Iohn Lisle Lords Commissioners of the Great Seal Henry Lawrence Lord President of his Privy-Council Charles Fleetwood his Son in Law Robert Earl of Warwick Edmund Earl of Mulgrave Edward Earl of Manchester William Viscount Say and Sele Iohn Cleypole his other Son in Law and Master of his Horse Philip Lord Lisle eldest Son to the Earl of Leicester Charles Howard of Waworth Castle Philip Lord Wharton Thomas Lord Fauconbridg Iohn Desborough Edw. Montagu Admirals 〈◊〉 Sea George Lord Eure. Bulstrod Whitlock Sir Gilbert Pickering Kt. Collonel William Sydenham Sir Charles Wolfesley Baronet Major General Skippon Strickland Collonel Philip Iones Richard Hampden Sir William Strickland Francis Rous Esq Iohn Fiennes Esq Sir Francis Russell Baronet Sir Thomas Honywood Kt. Sir Arthur Haselrigg Baronet Sir Iohn Hobart Sir Richard Onslow Kt. Sir Gilbert Gerard. Sir William Roberts Kt. Iohn Glyn his Chief Justice of the Upper-Bench Oliver St. Iohn his Chief Justice of the Common-Pleas William Pierpont Esq Iohn Iones Esq Iohn Crew Esq Alexander Popham Esq Sir Christoph. Pack Alderman Sir Rob. Tichburne Alderman Made Kts. by Cromwel Edward Whalley one of his Major Generals Sir 〈…〉 but 〈◊〉 sold Thimbles and Bodkins Sir George Fleetwood another of his Knights Sir Thomas Pryde another of his Knights formerly a Dray-man Collonel Richard Ingoldesby Sir Iohn Heuson another of his Knights formerly a Cobler Iames Berrey one of his Major Generals formerly Clerk to a Forge Collonel William Goffe Thomas Cooper Edmund Thomas George Monke then Commander in Chief of his Forces in Scotland David Earl of Cassils in Scotland Sir William Lockart another of his Knights Sir Archib Iohnston a Scotchman William Steele his Lord Chancelour of Ireland The Lord Broghil Brother to the Earl of Corke in Ireland Sir Matthew Tomlinson another of his Knights The Sitting of which House began upon the twentieth of Ianuary at which time likewise those of the Commons who had formerly declined to sign the Recognition were freely admitted But so much were those new Lords despised and scorned by the Honse of Commons that the Protector finding no advantage by their Sitting Dissolved that his Second Parliament Which was not more slow in complying with his advancement than the Royallists were forward in their contrivances for pulling him down But so great was his vigilancy and no less his cost whereby he had allured some Birds of that Feather that the Consultations of his Adversaries were no sooner had than apparently discovered so that when ever he pleased he could take them in his Net as he always did when he thought that examples of severity might be for his advantage It being therefore once more expedient to renew those terrors to the people he caused his bloody Theatre called the High-Court of Iustice to be again erected in Westminster-Hall where for the more formalities sake the persons whom he did design for destruction were brought the one Dr. Iohn Heuit a Reverend Divine the other Sir Henry Slingsby Kt. a Yorkshire Gentleman of great Loyalty and Valour who being charged with High Treason against his Protectorship and stoutly denying the Authority of that Tribunal had Sentence of death soon passed upon them which they did accordingly suffer with great magnanimity though there was no little endeavour used for to save their lives his Daughter Claypole whose interest otherwise with him was beyond expression solliciting for the Doctor with all earnestness that could be But it concerning him at that time so much in point of Policy to sacrifice some for a terror to others neither her incessant Supplication nor Tears could prevail which brought upon her such excessive grief of mind that falling into a sharp fit of sickness wherein crying out against him for Dr. Heuits blood she dyed with the most bitter torments imaginable Which death of hers was the fore-runner to that of this wicked Tyrant for soon after a deep Melancholy seized closely upon him in which the guilt of so much innocent blood as he had spilt might perhaps somewhat touch him But without doubt that which stuck nearest to him was his real consideration that he could never ascend unto such an height of Sovereignty as his ambitious desires had long gaped after For he plainly saw that the Anabaptists and Fifth-Monarchy men whom in order to the destruction of his lawful Sovereign he had so much cherisht then were and were ever like to be as thorns in his sides and blocks in his way thereto And which is more that not only Fleetwood his Son in Law whom privately he had designed to be his Successor in the Government was an especial friend and favourer of those desperate Fanatics but that Desborough Sir Gilbert Pickering Collonel Sydenham and many other of his Council were underhand well-wishers to Lambert and his party who were known enemies to all Monarchick Rule and consequently to that wherein he had so long aimed to be setled Which sorrows and perplexities of his restless mind meeting with some Natural infirmities of his Body struck him into a sharp and Feaverish distemper whereat his Physicians expressing their thoughts he told them that if they supposed him in a dying condition they were utterly mistaken forasmuch as he had been comforted with Revelations to the contrary Nay he was farther so transported with those vain Enthusiasms and had such brain-sick persons about him even those of his Chaplains who were equally possest with such giddy-headed conceipts that they foolishly dreamed and fancyed as much and told it in publick that having sought God by Prayer for the prolongation of his life they received such assurances of his grant to their Petitions that they not only gave out that he effectually recovered but kept a solemn Thanksgiving for the same at Hampton-Court where he then lay Which strange and bold confidence caused forthwith his removal from thence to White-Hall where he had not been from that time many days but his Physician allarm'd them with his near approaching death Which so awakened the best of his Friends that they soon fell to enquiry whom he intended for his Successor But so little sense had he then of that question that he made them an answer no whit to the purpose Whereupon they askt him whether it was not his Son Richard to which he made them some signs of assent But farther enquiring of his last Will and Testament whereby they presumed that he had nominated his Successor he directed them to his Closet and other places for search but all to no purpose for nothing could be found In which discomposure departing this life upon the third of September to the end that the Government might not fall to the ground some few of the Council giving out that Richard was according to the Instrument the Person declared they immediately caused him to be Proclaimed Protector Having thus traced this Monster to his death which happened on the same day of the month whereon he had been twice wonderfully victorious
make him increase his plagues upon us and to punish us seven times more because we continue to walk contrary unto him 2. That the Lord's hand is still stretched out against us in the Iudgment of the Pestilence which spreads not onely in several parts of the Country but continueth and increaseth in many of the most eminent Cities of the Kingdome 3. The great danger that threatens Religion and the work of Reformation in these Kingdomes for the number power and policy of the Secretaries in England which are like not onely to interupt the progress of uniformity and the establishment of the Ordinances of God in their beauty and perfection but to overturn the foundation already laid and all that hath been built thereupon with the expence of so much bloud and pains And therefore we are earnestly to pray to the Lord that the solemn League and Covenant may be kept fast and inviolable notwithstanding all the purposes and endeavours of open Enemies and secret underminigs to the contrary We are to intreat the Lord on the behalf of the King's Majesty that he may be reconcil'd to God and that he may be now furnished with wisdome and councill from above that he be not involved in new snares to the endangering of himself and these Kingdomes but that his Heart may incline to such resolutions as will contribute for setling of Religion and Righteousness We are also to intreat the Lord on the behalf of the Parliament of England of the Synod of Divines and of all such in that Land as do unfeignedly mind the work of God that they may not be discouraged nor swerve in the day of temptation but that every of them in their Stations and according to their places and callings may be furnished with Light and Strength from Heaven for doing of their duty with faithfulness and zeal We are to supplicate for direction to our Committee of Estates that they may discern the times and know what is fitting to be done for securing our selves and encouraging our Brethren We are to pray for a Spirit of Light of Love unto our Assembly that they may be instrumental in preserving Truth and advancing Holiness amongst our selves and for carrying on the work of God amongst our Neighbours That the Lord would pour out upon all sorts of persons in these Kingdomes a Spirit of Grace and Supplication that it may repent us of all our Iniquities and that we may be reconcil'd unto the Lord that so all tokens of his wrath may be removed from amongst us and he may bless us with the sweet fruits of Truth and Peace It cannot easily be thought but that the Scots did somewhat more than fast and pray considering the desperate condition wherein their Covenanting-Brethren especially at Westminster and in London then stood and that the great work of Reformation as they call'd it lay in such hazard But at such a distance what more could soon be expected than that they should by the help of the zealous Preachers earnestly incite the Covenanters in London to bestir themselves and put more courage into those drooping Members who after the late purge were then left in the House which for certain they under-hand in some sort did and were like enough above board to have done much more considering that by an Ordinance of May the 4th then past the Militia of that great City was established in the hands of such persons as were nominated by the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Common-Council there To secure themselves therefore against this iminent danger the Army were necessitated by picking a quarrel with the City to wrest the Militia out of their hands and then totally to cleanse the House at Westminster of the remaining Presbyterean-humour by a stronger purge then it formerly had In order whereunto there was a Letter forthwith sent from General Fairfax and the Army together with a Remonstrance to the Houses at Westminster demanding the Militia of the City to be put into their Hands Whereupon the House of Commons tamely and readily voted the repealing of that Ordinance of May the 4th and presently passed a new Ordinance for reviving the old Militia and transmitted it to the Lords Which unexpected change caused the City to meet in Common-Council and to resolve of Petitioning the Parliament again therein within two days following And so they did by their Sheriffs and some of the Common-Council But to second this Petition there followed them within three hours some thousands of Apprentices and other stout fellows with another Petition whereby they claim'd the Militia as the Citie 's Birthright by sundry Charters confirm'd in former Parliaments for defence whereof they alledg'd that they had adventured their Lives as far as the Army and thereupon desired that the Militia might be put again into the same Hands in which it was put with the Parliament and Citie 's consent upon the 4th of May. And this they did in so tumultuous a fashion that the Lords who were then but seven in number presently granted it And having so done and sent it to the Commons slipping out by a postern went themselves away by water But the Commons having no mind to displease the Army refus'd to do the like and angrily bad the Apprentices to be gone intending to rise and adjourn themselves Which purpose of theirs being discern'd by those youngsters was by them soon prevented by shutting up their doors and peremptorily requiring their complyance with the Lords The Commons therefore seeing themselves in this streight did at length with much unwillingness yeild to the importunity of these their bold Suitors and not onely so but were by them forc't to pass a farther vote which was that the King should be admitted to come to London to treat But this uproar being made known to the Grandees of the Army the greatest advantage imaginable was made thereof For the confiding Members being thereupon sent for to the Army fled to the Head-Quarters at Windsore within three days after the Speaker also bearing them Company who having cousened the State of vast sums of Money was threatned with an Impeachment if he did not come with them Of the House of Commons that so fled to the Army the number was said to be above fourty and of the Lords which came after the names were these viz. the Earls of Northumberland Warwick Manchester Salisbury Kent Moulgrave the Viscount Say and Sele the Lords Grey of Warke Wharton and Howard of Escrick Of the House of Lords that stay'd the Lord Willoughby of Parham was made Speaker But of the Commons there was about one hundred and fourty who coming to the House and missing their old Speaker and the Serjeant at Mace which usually attended chose Mr. Henry Pelham to be their new Speaker and another Serjeant to attend him Which number being all of the old Covenanting flock and yet not further illuminated proceeded to doe and act as a Parliament first
to all Kings from their Subjects and from them to their dread Soveraign after a more special manner but meerly to preserve their Religion and Liberties of the Kingdom and that whatsoever course they should take it should be no imputation to them being constrain'd thereto for best securing that Kirk and Kingdom from the Extremity of confusion and misery taking God and man to witness that they would be free of all outrages and Insolencies that should be committed in the mean time And then they began again to levy and raise Forces in several parts of the Realm in great numbers excercised train'd and assign'd them a Rendezvouz as also a day to be in readiness to march making Provisions of Artillery Amunition and Armes in great quantities from forreign parts laying Taxes and Impositions of ten marks in every hundred upon all the Subjects of that Kingdom according to their several Revenues for support of their Rebellion exacting the same with the greatest rigour that could be imagined spreading sundry Papers and Pamphlets scandalous to the King's proceedings block'd up the Castle of Edenborough and fortified divers places imprisoned the Earl of Southeske one of his Majesties Privy-Council there and sundry others of quality for not adhering to them in their Rebellious courses endeavouring to settle Intelligencers in parts beyond-Sea and practising to let in forreign power inclining rather to prostitute themselves to a forreign Government and different in Religion than yield obedience and conformity to his Majesty their natural Soveraign as appears by their Addresses and Letter to the French King By what hath been said it appearing that the first glimpse of this grand and destructive Rebellion shew'd it self at Edenborough upon the three and twentieth of Iuly an 1637 the scum of the people then taking fire at thâ— reading of that Service-book which was sent over by his late Majesty of blessed memory as a proper Liturgy for the Church of Scotland and most nearly suting with this of England Forasmuch therefore as from those Sparks the ensuing flames arose which from and after that time continued burning for the space of many years until they had overspread and much wasted the cheif parts of this great Isle to make the Bishops of both Kingdoms odious there are not a few who either out of malice to their sacred function or ignorance as to matter of fact have imputed the original of all this mischeif unto them as the first Authors or procurers of that Book which they would have believed to be the first rise thereof To the end therefore that those reverend persons soon after ruin'd and since dead may be fully vindicated from being primarily instrumental therein though had they so been no person of upright judgment could justly have blamed them from endeavouring an uniformity in the service of God in both Kingdoms I shall desire my Reader to cast his eye upon that faithful Narrative written by the command of our late Soveraign King Charles the first and corrected throughout with his own hand as many yet living can testify whereby he will clearly discern that the then Lords of the Privy-Council of Scotland were the men who advised the King to commend a Service-Book to be received and used in all the Churches of that Realm of which there was no little want every man being left to his own giddy fancy Now whether this advice of those Lords was not with purpose to trepan his Majesty to do that which as they resolv'd to order the business should occasion a tumultuous Insurrection by the rabble whence their grand Design of raising a general flame of war might ensue let the Reader judge when he looks back upon their discontents upon his Majesties Revocation of such things as had been passed away in prejudice of that Crown especially by some of his Progenitors in their minorities though not without advice of those who were then his Privy-Councellors in that Realm as hath been already observed And withall consider what combinations were driven on divers years before betwixt the most considerable persons of the Puritan-party in England and the Grand-Contrivers there Mr. Knightley's house in Northampton-shire being the chief place where that restless faction had their frequent meetings whence a Gentleman of quality was sent into Scotland afterwards a great Parliament-man here who residing there for some time before the troubles broke out represented to those which had the chief Interest there that the business of the Ship-money and Habeas Corpus with divers other things whereof there was much noise made afterwards had so irritated the greatest part of the English Nation that if they made sure work at home they needed not to fear any thing from England Moreover how earnestly and eagerly after that Tumult at Edenborough was so raised all sorts of people took advantage thereof the Kirkmen laying about them in their Pulpits so that the Citizens Gentry and Nobles speedily put themselves in Armes entring into a rebellious Confederacy called the Covenant And lastly that when his Majesty most gratiously offered to recall the Service-Book which was the great business at which they seem'd to take offence they were no whit lenified It will be visible enough to any person of judgment who doth not wilfully shut his Eyes that the hatching of this Rebellion was of a much elder date than that Service-Book But I now return to England CHAP. VI. HIs Majesty thus seeing his danger from Scotland and hoping of help from his English Subjects resolv'd of calling a Parliament here But no sooner were Writs out for that purpose than that the Schismatical Party used all possible endeavour to strengthen their side by choosing of their own faction for Knights and Burgesses And to accomplish the same spared for no pains in packing of Voices and making parties wherein their Seditious Pulpit-men bestir'd themselves to purpose such being then their fury that those meetings for Elections appeared more like riotous tumults than orderly conventions nevertheless the Nation was not then so generally tainted but that many good men were chosen Which Parliament began at Westminster upon the thirteenth day of April wherein his Majesty declared to both Houses the indignities receiv'd from his Scotish Subjects and to suppress their Rebellion proposed a Supply of twelve Subsidies in lieu whereof he was content to forbear Ship-money than which nothing seem'd so grievous Had not that Parliament been broke by the subtile artifices of the Grand-Contrivers in the immediate Rebellion no doubt but all those miseries which were thereby soon after brought upon this Realm might have been easily prevented and that the breach thereof was wrought by them is plain enough For Sir Henry Vane Senior a member of the House of Commons at that time and one of his Majesties principal Secretaries of State having by the King's appointment moved for a Supply of twelve Subsidies yet with power to stoop to eight when he saw an inclination
Independents of the Army to gain the whole and absolute power of rule into their hands having printed and published several Declarations Remonstrances Manifestos and Proposals besides Petitions of their own framing whereunto they got subscriptions in many places insinuating to the people their willingness to redress publick Greivances to be the Restorers of Peace the Laws and Liberties of the Subject to be setlers of Religion maintainers of the priviledges of Parliament Callers to accompt of all Committees Sequestrators Treasurers c. and to be their deliverers from Excise and other Taxes but above all preservers of all true Interests Restorers of the King to his just Rights and Prerogatives with Honour Freedom and Safty to his person without which they professed there could be no setled peace or happiness in this Nation And in pursuance of their undertakings having made Addresses to His Majesty with more tolerable overtures than any that he could obtain from the Members sitting at Westminster they after a while made private proposals to him sutable meerly to their own Interests but wholy derogatory to his Regal power the Religion established by Law as also to the Liberties and Properties of the Subject Whereunto when they saw that the King could not with his Conscience and Honour assent they enterteined new designs against his Person and Government ushering them in by the help of a Levelling-party who in pursuance thereof obtruded clamourous Petitions against any farther Treaty with His Majesty and demanded exemplary Justice from the Members at Westminster against him which through the influence that the Army had on them considering how the Houses had been garbled were entertain'd with Thanks Hence was it that when those Propositions of 13. Nov. anno 1647. were brought into the House from His Majesty whereby he pressed them so earnestly for a personal Treaty the four Dethroning Bills were sent to him to be first signed before they would admit thereof And upon his refusal to yield unto them those Destructive Votes of no more Addresses to him were passed The miserable condition of his Majesty and in him of all his loyal Subjects being therefore thus evidently seen by most men who beheld nothing but slavery and oppression thenceforth to be their portion did so awaken them that from Essex there came a Petition by many thousands to the Members at Westminster for a personal Treaty with the King as the most proper means to a well grounded peace After that another from Surrey a multitude of that County accompanying it to Westminster Which relisht so ill with the Grandees that they sent the Guards to beat them away whereupon divers were wounded and some slain Nor had the Kentish-men better success for having by their Grand Jury in the name of the whole Shire fram'd a petition for peace the Committee of that County being jealous that the people would take Heart thereat prohibited the same by printed papers published in all the Churches branding it to be seditious and tumultuous saying that they would hang up two in every Parish that were promoters of it and sequester the rest And when the people seeing themselves opposed in that their modest way of Application resolved of farther consideration therein by a general meeting and to come arm'd for their own defence a party of Horse was first sent in amongst them and afterwards the whole Army under the Command of their General Fairfax whereupon some of them fled into Essex where Sir Charles Lucas and divers of that County joyned with them as also the Lord Capell at Colchester with some Horse which necessitating the rest for their own defence to make to Sandwich and some Castles on the coast thereabouts the Army advanc't after slew and took divers of them prisoners and sequestred the estates of all that desired peace Weever a hot-headed Independent having mov'd in the House of Commons that all Kent might be sequestred because they had rebell'd and all Essex because they would rebel But notwithstanding the strength of their Army and severity against those who did not submit to their oppressive power the Scots having rays'd an Army which was then ready to march into England in pursuance of the ends of the Covenant as hath been observed there were many others in sundry parts of the Nation as well Presbytereans as Royalists discerning no better fruits to themselves of those successes which the Independents then had than oppression and slavery boldly made attempts in order to the rescue of His Majesty out of their cruel hands and to free the whole Kingdome from their farther Tyranny Of these the first was by Sir Nicholas Kemish who got with some forces into Chepstow-castle The next was that of the valiant Sir Marmaduke Langdale who shortly after surprized the strong town of Barwick After this Col. Laughorn Poyer and Powell having raysed eight thousand men in Pembrokeshire secured Lenvy-castle with the town and castle of Pembroke and declared in those parts for the settlement of the King and Kingdome Sir Philip Musgrave also upon the like fair hopes took Carlisse About the same time likewise part of the royal Navy consisting of twenty great Ships of War under the command of their Vice-Admiral Batten revolted and came in to the Prince in Yarmouth road Pontfrait-castle being within few days after surprized by the Royalists and the Earl of Holland with the Lord Francis Villers in Arms with two thousand men near Kingston upon Thames And to make the expectation more secure Duke Hamilton with a powerfull Army of the Scots entring England published a Declaration consisting of these heads 1. That the King should be brought to London to treat in person with the two Houses of Parliament 2. That all those who had a hand in or contrived the carrying of the King from Holdenby should be condignly punished 3. That the English Army should be disbanded 4. That Presbytery should be settled 5. And that the Members of Parliament which were forcibly secluded from the House should be re-seated there After which within few days Major Lilburne Brother to Iohn Governour of Tinemouth-castle in the Bishoprick of Durham declared for the King But the fruits of all these fair hopes were soon blasted for as that Castle was shortly after storm'd by Sir Arthur Haslerig and Lilburne with his men put to the Sword So was Chepstow-castle by Col. Eure and Sir Nicholas Kemish kill'd in cold bloud The Earl of Holland also with the Lord Francis Villers were encountred by Colonel Rich Major Gibbons and Sir Michael Livesey totally routed the Lord Francis Villers slain the Earl himself pursued to St. Ives in Huntingdon-shire and there taken Laughorne Poyer and Powell were likewise defeated by Cromwell and Colonel Horton And Sir Iohn Owen who was in Arms about that time in Northwales vanquisht by Major General Mitton The Navy also brought in by Batten fell off to the Earl of Warwick Duke
Hamilton with his Army being utterly routed at Preston in Lancashire and in his flight at Uttoxeter in Staffordshire taken prisoner Colchester lastly which had held out with great hardship expecting relief from Duke Hamilton was forc't to surrender and submit whereupon Sir Charles Lucas and Sir George L'isle were immediately sacrificed to the rage of these merciless men the Lord Capell made prisoner and the Townsmen fined at fourteen thousand pounds But those black clouds before they were thus disperst betokening a suddain storm put these new Saints for their more security upon some desperate thoughts of taking away the King's life To which end one Captain Rolfe was imploy'd by them as himself did confess to remove his Majesty out of the way by poison or any other means forasmuch as it would highly conduce to their affairs Whether it was by Reason that Osburne a confident of Rolfe's had discovered the design or that upon more considerate thoughts they took other resolutions it is hard to say but the execution of that murther was then at present laid aside Many were the petitions at that time to the Members at Westminster from sundry parts all pressing earnestly for a personal Treaty yea some of them from such as they durst hardly displease as from the Masters of the Trinity House Captains of Ships and Sea-men and another from the City of London ¶ There is no doubt but that the Presbyterean-members were private well-wishers if not contrivers of this third Scottish Invasion though by the prevalency of the other faction a Vote was passed in the House of Commons that the Scottish-Army under the command of Duke Hamilton were Enemies and that they should accordingly proceed against them In which argument the Independents were so fierce that when it was objected by one that he thought the Lords would not concur therein Reply was made That the House of Commons being the Representative of the people had power to act without the Lords for the peoples safety in case the Lords deserted their Trust. Nevertheless whether it was the courage that the Presbytereans then took by reason of Duke Hamilton's Invasion and those other disturbances before-mention'd or whether it was the doubts the Independents had of the dangers which these approaching troubles might produce 't is hard to say Sure it is that after much debate and many Arguments it was resolved That his Majesty in person should be treated with by Commissioners of both Houses of Parliament in the Isle of Wight upon the whole matter of the Propositions at Hampton-court for settling the peace of the Kingdome Which Vote with other circumstances did then make such a change in the face of things that the City of London began to assume the power of their own Militia and listed men saying they did it by the Law of self Defence warranted by the Law of God of Nature and of the Land and by a farther Authority which would make little for the advantage of the Parliament to question Which so startled the Members at Westminster that resuming their old Presbyterean-cloak they forthwith dispatch't Letters to the Assembly of the Kirk of Scotland setting forth what the Parliament had done in the way of setling peace reforming the Church and Universities and maintaining the Covenant and union betwixt the two Nations complaining of Duke Hamilton's Invasion under colour of authority from the Parliament of that Kingdome And though the Brethren of Scotland grounded this their third Invasion upon the Covenant the Independent-members at Westminster utterly denied that their assertion affirming stoutly that the Scots had broke the Covenant therein yea that in so doing they had set the English at Liberty from it and that the Covenant was no more jure divino than Presbytery To which was answered by the Presbytereans for concerning this point there grew a tough dispute in the House betwixt those two Parties that the large Treaty contained the League between the two Nations so did not the Covenant which was a vow made unto God with their Hands lifted up to Heaven for the maintenance and observation of the ends and principles expressed in the Covenant from which no power on earth could absolve them And that though the Covenant was not jure divino yet the keeping of it after they had taken it was jure divino it being the revealed will of God that they should not offer unto him the sacrifice of fools a Covenant to day and break it to morrow But to this some of the more zealous replied that the Covenant was originally framed to satisfie the Brethren of Scotland upon the first bringing in of their Army hither to help the Lord against the mighty without which the Scots would not have come in to their assistance And that work being over they were not at all obliged by the Covenant any further it being to be laid aside as an Almanack out of date And therefore to strengthen themselves the more there were private Listings of the Schismaticks and Antimonarchists in London Which did so awaken the Presbyterean-Saints in that City that they complain'd to the House of Commons representing the danger thereof saying that if the Houses did not give them leave to look to their safety they must have recourse to the Law of Nature and act in their Militia without the Houses in order to self Defence allowable by all Laws and practised by that very Parliament against the King and likewise by Fairfax his Army against the Parliament Unto which words there were such high exceptions taken that some of the fiery-spirited Independents replied that the Parliament having fought with the King for the Militia and gotten it by the Sword no other Interest upon any title whatsoever should dare to lay claim to any part of it Upon which Doctrine they practised to purpose as by and by will appear CHAP. XXIX THE next thing whereof I am in order of time to take notice is that this fatal and absolute destruction of the Scottish-Army under the command of Duke Hamilton by Lieutenant General Cromwell at that time Commander of the Parliament's forces Fairfax having declin'd to serve against the Brethren was not by any formal Battel but rather a beating up of Quarters and some slight Skyrmishes and that it was then chiefly attributed to the over-confidence which Duke Hamilton had in the strength of his own Countrymen exposing those English which were Commanded by the truly noble Sir Marmaduke Langdale to be over powred by the Enemy thereby expecting an absolute Conquest through his own puissance and so to have reapt the whole honour of restoring the King if he ever had any such intent So that Cromwell being now triumphant over the whole Scottish-Army which was the most formidable of any then on foot against them and not long after over those right valiant and loyall persons at Colchester The Ships also which went over to the Prince
a Block-house in the Sea not far from the Isle of Wight where the cold was most sharp and the Air very unwholsome as men inslam'd in this desperate condition they again took courage and held out a stout contest with the Independant-Party for the space of a whole day and night together And notwithstanding the many sharp Menaces which they had from the Sword-men on the other side they then Voted that the King's Answer to the Propositions from both Houses was a ground for them to proceed on to the settlement of the Kingdoms Peace Which put the Army into such a rage that they forthwith sent a Paper to the House by Pride and Hewson two of their Collonels requiring that the formerly impeached Members together with Major General Browne whom they charg'd to have been an Inviter of Duke Hamilton with the Scottish Army might be secured and brought to Iustice. As also that the Ninety and odd Members who refused to Vote against the late Scottish Engagement and all that Voted for recalling the Votes of Non-Addresses and likewise those that Voted for the late Treaty and that the King's concessions therein were a ground for the Houses to proceed to a settlement should be immediately suspended the House And that all such faithful Members as were innocent of those Votes should by protestation acquit themselves from any concurrence in them to the end they might be distinguished And scorning to make any long stay for an Answer to that their Paper they sent the next Morning certain Regiments of Horse and Foot to Westminster who setting Guards upon all the Avenues to the Parliament House seized upon one and Forty of the Members then Sitting viz. Major General Browne Mr. Iohn Buckley Colonel Birch Mr. Thomas Boughton Mr. Francis Buller Sir Iohn Clotworthy Mr. Lionel Copley Mr. Iohn Crew Sir Simonds D'ewes Knight and Baronet Mr. Drake Sir Walter Earle Mr. Nathaniel Fienes Mr. Giles Greene. Sir Gilbert Gerard. Sir Herbottle Grimston Kt. Mr. Francis Gerard. Sir Robert Harley Kt. Colonel Edward Harley Sir Anthony Irby Mr. Iohn Knightley Sir Martin Lyster Colonel Edward Leigh Mr. Lane Sir Samuel Luke Sir William Lewes Major General Massy Sir Iohn Merrick Sir Richard Onslow Mr. Henry Pelham Sir Robert Pye Kt. Mr. William Pryn. Mr. Preistley Sir Benjamin Rudyard Mr. William Strode Sir Thomas Soame Mr. Edward Stephens Mr. Iohn Swinfen Mr. Charles Vaughan Sir William Waller Mr. William Wheeler The Lord Wenman Mr. Clement Walker Of whose Names Mr. Hugh Peters one of their hot-headed Preachers came to take a List and then convey'd them into their great Victualling-house near Westminster-Hall called Hell where they kept them all night without any Beds Whence being driven a Prisoners through Snow and Rain by the Guards to several Inns in the Strand the Souldiers upbraided them in their passage that they were the men who had cousened the State of their Money and kept back the Armies Pay Which signal Act hapned the very day that their great Master Oliver Cromwel return'd from Scotland to Loudon And as they made Prisoners of these so they denyed entrance into the House unto above one hundred and Sixty more Whereupon the rest of the Presbyterian Party being terrified with this usage of their Fellow-Members declin'd the House leaving it to about an hundred and Fifty who for the most part being Officers of the Army perform'd whatsoever the Grandees of that Faction prompted them to do This Exclusion of those Members being call'd Colonel Pride 's Purge ¶ It is very well known to the world that throughout the whole course of this grand Rebellion it was the usual practise of the Presbyterians to make great advantages unto their Party by frequenting of Sermons and performance of other pretended exercises of Religion Amongst which the strict observance of such dayes as were set apart by their Leaders for Seeking of God as they call'd it by Fasting and Prayer and other wayes of Humiliation were not the least In which act of deluding the People they were at length grown to be such excellent Masters that when any transcendent work was to be done it was always ushered in with this sanctified veile under pretence that in the zealous performance of those Duties they did ask Council of the Lord and thereupon by some more than ordinary Illumination were directed to proceed in the business design'd Which notable example the Independants deeming fit to be imitated in order to their own High and Mighty designs they kept a Fast in the House of Commons upon the Eighth of December Where Mr. Stephen Marshall formerly the Great Bell-weather of the Presbyterian Flock Mr. Carrill and Hugh Peters Preacht that day to them under pretence of directing them to humble their Spirits now that God had so signally appeared to them in their great Victory over the Scots at Preston and other eminent manifestations Next to which devout work the remaining Members that sate after this Grand Purge damn'd all the Votes which the Presbyterians had made either in reference to the Treaty or to their secluded Brethren And within few days after divers of the Lords went to the General to express their good affections to him and concurrence with his purposes for the Common God as also to let his Excellency know that they would wave their Priviledges and Titles in case they should be found burthensome to the Liberties of the People And as the Lords had thus manifested their obsequiousness to the Army so did also the most Godly men of the House of Commons by subscribing a Protestation against the late Treaty with the King in the Isle of Wight but especially against that Vote of 5. Dec. allowing His Majesties Answer to the Propositions of Both Houses to be a ground for them to proceed on for a Settlement the names of which worthy Members I have here added Philip Lord Lisle Colonel Boswell Mr. Iohn Gourdon The Lord Grey of Groby Mr. Peregrine Pelham Colonel Iones Colonel Temple Colonel Ven. Sir Thomas Maleverer Sir Thomas Wrothe Sir Iohn Bourcher Colonel Peter Temple Mr. Humphry Edwards Mr. Thomas Chaloner Sir Gregory Norton Michael Old worth Augustine Garland Sir Iohn Danvers Mr. Dove Mr. Henry Smith Mr. Frye Mr. Searle Mr. Nicholas Love Mr. Iohn Lisle Colonel Rigby Mr. Cornelius Holland Colonel Ludlow Gregory Clement Colonel Purefoy Colonel Stapeley Mr. Dunch Mr. Cawley Colonel Downes Mr. Iohn Carey Mr. Iohn Blakeston Mr. Thomas Scott Colonel Hutchinson Sir Henry Mildmay Sir Iames Harington Colonel Edward Harvey Alderman Penington Alderman Atkins Mr. Daniel Blagrave Colonel Moore Colonel Millington Mr. Prideaux Mr. Roger Hill Mr. Dennis Bond. Colonel Harrington Mr. Hodges Mr. Benjamin Valentine The work being therefore thus smoothly carryed on to accomplish their chief design for murthering the King they remov'd him from Hurst-Castle to Winchester and thence to Farâ—ham-Castle in Hantshire And that they might effect their business with the greater Formality they held a
his person by the Rabble animated by some enraged Papists for thus disappointing them of making a Proselite of him as they boasted they had done and given publick thanks in divers Churches But his Lordship assured him that as he had spent the greatest part of his life and fortune in the Service of his Highnesses Royal Family and defence of the Protestant Religion he would willingly Sacrifice the remainder of both on so honourable an occasion as this With which hearty invitation his Highness was so pleased that he took no farther thoughts whither to go but remained with his Lordship Being thus gone from the Pallace-Royal the Queen Mother of France came immediately thither to try again as 't was thought if she could prevail with him to change his Religion And as soon as she came sent her Son the Duke of Anjou afterwards of Orleans to visit him who return'd with the news that he was not to be found But as soon as it was known that he was at the Lord Hatton's House she sent the then Marquess since Duke of Plessis a Person of such famed parts and abilities that in consideration thereof he was made Governour to the Duke of Anjou to perswade with him to comply with his Mothers advise for effecting whereof he exercised all his parts and elocution with great earnestness urging that since the Death of his Father the Queen his Mother had the sole Power and Authority over him Disputing whether the King his Brother as his Sovereign had equal Authority to dispose of him And the discourse growing somewhat publick the Marquess of Ormund and the Lord Hatton then present arguing in the Dukes defence the French Marquess finding himself overmatch't in great passion return'd without the success expected at the Pallace-Royal where the French Queen staid very late till he came back Whose report when both Queen 's heard they were then fully satisfied in the Dukes firmness to his Religion so that after that no considerable attempt was made on him though he continued for near two months very nobly entertained by the Lord Hatton until through the Marquess of Ormund's and his Lordships Interest Necessaries could be provided for his going into Germany CHAP. XXXVIII IT is not to be doubted but that the Convening of these persons from all parts of the Nation considering that divers of them being Members of the Old Long Parliament and eagerly thirsted to obtain their wonted power again having to that end corrupted a great part of the Army did not a little endanger his new-raised Dominion But such was his vigilancy that their Plots took no effect Seeing therefore both how and by whom his Authority had been thus affronted lest others in time by such examples might be swayed his next business was to gain some shadow of being owned by the generality of the people throughout the three Kingdoms which by the help of his Emissaries in short time he accomplisht first from Scotland by Gratulatory Petitions and next from the Counties and chief Places throughout England and Ireland Which being effected he then put on the Mask of a most tender and zealous Patriot earnestly promoting the performance of Justice encouraging Virtue and discountenancing Vice And to gain those of the Clergy who might be most serviceable to his purpose he made no small shews of his favours unto them yet with a check to the insolency of the Presbyterian and depressing the Episcopal and Orthodox To those also of the Romish persuasion though he seemed severe 't is certain enough that he did somwhat favour them there being not any sort of men to whom he carried not some shew of respect having an excellent faculty of courting them with some appearance of kidness But to captivate those who were seemingly Religious he had a singular art of discoursing with them most Divinely and not only so but Praying Sighing Groaning and somtimes shedding Tears in their presence yet having a special vigilancy upon all Parties and Interests which possibly might disturb his quiet So that the Royalists whose generous and active Spirits were ever prompting 〈…〉 our the Kings Restauration and to 〈…〉 a Rising in the West were soon 〈…〉 some of them were brought to Tryal amd 〈◊〉 death for the same But the lives of these Loyal 〈…〉 this subtle Tyrant for he took advantage thereby to cause the Estates of all others of that 〈◊〉 sate quiet to be decimated except such as by mony could free themselves from that great exaction And for the strict Levying of that most oppressive Tax he constituted fourteen select Major-Generals each of which had several Counties under his Jurisdiction who not only exercised their Authority in an Arbitrary and unlimited manner but at length grew so insolent that he thought it not fit to continue them in that power And now looking upon himself as an absolure Monarch he exercised the Authority of conferring the Honour of Knighthood first upon the Lord Mayor of 〈◊〉 And having soon after concluded a League 〈◊〉 France he went on and Knighted two of his Colonies Pride and Barksted the one who had been a Dray-man the other a seller of Thimbles and Bodkins of Silver And having throughout all parts of England by underhand practices those of his Preaching-Clergy serving him therein to some purpose made way for an Election of such Members for another Parliament as might best advance his future ambitious designs he sent out Writs of Summons for Convening of them accordingly At which meeting none were permitted to enter the House which refused to acknowledg and subscribe to his Authority Whereupon some being excluded went back to their Countries But those which sate went stoutly on with the work having made choice of Sir Thomas Widdrington to be their Speaker That the chief end whereat this proud and subtle Tyrant at that time drove was by the help of this Convention to be invested with the Title of King few there were to whom it was not evident enough though he cunningly seemed to look another way That there might therefore be the less suspicion thereof the design was so laid that the work should be brought about by degrees and in a Collateral way To which end in the first place as a preparation thereto they passed an Act whereby the Knights Citizens and Burgesses there assembled for so are the words did in the name of all the people of that Common-Wealth fully clearly and absolutely and for ever disclaim and renounce all Fealty Homage or Allegiance pretended to be due unto Charles Stuart Eldest Son of the late King Charles Iames Stuart c. or any other Issue or Posterity of the said King or any person or persons pretending or which should pretend Title by from or under them or any of them And soon after that another Act for security of the person of his Highness the Lord Protector and continuance of the Nation in Peace and Safety the
Narwocl Which unexpected Alarm did not a little disturb them Yet on they must or be overwhelmed with Confusion They therefore soon ordered that their Forces in the North together with some other Regiments from the Southern-parts of this Realm should forthwith march to the Borders of Scotland and in the mean time sent Colonel Cobbet to Treat with General Monke expecting that he by fair words might cajole him But Monke then discerning an hopeful way open to do that which his heart had long desired to accomplish secured Cobbert from stirring abroad being well aware that by taking his Liberty he might either have endangered the corrupting of his men or carry back Intelligence of their whole strength and posture and thereupon modeled his Army sutable to his own mind publickly declaring That he would assert the Authority of Parliament against all violence whatsoever Which News arriving with the Committee of Safety presuming that they might please Monke with the Establishing of a free State though they disowned the Parliament for whom he had declared they culled out seven of their ablest contrivers to prepare a Form of Government to be set up throughout all the three Kingdoms in the Nature of a Common-Wealth or Free-State and sent away two Colonels Whalley and Goffe with Carryl and Barker two of their Assembly-men to Treat with him thereon for avoiding farther difference the Officers of the Army at London seconding the same with Letters into Scotland urging most earnestly a necessity of their Brotherly union Monke therefore foreseeing that delays would destroy them their Forces not being able to subsist long without money ordered Colonel Talbot and Dr. Clarges who had been also sent from England to him to advertise General Fleetwood that himself and his Officers had nominated Colonel Wilkes Lieutenant Colonel Clobury and Major Knight to repair speedily to London and to Treat with the like number of Officers there in order to the concluding of a firm and stedfast aimity betwixt them and for the furtherance thereof sent Letters from himself to that purpose with promise that his Forces should not advance any farther But the Committee of Safety not knowing how to trust him issued out sundry Commissions for setling the Militia which upon fit occasion was to be ready in a moment Whereof General Monke being soon advertised and that Lambert was on his march Northwards with thirteen thousand stout men he dispatcheth away those his three Messengers to Treat for a speedy Peace Which Messengers being accordingly come to London the Treaty soon began and ere long concluded in these ensuing Articles viz. 1. That the pretended Title of Charles Stuart or any other claiming from that Family should be utterly renounced 2. That the Government of these Nations should be by a Free-State or Common-Wealth and not by a single Person King or House of Lords 3. Thirdly That a Godly and Learned Ministry should be maintained and encouraged 4. That the Universities should be Reformed and Countenanced so as that they might become Nurseries of Piety and Learning 5. That the Officers and Souldiers and other persons on either side should be indempnified for what was past touching their late differences and all unkindness betwixt them buried in perpetual oblivion 6. That the Officers who were made Prisoners in Scotland should be forthwith set at liberty 7. And that the Armies should be presently disposed of into Quarters as also a Committee of nineteen Constituted whereof nine to make a Quorum which should consider of qualifications for succeeding Parliaments Which Articles so by them agreed on being returned to General Monke who had reserved to himself the power of ratifying whatever was to be Treated on and that the same should not be of force till confirmed under his Seal he forthwith commanded the coming back of the Commissioners and to shew his dislike of what they had done clapt up Colonel Wilkes into Custody for exceeding his bounds and immediately declaring the Treaty to be void advanc'd towards England having made these following Proposals to the Nobility and Gentry of Scotland First That they would during his absence which would not be long preserve and secure the Peace of that Nation Secondly That they would supply him with some men for his undertaking which he engaged upon his honour should be to their satisfaction and if any troubles should arise to assist him in the suppressing thereof Thirdly That they would advance and raise what mony they could before-hand Unto which propositions the Earl of Gleucarne Chair-man of the Assembly returned these modest answers First That they could not engage to preserve the Peace of the Country in his absence wanting Arms and so in no condition to do it but they should with all faithfulness notwithstanding endeavour it To the second that they were uncapable to answer his desires for the râ—â—ons aforesaid neither did they think it prudent for them to engage in a war which should it prove unsuccesful on their part would be a ruin to them or if succesful they did not understand that it would be advantagious in any measure Thirdly That they were content to levy monies and to advance a years Tax before-hand With which answer from that Earl General Monke being well satisfied he gave them power forthwith to Arm themselves and until all things were in better readiness delaying his march Southwards made some seeming overtures to the Committee of Safety for a second Treaty Whereunto the Committee replyed That they had already transmitted part of a form of Government to be Establisht in these Nations unto a certain Committee of the Officers in the Army by them to be considered Which Officers having thereupon met had gone through the most of it with great satisfaction And that they were very desirous to have such a Government as might best preserve the Liherties of the people and secure the Cause wherein they had contended as well against Charles Stuart as any other that might disturb the Publick Peace hoping in time to make it appear that their Enemies were liars in rendering them to the people to be meerly Self-Seekers And concluding said they hoped that the Faith of Gods People would hold out and not make hast and that good men would help them in their Prayers that God the Lord would bring forth Righteousness and Truth and discover and bring to nought the secret contrivances of all their Adversaries About this time Petitions being in hand in sundry parts of the Nation all tending to the desire of a New and Free Parliament gave such high offence unto the Committee of Safety that they issued out a solemn Proclamation against them calling them dangerous Papers and prohibiting their Subscriptions also requiring if offered to suppress them causing likewise the endeavourers of such Subscriptions to be apprehended as disturbers and Enemies to Peace Which distastful restraint caused the peoples greater earnestness especially the Londoners whereupon Colonel Hewson was sent
p. 500. z Compare with this the Propositions to his Majesties Commissioners at Vxbridge concerning the War of Ireland Full Relation c. p. 95. a See the like demands by the Members at Westminster Exact Coll. p. 259. 465. b Ib. p. 502. c Ib. p. 503. d Ib. p. 508. e Compare with this the Expression of the Members at Westminster in their Petition to his Majesty 26. Martij 1642. Exact Coll. p. 123. f Ib. p. 118. g Compare with this the Protestation framed at Westminster 3 Maij. 1641. b Ibid. p. 523. i D'Aubignie Tom. 2. lib. 3. cap. 3. col 828. k Davilaeâ— 548. l Ib. p. 566. m Annal. Eliz. in An. 1589. p. 557. n Davilae p. 561. o Ib. p. 562. p Compare with this his Majesties Answer to the two Papers concerning Ireland Full Relation c. p. 215. Was not his Majesties Statua abused both at the Old Exchange in London and at Wincheâ—ster q Ib. p. 563. r Ib. p. 564. s Ib. p. 565. t Ib. p. 567. u Exact Coll. p. 503. x Davilae p. 568. y Ib. p. 569. z Was not the like done by our Men against his Majesty for Assenting to the Cessation in Ireland a Ib. p. 591. b Ib. p. 593. e Ib. p. 596 d Ib. p. 597. 599. e Ib. p. 601. f Ib. p. 603. g Ib. p. 606. 609. h Ib. p. 612. i Ib. p. 613. k Ib. p. 627. l Ib. p. 6â—8 m Ib. p. 629. n Ib. p. 6â—0 o Ib. p. 662. 663. p Ib. p. 669. q Ib. p. 676. r Ibid. p. 733. Such hath been the Pollicy of the Scots with us Anno. 1. 591. s Ib. p. 679. t Ib. p. 701. u Ib. 742. x Ib. p. 702. y Brigard Ib. p. 742. z Ib. p. 740. a Ib. p. 726. b Ib. p. 733. c Ib. p. 740. d Ib. p. 747. e Ib. p. 761. f Ib. p. 792. 851. g Ib. p. 724. b Ib. p. 811. 821. Thus did Cromwell here i Ib. p. 862. k Ib. p. 865. l Ib. p. 837. m Ib. p. 161. 866. n Ib. p. 867. o Ib. p. 868. p Ib. p. 879. q Ib. p. 845. r Ib. p. 743. s Ib. p. 901. t See their Solemn Leagus and Covenant u See the full Relation of the Treaty at Vxbridge p. 209. x Ib. p. 206. y D'avila p. 943. z Piere Mathew Lib. 2. Narrat 1. Sect. 4. a Du Tillet p. 242. b Davila p. 994. c Duplex Hist. p. 27. d K. Henry the 4th e K. Lewis the 13th Davila p. 629. f Du Tellet p. 263. g Davila p. 936. b Cokes Instit part 3. p. 35. i Numb 16. 31 32. 27. 3. k Reg. 11. 36. l Esther 6. 2 3. m Sam. 2. 18. 9. 14. n Ib. 17. 23. o Reg. 2 21. 26 27. p Sam. 2 16. 5 6. Et Reg. 1 2. 8. 4. 6. q Reg. b 16. 9. 18. r Act. Apost 5. 36 37. s Prov. 24. 21. THE INDEX A. ANabaptists of Germany their Tenets and Progress Page 2. Calvins Character of them 8. Dangerous to Church and State 9. Luthers Request to the Duke of Saxony in favour of them 4. Afterwards exhorts all Men to destroy them 6. St. Antholin 's Church in London made the grand Nursery of seditious Preachers 37. Articles of Pacification with the Scots 55. Articles of the Treaty at Edenburgh for bringing in the Scots Army 131. between General Monk and the Committee of Safety 480. Articles called The Agreement of the People 260. Articles assented to by the King at the Treaty at Uxbridge 291. Assembly at Glasgow dissolved 52. The Impious Saving of one of the Assembly of Divines 225. Apprentices of London force the House of Commons 248. Army marcheth towards London 251. B. BArons War in the time of King Henry the 3d parallel'd with that of King Charles the First 592. A Benevolence proposed for raising Money 32. Bishops voted to have no Voice in Parliament 68. Booth Sir George his Insurrection 470. Brook Lord slain 117. Buckingham Duke his Expedition to the Isle of Rhee 33. murdered by Felton 34. C. CAnterbury and other Cathedrals defaced 557. Carew Sir Alex. his ominous words 198. is beheaded ibid. Carnarvan Earl slain 187. Charles I. King pawns his Lands to the City of London 33. is denied entrance into Hull 91. his Messages to the Parliament for Peace 102 103 134 237 268. his Protestation at the Head of his Army 104. goes from Oxford to the Scots Army 209. is sold by the Scots 232. is brought from Newcastle to Holdenby 234. his Answer to the four dethroning Bills 271. last Scene of his Life 361. rejects the Proposals made to him on the Sunday before his death 372. is murdered 373. his Legacies to his Children and others 382. his Burial 383. Charles II. King his Care when in Exile to preserve the Duke of Glocester in the Protestant Religion 429. marches from Scotland to Worcester 400. proclaimed King at London 488. Cheapside Cross pull'd down 560. Church Livings plurality of them allowed by the Presbyterians 225. Colchester Men petition the Parliament against Bishops c. 85. Common Prayer abolished 193. Commissions of Array 97. Common-Council-men turned out 79. First Covenant by the Scots 46. Conference at Hampton-Court 14. Cromwel Oliver his Extraction and Education 458. his persidious dealing with the King 261. his pretended Revelation 366. his Speech in Parliament ibid. Preaches at White-hall 391. made General of the Army 397. his Answer to a Letter from the Governour of the Castle of Edenburgh 397. turns the Rump Parliament out of doors 405. made Lord Protector 414. The manner of his riding to Grocers-hall in State 418. calls a Parliament 423. The manner of his proceeding to Parliament ibid. his Speech at the opening the Parliament 424 426. dissolves his first Parliament 429. Second Parliament called 450. dissolved 455. his Death 457. Cromwel Richard calls a Parliament 462. is set aside and the Ramp Parliament restored 465. D DEclaration of the City of London 250. Declaration of the Scots Commissioners 258 271. Declaration of the Scots for a publick Fast. 246. of the Committee of Safety 482. Denbigh Earl slain 185. Directory established 193. E. EPiscopal Government abolished in Scotland 52. in England 122. Earl of Essex made Lientenant-General of the Kings Army going against the Scots 54. made Lord Chamberlain 71. made General of the Parliament Forces 98. Essex-Men petition to the Parliament in behalf of the King 282. Excise first began 120 123 127 132. F. FAlkland Lucius Visc. slain 187. Frederick Count Palatine of the Rhine elected King of Bohemia 20. French Ambassador's Speech to Cromwel 421. French Holy League parallel'd with the Rebellion in England 600. G. GLoucester Duke the attempts made upon him by the Queen Mother at Paris to turn to the Romish Religion 429. Grenvil Sir Bevil slain 186. Gurney Lord Major of London is deposed by the Rebels 101. H. MArquess of Hamilton sent into Scotland to appease
preamble whereof beginneth thus for asmuch as the Prosperity and Safety of this Nation and the Dommions thereunto belonging very much dependeth under God upon the security and preservation of the person of his Highness c. In which Act several offences were adjudged Treason and certain Commissioners for England and Wales therein nominated for the Tryal of Offenders against the said Act. Which foundation being so laid it was by his Friends and Favourers then thought high time to discover what they would be at and accordingly moved that whereas this Nation had for thirteen hundred years at the least been governed by Kings and though some of them had offended the people yet that Title had never been abolished Also whereas the Government by the said Title was interwoven with the Laws and accommodated to the dispositions of the people that they should humbly Petition and Advise his Highness to take upon him the same Title Which motion took such effect that there was an Instrument soon drawn up by them called the Humble Petition and Advice whereby they besought his Highness so to do Whereunto that he might not seem to have any knowledg of what they were about much less any desire thereof but be still more and more sought to and importuned therein he answered with all shew of modesty that indeed those Arguments which they had used to him were persuasive but not compulsive and that the Title of Protector might be well accommodated to the Laws To which they replyed that the Title ought to be such as was suitable to the Laws and the Laws not be made suitable to the Title urging the Statutes of 9. Edw. IV. and 3. Henr. VII whereby it was provided that no one should suffer for bearing Arms on the behalf of him that was de facto King though he had no just right to the Crown Which Arguments were made use of to him meerly for shew the better to disguise his ambitious aim as though without such strong motives he could not have been won thereto But the plain truth is that after this business came thus in question the Sectaries of all sorts nay a great part of the Souldiery shewed a vehement dislike thereof being privately instigated by Lambert and some other of the Principal Officers who did themselves upon Cromwels death expect to have succeeded him in the Place of Protector it being Elective as is manifest from the Instrument of Government whereby that Tyrant was at first so Constituted whereas had he been advanced to the Title of King the case might have been otherwise So that this crafty Fox discerning no small peril to himself by such divisions as might thereby arise especially in the Army wherein lay his chief strength and support thought it the safest way to decline it and to stick still to that of Protector yet to have the Government setled in a kind of Monarchic manner And so in imitation of that which had formerly been Regal to have a House of Peers But against that also there were great and high oppositions so that though it was with much ado agreed that there should be another House yet it would not be allowed the Title of an House of Peers Whereupon the result was that an Act Intituled The Humble Petition and Advice should pass whereby they ordained what Stile the chief Magistrate should have idest Lord Protector of the Common-Wealth of England Scotland and Ireland and the Dominions and Territories thereto belonging Likewise that Parliaments consisting of two Houses should be called once in three years with qualifications of such as should serve therein And that the number of such as should sit in the other House should be nominated by the Lord Protector and approved by the House of Commons Moreover that he should have power to nominate his Successor And that a Confession of Faith should be agreed on by his Highness and the Parliament according to the Rule and Warrant of the Scriptures Which Act being presented to him accordingly was assented to and passed But that Act being in some sort deficient about a month following they passed another relating thereto and called The Explanatory Petition and Advice Wherein inter alia is this Clause viz. Whereas in the Fourth Article Publick Ministers or Publick Preachers of the Gospel are disabled to the Elected to serve in Parliament it is hereby explained and declared to such Ministers and Preachers only as have maintenance for Preaching or are Pastors or Teachers of Congregations In which Act is also contained the Oaths of the Lord Protector and of his Privy-Council as also the Oaths of the Members of that Parliament Soon after which he was again in WestMinster-Hall standing under a Rich State solemnly invested into his Old Title of Lord Protector and into the Government thus new modelled Where in the presence of the Members of that Parliament Sir Thomas Widdrington their Speaker delivered unto him in the name of them all and as Representatives of all the people in the three Kingdoms a Purple Robe lyned with Ermine as also a Bible Sword and Scepter descanting upon each of them as significant in some respect All which being performed the Instrument of that new Modelled Government called The Humble Petition and Advice was publickly read Whereunto assenting he was then and there Proclaimed Protector of England Scotland and Ireland with sound of 〈◊〉 and afterwards in the City of London So likewise at Dublin in Ireland and Edenburgh in Scotland Which new devised Government so much resembling Monarchy though the Title did not sute thereto did so 〈◊〉 please the Anabaptists and Fifth-Monarchy men that they 〈◊〉 spired his ruin by a sudden Insurrection but their 〈◊〉 being timely discerned came at length to nothing 〈◊〉 reupon for prevention of farther mischief he committed to Prison several persons of no small note whose power with the Souldiery might otherwise have much endangered his safety Viz. Lawson one of his Admirals at Sea Harrison Rich Danvers and some other Colonels Nay Lambert himself being aware that his hopes of succeeding him were then by that new framed Government frustrated began to fall off from him and to incline to the Fanaticks Which so awakened the Protector that he took from him his Commission of Lieutenant General and gave it to Fleetwood who by the Marriage of his Daughter stood more nearly typed to his Interest And that he might the better allure those of the Army and some other which were no great friends to him to conform the more pliantly to this his new setled Dominion he tickled them with the specious Title of Lords by calling them to fit in the other House obliging also many other desperate and mean persons which were Officers of the Army with the like shadows of Honour The names of which persons so called were as followeth viz. Richard Cromwel his eldest Son Henry Cromwel his other Son then Lord Deputy of Ireland Nathaniel Fienes