is my answer That although I think the Government doth consist in very excellent parts in all but in that one thing the Title as to me I should not be an honest man if I should not tell you that I cannot accept of the Government nor undertake the trouble and charge of it which I have a little more experimented than every man as to what troubles and difficulties do befal men in such Trusts and in such Undertakings I say I am perswaded to return this answer to you That I cannot undertake this Government with the Title of a King and this is mine answer to this great and weighty business The Protector having refused the Title of King the Committee of Settlement was ordered to prepare an Explanatory Act to the humble petition and advice in respect of the Protectors Oath his Councils the Members of Parliament the other House which was to consist of about sixty Lords of the Protectors Electing and having Voted That Protector should be the Title of the chief Magistrate and the Petition and Advice being allowed accordingly the House desired a conference with His Highness who accordingly meets them May 25. 1657. in the painted Chamber where Sir Tho. Widdrington presents him with the humble Petition and Advice the substance whereof was 1. That His Highness Oliver Cromwel under the Title of Lord Protector would be pleased to execute the Office of chief Magistrate over England Scotland and Ireland and the Territories thereunto belonging and to govern according to all things in this Petition and Advice and also that he would in his life time appoint the person that should succeed in the Government after his death 2. That he would call a Parliament consisting of two Houses once in three years at farthest 3. That those persons who are legally chosen by a free Election of the people to serve in parliament may not be excluded from doing their duties but by consent of that House whereof they are Members 4. That none but those under the Qualifications therein mentioned shall be capable to serve as Members in Parliament 5. That the power of the other House be limited as herein prescribed 6. That the Laws and Statutes of the Land be observed and kept no Laws altered suspended abrogated or repealed or new Laws made but by Act of Parliament 7. That the yearly sum of a Million of pounds sterling be settled for the maintenance of the Navy and Army and three hundred thousand pounds for support of the Government besides other temporary supplies as the Commons in Parliament shall see the necessities of the Nation to require 8. That the number of the Protectors Council shall not be above twenty one whereof the Quorum to be seven 9. The chief Officers of State as Chancellors Keepers of the Great Seal c. to be appointed by Parliament 10. That his Highness would incourage a godly Ministry in these Nations and that such as do revile and disturb them in the worship of God may be punished according to Law and where Laws are defective new ones to be made 11. That the Protestant Christian Religion as it is contained in the Old and New Testament be asserted and held forth for the publick profession of these Nations 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 writing to revile or reproach the said Confession of Faith c. The Petition and Advice being read was by the Protector passed into a Law though with much seeming reluctancy as the following Speech declared Mr. Speaker I am not come hither this day as to a Triumph but with the most serious thoughts that ever I had in my 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 I must necessarily sink under the weight of it to the damage and prejudice of these Nations And this being so I must ask the help of the Parliament and the help of all those that fear God that by their prayers I may receive assistance from the hand of God seeing nothing but his presence can enable me to the discharge of so great a Trust And seeing this is but an Introduction to the carrying on the Government of these Nations and forasmuch as there are many things which cannot be supplied without the help of a Parliament I think it my duty to desire your help not that I doubt of it for I believe that the same spirit that led the Parliament to this will easily suggest the rest to them And truly nothing could have induced me to undertake this intolerable burden to flesh and blood had I not seen that it was the Parliaments care to answer those ends for which they have ingaged and I call God to witness that I would not have undergone it had I not seen it to be determined by the Parliament to make clearly for the Liberty and Interest of the Nation and preservation of such as fear God and if these Nations be not thankful to you for your care therein it will fall as a sin on their heads To conclude I would recommend to you the Reformation of the Nation by discountenancing Vice and giving encouragement to Good men and Virtue desiring that you would not be wanting in any thing that may make for the good of the Nations wishing the Lord to prosper all your aims and endeavours This Speech ended the Members return to their House and soon after the Protector sends them a Letter desiring their Adjournment till the Inauguration of the Lord Protector could be performed and accordingly they passed a Bill for adjourning from June 26. to Jan. 20. following June 26. being appointed for his Highness solemn Investiture and the same day a place being prepared in Westminster-Hall there were two Chairs set one for the Protector with a Canopy of State over it and another for the Speaker with seats built Scaffold-wise for the Parliament on both sides and places below for the Aldermen of London and others all which being ready the Protector came out of a Room adjoining to the Lords House and in this order proceeded into the Hall First went his Gentlemen then an Herald the Attorney-General then the Judges after them Norroy King at Arms the Lord Commissioners of the Treasury the Seal carried by Commissioner Fines then Garter and after him the Earl of Warwick with the Sword born before the Protector bare-headed the L. Mayor Tichburn carrying the City Sword by his left hand Being seated in the Chair on the left hand stood the L. Mayor and the Dutch Ambassador and on the right the E. of Warwick and the French Ambassador next behind him stood his Son Richard L. Fleetwood and L. Cleypool and the Privy-council upon a lower descent stood the Lords Montague and Whitlock with drawn Swords Then the Speaker Sir Tho. Widdrington in the Name
which the English had taken near Burnt Island after he had delivered his message he confidently told the souldiers their General was dead and that they did well in concealing it but he would never believe otherwise nor could he be convinced till the General ordered him to be brought into his presence who was now somewhat recovered so that upon his return this false rumour vanished But the Parliament of England hearing that he had a relapse afterward and a violent Ague they sent him two eminent Physicians Dr. Wright and Dr. Bates to use their utmost Art for his reâ—overy with an Order that gave him liberty to repair into England for recovering his health To which he made a return of Thanks by a Letter to the Lord President in which among others are these unusual expressions My Lord my sickness was indeed so violent that my Nature was not able to bear the weight thereof but the Lord was pleased to deliver me beyond expectations and to give me cause to say once more He hath plucked me out of the Grave So that now by the goodness of God I find my self growing to such a stare of health and strength as may yet if it be his good will render me useful according to my poor ability in the station wherein he hath set me I wish more steadiness in your affairs here than to depend in the least upon so frail a thing as I am indeed they do not nor do they own any Instrument this Cause is of God and it must prosper Oh that all that have any hand therein being so perswaded would gird up the loins of their minds and endeavour in all things to walk worthy of the Lord. So prays my Lord Your most humble Servant O. Cromwel Edenburgh June 3. At this time Ambassadors came to the Parliament of England from Spain Portugal and Holland the first was reminded of delaying execution on the Assassinates of the English Resident at Madrid The second not having full power to give satisfaction for the expences of the state and loss of the Merchants Goods by means of that King was quickly dismiss'd The Hollander kept at a distance rather wishing prosperity to the Royal party than heartily desiring peace with the Common-wealth of England Soon after Oliver St. John and Walter Strickland were sent Ambassadors Extraordinary to the States and were received with great splendor and having audience of the States-General at the Hague the Lord Ambassador St. John made a learned and elegant speech declaring That they were sent over to the High and Mighty States of the Netherlands from the Parliament of the Common-wealth of England to make a firm League and Confederacy between the two Republicks if they think fit notwithstanding the many injuries the English have received from the Dutch Nation Likewise to renew and confirm the former Treaties and Agreements of Trade and Commerce made between the two Nations wherein he shewed them the notable advantages of England in respect of its commodious scituation for advancement of Trade and all other benefits Lastly That he was commanded to let them know how highly the Parliament resented the murder of Dr. Dorislaus their Agent not doubting but they would do their utmost to discover the Authors thereof After which the Ambassadors Gentlemen receiving several affronts from the Royal party there the States published a Proclamation to prevent it yet these abuses continued and no punishment being inflicted on any though the common people often swarm'd about the Ambassadors Gates and assaulted their Servants and the States evading any Treaty till they saw how matters would succeed in Scotland the Parliament highly resenting these proceedings suddenly recalled their Ambassadors to the great surprize of the States Who thereupon endeavoured by frequent visits to them to insinuate their amicable Intentions but the Ambassadors returned to England And that which gave some jealousie to the Parliament of their designs was Because Admiral Van Trump with a Fleet of Ships lay hovering upon the Coasts of Scilly as though he would attempt something against it and the occasion of it being demanded of the States they replied They had no other intent but to demand the restitution of such Ships and Goods as the Pirates thereof had taken from their people With which answer the Parliament were somewhat satisfied yet to prevent the worst April 18. 1651. Sir George Ayscough with a Squadron of ships designed for reducing the Caribbee-Islands was sent thither and landed three hundred Seamen besides souldiers and soon became masters of the Islands Tresco and Briers taking therein one hundred and fifty prisoners and killing twenty They took also two Frigates of thirty two and eighteen Guns and secured the best Harbour belonging to those Islands Hence the Enemy fled to St. Maries their chief strength which yet was soon surrendred Cornet-castle in the Isle of Guernsey was at this time attempted but through mis-information of the weakness of the place the design miscarried with the loss of many Officers and souldiers About this time Brown Bushel a very earnest stickler for the Royal party both by Sea and Land and who when in the service of the Parliament had delivered up Scarborough to the King was taken and beheaded at Tower-hill The Parliament of Scotland having adjourned during the Coronation of the King met again in March and some differences arose about restoring several Lords of the Royal party to their seats in the House which yet the Assembly would not admit of till they had passed the stool of Repentance which Duke Hamilton did with some kind of splendor having a Table placed before him with a black Velvet cover and a Cushion of the same and making a great Feast that day The King having now got some power endeavoured to regain reputation among his subjects by putting all the Garrisons of Fife into a posture of defence against the landing of the English drawing what Forces he could spare both Horse and Foot from Sterling and joining them with the new Leavies which for better security he Quartered on the Water side and then goes to the Highlands to compose all differences there and to incite them to rise and join with him from whence Midleten soon after brought a considerable body of Horse and Foot and the Town of Dundee raised a Regiment of Horse at their own charge and sent them with a stately Tent and six fine brass cannon for a present to the King then at Sterling whose Army now consisted in six thousand Horse and fifteen thousand foot but the Earl of Eglington being sent to the West with some other commanders to raise more forces coming to Dunbarton Collonel Lilburn upon notice sent a party of Horse who suddenly seized the Earl his Son Collonel James Montgomery Lieutenant Collonel Colborn and some others whom they carried prisoners to Edinburgh At the same time a design was discovered the English Covenanters intending a general rising in Lancashire to join with the Scots the chief
send them into Ireland to dye of Sickness or Famine which caused the Souldiers to use contumelious speeches against the two Houses and thereupon a Council of Officers was set up consisting of two Commission-Officers and two private Souldiers out of every Regiment to meet and consult for the good of the Army and to draw up and present all their Grievances to the General and these were called Adjutators Who having met by the Instigation of Cromwel and some others that made them sensible of their own strength they resolved upon seizing the King at Holmby-House under pretence of freeing him from that narrow restraint under which he was kept by the parliaments Order To effect which Cornet Joyce is sent thither with five hundred Horse who took the King out of the parliaments Commissioners hands and carried him along with them in the Army This the General certifies in a Letter to the parliament affirming it to be done without his consent and that the reason alledged by the Actors was Because certain persons had designed to take away his Majesty thereby to gather strength to make a new War which they were able and ready to prove When this was known an Order passed both Houses of Parliament and was sent to the General 1. That the King should reside at Richmond 2. That he should be attended by the same persons he was at Holmby 3. That Roffiters Regiment should Guard him And the Presbyterians who were the greater number in Parliament being further alarm'd by these proceedings resolved to divide the Army and send part of it to Ireland and presently to cashiere Cromwel and his Assistants And they publish a Declaration forbidding the Souldiers to Petition the Parliament as being under their command Likewise they had privately resolved to seize upon Cromwel then in London who having notice of it got secretly and hastily out of Town and with full speed rid to Tripoly-Heath so that his Horse was all in a foam and was received with the acclamations of the whole Army to whom he discovered the intentions and actions of the Parliament whereupon they entred into an Ingagement Not to Disband till the proposals they had drawn up for regulating all matters were answered and then marching to New-Marker they subscribed thereto Cromwel putting his Name first and the rest of the Officers generally followed so that several parchment Rolls were filled with their Names The next day was brought from the General and his Council of Officers an Impeachment of eleven Members of the House of Commons who were counted the chief of the Presbyterian party namely Sir W. Waller Coll. Massey Sir John Clothworthy Sir Denzil Hollis Coll. Long Mr. Anthony Nicholas Sir Ph. Stapleton Mr. Glyn Sir John Maynard Sir William Lewis and Coll. Edward Harley charging them with hindring the relief of Ireland obstructing of Justice and acting somewhat against the Army and the Laws of England The Members declared themselves ready to answer but the Army would have them secluded from their seats in Parliament till they had brought in their answer whereupon they withdrew themselves by consent for six months After which the Army marched nearer to London and came to Bedford the King going to the Earl of Bedfords-House near Wouborn And now the Citizens being for the Presbyterian party in the House and the Independents for the Army great divisions happened in London for the changing that Parliament having ordered the Militia of the City which had been established the 4th of May and put others better affected to the Army in their rooms the Presbyterian party were extreamly incensed thereat and came two days after to the House with a petition accompanied by a multitude of Citizens and Apprentices who coming to the door of the Commons cried out That they must grant their petition before they rose Whereupon the House beginning to rise they took the Speaker and held him in the Chair detaining him and the rest of the Members till they forced another Order from them ' That the King should come to London After which they adjourned to July 30. but then both Speakers were absent having withdrawn themselves to the Army whereupon two new Speakers were chosen the Lord Hunsdon and Mr. Henry Pelham Barrister by whom the following Orders were made that day 1. That the King should come to London 2. That the Militia of London should have power to raise Forces for defence of the City 3. They should also have power to choose a General for those Forces and that the eleven impeached Members should return to their feats The Citizens armed with these Orders presently proceed to raise Forces choosing Massey their General In the mean time the Lords and Commons which had left London consulting with the General and chief Commanders of the Army made an Order That all Acts and Decrees that had passed on July 26. and since should be accounted null and void and that they did adhere to the Declaration of the General and Council of the Army It was likewise decreed That the General with his Army should march to London Upon whose approach the Citizens who made some semblance of opposition meeting in Common-council and finding it impossible suddenly to raise Forces to oppose them they sent to the General for a pacification which by the consent of the Members of Parliament was granted them on these conditions 1. That they should desert the Parliament now sitting and the eleven Impeached Members 2. To recal their late Declaration 3. To relinquish their present Militia 4. To deliver up to the General all their Forts and the Tower of London 5. To Disband all the Forces they had raised All which not daring to deny were instantly ratified and so August 6. 1647. the Army marched triumphantly through London to Westminster with the two Speakers and the Members of Parliament whom they restored to their former Sears and the eleven secluded Members left London some going beyond Sea and others with passes to their Houses in the Country Both Speakers in the Name of the whole Parliament gave thanks to the General and made him Commander of all the Forces in England and Wales and Constable of the Tower of London a months pay was likewise given to the Army for a gratuity The next day Fairfax Cromwel Skippon and the other Commanders marched from Westminster through London to the Tower where some commands and the Militia were altered and to curb the City her Militia was divided Westminster and Southwark having power to command their own Trained Bands And thus was the Presbyterian party depressed and all things managed according to the Inclination of the Independents and the Army After this Fairfax marched out of London quartering his Souldiers in the Towns and Villages adjacent only leaving some Regiments about White hall and the Mewse to guard the Parliament his head Quarters being at Putney and the King about the middle of August after divers removes was at length brought to Hampton-court where he seemed
Trained Bands and with sâ—ones beat the Captain out of the Fields taking away his Colours with which they marched in the head of a disorderly Rout increasing continually by the way to Westminster crying out They were for King Charles but by a Troop of Horse out of the Mewse were soon dispersed yet running back into the City and others joining them they remained all Night in a body to the great terror of the Citizens so that the Lord Mayor who was for the Parliament escaped privately out of his House and went to the Tower In the morning Fairfax sent part of his Army into the City who drove them into Leaden-Hall taking some prisoners and scattered the rest so that this Tumult was instantly suppress'd for which service he had the thanks of the Parliament and some of the principal Citizens and a thousand pound gratuity to his Souldiers May 26. about three hundred came out of Surry to Westminster with a Petition to the Parliament wherein they demand That the King should be presently restored to his former Dignity and come to Westminster with honour freedom and safety to treat personally there about all Controversies That the Army should presently be Disbanded and the free people of England be governed by their known Lâ—ws and Statutes These Petitioners were so earnest for an answer that they would not stay â—â—ll the Parliament could debate it but set upon the Souldiers that guarded the House of whom some they hurt and killed one Whereupon some Horse and Foot were sent from the Mewse who gave them a feeling answer killing some and scattering the rest so that they were utterly vanquished At the same time the Kentish-men were coming with a Petition and a formidable Army to back it being inraged at the death of their Companions who raised a Tumult at Canterbury to prevent their arrival Gen. Fairsax was sent with seven Regiments to Black-Heath In the mean time some small Insurrections happened in Suffolk at Stamford and in Cornwall but were soon suppress'd by Coll. Wait Sir Hardrefs Waller and others Sir Thomas Glemham had seized upon Carlisle and Sir Marmaduke Langdale upon Berwick and fortified it and the Royalists had taken the strong Castle of Pomfret To manage these Wars in the North Coll. Lambert was left with some Regiments of Fairfaxes Army but the most formidable danger seemed to be in Wales where Poyer Powel and Langhorn three Parliament Collonels had raised an Army of eight thousand men by a Commission from Prince Charles but Collonel Horton with three thousand ingaged them near Peterstone and totally routed and put to flight their whole Army A great slaughter was made and about three thousand prisoners taken equal to the number of the Victors among whom were one hundred and fifty Officers many Colours a great quantity of Arms with all their Cannon Langhorn and Powel escaped with Poyer into Pembrook-castle Cromwel himself about the beginning of May was sent into Wales with some Regiments who coming to Chepstow-castle resolved to besiege it but hastening to Pembroke he left Coll. Ewer at Chepstow who within fifteen days took that Castle and klled Kemish to whom the Governour had treacherously surrendred it May 20. Cromwel came to Pembrook of which Collonel Poyer was Commander who relying on the great strength of the place refused all conditions being sensible that time was very precious with the Parliament who were surrounded with so many difficulties at once but Cromwel to whom despair was altogether a stranger prepared for the Siege being much furthered in his work from the Sea by the great Industry of Sir George Ayscough who continually furnish'd him by the assistance of a Squadron of Ships with great Guns and Provisions of all sorts from Bristol Having taken a full survey of the strength of the Castle he resolves to batter it with his Cannon because he had notice their Powder and other provisions would soon be spent and that the divisions he heard were among them might occasion them to yield and so save the loss of his men of whom he was very careful since so much Work lay upon their hands In the mean time he strictly guarded the Trenches to prevent them from coming out which had the effect he expected Hunger if not breaking through stone Walls yet occasioning them to deliver up the Town and Castle the Souldiers upon Quarter but Langhorn Poyer Powel and some others upon mercy which the rest found but Poyer was shot to death While Cromwel was acting these things in Wales Fairfax with his seven Regiments marched from Black-Heath toward Rochester and about Gravesend a great number were got together and among them above twenty Knights Esquires and Gentlemen of the County with several of the Kings old Commanders but they durst not ingage Fairfax though more numerous some marching to Maidstone a few to Rochester others to Dover to besiege that Castle but were soon removed by Coll. Rich and Sir Mich. Livesey About two thousand were got to Maidstone and resolved to defend it which they did with such obstinacy that the valour of Fairfax and his Souldiers were never tryed so much before nor a Victory got with greater danger for after they had broke into the Town with much difficulty they found a War in every Street and Cannon planted against them so that they were forced to fight for every corner of it but at length with the loss of forty men it was taken two hundred of the Royalists being slain and fourteen hundred made prisoners four hundred Horse and two thousand Arms taken and it was remarkable that at the same time another Army of many thousand Kentish-men coming from Rochester to aid their Friends yet when they came near durst not assist them but stood in sight while Fairfax took the Town Kent seemed now to be quiet when the Lord Goring with the remains of the Kentish-men being about two thousand marched as far as Greenwich sending to see how the Citizens stood affected to the business but while he staid expecting an answer some Troops of the Army came in sight upon which Goring and all his company fled the Horsemen persuing took some Booty and the Kentish-men generally went home to their own Houses but the Lord Goring with about five hundred Horse coming to Greenwich they got Boats and passed over into Essex and the Lord Capel with Forces out of Hartford-shire and Sir Charles Lucas with a body of Horse joined him at Chelmsford with several of the Kings Souldiers and many Londoners who flock'd to them The General followed them crossing the Thames at Gravesend and at length drove them into Colchester where after near three months Siege being reduced to that extremity as to live several VVeeks upon Horse-flesh despairing of relief they at length yielded themselves prisoners Sir Charles Lucas and Sir George Lisle being shot to death At this time Cromwel marches Northward to endeavour to prevent the danger from Scotland from whence D. Hamilton was marching
another place and soon after most of the Nobility and Gentry of Scotland were taken at a place called Ellet in that Kingdom where they were assembled to propagate the Royal cause namely Old General Lesley Earl Marshal Earl of Crawford the Lords Keith Ogilby Burgoiny Huntley Ley with many Knights Gentlemen and Ministers which soon after were ship'd and sent for England Such was the sudden change of the condition of the Scots and the King that he who a few days before was proclaimed King of Great Britain had now neither Camp nor Garrison to retire to five hundred pounds sterling being offered to discover him so that after travelling in disguise and through many dangers about England he at length found an opportunity to imbark at Shoreham in Sussex for Newhaven in France where he arrived Octob. 2. following Of the great number of prisoners taken none of Quality suffered but the Earl of Derby who was beheaded at Bolton in Lancashire and Sir Tim. Fetherstone Others of less note suffered at Chester Shrewsbury and other places Nor did many of the Royalists themselves expect any better fortune in this expedition than what happened as appears by Duke Hamiltons Letter to Sir William Crofts taken among other papers a few days before the fight to this purpose We are all laughing at the ridiculousness of our condition who having quit Scotland being scarce able to maintain it yet we grasp at all and nothing but all will satisfie us or to lose all I confess I cannot tell whether our hopes or fears are greatest but we have one stout argument and that is despair for we must now either shortly fight or dye All the Rogues have left us I will not say whether for fear or disloyalty but all now with His Majesty are such as will not dispute his commands So that we see this undertaking was not the product of deliberate counsel but of necessity and desperation This battel put a period to the Kings hopes of getting the Government by Arms and on the other hand secured to Cromwel all his former Conquests the influence whereof though acted in England was great in Scotland for their principal Nobility and souldiery being cut off they were no longer able to bear up but were soon reduced to the obedience of England And Cromwel giving an account to the Parliament of this great success he concludes his Letter by telling them That this was a crowning Victory which was afterward thought to proceed from the foresight of his future Greatness This fight happened Sept. 3. 1651. that very day twelve-month wherein the Scots received that fatal blow at Dunbar afore-mentioned After the battel Cromwel staâ—d no longer than to see the Walls of Worcester levelled to the ground and the Ditches filled up with earth to discover his aversion to the Inhabitants for receiving his Enemies into it and Sept. 12. came to London being met at Acton by the Parliament and their Speaker the Lord Mayor of London Aldermen and Recorder and hundreds of others to whom Steel the City Recorder made a Congratulatory Oration extolling all his Victories and Exploits with the highest flights of Rhetorick and applying to him the words of Psalm 149 Let the high praises of God be in their mouth and a two-edged sword in their hand to execute vengeance upon the Heathen and punishments upon the people to bind their Kings with chains and their Nobles with fetters of iron to execute upon them the judgment written this honour have all the Saints praise ye the Lord. After which he was conducted in triumph to his House near White-hall great number of Scotch prisoners coming after him through Tuthill-fields to Westminster as Trophies of his Victories and the Colours taken there with those at Dunbar Westminster Preston were hung up in Westminster-Hall After a short repose General Cromwel and Lieutenant General Lambert went to take their places in Parliament where they were entertained by the Speaker with a second Congratulatory Oration magnifying their courage and gallantry and acknowledging the great obligation which the people of England were under toward them The same day the Lord Mayor feasted the General and his Officers where mutual returns of kindness passed between them to the satisfaction of both parties Oct. 14. 1651. Collonel Hayn with two Regiments of foot and two Troops of Horse were shipp'd at Weymouth for reducing the Isle of Jersey in eighty Vessels under the command of General Blake who came to St. Owens Bay where the ships running aground the men leapt out some to the middle others up to the neck in water and ran ashoar the enemy playing hard upon them with great and small shot and gave a hot charge with their Horse yet after half an hours dispute they fled and left behind them twelve cannon and some colours After which the English marched further into the Island within sight of Elizabeth Castle under which was a Fort called St. Albans Tower where were fourteen Guns which upon summons was delivered and so was Orgueil castle and soon after Elizabeth castle upon very good terms to the Garrison and Governour Sir George Cartaret because of its great strength The Isle of Man was likewise reduced in a short time with the castles of Peele and Rushen both very strong and almost impregnable as well as Cornet castle in the Isle of Guernsey if the besieged had had resolution to defend them About this time died Admiral Popham and Henry Ireton Son-in-law to Oliver Cromwel at Lymerick which Kingdom in a little while after was wholly subdued and brought under the obedience of the Government of England The Parliament now passed two or three considerable Acts one for Incorporating Scotland into one Common-wealth with England another of Oblivion and free pardon a third to determine the Session of this Parliament on Nov. 3. 1654. a fourth for the increase of shipping and incouragement of Navigation wherein was enacted That no Goods or Commodities of the growth or manufacture of any places in Asia Africa America or Europe should be imported into England Ireland or any of the Territories thereof but only in English ships under the penalty of forfeiting the Goods and Ships And that no Goods whatsoever shall be brought in unless they be ship'd from the places of their growth and manufacture only Also that no Fish or Oyl made of Fish or Whale-bone shall be imported but only such as shall be caught in Vessels belonging to the English Lastly that no kinds of salted fish from Feb. 1. 1653. shall be exported in any other save English Vessels with several other exceptions and provisoes in reference to East-India Goods and of commodities from Turky Spain and Portugal This last Act was very grateful to the Merchants and Seamen but did extreamly surprize and disturb the Holl inders as judging it would cause a vast diminution in their Trade which with so much advantage they had long driven to the loss and detriment of the English Nation who
some effectual means whereby to establish Righteousness and Peace in these Nations And after much debate it was judged necessary that the supream Government should be by the Parliament devolved upon known persons fearing God and of approved Integrity and the Government of the Common-wealth committed to them for a time as the most hopeful way to incourage and countenance all Gods people reform the Law and administer Justice impartially hoping thereby the people may forget Monarchy and understanding their true Election of successive Parliaments may have the Government settled upon a true Basis without hazard to this glorious Cause or necessitating to keep up Armies for the defence of the same And being still resolved to use all means possible to avoid extraordinary courses we prevailed with about twenty Members of Parliament to give us a conference with whom we freely and calmly debated the Necessity and Justice of our proposals in that behalf and did evidence that those and not the Act under their consideration would most probably bring forth something answerable to that work the foundation whereof God hath laid and is now carrying on in the World The which notwithstanding found no acceptance but instead thereof it was offered that the way was to continue still this present Parliament as being that from which we might reasonably expect all good things And this being vehemently insisted upon did much confirm us in our apprehensions that not any love to a Representative but the making use thereof to recruit and so to perpetuate themselves was their aim They being plainly dealt with about this and told That neither the Nation the honest Interest nor we our selves would be deluded by such dealings they did agree to meet again the next day in the Afternoon for mutual satisfaction it being consented to by the Members present that endeavours should be used that nothing in the mean time should be done in Parliament that might exclude or frustrate the proposals before-mentioned Notwithstanding this the next morning the Parliament did make more haste than usual in carrying on their said Act being helped on therein by some of the persons ingaged to us the Night before none of them which were then present endeavouring to oppose the same and being ready to put the main Question for consumating the said Act whereby our foresaid proposals would have been rendred void and the way of bringing them into a fair and full debate of Parliament obstructed For preventing whereof and all the sad and evil consequences which must upon the grounds aforesaid have ensued and whereby at one blow the Interest of all honest men and of this glorious Cause had been indangered to be laid in the dust and these Nations imbroiled in new troubles at a time when our Enemies abroad are watching all opportunities against us and some of them actually engaged in War with us we have been necessitated though with much reluctancy to put an end to this parliament which yet we have done we hope out of an honest heart preferring this Cause above our Names Families Lives or Interests how dear soever with clear intentions and real purposes of heart to call to the Government persons of approved fidelity and honesty believing that as none wise will expect to gather Thistles of Thorns so good men will hope that if persons so qualified be chosen the fruits of a Just and Righteous Reformation so long prayed for and wished for will by the blessing of God be in due time obtained to the refreshing of all those good hearts who have been panting after these things Much more might have been said if it had been our desire to justifie our selves by aspersing others and raking into the mis-government of affairs but we shall conclude with this That as we have been led by Necessity and Providence to act as we have done even above and beyond even our own thoughts and desires so we shall and do in that of this great work which is behind put our selves wholly upon the Lord for a blessing professing we look not to stand one day without his support much less to bring to pass one of the things mentioned and desired without his assistance and therefore do solemnly desire and expect That all men as they would not provoke the Lord to their own destruction would wait for such an issue as he should bring forth and to follow their business with peaceable spirits wherein we promise them protection by his assistance And for those who profess their fear and love to the Name of God that seeing in a great measure for their sakes and for righteousness sake we have taken our lives in our hands to do these things they would be instant with the Lord day and night on our behalfs that we may obtain grace from him And seeing we have made so often mention of his Name that we may not do the least dishonour thereto which indeed would be our confusion and a stain to the whole profession of godliness We beseech them also to live in all humility meekness righteousness and love towards another and towards all men that so we may put to silence the Ignorance of the foolish that falsly accuse them and to know that the late great and glorious Dispensations wherein the Lord hath so gloriously appeared in bringing forth these things by the travel and blood of his Children ought so to oblige them so to walk in the wisdom and love of Christ as may cause others to honour their holy profession because they see Christ to be in them of a truth We do further propose before it be long more particularly to shew the grounds of our proceedings and the reasons of this late great action and change which in this we have but hinted at And we do lastly declare That all Judges Sheriffs Justices of Peace Mayors Bayliffs Committees and all other Civil Officers and publick Ministers whatsoever within the Common-wealth or any parts thereof do proceed in their respective places and Offices and all persons whatsoever are to give Obedience to them as fully as when the Parliament was sitting Signed in the Name and by the appointment of his Excellency the Lord General and his Council of Officers William Malyn Secret White-Hall April 22 1653. This Declaration being published throughout the Nation was assented to by most of the chief Officers both by Sea and Land but for satisfaction of the Civil Magistrates and to prevent disturbance this second Declaration was soon after published Whereas the Parliament being dissolved persons of approved fidelity and honesty and according to the late Declaration of the 22d instant to be called from several parts of this Common-wealth to the supream Authority and although effectual proceedings are and have been had for perfecting those resolutions yet some convenient time being required for the assembling of those persons it hath been found necessary for preventing the mischiefs and inconveniences which may arise in the mean while to the publick affairs that a