Person and Authority and to proceed against all such Offenders according to Law and Justice which Declaration was published Munday May 7th From Ireland arrived a Declaration of the General convention there wherein they expressed their detestation of the most execrable murder of our late most Gracious Soveraigne Charles the first and the illegall proceedings of the High Court of Justice against him The Parliament Ordered 50000lb to be sent over to his Majesty for a present as a test of their duty and loyalty and 50000lb more towards the payment of the Arrears of the Army and sent a Committee to the City to desire them to raise the money immediately for which they should receive satisfaction by the next assessement and receive in the mean the interest at 6. per cent which was presently granted by the City and care taking for its spedy provision The Commoncounsell of the City of London to testifie their loyall gratitude to his Majesty Ordered 10000lb to be sent for a present to his Majesty and 300lb to be given to the Lord Mordant and Sr John Greenvile who brought them his Majesties Letter to buy each of them a Ring They likewise ordered that to the most illustrious Prince James Duke of York and his Princely Brother Henry Duke of Glocester a 1000lb be presented to each of them The Parliament Order that a stop be put to the sale of the Estates of the Lord Craven Sr John Stawell and Alderman Bunce and likewise to the estate of the Duke of Buckingham and that their names be inserted into the proviso of the Bill of of Grants and Sales The Horse adjourned Easter Term to Quinque Paschae being May 28th 1660. Upon the third of May the Lord Mountague having received a Letter from his Majesty together with his Majesties gracious message to the House of Commons the Letter to his Excellency and Declaration presently called a Counsel of War to whom he communicated the said Letters which were received by them all with much hearty affections and testimonies of their exact loyalty and duty to his Majesty whereupon the General firing the first Gun himself cried God blesse King Charles the Guns from the rest of the Fleet with those from Deal and Sandwich Castles did with loud Vollies re-eccho the joy for such a happy time the shouts of the Seamen testifying their extraordinary cheerfullnesse and alacrity But now comes the day the like whereof was never enrolled in the Enguish Calender nor ever was there known a day whereon the people did with so unanimous and generall consent testifie their unexpressible content and gladness And well might they since from this time alone we can truly date the restored happinesse of the English Nation what passed before being as it were only glimmerings of this immense and radiant light The Parliament having the day before Ordered the Proclamation of his Majesty to be on the 8th day of May he was with the greatest solemnity possible all the chief Lords of the Parliament attending in their Coaches together with many eminent Members of the House of Commons the Lord General the Lord Major and Aldermen with the whole Militia of the City Proclaimed Charles by the Grace of God of England Scotland France and Ireland the most potent mighty and undoubted King Nor did they intend by this Proclamation to seem as if they thought his Reign was to be begun from that time but confessed that forthwith upon the death of his Father the Imperiall Crown of England and the Dominions thereof did as absolutely bring unto him as now after Proclamation so that this is the twelfth year of the Reign of our Soveraign Lord King Charles the second whom God preserve The House of Lords the House of Commons and the City of London made choice of severall most eminent and worthy persons of their number to attend his Majesty which that they may not by posterity be forgotten I have inserted their names For the House of Lords Earl of Oxford Earl of Middlefex Lord Brooke Earl of Warwick Lord Viscount Hereford Lord Barkley For the House of Commons Lord Fairfax Lord Bruce Lord Falkland Lord Castleton Lord Herbert Lord Mandevile Sr Horatio Townsend Sr Ant. Ashey-Cooper Sr George Booth Denzill Hollis Esq Sr John Holland Sr Henry Chomely For the honourable City of London Sr James Bunce Bar. Alderman Langham Alderman Reynardson Alderman Browne Sr Nicholas Crispe Alderman Thomson Alderman Fredrick Alderman Adams Recorder Wilde Alderman Robinson Alderman Bateman Alderman Wale Theophilus Biddulph Richard Ford. Will. Vincent Thomas Bludworth Will. Bateman J. Lowes Esq Major Chamberlaine Coll. Brumfield By Order from the Parliament that all Signs of the late Arbytrary Power might be rased the States Armes were to be taken down from all Churches and publick places that in the Parliament House and in Guildhall being taken down and the Kings Armes set up in their room the Statue of his late Majesty was likewise set up again at the Chappel in Guild-hall-yard The Votes of the Parliament were also for the Fleet to go immediately to receive his Majesties Orders and be at his Devotion That the Kings Majesty be desired to return speedily to Parliament and exercise of his Kingly Office That all Ministers shall in their publick prayers pray for his Majesty under the name of Our Soveraign Lord Charles by the Grace of God of England Scotland France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith c. And the most Illustrious Prince James Duke of York with the rest of the Royall Progeny Which is the hearty and fervent prayer of the Author and all good Subjects and so let the conclusion be Long live King Charles II. THere is now made publique Eighteen Books of the Secrets of Art and Nature being the sum and substance of Naturall Philosophy First designed by John Wecker and now much inlarged by Dr. R. Read Sould at the Star in St. Pauls Church-yard
of that vast Charge is saved yet neither Custome Excise nor Taxes made lower but rather encreased the Souldiers Petitioning for a larger Taxe that free Quarter the greater oppression indeed of the two might be avoided Severall Troopers who pretended a Liberty to Petition without the consent of their Officers are punished five of them are condemned first to ride with their Faces to the Horse Tail then to have their Swords broke over their Heads and lastly to be cashiered a Letter which they had concerning the aforesaid Liberty being judged pernicious and scandalous to the Parliament and Counsell of State About this time began those great disturbances both in Army and Parliament occasioned by the distast given to Lieutenant Collonel John Lilburne by the Parliaments denying some desires of his But because the Discourse of it would now be too tedious we shall let it alone till we come to treat of its Effects But let us return now a little to Scotland where the Parliament upon rumours that the English Army were marching towards them prepare to resist and Vote the raising for their present defence 2000 Horse and 6000 Foot whilest the Lord Seaforth and Collonel Heisell are busied in fortifying Enderness and other strong places in the North all being resolved to defend and maintain the Cause of Charles the Second with their lives and fortunes many Englishmen flocking to them In the mean time Prince Rupert makes great Havock of the Merchants Ships and Goods in the English and Irish Seas which makes the Parliament hasten out their Fleet under the Command of Popham Dean and Blake as aforesaid And now on the ninth of March 1648. those three Lords Duke Hamilton as Earl of Cambridge the Earl of Holland and Lord Capell were beheaded in the new Palace-yard Westminster for having raised Arms against the Parliament nor could Duke Hamiltons pretending himself a stranger and not subject to the Laws of England nor the Lord Capells claiming the Lord Generals promise of Quarter finde them voices enough to save their lives though the Lord Goring and Sr John Owen escaped by Superiority of voices They all three died resolutely and handsomely befitting men of so noble descents The Parliament in some things to answer the Armies Petition Order a release of all Prisoners who were not in a capacity to pay their Debts the Commission nevertheless extending to the seizure of all their Estate and Moveables to pay as far as they will go They likewise Enact a rebate in Usury that none should take above six in the hundred which is an ease to the poor but a plague to the rich The 14th of March arrives at London Master Belford from the Parliament of Scotland who brings Letters expressing their high resentment for the securing of their Commissioners they assure them that they owned the Paper sent by their Commissioners by sending another Transcript of it so their Commissioners are discharged and it referred to the Counsell of State to send them an Answer The Parliament proceed in consideration of what was to be done in the farther punishing of offendors and Vote that fifteen be banished whereof the Marquess of Winchester the Lords Bristoll Cottington and Digby are four Judge Jenkins and Sr John Stowell are Ordered to be tried at the Kings Bench Bar. That Collonel Laughorne Powell and Poyer or any others who have held out any Castle or Fort since the first of March 1648. to be tried by a Counsell of War They proceed to the Confiscation of the Estates of the Prince of Wales Duke of York Duke of Buckingham Earl of Bristoll Earl of Newcastle Earl of Worcester Lord Digby Sr William Widdrington Sr Phillip Musgrave Sr Marmaduke Langdale Sr Richard Grimvile Sir Francis Dodington Sr Iohn Culpepper and Sr Iohn Byron any of which being taken in England are to die without mercy The Banishment of the Marquess of Winchester is remitted at last and he with Bishop Wren Voted imprisonment in the Tower during the Parliaments pleasure Brown Bushell is also Voted to be tried for his life The Parliament hoping to justifie their actions to the world abroad by Logick as well as they had done it by force at home cause a large and specious Declaration to be drawn up shewing the causes of their Actions and Proceedings against their late King and of the Alteration of the Government which they order to be Printed in Latin French Dutch and Italian the better to satisfie as they dream't the rest of the Christian world The Lieutenant Generall Cromwell now comes in play again action being so naturall to him he being appointed Generalissimo of those 12000 Horse and Foot which are Voted to be sent for the relief of Ireland and the reducing of Ormond Inchequeen and Owen Roe who had now made a full conjunction and lay neare Dublin with 22000 Men. And now the Parliament by their Act and Declaration of the 19th of February dissolve all Kingly Government disheriting the late Kings Children or any other from any claim right or title to the Government of England Wales or Ireland or any of the Honours Mannors Lands Tenements Possessions or Hereditaments belonging or appertaining to the Crown of England or Ireland And they by the same Act discharge and absolve all the people of England Wales and Ireland of what degree or condition soever from all Fealty Homage and Allegiance which is or shall be pretended due to any of the Issue and Posterity of the late King or any claiming under him This Act the Parliament Order to be proclaimed in the City of London by the Mayor Aldermen and Sheriffs in Person and likewise in the chief places of the Nation to which purpose Writs are sent down to the Sheriffs of the respective Counties But the Lord Mayor and severall of the Aldermen whose consciences would not permit them to proclaim it refusing to do it put a demur upon it throughout the whole Nation the effects of which the Parliament fearing called him to the Bar of the House and finding him resolved Order the degradation of him Alderman Bunce and three Aldermen more Alderman Andrews being found fit for the Parliaments purpose is appointed to sit on the Bench in the late Lord Mayors stead who readily executed the Parliaments Commands The Parliament Constitute a Committee for the sale of Parks Chases and Forrest-Lands of whom any three have power and authority to Act. The 24th of March the Castle of Pomfret which had held out near nine Moneths was forced to surrender for want of Ammunition The private Souldiers who were most of them inhabitants of Yorkeshire had liberty by Articles to go home to their habitations but the Governour and some others were exempted from Quarter nevertheless Lieutenant Collonel Morris the Governour escaped The Scotch Commissioners are at last dispatched to the King with full Instructions to treat with him of which the chief were First That his Majesty take the Covenant Secondly That he put from him all who have assisted
thirtieth Articles concerning Church-censure and Synods They likewise constitute General Monck together with General Montague to be Generals at Sea for the next Summers expedition and accordingly command Montague to go to Sea with all possible speed And because several Members had impeachments against them and upon that score were secluded the House they disanull those impeachments and re-admit them as namely Mr Denzil Hollis and Sr Robert Pye About this time the Deanry of Christ-Church which had for a long time been in the hands of Dr Owen a man look'd upon at Oxford as a hair-brain'd schismatick was taken from him and confirmed to Dr Reynolds a man who farre better deserved it They likewise at the beginning of March released the Lord Lindsey the Lord Sinclare and Lord Lauderdale from their tedious imprisonments to which upon various pretences they had been committed Dr Walker and Dr Turner were made Judges of the Admiralty and Probate of Wils and Dr Wiseman constituted the Commonwealths Advocate And now was the Lord General invited to Dinner by the Company of Mercers and afterwards by several other of the Companies the Citizens striving mutually who should in the best manner discover and expresse the gratefulness and esteem they bore for his noble and heroick actions At this time there was an assembly of a Parliamentary Convention in Ireland summoned by Sr Charles Coote and the Lord Broghill for the better Regulating of affairs there till all things in England might be in a better posture The Parliament that they might testifie to the world that they were not so forgetfull of Oaths as their fellow-Members order the solemn League and Covenant to be set up and read in all Churches and likewise to be set up in the Parliament that they might remember they had sworn for the maintenance of the King and his posterity Collonel Lambert being found to lurk up and down about the City notwithstanding the Order of the Parliament was as a person too dangerous to be trusted to himself at such a time as this committed to the Tower Orders were sent down to Hull by Collonel Alured and Major Smith that Collonel Overton should immediately deliver up that Garrison into the hands of Collonel Fairfax and to repair immediately to London and he notwithstanding his former Declaration that he was resolved to keep it till the coming of King Jesus presently obeyed the Order and Collonel Fairfax accordingly took possession of the place Sr Arthur Haslerig and others were questioed before the Parliament and Counsell of State but nothing extraordinary being found against him as to the designs were then on Foot it was passed by The Parliament made Sr Peter Killigrew Governour of Pendennis-Castle and worthy Mr Morris Commander of Plymouth-Fort and Island There was about this time a conference between ten of the Counsell of State and ten head-Officers of the Army the Generall being present concerning the Government but the conference being only for mutuall information and satisfaction it had no result The Parliament ordered that the Examination of Sr George Booth and his Lady should be taken off the File and given to him he deserving to have his Encomium put on in the room of it And now they obliterated the Engagement which was made by the Rump in 1649 to free them from punishment for the impious murther of their Gracious Soveraign out of the Journall and voted it to be null and void And now the time of their dissolution being come they put out the Act for summoning a new Parliament in the Name of the Keepers of the Liberties of the Commonwealth of England The Qualifications which they put out being only these That all persons who have advised aided or any wayes assisted or abetted the rebellion in Ireland All those who profess the Popish Religion All that advised or voluntarily aided in the Warre against the Parliament in 1641 unless they have since given a manifestation of their good affection shall be uncapable of being elected Members for the ensuing Parliament and no person elected and thus qualified to sit in the House upon a high penalty Though these Qualifications did seem at first to exclude a great number yet divers eminent and worthy persons though they had actually been in the Kings service in the late War having been engaged in Sr George Booths quarrell for the naturall interest were elected and admitted to sit in the House The City having compleated their Militia as well Auxiliaries as trained Bands made choice of his Excellency the Lord Generall to be Major Generall of all their Forces Major Generall Brown being Collonel of the Regiment of Horse The Parliament ordered 9000lb to be given to Major Generall Brown in satisfaction for those great losses which he had received under the tyranny of the Rump for his noble and publick spirit They likewise gave 20000lb as a gift to his Excellency And before their dissolution they released Dr Wren who for about eighteen years had suffered imprisonment in the Tower of London a man who doubtless deserved better usage but that the times then did not well understand him They gave power also to the Counsel of State to release what Prisoners upon State-matters they should see good and particularly Maj. Gen. Lambert They ordered a stop should be put to the sale of the Estate of the Lord Craven and Lord St John the first of which had his Estate taken away from him by more than hellish injustice Some neglect being in the Printer concerning the Printing of the Act for the Militia and it being supposed there was a designe of some of the late Rump to make some alteration in the Act as might suit for their turn or else upon the Parliaments dissolution by violence to hinder it The Parliament ordered a Committee to take care that it should be finished with all expedition which accordingly was performed And so this part of a Parliament which was chosen in 1640. was now finally dissolved in 1660. by their own Act which was That the day for dissolution of this Parliament be from the sixteenth of March 1660. Multiplicity of business having caused them to alter the first appointed day About this time our gracious Sovereigne King Charles the second hearing of the transactions of affairs in England and seeing how the face of all things began to alter so that great probability there was of being admitted to his undoubted Right without the effusion of his Subjects blood removed his Court from Brussels to Breda in Holland a Town belonging to his Sister the Princess of Orange there expecting till England might be brought into such a posture as might fit it for his happy and wished for reception The Parliament at their dissolution had conferred on the Counsel of State all Power whatsoever in the Interval till the assembling of the Free Parliament April 25. 1660. which accordingly they executed so prudently and wisely and preserved the Nation in peace and put the affairs of the Kingdom in
an end to the fray and difference And the Major Generall being that afternoon made a Free-man of the City did a day or two after come up to London and render himself to the Counsel according to their Order whereupon he was dismissed and was by his Glocester friends chosen with free consent for one of their Burgesses Great were the expectations of this time what the Counsel of State would do concerning the King many being of opinion and resting confident that they would bring him in before the beginning of the Parliament all men antedating the time of his restoration by their longing and earnest desires of that happy day wherein they might see him setled upon the Throne of his Ancestors and the Nation restored to its true and ancient Liberties The designes of the Fanaticks did now appear almost in every County but the head being brok in Lambert the Members could not long enjoy life and motion but in every County they were dispersed and the chief Ringleaders taken amongst whom Major General Harrison who was taken in Staford-shire was most considerable But the 25th of April being now come a day of greatest expectation by the whole Nation the Parliament met in their House where the first day nothing of moment passed but only they chose their Speakers and Sr Harbotle Grimstone for the House of Commons a man of eminent parts and deserts The next day the House of Commons appointed severall Committees to take care of such things as were first to come under consideration and the first was concerning double elections and till the business was determined none but those who were returned in both the indentures were to sit in the House A Bill against vagrants wandring idle and dissolute persons was read And not long after The Lords confirmed their old Speaker the Earl of Manchester Both houses likewise Ordered Thursday May 10. to be set apart for a day of publick thanksgiving to Almighty God for his wonderfull goodnesse in stirring up and assisting of General Monck and other worthy persons in being so grandly instrumentall to the restoring of happinesse to their Country and Ordered to be observed by this House and the Cities of London and Westminster and late Lines of Communication and that the Thursday fortnight after be likewise observed the whole Nation and this their Resolve being by Mr Herbert carried up to the Lords they immediately concurred with them therein and so passed the Orders The Commons resolved that the thanks of their House should be given to Generall Monck as an acknowledgement of his eminent and unparalleled services for the good of these Nations and likewise Ordered thanks to be returned to Coll. Ingoldsby for his late eminent services both which were by the Speaker elegantly performed accordingly The Houses on Friday April 27. adjourned till the Tuesday following appointing Munday to be observed as a day of Humiliation by both Houses whereon Dr Reynold and Mr Hardy preached before the Lords and Dr Gauden Mr Calamy and Mr Baxter before the House of Commons And now appeared that happy day Tuesday May 1st which is not to be mentioned amongst English men without praise to Almighty God for his infinite mercy it being the day whereon he pleased at length to bring us out of that masse of confusion and misery into which his just hand had suffered us to plunge our selves into our former blessed and happy estate For the Parliament having received by Sr John Greenvile his Majesties most Gracious Letters and Declarations it was unanimously passed by both Houses That according to the ancient and fundamentall Laws of this Kingdome the Government is and ought to be by King Lords and Commons The Kings Majesty besides his Letters to both Houses and Declaration had likewise sent a Letter to General Monck with the Officers under his Command together with one to General Mountague and the Commanders at Seas The substance of all which was His Majesties free and Gracious pardon to all that should within fourty daies lay hold on the same with resolution as far as in him lies to preserve them free from injury in their lives and Estates liberty for tender Consciences and such as differ in matters of Religion provided they disturb not the peace of the Nation and that all things relating to Sales and Purchases shall be determined in Parliament And the full satisfaction of the Arrears of the Souldiery and receiving them into his Majesties pay Upon the reading of the fore-mention Letters and Declaration in the Houses there was all reverence shown due to his Majesty and so Royall a concession and one thing is worth observation that the first who celebrated his Majesties grace and extraordinary goodnesse was Luke Robinson a man whose former actings had rendred him deservedly odious but now I hope he hath made a reall repentance Never was Vote received with more joy then this was by the Citizens and all others who could hear of it at night the Bels Bonfires and shouts of the people did highly demonstrate their extraordinary content and satisfaction On the next day the House of Commons agreed upon a Letter in answer to his Majesty and resolved that the Superscription should be To the Kings most excellent Majesty And General Monck acquainted the House with an Addresse made to him by the Officers of the Army wherein they did with one heart testifie their resolutions to demonstrate themselves the best and most loyall of his Majesties Subjects Which Addresse was presented to the Generall by Coll. Sr John Lenthall and subscribed by all the chief Officers then in London The House Resolved that Dr Claerges have leave of the House to go to the King with the Lord Generals answer to his Majesties Letter to him They likewise Resolved that Sr John Greenvile should have the thanks of the House and receive 500lb to buy him a jewel as a restimony of their respect to him Honest Ald. Robinson acquainted the House That the Lord Major Aldermen and Commoncounsel had likewise received a Letter with the Declaration from his Majesty to which they desired liberty of the Parliament to return an answer which was by this House accordingly granted An Agreement was made between this Commonwealth and the King of Spain for metuall exchange of all prisoners which was signed by the Marquesse of Caracena on the behalf of his Catholick Majesty and the Lord General Monck in behalf of this Commonwealth and the Orders taken according for the transportation of such Spaniards as were prisoners here which agreement is hoped will not end there but that there will shortly be a finall conclusion of all differences between both Nations May 3. The Lords and Commons Ordered a Declaration for continuance of all Sheriffs Justices of the Peace Major and other Officers that were in office the 25th of April 1660. and to exercise their functions in his Majesties name and stile and suppresse all unlawfull Assemblies and punish all misdemeanours against his Majesties Royall
English The Loves of Clirio and Lozia a Romance Mr. Knowles his Rudiment of the Hebrew Tongue A Book of Scheams or Figures of Heaven ready set for every four Minutes of times and very usefull for all Astrologers Florus Anglicus or an exact History of England from the Reign of William the Conquerour to the death of the Late King Linguae or the Combate of the Tongue and five Senses for Superiority a serious Comedy The Spirits Touchstone being a clear discovery how a man may certainly know whether he be truly taught by the Spirit of God or not The poor mans Physician and Chyrurgion Physicall Rarities containing the most choice Receipts in Physick and Chyrurgery for the cure of all Diseases Incident to mans body By R W lliams To which is added the physical Mathematicks By Hermes Tris-Megistus The Idol of Clowns or the Relation of Wat Tiler's Rebellion The Christian Moderator in 3 parts The Golden Fleece or a Discourse of the cloathing of England Dr. Sibbs his Divine Meditations Vigerius Precepts of Idiotismes Grotij Poemata Three Books of M. Matthews Minister at Swansey in South-wales 1 The Messiah Magnified by the mouthes of Babes in America or Gains and Gamaliel a helpfull Father and his hopeful Son discoursing of the three most considerable points 1. The great want of Christ 2 The great worth that is in Christ 3. The good way that is chalkt out by Christ 2. The New Congregationall Church prov'd to be the old Christian Church by Scripture Reason and History 3 The Reading Church-member Regularly call'd back to Christ and his Church A physical Dictionary An exact History of the several changes of Government in England from the horrid Murther of King Charles the first to the happy Restauration of King Charles the second with the Renowned Actions of General Monck by J. D. Duodecim Dr. Smith's practice of physick The Grammar War Posselius Apothegmes Fasciculus Florum Crashaw's Visions The Juniper Lecture Helvicus Colloquies The Christian Souldier his Combate with the three arch-enemies of man-kind the world the flesh and the devil Seasonable advice to the Apprentices of the Honourable City of London touching their duty to God and their Masters Heinsius de Crepundiis The History of Russia or the Government of the Emperour of Muscovia with the manner and fashions of the people of that Countrey Drexeliu's school of Patience Drexelius his right Intention of every ones action A School or Nurture for Children or the Duty of Children to Parents very usefull for all that intend to bring up their children in the fear of God Viginti Quarto The New Testament The third part of the Bible Sir Richard Bakers Meditations and Prayers for every day of the Week Playes The Ball. Chawbut Conspiracy Obstinate Lady The London Chanticlers a Comedy foll of various and delightfull Mirth neyer before published FLORVS ANGLICVS The Second Part. CONTAINING Englands Oligarchicall Government from the Death of CHARLES the I. to the Protectorship of OLIVER PART I. NO sooner had the fatall Axe severed England and her Liberties by severing King Charles his head from his body but the Parliament the better to maintain what they had now so farre prosecuted make Proclamation That none under penalty of being deemed guilty of high Treason should presume to proclaim declare publish or any way promote the Prince of Wales Sonne to the late King or any other Person to be King or Chief Magistrate of England or of any the Dominions belonging to them by colour of Inheritance Succession or Election or any other claim whatsoever without the free consent of the people in Parliament c. This Proclamation though it came not forth in full till the second of February yet was in part proclaimed on the very day of the Kings beheading They likewise the more to ensure their Government and to carry it on with the more plausibility publish an Act of State for the alteration of Writs in England Ireland and Wales as that in stead of King the Name Stile and Test Custodis Libertatis Angliae Authoritate Parliamenti be used and none other and all Writs c. should run so of which all concerned in the Law were required to take notice Yet they provide that all Patents granted by the late King should still stand in full force and vertue The Houses likewise take upon them a more then Papall power and because he Priest could indeed absolve them they are resolved to absolve themselves and all those engaged with them by an Act repealing the Oath of Allegiance and Supremacy Sr Lewis Dives Sr Robert Stuart of Irel and the Lord Loughborough Collonel Poyer Collonel Laughorne and Duke Hamilton having escaped out of severall Prisons of which the last out of Windsor Castle a strict search was made for them but in vain except Duke Hamilton who was the next morning retaken in an Inne in Southwark The Lords House perceiving that by reason of his Majesties death the Judges gave not that assistance to them which was usuall by reason his death had extinguished their power as Judges desired that eighteen of the Commons might be sent to conferre with nine of the Lords but it would not be assented to The House of Commons having executed their King the Nobles are an eyesore to them they therefore resolve to take away as many of them as they can bring within their reach they resolve to begin with those they have already in hold and the Commission of the High-Court of Justice for his Majesties Triall being expired they create a new one consisting of sixty three persons of which any fifteen had power to act for the triall of Duke Hamilton as Earl of Cambridg Earl of Holland Earl of Norwich Lord Capell who attempted an escape but was retaken at Lambeth and Sir John Owen and in order thereto they likewise vote the adjournment of Hillary Terme which because the Judges had not power they do by their Proclamation of the second of February And now they take into consideration the reception of their numerous fellow members which by the arbitrary force of the Army had been excluded and at last they vote That none should be admitted into the House who had voted that his late Majesties Concessions were a ground for Peace and for the firm settlement of these Nations The Parliament having cut off one of those three Estates by which the Nation had so long been governed think likewise of abolishing the second that they alone might have the whole power therefore upon considerations of the House of Lords in what capacity they should stand they vote 1. That they would make no farther addresses to them 2. That they would receive none from them 3. That an Act be drawn to abolish that House as dangerous and useless Thus is the whole basis of that Government which had continued in England so many hundred years overthrown in ten dayes and the two ancient grand Estates of the Land cut off Having abolished
one Government they proceed to consider of the establishment of another but agree only in a negative Vote That there should for the future be no Government in England either by King or House of Lords They break the old Great Seal and cause a new one to be made which is delivered to the keeping of three Commissioners viz. Mr Keeble Mr Whitlock and Mr Lisle They likewise consider of Oaths to be administred to the Judges who thereupon meet and upon debate six of them are content to continue in their employments provided the fundamentall Laws of the Land be not altered which were viz. Chief Justice Rolles and Justice Jerman of the Kings Bench Lord Chief Justice St John Justice Phesant of the Common Pleas Lord Chief Baron Wild and Baron Yates and in order to these Judges satisfaction in their forementioned scruple the Parliament by their Declaration of the ninth of February do declare That they are fully resolved to maintain and shall and will uphold preserve and keep the fundamentall Laws of this Nation for and concerning the preservation of the lives properties and liberties of the people with all things incident there unto with the alterations touching King and House of Lords already resolved in this present Parliament for the good of the people and whatsoever shall be further necessary to the perfecting thereof and by it requiring all Judges Justices c. to execute and administer in their respective Offices and Trusts c. The House order a Committee to consider of such Persons as they should think fit to be Justices of the Peace throughout the Nation they likewise order another Committee to consider of Persons whom they might judg fit to constitute a Councell of State whose number should be forty whereof only five Lords or not above And whereas before they had only repealed they now wholly make void the Oath of Allegiance and Supremacy Thus though the Parliament are endeavouring all means to make themselves as secure and firm in the Government as they can yet are the people generally discontented those who formerly affected them now sensible of the inconveniencies like to ensue the cutting off of their Prince as much disaffect them so that there is generally plotting in all Countries which makes the Parliament send forces into severall Counties to keep them in awe whilest the Royalists in Pomfret Castle still hold out hoping some relief may arise from those so universall discontents But let us from England pass a little into Scotland and we shall find that the Kings death is much more resented there at the first news of his Condemnation they proclaim a solemn Fast with Prayers to God for his deliverance but upon the news of his Execution such was their sorrow that the whole City of Edenborough seemd a flood of tears The Parliament upon this exigence are convened and putting it to the vote it passed nemine contradicente that his Eldest Sonne should be proclaimed King and accordingly a Proclamation was drawn which because of some niceties in it not usuall in things of this nature I think fit to insert as followeth viz. The Estates of Parliament presently convened in this second Session of the second trienniall Parliament by vertue of an Act of the Committee of Estates who had power and authority from the last Parliament for convening the Parliament considering that forasmuch as the Kings Majesty who lately reigned is contrary to the dissent and protestation of this Kingdom removed by a violent death and that by the Lords blessing there is left unto us a righteous Heir and lawfull Successor Charles Prince of Scotland and Wales now King of Great Brittain France and Ireland We the Estates of the Parliament of the Kingdom of Scotland do therefore most unanimously and cheerfully in recognition and acknowledgment of his just right Title and succession to the Crown of these Kingdoms hereby proclaim and declare to all the world that the said Lord and Prince Charles is by the providence of God and by the lawfull and right of undoubted succession and descent King of Great Brittain France and Ireland whom all the subjects of this Kingdom are bound humbly and faithfully to obey maintain and defend according to the Nationall Covenant and the solemn League and Covenant betwixt the Kingdome with their lives and goods against all deadly enemies as their only righteous Soveraign Lord and King And because his Majesty is bound by the Law of God and fundamentall Laws of this Kingdom to rule in righteousness and equity to the honour of God the good of Religion and the wealth of his people it is hereby declared That before he be admitted to the exercise of his Royall power he shall give satisfaction to this Kingdom in those things that concern the security of Religion the unity betwixt the Kingdoms and the good and peace of this Kingdom according to the Nationall Covenont and the solemn League and Covenant for which end we are resolved with all possible expedition to make our humble and earnest addresses to his Majesty For the testification of all which we the Parliament of the Kingdom of Scotland publish this our acknowledgment of his just right Title and succession to the Crown of these Kingdoms at the Market-Cross in Edenborough with all usuall solemnities in like cases and ordain his Royall Name Portract and Seal to be used in the publike writings and Judicatories of this Kingdome and in the Mint-house as was usually done to his Royall Predecessors and command this Act to be proclaimed at all the Market-Crosses of the Royall Burghs within this Kingdom and to be printed that none may pretend ignorance God save King Charles the second This was done by the Parliament the Lords in all their Robes the Cross was richly hanged the Chancellor brought up the Proclamation read it to the King at Arms who proclaimed it there being an universall joy in the City and their great Guns from the Castle sending peals of the same into the adjacent Countries The solemnity being past care was taken for the sending Messengers to acquaint his Majesty with the business Sr Edward Douglas was chosen to go and acquaint him with it to desire him to take heed of evill Councellors c. that there should very speedily a more full address be made to him In the mean time a Fast is proclaimed and supplications made that God would prosper their addresses to him for the good both of the Kirk and State The Lords and the whole Parliament in the mean time put on mourning for the death of his Father But to return to England again The beheaded old King Charles was February 12. thirteen days after his death buried at Windsor in the same Vault where Henry the eighth was interred without any manner of solemnity the Bishop of London Dr Juxon and some few others attending him to his Funerall The Parliament not thinking that they are not yet secure enough whilest they have only power over
mens bodies endeavour the like over their souls They therefore Enact that every Citizen of London at the time of their admission to their Freedome should take the ensuing Oath viz. You shall swear That you shall be true and faithfull to the Commonwealth of England and in order there unto you shall be obedient to the just Government of the City of London You shall to your best power maintain the peace and all the due Franchises thereof and to your knowledge and ability do and perform all Acts and things belonging to a Free-man of the said City They likewise Enact that the said Oath Mutatis mutandis be taken by every Free-man in every City Borrough and Town Corporate in England and Wales at the time of their admission to Freedome as aforesaid The Extraordinary Ambassadors for the States of Holland having had audience and promise of Redress for the injuries done to their Ships provided the wrong-doers could be found out being on departure many thanks and civilities having past between them and the House they Order two Members to give them a solemn farewell who accompanied them to Gravesend The Army again Petition the Parliament in prosecution of some desires formerly presented to them viz. 1. To make and establish such wholesome Laws in the native Language as may preserve the Interest and Liberties of this Commonwealth 2. That Tithes may be abolished 3. That no punishment be inflicted upon any man for the Exercise of his Conscience 4. That all that had to deal in the publick Treasury be called to account and that free Quarter be taken off 5. That all Persons whatsoever may have a free and equall Administration of the Law 6. That Persons imprisoned for Debt having nothing to pay may be released and that such as are able and shelter themselves in prison be forced to pay 7. That all Persons in prison for pretended words c. be brought to triall and if found innocent have satisfaction for false imprisonment 8. That Provision might be made for the Poor of the Nation 9. That constant Pay may be provided to prevent free Quarter 10. That the Arrears of the Army might be paid out of the Kings Deans and Chapters Lands 11. That their want of Horses might be supplied 12. That care might be taken for prevention of clipt Money 13. That the Articles of Warre might be mitigated 14. That the Souldiers might not be put to the execution of civil Orders as seizing on unlicensed Books distraining of Moneys or the like so that the people may not complain of their intrenchment on their Liberties These were February 19. 1649. drawn up by the Army as their humble Petition and Address to the Parliament but we need not think it strange that every common Souldier should have liberty to propose what was necessary to be done in the Government since they had perfectly the whole power in their hands and had first by the fetches of some of their Commanders excluded and extirpated all other power to give life and being to this shadow of a Government this little finger of a Parliament and yet ten times heavier to the Nation then the whole loynes of its legal Magistracy But to return to our purpose the Parliament for so in their own language we must call them order the Triall of Duke Hamilton who though he was no Englishman yet was arraigned under the Name of Earl of Cambridge thereby to subject him to the English Law together with the Earl of Holland Lord Capell Lord Goring and Sr John Owen the two first of which were afterwards beheaded in Pallace-yard and the two last meeting with more favour from them were suffered to depart beyond Seas A Councell of State being setled by the Parliament they met at Derby House where some Propositions of the Parliaments in order to their unanimous Proceedings were tendred to them viz. the approbation of the Proceedings with the late King the House of Lords the present Alteration and some other These were by them received with some dislike to some of the particulars and their dislike being mentioned in the House was referred to a Committee The Prince Elector Palatine makes his Addresses to the Parliament with returnes of thanks for their former favours and desires that 5600lb due of his last years Pension might be paid that the Pension of 8000lb per annum might be continued and that he might have the Pass of the House for himself Family and forty Horse to go home The first and last desires were granted and the Summe due Ordered to be paid him but the Continuation of his Pension put off to further consideration The Parliament and Councell of State agree upon an Attestation to be taken by every individuall Member of the Councell of State which ran as followeth viz. I A. B. being of the Councell of State do Testifie that I do adhere unto this present Parliament in the maintenance and defence of the publick Liberty and Freedome of this Nation as it is now Declared and to the Government for future in way of a Republick without King or House of Peers And I do promise in the sight of God that through his grace I will be faithfull in the performance of the trust committed to me as aforesaid and therein faithfully pursue the Instructions given to this Councell by this present Parliament and not reveal or disclose any thing in whole or in part directly or indirectly that shall be debated or resolved on in Counsell without command or direction in Parliament or the Order and allowance of the major part of them that shall be present at such debates or resolutions In confirmation of the Premisses I have hereunto set my hand To which Attestation the Clerk of the Parliament is Ordered to see that every individuall Member of the Councell of State do Subscribe And now comes out the Protestation of the Parliament of Scotland against the Proceedings touching his Majesties Life and Person which because it was of so eminent concernment I shall here insert the most materiall Circumstances viz. That by their Letter of the sixth instant viz. January they represented unto you what endeavours have been used for taking away of his Majesties life for Change of the fundamentall Government of this Kingdome and introducing a sinfull and ungodly Toleration in matters of Religion and therein they did express their sad thoughts and great feares of the dangerous consequences that might follow thereupon and further they did earnestly press that there might be no proceeding against his Majesties Person which would certainly continue the great distractions of the Kingdomes and involve them in many evils troubles and confusions but that by the free Councels of both Houses of the Parliament of England and with the advice and consent of the Parliament of Scotland such course might be taken in relation to him as may be for the good and happiness of these Kingdomes both having an unquestionable interest in his Person as King of both
Souldiers being sunk by Shot from the Castle Captain Browne Bushell a Noble Royalist who had done many handsome actions for the service of both the Kings was beheaded under the Scaffold at Tower-hill In the mean time the Forces under Command of the Lord Deputy of Ireland scatter and disperse those Forces raised by Castle-haven Clanrickard Dillon and others in the Counties of Kerryathlone Monaghan and Wicklow and settle severall Garrisons to the distraction of most of their Enemies no considerable places being left to them but only Limerick and Galloway That considerable Garrison of Finnagh in Westmeath being surrendred to Commissary Generall Reynolds and Phelim Mac Hugh who came with 1500 Horse and Foot to its relief routed most of his Company slain and many considerable Officers taken prisoners But let us return again to the main business in Scotland Collonel Moncke with a Party of Horse and Foot marches towards Blackness a Garrison of the Scots which had much endammaged the English Quarters which after the Batteries raised and some Shot was spent was reduced the Defendants craving Quarter which considering the strength of the place was granted The Scots in the mean time grow powerfull for notwithstanding all the strifes and emulations amongst them an agreement is patcht up to the seeming satisfaction of all the dissenters they are likewise in hopes of a power to rise for them in Lanchashire which with a considerable Party promised from Scotland to joyn with them might confront any force of the Parliaments but the design is discovered before it was acted and Thomas Cooke Esquire of Grays-Inne the principall Agent for Lancashire taken Major Generall Harrison upon these discoveries is sent into the North with a Body of Horse and Foot and to oppose the Enemy if he should make an invade by way of Carlisle The above-mentioned plot was contrived throughout all England though by ill fortune timely prevented severall persons of quality but most Presbyterian Divines were taken viz. Mr Christopher Love Major Alford Major Adams Collonel Barton Mr Blackmore Mr Case Mr Cauton Dr Drake Captain Far Mr Gibbons Mr Hrviland Major Huntington Mr Ienkins Mr Iaquell Mr Iackson Lieutenant Collonel Iackson Captain Massey Mr Nalton Captain Potter Mr Robbinson Mr Sterks Collonel Sorton Collonel Vaughan and others of which only two suffered viz. Mr Love and Mr Gibbons who after many delays were beheaded on Tower-hill the 22. of August 1651. There hapned much about this time a petty rising in Wales two or three hundred persons being gathered together in behalf of the Scots King upon a report that the English Army was routed and the Scotch advancing into England but the design proved as void of success as the report was of truth But the Scots make severall in-falls upon the Out-guards and Garrisons of the English wherein they had frequently good success killing some and taking others having the advantage of the English in the knowledge of the Country which makes the English contract their Quarters drawing away the Out-Garrisons and putting the Army into a posture to march to Fife but the Ground not yet affording Grass or Oats the enterprize was for the present suspended The Scotch Levies were now compleated to 15000 Foot and 6000 Horse with which they march on this side Sterling to a place called Torwood where the King drew up most of his Horse and Foot and enrails them in a regular fortification Cromwell draws up his Army towards them and marched in Battalia within view of their Camp in hopes to draw them to a Fight but they got nothing else from them then some thundring Messengers from their great Artillery The Lord Generall vext at their delays fals upon Kalendar-house kept by a Party of theirs and in the end though it was stoutly defended out of hopes of relief takes it by storm but when this neither would provoke the Scots to fight he resolves now having so fit an opportunity to do that which he had so long intended viz. to land some men on Fife and accordingly Collonel Daniells Regiment of Foot having four Companies more joyned to it and four Troops of Horse all under Command of Collonel Overton being imbarqued at Leith under pretence of being sent for England arrived next morning on the other shore landed and intrenched in despite of a Party of Scots which strove to oppose them This News brought to the Lord Generall Major Generall Lambert is presently ordered with two Regiments of Horse and two of Foot to second them which they did but advice of it arriving in the Scotch Camp so alarm'd them that in all haste Major Generall Brown is sent with four Regiments of Horse and four of Foot to drive the English out which they might have done had not Major Generall Lambert been arrived before them So there being now almost an equall force the Fight began to the great loss of the Scots whereof near 1500 were slain 1000 taken prisoners among which Sr John Brown Major Generall was one who shortly after as 't is supposed out of grief for this defeat died Upon this overthrow the Scotch Army remove their Camp from Torwood and march directly to Sterling-Park Cromwell follows in their rear hoping yet to draw them to a Battell but they would by no means be induced to it though he followed them within two Miles of Sterling The Lord Generall perceiving his delays would be in vain marches with his whole Army to Lithgoe whence he sends over into Fife the greatest part of them with the train of Artillery to prosecute the War on the other side the remainder with him being only four Regiments of Horse and four of Foot which he made use of to secure what was already gained and observe the Scots motions In the mean time the Lord Lambert faces Brunt Island which is surrendred upon Articles without discharging so much as one piece of Artillery The Lord Generall likewise having dispatched those affairs which detained him at Leith crosses the Frith and coming to the Army draws them into a posture and having left Colonel Wests Regiment in Brunt Island marches with the rest towards Sr Johnston and in two dayes faces the Town and being informed that there was no Garrison in it he sends a Summons to the Inhabitants not doubting of a suddain rendition but it proved otherwise for the Lord Dafferes had the day before entred the Town with 1300 Souldiers The Lord Generall hereupon sends another Summons to the Governour who sullenly returns him no answer but after the Artillery had played one day his stomack came down and the Town was surrendred upon Articles The English Army being marched as far North as St Johns Town the King seeing affairs go so desperately in Scotland and loath to lose so good an opportunity advances with his whole Army consisting of about 16000 and marches with all speed possible into England by way of Carlisle This suddain and unexpected action startled the whole English Nation but especially the Parliament
Leaguer at St Jones and with a great part of their Horse and Foot advance to oppose the Lieutenant Generals passage The Lord Generall to divert their design leads on in person on the other side of Worcester which he had undertook to attaque two Regiments of Foot Collonel Hookers Horse and his own Lifeguard whilest Fleetwood with Collonel Goffs and Deans Regiments of Foot marches on to a Hedge-fight which the Scots thought most secure and stoutly maintained their ground till the fresh supply of Blakes Gibbons and Marshes Regiments force them to retire to Pawick Bridge where they are again engaged by Collonel Hayns Cobbets and Matthews Regiments and at length still overpowred by the Enemyes fresh supplyes forced to retreat in some disorderly hast into Worcester Their success being so bad on this side against Lieutenant Generall Fleetwood they resolve to trie if they could have better fortune against Cromwell on the other side Therefore on a suddain they sally out with all the Horse and Foot they could and at the first shock made Cromwels men retire somewhat disorderly the King himself performing the duty of a valiant Commander in the head of his Horse but at length overpowred by their numerous fresh supplyes they were put to the rout The Horse flying amain towards the North and the Foot into Worcester followed at the heels by their victors who entred the Town with them which they sacked killed or took most of the Scots prisoners who found life or death according to the mercy of those into whose hands they fell From this Battell there escaped only about 3000 Horse most or all the Infantry being either slain or taken and near 100 prisoners of quality of which the chief were Duke Hamilton Earl of Shrewsbury Earl of Derby who fell now into Collonel Lilburnes hands though he mist him before Earl of Cleaveland Earl of Lauderdail Earl of Rothes Earl of Carnwath Earl of Kelly Lord Spine Sir John Packington Sr Charles Cunningham Sir Ralph Clare Major Generall Piscotty Major Generall Montgomery Collonel Graves and Mr Richard Fanshaw Secretary to his Majesty The number of the prisoners in the whole was given out to be near 10000 together with whom was taken the Kings Standard Coach and Horses Collar of SS and Star-Cloak Major Generall Massey likewise though he escaped the Battell yet not finding any secure shelter and being grievously wounded surrendred himself prisoner to the Countess of Stamford and was secured by the Lord Grey of Groby her son and after recovery of his wounds by him sent up to London from whence he shortly after escaped The News of this victory extreamly rejoyced the Parliament at Westminster who nevertheless were somewhat sorry for the escape of the King of Scots who notwithstanding the great search made for him and the Fine set upon his head escaped For after having quitted the field at Worcester he with only one servant with him retired into the Woods where he hid himself two or three dayes till at length coming to a Gentlemans house who had formerly been a servant of his Fathers he was by him conveyed to a noble Esquires house in that County where he lay disguised near two Moneths till the heat of the search was over from whence he came up to London as servant to a Gentlewoman and so at fit opportunity escaped into France Many of the Scotch Nobility were about this time taken by Generall Monck in Scotland at a place called Ellet where they were met together to negotiate the royall affairs viz. old Generall Lesley Earl of Marshall Earl of Craford Lord Keith Lord Ogilby Lord Bargayny Lord Huntly Lord Lee with many other Knights Gentlemen and Ministers who were shortly after sent by Sea to London The Lord Generall Cromwell after his great victory at Worcester on the third of September his ever propitious day on the eighth sets forward towards London where arriving on the twelfth he was met by the Speaker and most of the Members of Parliament the President of the Counsell of State the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of the City of London with great acclamations of joy and acknowledgement of the Parliaments obligation to him for his eminent services which was expressed by the Speaker in a very elegant speech Shortly after two of the Parliaments Chieftains left this world both men of eminent conduct the one Generall Popham one of the Admirals of their Fleet who was a man from whom all men expected excellent service for them had his dayes been prolonged The other the Lord Deputy Ireton who died of the plague under the Walls of Limerick whose body or a Coffin in its stead was afterwards brought over into England and laid in State in Sommerset-House and from thence carried with as much pomp as ever any Kings of England since the conquest to be interred in Westminster Abbey where his Effigies was likewise set up in requitall of his many services he having a long time been one of the Parliaments fortunate Commanders In the mean time the Parliament take order for the speedy reducing of the Islands of Gersey and Man in pursuance whereof Collonel Haynes with two Regiments of Foot and four Troops of Horse set sail out of Weymouth the 16 of October and arriving at Gersey though they found some opposition at Landing yet they easily forced their way and soon possessed themselves of the Island all the Forts in it being presently delivered to them except Elizabeth Castle which held out till the middle of December and was then surrendred upon Articles Collonel Duckenfield with his own Generall Cromwels and Generall Deans Regiments of Foot and two Troops of Horse on the 14th of October departed out of the Bay of Reaumorris towards the Island of Man and arriving there on the 17th in Ramsey-Bay there came aboard to them an Islander to assure them that they should have no opposition in their Landing that they might come securely under their Forts which they had taken possession of for them that only two Castles held out viz. Peel and Rushen which were held by the Forces of the Countess of Derby which they would help them to reduce He is at first distrusted having nothing in writing to show but Major Fox being sent ashore findes it true so the Army lands and besieges both the Castles of Peel and Rushen which after short time delivered up with bloud to Collonel Duckenfield for the use of the Parliament on the 26th of October 1651 where there was found good store of provision and Ammunition of all sorts Shortly after was surrendred to the Parliaments Forces the strong and impregnable hold of Corne-Castle in the Isle of Guernsey with good conditions to the defendants consideration being had to the strength of the place and the bloud might probably be yet spent in reducing it per force or the charge they must necessarily have been at in starving it out it being still found very well victualled Notwithstanding that numerous company of Noble men
that night drew up to the Spanish Fort and planted a Mortar-peece in a convenient place and all things were in readiness for a battery when on a suddain the Army was commanded to draw off and without doing any harm to march to their old Watering place in the Bay For what intent or by whose counsell this was done I have not the capacity to guess And now they were come into the Bay there wanted victuals so that they were forced to go out in Parties to fetch some in whence many of them came short home being knockt on the head by the Negroes Till at last forced by necessity they were fain to eat the Horses of their own Troop In this miserable condition they remained some days till at length a resolution was taken to ship them which being finished the third of May the whole Fleet set Sail and on the 10th arrived in the Port of Jamaica whither they bent their course from Hispaniola and though they failed of their first enterprize there yet here they had better success for they soon possessed themselves of the chief Town called Oristano where the Army began to take up their habitation and to plant This hath since proved a pretty thriving Island profitable to the English and an ill neighbour to the adjacent Spanish Islands Shortly after but one after the other the Generals Pen and Venables returned into England whom at their arrivall the Protector in thanks for the service they had done committed to the Tower Thus much concerning this unfortunate voyage Let us now sweeten it a little with the noble exploit performed by Generall Blake in the Streights whither he was sent with a gallant Fleet to scour those Seas of Turkish Pirats which took and destroyed many English Ships making slaves of their persons He first seeks for them out at Sea but missing his aims there resolves to seek them where they were to be found And first on the 10th of March arrives at Algier where the most considerable both in quantity and quality lurked be anchored without the Mold he sends a Messenger to the Dye requiring restitution of such English Ships as had been taken by them and that the Captives be immediately released The Dye having provided a large present of Beef and Muttons and other fresh provisions alive returns the Messenger with them and this answer to the Generall That the Ships and Captives already taken were of particular men and therefore it lay not in his power to restore them without the generall discontent of all his Subjects Yet as for the English Captives that were there if he pleased to redeem them he should and he would set a reasonable and indifferent price upon their heads And that if the Generall thought good they would conclude a peace with him and for the future offer no acts of hostility on their part to any of the English Ships or Natives This answer seemed satisfactory to the Generall and accordingly the Captives were redeemed and a peace concluded This business thus dispatched at Algier he bends his course for Tunis where having sent a Summons to the Dye he received but a rough complyance they wholly slighting his desires And having drawn their Ships under the Castle of Goletta thought them secure sending him word That there were their Castles of the Goletta and their Ships and Castles of Porto Ferino that he should do his worst and not think to sear them with his Fleet. This resolute answer exasperated both the Generall and Seamen who resolved to be revenged for this insolence A Counsell of War is called who conclude on a resolution to burn those nine Ships in Porto Ferino which they effected thus Every Ships Boat being manned with stout and resolute Mariners are sent into the Harbour to assault and fire the Ships whilest the Admirall Vice-Admirall and Rear-Admirall ply continued broad sides upon the Castle to hinder it from endammaging their Boats who after a stout assault fire the Ships and return back again with the loss of but 25 men and 48 wounded This noble action of Generall Blake resounded to the praise of the English Nation as far as the Port of the Orand-signor But to digress a little from our Story About this time happened the Queen Christiana of Swedelands unparalleld resignation of her Crown and Kingdome to Carolus Adolphus her Kinsman being contented from a mighty Princess to put her self into the condition of a Lady Errant only these Conditions she would have granted and accorded to by her sucessor 1. That she retain a good part of her Kingdome and the Custome to her self 2. That she will be no Subject but free of her self without controul 3. She will travell whither she pleaseth To these the Prince replyed 1. That he would not be a King without a Kingdome 2. That he will have no Rivall nor Superiour 3. That he will not hazard himself about her designes abroad How these Differences in the Proposals were accommodated I know not but shortly after she resigned up her Kingdome to her Cozen leaving to her self only the bare title of Queen but to him both the title of King and possession of a Kingdome With him the Lord Whitlock who had some time been Ambassador there soon concluded a firm League both offensive and defensive between these two Nations the effects of which had been felt to purpose in some parts of Christendome had Oliver Cromwell lived much longer then he did The horrible massacre which had been committed by the Forces of Charles Emanuel Duke of Savoy upon the poor Protestants in Piedmont The Protector to shew his pious care of his fellow-Brethren ordered a day of Humiliation to be kept and great summes of Money raised for their relief though 't is highly suspected most of it was otherwise employed And now the Lord Protector to curb the people the better and secure himself constitutes a new kind of Officers called Major Generals of Counties but in effect the same with Turkish Bassaes he divides England into eleven parcels amongst them The Names of these Bassaes or Major Generals as he called them and their severall parts were as followeth viz. Major Haynes For Essex Suffolke and Norfolke Collonel Kelsey For Kent and Surrey Collonel Goffe For Suffex Hampshire and Barkeshire Lieutenant Generall Fleetwood For Oxfordshire Bucks Hartford Cambridge Isle of Ely Essex Norfolke and Suffolke Major Generall Skippon For the City of London Commissary Generall Whaley For Lincolnshire Nottingham Derby Warwicke and Leicestershire Major Butler For Northamptonshire Bedford Rutland and Huntington Collonel Berry For Worcester Hereford Salop and North-Wales Collonel Wortly For Cheshire Lancashire and Staffordshire Lord Lambert For Yorkeshire Durham Cumberland Westmerland and Northumberland Collonel Barkestead For Westminster and Middlesex The greatest service which these Major Generals did the Protector was the forcing the Delinquents in their respective Provinces to pay in the Decimation of their Estates for old offences which performed he himself finding these Major
valiant his praise might justly have exceeded the ancient Semi-gods and the Pyramids of his same have endured with glory to eternity though he was now buried obscurely in Harry the sevenths Chappell and neither Statua nor Tombe erected to his memory The Lord Protector having how ensured his greatness begins to conferre Titles of honour upon his Children his eldest Son Richard is made Chancellour of the University of Oxford and his younger Son Henry sent over Lord Deputy into Ireland where 't is affirmed by some that he governed both with such prudence and magnanimity together that he had in short time gained the loves both of the English and Irish in that Nation And 't is by most conceived probable that had his Father lest the Government of England to him as he did to his Son Richard these Nations might have still remained subject to that Family About this time the Armyes in Flanders being still disposed in their Winter-Quarters Sir John Reynolds Commander in chief together with Collonel White and some other Commanders of Note imbarquing in a Shallop at Mardike to come over and visit his Highness the Lord Protector were by a suddain storm driven upon the Goodwin Sands and were there all drowned His Highness had in this intervall of the Parliaments Sessions made choice of sundry persons to fill up his other House or Pageant-House of Lords which because posterity may know what persons they were every one almost having heard both of them and known the rise of most of them I shall here insert their Names 1. Richard Cromwell 2. Henry Cromwell 3. Nathaniell Feins 4. John Liste Commissioners of the great Seal 5. Henry Lawrence President of the Privy Counsell 6. Charles Fleetwood Lieutenant Generall 7. Robert Earl of Warwick 8. Edmund Earl of Malgrave 9. Edward Earl of Manchester 10. William Viscount Say and Seal 11. Phillip Lord Visc Liste 12. Charles Lord Visc Howard 13. Phillip Lord Wharton 14. Thomas Lord Falconbridge 15. George Lord Ewers 16. Iohn Cleypool 17. Iohn Disborow 18. Edward Montague 19. Bulstrode Whitlock 20. William Sidenham 21. Sr Charles Woelsey 22. Sr Gilbert Pickering 23. Phillip Skippon 24. Walter Strickland 25. Francis Rouse 26. Iohn Iones 27. Sr William Strickland 28. Iohn Fines 29. Sr Francis Russell 30. Sr Thomas Homeywood 31. Sr Arthur Hasterig 32. Sr Iohn Hebard 33. Sr Richard Onslow 34. Sr Gilbert Gerrard 35. Sr William Roberts 36. Iohn Glyn. 37. Oliver St Iohns Judges 38. William Pierrepoint 39. Iohn Crew 40. Alexander Popham 41. Phillip Iones 42. Sr Christopher Pack 43. Sr Robert Tichborn 44. Edward Whalley 45. Iohn Barkstead Lieut. of the Tower 46. Sr Iohn Hewson 47. Sr Thomas Pride 48. Sr George Fleetwood 49. Richard Ingoldsby 50. Iames Berry 51. William Goffe 52. Thomas Gooper 53. Edmund Thomas 54. George Monk Generall in Scotland 55. David Earl of Cassils 56. Sr William Lockhart 57. Archibald Iohnson of Warreston 58. William Steel 59. Roger Lord Broghill 60. Sr Mathew Thomlinson 61. William Lenthall 62. Richard Hampden This is the Catalogue of those Lords at least such as were ordered to be so esteemed by the Protector which were by him created Peers of the Land though without any other Title then that of bare Lord how unfit many of them were to be so I 'le leave to any rationall man to judge since though there might some persons of honour he pickt out amongst them men raised by the power of the Sword yet were the greatest part of them such as had either raised themselves fortunes out of these Kingdomes distractions and so were as deeply engaged against their King and Country as himself which made them indeed the fitter for his designes as being most likely to stand true to his interest But the time of the prorogation of the Parliament being expired they make their appearance in the House the Pageant-House of Lords likewise sitting according to ancient custome whither the Protector coming sends to the Commons to tell them that he attended them in the House of Lords whither the Speaker with the rest of the Members immediately go to whom he makes a very fair speech telling them in conclusion that if they would go on to prosecute his designes that they should be called the blessed of the Lord and the generations to come would bless them c. But the Parliament according to the fourth Article of the Petition and Advice which sayes That no Members legally chosen should be excluded from performance of their duty but by consent of Parliament immediately proceed to the calling over and re-admitting of those Members which had formerly been secluded by the Protector to his Highnesses no little discontent The Parliament being now full began to be angry at the House of Lords and to esteem it only as a Pageant-Parliament set up on purpose to mock them for it was strange to them that that power which was created but by a part of a Parliament should have a negative voice over a sull House And at length they went so far as to question the Protectors power in calling them or Authorizing them to sit as a House of Peers which he finding thought it not fitting to let businesses of this high nature run too far So on the 4th of February he goes to his House of Lords and by the Master of the black Rod he sends to acquaint the House of Commons of his being there so the Speaker and the rest of the Members repairing thither and standing without the Bar his Highness sitting under a Chair of Estate made a large Speech to them and in conclusion told them That it did concern his interest as much as the publick peace and tranquillity of the Nation to terminate that Parliament and therefore he did now put an end to their sitting So the House in obedience to his commands dissolved And now the Protector having a plot near discovery orders the settlement of the Militia of London but in such mens hands as would certainly be faithfull to his interest this he doth under pretence to perswade the people how much he labours for their security which to make them more sensible of presently after succeeds the discovery of this horrible terrible plot and herein not only his own person must be endangered but the Tower and Mews must be furprized both at one time the City of London fired and all the Souldiers about it to be put to the Sword and all this monstrous Gunpowder-work to be performed by not above thirty persons of whom the Reverend Dr Hewit a man so truly Christian that he would rather have prayed for then revenged himself of an enemy must be head here whilest Sr Henry Slingsby must from a prisoner in the Castle take possession of the Garrison of Hull yet these two with about twenty or thirty others of meaner rank were clapt up into the Tower and after some time being brought before the high Court of Justice erected for that purpose were charged with high Treason For
having been very pensive and melancholly from her death till aboutthe middle of August his distemper was perceived to be an Ague which together with other malignant humours so depressed his vitals that it brought him at length to his finall Exit though with many strivings and struglings he often falling into swouns and trances being loath to go to give an account He could not be perswaded that his distemper was mortall being an Enthusiast in judgment firmly believing That as God had carried him to that height so he had some farther work for him to do he having about him such sycophantine Chaplains one of which but three days before his death praying by his bed side used this expression Lord we beg not of thee life for that we are already assured of but that thou wouldest be pleased to ease him of his languishing misery Having had severall discourses with divers of his Privy Counsell who earnestly pressed him according to the first Article of the Petition and Advice to name his Successor being ambitious to leave what he could no longer enjoy himself to his own line named his Sonne Richard Cromwell for succeeding Protector after his death The night before his departure says one he was observed to have uttered this Prayer Lord I am a miserable creature yet I am in Covenant with thee through grace and I may I will come unto thee for thy people Lord thou hast made me though very unworthy a mean instrument to do them some good and thee service and many of them had too high value of me though others would be glad of my fall But Lord howsoever thou disposest of me do good for them Give consistency of judgment one heart and mutuall love unto them Let the Name of Christ be glorious throughout the world Pardon such as delight to trample upon the ashes of a worm and pardon the folly of this short Prayer even for Jesus Christ his sake This was on Thursday night and on Friday morning being the 3d of September 1658 his twice auspicious day he shewed all the signs of a dying person though he continued still alive till about three a clock in the afternoon when his great soul expired and went to give an account of his actions in this life to the great High Court of Justice who had so often called men to account before his High Courts of Justice here yet there he might have this surety which could not be given here that there are neither Trepanners nor false Witnesses The Privy Counsell upon advice of his death immediately assembled together and being satisfied of his departure out of this world and that he according to the first Article of the Petition and Advice had appointed his Sonne Richard Cromwell to succeed him in the Government of Lord Protector of England Scotland and Ireland c. they agreed to his choice and the Officers of the Army having likewise assented thereto they immediately sent the Lord Chamberlain to acquaint the Lord Richard Cromwell that they were coming to wait upon him whereupon he attended their coming and the Lord President being the formost made a Speech to him in the name of the whole Counsell wherein he let him know how deeply the Counsell was affected with grief for the death of his Princely Father and that they could not but very much condole with him for so great a loss and withall to acquaint him that his late Highness his dear Father having in his life time according to the humble Petition and Advice declared and appointed him to succeed in the Government of these Nations the Counsell had taken the matter into consideration and thereupon resolved it and had caused a Proclamation to be drawn up which was passed by the Counsell communicated and consented to by the Officers of the Army and subscribed by the members of the Counsell and the Lord Major of London and Officers of the Army with one consent whereby his Highness was to be proclaimed Lord Protector of these three Nations of England Scotland and Ireland and that the said Proclamation was to be made publick the next Morning at nine of the Clock c. To this his Highness returned answer That he had a very deep sense as well of his own sorrow for the loss of his Father as of the faithfulness of the Counsell of the City of London and Officers of the Army toward his deceased Father and himself in the present occasion and likewise the sense he had of the great weight of the Government now by Gods providence thrust upon his shoulders which he could no better way hope to sustain than by theirs and the good people of the Nations Prayers whose peace and prosperity he would endeavour to maintain to the utmost of his power c. so he dismissed the Counsell Thus you have a full relation of the end of Oliver Cromwell Lord Protector of England Scotland and Ireland whose valour only mounted him to that height and for which only he deserves remembrance or applause and by which he raised his Family to that pitch to equall with the best of the Kingdome and the Nation to that glory that forreign Princes both feared and envied it He had issue two Sons viz. 1. The Lord Richard Cromwell who was brought up in a soft kind of life and more addicted to hunting and pleasures then either to Warres or Governments who succeeded him in the Protectorship 2. The Lord Henry Cromwell who from sixteen years of age was by his Father bred a Souldier and was at his death Lord Deputy of Ireland And four Daughters viz. 1. Bridget his eldest Daughter was first married to the Lord Deputy Ireton and after his death re-married to the Lord Fleetwood who succeeded Ireton in the Deputyship of Ireland 2. Elizabeth his second Daughter married to the Lord Cleypool Master of his Highness Horse 3. Mary his third Daughter married to the Lord Faulconbridge And 4. Frances his youngest Daughter who was married to the Lord Rich Grandchilde to the Earl of Warwick So high were his fortunes raised that those of the Nobility who would once have hardly deigned to have spoke to him would now have accounted it an honour to have matched into his Family But let us leave him sleeping in his ashes and proceed to his Son Richard FLORVS ANGLICVS OR THE Government of England VNDER Richard Lord Protector in the Years 1658 1659. PART III. OLIVER Lord Protector of England c. being thus deceased the Privy Counsell send a Committee of their own members viz. the Lord Mountague Generall at sea Walter Strickland Esquire and Major Generall Skippon to the City who acquainted them with the Counsels intentions to proclaim his Highness Richard the eldest Sonne to the late deceased Lord Protector of these Nations and their territories and dominions which being readily assented to by them the ensuing Proclamation was the next day after Olivers death first read at the Counsell window by Norway King of Arms viz.
Whereas it hath pleased the most wise God in his Providence to take out of the world the most serene and Renowned Oliver late Lord Protector of this Commonwealth and his said Highness having in his life time according to the humble Petition and Advice declared and appointed the most Noble and Illustrious the Lord Richard eldest Sonne of his said late Highness to succeed him in the Government of these Nations wee therefore of the Privy Counsell together with the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Citizens of London the Officers of the Army and numbers of other principall Gentlemen do now hereby with one full voice and consent of tongue and heart publish and declare the said Noble and Illustrious Lord RICHARD to be rightfully Protector of this Commonwealth of England Scotland and Ireland and the Dominions and territories thereunto belonging to whom we do acknowledg all fidelity and constant obedience according to Law and the said humble Petition and Advice with all hearty and humble affections beseeching the Lord by whom Princes rule to bless him with long life and these Nations with peace and happiness under his Government This Proclamation was signed by the Lord Mayor of London the members of the Privy Counsell and most of the Officers of the Army and was afterwards proclaimed in the Palace-yard Westminster at Cheapside the Royall-Exchange in Cornhill and so in order throughout all the Dominions of England Scotland and Ireland Proclamation being thus made the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen in their formalities came in the afternoon to condole the death of his late Highness to congratulate his Highness advancement to the Protectorship and to surrender up into his hands the Sword of the City they were received with the accustomed Ceremonies and the Lord Mayor having delivered up his Sword received it again from his Highness hands and after some other Ceremonies performed as usuall and Dr Goodwin having prayed for a blessing upon his Highness Person his Government his Forces by Sea and Land and upon all the People of these Nations Nathaniell Fines one of the Lords Commissioners of the great Seal and one of his Highness Privy Counsell administred the same Oath to his Highness which had been formerly administred to his Father upon his Installment After the Oath administred his Highness first addressed himself to the Lord Mayor and Aldermen thanking them for theirs and the Cities fidelity and good affection towards him and then having returned the like thanks to the addresses of the Officers of the Army he dismissed them and then passed a Proclamation for continuance of all such as were in any Office of Government at his Fathers death till further directions from his Highness The sixth of September by his Highness Order the Imbargo made upon his Fathers death on all Ships and Vessels in the Ports of England and Wales was taken off and Sr Oliver Flemming Master of the Ceremonies was ordered to acquaint the Ministers of all forreign Princes of the death of Oliver Lord Protector and that both that Title and the Government of these three Nations was devolved and established on his eldest Son Richard Cromwell The Lord Newport who was come over as Ambassador extraordinary from the States of Holland to the Protectors Father but first by reason of his indisposedness being retarded his audience and afterwards by reason of his death his Ambassage proved ineffectuall he having received new Letters from his Masters ordering him to condole his late Highness death and complement his present Highness for his advancement to the Government hoping that the same firm league and peace might be continued between his Highness and those States as had been between them and his princely Father delivered his Message in a publick audience before his Highness and received an answer conformable to his desires Severall addresses protesting both love and obedience to his Highness are presented both by the Army City of London and most of the Countries the whole Nation being seemingly content and satisfied with his advancement to the Government of these Kingdomes Nor were the Officers of the Army even those who afterwards showed themselves most active in depriving him of his Government backward but every particular Regiment gave in their addresses condoling his Fathers death and protesting their willingness nay joy in becoming obedient to him But amongst all those addresses I cannot omit one passage in that presented by Major Generall John Disborow and his Regiment in which condoling his Fathers death they adde thus viz. Your Highness your Armies and people reap the benefit of his prayers and successes but alas this our Moses your dear and blessed Father the servant of the Lord is dead and shall we not weep Though we weep not for him we cannot but weep for our selves We cannot but look after him crying Our Father our Father the Chariots of Israell and the horsemen thereof the fiery Chariot indeed of England whose fury and ambition had set the whole Nation in flames and combustion Nor are the rest of those forreign Ministers which were then in England viz. the Ambassadors of France and Sweden and Portugall the Agents for the Hans-Towns Florence Venice and Genua backward in coming to lament with his Highness for the death of his Father and desire the continuance of that league friendship and amity which was maintained and granted by him To which the Lord Protector returned answer that there could not be any greater argument used for his continuance offriendship with any Kingdome or Common-wealth then by telling him that his Father had contracted it Nor are Scotland or Ireland less complyant to his desires then England had been they thence send their addresses and promises of obedience so that his Government seemed every where to begin with a great deal of serenity and fair promises of a long continuance In Scotland likewise Generall Monke who continued Vicegerent there published a Declaration for the better securing the peace of that Nation declaring First That no person then beyond the seas or out of the Dominions of this Commonwealth c. Except Masters of Ships or Seamen belonging to Ships of this Commonwealth should after the first of December 1658 presume to come into Scotland without Licence from the Lord Protector or his Counsell in England the Lord Deputy or Counsell of Ireland or his Highness Counsell of Scotland as they would answer it at their perils Secondly That such Persons as shall arrive in Scotland after the first of December having such a Passe shall at their arrivall be bound to give intimation to the Governour of the next adjacent Garrison who is to examine them and see that their Passe be not counterfeit and for all those who shall arrive before the first of December they are to make their appearance before the Governour of the next adjacent Garrison who is to examine the cause of their coming into Scotland and if he find them to be persons suspected to apprehend and secure them Thirdly That no
His Brother also Henry Cromwell late Lord Lieutenant in t Ireland upon the Parliaments advice surrendred his Government and Collonel John Jones William Steel Esquire Collonel Mathew Thomlinson Robert Goodwin and Miles Corbett Esquire were in his stead appointed by the Parliament to be Commissioners for the Government of Ireland In Scotland Generall Monke though he resignes not up his Government to the Parliament yet holds a fair correspóndency with them and by his and the rest of the Officers of his Armyes declare and keep a complyance to their Government which he punctually performed The Parliament endeavouring still more and more to oblige the Army pass an Act of oblivion and indemnity for all force or violence formerly put upon the House yet nevertheless to restrain them for the future the Commissions are issued out by the Speaker in the Name of the Parliament and not by a Generall as formerly Yet the Parliament take so much care to perform their promises to them that they order the immediate sale of Whitehall Hampton-Court and Sommerset-House towards the present payment of some of the Armyes Arrears About this time on the 11th of July 1659 happened a strange kind of Tumult in or about Enfield some part of the Chase which formerly lay common and was the chiefest stay and support of the Country people thereabouts for the feeding of their Catttle from whence proceeded the chief support and maintenance of themselves and Families being by the Parliament given to some of the Souldiers for their arrears was by them built upon and euclosed which so incensed the poor of the Country whose Families were almost ready to starve for want of such relief that notwithstanding Souldiers were sent to secure those Grounds the common people made a head fell upon the Souldiers took nine of them prisoners threw down a Barn and levelled the enclosures The Parliament upon audience given to an extraordinary Ambassador of the King of Sweden appointed three persons to go over as Plenipotentiaries to Coppenhaguen to treat of such a reconciliation between the two Kings of Swedeland and Denmarke as might best stand with the interest of England but their Ambassage hath as yet produced no considerable effect And now further to secure themselves in those designes they had in hand here they banish all Cavaliers under the stile of Malignants from London and twenty Miles about and pass an Act for the settlement of the Militia in the respective Cities and Countries of England and Wales But though this Parliament had taken away the Government of these three Nations from Richard Cromwell yet they are so kind to him as to protect him from all arrests and take care for the payment of his Debts which amounted to 29640lb and besides order him 10000lb per annum for his life out of the Common-weal hs Lands as much of which 't is probable he received as his Creditors did of what was owing to them And now the Parliament discover a female-Plot of the shee-Cavaliers for the subverting of their Government the Lady Mary Howard Daughter to the Earl of Barkshire and one Mrs Sumner are committed to the Tower upon pretence of being pryers to a horrible terrible design against the Government upon whose Examinations all the Horses about Town are taken Sr Ernestus Byrom and others committed to prison But now somewhat begins to appear severall Troops of Horse are sent into Kent and Surry to prevent infurrections there where they take severall Cavaliers to bring them up to London Major Generall Massey being likewise in Glocestershire endeavouring as it was pretended to raise Forces there for the King was surprized by a Troop of Horse who for the better securing him set up a Trooper behind him with whom coming down a Hill the Horse stumbled and fell and the night being dark and Massey nimble legged escaped from them into the Wood. The Parliament now begin to discover the reason of the buying up of so many Arms in London for Sr George Booth Sr Thomas Middleton and some others of the secluded Members having got a considerable quantity of Arms raised a Party in Cheshire Flintshire and Lancashire to the number of between three and four thousand men and declare for a Free Parliament and the due rights and priviledges of the Nation against that Fanatick and unlawfull power which now usurped dominion over them With these they rendezvows at Routon-Heath and from thence march to Manchester endeavouring to augment their Party Collonel Ireland in Lancashire and Governour of the Cattle of Leverpool promising them what aid and assistance he could though he never performed it This great rising at first startled the Parliament who immediately dispatch the Lord Lambert with three Regiments of Horse one of Dragoons and three of Foot to march with all possible hast to suppress them whilest severall Parties which endeavoured to rise in other Counties are prevented either by the Militia or the Parliaments Forces But Sr George Booths number daily encreases somewhat by the confluence of the Gentry of those parts unto him so that he made up a very gallant body of Horse He sends his Letters and Declarations up to London inviting them to joyn with him to maintain their priviledges and redeem themselves from the slavery they were now in But all proved ineffectuall that great City being over-awed by a small Party of the Parliaments Forces In the mean time Lambert makes a speedy march towards them two Regiments the one of Horse the other of Foot are by Order of Parliament sent out of Ireland under the Command of Collonel Axtill Collonel Hierom Zankey who joyn with Lambert neer Nantwich notwithstanding some endeavours of Sr George Booths Party to hinder their conjunction and on the 16th of August the Army faced one another the one on one side the River the other on the other Hereupon Sr George Booth sends a Trumpet to Lambert to tell him the reasons of his taking up of Arms and desiring that to avoid shedding of blood some persons might be appointed to conferre in order to a Treaty But Lambert returns him a short answer telling him that the readiest way to avoid shedding of blood was for them to lay down their Arms and surrender Chester and other Strengths which if they refused to do that he was sent to reduce them to their due obedience which by the help of God he did not doubt but to do Hereupon the next morning Lamberts Army advanced towards Nantwich-Bridge which was kept by a Party of Sr George Booths Sr Georges Horse and Foot were drawn upin Battalia in a Meadow just below the Bridge Lambert seeing that he could not draw his enemy out of his advantage resolved to beat him out and thereupon comands a stout Party of Foot to assault those which kept the Bridge which they did with a great deal of courage and resolution and were as stoutly resisted on the other side sometimes one gaining the advantage and sometimes the other till at length
arbitrary justice should provide them with rewards for the present and security for the future And now comes out the humble Representation and Petition of the Army wherein though they seemingly professed all obedience yet they tacitly harped upon the former string and drove at the maintaining their own power in opposition to the Houses interest This was tediously discussed in the House and every particular exactly scanned some of which the Parliament utterly disliking as tending to the overthrow of their Power and perceiving the Army still to go on in their clandestine designs they resolve to make provision against them And the Army seeing their resolution proceed vigorously likewise though privately yet they put out the former Representation in Print and endeavour as much as they could to encrease the number of the Subscribers The Parliament on the other side to cut off all hopes as they thought of the Armyes subsistance except in and by them and so prevent their designs pass an Act that it should be treason in all persons whatsoever to raise levy or collect Money without consent of Parliament and likewise make void the Acts for Custome and Excize that if the Army should proceed in their designs they might be cut off from maintenance This being thus ordered they likewise vote the Commissions of those nine notorious Worthies and so infamous Patriots of their Country and promoters of its good and settlement the contrary way viz Lambert Desborough Berry Kelsey Ashfield Cobbet Creed Packer and Barrow to be null and void and disposed their Regiments otherwise and likewise order the Government of the Army to be by seven Commissioners in whom the power should joyntly reside these were Fleetwood Ludlow Generall Monke Haslerig Walton Morley and Overton thinking hereby to cure this hot distemper and reduce them to obedience But whilest they are thus quick and nimble in their resolutions Lambert and the rest of his complices are not behind them in diligence but having strengthened their Party as much as time would give leave and drawn as many of the Souldiery as they could from the obedience of the Parliament resolve once more to put an end to their sitting and rather turn them out of doors then sit down quietly with the loss of their Commissions The Parliament having over night notice of what was intended the day following had given order for the drawing of what Forces were yet faithfull to them to Westminster in order to the guarding them the next day Collonel Mosses and Collonel Morleys Regiments immediately obeyed their Commands and repaired to the Pallace-yard in the night and early in the morning but Lambert having gathered the rest of the Army together did immediately there surround them stopping all the avenues so that there was no hopes of any more assistance and whilst they were thus in opposition the Speaker was by Major Creed turned back again and not suffered to passe to the House and at last both parties having stood almost all the day at bay were on a sudden reconciled with mutual resolution to advance a Lambertonian faction Lambert having thus over-master'd his Masters and dismissed them from their Power and Authority upon consultation with his fellow-Worthies cals a Counsel of Officers who immediately post away Collonel Barrow for Ireland and Collonel Cobbet for Scotland to winne the Armies there if possible to a compliance with their actions And that these migh be thought Devils which did believe and tremble they order a Day of Humiliation intending to mock God that they might according to the custome of their Predecessors with greater ease and secrecy gull the people They proceed in the next place to the settlement of the Army and make choice of Fleetwood for Captain General or rather stalking-horse to Lamberts all-commanding power Lambert Major General and Disbrow Commissary General of the horse and appoint a Committee for nomination of Officers in the rooms of those who for their taking part with the Parliament against them they had discarded Having in some sort setled their military Power that they might not be seen to do what they really intended that is to rule by the Sword alone they make out a kind of spurious Oligarchy or rather Anarchy in whose Power without more ado they put the Laws Lives and Liberty of the English This they call a Committee of Safety which how it deserves the name I will leave the Reader to judge giving him the names of the members thereof men either of lunatick and crack-brain'd principles as having been all along the grandest ringleaders of the Sectaries or such whose ambitious spirits would terminate no where but in the slavery and ruine of their native Countrey most of which was ingaged in the horrid murther of their lawfull Sovereign But let Posterity know and detest their memory Charls Fleetwood General John Lambert Major General John Disbrow Commissary General Lord Chancellor Steel Bulstrode Whitlock Sr Henry Vane L t General Ludlow Col. Sydenham Major Salway Lord Strickland Col. Berry Lawrence Sr James Harrington Sr Archibald Johnston alias Lord Wareston John Ireton L d Maior Robert Titchburn Ald. Henry Brandrith Robert Thompson Col. Hewson Col. Clerk Col. Lilburne Col. Bennet Cornelius Holland A happy case was the Nation like to be in when such a crew of mechanical and fanatical persons excepting two or three was to have the Command of its Sword and Laws These are the men who now must model our Government and bring us into a free and equal Commonwealth alias the most intollerable of all bondages and slaveries But whilst they go on thus jocundly in their proceedings conceiving now all was their own and that the Government would be perpetuated to the Saints and their children there comes a Letter from General Monck out of Scotland declaring the dis-satisfaction of himself and several Officers to their proceedings this awakes the worme of their consciences though for the present they take no publick notice of it But that they might give their former actions the best gloss they can they put out a Declaration showing the reason of their late transactions and highly rail against the injustice and arbitrary Power of the Parliament who without any reason given would have turned away their good servant Lambert and his associates which might have made such a president as must have laid the Officers of the Army at the feet and mercy of the Parliament at pleasure to prevent which and other inconveniences they thought good to dissolve them and did likewise declare their late hasty and irregular Acts against levying of money and for governing the Army by Commissioners acts which tended absolutely to the ruine of the Army and so consequently as they said to the destruction and confusion of the Nation to be null and void THE Renowned Actions OF General MONCK The true Politician 1659 1660. BUt now the noble General Monck a man of other principles then to joyn hand in hand with a company of such perfidious Traitors is
resolve a speedy sending out Writs but resolve to tie up their hands to their blocks by previous engagements against King House of Lords c. But this was no satisfaction to the General For he having taken away those arms which were in the hands of the Fanaticks and such as might have caused disturbance in the City on Tuesday the 21th of February a day not to be forgotten as long as England endureth being the first light which glimmered some chearfulnesse to us having drawn his Army together he marched to Westminster early in the morning and having before-hand prepared the secluded Members to be ready who were then very many of them in Town and had had divers private meetings he met them at White-hall where having recommended to them the care of the National interest yet in such termes as the Rump might not absolutely despair he saw them admitted into the Parliament House to the great grief and amazement of the former House-keepers who look upon these as Intruders That night there was Bonfires and great rejoycing in London But the secluded Members being in they fall to their work in good earnest they had not such by-ends or corrupted interests to drive on as their Predecessors and therefore found no such haltings in doing things which the Nation required But in the first place they order the release of those prisoners which for Free-Parliament-Petitions had been lately clapt up as likewise the Members of the Common Counsel of London They disanull the Militia which the Rump had instituted consisting only of persons both Fanatick and Factious and order a new Militia throughout all England wherein they nominated the most principal of the Gentry who were thought most willing and ready to promote the settlement of their Countrey yet with this proviso that they should subscribe that they should acknowledge the war was lawfull against his late Majesty till 1648. the Parliament by violent force was broken And that they might be furnished with that which is the sinews and strength of all money they send to the City to desire them advance some money before-hand upon security of the next six Moneths assessement which was freely granted by the City and 27000lb. immediately lent them Whereupon the City petition for the confirmation of the Militia which the Parliament presently setled according to their desires The next work they did was to chuse a Counsel of State which was done by lot of all manner of choise the most equal by reason no man can find himself aggrieved not knowing who is pro or who is con which prevents all rancour and animosity The persons which were by them chosen being for the most Gentlemen of eminent worth and such as have to the height testified their abilities for the good of their Countrey in this last emergency although there were some Rumpers amongst them I have thought it not amisse to give you a Catalogue of them that we may pay due homage to their names and memory Arthur Ansley Lord President William Pierpoint John Crew Richard Knightly Collonel Popham Collonel Morley Sr A. A. Cooper Sr Gilb. Gerhard Lord St John Sr Tho. Widdrington Sr John Evelin Sr William Waller Sr Richard Onslow Serjant Maynard Sr William Lewis Col. Montague Col. Hanley Col. Norton Denzil Hollis Sr John Temple Col. Thompson Sr John Trever Sr John Holland Sr John Potts Col. Birch Sr Herbottle Grimston John Swinton John Weaver Col. Rossiter Lord Fairfax L. General Monck Then they repealed such Acts of the Rump as they had made meerly for the satisfaction of their own self ends and were exceedingly destructive to the interest of the Kingdome taking off those Sequestrations which they had laid on Sr George Booth and his party which must have proved almost a general calamity to the Nation and they likewise released them from that confinement which they had for a long time lain under Making moreover such acts as might best secure the interest of the people and conduce to the settlement of the Nation some of which were directed to the taking away all places of power or profit out of the hands of the Fanatick or Commonwealth party and putting in those who were like to prove better Patriots But these acts being very numerous I think not convenient to insert the particulars In the next place they commissionate the Lord Monck to be Captain General of all the Forces in England Scotland and Ireland a place of the highest honour and which he had as highly deserved And now to show that God was pleased notwithstanding the continued sinnes of the Nations to remit his punishing hand no sooner were the Members seated in the House but news came that Ireland was by his good providence through the endeavours of Sr Charles Coote already put in such a posture as might make it capable of receiving the first state of affaires he having secured Sr Hardresse Waller and others of the Rumps faction But now some signe of discontent appeared in the Army here which had formerly been under Fleetwoods and Lamberts command For Collonel Rich's Regiment upon news of this change at London began to mutany at St Edmondsbury but the Parliament hearing of it instantly sent out Collonel Ingoldsby a Lover of his Countrey their former Commander with a party of Horse to whom upon his approach they quietly submitted themselves The Parliament now restored the Charter to the City of Chester which had been taken away by the Rump upon Sr George Booths businesse as shortly afterward they likewise revived the Dutchy of Lancaster which had been voted down by the others and made Sr Gilbert Gerrard Chancellour Nich. Letchmere Attorney of the Dutchy and the Speaker William Lenthal Esquire Chamberlain of Chester And perceiving that endeavours were daily used to sow sedition in the Army and that there was designs on foot to draw them together to a mutiny they order That none either Officers or Souldiers should depart from their respective Quarters without leave from the Lord General and those that had forthwith to return to their assigned stations To gratifie Dr Claerges and in him his brother the Lord General the Hamper-Office a place of good profit was conferred upon him Febr. 29. Upon notice of some design contriving by the Fanatick party several armes were seised in divers places of the City of London and Captain Kiffen a grand Ring-leader of the Anabaptists and several others were secured though afterwards released no matter of weight being then found against them And now that they might testifie to the world they were other men than their predecessours who would have continued themselves a Parliament to posterity they order their dissolution to be on the 15th of March resolving before that time to take order for summoning a New Representative They confirmed the Confession of Faith formerly made by the Assembly of Divines and enacted That it should be the Confession of Faith of the Church of England except onely the thirtieth and one and