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
which had been taken out of the publike stores Thirdly that all the Regiments of Horse and Foot in the Northern Counties do forthwith repair unto such Quarters as shall be appointed for them by the Commissioners for management of the Army and observe their order inddirections for time to come And then they ordered thanks to be returned to Generall Monck Vice-Admirall Lawson and the Portsmouth Commissioners as an acknowledgement of their fidelity and good service And this was their first Act upon their resetling their Rump in its former seat Divers were the other Votes and Orders which they made for setling their Army and securing their power which because not much materiall for our purpose we shall pass on to what is more properly historicall namely the actions of Generall Moncke and his march towards London yet not forgetting such things as in the mean time passed at London or elsewhere and ought to be considerable Generall Monck had after his first Treaty at London by his Commissioners and that he might keep things from running to bloodshed and prevent the hazard of a Battle knowing that time it self must certainly make him victorious upon notice of the agreement made by his Commissioners here contrary to the tenor of their Commissions or his intentions had I say agreed upon a second Treaty to be had at Newcastle By which means he delayed time so long that Sr Arthur Haslerig and the rest making that diversion at Portsmouth the Parliament was on a suddain restored and his enemies immediately upon news vanished like smoke all the Forces being by the Parliaments Order to submit to his command and disposure Having therefore setled all things according to his pleasure and as was most convenient to his purpose he resolves upon his march to London and for that purpose took up Horses in the Country to horse his Foot the Parliament approving of his actions for fear to displease him though they had ordered his coming up only with 500 Horse and disposed his Army in their respective Quarters But he who was to do other things then barely the restoring of a putrified Rump resolves to march up with his whole strength but in the mean time lulls them asleep with a smiling complyance with their humors and desires His march towards London was but slow he being resolved to keep his Army in such a posture as might provide security for the Souldiery and testifie the prudence of the Generall In Yorkeshre he was met by the Lord Fairfax and other Gentlemen of the County who before Lamberts dispersing had raised a considerable Body and with the assistance of the Irish Brigade had secured Yorke and by them was caressed with all testimonies of affection and courted with their desires that he would be instrumentall to make the Nation happy by restoring the Members secluded in 1648 or in helping them to a full and free Parliament This likewise was the substance of many Declarations which at this time were tendred to the Speaker and City of London from severall Counties And this likewise was the subject of those other addresses which he received from the Gentry of all places in his march But the Parliament a little alarmed by this news and sensible of the danger was thereby imminent to themselves should the intentions of the Generall be otherwise then they seemed to them order Mr Scot and Mr Robinson to go down to him under pretence of congratulating him for his signall services but indeed to search if they could into the depth of his intentions But he who was too wise to be caught by such gulls carried himself with such an even poise that both Parliament and Country thought him surely inclining to their severall Parties And notable was his Letter in answer to one the City had lately sent him by their Swordbearer in which he both resolved as he said to satisfie their desires for a Free Parliament and yet resolved to continue faithfull to this Parliament giving the City matter of hope and taking from the Rump all cause of discontent But the Parliament having sent persons to search into his thoughts the City likewise whom it as nearly concerned were resolved to do the like and therefore made choise of Alderman Fowke Alderman Vincent and Collonel Bromfield to go down and present him with their affections and desires together with their resolution to stick by their former resolution who were received by the Generall with all expressions of civility but nothing was promised to them which might give the Rump any suspition or jealousie of his intentions After a long and tedious march on January 28. 1659. he arrived at St Albans where he was presented with the Addresses of severall Counties together with one from the City of London all which containing the forementioned subject received from him the like courteous though dubious answers The same day he arrived at St Albans his Lady arrived at Whitehall and took up those lodgings which had been prepared for her On Friday February the third he arrived at London the Army which was quartered there having marched out the night before though with a great deal of discontent and some disorder and mutiny He was the next day by the Parliament desired to come to the House and Mr Scot and Mr Robinson sent to attend him where being come the Speaker in the highest expressions might be did endeavour to testifie the grand esteem the House had of his merits and the hearty thanks they did return to him for them and he afterwards retaliated his language in an excellent speech whereof though in all things he seemed to comply with their desires yet in some sort he put them in mind of the peoples desires and inclinations which notwithstanding he left to their determination and upon parting left them well satisfied with him in all outward appearance There were not many things remarkable which fell out at London or elsewhere in the interim of the Generalls march thither only the ejection of Sr Henry Vane and Major Saloway who had been instruments in the late interruption out of the House and confinement of the first with Lambert and the rest of the nine Worthies to their severall Houses and the committing the last to the Tower There happened likewise two mutinies the one at Gravesend by the Souldiers of Sr Brice Cockrains Regiment and the other at Bristoll by the inhabitants in relation to a Free Parliament but both were sunddenly quelled The Generall being as aforesaid come to London the Parliament alias Rump for by that name they may be best known being extraordinary jealous of him and the power he might at pleasure exercise over them to their prejudice consult amongst the grandees of them how they might best abridge his power and overtop him and for this they designed this expedient The City continuing as before malecontent and denying to pay any Money without the consent of a full Parliament and refusing to be satisfied with any thing could proceed
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
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
Ormonds Company lay consisting of 19000 Horse and Foot whom finding secure and out of order they charged so vigorously that they soon put the whole body to the rout pursuing them as far as the Naas Ormond himself hardly escaping on Horseback In this Battell were above 3000 slain on the place 2517 Prisoners taken many men of quality of which Ormonds own Brother was one all their train of Artillery Ammunition and provision taken and a rich Camp left for the Souldiers to plunder Thus was this great Army of whom such matters were expected overthrown and routed by a handfull of men and with so small a loss that it would scarce gain belief if mentioned But let us leave Ireland and speak a little of the affairs of Scotland The Scoth Commissioners at the Hague could not get the King to consent as yet to a full agreement with their Estates it seemed somewhat too harsh to digest the Covenant or condiscend to the setling of Church-Government by Presbytery nor could he either in honour or conscience desert those Noble persons who had alwayes stuck faithfully both to himself and Father for a Nation that had sold his Father to destruction though now they courted him with golden promises but especially he could not tell how to part with Montross who had ventured so far for him Nor would the Commissioners nor the States of Scotland themselves upon any termes re-admit him but upon the grant of those Conditions The King therefore rather then so much descent from his Honour grants a Commission to Montross to levy what Forces he could beyond Sea and with them to go joyn with the Lord Seaforth Major Straughan and others who had got to a head for the King without the Kirk in the North of Scotland but they were routed before he came by Lesley and himself not long after his arrivall defeated by a Party of the Kirks taken prisoner and most ignominiously hanged in Edenborough which action next that of selling their King must necessarily bring as much odium upon the Scottish Presbyterians as ever Sect was under But let us return a little to England where at length that turbulent Head-piece John Lilburn is brought to triall the grand Champion of the Levellers and indeed their only Patriot a man of an undaunted spirit neither to be deterred by threats or won by favours He was tried in Guild-Hall London by a speciall Commission of Oyer and Terminer where most of the Judges and Justices of the Courts at Westminster the Lord Mayor Sheriffs and severall Aldermen of London were present His Indictment contained many crimes of a treasonable nature chiefly being author of severall scandalous reviling Pamphlets against the Government and Governours of the Nation and particularly that entituled The second part of Englands new Chains which contained most sharp invectives against the Parliament calling them Traytors Tyrants Murderers Vsurpers telling them that they were wholly composed of Rebellion Villany Murder and Perjury with a great deal of such rabble yet though these Books were verily believed his the proofs not being clear the Jury found him not guilty whereupon he was acquitted But let us return to see how the Lord Generall Cromwels Army got over into Ireland The generall Rendezvows being at Milford-Haven they there had the news of the great victory over Ormonds Army which no doubt displeased the Lord Generall who had hopes to have had a share in or the whole glory of so great a victory however he makes what hast he can over and himself August 13 departs from Milford-Haven with the Van of the Army in thirty two Ships on the 15th of May Generall Ireton follows with the Main in fourty two Vessels Mr Hugh Peters brings up the rear in about twenty Sail. Favourable windes brought them soon to Dublin where the Canons ecchoed forth the joy of their arrivall but the Lord Deputy Cromwell being wholly addicted to action stayed not long to receive those entertainments which the Citizens of Dublin gave but having refreshed his Army some time draws out a Body of 15000 Horse and Foot to a generall Muster out of which he selects twelve Regiments containing 9 or 1000 able and resolute men for the present expedition which he intends for Droghedah and having furnished his Army with a train of Artillery fit for the siege of so well fortified a place marches on with his Army and being come near the Town according to the custome of War sends a Summons to Sr Arthur Aston Governour but the Summons prevailed little upon a person known to be so able a Souldier and who had above 2000 English Gentlemen with him who had most of them been formerly Commanders in the late Kings Army but an answer was returned containing a resolution to expire with the taking of the Town whereupon the Lord Generall orders all things for the quickest accomplishment of his design which was to take the Town per force since quick dispatches must necessarily be the life of his business the Winter drawing so nigh and however should that let be removed yet if he should stay the starving it out he should give Ormond Inchequeen c. time to raise an Army for its relief the batteries therefore are planted to the best advantage and play as furiously so that in four hours space it levelled the Steeple of St Maries Church and a Tower by it and continuing the next day after near five hundrep Shot the South-East Tower is beaten down and two very considerable breaches made which are immediately entred by Collonel Castles Husons and Ewers Regiments Collonel Castle himself which seldome Commanders of like note use to do in a storm leading the Van by the Lord Deputy Cromwells speciall Order for what intent I 'le leave to others to guess where he was slain the Charge on both sides was so hot as seldome the like hath been seen the grapple being on both sides at swords point the only weapon to execution for near three hours space till the Assailants were forced to retire which Cromwell seeing commands a fresh reserve of Collonel Ewers his Regiment to assail the breach but others say that he entred himself which is very hardly believed he having too much wisdome to be so desperate who meeting with wearied Defendants forced their way though they met with a noble and heroick assistance yet they gained a sure possession in the Town though they could not yet subdue it for Sr Arthur Ashtons men hotly disputed every corner of the Street so that the Assailants were forced to win what they did by small degrees till at last the supernumerary force of their enemies overcoming their valour they all were massacred by their merciless adversary the Lord Deputy Cromwell having given strict Orders not to allow Quarter either to Man Woman or Childe which unparralleld cruelty though it may finde excuses amongst men who delight in flattery yet will it undoubtedly finde as cruell a reward from the most just God who
judgeeth every mans actions impartially Some there were who got into Steeples and other places of defence thinking to save themselves but were all forced either by the sword or famine to yield who yet in cold bloud found as little mercy as their fellows had done in the heat of the Battell there being not above two escaping with their lives the Dean Barnard afterwards made Almoner and the other an old man by his leaping out of a Steeple which Cromwels Souldiers blew up with Gunpowder who though he broke his Leg yet had his life saved This great slaughter not being occasioned neither by the heat of the Souldiers but by Cromwels speciall Command who vowed somewhat to a noble Officer of his pleading for mercy for the Defendants That he would sacrifice their bodyes to the souls of the Englishmen they had murdered which he could not in justice say of those in Droghedah knowing them to be most Englishmen and such whose greatest fault was to serve their true and lawfull Soveraign in his just defence However this slaughter works for his ends for upon the News the Souldiers and Townsmen in Trim and Dundalke two adjacent Garrisons quit their holds and such was their haste in Trim that they l ft their great Guns behinde them on the Platforms and well might their fear be great at the News of Droghedahs taking when Sr Phelime O Neal at the hearing of it burst out in a passion swearing That if Cromwell had taken Droghedah by storm if he should storm Hell he would take it This considerable action having had such wished for success Cromwell directs his Army towards Wexford and in his way engarrisons Killingkerick and Arcklo Castle the feat of the Ormonds two deserted Forts many others in that March submitted whereof most being places inconsiderable were slighted others engarrisoned The first of October the Army faces Wexford and the Lord Deputy requires Collonel Synnot the Governour to make a speedy surrender of it he returnes an answer somewhat dubious so that many Papers pass between him and the Lord Deputy which was occasioned only by a design the Governour had to waste and delay time till the Earl of Castle-haven was entred into the Town with 500 men to strengthen the Garrison So when the Governour had received these recruits he no longer writes dubiously but plainly sends word to the Lord Deputy that he was resolved to stand it out to the utmost whereupon Cromwell being enraged at his mockery bends his force at the Castle which stands at the South-East end of the Town which after having received some hundreds of great Shot was forced to a rendition This so quelled the hearts of the stout Wexfordians that they quitred their Walls and gave the Enemy free leave to enter which they delayed not to do but meeting with no resistance fell in pell mell till they came to the Market-place where the Souldiers and Inhabitants reviving their courage in vain maintained their ground for a short time for they were soon over-powred and all that were found in Arms slain Thus Wexford being taken Cromwell marches on to Waterford and takes Passage-Fort but because of the Winter presently raises his Army and whilest severall parties are disposed in their winter-quarters they reduce severall engarrisoned places so that in fine all considerable places in Ireland except Limerick Waterford Clonmell Galloway and Kilkenny were in the possession of the Lord Deputy Cromwell But let us leave him thus victorious in Ireland and return to the King and Scots The King seeing business go so ill in Ireland resolves to comply somewhat neerer with the Scots who notwithstanding his giving Commissions to Montross still sollicit him by Commissioners and at length come to agreement with him The news of this and the Scottish great preparations for warre and as it is supposed to invade England makes the Parliament send over to Ireland for their victorious Generall Cromwell whom they intend to send into Scotland to hinder their coming into England Generall Fairfax having pleaded his disability to go but Cromwell before his coming away he reduces the City of Kilkenny and the strong Fort of Clonmell the one by Articles the other by storm which done leaving Ireton Deputy in his stead he takes Ship at Wexford and so came over to Bristoll and from thence by Post to London where upon Saturday the first of Iune he arrived with unexpressible imaginations of joy About this time Prince Rupert who had played many pranks at Sea is blocked up by the three English Admirals in Lisbone most of his Ships being before either taken or sunk who treat with the King of Portugall to force him out of his harbour which he by no means neither promises nor threats could be induced to do though the English surprize many of his Sugar-Ships coming from Brazill and threaten to take the rest in case he resolves not to renounce his protection of Prince Rupert but at last the English for want of water and victuals are forced to depart from before the Port which opportunity Prince Rupert taking gets out and steers for Malaga whither the English having victualled follow them take the Roe-Buck force the Black-Prince and four more ashore and Prince Rupert escaping with two Ships more they sleight him and giving over further search return with victory to England About this time likewise the English having sent Mr Anthony Ashcam Agent to the King of Spain he arrived the 5th of Iune 1650. at Sancta Maria where hearing many threats against his person he procured a guard for to convey him to Madrid where at his first arrivall lying at an Inne being the next day at dinner with his Interpreter six roaring Dons knockt at the door and having easie admittance Mr Ashcam rose to salute them whereupon the first stabbed Mr Ashcam and his Interpreter endeavouaing to escape was wounded in the belly both falling down dead in the place the murtherers though they escaped to the Sanctuary were fetched out by the King of Spain but again returned thither by the Popes speciall mandate The League and agreement being as I said before fully concluded between the Scots and the King so that there wanted nothing but their having him with them which to expedite he hastens from Breda comes to the Hague and there takes shipping from whence notwithstanding the wait laid for him he arrives safely at the Spey in the north of Scotland where he is received with the best entertainment the Scots could give him But before he ascend the Throne there are other Conditions to be agreed on which they told him not of before 1. He must take the solemn League and Covenant 2. He must subscribe to a Declaration of the Kirks own framing declaring That he renounced the sins of his Fathers house and of his own the Idolatry of his Mother by a constant adhering to the Cause of God according to the Covenant in the firm establishment of Church-government as it is laid down
in the Directory of publique Worship Confession of Faith and Catechisme These and many other bitter Pills was he forced to take to purge him and make him fit for that Crown which was shortly after put upon his head And now the Parliament of England begin to think of their security and for fear of an invasion from the Scots resolve to invade the Scots they therefore order the Armies speedy advance which presently allarms the Scots they send two or three Papers to Sr Arthur Haslerig then Governour of Newcastle expostulating for the suddain approach of the English Army which they do only to gain time that they may be in a better readiness to receive them The Parliament to satisfie the people of England publish a Declaration large and specious enough shewing the causes and reasons of the Armyes so suddain advance into Scotland though indeed they could pretend nothing in justice but only a fear lest Scotland should invade them July 22. 1650 The English Army quit their Quarters at Barwicke and advance into Scotland as far as the Lord Mordingtons house so they are now the first invaders thence on to Copperspeth and so to Dunbar where they receive provisions from their Ships and so march to Haddington At Haddington the Lord Generall Cromwell hearing that the Scotch Army would meet him next at Gladmoore endeavours to possess the Moore before them but no considerable Party of Scots appeared Lambert and Whalley are sent with 1400 Horse to attempt somewhat on the Enemy at Musselborough but nothing could be done The English encamped that night within four Miles of the Scots but the next day they perceived the Scots Camp so strongly fortified and flankred with great Guns that they judged it in vain to attempt any thing upon it so the English retreat to refresh themselves the Scots fell in on their rear and put them to some disorder till a body of English Horse close with them put them to the rout and pursue them to their very trenches Lambert was in this encounter wounded in two places and taken prisoner but rescued again two or three Scotch prisoners of note were taken and some few slain on both sides The English march off quietly to Musselborough but very much tired and faint for want of provisions and by lying open in the rain that they expected the Enemy should fall upon them in the night which they did broke through the English Guards and put a Regiment of Horse to disorder but the English sallying and the whole Army taking the Allarm charged routed and pursued those fifteen Troops under Command of Montgomery and Straughan These losses made the Scots keep closer in their trenches In the mean time affairs go on well for the Parliament in Ireland Teoroghan-Castle notwithstanding the stour resistance of the Lady Governess is at last compelled to yield Waterford before which the Lord Deputy Ireton was set down was in a yielding capacity Ormonds Castlehavins and other royall Forces dispersed so that there now remained only Limericke Galloway and some other inconsiderable Garrisons to the wholly reducing that Kingdome Somewhat before this the English Plantations in Virginia and the Caribdy Island revolted from their obedience to the Parliament and declare unanimously for Monarchy and Liturgy but the decay of their Trade without which they could not long subsist and a Squadron of Ships sent under the Command of Sir George Askew quickly reduces them to complyance The Parliament of England the more to afflict the Scots and encrease their misery prohibite all traffick with them command all their Merchants and Ships to depart in ten dayes who going without Convoy most of them fall into the hands of the English Frigots against whom they could make no resistance Collonel Eusebius Andrews being taken with a Commission from the King is apprehended and accused for a design to subvert the Government of this Commonwealth for which he is condemned and executed on Tower-hill one Benney who was found to have a hand in the business is hanged drawn and quartered at Tyburne But to digress The Prince of Orange having a design to enlarge his power over the united Provinces is impeaded by the City of Amsterdam whereupon he endeavours to surprize it but the Burgers having advice of it by letting open their sluces forbid the approach of his Army so his design failing he came off with disgrace but they afterwards came to an agreement and the Prince was forced to be content with the power he had before or less The English Army in Scotland to which it is time to return having taken Collington-house and Readhall by storm and in the last the Lord Hamilton Major Hamilton and good store of Ammunition and provision move from Pentland-hills and Collington and Readhall within a Mile of the Scotch Army both Armyes march side by side in view of each other but a Bog betwixt them hindred an Engagement but the great Guns played on both sides which nevertheless provoked not the Scotch to fight but still they kept under protection of the Bog which the English seeing retreated and marcht to Musleborough to refresh themselves which done they draw off and march to Haddington the Scots attending their right wing fall on desperately but are repulsed by Collonel Fairfaxes Regiment September 1. 1650 the English Army marched to Dunbar whither the Scots followed them and drew up their whole Army upon a high Hill within a Mile of the Town The English Army drew up in a Corn-field below being encamped on a neck of Land not a Mile and half from the Sea to Sea so that the Scots Army being above them and finding their advantage endeavoured the gaining of Copper-speth-pass which effected they bragged they had the English in Essex his pound and Lesly the Scotch Generall bragged he would have the English either dead or alive The straits of the English were very great many sick and disabled and themselves pen't up in this manner wanting provisions they resolved on the third of September either to force their way through their Enemies or die nobly in the attempt a Party of Horse is first set to gain the pass which effected the whole Army charged and after about an hours hot engagement the Scotch Horse being routed the Foot threw down their Arms and fled There was in the Scotch Army this day neer 16000 Foot 6000 Horse wherof 4000 were slain neer 10000 taken Prisoners The English Army were not above 7500 Foot and 3500 Horse besides disabled men There was taken from the Scots neer 200 Foot and Horse Colours 27 Fieldpieces 10000 Arms and many Prisoners of note amongst which were the Lords Liberton Lumsdale and Grandison This relation gives me occasion to give you some heads of Cromwel's Letter to the Speaker wherein the Reader may please to observe his religious canting and judg themselves if they would not have took him for a Saint Having given a relation of the fight and victory he craves leave to add
a few words of which these are part viz. It is easie to say the Lord hath done this it would do you good to see and hear our poor Foot go up and down making their boast of God but Sr it is in your hands and by this eminent mercy God puts it more in your hands to improve your power and his blessings to his praise we that serve you beg of you not to own us but God alone We pray you own his people more and more for they are the Chariots and horsemen of Israell disown your selves but own your authority and improve it to curb the Proud and the insolent such as would disturb the tranquility of England though under what specious pretences foever c. Again Since we came into Scotland it hath been our desire and longing to have avoided bloud in this business by reason that God hath a people here fearing his Name though much deceived and to that end we have offered much love to such in the bowels of Christ and concerning the truth of our hearts therein we have appealed unto the Lord c. and more this is the great hand of the Lord and worthy the consideration of all those who taking into their hands the instruments of a foolish shepheard to wit medling with worldly policies and mixtures of earthly power to set up that which they call the Kingdom of Christ which is neither it and if it were would such means be found effectuall to that end and neglect or trust not to the Word of God the Sword of the Spirit which is alone powerfull and able for the setting up of that Kingdom and when trusted to will be found effectually able for that end and will also do it This is humbly offered for their sakes who have lately too much turned aside that they might turn again to preach JESVS CHRIST according to the simplicity of the Gospell c. If this man could not dissemble well who ever did The Parliament ordered that the Scottish Colours taken from Duke Hamilton at Preston in Lancashire and those sent from Dunbar taken at the now recited battell should be hanged up in Westminster hall the one on the one side and the other on the other side About this time died in the Isle of Wight the Princess Elizabeth third Daughter to the late King Charles who had her Funerall rights performed in Newport Church in the same Island Tuesed Sept. 24. presently after which the Parliament gave order for the sending of Henry Duke of Glocester her Brother to the University at Heidelberg a Town of the Prince Electors where the Parliament ordered him an allowance of 1500lb per annum Quam diu se bene gesserit In the mean time by the care and pains of the Lord Deputy Ireton Munster and Vlster are reduced to obedience except some Tories which stand out and lie sculcking in the woods and fastnesses Waterford being surrendred there was nothing now left towards the Conquest of that Countrey but Connaught to which effect Limerick as the pass into it was blockt up Deputy Ireton But let us by a little leave these affairs in Ireland for the more important affairs of Scotland After the Victory won at Dunbarr the Scots not only lose all their Arms and Artillery in the Camp but likewise quitted Leith and Edinburrough whereupon the Lord Generall the 7th of Septemb. sends four Regiments to take possession of Leith where they found 37 Guns mounted on the Platforms some shot and store of Ammunition and the same day Cromwell draws the rest of the Army into Edenburrough without any loss save the Arm of a Souldier though the Castle plaid hot upon them After the Army had spent some time in fortifying Leith and Cromwell had by beat of Drum and sound of Trumpet proclaimed a Protection of Markets and liberty of Trade in Edinborrough and Leith the Army advances towards Sterling whither most of the Scottish Nobility and Gentry had retired from Edenborrough and Leith and Septemb. 18. being within a mile of the Town a Counsell of Warre was called and a Summons resolved to be sent for its surrender to the service of the Commonwealth of England and accordingly a Trumpeter was sent with a Letter who being come near the Town was met by a Gentleman on foot with a Pike in his hand who told him that he would neither let him come in nor receive his Letter The same day the Scots sent our a Trumpet desiring a release of Prisoners upon ransome but Generall Cromwell returned answer That he came not thither to make merchandize of men but for the service and security of the Commonwealth of England The Summons sent to Sterling not being received caused Orders to be given for the getting of Ladders and all things necessary for a storm but upon second thoughts the strength of the Enemy and dangers being considered it was agreed that the Army should draw off which accordingly they did and marched to Linlithgow which place lying between Edinborrough and Sterling being judged fitting to be made a Garrison of the Generall ordered to be fortified and leaving in it five Troops of Horse and six Companies of Foot marched with the rest to Edinborrough About this time Sept. 23. the afflicted Kirk of Scotland appointed a solemn day of Fasting and Humiliation 1. To humble themselves for their too much confidence in the arm of flesh 2. For the malignity and prophaness of their Army 3. For the plunderings and wickedness of their Army when they were in England 4. For their not sufficient purging their Army 5. For their Commissioners unlawfull and surreptitious manner of prosecuting the Treaty with their King and their crooked wayes in bringing him home 6. For their not sufficient purging the Kings house 7. For the just grounds they have to beleeve his Majesties repentance was not sound nor from the heart In the mean time Generall Cromwell endeavours to beget a right understanding with those that dissented from the King but stood for the Kirk viz. Coll. Kerre and Straughan and their adherents for there were three factions in Scotland viz. one in the North was for the King without the Kirk another party in the West was for the Kirk without the King the third was for King and Kirk and these were they then at Sterling who bore the greatest sway viz. The Committee of Estates and Generall Assembly To Coll. Kerr c. Commis Generall Whalley is sent with a party but he accosts them first with a Letter declaring That it was not unknown what amicable wayes they had used to avoid the effusion of Christian blood before and since they came into Scotland which though hitherto hath been ineffectuall yet they should endeavour the same Shewing further That their arms were still stretched out to imbrace them when ever God should incline them to come in and that they sought not dominion over them to enslave them nor to depress their Kirk Government neither that they
sought to have their goods or estates but to carry on the Lords work c. with a great deal of such like stuff To this Letter Coll. Kerre sends an Answer to Commis Gen. Whalley in very short terms telling him That though they were not in a capacity to act against the Englishmens unjust invasions yet they were in a capacity to suffer and should submit to Gods will either by doing or suffering till the time of their deliverance came that if it were their happiness to perish in their duty it would be a sufficient mercy to them and when the persecution had arrived to its height their captivity should be returned Adding that he thought it strange the English should talk of a cessation whilest they were captivating their poor people assaulting their Garrisons apprehending their Ministers tearing them from their holy callings and from their holy sighing stocks concluding the departure of the English out of that Kingdome and then desiring a Christian Treaty would be a great favour and mercy equally as great to the one as the other that in the mean time he should stand upon his guard and expect no further overtures of peace But to digress a little About the latter end of this moneth of October departed this life the Prince of Orange who had lately endeavoured to curb the High and Mighty States in him King Charles lost his greatest interest he had in those parts His Princess some ten days after his death was delivered of a young Prince which in part mitigated the grief for her Husbands death But let us look a little into Ireland where Sr John Dungan and Scurlog having gotten together neer 500 Horse and Foot met with a party of the Parliaments Army of about 300 charged them and overpowring them in Horse routed them slew 50 upon the place took neer 40 Prisoners and had carried them into the Woods had not Captain Essex with about 50 Horse 20 Dragoons and 100 Foot come to their rescue the body of the English Army lay before Limerick But to return again to Scotland Cromwell seeing that Peace would not be hearkned to disposes his Army to the Warre Major Brown with a party takes in Dalhouse a supposed harbour of Moss-Troopers of which sort of vermine he took divers in Darlington house whom he caused to be shot upon the place Collonel Monk is sent with a party to reduce Roselane Castle which with the help of some Granadoes he makes yeeld to mercy Major Generall Lambert marches to Dunfreez to joyn with Whalley who had taken Dalkeith Castle by a terrible summons in his march against Kerre and Straughan This Castle wall was thirteen foot broad at the top and well stored with Ammunition and Provision Collonel Kerre was now about Beebles Lambert having with much difficulty marched over the River to Hamilton resolves to quarter there that night which Kerre hearing resolved to beat up his quarters and if possible surprize the Major Generall this he attempted with a great deal of resolution but the English taking the Alarme intime on a sodaine encompassed most of the enemies Horse killed 100 took 100 besides 400 Horse and Furniture forsook of their Riders therest they pursued as far as Ayre in the which pursuit Collonel Kerre was was taken and severall of his Officers This defeat caused Straughan to come in who was with the rest carried by the Major Generall to the head Quarters Cromwell all this while strongly besieges the Castle of Edinburrough yet his mines prove ineffectuall in that hard Rock so that he causes an artificiall Mount to be raised whereon to plant his battery so that his Canons and Granadoes flew thick and three-fold at the Castle at which the Defendants at first hung out a red Flag in defiance but after a short time hung out a white one for Parley which was accepted and after a great many Messages to and fro surrendred upon Articles agreed upon between Major Abernethe and Captain Hynderson on the part of the Castle and Collonel Monck and Liev. Coll. White on the Generals to this effect First That the Castle be surrendred to his Excellency on the 24th of December with all the Arms Magazine and furniture of warre thereto belonging That the Governour with all the Officers and Souldiers should then march forth with their Arms Colours flying Drums beating Matches lighted and Bullet in mouth whether they shall think fit That such adjacent Inhabitants as had Goods in the Castle should have them restored and to that purpose they had liberty from the 19th to the 24th of December to fetch them away The sodain rendition of so strong a hold as this was made the world beleeve that the Canons plaid upon it with Silver instead of Iron shot About this time there was a kind of petty Insurrection in Norfolk by a company of inconsiderable persons who declared for the suppressing of Popery restoring King Charles to his Crown revenge of his Fathers death and for rooting out of heresie and schisme but being only begun by a disorderly number they were soon vanquished and the principall risers about 20 in number executed Sr Henry Hide having received a Commission from the King of Scots to be Ambassadour for him at the Grand-Signors Port in Constantinople being arrived there stood in competition with Sr Thomas Bendish then Ambassadour and the Case being heard before the Vizier the Verdict was given on Bendish his side so that Sr Harry Hide was forced to depart the Port whence coming to Smyrnd with an intention to go for Venice he was by a wile invited on board a Ship to a Feast was treacherously brought away to England and here beheaded before the Royall Exchange for having taken Commissions from that King The Winter being now at the height made the War in Scotland at a stand on the English part but the Scots having now as they thought throughly purged their King proceeded to his Coronation which was performed at Scone with as much Solemnity and Gallantry as their necessities would permit on the first of January 1651. The King crowned they proceed to the Excommunication of Straughan Swinton and others who had deserted them and were gone in to the English they then strive to pacifie dissenting parties and pass an Act for new Levies throughout the Nation The King is likewise created Generall of this Army now intended to be levied with an unusuall kinde of Ceremony viz. by crossing a Pike Musket Carabine and Sword over his Head Lothian Carre is made Major Generall and Middleton Lieutenant Generall David Lesley having layn down his Commission The English now beginning to stir Collonel Fenwicke is commanded to march with two Regiments of Horse and Foot for reducing of Hume-Castle who having faced it sent a Summons to the Governour to which he returned an answer the capriciousness whereof makes me insert both Thus ran the Summons Sir His Excellency the Lord Generall Cromwell hath commanded me to reduce this Castle you now
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
more so that now they made 120 in all With this Fleet Van Trump the next morning by break of day faced the English Fleet But the Generals Blake and Moncke finding the wind somewhat high and the weather thick and cloudy fearing the Sands or a Lee shore more then all the Dutch force stood off to Sea which made the Dutch suppose a flight so that one of Trumps Captains urged him to pursue them telling him that those dogs durst not abide one broad side from his Excellency that he might clearly see they ran away for fear and that he should not lose so fair an opportunity But generous Van Trump who knew the English better returned the Captain this modest answer Sr be you carefull to look to your charge and trouble your head no further for if the English were but 10 Sail I am sure they would fight us and so indeed it happened for the weather clearing up and the wind laying they drew up their Fleet into a body and tacked about to meet the Enemy who being likewise in a posture they presently engaged The Fight was couragiously maintained on both sides from between five and six in the morning till one in the afternoon both Fleets charging valiantly one through the other till at length the Dutch Admirall Van Trump fighting in the midst of the English Fleet with a great deal of courage and resolution was by a Musket Bullet shot on the left Pap near the heart and slain outright The Dutch began to decline many of their Ships being likewise fired or sunk and the amazement for their Generals death possessing the whole Navy they hoised up all the Sail possibly they could and made away directly for the Texell and the English befides the damage many of their Ships had received were loath to be too hold on that shore so they pursued them no farther but steered their course to Soal buy that they might there dispose of the prisoners and mend their tottered Sails and Rigging The English in this Fight had 8 Captains slain outright viz. Graves Chapvian Taylor Newman Crispe Owen Cox and Peacock and 400 common Seamen they had likewise 700 men wounded of which 5 Captains viz. Stoakes Seaman Rouse Hollander and Cabit they lost but one Ship viz. the Oake which was burnt by a Fireship and had two or three more disabled As for the loss the Dutch received in relation to those slain or wounded was uncertain but their visible loss was 30 men of War sunk or fired 6 Captains and about a 1000 prisoners taken but their greatest loss and indeed the loss of all was the loss of their Renowned Generall Van Trump who had the hard fortune to be alwayes beaten by the English yet could not his judgement be at all taxed nor his fame eclipsed which formerly he had so deservedly gotten to be esteemed one of the ablest and best understanding Sea-Captains in the world For this ominent piece of Service Cromwels pact Parliament ordered that Chains of gold should be presented to the Admirals Blake and Moncke Vice-Admirall Pen and Rear-Admirall Lawson other Chains were likewise presented to other Flag-Captains and Meddals of silver to the Officers of the Fleet in token of their good service But whilest our Fleets are thus victorious abroad discontents are broached at home by reason the Parliament had now sat near six Moneths and effected nothing for the good and settlement of the Nation having indeed done nothing at all but made that Act concerning Marriages out of meer envy and despite to the Clergy So beginning at first to lop off a branch of the Ministers maintenance that they might afterwards cut down the Tree Concerning Tithes it is debated in the House what saw fit to be done and a Committee appointed to onsider of so weighty a business who being fully convinced in a full hearing by arguments and reasons drawn both from the Laws of God and man of the legality of it make report to the House in the affirmative for Tithes which so exasperated those who were of the contrary faction that they begin clearly to argue against the Ministeriall Function urging it to be burdensome to the people and by that strange consequence Antichristian There were near 60 of the Members of this opinion which the rest though the major part fearing would undermine them by laying hold of some opportunity to assemble themselves together and by any forty of them being a Quorum accomplish their designes resolve to dissolve their House themselves which motion being made by a Member on the 12th of December was readily assented to and so the Speaker and severall others adjourned to Whitehall and redelivered their Instrument of Government into the hands of Oliver Cromwell from whom they had received it This Parliament having thus by writings under their hands resigned again the power given them the whole Authority both Civill and Military of these three Nations was by this resignation strangely understood to be devolved into the hands of Oliver Cromwell Whereupon he calls a Counsell of Officers who having some others joyned with them to consult of the settlement of a Government at length after much seeking of God where I leave the Reader to judge of the rabble of hypocriticall canting that was blabbered out they concluded to have a Commonwealth in a single Person That that Person should be Oliver Cromwell Captain Generall of all the Forces in England Scotland and Ireland That his Title should be Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England Scotland and Ireland and the Dominions and Territories thereunto belonging That he should have a Counsell of one and twenty persons to be assistant with him in the Government That an Instrument should be framed containing the Basis and foundation of this new established Government the chief Heads of which were these 1. That the Protector should call a Parliament every three years 2. That the first Parliament should be convened on the third of September 1654. 3. That he should not dissolve any Parliament till it had sate five Monoths 4. That such-Bills as they offered to him he not passing them in twenty dayes should pass without him 5. That he should have a select Counsell of men faithfull to his interest not exceeding one and twenty nor under thirteen 6. That the Protectorship should not be hereditary 7. That immediately after his death the Counsell should choose another Protector before they rose 8. That no Protector after him should be Generall of the Army 9. That in the intervals of Parliament he with consent of his Counsell might make Laws which should be binding to the Subject till the next Sessions of Parliament Oliver Cromwell now made Lord Protector who had taken so many Oaths and Covenants before is to swear afresh which was performed on the 16th of December 1653 with a great deal of State in the Chancery-Court in Westminster-Hall before the Judges Mayor and Aldermen of London with the chief Officers of the Natron
where in the presence of God he promised upon Oath not to violate or infringe the matters and things contained in the aforementioned Instrument but to observe and cause the same to be observed and in all things to the best of his understanding govern the Nations according to the Laws Statutes and Customes seeking peace causing justice and Law to be equally administred Presently after the Administration of this Oath the following Proclamation was by Order of the Counsell published throughout all the Territories and Dominions of the Commonwealth of England Scotland and Ireland viz. Whereas the late Parliament dissolved themselves and resigning their whole powers and Authorities the Government of the Common-wealth of England Scotland and Ireland by a Lord Protector and successive trienniall Parliaments is now established And whereas Oliver Cromwell Captain Generall of all the Forces of this Commonwealth is declared Lord Protector of the said Nations and hath accepted thereof We have therefore thought it necessary as we do hereby to make publication of the premisses and strictly to charge and command all and every person and persons of what quality and condition soever in any of the said three Nations to take notice hereof and to conforme and submit themselves to the Government so established And all Sheriffs Mayors Bayliffs c. are required to publish this Proclamation to the end none may have cause to pretend ignorance in this behalf This Proclamation was first of all proclaimed by a Serjeant at Arms in the Pallaceyard Westminster and by the Lord Major Sheriffs and Aldermen of London at the Royall Exchange and afterwards throughout all England Scotland and Ireland The City of London to shew their willing concurrence to this great Change invite the Protector to a Dinner at Grocers-Hall whither he is attended with a great deal of magnificence and received with as much pomp and splendor as possibly could be There he first first makes use of the Power given him in giving Titles of Honour by dubbing of Sr Thomas Viner then Lord Major of London Knight And now out of imaginary fears of danger the better to secure his state a seeming Plot is found out some Cavaliers are sent to the Tower and the others warned from London upon it but the Protector to shew his clemency at his first entrance into the Government after some small time of durance releases again those who were imprisoned in the Tower The King of Scots being now come into France was there honourably received by the Court where he took up his residence at which time there were many discontents of the Princes of the blood against the aspiring ambition of Cardinall Mazarine in so much that it had like to have come to a civill warre To compose which difference the King of Scots offered to mediate in order to a reconciliation wherein he so farre prevailed that he procured a Conference between Deputies on both sides to whom although he urged his own condition as an argument for the French King to compose the difference in love rather then to to stand it out all which proving ineffectuall both sides betake themselves to armes the Treaty not succeeding caused him to lie under the displeasure of the Cardinall The Scots in the Highlands under the command of Glencarne and Kenmore by Commission from the King rally and rise to a considerable body of neer 4000 Horse and Foot hoping they might once more fairly dispute their quarcell in field but Major Generall Morgan with 1500 Horse and Foot coming upon them at their Rendesvouz before they could get into any good order killed neer 200 on the place took most of the rest Prisoners Glencarne himself hardly escaping with about 40 Horse The three Agents from Holland having been here all this while and little or nothing agre on for the ratification of a Peace between the two States two of them went over to receive fuller power from the Lords States as was pretended but it was rather suspected that it was to fetch Money which was the only bait by which the Protector could be won to an accord for at their return the Peace was suddenly clapt up and by a large Proclamation annexed to the Articles shewing the reason 's of the Peace which would so much as was pretended redound to the good of the Nation though no understanding Englishman but might guesse at the inconveniencies of it proclaimed on the 5th of Aprill at London and after in other parts of England And now another Plot succeeds the last the chief designers are pretended to be Gilbert and John Gerrard Esquires brothers one Jones an Apotheeary Tewdor Fox and Vowell the design was to have slain the Protector raised an Army and brought in the King but how no man ever knew however these feigned Plots or at least Plots first contrived by themselves are good seturers of Tyrants and usurpers for hereby they fright men from reall designments the plotters are sent to the Tower and a High Court of Justice is erected for their triall Gerrard and Vowell are condemned to be hanged the rest are saved Vowell according to sentence was hanged at Charingcross but Coll. Gerrard upon Petition had the favour to be beheaded at Towerhill where he behaved himself so gallantly and looked death so unappalledly in the face that his very enemies were forced to admire his courage and constancy At the very same time Don Pantaleon Sa Brother to the Lord Ambassador of Portugall was beheaded on the same scaffold for having committed a ridiculous Riot on the New Exchange where followed by a crew of mad fellowes Servants and Lacquies to his Brother or himself he shot a Gentleman that was there walking in the head and had done further mischief had not the noble Coll. Gerrard who was for an other cause beheaded before him stopt their fury and with his Rapier drove them before him down stairs This Portugall came with so great fear to the block that many deemed his life was gone before the blow with the Axe was given The King of Scots being still in France and finding notwithstanding his own and his Mothers endeavours that the Treaty with France and England was vigorously solicited by Monsieur Newfvill Seeing that by necessary consequence the Peace being concluded he and his party must be enforced to leave France thought it a great deal better and more honourable voluntarily to desert that Kingdom then to stay till he were forced out by complement so he with his Brother the Duke of York his Cousins Prince Rupert and Edward retired themselves to Chatillon a house of the Prince of Conde's from whence not long after the King and Prince Rupert went into Germany But now Glencarne reenforced by hopes of Middletons coming out of Holland with supplies of Money and Ammunition begins to stirre again in the Highlands exhorting his Countrymen to gain themselves immortall fame by redeeming themselves and their posterity from the slavery and bondage they now lay under filling their
ears with those vast supplies which Middleton was to bring out of the Netherlands At length Middleton arrives and amongst other things brings a Commission for himself to be Commander in Chief and Monroe Lieutenant Generall But Glencarne looks upon this as a very high affront that he should take the pains to raise an Army and others be appointed to command over it that he was a Souldier and equally fit to command with the best and therefore could not comport this affront done to his honour Middleton endeavours to reconcile these differences but in vain Clencarne disdaining to condescend lower then to be Lieutenant Generall which neither Middleton nor Monroe would yeeld to whereupon Glencarne challengeth his adversary to a single Duell where Fortune favouring him he wounds and disarms Monroe and presently after with neer 506 Gentlemen deserts Middleton and makes his composition with the Governour of Dunbarton However Middleton prosecutes his designes as well as he can Generall Monk is sent against him with Commission to be Generall of the Forces in Scotland he hearing of these dissentions delayes marching towards them till he see the event which happening as before he advances towards Middleton engages him at Loughgerry Routs him and forces this stubborn Generall to fly back again into Holland And here I cannot omit a passage which may sufficiently vindicate the Kings Majesty of Scotland from those aspersions of Popery laid against him After the Kings departure out of France into Germany the young Duke of Glocester was placed by the Queen-Mother in a Jesuites Colledge to be instructed in the Roman Catholick Religion which his Brother the King hearing of sent speedy order to have him brought to him which being obeyed as he was departing Paris with the Marquess of Ormond the Queen desired only that he would stay and take a dinner in the Colledge before he went to which he answered That though she were his Mother yet he ought rather to give obedience to his Brother who was his King This deniall so angred the Queen that she permitted him not to take leave of her and after when the King sent a Letter to excuse the business she in fvry burnt it which circumstances may sufficiently evidence that the King is still truly Protestant In the mean time our new Lord Protector according to his Oath taken in the Instrument for Government summons his Parliament on the 3d of September 1654 which being assembled the day before their Sessions the Protector meets them in the Painted Chamber where he only desires them to accompany him to hear a Sermon in Westminster Abby and that afterwards he would impart his sense to them About nine of the Clock his Highness went from Whitehall to the Abby attended by his ordinary Guard and some of his Counsell bare the Lords Commissioners of the Great Seal and of the Treasury following in their Coaches he going likewise in his Coach accompanied by Lambert and his Sonne Henry here they staid whilest Dr Goodwin finished his Sermon after which retiring into the Painted Chamber he was followed by the Parliament to whom he made a formall Speech much to this effect That that Parliament was such a Congregation of wise prudent and discreet persons that England had scarce seen the like and that it would have been very necessary and worthy such an Assembly to give a relation of the series of Gods Providences all along to these very times but that being very well known to them he should at present omit it and proceed to the declaring how the Erection of this present Power was a suitable providence with the rest by shewing them what a condition these Nations were in at its erection every mans heart was then against another every mans interest divided against anothers and almost every thing grown arbitrary That there was grown up a generall contempt of God and Christ the grace of God turned into wantonness and his Spirit made a cloak for all wickedness and profaness nay the axe was even laid to the root of the Ministry and swarms of Jesuites were continually wafted over hither to consume and destroy the welfare of England That the Nation was likewise then engaged in a deep warre with Portugall Holland and France so that the whole Nation was in a heap of confusion but that this Government was calculated for the peoples interest let malignant spirits say what they would and that with humbleness toward God and modesty towards them he would recount somewhat in behalf of this Government For first it had endeavoured to reform the Law it had put into the seat of Justice men of known integrity and ability it had setled a way for probation of Ministers to preach the Gospell and besides all this it had called a Free Parliament blessed be God they that day saw a Free Parliament As for the Warres a Peace was with Sweden Denmark the Durch and Portugall and one was likewise neer concluding with France That these things were but entrances and doors of hope but now he made no question to enable them to lay the top stone of this work he recommended to them this Maxime That Peace though it be made is not to be trusted further then it consists with interest That the great work now lay upon this Parliament was that the Government of Ireland might be setled in termes of Honour That they would avoid confusions lest forreign States should take advantage by them That as for himself he did not speak like one that would be a Lord over them but as one that would be a fellow-Servant to them in this great affair So to conclude he desired them to repair to their House and use their liberty in choosing a Speaker The Protectors speech finished the Members immediately repair to their House and there choose William Lenthall Esquire Master of the Rolls to be their Speaker which done they begin upon the Instrument for Government The Question is in the first place proposed Whether the Legislative power shoald be in a single person and a Parliament The Protectorians endeavour by all means possible to perswade that it should be no Question but be carried absolutely in the affirmative This is as strongly opposed by the greater part of the House and amongst the rest a Member who had all along strongly opposed Monarchy as incongruous to his interest stood up and told them That they could not but discern the snares that were laid to entrap the priviledges of the people for his own part he declared that as God had made him instrument all in cutting down Tyranny in one person so now he could not endure to see the Nations liberties shackled by another whose right to the Government could be measured out no other wayes then by the length of his Sword which was only that which emboldened him to command his Commanders Many speeches were made confirming what he had said and in direct opposition to a single person These debates and divisions upon the
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
1. That they had traiterously and maliciously endeavoured to raise force and leavy warre against his Highness and the Government and to subvert and alter the same 2. That they had traiterously declared published and promoted Charles Stuart eldest Sonne to the late King Charles to be King of England Scotland and Ireland 3. That they had held intelligence with the said Charles Stuart These were the heads of the Charge against them Sr Henry Slingsby was likewise charged for endeavouring to seduce the Governour of Hull and perswading him to surrender that Garrison to the King for these they were both condemned as Traytors though there were no witness against Dr Hewit but the Confession of one Mallory who pretended himself to have been in the Plot and accordingly on the 8th of June he and Sr Henry Slingsby lost their heads on Tower hill how justly God of Heaven knows but we may have the liberty to guess by circumstances Many endeavours were used by severall persons of quality for the saving of Sr Henry Slingsby and many Peritions presented by the Ministers of London in behalf of Dr Hewit and his Daughter Cleypool begging on her knees but nothing could pacifie the Protector who was resolved these two worthy persons should be sacrifices to his tyranny There were likewise executed for this business Collonel Edward Ashton who was hangd drawn and quartered at Mark lane end in Fan-Church street Edmond Stacy who suffered the same death in Cornhill and John Betteby who suffered like wise in Cheapside the Romanlike death of the last being very well worth remembrance As the death of Dr Hewit was a prodigie to to the world so there could no less then a prodigie attend it For some time before his execution there came up the Thames as farre as Greenwich a Whale of a very great length and bigness it being the wonder of the all the beholders to imagin that such a Creature of such a vast bigness should either find the way up or be content to leave especially at that season of the year its naturall Element But let us return again to the scene of warre in Flanders where the English and French Armies are joyned together and set down before Dunkirk with a resolution to take it before they stirred whereupon Don John D' Austria knowing the importance of the place it being the Key of Flanders and next after Graveling a frontier to France besides the continuall supplies of Money it brought his Treasury and the many inconveniences would ensue by the English possessing it resolves rather to hazard his whole Army then not attempt its relief But whilest he is getting of force together the English and French forces had in a small time run their trenches to the counterscarp and still incroached nigher and nigher to the wall which the Spaniards having advice of and fearing lest their relief might come too late make what haste possible to its a shstarce the better to effect which Don Iohn dreins most of his Garrisons and compleats a body of 10000 with these he marches post hast through Fuornes and encamps within a mile and a half of the Marshall Turines quarters of which the Confederates having advice immediately dislodg with a body of 15000 or thereabouts leaving still sufficient to guard the trenches and make good the approaches in case the Townsmen should attempt a sally With this force of men and 10 pieces of Cannon Turine faces the Spaniard the English foot were drawn up in four great battalions and were ordered to give the first onset on four other battalions of the Spaniards foot which had taken the advantage of the ground by placing themselves upon three rising hillocks and were seconded by Don Iohn himself The English were commanded by the Lord Lockhart who having first commanded a forlorne hope of about 300 Muskiteers to mount the sand hills which he seconds with his own Regiment of Foot commanded by Collonel Fenwick who stoutly maintained their ground though the Spaniards played down continuall volleys of shot amongst them and the French refused to second them sent another considerable Brigade to their relief which made no dallying but immediately fell in amongst the Spanish Foot with the buttend of their Musquers who after some small resistance not having been used to such kind of Club-Law left the field and fled whereupon the French Horse seeing the good fortune of the English Foot fell in upon the Spanish Horse who few or none of them stood the charge except those under the commands of the Dukes of Yorke and Glocester who having made a gallane resistance were forced more overpowred with number then over-reached in valour to quit the field after the rest In this Battell a great part of the Lord Lockharts Regiments were either slain or wounded and amongst the rest Lieutenant Collonel Fenwicke who led them on was slain by a Musket-Bullet of the Spaniards side The slaughter was very great the French Horse after the Battell having little or no mercy in the pursuit so that there were near 3000 slain besides many the Spanish Nobility who were taken most wounded and many of which after died of their wounds This totall rout of the Relievers Army as it encouraged the besiegers so it totally discouraged the besieged for they could expect no relief neither by Sea nor Land the English Frigots blocking them up by sea and Don John D' Austria not being able to recruit his Army by Land But yet the Marquess of Leda to show he was not totally disheartned with a strong Party sallies out of the Town and falls upon the French Quarters which was counted rather an act of desperation then valour or hopes of success for here he who was the life of the business and whose life might still the action in being received a wound of which he shortly after died and with him the Spaniards possession of the Town of Dunkirk For those within after the French and English had for fourteen dayes together continued to play their Mortar-peeces upon the Town the inhabitants weary of the sport and despairing beat a Parly and desire to come to capitulation which being granted the Town was surrendred up upon Articles viz. 1. That the Town should be surrendred up with all their great Guns store of victuals magazines of Arms and Ammunition without any imbezlement whatsoever 2. That the Officers and Souldiers should march out with Drumms beating Colours flying two piece of Ordnance and their baggage 3. That they should have free liberty to march to St Omers with a conduct to convey them-thither 4. That the Inhabitants should remain indemnified in their persons or goods and enjoy their former priviledges and customs for two years nor be molested by any one in matters of Religion These Articles being thus concluded on and ratified by his Majesty of France the strong Town of Dunkirk was surrendred and possession taken of it by the King of France and Cardinall in person on the 25th of June 1658.
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.
Master of any Ship shall either coming from beyond the Seas or going out of Scotland bring in or carry out any person whatsoever who hath not such a Passe as aforesaid This Proclamation was published under high pretences of preventing the design of the Cavalier party there And now the time approached for celebrating the Funerall Pomp of his Highness Oliver late Lord Protector of which great care had been taken and no imaginary state neglected for he being first embowelled was from Whitehall carried to Somerset House where his Effigies was set up in state after this manner Three Rooms were first hung with black Cloth adorned each of them with a Canopy and Chair of State of the same The fourth where the Corps was and the Effigies did first lie was hung with Velvet and adorned with Scutcheons and Banners in most Noble sort after which the Effigies was removed into another Room and there exposed to publike view standing in Princely manner upon an ascent under a Canopy of State with a Scepter in one hand a Globe in the other and a Crown on his head after the ancient manner of the Kings of England his Armour lying by him and the Banners Banrols and Standards placed round about hm and so continued untill the solemnizationi of the Funerall-Pomps and Ceremonies which were performed on the 23th of November 1658 in form following The Effigies being taken down by severall of the Protectors Gentlemen was with a rich Canopy carried over it taken and placed in a Chariot covered with black Velvet adorned with Plumes and Scutcheons and drawn by six plumed Horses covered to the heels with black Velvet Then the Train began to march betwixt the Rails set up on purpose from Somerset House to Westminster on each side of which stood the Souldiers with black Ribbons on their red Coats and their Ensignes furled and covered with a vail of Cypres And first went a Knight-Marshall on Horseback with his black Truncheon tipt with gold attended by his Deputy and severall other Officers to clear the way Next followed the Poor men of Westminster two and two in mourning Gowns and Hoods Then the Servants of those Persons of Quality attended the Funerall Then the Servants of the deceased Protector in their respective places and orders Then the Servants of the Lord Mayor Sheriffs and Aldermen of London Then the Servants attending the Ambassadours and Agents of Forreign Princes After them the Poor Knights of Windsor in their Gowns and Hoods Then the Clerks Secretaries and other under-Officers belonging to the Army Admiralty Treasury Navy and Exchequer Then the Commanders in the Fleet and Officers of the Army Then the Commissioners for Excise the Committees of the Army and Navy Then the Commissioners for approbation of Ministers Then the Officers belonging to the Privie Counsell and both Houses of Parliament Next followed the Protectors Phisicians Then the Field-Officers and generall Officers of the Army Next the Aldermen of London Then the Masters of the Chancery and the deceased Protectors Counsell at Law Then the Judges of the Admiralty the Masters of Request with the Judges in Wales Then the Barons of the Exchequer the Judges of both Benches and Lord Mayor of London Then the Persons allied to his Highness and the Members of the Lords House After them the Agents of Venice Genoa the Hans-Towns and other publike Ministers The Holland Ambassadour alone The Portugall Ambassador whose Train was born up by four Knights of the Order of Christ The French Ambassadour whose Train was likewise born up by four Persons of Quality The Lords Commissioners of the Great Seal The Lords of the Privie Counsell Then followed the Chief Mourner with those Persons who bore up his Train most of the Persons of Honour were in Close Mourning and were in their divisions distinguished by Drumms and Trumpets and by a Standard or Banner and by a Mourning Horse of which there were eleven in all four covered with black Cloth and seven with Velvet These being all past in order the Effigies followed in the Chariot with six Banner Rolls born on each side and eight Persons bearing the severall pieces of the deceased Protectors Arms all which were attended by Heralds after whom came Garter principall King at Arms attended by a Gentleman on each side bare-headed Then followed the Horse of Honour in very rich Trappings of Gold embroidered upon crimson Velvet and adorned with white yellow and red Plumes which was led by the Master of the Horse And last of all followed the Protectors Guard of Halbertiers with the Warders of the Tower In this State was the Effiigies conducted from Somerset House to Westminster where it was taken off the Chariot and in the same State as it was first taken out of Somerset House carried into the Abby Church and placed under a woodden Monument stately erected for it with the Bannors and six Ensignes of Honour placed about it the Corps having been some days before buried in a Vault purposely provided for it in Henry the 7 ths Chappell over which a stately Monument was intended to be erected over it but the after sodain Revolutions of State hindred that undeserved remembrance of him With all this Pomp and Splendor were the Funerall Ceremonies of the deceased Lord Protector performed so prodigall were the Counsell of State to the very memory of their so beneficiall a Master not regarding at all the Debts or other inconveniences which they might run the Nation into by so vast an expense so that in requitall to him or to ingratiate themselves with his Sonne they were so vain as to extend the pomp and expence of his Funerall beyond that of any English King since William the Conquerours time The deceased Protector had in his life time contracted a firm League both offensive and defensive with the King of Swetheland which caused the now Protector his Sonne upon the Swedes desires to man out a great Fleet for his assistance against the Dutch who aided the King of Denmark his enemy Between forty and fifty sail of gallant Ships were sent forth under the command of the Lord Mountague this Fleet having spent neer six moneths in the Sound even to the time of the dissolution and annulling of that Power that set them forth returned home having done nothing worth the mention The Protector now to strengthen himself by the advice of his Counsell calls a Parliament and Writs are issued out for their appearance on the 27th of January 1658 whether they being accordingly convented and having according to custome made choice of Challoner Chute Esq for Speaker of the House the Protector the same day attended by many of his Fathers new made Nobles went in state to Westminster the Lord Cleypool bearing the Sword before him where having heard a Sermon he went in his formalities to the new Lords House from whence he sent the Usher of the Black Rod to acquaint the Parliament that he expected them who being come to the barr he
made them the following Speech My Lords and Gentlemen I beleeve there are scarce any of you here who expected some moneths since to have seen this great Assembly at this time in this place in peace considering the great and unexpected change which it hath pleased the all disposing hand of God to make in the midst of us I can assure you that if things had been according to our own fears and the hopes of our enemies it had not been thus with us And therefore it will become both you and me in the first place to reverence and adore the great God possessor of Heaven and earth in whose hands our breath is and whose are all our wayes because of his judgments so to acknowledg his goodness to these Lands in that he hath not added sorrow to sorrow and made the period of his late Highnesses life and that of the Nations peace to have been in one day Peace was one of the blessings of my Fathers Government a mercy after so long a Civill War and in the middest of so great division which that war bred is not usually afforded by God unto a people in so great measure The Cause of God and these Nations which he engaged in met in all the parts of it as you well know with many enemies and great opposition The archers privily and openly sorely grieved him and shot at him yet his bow abode in strength and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob. As to himself he died full of dayes spent in great and sore travail yet his eyes were not waxeddim neither was his nature or strength abated as it was said of Moses he was serviceable even to the last As to these Nations he left them in great honour abroad and in full peace at home all England Scotland and Ireland dwelling safely every man under his Vine and under his Figtree from Dan unto Beersheba He is gone to his rest and we are entred into his labours and if the Lord hath still a blessing for these Lands as I trust he hath as our peace hath been lengthened out to this day so shall we go on to reap the fruit and gather the harvest of what his late Highness hath sown and laid the foundation of For my own part being by the providence of God and the disposition of the Law my Fathers Successor and bearing that place in the Government that I do I though it fit for the publick good to call a Parliament of the three Nations now united and conjoyned together into one Commonwealth under one Government It is agreeable not only to my trust but to my principles to govern these Nations by the advice of my two Houses of Parliament I find it asserted in the humble Petition and Advice which is the corner stone of this building and that which I shall adhere unto that Parliaments are the great Counsell of the chief Magistrate in whose advice both he and these Nations may be most safe and happy I can assure you I have that esteem of them And as I have made it the first Act of my Government to call you together so shall I further let you see the value I have of you by the answers that I shall return to the Advice that shall be given me by you for the good of these Nations You are come up from your severall Countries as the heads of your Tribes and with hearts I perswade my self to consult together their good I can say I meet you with the same desires having nothing in my designes but the maintenance of the Peace Laws Liberties both Civill and Christian of these Nations which I shall always make the measure and rule of my Government and be ready to spend my life for We have summoned you at this time to let you know the state of our affairs and to have your advice in them and I beleeve a Parliament was never sommoned upon so important occasion It is true as I have told you we are through the goodness of God at this time in peace but it is not thus with us because we have no enemies there are enough both within us and without us who would soon put an end to our peace were it in their powers or should it at any time come into their powers It will be becoming of your wisdomes to consider of the securing of our peace against those who we all know are and will be our implacable enemies what the means of doing this are I shall refer unto you This I can assure you that the Armies of England Scotland and Ireland are true and faithfull to the peace and good interest of these Nations and it will be found so and that they are a consisting body and usefull for any good ends and if they were not the best Army in the world you would have heard of inconveniencies by reason of the great arrear of pay which is now due unto them whereby some of them are reduced to great necessities but you shall have a particular account of their arrears and I doubt not but some consideration will be had thereon in some speedy and effectuall way And this being matter of money I recommend it particularly to the House of Commons You have you know a warre with Spain carried on by the advice of Parliament he is an old enemy and therefore it will be necessary both for the honour and safety of these Nations that the war be vigorously prosecuted Furthermore the constitution of Affairs in all our neighbour Countries and round about us as well friends as enemies are very considerable and calls upon us to be upon our guard both at Land and Sea and to be in a posture able to maintain and conserve our own interest Great and powerfull Fleets are preparing to be set forth into these seas and considerable Armies of severall Nations and Kings are now disputing for the mastery of the Sound with the adjacent Islands and Countries among which is the Roman Emperour with other Popish States I need not tell you of what consequence these things are to this State We have already interposed in these affairs in such manner as we found it necessary for the interest of England and matters are yet in such a condition in those parts that this State may with the assistance of Gods provide that their differences may not prejudice us The other things that are to be said I shall refer to my Lord Keeper Fines and close up what I have to say with only adding two or three particulars to what I have already said And first I recommend to your care the people of God in these Nations with their concernments the more they are divided among themselves the greater prudence should be used to cement them Secondly The good and necessary work of Reformation both in manners and in the administration of Justice that profaneness may be discountenanced and suppressed and that Righteousness and
Justice may be executed in the Land Thirdly I recommend to you the Protestant cause abroad which seems at this time to be in some danger having great and powerfull enemies and very few friends and I hope and believe that the old English zeal to that Cause is still among us Lastly my Lords and you Gentlemen of the House of Commons That you will in all your debates maintain and conserve love and unity among your selves that therein you may be the pattern of the Nation who have sent you up in peace and with their prayers that the spirit of wisdome and peace may be among you and this shall also be my prayer for you and to this let us all add our utmost endeavours for the making this a happy Parliament This was the Protectors so much applauded Speech to his Parliament which finisheed the Lord Fines began and after having enumerated the deceased Protectors great endeavours c. for the peace of the Nation and his Highnesses following his steps in the calling of this present Parliament for the three Nations joyntly he recommended more effectually to them the wars abroad and the probabilities of homebred disturbances desiring their provision to maintain the one and care to prevent the other the Parliament having every one taken the Oath formerly taken by Olivers Parliament not to alter the Government were returned to their House and the Protector to Whitehall The House of Commons being returned to their House spent muce time about the rectifying of their Elections and expelling severall Members out of the House but causing others to be elected in their steads under pretence of being Malignants and having born Arms against the Parliament in behalf of their lawfull Soveraign and not only expelling them but disabling them from being elected or chosen as Members of future Parliaments so though this Parliament was esteemed one of the freest that had been called since 1641 yet it was not free indeed The House having as far as they could rectified their Members and Elections proceed to the calling to an account of all those who had been entrusted with the Customes Excize Taxes or other Revenue of the Common-wealth and to consider of the present state of the Revenues and some ways to pay the arrears of the Army Navy c. and other Nationall Debts but this business being put off by delays never came to any effect They likewise proceed to the drawing up of a Bill for it never came to be either Act or Ordinance which should be intituled An Act of Recognition of his Highness right and Title to be Protector and Chief Magistrate of the Commonwealth of England Scotland and Ireland and the Dominions and Territories thereunto belonging Many demurs were there in this debate and severall praevious Votes to be passed before this Bill could be committed as whether the Parliament should consist of two Houses and whether this House should transact with the Persons sitting in the other House as a House of Parliament This business took up a great deal of time the Protectorians stood stifly for it and the Commonwealths-men as stong against it alledging that to treat with those men as a House of Lords was to enslave themselves more deeply then ever they had been before That they should now by it clearly evince to the world their folly perjury and villany that whilest they had taken their Oaths to be true and faithfull to govern without a House composed of the Peers of the Nation they should now both break their Oath and subject themselves to such as were scarce Peers to the Commons That if they did but consider the Creator of this House of Peers as they were called they could not but foresee the necessary thraldome they must run themselves into these being all such as were made sure to his interest and were so many sure Votes for whatever arbitrary actions he might undertake and if it were thought unlawfull for the Bishops to sit in the House of Lords because they were accounted so many sure voices for the King how much more might these be excepted against who were certainly so many sure voices for the Protectorall interest being all created by it Yet notwithstanding these Arguments the Vote was at length carried on the Protectorian side and Resolved That the House of Commons would transact with the Persons then sitting in the other House as a House of Parliament during the present Parliament but with this Proviso that it was not intended thereby to exclude such Peers as have been faithfull to the Parliament from their priviledge of being duly summoned to be Members of that House Whilest the Parliament are thus pursuing their Votes to settle the Protector in England the French and Spaniard are endeavouring to conclude a Peace betwixt themselves and to leave the English in the lurch which howsoever it then and ever since went vigorously on yet are not the Conditions spoken of performed on either side to the full-consummating of it During the Sessions of this Parliament on the 24th of February Mr George Strangways formerly a Major in the Kings Army was pressed to death in the Press-yard in Newgate for refusing to plead to his Indictment for having caused his Brother-in-Law one Mr Fussell an Attorney of Dortsetshire to be shot in the head as he sate writing in his Chamber-window of which he died The magnanimity nobleness and pe nitence of Major Strangways at his death deserves this memory This Parliament took into consideration the Cases of divers Persons who had been imprisoned in the time of the late deceased Protector Maj. Gen. Overton is sent for out of the Isle of Jersey and released The Duke of Buckingham is likewise released out of Windsor-Castle upon the Lord Fairfax his giving 20000lb security that he shall demean himself peaceably for the future and not joyn with abet or have any correspondence with the enemies of the Lord-Protector or the Common wealth Severall other Persons of Quality were likewise by them released out of the Tower Maj. Gen. Brown likewise who had by the long Parliament in 1649 been disabled from bearing any Offices in the City is by them restored and made capable of all Offices priviledges and precedencies there and the long Parliaments Vote of the 4th of December 1649 made in his prejudice vacated The Quakers to promote their Turbulencies on the 16th of April sent a Paper into the House sealed and directed on the outside For the Speaker of the Commons assembled in Parliament these are for him to read to the Commons The inside contained a Declaration entituled A Declaration to the Commons assembled in Parliament Delivered the sixth day of the second Moneth called April 1659 to the then Speaker of the said House This Declaration contained many ignominious scandals thrown by those Fanatiques both upon the Magistracy and Ministry for which the Parliament express their Resentment to the Declarers requiring them to repair to their respective habitations apply themselves to
their callings and submit themselves to the Laws of the Nation and the Magistracy they lived under But whilest we are talking of this crabbed sowr generation let me give an account of one passage of them in New-England The Governour there being troubled with their disturbances and abuses both of Magistracy and Ministry made a Law for their banishment that if any of them came thither again they should at their first coming be whipt and sent away at the second lose their Ears but if they still persisted their lives should be forfeit According to this Law some of them still being obstinate notwithstanding they had been whipt at Boston returned Whereupon the Governour ordering their ears to be cut off according to Law shortly after he received a Letter from one Humphrey Norton a Quaker from about fifty Miles from Boston which because of the horribly blasphemous curses in it I shall insert the heads of Thus he begins Accursed are thy Rulers thou Town of Boston for they are become the High Priests servants and have cut off the Saints right Ears Accursed are thy Teachers for they are the troop of Robbers which murther in the high way by consent Accursed are thy people who vote up and consent unto their actions of bloodshed murther and cruelty Accursed is that Counsell that sits to shed the blood of the innocent as hath been done in thee Accursed is thy Governour who past the sentence against his own soul he being forewarned in it by express words from me Accursed is that Hangman that did it as he is called so is his Name he is servant to the Devil one of his familiar spirits his Name in the Hebrew tongue is Abbadon and his Master which first cast them into prison and now hath caused him to cut off their Ears must be bound in the Lake of oblivion for a thousand years his Name there shall rot and his posterity perish c. and so he goes on in most horrid curses and in the end The curse of God light upon thee John Indicot for my brethren and companions sake the curse of God rest upon thee thy deeds thou shalt answer for as sure as ever thou consentedst to that deed thou son of a Murderer Lucifer thou cursed Bird who darest attempt to say thou speakest from Heaven get thee down into the lowest hot Lake thou lyar for within the gates of Hell is thy habitation This was the summe of his Letter which was thus directed Let this Letter be delivered with care to the hands of John Indicot Governour of Boston so called hast hast hast But I have digressed too much in discoursing thus long about this perverse generation Let us now return to the Parliament who had long been debating about the Writs issued out by the Protector for Election of Members for Scotland and Ireland to serve in this present Parliament The debates hereon were the more long and tedious in regard those two Nations had never yet by any President the liberty to have their Members sit in the English Parliament but at length a President was made and it was resolved that the Members that returned to serve for Scotlad and Ireland should continue to sit as Members for that present Parliament About this time happened a very sad accident at Barbadoes the Town of St Michaels being near wholly consumed with fire to the great loss and utter undoing of most of the Inhabitants besides the losses sustained by Merchants who had goods in Ware-houses on shore But now about the latter end of March 1659 began the first sparks of discontent to break out which afterwards burst into such a flame that it consumed the Protectors greatness and Estate The originall cause of this distemper there 's very few but those that effected it can tell but the first appearance of it was in a representation presented on the 6th of April by the Lord Fleetwood to his Highness in behalf of the Army the heads of which were as followeth 1. They pressed their urgent wants by reason of their Arrear-pay and desired redress 2. They complained that they who had born the brunt of the War were now derided and like to be laid by 3. That many Cavaliers were lately come out of Flanders and had dangerous meetings in and about London 4. That the faithfull servants of the Good Old Cause were affronted by malignant and disaffected persons 5. That Lists of the actuall Tryers of the late King printed in red letters were scattered about as if they were appointed for destruction 6. That Suits were commenced at common Law against many well affected persons for things they had transacted as Souldiers 7. That the famous actions of the Long Parliament and his late Highness in and since 1648 were vilified and evil spoken of That all these Circumstances clearly evidenced a declension of the Good Old Cause which they were resolved to assert and therefore they desired that his Highness would be pleased to represent these things to the Parliament and procure their remedies And particularly that he would recommend to them the present necessities of the Souldiers for want of pay and that satisfaction might be given to the Militia-Forces The Militia of the City of London took it very kindly that the Army had been pleased to mention satisfaction to be made for the Militia-Forces they therefore instigated by their chief worthy Commanders Tichborn and Ireton draw up a representation confirming their resolutions with the Army to stick to the Good Old Cause which they likewise accompany with a Letter to the Lord Fleetwood to be communicated to the generall Counsell of the Officers of the Army declaring their intentions to go along with them in whatever they should undertake for the pretended good of the Nations These Declarations and Remonstrances both of the Officers of the Army and City-Militia were foreseen by the Parliament to intend no good to them they therefore in hopes to prevent them vote that there should be no meeting or generall Counsell of Officers without consent and by Order of his Highness the Lord Protector and that no person should have any Command either by Sea or Land in any of the three Nations who should refuse to subscribe that he will not disturb the free meetings in Parliament of any the Members of either House of Parliament or their Freedome in their debates and Counsells The Protector himself was likewise fearfull of these proceedings and meetings of the chief Officers of the Army he therefore sends to them these Votes of the House Whereupon on the 22 of April after they had sufficiently sought God by prayer Desborow Fleetwood and other the chief Officers with most of the Army at their heels came to the Protector and forced him to sign a Delaration and Commission ready prepared for the dissolving the Parliament The Commission was directed to the Lord Nathaneel Fines Lord Keeper of the great Seal who coming to the House of Lords sent the Usher of
the black Rod to the House to desire their attendance on the Lords but they refused to give him entrance but understanding there were Guards in Westminster-Hall they thought it best to adjourn which they did till the following Munday being the 25th of April whereby they prevented both their formall and forceable dissolution But the next day being the 23 of April the Proclamation signed by his Highness the Lord Protector for the dissolution of the Parliament was published the Contents of it were as followeth By the Lord Protector A Proclamation for dissolving the Parliament Whereas we assembled our high Court of Parliament to assemble and meet at our City of Westminster the 27th day of January last which hath continued unto this present day And whereas we did by our Commission under the great Seal of England bearing date at Westminster this present 22 day of April for divers weighty reasons declare our pleasure and resolution to dissolve the said Parliament and to that end did thereby constitute and appoint our right trusty and right wellbelovod Counsellour Nathaneal Lord Fines one of the Keepers of our great Seal of England and others our Commissioners in our name this said present 22 day of April to dissolve our said Parliament which was by them done according to the tenor of the said Commission in the usuall place and by vertue hereof our said Parliament is absolutey dissolved Nevertheless we have thought it necessary by advice of our Privy Counsell by this our Proclamation to publish and make known the same to the end all Persons whom it may concern may take notice thereof Given at Whitehall the 22 day of April in the year of our Lord 1659. Yet notwithstanding this Proclamation the Members on Munday the 25th of April repaired to the House according to the vote of adjournment which they found guarded by red Coats whose Officers told them that they should not enter the House any more With the dissolution of this Parliament we may put a period to the short Reign of Richard Lord Protector no further use being made of him besides what a Declaration of the 25th of April commanding all Cavaliers and Papists to depart out of London upon these present disturbances did amount to Behold the visible hand of God that those very persons and Relations that Oliver had advanced into the highest places of trust for securing his usurped power are by the Almighty made instrumentall to pull down and destroy that which he had so perfidiouslly got by murther and hypocrisie Various Revolutions of Government in 1659 1660. BY the dissolution of the late Parliament the power over the Nations is devolved into the hands of those who devolved it they being then the only visible force I will not say power in these Nations viz. the chief Officers of the Army who first of all begin to modell their own Family which they did by cashiering those of the Protectorian faction for some such there were in the Army viz. Okey Ingolsby and Goffe and some others into whose places and commands they by their own authority put Lambert Haslerig Gbey and such others as had been displaced by the late deceased Protector These men considering that as they now stood they had no visible form of a Civil Government but their proceedings in this manner would render them most odious to the common people and in time ruin them begin to think what Civill Power they might establish which might be most concordant to their designes and at last send for some of the members of that Parliamentary Juncto which were dissolved by Generall Cromwell in 1653 to these they make motion of returning to the exercise of their trust desiring them to inform the Speaker and the rest of the Armies intentions They all readily and willingly assent but the Speaker makes some conscientious objections against their resitting which notwithstanding though I think they were never yet answered he at length consents to their desires whereupon the Army publish a large and specious Declaration asserting their resolutions to stand stedfast to the Good Old Cause as they called it with repentance for their errors and to that effect they conclude their Declaration to this purpose That they amongst other things calling to mind that the long Parliament consisting of the Members which continued their sitting untill the 20th of April 1953 were eminent assertors of that Cause and had a speciall presence of God with them and were signally blessed in that work the desires of many good people concurring with theirs therein they thought it their duty to invite the said Members to return to the exercise and discharge of their trust as before the said 20th of April 1653. And therefore they did by this Declaration earnestly desire the Parliament consisting of those Members who continued to sit since the year 1648 unto the 20th of April 1653 to return to the exercise and discharge of their trust that they should be ready in their places to yeeld them their utmost assistance to sit in safety for the improving present opportunity for setling and securing the peace and quiet of this Commonwealth praying for the presence and blessing of God upon their endeavours This Declaration published there were severall Articles agreed upon between the Officers of the Army and severall Members of the then to be restored part of a Parliament which accorded to and signed on the next day being the 7th of May 1659 they convented together in the Painted-Chamber where those Members appointed to meet being all present forty two in number the Speaker with the Mace carried before him and followed by the rest went into the House and took their places Upon notice that those men had taken their places in the House as a Parliament severall of the Members secluded in 1648 there being double the number of them in the City came into the Hall and agreed that some persons of their number should go up to the House to try whether they could find admittance The persons appointed to go up were Mr Ansley Sr George Booth Mr William Pryn Mr James Herbert Mr George Mountague Sr John Eveling Mr Eveling Mr Knightly Mr Gewen Mr John Herbert Mr Peck Mr Hungerford Mr Harly and Mr Clive these according to the desire of the rest went up but found restraint upon the House so that with much ado they prevailed to get into the Lobby but here they were opposed by Lieutenant Collonel Allen though they earnestly disputed the undoubted right they had to sit in the House as well as the others but no reasons could prevail Yet on Munday May 9th Mr Ansley Mr Pryn and Mr Hungerford understanding that there were no guards upon the House went to Westminster-Hall and found admittance without any opposition at first though afterward when Mr Ansley went forth to acquaint those secluded Members which attended their success in the Hall of their admittance endeavouring to enter again he and some others with him were forcibly kept
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
possess which if you now deliver into my hands for his service you shall have fit terms for your self and those with you and ease the adjacent parts of a great Charge If you refuse I doubt not but in a short time by the Lords assistance to obtain what now I demand I expect your answer to morrow by seven of the Clock and rest To the Governour of Hume-Castle Your Servant George Fenwick To which the Governour next Morning returned this answer Right Honourable I have received a Trumpeter of yours as he tells me without a pass to render Hume-Castle to the Lord Generall Cromwell Please you I never saw your Generall As for Hume Castle it stands upon a Rock Given at Hume-Castle this day before seven a Clock So rests without prejudice to my native Country Your most humble Servant Tho. Cockburne After this conceited answer of the Governours he likewise salutes Collonel Fenwick with these Verses I William of the Wastle Am now in my Castle And awe the Dogs in Town Shan't gar me gang down But after the great Guns had played a little and a small breach was made at which Fenwicks men were ready to enter he was forced to surrender the Castle upon Quarter for life of which Captain Collinson with his Company took possession Collonel Moncke likewise though in somewhat longer time had the same fortune with three Regiments of Horse and Foot in reducing Timptallon-Castle which had many times cut off Passengers and done no little harm to the Country by frequent excursions the Governour and Souldiers finding no other Conditions being forced to surrender to mercy But to give some stop to the English Proceedings Generall Cromwell was taken with a violent Feaver which confined him many dayes to his Chamber insomuch that it was generally voted up and down the Scoth Camp that he was dead but a Trumpeter coming to Edinborough from Fife to demand restitution of a Ship laden with goods which was taken by the English Frigots going from Brunt Island to Fife and there confidently averring to the Souldiers that their Generall was dead which coming to Cromwels ears he caused the Trumpeter to be brought before him and not only gave him assurance of his life but of his recovery in great measure which at his return caused no small decrease of joy in the Scotch Army Generall Dean about this time arrived at Leith with a Squadron of English Ships bringing with him a convenient quantity of supplies both of men Money and provisions together with twenty seven flat bottomed Boats for transportation of the Army over into Fife so extreamly carefull were the Parliament of their Army in Scotland In the mean time the Scotch Levies go on vigorously Middleton marches out of the High-lands with a considerable number both of Horse and Foot The Town of Dundee to shew their affection to his Majesty advanced a brave Regiment of Horse at their own charge and sent them with six brass pieces of Ordnance for a present to their King at Sterling Whilest these things were acting in Scotland there happened a very strange accident at Oxford in England One Anne Green servant to Sr Thomas Read having been got with Childe by a Gentleman of the House about the fourth Moneth of her time by over-working fell in travell and not knowing what it might be went to the House of Office where with some straining an abortive Infant of about a span long fell from her which being found out she was carried prisoner to Oxford and there condemned for the Murther and hanged After she had hung near an hour all which time she was pulled by the Legs and strook on the Brest by some of her friends and some Souldiers that stood by with the But ends of their Muskets she was cut down put into a Coffin and brought to a house to be dissected by some Physicians when they opened the Coffin they perceived a ratling in her Throat whereupon one standing by stamped on her Brest and Belly but Dr Petty and two other Doctors present fell speedily to use some meanes to bring her to life which they did to the wonder of all men she still as upon the Gallows averring her innocency The Parliament now to abolish the shadow as well as formerly they had done the substance of Monarchy cause the Statuas of the late King which were set up at the West end of the Cathedrall of St Pauls Church aed that set up in the Royall Exchange to be pulled down and over the conspicuous place of the last caused this ignominious Motto to be set Exit Tyrannus Regum ultimus anno libertatis Angliae restitutae primo Anno Domini 1648. January 30. which might far better be inverted They likewise cause the Kings Arms in all places of the Kingdome to be defaced and expunged the Souldiers using all violence imaginable to his Majesties Pictures though but set up for Signs In the mean time the Parliament are courted by severall forreign Ambassadors from the Hollander Spaniard and Portugall all requesting peace and amity though 't is suspected the Hollander then intended a War But however the Parliament of England send over Oliver St John and Walter Strickland Esquires as Ambassadors extraordinary to Holland where they were entertained with a great deal of Ceremony The heads of their Ambassage was 1. That a firme league and confederacy be made between the two Republicks 2. That former treaties and agreements of trade and commerce be renewed 3. That the States of Holland would make strict search after the Murderers of Dr Dorislaus and that like affronts might be prevented for the future But notwithstanding the States had put out a Declaration commanding that none should upon strict amercements affront the English Ambassadors yet three Moneths were past and nothing agreed upon but innumerable affronts received the Ambassadors by Order of the Parliament of England returned home infect â pace But Van Trumps lying hovering with his Fleet of Scilly made the English Jealous that they intended some hostile attempt upon the place but the reason of his hovering being demanded the Hollanders answered that they only lay there to demand satisfaction for such Ships as those Pirates had taken from their people which satisfied for the present however the Parliament thought good to reduce those Isles under their own obedience which they shortly after did by a Fleet under Command of Admirall Blake and Sr George Askew In the mean time Cornet-Castle in the Isle of Guernsey which still held out with a Party for the King was assaulted by a considerable Party of Foot upon information given that there was but Forty men in the Castle and eighteen of them disabled when upon tryal there was found sixty good men in the Castle who made hot work for the assailants breaking their Ladders and killing many of them with Case-shot from the Flankers so that they were fain to get off by the Boat which proved as unfortunate two Boats full of