one Government they proceed to consider of the establishment of another but agree only in a negative Vote That there should for the future be no Government in England either by King or House of Lords They break the old Great Seal and cause a new one to be made which is delivered to the keeping of three Commissioners viz. Mr Keeble Mr Whitlock and Mr Lisle They likewise consider of Oaths to be administred to the Judges who thereupon meet and upon debate six of them are content to continue in their employments provided the fundamentall Laws of the Land be not altered which were viz. Chief Justice Rolles and Justice Jerman of the Kings Bench Lord Chief Justice St John Justice Phesant of the Common Pleas Lord Chief Baron Wild and Baron Yates and in order to these Judges satisfaction in their forementioned scruple the Parliament by their Declaration of the ninth of February do declare That they are fully resolved to maintain and shall and will uphold preserve and keep the fundamentall Laws of this Nation for and concerning the preservation of the lives properties and liberties of the people with all things incident there unto with the alterations touching King and House of Lords already resolved in this present Parliament for the good of the people and whatsoever shall be further necessary to the perfecting thereof and by it requiring all Judges Justices c. to execute and administer in their respective Offices and Trusts c. The House order a Committee to consider of such Persons as they should think fit to be Justices of the Peace throughout the Nation they likewise order another Committee to consider of Persons whom they might judg fit to constitute a Councell of State whose number should be forty whereof only five Lords or not above And whereas before they had only repealed they now wholly make void the Oath of Allegiance and Supremacy Thus though the Parliament are endeavouring all means to make themselves as secure and firm in the Government as they can yet are the people generally discontented those who formerly affected them now sensible of the inconveniencies like to ensue the cutting off of their Prince as much disaffect them so that there is generally plotting in all Countries which makes the Parliament send forces into severall Counties to keep them in awe whilest the Royalists in Pomfret Castle still hold out hoping some relief may arise from those so universall discontents But let us from England pass a little into Scotland and we shall find that the Kings death is much more resented there at the first news of his Condemnation they proclaim a solemn Fast with Prayers to God for his deliverance but upon the news of his Execution such was their sorrow that the whole City of Edenborough seemd a flood of tears The Parliament upon this exigence are convened and putting it to the vote it passed nemine contradicente that his Eldest Sonne should be proclaimed King and accordingly a Proclamation was drawn which because of some niceties in it not usuall in things of this nature I think fit to insert as followeth viz. The Estates of Parliament presently convened in this second Session of the second trienniall Parliament by vertue of an Act of the Committee of Estates who had power and authority from the last Parliament for convening the Parliament considering that forasmuch as the Kings Majesty who lately reigned is contrary to the dissent and protestation of this Kingdom removed by a violent death and that by the Lords blessing there is left unto us a righteous Heir and lawfull Successor Charles Prince of Scotland and Wales now King of Great Brittain France and Ireland We the Estates of the Parliament of the Kingdom of Scotland do therefore most unanimously and cheerfully in recognition and acknowledgment of his just right Title and succession to the Crown of these Kingdoms hereby proclaim and declare to all the world that the said Lord and Prince Charles is by the providence of God and by the lawfull and right of undoubted succession and descent King of Great Brittain France and Ireland whom all the subjects of this Kingdom are bound humbly and faithfully to obey maintain and defend according to the Nationall Covenant and the solemn League and Covenant betwixt the Kingdome with their lives and goods against all deadly enemies as their only righteous Soveraign Lord and King And because his Majesty is bound by the Law of God and fundamentall Laws of this Kingdom to rule in righteousness and equity to the honour of God the good of Religion and the wealth of his people it is hereby declared That before he be admitted to the exercise of his Royall power he shall give satisfaction to this Kingdom in those things that concern the security of Religion the unity betwixt the Kingdoms and the good and peace of this Kingdom according to the Nationall Covenont and the solemn League and Covenant for which end we are resolved with all possible expedition to make our humble and earnest addresses to his Majesty For the testification of all which we the Parliament of the Kingdom of Scotland publish this our acknowledgment of his just right Title and succession to the Crown of these Kingdoms at the Market-Cross in Edenborough with all usuall solemnities in like cases and ordain his Royall Name Portract and Seal to be used in the publike writings and Judicatories of this Kingdome and in the Mint-house as was usually done to his Royall Predecessors and command this Act to be proclaimed at all the Market-Crosses of the Royall Burghs within this Kingdom and to be printed that none may pretend ignorance God save King Charles the second This was done by the Parliament the Lords in all their Robes the Cross was richly hanged the Chancellor brought up the Proclamation read it to the King at Arms who proclaimed it there being an universall joy in the City and their great Guns from the Castle sending peals of the same into the adjacent Countries The solemnity being past care was taken for the sending Messengers to acquaint his Majesty with the business Sr Edward Douglas was chosen to go and acquaint him with it to desire him to take heed of evill Councellors c. that there should very speedily a more full address be made to him In the mean time a Fast is proclaimed and supplications made that God would prosper their addresses to him for the good both of the Kirk and State The Lords and the whole Parliament in the mean time put on mourning for the death of his Father But to return to England again The beheaded old King Charles was February 12. thirteen days after his death buried at Windsor in the same Vault where Henry the eighth was interred without any manner of solemnity the Bishop of London Dr Juxon and some few others attending him to his Funerall The Parliament not thinking that they are not yet secure enough whilest they have only power over
English The Loves of Clirio and Lozia a Romance Mr. Knowles his Rudiment of the Hebrew Tongue A Book of Scheams or Figures of Heaven ready set for every four Minutes of times and very usefull for all Astrologers Florus Anglicus or an exact History of England from the Reign of William the Conquerour to the death of the Late King Linguae or the Combate of the Tongue and five Senses for Superiority a serious Comedy The Spirits Touchstone being a clear discovery how a man may certainly know whether he be truly taught by the Spirit of God or not The poor mans Physician and Chyrurgion Physicall Rarities containing the most choice Receipts in Physick and Chyrurgery for the cure of all Diseases Incident to mans body By R W lliams To which is added the physical Mathematicks By Hermes Tris-Megistus The Idol of Clowns or the Relation of Wat Tiler's Rebellion The Christian Moderator in 3 parts The Golden Fleece or a Discourse of the cloathing of England Dr. Sibbs his Divine Meditations Vigerius Precepts of Idiotismes Grotij Poemata Three Books of M. Matthews Minister at Swansey in South-wales 1 The Messiah Magnified by the mouthes of Babes in America or Gains and Gamaliel a helpfull Father and his hopeful Son discoursing of the three most considerable points 1. The great want of Christ 2 The great worth that is in Christ 3. The good way that is chalkt out by Christ 2. The New Congregationall Church prov'd to be the old Christian Church by Scripture Reason and History 3 The Reading Church-member Regularly call'd back to Christ and his Church A physical Dictionary An exact History of the several changes of Government in England from the horrid Murther of King Charles the first to the happy Restauration of King Charles the second with the Renowned Actions of General Monck by J. D. Duodecim Dr. Smith's practice of physick The Grammar War Posselius Apothegmes Fasciculus Florum Crashaw's Visions The Juniper Lecture Helvicus Colloquies The Christian Souldier his Combate with the three arch-enemies of man-kind the world the flesh and the devil Seasonable advice to the Apprentices of the Honourable City of London touching their duty to God and their Masters Heinsius de Crepundiis The History of Russia or the Government of the Emperour of Muscovia with the manner and fashions of the people of that Countrey Drexeliu's school of Patience Drexelius his right Intention of every ones action A School or Nurture for Children or the Duty of Children to Parents very usefull for all that intend to bring up their children in the fear of God Viginti Quarto The New Testament The third part of the Bible Sir Richard Bakers Meditations and Prayers for every day of the Week Playes The Ball. Chawbut Conspiracy Obstinate Lady The London Chanticlers a Comedy foll of various and delightfull Mirth neyer before published FLORVS ANGLICVS The Second Part. CONTAINING Englands Oligarchicall Government from the Death of CHARLES the I. to the Protectorship of OLIVER PART I. NO sooner had the fatall Axe severed England and her Liberties by severing King Charles his head from his body but the Parliament the better to maintain what they had now so farre prosecuted make Proclamation That none under penalty of being deemed guilty of high Treason should presume to proclaim declare publish or any way promote the Prince of Wales Sonne to the late King or any other Person to be King or Chief Magistrate of England or of any the Dominions belonging to them by colour of Inheritance Succession or Election or any other claim whatsoever without the free consent of the people in Parliament c. This Proclamation though it came not forth in full till the second of February yet was in part proclaimed on the very day of the Kings beheading They likewise the more to ensure their Government and to carry it on with the more plausibility publish an Act of State for the alteration of Writs in England Ireland and Wales as that in stead of King the Name Stile and Test Custodis Libertatis Angliae Authoritate Parliamenti be used and none other and all Writs c. should run so of which all concerned in the Law were required to take notice Yet they provide that all Patents granted by the late King should still stand in full force and vertue The Houses likewise take upon them a more then Papall power and because he Priest could indeed absolve them they are resolved to absolve themselves and all those engaged with them by an Act repealing the Oath of Allegiance and Supremacy Sr Lewis Dives Sr Robert Stuart of Irel and the Lord Loughborough Collonel Poyer Collonel Laughorne and Duke Hamilton having escaped out of severall Prisons of which the last out of Windsor Castle a strict search was made for them but in vain except Duke Hamilton who was the next morning retaken in an Inne in Southwark The Lords House perceiving that by reason of his Majesties death the Judges gave not that assistance to them which was usuall by reason his death had extinguished their power as Judges desired that eighteen of the Commons might be sent to conferre with nine of the Lords but it would not be assented to The House of Commons having executed their King the Nobles are an eyesore to them they therefore resolve to take away as many of them as they can bring within their reach they resolve to begin with those they have already in hold and the Commission of the High-Court of Justice for his Majesties Triall being expired they create a new one consisting of sixty three persons of which any fifteen had power to act for the triall of Duke Hamilton as Earl of Cambridg Earl of Holland Earl of Norwich Lord Capell who attempted an escape but was retaken at Lambeth and Sir John Owen and in order thereto they likewise vote the adjournment of Hillary Terme which because the Judges had not power they do by their Proclamation of the second of February And now they take into consideration the reception of their numerous fellow members which by the arbitrary force of the Army had been excluded and at last they vote That none should be admitted into the House who had voted that his late Majesties Concessions were a ground for Peace and for the firm settlement of these Nations The Parliament having cut off one of those three Estates by which the Nation had so long been governed think likewise of abolishing the second that they alone might have the whole power therefore upon considerations of the House of Lords in what capacity they should stand they vote 1. That they would make no farther addresses to them 2. That they would receive none from them 3. That an Act be drawn to abolish that House as dangerous and useless Thus is the whole basis of that Government which had continued in England so many hundred years overthrown in ten dayes and the two ancient grand Estates of the Land cut off Having abolished
Ormonds Company lay consisting of 19000 Horse and Foot whom finding secure and out of order they charged so vigorously that they soon put the whole body to the rout pursuing them as far as the Naas Ormond himself hardly escaping on Horseback In this Battell were above 3000 slain on the place 2517 Prisoners taken many men of quality of which Ormonds own Brother was one all their train of Artillery Ammunition and provision taken and a rich Camp left for the Souldiers to plunder Thus was this great Army of whom such matters were expected overthrown and routed by a handfull of men and with so small a loss that it would scarce gain belief if mentioned But let us leave Ireland and speak a little of the affairs of Scotland The Scoth Commissioners at the Hague could not get the King to consent as yet to a full agreement with their Estates it seemed somewhat too harsh to digest the Covenant or condiscend to the setling of Church-Government by Presbytery nor could he either in honour or conscience desert those Noble persons who had alwayes stuck faithfully both to himself and Father for a Nation that had sold his Father to destruction though now they courted him with golden promises but especially he could not tell how to part with Montross who had ventured so far for him Nor would the Commissioners nor the States of Scotland themselves upon any termes re-admit him but upon the grant of those Conditions The King therefore rather then so much descent from his Honour grants a Commission to Montross to levy what Forces he could beyond Sea and with them to go joyn with the Lord Seaforth Major Straughan and others who had got to a head for the King without the Kirk in the North of Scotland but they were routed before he came by Lesley and himself not long after his arrivall defeated by a Party of the Kirks taken prisoner and most ignominiously hanged in Edenborough which action next that of selling their King must necessarily bring as much odium upon the Scottish Presbyterians as ever Sect was under But let us return a little to England where at length that turbulent Head-piece John Lilburn is brought to triall the grand Champion of the Levellers and indeed their only Patriot a man of an undaunted spirit neither to be deterred by threats or won by favours He was tried in Guild-Hall London by a speciall Commission of Oyer and Terminer where most of the Judges and Justices of the Courts at Westminster the Lord Mayor Sheriffs and severall Aldermen of London were present His Indictment contained many crimes of a treasonable nature chiefly being author of severall scandalous reviling Pamphlets against the Government and Governours of the Nation and particularly that entituled The second part of Englands new Chains which contained most sharp invectives against the Parliament calling them Traytors Tyrants Murderers Vsurpers telling them that they were wholly composed of Rebellion Villany Murder and Perjury with a great deal of such rabble yet though these Books were verily believed his the proofs not being clear the Jury found him not guilty whereupon he was acquitted But let us return to see how the Lord Generall Cromwels Army got over into Ireland The generall Rendezvows being at Milford-Haven they there had the news of the great victory over Ormonds Army which no doubt displeased the Lord Generall who had hopes to have had a share in or the whole glory of so great a victory however he makes what hast he can over and himself August 13 departs from Milford-Haven with the Van of the Army in thirty two Ships on the 15th of May Generall Ireton follows with the Main in fourty two Vessels Mr Hugh Peters brings up the rear in about twenty Sail. Favourable windes brought them soon to Dublin where the Canons ecchoed forth the joy of their arrivall but the Lord Deputy Cromwell being wholly addicted to action stayed not long to receive those entertainments which the Citizens of Dublin gave but having refreshed his Army some time draws out a Body of 15000 Horse and Foot to a generall Muster out of which he selects twelve Regiments containing 9 or 1000 able and resolute men for the present expedition which he intends for Droghedah and having furnished his Army with a train of Artillery fit for the siege of so well fortified a place marches on with his Army and being come near the Town according to the custome of War sends a Summons to Sr Arthur Aston Governour but the Summons prevailed little upon a person known to be so able a Souldier and who had above 2000 English Gentlemen with him who had most of them been formerly Commanders in the late Kings Army but an answer was returned containing a resolution to expire with the taking of the Town whereupon the Lord Generall orders all things for the quickest accomplishment of his design which was to take the Town per force since quick dispatches must necessarily be the life of his business the Winter drawing so nigh and however should that let be removed yet if he should stay the starving it out he should give Ormond Inchequeen c. time to raise an Army for its relief the batteries therefore are planted to the best advantage and play as furiously so that in four hours space it levelled the Steeple of St Maries Church and a Tower by it and continuing the next day after near five hundrep Shot the South-East Tower is beaten down and two very considerable breaches made which are immediately entred by Collonel Castles Husons and Ewers Regiments Collonel Castle himself which seldome Commanders of like note use to do in a storm leading the Van by the Lord Deputy Cromwells speciall Order for what intent I 'le leave to others to guess where he was slain the Charge on both sides was so hot as seldome the like hath been seen the grapple being on both sides at swords point the only weapon to execution for near three hours space till the Assailants were forced to retire which Cromwell seeing commands a fresh reserve of Collonel Ewers his Regiment to assail the breach but others say that he entred himself which is very hardly believed he having too much wisdome to be so desperate who meeting with wearied Defendants forced their way though they met with a noble and heroick assistance yet they gained a sure possession in the Town though they could not yet subdue it for Sr Arthur Ashtons men hotly disputed every corner of the Street so that the Assailants were forced to win what they did by small degrees till at last the supernumerary force of their enemies overcoming their valour they all were massacred by their merciless adversary the Lord Deputy Cromwell having given strict Orders not to allow Quarter either to Man Woman or Childe which unparralleld cruelty though it may finde excuses amongst men who delight in flattery yet will it undoubtedly finde as cruell a reward from the most just God who
Souldiers being sunk by Shot from the Castle Captain Browne Bushell a Noble Royalist who had done many handsome actions for the service of both the Kings was beheaded under the Scaffold at Tower-hill In the mean time the Forces under Command of the Lord Deputy of Ireland scatter and disperse those Forces raised by Castle-haven Clanrickard Dillon and others in the Counties of Kerryathlone Monaghan and Wicklow and settle severall Garrisons to the distraction of most of their Enemies no considerable places being left to them but only Limerick and Galloway That considerable Garrison of Finnagh in Westmeath being surrendred to Commissary Generall Reynolds and Phelim Mac Hugh who came with 1500 Horse and Foot to its relief routed most of his Company slain and many considerable Officers taken prisoners But let us return again to the main business in Scotland Collonel Moncke with a Party of Horse and Foot marches towards Blackness a Garrison of the Scots which had much endammaged the English Quarters which after the Batteries raised and some Shot was spent was reduced the Defendants craving Quarter which considering the strength of the place was granted The Scots in the mean time grow powerfull for notwithstanding all the strifes and emulations amongst them an agreement is patcht up to the seeming satisfaction of all the dissenters they are likewise in hopes of a power to rise for them in Lanchashire which with a considerable Party promised from Scotland to joyn with them might confront any force of the Parliaments but the design is discovered before it was acted and Thomas Cooke Esquire of Grays-Inne the principall Agent for Lancashire taken Major Generall Harrison upon these discoveries is sent into the North with a Body of Horse and Foot and to oppose the Enemy if he should make an invade by way of Carlisle The above-mentioned plot was contrived throughout all England though by ill fortune timely prevented severall persons of quality but most Presbyterian Divines were taken viz. Mr Christopher Love Major Alford Major Adams Collonel Barton Mr Blackmore Mr Case Mr Cauton Dr Drake Captain Far Mr Gibbons Mr Hrviland Major Huntington Mr Ienkins Mr Iaquell Mr Iackson Lieutenant Collonel Iackson Captain Massey Mr Nalton Captain Potter Mr Robbinson Mr Sterks Collonel Sorton Collonel Vaughan and others of which only two suffered viz. Mr Love and Mr Gibbons who after many delays were beheaded on Tower-hill the 22. of August 1651. There hapned much about this time a petty rising in Wales two or three hundred persons being gathered together in behalf of the Scots King upon a report that the English Army was routed and the Scotch advancing into England but the design proved as void of success as the report was of truth But the Scots make severall in-falls upon the Out-guards and Garrisons of the English wherein they had frequently good success killing some and taking others having the advantage of the English in the knowledge of the Country which makes the English contract their Quarters drawing away the Out-Garrisons and putting the Army into a posture to march to Fife but the Ground not yet affording Grass or Oats the enterprize was for the present suspended The Scotch Levies were now compleated to 15000 Foot and 6000 Horse with which they march on this side Sterling to a place called Torwood where the King drew up most of his Horse and Foot and enrails them in a regular fortification Cromwell draws up his Army towards them and marched in Battalia within view of their Camp in hopes to draw them to a Fight but they got nothing else from them then some thundring Messengers from their great Artillery The Lord Generall vext at their delays fals upon Kalendar-house kept by a Party of theirs and in the end though it was stoutly defended out of hopes of relief takes it by storm but when this neither would provoke the Scots to fight he resolves now having so fit an opportunity to do that which he had so long intended viz. to land some men on Fife and accordingly Collonel Daniells Regiment of Foot having four Companies more joyned to it and four Troops of Horse all under Command of Collonel Overton being imbarqued at Leith under pretence of being sent for England arrived next morning on the other shore landed and intrenched in despite of a Party of Scots which strove to oppose them This News brought to the Lord Generall Major Generall Lambert is presently ordered with two Regiments of Horse and two of Foot to second them which they did but advice of it arriving in the Scotch Camp so alarm'd them that in all haste Major Generall Brown is sent with four Regiments of Horse and four of Foot to drive the English out which they might have done had not Major Generall Lambert been arrived before them So there being now almost an equall force the Fight began to the great loss of the Scots whereof near 1500 were slain 1000 taken prisoners among which Sr John Brown Major Generall was one who shortly after as 't is supposed out of grief for this defeat died Upon this overthrow the Scotch Army remove their Camp from Torwood and march directly to Sterling-Park Cromwell follows in their rear hoping yet to draw them to a Battell but they would by no means be induced to it though he followed them within two Miles of Sterling The Lord Generall perceiving his delays would be in vain marches with his whole Army to Lithgoe whence he sends over into Fife the greatest part of them with the train of Artillery to prosecute the War on the other side the remainder with him being only four Regiments of Horse and four of Foot which he made use of to secure what was already gained and observe the Scots motions In the mean time the Lord Lambert faces Brunt Island which is surrendred upon Articles without discharging so much as one piece of Artillery The Lord Generall likewise having dispatched those affairs which detained him at Leith crosses the Frith and coming to the Army draws them into a posture and having left Colonel Wests Regiment in Brunt Island marches with the rest towards Sr Johnston and in two dayes faces the Town and being informed that there was no Garrison in it he sends a Summons to the Inhabitants not doubting of a suddain rendition but it proved otherwise for the Lord Dafferes had the day before entred the Town with 1300 Souldiers The Lord Generall hereupon sends another Summons to the Governour who sullenly returns him no answer but after the Artillery had played one day his stomack came down and the Town was surrendred upon Articles The English Army being marched as far North as St Johns Town the King seeing affairs go so desperately in Scotland and loath to lose so good an opportunity advances with his whole Army consisting of about 16000 and marches with all speed possible into England by way of Carlisle This suddain and unexpected action startled the whole English Nation but especially the Parliament
Leaguer at St Jones and with a great part of their Horse and Foot advance to oppose the Lieutenant Generals passage The Lord Generall to divert their design leads on in person on the other side of Worcester which he had undertook to attaque two Regiments of Foot Collonel Hookers Horse and his own Lifeguard whilest Fleetwood with Collonel Goffs and Deans Regiments of Foot marches on to a Hedge-fight which the Scots thought most secure and stoutly maintained their ground till the fresh supply of Blakes Gibbons and Marshes Regiments force them to retire to Pawick Bridge where they are again engaged by Collonel Hayns Cobbets and Matthews Regiments and at length still overpowred by the Enemyes fresh supplyes forced to retreat in some disorderly hast into Worcester Their success being so bad on this side against Lieutenant Generall Fleetwood they resolve to trie if they could have better fortune against Cromwell on the other side Therefore on a suddain they sally out with all the Horse and Foot they could and at the first shock made Cromwels men retire somewhat disorderly the King himself performing the duty of a valiant Commander in the head of his Horse but at length overpowred by their numerous fresh supplyes they were put to the rout The Horse flying amain towards the North and the Foot into Worcester followed at the heels by their victors who entred the Town with them which they sacked killed or took most of the Scots prisoners who found life or death according to the mercy of those into whose hands they fell From this Battell there escaped only about 3000 Horse most or all the Infantry being either slain or taken and near 100 prisoners of quality of which the chief were Duke Hamilton Earl of Shrewsbury Earl of Derby who fell now into Collonel Lilburnes hands though he mist him before Earl of Cleaveland Earl of Lauderdail Earl of Rothes Earl of Carnwath Earl of Kelly Lord Spine Sir John Packington Sr Charles Cunningham Sir Ralph Clare Major Generall Piscotty Major Generall Montgomery Collonel Graves and Mr Richard Fanshaw Secretary to his Majesty The number of the prisoners in the whole was given out to be near 10000 together with whom was taken the Kings Standard Coach and Horses Collar of SS and Star-Cloak Major Generall Massey likewise though he escaped the Battell yet not finding any secure shelter and being grievously wounded surrendred himself prisoner to the Countess of Stamford and was secured by the Lord Grey of Groby her son and after recovery of his wounds by him sent up to London from whence he shortly after escaped The News of this victory extreamly rejoyced the Parliament at Westminster who nevertheless were somewhat sorry for the escape of the King of Scots who notwithstanding the great search made for him and the Fine set upon his head escaped For after having quitted the field at Worcester he with only one servant with him retired into the Woods where he hid himself two or three dayes till at length coming to a Gentlemans house who had formerly been a servant of his Fathers he was by him conveyed to a noble Esquires house in that County where he lay disguised near two Moneths till the heat of the search was over from whence he came up to London as servant to a Gentlewoman and so at fit opportunity escaped into France Many of the Scotch Nobility were about this time taken by Generall Monck in Scotland at a place called Ellet where they were met together to negotiate the royall affairs viz. old Generall Lesley Earl of Marshall Earl of Craford Lord Keith Lord Ogilby Lord Bargayny Lord Huntly Lord Lee with many other Knights Gentlemen and Ministers who were shortly after sent by Sea to London The Lord Generall Cromwell after his great victory at Worcester on the third of September his ever propitious day on the eighth sets forward towards London where arriving on the twelfth he was met by the Speaker and most of the Members of Parliament the President of the Counsell of State the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of the City of London with great acclamations of joy and acknowledgement of the Parliaments obligation to him for his eminent services which was expressed by the Speaker in a very elegant speech Shortly after two of the Parliaments Chieftains left this world both men of eminent conduct the one Generall Popham one of the Admirals of their Fleet who was a man from whom all men expected excellent service for them had his dayes been prolonged The other the Lord Deputy Ireton who died of the plague under the Walls of Limerick whose body or a Coffin in its stead was afterwards brought over into England and laid in State in Sommerset-House and from thence carried with as much pomp as ever any Kings of England since the conquest to be interred in Westminster Abbey where his Effigies was likewise set up in requitall of his many services he having a long time been one of the Parliaments fortunate Commanders In the mean time the Parliament take order for the speedy reducing of the Islands of Gersey and Man in pursuance whereof Collonel Haynes with two Regiments of Foot and four Troops of Horse set sail out of Weymouth the 16 of October and arriving at Gersey though they found some opposition at Landing yet they easily forced their way and soon possessed themselves of the Island all the Forts in it being presently delivered to them except Elizabeth Castle which held out till the middle of December and was then surrendred upon Articles Collonel Duckenfield with his own Generall Cromwels and Generall Deans Regiments of Foot and two Troops of Horse on the 14th of October departed out of the Bay of Reaumorris towards the Island of Man and arriving there on the 17th in Ramsey-Bay there came aboard to them an Islander to assure them that they should have no opposition in their Landing that they might come securely under their Forts which they had taken possession of for them that only two Castles held out viz. Peel and Rushen which were held by the Forces of the Countess of Derby which they would help them to reduce He is at first distrusted having nothing in writing to show but Major Fox being sent ashore findes it true so the Army lands and besieges both the Castles of Peel and Rushen which after short time delivered up with bloud to Collonel Duckenfield for the use of the Parliament on the 26th of October 1651 where there was found good store of provision and Ammunition of all sorts Shortly after was surrendred to the Parliaments Forces the strong and impregnable hold of Corne-Castle in the Isle of Guernsey with good conditions to the defendants consideration being had to the strength of the place and the bloud might probably be yet spent in reducing it per force or the charge they must necessarily have been at in starving it out it being still found very well victualled Notwithstanding that numerous company of Noble men
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.
an end to the fray and difference And the Major Generall being that afternoon made a Free-man of the City did a day or two after come up to London and render himself to the Counsel according to their Order whereupon he was dismissed and was by his Glocester friends chosen with free consent for one of their Burgesses Great were the expectations of this time what the Counsel of State would do concerning the King many being of opinion and resting confident that they would bring him in before the beginning of the Parliament all men antedating the time of his restoration by their longing and earnest desires of that happy day wherein they might see him setled upon the Throne of his Ancestors and the Nation restored to its true and ancient Liberties The designes of the Fanaticks did now appear almost in every County but the head being brok in Lambert the Members could not long enjoy life and motion but in every County they were dispersed and the chief Ringleaders taken amongst whom Major General Harrison who was taken in Staford-shire was most considerable But the 25th of April being now come a day of greatest expectation by the whole Nation the Parliament met in their House where the first day nothing of moment passed but only they chose their Speakers and Sr Harbotle Grimstone for the House of Commons a man of eminent parts and deserts The next day the House of Commons appointed severall Committees to take care of such things as were first to come under consideration and the first was concerning double elections and till the business was determined none but those who were returned in both the indentures were to sit in the House A Bill against vagrants wandring idle and dissolute persons was read And not long after The Lords confirmed their old Speaker the Earl of Manchester Both houses likewise Ordered Thursday May 10. to be set apart for a day of publick thanksgiving to Almighty God for his wonderfull goodnesse in stirring up and assisting of General Monck and other worthy persons in being so grandly instrumentall to the restoring of happinesse to their Country and Ordered to be observed by this House and the Cities of London and Westminster and late Lines of Communication and that the Thursday fortnight after be likewise observed the whole Nation and this their Resolve being by Mr Herbert carried up to the Lords they immediately concurred with them therein and so passed the Orders The Commons resolved that the thanks of their House should be given to Generall Monck as an acknowledgement of his eminent and unparalleled services for the good of these Nations and likewise Ordered thanks to be returned to Coll. Ingoldsby for his late eminent services both which were by the Speaker elegantly performed accordingly The Houses on Friday April 27. adjourned till the Tuesday following appointing Munday to be observed as a day of Humiliation by both Houses whereon Dr Reynold and Mr Hardy preached before the Lords and Dr Gauden Mr Calamy and Mr Baxter before the House of Commons And now appeared that happy day Tuesday May 1st which is not to be mentioned amongst English men without praise to Almighty God for his infinite mercy it being the day whereon he pleased at length to bring us out of that masse of confusion and misery into which his just hand had suffered us to plunge our selves into our former blessed and happy estate For the Parliament having received by Sr John Greenvile his Majesties most Gracious Letters and Declarations it was unanimously passed by both Houses That according to the ancient and fundamentall Laws of this Kingdome the Government is and ought to be by King Lords and Commons The Kings Majesty besides his Letters to both Houses and Declaration had likewise sent a Letter to General Monck with the Officers under his Command together with one to General Mountague and the Commanders at Seas The substance of all which was His Majesties free and Gracious pardon to all that should within fourty daies lay hold on the same with resolution as far as in him lies to preserve them free from injury in their lives and Estates liberty for tender Consciences and such as differ in matters of Religion provided they disturb not the peace of the Nation and that all things relating to Sales and Purchases shall be determined in Parliament And the full satisfaction of the Arrears of the Souldiery and receiving them into his Majesties pay Upon the reading of the fore-mention Letters and Declaration in the Houses there was all reverence shown due to his Majesty and so Royall a concession and one thing is worth observation that the first who celebrated his Majesties grace and extraordinary goodnesse was Luke Robinson a man whose former actings had rendred him deservedly odious but now I hope he hath made a reall repentance Never was Vote received with more joy then this was by the Citizens and all others who could hear of it at night the Bels Bonfires and shouts of the people did highly demonstrate their extraordinary content and satisfaction On the next day the House of Commons agreed upon a Letter in answer to his Majesty and resolved that the Superscription should be To the Kings most excellent Majesty And General Monck acquainted the House with an Addresse made to him by the Officers of the Army wherein they did with one heart testifie their resolutions to demonstrate themselves the best and most loyall of his Majesties Subjects Which Addresse was presented to the Generall by Coll. Sr John Lenthall and subscribed by all the chief Officers then in London The House Resolved that Dr Claerges have leave of the House to go to the King with the Lord Generals answer to his Majesties Letter to him They likewise Resolved that Sr John Greenvile should have the thanks of the House and receive 500lb to buy him a jewel as a restimony of their respect to him Honest Ald. Robinson acquainted the House That the Lord Major Aldermen and Commoncounsel had likewise received a Letter with the Declaration from his Majesty to which they desired liberty of the Parliament to return an answer which was by this House accordingly granted An Agreement was made between this Commonwealth and the King of Spain for metuall exchange of all prisoners which was signed by the Marquesse of Caracena on the behalf of his Catholick Majesty and the Lord General Monck in behalf of this Commonwealth and the Orders taken according for the transportation of such Spaniards as were prisoners here which agreement is hoped will not end there but that there will shortly be a finall conclusion of all differences between both Nations May 3. The Lords and Commons Ordered a Declaration for continuance of all Sheriffs Justices of the Peace Major and other Officers that were in office the 25th of April 1660. and to exercise their functions in his Majesties name and stile and suppresse all unlawfull Assemblies and punish all misdemeanours against his Majesties Royall
Person and Authority and to proceed against all such Offenders according to Law and Justice which Declaration was published Munday May 7th From Ireland arrived a Declaration of the General convention there wherein they expressed their detestation of the most execrable murder of our late most Gracious Soveraigne Charles the first and the illegall proceedings of the High Court of Justice against him The Parliament Ordered 50000lb to be sent over to his Majesty for a present as a test of their duty and loyalty and 50000lb more towards the payment of the Arrears of the Army and sent a Committee to the City to desire them to raise the money immediately for which they should receive satisfaction by the next assessement and receive in the mean the interest at 6. per cent which was presently granted by the City and care taking for its spedy provision The Commoncounsell of the City of London to testifie their loyall gratitude to his Majesty Ordered 10000lb to be sent for a present to his Majesty and 300lb to be given to the Lord Mordant and Sr John Greenvile who brought them his Majesties Letter to buy each of them a Ring They likewise ordered that to the most illustrious Prince James Duke of York and his Princely Brother Henry Duke of Glocester a 1000lb be presented to each of them The Parliament Order that a stop be put to the sale of the Estates of the Lord Craven Sr John Stawell and Alderman Bunce and likewise to the estate of the Duke of Buckingham and that their names be inserted into the proviso of the Bill of of Grants and Sales The Horse adjourned Easter Term to Quinque Paschae being May 28th 1660. Upon the third of May the Lord Mountague having received a Letter from his Majesty together with his Majesties gracious message to the House of Commons the Letter to his Excellency and Declaration presently called a Counsel of War to whom he communicated the said Letters which were received by them all with much hearty affections and testimonies of their exact loyalty and duty to his Majesty whereupon the General firing the first Gun himself cried God blesse King Charles the Guns from the rest of the Fleet with those from Deal and Sandwich Castles did with loud Vollies re-eccho the joy for such a happy time the shouts of the Seamen testifying their extraordinary cheerfullnesse and alacrity But now comes the day the like whereof was never enrolled in the Enguish Calender nor ever was there known a day whereon the people did with so unanimous and generall consent testifie their unexpressible content and gladness And well might they since from this time alone we can truly date the restored happinesse of the English Nation what passed before being as it were only glimmerings of this immense and radiant light The Parliament having the day before Ordered the Proclamation of his Majesty to be on the 8th day of May he was with the greatest solemnity possible all the chief Lords of the Parliament attending in their Coaches together with many eminent Members of the House of Commons the Lord General the Lord Major and Aldermen with the whole Militia of the City Proclaimed Charles by the Grace of God of England Scotland France and Ireland the most potent mighty and undoubted King Nor did they intend by this Proclamation to seem as if they thought his Reign was to be begun from that time but confessed that forthwith upon the death of his Father the Imperiall Crown of England and the Dominions thereof did as absolutely bring unto him as now after Proclamation so that this is the twelfth year of the Reign of our Soveraign Lord King Charles the second whom God preserve The House of Lords the House of Commons and the City of London made choice of severall most eminent and worthy persons of their number to attend his Majesty which that they may not by posterity be forgotten I have inserted their names For the House of Lords Earl of Oxford Earl of Middlefex Lord Brooke Earl of Warwick Lord Viscount Hereford Lord Barkley For the House of Commons Lord Fairfax Lord Bruce Lord Falkland Lord Castleton Lord Herbert Lord Mandevile Sr Horatio Townsend Sr Ant. Ashey-Cooper Sr George Booth Denzill Hollis Esq Sr John Holland Sr Henry Chomely For the honourable City of London Sr James Bunce Bar. Alderman Langham Alderman Reynardson Alderman Browne Sr Nicholas Crispe Alderman Thomson Alderman Fredrick Alderman Adams Recorder Wilde Alderman Robinson Alderman Bateman Alderman Wale Theophilus Biddulph Richard Ford. Will. Vincent Thomas Bludworth Will. Bateman J. Lowes Esq Major Chamberlaine Coll. Brumfield By Order from the Parliament that all Signs of the late Arbytrary Power might be rased the States Armes were to be taken down from all Churches and publick places that in the Parliament House and in Guildhall being taken down and the Kings Armes set up in their room the Statue of his late Majesty was likewise set up again at the Chappel in Guild-hall-yard The Votes of the Parliament were also for the Fleet to go immediately to receive his Majesties Orders and be at his Devotion That the Kings Majesty be desired to return speedily to Parliament and exercise of his Kingly Office That all Ministers shall in their publick prayers pray for his Majesty under the name of Our Soveraign Lord Charles by the Grace of God of England Scotland France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith c. And the most Illustrious Prince James Duke of York with the rest of the Royall Progeny Which is the hearty and fervent prayer of the Author and all good Subjects and so let the conclusion be Long live King Charles II. THere is now made publique Eighteen Books of the Secrets of Art and Nature being the sum and substance of Naturall Philosophy First designed by John Wecker and now much inlarged by Dr. R. Read Sould at the Star in St. Pauls Church-yard
AN EXACT HISTORY of the several Changes of GOVERNMENT IN England From the horrid Murther of King CHARLES I. to the happy Restauration of King CHARLES II. WITH The Renowned Actions OF General MONCK Being the second Part of Florus Anglicus by J.D. Gent. London Printed for Simon Miller at the Starre in St Paul's Church-yard 1660. ENGLAND'S CONFUSION During its Interregnum A General View of the various Governments in England since the Murther of Charles the first 1. England Govern'd by Oligarchy from 1648. to 1653. 2. Under Oliver Protector the grand Tyrant from 1653. to 1658. 3. Under Richard not above seven Moneths 4. Under Fleetwood Lambert Vane Haselrig and the Rump of the Long Parliament Lastly The Actions of Renowned General Monck the chiefest Instrument under God of restoring his Sacred Majesty Charles the second to his Crown and Kingdoms TO THE READER Reader I Doe here present thee with a true though unparallel'd History of all the several Revolutions of Government in England for the space of twelve years since the Martyrdom of our Gracious Sovereigne Charles the First of ever blessed memory execrably murthered to make way for the Usurpation of ambitious Cromwell who after some time took the Office of Supreame Magistrate upon himself and kept it during his Life by Tyranny and Oppression when summoned by Death he bequeathed it to his Eldest Sonne Richard who either by cowardize or folly permitted himselfe to be supplanted by his neer Relations When in stead of one Vsurper England groan'd under an Athenian tyranny and from that to worse till at last such a horrid dismal blackness had overcast the whole Kingdom the Sword being drawn at one blow to cut off Magistracy and Ministry that it had been utterly destroyed had not Almighty God raised up that great and ever to be Renowned to all posterity General Monck the chief Instrument appointed by the Great God for the redemption of poor England from bloody and violent men by restoring a Free-Parliament the undoubted birthright of every English man and hath likewise as in duty bound by Gods blessing setled us under the Lawfull and happy Government of our dread Sovereign Lord King Charles the second whom God hath so miraculously preserved from the jaws of his blood-thirsty enemies and reserved him to this present time that England might once again enjoy her primitive beauty and lustre and have her Kings as at the first and her Counsellours as at the beginning Since then we are through all these miseries revolutions and changes by Divine Providence restored to a settlement Let it be the care of every English man as it is my hearty wish that we fall no more into those snares which formerly entrapped us but unanimously resolve our selves into a constant Duty and Allegiance to our Sovereigne Lord the King For thus and thus only can we flourish J. D. Courteous Reader These Books following are printed for Simon Miller and Sold by him at the Starre in St. Paul's Church-yard Small Folio DOctor Lightfoot his Harmony on the New Testament which will shortly be re-printed with large Additions The civil Wars of Spain in the Reigne of Charls the fifth Emperor of Germany and King of that Nation wherin our late unhappy differences are paralleled in many particulars A general History of Scotland from the year 767 to the death of K James c. By David Hume of Godscroft The History of this Iron Age. Mr Paul Baine on the Ephesians Eighteen Books of the Secrets of Art and Nature by John Wecker D. in Phys The Queen of Arragon a Play In fol. In Quarto large Jo. Barklay his Argenis Translated by Sir Robert le Grise Knight by his Late Majesties special Command Quarto Small An Eperimental Treatise of Surgery by Felix Wortz Abraham's Faith or the good Old Religion c. By John Nicholson Minister of the Gospel The Anatomy of Mortality By George Stroad Three Treatises 1 The Conversion of Nineveh touching Prayer and Fasting 2. Gods Trumpet sounding to Repentance 3. Sovereigne preservatives against distrustful thoughts and cares By Will. Attersoll Minister of Gods Word at Iefield in Sussex Aynsworth on the Cantic Paul Baine his Diocesans Trial. Gralle against Appolinius A Treatise of Civil policy c. By Samuel Rutherford Professor of Divinity of St Andrews in Scotland Politick and Military Observations of Civil and Military Government containing the Birth Encrease Decay of Monarchies the carriage of Princes and Magistrates Mr Pinchin his Meritorious price of mans Redemption cleared Astrology Theologized shewing what nature and influence the Starres and Planets have over men and how the same may be diverted and avoided Wells his Souls Progress Christ tempted the Devils Conquered Being a plain Exposition on the fourth Chapter of St Matthews Gospel By John Gumbleden Min. of the Gos The Saints Society D. Stoughtons thirteen choice Sermons with his Body of Divinity The Reasons of the dissenting Brethren concerning the Presbyterian Government together with the answer of the Assembly of Divines Camdens Remains The Harmonious Consent and Confession of Faith c. The Argument and Confession of Faith of all the congregational Churches of England agreed upon at the Savoy 1659. The Description of the Universal Quadrant c. By Tho Stirrup Mathem The whole Art of drawing painting limning and etching collected out of the choisest Italian and Germane Authours by Alex Brown Practitioner Large Octavo A Treatise of the Divine Promises By Edw. Leigh Esq Florus Angliens with the Lively Effigies of all the Kings and Queens since the conquest cut in brasse The Reconciler of the Bible wherein above two thousand seeming contradictions are fully and plainly Reconciled Evidences for Heaven containing Infallible signs and real demonstrations for Assurance of Salvation published by Edm. Calamy The Life and Reign of King Charls from his Birth to his Death by Lambert Wood. The Night-search the second part by H. Mill. A view of the Jewish Religion with their Rites Customs and Ceremonies Usefull Instructions for these Evil times held forth in 22. Sermons by Nich. Lockyer Provost of Eaton Colledge The Nullity of Church-Censures or Excommunication not of Divine Institution but a meer humane Invention Written by the famous Tho. Erastus and never before Englished Small Octavo Ed. Waterhouse Esq His Discourse of Piety and Charity Panacea or the Universal Medicine being a Discourse of the Admirable Nature and Virtues of Tobacco By Dr. Everard and Others A view and Defence of the Reformation of the Church of England very usefull in these times Mr. Pet. du Moulin his Antidote against Popery published on purpose to prevent the Delusions of the Priests and Jesuites who are now very busie among us Herberts Devotions or a Companion for a Christian containing Meditations and prayers usefull upon all occasions Extranem Vapulam or the Observator releved from the violent but vain assault of Haman Lestrange Esq and the back-blows of D. Bernard an Irish Dean by P. Hoylin D.D. Ovid de Pento in
which duely considered we had reason to hope should have given a stop to all Proceedings against his Majesties Person But they understood that after many of the Members of the House of Commons have been imprisoned and secluded and also without and against the Consent of the House of Peers by a single Act of this Parliament alone power being given to certain Persons of their own Number of the Army and some others to proceed against his Majesties Person in order whereunto he was brought upon Saturday last in the afternoon before this new Extraordinary Court. Wherefore they do in the Name of the Parliament of Scotland for their vindication from false aspersions and calumnies declare That though they are not satisfied with his Majesties Concessions at Newport in the Isle of Wight especially in the matters of Religion and are resolved not to crave his Majestes restitution to this Government before satisfaction be given by him to this Kingdome yet they do all unanimously with one voice not one Member excepted disclaim the least knowledge of or accession to the late Proceedings of the Army against his Majesty and sincerely profess that it will be a great grief unto their hearts and lie heavy upon their spirits if they shall see the trusting of his Majesties Person to the Honourable Houses of the Parliament of England to be made use of to his ruine so far contrary to the declared intentions of the Kingdome of Scotland and solemn professions of the Kingdome of England and to the end it may be manifest to the world how much they abominate and detest so horrid a design against his Majesties Person they do in the Name of the Parliament and Kingdome of Scotland Declare their dissent from the said Proceedings and the taking away of his Majesties Life and protest that as they are altogether free from the same so they may be free from all the evils miseries confusions and calamities that may follow thereupon to these distracted Kingdomes In thus much is contracted the large Letter of the Scottish Parliament to which the Parliament in short answer That as to the alteration of the fundamentall Laws of the Land and allowing liberty of Conscience in Religion if Scotland had not the same power of liberty as they did not go about to confine them so they would not be limited to them but leaving them to act in relation to theirs as they shall see cause resolve to maintain their own Liberties as God should enable them In relation to the putting the King to death they had done it upon serious consideration of the miseries both they and the Nation had suffered by the Misgovernment and Tyranny of that man of sin as they termed him that they doubted not but God would prosper them in it That if Scotland would not now with them assert its Liberties but espouse that quarrell they would reap no other advantage by it but a lasting Warre and the miseries that attend it or the intailing of a perpetuall slavery under a Tyrant and his Issue to them and their posterity These jarrings at length produced a bloudy Warre betwixt the two Nations to the devastation and almost utter ruine of Scotland as the sequell of the Story will show The Parliament Order the Army to march Northward The Parliament now more fully ordered that no Member whatsoever who had absented himself from sitting in the House since the 31. of December 1648. should be re-admitted into the House but should be utterly secluded and barred from sitting except such as had been imployed in the service of the Parliament They then consider of wayes for raising of Money to serve their Occasions and in order thereto appoint a Committee to consider of the Revenues of the late King Queen Prince Bishops c. and how they may be improved to their greatest advantage Collonel Popham Collonel Dean and Collonel Blake who are to go with the Fleet are ordered to go down immediately and nine pound a day appointed for their maintenance The Lord Warwicks Commission of Admirall of the Seas and Warden of the Cinque Ports being null'd and that power put into the Hands of the Councell of State who have devolved it upon those three aforementioned In the mean time those who stand out in the two Cityes of Dublin and London-Derry for this Parliament earnestly entreat relief before that Ormond Inchiqueen and Owen-Roe who were very near Compositions should joyn which would go near to ruine all They therefore desire that eight thousand men formerly promised them might come over which would either hinder the malevolous Conjunction threatned or be a good Barricado against them however they promise to hold out as long as possibly they can The Earl of Lothian Sr John Chesley and Mr Glendonning who came as Commissioners from the Parliament of Scotland to this of England not having received any satisfaction in relation to their Instructions or the Desires of the Parliament of Scotland being somewhat angry but loath to express their Choller by word of mouth after their departure from London send back a Letter by a servant to the Parliament in the Name of the Parliament of Scotland enumerating all their Declarations the breach of all their Covenants Oaths and Protestations for contiruance of the late Government and how much they had gone contrary to all of them in what they had now done to King Lords c. desiring them to do their first work which if they did not as they that then they would wash their hands of all the misery that was like to ensue This so netled our Parliament that they immediately imprison the Messenger and besides the giving secret Order for the securing the Subscribers they put forth a Declaration against the Paper arguing it to contain much scandalous and reproachfull matter against the just Laws and Government of this Nation to the high dishonour thereof That it was a design in the contrivers and subscribers of it to raise Sedition and lay the grounds of a new and bloudy Warre They therefore Declare that all Persons whatsoever residing in England or Ireland or Scotland that shall adhere to the said Subscribers in pursuance of the Grounds by them laid in the said Paper are Rebels and Traitors to the Commonwealth of England and shall be proceeded against as Rebels and Traitors They likewise Order that a Letter be sent with a Copy of that Paper to the Parliament of Scotland to know if they will own or justifie it The Parliament are so necessitated for Moneys that they are resolved to let no way slip for the raising of it the ancient Standard in the Palace-yard shall not scape but a Committee is ordered to examine what it might be worth in case it were sold for publique use The Parliament in consideration of Sr George Ascues eminent services at Sea order him to be Admirall of the Irish Seas and Modell the Expences of the Navy as low as they can possibly whereby a great part
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
judgeeth every mans actions impartially Some there were who got into Steeples and other places of defence thinking to save themselves but were all forced either by the sword or famine to yield who yet in cold bloud found as little mercy as their fellows had done in the heat of the Battell there being not above two escaping with their lives the Dean Barnard afterwards made Almoner and the other an old man by his leaping out of a Steeple which Cromwels Souldiers blew up with Gunpowder who though he broke his Leg yet had his life saved This great slaughter not being occasioned neither by the heat of the Souldiers but by Cromwels speciall Command who vowed somewhat to a noble Officer of his pleading for mercy for the Defendants That he would sacrifice their bodyes to the souls of the Englishmen they had murdered which he could not in justice say of those in Droghedah knowing them to be most Englishmen and such whose greatest fault was to serve their true and lawfull Soveraign in his just defence However this slaughter works for his ends for upon the News the Souldiers and Townsmen in Trim and Dundalke two adjacent Garrisons quit their holds and such was their haste in Trim that they l ft their great Guns behinde them on the Platforms and well might their fear be great at the News of Droghedahs taking when Sr Phelime O Neal at the hearing of it burst out in a passion swearing That if Cromwell had taken Droghedah by storm if he should storm Hell he would take it This considerable action having had such wished for success Cromwell directs his Army towards Wexford and in his way engarrisons Killingkerick and Arcklo Castle the feat of the Ormonds two deserted Forts many others in that March submitted whereof most being places inconsiderable were slighted others engarrisoned The first of October the Army faces Wexford and the Lord Deputy requires Collonel Synnot the Governour to make a speedy surrender of it he returnes an answer somewhat dubious so that many Papers pass between him and the Lord Deputy which was occasioned only by a design the Governour had to waste and delay time till the Earl of Castle-haven was entred into the Town with 500 men to strengthen the Garrison So when the Governour had received these recruits he no longer writes dubiously but plainly sends word to the Lord Deputy that he was resolved to stand it out to the utmost whereupon Cromwell being enraged at his mockery bends his force at the Castle which stands at the South-East end of the Town which after having received some hundreds of great Shot was forced to a rendition This so quelled the hearts of the stout Wexfordians that they quitred their Walls and gave the Enemy free leave to enter which they delayed not to do but meeting with no resistance fell in pell mell till they came to the Market-place where the Souldiers and Inhabitants reviving their courage in vain maintained their ground for a short time for they were soon over-powred and all that were found in Arms slain Thus Wexford being taken Cromwell marches on to Waterford and takes Passage-Fort but because of the Winter presently raises his Army and whilest severall parties are disposed in their winter-quarters they reduce severall engarrisoned places so that in fine all considerable places in Ireland except Limerick Waterford Clonmell Galloway and Kilkenny were in the possession of the Lord Deputy Cromwell But let us leave him thus victorious in Ireland and return to the King and Scots The King seeing business go so ill in Ireland resolves to comply somewhat neerer with the Scots who notwithstanding his giving Commissions to Montross still sollicit him by Commissioners and at length come to agreement with him The news of this and the Scottish great preparations for warre and as it is supposed to invade England makes the Parliament send over to Ireland for their victorious Generall Cromwell whom they intend to send into Scotland to hinder their coming into England Generall Fairfax having pleaded his disability to go but Cromwell before his coming away he reduces the City of Kilkenny and the strong Fort of Clonmell the one by Articles the other by storm which done leaving Ireton Deputy in his stead he takes Ship at Wexford and so came over to Bristoll and from thence by Post to London where upon Saturday the first of Iune he arrived with unexpressible imaginations of joy About this time Prince Rupert who had played many pranks at Sea is blocked up by the three English Admirals in Lisbone most of his Ships being before either taken or sunk who treat with the King of Portugall to force him out of his harbour which he by no means neither promises nor threats could be induced to do though the English surprize many of his Sugar-Ships coming from Brazill and threaten to take the rest in case he resolves not to renounce his protection of Prince Rupert but at last the English for want of water and victuals are forced to depart from before the Port which opportunity Prince Rupert taking gets out and steers for Malaga whither the English having victualled follow them take the Roe-Buck force the Black-Prince and four more ashore and Prince Rupert escaping with two Ships more they sleight him and giving over further search return with victory to England About this time likewise the English having sent Mr Anthony Ashcam Agent to the King of Spain he arrived the 5th of Iune 1650. at Sancta Maria where hearing many threats against his person he procured a guard for to convey him to Madrid where at his first arrivall lying at an Inne being the next day at dinner with his Interpreter six roaring Dons knockt at the door and having easie admittance Mr Ashcam rose to salute them whereupon the first stabbed Mr Ashcam and his Interpreter endeavouaing to escape was wounded in the belly both falling down dead in the place the murtherers though they escaped to the Sanctuary were fetched out by the King of Spain but again returned thither by the Popes speciall mandate The League and agreement being as I said before fully concluded between the Scots and the King so that there wanted nothing but their having him with them which to expedite he hastens from Breda comes to the Hague and there takes shipping from whence notwithstanding the wait laid for him he arrives safely at the Spey in the north of Scotland where he is received with the best entertainment the Scots could give him But before he ascend the Throne there are other Conditions to be agreed on which they told him not of before 1. He must take the solemn League and Covenant 2. He must subscribe to a Declaration of the Kirks own framing declaring That he renounced the sins of his Fathers house and of his own the Idolatry of his Mother by a constant adhering to the Cause of God according to the Covenant in the firm establishment of Church-government as it is laid down
Protectors instrument were soon carried to his ear and therefore he fearing that in the end they would produce irreconcileable jarrs resolved to remedy them in time and to put the Parliament into a posture more complacent to his designs if possible he goes therefore by water from Whitehall to Westminster enters the Painted Chamber and sends for those Members of Parliament which were then sitting to whom he declared That the God of heaven knew what great grief and sorrow of heart it was to him to find them falling into heats and divisions That he would have them take notice of this that the same Government made him a Protector whech made him a Parliament That as they were intrusted with some things so was he with others That in the Gouernment there were certain Fundamentals which could not be altered As 1. That the Government should be in a single person and a Parliament 2. That Parliaments should not be perpetnall 3. That the Militia should not be trusted into one hand or power but so that the Parliament have a check on the Protector and the Protector on the Parliament 4. That in matters of Religion there ought to be liberty of Conscience and that persecution in the Church was not to be tolerated That the rest of the things in the Government were examinable and alterable as the State of affairs did require That for his own part his heart was even overwhelmed with grief to see that any of them should go about to overthrow what was setled contrary to their trust received from the people which cannot but bring very great inconveniences upon themselves and the Nation This was the summe of his perswasions to them but fearing that this would not sufficiently win them to his interest he provided a recognition to be signed by every individuall Member as followeth I do hereby promise and engage to be true and faithfull to the Lord Protector and the Common-wealth of England Scotland and Ireland and shall not according to the tenor of the Indenture whereby I am returned to serve in Parliament propose or give my consent to alter the Government as it is setled in one person and a Parliament This was subscribed by many of the Members though the major part rather chose to abandon the House the rest conntinued sitting to the end of the five Moneths at which time the Protector seeing their dilatory proceedings and that they delayed the setling him in the Government the time being expired wherein his Instrument gave him leave not letting slip one day nor sarce an hour dissolves them Some time after the time of this Parliaments dissolution was there a horrible terrible Plot discovered against his Highness the Lord Protector and his usurped power The first appearance of its effects was at Salisbury whither on the 16th of March came a Body of about 200 Cavaliers and it being then the time of the Assizes there they took away the Judges Commissions clapt guards on all the Innes till they had seized upon all the Horses then left the Town and marched towards Pool commanded by their Captains Wagstaffe Penruddocke and Jones Another Party at the same time surprized the Town of Shrewsbury and endeavoured to have taken the Castle but being discovered that design was prevented There was likewse a Party to the number of 800 or a 1000 men got together in Montgomeryshire In Sherwood-Forrest likewise in Nottingamshire there was a Party gathered together but frighted with their own shadows they dispersed as did likewise two parties which were upon Yorkeshire and Northumberland This Plot was said to have been laid all over the Nation though there were so few appearances and all those vanished of themselves except that commanded by Wagstaffe Penruddocke and Jones which being pursued by Collonel Vntoncrooke out of Wiltshire into Devonshire were by him and John Copleston Esquire Sheriff of Devon totally routed Penruddocke and Jones taken and Penruddocke with some others executed For this service the Protector afterwards dubbed the Sheriff of Devon and in token of more favour gave him the Sword wherewith he Knighted him About the end of this year 1654 died that famous Antiquary and accomplished Scholler Mr John Selden of the Inner Temple whose fame was so great in Forreign parts that many persons of known wisdome and Learning came over on purpose into England to see and admire him Nor need any give him any larger Encomium then the Right Reverend Bishop of Armagh gave him in the Pulpit when he preacht his Funerall Sermon viz. That he esteem'd Mr Selden a man of such vast parts and Learning that he judged himself not worthy to carry his Books after him The Protector had a great while been preparing a mighty Fleet with all necessary provisions for some notable voyage all the world standing amazed at his preparations and every one fearing thuir own States they could not guesse whither his design tended At length those vast preparations produced two mighty Fleets the one under command of Generall Blake was fitted only for the Sea and sent to the Streights The other about two moneths after was committed to the charge of Generall Pen who was to take aboard him a Land Army commanded by Generall Venables These Land Forces being about 3000 were divided into the severall Ships which were in number 30 sail of good Ships but not provided with Provisions necessary for so great an Army nor so long a voyage nor indeed could the Commanders provide themselves things fitting they not knowing whither nor how farre they were to go The 19th of December 1654 this Fleet set sail for Portsmouth directly for the Barbadoes where the Generals had order to break open their Commissions this being the appointed place of Rendesvouz whether having a fresh gale of wind and fair they arrived on the 29th of January and came all to anchor in Carlyle-bay where presently after they landed their men The sudden departure of these two great Fleets made the King of Spain who feared thry were designed against him to send an express command to the Marquess of Leda then Governour of Dunkirk to pass into England in the quality of an extraordinary Ambassadour to see if he could possibly search out the certainty of that grand Court secret he accordingly being arrived in England spent severall days here but having no satisfaction in that which he most of all desired returned back again But to return to our West-India voyage whilest the Fleet abode at the Barbadoes the Generals Collonels and inferiour Officers look'd diligently after their respective charges the Shallops brought in quarters out of England are set up the Coopers are ordered to trim the Watercaske two Frigots are sent to St Christophers and St Mevis to raise Men the Generals striving to compleat their Regiments at the Barbadoes and form Regiments out of the Seamen to serve upon occasion and at length being in a full readiness they shipt about 6000 Men and a Troop of Horse which the Islanders
that night drew up to the Spanish Fort and planted a Mortar-peece in a convenient place and all things were in readiness for a battery when on a suddain the Army was commanded to draw off and without doing any harm to march to their old Watering place in the Bay For what intent or by whose counsell this was done I have not the capacity to guess And now they were come into the Bay there wanted victuals so that they were forced to go out in Parties to fetch some in whence many of them came short home being knockt on the head by the Negroes Till at last forced by necessity they were fain to eat the Horses of their own Troop In this miserable condition they remained some days till at length a resolution was taken to ship them which being finished the third of May the whole Fleet set Sail and on the 10th arrived in the Port of Jamaica whither they bent their course from Hispaniola and though they failed of their first enterprize there yet here they had better success for they soon possessed themselves of the chief Town called Oristano where the Army began to take up their habitation and to plant This hath since proved a pretty thriving Island profitable to the English and an ill neighbour to the adjacent Spanish Islands Shortly after but one after the other the Generals Pen and Venables returned into England whom at their arrivall the Protector in thanks for the service they had done committed to the Tower Thus much concerning this unfortunate voyage Let us now sweeten it a little with the noble exploit performed by Generall Blake in the Streights whither he was sent with a gallant Fleet to scour those Seas of Turkish Pirats which took and destroyed many English Ships making slaves of their persons He first seeks for them out at Sea but missing his aims there resolves to seek them where they were to be found And first on the 10th of March arrives at Algier where the most considerable both in quantity and quality lurked be anchored without the Mold he sends a Messenger to the Dye requiring restitution of such English Ships as had been taken by them and that the Captives be immediately released The Dye having provided a large present of Beef and Muttons and other fresh provisions alive returns the Messenger with them and this answer to the Generall That the Ships and Captives already taken were of particular men and therefore it lay not in his power to restore them without the generall discontent of all his Subjects Yet as for the English Captives that were there if he pleased to redeem them he should and he would set a reasonable and indifferent price upon their heads And that if the Generall thought good they would conclude a peace with him and for the future offer no acts of hostility on their part to any of the English Ships or Natives This answer seemed satisfactory to the Generall and accordingly the Captives were redeemed and a peace concluded This business thus dispatched at Algier he bends his course for Tunis where having sent a Summons to the Dye he received but a rough complyance they wholly slighting his desires And having drawn their Ships under the Castle of Goletta thought them secure sending him word That there were their Castles of the Goletta and their Ships and Castles of Porto Ferino that he should do his worst and not think to sear them with his Fleet. This resolute answer exasperated both the Generall and Seamen who resolved to be revenged for this insolence A Counsell of War is called who conclude on a resolution to burn those nine Ships in Porto Ferino which they effected thus Every Ships Boat being manned with stout and resolute Mariners are sent into the Harbour to assault and fire the Ships whilest the Admirall Vice-Admirall and Rear-Admirall ply continued broad sides upon the Castle to hinder it from endammaging their Boats who after a stout assault fire the Ships and return back again with the loss of but 25 men and 48 wounded This noble action of Generall Blake resounded to the praise of the English Nation as far as the Port of the Orand-signor But to digress a little from our Story About this time happened the Queen Christiana of Swedelands unparalleld resignation of her Crown and Kingdome to Carolus Adolphus her Kinsman being contented from a mighty Princess to put her self into the condition of a Lady Errant only these Conditions she would have granted and accorded to by her sucessor 1. That she retain a good part of her Kingdome and the Custome to her self 2. That she will be no Subject but free of her self without controul 3. She will travell whither she pleaseth To these the Prince replyed 1. That he would not be a King without a Kingdome 2. That he will have no Rivall nor Superiour 3. That he will not hazard himself about her designes abroad How these Differences in the Proposals were accommodated I know not but shortly after she resigned up her Kingdome to her Cozen leaving to her self only the bare title of Queen but to him both the title of King and possession of a Kingdome With him the Lord Whitlock who had some time been Ambassador there soon concluded a firm League both offensive and defensive between these two Nations the effects of which had been felt to purpose in some parts of Christendome had Oliver Cromwell lived much longer then he did The horrible massacre which had been committed by the Forces of Charles Emanuel Duke of Savoy upon the poor Protestants in Piedmont The Protector to shew his pious care of his fellow-Brethren ordered a day of Humiliation to be kept and great summes of Money raised for their relief though 't is highly suspected most of it was otherwise employed And now the Lord Protector to curb the people the better and secure himself constitutes a new kind of Officers called Major Generals of Counties but in effect the same with Turkish Bassaes he divides England into eleven parcels amongst them The Names of these Bassaes or Major Generals as he called them and their severall parts were as followeth viz. Major Haynes For Essex Suffolke and Norfolke Collonel Kelsey For Kent and Surrey Collonel Goffe For Suffex Hampshire and Barkeshire Lieutenant Generall Fleetwood For Oxfordshire Bucks Hartford Cambridge Isle of Ely Essex Norfolke and Suffolke Major Generall Skippon For the City of London Commissary Generall Whaley For Lincolnshire Nottingham Derby Warwicke and Leicestershire Major Butler For Northamptonshire Bedford Rutland and Huntington Collonel Berry For Worcester Hereford Salop and North-Wales Collonel Wortly For Cheshire Lancashire and Staffordshire Lord Lambert For Yorkeshire Durham Cumberland Westmerland and Northumberland Collonel Barkestead For Westminster and Middlesex The greatest service which these Major Generals did the Protector was the forcing the Delinquents in their respective Provinces to pay in the Decimation of their Estates for old offences which performed he himself finding these Major
is contained in the Old and New Testament be asserted and held forth for the publick profession of these Nations and no other and that a Confession of faith be agreed upon and recommended to the people of these Nations and none be permitted by words or writings to revile or reproach the said Confession of faith The Petition and Advice of which the foregoing Lines were the heads being in the painted Chamber read to the Protector was by him passed though with much seeming reluctancy he declaring That he came not thither that day as to a triumph but with the most serious thoughts that ever he had in all his life being to undertake one of the greatest burthens that ever was laid upon the back of any humane creature so that without the support of the Almighty he must necessarily sink under the weight of it to the damage and prejudice of these Nations That this being so he must ask the help of the Parliament and the help of all those that fear God that by their prayers he might receive assistance from the hand of God seeing nothing but his presence could enable him to the discharge of so great a trust That seeing this is but an Introduction to the carrying on of the Government of these Nations and forasmuch as there were many things which could not be supplied without help of Parliament he thought it his duty to desire their help not that he doubted of it for he believed that the same spirit that had led the Parliament to this would easily suggest the rest to them That nothing should have induced him to have undertaken this intollerable burthen to flesh and bloud had he not seen that it was the Parliaments care to answer those ends for which they had engaged calling God to witness that he would not have undergone it had he not saw it to be determined by the Parliament to make clearly for the liberty and interest of the Nation and preservation of such as fear God and that if these Nations be not thank full to them for their care therein it would fall as a sin upon their heads To conclude he recommends to them other things which would tend to Reformation and the discountenancing of vice and encouragement to good men and vertue desiring them that they would not be wanting in any thing that might make for the good of the Nations So wishing the Lord to prosper their endeavours ends The Members having heard this speech are dismissed and return to their House whither in few dayes the Protector sends them a Letter desiring their adjournment some convenient time till the Inauguration of his Highness the Lord Protector could be conveniently performed And accordingly they passed a Bill for their adjournment from the 26th of June 1657 to the 20th of January following the said 26th of June being the day appointed for his Highness solemn investiture His Highness with accustomed Ceremonies being conducted to the place which was prepared for him under a Cloth of State in Westminster-hall the Speaker in the name of the Parliament presents severall things which were ready laid upon the Table unto him First a Robe of purple Velvet lined with Ermine being the habit anciently used at the solemn investiture of Princes next a large Bible richly guilt and boss'd then a Sword and lastly a Scepter of massie Gold Which thus presented in the whole the Speaker arose and assisted by the Earl of Warwick and the Lord Whitlocke vested his Highness then presented him the Bible the Speaker girt his Sword about him and lastly gave him the Scepter which done the Speaker returned again to the Chair and administred the Oath to the Protector in these following words I do in the presence and by the name of Almighty God promise and swear that to the uttermost of my power I will uphold and maintain the true Reformed Protestant Christian Religion in the purity thereof as it is contained in the holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to the uttermost of my power and understanding and encourage the profession and professors of the same and that to the utmost of my power I will endeavour as chief Magistrate of these three Nations the maintenance and preservation of the peace and safety and just rights and priviledges of the people thereof and shall in all things according to my best knowledge and power govern the people of these Nations according to Law This Oath administred and some attending Ceremonies performed a Herald stood up aloft giving signall to a Trumpet to sound three times after which he did by Authority and Direction of Parliament publish and proclaim his Highness Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England Scotland and Ireland requiring all persons to yeeld him due obedience This Proclamation ended the Trumpets again founded and some Souldiers and others set there on purpose ecchoed forth God save the Lord Protector Then was he again proclaimed by an Officer at Arms standing on the stairs which was answered again by the same Ecchoes of some of the Souldiery These Ceremonies ended the Protector attended by all the Officers of State went into the Palace-yard Westminster in his Robes where entring his Coach he returned in State to Whitehall But let us now return a little to our English Forces which went over under Sr John Reynolds to assist the French King who this year about the latter end of October advance into the Spanish Territories and joyning with the Marshall Turine the whole Army according to agreement sate down before the Mardike-Fort which lyes about two Miles from Dunkirke and was judged of concernment to the taking of Dunkirke it self which place according to agreement the French Army in consideration our helps was joyned with theirs to the siege before any other service and if taken to deliver it into the English hands after a short siege Mardike was upon Articles surrendred to the French and English and presently a Garrison of Souldiers placed in it whom the Spaniards suddenly after endeavoured to remove by giving a fierce Camisado to the Fort when the Armyes were drawn into their Winter-Quarter but it proved ineffectuall For though there were no want of courage in their charge yet the English repulsed them though they not content with this expulse adventured upon it again where though the Duke of Yorke who commanded in chief performed things worthy of so gallant a Prince yet were they forced to a second retreat Whilest the sweetness of these successes made many men rejoyce there arrived news to imbitter it viz. the death of that noble and thrice valiant Generall Blake who had done such noble and gallant service for his Country had beaten the Hollanders that potent Nation at Sea forcing them to run into their harbours for shelter he had lately burnt the mighty King of Spains West-India Fleet in his own harbours and under his own Castles and to shorten his praises in a word had he been but as loyall as he was
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
Master of any Ship shall either coming from beyond the Seas or going out of Scotland bring in or carry out any person whatsoever who hath not such a Passe as aforesaid This Proclamation was published under high pretences of preventing the design of the Cavalier party there And now the time approached for celebrating the Funerall Pomp of his Highness Oliver late Lord Protector of which great care had been taken and no imaginary state neglected for he being first embowelled was from Whitehall carried to Somerset House where his Effigies was set up in state after this manner Three Rooms were first hung with black Cloth adorned each of them with a Canopy and Chair of State of the same The fourth where the Corps was and the Effigies did first lie was hung with Velvet and adorned with Scutcheons and Banners in most Noble sort after which the Effigies was removed into another Room and there exposed to publike view standing in Princely manner upon an ascent under a Canopy of State with a Scepter in one hand a Globe in the other and a Crown on his head after the ancient manner of the Kings of England his Armour lying by him and the Banners Banrols and Standards placed round about hm and so continued untill the solemnizationi of the Funerall-Pomps and Ceremonies which were performed on the 23th of November 1658 in form following The Effigies being taken down by severall of the Protectors Gentlemen was with a rich Canopy carried over it taken and placed in a Chariot covered with black Velvet adorned with Plumes and Scutcheons and drawn by six plumed Horses covered to the heels with black Velvet Then the Train began to march betwixt the Rails set up on purpose from Somerset House to Westminster on each side of which stood the Souldiers with black Ribbons on their red Coats and their Ensignes furled and covered with a vail of Cypres And first went a Knight-Marshall on Horseback with his black Truncheon tipt with gold attended by his Deputy and severall other Officers to clear the way Next followed the Poor men of Westminster two and two in mourning Gowns and Hoods Then the Servants of those Persons of Quality attended the Funerall Then the Servants of the deceased Protector in their respective places and orders Then the Servants of the Lord Mayor Sheriffs and Aldermen of London Then the Servants attending the Ambassadours and Agents of Forreign Princes After them the Poor Knights of Windsor in their Gowns and Hoods Then the Clerks Secretaries and other under-Officers belonging to the Army Admiralty Treasury Navy and Exchequer Then the Commanders in the Fleet and Officers of the Army Then the Commissioners for Excise the Committees of the Army and Navy Then the Commissioners for approbation of Ministers Then the Officers belonging to the Privie Counsell and both Houses of Parliament Next followed the Protectors Phisicians Then the Field-Officers and generall Officers of the Army Next the Aldermen of London Then the Masters of the Chancery and the deceased Protectors Counsell at Law Then the Judges of the Admiralty the Masters of Request with the Judges in Wales Then the Barons of the Exchequer the Judges of both Benches and Lord Mayor of London Then the Persons allied to his Highness and the Members of the Lords House After them the Agents of Venice Genoa the Hans-Towns and other publike Ministers The Holland Ambassadour alone The Portugall Ambassador whose Train was born up by four Knights of the Order of Christ The French Ambassadour whose Train was likewise born up by four Persons of Quality The Lords Commissioners of the Great Seal The Lords of the Privie Counsell Then followed the Chief Mourner with those Persons who bore up his Train most of the Persons of Honour were in Close Mourning and were in their divisions distinguished by Drumms and Trumpets and by a Standard or Banner and by a Mourning Horse of which there were eleven in all four covered with black Cloth and seven with Velvet These being all past in order the Effigies followed in the Chariot with six Banner Rolls born on each side and eight Persons bearing the severall pieces of the deceased Protectors Arms all which were attended by Heralds after whom came Garter principall King at Arms attended by a Gentleman on each side bare-headed Then followed the Horse of Honour in very rich Trappings of Gold embroidered upon crimson Velvet and adorned with white yellow and red Plumes which was led by the Master of the Horse And last of all followed the Protectors Guard of Halbertiers with the Warders of the Tower In this State was the Effiigies conducted from Somerset House to Westminster where it was taken off the Chariot and in the same State as it was first taken out of Somerset House carried into the Abby Church and placed under a woodden Monument stately erected for it with the Bannors and six Ensignes of Honour placed about it the Corps having been some days before buried in a Vault purposely provided for it in Henry the 7 ths Chappell over which a stately Monument was intended to be erected over it but the after sodain Revolutions of State hindred that undeserved remembrance of him With all this Pomp and Splendor were the Funerall Ceremonies of the deceased Lord Protector performed so prodigall were the Counsell of State to the very memory of their so beneficiall a Master not regarding at all the Debts or other inconveniences which they might run the Nation into by so vast an expense so that in requitall to him or to ingratiate themselves with his Sonne they were so vain as to extend the pomp and expence of his Funerall beyond that of any English King since William the Conquerours time The deceased Protector had in his life time contracted a firm League both offensive and defensive with the King of Swetheland which caused the now Protector his Sonne upon the Swedes desires to man out a great Fleet for his assistance against the Dutch who aided the King of Denmark his enemy Between forty and fifty sail of gallant Ships were sent forth under the command of the Lord Mountague this Fleet having spent neer six moneths in the Sound even to the time of the dissolution and annulling of that Power that set them forth returned home having done nothing worth the mention The Protector now to strengthen himself by the advice of his Counsell calls a Parliament and Writs are issued out for their appearance on the 27th of January 1658 whether they being accordingly convented and having according to custome made choice of Challoner Chute Esq for Speaker of the House the Protector the same day attended by many of his Fathers new made Nobles went in state to Westminster the Lord Cleypool bearing the Sword before him where having heard a Sermon he went in his formalities to the new Lords House from whence he sent the Usher of the Black Rod to acquaint the Parliament that he expected them who being come to the barr he
Justice may be executed in the Land Thirdly I recommend to you the Protestant cause abroad which seems at this time to be in some danger having great and powerfull enemies and very few friends and I hope and believe that the old English zeal to that Cause is still among us Lastly my Lords and you Gentlemen of the House of Commons That you will in all your debates maintain and conserve love and unity among your selves that therein you may be the pattern of the Nation who have sent you up in peace and with their prayers that the spirit of wisdome and peace may be among you and this shall also be my prayer for you and to this let us all add our utmost endeavours for the making this a happy Parliament This was the Protectors so much applauded Speech to his Parliament which finisheed the Lord Fines began and after having enumerated the deceased Protectors great endeavours c. for the peace of the Nation and his Highnesses following his steps in the calling of this present Parliament for the three Nations joyntly he recommended more effectually to them the wars abroad and the probabilities of homebred disturbances desiring their provision to maintain the one and care to prevent the other the Parliament having every one taken the Oath formerly taken by Olivers Parliament not to alter the Government were returned to their House and the Protector to Whitehall The House of Commons being returned to their House spent muce time about the rectifying of their Elections and expelling severall Members out of the House but causing others to be elected in their steads under pretence of being Malignants and having born Arms against the Parliament in behalf of their lawfull Soveraign and not only expelling them but disabling them from being elected or chosen as Members of future Parliaments so though this Parliament was esteemed one of the freest that had been called since 1641 yet it was not free indeed The House having as far as they could rectified their Members and Elections proceed to the calling to an account of all those who had been entrusted with the Customes Excize Taxes or other Revenue of the Common-wealth and to consider of the present state of the Revenues and some ways to pay the arrears of the Army Navy c. and other Nationall Debts but this business being put off by delays never came to any effect They likewise proceed to the drawing up of a Bill for it never came to be either Act or Ordinance which should be intituled An Act of Recognition of his Highness right and Title to be Protector and Chief Magistrate of the Commonwealth of England Scotland and Ireland and the Dominions and Territories thereunto belonging Many demurs were there in this debate and severall praevious Votes to be passed before this Bill could be committed as whether the Parliament should consist of two Houses and whether this House should transact with the Persons sitting in the other House as a House of Parliament This business took up a great deal of time the Protectorians stood stifly for it and the Commonwealths-men as stong against it alledging that to treat with those men as a House of Lords was to enslave themselves more deeply then ever they had been before That they should now by it clearly evince to the world their folly perjury and villany that whilest they had taken their Oaths to be true and faithfull to govern without a House composed of the Peers of the Nation they should now both break their Oath and subject themselves to such as were scarce Peers to the Commons That if they did but consider the Creator of this House of Peers as they were called they could not but foresee the necessary thraldome they must run themselves into these being all such as were made sure to his interest and were so many sure Votes for whatever arbitrary actions he might undertake and if it were thought unlawfull for the Bishops to sit in the House of Lords because they were accounted so many sure voices for the King how much more might these be excepted against who were certainly so many sure voices for the Protectorall interest being all created by it Yet notwithstanding these Arguments the Vote was at length carried on the Protectorian side and Resolved That the House of Commons would transact with the Persons then sitting in the other House as a House of Parliament during the present Parliament but with this Proviso that it was not intended thereby to exclude such Peers as have been faithfull to the Parliament from their priviledge of being duly summoned to be Members of that House Whilest the Parliament are thus pursuing their Votes to settle the Protector in England the French and Spaniard are endeavouring to conclude a Peace betwixt themselves and to leave the English in the lurch which howsoever it then and ever since went vigorously on yet are not the Conditions spoken of performed on either side to the full-consummating of it During the Sessions of this Parliament on the 24th of February Mr George Strangways formerly a Major in the Kings Army was pressed to death in the Press-yard in Newgate for refusing to plead to his Indictment for having caused his Brother-in-Law one Mr Fussell an Attorney of Dortsetshire to be shot in the head as he sate writing in his Chamber-window of which he died The magnanimity nobleness and pe nitence of Major Strangways at his death deserves this memory This Parliament took into consideration the Cases of divers Persons who had been imprisoned in the time of the late deceased Protector Maj. Gen. Overton is sent for out of the Isle of Jersey and released The Duke of Buckingham is likewise released out of Windsor-Castle upon the Lord Fairfax his giving 20000lb security that he shall demean himself peaceably for the future and not joyn with abet or have any correspondence with the enemies of the Lord-Protector or the Common wealth Severall other Persons of Quality were likewise by them released out of the Tower Maj. Gen. Brown likewise who had by the long Parliament in 1649 been disabled from bearing any Offices in the City is by them restored and made capable of all Offices priviledges and precedencies there and the long Parliaments Vote of the 4th of December 1649 made in his prejudice vacated The Quakers to promote their Turbulencies on the 16th of April sent a Paper into the House sealed and directed on the outside For the Speaker of the Commons assembled in Parliament these are for him to read to the Commons The inside contained a Declaration entituled A Declaration to the Commons assembled in Parliament Delivered the sixth day of the second Moneth called April 1659 to the then Speaker of the said House This Declaration contained many ignominious scandals thrown by those Fanatiques both upon the Magistracy and Ministry for which the Parliament express their Resentment to the Declarers requiring them to repair to their respective habitations apply themselves to
the black Rod to the House to desire their attendance on the Lords but they refused to give him entrance but understanding there were Guards in Westminster-Hall they thought it best to adjourn which they did till the following Munday being the 25th of April whereby they prevented both their formall and forceable dissolution But the next day being the 23 of April the Proclamation signed by his Highness the Lord Protector for the dissolution of the Parliament was published the Contents of it were as followeth By the Lord Protector A Proclamation for dissolving the Parliament Whereas we assembled our high Court of Parliament to assemble and meet at our City of Westminster the 27th day of January last which hath continued unto this present day And whereas we did by our Commission under the great Seal of England bearing date at Westminster this present 22 day of April for divers weighty reasons declare our pleasure and resolution to dissolve the said Parliament and to that end did thereby constitute and appoint our right trusty and right wellbelovod Counsellour Nathaneal Lord Fines one of the Keepers of our great Seal of England and others our Commissioners in our name this said present 22 day of April to dissolve our said Parliament which was by them done according to the tenor of the said Commission in the usuall place and by vertue hereof our said Parliament is absolutey dissolved Nevertheless we have thought it necessary by advice of our Privy Counsell by this our Proclamation to publish and make known the same to the end all Persons whom it may concern may take notice thereof Given at Whitehall the 22 day of April in the year of our Lord 1659. Yet notwithstanding this Proclamation the Members on Munday the 25th of April repaired to the House according to the vote of adjournment which they found guarded by red Coats whose Officers told them that they should not enter the House any more With the dissolution of this Parliament we may put a period to the short Reign of Richard Lord Protector no further use being made of him besides what a Declaration of the 25th of April commanding all Cavaliers and Papists to depart out of London upon these present disturbances did amount to Behold the visible hand of God that those very persons and Relations that Oliver had advanced into the highest places of trust for securing his usurped power are by the Almighty made instrumentall to pull down and destroy that which he had so perfidiouslly got by murther and hypocrisie Various Revolutions of Government in 1659 1660. BY the dissolution of the late Parliament the power over the Nations is devolved into the hands of those who devolved it they being then the only visible force I will not say power in these Nations viz. the chief Officers of the Army who first of all begin to modell their own Family which they did by cashiering those of the Protectorian faction for some such there were in the Army viz. Okey Ingolsby and Goffe and some others into whose places and commands they by their own authority put Lambert Haslerig Gbey and such others as had been displaced by the late deceased Protector These men considering that as they now stood they had no visible form of a Civil Government but their proceedings in this manner would render them most odious to the common people and in time ruin them begin to think what Civill Power they might establish which might be most concordant to their designes and at last send for some of the members of that Parliamentary Juncto which were dissolved by Generall Cromwell in 1653 to these they make motion of returning to the exercise of their trust desiring them to inform the Speaker and the rest of the Armies intentions They all readily and willingly assent but the Speaker makes some conscientious objections against their resitting which notwithstanding though I think they were never yet answered he at length consents to their desires whereupon the Army publish a large and specious Declaration asserting their resolutions to stand stedfast to the Good Old Cause as they called it with repentance for their errors and to that effect they conclude their Declaration to this purpose That they amongst other things calling to mind that the long Parliament consisting of the Members which continued their sitting untill the 20th of April 1953 were eminent assertors of that Cause and had a speciall presence of God with them and were signally blessed in that work the desires of many good people concurring with theirs therein they thought it their duty to invite the said Members to return to the exercise and discharge of their trust as before the said 20th of April 1653. And therefore they did by this Declaration earnestly desire the Parliament consisting of those Members who continued to sit since the year 1648 unto the 20th of April 1653 to return to the exercise and discharge of their trust that they should be ready in their places to yeeld them their utmost assistance to sit in safety for the improving present opportunity for setling and securing the peace and quiet of this Commonwealth praying for the presence and blessing of God upon their endeavours This Declaration published there were severall Articles agreed upon between the Officers of the Army and severall Members of the then to be restored part of a Parliament which accorded to and signed on the next day being the 7th of May 1659 they convented together in the Painted-Chamber where those Members appointed to meet being all present forty two in number the Speaker with the Mace carried before him and followed by the rest went into the House and took their places Upon notice that those men had taken their places in the House as a Parliament severall of the Members secluded in 1648 there being double the number of them in the City came into the Hall and agreed that some persons of their number should go up to the House to try whether they could find admittance The persons appointed to go up were Mr Ansley Sr George Booth Mr William Pryn Mr James Herbert Mr George Mountague Sr John Eveling Mr Eveling Mr Knightly Mr Gewen Mr John Herbert Mr Peck Mr Hungerford Mr Harly and Mr Clive these according to the desire of the rest went up but found restraint upon the House so that with much ado they prevailed to get into the Lobby but here they were opposed by Lieutenant Collonel Allen though they earnestly disputed the undoubted right they had to sit in the House as well as the others but no reasons could prevail Yet on Munday May 9th Mr Ansley Mr Pryn and Mr Hungerford understanding that there were no guards upon the House went to Westminster-Hall and found admittance without any opposition at first though afterward when Mr Ansley went forth to acquaint those secluded Members which attended their success in the Hall of their admittance endeavouring to enter again he and some others with him were forcibly kept
Sr George Booths Party giving back made way for all Lamberts Army to get over who immediately fell upon Sr Georges Foot and put them to the retreat but with little execution by reason of the enclosures which gave them liberty to make good their retreat from hedge to hedge The Horse then on both sides charged likewise with good courage and resolution but the Cheshire men being overpoured turned their backs and after a quarter of a Miles consused retreat rallied again but were presently routed And so both Horse and Foot betook themselves to flight The Foot by reason of the enclosures made their escape and the Horse dividing fled some towards Chester and others towards Warrington whither they were pursued by Lamberts victorious Cavalry who notwithstanding could proceed no further the Town being garrisoned with four Companies of Foot and a Troop of Horse of Sr Georges Party In the time of the fight there were left in Nantwich two Companies of Foot and two Troops of Horse of the Cheshire Forces who were immediately forced to fly towards Manchester where they dissipated themselves The grand Body of the Cheshire men being thus broken the remainder of them quickly surrendred themselves and Chester it self seeing no hopes of relief should they stand out submitted themselves immediately to Lamberts mercy whose example all other places likewise followed The number of the slain in the late action was not great but there was scarce any person of quality who either before or after the Fight became not Lamberts prisoners Sir George Booth seeing all things thus lost and himself reduced to the extremity of saving himself by flight left Chester in disguise with intentions to come up to London the better to make his escape but by the permission of Almighty God this noble Gentleman who when all the Nation almost was buried in a slavish lethargy did endeavour to rouze them out of their sleepy slavery was discovered at Newport Paynell in Bedfordshire and fell into the power of his merciless and tyrannicall enemies by whom he was committed prisoner to the Tower of London As soon as they had thus got him into their power they send two of their chiefest bloud-Hounds Sr Henry Vane and Sr Arthur Haslerig to draw what they could by his Examination but he notwithstanding their reiterated threats of death and Scaffolds and the scandalous report of perfidious friends and malicious enemies with undaunted courage refused either to excuse himself or accuse others by a pusillanimous confession The Parliament being now overjoyed with their success immediately in token of their favour and thankfullness order a thousand pounds as a remuneration of Lamberts so signall service to be immediately sent him but he having other designs in his head then tended meerly to the advancement of their interest presently distributes to his Souldiery with high carouses for their worthy deserts of it The attempts which were made in other parts of the Kingdome to have risen at the same with Sr George Booth being all of them nipt in the bud deserve nothing else but silence Though there were divers worthy and eminent persons engaged in them who deserved the thanks and praise of their Country for those their willing though fruitless endeavours The Parliament had whilest Lambert is fighting their enemies in the mean time taken care for dividing the spoil and prepared an Act for Sequestrations which now they immediately pass and appoint Commissioners for the prosecution of it by which they intended the utter ruining of most of the Nobility and Gentry of the Nation that so they might render them incapable for the future of making head against their arbitrary usurpation And this Act was to continue to the first of May 1660 a day which it pleased God to ordain to a better use and another manner of termination for their tyranny then these notorious Traytors had intended The next thing they do is to endeavour the extinction of those small sparks which seemed to remain of the late insurrection And to this end they put out a Proclamation against John Mordent Esq Son to the Earl of Peterborough Major Generall Massey the Earl of Litchfield Sr William Compton Thomas Fanshaw Esq and Major Generall Brown and declared the reward of a hundred pounds to whomsoever should apprehend any of the said persons some of which rendered themselves to the Counsell The House about this time having now lost the affections of the whole Nation besides that they might the better engage the Schismaticks order the release of James Nailor out of Bridewell to the great satisfaction of the Quakers and Fanaticks upon whom they now chiefly relied And now the Parliament thinking the longer keeping up the Militiaes of the Counties to be both useless and dangerous order their disbanding which whether it was promoted by some friends of Lamberts in the House is very uncertain but the consequence shewed it very much conducing to his succeeding designes For now Lambert having finished his work in Cheshire was advancing towards London but all the way had by Agents under hand so tampered with the Army as might render them ready for his devotion and interest To which purpose a Paper is promoted amongst them entituled The humble Petition and proposalls of the Army under the Command of the Right Honourable the Lord Lambert in the late Northern expedition in which they expostulate their deserts and affection to the Parliament and desire that the Command of the Army might be under the Command of Fleetwood as Captain Generall Lambert Major Generall c. This was sent up to London to Collonel Ashfield Cobbet and Lientenant Collonel Duckenfield to be by them presented to Fleetwood and by him to the House The forementioned persons acquaint Fleetwood with it and he for the better promoting of it desires a Conference with Sr Arthur Haslerig and Sr Henry Vane in order to its presentation to the Parliament but Sr Arthur immediately informs the Parliament of the Paper as he said of most dangerous consequence Whereupon they presently order that the said three persons or one of them in whose hands it was should immediately bring in the originall Copy which was by one put off to the other and so not to be found amongst them But the Officers of the Army immediately meet in Counsell in order to the drawing up of a Remonstrance of their submission to the Parliament and disclaiming the said proposall The Parliament having thereupon passed a Vote That the having of more Generall Officers was a thing needless chargeable and dangerous to the Commonwealth Whilest the Officers are thus meeting seemingly in order to their quiet submission to the Parliaments resolves the House had ordered a day of Thanksgiving for their Cheshire-victory on which together with the Counsell of State and the Officers of the Army they dined together with the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Common-Counsell at Grocers-Hall They now put out an Additionall Act for Sequestrations intending that the severity of their
Whereas it hath pleased the most wise God in his Providence to take out of the world the most serene and Renowned Oliver late Lord Protector of this Commonwealth and his said Highness having in his life time according to the humble Petition and Advice declared and appointed the most Noble and Illustrious the Lord Richard eldest Sonne of his said late Highness to succeed him in the Government of these Nations wee therefore of the Privy Counsell together with the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Citizens of London the Officers of the Army and numbers of other principall Gentlemen do now hereby with one full voice and consent of tongue and heart publish and declare the said Noble and Illustrious Lord RICHARD to be rightfully Protector of this Commonwealth of England Scotland and Ireland and the Dominions and territories thereunto belonging to whom we do acknowledg all fidelity and constant obedience according to Law and the said humble Petition and Advice with all hearty and humble affections beseeching the Lord by whom Princes rule to bless him with long life and these Nations with peace and happiness under his Government This Proclamation was signed by the Lord Mayor of London the members of the Privy Counsell and most of the Officers of the Army and was afterwards proclaimed in the Palace-yard Westminster at Cheapside the Royall-Exchange in Cornhill and so in order throughout all the Dominions of England Scotland and Ireland Proclamation being thus made the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen in their formalities came in the afternoon to condole the death of his late Highness to congratulate his Highness advancement to the Protectorship and to surrender up into his hands the Sword of the City they were received with the accustomed Ceremonies and the Lord Mayor having delivered up his Sword received it again from his Highness hands and after some other Ceremonies performed as usuall and Dr Goodwin having prayed for a blessing upon his Highness Person his Government his Forces by Sea and Land and upon all the People of these Nations Nathaniell Fines one of the Lords Commissioners of the great Seal and one of his Highness Privy Counsell administred the same Oath to his Highness which had been formerly administred to his Father upon his Installment After the Oath administred his Highness first addressed himself to the Lord Mayor and Aldermen thanking them for theirs and the Cities fidelity and good affection towards him and then having returned the like thanks to the addresses of the Officers of the Army he dismissed them and then passed a Proclamation for continuance of all such as were in any Office of Government at his Fathers death till further directions from his Highness The sixth of September by his Highness Order the Imbargo made upon his Fathers death on all Ships and Vessels in the Ports of England and Wales was taken off and Sr Oliver Flemming Master of the Ceremonies was ordered to acquaint the Ministers of all forreign Princes of the death of Oliver Lord Protector and that both that Title and the Government of these three Nations was devolved and established on his eldest Son Richard Cromwell The Lord Newport who was come over as Ambassador extraordinary from the States of Holland to the Protectors Father but first by reason of his indisposedness being retarded his audience and afterwards by reason of his death his Ambassage proved ineffectuall he having received new Letters from his Masters ordering him to condole his late Highness death and complement his present Highness for his advancement to the Government hoping that the same firm league and peace might be continued between his Highness and those States as had been between them and his princely Father delivered his Message in a publick audience before his Highness and received an answer conformable to his desires Severall addresses protesting both love and obedience to his Highness are presented both by the Army City of London and most of the Countries the whole Nation being seemingly content and satisfied with his advancement to the Government of these Kingdomes Nor were the Officers of the Army even those who afterwards showed themselves most active in depriving him of his Government backward but every particular Regiment gave in their addresses condoling his Fathers death and protesting their willingness nay joy in becoming obedient to him But amongst all those addresses I cannot omit one passage in that presented by Major Generall John Disborow and his Regiment in which condoling his Fathers death they adde thus viz. Your Highness your Armies and people reap the benefit of his prayers and successes but alas this our Moses your dear and blessed Father the servant of the Lord is dead and shall we not weep Though we weep not for him we cannot but weep for our selves We cannot but look after him crying Our Father our Father the Chariots of Israell and the horsemen thereof the fiery Chariot indeed of England whose fury and ambition had set the whole Nation in flames and combustion Nor are the rest of those forreign Ministers which were then in England viz. the Ambassadors of France and Sweden and Portugall the Agents for the Hans-Towns Florence Venice and Genua backward in coming to lament with his Highness for the death of his Father and desire the continuance of that league friendship and amity which was maintained and granted by him To which the Lord Protector returned answer that there could not be any greater argument used for his continuance offriendship with any Kingdome or Common-wealth then by telling him that his Father had contracted it Nor are Scotland or Ireland less complyant to his desires then England had been they thence send their addresses and promises of obedience so that his Government seemed every where to begin with a great deal of serenity and fair promises of a long continuance In Scotland likewise Generall Monke who continued Vicegerent there published a Declaration for the better securing the peace of that Nation declaring First That no person then beyond the seas or out of the Dominions of this Commonwealth c. Except Masters of Ships or Seamen belonging to Ships of this Commonwealth should after the first of December 1658 presume to come into Scotland without Licence from the Lord Protector or his Counsell in England the Lord Deputy or Counsell of Ireland or his Highness Counsell of Scotland as they would answer it at their perils Secondly That such Persons as shall arrive in Scotland after the first of December having such a Passe shall at their arrivall be bound to give intimation to the Governour of the next adjacent Garrison who is to examine them and see that their Passe be not counterfeit and for all those who shall arrive before the first of December they are to make their appearance before the Governour of the next adjacent Garrison who is to examine the cause of their coming into Scotland and if he find them to be persons suspected to apprehend and secure them Thirdly That no
from the Rump whose villanies were now grown execrable to them and his strength likewise chiefly consisting in the affection and interest he had in the hearts of the Citizens they resolve to kill two Birds with one stone undoe the City and make him the instrument of the action On February the 9th they send him with part of his Army into the City and he according to their Order marched in that day and took up his Quarters at the three Tuns at Guild-Hall gate where he was caressed and saluted by divers principall Citizens But he who knew times were not yet ripe for his after comfortable actions granted them nothing but sends up to the House to know what he should do who immediately return him these Votes for an answer That he should immedihtely pull down and destroy the Gates Posts Chains and Portcullises which accordingly he put in execution And moreover sent these following persons who had lately been very active for the interest of the City to take up their lodgings in the Tower of London viz. Mr alias Alderman Thomas Brown Grocer Mr Daniel Spencer Collonel Bromfield Major Chamberlain Mr Richard Foord Major Cox Mr Bludworth Mr Penning and Lieutenant Collonel Jackson all of them Common Counsell men and persons of highest repute and desert These actions of his exceedingly startled the faith of all men who had grounded the opinion in themselves that God had appointed him for the onely instrument of his Countreys deliverance and were now in such a maze that they almost gave over the good hopes they had conceived of him But he who understood well enough what he went about and knew that by this action he should perfectly understand whether the City would not be wavering and inconstant should he make a neerer conjunction with them which must have ruined him and his good purposes together did fullfill this execrable Command of the Rump that so he might set them and the City at the utmost variance and so make them surer and faster for an after compliance with him which he not many hours after did make with them and so plenarily satisfied the longing desires of the City and deceived the Parliament with their own snare For that they had perfectly designed this action to cast dirt in his face in the eyes of the City may be seen in that whilst he was about this hatefull drudgery they already fell to abridge his power by joyning several others as Hesilrig Walton Morley c. in Commission with him for the Government of the Army that so they might restrain and curb him at pleasure But he who understood them well enough had no sooner finished this dirty work but upon his return to White-hall he sends them a Letter which rang another peal than they expected after their City-Victory wherein he notably expostulated with them for their last injurious commands tels them Of their countenancing and abetting such as they had seemingly declared enemies and had been the occasion of their last overthrow which were then in Town hatching designes for the ruine of all And then concludes with a prefixed time by which they would resolve to issue out Writs for a new Parliament that so they might terminate their sitting and come to a dissolution which both Army and Nation longingly expected After this Letter he sent on Saturday Febr. 11. in the morning and forthwith he gives order for his Army both Foot and Horse to be in a readiness and with them he marches by the backside of the Town into Finsbury-field where he musters them and goes himself with several of his Officers to Dinner with the Lord Maior at his house at night he marched them into the City where Quarters were provided for them with the hearty good will of the Citizens whose Bonfires and Bels did in some measure testifie the unmeasurable joy they had conceived by having got so noble a Guest But I must not omit one passage in his Letter which was the detestation of that damnable and hellish Petition which was presented to the Rump by Praise-God Barebones contrived by themselves and pretended to come from many thousand well-affected Brethren in London Westminster and the places adjacent Wherein they bitterly rail against King Nobility and Clergie casting all the scandal possible upon those worthy persons who were by armed violence excluded in 1648. because by a Treaty with the King they would have composed the bleeding differences of the Nation and likewise they utterly cried out against the restoring those Members or bringing in a Free Parliament as that which must inevitably ruine the godly of the Land For prevention of which they desired no more than the bare ruine both of Church and State in these following particulars That no man might be admitted into any place or function either in Church or State but who would absolutely abjure and renounce the King and all his Family and any single Person whatsoever By this means intending the overthrow of that small remains of Magistracy and Ministry they had left us That whosoever in Parliament or elswhere should make any mention of restoring the King should be adjudged guilty of High-Treason Intending hereby to cut off the hands and stop the mouths of those who had not such pernicious resolution for their Countreys ruine as themselves And yet notwithstanding this cursed Petition contained things in it thus horrid and villainous their Rumpships was graciously pleased to think it deserved the thanks of the House which by Order the Speaker returned to them But this our Noble General makes one reason of his so sudden desertion of them and happy was that action of his for London For the Rump as was reported and believed had designed the utter overthrow of the City-Government by taking away both Maior and Common Counsel and hanging up divers of the most eminent both Aldermen and Commoners But when now they see their pregnant hopes of compassing their mischievous ends prevented they seem to approve of General Moncks action and that they might leave no stone unturned which might serve for some support to their now falling interest They return hearty thanks to the Lord Maior for his good affection to them hoping thereby to create such animosities between the City and him that might render him uncapable of doing them a mischief by the affection of the Populacy to him They had likewise designed a new Militia made wholly of factious and mechanick persons who should have exercised what tyranny they pleased over the City But blessed be God these their machinations were blasted by the care and wisdome of our thrice noble General But to content him if possible they order a Committee to consider what Lands were fitting to be conferred upon him and to satisfie him in one particular they order a Proclamation to be published against John Lambert wherein he was required to render himself within four dayes upon the forfeiture of his Estate And then as for another Parliament they make show to
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