconbrights pursued as far as Ayre where Commissary General Whalley was now left to command in chief in those Western parts Cromwell had marched with his Army this way as far as Glasgow in October but understanding or dreading the enemy would come and relieve Edinburgh-Castle with Provisions and another Governour being in Treaty with the present for a summe of money he forthwith retired having there took and garrisoned two Houses while Coll. Whalley took in Dalkeith and another
and Passes would suffer him the Kings Army as yet lying out of the Town a mile in the fields The first pass endevoured to be taken was Vpton-Bridge on Fleetwoods side which Major General Lambert attempted with 500. Horse and Dragoons who unespied crept upon their Bellies on a peice of Timber they had laid over the River which the surprizing Assailants after a brisk dispute wrested from Colonel Massey The Scots lâ—wing thus abandoned the place it was presently possest by a strong Party of Horse and Foot in order to the present advance of the rest of the Army The Scots now drawn closer to Worcester made many Salleys breaking down 2. or 3. Bridges over the River Team and shewing a well ordered and governed courage but September the third that ominous day he drew out from his own Post and having given the signal to the whole Army to fall on began the Fight in this manner Cromwell himself in person about 3. a Clock with hss Life Guard and Colonel Hackers Regiment of Horse with part of his own Regiment and Colonel Ingoldsby's and Fairfax's entire passed over his Bridge of Boats upon the Severn and marched towards the City after him Lieut. Gen. Fleetwood who had been most part of that day marching of 5. miles from Upton to Powick-bridge which the Kings Army had broken down passed with Colonel Goff's and Major General Dean's Regiments and joyntly advanced the Kings Forces encountring them at the Hedges and disputing every field with them in such order and with such gallantry that these already over lest they should not be wholly discouraged with the hotnesse of the service were relieved by reserves and they by others no considerable progress yet made the Highlanders proving excellent Firemen and coming to the But-end at every foot till weary and their Ammunition spent the King being then upon the place Commanded them in some hast into the City and hastned himself to the other side where Colonel Hayns Regiment with Cobbets stood about Powick bridge and were entertained with no less Manhood and Slaughter and though Colonel Mathews was the reserve to the other two Regiments yet did the Scotch Foot fairly drive them from their ground till their little Army being every way engaged and no seconds or supplies to be expected after some wheelings in a careless regard of the Enemy as if they feared not to make which way they pleased they drew likewise into the Town as did that Brigade which opposed the Regiments of the Lord Gray Colonel Blague Gibbons and Marsh But they stayed not long here for as if their pent spirits had broke out with greater fury they sallied out in great bodies upon the Generals side who had now brought the Militia Forces into play the Veterans wisely detrecting to engage first upon the Storm which was then intended but there was yet field matter enough to do In the Head of one of those squadrons the King himself charged with that gallantry which would have become our Admiration in other men and showed he had not forgot the Discipline of War in which he had been brought up from his youth In one of those Charges he made Duke Hamilton a better Soldier and nobler gallanter person then his Brother received a shot on his thigh whereof presently after he dyed The loss that was sustained by the Enemy fell principally upon the Essex Foot and those of Cheshire and Snrrey who returned in thin Troops and Companies to their Counties but fresh and entire Brigades and Regiments in Reserves namely Desborough's Regiment of Horse Cromwell's of Horse Major General Lambert's of Horse WWhaley's Harrison's and Tomlinson's Brigades with other Foot re-inforcing them the Scots by the over-powering multitude were driven into the Town Leshley with 2000. Horse upon what account not known not stirring out of the Town to relieve them when the Enemy entred pell mell with them and gained the Fort Royal about 7. a Clock at night at which time the King left the Town it being dusk and accompanied vvith some 60. Horse of the cheifest and most confident of his Retinue though many more pressed to bear him Company departed out of St. Martins-gate and it was reported that Cobbet very narrowly Mist of him as the King left his lodging whether he first hastned The Enemies Foot was now got into the Town and according to their Order fell a plundering the Town in a most barbarous manner as if Turks were again a Sacking of Constantinople and giving no quarter to any they found in the Streets through this their greedinesse of spoil they kept the Horse out lest they should have shared the better part and to that purpose kept the Gates fast aâ— they were and so favoured as God would have it the Kings escape some Scots who had got into one of the Churches held out till next morning when they obtained quarter for Life by which time there was not an Inhabitant in Worcester friend or foâ— left worth a farthing but the Loyal Inhabitants lost little by the bargain being supplied with fresh wares to their desires from London without any scruple of credit or paiment and their Debts forborn till such time as God should enable them which the Gentry and Inhabitants round about them endevoured to bring to passe by their more then ordinary resort to that Market for all necessaries and upon all occasions The Mayor being Knighted by the King and Aldermen vvere committed to Prison and the Wife of one Guyes vvho for betraying the designs of the King in that Garrison vvas hanged vvas revvarded vvith 200. l. per annum and 200 l. dovvn There were slain in Field and in Town in the last the most and in pursuit some 3000. and some 8000. taken prisoners in several places most of the English escaping by their Shiboleth the principal were Duke Hamilton who presently dyed of his wounds and at Newport the Earl of Lauderdale Earl of Rothes Earl of Carnworth Earl of Kelly Earl of Derby Earl of Cleveland the now Earl of Shrewsbury Sir John Packington Lord Spyne Sir Ralph Clare Sir Charles Cunningham Colonel Graves Mr. Richard Fanshaw Secretary to the King 6 Col. of Horse 13. of Foot 9 Lieutenant Colonels of Horse 8. Lieutenant Colonels of Foot 6. Majors of Horse 13. Majors of Foot 37. Captains of Horse 72 Captains of Foot 55. Quarter-masters 89. Lieutenants there were taken also some General Officers with 76. Cornets of Horse 99. Ensigns of Foot 90. Quartermasters 80. of the Kings Servants with the Kings Standard which he had set up when he summoned the Country the Kings Coach and Horses and Collar of SS but that which was Ten times more worth then all the Kings person they had no power to touch On the 12. of Sept. Cromwell came to London and was met about Acton with the Speaker and the Members and the Lord Mayor and the Recorder Steel who in a set Speech congratulated his great successes and like a false Prophet by a
perorations of the Cause of God and the godly people committed to their charge which they could not tell how to answer to him if so easily they should give it up and leave the Common-wealth in such a distraction as would inevitably ensue and Major General Harrison and Arthur Squib the great Sequestrator of Haberdasher-hall were very copiously zealous in defence of their Authority But the Military or Court-party being the Major part not thinking them worthy of a dispute or longer debate the Speaker being of their side rose and left the House and them Sitting in it where to prayers they went and then resolved to continue Sitting In the mean time Rous the Speaker with the Mace before him and his Followers came to White-hall and there resigned the Instrument he gave them by which they were constituted a Parliament and gave him likewise to understand how they had left their Fellows Their surrender was kindly received by Oliver and they thanked for the pains they had taken in the service of the Common-wealth however he and they had missed of their intentions of the good should thereby have come to the Common-wealth which a strange spirit and perverse principle in some of the Members had solely hindered and as to them yet Sitting in the Parliament-house he dispatch'd away Leiutenant Colonel White a Confident of his to dislodge them who accordingly with a Guard of Red-coats came thither and entring the House demanded them in the Name of the Genetal to depart for that the Parliament was Dissolved who replying to the contrary and telling him they were upon Businesse and ought not to be thus disturbed he asked what Business they answered we are seeking of God Pugh saith he is that all that 's to no purpose for God hath not been within these Walls these 12. years and so fairly compelled them out muttering with the same wrath and sorrowfull look-backs as those that had Sate 30. times the same term and could almost have pleaded prescription Thus was the Power emptied from one Vessel to another as the Scribes and Chaplains of the Grandees phrased it and could find no settlement till Oliver was called to it by his Council of Officers to supply this gap in Government and now a Single Person with a Council is the only expedient for the safety of the People for that there is no trust nor truth in Parliaments as their often abberrations and failures had sufficiently declared and it was discoursed by the Abettors of this change that 't was not Monarchy which was quarrelled at but the corruptions and abuses of it in its unlimited unbounded Prerogative all which would be avoided by the circumscription of it in a Protector by his Council and a new Instrument of Government and the supreme power of a Triennial Parliament in whom during their Session the Soveraign Authority should reside So they said and so they did for after 4 dayes time in which Feak and his Freaking Partisans were almost run from their wits in rage and madnesse Cromwel was appointed and declared for Protector of this Infant Common-wealth and it was a tedious interval to him the Chancery Court at Westminster-hall being prepared for the Ceremony of the Instalment in this manner after the usual seeking of God by the Officers of the Army The Protector about one of the clock in the afternoon came from White-hall to Westminster to the Chancery Court attended by the Lords Commissioners of the great Seal of England Barons of the Exchequer and Judges in their Robes after them the Councel of the Common vvealth and the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Recorder of the City of London in their Scarlet Govvns then came the Protector attended vvith many of the cheif Officers of the Army a Chair of State being set in the said Court of Chancery the Protector stood on the left hand thereof uncovered till a large vvriting in Parchment in the manner of an Oath vvas read there being the power with which the Protector vvas invested and hovv the Protector is to govern the three Nations vvhich the Protector accepted of and Subscribed in the face of the Court and immediately hereupon sat dovvn covered in the Chair the Lords Commissioners then delivered up the Great Seal of England to the Protector and the Lord Mayor his Sword and Cap of Maintenance all which the Protector returned immediatly to them again The Court then rose and the Protector was attended back as aforesaid to the Banquetting house in White-hall the Lord Mayor himself uncovered carrying the Svvord before the Protector all the vvay and coming into the Banquetting-house an exhortation vvas made by Mr. Lockyer after vvhich the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Judges departed The Instrument or Module framed to be the Foundation of this present Government was chiefly made up of these following heads That the Supreme Legislative Authority be and reside in a single Person and the People in Parliament the Execution of that power to be in the Protectour with the advice of his Council not to exceed Twenty and One. All Proceedings to run in the Name and Stile of the Protector and all Honours Offices and Titles to be derived from him that he may pardon all Offences but Treason and Murther The Militia during the Parliament shall be in his and their hands but in the Intervals only in his and his Councils He and his Council to make War and Peace with forraign Princes Not make new Laws or abrogate old without Consent of Parliament A Parliament to be called within six Menths and afterwards every third year and if need be oftner which the Protector shall not dissolve without consent in Parliament till after 5. Months The Parliament of English to consist of 400. to be chosen by more equal distributions in Counties and Boroughs of Scotch 30 and so many of the Irish The Summoning of the Parliament to passe under the Seal of the Commonwealth to the Sheriffs and if the Protector omit or deny that then the Commissioners of the Seal be held under pain of High Treason to issue out such writs and in case of failure in him the High Sheriffs and some other By-blowes concerning the equality and fairness of Elections under great penalties No Royalist Irish Rebels or Papists to be capable of being Elected and in case they be to for feit two years Revenue and three parts of their goods None to be elected under the Age of 21. years nor unless he be a man of Integrity a lover of God and of good conversation None to have voyces in Election but such as were worth 200. pounds The Elections to be forthwith transmitted to the Council of State by the Secretary of the Commissioners in case of dispute to the Council of State Sixty to make a Quorum The Protector if need be to call Parliaments between the Intervals thereof Bills offered to the Protector if not assented to by him within 40. days to passe into Laws notwithstanding The Protector with the
Advice of his Councill in case of death or Breach of trust to substitute new Privy Counsellors A Competent Revenue to be setled for the maintenance of Ten thousand Horse and 15. thousand Foot and the Navy and not to be altered or lessened but by the Advice of the Council upon the disbanding of them the money to be brought to the Exchequer No new Levies nor Laws to be made without consent in Parliament All forfeited Lands unsold to belong to the Protector The Protectorate to be elective but the Royal Family to be excluded Oliver Cromwell to be the present Protector All places of trust and Office to be in the Protectors disposal if in Interval of Parliament to be approved and confirmed in Parliament The Rest for the purity and toleration of Religion out of which the Papist and Protestant were to be exempted and all Laws in favour of them to be abrogated All Sales of Parliament to be confirmed Articles of War to be made good And lastly the Protector and his Successor to be bound by Oath to observe these present Articles and to uphold the Peace and Welfare of the Nation which Oath was in 〈◊〉 verba I promise in the presence of God not to violate or infâ—inge the matters and things contained in the Instrument but to observe and cause the same to be observed and in all things to the best of my understanding govern the Nations according to the Laws Statutes and Customes to seek their peace and cause Justice Law to be equally administred The Feat needed no more security as good altogether as its Authority in this following Proclamation which was published throughout England Scotland and Ireland in these words Where as the late Parliament Dissolved themselves and resigning their Powers and Authorities the Government of the Common-wealth of England Scotland and Ireland in a Lord Protector and saccessive Triennial Parliaments is now established And whereas Oliver Cromwell Captain General of all the Forces of this Common wealth is declared Lord Protector of the said Nations and hath accepted thereof We have therefore thought it necessary as we hereby do to make Publication of the Premises and strictly to charge and command all and every Person or Persons of what quality and condition soever in any of the said three Nations to take notice hereof and to conform and submit themselves to the Government so established And all Sheriffs Mayor Bailiffs c. are required to publish this Proclamation to the end none may have cause to pretend ignorance in this behalf This Miscellany of the Laws and new projections suted a great many humours and different perswasions of the Phanaticks Independents Anabaptists and others being the second part of the Alchoran And because there is occasion for it we will discourse a little of the present State of Religion and what opinion Cromwel best aspected The Orthodox Protestants were wholly supprest and yet some Reverend persons as Dr. Vsher the Bishop of Armagh and Dr. Brownrig the Bishop of Exeter received some shews of respect and reverence from Him which he more manifestly boasted in the funeral Expences of the Learned Vsher and this to captate a Reputation of his Love to Scholars and the meek modest and vertuous Clergy The Presbyterian was rather tolerated then countenanced and yet such of them as would comply with his Court greatnesse were much in his eye and his favour for others of them he cared not pleasingly expressing himself how he had brought under the Pride and Arrogance of that Sect making those that would allow no liberty to others sue for it for themselves The Independents and Anabaptists he loved and preferred by turns and was most constant to them as the men that would and did support his Usurpation only he could by no means endure the Fifth Monarchy men though by their dotages he had raised himself to this height and therefore Feak and Rogers were by him committed to Prison in the Castle of Windsor where they continued a long while and not only so but he set Kiffin the Anabaptist whom he had taken out of design into his favour with his party together by the ears with Feaks to the raising of a Feud between them the Ballance of his Security in the Government The like he did betwixt the Presbyterian the Independent a subdivided Schisme from the Church of England as Feaks and Kiffins were from Independency whom when out of his zeal to the Unity of Christian Religion he seemed to bring together to compose and accommodate all Differences in the near probability of such expedients he would divide and more irreconciliably sever and alienate And this was all his practical Devotion But to return Great shooting of Guns at night and Volleys of Acclamations were given at the close of this mock solemnity by Cromwell's Janizaries while the Cavaliers were more joyfully disposed at the Hopes of the Kings Affairs but no body of any Account giving the Usurper a good word or miskiditche with his greatness save what was uttered in Fur by my Lord Mayor and the Complices in this Fact who tickled his ears with the Eccho of the Proclamation done with the usual Formalities These Triumphs so disgusted Harrison as also Col. Rich that he withdrew himself from the Gang and turned publique Preacher or Railer against his Comrade Oliver who was glad to be rid of such a busie and impertinent Assistant in the moduling of Government so Cromwell had now two Common-wealth-contradivided Factions against him the old and the new Parliaments and therefore it nearly concerned him to make much of the Anabaptist and Sectary which now succeeded Independency as the Religion maintained and favoured above all other and Kiffin a great Leader and Teacher was now in great request at the Court at White-hall and contrarily Sir Henry Vane jun. was look'd on askue as also Sir Arth. Hazilrig and Bradshaw and Scot and so the Fabel builders were confounded one amongst another The Council appointed by the Officers or taken rather by himself by whose advice he was to govern were 14. at first Lord Lambert Lord Viscount Lisle General Desbrow Sir Gilbert Pickring Major General Skippon Sir Anth. Ashley Cooper Walter Strickland Esq Sir Charles Wolsley Col. Philip Jones Francis Rous Esquire Richard Major Esquire John Lawrence Esquire Col. Edward Montague Col. William Sydenham I should have mentioned the Dutch War in its place which aggrandized him with the usual victorious successe but because he was never personally engaged in the Service but owed this Garland as he did the glory of Dunbar to the noble General Monk and wore but a second-hand Triumphal Robe I will not constellate Him with that Hero's Splendor and Brightness of Fame That which properly concerns Cromwell is rather the Dishonour of that War the Peace that ensued the Conclusion of it for the Stomach of that Nation had been so humbled by several great losses their Trade so spoyled and their Subjects so impoverish'd that
were made Serjeants and Mr. Hales one of the Justices of the Common-Pleas where St. Johns yet sate and of the Cabinet to his Protector besides having preferred his Man Thurloe his Secretary at the Hague to be his Secretary of State the Candle or Light of that Dark-Lanthorn which St. Johns was said to be in these mysterious times of Cromwell in all his attempts and designs of consequence and moment The Dutch Peace was also concluded on by the Ambassadors and the Commissioners of the said â—ouncil for the Protector between whom this private Article was agreed that the Prince of Aurange should never be restored to the Dignities Offices and charge his Ancestors held and enjoyed and this was urged for the better conservation of the Peace which would in his Restitution be endangered because of his Relation to the King The Protector dined in great State upon an Invitation from the Lord Mayor c. at Grocers-Hall the 8. of February being Ashwednesday a very unsuitable day for any Festival but his Entertainment who inverted all things the streets being railed from Temple Bar thither the Liveries in their Gowns in their gradual standings awaiting Him he was met at the said Gate by Alderman Viner the Lord Mayor who delivered him the Sword there and having received it from him back again bore it on Horseback before him all the way through which the same silence was kept as if a Funeral had been en passant and no doubt it was that muteness which Tacitus mentioned in Tiberius quale Magnae Irae vel magni metus est silentium no apprecations or so much as a How do ye being given during the Cavalcade After Dinner he was served with a Banquet in the conclusion whereof he Knighted Alderman Viner and would have done the same to the Recorder Steel for his learned Speech of Government calculated and measured for him but he for good Reasons avoided it My Lord Maior was forced to carry it home and anger his Wife with it who had real Honour both in her Name and Nature Oliver at his return had the second course of a Brick-bat from the top of a House in the Strand by St. Clements which light upon his Coach and almost spoiled his Digestion with the daringness of the affront search was made but in vain the person could not be found and vengeance was not yet from Heaven to rain upon him He published a little after an Ordinance for the Trial and Approbation of Ministers wherein Phillp Nye Goodwin Hugh Peters Mr. Manton and others were named Commissioners the question these men put to the Examinants was not of Abilities or Learning but grace in their hearts and that with to bold and saucy Inquisition that some mens spirits trembled at their Interrogatories they phrasing it so as if as was said of the Council of Trent they had the Holy Ghost in a Cloak Bag or were rather Simon Magus his own Disciples and certainly there were never such Symoniacks in the World not a living of value but what a Friend or the best purchaser was admitted into to which humane learning even where a former right was was a good and sufficient Bar no less to the ruine then scandal of the Church of England and the Protestant Religion and Professors thereof â—everal ignorant bold Laicks being inducted into the best Spiritualities as best consisted with Olivers Interest which depended upon the Sectary and their hideous divisions in Religion To return During those Protectoral Intrigues the King's Interest had got such footing again in England that all or most of the Gentlemen and Counties thereof were engaged for it and therefore while Lambert managed one Province the Affairs of the Parliament wherein Oliver would not descend so low as to be pragmatical and Sceptically busy with their Debates against His power as wrested and usurped from the people He was mainly intent upon the proceedings of the Royallists the particulars whereof he had betrayed to him weekly a constant correspondence being held betwixt Him and one Manning a Retainer and Under-Secretary to the King at Colen his Father being killed in his Service at Alresford in the year 1644. The price of this Treason was no lesse then 6000. l. a year most whereof came to the King by this fellows hands as sent over by his and his friends procurement but on purpose by so notable a service in the Kings necessities to sâ—rue himself into the secrets of His Majesties designs Hence came the Western Association and Attempt of the noble Penruddock in the West to be so suddenly defeated with the like Insurrections in several parts of England in the year 1654. For upon certain notice of the days appointed for their rising Cromwell to be before hand with them gave out supposed and false days and made the like Appearances particularly at Shrewsbury by which means the Confederates came to perceive there was some Treachery among themselves and did then wisely desist from the danger of taking publique Arms against Him For a fuller accompt of all which I must refer the Reader to the Histories of the Times lately published though I should take notice of his cruelty against those unfortunate Gentlemen The Event of this by which he had overreached the King in his own designs and the Hopes of his rich successes in the West-Indies by robbing another Prince whether his Fleet and Army under General Pen and Venables was now arrived which also I shall only mention for the Story is trite and vulgar made Oliver most blith and confident and his Court of Beggars and such like mean people very gay and jocund A great deal of State was now used towards him and the French Cringe and other ceremonious pieces of gallantry and good deportment which were thought unchristian and favouring of Carnality introduced in place of austere and down looks and the silent Mummery of Starch'd and Hypocritical gravity the only becoming Dress forsooth of Piety and Religion He had now a Guard of Halberdiers in Gray Coats welted with black Velvet over whom Walter Strickland was Captain and a Lord Chamberlain Sir Gilbert Pickering Two Masters of Requests Mr. Bacon and Mr. Sad'er a Master of his Horse his Son Claypoolâ— and generally all persons of Honour both to His own person and his Wives who very frugally Huswifed it and would nicely and finically tax the expensive unthriftiness as said she of the Other Woman who lived there before her But I must not engage in her impertinencies though a many pretty stories might be told of this obsolete Princesse It will be requisite to speak something of his manner and course of Life now raised to a very neer fruition of the Soveraignty this being the Solstice of his Fortunes His Custome was now to divert himself frequently at Hampton-Court which he had saved from Sale with other Houses of the Kings for his own greatnesse whether he went and came in post with his Guards behind and before as not yet
Impiety and zeal to Christ or his Worship for he had lately struck a Bargain with the Jews that deny him but the Ministers who were to dispute with Ben Israel their Agent dissenting from his covetous project He only gulled them of their earnest mony By this mixture of subtlety with Cruelty and Rapine of all sorts he had so establish'd himself and his formidable greatness engaging in a forraign War with the French against the Spaniard in Flanders whither he sent Commissary General Reynolds with 6000 men who joyntly took in St. Venant Mardike in the close of the Summer 1647 the latter being put into English hands that the Royal party began truly to dread his mischievous power the effects whereof were felt also in very remote parts of the World in the Polish and Danish War by his partaking with and assisting to the King of Sweden when he pretended a Mediation between them having dispatcht Mr. Rolt of his Bedchamber and Colonel Jephson to Carolus Gustavus and Mr. now Sir Philip Meadows to Frederick King of Denmark to the diverting the German Emperour to the care of his own Dominions and by that means depriving the Spaniard of his aid and consequently frustrating all His Majesties designs of recovering his rights to these Kingdoms I must omit his Successes by Blake at Porta Ferina and Sancta Cruz for which the English valour was famous as also Sir Richard Stayners taking and Spoyling 7. Galleys from the West Indies laden with Plate which were substantial Tropnies and made his power dreadful And therefore now he thought it time to shew his Son Richard to the World whom to â—avoid the Suspicion of designing the Soveraignty to be Hereditary in his Family and to amuse Lambert who would not brook other Successor then himself His Kival if not Superiour now in the affection of the Army He had kept in the Country in Hampshire where he had married the Daughter of one Major of Southampton with a very plentiful fortune the support and maintenance of him now among the Conveâ—e of the Centry Royaâ—sts to insinuate into their affections and good liking by some kind of Offices and Civilities he procured from â—ourt and by his own debonair and affable Dispositions The first publiâ—ue Honour done him was the Chancellorship of Oxford in which he was â—emnly invested after his Father had purposely resigned it at Whitchall next he was â—worn a Pirvy Councellor and made a Colon I in the Army to have an interest in all parties and parts of the body politique and not long after in the next Parliament after their recesse the first Lord of the other House and now styled the most noble Lord Richard and rife discourses there were of Richard the Fourth but it proved no more then the story of Queen Dick. His Son Harry Cromwell lately married to Sir William Russells Daughter he likewise sent in the â—lity of Lord Lieutemant to succeed his Son Law Fleetwood in Ireland only Scotland could not be taken from General Monk and disposed in the hanâ—s of his more consident Relations Flectwood or Desborough being designed for that Government â—s Daughters likewise were all married Elizabeth his Darling before his late Greatnesle to a private Gentleman one Mr. Cleypoâ—e of Warwickshire his Daughter Mary to the Lord Viâ—count Falconbridge the noble Family of the Bellasis and his younger Daughter Frances to Mr. â—obert Rich eldest on to Robert Lord Rich and â—randson to Robert Earl of Warwick all three whereof dyed within one year after this unfortunate and unglorious Match So that he thought he had established his House but the Foundation being laid in Sand tempered with Blood the next gust and boy sterous Wind blew it like Chaffe and seattered and dispersed it to nothing From this haughty confidence he was invited to call another Parliament and to assume from thence the long awaited result of his Ambition the Crown Imperial of England All other things moreover did â—eâ—m to comspire to the same purpose except the Levelling Fifth Monarchy party and Lambert for the Presbyterian and other Sectâ—ries vvho had their hands full of Sacrilegious and Treasonable Penny-vvorths of Ecclesiâ—stical and Crovvn and Delinquents Lands vvere most eagerly desirous of a settlement of the Government by Law that might secure and confirm their purchases the more indifferent Royallists preferred any Legal no manner how or what Authority rather then be continually tisked and oppressed by the outragious unlimited violence of the Major Generals whom Cromwel had on purpose set up as he did the little or foolish Parliament to make another Title he gaped at more acceptable to the people As to the Fifth Monarchy men he had neerly pried into that danger and seized and took the chief of that party among whom was Venner the Wine-Cooper being engaged somewhat after in a Plot in a house in Shorditch where some Arms were taken and and an Ensign with a Lyon couchant of the Tribe of judah painted in it having this Motto Who shall raise him up And hereupon Harrison Carew Rich Vice-Admiral Lawson Courtney Portman Day and the like were imprisoned in remote places as Col. Overton Major Holms and others of the same party had been seized in Scotland and disbanded by Gen. Monck according to Cromwell's Order and sent up Prisoners to the Tower of London As to the Levellers he had lately discovered their practices and combinations against him and had likewise clapt up the chief of them one Major Wildman in order to his Tryal being taken at Marleborough inditing and drawing Declarations against him so that they were at a stand and a loss which â—ay to proceed to the unsetling and overthrow of his Tyrannical power procured by so many tricks and cheats put upon them by him so that afterwards when they began private Subscriptions to Petitions and Addresses to the Parliament against the Kingship he peremptorily upon their peril forbid them to intermeddle with their Consultations and so awed and dashed them that they never offered any more afterwards to hold up so much as a Finger against him Lambert was the only impediment and we shall see him neatly and quietly removed and discarded like the rest of his former Confidents This Olivarian Parliament brought together by these means was not lesse awed in its Election by the Major Generals they themselves and all their friends being returned for Members while the Gentry and other Honest men being confined or under some qualification or other could not or dared not appear particularly Col. Berkstead and Kiffin the Anabaptist by Voyces of Redcotes got themselves returned Knights of the Shire for Middlesex with Sir William Roberts and Mr. Chute 4 as the Instrument directed then in the Admission to the House where a Recognition of his Highness and the Government by a single person with a Guard of Soldiers was ready placed and unless each Member swallowed the one he might not pass the other by which means almost 200. were at the
first dash secluded those within taking no notice of the force but referring the excluded to the Examination of the Privy Council The first Work this Parliament did was their declaring the Justice of the War against Spain the Cromwellian party personating the Interest and Honour of the Nation that they might by that be looked upon for all this garbling as a due Representative and to credit their ensuing By-blowes and a Resolution to assist the Protector in it And next as the grand and Liminary work to Oliver's Regality An Act for the renouncing the Title of His Majesty and the whole Line of King James seconded with another for the Security of His Highness person in which they alledged the peace and safety of the Nation was bound up And that this might appear most necessary and opportune a Plot was hatched by Cromwell and Thurloe for further quashing all Levelling and Fisth Monarchy designs against that party A Book had likewise been lately divulged styled Killing no Murther wherein it was proved that it was most lawful just necessary and Honourable to kill him and this Printed with the Name of one Allen a disbanded Leveller but so politely and learnedly written that it intimated a more exact and curious hand whose ever it was it scared Cromwell almost out of his Wits and made him betake himself to preventionary Artifices and fright Assassinates with his Severity against the suppositious Authors of pretended dangers This Scare-Crow was one Miles Syndercombe a disband of Overton's in Scotland by General Monck a Leveller and Fifth Monarchist both which parties he conjoyned in this trap as most feared by him The wily Arts of Thurloe who set one Cecil and Trop of Cromwell's Life-Guard to urge this Male-content into a Conspiracy of The Protector 's Death This was readily assented to and several Engines and Instruments fixed for that purpose and places appointed and Whitehall Chappel to be fired all which was from time to time discovered and Syndercombe after the last vain experiment seized and arraigned and after a careless defence convicted and sentenced for Treason which he avoided as the Coroners Jury gave their Verdict by poysoning himself in the Tower the night before his Execution and was drawn at a Horse Tail to Tower-hill and inhumed and a Stake driven through him under the Scaffold For this Delivery of his Highnesse the Parliament voted a Thanks-giving and attended him at the Banquetting-house in Whitehall with a gratulatory Oration setting forth the Ruine that was intended in that horrible Treason to the whole Protestant Religion throughout the World with the like parasitical designed Falshoods but to the almost spoyling the Complement the Stairs in the ascending broke and samed Richard Cromwel and others who for amends were invited to dinner there upon the Thanksgiving day and that Courtesy requited by a more gaudy Gift For the next day Alderman Pack a great Excise Commissioner and in greater Arrears for it to 30000 l. and deep in the Piedmont Account from the advantage of this Royal Treat suddenly started a Motion like a Puppet jerkt with a wire that in regard of the strange unsettlement and discomposure of the Nation and the minds of men and the ill aspect it had upon Forraign Princes and all Trade that therefore the Protector might be desired to assume the style of King as the most known and most agreeable Government and presently tooth and nail the Court party were at it and after sundry consultations passed a Resolution in order to his being Kinged by the second part of the Instrument called The Humble Petition and Advice of the Parliament which being now in Debate we must leave to a further account The suitable political talk of the party of the Usurper was now engaged in strained Arguments for a Monarchy in the person of this their Ring-Leader and this Maxime was broach'd in the News-Book That there was no everlasting principle in Government as to any particular form that Government is but a temporary expedient that it is like Vltima tabula post Naufragium in the hazzard of the Common-wealth the next shift may be made use of The same was the inspired reason into the Humble Petition and Advice which after several debates and resolutions was drawn into that Consistency the main whereef was to desire the Protector to change that Title for the other of King On the 9. of April the Parliament having desired a Meeting with him came to the Banquetting-house in White-hall where Sir Thomas Widdrington in a Speech commended the Title and Office of a King as setled here with Christianity approved by our Ancestors consisting with our Laws and Temper of the people and then presented him with the module of the Humble Petition c. To this tender Cromwel in a fit of Devotion answered That it was a weighty matter and therefore desire a space to seek God that the charge laid upon him was too great for him to bear without His Assistance that the English were the best people in the World and required therefore all tenderness and consideration of their Liberties c. The next day a Committee was appointed to attend him and receive his Answer which being insignificant they upon report thereof resolved to adhere to their Petition and appointed a Committee of above half the House to attend him to receive from him his doubts and scruples touching any of the particulars contained in the Petition c. and to offer reasons for his satisfaction for the maintenance of the Resolution of the House and wherein they cannot satisfie to report The chief of this Committee were Mr. Whitlock Lord Chief Justice Glyn Lord Breghall Lenthall Lisle Philip Jones Fiennes Strickland Thurloe Sir Richard Onslow Sir Charles Woolfley c. We have through these Labyrinths of his shifted Designs now clued him to his Lustfull and adulterous Usurpation which the nocturnal pollutions of his Dream had so long before fancied and acted in his thoughts This was the critical Time and the very Juncture of his accomplishment of all his projections upon the Crown which now seemed to court his Browes by the complemental tender of a Parliament so pick'd and cull'd to his purpose But it pleased God to rescue the Honour and Majesty of England from the prophanation of his Temples by some sudden emergent dangers and Suspicions he raised in his Breast and to elude his Royal Phantasmes with Rival and Democratick apparitions His Oracles now ceased and a lying Spirit was in the Mouth of his Prophets who in their preachments harped upon this Subject Now that the Reader may know how the whole mystery and cabal of this Businesse was managed by the above mentioned Committee who would fain have drawn Oliver under the yoak of Laws and retrencht his exorbitant power of the Sword and Cromwell who feared they would fortifie his Title and weaken his Tenure and had notice that Lambert laboured in the Debauch of the Army He is here presented