notwithstanding the War in England without strangers help went on with rage and bloud enough In midst of these calamities of War some hope of peace began to appear though it soon vanished again and conditions were proposed both by King and Parliament upon which in the following February as hereafter shall be said they both treated The end of this year and beginning of the next were notably tragical in the punishment and death of eminent men the two Hothams Father and Son having been condemned for Treason for breaking the trust of Parliament and conspiring with the enemy to betray Hull with other crimes after they had been imprisoned above a whole year in the Tower of London were this December both beheaded and Sir Alexander Carew not many dayes before who was condemned for the same crime suffered the same punishment Famous also at that time was the death of William Laud Archbishop of Canterbury the crimes objected against him were too many and of too various a nature to be here related four years almost had this unhappy old man been a prisoner yet not enjoyed so much as the quiet of a prison for oftentimes about fourscore several dayes he was carried from the Tower to Westminster and there arraigned in the House of Lords so the Fates were pleased in a sad compensation to equal his adversity even in time with his prosperity This January he was beheaded his life being spun out so long till he might see which was the observation of many some few daies before his death the book of Liturgy abolished and the Directory composed by the Sinod at Westminster established Though the King and Parliament were both thinking of a Treaty for Peace yet the care of War was not neglected the King being solicitous about getting of forreign aid and the Parliament about new modelling their own Army About this business which seemed of the highest concern there was some debate between the Lords and Commons the Lords were against that Change alleagïng that there was no need of new Commanders where the old ones could be accused of no fault that men of the noblest rank were fittest to command Armies the contrary whereof might breed confusion in the Common-wealth The House of Commons on the other side though they made a noble mention of the Earl of Essex and those other Peers which commanded in the Armies alleaged notwithstanding that the Parliament forces had been often distracted through the emulation of Commanders from whence it proceeded that some things very well designed had not had a prosperous issue that the Army would be better disciplined under one sole Commander At last when they were agreed a General was chosen to command the new Army which was Sir Thomas Fairfax a man of eminent valour and as much modesty who was then absent in the North but so great a business could not suddainly be finished and now the time approached for the Treaty of Vxbridge in which three heads were to be debated 1. Of Religion and Church government 2. Of the Militia of England 3. Concerning the business of Ireland But the King before this Treaty began used all meanes to assure himself of forreign aid by Letters he urged the Queen who was then in France to solicite that King and other Catholikes to assist him and that the Queen Regent would detain the Parliaments Ships in France He was very earnest likewise for assistance from the Duke of Lorraign that he might get into England that wicked Army of his so notorious through Germany and Flanders for all Villany of which Army as of that of Marius when the entred Rome it may be said Nulli gestanda dabantur Signa Ducis nisi qui scelerum jam fecerat usum Attuleratque in Castra nefas No man his Ensigns bore But who the badge of some known mischeif wore And brought guilt to the Camp At last hope was given him from the Duke of Lorraign of ten thousand men and for bringing of these Souldiers into England Goffe was sent into Holland to negotiate for shipping and other necessaries The King likewise desired assistance at that time from the bloudy Irish Rebels and by his Letters commanded Ormond to make a peace with those Rebels and to promise and grant to them a free exercise of their popish Religion and to assure them that if by their assistance he could but finish his War in England he would abrogate all those Laws heretofore made against the Papists there he gave thanks likewise to Muskery Plunket and other of those Rebels promising a pardon for all that was past But they were much troubled at the Treaty for peace with the Parliament not being ignorant that one necessary condition of such a peace must be that the War in Ireland against them should be continued and prosecuted The King therefore to remove this their scrupulous fear wrote to Ormond to this effect That he could not refuse to make a peace with his Parliament onely in favour of those Irish yet notwithstanding from that very consideration if Ormund handled the matter wisely he might raise an advantage to hasten a peace with those Irish in letting them know their own danger how they were excluded from all hope of pardon by the Parliament For saith he if we agree upon all other conditions it will not be convenient for me to disagree onely concerning those Irish therefore let them take what I offer while time is and hasten the Peace and when once my faith is passed no humane force shall make me break it The Queen also remaining in France writing to her husband seemed to grieve much that at Vxbridge they were to treat of Religion in the first place affirming That if any thing severe against the Catholikes should be concluded and yet a peace not be made the King could not hope hereafter for any assistance from the Catholike Princes or from the Irish who must needs think that after they had done their best they should at last be forsaken She often entreats the King that he would never forsake the Bishops the Catholikes nor those faithful friends of his that served him in his Wars the King promiseth her that he would never forsake his friends for a peace onely perswades her to hasten as much as she can the aides from France saying That whilest London is distracted between the Presbiterians and Independents both may be ruined In February the Commissioners on both sides met at Vxbridge to treat for peace For the King came the Duke of Richmond the Marquess of Hartford the Earls of Southampton Dorset and Chichester the Lords Dunsmore and Capel with Seimour Culpeper Gardiner Hide Lane Bridgman Palmer and others For the Parliament the Earls of Northumberland Pembrooke Salisbury and Denbigh of the House of Commons Wainmar Vane Perpoint Hollis Prideaux Saint John Whitlock and Crew and besides these six Commissioners of the Nobility and Gentry of Scotland But nothing at all was concluded at that Treaty The King would
go in person over to Ireland against those bloody Rebels and therefore intended to raise by his Commission neer Westchester a Guard for his Person when he should come into Ireland of 2000 Foot and 200 Horse whom he would arm from his Magazine at Hull But the Parliament suspecting as well by my Lord Digby his intercepted Letter as by other presumptions That the Kings chief end of going Northward was to seize the Magazine of Hull and arm himself from thence against them sent a Petition to him for leave to remove that Magazine to the Tower of London and accordingly had sent Sir John Hotham thither who prevented the King and kept out the Earl of Newcastle whom the King had sent thither also for the same purpose at which action of theirs the King was much moved On the three and twentieth day of April 1642. the King attended by some Noblemen Gentlemen and Souldiers came at the Wals of Hull and demanded entrance but the Gates were shut and Sir John Hotham appeared upon the Wall and kneeling there entreated the King not to command that which he without breach of Trust could not obey in conclusion the King not getting entrance proclaimed Hotham Traytor and sent a complaining Message to the Parliament concerning that affront The Parliament labored to appease him but justified Hothams act and Declared That proclaiming Sir John Hotham Traytor without due process of Law was against the Liberty of the Subject and Laws of the Land Upon this business of Hull passed in 〈◊〉 short time many Declarations on both sides with Arguments drawn from the Statutes and Laws of England and many commands contrary to each other the Parliament authorizing Sir John Hotham to issue out Warrants to the Constables and other Officers to come with Arms to the defence of Hull and the King on the other side forbiding any such Warrants or Training without authority under his hand The King while the Parliament let him alone in the North daily Summoned the Gentry of those Counties to attend him at York and daily gained some to his party whose proceedings there in every particular are too tedious for this Relation but his frequent Orations to them were in substance That he was in danger of the Parliament and desired a Guard for his person and when the King made Proclamation for all Gentlemen and others to attend him in Arms as a Guard the Parliament at London only declared That such Arming of men to the disturbance of the Kingdoms peace was against the Laws and Liberties of the Kingdoms Thus did Proclamations and Declarations for a long time encounter each other But nothing made the Kingdom fear a War until that great defection of Parliament Members who left their Seats and went to the King at York Which happened about the end of April and continued a great part of May following in which space a great number of the Lords some sent for by the King others for their own discontents fears or ambition quitted their Seats in Parliament and went to him one after another The Lords that left the Parliament were these Duke of Richmond Marquess Hartford the Earls of Lindsey Cumberland Huntington Bath Southampton Dorset Northampton Devonshire Bristol Westmerland Barkshire Monmoth Rivers Newcastle Dover Carnarvan Newport the Lords Matrevers Willoughby of Eresby Rich Howard of Charleton Newark Paget Chandois Falconbridge Paulet Lovelace Savil Coventry Mohun Dunsmore Seymour Gray of Ruthen Capel Within that time also many of the House of Commons did so far break their Trust as to forsake their Seats in Parliament and go to the King This Revolt of so many Members of both Houses was generally looked upon as a thing of most sad consequence and likely to produce no effects but lamentable and wicked as to nourish and encrease the Kings dis-affection to Parliaments to encourage his distance from it and attempts against it to secure the Irish Rebels to subvert the dignity of that high Court and make the King by this diminution of their number as he did in his following Declarations call them a Faction a pretended Parliament and such like names The Parliament continued still Petitioning the King and on the twentieth of May sent to entreat him that he would Disband his Forces and rely for his security as his Predecessors had done upon the Laws and Affections of his people contenting himself with his ordinary Guards declaring that else they held themselves bound in duty to God and the trust reposed in them by the people and by the fundamental Laws to employ their utmost care and power for securing the Parliament and preserving the Kingdoms Peace Upon which these Votes were made in Parliament That it appears that the King seduced by wicked Councel intends to make a War against the Parliament who in all their consultations and actions have proposed no other end to themselves but the care of his Kingdoms and the performance of all duty and loyaltie to his person It was likewise Resolved upon the Question That Whensoever the King maketh War upon the Parliament it is a breach of the Trust reposed in him by his people contrary to his Oath and tending to the dissolution of this Government As also That whosoever shall serve or assist him in such Wars are Traitors by the fundamental Laws of this Kingdom and have been so adjudged in two Acts of Parliament II Richard 2 and 1 Henry 4 and that such Persons ought to suffer as Traitors But those Lords who had forsaken the Parliament continued still with the King in the North wherefore the Parliament by an Order of the thirtieth of May Summoned nine of them who first had gone away to appear at Westminster viz. The Earls of Northampton Devonshire Dover and Monmoth the Lords Howard of Charleton Rich Grey of Ruthen Covenâ—ry and Capel But they refused to come away returning an Answer in writing which the Parliament judged to be a slighting and scornful Letter upon which a Vote was passed against them in the House of Commons and presented on the 15 of June to the Lords by Master Hollis with an Oration concerning the importance of the business Upon the impeachment of the nine Lords the House of Peers about a month after being in their Robes entred into debate of the said impeachment and after divers Speeches made setting forth the greatness of their offence they were Censured 1 Never to sit more as Members of that House 2 To be incapable of the Benefit or Priviledge of Parliament 3 To suffer imprisonment during their pleasure After which Censure it was concluded That the said Lords should be demanded in the behalf of both Houses of Parliament to submit to the said Censure After this another wound was given to the Parliament encouraging the King in his Designs the Great Seal of England was carried away from the Parliament at London to the King at York by the Lord Keeper Littleton a man that had continued some time after the rest were gone
firm in appearance Voted with them and gave his Voice for setling of the Militia by Ordinance of Parliament But about the end of June one Master Eliot a Courtier was sent closely from York to him who having gotten privacy with the Lord Keeper so far prevailed at last that he got the Great Seal into his hands and rid away with it to the King at York The Lord Keeper Littleton after some serious thoughts with himself not being able to answer it to the Parliament rode away himself next day to the King also The reason which he gave to some friends of his afterwards for so parting with the Seal was this The King when he made him Lord Keeper gave him an Oath in private which he took That whensoever the King should send to him for the Great Seal he should forthwith deliver it This Oath he said he could not dispence with in Conscience but was sorry he had taken the Office with such an Oath The Seal was given him since this Parliament sate which made it appear what intentions the King even then had to the Parliament The King having now gotten the Great Seal issued forth many Proclamations and among other one That no man should obey the Parliaments Warrants about setling the Militia and they on the other side by Ordinances forbad any man to raise Arms by Warrant from the King without the authority of Parliament The Parliament being then intent upon setling the Militia by Land they took care also to seize the Navy into their hands for security of the Kingdom against forreign invasions To that purpose the Earl of Warwick a Nobleman of good experience in Sea-affairs and undoubted fidelity to his Countrey was by an Ordinance of both Houses chosen to be Lord Admiral But the King had chosen Sir John Penington to that place in the room of the Earl of Northumberland and sent a Command to the Earl of Warwick to resign the place to him But the Earl-chose rather to obey the Ordinance of Parliament and with great courage and policy got the Fleet into his hands though many of the Captains stood out against him alleaging they had the Kings Command to obey Sir John Penington but the Earl deprived them of their Commands and possessed himself of the Ships taking shortly after another Ship called the Lion of great import coming out of Holland and laden with Gunpowder which proved a great addition to his strength All men at this time began to despair of the Kings return to his Parliament and therefore on the 10 of June was an Order made in Parliament for bringing in money and plate to raise Arms for the Cause the publick Faith for repayment to them that brought it in was engaged by the Parliament and interest of eight in the hundred Which was accordingly brought in in great abundance by well-affected people as also Horses and Arms for that service The King at that time had received Money and Arms with Ammunition out of Holland upon the pawning of the Crown-Jewels which the Queen had carried over in February before He then sent out his Commissions of Array to Arm the people into all Counties wherein he used the Parliaments own words as in a Jeer of them For the Parliament professed that their receiving of plate and money and levying of Forces was To maintain the Protestant Religion the Kings Person dignity and authority the Laws of the Land the peace of the Kingdom and priviledge of Parliament The Kings words were the same namely To maintain the Protestant Religion his own person and authority the Laws Kingdoms Peace and priviledge of Parliament And whereas the Parliament in their Declarations both then and afterward used to say That they did arm against a malignant party by whom the Kings person was in danger he in his said the like and that for the safety of his own person and people there was an inevitable necessity of putting the Kingdom into a posture of defence using those very words in his Commission of Array which they did in their Ordinance for the Militia And invited people to bring plate and money to him in that language which the Parliament did nor did it prove less effectual for many Lords Gentlemen and others very freely brought in Money and plate to serve the King within a short space In all this heat of preparations the King before those Lords that were with him in the North made a solemn Protestation as before God that he would not engage them in any War against the Parliament but only for his necessary defence that his desire was to maintain the Protestant Religion the liberties of the Subject and priviledge of Parliament Upon which those Lords made a solemn Protestation as before God and subscribed their Names to it That they did believe the Kings intention to be as he said namely That he had no purpose to Levy War against the Parliament and that he endeavored only to maintain the Protestant Religion the Laws Liberties of the Subject and just priviledge of Parliament The King immediately after this took a progress about the Countries adjacent and at divers places made speeches to the Gentlemen and inhabitants full of gracious promises and declaring his intentions to preserve the peoples Liberties and priviledge of Parliament after which he returned to York and having raised an Army of three thousand Foot and one thousand Horse went to Beverly with an intention to besiege Hull making Proclamation beforehand That no man should presume to assist Hull against him or bring any force thither The Parliament on the other side published a Declaration for the preservation and safety of the Kingdom and of the town of Hull with assurance of satisfaction to all those who sustained any loss by their service for the safety of that Town or by overflowing of water upon the grounds there The King was within two hours march of Hull when Sir John Hotham calling a Councel of War by whom it was thought so fit drowned the Countrey about Hull drawing up the Sluce giving the Owners time to remove their Cattel and Goods the Parliament being to satisfie their damages upon the publick Faith Sir John Meldrum an old Souldier was assistant to Hotham who sallying bravely out of the Town with five hundred Townsmen made the Kings party retreat to Beverly some being slain and taken in the Chase Within a short time after when five hundred men sent from London arrived at Hull Sir John Meldrum made a fiercer Sally and forced most of the Leaguer to retire disorderly one and twenty of them being slain and fifteen taken prisoners and following his good success came to Aulby where the Kings Magazine of Arms Ammunition and Fire-balls were kept in a Barn all which he took and fired the Barn Upon which the King calling a Councel of War upon their advice broke up the siege before Hull On the twelfth of July the Parliament Voted that an Army should be raised for the
by leave of the Parliament made a voluntary Secession for six moneths Concerning that Order of Parliament that the King should go to Richmond the General desired to be excused intreating them not to command that untill things were more quiet and that they would appoint no Residence for the King nearer to London than they would allow the Quarter of the Army to be After which the King was conveied to Roiston thence to Hatfield no long after to Causum while the Army quartered at Reading From whence when the General with his Army marched to Bedford the King went to the Earl of Bedfords House neer Ouborn About that time was rumoured a very dangerous conspiracy in London of Citizens Apprentices and others against the Army namely that many Citizens and Apprentices and other people had privately listed themselves to make a Force against the Army The General hearing this certified the Cities Commissioners who were then with him at the Head-quarters of it Who made hast to London to examine and quiet those troubles but at that time between the two embittered Factions nothing but suspitions and tumults could be These Jealousies daily encreasing on July 22. the Parliament made an Order to change that Militia of the City which had been established upon the fourth of May and put others which were better affected to the Army in their rooms Upon which Order the Citizens of that faction were wonderfully incensed and petitioned the House on the twenty six of July which being read seemed rather a command than a petition This was carried and followed by a dissolute multitude of Citizens Apprentises and other unruly persons who pressed to the very doors of the Parliament and cried out in a threatning way that before the House rise they must order according to their Petition and so far did their violence prevail that they extorted an Order for the re-establishing of the former Militia But not content with that when the House was rising they took the Speaker and rudely thrust him again into his chair detaining both him and the rest of the Members there an unheard of violation of Parliament until they enforced from them another Order which was That the King should come to London After this rude violation the Houses adjourned until Fryday next which was the thirtieth of July Upon which day both the Speakers being absent for they with the greatest part of the Members had left London and withdrawn themselves to the Army new Speakers were chosen the Lord Hunsdon and Mr. Henry Pelham a Barrester by whom Orders were made that day 1. That the King should come to London 2. That the Militia of London should be authorized to raise Forces for defence of the City 3. Power was given to the same Militia to choose a General for those Forces It was likewise Ordered that the aforesaid eleven Members Impeached by the Army should return to their seats in Parliament The Citizens armed with these Orders presently proceed to raising of Forces of which they Elected Massey to be their General In the mean time the Lords and Commons who had left London consulting with the General and chief Commanders of the Army made an Order That all Acts and Decrees that had passed on the 26. of July and since should be accounted null and void and that they did adhere to the Declaration of the General and Councel of the Army It was likewise Decreed that the General with his Army should march to London But when the Citizens heard of the Armies approach their stomacks being somewhat abated and their opinions so much divided in Common-Councel that it appeared impossible for them suddenly to raise any forces to oppose the Army they sent to the General for a Pacification which by the consent of the Members of parliament then with him was granted to them upon these conditions 1. That they should desert the Parliament now sitting and the Eleven Impeached Members 2. That they should recall their Declaration lately divulged 3. They should relinquish their present Militia 4. They should deliver up to the General all their Forts and the Tower of London 5. They should disband all the Forces they had raised And do all things else which were necessary for the publick tranquillity All which things none of them daring to deny were presently ratified On the sixt day of August the General with his Army came to Westminster and with him the Speakers of both Houses together with the rest of the Lords and Commons whom he restored all to their former Seats Both the Speakers in the name of the whole Parliament gave thanks to the General they made him Commander of all the Forces in England and in Wales and Constable of the Tower of London a moneths pay was likewise given as a gratuity to the Army The next day General Fairfax Lieutenant General Cromwel Major General Skippon and the rest of the Commanders with the whole Army marched through London from the Western part thereof to the Tower where some Commands were changed and the Militia otherwise setled Then least the City should swell with too much power her Militia by Order of Parliament was divided and Authority given to Westminster Southwark and the Hamblets about the Tower to exercise and command their own Militiaes Thus was the Presbyterian faction depressed and the Parliament thus restored were very intent upon the business of annulling all those Acts which in their absence and by that tumultuous violence had been made and in punishing the Authors of those Seditions FINIS Book III. A short mention of the Originall and Progress of the Second War THe Parliament restored the Militia of London setled and the other Commands fitly disposed the General Fairfax marched out of London and quartered his Army in the Towns and Villages adjacent onely leaving some Regiments about White-Hall and the Mews to guard the Parliament his Head-Quarters being at Putney the King about the middle of August was brought to the most stately of all his Palaces Hampton Court While the King remained at Hampton Court he seemed not at all a restrained man But a Prince living in the splendor of a Court so freely to his presence were all sorts of people admitted to kiss his hands and do all obeysances whatsoever None were forbidden to wait upon him Nor did the people from London onely and the adjacent Towns resort to the King but his Servants also from beyond the Seas even those who by Order of Parliament had been forbidden and Voted Delinquents such as Ashburnham Barkley and the rest who now by the permission of the Army had safe recourse to him But upon what reasons or design this permission was many wondred Stirred up by these examples if not sent for by the King the Lords formerly of his Councel at Oxford the Duke of Richmond Marquess Hartford the Earls of Southampton and Dorset with the Lord Seymor about the beginning of October came to the King as if to consult and give their
settlement to the Kingdom we have expressed our real wishes that if the King would in things necessary and essential to the clearing setling and securing of those publick interests give his concurrence to put them past future disputes then his Rights should be considered and setled so far as might be consistent with those superior interests of the publick and the security thereof for future And that by an Address to the King upon things so purely essential to those publick ends it might once more come to a clear trial whether we could with the preservation of the King's person and in particular interests have a security to the other hath been our earnest desire our great expectation and our endeavour that we and others might be in a patient waiting for such an issue Now in the Parliaments last Addresses to the King we finde they have insisted onely upon some few things so essential to that interest of the Kingdom which they have hitherto engaged for as that without betraying the safety of the Kingdom and themselves and all that engaged with them in that cause without denying that which God in the issue of the war hath been such a Testimony unto they could not go lower and those things granted they have offered to treat for all the rest Thus we account that great business of a settlement to the Kingdom and security to the publick interest thereof by and with the King's Concurrence to be brought unto so clear a trial as that upon the King's denial of those things we can see no further hopes of settlement or security that way And therefore understanding that upon the consideration of that denial added to so many other the Honourable House of Commons by several Votes upon munday last have resolved not to make any further address or application to the King nor receive any from him nor to suffer either in others We do freely declare for our selves and the Army That we are resolved through the grace of God firmly to adhere with and stand by the Parliament in the things voted last munday concerning the King and in what shall be further necessary for prosecution thereof and for setling and securing of the Parliament and Kingdom without the King and against him or any other that shall hereafter partake with him Windsor Jan. 9. 1647. The Parliament also made a publick Declaration about the beginning of February for satisfaction of all men in general concerning the causes of their Votes in which besides the Kings former misdeeds related before in other Remonstrances they declare how often they had treated with him That although they were never forced to any Treaty yet no less then seven times they had applied themselves to the King with Propositions containing nothing but what was necessary to the peace and security of the Kingdom How they had offered him Propositions at Oxford afterwards at Uxbridge and then after he was quite vanquished in war at Newcastle and lastly after the departure of the Scots at Hampton Court All which hath been perpetually denied by him By such a Declaration did the Parliament endeavour to appease the unquiet mindes of people but no Arguments nor Decrees could serve to asswage their fury nor prevent the storms which were then arising Force onely was required and wise Councel to search out conspiracies and suppress the Tumults which were feared Therefore part of the Army was quartered about Westminster the Mews and other places of the City And the month before these high transactions some Lords and Commons were chosen out of both Houses to be a Committee for the safety of the Commonwealth and sate together at Derby-house in the same place where the Committee of both Kingdoms England and Scotland had sitten before To this Committee power was given to suppress Tumults and Insurrections and to that purpose to raise Forces as they saw occasion The Members of this Committee were seven Lords namely the Earls of Northumberland Kent Warwick and Manchester the-Lords Say Wharton and Roberts and thirteen of the House of Commons Mr. Perpoint Mr. Fines Sir Henry Vane Senior and Junior Sir William Armin Sir Arthur Hazlerig Sir Gilbert Gerrard Sir John Evelin Lieutenant General Cromwel Mr. St. John Mr. Wallop Mr. Crew Mr. Brown The Parliament though victorious though guarded with a gallant Army no forces visibly appearing against it yet was never in more danger All men began in the Spring to prophecy that the Summer would be a hot one in respect of Wars seeing how the Countries were divided in Factions the Scots full of threats the city of London as full of unquietness And more sad things were feared where least was seen rumours every day frightning the people of secret Plots and treasonable meetings From whence every man began to foresee slaughter and war as Mariners use to foresee a rising Tempest Cum longo per multa volumina tractu Aestuat unda minax flatusque incerta futuri Turbida testantur conceptos aequora ventos The threatning waves in tracks voluminous Boil up the Seas by blasts uncertain blown Betoken many windes conception The King's Party began to swell with great hopes and look upon themselves not as vanquish'd but Conquerors nor could they forbear vaunting everywhere but talked of the Kings rising and ruine of the Parliament The same thing seemed to be the wish of those whom they called Presbyterians who were ready to sacrifice themselves and their Cause to their hatred against the Independents who wished that quite undone which themselves could not do and desired that liberty might be quite taken away by the King rather then vindicated by the Independents The King himself though set aside and confined within the Isle of Wight was more formidable this Summer then in any other when he was followed by his strongest Armies The name of King had now a further operation and pity of the Vulgar gave a greater Majesty to his Person Prince Charls also by his absence and the name of banishment was more desireable by those Vulgar people and by his Commissions which his Father privately sent him as if armed with lawful power did easily command those that were willing and by commands under his name was able to raise as will afterward appear not onely Tumults but Wars The beginning was by Tumults and in the City from whence also the following Insurrections in the neer Counties had their original and was by Apprentices and loose young people playing in More-fields upon a Sunday the ninth day of April who dispising the authority of Magistrates set upon a Captain of the trained Bands and with stones beat him out of the fields and taking away his colours with them they marched a disorderly rout gathering up many of the scum of the people as they passed to Westminster crying out as they went that they were for King Charls But they by a Troop of Horse out of the Mews were quickly scattered But running back and getting into London while other
furnished Leiutenant General Cromwel with great Guns with provisions of all sorts from Bristol and other places and every thing necessary for a Siege While these things were acting in Wales General Fairfax sent as before was said with seven Regiments to suppress the Kenrish Risers pursued them towards Rochester A great number of Kentish men not far from Gravesend were gotten together into an Army with whom were above twenty Knights Esquires and Gentlemen of the County and among them divers commanders formerly of the King Armies though they were more in number they durst not give the General battel but some marched away to Maidstone a few kept together about Rochester another part of them went to Dover and besieged that Castle to raise that Siege the General sent Colonel Rich and Sir Michael Levesy who very happily performed that work The General himself marched with his Army to Maidstone Into that Town about two thousand of the Risers were gotten and resolved to make good the place The General likewise prepared to besiege them In no chance of War before was the vertue of Fairfax and his Souldiers more tryed nor a Victory bought with greater danger For after that the Souldiers had broke into the Town which was done with great difficulty they found a War in every street and Ordnance planted against them and were put to fight for every corner of it At last the General with the loss of forty of his men took the Town two hundred of the Enemies being slain and about fourteen hundred taken prisoners four hundred Horse and two thousand Arms were taken One thing was wonderful that an Army of many thousand Kentish men more in number then the Generals Army coming from Rochester to the aid of their friends yet notwithstanding when they came neer durst not venture to assist them but stood in sight while the General took the Town Publike thanks were given to God by order of Parliament for this great victory Now all Kent seemed to be quieted except some Castles which also within a short time were taken or yielded to the Parliament when suddenly a new head of this Hydra sprung up the Lord Goring gathering together a remnant of the Kentish Army with about two thousand men had marched as far as Greenwich from whence he sent some to see how the Citizens of London stood affected to the business but whilst he staid expecting an answer some Troops of the Army came in sight upon which Goring and all his company fled the Horsemen pursuing took some Booty and divers prisoners the Kentish men for the most part fled to their own Houses The Lord Goring with about five hundred horse flying from Greenwich and getting Boats crossed the Thames into Essex where as if the Fates sought out new Victories for Fairfax every where the Lord Capel with Forces out of Hartfortshire and Sir Charles Lucas with a body of Horse at Chensford in Essex joyned themselves to Goring to whom within a short time divers that formerly had been the King Souldiers and many Londoners with others flocked Some also of higher rank as Mr. Hastings brother to Huntingdon and Compton brother to the Earl of Northampton The General Fairfax crossing the Thames at Gravesend passed with a part of his Army into Essex and sending for the rest of his Forces out of Kent and London pursued the Enemies whom at last he drove into Colchester and in that Town besieged them where because it proved a long siege we leave him for a time and pass to other actions The greatest of all dangers which threatned the Parliament was from the North not contained within the bounds of England onely but from the Kingdom of Scotland Major General Lambert the chief Commander in the North labouring to suppress Glenham and Langdale wrought so much that he kept them within the bounds of Cumberland and Westmerland but they expected the march of the Scotish Army to which they intended to joyn themselves Lambert too weak to oppose so great a Force omitted no diligence in strengthening himself from the neighbour-Counties who were very forward to his assistance especially Lancashire who raised two Regiments of Horse and four of Foot to be conducted by Major General Ashton and joyn with Lambert in Yorkeshire The English Malignants alone were not very formidable in the North but that the Kingdome of Scotland joyned with them against the Parliament Wars were made from another Kingdome that Cromwel might be victorious as well against Forraigners as Englishmen The faction of Duke Hamliton was then prevalent in the Parliament of Scotland by whom Designs were hatched dangerous to both Kingdoms contrary to peace and contrary for so it was judged by the Church of Scotland even to the Covenant it self England was to be invaded and a great Army raised under the Command of Duke Hamliton a man ambitious and subtle The English Malignants for it was given out that they took Arms for the King were invited to joyn with them and pay promised to those that would serve all this was done though Arguile Louden and the honester Lords protested against their proceedings and the Kirk of Scotland cursed that War as impious But the greater part prevailed who therefore stiled themselves the Parliament of Scotland by a kinde of right and to curb men of the adverse faction a Commitee was made with power given to them to punish all those who should attempt any thing against the Decrees of the Parliament and a penalty set down to be inflicted upon all Ministers who should from their Pulpits teach the people otherwise by which means it was brought to pass that many Ministers were silenced others punished and some Lords of the other faction retired themselves to their own strengths yet could they not stop the mouths of all the Ministers some with a constant Zeal denounced the wrath of God against that Army of Hamilton and by the wretched success of that unfortuneate Army the curses of the Kirk seemed not in vain no more then of old the Tribunes curse upon the Parthian Expedition of Marcus Crassin Conspiracies by Land though over the whole Iland against the Parliament of England seemed not enough unless the Sea also had rebelled against them Divers of the chief Ships in the Royal Fleet revolted from the Parliament about the beginning of June and set the Vice-Admiral Rainsborough ashore affirming they were for the King and would serve Prince Charles sailing towards Holland where the Prince then was and with him his brother the Duke of York who not long before fled privately being perswaded thereto by Letters from the King his Father out of London where he had been kept with great observance and state by the Parliament The Parliament were much troubled at the revolt of these Ships as a thing of extream danger and sent to the Earl of Warwick to take the Command of their remaining Navy and reduce the rest if he could Warwick cheerfully accepted the employment and was
by the Parliament created which Title he had born at the beginning of these Wars Lord High Admiral of England Whilest Warwick was serving the Parliament his Brother the Earl of Holland unhappily rise in Arms against it Relying as it seems upon the opportunity of time while the Navy was revolted whilest Fairfax in Kent Cromwel in Wales were busied he built likewise upon the affections of the Citizens of London of whom he made tryal and joyning the young Duke of Buckingham and his Brother with others to him he appeared in Arms by Kingston with five hundred Horse but by Sir Michael Levesey and others who took occasion by the fore-sock he was thereput to flight the Lord Francis Villiers was slain Holland flying with the remainder of his Horse was within few dayes after at the Town of St. Needs by Col. Scroop whom the General had sent from Colchester for that purpose altogether subdued Dalbeer and some other Gentlemen slain Holland himself was taken and by the Parliament committed prisoner to Warwick-Castle At the same time Rossiter also obtained for the Parliament a gallant victory over the forces of Pomfret-Castle whom as they were pillaging the Country and plundering up and down being a thousand Horse Rossiter fell upon vanquished and took prisoners all their Commanders took all their Arms and Baggage Rossiter himself which for a time abated the joy of this victory was grievously wounded but he recovered These victories obtained everywhere by the Parliament though some of them may seem small yet will appear great and worthy of commemoration to all those who consider how much the Commonwealth if but one of these fights had miscarried had been endangered and the Parliament it self weighing the number and variety of their hazards may the better acknowledge the continuance of Gods providence and his very hand with them By these little victories also a way was made for higher Trophies and an absolute subjugation of all their Enemies which about this time miraculously happened For now most opportunely was Pembrook-Castle surrendred to Cromwel which Poyer and Laughorn confiding in the strength of the place had so long stifly maintained But at last brought to extremities they delivered it without conditions rendring themselves Prisoners at mercy Which fell out at the same time Fates calling Cromwel to a greater atcheivement that Duke Hamilton with a numerous Army of Scots had entred England about the beginning of of July was further strengthned by the addition of Langdales Forces Hamilton marched above five and twenty thousand stong striking a great terror every-where scarce in the whole time of these wars did any Army exercise greater cruelty toward the poor inhabitants of England And yet when the Parliament debated concerning this Army the House of Peers could hardly be brought to declare them Enemies For the House of Commons had declared That the Scots that under Duke Hamilton Invaded England were Enemies and that all the English which joyned with them were Traitors to their Country To which Vote the Lords at last after much debate assented The chief Citizens of London and others called Presbyterians though the Presbyterian Scots abominated this Scotish Army wished good success to these Scots no less then the Malignants did Whence let the Reader judge of the times Lambert though too weak in all probability for so potent an enemy was not discouraged but resolved to oppose the present danger and if need required to fight the Scots but he daily expected the coming of Cromwel to whose conduct this victory was reserved In the mean time with prudent retreates some Skirmishes not onely with Langdale but Hamilton himself he spun out the time so long until that Hamilton's great Army having on the twentieth of August entred into Lancashire Cromwel was arrived with his forces who with the addition of Lambert's strength made an Army of almost ten thousand This famous battel was fought neer to Preston in Lancashire in which all the forces of Hamilton and Langdale were vanquished and put to flight whom the Conqueror pursuing as far as Warrington about twenty miles and killing many in the chase took Lieutenant General Baily prisoner with a great part of the Scottish Army granting them onely quarter for their lives In this battel were slain three thousand Scots and taken prisoners about nine thousand Duke Hamilton himself within few dayes after having fled with a good party of Horse to Uttoxeter was there taken prisoner by the Lord Grey and Colonel Wait with Hamilton were taken about three thousand Horse Langdale also not long after was taken prisoner in a little Village by Widmerpool a Parliament-Captain This was the success of Hamilton's invading England Presently after this famous victory of Cromwel Colchester was surrendred to General Fairfax three months almost had the General lien before that Town with a small Army in respect of the number of the besieged in a lamentable rainy season where the Souldiers patience no less then their valour was tried Goring Capel Hastings Lucas and the other Commanders until they were reduced to extream necessity would not hear of yielding but despised all conditions their courages were long upheld by vain hopes besides the smalness of the General 's Army of aid by insurrections at London and of the success of Hamilton Langdale or the E. of Holland and more especially of succor by Sea from Prince Charls who was now possessed of those Ships which had revolted from the Parliament and having taken divers Merchants Ships besides was himself in person with no contemptible Fleet come into the narrow Seas But about the end of August the besieged in Colchester despairing of any relief and reduc'd to extremities for they had long fed upon Horse-flesh yielded themselves to the mercy of the Conqueror Two onely suffered Sir Ch. Lucas and Sir George Lisle who were shot to death Goring Capel and Hastings were sent to prison to abide the doom of Parliament Thus was the Parliament everywhere victorious by Land nor were they unhappy by Sea For considering that revolt of the Navy it was to be accounted a great felicity that no more revolted after them or no farther mischief ensued But the Earl of Warwick was very careful and it pleased God by this fright rather then loss to let the Parliament know the frailty of their own condition About the end of August Warwick with a good Fleet was in the River Thames when Prince Charls with a greater force about twenty sail was come upon the River against him and sent a command to Warwick to take down his Flag and yield obedience to him as supream Admiral having the King's Commission to that purpose But Warwick true to the Parliament obeyed not the Summons nor was there any convenient place in that narrow Channel especially for the larger Vessels to make a naval fight and Warwick's Fleet not strong enough to encounter the Prince stayed for the coming of their friends the Porchmouth-Fleet The government and bringing