concerning the Government of his Estates and touching the interests of other Princes as without the entring into their Cabinets or partaking of their Counsels he discoursed very pertinently of their Affairs and foretold their several issues and events He likewise was an excellent Phisionomer and having once seriously considered any one he was seldome deceived in the opinion he conceived of him He married into the ancient and noble family of the Bourchers whence the Earls of Essex were descended his marriage bed was blessed with many Children none of which did ever degenerate from the eminent vertues of their most Illustrious Father His eldest son named Ricard hath succeeded him in the Protectorship his younger son named Henry being at this time Lord Lieutenant of Ireland both of them capable to follow their Fathers glorious footsteps and to perfect and crown such hopeful promising though difficult beginnings their Father having as it were divided shared and left by inheritance unto their youth swelling with marvellous hopes that most exquisite Quintessence of two great Talents which he had acquired by his age and by his experience so that the one of his sons may be stiled the Jupiter and the other the Mars of England He had four Daughters all of them Ladies of a most eminent and vertuous disposition The Lady Bridget first married unto the Lord Ireton in his life time Lord Deputy of Ireland a Personage of sublime worth and afterwards espoused unto the Lord Fleetwood sometimes Lord Deputy of Ireland and at present Lieutenant General of all his Highness Forces The Lady Elizabeth his second Daughter married unto the Lord Cleypoll and dyed a little before her Father of whom we shall speak hereafter The third the Lady Mary espoused unto the Lord Viscount Faulconbridge And the youngest the Lady Frances at present widow of the Lord Robert Rich Grandchilde to the late Earl of Warwick Nor did the change of his late Highness Fortunes in the least decline or diminish the tenderness and affection which he ever bare towards the worthy Mother of so numerous and hopeful an issue and that absolute power which he had over all his Dominions never gave him the least desire to captivate any heart save that which God had given him in marriage And that which is the most to be admired at and seems to be the summe of all bliss is that the Almighty lent his late Highness so much life as to see all his Children disposed to the most gallant personages and allied to the most Illustrious Families of England which are as so many props of his Fortune and Fences against the enviers of his Vertue He was an enemy to vain gloriousness ostentation and although he was all as it were fire that is of a passionate constitution yet he had so overcome his passions that he was seldome or never moved but when there was a great cause given so likewise was he more subject to repress and keep in then to give way to his passion The actions of his body denoted those of his minde his actions were in a manner without motion and without any forcings of the body in like manner his minde was not at all agitated nor his expressions precipitated sweetness and tranquillity accompanied his thoughts and his words but when there was occasion to carry a business he expressed himself with so much vigour as gave to understand that he was not easily to be disswaded from the thing he had once resolved In like manner during the whole course of the War he never harboured the least thought of changing of parties And as for Ambition which is the onely passion whereof envy it self seems to accuse him the effects thereof were so inconfiderable and unnecessary unto him nay so unpleasing and unwelcome and which is more he so often refused the pomps delights and grandours which were profered him that all the world must needs confess that where Nature could claim so small an interest the master and directer of Nature must needs have had a great share Wherefore we may aver with a great deal of reason That in case he hath hoorded and laid up Treasures it hath been in the Intrals of the Poor of all Sexes and of all Nations of all Professions and Religions both at home and abroad insomuch that it hath been computed that out of his own private instinct particular Motions and pious Compassion he distributed at least forty thousand pounds a year in Charitable Uses out of his own purse out of such Moneys as the Commonwealth did allow him for his Domestique Expences and for the maintenance of his State and the Dignity of his Person Family and the keeping up the splendour of his Court. And the better to illustrate this matter we shall insert an Essay of two examples of Generosity and Gratitude which are not to be parallel'd save in the persons of Thomas Lord Cromwell his late Highness's predecessor in Henry the Eighth's Reign and in the person of his late Highness Oliver Lord Protector In those glorious dayes when the English young Gentry endeavored to out-vie their elder Brothers by undertaking far and dangerous journies into Forreign parts to acquire glory by feats of Arms and experiencing themselves in the Military Discipline Thomas Cromwel a younger Brother to better his knowledge in Warlike Affairs passed into France and there trailed a Pike accompanying the French Forces into Italy where they were defeated at Gattellion whereupon our English Volantier betook himself to Florence designing to pass thence home again into England but having loft all his equipage and being in a necessitated condition he was enforced to address himself to one Signior Francisco Frescobald an Italian Merchant who corresponded at London and making his case known unto him Frescobald observing something remarkable and a certain promising greatness in the Features Actions and Deportment of Thomas Cromwel who gave an account of himself with so candid an ingenuity and in such terms as beseemed his Birth and the Profession he then was of whereby he gained so much upon Frescobald as inviting him home to his house he caused him to be accommodated with new Linnen and Clothes and other sutable necessaries kindly entertaining him till such time as he testified a desire to return for England when as to compleat his Generosity and Kindeness he gave Mr. Thomas Cromwell a Horse and sixteen Duccats in gold to prosecute his journey homewards In process of time several disasters and Bankrupts befalling Signior Frescobald his Trading and Credit was not a little thereby impaired and reflecting on the Moneys which were due unto him by his Correspondents in England to the value of 15000. Duccats he resolved to pass thither and try whether he could happily procure payment During which interval of time Mr. Thomas Cromwell being a person endowed with a great deal of Courage of a transcendent Wit hardy in his undertakings and a great Politician had by these his good qualities gotten himself
Chair appointed for the Speaker of the Parliament On each side of the Hall upon the said Structure there were seats raised one above each other and decently covered for the Members of the Parliament and below them there were Seats made for the Judges of the Land on the one side and for the Aldermen of the City on the other side About two of the Clock in the afternoon his Highness met the Parliament in the Painted Chamber and passed such Bills as were presented to him after which they went in order to the place appointed in Westminster-Hall his Highness being entred on the place and standing under the Cloath of State Mr. Speaker did in the Name of the Parliament present several things which lay ready on the Table unto his Highness viz. A Robe of Purple Velvet lined with Ermines being the habit anciently used at the solemn Investure of Princes next a large Bible richly Gilt and Bossed and lastly a Scepter of massie Gold which being thus presented Mr. Speaker came from his Chair took the Robe and therewith vested his Highness being assisted by the Earl of Warwick the Lord Whitlock and by others which being done the Bible was delivered to his Highness after which Mr. Speaker girt about him the Sword and finally delivered his Highness the Scepter which being thus performed Mr. Speaker returned to his Chair and administred the Oath to his Highness which had been prepared by the Parliament for him to take His Highness standing thus adorned in Princely State Mr. Manton by prayer recommended his Highness Forces by Sea and Land the whole Government and People of these Nations to the blessing and protection of God Almighty After which the people gave several shouts and the Trumpets sounding his Highness sate down in the Chair of State holding the Scepter in his hand and whilst his Highness thus sate a Herald of Arms stood aloft making a signal to a Trumpet to sound three times after which by direction and Authority of Parliament he did there publish and proclaim his Highness Oliver Lord Cromwel Lord Protector of England Scotland and Ireland and the Dominions thereto belonging Hereupon the Trumpets ' sounded again and the People gave several Acclamations with loud shouts crying God save the Lord Protector After a little pause the Ceremony being ended his Highness saluting the Ambassadors and publick Ministers proceeded thence in his Princely Habit the Train whereof was borne up by six noble persons and passed through the Hall into the Palace-yard the Earl of Warwick carrying the sword before him where his Highness entred into his Coach attended by his Life-guards and Halberdeirs the Officers of State the Lord Major and Aldermen all which waited on his Highness back to White-Hall the whole Ceremony having been managed with State and Magnificence suitable to so high and happy a Solemnity But to return to our History again toward the end of the Summer therefore the united Forces of England and France took the Fort of Mardike whereof Major General Morgan took possession for the English as the earnest of further Conquests The Spaniard hereupon conceived all the fears and jealousies which so dangerous a neighbour-hood might justly cause which obliged them in the following moneth to resolve vigorously to assault the place and to carry it by force But they were received with so much vigour by the English as that they were manfully beaten off and constrained to retire with a great loss of their men and of several Officers of note But the joy of these successes were moderated by the death of Admiral Blake a person who had so well deserved of England as that he may be justly intituled its Neptune at the same time when as his Highness was its Jupiter and Mars who caused him to be buried with all the Demonstrations of Honour due to his high demerits He came within sight of Plimouth onely to give up the Ghost and received this satisfaction at his death to have bestowed all the Moments of his life on that Element which had given him so much glory just like unto Moley Moluch that Illustrious King of Fess who at the Article of Death caused himself to be carried in a Litter into his Camp where he expired in the middle of the Battel as he was exhorting his Soldiers and gained the Victory In like manner dyed General Blake in the midst of his famous Combats and Victories regretted by all England and his late Highness who had alwayes an especial care to cause those honours to be rendred to such great persons as were due to their demerits would have him stately interred as the Earl of Essex had been before but General Blakes body was onely brought with a Naval Pomp by Water in State on the Thames from Greenwich to Westminster as being a more suitable Ceremony to his imployment and was there buried in Henry the Seventh's famous Chappel Now the Spaniards disgusted at the firme footing the English had both gotten and kept at Mardike conceiving that against the next Spring it might give them a greater in-let in Flanders deemed they had best to endeavour the driving of them thence betimes before they should be too well settled and established there they resolved to assault them again and accordingly did set upon them very vigorously and resolutely with a party very considerable commanded by the pretended Princes of England and the Marquis of Coracene but the English defended themselves so manfully and stoutly as that the Spaniards began to judge that as the French are good at taking of places so the English were constant in keeping and defending them insomuch as that my Dons were forced to return by weeping cross to Dunkirk and take their last farewell of Mardike For they might very well have perceived by the business of St. Venant that the English were as good at the one as at the other when as the Spaniards having besieged Ardres the English supposed that their advance into France was onely to retard their progress into Flanders gave so resolute an assault to St. Venant as that they carryed the place and had the sole honour of it and immediately marching towards Ardres they drove away the Spaniards then with so much courage and resolution as amazed the French Wherefore this latter part of the season having been imployed in sowing the seeds of those Laurels which they were to reap in the next years expedition in Flanders His late Highness recollected himself to establish Peace and Tranquility in England and to settle the foundation of a happy and glorious Government And deeming that he could not more justly confer the eminent dignities of the Land save upon those who together with their blood had sucked from him the seeds and buds both of Military and Politick Vertues he created his younger son the Lord Henry Cromwel Lord Deputy of Ireland who hath alwayes and doth still behave himself with so much conduct and applause in
The Most excellent Oliver Cromwell Lord Gen ll of Greate Brittay Chancellor of the Vniversity of Oxford L d Cheife Gover r of Ireland ☜ Claude lib de laud Stil Similem Quae protulit Aelus Consilio vel Marle VIRUM THE HISTORY OF THE Life and Death Of His most Serene Highness O LIVER Late Lord Protector Wherein from his Cradle to his Tomb are impartially transmitted to Posterity the most weighty Transactions Forreign or Domestique that have happened in his Time either in Matters of Law Proceedings in Parliaments or other Affairs in Church or State By S. Carrington Pax quaeritur Bello London Printed for Nath. Brook at the Sign of the Angel in Cornhill 1659. FUIMUS The Right honble Charles Viscount Bruce of Ampthill â—en â— Heir Apparent of Thomas Earl of â—â—â—â—bury Baron Bruce of Whorleton To His most SERENE HIGHNESS RICHARD Lord PROTECTOR OF THE Commonwealth of England Scotland and Ireland and the Dominions and Territories thereunto belonging May it please Your Highness AS nothing can be presented to the Potentates of the World of greater value then the Labours of Famous Historiographers who describe to the life the Examples of such Eminent Personages as were transcendent in preceding Ages and may in their Successours beget both Emulation and Experience so shall I not need to apprehend that this History which in all humility I present unto Your Highness will prove unacceptable since therein You may encounter with such a Model of all kinde of Vertues and Perfections as I hope may take a deeper impression in Your Highnesses Breast in regard that it will be found that Art herein is seconded by Nature And whereas I am under the lash of a severe Castigation for my presumption in profering this History to Your Review as I acknowledge when I seriously consider how You have attracted to Your Self that lively Pourtraiture of his Great Soul that You appear the true Embleme both of his Vertues and Majesty May it please Your most Serene Highness I cannot chuse but address this present Oblation as to Your Self so in other Languages to the rest of the Princes and Potentates of the Earth I bequeath it unto posterity very humbly craving the favourable Protection of Your Highnesses Patronage Nor durst I publish so glorious a Work to the World before I had craved Your Highnesses pardon for my Rashness in adventuring to trace those Vigorous Lineaments in the Alexander whom Your Highness so well resembleth and in whom your Highness beareth so great a part Moreover as a sole Apelles could onely be capable of so great an Enterprize so it will be altogether unnecessary for me to endeavour the Description of that Pourtraiture which so evidently is manifested to all the World both in Your Highnesses Person and Actions Wherefore my Lord I must needs confess that Your Highness is the true Original and mine onely relating to the Out-side of so Great and unalterable an Albionist The truth is I finde not in my self ability to express the Real Worth of His Accomplishments and Hardy Features accompanied with that Vivacity and Lustre which secret Mystery lyeth onely in the Hand of that great Master of Nature and Extant in that very Personage whose Simile is hardly this Day to be found in the whole Vniverse except in Your Inimitable Self Nor doth Art or Humane frailty allow so much to be in the Possession of the best men Therefore those who go about to Pourtraict such like Incomparable Personages cannot avoid one of those extremities which Painters run into when they go about to represent the Sun who either place themselves at so great a distance as that they can onely discover an ineffications and feeble Reflections of its Beams or approach so neer unto it as that being dazled with its Resplendency and overcome with its Heat they are bereaved of their Senses and retain onely their Hearts at liberty to adore and admire that powerful Hand which formed so glorious a Creature To the like Non plus am I reduced who rashly ascend to the very summit of the Throne of Honour thence to contemplate his late Highness Person surrounded by so glorious a Resplendency as no eyes are able to behold nor to be comprehended by the mindes of men so that I must needs sink under the burthen and content my self with the Poets Expression Inopem me copia fecit In which extasie all my Senses being surprized my Heart is onely left free to admire and my Tongue to plead Excuses and offer up good Wishes which I most humbly Dedicate and Devote unto Your most Serene Highness Nor could the Heavens have ever established a more fitting Personage to bear a share in or inclination unto this Work then Your Highness as well as to defend it from Envy it self And if so be History be a second Life Your Highness may judge by the black Attempts which threatned Your Glorious Father how this Work will be assailed and how many Enemies its Authour must resolve to enter into the Lists withall their Rage being thereby renewed and augmented by their perceiving that the Tomb hath onely bereaved us of the least part of this Great Heroe And how malicious soever their Envy may appear in such Stories which possibly may be written in Contradiction hereof it will onely publish from Truth it self to the World their inveterate Spleen which can never pierce through the bright Rayes of his Innocent and Glorious Actions Moreover whereas the Divine Providence hath so often and miraculously preserved the first life of his late Highness against the Attempts both of men and monsters Your most Serene Highness is also engaged as well by Imitation as by the Interest of Your Care and Royal Dignity to watch over the Preservation of his second Life which is in Your Highness by so Lawful a Succession as is devolved upon Your Self The Glorious Course whereof I resolve to trace from this very moment that I may the better publish the Illustrious Transactions thereof in five other Languages which during my Travels I have acquired In which also I intend to publish this present History the French being already perfected and fit for the Press His great Soul expecting proportionable Honours to its Dignity and his vaste Minde requiring number less Elegies which may remain as so many living Monuments not to be defaced by Times Violence nor Envy But I press this Subject too home to Your Highness since You bear so great a share therein and my self dare attribute so little of it to my own incapacity of compassing so great an undertaking Wherefore I shall onely hereby endeavour to attract others and to shew them the Borders and Coast of that vaste Sea into which they ought to lanch so that like to a Forelorn Hope I shall onely first mount the Breach and by diverse Languages animate all the Trumpets of Fame to Celebrate the Glory of his late Highness in those parts of the World where I have conversed for
strong but whilst he was weaker being alone fell upon Colonel Lilborne and each side for the space of four hours fight did behave themselves very well till at length the Earls Forces being worsted he was constrained to save himself and to gain Worcester almost all alone amongst Prisoners of note which were taken in this Encounter were Colonel Legg Robinson Baines Gerrard four Livetenant Colonels one Major four Captains two Livetenants twenty Gentlemen and five hundred Soldiers There were killed the Lord Withrinton Sir Thomas Fieldsley Colonel Boynton Sir William Throgmorton Sir Gamuell and sixty Soldiers On the Parliaments side there were but ten men slain but abundance were hurt which defeat although it was but a small one yet it was very ominous and served not a little to discourage those who were on the Brink of declining themselves and ready to rise in Armes so that it may be said without vanity that the defeating of those 1500 men hindred above 10000 to joyn with the Scots at Worcester and indeed Colonel Lilborne received those Honours and that recompense from the Parliament which was due to his Valour And the Lord General Cromwell whose prudence did at all times equallize his Valour nay far surpass it being conscious that diligence and expedition was more then requisite in this Conjuncture which was like unto a Gangren continually gaining ground and therefore immediatly to be cut off least it should endanger the whole arived with his Army at Worcester sooner then he was expected with a resolution to make his Enemies either perish within the place or constrain them to give Battel Here War-like stratagems or wiles were not necessary for there was no delaying of the business neither was there any retreat to be made or flight to be taken It matters not for one Town more or less This is the upshot Blow where the best Swords were to decide the Interest of three Crowns The Royallists were backed by dispaire and the others were animated with the continuall and accustomed defeating of their Enemies Now both must either fight or die and resolve to be a Cast or nothing and the Town of Worcester this very day must be the bloody Theater of the fairest chance of Fortune which ever happened in the Isles of great Britain The first thing therefore which the Parliaments Forces endeavoured was to gain a pass over the River of Severne which was immediatly performed by Major General Lambert at a place called Vpton and which passage was made good by Liveten at General Fleetwcods Brigade which advancing towards Tame River a Bridge of Boats was laid over the same and likewise another Birdge was made over Severn on the Generals side which being perceived by the Royallists they caused a Body both of Horse and Foot to advance to oppose the Livetenant Generals passage who was backed by two Regiments of Foot of Colonel Inglesbies and Colonel Fairfax's by the Generals Troops of Guard and Clonel Hackers Regiment of Horse all which were animated and encouraged by the Generals prerence who marched at the Head of them after which Colonel Goff's and Major General Deans Regiments were passed over the River who began to scoure the Hedges which were lined by the Enemy and whence they drave them away beating them from Hedge to Hedge being supplyed with fresh men but after this kind of Skirmish had lasted well nigh a good hour very smartly the Royallists were constrained to give ground and to retire to Powick Bridge which they made good for an hour longer but quitting it at length they retired toward the Town except those which were made Prisoners and within a little while afterwards having assembled all their Forces and all their Courage to boot they issued forth of the Town in a Body towards the Generals side believing that the best part of his Army had been on the other side as in effect it was seperated in two by the afore specified River and the Royallists at their first charge were so furious and resolute as that the Generals Troops were constrained to give way but that only served to augment their courage and make them more covetous of Glory Insomuch that renewing their Fight with a fresh vigour they charged the Enemy so impetuously as that the Scotch Army both Horse and Foot were on a suddain over borne and quite brought into disorder all their Works and Lynes together with their Royall Fort and their Cannon were immediatly taken and turned upon and against themselves the Town was given in Pillage and all their Foot were either slain or taken Prisoners a Body of 3000 Horse brake through and made their escape and one thousand of them were taken by Colonel Barton who lay about Bewdly only with a few Horse and Dragoons and Colonel Lilborne with the Generals Regiments of Foot accidentally met with the Earl of Darby who a little before had escaped him whom he seized together with the Earl of Landerdale and above a hundred persons of quality severall others were likewise taken by the other parties which were abroad as Duke Hamilton General of the Scotch Army who afterwards died of his Wounds the Earl of Rothe the Earl of Cornwarth the Earle of Shrewsbury Packington Cunningham and Clare Knights the Lords Spine and Sinclere the Earle of Cleaveland of Kelley and Colonel Greaves six Colonels of Horse thirteen of Foot nine Livetenant Colonels of Horse eight of Foot six Majors of Horse thirteen of Foot thrity seven Captains of Horse seventy three of Foot fifty five Quarter-masters eighty nine Livetenants of Foot Major Generall Biscotty Major General Montgomery the Livetenant General of the Ordnance the adjutant General of the Foot the Martiall General the Quarter-master General the Conductor General of the Baggage seventy six Standards ninety nine Ensigns nine Ministers nine Chirurgions one hundred fifty eight Colours and all the Cannon and Baggage generally the Royall Standard the Kings Coach and Horses the Royall Robe the Collar of the Order of the Garter thirty of his domestick Servants and his Secretary Faâ—shams as for the King his own person he made and escape strangely and in a disguise he saved himself at length into France not without many difficulties and dangers Notwithstanding the Parliament had promised five hundred pounds to any one that could discover his Person Several other persons were also afterwards taken in the remotest Countries as Major General Massey who afterwards made an escape Major General Middleton Livetenant General David Lesly and severall others insomuch as that it may be said the Gleanings of this Victory were as considerable as the whole Harvest it self But let us return to our CONQUEROR and observe with what a moderation he enjoyed this his victory he desires no triumphall preparations He would not that thanks should be returned to him for the same but only to God alone who helped him with his mighty Arme to advance his own Glory and to establish the peace and repose of England upon
solid and firm Foundations and when as the Parliament did propound unto him most splendid and magnificent Presents in recompense he only desired the Lives and Liberties of their Prisoners They proposed to have Bonefires made and to have Triumphall Arcks erected but he answered That it would be better to raise Monuments to such of their Illustrious Patriots as lost their lives in the gaining of that Day and to bewaile their deaths with Teats And Iastly at the Generals request there were onely the Earle of Darby and Sir Fetherston Knight of all this great number of Prisoners put to death besides some few others of less quality Much about which time also that smal Body of an Army which remained in Scotland seized upon a great number of the Nobility of the Country who were assembled all together at a place called Ellet where the old General Lesly Earle Marshall the Lord Keith Cofford Ogleby Barany Huntly Lee and severall other Knights Gentlemen and Ministers were in Consultation all of which were put on boord a Ship and sent into England This great Storm being thus over-blown and the Minds of the Parliament Members being calmed after the apprehensions of the Scotch Invasion and the doubtfull and unexpected Events of a Battel they began to track the Foot-steps of their Conquest a new and the whole Common-wealth being entirely cleansed within they cast about how to reduce those Islands which sheltred several of the Enemies smal Vesssels whereby the Trade was interrupted and several Merchant-men impeded in their Voyages The Isle of Jersey was the first they resolved to begin withall and the Conduct of this Enterprise was left to Colonel Haymes who upon the same accompt on the fourteenth of October 1651. caused two Regiments of Foot and as many of Horse to be embarqued on board of eight Ships in the Port of Weymouth and the seventeenth they set Saile but the Stormy Weather forced them to return On the nineteenth they set saile again and on the same day about Midnight they came to anchor under the Island of Zoark and next Morning continuing their Course they arived at Stowens Bay in Jersey on the next day they fell down with the Tyde and got into St. Brelads Bay where they were assailed by so vehement a storm as that the Fleet was dispersed but having joyned to each other again on the one and twentieth they resolved to go ashoare that Night at Stowens Bay wheunto they were necessitated for want of Forrage for the Horse and as it were in a trice they landed their Horse by an admirable Industry of General Blake and his other Officers in Boats and two hours after the Flood they weighed anchor and some cut their Cables to run a shoare and so the Foot Landed some at three some at four some at five and some at six foot set and more receiving all that while both the Cannon and Musket shot which played upon them from the shoare Notwithstanding which they gained Land although they were faced by both the Horse and Foot of the Island but this was their advantage they were so over-charged with Water as that they were not succeptible of Fire Finally after they had endured this first brunt they got all of them on shoare and quickly gained as much Ground as served them to draw up into a Body to fight which they accordingly did with so much resoluion and vigour that in one half houres time they forced the Enemy to retreat who left their Ensignes behind them and twelve piece of Cannon after which the Horse being a little heartned having been refreshed in their Quarters in the Island on the two and twentieth of October they attempted three small Forts each having two piece of Ordnance in them which they took after which they advanced within sight of Elizabeths Castle to set upon a Fort called the Tower of St. Albons having fourteen piece of Ordnance commanded by the said Castle In two hours time they gained the said Tower and their next work was to possess the Castle of Montorqueil which they also took without much trouble But Elizabeths Castle being a very strong and considerable place into which they had retired all rheir Forces was not surrendred untill the midst of the Month of December on the most advantagious Conditions which so considerable a place could expect On the sixteenth of October 1651. there were embarqued at Westchester and Leverpoole three Regiments of Foot to wit General Cromwells commanded by Livetenant Colonel Worstey Major General Deanes Commanded by Livetenant Colonel Michell and Colonel Duckâ—nfields who Commanded the whole Brigade together with two Troops of Horse which Forces were sent to reduce the Isle of Man On the eighteenth of the said Month they set Sail but the VVind coming contrary they were driven into the Port of Beaumorris On the twenty fifth by two in the Morning the Wind coming Southwardly by the favour of a fresh Gale they set Sail again and about two of the Clock in the Afternoon they discovered the Custle of the Isle of Man Rushen Castle Darby Fort and a good part of the Island as also the Inhabitants and Soldiery as well Horse and Foot in Armes who were drawn out to make a review of their Forces when as by a suddain Gust the Fleet was hindred from approaching neerer the shoare whereupon they tacked about towards the North of the Island and not without some difficulty they gained Ramsey Bay where they Anchored that Night in sight of the Island and sent them Volleys of Cannon which were not at all answered by those of the Island On the twenty sixth of October an Inhabitant was sent on board the Fleet from the chief persons of the Island to assure the Commander that they would not in any wise hinder their Landing But to the contrary that they would deliver up unto them two Forts which they had Mastered after which there remained only Rushen and Peele Castle to be taken wherein they would also be assisting to the utmost of their powers But because the said Inhabitant brought nothing in writing to confirm what he had said Major Fox went on shoare to be assured of the certainty thereof and returning well satisfied he was followed by some Commissioners of the Island who most humbly beseeched the Officers not to ruine them which must of necessity ensue should they Land all their Men obliging and engaging themselves to bring Provisions at reasonable rates unto those who should remain on board the Ships The Commander in chief returned them thanks promising them to do them all the favour possible and imaginable but it fell out unhappily for all sides That on the twenty seventh the Sea became very rough and the Ships being not able to remain all of them under shelter in the said Bay they were in a great deale of darger and one Ship running a shoare was broken and rent in sunder however all the men were saved and those within the
entrance and credit at Court and highly ingratiated himself with King Henry the Eighth having advanced himself to almost as high a pitch of Honour in as short a time in a manner as his late Highness did The Lord Thomas Cromwell therefore riding one day with a great train of Noble Men towards the Kings Palace chanced to espy on foot in the streets Signior Frescobald the Italian Merchant in an ill plight however he immediately alighting from his Horse embraced him before all the world to the great astonishment of the beholders and chid him that at his very arrival he came not to visit him Frescobald being astonished at so unexpected an encounter and receiving so signal a favor from a personage he could not call to minde he had ever known was quite surprized and my Lord Cromwells pressing affairs at Court not permitting him the while to acquaint him further who he was onely engaged him to come and dine with him that day Frescobald full of amazement enquired of the attendants who that great personage might be And hearing his name he began to call the Feature of his Face and the Idea of his Person to mind and so by degrees conceiving with himself it might happily be the same Mr. Thomas Cromwell whom he had harboured at Florence he enquired out his Lordships habitation and attended his coming at Noon-tide walking in his Court-yard No sooner was the Lord Thomas Cromwel entred the same attended by several persons of quality and officers of the Crown but speedily alighting from his Horse he embraced his friend Frescobald in the same manner he had done in the morning and perceiving that the Lords which accompanied him were amazed at such a disproportioned familiarity he told them that he was more obliged to Frescobald then to all the men in the world owing unto him the making of his Fortune and so proceeded to relate unto them the whole story which had befallen him at Florence So great a delight do generous mindes take to recount their foregoing Misfortunes when their Grandor hath elevated them to such a pitch as that they triumph over Shame and are incapable of Ingratitude Frescobald was treated at Dinner with all the tenderness he could expect from so great a personage and so good a friend after which being carried up by the Lord T. Cromwel into his Closet he was there presented with four bags of Gold each containing four hundred Duccats in return of his former civilities which Frescobald being of a gallant spirit at first refused but after several contestations was constrained to accept as an acknowledgement from the Lord Cromwell who moreover enquiring of him concerning his coming over and affairs in England and understanding his Losses and that there were Moneys due to him caused him to write down his Debters names and by his Secretary summoned the several Merchants which were indebted to Frescobald upon pain of his displeasure to clear their Accounts with him and to pay him within the space of fifteen days which was accordingly performed onely Frescobald freely forgave them the Use Over and above all which the Lord Thomas Cromwell endeavoured to perswade his friend Frescobald to have remained in England the rest of his Dayes profering to lend him a stock of 60000. Duccats to trade withall But Frescobald being over-charged with all those grand obligations which the Lord Cromwell had conferred on him having by his Lordships Generosity acquired enough to keep him from being necessitated all his life time and deeming that the trading in good Works was incomparably more sure and gainful then in the richest Wares and Merchandizes being resolved to quit Trading and to end the rest of his dayes peaceably and quietly he obtained leave of the Lord Thomas Cromwell to depart towards his own Countrey freighted with so great obligations as caused in him a generous shame But the Almighty doth not alwayes recompense the fruits of good Works here on Earth often repaying the greatest with the least rewards and Heaven delights in the exercising of its great Vertues by the Vices which are thereunto opposite and as the most noblest Creatures are the slowest in the attaining to their perfections so the Almighty doth not immediately cause those Fruits to ripen which are sowed here below by Christian Charity Wherefore to return to the Lord Thomas Cromwell who had made the Match between Anne of Cleve and King Henry the Eighth you shall see how he was rewarded for his Generosity and good Services for this Princess Anne of Cleve conceiving a certain womanish Jealousie she knew not why nor wherefore against the Lord Thomas Cromwell save onely that she apprehended he had too great a power and sway with the King never left off solliciting and importuning of him till he caused the Lord Thomas Cromwell to be beheaded by which sad compliance the King lost the best Supporter of his Crown and the faithfullest of his Servants and Subjects The Lord Thomas Cromwell dyed without Heir Males leavingone onely Daughter espoused to one Mr. Williams a Gentleman of Glamorganshire of a good Family who as we have before said inherited little of his Father save his Vertues besides what his own Deserts had procured him and what he might promise himself by the Match with this Heiress the Lord Thomas Cromwels Daughter from whence our Lord Protectors are lineally descended and who was the lively representative of her Father and the very pourtraiture of his great soul as the Lady Cleypool was of his late Highness the Lord Protector Now that you may know on what occasion the Name of Williams came to be changed into that of Cromwell it happened when as King Henry the Eighth was in the midst of his Splendor Pomp and Magnificence wallowing in the pleasures of a sumptuous Entertainment at Court Mr. Williams who had been a retainer to the late Lord Thomas Cromwell made his appearance before the King in deep Mourning like a dark Cloud eclipsing the Sun at Noon-tide The King casting his eye upon so unexpected and dismal an Object which seemed to reproach his rash fault was surprized and offended at the interrupting of his Pleasures by Williams so unseasonable apparition wherefore the King asked him how he durst appear at Court in that garb whereunto Williams replied with a sad but assured countenance That not onely himself but the King and all the Court had reason to mourn for the loss of the greatest and faithfullest of his Subjects and Servants whose Death himself might one day chance to regret when he should stand in need of his Councels and Fidelity But the King whose thoughts were at that time taken up with his Pastimes wished Williams to be gone and to get himself cured of his Frenetick Mallady Some while after troubles arising and the King finding himself in a strait for want of so faithful a Minister of State as the late Lord Thomas Cromwel was whose life he had so inconsiderately taken away began to
Parliament John Lilburn demands Protection is denied and remitted to the Law The state of Affairs in Scotland The state of Affairs in Ireland An admirable effect of his Highness Prudence and Justice Continuance of the Dutch Affairs Holland Commissioners sent over to treat A notable fight between the Dutch and English during the Treaty The Fight renewed The Dutch Admiral Van-Trump slain The Dutch put to flight The weakness of the new Parliament A motion to dissolve the Parliament The Parliament ment dissolved December 12 1653. The Lord General Cromwel chosen and sworn Lord Protector The Protector Sworn to the ensuing Articles The Lord Protector proclaimed Sir Thomas Viner Knighted A Conspiracy discovered Addresses to his Highness from all parts The Scots frame an Army The Scots defeated by Collonel Morgan Peace with Holland concluded and proclaimed The Affairs of Ireland settled A second conspiracy Mr. Vowel Hanged Mr. Gerrard Beheaded The Portugal Ambassadors Brother Beheaded The Scotch Highlanders rise in Armes General Middleton defeated by General Monk A Parliament assembly September 3. 1654. Parliament dâ—â—â—â—ved January 10. 1655. Several Conspiracies discovered A Rising at Salisbury A Rising in Shropshire A Rising in Montgomery A Rising in Nottinghamshire A Rising framing in Northumberland A rising in York-shire Wagstaff defeated and Penruddock and others executed Royalists sent toforreign Plantations The Insurrections all dissipated A Spanish Ambassador sent over to his Highness Motives inducing his late Highness to a Breach with Spain The Hispaniola expeâ—â—ion Jamaica attempted and carried General Blake demads satisfaction for wrongs sustained General Blake attempts the Turks fortresses and navy A fourth conspiracy suspected A Relief sent to Jamaica in twelve ships General Pen returns to England General Venables also returned Treaty and Peace with Sweden Major Generals constituted France seeks his Highness to perfect a Peace Reasons inducing his late Highness rather to condescend to an alliance with France then Spain A Peace with France Concluded and Proclaimed The defence and good success at Jamaica General Mountegue his victory over the Spaniards at Sea General Blakes destroying the Spanish Fleet at the Canaries May. 4. 1657. The English joyn with the French in Flanders under Sir John Reynolds His Highness Installment in the Protectorship Mardike taken by the English and French The Spaniards repulst at Mardike General Blake dyes in sight of Plimouth The Spaniards repulse again from before Mardike St. Venaut taken by the English The Lord Henry Cromwel made deputy of Ireland Sir John Reynolds and others drowned The Parliament dissolved Febr. 4. 1657 8 The City Militia settled again by his late Highness A Conspiracy discovered A high Court of Justice erected The Plot prevented Several Conspirators taken and sentenced some condemned others pardoned A Whale cast up in the Thames Dunkirk besieged by the English and French The Spaniards attempt to relieve Dunkirk The Spaniard beaten by the English and French Dunkirk taken and possessed by the English The Lady Cleypolls death Graveling taken by the French Mr. E. Waller The remarkable passages which happened on the like dayes in his Highness life His late Highness Corps removed to Somerset-House The manner of his Highness lying in State His late Highness standing in State The Funeral Solemnities performed at his late Highness's Interment The several distinctions observed in the Funeral Solemnities See History and Policy reviewed An example of gratitude and generosity in the Lord Tho. Cromwell The Lord Tho. Cromwels Seed Destiny and end How the Name of Williams came to be changed into that of Cromwell His late Highness descent An example of his late Highness gratitude See History and Police reviewed See History and Policy reviewed Which you may see in two Books viz. Teats of the Indies and the other America Painted to the life