King goeth toward York and is followed with a Petition from the Lords and Commons to Theobalds and another Declaration to Newmarket The King is denyed entrance into Hull by Sir John Hotham 38 CHAP. IV. Many Members of both Houses leave the Parliament and repaire to the King Nine of the Lords who first went away are impeached by the Commons and censured by the Peers The Great Seal is carried away from London to York Some Votes of Parliament concerning the Kings Proceedings A Petition with nineteen Propositions sent from the Parliament to the King 58 CHAP. V. An Order for bringing in of Plate and Money into Guild-Hall The Kings Declaration to the Lords about him Their Profession and Protestation to him The King layeth Siege to Hull but raiseth it again The Earl of Warwick taketh possession of the Navy as Lord Admirall The Earl of Essex is voted in Parliament to be Lord Generall of all their Forces 83 CHAP. VI. A brief Relation of the condition of divers Counties in England when the Parliaments Ordinance for the Militia and the Kings Commission of Array were put in execution With a mention of some Lords and otherswho were actors on either side The Lord Mayor of London committed to the Tower and sentenced by the Parliament A mention of some Declarations Messages and Answers that passed between the King and the two Houses of Parliament 99 BOOK III. CHAP. I. PRince Rupert and Prince Maurice arrive in England The Earl of Essex taking leave of the Parliament goeth to his Command The King increaseth in strength at Shrewsbury A Skirmish at Worcester The great Battell of Keynton is fought 1 CHAP. II. The Parliament send to the King concerning an Accommodation A fight at Brainford Another Treaty with the King begun and broken of Reading besieged by the Lord Generall Essex and surrendred to him A Conspiracy to betray Bristoll A treacherous Plot against the Parliament and City of London discovered and prevented 29 CHAP. III. Matters of State trans-acted in Parliament touching the Assembly of Divines The making of a new Great Seale Impeaching the Queen of High Treason and other things The Lord Generall Essex after some Marches returneth to quarter his wasted and sick Army about Kingston The Kings Forces Masters of the West The Earl of Newcastle his greatnesse in the North. Some mention of the Earle of Cumberland and the Lord FAIRFAX 47 CHAP. IV. Some Actions of Sir Thomas Fairfax in the North. The Queen lands in England The revolt of Sir Hugh Cholmley and the two Hothams The state of this Warre in the Westerne parts The condition of the Associated Counties A short relation of Sir William Waller his Actions of Colonell Cromwell Sir William Brereton and Sir John Gell. 63 CHAP. V. The death of the Lord Brooke and of the Earle of Northampton A short mention of some Actions in divers Counties The low condition of the Parliament at that time The Siege of Gloucester 85 CHAP. VI. The Expedition of the Lord Generall Essex for reliefe of Gloucester The great Battell of Newbury described 101 THE HISTORY OF THE PARLIAMENT OF England CHAP. I. Wherein is a short mention of Queene ELIZABETH King JAMES and the beginning of King CHARLES his Reigne his two first Parliaments Of the Warre with Spaine and France The death of the Duke of BUCKINGHAM And the third Parliament of King CHARLES QUeene ELIZABETH of glorious Memory together with that great Stock of Wealth and Honour which her prudent and just Government had brought to the English Nation had enriched them besides with a greater Treasure which we may justly account the cause of all the rest Religion reformed from Popish Superstition That Reformation engaged the Queene in a new Interest of State to side with the Protestants against those Potent Monarchs of the other Religion which seemed at the beginning as much danger and disadvantage to her as it proved in conclusion security and Honour so impossible it is for any disadvantage to prevaile over them that helpe the Lord against the Mighty That Storme from France which so much threatned the weake beginnings of her Reigne was suddenly blowne over by the death of HENRY the second and some few Moneths after of his Sonne FRANCIS who had married the Queene of Scotland the danger which remained greatest was from Spaine where PHILIP the second then reigned a Prince not greater in Dominion Treasure and Armies then deeply engaged against the Protestant Religion by the instigation and assistance of the Jesuites an Order which in the Age before had beene highly counrenanced by Pope PAUL the third in opposition to the Gospell-Doctrine that then began to spread apace in Germany and other parts The whole Order of Iesuites as endeavouring to set up one Temporall Kingdome of Christendome suitable to the Papall Hierarchy applyed their service altogether to the Monarchy of Spaine as being then far the greatest in Europe and fittest for their purpose by the late uniting of so many Kingdomes and Dutchies under the person of CHARLES the Emperour who by a fortunate birthright inherited together with Casule and Arragon and all the great Acquisitions of his Grandfather FERDINAND in Italy and the West Indies the rich and usefull patrimony of his Father PHILIP Burgundy and the Netherlands all these he had left intirely to his Sonne PHILIP who to so large a Territory had made that strong addition of the Kingdome of Portugall and might seeme an Enemy too mighty for England and all the Protestants of Europe to oppose But Queene ELIZABETH had woven the interest of her own State so inseparably into the cause of Religion it selfe that it was hard to overthrow one without the ruine of the other And God who had given her so much grace and courage as to rely wholly upon him did with that Almighty hand not onely hold her up from sinking but lift her above the heads of all her enemies By what degrees and means she atchieved the great Actions of her reigne and brought so much prosperity to her Nation it is not the scope of this discourse to relate at large for her History is not the worke in hand but only in briefe to declare that before her death she was the happy instrument of God to promote the Protestant Religion in all parts She curbed the Spanish greatnesse by supporting France from ruine to give some balance to the other as she preserved Scotland from being swallowed up by the French before She protected the Hollanders against him vanquished his Armies both by Land and Sea with many other such things as might seeme too much to be the atchievements of one Reigne And last of all she reduced Ireland wholly to obedience notwithstanding all the subtill machinations of Spain and open assistance given in Armes to her Irish Rebels All which she accomplished by the justice and prudence of her government by making the right use of her Subjects hearts hands and Purses in a Parliamentary way as also securing
him no reparation would make the World believe that his priviledges were lesse then any Subjects in the Land and that it was more lawful to rob him of his proper Goods then the meanest Member of the Kingdom He sent also at the same time a Letter to the Maior of Hull commanding him and all Officers of that Town to take care that no part of the Magazine should be removed or transported out of the Town under any pretence of Order or Power whatsoever without his Royal Assent under his Hand He caused likewise all Passages between Hull and London to be stopped up and by that means apprehended a servant of Sir JOHN HOTHAM'S going with a Letter to the Parliament concerning the proceedings before mentioned The Parliament immediately upon notice of these things declared their reasons for Hull and that the stopping of Passages and intercepting of Messengers or Letters to or from the Parliament or in their service was an high breach of the Priviledges of Parliament which by the Laws of the Land and their Protestation they were bound to defend and punish the violators authorizing by Ordinance of both Houses all Sheriffs Justices Constables and other Officers to aid them employed in the said service for their more speedie free and safe passage giving Order also to the said Officers within the Counties of York and Lincoln to suppresse any Armies raised to force Hull or stop the passages before mentioned in disturbance of the Kingdom 's peace It was voted by them two days after that Sir JOHN HOTHAM had done nothing but in obedience to the Command of both Houses of Parliament Resolved also it was upon the Question That this declaring of Sir JOHN HOTHAM Traitor being a Member of the House of Commons was an high breach of the Priviledge of Parliament Resolved again That declaring Sir JOHN HOTHAM Traitor without due Processe of Law was against the Liberty of the Subject and Laws of the Land An Order of Assistance was then given to the Earl of Stamford the Lord WILLOUGHBY of Parham Sir EDWARD AYSCOUGH Sir CHRISTOPHER WRAY Sir SAMUEL OWFEILD and Master HATCHER as Committees of both Houses sent down to Hull and the two Counties of York and Lincoln for service of the Kindom that all Sheriffs Justices Maiors c. should be assisting to them upon all occasions To that Declaration Votes and Orders of Assistance of both Houses of Parliament the King on the fourth of May returned an Answer wherein at large he expresses how hainous the affront was and how much he accounts himself injured by the Parliament in not repairing him against HOTHAM labouring to prove by ancient Statutes there cited that Sir JOHN HOTHAM'S denial of entance to him was absolutely high Treason by the Law of the Land Upon this subject within the space of one week two other Declarations and Answers passed between the King and both Douses too large to be here inserted but the scope of the King's Declarations in general are to vindicate his own Rights and dignity allowed him as King by the Laws of the Land wherein he seemeth not to take notice of the present occasion or such things as are conceived dangers and thought necessary to prevent by a Parliament sitting The Parliament on the other side with all humility and reverent expressions to the Kings Person seeming to take no notice of any affront offered or intended to his Majestie himself but onely of preserving Hull the Militia and Navie out of the hands of those wicked Counsellors which they conceived to be too prevalent with him to the danger of ruining the Kingdom and himself both which they laboured to preserve and were lawfully called to it by that Authority which belongs to Parliaments by the Fundamental Constitution of English Government They desire to inform the King that his Interest in Towns Arms or the Kingdom it self is not of that kinde that private men have interest in their Goods to sell or dispose of at pleasure but onely as entrusted to him for the good of all in performance of which trust none but the Parliament while it sitteth are or ought to be his Counsellors and directors that there can be no good or useful disputation where the Principles are not granted and it was ever heretofore taken say they for a certain Principle That the Parliament sitting is the onely Judge of what is dangerous to the Common-wealth and what useful as likewise what is lawful in those cases which the King by advice of no private Counsel whatsoever ought to control or contradict which Principle till the King will be pleased rightly to apprehend Disputations and Declarations are endlesse and no true understanding between him and his people can be begotten Of all these things if a Reader desire to be satisfied in particular he may sinde the questions all fully stated by the Parliament and the King's desires expressed by himself in two large Declarations one called the Parliaments third Remonstrance dated the 26 of May 1642 and the King's Answer to that Remonstrance But things began to go on in an high manner the Parliament authorizing Sir JOHN HOTHAM to issue out Warrants to Constables and other Officers to come with Arms for the defence of Hull and the King on the other side forbidding any such Warrants bringing or training without an expresse Authority under his hand The King had summoned the Gentry of that County to attend him at the City of York which they accordingly did upon the 12 of May 1642 where he caused after he had spoken some few words to them to be read aloud in their hearing his Answer to the Declaration of both houses concerning Hull the Answer of the Parliament to his two Messages concerning Hull together with his Reply to the same and his Message to both houses declaring the reasons why he refused to passe that Bill of the Militia after which he proceeded in a Speech to them wherein he strove to make them apprehend that traiterous attempts might be against his Person and for that reason he desired a Guard of Horse and Foot to be levied there for his defence He complained likewise that the Committee of Parliament consisting of four Members of the house of Commons FERDINANDO Lord FAIRFAX Sir HUGH CHOLMLEY Sir PHILIP STAPLETON and Sir HENRY CHOLMLEY refused to obey his Command for they being there employed in their own Country by the Parliament to do service to the State were commanded by the King to depart out of the County which they durst not do against the intention of the Parliament who employed them there But the King in that Speech to the County bade them take heed of those four Gentlemen not knowing what doctrine of disobedience they might preach to the people under colour of obeying the Parliament The King's Speech and Declaration read seemed to be much applauded by many Gentlemen and their servants as when those things which came from the Parliament were read the same persons expressed
gone down to take possession of the Navie and therefore called a Councel of War acquainting them all both with the Ordinance of Parliament and the King's Letters But the Earl himself was swayed in conscience to give obedience rather to the Ordinance of Parliament and the reason of it himself gives in a Letter directed to a Lord of the House When I considered saith he the great care which I have seen in the Parliaments of this Kingdom for the good and safety both of King and Kingdom and every man's particular in them and that they are the great Councel by whose authority the Kings of England have ever spoken to their Subjects I was resolved to continue in this employment until I shall be revoked by that Authority that hath intrusted me with it Most of the Captains took up unanimously the same resolution that the Earl did excepting five which were the Râ—â—â—-Admiral Captain FOGGE Captain BAILY Captain Sâ—INGSBY and Captain WAKE who alleadged that they had the King's Command to obey Sir JOHN PENINGTON whom he had appointed Admiral in stead of the Earl of Northumberland These five had gotten together round to make defence against the Earl but he came to Archor about them and having begiâ—â— them summoned them again upon which three of them came in and submitted two onely Captain Sâ—INGSBY and Captain WAKE stood out The Earl let 〈◊〉 a Gun over them and turned up the Glasse upon them sending his Boat and most of the Boats in the 〈◊〉 to let them know their danger if they came not within that space But so peremptory was their answer that the Masters and Sailors grew impatient and although they had no Arms assaulted them seized upon those Captains being armed with their Pistols and swords strook their Yards and Top-masts and brought them to the Faâ—l Thus by the wonderful courage of these unarmed men the businesse was ended without eâ—â—usion of any blood when the Earl was ready to give fire upon them Within few days after another addition of strength was brought to the Earl of Warwick by an accident A great and strong ship of the King 's called The Lion putting to Sea from Holland and bound for Newcastle being much distressed with soul weather was driven into the Downs Captain FOXE who commanded that ship saluted the Earl of Warwick who presently acquainted the Captain with the Ordinance of Parliament whereby his Lordship had commanded of those ships requiring his submission thereunto The Captain at first refused to yeeld obedience to the Ordinance and thereupon was presently clapt in hold but all his Officers in the ship submitted themselves and strook their Sails and Top-yards in token of obedience to the said Ordinance This ship was very considerable carrying two and fourty great Pieces of brasse Ordnance besides a little Vessel laden with Gun-powder of a great value was taken also together with this ship The Earl was informed by some of her men that young Prince RUPERT and Prince MAURICE with divers other Commanders intended to have come from Holland in this ship the Lion But after three days and three nights storm at Sea those two Princes in a sick and weak condition landed again in Holland The King hearing of the surprisal of the Lion sent a Messenger to the Earl of Warwick to demand her again with all the goods therein and that she should be brought to Scarborough But the Earl returned an Answer to this effect that the Parliament had intrusted him with the Care of the Fleet and that that ship was a part thereof therefore he humbly besought his Majestie to pardon him for without their consent he might not part with her and that he knew of no goods within her belonging to his Majestie But leaving the Earl of Warwick to his Sea-employments it is time to return to those warlike Levies and Preparations which were made by Land for now the fatal time was come when those long and tedious Paper-conflicts of Declarations Petitions and Proclamations were turned into actual and bloody Wars and the Pens seconded by drawn swords On the twelfth of Iuly 1642 the Parliament voted that an Army should be raised for the safety of the King's Person and defence of the Parliament for so they called it desiring to joyn together what seemed to be at so great a distance and enmity The Earl of Essex was by a great and unanimous consent of both Houses chosen General of that Army and of all Forces raised for the Parliament with whom they protested to live and die in that Cause The Earl of Essex was a Gentleman of a noble and most untainted reputation of undoubted loyalty to his Country and Prince having always what course soever the Court steered served in an honourable way the right Interest of the English Nation and the Protestant Religion and to that end had formerly engaged himself in the Palatine War and service of the Netherland United Provinces insomuch as at this time when they sought a Lord to undertake the high charge of commanding in chief there seemed to be no choice at all but we may say of this Election as PATERCULUS did of another Non quaerendus erat quem eligerent sed eligendus qui eminebat The Parliament at that time were very able to raise Forces and arm them well by reason of the great masse of Money and Plate which to that purpose was heaped up in Guild-hall and daily increased by the free Contribution of those that were well-affected to the Parliament Cause where not onely the wealthiest Citizens and Gentlemen who were neer-dwellers brought in their large bags and goblets but the poorer sort like that widow in the Gospel presented their mites also insomuch that it was a common Jeer of men disaffected to the Cause to call it the Thimble and Bodk in-Army The Earl of Essex was very careful and industrious in raising of his Army in which he desired to have as great a Body of Horse as could conveniently be gotten by reason that he conceived his chief work was to seek out the King's Forces and prevent their spoiling of the Country and disarming several Counties to furnish themselves And indeed his Forces considering the long Peace of England and unreadinesse of Arms were not onely raised but well armed in a short time Many of the Lords who then sate in the House of Peers besides those Lords who went into divers Counties to settle the Militia and therefore raised Forces for safety of those several Places listed themselves in the Lord General 's Army and took Commissions as Colonels the Lord ROBERTS the Lord saint-SAINT-JOHN eldest son to the Earl of Bullenbrook the Lord of Rochford eldest son to the Earl of Dover and many Gentlemen of the House of Commons of greatest tank and quality there took Commissions for Horse and Foot-service in that Army of whom these were some Sir JOHN MERRICK who was made Serjeant-Major-General of that Army the Lord GREY of Grooby son to the
were the opinion of many not to send any Answer at all to them yet at last to shew respect to the King entred into a further debate about treating with him concerning the Propositions on both sides and concerning the Cessation of Arms or disbanding with such limitations and restrictions touching the order of treating as would perchance seeme too tedious to be here related and on the 20. of March the Earle of Northumberland Sir JOHN HOLLAND Sir WILLIAM ARMINE Master PERPOINT and Master WHITLOCK the Lord SAY should have been one but the King excepted against him as formely against Sir JOHN EVELIN upon the same ground which though the Parliament tooke ill at the first yet they proceeded in the businesse were sent to Oxford as Treaters upon those Propositions In vaine was this Treaty so high the demands were judged to be on both sides that there seemed no possibility of ever meeting where the fault lay I judge not but the Parliament after many Messages betweene London and Oxford at last sent for their Commissioners home againe who returned to London upon the 17. of April upon which the Lord Generall immediately advanced with his Army as aforesaid to besiege Reading Reading was not able to hold out long but the Lord Generall was loath to storme it for feare of destroying so many innocent people as remained in the Towne which compassion of his was well approved of by the Parliament therefore upon composition it was rendred within sixteene daies to his Excellency by the Deputy Governour Colonell FIELDING for the Governour Sir ARTHUR ASTON was before wounded by an accident and could not performe the Office The Termes were easie for they all marched out with bagge and baggage This siege had not at all advantaged the Parliament if another businesse had not fallen out during that short siege which may also be thought a reason why the Towne was so soone rendred A good Body of the Kings Forces both Horse and Foot the King himselfe in Person not farre from them came to relieve Reading assaulting one Quarter of the Parliament Army at Causum Bridge within a mile of the Towne and were beaten back with great slaughter which fell especially upon Gentlemen of quality of whom the King at that incounter lost a considerable number but how many they were or their particular names I finde not mentioned The gaining of Reading might seeme an addition of strength to the Parliament side it proved otherwise Nothing was gotten but a bare Towne which had been happier had it been onely so The Towne was infected and caused afterwards a great mortality in the Parliament Army The Souldiers besides were discontented that being already much behinde in pay they were not suffered to plunder or make any benefit of their victory For the Parliament before Reading was delivered up had approved of the Conditions and promised to the Lord Generals Souldiers to forbeare plundering twelve shillings a man besides their pay But neither of these were then performed money began already to be wanting and the great Magazine of Treasure in Guild-Hall quite consumed While they stayed there expecting money the sicknesse and mortality daily increased and the Lord Generall by advice of his Councell of War intended to march thence for better ayre But such a generall mutiny was raised for want of Mone that his Excellency though with much courage and just severity he began to suppresse it was advised by his Councell of Warre to desist for feare of a generall defection till money might come from the City Notwithstanding upon this discontent in the Army whilest his Excellency removed to Causum House to avoid the infection many of the Souldiers disbanded and went away Then began a tide of misfortune to flow in upon the Parliament side and their strength almost in every place to decrease at one time for during the time of these six moâ—eths since the Battell of Keynton untill this present distresse of the Lord Generals Army about Causum which was about the beginning of May the Warre had gone on with great sury and heat almost thorow every part of England the particulars of which shall hereafter be related by themselves to avoid confusion in the Story The Lord Generall had at that time intelligence that Sir RALPH HOPTON had given a great defeat to the Parliament Forces of Devonshire and that Prince MAURICE and Marquesse HARTFORD were designed that way to possesse themselves wholly of the West Leaving therefore the Lord Generall a while I shall proceed to speak of some things which happened at other places in that Moneth of May. The Kings Armies were then in faire possibility of gaining the whole West and seemed of strength enough to archieve it by open Warre without the assistance of secret treacheries and conspiracies which notwithstanding were then in agitation though they proved not successefull against the Parliament but destructive to the contrivers As at Bristoll a place of great import and much desired by the Kings Forces when the plot of betraying that City to Prince RUPERT was set on foot which I here relate as falling out about the beginning of May 1643. The City of Bristoll was then in the Parliaments protection and governed by Colonell NATHANIEL FIENNES second Sonne to the Viscount SAY and SEALE though many of the Inhabitants there as appeared by this designe were dis-affected to the Parliaments side This designe was very bloody and many of that City had perished in it had not the Conspirators been discovered and apprehended a Little before they were to put it in execution ROBERT YEOMANS late Sheriffe of Bristoll WILLIAM YEOMANS his brother GEORGE BOURCHIER and EDWARD DACRES were the chiefe managers of this Designe who with many others of that opinion had secretly provided themselves of Armes intending to kill the Centinels by night and possesse the maine Guard with other particulars to be found in the Records of their examinations and proofes against them whereby to master the greatest part of the other side within the Towne to kill the Mayor and many others that were knowne to stand affected to the Parliament and by that meanes to betray the City to the Kings Forces In expectation of which act Prince RUPERT with other Commanders and about 4000 Horse and 2000 Foot stayed upon Durdam Downes about two miles from the City But the Plot was discovered the Conspirators apprehended and brought to triall by a Councell of Warre where the foure forenamed were condemned and two of them hanged at Bristoll namely ROBERT YEOMANS and GEORGE BOURCHIER although great meanes had been made to save them and Colonell FIENNES to that purpose had been threatned from Oxford by Generall RIVEN created by the King Earle of Forth in a Letter unto him which being of great consequence for the cleare understanding of this War and the nature of it I thought fit to insert here together with the Answer thereunto PATRICK Earle of Forth Lord ETTERICK and Lord Lieutenant of all His Majesties
that Towne but his designe was for Gloucester and had taken such provident care that the men in Gloucester had notice of his purpose and that with the help of his flat-bottomed Barges which thence were brought to him in the nature of Waggons usefull both by land and water he would transport his Forces over the River Severne beyond Gloucester and fall upon the Reare of the Lord HERBERTS Welch Forces when he was least feared or expected withall he gave notice to the Gloucester Forces to fall upon the Front of that Army as he would upon their Reare The Plot as it was wisely contrived was successefull in the event and tooke so good effect for him that when the Lord HERBERT was in skirmish with the Forces of Gloucester and confident to cut them all off being very few in comparison of his owne Sir WILLIAM with his Army neere Highâ—am their Quarter fell suddenly upon the Reare of the Lord HERBERTS men with such fury that they were all routed and would gladly have fled if they had knowne any way to escape There were slame of that Welch Army about 500. upon the place neere a thousand taken Prisoners with all their Armes and Ammunition the rest wholly dispersed and scattered the Lord HERBERT himselfe escaped by flight and got to Oxford Sir WILLIAM WALLER after this great Victory marched from thence to Tewkesbury at whose approach those of the Kings Souldiers that were Garrisoned there fled away and left it to him from whence marching further into the Country he surprized divers stragling Troopers of the other side with some Armes Pistols and Carbines together with sixteene thousand pound in Money and carried away his booty to Gloucester Within as short a distance of time he tooke Chepstow in Monmouthshire and seized upon divers of those that were Conspirators for the betraying of Bristoll of which Treason I have spoken before and who upon the discovery of it had fled from thence At that place he tooke a Ship called the Dragon of Bristoll and great store of wealth in her belonging to those who were his Enemies which he seized as a just booty and much to his advantage From Chepstow he marched with a swift pace to Monmouth the Towne upon composition was soone rendred to him from whence after he had put a Garison into it he marched to Vske and summoned the Country where divers Forces came in to him among others Sir WILLIAM MORGAN his Sonne of Tredegan brought him five hundred armed men and some Money where also Master HERBERT of Colebrooke raised a thousand men and seized on Abergaine for the Parliament Sir WILLIAM WALLER in this high carriere of his fortune was commanded back from the West by the Lord Generall Essex to come to the chiefe Army Which being soone understood among those of the Kings Army he was way-layed by Prince MAURICE The intention of Sir WILLIAM WALLER was to get to Gloucester with his Forces having therefore sent away his Ordnance and Baggage with his Foot to guard it over Wye to Aust himselfe with his Horse and Dragoones resolved to fall upon Prince MAURICE his Army and force a passage thorow which he did with great successe and small losse and as he marched afterward cut down all the Bridges behinde him whereby he hindred Prince MAURICE from marchimg after him This course if the Prince had taken before him Sir WILLIAM WALLER might have been kept in Wales to his great disadvantage But by that meanes of cutting down the Bridges Prince MAURICE his pursuit being hindered Sir WILLIAM WALLER by assistance of the Governour MASSEY regained many Townes possessed by the Kings Forces especially Tewkesbury Sir MATTHEW CAREW being fled from thence But there he tooke many Prisoners much Armes and Riches he placed a Garrison there and from thence according to his first designe arrived safe at the City of Gloucester Sir WILLIAM WALLER continued not long at Gloucester but being now dispenced with for returning to the Lord Generall according to his usuall celerity he flew to Hereford before any feare or expectation of his comming He tooke that Towne upon Quarter and in it many Prisoners of great ranke and quality among whom was the Lord SCUDMORE with five revolted Members of the House of Commons viz. The Lord SCUDMORES Sonne Colonell HERBERT PRICE Sir RICHARD CAVE Lieutenant Colonell CONISBY Master CONISBY and besides them Sir WALTER PYE Sir WILLIAM CROFTS Lieutenant Colonell THOMAS PRICE Serjeant Major MINTRIDGE Sir SAMUEL AMBY Serjeant Major DALTON Captaine SOMERSET Captaine SCLATER Doctor ROGERS Doctor GOODWIN Doctor EVANS and divers others who were all carried away to Gloucester Within three daies after that service he surprised the Towne of Leinster in that County twelve miles distant from Hereford where he tooke good prize disarmed many of the Kings Party there and placed a Garrison in the Towne It was feared at that time by those of the Kings side that Sir WILLIAM WALLER going on in so prosperous a way might perchance surprize Worcester and Ludlow To prevent therefore his further proceedings Prince MAURICE with a good strength of Horse was sent from Oxford with whom also the Marquesse of Hartford was joyned to fall upon him But Sir WILLIAM scowring the Countries thereabouts with his active Forces and having disarmed many of the other side in Wilts and Somersetshire came to Bath with an Army much increased of late both in number and reputation at which place Sir EDWARD HUNGERFORD Sir JOHN HORNER and Master STRODE joyned with him to oppose Prince MAURICE and the Marquesse Hartford About that part of the Country were frequent and fierce encounters which lasted for a long time and many retreats with great skill and courage were made on both sides when night parted the fury of their sights But Sir WILLIAM WALLER proved for the most part victorious whose particular actions there deserve a more peculiar relation and at last became Master of the field chasing his Enemies so farre as a Towne called the Devizes to which place he followed and besieged them The losses in all those severall encounters were very uncertaine and variously reported by reason that both Parties had many times liberty to bury their dead but on the Parliament side were lost one Major one Lieutenant and two Cornets Sir ARTHUR HASLERIG was there wounded but the danger was not very great On the other side besides the uncertaine number of Common Souldiers some of quality were slaine among whom was Sir BEVILE GREENVILE Lieutenant Colonell WARD Major LOWRE with five or six Captains Sir RALPH HOPTON the Earle of Carnarvan and the Lord MOHUN were reported to be wounded Sir RALPH HOPTON was besieged in the Devizes by Sir WILLIAM WALLER and began to treat about the surrender of it for Prince MAURICE and the Marquesse of Hartford were retired toward Oxford where suddenly the fortune of warre changed and Sir WILLIAM VVALLERS Army by an unexpected party of fresh Forces which came from Oxford for the Lord Generall
Franciscus Haraeus compiled Annals of the bloody and fierce Warres in the Netherlands when some of those Provinces fell from the obedience of Philip the second King of Spaine Which businesse he relates in such a way as must in probability lead a Reader to believe that the King and his Officers were altogether innocent and the people of those Countries the only causers of their own Calamity Meteranus wrote the History of those very times which who so reads must needs make a contrary censure concerning the occasion of that Warre The like discrepancy hath been found in Historians of all ages and Nations and therefore not to be much wondred at if it now happen But that which of all other is most likely to be differently related because informations will not agree in such a distance is concerning the actions of Warre and Souldiery and in the time of this Warre it is a thing of extreme difficulty I might say of impossibility for those of one Party to be truly informed of all the Councels or the very Performances and Actions of Commanders and Souldiers on the other side How much valour the English Nation on both sides have been guilty of in this unnaturall Warre the World must needs know in the generall fame But for particulars how much Worth Vertue and Courage some particular Lords Gentlemen and others have shewed unlesse both sides do write will never perfectly be known My residence hath bin during these Wars in the quarters and under the protection of the Parliament and whatsoever is briefly related of the Souldiery being toward the end of this Book is according to that light which I discerned there For whatsoever I have missed concerning the other Party I can make no other Apology then such as Meteranus whom I named before doth in the Preface to his History De Belguis tumultibus Whose words are thus Quòd plura de Reformatorum patriae defensorum quà m de Partis adversaere bus gestis exposuerìm mirum haudquaquam est quoniam plus Commercii familiaritatis mihi cum ipsis major indagandi opportunitas furt Si Pars adversaidem tali probitate praestiterit ediderit Posteritas gesta omnia legere liquido cognoscere magno cum fructu poterit In like manner may I averre that if in this discourse more particulars are set down concerning the actions of those men who defended the Parliament then of them that warred against it it was because my conversation gave me more light on that side to whom as I have indeavoured to give no more then what is due so I have cast no blemishes on the other nor bestowed any more characters then what the truth of Story must require If those that write on the other side will use the same candour there is no feare but that posterity may receive a full information concerning the unhappy distractions of these Kingdoms This I must adde that to inform the world of the right nature causes and growth of these Distractions it will require that the Discourse begin from precedent times which I shall indeavour to deduce down to the present with as much brevity as the necessity of unfolding truth can possibly admit Neither is it needful to begin the Story from times of any great distance or to mention the Government of our most ancient Princes but from that Prince fresh in the memory of some yet living who first established the Reformed Religion in this Kingdome and according to that 〈◊〉 a new interest in the State which was most behoofefull and requisite for her Successors to follow and much conducing besides the glory of Almighty God to their own Honour Power and Greatnesse THE CONTENTS BOOK I. CHAP. I. WHerein is a short mention of Queene Elizabeth King James and the beginning of King Charles his Reign His two first Parliaments Of the War with Spaine and France The death of the Duke of Buckingham And the third Parliament of King Charles 1 CHAP. II. A briefe Relation of some grievances of the Kingdome The various opinions of men concerning the present Government The condition of the Court and Clergy of England Some observations of a stranger concerning the Religion of the English people 15 CHAP. III. The condition of the Scottish State and Clergy when the new Booke of Lyturgy was sent unto them how it was received with some effects which followed The Kings Proclamation sent by the Earle of Traquare against which the Lords make a Protestation 27 CHAP. IV. The Scots enter into a Covenant The Marquesse Hamilton is sent thither from the King A Nationall Synod is granted to them but dissolved within few daies by the Marquesse as Commissioner from the King The King declares against the Covenanters and raises an Army to subdue them 38 CHAP. V. The 〈◊〉 of the English People from this Warre with Scotland 〈◊〉 King advanceth to Yorke with his Army The prepaâ—â—â—◠〈◊〉 the Scottish Covenanters A Pacification is made and 〈◊〉 Armies disbanded Another Preparation for Warre with â—â—â—â—land A Parliament called to begin in England on the 13 of 〈◊〉 The Parliament of Scotland is broken off by command of 〈◊〉 to the Earle of Traquare 46 CHAP. VI. The Parliament beginneth in England but is soone dissolved The Clergy continue their Convocation The Scots enter into England Some passages of the War A Parliament is called to begin on the third of November A Truce between the Armies for two Moneths 58 CHAP. VII The beginning of the English Parliament Grievances examined Sufferers relieved Delinquents questioned The Archbishop of Canterbury committed to the Tower The flight of Secretary WINDEBANKE and of the Lord Keeper FINCH 70 CHAP. VIII The Tryall and death of the Earle of Strafford Conspiracies detected during the agitation of it An Act for continuance of this present Parliament With a mention of that Grant of the Trienniall Parliament in February before 87 CHAP. IX Allowance of money from the English Parliament to the Scots The vast Charge of disbanding the two Armies The great Taxations for that purpose and the manner of Poll Money The people take a Protestation An Act for putting down the High Commission Court and Starre-Chamber with other occurrences of that time The Queene Mother departeth England The King goeth into Scotland 103 BOOK II. CHAP. I. A Standing Committee during the Recesse of both Houses of Parliament The Rebellion of the Irish and Massacre of the â—testants there Some indeavours of the English Parliament 〈◊〉 relief of that Kingdom 1 CHAP. II. The King returneth out of Scotland and is pompoushly entertained by the City of London The Remonstrance is published by the Parliament The King entreth into the House of Commons The 〈◊〉 of the 12. Bishops and how it was censured by the Lords and Commons Divers unhappy obstructions of the relief of Ireland 16 CHAP. III. The Queen passeth into Holland with her Daughter the Princesse Mary Difference between the King and Parliament concerning the Militia The
Doctrine many faire approaches made towards Rome as he that pleaseth to search may finde in the Books of Bishop LAUD MOUNTAGUE HELYN POCKLINGTON and the rest or in briefe collected by a Scottish Minister Master BAILY And as their friendship to Rome encreased so did their scorne to the Reformed Churches beyond the Seas whom instead of lending that reliefe and succour to them which God had enabled this rich Island to do they failed in their greatest extremities and in stead of harbours became rocks to split them Archbishop LAUD who was now growne into great favour with the King made use of it especially to adâ—vnce the pompe and temporall honour of the Clergy procuring the Lord Treasurers place for Doctor JUCKSON Bishop of London and indeavouring as the generall report went to fix the greatest temporall preferments upon others of that Coat insomuch as the people merrily when they saw that Treasurer with the other Bishops riding to Westminster called it the Church Triumphant Doctors and Parsons of Parishes were made every where Justices of Peace to the great grievance of the Country in civill affaires and depriving them of their spirituall edification The Archbishop by the same meanes which he used to preserve his Clergy from contempt exposed them to envy and as the wisest could then prophecy to a more then probability of losing all As we reade of some men who being fore-doomed by an Oracle to a bad fortune have runne into it by the same meanes they used to prevent it The like unhappy course did the Clergy then take to depresse Puritanisme which was to set up irreligion it selfe against it the worst weapon which they could have chosen to beat it downe which appeared especially in point of keeping the Lords day when not only books were written to shake the morality of it as that of Sunday no Sabbath but sports and pastims of jollity and lightnesse permitted to the Country people upon that day by publike Authority and the Warrant commanded to be read in Churches which in stead of producing the intended effect may credibly be thought to have been one motive to a stricter observance of that day in that part of the Kingdome which before had been well devoted And many men who had before been loose and carelesse began upon that occasion to enter into a more serious consideration of it and were ashamed to be invited by the authority of Church-men to that which themselves at the best could but have pardoned in themselves as a thing of infirmity The example of the Court where Playes were usually presented on Sundaies did not so much draw the Country to imitation as reflect with disadvantage upon the Court it selfe and sowre those other Court pastims and jollities which would have relished better without that in the eyes of all the people as things ever allowed to the delights of great Princes The countenancing of loosenesse and irreligion was no doubt a good preparative to the introducing of another Religion And the power of godlinesse being beaten downe Popery might more easily by degrees enter men quickly leave that of which they never took fast hold And though it were questionable whether the Bishops and great Clergy of England aimed at Popery it is too apparent such was the designe of Romish Agents and the English Clergy if they did not their owne worke did theirs A stranger of that Religion a Venetian Gentleman out of his owne observations in England will tell you how farre they were going in this kinde his words are THe Vniversities Bishops and Divines of England do daily imbrace Catholike opinions though they professe it not with open mouth for feare of the Puritans For example They hold that the Church of Rome is a true Church That the Pope is superiour to all Bishops That to him it appertaines to call generall Counsels That it is lawfull to pray for soules departed That Altars ought to be erected in summe they believe all that is taught by the Church but not by the Court of Rome The Archbishop of Canterbury was much against the Court of Rome though not against that Church in so high a kinde For the Doctrine of the Roman Church was no enemy to the pompe of Prelacy but the Doctrine of the Court of Rome would have swallowed up all under the Popes Supremacy and have made all greatnesse dependant upon him Which the Archbishop conceived would derogate too much from the King in Temporalls and therefore hardly to be accepted by the Court as it would from himselfe in Spiritualls and make his Metropoliticall power subordinate which he desired to hold absolute and independent within the Realme of England It is certaine that the Archbishop of Canterbury as an English Gentleman observes would often professe against those Tridentine Papists whom only he hated as Papists properly so called For at the Councell of Trent all matters concerning the Court of Rome which are of themselves but disputable were determined as points of faith to be believed upon paine of damnation But matters of faith indeed concerning the Church of Rome were left disputable and no Anathema annexed to them But that Venetian Gentleman whom before we cited declares in what state for matter of Religion England at that time stood and how divided namely into Papists Protestants and Puritans Papists are well knowne The Protestant party saith he consists of the King the Court Lords and Gentlemen with all that are raised by favour to any honour Besides almost all the Prelates and both the Vniversities What the Protestants are he farther declares viz. They hate Puritans more then they hate Papists That they easily combine with Papists to extirpate Puritans and are not so farre engaged to the Reformed Religion but that they can reduce themselves againe to the old practise of their fore-fathers That they are very opinionative in excluding the Popes Supremacy He speaks then concerning the Puritans and saies That they consist of some Bishops of almost all the Gentry and Communalty and therefore are far the most potent party And further declares what they are viz. They are such as received the Discipline of the French and Netherlanders and hold not the English Reformation to be so perfect as that which CALVIN instituted at Geneva That they hate Papists far more then they hate Protestants c. Thus farre of this strangers observation concerning England CHAP. III. The condition of the Scottish State and Clergy when the new Booke of Lyturgy was sent unto them how it was received with some effects which followed The Kings Proclamation sent by the Earle of TRAQUARE against which the Lords make a Protestation IN this condition stood the Kingdome of England about the yeare 1636. when the first coale was blowne which kindled since into so great a combustion as to deface and almost ruine three flourishing Kingdomes Neither was this coale blowne by the grieved party of England the Communalty and those religious men that prayed for Reformation but by
their Session being the same with the Terme in England and others who had any Law businesse might see the successe of it before the rising of the Session which alwaies endeth upon the first of August and that so upon their returne into their severall Countries they might report the receiving of this Booke at Edenburgh it being ordered That on that Sunday the Booke should be read only in the Church of Edenburgh and some other neere adjacent and warning was printed and published in those severall Pulpits the Sunday before that it was to be read On the 23. day of Iuly being Sunday the Booke was read in Saint Gyles Church commonly called the great Church at Edenburgh where were present many of the Privy Councell both Archbishops and divers other Bishops the Lords of the Session the Magistrates of Edenburgh and a great auditory of all sorts But the people especially the meanest vulgar for they first appeared against it and some women expressed so great a detestation of the Booke not onely in words and outcries but actions that the City Magistrates were troubled much to get the Service performed and the Bishop who read it comming out of the Church had probably beene slaine by the multitude if he had not been rescued by a Nobleman Betweene the two Sermons the Councell and Magistrates met about preventing future tumults but though the Booke were read more quietly in the afternoone yet the tumult was farre greater after evening Prayer from the people who had stayed in the streets and the Bishop in the Earle of ROXBOROUGH his Coach hardly escaped from being stoned to death The greatest men and Magistrates of Edenburgh to excuse themselves to the King some of them also writing to the Archbishop of Canterbury layed all the fault upon the Rabble for as yet none of quality had appeared insomuch as that the Privy Councell and Magistrates of Edenburgh the next morning held some consultation about finding out and punishing the ringleaders of that uproare But not long after upon the appearing of some others of higher ranke and Petitions from divers Ministers That the reading of that Booke might be a while tespited till his Majesty might be further petitioned and informed the Councell yeelded so far as that it should not be urged by the Bishops till his Majesties pleasure were further knowne Upon which many Gentlemen and Ministers who had resorted to Edenburgh with Petitions not long before returned in part satisfied to their owne habitations and at many places met together with fastings and Prayer That God would be pleased to direct the Kings heart in that way which they conceived most conducible to the happinesse of the Church and State of Scotland Upon the 18. of October following harvest being now ended a great conflux of all sorts was at Edenburgh to heare what the King was pleased to determine of the businesse where they finde an Edict against them That upon paine of being guilty of Rebellion all should within few houres warning depart the City and because the Citizens of Edenburgh had twice tumultuously opposed the Prayer Booke and assaulted the Bishop of Edenburgh as a punishment to that City the Terme was to be removed to the Burgh of Linlithgow and the next Terme after the ordinary vacants to be held at the Burgh of Dendie there to remaine during his Majesties pleasure The Petitioners as they were then called were much moved at this Edict and on the 19. of that October presented to the Privy Councell a great complaint against the Bishops whom they conceived the Authors of all this businesse and desired justice against them as well for other crimes as for introducing contrary to Law that superstitious and idolatrous Book To this complaint a great number of all ranks subscribed and professed to the Councell that they could not depart out of Edinburgh till some way were found out to settle the present grievances Whilest they stayed there their number daily increased from all the remotest Provinces that the Councell were enforced to give way that till the Kings pleasure were yet further knowne they might chuse some out of their number of all ranks to represent the rest and follow the cause in the name of all the rest Upon which they chose foure of the higher Nobility foure of the lower ranke of Nobility as representers of Provinces as many Burgesses of Townes and foure Pastors as representers of the Classes having setled this the rest quietly departed to their owne homes The King hearing of these things sent a command to the Councell of Edenburgh not to take upon themselves any more the decision of this controversie which he reserved in his owne power And Proclamation was made in December 1637. concerning the Kings intentions that they were not to infringe the Lawes or Liberties of the Kingdome When therefore the Commissioners petitioned the Councell to give way to them to bring their Actions against the Bishops the Councell answered That the King had commanded them to receive no more Petitions against either the Bishops or Booke of Service Whereupon the Commissioners discontented prepare a Protestatâ—on against the Kings Councell declaring That what mischiefe soever might afterwards ensue was to be all imputed to the Kings Councell for denying Justice The Councell fearing what effects might follow desired the Bishops to absent themselves and gave leave to the Commissioners to appeare before them where the Lord of Lowden in name of all the rest made an Oration in which charging the Bishops with other crimes besides these stirres he desired them to be altogether removed from the Councell Table till they had answered and cleered themselves To the like purpose spake one of the Ministers The Councell seemed sorry that it lay not in their power since the Kings Command was peremptory to give satisfaction to their desires but intreated their patience for so small a time as till they might againe receive notice of his Majesties pleasure The King further certified by them sent for the Earle of TRAQUARE into England who was soone dispatched againe into Scotland and in February 1638. caused the Kings Mandate in Sterlin where the Councell then sate to be published The Proclamation declared that the Bishops were wrongfully accused as Authors of sending the Prayer Booke That his Majesty himselfe was Author of it and all was done by his Command That he condemned all tumultuous proceedings of his Subjects to exhibite Petitions or complaints against the innocent Bishops and booke of Lyturgy and all subscriptions to that purpose hitherto as conspiring against the publike peace pronouncing pardon to those which repented and the punishment of high Treason to such as persisted promising to heare the just complaints of his Subjects so they offended not in matter or forme After the Proclamation was made at Sterlin the Earle of HUME Lord LINDSEY and others in name of all the Petitioners made a Protestation against it which Protestation was afterward repeated at Lithgow and last at Edenburgh
to declare unto them in a Parliament which former Princes used to call upon lesse occasions but not revealing the proceedings of it to the Body of his Privy Councell acquainting onely some of them whom he thought fittest for his purpose as the King himselfe expresseth in two places of his owne Booke intituled A large Declaration concerning the late tumults in Scotland pag. 76. and page 126. in fine the Scots are declared Rebels and the King in Person with an English Army richly furnished is going to chastise them CHAP. V. The aversenesse of the English people from this Warre with Scotland The King advanceth to Yorke with his Army The preparation of the Scottish Covenanters A pacification is made and both Armies disbanded Another preparation for Warre with Scotland A Parliament called to begin in England on the 13. of April The Parliament of Scotland is broken off by command of the King to the Earle of Traquare NEver were the people of England so averse from any Warre as neither hating the Enemy against whom nor approving the cause for which they were engaged Their owne great sufferings made them easily believe that the Scots were innocent and wronged by the same hand by which themselves had beene oppressed and for the cause it was such wherein they could not desire a Victory supposing that the same Sword which subdued the Scots must destroy their owne Liberties and that the contrivers of this Warre were equall Enemies to both Nations Nor was this onely the thought of wisest Gentlemen but the common people in generall were sensible of the mutuall interest of both Kingdomes Those Courtiers who were in all things wholly complyant to the Kings will did also dislike this Warre with Scotland though not for the same reason which the forenamed did as not considering the cause or quarell but the disadvantage of the Warre it selfe Those disadvantages they used to vent in contemptuous expressions of the poverty of Scotland That nothing could be gotten from such wretched Enemies That the King were happy if with his Honour he might suffer it to be rid of that Kingdome and would be a great gainer by the losse of it The younger Courtiers were usually heard to wish Scotland under water or that the old Wall of SEVERUS the Emperour were now re-edified Those Courtiers that were of a graver discourse did likewise seeme to feare the consequence of this bâ—sinesse and I remember would daily mention the Story of CHARLES Duke of Burgundy his pressing of a Warre upon the Swissers and what PHILIP DE COMMINES relates about the Battell of Granson that the Duke lost to the value of three millions of Crownes all which he fondly ventured against so wretched a people that it is there expressed if all the Swissers had been taken Prisoners they would not be able to pay a Ransom to the value of the Spurres and Bridle-bits in his Campe And very frequent in their mouthes was that Verse Curandum in primis ne magna injuria fiat Fortibus miseris Juvenal Take heed of offering too great injuries To people stout and poore But the people of England though they abhorred the very thought of that unnaturall Warre yet glad they seemed to be that such an occasion happened which might in reason necessitate the King to call an English Parliament and so by accident redresse the many grievances of England Which might also prevent the feare of such Warres for the future and bring a just punishment upon those who were sound to be the Authors or assistors of this present disturbance But the King though resolved to pursue his designe of Warre rather then take the advice of a Parliament was content to want the aid of it and to seeke supplies of a lower condition Great sums of money he borrowed from the chiefe Nobility and required proportionable Loanes from all the Judges and Officers but specially the Clergy of all ranks were liberall in contribution to this War which was then called by many men Bellum Episcopale All Courtiâ—â—s as well extraordinary as ordinary were summoned to attend the King in Person with Horse and Armes in a proportion suitable to their rankes By whom and such voluntiers of the Gentry as came in to gaine His Majesties favour with old Souldiers that imbraced it as their profession a gallant Army was made up Yorke was appointed for the Rendezvouze and the Earle of ARUNDELL Commander in chiefe The King as it was well knowne had beene advertised by many and especially by the prosecuted Bishops who were fled out of Scotland that the Scottish Covenanters were in no sort able to resist him That scarce any English Army at all would be needfull to fight but onely to appeare and His Majesty would finde a party great enough in Scotland to do the worke And indeed much might have been done in that kinde if the Lords of the Covenant had not used a most dexterous and timely prevention which is as necesssry in a defensive as an offensive Warre For besides the feared incursion of the English upon their Borders and what invasion the Deputy of Ireland on the Westerne Coast might make together with the Earle of ANTRIM and his Forces from the Hebrides the Marquesse HUNTLEY in the North and Marquesse DUGLAS towards the Southerne parts with the Earle of HETH were to be feared and the Towne of Aberden to be secured before it could fortifie to receive the Kings Fleet. All which with timely care was undertaken and provided against by severall Lords as ARGILE for the West MONTROSSE for the North Colonell MONROE for the South The most considerable Forts in that Kingdome were taken in at the beginning without any blood or resistance and furnished by them with Ammunition as Edenburgh and Dun-Britain and the Haven of Leeth to secure Edenburgh suddenly fortified All Neuters or suspected persons they disarmed without tumult The Castle of Dalketh they scaled and tooke with all the warlike provision which had been brought into it by Marquesse HAMILTON the yeare before In that Castle they found the Kings Crowne Scepter and Sword which in great state and solemnity were carried from thence by the greatest Noblemen and layed up in Edenburgh Castle The Covenanting Lords at the same time published a long Remonstrance in answer to the Kings Proclamation against them the 27. of February and to satisfie the people of England concerning their proceedings and intents The Marquesse HAMILTON arrived at Forth with a Fleet in May and sent Letters to the Governour of Edenburgh to obey the Kings Commands and especially to publish in Edenburgh that Proclamation which had been by the King proclaimed at Yorke upon the 25â— of Aprill wherein among other things the Rents and Debts due to Covenanters from Tenants and others are forbidden to be paid to them The Governour desired the Marquesse to expect an answer till the Parliament sate which was to begin within few daies who returned answer to the Marquesse That they could not
in that obey his Command for many reasons expressed at large in their Commentaries In the meane time the King commanded the Parliament to dissolve which immediately obeyed And being threatned with Warre on every side elected Sir ALEXANDER LESLEY an experienced Commander in the German Warres to be their great Generall to whom all the greatest Earles and Lords of the Covenant swore obedience in all warlike Commands taking an Oath of him for performance of his duty and immediately betooke themselves every man to his charge throughout all parts of the Kingdome according as they were commanded by LESLEY Whilest the Armies on both sides advanced forward and no decision of this difference seemed with reason to be hoped for but such as the stroke of Warre must allow The Scottish Covenanters did neverthelesse continue their first course of petitioning the King and by many addresses to him protested their loyalty to his Crowne and Person and did not omit by Letters and Messages to solicite as Advocates those English Noblemen whom they esteemed best and truest Patriots as the Earles of ESSEX PEMBROOKE and HOLLAND as supposing that this Warre was not approved of by any that were firme to the Cause of Religion and Liberties of both Kingdomes for so themselves expresse it The Earle of DUMFERLING having free passage about that time to the English Army assured his fellow-Covenanters that those Noble fore-named Earles and almost all the English Nobility were much averse from this Warre and â—avourers of their suit to the King Which did so much encourage the Covenanters to continue their humble Petitions to the King and God being pleased to give his blessing that after some few Messages to and fro the King was pleased to give leave that six of them should come and personally treat at the Earle of ARUNDELL his Tent upon the tenth of Iune with some of the English Nobility at which Discourses some few daies after the King himselfe vouchsafed to be present At last after many humble expressions of the Covenanters and some expostulations of the King with them by the happy mediation of wise and noble Councellors a Pacification was solemnly made upon such Articles as gave full satisfaction to all parties save onely that the Scottish Covenanters were not pleased with some expressions which the King had used in the Preface to the Pacificatory Edict as calling their late Synod Pseudo Synodus Glasquensis and aspersing their proceedings in Armes with such Epithites as tumultuous illegall and rebellious Which notwithstanding at the humble suit of them the King was pleased to moderate to expunge some of those harsh phrases as likewise to explaine more cleerely other ambiguous sentences to take away all suspitions from peoples hearts the Copies of which were delivered to divers of the English Nobility who had taken faithfull paines in procuring that happy peace that if any doubts should afterwards happen their judgements might be taken concerning the intention of the writing The King also declared for satisfaction of the Scots That though his expressions at some places might seeme harsh yet his meaning to them was never the worse That care must be taken of his owne reputation in forraigne parts and that litigation about words was vaine when the matter was cleere and their suit wholly granted The King granted them a free Nationall Synod to be holden upon the sixth of August following and a Parliament to begin upon the 20. day of the same Moneth to confirme and ratifie what the Synod should decree which the Scots thankfully receive esteeming that to be the onely proper and efficatious way to settle a firme peace both in Church and State They were also joyfull that the King had promised to be there himselfe in person but that hope afterwards failed them for the King excused himselfe affirming that urgent and weighty affaires at London as he was certified by Letters from his Queen and Councell required his presence there but that he would send a Deputy thither with full power to make good whatsoever he had promised which was the Earle of TRAQUARE This Pacification to the great joy of good men was solemnly concluded on the 18. of Iune 1639. and both Armies within eight and forty houres to be disbanded which was accordingly done and both the English and Scots returned home praising God who without any effusion of blood had compounded this difference and prevented a Warre so wickedly designed But that joy lasted not long for the Earle of TRAQUARE the Kings Commissioner could not agree with the Scottish Parliament the Scots complaining that nothing was seriously performed which the King had promised at the Pacification as shall more appeare afterward But however it were within a little time after that the King had been at London that Paper which the Scots avowed to containe the true Conditions of that Pacification was by the King disavowed and commanded by Proclamation to be burned by the hands of the hangman though the Contents of that Paper were not named at all in the Proclamation nor the people of England acquainted with any of them Which put the English in great feare that the former Councells of divisions yet prevailed in the Court especially discerning a shew of preparation for Warre againe But leaving the Scots at their Parliament a while In the meane time the Lord WENTWORTH Deputy of Ireland arrived in England and was received by the King with great expressions of grace and favour dignified with a higher Title and created Earle of Strafford Great was the expectation of all the English what might be the effect of his coming over great was the opinion which men in generall had conceived of his ability and parts looking at him as the onely hinge upon which the State was now likely to turne But very different and various were the conjectures of Gentlemen at that time in their ordinary discourses for I will relate the truth what use this great Statesman would make of his ability and favour Some as they wished did seeme to hope when they considered his first right Principles that whatsoever he had acted since his greatnesse was but to ingratiate himselfe perfectly with the King that so at last by his wisdome and favour he might happily prevaile both upon the Kings judgement and affection and carry him from those evill Councells which he had long beene nurtured in to such waies as should render him most honourable and happy That the Earle was so wise as to understand what most became a wise man and would make greatnesse beloved and permanent But others durst not hope so much from him when they considered his Government in Ireland and the ambition of the man They feared that neither his vertue was great enough to venture his owne fortunes by opposing any evill Councells about the King nor his favour great enough to prevaile in over-ruling That he was sent for onely to compleat that bad worke which others of lesse braine then he had begun Which he would
pounds and the rest of the Clergy according to their abilities proportionably to make up the summe Certaine it is it was not in any substantiall way advantagious to the King but onely to give them time and opportunity to taxe the Clergy in Money for supplying his Majesty in the Warre then on foot against the Scots The King must needs be driven to a great exigent at that time having so expensive a Warre in hand and wanting the assistance of Parliament The courses that were then taken by the King to supply that defect were partly the contribution of the Clergy to whom that Warre was lesse displeasing then to the Laity Collections were made among the Papists Writs of Ship-money were issued out againe in a greater proportion then before great Loanes were attempted to be drawne from the City of London to which purpose the names of the richest Citizens were by command returned to the Councell Boord But these waies being not sufficient some other were made use of which were of a nature more unusuall as the seizing of Bolloine in the Tower the Lord COTTINGTON also for the Kings use tooke up a great Commodity of Pepper at the Exchange to be sold againe at an under rate A consultation was also had of coyning 400000. l. of base Money upon allegation that Queen ELIZABETH had done the like for her Irish Warres but the King waved that upon reasons which the Merchants gave of the inconveniencies of it The Scots hearing of the breach of this English Parliament thought it high time to provide for their owne safety and being restrained in their Trade and impoverished by losse of Ships seized in divers parts resolve to enter England with a sword in one hand and a Petition in the other signifying in the meane time to the people of England in two large Remonstrances what their intentions were to that Nation and the reasons of their entrance which who so pleases may reade at large in their printed Booke When the King had notice of the Scots intentions a Fleet was forthwith sent to annoy the Maritime Coasts of Scotland and a Land Army to meet at Yorke where the Earle of STRAFFORD as President of the North commanded in Chief though the Earle of NORTHUMBERLAND at the time of raising the Army was named Generalissimo but for want of health could not be present A great Magazine of Ammunition had been sent to Hull Newcastle and Berwick the Castle of Edenburgh being kept by RIVEN a firme man to the Kings side But in the Expedition of the Kings Army towards the North it was a marvellous thing to observe in divers places the aversenesse of the Common Souldiers from this Warre Though Commanders and Gentlemen of great quality in pure obedience to the King seemed not at all to dispute the cause or consequence of this Warre the Common Souldiers would not be satisfied questioning in a mutinous manner Whether their Captaines were Papists or not and in many places were not appeased till they saw them receive the Sacrament laying violent hands on divers of their Commanders and killing some uttering in bold speeches their distaste of the Cause to the astonishment of many that common people should be sensible of publike Interest and Religion when Lords and Gentlemen seemed not to be By this backwardnesse of the English Common Souldiers it came to passe that the Warre proved not so sharpe and fatall to both Nations as it might otherwise have done Some blood was shed but very little first at Newburne a Towne five miles distant from Newcastle where part of the English Army encamped to intercept the passage of the Scots as they marched toward Newcastle But many of the English Souldiers forsooke their Commanders and â—led sooner then the use of that Nation is to do in Warre But the English Horse made good a fight and with great courage and resolution charged upon the Scots but all in vaine their number being too small In this Skirmish which happened upon the 28. of August the number of men slaine on both sides is not related either by the English or Scottish Relation but certaine it is that it was not great Three valiant and active Commanders of the English Army were taken Prisoners Colonell WILMOT Sir JOHN DIGBY and ONEALE the two latter being Papists and both Captaines of Horse This fight opened that rich Towne of Newcastle to the Scots and within few daies after they put a Garrison into Durham commanded by the Earle of Dumferling and taking that Fort of Newcastle upon Tine intercepted some Ships which were newly arrived there with Provision of Corne for the Kings Army Some blood was also shed about the same time when part of the English Garrison at Berwick hearing that some Ammunition was layed up in a little Towne of Scotland Dunsian made an attempt upon it but found it better fortified then was expected and were repelled with some slaughter from whence hearing that a greater power of Scots was making toward them under the command of the Lord HADINTON who unfortunately perished afterward blowne up with powder at Dunglasse they returned to Berwick The King during these Skirmishes had by Proclamation warned all the English Nobility with their followers and Forces to attend his Standard at Yorke against the Scots the 20. of September where whilest himselfe in Person resided he received an humble Petition from the Scots containing an expression of their loyalty to him and the innocence of their intentions toward England But their expressions were in such generall termes that the King returned answer to the Earle of LANURICK Secretary for Scotland Commanding them to specifie their demands more particularly Which whilest the Scots prepared to do it pleased God to open the hearts of many English Lords who considering and bewailing the great calamity and dishonour which England was then throwne into by these unhappy proceedings of the King framed an humble Letter subscribed by all their hands and sent it to His Majesty wherein they represent to him the miserable condition of the Kingdome and mischiefes attending that wicked Warre as the danger of his Person the waste of his Revenue the burden of his Subjects the rapines committed by that Army which he had raised wherein Papists and others ill-affected to Religion are armed in Commands who are not by the Lawes permitted to have Armes in their owne houses The great mischiefe which may fall upon the Kingdome if his intentions which are reported of bringing in Irish and forraigne Forces should take effect The urging of Ship-money The multitude of Monopolies and other Patents to the great and universall grievance of his people The great griefe of the Subjects for the long intermission of Parliaments for dissolving of the last and former dissolutions of such as have been called without any good effect For remedy whereof and for prevention of future dangers to his owne Royall Person and the whole State they humbly intreat his Majesty That he would be pleased
to summon a Parliament within some short and convenient time whereby the causes of these and other great grievances which the people lye under may be taken away and the Authors and Counsellors of them may be brought to legall tryall and condigne punishment And that this War may be composed without blood in such manner as may conduce to the honour and safety of his Majesty the comfort of the people and uniting of both Kingdomes against the Common Enemy of the Reformed Religion Subscribed by almost twenty Earles and Barons The King receiving this Message from the Peeres of England by his Proclamation ordained a day which was upon 24. of September for all the Lords to meet at Yorke to whom he declared that of his owne free accord he had determined to call a Parliament in England to begin as soone as possibly could be allowing the usuall time for issuing out of Writs which was upon the third of November ensuing 1640. But he desired first to consult with them what answer to returne to the Scots demands and how with his honour he might deale with them who had so boldly invaded England And to make them understand the whole state of the businesse he commanded the Earle of TRAQUARE who had beene his Commissioner there to relate all occurrences since the beginning He desired likewise their advice how his Army might be payed before supplies of Parliament could come After many debates and different opinions in point of honour and convenience it was at last agreed by the greater part of Peeres and so conluded that sixteene Lords should be chosen to treat with the Scots and agree upon what Conditions they thought fit Eight Earles were named BEDFORD ESSEX HARTFORT SALISBURY WARWICK HOLLAND BRISTOLL and BARKSHIRE as likewise eight Barons WHARTON PAGET KIMâ—OLTON BROOKE PAWLET HOWARD SAVILE and DUNSMORE The Scots were required to send as many with full Commission to whom Letters of safe Conduct in the amplest manner were granted When the matter came to debate the Earle of Bristoll for the most part was Prolocutour to the English and the Earle of LOWDEN to the Scots After many demands on both sides and expostulations upon sleighter matters which were easily reconciled there was one point which seemed too hard a case in the eyes of the English Peeres that the Scottish Army should be payed by the English whilest their owne Army was in great distresse by reason of Arreares But in conclusion those honest Lords who understood the condition of that unhappy Warre were content upon any termes to make an end of it and in conclusion an agreement was made upon these termes 1. A Truce or Cessation of Armes for two Moneths till the 16. of December 2. That 850. l. a day should be paid to the Scots during that Truce 3. That if it were not payed the Scots might force it from the Counties of Northumberland Cumberland Westmerland and Durham 4. That those Counties should be allowed the Scots for their winter Quarters 5. No new preparations for Warre to be made 6. That private injuries should not breake the Truce so satisfaction were made upon complaint 7. That Merchants might freely traffique in either Kingdome without Letters of safe Conduct but Souldiers without leave might not passe their limits Upon such termes was this unnaturall Warre although the Armies could not as yet be disbanded brought to a Cessation and both Nations rested in assured confidence that a peace must needs follow since the whole matter was now to be debated in the English Parliament which was to begin about a fortnight after for it was likely that a Parliament should put a period to that Warre which could never have been begun but for want of a Parliament They were also confident that that freedome which the fundamentall Lawes and Constitutions of the Kingdome of England allow to Parliaments could not be denyed to this though to many others it had long been as being that Parliament to which the King was necessitated and the onely way which was now left him to tread after so many deviations unfortunately tried and upon which the people had set up their utmost hope whom it seemed not safe after so long suffering to provoke any further In what a desperate condition the Kingdome of England was at that time what necessity there was of a present cure with how much difficulty that cure was to be wrought and with what warinesse and wisdome it concerned both King and people to play their parts a judicious Reader may partly conjecture by the former passages already related But further to enlighten the Reader for in this plaine Relation I shall be sparing to use any descants of my owne I will referre him to Speeches which at the beginning of this Parliament were made by judicious Gentlemen and those of greatest moderation labouring as much as they could possibly to spare the King and touch tenderly upon his Honour which I shall mention anon According to the reason of the Parliament and Kingdome went along the sence of Courtiers themselves as was expressed in an ingenuous Treatise found in the privy Chamber concerning the condition in which the King and Kingdome of England were in when this so much expected Parliament was to begin CHAP. VII The beginning of the English Parliament Grievances examined Sufferers relieved Delinquents questioned The Archbishop of Canterbury committed to the Tower The flight of Secretary WINDEBANKE and of the Lord Keeper FINCH ON the third of November 1640. the Parliament began where the King expressed himselfe very well in a Speech gracious and acceptable to both Houses who did not expect from him any such acknowledgement of former errours as might seeme too low for the Majestie of his Person but onely desired to gaine his affection for the future Very pleasing to them all was that gracious expression that He did now cleerly and freely put himselfe upon the love and affections of his English Subjects desiring them to consider the best way for the Safety and Security of the Kingdome of England and in order to it for satisfaction of their just grievances wherein he would so heartily concur that the world might see his intentions were to make it a glorious and flourishing Kingdome In which businesse he did freely and willingly leave it to them where to beginne He desired also that all Jealousies and Suspitions might be layed aside by them which he promised to doe on his part And withall to give some reasonable colour to his former Warre whether to excuse or justifie the Proceedings of it hee seemed as yet much distasted with the boldnesse of the Scots who had entred England with an Army against his will calling them by the name of Rebels and that it concerned the honour of him and England to drive them out againe And in his second Speech two daies after I told you said he that the Rebels must be put out of this Kingdome it is true I must needs call them so so
by the House of Commons guilty of High Treason for foure causes 1. Disobeying the House in refusall to speake at their command when he was Speaker in Parliament in the fourth yeare of King CHARLES 2. For threatning some Judges in the matter of Ship-money 3. For his illegall and cruell Judgements in the Forrest businesse when he was Lord Chiefe Justice of the Common Pleas. 4. For drawing that injurious Declaration after dissolution of the last Parliament Upon which a Charge was drawne up against him and carried up to the Lords upon the 14. of Ianuary three weeks after his flight by the Lord FAWKLAND who presented it with a very pithy and sharpe Oration against the man These two last Delinquents though men of eminent place in the Common-wealth as they did not long trouble the Parliament nor much retard the progresse of publike businesse preventing their Trialls by timely flight so can they take up no large roome in this Historicall Narration CHAP. VIII The Tryall and death of the Earle of Strafford Conspiracies detected during the agitation of it An Act for continuance of this present Parliament With a mention of that Grant of the Trienniall Parliament in February before BUt now a greater Actor is brought upon the Stage THOMAS Earle of Strafford Lieutenant of Ireland a man too great to be let escape no sooner accused but surprized and secured for a Tryall Which Tryall of his if we consider all things the high nature of the Charge against him the pompous circumstances and stately manner of the Triall it selfe the time that it lasted the pretiousnesse of that time so consumed and lastly of what moment and consequence the successe of it must prove I may safely say that no Subject in England and probably in Europe ever had the like So great it wasâ— that we can hardly call it the Triall of the Earle of Strafford onely the Kings affections toward his People and Parliament the future successe of this Parliament and the hopes of three Kingdoms depending on it were all tryed when Strafford was arraigned Many Subjects in Europe have played lowder parts upon the Theater of the world but none left it with greater noise nor was the matter of his accusation confined within one Realme three whole Kingdoms were his Accusers and eagerly sought in one death a recompence of all their sufferings That we may say of his case as CLAUDIAN of RUFFINUS Offensis Ruffinum divide terris Within ten daies after the Parliament began the Earle of Strafford newly returned from the North was sitting in the House of Lords when Master PYMME an ancient Gentleman of great experience in Parliamentary affaires and no lesse knowne fidelity to his Country came up to the Lords and in the name of all the Commons of England accused THOMAS Earle of Strafford Lord Lieutenant of Ireland of High Treason and desired their Lordships that he might be sequestred from Parliament and forthwith committed to Prison as also to let them know that the Commons within very few daies would resort to their Lordships with the particular Articles and grounds of this Accusation The Earle was required to withdraw and after a debate thereof called in was committed to safe custody to the Gentleman Usher And immediately after upon the 13. day of November a Serjeant at Armes was sent into Ireland for Sir GEORGE RATLIFFE a great Favourite of the Earles and one that under him had beene very active in the oppression of Ireland a man of subtle wit and knowledge of the Law as having before beene educated at the Innes of Court and taken the degree of Barrister Sir GEORGE accordingly upon the fourth of December came in and yeelded himselfe to the Speaker from whence he was committed to custody And foure daies after the Lords of Parliament sent the Earle of Strafford to the Tower with a strict command to the Lieutenant that he should keepe a close guard upon him Much time was interposed betweene the severall proceedings against this Earle of Strafford by reason of the multiplicity of weighty businesse which the Parliament then had But before the end of Ianuary a long Charge was read against him in the House of Commons and a Message not long after sent to the Lords to desire that he might be sequestred from all his places of Dignity and Honour in England and Ireland The Charge against him consisted of nine Articles which afterwards upon a further impeachment were extended to eight and twenty All those Articles are to be seene at large in the Records But for further satisfaction of the Reader I will give a briefe touch of the scope of them The first and second being much alike concerning his ruling of Ireland and those parts of England where his Authority lay in an Arbitrary way against the fundamentall Lawes of the Kingdome which Lawes he had indeavoured to subvert Thirdly his retaining part of the Kings Revenue without giving a legall account Fourthly The abusing of his Power to the increase and incouragement of Papists Fifthly That he maliciously had indeavoured to stir up Hostility betweene England and Scotland Sixthly That being Lieutenant Generall of the Northerne Army he had wilfully suffered the Scots to defeat the English at Newburne and take Newcastle that by such a losse and dishonour England might be ingaged in a Nationall and irreconcileable quarrell with the Scots Seventhly That to preserve himselfe from questioning he had laboured to subvert Parliaments and incense the King against them Eightly and lastly That these things were done during the time of his Authority as Deputy of Ireland and Lieutenant Generall of the Northerne Armies in England The Commons saving to themselves a liberty of further impeachment against the said Earle c. do require his legall answer to all The further impeachment consisting of 28. Articles was for the most part branched out of these and insisted upon in more particulars concerning his Tyranny in Ireland over divers persons contrary to Law Concerning which the Reader must be referred to the Records themselves as being too large to be here inserted The Earle of Strafford upon the 23. of February was brought before the Lords to give in his answer which he accordingly did the King himself being there present to heare it read It was very large and when it was done he was sent back to the Tower there to remaine till further Order A Committee being appointed to consider of that businesse upon the fourth of March following made report in the House That they would mannage and maintaine their Accusation of Treason against him and thought it not fit to reply to his Answer but call him to speedy triall Immediately upon which a Conference was had with the Lords concerning that Triall and some Circumstances which were thought fit to be used at it The Commissioners of Scotland had likewise a Charge against the Earle of Strafford concerning those injuries which as they conceived their Nation and Kingdome had suffered from him
But the substance of that Charge was implyed in these Articles before specified which the Parliament of England had exhibited against him Upon the 22. of March 1640. that remarkable Tryall of the Earle of STRAFFORD began Westminster Hall was the place chosen where Scaffolds were raised on both sides nine degrees in height whereof seven were appointed for the Members of the House of Commons to sit on who were all there in a Committee The two upper degrees of the Scaffold were appointed for the Commissioners of Scotland and the Lords of Ireland who were then come over In the midst on a lower ascent sate the Peeres of England the Earle of Arundell being Lord high Steward and the Earle of Lindsey Lord High Constable The Throne was placed for the King But the King comming thither which he did every day of the tryall sate private with the Queene and other Ladies in a close Gallery made of purpose to heare the proceedings and tooke notes himselfe in writing of them The Earle of Strafford answered daily at the Barre whilest the whole House of Commons having put themselves into a Committee had liberty to charge him every man as he saw occasion But though many of them did sometimes speake yet the accusasations were chiefly managed by two expert Lawyers Master GLYNNE and Master MAYNARD both Members of the House Many foule misdemeanours committed both in Ireland and England were daily proved against him But that ward which the Earle being an eloquent man especially lay at was to keepe off the blow of High Treason whatsoever misdemeanours should be layed upon him of which some he denied others he excused and extenuated with great subtilty contending to make one thing good That misdemeanours though never so many and so great could not by being put together make one Treason unlesse some one of them had been Treason in its owne nature Every day the first weeke from Munday to Saturday without intermission the Earle was brought from the Tower to Westminster Hall and arraigned many houres together and the successe of every daies tryall was the greatest discourse or dispute in all companies For by this time the people began to be a little divided in opinions The Clergy in generall were so much fallen into love and admiration of this Earle that the Archbishop of Canterbury was almost quite forgotten by them The Courtiers cryed him up and the Ladies whose voices will carry much with some parts of the State were exceedingly on his side It seemed a very pleasant object to see so many Semproniaes all the chiefe Court Ladies filling the Galleries at the Tryall with penne inke and paper in their hands noting the passages and discoursing upon the grounds of Law and State They were all of his side whether moved by pitty proper to their Sex or by ambition of being thought able to judge of the parts of the Prisoner But so great was the favour and love which they openly expressed to him that some could not but thinke of that Verse Non formosus erat sed erat facundus Ulysses Eâ—â—amen aequoreas torsit amore Deas Vlysses though not beautifull the love Of Goddesses by eloquence could move But his Triall in this manner lasted with few daies intermission from the 22. of March till the midst of Aprill following the Earle having personally answered â—iâ—teene daies After all this long Triall the House of Commons â—ell into debate about a Bill of Attainder against the Earle of Strafford and voted him guilty of high Treason in divers particulars of that Accusation in which they had proceeded against him and in more particular he was voted guilty of High Treason for his opinion given before the King at a secret Councell which was discovered by some notes of Sir HENRY VANE who was also a Privy Councellor and present at that time in which notes it was found that the Earle of Strafford had said to the King That he had an Army in Ireland which his Majesty might imploy to reduce this Kingdome to obedience These notes Sir HENRY VANE eldest Sonne to the before named Sir HENRY had found as he alleadged to the House in his Fathers Cabinet and produced before the House without his Fathers knowledge who seemed extreme angry with his Sonne for it This is related the more at large because it was the first occasion that was open and visible whereby so eminent a Member as the Lord GEORGE DIGBY was lost from the House of Commons as will afterward appeare For that Vote was opposed by the Lord DIGBY and some others Neverthelesse a Committee was appointed to draw up the Bill of Attainder which was accordingly done and read in the House of Commons on the 21 day of April when the Earle was againe voted guilty of High Treason which was carried by farre the greater part for on the other side were but nine and fifty of whom the Lord DIGBY was one who made to that purpose a very elegant though much displeasing Speech in the House Of which more hereafter That Bill of Attainder was sent up to the Lords where after the reading of it a great division was in that House and many of the Lords much opposed it But Master St. JOHN the Kings Solicitour and a Member of the House of Commons was appointed within few daies after to make good the Bill by Law and give the Lords satisfaction which was accordingly done upon the 29. of April in Westminster Hall where the Earle of Strafford was present at the Barre and the King and Queene seated in their usuall places Master St. JOHN opened the Branches of the Bill and in a Discourse of two houres made it good by precedent Statutes and the like to the satisfaction of almost all that heard him But the King was not satisfied in conscience as he declared to both Houses two daies after to condemne him of High Treason and told them No feares or respects whatsoever should make him alter that resolution founded upon his conscience But confessed that his misdemeanors were so great he held him unfit to serve him in any Office whatsoever with other expressions of that kinde The Kings Speech was somewhat displeasing to the Houses but the City were out of patience and within foure daies after came to Westminster about five thousand of them crying for Justice against the Earle of Strafford and following the Lords complaining that they were undone and trading decayed for want of due execution of Justice The Lords gave them good words and promised them to acquaint the King with it But the next day they appeared againe with the same complaint Their feares being more aggravated by reason of reports that attempts were made to get the Earle out of Prison upon which occasion some Lords were sent to keepe the Tower and assist the Lieutenant there But the King was hard to be removed from his resolution although the Judges in the meane time had delivered their opinions in the House of Lords
concerning the Earle of Strafford and the Lords had voted him guilty of High Treason upon the â—iâ—teenth Article for leavying of money in Ireland by force of Armes and upon the nineteenth for imposing an Oath upon the Subjects in Ireland That they should not protest against any of the Kings Commands The King at last wearied with these complaints called a Privy Councell at White-Hall where he spent a great part of the day calling also the Judges to deliver their opinions before him concerning the Earle of Strafford and sent for foure Bishops to resolve him upon scruple of conscience After which he granted a Commission to the Earle of Arundell the Lord Privy Seale and the two Lord Chamberlaines to signe that Bill for the execution of the Earle of Strafford three daies after being Wednesday the 12. of May 1641. which was accordingly done upon the Scaffold on Tower Hill This was the unfortunate end of that Earle of Strafford whose character and actions have beene in some manner before described Of whom we may truly say That as his life and Councells had been of great moment and concernment in the State before so did his death and Tryall by unhappy accidents prove to be The divisions and disturbances which his life could make were not greater then those that his death occasioned APPIANUS observes of SYLLA the Dictator That as his living power had rob'd the Romane Senate of their freedome so did his very Funerall Where so many of his old Souldiers and Hacsters followed the solemnity that the Senators who were present durst not with freedome expresse their thoughts of him but were inforced to flatter him dead as well as living How farre the Earle of Strafford did in his life time divide the Kings affections from his People and Parliaments which was part of his Charge I cannot surely tell But certaine it is That his Tryall and death which has made me insist the longer upon it did make such a division in that kinde as being unhappily nourished by degrees afterward has almost ruined the three Kingdomes The length of his Tryall whilest two Armies at an heavy expence were to be paid and other businesse at a great stand did divide some impatient people at least in some degree from the Parliament The manner of his condemnation divided the Parliament in it selfe and the eager pressing of his death did discover or cause a sad division of the King from his Parliament Nine and fifty Members of the House of Commons dissented in Vote from the rest upon the Bill of Attainder Upon which some indiscreet persons for so I must needs esteeme them though it was never knowne who they were or by whose notice it was done the next day set up a paper upon the Exchange with the names of those nine and fifty and a Title over it The names of those men who to save a Traytor would betray their Country They that were thus posted up supposing it to be done or caused by some of their House were much provoked at it many of them growing by degrees dis-affected to the Parliament not all for there were among those dissenting Gentlemen very wise and learned men and upon that unhappy distraction that fell out about a yeere after forsooke the Parliament Upon the same Bill of Attainder the Lord DIGBY made his foresaid Speech which by a Command from the House for he had printed it was to be burnt by the Hangman which was the visible cause of his deserting the Parliament and proving so great an Actor against it as shall hereafter be declared The worst consequence of all was that the Kings heart did upon this occasion appeare to be quite alienated from the Parliament For to prevent the Earle of Straffords death an escape for him out of the Tower was contrived To further which and to curbe the Parliament in other things by force of Armes a great conspiracy was entred into by many Gentlemen of ranke and quality The designe of this conspiracy had many Branches as shall appeare in the Narration The persons of chiefest note in it were Master HENRY PERCY brother to the Earle of Northumberland Master HENRY JERMIN the great Favourite of the Queene to whom he was Master of the horse Master GORING eldest Sonne to the Lord GORING Master WILMOT eldest Sonne to the Lord WILMOT Colonell ASHBURNHAM Captaine POLLARD Sir JOHN SUCKLING ONEALE an Irish man and a Papist with divers others of a more inferiour ranke such as were privy but to some part of the designe For it seemes their Counsells were divided and they not all guilty of the same things as by their severall Examinations upon Oath appeared But that which grieved the hearts of honest men and made them almost despaire of that happinesse which was before hoped for by this Parliament was That they discovered the King himself to be privy to this conspiracy against them which was plainly testified by Colonell Gorings examination as likewise by a Letter Written by Master PERCY to his Brother the Earle of Northumberland where he names the Kings discourses with him and the desire which the King had to joyne such as he thought fit with them The Conspirators had taken an Oath of secrecy among themselves The Report made in Parliament from Committees after the Examination of severall Gentlemen concerning this conspiracy discovered many branches of their designe One was concerning the Tower of London That Soulders should have been put into it For sir JOHN SUCâ—LING and some others of the Conspirators under pretence of raising Forces for the Portugall had gathered men in London who were to possesse themselves of the Tower The Lieutenant Sir WILLIAM BALFORE was commanded by the King himselfe to admit those Souldiers into the Tower But he perceiving that it was a Plot to let the Earle of Strafford escape disobeyed that Command of the Kings as appeared by his Examination In which is likewise specified that the Earle offered 2000. l. in Marriage with his daughter to the Laeutenants Sonne if he would consent to the Earles escape Another branch and that the chiefe of this designe was to bring up the English Army which was in the North as yet undisbanded and to engage it against the Parliament to awe the Houses in diverâ— things concerning the Kings Prerogative and maintaining Episcopacy as Master PERCY signified in the forementioned Letter To joyne with these Forces and strengthen the Plot a French Army was to be landed at Porismouth and that Towne for the same purpose was to be put into Master JERMINS hands The Irish Army consisting of eight thousand almost all Papists when the Earle of Strafford had escaped out of the Tower was to be brought over under his conduct and engaged in the same Service All these things were confessed upon severall Examinations The Parliament were most grieved to finde the King â—o â—arre in it and then re-called to minde how His Majesty on the 28. of Aprill before had told the Houses That
as might ecclipse their owne the King of Spaine being now weake and no such feare from him as might inforce them to need Englands strength as heretofore But the Parliament about the beginning of this Iuly were busied in such a multiplicity of Affaires which by severall Committees they daily did concerning the reformation of domesticall abuses that it were an endlesse and indeed an improper thing for an Historian to describe them all The Records will at large satisfie those that are curious in particulars onely some of the chiefe I will briefly touch which happened before the King went into Scotland Upon the fifth of Iuly 1641. the Committee appointed for that purpose made their report to the House of Commons of the Charge against MATTHEW WRENNE Bishop of Ely whose Accusation was before mentioned consisting of many Articles which all tended to the introducing of Superstition and too neare approaches to the Roman Religion as â—hose Articles will declare After some time spent in debate upon the Articles it was resolved upon the question and voted That it was the opinion of the House That Bishop WRENNE was unworthy and unfit to hold or exercise any Office or Dignity in Church or Common-wealth And further voted That there be a Message sent to the Lords to desire them to joyne with the Commons in petitioning His Majesty to remove the said Bishop both from his Person and Service About the same time also the Charges against those Judges before mentioned who gave their extrajudiciall opinions for leavying of Ship-money being five in number Judge BRAMSTON Baron TREVER Baron WESTON Baron DAVENPORT Judge CRAWLEY were read in the House of Commons and severall Members appointed to present those particular Charges against every Judge which they all did making large Speeches in aggravation of their Crimes Against Judge BERKLEY there was a higher Charge so great as amounted to High Treason The King was now wholly intent upon his journey into Scotland which he determined to take upon the tenth of August to which both Houses had once agreed but afterwards upon mature consideration desired the King to deferre it fourteene daies longer for divers reasons That the distempers of the Kingdome were such as could not well be composed unlesse His Majesty would stay the desired time there being many weighty affaires to be taken into consideration and no course yet set downe for the Government of the Kingdome in his absence The King notwithstanding their often and earnest pressing this suit was stedfast to the first day alleadging that the affaires of Scotland did necessarily require his presennce there at that time and that he would passe any thing of just concerne before he went and that he had to the same purpose many times desired them to hasten their businesses for him before such a time The King accordingly upon the tenth of August departed out of London toward Scotland but the same day before he tooke his journey coming to the Lords House he passed divers Bills which the Houses had prepared for him some concerning the publike as the Bill for Knighthood the Bill for free making of Gunpowder and Saltpeter and others concerning the Estates and affaires of private men He likewise signed the Commission for passing of Bills in his absence the Commissioners appointed were the Lord Keeper the Lord Privy Seale the Earle of Lindsey the Earle of Essex Marquesse Hartford the Earle of Bath and the Earle of Dorset He signed them also another Bill whereby he made the Earle of Essex Generall of all his Forces on this side Trent by which he had power to raâ—â—e Forces in case of necessity But to another request which both Houses had made to him the day before which was That the Earle of Pembrooke might be made Lord Steward in the Earle of Arundels place during his absence for the Earle of Arundell was then going over with the Queene Mother and that the Earle of Salisbury might be appointed Lord Treasurer he said he would take further time to consider of it By this time many jealousies began to arise in the hearts of people many divisions and differences of opinions concerning the Parliament which being by degrees formented by such persons as were disaffected to it by reason of their owne losses and particular interests whose number could not be small did fatally prepare the way to that miserable confusion which after followed Bishops had been much listed at though not yet taken away whereby a great party whose livelihood and fortunes depended on them and farre more whose hopes of preferment looked that way most of the Clergy and both the Universities began to be daily more dis-affected to the Parliament complaining that all rewards of learning would be taken away which wrought deeply in the hearts of the young and most ambitious of that Coat Another thing which seemed to trouble some who were not bad men was that extreame License which the Common People almost from the very beginning of the Parliament tooke to themselves of reforming without Authority Order or decency rudely disturbing Church-Service whilest the Common-Prayer was reading tearing those Bookes Surplaces and such things which the parliament either too much busied in variety of affaires of perchance too much fearing the losse of a considerable Party whom they might have need of against a reall and potent Enemy did not so farre restraine as was expected or desired by those men To this were added those daily reports of ridiculous Conventicles and preachings made by Tradesmen and illitterate people of the lowest ranke to the scandall and offence of many Which some in a merry way would put off considering the precedent times that these Tradesmen did but take up that which Prelates and the great Doctors had let fall preaching the Gospell That it was but a reciprocall invasion of each other callings that Chandlers Salters Weavers and such like preached when the Archbishop himselfe instead of preaching was daily busied in Projects about Leather Salt Sope and such commodities as belonged to those Tradesmen Many people by degrees grew dis-affected to the Parliament being daily poysoned by the discourses of the friends kindred and retainers to so many great Delinquents as must needs feare such a Parliament who though they be no considerable party in respect of the whole Common-wealth yet ply their particular interests with more eagernesse then most do the publike Some are taken off by time and their owne inconstancy when they have looked for quicker redresse of grievances then the great concurrence of so many weighty businesses in a long discontinued and reforming Parliament can possibly admit how industrious soever they be distracted with so great a variety those people after some time spent grew weary againe of what before they had so long wished to see not considering that a Prince if he be averse from such a Parliament can finde power enough to retard their proceedings and keepe off for a long time the cure of State when that happens
Realme contrary to the said Doctrine and according to the duty of my Allegiance I will maintaine and defend his Majesties Royall Person Honour and Estate as also the Power and Priviledge of Parliaments the lawfull Rights and Liberties of the Subjects and every Person that shall make this Protestation in whatsoever he shall do in the lawfull pursuance of the same and to my power as farre as lawfully I may I will oppose and by all good waies and means endeavour to bring condigne punishment on all such as shall by force practise counsels plots conspiracies or otherwise do any thing to the contrary in this present Protestation contained And further That I shall in all just and honourable waies indeavour to preserve the union and peace betwixt the three Kingdomes of England Scotland and Ireland and neither for hope feare or any other respects shall relinquish this Promise Vow and Protestation It were not amisse in this place briefly to mention some alterations which had been made before the time that the King tooke his journey into Scotland though they were not done immediately about that time but some weekes or Moneths before because they concerne some Noble men of whom we shall have occasion hereafter to make mention in the course of this History The Lord COTTINGTON upon the 17. of May 1641. had resigned his place Master of the Wards the Lord Viscount SAY and SEALE succeeded him in that Office Within few daies after the Lord Treasurer Doctor JUCKSON Bishop of London resigned his Staffe and the Office was committed to five Commissioners About that time the Earle of Leicester lately come from being Ambassadour in France was by the King made Lord Lieutenant of Ireland The Earle of Newcastle was removed from being Governour to the Prince and the Marquesse of Hartford appointed in his roome THE HISTORY OF THE PARLIAMENT OF ENGLAND The Second Book CHAP. I. A Standing Committee during the Recesse of â—oth Houses of Parliament The Rebellion of the Irish and Massacre of the Protestants there Some endeavours of the English Parliament for relief of that Kingdom THE businesse of England by this absence of the King was at a great stand In such a concurrence of high affairs so great an expectation to find redress of pressing Grievances nothing was so irksome to the People as delay To retard the cure was little better then to destroy And the Sequel within a short time proved worse then the wisest men could imagine or the most jealous possibly suspect though jealousies and fears were then grown to a great height the Parliament of England less then ever assured of the Kings real affection to them Nothing of State was transacted in Parliament during the Kings absence Some debates there were only about Church-service and alterations to be made in the Book of Common-prayer in which notwithstanding nothing was concluded One businesse only came to be discussed of which the King himself gave occasion who within few daies after his arrival in Scotland signified by a Letter to the Lords That he was engaged to the Spaniard by promise to let him have four thousand souldiers out of that lately disbanded Irish Army which the Earle of Strafford had before raised his desire was to make good his promise by consent of Parliament But the House of Commons whom the Lords had invited to a Conference for that purpose would not consent that any Irish should go to assist the Spaniard some reasons were then given but more particular cause was shewed about ten daies after when a second Letter came from the King in which his Majesty declared That the Spanish Ambassador claimed his promise from which in honor he could not recede Notwithstanding since he had found that Ambassador so reasonable as that he was content to accept of two thousand he hoped the Parliamnnt would not deny that The House took it into consideration and within two dayes the Lord of FAWKLAND a Member of the House of Commons at a conference delivered to the Lords gave reasons in the name of that House why it was very unfit to grant the Kings desire because the Spaniard was not only an Ally confederate but an assistant to the Emperor against the Prince Elector his Majesties Nephew who by the power and oppression of that Emperor had bin long deprived of his inheritance And at this time when the King had published a Manifesto in behalf of his Nephew and to that purpose sent an Ambassador to the Dyet of Ratisbone it would seem a contradiction in the King to assist the Enemies of the said Prince Elector and a drawing of his own Sword against himself besides the great prejudice it must needs bring to the Protestant cause which this present Parliament so much intended and laboured to promote Upon these reasons it was thought fit not to consent to the Kings desire in that point And immediately the two Houses of Parliament rejourned themselves from that day being the eighth of September till the twentieth of October and appointed a standing Committee of fifty Members during that recesse Before the Accesse and meeting again of the Parliament Letters came from the English Committee in Scotland and were read before that standing Committee of Westminster importing the discovery of a Treasonable plot against the lives of Marquesse HAMILTON and others the greatest Peâ—res of Scotland the conspirators being the Earle of Crayford and some others How it was discovered or how prevented or whether the King had any privity to it though one of that country have since written very plainly charging the King with it because the State of Scotland were very silent in it the Parliament of England took the lesse notice of it Only the standing Committee for avoiding the like attempts at London and fearing that such might flow from the same spring appointed strong guards to be placed in many parts of the City till further directions might be given from the two Houses at their Accesse The malignancy which at that time began to appear in people of that condition and quality which wee before mentioned and was not only expressed in usual discourse among their companions but vented in scurrilous and bitter Libels against those Lords and Commons who were generally reputed the most Sedulous for the common-wealth was cause sufficient to increase the feares and jealousies of the Parliament But that fatall fire which so sadly wasted the three Kingdoms broke out there where it was least feared and those that seemed most secure were the first sufferers About the end of October 1641 during the Kings abode in Scotland the most barbarous and bloudy Rebellion that ever any age or Nation were guilty of broke out in Ireland The atrocity of it is without a paralell and as full of wonder was the close carriage of so black and far-reaching a Designe The innocent Protestants were upon a suddain disseised of their Estates and the persons of above two hundred thousand men women and
they were most forward and ready to concur with their Lordships in that service But so great an affliction was to fall upon unhappy Ireland that all those Lords that were Papists after they had received Commissions and Armes notwithstanding all their deep vowes did most perfidiously soon after desert their houses and openly declare themselves in actuall Rebellion such as were Viscount MONGANNET GORMANSTON and COSTELOE DILLON BIRNE BELLER TALBOT and many others The Condition of Dublin was more lamentable every day then other and not so much afflicted were they with feares and dangers which threatned themselves as that extream sorrow which compassion must needs work in them toward all the suffering English which resorted thither Dublin was the Sanctuary of all the despoiled Protestants and by that meanes the sad stage upon which all horror was represented and what mischeifes soever were acted in other parts were there discovered and lamented Their eyes were sad witnesses of the Rebels cruelty in those despoiled English which daily resorted to the City but their eares much more afflicted with relation of those horrid tortures which had been used to those who died in other parts Their eyes could not but extremly suffer from such wretched Spectacles as daily from all parts presented themselves People of all conditions and qualities of every age and Sex spoiled and stripped with no coverings but ragges or twisted straw to hide their privities some wounded almost to death others frozen with cold some tired with travell and so surbated that they came creeping on their knees others famished beyond all releif And besides the miseries of their bodies their minds tortured with the losse of all their fortunes and sad remembrance of their husbands wives or children most barbarously murdered before their faces In this most lamentable plight with wasted bodies and distracted mindes did they arrive at Dublin some to be releived some entombed which was more then their murdered friends could obtaine from the Rebels insomuch as they appeared like walking ghosts in every street and all the Barnes Stables and out-houses were filled with them where they soon died after they had recovered the City in so great numbers that all the Church-yards of Dublin could not contain them but the Lords were enforced to take in large peeces of ground on both sides of the River to set apart for burying places But that part of this wofull Tragedy which was presented to their eyes was the least and but the shadow of that other which was related to their eares of which the Readers and all posterity may share the sorrow Many hundreds of those which had escaped under their oathes lawfully taken upon examination and recorded with all particulars as may be seen at large in the Records delivered to the Councell what horrid Massacres the bloudy villains had made of men women and children and what cruell inventions they had to torture those whom they murdered scarce to be equalized by any the most black and balefull story of any age Many thousands of them at severall places too many to be here inserted after all despites exercised upon them living put to the worst of deaths some burned on set purpose others drowned for sport and pastime and if they swam kept from landing with poles or shot and murdered in the water many were buried quick and some set into the earth breast-high and there left to famish But most barbarous as appears in very many examinations was that cruelty which was shewed to great bellied women whom the villaines were not content to murder but ripped up their bellies and many times took delight to see the Hogges eate the abortive Infants But I am loath to dwell upon so sad a narration The greatest part of these inhumane cruelties were acted by the Irish upon the poor unarmed Brittaines before any provocation given unto them and the bloud of so many thousand innocent persons sacrificed to their meer malice as many afterwards were sacrificed to their revenge as whensoever the Irish received any blow from English Forces the English Protestants that lived among them were murdered in great numbers By this time the Lords of the Councell had armed as many as they were able and given Commissions for raising of severall Regiments which were put into the hands for the most part of gallant men as their actions after testified to the world Sir CHARLES COOTE an active and valiant man who was also made Governor of Dublin with great speed made up his Regiment out of the poor robbed and stripped English which had fled to Dublin Sir HENRY TICHBORNE a worthy Commander was dispatched away with a Regiment of Foot to keep Tredagh from the approaching Rebels The Lord LAMBERT also Sir THOMAS LUCAS Captain ARMESTRONG Captain YARNER with others raised by Commissions souldiers there This was done about the middle of November at which time also the Earle of Ormond with his well armed Troop of Horse came to Dublin where within few dayes after he was by a Commission sent from the Earl of Leicester Lord Lieutenant of Ireland as likewise by the Kings approbation from Scotland signified in a Letter made Lieutenant Generall of all the Forces there For the Earl of Lecister at that time was not enabled so far with necessaries for the service of Ireland as to repair thither in person The Earl also sent over to the Lords at Dublin together with an Order of the Lords and Commons of the Parliament in England comfortable Letters in this time of distresse to let them know that the King had referred the whole businesse of Ireland to the Parliament of England who had undertaken the charge and management of the War had declared a speedy and vigorous assistance had designed for their present supplies the summe of 50000 pound and taken order for all further provisions necessary But that they might not be altogether destitute of reall comfort the Parliament of England sent them over at the same time Twenty thousand pound which arrived most seasonably at Dublin their treasure beginning utterly to fail for paying those new Companies which they had raised About the end of November the Lords Justices and Councell of Ireland considering the miserable desolations brought upon that whole Kingdom and what miseries were further threatned Commanded by Proclamation a Publike and religious Fast to be weekly observed upon Friday in the City of Dublin to implore the mercy and assistance of Almighty God and divert his heavy indignation from them CHAP. II. The King returneth out of Scotland and is pompously entertained by the City of London The Remonstrance is published by the Parliament The King entereth into the House of Commons The Protestation of the twelve Bishops and how it was censured by the Lords and Commons Divers unhappy obstructions of the releif of Ireland BUT to leave Ireland strugling against her sad and wofull calamities and returne again to the Affairs of England at that same time about the end of November 1641
insolent and menacing speeches against the Parliament it self It was therefore their humble desires that they might have a Guard out of the City commanded by the Earl of ESSEX Lord Chamberlain of his Majesties Houshold of whose fidelity to King and Common wealth no question was ever made Which Petition was denied by the King but with a solemn engagement of himself by the Word of a King that the security of all and every one of them from violence was and ever should be as much his care as the preservation of himself and his Children and if this generall assurance would not suffice to remove these apprehensions he would command such a Guard to waite upon them as he would be responsible for to Almighty God The next day after that the King had thus answered the Petition of the House being the fourth of Ianuary 1641 he gave unhappily a just occasion for all men to think that their fears and jealousies were not causelesse For upon that day the King came to the Parliament in Person attended with a great number of Gentlemen Souldiers and others armed with Swords and Pistols to the number of about three hundred who came up to the very door of the House of Commons and placed themselves there and in all passages neer unto it The King in Person entered the House of Commons and demanded five Members of that House to be delivered to him The manner of it was seating himself in the Speakers Chair he asked him whether those five Members were there or not The Speaker Mr. WILLIAM LENTHALL returned to his Majesty an humble and discreet answer That he had neither eyes to see nor tongue to answer any thing but what he was commanded by the House The names of those Members whom he demanded were Mr. DENZILL HOLLIS second Sonne to the Earl of Clare Sir ARTHUR HASLERIG Mr. PYM Mr. HAMDEN and Mr. STRODE All Gentlemen of great esteem and reputation in the House Two of them Mr. HOLLIS and Mr. STRODE having before suffered many years of sharp and harsh imprisonment from the King after the dissolution of that Parliament in the fourth year of his Reign for matters done in Parliament contrary to the Priviledges of that High Court The King had the day before by his Attourny Generall Sir EDWARD HERBERT a Member also of the House of Commons demanded the deliverance of those five forementioned Gentlemen and sent a Sergeant at Armes to apprehend them pretending that he meant to charge them and together with them the Lord MANDEVILE eldest son to the Earl of MANCHESTER a Member of the House of Lords with Articles of high Treason and other misdemeanors which Articles were to this purpose 1 That they had endeavoured to subvert the Government to deprive the King of his legall power and to place on Subjects an arbitrary and tyrannical power 2 That they had endeavoured by foule aspersions upon his Majesties Government to alienate the affections of his people from him 3 That they endeavoured to draw His late Army from His Obedience to side with them in traiterous Designes 4 That they trayterously invited and encouraged a forraign power to invade His Majesties kingdom of England 5 That they trayterously endeavoured to subvert the very Rights and Beeings of Parliament 6 That they have endeavoured by force and terror to compell the Parliament to joyne with them in their trayterous designes and to that end have actually raised and countenanced tumults against the King and Parliament 7 That they have trayterously conspired to Leavy and actually have Leavyed Warre against the King But the House of Commons hearing this demand to prevent such further breaches of Parliament Priviledges as might ensue upon the same day ordered upon the Questâ—on That if any persons should come to the lodgings of any Member of that House and there offer to seale their Trunkes or Doors or to seize upon their Persons That then such Members should require the aâ—de of the Constable to keep such persons in safe custody â—â—ll the House did give further Order And they further declared That if any Person should offer to arrest or dâ—tain the Person of any Member of that House without firsâ— aâ—â—uainting the House therewith and receiving further order from thence that it should be lawfull for such a Member or any Person in his assistance to stand upon his and their guard of defence and to make resistance according to the Protestation taken to defend the Priviledges of Parliaments These things had passed the day before that the King had so entered into the House of Commons His Majesty finding that those five Members were not there for they by consent of the House upon some informations of what would happen had absented themselves from the Speakers Chair where he â—ate made a Speech to the House wherein he told them That he was very sorry for that occasion but yet no King of England that ever was should be more carefull to maintain the Priviledges of Parliament then he would be that those five Members were dangerous men but he protested in the word of a King That he nevâ—r intended any force but to proceed against them in a legall and fair way But sithence he could not now do that which he came for he would trouble them no more but expected as soon as those five Members came to the House that the House would send them to him or else he would take his own course to find them But this great breach of Priviledges of Parliament was encreased by many circumstances For the day before being the third of Ianuary contrary to the forementioned order of the House of Commons the Chambers Studies and Trunks of those five Members by a Warrant from the King were sealed up Sir WILLIAM KILLIGREW and Sir WILLIAM FLEMEN with others being imployed in that service And within two dayes after upon the sixt of Ianuary a Proclamation was made by the King for the apprehending and imprisoning of those five Members wherein it was suggested that through the conscience of their own guilt they were absent and fled not willing to submit themselves to Justice Whereupon the House of Commons in vindication of their own Priviledges and those five Gentlemen published within a few dayes after a Declaration in which that Proclamation of the Kings entituled there A Printed Paper is declared to be false scandalous and illegall and that notwithstanding the said Printed Paper or any Warrant issued out or any other matter yet appearing against them or any of them they may and ought to attend the service of the said House of Commons and the severall Committees then on foot And that it was lawfull for all Persons to lodge harbour or converse with them or any of them and whosoever should be questioned for the same should be under the protection and Priviledge of Parliament The House of Commons further declared That the publishing of severall Articles purporting a form of a Charge of high Treason against
rellished by the King as appeared by his Answer But the thing was of so great consequence that one Answer could not suffice Many reiterated Petitions were presented and many Answers returned upon this subject which are extant upon Record where the King often promiseth to be careful that no hands but those who are very faithful to the Common-wealth shall be by him entrusted with any part of the Militia but the nomination of any persons to those places he will reserve to himself it being a principal and inseparable flower of his Crown vested in him and derived to him from his Ancestors by the Fundamental Laws of the Kingdom The Parliament on the other side affirming that nothing could enable them to suppresse the Rebellion in Ireland and secure themselves but the instant granting of that humble Petition which they hoped the King would not absolutely deny That it was their duty to him and the Common-wealth to represent unto him whatsoever they found so absolutely necessary for the preservation of both which the Laws both of God and man enjoyn them to see it put in execution During the debate of this businesse and before any absolute conclusion was made of it the King took a journey to Canterbury upon what reasons shall be anon declared It was before related that the King after his entring into the House of Commons to surprise the five Members had stayed a week at White-hall and then retired to Hampton-Court the next day after divers Citizens with a great shew of Boats and Guns in them brought the five Members to Westminster with many expressions that they would not forsake them who sare to defend their Religion Laws and Liberties The King now resident at Hampton-Court seemed extremely distasted at the Citie and pretended the reasons of his absence from Parliament to be fear for his Person by reason of Tumults that might be raised but true it is after this time he never could be brought neer the Citie or Parliament either in body or minde Within few days after the King had been at Hampton-Court he sent for divers of his servants who were then Members of the Parliament to leave the House and give their attendance upon his Person But two the chief of them ROBERT Earl of Essex lately made Lord Chamberlain of this Houshold and HENRY Earl of Holland Groom of the Stool chose rather to obey his Writ whereby they were called to assist in Parliament about the highest affairs of England then to obey this private Command of his to come and attend at Hampton-Court alleadging in excuse that their attendance in Parliament was truer service to him as King then any other could be For this the King presently after sent a Messenger to demand the Staff of the one and the Key of the other being the Ensignes of their Offices which they willingly resigned to the Messengers hands From Hampton-Court about the midst of February the King and Queen went to Canterbury and so to Dover with the Princesse MARY their eldest daughter married not a yeer before to WILLIAM son to the Prince of Orange The Queen her self passed from thence into Holland under pretext of keeping her daughter company to her husband the Lady was then about ten yeers of age which was not at all hindered by the Parliament But the Queen carried with her all or the greatest part of the Crown-Jewels of England which immediately she pawned in Holland and with that money bought Arms and Ammunition for that sad War which ensued not long after between the King and the Parliament of England The King's stay at Canterbury and Dover was not long nor the places so remote but that some businesse might passe though with great trouble of those Lords and others Members of the House of Commons who posted between upon all occasions The greatest thing which was done in that time was that the King at Canterbury signed the Bill for taking away Bishops Votes in Parliament When the Queen and her daughter had taken Sail the King came back to Greenwich whither he sent for the Prince and Duke of York to come to him and attend him in his journey to the City of York which was the place which he intended to reside at and to that purpose immediately went on his way as far as Theobalds to which place he was followed with a Petition from both Houses presented to him upon the first of March 1641. The substance of it was to intreat his Majestie that be would at last be pleased to grant their necessary Petition concerning the Militia of England which if he did refuse in these times of distraction they must be enforced and did resolve to dispose of it for the safety of the Kingdom in such manner as had been propounded to his Majestie They likewise intreated him to continue his abode neer London and his Parliament and not to take his son the Prince out of those parts and in conclusion desired his Majestie to be informed by them his great Councel that by the Laws of England the power of raising ordering and disposing of the Militia within any Citie Town or other place cannot be granted to any Corporation by Charter or otherwise without the authority and consent of Parliament The King denied to give any other Answer concerning the Militia then what he had before done That he conceived himself not safe in any place neer London and that he would take such a care of the Prince his son as should justifie him to God as a Father and to his Dominions as a King The Parliament upon occasion of that short Answer of the King to their Petition voted presently that that Answer was a flat Denial and that all was truth which they had averred in their Petition concerning the danger of his removal so far from the Parliament and likewise carrying of his son away It was likewise ordered by the Lords and Commons that the Earl of Northumberland Lord Admiral should give speedie directions for all the Ships belonging to the Navie Royal to be speedily rigged and fitted for the service of the Common-wealth A Declaration was drawn then by both Houses and presented to the King at Newmarket upon the ninth of March by the Earls of Pembroke and Holland with some Members of the House of Commons wherein were represented to him some of the old Grievances expressed in the first Remonstrance at his return out of Scotland as That the designe of altering Religion had been carried on by those of greatest authority about him for divers yeers That the War against Scotland was procured in order to that designe That the Rebellion in Ireland was contrived here in England out of many presumptions gathered from several examinations there They speak likewise of his attempt for bringing his Army against the Parliament of which before mention was made of his Warrants granted contrary to promise for transportation of JERMYN DIGBY and other Delinquents of that great breach of Parliament-Priviledge in
for leave to remove the Magazine at Hull to the Tower of London alleadging that the Stores of Arms and Ammunition in the Tower were much diminished and that the necessity of Supplies for the Kingdom of Ireland for which they had been issued from thence daily increased That the occasion for which the Magazine was placed at Hull was taken away there being no danger now from Scotland They likewise alleadged that it would be kept in the Tower with lesse charge and more safety and transported from thence with much more convenience for the service of Ireland The King seemed very angry at this Petition alleadging among other things that if any of those Arms were designed for Vlster or Leinster the conveyance of them would be more easie and convenient from Hull then from London But most of all he seemed to be exasperated for the Parliament had used timely prevention that they had sent to keep out from thence the Earl of Newcastle whom the King in that Answer termeth A Person of honour fortune and unblemished reputation and committed that Town and Fort without his consent to the hands of Sir JOHN HOTHAM The Parliament as it appeared by their expression in a Declaration at that time were much confirmed in that opinion which they had of the King 's aiming at Hull when he went Northward by an intercepted Letter from the Lord GEORGE DIGBY dated from Middleborough in Zealand the 20 of Ianuary 1641 to Sir LEWIS DIVES wherein he writes that if the King will declare himself and retire to a safe place he should be able to wait upon him from thence as well as out of any part of England over and above the service which he might do for him there in the mean time The like expressions he used in another Letter to the Queen intercepted in the same Packet intimating some service he might do her in those parts and desired a Cypher whereby to hold correspondencie with her in writing This young Lord of whom we spake before about the death of the Earl of Strafford a man of excellent parts and one that had been acceptable to the Parliament until his Speech about that businesse and some other miscarriage detected upon the same occasion was much alienated in heart from the Parliament because that Speech of his which he had printed against Command was ordered to be burned by the hands of the Hang-man so that afterward he became a great cherisher as appeared in divers things of those divisions which were growing between the King and Parliament and was voted against in the House of Commons as a disturber of the publike peace for appearing armed at Kingston upon Thames in an unusual and illegal manner with other circumstances there to belonging Whereupon the Lords in Parliament sent for him and if he appeared not within twenty days proclaimed him Traitor But he in the mean time was transported by Sir JOHN PENNINGTON into Holland by a Warrant under the Kings hand as the Declaration of the Lords and Commons to the King in March following expressed During the time that the King and Parliament were as aforesaid busied about getting the Magazine of Hull the Parliament proceeded by degrees in setling the Militia in divers Counties and putting the Commands into such hands as they reposed confidence in as likewise to take charge of the Navie and provide by that means against any forraign force that might assault the Kingdom And because the Earl of Northumberland Lord Admiral by reason of indisposition of health was disenabled then for commanding the Fleet in his own person they thereupon recommended to his Lordship the Earl of Warwick a man of such ability in Sea-affairs and such untainted reputation as they durst highly trust to supply his Lordships room in that employment But understanding that the King had chosen Sir JOHN PENNINGTON into that Command a Message was sent from both Houses to the King on the 28 of March to intreat him that the employment might no longer be detained from the Earl of Warwick as a noble person chosen by both Houses of Parliament in that Service the Charge whereof was to be born by the Common-wealth The King refused to admit of the Earl of Warwick taking great exception at the Message from both Houses as appeared by his Letter to the Lord Keeper concerning it that they would take upon them the nominating of the chief Sea-Commander But the Earl of Warwick within few months after though not without some opposition of divers Gentlemen who had before been placed in Command by the King and strove to carry away their Ships to His Majestie was possessed of the whole Navie of which some more particulars may hereafter be related Upon the 23 of April 1642 the King attended by some Noble-men and no great train of Gentlemen and Souldiers came before the walls of Hull to demand entrance there but he found the Gates shut and the Bridges drawn up by the command of Sir JOHN HOTHAM a member of the House of Commons and by the Parliament entrusted with the Government of that Town Sir JOHN HOTHAM appeared upon the Wall and kneeling down there intreated his Majestie that he would be pleased not to command that which he must be enforced though extremely grieved to disobey his Majestie in any thing to deny at that time alleadging that he could not admit his Majestie without breach of trust to the Parliament beseeching the King to give him leave to send to the Parliament to acquaint them with his command and take their direction The King upon this denial grew into choler and after some hot words seeming not to believe that the Parliament had commanded any such thing to that purpose speaking demanded of Sir JOHN HOTHAM that if he had Order from the Parliament to keep out his Person he should shew it in Writing for otherwise he would not believe it But Sir JOHN HOTHAM because the Order was not in those expresse words as naming the Kings particular person though he knew the sense and meaning of the Parliament did not produce any Writing onely beseeching the King not to command him that which he might not do Whereupon the King after some hours spent in vain about the Town proclaimed Sir JOHN HOTHAM Traitour and returned when he had received out of the Town his Son the Duke of York and his Nephew the Prince Electour whom Sir JOHN the day before had admitted into the Town entertained and lodged there that night The next day the King in a Message to the Parliament complained of that affront offered by Sir JOHN HOTHAM accusing him for that he had traiterously and seditiously strived to put his disobedience upon the Parliament the King seeming to believe that HOTHAM had done it upon his own head without any direction or authority from them And within two days after sent another Message to the Parliament complaining in a sharper manner then before of that great indignity which if they afforded
much scorn hissing and reviling the language and reason of them But divers of the Gentry and greatest part of the Free-holders began with sorrow to consider that this division of the King from his great Councel could produce nothing but misery to the Kingdom and dishonour to himself and therefore they humbly answered his Propositions concerning a Guard Thaâ— they were willing to do any service or expose their lives to any hazard for the safety of his Majesties Royal Person yet they thought themselves unworthy to advise him in a thing of so high consequence but humbly beseeched him to impart the grounds of his fears and jealousies to his high Court of Parliament of whose loyal care and affections to the King's honour and safetie and prosperitie of the whole Kingdom they were most confident And in behalf of the four fore-mentioned Members of Parliament lately employed to attend your Majestie said they from both Houses being all Gentlemen of quality and estate in the County we humbly crave your Majesties leave to expresse our confidence in their unstained loyalty to your Majestie so far as that you may securely admit their attendance to negotiate their employments until they shall be recalled by the Parliament And we do all engage our selves for their fidelity as being most assured that your Royal Person shall be secure in the General loyalty of your Subjects in this County without any extraordinary Guard The King was presented also the next day with a Petition from many thousands who termed themselves peaceably-affected Subjects in the County of York in which expressing their loyaltie and affection to him they speak thus We are confident that no so absolute and hearty observance of your Majesties just commands can be demonstrated as when you shall in Parliament declare them If they be divided which God forbid our hearts even tremble to consider the danger and diminution of the honour and safety of your Self and Kingdom since it is clear to every understanding that it is not a divided part of one or several Counties can afford that honour and safety to your Majestie as the whole Kingdom Which you may command no ground of fear or danger remaining if a good confidence were begot betwixt your Majestie and the Parliament whose grave and loyal Counsels are as we humbly conceive the visible way under God to put a speedie end to the troubles in Ireland and establish your Throne in Righteousnesse And lastly we humbly supplicate that we may represent our unfitnesse to become Iudges betwixt your Majestie and Parliament in any thing or dispute the Authority of either which we humbly conceive do fortifie each other c. The king was not well satisfied or pleased with this Petition but persisted still in his former way of raising Forces under the name of a Guard whilst the Parliament were voting to maintain those Gentlemen their Committee in the North in such things as they have done and shall further do in obedience to their commands for preservation of the Kingdom 's Peace as also to maintain their Ordinance concerning the Militia and to issue out Commissions into all parts of the Kingdom and appoint certain days for all the Trained Bands to be exercised in each County according to that Ordinance and that some Members might be sent into the several Counties to see the Ordinance performed and the Magazines of those several Counties in England and Wales to be forthwith put into the power of the Lord Lieutenants of the said Counties being such as were entrusted by the Parliament And whereas the King had made Proclamation for all the Gentlemen and others of that County to attend him in Arms as a Guard the Parliament three days after declared that it was against the Laws and Liberties of the Kingdom that any of the Subjects thereof should be commanded by the King to attend him at his pleasure but such as are bound thereto by special service and that whosoever upon pretence of his command shall take Arms and gather together with others in a warlike manner to the terrour of the King's people shall be esteemed disturbers of the publike peace and that the Sheriffs of those Counties where such raising or drawing of armed men should be should immediately raise the power of the Countie to suppresse them and keep the King's Peace according to Law So different and directly contrary at this time were the Commands of the King and Parliament in all things that the Lords in Parliament having been informed that the King was resolved to adjourn the next Term from Westminster to York and had given command to the Lord Keeper to issue Proclamations and Writs to that purpose voted that such a removal of the Term while the Parliament sate was illegal and ordered that the Lord Keeper should not issue any Writs or seal any Proclamation tending to that end CHAP. IIII. Many Members of both Houses leave the Parliament and repair to the King Nine of the Lords who first went away are impeached by the Commons and censured by the Peers The Great Seal is carried away from London to York Some Votes of Parliament concerning the King's proceedings A Petition with nineteen Propositions sent from the Parliament to the King THe King proceeded in his earnest endeavour of raising Forces as a Guard for his Person which in some measure he had effected by many fair expressions of love and grace to the people of those Northern Counties and serious Protestations of the clearnesse of his intent from any violation of Laws and Liberties of the Kingdom or making War against the Parliament But the Kingdom was not much affrighted with any Forces which the King could so raise nor could any other attempt of his in the Northern parts make the people fear a Civil War until they saw that great defection of the Parliament Members which began before the end of April and continued for the greatest part of that May for at that time did the Lords one after another and sometimes by numbers abandon the Parliament sitting and go to the King at York insomuch that in a very short space those Lords became the greater number and their departure began therefore to seem lesse strange then the constant sitting of the rest The Lords who left the Parliament were these the Duke of Richmond Marquesse Hartford the Earls of Lindsey Cumberland Huntingdon Bath Southampton Dorset Salisbury although Salisbury within few days after repenting himself made a secret escape from York to London and joyned himsâ—lf It again to the Parliament with whom he continued constant ever after Northampton Devonshire Bristol Westmerland Barkeshire Monmouth Rivers Newcastle Dover Carnarvan Newport the Lords MATREVERS WILLOUGHBY of Eresby RICH HOWARD of Charleton NEWAâ—K PAGET CHANDOYS FAWCONBRIDGE PAWLET LOVELAâ—E SAVILE COVENTRY MOHUN DUNSMORE SEYMOUR GREY of Ruthen CAPEL Within the same compasse of time many of the house of Commons though no great number in respect of those who continued in that house did likewise
so far break that trust which was râ—posed in them as to 〈◊〉 â—ake their â—ears in Parliament some of them as was râ—poâ—ted invited by Letters from the King and others of their own accord At the revolt of so many members from the Parliament the Kingdom in general began to fear and all that loved the Nations Peace were in an high measure dismayed among whom nothing was to be heard in all meetings and discourses but sad presages of misery to the Kingdom if Almighty God did not in a miraculous way prevent it They concluded that no other way could have been â—ound out to endanger the overthrow of that Parliament which many open attempts and secret conspiracies could not doâ— That as the ruine of England could not in probability be wrought but by it self so the Parliament could not be broken a Prologue to the other but by her own Members and that sentence verified Perditio tua ex te Though the opinions of men differed concerning the censure of those Members while some condemned others in some degree excused them according as affection and private interests did lead them yet concerning the Effects which that Revolt in all probability must produce all rational men concurred in opinion that nothing but Calamity and Ruine could flow from it What else said they can this Revolt do but nourish and increase the King's disaffection to the Parliament What but encourage his distance from it and attempts against it What but secure the Irish Rebels and endanger the losse of that Kingdom cherish Papists obstruct Justice and give impunity to all Delinquents Nothing else had power to undermine and shake the dignity and reverence belonging to that high Court whilst not onely the People by that diminution of their number were perswaded to esteem of it as an imperfect Parliament but the King might take that advantage of it which proved true in his succeeding Declarations and Writings what he never did before as to call them a Faction or pretended Parliament and such like In censuring those Lords and Commons who deserted the Parliament the People as was said before did much differ Some considering how great the number was that many of them were of whole estates of good reputation and able parts began to to think or at least to say that the Parliament was not free enough that those Members which was also their own excuse were curbed by a prevalent faction in the Houses and over-awed by tumults from the City of London Upon that occasion they called to minde in what manner the names of nine and fifty Members of the House of Commons had been posted up at the Exchange for dissenting from the rest about condemning of the Earl of Strafford besides what menacing speeches had been given by rude people to some Lords whom they thought ill-affected Others answered that although such things had been rashly and foolishly done by some unadvised persons yet it could not be feared that any tumults from the Citie would ever violate a Parliament sitting and that the tumultuous appearance of such multitudes from the Citie was rather intended for encouragement and security of the Parliament against such invasions as might be made upon them to aw their just freedom and treacherous Conspiracies which by report were made against them by people disaffected to that high Court which that Plot of bringing the Army against them formerly and late resorts of armed persons about White-hall gave them cause to fear That no fears of danger could be pretended from the House it self against any Member but such as that Member was bound to undergo and suffer rather then betray so great a trust of the people That it was to be presumed no Member of Parliament who was well-affected to his Country could suffer any thing from the house it self whose ends and counsels must needs be supposed to tend to the publike good or else our Ancestours who constituted that Frame of Government were much deceived That it was very improbable the Liberty of Subjects should be violated by that Court which is the onely defence and conserver of it and without which it had always suffered from Princes yea such Princes as were not very wicked They alleadged that it was very dishonourable for those Lords being the greater number to pretend fear for deserting the Parliament for if it were upon a true dislike of any proceedings there they were enow to haved stayed and perchance have cured those inconveniences and too many to have suffered in a good Cause though Honour would command one man alone lawfully called to it to maintain a truth with any hazard On the other side they were too many to flee to encourage the King against his Parliament and thereby soment that dissention which could produce no good effect It was alleadged by many men that some of those Lords were Noble-men of honourable and vertuous repute Though that were not denied nor could any certain signe from the former dâ—meanours of the Lords in general arise to distinguish who were likely to adhere to the Parliament and who to desert it for they were deceived on both sides in some particulars yet certainly it was averred that those Lords whom the people had most especially trusted in as true Patriots proved to be part of those who continued in the House and those whom the people in general distasted or distrusted happened to be among those who upon this occasion forsook the Parliament It was likewise frequently spoken that those Members of the House of Commons who deserted it were men generally of as able parts as any that continued there It was no wonder replied others but very probable that they were such men and such as had or thought they had good parts enough to be looked upon by a Prince for those men though we should esteem them all of equal honesty were likeliest to fall off There is a difference between Wisdom and good Parts such as we count Eloquence Wit polite Learning and the like and that Wisdom which is least adorned with such dresses as these is usually at such times most safe in it self and freest from being corrupted as that Beauty is which is set off with the least witchery of Attire for that Beauty which is curiously decked as it is most subject to be tempted by others so it is most apt to be proud of it self and by consequence to betray it self to such a temptation as is great enough So it hath been often seen in this case as was observed by an old Parliament-man that those Gentlemen of fine parts when other men of a plainer wisedom have had the honour in a constant way to do excellent service for the Common-wealth have been won from their Countrey 's cause as soon as Majestie hath at all vouchsafed to tempt them or that perchance their opinion of themselves hath made them meet or seek such a temptation Besides that danger of invitation from a King it hath been too often known
that men of such parts or that think so of themselves have been apter to take pet and grow angry when any Speech of theirs hath not received that honour which they expected or any other affront hath been offered to them and what such an anger may make proud and ambitious spirits to do even against their own Country and the dictates of their Conscience and Reason the world hath been taught by many examples some of high consequence and very remarkable such as CORIOLANUS the Romane and JULIAN the Spanish General which for the eminence of the persons and extraordinary effects which they wrought in the world must needs fall into Record when the actions of mean and private men are buried in oblivion Besides there are many whose Callings make them capable of easier and greater gratifications from the King then other men as Lawyers and Divines who will therefore be apt to lean that way where the preferment lies Such discourses were frequent in all companies at that time for different affections did at all meetings beget such argumentative language What sense and apprehension the Parliament had of so many Members forsaking their station shall appear anon by a Vote passed in the House of Commons and presented to the Lords by Master DENZIL HOLLLS after some intervening passages have been related Whilst the King encouraged and strengthened by this great accession of reputation to his side pursued his designe of raising Forces in the North the Parliament after that they had on the twentieth of May petiâ—ioned the King to disband such Forces and rely for his security as his Predecessours had done upon the Laws and affections of his People contenting himself with his usual and ordinary Guards declared that otherwise they held themselves bound in duty towards God and the Trust reposed in them by the People and by the Fundamental Laws and Constitutions of the Kingdom to employ their care and utmost power to secure the Parliament and preserve the Kingdom 's Peace and immediately it was voted in Parliament and resolved upon the Question That it appears that the King seduced by wicked Counsel intends to make War against the Parliament who in all their consultations and actions have proposed no other end unto themselves but the care of his Kingdoms and the performance of all duty and loyaltie to his Person It was likewise resolved upon the Question That whensoever the King maketh War upon the Parliament it is a breach of the Trust reposed in him by his People contrary to his Oath and tending to the dissolution of this Government As also That whosoever shall serve or assist him in such Wars are Traitours by the Fundamental Laws of this Kingdom and have been so adjudged in two Acts of Parliament 11 RICH. 2. and 1 HEN. 4 and that such persons ought to suffer as Traitours But those Lords who had forsaken the Parliament continuing still with the King in the Northern parts the Parliament by an Order of the 30 of May summoned nine of them who first had gone away to appear at Westminster viz. the Earls of Northampton Devonshire Dover and Monmouth the Lords HOWARD of Charleton RICH GREY of Ruthen COVENTRY and CAPEL but they utterly refused to come away returning an Answer in writing which the Parliament judged to be a slighting and scornful Letter Upon which a Vote was passed against them in the house of Commons and presented on the 15 of Iune to the Lords by Master HOLLIS with an Oration of his own concerning the importance of the businesse the greatest part of which Speech being here inserted may give light to the Reader concerning the condition of the Kingdom at that time and the judgement of the Houses upon it His Speech began thus My Lords By command of the Knights Citizens and Burgesses of the house of Commons I come hither to your Lordships in behalf of the Parliament or rather in behalf of the whole Kingdom labouring with much distraction many fears great apprehensions of evil and mischief intended against it and now hatching and preparing by that malignant party which thirsts after the destruction of Religion Laws and Liberty all which are folded up cherished and preserved in the careful bosome of the Parliament It hath ever been the policie of evil Counsellors who are the greatest enemies we have in the world or can have to strike at Parliaments keep off Parliaments break Parliaments or divide Parliaments by making Factions casting in Diversions and Obstructions to hinder and interrupt the proceedings of Parliament all against the Parliament Your Lordships have had experience of this Truth this Parliament a succession of designes upon it First to aw it and take away the freedom of it by the terrour of an Army then to bring Force against it actually to assault it and with the Sword to cut in sunder this onely Band which ties and knits up King and People the People among themselves and the whole frame of this Government in one firm and I hope indissoluble knot of Peace and Unity God diverted those designes did blowe upon them presently another is set upon which was To obstruct and hinder our proceedings that in the mean time the flame of Rebellion might consume the Kingdom of Ireland and distempers distractions and jealousies be somented here at home to tear out the bowels of this Kingdom the Parliament being disabled from helping it by occasion of so many diversions so much businesse cut out unto it many obstructions and difficulties especially that great one from whence all the rest receive countenance and support his Majestie 's absenting himself not concurring with us and so withdrawing both his presence and influence by which means such remedies could not be applied as were necessary and what was done was done with infinite trouble to the Parliament and excessive charge to the Subject double treble what otherwise would have served the turn So the Subject is grieved and oppressed with charge and the blame of all is laid upon the Parliament and the Parliament unjustly said to be the cause of all these Evils which the authors of them had made so great and so confirmed and secured by the frequent interruptions of the Parliament that they could not suddenly nor easily be suppressed or removed Well by God's infinite blessing the Parliament was in a fair possibility to wade thorow this likewise and though the Night had been black and stormy some Day began to appear miraculously our Armies have prospered in Ireland and God be praised the malevolent practices of these Vipers at home as they appeared were in some sort mastered and the Parliament began to act and operate towards the setling of the great Affairs both of Church and State and providing for the defence and safety of this Kingdom against either forraign Invasion or any striving of the disaffected party among themselves Then three ways are together assayed for the weakning and invalidating the proceeding and power of the Parliament and
making way for the utter subversion of it 1. Force is gathered together at York under pretence of a Guard for His Majesties Person to make an opposition against the Parliament and by strong hand to support and protect Delinquents so as no Order of Parliament can be obeyed but on the other side is slighted and scorned to make the Parliament of no reputation to be but Imago Parliamenti a meer shadow without substance without efficacie 2. To send out in His Majesties name and as Declarations and Messages from him bitter invectives against the Parliament to perplex it and engage it in expence of time to answer them and besides cunningly to insinuate and infuse into the people by false colours and glosses a disopinion and dislike of the Parliament and if it be possible to stir up their spirits to rise against it to destroy it and in it all other Parliaments to the ruine of themselves their wives and children 3. The third Plot is The Members are drawn away and perswaded to forsake their duty and attendance here and go down to York thereby to blemish the actions of both Houses as done by a few and an inconsiderable number and rather a Party then a Parliament and perhaps to raise and set up an anti-Parliament there My Lords this is now the great Designe whereby they hope by little and little the Parliament shall even bleed to death and moulder to nothing the members dropping away one after another a desperate and dangerous practice and as your Lordships well observed when you were pleased to communicate the businesse to us an effect of the evil Counsels now prevailing and tending to the dissolution of the Parliament of this Parliament which under God must be the preserver of three Kingdoms and keep them firm and loyal to their King subject to his Crown save them from being turned into a Chaos of disorder and confusion and made a dismal spectacle of misery and desolarion this Parliament which is the last hope of the long-oppressed and in other Countries even almost wholly-destroyed Protestant Religion this Parliment which is the onely means to continue us to be a Nation of freedom and not of slaves to be owners of any thing in a word which must stand in the Gap to prevent an in-let and inundation of all misery and confusion My Lords this Parliament they desire to destroy but I hope it will destroy the destroyers and be a wall of Fire to consume them as it is a wall of Brasse to us to defend King and Kingdom us and all we have Your Lordships wisely foresaw this Mischief and as wisely have endeavoured to prevent it by making your Orders to keep your Members here as that of the ninth of April and several other Orders enjoyning them all to attend thereby restraining them from repairing to York where the Clouds were observed to gather so fast threatning a storm and such preparations to be made against the Parliament that it necessitated both Houses to passe a Vote That the King seduced by wicked Counsel intended to make War against the Parliament and all who shall serve and assist in such Wars are declared to be Traitours which Vote passed the 20 of May so setting a mark upon that place and their opinion concerning those who should at this time resort thither Yet now in such a conjuncture of time when the Kingdom had never more need of a Parliament and the Parliament never more need of all the help and assistance of the best endeavour and advice of every Member the Safety and even Being of three Kingdoms depending on it after such Orders and Commands of your Lordships House to the contrary such a Vote of both Houses and expressely against their Duty being called thither by Writ under the Great Seal which is the King 's greatest and highest Command and not controllable nor to be dispensed with by any other Command from him whatsoever and called to treat and consult de arduis Regni the great urging and pressing affairs of the Kingdom never more urgent never more pressing notwithstanding all this these Lords the Earls of Northampton Devonshire Dover Monmouth the Lords HOWARD of Charlton RICH GREY COVENTRY and CAPEL have left their stations withdrawn themselves and are gone to Yorkâ— and being â—ummoned to appear by an Order of the 30 of May in stead of obedience return râ—fusal by a slighting and scornful Letter which hath been so adjudged both by your Lordships and the House of Commons My Lords the â—ouse of Commons hath likewise upon the consideration and debate of this businesse finding it so much to concern the safety of the Kingdom and the very Being of the Parliament passed this Vote That the Departing of these nine Lords from the Parliament without leave after such a time as both Houses had declared That the King seduced by wicked Counsel intended to make War against the Parliament and their still continuing at York notwithstanding their Summons and Command is an high Affront and Contempt of both Houses and that the said Lords did as much as in them lay that the service of Parliament might be deserted and are justly suspected to promote a War against the Parliament The House in further prosecution of their duty in this Particular and in pursuance of their Protestation which obliges them to endeavour to bring to condign punishment all such high offenders against not onely the Priviledges but the very Essence of Parliament have sent me up to impeach these Lords and desire that speedy and exemplary Justice may be done upon them And accordingly I do here in the name of the Knights Citizens and Burgesses of the Commons House assembled in Parliament and in the name of all the Commons of England Impeach SPENCER Earl of Northampton WILLIAM Earl of Devonshire HENRY Earl of Dover HENRY Earl of Monmouth CHARLES Lord HOWARD of Charleton ROBERT Lord RICH CHARLES Lord GREY of Ruthen THOMAS Lord COVENTRY and ARTHUR Lord CAPEL for these high Crimes and Misdemeanours following viz. For that contrary to their duty they being Peers of the Realm and summoned by Writ to attend the Parliament and contrary to an Order of the House of Peers of the ninth of April last and several other Orders requiring the attendance of the Members of that House and after a Vote past in both Houses the twentieth of May last That the King seduced by wicked Counsel intended to make War against the Parliament and that whosoever served or assisted him in that War was adjudged a Traitour did notwithstanding afterwards in the same month of May contemptuously having notice of the said Votes and Orders withdraw themselves from the said House of Peers and repair to the City of York where the preparations of the said War were and yet are in contrivance and agitation they knowing of such preparations and being by an Order of the thirtieth of May duely summoned by the House of Peers to make their appearance before that
Security of Your Subjects and Dominions You will be pleased to grant and accept these their humble Desires and Propositions as the most necessary effectual Means through God's blessing of removing those Iealousies and Differences which have unhappily fallen betwixt You and Your People and procuring both Your Majestie and Them a constant course of Honour Peace and Happinesse The Propositions 1. That the Lords and others of Your Majesties Privie Councel and such great Officers and Ministers of State either at home or beyond the Seas may be put from Your Privie Councel and from those Offices and Employments excepting such as shall be approved of by both Houses of Parliament And that the Persons put into the Places and Employment of those that are removed may be approved of by both Houses of Parliament And that Privie Counsellors shall take an Oath for the due execution of their places in such form as shall be agreed upon by both Houses of Parliament 2. That the great Affairs of the Kingdom may not be concluded or transacted by the advice of private men or by any unknown or unsworn Counsellors but that such matters as concern the Publike and are proper for the high Court of Parliament which is Your Majesties great and supreme Councel may be debated resolved and transacted onely in Parliament and not elsewhere and such as shall presume to do any thing to the contrary shall be reserved to the censure and judgement of Parliament And such other matters of State as are proper for Your Majesties Privie Councel shall be debated and concluded by such of the Nobility and others as shall from time to time be chosen for that place by approbation of both Houses of Parliament And that no publike Act concerning the Affairs of the Kingdom which are proper for Your Privie Councel may be esteemed of any validity as proceeding from the Royal Authority unlesse it be done by the Advice and Consent of the major part of Your Councel attested under their hands And that Your Councel may be limited to a certain number not exceeding twenty five nor under fifteen And if any Councellours place happen to be void in the interval of Parliament it shall not be supplied without the assent of the major part of the Councel which voice shall be confirmed at the next sitting of Parliament or else to be void 3. That the Lord high Steward of England Lord high Constable Lord Chancellour or Lord Keeper of the Great Seal Lord Treasurer Lord Privie Seal Earl Marshal Lord Admiral Warden of the Cinque-Ports chief Governour of Ireland Chancellour of the Exchequer Master of the Wards Secretaries of State two Chief Justices and Chief Baron may always be chosen with the approbation of both Houses of Parliament and in the intervals of Parliaments by assent of the major part of the Councel in such manner as is before exprest in the choice of Counsellours 4. That he or they unto whom the Government and Education of the King's Children shall be committed shall be approved of by both houses of Parliament and in the intervals of Parliament by the assent of the major part of the Councel in such manner as is before exprest in the choice of Counsellours And that all such Servants as are now about them against whom both Houses shall have any just exceptions shall be removed 5. That no Marriage shall be concluded or treated for any of the King's Children with any forraign Prince or other person whatsoever abroad or at home without the consent of Parliament under the Penalty of a Praemunire unto such as shall be concluded or treat any Marriage as aforesaid And that the said Penalty shall not be pardoned or dispensed with but by the consent of both houses of Parliament 6. That the Laws in force against Jesuites Priests and Popish Recusants be strictly put in execution without any Toleration or Dispensation to the contrary And that some more effectual course may be enacted by Authority of Parliament to disable them from making any disturbance in the State or eluding the Law by Trusts on otherwise 7. That the Votes of Popish Lords in the house of Peers may be taken away so long as they continue Papists And that Your Majestie will consent to such a Bill as shall be drawn for the education of the children of Papists by Protestants in the Protestant Religion 8. That Your Majestie will be pleased to consent that such a Reformation be made of the Church-Government and Liturgie as both Houses of Parliament shall advise wherein they intend to have Consultations with Divines as is expressed in their Declaration to that purpose And that Your Majestie will contribute Your best assistance to them for the raising of a sufficient Maintenance for preaching Ministers thorow the Kingdom And that Your Majestie will be pleased to give Your Consent to Laws for the taking away of Innovations and Superstition and of Pluralities and against scandalous Ministers 9. That Your Majestie will be pleased to rest satisfied with that course that the Lords and Commons have appointed for ordering of the Militia until the same shall be further setled by a Bill And that Your Majestie will recal Your Declarations and Proclamations against the Ordinance made by the Lords and Commons concerning it 10. That such Members of either Houses of Parliament as have during this present Parliament been put out of any Place and Office may either be restored to that Place and Office or otherwise have satisfaction for the same upon the Petition of that House whereof he or they are members 11. That all Privie Councellours and Judges may take an Oath the Form whereof to be agreed on and setled by Act of Parliament for the maintaining of the Petition of Right and of certain Statutes made by this Parliament which shall be mentioned by both Houses of Parliament And that an enquiry of all the breaches and violations of those Laws may be given in charge by the Justices of the Kings Bench every Term and by the Judges of Assize in their Circuits and Justices of the Peace at the Sessions to be presented and punished according to Law 12. That all the Judges and all the Officers placed by approbation of both houses of Parliament may hold their places quam diu bene se gesserint 13. That the Justice of Parliament may passe upon all Delinquents whether they be within the Kingdom or fled out of it And that all persons cited by either House of Parliament may appear and abide the censure of Parliament 14. That the general Pardon offered by Your Majestie may be granted with such Exceptions as shall be advised by both Houses of Parliament 15. That the Forts and Castles of this Kingdom may be put under the Command and Custodie of such persons as Your Majestie shall appoint with the approbation of Your Parliament and in the intervals of Parliament with approbation of the major part of the Councel in such manner as is before expressed in
grant those demands and to make himself of a King of England a Duke of Venice The several Answers that the King made and Arguments that he used to each several branch of those Propositions are too large to be here inserted and may be read by those that would be further informed in the printed Book of Parliament-Declarations and Ordinances CHAP. V. An Order for the bringing in of Plate and Money into Guild-hall The King's Declaration to the Lords about him Their Profession and Protestation to him The King layeth Siege to Hull but raiseth it again The Earl of Warwick taketh possession of the Navie as Lord Admiral The Earl of Essex is voted in Parliament to be Lord General of all their Forces ON the tenth day of Iune following an Order was made by both Houses of Parliament for bringing in of Money and Plate to maintain Horse Horse-men and Arms for Preservation of the Publike Peace and defence of the King's Person for that the Parliament in their expressions always joyned together with their own safety and both Houses of Parliament Wherein it was expressed that whosoever should bring in any Money or Plate or furnish any Horse-men and Arms for that purpose should have their Money repayed with Interest according to eight in the hundred for which both Houses of Parliament did engage the Publike Faith Four Treasurers were ordained whose Acquittances for the receipt of any Sum should be a sufficient ground to the Lenders to demand their Money and Plate again with the Interest belonging thereunto The Treasurers were Sir JOHN WOLLASTON Knight and Alderman of London Alderman TOWES Alderman WARNER and Alderman ANDREWES Commissaries also were appointed to value the Horse and Arms which should be furnished for that service It was desired in that Order that all men resident in or about London or within 80 miles would bring in their money Plate or Horse within a fortnight after notice and they that dwell farther off within three weeks and that those who intended to contribute within the time limited but were not for the present provided of money or Horse should subscribe that it might be soon known what provision would be for effecting of that great and important Service And in conclusion it was declared that whatsoever was brought in should be imployed to no other purposes but those before mentioned the maintenance of the Protestant Religion the King's Person dignity and authority the Laws of the Land the Peace of the Kingdom and Priviledges of Parliament Whilest this Order was drawing up advertisement by Letters was given to the Parliament that the Crown-Jewels were pawned at Amsteldam and other places of the Netherlands upon which money was taken up and Warlike Ammunition provided in those Parts as Battering-pieces Culverins Field-pieces Morter-pieces Granadoes with great store of powder pistols carabines great saddles and such like Whereby the Parliament thought they could not otherwise judge then that the King did plainly intend a War against them and had designed it long before They received intelligence at the same time that the King had sent a Commission of Array into Leicestershire directed to the Earl of Huntington the Earl of Devonshire and Mr HENRY HASTINGS second son to the Earl of Huntington for the Lord HASTINGS eldest son to that Earl did then adhere to the Parliament which three were chief in the Commission but many other Knights and Gentlemen of that County were named in it Together with this Commission of Array the King sent a Letter also containing the reasons of it wherein he complaineth that the Parliament by their Ordinance for the Militia would devest him of that power which is properly inherent in his Crown And for the occasion and reason of that Commission he urgeth a Declaration of their own using their very expressions and words in his Letter that whereas it hath been declared by Votes of both Houses of Parliament the fifteenth of March last that the Kingdom hath of late been and still is in evident and imminent danger both from enemies abroad and a Popish disconted party at home he concludes that for the safeguard both of his own Person and People there is an urgent and inevitable necessity of putting his people into a posture of defence c. Thus did the Parliaments Prologue to their Ordinance of Militia serve the King's turn for his Commission of Array totidem verbis The copie of which Commission and Letter coming into the hands of the Parliament it was resolved upon the Question by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament that this Commission of Array for Leicester is against Law and against the Liberty and Property of the Subject and resolved again upon the Question within two days after That all those that are actours in putting the Commission of Array in execution shall be esteemed as disturbers of the Kingdoms Peace and betrayers of the Liberty of the Subject It was also ordered by both Houses that this Commission of Array and the forementioned Votes should be forthwith printed and published thorow the Kingdom The King was not wanting to his own designe in the mean time and whatsoever might give countenance to the businesse he had in hand but made a short Declaration to the Lords who then attended him at York and others his Privie Councel there in these words We do declare that We will require no obedience from you but what is warranted by the known Laws as We expect that you shall not yeeld to any Commands not legally grounded or imposed by any other We will defend all you and all such as shall refuse any such Commands whether they proceed from Votes and Orders of both Houses or any other way from all danger whatsoever We will defend the true Protestant Religion established by the Laws the lawful Liberties of the Subjects of England and just Priviledges of all the three Estates of Parliament and shall require no further obedience from you then as We accordingly shall perform the same We will not as is falsely pretended engage you in any War against the Parliament except it be for Our necessary defence against such as do insolently invade or attempt against Vs and Our Adherents Upon this Declaration of the King those Lords and others of his Councel made a Promise to him and subscribed it with their hands as followeth We do engage our selves not to obey any Orders or Commands whatsoever not warranted by the known Laws of the Land We engage our selves to defend Your Majesties Person Crown and Dignity with Your just and legal Prerogative against all Persons and Power whatsoever We will defend the true Protestant Religion established by the Law of the land the lawful Liberties of the Subjects of England and just Priviledges of Your Majestie and both Houses of Parliament Lastly we engage our selves not to obey any Rule Order or Ordinance whatsoever concerning any Militia that hath not the Royal Assent Subscribed by L. Keeper D. of Richmond Ma. Hertford E.
Earl of Stamford Master DENZIL HOLLIS Master HAMDEN Sir PHILIP STAPLETON Sir WILLIAM WALLER Sir SAMUEL LUKE Sir HENRY CHOLMLY Master GRANTHAM Master WHITLOCK with divers others The Earl of Bedford within two days after that the Earl of Essex was chosen Generalissimo was voted to be General of the Horse CHAP. VI. A brief Relation of the condition of divers Counties in England when the Parliaments Ordinance for the Militia and the Kings Commission of Array were put in execution With a mention of some Lords and others who were actors on either side The Lord Maior of London committed to the Tower and sentenced by the Parliament A mention of some Declarations Messages and Answers that passed between the King and the two Houses of Parliament DUring the time that this Army was raising for the Parliament to be conducted by his Excellency in person the King with small strength as yet was removing from place to place to gather Forces and draw people to his side Of whose proceedings and by what degrees he encreased in power I shall speak hereafter in a continued Series to avoid confusion in the Story But in the mean time the Parliaments Ordinance of Militia and the King's Commission of Array were justling together almost in every County the greatest of the English Nobility on both sides appearing personally to seize upon those places which were deputed to them either by the King or by the Parliament No Ordinances from the One or Proclamations from the Other could now give any further stop to this general and spreading Mischief God was not pleased that one Chimney should contain this Civil fire but small sparks of it were daily kindling in every part of the Land Let it not therefore seem amisse if in the first place I make a brief Relation into what posture every particular County or most of them had endeavoured to put themselves during that time which was since the twelfth of Iuly when the first apparant denouncing of War began and the General was elected in Parliament till the three and twentieth of October when it broke out into a fierce and cruel Battel But let not the Reader expect any full or perfect Narration of this which would take up too great a time and prove as tedious as unnecessary The onely reason why I have entered into it is to inform the Reader what Lords and Gentlemen did first appear in action on either side in those particular Counties that in the progresse of the Story he may be better acquainted with those names whose Actions proved of so high concernment in the future War Nor can any perfect Judgement be made of the affections or condition of any one County in this brief Narration of so short a time for scarce was there any City or Shire but endured in processe of time many Changes and became altered from their first condition either by unconstancy of affections or else enforced to take a new side as they were threatned by approaching Armies of either party when the War grew to a greater height In some Counties there was no strugling at all one side wholly prevailing and the Peoples affections bending the same way as it appeared in Lincolnshire at the first which was the first account given to the Parliament of their Militia and where some circumstances are of that note as to make it justly deserve a more particular recital then other places when the Lord WILLOUGHBY of Parham went down thither being chosen by the Parliament Lord Lieutenant of that County This young Lord being come to Lincoln expresseth to the Parliament what cheerful and hearty obedience he found from the Captains and Officers of the Trained Bands and in how good a posture they were beyond all expectation considering the unhappinesse of the Plague being then in the Town which hindered the appearance of some but that was fully supplied by a Company of Voluntiers equal in number and goodnesse of Arms to the Trained Bands Yet that Change which I spake of before did afterwards sadly appear in this County which was afterwards as much divided in it self as any part of England and by that means a most unhappie seat of War often gained and regained by either side Lincolnshire was then very forward for the Lord WILLOUGHBY however afterward he found some resistance from the Earl of Lindsey who sided with the King as he wrote up to the Parliament and sent also to them the King's Letter and his own Answer Which are both fit to be inserted into the Story being the first of that kinde and much unfolding the nature of the businesse The King's Letter to the Lord WILLOUHBY of Parham CHARLES REX Right Trusty and Welbeloved We greet you well Whereas We understand that you have begun to assemble train and muster the Trained Bands of Our County of Lincoln under pretence of an Ordinance of Parliament whereto We have not given Our consent which is not onely contrary to the Law but to Our Command and Pleasure signified by Our Proclamation sent to Our high Sheriff of that Our County Wherefore that you may not hereafter plead ignorance of such Our Prohibition We do by these Our Letters command and charge you upon your Allegiance to desist and forbear to raise train exercise or assemble together any part of the Trained Bands of Our County either by your self or by any others employed under you or by warrant from you And because you may for what you have already done concerning the Militia of that Our County plead that you had not so particular a Command We shall passe by what you have already done therein so as presently upon your receipt hereof you shall desist and give over medling any further with any thing concerning the Militia of that Our County But if you shall not presently desist and forbear medling therewith We are resolved to call you to a strict account for your disobedience therein after so many particular and legal Commands given you upon your Allegiance to the contrary and shall esteem and proceed against you as a disturber of the Peace of the Kingdom Given at Our Court at York the fourth of Iune 1642. To Our Right Trusty and Welbeloved the Lord WILLOUGHBY of Parham The Lord WILLOUGHBY of Parham his Letter in Answer to His Majestie SIR As there can be nothing of greater unhappinesse to me then to receive a Command from Your Majestie whereunto my endeavours cannot give so ready an obedience as my affections so I must confesse the difficulty at this time not a little how to expresse that Duty which I owe to Your Majesties late Commands and not falsifie that Trust reposed in me by Your high Court of Parliament through whose particular directions I am now come into this County to settle the Militia according to the Ordinance of Parliament which by the Votes of my Lord LITTLETON and others in the House of Peers better versed in the Laws then my self passed as a legal thing and
hath since been confirmed if I mistake not by his example and Your Majesties Chief Iustice Sir JOHN BANKS both in accepting their Ordinance and nominating their Deputy-Lieutenants how much further they proceeded I know not But Sir if the opinions of those great Lawyers drew me into an act unsutable to Your Majesties liking I hope the want of yeers will excuse my want of judgement And since by the Command of the Parliament I am now so far engaged in their Service as the sending out Warrants to summon the County to meet me this day at Lincoln and afterwards in other places I do most humbly beseech Your Majestie not to impose that Command on me which must needs render me false to those that relie on me and so make me more unhappie then any other misery that can fall upon me These things Sir I once more humbly beseech Your Majestie may be taken into Your Gracious consideration and that You would never be pleased to harbour any misconceit of me or of this Action since nothing hath yet passed by my Commands here or ever shall but what shall tend to the honour and safety of Your Majesties Person to the preservation of the Peace of Your Kingdoms and to the content I hope of all Your Majesties Subjects in these parts amongst whom I remain Your Majesties most humble and most dutiful Subject and Servant FRA. WILLOUGHBY Upon the receipt of these Letters the Lords sent a Message to the House of Commons in which they expressed how much they did value and approve the endeavours of this Lord in a service so much importing the safety of this Kingdom not doubting of their readinesse to concur with them upon all occasions to manifest the sense they have and shall retain of his deservings which appear the greater by how much the difficulties appearing by the circumstances of those Letters have been greater The Lords therefore as they resolved to make his Interest their own in this Service for the publike good and safety of the Kingdom so they desired the Commons to joyn with them in so just and necessary a work To this the House of Commons consented and resolved to joyn with the Lords in this Vote making the like resolution also for the Deputy-Lieutenants for the County of Lincoln and desired the Lords concurrence therein Upon which it was ordered by the Lords in Parliament that they agree with the House of Commons for the resolution concerning the Deputy-Lieutenants of the County of Lincoln In Essex also which proved a most unanimous County and by that means continued in peace and happinesse the Earl of Warwick whose care and action was not confined onely to the Sea chosen Lord Lieutenant by the Parliament when he went down to muster and exercise the Country was received with great applause The Trained Bands were not onely compleat but increased by Voluntiers to unusual numbers and so affectionate to that Cause they were in general that they presented a Petition to the Earl of Warwick and the Deputy-Lieutenants in the name of all the Captains and Lieutenants of the several Companies and in the name of all persons belonging to the Trained Bands To which Petition when it was read in the field they expressed a full consent by their general acclamations and applause in every Company The Earl of Warwick therefore sent the Petition to the Parliament to let them see the extraordinary alacrity and affection of that County of Essex to them which was in these words which follow To the Right Honourable ROBERT Earl of Warwick Lord-Lieutenant of the County of Essex and to the worthy Gentlemen the Deputy-Lieutenants of the same County confided in by the most Honourable the high Court of Parliament We the Captains and Lieutenants with the full consent of the Trained Bands and Voluntiers of the County now assembled having before the accesse of this present Parliament seen our Religion our Laws and Liberties brought to the brink of ruine and subversion by the results of most desperate and wicked Counsels could not but with exâ—â—ding joy behold the assembling and continuance of so great and faithful a Councel the Representative Body of this Kingdom and with most certain confidence commit thereto all that was dear unto us And having also seen the late hellish designes and actings of a malignant party in this Kingdom and the bloody Rebellion in Ireland all working to retard the progresse or subvert the being of this worthy Parliament and therein to bereave us of all our hopes of Reformation or future peace and happinesse to this Church or State we cannot but ascribe all glory praise unto the Lord of lords expresse most hearty thankfulnes to his blessed Instruments that great Assembly for their undaunted resolutions unparallell'd endeavours and happie proceedings for the common good And herein as not the least means of our safety for the most necessary and seasonable Ordinance of theirs touching the Militia whereby we are put under the Command and Guidance of so noble a Lord and such worthy Gentlemen whereunto we humbly desire this present day and meeting may be an evidence and pledge of our free and willing obedience Having intrusted our Religion our Laws and all into the hands of that great and most faithful Councel the Parliament whose care and fidelity we have so abundantly found we even bleed to see the heart and actions of our Royal King contrary to his own Royal expressions declining from the Counsels of his Parliament carried after other Counsels whom as the Laws and Constitutions of this Land have not known nor reposed upon so we for our own parts neither will nor dare intrust with our Religion or Laws and whom we verily believe could they prevail against that highest Court under God our chiefest Bulwark and Defence would soon deprive us both of Religion and Law and notwithstanding all their specious pretences reduce us to a condition no lesse miserable then slavish From the deep apprehensions of all which we do freely and heartily promise and tender our persons and estates to assist and defend to the uttermost the high Court of Parliament now assembled the Members Power and Priviledges thereof and therein his Majesties Person and Authority and the Kingdoms Peace according to our late Protestation against all contrary Counsels Power or force of Arms whatsoever which shall be reared up or attempted against them And this our humble Acknowledgement and Resolution which we doubt not will be accorded unto by all good Subjects we humbly desire your Honour and Worships to tender on our behalf to that most honourable Assembly of Parliament for whose happie progresse and successe we shall daily pray Subscribed J. KITELEY HENRY FARRE JOHN BALLET JOHN FLEMMING WILLIAM MARSHAM ROBERT BARRINGTON Captains THO. HARPER JOHN WOODCOCK RICH. LAWRENCE GEORGE COLWEL THO. CLARK WIMLIAM BURLS Lieutenants The Parliament were very forward to expresse their approbation of this most affectionate Declaration of the Essex men and returned
them an Answer part of which was in this manner This just and faithful resolution of theirs to the publike good the Lords and Commons do not onely approve but commend assuring them that as their endeavours have been for the Peace and Happinesse of the King and Kingdom so they will persist in discharge of the great and publike Trust which lies upon them to go thorow all difficulties which may oppose the publike Peace and Welfare of this Kingdom and will upon all occasions be ready to expresse particularly to those persons that respect which is due to persons from whom they have received so great assurance of affection and fidelity In Kent there was cheerful obedience without any open opposition shewed to the Ordinance of the Militia as it appeared by their Petition and Proclamation and more by their real and constant actions True it is that some Gentlemen of that County were not much affected to the Parliaments Cause who did accordingly frame a displeasing Petition to the Houses and brought it up to London accompanied with many Gentlemen of that County but the Parliament having notice of it sent Officers and disarmed those Gentlemen who brought the Petition before they passed over London-bridge and the two which presented it to the House of Commons Sir WILLIAM BUTLER and M. RICHARD LOVELACE were both committed Those in Kent who favoured the King's party and Commission of Array were not a number considerable enough to bring that County into any combustion the Gentlemen which adhered to the Parliament used so great a care and industry in setling the Militia in disarming those few but great Papists among them in raising Arms and taxing themselves at high rates for the serâ—vice of the Parliament that they not onely preserved their own County in quiet but gave great assistance to the Parliament-Armies in other places as will appear in the sequel of this Story The Eastern end of Sussex it being a long and narrow County lying for many miles upon the Sea stood firm to the Parliament and were very industrious in setling of the Militia by which means they were so happie as to preserve themselves in peace and quâ—eâ—nesse But the Western part of that County by means of many revolted Members of the Parliament inhabitants there together with their Allies and friends was at the first in some distraction though it continued not very long Surrey and Middlesex by fortune of their situation could not but side with and by consequence be protected by the Parliament The Eastern Counties Suffolk Norfolk and Cambridgeshire once the Kingdom of the East-Angles were happily kept from the beginning without any great combustion though it were certain that many of the chief Gentry in those Counties bended in their affections to the King's Commission of Array but they were not a part strong enough to engage their Countries in a War For the Free holders and Yeomen in general adhered to the Parliament and those Gentlemen who attempted to raise men or draw Forces together or provide Arms for the King were soon curbed and all their endeavours crushed at the beginning by those of the other side especially by the great wisdom and indefatigable industry of Master OLIVER CRUMWEL a Member of the House of Commons who had taken a Commission for Colonel of Horse from the Parliament of whose particular actions there will be high occasion to discourse hereafter The County of Southampton began at the first to be divided and continued so being long and variously perplexed with the changing fortunes of either side Colonel GORING eldest son to the Lord GORING who had been the yeer before a means to detect that Conspiracie of bringing the Northern Army against the Parliament of which already hath been spoken and by that grown into some Trust with the Parliament of which he was a Member was sent down to Portsmouth to keep that place for them and three thousand pounds allowed him for the charges of Fortification He receiving that money from the Parliament broke his Trust and kept the Place for the King against them with what successe shall hereafter be declared But immediately after his revolt the Earl of Portland Governour of the Isle of Wight a man suspected by the Parliament was committed to custody in London for security of his person lest he should comply with Colonel GORING and command that Island for the King's party The Government of Wight was then committed to the Earl of Pâ—mbrook a man of whose fidelity the Parliament doubted not Though the Southern and Eastern parts of England enjoyed some shew of rest the Counties more remote from London toward the North and West could not at all partake of that happinesse In Lancashire the Lord STRANGE son to the Earl of Derby who was made Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire and Cheshire by the King seeking to put the Commission of Array in execution found great resistance from the Parliamentary Gentlemen Sir THOMAS STANLEY Master HOLLAND Master HOLCRAFT Master EGERTON Master BOOTH as also Master ASHTON and Master MOOR both Members of the House of Commons by whom within the space of few months he was quite driven out of the County and that Shire wholly ruled by the Parliament though it abounded more with Papists then any other The Lord STRANGE upon the fifteenth day of Iuly had made an attempt to gain Manchester and by those Gentlemen was repulsed where one man was slain which was the first blood shed in these Civil Wars But this Lord was not at all fortunate in service against the Parliament who not long after returned again with a great Force consisting of three thousand men to the Town of Manchester where after he had sharply besieged it for the space of two whole weeks he was at last quite beaten with the losse of many of his men In Cheshire also the other County of which he was made Lieutenant by the King his fortune was no better where he was resisted by Sir WILLIAM BRERETON and other Gentlemen and hindered from seizing the Magazine of that County as he intended Nor could the Earl of Rivers whom the King had put into the Commission of Array being a Papist assist him sufficiently to make good that County for the King but that the Papists were all disarmed there by those Protestant Gentlemen that adhered to the Parliament Further North the Countries were more full of variance The Earl of Newcastle with a strong Garison kept for the King the Town of Newcastle And the Earl of Cumberland made Lord-Lieutenant of York-shire by the King was active in putting the Commission of Array in execution but resisted they were by the Lord FAIRFAX and others of the Parliamentary Gentlemen But this businesse of the North shall now be passed over deserving a larger Story hereafter when time shall require to speak of the Earl of Newcastle's greatnesse and the various fortunes of the Lord FAIRFAX and his son Sir THOMAS FAIRFAX In Derbyshire where many great Lords
and Gentlemen inhabited none at all of note stood for the Parliament but Sir JOHN GELL and his brother of whose actions it will be seasonable to speak in another place Staffordshire and Nottinghamshire were in no lesse combustion In Leicestershire the troubles were far greater and early begun by Master HENRY HASTINGS second son to the Earl of Huntingdon whom the King had made Sheriff of that County and put into the Commission of Array who raised great Forces to seize upon the Magazine of that County Against whom the Earl of Stamford was sent by the Parliament as Lord Lieutenant with a considerable strength who arriving there did much curb the proceedings of Master HASTINGS and took possession of the Town of Leicester Great was the Contention about that time in Warwick-shire between the Earl of Northampton for the King and the Lord BROOK for the Parliament not without sharp encounters and slaughter on either side The Earl having seized the Ordnance at Banbury marched with great fury into Warwick-shire spoiling the Countrey as he went though not without opposition of the people and the Lord BROOK'S Forces against whom he could not at all prevail The Earl of Pembrook had setled the Militia in Wilâ—shire with small ado though it continued not long so And the Earl of Holland in Berk-shire being but saintly resisted by the Earl of Berk-shire the Lord LOVELACE and others For soon after the Earl of Berk-shire together with Sir JOHN CURSON Sir ROBERT DORMER and others for the Commission of Array who came to Watlington in Oxfordshire to seize the Magazine of that part of the County which was laid up in that Town were there taken prisoners and sent up to the Parliament by Colonel HAMDEN and Colonel GOODWIN two Members of the House of Commons and Knights of the Shire for Buckingham But the further that this Discourse travels Westward the greater and more remarkable you shall finde such contestations especially considering the number of Lords and Gentlemen of great rank and many of them Members of Parliament who sided with the King against the Parliament and were therefore afterward voted out of the House One great Head there was of all those Western Counties WILLIAM Marquesse of Hartford whom the King by his Commission of Array had appointed Chief and made him Lord Lieutenant-General of Devon Cornwal Somerset Dorset Wilts Southampton Gloucester Berks Oxford Hereford and seven Counties within the Principality of Wales who notwithstanding his high Command was never able to atchieve any great matter for the King's side so much were the common people of the West at that time inclined to the Parliament and so active were those Gentlemen who stood for it such as were the sons of Sir FRANCIS POPHAM Master ALEXANDER POPHAM HUGH and EDWARD who were more animated by the example of their aged father Master STRODE a Deputy-Lieutenant and others against all those frequent attempts which the Marquesse made Great was the number of considerable men in those Countries which took part with the Marquesse against the Parliament and very industrious in their several Stations to put in execution the Commission of Array as the Lord PAWLET Sir RALPH HOPTON and Sir JOHN STOWEL both Members of the House of Commons and for that reason put out of the House Sir RICHARD SLANY in Cornwal another Member put out also for the same cause as likwise were Sir EDWARD RODNEY and Master COVENTRY both Parliament-men who followed the Marquesse in some of his actions Sir BEVILE GREENVILE an active man another Member of Parliament was very industrious for the Array both in Cornwal and Devon joyning himself with the Earl of Bath who came for that purpose to his house at Tastock in Devonshire and assisted by many Gentlemen as Master CULINS Sheriff of that County M. BAMFIELD M. ASHFORD M. GIFFORD M. SAINTHIL Baronet SEYMOUR and M. COURTNEY to whose assistance Squire ROGERS came with Forces out of Dorsetshire Various were the Successes which Marquesse Hartford assisted by so many of the Gentry found in his several Enterprises sometimes prevailing but more often distressed In one Skirmish which about the beginning of August himself the Lord PAWLET Sir RALPH HOPTON Sir JOHN STOWEL and M. SMITH another Member of the House of Commons made against the Deputy-Lieutenants in Somersetshire he prevailed against them and possessed himself of the Town of Shepton-Mallet Ten men were slain and many wounded Going afterwards to Wells he had been besieged by many thousands of the People who arose against him but that having timely notice of their coming he escaped a back-way out of the Town About which time the Earl of Bedford was sent down by the Parliament against him with three hundred Horse by whom the Lord Marquesse the Lord PAWLET Sir RALPH HOPTON Colonel LUNSFORD and many other considerable men were besieged in Sherburn For great numbers out of the Country came daily to the assistance of the Earl of Bedford Many weeks did that Siege continue many Sallies were made out and sharp encounters on both sides performed with great courage the Parliament side being in firm hope to have taken them at last which was conceived a thing of great moment and advantage to their affairs if they could have possessed the persons of so many men considerable both in their Fortunes and Valour and who proved afterwards very strong and cruel enemies Yet that hope was frustrate for about the beginning of October they all escaped out of Sherburn the Earl neverthelesse pursued after them and in the Chase took M. PALLART Sir HENRY Sir JOHN and Sir CHARLES BARCLAY prisoners Within a week after the Earl of Bath was apprehended and brought up a prisoner to the Parliament It cannot be much wondered at that Division was found in Countrey-Towns and Villages so far remote from the Parliament where the people were variously wrought upon by perswasions or fears from either side when London it self the Seat of that great Councel and chiefest Bulwark of their defence was not without some taste of these Distractions Which besides the actions of some private Citizens too petty to be here rehearsed may appear to the Reader in one thing which cannot be omitted The Lord Major of London was at this time a prisoner in the Tower committed by the Parliament Sir RICHARD GURNEY Lord Maior of London for that yeer was charged by the House of Commons on the seventh of Iuly for being a mover of Sedition in the Kingdom in causing the King's Proclamation concerning the Commission of Array which was declared by both Houses to be illegal to be proclaimed in the City And the Charge being perfected was sent up to the Lords desiring that he might forthwith be called to his Answer which was accordingly granted Four days after while the Lord Maior was attending the Lords House upon this Charge and additional Impeachment was read against him in the House of Commons brought in by the Common-Councel of London for divers breaches of
his Oath in execution of his Office for proclaiming divers illegal Proclamations and contemning the Orders of Parliament This Impeachment was forthwith sent up and read in the Lords House Upon the reading of which it was ordered that he should be sent to the Tower from thence to be brought to a legal Trial upon his Impeachment Many days during the space of a whole month was this Lord Maior brought from the Tower to Westminster to attend the Lords of Parliament and many times returned back without being heard by reason of so great a multiplicity of Businesses as the Houses were then in At last after some hearings he was brought on the twelfth of August to the House of Lords to receive his Censure The effect whereof was that he should be put from his Majorality never bear Office in the City or Common-wealth be uncapable of all Honour or Dignity to be conferred on him by the King and stand committed prisoner to the Tower during the pleasure of both Houses During the time of these contentions between the Ordinance of the Militia and Commission of Array which is briefly touched by it self it will not be amisse to return to the King's proceedings in his own Person by what degrees he came to encrease in strength and what contestations happened betwixt Himself and the Parliament wherein that which concerned the Pen shall be first briefly touched and then his other actions But those Declarations Petitions and Proclamations which upon all occasions were then published are too many and too long to be recited in a Story in the Records and printed Books of Ordinances they may be read I shall onely mention some of the chief and excerp the most material contents of them The Parliament about the end of Iuly had petitioned the King to forbear all preparations of War and remove his Garisons To which he gave Answer and upbraided them with their preparations of War for appointing the Earl of Essex to be their General and the Earl of Warwick Admiral In that Answer he descants at large upon particulars commanding his said Answer and their Petition to be read in all Churches To which the Parliament reply as they had done before that they cannot lay down Arms nor rejourn the Parliament to any other place as he would have them unlesse he leave off those Warlike preparations and comply with that Councel to which onely he ought to adhere by the Constitution of this Government They likewise command the Petition Answer and Reply to be read in all Churches But things proceeding still higher the King being returned to the City of York from thence sent forth a Proclamation to suppresse as he there stileth it the present Rebellion under command of ROBERT Earl of Essex offering withal free pardon to him and all such as shall within six days after the date thereof being the ninth of August lay down their Arms. In which Proclamation also he commanded the Marquesse Hartford to raise speedily what Forces he could within all those Counties whereof he had made him Lieutenant-General in the Commission of Array of which before was spoken and to march against destroy or apprehend the said Earl of Essex The Parliament upon this Proclamation make a Declaration wherein they briefly recount all the King 's former proceedings against them and the Kingdom All which they attribute after their usual manner to his wicked Councel and promise still to make him great and happie if he will return to his great Councel But the next day after his former Proclamation the King continuing still at York sent forth another declaring that no Papist should serve him in his Army and that his Souldiers should commit no rapine upon the people And within two days after that he published a Discourse called A Declaration to all his loving Subjects concerning the proceedings of this present Parliament This Declaration was of a great length containing fifty pages in a large Quarto In which was comprised a kinde of History touching all former passages betwixt himself and them from the beginning of these divisions which is to be read in the printed Book of Parliament-Ordinances Toward the end of that Declaration he protesteth a wonderful love to Parliaments and to the peace and happinesse of the Kingdom but he requires that some persons as disturbers of the publike peace may be delivered into the hands of Justice to be tried by their Peers naming the Lord of Kymbolton and those five Members of the House of Commons whom before he came to surprise in that House Master HOLLIS Sir ARTHUR HASLERIG M. PYM M. HAMBDEN and M. STRODE as likewise M. HENRY MARTIN and Sir HENRY LUDLOW two Members also of the House of Commons for speaking some bold Speeches in that House He also desires to have delivered up to him Alderman PENINGTON who succeeded in the Majorality to the fore-named Sir KICHARD GURNEY and Captain VENN one of the City-Captains those two last he accuses of bringing tumults from the City to terrifie the Parliament at Westminster Another desire of the King 's is that Inditements of high Treason upon the Statute of the 23 yeer of King EDWARD the third may be drawn against the Earls of Essex Warwick and Stamford the Lord BROOK Sir JOHN HOTHAM and Serjeant-Major-General SKIPPON an expert and religious Souldier a man of high action in the succeeding War whom the City had employed in exercising of their Militia as likewise against all those who shall hereafter exercise the Militia by vertue of the Ordinance of Parliament The Pen was very quick upon all occasions and the King the next day after the publication of this long fore-mentioned Declaration sent a Message to the Parliament upbraiding both Houses with an Order which they had then made for the borrowing of an hundred thousand pounds out of that money which the Adventurers had raised for reducing of Ireland and subduing the Rebels there affirming that out of his Princely care and piety toward distressed Ireland he cannot but take notice of it commanding them immediately to retract that mischievous and unjust Order for so he calls it as they would answer the contrary to Almighty God himself and those that have trusted them Wherein he expecteth their speedie Answer and Obedience and the rather that he may thereby be secured that such part of the four hundred thousand pounds as is or shall be collected from his good Subjects of England by vertue of the late Act of Parliament whereby the same is granted may not likewise under false pretences be diverted from the proper use to which it was intended and misemployed to the disturbance of the Kingdoms peace in a War against him The Lords and Commons in Parliament make Answer to this Message expressing what caution there was in the very Order which upon that very occasion was printed for speedie repayment of that Sum and disposing of it to the right use But first they tell the King that this very Message of
furnish by way of Loan unto the Committee of Lords and Commons for the defence of the Kingdom the sum of one hundred thousand pounds for the supply of the publike necessity for defence of the King Parliament and Kingdom upon the publike Faith to be repayed duely and carefully within so short a time that it shall not be diverted from that purpose for which it was intended or any way frustrate the Acts already made in the behalf of that Adventure During the time of these Paper-conflicts the King in person had often removed and visited many places To the Gentry of Leicestershire he made a Speech on the 20 of Iuly after his usual manner with Protestations of his great love to the people and care of the Kingdom And from thence removing Northward on the fourth of August he made a Speech after the same manner to the Gentry of York-shire from whence he returned back to Nottingham and there set up his Standard Royal. Very few people resorted to it Nor had the King at this time a considerable strength to guard his Person if any attempts had been to have seized upon him From Nottingham on the 25 of August the King sent a Message to the Parliament by the Earls of Southampton and Dorset and Sir JOHN CULPEPER one of the Members of the House of Commons who had deserted the Parliament and went to the King at York having not long before been made by him Chancellour of the Exchequer The King's Message to both Houses of Parliament from Nottingham Aug. 25. 1642. We have with unspeakable grief of heart long beheld the Distractions of this Our Kingdom Our very Soul is full of Anguish until We may finde some Remedy to prevent the Miseries which are ready to overwhelm this whole Nation by a Civil War And though all Our endeavours tending to the composing of those unhappie Differences betwixt Vs and Our two Houses of Parliament though pursued by Vs with all Zeal and Sincerity have been hitherto without that Successe we hoped for yet such is Our constant and earnest care to preserve the publike Peace that We shall not be discouraged from using any Expedient which by the blessing of the God of mercy may lay a firm foundation of Peace and Happinesse to all Our good Subjects To this end observing that many Mistakes have arisen by the Messages Petitions and Answers betwixt Vs and Our two Houses of Parliament which haply may be prevented by some other way of Treaty wherein the matters in difference may be more clearly understood and more freely transacted We have thought fit to propound to you That some fit persons may be by you enabled to treat with the like number to be authorized by Vs in such a manner and with such freedom of Debate as may best tend to that happie Conclusion which all good men desire The Peace of the Kingdom Wherein as We promise in the word of a King all safety and encouragement to such as shall be sent unto Vs if you shall chuse the place where We are for the Treaty which we wholly leave to you presuming the like care of the safety of those We shall employ if you shall name another place So We assure you and all Our good Subjects that to the best of Our understanding nothing shall be therein wanting on our part which may advance the true Protestant Religion oppose Popery and Superstition secure the Law of the Land upon which is built as well Our just Prerogative as the Propriety and Liberty of the Subject confirm all just Power and Priviledges of Parliament and render Vs and Our people truely happie by a true understanding betwixt Vs and Our two Houses of Parliament Bring with you as firm resolutions to do your duty and let all Our People joyn with Vs in Our prayers to Almighty God for his blessing upon this Work If this Proposition shall be rejected by you We have done Our duty so amply that God will absolve Vs from the guilt of any of that blood which must be spilt And what opinion soever other men may have of Our Power We assure you nothing but Our Christian and pious care to prevent the effusion of blood hath begot this motion Our provision of Men Arms and Money being such as may secure Vs from further violence till it please God to open the eyes of Our People The Answer of the Lords and Commons to the King's Message of the 25 of August 1642. May it please Your Majestie The Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled having received Your Majesties Message of the 25 of August do with much grief resent the dangerous and distracted state of this Kingdom which we have by all means endeavoured to prevent both by our several Advices and Petitions to Your Majestie which have been not onely without successe but there hath followed that which no evil Counsel in former times hath produced or any age hath seen Those several Proclamations and Declarations against both the Houses of Parliament whereby their Actions are declared Treasonable and their Persons Traitours and thereupon Your Majestie hath set up Your Standard against them whereby you have put the two Houses of Parliament and in them this whole Kingdom out of Your Protection So that until Your Majestie shall recal those Proclamations and Declarations whereby the Earl of Essex and both Houses of Parliament their adherents and assistants and all such as have obeyed and executed their Commands and Directions according to their duties are declared Traitors or otherwise Delinquents and until the Standard set up in pursuance of the said Proclamations be taken down Your Majestie hath put us into such a condition that whilst we so remain we cannot by the Fundamental Priviledges of Parliament the publike Trust reposed in us or with the general good and safety of this Kingdom give Your Majestie any other Answer to this Message Within few days after the King sent Instructions under his Privie Signet to his Commissioners of Array for the several Counties of England and Wales as to Marquesse Hartford whom the King had made Lieutetenant-General of all the Western Counties as is before expressed to the Earl of Cumberland Lord-Lieutenant of York-shire and the Lord STRANGE Lieutenant for Lancashire and Cheshire in which Instructions he commands them to pursue the Earl of Essex whom he again calls Rebel and Traitour Immediately after the King sent a Reply to that Answer of the Parliament to his last Message of the 25 of August which being short that the Reader may the more truely inform himself of the nature of this strange division I shall wholly insert in the very words We will not repeat what means We have used to prevent the dangerous and distracted estate of the Kingdom nor how those means have been interpreted because being desirous to avoid effusion of blood We are willing to decline all memory of former Bitternesse that might make Our offer of a Treaty lesse readily accepted We never
young Princes arrived in England were soone put into imployment and Command under the King their Uncle in which they shewed themselves very forward and active as will appeare afterward and if more hot and furious then the tender beginnings of a Civill Warre would seeme to require it may be imputed to the fervour of their youth and great desire which they had to ingratiate themselves to the King upon whom as being no more then Souldiers of fortune their hopes of advancement wholly depended Prince RUPERT the elder brother and most furious of the two within a fortnight after his arrivall commanded a small party of those Forces which the King had at that time gathered together which were not of so great a body as to be tearmed an Army with which he marched into divers Counties to roll himselfe like a snow ball into a larger bulke by the accession of Forces in every place Through divers parts of Warwick-shire Nottingham-shire Leicestershire Worcester-shire and Cheshire did this young Prince fly with those Troops which he had not inviting the people so much by faire demeanour for such was the report to the Houses of Parliament as compelling them by extreme rigour to follow that side which he had taken Many Townes and Villages he plundered which is to say robb'd for at that time first was the word plunder used in England being borne in Germany when that stately Country was so miserably wasted and pillaged by forraigne Armies and committed other outrages upon those who stood affected to the Parliament executing some and hanging up servants at their Masters doores for not discovering of their Masters Upon which newes the Houses of Parliament fell into a serious debate and agreed that a Charge of High Treason should be drawne up against him for indeavouring the destruction of this State which was voted a great breach of the Kingdoms Lawes and breach of the priviledge of that great Councell representing the whole state of it Let it not seeme amisse in this place to insert a passage happening at the same time which cannot be omitted by reason of the eminence of that person whom it concernes in the succeeding Warres Colonell GORING who was before spoken of to keepe the Towne of Portsmouth against the Parliament being now no longer able to hold it out was permitted by Captaine MERRICK not without allowance from the Earle of Warwick to leave the place and to be conveyed to the Brill in Holland according to his owne desire This the Parliament were contented with because the Captaine was necessitated to agree to it for preservation of that Towne and many persons therein well affected to the Parliament for GORING had threatned to destroy the Towne with wilde-fire if he might not preserve his owne life by a peaceable surrender Whilest Prince RUPERT was thus active with a flying Party the King himselfe was moving with those Forces which he had but in a gentler and calmer way for the reverence which the people bare to his Person made him finde lesse resistance as windes lose their fury when they meet no opposition but howsoever the King desired to go in such a way as to be taken for a Father of his Country and a Prince injur'd by the Parliament professions of love perswasions and Protestations of his affection to the people were the chiefe instruments which he used to raise himselfe a strength and complaints against the proceedings and actions of the Parliament as when he was marching toward Shrewsbury where he intended to make his chiefe Rendezvouze being a place convenient to receive and entertaine such Forces as should come to him out of Wales Which place as will appeare afterward failed not his expectation though it were more then the Parliament could suspect As he was marching thither with a small Army he made a Speech betweene Stafford and Wellington on the 19. of September and caused his Protestation to be then also read in the head of his Army wherein among other things he tells them for their comfort and hope to prevaile that they should meet no Enemies but Traytors most of them Brownists Anabaptists and Atheists who would destroy both Church and Common-wealth And in this Protestation with deepe vowes and imprecations upon himselfe and his posterity he declares his whole care and intentions to be for the maintenance of the Protestant Religion the Lawes and property of the Subject together with the Priviledge of Parliament as he was accustomed to do in his former Speeches But the King not many daies before had taken a more harsh and coercive way for marching thorow Derbyshire Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire he commanded the Trayned Bands of those Counties to attend and guard his Person and when they were met disarmed the greatest part of them taking as many Armes as served for 2000. men besides good summes of Money which not without some constraint he borrowed from them But to leave the Kings proceedings for a while it is time to returne to the Lord Generall for the Parliament and the Army raised under his conduct which at that time when Prince RUPERT began to march was growne to a considerable body consisting of about â—4 thousand Horse and Foot their generall Rendezvouze was at Northampton where many of the chiefe Commanders as the Lord BROOKE Lord ROBERTS Colonell HAMDEN and others stayed with them expecting the presence of his Excellence who on the ninth of September taking his leave of the Parliament and City of London bent his journey toward Northampton and was waited on by the Trayned Bands and a great number of armed Gentlemen from Essex House to the end of the City with great solemnity But the love and wishes of the people that did attend him were farre greater then any outward signification could expresse To whom he seemed at that time though going to a Civill Warre as much an English man and as true a Patriot as if he had gone against a forraigne Enemy Great was the love and honour which the people in generall bore to his Person in regard of his owne vertue and honourable demeanour and much increased by the Memory of his noble Father the highest example that ever I yet read of a Favourite both to Prince and people of whom that was most true which VELLEIUS PATERCULUS speaks with flattery and falshood of SEJANUS In quo cum judicio Principis certabant studia populi The peoples love strived to match the Prince his judgement That Cause wherein the Earle of ESSEX had ingaged himselfe seemed to them religious enough to require their prayers for the successe of it For the Parliament though they raised an Army expressed much humility and reverence to the Kings Person for not many daies after the departure of the Lord Generall by consent of both Houses a Petition to the King was drawne up to be carried by Sir PHILIP STAPLETON a Member of the House of Commons often spoken of before and at this time a Colonell in the Lord Generals
the Lord Generall Essex with as great an Army were then abroad to attend his Marches The Parliament it selfe tooke the businesse into their strict care For both Houses conceiving that the City was in imminent danger of the Kings Forces ordered That the Trayned Bands thereof should be speedily raised for a Guard That such Fortifications as could suddenly be made should not be wanting That a Committee should be appointed to consider of the present setting up Courts of Guard and raising Works for planting of Ordnance in speciall places about the City and Suburbs According to which Order many hundreds of men fell presently to worke in digging of Trenches and other Bulwarks It was Ordered likewise That the Trayned Bands of London Middlesex and Surrey should be put into a readinesse And that the close Committee by help of the Lord Mayor should with all diligence search out and secure the persons of all the ill-affected Citizens or the chiefe of them that were suspected to be most able or active to raise a Party against the Parliament Twelve Companies of London were by Order of Parliament sent to Windsor to possesse and secure that Castle and many Seamen raised to guard the passages of the River Thames The Parliament about that time considering how much these Civill distractions increased over the whole Kingdome passed a Vote That it was and should be lawfull for all Counties in England to enter into an Association for mutuall defence of each other of their Religion Lawes and Liberties Whereupon within a short time after Buckingham Hartford and Nottinghamshire began to associate after that manner raised Forces for the Parliament and advanced both Plate and Money upon their Propositions The danger that seemed to threaten London at that time though distant in place yet in reason was neer For the Kings Army was judged to be neerer to it then the Lord Generals was and it was probable enough that his desires would rather lead him to attempt the City then to ingage against the Army and it was thought and spoken by some that London was a place where he had many friends who upon the approach of such an Army would appeare for him and to facilitate his atchievements would fill the City with intestine tumults and seditions That London was the onely place where the Parliament was to be totally suppressed and his Army inriched to the height of their desires But others were of opinion that such an attempt as it was preposterous would prove frustrate and that the City could not be gained unlesse the Army were first subdued For besides the consideration that the supposed Party for the King in London were not in probability of power enough to accomplish his ends it might be thought they were not so desperately inclined to him as to throw themselves and estates into such hazard as must be undergone in the confused rage of a licentious Army The maine reason against it was That the Lord Generall Essex with an Army as strong as the Kings would follow his March neere at hand and by the help of those Forces which the City of London would power forth upon him utterly ruine his inclosed Army But howsoever the counsels were it pleased God that it was brought to a Battell to which probably the King might be the more invited by that advantage of the absence of a great part of the Parliaments Army This famous Battell called by some the Battell of Edgehill by others the Battell of Keynton that Keynton is a little Towne in Warwickshire almost in the mid way betweene Stratford upon Avon and Banbury was fought on a Sunday being the 23. day of October The King on Saturday the 22. of October came within six miles of Keynton and that night at Cropredy and Edgecot lodged his great Army consisting of about 14000. Foot and about 4000. Horse and Dragoneers a farre greater number then the Lord Generall Essex had together at that time though his whole Army consisted of more for that opportunity the King tooke of the absence of many Regiments of the Parliament The Lord Generall Essex on that Saturday night quartered at Keynton with his Army consisting then but of 12. Regiments and about 40. Troops of Horse little in all exceeding the number of 10000. men the reason why his Forces at that time were no more in number was besides that by reason of the suddennesse of his march and diligence to follow the Kings Army he had left behinde two Regiments of his Foot one under the Command of Colonell HAMDEN the other of Colonell GRANTHAM together with 11. Troops of Horse behinde but one daies March and left to bring on the Artillery which was seven Peeces of Canon with great store of Ammunition and came not to Keynton till the Battell was quite ended the Lord Generall also had before left for preservation of the Countries thereabout and whom on such a sudden he could not call together to his Assistance one Regiment of Foot and two Troops of Horse under command of the Earle of Stamford at Hereford that the power of Wales might not fall into Glocestershire another Regiment was left at Worcester another at Coventry for the safety of that Towne and one Regiment occasionally lodged then in Banbury In Keynton the Lord Generall intended to rest Sunday to expect the residue of his Forces and Artillery but in the morning the Enemy was discovered not far off which made him give present order for drawing that Army which he had there into the field the Kings Forces had gotten the advantage of a very high and steepe ascent called Edgehill from whence they were discovered that morning not farre from the foot of that hill was a broad Champion called The vale of the red Horse a name suitable to the colour which that day was to bestow upon it for there happened the greatest part of the encounter Into that field the Lord Generall was forced presently to march making a stand about halfe a mile distant from the foot of Edgehill where he drew his Army into Battalia and saw the Kings Forces descending the Hill ready for their incounter that Army at the first having two advantages of the hill and of the winde it was full of skilfull Commanders and well ordered their greatest Body of Horse was on the right wing on the left were some Horse and Dragoneers The Parliament Army was drawne up and put into Battalia upon a little rising ground in the forenamed Vale the Foot being many of them a good space behind the Horse when the Charge began Three Regiments of Horse were on the right wing the Lord Generals owne Regiment commanded by Sir PHILIP STAPLETON Sir WILLIAM BAâ—FORES Regiment who was Lieutenant Generall of the Horse and the Lord FIELDINGS Regiment which stood behinde the other two in the way of a Reserve Sir JOHN MELDRUMS Brigado had the Van Colonell ESSEX was in the middle the Lord Generals Regiment the Lord BROOKE and Colonell HOLLIS were
in the Reare in the left wing were about 20. Troops of Horse commanded by Sir JAMES RAMSEY their Commissary Generall In this posture they stood when the other Army advanced toward them the strength of their Horse being as aforesaid on their right wing opposite to the left wing of the Parliament Army The Canon on both sides with a loud thunder began the Fight in which the successe was not equall the Parliaments Canon doing great execution upon their Enemies but theirs very little The Earle of Lindsey Generall for the King with a Pike in his hand led on the maine Body of that Army in which was the Kings owne Regiment incountred by the Lord Generall Essex who exposed himselfe to all the danger that a Battell could make first leading on his Troope then his owne Regiment of Foot and breathing courage into them till being disswaded by divers from ingaging himselfe too farre he returned to the rest of the Army to draw them on The chiefe Regiments having begun the Battell Sir PHILIP STAPLETON with a brave Troope of Gentlemen which were the Generals Life Guard and commanded by him charged the Kings Regiment on their right flanke within their Pikes and came off without any great hurt though those Pikemen stoutly defended themselves and the Musqueteers being good firemen played fiercely upon them The Battell was hot at that place and so many of the Kings side slaine that the Parliament Army began to be victorious there they tooke the Standard Royall the bearer thereof Sir EDMUND VARNEY being slaine and the Generall the Earle of Lindsey sore wounded was taken Prisoner But the same fortune was not in every part for the Kings right wing led by Prince RUPERT charged fiercely upon the left wing of the other consisting most of Horse and prevailed altogether for the Parliament Troops ranne almost all away in that Wing and many of their Foot Companies dismayed with their flight fled all away before they had stood one Charge Colonell ESSEX being utterly forsaken by that whole Brigade which he commanded went himselfe into the Van where he performed excellent service both by direction and execution till at the last he was shot in the thigh of which he shortly after died some part of their disheartning was caused by the revolt of their owne side for Sir FAITHFULL FORTESCUE at the beginning of the Fight instead of charging the Enemy discharged his Pistoll to the ground and with his Troope wheeling about ranne to the Kings Army to whom he had formerly given notice thereof by his Cornet The Parliament Army had undoubtedly been ruined that day and an absolute Victory gained on the Kings side if Prince RUPERT and his pursuing Troops had been more temperate in plundering so untimely as they did and had wheeled about to assist their distressed friends in other parts of the Army for Prince RUPERT followed the chase to Keynton Towne where the Carriages of the Army were which they presently pillaged using great cruelty as was afterward related to the unarmed Waggoners and labouring men A great number of the flying Parliament Souldiers were slaine in that Chase which lasted two miles beyond Keynton and so far till the Pursuers were forced to retire having met with Colonell HAMBDEN who marched with the other Brigado of the Army that brought on the Artillery and Ammunition before spoken of Colonell HAMBDEN discharged five Peeces of Canon against them some were slaine and the rest ceasing the pursuit retired hastily to the field where they found all their Infantry excepting two Regiments quite defeated for in the meane time Sir WILLIAM BALFORE Lieutenant Generall of the Horse with a Regiment of Horse charged a Regiment of the Kings Foot before any Foot of his owne side could come up to him and breaking most bravely into it had cut most of them off and afterward by the assistance of some Foot who were come up to him he defeated another Regiment and so got up to the greatest part of the Kings Ordinance taking some of them cutting off the Geeres of the Horses that drew them and killing the Gunners but was inforced to leave them without any Guard by reason that he laboured most to make good the day against severall Regiments of the Kings Foot who still fought with much resolution especially that which was of the Kings Guard where his Standard was by which Sir WILLIAM BALFORES Regiment rode when they came back from taking the Ordnance and were by them mistaken for their owne side passing without any Hostility was the cause that immediately afterward Sir WILLIAM riding up toward the Lord Generall ESSEX his Regiment of Horse they gave fire upon Sir WILLIAM BALFORES men supposing them to be Enemies but soone discovering each other they joyned Companies and were led up with halfe the Lord Generals Regiment by his Excellency himselfe against the Kings maine strength where a terrible and bloody incounter happened At the same time Colonell BALLARD who led a Brigado there of the Lord Generals Regiment and the Lord BROOKS his forced a stand of the Kings Pikes and brooke thorow two of his Regiments In this great conflict the Standard Royall as aforesaid was taken and Sir EDMUND VARNEY slaine the Earle of Lindsey with his Sonne taken Prisoners together with Colonell VAVASOR Lieutenant Colonell of that Regiment Colonell MUNROE also was there slaine The Standard thus taken and put into the Lord Generals hand was by him delivered to his Secretary Master CHAMBERS but the Secretary after he had carried it some time in his hand suffered it to be taken from him by an unknowne person and so privately it was conveyed away There also was great service performed by the Lord GRAY Sonne to the Earle of Stamford and Sir ARTHUR HASLERIG and a considerable help given to the turning of the day by defeating a Regiment of the Kings called the blew Regiment By this time all the Kings Foot excepting two Regiments were dispersed and the Parliamentarians had gotten the advantage of the winde and that ground which their Enemies had fought upon Those two Regiments of the Kings retiring themselves and finding their Ordnance behind them without any guard tooke stand there and made use of their Canon discharging many shot against their Enemies But at that time the Parliament Foot began to want powder otherwise as was observed by a Commander in that Army they had charged them both with Horse and Foot which in all probability would have utterly ruined the Kings Infantry consisting in a manner but of two Regiments Thus the Parliament Army partly for want of Ammunition and partly being tired with so long a fight for the whole brunt of the Battell had been susteyned by two Regiments of their Horse and foure or five of their Foot made no great haste to charge any more The Kings Horse who had been long pillaging about Keynton by this time had leisure to come about on both hands and joyne themselves to their Foot but as
they came back on the left hand of their Enemies Sir PHILIP STAPLETON with his Horse gave them a terrible Charge which they were not long able to indure but finding a gap in an hedge got from him upon the Spurre as fast as they could to the rest of their broken Troops and so at last joyned with their Foot that stood by the Ordinance And now on both sides the Horse were gathered to their own Foot and so stood together both Horse and Foot one against another till it was night The Parliament Army being wholly possessed of the ground which their Enemies had chosen to fight upon stood upon it all night and in the morning returned to a warmer place neere Keynton where they had quartered the night before for they were much pinched with cold and the whole Army in extreme want of Victuals The Kings Army had withdrawne to the top of the hill for their more security where they made great fires all the night long About nine of the clock the next morning the Parliament Army drew out againe into Battalia and so stood about three houres untill the other Army was quite gone from the hill and then they withdrew themselves into their Quarter towards Keynton and to their other Brigado Artillery and Ammunition which being commanded by Colonell HAMBDEN and Colonell GRANTHAM as aforesaid was now come to Keynton and lodged there The King had drawne out his Horse upon the further side of the hill where he stayed till toward night whilest his Foot were retiring behinde the Hill and marching away A little before night his Horse also withdrew themselves and about an houre after the Parliament Horse marched quite away and went with the rest of the Army to Warwick to refresh themselves That going to Warwick was thought by a noble Gentleman of the Parliament side to be ill designed For saith he had the Army instead of going to Warwick marched toward Banbury we should have found more Victuals and had in probability dispersed all the Foot of the Kings Army taken his Canons and Carriages and sent his Horse farther off whereas now because we did not follow them though they quitted the field whereon they fought and left their Quarter before us yet they began soone after to question who had the day Howsoever it were true it is that the King no lesse then the Parliament pretended to be victorious in that Battell and so farre ascribed the Victory to his owne side that a Prayer of thanksgiving to God was made at Oxford for it A thanksgiving was also on the Parliament side for the Victory of that day And it is certaine that there were many markes of Victory on both Armies Colours and Canon were taken on both sides without any great difference of the number of them And though in Speeches made afterwards by either Party and Bookes printed there is no consent at all concerning the number of men slain but so great a discrepancy as it is almost a shame to insert into an History yet surely by the best account there were more slaine on the Kings side then on the other Those of quality that were lost on both Parties were of the Kings the Earle of Lindsey Lord Generall of his Army the Lord AUBIGNY brother to the Duke of Lenox Sir EDWARD VARNEY Standard-Bearer Colonell Sir EDMUND MONROY a Scottish Gentleman and Colonell LUNSFORD his Brother with other Gentlemen and Commanders besides Common Souldiers whose number as is before said would not be agreed upon yet I have heard that the Country people thereabouts by burying of the naked bodies found the number to be about six thousand that fell on both sides besides those which died afterwards of their wounds There were taken Prisoners of the Kings side the Lord WILLOUGHBY Sonne and Heire to the Earle of Lindsey Colonell VAVASOR Colonell LUNSFORD Sir EDWARD STRADLING with others of lesse note a George the Badge of a Knight of the Garter was found in the field by a Common Souldier besides that which the Lord Generall Lindsey wore and had about his neck when he was slaine and bought of him by a Captaine which was sent up to the Parliament there viewed and restored againe to the Captaine On the Parliament side were slaine onely these of marke and quality the Lord St. JOHN eldest Sonne to the Earle of BULLENBROOKE Colonell CHARLES ESSEX and Lieutenant Colonell RAMSEY and none of any great note taken Prisoners The Battell was fought with great courage on both sides both by the Generals and other Commanders besides some particular Regiments of Souldiers who were observed to performe their parts with great courage and bravery such as Colonell HOLLIS his Regiment of Redcoats and others too many to be all named in a short Discourse It could not but fall into the observation of many men that the yeare before upon the same day of the Moneth namely the 23. of October that this famous Battell of Keynton was fought the bloody Rebellion of the Irish broke out with that inhumane Massacre of the English Protestants in that Kingdom where the English by their owne losse and bleeding were sadly put in minde that they had too long deferred the revenge of their butchered Brethren in Ireland It was likewise observed by many men of the Parliament side who seemed to make no question but that the Victory was on their side as a further blessing of God to the Protestant Cause that on the very same day that this Battell was wonne in England the Sweads obtained a very great and notable Victory against the Imperialists and those of the Roman Religion in Germany But the King supposing himselfe victorious at Keyntonâ—ield â—ield immediately published a Declaration To all his loving Subjects for so it is stiled after his Victory against the Rebels Wherein though the expostulation be very bitter yet he indeavoureth that it should not seeme to be made against the Parliament it selfe but against some of them whom he termeth malignant malicious with such like Epithites as have laboured to lay aspersions upon him of things whereof he professeth himselfe altogether innocent Those aspersions he makes of two sorts the first is concerning his favouring of Popery and imploying Papists in his Army the second of raising that Army against the Parliament Both which he labours to wipe off with a recrimination against the Parliament For the first after a great Protestation of the truth of his Religion and his past present and future care for the better establishing of it in his Dominions with the extirpation of Popery though he cannot but acknowledge that some eminent men of that Religion are armed in his Service which he thinks excusable in so gteat a necessity and danger as he was in yet he tells the Parliament That in their Army there are more Papists Commanders and others then in his For the second That he leavyed his Army against the Parliament He seemeth to hope That none of his good Subjects will beleeve
effect of that verball Skirmish which immediately followed the great and bloody Battell of Keynton CHAP. II. The Parliament send to the King concerning an Accommodation A fight at Branford Another Treaty with the King begun and broken off Reading besieged by the Lord Generall ESSEX and surrendred to him A Conspiracy to betray Bristoll A treacherous Plot against the Parliament and City of London discovered and prevented AT the famous Battell of Edgehill the great cause of English Liberty with a vast expence of blood and Treasure was tryed but not decided which did therefore prove unhappy even to that side which seemed victorious the Parliament Army For though the Kings Forces were much broken by it yet his strength grew accidentally greater and more formidable then before to whom it proved a kinde of victory not to be easily or totally overthrowne For the greatest Gentlemen of divers Counties began then to consider of the King as one that in possibility might prove a Conquerour against the Parliament and many of them who before as Neuters had stood at gaze in hope that one quick blow might cleare the doubt and save them the danger of declaring themselves came now in and readily adhered to that side where there seemed to be least feares and greatest hopes which was the Kings Party for on the Parliament side the incouragements were onely publike and nothing promised but the free injoyment of their native Liberty no particular honours preferments or Estates of Enemies and on the other side no such totall ruine could be threatned from a victorious Parliament being a body as it were of themselves as from an incensed Prince and such hungry followers as usually go along with Princes in those waies And how much private interest will oversway publike nations Books of History rather then Philosophy will truly informe you for concerning humane actions and dispositions there is nothing under the Sunne which is absolutely new Looke upon the Discourse of one Historian in that subject DION CASSIUS a Writer of as little bias in the opinion of all Criticks as any among the Antients when he relates the last Warre about Roman Liberty after which as himselfe speaks that People never againe looked back toward it Which was the Warre of BRUTUS and CASSIUS against CAESAR and ANTONY Etsi ante hanc pugnam civilibus bellis c. Although saith DION before this War they had many Civill Wars yet in others they fought who should oppresse the Roman Liberty in this War one side fought to vindicate Liberty the other to bring in Tyranny yet the side of Tyranny prevailed and drew most to it Of what quality they were the same Historian speaks also The Armies of BRUTUS and CASSIUS that stood for Liberty consisted of the lower sort of people and Ex subditis Romanorum the other that stood for Tyranny consisted saith he Ex Romanis Nobilibus Fortibus BRUTUS and CASSIUS two chiefe Souldiers before the Battell making Orations incouraged them to fight for their ancient freedome and Roman Laws CAESAR and ANTONY promised to their Souldiers the Estates of their Enemies Et imperium in omnes Gentiles suos and power to rule over their owne Countrymen which proved it seemes better Oratory then the other and more perswasive BRUTUS and CASSIUS delayed the Battell as loath to waste so much blood if by any other stratagem they might have subdued because they were saith DION good men and pittyed their Countrymen loving the safety and striving for the Liberty even of those men who fought against them to overthrow that Liberty Yet that delay proved ill and many Noblemen in that time forsooke them and turned to the other side whither their private hopes or feares led them Whether the parrallel will in some measure fit this occasion or not I leave it to the Reader and returne to the Narration The Earle of Essex the next day after Keynton Battell marched with his Army toward Warwick to which Towne he arrived safe disposing of the Prisoners Waggons and Ordnance which he had taken into that Castle with resolution after some short refreshment of his men there to march neerer to the King But the King returned toward Oxford seizing by the way upon Banbury from whence he tooke 1500. Armes and turned out the Parliament Souldiers that were quartered there His Army consisting especially of Horse was divided into severall Bodyes and Prince RUPERT with part of it visited the Towns neere adjacent as Abingdon Henley and other places from whence he returned with great booty Within few daies he made a neerer approach toward London but with a flying Army resting in no place sometimes as farre as Stanes and Egham which made the City of London carefull to provide for their safety against sudden incursions and send Forces to possesse and fortifie Windsor Castle In the meane time to secure London and free those parts from greater feares the Earle of Essex had marched with his Army neerer to that City and on the seventh day of November came himselfe to Westminster his Army being billitted about Acton and other neere places and was welcomed by both Houses of Parliament who presented him with a gift of 5000 l. as an acknowledgement of their thanks in behalfe of the Kingdome for his care paines and valour in the actions already passed But before the Earle of Essex departed from London another bloody tragedy was acted and the scene no farther then Brainford about eight miles distance the King himselfe being there or not farre off in Person The manner and occasion of it shall be in briefe related The Parliament expressing great griefe for this unnaturall Warre and bloodshed that this indangered Kingdome might be saved from ruine and the better meanes made to recover Ireland had agreed upon a Petition for Accommodation to be presented to the King then at Colebrooke by the Earles of Northumberland and Pembrooke with foure Commons the Lord WAINMAN Master PERPOINT Sir JOHN EVELIN and Sir JOHN IPSLEY Sir PETER KILLIGREW was sent before to procure a safe Conduct But the King refused to admit of Sir JOHN EVELYN because he was one whom himselfe had named Traytor the day before Which exception of the Kings was extremely distasted by the Parliament yet so great was their desire of Accommodation that although this excepting of Sir JOHN EVELIN were voted by them a breach of Priviledge and a flat denyall from the King the Petition was sent by the five forenamed Lords and Gentlemen Sir JOHN EVELIN being very willing to be left out The King being then at Colebrooke fifteene miles distant seemed to receive the Petition with great willingnesse and returned them a faire Answer calling God to witnesse in many Protestations that he was tenderly compassionate of his bleeding people and more desirous of nothing then a speedy peace to which purpose he was most willing at any place where he should reside not farre from London to receive such Propositions of Peace as they should send
and to treat with them As soone as the Parliament Lords returned with this Answer the Kings Artillery according to all relations advanced forwards with divers Troops of Horse thorow that Towne of Colebrooke after them towards London and taking advantage of a great mist which happened that Friday night they marched to Brainford and fell upon the Parliament Forces which were there quartered which were a broken Regiment of Colonell HOLLIS but stout men who had before done great service Of them the Kings Forces killed many and had quite destroyed all in probability if the Lord BROOKS and Colonell HAMâ—DENS Regiments billitted not farre off had not made haste to their reliefe who comming in maintained a great and bloody fight against the Kings Forces where many were slaine on both sides and many taken Prisoners both Parties as before it happened at Keynton Battell esteeming themselves conquerors and so reporting afterwards The newes of this unexpected fight was soone brought to London whither also the noise of the great Artillery was easily heard The Lord Generall Essex then sitting at Westminster in the House of Peeres tooke Horse immediately and with what strength he could call together on such a sudden came in to the rescue of his ingaged Regiments but night had parted them and the King was retired to his best advantages all that night the City of London powred out men toward Brainford who every houre marched thither and all the Lords and Gentlemen that belonged to the Army were there ready on the Sunday morning being the 14. of November a force great enough to have swallowed up a farre greater Army then the King had Besides the Kings Forces were encompassed on every side insomuch as great hope was conceived by most men that the period of this sad Warre was now come But God was not yet appeased toward this Nation a fatall doore was opened to let out the inclosed King Three thousand of the Parliament Souldiers were then at Kingstone upon Thames a Towne about ten miles distant from the City which Souldiers were all as it happened commanded to leave that Towne and march thorow Surrey with what speed they could and over London Bridge so thorow the City toward Brainford to prevent the Enemies passage to London The reason of that Command was afterward given for that the Lord Generall was not assured of strength enough to stop the Enemy from London nor could before hand be assured of so great an Army as came thither before morning But this was the event of it and thorow Kingstone thus abandoned the King retreated and leaving some Troops to face his Enemies brought all his Foot and Artillery over that Bridge which drawing up afterward he had time enough securely to plunder many places of that Country and retire safely to Oxford where he intended to take up his winter Quarters The Parliament upon this Action of the King began to be out of hope of doing any good by Treaties resolving that the Lord Generall with all speed that might be should pursue the Kings Forces and fall upon them about Oxford and Reading for newes was daily brought them how active his Parties were under the conduct of Prince RUPERT and others in plundering all the places thereabouts And the City of London to incourage the Parliament with a free tender of their service framed a Petition to them to intreat them That they would proceed no further in the businesse of Accommodation because evill Counsell was so prevalent with the King That he would but delude them That they had heard his Forces are weake and that if his Excellency would follow and fall upon them and that no delayes be made for feare of forraigne Forces comming over the City as heretofore would with all willingnesse spend their lives and fortunes to assist the Parliament The City was thanked for their Petition and Protestation and the Lord Generall moved by the Parliament to advance who though the season of the yeare were not very fit for so great a Body to march was very desirous to obey their Commands The best way was thought to divide his Army and send severall parties to severall places to restraine the Enemies from annoying the Countries as to Buckingham Marlow Reading and other parts untill himselfe with his whole force could be well accommodated to march from Windsor where he lay that winter toward the King But it so fell out either by reason of ill weather at some times and at other for want of Money or fit accommodation that the Generall himselfe with his maine Army marched not forth untill the spring whose first businesse was to lay siege to Reading which was fortified by the Kings Forces and maintained by a Garrison of 3000. Souldiers and 20. Peece of Ordnance before which Towne he sate downe upon the five and twentieth day of April 1643. with an Army of about 16000. Foot and 3000. Horse Now leaving the Lord Generall before Reading with his Army in the meane time we will shew one maine reason why he did no sooner advance The expectation of another Treaty which the Parliament had desired to have with the King for setling of the Kingdomes Peace which proved fruitlesse in debate lasted a long time Propositions were drawne up by the Parliament and sent to Oxford on the 31. of Ianuary 1642. by foure Lords and eight Commoners the Earles of Northumberland Pembrooke Sarum and Holland Lord WAINMAN Lord DUNGARUAN Sir JOHN HOLLAND Sir WILLIAM LITTON Master PERPOINT Master WALLER Master WHITLOCK Master WINHOOD the Propositions were 1. That the King would passe those Bils which the Houses had made ready 2. To passe a Bill for setling Parliament Priviledges and Liberties 3. For bringing to tryall those Delinquents whom the Houses had impeached since Ianuary last 4. For clearing the six Members before mentioned 5. For restoring all Judges and Officers of State lately removed 6. To passe a Bill for re-paying the charge of the Kingdome 7. A Bill for an Act of Oblivion 8. An Act for a generall pardon without exception 9. That there may be a Cessation of Armes for fourteene daies to agree upon these Propositions The King not liking nor yet utterly refusing these Propositions sent the Commissioners home to their Parliament within a weeke after they came to carry six Propositions from him to the Houses which were 1. That his Revenue Magazines Townes Forts and Ships may be delivered to him 2. That all Orders and Ordinances of Parliament wanting his assent may be recalled 3. That all power exercised over his Subjects by Assessements and imprisoning their persons may be disclaimed 4. That he will yeeld to the execution of the Laws against Papists provided that the Booke of Common-Prayer be confirmed 5. That such persons as upon the Treaty shall be excepted out of the generall Pardon shall be tryed by their Peâ—res onely 6. That there be a Cessation of Armes during the Treaty The Houses upon receiving of these Propositions though at first it
Forces I Having been informed that lately at a Councell of Warre you have condemned to death Robert Yeomans late Sheriffe of Bristoll who hath His Majesties Commission for raising a Regiment for his Service William Yeomans his brothers George Bourchier and Edward Dacres all for expressing their Loyalty to His Majesty and indeavouring his Service according to their Allegiance and that you intend to proceed speedily against divers others in the like manner Do therefore signifie to you that I intend speedily to put Master George Master Stevens Captaine Huntley and others taken in Rebellion against His Majesty at Cicester into the same condition I do further advise you that if you offer by that unjust Iudgement to execute any of them you have so condemned that those here in custody Master George Master Stevens and Captaine Huntley must expect no favour or mercy Given under my hand at Oxford this 16. of May. 1643. To the Commander in FORTH Chiefe of the Councell of Warre in Bristoll The Answer to this Letter was as followeth NATHANIEL FIENNES Governour and the Councell of War in the City of Bristoll HAving received a Writing from your Lordship wherein it is declared that upon information of our late proceedings against Robert Yeomans William Yeomans and others you intend speedily to put Master George Master Stevens Captaine Huntley and others into the same condition We care well assured that neither your Lordship nor any other mortall man can put them into the same condition for whether they live or dye they will alwaies be accounted true and honest men faithfull to their King and Country and such as in a faire and open way have alwaies prosecuted that Cause which in their judgement guided by the judgement of the highest Court they held the justest whereas the Conspirators of this City must both in life and death carry perpetually with them the brand of Treachery and Conspiracy And if Robert Yeomans had made use of his Commission in an open way he should be put into no worse condition then others in the like kinde had been but the Law of nature among all men and the law of Armes among Souldiers make a difference betweene open Enemies and secret Spyes and Conspirators And if you shall not make the like distinction we do signifie unto you that we will not onely proceed to the execution of the persons already condemned but also of divers others of the Conspirators unto whom we had some thoughts of extending mercy And do further advertise you that if by any inhumane and un-Souldier-like sentence you shall proceed to the execution of the persons by you named or any other of our friends in your custody that have been taken in a faire and open way of War then Sir Walter Pye Sir William Crofts and Colonell Connebey with divers others taken in open Rebellion and actuall War against the King and Kingdom whom we have here in custody must expect no favour or mercy And by Gods blessing upon our most just Cause we have powers enough for our friends security without taking in any that have gotten out of our reach and power although divers of yours of no mean quality and condition have bin released by us Given under our hand the 18 of May 1643. To patrick Earle of Forth Lord Lieut. Generall Nathaniel Fiennes President Clement Walker c. The King also at that time writ a very sharpe command to the Mayor and Citizens of Bristoll to raise what power they could to hinder the execution of those men which he termes the murder of his loyall Subjects But nothing availed to save their lives for the forenamed ROBERT YEOMANS and GEORGE BOURCHIER according to the sentence were both executed The losse of Bristoll from the Parliament a place of great import was thus by the detection and prevention of this Conspiracy respited for a while onely For not long after it was surrendred to Prince RUPERT and happier it was for the Prince himselfe to gaine that City in a more honourable way and lesse effusion of English blood At the same time that these Conspirators against Bristoll were by sentence of a Councell of Warre put to death another Plot of higher nature and more full of horrour was detected at London a Plot which if not discovered had quite ruined the Parliament it selfe and strooke at the very head and chiefe residence of it the Cities of London and Westminster which cannot be omitted in this Relation though with as much brevity as can be possible it shall be touched The scope of it was to have put in execution the Commission of Array within London and Westminster and so to have raised a sufficient force for the Kings side to ruine the Parliament Many Citizens of London were in the Plot together with some Gentlemen besides who had taken an Oath of secrecy among themselves and were the more animated in it upon promises which Master WALLER the chiefe man in eminence among them a Member of the House of Commons had made to some of the rest that many Members of both Houses of Parliament were ingaged in the Plot and would in due time be assistants to it Though it proved in conclusion that Master WALLER was not able to make good so much as he had promised The Plot was horrid and could not possibly have been put in execution without great effusion of blood as must needs appeare by the particular branches of it which were confessed upon the Examinations of Master WALLER Master TOMKINS Master CHALLENOR Master HASELL Master BLINKHORNE Master WHITE and others the chiefe Actors in it That which appeared by the Narrative Declaration published by Authority of Parliament was to this effect That 1. They should seize into their custody the Kings Children 2. To seize upon severall Members of both Houses of Parliament upon the Lord Mayor of London and the Committee of the Militia there under pretence of bringing them to legall tryall 3. To seize upon all the Cities out-Works and Forts upon the Tower of London and all the Magazines Gates and other places of importance in the City 4. To let in the Kings Forces to surprize the City with their assistance and to destroy all those who should by Authority of Parliament be their opposers and by force of Armes to resist all payments imposed by the Authority of both Houses for support of those Armies imployed in their defence Many other particulars there were too tedious to relate at large as what signals should have been given to the Kings Forces of Horse to invade the City what Colours for difference those of the Plot should weare to be knowne to their fellowes and such like Much heartened they were in this businesse by a Commission of Array sent from Oxford at that time from the King to them and brought secretly to London by a Lady the Lady AUBIGNY Daughter to the Earle of Suffolke a Widow ever since the Battell of Keynton where the Lord AUBIGNY her husband was
slaine That Commission of Array was directed from the King to Sir NICHOLAS CRISPE Sir GEORGE STROUD Knights to Sir THOMAS GARDINER Knight Recorder of London Sir GEORGE BINION Knight RICHARD EDES and MARMADUKE ROYDEN Esquires THOMAS BROWNE PETER PAGGON CHARLES GENNINGS EDWARD CARLETON ROBERT ABBOT ANDREW KING WILLIAM WHITE STEVEN BOLTON ROBERT ALDEM EDMUND FOSTER THOMAS BLINKHORNE of London Gentlemen and to all such other persons as according to the true intent and purport of that Commission should be nominated and appointed to be Generals Colonels Lieutenant Colonels Serjeant Majors or other Officers of that Councell of Warre The Commission it selfe is to be read at large in the Parliament Records But this Conspiracy was prevented and proved fatall to some of the Contrivers being detected upon the last day of May which happened at that time to be the day of the Monethly Fast and Master WALLER Master TOMKINS with other of the forenamed Conspirators being apprehended were that night examined by divers grave Members of the Parliament of whom Master PYM was one and afterwards reserved in custody for a Tryall They were arraigned in Guild-Hall and Master WALLER Master TOMKINS Master CHALLONER Master HASELL Master WHITE and Master BLINKHORNE were all condemned none were executed but Master TOMKINS and Master CHALLONER being both hanged Master TOMKINS in Holborne and Master CHALLONER in Cornhill both within sight of their own dwelling houses Master HASELL dyed in Prison BLINKHORNE and the other were by the mercy of the Parliament and the Lord Generall Essex reprived and saved afterwards Master WALLER the chiefe of them was long detained Prisoner in the Tower and about a yeare after upon payment of a Fine of ten thousand pounds was pardoned and released to go travell abroad It was much wondered at and accordingly discoursed of by many at that time what the reason should be why Master WALLER being the principall Agent in that Conspiracy where Master TOMKINS and Master CHALLONER who had been drawne in by him as their own Confessions even at their deaths expressed were both executed did escape with life The onely reason which I could ever heare given for it was That Master WALLER had been so free in his Confessions at the first without which the Plot could not have been clearly detected That Master PYM and other of the Examiners had ingaged their promise to do whatever they could to preserve his life He seemed also much smitten in conscience and desired the comfort of godly Minister being extremely penitent for that soule offence and afterwards in his Speech to the House when he came to be put out of it much be wailed his offence thanking God that so mischievous and bloody a Conspiracy was discovered before it could take effect CHAP. III. Matters of State trans-acted in Parliament touching the Assembly of Divines The making of a new Great Seale Impeaching the Queene of High Treason and other things The Lord Generall Essex after some Marches returneth to quarter his wasted and sick Army about Kingston The Kings Forces Masters of the West The Earl of Newcastle his greatnesse in the North. Some mention of the Earle of Cumberland and the Lord FAIRFAX AT the same time that these Conspiracies were closely working to undermine the Parliament and Warre was raging in highest fury throughout the Kingdome many State-businesses of an unusuall nature had been trans-acted in the Parliament sitting For things were growne beyond any president of former ages and the very foundations of Government were shaken according to the sense of that Vote which the Lords and Commons had passed a yeare before That whensoever the King maketh Warre against the Parliament it tendeth to the dissolution of this Government Three things of that unusuall nature fell into debate in one moneth which was May 1643. and were then or soone after fully passed one was at the beginning of that moneth concerning the Assembly of Divines at Westminster Among other Bils which had passed both Houses and wanted onely the Royall Assent that was one That a Synod of Divines should be chosen and established for the good and right settlement of Religion with a fit Government for the Church of England This Bill was oft tendred to the King to passe but utterly refused by him The matter therefore was fully argued what in such cases might be done by Authority of Parliament when the Kingdomes good is so much concerned when a King refuseth and wholly absenteth himselfe from the Parliament And at last it was brought to this conclusion That an Ordinance of Parliament where the King is so absent and refusing is by the Lawes of the Land of as good Authority to binde the people for the time present as an Act of Parliament it selfe can be It was therefore Voted by the Lords and Commons That the Act for an Assembly of Divines to settle Religion and a forme of Government for the Church of England which the King had oft refused to passe should forthwith be turned into an Ordinance of Parliament and the Assembly thereby called debate such things for the settlement of Religion as should be propounded to them by both Houses which not long after was accordingly put in execution The case seemed of the same nature with that of Scotland in the yeare 1639. when the Scottish Covenanters as is before mentioned in this History upon the Kings delay in calling their Nationall Synod published a writing to that purpose That the power of calling a Synod in case the Prince be an Enemy to the truth or negligent in promoting the Churches good is in the Church it selfe In the same moneth and within few daies after another businesse of great consequence was by the Lords and Commons taken into consideration which was the making of a new Great Seale to supply the place of that which had been carried away from the Parliament as before is mentioned This businesse had been fully debated in the House of Commons and the Moneth following at a Conference between both Houses the Commons declared to the Lords what great prejudice the Parliament and whole Kingdome suffered by the absence of the Great Seale and thereupon desired their speedy compliance in Votes for the making of a new one The matter was debated in the House of Peeres put to Votes and carried for the negative The onely reason which they alleadged against the making of a new Seale was this That they have hitherto dispatched all business since the absence of the Seale by vertue of Ordinances of Parliament and they conceived that the same course might still be kept in what matters soever were necessary to be expedited for the good of the Kingdome without a Seale Yet the Lords gave a respective answer That if the House of Commons would informe them in any particular cases wherein the Kingdomes prejudice by absence of the Great Seale could not be remedied by vertue of an Ordinance they would take it into further consideration to induce complyance accordingly Neither was
the Lord WILMOT totally routed and forced into Bristoll The Lord Generall intending at the first report of this newes to have marched himselfe for relieving of the West upon more particular information that Sir WILLIAM WALLERS Forces were so farre broken that no assistance at all could be given by them was inforced to desist from that enterprize considering also that his owne Army was shrunke through the continuall increase of violent sicknesse want of pay clothing and other necessaries to a most unconsiderable number he resolved to proceed no further nor to ingage that weake Army to the ruine of it selfe and danger of the Kingdome especially since the Forces of the Associated Counties could not with safety be commanded so farre from home He therefore returned toward London quartering that poore remainder of an Army at Kingston upon Thames and other places neere adjacent In this distressed condition I must a while leave that great Generall untill some few weekes time shall recruit his power and enable him to make that famous and honourable expedition to the reliefe of Gloucester So great at this time were the successes which in all parts crowned the Kings Armies that they seemed to possesse an absolute Victory and the Parliament in probability quite ruined on one side the Lord Generals Army mouldered away by long sicknesse and other wants the long successefull Sir WILLIAM WALLER quite broken in the West and about the same time the Lord FAIRFAX and his Sonne Sir THOMAS FAIRFAX though reserved by divine Providence for a transcendent height of honour in the future with all the Gentlemen almost which served the Parliament in those Northerne parts being defeated by the Earle of Newcastle and the Lord FAIRFAX with his Sonne driven into the Towne of Hull On the other side the Kings Armies were full and strong Sir RALPH HOPTON whom for his valour and industry the King had honoured with the Title of a Baron was possessed of a gallant Army in the West and seemed to want nothing so much as a considerable Enemy the Kings other Forces were free to chuse what stage they pleased to act their parts upon Prince RUPERT was sent to besiege Bristoll where Colonell NATHANIEL FIENNES second Sonne to the Viscount SAY was Governour which City in this low ebbe of the Parliament could not long hold out but was soone delivered â—o the Prince a place of as much concernment as any in the Kingdome Prince MAURICE with another Army came to besiege the City of Excester into which the Earle of Stamford was retreated after his defeat at Stretton in Cornwall a Nobleman who had long strugled with various successe and in sharpe encounters against Sir RALPH HOPTON and other Commanders of the Kings side in those Westerne Counties ruined at last by the treacherous revolt of some who had taken the same cause with him at the first This City was likewise after a long siege for want of supplies delivered upon Articles to the Prince that besieged it But the great cloud which not onely overshadowed the Parliament in the North but threatned to powre out stormes upon parts farre remote was the Earle of Newcastle with his mighty Army who was growne formidable to the Associated Counties and many other places of the Kingdome His Army was at that time the greatest of any in England which he maintained in brave equipage by large Contributions inforced from the Country and seemed of strength enough not onely to master any opposition of English Forces but to serve as a Bulwarke against the greatest Army which the Kingdome of Scotland could be able to send in aid of the English Parliament For the Parliament had then sent into Scotland for the brotherly assistance of that Kingdom and agreed upon entring into a Covenant with them for defence of Religion and the common Liberty of both Nations It pleased the Divine Providence whose workings are many times beyond the reach of humane conjectures that this strong Army before the entrance of the Scots found an Enemy in England worthy of their feare and were by the personall valour and successefull conduct of Sir THOMAS FAIRFAX who seemed lately in a low condition so farre broken together with other defeats given to parts of it sent abroad that the passage for the Scots into England was much facilitated as shall hereafter appeare in more particular But it is worthy consideration and therefore cannot but deserve a mention with what unwearied constancy and wondrous magnanimity the two FAIRFAXES Father and Sonne did labour to preserve those Northerne parts for the Parliament especially observing what great Enemies they dealt withall how many unexpected disadvantages happened to them and accessions of power to their Foes at severall times which though it cannot be here related with full circumstances or particulars yet may be touched in a generall way The Lord FAIRFAX ever since that there was any appearance of this unhappy Warre and that the Kings Commission of Array began to justle with the Parliaments Ordinance of Militia had been very industrious in raising strength and joyned himselfe most unanimously in that cause with Sir JOHN HOTHAM and his Sonne Master JOHN HOTHAM a Member also of the House of Commons and a Gentleman not onely active but prosperous whilest he continued faithfull to that side which he had chosen And since the Warre broke out into action the Lord FAIRFAX either singly by himselfe or some times joyned with Master HOTHAM had taken and fortified many Townes and Forts for the Parliament and made many sharpe and fierce encounters against potent Enemies The Earle of Cumberland who was first made Lord Lieutenant of Yorkeshire by the King was not able to suppresse them nor scarce maintaine the Warre against that power which they had raised Maugre whose Forces they tooke and fortified Cawood Castle and the Towne of Selby in the Moneth of October 1642. and surprised presently after the Towne of Leedes where part of the Earles Forces were quartered of whom they tooke divers Prisoners Knights and Gentlemen of good quality one of which was Sir GEORGE DETHERICK together with his whole Troope The Earle of Cumberland himselfe within few daies after was driven into the City of Yorke and there besieged and summoned by the Lord FAIRFAX and Master HOTHAM which happened about the same time that the famous Battell between the King and the Lord Generall Essex was fought at Keynton But the Earle of Newcastle with a greater force entred into Yorke whilest the Lord FAIRFAX and Captaine HOTHAM lay not farre off who notwithstanding his great strength when he marched out of Yorke was encountered by them at Tadcaster upon the 7. of December the Fight or severall Skirmishes continuing about five houres in which the Parliament Forces did so well take their advantages that they slew as was reported to the Parliament 200 of the Earles men with the losse of eight Souldiers of their owne of whom Captaine LISTER was one whose death was much lamented in the
Country being esteemed a brave and religious man After severall Skirmishes the Parliament Army had the fortune to make a faire retreat to Cawood Castle and Selby and leave all to the Earle whose Forces were reported to be about eight thousand Horse and Foot the Lord FAIRFAX and Captaine HOTHAM having not above 2100. Foot and seven Troops of Horse their number had bin greater if Sir HUGH CHOLMELY and Colonell BAINTON with their Regiments of Foot and two Troops of Horse who were expected had accordingly come in to them The Earle of Newcastle was now growne not only master of the field there but formidable to all the adjacent Counties who did therefore implore aid from the Parliament The Parliament upon that occasion hastened the Association of those Counties which lay neerer to them that they might be the more able to supply their remoter friends The Kings side received then an addition of strength in the North by the landing of Colonell GORING at Newcastle with 200. Commanders from Holland and other Provisions for the Warre The Earle of Newcastle marching from Tadcaster surprised Leedes in which Towne he tooke many Gentlemen Prisoners and forced them to ransome themselves at high rates whereby he was further enabled to pay his great Army Then also he gave Commissions to Papists in that Country to arme themselves in the Kings Service which he justified by writings published upon that occasion and at the same time proclaimed the Lord FAIRFAX Traytor The Lord FAIRFAX notwithstanding marched with such Forces as he had gotten together and proved successefull in divers attempts against severall parts of the Earle of Newcastles Forces one of them happening at Sherburne between Tadcaster and Doncaster and another at Bradford against a party of the Earle of Newcastles Army under the conduct of Colonell GORING Colonell EVERS Sir WILLIAM SAVILE and Sir JOHN GOTHERICK who came with a good strength of Horse and Dragoneers to surprize on a sudden that Towne of Bradford but were by Forces timely sent to the reliefe of it forced to retire with some losse which though it were not a Victory against Colonell GORING and the rest may notwithstanding be termed a successefull Action in being able to repell an Enemy too potent for them in all probability CHAP. IV. Some Actions of Sir THOMAS FAIRFAX in the North. The Queene lands in England The revolt of Sir HUGH CHOLMELY and the two HOTHAMS The state of this Warre in the Westerne parts The condition of the Associated Counties A short relation of Sir WILLIAM WALLER his Actions of Colonell CROMWELL Sir WILLIAM BRERETON and Sir JOHN GELL GReat were the atchievements of Sir THOMAS FAIRFAX in that moneth of Ianuary and the following February for no season of the yeare nor stormes of winter could quench the rage of this Civill Fire Sir THOMAS FAIRFAX on the 23. of Ianuary 1642. marched from Bradford six miles distant from Loedes with six Troops of Horse and three Companies of Dragoones under the command of Sir HENRY FOULIS Baronet his Lieutenant Generall of his Horse and neere 1000. Musqueteers with 2000. Clubmen under the Command of Sir WILLIAM FAIRFAX Colonell and Lieutenant Generall of the Foot When Sir THOMAS approached the Town of Leeds he dispatched a Trumpeter to Sir WILLIAM SAVILE Commander in chiefe there under the Earle of Newcastle requiring the Towne to be delivered to him for the King and Parliament But receiving a resolute and seeming-scornefull answer from Sir WILLIAM SAVILE he drew neerer and prepared to make an Assault though there were great strength in the Towne namely 1500 Foot and 500. Horse and Dragoones with two Brasse Sakers Sir THOMAS FAIRFAX drew out five Companies of his most expert Souldiers whom he disposed of at a fit side of the Town under the command of Major FORBES Captaines BRIGGS LEE FRANKE and PALMER Sir WILLIAM FAIRFAX at the head of his Regiment and the face of the Enemy stormed the Town with great skill and courage whilest Major FORBES did the like in his place and Sir THOMAS himselfe every where encouraging and teaching valour by his owne example brought on his men so that after two houres of hot fight though the besieged behaved themselves well the Towne was entred by Sir THOMAS FAIRFAX Sir WILLIAM FAIRFAX and Sir HENRY FOWLES on one side and Major FORBES with his fellow Captaines on the other They toooke within the Towne their two Brasse Sakers with good store of Armes and Ammunition foure Colours and 500. Prisoners among whom were six Commanders The Common Souldiers upon taking of an Oath never to fight in this cause against the King and Parliament were set at liberty and suffered to depart but without their Arms. There were slaine about forty men of which number the besieged lost the greater halfe Serjeant Major BEAMONT indeavouring in the flight to save his life by crossing the River so lost it being drowned therein and Sir WILLIAM SAVILE himselfe crossing in flight the same River hardly escaped the same fate Publike thanksgiving to Almighty God was given at London for this Victory Sir THOMAS FAIRFAX with his victorious Forces immediately marched to another Quarter of the Earle of Newcastles Army at Wakefield from whence the chiefe Commander Sir GEORGE WENTWORTH sled and left it to him Not long after he marched to Tadcaster at whose approach the Earles Forces though a considerable number fled away and forsooke their Workes From that time scarce any one fortnight of all the following Spring passed without some remarkable addition of strength to the Kings side in those Northerne parts In February Generall KING a Scottish Commander of great experience in Military affaires came out of Holland landed at Newcastle joyned himselfe with the Earle of Newcastle and passed to Yorke with 6000. Armes In the same Moneth also the Queene landing from Holland neere to Sunderland with great Provision of Armes and Ammunition and many Commanders of note in her Retinew was convoyed by the Earle of Newcastle to the City of Yorke The Earle of Montrosse about the same time a young Lord of great esteeme in Scotland who before in the Scottish Warre as is there mentioned had shewed himselfe one of the most active and zealous Covenanters of that Nation forsooke his Party there and with the Lord OGLESBY fled out of Scotland with 120. Horse to the Queene at Yorke Upon which both those Lords were proclaimed at Edenburgh Traytors to their King and Country for that contrary to their Covenant they stole out of Scotland to assist the Popish Army for so they called that of the Earle of Newcastles against the Parliament of England Another great wound to the Parliament not long after was the revolt of Sir HUGH CHOLMELY a Member of the House of Commons and one that had carried a good esteeme among them who had before as is already mentioned been imployed by the Parliament as a Commissioner in the North together with the Lord FAIRFAX and Sir PHILIP STAPLETON and was
at this time highly intrusted by them for he was Governour of Scarborough a place of great importance He falsely betrayed his Trust and forsooke the Cause he had undertaken going to the Queene with 300. men Upon which he was impeached of High Treason by the Parliament but it was not his fortune to suffer for that offence as others did who about the same time failed in their Trusts The Towne of Scarborough was left in possession of a Parliament Captaine who was usually called Browne Bushell a man that some thought would have kept it to the Parliaments use he likewise revolted and delivered it to their Enemies Upon the landing of Generall KING and the Queene presently after a suspition began to arise by some circumstances that the two unfortunate HOTHAMS the father and the sonne were false to the Parliament Which by the strict observation of some vigilant men on that side was further discovered and began at last to be discoursed of with as little beliefe for a long time as CASSANDRAES Prophecies and when it came more plainly to appeare with as much not onely wonder but sorrow of honest men that so much unconstancy should be found The particulars of this discovery and how much the Parliament if not timely prevented had suffered by it there will be time hereafter to discourse of more at large But they were both accused to the Parliament seized upon at Hull and sent up to London where they long remained Prisoners in the Tower before the time of their Tryall and Execution Not all these disadvantages by the growth of Enemies and revolt of friends could dishearten the Lord FAIRFAX and his Sonne who still persisted with great courage and raising the Clubmen of the Country to piece up those small Forces which remained with them were able for a while to make considerable resistance and performe divers services against some parts of the Earle of Newcastles vast Army But one Victory was gained by Sir THOMAS FAIRFAX at Wakefield which may be termed rather miraculous then strange though I shall relate nothing save knowne truth such a Victory against so much odds and so many disadvantages as may serve to teach how much successe may possibly crowne bold attempts and justifie that old saying Audaces fortuna juvat The Lord FAIRFAX Generall of the Parliaments Forces in the North on the 20. of May gave Order for a Party to be drawne out from the Garrisons of Leedes Bradford Halifax and Howley They marched 1000. Foot three Companies of Dragoneers and eight Troops of Horse Sir THOMAS FAIRFAX commanded in Chiefe the Foot were commanded by Sir WILLIAM FAIRFAX and Serjeant Major Generall GIFFORD the Horse divided into two Bodies foure Troops whereof were commanded by Sir THOMAS FAIRFAX himselfe the other foure by Sir HENRY FOWLYS From Howley which was their rendâ—zvouze they marched away and by foure a clock in the morning came before Wakefield Those of the Towne were ready for them and sent out some of their Horse to encounter with theirs and Musqueteers to line some hedges even to the very Towne There were in Wakefield 3000. Foot and seven Troops of Horse besides Colonell LAMPTONS Regiment which came into the Towne after that the Parliaments Forces entred into it But at the first encounter the Parliaments Forces beat their Enemies Horse back and their Foot also drove those Musqueteers from the hedges even into the Towne which they assaulted in two places called Wrengate and Northgate After an houre and an halfe fighting recovered one of their Enemies Peeces and turned it upon them and withall entred the Town in both places at the same time When the Baracadoes were opened Sir THOMAS FAIRFAX with the Horse also fell into the Towne and cleered the street there was a cruell and fierce encounter in which place Colonell GORING was taken Prisoner by Lieutenant MATTHEW ALURED brother to Captaine JOHN ALURED a Member of the House of Commons yet in the Market place stood three Troops of Horse and Colonell LAMPTONS Regiment to whom Major Generall GIFFORD sent a Trumpet with proffer of Quarter if they would lay down their Arms. To which when they returned a scornfull Answer he fired a Peece of their owne Ordnance upon them and the Horse also falling in with great fury soone beat them out of the Towne and tooke all their Officers Prisoners They tooke withall 27. Colours of Foot three Cornets of Horse and about 1500. Common Souldiers They were likewise forced when they fled to leave behind them foure Peeces of Ordnance with Ammunition which the Parliament Forces carried away with them For when they had thus taken the Towne they found their number and strength too weake to keepe it and their Prisoners too And therefore they quitted the place and marched away with this brave booty This great Victory at Wakefield seemed according to the common saying like a lightening before death for not long after these Forces were quite broken by the Earle of Newcastle whose greatnesse overspread those Countries and was never incountered by any Enemy but in parts of his Army He had managed the whole businesse and attained his height of power by great skill and policy and now having no neere Enemy in the field was gone to besiege the Lord FAIRFAX in Hull which was by some talked of as an errour in him no lesse then besieging Gloucester soone after by the King was censured Such a continuall and sad Warre had the Northerne parts been forced to endure all the winter Nor was it their case alone scarce any County of England was free from it The whole West consisting of so many rich and flourishing Shires had been as sad a stage of civill Tragedies Many Armies and small Parties of either side too many for one History to describe at large or give particular due to the actions of every Gentleman had been ingaged without any intermission in those parts Of all Commanders there that sided with the King against the Parliament Sir RALPH HOPTON by his unwearied industry and great reputation among the people had raised himselfe to the most considerable height and continued the longest a Leader of Armies as the sequell of the Story will hereafter declare But his successes through the whole course of his Actions were very various and many ebbs and flowes were in his fortune The Marquesse HARTFORD though farre higher in Dignity and greater by power of his large Commission from the King of which before is spoken was not able to act so largely in the field as Sir RALPH did though he were seldome idle but busie about Townes and in small Parties They were both opposed in their beginnings not so much by any Noblemen or great Commanders imployed by the Parliaments Commissions as by private Gentlemen of those Counties the chiefe of which were Sir FRANCIS POPHAM and his Sons Master STRODE a Deputy Lieutenant there with others before named besides plaine Freeholders of the Country who seemed to understand their owne
Liberties and interest which they had in the Common-wealth Untill at the last the Earle of Stamford a stout Gentleman who had beene before imployed about Leicester against Master HASTINGS with a Commission from the Parliament as Generall of Some Counties was sent into the West The Earle of Stamford was by the Parliament made Lord Generall of all South-Wales and the foure next adjacent Counties as Glocester Worcester Hereford and Cheshire with power to raise Forces in all those Counties to appoint Officers and Commanders over them to traine and exercise the men and to fight with all that should oppose him The Lord GRAY Sonne and Heire to the Earle of Stamford was appointed to succeed his Father in his former Charge and made Lord Lieutenant of five Counties Leicester Nottingham Derby Rutland and Lincolne to continue the Warre against Master HASTINGS the Earle of Chesterfield and others who opposed the Parliament in those parts The Earle of Stamford at his first comming into the West was successefull against Sir RALPH HOPTON whom he raised from the siege of Plymouth but Sir RALPH HOPTON not long after by a stratagem of faining flight entrapped many of the Earles men conducted by a Lieutenant of his and gave an overthrow to the Parliament Forces betwixt whom and the Earle of Stamford upon the fifteenth of March 1642. a Truce was made for twenty daies The Earle after the expiration of that Truce againe taking the field with a competent Army was a while prosperous against Sir RALPH HOPTON but not long after overthrown by the revolt of young CHUDLEY Sonne to Sir JOHN CHUDLEY by whose assistance before those Parliament Forces had been victorious The Earle of Stamford was then inforced to betake himselfe to the City of Excester whither HOPTON and CHUDLEY followed him to lay siege to the place But Prince MAURICE was soone after sent thither to command in chiefe to whom at last as is before expressed it was upon faire Articles surrendred by the Earle of Stamford Notwithstanding so many misfortunes as had then fallen upon the Parliament side about the end of May 1643. they did not despaire of regaining the whole West by the active valour of Sir WILLIAM WALLER who about that time was very prosperous in those Counties and some parts of the Principality of Wales and whose name was growne to be a great terrour to his Enemies Of his actions and by what degrees he grew into esteeme and strength it will not be amisse to relate in a continued Series considering how great a Generall he became afterwards in these Warres and in what low Command he began He was a Gentleman of faire experience in Military affaires by former travels and services abroad of good judgement and great industry of which he gave many testimonies to the Kingdome Sir WILLIAM WALLER about the time of the Battell of Keynton received a Commission to be Colonell of Horse and moving that winter following as occasions of the present Warre required performed many exploits he tooke in Farnham Castle and passed Southward after that Portsmouth by his assistance had been taken from Colonell GORING and some other quick services at Winchester and in the Country thereabouts which he had performed joyning himselfe with Colonell BROWNE a Citizen of London who tooke up Armes at the beginning of this Civill Warre and continued till the very end in high Commands and reputation as high of whose actions more must be delivered in the sequell of this History Colonell HURREY and some others passing into the Westerne part of Sussex he layed siege to the City of Chichester in that City many Gentlemen of ranke and quality had fortified themselves and gathered together much Armes and Ammunition for service of the King against the Parliament About the middle of December appearing before Chichester he was there met with some Forces Troops of Horse and Dragoniers that came to his assistance from Kent and Sussex under the conduct of Colonell MORLEY a Member of the House of Commons a Gentleman of good ranke in Sussex and great activity in the Parliament Service and Sir MICHAEL LEâ—VESEY a Kentish Knight The Battery was placed by Sir WILLIAM at fit places and all things ordered with great skill but before the battery began to save effusion of blood Sir WILLIAM by the consent of all his Officers summoned the Town by a Trumpet with such Conditions offered which were judged too high by the besieged and therefore at first not accepted of yet after eight daies it was rendred to him upon no other Conditions then onely Quarter and faire usage The Prisoners which were taken there of note were immediately sent toward London to the Parliament who were Sir EDWARD FORD high Sheriffe of Sussex Sir JOHN MORLEY Colonell SHELLEY Master LEAUKNER Colonell LINDSEY Lieutenant Colonell PORTER Major DAWSON and Major GORDON with Doctor KING then Bishop of Chichester and many other Officers and Commanders in Armes to the number of 60. about 400. Dragoniers and almost as many Foot Souldiers In the March following his imployment was in the Westerne parts of England where he raised Forces The next in command under him who continued with him in almost all his actions was Sir ARTHUR HASLERIG another Member of the House of Commons serving as Knight for Leicestershire a man that in all Battels and Skirmishes gave great proofes of his prowesse and personall valour Sir WILLIAM WALLER having now raised a competent force and marching out of Bristoll on the nineteenth of March within two daies after approached Malmesbury Colonell HERBERT LUNSFORD a stout Gentleman and a good Souldier Brother to Sir THOMAS LUNSFORD that was taken at Keynton Battell was then Governour of Malmesbury who upon the first approach sent out seven Troops of Horse to begin an encounter with him but they were no waies able to indure the force of those Horse which Sir WILLIAM had drawne out against them but fled immediately some of them back into the Towne many of them conceiving that there was small safety in the Towne for them fled quite away Sir WILLIAM assaulted the Towne the same day but not prevailing then he lodged there all night preparing the next morning for another and more fierce assault But the besieged conceiving the place unteneble desired a Parley and yeelded upon Quarter He tooke at Malmesbury one Peece of Ordnance about three hundred Prisoners whereof Colonell LUNSFORD and Colonell COOKE were the chiefe with almost twenty Officers great and small good store of rich prize and Ammunition the Conquest was bloodlesse and very few slaine on either side Within few daies after he obtained a very considerable Victory neere to Gloucester against the Lord HERBERT of Ragland Sonne to the Earle of Worcester who with a great Army of Welchmen lay against that Towne which for the manner of it in briefe was thus Sir WILLIAM with his Forces comming neere to Cirencester made shew the better to conceale his purpose as if he intended to fall upon
his side that warred against Newarke Newarke was one of the strongest Garrisons which was then held of the Kings side replenished with many Gentlemen of Lincolneshire and other Shires and some expert Souldiers who inforced large Contributions from the adjacent Country and made rodes often times even to the Walls of Lincolne Colonell CROMWELL in his March thither as he passed thorow the County of Humingdon disarmed many that were ill affected to the Parliament and increased by that meanes his strength so farre that he was growne above two thousand strong and before he came to Newarke receiving an addition of Horse from Captaine HOTHAM he also joyned with some Forces of Lincolneshire At his first approach neere to Newarke it was his fortune to performe a good service for his side for when Captaine WRAY with his Lincolneshire Horse had too rashly quartered within a little of that Town he was set upon in the night time by a strong Party from the Towne where after some little bickering nor being able to resist so great a number he was surprized with his whole Troope but the Alarum comming to CROMWELL he advanced and at ten a clock at night fell upon the Newarkers rescued Captaine WRAYS Troope and tooke three Troops of theirs with the slaughter of many of them After this when he sate downe before the Town he was so vigilant upon all Sallyes that were made out and so successefull that he tooke many men and Colours at severall times and with his Horse watching all occasions he once defeated a strong Party of the Newarkers neere to Grantham where the odds of number was so great on their side that it seemed almost a miraculous Victory At another time he fell upon a Party of the Earle of Newcastles Army sent toward Newarke and quartering betweene that Towne and Grantham of whom he slew many tooke an hundred Horse and forty Prisoners Such things as these were the beginnings of CROMWELL at his first entrance into the Souldiery those that must be called his deeds were in the following yeares of this unhappy Warre and will require a larger and more full expression In those other Counties which were named before this Discourse of the Association the fortune of Warre during the aforesaid Moneths had been very various and daily contestations happened being for the most part betwixt small Parties and in besieging taking and re-taking of Townes and Forts In Cheshire Sir WILLIAM BRERETON a wise and vigilant man who from the beginning of these troubles had taken charge of that County serving in Parliament as Knight thereof had so well acted his part against the Earle of Darby made by the King Lord Lieutenant of that County as well as of Lancashire that he was the chiefe instrument of delivering Cheshire out of his hands and preserving it for the Parliament though the greater part of Gentry there adhered to the King But it pleased God to give many Victories to Sir WILLIAM BRERETON against them He obtained about the beginning of March a great Victory against those of the Kings Party at Middlewich in Cheshire which Towne after a sharp incounter in the fields before it he finally tooke with 500. Prisoners whereof many were Commanders and Gentlemen of great worth which Victory did much advance the Parliaments Cause in those parts He resisted with great successe the Lord CHOLMELY and Sir THOMAS ASTON two powerfull men and zealous for the Kings Party Having setled in some measure by extraordinary care and wisdome his owne County for the Parliament and raised many stout and well armed men there he was forward to give assistance to other parts and advancing into Shropshire against the Lord CAPELL he surprised a Towne called Dreyton in which Sir VINCENT CORBET a Commander of the Kings side was quartered But Sir WILLIAM BRERETON with small opposition entred the Town and tooke two compleat Troops of Horse and six Companies of Dragoneers Sir VINCENT CORBET escaped by flight He marched thence along thorow those Counties and tooke some places of great import as the affaires of both Parties stood at that time Sir WILLIAM went on prosperously and within a short time after tooke Whitchurch upon the edge of Shropshire with great store of Armes and Ammunition and many Prisoners of the Lord CAPELS Forces But Sir WILLIAM BRERETON when he joyned Forces with other men or came in opportunely to the reliefe or rescue of ingaged friends performed divers great and advantagious services to the side he tooke especially when he joyned in Action with Sir JOHN GELL of Derbyshire a constant and successefull Actor for the Parliament of whom by himselfe and together with Sir WILLIAM BRERETON I shall make a further mention The County of Derby full of Nobility and Gentry was much swayed even from the beginning of these distractions against the Parliament for scarce did any Gentleman in all that County but Sir JOHN GELL appeare for it at the first He with his brother and some of his kinred by the help of those Freeholders and Yeomen that inclined that way made a Party to resist those great ones at such a time as must needs renowne his courage and constancy And it pleased God to make him prosperous in that great and hazardous undertakings and to carry it so during the whole Warre After the Battell at Keynton he tooke a Commission from the Earle of Essex with great care and cost he provided Arms and timely seized upon the Town of Derby which Town he so well fortified that it proved a sufficient defence against the assaults of potent Enemies and a refuge upon all occasions to the Parliaments friends it was likewise no doubt a great incouragement to many of the neighbouring Counties to stand upon their guard in the like kinde But the Walls of Derby could not immure Sir JOHN GELL nor hinder him from acting his part abroad In many Services he joyned himselfe not without good successe with Sir WILLIAM BRERETON with Colonell CROMWELL and marched sometimes with the Lord GREY of Grooby before mentioned Lord Lieutenant of those Counties against Master HASTINGS and against the Towne of Newarke In the Moneth of February he marched with those Forces which he had under the conduct of the Lord BROOKE into Staffordshire to take in Lichfield which was then possessed by a Garrison of the Kings side Having entered the Towne they found hot and sharpe resistance from a place of great strength called the Close or Cathedrall yard a place famous in the succeeding Warre as being often gained and re-gained with the losse of much blood on either side CHAP. V. The death of the Lord BROOKE and of the Earle of Northampton A short mention of some Actions in divers Counties The low condition of the Parliament at that time The siege of Gloucester WHile the Parliament Army continued at the siege of Lichfield Close their Generall the Lord BROOKE as he looked out of a window was unfortunately shot into the head and dyed immediately
a man as much lamented by the Parliament as any that ever fell on that side and as much honoured for his Piety Valour and Fidelity After his death Sir JOHN GELL succeeded in that Command and about the beginning of March took the Close with very little losse of blood though they had their Mynes ready prepared to blow up the Walls of the Close and had throwne Granadoes into it which made the besieged cry out for Quarter which they obtained for the Souldiers thought it not honourable being in cold blood to revenge their Generals death by putting them to the Sword But they tooke a good and rich booty of Money Bagge and Baggage about a thousand Armes and very considerable Prisoners the Earle of Chesterfield with his Sonne and divers other Gentlemen of Ranke About the middle of that March Sir JOHN GELL with an Army of fifteene hundred Horse and Foot advanced from Lichfield toward the Towne of Stafford where it was his fortune to meet with the Earle of Northampton and his Forces consisting of about twelve hundred Horse at a place called Cranock-Greene or Salt-Heath almost foure miles from Stafford The Earle gave a brave and furious Charge upon them and being stronger in Horse made Sir JOHN GELLS Horse to retreat and disorder at this first Charge in which he tooke divers of them Prisoners and surprised two Drakes After that he wheeled twice about their Foot seeking his best advantage where to breake them But Sir JOHN GELL and his Commanders did so well order their Battalia that the Foot kept unbroken and made good the field againe together with their Horse and re-saluted their hot Assailants fighting Pell mell for a long time At this fierce incounter the Earle of Northampton himselfe was slaine in the place one Master LUCY and Captaine BAGOT with many more about whose number relations did not agree a Cornet of the Kings also was here slaine and his Colours taken having on it a Crowne and this Inscription Carolus Rex Two other Cornets were there taken of which one was the Princes for the King and Prince his Troops were both there They tooke Prisoner one of the Earle of Chesterfields younger Sons and Sir JOHN GELL by the timely comming in of Sir WILLIAM BRERETON to his assistance before the sight was ended obtained a great Victory and drove his Enemies quite out of the field Among the rest Master HASTINGS as was then reported having been once taken Prisoner and rescued fled away wounded Thus it fell out that these two Peeres the Earle of Northampton and the Lord BROOKE who first of all the Nobility at the breaking out of this Civill Distraction had personally contested in one County about the Parliament Ordinance of Militia and the Kings Commision of Array within a small distance both of place and time ended their daies by this unhappy Warre They were both much lamented by their owne Parties both men of worth and courage though much different in the manner of their lives and conversations As Cheshire though a County where many Papists inhabited was by the successefull care of Sir WILLIAM BRERETON and other Gentlemen kept from deserting the Parliament and able to resist the Earle of Darby the Kings Lieutenant there So her sister Lancashire more full of Papists and more fiercely assaulted by that Earle under the same authority being the place of his chiefe residence and power was able not onely to resist him but finally beat him out of the Country by the courage and industry of divers Protestant Gentlemen of that Shire of whom I have named many in the precedent Book But it is fit to give a little touch of the chiefe actions The Parliament in midst of winter when that County was in the greatest distraction had sent down Sir JOHN SEATON a Scottish Knight an experienced and stout Commander as Major Generall of the Forces in that Shire that he might direct the unskilfull valour of that people though many of those Gentlemen had done great services before as appeared at Manchester and some other places One of his exploits was at Preston Sir JOHN SEATON having setled himselfe at Manchester marched from thence about the beginning of February toward Preston with Major Generall SPARROW Colonell HOLLAND Captaine BOOTH Serjeant Major BIRCH Master NOWELL of Mearkley and some other with about ten Companies and almost two thousand Clubmen to take in Preston a Town well fortified and very stoutly defended but it was so furiously assaulted Captaine BOOTH in person first sealing the Walls by the Parliament Forces that after two houres of extreme hot fight the Parliament Forces were Masters of it The Town was taken with small losse of the assailant side which was wonderfull not one Officer and not above seven or eight Common Souldiers On the other side many fell the Mayor of the Town ADAM MORTE with his Sonne Sir GILBERT HOUGHTONS Brother a Captaine of Horse with divers others of quality Sir GILBERT himselfe fled to WIGHAM They tooke two hundred Prisoners whereof many were Gentlemen of good ranke in the Country They tooke three Peeces of Ordnance many Muskets and other Armes with two or three Colours The taking of this Town was of great consequence both toward the maintenance of the Parliament Forces and also to stop the passage from Newcastle to Chester and Shrewsbury Shortly after Serjeant Major BIRCH was sent from Preston to Lancaster Towne who without any great opposition for he came suddenly and unexpected soone entred the Towne with his whole Company and being entered the Townesmen assisted him very freely to winne the Castle there which he tooke into his possession for the Parliament Wiggon also in Lancashire was taken in with great store of Armes and Prisoners by Sir JOHN SEATON with those Gentlemen that followed him together with the Townesmen of Manchester and other Clubmen of the Country whom they had gotten together The Earle of Darby desisted not from his indeavours to reduce that County but marched with a considerable strength to take in Whaley which he had almost accomplished but was notwithstanding repelled from thence by the Forces of the Country The same Earle had likewise possessed himselfe of Warrington a considerable Towne in Lancashire and left a Garrison in it but at the beginning of Iune that Towne was regained by the Forces of Manchester with eight Peeces of Ordnance and five or six hundred Prisoners by which all Lancashire seemed to be reduced to the obedience of the Parliament scarce any place of considerable strength being left in the power of the Early of Darby The Lord GRAY of Grooby had been long possessed of Leicester as the chiefe quarter where he resided and besides his actions at other parts about that place with various fortunes had opposed the Forces of Master HASTINGS who kept a Garrison at Ashby de la zouch and acted with great fervour and constancy for the Kings Cause Hampshire had been much distressed by both Parties but the Kings
Musketeers of his Regiment on the right hand before the two Demy-Culverings that were placed at the end of the Lane on the top of the Hill and the red Auxiliaries he placed on the left hand of those Peeces which before were slenderly guarded The Artillery was well ordered that day by the skill and care of Sir JOHN MERRICK While this was acting two Peeces which belonged to the Major Generals Regiment and one Drake of Sir WILLIAM BROOKES were by the Generals Regiment under the Command of Major BOTELER with the assistance of 200. Musketeers recovered and the Enemy drew away from their Pikes which with their Colours kept standing with many great Bodies of Horse to guard them five or six hundred Musketeers besides Dragoones to encompasse our men on the right hand among the hedges just at which time his Excellency sent to have 300. Musketeers of the Forlorne Hope to go to the reliefe of Colonell BARCLAY and Colonell HOLBORNES Souldiers But then the Enemy falling on upon our right hand diverted them who with other of our Musketeers thereabouts beat the Enemy off who else had done us great mischief This was about foure a clock in the afternoone when all our whole Army of Foot was ingaged in the Fight But then he also caused some of the red Auxiliary Regiment to draw neerer to Colonell BARCLAYS Post as he himselfe required At length night drew on when the Enemy both Horse and Foot stood in good order on the further side of the Greene where we expected their stay till next morning and that they were working as was reported to place their Canon to make use of them against us when day should breake Against which supposed encounter we encouraged our Souldiers before hand and resolved by Gods help the next day to force our way thorow them or dye But it pleased God to make our passage without blows for the Enemy was gone by night so that the next morning we marched quietly over the same ground where the Battell was fought and where the Enemy stood for on Thursday early his Excellency gave Command for the Armies March towards Reading to which purpose it was all drawne up upon the Heath where the Battell was fought and after that his Excellency had given order for burying the dead about ten a clock we began to march Colonell MIDDLETON with his owne and three Regiments more Lord GREY SHEFFIELD MELDRUM and 400. commanded Musketeers under Colonell BARCLAY had the Reere-guard During which March the Enemy at a great distance shot from severall hedges but troubled us not When we came to a long Heath we drew up the whole Army severall times and no Enemy appeared But at the entrance of a narrow Lane toward the evening the Enemy fell upon us with 800. commanded Musketeers and most of their Horse who caused our Horse then in the Reare to make a very disorderly and confused retreat But when Colonell MIDDLETON with the rest of the Commanders in the Reare hasted to charge the Enemy with our Foot he made them retreat with as much confusion over the Heath as they had us before the losse not great on either side Lieutenant BROWNE was taken Prisoner After this the same evening the Lord Generall drew up the Army to Theale and taking some refreshment there marched the next morning being Fryday with the whole Army to Reading where he stayed till the Sabbath was past and gave publike thanks for the great Victory This was a Victory not denyed to the Parliament nor at all disputed although the Lord Generall Essex for want of Victuals marched away to the necessary reliefe of his Army and could not stay to pursue the Victory which he had gotten The number of slaine in that Battell were judged to be by those who speak most moderately foure times as many of the Kings Party as of the Parliaments but others have spoken of a farre greater difference Divers Captains as Captaine MASSY and Captaine HUNT with others were slaine on the Parliament side but scarce any of higher ranke Three of the Nobility fell on the Kings side the Earle of Carnarvan the Lord SPENCER newly made by the King Earle of Sunderland and the Lord Viscount Fawlkland After this Victory the Lord Generall was received at London with great joy and Honour The Trayned Bands and Auxiliaries of London marched home in full Companies and were welcomed by their friends and met by the Lord May or and Aldermen at Temple Barre And now the face of things seemed much to change and the reputation of the Parliament rise higher At the time of this Expedition for reliefe of Gloucester a Cessation of Arms was made by the King with the Irish Rebels of which together with the great Victories which small numbers of the English Forces obtained over great multitudes of those Irish Rebels before the time of that Cessation which was here omitted as not to interupt the Relation of proceedings in the English Warres there may be a larger Discourse in the continuation of this History as also of the Covenant which the Parliament and that part of the Nation which adhered to them about this time entred into with their Brethren of Scotland for maintenance of the Religion Lawes and Liberties of both Kingdomes FINIS In the English Pope Sir Ioh. Temple