under 9. The chief Officers of Seate as Chancellors Keepers of the Great Seal c. to be approved of by Parliament 10. That his Highnesse would encourage a Godly Ministry in these Nations and that such as do revile or disturb them in the Worship of God may be punished according to Law and where the Laws are defective new ones to be made in that behalf 11. That the Protestant Christian Religion and no other and that a confession of Faith be agreed upon and recommended to the people of these Nations and none be permitted by words or writings to revile or repreach the said Confession of Faith c. Which he having Signed declared his acceptance in there words That he came thither that day not as to a Triumph but with the most serious thoughts that ever he had in all his life being to undertake one of the greatest burthens that ever was laid upon the back of any humane creature so that without the support of the Almighty he must sink under the weight of it to the damage and prejudice of these Nations This being so he must ask help of the Parliament and of those that fear God that by their Prayers he might receive assistance from God for nothing else could enable him to the discharge of so great a duty and trust That seeing this is but an Introduction to the carrying on of the Government of these Nations and there being many things which cannot be supplied without the assistance of the Parliament it was his duty to ask their help in them not that he doubted for the same Spirit that had led the Parliament to this would easily suggest the same to them For his part nothing would have induced him to take this unsupportable burthen to flesh and blood but that he had seen in the Parliament a great care in doing those things which might really answer the ends that were engaged for and make clearly for the Liberty of the Nations and for the Interest and preservation of all such as fear God under various forms And if these Nations be not thankful to them for their care therein it will fall as a sin on their heads Yet there are some things wanting that tend to reformation to the discountenancing vice and encouragement of virtue but he spake not this as in the least doubting their progress but as one that doth heartily desire to the end God may Crown their work that in their own time and with what speed they judge fit these things may be provided for There remained only the Solemnity of the Inauguration or Investiture which being agreed upon by the Committee and the Protector was by the Parliament appointed to be performed in Westminster-hall where at the upper end thereof there was an Ascent raised where a Chair and Canopy of State was set and a Table with another Chair for the Speaker with Seats built Scaffold-wise for the Parliament on both sides and places below for the Aldermen of London and the like All which being in a readiness the Protector came out of a Room adjoyning to the Lords House and in this order proceeded into the Hall First went his Gentlemen then a Herald next the Aldermen another Herald the Attorney General then the Judges of whom Serjeant Hill was one being made a Baron of the Exchequer June 16. then Norroy the Lord Commissioners of the Treasury and the Seal carried by Commissioner Fiennes then Garter and after him the Earl of Warwick with the Sword born before the Protector Bare headed the Lord Mayor Tichborn carrying the City Sword being the special of Coaks of the Protector by his left hand Being seated in his Chair on the left Hand whereof stood the said Titchborn and the Dutch Ambassador the French Ambassador and the Earl of Warwick on the Right next behind him stood his Sons Richard Fleetwood Cleypoole and the Privy Council upon a lower descent stood the Lord Viscount Lisle Lords Montague and Whitlock with drawn Swords Then the Speaker Sir Thomas Widdrington in the name of the Parliament presented to him a Robe of Purple-Velvet a Bible a Sword and a Scepter at the Delivery of these things the Speaker made a short Comment upon them to the Protector which he divided into four parts as followeth 1. The Robe of Purple This is an Emblem of Magistracy and imports Righteousness and Justice When you have put on this Vestment I may say you are a Gown-man This Robe is of a mixt colour to shew the mixture of Justice and Mercy Indeed a Magistrate must have two hands Plectentem amplectentem to cherish and to punish 2. The Bible it is a Book that contains the Holy Scriptures in which you have the happinesse to be well vers'd This Book of Life consists of two Testaments the Old and New the first shews Christum Velatum the second Christum Revelatum Christ vailed and revealed it is a Pook of Books and doth contain both Precepts and Examples for good Government 3. Here is a Scepter not unlike a Staff for you are to be a Staff to the weak and poor it is of ancient use in this kind It 's said in Scripture that The Scepter shall not depart from Judah It was of the like use in other Kingdoms Homer the Greek Poet calls Kings and Princes Scepter-Bearers 4. The last thing is a Sword not a Military but Civil Sword it is a Sword rather of defence then offence not to defend your self only but your people also If I might presume to fix a Motto upon this Sword as the valiant Lord Talbot had upon his it should be this Ego sum domini Protectoris ad protegendum populum meum I am the Protectors to protect my people This Speech being ended the Speaker took the Bible and gave the Protector his Oath afterwards Mr. Manton made a prayer wherein he recommended the Protector Parliament Council the Forces by Land and Sea Government and people of the three Nations to the protection of God Which being ended the Heralds by Trumpets proclaimed his Highness Protector of England Scotland and Ireland and the Dominions thereunto belonging requiring all persons to yeild him due obedience At the end of all the Protector with his Train carried by the Lord Sherrard Warwick's Nephew ahd the Lord Robert's his eldest Son returned in the same posture the Earl of Warwick sitting at one end of the Coach against him Richard his Son and Whitlock in one and the Lords Lisle and Mountague in the other Boot with Swords drawn and the Lord Claypool Master of the Horse led the Horse of Honour in rich Caparisons to White-hall The Members to the Parliament House where they prorogued their sitting to the Twentieth of January He vvas novv setled and established in his first assumed Dignity to the satisfaction of some part of the Army only Lambert vvas gravelled with that clause in it which gave the Protector power to name his Successor Whereby he savv himself deprived and frustrated
secure of his Life from the justice of some avenging hand Here he used to hunt and at the fall of a Deer where he would be sure to be present embrue his hands in the blood of it and therewith asperse and sprinkle the Attendants and sometimes to cokes the neighbouring Rusticks give them a Buck he had hunted and money to drink with it His own Diet was very spare and not so curious except in publique Treatments which were constantly given every Monday in the Week to all the Officers of the Army not below a Captain where he dined with them and shewed a hundred Antick Tricks as throwing of Cushions and putting live Coals into their Pockets and Boots A Table being likewise spread every day of the Week for such Officers as should casually come to Court and this was the greatest expence which and other charges of the Government hâ— levyed as yet by his and his Councils Ordinances which were as duâ—ly and respectfully obeyed as Acts of Parliament With these Officers while he seemed to disport himself taking off his Drink freely and opening himself every way to the most free familiarity He did meerly lye at the Catch of what should incogitantly and with such unsuspected provocation fal from their Mouths which he would be sure to record and lay up against his occasion of reducing them to the Speakers Memory who were never like to forget the prejudice and damage they had incurred by such loose Discoveries of their Minds and Inclinations He was a great Lover of Muhck and entertained the most skilfullest in that Science in his pay and Family in that like wicked Saul who when the evil Spirit was upon him thought to lay and still him with those Harmonious charms but generally he respected or at least pretended a Love to all ingenious and eximious persons in any Arts whom he procured to be sent or brought to him but the niggardliness and incompetence of his reward shewed that this was a personated Act of Greatnesse and that private Cromwell yet governed Prince Oliver Among the rest of those Virtuosi He favoured a Poet too who very elegantly sang his Marston-Moor 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but with more misfortune then others who made the Muses Slaves to his Triumphs and Pegasus to draw His Chariot He had twenty other freaks in his head for sometimes before he had half dined he would give order for a Drum to beat and call in his foot Guards like a Kennell of Hounds to snatch off the meat from his Table and see them tear it in pieces the like Joco's and Frisks he would have with other Company even with some few of the Nobility when he would not stick to tell them what Company they had lately kept when and where they had drank the Kings Health and the Royal Families bidding them when they did it again to do it more privately and this without any passion and as festivous and Drol discourse But the sad news of the Defeat at Hispaniola whence he had promised himself Mountains of Gold and Rocâ—s of Gems to the maintenance of his Mamalukes and perpetuating of the Army coming to his ears soon after the Marquiss de Leda Ambassador from the Spaniard had departed dissatisfied with the preparations here and other ill news founding in his ear that the Commonwealth Party were very active in the Army and the Royallists breeding new Designs he began to cast off the Merry Divel and act the Tyrant altogether and not without Cause For The effects of this Parliament rupture encouraged two most opposite parties to conspire against the Protector the Fifth Monarchists and Cavaliers as we must so distinguish the Royal Party upon this difference who longed for their rightful Soveraign Charles the Second the Fifth Monarchy expected King Jesus the Courtiers and those engaged by them or with them with Cromwell himself desired King Oliver and every of these manifested much impatience but none of them could attain their Wishes and when Oliver might afterwards he durst not The Protector was no way ignorant of this and therefore he resolved to deal with the weakest first which yet by underminings vvas more dangerous then the other The Army was corrupted by that Millenary Principle and that was to be purged so that as Harrison and Rich had been laid aside and not long after committed with Carew and Courtâ—ey into several remote Castles so now General Monck had order to seize Major General Overton and the Majors Bramston and Holms and other Officers and Cashier them after Fines and good Security for their Behaviour Overton was sent up to the Tower and his Regiment conferred on Colonel Morgan Colonel Okey's Regiment taken from him and given to a sure Confider and so the danger from the Army was quickly supprest Cornet but now Colonel Joyce was likewise malecontent at this change and signified so much to Cromwell's Face whom he upbraided with his own Service and his faithlessnesse but escap'd any other Censure then a bidding him be gone Cromwell well knowing him to be one of those mad men that would say or do any thing they were bid Now happened occasion or rather Cromwell made it one for him to shew his zeal to the Protestant cause and publish himself to the World the Champion or Hector thereof this was also one secret step and reach to the Crown by invaing the sacred Title of the Defender of the Faith due only to the Hereditary Soveraigns of Englandâ— Herein also he aimed as in the Proverb to hit two Birds with one stone not doubting but to find another Mine in the charitable minds and compassion of this Nation towards the parallel suffering of the old Waldenses in â—iedmont to the Irish Massacres which were set out and drest here with the greater skill of Butchery then the Actors could handâ—omly do it there and it was said the Copy was drawn from that Original Alderman Viner and Pack were made Treasurers for this money which amounted to a very large sum and reaching the full design of the Protector a small parcel whereof was now remitted to Geneva the French King having newly before accommodated the businesse the Duke refusing to admit Cromwell's Mediation There was another Artifice of the Protectors to set this businesse forward and to countenance it which was Addresses from the Army here and abroad offering their Service in this common cause of the Protestant Religion no way doubting but that God in his due time would confound those Enemies of his people as he had shewn his salvation by themselves in the same Controversie to that day A new Plot was now started and most of the Nobility and Gentlemen of England secured Sir Geoffrey Palmer Lord Willoughby of Parham Lord Lovelace Earl of Lindsey Lord Newport and Sir Richard Wingfield Lords Maynard Petre Lucas and Faulkland Sir Frederick Cornwallis c. and this done by Manning whose Villany was not yet discovered though to render a due account of him his
Cromwell in this Province which like a peice of the former Heptarchy he himself ruled and governed absolutely and pro imperio His next peice of Service was of the like nature and of the same evil Consequence to the King For divers Gentlemen of the County of Suffolk another of the associated Counties resenting this Curb upon their Allegiance and the sawcy Edicts and Commands of the Committees which were made up of the meanest of the Gentry and Burgesses of the Towns designed together to free themselves and their Country from the yoake of these new Lords the chief of these Gentlemen were Sir John Peâ—tus Sir Edw. Barker c. who having in order to their Conjuncture rendezvouzed at Lowerstofe in that County were by the preventing diligence of Cromwell seized and secured and thereby such a Break-neck given to any future Royal undertakings in those parts the rendition of Lyn Regis which then held for the King soon after following this defeat and disappointment that throughout the whole course of the War there happened not any the least Commotion in favour of His Majesties Arms either by supply assistance or diversion Things being thus quieted thereabouts and disposed to the Interest of the Juncto there remained after the military part a Scholastical labour for this Parliamentary Hercules the zealons cleansing of the University of Cambridge the Parent of this Viper who just before his infectious production into the main Army whither he was now designed did miserably exenterate her leaving her a sad and doleful Skeleton deprived of so many learned and religious persons whose only charge was that they adhered to the Dictates of their Conscience and the Obligations of those Oaths which just Authority had enjoyned against the novel and illegal Commands and Covenants forcibly imposed and obtruded on them In this destructive work his module and method of Ambition Cromwell was mainly and chiefly active as also against the Orthodox and Protestant Ministry and their Churches defacing all the Ornaments and Beauty thereof leaving them the ruinous Spectacle of his Reformation And from this Employment now finished he was Commissioned Lieutenant General to the Earl of Manchester who had the separate command in a distinct Supremacy of these associated Counties and was designed to march Northwards with those Forces and joyn with the Scots newly entred England and the Lord Fairfax against the Marquiss of Newcastle who was General for the King in those parts and yet ballanced the Fortune of War against that potent Scotch Invasion but upon the conjuncture and addition of the Earl of Manchester's fresh and well disciplined and armed forces the said Marquiss was constrained to quit the field and distribute his Army into the Garrisons he himself shutting up the best part of it in the City of York which the Confederates presently besieged and made several venturous attempts wherein Cromwell was none of the backwardest though always repulsed with losse and considerable slaughter The importance of this place and juncture of time which either won or lost the North to the King who had newly had great successe in the West by the defeating of the Earl of Essex at Lestithiel in Cornwall caused him to send away Prince Rupert as Generalissimo with a very potent Army to raise that Siege and fight the Enemy if he found occasion The Prince accordingly advanced and upon his approach the Confederates drew off from their Leagure affording the Garrison liberty to joyn with their friends when it was resolved by the Prince without any delay to give Battel though the Marquiss knowing what hazzard the Kings Interest and his own and all the Loyal parties Estates would thereby be put to did very much diswade the suddennesse of the Encounter which notwithstanding ensued on the Evening of the same day July 2. On Marston-Moor within Three miles of York and lasted till Night It will be tedious and beside our purpose to relate the whole order and manner of the Battell further then this that the Scots and my Lord Fairfaxes Forces were totally routed and perâ—ued some miles out of the field and the day given for lost when Cromwell with his associated Horse most of them Curassiers in the left wing seeing this discomfiture fell on with great resolution and courage and worsted the Prince and his reserves and with the same fury fell upon the Marquisses foot whose Regiment of White-Coats and therefore called his Lambs yet stood and could not be broken till the field being almost cleared the Parliaments Infantry came up and then both horse and foot charged and broke them Cromwell here made a very great Slaughter and Carnage especially in the rout and pursuit purposely to make his name terrible this being his first and grand appearance gaining here the Title of Ironsides from the impenetrable strength of his Troops which could by no means be broken or divided The successe of this day made him indeed highly famous and his Lawrells most verdant and flourishing the Victory being principally ascribed to his courage and conduct His Cunctation and temperate delay were highly magnified and then his Resolution in the desperation of the Event extolled the firmnesse and constant equality of his mind when intrepidly and fixedly he beheld the overthrow of the grosse of their Army and thereby animated his Troops to the more vigorous recovery of the day now that the adverse fury was spent in the chase of their Fellows the Scots whom Cromwell ever afterwards though in Covenant with them most disdainfully despised but not only for this reason The Credit of this Atchievement was industriously cryed up at Westminster and all the Grandezza's of Scriptural Ovation fitted and accommodated thereto He himself with the same conquering Troops as yet in the same quality under the Earl of Manchester was remanded from the North to oppose the King then returning victorious out of the West and because the Earl of Essex had hither to been unfortunate therefore this lucky Cheiftain was added as his better Star at the second Battel of Newberry within font Months after Marston Moor and here again the Fates favoured him though not with a complete Victory yet on that side where he fought with a part of one and so much as endangered the person of the King if the noble and stout Earl of Cleveland had not hazardously interposed and bore off the pursuit This indifference of Fortune begot very great differences among the Parliament Commanders one Taxing the other of Neglect Treachery or Cowardize and by what means it could come to passe that nothing was yet effected against the King whom in the beginning of the War they had thought to have swallowed up presently Not were the divisions lesse at home then in the camp â—or now the younger Brother of the Rebellion the Independant Faction began to appear a preciser and severer sort of Zealots who thought Essex and his Army not righteous enough nor fit instruments in whose hands the work of Reformation should
nest of Mosse-Tropers yet his coming thither hindred Major General Montgomery from marching into those parts to reduce Kâ— likewise to his obedience to the King Edinburgh-castle had been besieged some Months and upwards with little loss on either side save that the great Guns from the Castle did some Mischief in Edinburgh-streets and one Captain Hamilton was shot in the head with a Musquet as he was viewing the Castle and the Morter-peices made semblance of great terrour and annoyance to the besieged a Mine was likewise carried on some 60. foot the Stone being cut all the way but then they could proceed no further being come to the Rock whereon the Castle stands Nevertheless the Derbyshire Miners being 12. in number did what they could to proceed the Enemy throwing Pitch and Flax and other combustible stuff into the Works At last the personated Hostility came to a period and Dundasse old Levens Son in Law pretending want of Water came to a Parley and having premised a colourable request of 10. days time to send to the Committee of Estates by whom he said he was intrusted which he knew was to be denied and after several missives betwixt Cromwell and him concluded the rendition of that most important place to the Kings Service in these Articles agreed on betwixt Major Abernethy Dundasses man and Captain Henderson on one side and Col. Monk L. Col. White on the other it was always before called the Maiden it may henceforth be called the Prostitute-castle the Articles were as follow That the Castle should be surrendred to his Excellency Oliver Cromwell with all the Ordnances Arms Magazine and Furniture of War thereunto belonging on Tuesday the 24. of December 2. That the Governour Officers and Soldiers should march with Drums beating c. in military posture to such place as they shall appoint 3. The publique moveables private writs and evidences to be removed to Serling 4. That Proclamation should be made for all that bad goods in the Castle to come or send to own and receive them 5. All sick Officers and Soldiers as well such as hurt in reputation to have liberty to stay in Edenburgh and the English to provide Horses and Wagons for the Governour and other Officers and Hostages to be given on the Scots part for performance There were found in it five French Cannon nine Dutch half Cannon two Culverings two demy Culverings two Minions two Falcons 28. Brass Drakes called Monkeys two Petards betwixt seven and eight thousand Arms neer 80. Barrels of Powder and a like store of Cannon shot Col. Fenwick was presently upon the surrender made Governour of this and Leith Sir Arthur Haslerigge and Mr. Scot were present at the rendition thereof and then departed their work being done which that it may the better appear for a peice of the vilest treachery any Scot ever committed though Cromwel ascribes it in his Letter to the Speaker to the alone Wisdome of God beyond all humane power and accomplishment take this account from the lovers themselves of this Treason at Edenburgh The greatest want they had was of Beer but as for Oatmeal Butter Fresh Water and Salt Meat they bad enough the Master Gunner told me that when our Guns were a drawing to the Batteries he had so placed his Pieces that our's could not possibly have been planted without great loss but when he prepared to give fire he was forbidden by the Governour upon pain of ' Death His man Abernethy went often out of the Castle upon pretence of geiting intelligence but it was to hold it with Cromwel sure it is that Dundass and he and some others were a little wiser and went not over the water as they had made conditions some of those that did being Imprisoned the Court and Camp being sadly affected with this loss The Provost of Edenburgh Sir James Stuart is in Town but keeps private lest the Wives in the Street should abuse him as they did Straughan and Ker at their coming hither the Lord Warreston who came as he pretended for the Records is not yet returned but stays in Town for he cares not to go back He and the rest of that Remonstrant Tribe are summoned to come to Parliament Col. Dundass Straughan and Captain Giffan with Abernethy Swinton and Andrews were else to be Excommunicated and declared Traytors which was done Jan. 14. Mr. James Guthry and the Earl of Lothian and Gen. Holborn were generally suspicted with Sir John Chiefly who are every day expected in our quarters Rutherford and Gillespy are likewise dissenters from the present manage of Affairs Ker saith his wound on his right hand is Gods justice against him for lifting it up against us in such a cause as he maintained And so I will conclude all those treasonable practices and fomented divisions of that Nation against their common interest by this Master of all Treacherous Arts. Cromwell was again very earnest and intent upon making or finding a way by Sterling and therefore on the 8. of February he marched thither again having been informed of some Fords thereabouts where he might pass his Army or at least impede their raising of new Forces and way-lay their marching into England which was given out as the grand design a Force being left on that side the water sufficient to sustain any impression of the English and to that expedition Duke Hamilton Duke of Buckingham Lord Cleaveland Wentworth Wilmot and Collonel Massey who had a noble and full Regiment and was to be Major General with Titus and Col. Graves were designed Cromwel as was said to this purpose in very tempestuous weather reached his intended passes but found the approaches to them so boggy and unpassable that in the same stress of weather his Army half spoiled with cold and other discommodities he was forced to retire again as he had done twice before having only alarumed the Scots and put them into a sudden posture of defence to Glasgow and to await the time of his boats Arrival and a happier season of the year This was the first â—eat of Rebellion in that Kingdome and very fit for his Head Quarters an University also which remembers me that Cromwell a little while before was chosen Chancellor of Oxford and honoured here with the publique Seal thereof on purpose to stave off the rapinous sacrilegious hands of the Parliament who were a hammering upon an Act for the sale of Colledge-Lands to carry on their Wars and Cromwell did as was was well projected undertake their preservation and did express some angry resentment at the Parliament for this Barbarity laying his hand as usual upon his Sword There was this remarkable herein that the Delegates of the University declared not their main design till they had given him his Oath as Chancellor which was thought of little security but only that the solemnity of it might the better mind him to whom he had given it Hence after some debates and publique disputes with the Ministers viz.
perorations of the Cause of God and the godly people committed to their charge which they could not tell how to answer to him if so easily they should give it up and leave the Common-wealth in such a distraction as would inevitably ensue and Major General Harrison and Arthur Squib the great Sequestrator of Haberdasher-hall were very copiously zealous in defence of their Authority But the Military or Court-party being the Major part not thinking them worthy of a dispute or longer debate the Speaker being of their side rose and left the House and them Sitting in it where to prayers they went and then resolved to continue Sitting In the mean time Rous the Speaker with the Mace before him and his Followers came to White-hall and there resigned the Instrument he gave them by which they were constituted a Parliament and gave him likewise to understand how they had left their Fellows Their surrender was kindly received by Oliver and they thanked for the pains they had taken in the service of the Common-wealth however he and they had missed of their intentions of the good should thereby have come to the Common-wealth which a strange spirit and perverse principle in some of the Members had solely hindered and as to them yet Sitting in the Parliament-house he dispatch'd away Leiutenant Colonel White a Confident of his to dislodge them who accordingly with a Guard of Red-coats came thither and entring the House demanded them in the Name of the Genetal to depart for that the Parliament was Dissolved who replying to the contrary and telling him they were upon Businesse and ought not to be thus disturbed he asked what Business they answered we are seeking of God Pugh saith he is that all that 's to no purpose for God hath not been within these Walls these 12. years and so fairly compelled them out muttering with the same wrath and sorrowfull look-backs as those that had Sate 30. times the same term and could almost have pleaded prescription Thus was the Power emptied from one Vessel to another as the Scribes and Chaplains of the Grandees phrased it and could find no settlement till Oliver was called to it by his Council of Officers to supply this gap in Government and now a Single Person with a Council is the only expedient for the safety of the People for that there is no trust nor truth in Parliaments as their often abberrations and failures had sufficiently declared and it was discoursed by the Abettors of this change that 't was not Monarchy which was quarrelled at but the corruptions and abuses of it in its unlimited unbounded Prerogative all which would be avoided by the circumscription of it in a Protector by his Council and a new Instrument of Government and the supreme power of a Triennial Parliament in whom during their Session the Soveraign Authority should reside So they said and so they did for after 4 dayes time in which Feak and his Freaking Partisans were almost run from their wits in rage and madnesse Cromwel was appointed and declared for Protector of this Infant Common-wealth and it was a tedious interval to him the Chancery Court at Westminster-hall being prepared for the Ceremony of the Instalment in this manner after the usual seeking of God by the Officers of the Army The Protector about one of the clock in the afternoon came from White-hall to Westminster to the Chancery Court attended by the Lords Commissioners of the great Seal of England Barons of the Exchequer and Judges in their Robes after them the Councel of the Common vvealth and the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Recorder of the City of London in their Scarlet Govvns then came the Protector attended vvith many of the cheif Officers of the Army a Chair of State being set in the said Court of Chancery the Protector stood on the left hand thereof uncovered till a large vvriting in Parchment in the manner of an Oath vvas read there being the power with which the Protector vvas invested and hovv the Protector is to govern the three Nations vvhich the Protector accepted of and Subscribed in the face of the Court and immediately hereupon sat dovvn covered in the Chair the Lords Commissioners then delivered up the Great Seal of England to the Protector and the Lord Mayor his Sword and Cap of Maintenance all which the Protector returned immediatly to them again The Court then rose and the Protector was attended back as aforesaid to the Banquetting house in White-hall the Lord Mayor himself uncovered carrying the Svvord before the Protector all the vvay and coming into the Banquetting-house an exhortation vvas made by Mr. Lockyer after vvhich the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Judges departed The Instrument or Module framed to be the Foundation of this present Government was chiefly made up of these following heads That the Supreme Legislative Authority be and reside in a single Person and the People in Parliament the Execution of that power to be in the Protectour with the advice of his Council not to exceed Twenty and One. All Proceedings to run in the Name and Stile of the Protector and all Honours Offices and Titles to be derived from him that he may pardon all Offences but Treason and Murther The Militia during the Parliament shall be in his and their hands but in the Intervals only in his and his Councils He and his Council to make War and Peace with forraign Princes Not make new Laws or abrogate old without Consent of Parliament A Parliament to be called within six Menths and afterwards every third year and if need be oftner which the Protector shall not dissolve without consent in Parliament till after 5. Months The Parliament of English to consist of 400. to be chosen by more equal distributions in Counties and Boroughs of Scotch 30 and so many of the Irish The Summoning of the Parliament to passe under the Seal of the Commonwealth to the Sheriffs and if the Protector omit or deny that then the Commissioners of the Seal be held under pain of High Treason to issue out such writs and in case of failure in him the High Sheriffs and some other By-blowes concerning the equality and fairness of Elections under great penalties No Royalist Irish Rebels or Papists to be capable of being Elected and in case they be to for feit two years Revenue and three parts of their goods None to be elected under the Age of 21. years nor unless he be a man of Integrity a lover of God and of good conversation None to have voyces in Election but such as were worth 200. pounds The Elections to be forthwith transmitted to the Council of State by the Secretary of the Commissioners in case of dispute to the Council of State Sixty to make a Quorum The Protector if need be to call Parliaments between the Intervals thereof Bills offered to the Protector if not assented to by him within 40. days to passe into Laws notwithstanding The Protector with the
Advice of his Councill in case of death or Breach of trust to substitute new Privy Counsellors A Competent Revenue to be setled for the maintenance of Ten thousand Horse and 15. thousand Foot and the Navy and not to be altered or lessened but by the Advice of the Council upon the disbanding of them the money to be brought to the Exchequer No new Levies nor Laws to be made without consent in Parliament All forfeited Lands unsold to belong to the Protector The Protectorate to be elective but the Royal Family to be excluded Oliver Cromwell to be the present Protector All places of trust and Office to be in the Protectors disposal if in Interval of Parliament to be approved and confirmed in Parliament The Rest for the purity and toleration of Religion out of which the Papist and Protestant were to be exempted and all Laws in favour of them to be abrogated All Sales of Parliament to be confirmed Articles of War to be made good And lastly the Protector and his Successor to be bound by Oath to observe these present Articles and to uphold the Peace and Welfare of the Nation which Oath was in 〈◊〉 verba I promise in the presence of God not to violate or infâ—inge the matters and things contained in the Instrument but to observe and cause the same to be observed and in all things to the best of my understanding govern the Nations according to the Laws Statutes and Customes to seek their peace and cause Justice Law to be equally administred The Feat needed no more security as good altogether as its Authority in this following Proclamation which was published throughout England Scotland and Ireland in these words Where as the late Parliament Dissolved themselves and resigning their Powers and Authorities the Government of the Common-wealth of England Scotland and Ireland in a Lord Protector and saccessive Triennial Parliaments is now established And whereas Oliver Cromwell Captain General of all the Forces of this Common wealth is declared Lord Protector of the said Nations and hath accepted thereof We have therefore thought it necessary as we hereby do to make Publication of the Premises and strictly to charge and command all and every Person or Persons of what quality and condition soever in any of the said three Nations to take notice hereof and to conform and submit themselves to the Government so established And all Sheriffs Mayor Bailiffs c. are required to publish this Proclamation to the end none may have cause to pretend ignorance in this behalf This Miscellany of the Laws and new projections suted a great many humours and different perswasions of the Phanaticks Independents Anabaptists and others being the second part of the Alchoran And because there is occasion for it we will discourse a little of the present State of Religion and what opinion Cromwel best aspected The Orthodox Protestants were wholly supprest and yet some Reverend persons as Dr. Vsher the Bishop of Armagh and Dr. Brownrig the Bishop of Exeter received some shews of respect and reverence from Him which he more manifestly boasted in the funeral Expences of the Learned Vsher and this to captate a Reputation of his Love to Scholars and the meek modest and vertuous Clergy The Presbyterian was rather tolerated then countenanced and yet such of them as would comply with his Court greatnesse were much in his eye and his favour for others of them he cared not pleasingly expressing himself how he had brought under the Pride and Arrogance of that Sect making those that would allow no liberty to others sue for it for themselves The Independents and Anabaptists he loved and preferred by turns and was most constant to them as the men that would and did support his Usurpation only he could by no means endure the Fifth Monarchy men though by their dotages he had raised himself to this height and therefore Feak and Rogers were by him committed to Prison in the Castle of Windsor where they continued a long while and not only so but he set Kiffin the Anabaptist whom he had taken out of design into his favour with his party together by the ears with Feaks to the raising of a Feud between them the Ballance of his Security in the Government The like he did betwixt the Presbyterian the Independent a subdivided Schisme from the Church of England as Feaks and Kiffins were from Independency whom when out of his zeal to the Unity of Christian Religion he seemed to bring together to compose and accommodate all Differences in the near probability of such expedients he would divide and more irreconciliably sever and alienate And this was all his practical Devotion But to return Great shooting of Guns at night and Volleys of Acclamations were given at the close of this mock solemnity by Cromwell's Janizaries while the Cavaliers were more joyfully disposed at the Hopes of the Kings Affairs but no body of any Account giving the Usurper a good word or miskiditche with his greatness save what was uttered in Fur by my Lord Mayor and the Complices in this Fact who tickled his ears with the Eccho of the Proclamation done with the usual Formalities These Triumphs so disgusted Harrison as also Col. Rich that he withdrew himself from the Gang and turned publique Preacher or Railer against his Comrade Oliver who was glad to be rid of such a busie and impertinent Assistant in the moduling of Government so Cromwell had now two Common-wealth-contradivided Factions against him the old and the new Parliaments and therefore it nearly concerned him to make much of the Anabaptist and Sectary which now succeeded Independency as the Religion maintained and favoured above all other and Kiffin a great Leader and Teacher was now in great request at the Court at White-hall and contrarily Sir Henry Vane jun. was look'd on askue as also Sir Arth. Hazilrig and Bradshaw and Scot and so the Fabel builders were confounded one amongst another The Council appointed by the Officers or taken rather by himself by whose advice he was to govern were 14. at first Lord Lambert Lord Viscount Lisle General Desbrow Sir Gilbert Pickring Major General Skippon Sir Anth. Ashley Cooper Walter Strickland Esq Sir Charles Wolsley Col. Philip Jones Francis Rous Esquire Richard Major Esquire John Lawrence Esquire Col. Edward Montague Col. William Sydenham I should have mentioned the Dutch War in its place which aggrandized him with the usual victorious successe but because he was never personally engaged in the Service but owed this Garland as he did the glory of Dunbar to the noble General Monk and wore but a second-hand Triumphal Robe I will not constellate Him with that Hero's Splendor and Brightness of Fame That which properly concerns Cromwell is rather the Dishonour of that War the Peace that ensued the Conclusion of it for the Stomach of that Nation had been so humbled by several great losses their Trade so spoyled and their Subjects so impoverish'd that