civil Government I now descend to those their Arts and Devices whereof by the help and influence of a most subtile corrupt and schismatical party in Parliament they made use in order to the raising this late nefarious Rebellion the consequence whereof viz. the extirpating of Monarchy here was in their design long before however it may be thought by some that Necessity and Despair put them upon that blod Exigent after they had gone farther than they thought they could by any outward reconciliation or pardon be safe for if need were sufficient and undoubted testimony might yet be produced who did hear a principal Actor in this late woful Tragedy about a twelve-month after the barbarous murther of King Charles the First express these words I bless God that I have now lived to see the ruine of Monarchy and that I haue been instrumental in it for I do here acknowledge that it hath been in my design ever since I was at Geneva which is now thirty eight years Of these the first and indeed most fatal Artifices was the reducing his Majesty to Necessities to the end he might be inforc'd to betake himself unto such extraordinary means for supply as would certainly attract the odium of his Subjects For accomplishing whereof that war wherein King Iames became engaged on the behalf of his daughter and her children for recovery of the Palatinate gave them a seasonable opportunity the Story whereof I shall briefly here set down Upon the death of the Emperour Matthias 8. Aug. An. 1619. 17 Iac. Ferdinand his Brother adopted by Matthias in his life time was elected Emperour and crowned 19 Septemb. following Which Election the Bohemians disclaiming they chose for their King Frederick Count Palatine of the Rhine Who thereupon by his Letters to King Iames whose daughter he had marryed acquaints him therewith craving his advice as to his reception thereof Howbeit before King Iames his answer could come to his hand which was utterly dissuasory he had accepted their choice Whereof King Iames hearing in no little perplexity disavow'd the act and would never stile him by that Title That this unhappy business prov'd most destructive to the Count Palatine will immediately appear For the Emperor Ferdinand became so highly irritated thereat that he soon after publish'd a Proscription against him proclaim'd him guilty of High Treason and declared his resolution to prosecute him as a public Enemy of the Empire and accordingly sent Marquess Spinola with numerous Forces to invade the Palatinate as also Buquoy and D. Balthasar into Bohemia who with a powerful Army gave him Battail near to the City of Prague upon the eighth of November An. 1620 utterly routed the Bohemians and forc'd that new King with his Queen to flee the Country The Report whereof arriving soon after in England caused King Iames to advise with the Lords of his Council upon the 13 th of Ianuary following for recovery and protection of the Palatinate it being the antient Inheritance of his Son in Law and his Children Whereupon thirty thousand Pounds was forthwith sent to the Princes of the Union for their assistance therein and in order to farther help a Parliament call'd to sit at Westminster upon the 30 th of the same month of Ianuary At which Convention the King acquainting the two Houses with what had happened farther represented unto them that he had already treated a Peace in this business but Perswasions without power being as he said of little effect he told them that he thought it fit to provide an Army against the Summer following and desired them therefore to think upon his Necessities Which Parliament having sate about four months and done little in this matter the King considering of a Recess for a time in regard of the season that might cause Infection represented to them by the Lord Treasurer his purpose to adjourn them Whereat the Commons growing displeased they desired the Lords to joyn with them in petitioning against it the King therefore taking much exception thereupon judging it derogatory to his Prerogative it being in his sole power to call and adjourn and dissolve Parliaments they thereupon for satisfaction of his Majesty publish'd a Declaration wherein they signified unto him that in case his endeavours by a Treaty could not effect the restitution of the Palatinate upon signification of his pleasure in Parliament they should be ready to the utmost of their powers both with their lives and fortunes to assist him so as by the Divine help of Almighty God he might be able to do that with his Sword which by a peaceable course could not be effected After this the Parliament was adjourn'd from the fourth of Iune until the twentieth of November at which time of meeting again the King being absent for lack of health the Lord Keeper told them that unless they took farther resolutions and were expeditious the Army in the Palatinate would fall to the ground The Lord Treasurer also acquainting them how empty the King's Coffers were and that his Majesty had assisted the Palatine and Princes of the Union with great Sums which had so exhausted his Treasure that he was much in debt Also that notwithstanding the King had declared for War he pursued Peace and resolv'd therefore to close with Spain hoping by that Alliance to heal the breach Which Speech of the Lord Treasurer tending to Peace so startled the House of Commons wherein the Puritan was predominant that they soon after drew up a Remonstrance to his Majesty wherein representing Religion to be in danger by the growth of Popery they incited him to take his Sword into his Hand for the aid of those of our Religion in forreign parts and that the bent of this War might be against that Prince whose Armies and Treasures had maintained the War in the Palatinate Signifying that they had given him one Subsidy for the present Relief of the Palatinate But in this Remonstrance there being also divers things which the King esteem'd to tend unto his high dishonour and to trench upon his Prerogative-royal he forbad them farther to entermeddle concerning his Government and deep affairs of State and particularly with the match of his Son with a Daughter of Spain Certain it is that the Parliament made little hast in the offering of that for which they were chiefly called together viz. the giving to the King considerable aid for relief of the Palatinate in so much as the Lord Digby then took occasion to put the Peers in mind thereof and that it was to that end they were summon'd thither reporting the present distress of that Country and danger thereto by the Duke of Bavaria as also that the Army of Count Mansfeild which came in for defence thereof if not speedily supplyed was like to desert that service But instead of hasting such Relief Christmass approching and the King upon the
Miraculous a Preservation of His Majesties Person deserves for a perpetual Thankfulness to God Almighty to be specially recorded to Posterity So doth the Memorial of Gods most evident Judgments upon the Scottish Nation after their unhappy defection from the obedience which they did owe to His Royal Father their Native King levying divers Armies solemnly Covenanting with His English Subjects against him and the Establisht Government and lastly selling Him for Money when for his Safe-guard and Protection he became necessitated to fly from the fury of these and to put himself into their Hands For 't is not unknown that they did twice Raise their Covenanting Brethren in that Realm to invade this in an Hostile manner and after much spoil and Rapine made in this no less than Three of their Armies being utterly destroy'd the first at Preston in Lancashire the Second at Dunbar in Scotland and the last at Worcester the flower of their Youth and most Eminent for Chivalry were either slain in open Battail Famisht and wasted by most cruel and merciless usage in Prison or Barbarously sold to Forreign Plantations there to be Enslav'd with perpetual Servitude CHAP. XXXV BUT to go on with my Story Certain it is that this fatal blow at Worcester did not only much deject all true hearted and Loyal Persons but seem'd so firmly to establish this Barbarous Generation in their Tyrannous sway that nothing but a Miracle was ever like to alter the Scene Therefore the more to perpetuate their future oppressive Dominion their next business was to lessen and opress the Nobility and to Flatter the Commonalty into a Slavish subjection to their Usurped and Rigorous power To which end they shortly after passed Two Acts in their Grand Convention at Westminster called the Parliament the one relating to the Nobility which was to make void all Titles of Honour Dignities or Precedencies given by the late King The other a General Pardon in reference to the People for the first moving and at length obtaining whereof Cromwel himself was known to be the sole Instrument All being therefore now in their Power and no visible Enemy to disturb their quiet though at the beginning of their Rebellion Anno 1642. they highly complemented the Dutch desiring that the King might have no manner of Supplies from them in respect of the near Relation that was betwixt that Model into which they themselves then aimed to cast this Government and the State of their Provinces and for that reason expected not only their assistance but a Loan of Money from them upon the Publick Faith as in the Twelfth Chapter of this Work may more fully appear The case was now altered For looking upon themselves after all this wonderful success as Mighty Potentates in their New Common-wealth and Free-State they imployed Oliver St. Iohn the Chief Justice of their Court of Common Pleas commonly called Cromwel's Dark-Lanthorn as Embassador into the Netherlands not only to make a firm alliance with the Dutch from the similitude of their Governments against all Soveraign Monarchs and Princes but to weaken the Interest of the Prince of Orange with them who had Married the King's Daughter Which curteous overture being not at all relisht was taken in great disdain by our Grandees here But the Hogen Mogens on the other side being the Elder Common-wealth strong in Shipping and expecting to make themselves absolute Lords of the Worlds Commerce were resolved not to stoop by yielding them the Flag or the old duty of Herring-Fishing These differences therefore occasion'd a War at Sea with them which began in the Downes this year on the Nineteenth of Iune and was again renewed the Sixteenth of August Westwards of the Isle of Wight in both which the Dutch had the worst Sir George Ascue then commanding the English Fleet. So likewise on the Twenty eighth of October following Blake being then Vice-Admiral But upon another Fight with them in the Downes on the Twenty ninth of November ensuing Blake received a great defeat which did not end the dispute for on the Eighteenth of February not far from Portland they had another sharp fight in which both sides received no small loss As also at Legorne about the beginning of March in which the English were worsted ¶ Leaving therefore the farther Prosecution of these Sea Fights till the next year I find that at home they better to secure themselves against the Royallists the passed a Third Act in their Parliament for disabling of Delinquents by which name the Royallists were call'd to bear any Office of Trust or Power in the Common-wealth or to have any Voice or Vote in Election of any Publick Officer The King's Authority and Friends being thus absolutely supprest and Cromwel at every turn the chief Agent therein not only in those his bold adventures against the scots but in many other both here and in Ireland as though Victory had been entailed upon his Sword the time was now come that he thought fit to act his own part more nearly yet still under colour of solely minding the Publick As he had therefore made the Souldiery instrumental for the ruine of the King by the influence of his inferior Officers call'd Adjutators so now did he again set those active Engines on work for the utter confusion of that Impious Iuncto called the Parliament Which Adjutators being readily inclinable to any thing of change objected to the Iuncto that they had not approved themselves such worthy Patriots as they expected but had sought themselves and their own peculiar profit And therefore as good Common-wealths-men and Friends to the Publick required that they should suddenly prefix a Period to their Sitting to the end that the Godly Party and good People of the Nation might thereupon make choise of a more equal Representative for the rectifying and amendment of what was still out of order But notwithstanding this fair pretence the aim of the Souldiers was by outing those old Saints to reduce the whole sway of all under the power of themselves which made them so earnest and forward in the work being fed with those hopes through the insinuation of Cromwel The Iuncto therefore foreseeing this danger for preventing thereof were neither slack nor unactive endeavouring first to break the Army by Disbanding and in the next place to spoil their design by delays Nevertheless with much zeal seem'd earnest to retire affirming that they then were in contrivance for a new Representative to succeed them All which availed nothing there being no halting before an Old Cripple for Cromwel was not ignorant of what they aimed at being well assured that if he let them alone his design would be Cross'd and therefore determin'd without more ado to turn them out of Doors To which end having well seasoned the Souldiery for his purpose and for the better engratiating himself therewith taken the Officers into his Council he resolv'd as 't was usual with him
preamble whereof beginneth thus for asmuch as the Prosperity and Safety of this Nation and the Dommions thereunto belonging very much dependeth under God upon the security and preservation of the person of his Highness c. In which Act several offences were adjudged Treason and certain Commissioners for England and Wales therein nominated for the Tryal of Offenders against the said Act. Which foundation being so laid it was by his Friends and Favourers then thought high time to discover what they would be at and accordingly moved that whereas this Nation had for thirteen hundred years at the least been governed by Kings and though some of them had offended the people yet that Title had never been abolished Also whereas the Government by the said Title was interwoven with the Laws and accommodated to the dispositions of the people that they should humbly Petition and Advise his Highness to take upon him the same Title Which motion took such effect that there was an Instrument soon drawn up by them called the Humble Petition and Advice whereby they besought his Highness so to do Whereunto that he might not seem to have any knowledg of what they were about much less any desire thereof but be still more and more sought to and importuned therein he answered with all shew of modesty that indeed those Arguments which they had used to him were persuasive but not compulsive and that the Title of Protector might be well accommodated to the Laws To which they replyed that the Title ought to be such as was suitable to the Laws and the Laws not be made suitable to the Title urging the Statutes of 9. Edw. IV. and 3. Henr. VII whereby it was provided that no one should suffer for bearing Arms on the behalf of him that was de facto King though he had no just right to the Crown Which Arguments were made use of to him meerly for shew the better to disguise his ambitious aim as though without such strong motives he could not have been won thereto But the plain truth is that after this business came thus in question the Sectaries of all sorts nay a great part of the Souldiery shewed a vehement dislike thereof being privately instigated by Lambert and some other of the Principal Officers who did themselves upon Cromwels death expect to have succeeded him in the Place of Protector it being Elective as is manifest from the Instrument of Government whereby that Tyrant was at first so Constituted whereas had he been advanced to the Title of King the case might have been otherwise So that this crafty Fox discerning no small peril to himself by such divisions as might thereby arise especially in the Army wherein lay his chief strength and support thought it the safest way to decline it and to stick still to that of Protector yet to have the Government setled in a kind of Monarchic manner And so in imitation of that which had formerly been Regal to have a House of Peers But against that also there were great and high oppositions so that though it was with much ado agreed that there should be another House yet it would not be allowed the Title of an House of Peers Whereupon the result was that an Act Intituled The Humble Petition and Advice should pass whereby they ordained what Stile the chief Magistrate should have idest Lord Protector of the Common-Wealth of England Scotland and Ireland and the Dominions and Territories thereto belonging Likewise that Parliaments consisting of two Houses should be called once in three years with qualifications of such as should serve therein And that the number of such as should sit in the other House should be nominated by the Lord Protector and approved by the House of Commons Moreover that he should have power to nominate his Successor And that a Confession of Faith should be agreed on by his Highness and the Parliament according to the Rule and Warrant of the Scriptures Which Act being presented to him accordingly was assented to and passed But that Act being in some sort deficient about a month following they passed another relating thereto and called The Explanatory Petition and Advice Wherein inter alia is this Clause viz. Whereas in the Fourth Article Publick Ministers or Publick Preachers of the Gospel are disabled to the Elected to serve in Parliament it is hereby explained and declared to such Ministers and Preachers only as have maintenance for Preaching or are Pastors or Teachers of Congregations In which Act is also contained the Oaths of the Lord Protector and of his Privy-Council as also the Oaths of the Members of that Parliament Soon after which he was again in WestMinster-Hall standing under a Rich State solemnly invested into his Old Title of Lord Protector and into the Government thus new modelled Where in the presence of the Members of that Parliament Sir Thomas Widdrington their Speaker delivered unto him in the name of them all and as Representatives of all the people in the three Kingdoms a Purple Robe lyned with Ermine as also a Bible Sword and Scepter descanting upon each of them as significant in some respect All which being performed the Instrument of that new Modelled Government called The Humble Petition and Advice was publickly read Whereunto assenting he was then and there Proclaimed Protector of England Scotland and Ireland with sound of 〈◊〉 and afterwards in the City of London So likewise at Dublin in Ireland and Edenburgh in Scotland Which new devised Government so much resembling Monarchy though the Title did not sute thereto did so 〈◊〉 please the Anabaptists and Fifth-Monarchy men that they 〈◊〉 spired his ruin by a sudden Insurrection but their 〈◊〉 being timely discerned came at length to nothing 〈◊〉 reupon for prevention of farther mischief he committed to Prison several persons of no small note whose power with the Souldiery might otherwise have much endangered his safety Viz. Lawson one of his Admirals at Sea Harrison Rich Danvers and some other Colonels Nay Lambert himself being aware that his hopes of succeeding him were then by that new framed Government frustrated began to fall off from him and to incline to the Fanaticks Which so awakened the Protector that he took from him his Commission of Lieutenant General and gave it to Fleetwood who by the Marriage of his Daughter stood more nearly typed to his Interest And that he might the better allure those of the Army and some other which were no great friends to him to conform the more pliantly to this his new setled Dominion he tickled them with the specious Title of Lords by calling them to fit in the other House obliging also many other desperate and mean persons which were Officers of the Army with the like shadows of Honour The names of which persons so called were as followeth viz. Richard Cromwel his eldest Son Henry Cromwel his other Son then Lord Deputy of Ireland Nathaniel Fienes
that all Horses within the City of London and the Suburbs and five miles adjacent should be speedily prest for the service of their Army as also that all Horses in the Tower should be seized on and no Coaches suffered to be kept there except one for the Lieutenant And to puff up their General with such vain apprehensions as might hearten him to persist in that his high imployment in regard he was then somewhat popular they form'd a specious Declaration which they ordered to remain upon Record in the Books of both Houses of Parliament as a mark of Honour to the name and Family of the Earl of Essex for the good service he had done to the Common-wealth in the office of General by the hazard of his life in the battel of Kineton Likewise for a firmer union of their forces they made an Order in the name of both Houses that the Counties of York Lincoln Notingham Derby Stafford Chester Lancaster Northumberland Cumberland Westmorland and Duresme with the Town and County of Newcastle should associate themselves by raising Horse and Foot to suppress and subdue the Popish and malignant Party and that the Lord Fairfax should command in chief throughout those Counties But his Majesty coming safe to Oxford after a short stay there march'd towards London the noise whereof caused the Members at Westminster to bestir themselves for preventing his Majesties coming thither whereupon all the power they could raise was sent out to give him astop the Earl of Essex with part of his Army to Kingston upon Thames and the Lord Brooke's and Mr. Hamden's Regiments to Brainford where the Royalists fell so sharply on them that they took five hundred Prisoners and sunk some of their Ordinance intending to march forward on the next day But having advertisement that Essex had drawn his Forces from Kingston and joining with the London-Auxiliaries lay in his way at Turnham Greene he chose rather to make a safe retreat than hazard his Army by a second Battel and so by Reading came back to Oxford where he took up his Winter-Quarters making it his cheif Garrison The flame of war beginning thus to spread each part strove to possess themselves of what strong Towns and Castles they could as also to fortify such other places as might enable them to have command over the parts adjacent The gaining whereof and other Acts of Hostility on each part in places remote as also the most considerable transactions of the Members at Westminster who calling themselves the Parliament sate there with strong Guards to carry on this Grand Rebellion being not possibly capable of a perfect Narrative in punctual order of time to avoid confusion therefore I have thought it most proper to place what is most remarkable on the military part at the end of each years beginning with this of 1642 in which the war did commence To proceed therefore The Rebels by this time discerning the King to get ground partly by the increase of his Forces in sundry Counties and partly by undeceiving many well-meaning people who had been seasoned by divers Lecturing-Preachers and other corrupt Clergy-men with disloyal principles and now doubting the issue without farther help sent a Declaration and Invitation to the Scots for their assistance granting Letters of Mart to all Merchants that would set forth Ships to guard the Seas and to take all Shipping bringing Arms or other aid from forreign parts to assist the King and to detain the same as their lawful prize Furthermore as London and the Counties adjacent gave example to all other parts of the Realm in the first raising of this grand Rebellion so were they the first over whom their great Masters exercised their power Nor were the deluded people elsewhere who had likewise given the Reines into these men's hands for a few fair words long spared for upon the xxixth of November there issued out an Order from both Houses that Committees should be named throughout all Counties to take care for provisions of Victual for the Army raised by the Parliament as also for seizing on Dragoon-Horses and draught-Horses and for borrowing of Money or Plate to supply the Army upon the public Faith Which Committees had thereby power to send for and take such Provisions Money Plate and Horse as the owners did then neglect to bring in And having formerly order'd that the King 's and Queen's Revenue coming into the Exchequer should be detained and employ'd for the public service they seized on thirteen hundred Quarters of Corn which then were in the King's Stores Also for explanation of their former Ordinance touching the contribution of Horse Money and Plate upon the Propositions they order'd that the Refusers should be distrain'd and in default of Distresses to be found their persons to be imprison'd and their Families no longer to remain in London Westminster or the Counties adjacent Shortly after this likewise they framed more Ordinances of Association for divers other Counties constituting Commanders in chief of new forces to be levyed within those Associations beginning with Buckingham Bedford Rutland Northampton Leicester Derby Notingham and Huntington appointing the Lord Grey of Groby son to the Earl of Stanford Serjeant Major General there planting Garrisons in every Castle and great Town throughout all those parts The like Association for the Shires of Cambridge Norfolk Suffolk Hartford Essex part of the Isle of Ely and City of Norwich William Lord Grey of Warke being made Commander in Chief throughout all those Counties And to put the people in hope that this charge and trouble should not last long they gave out that his majesties Forces were utterly broken and shatter'd and read Letters in the House from their General that he would pursue the King with all vehemency Soon after this also they made an Ordinance for taxing all Malignants and such as had not contributed upon the Propositions for Money Horse and Plate according to their abilities that they should pay the Twenty-fifth part of their Estates Under which name of Malignants they brought in all that were worth any thing if within their reach But in this Ordinance it is to be observed that the Assessors were not to tax any Member of either House Neither could their oppressions at home suffice but they countenanc'd the seizing of a Ship call'd Santa Clara out of the Port of Santo Domingo in the King of Spain's Dominions laden with Plate Cochinele and other Merchandise of great value and by order of the House of Commons set up Bills upon the Exchange for sale thereof And that no part of the Realm might be free from their oppressions they constituted Committees in the Counties of Warwick Stafford and City of Coventry for associating of those Counties and planting of Garrisons there authorizing them to suppress and disarm Enemies and persons ill affected also for raising Horse Money Plate c. And soon after that
set forth a new Declaration in the name of both Houses of Parliament shewing the necessity of a present Subscription of Money and Plate for a farther supply of the Army Suggesting that his Majesties Popish-Army would proceed with Fire and Sword to root out their true Religion and all that professed it if there were not a good provision of Treasure to maintain and support the Army rais'd by the Parliament To which new Contributions for the better drawing on of others they themselves also subscrib'd And after ordered that such Citizens as had refused to pay the twentieth part should be removed to several Prisons viz. Yarmouth Colchester Norwich c. giving authority that the Collectors made by their Ordinance of the xxixth of November for Assesments should have power to break open Chests Trunks c. and to sieze Money Goods c. for satisfaction of their Taxes And at the same time appointed a Committee for sequestring the lands and estates of all such persons as had assisted the King in his just defence and preservation according to their duty and allegiance calling it a maintaining a war against the Parliament But all this being as yet not enough they passed an Ordinance to incite the City of London to a free contribution towards the sum of sixty thousand pounds for the service of the Army the Houses declaring that they were in good hopes it would be the last money they should have occasion to desire of the City in that kind And therefore that they might be as good as their words and not come often to them in a borrowing way they passed another Ordinance for imposing a Tax for the maintenance of their Army throughout the whole Kingdom of Thirty three thousand three hundred forty eight pounds a week whereof ten thousand pounds weekly was assessed upon the City of London besides Westminster and the Suburbs And to the end that the well affected who had gone forth in their Army rais'd for the defence of the Parliament Religion Laws and Liberties of the Subjects of England for those are the words of the Preamble should be the better encouraged to continue in their service they passed another Ordinance for assessing of all the Parishes in England to the relief of their maimed Souldiers with the Widows and Fatherless children of such as were or should be slain on their part CHAP. XIV I Now come to the military Actings of this present year 1642. In which I find that the Marquess of Hertford and Sir Ralph Hopton Knight of the Bath afterwards Lord Hopton had rais'd considerable forces on the King's behalf in the West and that the Earl of Newcastle afterwards Marquess in the North Colonel Charles Cavendish brother to the Earl of Devonshire Spenser Earl of Northampton and some other persons of quality had done the like in sundry other parts so that with what strength his Majesty himself then had after the taking up of his Winter-Quarters at Oxford the Royalists had possessed themselves of Banbury-Castle in Oxfordshire of Reading and Farringdon with the Castles of Wallingford and Denington in Berkshire of Chichester and Arundel-Castle in Sussex of Winchester and Basing-house in Hantshire of the Castles of Devises and Wardour in Wiltshire of the Castle of Sherbourne in Dorsetshire of some Port-Towns in Devonshire of the Castle of Pendennis and other places in Cornwall of Taunton and Bridgwater in Somersetshire of Sudley-Castle in Glucestershire of the City of Worcester of the the Town of Shrewsbury in Shropshire of Dudley-Castle and Close of Lichfeild in Staffordshire of Ashby de la Zouch in Leicestershire of the City of Chester of Monmouth in Monmouthshire of Lincoln and Gaynesborough in Lincolnshire of Lynne in Norfolk of the City of York and Castle of Pontfract in Yorkshire of Latham-house in Lancashire and of Newcastle in Northumberland As also that by their activeness there were taken from the Rebels before the entrance of the ensuing year these following places viz. Marlborough in Wiltshire by the Lord Wilmot Colonel Ramsey a Scot and five hundred of his men being there made prisoners Tadcaster in Yorkshire about the same time Liskard and Saltash in Cornwall Belvier-Castle in Lincolnshire Cirencester in Gloucestershire Malmesbury in Wiltshire and Grantham in Lincolnshire Whereunto may be added the safe landing of the Queen 12 Febr. at Burlington in Yorkshire with Arms and Amunition brought from Holland for his Majesties service On the Rebels part I am also to observe that besides the Earl of Essex their Generalissimo they had divers other Petty-Generals viz. Ferdinando Lord Fairfax in the North the Earl of Stanford and Sir William Waller in the West Edward Earl of Manchester Basil Lord Feilding eldest son to the Earl of Denbigh Colonel Brown the Woodmonger Sir William Brereton Baronet Sir Iohn Gell Knight Colonel Massey c. all active men in their respective stations As to the places of strength throughout England besides the Royal Navy given up into their hands by Algernon Earl of Northumberland whom the King had made Admiral of his whole Fleet they had the City and Tower of London all the Eastern-Counties with the Ports and Castles thereto belonging the strong Town of Hull in Yorkshire and in it all his Majesties Magazine of Arms Artillery and Amunition prepared for his Scottish Expedition Manchester in Lancashire in Cheshire Ludlow Bridg-North and Wemme in Shropshire Stafford in Staffordshire the Cities of Bristol and Gloucester the Towns of Leicester and Northampton the City of Coventry with the Castles of Warwick and Kenilworth all in Warwickshire the City of Lincoln the Towns of Notingham and Derby and indeed what not excepting those places I have mention'd wherein the Royalists had first set foot Besides which they took by force the City of Winchester Leedes in Yorkshire the City of Chichester in Sussex about the same time and Sudeley-Castle in Gloucestershire Not much of Action in the Field or otherwise can be expected until the ensuing Spring of the year so that all I find of note was only that at Liskard near Bodmin in Cornwall where Sir Ralph Hopton routed a strong Party of the Rebels in those parts and took above twelve hundred Prisoners Likewise that attempt upon Litchfield-close in Stafford shire made by Robert Lord Brook wherein he lost his life the manner whereof is not a little remarkable which in short was thus This Lord being strangely tainted with fanatic Principles by the influence of one of his near Relations and some Schismatical Preachers though in his own nature a very civil and well homour'd man became thereby so great a zealot against the establish'd Discipline of the Church that no less than the utter extirpation of Episcopacy and abolishing all decent Order in the service of God would satisfy him To which end he became the leader of all the power he could raise for the destruction of the Cathedral
Parliament in case they were elected ¶ The next thing of Note that hapned was the Proclaiming of Prince Charles at Edenborough in Scotland to be King of Great Britain France and Ireland his Royal Father being thus destroy'd But 't is to be noted that this Proclamation ran thus Whom all the Subjects of his Kingdom are bound humbly to obey maintain and defend according to the National Covenant betwixt the Two Kingdoms with their Lives and Goods against all deadly And that before he should be admitted to the exercise of His Royal Power he was to give satisfaction to that Kingdom in those things that concern'd the security of Religion the Union betwixt the Kingdoms and the Good and Peace of that Kingdom according to the National Covenant and the Solemn League and Covenant And for Establishing the Dominion of these Bloody Regicides at Weâ—tminâ—â—er the Members there Sitting went on Vigorously First Voting the absolute abolition of the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy Next in devising and appointing A new Stamp for Coyne And by Erecting a Council of State consisting of Thirty Persons viz. the Earles of Densigh Mulgrave Pembroke Salisbury Lord Grey of Warke Lord General Fairfax Lord Grey of Groby Lord L'isle Son to the Earl of Leicester Lord Chief Justice Rolls Lord Chief Justice St. Iohn Lord Chief Baron Wylde Lord President Bradshaw Lord General Cromwell Major General Skippon Sir Gilbert Pickering Sir William Masham Sir Arthur Haselrig Sir Iames Harrington Sir Henry Vane Jun. Sir Iohn Davers Sir William Armyn Sir Henry Mildmay Sir William Constable Alderman Penington Alderman Wilson Bulstrode Whitlock Esq Henry Martin Esq Colonel Ludlow Anthony Stepeley Esq William Heveningham Esq Robert Wallop Esq Iohn Hutchinson Esq Dennis Bond Esq Alexander Popham Esq Valentine Walton Esq Thomas Scot Esq William Purefey Esq Iohn Iones Esq But the Lord Grey of Warke waving that employment Mr. Iohn L'isle of Hantshire Cornelius Holand and Luke Robinson were added to this Number who were called the Committee of Estates appointed by Parliament ¶ It is not unworthy of Observation that as the Scots and this unhappy Long Parliament at the beginning of their desperate Practises against the King did declare that their whole Proceedings then were according to the Fundamental Laws So these wicked Regicides after their Bloody Murther of the King in answer to an Embassy from the Dutch expressed that these their Proceedings against the King were consistent with the Fundamental Laws of this Nation of England which were best known to themselves Nor was the project for their new Church-Discipline less notable as may seem by this following Petition and Advice which was presented to the General of their Army and the Council of War by many Christians as they call'd themselves dispersed abroad throughout the County of Norfolk and City of Norwich in these words That your Petitioners acknowledge themselves unspeakably engaged to the God of Heaven and Earth for his great Mercy to us in giving you Hearts to offer your selves so willingly among the People in the late Great undertaking of the Nation against the Enemies of the Peace thereof and Blessing your Faithful endeavours with such Glorious and wonderful successes whereby as the Lord hath put great Honour upon you Crowning your Valour with Victory and making you the War-like Glory of the World so hath be no less put great Obligations upon you all to exalt him that hath exalted you and to lift up his Glory in the World where he hath given you a name so Great and Glorious c. Therefore our dayly Prayers shall be for your selves and your Noble Army that you may never stumble at the stumbling-stone nor take the honour to your selves that is due to Christ nor be Instrumental for setting up of a meer Natural and Worldly Government like that of Heathen Rome Athens c. To which end we humbly pray that your selves would enter into Serious and Grave consideration and debate the Particulars in the Papers here humbly offered to you and also present them to the Honourably Parliament that they may be improved so far as shall be found agreeable to the will and word of God Which done we doubt not but God shall have much Glory the Godly Party shall be comforted Natural men enjoying their Estates will be at rest also and much satisfied and this Common-wealth will be exalted to be both an Habitation of Iustice and Mountain of Holiness even such a People as God shall Bless An humble Advice concerning the Government of the Kingdom according to the former Platform or Model 1. That you would stir up Godly Ministers and People throughout the Kingdom to Associate or incorporate into Church-Societies and grant them your special Favour Provision and Protection so shall you be Saints Nursing Fathers 2. That you would please to satisfie the Godly-dissenting Brethren both of Presbytery and Independency by such ways and means as your Wisdoms shall think fit how both their Interests may meet herein that so they may concur with one heart in the work 3. That Sister-Churches over-see such Incorporations and Imbodyings that only such as be of approved Godliness may have the Right-hand of Fellowship given to them 4. That such Churches where more of them are thus Collected and imbodyed in any Division Circuit Province c. may choose and send out some Delegates Members and Officers to Meet in one Sessions Lesser-Parliament Presbytery or Assembly for ordering of all such affaires as there occur according to the word if appertaining alone to that division 5. That all such Churches and the Members thereof have voices in Elections of such as are to sit in General Assemblies or Church-Parliaments so often as occasion is and those Elected to Sit there as Christ's Officers and the Churches Representatives and to determine all things by the word as that Law which God will exalt alone and make honourable 6. That you take special care to send out and encourage Godly Preachers that may go into the rest of the Kingdom to Preach the Gospel that so when others are converted and the Son of God makes them Free they may enjoy the former Freedom with the rest of the Saints And in father order to the utter abolishing of Kingly Government they appointed all those Antick and most Venerable Regalia conserved in the Treasury at Westminster and chiefly made use of at the Magnificent Coronations of the Kings of the Realm and solemn Proceedings to Parliament And also the costly Hangings precious Jewels with other of the Kings Goods and rich Furniture for his several Princely Palaces to be sold. And within few days following caused the Heads of Iames Duke of Hamilton Henry Earl of Holand with that truly Noble Arthur Lord Capel to be cut off Touching whose actings against them having already made some brief mention I shall only take notice of their dealing with Duke Hamilton a little before his Execution which was that in order to his discovery
to carry on this great work under the specious Mask of Religion and pretended Revelations those standing him in such stead upon all his attempts as that there were not a few that really believ'd whatever he undertook could not easily miscarry Upon the Twentieth of April therefore attended with strong Guards he entred the Parliament-House with Fleetwood his great Confident commanding some few of his attendants to tarry without Where without moving his Hat or going to any Seat he first addressed his Speech to the Chief Justice St. Iohn telling him that he then came to do that which grieved him to the very Soul and what he had earnestly with Tears pray'd to God against Nay that he had rather be torn in pieces than do it But that there was a Necessity laid upon him therein in order to the Glory of God and the good of this Nation Whereunto St. Iohn answered that he knew not what he meant but did pray that what it was which must be done might have a happy Issue for the General Good Then Cromwel turning towards the Speaker told him how long under colour of Service to the Publick they had sate and acted there and that in stead thereof themselves and their Kindred Engrossing all places of great profit had upon their own Pride and Luxury consum'd the Wealth of the Land Which being said he gave a stamp with his Foot and bad them for shame be gone and give place to honester men Whereupon a Member standing up and modestly saying that it stood not with common Justice to cast so general an aspersion upon them all without any Proof he in wrath taking Sir Henry Vane Junior by the Cloak said thou art a Iugling Fellow and told Allen the Goldsmith that he had inricht himself by Cousening the State for which he should be call'd to account and commanded those of his Guard who at the signal of that stamp were entred the Door immediately to turn them out of the House Colonel Harrison accordingly pulling the Speaker out of his Chair It was observed that as they went out of the House he pointed at Harry Martin and Tom Challoner and said Is it fit that such Fellows as these should sit to Govern Men of vicious Lives the one a noted Whore-Master and the other a Drunkard Nay he boldly upbraided them all with selling the Cavaliers Estates by bundles and said they had kept no Faith with them This as it was one of his greatest Adventures so was it the most grateful to the People of all that ever he did it being no less than the quelling of that many-headed Monster which glutted with unmeasurable Rapine and Innocent Blood had been not a little dreadful to the greatest part of Europe Having therefore so happily remov'd this Block yet still keeping close the main end of his design under the shadow of ruling by a Civil Power after much pretended seeking of God he selected certain Persons to manage the same as a Council of State whose Names were as followeth 1. Himself as General of the Army 2. The Lord L'isle Son to the Earl of Leicester 3. Lieutenant General Fleetwood 4. Major General Lambert 5. Major General Harrison 6. Major General Desborow 7. Sir Gilbert Pickering Kt. 8. Sir Charles Wolfesley Bar. 9. Sir Anthony Ashley Couper Barronet 10. Sir Iames Hope of Scotland 11. Colonel Hewson of Ireland 12. Colonel Norton 13. Colonel Mountagu 14. Colonel Benet 15. Colonel Stapeley 16. Colonel Sydenham 17. Colonel Tomlinson 18. Colonel Iones 19. Alderman Tichburne 20. Mr. Strickland 21. Mr. Carey 22. Mr. Howard 23. Mr. Broughton 24. Mr. Laurence 25. Mr. Holister 26. Mr. Comptney 27. Mr. Major 28. Mr. St. Nicholas 29. Mr. Moyer 30. Mr. Williams of Wales And to the end that there might be the less suspition of his affecting the Rule with the advice of his Officers he made choise of no less than an hundred and four Godly-men unto whom he committed the whole sway of the Realm who were accordingly summon'd by a special Letter to each of them under his Hand Berks. Samuel Dunch Vincent Goddard Thomas Wood. Bedf. Nathaniel Taylor Edward Cater Buck. George Fleetwood George Baldwin Cambr. Iohn Sadler Thomas French Robert Castle Samuel Warner Chesh. Robert Duckenfeild Henry Birkinhead Cumb Northumb. Bishoprick of Durch Westmor Charles Howard Robert Fenwick Henry Dawson Henry Ogle Corâ—w Robert Benet Francis Langdon Anthony Rows Iohn Bowden Derb. Iervas Benet Nathaniel Barton Devon George Monke one of Lanc the Generals at Sea Iohn Carew Thomas Sanders Christopher Martin Iames Erisey Francis Rows Richard Sweet Dorset William Sydenham Iohn Bingham Essex Ioachim Mathews Henry Barington Iohn Brewster Christopher Earle Dudley Tempâ—er Glouc Iohn Crostes Wiliam Neast Robert Holmes South Richard Norton Richard major Iohn Hildesley Hertf. Henry Lawrence William Reeve Heref. Wroth Rogers Iohn Herring Hunt Edward Mountagu Stephen Phesant Kent Lord L'isle Thomas Blount William Kenrick William Cullen Andrew Broughton Lanc. William West Iohn Sawrey Robert Cunliss Leic. Henry Danvers Edward Smith Iohn Prat. Linc. Sir William Brownlow Richard Cust. Barnabas Bowtell Humphrey Walcott William Thompson Midd. Sir William Roberts Augustine Wingfeild Arthur Squib Monm Philip Jones North. Sir Gilbert Pickering Thomas Brooke Norf. Robert Iermy Tobias Freze Ralph Wilmer Henry King William Barton Nott. Iohn Odingsells Edward Clud Oxon. Sir Charles Wolseley Bt. William Draper Dr. Ionathan Godard Rutl. Edward Horseman Salop. William Boterel Thomas Baker Staff George Bellor Iohn Chetwood Suff. Jacob Caley Francis Brewster Robert Dunkon John Clerke Edward Plumsted Somer Robert Blake another of the Generals at Sea John Pyne Dennis Hollyster Henry Henley Surrey Samuel Highland Laurence March Suff. Anthony Stapeley William Spence Nathaniel Studdey Warr. John St. Nicholas Richard Lucie Wilts Sir Anth. Ashley Couper Baronet Nicholas Greene. Thomas Eyre Wigorn. Richard Salway John James Yorksh. George Lord Evre Walter Strickland Francis Lascells John Anlaby Thomas Dickenson Thomas St. Nicholas Roger Cotes Edward Gill. Lond. Robert Tichburne John Ireton Samuel Moyer John Langley John Stone Henry Barton Prais-god Barebone Wales Bushey Mansell James Philips John Williams Hugh Courtney Richard Price John Browne Scotl. Sir James Hope Alexander Bredy John Swinton William Lockart Alexander Jeffreys Ireland Sir Robert King Colonel Iohn Hewson Col. Henry Cromwel Colonel Iohn Clerke Daniel Hutchenson Vincent Gookin Afterwards these following were Elected into them Lord General Cromwel Major General Lambert Major General Harrison Major General Desborough Colonel Matthew Tomlinson Of these many were Illiterate and of mean condition divers Fanatick Sectaries and of that kind the most busie and mischievous yet here and there mixt with confiding men and such whose Interest was firmly trusted with Cromwels Being thus chosen and sent for they first met together in the Council-Chamber at White-Hall Whence after a Grave Speech made to them by Cromwel expressing that he had thus called them together to consult of the great affaires of these Three Kingdoms they adjourned themselves to the
Protector and his said Council both to make new Laws and raise Moneys for the present Exigencies That all the Lands Forrests and Iurisdictions not then sold by the Parliament whether they had belong'd to the King Queen Prince Bishops or any Delinquent whatsoever should thenceforth remain to the Protector That the Office of Protector should thenceforth be Elective but that none of the King's Line should be ever capable thereof and that the Election should belong to the Council That for the present Oliver Cromwel should be Protector That the great Office of the Common-wealth viz. Chancellor Keeper of the Seal Governour of Ireland Admiral Treasurer in case they should become void in Parliament time to be filled up by the approbation of Parliament and in the Intervals by the like approbation of the Council That the Chrisian Religion as it is contained by Holy Scripture should be the Publick Profession of the Nation and that those who were to have the care thereof should have their support from the Publick so that it be with some other more convenient maintenance and less subject ot envy than by Tithes That no man should be by any Fine or Penalty what soever forced to comply with the said publick Profession otherwise than by perswasions and Arguments That no man professing Faith in Christ should be prohibited the Exercise of his own Religion so that he disturb not any other but that neither Popery or Prelacy should be permitted the least favour or License and that all Laws to the contrary should be void That all Agreements made by Parliament should be firm and stable All Articles of Peace made with Domestick Enemies made good That all Protectors in their Order should be obliged by Oath at their first taking upon them the Government by all means to procure the Peace Welfare and quiet of the Common-wealth by no means to violate the present Agreements and lastly to his power to Administer all things according to the Laws Statutes and Customs of England After which solemn Inauguration he was publickly proclaimed Protector First in London and then throughout all the three Kingdoms And now that by this transeendent subtilâ—y this egregious Imposter had cherisht so many Sects of desperate Schismaticks in the Army and elsewhere by whose help he first pull'd down the Presbyterian and then Murthered the King it was not his least skill so to manage these unruly Spirits that none of them by clashing with each other might endanger the publick nor that any of them upon occasion should be unserviceable to his designs To which end as well to ballance them equally as to rule them how he listed he made choice of the most active and leading Men into his Council by whose Influence he had the guiding of all the rest of each Faction The like course he took for the chief Officers of his Army And being thus setled in this his new Dominion he set forth an Ordinance declaring what Offences should be adjudged Treason And likewise another for repealing those Acts and Resolves of Parliament which had formerly been made for Subscribing the Engagement the preamble whereof I have thought fit here to Insert Whereas many general and promissory Oaths and Engagements in former times Imposed upon the People of this Nation have proved Burthens and Snares to tender Consciences and yet have been exacted under several Penalties Forfeitures and Losses In consideration whereof and out of a tenderneâ—â— of requiring such obligations be it ordained by his Highness the Lord Protector by and with the consent of the Council that one Act of Parliament published in Print 2 Jan. an 1649. Intituled an Act for subscribing the Engagement and certain Orders intituled Resolves touching the subscribing an Engagement c. And all and every Clause Branch Article and Sentence in them c. be absolutely Repealed c. And being Invited by the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of London to dine at Grocers-Hall upon Ashwednesday to the end he might have the greater Veneration from the People it was contriv'd that he should Ride through the city in State to that Feast which was accordingly perform'd as followeth First the several Companies of London having order to meet at Guild-Hall in their Liveries went thence and placed themselves according to their Superiority in the Streets from the lower end of Cheapside to Temple-Bar within Rayles hung with blew Cloath the City Banner and Streamers belonging to the respective Companies being set before them Then the Lord Mayor with his Mace Sword and Cap of Maintenance attended by the Aldermen in Scarlet and their GoldChaynes Rode to Temple-Bar Where meeting the Protector with his Military Train he delivered up the Sword to him making a short congratulatory Speech to his Highness Which being ended they proceeded towards Grocers-Hall thus First the City-Marshal and some other Officers Then six Trumpets After them his Highness Life-guard Then eight Trumpets more Next the City Streamers Red and White Then the Aldermen After them the two Shireeves Next his Highness Heraulds with rich Coats adorn'd with the Common-wealths Arms viz. the Cross and Harp Then the Mace and Cap of Maintenance Next the Lord Mayor bare-headed carrying the Sword After him two Gentlemen Ushers Then his Highness the Protector with twelve Footmen in Gray Jackets laced with silver and black-silk Lace After him Rode Major General Skyppon and the rest of the Council Then the Officers of the Army And lastly divers other on Horseback and in Coaches Being thus come to Grocers-Hall the Recorder made a Speech to him letting him understand how happy that City did account themselves under his Government and likewise in the enjoyment of his presence there with them that day Which done he Knighted the Lord Mayor and then dined at the midst of a long Table in the great Hall the Lord Mayor sitting at some distance on his Right hand and his Son Henry on his left and on each side of them his Council of State But notwithstanding this great Entertainment well knowing that all the Bloodshed and confusion which had formerly been as 't was chiefly accomplisht by the Pulpits so by the like means his new establisht Rule might easily be shak't he fram'd another Ordinance whereby certain Commissioners were appointed for approbation of publick Preachers the preamble whereof with the Names of the reverend Tryers I have also added Whereas for some times past hitherto there hath not been any certain course Established for the supplying vacant places with able and fit persons to Preach the Gospel by reason whereof not only the Rights and Titles of Patrons are prejudiced but many weak scandalous Popish and ill affected persons have intruded themselves or been brought in to the great grief and trouble of the good people of this Nation For remedy and prevention whereof be it Ordained by his Highness the Lord Protector by and with the consent of his Council that every Person who shall from and after the 25th
Iohn Lisle Lords Commissioners of the Great Seal Henry Lawrence Lord President of his Privy-Council Charles Fleetwood his Son in Law Robert Earl of Warwick Edmund Earl of Mulgrave Edward Earl of Manchester William Viscount Say and Sele Iohn Cleypole his other Son in Law and Master of his Horse Philip Lord Lisle eldest Son to the Earl of Leicester Charles Howard of Waworth Castle Philip Lord Wharton Thomas Lord Fauconbridg Iohn Desborough Edw. Montagu Admirals 〈◊〉 Sea George Lord Eure. Bulstrod Whitlock Sir Gilbert Pickering Kt. Collonel William Sydenham Sir Charles Wolfesley Baronet Major General Skippon Strickland Collonel Philip Iones Richard Hampden Sir William Strickland Francis Rous Esq Iohn Fiennes Esq Sir Francis Russell Baronet Sir Thomas Honywood Kt. Sir Arthur Haselrigg Baronet Sir Iohn Hobart Sir Richard Onslow Kt. Sir Gilbert Gerard. Sir William Roberts Kt. Iohn Glyn his Chief Justice of the Upper-Bench Oliver St. Iohn his Chief Justice of the Common-Pleas William Pierpont Esq Iohn Iones Esq Iohn Crew Esq Alexander Popham Esq Sir Christoph. Pack Alderman Sir Rob. Tichburne Alderman Made Kts. by Cromwel Edward Whalley one of his Major Generals Sir 〈…〉 but 〈◊〉 sold Thimbles and Bodkins Sir George Fleetwood another of his Knights Sir Thomas Pryde another of his Knights formerly a Dray-man Collonel Richard Ingoldesby Sir Iohn Heuson another of his Knights formerly a Cobler Iames Berrey one of his Major Generals formerly Clerk to a Forge Collonel William Goffe Thomas Cooper Edmund Thomas George Monke then Commander in Chief of his Forces in Scotland David Earl of Cassils in Scotland Sir William Lockart another of his Knights Sir Archib Iohnston a Scotchman William Steele his Lord Chancelour of Ireland The Lord Broghil Brother to the Earl of Corke in Ireland Sir Matthew Tomlinson another of his Knights The Sitting of which House began upon the twentieth of Ianuary at which time likewise those of the Commons who had formerly declined to sign the Recognition were freely admitted But so much were those new Lords despised and scorned by the Honse of Commons that the Protector finding no advantage by their Sitting Dissolved that his Second Parliament Which was not more slow in complying with his advancement than the Royallists were forward in their contrivances for pulling him down But so great was his vigilancy and no less his cost whereby he had allured some Birds of that Feather that the Consultations of his Adversaries were no sooner had than apparently discovered so that when ever he pleased he could take them in his Net as he always did when he thought that examples of severity might be for his advantage It being therefore once more expedient to renew those terrors to the people he caused his bloody Theatre called the High-Court of Iustice to be again erected in Westminster-Hall where for the more formalities sake the persons whom he did design for destruction were brought the one Dr. Iohn Heuit a Reverend Divine the other Sir Henry Slingsby Kt. a Yorkshire Gentleman of great Loyalty and Valour who being charged with High Treason against his Protectorship and stoutly denying the Authority of that Tribunal had Sentence of death soon passed upon them which they did accordingly suffer with great magnanimity though there was no little endeavour used for to save their lives his Daughter Claypole whose interest otherwise with him was beyond expression solliciting for the Doctor with all earnestness that could be But it concerning him at that time so much in point of Policy to sacrifice some for a terror to others neither her incessant Supplication nor Tears could prevail which brought upon her such excessive grief of mind that falling into a sharp fit of sickness wherein crying out against him for Dr. Heuits blood she dyed with the most bitter torments imaginable Which death of hers was the fore-runner to that of this wicked Tyrant for soon after a deep Melancholy seized closely upon him in which the guilt of so much innocent blood as he had spilt might perhaps somewhat touch him But without doubt that which stuck nearest to him was his real consideration that he could never ascend unto such an height of Sovereignty as his ambitious desires had long gaped after For he plainly saw that the Anabaptists and Fifth-Monarchy men whom in order to the destruction of his lawful Sovereign he had so much cherisht then were and were ever like to be as thorns in his sides and blocks in his way thereto And which is more that not only Fleetwood his Son in Law whom privately he had designed to be his Successor in the Government was an especial friend and favourer of those desperate Fanatics but that Desborough Sir Gilbert Pickering Collonel Sydenham and many other of his Council were underhand well-wishers to Lambert and his party who were known enemies to all Monarchick Rule and consequently to that wherein he had so long aimed to be setled Which sorrows and perplexities of his restless mind meeting with some Natural infirmities of his Body struck him into a sharp and Feaverish distemper whereat his Physicians expressing their thoughts he told them that if they supposed him in a dying condition they were utterly mistaken forasmuch as he had been comforted with Revelations to the contrary Nay he was farther so transported with those vain Enthusiasms and had such brain-sick persons about him even those of his Chaplains who were equally possest with such giddy-headed conceipts that they foolishly dreamed and fancyed as much and told it in publick that having sought God by Prayer for the prolongation of his life they received such assurances of his grant to their Petitions that they not only gave out that he effectually recovered but kept a solemn Thanksgiving for the same at Hampton-Court where he then lay Which strange and bold confidence caused forthwith his removal from thence to White-Hall where he had not been from that time many days but his Physician allarm'd them with his near approaching death Which so awakened the best of his Friends that they soon fell to enquiry whom he intended for his Successor But so little sense had he then of that question that he made them an answer no whit to the purpose Whereupon they askt him whether it was not his Son Richard to which he made them some signs of assent But farther enquiring of his last Will and Testament whereby they presumed that he had nominated his Successor he directed them to his Closet and other places for search but all to no purpose for nothing could be found In which discomposure departing this life upon the third of September to the end that the Government might not fall to the ground some few of the Council giving out that Richard was according to the Instrument the Person declared they immediately caused him to be Proclaimed Protector Having thus traced this Monster to his death which happened on the same day of the month whereon he had been twice wonderfully victorious