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.
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
at Westminster who though they had doubting such a thing ordered Major Generall Harrison with 3000 Horse and Dragoons to attend such an irruption yet knowing him unable to encounter so great a Body they could not tell what the event might be they therefore proceed to the leavying of new Forces in all the Counties of England and likewise for the better carrying on of their business Enact That no person whatsoever should presume to hold any correspondency with Charles Stuart or with his party or with any of them nor give any intelligence to them nor countenance encourage abett adhere to or assist any of them nor voluntarily afford or cause to be afforded or delivered to any of them any victuals provision Ammunition Arms Horses Plate Money Men or any other relief whatsoever under pain of high Treason and that all persons should use their utmost endeavours to hinder and stop their march Yet for all this the Scotch Army went on in prosecution of their design bending their course by a swift March for the West of England though it was expected by the whole Nation and especially by their friends that they would have directed their course to London Generall Cromwell being at St Johnston and hearing of this suddain march leaving such Forces as might secure that part of Scotland which was already won and leaving six or seaven thousand Horse and Foot more with Lieutenant Generall Monck to reduce those parts which remained he orders Major Generall Lambert with five Regiments of Horse and Dragoons to fly away with all possible speed to get into the rear of the Scots Army whilest Harrison was in the Front aad with the rest of the Army followes as hard as he could and on the 12 of August crossed the Tine but let us leave him following the Scotch Army and look a little into the affairs of Ireland Limerick though for some time blockt up yet held out stoutly against the Forces of the Lord Deputy Ireton they still relying upon the Lord Muskerryes help for relief who at length having gathered an Army of near 1000 Horse and Dragoons and 2000 Foot had an intention to joyn with some Forces which were got together in Lemster but the Lord Broghill hearing of his design with about 400 Horse and Dragoons and 1000 Foot endeavoured to hinder compaction so there hapned an engagement between them which though it was bloudy to the Lord Broghill himself likewise being indangered yet in the end he obtained full victory over the Lord Muskerryes Forces of whom there were neer 600 slain many of them Officers but very few taken there were likewise neer 200 of the Lord Broghills slain and many wounded the dispute being very hot on both sides yet this startled not at all either Limerick or Galloway which were both beleaguered and resolved to hold out to the uttermost bit of bread But let us return to see how the Scots direct their March in England where being come to Warrington Bridge Harrison endeavours to impead their passage but in vain for they gained the Bridge and forced him to retire so they march on without impediment to Worcester Lambert following them at the heels and Cromwell with all possible expedition advancing from Scotland the Militia in every County being raised or marching towards them to inclose them in that City of which they had possessed themselves For on Friday the 23 of August the King with his Army entred Worcester resolving to tarry there and abide the brunt for there were now so many Forces leavied that all wayes were stopt to impead his Marching farther He causes works to be raised here for his greater security and sends forth his Letters Mandatory to Collonel Mackworth Governour of Shrewsbury and to Sr Thomas Middleton in Wales for leavying Forces to assist him but both his commands and perswasions proved vain and unnsefull And now the black day begins to draw nigh Cromwell with an iuimaginable celerity joyns with Fleetwood Desborough Gray of Groby Lambert and Harrison who commanded the rest of the Parliaments Forces the Militia Forces are likewise joyned to them so they all march unanimously forward to surround the Scotch Army in this pound at Worcester Nor was there ever so great an Army gathered together in so small a time in England for the whole force could not amount to less then 80000 men The Army being now drawn near to Worcester the first design they set upon was the possession of Vpton Bridge where Cromwell intended to pass over with his Army Fleetwood had the management of this enterprize who sends first a small party of Horse and Foot to judge of the feasableness of the attempt these though they found the Bridge broken down all save only one beam of Timber which reached from one Arch to another boldly dismount and venture over and secure themselves in a Church which Massey who lay in Vpton with about 200 Horse and 60 Dragoons in a great deal of security not dreading an Enemy allarmed at assaults whilest in the mean time Lambert passes over a considerable party of Horse to their relief whereupon Maffey finding it in vain to fight made an honourable retreat towards Worcester himself still bringing up the rear in which service he was wounded by a shot in the hand The Bridge thus won is immediately repaired so that Fleetwoods Army passes all over whilest Cromwell causes a Bridge of Boats to be made over the Severn on the other side that by passing over his Army the Enemy might be the more streightened But let us leave them a little at Worcester in the forementioned posture and look a little into Lancashire where the Earl of Derby with about 300 Gentlemen endeavour to raise the Country and had a party of near 1500 Horse and Foot Collone Lilburne is ordered to oppose him with whom Generall Cromwells Regiment of Foot is ordered to joyn To prevent their conjunction the Earl marches towards Manchester to surprize that Regiment Collonel Lilburne flanks the Enemy in their march hoping by that means to joyn with the Regiment which to prevent the Enemy forces him to engage the dispute was tedious by reason Lilburne was over-matched with Foot but in the end the Earl was totally routed The Lord Widdrington Sr Thomas Tidesly Sr William Throgmorton Sr Francis Gamuel with many other inferiour Officers and about 60 Souldiers slain upon the place Collonel Leg Collonel Robbinson Collonel Bay and Collonel Gerrard with severall other Commission-Officers and Gentlemen with about 500 private Souldiers were taken together with the Earl of Derbeys George Garter and other Badges of his Order but he himself escaped to Worcester there to tell the sad news of his petty overthrow which was but as a prologue to a greater But to return again to Worcester Fleetwoods Army having all passed over Vpton Bridge make a Bridge of Boats over the River Teame to attaque the West side of the Town which so alarmed the Scots that they rise from 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
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
The Spaniards then marching out to the number of about 1700 Horse and Foot the English had the possession of the Town immediately delivered over to them wherein they found 136 brass piece of Ordnance with great store of Ammunition and Provision in the Magazines it was immediately engarrisoned by three Regiments of the English Foot then there and a Regiment of Horse to be under the command of the Lord Lockhart was immediately raised and as fast as possibly could be sent over thither But whilest the Armies lay before Dunkirk the King of France lying then at Calice the Lord Faulconbridge who was made one of the Protectors bloud by marrying the Lady Mary one of the Protectors Daughters was sent to Calice to complement that King and Cardinall in return of which Mounsieur Manani Nephew to Mazarine and the Duke de Grequi are sent to salute his Highness who are here very nobly entertained and sent back with high satisfaction and content The Lord Lockart having now got sure possession of the Town of Dunkirk endeavours to keep fast his hold and to that effect he causes Proclamation to be made 1. That whatsoever Burger hath withdrawn himself out of the Town out of hatred or aversion to the present Government shall not return without satisfaction given and a Pasport from the Governour 2. That no Burger remaining in Town shall go out nor any abroad return into the Town without a Pasport 3. That no Burger entertain an enemy in his house without disclosing him on pain of being proceeded against as an enemy 4. That whosoever shall conceal in his house any Arms Ordnance or Ammunition shall upon discovery pay ten times the value 5. That no Inkeeper receive or lodge any guests or strangers without bringing their names and qualities immediately to the Governour 6. That no man remove or convey any goods out of the Town without giving a particular thereof and obtaining license so to do 7. That no Tradesman open shop on Sunday and that no punishment be inflicted for following their callings on other Holidays notwithstanding any power or eustome to the contrary is not this a breach of the fourth Article 8. That the values of Money within the Town the prices of Wine and Beer and the weight and proportions of Bread be henceforth according to the Orders ensuing the value of Money there I have inserted in regard it may be usefull to those that travell thither viz Old Jacobusses at 15 Gilders New ones or Carolusses 14 Gilders English Shillings 13 Stivers or pence English half Crowns 32 Stivers and a half Gold Spanish Pistols 11 Gilders Gold Rials 8 Gilders Gold Soveraigns 18 Gilders Gold double Duckats 12 Gilders Gold French Crowns 5 Gilders and 10 Stivers Gold Hungary Duckats 6 Gilders Gold Albertine 7 Gilders and 16 Stivers Gold Reinis-Gilders 3 Gildets 15 Stivers Gold Riders of Zealand 7 Gilders 10 Stivers The double ones and half accordingly Gold Flemish Crowns 4 Gilders 16 Stivers Italian Pistolls 9 Gilders 12 Stivers Gold Crowns of Leige 3 Gilders 10 Stivers Silver Duccatoons 3 Gilders 15 Stivers Flemish or sealed Pattacoons 3 Gilders Silver Lewisses 3 Gilders Holland Rix Dallors 3 Gilders Cardeques of Weight one Gilder French Testoons of Weight 19 Stivers French silver Franks or Livers of Weight one Gilder 7 Stivers Flemish Shillings 7 Stivers and a half Zealand Shillings 7 Stivers Flemish Stooters 2 Stivers and a half The Flemish ten Stiver piece 12 Stivers The Flemish five Stiver piece 6 Stivers Flemish Stivers and marked pieces at one Stiver or 4 Farthings Flemish and French Farthings four to a Peny or Stiver The rest of the Declaration contained the prices of Wine Beer Bread and Flesh and that no man should presume to sell or transport Wine or Beer upon severall penalties or amercements There was likewise an Oath to be administred to all the inhabitants of Dunkirke as followeth viz. I A. B. do in the presence and by the name of the Almighty God promise and swear that from henceforth I shall bear faith and true Allegiance and shall be true and faithfull unto Oliver now Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England Scotland and Ireland and the Dominions and Territories thereunto belonging and his Successor as chief Magistrate thereof and shall not design contrive or attempt any thing against the Person or Authority of the Lord Protector or against the safety just defence or necessary preservation of this Town or place of Dunkirk in and for its safety defence and preservation under the Government of the Lord Protector and his Successors against all conspiracies and attempts whatsoever and will do my best endeavour to make known and disclose unto the Protector and his successors or the Commander in chief in this place under his said Highness for the time being all treasons and traiterous conspiracies which I shall know or hear of to be against his Person or Authority or against the safety of this Town or place of Dunkirk for the betraying of it into the hands of any other persons or that tends to the withdrawing of any of the persons or people in it from their fidelity to the Lord Protector or his Government Dunkirk thus securely estated in the hands of the English the French Army after about a Moneths siege possess themselves of Graveling a strong Tower not far from Dunkirk so that the English and French had now in their hands all the Frontier-Towns on this side of Flanders But whilest the Armies are thus triumphing in Flanders God sends the Protector a scourge at his own doors for his dearly beloved Child the only darling of his eyes the Lady Elizabeth Cleypool on whom he had placed the whole affections of his soul was by the revenging hand of the Almighty for the innocent bloud of his Prophet and servant so lately added to the great mass before shed on the 6th of August taken out of the world from before the eyes of her dearly loving Father whose very image 't is said she was and into whose praises many are pleased to lash and advance her fame to the skies either out of fear flattery or to show the world how they can command their Pens to any subject but amongst the rest he most pleases me who is pleased to stile her an Amazon perhaps not unfitly but de mortuis nil nisi bonum She dying at Hampton Court was from thence the fourth day after conveighed by water with a great many Barges in mourning accompanying her corps from thence to Westminster and there laid in the Painted Chamber where a stately Herse was prepared for her till about 12 a clock at night when with a Noble but no over stately Funerall pomp her body was conveighed into Henry the seavenths Chappell and there interred in a place purposely provided for it Hir death was the cause of so great grief to the Protector hir Father as most affirm that it was one chief cause of his which followed not long after for
His Brother also Henry Cromwell late Lord Lieutenant in t Ireland upon the Parliaments advice surrendred his Government and Collonel John Jones William Steel Esquire Collonel Mathew Thomlinson Robert Goodwin and Miles Corbett Esquire were in his stead appointed by the Parliament to be Commissioners for the Government of Ireland In Scotland Generall Monke though he resignes not up his Government to the Parliament yet holds a fair correspóndency with them and by his and the rest of the Officers of his Armyes declare and keep a complyance to their Government which he punctually performed The Parliament endeavouring still more and more to oblige the Army pass an Act of oblivion and indemnity for all force or violence formerly put upon the House yet nevertheless to restrain them for the future the Commissions are issued out by the Speaker in the Name of the Parliament and not by a Generall as formerly Yet the Parliament take so much care to perform their promises to them that they order the immediate sale of Whitehall Hampton-Court and Sommerset-House towards the present payment of some of the Armyes Arrears About this time on the 11th of July 1659 happened a strange kind of Tumult in or about Enfield some part of the Chase which formerly lay common and was the chiefest stay and support of the Country people thereabouts for the feeding of their Catttle from whence proceeded the chief support and maintenance of themselves and Families being by the Parliament given to some of the Souldiers for their arrears was by them built upon and euclosed which so incensed the poor of the Country whose Families were almost ready to starve for want of such relief that notwithstanding Souldiers were sent to secure those Grounds the common people made a head fell upon the Souldiers took nine of them prisoners threw down a Barn and levelled the enclosures The Parliament upon audience given to an extraordinary Ambassador of the King of Sweden appointed three persons to go over as Plenipotentiaries to Coppenhaguen to treat of such a reconciliation between the two Kings of Swedeland and Denmarke as might best stand with the interest of England but their Ambassage hath as yet produced no considerable effect And now further to secure themselves in those designes they had in hand here they banish all Cavaliers under the stile of Malignants from London and twenty Miles about and pass an Act for the settlement of the Militia in the respective Cities and Countries of England and Wales But though this Parliament had taken away the Government of these three Nations from Richard Cromwell yet they are so kind to him as to protect him from all arrests and take care for the payment of his Debts which amounted to 29640lb and besides order him 10000lb per annum for his life out of the Common-weal hs Lands as much of which 't is probable he received as his Creditors did of what was owing to them And now the Parliament discover a female-Plot of the shee-Cavaliers for the subverting of their Government the Lady Mary Howard Daughter to the Earl of Barkshire and one Mrs Sumner are committed to the Tower upon pretence of being pryers to a horrible terrible design against the Government upon whose Examinations all the Horses about Town are taken Sr Ernestus Byrom and others committed to prison But now somewhat begins to appear severall Troops of Horse are sent into Kent and Surry to prevent infurrections there where they take severall Cavaliers to bring them up to London Major Generall Massey being likewise in Glocestershire endeavouring as it was pretended to raise Forces there for the King was surprized by a Troop of Horse who for the better securing him set up a Trooper behind him with whom coming down a Hill the Horse stumbled and fell and the night being dark and Massey nimble legged escaped from them into the Wood. The Parliament now begin to discover the reason of the buying up of so many Arms in London for Sr George Booth Sr Thomas Middleton and some others of the secluded Members having got a considerable quantity of Arms raised a Party in Cheshire Flintshire and Lancashire to the number of between three and four thousand men and declare for a Free Parliament and the due rights and priviledges of the Nation against that Fanatick and unlawfull power which now usurped dominion over them With these they rendezvows at Routon-Heath and from thence march to Manchester endeavouring to augment their Party Collonel Ireland in Lancashire and Governour of the Cattle of Leverpool promising them what aid and assistance he could though he never performed it This great rising at first startled the Parliament who immediately dispatch the Lord Lambert with three Regiments of Horse one of Dragoons and three of Foot to march with all possible hast to suppress them whilest severall Parties which endeavoured to rise in other Counties are prevented either by the Militia or the Parliaments Forces But Sr George Booths number daily encreases somewhat by the confluence of the Gentry of those parts unto him so that he made up a very gallant body of Horse He sends his Letters and Declarations up to London inviting them to joyn with him to maintain their priviledges and redeem themselves from the slavery they were now in But all proved ineffectuall that great City being over-awed by a small Party of the Parliaments Forces In the mean time Lambert makes a speedy march towards them two Regiments the one of Horse the other of Foot are by Order of Parliament sent out of Ireland under the Command of Collonel Axtill Collonel Hierom Zankey who joyn with Lambert neer Nantwich notwithstanding some endeavours of Sr George Booths Party to hinder their conjunction and on the 16th of August the Army faced one another the one on one side the River the other on the other Hereupon Sr George Booth sends a Trumpet to Lambert to tell him the reasons of his taking up of Arms and desiring that to avoid shedding of blood some persons might be appointed to conferre in order to a Treaty But Lambert returns him a short answer telling him that the readiest way to avoid shedding of blood was for them to lay down their Arms and surrender Chester and other Strengths which if they refused to do that he was sent to reduce them to their due obedience which by the help of God he did not doubt but to do Hereupon the next morning Lamberts Army advanced towards Nantwich-Bridge which was kept by a Party of Sr George Booths Sr Georges Horse and Foot were drawn upin Battalia in a Meadow just below the Bridge Lambert seeing that he could not draw his enemy out of his advantage resolved to beat him out and thereupon comands a stout Party of Foot to assault those which kept the Bridge which they did with a great deal of courage and resolution and were as stoutly resisted on the other side sometimes one gaining the advantage and sometimes the other till at length
resolve a speedy sending out Writs but resolve to tie up their hands to their blocks by previous engagements against King House of Lords c. But this was no satisfaction to the General For he having taken away those arms which were in the hands of the Fanaticks and such as might have caused disturbance in the City on Tuesday the 21th of February a day not to be forgotten as long as England endureth being the first light which glimmered some chearfulnesse to us having drawn his Army together he marched to Westminster early in the morning and having before-hand prepared the secluded Members to be ready who were then very many of them in Town and had had divers private meetings he met them at White-hall where having recommended to them the care of the National interest yet in such termes as the Rump might not absolutely despair he saw them admitted into the Parliament House to the great grief and amazement of the former House-keepers who look upon these as Intruders That night there was Bonfires and great rejoycing in London But the secluded Members being in they fall to their work in good earnest they had not such by-ends or corrupted interests to drive on as their Predecessors and therefore found no such haltings in doing things which the Nation required But in the first place they order the release of those prisoners which for Free-Parliament-Petitions had been lately clapt up as likewise the Members of the Common Counsel of London They disanull the Militia which the Rump had instituted consisting only of persons both Fanatick and Factious and order a new Militia throughout all England wherein they nominated the most principal of the Gentry who were thought most willing and ready to promote the settlement of their Countrey yet with this proviso that they should subscribe that they should acknowledge the war was lawfull against his late Majesty till 1648. the Parliament by violent force was broken And that they might be furnished with that which is the sinews and strength of all money they send to the City to desire them advance some money before-hand upon security of the next six Moneths assessement which was freely granted by the City and 27000lb. immediately lent them Whereupon the City petition for the confirmation of the Militia which the Parliament presently setled according to their desires The next work they did was to chuse a Counsel of State which was done by lot of all manner of choise the most equal by reason no man can find himself aggrieved not knowing who is pro or who is con which prevents all rancour and animosity The persons which were by them chosen being for the most Gentlemen of eminent worth and such as have to the height testified their abilities for the good of their Countrey in this last emergency although there were some Rumpers amongst them I have thought it not amisse to give you a Catalogue of them that we may pay due homage to their names and memory Arthur Ansley Lord President William Pierpoint John Crew Richard Knightly Collonel Popham Collonel Morley Sr A. A. Cooper Sr Gilb. Gerhard Lord St John Sr Tho. Widdrington Sr John Evelin Sr William Waller Sr Richard Onslow Serjant Maynard Sr William Lewis Col. Montague Col. Hanley Col. Norton Denzil Hollis Sr John Temple Col. Thompson Sr John Trever Sr John Holland Sr John Potts Col. Birch Sr Herbottle Grimston John Swinton John Weaver Col. Rossiter Lord Fairfax L. General Monck Then they repealed such Acts of the Rump as they had made meerly for the satisfaction of their own self ends and were exceedingly destructive to the interest of the Kingdome taking off those Sequestrations which they had laid on Sr George Booth and his party which must have proved almost a general calamity to the Nation and they likewise released them from that confinement which they had for a long time lain under Making moreover such acts as might best secure the interest of the people and conduce to the settlement of the Nation some of which were directed to the taking away all places of power or profit out of the hands of the Fanatick or Commonwealth party and putting in those who were like to prove better Patriots But these acts being very numerous I think not convenient to insert the particulars In the next place they commissionate the Lord Monck to be Captain General of all the Forces in England Scotland and Ireland a place of the highest honour and which he had as highly deserved And now to show that God was pleased notwithstanding the continued sinnes of the Nations to remit his punishing hand no sooner were the Members seated in the House but news came that Ireland was by his good providence through the endeavours of Sr Charles Coote already put in such a posture as might make it capable of receiving the first state of affaires he having secured Sr Hardresse Waller and others of the Rumps faction But now some signe of discontent appeared in the Army here which had formerly been under Fleetwoods and Lamberts command For Collonel Rich's Regiment upon news of this change at London began to mutany at St Edmondsbury but the Parliament hearing of it instantly sent out Collonel Ingoldsby a Lover of his Countrey their former Commander with a party of Horse to whom upon his approach they quietly submitted themselves The Parliament now restored the Charter to the City of Chester which had been taken away by the Rump upon Sr George Booths businesse as shortly afterward they likewise revived the Dutchy of Lancaster which had been voted down by the others and made Sr Gilbert Gerrard Chancellour Nich. Letchmere Attorney of the Dutchy and the Speaker William Lenthal Esquire Chamberlain of Chester And perceiving that endeavours were daily used to sow sedition in the Army and that there was designs on foot to draw them together to a mutiny they order That none either Officers or Souldiers should depart from their respective Quarters without leave from the Lord General and those that had forthwith to return to their assigned stations To gratifie Dr Claerges and in him his brother the Lord General the Hamper-Office a place of good profit was conferred upon him Febr. 29. Upon notice of some design contriving by the Fanatick party several armes were seised in divers places of the City of London and Captain Kiffen a grand Ring-leader of the Anabaptists and several others were secured though afterwards released no matter of weight being then found against them And now that they might testifie to the world they were other men than their predecessours who would have continued themselves a Parliament to posterity they order their dissolution to be on the 15th of March resolving before that time to take order for summoning a New Representative They confirmed the Confession of Faith formerly made by the Assembly of Divines and enacted That it should be the Confession of Faith of the Church of England except onely the thirtieth and one and