all retired to Bugden where he lived very Hospitably and in manner and order of the good Bishops not without an eye and ear over him of such as were Intelligencers of Court And at Westminster Hall the Ceremony begun towards the Abbey Church in order thus 1. The Aldermen of London by couples ushered by an Herauld 2. Eighty Knights of the Bath in their Robes each one having an Esquire to support and a Page to attend him 3. The Kings Serjeants at Law Solicitor Atturney Masters of Request and Iudges 4. Privy Councellors that were Knights and the chief Officers of the Kings Houshold 5. Barons of the Kingdome bare-headed in their Parliament Robes with Swords by their sides 6. The Bishops with Scarlet Gowns and Lawn sleeves bare-headed 7. The Vice-Counts and Earls not in their Parliament but in their Coronation Robes with coronetted Caps on their Heads 8. The Officers of State for the day whereof these are the Principal Sir Richard Winn Sir George Goring The Lord Privy Seal The Archbishop of Canterbury The Earl of Dorset carrying the first Sword The Earl of Essex carrying the second Sword The Earl of Kent carrying the third Sword The Earl of Mountgomery carrying the Spurs The Earl of Sussex carrying the Globe and Cross upon it The Bishop of London carrying the Golden Cup for the Communion The Bishop of Winchester carrying the Golden Plate for the Communion The Earl of Rutland carrying the Scepter The Marquess Hamilton carrying the Sword of State naked The Earl of Pembroke carrying the Crown The Lord Maior in a Crimson Velvet Gown carried a Short Scepter before the King amongst the Serjeants The Earl of Arundel as Earl Marshall of England and the Duke of Buckingham as Lord High Constable of England for that day went next before his Majesty The King entred at the West Gate of the Church under a rich Canopy carried by the Barons of the Cinque Ports His own Person supported by Doctor Neil Bishop of Durham on the one hand and Doctorâ— Lake Bishop of Bath and Wells on the other His train six yards long of Purpleâ—Velvet held up by the Lord Compton Master of the Robes and the Lord Viscount Doncaster Master of the Wardrobe Here he was met by the Prebends of Westminster Bishop Lawd supplying the Deans Place in their rich Copes who delivered into the Kings hands the Staff of King Edward the Confessor with which he walked up to the Throne Which was framed from the Quire to the Altar the King mounted upon it none under the degree of a Baron standing therein save only the Prebends of Westminster who attended on the Altar Three Chairs for the King in several places first of Repose the second the antient Chair of Coronation and the third placed on an high square of five steps ascent being the Chair of State All settled and reposed the Arch-bishop of Canterbury presented his Majesty to the Lords and Commons East West North and South asking them if they did consent to the Coronation of K. Charles their lawful Soveraign The King in the mean time presented himself bareheaded the consent being given four times with great acclamation the King took his Chair of Repose The Sermon being done the Arch-Bishop invested in a rich Cope goeth to the King kneeling upon Cushions at the Communion Table and askes his willingness to take the Oath usually taken by his Predecessors The King is willing ariseth and goeth to the Altar and is interrogated and thus answereth Coronation Oath Sir Sayes the Arch-bishop will you grant and keep and by your Oath confirm to the People of England the Laws and Customes to them granted by the Kings of England your lawful and Religious Predecessours and namely the Laws Customs and Franchises granted to the Clergy by the glorious King St. Edward your Predecessor according to the Lawes of God the true profession of the Gospel established in this Kingdome agreeable to the Prerogative of the Kings thereof and the antient Customes of the Realm The Kings answer I grant and promise to keep them Sir Will you keep Peace and Godly agreement according to your power both to God the holy Church the Clergy and the people I will keep it Sir Will you to your power cause Law Iustice and discretion to mercy and truth to be executed to your Iudgement I will Sir will you grant to hold and keep the Laws and Rightfull Customes which the Comminalty of this your Kingdome have and will you defend and uphold them to the honour of God so much as in you lieth I grant and promise so to do Then one of the Bishops read this Admonition to the King before the people with a lowd voice Our Lord and King wee beseech you to pardon and to grant and to preserve unto Vs and to the Churches committed to your charge all Canonical privileges and do Law and Iustice and that you would protect and defend Vs as every good King to his Kingdomes ought to be Protector and Defendor of the Bishops and the Churches under their Government The King answereth With a willing and devout heart I promise and grant my Pardon and that I will preserve and maintain to you and the Churches committed to your charge all Canonical privileges and due Law and Iustice and that I will be your Protector and Defender to my Power by the Assistance of God as every good King in his Kingdom in right ought to protect and defend the Bishops and Churches under their Government Then the King ariseth and is led to the Communion Table where he makes a solemn Oath in sight of all the people to observe the premisses and laying his hand upon the Bible saith The Oath The things which I have here promised I shall perform and keep So help me God and the Contents of this Book Then were his Robes taken off and were offered at the Altar He stood a while stripped to his Doublet and Hose of White Sattin Then led by the Arch Bishop and Doctor Lawd the Bishopâ—of St. Davids he was placed in the Chair of Coronation a Close Canopy spread over him the Arch-bishop anointing his Head Shoulders Arms and Hands with a costly ointment the Quire singing an Anthem of these words Zadook the Priest anointed King Solomon Hence he was led up in his Doublet and Hose with a White Coife on his head to the Communion Table where the Bishop of St. Davids Deputy for the Dean brought forth the antient Abiliments of King Edward the Confessor and put them upon him Then brought back to the Chair of Coronation he received the Crown of King Edward presented by the Bishop of Saint Davids and put on his Head by the Archâ— Bishop of Canterbury the Quire singing an Anthem Thou shalt put a Crown of pure Gold upon his head whereupon the Earls and Viscounts put on their Crimson Velvet Caps with Coronets about them the
goodness of Almighty God Accusing that Malignant party to poison the hearts and corrupt the Allegeance of his Subjects by a false Imputation of his favouring Papists imploying them in his Army when he saith that numbers of Popish Commanders and others serve in the Army of the Earl of Essex being privately promised that if they would assist against the King all the Laws made in their prejudice should be repealed Another Scandal he mentioneth to be very senseless that the King should raise an Army against the Parliament to take away their priviledges when in truth it is raised to have some particular Members of this Parliament to be delivered up to Iustice. He being as tender of their priviledges and conform thereto which his Army never intends to violate That the Parliaments Army is raised to Murther and depose the King to alter the frame of Government and the established Laws of the Land That the greatest part of the Parliaments Members are driven away from their Houses by violence That the Book of Common Prayer is rejected and no countenance given but to Anabaptists Brownists and such Schismaticks That the contrivers hereof endeavour to raise an Implacable malice between the Gentry and the Commonalty of the Kingdome A common charge upon the King it had been and so continued to the end of his publique Actings That he favoured Papists and entertained them in his Army and so they were and might be in both subtilly and cunningly by practice on both sides conveyed thither under the masque and profession of Protestants which is a truth of no great wonder and yet in general those of Lancashire Recusants petition the King That being disarmed and so not able either to defend his Royal Person according to their duties nor to secure themselves and families they may be received into his gracious protection from violence being menaced by all kindes of people to whose malice they are subject and must submit And indeed great and heavy pressures were put upon them by both Armies notwithstanding Orders and Declarations to the contrary had been published by either Army And hereupon the King had given Warrant to Sir William Gerard Baronet Sir Cicil Trafford Knight Thomas Clifton Charls Townby Christopher Anderton and Io. Clumsfield c. Recusants in the County of Lancaster That although by Statutes all Recusants convict are to be disarmed to prevent danger in time of peace but now Armies being raised against the King and his Subjects are by them plundered and robbed and their Arms taken and used offensive against his Person His will and command therefore is and they are charged upon their Allegeance and as they tender the safetie of his Person and the peace of the Kingdom with all possible speed to provide Arms for themselves servants and Tenants during the time of open War raised against him and no longer to keep and use for his defence Yet the Parliament prepare Heads of an humble Address unto his Majesty for composing difference and â—â—â—ling a Peace but withall to prevent mis-constructions whereby their just defence may be hindered they do declare That their preparations of Forces for their defence shall be prosecuted with all violence And accordingly Letters are directed from the Lords To the Right Honourable the Lord Viscount Faulkland principal Secretarie to his Majestie or in his absence for Mr. Secretarie Nicholas or any of the Lords or Peers attending the King Grey of Wark My Lord I am commanded by the Lords the Peers and Commons assembled in Parliament to address by you their humble desires to his Majestie that he would â—e pleased to grant his safe Conduct to the Commiâ—tee of Lords and Commons to pass and repass to his Majestie that are directed to attend him with an humble Petition from his Parliament This being all I have in Commission I rest Your assured Friend and Servant Grey of Wark Speaker of the House of Peers pro tempore Westminster Nov. 3. 1642. Which is granted so as the said Committee consist not of persons either by name declared Traitors or otherwise in some of his Declarations or Proclamations excepted against by name as Traitors and so as they come not with more than thirty persons and give notice before hand upon signification they shall have safe conduct Your Lordships most humble Servant Edward Nicholas Reading Nov. 4. Hereupon these Names are sent Algernon Earl of Northumberland Philip Earl of Pembroke and Montgomerie and four Members of the Commons Mr. Perpoint the Lord Wainman Sir Iohn Evelin of Wilts and Sir Io. Hippislie being the Committee of both Houses and desire his Majesties Pass and Repass under his Royal Hand and Signet Nov. 5. The safe Conduct is inclosed for all but Sir Io Evelin who is excepted being proclamed Traitor at Oxford and that if the Houses will send any other person not so excepted in his place His Majesty commands all his Officers to suffer him to pass as if his Name had been particularly comprised herein Reading Nov. 6. To recruit the Parliaments Army it is declared That all Apprentices that will list themselves in their service for the publick cause shall be secured from indemnitie of their Masters during their service and their time included to go on towards their Freedom and all their respective Masters are to receive them again when they shall return This Liberty made Holy-day with the Prentices and they were listed thick and threefold and now spoiled for being Trades-men ever after But it is time to consider what out dear Brethren of Scotland intended to do in this Distraction and therefore they are put in minde by a fresh Declaration of the Parliament How and with what wisdom and publick affection our Brethren of Scotland did concur with the desires of this Kingdom in establishing a peace between both Nations and how lovingly they have since invited the Parliament into a nearer degree of union concerning Religion and Church-government wherefore as the Parliament did for them a year since in their Troubles so now the same obligation lies upon our Brethren by force of their Kingdom to assist us Telling them that Commissions are given by the King to divers Papists to compose an Armie in the North which is to joyn with foreign Forces to be transported hither for the destruction of this Parliament and of Religion and Liberties of the people That the Prelatical partie have raised another Armie which his Majestie doth conduct against the Parliament and Citie of London And hereupon this Parliament desire their Brethren of Scotland to raise Forces for securing their own Borders and to assist here against the Popish and Foreign Forces according to that Act agreed upon in the Parliaments of both Kingdoms for the comfort and relief not onely of our selves but of all the Reformed Churches beyond Seas Nov. 7. 1642. The King as quick sends his Message to the Lords of his Privy Council in Scotland stating the condition between him and the
Majesties person and Right against all Forces whatsoever and in like manner the Laws Liberties and Privileges of Parliament and of this Kingdom And I shall to my utmost power preserve and defend the peace of the two Counties of Devon and Cornvvall and all persons that shall unite themselves by this Protestation in the due performance thereof and to my power assist his Majesties Armies for reducing the Town of Plymouth and resistance of all Forces of Scots Invaders and others levied under pretence of any Authority of two Houses of Parliament or otherwise without his Majesties personal consent And hereupon they agreed upon several Articles in reference to the taking of this Protestation directed to all Sheriffs Constables Ministers of every Parish Church at the next general Meeting That the Army be governed according to his Majesties Articles That all such persons slain or as shall be slain in this VVar or die in the Service by whose life any other person held any other Lands or Rents the said other person shall grant an Estate or pay such Rents for life under such Covenants c. as to the person so slain and the Refusers to lose double value one half to the King the other to the party and to be imprisoned till payment That if any Minister shall refuse or neglect his particular duty in his Service or not reade the Kings Declarations or do any thing contrary to â—is Majesties Instructions to be secured and his Estate sequestred That there be provided a thousand Barrels of Powder and ten thousand Fire Arms at the charge of both Counties whereof Devon three parts and Cornvvall to be a fourth according to the proportion of the grand Subsidy The Earl of Manchester for the Parliament is as active in his Association having gone over all vvith a high hand came to the University of Cambridg being not yet resolved vvhether the Colleges and Halls be vvithin his Commission for Sequestration for clearing vvhereof the Parliament sent out their Ordinance That the Estates Rents and Revenues of the Colleges and Halls in the University of Cambridg are in no wise to be seized on but shall remain and be to the same University Colleges and Halls as if the Ordinance of Sequestration had never been made Which is most nobly done like true Patriots of Learning but then the next Proviso marrs all That if any part portion or dividend be due to any Head Fellow or Scholar in the said University being or which hereafter shall be a Malignant or Delinquent within any of the Ordinances of Sequestration then they shal be excepted from receiving any part or portion of his Allowance but shall be dealt with as it shall be ordered by the Earl of Manchester and none to be Receiver Treasurer or Bowser but such as shall be approved by him Sir Richard Byron Governour of Newark for the King understanding that the Adversaries vvere quartered at Harmiston and VVaddesdon three Miles from Lincoln sent out tvvo hundred and fifty Horse and some Dragoons under command of Sir Gervase Eyre vvho beat up their Quarters and took kill'd some but the reason having Quarter he carried avvay above three hundred Prisoners Horse and Arms. The King at Oxford vvith sufficient Friends to finish his civil affairs considered of the fitness and conveniency to assemble the Members of both Houses of Parliament at Oxford and having to that purpose the tvvo and tvventieth of December last by his Proclamation summoned them for this day the tvvo and tvventieth of Ianuary vvhere novv they met in the great Hall at Christ's Church vvhere his Majesty declared the occasion of his calling them together to be witnesses of his actions and privy to his intentions Telling them That if he had the least thoughtâ— disagreeing with the happiness of this Kingdom he would not advise with such Counsellors as they are And so they went to the publick Schools the Lords in the upper Schools and the Commons in the great Convocation-house Indeed he having renounced those Members that sate at Westminster he thought it fit to assemble such as he might confide in to vote and act as his proper Parliament countenanced with able Members the most ancient and most honourable Peers and very worthy Gentlemen not amiss to record them The Names of the Lords and Commons in the Assembly of the Parliament at Oxford Ianuary 22. 1643. Charls Prince Duke of York Cumberland Edw. Littleton C. S. Fr. Cottington Treasurer Duke of Richmond Marquess of Hertford Earls Lindsey Dorset Shrewsbury Bath Southampton Leicester Northampton Devonshire Carlile Bristol Barkshire Cleveland Rivers Dover Peterborough Kingston Newport Portland Visc. Conway Lords Digby Mowbray and Matravers Lords Wentworth Cromwell Rich. Paget Chandos Howard of Charlton Lovelace Savile Mohun Dunsmore Seymour Piercy VVilmot Leigh Hatton Iermin Carington Knights and Gentlemen Sir Iohn Fettiplace Sir Alexander Denton Sir Iohn Packington Thomas Smith Francis Gamul Iohn Harris Ioseph Iane. Richard Edgcomb I. Raleigh G. Fane P. Edgcomb VVilliam Glanvile Robert Hâ—burn Sir Ralph Sidenham Sir Fr. Godolphin Ger. Parry Ambrose Manaton Sir Richard Vivian Io. Palewheel Io. Arundel Thomas Lower Edward Hide VVilliam Allestry George Stonehouse Edward Seymor Peter St. Hill VVilliam Pool Roger Matthew Richard Arundel Ro. VValker Giles Strangways Io. Strangways Sir Thomas Helâ— Geraâ—d Nape Samuâ—l Turner VVilliam Constantine Henry Killegrew R. King Io. Dutton Henry Bret. VVilliam Chadwell Theo. Gorges Io. George Thomas Fanshaw Humph. Conningsby Richard Seaborn Arthur Ranelagh Thomas Tomkins Sampson Evers Io. Culpeper Ieffrey Palmer Io. Harison Thomas Fanshaw Roger Palmer Sir Orlando Bridgman VVilliam VVatkins Iohn Smith Sir Thomas Bludder Edward Littleton Harvie Bagot Richard Leveson Sir Richard Cave Sir Richard VVeston Richard Lee. Thomas VVhitmore Edward Acton C. Baldwin R. Goodwin Thomas Howard Thomas Littleton Robert Howard Io. Meux Matthew Davis Fr. Cornwallis Thomas Germin Io. Tailor VVilliam Basset VVilliam Pateman Edw. Ridney Thomas Hanham Edw. Philips Io. Digby Edw. Kirton Chr. Lewkin Edw. Alford Io. VVhite Io. Ashburnham VVilliam Smith Thomas Leeds I. Thin VVilliam Pledel Ro. Hide Edw. Griffin VValter Smith George Lowe Richard Harding Henry Herbert Endimion Porter Samuel Sandys Iohn Bâ—dvil William Morgan William Thomas Iohn Mistin Henry Bellasis Knights and Gentlemen George Wentworth William Malory Richard Aldbury Io. Salisbury William Herbert William Price Io. Price Knights and Gentlemen R. Herbert Charls Price Philip VVarwick Thomas Cook Herbert Price Io. Whisler These Peers then disabled by several Accidents appeared since Viscount Cambden Lord Abergaveny Lord Arundel Lord Capel Lord Newport Peers imployed in his Majesties Service Marquesses Winchester VVorcester Newcastle Earls Darby Huntington Clare Marlborough Viscount Falkonbridg Lords Morley Lords Darcy and Coniers Sturton Everâ— Daincourt Pawlet Brudenel Powesse Herbert of Cherbury Hopton Loughborough Byron Vaughan VVithrington Peers absent beyond Seas Earl of Arundel Earl of Saint Albans Lord Viscount Mountague Viiscount Strafford Lord Stanhop Lord Coventry Lord Goring Lord Craven of Hamsted Lord Craven of Ryton Peers confined by the Parliament at VVestminster Earl of Chesterfield and the Lord Mountague of Boughton These Members then disabled by Accidents have appeared since Peter Venebles Sir Io. Pawler Edward Bagshaw
into one Opinion that thereby no reason given to the House their Restraint was an Arrest of the whole Body and a breach of Priviledge must needs follow which was so remonstrated to the King and they therefore released But what ground â—r Presidents had the Judges a late law of their own making for it is well observed That in the Parliament 35. Eliz. Sr. Peter Wentworth and Sr. Henry Bromley by petition to the Upper House to be supplicants with them of the Lower House unto her Majesty for entailing the succession of the Crown the Bill being drawn by them These two were summoned before Sr. Thomas Henage one of the Privy Councel and commanded to forbear the Parliament and to stand secured to their Lodgings and after further examination before the Councel were committed Wentworth to the Tower Bromley and other Courtiers to the Fleet. Another instance Mr. Morice Attorny of the Dutchy of Lancaster for moving against the justice of the Courts of Ecclesiastical Iudges Subscriptions and Oaths was taken out of the House so saith another Authour and committed to Prison for whose release Mr. Wroth humbly moved the House to be petitioners to her Majesty But was answered That the Queen must not accompt for actions of Royal Authority which may be of high and dangerous consequence nor can it become them to search into the Prerogative of Soveraigns These Members were five in all and might have been Precedents for the King and his five Members in due place hereafter But this course now taught the Lords to resent the like indignity to them in the Earl of Arundels case who lay committed to the Tower as before said and so they would sit still without motion to any matter till that he might be reâ—admitted which was instantly done To ballance with the Dukes Enemies Three Persons his confederates were made Barons to compeer in the Lords House the Lord Mandevil the eldest son to the Earl of Manchester created by Patent Baron Kimbolton Grandison son to the created Baron Imbercourt and Sr. Dudly Carlton made Baron Tregate being newly returned from his Trade of seven years Leiger Ambassadour abroad in Venice and Holland But it is said That the Lords found out an Old Order to Counter checque that designe That no Creations sedente Parliamento should have power to vote but onely to sit Not to Iudge but to learn to understand during that Session so that their Suffrages were excluded But I am assured of the contrary for they sate and voted Hence it is truly observed That in the late Parliament 1640. Seymor Littleton and Capel were so created sedente Parliamento and Digby Rich and Howard of Charlton called by special Writ were also admitted their votes and afterwards the last of the nineteen Propositions to the King at York for the King to passe a Bill to restrain Peers made hereafter to sit and vote in Parliament unlesse with consent of both Houses To which the King absolutely refused But however they were admitted the Duke was put to his own Innocency partially stiled impudency and lodges injustice on the Peers whose ill opinion he sayes deprest him and partial affection elevated the other who received the Attornies charge with undaunted spirit and returned so home an Answer as the House was amply satisfied of which take his own so saying for we hear not a word more nor other of it than that he saies so But the Dukes defence came quick to the Lords the eighth of Iune Who he sayes sequestered him from the House until his cause was determined upon which he was much dejected when really of himself he had forbore the House And therefore this morning had resolved to send it but was advised to present it himself which we shall finde to this purpose The Commons Impeachment and Declaration against the Duke of Buckingham FOr the speâ—dy redresse of the great evils and mischiefs and of the chief causes of those evils and mischiefs which this Kingdom of England now grievously suffereth and of late years hath suffered and to the Honour and Safety of our Soveraign Lord the KING and of his Crown and dignities and to the good and welfare of his people the Commons in this present Parliament by the authority of our said Soveraign Lord the King assembled do by this their Bill shew and declare against GEORGE Duke Marquesse and Earl of Buckingham Earl of Coventry Viscount Villers Baron of Whaddon great Admirall of the Kingdoms of ENGLAND and Ireland and of the principalitie of Wales and of the Dominions and Islands of the same of the Town of Calais and of the Marches of the same and of Normandy Gascoigne and Guyen Generall Governour of the Seas and Ships of the said Kingdoms Lieutenant Generall Admirall Captain Generall and Governour of his Majesties Royall Fleet and Army lately set forth Master of the Horses of our Soveraign Lord the King Lord Waâ—den Chancellour and Admirall of the Cinque-ports and of the Members thereof Constable of Dover Castle Iustice in Eyre of all Forests and Chaces on this side of the River of Trent Constable of the Castle of Windsor Lieutenant of Middlesex and Buckingham-shire Steward and Bailiffe of Westminster Gentleman of his Bed-chamber and one of his Majesties honourable Frivie Councel in his Realms both of England Scotland and Ireland and Knight of the most noble order of the Garter The Misdemeanors Misprisions Offences Crimes and other matters comprised in the Articles following And him the said Duke do accuse and impeach of the the said Misdemeanors Misprisions Offences and Crimes ARTIC I. The Duke 's 1. Reply THat he the said Duke being young and unexperienced hath of late years with exorbitant ambition and for his own advantage procured and engrossed into his own hands severall great Offices both to the danger â—f the State and prejudice of that Service which should have been performed in them and to the discouragement of others who are thereby precluded from such hopes as their virtues abilities and publique employments might otherwise have obtained THat his late Majesty did of his own Royal Motion bestow them upon him and he hopeth and concieveth he may without blame recieve what his bountiful Master conferred upon him if the Common-wealth doth not suffer thereby Nor is it without precedents that men eminent in the esteem of their Soveraign have held as great and many Offices as himself But if it shall be proved that he falsely or corruptly hath executed those Offices he is and will be ready to resign them with his life and fortunes to his Majesties dispose II. Reply 2. That in the 16. year of the Reign of the late King he did give and pay to the then Earl of Nottingham for the Office of Great Admiral of England and Ireland and of the principality of Wales and Generall Governour of the Seas and Ships of the said Kingdomes and for the surrender of the said Offices to the intent the said Duke might
obtain them to his own use the summe of 3000 l. and did also procure for the said Surrender from the late King an Annuity of 1000 l. per annum payable to the said Earl for which considerations the said Earl surrendred the said Office with his Letters Patents unto the late King who granted them to the said Duke for his life which is an Offence contrary to the Laws and Statutes of this Realm those Offices so highly concerning the Administration and execution of Justice That the Earl of Nottingham then Lâ—rd Admiral being grown much in years and finding himself not so fit nor able to perform what appertained to his place as formerly became an earnest sutor to his late Majesty to permit him to surrender up his Office who at length being overcome by the Earls many solicitations condescended thereunto and his late Majesty at the entreaty of others without the Dukes privity was also perswaded to confer it upon the Duke much against his will he being no way experienced in those Affairs so that the Earl did freely surrender and the Duke aecept the grant of the said Office without any the least contract or proviso But true it is that his late Majesty out of his Royall Bounty did grant to the said Earl a Pension of 1000 l. per annum as a Recompence for his former service to the Crown and also the Duke himself did freely and voluntarily with his late Majesties approbation as an Argument of his honorable respects to so Noble a Predecessor send the Earl three thousand pounds which he hopeth is not blame worthy in him III. Reply 3. That he the said Duke in the 22. year of the late King did give and pay unto Edward Lord Zouch for the Offices of the Lord Warden of the Cinque-Ports and Constable of Dover Castle the sum of one thousand pounds and granted also an Annuity of 500 l. per annum during his life and that for the consideration aforesaid the said L. Zouch did surrender his Offices and Letters Patents to the late King who granted them to the said Duke for his life which Offices so highly concerning the Administration of Justice the Duke hath ever since held against the Laws of the Land That the Lord Zouch being grown in years and unfit to manage the Office of the Warden of the Cinque-Ports and Constable of Dover Castle which are indeed both but one discovered a willingness to surrender it and made severall Offers thereof to the Duke of Richmond who at last contracted with the said Lord Zouch for his surrender for the consideration of 1000 l. in money and 500â— l. per annum and the said Duke of Richmond being prevented by death his late Majesty directed the Duke of Buckingham to go through with the Lord Zouch for it upon the same terms which he was the willinger to do by reason he had found by experience that the Kings service suffered much through the emulation disaffectiâ—n and contention arising between those two Officers and he hopeth this act of his in acquiring this Office accompanied with such circumstances the King also being both privy and directing it will receive a favorable construction especially considering he was altogether unacquainted with any law tâ— the contrary IV. Reply 4. That he hath neglected the just execution of those his offices and violated the Trust reposed in and committed to him by them insomuch as through his neglect the trade of this Kingdome hath been of late much decayed and the Seas ignominiously infested with Pirates and Enemies to the great loss of both ships and Goods and imminent danger of this Kingdom That the loss happening to the Kings Subjects by Pirats and Enemies hath not proceeded through the Dukes default as is suggested but because those Pirats ships are built of a mould as fit for flight as for fight being far too nimble for the Kings Ships To prevent which inconvenience for the time to come there is present order taken for the building of Ships of the same shape with those of Dunkirk and for the Pirats of Sally that provision is taken either to restrain by Treaty or to repress them by force as will give good satisfaction and this will clearly appear upon proof V. Reply 5. That whereas about Michaelmas last a Ship called the St. Peter of New-haven laden with divers Merchants Jewels and Commodities to the value of 40000 l. or thereabout for the proper account of Monsieur de Villeurs then Governour of New-Haven was taken by the Ships of his Majesties late Fleet and brought into the Port of Plymouth as a Prize upon probability that the said Ship or Goods belonged to the Subjects of the King of Spain whereupon there was an arrest of two English ships at New-haven in the Kingdome of France after which intimation was given to the Advocate in the chief Court of Admiralty from his Majesty by Secretary Coke for the freeing and discharge of the said ship and goods and thereupon by Commission under Seal the said Ship and goods were released The said Duke notwithstanding any such order and decree detained still to his own use the Gold Silver Pearls Jewels and other Commodities so taken out of the said Ship and unjustly caused the said Ship to be arrested again in contempt of the Laws of this Land and to the prejudice of Trade That Complaint being made on the behalf of some French men at the Councel Table concerning the Saint Peter and some other ships His Majesty then present did order that she and all other stould be released as were found to belong to any Prince or State in amity with him provided they were not fraâ—dulently coloured And accordingly this ship was by Sentence in the Admiralty discharged But within few daies after new information came to the Lord Admiral that this ship was laden by the Subjects of the King of Spain in Spain that the Amirantesio wafâ—ed her beyond the North Cape and that Witnesses were ready to attest as much upon which the Duke acquainted his Majesty therewith and by his command made stay of this ship as he was assured by the opinion of the King and five other Advocates he might do and command was given to the Kings Advocate to hasten the examination of Witnesses in pursuance of the new information But the French Merchants impatient of delaies which the producing many witnesses would occasion complained again to the Council-board and obtained an Order from thence for the delivery of the said Ship and goods upon security which Security was once offered but after retracted yet upon consideration of the testimonies produced the Kings Advocate informing the Duke that the proof came short for that Ship the D. did instantly give order for her final discharge and that all her goods should be re-imbarked to the Owners which was done accordingly VI. Reply 6. That the East-India Merchants in the 21. of the late Kings Reign preparing to set forth four great
service nor any Man to March upon such pretence the three and twentieth of October and Copies sent abroad to all the Countiâ—s And the same night the Lord Blaney arrived with the newes of the surprisal of his House his wife and children by the Rebels of Monâ—ghan This Rebellion began first in the North in the Province of Ulster so that every day and hour ill newes came posting like Iobs Messengers of fearful Massacres upon the English which increased a fear of some Massacre in Dublin by the Papists there The Council began to consider of their own forces to defend and were assured that the Mony was in the Exchequer the Kings revenues and English Rents for that halfe year lodged in Tenents hands a fit prey for the Rebels which they seized some Artillery Arms for 10000. men 1500. barrels of powder with Match and lead laid in by the last Earl of Strafford By which Lâ—st of his it appeared that the old standing Army in Ireland consisted only of 41. Companies of foot and 14. Troopes of Horse The foot Officers 246. and of Souldiers 2051. Inall 2297. The Horse Officers 42. and Horsemen 901. In all 943. These so dispersed as not without difficulty to march yet the Councel sent their Patents to several Garisons to march to Dublin And Letters dispatched to the King in Scotland and to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland not got out of London of the Rebellion and ill State of the Kingdome depending on Gods assistance the fidelity of the old English Pale and aid out of England that they intended to prorogue the Parliament and adjourn the Term. And that their present Army now subsisting contain but 2000. foot and 1000. Horse the five and twentieth of October 1641. with a poscript for recompense to Conally for his discâ—very as may stand with the Mark of his Majesties bounty for that service who had a present peece of money and a certain annuity during his life very considerable who carried these Letters to the Lord Lieutenant Those to the King were sent to Secretary Vane in Scotland and convayed by sea by Sir Henry Spotswood Other Letters were sent to the Earl of Ormond at Carick to repair with his forces to Dublin and commissions were sent to the Lords Viscounts of Clandeboys and Ardes and to others for the raising of the Scots in the Northern parts into Arms with power to destroy the Enemy or to receive them to Mercy but all these dispatches were sent by sea the whole Land passages stopt by â—he Rebels The Lords of the English pale repair to the Council offering their faith and service It is a large Circuit of Land possessed by the English from the first Conquest being the Countiâ—s of Dublin Mâ—th Lâ—wth Kildare Yet some of these Lords Popish â—umbly offered their sense of the wars in the late Proclamation as to be misinterpreted viz. the Conspiracy of evil affected Iâ—â—sh Papists as to reflect upon their persons which were afterwards explained to please them and so Proclaimed And now the Rebels up in all places they in Ulster had by the latter end of October possessed themselves of all the great part of the Province of Ulster except the Cities of London derry Colraingue and the Town aâ—d Castle of Eâ—cikillen the chief Rebels were Sir Philip Oneale 〈◊〉 Oneale his brother Rowry Mac Guire brother to the Lord Mac Guire Philip O Rely Mulmere O Rely Sir Conno Mac Gennes Call Mac Ruian Mac Mahon these with others the chief of every Sept had as at one instant surprized the Castles and places of the most considerable strengths and the English being lovingly intermixed with the Irish for a long time made the Conspiracy more easily to be effected Besides such of the English as had gotten into some places of strength able to indure a siege yet upon good quarter rendered themselves were sure to be butchered and murthered in cold blood men women and children And to keep of the Assistance of the Scots they openly professed and really did spare them the more easily afterwards to be swallowed up at a bit These were the first fruits of the Rebellion in all the Northern parts acted by Phelim O Neale the chief of that Sept and the onely remain of cruel alliance to the late Earl of Tirone He was of very mean parts with courage or conduct His education in England a Student of Lincolns Inn and a Protestant till of late lived lasily of a mean estate untill now that the Natives set him up for their General and with such Numerous a rabble that he marched down towards Lisnagarvy neer the Scots and fell upon them now without mercy and with other forces came up into the Pale and took in Dondalk about the beginning of November then they marcht to the County of Lowth and incamped at Ardee a small Town within seven miles of Tredagh antiently called Drohedagh which they Besieged afterwards The Newes from Dublin being instantly posted to the Town of Tredagh was there encountred with the like mischievous tidings from the North the treacherous surprisal of the Castles Blainey Carrick Charlemont Monahan with others came thick and three fold one upon another and a rumour that Dublin was already taken confirmed by numbers stripped and wounded that fled hither The first succour was the Lord Viscount Moor being then at Mellifont ten miles off who by the sad newes of his Sister the Lady Blanâ—y and her children imprisoned made speed to save himself with some part of his Troop not more than sixty hither at Midnight joyned in Counsel with the Major suddainly to prevent the mischief by many vipers in their own Bowels but of all the Muster not above fourty to be found gave great suspition the rest were not found Instantly were drawn out many old peeces scowred and planted at several Gates fower more were heaved out of a Merchants Ship in the Harbour and some powder the Lord Moor posts to Dublin offers to make up his own Troop and to raise one hundred foot with amunition which was speedily brought thither with him with a Commission to Captain Sea foule Gibson to command these Men and instantly to take the watch who was the 〈◊〉 and last worthy of Record for his faithful service watching 〈◊〉 own perâ—erson for ten nights together and continuing the war became Colonel of a Regiment By this time the Rebels had taken Dundalk and Dromiskin and pillaged all the Protestants within five miles The Papist Townsmen were discovered by their smiling countenance All promised relief failing Sir Faithful Fortescue being Governour posted to Dublin where finding no hope of Assistance he quitted his charge not willing to loose himself and his honour to boote in an impossible undertaking After a solemn fast some forces sallied out upon the thickest of the Rebells who fled and left much plundred goods and Cowes to comfort the Towns-people two hundred Rebels and eighty brought in Prisoners
Covenant that the same be done by joint advice of the Committees of both Kingdoms and afterwards agreed upon by Votes of both Houses 3 That the Earl of Leven Lord General of the Scotish Forces in Ireland being now by the Votes of both Houses agreed to be Commander in chief over all the Forces as well British as Scots according to the fourth Article be desired with all convenient speed to nominate and appoint a Commander in chief under his Excellency over the said Forces to reside with them upon the place And a joynt Committee of both Kingdoms are appointed to reside with the said Forces and enabled with joint Instructions of both Kingdoms for Regulating the said Forces and carrying on of the war and accordingly the Committee were sent and so remained there Glocester now relieved the loss of their Enemy the Earl of Essex leaves with them three Culverins 46. barrels of powder and sets the Garison in order with the plunder provision of the Country filling their Granaries very plentifully and so departs The London Trained bands having done their work would needs go home but must pass the Kings pikes first and how their General also could escape the Kings Ingagement of a return was difficult not to be penned up in those parts and so made speed after the King who was Marched some miles before and passed by Cirencester leaving there a strong party where Essex his forlorn hope came and entred the Town whilst his Army surrounded it killed the Centry sleeping Marched up to the Market place without opposition being supposed Prince Maurice his forces that night expected entered their houses and surprized the people in their beds without any Allarm seized four hundred men and thirty Cart loads of Provision their onely support of the Souldier against the next battel at Newbery From thence Essex Marches to Chilleton the Cavaliers facing them on Mavarn hills but to amaze them Essex seems to retreat but sent out a party of horse who met and fired but were fain to wheel off with loss then the foot came on with a gallant charge accompanied with a volley of Dragoons and were answered as bravely by the King for an hour without ceasing and but time for Essex to bring on the Trained bands and Auxiliaries without any effect for night parted the fray and so from hence he Marches the next day to Newbery where the King being before hand had the advantage of the ground and planted his Ordinance with all the forces thereabouts On Wednesday the twentieth of September early as the sun the General takes a view of the Cavaliers set in Battalia at Newbery Common draws up and falls to firing for notice being brought to the King with his forces at Eversham that the Earl of Essex was returning from Glocester gave order to follow him and on the eighteenth of September his Majesties foot marching towards Wantage Prince Rupert with the whole body of horse advanced on the right hand to finde out Essex and got view of them that afternoon in a bottom near Aubern in Wiltshire and gave them two charges by the commanded party of Colonel urrey falling upon Essex Rear of his Horse where both encountred with equal loss Essex stands in Battalia for an hour and then marches the Prince overtakes him with a second charge adding the Queens Regiment as a reserve to the commanded party and his own Brigado to follow both Essex's horse appointed to bring up the Rear hastned forward within the Foot and brought Ruperts so near that it was necessary to decline them by falling off to the Right hand where two great Bodies of Essex's Horse came down a Hill and in excellent order received the others charge and after with eithers swords where the Lord Iermin received a slight wound on his Arm and the Lord Digby a shot on his head piece with loss of some men then those wheeling about ingaged the Lord Iermin with part of his Regiment almost to a loss but that they forced through some Bodies of Foot and got the better at that encounter onely with loss of Colonel Constable and that brave Gentleman the Marquess de la Vienville who was first taken prisoner and in cold blood unhandsomely slain and so night made either party retire The Kings Infantry was now at Wantage from whence Rupert desired them to march directly to Newbery with all speed the Horse refreshing at Lambern and Essex towards Hungerford arrived there the next morning six miles off so to Newbery but the King being come up before prevented them of accommodation there and lodged there himself that night all his Horse and some Musketiers were immediately drawn out beyond the water towards Essex his Army his whole body being within two miles and a half so as the parties fell to skirmish till dark night On goes Essex and surprizes the Kings new raised Troops at Cirencester scarce warm in their quarters And the twentieth of September the King saw his Enemy seated in a place the most advantageous the Horse Foot and Canon so planted for safety to themselves and annoyance of the King that it was conceived his Majesty was forced first to fight for a place â— to fight on which he did and gained the Hill the other pelting upon them from chosen groundâ— bushesâ— and hedges This Hill near Newbery and Enbarn-heath were the places where the most of this fight was performed The chief Commanders of Horse for the King besides Prince Rupert and the Lord Wilmot his Lieutenant General were the three Noble Lords the valiant Earls of Carnarvan and Northampton and the Lord Chandoys Sir Charls Lucas Colonel Charls Gerrard and Lieutenant Colonel Oneal In which fight were slain couragious Carnarvan whose memory since his undertaking to be a Commander is precious in Acts of honour and he that killed him lived not an instant after So was there slain the Noble Earl of Sunderland Colonel Morgan Lieutenant Colonel Fâ—ilding and many Gentlemen voluntiers by name Mr. Stroud and there were hurt of the prime Officers the Lord Andover Sir Charls Lucas Colonel Gerrard Colonel Ivers And of the Voluntiers the Earls of Carlisle and Peterborough Mr. Iohn Russell Mr. Edward Sacvile Mr. Henry Howard Mr. George Porter Mr. Progers The Kings foot were commanded by Sir Nicholas cholas Byron and the Horse by Sir Iohn Byron The chief Officers hurt were Colonel Dervy Lieutenant Colonel George Lisle who led on the forlorn hope and Lieutenant Col. Edward Villiers and here at the dispute of the Hill was slain that learned Lord Viscount Falkland Secretary of Estate The number slain on both sides are uncertain for what is confessed of the Cavalier supposes more of their Enemies I would there had been less then there were of either Only thus much is notorious not a Lord of the other side but in earnest we must give assurance many of their chief Officers were killed The slaughter fell foule on the London Trained bands
ten times over Here they remained pretending a Peace but in earnest to settle Trade and to see which way the Game went and having leave to go to the King they caress him with their Masters the States great inclination to cement these Differences but the King knew their mindes not to engage for him and so they returned in the end of this year The Marquess of Newcastle had been besieged above nine Weeks by the Parliaments Forces in the North for the raising of which Prince Rupert advances out of Shropshire marching with his Army through Lancashire raises the Siege of Latham House takes three Garisons Stopford Bolton and Leverpool he came forward towards York and on Sunday last of Iune enquartered at Knaresburgh fourteen Miles off the next morning over Burrough-bridg and that night along the River to York upon whose approach the Besiegers quit their Quarters and those in York pursue the Rear and seize some Provisions the next morning Iâ—lie 2. the Prince advances after them resolving to give them Battel by noon yet was it almost seven a clock ere they began and upon disadvantage enough for the Parliaments Forces had choice of the Ground and stood it on a Corn Hill on the South side of Marston Moor four Miles from York and so the Prince taking their leavings fell on upon their Horse who began to shrink and their right Wing of Horse and Foot were routed by the Princes left Wing commanded by General Goring Sir Charls Lucas and Major General Porter And thus confessed by themselves Our right VVing of Foot say they had several mis-fortunes for our right VVing of Horse consisting of Sir Thomas Fairfax 's Horse in the Van and the Scots Horse in the Rear wheeled about and being hotly pursued by the Enemies left VVing came disorderly upon the Lord Fairfax his Foot and the Reserve of Scotish Foot broke them wholly and trod the most of them under foot The Fight was sharp for three hours till night put a period Some of the Prince's Horse followed execution too far and none advancing to supply their absence the Enemy rallied and did the work and many slain on both sides and Prisoners also taken three Prisoners of quality on the Cavaliers party Lucas Porter and Colonel Tilliard The Scots were the Reserve in all their three Armies but smarted at last because their Van both of Horse and Foot not standing brought execution upon them The Parliament printed two Relations the one a Scotish Captain says That Prince Rupert had got the Ground with VVinde and Sun of the Scots when it is certain it was late in the Evening that the loss of men of qualitie upon their parts was but one Lieutenant Colonel and some few Captains And yet he says that the Earl of Eglinton's Regiment lost four Lieutenants the Major the Lieutenant Colonel and the Earls Son mortally wounded that the number of their slain about three hundred and that of the Cavaliers almost three thousand that Prince Rupert took all the Ordnance out of York and lost them in this Fight which Sir William VVallar says were eight and twentie Pieces Another Relation five and twentie And another says twentie That in this Fight were taken ten thousand Arms. Sir VVilliam Waller says six thousand Another Scots Captain says three thousand For Colours they shew a Scene of 47. Colours The truth is that the Horse of both Armies were sufficiently scattered by night next morning the Prince marched towards Thursk and can onely say That he relieved York with some Cattel raised the Siege and was soundly beaten Yet from thence he marched with six thousand Horse and three thousand Dragoons into Lancashire But from the last Fight divers of the Kings party took leave to depart the Kingdom and landed at Hamburgh the Letters from thence names them the Earl of Newcastle lately made Marquess with his two Sons and his Brother Sir Charls Cavendish General King the Lord Falconbridg the Lord VViddrington the Earl of Cranworth the Bishop of London Derrie Sir Edward VViddrington Colonel Carnabie Colonel Basset Colonel Mozon Sir VVillam Vavasor Sir Francis Mackworth with about eighty other persons Sir Thomas Glenham was Governour of York a gallant Gentleman maintaining it against the Siege of all the main Northern Forces of the Parliament the Earl of Manchester the Lord Fairfax and his Son And although Prince Rupert had so far relieved the City as to send them in some Cattel but neither Men nor Amunition so that after his fatal Blow at Marston Moor and now marched away the City left utterly from further expectation of assistance and the Parliaments Forces now resolving to fall upon the storming which the Governour opposed with as much gallantry as his necessitous condition could afford but being over-powered and his wants increasing he was inforced to surrender the City upon honourable terms on the sixteenth of Iulie 1. That all Officers and Souldiers â—hall march out on Horse back with their Arms flying Colours Drums beating Matches lighted Bullets in Mouth with Bag and Baggage 2. VVith a Convoy to Skipton 3. The Sick to depart at pleasure 4. That no Souldier be plundered or enticed away 5. The Citie to enjoy their Trade 6. The Garison to be two parts of three Yorkshire men 7. The Citie to bear Charges with the Countie as usual 8. To dispose and enjoy their Estates according to the Laws of the Land without molestation 9. The Gentlemen there to dispose and carrie away their Goods at pleasure 10. That the Churches be not defaced no man plundered justice to be administred by the Magistrate as before 11. That all persons whose Habitations are within the Citie though now absent shall enjoy the benefit of these Articles The Parliament ordain new Levies to be raised ten thousand Foot and fifteen hundred Horse and one thousand three hundred Dragoons out of nineteen Counties South Counties Suffolk Norfolk Huntington Oxford Berks c. Not only to raise these thousands but must advance as much money as will pay them during their imployment so as it was said that the two Houses at Westminster would devour all the Houses in London It was murmured that as these two had ruined all the rest so ere long they would pull down one the other for the Lords were daily baited by the Commons as Peers which yet doe but should not sit above them so as Mr. Blaston lately told the Lower Members That the Lords had been allowed too long to domineer and we see said he how often they have been defective the Lower stickling to heave out the Higher by the strength of whose Votes and Number the Committee of State is newly reared up which at long running will be too hard for them both and then that very Committee will perchance split into two Factions when our Northern Brethren may prove the better Gamesters because the Elder at this kinde of Contract untill at the last the whole Cause will appear in its
in the sight of Almighty God that I will not disclose nor reveale unto any Person or Persons whatsoever who is not a Commissioner any matter or thing that shall be spoken of during the Treaty by any one or more of his Majesties Commissioners in any private Debate amongst our selves concerning the said Treaty so as to name or describe directly or indirectly the person or persons that shall speak any such matter or thing unlesse by the consent of all the said Commissioners that shall be then living Memorandum That it is by all the said Commissioners agreed that this shall not binde where any ten of the Commissioners shall agree to certifie his Majesty the number of the Assenters or Dissenters upon any particular result in this Treaty not naming or describing the persons Upon the Kings former Message from Evesham Iuly 4. And his second Message from Tavestock Septem 8. and the consideration of the Parliaments late Propositions sent to the King at Oxford Novem. 23. which he Answered in the general the effect whereof produced an offer of the King for a Treaty so that at last it was assented unto and Commissioners appointed on all sides for the King and for the Parliament of England and the Parliament of Scotland to Treat at Uxbridge the 30. of Ianuary The day came and after eithers Commission was assented unto the Kings Commissioners complain against one Mr. Love who preached in Uxbridge to the people that very day Thursday Market day Telling them that the Kings Commissioners came with hearts full of bloud and that there is as great distance between this Treaty and Peace as between Heaven and Hell With divers other seditious passages against the King and his Treaty It was Answered that Mr. Love was none of their Train and that they would present this Complaint to the Parliament who will no doubt proceed in justice therein who was sent to the Parliament and slightly blamed but grew into so much favour with a Faction and therein very bold that we shall finde him hereafter a Traitor and sentenced to be hanged drawn and quartered but had the favour of the Ax. The observable end of many such in these times Commissioners pro Rege Duke of Richmond and Lenox Marquess of Hertford Earl of Southampton Earl of Kingston Earl of Chichester Lord Capel Lord Seamour Lord Hatton Lord Culpepper Sir Edward Nicholas Sir Edward Hide Sir Richard Lane Sir Thomas Grandure Sir Orlando Bridgeman Mr. Io. Ashburnham Mr. Ieffery Palmer Doctor Stuard Commissioners pro Parl. Earl of Northumberland Earl of Pembroke Montgomery Earl of Salisbury Earl of Denbigh Lord Wenman Mr. Hollis Mr. Pierpoint Sir Hen. Vane Iunior Mr. Crew Mr. Whitlock Mr. St. Iohns Mr. Prideaux Lord Loudon Sir Charles Ersken Scots Commissioners Mr. Doudas Mr. Brackley Mr. Henderson Then they proceed to their Order of Treaty 1. concerning Religion 2. Militia 3. Ireland But ere the Treaty began this Paper was delivered in to the Commissioners of Parliament from the other for reconciling all differences in the Matter of Religion and procuring a Peace we are willing 1. That freedom be left to all Persons of what opinion soever in Matters of Ceremony and that all the penalties of the Lawes and Customs which enjoyn these penalties be suspended 2. That the Bishops shall exercise no Act of Iurisdiction or Ordination without the consent and Councel of the Presbyters who shall be chosen by the Clergy of each Diocess out of the Learned'st and gravest Ministers of that Diocess 3. That the Bishop keep his constant Residence in his Diocess except when he shall be required by his Majesty to attend him on any occasion and that if he be not hindered by the Infirmity of old age or sickness he preach every Sunday in some Church within his Diocess 4. That the Ordination on Ministers shall be alwayes in the Publick and Solemn Manner and very strict rules observed concerning the sufficience and other qualifications of those men who shall be received into holy Orders And the Bishop shall not receive any into holy Orders without the Approbation and consent of the Presbyters or the Major part of them 5. That competent Maintenance be established by Parliament to such Vicarages as belong to Bishops Deans and Chapters out of the Impropriations according to their value of the several Parishes 6. That no Man shall be capable of two Parsonages or Vicarages with cure of Souls 7. That toward the setling of the Publick peace a hundred thousand pounds shall be raised by Parliament out of the estates of Bishops Deans and Chapters in such manner as the King and Parliament shall think fit without the Alienation of any of the said Lands 8. That the Iurisdiction in causes Testamentary Decimals and Matrimonials be setled in such a manner as shall seem most convenient by the King and Parliament And likewise that Acts to be passed for regulating of Visitations and against immoderate Fees in Ecclesiastical Courts and abuses by frivolous Excommunications and all other abuses in Ecclesiastical Iurisdictions as shall be agreed upon by King and Parliament And if the Parliaments Commissioners will insist upon any other things which they shall think necessary for Religion the Kings Commissioners shall very willingly apply themselves to the consideration thereof But no Answer was given thereto The Parliaments Commissioners paper concerning Religion That the Bill be passed for Abolishing and taking away of all Archbishops Bishops c. according to the third Proposition That the Ordinances concerning the calling and sitting of the Assembly of Divines be confirmed by Act of Parliament That the Directory for Publick Worship already passed both Houses and the Propositions concerning Church Government annexed and passed both Houses be Enacted as a part of Reformation of Religion and Vniformity according to the first Proposition That His Majesty take the Solemn League and Covenant and that the Covenants be enjoyned to be taken according to the second Proposition To this was annexed the following Paper That the ordinary way of dividing Christians into distinct Congregations and most expedient for edification is by the respective bounds of their dwellings That the Minister and the Church Officers in each Congregation shall joyn in the Government of the Church as shall be established by Parliament That many particular Congregations shall be under one Presbyterial Government That the Church be Governed by Congregational Classical and Synodical Assemblies to be established by Parliament That Synodical Assemblies shall consist both of Provincial and National Assemblies Which Papers suffered three dayes of the Treaty in dispute The next three dayes were ordered for the Militia and was afterwards resumed for other three dayes Propositions concerning the Militia 4 February We desire that the Subject of England may be Armed Trained and Disciplined as the Parliament shall think fit That the like for Scotland as the Parliament there shall think fit An Act for setling the Admiralty and forces at Sea and
Garison of Hereford taken by Surprize which saved the labour of doing it by treachery as it had been agreed upon But this was done thus The Garison was strong and well appointed the Countrey about in affection and friendship together a piece much aimed at as thereby denuding the King of all his Welch Forces And truly the Knight was happy that the Treachery failed But Colonel Iohn Birch and Col. Morgan Governour of Glocester their design took the effect of a just and Souldier-like surprize Morgan had 1100. Horse and Foot and Birch with 900. Foot and a Troop of Horse march from Glocester to Hereford in one day and a night where he was provided of six lusty men in habit of Labourers and the seventh man must be for a Constable with a Warrant in his hand to bring these fellows to work in the Town as if for service of the Garison These men thus prepared with 150. Firelocks lodged in the dark as near the Gate as possible without discovery and a Body of men was ready to second the Design of the other and to enter with them In fine the Bridge is let down to the Constable and his Crew who with Pick-ax and Spade and no sooner entred but the Guard began to examine and to bustle and to kill three of the Guard whilst the Firelocks enter with Col. Birch and Skirmish till the Body came up commanded by Colonel Morgan and so entred the Town with small losse on either side some submitting wherein were eleven pieces of Ordnance much Arms and Amunition the Lord Brudenel 14. Knights 4. Lieutenant Colonels 3. Captains and other Officers and Gentlemen one hundred 18. December Amongst those of the most honoured was that worthy Lawyer Judge Ienkins sent up to the Parliament and committed to several â—ayles of whom we shall have occasion to mention in many sufferings of his This surprize was quick and gallant As for Treacheries and corruptions of Companies or Guards they have been used by some but hated afterwards in all We have met with such on both sides and but lately the offer of Sir Iohn Digby to Colonel Ker Governour of Plymouth It is true that the Parliament willing to intrust that Garison to another person I doe not finde it out of any doubt in that Gentleman but Digby took that occasion to tempt Ker with this treachery SIR I am troubled to understand that through the ingratitude of those you serve you are likely to be rewarded with the dishonour of having a person of much inferiour merit put over your head an injury insupportable to any man of spirit and which may offer you a justifiable occasion of doing a very eminent service to your Native King and Countrey and which if you will embrace to deliver up the Town with the Works of Plimouth I shall engage my self on my honour and the faith of a Gentleman you shall be rewarded with ten thousand pounds and have the command if you please of a Regiment of 500. Horse with what honour your self can desire Sir be not scrupulous in taking the advice of an Enemie that desires heartily on these terms to become your true friend and faithful servant Jo. Digby For Colonel Ker Governour of Plimouth 30. Decem. Colonel Ker returns him this Noble Answer SIR Your motion to Treason I have seen and detest it it is below my spirit for personal injury supposed only by an Enemie to take National revenge and for a Punctillio of honour to take advice from Hell and betray my trust I am sorry that one so ingenious as your self should abuse your natural parts only to doe mischief Yet I have no reason to wonder much at your perswasion to treacherie because I have had the experience of the indeavours of your Family to corrupt others also I remember the Gunpowder Plot the Letter which your Brother writ to the Lord Roberts in this place for the same purpose And his Negotiation with General Brown at Abington Surely these Principles came from Spain but you should have told me also that Spanish proverb To love the Treason and hate the Traytor c. 20. Decemb. Your assured servant Iames Ker. The great success of the Parliament and the distresses of the Kings party enforcing them by numbers to come in and submit upon qualifications of Composition somewhat reasonable heretofore but now the more strict That all such Delinquents that were contained in the first qualifications in the Propositions to be sent to his Majesty and humbled not themselves in obedience to the Parliament before the 25. of March next should forfeit their whole Estates And that those who are contained in the second qualification and came not in as aforesaid should forfeit the Moity of their Estates and that this Qualification should extend to none but those who cordially should submit and should take the National Covenant appointed by Ordinance of Parliament The King had caressed the Parliament for a Treaty of Peace and Cessation also but they finding the Kings Affairs to pinch without hope of his ever being able to make an Offensive War and as little power to defend Therefore to give some satisfaction to the world and to the Kings desires they intend somewhat The Parliament have been hammering Propositions and as the Kings condition changed to the worse they were the bolder to offer such terms as were never likely to be granted And first they please themselves with Votes improbable for additional Honours to be forced from the King and to be placed on their several Members to them and their Heirs for ever Sir Thomas Fairfax be made an English Baron with five thousand pounds Lands per annum and a Committee to consider how this Estate and others following may be setled upon him and others for ever His Father Fairfax to be an English Baron and an Earl The honour of an English Baron on Lieutenant General Cromwel with 2500. l. per an The Honour of Dukedoms on the Earl of Northumberland Essex Pembroke The Earl of Salisbury and Manchester to be Marquesses The Lords Roberts Say Willoughby of Parham Wharton and Howard to be Earls Mr. Denzil Hollis a Viscount Sir William Waller a Baron and 2500. l. per. an Sir Arthur Hazelrig such another which only he modestly refused but not theâ— money Sir William Brereton 1500. l. per an Skippon 1000. l. per an All which Honours and Grants are to be confirmed by his Majesty upon passing the Propositions and the Revenues and estates to be setled out of Delinquents Lands after the satisfying of publique debts of the Kingdom but not before 1. Sept. 1645. But how unlikely the Propositions should pass clogged with these designs against the very hair of the Kings Councellours And how unlikely any Propositions at all shall be consented unto if we consider the Kings inclination towards a Peace by the Contents of his late Letters to Prince Rupert upon occasion of Ruperts Letter and Advice to Treat and
Sanderson Shelden Hamond Oldsworth Turner Haywood Lawyers Sir Tho. Gardner Sir Orlando Bridgman Sir R. Holburn Mr. Ieffery Palmer Mr. Tho. Cook Mr. Io. Vaughan Clerks and Writers Sir Edward Walker Mr. Phil. Warwick Mr. Nich. Oudart Mr. Charles Whittane To make ready the House for Treating Peter Newton The Commissioners nominated to attend the Treaty for the Parliament were the Earls of Salisbury Pembroke Middlesex Northumberland and the Lord Say And of the Commons were the Lord Wainman Mr. Hollis lately re-admitted into the House Mr. Perpoint Sir Harry Vane Jun. Sir Harbotel Grimston Mr. Brown Mr. Crew Mr. â—lin lately re-admitted into the House Sir Io. Pots and Mr. Bulkley And the King desired a safe conduct for Commissioners to come out of Scotland to joyn in the Treaty with him viz. the Lord Carnagy Sir Alexander Gibson the Lord Clerk Register and Sir Iames Carmichel The two first were refused as having been in arms against the Parliament of England And that four Bishops might attend him Armagh Exeter Rochester and Worcester and for Doctor Ferne and Doctor Morley And for his Advocate Sir Thomas Reves and for Doctor Duck Civil Lawyers but none of these aforesaid the Kings friends were intromitted into the Scene or to speech but to stand behind the Hangings and in the Tâ—ring-room so that the Kings single solitary self opposed all the other party And Order is given to Colonel Hamond to free the King of his imprisonment to ride abroad where he pleaseth upon his engagement to return at night to Sir William Hodges House the place appointed to Treat where galloppiâ—g down a steep Hill 14 Septem and reining his Horse too hard the Bridle broke and he without a Curb ran with speed endangering the King whose excellent Horsemanship saved him from the terrible effects which amazed the beholders And it is remarkable that long before this Lilly had foretold in his Astrological Predictions pag 15. lin 31. And were his Majesty at liberty it shews or threatens danger to his person by inordinate Horsmanship or some fall from on high Friday the 15. of September the Commissioners of Parliament are come to the King and Saturday was kept a fast by him and all his Family and Friends assistant with the ancient service of the Book of Common Prayer and preaching with this particular Prayer for a blessing on the Treaty O Most merciful Father Lord God of Peace and truth we a people sorely afflicted by the scourge of an unnatural war do here earnestly beseâ—ch thee to command a blessing from Heaven upon this Treaty brought about by thy providence and the only visible remedy left for the establishment of an happy peace Soften the most obdurate hearts with a true Christian desire of saving those mens blood for whom Christ himself hath shed his O Lord let not the guilt of our sins cause this Treaty to break off but let the Truth of thy Spirit so clearly shine in our mindes that all private ends laid a side we may every one of us heartily and sincerely pursue the publick good and that thy people may be no longer so blindly miserable as not 〈◊〉 see at least in this their day the things that belong unto their peace Grant this gracious God for his sake who is our peace it self even Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen The King told the Commissioners that he was glad of their coming to treat with him for a Peace and desired God to perfect that good work professing that he was in charity with all men not willing to revenge upon any nor to delay the hopes of a blessed issue and concludes to begin the Treaty on Munday morning 9. a clock 18. Septemb. The Treaty begins and to make it more difficult to Peace Occasion is given to oppose four Demands or Bills to the Kings demands which as a pledge of trust should be granted before whereto if the King assent they promise to commence a Treaty to the rest 1. To order for the future the Militia without the Kings consent to raise what Arms they please and that all others upon the pain of Treason shall not assemble to the number of thirty persons without the Authority of Parliament 2. That the Houses may sit and adjourn and assemble to what place and at what time at their own discretion 3. All Oaths Interdictions and declarations against the Parliament to be declared void 4. Whomsoever the King had dignified with Titles from the time himself departed and conveyed away the great Seal of England be degraded of their honours And these must be first ratified and to command them to be passed into Laws Then they go on with the Preface the matter of the Treaty For as much as both Houses of Parliament have been necessitated to undertake a War for their just defence and for the prosecuting thereof have bound themselves in a Covenant be it enacted by the Kings command The Propositions were in number eleven 1. That all Declarations and Proclamations against the two Houses of Parliament or their Adherents and all Judgments and Indictments c. against them be declared Null 2. That a Satute be Enacted for abolishing of all Arch Bishops and Bishops out of the Churches of England and Ireland for the selling of their Lands and Revenues As also that the calling and sitting in Synod of the Divines be approved 〈◊〉 the Royal assent the Reformation of Religion for England and Ireland according to such Models as the Members of Parliament have or shall decree consultations first had with the said Divines In particular that the King grant his assent that the Act of both Houses formerly made concerning the Directory as concerning the publick Celebration of Gods worship throughout England and Ireland for the abolishing the Ancient Liturgie for the form of Church Government and Articles of Religion with the Catechisms the great and the less for the more Religious observation of the Lords day for supressing of Innovations in Churches and Chappels for the incouraging of the publick Preachers to their duties by a just reward for prohibiting of Pluralities of Benefices and non-residence to Clergy-men henceforth pass into Statutes or Laws That the King would set his hand to the National League and Covenant and suffer himself to be bound by the same that by publick Act it be enjoyned all the Subjects of both the Kingdoms of England and Scotland to be bound thereby under a penalty to be imposed at the pleasure of both Houses That it may belong to the Houses of Parliament to visit and reform the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge the Colledges also of Westminster Winchester and Eaton That it be provided by Statutes that Jesuites Priests and Papists disturb not the Common-wealth nor elude the Laws as also for the discriminating of them an Oath be administred to them wherein they shall abjure the Pope of Romes Supremacie Transubstantiation Purgatory Image-worship and other Superstitious errors of the Church of Rome That
fit for a Kings use because submitting to the regret of the peoples hate and had no doubt abilities to have ballanced affairs to the better had not his Assassination left things loose in the very time that he endeavoured to fasten them These grievances such as they were murmured into common knowledge made the Multitude most averse to supply the Kings necessities and his Instruments of Invention seeking thereby their own ends to advance the Prâ—sbyterian Faction by a discontented bussle put the King upon the most regretful wayes that proved his ruine Of Scotland But to heighten these Differences the Scots are called home from foreign parts and flocking to the English Court upon large expence their former begging trade almost out of use began confederacie with the English Puritan and Presbyter crying out upon the Queen and Popery some advantages they finde ready fitted to hand the busie Arch-bishop who must in this time of high discontent press a full conformity of their Kirk in Scotland with the English Discipline which occasioned the Commons and cunning Lords of both Nations to combine watching such a conjuncture of time and state that should force the King in to the Parliamentary way which they effected mightily insisting upon their Priviledges enlarged by former favour of Soveraigns specially of Queen Eliâ—â—beth whose interest lay couched in the Mad-headed Multitude lately become loose by sundry Laws which gave them equality with the Peerage and now cry out for liberty And so we shall enter upon some Observations in reference to their first Actors on their own Stage It is observable that upon the change of Soveraignty a Mutability and alteration of men and manners to follow The former Councellors and Favourites of State to decline yielding or overpowred with the Factions and Complots of such as seek to set up themselves with others ruine as in England so in Scotland The Earl of Niddisdale married into the Kindred of the Duke of Buckingham took to Faction the Earl of Mentith of the Ancient Noble Family of Grahames their Spirit was preserved in him but the Estate decayed in them all only Sir Iames Grahame I remember of some credit heretofore with King Iames applyed his policy then in spite to Somerset for the Induction of the Favourite Villiers buoy'd up by the Scots upon his score who had interest with that Duke ever after his noble 〈◊〉 and perfect character never ingratefull Another was Sir William Alexander of Menstrie and but Master of Requests for Scots Affairs yet great enough to bear up with any the most ambitious who with pâ—rsons some Bishops of their own and others of such like humours advised a general Revocation of things passed heretofore partly in minority of Princes in prejudice to the Crown a course most usual just and reasonable with the Kings Predecessors and yet now become grievous for great men to part with Grounded no doubt and that Legally upon former Revocations after dissolution of the Popish Religion and so annexed to the Crown but it was at this time done with all moderation and in effect for ease to the Gentry and the Ministery who of all proved most ingrate Another Symptome of discontent proceeded from men of the Noblest extraction Lords of the Erection or Laicks or as in England Impropriators who usually abused their gathering in of their Tithes against whom Petitions were frequent from almost all the Ministers and Gentry and their Farmers for their oppression in matters of Tithes none having power to carry away his nine parts or any part untill the Proprietary have set out his tenth part The Ministers likewise received no Tithes or but a poor pittance or stipend and so in dependence of such Patrons upon all occasions of Faction good or bad A necessary considered in point of State also That all those Ministers and others that pay Tithes the greatest part of the people should depend on the Nobility or Laick persons upon which reasons for reformation there issued out Commissions to sundry the Prime of Estates and Degrees the very offenders not omitted and called Commissioners of Surrenders of Superiority and Tithes the effect accordingly rendred a due and equal amendment of evill manners and freedom from that bondage and so acknowledged from all Nor were the Patrons displeased in point of profit as it was ordered only they were curbed of their usurpation in their Powers and Superiority over the people and therefore to deceive them it was bruited abroad as a design of the Bishops and struck at the Liberty of Religion Other complaints were fram'd against the Dependants and Favourites of the Lords of Session obstructing the equality of Justice Three of the chiefest Earls Hadington Lidsdale and Southeck led the way of surrendring their Patents from King Iames ad vitaâ— vel culpam and all others Patents were reformed durante beneplâ—citâ— Regis Yet see the ingenuity and grace of the King the last two Earls continued Privy Councellors And Hadington removed from the place of Secretary was rewarded with the custody of the Privy-seal of more honour but less gain And which angered them all Sir William Alexander made a Lord and soon after Secretary of State yet still to stop the mouth of malice Hadington had half the benefit of the signet Mentith made President of the Council a new Office in that Nation which formerly resided in 〈◊〉 Chancellour and afterwards created Earl of Stratherne These Mutations gave the first motions of discontent and proceed to Mutiny for Niddesdale comes thither with Commission of Grievance framed at Court to be setled in form of the English Star-chamber intentionally to raise fines from offenders for the Kings use which Niddesdale meant to beg to pay his debts A design effectually ruinous only to great men notorious oppressors But the Earls of Kinnoul Chancellor Marr Treasurer and old Hadington Privy-seal having continual intelligence out of the Kings Bed-chamber the most Scotch-men his own servants therein from first and last fatal Informers of all his secrets so moved their Faction and Friends armed with Scots Pistols and Whinyards their Mode in mutiny opposed Niddesdale to his teeth the very day of delivery of the Commission to be confirmed by the Council and old Hadington with his Hanger a man now of the Gown in the head of the Rout Niddesdale was fairly enforced to steal away by a back Postern and posted to England with his Commission in his Cloak-bag This the first fatal opposition to Soveraignty and Justice and the first foil which was never removed to the last of the Kings life Alexander also made an Earl unable to execute his Office of Secretary was contented to have assistance of another the manner of England Sir Archibald Attchison a Judge in Ireland his intimate friend but of such an unquiet Spirit as from his first Accession gave fuel to all those after Seditions Upon the surrenders of Superiority and Tythes Sir Iohn Stewart of Traham amongst others was deputed by the Gentry
Barons and Bishops alwaies standing bareheaded Then every Bishop came to the King to bring their Benediction upon him and he in King Edwards Robes with the Crown upon his Head rose from his Chair and bowed to every Bishop apart Then was girt about him King Edwards Sword which himself after wards took off and offered it up at the Communion Table with two Swords more in relation to Scotland and Ireland or to some antient Principalities with his Predecessors enjoyed in France The Duke of Buckingham as Master of the Horse put on his Spurs and thus compleatly crowned his Majesty offered first Gold then Silver and afterwards Bread and Wine which was to be used at the holy Communion Then the King was conducted by the Nobility to the Throne upon the square Basis of five Descents the Quire singing Te Deum where he received the Oath of Homage from the Duke of Buckingham as Lord High Constable for that day and the Duke swore all the Nobility to be Homagers to his Majesty at the Kings knee Then the Earls and Barons laid their hands on the Crown upon the Kings head protesting to spend their bloods to maintain it to him and his lawful Heirs The Bishops kneeled down but took no oath the King kissing each of them Then the King took a Scrowl of Parchment out of his Bosom and gave it to the Lord Keeper Coventry who read it to the Commons four several times East West North and South the effect His Majesties pardon to all that would take it under his Broad-Seal From the Throne to the Communion Table where the Arch-bishop kneeling at the North side read prayers and the Quire sung the Nicene Creed the Bishops Landaff and Norwich read the Epistle and Gospels The Bishops of Durham and Saint Davids in rich copes with his Majesty received the Communion the Bread from the Archbishop the Wine from Bishop Saint Davids The King received last of all whilest Gloria Patri was sung and some prayers by the Arch-bishop conclude the solemnity After the King had disrobed himself in King Edwards Chapel he came forth in a short Robe of Red Velvet girt unto him lined with Ermins and a Crown of his own upon his head set with very pretious stones And thus the Train going to the Barges at the water-side they returned to White-hall about three a clock afternoon This being as yet the last solemnity of this King Charles I could say no less to preserve it to memory to shew what that State had been till it be so again And now the King calls a Parliament which met the sixth of February Sir Henage Finch Recorder of London chosen Speaker of the Commons House So soon are they summoned after their last Dissolution It was the Kings design then to take this short time of recess to cool the heat of some fiery Spirits and now for him to give all possible satisfaction to their former pressures of Grievances which had been lately fully cleared unto them in pursuance of their pretended devout care for settling of Religion But still the house of Commons scrutiny and by a Committee strictly examine what abuses had interferred the execution of his Majesties Grace therein And the Lords betake themselves to a Grievance of their own Order The old ones had a former complaint five years since to King Iames against such New Lords of foreign Titles of Honour that claimed thereby precedency of Inferior titles at home and were then quelled in that quarrel as being in the pleasure of the Prince to effuse the beames of Honour and to collate what he please upon whom and how he please But now another dress and much more boldly To the Kings most Excellent Majesty In all humility SHeweth unto your most Excellent Majesty your ever Loyal Subjects the Lords Spiritual and Temporal now in Parliament assembled That whereas the Peers and Nobility of this your Kingdome of England have heretofore in civility yielded as to strangers precedency according to their several degrees unto such Nobles of Scotland and Ireland as being in titles above them have resorted hither Now divers of the nâ—tâ—ral born Subjects of this Kingdom resident here with their Families and having their chief Estates among us do by reason of some late created Dignities in those Kingdomes of Scotland and Ireland claim Precedency of the Peers of this Realm which tends both to the dis-service of your Majeâ—â—â— and these Realms and to the great disparagemont of the English Nobility as by these reasons may appear 1. It is a novelty without precedent That men should inherit Honors where they possess nothing else 2. It is injurious to those Countreys from whence their Titles are derived that any should have Vote in Parliament where they have not a foot of Land 3. It is a grievance to the Countrey where they inhabit that men possessing very large Fortunes and Estates should by reason of foreign Titles be exempted from those services of Trust and Charge which through their default become greater pressures upon others who bear the burthen 4. It is a shame to Nobility that persons dignified with the Titles of Barons Viscounts c. should be obnoxious and exposed to arrest they being in the view of the Law no more then meer Plebeians We therefore humbly beseech your Majesty that you will be pleased according to the example of the best Princes and Times upon consideration of these inconveniences represented to your Majesty by the nearest Body of Honour to your Majesty that some course may be taken and an Order timely settled therein by your Princely Wisdom so as the inconvenience to your Majesty may be prevented and the prejudice and disparagement of the Peers and Nobility of this Kingdom may be redressed To which the King for the present Promised to take order therein And the next News was the commitment of the Earl of Arundel to the Tower and this the cause The King having a Design to reconcile an antient fewd of two families by contracting them into a Marriage between the Lord of Lorn son and heir to the Earl of Arguile and bred up in England a Protestant for that purpose and the Eldest Daughter of the late Duke of Lenox which though well known to the Earl of Arundel he very boldly marries his eldest Son the Lord Matravers unto her and excuses it to be the private contrivance of the two Mothers but he is committed to the Tower and being in time of Parliament the Peers Petition the King That no Peer is to be imprisoned without Order of the Upper House unless for Treason Felony or Denial of the security for the peace which retrived their old dispute Priviledge and lasted the debate of a Months time In which space Mr. Pym Chairman to the Câ—mmittee of Religion reports the Inquisition of their discovery A Letter to the Lord Maior of York for Reprieve of some Iesuits Priests and other Recusants which Letter was compared
solely intrusted with the person of the prince should leave behind him in a foreign Court so much scandal by his ill behaviour 10. That he hath been a great part the cause of the ruine of the Prince Palatine and his estate in so much as those affairs concern this kingdom 11. That he hath in his relation to both Houses of Parliament wronged the Earl of Bristow in his honour by many sinister aspersions 12. Lastly that the Earl of Bristow did reveal to his late Majesty both by word and letter in what sort the Duke had misdemeaned himself and abused his trust and the King by several wayes sent him word he should rest assured that he would hear the said Earl in due time and that four dayes before his sicknesse he signified to the Earl that he would hear him against the Duke as well as he had heard the Duke against him And not long after the King died having been much vexed and pressed with the said Duke Here is no High Treason herein mentioned if the charge were proved then no Traytor at all neither most nor least for indeed had this done it the Commons needed not their new Impeachment which followes and never amounted to more than Misdemeanors Misprisions Offences and Crimes Nothing rare with favourites and therefore never such pursued upon any before this person and these times Which might occasion an antient Baron the Lord Spencer To start up that was no upstart Lord and to demand Is this all you have to say against the Duke The Earl replyed Yes my Lord and I am sorry it is so much then quoth the Lord Spencer If this be all Ridiculus Mus and so sat down again Upon this a Crotchet took the Lord Cromwel in the Crown and out he goes to Mr. Richard Spencer a younger Son of that Lord and a great Zelot in the Lower house against the Duke Dick said he What is done in your House to day against the Duke My Lord said he he is charged with high Treason Tush Dick quoth the Lord High Treason If this be all Ridiculus Mus. The Charge I say might occasion this story of the Lords complements which out of doubt was told to the Historian for truth though couched in this wanton stile not usuâ—l with his gravity I confess And indeed if Mr. Richard Spencer have not forsaken his Memory he professes there was never any such confabulation with any Crotchet of Cromwells Crown and desires the Author to expunge it out of his next impression and me to excuse him in this But such a Charge as it was It served the turn for that time but not to prevent the Attornies Charge against the Eaâ—l which to my knowledge was framed long before and therefore needed no speeding as to prevention Yet being ready It was put in the next day abating one of the Earls number against the Duke for these were but Eleven Articles First That the said Earl being imployed by the late King Iames as his Ambassadour unto Ferdinando Emperour of Germany and unto Philip the fourth King of Spain in the years 1621 1622 and 1623. with Commission to treat with them for the plenary restitution of the Palatinate to the Count Palatine who maried the Lady Elizabeth the onely Daughter of his late Majesty and also to treat with the King of Spain for a Mariage to be had between his now Majesty then Prince of Wales and the Lady Donna Maria the Infanta of Spain did falsly trayterously and confidently inform the late King by sundry Letters That the said Emperour and King of Spain would really make restitution of the Dominions and Electoral dignity of the said Count Palatine and that the said King of Spain did really intend the Mariage aforesaid Whereas in truth the said Emperour and King or either of them never really intended such restitution and the King of Spain never intended the said Mariage whereof the Earl could not be ignorant whereby the the Dominions and Electorall Dignity aforesaid were utterly lost Secondly That the said Earl having received from his late Majesty particular directions to put the King of Spain to a speedy and punctual answer touching the Treaties aforesaid did nevertheless continue those Treaties upon Generalities without effectuall pressing the King of Spain to particular Conclusions sutable to his Instructions Thirdly that the said Earl to the intent to discourage the late King from taking up of Arms or entring into Hostility with the said King of Spain did many times both by word and letters to him and his Ministers extoll the greatnesse and power of the King of Spain and did cunningly strive to retard the late Kings Resolutions of declaring himself an Enemy to the King of Spain Fourthly That the said Earl being told upon his dispatch out of this Realm that there was little probability that these Treaties would have any good successe he then replyed He cared not what the successe thereof would be for he would take care to have his instructions perfect and to pursue them punctually and howsoever the businesse went he would make his fortunes thereby Fifthly that the said Earl on purpose to advance the Romish Religion did during the time aforesaid often by Letters and otherwise counsell and perswade his late Majesty to set at liberty Iesuits and Priests of the Romish Religion which were imprisoned according to the laws of the Land and to grant the Papists a Toleration of their Religion Sixthly That by the said Earls false Informations and Intelligences given to the late King and now his Majesty then Prince they were put into hopes and by long delayes they were put into jealousies concerning the said Treaties that there was not that sincerity in them which they expected Whereupon the said Prince his now Majesty was enforced to undertake in his own person a long and dangerous Journey into Spain intending either speedily to conclude the said Treaties or to discover the feigned Intentions of the Emperoâ—r and King of Spain and thereupon to dissolve them By which Journey the Person of the said Prince and in Him the peace and safety of this Kingdom was brought into apparent danger Seventhly That at the Prince his first coming to the said Earl in Spain he asked the Prince For what he came thither The Prince at first not conceiving the Earls meaning answered You know as well as I. The Earl replyed Sir Give me leave to tell you they say here in Madrid that you mean to change your Religion and added further Sir I do not speak this that I will perswade you to it or that I will promise to follow your example though you do it but as your faithful servant if you will trust me with so great a secret I will endeavour to carry it in the secretest way I can At which the Prince being moved said unto him I wonder what yoâ— have ever found in me that you should conceive I would be so base as for a wife to change
Statutes were verbatim recited the substance of the Petition was this 1. THey do pray your most excellent Majesty that no man hereafter be compelled to make or yeeld any Gift Loan Benevolence Tax or such like charge without common consent by Act of Parliament and that none be called to make answer or to take such oath or to give attendance or be confin'd or otherwise be molested or disquieted concerning the same or for refusal thereof 2. And that no freeman be taken and imprisoned or be disseised of his free-hold or liberty or his â—ree customs or be out-lawed or exiled but by the lawfull judgement of his Peer or by the law of the Land 3. And that your Majesty would be pleased to remove the Souldiers and Mariners now Billitted in divers Counties and that your people may not be so burthened in time to come 4. That the late Commissions for proceeding by Martiall-Law may be revoked and annulled and that hereafter no Commission of like nature may issue forth to any person or persons whatsoever to be executed lest by colour of them any of your Majesties subjects be destroyed and put to death contrary to law and the franchises of the land All which they most humbly pray of your most excellent Majesty as their rights and liberties according to the Laws and Statutes of this Realm and that your Majesty would also vouchsafe to declare that all awards doings or proceedings to the prejudice of your People shall not be drawn hereafter into consequence and example And now indeed their Lordships Eyes were opened and fearing the eminent mischief to the King and in him to themselves as having more interest in Prerogative then the Commons their first existence present subsistence and yet not altogether to leave the publique without remedy they annexed to the Petition this addition of Salvo We present this our humble Petition to your Majesty not onely with care to preserve our own Liberties but with regard to leave intire that Soverain Power wherewith your Majesty is trusted for the Protection safety and happinesse of your People But the Commons refused this and procured a Conference and Mr. Noy is sent with reasons and resolutions of the Lower-House which signified little but at a second meeting managed by Sr. Henry Martin and Serjeant Glâ—nvile the Lords did comply and so presented without that saving To which the King took a little leasure ere he returned them this for answer THe King willeth that right be done according to the laws and Customs of the Realm and that the Statutes be put in due execution that his Subjects may have no cause to complain of any wrong or oppressions contrary to their just Right and Liberties to the preservation whereof he holds himself in conscience as well obliged as of his Prerogative Certainly the sense was as the very Essence the matter being the Main aud was excepted against as too firm but not full enough without their own formalities of the old Model for which they agreed to Petition but were surprized with this Item from the King My Answer was made with so good deliberation and approved by the judgement of so many wise men that I wonder it hath not satisfied you to the full but to avoid all ambiguities and to clear my just meaning I am willing to please you even in Words as well as Substance Read your Petition and receive an Answer I am sure will please you Which was Le droict soit faict comme iâ— est desire This I am sure is full yet no more than in my first you may see now how ready I shew my self to satisfie your demands so that having done my part if this Parliament have not a happy conclusion the sin is yours I am free Hereto the Houses shout with mighty acclamations of joy testified also with the usuall consent of the publique Bonefires and Bellsâ—inging â—inging over all the Cities and the Upper-House finding this a fit time of reciprocal contexture the King glad to see them satisfied with little aâ—doe procured his Majesties Grace to extend even to those Lords in former disfavour To Abbot Arch-Bishop of Canterbury William Bishop of Lincoln the Earl of Essex Lincoln Warwick Bristow and him that was alwayes out the Lord Say This did the King do the fifth Presage from the King vailing his Crown to the Parliament which doth so astonish the Historian that he breaks out into Ravishment That this session that Gallant Standard of Common Liberties the Petition of Right was granted That never did Arbitrary Power since Monarchy first founded so submittere fasces so vail its Scepter Never did the Prerogative descend so much from Perch to Popular Lure as by that Concession a Concession able to give satisfaction even to supererogation for what was amisse in all the Kings by-past Government But what did they do having now thus sentenced all Illegalities they fell to Execution of Commission of Loan and Excise and cancelled them in the Kings presence And now thus secured they yet ride on ripping up all manner of Grievances and Grievers in a large Remonstrance 1. THe danger of Innovation and alteration in Religion This occasioned by 1. The great esteem and favours many professors of the Romish Religion receive at Court 2. Their publique resort to Masâ—e at Denmark house contrary to his Majesties answer to the Parliaments Petition at Oxford 3. The Letters for stay of proceedings against them Lastly the daily growth of the Arminian faction favoured and protected by Nele Bishop of Winchester and Laud Bishop of Bathe and Wells whilest the Orthodox parts are silenced or discountenanced 2. The danger of Innovation and alteration in Government occasioned by the Billetting of Souldiers by the Commission for procuring one thousand German Horse and Riders as for the defence of the Kingdom by a standing Commission granted to the Duke to be General at land in times of peace 3. Disasters of our Designes as the expedition to the Isle of Rhe and that lately to Rochel wherein the English have purchased their dishonour with the waste of a million of treasure 4. The want of Ammunition occasioned by the late selling away of thirty six Last of Powder 5. The decay of Trade by the losse of three hundred ships taken by the Dunkyrkers and Pirates within these three last years 6. The not guarding the narrow Seas whereby his Majesty hath almost lost the Regality Of all which evils and dangers the principall Cause is the Duke of Buckingham his excessive power and abuse of that power And therefore they humbly submit it to his Majesties wisdom whether it can be safe for himself or his Kingdom that so great power both by Sea and Land as rests in him should be trusted in the hands of any one Subject whatsoever This and the Bill of Subsidies went cheek by joll and were presented to the King in the Banquetting house at White-Hall which being read out with some regret in
continuance and Repeal of divers Statutes 5. For the establishing of the Estates of the Tenants of Brumfield and Yale in the County of Denbigh and of the Tenures Rents and services thereupon reserved according to a late composition made for the same with the King then Prince of Wales 6 For the confirmation of the Subsidies granted by the Clergy 7. For the grant of five intire Subsidies granted by the Temporality There was a Design in the King to lay it up under deck amongst other Crimes fit for Star-chamber Censure that when the State should have been at leasure their Charter might have paid for all and I know the Attorney Generall had Order in these In Iuly dies Doctor Preston an excellent Preacher of whom something hath been said in the Historie of the Church which concludes his Character A subtile Disputant and great Polititian having large parts of sufficient Receipt to mannage the broad Seal which if the Condition had pleased was proffered unto him and might have been the Dukes right hand Or rather lesse then his little finger who despairing of being Patriarch of the Presbyterian party used the Duke no longer Excellent parts no doubt he had His pieces are in Print His Posthumus And his Pupil left nothing unsaid of his life to give him merit and eternall memory Somewhat must be said as to his Politiques He was esteemed indeed a proper Patron for the Puritan Presbyter which now got head to prick up And all the Plot was to bring him in forsooth to make the Duke in that Ministery which they durst intrust to his Management And first to appear aloof the manner of Court observers his addresse must be to the Dukes Confident rhe Earl of Holland made easie to him by favour of that family But yet a Remembrancer was thought upon to move by the by a dependant of that Lords who in truth dealt Ingeniously Intimating to the Duke Doctor Prestons power and interest with the Presbyters in that time more necessary to be sought unto then to be put by To which the Duke answered with an Oath The King knows him too well and hath no good opinion of him If so replied the Other and already known the advantage the better to make alike use of him so they did In which truly the Dukes head was not too easie for the Doctors for in shew he was carressed to undo him which wrought the effects suspected of his own followers lest he should be not onely besprinkled but drencht in Court Holy-water And in very earnest somewhat tainted he was and tempted with ambitious hopes and if I may speak it himself was brought to accept it But it was very necessary for him to undeceive his Disciples and there to intrust One in whom Obedience and Blindnesse met together A being made to do as he was bidden To him the Doctor writes a Letter under hand to be communicated onely unto special friends wherein to blazon himself he relates what he thought fitting to be believed more to his own glory and disparagement of the weaknesse of Court wits as he stiled them then many vain men might be thought to imagine That not enough he vents therein his own policy working upon the witlesse Statists at Court bestowing on each of them by Name such characters as he conceived would caresse his Pupils with a Stanza or two short and Satyrical This Letter sealed was found in Smithfield broken open and carried to the Duke But by a noble friend of his handsomly descried to him How witty he was in Rhimes and bidden to look about him Of which when he had but a hint He clapt his hand on his heart and confessed he was undone But his party to procure their Patrons peace of minde and to silence such a Witnesse they dealt subtilly indeed down-right Bribes to the Dukes Barber to finger the Letter out of the Dukes pocket and so being brought to the Doctor to bury the obloquie before his death not much time after This I say to shew how partially Mens pens put down private Actions which they guesse at Other such I could unravel And for this with the Testimony to boot of a Person then his disciple and since of that eminency in honour and justice as we shall fail to finde out his example Sithence the return home of the second unfortunate Fleet designed to relieve Rochel this whole vacation took up the time with those ships and others appointed for a fresh Expedition thither The most accomplished Armado that was set out by England And the Duke designed himself to be the General Commander once more to give adventure for the fatal effects or final end to their languishing misery And because the Earl of Marlborough had been a dull and unactive Treasurer for raising money to the Exchequer he was removed to be President of the Privy Counsel And Sr Richard Weston lately created Baron supposed more solid for the weight of that Staffe And in truth the King was put upon it to seek for such men whose abilities might recover him from the hazzard and defection he was fallen into both in his Purse and power He for the one and Sr. Thomas Wentworth of the North was made a Lord ready for the next Session to sit with the Peers He had been too heavy against Prerogative and this was a way to bring them in for the King The Fleet now in readinesse the King draws down his Guests of Progresse towards Portsmouth where the Ships were and from thence to dis-embogue The Town so full of Gallants and so pestered with lodgings that the King kept aloof and made his Court four miles distant The Duke very diligent to hasten his designe treating daily with the Commissioners of Rochel and Soubize in Portsmouth with his Duchesse and Family when He took his last leave of this life And because the Historian is much mistaken in relation of the Dukes Murder I shall ingeniously and truly not upon surmize or Hear-say resolve all the particular That fatall morning the three and twentieth of August the Duke having fitted himself to wait upon the King he hastily called for Breakfast His servants attending the sewer to bring in the meat the Duke came down stairs from his upper Chamber to eat in a lower Parlour turning in at the foot of the Stairs in a narrow Entry And Sir Thomas Friar one of his Colonels following him to the Parlour door stooping to take his leave the Duke declining imbraced Friar with these words Honest Tom. and so turning into the Room one Iohn Felton at that instant shadowed behinde them stabbed him to the heart with a back-blow of a Coutel-knife which stuck in his body till the Duke dragg'd it out and so enlarged the orifice that streamed with the effusion of so much bloud and spirit that instantly he died not able it seems to utter a syllable and certainly no soul there present for he fell backward into the Parlour and the Assassinate
fled nor could any creature discern the Murderer but by several suspitions of those that were left last above with the Duke and therefore some cried out upon Soubiez the Frenchmen Friar whilest Felton having no power to fly far uncertain what to do stepped aside into the Kitchin near at hand hither the uproar and search followed some cried out Where 's the Villain Felton mistaking the words for Here 's the Villain suddenly started and said I am he whom they seized and with much ado to preserve alive from the fury of the Servants Mr. Stamford the Dukes follower tilting at him with a Rapier which others put by that missed but little of his intent to repay him to the full This being the truth we can scarce give credit that any one much less that the Earl of Cleveland and some others who were in the hearing of the thing reported that the most religious Murderer in the very act of striking said Lord have mercy on thy soul a Speech which the Duke had scarce ability to say himself but was onely heard to say some report with an Oath The Villain hath kill'd me We must observe the Authours easiness to believe Reports so improbable that the Earl and others Witnes enow should be so near to hear the thing and the several sayings and yet could not meet with the man till he discovered himself How very Christian-like he stiles â—he Malefactour The most religious Murderer and grounds his faith no doubt upon his charitable Requiem for the Duke's Soul which he had scarce ability to say for himself and yet with the same certainty he assures us that the Duke was heard to say much more and that with an Oath The Villain hath kill'd me This Oath was either an Asseveration which needed not or a Curse more wretched and both alike unlikely to be true Strange Reports are seldome of certainty which wise men justly forbear without good proof To say upon hear-say that A. B. hath hang'd himself is an abominable untruth if he be living Yet in such case the party belied hath time and means hereafter personally to recover his good fame by disproving the Report But to create and chronicle a fatal Scandal upon the very Soul of a noble person dying and that irreccoverably beyond the reach of repair is no doubt most unbeseeming an Historian or a good Christian. And for his two especial almost singularly observable things are thus mistaken that the Gorps was he says totally abandoned by each living man Indeed he dead the inquisition for Murder made every good man a party in the search as in such distraction is always needfull and besides the Duke's Dutchess and other Ladies in the upper Chamber hastened all mens affections and charity thitherward to preserve them and others in desperate agony And for the other ill news hath wings carried to Court by Captain Charls Price who found the King in the Presence chamber at his publick daily Prayers and the Company about him on their knees over whose heads he unhandsomly bestrid to make his way to the King rounding his ear The Duke is murdered which being thus passionately acted and so observed the Chaplain he made a stop till the King bid him go on as not to interrupt his Devotions with any outward accident But others he says thought he might dislike the mode of the Dukes dispatch yet was well pleased with the thing as if Providence had rid him of the subject whom he could not prefer with safeâ—y nor desert with honour an unhandsome character of the Kings conscience Many Messengers posted to Court with this ill News more hasty than able to satisfie the particulars therein and as passionately the Courtiers posted to Portsmouth There was one had command to inquire of the Fact to see the man and to search out somewhat to satisfie the King and with his Warrant to the Governour was put in to the Prisoner a little timber meagre gastly frightfull face Fellow already clapt into a small Centry house upon the Guard horribly laden with manacled Irons neither to sit nor to ly down but to be crippled against the Wall with him thus in private and to sweeten his devilish conditions the party pretended that in affection to some of his Friends he came of this visit to administer comfort with his Prayers the best effects of Charity to him But he answers that he was not so ignorant to believe that a man in his condition should be admitted such comforts but â— rather receive you an Examiner said he impowred to make inquisition of me and this Action of mine And after some disâ—oâ—rse Sir said he I shall be brief I killed him for the â—â—use of God and my Countrey Nay said the other there may be hope of his life the Surgeons say so It is impossible he replied I had the force of forty men assisted by him that guided my hand And being interrogated to several Questions he made these Answers That he was named John Felton heretofore 〈◊〉 to a Foot Company â—â—der Sir James Ramsey that he had endâ—â—voured for a Commission to be Captain in this Expedition and faild tâ—â—ein but without any regret upon the Duke from whom he had found respect nor for any private interest whatsoever that the late Remonstrance of Parliament published the Duke so odious that he appeared to him deserving death which no Iustice durst execute That it was not many days since he resolved to kill him but finding the Duke so closely attended that it should be his business to pass a Voluntier and do it in this Voyage Somewhat he said of a Sermon at St. Faiths Church under Pauls where the Preacher spake in justification of every man in a good cause to be Iudg and Executioner of sin which he interpreted to be him That passing out at the Postern-gate upon Tower-hill he espied that fatal Knife in a Cutler 's Glass-caâ—e which he bought for sixteen pence It was the point-end of a tuff Blade stuck into a cross Haft the whole length Handle and all not twelve Inches fastened to his right Pocket and from that time he resolved therewith to stab him That some days after he followed the Train to Portsmouth and coming by a Cross erected in the High-way he sharpened the point thereof upon the stone believing it more proper in justice to advantage his design than for the idolatrous intent it was first erected That he found continual trouble and disquiet in minde untill he should perform this Fact and came to Town but that Morning That no Soul living was â—â—cessary with him by any ways or means of the Dukes Execution That he was assured his Fact was justified and he the Redeemer of the Peoples sufferings under the power of the Dukes â—surpations c. And his Paper tackt in the Crown of his Hat seemed to satisfie his Conscience that he was thereof well pleased A little assurance may serve the turn to satisfie any
the Room foreâ—shortened and looking downwards as from the clouds the rarest postures that late ages can paralel being the portraictures of King Iames in several relations with all Imaginary similitude of Him tending towards Eternity for which he was well rewarded with the honour of Knighthood to boot Indeed the Artist had an indifferent esteem for his skill and by his wealth was wise enough to receive Informations on both parts in reference to Peace but never to be Plenepotentiary of either side for truly I cannot call him so much as Agent for any unlesse we admit him Ambo-dexter-Ambassadour for he was the means that a greater man Don Carlos Colonas came after to do the work And I have some knowledge in the particulars that the other was rather set on by us when with that conveniency we had him here It was in Iuly That an Arrest was made upon one Billingham sometimes a Captain at the Isle of Rhe and an attempt made to his Rescue by some Templers being acted in their Quarters of Priviledge to their Houses and to their cost they were wounded by the opposition of the Lord Major and his City Bands that were wilde to flourish out their Ensigns against any Gentlemen their Patrons This undertaking increased to a hot skirmish of above five hundred Of the Majors Militia four were killed and sundry others hurt above an hundred on both sides and so the Evening parted the This uprore so neer the Court caused the King to speed Justice with an extraordinary Session to be held in Guild-Hall London for Arraignment of several of the Malefactors seized vpon in the quarrel And by ill hap laid hold on Two who were accounted Principalls because more publique Captain Ashurst and Iohn Stamford the late Dukes servant for it was no medling with the Students And though Stanford came by but by chance in a Coach and onely drew his sword without any part in the fray These Two onely were found guilty by the City Jury and executed at Tyburn Stanford had his pardon before being in company when a Watchman was killed at a Tavern called Duke-Humphreys and his relations to his late Master made his crime the more remarkable now exceeding the bounds of Reason so without the bounds of Mercy There had been a Manuscript Book contrived long since by Sr. Robert Dudly at Florence 1613. that discontented Catholique who descended from the Dudlies Earls of Warwick and so he stiled himself It was a Rapsodie of severall Projects for increase of the Kings revenue and somewhat in prejudice of proceedings in Parliaments Sundry Copies thereof were disperst by such as meant not much honour to the King and therefore suspected to contrive the Book though pretended for his Majesties Instruction as the manner had been to force such feigned discoveries and fix them for the Kings designes and therefore the Earls of Bedford Somerset and Clare Sr. Robert Cotten Mr. Selden and Mr. Saint Iohn were committed and an Information entered in Star-chamber against them But Sr. David Fowles upon oath cleered the suspition and discovered the Authour and so it ended William Herbert Son of Henry Earl of Pembrook dies in April He was the third Earl from his Creation 3 Elizabeth Baron Herbert of Cardiff Lord Parr Ros of Kendal Marmion and Saint Quintin Lord Warden of the Stanneries Governour of Portsmouth Knight of the Garter Chancellour of the University of Oxford and lately Lord high Steward of the Kings Houshold but not of England He married Mary the Eldest daughter and co-heir of Gilbert Talbot Earl of Shrewsbury and dies without issue so that his honours descended to Philip Herbert his brother He supped the night before his death with the Countesse of Bedford at Bishops-gate upon the day of his birth fifty yeers since from thence he went home to Baynards Castle sitting up as usual very late for he was a hearty feeder and went to bed very well But not long after he fetcht a deep and deadly groan which startled his Lady that lay by and she not able to awake him called for company who found him speechlesse and so continued till eight in the morning and then died as a figure flinger had told him many years before We are told his Character in a high strain of Magnificence but we may give way to his good commendations in a reasonable measure A proper Person well set of graceful deportment his minde truly generous of the ancient stock and manner of Nobility His defects were in letters and Travel He had onely the breeding of England which gave him a conceited dislike of foraign men their manners and mode or of such English that professed much advantage thereby so that the Scots at Court and he were ever separate and therefore he was onely the old Courtier that kept close to the Commonalty and they to him and was therein trusted by his two Soveraigns as not over furnisht with abilities to be lesse then loyal which jealous Princes usually suffered In May 29 day the Queen was brought to Bed of a Son Surpassing joy there was of all true hearts and good subjects and in Iune the 27. baptized at Saint Iameses with princely Ceremonies and named Charles His Godfathers were the King of France and the Prince Elector represented by the Duke of Lenox and the Marquesse Hamilton the Godmother was the Queen Mother of France and her Person represented by the Duchesse of Richmond A man would stand amazed to believe that a sort of pretended sanctified subjects should not desire the King to have any issue I have my Author The Puritan-party that could not descern the cause of joy when the Queen was with childe God having better provided for us then we were aware in the hopeful Progeny of the Queen of Bohemia These men brought in the Reformed Religion Presbytery when it would be unâ—ertain what Religion the Kings children would follow And he observes to his own knowledge that when the most of the Parish gave publique signes of rejoycing with Bonefires Bell-ringing and mutual feasting onely the Presbyterian or Puritan party as he stiles them were shut up as on the day of general mourning And it may be remembred that afterwards as the Kings Issue increased the Common Prayer for the Kings onely Sister and her children was left out and in place thereof a Prayer compiled for preservation of the Kings Issue for though the Presbyterians hated the whole Book they would not stick to mention the one in their Prayer of the Pulpit and leave those other out of Gods blessing till by express command they were made to conform At his Birth there appeared a Star visible that very time of the Day when the King rode to Saint Paul's Church to give thanks to God for the Queens safe delivery of a Son upon which occasion these Verses were then presented Rex ubi Paulinas accessit gratus ad aras Immicuit medioâ— lucida stella
proofs of his manhood had a strong minde to a second Marriage and as if recovered of his former Impotency to exercise himself upon tryal with Betty Paulet as they called her daughter she was indeed of a Knight extracted from that Nobility of the Marquesse of Winchester but by what venture of descent we need not enquire She was pretty but poor Beauty hath price enough and a great portion would not have him In March he was Married but being mistaken in his own abilities of the Bed having it seems not excercised that kinde of Low Countreys manhood found himself failing and so retired out of Town as to give occasion for others to court his Countess and his advantage of a second Divorce and in truth he was easily drawn thereto by such as hung upon him in former time his Revenue now divided into Families Wife and Women-creatures shared the less to his Dependants Their Design was to watch their Countess who was wanton enough for such a Husband and by a Ladder to her Chamber-window saw so much as forcing the Door Master Udal was found sitting upon her Bed-side very late unbraced with heat as in pursuit of her Sister who in merriment after some questions he had been commanded to kiss her she being shadowed in the Ladies Chamber where he went to seek her but the conclusion was Divorce though her innocency was pleaded and sealed with all possible protestations and so generally believed untill she proved with childe and yet the Earl was so wise as to father it Marry then the Moon-calf must fall at the minute of his own account which no doubt happened just with the birth of the Baby a jolly Boy and so as best right for him to nestle who seized it from the Mother never like to see it long alive nor what became of it we need not doubt But why these his dishonours were not more resented at Court agreeable to his Extraction in a prophetick relation to all King Charls his future mishaps is more of the Authours wonder than I can make of it and concludes that he became the Head of an Army giving the King Battel in a Pitch Fâ—eld partly upon the score of those indignities before which he supposes was charged on the Kings account It was in Anno 1627. Therefore Feoffees were legally intrusted to purchase in the Impropriations with their own and other good mens money and with the profit to maintain a constant preaching Ministery where the Word was wanting They consisted of 4. Divines to perswade the conscience 4. Lawyers for the Conveyances and four Citizens for no other end but their money There was no need of Captains for Captain Michael's Sword was then sheathed There are in England 9284. Parish-churches endowed with Glebe and Tithes But 3845. were either appropriated to the Clergy or impropriated as Lay-fines to private persons which latter these Feoffees endeavoured to redeem and might have done it in fifty years by the large summs soon advanced and no wonder the subtilty was not then discerned for in time the Purchasers would become the prime Patrons for number and greatness of Benefices multiply their dependence and increase non-conformity and therefore the Attorney General Noy exhibited a Bill in the Exchequer to overthrow their Apocrypha incorporatum First Breach of Trust for erecting a Morning Lecture at St. Antholines London the Land of Goshen and not in other places far distant where Souls famished for want of Food Secondly preferred Non-conformists and so their proceedings were censured as dangerous to the Church and State pronounced illegal and dissolved and their money confiscate to the King which yet of late was accounted a pious Project Good men and bad are Examples fit for History the one to follow these to shun And the man of the first rank was Mervin Lord Audley Earl of Castlehaven married to a second Wife the Daughter of the old Countess of Derby and Widow of the Lord Chandos by whom she had a Daughter married to the Lord Audley the Earls eldest Son This Earl upon Petition of his own Son and Heir the Lord Audley was committed in December last and indicted at Salisbury the County of his abode the 25. of March the first day of this year 1631. accused for causing one Skipwith of mean extraction and his Servant advanced by him to great preferment to assist him to ly with his Countess and to cuckold his Son Audley the Earl assisting and to hold his Wife whilest Brodway did ravish her and for acting Sodomy upon Brodway and Fitz Patrick his Servants a strange kinde of hideous monstrous quality in the sin of this Earl enforcing others to that wickedness wherein himself had no temptation for his excuse or inclination to the action which is the begining of sin no fruits or sensual pleasure for the present which is the act in sin no advance or profit in the future which is a reward to a mans self of his sin The uncouth baseness of the Rape the Master to serve the Servants to cuckold himself the highest horridity of a Wittal the Husband to ravish his own Wife nay to commit a Rape upon himself being both one a sin without former President or future belief so monstrous in the manner so execrable in the end The onely man of Nobility of infamous note that suffered judicial Execution by this King for I reckon not the Earl of Strafford under that notion These Crimes are bad enough we need not devise any more that he in Prison impudently told some Lords his whole delight was to damn Souls by inticing men the surest way to effect it which hath no credit and we shall lodg no other upon him but truths for certainly had he said this before his Trial it might have been remembred as all circumstances were then to advance his guilt And it becomes an Historian in dubious relations to admit the most Christian and charitable being more unlawfull to deceive Posterity by feigned narrative than to abuse a Judg by false Witness But of the other he was found guilty by Grand Inquest and so his cause put over to the Kings Bench and his Person sent to the Tower The manner of his Trial for Life was by a Court of High Commission delegated to some principal Person as chief Iudg constituted with a Power as being next to the King In some sort matching the Ephory amongst the Lacedemonians and therefore not to be longer intrusted than for the time of Trial for the business being done he breaks his Staff the Verge of his Power and Authority And Thomas Lord Coventry Lord Keeper of the Great Seal was by Patent of the thirteenth of April 1631. commissioned Lord High Steward of England for the Day being the five and twentieth of April And because it was the first and last Commission of this nature by this King we shall not spare the particular Narrative to rectifie mis-reports of many others herein It was at the
Kings Bench in Westminster-hall where a Theatre was erected in height equal with the Bench covered over with green Cloth In the upper end was placed the Tribunal Chair of State for the High Steward on either side the Peers of the Realm and under them the Iudges in the lower end against the State were the Kings learned Council and at their backs two Pews lifted up to face the Court for the Prisoner and his Keeper and in the midst of the Court a place of descension for the Clerk of the Crown and his Assistant where they all met between eight and nine of the Clock that Morning First the Clerk of the Crown and the Iudges the Lieutenant of the Tower and the Prisoner retiring into a Room near hand then the Peers seven and twenty in number those of the Garter order wearing their Coller of Esses about their neck the chiefest of them were Weston Lord Treasurer Earl of Manchester Lord Privy Seal Arundel Earl Marshall of England and so the rest Then enters the Lord High Steward his Grace in a black Velvet Gown trimm'd with Gold Buttons and Lace before him 7. Maces of State born by the Serjeants at Arms attended by Sir Io Burroughs Garter principal King of Arms and Maxwel Usher of the Black Rod. The Judges Assistants for Counsel in case of Law were Sir Nicholas Hide Chief Justice of the Kings Bench Sir Thomas Richardson Chief Justice of the Common Pleas Sir Humphrey Davenport Chief Baron of the Exchequer and Baron Denham four Judges Iones Hutton Whitlock and Crook The learned Council were Sir Robert Heath Attorney General Sir Richard Chelton Solicitor General Sir Io Finch the Queens Attorney General and Sir Thomas Crew Serjeant at Law Sir Thomas Fanshaw Clerk of the Crown and Keeling his Assistant The Clerk of the Crown presented his Grace with the Patent of his Place of Lord High Steward of England After O yes he delivered the Patent to the Clerk of the Crown who read it and returned it back The Black Rod kneeling down presented him with the White Staff or Verge of State After a second O yes his Grace gave leave to the Peers to be covered and Proclamation made That the Judges should bring in as by Writ commanded all the Records touching the Earls Arraignment and the Peers answered particularly to their several names After the third O yes the Lieutenant of the Tower brought in his Prisoner into their powers and his Warrant being read his Grace addressed himself to the Peers My Lord Audley said he for so he stiled him as a Baron of England and not by his Creation of Earl Castlehaven being a forreign Title of Ireland by which Title onely he could not be tried by the Peers the Kings Majesty is given to understand both by report and also by Verdict of divers Gentlemen of quality in your County that you stand impeached of sundry Crimes of a most high and hainous nature and therefore he brings you this day to trial doing therein like the Almighty King of Kings in the eighteenth of Genesis who went down to see whether the sins of the Sons of Sodome and Gomorrah were so grievous as the cry of them that came before him And Kings on Earth can have no better Patern to follow than that of the King of Heaven and so hath summoned by special command these your Peers either to acquit or condemn you they being so noble and so just so indifferent Iudges for his Majesty desires that your Trial should be as equal and upright as Iustice it self wherefore you may speak boldly and confidently without fear to clear your self and so to be set free but if otherwise your own conscience accuse you give the honour to God and the King by confessing the truth without shifts or subtilties against it which are but Consilia adversus Dominum May it please your Grace said Audley I have stood committed close Prisoner six moneths without Friends or Counsel deprived of the knowledg of the particular circumstances of the Crimes laid to my charge unskilfull of the advantages or disadvantages of Law and but weak to plead at the best and therefore desire liberty of Counsel to plead for me Your long Imprisonment said his Grace hath been rather a favour for conveniency to bethink your self and you shall have all possible favour in this your first demand in which the Iudges shall satisfie you as in all other your deâ—ires in the prosecution of your Trial. The Judges gave opinion that in principal Causes Counsel is not to be allowed for matter of Fact but for matter of Law it may His Grace commanded the Clerk of the Crown to reade his Indictments being three in number The first for a Rape by assisting Brodway his own Servant to ravish his Wife the Countess of Castlehaven The other two for Sodomy committed on the Body of Brodway and on Fitz Patrick his Footman To which he pleaded Not guilty c. And therefore his Grace said thus to the Peers My Lords the Prisoner is indicted of Rape and Sodomy and pleads Not guilty My duty is to charge you with the Trial Yours to judg The Cause may move pity in some detestation in all but neither of them may be put in the Scale of Iustice for a Grain on either side sways the Ballance Let Reason rule your affections your heads your hearts to heed attentively and weigh equally In the right course the Iudges will direct you if doubts arise Ye are not sworn how to proceed the Law supposeth your integrity to Iustice which others are compelled unto by Oath And so God direct you Crew opened the Indictments and so was seconded and by turns all the other but the Attorney General proceeded in brief that the Crimes were far more base and beastly than any Poet invented or History ever mentioned Suetonius indeed sets out the Lives of Heathen Emperours whose Sovereignty had no Law to question their Power nor Religion to bound their wills from acting any Crimes And here ravelling into his former debauched life and profession of Papistry digressing from the matter of the Indictments the Prisoner desired that his Religion nor other circumstances not conducing to his crimes charged might be spared But he was told to forbear to interrupt the Council till the time fitting to make answer And so the Attorney went on with his Religion bred up a Protestant and after fell to Papistry for more liberty in evil or rather of both Professions or of either or of none at all Cor quod ingreditur duas vias non habet successum In the morning at a Mass afternoon at a Sermon believing in God thus basely God left him at the last to his lusts and so to Atheism to work wickedness without hope of Heaven or horrour of Hell His moral actions beyong imagination wicked for though he married this Lady as noble in birth as great in fortune so soon as
Designs he passed into Silesia after Galasso with the Body of his Army surprized him near Stenaw defeated his numerous Horse and surrounded the Foot which yielded with sixscore Colours Baggage and Artillery and so all Silesia submitted And now by his following progress gave more than suspition what he had hatched for his own ambition and revenge of former disgraces for having collected his Forces at Egnar in Bohemia paid them three Moneths Money and took their Oath to himself without 〈…〉 〈…〉 Two of his Colonels Gordon and Lesly Scots and Butler an Irish Officer invite his chief Generals his Creatures to a Supper at Egnor where they were soon dispatched for their Masters sake the Emperour Butler comes to Wallestein thrusts open his Chamber-door he dressed for his Bed so staggered and hared him with this Reproach O Traitor to the Emperour and Empire Art thou there and therewith â—an him through with his Partizan stark dead and threw him out at the Window Thus ended that ambitious ungratefull Servant raised to this height from an ordinary Gentleman to be Prince of the Empire and Gâ—neralissimo of all his Forces in Germany Ambitious persons falling into perfidy are justly thus served which we mention here to close up the story though it happened the next year And so this Year remarkable for the Death of three Kings Sigismund of Poland who pâ—ously departed the nine and twentieth of April Gustave of Swede who was slain on the Bed of Honour the sixteenth of November And Frederick of Boheme who died of the Infection the nineteenth of November The Fundamental Laws of the Dane give a double Portion to the eldest Children of either Sex and to the rest equal shares and so by the death of Sophia Queen Dowager of Denmark our Kings Grand-mother there was due to him and his Sister Elizabeth in right of Queen Ann their Mother one hundred and fifty thousand pounds which was promised to our Ambassador the Earl of Leicester sent to that King partly to condole the old Queens death and by the way to demand his Portion The Complement of asking of him received another of owning to him being he was remembred of that Contract made with him 1625. of thirty thousand pounds a Moâ—â—th unpaid and yet due for support of his Army yet it seems was thus boldly concluded to draw on other Subscribers Confederates in that War and as usual not fully paid by any and so we may well be then in Arrear as I am sure the Dutch and French are to this day with him and us also The King had been very humbly solicited by the Scots earnest and affectionate supplications to chear and comfort them with his Court and to honour them with his Personal Coronation which he now resolves Not that that Crown was of 〈…〉 But the King to make good his own Inclination and Reason of State the main Arguments He sets out the thirteenth of May with a Princely Train the best of Nobility of England and all those here of Scotland and with them remarkable the English Treasurer and Secretary of State His motions were most certain not foreslowed His Guests were setled to their time and places otherwise He had made a mad Moneths Progress and many Entertainments would have been too sudden without such lawfull warning specially that of the Earl of Newcastles at Welbeck which he says cost the Earl six thousand pounds No such time place or provision But what he means was in Iuly the next year at Balfour Castle in Derby shire for the King Queen and their several Courts most sumptuous indeed And the King comes to Edenburgh the tenth of Iune and the eighth after designed for the solemn Celebrating of His Coronation glorious and bravely attended A little Metropolitan City God knows a long street rather But for a show It sets it forth at length from the Castle still descending to the Kings Palace Holy-rood House at a view the whole Triumphant Train a Mile and more where He was Crowned with all possible outward affection to his Person dissimulative for so it soon discovered And from this time we shall sum up the Scots perfidies smothered heretofore For now they begun secretly to consult and so to vent their â—islike of the Kings former Innocent Râ—vocation of Things scrambled from the Crown in his Fathers minority and his beneficial Commission of surrenders of Superiorities and Titles as before remembred But these Two Exceptions not sufficient to ground a Mutiny they mustered many such and feigned more And fell foul on some fears suggestions Innovation of Religion to be attempted this Parliament now assigned And withal politickly assured that nothing but calumnies could soil with suspicious jealousie or interrupt or relaxe the present joy of the common people grounding it on nothing more or other than a New Ratisioation of old Acts concerning the present Religion the Churches Liberties and priveledges assented unto by most voyces yet a wonder to many that soon dissented such as from that time became the great promoters of the after-Covenant shewing then the distemper of the heart that boyled out with too much heat at their mouth which seriously resolved it self into sedition soon after for having little more to do the King gratifies the greatest suitors with new Titles of Honour and no doubt consented unto by such as seemed disloyal to his just proceedings in Parliament there And yet these began to mutter but not as yet to mutiny till his departure which was not long after his visitation of Falkland Sterling Dumferling and other places eminent for any pleasure though none of them deserving the hazard the King had from danger of drowning in his passage over the Frith from Brunt-Island to Edenburgh and so came home to the Queen at Greenwich the 20. of Iuly But we may not forget whilest he was in Scotland the condition and behaviour of Sr. Iohn Stuart of Trahair lately made Baron Trahair Privy Councellor and Deputy Treasurer upon the resignation of the Lord Nappier a worthy states man Grand-childe to the afterwards renowned Matcheston and brother in law to the right famous Earl of Montrosse being in dislike of the times and aged and yet not without a considerable reward But Trahair acted his game more cunningly than honestly and now came into much favour with the King at this time He was created Earl of Trahair and in some years after Lord Treasurer of Scotland for upon the Earl of Mairs death Lord Treasurer Trahair was substituted in his place Marr was a Man of little Action and loving the Court of England was the lesse skilful to manage the affair of the Treasury But Trahair managing all tripled his own Estate in few years so faithful he was to himself not without complaint of the people And now in this Parliament There was a Tax granted to the King to be paid as formerly in four years amounting to one hundred thousand pounds Scots per
fire-coales into a flame the French being then upon a War with Spain and the Cardinal a great Statist knew that Englands best policy was ever to side with the weakest to ballance the biggest power neither of them to increase above the measure of moderation To that end Monsieur Montril was sent Emissary and Agent to work out the Design in England and Scotland as may appear by the Scots Letter to the French King as hereafter follows and that they had great incouragement from Richelieu but what assistance under hand I could never finde out fair promises and no doubt never to engage against them But Balmerino his great Enemy the Earl of Kinnol Lord Chancellour of Scotland took his leave of this life and left his Office to Spotswood Son to the first Superintendent formerly Arch-bishop of Glasgow and now Arch-bishop of St. Andrews aged above sixty years a learned moderate wise man as by his History appears the first of his Coat since the Reformation of that Dignity and that for the great advantage of the Church if rightly apprehended without that mistaken Vote never known before for three hundred years a Clergy-man to bear that Dignity I shall remember those that were Andrew Foreman 15 Iac. 4. James Stuart Brother to James the fourth James Beaton 10 Jac. 5. and Queen Maries Reign David Beaton Cardinal succeeded him Jo Hamilton Brother to the Duke of Chattleheralt was the last of the Popish Bishops and many more before those and all of them Arch-bishops of St. Andrews and Chancellours Then there were Willam Lowater anno 1412. Andrew Foreman Iac. 4. Gawin Dunbar Praeceptor to James 5 and after him James Beaton And these following were Arch-bishops of Glasgow and Chancellours Adam and Patrick Bishops of Brocher Chancellours annis 1360 1370. Thomas Spence Bishop of Galloway and Chancellour to Jac. 2. William Elphinston Bishop of Aberdene Chancellour to Jac. 3. Indeed in Scotland heretofore Justice was perâ—ormed by Itinerarie Courts like to the Judicature of Courts in England fifteen Judges in all seven Churchmen and seven Laymen and the President also a Churchman and the best offices of State were formerly in Bishops and Abbots which gave them abilities in purse to perform those great and pious works of charity honour and common benefit Abbies Churches Hospitals Bridges Causewayes and the like all Acts of the Clergy heretofore which now their successours destroy Death indeed was more indifferent with two Great Ones in England two Eminent Men of several factions the One Sr. Richard Weston Earl of Portland Lord High Treasurer of England the Kings great Favourite for his Abilities at this time the more useful in promoting Prerogatives and all advantages of raising money with some regret of the Commons for such services His place was therefore for the present put under power of Commissioners for some time after The other was Sr. Edward Cook a Common Lawyer and so bred up himself to please the people Increasing esteem on that score from his first rise Queen Elizabeths Attorney General chief Iustice of the Kings Bench under King Iames where he lost himself by too much liberty of Eloquence or Impudence and removed from that Court to his Countrey retirement in the County of Buckingham made high Sheriff to humble him towards this King with a clause in his Commission to avoyd his Election of being a Burgesse in Parliament of which he was the more ambitious because thereby the better able to shew his Enmity but he got it in Norfolk his birth-place and he a Law-wrangler was voted legally chosen notwithstanding his Commission of Restraint We may not forget the Affairs of Germany the Swede having a continued confederacy with the protestant Princes and the French assistance against the Emperour and Spain for although they fought and treated for a conjunction Duke Barnard had been so often bafled by former promises of Wallestien before his Murther that now he trusted to fair words no longer And the good Duke Francis Albert of Saxony Leumburgh the Instrument chosen to tye these two different dispositions into a Ligament was not his crafts master but was carried prisoner for many years to Vienna The King of Hungary for the Imperial party having cured the Army with good gold after the disorder of Wallestiens murther and taken new Oath of the souldiers when News came to his camp of a notable victory gotten by Arnem upon the Imperialists in Silesia and of his marching towards Prague whither the King sent so strong a supply Arnem was constrained to retire into Saxony at the same time that the Town of Ratisbone was regained for the Emperour in Iuly the brave and famous General Aldring being slain a little before at Lanshut He was of Luxenburgh obâ—curely born whose virtues and valour had raised thus high and eminent in many battels against Iohn de Wiert with successe And the businesse Military in Germany requiring all assistance for the Emperour against such a confederacy of friends Thither comes the Cardinal Infanto from Milan with the old Spanish Italian and Burgundian Bands through all Switâ—zerland soon reforming the riotous Swedes by their example into a true Military Discipline These forces joyning with the Imperialists marched into the Duchy of Weitemburgh but first must passe the fiery Tryal of a strong Town Norlington The Swedes and their Allies are likewise summoned together from all parts Horn joyns with Duke Barnard and advises to spare the Enemy a Town or two than to hazzard the publicque cause But the Duke would fight for it and designed the day the sixth of September and the rather because some private offer had been for Overtures of a Peace which the Swedes took for a good Augure what ere it presaged It procured to both Armies the most horred bloody fight that had been between Christians To the Protestants party were already arrived the forces of the Duke of Weitemburgh the Lantgrave of Hassia and Count Cratz He who was for Bavaria and should have betrayed Ingolstade to the Enemy and so being discovered was fled hither wanting none but the Rhingrave and his four thousand men The fight began early the most furious first shock was for a Hillock the storming of a mined fort lost many of the Swedes Infantry The Canon hidden behinde some bushes did mighty Execution also and the Swedes constrained to fly and their Cavalry pursued by the Duke of Lorain and Iohn de Wiert were utterly defeated eighty pieces of Canon three hundred colours and twelve thousand men slain and six thousand prisoners amongst whom that brave man Gustave Horn Nobly received by the King The fruit of this Battel began a peace short and sweet onely to let that miserable Countrey taste of the blessing which lasted not long when the revenger of blood opens the veins to let out more evil fumes This Victory might answer for their Eminent successe heretofore at Leipsick and Lutzen and as the Swedes did then so does
this Victorious General divide their great Body into flying Armies carrying on an offensive War up and down where they pleased for Norlington forthwith surrendred the Duchy of Weitemburgh soon submits and their Duke flies to Strasburgh The Emperour sufficiently recovering his Eagles Plumes formerly obscured by the Septentrional Mars And yet to shew to the world reason and right from the difference of contraries The one would have War in the continuation of Conquest But the Emperour declares his desire of peace even in Victory They would carry on all with violence He to restore all to the first owner by a moderate accommodation And truly so it was offered by the King of Hungary to the Duke of Saxony and the other Prince which was afterwards the next year accepted for a while until the French Flower de Luce with her Odour marred the scent of the sweet smelling Frankincense In which time the Cardinall Infanto took time to visit his Government in Flanders The aid of Ship-money had set out one Fleet for securing of the Narrow-Seas this summer under Command of the Earl of Lindsey not the Earl of Northumberland till next year with fourty gallant Ships the third of May and the Earl of Essex his Vice-Admiral with twenty sail And being abroad at Sea the King resolves to continue his designe for the future with formidable Fleets annually and so it was thought convenient to lay the charge of Ship-money universally upon all Counties And therefore the Lord Keeper had command to direct the Judges of Assizes in their Circuits for the promoting of the Writs which were to Issue out for the next year which he did at the usual Assembly of the State in Star-chamber the end of Midsummer term the seventeenth of Iune to this effect My Lords the Judges THe Term being ended you are to divide your selves to your several Circuits for the service of the King and the good of the subjects In the Terms the people follow and seek after justice four times in the year but in the Circuits Iustice is carried down to them for their ease twice in the year so gracious is the frame and constitution of the Kings Government It is the Custom that you receive directions as his Majesties or his Councel shall think seasonable to impart to you that no cause may be of complaint either for denial or delay of Iustice. Of the tryal of Nisi prius it moves in a frame if your Officers do their duties you cannot tread awry Look to the corruption of the Sheriffs and their deputies the partiality of Jurors Aâ—d because the time of Assizes is very short therefore apply your selves to these particulars Amongst many I shall commend unto you first the presenting and convicting of Recusants those â—orfeitures being many years assigned for the publique defence Next to make a strict inquiry after Depopulations and Inclosures a Crime of a crying Nature robbing God of his honour and the King of his subjects Churches and Houses going down together the Freeholders hate them as oppressions of an high Nature bringing to posterity that Wo which is pronounced to those that lay house to house and field to field to dwell alone in the widest of the earth The next is the numerous erecting of Ale-houses the pest of the Kingdome none to be permitted without Licence a few in fit places according to Law The Iustices of peace are often to blame herein I did once discharge two Justices for setting up one Ale-house You are to see that the vagabonds shall be duly punished Constables Headboroughs and watchmen are to do their duties herein and these to be elected out of the better sort of Yeomanry There have been Presidents that the whole County hath been accountable to the King for the election of a faulty Coronor And if the Lords of Leetes were so punished for ill Constables the mischief would finde remedy And for binding of Apprentices in the Country the Iustices of peace are to execute their printed directions therein and you are to return the Names of the Iustices of peace to the Lords of the Councell that are faulty in their duties One thing more I have in charge to give you of great weight the honour of the King and Kingdom and their safety Christendom is full of wars the goodnesse of God to us that we are in peace and plenty It is a good precept in Divinity and holdeth in policie too Jam proximus ardet which if well observed it would warn our Neighbours to â— stand upon our own Guard Not to be enforced to fight and therefore to arm our selves better then not to arm and to be forced to fight providence being better than necessity The king therefore hath commanded all Land forces to be in readiness and hath set to sea a Royal Fleet not all at his own charges but also with the assistance of the Maritan places of the Kingdom And his Majesty hath vouchsafed by his Writs to declare enough to satisfie well minded men and to expresse the clearnesse of his princely heart in ayming at the general good of all The dominion of the sea as it is the ancient and undoubted right of the Crown so it is the best security of this Land and all good subjects will endeavour that the dominion of the Sea may be preserved not to be lost or deminished The Woodden Walls are the best walls of the Kingdom and if the Riches and wealth of the Nation be respected for that cause the dominion of the Sea is to be preserved else what would become of our Woolls Lead and the like the prizes would fall to nothing if others should be Masters of the Sea There is a Case in the Book of Assizes 43. That certain men went down into the Countrey and reported there that no Wooll should passe over Sea that year which occasioned the Woolls so low prized that the men were questioned and fined what then may follow in the losse of the dominion of the Sea in all our Commodities but losse of Trade Therefore as his Majesty thought fit to set forth that Fleet now upon the sea so he being ingaged for the honour of himself and Kingdom to strengthen this with greater Forces and more shipping therefore he upon advice is resolved to send forth new Writs for the preparation of a greater Fleet the next year not onely to the maritime Towns but to the whole Kingdome as wholly interessed in the benefit And that you the Iudges are commanded in your charge at the Assizes and at all places opportunely to acquaint the people of his Majesties care and zeal to preserve his and the Kingdoms honour in the dominion of the Sea by a powerfull Fleet and you are to let them know how just it is for his Majesty to require this for the common defence and with what alacrity and chearfulness they are bound in duty to contribute the best way to assure unto us a
England which received opposition and intermissions till the year 1616. where at Aberdine their general assembly of Clergy made an act authorizing some of their Bishops to compile a form of Liturgie or book of Common-Prayer first for the King to approve which was so considerately there revised and returned for that Kingdome to practice which same service book was now sent for by this King and committed to some Bishops here of their own to review and finding the difference not much from the English He gave command in Scotland to be read twice a day in the Kings Chappel at Holyrood-house at Edenburgh that Communion should be administred in that form and taking on their knees once a month the Bishop to wear his Rocket the Minister his surplice and so to inure the people by president of his own Chappel therâ— first and afterward in all parts for the publique The Scottish Bishops liked it reasonable well for the matter but the manner of imposing it from hence upon them was conceived somewhat too much dependancie of theirs on our English Church therefore excepting against the Psalms Epistles and Gospels and other sentences of Scriptures in the English book beeing of a different translation from that of King Iames they desired a Liturgie of their own and to alter the English answerable to that and so peculiar to the Church of Scotland which indeed was more liker that of King Edward the sixth which the Papist better approved and so was the rather permitted by the King as to win them the better to our Church And so had it been accustomed to the Scottish several Churches for some years without any great regret and now particularly proclaimed to be used in all Churches to begin on Easter sunday which was respited to Sunday the three and twentieth of Iuly being then to be countenanced at Edenburgh by the Lords of Session then sitting as it had been before commanded in publique Sermons to the people by divers Ministers by Rallock that Covenanter afterwards and others of the same And accordingly in St. Giles Church the chief of Edenburgh the Dean in presence of the Counsell Bishops Lords and Magistrates beginning to read the women first and meaner men began the Mutiny clapping their hands and cursing with their tongues raising such a hubbub that none could be heard but themselves The Bishop designed for the Sermon stepâ— up into the Pulpit to interpose their madness and minding them of their irreverence and horrible prophanation of that sacred place which incensed them into fury flinging what came to hand Stones Seats Stooles and cordgells almost to his murther Then the Arch Bishop St. Andrews Lord Chancellor and others offering to a peace were no better handled untill the Provost Bayliffs and civill Magistrates were forced to shut the multitude out of the Church And so the Service-book was read throughout though with the rage of the people hollowing knocking and battering of the windows without with staves and stones and watching for the Preachers the Bishops he was incompassed with the cominalty of the baser sort and hardly escaped their intent to smother him to death And so in sundry other Churches in the City with the like clamour and disorder which moved the Councill further to assemble at the Chancellors and there to command the Lord Revall and Officers to order the people into a more quiet for the afternoon which was done with some moderation in the Churches but after Sermon endangering the Earl of Roxborough Lord Privy seal to be the first Martyr St. Stephen for but having the Bishop of Edenburgh put in the Coach with him And in outward shew Magistrates dissembled their resentment of those disorders and pronounced an order of the Councill to themselves to advice upon anobligatory Act of security to the Ministers persons that did or hereafter that should undertake to read the Book and maintenance also for them And afterwards in shew some of the most unruly were slightly punished as being therefore under hand encouraged to do so again for which at first had they been hanged the example might have discovered all others from falling into the like folly the King having thâ—n force enough at Sea to have blocked up their Haven he might soon have brought the Edenburghts to obedience and after them the whole Nation But by his suffering of them then and of such like following after he was come to that misery as one saies well cum vel excedenda sit natura minuenda dignitas either out go his own nature or forgoe his own Authority And the Scots were so well assured of the Kings Levity as that with a couple of Letters from them to the Arch Bishop of Canterbury to palliate the practice and to promise their paines to the compleat effecting of his Majesties desire in the Service-book and so signed by all the Bayliffs who proved afterwards the onely Actors in the like mutinie The Stage indeed became afterwards better hanged and the Schemes better set out their intended Tragedy with a specious Title â—f Piety and Religion The next Moneth of businesse abroad Vacation and Harvest employed them from their confluence of acting until October when all such came to Edinburgh of all conditions and from all Counties of that Kingdom which looked so like a Muster for Insurrection that the Councel was put to prevent it by three Proclamations the 17. of October 1 That no Church matters should be resolved but that all persons depart home unlesse they shew good cause to the Councel upon pain of Rebellion 2. For removing the Session or Term from Edingburgh to Lithgow for the present and afterwards the succeeding Sessions to Dundee till further pleasure 3. And the third for calling in and burning a seditious Book intituled A Dispute against the English Popish Convention obtruded upon the Kirk of Scotland These proceedings prevailed not to appease them for the next day the Councel Chamber being the place appointed â—o Examination of a Judicial Tryal before Sr. William Elphingstone and the Bishop of Galloway passing thither was suddenly surrounded with the tumult of disordered people to the very Councel House where he was again assaulted with a fresh Troop to the hazzard of his life had he not been defended and pulled in whom yet they demanded with such outrage as necessarily called to his succour the Earl of Trahair then Treasurer and the Earl of Wiggon of the Councel who got in and were then in worse case being all besieged and enforced to send for aid to the Provost and Officers assembled at the City Councel They also in the like extremity sent word by their Messenger Sr. Thomas Thomson of the same mischief to themselves and that to save their lives from fury were forced to subscribe 1. To joyn in opposition to the Service-Book and in Petitioning to that purpose 2. To restore Ramsey and Rollock two silenced Ministers 3. And to receive Henderson again their
former Reader Important reasons no doubt for a Rebellion yet it somewhat appeased the multitudes rage and gave opportunity for some of the chief Officers to endeavour to raise the siege against the poor Bishop of Galloway and Lords at the Councel and to passe thorow the rude company who cryed out God defend all such as defend the Cause and confound the Service-Book and the maintainers of it In this outrage Trahair trodâ—n down under foot almost to death the City Officers were sent to sundry Lords privately assembled on behalf of the common Cause against the Service-Book who resenting the present danger of destruction to all guarded those out of the Councel chamber through the croud to their several Lodgings and amongst those Ring-leaders who more busie then two of the Bayliffs that subscribed these former Letters to the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury Somewhat calmed That afternoon was Proclaimed this their seditious Insurrection for all persons to disband their convention and to keep the peace upon the highest pain to offenders But to little effect for now the Citizens send Commissioners to the Councel Table to expostulate and require satisfaction and performance of the Paper promised upon the Pacification And thus began their new Religious and glorious Reformation which they say God hath so miraculously prospered The first acted as we have heard in the Church The second in the streets of the chief City upon the persons of the most eminent of Birth and Authority by the very pattern of Geneva their Mother Discipline And by this rascal example the third Insurrection becomes countenanced by others and at last Acted and drawn into the form of two Petitions to the Chancellor The first from the common rowt of gathering hands of Men Women and Children The other brings up the Rear to the Councel In the Name of the Noblemen Gentry Ministers and Burgesses And both of them against the Service-Book and Canons of the Church To my Lord Chancellor Wee Men Women and Children c. urged with this Book of Service and having considered the same c. childrens consideration c. To the Secret Councel Complaining That the Arch-Bishop and Bishops have drawn Two Books the One of Prayers centaining the seeds of several superstitions Idolatry and false doctrine The Other of Canons against such as oppose that Book on pain of Excommunication And a hundred Canons more say they tending to superstition and errours which we must i the obey or break our Covenant with God or be Horned for Rebels These Petitions were Poasted to the King who rather expected submission and for pardon of the former Insurrections and therefore delayed any answer but caused the Councels Proclamation there to satisfie the subjects of the Kings aversnesse from Popery which was pretended in all their Pulpits to make him odious in their intentions And Rixburgh Lord Pivâ— Seal being come to Court to tell the Newes was returned back with Instructions to the Councel who sat at Dalkieth near Edinburgh lest by a further distance the Rebellion might take boldnesse to increase And they removed the Session or Term from Lithgow to Sterling a place of strength twenty four miles from Edinburgh And Trahair also coming to the King was soon returned also with further Instructions and all the Councel being met proclamed the dispersion of the Multitude got together And now indeed the confederate Lords and others did the same thing which formerly they called the Uproars of Rascalls Themselves avowing the first affront to the King his Authority and Laws The Earl of Hume and the Lord Lindsey being assisted with numbers of all Ranks made Protestation against the Proclamations at Sterling and after at Lithgow and last at Edenburgh And the Kings Hearlds with their Coats of Arms forced to stay and hear the Protestation in scorn of all Authority In which Protestation of theirs may be observed their Insolent demands in humble terms protesting against All Acts to be done in Councel where the Bishops shall be present Their Protestation against them making them parties that they may not be Iudges and so they must be forthwith removed and then afterwards accused Condemn first and try them after And comparing these demands now with such other succeeding you will finde that a nearer in likelihood of the Kings Concession the farther they fly to Capitulations intolerable And now begins that most unnatural causelesse and horrible Rebellion that former times or I hope after ages will paralel But somewhat more must be said to discover the temper of such of the Nobility actors herein The Earl of Trahair by his subtile insinuations and seeming affections to the Church crept into close friendship with Laud Arch Bishop of Canterbury and by his means advanced to be Lord Treasurer of Scotland by the resignation of the Earl of Morton for a sum of money from the King and the command of the Kings Yeomen of the Guard resigned to Morton by the Earl of Holland who was then made Groom of the stool Trahair thus setled into favour and power professed his obligations to the Arch Bishop calling him Patron the better to deceive him who in truth raised him up thereby to be a more able Instrument and as he thought him willing for the service of the Church and setling the Service Book and Book of Canons than the Scottish Bishops themselves could be But the very day before that the Book was to be read Trahair with others of the Privy Councel there accessary with him withdrew to Dalk-house seven miles from Edinburgh to expect the event at that distance and though the story is truly set down by the Kings grand Declaration and with much favour to Hamilton Roxburgh and Trahair whose treacheries were shadowed in those actions and in that time even from the King himself and all others until of late discovered by the event See page 124. grand Declaration But most strange it is that not any one of them nor their complices nor of the Councel should prove so honest or loyal to their Soveraign that had deserved well from them all as to give the least Intelligence to the King from thence to have set him in the right way of preventing their treachery And yet 't is true that the honâ—st Earl of Nidsdale Sr. Robert Spotswood and some of the Bishops posted hither to Court Informing the King of their strong combination which might have been then dissipated but Hamiltons and Roxburghs power and Interest put them by for upon the first tumult 23. Iuly the King sends Roxburgh to discover and examine the setters on of the common people who returns with assurance that not any person of quality had been abetters all the Officers and Ministers of Justice very dutifull and earnest to suppresse them and to prevent the future which soon after proved the contrary when it was too late to discover the mischief And indeed the Arch Bishops direction failed hereafter in not discovering the subtilty
consequently have power to give order for the external part of Gods Service as was by Parliament granted to Queen Elizabeth and her Successours And the first Congregators calling themselves Protestants by Contract with Queen Elizabeth Anno 1559. received by Contract the Common Service-book of the Church of England for the better obtaining assistance from her to beat out the French then nestled in Scotland as Buchanan confesses Scoti ex servitute Gallica Anglorum auxiliis liberati eisdem Ritibus cum Anglis communibus subscripserunt lib. 19. in fine which was done by way of Indenture and thereupon Queen Elizabeth assisted them at their own charges and the English Service-book was so received by the Protestant Kirk of Scotland and practised as appears in Iohn Knox his History p. 111. of Buchanan's Edition in these words It is thought covenient advised and ordained that in all Parishes of this Realm Scotland the Common Prayer-book be publickly read weekly on Sundays and other Festival Days with the Lessons of the Old and New Testament therein contained conform to the Order of the said Book of Common Prayer and if the Curates of the Parishes be qualified to cause them reade the same and if they be not or refuse that the most qualified in every Parish shall reade it And that Preaching and Interpretation of Scriptures be used privately in the most convenient Houses where the People may quietly convene untill it shall please God to move the Princes heart to grant liberty of publick Preaching by faithfull and true Ministers And this was done Anno 1560. being so agreed upon the Year before And according to Queen Elizabeths Contract on her part she sent the Lord Grey with an Army of ten thousand Land-forces and an Navy by Sea which expulsed the French from thence but their turn served they afterwards devised another way of Discipline of their own like as those Covenanters did now refuse this Service-book not for any fault therein but because they would not have their Kirk depend upon the Jurisdiction and Order of the Church of England And whereas these Covenanters accused the Arch-bishop of Canterbury as Authour of this Book with the success thereafter as that they presumed to put their Platform of Geneva Discipline even upon the very Church of England as by their Solemn League and Covenant hereafter appeareth which though it take for a time with the prevalent party of their Faction in England yet shortly after as extravagant and they have since received their reward of slavery so just it is with God Some upright and honest Scots were in policy taken off either by subtilty or force And because the Earl of Strathern a bold man and had the Kings ear and deservedly too being faithfull and true these men set on Sir Iohn Scot Directour of the Chancery a busie Person to inform against his Descent which they call Service as Heir to David Earl of Strathern pretending to the Crown The story was thus briefly Robert the second of that Name and first of Stuarts about the Year of God 1370. entred his Reign at fifty years old having been Regent for his Uncle King David Bruce and had Issue by his Concubine Elizabeth Sir Moor's Daughter three Sons viz. John called Robert the third Robert Duke of Albany and Earl of Fife and Alexander Earl of Buchan In the second year of his Reign he married Aufeme Daughter to the Earl of Rosse and begat of her two Sons Walter Earl of Athol and David Earl of Strathern infeoffing upon them great Estates of Crown-lands intailed onely to their Heirs male legitime or to return to the Crown The King aged and infirm intrusted the power of the Militia to his eldest Son John Earl of Carrick and Lord of Kyll a valiant Person The Queen dying and leaving two young Sons the King marries his former Concubine Besse Moor and preferred her three Sons begotten out of Marriage before his legitimate Sons this being done by the Popes Dispensation and by Act of Parliament or by a Prior clandestine Marriage as was pretended yet the History bears it not But John succeeded by the name of Robert the third because two Kings Johns of England and France had been unfortunate And from this Robert lineally the Race of the subsequent Kings are descended David Earl of Strathern left onely one Daughter married to the Lord Graham's second Son who left onely one young Son Melissus Graham Earl of Strathern and King James the first returning to Scotland after eighteen years but noble Captivity in England and finding the Crown-rents much decayed caused a general search of the Dilapidation and the return made among others that the Earldom of Strathern ought to devolve to the Crown by the Intail and so it was reassumed but the young Earl so near a Kinsman he created Earl of Menteth with some small Rents at which the young mans Uncles the Earl of Athol aspiring to the Crown and Sir Robert Graham quarrel and murdered the King but were exemplarily punished and Athol forfeited since which time the Earls of Menteth lived privately untill this man was set up by the late Duke of Buckingham obtaining of the King neither of them acquainted with the Genealogy to be lineal Heir to that David Earl of Strathern his Predecessour to have the Title of Earl of Strathern who some years after vainly let fall these words that the King held the Crown of him and being tried and found guilty the Title was recalled and he had given to him the Title of Earl of Airth but discourted and put out of place or further medling in State-affairs extremely and specially aimed at by the former Contrivers of his ruine lest he might hinder their wicked intended Designs against the King and the estate of the Church and Bishops for the Man was noted to be very honest and faithfull though fâ—lly invented those words without any intention of mischief But it is dangerous to dally with the Sovereignty of Kings much more with their Crowns lest the wound become incurable nothing more dear than their Titles and Posterity And the restoring of Menteth in bloud was very disadvantagious to the King and indeed dangerous to the Earl himself comparing his case with others the like heretofore Henry the sixth of England restoring in bloud the Descent and Titlâ— of the Duke of York who openly thereafter made claim in Parliament for the Crown as in his own right laying down his Title thus The Son of Ann Mortimer who came of the Daughter and sole Heir of Lionel Duke of Clarence third Son of King Edward the third is to be preferred by very good right in succession of this Kingdom before the Children of John of Gaunt the fourth Son of Edward the third but Richard Duke of York is come of Philippe the Daughter and sole Heir of Lionel Duke of Clarence third Son of King Edward the third and to be preferred before the Children of the fourth Son
who was Henry The very same reason in the Title of the Earl of Strathern the Children of a first Marriage by Common Law are to be preferred in the succession before the Children of the second Marriage for the marrying of Elizabeth Moor did but legitimate her Children to succeed after the Children of the first Marriage As for the authority of Parliament we may consider whether that Authority may confer and intail a Crown from a lawfull Heir thereof to the next apparant Heirs Or whether an Oath given unto a King by Mans Law should be performed when it tendeth to the suppression of Truth and Right which stand by the Law of God Then if one Parliament hath power to intail a Crown whether may not another Parliament upon the like consideration restore the same to the right Heirs But it may be objected that the Subject resigneth all his Right to his King and then consider whether a Subject may safely capitulate with his Prince that is to give over and quit claim all Right and Title which he hath to his Sovereign Crown his right being sufficient And if by his Capitulation his Heirs be bound And if besides it be honourable for a Prince to accept his conditions The trouble which Edward Baliol raised in Scotland their Histories mention notwithstanding that his Father John Baliol had resigned unto Robert King of Scotland all the Right which he or any other of his had or thereafter might have to the Crown of Scotland He anno 1355. gave to Edward the third King of England a full Resignation of his pretended Right of the Crown of Scotland as before being assisted by the said King and the confederate Gentlemen of Scotland in a Parliament holden at Perth where he had been confirmed King of Scotland by the three Estates If the Pope the King of Spain or France after some Revolution of years seeking to trouble the peace of this Isle should entertain and maintain one of the Heirs of the Earl of Strathern as Queen Elizabeth did Don Antonio the Prior of Crato who claimed the Crown of Portugal to reclaim whose Kingdom she sent a Fleet to settle him or should marry one of them to their nearest Kinswoman and served him armed with power to claim his Title to the Crown of Scotland as King James the fourth of Scotland practised upon Perkin Warbeck named Richard Duke of York to whom he gave in Marriage Katherine Gordoun Daughter to the Earl of Huntley and thereafter all his Forces to establish his said Ally invaded England whether had he not a fair Bridg to come over to this Isle It would be likewise considered if the Earl of Strathern though a mean Subject these two hundred years having been debarred all Title to the Crown and now by the favour of King Charls being restored in bloud and served Heir to his great Progenitours and indirectly as by appendices to the Crown if either out of displeasure and want of means to maintain his Estate he or his should sell or dispose their Right and Title of the Kingdom of Scotland to some mighty Prince such as was perhaps lately the King of Sweden who wanted nothing but a Title to invade a Kingdom not knowing whether to discharge his victorious Forces It would be considered if that Title disposed to such a Prince were sufficient to make him King of Scotland or if establishing his Right upon fair conditions such as is Liberty of conscience absolution and freedom from all Taxes Subsidies the People of Scotland might give him their Oath of Allegiance or if he might redact the King of Scotland to give him satisfaction or composition for his Right to the Crown of Scotland It was to be considered the times turning away the mindes of Subjects from their Prince by changes as hath befallen that inconstant Nation to these present times how dangerous was it besides to his own person And for the Earl the Examples following may inform for first Lewis King of France having under stood that a Nobleman of Artois called Canacare had vaunted to be lineally descended as in truth he was from Clodioule Chevelu and so by that succession was Heir to the Crown caused him extirpate and all his Race Henry 4. King of England after the deposure of King Richard the second kept Edmund Mortimer Earl of March who had a just Title to the Crown under such Guard as he could never attempt any thing till to his Death But Henry the seventh King of England took away Edward Plantaginet Duke of Warwick Heir to George Duke of Clarence in jealousie of his succession to his Uncle Edward the fourth Margaret Plantaginet his sole Daughter married to Richard Pole by Henry the eighth restored to the Earldom of Salisbury was attainted three score and two years after her Father had suffered and was beheaded in the Tower in whose Person died the Sirname of Plantaginet Ann Plantaginet Daughter to Edward the fourth being married unto Thomas Howard Earl of Surrey and Duke of Norfolk was the ground and chief cause that King Henry the eighth cut off the Head of Henry Earl of Surrey though he pretended that the cause of his Arreignment was for bearing certain Arms of the House of York which onely belonged to the King Mary Queen of England put to death the Lady Jane Grey and the Lord Guilford her Husband for their Title to the Crown and by the same reason was the destruction of Mary Queen of Scotland by Queen Elizabeth The like reason also made King James of Great Brittain imprison the Lady Arabella and her Husband she being with childe but by Imprisonment and flight she miscarried and died and then he was released The Duke of Guise deducing his Genealogy from Charls le grand in the Reign of the French King Henry the third was suspected to aspire to that Crown and suffered at last for that presumption And to return to Scotland it is evident in their History that for thâ—se two hundred years last past the Race of Euphane Ross in her children David Earl of Strathern and Walter Earl of Athol have been kept under and for good reason of State ought to be so still unless the policy of a Prince wâ—uld the rather raise them up to a considerable suspâ—â—ion thereby to deserve a greater Destruction This discourse of Strathern is inserted fâ—r particular satisfaction of some English that have doubâ—ed of his Descâ—nt And now the Sâ—ots begin to invest themselves with the supreme Ensigns of Sovâ—reignty and Marks of Majesty by erecting of four Tables of Council for ordering the Affâ—irs of thaâ— Kindgom a new way of Judicature of their own composing in contempt of the King and his Council erected much like those of the detestable pretended holy League in France entring into Covenant against all Opposers the King himself not excepted They erected many Tables in Edinburgh four were principal consisting of the Nobility Gentry Buâ—roâ—ghs and Ministers many subordinate Tables of
the Gentry in reference to their Shires these consulted of Propositions for the gâ—nâ—ral Table consisting of Commissioners elected out of the other four Tables which should be put in practice by a blinde Jesuitical zeal of obedience a neâ— form of Government in a Kingdom evermore Monarchical to this day and so they then would call it And the first Dung from this General Table oâ— Sâ—able rather of these unruly Horses was their Covenant and seditious Band pretended to preserve their Religion in renewing their ancient Confession of their Faith and security of the Kings person but aiming really at the destruction of both Concerning this their Confession of Faith 1. First It is observed against the vulgar Errour That the Ministers have been alwayes the Instrumental party subservient to the prevalent faction of the Nobility in all these late troubles as in all former since the first alteration of Religion And when Hamilton and Argyles power vanished it is manifest that the Ministers authority likewise took end having the rise and fall together 2. That the Confession of Faith in anno 1580. upon which the late Covenanters grounded and derived their Covenant in anno 1638. was onely a Negative Confession containing an abjuration of all points of erroneous doctrine of the Romish Church which a Iew Pagan Turk or any except a Romane Papist might have taken being consonant to the Oath of Abjuration here in England imposed upon suspected Recâ—sants 1643. and lately renewed by the Lord Protector though upon different ends And that it was no Covenant containing any Band of mutual defence without and against the Kings consent as this did but onely a Band for the maintenance of the true Religion and the Kings person with the Kings warrant and the Councels and the General Assemblies approbation anno 1590. as their own words bear in the frontispice of this their Covenant 1638. All which it wanted and consequently was a clear illegal combination of subjects against the King their undoubted lawful Supreme Magistrate which is High-Treason by the laws of all kindes of Government And that all strangers to the Scots History may the better apprehend what the Negative Confession was It will not be amisse to set down briefly the reason that moved King Iames to impose the same upon his Scotish Subjects It being inserted in the large Declaration page 57 58 59 concluding in these words To whom with the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost c. The rest therein after mentioned is forced in by the New Covenanters The occasion of that Confession King Iames the sixth having no kinred left in Scotland of his Fathers side except the Earl of Lenox an aged decreped Man without hopes of issue sent to France for Esâ—re Lord Aubigny near in blood that was to Lenox And being a young Gentleman of a comely personage and sweet disposition he was made first Gentleman of the Bedchamber then Earl of Lenox to preserve the house delapsed by right to the King and then Lord High Chamberlain Duke of Lenox and Privy Councellour with very great affection to boot whom a strong part of the Nobility oppose and set on some bâ—utefeu Ministers to pulpet him a Papist and to be sent into Scotland by the House of Guises in France to pervert the King and subvert the Protestant Religion and got Interest with Queen Elizabeth to side with them The King commends him to Mr. David Lindsay Minister of Leeth who understood French and was by him converted making his publique Recantation in St. Giles Church afterwards the Cathedral of Edinburgh and constantly came to the duties of the Church But this they said was done by dispensation from the Pope so that the King commanded his Chaplain Mr. Craig to draw up that Negative Confession subscribing it first himself then the Duke and after them his whole Houshold All this would not satisfie the Nobles nor their factious Ministers but they seized the King at Ruthen Castle and enforced him to banish the Duke who died shortly after a true Protestant at Paris 3. That the Interpretation which the New Covenanters without any lawful warrant of publique authority put upon the Negative Confession by making it abjure Episcopacy and the five Articles of Perth Assembly anno 1618. was contrary to the former practice of their own Kirk ever since either of them was determined See Grand Declaration page 364. which proves by Acts of Parliament that the Bishops had still votes in Parliament according to former times 4. That the Negative Confession was an un-hand som way for a King to take to suppresse a few Mutinous Ministers appears clearly by common reason and King Iames his own dissallowing of it afterwards in his conference at Hampton Court anno 1603. But his first Ordination thereof was onely pro tempore morte Mandatoris expirat Mandatum unlesse it had been renewed by the present King it could not be loyal 5. King Charles by his Coronation Oath 1633. is sworn to maintain the Church as then it was And all Ministers upon their Admission did take Oath of obedience to their Ordinary Bishops and to the five Articles of Perth by Acts of Parliament so commanded for so many years past at least these should have been removed by Acts of Parliaments before they could be renounced without perjury 6. Whether the Limitation contained in the third Article of the Solemn League and Covenant viz. To preserve and defend his Majesties Person and Authority in the third place and conditionally in the defence of the true Religion and Liberties of the Kingdoms not exprest nor known in the large extent as newly interpreted doth not fetter the subjects Allegiance and open a back door for them to rebel against the King if they imagine he doth oppose it which they conceive to be the true Religion and Liberties though never so falfe and how this can stand with the three and twentieth Article of the large Confession of Faith authorized in both Kingdoms 1645. by acts of Synods Holding forth That Infidelity or difference in Religion doth not make void the just Authority of the Magistrate or free the people from their due Obedience to him this being so how can the Covenanters give answer hereunto But the Title to this New device was thus The Confession of Faith subscribed at first by the Kings Majesty and his Houshold in the year of God 1580. thereafter by persons of all ranks 1581. By Ordinance of the Lords of secret Counsel and Acts of General Assemblies subscribed again by all sorts of persons 1590. By a new Ordinance of Councel at the desire of the General Assembly with a general Band for maintenance of the true Religion and the Kings person and now subscribed in the year of God 1638. by us Noblemen Barons Gentlemen Burgesses Ministers and Commons under subscribing To which the Royall Narration makes these Questions By what authority they durst exact an Oath without him or his
Deputy Magistrate Seeing therein their Title bears evidence against them for in their three first subscriptions is exprest either King Iames his own act or an ordinance of the secret Councel equivalent to regality or at the desire of the General Assembly to intreat it If they had power to command the new taking of an old Oath as they had not what authority had they to interpret it concerning the five Articles of Perth the Service Boâ—k the Book of Canons and high Commission their Predecessours abjuring onely those Romish corruptions of that time near sixty years since but what could not be more evident was taken upon trust with Jesuitical Equivocation to many such Objections The former Confession and Band annexed heretofore was mâ—de in defence of the King his Authority and Person with their bodies and lives in defence of the Gospel of Christ and Liberties of that Kingdom To which they now have added a mutual defence of one another against all opposers the King not exâ—epted nor any for him Nay by two Acts of their own Parliaments Declare all leagâ—es of subjects amongst themselves without the King to be seditious and punishable The Oath of Iames the sixth and ninth Parliament of Queen Mary the Kings consent never granted nor ever asked The fire of this seditious Covenant flaming throughout the corners of that Kingdom the King to appease those passages sends the Marquesse of Hamilton with power of High Commissioner to conclude and determine for the peace of the Kingdom But why a peace-maker Commissioner and not a war-like Commander And if by a fair Imparlance why Hamilton so much reason to be distrusted as before observed unlesse rather to be deceived than to distrust against the advice of some Scotish Lords the Earl of Sterling Secretary of State the Bishops of Rosse and Broken Privy Counsâ—llours Sr. Robert Spotswood Lord President of the Colledge of Justice and Sr Iohn Hay Master of the Robes who came post hither to disswade the King from him and to present the Marquesse Huntley for that service one utterly in Enmity against Covenanters where the other was suspected But the King carried on by fate suffered the weak contribution of the Duke of Lenox his advise though the old Enemy of his house than that a County Lord Huntley should carry it from them both And indeed it was a Royal deputation fitted for King Hamiltons ambition who having lost the Scotish army for the King of Swedes ayd He fell upon secret designes for his own ends obliging all Scots at Court his dependants and by his authority in Scotland he had the means to alien any from the King to himself as he did in his trust cosen the King by granting what the Covenanters desired even to his Crown by degrees To suspend and after to suppresse the Common Prayer and Canons the five Articles of Perth got by Inches from his Father to be confirmed by Parliament and the Covenant authorized with the calling of General Assemblies for votes of Covenanters to censure and Excommunicate the Bishops and to abolish Episcopacy and all the Royal Clergy to be ruined making himself the greatest figure in Scotland and the King his cypher He acting all in the after Warre as the story proceeds to shew in particular But in Iune the sixth day his Commission was read at Dalkieth four miles from Edinburgh where the Covenanters increased devising because some powder landing at the Fryth for supply of the provision of Edinburgh Castle that assuredly the plot was to blow away the Covenant by destroying the Covenanters And in earnest they were to disdain any notice of the Commissioner or his arrand unlesse he came to them where they were fixed with better force than to adventure out of Edinburgh they having openly landed two good ships loaded with Arms and Amunition and then invited him to come thither which he did Being met with the Nobility and Gentry Covenanters and all sides making a lane of the looser sort who were made believe that Popery and Bishops were One with bitter cursings against both and therefore He being setled at Haly-rood House desired the Covenanters to dismisse their Multitude which they did to be eased of the charge And then He demanded first What they would expect from him Secondly What might be expected from them in duty to the King To the first That nothing but a General Assembly and Parliament would please them and so in both they would be their own Judges and for return to any former obedience they acknowledge no dissertion in the least degree from justifying their actions and rather renounce Baptism than loose one Article of their Covenant or rebate one syllable of the literal rigour of it Religion and Laws be at stake They double their guards of the city the Ministers libel the pulpits and send to the Commissioner the Sunday Eve that whosoever should read the English service though in the Kings Chappel should die the death where they were observed and increasing Insolency they send several letters to each of the secret Councel to require them to take the Covenant Therein expressing the comfortable experience they have already of the wonderfull favour of God upon renewing their Confession of their Faith and Covenant their resolution and beginnings of Universal Reformation to God his great glory contentment of his Majesty blessing to the Kingdom and joy of all good subjects And doubt not that your Lordship will both subscribe to the Covenant and be promover to it in the duty of a good Patriot the Office and trust of a Privy Councellour this the time of trial of your affection to Religion the respect of your fame the eyes of men and Angels being upon your carriage the Lord Iesus a secret witnesse to observe and a Iudge hereafter to reward and confesse such men before his Father that take his part before men All and each of these call and cry to God and your Lordship in a cause of so great and singular necessity as you expect at the hour of death to be free of the terrour of God and to be refreshed with the comfortable remembrance of Christ Iesus King of Kings and Lord of Lords The Marquesse now findes this place too hot for him and removes to Dalkieth without adventuring upon the English Divine Service formerly continually used there for twenty years in audience of the Councel Nobility and Judges and here he Proclames his Maiest es gracious Declaration for relieving of their grievances and satisfying of good people in his forwardnesse for maintenance of the Religion professed in that Kingdom His aversnesse from Popery Not to presse the practise of the Service-Book and Canons but in a legal way of proceeding and had ordered the discharge of all acts and Councels concerning them and to indict a General Assembly or Convocation and Parliament to agitate the welfare of the Church and Kingdom The Covenanters afraid that this Justice and clemency might
Bankrupts in the County for gaging of Red Herrings for making of Iron for sealing Bone-lace for gaging Butter-cask for Kelp and Sea-weed sealing Linnen-cloath gathering of Rags Several Offices viz. of Factory for Scotish Merchants for searching and sâ—aling of foreign Hops for sealing of Buttons all Grants of Fines and Forfeitures before Judgment however granted all Patents for new Inventions not put in practice Of several Incorporations making Hat-bands Gut-strings Combs Tobacco pipes Butchers and Horners All these aforesaid to be called by Quo Warranto or Scire facias which brought the Attorney General sufficient gain to his Place These were intolerable the Devices of Projectors for the needy Courtier and Agents also for the best of their Lordships And almost not any of these but Hamilton and his Scots had a hand therein The eight and twentieth of May brought the King to Barwick in gaze of the Enemy and proved an Interview of each Army not sighting at all The English Army compleat for such a considerable number the most of Gallantry that ever attended any King of England in their Scotish Expeditions nor were the Men we are assured less irefull now than in those days when we most hated a Scot and yet we are told the King never meant to fight but rather by terrour to scare them into reason of obedience Nay I have heard that the King said so at Oxford Garrison taking occasion to speak of the Earl of Holland's infidelity that the Army was not in earnest which made him chuse such Commanders in chief But in his March by the way he gave leave for the Scots to apply themselves for mercy by Capitulation of the Earls of Roxborough and Traquair and these to meet him at York where the first of them was committed for tampering with some English Lords and correspondence with the Covenanters telling our Lords that the Scots ruine would enable the King to command what the English might be unwilling to obey mitigates the displeasure of some and the courage of others which being discovered and throughly observed Traquair was also confined at New-castle but both of them soon released and so sent home after they had done their secret business betraying the King to their own Companions And ere they parted they took caution how to keep intelligence with some of the English It is well observed how suddenly the expected courage of the English Lords was cooled which occasioned the Scots to advance and the Earl of Holland with his Horse Brigade but onely observing their motion he either in fear or fraud says one retired in pestilent danger to be over-ridden with the Scots Galloway nags the Foot also did no more but run and yet not ashamed of what was done the English hasten to the Overtures tending to Pacification managed it seems of purpose by such of the English made Commissioners as the King might have been assured they never had a minde or meaning to fight And who were those the Earls of Pembrook Salisbury Holland and Barkshire Secretary Vane and his Brother Secrerary Cook And the Scots were the Earls of Rothes Dumfirlmin Lord Lowdon Dowglas Sheriff of Tividale Henderson and Iohnston two fiery Ministers and the 17. of Iune conclude upon a Pacification signed by both parties But because there followed much alteration and difference concerning the Articles signed unto by the English and those which the Commissioners presented unto their people which devised conditions never dreamed of And which an Historian professes he never could learn what they were Being delivered he sayes into the hands of the English Nobility But to undeceive him from the Scots deceit I shall discover those mystical conditions which I have as also the rest of the whole matter from the Kings own Declaration To all his loving Subjects and to be sincere in the result of all I shall justly insert the Scots answer to all After the King had been sometime in his Camp near Berwick and the Scots encamped with their Army at Dunslow in view the beginning of Iune wherein the Scots and English that underhand favoured the Covenanters perswaded the King not to enter Scotland by way of Invasion lest it should irritate them the more but to encamp upon English ground to win them fairly to obedience and by a patched peace to elude the King to dismisse his forces Even as the Duke of Norfolk served Iames the fifth King of Scotland to his ruine they falling down at the Kings feet did most humbly supplicate to appoint some of this Kingdom to hear their humble desires the One was That the Acts of the late Assembly at Glasgow might be ratified in the ensuing Parliament professing It is their grief that the King should have been provoked to wrath against them his most humble and loving subjects and that it shall be their delight upon his gracious assurance of the preservation of their Religion and Laws to give ensample to others of all civil and temporal obedience which can be required or expected from loving subjects Because the King would not surprize them he gave them time to come prepared in writing Which was OUr desires are onely the enjoying of our Religion and Liberties according to the Ecclesiastical and Civil Lawes of the Kingdom To clear by sufficent grounds that the particulars which we humbly crave are such and shall not insist to crave any point which is not so warranted and that we humbly offer all Civil and Temporal obedience to your Majesty which can be required or expected of loyal Subjects Signed LOWDON To which was answered THat if their desires were onely the enjoying of their Religion and Liberties according to the Ecclesiastical and Civil Lawes the King does not onely agree to the same but shall alwayes protect them therein And if they shall not insist upon any thing but that which is so warranted he will most willingly and readily condescend unto it so that in the mean time they pay unto him that civil and temporal obedience which can be justly required and expected from loyal Subjects This being the ground of the Agreement which was after concluded and hudled up into Articles the seventeenth of Iune 1639. And the Kings Declaration of that date conformable thereto were these THat though We cannot condescend to ratifie and approve the Act of the pretended General Assembly at Glasgow for many grave and weighty considerations which have happened both before and since much importing the security and honour of that true Monarchical Government lineally descended upon us yet We are pleased to confirm and make good what ever Our Hamilton Commissioner hath granted And that all matters Ecclesiastical shall be determined by the Assemblies of the Kirk and matters Civil by the Parliament and other inferiour Iudicatories established by Law which Assembly shall be kept once a year or as shall be agreed upon by the General Assembly and our Commissioner for the time being That a free and General Assembly
is very memorative how hardly King James the sixth procured the Post-Nati of Scotland by which they are admitted to all dignities priviledges and offices in England must they have freeâ—dom here and must the English be debarred there o Tempora o Mores 4. How many of themselves at that instant had preferment to hereditable rites of Iudiciary and why must the King be now limited 5. The Chancellour of Scotland holds his precedency without any positive Law why not the Treasurer and Privy Seal the first branch of the Kings Crown is to distribute honours and precedencies as he please But the King having knowledge of these their Extravagancies sent to his Commissioner the Earl of Traquair to Prorogate the Parliament until the second of Iune and if they should presume to sit still then to discharge them upon pain of Treason But if they did yeeld obedience thereto his Majesty was graciously pleased to admit such persons to his presence as they should send to represent their desires and his Commissioner to repair to the King and to bring all the transactions of that Session Against this command they protest and stile it a Declaration of the Parliaments 18. December 1639. WHereas John Earl of Traquair his Majesties Commissioner having closed the Assembly and sitting in Parliament with them did now take upon him without their consent or offence to prorogate the Parliament upon a private warrant this being a new and unusual way without president in this Kingdom heretofore once being convened have continuation by the expresse consent of the Estates We therefore declare that any prorogation made by the Commissioners Grace without consent of Parliament shall be of no force and the actors to be censured in Parliament And knowing that Declarations have been published against us and our proceedings made odious to such 〈◊〉 do not consider that we are not private subjects but a sitting Parliament We therefore declare that whatsoever we might do lawfully in sitting still yet we have resolved for the present to make Remonstrance to his Majesty and some of each Estate to remain still at Edinburgh to attend his gracious Answer And if it shall happen that our malicious enemies do notwithstanding prevail against us we professe our selves free of the outrages and Insolencies that may be committed in the mean time we do our best to prevent confusion and misery And the Committee appointed to expect the Kings Answer were the Earls Lothian and Dalhouse the Lords Yester Balmerino Cranston and Naper for the Barons the Commissioners of the Lothians Fife and Twidale the Burroughs named the Commissioners of Edinburgh Lithgow Sterlin Hadington Dunbar to attend at Edinburgh the return of his Majesties Answer Their Deputies came to the King at White Hall the Earl of Dumfirmlin and the Lord Loudon but coming without warrant from the Kings Commissioner Traquair being a high contempt they were in disdain commanded home again without audience Then comes Traquair and privately consults a whole night with Hamilton and between them was framed a writing a represenration to the Councel of the most considerable matters proposed in that Parliament satisfactory enough to make the wound wider for however Traquair managed his Commission the end of the designe was to foment a war and to engage the King and for the Scots they were prepared And it is most true that a muttering there was in Court against Traquairs treachery for the Arch Bishop of St. Andrews the Bishops of Rosse and Brichen accused Traquair of High-Treason in the grosse miscarriage of his Commission in the General Assembly and Parliament and subscribed the charge the Scots law in such cases bearing poenam Talionis if they could not prove it A strange law against the secutity of Kings certainly treasonable in the making and no where else is practized but in Scotland But upon the whole matter related by Traquair the debate was whether considering the Insolency and height of their demands even in civil obedience it were not fit to reduce them to their duty Then the Question whether by the presence of the Kings Person and acting power of justice there But that was expresly opposed by arguments of policy and other reasons offered in writing with this title Shall the King go to Scotland I wish he may if with honour and safety he can but as the case stands and spirits are affected I see neither 1. THe treaty of peace is by them most falsly interpreted without any regard at all to His Majesties honour 2. The many and palpable violations of the Articles of peace are known to the King 3. It is evident what his Majesty expects at their hands for to let go all the disgraces offered to his Royal authority since the beginning of these troubles what one thing the King hath obtained of them in acknowledgement of so many favours upon their several petitions bestowed upon them 4. Their obstinate resolution to adhere in all points to their Assembly at Glasgow is undeniable witnesse their false and disgraceful glosse upon that Article of the treatie witnesse their oath of adherence to that Assembly since the peace witnesse their protestation against calling of Bishops and Arch Bishops to the Assembly witnesse the violence offered to the Clergy for not adhering to the Assembly even since the peace 5. So the Assembly now to be holden at Edinburgh shall have but one act for all and that shall be the ratification of the Assembly held at Glasgow 6. Now shall the King countenance such an Assembly the very constitution and first meeting whereof is most derogatory to the honour of his Crown while by a mutinous crew of Incendiarie Preachers and a conspiracy of Lay Elders the Prelates of the Church are by meer violence against all authority Law example or reason excluded abjured excommunicated 7. Shall the most Christian Defender of Faith countenance such a conspiracy against God his Church and himself where the most matchlesse Villany that ever was hatched shall be made piety Rebelions conscience and Treason reason all the Loyal and Orthodox Clergy banished most Ignorant and trayterous fire-brands put in their places the Supream power in Spiritual and Ecclesiastical causes violently pulled from the Crown and devolved in the hands of a mixt meeting of Ministers and Lay-men 8. It is high Treason in my minde to conceal from His Majesty that his Supremacy in Elections is in greater security for the Crown in the hands of any whosoever then in the power of such men whose pernitious maximes subjects the Crown to the pleasure of the people whom they have ever since their Reformation set on fire when they have been so pleased and stirred up to Rebellion by their seditious Sermons have countenanced all the commotions against authority in King Iames his reign and robbed the King of the hearts of his Subjects by most trayterous calumnies And now there is not one Presbytery free of Seditious Sermons even since the peace 9. Shall
est mala cujus finis est bonus contrary to Saint Paul Non est faciendum malum ut bonum inde eveniat And because the major part of that ignorant infatuated Nation remained as yet intangled in that Errour that these were the seven Articles of Pacification and burnt by the Hangman as the Ministery thundered out of their Pulpits to make the King odious I conceive it very necessary for the undeceiving of the Multitude and satisfying the most curious to set down verbatim his Majesties Proclamation there anent which is now rarely to be found for the Scots endeavour to suppress such Truths A Proclamation publishing an Act of State and his Majesties Command concerning a scandalous Paper lately dispersed amongst many of his Subjects WHereas a Paper containing many Falshoods and tending much to the dishonour of his Majesties late Proceedings in the Pacification given to his Subjects of Scotland hath been dispersed in divers parts of this Kingdom whereupon an Act of Council hath been made in these words ensuing viz. On Sunday the fourth of August sixteen hundred thirty nine his Majesty being in Council was pleased to acquaint the Lords with a Paper which he had seen in Barwick intituled Some Conditions of his Majesties Treaty with his Subjects of Scotland before the English Nobility are set down here for remembrance Which Paper being in most parts full of falshood dishonour and scandal to his Majesties Proceedings in the late Pacification given of his Princely grace and goodness to his Subjects of Scotland hath been very frequently spread here in England and avowed in Scotland by some to have been approved and allowed as Truth by somâ— of these Lords in England who attended his Majesty and were present at the Pacification in the Camp Whereupon the Paper having been read and his Majesty commanding these English Lords to declare their knowledg thereof The Earl Marshal first began to put his Majesty in remembrance that some few days after the Pacification was concluded some of the Scotâ— Lords coming to the Chamberlain's Tent sent to speak with him and the Earl of Holland and offered them a certain Paper which they pretended to have been collected for the help of their memories and not otherwise nor to be published but the said English Lords very dutifully and discreetly refused to accept of that or any such Paper but referred themselves totally to the Articles of Pacification in writing and the said Earl Marshal further declared that now upon the reading he for his part held the said Paper for the most part false and scandalous and no way agreeable to what his Majesty expressed at the Pacification Next the Lord Chamberlain declared that being ready to take horse and a number of his Friends about him taking their leave the Lord Loudon pressed him with much importunity to receive a Paper which he took not knowing what it contained but at night when he came to his Lodging doubting it might be some such Paper as was formerly offered and was refused took it without reading of it and sealed it up and so kept it untill he presented it to his Majesty at White-hall professing that till that time he had never read any one word of it nor seen any other Copy thereof which Paper being that which had been divulged was the very same which his Majesty commanded to be read at the Board The Earl of Salisbury likewise desired to justifie himself of a particular Scandal laid upon him that he had received and brought Copies of this Paper from the North which he declared could not be because he was come away from the Camp before that Paper was offered and had never seen it nor any Copy thereof before his Majesties return to Theobalds After this the Lord Chamberlain the Earls of Salisbury Holland and Berkshire concurred with the Earl Marshal that the Contents of that Paper were for the most part notoriously scandalous false and contrary to what his Majesty clearly expressed at the Pacification His Majesty likewise declared that before his coming from Berwick he shewed a Copy of this scandalous Paper to the Earl of Lindsey the Earl of Holland Mr. Treasurer Dorine and Secretary Cook who fully concurred in the foresaid opinion with the other Lords all which Lords and particularly the Earl of Holland avowed the falsness thereof to the faces of these Scots Lords who were believed to be the divulgers thereof the Lords of the Council of Scotland being there likewise present All which considered the whole Board unanimously became humble Petitioners to his Majesty that this false and scandalous Paper might be publickly burnt by the Hangman and that his Majesties pleasure might be published by Proclamation that no person or persons hereafter of what Degree or Condition soever presume to keep any Copy thereof but that within ten days after the said Proclamation published every such person and persons shall deliver to the next Iustice of Peace all and every Copies thereof the same to be immediately sent to one of the principal Secretaries upon peril of such punishment as the Law inflicts upon such as keep up seditious Papers which was accordingly ordered and commanded to be entred into the Council-book as an Act of State His Majesty therefore by the advice of his Privy Council doth hereby publish the said Act of State unto all his loving Subjects to the end that being forewarned they may avoid the Danger which may ensue by the detaining or concealing any Copy or Transcript of the said Paper strictly charging and commanding all manner of persons what soever that they presume not to keep any Copy of the same according to this Act upon such Penalties as are done by Law And his Majesty is hereby graciously pleased to pardon and remit the offence of such persons as have had any Copy of the said Paper and shall deliver it up within ten Days after Publication hereof as aforesaid Given at our Palace of Westminster the eleventh of August 1639. How evident it is to all men how poorly these pacifying English Lords Commissioners came off Pembroke Salisbury Holland and Berkshire Sir Harry Vane senior and Secretary Cook all except honest Berkshire sided afterwards with the Covenanters against the King And when the King charged the Scots Commissioners with this Paper they made no Answer as not being within their Instructions but afterwards in their grand Declaration the State of Scotland makes this pitifull Answer or Excuse As we are most unwilling to fall upon any Question which may seem to import the least contradiction with his Majesty so if it had not been the trust which we gave to the Relation of our Commissioners who did report to us his Majesties gracious Expressions related daily to us at Dunce the place of their Camp and put into Notes by many of our Number which were a great deal more satisfactory to us than the written Declaration the same would not have been acceptable which
to have been abjured 3. That if they return to this Kingdom they be used as accursed and delivered over to the Devil and out of Christs body as Ethniks and Publicanes 4. That all evil Councellours be accusable and censurable at the next Parliament conform to the Statute of 4. Jac. and that all persons in this Kingdom entertainer and maintainers of Excommunicated Prelates be proceeded against with Excommunication conform to the acts of this Kirk 5. That seeing this Session or Term is now appointed to sit in prejudice of the people who have been busie for the late defence of their Religion and this Nation and now retired to settle their own affairs and not having fourty dayes warning as legally it ought to be and now but twenty to come Wee Protest that all the Members of the Colledge of Iustice and all other subjects ought not to attend this Session that all their Acts which they shall doe shall be voyd 6. Lastly We Protest to have liberty to inlarge this our Protestation and Reasons and thereupon the Earle of Dalhouse for the Lords Sr. William Rosse for the Barons the Provost of Sterling for the Burroughs and Mr. Andro Ramsey for the Ministers take Instrument hereof Edinburgh 1. July 1639. They that would excuse this Insolent impetuosity of proceeding in the Covenanters so early after the accord and so fair do affirm that by the endeavours which was lately used by the Commissioner Marquesse Hamilton to disunite as they call it and corrupt the chief and most leading Covenanters as namely Argyle Rothes Lindsay Monrosse Lowdon Sr. William Dowglas Mr. Alexander Henderson and others by allurements of great offices And that Argyle offered his Daughter in Marriage with Rothes and Ten thousand pounds portion and to remain forthwith and for ever to Rothes in case Hamilton failed of performance But the Scots meet at their time appointed the sixth of August the General Assembly at Edinburgh continuing till the twenty fourth and there made good to themselves the first Article of the Kings reference to his Commissioners former promise which were in particular Abolishing Episcopacy the five Articles of Perth High Commission Liturgy and Book of Canons And the Marquesse Hamilton designed with new Commission from the King to assent thereto and to Act in other things But he cunningly cast that Imployment upon Traquair whose jugglings together proved false and treacherous to all succeeding affairs of their Soveraigne For after the Assembly the Parliament being prorogued to the twenty sixth of August they then sit And at the beginning debate the Interests to the Election of the Lords of Articles The King heretofore named eight Bishops and they eight Noblemen and these sixteen elected eight Commissioners for the Sherifdoms and eight others for the Burroughs and Corporations And these thirty two and no more had the names of Lords of the Articles and were a Committee to canvasse and correct all Bills before they go to Vote And so the King not to be prejudiced in his Nomination by the avoydance of Bishops the Parliament yeelded to his Commissioner to chuse eight Noblemen for the present bnt voted that hereafter every State should Elect their own Commissioners Thus far they were forward for businesse but then how and in what manner to supply the vacancy of Bishops Votes and how to constitute the Third Estate The Commissioner urged for the King fourteen Laiks of such as were called Abbots and Priors to represent the third Estate which after some alteration was settled and voted into small Barons that represent the Commonalty and then fell upon abrogating former Acts of Indictions of Courts of Exchequer Ward-lands and other things so peremptory to a kinde of Reforming all to a fresh new modeling of a Government of their own without reference to Regality the Commissioner had command from the King to Prorogue the Parliament until the second of Iune next against which they frame a Declaration to be of no effect without consent of Parliament and might sit still but in some shew of duty they for the present would make Remonstrance of their Propositions and proceedings and if by suggestions Informations and Imputations bad effects should follow the world should witnesse their constraint to take such courses as might best conserve the Kirk and Kingdom from eminent confusion And accordingly and as a consequence their Deputies the Earl of Dumfirmlin and the Lord Lowdon present their Remonstrance and the Commissioner Traquair came also to the King to give the account of all not before a select Committee of Councellours but the whole body of the Councel and to hear both parties with very fierce Reproofs Recriminations between them where the deputies their old impudent manner not at all qualifying any mistakes or oversights but absolutely insisting upon direct justification of all and every Act of both Assembly and Parliament in their transactions to the very not onely lessening of the Kings prerogative but over ruling if not destroying of all soveraign authority which nothing but power and force could reduce to moderation or reason and these passages made an end of the moneth September During these Scotish affairs about the middle of Iuly came over hither into England the Prince Elector who the last year had ill successe of his designe into Westphalia where he was beaten and his brother Rupert taken prisoner And now Duke Bernard a gallant Commander lately dead the Prince of Orange advised the Elector to procure assistance of his Uncle the King of England to get command of that Dukes Army And although our home affairs were in great necessity of support here yet the King upon his score encouraged him therein and withall dealt with the French Ambassadour Leiger here to procure his Master into a League of assistance with him Intimating so much to Cardinal Richlien the great manager of the French affairs and Councels and glad sayes one to serve his Majesty and Nephew Quite another way for though a Treaty therein was set on foot yet with no intent or policy in the Cardinal too much to further the effect and indeed but a by shift of our King for the present for how could Richlieu be righty perswaded to it being so lately hardly reconciled for the English account upon the Isle of Rhe and the relief of Rochel and from whence he took rise and resolution of revenge by plots and councels with the Scots in all their Rebellions against the King as you shall see hereafter And in truth even now whilst the Treaty the Palsgrave in November was treacherously advised even by the Cardinals designe to passe disguised through France to the Swedes army but discovered all the way first by our own Fleet at the Downs saluted with a voley of great Guns and so by the ship the like which landed him at Boullen for Paris and after to Lions where he was seized and denying himself arrested and as it was managed by the Elector very perfidious to the
these were Pembrook Salisbury Holland and others lately Commissioners in the Pacification And yet amongst them all the most unworthy kept in and bred in Hamilton At last the number was lessened to three the Arch Bishop the Lord Leivtenant of Ireland and Hamilton And at the close it was concluded on the fift of December And no wonder now to set down the truth as secret as this Junto was I draw my intelligence from a Letter written the tenth of December to the most Eminent of degree under obedience of the King the whole manner and matter of that debate which saies that on Thursday last the Iunto met when the King gave reasons of the evil and necessity of suddain prevention ere it should highten beyond remedie which in his Judgement ought to be by consent and assistance of 〈…〉 in England the Lord Lievtenant acknowledged it the 〈…〉 highly magnifying the Kings resolution and with the 〈…〉 confirmed professing afterwards in a fuller Assembly that 〈◊〉 he should know himself to be one principally aymed at for Examination in Parliament yet he so far preferred the Kings prosperity and the affaires of State as to hazard his own life and fortunes to his Innocencie and their Censure And the Lord Lievtenant wholly had the honour in the peoples opinion for promoting this Resolution Then was it also concluded for a Parliament also in Ireland to precede this herein and the Lieutenant to be dispatched thither to return time enough to this which was therefore resolved for that cause principally not to remove till the middle of April following and in the mean time to raise monies by that reputation sufficient to put himself in a posture of war And indeed the Arguments were urged pro and con unsafe unseasonable insecure because of the rancour left by the last Parliament the unseasonable recalling an Assembly after the peoples thoughts had laid them aside and the King had learned to stand on his own legs viz. power by Land and Sea and no doubt Insecure to many great ones a whipping Parliament as Sir Thomas Iermin named it But then the necessity of the affairs and the Kings resolution to satisfie all exceptions put it on And for present mony The Lord Lieutenant subscribed the Lone of twenty thousand pounds the Duke of Richmond as much more Hamilton pretended poverty and did not sign at all though his Scotish Imployment got him twice so much It after came to the rest some in zeal other in good manners few refused All the Judges Officers and dependants of Courts of Judicature were assessed by the discretion of the Council acording to their qualities and places of profit But herein mistaking the profit of the six Clerks places in Chancery for they were raised to the sum of two thousand pounds a piece beyond the benefit of their gain And indeed to draw on the Clergie and to shew that a Recusant in the rites of our Church may yet have a conscience of fidelity answerable to the duty of other obedient subjects the Queen had the honour of Promoting her interest with them appointing Sir Kenelm Digby and Mr. Walter Mountague to negotiate with the Catholiques for a hearty contribution being very proportional to their affections and beyond their proper abilities which was afterwards hinted as a great crime and therefore throughout the war called the Papist Army It was no matter for the Scots were termed Rebells here and in Ireland and more forward than the King with their faces but with a cunning carriage of counterfeite humility and Innocencie crave leave to prostrate their duty and obedience by access to his Majesties Throne of grace and mercy To that end the Covenanters did send their Commissioners the Earl of Dunfermling the Lord Loudon Sir William Dowglas and Mr. Barkley The two last not so much as mentioned in the Commission and the Lords onely authorized to plead Integrity and to demonstrate their fidelity but not impowred to propound particulars towards a Mediation any way satisfactorie at all to the Kings expectation and in truth they came but to juggle with this State as you have heard for at this time the Covenanters were so forward as to Imprison at home some of the Kings well affected Nobility and Gentry suspected by them and from birds of their feather the Hollander they procured many Commanders Scots and others with liberty to keep their places with Arms and ammunition upon trust though such Officers from thence as came to the King were soon casheered ungratefull People both for courtesies done to repay with injury and after to destroy as 't is observed that Naturale est odisse quem laeseris And the King could say of them both that They were lost by Favours and won by Punishment And thus forwarded like desperate Insurrectors they engage beyond Retrive themselves the first to proclaim their Discontents imploring Aid from their old Friends the French by the Letter to that King which they did not doubt under confidence of the Cardinal Richelieu and Con the Popes Nuncio to obtain The very original Letter to the French King whether sent or but intended came to the Kings hands as a close Secret and was found to be the Character of the Lord Loudon who was therefore though Commissioner from the Covenanters committed to the Tower in close confinement till the Marquess Hamilton procured his Release And this very Letter in the Kings presence being openly read in the Lords House the next Parliament the Commons being at the Bar without any great resentment which testified that the major part did not much dislike the Scots Proceedings as appears too true thereafter Nay before this their Letter to the French King they were encouraged six Moneths since from France by Chambers the Priest a bold Scot and Chaplain to Richelieu sent by him to advise them to take Arms and thereafter he sent his Page Hepburn with Letters to the principal of them in the Court here and then to Scotland and no sooner invited but they begin their Reaks the Covenanters first seizing Edinburgh and Sterlin Castle others in a seeming way of force because the Earl of Mar was hereditable Keeper of them both and secretly sided with them as also the Castle of Dunbarton before their Army was marched to Dunslow And besides this Letter to the French King they had implored help from the King of Denmark Sweden Holland Poland and their Letters were shewed to the King wherein they offer their Isles of Orkney and Shetland to the King of Denmark advising the Swede to fall upon that King in case he should assist his Kinsman Nay it is further reported that they solicited the Turk to ingage against the Emperour lest he should contribute to their prejudice But it seems by their own true Representation that they trusted chiefly to their English Brethren We are now come to the consideration concerning this resolved Rebellion whether besides the hopes of
Laws and Lives of others are assailed That none presume to call his Son and heir King nor to be mentioned in prayer Monarchy is attached the power of the Parliamentary Lords is abrogate the Major of London denuded the Council of the City changed and their own creatures introduced the Law against schismaticks repealed the Preachers are defrauded and threatned Countesses committed Noblemen executed the Nation stiled a Common-wealth but the power contracted in a few who erect an Oligarchy for themselves and are envied of the Democracies and take Arms encouraging the Oligarchies Enjoyn submission to the Government appoint Thanksgiving daies to God for their success and thereby are Invited to the City feast whom they requite with the Kings New Park and sell his householdstuff houses lands and all and yet not satisfied they burthen the people with Taxes and invade Ireland and conquer it and after Scotland This in brief the story follows And now the Parliament Assembled Mr. Iohn Glunvile speaker as was resolved this day the thirteenth day of April Entring their first business of the Earl of Strafford good services in Ireland who was led in to the house of Lords by two of their own as presenting him the more eminent for what he had done in Ireland speedily effectually Obtaining of the Irish the grant of four Subsidies for maintenance of Ten thousand foot and fifteen hundred Horse which might be a pattern in preparation for the English supplies And an accompt was given to the Lords of the Scots letter sent to the French King for it being Examined by the Lord Cotington Secretary Windebanck and the Atturney General Loudon conâ—essed the hand writing to be his prepared in a readiness before the late pacification at Barwick but no use was ever made thereof but supposed Nevertheless Loudon stood committed till further evidence might condemn or clear him The Parliament not very forward to fall upon the necessary business of supplies To quicken them the King by message represents to the house of Commons many particular Insolencies intolerable with which the Scots had heated him And that for their assistance answerable to the present occasion so much concerning him and the honour of this Nation he would acquit his claim of ship-moneys besides due satisfaction to all their demands This offer discovered to them the Kings extremities and how they pricked which would serve their turn in demanding the more of him And therefore they expect to be assured in these particulars which they well know would spend so much time in arguing that the Kings necessity might undo him and yet they would not be otherwise relenting For clearing the Properties of the Subject For establishing true Religion For priviledge of Parliament These were the grounds of former differences so often discussed whether the Kings supply or the Subjects sufferings should be first considered and now it took up sundry debates and several conferences of both Houses ere the Lords could Master it among themselves for the King the Commons were resolved the next to yield to him from their own intents first But coming to the Question how much might serve the present Expectation Secretary Vane told them by Command from the King Twelve subsidies would serve the turn and so it might for he had such authority to demand so much being double the Kings desire which Vane with indirect intention was known willingly to mistake and it took the effect firing them into so much fury and their compliance so desperate as that the Iunto advise the King to break up their sitting and so the fiâ—t of May after two and twenty daies they were dissolved Nor need we lodge the advice upon a Iunto to councell the King herein It was the common consent of the Privy Council openly concluded debate there needed none the frequent discourse of the publique observators fore saw so much and the Parliament found the Kings necessities so enforcing by which means they were resolved to draw advantage to themselves though prejudice to him For to think as is supposed that the Luxuriance of the Kings perogative being detrected or any other Spontaneous concessions could have calmed their animosities is much mistaken for it is truely observed that the house of Commons meant that morning to vote against the war with Scotland and to blast that design to which they were so much indisposed however hazardous to the Kings honour and the necessities of his affairs which was conceaved now at the point of time to resent and to prevent by renewing the present intention and so the Arch Bishop is to be cleared as the main adviser for both he and the Earl of Strafford in the next Parliament by their answers were forced to defend themselves from that occasion But though the Parliament break up yet the Convocation of Bishops sat still from their first meeting by writ the twentieth of February last and might no doubt do so with Commission April 15. after to act propose deliberate and conclude such Canons and Constitutions as they conceived conduceable to the peace of the Church During the session of that Parliament necessarily to be now revised by a new Commission to continue the Convocation for the conclusion of such matters then in treaty amongst them though it became a doubt whether they might not sit in Convocation still the Writ which called them having no limitation but during the Kings pleasure which was not as yet otherwise signified and the difference of the Writ and the Commission was by Commissioners considered and thus subcribed That the convocation called by the Kings Writ was not to dissolve but by the Kings Writ notwithstanding the dissolution of the Parliament The tenth of May Finch Manchester Littleton Banks Heath Sheffield and so was the old Convocation armed with a new Commission but not well armed against Lilburns Libels or the Riot of Rakehels upon Lambeth house which followed and the King was fain to set a guard about Westminster Abby during their whole time of sitting In much distresse besides well observed and in danger of the Kings displeasure if they rose of the peoples fury if they sat to be beaten up by Tumults while at work and beaten down by the next Parliament for doing the work and obnoxious to the last of evil tongues for all their good intents and to their pens too upon the main score not so much of the Bishops doing not well as of being Bishops to do any things such was the fate of the Prelates now to be under censure of the Presbyters with such prejudice to either as the contest of endeavouring to satisfie the world made the wound upon either side more wide especially if you take in for good Arguments the common fame of every Libeller As for the main It must not be supposed that the question began but now to be maintained for the Divine Right on which Bishops were founded Many writ for their defence in Queen Elizabeths time Dr.
are contained in our late printed Declarations which were sent to your Lordship which summarily we here repeat That the late Acts of Parliament may be published in his Majesties Name with the States of Parliament That Edenburgh Castle and other Strengths of Scotland may as to their first foundation be fortified and used for our defence and security That our Countreymen in England and Ireland may not be pressed with Oaths and Subscription warranted by your Law and contrary to their National Oath and Covenant That the common Incendiaries the Authours of Combustions in his Majesties Dominions may receive their Censure That our Ships and Goods with all the Dammage thereof may be restored That the wrongs losses and charges which all the time we have sustained may be repaired That the Declarations made against us as Traitours may be recalled That by the advice and consent of the States of England to be convened in Parliament the Garrisons may be removed from the Borders and any Impediment that may stop free Trade and settle Peace for our Religion and Liberties against all Fears of Molestation and the undoing of us from year to year or as our Adversaries shall take the advantage And that the meeting of the Peers the four and twentieth of this instant will be too long ere the Parliament will be convened the onely means of settling Peace the sooner they come the more shall we be enabled to obey his Majesties Prohibition of our advancing with our Army Nothing but invincible necessity hath brought us out of our Countrey to this place and no other thing shall draw us beyond the Limits appointed by his Majesty wherein we hope your Lordship will labour for our Kings honour and the good of our Countrey Leaguer at New-castle Septemb. 8. 1640. Your Lordships loving and humble Servants and Friends c. Those English Lords that meant not to fight either for necessity or honour fearing that their next Meeting might prevent a Parliament had this while devised their Petition to the King in effect for a Parliament the great aim on all sides answerable to the Scots desire before they set out from home which they published at the head of their Army in a Pamphlet called The Intentions of their Army viz. Not to lay down Arms till the Reformed Religion were settled in both Nations upon sure grounds the Causers and Abetters of their present Troubles be brought to publick justice and that in Parliament And these Abetters were the Papists Prelates and their Adherents in general but more particular the Arch-bishop of Canterbury and the Lieutenant of Ireland And therefore to answer them comes out a correspondent Petition from a Compound of six Earls one Viscount and four Barons being a Descant on the Scots Plain-song And to back these Petitions are poasted from London and other places presently after The Lords Petition was thus Most gracious Sovereign The zeal of that duty and service which we ow to your Sacred Majesty and our earnest affection to the good and welfare of this your Realm of England have moved us in all humility to beseek your Royal Majesty to give us leave to offer to your Princely wisdom the apprehension which we and others your faithfull Subjects have conceived of the great Distempers and Dangers now threatning the Church and State and your Royal Person and of the fittest means by which they may be removed and prevented The Evils and Dangers whereof your Majesty may be pleased to take notice are these 1. That your Majesties Sacred Person is exposed to Hazzard and Danger in the present Expedition against the Scotish Army and by occafion of this War your Majesties Revenue is much wasted your Subjects burthened with Coat and Conduct-money billeting of Souldiers and other Military charges and divers Rapines and Disorders committed in several parts of this your Realm by the Souldiers raised for that Service and your whole Kingdom become full of Fears and Discontents 2. The sundry Innovations in matters of Religion the Oath and Canons lately imposed upon the Clergy and other your Majesties Subjects 3. The great increase of Popery and the imploying of Popish Recusants and others ill-affected to the Religion by Laws established in Places of power and tâ—ust especially in commanding of Men and Arms both in the Field and sundry Counties of this your Realm whereas by Law they are not permitted to have any Arms in their own Houses 4. The great Mischiefs which may fall upon this Kingdom if the intentions which have been credibly reported of bringing in Irish and foreign Forces should take effect 5. The urging of Ship money and prosecution of some Sheriffs in the Star-chamber for not levying of it 6. The heavy charge upon Merchandise to the discouragement of Trade the multitude of Monopolies and other Patents whereby the Commodities and Manufactures of the Kingdom are much burthened to the great and universal grievance of your people 7. The great grief of your Subjects by long intermission of Parliaments and the late and former dissolving of such as have been called without the happy effects which otherwise they might have produced For remedy whereof and prevention of the dangers that may arise to your Royal Person and to the whole State they do in all humility and faithfulness beseek your most Excellent Majesty that you would be pleased to summon a Parliament within some convenient time whereby the causes of these and other great grievances which your people lie under may be taken away and the Authors and Counsellors of them may be there brought to such legal trial and condign punishment as the nature of their several offences shall require And that the present War may be composed by your Majesties wisdom without blood in such manner as may conduce to the Honour and safety of your Majesties Person the comfort of your people and the uniting of both your Realms against the common Enemy of the Reformed Religion And your Majesties petitioners shall ever pray c. Concluded the 28. of August 1640 Francis Bedford Roberâ— Essex Mulgrave Say Seal Edward Howard The Earl of Bristow William Hartford Warwick Bulling brook Mandevil Brook Paget The Kings Answer was BEfore the receipt of your Petition his Majesty well foresaw the danger that threatens himself and Crown and therefore resolved to summon all the Peers to his presence upon the 24 of this September and with them to consult what in this case is fittest to be done for his honour and safety of the Kingdom where they with the rest may offer any thing that may conduce to these ends And so accordingly the Lord Keeper had command and did issue out Writs of summons for their appearance at York the 24. of September And to meet them there comes To the Kings most Excellent Majesty The Humble Petition of your Majesties Loyal Subjects the Citizens of London Most Gracious Soveraign BEing moved by the Duty and Obedience which by Religion and Laws your Petitioners owe unto
their practices provoking Aspersions upon the most gracious and best of Kings that he levels at none in particular let the faults lead to the men not to be exposed to irregular prejudices nor with-held from orderly justice Bodies natural to be effectually purged of Humours must be made moveable and fluid so of the Politick to be cleared of their Maladies by loosening and unsettling the evil Ministers and to be drawn into a Remonstrance and presented to a gracious Masters clear and excellent judgment And so he sat down This was held too courtly and which was suddenly laid hold on A forward young man well made up with Learning and by his Fathers fate kept aloof from the Beam of Sovereignty a little Sun-shine would enliven him some Marks of Majesty fell from the Queen which taken up tainted him presently after and in him his Father also now made Friends whom the King took also into favour The King to keep the City from Tumult and to prevent the Insolencies of busie and loose People had established a Constable of the Tower of London Supreme to the Lieutenant under command of the Lord Cottington enabling it with a Garrison also of four hundred Souldiers and with some shew of Fortification thereof at this very time when some publick notice was given to the Parliament of an extraordinary confluence of Popish Recusants in and about the City of London and Westminster and therefore to take away all Jealousies of conniving with them or other Fears of over-mastering the City he was pleased to send a Message to the Parliament that by Proclamation the Papists shall be instantly removed to their places of abode with prosecution also against their persons disarming their power according to Law And as for the Tower he erected the Government by a Constable and Garrison in favour to the peace of the City but is now resolved to leave the Tower to the command of a Lieutenant onely as hath been heretofore And in the afternoon came out an Order of the Commons House that all Projectours and unlawfull Monopolists that have or had lately any benefit from Monopolies or countenanced or issued out any Warrants in favour of them against Non-conformists to Proclamations or Commands concerning their Interests shall be disabled to sit in the House and Master Speaker is to issue out new Warrants for electing other Members in their places Whereupon it was notoriously observed how vacant their Rooms were upon the self-accusation of their own guilt who but lately framed speeches against others abroad who lodged under the Parliament lash for such Crimes The next day complaint was made to the Lords that their Privileges were infringed by the search of the Earl of Warwick and the Lord Brooks their Pockets Cabinets and Studies upon the Dissolution of the last Parliament And Sir William Beecher one of the Clerks of the Council being the Instrument alleged for his Excuse the command of the two Secretaries of State which could not protect him from Commitment to the Fleet Prison The Commons House intent upon publick justice sent Master Pym to the Lords with a Message the Impeachment of Thomas Earl of Strafford Lord Lieutenant of Ireland as guilty of High Treason Whereupon he was sequestred from the House and committed to the Usher of the Black Rod and Sir George Ratcliff his Confederate and supposed Criminary with him was two days after sent for out of Ireland by a Serjeant at Arms. And here we cannot pass by many wise mens opinions whether the Earl assumed his wonted judgment and courage when he came from the Army to this Parliament His wisdom could not chuse but know that the Scots and Scotizing English had infallibly resolved his destruction his innocency to be no Armour of Proof against Malice and Power why did he not rather keep under safeguard of the English Army at his command from which he had got much affection or have passed over into Ireland the Army there also at his devotion or in plain terms have taken Sanctuary into some foreign parts till fair weather might have invited him home whether it had been a betraying of his Innocency to decline the Trial where Partiality held the Beam of the Scales and self-ends backedâ— with power and made blinde with prejudice were like to over-ballance Justice that if Sentence should have passed against him for Non-appearance yet had he kept his Freedom till better times and have done his Master better service abroad than in Council at White-hall But on the other side it was said that all these Considerations had been pondered before he came from the Army even by the way where met him a Iunto of his confident Friends and then it was averred that he had gained in the North certain evidence that the Scots Army came in by Invitation a Confederacy between the Heads of the Covenanters and some of the English Parliament-members of both Houses his most deadly Enemies to subvert the Government of the Church and to innovate in that of the Civil State that therefore he himself had digested his Intelligence into the Form of an Impeachment which he intended to have offered to the House of Peers so soon as he had taken his place there There were his Reasons which he might have from Example of the Earl of Bristow who yet came too late to begin upon his grand Enemy the Duke of Buckingham in the like charge but then Bristow was ready at the instant to recriminate upon the Duke by an Impeachment of High Treason against him which took off the Dukes edg ever after But here Strafford was not so nimble as Master Pym who got the start and it seems the Earl failed of his former purpose which had he seconded by an after timely stroke and impeached them and prosecuted it in a reasonable pace and method as was afforded him it might have happened not so fatal to his utter ruine And the Commons speeding thus far it encouraged them no doubt to fall upon others in the same track with the Arch-bishop few Moneths after In this time the two Armies were heavy charge to the Counties where they quartered therefore the twelfth of November the Parliament borrow of the City of London an hundred thousand pounds upon interest and ingagement of the credit of some of the Members untill the Moneys might be levied upon Subsidies and so to repay them Munday the sixteenth of November upon the humble suit of the House of Lords to his Majesty the Lord Bishop of Lincoln was released out of the Tower and the next Day being assigned for Humiliation he was brought into the Abbey Church by four Bishops and did his Office as Dean of Westminster before the Lords Never wise-man so gulled into the false shew of true affection from Lords and Commons and so continued till their turns were served upon the Earl of Strafford and the Arch Bishop of Canterbury he became the spectacle of
scorn and the most hated man of all the Hierarchy where his turn came to be last devoured after he had eaten up some of his brethren The Earl of Strafford though in durance yet found friends abroad very active to serve him and accordingly it was the nineteenth day moved First That he might be bailed by divers Lords who offered caution But it was answered by the Lord Paget that it was against the Laws of the Land and the priviledge of the House and so passed the Major votes not to be admitted But was assigned Council and a solicitor in reguard of his restraint The one and twentieth one Iohn Iames son of Sir Henry Iames of Feversham in Kent a Romish Catholique stabbed Mr. Howard a Justice of peace of Westminster in Westminster-hall not unto death which was attempted because Mr. Howard had drawn a Catalogue of such Recusants as were within the Liberties of Westminster which he was to deliver up to the Committee of Religion for which fact Iames was secretly punished The eight and twentieth Mr. Pryn and Mr. Burton were conducted into London from their several Prisons in great pomp by many thousands of horse and foot with Rosemary and Bayes in their caps in despight and defiance of the course of Justice which had sentenced them and the third of December they presented their Petitions to the House of Commons for dammage against their Prosecutors This Parliament of Inquisition began to appear terrible to all that lodged but under suspition of guilt but insufferable to the conscience condemning which Sir Francis Windebank Secretary of State not able to bear having been questioned and mainly convinced for reprieving Iesuites and Priests and of worse matters suspected guilty got over into France where he remained to his death a professed Roman Catholique The seventh day unanimously in the Commons House was voted 1. That the Charge imposed upon the Subject for the providing and furnishing of Ships and the Assessments for raising moneys for that purpose commonly called Ship-mony are against the Laws of the Realm the Subjects right and property contrary to former resolutions in Parliament and the Petition of Right 2. That the extrajudicial opinion of the Iudges published in the Star-chamber and enrolled in the Courts of Westminster are in the whole and every part of them against the Laws of the Realm c. ut prius 3. That the writs commonly called Ship writs are against the Laws of the Realm c. ut pius 4. That the Iudgment in the Exchequer in Mr. Hamdens case is as to the matter and substance thereof against the Laws of the Realm c. ut prius And so was it voted in the House of Lords And the next day a Committe was appointed to draw up a charge of High Treason against such as had been abetters therein the Lord Keeper Finch and the rest of the Iudges But though the Parliament was thus severe against the legality of Ship-mony yet it is observed that amongst the best Lawyers the matter was justifiable ascribing much to the Judgment of that learned Lawer Mr. Noy who first preferred it Secondly All the Judges subscribing to it in time of danger of which danger the King was declared to be Judge Thirdly And being argued in the Courts of Justice and by all the Judges in the Exchequers Chamber it was definitively sentenced for the King 4. Nor was it voted down by Parliament but in a meer arbitrary way without review or Council heard as the Judges reason of their opinion so much as required 5. And yet the arguments of the two Justices Crock and Hutton for the Illegallity was by vote of the house of Commons put in print but the opinion of the other eight Judges which were for the legality of it continue suppressed which gave most men occasion to conceive the greater reason in those arguments which were kept in the dark 6. And in all this design to vote it down the Parliament was fain to have recourse to the King and to crave an act of Parliament to secure them from it for the future and to countenance their cause the Judges were impeached in order to the pretext not merit of punishment And now the eleventh of December Alderman Lack-land or Pennington with some hundred at his heels a rable of petty Shop-keepers and Prentices presented their Citizens Petition subscribed by fifteen thousand pittifully perplexed at the Ecclesiastical Discipline and sundry Ceremonies of the Church of England which was wholly debarred but was transmitted till a cooler time And because it was thought sit to strike while the Iron was hot this Petition ushering in much worke of Reformation It was thought convenient to condemn the illegallity of the proceedings in the late Convocation and their Canons which being canvased on both sides the houses and all of one party few Arguments need to be urged where the prevailing sence of the House opposed and so resolved the fifteenth of December That the Clergy in a synod or Convocation hath no power to make Canons Constitutions or Laws to bind either Layity or Clergie without a Parliament And first next day that the Canons are against the fundamental Laws of this Realm against the Kings Prerogative Propriety of the Subject the Right of Parliaments and do tend to Faction and Sedition This Parliamentary Doctrine was but now newly known Convocations never before depending on Parliaments but either in calling or dissolving confirming or authorising the Acts thereof but onely on the King himself not in Parliament neither but in his Palace and this seems to be proved by the Statute 26 Henry 8. and the constant practice ever since And for the Canons before they were subscribed they were imparted to the King and by him communicated to the Lords of the Privy Council the Iudges the learned Council then attending and were read and approved without any thing therein tending to Faction and Sedition or to the prejudice of the Subjects propriety or the Kings Prerogative or the Laws of the Land yet the Parliament frame a Bill for fining all the Clergie of that Convocation keeping them in such aw as none did appear in maintenance of their Authority or in opposing those Incroachments and Innovations which daily were introduced upon them And as to the Civil Iudges for case of Ship-money so the Parliament proceed with the Ecclesiastick Arch-bishop of Canterbury against whom they form a Committee to draw up a Charge against him as the Framer of these Canons and for other supposed Delinquencies aggravated by the Scots adjoyning him with the Earl of Strafford in their grand Accusation as an Incendiary in this National Difference promising to bring in their Complaint but in the mean time Master Hollis on Friday is sent up with the Impeachment and is seconded the same day with the Charge of the Scots Commissioners upon the reading whereof he was committed to the custody of the Black Rod
Maxwell till ten Weeks after when being upon the Charge voted guilty of High Treason and not before he was sent to the Tower and four years after beheaded The Scots Covenanters charge against the Arch-bishop of Canterbury concerning Innovations in Religion the main causes of Commotions in Kingdoms and States the true causes of our present Troubles many and great besides the Books of Ordinances and Homilies First some particular Alterations in Religion without Order or Law a new Book of Canons and Constitutions Ecclesiastical Secondly a Liturgie or Book of Common Prayer full of dangerous Errours and we challenge the Prelate Canterbury the prime cause on earth That he was Authour of our changes in Religion by fourteen Letters of his to our pretended Bishops to promote the English Service-Book and for which neglect he lost the Bishoprick oâ— Edinburgh but may deserve a better advising him to return a List of the Names of such persons of Honour and Office that refuse More appears by Papers memorative Instructions to the Bishop of Saint Andrews and Ross for ordering the Affairs of the Kingdom to obtain Warrants to order the Exchequer Privy Council Commissions of Surrenders the matter of Balmerino's Process as might pleasure Prelates Warrants to sit in the High Commission once a Week and to gain from the Noble-men the Abbies of Kelso Saint Andrews and Conday for the Prelates ordering by his command even the meanest Offices in the Kirk Secondly the Book of Canons obtruded being devised for establishing a tyrannical power in the persons of the Prelates over the Consciences Liberties and Goods of the People and for abolishing the whole Discipline of our Kirk settled by so many general and provincial Assemblies Presbyteries and Kirk-Sessions by Law and continual practice since the Reformation The Book of Common Prayer which by our National Assembly is found to be Popish Superstitious and Idolatrous and repugnant to all our Doctrine and Discipline reformed And that Canterbury was the main Actor they prove by several Letters to several pretended Bishops for promoting and ordering the use thereof and the Book it self in writ is interlined margined and patched up by his hand the changes and supplements taken from the Mass-books different from the Service-book in England and without the Kings knowledg as in the Sacraments of Baptism and the Supper of the Lord. That our Supplications were many against these Books but Canterbury procured them to be answered with terrible Proclamations whereby we were constrained to use the Remedy of Protestations we were called Rebells and Traitours and procured War against us and after the Pacification at Barwick he advised to have it broken and to bring upon us this new War that our Convenant he called damnable treasonable railing against us in the presence of the King and Committee That his hand was to the Warrant for Restraint and Imprisonment of some of our Commissioners when we had manifested the truth of our Intentions Declarations Remonstrances and Representations true just and lawfull That he advised the breaking up of the last Parliament but sat still in his Convocation to make Laws against them tending to our utter ruine That he caused a Prayer to be used in all Churches in England whereby we are styled as traiterous Subjects c. That if the Pope had been in his place he could not have been more zealous against the Reformed Churches to reduce them to the Heresies Doctrines Superstitions Idolatries of Rome c. All which they will prove and desire justice upon him Their Charge also against the Earl of Strafford which was thus in effect That they had conjoyned with Canterbury by no other name the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whose malice was to do mischief to their Kirk and Countrey no cause moving but his own pride and superstitious disdain of their Kirk so much honoured first by sundry other reformed Kirks by many worthy Divines in England by their oppositions against Innovations in all his Majesties Dominions which he promotes by advancing his Chaplain Doctor Bromholm to the Bishoprick of Derry and Vicar general of Ireland one prompted to exalt Canterbury's Popery and Armenianism and Doctor Chapel to the University of Dublin on purpose to imprisoning and corrupting the Fountain of the Kirk and when the Primate of all Ireland pressed a Ratification of the Articles of the Confession of that Kirk in Parliament for barring of Innovation he boldly threatned him with burning of it by the Hangman although confirmed in England He disgraced our new Reformation begun in Scotland by a Pamphlet Examen conjurationis Scoticae The ungirding of the Scotish Armour Lysimachus Nicanor and he the Patron of the Works and them That notwithstanding their National Oath and Covenant warranted by general Assemblies approved by Parliament there and to be taken by all the People and their Loyalty to the King and lawfull proceeding the Innocency of their Covenant and Cause yet did he tend all his malice and force against them First by summoning some of the Scots Nobility and Gentry there in Ireland to Dublin and there conspired with the Prelate of Rothes and framed a Petition which the Scots there must exhibit to renounce the Scots Covenant and so thereby enforced all the Scots above sixteen years of age to the same upon pain of close Imprisonment whereby thousand others were forced to fly into Scotland leaving all they had behinde them to the weakning of the Scots Plantation and disservice to the King and Kingdom That by his means a Parliament is there called and although by six Subsidies unduly gotten and levied the Parliament before the Land was impoverished He now again extorted four Subsidies more otherwise Forces should have been levied against us as Rebells This being intended as a President to the Parliaments in England for levying a joint Army over the Subjects of both Nations And accordingly an Army was raised and brought to the Coast threatning to invade Scotland and to make us a conquered Province to the extirpation of Religion Laws and Liberties which enforced us of necessity to maintain our Forces on Foot to prevent his coming our Ships and Goods taken as Prize on the Irish Coasts inciting England to a War also against them Thus fitted he hastning over into England and at the delivery up of the Sword there he uttered these words If ever I return to this honourable Sword I shall not leave of the Scots neither Root nor Branch Being come to Court he acts all offices to our Commissioners who were to clear all our Proceedings at the Iunto using perswasions to stir up both King and Parliament to a War against us That course failing he plotted to break the Parliament and to have the Conduct of the Army in the Expedition against Scotland which he exercised according to the largeness of his Patent of his own devising and when the Scots Army came but in peace far from Intentions to invade but with supplication and petition of
peace he gave order to his Officers to fight us and so to be engaged in bloud the better for his wicked Designs against both Kingdoms And although his Majesty with consent of his Peers were inclined to a Peace as before he onely in that honourable Assembly raged against us as Traitours and Enemies to Monarchical Government to be sent home nay he himself would undertake to whip us home in our own bloud That after the Cessation of Arms he during the Treaty drew up his Army near the Tees and gave his Warrants to the several Governours of Barwick and Carlile for their Acts of Hostility and he the Man that continueth several parts of England in terms of difference sundry Scots imprisoned still no free Trade nor other face of affairs there as before the Cessation And therefore desire their Lordships that this great Incendiary not onely against private persons but even against Kingdoms and Nations may come to his Trial and endure condign justice and punishment And for this their good service the Scots had favour from the House of Commons to have an hundred thousand pounds voted for the Expence of their Army who besides plundered the Counties round about their Quarters And not to separate him from his confident Sir George Ratcliff who was brought out of Ireland and this Impeachment charged against him The Impeachment of Sir George Ratcliff First that he had conspired and joined with the Earl of Strafford to bring into Ireland an Arbitrary Government and to subvert Fundamental Laws Secondly to bring in an Army from Ireland to subdue the Subjects of England Thirdly that he joyned with the Earl to use Regal power and to deprive Subjects of their liberties and properties Fourthly to take out fourty thousand pounds out of the Exchequer in Ireland and bought Tobacco therewith and converted the same profit to their own uses Fifthly that he hath traiterously confederated with the Earl to countenance Papists and built Monasteries to alienate the affections of the Irish Subjects from the subjection of England Sixthly to draw the Subjects of Scotland from the King Seventhly that to preserve himself and the said Earl he had laboured to subvert the Liberties and Privilege of Parliaments in Ireland The Parliament taking things in turn having turned out of the House of Lords and safely lodged two Delinquents the most active and powerfull the one from the State the other from the Church the next in course must concern the Law the most eminent Malignant as they conceived was the Lord Keeper Finch who took it for his wiser way to prevent the effects of what was in preparing against him the Commons charge of High Treason In reference to it he caressed them with an Oration such as it is in vindication of himself in such particulars as he knew most in force and because it contained more than bare words we may examine the merit thereof which was all that he had time to say for himself Mr Speaker I give you thanks for granting me admittance to your presence I come not to preserve my self and Fortunes but to preserve your good opinion of me for I profess I had rather beg my Bread from door to door with Date obolum Bellisario with your favour than be never so high and honoured with your displeasure I came not hither to justifie my words actions or opinions but to open my self freely and then to leave my self to the House What disadvantage it is for a man to speak in his own cause you well know I had rather another would doe it but since this house is not taken with words but with truth which I am best able to deliver I presume to do it my self I come not with a set speech but with my heart to open my self freely and then to leave it to the house but do desire if any word fall from me that shall be misconstrued I may have leave to explain my self For my Religion I hope no man doubts it I being religiously educated under Catterton in Emmanuel Colledge thirty years I have been in Grays Inn thirteen years a Bencher and a diligent hearer of Dr. Sibs who if he were living would testifie that I had my chiefest encouragement from him And though I met with many oppositions from many in that house ill affected in Religion yet I was alwaies supported by him Five years I have been of the Kings Council but no Actor Avisor or Inventor of any project Two places I have been preferred unto Chief Iustice and Lord Keeper not by any sute or merit of my own but by his Majesties free gift In the discharge of these places my hands have never touched my eyes have never been blinded with any reward I never biassed for friend-ship nor diverted for hatred for all â—â—at know me know that I was not of a vindicative nature I do not know for what particulars or by what means you are drawn into an ill oppinion of me since I had the honour to sit in that place you sit in Mr. Speaker In which I served you with fidelity and Candor Many witnesses are of the good Offices I did you and resumed expressions of thankfulness from this house for it for the last day I had share in it no man expressed more Symbols of sorrow then I. After three daies Adjournment the King desired me it might be adjourned for some few daies more whether was it then in his Majestie much less in me to dissolve the House But the King sent for me to White hall and gave me a Message to the House and commanded me when I had delivered the Message that I should forthwith come to him and if a question was offered to be put he charged me upon my Allegeance I should put none I do not speak this as a thing I do now merit but it is known to divers men and to some Gentlemen in this House All that I say is but to beseech you all consider what you would have done in this strait betwixt the King my Master and this honourable House The Shipping business lieth heavy upon me I am far from justifying that my opinion if it be contrary to the Iudgment of this House I submit I never knew of it at the first or ever advised any other I was made Chief Justice four daies before the Writ went out for the Port I was sworn sixteen daies after Chief Justice and those writs issued forth without my privity The King Commanded the then Chief Justice the now Chief Baron and my self to look on the Presidents and to certifie him our opinions what we thought of it That if the whole Kingdome were in danger it was reasonable and fit to lay upon the whole Kingdome and not upon the Port only and commanded the thâ—n Chief Justice and my self and the now Chief Baron to return him our opinions Our opinions were and we thought it agreeable to Law and reason that if the whole were in danger the
and they have just cause to believe it to be true Fifthly the Papists as publickly and with 〈…〉 importunity resort to Mass at Denmark house Saint James's aâ—d the Ambassadours Chappel as others do to their Parochial Churches Sixthly there is found already so bad consequence of this Priest John Goodman his 〈◊〉 that the City of London being solicited by the Parliament for their assistance in the advancement of Money for the supply of his Majesties Army have absolutely denied the same for that very reason which may become an ill 〈…〉 To which the King makes answer That it was against his minde that Popery or Superstition should any way increase within this Kingdom that he will restrain the same by causing the Laws to be put in execution That he is resolved to provide against Iesuits and Papists by setting forth a Proclamation speedily commanding them to depart the Kingdom within one Moneth of which â—f they fail or shall return then they shall be Proceeded against according to Law Concerning the Popes Nuncio Rosetti he hath no Commission 〈◊〉 onely to retain correspondency between the Queen and the Pope in things requisite for the exercise of her Religion which is warranted to her by the Articles of Marriage which gave her a full liberty of conscience yet 〈◊〉 he hath perswaded her that since the mis-understanding of that persons condition gives offence she will within a time convenient remove him Moreover he will take special care to restrain his Subjects 〈◊〉 resorting to Mass at Denmark house Saint James's and the Chappels of Ambassadours Lastly concerning Goodman because he will avoid the inconvenience of giving so great discontent to his People as his Mercy may produce therefore he doth remit his particular case to both Houses But he desired them to take into their considerations the Inconveniences that may upon this Occasion fall upon his Subjects and other Protestants abroad especially since it may seem to other States to be a Severity But this while though of consequence to the main Affairs we have been enforced to leave the Scots in their five Moneths warm Quarters in this Kingdom The Treaty at Rippon produced a Câ—ssation of Hostility referring further to a Treaty at London which was impowred by Commission the three and twentieth of November to the former Lords the Earls of Bedford Hartford Essex Salisbury 〈◊〉 Bristow Holland and Berkshire the Lords Wharton Paget 〈◊〉 Brook Paulet Howard of Estrick Savile and Dunsmore 〈◊〉 to any ten or more of them to treat with the Scotish Commissioners or any seven of them being the Earls of Rothes and Dumferling the Lord Loudon Sir Patrick Hâ—pburn Sir William Douglas William Drummond Iohn Smith Bailiff of Edinburg Alexander Wedderburn Hugh Kennedy Alexander Henderson and Archibald Iohnson to take into consideration their Demands and to compose all Differences thereupon in pursuance of which Commission these Demands were assented unto The Scotish Comissioners demanded First that his Majesty would be graciously pleased to command that the Acts of the late Parliament may be published in His Higness Name as our Sovereign Lord with the consent of the Estates of Parliament conveâ—eal by his Majesties Authority To this it is answered and agreed 30 Decembris 1640. That forasmuch as the Kings Majesty at the humble desire of his Subjects did call and convene a Parliament to be holden at Edinburgh the 2. of Iune 1640. wherein certain Acts were made and agreed upon which Acts his Majesty is pleased to publish in his own Name with the consent of the Estates and therefore commands that the said Acts bearing date the 2. day of Iune 1640. be published with the Acts to be made in the next Session of the same Parliament and that all the said Acts as well of the precedent as of the next Session to be holden have in all time coming the strength of Laws and to be obeyed by all the Subjects of the Kingdom of Scotland Secondly that the Castle of Edinburgh and other Strengths of the â—ingdom should with the advice of the Estates of Parliament according to their first foundation be furnished and used for defence and security of the Kingdom It is agreed unto Thirdly that Scotish men within his Majesties Dominions of England and Ireland may be freed from censure for subscribing the Covenant and be no more pressed with Oaths and Subscriptions unwarranted by their Laws and contrary to their National Oath and covenant approved by his Majesty It is agreed Decemb. 8. 1640. that all those who in his Majesties Dominions of England and Ireland have been imprisoned or censured any way for subscribing of the Covenant on for refusing to take any other Oath 〈◊〉 to the same shall be freed of these Censures and shall be fully restored to their Liberties Estates and Possession and for time coming that the Subjects of Scotland as Subjects of Scotland shall not be constrained to any Oath contrary to the Laws of that Kingdom and the Religion there established but such of the Kingdom of Scotland as shall transport themselves into the Kingdom of England or Ireland and there be settled Inhabitants either by way of having Inheritance or Freehold or by way of settled Trades shall be subject to the Laws of England or Ireland and to the Oaths established by the Laws and Acts of Parliament in the said Kingdoms respectively wherein they live And the English and Irish shall have the like privilege in Scotland Fourthly that his Majesty would be pleased to declare that whosoever shall be found upon Trial and Examination by the Estates of either of the two Parliaments they judging against the persons subject to their own Authority to have been the Authours and Causers of the late and present Troubles and Combustions whether by labouring to make and foment Division betwixt the King and his People or betwixt the two Nations or any other way shall be liable to censure of the said Parliaments respectively It is answered December 11. 1640. That his Majesty believeth he hath none such about him therefore concerning that point he can make no other Declaration than that he is just and that all his Courts of Justice are to be free and open to all men Our Parliament in this Kingdom is now sitting and the current Parliament of Scotland near approaching the time of their meeting In either of which respective he doth not prohibit the Estates to proceed in trying and judging of whatsoever his Subjects And whereas it was further demanded that none after the Sentence of the Parliament should have access to his Majesty or be maintained or enjoy Places or Offices and have credit or authority to inform or advise his Majesty It is declared in his Majesties Name Decemb. 30. 1640. That he will not imploy any person or persons in Office or Place that shall be judged incapable by Sentence of Parliament nor will he make use of their service without the consent of
and losses of all sorts of persons and besides other extraordinary charges hereafter mentioned we do according to our knowledge present to your Lordships the publicke charges and burdens under which the whole Countries do lie as followeth in the schedule annexed to the account viz. The account of the several Regiments that were first employed amounts to the sum of 72293. pound 15. shillings English mony For Artillery and Amunition at the same time the sum of 13388. pound 6. shillings 8. pence The fortifying of the Castle at Edinburgh and Floring some fortifications made in Bruntill and Inchgrave Kintire and Arrane the works and fortification made at Leith so much of the Accounts as came in at Whitsontide extends to the sum of 5399. l. 3. s. 4. d. We do pay for three tearms Annual thereof betwixt Whitsunday and Martinmas at 8. l. per cent extends the sum of 10809. l. 14. s. Item The souldiers of Fortune being compleatly from the first of September in the Regiment their accounts above written to the last of December being four moneths the sum of 8333. l. 6. s. 8. d. Item The number of them being 〈◊〉 by their comming home from that time to the fourth of May the sum of 10833. 1. 6. s. 8. d. Item For the battery at the Castle of Edinburgh ranning trenches Earth Deale and Dung fortification of Leith for reparation of the work and satisfaction for grounds gardens and houses demolished for making the fortification and tronches about the Castle the sum of 7166. l. 13. s. 4. d. Item For General Major Monro his Regiment from the first of March to the last of November the sum of 15000. l. Summa lateris 143223. l. 15. s. 8. d. Item For two small Regiments kept in Edinburgh consisting of 1200. men being listed in the end of March and were kept to the beginning of October the sum of 10500. l. Item For the pay of 400. foot that lay at Minrosse from the beginning to the last August of and for leavy money of 4. s. 6. d. 〈◊〉 the sum of 1920. l. 13. s. 4. d. Item For 60. horse that lay there in troops four moneths the sum of 816. l. 6. s. 8. d. Item Lievtenant Colonel Homes Regiment from the first of Aprill to the last of November 70500. l. Item The Earl of Argiles expedition in this year 3333. l. 6. s. 8. d. Item The Factors counts of Amunition and Arms this year the sum of 25000. l. Item The foot Army consisting between 22000. and 24000. men with 2500. horse was three moneths and an halfe at 40000. l. a moneth do extend to the sum of 140000. l. Item The Army being a moneth and an halfe the sum of 60000. l. Item Levy monies advanced to the footemen to bring them to the Randevous to some 2. s. to some 3. s. to some 5. s. as they lay in distance from their Randevous which was at the least to every footman over head 3. s. 4. d. the sum of 3646. l. 13. s. 4. d. Item Leavy to 2500. horsemen at 6. s. 8. d. apeece the sum of 833. l. 6. s. 8. d. Item For entertaining of souldiers at the Castle of Dumberton and upon Clyde making fortification at both places the sum of 30343. l. 6. s. 8. d. Item The Earl of Marshall his Regiment the sum of 30333. l. 6. s. 8. d. Item My Lord Sincklars Regiment the sum of 10666. l. 13. s. 4. d. Summa lateris 266904. l. 13. s. 4. d. Item 65. ships given up in the list besides many others not yet come to our knowledge which with the loading and loss they had by want of trade by nine moneths rest the sum of 52700. The delivery of the ships will abate so much of this as the ships are presently worth Item About five hundred Scotch-ships were stopped from trading by the English ships six or seven moneths the native commodities ordinarily to be exported were sold the third penny down of their value the prejudice thereof exceedeth that which we desire but do onely here set the sum 50000. l. Item For fortification made at Tantalam and a watch kept there and at the Basse and Linton Bridge the sum of 7000. l. Item For two ships sunk at Clyde to stop the passing of the English some having come in before and were valued at 600. l. Summa lateris 104000. The Kingdome of Scotland hath sustained divers other great burthens of this nature As first the particular charges sustained by the Nobility Gentry Burroughs of our Kingdome by reason of the great troubles and Armies which shall be made appear to be above 100000. l. Item the neglect and over-sight of their particular fortunes can be no less then the 100000. l. aforesaid besides expeditions in the North that â—ost above 1000. l. The stop of Trade was of prejudice to Scotland above 50000. l. 18000. l. a moneth will not defray the charge of our Armies at New-Castle and in Scotland besides the 850. l. per diem which we receive from the Nothern parts and Counties There was furnished by the Several Shires of the Kingdome 2000. Baggots horses for carrying victuals to the Souldiers they sent out And about a thousand were bought for carrying the Commanders baggage of which above 1000. have been lost in England and have perished in the journey and of 500. horse and 100. oxen for the Common the half is also lost which loss will amount to above 6500. 1. Many of the 2500. troop horse cost at the several prices by the Shires and will lose of them partly by death and partly by decay above 5500. 1. Sum of the last 271500. l. So then their charges amount unto 514128. l. 9. s. their losses unto 271500. l. Besides their charity to us in other abatements Whereupon the English Commissioners in much amazement demanded of the Scotish Whether this be a positive Account or whether rather an intimation of the Charges there to induce the Kingdom of England to take your distressed estate into consideration and to afford you some friendly assistance the eighth of Ianuary 1640. They answer We could be no less willing to undergo the Loss if we had been ready to undergo the hazzard but because the burthen of the whole charge doth far exceed our strength we have as is more fully contained in our Papers presented to your Lordships our Charges and Losses Not intending to demand a total Reparation but in some measure â—ear the Remnant which we conceive your Lordships having considered our Reasons to be a matter not of our covetousness but of the justice and kindness of the Kingdom of England the ninth of January 1640. per Adam Blayr And some of the Commons House their Favourites conceived their Demands not unreasonable But Sir Benjamin Ruddier gave his opinion to this effect Ianuary 22. Mr Speaker The prudent Endeavours of our Commissioners with the Scots probably have drawn near to a blessed Peace The King being graciously
others progress to an equal poise and in a word the same Ministers of State spurred on by ambitions and to raise their families from time to time have increased suspicions which have hatched these fatal wars through all Europe France styles her self most Christian but meddles least therein ordinarily attracting the Reformates to her interests and being enemies to the Pope and so to Spain which suffers not their doctrines in her dominions But Spain will be Catholique-zealous for her Religion and seldome declines her aid to any of her own unless by force proceeding from the necessity of State affaires through some new conjuncture Lewes the thirteenth attached the house of Austria with much authorâ—ty and power in so much that Richelieu the Angel Guardian of France by his puissant alliances begat an opinion that amongst polititians there he endeavoured the Universality for his Master and so to overthrow the Emperial house by the helpe of the Hollanders and his other underhand underminings which he could never so poise for any time but that the Scales were now up then down to his dying day The Earl of Strafford had passed upon him the Commons accusation and now it was time to form their compleat charge into twenty eight particulars and being ready Ianuary the thirtieth they were presented by Mr. Pym to the Peers in the presence of the Earl and although it was long two hundred sheets and so time would be taken up for engrossing and though the Treasons therein alleaged were of a standing time above fourteen years not suddainly to be answered unto yet the Commons were earnest for dispatch and he enjoyned such hast as by the four and twentieth of February it was read to the Lords in the Kings presence and the next day after to the Commons He craved aid of the Council which in cases of Treason is not allowed in plea de facto it may not but in matters de lege it may and so he had Councel And the place of his Trial could not be in the Lords House being of little Room to hold the House of Commons who desired to be present and to manage the accusation by their own members and in a full body of their house compleat which the Lords would not indure and they come as a Committe and so Westminster-hall was the place assigned and that not to big for this unparralel Trial the King Queen Prince and Courtiers being present and all the Parliament The scene was at the upper end reared of some heigth and above that a Chaire and cloth of State on either side a close private Gallery for the King Queen and Prince Before them seats for the Peers and on either sides Scaffolds mounted for all the house of Commons who sate bare headed and hundreds of others Auditors who could get leave to enter The command of the place and stage was ordered by the Earl of Lindsey not as he was made high constable for the day but as he was Lord great Chamberlain of England in right of his mother Mary the daughter of Iohn de vere the sixteenth Earl of Oxford who maried Peregrine Berty Lord Willoughby of Earesby by whom she had issue this Robert now Earl of Lindsey and thereby the disposing of all the Scaffolding as his fee when the Tryal was ended The Bishops being by ancient Canons disabled to be present at the sentence of blood and death but not from being assistants in examining and deposing of witnesses or giving Councel till now abridged by this Parliament to sit as Peers And it is observed that they were defended to have right of place presence by a Manuscript in many hands de jure Paritat is episcoporum and their Priviledges thereby asserted in this particular which yet they as the times were did not interpose but were contented to be absent giving advantage thereby to the Parliament to deprive them of their votes and after to destroy their calling On Munday the two and twentieth of March the day fixed for his appearing at Westminster-hall almost five moneths time since his first Commitment which it seems was taken up and spent for procuring proofs of witnesses purposely sent for from Ireland And in truth the rather for Intertaining some Overtures of the Court to take of the edge of his adversaries and the best and usual way was by their several preferments The Earl of Bedford to be Lord Treasurer Mr. Pym Chancelor of the Exchequer the Earl of Essex Governour of the Prince Mr. Hamden to be his Tutor the Lord Say Mr. of the wards and Mr. Hollis principal secretary in the place of Windebanck the Deputies place in Ireland also to another and the Earl of Warwick in some command in the Navy And it was in part prosecuted in relation hereto for the Bishop of London did deliver up the Treasury staff and the Earl of New-castle the governance of the Prince the Lord Cottington resigned up his offices in the Court of wards and Exchequer and it was not to be doubted that the Bishop of Salisbury Dr. Duppa would willingly quit his place of Tutor to the Prince But whether the Kings mind was herein mutable or what else intervened they thus concerned and baffled became irreconciliable to the Earls destruction and that this is true may be hinted from the Kings Declararion of the twelfth of August after what Overtures had been made by them saies the Declaration and with what Importunities for offices and preferments what great services should have been done for him and what other undertakings even to have saved the life of the Earl of Strafford So cheap a rate it seems might have saved that Incomparable Statesman The Earl of Arundel was made Lord High Steward and the Earl of Lindsey Lord High Constable and thus set as before said the Earl of Strafford was told by the High-steward that he was called thither to answer the Impeachment of High Treason preferred against him by the Commons of England and Ireland expressed in their accusation to which he had answered and both of them read took up this day and the Court adjourned to the next day when the house of Commons fell upon the first seven general Articles of subverting the fundamental Laws of both Nations and this was managed by Mr. Pym a paper sealed was opened and read which signified from the Parliament of Ireland that they had voted the Earl guilty of High Treason To which he in passion said There was a conspiracy against him to take away his life It would not admit of recollection and the Commons cried out for Justice against him who standing impeached of high Treason accuseth the Parliaments of two Kingdomes of a conspiracy against him for which inconsiderate words he humbly craved pardon not thereby intending either Parliament but meant it by some particular persons Mr. Pym craved that he should forthwith answer to three Articles more which were lately annexed to the charge But although the
Earl craved not to Answer an unexpected addition without time assigned yet the Lords prevailed and put him to a present reply 1. That he had withdrawn four and twenty thousand pounds and more from the Exchequer in Ireland and converted to his own use 2. That in the beginning of his Government the Garrisons of Ireland had been maintained by the English Treasury 3. That he had advanced popish and infamous persons as the Bishop of Waterford and others to the prime Room in the Church of Ireland Answer 1. That England was indebted to Ireland so much which he took up upon his own credit and paid it in again producing the Kings Authority and Letter for the same 2. That the Garrisons had been formerly burdensom to England which he so found and had so improved the Kings Revenues there that they were not burdensom at all 3. That he never preferred any but whom he conceived consciencious and honest not being able to prophesie of mens future conditions And for the Bishop of Waterford he hath satisfied the Law The next Day March 24. the particular Articles were inforced to each he answered in order The further Impeachment of Thomas Earl of Strafford by the Commons assembled in Parliament The first Article was not insisted upon 2. That shortly after the obtaining of a Commission dated the 21. of March in the 8. Year of his now Majesties Reign to wit the last Day of August then next following he the said Earl to bring his Majesties Liege-people into a dislike of his Majesty and of his Government and to terrifie the Iustices of the Peace from executing the Laws he the said Earl being then President of the Kings Council in the Northern parts of England and a Iustice of Peace did publickly at the Assizes held for the County of York in the City of York in and upon the said last Day of August declare and publish before the People there attending for the administration of Iustice according to the Law and in the presence of the Iustices sitting that some of the Justices were all for Law but they should finde that the Kings little finger should be heavier than the loyns of the Law Testified by Sir David Fowls and others The Earls Reply That Sir David Fowls was his profest Enemy that his words were clearly inverted that his expression was That the little finger of the Law if not moderated by the Kings gracious clemency was heavier than the Kings loyns That these were his words he verified First by the occasion of them they being spoken to some whom the Kings favour had then enlarged from Imprisonment at York as a Motive to their Thankfulness to his Majesty Secondly by Sir William Pennyman a Member of the House who was then present and heard the words Which Sir William declaring to be true the House of Commons required Iustice of the Lords against him because he had voted the Articles as a Member of the House whereupon Sir William wept 3. That the Realm of Ireland having been time out of minde annexed to the Imperial Crown of this his Majesties Realm of England and governed by the same Laws the said Earl being Lord Deputy of that Realm to bring his Majesties Liege-people of that Kingdom likewise into dislike of his Majesties Government and intending the subversion of the Fundamental Laws and settled Government of that Realm and the distraction of his Majesties Liege-people there did upon the 30. Day of September in the 9. Year of his now Majesties Reign in the City of Dublin the chief City of that Kingdom where his Majesties Privy Council and Courts of Iustice do ordinarily reside and whither the Nobility and Gentry of that Realm do usually resort for Iustice in a publick Speech before divers of the Nobility and Gentry and before the Maior Aldermen and Recorder and many Citizens of Dublin and other his Majesties Liege-people declare and publish that Ireland was a conquered Nation and that the King might do with them what he pleased and speaking of the Charters of the former Kings of England made to that City he further said that their Charters were nothing worth and did binde the King no further than he pleased Testified by the Earl of Cork and two other Lords The Earls Reply That if he had been over-liberal of his tongue for want of discretion yet could not his words amount to Treason unless they had been revealed within fourteen days as he was informed As to the Charge he said True it is he said Ireland was a conquered Nation which no man can deny and that the King is the Law-giver in matters not determined by Acts of Parliament he conceived all loyal Subjects would grant 4. That Richard Earl of Cork having sued out Process in course of Law for recovery of his Possessions from which he was put by colour of an Order made by the said Earl of Strafford and the Council-table of the said Realm of Ireland The said Earl of Strafford upon a Paper-petition without legal proceedings did the twentieth Day of February in the eleventh Year of his now Majesties Reign threaten the said Earl of Cork being then a Peer of the said Realm to imprison him unless he would surcease his Suit and said that he would have neither Law nor Lawyers dispute or question any of his Orders And the twentieth of March in the said eleventh Tear the said Earl of Strafford speaking of an Order of the said Council-table of that Realm made in the time of King James which concerned a Lease which the said Earl of Cork claimed in certain Rectories or Tithes which the said Earl of Cork alleged to be of no force said that he would make the said Earl and all Ireland know so long as he had the Government there any Act of State there made or to be made should be as binding to the Subjects of that Kingdom as an Act of Parliament And did question the said Earl of Cork in the Castle-chamber upon pretence of Breach of the said Order of Council-table and did sundry other times and upon sundry other occasions by his words and speeches arrogate to himself a Power above the Fundamental Laws and established Government of that Kingdom and scorned the said Laws and established Government The Earls Reply It were hard measure for a man to lose his Honour and his Life for an hasty word or because he is no wiser than God hath made him As for the words he confessed them to be true and thought he said no more than what became him considering how much his Masters Honour was concerned in him that if a proportionable obedience was not as well due to Acts of State as to Acts of Parliament in vain did Councils sit And that he had done no more than what former Deputies had done and than what was agreeable to his Instructions for the Council-table which he produced And that if those words were Treason they should have been revealed within
fourteen days 5. That according to such his Declarations and Speeches the said Earl of Strafford did use and exercise a Power above and against and to the subversion of the Fundamental Laws and stablished Government of the said Realm of Ireland extending such his Power to the Goods Free-holds Inheritances Liberties and Lives of his Majesties Subjects of the said Realm viz. the said Earl of Strafford the twelfth day of December Anno Domini 1635. in the time of full peace did in the said Realm of Ireland give and procure to be given against the Lord Mount Norris then and yet a Peer of Ireland and then Vice-Treasurer and Receiver-general of the Realm of Ireland and one of the principal Secretaries of State and Keeper of the Privy Signet of the said Kingdom a Sentence of Death by a Council of War called together by the said Earl of Strafford without any warrant or authority of Law or offence deserving any such punishment And he the said Earl did also at Dublin within the said Realm of Ireland in the Moneth of March in the fourteenth Year of his Majesties Reign without any legal or due proceedings or trial give or cause to be given a Sentence of Death against one other of his Majesties Subjects whose name is yet unknown and caused him to be put to death in execution of the said Sentence The Earls Reply That there was then a standing Army in Ireland and Armies cannot be governed but by Martial Law that it hath been put in constant practice with former Deputies that had the Sentence been unjustly given by him the Crime could amount but to Felony at most for which he hoped he might as well expect Pardon from his Majesty as the Lord Conway and Sir Iacob Astley had for doing the like in the late Northern Army That he neither gave Sentence nor procured it against the Lord Mount Norris but onely desired justice against the Lord for some Affront done to him as he was Deputy of Ireland That the said Lord was judged by a Council of War wherein he sate bare all the time and gave no Suffrage against him that also to evidence himself a Party he caused his Brother Sir George Wentworth in regard of the nearness of Bloud to decline all acting in the Process Lastly though the Lord Mount Norris justly deserved to dy yet he obtained his Pardon from the King 6. That the said Earl of Strafford without any lâ—gal proceedings and upon a Paper-petition of Richard Rolstone did cause the said Lord Mount Norris to be disseised and put out of possession of his Free-hold and Inheritance of his Manour of Tymore in the County of Armagh in the Kingdom of Ireland the said Lord Mount Norris having been two Years before in quiet possession thereof The Earls Reply That he conceived the Lord Mount Norris was legally divested of his Possessions there being a Suit long depending in Chancery and the Plaintiff complaining of Delay he upon the Complainants Petition called unto him the Master of the Rolls Lord Chancellour and Lord Chief Justice of the Common-Pleas and upon Proofs in Chancery decreed for the Plaintiff Wherein he said he did no more than what other Deputies had done before him 7. That the said Earl of Strafford in the Term of Holy Trinity in the thirteenth Year of his now Majesties Reign did cause a case commonly called the Case of Tenures upon defective Tiâ—les to be made and drawn up without any Iury or Trial or other legal Process and without the consent of Parties and did then procure the Iudges of the said Realm of Ireland to deliver their Opinions and Resolutions to that Case and by colour of such Opinions did without any legal proceeding cause Thomas Lord Dillon a Peer of the said Realm of Ireland to be put out of possession of divers Lands and Tenements being his Free-hold in the County of Mago and Rosecomen in the said Kingdom and divers others of his Majesties Subjects to be also put out of possession and disseised of their Free-hold by colour of the same resolution without legal proceedings whereby many hundreds of his Majesties Subjects were undone and their Families â—tterly rained The Earls Reply That the Lord Dillon with others producing his Patent according to a Proclamation on the behalf of his Majesty the said Patent was questionable upon which a Case was drawn and argued by Council and the Judges delivered their Opinions But the Lord Dillon or any other was not bound thereby nor put out of their Possessions but might have traverst the Office or otherwise have legally proceeded notwithstanding the said Opinion 8. That the said Earl of Strafford upon a Petition exhibited in October 1635. by Thomas Hibbots against Dame Mary Hibbots widow to him the said Earl of Strafford recommended the said Petition to the Counsel Table of Ireland where the most part of the Counsel gave their vote and opinion for the said Lady but the said Earl finding fault herewith caused an order to be entered against the said Lady and threatned her that if she refused to submit thereunto he would imprison her and fine her five hundred pound that if she continued obstinate he would continue her imprisonment and double her fine every month by month whereof she was enforced to relinquish her estate in the Land questioned in the said Petition which shortly was conveyed to Sir Robert Meredeth to the use of the said Earl of Strafford And the said Earl in like manner did imprison divers others of his Majesties subjects upon pretence of disobedience to his orders and decrees and other illegal commands by him made for pretended debts titles of Lands and other causes in an arbitrary and extrajudicial course upon paper Petitions to him preferred and no other cause legally depending The Earls Reply That true it is he had voted against the Lady Hibbots and thought he had reason so to do the said Lady being discovered by Fraud and Circumvention to have bargained for Lands of a great value for a small Sum. And he denied that the said Lands were after sold to his use or that the major part of the Council-board voted for the Lady the contrary appearing by the Sentence under the Hand of the Clerk of the Council which being true he might well threaten her with Commitment in case she disobeyed the said Order Lastly were it true that he were criminal therein yet were the Offeâ—ce but a Misdemeanour no Treason 9. That the said Earl of Strafford the 16. day of Feb. in the 12. year of his now Majesties reign assuming to himself a power above and against Law took upon him by a general Warrant under his hand to give power to the Lord Bishop of Down and Connor his Chancellor or Chancellors and their several officers thereto to be appointed to attach and arrest the Bodies of all such of the meaner and poorer sort who after citation should either refuse to appear before them or appearing should
omit or deny to perform or undergo all Lawful decrees sentences and orders issued imposed or given out against them and them to commit and keep in the next Gaole untill they should either perform such sentences or put in sufficient Bail to shew some reason before the Counsel Table of such their contempt and neglect and the said Earl the day and year last mentioned signed and issued a warrant to that effect and made the like warrant to send all other Bishops and their Chancellors in the said Realm of Ireland to the same effect The Earls Reply That such Writs had been usually granted by former Deputies to Bishops in Ireland nevertheless being not fully satisfied with the convenience thereof he was sparing in granting of them untill being informed that divers in the Diocess of Down were somewhat refractory he granted Warrants to that Bishop and hearing of some Disorders in the Execution he called them in again 10. That the said Earl of Strafford being Lord Lieutenant or Deputy of Ireland procured the customes of the Merchandise exported out and imported into that Realm to be farmed to his own use And in the ninth year of his now Majesties Reign he having then interest in the said Customs to advance his own gain and lucre did cause and procure the native commodities of Ireland to be rated in the book of Rates for the Customes according to which the Customs were usually gathered at far greater values and prices than in truth they were worth that is to say every hide at 20 shillings which in truth was worth but five shillings every stone of Wool at thirteen shillings four pence though the same ordinarily were worth but five shillings at the utmost but nine shillings by which means the Custom which before was but a twentieth part of the true value of the commodity was inhanced sometimes to a fifth part and sometimes to a fourth sometimes to a third part of the true value to the great oppression of the Subjects and decay of Merchandise The Earls Reply That his Interest in the Customes of Ireland 〈◊〉 to him by the Assignation of a Lease from the Dutchess of Buckingham that the Book of Rates by which the Customes were gathered was the same which was established by the Lord Deputy Faulkland Anno 1628. some years before he was imployed thither That as he hath been just and faithfull to his Master the King by increasing his Revenue so hath he also much bettered the Trade and Shippâ—ng of that Kingdom 11. That the said Earl in the ninth year of his now Majesties Reign did by his own will and pleasure and for his own lucre restrain the exportation of the commodities of that Kingdome without his licence as namely Pipe-staves and other commodities and then raised great sums of money for licensing of exportation of those commodities and dispensation of the said restraints imposed on them by which means the Pipe-staves were raised from four pound ten shillings or five pound per thousand to ten pound and sometimes eleven pound per thousand and other commodities were inhanced in the like proportion and by the same means by him the said Earl The Earls Reply That Pipe-staves were prohibited in King Iames his time and not exported but by Licence paying six shillings eight pence a thousand and that he had not raised so much thereby to himself as his Predecessours had done for such Licences 12. That the said Earl being Lord Deputy of Ireland on the ninth day of Jan. in the thirteenth year of his Majesties Reign did then under colour to regulate the importation of Tobacco into the said Realm of Ireland issue a Proclamation in his Majesties name prohibiting the importation of Tobacco without licence of him and the Counsel therefrom and after the first day of May Anno Dom. 1638. After which restraint the said Earl notwithstanding the said restraint caused divers great quantities of Tobacco to be imported to his own use and fraighted divers ships with Tobacco which he imported to his own use and that if any ship brought Tobacco into any Port there the said Earl and his Agents used to buy the same to his own use at their own price And if that the owners refused to let him have the same at under values then they were not permitted to vent the same by which undue means the said Earl having gotten the whole Trade of Tobacco into his own hands he sold it at great and excessive prices such as he list to impose for his own profit And the more to assure the said Monopoly of Tobacco he the said Earl on the 23. day of Feb. in the 13. year aforesaid did issue another Proclamation commanding that none should put to sale any Tobacco by whole-sale from and after the last day of May then next following but what should be made up into Rols and the same sealed with two seals by himself appointed one at each end of the Roll. And such as was not sealed to be seised appointing sixpence the pound for a reward to such persons as should seise the same and the persons in whose custody the unsealed Tobacco should be found to be committed to Gaol which last proclamation was covered by a pretence of the restraining of the sale of unwholesome Tobacco but it was truly to advance the said Monopoly Which proclamation the said Earl did rigorously put in execution by seising the goods fining imprisoning whipping and putting the offenders against the same proclamation on the pillory as namely Barnaby Hubbard Edward Covena John Tumen and divers others and made the Officers of State and Iustices of peace and other Officers to serve him in compassing and executing these unjust and undue courses By which cruelties aâ—d unjust Monopolies the said Earl raised 100000. pounds per annum gain to himself And yet the said Earl though he inhanced the Customes where it concerned the Merchants in general yet drew down the impost formerly taken on Tobacco from six pence the pound to three pence the pound it being for his own profit so to do And the said Earl by the same and other rigorous and undue means raised several other Monopolies and unlawfull exactions for his own gaine viz. on Starch Iron pots Glasses Tobacco pipes and several other commodities The Earls Reply That before his time the King had but ten or twenty pounds per annum for that Custome which now yielded twenty thousand pounds For the Proclamation it was not set out by his means principally or for his private benefit but by consent of the whole Council The prices of Tobacco not exceeding two shillings the pound And this he conceives cannot be made Treason were all the Articles granted but onely a Monopoly for which he was to be fined 13. That flax being one of the principal and native Commodities of that Kingdome of Ireland the said Earl having gotten great quantities thereof into his hands and growing on his own Lands did issue out several
proclamations viz. one dated the one and twentieth day of May in the eleventh of his Majesties reign and the other dated the one and thirtieth day of January in the same year thereby prescribing and enjoyning the working of Flax into Yarn and Thread and the ordering of the same in such wayes wherein the Natives of that Kingdome were unpractised and unskilful which proclamations so issued were by his Commands and Warrants to his Majesties Iustices of peace and other Officers and by other rigorous means put in execution and the Flax wrought or ordered in other manner than as the said proclamation prescribed was seized and employed to the use of him and his agents and thereby the said Earl endeavoured to gain and did gain in effect the sole sale of that native commodity The Earls Reply That he did endeavour to advance the Manufacture of Linnen rather than of Woollen because the last would be the greater detriment to England That the Primate of Ireland the Arch-bishop of Dublin Chancellour Loftus and the Lord Mount Norris all or the Council and Subscribers of the Proclamation were as liable to the Charge as himself That the reducing of that Nation by Orders of the Council-board to the English Customes from their more savage usages as drawing Hoâ—ses by their tails c. had been of former practise that the Project was of so ill avail to him as he was the worse for the Manufacture thirty thousand pounds at least by the Loom he had set up at his own charge The Fourteenth Article was not urged 15. That the said Earl of Strafford traiterously and wickedly devised and contrived by force of Armes in a warlike manner to subdue the Subjects of the said Realm of Ireland to bring them under his tyrannical power and will and in pursuance of his wicked and trayterous purposes aforesaid the said Earl of Strafford in the eighth year of his Majesties reign did by his own authority without any warrant or colour of Law tax and impose great sums of money upon the Townes of Baltemore Bandenbridge Talowe and divers other Townes and places in the said Realm of Ireland and did cause the same to be levied upon the Inhabitants of those Towns by Troops of Souldiers with force and arms in a warlike manner And on the ninth day of March in the twelfth year of his now Majesties reign trayterously did give authority unto Robert Savill a Serjeant at armes and to the Captains of the companies of Souldiers in several parts of that Realm to send such numbers of Souldiers to lie on the Lands and Houses of such as would not conform to his orders until they should render obedience to his said orders and warrants and after such submission and not before the said Souldiers to return to their Garrisons And did also issue the like warrants unto divers others which warrants were in warlike manner with force and Arms put in execution accordingly and by such warlike means did force divers of his Majesties Subjects of that Realm to submit themselves to his unlawful commands And in the said twelfth year of his Majesties reign the said Earl of Strafford did trayterously cause certain troops of horse and foot armed in warlike manner and in warlike array with force and armes to expel Richard Butler from the possession of Castle-cumber in the Territory of Idough in the said realm of Ireland and did likewise and in like warlike manner expel divers of his Majesties Subjects from their houses families and possessions as namely Edward Brenman Owen Oberman Patrick Oberman Sir Cyprian Horsfield and divers others to the number of about a hundred families and took and imprisoned them and their wives and carried them prisoners to Dublin and there detained them until they did yield up surrender or release their respective estates and rights And the said Earl in like warlike manner hath during his Government of the said Kingdom of Ireland subdued divers others of his Majesties Subjects â—ase to his will and thereby and by the means aforesaid hath levied war within the said Realm against his Majesty and his liege people of that Kingdom Testified by Serjeant Savil. The Earls Reply That nothing hath been more ordinary in Ireland than for the Governours to put all manner of Sentences in execution by the help of Souldiers that Grandison Falkland Chichester and other Deputies frequently did it Sir Arthur Teningham to this point deposed that in Falkland 's time he knew twenty Souldiers assessed upon one man for refusing to pay sixteen shillings That his Instructions for executing his Commission were the same with those formerly given to the Lord Falkland and that in both there is express warrant for it That no Testimony produced against him doth evidently prove he gave any Warrant to that effect and that Serjeant Savil shewed onely the Copy of a Warrant not the Original it self which he conceived could not make Faith in Case of Life and Death in that high Court especially it being not averred upon Oath to agree with the Original which should be upon Record That he conceived he was for an Irish Custome to be tried by the Peers of that Kingdom 16. That the said Earl of Strafford the two and twentieth of February in the seventh year of his now Majesties reign intending to oppress the said Subjects of Ireland did make a proposition and obtained from his Majesty an allowance that no complaint of injustice or oppression done in Ireland should be received in England against any unless it first appeared that the party made first his address to him the said Earl and the said Earl having by such usurped tyrannical and exorbitant power expressed in the former Articles destroyed the Peers and other Subjects of that Kingdom of Ireland in their lives consciences land liberties and estates the said Earl to the intent the better to maintain and strengthen his power and to bring the people into a disaffection of his Majesty as aforesaid did use his Majesties name in the execution of his said power And to prevent the Subjects of that Realm of all means of complaints to his Majesty and of redress against him and his agents did issue a Proclamation bearing date the seventeenth day of September in the eleventh year of his Majesties Reign thereby commanding all the Nobility undertakers and others who held estates and offices in the said Kingdom except such as were imployed in his Majesties service or attending in England by his special command to make their personal residence in the said Kingdom of Ireland and not to depart thence without licence of himself And the said Earl hath since issued other Proclamations to the same purpose by means whereof the subjects of the said Realm are restrained from seeking relief against the oppressions of the said Earl without his license which Proclamation the said Earl hath by several rigorous waies as by fine imprisonment and otherwise put in execution on his Majesties subjects as namely one Parry and
others who came over only to complain of the exorbitances and oppressions of the said Earl Testified by the Earl of Desmond the Lord Roch Marcattee and Parry The Earls Reply That the Deputy Falkland had set out the same Proclamation That the same Restraâ—nt was contained in the Statute of 25 of Henry 6. upon which the Proclamation was founded That he had the Kings express Warrant for the Proclamation That he had also power to do it by the Commission granted him and that the Lords of the Council and three Justices not onely yielded but pressed him unto it That it was done upon just cause for had the Ports been open divers would have taken liberty to go to Spain to Doway Rhemes or Saint Omers which might have prooved of mischievous consequence to the State That the Earl of D' Esmond stood at the time of his Restraint charged with Treason before the Council of Ireland for practising against the Life of one Sir Valentine Coke That the Lord Roch was then a Prisoner for Debt in the Castle of Dublin and therefore incapable of a Licence That Par ry was not sined for coming over without Licence but for several Contempts against the Council-board in Ireland and that in his Sentence he had but onely a casting Voice as the Lord Keeper in the Star chamber The Seventeenth and Eighteenth Articles were not insisted upon 19. That the said Earl having taxed and levyed the said impositions and raised the said Monopolies and committed the said oppressions in his Majesties name and as by his Majesties Royal command he the said Earl in May the fifteenth year of his Majesties reign did of his own authority contrive and frame a new and unusual oath by the purport whereof among many other things the party taking the said oath was to swear that he should not protest against any of his Majesties Royal commands but submit themselves in all obedience thereunto Which oath he so contrived to enforce the same on the subjects of the Sâ—oâ—ish Nation inhabiting in Ireland and out of a hatred to the said Nation and to put them to a discontent with his Majesty and his Government there and compelled divers of his Majesties said subjects there to take the said oath some he grievously fined and imprisoned and others he destroyed and exiled and namely the 10. of October Ann. Dom. 1639. he fined Henry Steward and his wife who refused to take the said oath five thousand pounds a peece and their two daughters and James Gray three thousand pounds a peece and imprisoned them for not paying the said fines The said Henry Stewards wife and daughters and James Gray being the Kings liege people of the Scotish Nation and divers others he used in the like manner and the said Earl upon that occasion did declare that the said oath did not only oblige them in point of allegiance to his Majesty and acknowledgement of his supremacy only but to the Ceremonies and Government of the Church established or to be established by his Majesties royal Authority and said that the refusers to obey he would prosecute to the bloud The Earls Reply That the Oath was not violently enjoyned by him upon the Irish Scots but framed in compliance with their own express Petition which Petition is owned in the Proclamation as the main Impulsive to it That the same Oath not long after was prescribed by the Council of England That he had a Letter under his Majesties own hand ordering it to be prescribed as a Touch-stone of their Fidelity As to the greatness of the Fine imposed upon Steward and others he conceived it was not more than the heinousness of their offence deserved yet had they petitioned and submitted the next day that would wholly have been remitted 20. That the said Earl in the fifteenth and sixteenth Years of his Majesties Reign and divers Years past laboured and endeavoured to beget in his Majestie an ill opinion of his Subjects namely those of the Scotish Nation and divers and sundry times and especially since the Pacification made by his Majestie with his said Subjects of Scotland in Summer in the fifteenth Year of his Majesties Reign he the said Earl did labour and endeavour to perswade incite and provoke his Majesty to an Offensive War against his said Subjects of the Scotish Nation and the said Earl by his counsel actions and endeavours hath been and is a chief Incendiary of the War and Discord between his Majesty and his Subjects of England and the said Subjects of Scotland and hath declared and advised his Majesty that the Demand made by the Scots in this Parliament were a sufficient cause of War against them The said Earl having formerly expressed the height and rancour of his minde towards his Subjects of the Scotish Nation viz. the tenth Day of October in the fifteenth Year of his Majesties Reign he said that the Nation of the Scots were Rebells and Traitours and he being then about to come to England he then further said that if it pleased his Master meaning his Majesty to send him back again he would root out of the said Kingdom meaning the Kingdom of Ireland the Scotish Nation both Root and Branch Some Lords and others who had taken the said Oath in the precedent Article onely excepted And the said Earl hath caused divers of the said Ships and Goods of the Scots to be staied seized and molested to the intent to set on the said War The Earls Reply That he called all the Scotish Nation Traitours and Rebells no one proof is produced and though he is hasty in speech yet was he never so defective of reason as to speak so like a mad man for he knew well his Majesty was a Native of that Kingdom and was confident many of that Nation were of as heroick spirits and as faithfull and loyal Subjects as any the King had As to the other words of rooting out the Scots both Root and Branch he conceives a short Reply may serve they being proved by a single â—estimony onely which can make no sufficient faith in case of Life Again the Witness was very much mistaken if not worse for he deposeth that these words were spoken the tenth day of October in Ireland whereas he was able to evidence he was at that time in England and had been so near a Moneth before The one and twentieth and two and twentieth Artâ—cles were not urged 23. That upon the thirteenth Day of April last the Parliament of England met and the Commons House then being the Representative Body of all the Commons in the Kingdom did according to the trust reposed in them enter into Debate and Consideration of the great Grievances of this Kingdom both in respect of Religion and the publick Libertie of the Kingdom and his Majestie referring chiefly to the said Earl of Strafford and the Arch-bishop of Canterbury the ordering and disposing of all matters concerning the Parliament he the said Earl of
Strafford with the assistance of the said Arch-bishop did procure his Majesty by sundry Speeches and Messages to urge the said Commons House to enter into some Resolution for his Majesties supply for maintenance of his War against his Subjects of Scotland before any course was taken for the relief of the great and pressing Grievances wherewith this Kingdom was then afflicted Whereupon a Demand was then made from his Majesty of twelve Subsidies for the release of Ship money onely and while the said Commons then assembled with expressions of great affections to his Majestie and his service were in Debate and Consideration of some Supply before Resolution by them made he the said Earl of Strafford with the help and assistance of the said Arch-bishop did procure his Majesty to dissolve the last Parliament upon the fifth Day of May last and upon the same Day the said Earl of Strafford did treacherously falsly and maliciously endeavour to incense his Majesty against his loving and faithfull Subjects who had been Members of the said House of Commons by telling his Majesty they had denied to supply him And afterward upon the same did treacherously and wickedly counsel and advise his Majesty to this effect viz. That having tried the affections of his People he was loose and absolved from all Rules of Government and was to do every thing that Power would admit and that his Majesty had tried all ways and was refused and should be acquitted both of God and Man and that he had an Army in Ireland meaning the Army above mentioned consisting of Papists his Dependents as is aforesaid which he might imploy to reduce this Kingdom to obedience The Earls Reply That he was not the principal cause of dissolving the last Parliament for before he came to the Council-table it was voted by the Lords to demand twelve Subsidies and that Sir Henry Vane was ordered to demand no less but he coming in the interim he perswaded the Lords to vote it again declaring to his Majesty then present and them the danger of the breach of the Parliament whereupon it was again voted that if the Parliament would not grant twelve Subsidies Sir Henry should descend to eight and rather than fail to six But Sir Henry not observing his Instructions demanded twelve onely without abatement or going lower that the height of this demand urged the Parliament to deny and their denial moved his Majesty to dissolve the Parliament so that the chief occasion of the breach thereof was as he conceived Sir Henry Vane He confesseth that at the Council-table he advised the King to an offensive War against the Scots but it was not untill all fair means to prevent a War had been first attempted Again others were as much for a defensive War it might be as free to vote one as the other Lastly Votes at a Council-board are but bare Opinions and opinions if pertinaciously maintained may make an Heretick but never can a Traitour And to Sir Vane's Deposition he said it was onely a single Testâ—mony and contradicted by four Lords of the Iunto Tables Depositions viz. the Earl of Northumberland the Marquess of Hamilton the Bishop of London and Lord Cottington who all affirmed that there was no question made of this Kingdom which was then in obedience but of Scotland that was in Rebellion and Sir Henry Vane being twice examined upon Oath could not remember whether he said this or that Kingdom and the Notes after offered for more proof were but the same thing and added nothing to the Evidence to make it a double Testimony or to make a Privy-counsellours Opinion in a Debate at Council high Treason The four and twentieth Article not urged 25. That not long after the dissolution of the said last Parliament viz. in the months of May and June he the said Earl of Strafford did advise the King to go on rigorously in levying of the Ship-mony and did procure the Sheriffs of several Counties to be sent for for not levying the Ship-money divers of which were threatned by him to be sued in the Star-chamber and afterwards by his advice were sued in the Star-chamber for not levying the same and divers of his Majesties loving subjects were sent for and imprisoned by his advice about that and other illegal payments And a great loan of a hundred thousand pounds was demanded of the City of London and the Lord Maior and the Aldermen and the Sheriffs of the said City were often sent for by his advice to the Counsel Table to give an accâ—unt of their proceedings in raising of Ship-money and furthering of that loan and were required to certifie the names of such Inhabitants of the said City as were fit to lend which they with much humility refusing to do he the said Earl of Strafford did use these or the like speeches viz. That they deserved to be put to Fine and Ransom and that no good would be done with them till an example were made of them and that they were laid by the heels and some of the Aldermen hâ—nged up The Earls Reply That there was a present necessity for Money that all the Council-board had voted with yea before him That there was then a Sentence in Star-chamber upon the Opinion of all the Judges for the legality of the Tax of Ship-money and he thought he might advise the King to take what the Judges had declared was by Law his own He confessed that upon Refusal of so just a service the better to quicken the Citizens to the payment of Ship-money he said they deserved to be fined Which words might perhaps be incircumspectly delivered but conceives cannot amount to Treason especially when no ill consequence followed upon them and it would render men in a sad condition if for every hasty word or opinion given in Council they should be sentenced as Traitours But that he said it were well for the kings service if some of the Aldermen were hanged up he utterly denieth Nor is it proved by any but Alderman Garway who is at best but a single Testimony and therefore no sufficient Evidence in case of Life 26. That the said Earl of Strafford by his wicked counsel having brought his Majesty iâ—to excessive charges without any just cause he did in the moneth of July last for the support of the said great charges counsel and approve two dangerous and wicked Projects viz. To seise upon the Bullion and the Money in the Mint And to imbase his Majesties Coin with the mixtures of Brass And accordingly he procured one hundred and thirty thousand pounds which was then in the Mint and belonging to divers Merchants strangers and others to be seised on and stayed to his Majesties use And when divers Merchants of London owners of the said Bullion came to his house to let him understand the great mischief that course would produce here and in other parts what prejudice it would be to the Kingdom by discrediting the Mint and hindring the
importation of Bullion he the said Earl told them that the City of London dealt undutifully and unthankfully with his Majesty and that they were more ready to help the Rebel than to help his Majesty and that if any hurt came to them they might thank themselves and that it was the course of other Princes to make use of such monies to serve their occasions And when in the same month of July the Officers of his Majesties Mint came to him and gave him divers reasons against the imbasing of the said money he told them that the French King did use to send Commissaries of Horse with Commission to search into mens estates and to peruse their accompts that so they may know what to levy of them by force which they did accordingly levy and turning to the Lord Cottington then present said That this was a point worthy his Lordships consideration The Earls Reply That he expected some Proofs to evidence the two first Particulars but hears of none For the following words he confessed probably they might escape the Door of his Lips Nor did he think it much amiss considering their present posture to call that Faction Rebells As for the last words objected against him in that Article he said that being in conference with some of the Londoners there came to his hands at that instant a Letter from the Earl of Leicester then at Paris wherein were the Gazets inclosed relating that the Cardinal had given order to levy Money by Souldiers This he onely told the Lord Cottington standing by but made not the least Application thereof to the English Affairs 27. That in or about the Moneth of Aug. last he was made Lieutenant General of all his Majesties Forces in the Northern parts against the Scots being at York did in the Moneth of September by his own authority and without any lawfull warrant impose a Tax on his Majesties Subjects in the County of York of 8. d. per diem for maintenance of every Souldier of the Trained Bands of that County which Sums of Money he caused to be levied by force And to the end to compell his Majesties Subjects out of fear and terrour to yield to the payment of the same He did declare that he would commit them that refused the payment thereof and the Souldiers should be satisfied out of their Estates and they that refused it were in very little better condition than of high Treason The Earls Reply That his Majesty coming to York it was thought necessary in regard the Enemy was upon the Borders to keep the Trained Bands on foot for defence of the County and therefore the King directed him to write to the Free-holders in Yorkshire to declare what they would do for their own defence that they freely offered a Moneths pay nor did any man grudg against it Again it was twice propounded to the great Council of Peers at York that the King approved it as a just and necessary act and none of the Council contradicted it which he conceived seemed a tacit allowance of it That though his Majesty had not given him special order therein nor the Gentry had desired it yet he conceived he had power enough to impose that Tax by virtue of his Commission But he never said that the Refusers should be guilty of little less than high Treason which being proved by Sir William Ingram he was but a single Testimony and one who had formerly mistaken himself in what he had deposed 28. That in the moneths of September and October last he the said Earl of Strafford being certified of the Scotish Army coming into the Kingdom and he the said Earl of Strafford being Lieutenant General of his Majesties Army did not provide for the defence of the Town of Newcastle as he ought to have done but suffered the same to be lost that so he might the more incense the English against the Scots And for the same wicked purpose and out of a malicious desire to ingage the Kingdoms of England and Scotland in a National and bloudy war he did write to the Lord Conway the General of the horse and under the said Earls command that he should fight with the Scotish Army at the passage over the Tyne whatsoever should follow notwithstanding that the said Lord Conway had formerly by Letters informed him the said Earl that his Majesties Army then under his command was not of force sufficient to incounter the Scots by which advice of his he did contrary to the duty of his place betray his Majesties Army then under his command to apparent danger and loss The Earls Reply That he admired how in the third Article he being charged as an Incendiary against the Scots is now in the Article made their Confederate by betraying New-castle into their hands But to answer more particularly he said that there was at New-castle the 24. of August ten or twelve thousand Foot and two thousand Horse under the Command of the Lord Conway and Sir Iacob Astley and that Sir Iacob had written to him concerning the Town of New-castle that it was fortified which also was never under his particular care and for the passage over the River of Tine his Majesty sent special Directions to the Lord Conway to secure it and therefore that Lord is more as he conceives responsible for that Miscarriage than himself When he had done the House of Commons urged that if he had any further Defence he should perform it presently but had time set next Day when the Court met but the Earl being taken with a terrible Fit of the Stone and in danger of his Life if he stirred abroad which Message though assured by the Lieutenant of the Tower for more satisfaction to the violency of the Commons the Lords agreed to proceed the next Day if he did not appear and sent some of the Upper House thither who found him in some hopes of better health against the next Day Not that any one could imagine that his Cause needed the help of dissembling having satisfied all indifferent persons with his Justification as to Treason and no other Crimes could daunt him But as in such Cases his Adversaries the Commons had reserved their Evidence most pernicious which the next Day they desired to produce The Earl also pressed the like on his own behalf which as yet had not been offered a reasonable Request for the Defendant as well as the Plaintiff or to wave them on both sides And because the Lords were absolute of this opinion the Commons in apparant discontenâ— took no leave but departed without ordering any certain Day for their next Meeting But on Monday two Days after the Parliament sate in their several Houses when Master Pym produced to the Commons a Copy of some Notes taken by Secretary Vane of several opinions upon Debates at the Council-table the fifth of May 1640. being the Day of the last Parliaments Dissolution and the Discovery is thus made our The Father delivers
to his Son Sir Harry Vane a Key to fetch some Papers out of a Cabiner in which he findes another Key to an inward Shutter which he opens and lighted upon these Notes who forthwith shews them to Master Pym and that afternoon occasioned a Conference with the Lords to whom he urges the Commons former Request that the Earl might answer to new Proofs referring to the three and twentieth Article and were grounded upon these Notes which he then produced and that the Commons desired that the Earl might answer to them the next Day at the Bar in Westminster-hall which was granted April the thirteenth he appeared and the Notes were read upon this ground No danger of a War with Scotland if Offensive not Defensive Then their several Opinions which he collected in brief with Nominal Letters for each Counsellours Name thus K. C. H. How can we undertake Offensive War if we have no more money L. L. IR. Borrow of the City an hundred thousand pounds Go on vigorously to levy Ship-money Your Majesty having tried the affections of your People you are absolved and loose from all Rules of Government and to do what power will admit Your Majesty hath tried all ways and being refused shall be aquitted before God and Man and you have an Army in Ireland that you may imploy to reduce this Kingdom to obedience for I am confident the Scots cannot hold out five Moneths L. Arch. You have tried all ways and have always been denied it is now lawfull to take it by force L. Cot. Leagues abroad there may be made for the defence of the Kingdom The Lower House are weary of the King and Church All ways shall be just to raise Moneys in this inevitable necessity and are to be used being lawfull L. Arch. For an Offensive not any Defensive War L. L. Ir. The Town is full of Lords put the Commission of Array on foot and if any of them stir we will make them smart The Earls Reply That being a Privy-counsellour he conceived he might have the freedom to vote with others his opinion being as the Exigent required it would be hard measure for Opinions resulting from such Debates to be prosecuted under the notion of Treason And for the main hint suggested from his words The King had an Army in Ireland which he might imploy here to reduce this Kingdom He answereth That it is proved by the single Testimony of one Man Secretary Vane not being of validity in Law to create Faith in a Case of Debt much lesse in Life and Death That the Secretaries Deposition was very dubious for upon two Examinations he could not remember any such words And the third time his Testimonie was various but that I should speak such words or the like and words may be very like in sound but differ in sense as in the words of my charge here for there and that for this puts an end to the Controversie There were present at this Debate but eight Privy-counsellours in all two are not to be produced the Arch-bishop and Windebank but Sir Harry Vane affirms the words I deny them then there remain four for further evidence viz. the Marquis Hamilton the Earl of Northumberland the Lord Treasurer and the Lord Cottington who have all declared upon their Honours that they never heard me speak those words nay nor the like Lastly suppose though I granted it not that I spake those words yet cannot the word this rationally imply England because the Debate was not cerning Scotland as is yielded on all hands because England was not out of the way of obedience as the Earl of Clare well observed and because there was never any the least intention of landing the Irish Army in England as the aforesaid Lords of the Privy-council are able to attest And having done the Lord High Steward asked him if he had any more to say in his own defence for the Court was willing to prepare matters for Judgment To which he made a summary Repetition of his several Defences And having ended he spake thus My Lords THere remaines another kind of Treason that I should be guilty of for endeavouring to subvert the Fundamental Laws of the Land That this should be Treason together that is not Treason in one part a Treason accumulative that when all will not do it alone being weaved up with others it should do it seems very strange Under favour my Lords I conceive there is neither Statute nor Common Law which doth declare this endevouring to subvert the Fundamental Laws of the Land to be high Treason for I have been diligent in the inquiry as you know it deeply concerns me and could never discover it It is hard to be questioned for life and honour upon a Law that cannot be shewn for it is a rule in Sir Edward Coke De non apparentibus non existentibus eadem est ratio Ihesu Where hath this fire lain hid so many hundreds of years without smoak to discover it till it thus burst forth to consume me and my children That punishment should precede promulgation of a law to be punished by a law subsequent to the Fact is extreme hard what man can be safe if this be admitted My Lords it is hard in another respect that there should be no token set by which we should know this offence no admonition by which we should avoid it If a man pass the Thames in a boat and split himself upon an Anchor and no Buoy be floting to discover it he who â—weth the Anchor shall make satisfaction but if a Buoy 〈◊〉 sot there every man passeth upon his own peril Now where is this mark where the token upon this Crime to declare it to be high Treason My Lords be pleased to give that regard to the Peerage of England as never to expose your selves to such moot-points such constructive interpretations of Laws If there must be a tryal of wits let the subject matter be of somewhat else than the lives and honours of Peers It will be wisdome for your selves for your posterity and for the whole Kingdom to cast into the fire these bloudy and mysterious volumes of constructive and arbitrary Treason as the Primitive Christians did their Books of curious Arts and betake your selves to the plain letter of the Law and Statute that telleth us what is and what is not Treason without being more ambitious to be more learned in the art of Killing than our fore-fathers It is now full 240. years since any man was touched for this alleged Crime to this height before my self let us not awaken these sleeping Lyons to our destruction by taking up a few musty Records that have lain by the walls so many ages forgotten or neglected May your Lordships please not to add this to my other misfortunes for my other sins be-slave me not for Treason Let not a president be desired from me so disadvantagious as this will be in the consequence to the whole Kingdom
do not through me wound the interest of the Common-wealth And howsoever these Gentlemen say they speak for the Common-wealth yet in this particular I indeed speak for it and shew the inconveniencies and mischiefs which will fall upon it For as it is said in the Statute 1. of Henry 4. No man will know what to doe or say for fear of such penalties Doe not put my Lords such difficulties upon Ministers of State that men of wisedome of Honour of Fortune may not with cheerfulness and safety be imployed for the publique if you weigh and measure them by graines and scruples the publique affaires of the Kingdome will lie waste no man will meddle with them who has any thing to lose My Lords I have troubled you longer than I should have done were it not for the interest of these dear pledges a Saint in heaven hath left me At this he stopt a while offering up some tears to her ashes what I forfeit my self is nothing but that my indiscretion should extend to my posterity it woundeth me to the very soul. You will pardon my infirmity something I should have added but am not able therefore let it pass And now my Lords for my self I have been by the blessing of almighty God taught that the afflictions of this present life are not to be compared to the eternal weight of Glory which shall be revealed hereafter And so my Lords even so with all tranquillity of mind I freely submit my self to your judgment and whether that judgment be of life or death Te Deum laudamus When he had done two of the Members Mr. Glyn and Mr. Pym endeavouring to render him as odious as it is usually observed from Declamatours satisfying the Ear of the Auditours but not their judicial Censure for the point came to be this the Commons are to justifie their Charge by Law upon the matters of Fact as yet not appearing under the Letter of any Statute of Treason As for that of the 25 of Edward 3. it came short but yet it is supplied with this Proviso annexed that because all particular Treasons could not be then defined therefore what the Parliament should declare to be Treason â—n time to come should be punished as Treason within which compass they intend to bring him and that by Bill of Attainder The Earl put upon a point of Law desires Council which by no means the Commons would assent unto and notwithstanding all the reason in the world it was canvased three Days and at last concluded that his Council should plead such matters as they should be restrained unto Saturday the seventeenth of April the Earl appears with his Council Master Lane the Prince's Attourney Master Gardner Recorder of London Master Loe and Master Lightfoot Lane argued that the said Statute of 25 Edward 3. was a Declarative Law and so not to be interpreted as of consequence equity or construction but by the express Letter onely that it was a penal Law and so not to admit of any Constructions or Inferences for the true nature of penalties enforce the keeping of known Laws not of conjectural and dubious And for the Salvo he affirmed that in the sixth of Henry 4. the Nobility petitioned the Parliament to limit all Treasons by Statute in which Parliament Chapter 10. an Act passed thereupon that the Salvo should be holden repealed in all times to come nothing to be esteemed Treason but what was literally contained in the Statute of 25. Edward the third nor could the rest of the Council speak more then what had been said by Mr. Lane being so sufficient for matters of Law unless their Lordships would state any other questions to which they were ready to answer upon which the Court adjourned without prefixing any time of meeting The Commons meant it not to meet any more the Earl had satisfied all curious observations of his defence and the Commons knew it well enough but they resolved to attaint him by Bill which was debated by the Commons the nineteenth day and the Earl voted by them guilty of high Treason meerly upon the evidence of Secretary Vane and his notes but upon reading the Bill engrossed in their house the one and twentieth day It was hardly canvassed by the Poll the dissenters being fifty nine and my Lord Digby the most eminent that urged for him and yet it passed That afternoone with all expedition it was brought to the Lords and the four and twentieth day they were put in minde to fix a day for reading of it to which they returned answer that on Munday and Tuesday after they would not fail being not over harty to do it then for it was debated by the Lords to be a business of very high concernments and so perplext as necessarily required a conference with the Common who put it upon Mr. St. Iohn the Kings Solicitor to satisfie them and to justifie the Bill by Law upon Thursday the nine and twentieth and to offer reasons enforcing them to this way of proceeding against the Earl who was ordered to be there present And the Commons to shadow the violence of this proceeding with the Earl they bethought themselves of some publique affair and so petition the King 1. For removing of all Papists from Court. 2. For disarming of them generally throughout the Kingdome 3. For disbanding the Irish Army To which they had Answer the eight and twentieth 1. They all knew what legal trust the Crown hath in that particular therefore he shall not need to say any thing to assure them that he shall use it so as there shall be no just cause of scandal 2. He is content it shall be done by Law 3. And for the last he had entered into consultation about it finding many difficulties therein and he doth so wish the disbanding of all Armies as he did conjure them speedily and heartily to joyn with him in disbanding those two here Scots and English I am now come to the point to consider of the Differences between two Writers our Historian and his Observatour concerning the Death of the Earl of Strafford and reflecting upon the late Arch-bishop of Armagh Primate of all Ireland whilest he was living and so pursued since his Death I being intrusted by him when time and occasion should happen to offer in publick what I had in charge under his own hand-writing and others also not to quarrel it any further but to rectifie mis-understandings if it may be done without malice on any side and so I shall handle it as a Moderatour We begin from the Bill of Attainder which was read in presence of the Earl at the Bar. Whereas the Knights Citizens and Burgesses of the House of Commons in this present Parliament assembled have in the name of themselves and of all the Commons of England impeached Thomas Earl of Strafford of High-treason for endeavouring to subvert the ancient and fundamental Laws and Government of his Majesties Realms
of England and Ireland and to introduce an Arbitrary and Tyrannical Goverment against Law in the said Kingdoms and for exercising a tyrannous and exorbitant Power over and against the Laws of the said Kingdoms over the Liberties Estates and Laws of his Majesties Subjects and likewise for having by his own Authority commanded the laying and assessing of Souldiers upon his Majesties Subjects in Ireland against their consent to compell them to obey his unlawfull Commands and Orders made upon Paper-petitions in Causes between party and party which accordingly was executed upon divers of his Majesties Subjects in a warlike manner within the said Realm of Ireland and in so doing did levy War against the Kings Majesty and his Liege-people in that Kingdom And also for that he upon the unhappy Dissolution of the last Parliament did slander the House of Commons to his Majesty and did counsel and advise his Majesty that he was loose and absolved from Rules of Government and that he had an Army in Ireland which he might imploy to reduce this Kingdome for which he deserves to undergo the paines and Forfeitures of high Treason And the said Earl hath been also an Incendiary of the wars between the two Kingdoms of England and Scotland all which offences have been sufficiently proved against the said Earl upon his Impeachment Be it therefore Enacted by the Kings most excellent Majesty and by the Lords and Commons in this present Parliament assembled and by â—â—thority of the same that the said Earl of Strafford for the hainous crimes and offences aforesaid stand and be adjudged and attainted of high Treason and shall suffer such pain of death and incur the Forfeitures of his Goods and Cattels Lands Tenements and hereditaments of any estate of freehold or Inheritance in the said Kingdomes of England and Ireland which the said Earl or any other to his use or in trust for him have or had the day of the first sitting of this present Parliament or at any time since Provided that no Iudge or Iudges Iustice or Iustices whatsoever shall adjudge or interpret any Act or thing to be Treason nor hear or determine any Treason nor in any other manner than he or they should or ought to have done before the making of this Act and as if this Act had never been had or made Serving alwaies unto all and singular persons and bodies politique and corporal their Heirs and successors other than the said Earl and his Heirs and such as claim by from or under him all such right title and Interests of in and to all and singular such of the said Lands Tenements and Hereditaments as he they or any of them had before the first day of this present Parliament any thing herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding Provided that the passing of this present Act and his Majesties assent thereunto shall not be any determination of this present sessions of Parliament and all Bills and matters whatsoever depending in Parliament and not fully enacted and determined And all Statutes and Acts of Parliament which have their continuance until the end of this present session of Parliament shall remain continue and be in force as if this Act had not been This Bill of Attainder being read opened and affirmed by sundry Presidents and Acts of Parliament might no doubt remove the misty cloud of the Peers understanding And therefore the next day the heat of that house appeared towards his destruction contrary to the Kings conscience whose Judgement was that he deserved relief And to that end the first of May he called both Houses together and to them he opened himself for the Earls defence thus My Lords and Gentlemen I had no intention to have spoken to you of this business to day which is the great business of the Earl of Strafford because I would do nothing which might hinder your occasions But now it comes to pass that I must of necessity have past in the judgment I think it most necâ—ssary to declare my conscience therein I am sure you know I have been present at the hearing of this great cause from one end to the other and I must tell you that in my conscience I cannot condemn him of high Treason It is not fit for me to argue this business I am sure you will not expect it a positive Doctrine best becomes the mouth of a Prince yet must I tell you three truths which I am sure no man can tell so well as myself First That I had never any intention of bringing over the Irish Army into England nor ever was advised by any body so to do Secondly That there was never any debate before me either in publique Councel or private Committee of the disloyalty of my English subjects nor ever had I any suspicion of them Thirdly That I was never counselled by any to alter the least of any of the Laws of England much less to alter all the Laws Nay I tell you this I think no body durst ever be so impudent as to move me to it For if they had I should have made them such an example and put such a mark upon them that all posterity should know my intentions by it they being ever to govern by the Law and no otherwise I desire rightly to be understood for though I tell you in my conscience I cannot condemn him of high Treason yet cannot I clear him of misdemeanours therefore I hope you may find out a way to satisfie justice and your own fears and not oppress my conscience My Lords I hope you know what a tender conscience is and I must declare unto you that to satisfie my people I would do great matters but in this of conscience neither fear nor any other respect whatsoever shall ever make me goe against it Certainly I have not deserved so ill of this Parliament at this time that they should press me in this tender point therefore I cannot suspect you will go about it Nay I must confess for mis-demeanours I am so clear in them that though I will not chalk out the way yet I will shew you that I think my Lord of Strafford is not fit hereafter to serve me or the Common-wealth in any place of trust no not so much as a Constable Therefore I leave it to you my Lords to find out some such way as to bring me out of this straight and keep your selves and the Kingdome from such inconveniences So then in effect he tells them of his presence at the hearing of that great cause from one end to the other and that positively in his conscience he cannot condemn him of High Treason but could not clear him of misdemeanours and he hoped that they might finde out a way to satisfie Justice and their own fears and not to oppress the Kings conscience which neither fear nor any other respect whatsoever should make him go against it and leaves them the way to bring him out of this straight This
valor for a wise man to set himself against the breaking in of a Sea which to resist at present threatens imminent danger but to withâ—draw gives it space to spend its fury and gaines a fitter time to repair the breach Certainly a Gallant man had rather fight to great disadvantages for number and place in the field in an orderly waie then skuffle with an undisciplined rabble Som suspected and affirmed that I meditated a War when I went from White-hall onelie to redeem My Person and Conscience from violence God knows I did not then think of a War Nor will any prudent man conceive that I would by so many former and some after-Acts have so much weakned My self If I had purposed to engage in a War which to decline by all means I denied My self in so manie particulars T is evident I had then no Army to flie unto for protection or vindication Who can blame Me or any other for with-drawing our selves from the daily baitings of the Tumults not knowing whether their furie and discontent might not flie so high as to worrie and tear those in pieces whom as yet they but plaied with in their paws God who is My sole Iudge is My Witness in Heaven that I never bad anie thoughts of going from my House at White-hall If I could have had but anie reasonable fair Quarter I was resolved to bear much and did so but I did not think My self bound to prostitute the Majesty of My place and Person the safetie of My Wife and Children to those who are prone to insult most when they have objects and opportunitie most capable of their rudeness and petulancie But this business of the Tumults whereof some have given already an account to God others yet living know themselves desperately guilty Time and the guilt of many hath so smothered up and buried that I think it best to leave it as it is onely I believe the just Avenger of all disorders will in time make those men and that City see their sin in the glass of their punishment T is more then an even-laie that they may one daie see themselves punished by that waie they offended Had this Parliament as it was in its first election and Constitution sate full and free the Members of both Houses being left to their freedom of Voteing as in all reason honor and Religion they should have been I doubt not but things would have been so carried as would have given no less content to all good men then they wished or expected For I was resolved to hear reason in all things and to consent to it so far as I could comprehend it but as Swine are to Gardens and orderly Plantations so are Tumults to Parliaments and Plebeian concourses to publique Councils turning all into disorders and sordid confusions I am prone somtimes to think That had I called this Parliament to any other place in England as I might opportunely enough have don the said consequences in all likelihood with Gods blessing might have been prevented A Parliament would have been welcom in any place no place afforded such confluence of various and vitious humors as that where it was unhappily convened But we must leave all to God who orders our disorders and magnifies his wisdome most when our follies and miseries are most discovered And with these Mutinies comes the Intimation of some practises in the North to distract the English Army the occasions you shall hear of hereafter But it gave â—ewel to the fiery faction and to the Parliament to fall into debate about a general National Protestation To maintain and defend with my life power and estate the true reformed Protestant Religion expressed in the doctrine of the Church of England against all popery and popish Innovations within this Realm contrary to the same doctrine his Majesties person Honour and estate The power of Parliament the lawful rights and Liberties of the subject and every person that maketh this protestation whatsoever he shall do in the lawfull pursuance of the same the third of May. This being too general in these words The true Reformed Protestant Religion c. They were explained by an ordinance to be only The publique doctrine professed in the Church of England so far as it is opposite to Popery and Popish Innovations and not to the maintaining any form of worship discipline or Government nor any Rites or Ceremonies of the Church of England the fifth of May And so it was taken by the Commons House the next day by the Lords and ordered to be taken by all the people of England Hereby it appears that they meant to question the discipline of the Church which they did They had no better way to qualifie the Kings discontent than to raise him some mony for the satisfying of high accounts which the Kingdom stood charged withall two Armies now on foot craving their pay And therefore a cunning Knight of Lancashire offered to procure his Majesty 650000. l. until such time as the subsidies should be raised with this declaration Provided that the King would pass a Bill not to adjourn the Parliament nor Prorogue it nor disolve it without the consent of both Houses to indure until the Greivances of this Kingdom were redressed And so complaints arising like Hidra's head never to have thereby any end yet to colour it they fell upon a great debate thereof but instantly order was given to draw up a Bill in pursuance of it And the Lords another way busie to lay a side the Bill of the Earls Attainder because it brought in the King as a Judge and so fell upon the several Articles of his Accusation resolving to send them to the Commons the next day with their Resolution when aâ—mongst forty five Lords twenty six of them voted him guilty of High Treason upon the fifteenth Article for Levying monies in Ireland by force in a warlike manner And upon the nineteenth for Imposing an Oath upon the subjects in Ireland which was for distinction of the Scots Covenanters as you have heard heretofore And so both these Bills of an everlasting Parliament and of the Attainder being compleated a conference was had of both Houses the next day after and some Lords dispatched to the King to request his answer who tells them That on Munday Following he would satisfie them I conceive it convenient in more particular to clear two mistakes of our Authors concerning The Articles of Ireland and the death of the Earl of Strafford reflecting upon the late most Reverend Prelate the Arch Bishop of Armagh Primate of all Ireland whilest he was living and worse pursued since his decease somewhat too sharp also on Dr. Barnard Herein I take leave in cool blood to interpose those Animadversions being intrusted therein by Command of the deceased Prelate Under whose hand writing and others also much of the matter is made evident to rectifie misunderstandings Intentionally thereby to end disputes The Historian takes
and so an abrogation of those of Ireland Now there was not a reception of the one instead of the other but the one with the other there being no difference in substance but onely in method number of subjects determined and other circumstantials argue no more an abrogation then that doth of the Apostles Creed by our reception of the Nicene Creed and Athanasius's wherein some points are more enlarged Or that the reception into our use the form of the Lords prayer according to S. Matthew abrogates that of S. Luke being the shorter Neither do I see but if for the manifestation of the union of the whole Reformed Churches We then should approve and receive the Articles of Religion agreed in other Reformed Churches and they receive ours it were no abrogating of either And the difference in them being onely in Circumstantials and not in substance all might be called one confession That as of many Seas one Ocean of many National Churches one Catholique Church so of many formes of Confessions but one faith amongst them That Argument from the Apostles speech of making void the old Covenant by speaking of a new or taking in the first day of the week to be the Sabbath instead of the last when but one in seven was to be kept doth not fit the Case for in these there was a superinduction and reception of the one for the other but in the Canon the Articles of England are received not instead but with those of Ireland And the practise of divers Bishops confirms it who many years after that upon an Ordination examined the persons as formerly according to the Articles of Ireland and took their subscription of them And in this I shall give you the sence of a most eminent learned and judicious person upon the view of what the Observator rescued had written of it I have received saies he the Book you sent me and have perused it I see he will have the allowance of our Articles of England by the Synod in Ireland to be a virtual disanulling of the Irish Confession which I conceive saith nomore but that both Confessions were consistent And the Act of that Synod not a revocation of the Irish Articles but an approbation of ours as agreeing with them He hath his flings at the Sermon preached at the Lord Primates Funeral but in truth he wrongs himself and our Church in those detractions from him Now this being so that the Articles of Ireland were not abrogated nor by the Primate so apprehended where was the ground of any displeasure disaffection or former grudge pretended very uncharitably by the Observator to be the cause of the Lord Primates carrying a sharp tooth against the Earl of Strafford It could not be for the first Canons passing which was all that was done in it for himself proposed and commended it and such as were intimate with him never heard him express any displeasure to the Earl upon that account And what Arguments soever may now be picked out of the draught of the Canon to imply an abrogation virtually or legally which is the last refuge the Observator flies unto are of no force to prove his displeasure then who did not so apprehend it and if he had then taken any such offence they are strangers to that holy man that can believe he could smother a grudge so many years but for such as have so aspersed him I shall pray that the thoughts of their hearts may be forgiven them So much for the clearing of that mistake concerning the Articles of Ireland which being made the Foundation of that other Building we are next to enter upon must accordingly fall with it also viz. The second Scandal in putting forward of the Earl of Strafford 's death But first to the whole matter which I shall lay down as plainly and briefly as the business will bear it The House of Commons having voted the Bill of Attainder against the Earl of Strafford which with some difficulty passed at last the House of Lords also and so tendered to the King for his royal assent He refused it for the present as not being satisfied upon his Hearing the Charge and Defence with the Evidence on both sides of which himself was witness That no sufficient proof was made nor any Law then in force whereby the Earl could be guilty of high Treason It was therefore necessary that Judges for the Law and Divines for his Conscience should satisfie him therein and they were with him to that end sent for by him and not sent to him The Houses of Parliament already really assured that their Proceedings and Votes for the Earl's condemnation ought to be sufficient satisfaction for the King without scruple of his own conscience to sign to their judgment the King being a party in Life and Death of a Delinquent ought to confide in the Verdict of the Iury. Nor was the King present as to satisfie his own conscience but his curiosity and it had been a strange President in the Parliament to consent unto much less to send any persons to the King to clear his conscience contrary to the Parliaments sentence especially such persons not having Vote in the House as the Judges have not Nor are the Bishops so much as assistant in cause of bloud or death by the fourth Canon of the Council of Toledo And it is confessed by both Authours that the Judges and Divines also were not willing to give their Opinions point blank against the Vote in Parliament And certainly if they had they might well have expected to be further questioned for it But in truth the Judges told the King that in point of Law the Oath made by Sir Henry Vane of the Earls advice to raise Horse to aw this Nation the Earl was guilty of Treason which though but singularis testis and which circumstances have been taken for sufficient testimony in Treason and more the King could not draw from the Judges as to any other particular but they flew to their general Opinion that super totam materiam he was guilty The King then starts his last Doubt that in his conscience he could not pass the Bill although the Earl were guilty having promised him under his hand that his Prerogative should save him never to pass that Bill nor to consent to the acting of any thing to take away his life And this was now that point of conscience Breach of Promise mostly insisted upon wherein the Divines were to satisfie And we have heard what hath been said of them And now let us see what the Arch-bishop of Armagh is pleased to say and that under his own hand-writing The Arch-bishop of Armagh's Testimony in Answer to the Historian pag. 257. l. 29. That Sunday morning writes he wherein the King consulted with the four Bishops London Durham Lincoln and Carlile the Arch-bishop of Armagh was not present being then Preaching as he then accustomed every Lords day to do in the Church of
Covent-garden when a Messenger coming to him from his Majesty he answered that he was then as he saw imployed in Gods service which as soon as he had done he would attend upon the King to understand his pleasure But the King spending the whole After-noon in the serious debate of the Earl of Strafford's case with the Lords of the Council and the Iudges of the Land he could not before Evening be admitted to his Majesties presence when the Question was again agitated Whether the King in justice might pass the Bill of Attainder against the Earl of Strafford For that he might shew mercy to him was no question at all no man doubting but that the King without any scruple of conscience might have granted him pardon if other reasons of State in which the Bishops were neither made Iudges nor Advisers did not hinder him the whole result therefore of the determination of the Bishops was to this effect That herein the Matter of Fact and the Matter of Law were to be distinguished that of the Fact he himself might make a Iudgment having been present at all the proceedings against the said Lord where if upon the hearing of the allegations on either side he did not coâ—ceive him guilty of the crime wherewith he was charged he could not in justice condemn him But for the Matter of Law what was Treason and what was not he was to rest in the Opinion of the Iudges whose office it was to declare the Law and who were sworn therein to carry themselves indifferently betwixt him and his Subjects which gave his Majesty occasion to complain of the bad dealing of the Iudges with him not long before that having earnestly pressed them to declare in particular what point of the Earls charge they adjudged to be Treason for as much as upon the hearing of the proof produced he might in his conscience perhaps finde him guiltless of that Fact he could not by any means draw them to name any particular but that upon the whole matter Treason might justly be charged upon him And in the second Meeting at night it was observed that the Bishop of London spake nothing at all and the Bishop of Lincoln not onely spake but sent a Writing into the Kings hands wherein what was contained the rest of his Brethren knew not So much writes the Arch-bishop Some of these passages are dispersed in the Observatour observed but not credited by the Authour of the Observatour rescued receiving it onely upon the Historians bare affirmation but by this Testimony it may be hoped he will be of more moderation notwithstanding he hath there shewn much disaffection to the Primate in endeavouring to his utmost to evade divers of those particulars either in giving the worst sense of them or turning them to other ends wherein he doth not onely obscurely fall upon this reverend Primate but injuriously detracts from a very worthy man Doctour Potter Bishop of Carlile and that after his death Dr. Cosens hath given him a better Example who heaâ—ing in France of the Primate's Funeral and what had been then said of this subject writes thus to his Friend I am glad to hear my Lord of Armagh was carried with so much honour to his Grave who yet deserved far more than was given him I never believed that he perswaded the King to put the Deputy of Ireland to death for he satisfied me against the common Report in that matter long since himself the world will hereafter know who it was c. Neither do I finde any thing in the late Kings Book in that Meditation as followeth concerning the Earl of Strafford that hath any such necessary inference that way either as to him or any of his Profession And for the note put upon the person to be one that had been harrased and crushed by the people I see not how it might be appliable to him his loss being by that Rebellion in Ireland and by the Parliament here he had an Allowance and had more esteem from â—â—em than others of his Profession What the Observatour took upon trust in some mistaken Notes given him of Doctour Bernard's Sermon concerning this subject â—â—er the spending some sharp language upon him he puts afterwards into Errata of Advertisements and Additions and so I pass it over So then thus far we may be satisfied There were but four Bishops at the first London Lincoln Durham and Carlile and at night five Bishops the Arch-bishop of Armagh making one the judgment of the Judges and the opinion of the Bishops formerly set down answer in effect to the controverted Disputes But it seems from all the Controversions to be thus concluded that the Kings former promise to save the Earl was at last and that absolutely the Kings desire to be satisfied therein whereupon say I the Bishop of Lincoln finding the Kings pulse to beat upon that string and knowing that four days before not that morning the Earl had writ a long Letter to the King concluding to solve his Majesty from that promise this Bishop Lincoln took upon him to tell the King that morning when Armagh was not present that if that were all he was confident that the Earl was so great a Lover of his Majesties peace and tender of his conscience and the Kingdoms safety as willingly to acquit the King of that promise To which the King gave a brow of anger as if thereby to be ensnared and so the four Bishops parted Upon this Lincoln in private speaks with the Lieutenant of the Tower or rather some other person who was at hand waiting the Kings pleasure and cunningly relates to him so much of the morning conference and the mâ—â—ner as might suit with his purpose that nothing stuck with his Majâ—sty but his promise to the Earl and that under his hand So then says he if when my Lord Strafford sendeth to you and asketh what is done concerning him you may acquaint him therewith I know the Earl of Strafford Lord Lieutenant of Ireland will disdain to hold his life upon no other merit but a bare promise and if all the service he hath done be not a stronger obligation than a few words he will I dare say to try the Kings affection soon acquit him of that promise And as the Devil and he would have it so it happened for the throbbing Prisoner inquisitive concerning his doom the Lieutenant or the other person told him that the King was satisfied of his guilt in Law and was onely bound up by his promise to your Lordship At which the Earl started up out of his Chair immediately calls for Pen and Paper Nay said he if that be all that bindes the King I shall soon release him and presently fell to writing say some that short Letter that same morning which the Historian pag. 257. minceth into a particle of the whole and begins â—â—at the last Paragraph in these words SIR To set your Majesty c. But I say otherwise
for that Letter which he means was 〈◊〉 five days before Yet the Earl intending to say more than had been writ in some passion he cast away the Pen and out of his Cabinet drew that Paper-promise under the Kings hand intrusting it to the Lieutenant or to that other person for the King whether sealed up or open I cannot say and this is the Paper which the Primate doth mention that Lincoln put into the Kings hand But the Letter before spoken of was very long and written to the KIng upon the Citizens Tumult at Westminster And it was thus May it please your Majesty It hath been my greatest grief in all these Troubles to be taken as a person which should endeavour to represent and set things amiss between your Majesty and your People and to give Councils tending to the disquiet of the three Kingdoms Most true it is that this mine own private condition considered it had been a great madness since through your gracious favour I was so provided as not to expect in any kinde to mend my fortune or please my minde more than by resting where your bounteous hand had placed me Nay it is most mightily mistaken for unto your Majesty it is well known my poor and humble advices concluded still in this that your Majesty and your people could never be happy till there were a right understanding betwixt you and them no other means to effect and settle this happiness but by the counsel and assâ—â—â— of the Parliament or to prevent the growing evils upon this State â—ut by intirely putting your self in your last resort upon the loyalty and good affections of your English Subjects Yet such is my misfortune this truth findeth little credit the contrary seemeth generally to be believed and my self reputed as something of separation between you and your people under a heavier censure than which I am perswaded no Gentleman can suffer Now I understand the minde of men are more incensed against me notwithstanding your Majesty hath declared that in your princely opinion I am not guilty of Treason nor are you satisfied in your conscience to pass the Bill This bringeth me into a very great strait there is before me the ruine of my Children and Family hitherto untouched in all the branches of it with any foul crimes Here is before me the many ills which may befall your sacred person and the whole Kingdom should your self and the Parliament part less satisfied one with the other than is necessary for the preservation of King and people Here are before me the things most valued most feared by mortal man Life or Death To say Sir that there hath not been a strife in me were to make me less than God knoweth mine infirmities give me And to call a destruction upon my self and young children were the intentions of my heart at least have been innocent of this great offence may be believed will finde no easie content to flesh and bloud But with much sadness I am come to a resolution of that which I take to be best becoming me to look upon that which is most principal in it self which doubtless is the prosperity of your sacred person and the Common-wealth infinitely before any private mans interest And therefore in few words as I put my self wholly upon the honour and justice of my Peers so clearly as to beseech your Majesty might please to have spared that Declaration of yours on Saturday last and intirely to have left me to their Lordships So now to set your Majesties conscience c. at liberty I do most humbly beseech you for the preventing of such mischief as may happen by your refusal to pass the Bill by this means to remove praised be God I cannot say this accursed but I confess this unfortunate thing forth of the way towards that blessed Agreement which God I trust shall for ever establish betwixt you and your Subjects Sir my consent herein shall more acquit you to God than all the World can do besides To a willing man there is no injury done And as by Gods grace I forgive all the World so Sir I can give up the Life of this World with all chearfulness imaginable in the just acknowledgment of your exceeding favours and onely beg that in your goodness you would vouchsafe to cast your gracious regard upon my poor Son and his Sisters less or more and no otherwise than their unfortunate Father shall appear more or less guilty of his death God long preserve your Majesty Your Majesties most humble and faithfull Subject and Servant STRAFFORD Tower May 4. 1641. But then this Letter you see was dated five days before the ninth day of May which was Sunday So that the account stands thus Saturday May the first the Kings Speech to both the Houses in defence of the Earl of Strafford Munday 3. The Tumult of the Citizens at Westminster crying out for justice against the Earl Tuesday 4. The said Letter was writ from the Earl to the King mentioning the Kings Speech on Saturday last Wednesday 5. The Lords laid aside the Bill of Attainder because it brought the King in as a Judge and consulted to fall upon several Articles of his Accusation Thursday 6. The Lords voted him guilty of high Treason and the Commons as busie about the Bill for continuation of the Parliament Saturday 8. Both Bills were presented to the King who promised his Answer on Munday after Sunday 9. The conference with the Bishops At the close of which and at parting at night the Bishop of Lincoln having gotten that Paper-promise under the Kings hand from the Lieutenant of the Tower or from that other person sent it or put it into the Kings hands These passages made it late on Sunday night And the next morning Munday the tenth of May he was solicited early from both Houses with those two Bills which the King signed and commissioned the Earl of Arundel the Lord Privy Seal the Lord Chamberlain and others for the passing of them the one for the continuation of the Parliament during the pleasure of the two Houses the other the Bill of Attainder against the Earl of Strafford at one time the same instant with the same Pen and Ink the King lost his Prerogative and Strafford's life also Corruptio unius generatio alterius But because we may not censure without the Book see what the King says giving his Reasons which enforced him to the signing of both these Bills and first as in order upon his passing the Bill for the Triennial Parliament and after settling this during the pleasure of the two Houses THat the world saies the King might be fully confirmed in My purposes at first to contribute what in Iustice Reason Honour and Conscience I could to the happie success of this Parliament which had in Mee no other design but the General good of My Kingdoms I willingly passed the Bill for Triennial Parliaments which as gentle and seasonable Physick
be evil because mine were good And having signed both these Bills the King sent Sir Dudley Carleton Secretary of State to the Earl to acquaint him what he had finished the necessity urging him so to do together with the Earls free consent and the return of his Paper-promise which ballanced all The Earl amazed seriously asked him whether his Majesty had passed the Bill as not believing without some astonishment that the King would have done it And being again assured that it was passed He arose from his Chair and standing up lift his eyes to Heaven clapt his hand upon his heart and said Put not your trust in Princes nor in the sons of men for in them there is no salvation I have been assured from him that heard the King speak it and others confirming that the Bishop of London did not disswade nor perswade the King in the passing of the Bill but wisely or cunningly said nothing at all Nor does it appear that any of the other Bishops Lincoln onely excepted did any way press the King to his death And for satisfaction of all the world that the Arch-bishop of Armagh did not urge his death but rather the contrary I was present when it was diâ—â—â—ursed by a person of honour and honesty one that in these times and in these particulars thus controverted would not be positive but in the truth And as willingly as necessarily he hath set it under his hand and ready to justifie it with his Oath and Honour in these words and so witnessed by those that were present That the late King being in the Garison of Oxford a publick rumour passed that the Arch-bishop of Armagh was then dead and so intimated to the King in his Bed-chamber who was pleased to resent the news with much sorrow and with very high expression of the Prelates remarkable piety and learning and so said all that were present in confidence of his great endowments of exemplary virtues Except Sir said one in his advice to your Majestie to the hasty resolution of the Lord Strafford's death To which the King in some passion replied It was false protesting with an Oath his innocencie therein and that after the Bill was passed said the King the Arch-bishop came to me with much regret and sorrow and that the Arch-bishop wept bitterly This as a great truth I am ready to aver says the Relator by my Oath and Honour as I do now under my hand this eighth day of May 1656. W. L. Hereupon having this under his hand and witness I urged the question with another person of like Honour who said that himself was present at that time relating the very same words in effect as the former and both of them I spake with apart many miles asunder and neither of them witting of the use which I now make thereof they mentioned each other to be present And this also is certified upon his Oath and Honour and under his hand also and witnesses G. K. And now we shall see what the Arch-bishop of Armagh hath been pleased to signifie as to the Observatours pag. 240. concerning the result of the Bishops That Sunday morning the five Bishops writes he for so many they were London being one of them were sent for by the King himself and not sent to him by the Houses of Parliament amongst whom the Bishop of Durham and Carlile were so far from depending wholly upon the judgment of the other two whom the Observatour accounts Politicians that they argued the case themselves as fully as did any other To the Argument of one of them the King also returned this Answer that his Syllogism was faulty because it had in it four terms And for that most uncharitable surmise writes he concerning the Arch-bishop of Armagh as if the displeasure he had conceived against the Lord Lieutenant were so great that it could not be satisfied but by the seeking of his very bloud It is hard to say whethâ—â—hat calumny be more malicious or ridiculous for both the ground of that conceited grudg is utterly false the Articles of Religion established in the Church of Ireland having been never abrogated by him or any other And in the ordering of this his the Earls last business there was no man with whom he held greater correspondency than with the Primate himself whereof this may be sufficient proof that as before his condemnation he did from time to time consult with him touching his answer to their present charge so also afterwards having obtained from the Parliament that the Primate might be sent unto him to prepare him for his death He chearfully imbraced his spiritual instructions prayed with him sent messages to the King by him and by no means would dispense with him for being absent from his Execution But taking him by the hand led him along to the Scaffold where with incomparable courage and as himself professed even then ready to lay hown his head without the least touch of any passion or fear he rendered up the spirit to him that gave it And as to the Historian's Paragraph pag. 263. l. 33. The Earl proceeding c. This Paragraph says the Arch-bishop is wholly to be left out for at his passing to the Scaffold there was a great silence amongst the people all of them universally commiserating his case in an extraordinary manner and with great passion lifting up their hands to heaven for him And to the Historian pag. 263. l. 38. The Earl being brought c. The Earl says the Arch-bishop being brought to the Scaffold his Chaplains prayed with him and himself remaining still upon his knee rehearsing with great reverence the five and twenty Psalm Afterwards arising he addrest his Speech unto the people to this effect after following But the occasion of the mistakes of the addressing of his Speech unto the Lords as the Historian hath My Lords It should be My Lord which the Earl used in the Singular Number turning himself to the Arch-bishop who stood by him as appears by the Pamphlet presently published concerning his suffering where the tenour of his Speech which he then used is to be taken as agreeing almost with the very syllable by him used and not as the Historian hath it for thus in truth it was My Lord Primate c. as hereafter in due place But to return to the tenth of May the King having the day before signed both Bills that of the continuation of the Parliament and this for the execution of the Earl and with one Pen of Ink and at one instant he sets his hand to the loss of himself and to the destruction of his faithfull and most able Counsellour and Servant The next day eleventh of May he being extremely troubled at what he had done concerning the Earl he vouchsafes to write to the Lords and sends this Letter by his Son the Prince of Wales My Lords I did yesterday satisfie the justice of the Kingdom by passing the Bill of Attainder
against the Earl of Strafford but mercie being as inherent and inseparable to a King as justice I desire in some measure to shew that likewise by suffering that unfortunate man to fulfill the natural course of his life in close imprisonment yet so that if he ever make the least offer to escape or offer directly or indirectly to meddle in any sort of publick business especially with me either by Message or Letter it shall cost him his life without further process This if it may be done without the discontentment of my people will be an unspeakable contentment unto me To which end as in the first place I by this Letter do earnestly desire your approbation and to endear it the more have chosen him to carry it who is of all your House most dear unto me So I desire that by conference you will endeavour to give the House of Commons contentment likewise Assuring you that the exercise of mercie is no more pleasing to me than to see both Houses of Parliament consent for my sake that I should moderate the severitie of the Law in so important a case I will not say that your complying with me in this my intended mercie shall make me more willing but certainly it will make me more chearfull in granting your just grievances But if no less than his life will satisfie my people I must say Fiat justitia Thus again recommending the consideration of my intentions to you I rest Your unalterable and affectionate Friend CHARLS R. If he must die it were charitie to reprieve him till Saturday To this Letter the Lords conceived this Order the same day May 11. 1641. This Letter all written with the Kings own hand we the Peers this day received in Parliament delivered by the hands of the Prince It was twice read in the House and after serious but sad consideration the House resolved presently to send twelve of the Peers Messengers to the King humbly to signifie that neither of the two intentions exprest in the Letter could with dutie in us or without danger to his Consort the Queen and all the young Princes their Children be possibly admitted Which being accomplished and more expressions offered his Majestie suffered no more words to come from us but out of the fulness of his heart to the observance of justice and for the contentment of his people told us that what he intended by his Letter was with an If If it may be done without discontentment to his people If it cannot be I say again the same that I wrote Fiat justitia My other intention proceeding out of charitie for a few days respite was upon certain information that his estate was distracted that it necessarily required some few daies respite for setlement thereof Whereunto the Lords answered Their purpose was to be suiters to his Majestie for favour to his innocent Children and that their Fathers provision for them might be confirmed Which pleased the King who thereupon departed from the Lords At his Majesties departure the Lords offered up to the King the original Letter which he had sent but he was pleased to say What I have written to you I shall be content it be registred by you in your House in which you see my minde I hope you will use it to mine honour Upon the return of the Lords thus much was reported to the House by the Lord Privie Seal Upon the fatal day Wednesday the twelfth of May the Earl was summoned to his period being conveyed from his Chamber in the Tower with these Ceremonies before him went the Marshal's men next them the Sheriff's Officers with Halberts then the Warders of the Tower being of the King's Guard and after the Earl's Gentleman Usher bare and then himself accompanied with the Primate of Ireland and others in his way passing by the Lodging of the Arch-bishop of Canterburie a Prisoner and casting up his eye to his Window where he looked out desired his Prayers and his Blessing who after some collection of his sadness resolved into comfort and doubted not when his own turn came that he should taste that bitter Cup with a most Christian courage The Earl being come to the Scaffold upon the Hill he addrest his Speech to the Lord Primate My Lord Primate of Ireland It is my very great comfort that I have your Lordship by me this day and I do thank God and your Lordship for it in regard that I have been known to you these many years I should be very glad to obtain so much silence as to be heard a few words but I doubt I shall not the noise is so great I come hither by the good will and pleasure of Almightie God to pay the last debt which I ow to sin which is death and by the blessing of that God to rise again through the merits of Jesus Christ to righteousness and life eternal I am come hither to submit to that Iudgment which hath passed against me I do it with a very quiet and contented minde I do freely forgive all the world a forgiveness that is not spoken from the teeth outwards as they say but from the very heart I can very well say in the presence of Almightie God before whom I stand that there is not a displeased thought arising in me towards any creature I thank God I can say and that truly too and my conscience bears me witness that in all the imploiments since I had the honour to serve his Majestie I never had any thing in the purpose of my heart but what tended to the joint and individual prosperitie of the King and people If it hath been my fortune to be mis-understood surely I am not the first that hath been so it is the common portion of us all whilest we are in this life to err but righteous judgment we must wait for in another place for here we are very subject to be mis-judged one of another There is one thing I desire to free my self of and I am confident speaking it now with so much chearfulness that it cannot be but that I shall obtain your Christian charitie in the belief of it I did alwaies think the Parliaments of England the happiest Constitutions that any Kingdom or Nation lived under and next under God the best means to make the King and his people happie so far have I been from being against Parliaments For my death I here acquit all the world and beseech the God of Heaven heartily to forgive them though in the intentions and purposes of my heart I am innocent of what I die for And my Lord Primate it is a very great comfort unto me that his Majestie conceives me not meriting so severe and heavie a punishment as is the uttermost execution of this Sentence I do insinitely rejoice in this mercie of his and I beseech God to return it upon him that he may findâ— mercie when he stands most in need of it I wish this
here and my eternal happiness hereafter through Jesus Christ our Lord in whose Name and words I conclude Our Father which art in Heaven c. The Petition of the Earl of Strafford unto the Lords before he died To the Right Honourable the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in this present Parliament assembled The humble Petition of Thomas late Earl of Strafford sheweth That seeing it is the good will and pleasure of God that your Petitioner is now shortly to pay that dutie which we all ow to our frail nature he shall in all Christian patience and charitie conform and submit himself to your justice in a comfortable assurance of the great hope laid up for us in the mercie and merits of our Saviour blessed for ever Onely he humbly craves to return your Lordships most humble thanks for your noble compassion towards those innocent children whom now with his last blessing he must commit to the protection of Almightie God beseeching your Lordships to finish your pious intentions towards them and desiring that the reward thereof may be fulfill'd in you by him that is able to give above all we are able either to ask or think Wherein I trust the Honourable House of Commons will afford their Christian assistance And so beseeching your Lordships charitably to forgive all his omissions and infirmities he doth very heartily and truly recommend your Lordships to the mercies of our heavenly Father and that for his goodness he may perfect you in every good work Amen Tho Wentworth Some design there was no doubt of delivering the Earl of Strafford by escape as appears by examination of Sir Will. Balfore Lieutenant of the Tower who says he was commanded to receive Captain Billingsley into the Tower with an hundred men for securing of the place and to be under his command but coming thither Balfore opposeth his entrance and therefore the Earl expostulates with him by way of advice of the danger to deny the Kings commands to whom the Lieutenant said that there was a certain discovery of his intended escape by examination of three Women Goodwives of Tower-street that peeping in at his Gallery-doorkey-hole where he was walking with Billingsley they heard him advise therein by ascertaining his Brothers ship to be in readiness which was fallen down on purpose below in the River that they three might be there in twelve hours that if the Fort were but secured for three or four months there would come aid enough and that there was nothing to be thought upon but an escape and much more broken speech to that purpose To which the Earl answered that he had discourse with Billingsley thereabout but meant it as by the Kings authority to be removed to some other Castle and confessed the most of the Womens relation Besides the Lieutenant's examination that the Earl of Strafford sent for him four days before his suffering perswading him to assent to his escape for twenty thousand pounds to be paid and a Mariage of his Daughtâ—r to Balfore's Son And because the memory of this brave man may live for ever read his Character from the King his Master whose distinction concluded his death to be more safe then just I looked says the King upon my Lord of Strafford as a Gentleman whose great abilities might make a Prince rather afraid than ashamed to imploy him in the greatest affairs of State For those were prone to create in him great confidence of undertakings and this was like enough to betray him to great errours and many enemies whereof he could not but contract good store while moving in so high a sphere and with so vigorous a lustre he must needs as the Sun raise many envious exhalations which condensed by a popular odium were capable to cast a cloud upon the brightest merit and integrity Though I cannot in my judgement approve all he did driven it may be by the necessities of times and the temper of that people more than led by his own disposition to any height and rigour of actions Yet I could never be convinced of any such criminousness in him as willingly to expose his life to the stroke of justice and malice of his enemies I never met with a more unhappy conjuncture of affairs than in the business of that unfortunate Earl when between mine own unsatisfiedness in conscience and a necessity as some told me of satisfying the importunities of some people I was perswaded by those that I think wished me well to chuse rather what was safe then what seemed just preferring the outward peace of my Kingdoms with men before that inward exactness of conscience with God And indeed I am so far from excusing or denying that compliance on my part for plenary consent it was not to his destruction whom in my judgement I thought not by any clear Law guilty of death That I never bare any touch of conscience with greater regret which as a sign of my repentance I have often with sorrow confessed both to God and men as an act of so sinfull frailtie that it discovered more a fear of man than of God whose name and place on earth no man is worthie to bear who will avoid inconveniences of State by acts of so high injustice as no publick convenience can expiate or compensate I see it a bad exchange to wound a mans own conscience thereby to salve State-sores to calm the storms of popular discontents by stirring up a tempest in a man 's own bosom Nor hath Gods justice failed in the event and sad consequences to shew the world the fallacie of that Maxim Better one man perish though unjustly than the people be displeased or destroyed In all likelihood I could never have suffered with my people greater calamities yet with greater comfort had I vindicated Strafford's innocencie at least by denying to sign that destructive Bill according to that justice which my conscience suggested to me than I have done since I gratified some mens unthankfull importunities with so cruel a favour And I have observed that those who counselled me to sign that Bill have been so far from receiving the rewards of such ingratiatings with the people that no men have been harassed and crushed more than they He onely hath been least vexed by them who counselled me not to consent against the Vote of mine own conscience I hope God hath forgiven me and them the sinfull rashness of that business To which being in my soul so fully conscious those judgments God hath pleased to send upon me are so much the more welcom as a means I hope which his mercie hath sanctified so to me as to make me repent of that unjust act for so it was to me and for the future to teach me that the best Rule of Policie is to prefer the doing of justice before all enjoiments and the peace of my conscience before the preservation of my Kingdoms Nor hath any thing more fortified my resolution against all those violent importunities which since
have sought to gain a like consent from me to Acts wherein my conscience is unsatisfied than the sharp touches I have had for what passed me in my Lord of Strafford's business Not that I resolved to have imploied him in my affairs against the advice of my Parliament but I would not have had any hand in his death of whose guiltlesness I was better assured than any man living could be Nor were the crimes objected against him so clear as after a long and fair hearing to give convincing satisfaction to the major part of both Houses especially that of the Lords of whom scarce a third part were present when the Bill passed that House And for the House of Commons many Gentlemen disposed enough to diminish my Lord of Strafford's greatness and power yet unsatisfied of his guilt in Law durst not condem him to die who for their integritie in their Votes were by posting their Names exposed to the popular calumnie hatred and furie which grew then so exorbitant in their clamours for justice that is to have both my self and the two Houses Vote and to do as they would have us that many 't is thought were rather terrified to concur with the condemning partie than satisfied that of right they ought so to do And that after-Act vacating the authoritie of the precedent for future imitation tells the world that some remorse touched even his most implacable enemies as knowing he had very hard measure and such as they would be very loth should be repeated to themseves This tenderness and regret I finde in my soul for having had any hand and that very unwillingly God knows in shedding one mans bloud unjustly though under the colour and formalitie of justice and pretences of avoiding publick mischiefs which may I hope be some evidence before God and man to all posteritie that I am far from bearing justly that vast load and guilt of all that bloud which hath been shed in this unhappie War which some men will needs charge on me to ease their own souls who am and ever shall be more afraid to take away any mans life unjustly than to lose mine own And now I take my leave of our two Writers the Historian and his Observatour They stop here and we part Friends But I am to go on towards my journeys end a great way farther The sad execution of this brave man put the great Officers of State in some doubt what to do with themselves as fearing that upon the like score they might be subject to destruction And because envy and insecurity wait nearest upon persons of eminency in office or because they considered that the ambition of the adverse party might be some way satisfied divers of the Kings nearest Officers resigned up their Places the seventeenth of May viz. The Lord Cottington Master of the Wards to the profitable desires of the Lord Say Dr. Iuxon Bishop of London resigning his Office of Treasurer of England into the hands of five Commissioners more sufficient than he could be The Earl of Leicester was made Lieutenant of Ireland perhaps to ballance with the late Lord's merit Marquess Hertford sworn Governour of the Prince in the room of the Earl of New-castle who hereafter the Parliament pretend to be a Papist The Earl of Essex made Lord Chamberlain of the Kings Houshold and Pembroke put out The Officers of the English Army set a Design on foot by which it was pretended that they meant to force the Parliament but being discovered and soon made publick the manner and matter collected out of the Examinations in May and Iune were thus The Field-officers and Commanders being at London and Members of either Houses the Army was left to the oversight of Sir Iacob Astley the Ground of the Design was pretended from the Dislikes between the King and Parliament with the hasty Supply of the Scotish Army and the neglect of the English which begat Discontent in them and private Meetings and Consultations there and so brought up to Court But their Design not fixed fell into several Intentions which never came to head being crushed in the Embryo by sudden discovery In the general it was voted the nineteenth of Iune that the Scots should receive one hundred thousand pounds of their three hundred thousand pounds at Mid-summer next 1642. and the remainder at Mid-summer 1644. But the Scots by writing pretend necessity for the present and demanded twenty five thousand pounds there being in readiness but fifteen thousand pounds for the Parliament had designed fifty thousand pounds for the necessity of the English Army from whose Money the House of Commons soon consented to deduct ten thousand pounds for the Scots The Lord Piercy Commissary General Wilmot and Colonel Ashenburnham sitting together and murmuring at it Wilmot stept up and told Master Speaker That if such Papers of the Scots could procure Moneys he doubted not but the Officers of the English would soon do the like But it prevailed not to prevent the Scot and provoked the English Army to say that the Parliament had disobliged them These at London put themselves into a Iunto of sworn secrecy resolving to engage in some particular for themselves and the publick service of the King drawing up uncertain extravagant Heads by way of Petition to the King and Parliament For Money for the Army Not to disband before the Scots To preserve Bishops Votes and Functions To settle the Kings Revenue The Army tainted from hence meet at Burrowbrig draw up a Letter by way of Petition which Paper of Instructions was shewn to the King who seemed to approve of it say the Parliament by singing it C. R. which served onely as a direction to Captain Leg that none should see it but Sir Iacob Astley who in absence of the chief Commanders ordered the Army The main of the matter there was that all good men ought to thank God for directing the Kings heart to the desires of his Parliament by delivering up into their hands the chiefest of Counsellours and Servants and many other things to gratifie them which never was done by any his Ancestours By Petition of Right Triennial Parliament and such like yet that some turbulent spirits backt by rude and tumultuous Mechanicks seem not to be satisfied without the total subversion of the Government of State c. That therefore the Army so orderly governed though without Martial Law No payment and few Officers might be called up to attend the safety of the Kings person and Parliaments security or that both Armies should be disbanded for the ease of the Kingdom with a desire to procure the Officers hands hereto c. The Actours there were Sir Iames Ashley Sir Iohn Conniers Sir Foulk Hunks Colonel Vavisor Chudleigh William Leg and Oneal and others all examined to this purpose but none suffered for the same Amongst those others here above and some Courtiers was Master Henry Iermin who to avoid the bad effects of his Medling conveyed himself
and Figures within the Churches and afterwards from without suppressing the very Signs and Sign-posts and this curiosity of Imployment was conferred upon such as had least to do and could intend to be busied abroad Sir Robert Harloe was found out to be the fittest person which makes me remember Chaucer's Character of such another A busier man there never was Yet seemed busier than he was The King had given knowledg of his Resolution to journey to Scotland and to set out the tenth of August to which the Houses had agreed but now thus near they desire the King to put it off a Fortnight longer the great affairs of State necessarily requiring his presence and instanced in some Bills yet to be passed and some settlement for the Government of the Kingdom in his absence he told them the warning was so long since as that they might have hastened their business to that purpose And so the same day passed some Bills for Knighthood free making of Gun-pouder and Saltpeter and signed a Commission for passing Bills in his absence unto the Lord Keeper the Lord Privy-Seal the Earl of Lindsey Earl of Essex Marquess Hartford the Earl of Bath and the Earl of Dorset And signed to another Bill for the Earl of Essex General of all his Forces on this side Trent by which he had power to raise Forces in case of necessity but to that request that the Earl of Pembroke should be made Lord high Steward in the place of the Earl of Arundel now absent and the Earl of Salisbury to be Lord Treasurer he had no minde to either of them But the day before the King's Journey into Scotland and the Parliament serious in some sudden affairs of importance they were forced to lay aside the solemnity of this Day being Sunday and to sit from Morning till Night but not to bring it into President they publish in Print That for many urgent occasions they thought it necessary to sit and do declare so much that no inferiour Court or Council or any person may draw this into Example for their encouragement in neglecting the due observation of the Sabbath Sunday August 8. And then they adjourned untill the twentieth of October and a standing Committee of the House of Commons consisting of fifty Members appointed during the Recess But the King gone to Scotland the Parliament at leisure to frame business against his return such a Freedom and Liberty was taken up of the People and such connivance from the Parliament as somewhat like the late Comedy The World turn'd up side down Many Jealousies in the hearts of the People many Divisions and Differences in Opinion which little favour the Parliaments proceedings The Prelatical party utterly discountenanced and Learning discouraged the Universities neglected Orthodox men slighted A wonderfull liberty and licence afforded to the Communalty of a long time had now taken root and Riots too Every one as his fancy increased took upon him by connivance of several Members of several Opinions to countenance such who without other authority order or decency rudely and riotously disturbing Church-service in time of Prayers tearing the Book of Liturgy the Surplices and such things which the Parliament onely connived at being to use such a considerable party in time of need Ridiculous Conventicles and Preachings in Conventicles nay openly in corners of the Streets by Trades-men Tub-preachers to the general scandal of all good men In earnest to wise men and religious these courses were offensive and thereby grew disaffected to Parliaments but there were ways invented some were taken off by Preferments others deterred and most men distracted with these varieties exprest a Mutation and change of Church and State which after followed Insolencies and Disorders in the Populacy uncorrected or connived at grow up to Insurrections and Rebellions as with the late Actions of the Scots after whose Example the Irish Nation resolve of the like Freedom the one of Reformation the other of old ancient Popery National pretence either had but the effects of the former were soon smothered and pacified for the present but this other taking fire in time of our English Distractions which afforded them means and boldness to contrive the most horrid Rebellion in Ireland that after-ages will not easily believe It fell out in the Kings absence at Scotland and so we shall take up that time to enter the Reader in the former part of that miserable story and first of all to give some account of the Grounds and their rebellious pretences Somewhat we have said concerning the State of Ireland from the first Conquest of the English to these times of King Charls who highly indulged his Subjects there in this last Year 1640. upon their late Complaints and their general Remonstrance to him from the Parliament sitting at Dublin by a Committee of four Temporal Lords of the Upper House and twelve Members of the House of Commons instructed to represent the heavy pressures which they pretended to have suffered under the Government of the Earl of Strafford The King took their Grievances into his royal consideration heard them himself and presently provided for their redress And upon the decease of Master Wansford Master of the Rolls in Ireland and then Lord Deputy under the Earl of Strafford who still continued Lord Lieutenant of that Kingdom though then accused of high Treason and imprisoned in the Tower of London the King sent a Commission of Government to the Lord Dillon of Kilkenny West and Sir William Parsons Knight and Baronet Master of the Wards there but finding his choice of Dillon to be much disgusted by the Irish Committee that Commission was forthwith cancelled with their approbation he placed the Government upon Sir William Parsons and Sir John Burlace Knight Master of the Ordnance both of them persons of great integrity who took the Sword the ninth of February 1640. who applied them selves with all possible content to the People In abating the Subsidies there being given in the time of the Earl of Strafford from fourty thousand pounds each Subsidy to twelve thousand pounds a piece so low were they reduced and drew up two Acts in Parliament most impetuously desired by the Natives The one was the Act of Limitations which settled all Estates of Land there for sixty years preceding The other Act for the relinquishment of the Kings Right and Title to the four Counties in Conaught legally found for him by several Inquisitions and ready to be disposed of to Brittish Undertakers as also to some Territories in Munster and Clare upon the same Title And that the King might testifie his own settled resolution for his future grace and favours to them he did about the end of May 1641. declare the Earl of Leicester Lord Lieutenant General of Ireland perhaps upon the former score as Heir to his Uncle Sir Philip Sidney as to Sir Henry Sidney his Grand-father who had been Governour of Ireland in time
whereof six only were hanged Many treacherous designs of the Town Papists failed many Protestants fled to sea and although Docter Barnard their chief Minister had the conveniency offered him to be gon he would not desert his Congregation thin as they were telling them as St. Ambrose said to Iustina Non prodam lupis gregem mihi commissum hic â—ccide si libet At this time comes a competent strength of one hundred horse and ten hundred foot under command of Sir Henry Tichburn appointed Governour of the Town the fourth of November which the Catholiques resented coldly upon whom the Protestants had just suspition and therefore wearied succours were faine to stand Guard that Night And now it was time to name the Brat and call it a through Rebellion which till now was favoured with the interpretation of an Act of discontented Gentlemen Not long after the State added three companies of foot so beside the Town Arms they were compleat 1500. foot and 160. horse Not many nights after there was dropt in the street a faire Declaration of the Catholiques of Ireland framed upon presumption that the design contrived had been effected and by the way at each corner seems to have been fixed and this the most authentick that came to light Whereas we the Roman Catholiques of the Kingdom of Ireland have been continually loving and faithfull Subjects to his sacred Majesty and notwithstanding the several and heavy oppressions suffered by the subordinate Governments to the ruine of our lives honours and estates yet having some liberty of our Religion from his Majesty out of the affluence of his Princely love to us we weighing not corporal loss in respect of the great immunity of the soule are instantly resolved to infix our selves in an immutable and pure allegiance for ever to his royal Majesâ—y and successors Now it is That the Parliament of England maligning and envying any graces received from his Majesty by our Nation and knowing none desired of us as that of Religion and likewise perceiving his Majesty to be inclined to give us the liberty of the same drew his Majesties Prerogative out of his hand thereby largely pretending the general good of his Majesties Kingdoms But we the sad Catholicks and loyal Subjects to his Majesty do probably finde as well by some Acts to pass by them the said Parliament touching our Religion in which the Catholicks of England and Scotland did suffer as also by threat to send over the Scotish Army with the Sword and Bible in hand against us That their whole and studied Plots both was and is not onely to extinguish Religion by which we onely live happily but also likewise to supplant us and raze the name of Catholicks and Irish out of the whole Kingdom And seeing this surmise so dangerous tending absolutely to the overthrow of the liberty of our consciences and Countrey and also our gracious Kings power forced from him in which and in whose prudent care of us our sole quiet and comfort consisted and without which the fear of our present Ruines did prescribe opinion and premonish us to save our selves We therefore as well to regain his Majesties said Prerogative being onely due to him and his Successours and being the essence and life of Monarchy hoping thereby to continue a strong and invincible unity between his royal and ever happy love to us and our faithfull Duty and Loyalty to his incomparable Majesty have taken Arms and possessed our selves of the best and strongest Forts of this Kingdom to enable us to serve his Majesty and to defend us from the tyrannous resolution of our Enemies This in our consciences as we wish the peace of the same to our selves and our posterity is the pretence and true cause of our raising Arms by which we are resolved to perfect the advancement of truth and safety of our King and Countrey Thus much we thought fit in general to publish to the world to set forth our innocent and just cause the particulars whereof shall be speedily declared God save the King Upon the fifth of November the Lords and Council of Ireland sent their second Dispatch from Dublin unto the King in Scotland and several Letters also into England to the Parliament and Council and to the Earl of Leicester elect Lord Lieutenant setting down the particular Narrative of the Rebellion and so take together the success of both Dispatches The first Letters arrived at London the last of October and that Even were delivered and the next Morning the Upper House sent them down to the House of Commons by the Lord Keeper Privy Seal High Chamberlain Admiral Marshal Chamberlain the Earls of Bath Dorset Leicester Holland Berks Bristoll Lord Mandevil Say Goring Wilmot who had Chairs to sit while the Letters were read and so departed The House instantly resolved into a Committee and order That fifty thousand pounds be forthwith provided That the Lords be moved that Members of both Houses may declare to the City of London the present necessity to borrow fifty thousand pounds to be secured by Act of Parliament That a Committee of both Houses consider of the affairs of Ireland That Owen O Conally the Discoverer shall have five hundred pounds presently and two hundred pounds per annum Pension till provision of Land of Inheritance of a greater value That the persons of all Papists of quality in England be secured That no persons except Merchants shall pass to Ireland without Certificate from the said Committee To all which the Lords consented Then the House of Commons vote twenty thousand pounds for present supply A convenient number of Ships for guarding the Sea-coasts of Ireland That six thousand Foot and two thousand Horse be forthwith raised for Ireland and Officers to be appointed over them That Magazines of Victual be forthwith sent to Westchester to be sent to Dublin as occasion shall require That the Magazines now at Carlile be forthwith sent over to Knockfergus in Ireland That the Kings Council consider of a Pacification for Rewards to such as shall do service in Ireland and for a Pardon to such Rebells as shall submit within a time and of a Sum of Money for Rewards to bring in the Heads of the principal Rebells That Letters of Thanks be returned to the Lords Justices there That the Committee do consider how and in what manner to make use of Scotland here And a Bill to be prepared for pressing of Souldiers for Ireland An Ordinance passed for the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland to raise three thousand five hundred Foot and six hundred Horse and not to press our dear Brethren of Scotland any further than for one thousand Foot to pass from Scotland to the North of Ireland And Arms to be delivered out by the Master of the Ordnance out of the store for Ireland for eight thousand Foot and a thousand Horse Thus much was discoursed upon the first Letters And now upon the second Dispatch the Parliament voted two
long here retarded his service of Lieutenant of Ireland commissioned the Earl of Ormond Lieutenant General of the Forces there and presently after he received a confirmation of that charge from the King in Scotland together with the sum of twenty thousand pounds in Spanish pieces of Eight which passed there in Ireland for four pence more in each piece which the Merchants had for assuring the Money thither and all landed safe when upon the one and twentieth of November News came that the Rebells were in March and in sight of Tredagh which expected a present Siege to whom some small Relief was sent Novemb. 17. The Mill Mount in the Town of Tredagh the most defensive for the Guard of Meath side was fortified with four Guns The whole County of Louth scarce a Gentleman that was not a Papist excepted were drawn into this Conspiracy so that they were beset on that side of the Town Northward with five thousand or as their own List reported eight thousand The Infection spread over the Town One Stanley a Parliament Burgess there and created a Captain and many others nay the Sheriff of the County revolted Knight of the Shire also from us to Rebellion He with Stanley were used Commissioners from them to the Town upon pretended Treaties but to espy upon our Actions who were received not amiss as to protract time They pretended to Accommodation in respect of their Estates in the Town professing extraordinary affection to the Lord Moor advising him to retreat to his house Mellifont or any of their Castles where his Father lived secure during Tyrone's Rebellion and proffered him to be their General of all Meath and Louth and satisfaction forthwith to him and his Tenants for any Detriments this they did to draw from the Protestants such a noble and right faithfull Commander And so much cunning the Conspiratours used every where at the first that the State had sent aid into several Counties even unto such as proved Enemies which were understood by the Lord Moor and prevented in their way above more than a thousand Arms. The Lord Gormonston by petition procured five hundred Arms to his own house for securing of Meath which the Enemy waited to surprize but was discovered and the Arms brought to Tredagh by the Lord Mainman with a Fortnights pay for the Regiments which served them for twenty Weeks after The Parliament now drawing on the Lord Moor came to Dublin making most noble offers to raise six hundred men more Clothes and Pay till Supplies from England conditional that the four Companies in Tredagh not yet affixed to any Regiment might be added to his command there to make up a thousand by which Dundalk Aberdy and the whole County of Louth might have been secured but this not accepted yet the very offer being publick the Rebells thereat enraged took opportunity likewise of his absence and plundered his Estate to the purpose He was the onely Protestant Lord of the Pale except the Earl of Kildare and the Lord Hoath It was of a Sunday November 21. in the Morning that Mellifont three Miles off was beset and therefore two hundred Foot and a Troop of Horse was commanded out of Tredagh to aid the Forces there already when the Enemy marches down Tallihascot Hill with a thousand which gave a stop and the Men designed were staid in expectation of the Enemy to fall upon the Town which proved but to divert whilest fifteen hundred from several parts were drawing towards Mellifont The Forces there were but four and twenty Muskets and fifteen Horse some Servants and two Scouts abroad one of them cut off the other pursued to the Gates with a Note in writing from Mac Mahon directed to the Warders of the House to surrender upon Quarter and withall a Bullet for a Token The Quarter-master of the Troop boldly bid his Master do his worst they would never yield to Traitours The Enemy was lodged on the top of the hill their foot by marching over the Garden sides in multitudes whom those few from the house forced to retreat four or five times and ere long killed 140. and might have been made up to many hundreds had they not wanted powder having but six shot a peece cutting their bullets in halfes and to make even with their powder rammed in five or six together and did great execution Not a Man lost till all their powder was spent At their entrance the Serjeant did his best with his Halbert thrust some through others their braines broken out These at last yielded upon quarter whom yet they threw out of the window the horse unable to hold out opened the Gates made a desperate charge through the thickest and came safe to Drogheda The Enemy slew in all thirteen And one the next day being alive with fourty wounds they hacked him to death with their skeens An old Gentleman of eighty years they seized to shew them the house who brought them into the wine cellar and having well drunken they run him through and so to another blind Man they cut his throat so inraged they killed the dogs plundered and defaced the house to the loss of 2000. l. stripped the women and so departed so did another ruder rabble of the Tenants devastating all in one night And yet after all this the Lord Moor authorized by Parliament to treat with them they proffered to him all assurances of satisfaction on his part if he would turn to their side offered a Cessation till a Messenger might be â—ent to the King but all their pretences were feigned talking of the Kings prerogative That the Lord Deputy might be of their own Nation of their own pressures to have freedom of Religion which they alwaies confidently avouched confessing that their Priests and Fryars instigated them to this Rebellion as indeed was too true There was a rumour that O relies having taken Kebs Abracen and the Navan advanced from the County of Cavan towards Tredagh whereupon the State sent supplies thither but miscarried The two and twentieth of November 600. foot and 50. horse seâ— out of Dublin towards Tredagh marching but six miles that night to Swores and had advice to hasten thither the next day accordingly the Governour issued out with a sufficient force of foot and horse to meet them but in a Mutiny the other souldiers would go no further than Balradbury six miles more the next day somewhat on this side the bridge of Gillingstone in a great stubble field they were met with 2000. of the Enemy and in a fog were within Musket shot ere diâ—cried The Captain drew up the Rebels making a stand did so also And although his men seemed forward to fight yet commanded a Counter march in which compelled to take a ditch the Enemy misjudging it a flight began to shout which so afrighted them into confusion that they were charged and the most slain Two Captaines killed and the other three in all with one ensign escaped the 50.
hungry Souldier to fight for some Horse and Foot fell upon a Convoy of eighty Cows and two hundred Sheep and carried the Spoil without loss of a man to the extreme comfort of the hungry Souls within The next day thus fleshed another Sally of an hundred Foot and one Troop for Corn who met with fifteen hundred from several parts but the English retired without loss through a part of their Body killed nine and returned onely some twenty or thirty poor stragling people Men and Women were seized barbarously and basely butchered not affording any Quarter to the weakest The Rebells General O Neal was now returned from the North vvhither he marched vvith some Troops to fetch Artillery for Battery and fresh Supplies but failing of his Design he stole back in secret lodging unknovvn at Bewly tvvo Mâ—les off from vvhence he sent his Message to the Lord Moor. That he had taken all the Towns of the North but two which were at his pleasure That the whole Kingdom was in the like case and now wondered that Drogheda durst or should be so singular as to stand out to hope of deliverance from his hands Yet caressing his Lordship with unfeigned affection and offers of Honours with satisfaction of all his Losses If not to take warning before such a Day to prepare for his last for he would then take the Town and deny him Qâ—arter But before the Day intended even on Sunday morning Nevvs comes into the Church that tvvo Pinnaces six Gabbards three Frigots vvith a Shallop vvere safely arrived from Dublin vvithin the Bar laden vvith plentifull Relief for three Moneths and vvith a Prize also a Rebell Bark loaden vvith Herrings sailing to their Confederates Nay see the goodness of God to prevent Relief the Rebells had sunk another Bark in the Channel vvhich the Winde and Tide drove into the Sea and having alâ—o strongly chained together many Ship-masts with Timber bound up with a great Cable and supported by seven or eight great Boats cross the Channel the very day before the Relief burst in sunder of themselves with many the remarkable passages of Gods great mercy at that time A Bag of Pouder fired in one Gabbard scorched the faces of a few without more hurt and though the Enemy plaid their Shot on both sides the River not a man killed and with this small Fleet the Town was strengthened also with four Companies of fresh men making up the Lord Moor's Regiment complete And the whole Force of the Town was novv sixteen hundred Foot and an hundred and fifty Horse vvell furnished to look the Enemy in the face And their General O Neal that Sunday night making all the Force he could about evening applied his Scaling Ladders to the Wall and in special at one place near Saint Laurence Gate at a low private corner many Ladders were â—rought two of them presently fixed and mounted the Centinel missing Fire they advanced to the top where the Centinel knockt them down with the But end of his Musket and called to the Gunner who came conveniently to kill many and to make them fly and leave thirteen Ladders behinde the number of their Dead they dragged away and so not to be accounted but of the English not one With the Relief came a Proclamation from the State against those Rebells and was published wherein the Prizes for their Heads was assured for Neal's a thousand pounds Rely and others at eight hundred the rest at four hundred pounds which set the Souldiers in a heat to be at work for a Prize Then came several Messages and Letters from sundry Rebells of the North one Packet to the Lord Moor transcribed under his Sisters hand the Lady Blany their Prisoner with their Children and Sisters but no doubt of their inditing or correcting the same was an offer either of all their Prisoners in Ulster for the Lord Macquire now Prisoner at Dublin or else the Lady Blany with her Children and Sisters and other Gentlemen in or near the Castle of Moughan for two other of their Prisoners at Dublin for the soliciting of which was inclosed the Lady Blanies Petition to the Lords Justices with other private Letters from her to sundry of her Friends the Lord Moor and her Kinsmen All which after the reading of the Lord Moor were to be returned from whence they came We may not omit the memories of some treacherous base cruelties to their Prisoners the butchery of the Lord Calfield at Neal's own house to which as in favour he was removed and no sooner entered but was shot through the Back by a base Fellow The sudden hanging of Master Richard Blany for not going to Mass. Another of note enforced by torture to hear Mass and to receive their Sacrament being now they said well prepared for God bid him chuse his Engine an Halter or a Wieth by which they hanged him and so of many more Their drowning of five hundred English at Porta Down-bridg which for the stinck of the bodies is now câ—lled Down-sink Drowning others by hundreds poor miserable Women and Children At Newry they shipped two hundred packt into a rotten Vessel pretending to send them to Drogheda and being on ship-board took away Sails and Rudder and sent them to Sea to be cast away when the poor English had sweat in their Drudgery even to Death and done their Labour in hope of Mercy for their Reward had all their throats cut nay before their Death the Villains would wager which of their Companions could hack the deepest in their flesh and so killed them with wondrous wounds for sport and recreation It would weary the Reader to have Relations of thousands of such that no Heathen or Turkish stories can parallel But the Pinnaces unloaden of their welcome Burthens are sent back again for more supply when the Town issued out with two hundred and twenty Foot and an hundred and twenty Horse South-wards to Beanbeck burnt that and marched on to Smiths-Town and met with five Companies who instantly fled and in pursuit were slain three hundred two Colours taken by Major Fortescue and Captain Briar and hundred and sixty Cows The sight of thirty English Men and Women murdered in Ditches enraged these to revenge In this Encounter Sir Patrick Weyms commanded the Earl of Ormond's Troop and put Preston hard to it who left his Baggage good Booty and fled Amongst his Cloaths in a Portmantue were three Letters whereby appeared that the Lords Germanston and Trimelston and divers others were now discovered to be Traitours The Lord Moor and the Governour went out secured in much Corn by four Companies of Sir Iohn Burlace met with two Companies of Rebells against whom Captain Billingsley with eight Musketiers routed a Lieutenant with thirteen slain a Captain of Neal's taken Prisoner the rest escaped into Stanime the Castle of Calpe was taken and four and twenty therein put to the Sword Much Corn brought in daily some fresh
Provisions also from Sea and good success in all the Sallies made the Besiegers finde themselves besieged The Lord Moor would needs visit his own Rebell Tenants at Tallaghhallon protected by Callo Mac Brian he had but four hundred Foot and eighty Horse the Enemy were three for one whom Colonel Byron with the Foot attached but after the reply of the Rebells to three or four Ranks they fled four hundred men with seven Captains were slain Moyle Mac Moghan his Head valued in the Proclamation beyond his merit was taken Prisoner stripping himself naked was taken among the Dead sculking perswading himself that his Life should secure the Lady Blany and her Children not one of the English slain And the next day the Governour marched firing and pillaging round about the Enemy not appearing For the Rebell Generalissimo O Neal with all his Commanders were privately risen and gone leaving the Countrey to mercy and many of his secret Conspiratours in Tredagh to answer for all The Enemy now fled towards Dundalk and this Town now set open Gates and Ports for all the Countrey to come in with abundance of Provision to the refreshed Souldiers the 20. of March ending this year 1641. with News of their new Markets Eggs fifteen a Penny Hens two Pence a piece a milch Cow five Shillings twelve pence a good Horse Wheat the finest of eight Shillings a Barrel As the Enemy marched and fled they cut throats of all English Men Women and Children at Aberdee and Slane The Earl of Ormond Lieutenant General was marching to finde out an Enemy with three thousand Foot and five hundred Horse burning the County of Meath and so visited Drogheda which was now able to bid his Army welcome Here a Council of War was called the Lord Moor the Governour Sir Tichburn Sir Thomas Lucas Sir Simon Harcourt Sir Robert Ferrald with other Colonels and Captains resolved to pursue the Rebells but the Lord Ormond was called back by the Lords Justices to Dublin vvhich gave heart to the Rebells to gather again at Aberdee and Dundalk vvhither thousands resorted from all parts of Meath and Louth To unkennel them the Lord Moor marches out vvith a thousand Foot and tvvo hundred Horse tovvards Aberdee about a Mile from thence the Enemy appears in tvvo Divisions of tvvelve hundred a piece betvveen vvhom and the Tovvn a party of Horse gets and another party besides them and a Bog a Forlorn of an hundred scoured some Ditches stumbled on an Ambuscado beat them out and fell upon their Body vvho fled and four hundred slain but if my Intelligence and Authours tell truth here as in many the like Defeats not a man of the English slain sometimes for hundreds of the Rebells and here as it is recorded not one man lost onely an Horse-man shot in the Heel and an Horse in the Hoof. It may be supposed that the Protestants are partial to themselves but in assurance to the contrary take this for truth the Rebells naturally traiterous to their Sovereigns treacherous to each other their falsity brings them to covvardice and fear makes them cruel vvhere they prevail But on they go the English burning all about and marched tovvards Dundalk the Receptacle of Magazine and place of Protection for the County Provisions vvhich vvas assaulted the next Day fortified vvith double Walls double Ditches Marshes on the one side and the Sea on the other The next morning all the poor Protestant Prisoners vvere clapped up close vvith an intent to have hanged them all if the Tovvn came to hazzard The English approached about nine of the clock in the Morning their Ordnance planted upon a small Hill not far from the Gate vvhich vvere manned vvith five hundred men the Protestants Forlorn Hope of an hundred gave fire to the Gate vvere beaten avvay but came again a Division of three hundred commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Waiman began to pick-ax the Wall vvho fired the Defendants and entered the Breach the Horse follovving upon the Spur but made a Stand against three Brass Pieces maintained by five hundred men and therefore the Assailants retired but out of a small Castle they slevv ten of the English and three Officers and an Horse-man and here also was Ensign Fortescue eldest Son to Sir Faithfull Fortescue slain a hopefull Gentleman and the first of that Rank lost in any Fight But it was no time to delay having won the out-Town then fired all the houses about that Castle carrying the smoak and fire to the very Tower and Castle and so undescried got under the Walls to the very Gate blew it open and those within choaked and fired leaped out at the Windows A Serjeant with five men by promise of Pillage enter and were Masters of the Castle and thirty good Musketiers manned the Streets drew up Ordnance against the inner Gate and with ten Wool-packs ready in the Castle with which making a kinde Defence the Enemy fled leaving their Guns loaden Their Generalissimo O Neal now in the Town stole away with others over the River Tichburn enters killing all before him and sends to the Lord Moor that the Town was deserted who entered another way and were Masters of all by seven a clock at night above an hundred slain and of the Assailants but fourteen But by this O Neal had fled to Bally Muscomilen a Castle of the Lord Moor's and in revenge burnt it This Victory was the Break-neck of the Rebellion Northwards And the Lord Moor had Commission from the Lords Justices to be Governour thereof In this time Captain Gibson commanding the Garrison at Bewby harrased the Countrey killed many Straglers so that the whole Countrey lay at the Protestants mercy And thus far we have proceeded in the intire story of the Irish Rebellion for this year But we must look back to England and see what they did here from the Kings return out of Scotland the latter end of November 1641. The King returns from Scotland magnificently feasted by the City of London and he at Hampton Court caresses them with a Banquet and dubbed divers Aldermen into the honour of Knighthood but how well they deserved forthwith we shall finde their merit The King convenes both Houses and the second of December tells them in effect That although he had staid longer than he expected four Moneths yet he kept his word in making so much haste back again as his Scotish affairs could any way permit In which he hath had so good success that he hath left that Nation a most peaceable and contented People but he is assured that his expectation is much deceived in the condition wherein he hoped to have business at his return for since that before his going he had settled the Liberties of his Subjects and gave the Laws their liberty he expected to have his People reaping the fruit by quietness But he findes them distracted with Iealousies and Allarms of Designs and Plots That Guards have been set to defend both Houses He
denie Yet so tender I see some men are of their being subject to Arbitrarie Government that is the Law of anothers will to which themselves give no consent that they care not with how much Dishonour and Absurditie they make the King the onely man that must be subject to the will of others without having power left him to use his own Reason either in person or by anie Representation And if my Dissentings aâ— anie time were as some have suspected and uncharitably avowed out of errour opinionativeness weakness or wilfulness and what they call Obstinacie in me which not true judgment of things but some vehement prejudice or passion hath fixed on my minde yet can no man think it other than the Badg and Method of Slaverie by savage rudeness and importunate obtrusions of violence to have the mist of his errour and passion dispelled which is a shadow of Reason and must serve those that are destitute of the substance Sure that man cannot be blameable to God or Man who seriously endeavours to see the best reason of things and faithfully follows what he takes for Reason The uprightness of his intentions will excuse the possible failings of his understanding If a Pilot at Sea cannot see the Pole-star it can be no fault in him to steer his course by such Stars as do best appear to him It argues rather those men to be conscious of their Defects of Reason and convincing Arguments who call in the assistance of meer force to carrie on the weakness of their Counsels and Proposals I may in the truth and uprightness of my heart protest before God and Men that I never wilfully opposed or denied anie thing that was in a fair way after full and free Debates propounded to me by the two Houses further than I thought in good Reason I might and was bound to do Nor did anie thing ever please me more than when my Iudgment so concurred with theirs that I might with good Conscience consent to them yea in many thing where not absolute and moral necessitie of Reason but temporarie convenience in point of Honour was to be considered I chose rather to denie my self than them as preferring that which they thought necessarie for my Peoples good before what I saw but convenient for my self For I can be content to recede much from mine own Interests and personal Rights of which I conceive my self to be Master but in what concerns Truth Iustice the Rights of the Church and my Crown together with the general good of my Kingdoms which I am bound to preserve as much as morally lies in me here I am and ever shall be fixt and resolute nor shall any man gain my consent to that wherein my Heart gives my Tongue or Hand the Lie nor will I be brought to affirm that to men which in my Conscience I denie before God I will rather chuse to wear a Crown of Thorns with my Saviour than to exchange that of Gold which is due to me for one of Lead whose embased flexibleness shall be forced to bend and complie to the various and oft-contrarie Dictates of anie Factions when in stead of Reason and publick concernments they obtrude nothing but what makes for the Interest of parties and flows from the partialittes of private Wills and Passions I know no Resolutions more worthie a Christian King than to prefer his Conscience before his Kingdoms And now the King is pleased to give the like Answer to the Buckingham Petition as was his late Message to the Parliament to which he refers them and therein so to proceed against the five Members as that it shall appear he had sufficient cause to question however he conceives that their Crimes cannot reflect upon those good Subjects that elected Master Hambden or the others to serve in Parliament But the Parliament in some doubt of the issue and effect of the Kings Design at Windsor and not willing to trust him in Arms before they might be as ready to encounter upon information of Troops of Horse to be gathered by the Lord Digby and Colonel Lunsford at Kingston where the County Magazine is lodged They order that the Sheriffs of the several Counties of England and Wales with the assistance of the Justices of Peace and the Trained Bands shall suppress all unlawfull Assemblies and that they take care to secure the Counties and their Magazines in them and to be published in all Market-towns Iune 14. And Lunsford was seized and sent to the Tower but Digby escaped beyond Seas All that the King could do to appease the wrath of the Parliament concerning the impeached Members by waving all Proceedings and no doubt quite declining away further prosecution This not satisfying to their spirits and the Court removed to Roiston the Commons fall upon the Attourney General Sir Edward Herbert being summoned to appear at the Lords Bar he is interrogated by a Committee of Commons Question Whether he did contrive frame or advise the said seven Articles against the impeached Members Answer He did not in any of the three or all Question Do you know the truth of these Articles or anie of them or by Information Answer He knows nothing of the truth nor was informed but by his Master the King Question Will you make good these Articles if required by course of Law Answer He cannot otherwise than the King shall command and enable him Question From whom had you these Articles and by whose advice did you exhibit them Answer It was the Kings express command from whose hand he received them Question Whether had you any Testimonie or Proof of these Article before the exhibiting of them Answer For the exhibiting he had the Kings command To which Answer Serjeant Wilde replied The House of Commons desires to know whether you had any Proof or Testimonie or any Information of any Proof of them Answer To this he desired time to consider in regard of a Trust between a Master and Servant This not yet satisfactory because so general the House of Commons resolve That he hath broken the Privilege of Parliament in preferring the Articles illegal and he is criminous and that a Charge be sent up to the Lords against him for satisfaction of this great Scandal unless by Thursday next he prove the Articles against any of them Jan. 15. The Parliament finding the King in good earnest and resolving to hasten the business to an issue and therefore both Houses petition him to give end to their humble Desires either to discharge the accused Members or to proceed judicially against them according to the Privilege and use of Parliament in such Cases observed and this was posted to him by the Earl of Newport and the Lord Seymer Ian. 21. The King by Letter returns Answer That finding his first mistake in the way of his proceeding which hath caused some Delaies for to be informed in what order to put the same and till then he thinks not fit to discover his
the Kings Answers unsatisfactory And that the Kingdom be put into a posture of Defence in such a way as is agreed upon by Parliament and a Committee to prepare a publick Declaration from these two Heads 1. The just causes of the Fears and Iealousies given to the Parliament and to clear them from any Iealousies conceived against them 2. To consider of all matters arising from his Majesties Message and what is fit to be done A man would wonder upon what grounds they should arm by Sea and Land specially so hastily resolved as the next day March 2. Advertisements they say of extraordinary preparations by the neighbouring Princes both by Land and Sea the intentions whereof are so represented as to raise a just apprehension of sudden Danger to the King and his Kingdoms unless the wisdom of Parliament prevent it And therefore the Earl of Northumberland Admiral of England is commanded with all speed to order the Rigging of the Kings Ships and fit them immediately for the Sea And to frighten us into fear all Masters and Owners of Ships are perswaded to do the like for the emergent occasions of publick Defence In order to these the Beacons were new made up Sea-marks set up such riding posting with Pacquets whispering and Tales telling as put the people in fear of they knew not what wise men onely told the Truth discovering the Enemy wholly at home I have been as brief as may be in the business of this year and yet to satisfie the curious I cannot omit all the occasions of this miserable Eruption which follows presuming yet that this Declaration designed may be spared the recording for certainly no new matter can be invented and what hither to hath been the cause the Reader has leave to judg But not to amuse your imaginations it self must satisfie the Declaration was born to Roiston by the Earls of Pembroke and Holland He who read it to the King this Lord being raised and created to become his most secret Counsellour the most intimate in affection the first of his Bed-chamber his constant companion in all his sports and recreations even in that place and to this hour At the sight of him the Kings countenance me thought mixed into compassion and disdain as who should as Caesar did Et tu mi fili But on he went to this effect March 9. The manifold Attempts to provoke your Majesties late Armie and the Scots Armie and to raise a Faction in London and other parts the Actours having their dependence countenance and encouragement from the Court witness Jermin's Treason who was transported beyond Sea by your Majesties Warrant and that dangerous Petition delivered to Captain Leg by your Majesties own Hand with a Direction signed C. R. The false and scandalous Accusation against the Lord Kimbolton and the five Members Plotting and designing a Guard about your person labouring to infuse into the people an ill opinion of the Parliament as if to raise Arms for a Civil War in which Combustion Ireland would be lost That the Lord Digby was sent to Sir John Pennington to be landed beyond Sea to vent his traiterous conceptions for the King to retire to some place of strength offering to correspond by cyphers with the Queen as if to procure some forreign Forces to assist your Majestie answerable to your remove with the Prince as in a readiness for the acting of it Manifold Advertisements which they have from Rome Venice Paris and other parts expecting the effects of the Kings Design to alter Religion and ruine the Parliament That the Popes Nuntio hath solicited the Kings of France and Spain to lend his Majesty four thousand Men a plece to help to maintain his Royalty against the Parliament And this foreign Force the most pernicious and malignant Design of all the rest so they hope it is from his thoughts Because no man will easily believe you will give up your People and Kingdom to be spoiled by strangers if you did not likewise intend to change both your own profession in Religion and the publick profession of the Kingdom that so you might be more assured of these foreign States of the Popish Religion for the future support and defence They â—eseech his Majesty to consider how fair a way he hath to happiness honour greatness plenty security if he would but joyn with his Parliament and people in defence of the Religion and Kingdom This is all they expect from him and for which they shall return their Lives Fortunes and utmost Endeavours to support him and Sovereignty And for the present have but onely this to desire To turn away his wicked Counsellours and put his trust in Parliament At the reading of that part which mentioned Master Iermin's transportation by his Majesties Warrant the King interrupted him and said That 's false And at the business of Captain Leg he told him 'T is a Lie And at the end of all he said He was confident the Parliament had worse information than he had Councils What have I denied you The Militia said Holland That 's no Bill The other replied It was necessary Which I have not denied but in the manner His Lordship would perswade the King to come near the Parliament Have you given me cause said the King This Declaration is not the way to it and in all Aristotle's Rhetoricks there is no such Argument of perswasion Pembroke that he might say something said it over again The Parliament prays him to come to them The King told him Words were not sufficient What would you have Sir said he The King replied To whip a Boy in Westminster School that could not tell that by my Answer Then the Lord asked him to grant the Militia for a time Not an hour this was never asked of any King with which I will not trust my Wife and Children But his Majesties Answer to all was this That to their Fears and Iealousies he would take time to satisfie all the World hoping that God would in his good time discover the secrets and bottoms of all Plots and Treasons to set him upright with his people For his Fears and Doubts are not trivial while so many scandalous Pamphlets seditious Sermons sundry Tumults publick are uninquired into and unpunished He must confess his Fears calling God to witness they are the greater for the Religion for his people and for their Laws than for his own Rights or safetie of himself and yet he tells them none of these are free from Danger What would you have said he Have I violated your Laws Have I denied any one Bill What have ye done for me Have my people been transported with Fears and Apprehensions I have I offer a free pardon as your selves can devise There is a Iudgment from Heaven upon this Nation if these Distractions continue God so deal with me and mine as all my thoughts and intentions are right for the maintenance of the true Protestant profession the observation and preservation of
proclames that by the last Act of this Parliament concerning Tunnage and Poundage It is there provided that no penalty in that Act or in 1 Iac. shall ensue to any person unless they refuse to compound for any Goods imported or exported after notice given of the same by Proclamation where the said Goods are to be entered And now declares that they pay the said Tunnage and Poundage as by the said Acts are expressed c. at York March 24. with which we end our English affairs for this year The Earl of Northumberland being Admiral and indisposed the King had commanded Sir Iohn Pennington Vice-admiral to take the charge of this Summer Fleet for the Narrow Seas and the Parliament as earnestly recommend the Earl of Warwick for that service inclosing their Message in a piece of Paper within a Letter to the Lord Keeper Littleton of the 28. of March neither by way of Petition Declaration or Letter it being also the first time that ever they took upon them the nomination or recommendation of the chief Sea-commanders and it adds to the wonder being that Sir Iohn Pennington was already appointed by the King for that service and indeed by mediation of the Admirals infirmity without any fault of exception And although he were not appointed nor through some accident might not be able to perform that service yet others of the same profession are so well known to the King that the recommendations of that kinde would not be acceptable and so was the Earl of Warwick absolutely refused The Assizes holden at York and the Gentry Ministers and Free-holders being assembled they most humbly shew to the Kings most excellent Majesty their souls piercing anguish proceeding from the general Distractions of this Kingdom somewhat eased by the comfort of his presence and gracious confidence in the affections of this County Yet the fellow-feeling of the passionate sorrow of the other parts of this Kingdom do inforce them after the tender of their Lives and Fortunes for the safety of his Person Crown and Sovereignty to follow that sacrifice of duty with their Prayer and Petition which shall not cry for help of particular Distractions naming all they could reckon up since his own Declaration in those particulars renders it an unpardonable crime in them to supect his words sacred before God and man But emboldened by the Oracle of Truth that a divided Kingdom cannot stand and his Majesty best acquainted with the means of prevention of danger that he will please to declare the Expedients which may take away all misunderdings betwixt him and his great Council to whom they will also address their endeavours to beget in the King a confidence in their Councils and blessed union necessary to this perplexed Kingdom April 5. To this so humble and hearty Address the King could not hold off their Expectations but suddenly told Mr. Sheriff and the Gentlemen that he believed they expected not a present Answer onely in the general and upon the sudden he sees he is not mistaken in the confidence of their affections nor will he deceive their expectation from him He observes their Petition modest not for themselves in particular and therefore he puts them in minde of three things for their good 1. He will reduce their Trained Bands into a lesser number as they shall shew him the way 2. To advise him to complie with the engagements for to pay them their Arrears for Billet-money and had the Water gone to the right Mill they had not wanted it now 3. For the Court-judicature of York of which he assures them he knows no legal dissolution thereof nothing as yet appears to him directly or indirectly so that it is but shaken not dissolved and if they shall advise the way of setlement thereof for the Northern parts they shall not blame him if they fail and refers them to a day or two for a full answer to all And assured them That as to the Praier of their Petition which included the rest the onely way of good understandings is for the Parliament to consider of his Message the twentieth of January last that the Militia be setled by Act of Parliament explained in his Answer to their Petition of the six and twentieth of March last and wishes them in those to applie to the Parliament for the good of all c. April 7. The King most intent to reduce Ireland by his Message to the Houses offers his own person with these Propositions That he intends to raise his Guard by Commissions out of the Counties near Chester two thousand Foot and two hundred Horse to be there armed from his Magazine at Hull and those to take the Oath of Supremacie and Allegiance The charge of raising and paying them shall be added to the Parliaments undertakings for that War which if too great the King will sell or pawn his Land or Houses Towards which as he hath already writ to Scotland to quicken their Levies for Ulster so he wishes the Parliament to hasten theirs for Munster and Connaught And hath prepared a Bill by his Atturney concerning the Militia for the good of all if received if refused he calls God and the World to judg between them To this the Parliament never returned answer But before the ninth of April some Members of the Commons House had subscribed in pursuance of the Act of Parliament for the reducing the Rebells of Ireland and subsigned unto sixty thousand four hundred and fifty pounds but how or when paid I do not finde The County of Bucks lend freely six thousand pounds upon the said Act for Ireland with great thanks to that County and with promise of very high acceptation if other Counties will part with their moneys so freely which shall be repaid them out of the Bill of four hundred thousand pounds to be raised for that service but how or when repaid I finde not The Parliament apprehending the Kings desire to lay hold on the Magazine at Hull pretend great necessity of Arms and Ammunition at the Tower of London being much diminished from thence by Supplies to Ireland and desire to have it lodged here in more safety than Hull and with easier transport for Ireland And to sweeten it to the peoples apprehension this Petition is accompanied with a charitable Prayer that the Reprieve of six Priests in New-gate may be taken off and they executed This Design concerning Hull presaged the cause of much mischief the ground of war and the first eminent effects of their power in the Militia and therefore the King returns to them a sharp Answer Rather to have an Account from them why a â—arison was placed there without his consent and Souldiers billeted without Law and express words of the Petition of Right than to be moved to remove his Magazine without reason or judgment He would know why his own inclination on the general rumour of Papists was not as sufficient for him to put the
without the Kings consent were to introduce an Arbitrary Government to which he will never permit The King therefore having by his Proclamation the seven and twentieth of May last prohibited all persons upon their Allegeance to Muster Levy or summon without his consent by warrant or writ from his great seal And that antiently by Statute 5 H. 4. and by subsequent Records his Predecessors have exercised the power of the Militia by Commissions of Array therefore He thinks fit so to do Authorizing you or any three or more of you to Array and Train his people whereof you the Earl of Huntington and in youâ— absence William Earl of Devon or Henry Hastings Esq to be one That for the present you cause to be mustered all the ancient Trained Bands and Freehold Bands of the County and over them to appoint Colonels Captains and Officers Issue warrants for Assembling the people for discharge of that service of all which He expects a plenary accompt The Commission was directed to the Earls of Huntington and Devon Henry Hastings his son Henry Berkley George Villierâ— Thomas Burton Baronets Henry Skipwith Iohn Shepington and Richard Halford Knights and Baronets Wolston Dixey Richard Roberts Iohn Bole Thomas Harlop Erasmus De la fountain and William Iones Knights Henry Hastings George Ashley and Iohn Hate Esqs and to the Sheriff of Leicester-Shire to the same effect as aforesaid the twelfth of Ianuary 18 Car. per ipsum Regem Willis The Parliament ponder hereupon and after serious debate for it much concerned They resolved upon the Question That this Commission was against Law the liberty and property of the Subject And that the Actors therein shall be esteemed disturbers of the Peace and betrayers of the Subjects Lâ—bertie The twentieth of January The King goes on Summons his Lords and his Privy Council attending him at York and declares That He will not require any obedience from them but by the Law of the Land Nor that they yield to any Commands not legally imposed by any other That he will defend them and all others from such Commands and from Votes and Orders of Parliament and defend the true protestant Religion the Lawful liberty of the subject and the just priviledges of the three Estates of Parliament and according as he performs so he expects further Obedience That He will not â—ngage them in any war against the Parliament except for necessary defence against such as invade him or them On which they ingage to him their duty Allegeance in the like answer subscribed by all present which we shall record to posterity for their Loyalty then and of some of their defection after Lord Keeper Littleton Duke of Richmond Marquess Harford The Earls of Lindsey Cumberland Huntington Bath Southampton Dorset Salisbury Northampton Devonshire Cambridge Bristol Westmerland Barkshire Monmouth Rivers Newcastle Dover Carnarvan Newport The Lords of Mowbray and Matravers Willoughby of Ersby Richard Howard of Charlton Newark Paget Chandos Fawconbridge Pawlet Lovâ—lace Savile Coventry Mohun Duâ—smore Saymour Grey of Ruthen Capel Falkland Master controller Secretary Nicholas the Chancellor of the Exchequer Chief Justice Banks The King sends his Letters to the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Sheriffs of London Commanding them not to levy Arms nor raise mony upon pretâ—nce of a Guard to the Parliament But if they shall lend money towards the relief of Ireland as he hath don however the mony be disposed or towards the paiment of his Scots Subjects he shall esteem it an acceptable service if otherwise he shall take it as contempt to him and his authority and shall be compelled â—o question their Chartâ— therein And publishes a General Declaration That having these last seven Moneths met with so many several encounters of strange and unusual Declarations of Parliament He is not amazed with any new Prodigy of that kind and their last of the six and twentieth of May gave warning that they having spent their stock of reproachful language upon Him He was to expect they should now break out into disloyal actions for by that they divested Him of his Authority and assumed it to themselves and now they put forth the fruits of that supream power by their propositions for raising forces under pretence of preserving peace for defence of the King deceiving the People as if the danger were great and he consulted therein Sums up the Parliaments ridiculous devised fears and Jelousies Protests his former and still unshaken Resolutions for Peace for Religion for the Laws and for the Subjects Liberties Advising them not to contribute their power and assistance to ruine Him and themselves satisfies them in all the causeless and groundless scandalous Rumors and Reputations raised against his person and Honour And so excites all his loving Subjects according to their Oaths of Allegeance and Supremacy their Vow and Protestation to contribute their best assistance for the opposing and suppressing of the Trayteâ—ous attempts of such persons as would destroy his Person Honour and Estate and engage the Kingdom in a Civil war He declaring that whoever shall bring into him Money or Ammunition Horse or Arms for his or the publique defence shall receive 8. 1. per cent consideration and shall receive good assurance of the principal and interest upon his Forest Lands Parks and Houses better he saith than the security of the onely name Publique faith All the said Lords subsigning to a Profession disavowing any Preparations or Intentions of war against the Parliament but only endeavouring the firm and constant Parliament of Religion and Laws of peace and prosperity of this Kingdom And by publique Proclamation forbids all Levies of forces without his express pleasure and all contributions or assistance to any such Levies These statutes in force impowring the King and no other to raâ—se Arms as 7 Edw. 1. The statute of Northampton 2 Edw. 3. That in the 11 of Rich. 2. He being under age the Duke of Glocester and other Lords upon pretence for the King raised forces and subdued their adversaries they procured a special Act of pardon for it In the Reign of H. 8. the Earl of Shrewsbury to suppress a suddain Rebellion did without the Kings warrant raise Arms and Mastered the Traytors yet was forced to obtain his Pardon By the Statute 25 of Edw. 3. It is Treason to Levy war against the King in his Realm It was the case of the Earl of Essex upon pretence of but removing some ill Councellors about Queen Elizabeth and adjudged Treason It is the present excuse of the Irish Rebels for defence of the Kings authority and of his Kingdome Wat Tyler Iack Cade and Kit the Tayler wanted not such publique pretences which were perhaps just causes of complaints though not of raising Men. Then to the Parliaments distinction betwixt the Kings person and his authority and so his person at York but his Authority in Parliament See Cook 7 Rep. Coloins case The Oath of allegeance by the Common
to the King disarmed the wel-affected to the King in that Town And that the Earl of Warwick contrary to the Kings command under his hand being legally discharged of any conduct of his Majesties Ships hath taken upon him to dispossess the King of his Navy and imployed them against him and imprisoned divers of his Majesties loyal Officers and Subjects And therefore the King is resolved with Gods assistance to force Hotham and all other his Assistants in this his treasonable defence and invites all his good Subjects to assist him in this his resolution Dated at Beverley the eighth of Iuly Three daies after the Parliament Resolve That an Army shall be raised for defence of King and Parliament and of all such as obey the orders of both Houses That the Earl of Essex shall be the general and they to live and dy with him and that a petition should be sent to the King by the Earl of Holland Sir Iohn Holland and Sir William Stapleton to Beverley and that the Earl of Bedford be General of the Horse which so troubled the Earl of Holland who was refused upon voting that it was never digested Indeed the Parliament were wary not to intrust two Brothers with Land and Sea service together The effect of their petition was to pray the King to disband all his forces which are reckoned up to be about Hull and from Newcastle Tynmouth Lincoln and Lincoln-shire to recall his Commissioners of Array and to dismiss his guards and come to his People and Parliament and hearken to their advice and then what they will do for him The King might smile at this and therefore tells them They were never unhappy in their Petitions and supplications whilst they desired the preservation of Religion the Kings Honour and the peace of the Kingdome But after their martial designs and some proceedings and effects of their forces and after their votes and raising of an Army their Generals assigned and possessing his Navy to advise him to denude himself and wait upon them is pitiful councel to which he will not submit The Parliament provide for the sinews of war to that end they declare for Lone of Money upon publique faith of the Parliament upon which and the Ministers invitations the best part of their preachings turned into perswasions and prayers to the people for their contributions and assistance that it became incredible what a mass of money plate and Ammunition was presented even at the Parliaments feet from the golden cupbords of vessels to the Kitchen-maids silver bodkins and Thimble The King had some help from the diligent indeavours of the Queen beyond Seas and out of Holland upon the pawned Jewels and at home contributions of the Lords and Gentry Loyal to his service for what was publique he gives thanks To the Vice-chancellor and all other his Loyal Subjects of the university of Oxford for the free Loan of a very considerable sum of money in this his time of so great and eminent necessity shall never depart out of his royal memory Nor is it reasonable to deny them a memorable Record for ever which in duty to them I may not do Beverley 18. Iuly From thence the King removes to Leicester summons the appearance of the Gentlemen Free-holders and Inhabitants of that County telling them of the acceptable welcome he hath found in these Northern parts finding that the former errours of his good Subjects thereabout have proceeded by mistakes and misinformatioâ—s proceeding from the deceits used by Declarations and publications of the Parliament pretended for the peace of the Kingdom which rather would destroy it To prevent their mischief he needs not ask their assistance of Horse Men Money and Hearts worthy such a Cause in which he will live and die with them Iuly 20. The Earl of Stamford Lord Lieutenant of the County of Leiceister for the Parliament had removed the County Magazine from the Town to his own house at Bradgate over which he had set a Guard or Garison against the Kings command for which he and his Adherents are by name proclaimed Traitours which troubled the Parliament and discouraged their party untill they were vindicated by a publick Declaration that being for the service of the Parliament and the peace of the Kingdom it was an high Breach of Privilege in the King and that the said Earl and his Assistants are protected by them and all good Subjects The first of August brings the King back again to Yorkshire where he summons the Gentlemen of that County tells them the forward preparations of the Parliament to a War and desires their advice what Propositions they conceive for them to ask and he to grant in reference to their and his safety and for the present desires them to spare him some Arms out of their store which shall be redelivered when his provisions shall come thither and that his Son Prince Charls his Regiment for the Guard of his person under the command of the Earl of Cumberland may be compleated The Parliament declare for the raising of all power and force by Trained Bands and otherwise to lead against all Traitours and their Adherents that oppose the Parliament and them to slay and kill as Enemies to the State and peace of the Kingdom naming such of the Kings party that were his Lieutenants of Array of the Northern Counties viz. the Earl of Northampton the Lord Dunsmore Lord Willoughby of Eresby Son to the Earl of Lindsey Henry Hastings and others of the Counties of Lincoln Nottingham Leicester Warwick Oxfordshire And for the Western Counties the Marquess Hertford the Lord Paulet Lord Seymer Sir Iohn Stowel Sir Ralph Hopton and Iohn Digby and others in the County of Somerset And to oppose these and others the Parliament doth authorize the Earl of Essex the General as also these to be the Lieutenants of several Counties viz. the Lord Say of Oxon the Earl of Peterborough of Northampton Lord Wharton of Buckingham Earl of Stamford of Leicester Earl of Pembroke of Wiltshire and Hampshire Earl of Bedford of Somersetshire and Devon Lord Brook of Warwick Lord Cranborn of Dorsetshire Lord Willoughby of Parrham of Lincolnshire Denzil Hollis of the City and County of Bristol And thus ranked they are to kill and â—lay their Enemies August 8. And the King traceth them in these steps replies to theirs and will justifie the quarrel and for that purpose published his Proclamation against the Earl of Essex the General that he is Rebell and Traitour to the King and his Crown and all Colonels and Officers under him that shall not instantly lay down are guilty of high Treason And because of their two particular Designs to march Northward against the King and others Westward to seize and force the Garison and Fort of Portsmouth therefore he commands Colonel Goring his Captain Governour there to oppose the Rebells And commands his Cousin and Counsellour William Marquess Hertford his Lieutenant General of
imaginations concluding against a malignant party the prevalency of the Bishops and popish Lords into which number all those are cast who dissent from any propositions made by the House of Commons which Remonstrance was presented to the Lords and debated from ten in the forenoon till three a clock the next morning and so wearied into a Vote by eleven Voices and published to stop the current of the peoples affections and duty to their Sovereign and presented to him at Hampton Court The peoples mindes and affection thus shaken perplexed their next work was to get such a power into their hands as might govern and dispose those affections To which purpose they had several Debates in the diminution of the Office and Authority of the Lords Lieuts their Deputies of the respective Counties as not agreeable to Law so to provide for the safety of the Kingdom another way A double end they had therein to force such Officers to comply with them in their Votes lest they should be questioned for former execution of that place and indeed all other Officers upon the like score and so to unsetle the Militia thereby the more easily to bring it to their Governance and thereupon to place a General at land and an Admiral at Sea by Act of Parliament independent of any supreme power and a prepardon for what they should act as it was after digested into their new Generals Commission and the pretended Ordinance to the Earl of Warwick Thus they got power in the Commons House and endeavour to do the same in the Upper House prevailing upon the hopes and fears of such as might that way be dealt with witness that insolent Speech of Mr. Pym to the Earl of Dover That if he looked for any preferment he must complie with them in their ways and not hope to have it by serving the King Then they take away the Votes of Bishops by Bill to which many consented as hoping that the fury of that Faction which pursued an absolute destruction of Ecclesiastical Government would be thereby abated and yet whilest it halted with the Lords the House of Commons resort to the people training them down to Westminster in multitudes with swords and clubs and oftentimes sending for them to countenance their Debates the particulars whereof the King says he can prove The King in these straits was resolved that nothing in that House should provoke hâ—m till time and the experience of good men should discover their purposes yet the Tumults grew so dangerous that the Lords desired several Conferences for suppressing them but were told by some Members of the Commons That they must not discourage their Friends this being a time to make use of them And Mr. Pym said God forbid that we should proceed in any way to dishearten people to obtain their just desires Himself and those other persons accused of Treason by great incouragement had sent for those multitudes to come in that manner and though a Writ was issued out by the Judges to hinder those Tumults in obedience to which the Constables were appointed by the Justices to attend the performance and this Watch was by the House of Commons voted a Breach of their privilege the Watch was thereupon discharged and the Justice sent to the Tower The like Tumult was at Southwark by an Assembly of Sectaries who were legally proceeded against as a Riot this was complained of to the House of Commons and there excused That they met to draw a Petition against Bishops so that those Officers that prosecuted the Riot were held Friends to Bishops and the Under Sheriff of Surrey was enjoyned not to proceed against them or any other who should meet to subscribe Petitions by which pretence any Disorders might be secure above the reach of Law or justice whereupon followed those most unsufferable Tumults and Disorders at White-hall and Westminster against whom the Bishops protest as not being able to attend the House of Lords and are therefore accused of high Treason by the House of Commons and committed to the Tower by the Lords And because the King got a Guard for securing of his person the Queen and their Children it was forthwith published That he meant some Design against the Citie of London and thereupon followed such a general distraction such a defection of Allegeance in the people such a damp of Trade in the City and so horrid a confusion in the Church and all this to satisfie their own private ends Hereupon to undeceive the people the King prepared and published his Answer to their Remonstrance of the state of the Kingdom And then that he might manifest their Actions he resolved to accuse the Lord Kimbolton and the five Members of high Treason and what his proceedings have been therein he refers to his Declaration of the nineteenth of May and what followed after as in the story before is mentioned And so Tumults increasing the King was enforced to retire and secure himself and Family at Hampton Court with the persons of some of the neighbour Gentry which was voted to be a gathering of Troops of Horse in a warlike manner to the terrour and affright of the Kings good Subjects and so compelled the King to remove to Windsor Castle And to keep the people in an Allarm and Sir Walter Earl the Discoverer of I know not what Plots and Designs ridiculous against the Parliament and City Then the King discovers all the politick practices of the House of Commons to prevent any recommendatory Letters of the Lords for Elections of Members in void places and he must be sure to be of their own choice and as often are they refused however duly elected if they prove not for their party and as cunningly they intend to conquer all those whom they could conclude obnoxious to the justice of the Parliament with terrible Votes against such Lords as had concurred in such an Order at the Council Table or Censure in Star-chamber and against Lords Lieutenants or the Deputies for raising Coat and Conduct-money all Sheriffs for Ship-money all Lords for Monopolies or illegal Patents and so by those terrifyings they brought all persons or Members of either House compliable to their Faction or to have an Inquisition of his whole life to bring him into question Then to encourage their Faction they declare That what disservice any one had done formerly his present actions bringing benefit to their Common-wealth he ought not now to be questioned They had several baits to catch and betray other men such as were slack as conscious to withdraw from their subtilties they would perswade to go on being so far in as would be dangerous to retire that the King would never forget it and therefore to secure themselves they must weaken the King and bring him to such a condition as not to be in his power to suppress them To such as would in truth reason and conscience acknowledg the justness and integrity of the Kings preceding
favour and grace by many Acts they would devise their Reasons of fear That he meant never to observe them To others that were deterred to consider the effects of abusing so gracious a Sovereign they would perswade them That those about the King could work him to their wills Then they get all the Militia and power of the Kingdom into their hands garison Hull and Hotham their Governour there and the Tower of London brought under subjection of one of their own and so with continual vexations caused the King to withdraw his person and to secure the Queen to pass beyond the Seas and himself to retire towards the North. What hath happened since his coming to York is so notorious as with amazement to all parts of Christendom to see the wisdom courage affection and loyalty of the English Nation so far shrunk and confounded by malice cunning industry of persons contemptible in number inconsiderable in fortune and reputation united onely by guilt and conspiracy against the King Treason licensed in Pulpits persons ignorant in learning seditious in disposition scandalous in life unconformable to Laws are the onely men recommended to authority and poweâ— to impoison the mindes of the multitude The Kings goods money and what not seized from him and to make the scorn compleat he must be perswaded That all is done for his good Opinions and Resolutions imposed upon him by Votes and Declarations That the King intends to levie war and then Arms are taken up to destroy him All Actions of his for his advantage are straightway voted illegal All the great Officers of State coming to the King are pursued with Warrants to all Mayors Justices Sheriffs and others to apprehend them compelling the Countries to take Arms against the King His Ships are taken from him and the Earl of Warwick made Admiral in despite of the King And after all this Mr. Martin should say That the Kings Office is forfeitable and the happiness of the Kingdom does not depend on him or any of the regal Branches of that stock And Sir Henry Ludlow should say That the King was not worthy to be King of England and that he hath no Negative Voice that he is fairly dealt with that he is not deposed that if they did that there would be neither want of modestie or dutie in them They publish scandalous Declarations commit his great Officers for doing their duties Raise an Army and chuse the Earl of Essex General with power to kill and slay whom he list They convert the Money given by Act of Parliament for the Discharge of the Kingdoms Debts and for Relief of Ireland and all to serve their turn to war against the King Commit those Lords that are loyal degrade nine Lords at a clap for coming to the King Take Tunnage and Poundage without the Kings consent But can the Nobility Gentry Clergy and Commonalty of England sacrifice their Honour Interest Religion Liberty to the meer sound of a Parliament and Privilege Can their experience Reason and Understanding be captivated by words And then he sums up many of his graces favours freedoms to them and the people And yet into what a Sea of Bloud is the Rage and Fury of these men lanching out to wâ—est that from him which he is bound to defend How have the Laws of Hospitality civility been violated discourses whispers in conversation been examined and persons committed and so kept during pleasure His and the Queens Letters broken open read publickly and commented upon that Christendom abhors to correspond with us Crimes are pretended against some men and they removed for others to be preferred If Monopolies have been granted to the prejudice of the people the calamity will not be less if it be exercised by a good Lord by a Bill now then it was before by a Patent And yet the Earl of Warwick thinks fit to require the Letter Office to be confirmed to him for three Lives at the same time that it is complained of as a Monopoly and without the alteration of any circumstance for the ease of the Subject and this with so much greediness and authority that whilest it was complained of as a Monopoly he procured an Assignment to be made of it to him from the person complained of after he had by his interest stopped the proceedings of the Committee for five Moneths before the Assignment made to him upon pretence that he was concerned in it and desired to be heard And the King concludes all with this Protestation That his quarrel is not against the Parliament but against particular men who first made the wounds and will not suffer them to be cured whom he names and will be ready to prove them guiltie of high Treason And desires that the Lord Kimbolton Mr. Hollis Mr. Pym Mr. Hambden Sir Arthur Haselrig Mr. Strode Mr. Martin Sir Henry Ludlow Ald. Pennington and Capt. Ven may be delivered up to the hands of justice to be tried according to the Laws of the Land Against the Earl of Warwick the Earl of Essex Earl of Stamford Lord Brook Sir John Hotham Major General Skippon and those who shall henceforth exercise the Militia by virtue of the Ordinance he shall cause Indictments of high Treason upon the Statute of 25 Edw. 3. Let them submit to their Trial appointed by Law and plead their Ordinances if they shall be acquitted he hath done And that all his loving Subjects may know that nothing but the preservation of the true Protestant Religion invaded by Brownism Anabaptism and Libertinism the safetie of our person threatned and conspired against by Rebellion and Treason the Law of the Land and Libertie of the Subject oppressed and almost destroyed by an usurped unlimited arbitrarie power and the freedom privilege and dignitie of Parliament awed and insulted upon by force and Tumults could make us put off our long-loved Robe of peace and take up defensive Arms. He once more offers pardon to all those that will desire the same except the persons before named if not he must look upon these Actions as a Rebellion against him and the Law who endeavour to destroy him and his people August 12. 1642. The Parliament had passed an Act for raising of four hundred thousand pounds by Overtures of Adventurers and Contributions and Loans for Relief of Irelaâ—d and Money and Plate was thereafter very heartily brought in to the Parliament when upon the thirtieth of Iuly the vote That the Treasurers appointed to receive the money already come in upon Subscriptions for Ireland do forthwith furnish by way of Loan unto the Committee for defence of the Kingdom one hundred thousand pounds for the supplie of the publick necessitie and defence of this Kingdom upon the Publick Faith Of which the King remembers them and of the Act of Parliament That no part of that money shall be imployed to any other purpose than the reducing of those Rebells And therefore charges the House of Commons as they will answer the
peoples Their many and sore oppressions grieve me I am above mine own what I want in the hands of force and power I have in the wings of Faith and Prayer But this is the strange method these men will needs take to resolve their Riddle of making me a glorious King by taking away my Kingly power thus I shall become a support to my Friends and a terrour to mine Enemies being unable to succour the one or suppress the other For thus have they designed and propoâ—ed to me the new modelling of Sovereigntie and Kingship so without any realitie of power or without any necessitie of subjection and obedience That the Majestie of the Kings of England might hereafter hang like Mahomet's Tomb by a Magnetick Charm between the power and privileges of the two Houses in an aierie imagination of Regalitie But I believe the surfeit of too much power which some men have greedily seized on and now seek wholly to devour will ere long make the Common-wealth sick both of it and them since they cannot well digest it Sovereign Power in Subjects seldom agreeing with the Stomachs of fellow Subjects Yet I have even in this point of the constant Militia sought by satisfying their fears and importunities both to secure my Friends and overcome mine Enemies to gaine the peace of all by depriving my self of a sole power to help or hurt any yielding the Militia which is mine undoubted Right no less than the Crown to be disposed of as the two Houses shall thank fit during my time So willing am I to burie all Iealousies in them of me and to live above all Iealousies of them as to my self I desire not to be safer than I wish them and my people if I had the sole actual disposing of the Militia I could not protect my People further than they protected me and themselves so that the use of the Militia is mutual I would but defend my self so far as to be able to defend my good Subjects from those mens violence and fraâ—d who conscious to their own evil merits and Designs will needs perswade the world that none but Wolves are fit to be trusted with the custodie of the Shepherd and his Flock Miserable experience hath taught my Subjects since power hath been wrested from me and imployed against me and them that neither can be safe if both be not in such away as the Law hath intrusted the publick safetie and welfare Yet even this Concession of mine as to the exercise of the Militia so vast and large is not satisfactorie to some men which seem to be Enemies not to me onely but to all Monarchie and are resolved to transmit to posteritie such Iealousies of the Crown as they should never permit it to enjoy its just and necessarie Rights in point of power to which as last all Law is resolved while thereby it is best protected But here Honour and Iustice due to my Successours forbid me to yield to such a total alienation of that power from them which civilitie and dutie no less than Iustice and Honour should have forbad them to have asked of me For although I can be content to eclipse mine own beams to satisfie their fears who think they must needs be scorched or blinded if I should shine in the full lustre of Kingly power wherewith God and the Laws have invested me yet I will never consent to put out the Sun of Sovereigntie to all posteritie and succeeding Kings whose just recoverie of their Rights from unjust usurpations and extortions shall never be prejudiced or obstructed by any Act of mine which indeed would not be more injurious to succeeding Kings than to my Subjects whom I desire to leave in a condition not wholly desperate for the future so as by a Law to be ever subjected to those many factious Distractions which must needs follow the many-headed Hydra of Government which as it makes a shew to the people to have more eys to foresee so they will finde it hath more mouths too which must be satisfied and at best it hath rather a monstrositie than any thing of perfection beyond that of right Monarchie where counsel may be in many as the senses but the Supreme power can be but in one as the Head Happily when men have tried the horrours and malignant influence which will certainly follow my enforced Darkness and Eclipse occasioned by the interposition and shadow of that Bodie which as the Moon receiveth its chiefest light from me they will at length more esteem and welcome the restored glorie and blessing of the Sun 's light And if at present I may seem by my receding so much from the use of my Rights in the power of the Militia to come short of the Discharge of that trust to which I am sworn for my peoples protection I conceive those men are guiltie of the inforced perjurie if so it may seem who compell me to take this new and strange way of discharging my Trust by seeming to desert it or protecting my Subjects by exposing my self to Danger or Dishonour for their safetie and quiet Which in the Conflicts of Civil War and Advantages of Power cannot be effected but by some side yielding to which the greatest love of the publick peace and the firmest assurance of Gods protection arising from a good conscience doth more invite me than can be expected from other mens fears which arising from the injustice of their actions though never so succesfull yet dare not adventure their Authours upon any other way of safetie than that of the Sword and Militia which yet are but weak Defenses against the stroaks of divine vengeance which will over-take or of mens own consciences which always attend injurious perpetrations For my self I do not think that I can want any thing which providential necessitie is pleased to take from me in order to my peoples tranquillitie and Gods glorie whose protection is sufficient for me and he is able by his being with me abundantly to compensate to me as he did to Job whatever honour power or libertie the Chaldeans the Sabeans or the Devil himself can deprive me of Although they take from me all Defence of Arms and Militia all Refuge by Land of Forts and Castles all Flight by Sea in my Ships and Navie yea though they studie to rob me of the hearts of my Subjects the greatest Treasure and best Ammunition of a King yet cannot they deprive me of mine own innocencie or Gods mercie nor obstruct my way to Heaven We enter upon the militarie effects of this civil uncivil War betwixt the King and Parliament both parties preparing their several Armies The King is Generalissimo himself in person over his own his Captain General as yet named was the Marquess Hertford but when he came to action he elected for his General that faithfull loyal wellâ—experienced Commander the Earl of Lindsey Lord High Chamberlain of England And the Earl of Essex was Captain General for
at last The King in the head of his Army between Stafford and Wellington after the reading of his Orders military himself tells them Gentlemen I shall be very severe in punishing every person offending without distinction He cannot suspect their courage and resolution their conscience and loyaltie having brought them hither for their Religion their King and the Laws of the Land against their Enemies none but Traitors most of them Brownists Anabaptists and Atheists such as desire to destroy both Church and State and who have already condemned you to ruine for being loyal to him And makes this Protestation I do promise in the presence of Almightie God and as I hope for his blessing and protection that I will to the utmost of my power defend and maintain the true Reformed Protestant Religion established in the Church of England and by the grace of God in the same will live and die I desire to govern by the known Laws of the Land and that the Liberty and Propriety of the Subject may be by them preserved with the same care as mine own just Rights And if it please God by his blessing upon this Armie raised for my necessarie Defence to preserve me from this Rebellion I do solemnly and faithfully promise in the sight of God to maintain the just Privilege and Freedom of Parliament and to govern by the known Laws of the Land to my utmost power and particularly to observe inviolably the Laws consented unto by me this Parliament In the mean while if this time of War and the great necessitie and straits I am now driven unto beget any violation of these I hope it shall be imputed by God and Man to the Authours of this War and not to me who have so earnestly laboured for the peace of this Kingdom When I willingly fail in these particulars I will expect no Aid or Relief from any man or protection from Heaven But in this resolution I hope for the chearful assistance of all good men and am confident of Gods blessing Septemb. 19. And that the several Armies might not over-start each other the Parl. declares That all their Foot and Horse in London and all parts in England shall within eight and fourty hours march to their General the Earl of Essex for defence of the King and Kingdom the Privilege of Parliament and Liberty of the Subjects and such Regiments as are not four hundred and Troops not fourty shall be cashiered and disposed to recruit others excepting the Regiments of Colonel Essex and Ballard being in the States service Sept. 23. And order that Delinquents houses shall be preserved as houses of the Common-wealth for publick service or Prisons And because the Earl of Essex may be assured upon what Basis he is called to be their General they sent to him the Parliaments Petition to the King to be presented by him which tells his Majesty That his loyal Subjects the Lords and Commons in Parliament can not without tenderness of compassion behold the pressing calamities of England and Ireland by the practices of a prevailing partie with his Majestie to alter true Religion the ancient Government of this Kingdom introducing superstition in the Church and confusion in the State exciting incouraging and fostering the Rebellion in Ireland and as there so here begin the like Massacre by drawing on a War against the Parliament leading his Person against them as if by conquest to establish an unlimited power over the people seeking to bring over the Rebells of Ireland to joyn with them and all these evil Counsellours are defended and protected by him against the justice of Parliament who have for their just defence of Religion the King Crown and Dignitie of the Laws Liberties and power of Parliament taken up Arms and authorized the Earl of Essex their Captain General against these Rebells and Traitors And pray the King to with-draw his person and leave them to be supprest by this power and to return to his Parliament and that they will receive him with honour yield him obedience secure his person and establish him and his people with all the blessings of a glorious and happie Reign I cannot finde that this Petition was presented but I am assured that the General Essex twice sent to the King for a safe Conduct for those who should be imployed therein and it was refused they say to be received that humble and dutifull Petition as they stiled it 'T is strange for the King had never refused any Message or Petition from either or both Houses not onely with safety but candoâ—r when their Errand hath been full of reproach and scorn as the King says and the bringers bold arrogant seditious in their demeanour and therefore there needed to have been no more scruple in this But it was thus that the King being at Shrewsbury the Earl of Dorset receives a Letter from the Earl of Essex intimating that he had a Petition from both Houses to that purpose asking a safe Conduct for those that should be sent To whom the King answered That as he had never refused to receive any so he should be ready to give a fitting Reception and Answer to this and the Bringers of it should have safe Conduct excepting onely such persons as he had particularly accused of high Treason A fortnight after comes a second Letter to Dorset declaring That the Kings former Answer was voted a Breach of Privilege This second Answer differing but little from the former insisting That the Address should not be made by any whom he had accused of high Treason amongst whom the Earl of Essex was one but that his Ear should be ever open to hear any Petition from his Parliament Indeed the Petition was framed more fit to be delivered after a Battel and full Conquest of the King than in the Head of his Army thirty thousand men when it might seem somewhat in his power whether he would be deposed or no. For we finde the King in Wales caressing the Inhabitants of Denbigh and Flintshire Septemb. 27. And tells them That he is willing to take all occasions to visit all his good Subjects and hath cause to reckon them for their loyaltie expressed in their late Levies sent to him at their own charges against such a Malignant partie whose Designs are to destroy him his Crown Laws and Government of Church and State raising Tumults at London to drive from thence him and the greatest part of the Members of Parliament He is robbed of his Towns Forts Castles Goods Navie Revenue and at this time a powerfull Armie marching against him and among a thousand Scandals they have cast upon him the impious Rebellion in Ireland which he abhors and hath endeavoured by all possible ways and means to suppress but is obstructed by them And refers the naming of these Contrivers and their particular actions to his Declaration of the twelfth of August being supprest by them as all other his Protestations and
Remonstrances he being deprived of his Printing Presses at London and the Universities And so reades to them his former Protestations and Orders Copies of them to the Sheriffs to publish being in Manuscript The next day being come to Shrewsbury he tells them as much and sends for a Mint to melt his Plate and offers his Land to sale or mortgage thereby to lessen the charge of the County to provide for his Army The Parliament having information that the King intends to march from Wales to London expecting a party here to joyn with him as he was invited what a noise and disquiet it wrought amongst the Citizens and all the Counties thereabout All the Trained Bands of the Associate Counties of Essex Hartford Middlesex and London are to rendezvouz and all to be ready at an hours warning And all passages into any parts of the Suburbs Islington Mile-end and Westminster be set up with Posts and Chains and Courts of Guard to stop the passage of Horse if any come in their way And with this Declaration the Parliament imprint a Discovery of a Plot by one David Alexander a pitifull poor Scot perswaded thereto by a Confident of the Kings one Sir Iohn Hinderson a Papist to kill Sir Iohn Hotham which he refused to do as being the work of a Butcher and not of a Souldier That the King should send for him twice at Beverley and appointed a sum of money to be given him That afterwards Henderson should propose to Alexander to fire the Magazine of the Parliaments Army and therefore to get imployment in the Train of Artillery but was discovered and examined The story is thus Alexander had a minde fit for desperate base Attempts but finding no preferment with the King he comes to London and joyns with one Sir Balthazar Gerbier of the same even condition and out of repute both with the King and Parliament for his doubling with either these Copesmates discoursing together Gerbier forthwith discovers to the Parliament this Tale of Alexander who being cheated into a hope of getting preferment by this story believed it himself and the truth by examinations appearing he was a while imprisoned and so let loose to practise with his Companion Gerbier Knave and Fool together Every day increasing the suspition and fear of the Kings marching from Wales to London the Parliament vote That such as will not contribute shall be secured and disarmed And so the Mayor of London is set on work to search and seize the Arms of several Citizens Iefferson Austin Bedle Batty Long and Lewis all Broadstreet Ward Bluâ—â— Wright Drake and Walter of other Wards and for their sufferings deserve to be remembered That the Fines Rents and Profits of Arch-bishops Bishops Deans and Chapters and other Delinquents shall be sequestred for the service of the Common-wealth That all the Kings Revenue arising out of Rents Fines in Courts or Composition for Wards be sequestred for the State And a Committee of Sequestration appointed Sir Iohn Byron with five hundred Horse having entered the Town of Worcester and at that time not the least part of the Kings Army marching in a Body but flasht through the County the Voluntiers of the County under the Lord Say raised themselves and by some of their own were lead towards Worcester expecting to meet Mr. Nathaniel Fines whom his Father had created a Colonel of Horse he had faced the Town and drawn off again ere the Foot came there and so they followed him who with Colonel Sandys returning fell upon the Town on the Welch side of Severn supposing their General the Earl of Essex at hand to assult the other side being deluded by a Spie who mistook him for Prince Rupert whose Horse rushed upon his Ambuscado when through the â—traitness of the passage over a Bridg and after in a Lane neither the Rear could come up nor the Van retreat where all were slain or routed Sandys and some others taken Prisoners the rest ran away far beyond the reach of a pursuit The consequences of this a good omen to the royal party being the first fruits of the War but the Parliaments Army with Essex marching thither the other Forces quit the Town not being considerable to erect any Garrison yet by their motion and quick dispatch gathered strength and at last repute of a party not easily to be vanquished whilest the Earl of Essex and his whole Army entered Worcester who continuing a Moneth sending forth parties the Lord Stamford to Hereford to prevent the Forces of South-Wales and the King at Shrewsbury with such an Army as was able to deal with and endanger his Enemy Both Armies begin to take up Winter-quarters Colonel Thomas Essex into Glocester with two Regiments of Foot as Governour but the Deputy Lieutenants had command of the Countrey and after four Weeks he was commanded to Bristol a Town of great concernment by Sea and Land and much distracted between both parties The best and basest in degree were for the King the middle men Citizens for the other and amongst them all those of the Religion intermixing distinguished call them what you please into two Factions Prelate for the King Presbyter for the Parliament but afterwards as either party could nick-name into Heresie and Schism but the general distinction of the Armies that of the Kings called Cavaliers and the Parliaments party Round-heads these flock together shut up the Gates but guarded that Fort and planted Ordnance where they expected the Forces from Glocester but Colonel Essex in his way had timely intelligence to march to another Gate which was set open to him in the night who entered with his two Regiments with others of the County and so surprized the Mutiniers and quashed their Disturbance without bloud Glocester was now protected by the Earl of Stamford with his Regiment of Foot and two Troops of Horse from Hereford but soon commanded into the West he left his Government to his Lieutenant Colonel Massey as his Deputy but afterwards had the sole power for two years and a half The Earl of Essex about Worcester sends from thence two Regiments and ten Troops and five small Pieces towards Kiddermaster and Bewdly and to joyn with the Lord Wharton and Sir Cholmley's Regiments to make a Brigade against the Cavaliers if they march that way who were designed for Wolverhampton and Coventry and so on towards London as was supposed and at Coventry and Warwick lay their Enemies Sir William Constable the Lord Peterborough and Colonel Brown with Forces and the third Brigade was in Worcester under Government now of Colonel Essex The Town of Yarmouth seised a Ship with an hundred and fourty Cavaliers and three hundred Barrels of Powder that came from Holland for to do service for the King The City of York is over-powred by the Cavaliers the Earl of Cumberland Sir Francis Wortley Sir Marmadâ—â— Langdale Sir Iohn Kay Mr. Francis Nevil Sir Thomas Glenham he is resolved to fight
with Mr. Hotham who was in ill case to continue but must be forced to retreat to Hull The Forces of the West in Cornwall for the King began to form into a Body near Pendennis Castle the Governour thereof Sir Nicholas Slaning a gallant Gentleman and assisted 〈…〉 others Sir Bevil Greenvile who possessed themselveâ—â—â—aunston the County Town of Cornwall but not long after Sir Ralph Hopton appears in chief command over the Cavaliers The Parliament had Plymouth the neighbour Port Town of Devonshire bordering Cornwall in the South and Sir George Chudly a Stickler for them for a time onely The Kings party increased in Mid-Wales and descending Southwards as he marches the Welch come to him from all parts of Hereford Monmouth mightily increasing by the power and industry of the Earl of Worcester their Brigades reaching to Oxford and round about where Prince Rupert commanded who took Powder and Match marching through Staffordshire to reprieve Manchester The Parliament party lay about Warwick Coventrie Worcester Buckingham and their Brigades round about even to Glocester Some Arms for the King are landed at Newcastle and ten thousand pounds in Money to raise Dragoons in Northumberland and to fall into Yorkshire which appeared for the King The King on his march from Wales descended Southward and now being near Stafford the Parliament order That the Citie of London be strongly guarded and Posts Bars and Chains be erected and set up in places and by-lanes of the Parishes of St. Margarets Westminster St. Martins in the Fields St. Clements Savoy Holborn St. Giles Covent-garden St. Johns Street â—lerkenwell Criplegate Shoreditch White-chapel Islington Mile-end Southwark Lambeth or any other places necessary at the charge of the Parish by equal Assesment Octob. 22. And the Parliament declare a solemn Protestation to all the world In the presence of Almightie God for the satisfaction of their Consciences and the Discharge of that great Trust which lies upon them That no private passion or respect no evil intention to his Majesties person no Design to the prejudice of his just Honour and Authoritie engaged them to raise Forces and take up Arms against the Authours of this War whereof the Kingdom is now inflamed And after they have by clearing themselves lodged the occasion upon the Contrivers Papists about the King for extirpation of the Protestant Religion wherein principally this Kingdom and Scotland are concerned as making the greatest Body of Reformation in Christendom they conclude For all which Reasons they are resolved to enter into a solemn Oath and Covenant with God to give up themselves lives and fortunes into his hands and defend this his cause with the hazzard of our lives against the Kings Armie according to a form agreed upon and to be subscribed and to associate and unite with all the well-affected of the Citie of London and other parts of his Majesties Dominions 〈…〉 expect their dear Brethren of Scotland that they will help and 〈◊〉 defence of this Cause which if the Popish partie prevail must needs involve Scotland in the like alteration of Religion and engage them also in a War against this Kingdom to defend their own Religion And this they do again they say protest before the everliving God to be the chief end of all their counsels and resolutions without any intention to injure his Majestie either in his person or just power Octob. 22. And the Battail of Edg-hill the next morning being Sunday After the Kings party had beat the Enemy at Worcester Fight the three and twentieth of September he joyns all his Brigades near hand and marches to meet General Essex hovering thereabout to watch the Kings Designs who lodged on Saturday night October 22. at Sir William Chancies six miles near Keinton and Essex at Keinton And early the next morning being Sunday the three and twentieth drew up into a Body near Keinton and ascending the top of Edg-hill with his Prospective Glass took view of Essex his Army in the Vale of the Red Horse about a Mile distant but before the King could draw into order he was saluted with three Pieces of Cannon from the other side with three Shouts of their Souldiers And being asked by his Officers what his Majesty meant to do To give him Battel said the King it is the first time I ever saw the Rebells in a Bodie God and good mens prayers to him assist the justice of my cause And instantly ordered the Fight by the return of two Shot of Cannon in answer to theirs about two of the clock after noon the Word was God and King Charls his greatest Body of Horse was on the right Wing and on the left some Horse and Dragoons The Parliaments Army was put into this order the Foot a good space behinde the Horse when the Charge began three Regiments of Horse on the right Wing the Generals Regiment commanded by Sir Philip Stapleton Sir Balfore's Regiment who was Lieutenant General of the Horse and the Lord Fielding's Regiment which stood behinde the other two as a Reserve Sir Iohn Meldrum had the Van with his Brigade Colonel Essex the middle the General 's Regiment the Lord Brook and Colonel Hollis had the Rear in the left Wing were twenty Troops commanded by Sir Iames Ramsey Commissary General And thus they stood The Earl of Lindsey Lord High Chamberlain of England was the Kings Captain General but the Fight was ordered by the Lord Ruthen since made Earl of Forth a Scotish man and the General lead on the main Body with a Pike in his hand it is said that General Essex lead on his Forces also but then it is confessed that he was advised to retire from Danger and so he escaped when the other was killed The Forlorn Hope was commanded by Major Baâ—stake and Captain Hamond both of them Officers in Sir Lewis Diveâ— Regiment of Foot and drawn down the Hill to the side of a Ditch lined with Musquetiers and both sides had no sooner fired but that the Kings Cannon followed and discharged six or seven Shot Prince Rupert General of the Horse commanding the right Wing routed their left Wing and followed them in chafe to Keinton Town and two Miles beyond killing all whom they overtook the Lord Ruthen ordered the left Wing of the Kings Horse with the Lord Wilmot both of them doing gallant service 't is true Prince Rupert presumed that he had left a sufficient Reserve of Horse behinde under command of the Earl of Carnarvan with some other Troops who seeing the Enemies Horse and Foot to run his spirit not accustomed to stand still followed too far and left their own Foot naked of Horse which Essex espying took the advantage and with his Horse fell upon the Foot including these Regiments the Lord Generals Colonel Fieldings and Colonel Bowels a Regiment raised by the Lord Paget and did much execution upon them this service being done by Colonel Hurry afterwards Major General for the Parliament The Lord General Lindsey
being too forward in the Fight and incompassed by the Enemy his noble Son the Lord Willoughby hastned to his rescue not staying for greater assistance than such by chance about him and were both over-powred and taken Prisoners the Father â—ore wounded and evil intreated died the next day Sir Edmund Varney Knight Marshal and Standard-bearer was killed and the Standard ingaged till a gallant Gentleman Mr. Iohn Smith instantly shot him dead and rescued it for which service he was presently dubbed Knight and Bannoret the first of that Honour and bore the Standard after and relieved Colonel Fielding with some others of quality repulsing their Enemies Horse and followed the pursuit The Foot on both sides continued hot fiering untill the Day was spent and Night five a clock parted the Fight which no doubt was fairest on the Kings side had he enjoyed the Light somewhat longer to have increased his advantage towards a Victory It must be acknowledged that the General Essex his Regiment of Foot Colonel Hollis and Colonel Hambdem's stood the brunt of the Battel most of their Men being London Prentices fresh and good Firers did bold service Among the Plunder General Essex his Waggon Saddles Cloke-bags and Cabinet were taken and therein some Letters and Papers of Intelligence sufficient to discover one Blake a secret Traitor in the Kings Court for which he was forthwith hanged in the high way a sign to all Traitors betwixt Oxford and Abingdon this Fellow had been a Merchant and for some service at Sallie in Barbarie releasing English Slaves purchased repute at home which shadowed him from any suspition to be an Intelligencer at the Kings Court to divers his Corresponds City Friends for which he so suffered After the King had given the first Word espying one to steal to the Enemy he altered it to God and King Charls The Kings Troop consisted of an hundred and twenty Noblemen and Gentlemen able to expend an hundred and fifty thousand pounds a year of their own and these charged first with much courage and so performed it that Day commanded by the Lord Bernard youngest Brother to the Duke of Richmond and afterwards created Earl of Lichfield Sir Arthur Aston commanded the Dragoons and gave notice to him the Lord Bernard how he should order his Charge which was to second him and to follow the Dragoons who beat off those that lined the Hedges having that Intelligence of Sir Fortescue's Cornet who was come from Essex's Army with assurance that his Captain would follow with his Troop as he did at the first of the Fight The Kings Army was about twelve thousand the Parliaments sixteen thousand men exceeding well armed and furnished with excellent Ammunition compleat The loss by view of the dead might be between five or six thousand between them The King certainly lost the lesse in number but the most of value men of great merit but not the most in place and Office of Command But now the question will be who had the better If you will not admit it a drawn Battel consider these particulars following The Kings design was to March on his way and Essex resolution was to attach him which he did not but rather Skirted his Marchings and gave the occasion that the King encountred him though being met he began the Challenge After the Battel the King kept the field in his Coach all that Night with great fires and the next day in the Fâ—eld Proclaimed several Pardons to such of the Enemy that would submit And then Marches to Aino the seven and twentieth of October where he dated his Proclamation of Grace and Favour to the Cities of London and Westminster The King without Interruption of his Enemy buries the dead Marches to Banbury Took the Town and Castle and they take Arms under him so then he was Master of the Field commanding his own way and doing his own work which he came about and Marches to Oxford His Enemy General Essex wheeles towards Warwick does no more and retreats to London where hâ—s Army Lodges for Recruits The next day after the fight the King sends Sir William Neve Garter Herald to Essex to exchange the Lord Willoughby Earl of Lindsey for the Lord St. Iohn Hue Bullenbroke of Bletso but ere iâ— could be dispatched St. Iohns dies by which he paies the first of his debts to his Creditors and the last debt to sin and death with the undoing of many of his Country worthy Gentlemen men bound for him in great sums of Money Colonel Essex Lieutenant Colonel Ramsey both slaine But to go on with the story The King Prince and Duke that Night retreated to the side of the Hill resting in their Coach all Night keeping divers fires but could discern but one fire from their Enemy so that it was supposed their General was Marched away untill the Morning discovered them to be drawn out and Colonel Brooks Regiment of Foot and others coming to joyn with them The King draws up also upon the Hill and about noon Essex Marches away The King at Edge-hill Proclaims his pardon to the Rebells now in Arms against him so be they will come in to him and seek it the four and twentieth of October And in Aino the seven and twentieth of October He sends his gracious Proclamation of Pardon to his Cities of London and Westminster excepting therein Alderman Fulk and Manwaring On Tuesday Morning at nine a clock the King forth with his forces faced the Town of Banbury being ready to fall on Captain Marrow who Commanded the Castle treated a while and by twelve a clock delivered up the Town and Castle though there were therein two Regiments of Foot blew coats belonging to the Lord Rochford and Peterborough and Captain Saiers Troop of Horse The Prince with three peeces of Cannon and some Foot and Horse Marched against Broughton House belonging to the Lord Say and at the first shot of Ordinance through and through it was delivered up From thence to Southampton The Earl of Essex retreated this while to Warwick and so the other way Marched to London But the Kings Forces returned to Oxford so through Abington and to Henley where they refreshed two or three daies then to Mâ—idenhead Windsor and Stains Saturday being a misty morning the Kings Forces made their Rendevouz on Hownslow Heath the Parliaments Forces being that morning drawn out of Kingston giving Liberty to the King to Command both sides of the River Thames who about eleven of the clock forced the Enemy out of Brainford but ere we go on let us return to some Civil affairs which were Acted by both parties after Edge-hill fight however controverted amongst parties Interested The King Publishes his Delaration to all his Loving Subjects after his late Victory against the Rebels on Sunday the three and twentieth of October 1642. Ascribing the preservation of him â—nd his Children in the late bloody Battel with the Rebels to the Mercy and
and sword he will take it for a favour but if you will not he doubts not but Gideon's Sword will do the Work alone I speak not it that I doubt you but that you would resolve that when you hear the Drums beat for it is resolved that the Drums shall beat to morrow our Drums shall beat to lead out our men and the Committees Drums shall beat to lead out their men say not I beseech you I am not of the Trained Band nor this nor that but doubt not to go out to work and fight couragiously and this shall be the Day of your Deliverance However on Friday the eleventh of November the King at Colebrook receives a Petition from the Parliament by the two Earls and Gentlemen named in the Conduct and not Sir Io. Evelin To the Kings most Excellent Majestie The humble Petition c. of the Lords and Commons in Parliament c. Being affected with a deep and piercing sense of the Miseries of this Kingdom and the Danger of your Majesties person the great effusion of Bloud with the late Battel and weighâ—â—g the addition of Loss and Miserie if both Armies should again joyn in another Fight as without Gods blessing and his Majesties concurrence will not probably be avoided to which they believe his Majestie hath a sutable impression of compassion to accept of this their Petition and to appoint some convenient place not far from London where your Majestie will be pleased to reside untill Committees of Parliament may attend with some Propositions to your Majestie for removal of these Distempers as may conduce to Gods glorie c. The King liked this Petition of an humble nature unlike their late Papers presented to him and the next day gives this gracious Answer He takes God to witness how deeply he is affected with the Miseries of this Kingdom which he hath striven to prevent and as he was not the first that took up Arms so he hath been ready of composing all things in a fair way to avoid the Destruction of his Subjects which would always make his greatest Victories to him c. And to that end he will reside at his own Castle at Windsor till Committees may have time to attend hiâ— which he wishes to be hastened either there or if it be refused any other place and God of his mercie give a blessing Nov. 12. But the same night after the Messengers were gone News came to the King that General Essex had drawn his Forces with his Ordnance out of London towards him and so he being almost surrounded some at Windsor Kingston and Acton if Brainford were possest likewise the King would be hemm'd in and his Army deprived either of moving or subsisting and so a Council of War concluded to advance towards Brainford and either to possess it or to repossess them which he did and many slain The King withall considered that it could not reasonably be esteemed an Aversion from Peace or an Intention to interrupt the Treaty then in expectation since on the other side he had cause to believe that if he would not preserve himself out of their power the very possibility of a Treaty would vanish And indeed willingness to receive a Treaty was never held to amount to a suspension of Arms otherwise why did Essex incompass him on all parts to Colebrook Towns end And there being no word of Suspension of Arms in all the Kings Answer nay since in that by wishing their Propositions to be hastened he implied that by this Arms were not suspended And most of all since the Parliaments Votes of proceeding as hath been said vigorously notwithstanding their Petition and their own actions sending after their Messengers great store of Forces evidently implied the same The King being resolved upon Reasons that his Advance was just yet he endeavoured to satisfie the Parliament that Peace was still his desire by a Messenger but so ill received as he and his Trumpeter were like to kiss the Gate-house The Message was thus Novemb. 12. Whereas the last night November 11. after the departure of the Committee with his Majesties Answer to their Petition he received information that the Earl of Essex had drawn his Forces out of London towards him which hath necessitated him to march with his Forces to Brainford he thinks fit hereby to signifie that he is no less desirous of the peace than he exprest in his foresaid Answer and desires to receive the Propositions of Brainford this night being Sunday or early to morrow morning And another Argument for the King is that so soon as the Earls Forces were removed from Kingston before any Forces appeared out of London the King gave order to quit Brainford and to possess Kingston And the success to the King was answerable to his just intention God being pleased to assist him by Land and Water so as with a third part of his Foot and with the loss but of ten Men to beat two of their best Regiments out of Brainford to kill him that commanded in chief and his Ensign Ralph Wilbie a hopefull Gentleman at the very Bridg and many others by land and water took five hundred Prisoners and as many Arms eleven Colours and store of Ammunition fifteen Pieces of Ordnance and then unfought with to march away to Oatlands Reading and so to Oxford And upon all this the Parliament voted to have no Accomodation although the King concluded That God so bless his future Actions as he is excusable and innocent from any deceit herein The Parliament in their Answer to the Kings Message do confess That they gave direction to the Earl of Essex to draw the Armie out of London and that part of it was inquartered at Branford whilest the Committee was with the King And they excuse it belike confessess to themselves of just Exceptions that they sent a Messenger with a Letter to know whether his Majestie intended forbearance of Hostilitie be found them in fight and could not pass Brainford The King replies That his Message of the twelfth though not received by the Parliament till the fourteenth was sent to them upon the same Day as it was dated and the way not clear was again sent upon the thirteenth and taken that morning by the Earl of Essex and though not directed to him was opened by him so as the slowness of the deliverie is not so strange as the stop of the Letter sent by the Parliament to the King which he never received and the King could not suppose to take any of the Parliaments Forces unprovided who in their March to Brainford might as well have been intended to Colebrook upon the King And indeed take other Observations to boot The Parliaments printing so out of time of such a Declaration as was their Reply to the Kings Answer to theirs of the six and twentieth of May but the day before they voted the sending of a Petition and the March of the
Earl of Essex to Brainford so near the King and if peace had been intended by the Parliament it would be conceived more proper to have sent to the King rather a Paper of just Propositions than an unjust Accusation of his Councils proceedings and person And his Majesty sent them word that he intends to march to such a distance from London that may take away all pretence of apprehension from his Armie that may hinder them from yet preparing Propositions of peace to present him and thereby to receive them or end these pressures and miseries I am the more curious in the controversion of this Accident to relate the Narrative and leave the Censure to the Readers impartiality And now again the four and twentieth of November the Parliament with their old Mode petition the King to return to his Parliament with his Royal not his Martial Attendance and they shall be ready to give him Assurances of such security as may be for his honour and the safety of his person To which the King answers with so much reason confuting their pretended loyal desires by the effects of their violence against him from the first of their Petitions of this kinde remindes them of their pretensions and of his candid and gracious offers and actions wishes that his Declarations Protestations Messages Answers and Replies to the Parliament were ingenuously published by them to undeceive his people abused into misbelief of him and his best actions and so returns to Reading The effect of all this intended Address for Accommodation rather increased a more desperate Division between the King and Parliament by a far stretched exasperating Relation styling it The barbarous and cruel passages of the Kings Armie at Brainford The Preamble belcheth out such unnatural inhumane and strange cruelties which send forth a voice and that voice so loud that it awakes even secure mankinde and stirs up their bowels to an inflamed and united indignation like the divided pieces of that woman abused to death c. There was no such deed done nor seen from the day that the children of Israel came out of Egypt c. It is a Lamentation and to be taken up for a Lamentation no such thing hath been done since England came out of the Egypt of Rome Acts so far out of ken and view of Christianitie that they are void of humanitie yea short of the nature of wilde beasts c. And a great deal more of such stuff that a man might be amazed to finde the Parliaments Order for the speedy imprinting it Nov. 24. Then follows the Relation so poorly penned so short of expectation so pitifully expressed and yet so far differing from the truth being within the ken of last days remembrance that in earnest I need not confirm it with Rhetorick that these times took up a liberty to amaze the people with even Impossibilities which yet were believed Some reputation the Kings successes here took with his Friends beyond Seas that by a Letter written from the Hague to Secretary Nicholas intercepted and read in the House it appears what effect it wrought Which successes of the King hath supported our credits here says the Letter that the Prince of Orange hath advanced all those sums we are to expect from him of which twenty thousand pounds are sent towards you as much to New-castle and as much at least we bring with us besides the great business we expect a final end of this day which will advance sixty thousand pounds more We have sent over ten thousand Foot Arms two thousand Horse Arms twenty Pieces of Canon we bring over Wagons and all Accommodation to march so soon as we arrive with considerable Officers from hence and by the advice we receâ—â—â— from that side there are eight thousand Foot already six Troops of Horse and the rest will not be long a raising after we come there General King is designed for Lieutenant General he hath been with the Queen and will be suddenly there From Denmark are likewise sent Arms for ten thousand Foot and two thousand five hundred Horse with a Train of Artillerie and every thing proportionable to the very Drums and Halberds Two good Men of War come their Convoy and in them an Ambassadour to his Majestie a person of great qualitie from Denmark Cokram comes along with him We have great apprehensions here intimated by my Lord of Holland of a Treatie entered into c. Hague Nov. 22. 1642. And this supposed to be from Colonel Goring or rather so set out by the Parliament for at the publishing of this Letter they shew so much Danger as necessarily to require thirty thousand pounds to be lent by the City on Tuesday next that the Ministers are required to stir up their Parishioners and the Church-wardens to assemble their Parish to morrow after Sermon and on Munday next the Money is to be brought in at Guild-hall which they shall raise of Contribution From Saturday to Tuesday thirty thousand pounds Loan and God knows how much Church-offerings and all upon a ranting Letter made up for that purpose 'T is true that afterwards supplies of Arms and Money did arrive but as yet no certainty but by intelligence from beyond Seas which you see did their work in earnest for borrowing Money Since the first of December to the tenth the state of the military affairs in the North stand thus the Earl of Newcastle for the King came to York and joyned his Forces to the Earl of Cumberlands making in all eight thousand Horse and Foot of which there are above two thousand Horse Dragoons a strength too potent to be resisted by the Lord Fairfax who now had Commission for the command of the North for the Parliament for upon Newcastle's coming over the Tees Sir Edward Loftus with all the Richmondshire Forces and Sir Henry Anderson with those of Cleveland about a thousand returned home to their houses so that the whole strength of the North is but one and twenty Companies of Foot and seven Troops of Horse and one Company of Dragoons That Captain Hotham is made Lieutenant General under Fairfax and the rest with Fairfax at Tadcaster but both of them joyned upon the coming of the Earl of Newcastle to Tadcaster where the several Forces encounter from eleven a clock till four in the evening in a sharp dispute the Earl had won part of the Town beaten Fairfax's men and placed some Companies in several houses which were forced back again to a Retreat and an hundred slain and seventeen Prisoners The Parliament party lost but six men they say and Captain Lister shot into the head and twenty more desperately wounded but not being able to sit it out for a second Encounter the Lord Fairfax quitted the Town and marched to Cawood and Selbie to receive Supplies dividing their Army into those places From Selbie Sir Thomas Fairfax is sent with five Companies and two Troops to Leeds but was forced back again That the
Kings partie are Masters of the Field with Garisons round about plentifully supplied from the King but the Parliaments partie in great want are likely to disband within ten days And this is the Relation from the Lord Fairfax Decemb. 10. 1642. The Counties of Norfolk Suffolk Essex Cambridg the Isle of Elie Hertford and City of Norwich are authorized to associate and their General the Earl of Essex gives Commission to the Lord Grey of Wark to command in cheif as Major General over those Counties with Instructions to govern accordingly The most part of the Earl of Newcastle's Forces lie upon the County towards Halifax and the clothing Towns imposing Taxes upon the Inhabitants according to their qualities from one thousand pounds to one hundred pounds proportionable who found a Light-horse at an hundred pounds every one who found Musket or Pâ—ke at fourty shillings And about the fifteenth of December lands Colonel Goring for the King with more Arms some Pieces of Ordnance and some Money and fourscore old Commanders with the Queens Standard and to joyn with the Earl of Newcastle And in this Moneth of December the Kings Forces prospered Westward Marlborough and Tadcaster taken with a great Defeat of their Enemy Winchester and Chichester won by the Parliament The noble Lord Aubignie Brother to the Duke of Richmond died and was buried at Oxford And now it was thought time for the City to speak for themselves they well know what an odium lodged upon their disloyalty and therefore they petition the King how they are deeply pierced with Gangrene-wounds of his Majesties fear to hazzard his person in returning home to his Citie they abhor all thoughts of Disloyaltie making good their late Solemn Protestationâ— and sacred Oath with the last drop of their dearest bloud to defend and maintain the true Reformed Protestant Religion and your Majesties royal person honour and estate and do hereby engage themselves their estates and all they have to defend your Majestie with as much love loyaltie and dutie as ever Citizens expressed towards their Sovereign They are answered That his Majestie can distinguish some good Subjects in the Citie from the bad not all guiltie but what confidence can the King have there where the Laws of the Land are notoriously despised and the whole Government of the Citie submitted to the arbitrarie power of a few desperate persons of no reputation and names them Pennington their pretended Mayor the principal Authour of these Calamities which threaton ruine to that heretofore famous Citie Ven Foulk and Manwaring all of them notoriously guiltie of Schism and high Treason in oppressing robbing and imprisoning his good Subjects because they will not rebell against his Majestie nor assist those that do not that he condemns all for some that are guiltie and yet he offers his gracious pardon to all except such as are excepted if they shall yet return to their dutie if not he sums up the miserie that will necessarily fall upon every such person as shall continue acting and assisting the Rebellion This Answer full and home to the Cities conscience startled many into reluctancy when it was therefore thought fit by the Parliament to visit their Common Council and to caress them with a Committee of some Members lest this Answer should work too much with reluctancy And are told by Mr. Pym and others That this Answer reflects with wounding Aspersions upon persons of very eminent Authoritie of very great fidelitie amongst them that the Parliament owns them and their actions and will live and die in their defence and evermore concluding that their protection is the Armie and that it is hoped they will enlarge their Contributions for the maintenance of this Armie wherein as they have been liberal in former necessities so now they will exceed for safetie of themselves At the end of every period which Mr. Pym made in his Speech the applause was so great and so loud that he was silenced not without jugling and so concludes Worthy Citizens turning to the Rabble you see what the Parliament will do for your Lord Mayor and you 〈◊〉 your affections to do for the Parliament and State To which they replied We will live and die with them live and die with them All which says their printed Paper we may sum up in that Triumph of that Man of God In the thing wherein they dealt proudly God was above them There were some humble Desires and Propositions presented to the King at Oxford February 1. by four Lords and eight Members of the Commons but with so wilde and ranting a Preamble and the Desires so peremptory no less than fourteen viz. To disband his Armie and to return home to his Parliament Leave Delinquents to Trial Papists to be disarmed Bill for abolishing the Church-governours and Government and to pass such other Bills as shall be devised for a new Reformation Recusants to abjure Papacie To remove malignant Counsellours To settle the Mâ—litia as the Parliament please To prefer to the great Offices and Places of Iudicature such of the Parliament as they name and to take in all such as have been put out of Commissions of the peace A Bill to vindicate the Lord Kimbolton and the five Members To enter Alliance with his Proâ—estant Neighbours for Recoverie of the Palatinate To grant a general pardon with Exception of the Earl of Newcastle the Lord Digby and others To restore such of the Parliaments Members to their Offices and Places and to satisfie for their Losses c. The King answers with amazement If he had not given up all the faculties of his soul to an earnest endeavour of â—eace and Reconciliation or if he would suffer himself by any proâ—â—â—â—tion to be drawn to a sharpness of language at a time of Overtures of Accommodation he could not otherwise but resent their heavie charges upon him in the preamble and not suffer Reproaches which they cast upon him but his Majestie will forbear bitterness or the heat of his own sufferings throughout that if it be possible the memory thereof may be lost to the world And how unparliamentarie it is by Arms to require new Laws And he is pleased that a speedie time may be agreed upon for a Meeting and to debate those Propositions of theirs and these of his viz. That his own Revenues Magazines Towns Ships and Forts be restored That what hath been done contrary to Law and the Kings right may be renounced and recalled That all illegal power claimed or acted by Orders of Parliament be disclaimed The King will readily consent to the execution of all Laws made or to be made concerning Popery and Reformation so he desires a Bill for preserving the Book of Common Prayer and against Sectaries That all persons to be excepted against in the Treatie may be tried per pares with the cessation of Arms and for a free Trade But nothing followed till the third of March. In the North parts from
Yorkshire this Account came to the Houses that Sir Hugh Cholmley for the Parliament hath carried himself gallantly giving several Defeats to the Enemy at Malton and on the sixteenth of Ianuary joyning his Forces to Sir Matthewâ—Bointon they fell upon Colonel Slingsbie at Gisborough who was defeated and six hundred Horse and Foot that had done much spoil in the North. Slingsbie taken Prisoner and an hundred and fourty persons besides many killed and two hundred Arms recovered About Bradford and Hallifax God hath blessed my Son Sir Thomas says the Lord Fairfax having seized the Lord Savil's house at Howley and his Design against Leeds was thus he drew out from Bradford thither where Sir William Savil commands in chief after Summons the Assault began with great resolution on his Sons part the Town being fortified on all sides furnished with two Brass Sakers and manned with fifteen hundred Souldiers yet they forced an entrie in two Hours fight with loss on both sidesâ— not more than fourtie men but Sir Thomas took four Colours and five hundred Prisoners of which six are Commanders many Arms the Sakers and all their Munition On the Parliaments part were lost thirteen men Captain Brigs and Lee sore wounded The people observed he says that Sir William Savil and the chief Commanders on the other side soon after the Fight began fled by secret ways towards Pomfrait and their men after them by degrees but by the way Serjeant Major Beaumont was drowned crossing the River and Sir William narrowly escaped the like Sir Thomas intended to have marched to Wakefield where Sir George Wentworth commanded but the Enemie in fâ—â—â— was fled to Pomfrait and so Wakefield is invested for the Parliâ—â—â—nt The five and twentieth of Ianuary the Kings Forces marched out of Doncaster which was soon taken up by six Companies of Foot till more Forcesâ— shall come from the South to keep it The Earl of Newcastle hath drawn down all his Forces from the South of Yorkshire excepting those that keep Pomfrait Castle and yesterday marched from Sherborn to York with six and thirty Colours two Pieces of Cannon and three and fourty other Carriages and supposed to meet the Arms and Munition coming from Newcastle or to prepare for the Queens entertainment at York Selbie Ian. 26. 1642. Fer. Fairfax There had come forth two Proclamations the one from the Earl of Cumberland dated the first of December last the other from the Earl of Newcastle Ianuary 17. last publishing Ferdinando Lord Fairfax Sir Thomas Fairfax Sir Edward Loftus Sir Matthew Bointon Sir Henry Forbes Sir Thomas Malleverer Sir Richard Darby Sir Christopher Wray Sir Henry Anderson Sir Iohn Savil Sir Edward Rodes Sir Hugh Cholmley Sir Thomas Rennington Sir Thomas Norcliffe Knights Io. Hotham Tho. Hatcher Will. Lister Iohn Legard Io. Dudsworth Iohn Wastel Iohn Perce Willâ—White Iohn Robinson Arthur Beckwith Thomas Robinson and Thomas Stockdel and divers others and their Adherents to be Traitors which the Parliament resenting do as much against the Earls and so are alike quit upon that score The King had proposed a Treaty February 3. together with the cessation of Arms sixteen days since to which he received no Answer but puts them in minde thereof again whereupon the Parliament vote That there shall be a Treaty upon the Propositions before the disbanding and to begin March 4. next for twenty days and no more and a safe conduct desired by the Parliament for their Commissioners the Earl of Northumberland Lord Say Mr. Perpoint Sir William Ermine Sir John Holland and Mr. Whitlock But the King excepts against the Lord Say having been proclamed Traitor the third of November at Oxford and by Writ to the Sheriff to proceed agaisnt him for high Treason and so he was not admitted the rest were March 3. Oxford The Cessation of Arms was thus limited That all Arms Victuals Money Bullion and all commodities passing without safe conduct may be seized on either sides and the persons so passing That the Kings Forces in Oxfordshire shall advance no nearer Windsor than Wheatly and in Buckinghamshire no nearer to Alisbury than Brill and in Barkshire either Forces to contin â—e as they are The Parliaments Forces in Oxfordshire to advance no nearer to Oxford than Henley In Buckinghamshire no nearer than Alisbury The Kings Forces shall take no new Quarter nearer than twelve miles from Oxford any way nor the Parliament twelve miles from Windsor where the Parliaments Armie lay That no Siege shall be against Glocester but the Kings Forces to return And that the Parliament Forces remain as they are in Glocestershire c. February 28. And having treated without any success the Committee returns to the Parliament the seventeenth of April after During this Treaty comes out a weekly Assessment from the Parliament of England and Wales which amounted unto thirty three thousand nine hundred eighty one pounds thirteen shillings vast sums additional to the former and others subsequent In this time the Queen in Holland now imbarques for England the sixteenth of Feb. and with contrary windes and foul weather was forced back again and thereafter with much hazzard anchored at Burlington Bay the nineteenth and lands at the Key the two and twentieth wiâ—h Officers Munition and Money To her comes the Earl of Montrose and Lord Ogleby with two Troops of Horse being now received at York and the Queen forming a pretty Army whereof she hath the command and meets the King hereafter at Edg-hill three moneths hence Indeed she had been in very great danger in her passing out of Holland of which the King assures her he shall not be out of apprehension untill he may have the happiness of her company Thinking it not the least of his misfortunes that for his sake she hath run so much hazzard which it is impossible for him to repay but his heart being full of affection for her and admiration of her and impatient passion of gratitude to her he could not but say some thing leaving the rest to be read by her out of her own noble heart Oxford Febr. 13. 1642. The County of Glocester being mostly engaged in the Parliament service in the midst of their Enemy Oxford being the Kings head Garison Herefordshire his Forces Worcester entertain'd a strength Wales under power of the Lord Herbert The Earl of Essex and his Army drawn to London the Parliaments Forces in the West have their hands full two Regiments at Bristol and one at Glocester this County the most likely game for winter action but the strength of the County drawn to Cirencester a Frontier Town towards the Kings head Quarters and now made a Garison and Colonel Thetiplace that commanded a Regiment and two Companies of Foot added after some Horse and Dragoons raised by the Countrey and the rest of the Militia were to assist in danger more voluntary than regular but resting chiefly on Sir Robert Cook Sir Iohn Seymer Mr. Stephens and Mr. Hodges with
the middle Rank of people the Gentry in general for the King which made the Contribution heavy upon the other grumbling at Taxes always covetous where they are not affected In Ianuary it was that the Kings Forces marched resolving to storm Cirencester but they onely faced the Town and retired And the Parliaments Forces had their Design upon Sudeley Castle kept by Captain Bridges for the Lord Chandos Lieutenant Colonel Massey draws from Glocester with three hundred Musquetiers two Sakers and four Companies of Dragoons from Cirencester In the Castle were sixty Souldiers and all things sufficient and endured several shot and Cannon The next day they drew up to the Assault and kept by the help of Beds and Woolpacks tumbled before them to save them from shot the Horse and Dragoons possessing a Garden under the Castle fired the Hay and Straw smothering the House in the Blinde whereof the Ordinance were brought up and planted against the West part of the Wall and so became surrendred upon quarter to pass to their homes and to leave their Arms and were to pay for the Goods in the Castle five hundred pounds in six days or to lose them But some days after comes Prince Rupert with four thousand Horse and Foot pretending to regain it but marched by to Cirencester a stragling open Town neither fortified nor indeed capable of defence the champion Countrey helpfull to the Horse his greatest strength and on the first oâ— Febr. the Assault was first made upon a House a flight-shot from â—he Town defended an hour by an hundred shot then the Prince draws up their Musquetiers and by Granadoes fired the Barns smothered the Guard and marched into the Town by main force and in two hours mastered all and the Earl of Stamford's Regiment put to the sword and many more slain eleven hundred Prisoners and three thousand Arms laid up for the Countrey Magazine are taken and so carried in triumph to Oxford to shame them for disobedience The next day the Prince marches to Glocester his hasty Summons startled them at these strange turnings but Massey makes Answer That they were resolved to defend the Citie for the use of the King and Parliament and would not surrender at the Command of a foreign Prince And to maintain its strength the outward Garisons as Sudeley was deserted Teuxbury Garison wanting to secure themselves the Countrey backward to come in to them the Governour draws up Propositions for Peace and sent them to Sir William Russel which were granted The Army in Wales raised for the King by the Earl of Worcester and his Son the Lord Herbert begins to appear and designed for Glocester and was marched forwards and come to Coford in the Forest of Dean three Miles from Monmouth where Colonel Burrows Regiment for the Parliament had made a loose Garison for defence of the Forest where the Welch fell on and drave their Enemy before them divers Officers slain Sir Richard Lundy Major General of South-Wales and for the Parliament Lieutenant Colonel Winter and many other and fifty taken Prisoners And thus this Welch Army prevailing march on towards Glocester and setle at Hingham house two miles off and there intrench and Sir Ierome Bret Major General demanded the Town but was refused with scorn as not to yield to a Welch Army that denied twice Prince Rupert's Summons before but indeed they expected the Prince to assist them on the other side of the Town the cause that they lodged nastily so long as five weeks never attempting their Enemies out-guards nor the least party that issued out Mean while the Prince was to wait upon other Designs the Bristol Plot offered it self upon whâ—ch he attended before their Gates thence he was drawn off to stop Sir Waller's advance for the Relief of Glocester who deceived the Prince by false Reports and Night-marches drilling along his small Army The Governour Massey could attempt nothing till Captain Iohn Fines came from Bristol with two hundred Horse and Dragoons which issued out and skirmished with the Welch and so imployed till that after the taking of Malmsbury Waller came to Glocester laying his Design to surprize the Welch and Massey to draw out at the time appointed Horse and Foot before Hingham and to keep them in action not to understand his apâ—â—â—ach and for the flat-bottom'd Boats brought from London to be â—worsdâ— to Frampton passage six miles below Glocester where the Horse and Foot arrived by noon passed over by night and intrapped the Welch Massey likewise drew up all his Horse and five hundred Foot with his Ordnance near to the House keeping them near fifteen hundred in play till evening at Sun rising they were fresh allarm'd by the great Guns and held to it by the Musket-shot when in the forenoon the Welch Horse forced their way through the Horse-guard and put them to a disorderly Retreat but coming up to the Foot-guard received a Repulse whichâ— Foot-guard was thought too weak and had Relief of a party drawn from the Artillery the Welch at that instant fell upon the Ordnance likely to be deserted in this point of action Waller comes up with his Warning Piece on the other side much amazing the Welch and revived the other who thus encouraged they ran upon a Redoubt and took it with two Captains and thirty Souldiers Waller made a better shew than in substance two Foot Regiments made some few shot of Cannon upon the House and the Welch sounded a Parley with this Result To render the House and themselves Prisoners but the Officers should receive quarter as to their qualities Upon these hard terms they resolved to break through in a dark and rainy night but the common men would not and so they yielded upon these terms Divers persons of quality were here taken the Gentry of Herefordshire The next day the Prisoners were lead to Glocester The Scots Army marched Southward and crossed Tine March 13. and met no Enemy till they were forced from Bowdsn Hill by the Earl of Newcastle twenty days after And to end this Year the Synod began to sit at Westminster and what to do to reform or rather to set up a new model of Church-government Presbyterian and what they shall do God knows what they have done we can tell received their Wages for many years since of four Shillings a Day and rose again without finishing so much as their intended Directory We conclude with these two Letters of the Pope sent to his people of Ireland which were returned from them to the Parliament of England to put them in minde of that miserable Kingdom The Pope was not wanting to encourage the Rebellion with his Apostolical Letters to Oneal and other Letters to the Ecclesiasticks thus Dilecto filio Eugenio O Nello c. To our beloved Son Eugenius O Neal Health and Happiness Beloved Son It hath ever been our constant custom to lay hold on every opportunity whereby you following the steps of your progenitors
on to Warwick and there refreshed fell upon Strafford Avon commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Wagstaff Colonel Croker and Trist a Dutchman and some Companies of Foot with these they made good the Bridg faced the Enemy but not able to endure the Ordnance made a safe Retreat and left the Town to the Enemy who in fear of some stratagem made a hasty plunder and retreated to Warwick and so to Staffordshire where his Lordship by his Reputation and presence sought to dissolve the Association of the Gentry there and reduce the County to the Parliament Being come to Lichfield he gets into the Town indefencible and unarmed but those Forces that were there under the Earl of Chesterfield retired to the precincts of the Cathedral called A Close a place more tenable Brook being Master of the Town gave on upon the Enemy and whilest they fought he was got up into a chamber-window and peeping at a loop-hole of the Window received a fatal Shot upon the Ey-ball of which he instantly sunk down and died The remarkable passage is that the Lord Brook was shot in the eye on Saint Chad's day the first Bishop of the Mercians of that Church and that by the Son of a Clergy man the Enemy of the Church was killed The Assailants having lost their Leader retired for a while but came on again and took the Church together with the Earl of Chesterfield and all his Souldiers being many and some good Ordnance The Report was constant that the Lord Brook had ordered his Chaplain at his setting forth to this Encounter to preach upon this Text If I perish I perish Hest. c. 4. And himself prayed and used this Execration upon himself and Souldiers That if the cause he followed were not right and just he might be presently cut off and that he hoped to live to see the day when one stone of Saint Paul 's Church in London should not be left upon another Should be killed in the Eye and not the Lid touched He that disliked the Letany for the Prayer against sudden Death should die stone-dead But on Sunday afterwards March 22. the Commanders of the Kings Forces besiege Lichfield received intelligence that Sir Iohn Gell and Sir William Brereton for the Parliament with a Body of three thousand were coming to the Relief of the Besieged they drew out eight hundred Horse and three hundred Dragoons and came upon them unexpected and the Parliaments Horse not able to endure the Charge were put to flight and the Foot seeing themselves deserted forsook the Field leaving the Victory intire to the Kings party many killed and Prisoners taken with Ammunition and Baggage some Ordnance and four Drakes but all these were full dearly bought for though the King lost but few men he had it at no less price than the Earl of Northampton's life a gallant faithfull Lord who charging in the Head of his Troop was so-ingaged that his own Saddle-horse being shot and failing he was unfortunately slain and though he lost his life yet Victory attended him to his grave vanquishing those by whom he suffered and died a Protestant professour contrary to the feigned Report devised on him But afterwards Lichfield Close was gotten for the King by Prince Rupert the one and twentieth of April who having sprung his Mine made a reasonable Breach which assailing and at the same time others scaled the Walls both which failing and he sent for to Court gave them a fresh Attempt as a Farewell at which they yielded Lieutenant Colonel Russel commanding in chief to depart with fourscore Horse Men and Arms as many Musquetiers with Colours flying a free Pass and eleven Carts for their Baggage to Coventry and all Prisoners taken on either side since the Lord Brook came into the Countrey should be released It was on Saturday April 17. that the General Essex sate down before Reading and the next day made an Attempt thereon but was beaten off by Sir Arthur Aston the Governour an old Souldier bred up in the Wars of Germany from his youth A second Onset followed and entered upon one of the Out-works and repulsed with loss and for that good service the King sent them thanks with a Supply of seven hundred Musquetiers and sufficient Ammunition which was conveyed to Dorchester and so by a considerable strength of Horse to the water-side just against the Town by break of day and by Boats got in the Besiegers seeing it done but far off to hinder it But the place not able to indure the several Attempts of so great an Army daily supplied with fresh men the City of London Trained Bands and plenty of all provisions the last Encounter of the Besiegers with their great Ordnance shooting into the Town the Governour got a dangerous Bruise on the Head by the fall of some Brick-bats and in much danger the command devolved on Colonel Fielding and by him the Town was delivered up to their Enemy upon noble Conditions All the Forces to march out in warlike manner with free passage to Oxford with fifty Carts for Carriage the Town not to be plundered and such as will may remove from thence within six weeks and this was done on May day Of which sudden Surrender Fielding was questioned and committed at Oxford and by a Council of War sentenced to lose his head but left to the Kings mercy and by importunity of his Kindred the Villiers he had pardon And Sir Arthur Aston recovered of his Mischance to do the King good service for many years after In May the Overseers for demolishing all Pictures Crosses and what not that were so idolatrous abominable concluded their Reformation in that Monument of Adornment to the City Cheapside the great Cross after the Multitude had defaced the excellent Statues thereon of former Kings and Queens they pulled down the whole Fabrick to the ground in hate to Idolatry as was pretended but more certainly they made good use of the Gold and Lead which the pride of the City formerly had set out with much cost and now as forward to pull it down for the benefit of the State service And the next good Act they voted the Queen a Traitor for taking part with her Husband for now she was ready to march with good Forces towards the King Captain Hotham the Son being imprisoned by the Parliament made his Escape and sent to the Earl of Newcastle that he would cast himself into his arms and that Hull and Lincoln should be rendered to him and is now gone to his Father at Hull and both of them stand upon their guard The Queen now at Newark with some Forces intends to lie at Werton and thence to Ashby and there resolve what to do the Enemies Forces from Nottingham being gone to Leicester and Derby to intercept the Queens passage The Queen before she departed left for the safety of Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire two thousand Foot and Arms for five hundred more and twenty
the Breaches of the State without the Ruines of the Church as I would be a Restorer of the one so I would not be an Oppressor of the other under the pretence of Publick Debts The Occasions contracting them were bad enough but such a discharging of them would be much worse I pray God neither I nor mine may be accessory to either And now dies Mr. Iohn Pym a Member of the House of Commons and a notable stickler for the Parliament he was ever observed to be an high Prebyterian in profession whose subtilty managed the most of their publick affair and ended his days when he had wrangled for the Mastery and left all in great doubt which party might overcome not without some regret and repentance they say that these Differences which he hatched should prove so desperate as he now too late fore saw would undo this Nation In the midst of May it was that Colonel Nath Fines Governour of the City of Bristol had discovered a Plot of the Inhabitants to betray the Town which after much Examination lighted upon Robert Yeomans and George Bourchier who had secretly provided themselves of Arms intending to kill the Centinels by night and possess the Main Guard whereby to master the greatest part of the other side within the Town to kill the Mayor and many others affected to the Parliament and by that means to betray the City to the Kings Forces which should lodg near hand for that purpose two miles off but the Plot pretended was discovered and those men condemned by a Council of War to be hanged This was known at Oxford whereupon the Kings Lord Lieut. of all his Forces the Lord Ruthen lately made Earl of Forth writes to the Governour of Bristol I having been informed that lately at a Council of War you have condemned to death Robert Yeomans late Sheriff of Bristol who hath his Majesties Commission for raising a Regiment for his Service William Yeomans his Brother George Bourchier and Edward Dacres all for expressing their loyalty to his Majesty and endeavouring his Service according to their Allegeance do therefore signifie to you that I intend speedily to put Mr. George Mr. Stevens Captain Huntley and others taken in Rebellion at Cirencester into the same condition I do further advise you that if you offer by that unjust Iudgment to execute any of them that those here in custodie must expect no favour or mercie At Oxford May 16. 1643. To the Commander in chief of the Council of War in Bristol Forth The Answer comes from the Governour Colonel Nathaniel Fines and the Council of War at Bristol in effect That if you shall not make distinction between Souldiers of Arms and secret Spies and Conspirators we will not onely proceed against them but others and if by any inhumane and unsouldierlike Sentence you shall execute those persons you named then Sir Walter Pye Sir William Crofts and Colonel Connesby and others whom we have here in custodie must expect no favour or mercie May 18. 1643. Nath. Fines President c. To Patrick Earl of Forth Lord Lieutenant General And so notwithstanding the Kings Letter also to the Mayor and Citizens in their behalf Yeomans and Bourchier were hanged May 30. There was a Plot discovered at London the last of May against the Cities of London and Westminster and by consequence the whole Parliament the chief of the Conspiracy were Mr. Waller a Member of the House of Commons Mr. Tomkins his Brother in Law and lately Clerk of the Queens Council Mr. Chaloner Mr. Hasel Mr. Blinkhorn Mr. White and others As for the Plot we have ravelled into the search of the truth but must take it from the Parliaments Declaration That they should seize into their custodie the Kings Children some Members of the Parliament the Lord Mayor and Committee of Militia all the Cities Out-works and Forts the Tower of London and all the Magazines Then to let in the Kings Forces to surprize the Citie and destroy all Opposers and to resist all payments of Taxes And much heartened they were by a Commission of Array sent from Oxford at that time and brought secretly by the Lady Aubigne Daughter to the Earl of Suffolk Widow of the late Lord Aubigne wounded at Edg-hill and died at Oxford the thirteenth of Ianuary This Commission was directed to Sir Nicholas Crisp and divers others This Plot was discovered the last of May. They were arreigned in publick at Guild-hall and all those four named condemned onely Tomkins and Chaloner executed the first 〈…〉 Door in Holborn the other in Corn-hill but the chief Conspirator Waller was by General Essex reprieved imprisoned a twelve-moneth in the Tower and after for a Fine of ten thousand pounds pardoned and for shame sent to travel into France The reason is much studied for satisfying the World why he the chief Actor the other but brought in by the by should receive such partial Justice because he was ingenious and confessed all and Mr. Pym had engaged his promise for his Life but certainly the most evident Reason is very apparent his great Sum of Money paid down and belike his ample confession of the particulars which the other at their death did not acknowledg Iuly 5. The Parliament having been put to it in want of the great Seal of England now at Oxford for confirmation of their Acts and Ordinances it had been oftentimes disputed and committed the making of another Seal for the use of the Parliament yet deferred the times not â—itted for so great a business the renewing of the Treaty being offered at on both sides But now the Parliament pass four Votes 1. That it is necessary the Great Seal to attend the Houses 2. That there hath been a failer of it at this Parliament 3. Much prejudice to the King Parliament and Kingdom 4. That the Houses ought to provide a Remedie thereof for the time to come Afterwards they made an Order That if the Lord Keeper Littleton upon Summons did not return with the great Seal within fourteen days he should lose his Place and whatever should be sealed therewith by him after that time should be null and vacate in Law A worthy Member desired the Serjeant at Law that ordered the Ordinance not to wade too far in the business before he did consult the Statute of 25 Edward 3. where Counterfeiting the Great Seal is declared high Treason To which the Serjeant replied That he purposed not to counterfeit the old Seal but to make a new Indeed the Parliament being the highest Court and Council had shewn their legislative power by passing Ordinances without the Kings assent to binde the Subject in the exercise of the Militia and that there wanted nothing but the executive part with a Great Seal for the administring justice in all Courts of Law and Equity which would sufficiently declare their power in all necessary Incidents of that supreme Council That since inferiour Courts had their proper Seals the
greatest should not be without one And so a new one was framed engraven thereon the Picture of the House of Commons and Members sitting Reversed the Arms of England and Ireland Cross and Harp Palie And presentlâ— after Mr. Henry Martin a Member without much authority forced an entrance into the Abby Church at Westminister with spoil upon the utensils and ornaments of the Church and broke open two Doors into a private Room near the place where the Regalia Crowns Scepters and other Ensigns of State used at Coronation of their Sovereigns but finding some obstacle that barred his entrance till Mr. Wheeler shewed him the secret that opened the passage to their seizure only prevented for that time by the Earl of Holland and some of the Commons House perswading Mr. Martin to forbear till further pleasure of the Lords concurring which he did by sealing up the Doors His Assistants saying Let us take the Crown and set it upon the Duke of Glocester 's head whom we have with us Tush quoth Martin ye are Fools to talk of Crowns or Kings of which there will be so little use hereafter But after dispute at a Conference the Lords were brought to this Reason That many superstitious things amongst the Regalia were sit to be removed as no longer usefull Whereto one unhappily made a prophetick Reply He doubted the King himself will ere long be some superstitious Monument of decayed Divinity and so thought fit to be removed the King not making the Crown but the Crown the King which being now in their hands they may bestow the Kingdom on whom they please The Earl of Essex hovering about Tame gave Orders about to Buckingham Forces to allarm the Kings Forces some Skirmishes had been on Saturday night Iune 17. and the nex moâ—ning Prince Rupert provokes a Body of Horse to appear early the next morning whom he wasted many Prisoners Captain Sheiffield Son to the Earl of Moulgrave the chiefest but their chief Commander Serjeant Major Gunter shot dead in the place and Mr. Iohn Hambden a principal Member of the fire died a Week after of those wounds he had in this Fight Iune 18. He was a Gentleman of good Descent in Buckinghamshire the great Incendiary from the first of these Troubles setting the Wheel on work in the great Sute of Ship-money against the King and so forward in Junto with the five Members so troublesome to the Kings proceedings then he takes Arms and is made a Colonel for Buckinghamshire whose interest in that County together with his subtilty fairly shadowed by his civil carriage he became the ablest Actor of all though Mr. Pym spake more in the Parliament this man gave best counsel And now he dies on the Bed of Honour being a Souldier but unfortunate and before he had brought his Engines to some end he had buried his Son and Heir and two Daughters and his Grand-childe two onely Sons surviving the one a Criple the other somewhat at like a Lunatick He received his deaths wound in Chalgrave Field the place where he first appeared to draw up his Men to shew himself a Commander in this unhappy War It was before that Captain Hotham had been taken Prisoner and escaped ten Days since from Nottingham thence to Lincoln and recovered Hull so opportunely that together with his Father Sir Iohn they were both seized upon and sent Prisoners to the Parliament and the Commissioner Sir Matthew Bointon for his pains therein took possession of the Town and Command for he coming thither unsuspected being Hotham's Brother in Law and much intrusted makes himself Master of the Magazine and the affections of the Souldiers eâ—e Sir Iohn had espied the practice but then too late he got out to Beverley where he was set upon by his own Souldiers corrupted by Bointon who pursued him back to Hull and at the Town-gate called Beverley the very place where he acted against the Kings person heretofore was himself knocked off his Horse by the But end of a Musket and taken Prisoner seizing hâ—s Wife and Children rifled his House and legally plundered him of all his Treasure which he had raked together in the Ruine and Ransack of his neighbour Subjects to the value of ten thousand pounds sending him and his Son Wife and Children in a Ship Prisoners to the Parliament to the effect of their future sufferings on the Scaffold the first of Ianuary 1644. Thus were the military actions managed this way whilest Sir William Waller was in the West with his whole Body upon the hither end of Lands-down in a place of great advantage whence he sent out a good party of Horse and Foot towards the Cavaliers Sir Bevil Greenvile and Sir Nicholas Slaining two gallant Gentlemen of Cornwall lining the Hedges towards their Champain and there advanced a strong party of Horse under protection of his Musketiers so that some of Greenvile's Horse being drawn out within Musket-shot retired in some disorder towards the Rear of his Foot whereupon the Cornish Foot advanced and bravely beat them out of the Hedges and the former Horse speedily rallying again recovered their ground Then a strong party of Waller's Horse drew into a large Field upon their Adversaries left Wing which were charged by their Horse and intirely routed the Cornish Foot likewise driving theirs from Hedg to Hedg through Woods and down steepy Hills back to their main Body and at last forced them from the brow of a Hill which they had barracadoed and whereon they had planted Cannon for the ground they had was advantageous an high Hill walled behinde and on both sides with Works on the Front the passage up very narrow and dangerous one side Wood the other side Hedges and both lined with Musketiers This ground Waller had got and stood in an intire Body his Foot within the Flank of stone-laid Walls through which he had made places for his Horse to sally being drawn up in Battalia at the Rear of his Foot before the other party Horse and Foot could be drawn up in order Waller charged them with his Horse played so thick with his Cannon and Muskets that he forced them from the Hill which yet was again assaulted twice nay thrice and the fourth time with very great difficulty the Hill was regained which Greenvâ—â—e himself maintained with a Stand of his own Pikes against the power of the others Horse and Foot and Cannon to the acknowledgment of his Gallantry and Honour even by his Enemies where he was unfortunately slain in the Front of his men with his Serjeant Major and Captain Lieutenant dead at his feet and in earnest I have heard it confest with as much Honour as ever was conferred on an Enemy Then the Cavaliers rallied their Horse and drew up their Cannon it growing dark but shot on all sides till Mid-night when their Adversaries stuck light Matches on the Hedges which received Volleys from each part of the Body but in stead
raised by the Kings Commission here for that purpose were imployed in the Army of General Essex These things were known in Ireland and the effects foreseen which encouraged the Rebells there in some hopes of Peace by the Protestants necessities if not it might be possible for some Pacification or Cessation To that end the Irish frame a short Petition to the King presented to the Lords Justices and Council there in the Name of the Roman Catholicks for to be heard to speak for themselves In the beginning of December after the Irish Committee petition the King at Oxford of the miserie and necessitie of that gasping Kingdom unless timely Relief were not his loyal Subjects must yield their fortunes a prey their lives a sacrifice and their Religion a scorn to the merciless Rebells Upon which Commissioners meet on both sides but so unsatisfactory that the Kings Lieutenant General there being troubled with the cavils and proceedings of the Rebells marched out in Feb. with two thousand five hundred Foot and five hundred Horse to force Victual from them for his Army not having received any Relief from England in four Moneths before so that in March 16. following the Lords Justices and Council signifie That the State and Army there were in terrible want and that unless Money Munition Arms Cloaths were speedily sent thither utter destruction and loss of that Kingdom must follow Instead of Redress the very Ships as were to transport thither Cloaths and Victuals from charitable people were seized and taken by the Earl of Warwick and endeavours here to draw the Scots Forces from thence into this Kingdom to assist the Parliament Whereupon the Marquess Ormond the Kings Lieutenant General there had the 31. of Iuly last Commission to agree of a Cessation for a year which was concluded at Singinston the fifteenth of September at twelve a clock for a year and confirmed by Proclamation of the Lords Justices and Council at Dublin the nineteenth of September 1643. Donough Viscount Muskery Dillon Plunket Talbot Barnwell and others were for the Catholick Subjects as they styled themselves The Articles are ordinarily the same as usual free Trade and Prisoners of War released And as a Gift to the King they ingage for thirty thousand eight hundred pounds to be paid as a Present to the Kings use at several Payments before May-day Then to justifie the necessity of the Cessation for the good of the Kingdom we finde an Instrument setting down the misery of the Nation and want in the Army It had been proposed to very many persons of Honour and others in the Army who framed a Writing importing all the former particulars and there conclude They for these causes do conceive it necessary for his Majesties Honour and Service that the said Marquess Ormond assent to a Cessation of Arms for one whole Year on the Articles and Conditions drawn up and to be perfected by virtue of his Majesties Commission for the preservation of this Kingdom of Ireland witness our Hands this fifteenth of Sept. 1643. Clanricard and St. Albans Roscomon Dungarven Brahazon Inchequin Lucas Ware Erule Hunks Paulet Eustace Povey Gifford Percival Warren Cook c. Upon the Rebellion and Troubles in Ireland and upon the Cessation of Arms there the King hath expressed himself with that clearness as to the satisfying of all malicious Aspersions which some men have endeavoured to charge upon him where he saith That the Commotions in Ireland were so sudden and so violent that it was hard at first either to discern the Rise or applie a Remedie to that precipitant Rebellion Indeed that Sea of Bloud which hath there been cruelly and barbarously shed is enough to drown any man in eternal both infamie and miserie whom God shall finde the malicious Authour or Instigatour of its Effusion It fell out as a most unhappie Advantage to some mens malice against me that when they had impudence enough to lay any thing to my charge this bloudie opportunitie should be offered them with which I must be aspersed although there was nothing which could be more abhorred to me being so full of sin against God disloyaltie to my self and destructive to my Subjects Some men took it very ill not to be believed when they affirmed that what the Irish Rebells did was done with my privitie at least if 〈◊〉 by my Commission But these knew too well that it is no news for some of my Subjects to fight not onely without my Commission but against my Command and Person too yet all the while to pretend they fight by my Authoritie and for my safetie I would to God the Irish had nothing to allege for their imitation agâ—â—st those whose blame must needs be the greater by how much Protestant-principles are more against all Rebellion against Princes than those of Papists Nor will the goodness of mens intentions excuse the Scandal and Contagion of their Examples But who ever fail of their Dutie toward me I must bear the blame this Honour mine Enemies have always done me to think moderate Injuries not proportionate to me nor competent Trials either of my patience under them or my pardon of them Therefore with exquisite malice they have mixed the Gall and Vineger of falsitie and contempt with the Cup of my Affliction charging me not onely with untruths but such as wherein I have the greatest share of Loss and Dishonour by what is committed whereby in all Policie Reason and Religion having least cause to give the least consent and most grounds of utter detestation I might be represented by them to the world the more inhumane and barbarous Like some Cyclopick Monster whom nothing will serve to eat and drink but the flesh and bloud of mine own Subjects in whose common welfare mine interest lies as much as some mens doth in their perturbations who think they cannot do well but in evil times nor so cunningly as in laying the Odium of those sad Events on others wherewith themselves are most pleased and whereof they have been not the least occasion And certainly 't is thought by many wise men that the preposterous Rigour and unreasonable Severitie which some men carried before them in England was not the least Incentive that kindled and blew up into those horrid Flames the Sparks of Discontent which wanted not pre-disposed fewel for Rebellion in Ireland where Despair being added to their former Discontents and the Fears of utter Extirpation to their wonted Oppressions it was easie to provoke to an open Rebellion a People prone enough to break out to all exorbitant violence both by some Principles of their Religion and the natural Desires of Libertie both to exempt themselves from their present Restraints and to prevent those after-rigours wherewith they saw themselves apparently threatned by the covetous zeal and uncharitable furie of some men who think it a great Argument of the Truth of their Religion to endure to no other but their own God knows as I can with Truth
chief of the Forces in Glocestershire or Colonel Min Commander of the English Brigade that came out of Ireland or Colonel Washington at Evisham or the Governour of Berkley Castle As soon as you send an Answer you shall receive satisfaction from Your assured Friend G. D. Backhouse replies and conceives Sir William Vavisor the fittest to comply and gives his Reasons but the present payment of the three hundred pounds was waved by Stanford and as deeply pressed by Backhouse till they in private met at Coflawn without Arms or Attendants where he receives two hundred pounds and a promise to disingage a Bond of his of fifty pounds And the Plot was thus that Colonel Massie should be drawn out of Glocester with a strong party towards Berkley Castle with assurance that the Castle should be rendered in whose absence Backhouse was to open the Gates and deliver the Word but with some counter considerances The fifteenth of February was now come the time assigned and nine a clock at night the hour and a Messenger is sent to the Cavaliers Quarters with the Word but the Design of Backhouse was discovered and so nothing was effected But how Backhouse could receive the Money and dispence with his deep Oaths to be sincere and just to his promise I know not certainly so much Money could not satisfie for an evil conscience nor can his part be excused from corruption in the highest nature if duly examined The Actions of Glocester against the Welch set up Sir William Waller and the Kings party thereabout to withdraw for Sir Matthew Carew forthwith quitted Teuxbury which within twelve hours was possessed by Captain Iohn Fines with sufficient strength of Horse and Dragoons to whom also their affected Friends at Glocester came home again hastily and with much confusion but no sooner warm in their new possession but the former Forces with a greater power returned upon design The Assistance was of Horse a gallant Brigade commanded by the Lord Grandeson which came from Chiltenham without the least intelligence to the other and as little to his Lordship to be met with by Glocester Forces which came suddenly to the succour yet Fines had been surprized with all his Horse had not a ridiculous Accident prevented it Captain Fines at a Miles distance off the Town meets a Man whom they question he supposing them a party of the Parliament to curry favour tells them of vast numbers and great strength of Cavaliers but seems to defie them with indignation this frightens Fines to a Council of War and were about to fall back which delay gave an hours respite and so the Enemy entred After Sir William Waller had refreshed his Men about the first of April he advanced towards Monmouthshire invited by some Gentlemen to reduce their parts at his coming to the Town of Monmouth the Garison of the Lord Herbert retired leaving a naked place to Sir William where finding small success of his parties sent abroad for Supplies of Moneys he marched to Usk and spending some time to no purpose in that County he returns the stream of the people affording him no welcome being all universal Tenants of that County to the Earl of Worcester In this time Prince Maurice enters Teuxbury with a Brigade of Horse and Foot added to the Lord Grandeson resolving to make after Waller or to meet his return out of Wales A Bridg of Boats wafts him over Severn with a Body of two thousand Horse and Foot Waller was nimble in his Retreat not to be catcht in a noose or neck of Wales but by a Bridg of Boats came back at Chepstow with his Foot and Artillery and himself with his Horse and Dragoons passed through the lowest part of the Forest of Dean near the River side of Severn and ere the Prince had notice sends forth two Parties to fall upon two of the Princes Quarters which was performed whilest Waller's main Body slipt between both and a Party was left also to face them and make good the Retreat which came off but disorderly with loss of some Souldiers It was held a handsome conveyance and unexpected to bring himself out of the Snare by uncouth ways This Allarm soon reached Glocester and caused Massie there to send assistance of two Troops of Horse and three hundred Foot to fetch him off This Party met him two Miles off the Town where being combined they design to set upon Teuxbury and taking conveniency by the Princes absence and Waller's supposed Defeat instantly they march and come up to the Town by break of day one part whereof fell into the Ham seized the Guard left with the Bridg-of Boats and cut off that Bridg but his Horse with the rest of the Foot came up Glocester way surprized and slew the Centinel climbed over the Works cut down the Draw-Bridges the Horse and Foot rushing in and the party on the other side Avon ready to enter also There they found in the Town three hundred men commanded by Sir Matthew Carew whom the Triumph of yesterday's supposed Victory had lull'd asleep and now awakened by this sudden Allarm rowsed up to a shufflâ—ng fighting posture and then to a Retreat and after to an Escape and but some Souldiers taken These sudden Surprisals gave various intelligence to Oxford not able to credit any Relations being so strangely inconstant but onely to chances Yet a party of the Princes Horse appear from the top of the Hill near Teuxbury as if his Body were hard by whereupon Waller marches thither that Evening resolving to break down or make good the Bridg at Upton upon Severn besides which there was no Pass nearer than VVorcester but the Scouts told him the Prince was there before and guarded it The next day VValler advances and found him in Ripple-field his Army drawn up and divided into three Bodies faces him but would not fight being fewer in number no Shot prepared no Cannoneers few Foot the Winde nor Sun to friend and their Retreat if need were through a long Lane In this posture though some perswade to fight others would not and so VValler retreats into the Lane commanding a Party of Dragoons to face the Prince and the Musketiers to stand at the corner to make good his Retreat But the Prince falls on the Dragoons fly over Hedg and Ditch broke over the Bridg disordering their own and were killed or taken Massie sends to Teuxbury for Supply but Haselrig with his Troop and some Foot made a Charge which in part took off the foulness of the Flight for at the end of the Lane a Ditch stopt their haste and a Gate flung off the Hinges barred the Pursute with time to make a Stand no longer than that the Prince came up but then faced about and fled in a great hurry and loss till a Supply of Foot from the Town met them near Mith-hill and there made a false Stand rather to take breath than to fight for their
Sir Io. Burlacie Fr. Newport Anthony Hungerford Io. Russel Thomas Chichely Earl of Cork Sir Iervase Cliâ—ton Sir Guy Palmes Ro. Sutton Iervase Hollis Sir Patrick Curwin Sir Henry Bellingham Sir George Dalston Sir Thomas Stanford Sir VVilliam Dalston Mich. VVharton Sir Ro. Hutton Iames Sindamore Sir Io. Brich Sir Io. Stepny Imployed in his Majesties Service Sir Io. Finch Hugh Porter VValter Kurle VVilliam Stanhop Sir VVilliam Carnaby Sir Thomas Danby Io. Fennich Ralph Sneade Sir VVilliam Ogle Sir Thomas Iermin Sir Iohn Stowell Sir Robert Strickland Sir Ph. Musgrave Io. Coucher Io. Coventry Sir Henry Slingsby Sir Io. Malory Io. Bellasis Sir Thomas Ingram Lord Mansfelt Thomas Hebelthaite Sir Hugh Cholmly Sir George VVentworth Sir VValter Lloyd Iohn Vaughan Richard Ferrers George Hartnoll Sir VVilliam Udall Robert Hunt Thomas May. Sir Thomas Bourcher Sir Thomas Roe These Members taking into consideration the distressed estate of this Kingdom did the seven and twentieth day of this instant Ianuary send a Letter to the Earl of Essex for a Treaty of peace signed by all the Members with order to be published to this effect My Lord His Majesty having by his Proclamation of the two and twentieth of December last upon occasion of this Invasion by some of his Subjects of Scotland summoned all of the Members of both Houses of Parliament to attend him here at Oxford inviting us in the said Proclamation by these gracious Expressions That his Subjects should see how willing he was to receive advice for preservation of the Religion Laws and Safety of the Kingdom and as far as in him lay to restore it its former peace and security his chief and onely end from these whom they had trusted though he could not receive it in the place where he appointed VVhich hath been made good to us and seconded by such unquestionable Demonstrations of his deep and princely sense of the miseries and calamities of his poor Subjects in this unnatural VVar and his passionate affection to redeem them from that deplorable condition by all ways consistent with his Honour or with the future safety of the Kingdom c. We being most intirely satisfied of this truth and sensible of the Desolations of our Countrey and further Dangers threatned from Scotland c. And we being desirous to believe your Lordship however ingaged a person likely to be sensibly touched with these considerations do invite you to that part in this blessed work wich is onely capable to repair all our miseries and buoy up the Kingdom from ruine VVe therefore conjure you by all obligations that have power upon honour conscience or publick piety you will co-operate with us to its preservation by truly representing to and promoving with those by whom you are trusted this our Desire That they joyning with us in a right season some persons be appointed on either part to treat of such a Peace as may redeem it from the brink of desolation This Address we make being assured by his Proclamation of Pardon that his mercy and clemency can transcend all former provocations God Almighty direct your Lordship and those whom you shall present with these our real Desires as may produce a happy peace c. Your affectionate Friends c. Oxford Jan. 27. 1645. To these he returns no Answer to them but sends this Letter to the Parliament at Westminster where it wrought upon the Members according to their several affections The haste which the Scots Covenanters made rushed in their Army into England the sixteenth of Ianuary consisting of eighteen thousand Foot and two thousand Horse marching forwards till they came to the warm Sea-coal fires at Newcastle they knew the way hither having fared so well the time before in their first Expedition their then General and they being well rewarded here and at home by the Kings indulgent graces he following them into Scotland confirming unto them in full Parliament all the Privileges of Kirk and Kingdom and conferred many Honours and Offices He having done all this as before in particulars and ere he took leave to return wishing them to continue in allegeance and live in peace and if any difference should happen in England which he hoped God would divert he desired them to continue Neuters though he might expect Aid yet he would not disturb the Peace of his native Countrey To which they all obliged themselves by revival of their own Act to that purpose and at the publishing one of their chief that had been their General in the said Expedition fell on his knees and lifting up his arms and hands to Heaven wished they might rot to his body before he died if ever he would heave them up hereafter or draw his Sword against his gude King yet this Wretch Sir Alexander Lesly whom the King had made Lord Leven comes General of this Army also But their Harbinger came before them a Declaration spread abroad for satisfaction to their Brethren of England intentionally to answer three Questions The justness of their Cause The lawfulness of their calling thereunto And the faithfulness of their carriage therein For the first they appeal to the great Searcher of all hearts who knows that had not the love of Christ requiring to bear one anothers burthen and the Law of Nature challenging our endeavour to prevent our own Danger inveloped with our Neighbours and our Duty and Desire of rescuing the King from his pernicious Council we could with far more content have enjoyed our dry Morsel than entered into your Houses full of Sacrifices with strife c. And we profess before God and the world our hearts are clean and free from any other intentions than those expressed in our Solemn League and Covenant confederate with England viz. Reformation of Religion Honour of the King Peace of the Kingdoms Secondly and because a good necessarily requires a good Calling c. Providence hath so provided that the Parliament of England have a particular obligation upon this our Nation for refusing to countenance a VVar against us in 1640. and now desire our assistance to them and so with the sense of Piety Religion Honour and Duty to their Sovereign we may not resist our Call to this Expedition Thirdly then for our carriage herein we shall order our Army from Insolencies Rapines Plunderings and other calamities incident to War And we do freely give the Publick Faith of the Kingdom of Scotland unto the Kingdom of England that neither our entrance into nor continuance in England shall be made use of to other ends than is expressed in that Covenant which we shall keep inviolable And call God to witness their onely intent of VVar is to confirm all in Peace and so to return home again How they have performed these let the world judge I
Close Committee For Subjects to make foreign Confederacies without their Soveraigns assent to invade the Territories of their undoubted King to go about by force to change the Laws and Religion established is grosse Treason without all contradiction and in this case it argues strongly who have been the Contrivers and Fomenters of all our Troubles No Covenant whatsoever or with whomsoever can justifie such proceedings or oblige a Subject to run such disloyal courses If any man out of Ignorance or Fear or Credulity have entred into such a Covenant it bindes him not except it be to Repentance Neitheâ— is there any such necessity as is pretended of your present posture your selves cannot allege that you are any way provoked by us neither are we conscious to our selves of the least intention to molest you Those ends which you propose are plausible indeed to them who do not understand them the blackest Designs did never want the same pretences If by the Protestant Religion you intend our Articles which are the publick Confession of our Church and our Book of Common Prayer established by Act of Parliament you need not trouble your selves we are ready to defend them with our Bloud If it be otherwise it is plain to all the World that it is not the Preservation but the Innovation of Religion which you seek however by you styled Reformation And what calling have you to refâ—rm us by the Sword We do not remember that ever the like indignity was offered by one Nation to another by a lesser to a greater That those men who have heretofore pleaded to vehemently for Liberty of Conscience against all Oaths and Subscriptions should now assume a power to themselves by Arms to impose a Law upon the Consciences of their fellow Subjects A vanquished Nation would scarce endure such Terms from their Conquerours But this we are sure of that this is the way to make the Protestant Religion odious to all Monarchs Christian and Pagan Your other two ends that is the honour and happiness of the King and the publick Peace and Liberty of his Dominions are so manifestly contrary to your practice that we need no other motives to withdraw you from such a course as tends so directly to make his Majesty contemptible at home and abroad and to fill all his Dominions with Rapine and Bloud In an Army all have not the same intentions We have seen the Articles agreed upon and those vast Sums and Conditions contained in them as if our Countreymen thought that England was indeed a Well that could never be drawn dry and whatsoever the intentions be we know right well what will be the consequents if it were otherwise no intention or consequent whatsoever can justifie an unlawfull action And therefore you do wisely to decline all disputation about it it is an easie thing to pretend the Cause of God as the Jews did the Temple of the Lord but this is far from those evident Demonstrations which you often mention never make Consider that there must be an account given to God of all the Bloud which shall be shed in this Quarrel The way to prevent it is not by such insinuations but to retire before the Sword be unsheathed or the Breach be made too wide you cannot think we are grown such tame Creatures to desert our Religion our Laws our Liberties our Estates upon command of Foreigners and to suffer our selves and our Posterity to be made Beggars and Slaves without opposition If any of ours shall joyn with you in this Action we cannot look upon them otherwise than as Traitours to their King Vipers to their native Countrey and such as have been Plotters or Fomenters of this Design from the beginning But if mis-information or fear hath drawn any of yours ignorantly or unwillingly into this Cause we desire them to withdraw themselve at last and not to make themselves Accessaries to that Deluge of Mischief which this second Voyage is like to bring upon both Kingdoms The Scots for a Moneth together have likewise spread abroad this slander That divers of the Nobility have lately deserted the King which the Lords of the Assembly of Parliament at Oxford took upon them to convince that in time to come there might not be left one Loop-hole of Excuse for this their Rebellion Directing their Letters To the Lords of the Privy Council and Conservatours of the Peace of the Kingdom of Scotland Our very good Lords If for no other reason yet that Posterity may know we have done our Duties and not sate still whilest our Brethren of Scotland were transported with a dangerous and fatal misunderstanding c. We have thought it necessary to tell you that when you are informed that the Earls of Arundel and Thanet and the Lords of Stafford Stanhop Coventry Goring and Craven are beyond Seas and the Earls of Chesterfield Westmerland and the Lord Montague of Boughton under restraint at London for their Loyalty and Duty to his Majesty and the Kingdom your Lordships will easily conclude how very few now make up the Peers at Westminster there being not above five and twenty Lords present or privy to these Councils And so they go on to give their Reasons why this Assembly at Oxford are dissenting and absent from Westminster being forced away by the Multitude of the meaner sort of the City Rabble of London and prosecuted by unparliamentary Debates and Votes without freedom or safety to their Lives And therefore we do protest against any Invitation made to the Scotish Nation to enter this Kingdom with an Army And we do conjure your Lordships by our common Allegeance under one gracious Sovereign by the amity and affection of both Nations by the Treaty of Pacification and by all obligation divine and humane which can preserve peace upon earth to prevent the effusion of so much Christian Bloud and the confusion and desolation which must follow this Invasion c. And therefore your Lordships may be assured we shall expose our lives and fortunes in the just and necessary defence of the Kingdom Engaging our Honours to be our selves most religious observers of the Act of Pacification and we hope to receive such an answer from you as may preserve the two Nations c. Your Lorships most affectionate humble servants And signed by all the Lords and Peers of the great Assembly at Oxford about sixty as before in the Roll aforesaid We will end this year with Prince Ruperts relief of that gallant Garison at Newark from the three weeks hot siege of Sir Iohn Meldrum for the Parliament wasting his Army from seven thousand to five thousand the manner was thus Prince Rupert being at West-Chester upon Tuesday night March 12. received his Majesties commands to march with all speed to the relief of Newark with four thousand Foot under five Regiments and four Colours and two thousand Horse and Dragooners Upon these Summons he made haste to Shrewsbury speeding away Major Legge General of the
which was assessed in Money proportionable to the condition of the Family The Scots are come and great care taken at Westminster for pay of that Army the twentieth part over all the North they have power to assess for themselves and all Malignants Estates that they can seize within their reach Nay several Counties and Associations are assessed for them Against whom the Marquess of Newcastle marched Northwards and to attack him in Yorkshire follows Sir Thomas Fairfax who was guided by his Father as the Father is by the grand Committee at Westminster as the Committee is by the Scots This dependency being very necessary to assure them good Welcome for so says their Letter to the Lord Fairfax My Lord VVe have taken into consideration the opportunity offered for reducing of Yorkshire whilest the Marquess of Newcastle hath drawn his Forces towards the North to oppose the Scots and how necessary it is to hinder his further Levies that Sir Thomas your Son march into the VVest Riding with all his Horse with two Regiments of Foot out of Lancashire and that your self take the Field with what Forâ—es you can and joyn with your Son for effecting these ends to hold a continual Intelligence with the Scots Army by drawing near Tees March 2. Northumberland Jo Maitland And here we see the great Earl of Northumberland invites the ancient Enemies of England into his own County and the Lord Fairfax into Yorkshire Cambridg University lay under the ordering of the Earl of Manchester Serjeant Major General of the Association where these Heads of Houses were turned out Dr. Beal Dr. Martin Dr. Stern in whose places were put in Masters of the Colleges Mr. Palmer Mr. Arrowsmith Mr. Vines as men more fit indeed such others as these were changed into the like I know not how more fit I am sure some of them are famous for false Latine Sir William Waller forward on his way to finde out the Lord Hopton who was drawn out of Winchester with sufficient Horse to oppose Sir William Balfore whom Waller had sent before to possess Alresford but came last for his Lordship was there first and forced Waller into small Villages in the morning Hopton drew down to Bramdean Heath and found Waller on a fair Hill and would not be forced thence till a long Dispute the Hill thus gained Colonel Lisle with his commanded Men kept it all night in this time of darkness Waller had mastered another Hill of greater advantage by the covert of Trees and Hedges which Colonel Appleford was to repossess and found it a hard Task to mount up against the powring shot of such as lined the Hedges not seen from whence it came Volleys well performed which yet were fain to give way to force which cost them dear enough for they paid a good price for it Here was a pretty breathing if Waller went off Hopton would follow to his undoing if they came on they would undo themselves but the Allarm was given by a mistaking Corporal of Hopton's who took his Enemies for Friends and so were engaged too far to seek throughout within their Ambuscadoes who now play their parts by this Advantage and put Hopton to a Retreat and neither parts had cause to cry Victoria for both sides were soundly beaten I intitle the Fight to the Lord Hopton but General Forth was there upon the other score he came in with the Lord Iohn Stuart sore wounded but I know not how concluded for dead yet Sir Arthâ—r Hasâ—erig called it A safe Deliverance though at London it was cried up for a Victory on this side Sir William Balfore in his Letter to his General â—ssex numbers then to be eight Commanders killed by him the Lord Stuart indeed and Sir Iohn Smith died afterwards of their wounds two gallant Gentlemen so did Colonel Sandys and Colonel Manning and Colonâ—l Scot Colonel Appleyard and Captain Pierson Sir Edward Stowel and Sir Henry Bard these were hurt and deserve honourable mention But at London they mention three Lords killed Stuart is confessed but not the General who they make a double one for his two Titles Forth and Ruthen And so they are described to be Gebal Moab and Ammon and to be utterly vanquished by the Servant of God Sir VVilliam VValler And the Parliament had some of theirs slain Dalbier wounded and Colonel Thomson had his Leg shot off by a Cannon Bullet And this happened upon a Friday March 29. The Cavaliers in disorder drew their Cannon off towards VVinchester but wheeled off unseen to Basing House VValler marches to VVinchester which was rendered to him upon Summons and Hopton is now at Oxford But a solemn Thanksgiving was ordered in London for this Victory and some Members sent to the City to encourage them for Supplies The Earl of Pembroke and Montgomery told them That the City Auxiliaries had done their part and if they went but once more they would rid the Kingdoms of these Rogues the occasion of all our miseries And upon these preparations and success of the Parliament the King draws all his Forces to a Rendezvouz to oppose his Adversaries And as VValler had done such Encouragements heightened others to undertake Mountains Colonel Griffith commonly called Prince Griffith had the confidence to propose to the House of Commons That if he might have a Commission to command in chief of all North Wales next under General Essex and to have Delinquents Estates there by him to be discovered and the Income of such as he should conquer in North Wales not exceeding the Sum of fifteen thousand pounds he would engage his Life and Estate to raise such Forces as should reduce Wales to obedience Which was referred to the Committee of both Kingdoms And he set out in all magnificence with his Silver Trumpets and guarded Coats But at his first Encounter with some of Prince Rupert's Forces whom he sought out for a single Duel Prince Griffith was totally routed which occasioned a merry Lady to tell him He looked sadly ever since he lost his Silver Trumpets And so cashiered he became debaucht and abused the Lady Herbert for which he was imprisoned but her honour much concerned he was released and so having spent a reasonable Fortune he was necessitated to travel beyond Seas where at Paris he was killed in a Tavern the end of his impudency We may enter this Spring with the setting out of General Essex and his Army to be recruited to seven complete Regiments of Foot and six Regiments of Horse and a constant Pay of thirty thousand five hundred and four pounds a Moneth for four Moneths And the Parliaments Navy to be complete for this Summer with addition of twelve Merchants Ships in the places of nine others unserviceable and fifteen small Catches to be added to the Fleet. And a new way of Contribution was devised for getting Moneys towards the charge of arming the Auxiliary Forces now raising within the City of London That all Inhabitants
Merits The Queen began her Journey this day from Oxford towards the West of England those parts the most free from the poweâ— of her Enemies and more peaceable for her quiet rather than Oxford where though she were safe yet not secure from noise and business not much though regarding their Forces nor much troubled at the falsities for which the Parliament at VVestminster had voted her a Traitour besides the vain Libells that were let loose from Press and Pulpit in much plenty against the honour and dignity of Majesty and so she was conducted by the King Prince and Duke of York waited on with the chief Nobility and Gentry the first days Journey The King in presence of his Peers before they parted from Oxford received the holy Eucharist at Christ's Church from the hands of the Arch-bishop of Armagh used these publick Expressions immediately before his receiving the blessed Elements he rose up from his knees and beckning to the Arch-bishop for a short forbearance made this Protestation My Lord I espie hâ—re many resolved Protestants who may declare to the world the Resolution I do now make I have to the utmost of my power prepared my Soul to become a worthy Receiver and may I so receive comfort by the blessed Sacrament as I do intend the Establishment of the true Reformed Protestant Religion as it stood in its beauty in the happy daies of Queen Elizabeth without any connivence at Popery I bless God that in the midst of these publick Distractions I have still liberty to communicate and may this Sacrament be my Damnation if my heart do not joyn with my lips in this Protestation The King had caused a Garison in South Wales at Swansey a Town of good note in the County of Glamorgan under command of the high Sheriff residing there in person and were summoned from a Ship-board by Captain Molton To the Mayor and Gentlemen of Swansey Gentlemen these are to will and require you in the Name of the right honourable Robert Earl of Warwick Lord high Admiral of England Wales and Ireland and his Majesties Navy Royal at Sea that you forthwith yield the Town and Garison to the King and Parliament c. And this is the advice of your Friend who endeavours to preserve you if not I shall keep you without Trade till your forced obedience bring you to the mercie of him that tendereth to you grace and favour Milford-haven from the Ship called the Lion Ro. Molton This Lion-like sawcy Paper the high Sheriff received and suddenly sends Answer To Robert Molton Subscriber unto the Paper directed to the Mayor and Gentlemen of Swansey We cannot understand how we may with any justice or loyaltie return you the name of a Gentleman in answer to your rude and rebellious Paper in the front whereof you have the boldness and presumption in the Name of the right honourable as you term him whom we account otherwise Robert Earl of Warwick by you styled high Admiral of England and his Majesties Navie Royal which he hath illegally possessed to will and require us forthwith to yield the Town and Garison of Swansey into the obedience of the King and Parliament c. In defiance of which your traiterous Summons under a spurious shew of your loyalty and subjection to his Majestie We will not yield Town nor Garison nor any the least interest we hold of Life or Fortune under protection of his sacred Majestie but will defend the same against your proud and insolent Menacingâ— wherein your proper Trade is exhibited and in the account of a Rebell and Traitour we leave you to your self May 14. Subscribed by the high Sheriff and Gentlemen of Glamorganshire Certainly this Frolick for a Ship Captain to attach a Land Garison was not with any assurance to master it by his great Guns or that he could imagine so great fear in Master Sheriff to quit his trust upon a weak Summons rather it was with an intent to answer that Knack of a Troop of Horse in the North who finding some Sailers drinking in an Ale-house seized their Ship and Goods hard by in a blinde Creek If Captain Molton could have done so by Swansey he needed the less to give warning by Summons but he left it as he found it in the Sheriffs command Latham house was sore beset with a Siege against that noble Countess of Derby for above three Moneths by these Commanders Ashton Moor and Rigby nay by the power of Sir Thomas Middleton and Sir William Fairfax addition upon whom the besieged have sallied out and killed many at several times Colonel Moor's men erected a Breast of Mutton on a Pikes point held it up to the hunger-starved Rascals within daring them to come out and dine and the Countess was called to by name a young Gentleman Captain Chisnall desired my Lady that he might sally out ere the Table should be taken away which he did ere they had dined forced into their Trenches took divers Prisoners and some Colours which instantly they carried to the back Gates of the House opened them and shewing these Colours cried out A Latham a Latham the House is taken hereupon the Enemy being ignorant of this Deceit concluded it to be taken and advancing in a Body came in speed to the Gate where they were welcomed with three Pieces of Cannon and much execution and thus this Lady held out Latham till Prince Rupert came to her Relief For on Tuesday May 21. he marched on his way towards Lancashire and the five and twentieth towards Stopwash a border Town of Cheshire seated on the Banck of the River Mersey dividing these two Counties here the Parliament had a strong Garison who drew out with three thousand Horse and Foot and faced Rupert's Horse but at the coming up of his Foot in the Evening about six a clock the other side withdrew to the Hedges and lining them shot through which he must pass and therefore he commands Colonel Washington with some Dragoons to scowre the Hedges and forced them to the Town whom the Prince followed so close that he entered with them and took the Town Cannon Army and Amunition and many Prisoners Then being so near he sends Relief to the Countess of Derby who had now opposed a strong Siege of eighteen Weeks but her Adversaries were rising and going in fear to stay for Prince Râ—pert yet not without some Farewell therefore the Garison sallied out fell upon the Enemies Rear killed some and took Prisoners and so way was given for the Earl of Derby to return home to his own house The King having drawn out all his Forces from several Garisons to meet at Goring Heath in Oxfordshire the Parliament at Westminster was much troubled ordering that their General Essex the Earl of Manchester and Lord Grey with what Forces could be raised at London with the Garisons of Windsor and Alisbury and all to meet at the general Rendezvouz Alisbury in the
himsefe shot in the arm for this good service his Majesty presently Knighted him and he well deserved it His Majesty wanted only Horse to have utterly destroyed them for they were now unable to help themselves In this condition his Majesty pursued them all day getting still ground in the evening one whole Regiment of their Foot being Colonel Weyres staggared ran from field to field with their Cannon and Colours only at the appearance of but eight of his Majesties Horse and had not night come on all their Army had undoubtedly been destroyed The Gentlemen of his Majesties own Troop did most gallantly in that service being twice bravely led on by the noble and valiant Lord Bernard Stuart to the great terrour of the Rebels This no question caused their General Essex early the nex day to quit his glorious Command and in a small Boat to shift away by water some say for Plymouth as yet there is no certainty where he is nor of Roberts Meirick and others who are gone Thereupon yesterday his own Lieutenant Colonel Butler who was formerly taken Prisoner at the Lord Mohun's House and now exchanged for Sir John Digby came to desire a Parley which was accepted and Hostages interchangeably delivered the Treaty followed in the evening in the Kings Quarter the Treators for his Majesty Prince Maurice the Lord General and the Lord Digby Theirs Colonel Barkeley an insolent Scot Colonel Whichcott a zealous City Colonel and Colonel Butler after high demands the conclusion brought forth these Articles 1. It is agreed That all the Officers and Souldiers as well of Horse and Foot under the command of the Earle of Essex being at the time of the Conclusion of this Treaty on the West side of the River of Foy shall to morrow being the Second of September by eleven of the clock in the morning deliver up near the old Castle in their own Quarters All their Cannon and Train of Artillery with All Carriages Necessaries and Materials thereunto belonging and likewise All the Arms offensive and defensive both of Horse and Foot and all Powder Bullet Match and Amunition whatsoever unto such Officers as the General of His Majesties Artillery shall appoint to receive the same except only the Swords and Pistols of all Officers above the degree of a Corporal who are by this Agreement to wear and carry the same away 2. Secondly It is agreed That immediately after the delivery up of the said Artillery Arms and Amunition c. that all Officers and Souldiers both of Horse and Foot of the said Army shall march out of their Quarters to Listithiel with their Colours both of Horse and Foot Trumpets and Drummes And that all Officers of Foot above the degree of Serjeants shall take with them such Horses and Servants as properly belong unto themselves as also all reformed Officers their Horses and Arms not exceeding the number of fifty and likewise to take with them all their Bagge and Baggage and Wagons with their Teemes of Horses properly belonging to the said Officers 3. Thirdly It is agreed That they shall have a safe Convoy of a hundred Horse from their Quarters to Lestithiel and thence in their March the nearest convenient way to Poole and Warham provided that they secure the said Convoys return to Bridgwater or His Majesties Army and that in their march they touch not at any Garrison 4. Fourthly It is agreed That in case they shall march from Poole to any other place by land that neither they nor any of them shall bear Arms more then is allowed in this agreement nor do any Hostile act untill they come to Southampton or Portsmouth 5. Fiftly It is agreed That all the Sick and wounded Officers and Souldiers of that Army who are not able to march shall be left at Foy and there secured from any violence to their persons or goods and care taken of them untill such time as they can be transported to Plymouth 6. Sixtly It is agreed That all Officers and Souldiers of that Army for the better conveniency of their march shall be permitted to receive all such Monies Provisions of Victuals and other accommodations as they shall be able to procure from Plymouth To which end they shall have a Passe granted for any Persons not exceeding the number of twelve whom they shall send for the same 7. Seventhly It is agreed That there be no inviting of Souldiers but that such as will voluntarily come to his Majesties Service shall not be hindred MAURICE BRAINFORD Phil. Skippon Christ. Whitchcott According to these Articles his Majesty possessed himself of all the enemies train of Artillery viz. 49. Pieces of fair Brass Ordnance taken then and the day before among which was the great Basilisco of Dover 200. and odd Barrels of Gunpowder Match Ball c. proportionable above 700. Carriages and bewixt 8. and 9. thousand Arms Horse and Foot Amongst the Baggage were found a world of empty Bottles belonging to his Excellencies own Quarter As for their persons his Majesty out of his wonted Clemency was unwilling to shed blood they were his own Subjects which caused so many thousands of them instantly to desire imployment in his Majesties Cause to fight especially against them who had led them into all this and at last run away from them To speak truth this is the most high inexpiable piece of cowardize that ever was committed by one who took on him the name of a General to lead an Army of above ten Thousand men into such miserable necessity all which they endured through his Lordships conduct and then to steal away in a poor little boat by night leaving all his flock to starve or submit to the mercy of another Army But the Earl to excuse himself accuseth the Lord Roberts for betraying him into this County of Cornwal where he promised the people would rise upon his coming which they did to some purpose The Lord Roberts saies 't was the Earls own headinesse to advance Westward expresly contrary to the Ordinance of both houses adding that the Earl might have preserved all if he would have but entertained a Treaty with his Majesty by which pretence he might have gained time till relief had come The inferiour Officers accuse them both and both Officers and Souldiers say 't was long of Sir William Waller for not advancing who twenty to one will fault them at Westminster for not recruiting him and the Members must needs lay it upon the Citizens who would not by any means come forth with Waller And yet Sir William would never have run away by Sea nor his Excellency at Roundway-down you see now what hath been the old difference betwixt the Earl and the other the one for a Race-horse the other for a Cock-boat Though truly 't is a wonder that the Earl would take water when he should take possession of Ten thousand pound per annum which the Members voted him out of the Lord Capel's Lands And in his way as the King
returns sundry Pieces of strength were delivered up to his Mercy as Ilfercombe September 12. Barstable six daies after Saltash storm'd and taken and returns homewards to Banbury and raises that siege and in November his Army Rendezvouse on Burlington Green raiseth Dennington siege and advanceth to Hungerford where the Parliaments Forces leaves the field and rise from Basing siege the King regains Monmouth and returns to Oxford 23. of November And notwithstanding these Martial exploits to them that he was therein defensive and a sufferer also in his good successe he woes his Adversaries for peace all the way he marches out and returning home for after the defeat of Waller at Copredy Bridge he writes himself from Evesham 4. Iuly to the Lords and Commons of Parliament assembled at Westminster C. R. We being deeply sensible of the Miseries and Calamities of this our Kingdom and of the grievous sufferings of our poor Subjects doe most earnestly desire that some expedient way be found out which by the blessing of God may prevent the further effusion of blood and restore the Nation to peace from the earnest and constant endeavouring of which as no discouragement given us on the contrary part shall make us cease so no success on ours shall ever divert us For the effecting thereof we are most ready and willing to condescend to all that shall be for the good of us and our people whether by the way of conformity which we have already granted or such further concessives as shall be requisite to the giving of a full assurance of all the performance of all our most real professions concerning the maintenance of the true reformed Protestant Religion established in this Kingdom with due regard to the ease of tender consciences the just priviledges of Parliament and the liberty and property of the people according to the Laws of the Land As also by granting a general pardon without or with exceptions as shall be thought fit In order to which blessed peace we doe desire and propound to the Lords and Commons of Parliament assembled at Westminster That they aâ—pâ—int such and so many persons as they shall think fit sufficiently authorized by them to attend us at our Army upon safe conduct to come and return which we do hereby grant and conclude â—iâ—h us how the premisses and all other things in question betwixt us and them may be fully setled whereby all unhappy mistaking between us and our people being removed there may be a present cessation of Arms and as soon as may be a total disbanding of all Armies the Subject have his due and we be restored to our rights Wherein if this our offer shall be accepted there shall be nothing wanting on our part which may make our people secure and happy Given at our Court at Evesham 4. of Iuly 1644. And to shew his gracious inclination to Peace and that he seeks all fair ways and means thereto see how he descends to seek it from a Subject and his deepest Enemy the Earl of Essex at Lestithiel and the King at Liskard Essex I have been very willing to believe that when ever there should be such a Conjuncture as to put it in your power to effect that happy Setlement of this miserable Kingdom which all good men desire you would lay hold of it that season is now before you you having it at this time in your power to redeem your Countrey and the Crown and to oblige your King in the highest degree an action certainly of the greatest piety prudence and honour such an opportunity as perhaps no Subject before you hath ever had or after you shall ever have to which there is no more required but that you join with me heartily and really in the setling of those things which we have both professed constantly to be our onely aims Let us do this and if any shall be so foolishly unnatural as to oppose their Kings their Countries and their own good we will make them happy by Gods blessing even against their wills the onely Impediment can be want of mutual confidence I promise it you on my part as I have endeavoured to prepare it on yours by me Letter to Hertford from Evesham I hope this will perfect it when as I here do I shall have engaged to you the word of a King that you joining with me in that blessed work I shall give both to you and your Armie such eminent marks of my confidence and value as shall not leave a room for the least Distrust amongst you either in relation to the publick or your self unto whom I shall then be Liskaâ—d Aug. 6. 1644. Your faithfull Friend C. R. If you like of this hearken to this Bearer whom I have fully intrusted in particulars but this will admit of no delay To confirm the Kings Intentions and to assure the Armies Ingagement also the great Officers and Commanders subscribe to another Letter to the Earl of Essex My Lord VVe having obtained his Majesties leave to send this to your Lordship shall not repeal the many gracious Messages Endeavours and Declarations which his Majestie hath made and have been so solemnly protested in the presenâ—e of God and Man that we wonder how the most scrupulous can make any doubt of the real and royal performance of them But we must before this apprâ—aching occasion tell your Lordship that we bear Arms for this end onely to defend his Majesties known Rights the Laws of the Kingdom the Libertie of the Subject the Privilege of the Parliament and the true Protestant Religion against Poperie and popish Innovations and this being the professed cause of your Lordships taking Arms we are confident that concurring in the same opinions and pretences we shall not by an unnatural VVar weaken the main strength of this Kingdom and advance the Design of our common Enemies who long since have devoured us in their hopes My Lord the exigent of the time will not suffer us to make any laboured Declarations of our Intentions but onely this That on the Faith of Subjects the Honour and Reputation of Gentlemen and Souldiers we will with our Lives maintain that which his Majestie shall publickly promise in order to a bloudless Peace nor shall it be in the power of any private persons to divert this Resolution of ours and the same we expect from you And now we must take lâ—ave to protest that if this our Proffer be neglected which we make neither in fear of your power nor distrust of our own but onely touched with the approaching miseries of our Nation that what calamities shall oppress posteritie will lie heavie upon the souls and consciences of those that shall decline this Overture which we can not hope so seasonably to make again if this Conjuncture be let go and therefore it is desired that your Lordship and six other persons may meet our General to morrow at such an indifferent place as you shall think fit attended with
many Arms and Ladders Hovvever they doe their best vvith Granadoes and great Shoâ— 154. of the first and of Canon above 800. Wherefore Lieutenant Colonel Green sallied out slevv and vvounded more and no doubt the Castle lost many But the Earl of Northampton for the King vvith good strength of Horse came from the Rendezvouz near Newbury quartering at Farnborough and then to Beechen-tree to meet Colonel Gage from Oxford vvhose Horse vvere commanded by Colonel Webb the Foot by Lieutenant Colonel Gerard and Major Kirke and all joyning they march to Aderbury and came to Banbury October 25. finding Colonel Fines his Horse in several bodies dravvn up on the South side of the Tovvn Here they stand a vvhile and face the Earl but soon retreated to the West side tovvards Hanwel their Foot novv come out of the Tovvn in some disorder follovved their Horse having sent their Baggage and Artillery that vvay the night before The Earl pursued them vvith three Regiments of Horse the Earl of Brainfords the Lord Wilmots and his ovvn and some Dragoons Colonel VVebb being sent on the left hand round about Crowth-hill with the most part of Oxford Horse to face or charge them in the Flank In the mean time Colonel Gage vvith the Foot enters Banbury Tovvn and relieves the Castle Northampton overtakes his Enemies neer Hanwel a Forlorn-hope being dravvn out by Captain Brown and joyning vvith Gages Oxford Horse but vvere valiantly opposed so that they vvithdrevv to the Ear◠〈◊〉 main Body vvith him and after a long and round dispute to 〈…〉 the enemy retreated somevvhat hastily and neer Hanwel they dispersed some to Copredy Hanwel Tovvn Broughton and Compton leaving their Carriages one Field piece and three Wagons of Arms and Amunition vvhich vvere sent to Banbury Castle and thus much it cost them for these vvere slain Captain Brown Captain Tylly the Earl of Brainford shot in the mouth and Colonel Webb vvas hurt in the hand so was Lieutenanant Colonel Smith and one Boteler commended for his gallantry was slain nine Troopers and many Common Souldiers killed and hurt But they that fled must needs be more the high waies could testifie many prisoners Cap. Vint and Lieutenant Vernon four Cornets of Horse many Horses and six Barrels of Powder Match and Shot c. Glocester being recruited by â—olonel Stephens with three Troops of Horse and tvvo Troops of Colonel Harlyes Regiment they drew out against Colonel Myn an active Cavalier and perpetual vexation to Massie who had discovered that some Forces out of Wales vvere to passe at Ast and advanced thither and missed narrowly of the Lord Herbert these being abroad Colonel Myns design was that their Forces in both Counties of Hereford and Worcestershire should joyn at Casselane and so march to the Gates of Glocester Massie therefore returns homewards from whence he sends for 220 Musquetiers and 100. more from Tewxbury to meet him on the march to cope with Myn. But being arrived and all things prepared to set out a dispute increased betvveen two of their own Majors Grey and Hamond and after a box on the ear they drew and for the blow Hamond kills him whose Souldiers now in Arms ready to advance turned back to the revenge which the Governour had much adoe to pacifie which gave the Enemy time to come on within three miles of the Town and to prevent their further advance Massies men at Highleaden passed the Brook and finde the Cavaliers quartered in Hartpury Fields quiet and still but was upon them by dark night took ten prisoners and some Forragers their main Body being gon that night to Redmarly and were followed to Eldersfield two miles from them At break of day Massie marches and by six a clock advanced to their Rendezvouz being 160. Horse and 850. Foot drawn up into Batalia and the Hedges lined with Musquetâ—ers The other divided his Foot into two Bodies and drew out his Horse into single Troops the Inclosures not giving room for a larger form and having disposed one Troop with the Tewxbury shot he drew out the remain to another place of advantage Massie leads the Van of three Troops being seconded by three other Troops commanded by Backhouse and thus drawn out they march to their Adversaries charging suddainly put them from their Ambuscado's beat their Horse to a flight and so got into the Van of their Foot and worsted them bâ—oke their whole Body many wounded and slain and some prisoners Myn slain in the place and 170. Major Buller seven Captains four Lieutenants five Ensignes twelve Serjeants and near 250. common Souldiers taken Prisoners But in this encounter Myn was alone for the Hereford and Worcester Forces were not joyned which was hourly expected and had done the deed as they designed it and so Myn was lost and those with him for Lieutenant Colonel Passy who commanded a fresh party of 150. Horse and 500. Foot just at the close of the fight was comâ—ng post to Myns Brigade to bring news of the others arrival but he was met by the Scouts and wounded and taken so neither of their parties had knowledge to prevent this mischief But up they did come being first discovered by Colonel Broughton met with some straglers in the pursuit such they cut off but the Body got home with all their prisoners Myns body was carried to Glocester and for his worth and honour they vouchsafed him burial his death much lamented with the losse of the English Regiment from Ireland Englishmen not Irish as many would now make the world believe them to be of the Irish Rebels but most untrue this defeat ruined the Kings power in South Wales Prince Rupert's Forces lay stragling between Shrewsbury and Worcester a while after the great Northern defeat at Marston Moor which were now rallied into an Army for the close of this Summers action To make a diversion from the West part and so to befriend Essex all the Glocester Forces that could be spared were drawn out towards Bathe with a thousand Horse and Foot Waller having returned to him the former Forces which he borrowed on purpose to disturbe the Kings Quarters and so to enforce him to withdraw a part of his main Body to enable Bristol and Bathe and hoped likewise to encounter Prince Rupert from Bristol who was there in person but in few dayes upon knowledge of the utter losse of Essex his Army in the West all these designes flatted But indeed it was time for Massie to return and look to himself for Prince Rupert had commanded Colonel Charles Gerrard out of Wales with other Forces to break their way through Glocestershire into the Western parts these were suppose◠〈◊〉 lye neer Worcester and to march to Cotswold Hills or by the borders of Herefordshire to make into Dean Forrest and thence over at Ast passage and to hinder these designes Massie retreats and in his return falls down before Berkley lodged in the Town two dayes and
Noble-man or Gentleman of worth ever deserted the King that had before fought for him Of Scots there were a couple whom I except In this time the Earl of Manchester's Army plyed their work upon the North East of Newburie near Shaw about four a clock they came down the Hill before Shaw advancing towards those Guards which the Lord Astley disposed under command of Colonel George Lisle the Colonel appointed Lieutenant Col. Richard Page to keep Mr. Dolman's House and Garden and Sir Thomas Hooper with his Dragoons and other Foot to keep the Hedges and Lane Col. Thelwel with his own Regiment and others of the Reading Brigade being for a Reserve The Earl of Manchester's Horse and Foot with the Trained Bands of London came down the Hill advancing hastily upon Colonel Lisle's Guards and worsted them but then Sir Io. Brown advanced with Prince Charls's Regiment of Horse charged the Foot and after received a Charge of a thousand Horse and then retreated to the Foot in the Garden At the same time when Sir Io. Brown charged with Horse the Reserve of Foot came on which were three hundred of Lesley's Tertia commanded by Colonel Thelwel whereto were joined those Musquetiers in the Lane and those other fourty that were driven from the Hedg and this Body of Foot came up and gave fire upon the new gotten Hedg and both sides fought well falling on with their But-ends of their Musquets till the Hedg-men retired out of the Field leaving their Colours and two Pieces of Cannon behinde which were taken and drawn off which the first Owners endeavoured with a Body of Horse half an hour after to recover but were forced to return to their other Cannon upon the Hill for those were past recovery In this last Charge Lieutenant Colonel Page was shot through both his Thighs and through his Arm. The Kings side had plenty of Pillage and killed many the number uncertain of his party there fell Sir Anthonie St. Leaguer Lieutenant Colonel Leak and Lieutenant Colonel Topping not more of note and many common Souldiers Some eminent persons wounded Sir Io. Greenvile Sir Bevil's Son and Sir Richard Campsfield Major Alford shot in the Thigh and the General the Earl of Brainford in the Head This Fight lasted four hours from four a clock after-noon till eight at night The King marched to Wallingford without any Allarm to his Rear which staid upon the place till mid-night General Essex marched into Newburie and then summoned Dennington Castle three several days three several times and three several Assaults but were beaten off The Kings Army in Oxfordshire increased expecting the joyning of the Welch under conduct of Colonel Gerard and Massie was sent unto with all speed to hinder their conjunction or to joyn with the Parliaments Army and so calls off his own Regiment of Horse from about Monmouth and with them marches towards Evesham where the Cavalier was before eight for one leaving Monmouth under command of Throgmorton who was Serjeant Major to Colonel Harley designed Governour by the Parliament and being forward in his fresh Authority to merit draws out three hundred Horse and Foot to take in Chepstow Castle the Cavaliers from Ragland and Godridg about break of day Novemb. 19. lodg themselves undiscovered behinde a rising ground near Monmouth and viewing all Advantages fourty of them came up to the higher side of the Town towards Hereford having a sloping Bank cast up of good height with a Ditch over which they pass mount the Bank and climbed over and so got to the next part fell upon the Guard some killed others â—led and with an Iron Bar break the Port Chain forces the Gate and opens it to the Horse who rid up with full career to the Main Guard seized them and took the rest in their Beds with Colonel Broughton four Captains as many Lieutenants and Ensigns the Committee all the common Souldiers two hundred Prisoners two Saâ—â—ers a Drake nine Hammâ—r Guns Amunition and Provision and five hundred Musqueâ—s This News comes to Throgmorton who had no heart to follow his Chepstow Design but marches away to meet Maâ—â—ie at Burford onwards upon the Parliaments Order and now meant to way-lay the Lord Grandeson with the Worcester Forces going to Oxford buâ— turned on the other side in hope to come to the Relief of â—embridg Castle being an Out-guard to the Garison of Monmouth but the Bridg was broken down and the Castle forced to surrender upon Quarter but all the Souldiers turned to the King Monmouth now becomes a famous Garison and strong Association with all the Countrey and Neighbours to oppose them sundry Garisons are erected in the Forest the Garison of Hichmeden to affront Monmouth Ruredeant was a stop to the Cavaliers from Hereford and those at Lidney are kept in by another party at Nast This dead of Winter the Kings Forces were dispersed Cirencester and the Hill-countrey of Glocestershire was assigned to Sir Iacob Astley having three Brigades of Foot and assisted with four Regiments of Horse the Queens Prince Maurice's Prince Rupert's and the Lord Wilmot's and others whose Incursions on that side and the Bristol Forces about Berckley with the Forces of Worcester Hereford and Monmouth on the other side acted daily to the destruction of a miserable Countrey crouching under the burden of two parties evenly resolved to destroy all Such hereabout and so in all other Counties remote from London but for the most part the Seat of War was here more certain Massie Commander of Glocester Association places a Guard at Lipiat commands a party of Horse and Dragoons to Stroud and other Guards of Horse and Foot at places of Advantage Sir Iacob Astley his Antagonist for the King draws out of Cirencester four Regiments of Horse to Hampton Roade divides his men three several ways where each party ransacks surprizes and return with Prisoners and Spoil And himself assaults the Guard at Lipiat where he found slender Resistance the Lieutenant slain and fifty common Souldiers besides Prisoners and Spoil and becomes so formidable that he commands Contribution to the very Gates of Glocester The Earl of Worcester the Lord Herbert and Sir Iohn Winter procure from Prince Maurice at Worcester a Regiment of Horse and Dragoons for the service and use of Lidney Garison in the Forest of Dean which hotly disputed with Massie ere they could get in and so Massie draws off when they of Lidney sally out upon Sully House a Mile distant Massie comes to the Rescue where both partâ—es dispute to the close of neithers advantage and so part And now the Ordinance being passed for continuance of the Martial Law for four Moneths longer Sir Iohn Hotham and his Son came to their Trials The Earl of Manchester and others assigned to be their Judges sate in the Hustings Court at Guild-hall London the first of December where the Father came first and his Charge in effect That he had traiterously betraied the trust reposed
upon better thoughts and very sorrowful desiring that his Errors in Passion might not be drawn into Crimes And that had he intended to desert the Parliament he should have advised with some of his Officers and allured them with him which he was confident could never be proved against him He confessed that after he came to Hull and before his last apprehending he and his Father received two Letters from the Marquess Newcastle and that by his Fathers direction he writ a plausible Letter in Answer the better to hold him in hand to enlarge their own Quarters about Hull otherwise much straitned and the like The Letter was thus To the Right Honourable William Earl of Newcastle My Noble Lord. I confesse it is a great comfort to me in my distracted condition that I am blest with a Friend of so much Truth and Nobleness It is true the fickleness of those men reduced me into that uncertainty I never knew 〈◊〉 what Condition I stood and so I could not give satisfaction then according as you expected Yet you will not finde that ever I shâ—wed or communicated your Letters to any but those who were privy to it and can add to the advancement of the Business in hand and not any way to abuse you as some would make you believe The malice of my Enemies hatâ— been violent against me but God hath delivered me out of their hands I never expected better from the Popularity for none of those ever rewarded their best Citizens with any thing but with Death or Banishment As I resolved never to forsake the Party I had undertaken untill they had without any cause so disabled 〈◊〉 that no man can think that my Honour or Honesty is further engaged to serve them I confess I 〈◊〉 think my self a Freeman from them and resolve by the grace of God never to serve them more I cannot yet attend your Lordship but I shall mightily disserve you untill business be well framed here which I hope will be shortly if I could but obtain so much favour from you that Sir Hugh Chomley might be commanded to forbear the East Riding one fortnight else we shall be necessitated to be aâ— blows with him continually not that he can do any harm here but he will mightily trouble us whilst greater business should go forward I desire to know whether were executed after his pardon My Lord if I be taken the second time it shall be much against my will especially by those that were themselves my friends As soon as I have dispatched here I shall attend you to know your commands to Your most humble and affectionate servant Iohn Hotham Hull June 28. 1643. If you please to exchange Captain Wray for Major Sanderson I shall send to you And so on Tuesday 23. Decemb. had Sentence also to have his Head cut off The Execution of the Father Sir Iohn Hotham was Ordered to be the 31. of Decemb. upon Tower Hill and a multitude of people assembled where the Scaffold his Coffin the Executioner and all things in readinesse but about eleven a clock in his way from the Tower a Messenger came galloping with his Reprieve from the House of Lords till Saturday Ianu. 4. The Commons House conceived their Priviledge hereby thwarted and forthwith Ordered That no Officer or Minister of Iustice established by both Houses of Parliament shall hereafter staie Execution of Iustice upon any particular Order or Reprieve from either House without the concurrence of both Houses And sent to the Lieutenant of the Tower to Execute Sir Iohn on Thursday next the second of Ianuarie His Son Captain Hotham suffered the first of Ianu. although he Petitioned both Houses for mercy Fine or Banishment there acknowledging his Guilt with great Reluctancy Yet at the Scaffold speaking of his great Services to the Parliament concluded That he knew no matter of Treason by himself or his distressed Father against the Parliament and in many particulars arraigned the Proceedings of Parliament in a high measure And so had his head chopt off at a blow But the next day lest Sir Iohn should talk so too Mr. Peters the Preacher told the People that Sir Iohn had in his Chamber fully discovered his mind to him and so had the lesse to speak to them which was that he was ungrateful but he hoped that God had forgiven him But Mr. Peters went on and told the people that at Sir Iohn's first going out to be a Souldier at the Battle of Prague his Father should say to him Son when the Crown of England lies at stake you will have fighting enough The people muttered had he taken his Fathers meaning and fought for the Crown he had not been here to dye this day But Mr. Peters would needs have him sing the Psalm usually offered at Tyburn which poor Man he did but to a heavy Tune and so had his Head cut off also at a blow A couple of unfortunate creatures subject to the censure of each adverse party as having offended both Yet much pittied by the One against whom their Crimes were in comparison unpardonable and had their Punishment by Sentence of the Other to whose Service they might justly challenge a merit Apostates they were to the King and Parliament both and yet suffered for the lesse Offence which the King thus observes upon his repulse at Hull and their Fate that followed My repulse at Hull sayes the King seemed at the first view an act of so rude disloyaltie that my greatest enemies had scarce confidence enough to abett or own it It was the first overâ— Essaie to be made how patiently I could bear the losse of my Kingdoms God knows it affected me more with shame and sorrow for others then with anger for my self nor did the affront done to me trouble me so much as their sin which admitted no colour or excuse I was resolved how to bear this and much more with patience but I fore-saw they could hardly contain themselves within the compass of this one unworthy act who had effronterie enough to commit or countenance it This was but the hand of that cloud which was soon after to overspread the whole Kingdom and cast all into disorder and darkness For 't is among the wicked Maxims of bold and disloyal undertakers That bad actions must alwayes be seconded with worse and rather not be begun then not carried on for they think the retreat more dangerous then the assault and hate repentance more then perseverance in a fault This gave me to see clearly through all the pious disguises and soft palliations of some men whose words were sometime smoother then oil but now I saw they would prove very swords Against which I having as yet no defence but that of a good Conscience thought it my best policie with patience to bear what I could not remedie And in this I thank God I had the better of Hotham that no disdain or emotion of passion transported me by the
confined to fit words So slight and easie is that Legerdemain which will serve to delude the Vulgar That further they should use such severitie as not to suffer without penaltie any to use the Common Prayer Book publickly although their Consciences binde them to it as a Dutie of Pietie to God and Obedience to the Laws Thus I see no men are prone to be greater Tyrants and more rigorous Exacters upon others to conform to their illegal Novelties than such whose pride was formerly least disposed to the obedience of lawful Constitutions and whose licentious humours most pretended conscientious Liberties which Freedom with much Regret they now allow to me and my Chaplains when they may have leave to â—â—rve me whose Abilities even in their extemporarie way comes not short of the others but their Modestie and Learning far exceeds the most of them But this matter is of so popular a nature as some men knew it would not bear learned and sober Debates lest being convinced by the Evidence of Reason as well as Laws they should have been driven either to sin more against their knowledg by taking away the Liturgy or to displease some Faction of the people by continuing the use of it Though I believe they have offended more considerable men not onely for their Numbers and Estate but for their weightie and judicious Pietie than those are whose weakness or giddiness they sought to gratifie by taking it away One of the greatest Faults some men found with the Common Prayer Book I believe was this That it taught them to pray so oft for me to which Petitions they had not Loyaltie enough to say Amen nor yet Charitie enough to forbear Reproaches and even Cursings of me in their own Forms in stead of praying for me I wish their Repentance may be their onely punishment that seeing the Mischiefs which the Disuse of publick Liturgies hath already produced they may restore that credit use and Reverence to them which by the ancient Churches were given to Set Forms of sound and wholesome words But Praier upon all occasions must be ex tempore and to pick and chuse what Chapters or Psalms the Minister pleaseth but before and after Sermon to conclude with the Pâ—ter noster Novemb. 26. For Baptism it must be in the Church the manner referred to the use of French and other Reformed Churches beyond Seas And afterwards came in the Directorie for Mariages Visitation of the Sick and the whole compleated by the Commons Decemb. 23. But in respect of many dissenting Brethren of the Assemblie it was referred to a Committee before it should be born up to the Lords and onely three hundred of them printed to be distributed to the Members to seek God for his direction And at length complete Mr. Rous carries it up to the Lords Ianuarie 1. and so it was printed for the publick use of all people And the two Scribes of the Assemblie whose pains are considered therein and are to partake equally in the profits Ian. 4. And the same Day passed the Ordinance also for attainting the Arch-bishop of Canterburie of high Treason Thus much for Church-worship and now they consider of the Presbyterial way for Government of the Church and the dissenting Assemblers having printed their Reasons for each Member of the Commons a strict Order was That no man presume to reprint or to disperse any of those Reasons as they will answer it at their perils Certainly they were though dispersed and so satisfactory against the Presbyterial way which is the reason they were strictly inquired for and suppressed And on the sixth of Ianuarie the Commons House resolve That to have a Presbyterie in the Church is according to the Word of God And the same day provision is made for such of the Assemblie that have lost their Means to have better subsistence and so having never any or lost but little they were preferred to the best places in England and some to Pluralities But on they go to order the Train of Pastors Doctors Teachers Elders Deacons c. Officers of the Church And good God how this new manner wrought upon many The Prince Elector was come over and who but he must be ordered by Parliament to fit with the Assemblie and to have a print of the dissenting Reasons so that it was said not in earnest that he was sent Nuntio from the Palatinate to direct our Directorie And then what Debates Resolutions Votes Orders Ordinances about the use of Classes several Congregations under one Classis and that the Church should be governed by Congregational Classical Synodical Assemblyes which made such work among the weaker sort as that it was suspected those hard words would disturb the doctrinal part as it did We have heretofore observed how oft the King had sent to the Parliament for a Treaty of Peace and now being returned from the West and setled at Oxford they by a Committee of English and Scotish for now they are joyned in all publick affairs present him with their Deâ—ires and Propositions for a Peace agreed upon by mutual consent of the Parliaments of both Kingdoms united by Solemn League and Covenant Novemb. 23. 1. That by Act of Parliament in each Kingdom respectively all Oaths Declarations and Proclamations against both or either Houses of the Parliament of England and the late Convention of the Estates in Scotland and their proceedings c. be declared null 2. The King to swear and sign the late Solemn League and Covenant and the taking thereof by all the Subjects of the three Kingdoms 3. To pass the Bill for the utter abolishing of Bishops Root and Branches agreeing with the late Treatie at Edinburgh Novemb. 29. 1643. 4. To confirm the Ordinances for the setling of the Assemblie of Divines 5. That Reformation be setled by Act of Parliament as the Houses shall agree upon according to the Covenant c. 6. That Papists abjure and renounce the Pope Transubstantiation Purgatorie Images if not to be therefore convicted and severe Laws to be made against them 7. Their Children to be educated Protestants 8. To give his royal assent to several Acts and Bills to be passed as is named An Act in the Parliaments of both Kingdoms respectively for confirmation of their Treaties viz. the large Treatie for coming in of the Scots and the setling of Barwick and for Ireland and all other proceedings between the two Kingdoms by Treaties An Act to avoid the Cessation of Ireland and to prosecute the War there by Orders of Parliament To establish the joint Declaration of both Kingdoms Dated Jan. 30. 1643. in England and 1644. in Scotland With these Qualifications viz. That the persons without pardon are these to be excepted Princes Rupert and Maurice the Earls of Bristol Derby Newcastle the Lords Cottington Pawlet Digby Littleton Arch-bishop of Canterbury Bishop of Ely Sir Robert Heath Bishop of Derry Sir William Widrington Colonel Goring and these Knights Hopton Dodington Ratcliff Langdale Hothams
Father and Son Vaughan Windebank Greenvile Hide Morley Cole Riddell Ware Strongways Culpeper Floyd Esquires Endimion Porter Henry Jermin Jo. Bodevile David Jenkins Sir George Strode Sir Alexander Carew With twice so many Earls Lords Bishops Knights and Gentlemen of Scotland All Papists that have are or shall be in Arms against either Parliaments or of the Rebellion in Ireland Then are excepted all those of the then Parliament of Oxford and all such of Scotland that have assisted the King there All such as have deserted either Parliaments of both Kingdoms The Estates of such unpardonable to pay publick Debts The tenth part of all other Delinquents within the joint Declaration Then follows other Acts which the Parliaments shall mannage For arming the Kingdoms setling the Admiralties to name Commissioners That all Honours and Titles given since the great Seal went to the King viz. May 21. 1642. or hereafter to be made shall be null Not to vote in Parliaments and so for Scotland since June 4. 1644. The Governours of Ireland and the great Officers of both Kingdoms be nominated by the Parliaments of both Kingdoms The like for Scotland The Kings Children to be governed and married The Prince Elector to be restored Peace and War 〈◊〉 of Oblivion Armies disbanded All these as the Parliaments of both Kingdoms shall order Thus much in general Now for the City of London Acts for them Their Charters Customs Liberties to be confirmed notwithstanding any Non-user Mis-user or Abuser The Militia of London and the Liberties The Tower of London to be in the Mayor and Common-Council The Citizens not to be drawn out of London to any service The Acts of the Mayor and Common Council heretofore and hereafter to confirm as if by Act of Parliaments And these being granted they will endeavour that the King shall live in splendour c. 'T is true that all the Kings party were impatient for Peace which obliged the King to shew his real Intentions being assured that if he could come to a fair Treaty the chief of the Parliaments party could not hinder the Peace first because themselves are weary of the War and next because of their Distractions Presbyterians against Independents in Religion and General against General in point of Command Upon these grounds the most probable means for the King to procure a Treaty was to be used and the noise was therefore published of the Kings return to London the best Rhetorick to please the Popular that thereupon a Treaty would be procured or if refused it would bring most prejudice to the Parliament and advantage to the King for although he offered fair Propositions yet they were mixed with such Conditions as might not easily be admitted and so the Kings offer did but amaze the people into a milder opinion of his proceedings These Propositions for the present were neglected as unlimited yet the King imagined that in a Treaty Commissioners might Argue them into Reason and so returns the Messengers that he will send to the Houses which he did forthwith by this Letter CHARLES REX The Propositions presented to his Majesty being very long which contain matters in themselves of gâ—â—at weight and importance as being in great part in alteration of the frame of Government both in Church and State And the Messengers who presented them declaring that they have no power to treat or consent to any alteration it cannot be expected that his Majesty shall return a Present Particular and Positive Answer But as he hath from his soul alwaies desired the setling of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 peace in this distracted Kingdom for that purpose hath from time to time tendred all possible Overtures in hope that all will work upon the hearts of all persons concerned That even this apprehension such as it is upon further thought and consideration may produce some good effect towards it to which his Majestie calls God to witness therein shall nothing be wanting on his part which is agreeable to Iustice Honour and Conscience and there shall all possible expedition be used in preparing his Majesties Answer yet â—e intends speedily to send by Messengers of his own and to that purpose that there may be no losse of time He desires safe conduct be speedily for the Duke of Richmond and the Earl of Southampton with their attendance to bring up his Majesties said Answer And his Majesty doth heartily wish that God may so deal with him and his as he endeavours all just and lawful waies to restore this poor Kingdom to a lasting and happy peace G. Digby Secretary Oxford 27. Novem. 1644. The Parliament excepts against this Letter as directed to No body the Parliament not so much as named therein And it was remembred that the Lord Digby by his Letters told them long since That the Foundation upon which the King did build all his designs was never to acknowledge this a Parliament and that if he receded from that Maxim the King would undoe himself and all those that have appeared for him Yet after long debate it was resolved that their General Essex do forthwith return a Letter to Prince Rupert who in the absence of the Lord Brainford appears the Kings Lieutenant General That if his Majesty shall send to the Parliament of England Assembled at Westmin and to the Commissioners of the Parliament of the Kingdom of Scotland they will with all readiness grant a safe conduct for the Duke of Richmond and the Earl of Southampton and treat with them according to his Majesties desire Which was so acknowledged by Prince Rupert in his Majesties Name and directed to the Earl of Essex and so they were received into Somerset House with this Order That no Member visit or speak or send any Message to either of them during their stay here And had audience of a Committee of twenty four Lords and twenty eight Commons and the Scotish Comissioners in the Painted Chamber which was in effect only That the King designed a Treaty and time speedily to be fixed and to be certified by those Messengers but they had Answer of both Houses that they would hasten and so required them to return back Upon the rumour of this intended Treaty and hereafter of a peace the King was assured that the Parliaments chief Articles would be to continue the Irish Wars Indeed this Article of Ireland was a tender point and the King resolved not only not to break the Cessation but to make peace with the Rebels to which end he had promised the Queen in France of some favours to the Catholicks of Ireland And expressely a little before the Treaty he writes to the Marquesse of Ormond That he is sorry to finde the sad condition of his particular fortune for which saies he I cannot finde so good and speedy remedy as the peace of Ireland and to redresse most necessary affairs here Wherefore I command you to dispatch it out of hand with this Addition to my former dispatch And for Poinings Act I
Desires to the King for more Men or at least Arms from beyond Seas and himself single lies close but Oglebey and his Friends were all surprized and imprisoned by the Covenanters untill the next year that Montrose set them at liberty who did him faithfull Service Montrose with onely two Gentlemen Rollock and Sibald hasts towards Scotland and by the way escaped Sir Richard Graham who was revolted to the Covenanters and undertook to discover all men affectionate to the King this Graham heretofore a very mean Iockey of the Duke of Buckingham's Stables by Industry and Deceit got into his favour to be the chief Master of his Horse and by the necessity of the Princes secret Journey into Spain was there serviceable and upon that score had grace and preferment to be made a Knight Baronet getting an Estate emulous to all his Neighbours and now becomes a Traitour But after four Days Montrose arrives at his Cosin Patrick Graham in the Sheriffdom of Perth with whom he resides disguised and sends his two Friends to discover the state of the Kingdom who return this News That all the people lay under subjection of the Covenanters and that the Marquess of Huntley had laid down his Arms and was fled to the North leaving his noble Family the Gourdons exposed to his merciless Enemies Covenanters Instead of ten thousand promised onely 110. Irish landed in the North of Scotland from Antrim under Command of Alexander Mac-Donel a Scot who met with Montrose in Atholde but Arguile their Enemy was in their Rear with an Army marching after them the Countreymen eight hundred joyn with Montrose who marches to Ern and passing by Weme Castle of the Meneses his Enemies who treacherously fell upon his Rear he burns their Houses and wasts their Fields this was the first Onset of War His noble faithfull Friend Patrick Graham commands the Athole men to scout before who meet with five hundred Foot under the leading of the Lord Kilton Son to the Earl of Taith descended of Grahams and Sir Iohn Drummond Son to the Earl of Perth both Kinsmen to Montrose raised to oppose the new-landed Irish but understanding of Montrose the state of the Kings affairs they all joyn in a Body these discover that the Covenanters were in Arms at their Rendezvouz at Perth and waited for them at Athole he marches within three miles of them drawn out in an open Plain Tippermore ready to fight and commanded by the Lord Elcho with the Earl of Tullibardin and the Lord Drummond with six thousand Foot and seven hundred Horse It was on Sunday the first of September Elcho had the right Flank one Sir Iames Scot the left and Tullibardin the Battel to each Flank Wings of Horse Montrose had not one Horse and being but few in Foot he draws out open as possible he could with his Files onely three deep commands his Ranks all to charge at once the first Rank kneeling the next stooping the third being the ablest men upright not to stoop but in the teeth of their Enemy and to spare Shot in vain and immediately after to fall in upon them with their Swords and Musquet-ends Montrose commands the right Flank against Scot the left to the Lord Kilponâ— and the Battel to Mac-Donel with his Irish. Montrose sends to the Enemy one Drummond Son to the Lord Maderty who told them That Montrose had his Commission from the King Victory they might have if they would please to conquer themselves and return to their Allegeance for his own part he was not covetous of any mans wealth nor ambitious of their honour nor envious of any mans preferment nor thirsty of bloud onely he begged of them to return faithfull to their King hitherto provoked with unspeakable injuries who had deserved to be the best of Kings These inhumane Wretches gave no Answer but send the Messenger Prisoner to Perth Being now within Musquet-shot the Enemy sends out Drummond with the Forlorn Hope at the first Onset routed them back to their Main Body and with a shout le ts loose his whole Forces upon them and puts them to flight pursued six miles two thousand slain and as many Prisoners the most take Oath with him but proved perfidious he took the City Perth but without one jot of Plunder Here he stays three Days to whom comes the Earl of Kinole with some Gentlemen of Gawry inconstant too Arguile was come up with his Army Montrose quarters in the Fields having passed over Tay near Conper a Village in Angus where Sir Thomas Ogleby Son to the Earl of Arley comes to him with others next morning early there happened a base Murder in Montrose's Quarters one Stuart lodging that night with the Lord Kilponten discovered his Design to murder Montrose inviting his assistance upon great assurance of preferment from the Covenanters who set him on work which being the Lord refused he suddenly stabb'd him with many wounds and before Day and dark he escaped to Arguile and was forthwith preferred to high Commands Montrose marches to Dundee who refuse to submit but he not fitted for a Siege turns towards Eske amongst his supposed Friends who yet withdrew onely the Ear of Arley a man of sixty years old with his two Sons Sir Thomas and Sir David and some others joyned with him through all extremities to the end And now they march towards Aberdine where lay Commissioners of the Covenanters with an Army of two thousand Foot and five hundred Horse commanded by the Lord Burgly labouring to assure the Northern parts which Montrose would prevent and fight them ere that Arguile should come and first gets the Bridg over Dee where he found the Enemy drawn up near the City Montrose had but fifteen hundred Foot and but just four and fourty Horse for he had given leave to Kilponten's men to convoy their dead Master home and the Athole men were returned with Spoil with these he made two Divisions mixing his best Fire-men and Archers nimble and quick on either Wing to prevent the Enemies Horse upon his Rear the right Flank to Iames Hay and Nathaniel Gordon the left to Sir William Rollock The Enemies left Wing was commanded by Lewis Gordon Son to the Marquess Huntly a Hare-brain'd Fellow that had forced his Fathers Friends to this Fight who charges Montrose's right Flank whom Rollock aided with twenty Horse and beating back three hundred to a Rout and run away but left them for the Enemies right Wing of Horse was charging their left who had no Horse till these twenty Horse were got in but not able to endure so great a Charge wheeled about and fell upon the Enemies Flank with their Swords and put them also to Flight Those Horse that stood it out were to be assisted with fresh Foot out of the Main Body which Montrose soon apprehending prevented them fell upon the other on all sides and put them to a Flight whom he followed with execution into the Gates and Streets
strength of Murray Rosse Sutherland Cathnes and the Sept of Frasers were ready to meet him with a desperate Army of five thousand Horse and Foot Montrose had onely fifteen hundred for those of Clanrenold and Athole men hoping no use of them got leave to go home with the Spoil of Arguile and to return when he had occasion this was his comfort he had Souldiers brought up to hardness the others new raised raw and rude Nay if Montrose could be made afraid Arguile with three thousand Foot was at an old Castle Innerlogh upon the bank of Logh-Aber Montrose meant to fight him first where he knew the Coward lodged and leaguer'd to see the Game plaid over by the Northern men But Montrose now thirty miles off seeks him out not the ordinary way but about through unknown by-paths monstrous to imagine and killing the Scouts came upon Arguile ere he was aware yet in a fright he was allarm'd it was Mid-night but Full Moon light as day by which they skirmished whilest Arguile was got in a Cock-boat ready to quit all The Morn was Candlemas day and by the Sound of Montrose's Trumpets a sign that he had Horse though unusual there the Arguile's Sirname began the Battel but the common Souldiers in the front after once Discharge began to run when with a Shout eagerly pursued the rest were routed and ran all 9. miles upon execution fifteen hundred slain the chief of that Name fell in Campo Belli in the Field of War I cannot say in the Bed of Honour in that Rebellion and such as could be saved he used courteously and sent them home They did not fight but fly so as of Montrose's men but three killed and many hurt amongst whom was Sir Thomas Oglebey Son to the Earl of Arley of which he died after He had done good Service in England under his Father in Law the Lord Ruthen Earl of Forth and Branford and this Victory ended this year but opened a way to Montrose for future Victories The Queens industry in France had laboured out a Design of some Assistance from the Duke of Lorain who was at leasure with a rambling Army and Money in his Purse to do somewhat for any body and with Reputation to himself he thought not amiss to treat with the Queen of England now in the French Court at Paris and he with his Forces about Colein Much trouble there was in earnest which way to pass to the Water-side whether through France or Holland then where to land in England Westward or Northward But the Cardinal Mazarine was too wise for either he went on in Richlieu's former Rode to increase not to amend the English miseries and so the King was abused in the help from Lorain though it held on in hope the next year The King had treated with Denmark whose natural affection to him by bonds of affinity intended his assistance but he became suddenly imbroiled in his home-affairs by the ambitious success of the Swedes in Germany and so in their conquering condition fell upon Denmark upon the credit of that great Astrologer Ticho Brahe who had foretold That the good King Christian should be driven out of his Kingdom and that this mutable fate shouldâ— fall upon him 1644. The Design of the Swede was sudden in a word to snap some Ships and Barques at Anchor in the Haven and so entered into the Isle of Fune and craftily rendered themselves Masters of all unawares without a blow The King of Denmark strucken with amazement at this Invasion instantly gives notice to the States General at the Hague but the cause he could not unless that of Ambition and Treachery in a Neighbour Nation but we may ghess the reason and it was thus The good King Christian for so he was esteemed always endeavoured by solicitation to mediate the Mischiefs of Germany and to interpose his Arbitration as yet Neuter both Enemies accept him Umpire and the place Munster and their Ambassadours to meet there and in the mean time the Emperour was induced to withdraw his Garison from Wolfenbotel rendering the Town to the Duke of Luneburgh the Swede grew jealous of their cause to intrust it with the Dane as more affectionate to the Empire and so minding to be afore-hand sends no Ambassadour but marches with his Army into his Territories and hires Ships and Sâ—a-men in Holland General Torstenton for the Swedes advanceth into Holstein surprizes Kiel and with ease and speed seizes Iutland onely the Isle of Fune was made defensible the Approaches intrenched and Torstenton repulsed there The Dane on the sudden gets together a little Fleet which lay before Getenburgh prepares more Ships and Men and implores assistance from his Friâ—ns on all sides complaining of this treacherous Invasion without cause given or pretended and that in time of peace and kindness from this King but on the sudden the Swedes had surrounded their Adversaries and another of their Generals Coninxmark takes the Arch-bishoprick of Bremen belonging to the King when he was Prince so that the good old man hâ—d but two Islands left him Zeland and Fune and at Sea the Swedes had hired Vessels from Holland under Martin Ties whom yet the Dane drove into a Neighbour Port. The King was as full of courage as age threescore and seven years old and now his own Admiral himself in the fights and bloud round about him whose example exhorted all and forced the Swedish Fleet with â—ull sail to fly to the Haven of Kiel then comes the King a shore and becomes his own â—eneral by land waging the War by Skirmishes the Swedes having got the strong place Christian Pries leaving the King but two more Gluckstat and Cremp When in comes Gallâ—sso from the Emperour and arrives at Oldesto enters Hamburgh and Lubeck Treats with the Danâ—â— against the common Enemy the Swede The French Mediatour was the Ambassadour Monsiâ—ur de la Tuillerie his Outward Errand was so but his aime was otherwise to undoe the House of Austria by any means Richlieu's Maxime bequeathed to Mazarine The Dunkerkers took part with the Dane not willing to let goe the Sound a prey to be divided between the Hollander and Swede and so to give leave to all Traders into the Baltick Sea to which the King inclined and with those helps to attach his Enemies on all sides Now were the Politick Agents set on work to serve the Interest of their respective Masters French and Holland joyned Arguments against all Allies to deter the Dane from doting on the Emperialist ayd and so to endanger his amity with all other Potentates Enemies to that ambitious House of Austria During disputes on Land the Swedes Fleet got loose into the main Sea which cost Admiral Galdie his head for suffering their escape And the King Marches with sixteen thousand men all Germans into Scaâ—â— and there to give Gustavus Horne battel but the French Tuillerie seeing the odds against his Masters interest steps in between
both Armies and with his Rhetoriâ—k stops the onset and so both Hosts retired and Torstenton takes leave and returns to his party in Germany Gallasso lets him passe but follows him to the like intention as when he let the other goe oftentimes able to attach the other and to worst him just like that of the Danish Admiral and as deserving to forfeit his head as corrupted by the Swede Truly Galasso was a gallant man and better judgements may excuse him not to advance unlesse the Leaguer men first concluded upon Terms as between the French and Swedes which the Dane as was conceived could not refuse in regard the Emperour came in to extinguish the fire amongst them but left it flaming at home and being Leaguer'd together things might become as in the former condition before the War since the interest of Denmark seemed to require it and all to abase and weaken the Swede The good King was thus deceived upon respective interests of each Party and so the overtures of the Dunkerk failing the Emperâ—alists returned home leaving the Dane to himself in distresse for the losse of six stately Ships four taken and two fired the King not Master of himself having to do with his own States of different sense with his and the successe of affairs thereafter The Swedes almost Conquerours but the Kings virtue over-mastering such misfortunes gathers his Fleet at Copen-haven to preserve Zeland when the Hollander religious in nothing more then their Interest of gain both to see the Swedes to swell too big and to get the Sound arrived with a Fleet at Copen-haven land an Ambassadour who resumed the heat which Tuillery had left so hot and never left powring on the water of good counsel until he had cooled the Swede with threats also that made the Swede agree to a peace with much advantage to the Dane and gave the good King Christian quiet to end his daies in peace after that he had reigned above fifty years lodging all his malice into a Record until time come to be quit with the Swede for those encounters And thus we take leave of the year 1644. The great Ordinance for calling the Members of both Houses from Military and Civil affairs and places was with exception of such and such persons and places mentioned therein And a particular Commission was ordered by Parliament for the General Fairfax to execute all Martial jurisdiction and fight with and slay such as shall oppose him and to suppress all such Forces as are not raised by authority of Parliament And because sundry ill-affected persons had fomented discontents between the two Houses in relation to this new model of the Army and so report that the Commons went to undermine their Lordships priviledges which intention they do disclaim and abhor and do acknowledge the many Noble and Renowned Actions performed by their Lordships Ancestors in defence of the liberty of the Commons This Speech was made to the Lords by Sir Iohn Evelin from the Commons and concluded to assure them that the House of Commons consisted of no other persons but such as were Gentlemen c. And a Declaration was left by him unto the Lords from the Commons to publish to the world what he hath spoken on their behalfs The Kingdome of Sweden now under the Regency of the young Queen onely Daughter and Heir to Gustavus took this time and opportunity of the jealousie of the Parliament against the Crown of Denmark for assisting the King of Englands party to send Ambassadours to the Parliament for a Treaty of League and Amity with them which was heartily accepted and fixed into Articles so that by this we are accounted both as one And now comes Colonel Mitton into the House of Commons to receive Publick thanks for his fidelity to the State especially for that gallant Service in surprizing Shrewsbury In had been the Kings chief Garison and faithfull to his Interest and of long time had endured the vexation of a powerfull Enemy which they quitted by often sallies and plundering their Adversaries thereabout but was lately Feb. 22 last surprized by the Committees of Wem and Oswestrie being assisted with four Companies and four hundred Horse from the Neighbour associations and three hundred Staffordshire Foot and one Company under command of Colonel Bowes and all these under the general command of Mitton about fifteen hundred men But without all this adoe in numbring up their Forces it was in a word betrayed to the Parliament with many persons of quality the manner I could never well understand nor would they print the shame of treachery The Prisoners were eight Knights and Bâ—ronets fourty Colonels Majors Captaines and others of quality two hundred common men one Captain and five Souldiers slain They took fifteen pieces of Ordnance many hundreds of Arms divers Barrels of Powder Prince Maurice his Magazin the Town the Castle and all the works and without the loss of three men For they say there were but two killed by chance So that a day of thanksgiving was set apart for the Parliaments successes in taking Scarborough Plymouth Weymouth and Shrewsbury within a moneth The old General Essex lately laid aside took his retirement out of Town from the noise and clamour of his Officers now discarded And although their merits were much to the service of the Parliament yet divers of them also upon what account we may imagine were questioned and committed without their Arrears And others of them the wiser way gave up their Commissions to save the labour and dishonour of being taken per force Prudently considering that a new Model of manners in the main of the Militia must necessarily require a mutation and change of men to manage that service answerable to the mindes of such as command in chief For indeed Essex was not at all Presbyterian nor could he preach And therefore it was resolved by himself and his Counsellours for him to surrender his Commission together with the Earl of Manchester's and the Earl of Denbigh's two General Commanders before they should be thereto required They did it on a day together in the Lords House And Essex therewith delivers a Paper which spoke his sence April 2. Having received this great Charge in obedience to the commands of both Houses and taken their Sword into my hand I can with confidence say that I have for this now almost three years faithfully served you and I hope without loss of Honour to my self or prejudice to the Publick supported therein by the goodness of God and the fidelity and courage of a great many gallant men both Officers and Souldiers But I will neither trouble you nor my self by repeating either the difficulties or danger we have overcomed or the service that I have done you I see by the now coming up of these Ordinances that it is the desire of the House of Commons that my Commission may be vacated and it hath been no particular
respect to my self whatever is whispered to the contrary that hath made me thus long omit to declare my readiness thereto it being not unknown to divers men of Honour that I had resolved it after the action of Glocester but that some importunities pressed on me with arguments of publick advantage and that by those of unquestionable affection over-ruled me therein I now do it and return my Commission into those hands that gave it me wishing it may prove as good an expedient to the present distempers as some will have it believed which I shall pray for with as hearty a zeal as any can desire my doing this which I now do I think it not immodest that I intreat both Houses that those Officers of mine which are now laid by might have their debenters audited some considerable part of their Arrears payed them for their support and the remainder secured them by the publick Faith and that those of them that remain questioned may be brought to some speedy trial whereby they may receive either the punishment or justification that is due to them under which notion I remember onely three of whom I must testifie that they franckly and couragiously have adventured their lives and lost their blood for the Publick and that with continued fidelity for ought ever I could observe My Lords I know that jealousies cannot be avoided in the unhappy condition of our present affairs yet wisdome and charity should put such restraints thereunto as not to allow it to become destructive I hope that this advice from me is not unseasonable wishing my self and my friends may amongst others participate the benefit thereof this proceeding from my affection to the Parliament the prosperity whereof I shall ever wish from my heart what return soever it brings me I being no single example in that kinde of that fortune I now undergoe Good man little dreamed he heretofore to be so soon discarded being lately caressed from the King and the whole body of that Army offering to him the wayes and means of reconciliation and peace then in his power which indeed was some reason of his remove To tamper with an Enemy gives cause of suspition from those that imploy him and in truth they found him honourable and honest We say no more but they mistrust him and he comforts himself Not to be the single example of eminent Persons of this kinde and fortunes No we need not wander much out of the way to fetch a President from his Father for tampering with Tyrone he forfeited his head not long after Indeed Denbigh was neglected and Manchester was wise and saw how the world went biassed with desperate design to undoe all as they imagined But upon these surrenders the Lord calls a conference with the Commons and conclude this Declaration Whereas the Earl of Essex Earl of Manchester and Earl of Denbigh had this day in the House of Peers laid down their Commissions the House did declare that they did esteem it an acceptable service in this conjuncture of time and as an evident demonstration of the fidelity and care these three Lords had to the publick and therefore desired the House of Commons to concur for payment of their Officers arrears And a Committee was chosen to consider of gratifying those Lords for their former faithfull service Which when it shall come to their Receipt I shall not fail to remember the summons of their reward But not to trouble your expectation I shall take leave at this time to sum up his future condition He retired out of the publick apparance unto Eltham House in Kent where his melancholy disposition contracted into a Fever of which he dyed at London September 24. 1646. Of whom more particular in that due place and time The Earl of Warwick also surrenders his Commission of Admiral and that Office intrusted to Commissioners six Lords and twelve Commons they are named the Earls of Essex Northumberland Pembroke Warwick the Lords Say and North. But the Commons did the work the others for names sake onely Sir T. Fairfax in a Triumphing March sets out of London towards VVindsor his Army being compleat but stayed for the finishing the great Ordinance For discharging the Members of Parl from all Offices Military and Civil which indured notable debates ere that the Houses could concurre in each particular the substance thereof was That all and every the Members of either House shall be discharged at the end of fourty daies after the passing of the Ordinance of all their command Military or Civil conferred by Parliament since the 20. of November 1640. That all other Governours and Commanders not Members by Land or Sea shall continue in their Offices wherein they were intrusted the 20 of March 1644. Provided and excepted that Lieutenants or their Deputies in the several Counties Cities and Places or of any Custos Rotularum or Iustices of Peace or Sewers or any Commission of Oyer and Terminer or Goal Delivery And also that those Members of either House who had Offices by Grant from his Majesty before this Parliament and were by Him displaced before the sitting of this Parliament and have since by the Parliament been restored shall not be discharged from their said Offices or Profits thereof but shall enjoy the same April 3. At this time came forth a grievous complaint of a scandalous Pamphlet as they call'd it in Print Entituled A Character of a London Diurnal fathered by Mr. Cleveland of St. Iohns Colledg in Cambridg and appears say they a precious piece of wit in the eyes of Malignants I shall not thereby confess my self to be one if I commend it But did ever any man read more mistaken stuff forced together then what may be found in the Diurnals News Books of that time we hope that this History shall not be arraigned by those Texts The King continues at Oxford Garison but hath all things in readiness to march out for the City was hard beset by the Parliaments Forces the two Princes Brothers with Goring Hopton Gerard and others are all met at Bristol to confer about the war The Forces of Greenvile and Dorington continue blocking up of Taunton in the West Langdale hath lately relieved Sir Winter's house in the Forest of Dean and beat of Col. Massey with great loss Lieutenant General Cromwel and Waller follow the Western war and are now about Salisbury Skippon about Buckingham Brown about Abbington Brereton in Cheshire And the Scots sent unto by several Messengers to march Southwards the North being well cleared But the General Fairfax quartered at Windsor Lieutenant General Cromwel with a Brigade of but eleven hundred Horse had fallen upon the Kings Horse under the Command of the Earl of Northampton and part of the Queens Regiment at Islip Bridge neer Oxford and had taken four hundred Horse two hundred Prisoners the Queens Colours and those that escaped fled to Blackington House where Colonel Windebank kept a Garison for
into Order and Advancing the wind Westward which he designed to get and caused Fairfax to fall down into a large Fallow Field North-west of Naseby Flanked with a Hedge but from thence for more advantage they drew off or retreated to the side of the Hill which hastened the King the sooner to fall upon them The King in person had the main Battel his Right Wing commanded by the two Princes Rupert and Maurice his Left by Sir Marmaduke Langdale His Right Hand tertia by the Earl of Lindsie and Sir Iacob Ashley his Left by the Lord Bards and Sir George Lisle His Reserve of Horse were commanded by Colonel Howard Behind them the Kings Regiment of Foot being his Life-Guard and Ruperts Regiment of Foot on their Left Hand Cromwel had six thousand Horse and therefore gave way that Ireton should Command five Regiments of them for the Left Wing and himself with the rest the Right The King comes on apace with Gallantry and Resolution and his Right Wing charged first upon Cromwel who advances firing at a close charge they came to Blowes even to the Hilts and had the better of the King Fairfax main Battel had ill successe the Generals own Regiment only standing but all the rest gave ground nay fowlly routed run off in great disorder and without any attempt to recover fell back to their Reserves And their Colonels and Officers were forced to fight there which Reserves were commanded by Rainsborough Hamond and Pride The Kings Right Wing of Horse advanced roundly upon Fairfax his Left Wing and because these were not ready or would not quit their ground the other made a Stand a short pause and then fell on amain Some Divisions of either side Fought well charging home the middlemost of Fairfax did not for they were pressed upon and gave ground so did the Left Wing even to rout The Kings Foot had the better of one Brigade until Ireton came to their rescue with his Horse himself run through the Thigh with a Pike and into the Face with a Halbert his Horse shot under him and taken prisoner till the Battel being in disorder and his Keeper trusting him too far he escaped But whilst these fight hand to hand Prince Rupert followed the flight of the Enemies Left Wing almost to Naseby Town and returning Summoned the Train where he disputed not long ere he was fain to quit them and hasten to the Kings Army which was in distresse in several Brigades now Rallying into some Order It is confessed of all sides that the Kings Foot in some Tertia's fought with incredible courage being attempted in their Flanks Front and Rear had his other Foot fought but indifferently they might have served his turn The King kept close with his Horse himself in person Rallying them to hot encounter which was performed as men use to doe for their lives blood now near the last but Fairfax's Horse gave ground staying for his Foot which were Pillaging of their prey and others that had been routed Rallied again and so came up with a Body by these advantages their Horse were helped and the Kings overpowred by hardships impossible for valour to withstand shifted out of the Field towards Leicester and lost all being the fatal battel to the King and his party The King had the better Horse the other the more of Foot and throughout better Arms compleat in Amunition and in numbers overpowred the King both in Horse and Foot The Roll that came to the Parliament was thus Major General Skippon shot into the side Commissary General Ireton with these Colonels Cook Butler Francis wounded and many slain above a 1000. sundry Captains and Common Souldiers Of the Kings party the Earl of Lindsey Sir Iacob Ashley Colonel Russel and others hurt six hundred slain of the common Souldiers twenty Colonels Knights and Officers of note Prisoners are thus numbred in the Note 6. Colonels 8. Lieutenant Colonels 18. Majors 70. Captains 80. Lieutenants two hundred Ensignes and other inferiour Officers 4500. common Souldiers and many women 13. of the Kings Household Servants 4. of his Footmen 12. Pieces of Ordinance 8000. Armes 40. Barrels of Powder 200. Carriages all their Bagg and Baggage with store of rich pillage 200. Horse the Kings Standard and divers of Horse and Foot one of the Kings Coaches his Cabinet of Letters and Papers The King finding the Pursuit so hot leaves Leicester and hasts to Lichfield Fairfax follows and that night with his Horse surrounded Leicester and the next day his Foot comes up to the siege And with this newes to the Parliament comes other from sundry parts successe upon successe the Parliament regaining Hougham Garison near Grantham the 18. of Iune and divers Officers and men of quality prisoners Brereton from Cheshire beat a Party and took above 150. prisoners The like from a party of Shrewsbury who took 400. prisoners in a fight Another in Staffordshire a party of Captain Stone Governour of Eccleshall Castle took Major Fenningham and divers others prisoners So that the Parliament were glutted with fortunate events and much busied about the stowage of their prisoners who were driven in triumph up to London miserable spectacles of the Fate of War Convoyed by Colonel Io. Fines to be disposed of in prisons but these are full before Therefore they were crouded into the walled Military grounds where numbers of them were starved to death daily there being in all 4500. many Gentlemen among them there besides others of Note forced into several prisons whilst the City for joy sumptuously feast the Houses Nor did this satisfie untill the Parliament had filld their measure to the brim by publishing to the People in Print the Copies of the King and Queens secret and private Letters of conjugal affection to each other of which the King is sensible and indeavours to fling the shame into their faces upbraiding them for their incivility in this their inhumane action as he stiles it The taking of my Letters was an opportunity which as the malice of mine Enemies could hardly have expected it so they knew not how with honour and civility to use Nor do I think with sober and worthy mindes any thing in them could tend so much to my reproach as the odious divulging of them did to the infamy of the Divulgers The greatest experiments of Vertue and Nobleness being discovered in the greatest advantages against an enemy and the greatest obligations being those which are put upon us by them from whom we could least have expected them And such I should have esteemed the concealing of my Papers The freedom and secrecie of which commands a civility from all men not wholly barbarous nor is there any thing more inhumane then to expose them to publick view Yet since Providence will have it so I am content so much of my heart which I study to approve to Gods Omniscience should be discovered to the world without any of those dresses or popular captations
their journey to Westminster during their stay there and to return when they shall think fit whom his Majesty intends to send to the Lords and Commons assembled in the Parliament of England at Westminster and the Commissioners of the Parliament of Scotland furnished with such propositions as his Majesty is confident will be the Foundation of a happy peace Oxford Decemb. 5. 1645. For the Speaker of the House of Peers pro tempore To which the Parliament return Answer signed by the two Speakers and the Scotish Commissioners in effect thus That they were sensible of the sad condition of the three Kingdomes occasioned by his Majesties separation from them and that they will use all means possible for procuring of a safe and well grounded peace for the setling of his just and legal prerogative their undoubted priviledges and the Subjects liberties That had his Majesties intentions been the same with his pretences and expressions a happy peace had been setled long since That they cannot agree to his desires for coming of the Lords and Gentlemen with their attendants and followers into their Quarters in regard the design may be of dangerous consequence But that to shew their earnest endeavours and intentions for peace they were before his Majesties Letters sent in debate of propositions for peace which they are ready to draw up and finish with all expedition to be signed by way of Bill by his Majesty Decemb. 10. But although they had ordered Tuesdayes and Saturdayes express for debate of the Propositions yet they are not finished therefore the King remindes them with a Message in pursuance of the former thus C. R. His Majesty cannot but extreamly wonder that after so many expressions on your part of a deep and seeming sense of the miseries of this afflicted Kingdom and of the dangers incident to his Person during the continuance of this unnatural VVars your many great and so often repeated Protestations that the raising of these Arms hath been only for the necessary defence of Gods true Religion his Majesties honour safety and prosperity the peace comfort and security of his people you should delay a safe Conduct to the persons mentioned in his Majesties Message of the fifth of this instant December which are to be sent unto you with propositions for a well-grounded peace A thing so far from having been deâ—ied at any time by his Majesty whensoever you have desired the same that he believes it hath been seldom if ever practised among the most avowed and professed enemies much lesse from Subjects to their King But his Majesty is resolved that no discouragements whatsoever shall make him fail of his part in doing his utmost endeavours to put an end to these Calamities which if not in time prevented must prove the ruin of this unhappy Nation And therefore doth once again desire that a safe Conduct be forthwith sent for those persons expressed in his former Message and doth therefore conjure you as you will answer to Almighty God in that day when He shall make Inquisition for all the blood that hath and may be yet spilt in this unnatural War as you tender the preservation and establishment of the true Religion by all the bonds of Duty and Allegiance to your King or compassion to your bleeding and unhappy Country and of charity to your selves that you dispose your hearts to a true sense and imploy all your faculties in a more serious endeavour together with his Majesty to set a speedy end to these wasting Divisions and then he shall not doubt but that God will again give the blessing of peace to this distracted Kingdom Oxford the 15. of December 1645. For the Speaker of the House of Peers pro tempore All this would not do the King in some trouble finding their neglect stirs them up another way offering a personal Treaty to prevent the Inconveniencies of Misunderstandings and the distance of place for amendments therefore he offers to come home to them and Treat December 26. C. R. Notwithstanding the strange and unexpected delayes which can be precedented by no former times to his Majesties two former Messages his Majesty will lay aside all expostulations as rather serving to lose time then to contribut any remedy to the evils which for the present doe afflict this distracted Kingdom therefore without further preamble his Majesty thinks it most necessary to send these Propositions this way which he intended to doe by the persons mentioned in his former Messages though he well knows the great disadvantage which overtures of this kind have by the want of being accompanied by well instructed Messengers His Majesty conceiving that the former Treaties have hitherto proved ineffectual chiefly for want of power in those persons that Treated as likewise because those from whom their power was derived not possibly having the particular informations of every several debate could not give so clear a judgement as was requisite in so important a businesse If therefore his Majesty may have the engagement of the two Houses of Parliament at Westminster the Commissioners of the Parliament of Scotland the Major Aldermen Common-Councel and Militia of London of the chief Commanders in Sir Thomas Fairfax his Army as also those in the Scots Army for his Majesties free and safe coming to and abode in London or Westminster with such of his servants now attending him and their followers not exceeding in all the number of three hundred for the space of fourty dayes and after the said time for his free and safe repair to any of his Garisons of Oxford Worcester or Newark which his Majesty shall nominate at any time before his going from London or Westminster his Majesty propounds to have a personal Treaty with the two Houses of Parliament at Westminster and the Commissioners of the Parliament of Scotland upon all matters which may conduce to the restoring of peace and happiness to these miserable distracted Kingdoms And to begin with the three Heads which were Treated on at Uxbridg And for the better clearing of his Majesties earnest and sincere intentions of putting an end to these unnatural distractions knowing that point of security may prove the greatest obstacle to this most blessed work his Majesty therefore declares that he is willing to commit the great trust of the Militia of this Kingdom for such time and with such powers as are exprest in the Paper delivered by his Majesties Commissioners at Uxbridg the sixth of February last to these persons following viz. the Lord Privy Seal the Duke of Richmond the Marquesse of Hertford the Marquess of Dorchester the Earl of Dorset Lord Chamberlain the Earl of Northumberland the Earl of Essex Earl of Southampton Earl of Pembroke Earl of Salisbury Earl of Manchester Earl of Warwick Earl of Denbigh Earl of Chichester Lord Say Lord Seymour Lord Lucas Lord Lexington M. Denzil Hollis M. Perpoint M. Hen. Bellasis M. Rich. Spencer Sir Thomas Fairfax M. John Ashburnham Sir Gervas â—lifton Sir Hen.
either by Treatie or Conquest the later of which his Majestie hopes none will have the impudencie or impietie to wish for And for the former if his personal assistance in it be not the most likely way let any reasonable man judg when by that means not onely all unnecessary Delaies will be removed but even the greatest Difficulties made easie And therefore he doth now again earnestly insist upon that Proposition expecting to have a better Answer upon mature consideration And can in be imagined that any Propositions will be so effectual being formed before a personal Treatie as such as are framed and propounded upon a full Debate on both sides Wherefore his Majestie who is most concerned in the good of his people and is most desirous to restore peace and happiness to his three Kingdoms doth again instantly desire an Answer to his said former Messages to which he hath hitherto received none Given at our Court at Oxon the four and twentieth of January 1645. To the Speaker of the House of Peers c. The King Prince and Rupert and Maurice were reconciled and all at Oxford extremely straitned for Provisions being blocked up but what Refreshments came at dear Rates he commands a Fast and Prayers to God directed to the Vice-chancellour and Heads of Houses in the Universitie of Oxford That Divine Service established by Law be read daily Morning and Evening as now it is in your respective Houses and also that upon Wednesdays and Fridays to meet four times each Day at Divine Service and so to continue during these sad Times and a general Fast each Friday from Food till five a clock after the Evening Service and this to be done now and hereafter according to the good Example of the Primitive Christians Edw. Nicholas But unhappily it fell out that now again the Parliament intercepted some Irish Letters and Papers in a manner the whole Transactions Copies between the King and the Irish Rebells Amongst many this Commission to Edward Lord Herbert Earl of Glamorgan to treat with the Irish Rebells CHARLS R. Charls by the grace of God c. To our trustie c. Edward Earl of Glamorgan We reposing great and especial trust and confidence in your approved wisdom and fidelitie do by these as firmly as under our great Seal to all intents and purposes authorize and give you power to treat and conclude with the confederate Roman Catholicks in our Kingdom of Ireland if upon necessitie any thing be condiscended unto wherein our Lieutenant cannot so well be seen in as not fit for us for the present publickly to own therefore we charge you to proceed according to this our Warrant with all possible secrecie and whatsoever you shall engage your self upon such valuable considerations as you in your judgment shall deem fit We promise in the word of a King and Christian to ratifie and perform the same of that which shall be granted by you and under your Hand and Seal The said confederate Catholicks having by their Supplies testified their zeal to our Service And this shall be in each particular to you a sufficient Warrant Given at our Court at Oxon the twelfth of May 20 Car. This Commission being but a Paper Copy and so hinted to the King he was pleased to pass it over as no sufficient ground to put him to the acknowledgment thereof yet it became him to excuse the effects of Glamorgan's Negotiations with the Irish which it seems were so averse from Ormond's Instructions as the Kings Lieutenant that Glamorgan was there committed by him and the Council And how to piece up these passages from censure he is pleased to frame a Declaration and sends it to the Parliament by Message Ian. 29. CHARLS R. His Majestie having received Information from the Lord Lieutenant and Council in Ireland That the Earl of Glamorgan hath without his or their directions or privitie entred into a Treatie with some Commissioners on the Roman Catholick partie there and also drawn up and agreed unto certain Articles with the said Commissioners highly derogatorie to his Majesties Honour and Royal Dignitie and most prejudicial unto the Protestant Religion and Church there in Ireland whereupon the said Earl of Glamorgan is arrested upon suspition of high Treason and imprisoned by the said Lord Lieutenant and Council at the instance and by the impeachment of the Lord Digby who by reason of his Place and former Imploiment in these affairs doth best know how contrarie that Proceeding of the said Earl hath been to his Majesties Intentions and Directions and what great prejudice it might bring to his affairs if those Proceedings of the Earl of Glamorgan should be any waies understood to have been done by the Directions liking or approbation of his Majestie His Majestie having in his former Messages for a personal Treatie offered to give contentment to his two Houses in the business of Ireland hath now thought fitting the better to shew his clear Intentions and to give satisfaction to his said Houses of Parliament and the rest of his Subjects in all his Kingdoms to send this Declaration to his said Houses containing the whole truth of the business which is That the Earl of Glamorgan having made offer unto him to raise Forces in the Kingdom of Ireland and to conduct them into England for his Majesties Service had a Commission to that purpose and to that purpose onely That he had no Commission at all to treat of any thing else without the privitie and directions of the Lord Lieutenant much less to capitulate any thing concerning Religion or any proprietie belonging either to Church or Laitie That it clearly appears by the Lord Lieutenants Proceedings with the said Earl that he had no notice at all of what the said Earl had treated and pretended to have capitulated with the Irish untill by accident it came to his knowledg And his Majestie doth protest That untill such time as he had advertisement that the person of the said Earl of Glamorgan was arrested and restrained as is abovesaid he never heard nor had any kinde of notice that the said Earl had entred into any kinde of Treatie or Capitulation with those Irish Comissioners much less that he had concluded or signed those Articles so destructive both to Church and State and so repugnant to his Majesties publick Professions and known Resolutions And for the further vindication of his Majesties Honor and Integritie herein he doth declare That he is so far from considering any thing contained in those Papers or Writings fraâ—ed by the said Earl and those Commissioners with whom he treated as he doth absolutely disavow him therein and hath given commandment to the Lord Lieutenant and the Council there to proceed against the said Earl as one who either out of falsness presumption or follie hath so hazarded the blemishing of his Majesties Reputaion with his good Subjects and so impertinently framed those Articles of hisown head without the consent
privitie or directions of his Majestie or the Lord Lieutenant or any of his Majesties Council there But true it is that for the necessarie preservation of his Majesties Protestant Subjects in Ireland whose case was daily represented unto him to be so desperate his Majestie had given Commission to the Lord Lieutenant to treat and conclude such a Peace there as might be for the safetie of that Crown the preservation of the Protestant Religion and no way derogatorie to his own Honour and publick Professions But to the end that his Majesties real Intentions in this business of Ireland may be the more clearly understood and to give more ample satisfaction to both Houses of Parliament and the Commissioners of the Parliament of Scotland especially concerning his Majesties not being engaged in any Peace or Agreement there he doth desire if the two Houses shall admit of his Majesties Repair to London for a personal Treatie as was formerly proposed that speedy notice be given thereof to his Majestie and a Pass or safe Conduct with a Blank sent for a Messenger to be immediately dispatcht into Ireland to prevent any accident that may happen to hinder his Majesties Resolution of leaving the managing of the business of Ireland wholly to the two Houses and to make no Peace there but with their consent which in case it shall please God to bless his Endeavours in the Treatie with success his Majestie doth hereby engage himself to do And for a further explanation of his Majesties Intentions in his former Messages he doth now declare that if his personal Repair to London as aforesaid shall be admitted and a Peace thereon shall ensue he will then leave the nomination of the persons to be intrusted with the Militia wholly to his two Houses with such power and limitations as are expressed in the Paper delivered by his Majesties Commissioners at Uxbridg the sixth of February 1644. for the term of seven years as hath been desired to be given immediately after the conclusion of the Peace the disbanding of all Forces on both sides and the dismantling of the Garisons erected since these present Troubles so as at the expiration of the time before mentioned the power of the Militia shall intirely revert and remain as before And for their further securitie his Majestie the Peace succeeding will be content that pro hac vice the two Houses shall nominate the Admiral Officers of State and Iudges to hold their Places during life or quam diu se bene gesserint which shall be best liked to be accountable to none but the King and the two Houses of Parliament As for matter of Religion his Majestie doth further declare That by the libertie offered in his Message of the fifteenth present for the â—ase of their consciences who will not communicate in the Service already established by Act of Parliament in this Kingdom he intends that all other Protestants behaving themselves peaceably in and towards the Civil Government shall have the free exercise of their Religion according to their own way And for the total removing of all Fears and Iealousies his Majestie is willing to agree that upon the conclusion of Peace there shall be a general Act of Oblivion and free Pardon past by Act of Parliament in both his Kingdoms respectively And lest it should be imagined that in the making these Propositions his Majesties Kingdom of Scotland and his Subjects there have been forgotten and neglected his Majestie declares That what is here mentioned touching the Militia and the naming of Officers of State and Iudges shall likewise extend to his Kingdom of Scotland And now his Majestie having so fully and clearly expressed his Intentions and Desires of making a happy and well-grounded Peace if any person shall decline that happiness by opposing of so apparent a way of attaining it he will sufficiently demonstrate to all the World his Intention and Design can be no other than the total Subversion and Change of the ancient and happy Government of this Kingdom under which the English Nation hath so long flourished Given at our Court at Oxon the twenty fourth of January 1645. To the Speaker of the House of Peers c. This did not satisfie for upon the reading of this Declaration or Message in the House of Commons they produce other Letters and Papers taken at the Defeat of the Lord Ashley amongst which they finde Letters of the Arch-bishop of Yorkâ—o â—o the Lord Ashley and the Lord Digby's Letter from Ireland to the Archbishop concerning this business out of which and Glamorgan's own to the King hereafter they concluded much matter To the Right Honourable the Lord Ashley Most Noble Lord Your Lordships Letter of the twelfth of January I received late at night the nine and twentieth I have communicated to the Lord Byron the Marquess of Ormond his Letter of the twelfth of December and by this time not sooner the Lord Byron's Answer is at Dublin which I sent by his Lordships Chaplain it implied some Fears of holding out Chester thus long c. Colonel Butler tells me even now that the men and the shipping are still ready in Ireland though retarded hitherto by reason of this Distraction which sithence Tuesday last is so composed that the Earl of Glamorgan is out upon Bail of six or eight Noblemen whereof the Marq. of Clenricard is one c. from the Lord Lieutenant I have received no Answer in writing as yet though mine to him were many since the first of January nor from the Lord Digby any more to the purpose than this inclosed There is no relying on these Irish Forces for this Service though if they come they shall be carefully transported to such Rendezvouz as I shall hear is most â—itting for the passage of your Lordships Armie and to that end your Lordship shall be punctually informed of their landing and condition Conway Jan. 25. 1645. Your Lordships c. John Eborac The Lord Digby's Letter inclosed May it please your Grace I give you many thanks for your obliging Letter by Mr. Moor I have likewise sent yours to the Marquess of Ormond and I am glad to finde there that you do nott ake the Allarm at my Lord Glamorgan's Commitment so hot as upon it to despair of the Relief of Chester which though it hath been somewhat retarded by it yet I make little question now but it will go on speedily and effectually and of this I desire you to certifie my Lord Byron Dublin Jan. 21. 1645. Your Graces c. G. Digby And then to discipher the Mystery this of the Earl of Glamorgan's to the King was read also in the House For his Sacred Majestie May it please your Majestie I am now at Waterford providing Shipping immediately to transport six thousand Foot and four thousand more are by May next to follow I hope these will yet come opportunely to the Relief of Chester What hath been the occasions of so long Delay and
the Plain and by a Trumpet challengs Baily to fight but was refused for the River I le parted them Then at Dunkildon where he escaped utter ruin for Lewis Gordon another Son to Huntley sometimes an Enemy was reconciled by his Brothers means he by true or counterfeit Letters from his father the old fox was tempted and carried away with him almost all the Gordons basely deserting his brother and Montrose ready to engage against the Enemy And so diverted the intended journey to Tay and marched towards Brechen sending his weakest men under the Hills to meet him there but by the way he Summons Dundee and storms it in three places beat them from their Sconces possessed their Ordnance and turned them upon the Town beat open their Gates and gets the Church and Market-place and fire the Town in several places When his Scouts bring tydings of Baily and Hurrey a mile off Montrose in all speed Rallies his plundring Souldiers wearied with twenty miles march and now more spent by fighting to fight he was not able to Retreat he must be overtaken In wonderful difficulties he resolves to Retreat Immediately he sends out four hundred Foot before him with convenient speed two hundred the most active to follow them and he with his Horse brings up the Rear trooping in open Order if need were to have room for light Musketiers The Enemy divide in two parts and so pursues them and now their Van closes up to the Retreaters and were welcomed by these Musketiers that Lined Montrose Horse and soon abated their pursuit and Skirmishing stoutly with their Horse untill night parted the fray and because that their wayes were belaid by the Enemy they amuze them by turning and winding off face about and march Southwest passing by them thus beguiled by night and the next morning turning North-ward passed over South-Eske near Goneston Castle thence to Brâ—chen to fetch those men which were left with the Carriages But they hearing of this distresse were got into the Mountains The Enemy came after them so near that they continually Skirmish untill he came to Gleneske This was that so much admired Expedition of Dundee renowned indeed encountering all extremities with patience for sixty miles march fighting without meat or sleep for three dayes and two nights to any purpose of refreshment Incredible but from him that assures this Narrative of his own knowledg and sufferings And now being safe he bides his Souldiers sleep whilst his unwearied Noble Soul fits a wake which resolves of his Warlike affairs He sends the Lord Gordon with those of his continuing loyal into his County to win upon his revolted Brother and his Fugitives and to recruit new forces which he performed with faithfulnesse and courage And Montrose with five hundred Foot and fifty Horse all that he left for himself marcht through Angus into Perth-shire so to distract the Enemy till he was Recruited For Hurrey was gone into the North with six hundred old Foot and two hundred Horse to suppresse the Lord Gordon and Bailey himself staies with an Army at Perth Montrose was twelve miles off at a Village called Krâ—if secure and he safe too conceives when Bailey sets out over night with all his forces discovered by Scouts time enough to finde their adversaries in order fit to retire following the course of the River Erne and made good the Fords thereof and himself the Rear guard repulsing his Enemy to their return and he Quartered at Laugh-Erne the next day to Balwidir where met him the Earl of Alboine with others that escaped out of Carlisle 18 of April Thence to Logh-Catrines where comes newes that Hurrey was upon engaging with Gordon that Gallant young Lord. Montrose makes speed to oppose Hurrey and passes by Balwidir and a Lake twenty four miles long the head of Tay then through Athole and Angus over Gransbane and through Glenmak-vale he comes to the midst of Marre and joynes with Gordon who had gotten one thousand Foot and two hundred Horse marching to Spey to finde the Enemy and was so near as six miles off ere Hurrey thought him past Garshame having over-run the report of himself But Hurrey would not be forced to fight and so passeth over the Spey speeding towards Innernesse the appointed Rendezvouz whither Montrose followes not far off for he was there also the next day and Encamped at a Village Aldern There was now ajoyned to Hurrey the Earls of Seaford and Sunderland the whole Sept of the Frasers the most of Murries Men and Cathnes with some out of the Town Garrison and all together draw up with three thousand five hundred Foot and four hundred Horse against Montrose's fifteen hundred Foot and two hundred Horse and not possible to Retreat Bailey was coming up with his Forces And ere his Enemy should joyn the best he could do was to chuse his ground draws up his Forces in a Valley under a Town on the top of a Hill and Hills behind and above it shadowing his Forces from sight Before the Town he places a few choice Foot with his Ordnance sheltered with Ditches The right Wing is committed to Mac-donel with four hundred Foot fortified with Banks Ditches Shrubs and great Stones and orders him to preserve himself entire as a Reserve safe from the Enemies Force of Horse and Foot and commits also to his charge that notable Standard of the Kings which he alwaies had born before him expecting that upon the sight of that the Enemy would order their best men against that Wing when he on the left Flank would force upon them And drawing the rest of his men to the other side he commends the Horse to the Lord Gordon and takes charge of the Foot himself Those first Forces under the Town seemed his main battle when God knows he had none nor reserves at all The Enemy came on as he imagined their Van upon those before the Town on the right Flank and as their Souldiers spend drew on fresh He therefore meant to fall upon them with his left Flank all at once when one whispered to him that Mac-donel on the right Flank was put to flight He of quick apprehension called aloud My Lord Gordon what doe we doe Mac-donel hath routed the Enemy and is upon execution shall we loyter and he have all the honour of the day with that commands to charge home upon Hurries Horse which began to run left their Flanks which they were to maintain open to disadvantage yet their Foot stood the shock stoutly but being pressed home they threw away their Arms and fled but Montrose remembring Mac-donel drew off thither to the right Flank where he found him though valiant as any man but with more heart then head-piece had advanced out of his fastness and was overpowered and routed and had he not drawn into a neighbours close he and his had been lost for himself was the last that drew off covering his head with a large Target which he alwaies
so Montrose marches to Kinrosse and then to Sterling and encamps in that fatal field Kilsithe the Enemy comes three miles off Baily being their head with whom he must fight at disadvantage or stay to be undone by the Earl of Lanerick Duke Hamiltons brother Cassils Eglington and Glenearne who were raising men in great numbers In this field were some Cotages and his Forces four thousand five hundred Foot and five hundred Horse where he lodgeth some men and the Enemies first work was to beat them but were worsted and driven back encouraging the next to fall on without direction up the Hill engaging themselves one thousand not to be got off He saies to Airly My Lord yonder men of ours are in distress it is most proper for you that the error committed by unadvised young men may be corrected by your Lordships grave and discreet valour And on he goes guarded with a Troop of Horse by Ogleby of Baldby upon the face of the Enemy who giving the charge were disputed with very sharply for a good while but facing about fell upon their own Foot and hotly pursued routed and trod them down Then with a shout all fell upon the Horse first who not enduring a long Charge fled and the Foot discouraged followed and were pursued with execution fourteen miles not a hundred came off All their Ordnance Arms and Baggage to Conquerors who lost many of the Oglebies and some common Souldiers the Enemies Horse carried the swiftest to Sterling others to the Frith saved themselves by Vessels as Arguile now the third time got into a Cock-boat and so into a Ship The chife prisoners were Sir William Morray of Blebe Iames Arnol brother to the Lord Burghly two Colonels Dice and Wallis and many more men of worth this famous Victory at Kilsithe was 15. Septem 1645. and not lesse then six thousand of the Enemy slain and this famous Battle thus to be lost they lodge upon Bailies down-right treachery So now the Northern parts are secured on his back the way opened to him in the South the power of the Covenanters suppressed their chief Leaders driven out of the Kingdom and no considerable Party in Armes yet in the West there were some stirring for the Earl of Cassells and Eglington were raising four thousand men Wherefore Montrose marches into Cludsdale and so to Glascow the principal City receiving the same with acclamations of joy executing legally some chief Incendiaries there and remove to Bothwell where he received the personal addresses of some of the Nobility and of others by their Deputies willingly submitting the chief being the Marquess of Dowglasse the Earls of Limmuck Anuandale and Herefield the Lords of Seton Drummond Fleming Marterty Carnegye and Iohnston Hamelton of Orbeston Charte of Heinsfield Towers of Innerlegh Stuart of Resyth Dalyel a brother of the Earl of Carnwarth Knights and many more Then he sends Napier and Colonel Gordon with a party of Horse to Edenburgh to Summon that City to settle it in peace and to release all prisoners of Loyalty or to threaten them with fire sword And near the City they make a stand the City Assemble and send Delegates together with the chief of the prisoners to intercede Lodowick Earl of Crawford of the Family of Lindsies and a gallant Germane experienced Souldier imprisoned by the malice of the Earl of Lindsey who was to succeed to his Honors Iames Lord Ogleby Son to the Earl of Arlye singularly beloved of Montrose cursing themselves and posterity if ever they should again revolt from their Loyalty or be unmindful of Montrose's mercy Napier having by the way of his March set at liberty his dear Father his Wife his Brother in Law Keer and his Sisters at Linnuck being removed thither from Edenburgh Castle and so all together to Montrose The Delegates of Edenburgh with humble submission beseech Montrose to accept the surrender of their City promising Faith and Loyalty to their King for ever after That the infection of Plague now reigning there had wasted their men but they were ready to pay contribution heartily acknowledging their Treasonable Actions against their gracious King by the cunning contrivance of a prevailing party engaging them in this Rebellion Montrose accepted their submission with the rendering of Edenburgh Castle to the King and his Officers to renounce all future correspondence with the Rebels the prisoners were all released but as to all the other Protestations they fall to their wonted treachery and Rebellion He sends Macâ—donel and Drummond of Ball into the Western Coasts to disperse Cassels and Eglington with other of the Nobily there who fly into Ireland and lurk in by places All the Towns Aire Irwin and the County submit and the people come presently to his side Then the South parts submit and therein the chiefest Earls of Hume Roxborough and Traquair men the most obliged to the Kings high Grace and Favour raising them from private Gentlemen to Honours Wealth and Powers But it was boldness in the Earl of Lanerick Duke Hamilton's Brother who had deceifully practised under hand all the Treacheries and Treasons of this War against their Sovereign Now he openly returns answer That he would have nothing to do with that side never pretending friendship where he meaned not to perform This man acted above board but the others treacherously they inviting David Lesley out of England with the Scotish Horse and so to deliver up Mentrose to ruine Montrose had suspition of all this but could not prevent each mischief for having lain long incamped at Bothwell and no Enemy in Arms most of the Highlanders laden with Spoil ran away and returned home the very Commanders desired Furloghs for some time to setle their Families and to return with many more Men within fourty Days to such as he could not hold he willingly gave leave and appoints Mac-Donel their Countreyman and Kinsman ambitious to be their Guide and to conduct them back again with him went three thousand stout Men and an hundred and twenty Irish for his Life-guard whom Montrose never saw after But we shall meet the next year and so much for this It is most strange to these Times but Posterity can never comprehend how the Swedes come to this greatness and to make War in so many parts of Europe and from whence they got so many Men that Sovereignty indeed is large but very desert and dispeopled so that we may speak it a truth there never came from thence sixty thousand Men as one of their own Grandees assures us one reason was that all the Protestants in Europe leagued with them like Ivy to the Tree as believing the Ruine of the Swedes included that of all the Lutherans The other that in their Fortune all the rest had interest principally in regard of Plunder for it is most certain that in Count Horn's Army were many Women in Mens Apparel acting like Amazons and brave Souldiers with so much courage did prosperity inflame
such as he shall appoint and to this end you are authorized and required to compound and deliver such Articles and demands as now are or hereafter shall be given you for a full consent thereunto and to Treat from time to time upon such directions as shall be thought fitting upon the several Reports that ye shall make unto us c. Richard Lane Cust. Sigill Cottington Hartford Dorset Chester Southampton Seymor E. Nicholas Glenham Governour Never was Garison so long maintained so resolutely and so mightily opposed as this of Oxford during all the Treaty which did not exclude the power of Arms and the Articles not concluded untill the 25. of Iune the Surrender thus A guard of several Regiments were placed from the East Port on both sides the way to VVhately the way to march out in a very bitter and violent storm of an hour to the number of three thousand five hundred ordinary persons the Noblemen and Gentlemen had leave for some dayes to stay for Passes the whole number of the Garison supposed seven thousand Souldiers and Scholers in pay Thirty eight Pieces of Ordnance ready mounted the Works strong and large perillous to storm The Conditions were Noble and in Print but being slenderly performed afterwards by others not the Souldiers I leave it to the Cavalier to complain The Nobility were the Earls of Dorset Hertford Southampton The Lords Cottington Lane Dunsmore Secretary Nicholas and others who have sent Letters to the King of the Surrender Prince Rupert and Prince Maurice had conditions to transport themselves beyond Seas The Duke of York is to be conducted to the Parliament and so to St. Iameses to the rest of the Royal Children And the Prince Elector already at London had leave from the Parliament to his shame for being here to visite his Brothers Prince Rupert and Maurice which he did received their salutation with scorne Two daies after came up from the General the Seals of State which were delivered to him upon surrender of Oxford The Great Seal of England carried from Westminster to the King An. 1642. The Privy Seal Signet King-Bench Exchequer Court of Wards Admiralty and Navy and the Sword All which Seales were voted to be broken in peices but the Sword to be kept safe in the Wardrobe And were so done by a Smith in the House of Lords in presence of the Commons and the broken silver given in reward to the Speakers of either House And now the Parliament consider of a Term or Title to be given to the Commissioners intrusted with their Great Seal and are to be called Conservators of the Common Wealth of England The Duke of York included with Articles of Oxford and brought up to the Parliament the twenty eight of Iuly in some shew of honour to the view of the People but no sooner at St. Iames's with the rest of the Royal Children and under Government of the Earl of Northumberland and his Lady but all his Servants are turned away and others strangers put in their places where he stayed not long but got away into France some years hereafter In the like manner the youngest Princess Henretta-Maria was now convayed away from Oatlands by her Governess the Lady Dalkeith who complaines of the necessity that enforced her Take her own words to the Gentlewomen in that Family twenty fourth Iuly 1646. Gentlewomen You are witness with what patience I have expected the pleasure of the Parliament Impossible to finde any Iustice to her Highnesse or favour to my self or any of you I was no longer able to keep her but am forced to take this upon me You shall do well to repair to the King all of you which is the same service as to her Highnesse and enjoy the honour of serving him It will be a great mark of your faithfulnesse to her Highnesse for to conceal her absence as long as you can as if I had removed her to a better Air. All her Apparel and such peices of Plate belonging to her you may receive for your selves and believe me to be Yours A. Dalkieth So then the Eldest Son and the Youngest Daughter are with the Queen in France The two Dukes of York and Glocester with the Princess Elizabeth at St. Iames's The Prince in the West with his Army Mr. Withers the Poet had write a Pamphlet Iusticiarius Iustificatus against Sir Richard Onslow a Surrey Knight wherein he is accused but this Man being a Member poor Withers had the worst though he endeavoured to prove the Charge against the other Colonel Poines and Rossiter had a minde to Newark long since the last year but were not able to Manage the Siege with their slender forces and therefore the Scots were very much entreated before they would vouchsafe to descend so far Southward At last they were hired with the sum of thirty thousand pounds and came in December 1645. and then began the Siege And to entertain them with a Sally a fortnight after they fell upon Peat's Quarters beat them and carried in many Prisoners Two dayes after another encounter upon Colonel Thornies Troop and returned with Prisoners But now the Scots are lodged on the North side of Newark with two thousand Horse and three thousand Foot to make good Nuschams-bridg and the General Leven there in person upon some discontent left the Leaguer and went back to Newcastle Poines lay on the South side in this manner the Lincolnshire forces four Troops of Horse and six hundred Foot about Belvoir Rossiter and Le-hunt at Blechington and Claypool with the Leicester and Ely Foot five hundred lay at Benington Nottingham and Derby forces six hundred at Stoake The Parliaments Commissioners met with the Scots General at Nottingham who demanded two thousand five hundred and eighty pounds weekly for his Army at Newark consisting in all near ten thousand Horse and Foot He was offered ten thousand pounds part of their thirty thousand pounds faithfully promised but none as yet paid and so deep was the distaste that the Scotish Commissioners from London were fain to march thither to even this difference In the mean time not a day passed but some action happened The besieged fall upon Poines Quarters at Stoake beat his Horse and near surprised the Foot till Rossiter hearing Allarum came in and endeavoured to come between the Salley their home but were prevented and beaten to purpose many killed others hurt and return with fourty Prisoners But now the Siege grows hot and the Assailants are resolved to Storme and first to Summon which was done April the first and a stout and witty Answer returned by Bellasis the Governour and the next day such another Sally upon Poines's Quarters with notable Successe upon him many slain above fourty drowned Captain Iepson and Murrey slain by the winde of a Bullet and yet Poines gaines much upon the Queens Fort and turned the River Trent quite from the Town on the North side The
Forces as formerly 14. That all Honours and Titles conferred on any since the Great Seal was conveyed from the Parliament May 21. 1642. be made null and that those that shall be hereafter made Peers by the King shall not sit in Parliament without consent of both Houses 15. That an Act be passed to confirm all the Treaties between England and Scotland and a Committee of both Houses to be nominated Conservators of the Peace between both Kingdoms 16. An Act for establishing the Declaration of both Kingdoms of the thirtieth of January 1643. with the qualifications as follow The first Qualification That these persons shall expect no pardon In a word all the persons of Honour and Quality that have taken up Arms for the King in England or Scotland which because the Treaty took no effect is but frivolous to insert And all such others as being processed by the Estates for Treason shall be condemned before the Act of Oblivion be passed Then follows the second Qualification All Papists and Popish Recusants who have been now are or shall be actually in Arms or assisting against the Parliaments of either Kingdoms and by name the Marquess of Winton Earl of Worcester Lord Herbert Lord Brudnel Lord Arundel of Warder Earl Castlehaven and seven Knights and Gentlemen The third Qualification All persons that have assisted in the Rebellion of Ireland except such as are come in to the Parliament of England The fourth Qualification Herein are named above fifty Knights and Gentlemen that were at Oxford and it follows All such of the Scotish Nation as have concurred in the Votes at Oxford against the Kingdom of Scotland and all that have assisted in Arms against Scotland Then follows three Branches of this Qualification The fifth Qualification That all Iudges Officers and Practicers of the Law that have deserted the Parliament be incapable of Office or Practice in the Law the like of the Clergie With other Qualifications and Branches depending too tedious to insert and esteemed of all indifferent persons most improper for the King to consent unto And now comes the juggling French Agent Montril from the Queen in France with Letters to the King to make peace with his Parliament by any conditions reasonable And that the Prince of Wales is arrived at Paris without the Kings knowledg whom he designed to have come to him to Newcastle The Parliament had written to the King to give Warrant to his Lieutenant General Ormond in Ireland for disbanding his Forces andre ceive this Answer CHARLS R. That as none can be more deeply affected than his Majestie with the calamities of his Kingdom of Ireland so he will apply all future Remedies And as to the delivering of the City and Castle of Dublin Drogheda and all other Garisons in Ireland held for his Majesty into the hands of the Parliament of England He is most willing that all these places may be so disposed as they may best be secured from the Rebells and most for the safety of his good Subjects doth again earnestly press the Propositions so long expected expecting that they will contain the readiest means not onely of preserving those places which are already in his power but likewise of reducing the rest of that Kingdom possessed by the Rebells to his obedience all which will be setled upon the conclusion of a happy Peace which he will heartily endeavour Newcastle July 11. Which Message met the Commissioners on the way with the Propositions to the King The French Ambassadour Extraordinary had his first Audience of the 17. of Iuly in effect That he had a command from the Queen Regent and King of France to endeavour a composure of the Differences between the King and Parliament but understanding that Propositions are gone to his Majesty he hath no more to say to the Parliament but to take his leave and to desire their Pass for him to the King and to the States of Scotland and had this Answer That the Parliament receive with thankfulness the good Intentions of the King of France to these Kingdoms for ending of the Differences they had done their Endeavours and will so continue to do But they could not agree that any Foreign State interpose in the present remaining Differences nor that his Majesty of France in particular by his present Extraordinary Ambassadour And are very willing the Ambassadour have a Pass and be used with all respect and civility But the Ambassadour staid so long for this ceremony that he was gone towards the King without it The three and twentieth of Iuly the Propositions were presented to the King and the Earl of Pembroke and Montgomery being the best Man though the least able told the King That he knew well how unfit a Spokesman he was and desired that Mr. Goodwin might speak for them The King instantly asked If they had any power to treat They answered No. Then said he Saving the honour of the business an honest Trumpeter might have done as much I hope you expect not a present Answer to this high concernment They told him Their time was limited to ten Days And the French Ambassadour Balieme and Montril the Agent had Audience the next day and very private with the King We may easily believe how the King was beset with Petitions and Prayers hand over head to consent to all these Propositions by the English and Scots about him And how the Commissioners resented it appears in a Letter to the Speaker of the Commons We are sorry we cannot acquaint you with so good success as we desired having this Morning his Majesties Answer Negative with a Paper containing Offers to come to London and treat which we thought not fit to send because we know not the Parliaments pleasure whether or no they will take notice thereof as being no Answer to the Propositions We have taken leave and hasten home Earl Hepsley Goodwin Robinson August 2. 1646. It is likely they were sorry and said so but see what the King says for himself and concerning them dated a day before theirs and sent to the Houses a quick and sudden Answer to their tedious Propositions C. R. The Propositions tendered to his Majestie by the Commissioners c. to which the Houses of Parliament have taken twice so manie moneths for deliberation as they have assigned daiâ—s for his Majesties Answer do import so great alterations in Government both in Church and Kingdom as it is very difficult to return a particular and positive Answer before a ful debate wherein these Propositions and the necessarie explanations true Sense and Reasons thereof be rightly weighed and understood and that his Majestie upon a ful view of the whole Propositions may know what is left as well as what is taken away and changed In all which he findes upon discourse with the said Commissioners that they are so bound up from anie capacitie either to give Reasons for the Demands they bring or to give ear to
comes the Marquesse Douglasse and Sir Io. Daliel with other his friends in this Extremity with a small Party of Horse not a hundred charged through the Enemy and escaped and being pursued he made his Stand slew divers and took Bruce a Captain of Horse and two Cornets with their Colours Prisoners Traquair Triumphingly reported Montrose and the Kings party totally defeated But Montrose was well and made the best use of his evil fortune and therefore marching easily with good guard and valiant hearts he marched Northwards forded over Cluid River where met him by the way many of his Souldiers with the Earls of Crawford and Airly and now he was strong two hundred Horse and some Foot and with convenient hast he resolves to go Northward into Athole and so passing over Forth River and then Erne he comes to Perthshire And in his way he had sent Dowglasse and Airly with Angus North East and the Lord Eisken into Marria to raise their friends and dependance and sent Daliel to the Lord Carnegy with Commissions to that purpose and Letters to Mac-Donel and to Aboin to return to him with their Forces About August the Atholâ— Men furnished him with four hundred good Foot to march Northwards and when ever he returned Southward he should command the whole County only they desired to be spared now for their harvest Montrose with wonderful speed and unspeakable toil clambers over Gransbane Mountains to meet with Aboin and Mac-Donel whom he expected and so the return of other his Messengers with their New Forces then to return Southward again to meet with the Kings Horse which by sundry Letters he was promised from England Aboin was of himself faithful and forward enough but restrained Ersken was sick and Huntly was returned home but with envy and ambition crossed under hand Montrose's designs but at last Aboin meets him with fifteen hundred Foot and three hundred Horse at Druminore a Castle of the Lord Forles and that his Brother Lewes was coming with more Thus impowered he instantly returns the same uncouth wayes over Gransbane Mountains and to take up Erskins and then Murries Forces and so to march Southward Lewis was come and marching together the first dayes Journey stole away the next with such Forces aâ—s followed him And the third day after his Brother Aboin with the rest of his Men desired leave to return pretending their Fathers Command the Marquesse Huntly whose County was in danger by the Enemy now about Marre and would suddainly ransack their Country but was content his Father should be treated with To him therefore Montrose sends Donald Lord Rose and Iermin kinsmen whom he had lately releived from Imprisonment Rose was honest and ashamed of his Kinsmans refusal fell sick and could not return Iermin most noble never forsaking Montrose to the death came back with doubtful Letters fast and loose And so Aboin must go home Montrose came down through the plaines of Marre and Scarschiock into Athole and so with increase of Forces he falls into Perth Here Aboin sends him word that he had got leave to return and would be with him before the time limited by his Forlough And here also meets him two Messengers after each other Captain Thomas Ogleby of Pomie and Captain Robert Nesbet with Commands from the King That if possible he should march Southward to the borders to meet the Lord Digby Son to the Earl of Bristol who was sent to him with a Party of Horse The same Bearers he dispatches with the Letters to Huntly and Aboin but in vain expectation he trifled away much time at Strath Erne in the Perth And here dies that gallant Man the Lord Napier of Marcheston truly Noble of an Ancient Family his Father and Grand-father Philosophers and Mathematicians Famous through Christendom But indeed this man exceeded them in Civil Affairs highly heretofore esteemed by King Iames and lately by K. Charls made Lord Treasurer of Scotland and advanced into the Rank of higher Nobility his Loyalty had suffered all the effects of his Enemies malice often Imprisoned Sequestred and Plundered of all his Substance whose Elaborate Discourses of the Rights of Kings and of the Original in the Turmoyls of Great Britain I have heard of and read some Manuscripts in Parcels but heartily wish may be publick Montrose is now passed the Forth and come into the Lands and Estate of Sir Iohn Buchanan a stiff Ring-leader of the Covenanters and descended from old Buchanan ingrateful Schoolmaster to King Iames and yet for his sake he and King Charles had advanced this man to what he was Hereabouts at Leven Montrose Encamps being so near Glasco that oftimes he forces the City on purpose to deter the Convention of the Coâ—enanters here who sat in Councel to arraign their Prisoners whom Montrose endeavoured to rescue Here they had for their Guard three thousand Horse and he not more than 3. hundred and fifteen hundred Foot wasting the Countrey without resistance Notwithstanding before he came they had executed three gallant men we may not neglect their memory The first was the afore mentioned Sir William Rollock Montrose his first Friend and Companion in Arms. He was sent to the King after the Battle of Aberdine and taken prisoner and condemned but upon Arguiles offer of life he was dealt with to murder Montrose whose life he valued far above his own and to save him he accepted this offer and so got loose and instantlyâ— found out by Montrose discovering all which saved Montrose for the present and was the cause of his own suffering promising upon his word that if he did not doe it to return prisoner by such a day which he did to the grief of Montrose and paid dear for it to the death The next was the aforesaid Alexander Ogleby Eldest Son to Sir Iohn Imercarrit descended from those Famous in the Scotish Chronicles he was not yet more then youth under eighteen but of a dareing Spirit and Loyal to the King for which he was executed Unless we admit him of the Family in deadly fewd with Arguile Then comes Sir Philip Nesbit I finde him the Son of Col. Nesbit a Regiment in the Kings service in England we may adde those two Irish men that suffered at Edenburgh some dayes before Colonel O-Cahen and Colonel Laghlin the crime of them all concentred in this new Treason against the King and Covenanters Montrose having long looked for six weeks his absent Confederates out of the North Mac-donel Alboin and others the Lord Digby's Forces defeated by the way and he not able to hold out a piercing hard winter Camp He the 20. of November departs from Levin Marching Northward over the Snowy Mountains of Taich through Woods and Loghes the Strathern and over the River Tay returns into Athole where he met Captain Ogleby and Captain Nesbit whom we told you he had sent with the Kings Letters to Huntly but prevailed not Here against Montrose sends to Sir Iohn Dalyel to mediate the
be desired to repair to the Army Which he did some weeks after viz. the twentieth of May. For the Army was in Mutiny against the Members and were not appeased until the Parliaments Declaration against the Army was rased out of the Journal Books of both the Houses seizing their Monies and Carriages as they passed for several Garisons and shared it as they thought good And the Reformado's and Souldiers about London flocked to the Parliament and for two hours blocked up the door of the Commons not suffering any to passe out or come in till their desires were granted And being in this fearful case the Commons vote concerning their self-denying Ordinance which upon such desperate distempers they would often debate and vote but never observe as now That such Members as have any Place Office or Sequestration granted to them be void and the benefit which they have received since the Ordinance be payed to the Common-wealth That the Members Lands be liable to their debts And freedom of Petitions against any Member That no Member receive any reparations for Damages by these times till the publick debts of the Kingdom be satisfied For indeed so many Members pretended damages that the poor Cavaliers Estates for private satisfactions were not able to compound for their Delinquency And the Commons of London were drawn to side with the Parliament and the multitude made a Petition in the name of many thousands well affected in the City of London which was canvased in the House of Commons and laid aside untill the Petitioners came flocking for Answer who were advised to depute a small Number to attend and they waited so long that some one of them was snap't for prating at the Parliament door which he justified at their Bar and was only bidden to return home and be Mannerly but the Petition was burnt several Copies at Wâ—stminster others at the Exchange London 22. May. But the Army is a powerfull party that must be otherwise handled and therefore the Parliament order Commissioners of their own to Treat with the Armies Commissioners The Parliaments Men were the Earl of Nottingham Lord Wharton Field Marshal Skippon Sir Henry Vane Jun. Sir Thomas Widrington Colonel White Mr. Scawen and Mr. Pory For the Army Commissioners General Ireton Sir Hardresse Waller Colonel Rich Colonel Lambert and Major Desbrough And their first mâ—eting was at Wickham the second of Iuly Little being as yet effected in relation to former desires of the Army they told them that they had several things of weight to be added which may very much conduce to the peace and safety of the Kingdom the preventing of a new War and to the sendâ—ng of some relief to Ireland which they will offer at the next meeting The King at Holmby with his Guardians and the Parliament and Army in distemper the Army thought it their Advantage to seize the King into their custody and accordingly the third of Iune a party of Horse under command of Coronet Ioice and sent from the Committee of Troopers in the Army came to Holmby where after they had secured their Guards demanded the King of the Commissioners who in a maze asked for his Warrant whose Answer That it was the sense of the Armie The same he said to the King promising security of his Majesties person and so the next Day after Dinner the Troop carried him and the Commissioners who would not leave him towards the Army of which the King sends word to the Parliament by the Earl of Dunferling That the King was unwillingly taken away by a part of the Armie five hundred Troopers that he desired the Parliament to maintain the Laws of the Land and that though he might sign to many things being in this condition yet not to be believed till further notice to the Houses This was strange and uncouth to the Parliament and therefore they order to sit again to morrow though Sunday and Mr. Marshal is voted to pray for them for the Army was in Rendezvouz near Kenford six Miles from Bury and the King in his way to them and so to Newmarket all the people in the High-way strewing the Streets with Flowers and Boughs and crying out Hosanna and therefore the Army conveyed him not through Cambridg but by Trumpington to Newmarket But the Generals Letter to the Parliament says That the Souldiers at Holmby had brought the King thence by consent and lay at Colonel Mountagues the next Night and would be at Newmarket the next Day the ground whereof was from an apprehension of some strength gathered to force the King from them thereupon I sent says he Colonel Whaley with his Regiment to meet the King and the Commissioners and to return them back again but they refused and were come to Sir John Cuts near Cambridg The General professing that this Remove was without his consent or his Officers about him or the Bodie of the Armie or without their desire or privitie and whose person he will secure from danger And assures the Parliament that the whole Armie endeavours Peace and are clear from opposing Presbyterie or to affect Independencie or to hold a licentious Freedom in Religion or Interest in any particular partie but to leave all to the Parliament Then on the sudden comes three Colonels Reformadoes and Actours at London with News to the Parliament That a Major of the Armie gave them assurance that the Armie was marching and would be with the Parliament by Noon next Day advising the Colonels to return with him to the Armie where they should be included within the Capitulation for their Arrears This strook the Parliament into a panick fear the Committee of Safety are sent unto to sit all Night The Sheriffs and Common Council of London present a Letter to them from the Army to that purpose of coming to the City A Massage presently is voted to the General to desire him not to come within five and twenty Miles of London and order ten thousand pounds more for the Army the Head Quarters being at Roiston Iune 11. And as the City moved for the Parliament so Petitions came from the Counties praying the Army not to disband ere all things were setled and so they come to St. Albans Then the Trained Bands are drawn out upon pain of Death and on the sudden all sent home again onely the Passes are strongly guarded about the Line of Communication then the Shops are shut up such clattering of Doors and Windows such Fears and Jealousies indeed as men would imagine the City were mad who send a Committee of their Common Council to the General And he returns Answer That the Armie was come thither ere the Parliaments Desires came to his hands and prays the House to send a Moneths Pay speedily to the Army which was done very dutifully And yet they vote That the General be required to deliver the person of the King to the former Commissioners to come to Richmond to the intent that
Propositions of Peace may be speedily presented to his Majesty and that Colonel Rossiter and his Regiment may guard his person The Army declare likewise That they appeal in the business of Ireland and desire of the Parliament to review their former Papers not yet satisfied that the Parliament and Kingdom are concerned therein pleading the Declarations of the Parliament themselves therein in point of Freedom Peace Safety the Laws of the Kingdom the President of Scotland and in the close conclude with Propositions for setling and securing their own and the Kingdoms common Rest Peace and Safety grounded upon these positive Articles That the Houses may be speedily purged of such as ought not to sit there That such who abused the Parliament and Army and endanger the Kingdom may be speedily disabled from doing the like or worse That some determinate period of time may be set to this and future Parliaments according to the intent of the Bill for Triennial Parliaments That provision may be not to be adjournable or dissolvable by any power but by their own consent during their respective period and then to determine themselves That the freedom of the people to present Grievances by Petition to Parliament may be vindicated That the exorbitant powers of Countrey Committees may be taken away That the Kingdom may be satisfied in the Parliaments Accounts for their vast Sums received and also in divers other things wherein the Common-wealth have been abused That after Delinquents have passed their Compositions an Act of Oblivion may be passed These fly high and therefore the Parliament to appease them send Commissioners to treat with the General to receive their Grievance which now is returned a Charge against eleven Members of the Commons Denzil Hollis Esq. Sir Philip Stapleton Sir William Lewis Sir Iohn Clotworthy Sir William Waller Sir Iohn Mainard Major General Massey Mr. Glyn Recorder of London Colonel Walter Long Colonel Edward Harley and Anthony Nichols Esq. Which Charge being read to their faces some of them made excuse for the present But this Charge is brought up by these Officers of Note four Colonels Scroop Okey Hewson and Pride Lieutenant Colonels Bowen and Goff Major Desborough and five Captains Berry Clark Carter Rolph and Saxbie and must be obeyed for there follows them a Paper also from the General and Army shewing That in pursuance of the Representation they have the Heads of a Charge against these Members and shall appoint fit persons on our and the Kingdoms behalf to make good the same and that if the Parliament shall admit the Debate and Consideration then the Armie shall desire That the persons impeached may be forthwith suspended from sitting in the House who have notoriously appeared to the prejudice and provocation of the Armie and unfit to be Iudges therein That a Moneths Pay be immediately sent down to the Armie the next Day by Noon at the farthest That if those Officers and Souldiers of the Army who have engaged in Ireland or those who have deserted the Army and come to London have received more than a Moneths Pay that then so much more Money may be sent to the Army to make their Pay equal And that hereafter they have no more Pay till the Army be paid their Arrears And concerning secret Practices and Designs to raise and list new Forces and those engaged in Ireland to march towards London to engage in a second War That no force be further raised in these Kingdoms or invited from foreign preparations to interrupt the Liberties and Peace of the Kingdom And all these to be speedily performed the condition of the Army and Kingdom and King himself not admitting Delaies June 27. To which obedience was performed and the several Orders for listing and drawing together any Forces of the Counties as also that other of listing the Reformadoes Officers to engage in the Parliaments Service are nulled and void But the Parliament debate the suspension of their eleven Members and vote That by Law no Iudgment can be given to suspend those Members before the particulars of the Papers be produced and the proofs made Nor have those Members done or said any thing within the House for which the House can suspend them But the Army is displeased the eleven Members forbear the House But not to affright the Parliament and City by being too near with the Army they removed to Backhamstead seven and twenty Miles from London thence to Uxbridg the six and twentieth of Iune and the King came from Roiston to Hatfield to the Earl of Salisbury's and thence to Causam the Lord Craven's The Army answer these Votes That they can prove them guilty of such practices in the House as will be just for the House to suspend them And that by the Laws of the Land and the Parliaments Precedents in the E. of Strafford Arch-bishop of Canterbury and the Lord Keeper Finch and others upon very Papers of Accusation they were suspended the sitting in Parliament and yet the Army is ready to give in a Charge against them and because the Members have of themselves forborn the House they are to be so forborn till they be proceeded against which is ready Iune 27. And yet to comply with the Desires of the Parliament the Army remove to Wickham And truly as the Kings Surprizal at Holmby and those future Distractions amazed most men to foresee the Issue and effects so it put the King into serious contemplation as he expresses himself What part God will have me now to act or suffer in this new and strange Scene of Affairs I am not much solicitous some little practice will serve that man who onely seeks to represent a part of honesty and honour This Surprize of Me tells the World that a King cannot be so low but he is considerable adding weight to that party where he appears This motion like others of the times seems excentrick and irregular yet not well to be resisted or quieted Better swim down such a stream then in vain to strive against it These are but the strugglings of those Twins which lately one womb enclosed the younger striving to prevail against the elder what the Presbyterians have hunted after the Independents now seek to catch for themselves So impossible it is for lines to be drawn from the center and not to divide from each other so much the wider by how much they go farther from the point of union That the builders of Babel should from division fall to confusion is no wonder but for those that pretend to build Jerusalem to divide their tongues and hands is but an ill Omen and sounds too like the fury of those Zealots whose intestine bitternesse and divisions were the greatest occasion of the last fatal destruction of that City Well may I change my Keepers and Prison but not my Captive condition only with this hope of bettering that those who are so much professed Patrons for the peoples Liberties cannot
the old Speakers and many Members were fled to their Protection And the eleven Members that had leave to travel were now got into this new Parliament and Massie Sir William Waller and Colonel General Poins the City Favourites were Listing Reformadoes and others Souldiers And out comes the City Declaration 31. Iuly in effect That his Majesty was surprised at Holmby and though the Act was disavowed by the General Yet the Armie desire that his person may be Resident with them Improving their interest throughout the Kingdom That the City have indeavoured by Remonstrance and Petitions to satisfie all unbiassed men of their zeal to Peace by establishing the True Religion restoring his Majestie and maintaining Priviledge of Parliament easing the charge of the Kingdom securing the peoples Liberty and relieving of Ireland Endeavouring to hold good correspondency between the Army and City That the Priviledges of Parliament have been violated by the Armies causing the eleven Members to withdraw whilst the City Militia is demanded contrary to the Establishment by Ordinance of Parliament and is subject to no other Cognizance then of the King and Parliament That there is nothing in the world that we desire more then that his Majestie be left free in such an honourable condition and capacitie as his person may appear to be at libertie to receive and treat upon Propositions to be presented to him from the Parliaments of both Kingdoms for whilst his Royal person is invironed by an Army and remains under the power thereof He cannot give that free assent to Propositions as is requisite or if he doe we nor our Posterity have no hope to enjoy the same without alteration And therefore we are resolved to apply our selves to the Parliament and hope that all good Subjects touched with the sence of Duty and Allegiance which by the Law of God and man they owe to the King will unanimously joyn with us therein The matter of difference thus truly stated between us and the Army to wit That we would not submit the Militia of the City to be ruled at the pleasure of an Army after it had been so orderly setled into the hands of such as were intrusted with it for a year when there was a full and free Parliament So we finde it more then time that the whole Kingdom be possessed with the true state thereof and upon whom the guilt of a new War which God forbid must justly lodge and accordingly we expect a blessing from God in our just defence And conclude their desires summmond up to be The settlement of Religion by re-establishing his Majesty in his just Rights and Authority by upholding all lawful priviledges of a free Parliament by maintaining the Fundamental Laws by restoring the Subjects Libertie and propertie by freeing this long oppressed Kingdom of all Taxes enforceed Free Quarter of the Army which hath had no visible Enemy to encounter and from this resolution we shall never recede for any earthly consideration or advantage what soever And although the Parliament had by Ordinance of 19. Iuly given the General power over all the Land Forces under the pay of the Parliament they declare it shall not extend over the Trained Bands and Garisons And both Houses Order that this Declaration be Printed and published by the Militia of the City by sound of Trumpet and that the Sheriffs of the several Counties of this Kingdom and Wales do publish the same in their respective Limits accordingly The Army comes on this night at Wickam to morrow to be at Colebrook and the King now at Latimer The last of Iuly he was two dayes after at Stoke Abby near Windsor In this confusion the City differ among themselves at the sitting of their Common Councel at Guildhall the Trained Bands of Southwark came in a Muâ—inous manner and would not be commanded out of their Borough but there to stand upon their own Guard Then were presented Petitions of thousands well-affected one against another that matters might be composed but what way they cared not nor could they tell And therefore their new Leaders Massey Waller and Poins were displeased with the multitude at Guildhall fell to words and blows divers wounded and some slain and the Aldermen in Councel fearing the people were fain to sit all day and that night and only concluded to write to the General And Petitions are set on work on either side as their constitutions led them some against the Parliament others against the Army others made it their sport to see this confusion in Church and State and like true Bautofees kindled this fire into a flame Men they say that have wasted their Estates in the Kingdoms extremity Some complain for liberty of Conscience are now to a new tone and tune for their Faith are Imprisoned though nothing can be found worthy of death or of durance only for differing in the outside controversies though blameless in Conversation and Office So that in truth it was apparent to the people that after such a vast expense of Blood and Treasure the exchange was of men in Places but not of Manners old burthens with new names new men with old Corruptions Then in places of new Election for Members they first made the choice and then give the Voice complaining against the Parliamentary proceedings and pray the Army not to lay down their power till the Kingdom with its Ruler be committed to the care and chaâ—ge of such persons as may secure us from fear of future oppression The City send 6. Aldermen and 12. Commons with a Letter to the General and complain That the City is suspected though innocent from Acting against the Army and therefore these their Members they send to be added to their Committee now attending the Councel of the Army and pray the General to forbear the mischief of a new War No sooner come but they were presented with the Armies Remonstrance and Proposals And on Hownslow Heath they Rendezvouz twenty thousand Men Horse and Foot with a great Train of Artillery to astonish the City and therefore such of the Parliament as trusted to the Souldiers were there present the Earls of Northumberland Salisbury Kent the Lords Wark Howard Wharton Say and Moulgrave and others fourteen in all the Speaker Mr. Lenthal of the Commons and above a hundred more of their Members The City stand in a maze unresolved and inconstant the Army in the mean time send a Brigade under Command of Rainsborough and Hewson over Kingstone Bridge and all night March to Southwark being called thither in opposition to the City Massey was busie and knowing his own case desperate sent out his Scouts and are met with and taken prisoners some of the Train-men would needs march out and were worsted and lost their Colours for the General was now near Brainford And therefore the City meet him with humble Messages That finding that his desires of Marching so near is to settle the Members of the Lords and
they were of mixed natures in each Petition so were they diverse in the contents some of which partly for the Parliament and much for the Army those of the Parliament come oft time from the well affected of such a County or Corporation and booted and spurr'd they must have answer and the Gentlemen must be called in for to receive thanks which usually was thus expressed by Mr. Speaker That though there be some things in the Petition that the House cannot so well approve of to be presented by Petition yet because in other things they express their good affections they have the thanks of the House And evermore in the tail of all they are told that the House had thoughts to such and such of their particulars expressed and for others of them the House were now in debate thereof And so the Gentlemen Commoners that came of the Errand trot home again no wiser than they were before onely with thus much honour that they have seen the Parliament sitting And according to the change of the time one of their Articles is evermore to be tender in imposing the Covenant upon any of their own Members or upon others whose consciences dare not subscribe unto it that they would provide for succouring tender consciences and not suffer them to be grieved and to be brought into bondage by rigid Impositions who live without offence and never fail to give a wipe against the King and his Prelatical party And last of all they petition that many men of competent gifts of good life and conversation who are willing to imploy their talents in the Lords work and yet are by occasion of some scruples about Ordination discountenanced from engaging in the work of the Gospel and in the things of our peace and pray that such men may receive encouragement and protection from both Houses This wrought for them for as the Protestant reformed from Romes Papacy the Presbyters from the Prelacy the Independents from them and the Libertines from all in which we sum up numberless Sectaries under the notion of godly gifted men And indeed the Members were not well pleased at the strictness of the Presbytery and forbore the House so that at this time there were absent of the Commons near two hundred Members in neglect or contempt of their proceedings so that the House make Orders and Proclamations in every County with Amerciaments by Fine of such as come not by the third of November next Octob. 9. But the gifted men fall to preaching and every Libertine began to profess himself of a tender conscience so suddenly increasing that the Parliament order That they shall have Liberty to meet for religious Duties in any place at any time and may be excused from the Churches on the Lords Day if so be they meet elsewhere to hear preaching or expounding But with this Proviso That the Indulgence as to tender consciences shall not extend to tolerate the use of the Common Prayer in any place whatsoever that was the Bug-Bear in all places Octob. 16. Upon Examinations of divers Actors Fomenters of the late Uproar of Parliament and City sundry were imprisoned Mr. Glyn the Recorder of London was charged that he had been very active in the late Actions for a new War countenanced the Cities last Declaration encouraged the riotous Petitioners had been very active with the Committee of safety and new Committee of the Militia of London c. And although he was able and did make his Defence at the Bar yet the Commons were divided as to his guilt but concluded to discharge him from being a Member and was committed to the Tower during pleasure and Mr. Steel was elected Recorder in his place Sir Iohn Mainard a petit busie Member always and in all kindes was impeached of high Treason Captain Macquire was condemned at the Old Baily for the same matters and the Murder and Ryot at Guild Hall But because he had been faithful to his Principles and but a looker on in the Crowd with his Sword drawn great means was made for him by Colonel Sanderson his best friend it seems who Petitioned the Parliament and General for the present and his very day come of Execution he got to be put off and afterwards his Reprieve and lastly his Pardon Mr. Braynton also was deeply concerned but being a Member it was considered how far such Members should be questioned And because the eleven Members were accounted rotten Summons was sent to Hollis Waller Clotworthy Massey Long and Nichols to attend the House the 16. October And by President of the Commons the Members of the Lords were also Involved and Impeachments of High Treason against the Earls of Suffolk and Lincoln and Middlesex the Lords Willoughby of Parham Hunsdon Maynard and Berkly for Levying War against the King Parliament and Kingdom And the Charge against them seat up by the Commons Not long after they fall upon some Citizens and Impeach them of high Treason those were Sir Iohn Gayer Lord Mayor â—ulham Bruce Langham and Adams Aldermen and are all committed to the Tower The Citizens of other Rank were Colonel Lawrence Colonel Hooker and Captain Iones impeached of high crimes And Captain Musgrave and about fifteen Citizens and Mr. Melton a Minister were indicted of high Treason at the Kings Bench Bar. And because their Mayor stood committed the Aldermen and Commons were to consider of a Government of the City according to their Charter These confusions brought work to the Printers in spight of all their Orders against Pamphlets as No Merling no Mercury Bellum â—ibernicale and I need not tell you how many more The Lords impeached of High Treason were the Earls of Suffolk Lincoln and Middlesex the Lords Willoughby of Parham Hunsdon Maynard and Berkley enduring nasty imprisonment to humble them to submit and so they escaped And now the City were curb'd in their former power of the Militia extending heretofore to the Lines of Communication which indeed are digged down and these their particular Militia set up for Westminster and the out Parishes for the Burrough of Southwark and for the Tower Hamlets and the last to be under the immediate command of the Constable the other of several Committee-men or any seven And an Ordinance passed also for the Citizens and Prentices to demolish the Forts and Guards and to dig down the Lines of Communication to another more doleful tune then when they were digg'd up And yet nothwithstanding the burthened City must bear more and advance fifty thousand pounds to pay the Army by two dayes time no longer delay so that upon the same sudden they must advaâ—ce a Moneths pay of the Army as a gratuity aforesaid the moneths pay of the Army besides and fifty thousand pounds also for the necessity of the Army being inforced to burthen the Countrey with free Quarter And therefore the Army declare That for what time the Cities fault and delayes have occasioned and shall further occasion the stâ—â—y of
the Army hereabouts the charge thereof shall be laid upon them and their Adherents about the City That the Parliament would consider of their Delinquencie that had a hand in the late Tumult Engagement and Design of a new War that they may be fined according to Iustice. That the Army will dispose themselves for the Levying the money required in case speedy advancement be not made The City seemed hide bound and underhand it was conceived that the Army was too high to be hindered from being their own carvers The Army suspect that they are too well understood And therefore not to drindle any longer And in plain terms Represent their desires to the Parliament with a Letter from the General and his Councel Remembring them that in their former Declaration from St. Albons it was expressed in General for setling and securing the Kingdom In order to which they presented their Proposals and in pursuance thereof having set forth what their desires are as Members of the Common-wealth They now desire those things which concern themselves as Souldiers and of satisfactions in relation thereto to be taken into speedy consideration by the Parliament In brief That a Committee of the Parliament may reside in the Armie to audite their Accounts of the Armies Arrears and to give Debenters as well for the pay respited upon the Publick Faith as otherwise for their service under this General or any other respective Commanders in the Parliaments Service which is to be made an unquestionable debt That Bishops Dean and Chapters and Forrest Lands may be sold for payment of the Armies Arrears That an Ordinance be passed that no person that is or shall be in this Army shall not be impressed to any Foreign service nor any Horseman be ever forced to serve on Foot in any future case An Act to pass for Prentices Freedom that have served the Parliament and provision for their maimed Souldiers Widows and Orphans An Act for Indemnity of Souldiers for any Action Petition or Papers agreed at Waldon in March last or any thing else in relation to the Army This begat serious consideration of the Parliament and present payment of 30000. l. and their gratuity to the Army and the moneths pay and all these from their own Treasurers and for the present they could but leavy the Arrears due from the City which was done with wonderful regret Propositions of Peace were now finished the consent and approbation of the Estates of Scotland returned and so they are speeded to the King at Hampton Court 7. Septemb. by the Commissioners the Earl of Pembroke the Lord Mountague Sir Iames Harrington Sir Io. Cook Sir Io. Holland and Major General Brown for the Parliament and the Earl of Lotherdale and Sir Charls Erskin for the Scots And though the Propositions were long the King told them they should have a speedy Answer which he delivered to them in writing the next day C. R. His Majestie cannot chuse but be passionatelie sensible as he believes all his good Subjects are of the late great distractions â—nd still languishing and unsetled state of this Kingdom and he calls God to witness and is willing to give Testimonie to all the world of his readiness to contribute his utmost endeavours for restoring it to a happy and flourishing condition His Majestie having perused the Propositions now brought to him finds them the same in effect which were offered to him at Newcastle To some of which as he could not then consent without violation of his conscience and honour so neither can he agree to others now conceiving them in many respects more disagreeable to the present condition of affairs than when they were formerly presented unto him as being destructive to the main principal interests of the Army and of all those whose affections concur with them And his Majestie having seen the proposals of the Army to the Commissioners from his two Houses residing with them and with them to be treated on in order to the clearing and securing of the Rights and Liberties of the Kingdom and the setling of a just and lasting Peace To which proposals as the conceives his two Houses not to be strangers So he believes they will think with him that they much more conduce to the satisfaction of all interests and may be a fitter foundation for a lasting peace than the propositions which at this time are tendred unto him He therefore propounds as the best way in his judgement in order to a peace that his two Houses would instantly take into consideration those proposals upon which there may be a personal Treatie with his Majestie and upon such other Propositions as his Majestie shall make hoping that the said proposals may be so moderated in the said Treatie as to render them the more capable of his Majesties full concession wherein he resolves to give full satisfaction to his people for whatsoever shall concern the Protestant profession with liberty to tender Consciences the securing of the Lawes Liberties and properties of his Subjects and all the just Priviledges of Parliaments for the future and likewise by his present deportment in this Treaty he will make the world clearly judge of his intentions in matters of future Government In which Treaty his Majestie will be well pleased if it be thought fit that Commissioners from the Army whose the proposals are may likewise be admitted His Majestie therefore conjures his two Houses of Parliament by the duty they owe God and his Majesty their King And by the bowels of Compassion they have to their fellow Subjects both for relief of their present sufferings and to prevent future miseries that they will forthwith accept of this his Majesties offer whereby the joyful news of Peace may be restored to this distressed Kingdom And for what concerns the Kingdom of Scotland mentioned in the Propositions his Majestie will very willingly Treat upon those particulars with the Scotish Commissioners and doubts not but to give reasonable satisfaction to that his Kingdom At Hampton-Court the 9. of September 1647. For the Speaker of the House of Peers pro tempore to be communicated c. By this Answer we see the King is catchâ—t to comply with the Army rather in their Proposals for setling of a peace 1. Aug. for now the design is working In order thereto Colonel Hamond is sent down to be Governour of the Isle of Wight an Item to the great fate that followed And the Kings Answer is Voted a flat denial That the King denies in his Answer to give his assent to the Propositions and that the King and those about the King shall speedily be taken into consideration Then after a dayes time to consider they debate Whether to adhere to the Propositions or fall upon the Proposals or have a personal Treaty with the King or not or whether to send the Propositions again to the King But after debates they resolve To fall upon the settlement of the Kingdom by
voted to be taken in custody And because they were out of reach the punishment for the present fell upon Sir Edward Ford whose relations being in the Camp and he the Kings friend was therefore seized into custody by Vote of the House He in truth knew no more in particular but that the King some time before resolved to be gone and so he was soon released But then followed poasting to all places and Orders sent out by Sea and Land and forthwith Resolved That it should be the confiscation of his estate and loss of Life who detains the Kings person in private and reveals it not to the Parliament The Minute come the manner of the Kings Journey was thus To his Horses and company he gets by Boat shadowed by a most tempestuous dark rainy uncouth night Friday the eleventh of November in which they lost their way in Windsor Forrest till the Morning light guided them through Farnham Town and missing of their former design what ere it was the Ship fayling they were enforced to conclude That himself and Legg would lodg that night at Tedsworth the House of the Countesse dowager of Southampton near the Sea and that the other two should ferry over to the Isle of Wight and seek out Colonel Hamond the Governour there under whose assurance for his Brothers sake Dr. Hamond his Chaplian the King might hope of friendship and fidelity of which he had given some testimonies in the Camp and at the Court But the Messengers had this expresse Item that unlesse upon their Oath and Faith of Protection Secrecie and Freedom to the Kings person at all times they were not to discover any more than to signifie in general his escape from eminent danger of Assassination and that his desire leades him to cast himself and them upon Hamond's fâ—delity and that if he refuse and yet likely enough to seize their persons which by their not returning at the time perfixed the King and Legg might finde the means otherwise to shift for themselves They gone the King disguised stayes without the House whilst Legg tells the Countesse that a person of honour her dear friend desires the privacie in her House that night without discovery She will not suspect it was enough He takes his chamber with attendance of two of the servants with his Diet to the door and Legg to lodge on a Pallet by him The Messengers got over Sunday the next morning and met with Hamond by the way toward Newport After their errand he tells them plainly he wishes the Kings safety as his Soul nor will he be Inquisitive where he should be but were he in his custody his Oath and Interest to the Parliament and Army being in ballance he should be safe from violence But for this freedom and liberty of his person how could he answer it to his Superiors to leave the King at large to any after mischief that might befal him Which not appearing satisfactory enough to them and Hamond not yeilding to more they not unwilling to be taken intocustody they all together came over with a guard to the Ladys house And Ashburnham goes up and tells the King that Hamond is below in the Parâ—er at Supper with assurance of his honour for his Majesties safety but not of liberty to his person The King strikes his breast and in passion replies and is that all I am betraied T is true that Ashburnham went out and wept bitterly and calling up Berkley they made an offer of some desperate attempt which the King abhored telling them that he would alwayes humble himself to Gods good pleasure But in this extremity the King with some appearance of a willing consent casts himself on Hamonds Loyalty and Honour and then being discovered to the Countesse who with trembling and in tears took her last leave of her Soveraign Lord the King who is carried over to Carisbroke Castle It appears by these passages that Hamond was not willing to seize the King and gave Ashburnham and Berkley sufficient Items thereof had they but hazarded either of their persons his Prisoner the King might at the last hour escaped his hands for even at the House he commanded all his company to stay without Nay it hath been credibly reported that Hamond himself hath said it and more to the same purpose which I list not to mention and doth evidence that he therein acted according to the former sense of the Grandees in the Army And from the Cowes there Hamond dates his Letter that day the thirteenth of Novem. directed to the Earl of Manchester Speaker of the Lords House which was received and read two dayes after My Lords I hold it my duty to give Your Lordships an accompt of the Kings unexpected coming into this Island This Morning as I was on my way from Carisbroke Castle to Newport Mr. Ashburnham and Sir Iohn Berkley overtook me and after a short discourse told me the King was near and that he would be with me that Night and that he was come from Hampton Court upon Information that there were some who intended to destroy his person and that he could not with safety continue any longer there and that finding his case thus chose rather to put himself into my hands being a Member of the Army whom he saith he would not have left could he have had security to his person than to go to any other place Being herewith exceedingly surprised at present I knew not what course to take but weighing the great concernment that the person of the King is of I resolved to use my utmost endeavours to preserve his person from any such horrid attempts and to bring him to a place of safety Hereupon I went immediately over the Water with them and taking Captain Basket Commander of Cowes Castle with us we found the King near the water side and by his own desire I chose to bring him over into this Island where he now is My endeavours shall be as for my life to secure his person and humbly desire the pleasure of the Parliament in this weighty matter c. Your Lordships c. Ro. Hamond Cowes Novem. 13. 1647. Upon conference with the Commons it was Resolved and Voted That his Majesty shall continue at the Isle of Wight and in the Castle That none that have born Arms against the Parliament but Inhabitants that have compounded shall remain there in that Island That no Delinquent no Foreigner to be admitted to come to the King without leave of the Parliaments of England and Scotland and the Propositions to be sent five daies hence being 22. of November That five thousand pounds be advanced for his accommodation That his Houshold be dissolved and to be considered who shall attend him 16. Novem. 1647. Notwithstanding Hamond complains to the Parliament That the accommodations of the King are no waies sutable to his quality and desires that his usuall allowance be continued to him whilst he shall reside there
from Michaelmas last and out of Compositions that shall be made before the concluding of the Peace and the Arrears of such as have been already made the assistance of the Clergy And the Arrears of such Rents of his own Revenue as his two Houses shall not have received before the concluding of the Peace his Majesty will undertake within the space of eighteen moneths the payment of 400000. pounds for the satisfaction of the Army And if those means shall not be sufficient his Majestie intends to give way to the sale of Forest Lands for that purpose this being the publick Debt which in his Majesties judgment is first to be satisfied and for other publick Debts already contracted upon Church Lands or other Ingagements his Majestie will give his consent to such Act or Acts for raising of monies for payment thereof as both Houses shall hereafter agree upon so as they be equally laid whereby his people already too heavily burthened by these late distempers may have no more pressures upon them than this absolute necessity requires And for the further securing of all fears his Majesty will consent that an Act of Parliament be passed for the disposing of the great Offices of State and naming of Privy Councellours for the whole term of his Reign by the two Houses of Parliament their Patents and Commissions being taken from his Majesty and after to return to the Crown as is expressed in the Article of the Militia For the Court of Wards and Liveries his Majesty very well knows the consequence of taking that away by returning of all Tenures into common Soccage as well in point of Revenue to the Crown as in the protection of many of his Subjects being Infants Nevertheless if the continuance thereof seem grievous to his Subjects rather then he will fail on his part in giving satisfaction He will consent to an Act for taking of it away so as a full recompence be setled upon his Majesty and his Successours in perpetuity and that the Arrears now due be reserved unto him towards the payment of the Arrears of the Army And that the memory of these late distractions may be wholly wiped away his Majesty will consent to an Act for suppressing and making null of all Oaths Declarations and Proclamations against both or either House of Parliament and of all Indictments and other proceedings against persons for adhering unto them and his Majesty proposeth â—as the best expedient to take away all seeds of future differences that there be an Act of Oblivion to extend to all his Subjects As for Ireland the cessation there is long since determined but for the future all other things being fully agreed his Majesty will give satisfaction to his two Houses concerning that Kingdom And although his Majesty cannot consent in Honour and Iustice to avoid all his own Grants and Acts past under his great Seal since the two and twentieth of May 1642. or to the confirming of all the Acts and Grants passed under that made by the two Houses yet his Majesty is confident that upon perusal of particulars he shall give full satisfaction to his two Houses to what may reasonably be desired in that particular And now his Majesty conceives that by these his offers which he is ready to make good upon the settlement of a Peace he hath clearly manifested his intentions to give full security and satisfaction to all Interests for what can justly be desired in order to the future happiness of his people and for the perfecting of these concessions as also for such other things as may be proposed by the two Houses and for such just and reasonable demands as his Majesty shall finde necessary to propose on his part he earnestly desires a personal Treaty at London with his two Houses in Honour Freedom and Saftety it being in his Iudgement the most proper and indeed only means to a firm and setled Peace and impossible without it to reconcile former or avoid future misunderstandings All these things being by Treaty perfected his Majesty believes his Houses will think it reasonable that the Proposals of the Army concerning the Succession of Parliaments and their due elections should be taken into consideration As for what concerns His Kingdom of Scotland his Majesty will readily apply himself to give all reasonable satisfaction when the desires of the two Houses of Parliament on their behalf or of the Commissioners of that Kingdom or of both joyned together shall be made known unto him C. Rex Islle of Wight 17. Nov. 1647. For the Speaker of the House of Peers c. And although the King is sufficiently alone from evil Councellours the Parliament have no minde that he should have any company and therefore send a Messenger with Warrants to seize those three Servants that waited on him thither But Hamond excuses them not to be delivered up to the Officer his reasons are truly noble and like a Souldier which he directs to the Speaker of the Lords House the Earle of Manchester My Lord Yesterday came an Officer with Warrants for apprehending c. And finding the matter of very great importance I have desired the Messenger to forbear the execution of his Warrants till I have given the Parliament to understand that in case they should be put in execution it would be impossible for me to preserve the person of the King in security to be disposed by the Parliament unless I should keep him close prisoner which I concieve neither fit nor safe for me to do especially of my self The ground being this The King hath declared himself to me that he came from Hampton Court for no other cause but for the preservation of his Person which was as he apprehended in such danger that he could not with safety continue longer there otherwise he would not have departed thence nor from the Army and that he chose this place rather than any other where he was at liberty that he might still continue under protection of the Army my self being a member thereof and that he might have free entercourse with the Parliament for the settlement of Peace to which he professes greater inclinations and desires then ever The King saith that in case these Gentlemen be taken from him and punished as evil doers for counselling him not to go out of the Kingdom but rather to come to the place where he now is for the ends aforesaid and for their endeavouring accordingly in attending him hither he cannot but himself expect to be dealt with accordingly his case being the same My Lord besides the care I shall alwaies have of these Gentlemen they have engaged their Honours not to depart from me and truly were not their ends the same with their pretences in relation to the Peace of this Kingdom they would never have advised and conducted the King hither There will be none left here for his attendance which besides the offence how great the inconveniencies will be to him your
that they should furnish him with Shipping and all things necessary these things were transacted the 1. of August and to imbarque at a port in Angus but their Ship not ready being so designed to engage his neglect he hired a Norway Man of Birgen thither he sends his friends Sir Io. Hurrey Iohn Dromond Henry Graham Iohn Spotswood Iohn Lily Patrick Melvin Geo. Wiseheart Doctor of Divinity Divid Gutlery Pardus La-sound a Frenchman Rodolph a German men pickt out for their abilities he sends them before and himself clad in a course suit he passed disguised as a servant to Iames Wood his worthy Chaplain from the haven of Montrose which flows to Brechen in Angus And from this time the State of Scotland had Elbow room without any Enemies at home The Scots Army being returned home out of England kept up a Body under colour of Civil diffentions there And their General David Lesley had Command of all and having notice that his Enemy Kilketto was retreated out of Arguile into Cantire and the Earl of Antrim into the Isles he drew off from Perth and came to Dundain and Arguile himself retreated to Inerne Castle quartering between Sterling and Dunkel The general Kirk Assembly of Scotland met Iuly 6. and ordered a publick Fast upon these Reasons That Gods hand is stretched out against them in the judgement of the Pestilence mainly increasing The great danger of Religion in the work of Reformation in both Kingdoms from the number and the Policy of Sectaries in England like to overturn the Foundation there laid with the expence of so much blood and pains And therefore they resolve to cleave to the Solemn League and Covenant against all the purposes and endeavours and underminings of their Enemy and pray for the Parliament of England and the Synod of Divines and the good effects and fruits of Truth and Peace which they now had for Montrose was gone But in this distempers of England the Scots increased their Forces and put England into fears and jealousies so that Allarm was often devised to see in what posture the English should be for seven thousand of the Scots were drawing Southward for fresh Quarters and are come over Spey River with Lesley Middleton in the East and Arguile's in the West and the Highlanders keep the Hills And not long after Lesley is come to Iaddard within fourty miles of Newcastle with fifteen hundred Horse and three thousand Foot for his part But notwithstanding the States of Scotland pretend to Disband unless their Kingdom be in danger of trouble the person of the King in any hazard or their Kingdom thereby dishonour'd and therefore for the present they raise two hundred thousand pounds Scotch for the present Sept. 27. but having knowledge by their Commissioners in England of the affairs here they will not Disband for at the beheading of the Lord Hart-Hill at Edenburgh one who had been for the King in the time of Montrose He scattered some Papers there to the people which mention the particulars of great troubles likely to be in England But to caress them and to see what they do 2. of the Lords and 4. of the Commons House are speedily to Post with Instructions to the Estates of Scotland where we leave them till the next year and proceed to a summary of the affairs of Ireland this year The Parliaments Commissioners are gon to Ireland to take possession of Dublin for the Marquess of Ormond and landed them the seventh of Iune and with them were Colonel Iones Captain Merridith Captain Parsons four hundred and fifty Hoâ—se and one thousand Foot commanded by Colonel Kinaston and four Captains mist at the time that Sir Charls Coot defeated a party of the Rebels The Parliament there now sitting gave good reception to the Commissioners in Iune Colonel Iones is made Governor of Dublin and much troubled by mutinies for advance mony and pay of arrears but were appeased and the old eleven Regiments of Foot reduced to seven viz. the Earl of Kildares Lord Moor Tichburn Benlace Willoughby Baily and Flowers in all about four thousand Many skirmishes are daily in several parts of the Provinces winning and loosing as the fate of war falls out but the complaint comes sad on the Parliament of England that their monies are gon their provisions in the field cannot last six daies and are forced to leave the field and go to garison for want of bread that Owen Roe the Rebel is with great forces in Connaught and Preston is marching against Dublin against whom Colonel Iones marches out with three thousand Horse and Foot and faced each other about twelve miles from Dublin the Enemy being eight thousand who fell on and forced Iones to retreat and then to fly and were pursued four miles taken prisoners and killed many the whole forces being in very sad condition But the eighth of August it was revenged by Colonel Iones upon Preston neer Trim killed five thousand four hundred and seventy Foot Souldiers three hundred of the Gentry seven thousand Arms taken four pieces of ordnance and great pillage with one hundred and fifty Oxen. About twelve a clock the Armies joyned battell continuing two hours Iones his Horse of two wings and some Foot having broken both wings of the Enemies the main body also advanced and did as much against theirs then the Enemy about three thousand drew up into a Bog and in abody whom Iones surrounded the Foot fall in and killed them those that came forth fell into the Horse and were all slain It was the greatest overthrow that we can boast of since the first war of the English against the Irish but not long after he rallies and joynes with Owen Oneal But the Lord Inchequin and his Souldiers understanding the differences of the Parliament and Army in England make their declaration and Remonstrance also yet they resolve to go on against the Rebels but will not admit of any alteration in Martial Government untill their arrears be paid them what is due both in England and Ireland And the Scots are called upon to Recall their â—orces out of Ulster in Ireland there being no further need of their forces the Parliament of England resolving to prosecute that war with the forces of England onely for Colonel Iones was successfull and had taken from the second of October to the nineteenth Castle Ricard Port Castle Athby Grucesfort the Mabber Belliloe Cabbrough Castle War Danmock Carrat Matrose Castle down and Castle Amoin And Inchequin hath his share of success in the Province of Munster the thirteenth of November neer Megallo and Clancard and killed two thousand five hundred upon the plain divers wounded and taken prisoners so that the Enemies loss is reckoned four thousand but at the close of these events the English cry out for recruit of men relief of Provisions and oft times ready to starve but the Kingdom of England are not at better leisure to help them being in much distemper at home
chief Actors therein Black-heath 30. May 1648. Tho. Fairfax This Answer sticks in their stomacks they therefore divide their Forces into Brigades some of the South besiege Dâ—ver Castle and are not yet fitted to fight with Fairfax who endeavours to engage which the others avoid and rather to dispute by Letters in their Reply to the General My Lord The Laws of Nature are universal and perpetual amongst which that of self preservation is one and you have declared as much Iudge if it be not we have taken up Arms to defend our selves and Proviâ—ence hath blest us with a power to doe it which we cannot relinquish 〈◊〉 with the forfeiture of our reason and honour we invade not your Right but stand firm to secure our own and so to doe is neither Tumult nor Rebellion you are pleased to hold forth conditions of uncertain mercy to the people and withall affix mâ—naces of an exemplary and positive prosecution upon the principals To this we must assure you Sir it is but one soul that informs this great body and we are determined to staâ—d or fall together being rendered uncapable of any fear save only of relapsing into our former slavery We need no other Arguments than what the fair mannage of this business affords â— to testifie our lâ—ve to peace if your self stand so inclined also Be pleased rather to make this County a Friend than an Enemy As to the Petition we hope it will be seasonably considered of we are Signed by the name and appointment of the Gentry of the Countrey by us Your servants Philip Masilds Major Edward Hales The first Fight was at a Bridge between Crayfâ—rd Heath and Gravesend which the Countreymen had â—â—racadoed yet the Generals Forces of Horse swam over and put the other to flight and Major Child their Commander hardly escaped his Horse being shot under him his Son wounded and taken twenty others slain and thirty prisoners those were only some of the County Saylers and City Prentices The General follows after and Major Husbands advanceth some miles beyond Gravesend and then to Mauâ—en the General now thereabouts at Mapham and there makes a halt to see what the Enemy meant to doe for they were numerous near ten thousand and their chiefs were Sir Gamaliel Dudley Sir Geo. Lisle Sir William Crompton Sir Robert Tracie Colonel Leigh Sir Io. Mavy Sir Tho. Payton Sir Tho. Palmer Esquire Hales 〈…〉 be General Sir Iames Hales Sir William Mavy Sir Iohn Dorrel Sir Thomas Godfrey Sir Rich. Hardress Colonel Washington Colonel Hamond Colonel Le â— strange Colonel Culpepper Colonel Hacker Iames Dorrel Colonel George Newman and Mr. Whelton sometime Treasurer for the Parliament I mention them for no dishonour their pretence was just I judge none But on goes the General and Marches towards Rochester and by the way Major Husbands disputes a Passage over a Bridge at Norfield maintained by Major Childe with six hundred Foot which was gained and killed twenty men and took thirty Prisoners with small loss to the Assailants This having rouzed the Kentish men it was expected they should imbody and meet their Adversary ere he were further entered upon them which the General expected and therefore Marched full bodyed six thousand Foot and two thousand Horse well Ammunitioned for the City sent after what ever possible could be called for The County were not so many ill trained dispersed meanly armed slender Ammunition and such Commanders as in like cases are more for reputation then direction or execution But no opposition appears the General Advances with his whole Army now collected near ten thousand men to Rochester where the Bridge is quitted to him and he goes on towards Maidstone was strengthened with reasonable Force to defend and valiantly indured the first Assault by Storm and the second but the third time got entrance upon disadvantage for the Streets were well manned the houses lined and their case-shot so galled the Assaylants with much loss and long dispute twelve a clock midnight and so valiantly defended that the old Souldiers confest what ere they got was by Inches and dearly bought and that the like desperate service they had never felt before So then the County men could fight but overpowred they lost two hundred slain one thousand four hundred Prisoners four hundred Horse two thousand Arms and many men of quality slain and taken The other lost not many and this was done the second of Iune Whilst this was acting the Rocestrians drew out into a Body within three miles of Maidstone which weakned the Generals Assault for he was fain to draw out considerable Forces to attack them at a distance but the other came not on And when all was lost they marched away and left Rochester to the Generals mercy The County now in desperation send to the City of London relating their condition and that in this just quarrel they hoped of Association and help in for the General good of the Nation and people oppressed but the City refuse and acquaint the Parliament who return them thanks And to reward their faithfulness it was now conceived very seasonable to Answer their late Petitions in behalf of the eleven Members and other Prisoners for the Tumult of Parliament and as a day of Jubile for the Kentish News The Parliament Order That the Votes whereby Denzil Hollis Sir Jo. Maynard Sir William Waller Sir William Lewis Sir John Clotworthy Colonel Edw. Massey Anthony Nichols and Walter Long Esquires stand accused by the House be fully discharged That the Votes whereby the Lord Willoughby of Parham the Earls of Lindsey Suffolk and Middlesex the Lord Barkley Hunsdon and Maynard stand accused by this House be fully discharged That the Votes whereby the Aldermen Gayer Langham and Bunce and Serjeant Glyn accused by this House be fully discharged 3. June But the Kentish men kept in a Body and marched towards London in hope of assistance from hence and being come to Black-heath and no help afforded the Generals Horse hastening at their heels The Kentish men sensible of their misfortune quit their Commanders and retire home And therefore Goring Earl of Norwich one amongst them tells them plainly that he is no Souldier but though old he had a heart to lead them on that would follow him the Generals Horse in sight and they no time to Councel suddenly they bethink Goring with about 5. hundred gets over the Ferry at Greenwich into Essex and gathers strength and Quarter about Stratford Laughton and Bow and joynes with Sir Charls Luâ—as and others of Essex to whom comes the Lord Capel with Forces of Hartfordsbire and Rendezvouz at Chelmsford Dover Castle was hardly besieged but the Parliaments Forces raise that Siege and the County men retire to Canterbury against whom Ireton and Barkstead March with their Regiments and at Eversham are met by two Commissioners for Composition to those of Canterbury which were granted and Ireton goes thither to perform them and
Barkstead gets over into Essex Sandwich Deale and Weymor Castles held out against Colonel Rich and Hewson And Kent thus reduced the General Ferries his Forces over at Gravesend and Greenwich into Essex where that County was gotten into a Body of six thousand and but ill Armed the Earl of Norwich makes bold to borrow the Earl of Warwicks Armory served the turn for the present and the General Marching on the Essexians who get into Colchester the seat of War for their friends in other Counties to come to their aid For The General is come and set down to the Siege and after Skirmishes and as yet the â—ounty men in good heart They within are Summoned to yield My Lord I am come hither with the Parliaments Forces to reduce those under your Command to the Parliament if your Lordship and those under you will lay down Arms and so prevent much blood and the Town from Plunder otherwise the evil will lye upon you and excuse me 13. June You servant Tho. Fairfax This Summons was slighted for the merry Earl of Norwich told the Trumpeter he heard of the Generals Gout but he would cure him of all diseases but the General writes again concerning the harsh usage of some Prisoners of quality Commissioners of the Parliament SIR I understand you have in custody Sir William Massam and others prisoners I desire this bearer may see in what condition they are that their wants may be supplyed and to exchange yours for prisoners of mine Tho. Fairfax Which was Answered and consented unto and the like from them And rest your Lordships servants Norwich Capel Lucas 15. June Indeed the Prisoners of each were of different quality and so not to be equally exchanged for many Gentry of the best quality were ingaged in the Town the remain of many gallant Commanders of the Kings and of the former Cavaliers so that during this Siege and often Sallies there suffered many of Noble descent and Families But it was an hard case that the House of Commons voted to seise into custody twenty persons Cavaliers in lieu of these Committee-men of Essex taken priosoners And although the City of London appear not in publick against the Essex Revolters yet we may guess at the affections of many of them by a Bill presented to Doctor Burges Lecturer at St. Pauls Cathedral to be read and subscribed by numbers of Citizens desiring to give thanks to God for his Protection to the King in preventing his Majesty from being impoisoned and to pray for the good success of the Forces under the Command of the Earl of Norwich the Lord Capel Sir Charles Lucas and for Sir Marmaduke Landale who was Marching from the North to their relief The King straitned in his imprisonment at Carisbook Castle his own servants removed and others of very mean rank put upon him some of these mutined against each other and in the dissention a rumour was raised there of a design to impoison the King Osborne an ordinary man Dowset a Groom of a Lords Chamber and Babington his Barber and one Major Rolph The murmur there made the noise thereof so increase at London that the Parliament ordered their Commitment The business was Legally prosecuted to a Tryal at Southampton Assize where the Evidences were so disagreeing and the charge so irregular in Law that the Grand Iury found it Ignoramus and in truth the King himself gave no credit to the report Whilst these businesses were in Action a fresh Insurrection was devised so near ken of the Parliament as Kingston upon Thaâ—es The chief Actor was the Earl of Holland Commissioned from the Prince of Wales beyond Seas To this Iuncto was drawn in the Duke of Buckingham and his valiant brother the Lord Francis the Earl of Peterborough and others 'T is true it broke out into Arms Iuly 2. but being some time a brewing and weakly mannaged they were soon dissipated their former meetings unadvised and too publick The Parli had eyes upon their Actions which were discovered from time to time by false fellows amongst them and so put to it to appear before they were ready they Summon'd a Rendezvouz on Kingston Heath not more coming then five hundred horse and truly being met their General was not fitted with Orders of Command every one asking who should lead them on Yet it amazed the Parliament who in fear of the effects listed present Forces of Horse at the charge of each Member for security of Whitehall and themselves subscribing to their abilities And it was time for the City had received Letters of Invitation from those of the Insurrection To the Lord Mayor Aldermen c. Having of long time beheld the sad Calamities of these Kingdoms and finding no other means of redress we are forced into this undertakeing which we desire may be rightly understood of all well affected especially of this City whose actions and good endeavours doe suâ—ficiently evidence their good affections To this end we have inclosed a brief account of our intentions of peace to the Kingdom which we hope will give satisfaction to all whose assistance with Gods blessing we desire no further then our desires are real for the happiness of King Parliament and Kingdom according to Covenant July 6. Your humble servants Buckingham Holland Peterborough Hereupon the Parliament Vote them Traytors and all others their Adherents and their Estates instantly to be sequestred But to the Business Friday the 7. of Iuly the parties March from Darking with their whole Force to possesse Rigat which they had quitted the other day and hither they came too late for Major Gibbons and Colonel Riches Horse entred the Town before upon which the other March towards Kingston and are pursued so close that divers of them are taken prisoners betwixt Ewell and Non-such Park in the very High way to Kingston Then each drew up and faced one the other and was disputed by Parties whilst the Risers sent their Foot before into Kingston to secure their Retreat The Forlornes fought well on both sides but at last they fly and were pursued to Kingston where their Foot had made good the Turn-pike and stopt the Career of the Pursuers That night the Parliament Forces kept Guard without the Town till morning that their Foot was come and then give Allarm and enter but found no Adversary but one hundred Horse with their Carriages for the men were fled over the Bridge towards Harrow on the Hill whither they are pursued But in the former Disputes that gallant Lord Francis Villâ—â—rs was slain with many wounds and twenty more one hundred Prisoners and two hundred Horses And truely from henceforth they were hunted never daring to make a stand or to dispute with any parties though of far less number And are now so separated that sport was made to finde out the Parties posting any wither for safety of their lives East West North and South And the greatest party following their flying General
the Earl of Holland to St. Needs and pursued by Colonel Scroop from Hartford who being guided by Spyes got the secret waies thither ere the Defendants were aware yet some were Mounted and in a Body but were beaten by a Forlorn and Routed before the rest entered the Duke with sixty Horse flyes away towards Lincolnshire and escapes beyond Seas Their General not up or not dressed was taken in his Câ—â—mber many that fought got away some slain others prisoners persons of good Note so that the Souldiers said they never met with such golden booties fine clothes gallant Horses and pockets full of Coin The Parliament say they lost but three And for the present the Earl of Holland is sent prisoner to Warwick Castle where he continued untill his Arraignment and Execution at Westminster the 9. of March as hereafter follows But the Prisoners of note were the Earl of Holland Sir Gilbert Gerard Colonel Skemisher Major Holland Major Slepkin Lieu Col. Goodwin Colonel Legg and one hundred more Dalbier and a Son of Sir Kenelm Digbies slain the Lord Andover was after taken at Dover and there imprisoned The Parliament of Scotland were now sitting since the second of March and not well pleased with the English proceedings it was thought fitting here to send English Commissioners to reside there during their Session And of the Lords House were chosen the Earls of Nottingham and Standford the Commons were Mr. Arthurst Colonel Birch Mr. Herle and Mr. Marshal Preachers For the Scots recruit their Army at home and the English expect an Invasion of them being generally dissatisfied there of our proceedings against the King here However the Commssioners of England resident there acquainted our Parliament here with Propositions of Scotland and this their Answer to some Papers sent thither That it was the desire of the Parliament of England to maintain a good correspondency between the two Nations 2. That this Kingdom would take speedy care for the advance of a hundred thousand pounds due unto that Kingdom and so long as that sum or any part should be forborn they should have Interest after the rate of 8. l. per â—ent for the same 3. And that concerning the Arrears due to the Scots Army in Ireland the Parliament of Scotland are desired either to propound a certain sum by the Lump for the service of that Army there or else to appoint Commissioners on their side or appoint their Commissioners with ours to repair into Ireland to audit the 〈◊〉 of that Army So then we find the outward pretences on both sides to keep a good correspondency And to Caress them the more ever and anon the Parliament of England would by debates and Orders shew an inclination to settle the Presbyterian Government here by that means to quiet the bawling Spirits of the Scots Ministery in their Kirk and Pulpits though it was never seriously intended here And even at this time Letters of Intelligence came from Scotland that Sir Tho Glenham Sir Lewis Divâ—â—â—ir Marmaduke Langdale and others from the Queen in France are expected in Scotland and many discontented English flock to Edenburgh from all parts Captain Wogans Horse Marched thither from the Army with a full Troop and two Companies of Foot landed out of Ireland at Chester and Marched thither likewise But as the Affairs of the English Parliament had suffered under several distractions so these of Scotland were managed with great disturbance some of their Members would raise an Army to espouse the Kings quarrel and to restore him Another party desire an Army to suppress the Sectaries of both Kingdoms but are loath thereby to strengthen the hands of Malignants in either Kingdom A third would have no Army at all and to some end or other they frame an Oath That Presbyterial Government be maintained That the King be not restored till he subscribe the Covenant and endeavours the extripation of Sectaries That Ecclesiastical Power is not subordinate to the Civil That the Kings Negative voice in England be taken away In Debate of these Passages two of their best Sparks the Earl of Kilmore allied to Hamilton and the Lord Granston to their General Leven went out in a Fury and fought a Duâ—l and most of many are for War The Parliament of England confer and Vote that all Members be summoned to attend the Houses on the 24. of the next Moneth April for the Estates of Scotland had formed a Committee of danger who had of themselves voted to raise fourty thousand men and these were Duke Hamilton Arguile the Earls of Crawford Lindsey Lauderdale Lanrick Calandar Traquair and Roxborough the Lords Eimeâ—pethen Waneston 〈◊〉 Humbe Collington Arneston Gartland and Ennis and eight Burgessâ—s But against the manner of this Vote not the matter a Protestation was made by eighteen Lords and fourty other to this effect Whereas we have desired that no Power be granted to any Committee to engage this Kingdom in a War before the Parliament resolve on a War and state the cause and ends thereof it being not agreeable to the Act of Parliament 1640 c. And protest not to be included but may be free of all the evill that may follow thereupon to the cause of God the Covenant Religion and to the Kings person and Authority to this Kirk and Kingdom or the union of both The Scots are come and their General Duke Hamilton consults there with Sir Marmaduke Langdale whether towards Lancashire or New-castle the Duke marches himself in the Van with his Trumpeters before in Scarlet Coats with silver lace and much state His life guard proper persons well cloathed His Standard and other equipage Prince-like In the Van marched four Regiments of Horse seven Colours to a Regiment and in all of the Van about two thousand Their body led by Major General Middleton seven Regiments ten Colours to a Regiment and therein neer seven thousand Some carriages came with them but their compleat will be from Carlisle the only reason of his hasting thither The Rear is brought up by the Earl of Calander with fifteen hundred Additional forces they expect from Major General Monroe of three thousand Scots from Ireland under his Command And for assistance of the English about three thousand now ready to be drawn out into Arms under Langdale in the North. The Scots Declarations are already passed to smooth his passage to the people And being come thus near as Annan he Summons Major General Lambert the Parliaments Northern Commander to this effect Noble sir The Parliament of Scotland upon the imminent danger to Religion his Majesties sacred person and the peace of his Kingdoms from the prevailing power of Sectaries in England did send to the Parliament of England such demands as they conceived necessary and no Answer nor satisfaction therein the danger increasing by Northern Forces drawn to the Borders The Committee of Estates in Scotland have commanded him and other noble Personages his
the Force that could be spared from all the Southern County and the City of London also It was vigorously assaulted and gallantly defended with â—uch Sallies at several times and successes as rendred the Gâ—â—eral â—ot very prosperous At last the whole City was surrounded and by often Skirmishes they within grew weak of fighting men provisions of all sorts spent both for Ammunition and Victuals and whilst they within had hopes to their hearts they neglected â—ay disdained offers of Treaty or capitulation for almost three moneths when horrid necessity inforceth them to consider of a Treaty when Horse-flesh and Dogs Cats and Vermin failed for Food No hope of succour the Princes Fleet part fell from him the Wâ—lsh reduced the Earl of Hollands Insurrection suppressed Revolts Muâ—inies Allarms in several Counties quieted the Scots whole Army of Invasion totally defeated and the King himself lay'd aside for whose sake all these pretended And of all which the Besieged had continual intelligence then the Horror waxed high And therefore the chief Commanders within capitulate with the Camp without That they at the desire of the Inhabitants think fit to send to the General they are constrained to turn out the Towns-pâ—ople for bâ—tter accommodation of the Souldiery whereby their houses and gâ—ods would be left lyable to ruine for prevention they think fit to Treat with the General for surrender of the City to which purpose they would send out Officers to Parley To whose Letter they have this Answer That the General believes their extream pressure upon the Inhabitants and all the rest but he clears himself from the occasion of their sufferings he is compassionately willing to allow the proper Inhabitants only to come forth provided the Committee of Essex now prisoners within be first sent out and excepting the wives children of such as remain behinde in Arms. And concerning the Rendition of the Town hâ—â—ffers that all Souldiers under the degree of a Captain shall have free pass to their homes and all Captains and other Offcers superiour with Lords and Gentlemen to submit to mercy These Conditions would not go down with Goring therefore the next day five hundred women are forced out upon the powdercharged Cannon and Muskets to frighten them back but better so to dye then to return to Famine and thus they make a stand and crave rather sudden destruction They within make a Sally for a dead horse and one slain yet â—fter two dayes stink it is got in for food And to the Generals Letter they within Reply That they would not Render themselves to mercy to any but to God alone And therefore to spare blood they send out their utmost offer the lowest conditions they could yield unto 24. Aug. Which in truth were too high for the General to grant And therefore he is peremptory not to give Answer Then they 〈◊〉 send out a Drum with Mr. Barnardeston one of the Committee pâ—â—â—oners and Colonel Tuke desiring a Treaty upon what the General offered heretofore and concerning the explanation of the words to submit to mercy how far they would extend and in reference to the Officers and Souldiers and Townsmen And had Answer that in respect the Officers and Souldiers c. had neglected that former offer that now they should have only fair Quarter the rest to submit to mercy But however the Treaty should succeed the misery was much within and therefore the private Souldiers were resolved to deliver up their Commanders who caress the Souldiers with Wine and Victuals and fair words to joyn with them to break through the Besiegers over the North-bridge the way to escape but that Design shrunk for it was soon apprehended by the Souldiers that whilst they should fight the Commanders would fly And therefore in this high distemper they all submit to mercy the twenty seventh of August The Inhabitants of the Town were fined fourteen thousand pounds to be preserved from Plunder â—â—d two dayes after Sir Charls Lucas and Sir Geo. Lisle were shot to death they disputed this kinde of Justice to be in cold bloud without any Tryal without president of men at Arms and unsouldier-like but seeing no remedy Lucas was said to dye like a Christian justified his taking up Arms in defence of the King his Sovereign and bad them doe their worst he was prepared Lisle came to the stake kissed the others warm Corps wreaking in bloud and was shot to death also But why this unusual Execution was so acted I cannot be satisfied which the General in his Letter to the Parliament calls Military Execution and hopes that your Lordships will not think your honour or justice prejudiced had he put it to the question before their death the Lords would have resolved him but it was now too late and must be submitted to the worlds censure The rest of the Lords Officers Gentlemen and Souldiers are referred to the Parliaments mercy or justice Indeed the Commissioners that treated put the question what is meant by fair Quarter what by rendering to mercy It was resolved to the first That with Quarter for their lives they shall be free from wounding or beating shall enjoy warm clothes to cover them shall be maintained with Victuals fit for prisoners while they be prisoners For the second That they be rendered to mercy or render themselves to the General or to whom he shall appoint without certain assurance of Quarter so as the General may be free to put some immediately to the Sword Although the General intends chiefly and for the generality of those under that condition to surrender themselves to the mercy of the Parliament Neither 〈◊〉 â—he General given cause to doubt of his civility to such as render to mercy The chief Commanders deserve to be mentioned Some amends for their sufferings they were Valiant men The Earl of Norwich the Lord Capel Lord Loughborough Sir Charles Lucas Sir William Compton Colonel Sir Geo. Lisle Sir Bernard Gascoigne Sir Abraham Shipman Sir Iohn Watts Sir Lodowick Dyer Sir Henry Appleton Sir Denart Strutt Sir Hugh Ovelly Sir Rich. Maliverer Colonels Garter Gilburn Farr Till Hamond Chester Heath Tuke Ayloff and Sawyer Eight Lieutenant Colonels nine Majors thirty Captains Commissary General Francis Lovelace Master of the Ordnance Major Gen. Graveston Gentlemen sixty five Lieutenants seventy two Ensigns and Corners sixty nine Serjeants a hundred eighty three private Souldiers three thousand sixty seven The Gen. Fairfax having done his Work Marches Northwards to Yarmouth and up and down these Counties to settle Peace caress his Garrisons receiving testimonies of thanks for his Victorious Successes and returns to St. â—lbans his Head Quarters in the beginning of October from which time we shall hear more of him and his hereafter The universal distractions of the Parliament and Kingdom by Insurrections Revolts Tumults and Disorders both on Land and also in the Fleet at Sea made the City of London sensible of the sufferings which fell heavily
provision be made for the education of the Children of Papists in the faith and Religion of Protestants for the imposing of Mulcts on Papists and disposing the benefit thereof at the discretion of the Parliament That provision be made for suppressing the practises of Papists against the Common-wealth for the executing the Laws against them without fraud and for the stricter forbidding of administring and frequenting Mass whether in the Court or whatsoever place within England and Ireland 3. That the power of the Militia by Land and Sea throughout England and Ireland reside in the Parliament solely to raise train as many Souldiers as they please to lead them whither they please to levy what monies they think fit for their pay whereby they may encounter intestine troubles and invasions foreign and that the King and his successors shall not claim any right therein for the space of twenty years after the expiration whereof if the Parliam shall think the safety of the Commonwealth to be concerned that an Army whether for Land or Sea service be raised and pay alotted them and exact the same by their Authority that such Votes shall have the force of a Law or Statute even though the King refuse If persons of what quality soever to the number of thirty be gathered together in Arms and at the command of the Lords and Commons shall not lay down Arms they shall be accounted guilty of high Treason without hope of pardon from the King To these by way of Corollarie were added some provisions touching the City of London Priviledges and ordinary power of Ministers of Iustice in executing sentence given 4. That by an Act the Cessation of Ireland and all Treaties and Articles there made without the consent of Parliament be voided That the right of prosecuting the Irish War depend upon the discretion of Parliament That the Deputy and all Ministers whether of the Martial or â—ivil Government be nominated by Parliament the Chancellor of Ireland Keep of the great Seal Treasurer all Officers of the Kingdom all the Judges the places offices honours 〈◊〉 Donations of Lands grâ—nted by the King since the Cessation made be â—ulled 5. That all Honours and Titles since the second of May 1642. at which time the 〈◊〉 of the great Seal carried away the Seal with himself from the Parliâ—ment be declared Null No man likewise 〈◊〉 chosen into the Order of Peeâ—age shall sit in the House of Lords without the consent of both Houses 6. That the Parliament raise what moneys they please for payment of the publick debts and dammages and for whatsoever publick uses they shall see hereafter needfull 7. In the first tank of Delinquents be reckoned to whom no hope of pardon shall be left either for life or fortune with the Kings Kings consent The two Princes Palatine of the Rhine Rupert and Maâ—ricâ— three Earls five Lords two Bishops two Judges of the Kingdom twenty two Knights whose names to remember were too large but these persons were those who had done the King the most acceptable service All Papists which had been in Arms namely the Marquess of Winchester with two Earls two Lords and six Knights as also all that raised or fomented the Rebellion in Ireland In the 2. Rank were placed fifty Noblemen and Knights all Memberâ— of the lower House who deserting the Parliament passed over to the Kings Party as also all the Judges Lawyers Clergy-men be banished from the Kings Court and abstain from publick Offices and that under penalty of Treason loss of life and fortunes that the Judges and Lawyers be proscribed from Courts and their practice the Clergy interdicted their Benefices and liberty of Preaching Such fell upon the third Rank as had committed or councelled ought against the Parliament none whereof shall obtain in future the Office of Justice of Peace or Judge or Sheriff or publick Officer To the fourth Rank are reckoned the Common Souldier and all persons of baser rank whose fortunes were narrower then two hundred pounds All the Lands and goods of those of the first Rank be publickly sold to pay publick debts but of the Members which in the new Parliament held at Oxford pronounced those guilty of High Treason which adhered to Westminster two parts in three of their lands and goods The Moity of others of the Judges Lawyers Clergy-men the third part and the sixth of all the third Rank be sold for the foresaid points The rest be let goe without Câ—nsure Provided they have ingaged themselves in the National Covenant All in the second and third Rank after the payment of their Fines the pardon of Parliament being sued granted be entirely restored 8. That all Offices of the Kingdom and chief Magistracies for â—wenty years next ensuing be collated and constituted according to the pleasure of Parliament 9. That the new Seal framed aâ— the Houses appointment pass by the King into the Seal of England and that no other hereafter be used That all Grants and Commissions sealed by this new one remain firm all under the old Seal which was with the King be voided from such time as the Keeper Littleton conveyed it away from the Parliament 10. That all Priviledges Grants Charters and Immunities of the City of London be confirmed with itâ—rated Acts That the Tower of London and Militia be ordered at the discretion of the Mayor of the City Members and Common Council therein That no Citizen be compelled to Military service out of the Liberties of the City unless at the Parliaments appointment and the last was 11. That the Court of Wards with all Offices and Employments thereto belonging be exterminated That all services likewise on that accompt imposed cease all inheritances which formerly were held of the King in Capite c. namely by Knights service being freed from burden and charges fifty thousand pounds notwithstanding being paid the King yearly in compensation These were the conditions of peace propounded by the Parliament for the Argument or Matter of the Treaty to be commenced so vehemently sought after by the desires of all men and by the Arms of many Nothing changed from those which being formerly sent to the King whilst he remained at Hampton Court were not only rejected by the King but also of the Army as being somewhat too unequal In this one thing they differed that in these last the Scots are unconsidered The Parliament Commissioners are vested with no other Authority then to reply to the Kings Arguments rejoyn Reasons to force his assent having no power to sweeten or alter a word nay not to pass over the Preface but are forthwith to adverâ—ise the Parliament touching the Kings Concessions to transact all in writing and to debate the Propositions one by one in order not to descend to another before agreement touching the precedent and the time limited to dispatch within fourty dayes The Treaty goes on for a good while when suddenly advice comes to the Parliament that
Seyman which held a weeks debate and being very prolix we shall refer the Reader to the Papers on each particular then set forth by the Kings friends and since imprinted and bound up together with other Writings and Papers of the Kings annexed to his Eikon Basilike where the dispute is set out at large But the time limited in the Treaty being now consummaâ—â— the Commissioners return and make their report to the Parliament of the Kings Concessions no waies answerable to their desires and so are voted unsatisfactory And at an instand Hamond renders up the charge of the Kings person to Col. Ewers as hereafter And whilst the Treaty is likely to conclude in peace the Commanders of the Army seem to entertain the hopes with gladness and profess That they will obey the Acts of the Houses that publick peace will be welcom to them above others that being free from the toyls of War they might settle their own private affairs and after the end of their tedious labours sit down to rest But what ere they said their intermingled friends in the Houses advizing some Commanders and common Souldiers hold meetings and frame Petitions That the Treaty with the King might be broken off and punishment on all without distinction glancing at the Kings person the Enemies of the Common-wealth and these are Printed and dispersed and which taking flame the Souldiers Rendezvouz near London to frighten their adverse party and a Remonstrance is conceiving by an able pen-man who under colour of dislike with the General takes time in private for the present only to frame a large Remonstrance of the Army But to usher it in with County Petitions 〈…〉 most pertinent from thousands of the County of Leicester minding the Parliament in this time of Treaty of two Declarations the one from the Assembly of Scotland charging the King with spilling of the bloud of many thousands in his three Kingdoms And the other Declaration of Parliament An. 1647. wherein they give Reasons of their no further address to the King and speak as high as these of Scotland they add also the Houses Answer to the Scots Commissioners Papers 1647. All which have made their hearts to tremble expecting with amazement what satisfaction they may have to these loud cryings and Heaven-provoking crimes viz. The death of his Father betraying Rochel the Spanish Fleet with an Army in it Proclamations to cry down Parliaments his correspondency with Rome the private Articles of his marriage his Commissions to the Rebels in Ireland his violent attempt upon his House of Commons inviting Foreigners to enslave the three Nations his proclaiming the Parliament of England Rebels the designed bloody Massacre in London by his Commission his destructive principle of yielding accompt to none but God his inviting over of the Irish Rebels to subdue this Parliament and such like together with this eight years misâ—ries of these three Kingdoms And that these are but a few of the many Reasons why they cannot repose any more trust in him And pray that proceedings against him may be accordingly least they build their peace upon ruined foundations that they may neither fear Treating with him nor trusting him with great and weighty affairs of the three Kingdoms And conclude as most charitable and Christian that speedy justice be executed on all prisoners the Parliaments Enemies And had thanks for this Petition But the Tide began to turn in October whilst they were Treating for now we are almost at quiet abroad and the Army at leisure Insurrections calmed Garrisons in opposition surrendred Scotland inâ—aders overcome the two Kingdoms brought in confederacy in Arms. And the House of Commons bethinks of raising vast sums for composition of Delinquents and accessaries in the late Insurrections and in executing such persons prisoners as are fitted for Justice To which eâ—d they have Petitions from the Mayor Aldermen and Common Council of London and the like unchristian charity from the prayers and Preachings of the Presbyterian and accordingly the Parliament proceed They begin with the Earl of Norwich and the Lord Capell as to impeaching them of Treason and Rebellion who Petitioned the House of Lords with the sense of their condition and of the quarter consented unto by the General Fairfax at the Surrender of Colchâ—ster The Lords send to the Commons assuring them that by the Generals Letter to them all others were to have quarter after some were shot to deaâ—â— And upon great debate the Houses were fain to desire the General to explain his Letter of the 29. of Septem He was now at his Head Quarters at St. Albans and long after they had this Answer The General does not take upon him to conclude but stating the business leaves them to the Civil power and so in effect to tâ—yal for life But ere they had Answer they are troubled at a demand of the Army for present payment of their Arrears amounting to the sum of three hundred fourteen thousand three hundred fifty one pounds and five pence whereof near fifty thousand pounds is due from the City of London Besides one hundred thousand pounds to be advanced in part of the Arrears due to the reduced Officers and Souldiers in a List remaining in the House of Commons and the debate was whether the new Sequestrations in the County of Essex should be exempted from being part of the money assigned for this purpose and conclude in the Negative This made a hubbub over all England the reduced Officers of all Counties are coming up to London under pretence for their Arrears The Parliament bustle how to avoid the inconvenience and declare That the Houses are upon passing an Ordinance for their satisfaction and that their coming up to London will much impede this and other the great affairs of the Kingdom and therefore they are commanded to forbear upon that or any pretence whatsoever and so had an Ordinance passed for payment of 23000. l. part of their Arrears 9. October The Courts of Westminster Hall were thin and were to be filled with Judges And in order thereto a new call of Serjeants at Law Out of Greyes Inn thâ—se to be Serjeants Sir Tho. Widdrington Sir Tho. Bednifield Mr. Kebble Mr. Thorpe and Mr. Bradshaw Out of Lincâ—lns Inn Mr. Sollicitor St. Iohn Mr. Sam. Brown Mr. Recorder Glyn and Mr Erle Out of the Middle-Temple Mr. Whitlock Mr. Coniers Mr. Puleston Out of the Inner-Temple Mr. Chapman Mr. Gales and Mr. Will. Littleton And not long after were called Will. Powel Io. Clark Iohn Elcontread Ro. Nichols Io. Parker and Rob. Barnard and were made Serjeants at Law Serjeant Roll is to be chief Justice of the Kings Bench Iermin and Brown Justices there Mr. Sollicitor chief Justice of the Common-pleas Sir Tho. Bedingfield and Creswel Justices there Serjeant Wild chief Baron of the Exchequer Mr. Gates a Baron there Mr. Whitlock Atturney Gen. of the Dutchy Mr. Prideaux Sollicitor Gen. Mr. Widrington one of the Kings Serjeants
when once they have fully shaken off this yoke of vulgar incroachment since the publick interest consists in the mutual and common good both of Prince and people Nothing can be more happy for all then in fair grave and honourable waies to contribute their Counsels in Common enacting all things by publick consent without Tyranny or Tumults We must not starve our selves because some have surfeited of wholsome food And if neither I nor you be ever restored to our Right but God in his severest Iustice will punish my Subjects with continuance in their sin and suffer them to be deluded with the prosperity of their wickedness I hope God will give me and you that grace which will teach and enable us to want as well as to wear a Crown which is not worth taking up or enjoying upon sordid dishonourable and irreligious terms Keep you to true principles of piety vertue and honour you shall never want a Kingdom A principal point of your honour will consist in your deferring 〈◊〉 respect love and protection to your Mother my Wife who hath many waies deserved well of me and chiefly in this that having been a means to bless me with so many hopeful Children all which with their Mother I recommend to your love and care shee hath been content with incomparable magnanimity and patience to suffer both for and with me and you My prayer to God Almighty is whatever becomes of me who am I thank God wrapt up and fortified in my own Innocency and his Grace that he would be pleased to make you an Anchor or Harbour rather to these tossed and weather-beaten Kingdoms a Repairer by your wisdom justice piety valour of what the folly and wickedness of some men have so far ruined as to leave nothing entire in Church or State to the Crown the Nobility the Clergie or the Commons either as to Laws Liberties Estates Order Honour Conscience or Lives When they have destroyed me for I know not how far God may permit the malice and cruelty of my enemies to proceed and such apprehensions some mens words and actions have already given me as I doubt not but my bloud will cry aloud for vengence to heaven So I beseech God not to pour out his wrath upon the generality of the people who have either deserted me or engaged against me through the Artifice and hypocrisie of their Leaders whose inward horrour will be their first tormentor nor will they escape exemplary judgments For those that loved me I pray God they may have no miss of me when I am gon so much I wish and hope that all good Subjects may be satisfied with the blessings of your presence and virtues For those that repent of any defects in their duty toward me as I freely forgive them in the word of a Christian King so I believe you will finde them truly zealous to repay with interest that Loyalty and Love to you which was due to me In sum what good I intended do you perform when God shall give you power much good I have offered more I purposed to Church and State if times had been capable of it The deception will soon vanish and the vizards will fall off apace This Mask of Religion on the face of Rebellion for so it now plainly appears since my restraint and cruel usage that they fought not for me as was pretended will not long serve to hide some mens deformities Happy times I hope attend you wherein your Subjects by their miseries will have learned That Religion to their God and Loyalty to their King cannot be parted without both their sin and their infelicity I pray God bless you and establish your Kingdoms in righteousness your soul in true Religion and your Honour in the Love of God and your people And if God will have disloyalty perfected by my destruction let my memory ever with my name live in you as of your Father that loves you and once a KING of three flourishing Kingdoms whom God thought fit to honour not only with the Scepter and Government of them but also with the suffering many indignities and an untimely death for them while I studied to preserve the Rights of the Church the power of the Laws the honour of my Crown the priviledge of Parliaments the Liberties of my people and my own Conscience which I thank God is dearer to me than a thousand Kingdoms I know God can I hope he will restore me to my Rights I cannot dispair either of his mercy or my peoples love and pitty At worst I trust I shall but go before you to a better Kingdom which God hath prepared for me and me for it through my Saviour Iesus Christ to whose mercy I commend you and all mine Farewell till we meet if not on earth yet in heaven The world was busied with Epitaphs upon his death and there were those who have been passionately disposed to parallel his sufferings with the holy Jesus but we forbear to censure them or to say so much Only we may aver that he was a King whose Reign and Death makes as full and perfect a Story of goodness and glory as earth would suffer and whose Christian virtues deserve as faithful a Register as Earth can keep but Reader not to overwhelm thee in a deluge of sorrow as I am drowned in tears I conclude The End Those wonderfull mutations in Church and State which followed hereupon even to this day we may God willing adventure to sum up hereafter in a succeeding continued History whilst these by favour finde acceptance A Table of the chief Occurrences in the preceding HISTORY A. A Rch-bishop Abbot sequestred fol. 104 dies 194 The King Marches to Aino 586 Aldern Fight 876 Sir Giles Allington his incest 160 his case and sentence 161 French Ambassadour affronted 661 Amiens described 2 Sir Robert Amstroder sent Ambassador to the Emperour 143 and again the second time 162 Bishop Andrews dies 72 Princess Anne born 218 Arguile defeated 795 Bishop of Armagh his Speech 68. His direction to the Parliament touching the Leiturgie and Episcopal Government 363. He confirms Dr. Reynalds original of it 366 367. His Propositions in Church Government 423 Design of the Army discovered 409. New Modelling of it 770. They mutiny for money 926. They Petition the Parliament 979 are discontent 984 draw towards London 986. Their Representative 987. They come to Southwark 1000. March in state to Westminster and through London 1001. Their desires 1008. Their Agitators send Letters to the General 1011 which he answers 1013. They demand their Arrears and are voted payment 1098 Their large Remonstrance 1099 and Declaration 1100. They come to White-Hall ibid. Their Representative stiled the Agreement of the people 1107 Arras lost 371 Earl of Arundel committed 30 sent Ambassador to the new Emperour of Ger. 212. and aboard the Spaniards 280 Arundel Castle surrendred to Waller 662 Ashburnham sent into England 89 Lord Ashley defeated 885 Ast Ferry Fight 733 Lord
Audley arraigned 154 manner of his Tryal and Iudges 155â—â— He is condemned and beheaded 1â—0 His character ibid. B. BAckhouse his Letter touching the betraying of Glocester 652 Lord Balmerino arreigned 200 Banbury taken by the King 586 Stormed by the Parliament and repulsed 729 The Besiegers defeated 730. Surrendred 893 Siege at Basing House 774 c. Relief of it 778. Stormed and taken by Lieu. Gen. Gromwel 834 Bastwick censured 218 Bath rendered up to Fairfax 823 Batten Vice Admiral for the Parliament goes to the Prince 1079 Fight at Banton Health 830 Earl of Bedford confined 140. He is made General of the Parliaments Horse 545. Revolts to the King and back again to the Parliament 626 Belvoir Castle besieged and surrendred 838 Iudge Berkley fined 629 Bewdley taken 698 Tumults against the Bishops who petition and protest 476. They are accused of high Treason 477. voted down 554 Blackington delivered to the Parliament 802 Boloign described 3 Bosvil in secret gives Letters to the King 980 Bourchier hanged at Bristol 620 Mr. John Bradshaw made President of the High Court of Iustice 1121. He interrupts the King with insolent reproofs 1126. His Speech to hasten the Sentence 1127 The King Marches to Brainford 587. Fight there 593 Fight at Branden Heath 697 Bridgwater besieged 822. bravely defended ibid. surrendred 823 Bristol surrendred to P. Rupert 657 besieged by Fairfax and Cromwel 830 Earl of Bristol articled against 37. committed 58 Earl of Bristols speech for accommodation 518 Broadway Arraigned and executed 160 Lord Brooks Speech at Guild-hall 591. His second Speech there 592. He is killed at Lichfield Close 612 Inquisition against the Duke of Buckingham 35. Earl of Bristows charge against him ibid. impeachment against him 46. His Manifesto 75. He sets forth for the Isle of Rhe ibid. summons Toras 86. is answered 87. Canophies Message to him and his Answer 97. he is murdered 120. His Funeral and Tomb 123. verses on him 124 County of Bucks Petition 479 Sir John Burroughs dyes 90 Burton censured 218. returns from durance 338 Sir John Byron Marches to Oxford 576 C. KIng Charls born 1. marieth Princess Henrieta Maria 5 calls the first Parliament 6. His Speech to them 7. Ceremonies at his Coronation 24 25 26 27. calls a second Parliament 28. He demands supply 30. Declares why he dissolved the third Parliament 134. falls sick of the small pox 178. Iourneys into Scotland 191. His declaration to the Scots 241. He prepares an Army against them and declares the occasion 247. His Declaration 252. He resolves of a Parli in England and another to be in Ireland 285. Goes into Scotland 313 His Speech to the Peers 319 For Bishops 348. Passeth the Bill for a Triennial Parliament 360. His Speech concerning it 361. His Reply to the Speaker touching Tunnage and Poundage 427. Other 2â— Speeches to both Houses 462 463. Answers the Parliaments Petition 469. and declares in Answer to their Remonstrance 470. He withdraws to Haâ—pton Court 479. Answers the Parliaments Petitions for the Militia 489 498 499. His Message to the Parliament from Huntington 505. His Proclamation at York concerning Tunnage and Poundage ibid. His Offers concerning Ireland 507. He is disswaded by the Parliament from going into Ireland 508. His Letter to the Council of Scotland 516. His Answer to the 19. Propositions 529. He caresses the County of York 536. Provides Arms 537. His Letters with Commissions of Array ibid. His Protestation 538. His general Declaration 539. His Proclamation against Levies 540. He caresses the County of Nottingham 544. his Proclamation 545. His grand Declaration 552. Proposeth the first Treaty for Peace is refused 562. His Speech to his Army 577. and to the Gentry of Denbigh and Flintshire 579. His Declaration after his Victory at Edge-hill 587. His Message to the Lords of his Privy Council in Scotland 590 and to the Parliament 593. He proposeth a Treaty but without success 601. His Proclamation against the Solemn League and Covenant 637. His Protestation at the Sacrament of the Eucharist 702. His Letter to the Earl of Essex 715. His Messages of Peace 717. His Letters taken and divulged 812. He writes to the Parliament for a Conduct for persons to Treat and is Answered 844. Several Messages of his touching a Treaty 845 847. which are Answered by the Parliament 849. Other Messages of the King 850 852 853. He desires to come to his Parl 885 He escapes out of Oxford 896 comes to the Scots Army before Newark 897. His Letter to Ormond 898. His Message to the Parli from Southwel 900. He comes to Newcastle 904. Argues with Henderson about Church matters ibid. gives warrant to disband his Forces 906. His Letter to the Prince 907. His Message to the Parliament and their Answer 918. His Answer to the Scots Petition and Remonstrance 922. His Message for a Treaty near London 934. He is voted to Holmby 935. His Queries to the Scots Army 938. Commissioners to receive his person 939. He desires two of his Chaplains to be with him 941 942. His Letters to the Lord General of Ireland 960. His Answer to the Parliaments Propositions 981. He is taken into the Armies power 985 desires to see his Children 992. His Letter to the General for protection 1001. He Answers the Parliaments Propositions 1009. The effects of his Answer 1014. He escapes from Hampton Court 1016. His Letters to Col. Whaley and the Lord Mountague ibid. and to the Parliament 1017 Death for any to conceal him 1018. He is carried to Carisbrook Castle 1020. Votes to secure him and his Message from thence 121. He writes to the Parliament for an Answer to his Message 1026. Four Bills offered to him with proposals 1027. which he Answers 1209. His servants dismissed 1031. Votes of no further address to him 1032. His Declaration to the people after the Vote of Non Address 1041. his title altered in all things 1044. his Message in Answer to the Parliaments Votes and a Treaty 1085 1087. He and his fast and pray 1089. Concedes to the Parliaments Propositions in most things 1094. is delivered to Colonel Ewers 1100. his Quaeries concerning his Tryal ibid. his Declaration concerning the Treaty 1101. he is seized by the Army 1103. he is brought to VVindsor 1116. the Charge against him 1118. Proclamation for any to accuse him 1119. he is brought to St. James's 1121. his first Trial 1123. his accusation 1124. he demurs to the Authority of the Court ibid. his second Trial 1125. he interrogates the power of the Court and offers reasons in writing 1126. his third and fourth Trial ibid. he refuseth to answer but before his two Houses of Parliament 1127. he is not suffered to reply 1128. his Sentence ibid. His reasons against the Jurisdiction of the Court 1130. he is abused by the Souldiery 1132. hindered in his devotion prayers ibid. his execution ordered by a Committee ibid. Ambassadours sue in his behalf 1133. his blessing and charge to his children 1133
c. he is conveyed to the scaffold 1135. his speech there 1136 his preparation for death 1137. he is executed 1138. imbowelled ibid. interred in VVindsor Chappel 1139. his Character ibid. his Letter to the Prince of VVales 1140. his issue ibid. Prince Charls born 141. he desires conduct of Fairfax for 2. Lords to treat about a peace 843. is answ and replies ibid. he is invited to the Parl. 884 903. his Fleet 1078. he is invited to Scotland 1079. his Letterto the Lords in Parliament 1084 University of Cambridge ordered 664 Canophies Message to the Duk of Buckingham 97 Arch B. of Canterbury impeached 340 accused of high Treason 361. His arraignment 780. and Sentence 781. His Speech upon the Scaffold 782 Lord Capel impeached 1079 Carlisle surrendered 816 Sir Dud. Carlton sent Ambassadour to France 162 Carnarvan surrendered 893 Cassal lost 371 Cheapside Cross pulled down 614 Chepstow Castle taken 1059 Sir Geo. Chidleigh leaves the cause 638 Mutinies about keeping Christmas 1041 Church Government reformed in Scotland 194. Commotion about Church Ceremonies 290. new modes of Ecclesiastical Government 422 Cirencester taken by storm 602. surprized by Essex 646 Abuses in Civil affairs 129 Earl of Cleveland commended 737 Clubmen rise 817. treat with the Gen. Fairfax 818. are surprized by Cromwel 828 Cockram sent to the King of Denmark with Instructions 692 Colchester Summoned 1067. resolutely defended 1080. yet surrendered 1081 List of prisoners taken there 1082 House of Commons petition for a Guard 477. their misrule 820 Committee for the Kings Execution 〈◊〉 1132 Owen O Conally discovers the Irish conspiracy 438. is examined ibid. Covocation sits after the Parliament 305. Impose an Oaâ—â—â—â—â—07 their Canons denounced 339 Mr. Cook and Dr. Turner's insolent speeches 31 County of Corn. protests for the K. 663 County of Corn. caressed by the K. 628 A Juncto of Council called 309 Covenanters their pretended cause of Rebellion 228. Their Demands 238. They assume all Authority 243. A covenanting Female Imposturess 244. They protest against the discharging their Assembly 245. Their protestation 276. Their charge against the Arch-bishop of Canterbury 340 Sir Thomas Coventry dies 281 High Court of Iustice erected 1121. The place for it 1123. The number of the Iudges at the Kings Sentence 1129 Sir Nicholas Crisp kills Sir James Enyon 633 Lieutenant Gen. Cromwel defeats the Scots Army 1074. improves his successes 1075 enters Scotland and declares 1076. Their Nobility contract with him ibid. He is caressed there 1077 D. REason of the Danish War 796 Dartmouth Besieged and Surrendred 868 Earl of Denbigh delivers up his Commission 799 Dennington Castle assaulted the first time 722. A second attempt upon it 723 A grand Design 287 Devizes taken by Cromwel 833 Queen Dowager of Denmark dies 191 County of Devon protests for the K. 663 Lord Digbies first Speech in Parliament 334. His second for Episcopacy 362. 〈◊〉 Letter intercepted 496 836 Distempers in the Kingdom 1082 Sir Dudley Digs his Prologue against the Duke of Buckingham 42 Dublin victualled 445 besieged by the Rebells 965 Dudley Castle surrendred 889 Dunkirk surrendred to the French 972 E. ECcleshal Castle and Town taken 657 Edge-hill Battel 583 Prince Elector dies 190. Young Prince Elector arrives 207. departs with his brother 220. comes over again 279 is arrested for debt 816. visits his brothers Rupert and Maurice 891 is made a Member of the Assembly of Divines 974 Sir John Eliots speech and Remonstrance 130 Princess Elizabeth born 207 England and France at difference 59. English Army Marches to the North 249. Come within view of the Scots 250 they treat 251. Second expedition against the Scots 312 Sir James Enyon slain 633 County of Essex Petition 1062 E. of Essex his second Marriage 152. He is made General of the Parliaments Foot 545. Proclaimed Traitour 547. His Ensigns Colours 567. He sets out of London 577. Advises of peace 625. Musters at Hunsloe-heath 628. His Army is in distress 633. but recruits 698. He divides Forces with Waller 706. is defeated in Cornwal 709. A Letter to him from the Lords and Commanders in the Kings Army 716. He is degraded from his Generalship 770 delivers up his Commission with a paper 799 his death 928. Col. Tho. Essex Garrisoneth Bristol 581 Excize continued by Ordinance of Parliament 1004 Exeter delivered up to Prince Maurice 628. Summoned by the Parliaments Forces 869. Surrendred 888 F. LOrd Fairfax and others proclaimed Traitours 600. He takes Selby 700 Sir Tho. Fairfax made General 770. his Commission 798. he Marches to Bridge-water 821. comes to London 925. his Letter in behalf of the King 992 Dr. Featly imprisoned and why 635 John Felton murders the Duke of Buckingham 120. his confession 122 he is hanged in chains 124 Sir John Finch made Keeper of the great Seal 282. His Speech to the Commons House 344. Voted Traitour and flyeth 347 Eruption of fire out of the Sea 246 Fleet comes home 64. service of the Fleets at Sea 206. another Fleet for the narrow Seas 211 Tumult in Fleetstreet 140 French insolent at Court 61. peace concluded with France 138. Princes of France discontent and why 372 Ambassadour from France 615 Ambassadour extraordinary from thence hath audience 918 Mr. Fountain committed 567 G. GAdes voyage suceeds ill 19 Overtures from the Emperour of Germany 137 small effects of the peace there 207. the Emperour dies 212 English defeated at Gilingstone Bridge 449 Glamorgans Letter to the King 859 Serjeant Glanvile released upon bail 942 Sir Thomas Glenhams Answer to Arguiles Letter 675 Glocester besieged by the King 629. the siege left 632. Actions in the County of Glocester 633 c. Goodman reprieved 349. Remonstrance against him ibid. Gordon executed 1045 Skirmish at Greenhils 452 Major Grey slain 731 Gutlery executed 1046 H. A Letter from the Hague intercepted 595 Mr. John Hambden slain 623 Marquess Hamilton his design 147. he is made high Commissioner to Scotland 237. his Commission read in publick ibid. Poasts back to the King 239. returns again 240. Poasts the second time to the King 241. and returns to Scotland 242. comes again to England 246. he invades England with an Army 1071. Summons Lambert and is answered 1072. Is taken prisoner 1075 Col. Hamonds Letter to the Parliament 1020 he refuseth to deliver up the Kings attendants 1025 King at Hampton Court 1004 Major Hamond kills Grey 731 Henderson argues with the King 904 Sir Edward Herbert questioned about the five Members 482. The Kings Letter concerning him 484 Hereford siege raised 824 826. The Town surprized for the Parliament 839 Earl of Holland revolts to the King and back to the Parliament 626 and 639. his insurrection 1068. he is taken prisoner 1069 Present to the King and Queen from the States of Holland 207. Holland Fleet and Spanish engage 279. Holland Ambassadours have audience 718 Lord Hopton defeated at Torrington 869. he agrees to disband 870 Sir John Hothams act of excluding the King from Hull avowed 512. he
begins the quarrel 574. offers to betray Hull and Lincoln 615. he is seized prisoner with his son to the Parliament 624. his Tryal 740 and sentence 741. he is executed 744 Captain Hotham arraigned 741. his Letter to the Earl of Newcastle 743 his execution 741 Iustice Howard killed by a Papist 338 Hudson conveys the King from Oxford 905. his examination and confession 907 Hull and its Magazine desired by the Parliament 507. Entrance thither denyed the King 510 Huntington taken by the King 829 I. KIng James dies 2. His Funeral ibid. Iudge Jenkins refuseth to be examined 976 Jesuits and secular Priests at difference 151 Impropriations touched 153 Condition of Ireland and beginning of their troubles 185. It is in disquiet 199. Irish Rebellion presurmized 438 discovery of it proclaimed 439. first broke out in Ulster ibid. Towns seized by the Rebels there and their Declaration 442. dispatch from thence to the King in Scotland 443. Parliament in Ireland protest against the Rebels and send Letters again into England 446. Overtures for relief of Ireland 486. Propositions for Ireland 496. Cessation of Arms there for a year 640. Irish Forces come over to the King 650. Irish Letters intercepted 855. The Kings Message about Ireland ibid. peace proclaimed there 921. Government of Ireland voted 962 War in Italy 137 New Judges and Serjeants at Law 1098 Bishop Juxon made L. Treasurer 207 K. KEntish Insurrection 1063. Their Reply to Gen. Fairfax his Letter 1064. They come to Black-heath and disband 1066 Famous Battell at Kilsithe 880 The Lord Kimbolton questioned 472 Tax of Knighthood 145 L. LAmbeth house beset by Puritans 309 Lamiston quitted 870 Lands-down Fight 624 Siege at Latham House raised 703. It is surrendred to the Parliament 838 Major Gen. Laughorn joins with Poyer 1056 Earl of Leicester declared Lord Lieutenant of Ireland 432 Leicester taken by the King 808 Surrendred upon Articles to the Parliament 815 Levens Letter concerning the King 899 Lewis the just and the 13. dies 608 Dr. Leighton sentenced 114 Exceptions against the Leiturgy 682 Lichfield Close besieged and taken 613 Lidbury Fight 805 Mr. J. Lilburns Petition for peace 865 Earl of Lindsey returns from his Imprisonment 626 Bishop of Lincoln enlarged 337 Sir George Lisle shot to death 1081 Loan moneys 65 London Bridge burnt 178 â—ondoners Petition 318 339. They mutiny 471. Petition the King and are Answered 478. send another Petition to the King 597. which he Answers 598. Congratulate the Parliament 905. their Petition 947. declare against the Army 998 but submit and treat 999. Mutiny in London 1057 Duke of Lorain to assist the King 795 Lord Lowden his Speech 261 Sir Charls Lucas shot to death 1081 Sir John Lucas proclaimed Traitour by the Parliament and committed 563 M. MAc Mahon secured 439. Executed 768 Macquire executed 768 Magdeburgh besieged taken and burnt 147 Maidstone Fight 1065 Malmsbury taken 705 Earl of Manchester surrenders his Commission 799 Dr. Manwaring questioned 115 Princess Henrieta Maria espoused to K. Charls 2. sets forward to Amiens 3. thence to Boloign where she takes ship 4. Lands at Dover ibid. comes to Gravesend 5. is maried and the mariage proclaimed ibid. Princess Henrieta Maria born at Westminster 725 Marston Moor Fight 720 Court Martial erected in London 886 Mr. Henry Martin seizeth the Regalia at Westminster 623. conveyed into France 891 Masque of the Inns of Court 196 Lieutenant Col. Massey made Governour of Glocester 582. he meets Myn and defeats him 731 Prince Maurice enters Tewxbury 654. and defeats Waller 655 Meditation of the King upon calling the last Parliament 323. upon the Insolency of the Tumults 402. upon passing the Bill for the Triennial Parliament Hâ—h 2. upon jealousies and scandâ—â—â— cast upon him 410. upon his withdrawing to Hampton Court 480. upon his coming to the House of Commons 485. upon the Queens departure 492. upon the 19. Propositions sent to him 523. upon raising Arms against him 548. Seizing his Magazines Forts Navy and Militia 571. on the Solemn League and Covenant 616. upon the Rebellion in Ireland 642. upon the calling in of the Scots 671. upon his repulse at Hull 744. upon the abolishing of the Book of Common Prayer 747. upon the Treaty at Uxbridge 765. upon his Letters taken and divulged 812. upon the various successes of the War 871. upon his going to the Scots 902. upon being denyed his Chaplains 943. upon his captivity at Holmby 975 upon the Tumults and Distractions 989. upon his stricter imprisonment in Hurst Castle 1109 Five Members questioned 472. Articled against 473. the King comes to the house of Commons to arrest them ibid. which is voted a breach of priviledge 474 Charge against the eleven Members 988. Votes concerning them 989. they have leave to travel 996. six of them surprized at Sea 1003. votes against them discharged 1066. Divers Members accused for being active in a Tumult 1006 Several Members seized by the Souldiers 1104 Meneses spoiled by Montrose 790 Major Gen. Middleton comes from the Scots Army in England with Forces 1047 Money disposed of to certain Members 933 Monmouth betrayed 733. surprized again and how 738 Earl of Montrose forsakes the Covenanters 322. undertakes for the King 674. Military affairs under his conduct 687. he spoils the Meneses 790. defeats the Enemies at Aberdine 792. comes to Arguile and divastates all 794. his expedition to Dundee 875. his Victory at Aldern 876. at Kilsithe 880. Commands to him from the King 968. his Forces Defeated 969. he is Commanded by the King to lay down Arms 1047. he Disbands his Forces and takes leave of Scotland 1048 Lord Moor succours the English in Ireland 441. his house plundered 448 Dr. Mountague questioned 11 Lord Mordant converted 12 Munster Treaty concluded 1051 N. NAseby Fight 810 Netervile Commanded to Disband 451 Netherland States caressed on both sides 568 Newark Siege raised by Prince Rupert 678. renewed and the Town surrendred 892 Newburn defeat 313 Newbury first fight 646. Newbury second Fight 736 Newcastle deserted 313. besieged by the Parliament 772. and surrendred ibid. Battel at Norlington 203 Earl of Northampton relieves Banbury 730 Earl of Norwich impeached 1079 Atturney General Noy dies 199 O. OAth against Scots Covenanters 265 The Kings Officers quarrel at Newark 837. and quit their Commissions ibid. Phelim O Neal Generalissimo of the Rebels in Ireland 441. Storms Tredagh 485 Sir Richard Onslow complains of Withers 892 Overtures of mariage betwixt the Lady Mary and Prince of Orange 359 the mariage solemnized 402 Old Prince of Orange dies 948 Grand Ordinance to disable Members from Offices and Commands 801 Organs in St. Pauls Church pulled down 660 Duke of Orleans his endeavours 85 Directions to Ormond to make a peace with the Rebels in Ireland 755 which he doth 921 Divines at Oxford differ 174. Treaty there 610. Parliament assembled there 664. write to General Essex for a Peace 668. are prorogued 701. the Town is straitned 816. Fasting and Prayer there 854. second
great Account 355 c. a Plot in Scotland 464. their Answer to the Kings Letter 516. Declaration of their Council 517. their Army kept up 554. their Declaration in Answer to the Parliament in England 563. their Army enter England 669. their Declaration 670. their Army Voted to be gon 904. their Letter to the Parliament 906. Declaration against their papers 914. their Army intend to return home 921 922. they urge the King with their Propositions 923. Letters of complaint against their Army 924. one years account of their Army 927. their Papers concerning the dispose of the King 930. Quaeries of their Parliament 936. and Result touching the King 937. their Declaration concerning the King 939. Horse from the Scots Army come into Engl. 968. their Commissioners Messenger staid at Newcastle 1005. their Letter to the Speaker 1014. their Estates disagree 1071. their Committee of danger vote a War ibid. their Army comes to Penreath and engages 1073 defeated at Preston 1074. and disbanded 1077. they dissent as touching the Kings Tryal 1120 they declare against it 1122. their private instructions touching it ibid. A new Seal voted and framed 622 1119 Fight near Shaw 737 Sherborn seized by the Marquess of Herford 576. taken by Storm by Sir Tho Fairfax 828 Fight at Sherburn in Yorkshire 835 Shipmoney debated 197. Lord Keepers Speech to the Iudges concerning it 204. again debated 213. Iudges questioned about it 429 Shrewsbury betrayed to the Parliament 798 Earl of Somerset confined 140 Overtures of Peace with Spain 139. which is concluded 144. the Spaniards design 281 〈…〉 Spine 737 Spoâ—swood executed 1045 Stafford taken by treachery 658. Earl of Stamford proclaimed Traitour 546 Sir Philip Stapleton dies of the plague 1003 〈◊〉 â—tar appears at noon day 142 Col. Stephens surprizing is surprized 788 Stode taken by Tilly 105 Sir John Stowel taken prisoner 930 Lord Strange impeached of high Treason 566 The Earl of Stratherns Descent and Title 230 raised to his Ruine ibid. County of Surrey Petition 1062 Fight at Sutton field 820 Swansey summoned 702 King of Sweden enters Germany 146. â—beats the Emperialists at Frankfuâ—t â— 147. is slain at Lutzen 189. his Character ibid. Ambassadour from Swedeland 199. Swedes displeased 208. Peace made with them 798 Synod began to sit 604 T. TAunton besieged by the Kings Forces 802. Relieved and again besieged 804 Tax of weekly meals 698 Tenby surprized 1056 besieged and surrendred 1060 Term adjourned to Reading 21. Mich. Term adjourned 567 Mr. Thomas his speech against Bishops 416 Tinmouth Caslte revolts and is taken 1073 Tomkins and Chal. hang'd at Lon. 621 â— of Traquair 191. is treacherous 225 Tilly defâ—â—ted 52 〈◊〉 with neighbouring Nations 18 Tredagh fortified 447. besieged 452. and in distress 455. is relieved ibid. invaded again 456. yet the besieged make several Sallies 457. have fresh supplies by Sea 459. the Siege raised 460 Tumults at Westminster for justice against the Earl of Strafford 402 Turin lost 371 V. LOrd Francis Villiers slain 1069 All Uâ—ster-pâ—ssessed by the Rebels 440 Treaty at Uxbridge 756. 758. Directions to the Kings Commissioners there 757. Observations concerning the Treaty 762 W. WAllestein murdered 190 Sir William Waller defeated at Lands down 625. and by Prince Maurice near Teuxbury 655. and at the Devices 657 He is set to take the King 706. and defeated at Copredy Bridge 708 Court of Wards and Liveries voted down 865 Lord VVentworth sent Deputy to Ireland 189. Impeached of High Treason 336. his condition examined ibid. charge against him 342 374. his Tryal at VVestminster 375. Conclusion of his defence 396. the Commons justifie their Charge against him by Law 397. he answ by Council but is nevertheless voted guilty of High Treason 398. Bill of Attainder against him 399. the Kings Speech in defence of him 400. voted guilty by the Lords 406. his Letter to the King upon the Tumult of the Apprentices and his Speech upon the Scaffold to p. 409 VVestchester besieged and surrendered 861 c. Mr. Whites Letter 421 Williams Arch Bishop of York against the King 889 VVinchester taken by Cromwel 833 The â—â—dy VVinter summoned to yield 705. her Answer ibid. Sir John VVinter recruited 805 Sir Fran. Windebank gets away 338 Col. Windebank shot to death 802 Withers complained of 892 Dr. Wren Bishop of Ely committed to the Tower 429 Y. YEomans hanged at Bristol Duke of York born â—â—4 brought 〈◊〉 London 891. escapes beyond Seas into Holland 10â— Arch-Bishop of Yorks Letter to the Lord Ashley 858 The County of York Petition the King and are Answered 506 The Articles of Neutrality for Yorkshire infringed 567. York relieved by Prince Rupert but the Siege is renewed and it surendered 719 c FINIS Anno. 1625. King James dies His Funeral Amiens described Boloign described Puts to Sea Lands at Dover Canterbury Hist. of King Charles pag. 7. A Parliament summoned H. 9. Ob. 28. Parliament siâ— The Kings Speech Hist. pag. 11 Observ. p. 28. Of Wars Petitions Answered Subsidies granted Dr Mountague questioned Caballa p. 115. Lord Mordant made Protestant Parliament at Oxford Observ. 34. Parliaments Petition Kings answer And urges for Supply Observ. p. 35. Cabal p. 107. Parliament dissolved Hist. p. 16. Treaty abroad Ill successe of Gades voyage H Pa. 18. Pa 19 Cabella pa. H. p. 17. Ob. p. 36. Term adjourned to Reading Of Coronation of Soveraigns Hist. 20. Kings 11. 12. Hist. 20. Ibid. Hist. 21. The Scaâ—â—old 2. February Epis. Hist. p. 16. Rex Epis. Rex Epis. Rex Epis. Rex Sworn Annointed Crowned A Parliament called Lords Petition The Kings Answer Earl of Arundel committed 1626. The King demands supply Anno 1626. Mr. Cook aâ—d Dr. Tâ—rners insolent speeches The Lord Keepers speech The Kings Speech The Commons Reply The E. of Bristows charge against the Duke Articles against the E. of Bristow Ob. p. 45 Hist. p. 45. Ob. p. 49. His ingrossing great Offices By buying the place of Admiralty And Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports Not guarding the Seas Stay of the St. Peter of New-haven And of the East India Fleet. Lending the Vant guard to the French To be imployed against Rochel Selling of honour And Offices Procuring honors for his Kindred His applying Physick to K. Iames. Hist p. 53. Parliament dissolved E. of Bristow Committed to the Tower Hist. p. 54. England and France at difference Hist. p 56. The French Insolent here at Court Sr. Dudly Carlton sent to complain Mcro Fr. Du Châ—snâ— Ill news abroad Our fleet comes home Hist. p. 63. Loan monies Hist. p. 69. Hist. p. 64. Ob. p. 41. Proposition for a more Toleration of Papists in Ireland Hist. pag. 65. The Clergies Protestation against Papistry Primate of all Ireland his Speech Abroad At home Pat. 13. H. 3. in Tur. Lond. Pat. 13. H. 3. membran 9. Pat. Gascony 1 Ed. 2. memb 25. in dorso Bishop Andrews dies 〈…〉 〈…〉 Anno 1627. The Dukes Manifesto The cause of this War Isâ—ardus pa. 1. Isnard p. 16. The
8. Demand Hist. p. 212. Answer Question Answer Sir Benjamin Ruddier 's Speech Overtures of a Match betwixt the Lady Mary and Prince of Orange The Kings Speech to the Lords about it Pretended Plots of Papists The King passes the Bill for the Triennial Parliament His Speech concerning it Arch-bishop-accused of High-treason Lord Digby's Speech for Episcopacy Original of Dr. Reynald of Episcopacie Which the Arch Bishop of Armagh confirms Spanish Territories revolt Catalonia rebells Cassal lost And Turin And Arras Princes of France discontent and why Whether Spain aims at the universal Monarchy or no The charge against Strafford Answered His Tryal in Westminster Hall Ob. p. 224. Ob. p. 226. Anno 1641. March 25. March 27. April 1. April 2. Aprilâ— the conclusion of the Earls defence The Commons justifie their charge by Law The Earl answereth by Councel with satisfaction But is by the Commons voted by Bill guilty of high Treason Bill of Attainder The Kings speech in defence of the Earl of Strafford Prince of Orange maried the Princess Mary Tumult at Westminster crying out for Justice of the Earl Eikon Bas. chap 4. Upon the Insolencie of the Tumults National protestation Monies raised for the King Bill propounded for continuance of the Parliament Earl of Strafford voted guilty of High Treason by the Lords Hist page 257. Ob. pag. 240. Observatâ—r observed page 41. Observator rescued page 288. Articles oâ— Ireland The second Scandal of hastening the Earls death The kings foâ—mer promisâ— the main Dilemma The Earls Letter to the King upon the Tumult of the Prentices Eikon Bas. chap. 5. upon the Kings passing the Bill for the triennial Parliament and after setling this during this Parliaments Pleasure Bill for a perpetual Parliament Arch-bishop of Armagh's answer under his hand concerning the consult with the Bishops The Kings Letter in behalf of the Earl The Lords Answer The Earl brought to the Scaffold The Earl's Speech upon the Scaffold A design of the Aâ—my discovered Eikon Basilike c. 15. Upon Jealousies and Scandals cast upon the King Mr. Thomas his Speech against Bishops Bishops after the Reformation King Charls Mr. White 's Letter 〈…〉 New mods Ecclesiastical Government The Arch-Bishop of Armaghs Propositions in Church Government a The book of Ordination b Ibid ex Act. 20. 27. 28. x so taken in Mat. 2. 6. Rev. 12. 5. 19. 15. d 1 Tim. 4. 14. e Tertul. Apologet. cap. 39. f Nec de aliorum manibus quam praesidentium sumimus Id. de coronâ— militis cap. 3. g Dandi quidem Bâ—ptismi habet jus summus sacerdos qui est Episcopus dehinc Presbyteri Diaconi Id. de Bapt. cap. 17. h Omni actu ad me perlato placuit contrahi Presbyterium Cornel. apud Cyp. epist. 46. i Cyprian epist. 55. ad Cornel. k Concil Carthag 4. cap. 23. l Excerption Egberti cap. 43. m 15. q. 7. cap. Nullus x unde nomen Episcopi tractum est Hieron epist. 85. ad Evagrium Tunnage and Poundage The speaker to the King The King replies Bill of Poll-mony passed as also suppressing the High Commission Court and Star-chamber Court Qu. Mother of France dies at Colen Ambassadour to the Emperour at the Diet. Resolution to disband the Scots and English Army Dr. Wren Bishop of Ely committed to the Tower Judges questioned about Ship-money Commissioners in the Kings absence Bills signed Parliament sit on a Sunday Aug. 10. Disorders by connivance of Parliament Irish Rebellion the Proeme Parsons and Burlace made Lords Justices of Ireland The Earl of Leicester declared Lord Lieutenant Parliament adjourned for three Moneths Rebellion brake out Octob. 23. Motives to the Catholicks to take Arms. Irish Rebellion pre surmized Owen O Conally discovers the Conspiracy 22. October 1651. Conally examined Mac Mahon secured The discovery Proclaimed Rebellion first in Ulster The preparations of defence Letters sent to the King and Parliament All Ulster posessed by the Rebells Phelim O Neale the Generalismo Rebell his Character News sent to Droghedagâ— Lord Moor comes with succour Townes surprized by the Rebells The General Declaration of the Catholiques of Irelâ—nd Second Dispatch to the King in Scotland and to England Dublin victualled Protestation of the Parliament in Ireland against the Rebells The Parliam send to treat with the Rebells Letters again sent into England Order of Parliament in England concerning Ireland Tredagh fortified Lord Moor's house plundered English defeated at Gilingstone Bridge Surprise of shiping Letters summoning all the Lords of the Pale Their answer Netervile is commanded to disband His answer Tredagh besieged Skirmish at Greenhills Message from the Enemy The Oath of the Catholicks The Protestants Oath Several Enterprizes with effect against the Rebells The besieged in distress Relief to the Town The Enemies Invasion A Pinnace set out for Provision Several sallies O Neale returned Supply by sea O Neale storms the Town Letters from the Rebells iâ— the North. Base butcheries by the Rebells Feb. 26. Fresh Supply by Sea The Siege raised March 20. The Kings Speech to both Houses Proclamatâ—on for obedience to thâ— Lâ—ws concerning 〈…〉 The Kingâ— speech to the Houses The Parliament petition for priviledge A plot in Scotland Faction at hâ—â—e Parliament Petition and remonstrance Remonstrance of the Parliament The Kings Answer to the Petition The Kings Declaration in answer to the Parliaments Remonstrance Mutiny of the City Message concerning Ireland Proclamation of the Rebellion of Ireland The Lord Kimbolton and 5. Members are questtioned Articles against the 5. Members The King goes to the House of Commons to arrest the 5. Members Voted a breach of their Privilege Tumults against the Bishops who petition and protest Bishops accused of high Treason The House of Commons petition for a Guard The City in fear petition the King Answered 12 Ian. County of Bucks Petition The King with-draws to Hampton Court Eikon Bâ—s c. â— Upon the Kings retirement from Westminster Attourney General questioned about the five Members The Kings Letter concerning the Attourney General Upon the Kings coming to the House of Commonâ— Overtures for relief of Ireland The House of Commons petition for the Militia The Kings Answer Petition to the King concerning the five Members The Queen sent into Holland with the Princess of Orange Eikon Bas. c. 7. Petition for the five Members Petition to settle the Militia Lord Digby's Letters intercâ—pted Propositions for Ireland The Kings Answer concerning the Militia Parliament petition peremptorily for the Militia The Kings Answer Parliaments Declaration to the King of all his faults Parliament denude the King of all power and allegeance Proclamation at York concerning Tunâ—age and Poundage The County of York petition the King His Answer His offers concerning Ireland Hull and its Magazine desired by the Parliament Parliament disswade the King from going into Ireland Queries concerning the Militia concluded Magazine of Hull denied or entrance of the King Bill for the Militia Hotham's act at Hull avoâ—â—ed Parliament in a posture of War
Scotland iâ—â—â—terposeth The Kings Letter to the Council of Scotland The Scots answer Scots Council declare Parliament of England's Protestation Earl of Bristol's Speech for Accommodation Parliament Declaration observed 19. Propositions to the King Eik Bas. c. 11. upon the 19. Propositions sent to the King The Answer to the 19. Propositions The King caresses the County of York Preparations for War The King Provides Arms. The Kings Letters with his Commission of Array Parliaments Votes thereupon The Kings Protestation And the Lords The Kings General Declaration Proclamation against Levies as by the statutes in force Parliaments answers The faction distinguiâ—hed by Cavalâ—ers and Round-heads The Authorâ— advice Introduction to this Civil War The King caresses his people in the County of Nottingham Proclamation Earl of Essex made General of the Foot and the Earl of Bedford of the Horse Parâ—â—aments Petition Earl of Stamford Proclaimed Traytor Parliaments Declaration of defence Earl of Essex General Eaâ—l of Essex proclamed Traitour and all other his complices Eikon Basil. upon the listing and raising Arms against the King Proclamation for aid of his Subjects The Kings gâ—and Declaration Scots Army kept up Bishops voted down Parliament give advises to their Deputy Lieutenants in the Northern Counties The King proposeth the 〈◊〉 Treaty for Peace and is reâ—used Sir Iohn Lucas Proclaimmed Traytor by the Parliament and committed Scots Declaration in answer to the Parliament of England The Parliament joyn with the Scots Kirk to reform all Christendom Parliament assure payment on Publick Faith out of Delinquents Estates Lord Strange impeached of high Treason Mich. Term adjourned The Articles of Nâ—utralâ—â—y for Yorkshire inâ—ringed Mr. Fountain committed Essex his Ensigns Colours Persons excepted out of pardon by the Parliament The Netherland States are caressed on both sides Eikon Basil. c. 10. Military effects Sir Iohn Hotham begins the quarrel in the North. Portsmouth beset Parliaments directions to their General Essex Sir Iohn Byron for the King Marches to Oxford Marquess Herford seizeth Sherborn Earl of Essex sets out oâ— London The Kings Speâ—ch to his Army Parliament petition the King by their General Essex The Kings Speech to the Gentry of Denbigh and Flintshire 〈◊〉 of the Kings Army to come to London A pitifull Plot by a poor Scot. Worcester Fight Sept. 23. Col. Th. Essex garisoneth Bristol L Col. Massey Governour of Glocester Edg-hill Battel The victory disputed Exchange of prisoners The King Marches to Aino Takes Banbury and Broughton House The King Marches to Brainford The Kings Declaration after his victory at Edgehill October 25. The King Charged with favouring Papists upon their Petition Address to the King voted Parliaments Declaration to the Scots The Kings Message to the Lords of his Privy Council in Scotland Parliaments commendance of their General Effects of the address to the King Lord Brook's Speech at Guild-hall His second Speech there Petition of the Parliament The Kings Answer Brainford Fight Nov. 15 The Kings Message to the Parliament Parliaments Answer The King replies Parliament petition the King A Letter from the Hague intercepted The military affairs in the North. City of London petition the King The Kings Answer Parliaments desires presented to the King at Oxford by the Earls of Northumberland Pembroke Salisbury and Holland with eight of the Commons Answered The actions of the North. The Lord Fairfax and others proclamed Traitors A Treaty proposed by the King The Treaty ends The Queen returns from Holland The state of the County of Glocâ—ster Cirencester taken by storm of Prince Rupert Synod began to sit Affairs of Germany In Catalonia Cardinal Riâ—â—â—lieu dies His Character Lewis the just and the 13. dies His Character Anno 1643. Sir Rudyerd's Speech Treaty at Oxford L. Brook killed at Lichâ—ield Close Lichfield Close besieged by the Kings party Lichfield won by P. Rupert Reading besieged by the Parliament Cheapside Cross pulled down Hotham to betray Hull and Lincoln The Queenâ— Army The King and Queen meet at Edghill Ambassadour from France Solemn League and Coâ—enant with the Scots Eikon Bas. c. 14. Yeomans and Bourchier hanged at Bristol and why Tomkins and Chaloner hanged at London and why A new Seal voted and framed Mr. H. Martin seizeth the Regalia at Westminister P. Rupert's â—ight near Tame Mr. Io. Hâ—mbden slain His Character The Hothams of Hull seized Prisoners to the Parliament Lands-down fight against Sir W. Waller by the Cornish Iuly 5. Gen. Essex advises of peace Fight at Round-wayâ—down The Queen entereth Oxford E. of Lindsey returns from his Imprisonment by the Parliament The Earls of Bedford and Holland revolt to the King and back again to the Parliament Prisoners animated to treachery Ministers make Propositions The City must set out Sir W. Waller again General Essex musters at Hounslo-heath Exeter delivered up to P. Maurice The King caresses the County of Cornwall by Declaration Judg Berkley fined Siege of Glocester by the King A general Storm A Mine wrought Two spies return unto the Town Essex's Army in distress The Leaguer take leave to depart the fifth of September Sir Nicholas Crisp kils Sir Iames Enyon Solemn League and Covenant Dr. Featly imprisoned and why Proclamation against the Solemn League and Covenant Minister of the Savoy his Blasphemy Sir G. Chidleigh leaves the Cause The Earl of Holland returns to the Parliament Irish Forces come over to the King in England Cessation of Arms in Ireland for a year Vide the Kings Narrative of Uxbridg Treaty Eikon Bas. c. 12. Articles for the Brittish Army in Irâ—land Cirencester surprized Newbery first fight Noble men slain aâ—d hurt Several successes on either side Sir William Vavisor for the Kings retire Sir Iohn Winter for the King More Irish Forces for the King The Kings Garisons Parliaments Garisons Cavaliers seek â—or Forage with success Captain Backhouse was to betray Glocester Backhouse his Letter of design Lord Digby's Answer Glocestershire Actions Waller retreats to Monmouth Prince Maurice enters Teuxbury Teuxbury surprized P. Maurice defeats Waller Parliament Forces defeated Sir Winter's house in Dean Forrest Sir W. Waller defeated at the Devices Bristol surrendered to Prince Rupert Eccleshal Castle and Town taken Stafford taken by treachery Ordinance to seize upon the Kings Revenues Virginia not assâ—ssed with Excise Sir William Wallers Commission Parliaments Manifesto concerning Professours Organs in Paul's Church pull'd down Treason to assist the King French Ambassadour affronted The Kings Successes Arundel Castle surrendred to Waller Protestation and Oath of the Associates of Devon and Cornwall for the King University of Cambridg ordâ—red Parliament assembled at Oxford The Parliament at Oxford write to General Essex for a Peace Scots Army enters England Their Declaration Eikon Bas. p. 100. c. 13. Montrose his undertaking for the King Sir Thomas Glenham's answer to Argiles Letters Newark siege raised by Prince Rupert Military affairs under conduct of the Marquesse of Montrose Battel of Rocroy for the French Battel of Burling for the Emperour Duke of Lorain
for the Spaniard Cockram's Instructions to the King of Denmark Annâ— 1644. 〈…〉 Sir W. Waller 's Commission The Scots are caressed Fight at Braâ—dean Heath Essex's Army recruited Tax of weekly Meals Bewdley taken Fairfax in the North. Parliaments Army hastened The Parliament assembled at Oxford proroguâ—d Parliament at Westminster write to the Parliament in Scotland Anno 1643. The Queen journeys to the West and so to France The Kings Protestation aâ— the Sacrament of the Eucharist Swansey summoned Anno 1644. Siege at Latham House from Aâ—ril 17 raised May 27. The Lady Winter summoned to yield Her Answer Malmsbury taken The Kings design to march from Oxford Essex and Waller divide Forces Waller to catch the King Waller defeated at Copredy Bridge General Essex defeated in Cornwal Anno 1643. Anno 1644. The King returns to Oxford The Kings Letter to the Earl of Essex The Lords Letters to Essex Another from Tavestock Holland Ambassadours have audience for Peace York relieved by P. Rupert York surrendered to the Parliament Dennington Castle assaulted by the Parliaments Forces A second Attempt upon the Castle Church Reformation Princess Henretta Maria born at Exceter Iune 16. Ambassadours mediatours for Peace A Letter from beyond Seas to a member at Westminster The Kings Letter to the Parliament for a Peacâ— Upon the Victory against Essex's Army in Cornwal Banbury stormed by the Parliament and repulsed Earl of Northampton defeats the Besiegers Massey meets Myns design Grâ—y and Hammond fall out Myn de feated and slain Prince Rupert near Bristol Ast Ferry Fight Lieutenant Col. Kirle betrays Monmouth to Massey Military affairs in Monmouthshire Fight on the East side of Spine Earl of Cleveland commended Fight near Shaw Monmouth surprized and how Sir Iac. Astley at Cirencester Sentenced to death Captain Hotham arraigned Hothams Letter to the Earl of Newcastle Eikon Bas. cap. 8. p. 46. A new Government of the Church voted Eikon Bas. Cap. 16. Parliaments Propositions for Peace Directions to Ormond to make peace with the Rebels in Ireland Memorials for Secretary Nicholas at the Treaty Directions to the Kings Commissioners to treat Treaty at Uxbridge The Kings Commissioners offers concerning Religion Ireland Observations concerning the Treaty Anno 1644. Upon Uxbridg Treaty and other the Kings offers Eikon Bas. Chap. 18. Irish Rebels Macquire and Mac-Mahone Executed The design of new modelling the Army Newcastle siege Newcastle surrendred The siege of Basing House Basing relieved the 12 of Sept. The Besiegers rise from Basing Arch-Bishop of Canterbury arraigned Acts 6. 12. Acts 12. 3. Isa. 1. 15. Psal. 9. 12. Heb. 12. His Prayer at the Block Colonel Stephens surprizing was surprized The Cavaliers prevail Price Rupert in Wales with additional Forces Military affairs in Scotland Montrose spoils the Mâ—neses Dâ—feat at Aberdinc Fight at Favy Montrose in Arguile divastates all Arguile defeated A Design for the Duke of Lorain's assistance to the King The reason of the Danish War Anno 1645. General Fairfax his Commission Peace with the Swedes Shrewsbury betrayed to the Parliaments Forces Anno 1645. The Earls of Essex Manchester and Denbigh surrender their Commissions A Paper delivered to the Lord by the Earl of Essex together with his Commission Declaration in behalf of these Generals Grand Ordinance to disable Members from Offices and Commands Both Armies how disposed Blackington delivered to the Parliament Colonel Windebank shot to death Taunton besieged by the Kings Forces Taunton relieved for the present and again besieged State Ambassadours take leave Sir Iohn Winter recruited Lidbury fight A Protestation of Loyalty to the King Leicester taken by the King Naseby Fight Their Order The Kings Letters taken and divulged Upon his Majesties Letters taken and divulged Eikon Bas. ch 21. And his Declaration Leicester Surrendered upon Articles to the Parliament Prince Elector arrested for debt at the City feast Oxford straitned Carlisle surrendered Club-men are up Club-men treat with Fairfax His Answer Club-men's mis-rule Goring and Fairfax fight at Sutton Field Goring goes Westward Fairfax to Bridgwater Bridgwater bravely defended Bridgwater bravely defended at last surrendered Scarborough Castle delivered to the Parliament Bath rendered to Fairfax Siege of Hereford by the Scots raised by the King Summons Answers The King raises the Siege The Scots in discontent Sherburn taken by storm Club-men surprized by Cromwel Huntington taken by the King The King comes to Wales Fight at Bauton Heath Bristol besieged by Fairfax and Cromwel Cromwels Letter from Bristol to the Speaker He takes the Devizes And Winchester His Letter A Ranting Commander Basing taken by storm The wealth of Basing The Kings condition His Forces defeated at Sherburn in Yorkshire Digbie's Letters taken concerning Ireland The Kings Officers quarrâ—l Commanders quit their Commissions Belvoir surrendred to the Parliament Latham House rendred to the Parliament Hereford surprized for the Parliament Of treachery or Corruptions Qualifications concerning Delinquents Prince Charles desires conduct for two Lords to treat about a peace Fairfax's Answer The Princes Reply The Kings Letter to the Parliamentâ— for a conduct for persons to treat The Parliaments answer The Parliaments Answer to the Kings former Letters Anno. 1645. Fasting and Prayer at Oxford Irish Letters Intercepted The Kings Commission to the Barl of Glamorgan Message about Ireland and personal Treaty Arch-Bishop of York his letter to the Lord Ashley Digby's letter Glamorgans letter to the King out of Ireland Westchester besieged and surrendered Court of Wards and Liveries voted down Lilburn petitions for justice Dartmouth besieged and surrendred to the Parliament Exeter summoned Hopton defeated at Torrington Lamiston quitted Hopton agrees to disband Eikon Bas. pa. 17. 2. His expedition to Dundâ—e Aldern Battel Kilsithe famous Battel Foreign Affairs Prisoners of note Anno. 1646. The Prince of Wales invited to the Parliament The King at Oxâ—ord in distress Lord Ashley defeated totally The King desires to come to his Parliament He is answered negatively Cavaliers to depart the City Court Martial and their Articles Misery of the Cavalier The Brass Tomb of Windsor sold. Garisons surrendred Exeter surrendred Garisons rendred up to the Parliament Williams Arch-bishop of York turnned Souldier against the King Dudley Castle surrendred Oxford City besieged the second time Instructions to treat Oxford surrendred upon Articles Prince Elector visits his Brothers The Kings Seal of State broken The Duke of York brought to London Princess Henretta conveyed into France Sir Richard Onslow complains of Withers Newark siege and surrender of it First summons Second summons Banbury Castle surrendered and Carnarvan Ragland Castle besieged The King escapes out of Oxford And arrives at the Scots Army before Newark The Kings Letter to Ormond of his intention to go to the Scots Army Order to dispose of the King Levens Letter concerning the King The Kings Message to the Parliament from Southwel Votes to dispose of the King Eikon Bas. chap. 21. The Prince invited again to the Parliament The King enters into Newcastle The Scots Army voted to be gone
vote a war Oâ—hers dissent The State of the Scots Army come to Carlisle Summons Lambert by Letter Lamberts Answer Scots come to Penreath and engage Tinmouth Castle revolts and is retaken Lord General Cromwel comâ— against the Scots Scots Army defeated and how Capiâ—â—lâ—te and yield upon Articles Cromwel improves his success Hamilton taken and others Several Armies in Scotland Lieu. General Cromwel's Declaration in Scotland Scots Nobility contract with Cromwel And conclude in amity upon conditions Scots Armies disbanded Cromwel is caressed in Scotland The Prince of Wales his flight The States of Scotland invite the Prince thither Parliaments Vice-Admiral Batten goes to the Prince Colchester siege resolutely defended They capitulate by Letters Answer Lucas and Lisle shot to death The list of their prisoners Distempers in the Kingdom Petitions from all parts for a Treaty of Peace Voted to send to the King for a Treaty The Princes Letter to the Lords The Kings Message in Answer to the Votes and a Treaty Other Votes of the Parliament sent to the King His answer Commissioners to treat for the Parliament The King and his fast and pray Four Bills or demands Parliaments Propositions The Commissioners tyed up to conditions The Kings concâ—ssions in most things Propositions answered Concerning Ormond Earl of Norwich and Lord Capel impeâ—â—â—ed Arrears of the Army demanded Parliament Voâ—e payment New Judges and Serjeants at Law Petitions against the King and Treaty A large Remonstrance of the Army Hamond delivers the King to Col. Ewers Armies Declaration They come to White-hall Four Queries of the King concerning his Tryal The Kings Declaration concerning the Treaty The King is seized by the Army Divers Members seizâ—d by the Souldiers Agreement of the people Exceptions Vote against Vote Eikon Bas. cap. 28. The King brought to Windsor The Charge against the King The Queen writes to the King and General Votes of the Commons The Lords dissent Votes of the power of the Commmons house Proclamtaion for any to accuse the King New great Seal The Scots dissent The King brought to St. Iames's Form of the High Court of Justice The Lords and others against the Vote for Tryal The Scotish Declaration against the Kings Tryal Scots private instructions concerning the King The Actors proceeding The place of the Court of High Justice The Kings first Tryal The King accused Demurs to Authority of the Court and proves his Title successive not Elective Second Tâ—yal A Pre-Order in case the King will not answer The King interrogates their power and offers his reasons in writing The President prevent him with insolent rebukes Third dayes Tryal Saturday Tryal and Sentence The King râ—fuseth to Answer but before the two Houses of Parliament Presidents Speech The King not suffered to reply His Sentence Which the Tryers approvâ— The Kings Reasons against the jurisdiction of the Court a Hereabout I was stopt not suffered to speak any more concerning reasonâ— The King is abused by the Souldiery Hindered in his devorion and prayers The Committee order his Execution Ambassadors sue in the Kings behalf He is conveyed from St. Iames's to the Scaffold Passes to the Scaffold The King upon the Scaffold defends his innocency Howbeit he acknowledgeth Gods justice Pardons his enemies Takes pitty on the Kingdom Errours of the Faction How they may return to peace He praies Professes to dye a Christian according to the reformation of England He prepares to his death He is killed Reliques of the Kings death His body imbowelled His admired Book and Papers His Character only to be glanced at The Kings children The Kings Letter to the Prince of Wales
Parliament here after he had â—itted Supplies thither from Scotland and after his return hither he observed such forms for that service as his Council in Ireland did advise they desiring the Proclamation no sooner nor so many by twenty to be by him signed which he did and printed them for haste and sent them over which divers of the Members of both Houses here well know who are the more to blame to suffer such an envious aspersion upon the King when themselves could satisfie the action And wishes that they could with aâ— good a conscience call God to witness that all their counsels and endeavours have been free from private aims personal respects or passions whatsoever as he hath done and does And was it not time for our Brethren of Scotland to put in their Sickle into our Harvest besides their being invited their late entertainment of Fidlers have in England set their wheel a going The King had written a Letter to his Scotish privy Council there of the State of his affairs here Declaring and clearing such imputations which the Parliament endeavoured to fix upon him and his mis-governing together with the indignities and intrenchments upon his person and honour which he is assured will be tender in their natural affection rather to be kindled than extinguished by his distress to which their Covenant bindes them by Oath and Subscription and clears the calumniation to be popishly affected to be guilty of the bloudshed in Ireland to bring in foreign Forces Wherein he calls God to witness he is falsly aspersed And who ever hereafter shall distrust this his Declaration the fault is in the malignitie of their rebellious humours and no ways deserved by him This so wrought upon the hearts of the Scots for that time that I know not how such a Petition was framed by the Nobility and people of the whole Nation and presented to the Council as more could not be required from the most faithfull and indulgent Subject humbly shewing in effect That to call in question the Kings royal zeal and resolution of preserving the Religion Laws and Liberties of these his Kingdoms is so undoubted as after so many reiterated asseverations emitted in his Declarations and Answers and so many evidences of his justice and wisdom cannot be conserved in any but an unchristian distrust And therefore justly challenges from them all due respect to his sacred Majestie by so many ties and titles so much professed and promised by them in their solemn Oath and national Covenant and Oath at his Coronation to defend and maintain the person greatness and authoritie of our dread Sovereign as by the Act of General Assemblie we have all sworn and signed and therefore are bound to represent to their Lordships their humble desires to be assured and known to his Majestie of their loyaltie and resolution And that some course may be taken to the view of the world that they intend the brotherly and blessed conjunction of both Nations happily united in loyaltie and subjection to our Sovereign tending nor intending as they attest God the Searcher of all hearts for any other end but performance of their humble dutie to their dread Sovereign to which they are bound by all ties of Nature Christianitie and Gratitude and to which they crave their Lordships to contribute their wisdoms and and speedie answer hereto May 20. A man would be amazed to finde other effects hereafter of this most serious Protestation which in a word came to this end they sold this their dread Sovereign Lord and King to the death and execution for a piece of money The Parliament hear of this and turn the Scale for eight days after the Scots Council do declare their earnest desires both to King and Parliament to joyn in a perfect union imbracing his Majesties expressions to them of his religious care of the Liberties and Laws of both Kingdomes And do in like manner with brotherly reciprocal affections acknowledg the care and zeal of the Parliament of England to keep a right undâ—rstanding betwixt the two Nations as both the Parliaments have avowed to each other And although they neither will nor should meddle with publick actions of any other Kingdom but as they are called yet since the Parliament of England have drawn the former practices of the Parliament of Scotland into example of Declaration they humbly desire the King to hearken to his greatest his best and most unparalleld Council And utterly disswade the King from any personal journey into Ireland and that a Mediation may be at home ere the wound be wider or the breach deeper To which end they have sent with this Message the E. Loudon Chancellour of Scotland who will give a more full declaration of their minde and desires which in fine came out to be A large Manifestation of their true and heartie affection to the Parliament of England protesting to do nothing contrary to them in their Privileges May 28. Nay after all this the old accustomed Rabble meet at Edinburgh and hearing of the late Letters from the King with the petitionary Answer and the late Message from the Council to the King by the Lord Loudon and finding the affairs of England likely to bring Grist to their Mill these Multitudes I say being as they style themselves The intire bodie of the Kingdom petition or rather threaten the Kings privy Council there not to meddle with any verbal or real ingagement for the King against the Parliament of England And so from that time forward we finde them covenanting to the destructive conclusion as hereafter follows Upon all these Scotish passages the Parliament of England do Protest That those sufferings expressed in those Papers betwixt his Majestie and the Parliament cannot be imputed to any actions of ours who endeavoured with all fidelitie the happiness of his Majestie labouring to take the blame from the King and to lay it on his evil Councils And as touching the Petition we with much contentment and thankfulness observe the faithfulness and good affection of our dear Brethren of Scotland to prevent all Iealousies so timely expressed to the Lords of the Council and we shall never cease to answer their great care with the like diligent endeavours to promote the honour wealth and happiness of that Nation and to preserve the unitie so strongly fortified by mutual interest and affections on both sides And desire the English Commissioners to assure the Scots Commissioners how heartily and joyfully we imbrace their kindness manifested in that Petition Hoping that this constant and inviolable amitie between us and them will prove very usefull for the advantage and securitie of both which it did for a time and ruine to both hereafter In what a miserable condition is the Kingdom when King and Parliament are so divided What not one wise man amongst them Yes truly the Earl of Bristol had a large sense thereof and in this strait he moves for
an Accommodation and states the case to the Lords The King offers says he to concur with the Parliament in the setling of our Liberties is willing to hearken unto all our Propositions and for establishing the Protestant Religion he moves us to it That the Rule of his Government shall be the Laws of the Kingdom and offers a more large and general Pardon than by any his Predecessours And truly my Lords this is all that ever was pretended unto by us We on the other side profess to make his Majestie a glorious King to endeavour to support his Dignitie and to pay unto him dutie and obedience which we by our Allegeance several Oaths and late Protestation ow unto him and to maintain all his just Regalities and Prerogatives which may be conceived is as much as his Majestie will expect from us What then is wanting to give to either mutual satisfaction The greatest difficultie may be how that which shall be agreed upon may be secured It is commonly the last point in Treaties betwixt Princes and of the greatest niceness much more between a King and his Subjects the chiefest difficultie of Accommodation for it is much easier to compose Differences arising from Reasons yea from wrongs than it is to satisfie Iealousies which arising out of diffidence and distrust grow and are varied upon every occasion nay already increased to that height and the mutual replies to those direct terms of opposition that if we make not a present stop it is to be feared speedily to pass beyond verbal contestation In some Answers it is spoken as in fear of a Civil War a word of horrour to such as have seen those unexpressible calamities witness Germany the most flourishing Countrey in Europe now reduced to monstrous miserie Of which we had lately a costly Example for in these unhappy troubles betwixt us and Scotland after there was a stop from acts of hostilitie a desire of peace and the Articles propounded yet the keeping of those Armies whilest the Treatie was on foot at Rippon and after at London cost this Kingdom no less than a million of pounds Then he proposes the way A select Committee of Parliament truly to state the matters in difference with the most probable ways of reconciling them Secondly to descend into the particulars which may be expected either in point of supporting the King or relieving his people And lastly how these conditions agreed upon may be secured Then he sums up the present unhappy estate which needs relief and remedy The deplorable estate of Ireland the Debts and Necessities of the Crown the Distractions likely to produce Confusion of Religion most dangerous and destructive to a State Besides those publick Calamities to consider the distracted condition of every one of us under the different commands of the King and of the Parliament no caution can promise any safetie inconsistent to obedience The Parliament command all persons to obey their Ordinance as the Fundamental Laws The King declares it to be contrary and commands us upon our Allegeance not to obey it and unto contrary commands Conformitie cannot be submitted but by Fasting and Prayer to reduce both parties to Reason But for what was done at York in reference to a Guard of Horse for the Kings person the Parliament vote as a preparation for War against the Parliament a Breach of the Trust reposed in him by his people contrary to his Oath and tending to the dissolution of his Government and all such as serve him there are Traitours to the Laws of the Kingdom 11 Rich. 2. 1 H. 4. Then comes out another larger Declaration or third Remonstrance of all the Kings mis-actions wherein for themselves they allege these following as infallible Positions 1. That they have an absolute power of declaring the Law and that whatsoever they declare to be so ought not to be questioned by the King or any Subject So then in consequence all right and safety of the King and his people must depend upon their pleasure 2. That no Presidents can be Limits to bound their proceedings Then may they do what they please 3. That a Parliament may dispose of any thing wherein the King or Subject hath a Right for the publick good That they without the King are this Parliament and Iudg of this publick good and that his consent is not necessary Then the Life and Liberties of the Subject and all the good Laws made for the security of them may be disposed of and repealed by the major part of both Houses at any time present and by any ways or means procured so to be and the King hath no power to protect the people 4. That no Member of either House ought to be troubled or meddled with for Treason Felonie or any other Crime without the cause first brought before the Parliament that they may judg of the Fact and their leave obtained to proceed 5. That the sovereign power resides in both Houses and that the King hath no Negative Voice Then the King must be subject to their commands 6. That the levying of Forces against the personal commands of the King though accompanied with his presence is not levying War against the King But the levying of War against his Laws and Authority which they have power onely to declare and signifie though not against his person is levying of War against the King 7. That Treason cannot be committed against his person otherwise than as he is intrusted with the Kingdom and discharging that trust and that they have a power to judg whether he have discharged this trust or no. 8. That they may dispose of the King when they will and are not to blame for so doing Certainly the Duke of Venice is of more power than such a Monarch But as large as that was it was not long ere the King returns his Answer to this Book and we may be excused for the length thereof which necessarily is required to their particulars And to which I must refer the Reader being on both parts as much and no more than the Reader may finde in the daily Transactions observed in this History heretofore set down and which hereafter follow But to this Answer of the King we meet with no Reply untill the second of November next following which the Authour styles A Treatise or rather a Tome and that he doubts not but he shall therein give ample satisfaction to the Reader By which we suspect it Apocrypha To which the King never vouchsafed any Rejoinder But the Parliament in reference to their power and authority ordain That all High Sheriffs Iustices c. within an hundred and fifty miles of the Citie of York to make stay of all Arms and Ammunition carrying to York and the persons so conveying to be apprehended c. Another also they ordain That all Sheriffs within the Kingdom of England and the Dominion of Wales shall by the power of the Counties suppress all Forces of Horse and
make Peace with the Parliament from Cardiffe Aug. 1645. CHARLES REX Nephew this is occasioned by a Letter of yours which the Duke of Richmond shewed to me last night And first I assure you I have been and ever will be very careful to advertise you of my resolutions as soon as they were taken and if I enjoyned silence to that which was no secret it was not my fault for I thought it one and I am sure it ought to have been so Now as for your Opinion of my Business and your Counsel thereupon If I had any other quarrel but the defence of my Religion Crown and Friends you had full reason for your advice for I confess that speaking either as a meer Souldier or Statesman I must say there is no probability but of my ruine Yet as a Christian I must tell you that God will not suffer Rebels and Traitors to prosper or this Cause to be overthrown And whatsoever personal punishment it shall please him to inflict upon me must not make me repine much less give over this quarrel And there is as little Question that a composition with them at this time is nothing else but a submission which by the grace of God I am resolved against whatsoever it cost me for I know my Obligation to be both in Conscience and Honour neither to abandon Gods Cause nor to injure my Successors nor forsake my Friends Indeed I cannot flatter my self with expectation of good success more then this to end my daies with Honour and a good Conscience which obligeth me to continue my endeavours as not despairing that God may yet in due time avenge his own Cause though I must avow to all my Friends that he that will stay with me all this time must expect and resolve either to dye for a good Cause or which is worse to live as miserable in maintaining it as the violence of insulting Rebels can make him Having thus truly and impartially stated my Case unto you and plainly told you my positive resolutions which by the grace of God I will not alter they being neither lightlie nor suddenlie grounded I earnestly desire not in any wise to hearken after Treaties assuring you as low as I am I will doe no less then what was offered in my Name at Uxbridge confessing that it were as great a miracle that they should agree to so much reason as that I should be within a moneth in the same condition that I was immediatelie before the Battel at Naseby Therefore for Gods sake let us not flatter our selves with these conceits and believe me your very imagination that you are desirous of a Treatie will but loose me so much the sooner and therefore as you love me whatsoever you have alreadie done applie your discourse hereafter according to my resolution and judgement As for the Irish I le assure you they shall not cheat me but it is possible they may cozen themselves For be assured what I have refused to the English I will not grant to the Irish Rebels never trusting to that kinde of People of what Nation soever more then I see by their Actions And I am sending to Ormond such a dispatch as I am sure will please you and all honest men a Copie thereof by the next opportunitie you shall have Lastly be confident I would not have put you nor my self to the trouble of this long Letter had I not a great estimation of you and a full confidence of your friendship to CHARLES REX Cardiffe Aug. 1645. These are the Kings grounds and reasons rebus sic not to descend beneath the propositions offered at Uxbridge And herein he was resolved not trusting to publick counsels in the affairs of Peace And therefore in General most opinions of his Friends were for a Treatie grounding their reasons upon the Kings desperate condition little hope being left to him by force to end these differences To the desire of a Treaty some Councellors in the Princes Army now in the West had advised his Highness to send to his Majesty to that effect Whereupon the Prince writes to the General Fairfax who with his Forces were quartered about him to grant his pass for the Lord Hopton and the Lord Culpepper to go to the King and mediate with him for a Treaty with the Parliament To which after a fortnights consult with his Committee he returns answer or rather his advice for the Prince to disband his Army he now commands which he conceives would be the readiest way for the security of him and his posterity and of those who attend and adhere to him Which if he will do the General would in person conduct himself to the Parliament November 8. To which Answer the Lord Capel had Commission three weeks after to Reply In answer to yours of the eight of the last Moneth His Highness hath commanded me to let you know that he did not believe that his overture of engaging himself in the mediation of a blessed peace for his miserable Kingdome which he did and doth still very earnestly desire to labour in would have brought him an inhibition to quit his duty and loyalty to his royal Father by dividing his Interest from that of his Majesties whereby he should render himself unworthy and uncapable of the fruits of that peace he labours for If his former propositions may be consented unto he hopes God will so bless his sincere intentions and desires as to make him a blessed Instrument to preserve this Kingdome from desolation But if that be rejected he shall give the world no cause to believe that he will forfeit that honour and integrity which can onely preserve him in a capacity of doing that service and shall with patience attend Gods good pleasure untill his endeavours may be applied with preservation of his innocency This is all I have in command from His Highness Exon. Decemb. 1. Your servant Arthur Capel And no reply hereto the King then at Oxford taking knowledge of these passages is put to the extremity of seeking it himself whether of his own inclination or pressed thereto by his Council He sends a Trumpet to the Parliament with a Letter for safe conduct for certain persons of Honour to be sent with propositions of peace which came inclosed in a Letter of Sir Thomas Glenhams Governour of Oxford and directed to the Speaker of the House of Peers Decemb. 5. C. R. His Majesty being deeply sensible of the continuation of this bloody and unnatural war cannot think himself discharged of the duty he owes to God or the affection and regard he hath to the preservation of his people without the constant application of his earnest endeavours to finde some expedient for the speedy ending of these unhappy distractions if that may be he doth therefore desire that a safe conduct may be forthwith sent for the Duke of Richmond the Earl of Southampton John Ashburnham and Jeffrey Palmer Esqs and their attendance for
The King and Hendersonâ— argue about Church matters Mr. Hudson conveyed the King from Oxford The City congratulatocy Petitions to the Parliament The Kings former letters to Ormond of April the thirteenth discovered The Kings Warrant to disband his forces Scots Armies letter to the Parliament The Kings letter to the Prince Hudson examined his confessions The Kings command to Ormond not to treat with the Irish Rebels The State of the Propositions of Peace Prosecution of the Propositions of Peace The Declaration against the Scots Papers Propositions sent to the King The Kings Message to the Parliament French Ambassadour Extraordinary hath Audience Parliaments Answer Propositions presented to the King The Kings Answer to the Propositions 〈…〉 The Scots offer to be gon with the rest of their demands The Kings Answer to the Scots Petition and Remonstrance The Propositions are urged to the King Debate how to dispose of the King Letters complaining of the Scots Army General Fairfax comes to London English Army mutiny for money The taking Covenant with exceptions Tender Consciences taken up Dispute about diposing the Kings person argued The Scots Answer One years account of the Scots Army Earl of Essex his Life and Death 〈…〉 Sir Io. Stowel Prisoner The Scots Papers concerning the dispose of the King Scots Argument Ready money for the Scots Army Sums of money disposed of to certain Members The Kings Message for a Treaty near London The King voted to Holmby The Parliament of Scotland's Queries Ministers of the Assembly answer The Parliament of Scotlands result concerning the King The Kings queries to thâ— Scots Army Scots Answer The Kings Reply The Scots Declaration concerning the King Commissioners to receive the Kings Person Scots Army depart Newcastle The King desires two of his Chaplains to be with him Serjeant Glanvile released upon Bail The King writes again for his Chaplains Eikon â—as page 106. Chap. 24 The Army Model City of London Petition Prince of Orange dies Of the Presbysâ—rial Government Tyranny and Power Practise of the Presbytery Of the persons authorized Their power how exercised Affairs of Ireland The Kings Letters to the Lord General of Ireland In vita Iulii Agricolae The Commons vote the Government of Ireland Dublin besieged by the Rebels Continuation of the Kings affairs under Montrose in Scotland David Lesly comes with Horse from the Scots Army in England Defeats Montroses Forces Surrender of Dunkirk to the Frencâ— 1647. A summary or entrance to this year 1647 Anno 1647. Prince Elector Palatine a Member of the Assembly of Divines The King contemplates his Captivity at Holmby Eikon Bas. cap. 23. Judg Ienkins refuses to be examined Army modelled Petition from the Army Rosvil in secret gives Letters to the King The Kings Answer to the former Propositions The Army discontent The City Petition burned Commissioners of the Parliament and of the Army treat The King taken into the Armies power The Army draws towards London The Armies Representation The Charge against eleven Members Their persons to be suspended Votes in Parliament concerning the 11. Members Answered by the Army Eikon Bas. cap. 26. The Kings desire to see his children retarded The Generals letter in the Kings behalf and herein the case of the Army in reference to the King The eleven Members have leave to navel Result of the difference between the Parliament and Army Both Speakers and some Members fly to the Army The General resents the outrage of the City Theâ— Cities Declaration against the Army The City in some disorder submit And treat with the Army The Army Bâ—igades come to Southwark The Kings Letter to the Gâ—neral for Protection The absent Members are setled again The Army marches in State to Westminster and in Triumph through the City The forced Acts of Parliament made null The late force of Parliament debated Armies Remonstrancâ— hereupon Six of the 11. Members surprized at Sea Sir Philip Stapleton died of the Plague Excise continued by ordinance of Parliament King at Hampton Court Scots Commissioners Sundry secret Petitions of mixed natures Divers Members condemned for Actors in the late Tumult Desires of the Army Propositions sent to the King and his Answer The Kings Message in Answer to the Propositions Debaâ—es hereupon Agitators of the Army present Agâ—tators send Letters to the General and Army The Generals Answer Scots Commissioners Letter to the Speaker The effects of the Kings Answer The Letter of Inteligence The King escapes from the Court Lieutenant Colonel Cromwels Letter to the Parliament The Kings Letter to Col. Whaley The Letter to the Lord Mountague The Letter to the Parliament The Generals Letter to the Speaker Death for any to conceal the King Col. Hamonds Letter to the Parliament Votes to secure the King The Kings Message to the Parliament from Carisbroke Castle Which Hamond refuses in his Letter to the Parliament The Kings Message to the Parliament for an Answer to his last from Carisbroke Castle Four Bills offered to the King with the Proposals The Scots Commissioners dissent Answer to the Bills and Propositions The Kings Servants dismissed Votes of no further adress to the King The Parliaments Declaration concerning those Votes An Answer to the Parliaments Declaration Mutinies about keeping Christmas The Kings Dâ—claration to his people after the Vote of no address The Kings Title altered in things Army Modelled Continuation of Military Actions under Montrose Ogleby escapes Gordon and Spotswood executed Gutlery Murrey Middleton comes from the Scots Army in England with Forces Montrose commanded by the King to lay dowâ— Arms. His Answer sent to the King Montrose disbandeth his Forces and takes leave of â— Scotlâ—nd The affairs of Ireland in chief Munster Treaty concluded Anno. 1648. Summary of the affairs of this year Vniversity of Oxford refuses to be visited by the Parliaments Ordinance Exceptions a the gainst Ordinance of Parliament Concerning the Covenant Negâ—tive Oath Earl of Pembroke Chancellor His Visitation of Oxford Col. Poycâ— revolts in Wales Major General Laughorn joyns with him and surprize Tenby Mutiny in London dispersed City consult and crave pardon Poyers power at Pembroke defeats the Parliaments forces Chepstow Castle taken Poyers party defeated and how Anno 1647. Laughorn escapes to Poyer Tenby surrendâ—ed Pembroke besieged Surrendred upon Aâ—ticles Anno 1648. The Prince writes in the Prisoners behalf Votes concerning the King and Government Duke of York escapes beyond Seas to Holland Petition of Essex for a Treaty with the King Surrey Petition very high gâ—d quarâ—el City petition to this purpose Prisoners of Tumult released Kent insurrection The Geneâ—als Letter in Answer to theirs They reply and fight Maidstone fight Votes against the eleven Members Lords and Aldermen are discharged Kentish men come to Black Heath and Disband The Generals Summons Rumour of impoisoning the King Insurrection of the Earl of Holland They write to the City for assistance Engage in â—ight Earl of Holland taken prisoner The Estates of Scotland disagree Scots protestation Committee of danger in Scotland